tagged by @porcelainie ty!! ššŗ
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notes. a study on what happens when being 'the strongest' means holding someone at arm's length until the distance becomes permanent ; reader is a lower ranking sorcerer and handles more so kind of administrative office tasks // i wanted to flesh this out far more initially but urgh whateverrrr i needed to just write something for the sake of writing since it's been a While // written for the tea99 event; happy one year anni to the best writing network out there <33
[ red cup with black tea with a dash of lemon juice & peach-filled cookie choux ; angst & co-workers to lovers & "i would choose you over and over no matter the circumstance, but you wouldn't choose me once, would you?" & (perceived) unrequited feelings ]
word count. 2094
the rain over tokyo felt heavier when satoru was out of the city.
without the soft, ambient hum of his presenceāthat subtle, thrumming vibration in the atmospheric pressure that only those who spent years in his orbit ever learned to recognizeāthe world defaulted back to its grim, mundane reality.
you sat behind a desk that had long surrendered its surface to beige manila folders and cold ceramic mugs. the clock on the wall of the administrative wing ticked with a deliberate, bone-dry rhythm. three in the morning. the rest of jujutsu tech slept under the blanket of heavy squalls, but your lamp burned on, illuminating the endless paper trail left in the wake of humanity's monsters.
and then, the air shifted.
it wasn't really a sound, nor was it the opening of a door. it was just the sudden, total displacement of the atmosphereāa drop in room temperature, the faint scent of ozone and sweet sugar, and the heavy, wet thud of boots hitting the hardwood floor.
he was standing right beside your desk.
satoru gojo didn't enter rooms; he merely chose to exist in them. he was drenched, the obsidian fabric of his uniform dark with rain and faint, drying smears of crimson that weren't his own. his black blindfold was soaked through, clinging to the high bridge of his nose, hiding the eyes that saw everything in the universe except, perhaps, the exhaustion etched into your collarbones.
"you're late," you said quietly, not looking up from the mission report you were signing. you kept your voice flat, a neutral anchor against the absolute hurricane of gravity that sat on his shoulders. "the higher-ups wanted the debriefing for the chiba incident two hours ago."
he didn't answer with a joke. he didn't whine about the paperwork, or complain that the elders were gray-faced hags, or anything that he would usually do.
instead, satoru simply collapsed.
he didn't drop to the floor, but he leaned his massive frame over the back of your chair, his chest pressing into your shoulders, resting his chin squarely in the crook of your neck. the cold, wet fabric of his jacket seeped through your shirt instantly, sending a violent shiver down your spine, but his skināwhere his cheek brushed against the shell of your earāwas burning hot.
his arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you back against him with a sudden, bruising intensity. It was an embrace that lacked all grace, desperate and heavy, like a drowning man grabbing a buoy.
"five minutes," he muttered into your skin. his voice was a raspy, gravelly thread, stripped entirely of its usual melodic arrogance. "give me five minutes, and i'll go to the elders."
you froze, the pen hovering a millimeter above the paper. your heart hammered against your ribs like a trapped bird. this was the trap. this was always the trap.
when he was broken, when the sheer, horrifying weight of being the apex predator of the modern age shattered his porcelain composure, he ran to your office. he would fill your small, quiet space with his vast, terrifying grief. he would let you feel the quiet, shuddering breaths he took against your throat; he would let you hold his wrists, tracing the pulse points beneath his sleeves until the tremor in his hands vanished. he would make you feel like the only person in the world who held his heart between your palms.
slowly, helplessly, your hand drifted up to rest over his forearm, your fingers sinking into the damp cloth. "satoru..."
"don't talk," he murmured, his grip tightening around your waist just an inch more. "just... stay like this."
and you did. for twenty minutes, not five, you sat in the dark of your office, breathing in the scent of rain and blood and the faint, artificial sugar of the candies he kept in his pockets. you let him bleed his exhaustion into you, believingāfoolishly, secretlyāthat this was intimacy. that this was the truth of him, stripped of the godhood, laid bare in your lap.
until the clock struck three-thirty.
satoru pulled back just as abruptly as he had dropped.
in a fraction of a second, the heavy, suffocating warmth vanished. he stood tall, casually reaching up to slide a thumb under his blindfold, lifting it just enough for a single, brilliant blue eye to peer out at you. the storm in him had cleared. the exhaustion was buried under a fresh, polished layer of pristine glass.
the cocky, insufferable grin snapped back into place like a spring-loaded trap.
"aww, look at you," he sang out, his voice instantly sliding back into that high, theatrical lilt that made your teeth ache. "were you worried about me? you were, weren't you! your heart was going thump-thump-thump the whole time. how cute."
the chill of the room rushed in to fill the space where his body had been. your skin felt raw where his wet jacket had touched you.
"satoru," you said, your voice tight, trying to hold onto the thread of the man who had been weeping into your collar five seconds ago. "the reportā"
"i'll handle the old men," he waved a hand dismissively, stepping back toward the window, already retreating into the ether. "oh, by the way! i bought those little strawberry pastries from the shop near the station, but I ate them all on the way back. thought that counts, right?"
he laughedāa light, hollow sound that echoed off the high ceilingāand then he vanished into the rain outside, leaving the window slightly open.
a cold draft blew into the room, scattering your papers across the floor.
-----
it went on like this for months. A cruel, poetic rhythm of tide and drought.
he would buy you expensive tea from kyoto and leave it on your desk without a note, only to ignore your texts for a week. he would catch you in the hallway, press you gently against the wall with a hand over your head, tilting his head down until his lips were close enough for you to feel the heat of his breath, asking you in a low, dangerous whisper what you were doing for dinnerāonly to stand you up because he decided to take a detour to sendai for souvenirs.
he built an altar out of your patience, sacrificed your peace upon it, and called it friendship.
you realized, slowly, bitterly, that he was using you as an anchorābut an anchor is meant to be dropped into the dark, heavy depths, left beneath the waves while the ship sails free on the surface. He wanted your warmth to wash the blood from his hands, but he refused to let you stay in the light with him.
the breaking point arrived on a tuesday, under a sky the color of bruised plums.
a special grade curse had manifested in the lower wards. it was a messy, volatile thing, and Satoru had handled it alone, as he always did. but there had been an administrative errorāyour department's error, though not your ownāthat resulted in a delay of the veil. a minor civilian exposure. nothing fatal, but enough to set the higher-ups on a rampage.
you were waiting for him in the courtyard when he returned. the rain had cleared, leaving the cobblestones slick and reflective, mirroring the gray sky.
he walked toward you, his strides long, effortless, terrifying. his blindfold was off, hanging loosely around his neck, and those impossible, infinitely blue eyes were bare, catching the pale afternoon light.
"they're blaming your desk for the delay," satoru said as he stopped a few feet away. his tone wasn't angry; it was worse. it was light. it was careless. "i told them to give you a break. i said, 'hey, they're just doing the paperwork, don't expect them to understand how fast these things move.'"
it was meant to be a defense. he thought he was protecting you.
he thought that by belittling your role, by reducing your life's work at jujutsu tech to trivial clerical chatter, he was shielding you from the elders' wrath. he thought that keeping you small meant keeping you safe.
you looked at him. really looked at him.
you saw the sharp, beautiful line of his jaw; the snow-white hair damp against his forehead; the absolute, unyielding isolation that wrapped around him like a shroud of invisible glass. you saw the man who had held you in the dark, and you saw the god who stepped over you in the light.
"is that what i am to you?" you asked softly. your voice didn't shake. it was too tired to shake. "a mistake to be excused?"
satoru blinked, a faint furrow appearing between his silver brows. he stepped closer, reaching out a handāa casual, habitual gesture to touch your shoulder, to pat your head, to pull you back into his orbit. "come on. don't be like that. i just saved your neck back there."
you stepped backward.
his hand hovered in the empty air between you. for a fraction of a millisecond, his infinity flickered, caught off guard by the deliberate, cold distance you had suddenly put between your bodies.
"don't touch me, satoru," you said.
his hand dropped slowly. the playful aura vanished, replaced by that dangerous, impenetrable stillness that usually presaged a slaughter. "what is this?" he asked, his voice dropping into an octave that made the very air feel heavy. "are you actually mad about the report? i took care of it."
"you always take care of it," you replied, a faint, sad smile touching your lips. "you take care of the curses. you take care of the elders. you take care of the world. and then you come to my room when you can't breathe, and you let me hold you together."
satoruās gaze hardened, a flash of something raw and defensive flickering deep within the vivid blue of his eyes. "i come to you becauseā"
"because I'm safe," you finished for him. "because I don't ask anything of you. because I let you push me away the second you remember that you're the 'strongest,' and i let you pull me back in the moment you realize how lonely that is."
"i protect you," he said, the words sharp, almost aggressive. he took another step forward, closing the physical distance, his height towering over you, shadow falling across your face. "do you have any idea what happens to people who get too close to me? do you know what the higher-ups do to anyone i care about? keeping you hereākeeping you thereāis the only reason you're still breathing!"
it was an admission. the closest he would ever come to saying it.
he loved you from behind a wall of his own making, convinced that his touch was poison, convinced that the only way to keep you alive was to ensure you felt entirely unloved.
you looked up into those pale, perfect eyes, and the final piece of your heart quietly splintered, drifting away into the cold air.
"you think you're choosing to protect me," you whispered, leaning in just enough so that only he could hear the quiet, agonizing truth. "i would choose you over and over no matter the circumstance, but you wouldn't choose me once, would you?"
satoru froze.
the world around jujutsu tech seemed to stop. the wind died in the trees. the crows in the courtyard fell silent.
the man who could perceive the atomic structure of the universe, who could warp space and bend reality to his whim, stood utterly paralyzed. his lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. the blue of his eyes widened, swimming with an overwhelming, terrifying comprehension of what he had done. he had built a fortress to keep you safe, only to realize he had built a prison that kept you out.
he reached for youānot casually, not playfully, but with a frantic, desperate stretch of his fingers, his hand trembling as he reached to pull you back into his space.
"wait," he rasped. "waitā"
you didn't wait.
you turned your back on the strongest sorcerer in the world. you walked past the slick cobblestones, past the quiet wooden doors of the main hall, and into the shadow of the building.
he didn't follow you. he couldn't.
for all his power, satoru gojo remained standing alone in the center of the empty courtyard, trapped on the wrong side of the infinity that he had created.
SYNOPSIS: They say hair holds memories, but you beg to differ, itās places. Afraid of reawakening certain memories you avoided going back to Mondstadt, it doesnāt help that the person you didnāt want to cross paths withāyour ex Lohenārecently returned. After the incident two years ago, you canāt face him, out of fear that heāll threaten you, and your feelings for him to resurface.Ā
WORDCOUNT: 4.5k | TRANSLATION OF TITLE: i keep lots of things in my heart (that's why my heart is so heavy) ā berghain (rosalia) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: reader and lohen sometime speak german/switches between german and english (translations will always be given), ooc!lohen, reader and lohen are both not perfect but match ea's freak, exes to???, mentions of alcohol (no depiction of consumption), jealousy, cameo of ragbros, kaveh mentioned, might seem like self-insert, includes elements of yandere behavior which might not be comfortable for all audiences, hints of masochism/sadism, lohen calls reader "my girl" once, suggestive, hickeys; oneshot
AUTHORS NOTE: i downloaded genshin again just for lohen LOL also lohen might be mischaracterized so don't take my characterization and the twist i added to him and run with it. thank yewww !!
