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yandere-romanticaa · 2 years

Note

Capitano darling being his pen pal and poor dear has no idea of his identity

I'm very sorry, I don't know if your requests are open but I can't get enough of Capitano content.

For the Harbingers, I'm open for anything. Also, @bye-bye-sunbird, come and get him! 👀😼

Exchanging letters with your mysteries pen pal became the absolute highlight of your week. You'd pour your heart and tears into the words your hand would oh so excitedly write down, sometimes even actually crying with the sheer excitement of knowing that somewhere out there, there was a person, an actual person, who cared about you. This person cared about you, they liked you, that is why they sent you their first letter to begin with. The letter itself was short, curt and simple but that did not stop you from writing back and hurriedly giving your reply to the mysterious messenger that appeared on your doorstep one fine summer morning.

Hours upon hours would be spent constructing the letters, sometimes you'd say whatever was on your mind while on other occasions you'd stop yourself and fix your choice of words, promptly going for something much more eloquent and refined, a quality that your mysterious partner seemed to exude in spades.

Their handwriting was neat, clean and proper, you imagined they must be singing papers often if they had such pretty handwriting. You would let your curiosity sway you and there were times when you wanted to know what your dear stranger did for a living but they were oddly mysterious about their occupation, which was strange considering just how intimate and open they were about other matters such as what kind of tea they drank in the morning, general preferences and hobbies, silly things like that made you even more curious about your darling stranger. You did manage to get somewhat of an answer out of them one day though, but it was still as vague as it possibly could be.

"I feel bad about hiding things from you, but to put it in the best way I can, I work for the military. That is the best answer I can give to you at the moment."

Ah, so you were talking to a military personnel? How interesting!! Again, curiosity got the better of you and you persisted with your questions, but more careful as you fared you'd offend them. You were under the impression that your dear stranger wanted to say more to you but was holding back for whatever reason.

Months flew by, almost a year, you were done holding back yourself.

It was time for everything to come out into the light, you thought to yourself.

You wanted to meet the person who made you feel so good, you wanted to see them, him, in the flesh.

It wasn't hard to decipher that the sender was a man. The smell of sharp cologne and pine wood still lingered on the letters you kept hidden in the drawer of your desk and the strong choice of words at time were a strong indication that this man was not willing to deal with anyone's nonsense, aside from indulging himself in yours.

Under the moonlight and with a flickering candle right next to you as your only light source, you wrote to him, you wrote to him your longest letter by far. Mistaking your curiosity and infatuation with the beautiful feeling of love you proclaimed your feelings to him and boldly announced that you wished to meet him, to see him for who he was.

"When you see me, I wish for you to kiss me, kiss until I am sick of it."

Never before had he replied back with such downright monstrous speed. He sent you but a piece of paper, with just one sentence on it, blood red ink sticking in your memory as you read it out loud in the comfort of your room.

"You wish is my command."

Overjoyed would be an understatement with how you were feeling at that moment. As you danced around your room while clutching the letter tightly to your chest, you never stopped to consider just how the two of you were going to meet or how he was even going to find you, let alone kiss you breathless. Alas those worries never even crossed your starstruck mind as you eagerly awaited to be swept off your feet by your Prince Charming. Living in a fairytale is charming but it would have done you well to stay intact with the real world too.

Whispers of lingering shadows and Fatui soldiers started to plague your village, several of your neighbors constantly felt the need to remind you to keep vigilant and to lock your doors at night, do not ever trust the Fatui.

Never open the doors for anyone, never.

Looking back on it, you regret spacing out in the middle of their monologues.

The seasons had passed and winter had come, a thick layer of pure white snow decorated the earth below you as the strong wind and harsh snowflakes found their way inside of your home due to the powerful wind that was bellowing all around you. A few snowflakes even managed to lose themselves inside of your clothing and hair but their icy chill was nothing compared to the large, gloved hand that lovingly caressed your chin.

Standing in front of you was a man, a man with whom you had never crossed paths with in your whole entire life. His entire aura, his being was radiating absolute control and calm. The dozen of men behind him kept their distance but it was obvious that they were ready to charge in if need be.

What was a Fatui Harbinger doing at your doorstep?

His face was much closer to your own now and it was Impossible to read him. His entire body language was rigid and firm, it left no spaces for speculations, especially the daunting mask that he wore on his face. Aside from the few strands of ebony black hair on the sides this man revealed nothing about himself to you, cornering you not only in your own house but in your own mind too.

What was he going to do to you?

