gentle rain.

shan bolin • 19 • son of shan yu. you left my soul bleeding in the dark so you could be { K I N G } the rules you set are still untold to me and i've lost my faith in everything the nights you could cope your intentions were gold but the mountains will shake i need to know i can still make { e x p l o s i o n s }

[rainingvictory]

the best older brother a girl could ask for. he's always lifting me up and giving me confidence, even though i don't deserve it and can hardly do anything in return. he keeps me grounded. he is the earth to my air.

“Xiaoli, you always deserve it.”

[rainingvictory]

๑۞*¤°— @castorpoison said: ❛❛ I am trash Satan. ❜❜

“And by that do you mean... that you’re the worst thing for trash as Satan is to believers... or that you’re a trashy devil?” Bolin asked, not sure how people used their slang at times.

[rainingvictory]

XIAOLI SHAN:

xiaoli knew very well that if their roles were reversed, it would be just the same. she wouldn’t be leaving until she knew her brother was alright. she would most likely be a little more awkward about it, never knowing how to properly comfort people, but she would try her best. and bolin knew that. no one knew her better than her brother did, after all.

‘i know that was, and never will be, your intention,’ she wrote. she took his hand, continuing to type with her free one. it took a little longer, but she wasn’t about to let go. not when it made her feel better. ‘it is more of a selfish feeling on my part. you are all moving on with your lives and meeting new people, or exploring the relationships you already had in a different light.’ she gave her brother a soft, but pointed look at that. something like approval, almost. ‘i feel as though i am still the same as i was when i first arrived. that was the main reason for my wish.’ because if she had a voice, it would be easier to make friends. it was such a childish wish in retrospect, and she hadn’t really known what she’d wanted until now. she just wanted what everyone else had.

It took a moment for Xiaoli’s words to settle in as he read them. His eyes flickered to his sister’s expression when she looked at him. At first, he wasn’t sure what to think. But, he wasn’t clueless. He gave a sheepish smile. It wasn’t that he had meant to be obvious about what had started with Thalia; it’s just now that someone else had noticed it, it was all the more clear as to what they had become. He then looked up towards the window of the dorm. Xiaoli, stagnant, and Bolin, the one to be moving. It seemed as though things have been turned around since the beginning of the year. 

“You may not notice it— But I do. I wish I could make you see,” he started then gave a sheepish chuckle. “Maybe wish is the wrong word... You see, little sister, admitting to this desire to change... isn’t that something different? Something to move you forward? You and I once believed we would never be more than our father’s pawns. And yet, here we are. You’ve met family. You’ve branched out in ways that we thought could never be possible. Not all flowers bloom at the same time, everything takes its due time. Just because I’ve sprouted a little, doesn’t mean you won’t grow to unimaginable heights. I believe you can. You can touch the clouds once you’re done growing.”

[2chittaphon]

Memories pass by, overturning a thousand sentences What I want to say to you is stored deep in my heart I write and delete those worded emotions Maybe the blankness best illustrates it

luhan //  what if i said 💎

[rainingvictory]

๑۞*¤°— @ceridwcn said: “i have this problem where i isolate myself from civilization and then get upset because i’m lonely.”

Bolin gave a small smile at the comment. He looked up, surprised to see a sea witch before him. The surprise didn’t last long before he responded with, “You’re always in company. Your mind is vast and is as infinite as a galaxy— not quite comprehensible but filled with wonder and danger all the same.” He looked back down at the tea he was drinking. “At least, that’s how I’ve always seen being alone is like.”

[rainingvictory]

THALIA DALMA:

she shook her head, her mouth turning up into a grin as she stilled the hand that was brushing his way his hair, letting it rest for a moment on his cheek. “ definitely not dangerous. and i would be inclined to agree. i like you as you. strong bolin shan.” she remarked, thinking nothing of it. thalia lips twisted into a small smile. a genuine smile, not one of her smirks or grins. just the tiniest of real smiles that she hardly shared with anyone. she could hear past the teasing and into the ring of honesty the words held. “ of course. our family. ” as someone who took the word family very seriously, she would never once deny that the shans were family to her. and like she would with her own blood, she would go to the ends of the earth for them. ( and though she would never admit, she liked the way the words sounded coming from his mouth. their family. ) she let her eyebrows furrow as gravely shook her head in mock seriousness. she tsked. “ not once would i think to rid myself of you, dearest bolin. ” she let herself lean ever so slightly closer. “ and you can be sure that i will be by your side as well. as certain as the sun setting in the west. ” she matched his response with a small smile.

