time is like music

play it ‘til the end and then reset

[timeislikemusic]

[ ✖ ] TIMEISLIKEMUSIC. ⋯ a multimuse roleplay blog featuring characters from Link Click. ( mun is 21+ , indie , semi-selective )  — inbox ✖ rules ✖ nav ✖ muses —

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎     more info under the cut . . .

SIDEBLOGS ⋯

✖ bsd mumu (semi-ia) ✖ tbhx mumu ✖ tbhx queen ✖ tbhx hero x

MUSES ⋯

✖ Qiao Ling ✖ Liu Xiao ✖ Xia Fei ✖ Vein ✖ Li Tianchen ✖ Xiao Li ✖ Lee Jae ✖ Xu Shanshan ✖ Liu Min ✖ Wang Juan

MUN ⋯

✖ I am 21+ and go by any pronouns. Discord is selectively handed out upon request. I have no triggers, but don't constantly bring up SA, SH, and suicide without warning.    ✖ Potentially uncomfortable content on this blog will be tagged to the best of my ability as #cw [topic] . If I miss something, kindly message me! ✖ Struggling in the working world currently. Please have patience with my response times.    ✖ Additionally, I write based on my interests, not in the order asks/replies come in.

RULES ⋯

✖ I write multipara + third person; no pressure to match. May forgo an icon if I'm short on time! ✖ I have vision complications which make spaced-out text hard to read, so please don’t format replies with double spaces or super large indents all over the place, if you can help it. ✖ If you are a multi, always specify which muse(s) you wish to interact as. ✖ I may write with fandoms I know, primarily To Be Hero X, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu. Duplicates welcome! (OCs who want to interact should have an about page. I want to get to know your character!) ✖ Tentatively open to in-universe anons (and yes, you can claim an emoji too if you want recurring recognition).

[kobiixr]

day 2 of drawing qiao ling until im freed from art block.

its already working, qiao ling my saviour🙏🙏

[timeislikemusic]

🫶 , ✨ QL and LX! , 🎁 , 📝

[ ✖ ] Munday Questions !

🫶 What makes you feel most appreciated as an RP partner?

I'm really easy to please lol. I absolutely eat up OOC chatter and yelling at each other, as you know. Spammed fanart is a big love language of mine. Shared playlists, random headcanons, "saw this and thought of you"... Makes my heart sing.

✨ What’s your favourite thing about your muse(s)? ( QL and LX! )

Already gave a brief overview in another ask, but for those two in particular...

Qiao Ling is big sister core, and though she's flawed like many Link Click characters, she's trying her absolute best to care for her family. Her ferocity and dedication are remarkable. I don't see enough shows giving their female characters this kind of treatment. Either they're tsundere, or they're bossy, or they're just outright mean. Qiao Ling has such a soft side to her passion. I appreciate her complexities and am excited to see more of her always. She's my girlie.

I originally was neutral about Liu Xiao! He's a much... quieter? muse than I usually take on, so I didn't feel particularly attached at first. As Bridon Arc continued to air, I got to see more of his dorky human side, which endeared him to me, but most of all. I got attached to the stories I was able to build with him here through rp. That's kinda in-character for him, when I think about it: only by interacting with others does he realize the depths he buried within himself. He's a stronger shadow when next to a bright light (or two).

🎁 What’s a random fun fact about you (the mun)?

Another fun fact??? Erm. My favorite pasta noodles are penne. I like the smell of lavender. I occasionally take my cat for walks in a pet stroller (it helps battle the depression to see him furiously sniff the air). The best treat to get at Disney is a churro. Yeah.

📝 Do you prefer short replies or long, detailed ones?

I write a lot. But when it comes to the replies I get from partners? I don't care what length! Long, detailed stuff is special, knowing how much time that takes, but short back-and-forth babbles are just as amazing. What matters most is that my rp partners are enjoying the interaction and not stressing about getting back to me. It's why I always try to remind everyone that just because I'm a chronic over-writer, I do not expect the same in return.

