Dating Palians 2 [headcanons]
summary: dating/confession headcanons for various Palia characters
relationship: character x gn!reader (Tish, Hodari, Jina, Nai’o, Zeki | more characters in part 1!)
warnings: tooth rotting fluff :D lots of kisses, hodari’s is maybe a tiny bit suggestive
word count: 3.7k total but varying per character
A/N: again, i’m biased, so some are longer than others 🙈 all of these start with one of the spoken dialogue lines! both parts have been in the works for so long so please,, if you like it, leave a comment ;w; i'd really appreciate it<3
Navigation: Part 1 | Part 2 (you're here)
[all masterlists] 🪶 [Palia masterlist] 🪶 [ao3]
(english is not my first language. constructive criticism and grammar corrections are very appreciated!)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
🌼 Tish
Being with Tish is like second nature to you.
You may have come from the past or who knows where, but the moment you two met, you immediately clicked.
Everything about her is just so attractive to you: how cute she looks, her whole demeanour, the way when she smiles it lights up not just the room but all of Kilima.
She’s very honest and straightforward, and you’re not being very discreet either, so it takes no one by surprise when you two confess to each other and get together officially.
You admire her craftiness and creativity, and she confides her design ideas in you, values your feedback and insights.
She makes you feel so loved, you can’t help but shower her with affection.
“Chatting with you is better than pie!” Zish exclaims happily as you both sit down on the blanket to have the picnic you two have been looking forward to all week.
“Why, what a coincidence!” you say, producing a home baked apple pie out of your basket. Your heartbeat quickens at Tish’s expression: the pure glee in her face is so worth the work of growing the apples yourself and the mess you left in the kitchen to bake it.
“That looks delicious! You’re the best!” she says, hugging you as best as she can with the way you’re sitting next to each other, and as she pulls back she quickly pecks your cheek. But you’re quick to gently hold her face before she can fully pull back, stealing a kiss to her lips. Tish’s pink face darkens a shade or two, the tips of her ears burning. She’s so cute, you just can’t help yourself, and pepper her face in some more kisses. She giggles, bringing up her hands to cup your face, and pushing you back a little.
“As much as I’m enjoying the attention, by now I know that if I let you continue, we’ll never get to eat the pie,” Tish says, chuckling at your pouty face still in her hands. “C’mon, we don't want your efforts to go to waste!”
With a dramatic sigh that ends in a big smile anyways, you sit back properly, grabbing the knife from the basket and cutting into the pie, placing a slice on a fabric napkin and handing it to her, then taking a slice for yourself. It's already cooled down enough to eat straight from your hands, but the very centre is still slightly warm, and you both rejoice at the first bite of sweet, soft apples and cinnamon. Tish hums in delight, devouring that slice of pie in record time.
“You're going to give Reth a run for his money with your baking,” she points out with a chuckle, hand already outstretched to grab the second slice you’re preparing for her.
“I guess there is a new baker in town, your brother can stick to his lettuce soup,” you joke, earning a laugh. You lean back onto your hands, warmth spreading within your chest as you look at Tish enjoying the treat. “But I bake for you, Tish. Everyone else can bake their own pie.”
Tish looks at you with big eyes, a dark pink colour prickling at her cheeks again. She looks down at her lap, fidgeting with her apron, and you lean forward to tuck a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, your hand cupping her face again.
“It's you that I want to make happy, after all.” She leans into your touch as her eyes meet yours, and your heart feels like it’s doing somersaults in your chest.
“You don’t need a pie for that,” Tish says, holding her hand over yours, the other one pulling you in closer by the collar of your shirt. “You already make me happy.”
Closing the gap, you share a tender kiss in the gentle breeze, and it tastes like apples and the warm sun on her skin.
» — — — — — — — — — — — — — — «
💎 Hodari
It took some time to get it through his thick skull that you did indeed like him that way.
Once you confessed to him, he was excited and scared at the same time.
Excited because he had also been finding himself thinking of you more and more often.
Scared because, as a widower with a kid, he didn't know if he would be able to be the partner you'd want. The partner you deserve.
But you assured him he's perfect the way he is, life circumstances and all.
Najuma liked you a lot, which was a huge factor for him to even consider being with you, so you were really happy that worked out. That kid is so smart and witty, and you genuinely enjoy spending time with her, especially watching her while she works.
Sometimes it was hard to organise your schedules and get alone time together, but you made it work.