ā500 mora.āĀ
ā300 mora.āĀ
ā400 mora.ā
ā350 mora!ā This was getting beyond ridiculous. How could anyone demand so much for a mere book. Your jaw ticks, quite visibly flexing as you make your final offer. Coming to Mondstadt during the Windblume Festival practically means walking into a trapāone where they strip you of all your possessions, and youāll leave with nothing but empty pockets.Ā
From a distance, you can hear bells chiming a tune, and bright laughter fills the air, adding to the cheerful melody, that is, until the woman opens her mouth again. āItās a good price!ā Annoyed, she lifts the book off the table and points at the price tag glued on the cover with her index finger, impatiently tapping against the sticker, as if to prove her point. āI even gave you a discouāā. You have a hunch about which direction this is going to go and decide to cut her off before she makes any more snarky remarks. āEs ist einfach nur unglaublich dreist so viel zu verlangen!ā
āItās just incredibly brazen to demand this much!ā
For a split second, the womanās eyes slightly widen in reaction to your words, her eyes fluttering rapidly in surprise. āBist du aus Mondstadt?ā She asks hesitantly and squints her eyes together to study you; her watchful gaze makes you shift on your feet.Ā
All you can do is meekly nod, awkwardly averting your eyes from her. To your surprise, she claps her hands together in delight, a newfound sparkle emitting from her eyes. āWarum hast du das nicht von Anfang an gesagt?ā Her eyes take the form of crescent moons as she cocks her head to the side, smilingly, with her hands politely tucked behind her back.
āAre you from Mondstadt?ā / āWhy didnāt you say that from the beginning?ā
You offer her a half-hearted smile, one that twitches at the corner of your lips on close inspection in irritation. If she hadnāt singled you out as a tourist right from the beginning and tried ripping you offāshe might have known, but you donāt tell her that.Ā
It takes everything in you to simply laugh at her sudden change of attitude. Itās blatantly obviousāthe favoritism she shows to people who are from Mondstadt. Itās not your business to meddle with but you doubt that this is how an earnest trade is supposed to look like, but it works out in your favor, so whoās to blame?
āHate the game, not the player.ā As Kaveh would say. Whenever heād win against you during a game of cards, heād blame it on anything else than the playerās ability (with the sole exception of Alhaitham, perhaps whoād taunt him first).
You canāt help but chuckle fondly as you think of the two back in Sumeru. Kaveh wouldāve surely complained about the price too as heād bargain for it to be lowered.
Only when her voice softens as she hands you the see de in exchange for the mora (which was all along not worth more than 200 mora) you snap back to reality. She attempts to converse with you, proudly slipping in her admissions about how many people sheās already ripped off today and eventually wishing you a good day, in an unexpected sweet manner, as you start to walk away.
āDanke Ihnen auch!ā You shout over your shoulder before stepping further into the hustle and bustle, passing by people and skimming through the pages of your newly purchased book.Ā
āThank you, you too!ā
Itās a catalogue about typical Mondstadtian architecture throughout the centuries, each chapter telling the story of another architectural period that shaped Mondstadt. There are several terms you recognizeāfacades, cornicesāthings Kaveh has mentioned once before. As for the ones unknown to you, you make sure to ask Kaveh when you return.
When you get back home, youāll make sure to wrap it up nicely and give it to Kaveh as a Mitbringsel (souvenir) from your little trip back to your hometown. At the very least you were relieved, because you were quite certain that Kaveh would be happy with his gift.Ā
In comparison to your other friends from the Akademiya Kaveh was the only eager one to receive a gift and you figured that this might be the best thing to give him.Ā
Thinking about it now, you might get something for yourself too. How often is it that you visit Mondstadt? You werenāt there for the last two Windblume Festivals, fearing that this place would evoke certain memories, but you suppose it should be fine now.Ā
After all, itās been a while, so all the matters you left behindāthe ones that were left unresolved, like a letter where the signature is missingāall you could do was pray to Barbatos that they flew away with the wind.
In all honesty, you didnāt plan for this trip to be long, thus you attempted to limit yourself to bringing only essential things, which meant that personal items became a second priority.Ā
Not even a full day has passed since you arrived in Mondstadt with all your luggage in hand. Truly, you love Mondstadt, you grew up here and spent a good portion of your life here, but if there was one thing you dreaded, ignoring how silly it soundsāthe rough cobblestone paved floors. They were a pain to walk around on, especially with how bumpy the ways were.
But if there was one place in the entirety of Mondstadt that could ease this exhaustion it had to be Angels' share. The first thing you did when you stepped foot back home wasnāt going to your housing and unpackingānoāit was rushing to Angelās share. Yesāwith all your luggage.
After all, there was only one thing that could save you from the fatigue this trip gave youāa good wine brewed from the finest grapes in Mondstadt, and who else but the Ragnvindrās could provide you that?
Upon arrival, you immediately rushed to the bar stools at the counter, propped your arms down and slumped your head against them to rest, practically hiding your face. All you heard was a huff from above and you could already paint out the image of a certain redhead rolling his eyes in disbelief at you. āAuch schƶn dich wiederzusehen.ā Diluc said flatly, as he slid a glass filled with water over the counter towards you, before stepping away to prepare your drink.Ā
āGood seeing you again too.ā
Although for the majority of your Akedmiya years, your studies kept you busy, in your leisure time you still made sure to find enough time to write letters to everyone. Despite the years you were away from Mondstadt, everyone treated you the sameāyour heart swelled at the thought and a small smile found its way on your lips.Ā
Diluc still knew your go-to drink and didnāt pester you with any infuriating small-talk, because he knows that youāre not in the mood to talk when you havenāt drunk yet.Ā
Itās almost like you never left. Everything was the sameāthe lively ambiance, groups of young friends encouraging each other to drink more while others had to drag their friends out before Diluc could catch them. You were under the impression that time had stopped and only continued when you were back here again, sitting with a certain someone every day after his shift ended.Ā
Being lost in your thoughts made you unaware of your surroundings that you almost didnāt notice the amused chuckle that came from right above you. āOh, wen haben wir denn hier?ā Hearing the familiar voice, with that tilt of tease to it, your head shot up, along with your widening smile.Ā
āOh, who do we have here?ā
In front of you stood Kaeya, practically grinning from ear to ear. āMind if I sit next to you?ā He didnāt even wait for your response before pulling the bar stool out and made himself comfortable.Ā
It was subtle, but the way his gaze shifted to Diluc's back and a somber shadow clouded his eyes, told you enough and you gave him a compassionate glance which he quickly brushed off with a reassuring smile.Ā
Heās quick to change the topic. āSo how's it in Mondstadt?ā He set his arm down the counter, before resting his face in the palm of his hand and stared at you in anticipation. āWell if we ignore that I arrived merely a few hours ago, Iām good.ā You chuckled as you took a sip from the glass.Ā
Kaeya shot you an entertaining look. āIs that so?ā His words left you confused and you furrowed your eyebrows. But it seems like he had no intention of answering, as his gaze wandered over to the group of adventurers who were sitting right beneath the table at the staircase and you followed him. Within the blink of an eye the group turned silent and ducked their heads together. Weird.
āWeiĆt du, wer letztens zurĆ¼ckgekehrt ist?ā His sudden question took you aback. āNein, wer denn?ā You replied lost. āGroĆmeister Varka ist zurĆ¼ckgekommen, unter anderem mit der fĆ¼nften Kompanieādu weiĆt, was das bedeuāā
āDo you know who recently returned?ā / āNo, who?ā / āGrand master Varka came back, among others the fifth companyāyou know what that meaāā
Before you know it Kaeyaās words started to fade into the background as you got distracted by the touch coming from behind your shoulder. It was only then when you noticed that someone attempted to get your attention.
WIth ease you swivel around on your stool and face the person standing in front of you. On closer look, he was built quite slender, still you could see the lean muscles of his body peeking out from his clothes.Ā
He quickly noticed that you were scrutinizing him and quickly fixed his disheveled hair, before he coughed into his fisted hand as if to prepare himself to say something.
āĆh, hallo.ā He starts off awkwardly. āIch hab dich von da hinten gesehen und fand dich echt hĆ¼bsch und wollte nur mal fragen, ob du vielleicht morgen zusammen das Fest verbringen mƶchtest?āĀ
āUh, hello.ā / āI saw you from behind there and found you to be really pretty and just wanted to ask if youād maybe wanna spend time together tomorrow during the festivalā
No wonder Kaeya was staring at the loud group of adventurers that were sitting at the back so intently. Whether it was a mere guess or intuition, youāre not sure, still you were impressed that Kaeya was so quick to connect the dots that one of them would come up to you.
Granted, he wasnāt quite your type or at least the kind of person youād usually go for, but so was someone else. It wouldnāt hurt to give him a chance, you presume.
āDas ist sehr nett von dir und sicherlich kƶnnen wir morgen Zeit verbringen.ā You shoot him a polite smile.Ā
āThatās really kind of you and surely we can spend time together tomorrow.ā
Whether it was the pressure of having his adventure peers looking at you, the exhaustion and your brain completely giving up on you or genuine feelings that made you agree, you werenāt quite sure. Admittedly, he didnāt look quite bad and seemed very nice, so why not give it a shot?Ā
It's only one date. He asked if he could pick you up and youād just walk around a bit at the festival and then go eat dinner. Thereās little that could go wrong, and even when things might take a turn for the worse, youād only be staying here no longer than a few more days and return to Sumeru quicker than Kaeya would be able to open his mouth to order his next round of drinks. As for it if it turns out for the betterāyouāre still unsure.Ā
In all honesty, you werenāt sure if you had healed enough from your last relationship. However, you also don't want to spend your entire life mourning after a relationship that has sunken, so itād be no harm to start a new one.
Just as you spotted a boutique where you could buy nice clothes to wear for your date tomorrow, a voice suddenly appeared from behind you, as if it had hidden itself within the shadows and jumped out at the right moment to scare you.
"Was ein Zufall, dich hier zu sehen.ā An icy voice cuts through the atmosphereāthe same voice that greeted you every morning and put you to sleep every night when you still lived in Mondstadt. Itās as if time has stood still, freezing everything into one place as you stopped in your tracks. āLang nicht mehr gesehen.ā The owner of the voiceāLohenāpositions himself in front of you.
āWhat a coincidence seeing you here.ā / āLong time no see.ā
Itās only a natural reaction that the hairs on your nape would stand up in tension. Fear was an emotion that he could sniff out like no other, especially when it came to you. When he receives a whiff, heāll already have his eyes set on you. The fear wonāt disappearāyouāll be fearing for your life instead.Ā
Considering how close he stood to you, you were aware he wouldnāt turn a blind eye to the anxiety surging through your body. Not to mention your staggered, uneven breathing that was no different to someone catching their last breaths. You knew better than to ignore him, but how are you even supposed to begin?
