#but I say lukewarm feelings on them to be more accurate

[dirtytransmasc]

Are yyou team green or black? And why?

team green, though I'm not in support of every green character (namely Otto though my opinion of him is complicated. I also have opinions on Aegon and his characterization that makes it even more complicated)

[I have only read bits and pieces of the book, so my opinion is based almost solely on the show. keep this in mind]

I'm team green for 3 big reasons. they're more complex, thought not perfect by any means, more morally "right", and are simply more my vibe when it comes to characters. now this is very simplified and not at all nuanced, so stick with me for a minute.

Firstly, they're more complex. the greens have very deep, detailed, and nuanced lives and stories that lead to them being very complex characters that can't be put into a box. Alicent was a child bride who had lost her mother young became a mother young and suffered at the hands of power and men all her life. her children were affected by this and the world they were forced to grow up in throughout their lives. even individually her kids are drastically different; aegon the child who was forced into a life he did not want and suffered due to his father neglect and mother pain. Helaena who was never understood and grew up treated like an oddity. Aemond who was never seen to his full potential, always ignored or looked over, angry throughout his life. each of them has strengths and weaknesses, flaws and benefits, they're imperfect but never completely horrid. they're also never simplified (not entirely, even when the plot and writers seek to simplify them) to the point that they put on a moral pedestal or made straight evil (i'd even argue that the attempts of the writer to oversimplify them as evil and in the wrong makes them 10x more fascinating). I find TB characters tended to miss the mark on that, always put in the moral light, not even allowed a moment to reflect on their actions, lives, or positions in any nuanced or meaningful way, so they always just feel dull. they're also out on a moral highground that they can never be budged from, which makes them harder to like and honestly, really boring. they get away with everything instead of being emotionally and morally nuanced.

secondly, they're more morally "right". I will never say that any of the greens are perfect, they are far from it (with the exception of Helaena and her kids, who have done literally nothing to anyone, but I digress). what I will say, 9/10 times there is some level of reasoning that has some level of reasoning. Alicent always tries to do whats best for everyone, all throughout the series she tried to do best by the court, the king, her children, the realm, and Rhaenyra. did she always succeed? no, but she always tried and her mistakes were almost always honest. I will say she held resentment towards Rhaenya, but honestly, I can't blame her. Rhaenyra's lies and behavior hurt Alicent over and over again so for her to be angry is expected.when it came to succession, Alicent backed Rhaenyra until it was made clear she and Daemon would be a threat to her children's lives and even than she held mercy for Rhaenyra. Aegon's drinking can be blamed on the abuse and neglect he suffered at Viserys, Otto, and Alicent's (though the abuse and neglect from his mother is insanely different and nuanced. she perpetuated her pain onto him because she couldn't heal herself. so I hesitate to call it abuse, cause its so much more complicated than that) hands. though nothing will justify his rape of Dyana, I personally think it was a bad add in on the writers part, and leave it at that. Aemonds rage after years of being ignored doesn't entirely justify what he did to luke, but he had reason for his cruelty after years of Luke (and jace tbh) being cruel just because they could. TB characters tend to do terrible things in response to either A. nothing B. their own terrible things. Daemon kills who he wants when he feels like it, even for stating facts. Rhaneyra will lie and hurt those around her to protect her bastard children. both of them conspire to protect themselves and allow themselves to be wed, really just cause. while there are times they have their reasons, its a lot less of the time, and typically the backing to their actions, is they were trying to unbury themselves from within their own graves. (to preface, I don't care about rhaenyra sleeping around, it doesn't bother me, but its the fact that she will hurt everyone around her to protect her lies, allowing a child to be maimed and people to be murdered)

thirdly, they're my vibe. I like morally complex character, who are, to be frank, pathetic. I like characters with complex trauma's and issues, who aren't perfect people but its not entirely their fault. I would much rather watch a whole show about alicent, a child bride who tries so hard to be a good wife, queen, and mother while not prepared for any such role. Aegon who is a boy with severe mommy and daddy issues, a drinking problem, a flawed past, and constantly wet eyes. Helaena an ignored girl who has suffered for no better reason then her family. and Aemond, a boy who was tormented, bullied, maimed, and made stronger by it at the cost of his compassion and emotional stability - over a nepo baby who was coddled by her father, her murderous husband with a knack for unneeded violence, and her similarly coddled children (the show boiled them down to this, in my opinion). one is simply more up my alley than the other. I want character that need to be dissected, who have suffered, who hurt me to look at.

also, team black created almost all of their own problems. seeing as the main source of contention had to do with Rhaenyra's kids being bastards, which was Rhaenyra's problem, which she caused, and kept digging and digging that grave (faking Laenors death just so she could marry daemon, turning the blame on aemond when luke maimed him furthering the divide amongst the house, trying to wed Helaena to Jace putting her in danger, trying to take the driftmark throne and killing Vaemond for a claim her sons did not have, etc,) till viserys's death, earns her a lot less pity from me. at the end of the day, her being a woman was only a needle in a haystack worth of problems she caused herself that hurt her claim. if she had just strived to create to connection with ancient and her kids, and didn't make herself look like a threat to everyone who lessened her claim (which alicents kids would be the first people to be taken out) alicent would have backed like she had all season and there would have been no war, maybe conflict, but no war.

theres also the effect of the fans on my opinion. I have faced more cruelty, terrible media analysis, and outright ableism/misogny/(blood and sexual based) purist ideology/etc. from the TB fans then I have ever witness by TG fans. TB fans have ruined almost all of the TB characters for me in more ways than I can count, so I will say I am very biased.

thats why I'm team green. as a whole they are simply more appealing, their stories are more interesting, demand more attention to detail and emotional understanding, and from my point of view were the "right" side to be on in the war (the war was wrong on both sides, but my chips lie in the favour of the greens).

#THESE ARE ALL MY OPINIONS IF YOU DONT LIKE IT IGNORE THIS POST. MY ACCOUNT. MY EXISTENCE AS A WHOLE. #BETTER YET. IF YOU REALLY DONT LIKE MY OPINION. BLOCK ME. #I dont want drama. so dont bother me if you disagree #and to clarify discourse and conversation (even if we disagree) =/= arguing. name calling. harassment #if you can be constructive and respectful even while disagreeing your fine to stay #(the fact I have to clarify this in this fandom is embarrassing...) #defintly could have gone more in depth and better explained some things #but I'm tired and know if I don't answer this now I won't ever cause I'm a chronic procrastinator #so this is the best y'all are getting #the pity I have for all of them compared to any of the TB fans is honest to god my entire reasoning #but so many people don't understand them at all so I can't just say that #and I say this as someone who on my first watch was swayed by the intentional moral framing to hate the Greens and support the Blacks #with my whole chest. but I've grown and reflected and rewatched the show and realized I was wrong. #so I've been on both sides of the argument #I know what I'm taking about #pro team green #pro alicent hightower #I'm damn near anti TB/Rhaenyra #but I say lukewarm feelings on them to be more accurate #alicent hightower #aegon ii targaryen #aegon targaryen #aemond targaryen #helaena targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon targeryan #luke velaryon #jace velaryon #not tagging TB I like my life and sanity #they're so mean all the time and in the last week I've been harassed by them multiple times

[onyourhyuck]

LUKEWARM. L.DH | Episode 1

— Title: ‘Wasteland, baby.’

— Summary: Hong Yujin is the new patient at the psych ward admitted for her eating disorder. On the first day of being admitted she meets Haechan, a patient being treated for his bpd. Yujin already claims to hate him; he is everything she dislikes. Loud, annoying, self destructive.

— Genre: Psych ward, hospital, mental illnesses, can be triggering so read at your own risk, guys take care of yourself, mentions of eating disorders, mentions of bpd, suggestive, smut, angst etc.

— Notes: please don’t read if you’ll be triggered !! Take care of yourself guys.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Yujin is emotionally constipated and Haechan is a meddler.

The two most complex cases in the ward — happen to be each other’s triggers and worst of friends in the whole of hospital. Putting these two and two together is like asking for a death wish to happen.

You see punishment takes in many different forms. Yujin is convinced that god is punishing her with Haechan messing up her life whenever she’s in a good mood.

The young girl only recently started to enrol in this hospital not out of her own choice. News spread around quickly of Yujin and of course Haechan wanted to see the newbie for himself. She remembers how he bothered her with so much questions on the first day. Now Yujin wishes he would choke and shut up for once.

If there was a thing to describe him. It would be running tap water.

Strange interpretation right? Yujin likes to think that Haechan’s like tap water. Distasteful, stale and unpleasant.

So far it sounds accurate to Yujin.

A plop of weight pressed on the mattress with shoes on the hospital bed. The boy crossed his legs over the covers with a gleeful smile gazing right back at the owner of the room who looks to be the most pissed he’s seen her yet.

How exciting. Haechan loves getting reaction out of people the most. The girl has been his main source of entertainment here since she arrived. It was like a blessing from God, or so he likes to think.

“Get out.” Yujin states not even bothering to say hello or ‘please get out’ it was just a flat out unemotional reaction equivalent to ‘fuck off’ which he pretends that it hurt him. But it didn’t in reality.

The boy gasps pretending to be a freaking sob but he stopped acting when the expression on her face did not budge. Haechan was intrigued by Yujin’s bluntness. Most other patients would’ve backed down and been submissive to him, but not Yujin. He liked that in a very twisted way.

“Oh come on don’t be such a stick in the mud, let me hang out with you.” Haechan flashes her a little smirk hoping it would encourage some agreement between them.

Yujin heavily exhales. Might as well add some smoke particles, Haechan swore he saw her head turning to flames any minute.

“No. If I want to hang out with someone like you I would get a pet dog. Now get out of my room!” The arms extend out towards the door so Haechan can see the way out.

Taken aback by such statements but not letting them phase him outwardly. Haechan definitely notes from bothering her as of lately he did notice Yujin was rather a feisty individual. Deciding it would be even more fun to get on her nerves and push the already pressed buttons even more just for the fun of it. He didn’t actually care that Yujin was upset.

Haechan’s back pressed on the wall while he was sitting up on the bed this time. Legs crossed over the covers with that devilish smile.

“Oh calm down you’re in a mental ward, I’m sure you’ll come across much worse than me.”

The audacity to have Haechan smiling at her at this time? Yujin feels every inch of her body blood boiling to the point she couldn’t stand straight and see clearly.

Yujin glares over at the boy who made himself comfortable on the bed unannounced with one leg over the covers as if he owns this freaking ward to himself. Yujin stands there in middle of the room immediately ready to protest to the boy who gave no ounce of care.

“Who do you think you are?” Yujin says with an unamused expression.

The boy notices Yujin’s reaction to him sitting down on her bed and her glare. It would fun seeing someone else react this much, Haechan sometimes wonders if her head will explode someday.

The girl has only enrolled recently. He grins from ear to ear. It was fun however. Especially to a guy like him.

Haechan leans back on the bed and rests his feet against the wall. He grabs a magazine off the bedside table and begins to read, as if he’s at home. “Oh come on, what makes you think you own everything here? Who do you think you are?”

Haechan taunts her back. He can’t get enough of this interaction. It was like watching a sitcom on television but he was starring himself.

The moment which was full of tension like a chalk scraping at the chalkboard in a classroom. It felt like a million knives stabbing in the same constant pressure point on a body. It wasn’t a good energy at all so when the young nurse walked in on the moment, she was rather surprised to see Haechan on the bed already harassing the new patient.

The nurse furrows her eyebrows. “Haechan shouldn’t you be in your room taking your medication with nurse Joong?”

His eyes dart away from Yujin to the nurse rather eerily and he slants forward with a dropping smile. “Awh bummer — well this was fun.” He said it like he spent most of the living moments in this ward.

Yujin couldn’t put her finger on it, but it certainly sounds like Haechan was used to the pills prescribed.

But before he was fully leaving he whispers to Yujin. “Welcome to the Wasteland, baby.”

Not quite understanding what the boy meant. Yujin frowned and turned back but by then he was gone on his way.

@onyourhyuck please refer from translating copyrighting and plagiarising my work. Please reblog this blog and follow me for more updates it helps a girl out !

#nct fanfiction #nct smut #nct x reader #nct u scenarios #nct hard hours #nct series #nct fic #nct recs #nct scenarios #nct dream smut #nct dream hard hours #haechan fanfic #nct haechan smut #haechan fanfiction #haechan imagines #haechan headers #haechan smut #haechan scenarios #nct fanfic #nct u hard hours #nct u layouts #nct u moodboard #nct u reactions #nct u smut #nct u x reader #nct imagines #nct 127 hard hours #nct 127 smut #nct 127 fanfic #nct masterlist

[batmanego]

i've been thinking a lot about the racial politics in RDR2 lately, as the racial politics of that time in america have always compelled me (and were directly relevant to my family) and i like RDR2 and i've been toying with the idea of a larger essay on it but i'm worried that i'll never finish it. so if i don't i'm making this post just so i can get my basic thoughts on the wapiti tribe down on paper.

the wapiti tribe is uniquely frustrating to me as it's clear that RDR2 was trying to make up for their godawful treatment of natives in RDR1 and be at least somewhat conscious of the state of things for natives at the time, but it's just.. so... lukewarm.

i'm always going to have issues with the usage of fictionalized tribes. i have issues with the miagani in batman. i have issues with the red star tribe of red dead revolver, the precursor to the red dead redemption games we have now. and i have issues with the wapiti of rdr2. the wapiti are a fictional tribe, yes, but they pull heavily from the real-world lakota people. they speak lakȟótiyapi (despite 'wapiti' being a shawnee word???? i suppose it could be an exonym, but i digress). their existence is based around the lakota people, but the lakota themselves are absent from the game. why? why make a fictionalized tribe and then pull from a real one? so you don't have to worry about getting sued? that's cheap. that's lazy. work with the tribe. it can be done. native people are not ephemeral or uncontactable.

when i think about the wapiti tribe i can't help but contemplate the fictional native (or, more accurately, the fictional native tribe as opposed to the individual), and the comfort it brings to the colonizers. the fictional native and the dead native go hand in hand. the dead, extinct native is suffering in perpetuity, immortalized in time as a martyr to the indigenous cause. being killed by the white man forever.

the fictional native, too, often falls into this trap, particularly in games like RDR2. people love to cry over the dead native (and the fictional native) and mourn "what could have been". this is in part because the dead native (and the fictional native) require no more work on the part of the colonizer. the dead native (and the fictional native) do not call for land back. they do not call for reparations. they do not live among you as people, and so you are not required to see them as such. they allow you to confront your history, but gently. they give you the opportunity to turn away when you are uncomfortable. the dead native (and the fictional native) does not intrude on the workings of everyday life for the colonizer. the alive native (the real-life native), on the other hand, inconveniences the colonizer with demands of monetary assistance, land back, and forces the colonizer to continually acknowledge and live with the fact that they are living the way they are in no small part due to the suffering of the native.

i think often of kim tallbear, a professor of native studies at the university of alberta and author of native american DNA: tribal belonging and the false promise of genetic science's quote: “i think what people are scrambling for is this ancient noble savage or noble indian in their bloodline. they’re not very interested in contemporary indigenous people who are alive, who are living in a still very colonial society at a severe income and class disadvantage, people living with multiple generations of trauma from residential schools, from other forms of discrimination and systematic exclusion” (emphasis mine).

this isn't to say that depictions of the real life suffering that people went through should be ignored or written out of the narrative. i'm grateful that RDR2 acknowledged (in their own lukewarm way) the suffering of the time. but with the rest of the racial politics of RDR2 (see: arthur saying he understands the wapiti because hes an outlaw?????? see: arthur's general unawareness of racism as a structure of society) it feels often to me while playing that the devs, while making a historical game, are uncomfortable with actually engaging with history in any meaningful way.

in any case, i'm one person and i'm by no means an expert on the native experience (being racially white and raised away from the culture and only beginning to try to reconnect some 7 or 8 years ago) and i would genuinely like to hear other people's thoughts on this, particularly lakota people.