A sigh escaped him, hot air came out of his mouth as he stepped closer, his feet nearly crossing the threshold of you home.

You didn't even see that you were shaking like a leaf.

"How long do you want us to stand here in the cold, dear?"

He spoke, he said something to you but your brain hardly registered it. But his next words were something you could most definitely not ignore:

"I came here to fulfill my promise to you..."

The lower part of his mask had been removed, his pale lips on full display. They hovered over your own for a few moments.

"How about we finally share that kiss?"

Before you could even think about answering, he pressed his lips on yours, claiming them for himself as he made sure to swallow every single little sound you made.

You always dreamed of living in a fairytale, of finding your own prince. But how could you have forgotten that not all fairy tales have a happily ever after?

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jessamine-rose · 2 years

Text

꧁⪡ Alea Iacta Est ⪢꧂

Aaahh so here is part 2 of Housecat!! This continuation is written from Pantalone’s POV and features much darker content. Read the first fic before you proceed :>

Once again, thank you to @bye-bye-sunbird and @ddarker-dreams for the inspiration!! Same goes to @diodellet for your entertaining peer review and @yandere-romanticaa for your interest in reading this (*´∇｀*)

Tw:: YANDERE, unhealthy relationships, manipulation, coercion, electrocution, offscreen death, psychological damage, Dottore is here, mention of drugging, mention of nsfw, dubcon, spice, MINORS DNI

Note:: Female cat-hybrid reader, pre-release Pantalone based on current lore crumbs

♡ 5.5k words under the cut ♡

i. the red string of fate

Love is nothing more than a contract.

The Regrator, of all people, is well aware of this fact. Love is an agreement easily forged and broken, an attraction founded on set conditions and self-serving fantasies. In a world of inequity, it is impossible for any relationship to be purely selfless nor unconditional.

The illusion of love persists, however, supported by centuries of myths. Soulmates. Star-crossed lovers. The red string of fate spun by the will of the gods.

How romantic.

Many would claim that Pantalone’s feelings are anything but love. They would dub him greedy, ambitious, obsessed, possessive, and so many other negative traits which ironically constitute the true essence of love. What he finds most insufferable are the claims that his efforts are futile against destiny.

If the gods deem him unworthy of love, he will pursue it on his own volition.

If the red string of fate ties his beloved to another, he will sever the threads and bind her to him with his own chains.

If his precious jewel rejects her owner, he will ruin her until she finally accepts her place in the world.

⬩◈⬩

Since her horrific revelation, his darling has become an amusing juxtaposition of obedience and defiance.

“What do you think of the present, my darling? Isn’t it a perfect fit?”

Pantalone clasps the jewelry around her neck. ______ blankly stares at her reflection.

The necklace is a simple accompaniment to her collar. The silver bell pendant makes soft tinkling noises with every little movement.

Its luster cannot compare to his darling’s tears.

“It’s…minimalist,” she answers. Her ears fold back. “But the bell is in poor taste. Do you expect me to wear this at all times?”

Pantalone smiles at her in the mirror.

“You wound me. And you are normally so enamored with my choices,” he replies. His hands rest on her shoulders. “The collar is already a perfect statement piece on its own.”

Zero wounds from the Electro Crystals. Sandrone’s craftsmanship is commendable.

Her tail relaxes. The violet bow is slightly askew; she must have been extra agitated today. Pantalone unravels it and reties the ribbon.

His hand brushes against her Vision. ______ immediately covers it with her own.

“You should get back to work,” she tells him. “I saw the reports on your desk earlier. What would the Tsaritsa say if she knew you were wasting your time on me?”

How foolish of her to bring up Her Majesty’s name.

“Matters of the heart do not concern Her Majesty so long as my work is unaffected. I can assure you that I am perfectly capable of separating my private and professional lives.”

His hand wraps around her tail. His grip is light but he can already feel the soft fur standing on edge.

“You know, it has been a while since I last saw you use your Vision,” he muses. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to watch your enchanting display again.”

“...All right.” His darling stares at her collar this time. “If that is what you want.”

Her hands are shaking. The sparks and red threads are thinner than usual.

Her fire is such a pretty spectacle. But it can only be viewed from a distance, a beacon of hope untouchable to its audience.

“There is no need to hold back, my love.” Pantalone waits for the fire to extinguish before he wipes her tears with his handkerchief. His other hand taps her collar. “You will only get shocked if you abuse your Vision. You won’t do that again, will you?”

She does not look at him. Recalling her previous attempts, most likely.

“I won’t. The last thing I need is to wake up to another one of your lectures.”