“You’re travelling an awful long way to see me,” Hodari says, not even bothering to hide how happy he is to see you. Quickly walking the last couple of steps towards him, he engulfs you in a hug, and you wrap your arms around him. He just came from working in the mine while you waited by his house, and you inhale that particular scent that is Hodari, a combination of pine trees, sea salt, the earth and something else you can't quite put your finger on, but which you love nonetheless.
“I'd walk to the moons and back if that's what it took to see you,” you speak into his shoulder, and he laughs, the vibrations from his chest filling you with warmth. He pulls back to look at you, hands running down your arms to interlock fingers with you.
“Just what did I do to deserve you, hm?” he asks.
“I could ask you the same thing, handsome,” you retort, giving him a blinding smile. He chuckles again, giving your hands a squeeze.
“C’mon, darling. I’ll whip up some dinner for us.”
“Where’s Najuma?” you ask as you step into the house.
“In the workshop as usual, she took some food with her,” Hodari explains as he puts on an apron. “It’ll be a long night, she said.”
“Oh, to be young and full of energy,” you say with a dramatic sigh, and he sends you an amused look. Then you lower your voice like you’re about to tell him a secret. “So, what I'm hearing is we're alone for the rest of the night?”
“Sure are, and I've got you all to myself,” he replies with a wink and gets to work.
You watch him as he preps the meat and veggies, helping him where he lets you; he knows you like his cooking, so he takes every chance he gets to show off a bit with his cooking skills.
Once everything is cut and simmering away in the pot, he puts the ladle aside. Before he can turn around, you hug him from behind. He places his hands over yours, but you don't let go, pressing your face further into his back.
“Darlin’? Everything okay?”
There’s only a muffled sound.
Hodari chuckles, tilting his head to speak over his shoulder. “What was that?”
You tilt your face to the side so he can hear you.
“You do know that you deserve this, right?” you ask. You can already feel his interjection coming so you continue. “This, us. And more. I would give you the world if I could.”
Hodari turns around in your arms.
“I think that's my line.”
“Right now dinner is all I need. And I'm pretty sure I'm looking at both my first course and my dessert,” you remark, wriggling your brows.
He looks away, adorably embarrassed. You pull him with you towards a chair and gently push him down, sitting sideways on his lap and peppering his face with kisses until the food is ready.
» — — — — — — — — — — — — — — «
🎓 Jina
Jina is often in her own little world.
But the way she talks to herself, it’s so endearing to you.
You also admire her thirst for knowledge and determination to study something all the way through.
Hers was the first face you saw when you arrived in Palia, and it’s been on your mind ever since.
But Jina can be anxious and insecure, so you had to ask her out several times until she believed that you did in fact like like her.
It’s been a work in progress, but you try your best to remind her every day how great she is.
“I still can't believe you actually like me,” Jina says out of seemingly nowhere as you’re sitting underneath a tree. She’s reading while you’re whittling a piece of wood into a Chapaa. Or at least you’re trying to. Her words make you stop your motions abruptly, and you almost cut into your finger. Putting down the knife, you look at her for a moment. It seems the words escaped her, and she’s hiding her face with the open book. So you lean back onto the tree and look out into the landscape.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” you ask, tone gentle.
“I don’t know,” she starts. “You’re, well, you. And I'm just… me.”
You chuckle. Her shoulders tense as if fearing you’ll scold her.
“Well, I’d sure hope so. Imagine if I were you and you were someone else? That would be a mess, wouldn't it?”
“That’s not what I meant–” she starts, but you pull down the book to make her meet your eyes. She lets you put it down but her gaze is cast to the side.
“Then what did you mean? That you’re a Majiri, and I’m a human? What’s wrong with that?”
“No, nothing's wrong with that!”
“Then what is it?”
Jina bites her bottom lip and nervously adjusts her glasses.
“It’s just… you're this incredible being from the past, shrouded in mystery and history. And now that you got a second chance at life you want to spend your time… with me?”
“You were the first face I saw when I came back to,” you reason. “I don’t think it’s surprising I'd fall for you.”
She huffs, finally looking at you in annoyance, since she knows you’re deflecting on purpose. You can’t help but chuckle at her adorable pout.
“Jina,” you say and take her hands in yours, sitting up to properly face her. “I dont remember where I come from, I barely even remembered my own name. But you took me in and made Palia feel like home. I have a life here now, and want to share it with you. Do we really need some grand scientific explanation for that? Isn’tit enough to say that I lo–” you stop yourself, heat rushing to your face. “That you mean a lot to me?”
She visibly swallows, blinking, and gives your hands a squeeze.
“If I didn't actually like you, would I be here trying to convince you?” you ask, and she chuckles.