#rdr2 #hmmmm hmmmmmmm hm #long post

[markantonys]

I'm curious how "Rand pushing his friends away 2.0" will go. First go round was cause he was scared of hurting them (which is book accurate). The second time in the books is a trauma response so it could go that way in the show too but I just wonder if they don't want to get repetitive of him pushing his friends away. But it is kinda important 🤔 one of the main things is Rand believing his friends aren't in his corner cause of his trauma and self hatred so maybe they lean into that more

yeah it's interesting to ponder! like you say, in the second half of the series it's less "rand pushes his friends away to protect them" and more "rand's friends are geographically separated from him for a long period of time and continue to worry about him despite not being able to see him, whilst rand's deteriorating mental state leads him to incorrectly think his friends have abandoned him and don't care about him anymore" - so if the show went that route in future seasons, i don't think that would feel repetitive with him pushing people away to protect them in s2! and the much stronger EF5 friendship they've established would make it all the more heartbreaking to see rand losing faith in his friends and all the more illustrative of what a bad place he's in (vs. in the books where most readers genuinely believe him when he says they've abandoned him, because the EF5 friendship was relatively lukewarm and the evidence that Everyone Still Cares About Rand was definitely there, but not too strongly or frequently)

it's interesting that rand appears to have actually learned the "pushing people away just makes you and them more vulnerable" lesson after s2 (judging by his Amateur Therapy Session with mat and his apology to egwene), so the approach on that front going forward would have to be either a) rand didn't genuinely learn this after all and is right back to his old tricks in s3, b) rand did genuinely learn it now, but backslides later due to trauma and his deteriorating mental state, or c) the "push people away to protect them" thing is all dealt with in s2 and rand's future isolation will be due to different causes (such as the plot-mandated separation i mentioned above). all 3 seem equally plausible to me!

(but i definitely wouldn't be mad about option C, particularly when thinking about rand's romances. good god the "aaaaahhh i can't be with you i'm soooo dangerous" got SO tiring in the books lmao, like it's not unreasonable for rand to feel that way given the Everything and i'm not unsympathetic towards him, but it just got so tiring! and it made the romances even more difficult to enact than they needed to be & made rand see even less of elayne and aviendha than he already would have due to plot reasons. it also caused a hell of a lot of cognitive dissonance and breaks in rand's own internal logic and characterization, where he's on the one hand going "aaaaahhh i can't be with you i'm soooo dangerous" & refusing to stay in caemlyn with elayne and avi for more than a night lest he draw the forsaken there, and on the other hand he's agreeing to be warder-bonded to everyone & going "come on min, time to bring you into an active warzone" & flaunting his relationship with her in public for all and sundry to see. so the show needs to do SOMETHING here, whether it be preventing his "push them away to protect them" attitude from recurring at all after s2 or making it recur only much later once his bonds & romances are all squared away or saving the bonding until after his epiphany or simply just equalizing his behavior towards each of the 3 so that nobody's getting exceptions to whatever show!rand's internal logic rules end up being.)

#anonymous #answered #wot book spoilers

[askyvesbaking]

Prince Kloss, I have an issue with baking. When I cook bread it's not as bad (still a little flat), but when I try something with more sugar in it like cake, it doesn't seem to rise at all. Any advice?

Hmmm, that can be a tricky problem. It depends on what kind of cake you are making and what kind of leavener it uses.

If you are making a chiffon cake, for example, your leavening agent will likely be whipped egg whites. In that case, you simply need to whip them longer until they are firmer. Use a steel or copper bowl and make sure it is spotless. Spotless!

To make sure it is completely clear of fat, you can clean it with some vinegar beforehand. Don't hold the bowl against your body while you are whipping, the heat from your body can deflate the egg whites. If your problem is stamina, it can be helpful to have an assistant to help you in the kitchen. I used to be pathetically unable to properly whip egg whites, so I would often have Jin help me by taking over when I was too tired. It was only fair, considering he usually devoured nearly half of whatever I made!

Now, a more popular kind of cake these days would be the kind with baking soda. It's a quite newfangled contraption in Rhodolite, but I've found it exceedingly enjoyable to work with.

Even so, it's functions remain somewhat of a mystery to me. All I can say is to make sure your soda isn't expired. You should replace it every 30 days to make sure it is fresh.

The same goes with yeast! You need to test it to make sure it is active. Most recipes call for letting it sit in warm water for some time before adding it to your mixture. If there is no froth or bubbles on top, that means your yeast is dead! You will have to go find some more.

It is also quite easy to accidentally kill yeast. Make sure your water is pure and that it is not too hot, it should feel lukewarm to the touch.

I hope this helps answer your question. Feel free to send me some of the recipes you are trying to make, and perhaps I can help you pinpoint the problem more accurately.

Best of luck.

-Yves Kloss

#yves kloss #jin grandet #ikemen prince #baking tips

[marta-bee]

I've been ruminating (some would say obsessing) on that word I keep seeing used to describe the situation in Gaza. Genocide. Long post is long, so let's put this under a cut.

I know there's debate on some quarters on whether it's accurate; I'm not sure it is, but also think that question misses the point, because whatever else Gaza is, it's a humanitarian fuck-show. And it's caused, beside the obvious, by Israeli willingness to risk human life rather than tolerate a risk to their own security (which they're much better equipped to protect themselves from than the people of Gaza are), coupled with Israeli refusal to make lasting peace with their neighbor enabled by American military and cultural support. So yes, this one feels personal to me both as an American and someone with mixed Jewish-Christian heritage. People who claim to represent me are enabling said humanitarian fuck-show, which is nothing if not uncomfortable.

That said, every time I see that word it gets stuck in my craw a bit. Not because it's untrue but because mass human suffering caused by violence against an ethnic minority is hardly limited to Gaza, or to the present moment. So I'm questioning whether the Gaza situation is uniquely terrible. Not that it needs to be; I don't post about it much here because Tumblr is my refuge from the offline world, but I am doing quite a lot in RL to support Gaza, and to press my congressmen to take a stronger stance against Israel. I don't want to give the impression I'm not bothered or lukewarm just because I'm not vocal about it here.

But the fact that this suffering and violence isn't unique makes me really uncomfortable with that word because, let's face it, the language is intended to outrage people. I've been thinking about a phrase Fred Clarke (the blogger "Slacktivist" at Patheos, a moderate Baptist who often criticized Christian evangelicalism and fundamentalism) used to parody fundamentalist stances on abortion. "Satanic baby-killers" - it was how the fundamentalists supposedly described abortionists and pro-life folks; not sure if they really used it or if Clarke invented it to make his point. The point being, even if you believed this was accurate of what abortionists were doing, the real reason to use it was to make abortionists and fellow citizens who happened to be pro-life seem so other, so --well-- Satanic, that it was morally impossible not to support them. It was meant to radicalize their own side and dehumanize the other.

I'm not so worried about dehumanizing Israelis and Jews more generally. I mean, yes, that's a concern, but it's possible to criticize Israel without being anti-Semitic, and this word at least doesn't play into all those old tropes, at least not in a way I can see. I'm more worried about how it shapes the way we think about our fellow Americans. Because America isn't as overwhelmingly outraged by the Gaza crisis as Tumblr and other left-leaning social media would make you believe. A recent Pew Research poll (results published 3/21/24) found that 31% said their sympathies lie entirely or mostly with Israel, and another 26% said they were equally sympathetic toward both groups. There are reasons for this, not particularly valid ones today but historically I understand why so many Americans (particularly older ones and more conservative ones) are primed to support, but for the most part those reasons are outdated, something they need to be encouraged to reconsider and move on from. Accusing them of supporting a genocide only puts them on the defense.

(The short version, based on my personal conversations with family and neighbors: they think of Israel as a democracy in a sea of dictatorships and monarchies, no longer true; Israel is our ally so it's unpatriotic to criticize them, would take more space to deconstruct but if we can't criticize our friends when they do shit like this who can; and they see Israel as a necessary safeguard where Jews can go to escape discrimination, which is vaguely racist and surely a much less humane and effective approach than addressing the anti-Semitism where said Jews actually live. As I said, not valid reasons, but reasons nonetheless I'm trying to help them grow out of through our conversations. Which means they need to feel safe enough to consider they might actually be wrong.)

The bigger concern for me, though, is what this does to the people using that language. That's why I brought up that "Satanic baby-killers" phrase. Because it ratchets up the sense that your neighbors are moral monsters. It dehumanizes them, so you don't see people who are wrong because they haven't educated themselves or even because they have some valid reason to support Israel I'm not seeing (I'm human, I'm fallible, and I always want to hear new ideas I haven't considered because I want to grow). Instead, they see someone despicable, someone who's wholly other from people like them. It dehumanizes them. And, speaking as someone who grew up in the American South in the '80s and '90s, so yes, I did live through that Satanic baby-killer mind set if not the actual language: that shit will mess you up. I'd rather my current friends not have to go through that.

On the other hand: Gaza is still a humanitarian fuck-show. And evil still needs to be opposed. I know that, and I do that. Possibly I should just get over my hang-up over that word and focus on the things that matter more in terms of RL consequences. Still, it bothers me, and -- being me -- I needed to take the time to unpack why.

#gaza #politics #marta blathers

[bearsinpotatosacks]

Hi!

Can I ask a bad decision, for Phoenix?

Thanks for waiting, I'm sorry this took so long

----

Phoenix wasn��t enjoying this. The beer in her hand was lukewarm and she didn’t even like beer. Someone had just ordered a round and assumed she liked it. She didn’t but she guessed that was what she got when she was surrounded by men. 

Basic training was going well. She was getting along with her fellow aviators as well as she could. Most of them she knew from the Academy, so it wasn't too awkward.

They were talking about which jet they were going to fly. Pretty soon they were making their decision about flying single or double seated. Phoenix was thinking about the latter, it made you more useful, more accurate, if you had someone else with you. It was also less lonely. Not that she could admit that. The Navy had come a long way, but not far enough that she didn’t feel she had to hide or dampen certain things to survive.

“How about you, Phoenix?” Rooster asked, keeping his hand under the table on Hangman’s thigh.

“Double seater.” She said simply. 

“Really?” Hangman added. “You need extra help or something?”

“No.” Something in his words hurt, she didn’t want to give him a rise but she didn’t like people thinking she was incapable. “Do you?”

“Obviously not, since I'm going single.”

“Why does that make you better?” She pushed.

“Because I'm good enough of a flyer to not need someone behind me telling me where the enemy is.”

“And I'll be able to go on more complex missions because I'll have a whole other person with me, and have people like you relying on me,” she cocked her head. “Which, on second thought, might not be a good thing.”

Hangman scoffed, “Double the responsibility, same pay as everyone else. Why's it worth it? Still doesn’t prove me wrong, only an insane person would do that.”

Rooster pulled his hand off his thigh. He shared a look with her. 

“You know all F-14s were double seater, right?” He said. 

“Of course, and it was a stupid design that they got rid of in the F-18, pretty obvious they figured out back seaters were obsolete.”

That ticked Rooster off. They’d been close all through the Academy, and on one drunken night in July, she found out about his dad. 

“What the fuck?” He shot up. 

Phoenix went to join him. 

“What's wrong with you? You said you were going single seater too?” Hangman said, his voice more gentle. 

“My dad was a RIO you prick.”

Phoenix wasn’t embarrassed to say that she was pleased to see his face drop. 

“Yeah, but-” he stammered. “They were important for the F-14, but the F-18 has a single seater option, why go for it? Surely if your dad had the option he'd still be here?”

Rooster didn't say anything. He clenched and unclenched his hands. For a guy so quick to anger, he was surprisingly calm. She guessed it was because he was his boyfriend and he didn’t want a fight. 

“Just, watch your words next time, alright?”

He sat back down but Phoenix didn't move. “That's it?”

They looked at her. She felt the table's eyes on her. 

“What?”

“He's insulting me and you only drop it because he apologises about shaming your dad? What about me?”

Rooster opened and closed his mouth. “I don't think it's right, but-”

“But what? You agree with him?”

“Nat, you know how I feel, it's-” he looked down. “It's a whole other life in your hands!”

“And you don’t think I can handle that?”

“No!”

He was stood up but she was too far gone. In one swoop, she threw a punch and hit him solidly in the cheek. He stumbled back and bounced a little as he hit the table, holding his red cheek. 

“For fuck's sake Bradley, you don't think I'm sick of this shit? Sick of people undermining me and doubting me but not you, it was never you, so why now? Because of him?” She pointed to Hangman. “Is the dick that good that you'll betray your friend?”

“No! Because my dad died in an accident, it was a fault in the plane and the pilot-” He hesitated. “The pilot couldn’t do anything to stop it and I don’t want that on you because it ruined my life and I don’t want that on you.”

He stepped back. “And if you let me talk then I would've told you. But you just blew up.”

She gulped and stepped backwards. Her stomach dropped. Looking at his red cheek, she felt like all of this was a bad idea.

#top gun #top gun fic #natasha phoenix trace #natasha trace #phoenix top gun #phoenix trace #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw #rooster top gun #rooster bradshaw #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #hangman seresin #hangman top gun #bear writes

[coentinim]

Done my first homework of the year. I hope I didn't mess it up. Also, for some reason, historically accurate Innocent would be funnier and more heart-warming than Sakamoto's style. Here's some writing flex.

Tuesday, 24th of September 1754

A valet painstainkingly drove a stinky tumbril Northward through the narrow Parisian streets, carefully driving the horse as not to disturb his passengers. Inside the tumbril were two men, one clad in a worker's suit with a leather apron holding a brasero with branding irons, now lukewarm, the other sitting on a chair and dressed as a bourgeois, holding in his still valid hand a birch rod stained red. With them was a boy of only age fifteen, his pockets full of a sinister salary. They had just whipped and branded a certain François Abreval, a hater convicted of homicide, and were now heading home after there arduous task and mind-numbing negociations. But this home, how did it look like ? Historiography falls short of a reconstruction on this one.

YOU'RE SO RIGHT IT IS

"Branding irons, now lukewarm" idk I love when things so morbid are discussed casually, they're so used to doing it it's just a regular tuesday. Are those two men Charles and Jean-Baptiste? And who's the 15 year old?

Also, I know I should search for it on my own but I like talking to people (I'm introverted af irl), but what could you get branded for in these times?

Wish you luck on your assignment! School starts next monday for me (senior year😖) and I'm really stressed and strangely you saying you completed the assignment made me feel better you know? Like, knowing it's possible to survive it lol

#answer☆

[parameddic]

mental health deep dive

QUICK FACTS ,

diagnoses: he's an addict. there were some conversations about cptsd (in relation to the events of september 11; TK was close to the 252 as much as his dad was, and TK got to watch the towers come down with his father still inside, to boot. not to mention Owen's subsequent alcohol dependence for years and years) but he didn't find it a useful term for himself and it was never formally diagnosed/it was only ever raised in theory, and TK shut it down. not a word he uses about himself and he's kind of pissed when people try to hand it to him. stop dragging him into identity labels you think he should fit into, there is nothing wrong with having cptsd And it isn't a label that belongs to him.

triggers: not really any. he will have exceptionally strong reactions to his family (broad definition) being in danger, and especially to his small family unit (dad, mum, TK) being pulled apart at the seams. he's also... sometimes owen does this thing where he just overlooks TK in general? it's not intentional, it's just what his dad is like, and TK loves his father very truly, he really does, this is just part of who owen is and TK takes all of him. Loves all of him. Doesn't believe in love in parts. but sometimes Owen just forgets TK exists ("I'm gonna be a dad") or doesn't pay attention when TK tells him something that's happening in his life ("You took him bowling?" when TK left him a voice message to tell him that's what he was doing), there are times where... TK feels like an afterthought. that's not great for him.

positive coping skills: speaking to the people he loves and asking for outside perspectives on situations he thinks he's too close to. TK trusts his own perception of things but he trusts other people's takes on things, as well, he's very social-based, he wants to know how to work with and interpret the people and world around him and there are people whose opinions he really, deeply trusts, to help guide him in that. TK leans a lot on his friends and his family, his loved ones, when he is feeling lost or displaced. if he needs to he will voice exactly what he is thinking so that someone can tell him he's Wrong (even when he knows the thoughts aren't exactly accurate he has trouble challenging them sometimes - he asks for help challenging things, that's a habit) and there's nothing uuuum.... reckless? about the way he does it. TK isn't being messy emotionally and taking more from the people around him than is fair to take, he is being vulnerable out loud, he is intentionally looking for reassurance or for outside perspective or for help challenging a hard thought And he is doing it on purpose.