[timeislikemusic]

🎭 What’s your favourite genre to roleplay (angst, fluff, horror, etc.)?

✨ What’s your favourite thing about your muse(s)?

[ ✖ ] Munday Questions !

🎭 What’s your favourite genre to roleplay (angst, fluff, horror, etc.)?

I love almost everything. Fluffy found family? Yes. Angsty romance? Absolutely. Lore-heavy mysteries? Sign me up. I'm not fond of pure action scenes, though, and horror has always been harder to write. For romances, too, I need slow burn. I can't have it any other way. Instalove isn't for me.

✨ What’s your favourite thing about your muse(s)?

For this blog, I adore QL's heart. I'm obsessed with Vein's eccentricity. XF gives me violent must-protect urges. LX is incredibly fun to write. LTC is my cotton candy son. In other words, they are all perfect characters, and I take no criticism /j

[timeislikemusic]

🌙 🎁

[ ✖ ] Munday Questions !

🌙 Have you ever stayed up way too late just to reply?

I try so hard not to, but. Yes. For you, in fact, as just one example lol. When I start writing late, I can't stop until I'm done, so if the reply takes a while, it is what it is. I have a hard time finally falling asleep, too, because the muses are still On The Brain. Oopsies. When I have enough sense, I edit everything the next day so it doesn't read too poorly. That counts for something, I hope.

🎁 What’s a random fun fact about you (the mun)?

Uhhh, this is actually hard to answer. I have the opposite of a green thumb? I once worked at a cageless cat shelter? I write with a plugin that makes sounds as I type? I don't like pizza with red sauce? I think I'm just a weird person in general...

[timeislikemusic]

“ when devils will the blackest sins put on… they do suggest at first with heavenly shows. ” pistol’s cocked against the side of liu xiao’s head. sharp eyes gleam white, a glimpse of icy winter through the thin slits of his narrowed gaze. “ i’ve got time if you do, my dear. let’s chat. ”

Ah, if it isn’t Othello! Liu Xiao rests a palm on the barrel of Jae Lee’s gun — still warm — but does not swat it aside. His head leans closer, hair rustling, smile widening. Faith braves the ice. “ I did not take you for a romantic, ” he says. He means: you’re well-read. You’re honey-tongued. Aim at a sinner, never at a mirror; poeticism varnished white.

He raps his index finger against the gun. The metal of his rings produces a gentle click. “ You’re hardly asking, though. ” More like telling. It makes sense. Hunters would never think twice before sinking teeth into the neck of their prey. Jae Lee, however, has done just that. Hesitated. Invited a question, of all things.

“ I thought they’d have trained you better. ” An apparent agent of the law should abide by several formalities. Whether Jae Lee’s compass points strictly North remains to be seen, but his curiosity, if nothing else, is palpable. That should warrant some more decorum, right? Especially against an unarmed man?

With his free hand, Liu Xiao pats the stool beside him. “ Sit. I’ll lend you an ear. ”

[raesource]

munday questions

📅 How long have you been roleplaying, and what got you started?

🌊 Do you prefer plotting everything out or going with the flow?

🪞 How similar are you to your muse(s)?

🎭 What’s your favourite genre to roleplay (angst, fluff, horror, etc.)?

💖 What’s a trope you love and will never get tired of?

🚫 What’s a trope you avoid or dislike?

🎧 Do you associate songs with your muse(s)? If so, share one!

🥹 Do you ever get emotionally affected by your threads?

🛋️ What’s your ideal RP writing environment (music, silence, chaos)?

✨ What’s your favourite thing about your muse(s)?

⏳ How long does it usually take you to reply to threads?

📝 Do you prefer short replies or long, detailed ones?

🏆 What’s your proudest thread or RP moment?

🌐 Do you enjoy crossovers with other fandoms?

🕵️ Do you stalk blogs before following them? Be honest.

💕 Who are you having the most fun writing with, at the moment?