There is a bitter edge to her voice. Her tail slips out of his grasp and knocks over the empty necklace box.

He pats her head, smiling. “What a well-behaved pet. If I finish work early, I can take you to the shopping district tomorrow. We haven’t gone out in weeks.”

“I see. Do keep track of my purchases. I might just exceed my allowance.”

With that, ______ takes off the necklace and leaves the vanity table. She makes a point to push her unused shackles onto Pantalone’s side of the bed.

Despite her denial, she truly does act like a housecat at times.

As petty as she has become, his darling is making the most out of her cage. A pampered pet can never hope to gain the self-sufficiency of a stray. Any escape attempts would only bring her back to her owner.

Pantalone returns the necklace to its box, humming an old tune from Liyue. ______ covers her ears with the pillow.

Her neediness is sorely missed, however. He could easily demand her affection through more threats and gifts, but that would not be enough to satisfy his greed.

He would rather have her seek him out willingly.

ii. fool’s gold

A formal invitation announces a grand ball held in the capital of Snezhnaya. Another opportunity for the Regrator to make new business connections and to show off his darling wife.

“There should be a limit to the number of times I wear your colors,” she tells him. “By now, they likely view me as your little dress-up doll.”

“You are overthinking this.” Pantalone fastens the final accessory and fluffs up her tail. “We would not be the first couple to wear coordinated outfits. And think of it this way: An object takes after its master.”

He stands beside her in front of the mirror. They are only wearing matching jewelry this time. The violet jewels twinkle like artificial stars against their dark clothing.

______ frowns. “This necklace is too ostentatious, wouldn’t you say?”

Ungrateful pet.

“My priceless treasure,” he replies, the smile leaving his face, “you would do well to appreciate one’s generosity.”

A necklace of this price could feed so many empty stomachs in Liyue.

He grips the chain, allowing the jewels to press against her throat, and glares at her in the mirror.

“I’m sorry!” she says quickly. Her hands move to her neck in a futile attempt to relieve the pressure. “It must have been expensive. The…the design simply isn’t my type.”

“It is either this necklace or your collar, ______. Or are you secretly impartial to showing off my marks to the world?”

His other hand touches the love bites dotting her neck and chest. He had chosen an off-shoulder gown and an elaborate festoon necklace for that reason.

She averts her gaze. “...No, I’ll go with the first option.”

He lets go of the chain and readjusts the necklace.

His darling grips her tail with both hands. Her nails are newly trimmed and manicured after their last night of intimacy. Pantalone’s back is still healing from her scratch marks.

Even when he was kind enough to pleasure her, his darling took the opportunity to spite him. He had to use the shackles for their remaining rounds and her declawing session.

He adjusts her Vision this time. “I trust that you won’t cause a scene.”

“Of course.” She turns around and gives him a false smile. “This was part of our marriage contract, after all. I will assume the role of a loving wife for my sake.”

That is all. No clauses requiring loyalty or affection.

Pantalone’s smile is equally deceptive. “Stand by your promise. I will keep a close eye on you.”

⬩◈⬩

The ball is a waste of time—just the usual congregation of humorless businessmen, proud aristocrats, and annoying social climbers. The gilded superficiality of high society is no longer an otherworldly realm to the Regrator, but he is still grateful to have a companion.

It is more enjoyable when his darling is clinging to him like a frightful pet.

“My dear, you don’t need to stick to my side all night.” He shakes her tail off his wrist, smiling. “Are you that afraid of losing me in the crowd?”

“I’m not,” she whispers. Her hand grips his arm. “I don’t know anyone. They will just rope me into some meaningless conversation and gossip about ‘the Regrator’s trophy wife’ later on.”

They are nothing more than a crowd of foolish sycophants. But his darling is no different from them. If not for his riches, Pantalone is certain that she never would have spared him a glance.

Another admirer greets them and initiates a long speech about their loyalty to the Tsaritsa—a desperate farce before a Harbinger of all people. ______ smiles and nods along.

Well, the same may be said for his own attraction. He could have been apathetic to his darling’s existence had he not glimpsed her at the Shang family’s gala. She had looked so reserved, so pristine, until he came close enough to notice her cracks. Until he decided that he would be the one to break her.

The orchestra begins playing a lively symphony. The guests disperse to the dance floor and the edges of the ballroom.

“Would you care to dance?”

His darling’s thinly-veiled desperation is truly entertaining, especially as her gaze darts to the still-blabbering admirer.