The action was as natural as water flowing in a creek, but it also started a tremor on the seabed, rattling his brain. He wished he could deny what everything was so blatantly pointing towards. Of course, things weren’t ever that easy. So long as the tremors don’t disrupt the surface, he should be fine.... right? Bolin returned the smile, as small as the sweetest berry, as he placed his hand over Thalia’s. “I do believe I’ve made quite the impression on you then,” he mused softly before his expression softened. As much as he enjoyed bantering with Thalia and being this close, there was something on his mind. It pressed and pushed. He let out a soft sigh, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers. “Did Xiaoli tell you what she wished for?” he asked, his voice slow. He licked his lips once, his soft expression becoming more troubled. He didn’t like the thought of it-- he thought Xiaoli was remarkable as is and for her to wish for more from herself... he sighed. “I don’t want her to feel the way she does. I want to make it better for her but I fear that there’s nothing I can do to help. It’s strange feeling so helpless.” 

[mairauders]

our love has grown a garden inside my rib cage, and sometimes i can barely breathe.

i wish winter never came. // V.R. (via hxcates)

[rainingvictory]

win for me. (pt 1)

a mortal kombat!au where shan bolin is a runaway fighter from a warrior clan, only to be captured to participate in a fatal tournament. little does anyone know, this tournament determines more than earth’s greatest fighter, the entire balance of this universe rests on the outcome of the champion.

i am mortal kombat trash okay, i love it so much and i encourage anyone to play the game if they haven’t already (unless you’re not a fan of gore, then please don’t). and thIS IDEA CAME UP RIP ME. AND YES I HAVE MORE THAN ONE PART BECAUSE LBR THIS GOT REALLY LONG. and yes there are mentions of @thxliadalma and @xiacli dON’T WORRY ABOUT IT

There was the rattling of chains. Bolin remembered the sound well— it was strange that he couldn't see. He was bound. Yet, every other sense was on high alert. He could smell rust and sweat, he could feel the thickness in the air as if there was dusty wind howling just beyond him, he could hear the cheers and roars of a crowd. Most importantly, he heard an old brother of his grumbling to “release him but hold him at spear-point”. How irrevocably charming.

The point of the blade pressing against the small of his back, Bolin was forced to move forward. The cover over his eyes didn't let up, however, he could feel his wrists and ankles become unchained. That was all he needed, even with the death threat breathing straight down his back. It was barely a heartbeat later when Bolin twisted his body around, effectively kicking the spear out of his captor's hands. The stagger sounded familiar— it was his old brother with the limp in his right leg and who didn't exert enough energy with his left punches. With one clack of the spear hitting the floor, Bolin managed to pinpoint where its grip was (or was going to be) and used his leg to kick it back towards him.

An assailant behind him yelled, using the back end of the spear, Bolin spun to knock him off his feet. He landed on his knee, unfamiliar with the terrain. He'd have to make sure to be aware of every crack on the stony ground. It was damp, so sounds would easily echo. Didn't matter all too much to a warrior like him. He could focus on what was an echo and what was a true noise. Bolin never thrust the spear towards his opponents, using the shaft to deflect oncoming blows and striking without fatal harm. It didn't help that all his opponents were familiar-- familiar sounds, familiar smells,  familiar faults. He had bested all of them before blindfolded. Child's play, truly.

It was until he felt a rush of wind from a blade so unique, that he could recognize the sound just from it cutting air. As if he wasn't on high alert already. Bolin had gotten cocky with his skills when it came to his old brothers-- countless spar matches where he would inevitably come out on top. He manipulated their weaknesses just as they feared his strengths. It was easy to disarm and disengage. This, however, was a whole different ballgame. The young man stepped back, keeping the spear behind him in a defensive position, ready to strike or deflect at a moment's notice.

He couldn't hear his footsteps. Bolin knew that his own footsteps were undetectable, as well, courtesy of him. But that didn't matter. His opponent had the advantage of sight. He kept his footwork steady and solid, knowing he'd be on the defense ultimately now. Another rush of wind from the blade— a difficult blow to defend against. A small twist of Bolin's hand and a flurry of steps gave him some ground but only for a moment. Again, the sword was quick to deliver a blow. Quicker than before, angrier. Bolin had a harder time blocking it.

His next task would've been to get rid of the blindfold. But even within a millisecond's hesitation to bring his hand up to free himself, he was vulnerable. He was taken advantage of. Bolin panicked as the swords' thrusts became quicker, sharper, closer. He had eventually lost his footing when he could hear the echoes becoming more definite... he was backed into a wall.