“I suppose not,” she finally concedes, shoulders easing up and she visibly relaxes.
“Right,” you lean in to kiss her cheek, then pick up the book on her lap. “So, what are you reading?”
» — — — — — — — — — — — — — — «
🤠 Nai’o
Dating Nai’o feels like a breath of fresh air.
Not that you’d remember any relationships from your previous life, but he’s just so earnest, so genuine… It felt almost fake at the start.
But then you came to realise that that’s just how he is.
He wears his heart on his sleeve and even though it could be easy to take advantage of, it’s one of his many traits and quirks that you love.
Loving Nai’o comes easy to you, and if you asked him, he’d say the same about you.
He quickly learned to pick up on your cues to tell if you’re feeling down, and always has something to cheer you up, be it a silly pun (likely taken from his dad), a snack or a trinket.
“Here to see the Ormuu or me?” Nai’o asks as he turns to you. He heard you approach from behind and leans onto the fence at the barn.
“If I say the Ormuu, will you be disappointed?” you ask, and he laughs.
“Not at all, I mean, it’s why I’m here for.”
“Huh,” you tut, tilting your head at him. “And here I thought we were about to have a barn date.”
Nai’o flushes slightly, and he straightens up in his stance against the wooden fence.
“No, I mean– We can still totally have a date.” He clears his throat, looking down at himself disapprovingly, as he’s covered in mud, hay, and probably other things. “If I had known, I’d have cleaned up a little, though.”
You place your hand on his chest.
“Oh, please. This–” You point at the various stains on him. “–is just part of your charming farm boy persona. wouldn't be the same without it.”
He places his own hand over yours, and looks into your eyes, a smidge of insecurity still in them.
“You really don’t mind?”
“I don’t,” you assure him, and lean in to place a quick kiss to his cheek. You take a step back and motion for him to follow you. “Besides, I’ll probably look the same very soon.”
And right you are.
After getting food and some equipment, you enter the paddock with the Ormuus, and it doesn’t take half an hour of feeding, cleaning and milking that you’re in the same state Nai’o is in. Perhaps worse. How did you manage to get mud into your sleeve?
Nai’o picks up the bucket full of fresh milk from under the Ormuu you just milked as you wipe your forehead with your arm. Getting up from the little stool, you groan when you stretch your back.
“Babe, want to take a break?” he asks, setting down the bucket next to all others. You let your gaze roam the place; there's still so much to do. And you haven't even finished cleaning out all the stalls. You groan again, slightly overwhelmed by the amount of chores ahead. Nai’o chuckles and wipes his hands on his overalls, walking towards you. “Yeah, let’s take a breather.”
You can tell he wants to hug you, but he just kinda stands next to you, waiting to see if you’ll let him approach. You know he’s very physically affectionate, and you've told him several times you don't mind being touched even if he’s sweaty. With an amused roll of your eyes, you open your arms, and he gladly takes you up on the offer, wrapping his own around you and lifting you slightly into the air. He even spins you around a couple of times, and you laugh when he lets you back down.
One of the baby Ormuus moos and bumps your leg with its head, demanding attention. You turn and crouch down, cooing at it while scratching it behind the ears. Nai’o crosses his arms with a huff.
“Don’t tell me you're jealous,” you laugh when you see his pout. Squishing the Ormuu’s face with both your hands, you nuzzle its snout with your nose. “You know I can't resist its little face, and I know for a fact neither can you.”
“Yeah, well,” Nai'o starts, and you lift up your gaze to his. “I can get your attention in other ways.”
Your eyes widen and your cheeks burn when you see him starting to reach for his shirt, about to lift it off.
“Not here, Nai’o!” you squeak, holding his hands down, and he laughs heartily, hugging you back to him and sticking his tongue out at the poor Ormuu over your shoulder. He could have sworn it stuck it right back at him.
» — — — — — — — — — — — — — — «
🐱 Bonus: Zeki (because i was looking forward to romancing him when i saw his introduction sheet on the website – imagine my disappointment Q-Q)
”It’s been a slow night, kid. Good to see you around,” Zeki says, standing in front of the bar area counter in the Underground as you greet him. It's already past 3 am so almost everyone has already left. You wave at Reth as he makes his way out of the kitchen, seemingly just having ended a conversation with the Grimalkin.
Zeki goes to walk past you but you cut off his way as you stand in front of him and look behind him in an exaggerated way.
“Hm, yeah, I can see the resemblance,” you state with a playful smile playing on your lips, hands hidden behind your back.
Zeki squints slightly at you, giving you a suspicious look. But you can read him pretty well now, so you know by the twitch of his whiskers that he decides to play along for now.