He takes her hand, smiling. “Of course, my love.”

iii. odi et amo

Another letter is intercepted from Liyue.

Pantalone dismisses the messenger and opens the envelope. The letter is from his sister-in-law this time. Less valuable information, then.

It is just the usual family update, sans the necessary details which his darling would like to know. It ends with a sermon about marital conduct and the importance of “not being a nuisance to the Regrator.”

He smiles at the last line. The Lai family must have been quite shaken after the visit of the last Pyro Agent. Their previous letters are written in a similar fashion, all formal lectures with no ounce of concern for their little ______.

Had they met years ago, he would have envied his darling to the point of hatred. But now he can only feel pity for her.

Unfair as the world may be, there will always be certain pros and cons to one’s social status. Competence or inadequacy. Independence or loneliness. Ambition or sorrow.

Another agent knocks on the door.

“You may enter.”

They open the door and kneel. “My lord, your wife is returning to your office. As per your orders, she and her guard were only permitted to roam the eastern wing of Zapolyarny Palace.”

“You are dismissed.”

His darling’s letters are beginning to take up space in his desk. Pantalone adds the missive and locks the drawer.

The Fen wife recently wrote about a charm bracelet which his darling might like. He should add that item to his shopping list.

⬩◈⬩

Another obstacle to the Fatui brings extra work hours.

“Are you almost done? It’s late.”

Pantalone opens a new document. “I still have mountains of paperwork to go through. If you are tired, you may go to bed without me.”

The Northland Bank will be flooded with blood as soon as he catches those traitors.

His darling remains on his lap.

“It’s fine. I’m not sleepy yet,” she replies. She points at the stack of unchecked reports. “What are these about, anyway?”

“A few traitors. Some unforeseen interferences. A pesky little Traveler who has proven themselves to be quite the infernal threat.” He takes off his glasses and polishes the lenses.

He is due for another all-nighter.

______ turns her head. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

He gives her a wry look. “You seem awfully concerned about my wellbeing. If you plan to take advantage of my current state, you are better off using subtler tactics.”

Her ears twitch. “You are still my husband. If anything happens to you, my welfare is at stake. I can’t assist you with work but I can at least provide some stress relief.”

Stress relief, huh?

His darling faces forward again. Her ears are pushed back, a clear indication of anger. It is an ineffective warning—they are nothing more than the soft, fluffy traits of a domestic cat.

Pantalone puts his glasses back on and pets her ears.

Her gasp is preceded by soft purrs. “What are you—? Stop! My ears are—”

He laughs, pressing a kiss against the back of her ear. “I know. So sensitive.”

His hand moves to the front of her dress and pulls down the neckline. Her love bites have already faded to near-invisible spots. It is about time for him to renew his marks.

“Pantalone.” She stands up and turns around, tail puffing up. “You still have work.”

“It won’t take long. Besides, was it not you who offered to alleviate my stress?”

He pulls her towards him, forcing her to straddle his lap, and touches the base of her tail.

“But still!” She bites back another purr. “Could we at least do this in the bedroom? The servants are still in the corridor. They might hear us—this is hardly appropriate!”

Until now, she still finds it necessary to retain her modesty. Her debauched noises during the act say otherwise.

It only takes a kiss to shut her up. He cups her face, smiling at every hitched breath and plea for air.

He will never grow tired of tainting her.

“My love,” he murmurs. He breaks off the kiss and presses their foreheads together. “Just think of it as fulfilling the contract you agreed to.”

⬩◈⬩

“Pantalone?”

“Yes?”

“Do you…plan to have children in the future?”

The pen hits the desk. It rolls across the wood, stopping just short of falling off the edge.

This is unexpected.

Pantalone clears his throat. “Can you repeat that?”

For someone who had made such a serious inquiry, his darling refuses to even look at him. She shifts in his lap, staring at his unfinished report.

And to think that he would not be the first to initiate this conversation.

“If this is about the contraceptives, I already told you that we are using a high-quality medication with no side effects. It is my turn to take them, anyway.”

Her tail thumps against his chest. “It’s not about the birth control.”

“Then what is this about? If you remain ambiguous, I may assume that you are asking for children.”

That would be a delightful surprise. Families do make for efficient binding agreements.

“I don’t know if I want that,” she mumbles. Her hands grip the desk. “It’s just…if you have any plans for the future, I want to be prepared for it. I spend enough time idling about and causing trouble for you.”

Not a direct refusal. What an interesting answer.

Thinking about it now, she had broached this topic in the early days of their marriage. Something about her lack of responsibilities and the Fen wife’s maternal duties.

