#also one of my favorite zzs smiles is probably from this scene

[joylinda-hawks]

A treasure that can make a man invincible? Only a redneck would fall for the nonsense you're talking about. WOH, episode 3, part 3. WKX, seeing ZZS's lack of reaction, waits for GX to ask him about the second part of the rhyme. GX asks the question WKX is waiting for, asks what the words are. WKX recites another part of the nursery rhyme. When ZZS hears this, he just smiles. ZZS asks what is so sad about the ghosts of Qingya Mountain, adding that each of them is wicked and ended up in the Ghost Valley because they had nowhere to escape. WKX agrees with him, but points out that the words "ghosts of Qingya Mountain" do not refer to a group of ghosts, as he says this he approaches the standing ZZS, but to Rong Xuan, a great demon killed on Qingya Mountain twenty years ago. ZZS listens carefully to what WKX says. ZCL is also listening closely to WKX's comments. WKX continues that it is said that a demon named Rong left behind a treasure called the Arsenal. GX also listens to WKX stories while eating cake. WKX explains that the arsenal includes techniques from various sects that have long since disappeared from this world. It can make an ordinary person invincible. The key to the arsenal is Glazed Armor. ZZS claims that a treasure that can make a man invincible, only a peasant will fall for the nonsense told by WKX. ZZS asks WKX if he believes what he says. WKX responds by asking if ZZS doesn't believe it. ZZS is very patient and responds by walking around and saying that treasures, divine weapons, scrolls about secret martial arts, miracle cures, every few years someone comes up with an item that the people of Jianghu want to fight for, which leads to countless deaths only then everyone is happy. ZZS considers this absurd. WKX becomes more and more intrigued by ZZS, so he asks why he thinks it's absurd. This time it is ZZS who responds, asking whether this is not absurd. ZZS explains that all these treasures have a name, it is called "harvest without sowing." In short, it's just greed. WKX laughs and says he's surprised ZZS has the same opinion as him. He argues that although there is peace, the ignorant create their own problems. GX stands up and states that she understood what both men were saying. She argues that it is difficult for humans to discover that they are weak warriors, so they try to reap "a harvest without sowing." She adds that they know they are weak, but they fight against others. So she asks if life is unpleasant for them. Eventually, GX turns to WKX, stating that there are many people dumber than her. ZZS turns to the girl and tells her that she is quite smart. This part of the scene is a test that WKX puts ZZS through. He turns the conversation to the spirits of the Ghost Valley, then Rong Xuan and the Arsenal. WKX wants to know what ZZS's attitude towards the Ghost Valley is, how to continue talks with him and how much ZZS can reveal. The second thing WKX wants to know is the Glazed Armor case, he wants to know if ZZS is interested in the Arsenal treasures. WKX doesn't know that his hatred of RX is baseless or that Arsenal isn't what people say. ZZS, hearing WKX's questions, probably does not even wonder that they have a deeper meaning. For peace of mind, she gives him simple, fact-based answers. ZZS is not interested in the Ghost Valley, he is not interested in Glazed Armor, much less the treasures of the Arsenal. ZZS is dying, every day brings him closer to death, and he is waiting for this death. He believes that what he has committed to will take him a short time, and then ZZS will go its own way. He doesn't know that WKX has plans for him and will gradually implement them. For now, ZZS doesn't want to be too rude and gives WKX factual answers, and WKX admires not only his beauty, but also his ability to think logically and draw constructive conclusions. I don't know, but I think it was one of my favorite scenes that ZZH and GJ shot. Their relationship with each other must have had a big impact on what they showed us in this scene.

#zhang zhehan #zhou zishu #word of honor #wenzhou #wen kexing #gong jun

[aylamoenwyb]

Captain Returns

"Miss Ayla, sorry I keep hiding, I just...well you even seem wary of some of them." she'd giggle causing Ayla to chuckle and respond.  "I was mostly thrown off by how quickly they got from Reunion to this hideout.  The journey should have taken at least a week.  And they are mostly Ayane's people. I worried of her cover.  And yes, I tend to prefer the quiet.  I like them all don't get me wrong, but it can get...chaotic. "  Flicker perching back on her shoulder would see her cross off a name from the rosters, and sigh "I'm sorry did you lose another?" Nodding "Well this is for the best.” Patting Ayla’s shoulder that she sat on, she’d wish she was bigger to add real comfort to this situation, but such is the woe of a magic-less fairy.  

Feeling the aether change in the bunker as soft boot steps landed on the stairs, she’d fly from the small woman’s shoulder and hide between the rum kegs without warning to Ayla.  Not answering Ayla’s question, she was too curious of who this new person could be.  Watching as Ayla froze in awed surprise, her back still turned as the voice spoke, only to whip herself around and dash into his arms, the aether looking so much like that of her Master and yet, not.  There was a dark undertone.  Malicious.  That Master lacked.  Knowing right away this was Kuro, she’d keep quiet and watch, tears in her own Fairy eyes, <I understand now Miss Ayla.  No wonder why you looked at Master when you first met him as if you saw a ghost.  It probably really felt you had.>

Hearing their first tear-filled exchanges, she wouldn’t focus as much on their words and more on the swelling sea of aether swimming around them.  The flash of Malice seemingly muted now in Kuro, Ayla’s aether seemed to rage around them both, but not in anger.  It was if she finally was letting out everything she held in.  Studying the pair, her eyes couldn’t help but be fixated on Kuro as she gasped, now seeing his face better. <You even look like a mix of your parents.  Oh how they would have wished different.> Catching his comment about Ayla’s hair, Flicker would shake her head and cross her fairy arms, <Really you just get back and already with the naughty teases..> Though soon her chastising head shake would be met with a stifled giggle which she’d quickly cover her mouth to silence, realizing Ayla was too overwhelmed to even hear his naughty suggestion, her concern, making sure he was alright sincere and striking against his brashness.  