TK also really does benefit from physical touch and if he remembers to he can ask for it (reach out physically, looking to be answered) but that doesn't always hit him, he doesn't always remember. other positive coping skills include exercise, spending time with buttercup, organising game nights with his friends, very occasionally some form of mindfulness/spirituality (he'd not say he's practicing but he did go to Hebrew school, and it does make him feel close to his mum in a way he often can't feel close to her, anymore), I. notably don't think? that a long hot shower is particularly up his alley in terms of unwinding, he doesn't take super hot showers. he is one of those gross lukewarm people. likes baths too  

negative coping skills:  he's an addict. beside that there's dissociation and things linked to the dissociation because he actually doesn't want things to feel so empty and grey and lost; impulsiviity, provoking bar fights because sure a bar fight is a shitty way to feel something but an axe is a shitty way to open a door and it works, sex for the same reason (although he doesn't do... 'risky' sex just short-term relations which actually are not healthy for him, they can work for some people and he respects that, in the long term it is not healthy for TK), he has self-harmed in the past, risky behaviour/adrenaline seeking that can be passed off as just being a dumb kid, oh... oh... the leaning on people he knows will not be there. he does that, too. reaches out in ways that are pre-sabotaged so he can feel like he tried and it wasn't enough. TK is not conscious of doing that, always. (Owen is not conscious of being someone who can't be leant on, always.)

attachment style:  somewhere between secure and anxious styles, mostly the latter, it depends on the point in his timeline and whose relationship with TK you're analysing (his mother: secure. His father: maybe a little less secure, but not for lack of trying. Yknow? TK has always believed his dad was trying. He left for a while, but he was always trying.)

love language:  touch. Touch is TK's first language, before even spoken word, he speaks best by touching, he is a physical sort of a person, touching is his love language. also just time. spending time with the people he loves.

myers briggs / mbti: ESFJ(-T) which miiight be a little too influenced by the fact he is an addict in recovery who relies on structures and routines to support that. ESFJ might not quite suit. there's a pin in this one for now

HISTORY EXPLORATION ,

are their diagnoses formal ( via a doctor, therapist, etc. ) or informal ( self diagnosis, a hunch, unrealized, etc. )     not really 'diagnosed' and doesn't take the label cptsd about himself/doesn't think it's related or relevant to him? TK is firmly of the opinion that if the label is not a useful tool to have in his repertoire about himself then he doesn't want it. he's also not sure cptsd is even right for him. he's just an addict who ended up an addict through no fault of anyone besides himself, yknow?

have they ever been treated / medicated?     been to rehab twice, yes. mostly clean since the last time.

have they ever been hospitalized or treated on an inpatient basis?   besides rehab, not for mental health issues.

how old were they when they first started experiencing / realizing symptoms? he was 8 when the towers came down, and had his 9th birthday 3 months later. so... maybe nine and a half. ten years old. when he first took a pill someone offered him at a party? 15, 16.

do they have a family history of mental illness? his mum's family has a history but if mum was ever diagnosed or experienced mental health issues herself, TK never heard anything about it. Owen's side never investigated it and Owen himself generally has a distaste for therapy for himself 'cause he's too manly for it, but if asked TK would say his dad had some trouble with alcohol when TK was a kid, and Owen himself would use the words PTSD. (PTSI for 'injury' if you want to listen to him but that's so dismissive and mean actually he's so. he's so! but whatever)

how was mental health handled / discussed in the family / community?    TK is alive because his mother dragged him into rehab. His dad dragged him to Austin, too, but he's never really had any idea how to - talk about it, what it's like, how to support TK. Not properly. But TK is alive today because his mother dragged him into rehab. He credits Gwyn for his life in more ways than one. Credits his dad, too, but that... Owen saves TK physically semiregularly, they're part of the same firehouse. Gwyn is the one who gave him reasons to live when he didn't think there were many.

what are their thoughts on mental health / their diagnosis? a lot of shame at first, but he is himself and he is an addict and that's not something he is going to lie about or hide from the people around him. TK is An Addict. there are messy parts of him, take all of those parts or don't take him at all, his rough edges are just gonna be his rough edges. if he could sand them down he would have sanded them down by now.

in what ways has their diagnosis shaped their life or experiences?  n/a.

SYMPTOMS: note that all of the below are, on their own, normative and typical aspects of human functioning. they become “symptoms” when they last longer than “normal” or when they pose a significant impact on someone’s life / functioning.

BOLD  all that are present,  ITALICIZE those that are resolved or in the history.

depression.    anxiety.   panic attacks.    dissociation.   derealization.   depersonalization.    suicidal ideation.    self harm.    homicidal ideation.    psychosis.    auditory hallucinations.    visual hallucinations.    delusions.    mania.    hypomania.   racing thoughts.    hyperactivity. attention difficulty.   flashbacks.    nightmares.   hyperarousal. hypoarousal.    hypersexuality.    hyposexuality.    psychopathy.   risky behavior.    catatonia.    somatic / bodily concerns.    mutism.    phobia.    agoraphobia.    hoarding.    obsessions.    compulsions.    body dysmorphia.    hair picking.    skin picking.     amnesia.   illness anxiety / hypochondria.    sensory loss.    speech difficulty.    comprehension difficulty.    communication difficulty.    tics.    defiant behavior.    irritable mood.    vindictiveness.     aggression.    pyromania.    kleptomania.    paranoia.    attention seeking.    narcissism.   avoidance.  dependency.    pica.    rumination.    food restriction.    food binging.    purging.   soiling the bed.    insomnia.    fatigue.    sexual dysfunction.    delirium.    developmental delays.

explanations / elaborations on any of the above symptoms: TK has wanted to die before, as a teen, but when overdosing after Alex e.g. he simply. Did not care if he did or not. Currently, he actively does not want to, he wants to live, he wants to be here, he Wants To Be Here and he will fight for it, but there have been points in his life where those things..... were always true about him but he was a lot more tired sometimes, and didn't have the same coping skills he does now. TK still has a therapist he sees occasionally, just to have someone he can touch base with once a month or so. goes to the grief group with Tommy. has a sponsor. he's on the right track and he fought very hard to get onto the right track, he is not 'out of the woods' but he is on a trail and you can fight him if you want to get him off of it. yknow? TK tries very hard.

TK tries very, very hard.

tagged: i stole it

tagging: steal it!

#mental health cw #suicide mention cw #suicide cw #suicide mention tw #about tk #headcanon

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 157: Friend and Foe Alike

The next morning Sae walked to her office. “Good morning,” Riko said. “I have the information you wanted.”

“Thank you,” Sae replied. “And good morning.”

Riko giggled. “So, Ichiko Ohya, AKA ‘Japan’s Last Gonzo Journalist’. Right now, she’s on the Phantom Thief beat.”

“Really?” Sae wondered. “That’s unusual.”

“It gets a little more unusual from there,” Riko said. “At first, she seemed more neutral in her coverage, but right around the Kaneshiro incident her coverage shifted into showing the thieves in a more positive light.”

“Huh,” Sae said.

“It gets more unusual,” Riko said.

“More unusual than that?” Sae wondered.

Riko nodded. “At the same time her coverage shifted into lionizing the Phantom Thieves, the more accurate information she was pumping out.”

“What do you mean?” Sae asked.

“Well, for example,” Riko began, “during the Medjed case, the day Medjed was supposed to attack, she reported that the Phantom Thieves had a plan, and they did.”

“Hm, interesting,” Sae said. “What about before this whole Phantom Thief business?

“I looked into that too,” Riko said. “Apparently she was a top notch journalist. Her and her partner, Kayo Kobayashi, were exceptional at getting the scoop on all sorts of big stories.”

“Kayo Kobayashi…” Sae pondered. “Why does that name sound so familiar?”

“It sounded familiar to me too,” Riko said. “I looked through your notes. Apparently, she was on the scene of a supposed murder.”

“..’Supposed murder’...?” Sae asked.

“In your notes, you suspect it to be another mental shutdown case,” Riko clarified.

“WHAT?!” Sae gasped. “Can I have that file?!”

“It’s already on your desk,” Riko answered.

“Thanks,” Sae said. She paused for a moment. “Say, do you think Ohya’s increasing positive coverage of The Phantom Thieves stems from her learning more about what happened to her partner?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case,” Riko said.

“Hmmm,” Sae pondered. “Things are escalating, that’s for sure.” She smiled.

“Thank you.”

“No problem,” Riko replied.

“Say, do you want to come with me?” Sae asked. “We're meeting at a place called Crossroads in Shinjuku.”

Riko’s face was stunned. “Ummm, uh, well…”

Sae smiled. “It’s fine. It’s not like we’re tethered together…”

“Right…” Riko said, embarrassed. “But it is a pretty good place. I mean, I wouldn’t say anything there is as delicious as some of the places we’ve gone to, but it makes up for it in atmosphere.”

“Gotcha,” Sae said. “Any recommendations?”

“Well, it is a bar,” Riko said. “But I suspect you want to not get wasted.”

“You’d assume correctly,” Sae said.

“They have other drinks,” Riko said. “I’d suggest something with flavor to help wash down some of the food.”

“Understood. Thank you. I’ll be in my office.”

“Yes ma’am!” Riko said. Sae marched into her office, and closed the door. Riko sat back down at her desk. Sae also took a seat, and began looking through that case file. “Hmmmmmm…”

After the bell rang to end school, Ann turned to Ren. “Hey, guess what?”

Ren was surprised. “You…found a really good sale at the mall?”

“Please, I’m always finding a good sale at the mall,” Ann retorted. The girls shared a laugh. “But no. I’m having a photo shoot today, and I want you to come with.”

“Oh. Of course,” Ren said, ecstatic.

“Hang on,” Ann said. “I want Ryuji and Shiho to come too. They’ve helped me so much too. Not that everyone else hasn’t, but…”

“Right,” Ren said. Ann messaged the two of them, and they were off.

On their way, Ann said “Thank you so much for joining me!”

“Of course!” Shiho replied.

“You seem really fired up,” Ryuji said.

“Well…it’s because of you…all of you…” Ann said, blushing. “I felt so passive for so long, but because of you, I feel like I can do anything!”

“May I ask why you’re sticking with modeling though?” Shiho wondered. “It’s just…you seemed so lukewarm on the idea before.”

“Yeah,” Ann admitted. “Originally, I wanted to give it up because of all the things I didn’t like about it. But after I realized everything I do love about it, I wanted to share that with the world. If I gave up, more people would see modeling as a shallow existence, rather than the fun, lively pursuit that it is. At least, in my eyes.”

“Well said,” Ren replied.

As they arrived, they saw Mika getting chewed out by the modeling director. “What’s going on?” Ann wondered. They approached closer.

The director noticed Ann. “Ah, Takamaki-san! Get a load of this: You know how some models haven't been showing up recently?” Ann nodded her head. “Well, it turns out that Mika had been calling them, posing as our agents, and telling them the shoot was elsewhere.”

“WHAT?!” Ann said, shocked.

“Yeah, I know,” the director replied.

“I’m sorry…” Mika said. “It won’t happen again.”

“Well, it better not,” the director said. “The next time you pull a stunt like this, you’re fired.” He sighed. “Anyways, we have a few minutes before we are ready. Maybe you should reflect on what you’ve done.”

“OK,” Mika said meekly.

“Woah, she really is cutthroat,” Ryuji said.

“You said it,” Shiho added.

Mika walked over to the gang. “Wow…” Ann said. “I can’t believe you did something so…childish.”

“Come again?” Mika said.

“Are you really so afraid you can’t be a top model on your own merits that you had to resort to sabotage?”

“Yeah, and you got caught too,” Ren jumped in.

“Hmph,” Mika scoffed. “And all I had to do was give him some doe eyes, and I didn’t get fired.”

“That’s…still kind of pathetic…” Shiho said.

“Besides,” Ryuji interjected, “you haven’t refuted my girlfriend’s point.”

Mika looked at Ann. “This is your boyfriend?” Ann nodded. Mika looked at Ryuji. “You two seem made for each other.”

“Thanks?” Ryuji said.

“I think she’s trying to diss you,” Shiho said.

“Oh,” Ryuji replied.

Ann chuckled. “What are you laughing at?” Mika barked.

“Your petty attempts to get to me,” Ann answered.

Mika got angrier “Listen!” Mika declared. “I may have gotten caught this time, but I promise that I WILL become the best model, and I WILL do anything to make that dream come true! Got it?!”

There was a second of silence before Ann let out a chuckle. She then started full on laughing. Mika was confused. “I’m sorry,” Ann said. “It’s just, you remind me so much of those dramatic kid’s show villains I watched when I was younger.”

“Oh yeah,” Ryuji said. He burst out laughing too.

Shiho started laughing as well. “It is an apt comparison.”

“I’ll say,” Ren added, laughing herself. Needless to say, this was not the reaction Mika expected.

Ann stopped laughing for a second. “Well, my goal is also to become the best model. And your underhanded tricks aren’t going to deter me anymore. So, while I respect the hustle, I’m afraid you’ll always come up just short of me.”

Mika was astounded. She then grinned. “I see. Well, if that’s the case, I guess beating you with said underhanded tactics wouldn’t be as fun. So from now on, I promise I’ll become a better model than you fair and square.”

Ann chuckled again. “You’re on!” They shook hands, both gripping tightly. You could feel the tension.

“Alright ladies, we’re ready!” the director said.

“Coming!” Ann said, letting go of Mika’s hand. The two models walked up to the shoot.

“Soooo, are they friends now?” Ryuji asked.

“I think they’re more frenemies,” Shiho clarified.

‘Ugh,” Ryuiji groaned. “I’m glad I’m not a girl. I have a hard enough time following a conversation as is.”

As the shoot progressed, Ren, Shiho, and Ryuji looked on. As Ann was modeling, they noticed something different. She was in top form. Every pose was graceful, and slick. Even everyone on set took notice.

After the shoot wrapped up, Ann walked up to the rest of the group. “So, what’d you think?”

“That was incredible!” Ren said.

“You did wonderful,” Shiho replied.

“Yeah!” Ryuji said. “I think I get what you mean. I just thought being a model was about being attractive, but you showed me that there’s a lot more to it. Er, that’s not to say you’re not attractive…”

“I think you need to learn how to quit while you’re ahead,” Shiho teased.

Ann giggled. “It’s OK. I understand what he means.”

Ryuji sighed, relieved. “Well, in an effort not to quit, I noticed that the ice cream shop Makoto showed us is going half price for this week. So, um, would you mind splitting off from everyone and going on a date?”

Ann giggled again. “That sounds great sweetie.” Ryuji chuckled, proud of himself.

“I actually need to get going too,” Shiho said. “I’m talking with some of the former volleyball club members about getting things back together.”

“Hey,” Ann said. Shiho looked up. “You can do this! I know you can!”

Shiho nodded. Determined. “Thank you. And great job today. Seeya!”

“Bye!” Ann replied. Everyone waved as Shiho left. Ann turned to Ryuji. “Say, before we go, do you mind if I talk with Ren? Girl-to-girl?”

Ryuji was a bit stunned but said “Uh, sure. I’ll just beeeee over there then?” Ann nodded. “OK then. Seeya later Ren!”

“Bye!” Ren replied as Ryuji rushed off.

Ren turned to Ann. “You know,” Ann said, “if it wasn’t for you, I don’t think I’d be at this point. On the first day you came to school, you helped me.”

Ren was surprised. “I’d like to think I’d have helped anyone…”

“Right,” Ann said. “But I don’t think I would have. I…was in a really bad place. All my life, people have put different expectations on me, and Kamoshida amplified that to a million. But you taught me that if I want something, I need to fight for it. I just can’t cave in to what other people think of me.

For too long, I was buried in all of that. But now I see that you have to define yourself. I should have known that earlier; that’s one of the best parts about being a model. I saved you from Kamoshida because I wanted to save the person who saved me earlier. I know it sounds selfish, but it was the first step I needed to take to learn this lesson.”