Pantalone picks up his pen and continues writing. “As of now, starting a family is of low priority to me. We may continue this conversation once the Tsaritsa’s perfect world has been achieved.”

And when that happens, he will have all the time in the world to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Ironically, that statement only makes his darling more agitated.

“I see. I’ll enjoy my last pieces of freedom,” she mutters.

He puts down his pen. “My darling, are you merely bored with your current routine? Or are you looking for an excuse to devote your time to someone other than me?”

At the last statement, she turns to face him.

“Not at all!” she exclaims. Her eyes are wide with panic. “I like your company; I really do! Anyway, I couldn’t possibly treat a child with your degree of care and attention.”

It is good that she knows that.

“That is good to hear.” Pantalone smiles and wraps his arms around her, pressing her back against his chest. “I won’t demand a child or anything else from you. End of discussion.”

“I see…thank you for telling me.”

His darling stares ahead, but the relaxed positions of her ears and tail are a substantial response. He rests his chin on her shoulder.

“Besides,” he adds, “I would rather have you all to myself for the time being.”

iv. faustian bargain

The next few months are relatively peaceful. A pattern of gifts, dances, galas, red threads, intimate nights, banter, and mind games. Pantalone is pleased to note that his darling is gradually becoming more resigned to her cage. She has almost reverted back to her needy, pliable self.

Unfortunately, the gods always choose the best of times to tip the scales.

“I’m home.”

Pantalone has barely closed the door before his darling stomps over to him.

“My necklace is missing,” she informs him.

He pauses, coat in hand. “Which one?”

She leads him to her dressing room without so much of a word.

The farthest corner of the room is reserved for her old accessories. It is a haphazard mess of half-opened drawers and scattered jewelry boxes.

______ opens the topmost drawer and points at the necklace section. There are large, even spaces in between the necklaces.

“Someone rearranged it. My brother’s wedding gift used to be on the far left,” she explains. “It was a gold necklace with a pendant shaped like a Nilotpala lotus.”

Pantalone glances at the boxes on the floor. “Are you sure that you didn’t misplace it?”

“How could I? You don’t let me wear it to begin with,” she snaps, gesturing to her collar. “This isn’t the only one. I can’t find the box holding my Sango pearl necklace.”

A thief in his own estate. What a wonderful surprise.

In their entire marriage, this is his first time seeing his darling in such an incensed state. Aside from her swishing tail and folded back ears, her eyes are filled with enough burning fury to rival his own glare.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

He raises an eyebrow at her. “My darling, for what reason would I engage in petty theft behind your back? I could easily confiscate your possessions.”

“I don’t know. But I am not trusting the same person who chose what I could bring to Snezhnaya.” She glares at him, eyes filling with tears. “I am fine with wearing your gifts, but is it too much to even look at my old belongings?”

“Wild accusations will do more harm than good,” he shoots back. “Did it not occur to you that someone else could have done it?”

His darling only laughs. “The servants, maybe, but they wouldn’t dare to steal from you. Unless you paid them to do it on your behalf.”

She opens the closet and takes out her coat.

“______.” It takes effort to maintain his composure. “Where are you going?”

“To the gardens. Forgive me for not being able to stand your presence.”

She leaves the dressing room. Pantalone follows her.

He reaches for her hand. “Darling, I—”

“Just go away!”

A burst of flames appears out of thin air, almost grazing him. Pantalone stumbles back, glasses clattering to the floor.

The sound of glass breaking is followed by the shock of Concentrated Overload.

His darling screams and collapses to the floor.

Pantalone takes a step closer. “You shouldn’t—”

“Don’t get any closer!” she shouts. She claws at her collar, tears rolling down her cheeks. “You ruined my life. I wish I never met you!”

Her honesty could not be any more brutal.

Pantalone draws back as though he has been slapped. His darling’s glare remains fiery.

At this point, diplomatic attempts at reconciliation are futile.

He picks up his glasses. The frames are warm from where the fire touched them. The chain is broken and one of the lenses is cracked.

“I do not blame you for your lack of trust in me,” he says coldly. He walks past her and opens the door. “I will give you some space if that is what you truly want.”

More sobs. Pantalone leaves the room and almost crashes into one of the servants.

“Lord Harbinger!” she squeaks. She bows immediately. “I apologize for not seeing you!”

“It is all right,” he replies, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. He glances at her uniform. “You are one of my wife’s handmaidens. You go by the alias Myshkin, correct?”

“Y…Yes, my lord!”

A glint of silver flashes in her hand.