😶 Are you shy about approaching new RP partners?

🌟 Where do you get inspiration for your writing?

🖼️ Do you make edits, moodboards, or playlists for your muse(s)?

😭 What’s the saddest scene you’ve ever written?

✈️ If your muse(s) could go anywhere, where would they go?

🎁 What’s a random fun fact about you (the mun)?

💻 Do you RP mostly on mobile or desktop?

🌙 Have you ever stayed up way too late just to reply?

🎲 Do you like doing random starter calls or planned plots more?

🤔 What’s something you’ve never tried in RP but want to?

✍️ Has your writing style changed over time? How?

🎯 Do you set personal goals for your RP (activity, improvement, etc.)?

🧪 Have you ever experimented with a completely different writing style or format?

🧑‍🎨 Do you prefer original characters, canon characters, or a mix?

📊 How much research do you do for your threads (if any)?

🔐 Do you keep secrets about your muse(s) from other writers on purpose?

✏️ Do you write outside of RP (stories, poetry, etc.)?

⛰️ What’s the hardest part of roleplaying for you?

🧱 What helps you get out of writer’s block?

📐 Do you prefer long-term threads or short interactions?

🚪 How do you usually start a new thread? Dialogue, action, or description?

⛓️‍💥 Have you ever taken a long break from RP? What brought you back?

🧠 Do you believe muses “have a mind of their own”?

✂️ How much do you edit your replies before posting?

🎬 Has any media (show/movie/game) recently inspired your RP?

🌀 Do you enjoy chaotic threads or calmer, character-focused ones?

🌱 How do you develop your muse(s) over time?

⚡ What’s something small that instantly makes you excited to reply?

📥 Have you ever adopted ideas from other writers into your own headcanon?

⚔️ Do you like conflict-heavy plots or softer dynamics more?

🪫 How do you handle losing motivation for a thread?

📦 If you had to move your RP somewhere else, where would you go?

🛑 Do you have any RP boundaries or topics you will not write?

😤 Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to RP partners or threads?

💌 Do you prefer people to DM you for plotting, or just jump into asks/starters?

🔄 How do you feel about dropping threads vs. pushing through them?

🫶 What makes you feel most appreciated as an RP partner?

👤 Do you ever write characters very different from yourself on purpose?

📚 Do you reread your old threads? Why or why not?

🎮 If your muse(s) were in a different genre (fantasy, modern, sci-fi), what would change?

[sunsplitlover]

[gloomyrains]

cont'd ⭐︎ @timeislikemusic ft. xia fei

Despite always a bit off the mark when it came to this sort of thing, Cheng Xiaoshi nodded sagely like he hadn’t said something that sounded like it came from a fortune cookie. Cheesy, yes, but how genuine he was in everything he attempted seemed to make up for that.

His own cup went untouched while his attention was on Xia Fei. The other seemed uneasy but who didn’t, really? The question caught him by surprise. They were talking about Xia Fei! Not him! None the less, he indulged in the question.

Cheng Xiaoshi wasn’t a man with a lot of regrets. However, he deeply regretted every life he couldn’t save, every person lost because he was limited in what little he could do, every life impacted by what he’s done. Every choice of his was too big of a chance taken and his judgement — or lack of — wasn’t always right. He regretted the pain he felt, the pain he caused, and the pain he couldn’t escape.

How was he ever meant to tell Xia Fei that? It wouldn’t be easy to choose the right wording, to half tell him what was on his mind. So instead, he flashes his biggest smile. “I have my regrets, sure, but they’ve led to some of my most cherished moments.” 

“I regret having to leave so soon — we could have spent more time together.” He enjoyed Xia Fei’s company. He was a good friend to be around! “Maybe we can visit again.” There was still plenty to see.

[timeislikemusic]

Realistically, Xia Fei should have expected nothing less from Cheng Xiaoshi. Optimism is rare in this day and age. Somehow, Cheng Xiaoshi perpetuates it, sunny even with apparent regrets on his mind. Xia Fei partially mirrors his smile, and though it doesn’t reach his eyes, he’s nonetheless genuine.