Ann looked at Ren intently. “You said you’d have saved anyone, right? Well, the next time I need saving, don’t save me because you’d save anyone. Save me because you want to save me. I promise I'll do the same. And together, we will save as many people as we can; both as lights in this dark world, and as Phantom Thieves.”

Ren was impressed. She smiled, and reached her hand out “Of course.” Ann giggled, smiling back, and shook Ren’s hand. This handshake was just as, if not more, intense than the one she had with Mika, but it was 100% friendly.

I am thou, thou art I

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath.

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion and break the yoke of thy heart.

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret of the Lovers, granting thee infinite power…

Lovers-Ann Takamaki: Rank 10

Inside Ann, a powerful force was manifesting itself. Her Persona, Carmen, was changing. Evolving. In a burst of flame, her Persona grew alongside her, becoming Hecate.

What is this power? I feel like I’ve become stronger; A much brighter light than I ever thought I could be.

After Ann and Ren finished shaking hands, Ann said “Thanks again. I hate to cut this short, but I have a date.”

Ren chuckled. “Don’t stay out too late, you crazy kids.”

Ann chuckled back. “Seeya!” she said, rushing off to Ryuji. She joined up with her boyfriend, and the two walked off to get some half price ice cream. Ren watched and smiled; a single tear falling from her eyes.

Later that evening, Ren got a message.

Chihaya: Would you mind stopping by tonight?

Chihaya: I know it’s been a bit, but I want to continue the conversation from last time.

Ren: No problem.

Ren: I’ve actually been kind of busy, so this works out better than anticipated.

Chihaya: I figured tonight would work.

Chihaya: I asked the cards.

Ren: Of course.

Chihaya: But be cautious.

Chihaya: I sense a conflicted soul coming to Shinjuku as well.

Ren: How worried should I be?

Chihaya: Just remain calm and don’t give them something that will send them into a frenzy.

Ren: Sounds simple enough.

Ren: See you soon.

Chihaya: Seeya!

Ren put her phone away, and headed out.

She got on the train to Shinjuku and sat down. She looked up and noticed Sae sitting across from her. Sae noticed her too. The train started moving. “Hi there,” Sae said.

“Uh, hi,” Ren replied.

“You’re the girl Sakura-san’s taking care of, right?”

“Uh, yeah…” Ren replied, unsure of where this was going.

“Hm,” Sae said. She frowned slightly. “I hope he’s not too mad at me about those files.” Ren was curious. Sae sighed. “I know I can come off as a bit aggressive, but my job doesn’t allow room for errors. I need to be absolutely certain about everything. It’s not…much of an excuse, but I hope that one day he’ll be able to understand.”

Ren was a little perplexed, but willing to engage a little. “Um, well, he’s actually fairly understanding.” Sae took interest. “You just gotta be straight with him. He respects that.”

Sae paused for a moment, before letting out a “Hm. Thanks…but I don’t know if it’d be that easy. Not from Sojiro’s perspective, but from what I’m working on. It’s so many moving parts that it’s hard for me to even keep track of. But I know that when it comes together, it’ll be something magnificent.”

“Well…” Ren said, still unsure of what to say, “I think Sojiro is more understanding than you think.”

“I appreciate you trying to help,” Sae responded. “Really, I do. But…” Sae wasn’t sure how to respond. She sighed. “Maybe I’ll give it a try. When I’m not too busy.” Ren smiled. “So, what are you doing heading to Shinjuku on a school night?”

“Oh, uh, well,” Ren stuttered. “There’s a really cool fortune teller up there. I’m going to see her.”

Sae was stunned. “I didn’t peg you as someone interested in that sort of thing.”

“I wasn’t,” Ren explained. “At least not when I came to Tokyo.”

Sae smiled. “I see. It seems like your parole is suiting you well.”

“I…guess you could say that…” Ren said.

“This Stop: Shinjuku Station!”

“Hm hm. Well, looks like this is our stop,” Sae said. She stood up and walked out. Ren followed suit. Before moving in their separate directions, Sae slightly turned to Ren and said “You don't have to believe me, but I am trying to help you too.” Sae walked off.

Ren was confused and unsure what Sae meant exactly, but was relieved that things didn’t get out of control. She walked off to find Chihaya.

Once at Chihaya’s table, Chihaya greeted Ren “Oh hello! How did your trip go?”

“Pretty well, all things considered,” Ren said. “So, how are things going with you?”

“Well…” Chihaya said. Mind if I grab something from the vending machine?”

“Go ahead,” Ren said.

“Thanks. I’ll be right back,” Chihaya said. She walked off. She came back with two drinks. “I got something for you as well.”

“Thanks,” Ren replied.

Chihaya nodded. “Let’s go around the corner.” She put up a sign saying she was on break. The two of them were drinking their drinks on a nearby bench. “Ah! That hit the spot.”

“So, what’s on your mind?” Ren asked.

“Well….hmmmm,” Chihaya said. “I’m just really curious about how you can change fate through your words.”

“Oh, uh, well,” Ren said. “I’m not sure. I just have faith in them, I guess.”

“Hm,” Chihaya replied. “I guess I can see that. But faith is hard to come by. I don’t know if you know this, but I’m not originally from Tokyo.”

“Me too,” Ren said. “I grew up somewhere in the sticks.”

“Me too,” Chihaya replied. “My village was so isolated that in the winter no one could go in or out because no one bothered to plow the road to and from it.”

“OK, I wasn’t THAT out in the sticks,” Ren said. “But I doubt the small town politics change much.”

“Hm hm,” Chihaya laughed. “Probably not. I’ve always had these powers. And at first people saw them as a gift, but after predicting one too many bad things, it started to get seen as a curse, and everyone turned on me.”

“I know the feeling,” Ren said. “Not the powers, but the whole getting everyone turning on you thing.”

“Right…” Chihaya said. “When I was able to, I got out of my village and came to Tokyo to see if I could have a fresh start.”

“Well, I know it’s working out for me,” Ren said.

“It’s…sort of working,” Chihaya said.

“But not all the way?” Ren wondered.

“Well…it’s just…” Chihaya sighed. “I dunno. What helped things work out for you?”

“That’s easy,” Ren replied with no hesitation. “I made friends with so many amazing people. Despite everything, I feel stronger with them by my side.”

“I see…” Chihaya said, intrigued.

Ren giggled. “You know that includes you too, right?”

“Oh!” Chihaya gasped. She giggled back. “Of course.”

“And you have me too now,” Ren said. “So if you need anything, don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

Chihaya smiled. “Of course. And thank you. You’ve shown me how your power works first hand.”

Ren smiled back. “Any time.”

Fortune-Chihaya Mifune: Rank 4

Chihaya finished her drink. “Ah! Well, I should get back to work. You wanna join me?”

“I would, but it’s a school night…” Ren replied.

“It’s OK,” Chihaya said. “Good night.”

“Good night,” Ren replied. She finished her drink, threw the can away, and headed home.

Meanwhile, Sae walked into Crossroads. She was a little stunned, but reminded herself that this was a bar. “Hey!” Ohya cheered. “It’s the prosecutor!”

“Hello,” Sae answered. She walked in and took a seat next to Ohya. “I’ll take a soda.”

“Comin’ right up,” Lala said. She got her her soda.

“So, what do you wanna talk about?” Ohya said.

“A few things,” Sae answered.

“Oooo, you’re serious,” Ohya replied.

“And I suggest you do the same,” Sae told her.

“Ah, c’mon, I’m not even buzzed,” Ohya said.

“It’s true,” Lala said. “I’ve known her long enough to know when she’s REALLY drunk.”

“Well, I’m working on something serious,” Sae said. “And I need your help. So I don’t need some floaty answers that get me nowhere.”

“You’re working with Okumura, right?” Ohya asked.

“Yes,” Sae said.

Ohya raised her eyebrow. “Buuuuuut…?”

“But what?” Sae asked.

“Is there really no caveat?” Ohya wondered.

“Depends,” Sae answered. “How much of this meeting is going to be off the record.”

“Oh ho,” Ohya said. “I see this isn’t your first rodeo. Alright, let’s take this whole thing off the record for now.”

“Very well then,” Sae replied. “I am only working with Okumura nominally. In reality, I suspect he may know something about the mental shutdown cases and working with him is just a means of getting closer to the truth.”

“Ooo, you are a sly one,” Ohya replied.

“The reason I’m talking to you now is because I think you have a similar suspicion,” Sae said.

“Hm. What makes you say that?” Ohya taunted.

“I'm a prosecutor,” Sae said. “I do my homework. Does the name Kayo Kobayashi ring a bell?”

Ohya was shocked. “You’re really serious, huh.”

“I think I’ve made that clear,” Sae replied.

“Very well,” Ohya said. “What about Kayo?”

“You think she’s innocent, right?” Sae asked.

“And what of it?” Ohya said.

“I have a feeling you may be right,” Sae said. Ohya was stunned. “But I can’t do anything without information.”

“And you think I have the info you’re looking for?” Ohya posed.

“Precisely,” Sae confirmed.

“So, what information would that be?” Ohya asked.

“I want your source on your Phantom Thief stories,” Sae said.

“Woah, hold on!” Ohya shrieked. “That’s…a really big ask to say the least.”

“I’m tasked with figuring out these mental shutdowns,” Sae retorted. “If THAT isn’t a big ask…”

“R-Right…” Ohya replied. “But I can’t just betray their trust like that.”

“So, you won’t help me?” Sae asked.

“Not like that,” Ohya said. “I can maybe keep you in the loop on some things.”

“You’re being cagey too?” Sae insinuated. “I thought you were better than Okumura.

“HEY!” Ohya snapped. “Okumura’s just trying to protect himself. I’m protecting someone else!”

Sae glared at her and tilted her head. “I’M trying to protect all of JAPAN!”

Ohya glared back at her. “So are The Phantom Thieves.”

“How do you know for sure?” Sae asked.

“Hm,” Ohya chuckled. “I don’t. But I have more faith in them at the moment than the justice system.”

Sae definitely felt the sting on that. She sighed. “I guess we aren’t getting anywhere.”

“I guess not,” Ohya said, simmering down.

Sae finished her drink. She left some cash on the counter. “Thanks for the drink.” She got up. She looked at Ohya. “You promised me that this was off the record. I hope that this…less than ideal conversation doesn’t change that.”

“Hah, what do you take me for?” Ohya said. “If I’m not selling out my source, I’m not selling you out either.”

“Hm,” Sae smirked. “Very well. You might hear from me intermittently.”

“Well, it’d be a nice change of pace at least,” Ohya said. “All I get are calls from my boss.”

“Very well,” Sae said. She left.

“Do you really not have faith in her?” Lala asked. “She’s a bit abrasive, I know, but she seems good-natured at least.”

“Almost like lookin’ in a mirror to an alternate dimension where I’m worth somethin’,” Ohya said. She took another drink. “I would have helped her, but she was asking me too much, you know?”

“I do,” Lala said. 

Ohya sighed. “I hope The Phantom Thieves can help her too.”

Sae was on her way to the train. She checked her watch. She had some time before the last train departed. “I guess it couldn’t hurt.” She looked around.

She eventually found Chihaya’s booth. “Oh. Good evening ma’am. Are you interested in having your fortune read?”

“I think so,” Sae said.

“Well then, have a seat,” Chihaya replied. Sae sat down. “Is this your first time getting your fortune read?”

“Yes,” Sae said. “I’m usually more of a fact-oriented person, but I’m willing to try anything.”

“Well, I can’t say that’s the first time I’ve heard that,” Chihaya said. “Now let’s see.” She focused her power. “Oh! Oh my!”

Sae was curious. “What is it?”

“You have…a very interesting fortune to say the least,” Chihaya answered.

“What do you mean?” Sae asked.

“Hold on,” Chihaya said. She started dealing out 13 Tarot Cards.

Sae was even more confused. “Aren’t there only supposed to be three?”

“Usually, yes,” Chihaya answered. “But your fortune is very unusual to say the least.” She finished dealing out the cards. There was 11 on one side, one on the other side, and in the middle was the last card on its side.

She flipped the middle card first. “The Judgement on its side.”

“...What does that mean?” Sae asked.

“I sense that you are in the middle of something big,” Chihaya answered, albeit in a roundabout fashion.

Sae was surprised. “I…I am.” She looked at the table some more. “What do the other cards mean?”

Chihaya flipped the solo card. “The Hunger wishes to pull The Judgement in reverse.”

Sae was curious. “...Meaning?”

“The Judgement reversed would allow you to be consumed by darkness and lies,” Chihaya explained. Shen then flipped the other 11. “The Fool, The Magician, The Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Lovers, The Chariot, The Adjustment, The Hermit, The Aeon, and The Faith wish to pull The Judgement upright. Meaning that you will find the answers that you seek.”

“So, if I want that, what do I have to do?” Sae asked.

“Let’s see…” Chihaya said. She began to concentrate some more. “It appears that you view those 11 as your enemies. Once you realize they’re on your side too, only then will The Judgement be upright.”

“Hmmmm,” Sae said. “And how do I figure that out?”

“Only you can answer that question,”Chihaya said.

“Very well,” Sae said. She paid Chihaya. “Thank you. This was…a rather unusual experience.”

“You and me both,” Chihaya replied. “Thank you.” Sae got up and got on the train.

She reflected on the evening’s events. Hmmm. That reporter is really stubborn. I get that. I know I can be as well. And who are these eleven people? And why do I view them as enemies? Maybe once I figure that out, they can help me figure out this whole Phantom Thieves thing. I have a lot of stuff I need to figure out, huh.

#persona 5 #persona fanfiction #persona 5 royal #p5 femc #p5r #p5r rework #p5 rework #p5 #FeMC #female ren #ren amamiya #sae #ann takamaki #Ryuji Sakamoto #shiho suzui #chihaya mifune #ichiko ohya #lala escargot

[catgirl-catboy]

You asked for a hot take, but this one is lukewarm at best so I apologize.

Fiction and Artwork depicting real people without their consent (for example, Tommyinnit or JSchlatt) can absolutely be scrutinized because it affects and involves real people.

Fiction and Artwork that doesn't depict real people (Hannibal springs to mind) - flatly does not involve real people and shouldn't be fussed over about "toxic depictions," or "how horrible they are to [X] character" because I promise you that Will Graham being shipped with the token cannibal isn't going to kill real people.

People shouldn't be told "kys" for either, but the latter isn't worth fussing over while the former is absolutely worth tossing out a piss fit.

Yes yes yes, I am so fucking bored right now thank you so much for saving me from my own boredom.

I respectfully disagree with most of your lukewarm take! Harassment is fucked up no matter who the target is.

I'd also like to preface this by admitting I do not write nor read Real Person Fiction, mostly due to being out of touch with celebrity culture. Nor do I watch anybody in the Dreamsmp, other than watching one Minecraft Manhunt. If I get any details about them wrong, please do let me know!

With RPF, I think it is very hard to draw a hard line between the actual people, and the personas they put on! For instance, I dont think anybody would consider Six the Musical to be an accurate depiction of Henry the eighth and his wives. They more so are characters that share the same names as real people. I'd say the same is true for most modern celebrities, though to a much lesser extent. An extreme example would be celebrities like Daft Punk or Sia (did I date myself?)- we dont know much of anything about them outside of the content we create. Thus, I wouldn't say any RPF written about them is necessarily accurate. Most celebrities are committing to a bit for publicity. Due to celebs being active on social media these days, they can come across more authentic, but I highly doubt celebrities as a whole give their true, whole self to their fans. (I'm not a celebrity, but even I commit to a bit for my unserious posts!)

With MCYT in particular, it gets more complex because they have an obvious bit and a less obvious one. As opposed to the Character!youtuber and content creator!youtuber divide is kind of a false one from what I've seen as an outsider. Instead I'd propose: Authentic!youtuber Stage Persona!youtuber and the character the youtuber is openly playing.

Very few people know the Authentic!celebrity, usually their family and close friends.

You discuss if a celebrity is consenting to RPF. My stance is, they can keep any detail of their life private and offline. Every detail we know about them is shit they want is to know. There is nothing preventing them from obscuring and misleading us about their personal preferences.