Despite all the time which has passed, you didnāt even dare to look up to meet his eyes.
āHowād you know I was back?ā Mere seconds which feel like an eternity pass and you muster up the courage to ask. The words are quiet, but you can practically feel his smug grin as he looks down at you. Involuntarily, but as if on instinct, you raise your headāLohen is quick to actāsquishing your face in the palm of his gloved hand, to keep you looking at him.Ā
Shame fills your senses, being treated like this in public by Lohen where everyone could see you, is beyond humiliating. Also, youād never admit it, especially to him, but you missed him the most and out of all the times the feeling couldāve hit you, it had to resurface in a moment like this.
Fed up with him, you gesture for Lohen to let you go which only makes his grip tighten. āA little birdy told me.ā He whispers sweetly, although the mockery his words are laced in doesnāt go unnoticed by you either, before finally letting your face go.
In response to his words you furrow your eyebrows together in irritation. āKaeya.ā You bite the inside of your cheek, as you recall your conversation with the cavalry captain from yesterday.Ā
Even if heās pretending that he hasnāt heard you he doesnāt make it noticeable, instead he just gives you a tight lipped smile. At this rate you weren't sure if youād be able to be around him any longer withoutĀ wiping that shit-eating grin off his face.Ā
Alas, you forgot how draining it is to talk to Lohen when he behaved like thisāall innocent and oblivious, even though heās always first to discover what's being hidden behind the curtain.Ā
It didnāt take long for you to grow restless. To make matters worse, you didnāt know how to remove yourself from the situation without Lohen leaving a dumb comment that'd go along the lines of you being afraid to talk to him.
āLohen.ā You call out his name, a cold sweat running down your nape. The reaction his mere presence has on you is akin to a blizzard that rages inside your entire body, causing it to shudder. āI think I left my stove on.ā A measly excuse, you were aware and from the way his ruby eyes cast a glance at you in disbelieving curiosity, he knows you are lying.āIād better go home to check. Excuse me.ā Your lips press into a fine line as you nod your head politely at him and attempt to leave.
It happens so fast, you realize way too late that heās seized your arm. āLohen, let me go.ā You warn him through gritted teeth. His gloved hands do a poor job at shielding your skin from him pressing his thumb further and deeper into your wrist.āPlease.ā You wince desperately.Ā
āNow, now, donāt be like that.ā Itās immediateāthe moment his eyes light up as you plead him and his smile widens, showing off his white pearls.Ā
More people start to gather around the two of you, standing still for a few moments before walking away as Lohen shoots them a look that screams no go away. Freshly returned Vice Captain of the fifth company Lohen causing a scene in broad daylight and quite literally holding you captive.Ā
Before his hands can slither any further, you firmly push him away. Lohen doesnāt even look surprisedāamused would be befitting, as if he already knew that youād do something like this. āLass mich in Ruhe!ā You snap and turn away from him. Deciding youāve finally had enough you storm away.
āLeave me alone!ā
It doesnāt take long for you to look backāpathetic, you knowāwould it be wrong of you to say that you were disappointed that Lohen didnāt run after you? All he did was brush over his coat to make himself look more presentable after what had happened just now. Not once did he look at you when you were walking away, youād know, because your eyes were practically glued to him.
Whenever the two of you had your little play fights, youād squeal and laugh while heād insist on hugging you until you had to beg him to release you or else heād squish you in his embrace.Ā
Well, you know the answer to your question yourselfāyouāre no longer togetherāyou were the one who broke up with him. Taking that into accountāyou being the one who ended everything, you had no right to feel this way.
Just as you wanted to tear your head away from him, you see a young girl approaching him from your peripheral vision. In her right hand, pressed in between her index finger and thumb is an envelope, while in her left hand she holds a glowing red Windwheel Aster. That sheepish smile adorning her lips and her rosy tinted cheeks make you swallow thickly. Standing a few meters away from her are her friends giggling to one another and exchanging knowing glances as she chats up Lohen.Ā
For your own sake you turn away quickly before he reacts. An all too familiar feeling rises up in your chestāa puddle of disgust and jealousyāsomething ugly and one which you got rid of a long time agoāat least you thought so.
āĀ
Sure, you might not have had high hopes for the date, but you didnāt expect to be forgotten, like an important piece of advice that gets disregarded without a second thought. The clock keeps ticking in the background, as if mocking you that your date hasnāt come to pick you even though he promised to be on time.
Half an hour ago, you told yourself that youād wait thirty minutes more, and maybe you should. After all he mightāve had difficulties finding your home and got lost on the way and has to ask for directions now. Maybe he stepped into a puddle and got his clothes all dirty, meaning he had to go back home to change. What if he was just too nervous and in reality heās been standing in front of your door the whole time, trying to muster up the courage to ring the door beā.
The two-toned chime of your door bell jolts you out of your thoughts. Heās finally here, you think to yourself happily, as you walk up to the door and open it, inviting him in.
āLohen?!ā You yell in bewilderment, eyes widening in shock, as he stands in front of you with his hands neatly put behind his back. It wasnāt unusual for Lohenās work clothes to be stained with all kinds of different substances. Be that mud, ash or even blood. Still there was something off. āFancy seeing you here.ā Lohen declares with that scheming smile on his face.
Hearing his words, you scrunch up your eyebrows. āI live here.ā As soon as the words leave your mouth you regret them, because they sound more like a question rather than a statement. āI know.ā He simply shrugs before barging into your house.Ā
āHĆ¼bsch siehst du heute aus.ā Lohen says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world, while youāre left speechless. He does it so effortlessly, as if he hasnāt just walked into your home; he came back into your life, and turned it upside down. āWegen des Treffens oder warum?ā He smiles slyly before shrugging off his coat and hanging it up on your hook.
āYou look pretty today.ā / āBecause of the date or why?ā
Itās only then that you notice the vermillion color staining his jacket and seeping into the dark fabric. The fluid runs smoothly down the piece of clothing, practically becoming one with the coat, and thatās when the gears in your head start turning.
āLohen.ā You say his name with a shaky breath. āWas hast du getan?ā Your jaw tightens in anger and your clenched fists grab the material of his vest, pulling him closer for inspection. In hopes of finding any trace of regret or mercy, your eyes flicker over his face. His pale skin was dusted in brown ashy colors and without thinking twice you brush your fingers over his cheek to rub the dirt away.
āWhat did you do?ā
Noticing what you did, you immediately try to pull away, but Lohen stops you. He moves your hands, the one you just pulled away and the one whose grip started to loosen on his vest, around his neck, pressing them into the flesh of his throat. You tried to pull away, but that only urged him to squeeze your hands tighter around his neck.Ā
āSuffered from external pressure to the neck which restricted the blood circulation.ā Lohen expresses in choked out laughs. āLed to a deprivation of oxygen and the victim passing out.ā He continues with an eerie smile on his face. It almost seemed like he wanted this. āAnd not to forget, suffered from long-term trauma and throat damage.ā He took control over your hands and pressed them further into his neck. āIch meine mich dunkel an sowas zu erinnern, du auch?ā
āThat rings a bell for me, for you too?ā
Taken aback you try to pull your hands away from his neck, but he doesn't let you. Instead he tightens his grip that he has around your hands. āIām having a good time. Why stop?ā He chuckles dryly. However to your surprise he finally frees your hands from his hold and you fall back, stumbling behind in shock.Ā
Seeing that youāre in no position to talk, Lohen seizes the opportunity. āThis is unlike you.ā He takes a step forward and you canāt help but stare at him. You donāt move, you donāt shudder, you donāt flinchānothing, all you can do is watch what he does next.
āSeriously, am I not just returning the favor?ā He smirks and puts his gloved index- and middle finger beneath your chin to lift it up.āDid you seriously think that moving away, and starting a new life, would make you forget that you murdered someone?ā He tilts his head to the side, the corners of his lips twitching upwards.
āI didnāt kill her!ā Shivers run down your spine as you defend yourself frantically and Lohen lets go of your chin. āShe was still alive, I made sure of it.ā You whine. āBarely.ā Lohen chuckles, seemingly amused by your panicked state. You can feel the way your heart rapidly beats in your chest, picking up at a faster pace every second. āI just wanted her to stay away from you.ā You finally admit quietly.
Upon hearing your words, Lohenās eyes start to glint with mischief, as if this was everything he ever wanted to hear from you, and maybe it was. āThere she is.ā He sighs in a relieved dramatic manner. āThatās my girl.ā Your arm that rests stiffly at your sideāLohen takes it into his hand and brings your wrist to his lips. He then kisses the inside of your wrist slowly and deliberately while looking at you through half lidded eyes, as if to observe your reaction.Ā
Would you melt into him? Would you push him away?
After he lets go of your wrist he places your arm over his shoulder to get better access to you, closing the gap between the two of you. From this vicinity you could practically feel Lohen's warm breath fanning against your face. āYou know, no one would have suspected you.ā He mutters in a tone that could only be described as faux pity.Ā
āNo one would ever get the idea that either you or me would kill mere civilians.ā He whispers before kissing up your forearm until his lips eventually find the skin of your neck. You can feel the way heās already latching his lips at your skin, nibbling on the part he wants to sink his teeth into.Ā
However you stop him by grabbing a fist of his hair, forcing him to look up at you. āThat means you didnāt kill him?ā You ask hesitantly. āWho?ā He raises his eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed by your question. Only when you shoot him a knowing look does he sigh in exasperation. āOh, him.ā He eventually says. āYeah, of course not. Just taught him a lesson.ā You wonder how Lohen is always able to act collected, even in situations like these. āHeās not in life threatening danger or anything.ā
Youāve got the answer you wanted. Admittedly, youād be lying if you said that Lohenās actions didnāt stir something inside of you. The greed to keep him all to yourself came backāit never left, but now that youāre back with himāhow are you supposed to live without him? Heās the only one who makes you feel like thisāthe only to give you this high.Ā
āIām glad then.ā You let out a breath youāve been holding for a while and press your lips against the crown of his head. āWhy are you thinking of someone else when Iām here?ā Lohen jokes, but you feel the tinge of honesty in his words. āNiemals.ā You reassure him by pressing a kiss onto his head, before giving him access to your skin again.
āNever.ā
He continues on what heās left off. With precision he latches his lips onto your skin and suckles on the spot, waiting for it to bloom in a pinkish color. āDid you think two years would wash away your actions?ā He looks at the mark in satisfaction and licks over it, before moving his lips upwards to your jaw. āDon't forget, you're mine.ā Subconsciously you start moving your arms around his neck, your hands now resting on his nape. āIām yours.ā He declares, before pressing a chaste kiss to your jaw.
notes. with blade's nature, stereotypically "normal" dates don't really happen. so, without consulting either of you, silver wolf takes things into her own hands, to help push things a bit - even if it might be a bit excessive. // had this idea floating around in my head the past week ish so decided to finally actually get myself to attempt to write something for it instead of just thinking about it wah,,
word count. 2493
It was almost unnerving how normal the day had seemed so far.