He frowns at her. “What are you holding? Have you found my wife’s missing jewelry?”

She jumps and averts her gaze. “What? I…yes, I did!”

Her hands are trembling. She opens her palm to reveal a familiar Vajrada Amethyst ring.

That little rat.

Myshkin is speaking a mile a minute. “I found it in the living room and was just about to return it. As soon as I saw it, I knew it must have been the ring Lady ______ was looking for!”

His darling has not worn it once in Snezhnaya. Neither did she mention the disappearance of that ring.

Pantalone takes it, a grateful smile on his face. “Thank you, Myshkin. I will remember this.”

She turns to the door. “Is Lady ______ all right?”

“Just a little shocked. Go tend to her.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Had she entered the room a second later, Myshkin would have witnessed the Regrator’s death glare directed at her.

⬩◈⬩

The Doctor’s office is a place of nightmares. Beyond the laboratory, his section of Zapolyarny Palace is filled with preserved specimens, glowing test tubes, anatomical sketches, and a pervasive aura of malevolence. Even the meeting room is far from welcoming.

“Ninth, I assume you summoned me for another private commission. How is your wife? I believe your wedding anniversary has recently passed.”

“Spare me the formalities, Dottore.” Pantalone takes a seat on the sofa. “I received your request for additional funds. The numbers are out of proportion, but I can overlook that if you throw in a personal favor for me. I believe you will find this commission more suited to your preferences.”

Dottore puts down his test tube and sits across from him. “What do you mean?”

Pantalone gestures to the package on the table.

“I would like you to soak these garments in a flammable substance, one so potent that it would guarantee inescapable death for the wearer once they come into contact with fire. The chemical should have an inconspicuous scent and remain effective after numerous washes.”

“What an interesting request. And who is this unlucky victim?” Dottore opens the box and takes out a set of maid uniforms.

That Myshkin had been stupid enough to steal memorable jewelry. Everyone knows that the wealthy are less likely to notice the disappearance of smaller pieces, moreso if those items are sold to a reasonably far-off pawnshop.

“You are quite literally playing with fire, and it seems that your employee is not the only target. Tell me, is it not easier to deal with them and your darling separately?”

Pantalone straightens his glasses. The new chain twinkles under the dim light.

“Think of it as killing two birds with one stone. It would be uncharacteristic of me to ignore an opportunity when it is presented to me.”

Dottore snickers. “Your poor little housecat. And to think you started out with something as innocent as catnip-laced perfume.”

“That is none of your business. Do we have a deal?”

“Deal.” Dottore sits back, a maniacal grin on his face. “Though I must demand payment. A chemical of this potency will be costly to produce, especially if I am to ensure maximum quality by using test subjects.”

Pantalone clasps his hands together, smiling. “Name your price.”

v. alea iacta est

Pantalone upholds his promise and grants his darling her desired solitude. He moves her to a different bedroom and works longer hours in Zapolyarny Palace. On the rare occasion that they cross paths in the estate, he scarcely acknowledges her.

Myshkin and her fellow handmaiden provide daily reports of ______’s activities and behavior. The former wears her new set of uniforms.

His darling holds on to her pride. She makes no requests for gifts or company. She continues her flimsy pastimes, sans the use of her Vision. She bristles at his silent treatment but makes no effort to approach him.

This is what her life could’ve been like had she married Chairman Jin. If she knows what is good for her, she will not compare that nullified fate to her reality.

The days are longer for Pantalone. The situation reminds him of their former days, that year spent patiently waiting and working behind the scenes and settling for the lightest of touches. But the reward had been worth it.

This time, he must only wait for his darling to come to him.

⬩◈⬩

“Lord Harbinger!”

The door slams open. The agent does not bother to kneel.

Pantalone barely looks up from his contract. “We are in the middle of a meeting. What matter is so important that you must disturb me and my client?”

“It concerns your wife, my lord! An accident has occurred in your household.”

About time.

He faces his client. “My apologies, but I must ask that we resume our negotiations some other time. I am afraid that my wife’s situation seems to be of dire urgency.”

“Naturally! It isn’t a problem.” The diplomat bows and puts away their reports. “Thank you for your time, Lord Harbinger.”

Pantalone leaves the conference room and faces the agent. “Tell me what happened.”

“Your wife attacked a servant with her Pyro Vision. We have already extinguished the fire and summoned a doctor, but her handmaiden is in unstable condition.”

All according to plan. “Are there any additional details which I need to know?”