I dont think I've heard the RPF writer's boundaries discussed in conjunction with the celebs' boundaries. I'd be highly embarrassed if somebody sent my Non-RPF fics to the canons author. Im sure that the average RPF writer would not be happy if a third party showed their fic to the celebrity. The celebrity shouldn't be aware the fic exists, so they shouldn't be uncomfortable by that.

If a celebrity is rightfully uncomfortable with content of their stage persona, then they shouldn't go to sites like ao3 and look themselves up. If fans are sending them such content, than I do feel awful for them. I personally would ignore it or gently remind the fans of the fic writers boundaries.

For celebrities under the age of 18: I honestly dont think they should be a thing. By allowing child actors at all, you open kids up to serious abuse.

#rpf discourse #real person fiction #asks #long post #proship #anti anti

[lavender-laney]

"from the perspective of a ghost / bone chilled" prompt

Sunday has rolled around once more, and the churchgoers have broken into their summer wardrobes.

A stream of old ladies pass me by, still in their stuffy, prudish outfits, but now in floral prints. Mothers wear tasteful sun dresses, while their husbands wear stained t-shirts and cargo shorts. Children trail behind them, many sunburnt and covered in mud. From where I sit on the steps, I hear their easy chatter.

“Mom, can I please take my cardigan off? It’s so hot.”

“Oh, are y’all stopping by the pool later? Maybe we’ll join you.”

“Me and the guys went fishing last week, got this beautiful catfish.”

I smile. I’ve had plenty of time to let go of my hurt, and my place here is one I’m thankful for. It’s surely better than the back alleys or river banks I’m sure some of my friends were saddled with, though I try not to think of them. 

I lean against the step railing, peering into the church where they’ve left the door propped open. The priest stands at the front, Bible in hand, greeting people. Children chase one another between the pews, followed by the sound of clicking heels and chastising words.

I could almost appreciate the morning. It seems to be the first ‘true’ day of summer, with a blazing sun, flowers in full bloom, and the air of joy only possible with a pure sense of childish excitement.

Yet, I am cold.

Perhaps cold isn’t the most accurate term. ‘Cold’ describes the bite of an autumn wind. ‘Cold’ describes air conditioning set too high. ‘Cold’ does not describe the bone-deep numbness I have had so long to grow acquainted with.

It feels the very same as it did so many years ago, as I sat in this same spot, on this same step. I’d been in a very similar position I am now, leaning against the rail, staring at the church door. At the time, though, it had been very firmly closed, regardless of how long I knocked on the aging oak, pulled on the rusted handle, or sat and hoped so fiercely.

It was winter, and I should have known better than to be left out in the weather. I did know better, in fact. Just a week before, I’d heard of a friend of a friend who was found frozen in an alleyway on Mainstreet, leaning against a dumpster. “His eyelashes were frozen together and he had icicles growing on his cheeks,” they'd told me. “He was blue and purple, looked nothing like the Jerry we knew. It’s a shame.” I agreed, it was a shame. Jerry wasn’t the brightest, though, I didn’t say. We needn’t worry ourselves about what happens to Jerry, because we’re smarter than him. 

And yet.

The shelters were full that night, despite how early I’d taken my spot in line. People were wrapped around the block, shuffling and breathing into their hands.

“No more beds,” the volunteer had shouted, the door open behind them. It let out a warm light, and I could almost imagine the itchy blankets and lukewarm soup. “Sorry, folks. Go ask the churches.”

So that’s what I did. The first church I’d come across, with its towering steeple and ornate stained glass. Through the windows, I could see the lights on. Cars were parked in the lot, and a swell of hope kept me warm for the few minutes it took to climb the ice-slick steps and rap on the door. A few seconds. Footsteps. The door swung open, hitting me in the face with a blast of warm air.

“Can I help you?” An older woman, with a wrinkled face and rasping voice.

I was quiet for a moment, still basking in the warmth. “The shelters are all filled up,” I told her, laughing a bit, as if she could relate.

“Mhm,” she said, frown pulled tighter by the second. For the first time since I’d spotted the shining windows, I felt a twinge of uncertainty hit me.

“Well, I was hoping, since y’all are a church and all, that you might let me come in and warm up a bit,” I said, rubbing my hands together.

“Ah, okay,” she said, and hesitated. “Well, I’m sorry, but we’re not that type of church.”

I stared at her. Then I stared at the door’s woodgrain, as it was slammed in my face.

The bone-deep chill returned. 

Since then, the feeling has remained. As I knocked, as I pleaded, as I sat on the steps, then laid on the steps, and as I’ve rested here for so many long years. And now, as I sit and stare into the bright room that once could have been my sanctuary.

Children’s laughter echoes from inside the church, and I smile. Not the worst place to rest, indeed.

#short story #writing #my writing #prompt #writing prompt #fiction #original writing #creative writing #writer #writeblr

[arcenciel-par-une-larme]

“Lukewarm Christians- Are semi-Practicing but don't believe everything the Bible says and still have opinions that go against the word and still live for the world. Like Prochoice Christians.  Feminist Christians.  Lgbtq Christians.”

What exactly is a "feminist Christian" though? The term is loaded and carries much baggage. There is a lot of nuance to this. The Bible is clear that men and women have equal dignity before God, and that both men and women are capable of feats of devotion to Him, compassion, bravery, and intelligence, and neither should be belittled or mistreated, and both should help each other in their journey of life towards God. Christianity has always acknowledged this. There is a difference between that and "liberals who insist men and women are exactly the same and think women should be pastors and be allowed to partake in sexual sins and murder their children and corporate wrk culture is actually good for them.” The opposite of this are "christian" reactionaries who go too far in the opposite direction ("women are only godly if they never raise alarms about sinfulness, never admonish their leaders or husbands when they err, never speak unless spoken to, are only made for manual labor and childbearing, they should not know any education either.) Both of these are their own "antichrists" that go against God, but both that we see too much of. Even a Christian who takes a nuanced and moderate position is often called a "feminist", because as much as Christians hate identity politics they participate in it just as much. 

Fundamentalism is a mistake and an illness. You complain about “fundy atheists” all the time, this is where they spring from. 

Too many people use these buzzwords “Feminist, Lukewarm, Liberal, Modernist”. Many people who use such words would call you an antichrist and a feminist and a liberal because you do not think corporal punishment is the best way to discipline children.

(And if the original poster who wrote that wants to reply they are free to,I would talk directly to them but they turned off anon and I don’t want to start some sort of flame war)

Though I feel that you are a bit too heated in your response, I would not disagree with most of what you are saying. Primarily this:

The Bible is clear that men and women have equal dignity before God, and that both men and women are capable of feats of devotion to Him, compassion, bravery, and intelligence, and neither should be belittled or mistreated, and both should help each other in their journey of life towards God. Christianity has always acknowledged this. There is a difference between that and "liberals who insist men and women are exactly the same and think women should be pastors and be allowed to partake in sexual sins and murder their children and corporate wrk culture is actually good for them.” The opposite of this are "christian" reactionaries who go too far in the opposite direction ("women are only godly if they never raise alarms about sinfulness, never admonish their leaders or husbands when they err, never speak unless spoken to, are only made for manual labor and childbearing, they should not know any education either.) Both of these are their own "antichrists" that go against God, but both that we see too much of.

is an accurate description of the situation, for what it's worth.

On the other hand, my major disagreement with you is in that you seem to lump me together with all them who use "feminist" as a buzzword. The word "feminist" might be loaded with luggage more often than not, but for me it has a very clear meaning and I do not merely use it as a cudgel against people who disagree with me. I would like to provide two definitions which I consider to be helpful:

Feminism is the ideology which holds that: 1. The Christian (or post-Christian) West is currently, and historically, intentionally structured upon a system of oppression (Patriarchy) which privileges all men and oppresses all women. 2. Disparities and/or differences between men and women are proof of the aforementioned system in action. 3. The solution to this problem is equity -- forced representation over and above biology, merit, tradition, or orthodoxy.

Of course, there are many rationally following derivatives arising from such a philosophy (e.g., male privilege theory, standpoint epistemology, unconscious bias), and there are different schools (Radical vs. Liberal), but I think this to be an adequate description of what I would call, inspired by Lewis, Mere Feminism.

It is not hard to understand, then, why this is system of thought is not compatible with orthodox Christian teaching, but also that it seamlessly transitions its supporter into a low view of the Bible, if it does not proceed therefrom in the first place. Conversely, it is clear that one does not have to be a feminist in order to believe, for instance, that women deserve equal opportunity and protection under the law, can pursue higher education and employment if they so wish, deserve isegory and isonomy in the church, and are capable of the same virtues and vices as men (differences in distributions of different attributes notwithstanding).

If you wish to further discuss this, however, I would be glad to help.

God bless you.

A.

#personal post archive #anti feminism #christianity #anon

[twelfth-harbinger]

A/n: Enjoy ^^

Mentions: Zhongli convinced you that breaking a contract has its consequences.

Warnings: Nfsw!! 18+ Use of Shibari, Teasing/Denial, Oral, Edging, Mild Exhibition — Semi Soft Dom Punishments etc. don’t read if that’s not your jive lmao.

The Broken Contract Pt. 2

Soaking inside of the mildly luxurious in-ground bath remedied any and all feelings of stress, doubt and anxiety. It may have been the very perfumes and essential oils you’ve dowsed into the hot water. The most potent and fragrant of them all was that of ‘Fate’s Yearning’. The aroma lingered on your body even as you climbed out of the now lukewarm bath. The temperature had cooled beyond your liking.

Below you, the front door opened. It was an action you did not hear as you sat upstairs in front of your vanity. You now wore a robe, brown silk woven and lustrous in color. It was lined with a rich yellow gold with imprinted obsidian scales as a design around the edges and middle of the silky attire. It was clearly printed and produced by the finest seamstress one could find in Liyue. ‘Twas also made in the honor of Rex Lapis — how could you not purchase it with every intention of luring the said archon to your bedside? You couldn’t, which is why it blessed your very skin as you braided your thick hair back into a French Braid; or at least you tried your very best to. It wasn’t until you heard footsteps and the door to your bedroom sliding open did your gaze shift in the mirror to see Zhongli standing with a bag in his hand. He let it rest on the ground by the door a faint smile crossing his features as he laid eyes on you. The sun set quite some time ago, he was expected to be home around this time. This man was nothing but punctual. He met your gaze in the mirror as he strolled over to you, placing a kiss atop your head. You weren’t smiling albeit you were glad to see him. He glanced up at you in the mirror whilst he leaned down to kiss your head. Eyes glinting a bit playfully, which was simply odd coming from him; especially since he’s so stoic.

“What?” He spoke with a light smile, standing upright to remove his jacket. Still facing the mirror, your eyes narrowed a bit and they shift down to the bag only to stare back up at him. “That? Well, my dear it’s a bag.” He reached out to complete the middle of the braid for you, his hands may have been gloved yet despite that you could feel how gentle and delicate his fingers were moving. Unbeknownst to you, he was admiring your entrancing beauty. Something he hadn’t seen this close in well over a few millennia.

“Is it another book on the meaning of life?” You replied with light banter, standing up to face him with a cross of your arms as he lowered them from your hair. His eyes drifted down your figure quickly before he met your eyes. He noticed the robe but you couldn’t tell if he liked it. It was nearly impossible to get an accurate read on this man. You were kind of dreading your impending punishment. You honestly didn’t think you had it in you to sit down and read for 12 hours straight again. He chuckled, his arms crossing along with yours.

“Of course not, that was a different punishment in its own right. It wouldn’t be just if I repeated the same one.” He made a fair-ish point, alas it only made you wonder what he was going to do. He stepped forward, shortening the gap between you both. “Did you eat anything?” He asked, changing the subject. He completely dodged your comment on the contents of the bag. There was no telling what was inside and getting past him to look inside would not be easy. Looking back, whenever you sparred with him he always found a way to knock you back onto your ass; although, you’ve one upped him a few times which surprised him. He wasn’t holding back either...though, that’s a story for another time.

“Yes, I had Jade Parcels before I took a bath.” Your eyes dart to your left, touching down on the bag. It was from ‘Wanyou Boutique’, you could tell by the decorative floral design on the base corners of the bag. Zhongli’s eyes never left your face as you glanced past him, adoring your natural curiosity. He stepped around you and over to the doorway that lead to the bathroom.

“Good. I’ll be in the bath if you need me but please,” he paused before he turned his back. “Don’t look in the bag. It’ll ruin the surprise.” He vanished behind the closed door of the bath. You stood there, arms hugging your sides in a rather uncomfortable silence. What was he talking about, weren’t you supposed to endure a punishment? Did he have a change of heart somewhere during the midst of his day? No, highly unlikely — you broke a contract. Upon hearing the sound of water rushing and clothes dropping to the floor your head turned in the direction of the bag that sat by the door. Would he notice if you took a quick glance inside? Biting down on your bottom lip you quietly tip toed to the door, crouching down as your hand moved to pull the handle of the bag to the side. “Patience, my dear.” You heard, it was his deep voice that pulled you away from the bag. Zhongli’s arms crossed over his bare chest, a bronze towel clung low around his hips. Your cheeks flushed out of the embarrassment of being caught and seeing your lover nearly nude. He held out a hand, pointing to the bag before he turned his hand upright. As you rose you grabbed the bag, you didn’t dare peek inside to see it’s contents. Zhongli took it from you when you made your way over to him. He did not appear to be upset, in fact he was calm and wore a serene yet clearly blanketed expression on his face. Your brow furrowed as you voiced your confusion.

“Aren’t you mad at me?” You asked, for the first time since his arrival Zhongli’s expression softened even if it were only for a split second. He kept his stern demeanor as he shook his head in reply.

“I can never grow truly livid towards you, that doesn’t mean you don’t upset me or make me irritable. They say the ones you love bring you the most discord.” When his eyes fixed themselves on your face his pupils dilated, he loved you. He reached up, his hand resting on your round cheek. He admitted to loving you without directly saying it, could this man be evermore clever with his wording? You leaned into his touch, destitute for his affection. Again, without commenting on the bag he leaned down to place a kiss atop your head once more. Before you could question him, he disappeared behind the sliding doors of the bathroom. Your cheeks puffed out, you found yourself on the bed on the far side of the room. The large ceiling to floor windows by the bed spanned above the beautiful night view of Liyue Harbor to the left. To the right was the vast open ocean, the docks and market place. The view was breathtaking to say at the very least. You sprawled out onto the bed topped with gold and red fine silk linen. He took his time in the bath, you nearly fell asleep waiting for his return. The door slid open to the bath area and he stepped out with the bag in hand.

As Zhongli stood there, he peered down at you. His eyes were soft and hinted at his intentions quite smugly but you couldn’t seem to understand what he was trying to get at. He was glistening having just exited the bath, the bag he had now sat by the edge of the bed. You stared back at him, your eyes glimmering with desire as you crawled to the edge. You reached out for him and he obliged, stepping forward. Without any hesitation you pulled him down into a kiss, if he couldn’t tell by just looking at you, he could feel how much of an effect he had on you by just being there. Kissing you sent electricity through to the core of his very being. Your lips were plump and intoxicating, your skin smelled simply ethereal. A soft but lingering scent, akin to a mist that captures the last light of dusk. Or at least that what Zhongli believed; as well as what Ying’er told you. If he could kiss you and hold you in his arms for eternity he would. Your hands tangled in his dark hair and your grip idly tightened as you pulled him forward. The light moan that left his lips gave you goosebumps. He hasn’t been this close to you in so long, you almost forgot what his touch even felt like. Your hands slipped down his chest as you proceeded to reach for the towel. Your eyes may have been closed but you felt him smirk against your lips as he stopped your hands. He took hold of your wrists and uttered a simple and light. “No.”

You opened your eyes to see him staring back into yours with a hint of mischief. Which, might I add, it’s been throwing you off since the moment he avoided telling you what your consequences were for breaking the contract. Your brow creased and you moved to kiss him again, this time he pulled away leaving you like a lost puppy. He caught your needy gaze and physically fought the blush that might’ve risen to his cheeks. He crossed his arms over his chest and his brow creased a little as if he caved in to his own desires.