There’s more to this that Cheng Xiaoshi leaves unsaid. That much is clear. He doesn’t pry.

“ Next time. ” Next time, they’ll spend more time together. “ I have so many more places I wish I could show you. ” Restaurants, boutiques, niche trinket shops. There’s a park in particular he thinks Cheng Xiaoshi would get a kick out of, complete with sports courts and a winding hiking trail.

Finishing off his drink, Xia Fei hums. “ Did you and Lu Guang even get to do anything particularly touristy? ” Their trip seemed brief, packed with action, and ending on no such typical, peaceful vacation notes. He sets his mug down and points, waggling his finger. “ When I visit you— ” when, not if “ —you’d better help me plan my itinerary. ” No time wasted.

[timeislikemusic]

just as they arrived to campus, both prepared for their respective classes - xia fei waits for the moment liu xiao comes to pass him. when he’s about to, he steps in front of him, and their lips collide in a firm, yet quick kiss. he meant it to surprise, meant it to be fleeting. he pulls back, about to give a curt, ‘ good luck today, ’ but shyness wouldn’t let him. wordlessly, he turns to make his swift getaway, his face glowing red hot and his strides brisk.

In the glove box of Liu Xiao’s car are paper remains. The first envelope he slid to the passenger seat got left behind after Xia Fei counted its contents. He kept it. It bears Felix’s name in neat cursive letters, and he kept it, because it reminds him of that evening — of fronted belligerence skewed toward curiosity.

Xia Fei tried to analyze him back then. He still does, though with less urgency than before. Liu Xiao understands. They meet often. He conjures odd jobs to buff an already fair paycheck. On colder mornings, he even treats Xia Fei to drinks at a cafe and drives him to campus, claiming that ‘ I can’t in good conscience let Vein’s top model freeze. ’ Their relationship is one of give and take, and Liu Xiao is content with that. He expects to forever seek Xia Fei out.

So he does not expect, when he passes the blond on his way to class, for his usual smile to barely reach his cheeks. He’s stopped short. Xia Fei’s lips are on his own, and he tastes like something stolen. Forbidden fruit. Fate unbound. The rush in Liu Xiao’s chest is so sharp, so sudden, he dizzies. Textbooks clutched by his breast nearly drop free to the floor.

Warm, warm. Almost hot. Too hot. Too much. All at once. Liu Xiao breathes to no avail. It’s as if the air around them professes envy. It wants to see him gasp.

For how short the kiss is, he should be embarrassed by his silence. Xia Fei introduces distance between them just as quickly. If he meant to say anything, he lets it go, and turns around with red cheeks. Liu Xiao can do nothing but watch him leave, helpless. The tips of his fingers touch his lips, tracing the burn’s remnants twice before he forces himself to fix his glasses.

He should follow after him. He wants to.

He thinks better of it.

…There is an envelope bearing Felix’s name in the glove box. Liu Xiao meant to toss it. He kept it then. He keeps it now. His reason’s different. The memories it spurs are no longer those of a one-sided chase. Xia Fei stepped in his path. Xia Fei made them collide. And all Liu Xiao could manage in that fleeting moment was to wish, childishly, for it to never end.

[timeislikemusic]

“ is this seat taken? ” points at xia fei’s lap. winks with both eyes.

“ I’m… sorry? ” Xia Fei’s head feels like static. His mouth remains open, dumbfounded, until he sees Cheng Xiaoshi’s ‘wink.’ Laughter catches in his throat. He covers his mouth, inhales sharply, and attempts to stifle the sound. “ What are you doing, Xiaoshi… ” They are in public!

Despite the wording and despite his embarrassment, it’s not a real question, nor is it a scolding. Cheng Xiaoshi is always like this, making it easier to breathe, and at the same time stealing his breath away. Lungs ache. Cheeks grow sore. “ You’re such a dork. Come, sit down. ” He pats the spot next to him.