They pause. “I was not present during the event, but I was told that the incident took place in your wife’s dressing room. She is currently afflicted with her collar’s Concentrated Overload as well as psychological shock.”

He resists the urge to smile. “Anything else?”

“Your wife asked for you, my lord. She specifically requested your presence as the guards were restraining her.”

How endearing.

“Cancel my remaining appointments for the day. That will be all.”

⬩◈⬩

The collateral damage only costs a few hundred thousand Mora. A singed carpet. Scorched closets. The doctor’s fee. The silence of the servants.

Pantalone barely regards the charred corpse in the servant’s quarters. According to the doctor, Myshkin had succumbed to her wounds shortly before his arrival.

In the end, she paid back her debt in blood.

Not a sound can be heard from his darling’s room.

He unlocks the door. Warm light spills into the dark room, highlighting the figure chained to the bed.

His precious jewel has never looked more pitiful. Her ears lay flat against her head and her tail is tucked between her legs. There are tearstains on her face.

Her Vision is on the floor. He wonders if it was her or the servants who had thrown it.

“You’re back.” She looks up, a fresh wave of tears trickling down her cheeks. “It was an…I didn’t mean to! I just…”

“Shh, I know.” He presses his handkerchief against her cheek. “They told me what happened. We couldn’t have predicted that your Vision would cause such a disaster.”

Her voice comes out in choked sobs. “It is my fault. I caught her…I was angry but she didn’t deserve—I can still hear her screams. What will I do?”

No friction burns or signs that she struggled against the shackles. Pantalone frees her wrists and hugs her.

“It is all right,” he whispers. “I will take care of everything.”

Another sniffle. She buries her face into his coat, soaking the fabric with her tears.

“I am more concerned about you,” he continues. He breaks off the hug and looks her in the eye. “My love, how are you feeling? It must have been such a difficult experience for you. If you need anything, just tell me.”

For a moment, his darling only stares at him with glassy eyes. Then she shakes her head and holds his hand, gripping it so tightly that her nails dig into his gloves.

“Stay,” she pleads. Her tail wraps around his wrist. “Please, I…just don’t leave me.”

Pantalone kisses her hand, a kind smile gracing his face. “I promise.”

vi. diabolic waltz

Myshkin’s death is covered up as a furnace accident. The false notice is sent to her relatives, along with a large sum of Mora for financial aid.

It is the least the Regrator could do for a desolate family.

His darling moves back to their bedroom. She spends the majority of the first night crying in his arms and seeking out his comfort. The next morning, she meekly accepts the Nilotpala lotus pendant and Sango pearls he had bought back from the pawnshop. The subsequent days are filled with silent apologies and thank you’s.

A week after the incident, she leaves their room to visit his private office.

“Are you still working?”

Pantalone looks up from his report. “This can wait. Do you need anything, my darling?”

“Not at the moment.” She stands in front of his desk, tail tucked between her legs. She is wearing only her nightdress and collar today. “Take this.”

She places her Vision on his desk.

He reacts with a carefully crafted frown. “______, why are you giving this to me? I believe you know the risks of losing a Vision.”

“I am better off without it,” she mutters. She pushes it into his hands. “It has always been wasted on me. You deserve to have it.”

In the end, fire is just another illusion. Despite the light it offers, it can only consume.

Pantalone lifts it up to the window. The Pyro Vision is brighter than any false star in the sky. He can feel its powerful warmth through his gloves.

The gifts of the gods, now in his grasp. But there is a far greater treasure standing before him.

He sets it aside. “I will take good care of it, then.”

“Is there anything else I can do?” His darling moves closer to him, tail raised. “You’ve done so much for me. I will do whatever it takes to repay the favor.”

Pantalone smiles at her and leaves his desk. “You only need to stay by my side. Though, I would not be opposed to other modes of payment.”

She nods and walks into his embrace.

⬩◈⬩

“I have a new gift for you.”

“Another one?”

His darling frowns at the package. “You know how I feel about your gifts. Just being with you is already enough.”

“Think of it as a gift for myself, then.” Pantalone pats her head, ruffling her ears. “I do enjoy spoiling my beloved pet.”

She purrs and hugs him again. “Fine, all right. That just means more cuddles for you.”

His precious jewel has shattered. She is much more affectionate nowadays.

The servants finish unpacking the phonograph. They pull back the curtains and leave the room.

______ regards it with curious eyes. “A Witch’s Chorus. What sort of music does it play?”

“Why don’t we find out?”

Pantalone places the record on the turntable and flips the power switch. The instrument begins to play a slow, festive orchestral arrangement.