“Resemblance of what?,” he asks, gesturing to your hidden hands with his chin. “Whatcha hiding back there?
You show him, bringing your hands to your front to reveal what you're holding.
“A Grimalkintail flower!” you exclaim excitedly. “I found them in Bahari Bay, and when Ashura told me what they're called, I had to come see for myself if they lived up to their name.”
Zeki shakes his head in amusement with a chuckle.
“So, whats your verdict?” he asks, leaning onto the counter.
“I can see why they're called that,” you start, twirling the stem between your fingers. “But I don't think they do their name justice. Your tail is way fluffier. And prettier.”
He merely hums in acknowledgement, the playful smile morphing into more of a bittersweet one at your last addition. He looks to the side, waiting for the last customer to leave the place. You unconsciously straighten up a little where you stand, the flower still in your hands, now unmoving, as you wait for what he’ll say next.
Now that you two are alone, you wonder if this is when he tells you to stop… this. Whatever he thinks this is. Around two weeks ago you finally mustered up the courage to tell him how you feel about him. Even though you've been hinting at it for a while (and you're pretty sure he caught on), you decided to say it as directly as possible to make things clear, and ended up with a bit of a messy confession, but you made your point. It definitely came unexpectedly to the Grimalkin, who said that you'd be better off with someone younger, less grumpy. Perhaps less furry too.
But the heart wants what the heart wants, as they say. Since then you've been visiting him at the shops as you’d usually do, but now you try to get some playful banter out of him. Some days he seems to not be in the mood at all, others he plays along wonderfully, matching your energy. So you're kinda hung up on those interactions, wondering if you're reading too much into it or not. If only he would give you a proper chance…
Heaving a sigh, Zeki pushes himself off the counter and turns around to pull closer two of the bar stools. He takes a seat, gesturing for you to sit down too. So you sit next to him, now nervously picking at the stem of the poor flower.
“Look, kid,” he starts, but you keep your gaze trained on the flower in your hands. “I'm flattered, truly. But I don't think I'm what youre looking for.”
Your brows furrow at that, your eyes shooting up to meet his.
“I think it's me who gets to decide that, no?”
“Look around you,” he insists, gesturing to the place with his hands. “Depending on who you ask, I'm not the good guy. You know I'm involved in some pretty messy business. You don't wanna get dragged into that.”
“Again: isn't that for me to decide?” you repeat, and your hands curl into fists on the wooden surface. “I know what you're up to, Zeki. Or at least I know what you've told me. You can tell me the rest, only if you want to. I'm not blind or dumb, I know what I'm getting myself into. But the truth is that no matter what I do, I just really like you, so might as well embrace it.”
You inwardly curse at yourself for the heat on your face which you're sure he can also see; ugh, this is like your confession all over again, this is getting embarrassing.
“Look, if you don't feel the same, just say so, give it to me straight,” you say, crossing your arms over your chest. “Just reject me properly and I won't bother you anymore.”
When you don't get a response, you look up to see Zeki with a conflicted look. One of his four ears twitches. Wait, he’s… unsure?
“You’ll reject me because you don't like me that way…. right?” you ask carefully, trying to keep your heart under control given the sudden spark of hope.
“I mean– but this–” Zeki stumbles over his words, until he gives up and heaves another sigh. Shifting in his seat to fully face you, he gives you the most vulnerable look in his eye you've seen yet.
“Are ya sure?” is all he asks after a moment, and your face lights up.
“Yes,” you assure him. You look down at his hand on his knee, and tentatively reach out to place your hand over his, giving him plenty of time to stop you. But he doesn't swat you away or pull back, so you gingerly hold his hand. You can tell he's still unsure about it, not entirely knowing how to feel about it, but trying to accept it. Accept you. He's finally giving you a proper chance.
Zeki looks down at your hand on his, and can't help the chuckle that escapes him.
“I really hope you're sure about this,” he says, hiding his face behind his other hand in adorable bashness. “I‘m too old for heartbreak.”
“We’ll figure it out, together,” you promise, and you both stand up to head back home. Picking up the discarded flower from the bar top with your free hand, you inspect it; you kinda did a number on it earlier with your fidgeting, the stem is bent and the fluffy part is starting to fall apart.
“Mext time I’ll getcha real flowers,” Zeki says and you notice he hasn't let go of your hand yet, which makes your heart flutter a bit. As he takes the Grimalkintail from your hand with his free one, he gives you a little smirk. “Besides, you won't need this one anymore now that you got the real deal.”
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