[timeislikemusic]

05. jumps at a noise and instinctively grabs the others hand. @ vein. nah he’s not scared, trust-

By the time someone mumbles apologies, it is already too late. Vein couldn’t care less about the knocked-over studio lights. They were taking a break anyway; there’s time to make amends before Felix starts again. The bigger problem: Felix was spooked by the sudden sound. His hand slots into Vein’s, and the redhead has to clench his jaw when he glares at the crew, smile tight.

Coping. Coping. A gentle hold would be otherwise impossible. Vein clicks his tongue against his teeth until the culprit cowers from sight, then turns to address his startled model.

“ Scared, sweetie? ” he asks. As if to emphasize, should Felix play dumb, he raises their intertwined hands and makes no moves to pull apart. Felix initiated. That was all Vein needed to tangle fingers fully together in selfish indulgence.

[sunsplitlover]

[timeislikemusic]

[ ✽ ] QL probably loooved dressing her brother up when they were little. Makeup practice. Matching fits. This is especially true for occasions like Halloween. I'm talking PB and J duo core. She really just wanted to do everything with him all the time. Though, I don't think that's changed much to date!

[petrazora]

Boba run and shenanigans ^^

[timeislikemusic]

"No man lives without regrets." (for Xia Fei)

Is that supposed to be reassuring? Xia Fei tuts yet feels himself smile. He glides his finger around the rim of his cup, head resting on one palm. Leave it to Cheng Xiaoshi to attempt comfort in such a manner. Everyone has regrets, yes, and they live on regardless; but that doesn’t mean Xia Fei is okay with his.

Still.

“ Is that so? ” he breathes. Fidgeting ceases so he may sip his drink, heat welcome through porcelain. Cheng Xiaoshi has good intentions. Xia Fei appreciates it. He really, truly does. Which is why he forces his gaze from the cafe window and back to his friend. “ What regrets do you have, Xiaoshi? ”

Are they just as bad? Xia Fei has continued to lose sleep ever since that night. There’s so much… he wanted to say, maybe, someday. He didn’t get a chance, and now he’ll never be able to. Worse, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang will fly home soon, and once they’re gone, his grief will worsen. Xia Fei is grateful for what they’ve done. ( He wishes, selfishly, they’d nonetheless stay. )

[timeislikemusic]

03. provides the other with a handmade gift. “Tried my hand at crochet.” The final product of these poorly made mittens would speak for themselves. Hopefully Qiao Ling would still like them.

The mittens land in Qiao Ling’s hands before she can think to speak. She fumbles, turning them over. They’re uneven, with some loops pulled too tight while others barely hold, and the thumbs are asymmetrical as if he tried twice over to make them. The yarn, though. Soft. Deliberately chosen.

Lu Guang stands with his usual stillness, the type she’s grown immensely fond of, and yet she can tell he’s waiting. What for? Her observations settle in her gut, riling her up. He made these. Oh. Oh, jeez. She flexes her grip upon the mittens as if suddenly worried they’d fall apart, or slip away, or be stolen from her entirely. Irrational thoughts.

It’s just so… so welcome. So nice. Lu Guang is a silent, precise individual. Deep down, nevertheless, she knew there was more to him. Lopsided, handmade mittens prove as much; complemented by her brother’s interest in perpetuating their friendship. Lu Guang is a wonderful person. No doubt.

“ Tried your hand, eh? ” she echoes, and though it’s meant to be lighthearted, she’s quieter than intended. A typically bright warmth mellows to something gentler, something earnest.

Qiao Ling slips the gloves on and wiggles each finger. When she finally meets Lu Guang’s eyes, her expression shifts, unguarded and true. “ They’re awful. ” And then, because she’s already begun to smile wide— “ I love them. ” The stern, teasing-sister act crumbles as she laughs. “ Thank you, Guang Guang. ” She wears them every chilly day thereafter.