You were sitting across from Blade in the common area, with the only sound between you being the rhythmic tink-tink of his whetstone against steel. No Mara-struck moments, nothing about Elioās script, just the hum of the shipās engines. It was quiet, in a comforting way ā one that was the type to make you forget about daily life; something that was a fairly uncommon occurrence, all things considered, so it was worth it to enjoy the moment to the fullest, while you could.
You were about to open your mouth, to ask him whether he might want some tea, when the world around you suddenly shifted. It was a quick change, one that nearly had you wondering if you were hallucinating the scene that had been before you earlier. The gray walls that had previously surrounded you dissolved into a sunsetāone so vibrant, that it looked paintedāand the scent of engine oil was replaced by the cloying, aggressive perfume of a thousand red roses.
Maybe you shouldnāt have decided to go the night without sleeping; clearly, deprivation led to seeing all kinds of weird things ā you could practically feel the material of what you were previously sitting on change.
But then, you saw that Blade was here as well, your eyes having finally caught up and adjusted to the change in light. He was in the same position as earlier, but now he was sitting across from you on a chair instead as well ā with a small, white patio table in between you both. Blade didnāt move; he sat perfectly still, his hand still poised as if holding his whetstone, though it now hovered over a pristine white tablecloth. His eyes, which had earlier been focused intently on his sword and at ease with the repetitive motions of his work, were now wider and darted around ā tracking the sudden appearance of a hovering violin that began to play a melody so sweet it felt like a dental cavity.
āBlade?ā you whispered, your own head still spinning from the change of scenery, and appearance of it all.
He didn't look at you. His gaze was fixed on a centerpiece made of crystal hearts. āIf this is an illusion created by an Emanator,ā he rasped, his voice a low growl that didn't fit the pink lighting, āit is a remarkably tasteless one.ā
You could hear the faint gasp of someone ā not entirely nearby, but not exactly far away either; it was a strange feeling. āRude!ā A digitized voice chirped from the center of the table. A pixelated rift tore open between the salt and pepper shakers, and a palm-sized, holographic Silver Wolf flickered into existence.
āI spent three hours scraping the data for āIdeal Romantic Atmosphereā from the IPCās top-rated dramas,ā she pouted, crossing her tiny arms. āDo you know how many terabytes of cringe I had to sift through, to build this server? You're welcome, by the way.ā
Blade finally shifted, the heavy, reinforced hem of his coat dragging with a dull thudāa sound that felt violently out of place against the pastel green, silken chair covers. He looked at the tiny hologram with a faint murderous flicker in his eyes. āEnd this, Silver Wolf.ā
āNope. Scriptās already locked,ā she chirped, spinning a holographic controller. āKafka said you needed ārejuvenation.ā I decided that meant a night on the town. Look, I even got you the premium package.ā
With a flick of her wrist, a waiterāwho looked suspiciously like a low-resolution version of a generic handsome man in some sort of typical romance movieāslid toward the table. He placed a tiered tray of macarons and two cups of steaming, floral-scented tea between you.
āEnjoy your date! And Bladie? Try to use more than one syllable. If the āRomance Meterā drops below fifty percent, Iām adding a karaoke segment.ā
The hologram vanished with a cheeky wink, leaving you and the most dangerous man in the Stellaron Hunters in a world of equally aggressive (yet opposite) aesthetics.
Blade looked down at the tea ā it was a delicate bone china cup, with the rim gently gilded with gold. His hands, scarred and built for the grip of a heavy broadsword, looked absurdly large against the porcelain. He picked up a teaspoon that was on his side of the table, as if he were trying to decide whether to stir the tea, or use the utensil to gouge his way out of the simulation.
āShe is insufferable,ā he muttered.
He didn't put the spoon down. Instead, he stared into the swirling amber liquid of his cup with a focused intensity, his jaw tight. He was back to his silence, but it wasn't the comfortable silence of the ship ā it was the silence of a man who was inconveniently trapped inside of a cage made of lace and sugar.
You took a tentative sip of your own tea, trying to ignore the fact that the steam smelled faintly like some sort of odd mixture of a ānew carā scent and faint lavenderāSilver Wolf clearly hadn't mastered olfactory textures yet.
"You know," you started, keeping your voice low and steady to counter the upbeat violin music, "the lighting is actually quite nice. It beats the fluorescent hum of the cargo bay."
Bladeās eyes remained fixed on his tea. "It is a lie. This sun never sets. This air does not move."
"Itās a peaceful lie, though," you countered, leaning forward and resting your elbows on the lace cloth. "When was the last time that we had an opportunity to be free of the real world, and its threats?"
He finally looked up. His crimson gaze was sharp, searching your face for the sarcasm he expected to find. When he found only genuine curiosity, he gruntedāa sound that was less of a dismissal and more of a confused acknowledgement.
"I do not seek 'peaceful lies,'" he said, though he finally let go of the spoon. "They are... distracting."
"Booo! Zero points for the 'Brooding Warrior' trope!" Silver Wolfās voice boomed from a nearby vase of lilies (was that even on the table before?), and the flowers pulsed with a neon light. "The script says you're supposed to say something about how the sunset reminds you of their beauty. Come on, Blade. Work with me here."
Bladeās jaw tightened so hard you could have sworn that you heard a faint click. He looked like he was vibrating with the urge to unsheathe his sword and cleave the entire digital horizon in two.
"Ignore her," you said quickly, reaching out as if to touch his hand, then thinking better of it and pulling back. "We don't have to follow her script. We can just...be. Even if 'being' is just sitting in a fake restaurant built by a teenager."
A flicker of somethingānot quite a smile, but a softening of the harsh lines around his eyesāpassed over him. "A teenager with far too much power," he corrected. It was the longest sentence heād uttered all day.
You spent the next few minutes pointing out the flaws in the simulation to make him feel more grounded. You pointed out a bird that was flying in a perfect, glitchy loop and a fountain where the water fell upwards.
And so, by the time the āmain courseā arrivedāa plate of food that looked like it belonged in an animeāBlade had actually leaned back a bit in his chair. One arm was draped over the velvet headrest, his fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic beat against the fabric.
"Is it working?" you asked softly.
"What?"
"The 'rejuvenation.' Even if it's annoying, doesnāt it... help? To just sit?"
Blade was silent for a long moment. He watched a digital petal drift down and disappear before it hit the floor. "The silence here is... empty," he said, his voice dropping an octave, losing its defensive edge. "On the ship, the silence is full of voices. Memories. This place is too shallow for them to follow."
He looked at you thenāreally looked at you. Not as a teammate or a mission objective, but as the only real thing in a world of pixels.
"It is... tolerable," he admitted. "Because you are here to witness the absurdity with me."
The atmosphere shifted. The aggressive violin music faded into a low, ambient humāperhaps Silver Wolf had finally gotten distracted by a game, leaving the two of you alone, in the standstill world around you.
Blade reached out. It was a slow, deliberate movement. His hand, calloused and mapped with thin white scars, stopped just inches from yours on the table. Though, he didn't make a move to fully grab your hand; instead, he simply waited, as if leaving the ultimate choice up to you.
"Your tea," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, "is getting cold."
The silence that followed wasn't any sort of heavy, suffocating kind, but rather a lighter one, cushioned by the surreal luxury of Silver Wolfās creation. Without her constant holographic nagging, the āhyper-stereotypicalā restaurant felt less like a prank and more like a fever dream that the two of you were sharing.
Bladeās hand remained where it was; an invitation etched in scar tissue. An offer you could accept or decline at any momentāwhatever you wished.
You didn't hesitate this time. You slid your hand across the white silk, resting your palm against his. His skin was warm, a stark contrast to the sterile, digital air of the simulation. For a second, he stiffened, his fingers twitching, as if his muscle memory were expecting a strike, but then he slowly turned his hand over, interlacing his fingers with yours.
His grip was firm, yet he held you with a precarious sort of care, as if he were afraid his own strength might shatter the moment.
āYouāre thinking again,ā you said softly, your thumb tracing the line of a scar across his knuckle.
āI am always thinking,ā he replied, though the usual bite in his voice had smoothed out into a tired rasp. āBut the cadence is different here. It is... slower.ā
He looked out toward the artificial horizon. The sunset was stuck in a permanent, golden hour glow, casting long, amber shadows across the table. In this light, the harshness of his features seemed to melt. The dark circles under his eyes were less pronounced; the perpetual tension in his jaw had finally begun to ebb away, even if he wouldnāt be quick to admit so.
āSilver Wolf tried too hard with the decor,ā you whispered, a small smile playing on your lips. āBut she got one thing right. The view.ā
Blade turned his gaze back to you. He didn't look at the sunset. He looked at the way the golden light caught in your hair, the way you didn't flinch from him, the way you looked perfectly at home in a world that felt alien to him.
āThe view is... acceptable,ā he murmured.
It was the closest thing to a compliment he had ever given. He squeezed your hand, a brief, grounding pressure. For a man whose entire existence was defined by the pursuit of an ending, he seemed, for the first time, to be content exactly where he was.
āIf this were real,ā you teased, your voice barely a breath, āwhere would you want to be? If there were no scripts, no Hunters, no Mara... just a quiet afternoon.ā
Blade was silent for a long time. He looked down at your joined hands, his thumb mirroring your movement, stroking the back of your hand.
āSomewhere where the air doesn't smell of blood,ā he said, his voice so low you had to lean in a bit to hear it. āSomewhere with a garden. Not like thisānot manicured and forced. A place where things grow and die in their own time. Without interference.ā
He looked up, and for a fleeting second, the typical Blade that you regularly interacted with faded. In his eyes was the soul of a man who had lived too long, loved too much, and lost everything, yet still found himself capable of holding a hand across a dinner table.
He started to lean in, his shoulder brushing yours. The distance between you was disappearing, the scent of the fake roses finally being drowned out by the very real, earthy scent of himābitter tea and old cedarwood.
The air between you hummed with a sudden, electric heat. Bladeās eyes flickered to your lips, his expression one of profound, quiet vulnerability. He reached his free hand up, his fingers hovering just inches from your cheek, trembling slightlyā
SKREEEEā!
The romantic ambient hum tore away suddenly, and a high-pitched, distorted bass drop exploded from the walls instead ā vibrating the plates, and causing the tea in your cups to jump. The soft amber sunset flickered violently, before quickly being replaced by a strobing, neon-violet light that pulsed in time with a frantic, 16-bit techno track.
āLEVEL UP! ROMANCE METER: MAXED!ā This time, Silver Wolfās boomed from the sky itself, sounding like a stadium announcer.