“W-Wha?” You mumbled out, sounding a little hurt for a moment. Zhongli let out a deep breath through his nose to regain his composure. He almost negated an important contract for lust. Although it wouldn’t have been his first and certainly not his last but he vowed to see this through when you so boldly stated you didn’t do anything wrong. Now he was going to make you see that you surely did. Your life meant everything to him, throwing it away so carelessly didn’t sit well with him.

“Don’t you want to see what’s inside of the bag?” He asked, piquing your interest completely. Your eyes drifted down as he bent over to place the bag on the bed. You pulled the sleeve of your robe over your shoulder, Zhongli’s bright eyes noticed your subtle movement. Your curiosity was so beautiful and caused your body language to change even if you didn’t take any heed. You scooted over to the edge of the bed and reached out to touch the bag. Zhongli placed a hand over your own. Grabbing your attention and a slight frown he found quite amusing. “Before you look inside, if you aren’t interested please let me know. I will never do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.” His words only made you want to look inside the bag more but what was the most endearing part of his statement was his concerning gaze and how much love it held within. You swatted his hand away, wanting to see what the contents were. Your eyes widened and you looked up at him genuinely appalled. Your eyes darted to the side as you contemplated for a second. — Were those hand-woven red silk ropes? You looked at Zhongli who waited in slight anticipation for your answer. He was ready for acceptance, denial, judgment you name it. He had lived for three thousand years. There was nothing he hadn’t seen. Or so he thought, you pulled out the rope to check how sturdy it was.

“So...old man Bolai makes things like these? That shady bastard, I knew he wasn’t just sellin-“ Zhongli chuckled his smile always seemed to crack his stone exterior. You glanced over at him as you toyed with the rope between your slim fingers.

“I had them made for your, punishment. That is if you’re willing to go through with it.” your brows raised evermore in curiosity. What was he talking about? It didn’t take very long for it to suddenly click, your cheeks warmed and you stared at him.

“Oh! ...oooh.” You mumbled completely tongue tied. You looked at Zhongli who remained calm. “How did you have them made on such short notice?” You asked, out of everything you could’ve asked him it was that. He stared at you in a bit of awe, unsure of how he could go about answering.

“I erm-“

“Wait! No, Zhongli what punishment? I’m not reading the Laws of Life Vol. 132?” He didn’t laugh, only because he knew you were seriously asking. A faint smile did cross his face through as he reached for the rope. In one swift movement be wrapped it partially around his palm and knuckles then shook his head.

“Of course not, I was thinking of shibari-“ you scoffed, your lips quirking up into a passive smile. Zhongli wasn’t really one to be trifled with but your worries melted away when he said he’d let you off the hook and fuck you instead... That is what he said right? No lol.

“That’s hardly a punishment Zhongli, I accept.” Your abrasive gaze and the challenge turned him on, he shifted a bit on the edge of the bed as a light smile began to surface onto his face.

“Are you sure?” He asked, needing your confirmation.

“Are these good for suspension- hm? Yes Zhongli I am okay with this. Feel free to...” you paused looking him over, your eyes burned his skin like heated rocks in a sauna. He utterly adored the way you looked at him. “To punish me as you see fit.” Your words were all he needed to hear. All he wanted to hear in that moment apart from the whimpers you were soon to make.

“Good.” He moved fully onto the bed crawling over to you like a dragon claiming his loot, the bed shifted under his weight as he cornered you. His hand moved up to the string of your robe. “I don’t think Rex Lapis would mind if I removed this, you wore it well. It’s unneeded now, I think your body should be on display in its stead. I’m positive he would much prefer that.” A light grin spread across his lips as he tugged the string loose, the robe slipped off from hanging onto your shoulders and pooled around you. Zhongli leaned down, his lips grazing your shin as he drank in your very essence. His touch made you shudder, you both reveled in the feeling of his lips moving up to your knee and thigh; your skin was so soft and warm. He kissed in between them before he moved up to your navel. Purposely ignoring your needy core. You writhed upon him stopping over your hardened nipples. Your chest perky as you arched your back into his skilled touch. His lips and nose buried in your neck before he met your eyes again. Your breathing hitched in your throat as he smiled down at you he was so beautiful.

“How shall I showcase you tonight? Hogtied? No...no I’ve more sophistication than that.” His eyes drifted over your nude body and his brows knitted together, like he was really trying to figure it out. He kissed your cheek, and then your lips. You didn’t care in all honesty, as long as he kept close and fed into your touched starved needs. His lips curled into a cheeky smile, something unusual for him but it oddly complimented his features. “I know.” He said sitting back, taking the soft rope in hand as well as one of your legs. His fingers gazed your skin as he bent your leg back against the underside of your thigh. “Frogtie, and then the Box-Tie for your arms. I want you exposed yet restricted; order is needed if your punishment is to be done...just.” He spoke the last word in a bit of a taunt, his eyes glinting playfully once again. Your own widened, you were still going to get punished? Damn. With careful skill and consideration, Zhongli began to wrap the soft rope around your thigh and upper shin as well as your ankles and upper thigh. You watched him whilst laying on your back he caught your gaze on him and smiled your way, it was radiant. Your cheeks felt warm again as he spread your legs and repeated his actions to your other leg.

“I didn’t know you knew how to knot properly much less be into Shibari.” He held out his hand to help you up into a kneeling position on the bed. Your words made him smile as he maneuvered off of the bed to stand, he picked up more rope from the bag as he began to secure your hands behind your back folding them gently before he began the tying and knotting process once more.

“In recent years, it’s been popular in and around all of Liyue. First used to restrain thieves and bandits, it soon rooted itself into sexual culture. It’s even found in some parts of Monstadt.” His voice soothed you, it was soft and inviting and coated in silver. “I read about it in a book and went to an...art gallery.” He went where? To a private showing of Shibari? You turned your head to look at him. Your eyes searching his face for an explanation. “Models volunteered to display themselves in light of making Shibari a renowned art form for those it may interest.” You smiled, your eyes narrowing slightly. Before you could open your mouth to speak he pulled on the rope to tighten it around your upper arm and wrists. A smirk spread across his face as he leaned over your shoulder. “Too tight?” He asked, you shook your head and as you did he pressed a sweet kiss onto your temple. “Good.”

Zhongli sat in front of you, his legs and arms crossed. You, were completely exposed for him to see. Your cheeks warmed in embarrassment as he sat there admiring your form as well as his handy work. He had only seen it preformed it was his first time attempting to knot. “Zhongli a-are you just going to sit there?” Your words pulled him away from his thoughts, your voice was small and shy. It made his brow twitch a bit.

“I could.” He replied, a hand moving under his chin in thought. “After all if I were to touch you, you’d learn nothing.” He shifted on the bed and knelt in front of you. His fingers brushing against your round cheek, the other hand slipped around your waist to pull him into his chest. Your eyes were doughy and vulnerable, Zhongli wanted nothing more than to give you what you wanted. “Tell me, sitting here have you thought about the contact at all and your actions?” He leaned down to your ear and kissed you gently, then moved down to trail warm kisses down along your neck. He moved forward to place you onto your back. Your moans were fueling the fire that began to build up inside of him.

“W-what are you talking about?” You mumbled, he halted his movements and you frowned along with him. As he moved back to look into your eyes your entire body tensed, he didn’t look happy. With everything that was happening in this moment it was quite difficult to focus on anything else. Zhongli leaned over to place a kiss on your forehead, your eye closed and you stared up at him.

“What am I going to do with you hm?” He maneuvered behind you, placing you in his lap now. He was already hard, you couldn’t help but want him to remove the towel that was wrapped snug around his hips. The feeling of you writhing in his grasp was enticing enough for Zhongli to move his hand down to your crotch. You were wet, he barely touched you and you were so fucking wet. He slipped his fingers into your heat and your lips parted to let out a moan. His free hand moved up to pinch your nipple, squeezing it between his fingers and tugging lightly. Lips grazed the skin of your neck as he toyed with your body, all you could do was whimper and writhe in his hold; was teasing you relentlessly. His fingers were magic and the slight pain from your stimulated nipples drove you crazy. You lost count at how many time you’ve cried out his name. You could feel tears forming in the corners of your eyes, being played with was overwhelming because he did very little to give you release. He chuckled, you heard it despite being absorbed in your own pleasure.

“You broke our contract and yet all I wish to do is please you. So much that you’ll beg me to stop but...” He removed his fingers from your heat, they were coated with your sweet glacé. Without any hesitation he pushed them past your lips and into your mouth. Your moan muffled as you sucked on his fingers, he watched your tongue dance around them as he pulled you further back into his chest; his free hand snaked up from your chest to wrap around your neck- he did not squeeze. You were now sitting directly on his bulge. Saying he was as hard as a rock is an understatement and a pun he probably wouldn’t find too amusing given his status as an ex-archon. “First, you’re going to sit here and think.” You turned your head as much as you could to look back him, confusion written all over your face once again. He chuckled and lowered his hands from your body he gripped the ropes that were securing your arms. Then pushed you forward and face down into the soft mattress of the bed.

“Zhongli, please...I’m sorry.” You whimpered out, already at your limit there was no way you were going be thinking straight like this. He didn’t do anything yet and you were giving in? He smiled, it was soft and held the patience of a saint.

“Are you now?” He knelt behind you, his hands on your upper waist now. He leaned over to pepper kisses along your lower back and ass before he dug his face inside. His tongue slipped down to your aching hole teasing you before he pushed past your soaking folds. You cried into the mattress upon the feeling of his hot mouth on your core. Your body began to tremble as he had his way with you, he teased you relentlessly sucking on your bundle of nerves as he plunged his thumb inside your aching core. You were so close to coming undone with just that, he pulled away slowly. Albeit only to flip you over onto your back. Your breathing had run ragged your chest squeezing together from the ropes and your eyes half lidded. You were a beautiful sight to behold when you were in heat. Zhongli’s hands moved up your waist and stomach before his right hand wrapped around your neck again, he pulled you down onto his clothed and hardened member with a smile. He liked having you sit there; still, unmoving and obedient. You were in order and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Do you want it?” He asked, his deep voice made your entire body jolt in ecstasy such simple words coming from this former god of a man. You nodded and his brow raised indicating he wanted you to use your voice.

“Yes.” You nod again, and squirm a bit underneath him. His gaze was so gentle, his touch was too it left your body starving. For even such a subtle brush of his fingers shot flames through your entire being. He didn’t budge which ushered a light whimper and a “Please..” To run past your sweet lips his own lips curled into a smile.

“You do not deserve it.” He stated, his smile faltering slightly to a more serious expression. “Do you know why?” He asked, his eyes narrowed a bit as he studied your pained face and your lips. Your body was crying out to his, he could feel it. He was unsure of how much longer he could hold on to his sanity.

“I..I thought I could do it.” You mumbled, Zhongli’s eyes shifted up to meet your gaze, upon noticing the tears forming he removed his hand and let it rest on your waist. He was a bit worried that he went too far. “I was so adamant on completing the commission and fighting those thieves that I didn’t consider anything. Not you, not the contract, my life...will you forgive me. Please.” Zhongli made an audible noise of defeat, he folded quicker than you did. His arms shifted up to wrap around you, you nestled your head into his chest as he hugged you.

“I’ve already forgiven you, you needn’t worry about that. Don’t cry.” He mumbled into your hair and closed his eyes as he rested his chin and nose atop your head. You were the only thing that could cause him any real harm emotionally, he worried about you so much that he lost sleep. If you could wrap your arms around him you would even so, as you moved back to look up at him with a smile he smiled with you. “Do you still wish to continue?” He asked, your comfort was his comfort in all honesty. You did your best to seal your lips with his, he helped and leaned down to kiss you. Pulling you closer than you thought possible. His hands rested in your braided hair as you tilted you head to deepen the kiss. He sat you back onto the bed he pulled back, his hand resting on your cheek. “I lov-“

“Are you going to keep teasing me?” You asked, cutting him off, a soft pout forming on your lips; Zhongli glanced down at them and then up to meet your eyes. He chuckled and let his hands lower to slip around your waist.

“I may, I enjoy the way you writhe in need underneath me. Your whimpers and the way my name sits upon on your tongue is a symphony I do not wish to end.” He pecked your cheek quickly and your face flushed. “At least not so soon, so please. Allow me to enjoy it a little longer.” He quite literally pushed you back onto the bed, with your legs spread automatically from the frog-tie he simply lowered himself in between your thighs. He wasted no time in licking the entrance to your heat, the surprised squeal you let run past your lips urged him to loop his arms around your thighs. He wanted to completely lose himself in your body. A muffled groan rattled through his chest, if you were sitting upright you’d be sitting on his face. He pushed his tongue past your sugar coated folds and curled upwards. Your back arched off the bed and you whimpered out, you were close again, this time closer than ever before.

“Z-Zhongli I-“ You began with labored breathing, you paused upon seeing Zhongli’s eyes peering up at you from below. They glowed ominously, his eyes ensnared you the moment you looked into them; they made your body heat up and tingle. You bit down on your bottom lip as Zhongli’s hands slid along the length of your thighs. His eyes closed patiently upon him doing so, you exhaled and melted into the plush mattress beneath you. Your moan made him twitch, the way you tried to squeeze your legs together at the height of your release but to no avail inevitably made him pull back. You were finally ready for him.

“My darling.” Zhongli pulled you against his chest once again. His stiff member imprinted on the bronze towel he wore whilst it continued slipping further and further down his hips. “How shall I take you tonight?” Your cheeks and body burned as he nestled his face in the crook of your neck and his hands moved up to squeeze your sides as he awaited your answer. He toyed with your body as you caught your breath. His eyes opened to see the window that sat adjacent to the right side of the bed. He trailed kisses up to your ear and whispered low. “My love, shall I put you on display for all of Liyue Harbor to see?” You didn’t answer him in time so, he took it upon himself to figure it out. You could feel this teeth tugging at the lobe to your ear, it made you shiver. Your eyes drifted to the left to half see his face before they drifted over to the window. They instantly widened as he slipped his arm around your waist only to push you up against the window where the side of the bed sat up against. Your chest and nipples pressed against the cold glass and your gasped out. Your body was hot, the sudden chill of the window made you ache with a newfound need for pleasure and release.

“Zhongli- people will see! I-I...” Your eyes fluttered and your lips parted into a moan, the head of his thick member prodded your entrance the moment you began speaking. Teasing you with the feeling of being full. Your hips bucked against the window and his member and he chuckled.

“A fitting punishment then.” You didn’t protest, not that you could as he slipped himself inside; past your slick folds and into the deepest depths of your aching core. He stretched you out in a way that sent fire coursing through your veins and directly to your heat. Your moan was loud, it echoed through the room and rang through his ears. With his arm wrapped around your waist he pulled back to let it rest on the curve of your hip. He smiled happily as he kissed the back of your neck. “Good, you take me well.” He said, as he got comfortable, pushing his hips forward. In doing that, it only made your body press further up against the glass and your insides contract against him.

“Z-Zhongli..” You whimpered out, your cheek smushed on the glass as you watched people walk by. It may have been a bit late in the evening but Liyue Harbor was still bustling even past sundown. Zhongli squeezed your hips and leaned forward to look over your shoulder, only his eyes could be seen in your peripheral. He kissed your shoulder gently and remained still. Despite the way your ass rocked back against him, you knew he wasn’t going to move without your asking. “P-please, please don’t tease me anymore.. I can’t take it.” Your pleas were cute but he was still unmoving.

“I told you earlier you do not deserve it. I may have forgiven you but, that doesn’t mean I’m not upset. Now, if you want pleasure seek it out yourself.” The last sentence made your cheeks warm up again, and a strained groan move past your lips. You thought he’d be the one wrapped around your finger tonight. Yet here you were on a showcase for Liyue Harbor to see, your arms and legs comfortably bound to one another as you sat on his hard cock. Feeling him throb inside of you as you tightened around him. All of these sensations were overwhelming but still you ached for a climax and did not care who witnessed.