“And that is why you're my champion. One of two of my deadliest weapons.”

Shan Yu's voice was a disgusting ooze that crawled down his back. Bolin wanted to gag. He didn't dare move, though. This was different than being held hostage before. Feeling the tip of that cursed blade at his neck almost guaranteed no escape. At least, not alive. He was grabbed on each side, his arms being forced behind his back. Bolin's posture was rigid regardless, his chin standing still even at the mercy of his own father's sword.

Finally, the blindfold was taken off. An old brother's grin was nasty but with one side glance, Bolin quickly dismissed it as unnecessary. Never had he seen a smile wiped away so quickly. His eyes turned steely when they reached his father. Shan Yu was unreadable; his expression a disgusting mixture of anger, pride, and bemusement. One thing Bolin was certain of... Shan Yu was anything but kind.

“You were hard to find, my son. But that pirate's made some formidable enemies and in doing so, you did, too. What did you think you were going to gain? Running away with a heathen Dalma— you know you're never safe with them around.”

“You know nothing about Thalia,” Bolin spat. The grips on his arms tightened as if they were trying to warn him of the chieftain's cruelty. But Bolin knew. He just didn't care anymore. “I don't belong to you.”

“I made you what you are!” Shan Yu suddenly roared. The sword at his neck pricked at his skin, a droplet of crimson settling on the blade. Bolin was surprised that the blade only moved inches, given his father's anger. “You'd be nothing without me. You wouldn't be able to disarm 20 of the greatest Huns under my command without me. Because I made you, you owe me a debt. I could've left you with your whore of a mother. Instead, I grace you with this gift. How do you repay me? By running away in the middle of the night like some coward.”

“Gift?” Bolin repeated, even daring to laugh in his father's face. “You've given me no gift. You'd be surprised by what I've become since I've left your side. Since I became my own person.”

“Oh, I'm well aware of the magic your pirate bitch has given you—”

“You will NOT insult Thalia.”

“You DARE interrupt me?!” The blade retreated from his neck, only to strike across his face. Only the tip, only with enough force to create a paper-thin cut across his cheek. The blow was so quick that Bolin hadn't felt any pain. It was a warning. He became silent. Though, his eyes remained as unaffected as they were before. They became steelier, as cold as a freshly sharpened weapon. “A weapon doesn't understand its purpose unless his wielder is willing to guide it. You forget that you are nothing without someone controlling you. You are nothing without someone owning you. I am your master, I know how to make you the deadliest warrior better than anyone else. You've returned to my side for one reason and one reason only. To become my champion.”

"I will not die for you," Bolin hissed. Suddenly, he was brought to his knees by the Huns who held him captive while Shan Yu spoke to him. The young man didn't bring his head down in shame, instead, his eyes remained on the chieftain. He was never going to bow down. Never again.

“I don't expect you to. But you will win for me. Either you or your sister. Let’s hope they won’t waste you or Xiaoli by matching you two together,” Shan Yu's voice became saccharine, disgustingly so. “Shan Bolin, welcome to Mortal Kombat.”

Bolin's eyes finally left his father and looked beyond him. The stone wall behind him began to move, lifting up as dusting began to fall. Light began to shine in... to what Bolin now realized was an entrance to an arena. The clamour he heard before, it was a crowd. Waiting for bloodshed. 

And Bolin, not having a choice like so many years ago, was going to be the one forced to spill it.

[rainingvictory]

XIAOLI SHAN:

xiaoli just continued to hug her pillow, wanting to hide away from the world again, but she forced herself to remain upright in her blood-stained dress. she hated that she couldn’t hear herself cry. she knew she was, all the other signs were there, she just couldn’t hear it, and it annoyed her. but she tried not to think about it. thinking about it too much was what had dragged her into this mess in the first place.

knowing she had to say something, she reached for her phone and typed up her message with shaky fingers. ‘you shouldn’t have to show me. i should be able to do things myself. i shouldn’t need to rely on people.’ because people were changing and leaving and going off in different directions. and she wasn’t about to hold them back. ‘it isn’t fair for you – and the others – to be looking out for me.’

All of the weight that Bolin had to bear was easily based off of his father’s beliefs and actions. Nothing was attributed to his ability and his ability alone (perhaps his large heart but he hadn’t considered it a burden for very long). As he watched Xiaoli, he knew that she thought about her muteness quite often. His eyes became downcast as she began to type. He felt bad. 