Ayla’s laughter already filling the room more in this brief welcome more than it had seemingly since Flicker met her, her focus would pull away from the Captain and back to the Vampire, peeking in and feeling as if she was getting to see a side most others didn’t.  Hearing her tease and poke fun at the sailor mixed with her longing for him, amused at both her total devotion to him and yet moments of assertiveness always mixed with a playful air of a dare.  Still, her brazen bite upon the Captain’s neck without a warning, and his wince and loving embrace and strokes upon her hair would catch Flicker both off guard, but cause her to grin.  <I suppose that is one way to say I missed you if a vampire or her groom, with a soft moaned bite>  Ayla’s gentle moans causing Flicker to blush <Miss Ayla!...there are innocent fairy’s overhearing you!>  Laughing at the thought,  though Ayla’s moans from enjoying her favorite meal did cause a stir and feel as if they could be heard during other...carnal activities.  Seeing her kiss and lick the bite tenderly closed, and the tender care they both took with each other, Ayla’s laughter once again filling the room as she was picked up and spun her teasing taunts about paperwork met with his teases and nose wrinkles back.

As he picked her up once more, this time over her shoulder, her shrieked laughter and outcries warming the room, Flicker would chuckle watching him look around the room, already realizing what he was up to.  Hearing the bedsprings squeak and bounce upon the impact of Ayla’s slender frame followed by the sound of boots landing on the floor and sight of her clothes being tossed, Flicker would grow curious as she suddenly in the middle of all the laughter and warm sighs heard genuine regret and and worry from Ayla’s voice.  Peeking around the curtain dividing the room, she would see her looking away from him, as if ashamed and her little fairy heart would ache for her.  <He doesn’t know what you’ve been through little one does he?>  Still hearing his voice soft in their connection ordering her to not turn from him but also acknowledging he understood and was missing things too, her own pride in him grew.  <He is so much like his father when I first met him…>

Flickers cheeks would quickly grow hot as she saw the couple’s continued reuniting of their union. <Oh my twelve! I haven’t had ...is this what living with a young couple is going to be like?!>  Quickly flying back to her hiding spot, the cries and growls she heard from nearby very confusing to overhear as basically the cub’s auntie and knowing how proper Ayla had been, the scene unfolding now was jarring and yet drawing her in unable to ignore it.  <Spending most of the past 30 years with a bachelor cat that seldom sought company as no one could replace his Rokeia, the squeals and unabashed cries and groans coming from behind the curtain were long forgotten memories, that flashed her back to Hoku and his bride in their younger days.>  

Paintings and lamps now crashing over as the Kegs she was hiding in shock, she’d quickly fly out from between them, her own little heart racing to keep safe, peeking once more over the curtain to see him holding her pinned to the wall, his muscular arms gleaming in sweat in the low light, her pale skin already marked with bites and scratches and hand prints, his scratched and bit, the little Fairy’s cheeks would redden as she heard Ayla’s cries of pained desire and submission, <Oh lord young Captain!  She hasn’t had any attention in moons since you’ve been gone can’t you reign yourself in a little?  Look at her tear-stained eyes boy!>  

Shaking her head, trying to give them privacy once more as their passion began to warm the room with it’s smells and sounds, she’d forget to fly away as she saw how much aether was swirling around Ayla, most of it her usual green kindness, but a rich scarlet swirl joining it now.  <You held all that in so long?!  How much aether do you hold?  I’ve never seen so much swirl without….you are so kind.  You give all that in your heals?  And you held your emotions that tight….child your self control is, no wonder you don’t read like a normal aether feeder to anyone.  Your control and kind heart mitigates it all> Shaking her head as she heard the girl's question, his nodding command and both of their cried out answers, as they finally collapsed in a sweaty heap upon each other, she’d continue to watch and listen to their hushed breathless words to one another, grinning down at them as they fell asleep.  

….Only to realize she was hungry and Miss Ayla was asleep and unable to feed her.  Sighing she’d go back to her hiding spot curling up and dozing until morning.  Hopefully, Ayla wouldn’t get to ….distracted and remember her once again.  Hearing Ayla stir, she’d flutter eagerly about, right above the curtain hoping she’d catch sight of her….forgetting that without ZZ’s glasses she might not.   But Ayla had remembered her on her own anyway.  The young woman’s eyes popping open, a whimpered “Oh gosh…”  as she kissed her Captain’s chest and whispered, “I’ll be right back love….umm potty.”  Knowing if she left his side without a reason he’d follow her, not letting her out of his sight.  

Approaching Flicker, finger to her lips her frame still naked, hair a tangled mess, makeup smeared and rubbed off, but every wound from the evening before gone from her creamy vanilla skin, Ayla’d peek out around the curtains and seeing no one head upstairs, returning with flushed cheeks, still naked but a bowl of berries in her hand.  Infusing each one with her aether as she whispered to Flicker, “I am so sorry, I got….distracted last night.  But here, here is breakfast.  I can’t sit with you, but you’ll get to meet him later today so he knows.  For now I need to return to his side before he comes looking.  I don’t want to tell him about your Master yet...or about a bunch of things, but I must and will.  You first so you can freely move around.  Enjoy the berries, the Maid saw me this way to get them.”  Giggling softly looking down at herself, still coated in the evening’s passion she’d smile at Flicker and then crawl back into the small bed, kissing upon her Captain’s chest, falling happily back to sleep in the safety of his arms. 

@captainkurosolaire