āWhoa, okay, I didn't think you actually had it in you, Bladie! That was getting a little too 'R-rated' for the server capacity. Letās spice things up! Time for the Bonus Round: High-Speed Dance Mode!ā
The floor beneath your feet suddenly turned into a glowing, checkered dance floor. The elegant restaurant chairs vanished into pixels, leaving Blade to stumble slightly as his support disappeared. Alongside that, the previous, almost spell-like mood was broken. In an instant, the man who had been just looking at you with such raw tenderness was gone. Bladeās hand snapped back, his posture recoiling into a defensive crouch. His eyes, once soft, sharpened into two cold, crimson flint-stones. He reached instinctively for a sword that wasn't there, his brow furrowing in a deep, familiar scowl.
āWolf,ā he snarled, the name dripping with a mixture of irritation and a strange, hidden disappointment.
He stood up, adjusting his sleeves and pulling his coat tight around him, as if trying to hide the fact that he had been vulnerable at all. He looked everywhere but at you, his jaw set in a hard, uncompromising line.
But as he turned his head to scan the glitching environment for an exit, you saw it. Just for a heartbeat.
The corner of his mouth wasn't pulled down in his usual grimace. It was tilted upwardāthe ghost of a smirk, a tiny flicker of genuine amusement at the sheer, chaotic absurdity of his life. He caught you looking, and the smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a stoic cough.
āWe are leaving,ā he stated, though he didn't move toward the exit yet. He waited, his hand hovering near yours in the neon strobe light, waiting for you to take it again so he could lead you out of the noise.
a disillusioned romantic you are, is cursed to death on the night of your twentieth birthday unless a true love's kiss comes along. can the legendary detective ashveil crack open this case for his desperate client? āā .ā¦ 2.3k word count
ā¶ CONTENT : a repost from my old blog @millurie !! contains tiny smau :3 ; lowkey situationship between ashveil and reader ; ashveil is only an unc at heart here he's just a stupid hopeless young silly ; narrator #1 wingman ; idiots in denial (you really just have fat crushes on each other LMAO) ; gn reader
ā¶ NOTES : MY NEWFOUND OBSESSION WITH THE MAN CREATED THIS šš along with the au prompt i got for @.d1strict99's glta event HEHE š„¹ it is so insanely cute :33 anyhow!! i hope u enjoy hehe
ā¶ TAGS : no tagging because this is a repost ;w; love u guys !!
"death shall come for you on the night of your twentieth birthday, unless something is done about it ā a kiss. a true love's kiss."
ā¦
"it's ridiculous! what is this, a wonderland fairytale movie?!?"
you throw your arms up when recounting the story between you and the sketchy witch. or, at least she claimed herself to be one. donning a costume hat and cape certainly did not help in making you believe it.
initially, you waved her off as a lame joke. who could blame you? some kids probably sent their aunt to play a prank, for them to get a good laugh out of strangers, why should a busy person like you waste your time?
ā¦well.
the problem was, her words struck you right in the heart ā a spot hurting most currently.
those eight letters you had come across in every piece of fiction you (chose to) read: "true love". and they left her mouth as if she knew your greatest weakness of yearning.
really, she could reel your gullible soul in any direction as long as the topic is about love. then you could insist how you "no longer believe in finding a soulmate" like the trillion times you had done so already.
which is why you are here. before mr. ashveil himself, a very much hardcore detective! hardcore enough that he has seen you in all possible stages of the past year you have known him.
"you're telling meā¦ you disturbed my peaceful sleep because of an alleged spell an alleged witch cursed you with?"
the eyebrow raise sitting on his face screams he is one step away from telling the furbos next door to write an article about you. "hopeless adult still deep in fairytales, witches and true love! should this be written into a comic?" would be the title.
"i told you, i don't buy whatever she's saying!"
every single syllable sounds sour on the tip of your tongueā¦ maybe you should stop lying?
"you do buy it."
"i do buy it." you grumble. for someone who has horrible deduction skills, ashveil manages to get that right only by looking at the sparkles behind your eyes.
the detective ponders, almost sarcastically, "why? what made you trust her, not yourself?"
same question perched so beautifully on your mind the past ten hours it becomes infuriating. is he not supposed to help you answer?!?
then againā¦ why? is it due to your twentieth birthday being just around the corner and you are too young to die? an expected reaction, though both of you (even ashveil's monkey assistant who is not present today) understand there has to be another reason behind your "trust one's gut" instinct not working.
"a woman's intuition is always correct"ā¦ perhaps that is why you believe her? desperationā¦ no, you may dread for love but not so far! umā¦
"you know, you're doing too much thinking when there's a detective right before you." ashveil's voice breaks through your chain of thoughts.
finally! his bright mind seems to have come up with something usefulā
"have you not reached to conclude how delusion clouded your judgement at the moment? she could have taken your wallet while you were standing frozen there!"
oh. ouch.
nothing new you have never heard of though. words stirred together along those lines always wiggle their way out his lips ā teasing andā¦ unfortunately, obvious. like, wow! you could not have figured it out unleā
wait. wallet?!?!?
you scramble your hands around every pocket available on you, face immediately turning pale upon feeling the sudden emptiness. there is no visible rectangle bump on the side of your pants.
"are you FUā" profanities could not even take their chance as ashveil's hat is slammed against your mouth, the smell of cheap cologne andā¦ refrigerator filling your nostrils.
after successfully shutting you up, he smoothly puts the cowboy hat back on his fluffy head of long hair, expression serious for once.
"well," the man starts, rubbing his temple in distress, "it seems i have jinxed it. or however you call it. regardless, we can't let the thief get away with taking your wallet!"
yet as ashveil says so, he crawls his way back in the barely working fridge ā his home, he claims ā planning to fall back into slumber.
utterly absurd!
you kick the side of his "bed". he possibly cannot be this chill when his most favorite regular client is requesting help!
as expected, heā¦ does nothing. of course, what else? merely letting out a half-hearted groan, plopping the hat onto his face while shooing you.
same thing for months now, "i'll get to it! give me time." then a week later he randomly texts you saying to meet up with him because he has found leads. all he manages to confirm are his baseless theories and your insanity, rooted from some deduction he has made up on a whim.
you grumble on your way out of his tiny office, muttering about how unprofessional ashveil is ā no wonder he cannot be an actual detective! only a few wives who got cheated on would love a guy like that!!
maybe you in the roster as wellā¦
anyhow! he is not just going to rise from his cryosleep to get his work done. no, you will have to wait. could be a few days, could be until the day of your death.
you sigh, sliding your phone into the pocket where your wallet should be. normally, annoyance would fill you in a rush, "why now?!?" being the first thought that pops up.
but strangely, you are not able to find it in yourself this time around. perhaps since it has happened one too many times to the point where you are tired of making the expression.
ā¦or, you have been waiting for his text. for him to initiate a meet up between you both.
whatever reason it is, at least you heard back from him. though the word "deduct" cannot get worse when it comes to ashveil, it still is better than nothing.
you hope, footsteps slowly marking the road to the ashen detective agency.
his office is a mess. as soon you step foot in it.
documents scattered everywhere. papers and what you assume to be mr. narrator's banana peels stacked atop each other. red threads connecting pieces of evidence together, like you losing your wallet is an entire crime scene.
then an ashveil. practically collapsed on his fridge ā a sight much inappropriate to anyone who walks in the room. his loud snores do not help better it either.
you should not wake him up. you should let him sleep after spending days and nights investigating your situationā
"MR. ASHVEIL!"
it seems the monkey assistant has other plans.
poor man jolts awake in such a panic that he chokes on his snort, lips opening and eyebrows furrowing clearly indicate the scolding about to let itself be knownā¦
"don't disturb my sleeā" until he sees you.
suddenly, every word is swallowed back into their origin. the detective instead stands up, fixing his appearance while stuttering out apologies to his dearest client.
even mister n rolls his eyes beside you, unable to take in ashveil's babbled sweet nothings.
"he's all yours now." the slumbernana monkey takes his exit, shutting the door for some privacy. yet, you cannot necessarily shake off the feeling that the creature knows more than he lets on, and is quite obviously trying to play his part.
ā¦
ā¦
ā¦
the fridge's humming does all the talking for you.
"ashveiā"
"aHEM," your quiet calling fades with the background noises as ashveil fumbles with different case folders, searching for a very specific one where he placed a furbo sticker in the middle and titled it "[name]'s hopelessness".
not too nice of him to do so.
"AHA!" whether he is exclaiming because it has been found or he is summoning the aeon, who knows? but him pulling out the familiar file means your answer is probably the former.
from then, you completely miss the point of whatever he is yapping about, mind stuck on a single problem.
how do you mention losing your wallet is not the only thing he needs to look into?
"you see, i have deducted ā and i have done so very well, i brought out the entire deduction guide 101 ā to two locations, both in duomension city."
"hey um, ashveilā"
"if i'm wrong you canā¦ throw bananas and tomatoes and whatnot at me every day for a month, but you have to consider the possibilities weighing here."
"detective, listenā"
"your wallet, that cute object with charms, surely it'll be easy to findā"
"ASHVEIL!"
finally.
his ears perk up, violet eyes turning to you. as if it just occured to him how to do his job ā he has to take in his client's opinion, not ramble on about what he thinks.
maybe the combination of sleep deprivation and improper diet is getting to himā¦
"ā¦yes?" will a person believe it if they hear the ashen detective himself sounding almost scared right now?
you ruffle your head in distress, "you forgot one important detail."
a most skeptical eyebrow raise toward you. as the winning contestant of various competitions concerning his work field, he would neverā
"oh."
yeah. oh.
to be fair, you cannot fault him for this. the reason he was prompted to investigate in the first place is your wallet. well, was. now there is an additional issue: the curse.
he steals a short moment to mull things over, "can't we find the lady herself and ask her?"
a logical solution, though not particularly what you are hoping looking for. the smallest wince shows itself when you notice ashveil catching onto your thoughts.
"ā¦"
"ā¦"
"ā¦are you saying i should kiss you?"
and he sure caught on fast.
"NO! ā¦i mean yes, butā"
"ME? KISS YOU?" why does he have to make it seem like it is the most disgusting act in the whole of planarcadia?!? "WHO'S TO SAY I'M YOUR TRUE LOVE?!?"
another pause. he has a point. you cannot go around kissing people. he cannot be refusing his client's orders either.
"right," the detective averts his gaze to anywhere else that is not you. honestly, the faint peachy pink is a good look on him as he tries to steer the topic of conversation to someplace else, "how about we give the witch a visit?"
judging by his expression, he merely is trying to delay the part where he kisses you. come on! who would not want to kiss you?! (ashveil, apparently) (he wants to, actually).
"rather chill of you when my death is nigh, but fine."
sigh.
ashveil would not shut up during your walk to duomension city.
"your birthday's tomorrow right? we just need to find your true love by midnight!"
wow! who knew? you surely did not, "let me check my pocket! i keep my spare true love in there."
unless he can pull "your true love" out of thin air, he is practically leaving you to die alone.
"mmā¦" the detective puts his mind to work for once. you clearly do not have many options here, so if he really does want to save youā¦
a kiss it is.
those usually sharp eyes change into softness as they dart to your lips, before quickly going back to where they were ā a random tree behind you, because he cannot bear to make eye contact. then, one deep inhale taken in to mentally prepare himself.