As he read, he could feel his heart sink. “You make it sound as if looking out for you is a burden,” he said slowly. His eyes looking directly as his little sister’s before his eyes went down to the blanket on the bed. “If I’ve ever made you feel like a burden, that was never my intention. If our situations were reversed and I had been a victim of Ursula because of an insecurity... what would you do? If you’d be on my bed, refusing to leave until we’ve spoken...” Bolin reached for her hand. “Then it’s clear that what we do is because we love each other.”

[rainingvictory]

Text -> Bolin

Chloe: (Photo of bruce right beside a pair of torn up batman socks)

Chloe: Anyone want a pet ferret?

Chloe: Bruce has been tearing up my socks lately. 😒

bolin: Oh no. I hope everything is alright.

bolin: Did he usually tear up the socks before?

[rainingvictory]

๑۞*¤°— @liviygibbs said:  ❝ If I had any choice in the matter, I’d stay in my comfy bed and eat warm chocolate chip cookies all day. ❞

Bolin chuckled at the thought of staying in bed all day. He’d get too bored, especially when he gets up at dawn no matter what time he stayed up the night before. He loved long days. “What’s so appealing about a bed and warm chocolate chip cookies? You’d get a stomach ache at some point, wouldn’t you?”

[coral]

At night I dream that you and I are two plants that grew together, roots entwined, and that you know the earth and the rain like my mouth, since we are made of earth and rain.

 Pablo Neruda, Regalo De Un Poeta/ Gift Of A Poet (via feellng)

[rainingvictory]

THALIA DALMA:

thalia nodded, satisfied, and a small smile played across her lips. she let herself be pulled towards bolin, resting a hand on the one that sat on her waist. they were both more tactile beings than either of their siblings, and she assumed that’s why their hands naturally tended to drift to the other. she reached over to gently brush bolin’s bangs out of his eyes. “ after what i’ve just done, auradon should do it’s best to placate me. ” she responded, voice matching his teasing lilt. thalia gave him her signature look, one eyebrow cocked and the corners of her lips turning up into a smirk. “ i wouldn’t say you are dangerous, my dear bolin. you are most definitely strong, stronger than most, but a danger ?? no. ” she mused, but didn’t deny his claim. she was much to prideful, and found herself quite flattered by the remark. her smirk soften just a bit. “ but yes, sweet bolin. i’ll be sure to warn you next time. there’s no need for you to worry about me. i’d say i had things handled, hm ?? a little seawitch who threaten my family’s and your safety ?? she didn’t stand a chance. ” she joked, lifting her chin in mock arrogance, though there was a ring of honesty to it.

Affection was often something Bolin happily gives up, usually coming out when he fed the animals that came near his garden to investigate (usually as diversions to keep them away from his more precious things). The others in the small little family weren’t keen on such affections. He reasoned that’s why they both took each other’s touches in stride. “Not dangerous?” Bolin started, feigning offense before a smile started to tug on his lips. “I’m going to have to admit that being strong is definitely better than being dangerous.” He couldn’t even play along for the sake of teasing, yet his mood never shifted. A small laugh left his lips just underneath his breath, so as not to disrupt their closeness. He didn’t find Thalia’s proclamation amusing. The laugh was more endearing than anything. He could hear the truth in her words. Anyone who threatened those close to Thalia definitely didn’t stand a chance. He was sure that anyone who came across the pirate’s path would believe it. “Our family,” he corrected. From Bolin’s smile, it suggested that he was teasing. But he was completely genuine about the words. His mind trailed back to when Illyria aided him when he met Xiaoli’s aunt, how he told her he thought of the Dalmas as his family. However, saying it now, there was something different. An implication that Bolin wasn’t quite sure of himself. “Don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easily,” he teased softly, “You’re stuck with me so long as the sun rises in the East.” 

[rainingvictory]

XIAOLI SHAN:

xiaoli couldn’t help but feel guilty. bolin had lived the same way she had for years, but he hadn’t felt the need to wish for anything. her wish had been one of the only things that was different between them, but it didn’t matter to her. to wish things were different was like trampling all over bolin’s kindness to her over the years, and she couldn’t forgive herself for that, even if he could.

she felt the bed shift and knew bolin wasn’t leaving anytime soon. even if he hadn’t done that, she already knew. he wasn’t the type to just leave her alone when something bad happened. his voice just made her cry again, sobbing silently into her pillow as he continued to speak, and she felt the need to show her face, even if she didn’t want to. she owed him that much. and so she lifted the blankets off of her face and sat up, still holding her pillow. she couldn’t look him in the eye, but it was a start.