You squirmed on him as you began rocking your hips faster, he held you in place as you tried your best to get off on just a full feeling alone. Trying to stimulate your inner spots the best you could in your position. Zhongli watched your body work and you slip into a pool of pleasure and lust as you rode his member; using the window to support yourself as well as leaning into his strong hands. Your moans were exquisite and your closed eye expression made his eyes grow a bit wide. You were so beautiful, he may have been having fun ordering you around but he wanted your face twisted in pleasure as he fucked you raw against that window. Before he proceeded to give in to his urges you started to shudder and a soft moan moved past your lips. You were coming undone in a low voltage release. Still pleasurable but not enough to satiate you. Zhongli let out a light and silent half pleased groan and pressed his head onto your shoulder. Your whimpers and pants were enough for him to give in.

With Zhongli’s other hand — the one that wasn’t resting on your hip, snaked it’s way up your neck and to your lips, his fingers slipping back into your mouth. Finally, he pulled back his hips so just the tip poked at your entrance. It left you feeling empty, you whined in need and before you could beg him he slammed himself back inside with a deep groan stemming from his chest. You moaned out and pressed your forehead against the glass. You knew someone was watching from down below. The excitement of being seen skyrocketed your pleasure and you came down onto him in a slight bounce as soon as he thrusted up. His fingers moved from your mouth and to your hair, running through your locks from the back of your head to the side as he tilted your head back so his lips pressed against your ear.

“I adore the way your body submits to mine, I will treasure it for this night and all to come.” A deep chuckle echoed in your ear, “As will those men and women down there.” He pulled back and let go, both of his hands holding onto your waist now for a steady hold. Your eyes drifted along the streets of Liyue Harbor to see what he was talking about. In the corner by the docks, a group of men caught wind of the show and a short ways away from them by several food stands was a group of women and a few more men who did as well. Your eyes closed as your body jerked upwards against the glass. The rhythm he had accustomed to was that of power and pure skill. He angled you in a way he found your body reacted well to his thrusts. Your vision had become hazy and you slipped away into lust. Being rutted into the way that he did and at the pace and force of what you expect only someone who was once godly would be able to do — albeit in your mind he was still a god. Your body began to heat up again, just like a furnace that was to blow.

“D-Damn it, I’m gonna— I’ll cu-“ Zhongli slowed before you could cum. Which caused your body to relax and tense at the same time. The disappointed whine that left your lips was short lived. He pulled you away from the window only to lay you flat onto the bed and onto your back. He looked down at your body and then to your flushed face.

“I believe I’ve let you climax a few times without my observation gaze upon your face. This last one will be something that I see in full.” He pulled you down onto his thick shaft, bottoming out completely. If that wasn’t enough to make your body burn again he picked up his pace this time with deep and elongated strokes that simply drove you up the fucking wall. The build up was a bit slow in attempts to drag out your orgasm and tire you out. It was working, you wasn’t sure when it began but it did. Zhongli groaned as you constricted around him tighter than ever before. The continuous intense contractions were blinding and your breathless moans filled the entire atmosphere of the room. In the midst of your orgasm you felt a deep warmth pool into and fill the depths of your core. He groaned in your ear knowing how much you loved to hear his voice. Be it deep and melodic that it was his groans and moans were like none other you’ve heard before and it heightened every aspect of the experience climaxing together. He pressed his forehead against yours, the tip of his nose poking at yours. He looked into your eyes and you pouted at him, your ven as he reached down to tug on the rope around your legs and thighs. It loosened with a few pulls before your legs were free. He moved off of you, laying back on the bed at your straddled home freely. With one more pull the ropes around your arms were undone and you were free to move again.

“Are you still upset with me?” You asked curiously, Zhongli’s gaze pulled away from between your thighs the sight of his seed gliding down your inner thighs was a bit distracting and arousing. He met your eyes though, and a light smile spread across his lips.

“Should I be? Did you not learn anything tonight? If you take anything away from this. It is that I love you and will make it known to others if the need arise.” Your eyes rolled a bit, you made a mental note not to show your face around that part of Liyue Harbor for a while. Your arms folded over your chest and you glared down at him playfully.

“I did, I’ll be more careful next time.” He knew he couldn’t stop your form adventuring, as long as you remained aware of how much your life meant to him he would have peace of mind. He reached up to cup your cheek with his hand, you leaned into his palm and laid on top of him with closed eyes. “I love you Zhongli, I...won’t scare you like that again.” You mumbled into his neck, drifting off into a well deserved sleep. Zhongli laid with you in his arms as he pondered about many things, you being the subject of every one of them.

Bonus

A day or so went by, you were on a nightly stroll with Zhongli on your arm. Seeing as you were dragging him around all of Liyue for food, you found yourself under the docks and strolling past Bolai! You turned your head to look out at the water, Zhongli looked down at you with an amused smile.

“My dear is there something out on the water?” He teased lightly, you pouted your lips and turned your head again.

“Shh!” You hushed him trying to walk by without being seen. If only it had worked, Bolai closed a deal with another customer before he caught sight of you two. He waved you over with a welcoming smile. Given you couldn’t control Zhongli’s stride you were dragged over.

“Ah, Mr.Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, I didn’t get a chance to get a review from you since our last transaction. I hope that all was well with your order...” Bolai trailed off when he noticed you glaring at him from halfway behind Zhongli. The said Archon smiled and nodded.

“It served its purpose quite well and will continue to do for some time. I thank you for taking the request on such short notice. I will be sure to have something issued with more leeway if the need ever arise.” Zhongli and Bolai talked business like it was something casual that he wanted arranged. Bolai waved passively and smiled at him.

“No no, it was no trouble at all. In fact I will have something ready for you within the next day if you ask. We have a wide array of colors for your choosing.” You perked up at the sound of that, Zhongli looked down at you and arched a brow. Your cheeks puffed out and you looked away from him and Bolai in silence trying to act like it didn’t interest you in the slightest. He chuckled and turned to look over him.

“I will be sure to discuss it with my partner, thanks again.” With a nod of his head Zhongli took his leave with you trailing behind him. You looked at Bolai with narrowed eyes before waking off completely.

“I knew you were a shady bastard.” Bolai chuckled as customers came up to him he placed his hands together and greeted them like you weren’t standing there.

“I’ve no idea what you mean now scram — Ah! Welcome, is there anything I can do for you this fine evening!” You were pulled away by Zhongli before you could ruin his business transactions, he wore a smile on his face as he walked up the incline with you to the streets of Liyue harbor. 

“I must say, you looked intrigued by the assortment of colors. Do tell if you have any in mind, though you’d look breathtaking in anything.” He smiled your way and your cheeks burned with a mild embarrassment. It would seem Shibari would be incorporated in your sex lives often and in a plethora of colors at that. You couldn’t wait to see what the future of love, lust and pleasure held with Zhongli at your side.

#genshin impact #genshin impact imagines #genshin zhongli #zhongli genshin impact #genshin impact zhongli #zhongli #zhongli scenarios #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact x you #genshin impact x female reader #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact smut

[guardianofrivendell]

Dwarves Always Knock Thrice

Requested: Yes and no. @estethell​ challenged me to write a modern AU with Fíli and Kíli knocking at the reader’s door instead of Bilbo’s by mistake. I interpreted it as a ‘what if Fíli and Kíli end up in modern day Europe?’

Warnings: none so far, I wrote this with a fem!reader (sorry! I try to write more gender neutral in the future, I promise)

Summary: What if one day your favorite fictional characters knock on your door? A modern AU with a twist! (any similarities to what I would do in this case are purely coincidental 😏)

A/N: Yes, yes, I know. There are hundreds of fics like this one. But none of them were written by me and my weird sense of humor 😆 Depending on the response I’ll turn this into a multichapter fic, if not this will stay a standalone oneshot. 

Humming a rather cheerful tune, you pressed the button on top of the coffee machine and your morning fuel started dripping into your favorite cup. You waited patiently until the foam reached the edge and then you turned the machine off. With the cup held between your hands, you inhaled deeply. Nothing like the smell of fresh coffee for a perfect start of the day.

A few minutes ago your boyfriend had left to go to work, only to see him again by the end of next week. He was going on a citytrip with your group of friends for a few days, which had been planned ages ago.  You were supposed to go with them, but unfortunately, you didn’t have any vacation days left. No, it was back to work for you instead. 

Not that you minded. You loved your job, and you were lucky enough to be able to work from home when you wanted to. It didn’t actually feel like work that way. At least you had decent coffee, you didn’t have to dress up and you could take a break whenever you wanted.  And now with your boyfriend gone for the week, you had no interruptions and lots of quiet evenings to look forward to. Cheers to that, you thought while you sipped at your coffee. 

The dinner table became your makeshift workplace, coffee within reach. There were no video meetings scheduled today so you were wearing your favorite pair of black leggings and a long oversized knitted sweater, with fluffy socks on your feet to complete your comfy outfit. 

You moved your computer mouse and your laptop sprung to life.  James, your Sphynx cat, hopped on the table and pushed his head in your hand, demanding cuddles.

“Another day at the office, how dreadful,” you smiled, petting him behind his ear. James purred and started to bathe himself. 

He was a Sphynx cat, so there was no fur. Nothing but flawless pink skin, soft to the touch. It almost felt like petting a warm peach. You chuckled at the comparison, and James stopped his grooming to look at you. 

“Oh, I’m sorry your Majesty. I’ll let you to it.” 

You booped his nose and got to work. 

After a day of sifting through emails, processing data and editing documents and spreadsheets, you felt utterly exhausted. A phrase your boyfriend likes to throw at you on these moments suddenly came to mind, ‘How can you be so tired when you’ve done nothing but sit down on your ass all day?’ Always the charmer.

You stood up, raised your arms above your head and stretched, groaning in the process. You froze when your stretch session was interrupted by three knocks on your front door. 

“Who still knocks these days?”

It was almost 6 pm, slowly turning dark outside and you’d let the shutters down about an hour ago. It was something you did as soon as the sun was setting. It was silly really, but it made you feel safe. 

But now it prevented you from seeing who was at your door.

The neighbours from down the street wouldn’t come by for a visit, they were the kind of people that liked to keep to themselves. Your parents would call first, so… a polite burglar perhaps?

You couldn’t be too careful these days, especially now, when you were alone, so you went to your intercom first to see who was at the door. 

The camera didn’t show anyone. You could see a part of your front yard, but that was it. Strange… You thought you could hear voices, so maybe there was someone at the door after all. Maybe someone had driven their car into the ditch. Wouldn’t be the first time. You lived in the countryside, with roads where only one car at a time could pass, with ditches on both sides. A challenge for city people, and the occasional daredevil usually had to be towed out of said ditch. 

What’s life without a little risk, you thought, and made your way to the front door. You weren’t the one to turn away from people in need. It would probably get yourself killed one day, you were too kind and gullible and people tended to take advantage of that. 

Another three knocks sounded, a little louder this time and you swung the door open. 

“Finally!”

Your boyfriend rushed inside and shot up the stairs. When you looked to your driveway, you saw his car with the lights on, the motor still running. He was running late again. As usual. 

After a few minutes he thundered down the stairs, his hiking boots in hand. 

“Almost forgot these,” he said while lifting them. He kissed your cheek and ran off.  You sighed. “See you next week, sweet. I’ll miss you.” 

Sarcasm was your way to cope, to learn how to deal with the lack of love and care. Because who were you kidding? He wouldn't miss you. 

You shuffled to your kitchen, in need of something hot. To drink, that is. And while the coffee machine filled your cup for the second time that day, you rubbed your face with your hands trying to think of how you had ended up in this situation in the first place… 

“Just try and enjoy a week by yourself,” you whispered. 

You were about to take a first sip when three knocks sounded for the third time.

“Seriously?”

When you opened the door, you couldn’t stop the massive eyeroll when you saw it was your boyfriend again. 

“Hand me the reservation papers of the hotel, will you? I forgot them and I need the address for the gps,” he said. 

“I sent it in an email to Tom, and I put the address in the gps system yesterday. Now go, you’re late enough as it is. Call me when you get there okay?”

He smiled and kissed your cheek again. 

“Bye! Enjoy your week by yourself!” “I will, don’t worry,” you smiled. 

Before you closed the door there was a bright white flash. You covered your ears on instinct, something you always did when there was a thunderstorm. 

“That was very closeby,” your boyfriend gasped. “They didn’t say anything about a thunderstorm tonight.” “I’m not sure that was lightning… there was no thunder?” “It’s probably nothing to worry about.”

And with those words your boyfriend left for the second time that night. 

After closing the front door with a small heart, you tried to calm yourself.  You were terrified of thunderstorms, and you really didn’t feel like going through one when you were on your own. Let’s just hope he was right and it was nothing, you thought. 

Your coffee…! Taking a sip from the now lukewarm drink, you pondered if you would make it into an Irish or Italian one. Heaven knows you deserved it, right?  With your coffee still in hand you made your way over to the liquor cabinet, only to be interrupted by yet another pair of knocks on the front door.

“I’m going to kill him,” you murmured while you walked into the hallway. “What could he have possibly forgotten this time?”

You swung the door open with a little too much force, but you couldn’t care less by that time. The small amount of patience you had left was already out of the window and you just wanted to enjoy your spiked coffee. 

“What did you forg-?!”

Your voice got caught in your throat when your eyes fell on your visitors. Visitors. As in plural. Definitely not your boyfriend.  You recognized them immediately, there was no doubt who they were but… it couldn’t be! This was simply impossible!

In your shock you forgot you were holding your cup of coffee and it slipped out of your hand. The cup completely shattered on the floor but you hardly noticed. 

Because right in front of you, in the light of your porch light at your very own doorstep, stood Fíli and Kíli. 

As in Fíli and Kíli, nephews to Thorin, King under the Mountain. As in Fíli and Kíli, characters from The Hobbit. Fictional characters. With a heavy emphasis on ‘fictional’. Made up by Tolkien. 

So how the hell was it possible that they were standing in front of you, alive and well?

The two Durin brothers were a bit taken aback so it seemed, because they too remained silent at first. After a few awkward seconds Kíli was the one who decided to speak up instead of his older brother. He was clutching his sword and quiver, just like he did in the movie. 

“Kíli,” he began. He was side eyeing his brother who was still staring at you, and smacked Fíli’s chest when he didn’t respond.  “What?”  “Kíli,” Kíli repeated, pointing at himself and then at his brother who finally caught on. “And Fíli.” “At your service,” they both continued, bowing deeply.

“Y/N, at yours,” you responded without a second thought.  Kíli’s face split into a wide smile.

“We’re looking for master Boggins!” “Yeah, I kind of expected you to say that,” you murmured, but they heard you. “Oh, so you’re a seer?” Kíli assumed excitedly. “No! No, I’m just… me. But there is no mister Baggins here,” you said, correcting Kíli. “Are we at the wrong house?” Fíli wondered.   “I’m afraid so.” “Well… can you help us find him?” Kíli looked at you expectantly.

You sighed. “I would but, I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than that.”

Both of their faces fell. They were so in character, if someone was pranking you, they did one hell of a job in finding these two actors. And their costumes were spot on, from the carvings on Kíli’s bow to the colour of Fíli’s fur coat. It was scaringly accurate… They looked so much like Dean and Aidan’s version, but not quite. You didn’t know why exactly, but you had the feeling they were real. They were Fíli and Kíli, sons of Dís. 

Fíli stared at you with a confused expression. “What do you mean, my lady?”

Oh. Now, if you weren’t already a little enamored by their looks, the title he just gave you would have. You weren’t exactly used to endearments. 

Not that Fíli had meant as an endearment but you wouldn’t mind if they called you my lady for the rest of your life. It just made you grow a couple of inches. 

“I’m probably going to regret this, but… come in.”  You stepped aside so they could enter the hallway. 

The heavy boots they were wearing made scratching sounds on your tile floor and your mind immediately went to your delicate wooden floors in the rest of your house. 

You were going to sound extremely bossy and uptight but you had to think of your interior. 

“Could you both maybe take off your boots?”

The two brothers looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. 

“If you want?” Fíli asked you. 

“Please.”

You took the swords and quiver from Kíli so he had his hands free and placed them in a corner of your hallway. Fíli followed your example and added his own weapons to the pile. 