"let's get this over with," is the final thing you manage to hear. next thing you know, his face is already barely an inch away from yours.
said inch soon reduces to a half, a quarterā
"AMAZING! THEY KISSED!!!" you really have not gotten the chance to, as you and ashveil turn to spot the source of the familiar voice.
that wrinkled cape, that bent hatā¦
no one else other than the witch who cursed you, in broad daylight.
she also seems to be more insane compared to the last time you saw her, all snickering as she hops her way out of the dark alley she was in.
"oh, you two make a cute coupleā¦ i'm assuming he is your true love, dear child?" she peers at you expectantly, like pushing for a romance story to be told between you and the ashen detective.
"ah, noā"
"yes." ashveil nudges your elbow. let's just pretend for both sakes ā your death is imminent, more time cannot be wasted on searching for your "soulmate". he is the perfect one for you.
the lady giggles in absolute elation, "lovely! i really am the spectacular matchmakerā¦ anyhow! no need to worry about death. the curse never existed to begin with."
"ā¦what?"
oops. slip up.
"look at the clock! i should get going now. have fun!" the older woman immediately excuses herself to return to her tiny corridor.
ā¦
well.
you and ashveil do not move for the slowest second ever.
"so whatever we did for the past three days meant nothing." the man beside you slumps his shoulders, fingers gripping the cowboy hat even tighter. he drags his feet backward, quite embarrassed of what he did. was he too obvious?
yes. but at least he is aware the feeling is mutual. kinda.
you spend the night of your birthday over at the ashen detective agency, sharing the small office desk with the detective and his monkey companion, who cannot hide his excitement despite being reminded countless times that you are not yet dating!
"take notes, [name]! do not let him eat only bananas for his meals! for someone like mr. ashveil, he needs to keep a balanced diet!" mister n prods his tail on your arm after every sentence, as if to emphasize how important this is.
"mister narrator! stop!"
as much as you try to deny it, you both know. everyone knows.
this is a repost from my old blog !! T^T still, reblogs/comments are very much appreciated. thank you for reading! <3
notes. what would it be like, to come home to him after a particularly tiring and emotionally straining day? // school has me going a bit crazy recently with all the work and today took such a toll on me mentally and urgg. so likee who wants to invite me for some quiet time together to give me some calmness...
word count. 602
- childe is surprisingly observant, especially with those he cares about. he would likely know something is wrong immediately upon seeing you open the door to your shared place.
- he would quickly drop his typically more light and confident demeanor ā and anything that he may have been previously working on ā to focus entirely on you.
- the main way heād try and give you comfort is mostly through physical touch, being a rather tactile person.
- he would pull you against his chest, rubbing your back to comfort you, and offering to handle whatever is making you feel bad. (of course, still respecting any personal boundaries, if you decide that you donāt want physical touch at the present moment.)
- he wouldn't minimize your feelings. knowing how intense the world can be from his own experience, he would empathize with your exhaustion, and ensure you know that your emotions and thoughts are all perfectly valid, and okay to get out.
- being a devoted person who definitely spoils his loved ones rotten, he would cook you a favorite meal, get some sweet treats for you, prepare a warm bath for youā¦ anything at all, that you might need at the moment to unwind and get your mind off of everything.
- if you want it, he might even offer to give you a gentle massage to aid in relieving stress ā insisting on you resting on his lap, while he gently strokes your hair.
- he would quietly take over any chores or daily tasks, encouraging you to just rest and forget about your worries; heās got everything covered, so donāt worry (and donāt feel guilty ā heāll do all he can so that you know you shouldnāt feel even a smidgen of that, relentlessly trying to convince you, until you give in. donāt test him, heās stubborn, and even more so when it comes to you and your well-being).
- if your stress was caused by any specific people (for example, a rude co-worker, or an annoying customer) then he would offer to deal with them (in his own, though fairly extreme, way). after all, he can feel his blood slowly start to boil at the thought of you being mistreated, and would not hesitate to do anything he needed to do (wouldnāt be the first time).
- in moments like these, you can see even more proof of his total devotion (as if you ever thought otherwise, with everything he always does to make that clear to you ā so never have any doubt toward him). he would ensure you know that you are safe with him, promising to keep any ābastardsā far away from you.
- while he (obviously) loves excitement, he can be quite the patient listener ā especially when the situation requires him to be a calming presence for you. he wouldnāt mind a more cozy, quiet evening, if it helps you get through everything.
- overall, anything he can think of, heāll do, as a way to try and help lift your mood.
- if you are too exhausted (or simply not in the mood) to talk, he would fill the room with comfortable silence; he might even end up humming a lullaby from his youth, as a calming sound.
- later, when the two of you are done getting ready for bed, he would ā even then ā be more careful with you; making sure youāre comfortable, etc. and afterward, when you end up falling asleep, heāll just end up watching over you as you lay together, to make sure you sleep well. after the tiring day, you need this rest more than ever ā and he will do everything for you to get it.
notes. what would dates with the astral express' guard look like?Ā // been feeling nostalgic lately for the 'beginning of hsr' times so going back to the og ever... gosh with the third anni coming up it's really hit me - has it really been so long since the game was released? i could have sworn it was just a bit ago
word count. 827
- overall, it would be a quiet, thoughtful, and deeply respectful experience, characterized by dan hengās specialties ā comfortable silences, intellectual conversation, and subtle, understated affection.
- given that he is an introvert who treasures personal space and privacy, he would not be one for grand, flashy gestures; instead, heād rather mostly show his affection through soft, intimate moments focused on connection ā something that is especially visible in your outings with him.
- the date, above all else, would be peaceful; low pressure in its nature, and relaxing ā think visiting a vast, quiet library on a new planet, stargazing on the astral express, or exploring a calm, scenic location to escape the hustle of your daily lives.
- he, as a general rule, always values quality over quantity, in everything he does. heās fairly selective with his time, so if he is on a date with you in the first place, it means he deeply values your company.
- he might share some knowledge that is less known about history, or any of the data he has archived ā essentially allowing you to āpick his brainā; another way that he subtly shows his affection.
- how much he cares is shown through thoughtful actions rather than bold words. this could mean something such as remembering a minor detail you had mentioned some time ago in a previous conversation, no matter how briefly it came up. after all, he listens intently to everything you say, and wants to show that he notices you through that remembrance of those things ā heāll learn your preferences, any life experiences you share with him, and all of the other stuff you tell him, by heart.
- of course, as the guard of the express, and just being the way he is, he is naturally protective; heāll always end up (consciously or subconsciously) keeping a close eye on you in unfamiliar places ā he simply wants to do everything he can, to ensure that you are safe at all times. if something happens that makes you require any sort of help, or safety from an enemy, he will spring into action quickly; and this sort of mindset rarely leaves him, even when the two of you are safe, enjoying a moment together. heāll still be just as alert and protective, as a ājust in caseā measure.
- though, there are moments where he truly is able to unwind ā with you by his side, safe, and his mind having a brief pause from the usual torment of constant racing thoughts. in those moments, he is utterly himself, and at peace; not worrying about anything, other than enjoying the present.
- in general, he does not feel the need to fill the air with chatter; that being said, he would not mind it if you just wanted to talk ā heāll gladly listen to anything that you have to say, always interested in your thoughts, views, and anything else he can learn about you. you would likely share meaningful, quiet moments, comfortable just being side-by-side.
- while not naturally physically affectionate, it would only make those rare occasions of such gestures ā like taking your hand in his (slowly, hesitantly, and gently) or brushing hair from your face (his touch like a soft feather gracing your skin) ā feel all the more significant and intimate.
- he maintains a serious, calm, and composed demeanor (alongside a bit of dry humor every now and then), but everyone knows he is purely a softie at heart, especially when he finally lets his guard down.
- being naturally rather patient and thoughtful, he avoids unnecessary confrontations or arguments, and highly values personal space ā both his own and yours. keeping that in mind, he will be very sensitive to your boundaries, making for a healthy, respectful dynamic overall, but especially during your outings with him.
- if pushed to flirt or express emotions directly, he might get flustered, embarrassed, and look away ā an action which is fairly rare, but nonetheless endearing each time.
- when it comes to the location of the date itself, heād much rather choose to stay inside; opting for a safe and more domestic time. however, if you wish to go somewhere, he will agree and accompany you all the same. most commonly, youād go out to a nearby park, coffee shop, or library. though, realistically speaking, most of your ādatesā end up just being hanging out with each other in the archives, talking about various things (that doesnāt take away from the fact that those moments end up being some of the best time youāve spent together, though). either way ā ultimately, if heās with you, he doesnāt mind where the two of you are; as long as you are happy as well, then heās content anywhere.
- with dan heng, you can be sure of stability, deep conversation, and sincere, quiet affection; he is a person who cares incredibly deeply, once he lets you into his world (and he already has; so now, he can never let you go, or let anything happen to you).
notes. some thoughts regarding how 'the strongest' turns into a complete child when you don't keep your eyes on him 24/7 // urg i really need to reread the manga again for the millionth time sometime soon...but there's so many other things i need to do too...sigh such a dilemma
word count. 625
- letās be real, satoru is always obnoxious ā no matter the situation. why should that be any different when heās jealous? in fact, heās (somehow) even more so.
- this guy would not just wait patiently for you to finish your conversation; how could he, after all? heās loud in everything he does, especially when it comes to the action of being jealous.
- he would likely appear out of seemingly nowhere (itās like he has a sense for this sort of thing with youā¦), draping himself over you if youāre standing. Or, if youāre sitting with someone, heād simply smoothly slide into the seat beside you, and force his way into the conversation, no matter what the topic is.
- he would treat it like a joke, smiling or laughing ā trying to seem as playful as usual ā but thereās no doubt that his eyes behind the blindfold are cold; the seemingly teasing nature not reaching them.
- using a bright, overly cheerful (even for him) voice to mask his annoyance, heād make cutting or sarcastic remarks about the person you were speaking to; and you can be sure that even the grin on his face would look rather artificial for him if you looked close enough ā a sign that he was practically fuming beneath the surface.
- he might even try to humiliate the other person (indirectly or directly), or make jokes about how you don't need them because you have him; thereās no doubt that he is known by everyone who knows the two of you that he can be rather clingy and territorial, almost (and sulky, if he doesnāt get enough of a dose of attention within a certain amount of time).
- above all else, heād feel the need to immediately āprove himselfā and establish some sort of claim of you through physical touch. thereās various ways heād go about this, depending on the situation, but all equally pathetically clingy ā either pulling you by the waist into his lap or side, or in general relying on high pda, such as draping an arm around your shoulder while practically staring daggers at the other person.
- sometimes, heād even have the audacity to pull you away from the conversation and person entirely ā herding you over to a deserted place ā only to scold you for talking to someone else (because apparently, thatās practically a crime, and youāre essentially ābetrayingā him by doing so).