Everytime Bolin spoke, Xiaoli usually had an answer for him. He’d hear her pen scratching against her sketchbook and he’d read the familiar writing. That, along with her body language, was brought the two together. That allowed them to face the world together. He understood that he’d never know what it was like to have a voice and that writing his thoughts down could never amount to the same value as speaking. Maybe, that’s what made it so sad for him. Xiaoli’s experiences would always be different from his.

Because she didn’t respond, he had nothing to go on. So, he continued his thought process. “As your brother, I can’t tell you how to be a certain way. That’d go against how far we’ve come as a family, how far we’ve made it beyond our father. All I can do is show you things I learn in hopes it’ll set you on the right path. All I can do is love you and BELIEVE in you, even if you can’t find it in yourself to do those things. You’re so much more than a girl with no voice, little sister. So much more and one day, I hope you see as I do.”

[rainingvictory]

THALIA DALMA:

( @rainingvictory )

as soon as the dance had ended and the water walls ( something thalia herself wanted very much to learn how to do)  had come down, she had done a cursory check on her siblings and bolin, before taking off to firmly assure xiaoli that that woman was a witch and she deserved what she got. the old hag had hurt her family, and as a general rule, doing so did not go over very well with thalia. on top of that, the hag had gone and interrupted thalia’s dance. she believed wholeheartedly that the witch deserved far worse than whatever sentence she got.

but she put her cold anger to the back of her mind as she returned to bolin. she strode towards him, taking his face in between her hands and tilting his head back and forth to scan for any injuries. “ i swear to you, bolin shan, that i will be quite put out if you are injured. ” she said, masking just how angry she was about the whole ordeal. “ so please tell me you are not grievously injured, cause i don’t think auradon would like me when i’m put out. ” she took a step back, looking him up and down. if bolin was injured in the ordeal, on top of xiaoli getting possessed and illyria having to get involved, then auradon would be dealing with a very unhappy goddess on their hands.

There was something about Thalia and Bolin couldn’t quite put a name to what it was specifically. But, as he stood, trying to come to terms with everything that had happened, having her come up to him and inspect him for injuries was quite refreshing. One of his hands went up to hers and he gave the smallest hint of a smile. “I’m fine, Thalia. You know, I’m sturdier than I look,” he murmured. The first part was genuine and true, however, it became more teasing the more he spoke. He tried to read her; understand what was going on through her head. His hand dropped as she stepped back but not as a signal to move away.

Instead, his hand reached out to her to gently place it on her hip, to bring her BACK to him. Bolin couldn’t afford to deny how much time he enjoyed with Thalia. Then again, Bolin couldn’t afford much of anything. “Well, for now, Auradon has all the reason to like you and I wouldn’t want any reason for you to be put out,” he told her, the tease still there. It shifted a little, became a little more somber when he spoke next. “... I know you can take care of yourself. I know you’re probably more dangerous than I could ever be. But, would it be too much to ask if you don’t worry me like that again? Give me a bit of a warning the next time you head up against an infamous sea witch.” 

[rainingvictory]

XIAOLI SHAN:

xiaoli would be lying if she said she hadn’t expected her brother to come search for her. bolin wasn’t about to just let her be alone after what had happened, though she didn’t think she deserved the attention. she had hurt him. they were never supposed to fight each other, and she’d hurt him. he should have just left her alone and never looked back, maybe never even spoken to her again.

when she heard his voice, she just curled into herself all the more, holding her pillow tighter. she may have cried in front of bolin before, but that didn’t mean she wanted the situation to repeat.

The way that Xiaoli curled in on herself, a detectable movement once Bolin sought it out, disheartened him a little. However, he could understand it. This experience was unlike anything he could imagine of. He didn’t know what it’d be like to be mind-controlled, to lose ownership of what should always be his. She’d close off from him especially because up until then, the two shared almost identical experiences. Bolin could only speak the entire time, while Xiaoli couldn’t. That’s what set everything apart and made Xiaoli’s experience a little more-- just more. 

He sighed, stepping to the bed. Inviting himself to sit at the foot of the bed, he reached out his hand and placed his weight on it. He used it to let her know he was there, and he wasn’t budging. “If you think you’re unworthy... dangerous... that you deserve to be alone... I can understand why,” he started, his voice heavy and melancholy, “But even if you think that you are still my little sister. You are my family. The most important person to me that I’ll ever have. Nothing you can do will ever change that or how I feel about you.”

[glitchdbitch]

And watch them conquer. (aesthetic for a ship!)