“I trust you not to attack us when we’re unarmed,” he winked at you. 

You smiled back at him, knowing all too well he still had some smaller knives hidden somewhere.  For a moment the thought of reenacting the knife scene in Mirkwood crossed your mind, but you thought better of it. He wouldn’t find it as funny as you thought it was and you’d probably lose a finger or two if you tried to take a knife from him. It was best not to challenge him. Yet. 

Once their boots were placed neatly next to their weapons, you motioned them to follow you into your living room. Your eyes drifted to the shards of your coffee mug and the spilled coffee, you needed to clean it up but it simply had to wait.

“I don’t really know how to begin explaining all this,” you said, while waving your arms around you, “but it might be a good idea if we sit down?”

You gestured towards the sitting area and both brothers took a seat on your couch.

It seemed like they didn’t know where to look first.  Their eyes wandered to your tv, surround system, laptop, aquarium, … 

Kíli whispered something in Fíli’s ear, to which the older brother shrugged his shoulders.

“Do you want to drink anything?” you suggested. “I have water, milk, beer, …”

Their eyes lit up when you mentioned the beer, so you nodded your head. 

“Beer it is, although I need to warn you. It’s Belgian beer, so it’s probably a lot stronger than what you guys are used to.”

You mentally facepalmed at your last sentence, why did you even mention that? They didn’t realize they were in a different universe, so mentioning your country would give them zero information. 

“I think we can handle it just fine,” Kíli commented with a smirk. Fíli nodded in agreement.  “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

After another look at the dwarves on your couch, you disappeared into your kitchen. You fetched two beer glasses out of the dishwasher and two bottles of beer from your fridge, before you noticed how much your hands were shaking.

Okay, Y/N, you need to calm down first… Easy to say when you have two dwarves sitting in your living room. Dwarves! And your favorite dwarves too.  How many times had you imagined this exact moment in your fantasies? In your dreams? 

Of course! That was it…!  You probably fell asleep at your laptop and you were dreaming.  But then why did it feel so real?

Maybe someone was pranking you after all? Nah, that wasn’t likely. Nobody knew you were even in the Tolkien fandom. Let alone who your favorite characters were. 

So it must be a dream... But if you were dreaming, they definitely would have been an exact copy of the movie Fíli and Kíli. As in, Dean and Aidan in costumes. The ones sitting on your couch looked slightly different, still handsome - Mahal, did they look handsome - but you would probably refer to them as discount Dean and Aidan. 

Your small mental breakdown was interrupted when Kili started to scream. 

“What is that?!”

Quickly snatching the bottles and glasses in both of your hands, you hurried back to the Durin princes. 

When you entered your living room, you were met with quite the hilarious view. Tolkien had described Fíli and Kíli as fearless and courageous, but there was nothing courageous about their behaviour right now.Fíli was sitting with his legs pulled up and Kili half on Fili’s back, pointing at James who was trying to jump on Fili’s lap. 

“That’s James, my cat.”

“That’s a cat?!” Kíli yelled. “What did you do to him?”

“Nothing!” you laughed, placing the glasses and bottles on the coffee table. “He’s a sphynx cat, he’s supposed to look like that. They don’t have fur.”

You called James and he immediately ran to you, so you could pick him up. He rubbed his head against your chin and started purring, happy to get some attention. 

You crouched down before the two princes.

“Go ahead, pet him. You don’t have to be scared.” “We’re not scared,” Kíli protested, puffing out his chest.  You smirked and rolled your eyes. “Of course not.”

They were wary at first, but eventually both brothers were petting James. Before you could stop him, James jumped out of your arms on Fíli’s lap and curled up against the fur of his coat. 

Fíli froze and tried his best not to let it show that he wasn’t comfortable with this at all. Next to him, Kíli had the hardest time keeping a straight face, biting his lip in an attempt to stifle his chuckles but his shoulders were already shaking with laughter. 

You poured their beer and placed it in front of them. 

“Like I said, it’s pretty strong so small sips. Do you want me to take James away?” Fíli shook his head. “I-it’s fine!”

You took a seat on your other couch and anxiously started to rub your thighs. 

“So… like I said, I don’t really know how to explain this but I think I know what happened to you.” “Wait… did something happen to us? I don’t understand?” Kíli asked, raising his eyebrows in confusion.

Oh, right. They didn’t realise they were in a different universe right now. Maybe you should take a different approach. 

“Can you tell me what happened before you knocked on my door?”

Kíli took the two glasses and gave one to his brother before he took a gulp, humming appreciatively. 

“I like this,” he said. “And to answer your question, we traveled to the Shire and knocked on the door with the mark. And here we are!” “But… my door doesn’t have a mark?”

It was Fíli’s turn to roll his eyes. “Kee, you’re not telling the whole story. But you’re right about this,” he smiled while raising his glass, taking another sip. “This is good stuff.”

You chuckled when you saw some foam sticking to his mustache.  He raised an eyebrow at you. “What’s so funny?”

“I have enough beer in the fridge, you don’t have to save some for later,” you laughed, pointing at your own lip to get the message across. 

Fíli quickly wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. The movement made James shift in his lap and the Dwarf went rigid again.  You decided not to say anything about it, you figured maybe Fili didn’t like cats that much. Or just James. 

“So what did Kíli leave out?” “Your door wasn’t the first one we knocked on. There was a round, green door in the Shire. And that one had the mark of Gandalf. He’s a wizard.”

You nodded. So far it went exactly like it should. Shire, green door, mark. 

“But when we knocked on it, we found ourselves in a field all of a sudden. And your house was the only one around so we figured that was where we were supposed to be. Since Gandalf is a wizard, you never know what to expect.”

Okay, that was different. It almost sounded as if they went through a portal of some sort. Like a portkey? They touched the portkey and traveled to a different universe? But portkeys weren’t part of Middle Earth, that was Harry Potter. Did they have something similar?

“You’re not in Middle Earth anymore,” you said softly. 

Both brothers stared at you with wide eyes, their beer long forgotten. Kíli looked at his older brother, and pulled at his sleeve.

“What does she mean by that?”

Fíli kept his eyes fixed on your face, searching your features to see if you were lying. If you were trying to prank them. 

“It means that you traveled between different worlds. In my world, where you’re in right now, Middle Earth is fictional. A story. It doesn't exist. Just like my world doesn’t exist where you’re from.” “I don’t believe you,” Kíli said with a frown. 

You had expected this. It’s not like you would’ve believed them if you were in their place. 

“Look around,” you tried to explain, “you can see things you recognize. The furniture, me being a human, … But you can also see things that you don’t understand. They are from this world.”

“You said Middle Earth was a story to you?” Fíli asked you.  “Yes. There are tales about Middle Earth, and Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, the race of Men, … Orcs, wargs, goblins,” you explained, careful not to mention anything about their storyline or the one with the One Ring. “But I’ve never thought it could be real.”

They stayed silent for a few moments, letting it all sink in. 

“How… How do we get back to Middle Earth?” Fili wondered.  “I’m sorry, I really don’t know. But I’m going to help you find your way back. We’ll figure something out.” 

You played with your fingers, a telltale sign you were nervous.

“And in the meantime you can stay here... With me.”

A/N: There you go... This is the setup for a possible new multichapter fic if people are interested in it.   Just think of the two brothers in a modern day kitchen and bathroom, how the reader tries to cope with her fictional crush in her home and... how will they get back to Middle Earth? Would you be interested to read that? Let me know!  And of course let me know what you thought of this story :) 

A/N part 2: Sometimes tumblr switches paragraphs for no reason at all, if you notice this happened, send me a message! I’ll try and keep an eye on it myself, but some help is always appreciated.

Permanent taglist: @roosliefje​ @kata1803​ @artsywaterlily​ @entishramblings​ @sleepy-daydream-in-a-rose​ @marvelschriss​ @kumqu4t​ @myrin1234​ @dark-angel-is-back​ @the-fandoms-georgie​ @lathalea​ @xxbyimm​ @sokkasdarling​ @katethewriter​ @aredhel-of-gondolin​ @leethology​ @thepeanutcollective @elvish-sky​

Kíli taglist: @elles-writing​ @sxperncturalimpala67​

#fili x reader #kili x reader #fili and kili #the hobbit #the hobbit x reader #hobbit character in modern world #the hobbit fanfiction #the hobbit imagine #the hobbit oneshot #fili #kili #durin princes

[no--envies]

I’ve always wanted to write something on how Jin Guangyao describes the events of Wei Wuxian’s downfall in the Guanyin Temple, since it isn’t talked about enough.

Jin Guangyao did a lot of despicable things, but he has a keen perception of the things that happen around him and is really good at analysing situations. He displays such skills in the Guanyin Temple, after everyone found out that the culprit behind Jin Zixun’s curse - what started the chain of events that led to Jin Zixuan’s death and everything that followed until the first siege of the Burial Mounds - was Su She.

Firstly, Jin Guangyao illustrates Wei Wuxian’s role in his own fall from grace, presenting his downfall as something that would have happened anyway sooner or later regardless of Su She’s actions:

As he laughed, Wei WuXian’s eyes reddened. He mocked, whether at himself or otherwise, “I can’t believe it’s because of someone like you… because of such a ridiculous reason!”

But Jin GuangYao seemed like he knew what he thought, “Young Master Wei, you really shouldn’t think like this.”

Wei WuXian, “Oh? You know what I think?”

Jin GuangYao, “Of course. It’s quite easy. You’re definitely thinking about how unfortunate you are. In reality, you’re not. Even if Su She didn’t curse Jin ZiXun, Mr. Wei, you’d receive a siege sooner or later, because of some other reason.” He smiled, “Because that’s what kind of a person you are. At best, you’re the untamed hero; at worst, you offend people wherever you go. Unless all those whom you’ve offended lived their lives safely, as soon as something happened to them or someone did something to them, the first person they suspect would be you and the first person they seek revenge on would also you. And this is something you have no control over.”

Somehow, Wei WuXian smiled, “What should I do? For some reason, I think you make a lot of sense.”

Jin GuangYao, “And even if you didn’t lose control at the Qiongqi Path, could you guarantee you didn’t lose control sometime in the rest of your life? Thus, someone like you is destined to have a short life. You see? Doesn’t it feel a lot better if you think about it this way?”

(Chapter 104, ExR translation)

Jin Guangyao portrays the events leading to Wei Wuxian’s death as inevitable given his circumstances. On one hand, Wei Wuxian was the “untamed hero”, who always did the right thing without caring for his own reputation and without considering gains and losses. On the other hand, he made enemies wherever he went because he was unafraid to speak his mind and stand out against public opinion, even when he knew doing so would put a target on his back. While this is what makes him the hero we all love and admire, it’s what made him become a target of the sects’ hypocrisy, classism and self-righteousness. Wei Wuxian himself acknowledges there is some truth to what Jin Guangyao is saying, because he’s aware that his own attitude and personality made him disliked and judged by many.

Jin Guangyao is the kind of person who always tries to deflect blame when he does something wrong, either by claiming he didn’t have a choice or by highlighting other people’s responsibility. He’s a master manipulator: his words are so convincing because there’s always some truth in them.

After this exchange, Jiang Cheng attacks Jin Guangyao blaming him for everything that happened and calling him “son of a prostitute”, to which Jin Guangyao counterattacks by describing Jiang Cheng’s role in his shixiong’s downfall:

Hearing the words ‘son of a prostitute’, Jin GuangYao’s smile froze for an instant.

He looked toward Jiang Cheng. After some thought, he began in a lukewarm tone, “Sect Leader Jiang, calm down a bit, won’t you? I understand what you’re feeling right now. You’re in such a terrible mood only because you know the truth behind your golden core. When you think back on what you did all these years, your proud heart feels a tinge of guilt, and so you’re anxious to find a culprit for what happened to Young Master Wei in his past life, a villain onto whom you can push all liability. Then, you’d lash out at him, both in vengeance for Young Master Wei and to ease some of your burden.

“If being determined that everything from the Hundred Holes curse to the attack at the Qiongqi Path was part of my singlehanded scheme would ease your troubles, then feel free to think whatever you please. But what you have to understand is that, for what happened to Young Master Wei in the end, you are responsible too and in fact, you are very much so. Why did so many people crusade against the YiLing Patriarch? Why did they shout their support, no matter if they were involved or not? Why was he one-sidedly condemned by so many? Was it really their sense of justice? Of course not. A part of the reason is you.”

Jiang Cheng laughed coldly. Lan XiChen knew Jin GuangYao was going to start calling white black again. He shouted in a hushed voice, “Sect Leader Jin!”

Jin GuangYao wasn’t swayed, continuing with a smile, “… Back then, the LanlingJin Sect, the QingheNie Sect, and the GusuLan Sect had already finished fighting over the biggest share. The rest could only get some small shrimps. You, on the other hand, had just rebuilt Lotus Pier and behind you was the YiLing Patriarch, Wei WuXian, the danger of whom was immeasurable. Do you think the other sects would like to see a young sect leader who was so advantaged? Luckily, you didn’t seem to be on good terms with your shixiong, and since everyone thought there was an opportunity, of course they’d add fuels to your fire if they could. No matter what, to weaken the YunmengJiang Sect was to strengthen themselves. Sect Leader Jiang, if only your attitude towards your shixiong was just a bit better, showing everyone that your bond was too strong to be broken for them to have a chance, or if you exhibited just a bit more tolerance after what happened, things wouldn’t have become what they were. Oh, speaking of it, you were also a main force of the siege at Burial Mound…”

Wei WuXian, “Looks like being called the son of a prostitute is really Sect Leader Jin’s weak spot. No wonder you killed ChiFeng-Zun.”

Jin Guangyao’s main purpose here was hurting Jiang Cheng’s pride in retaliation for his insult, but what he said isn’t false. In fact, putting both of his descriptions together we get a pretty accurate picture of all the factors that contributed to Wei Wuxian’s downfall.

Given Wei Wuxian’s circumstances and personality - his cultivation method, his brash attitude, his actions that went against public opinion - it was just a matter of time before people started criticizing him and tarnishing his reputation, often driven by their envy and self-interest. Jin Guangshan’s greed and ambition also played a big part, since he succeded in adding fuel to the flames to make the rest of the cultivation world turn against Wei Wuxian, so that he could get his hands on the Tiger Seal and Wei Wuxian’s manuscripts. Besides helping his father in his fabrications, Jin Guangyao took advantage of Jin Zixun’s curse to set up the situation that caused Wei Wuxian’s loss of control at Qiongqi Path, which was the turning point that made the cultivation world’s diffidence toward Wei Wuxian turn into open hostility and convinced them that he was an actual threat to them all.

In this complex situation, Jiang Cheng himself wasn’t blameless and his actions impacted the events quite a lot. Not only his attitude made clear to everyone how fragile and strained his relationship with Wei Wuxian was, but it took almost nothing for Jin Guangshan to convince him to abandon his shixiong. Jiang Cheng’s position in the cultivation world wasn’t actually that vulnerable at the time: if he had managed to have Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue on his side he could have swayed public opinion in Wei Wuxian’s favor. The only thing he needed to do was show more conviction when he tried to speak up for him and actually explain the real extent of the debt of gratitude both he and Wei Wuxian owed to the Wen siblings. Without Wen Ning and Wen Qing’s help, the Jiang Sect wouldn’t even exist anymore. Given the importance of debts in the universe of MDZS, Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue would have surely been more inclined to believe Wei Wuxian hadn’t freed the Wen remnants and killed several guards because his demonic cultivation was corrupting him, but because he had a very good reason to take revenge.

I tend to find Jin Guangyao’s words quite interesting because he’s often right in his evaluations. It’s not his perception that is flawed, but the way he reacts to the things that happen to him and his habit of bottling up his emotions and remembering all the wrongdoings he received from others, instead of letting them go and focusing on the good things in his life. This is one of the main themes of the novel and makes Jin Guangyao a very interesting foil for Wei Wuxian, since Wei Wuxian’s willingness to leave all his grudges and negative feelings in the past is what allowed him to have his happy ending, while Jin Guangyao’s inability to do so was what ultimately ruined him.

#mdzs #mdzs meta #wei wuxian #jin guangyao #jiang cheng