- on occasion, as well, he might be the type to show a sort of possessive grooming. while you're still talking with the other person, and heās already positioned himself near you, he might start slightly fixing your hair or adjusting your collar with extreme focus. an action that seems rather sweet from the outside, but when it comes down to it, itās essentially just a loud, non-verbal stake of claim ā something akin to a sort of ādon't touch, this belongs to meā.
- if for whatever reason he cannot confront you immediately (like he wants to), he will 1000% become incredibly clingy and whiny later, once the two of you are reunited again.
- this bastard will be out here demanding affection from you, to reassure himself that you are āstill hisā (meanwhile, all that happened was that you stopped giving him attention for likeā¦an hour or two tops. i swear, this guy).
- he might sulk for a while if he feels like you are ignoring him, though he wonāt actually end up staying jealous for a long period of time ā itās far more important for him to continue pestering you.
- if anything, heāll simply make some sort of remark regarding how he simply without a doubt knows (is convinced) that youāll never leave him, because heās already the best that there is ā what more could you ever want?
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notes. what happens when the one and oni gets his hand on a kamera? all that can be said is that you're in for one busy dayābut it'll be worthwhile! // i kind of wrote this on a whim during my breaks between lessons after randomly getting this idea in class? but it was fun eheh
word count. 1872
It was a nice day; warm, calm, quiet. You were sitting on your bed at home, relaxing, using your free time to finally do what you wanted to do, instead of running around for someone else.
Key word: was. Past tense.
Just as you had fallen into a state of being fully immersed in the activity at hand, the peaceful atmosphere was broken; quite violently, too.
āTHE ONE AND ONI RETURNS!ā
You snapped out of your own thoughts as you heard a booming voice just outside of your house exclaim triumphantly, before the front door swung open ā with a clear excess of energy. Barging in, he didn't bother with any formalities or greetings. Quickly making his way through the place, as he'd done numerous times before, he reached you. In one swift move, he pulled one of the nearby chairs closer to where you were ā with the back of it facing you ā and proceeded to sit down on it backwards.
āGuess what I just got!ā
He spoke, practically vibrating with excitement, looking at you expectantly; as if he didn't just randomly burst in though your door without a word of explanation. Though, to be fair, this was a fairly common occurrence, at this point.
āā¦Uh, I don't knoāā
āWrong!ā
You'd barely strung together a few words, staring at him, still somewhat recovering from being caught off guard, before he interrupted, beaming. Clearly, he was too enthusiastic to tell you what he had, to actually let you think for a moment. But hey, that was Itto for you, you supposed; it was simply his nature.
He stood up from the chair, now instead putting one foot onto it, resting his arms on his knee, and leaning forward ā as if trying to have some sort of great unveiling mixed with a whispered secret.
āPrepare to be blown away by the awesomeness! Behold ā the finest Kamera Fontaine has ever produced! Won it fair and square in aā¦uh, high-stakes duel! Nobody couldāve ever taken this baby away from me!ā
As he spoke, his voice got louder, and his chest puffed out, as if what he won was a truly grand object. Reaching behind him, he took out the Kamera in question, holding it up in his hand towards you, as if it were a long-lost treasure.
āAmazing, right? But that's not all! I have the offer of a lifetime for you!ā
Once he started something, he really couldn't be stopped, could he? You didn't even have the time to try and get a word in between his exclamations ā though, he probably didn't even notice your lack of replies, too pumped up about the whole thing. Striking a dramatic pose, he continued to unveil everything.
āI call it... The Arataki Photo-Shoot Extravaganza! And you, my friend, are the star. Don't worry about the posesājust try to look half as cool as I do, and the Kamera will do the rest!"
Finally, there was a brief moment of pause, as he waited for any sort of acknowledgement you'd give. When you simply watched him, he decided to clarify further.
āCome on, be the model for my "Art of the Arataki'" portrait collection ā you'll be a natural, I just know it!ā
āā¦youā¦want me to model for you?ā
You asked cautiously, wondering what kind of antics the Oni was up to this time; this wouldn't be the first time he'd roped you into something that you weren't aware of. Though, he seemed entirely genuine in his nodding, and rather proud of his beetle battle winnings.
āYeah! I gotta take this baby out for a test drive, to rest if it really is as good as they say ā and you could help!ā
A short bit later, he ended up dragging you out, no matter if you protested or not, leading you to various places around Inazuma. All the while, he held the Kamera in his hands, laughing and yelling out directions for what you should do. Needless to say, it attracted the attention of many of the people around you ā though, some of the locals simply rolled their eyes or sighed under their breaths, and continued what they were doing; clearly, Itto's loudness was nothing new. And, if that wasn't enough, with all his moving around he very nearly dropped the device quite a few times; when you scolded him, he simply chuckled and shrugged it off, giving you another pose to fulfill.
Unfortunately, he didnāt accept any normal smiles or poses ā you had tried to just do what you could to get out of his stunts, for the sake of the localsā ears. Instead, he simply doubled down and talked about wanting things such as "intense warriorā, "looking away at the horizon majesticallyā, and something titled by him as a ābeetle-battle pose", whatever those meant. You weren't even sure that he was taking the pictures right, given how he wasn't looking through the lens or anything like that ā instead mostly focusing on looking at you directly.
That being said, he sure took a lot of them, based on how often you heard the shutter click. Often, he'd shake his head vigorously in frustration, since it wasn't quite what he was going for. Sometimes you didnāt look intense enough ("No, no, no! Less smiling! More...āIām gonna knock you downā! Yeah!"), sometimes you weren't moving around enough (āPretend the Golden Wolflord is chasing you!ā); but overall he definitely worked you, being more into it than you had initially expected. Sometimes, he took tens of pictures of a single pose, because āone of them will look betterā when the two of you look at them later.
He boasted to everyone and anyone he could, passing by ā both about his new Kamera, and about having you as a model.
āYeah, that's right! It's the Arataki Gang! Taking pictures! Be jealous!"
As you both walked into the Chinju forest for a brief break, he suddenly ran off to chase a fast-moving Tanuki ā with no apparent context, other than him shouting that it owed him a rematch.
Having a moment to yourself, you sat down on a nearby large rock on the road, and took the Kamera (which he had haphazardly thrown onto the path, before running off). Deciding to glance at the photos he'd taken so far, being curious, you looked through them ā expecting most of them to be blurry, chaotic, accidental shots of unrelated objects, and overall exactly showcasing how he sounds on a daily basis. Surprisingly, though, that wasn't what you found. Most of the pictures you see are actually rather good ā it seemed he could be a rather artistic photographer.
You went through the photos with a newfound awe, looking at the way the lighting was perfect, the way the composition of everything was remarkably well-done given how much the two of you were movingā¦practically every detail of most of them was perfect. Then, you stumbled upon a different type of picture ā ones you didnāt even know heād taken. They were candid shots, seemingly completely random, but they had a soft air about them. There was one capturing the moment of you laughing at one of his stupid jokes, not having realized he was pointing the Kamera at you. Next to it, there was another ā of you walking ahead, framed by the sakura trees of Hanamizaka ā and another; this time, getting a moment of you looking intently focused, as you tried to fix your hair. A strong gust of wind had blown over, and messed up your hairstyle, so you had quickly tried to fix it before Itto could get any more pictures in ā not paying attention to how he was doing just that, in the moment. There were countless others; like a small collection of those gentle, more casual situations ā all well-framed and of a gentle quality.
As you continued watching them with a quiet sense of flusteredness and soft delight, Itto came back, muttering something about the Tanuki being a ācoward in front of the one and Oniā before moving closer to where you were. Wordlessly, you turned the Kamera towards him, questioningly; he simply straightens up, proudly.
āSee? I told you they were good. Waitāā
He trails off as he realizes what you were looking at, and seemingly deflates a little. Staying silent for a longer while, he eventually simply rubs the back of his neck with his hand, his face lighting up with a faint hint of pink hue.
āWellāI meanā¦you were justā¦it was a good shot, okay? Donāt make a big deal out of it, or my reputation will be ruined!ā
He turned around slightly, somewhat hiding himself from your immediate view, as he mumbled lowly.
āYou look good in them, okay? Stop looking at me like that.ā
You simply lightly chuckled, placing the Kamera down for a moment, standing up and walking closer towards him, so you could directly face the now-flustered Oni.
You stepped into his line of sight, forcing him to acknowledge the blush dusting his cheeks. Up close, the āCrimson Oniā lived up to his name in a way youād never seen beforeāhis face was nearly as red as the markings on his skin.
"The Great Arataki Itto, master of beetle battles and... professional portrait photographer?" you teased softly, tilting your head. "I didn't know you saw me like that, Itto."
He let out a noise that was half-scoff, half-whimper, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His usual bravado was failing him, and doing so fast.
"I just... the lighting was doing that thing! You know? The sparkly thing! And you weren't making those weird faces you do when I tell you to pose, so..."
He trailed off, finally meeting your eyes. The chaos in his expression softened into something uncharacteristically earnest. He reached out, his large, calloused hand hovering near your shoulder before he pulled it back to nervously adjust his coat.
"Look, I just wanted to remember it, alright?" he mumbled, his voice dropping an octave, losing its usual grating edge.
"The day. The win. Being out here with you. Itās not every day a guy gets to win a legendary Kamera and spend the afternoon with the prettiest person in Inazuma."
He crossed his arms, trying to regain some semblance of his "boss" persona, though his tail-like coat flickered behind him with his nervous energy.
"But don't you go telling Shinobu or the boys. If word gets out that Iām some kind of... of sentimental softie, Iāll never hear the end of it!"
You reached out, gently catching his hand to stop his fidgeting. "Your secret is safe with me, Itto. But," you gestured back to the Kamera on the rock, "I think I want a few more. Only if youāre the one taking them, though."
A grināa real, genuine Itto grinābroke through his embarrassment, like the sun hit the nearby rocks. He snatched the Kamera up with a triumphant shout, the shyness vanishing as quickly as it had arrived.
"Ha! Well, why didn't you say so?! Stand back, compadre! Youāre looking at the future best photographer in Teyvat! Now, walk towards that treeāyeah, just like thatāand don't look at me, just look... legendary!"
notes. brief scenarios of how ice skating with him would go // today's one of coldest days that it has been in a few weeks over here, so i've been thinking about winter again
word count. 722
- childe will be childe, no matter the situation he finds himself in.
- if you are a bit clumsy, or new to skating, he will definitely be amused (and show that without qualms). he will relentlessly tease you about needing his help, however you can also be sure that he will still be an attentive mentor.
- when it comes to his own experience and manner of skating, you can expect him to glide effortlessly ā performing quick turns, or perhaps even jumps, to show off his skills. show off.
- with the way he's skating like a pro (who wants to tease you), he will be leaving sharp (yet clean) cuts in the ice.
- though, despite all of the teasing, he does still care (obviously). heāll do everything he can, to ensure that you don't fall; his teasing would not include harming you ā especially if you make it clear to him that you're genuinely afriad. in that case, he'd immediately drop poking fun at you, and reassure you.
- he'd will grab your hands or waist, guiding you on the ice gently and slowly, to help you assimilate to the feel of skating. ("i've got you, always. i'm not going to let you fall.")
- some time later, when youāve gotten more comfortable with him pulling you around (and the method of gliding around in general), heāll speed up his skating ā pulling you quickly across the rink; after all, he thrives on the speed and thrill (and wants you to have some fun with him, and learn to love the adrenaline-filled sensation too).
- if there are children around, or if you bring up his siblings, he will immediately pivot to being a kind, protective role model. he might talk about some past memories of ice skating with them, reminiscing. he'll always be careful of others around you on the rink, even while teasingly pulling you forward faster ā but he's especially aware of any younger kids nearby (and always eager to help when they need it). one of them fell? he's immediately there, helping them get back up again with a smile and encouraging message to keep trying, before returning to you.
- that being said, he can still be quite greedy regarding your attention and time, wanting this activity to be a nice experience that's just between the two of you.
- once you get the hang of the basics, and aren't falling as much, he would encourage you to be brave and move faster (ātrust me, you'll be just fine!ā).
- he might even end up starting banter with you about who the better skater is in the end. (or, if you already know how to skate well, he'd continually do so.)
- if you're good at skating, he'd take the chance to show off even more ā after all, he has to impress you somehow, no? you've given him a high bar to compete with.
- you can be sure that he will continuously try to compete with you, or rope you into games (that are not so subtly just the same as the competitions). he wants to prove that he's the better skater, so that youāre proud of him!
- win or lose, teasing the entire time is a given.
- in general, he moves with the precision of a trained warrior, even on ice. when he stops his teasing momentarily and really gives it his all, he holds himself with grace, which translates to a graceful (if not slightly arrogant) skating style.
- after you decide to finish up on the rink, and leave for the day, heād likely suggest a hot drink to warm up from the cold. of course, this is mostly just an excuse to tease you about your red face and how he doesn't get cold due to being accustomed to lower temperatures for most of his life. cheeky bastard.
- but it's fine, he can still steal sips from your hot chocolate (he paid for it, so it's ābasically hisā)! when you ask why he didn't just get his own, he'd just make some remark about not wanting one (despite still actively stealing from yours?) or, if he's feeling more playful, he'd make a comment about how yours tastes better, somehow.
- he's just having fun with you, at the end of the day ā and that time spent together, no matter what you two do, is precious to him.
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a DISCORD SERVER with network-exclusive events. if timezone allows us, we will be having movie nights, gaming nights, and such to keep everyone engaged! this will provide an opportunity for new friendships, bonds, and fun memories.
interested? read the rules and make sure that you understand them. ready to join now? look forward to the announcement.
notes. just some thoughts about how a night routine (or general after-training situation) would look like with megs <3 // writing this while being unable to fall asleep. who wants to cuddle until slumber reaches me,,,
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- after a long, noisy day dealing with yuji, nobara, satoru, or a demanding mission, megumi just finally wants some peace and quiet.
- heād walk into his dorm room and immediately quietly exhale ā at last relaxing when he sees you.
- changing into something more comfortable, often an oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants, he casually joins you, sitting near you and observing what you were doing. (as a side note, if you stole something from his closet while he was away ā he loves seeing you wear his clothes, even if he pretends not to care.)
- if it was a fairly okay day, heāll read or just sit with you in comfortable silence, holding your hand; after all, he doesn't need constant conversation to feel close.
- if heās stressed about a mission, or something more major happened, he might spend time analyzing combat techniques, etc. as a form of anxiety under the guise of improvement and education. though, heāll still prioritize listening to your day over his own worries (plus, it helps him get his mind off of his own problems).
- if youāve been on a dangerous mission, he becomes intensely attentive, checking you over repeatedly and making sure you are comfortable (he doesnāt believe you when you say youāre āfine,ā due to being too worried). he wonāt get any rest until heās completely certain that you are alright.
- he might invite you to share the shower with him ā not for anything overly sexual, but for calm, intimate quality time. he will help wash your hair or back, taking care of you.
- if you wear a bonnet, or have any specific routine needed for hair or body care, you can be sure heās silently learned it so that he can help you (and to better know you, which helps him find the best suited ways to show his affection, demonstrating his attentiveness); he often finishes by placing a faint, tender kiss on your forehead.
- while he does portray himself to be fairly stoic in public, he often pulls you into his lap ā while the two of you are alone ā when heās sitting on the floor or bed, just to feel your presence close to him.
- in bed, you two fit together perfectly. he usually lies on his back with you tucked against his chest, his chin resting on the top of your head.
- while trying to fall asleep, he might end up gently tracing lines along your waist or arm; and even in his sleep, he often grips the back of your shirt in a way that is almost like heās holding onto you ā as if subconsciously ensuring youāre there and safe.
- megumi is usually painfully still when he sleeps, but when he is exhausted, he will let out faint snores, entirely relaxed
- heād also shift around when sleeping; so, in the morning, the two of you would end up with your limbs and the blanket tangled. often, he ends up shifting onto his side, pulling you closer into his chest, while still asleep.
- he often talks in his sleep, usually mumbling about missions or subconsciously saying your name when he thinks you're gone.
- if you ever even try to move in the middle of the night (whether to get up for a glass of water, or simply in attempt to shift your position into a more comfortable one), he will immediately wake up enough to pull you back in, refusing to let you move too far away from him. in the case that heās too exhausted for his body to wake him up at your shifting around, he still somehow subconsciously just knows, and pulls you back in while asleep. youāll find yourself even closer to him than you were before, his grip will tighten, and the way out of his arms will get even more difficult.
- in short, a night with megumi is safe, calm, and filled with quiet devotion.
notes. it's late and i've been thinking about future late night walks under the moon in the summer when the temperatures are nicer...waiting for that
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- casual walks with giyu would be very quiet.
- that being said, that would not make them any less comforting ā in fact, rather the opposite.
- the two of you could be walking under the stars, and heād simply be right next to you; not saying much, but enjoying the peace and quiet of the late hour.
- if youāre quiet as well, then it would just be a serene moment of stillness ā a nice contrast to the nature of the day; a moment to get away from the hectic world and all of its issues, where you can allow nature to merely wash over you. both of you would be looking up at the dark sky, enjoying each otherās companionship wordlessly. it would feel more like a soothing type of safety being exuded by him, rather than being awkward.
- if youāre talking, then he would silently listen intently, occasionally nodding slightly or making soft hums of acknowledgement. he might stare ahead, but rest assured heās focused on every word to come out of your mouth; and every so often, heād glance over at you as you speak, quietly admiring the way the moonlight bathes you in its light (making you glow more than usual, in his eyes).
- he might look up at the stars, lost in thought and past memories. though, your presence allows him to come out of them, helping him to focus whatās most important right now ā on the present, that can still be changed and shaped, rather than the past.
- if you reach out to lace your fingers with his, his fingers might stiffen up briefly, before twitching marginally, and ultimately relaxing. he wonāt say anything, and probably wonāt look over at you, but will reciprocate your hold in silence.
- in the case of you not physically holding each other, giyu would likely walk at a distance thatās just close enough to ensure he can keep you safe in case of anything that may suddenly happen. focusing on your potential boundaries and his own, he hesitates on being too close. both due to his nature and general fears of what that would mean (alongside the overall fear heād have of āgetting too closeā to someone), and due to the worry of letting his guard down.
- always observant of any danger, he ensures you feel secure as the two of you spend time together.
- of course, though, if he is more comfortable, he might give you a faint smile or a glance thatās ever so slightly gentle; a rare behavior from him (though itās becoming increasingly more common with you).
- instead of talking, heād show his softheartedness during the stroll through small actions (things that are really far more telling of how he cares, given the type of person he is). he may hand you a warm drink, offer his haori if it gets cold, or just make sure that heās the one walking on the side of the path closest to any potential danger.
- despite not speaking much, if he does, you can be sure that the words that leave him will be soft ā quiet, direct, thoughtful; and above all else, genuine.
- he finds comfort in the vastness of the stars above, as a sign of lingering beauty, even amidst pain; it might prompt him to share a thought about something of that type (life, duty, cherishing moments of peace).
- generally, a night walk with giyu would be a small form of a tranquil respite; a chance to appreciate peace and cozy silence, offering a time and place to relax while feeling protected and understood ā without it being necessary to fill the air with noise.
notes. just some thoughts about how going somewhere with the beloved wolf thiren would be <3 // been thinking about how going places with someone feels recently because i've been a bit lonely,,,sigh anyway.
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- first off, he would always accompany you everywhere you go ā thatās a given, for sure.
- lycaon cares about you far too much to let you go off somewhere alone. itās not that he doesnāt think you can handle yourself (he knows perfectly well you can), but rather as an additional precaution. and, in a way, itās for the good of his own heart and stress levels ā heād rather be absolutely sure that youāre just fine, instead of being left to constantly wonder.
- that, and he will always be a butler at heart, when it comes down to it, so heāll always wish to ensure his master is doing fine. plus, heās definitely not going to let you hold anything if he can help it ā heāll make sure to carry everything for you; after all, to him that courtesy is a must, being the āproperā thing to do.
- similarly, he will keep you safe from everything, even if itās not always necessary ('ājust in caseā), and generally do everything possible to guarantee your well-being while on the way to your destination.
- rude civilian on the street? heās prepared to defend you and your honor. an object being thrown nearby? heāll take care to shield you from it. a random insect is disturbing you? he gently yet efficiently shoos it away, being careful that nothing happens (to both you and the bug).
- all in all, heās kind of like your own personal bodyguard (whether or not you want that; itās just in his nature).
- heād also be the type to enact the so-called āsidewalk ruleā so fluidly, that you wouldnāt even notice, until you gave it more thought.
- every time the two of you cross somewhere, leading to you being on the side closer to the street with nearby cars, etc. going by, his hand softly brushes up against your back ā only barely, but enough ā to guide you further towards your side, effectively switching your places.
- of course, he does this without thinking; itās simply something that is natural to him, like instinct.
- that being said, there are brief moments when lycaon does hesitate. while still gingerly touching your back to herd you more to your right, thereās a brief moment of pause from him; itās not enough to be clearly, visibly noticeable, but itās there ā after all, heād much rather be able to see you easily, and that would mean having you stay on his left due to his eye. but at the same time, thereās the issue of the street, and your immediate safety. so, he goes through with the usual motion anyway, though there is a faint hint of well-concealed unease in his movements during that stretch of the path.
- nonetheless, he will always be alert and prepared for all possible situations ā ready to spring into action if need be.
- also, he probably knows all sorts of other routes (in case of any issues), hidden paths, or potential shortcuts (if youāre running low on time) to take. of course, if you simply want to walk for the sake of walking, or take a more scenic route, then he wonāt complain; you need only express such a desire, and heāll go along with anything you want (in fact, he might even recommend a way with a better view, if you want).
- overall, lycaon is always one of the best companions to have with you when heading out somewhere; no matter the situation, regardless of any unpredictable circumstances that may happen, you can feel sure that youāll reach your destination safely and efficiently ā and you have him right by your side through everything.
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