Her ears prick forward. “This…it sounds familiar. Where did I last hear it?”

“Quite nostalgic, isn’t it? It is the musical score from our first dance.”

“That explains it.” She turns to face him, eyes shining brightly. “It was a waltz. How could I forget?”

The fire in her eyes has been completely extinguished. Though her gaze never fails to light up at any mention of their lost memories together.

Pantalone holds out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

Her hand feels soft in his grip. “It would be my pleasure.”

No red threads this time. His darling follows his lead, a peaceful smile on her face. During the final spin, she is quick to return to his grasp.

“Pantalone?”

“Yes, my darling?”

She meets his gaze.

“I love you.”

Pantalone almost stumbles. He stops in the middle of the dance floor.

It is difficult to hide his surprise. “Please repeat that.”

“I love you.” She says it clearly, still holding his gaze. Her expression becomes anxious. “Is there…something wrong with how I said it?”

He never imagined that those words could be said to him with such utmost sincerity.

Pantalone only laughs and resumes the waltz. At this point, they are dancing off-beat to the music but there is no crowd to judge them. Only the stars visible through the windows, twinkling across the sky like unfathomable jewels.

“No, it was perfect. You just caught me off-guard,” he admits. He smiles, pulling her closer. “I love you too.”

♡

Read the Author’s Note here!!

It is done……I am finally free from this fic. I never want to see Pantalone’s pretty face ever again. This greedy man rlly made me write a two-part fic that was longer than Herbarium and Fairytale combined (੭ ˃̣̣̥ ㅂ˂̣̣̥)੭ु

I hope you all enjoyed the Regrator’s twisted love story. I hope you all liked my yandere characterization of him. I hope you all suffer from brainrot while I get some rest and question my life choices. Thank you for reading and have a lovely day, everyone <3

#pantalone #yandere pantalone #yandere pantalone x reader #pantalone x reader #yandere fatui harbingers #fatui x reader #genshin x reader #yandere genshin #il dottore #dottore #tw: yandere #tw: dark #tw: manipulation #tw: death #tw: dubcon #spicy warning #mdni #fem reader #jessamine-writing

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no1frogfan · 1 year

Text

Picking Bokuto up from the airport

Bokuto Koutarou x gn reader

Tags & warnings: very mildly sexually suggestive

Word count: ~1.2k

Notes: Oops this started as a 500 word drabble and then I blinked. Attempt FOUR to post this, thank u tags

Your eyes drift from the sea of red tail lights ahead of you to the clock on the dash.

Ugh.

It was risky to take a nap right before you had to leave for the airport. You knew that. You knew you’d probably sleep through your alarm (like always), but who could blame you? You were so tired, and in your stupor, you convinced yourself that it would be fine. But of course it wasn’t.

When your eyes shot open long after your alarm sounded, you’d rocketed out of bed, scrambled to pull some clothes on, and sprinted out of the house 20 minutes later than planned. And in your rush, you’d left your fucking phone on the bedside table.

The cars inch forward a foot or two before coming to a stop.

You tap the steering wheel with an anxious frown, craning your neck to see around the car in front, as if that would help you figure out why traffic is moving at such a glacial pace.

Bokuto’s flight landed half an hour ago. He probably didn’t check any bags, so provided nothing weird happened, he should’ve deplaned and made it to your usual pickup spot by now, which means, as long as traffic thins, he’ll only have to wait an extra — your eyes flit to the clock — 15 minutes.

You can only hope he knows to stay there and wait, even though he’s probably worried about why you’re not answering your phone.

And what’s with all the airport traffic right now? Wednesday morning is hardly prime time for flights, or so you thought. What’s worse, with heavy traffic comes impatient drivers. You’d been almost side-swiped no less than three times already because god forfuckinbid anyone actually check their blind spot before merging instead of just gunning it and hoping for the best.

“-abe!”

The cars crawl forward again and you follow closely. Another couple hundred feet and you’ll be at your usual pickup spot.

“Babe!”

Thankfully, it seems like the congestion is finally clearing up. You keep up with the flow of traffic, one eye on the car in front, and the other scanning the sidewalk for your boyfriend’s distinctive silver-and-black spiked hair. Coupled with his height, he’s usually very conspicuous.

“BABE!!!!!”

Your head snaps toward the familiar voice.

Two lanes away on the sidewalk, jogging apace with your car, is your boyfriend. He waves at you energetically and you point forward, indicating you’ll pull over up ahead as soon as you’re able.

You observe him in the rear view mirror as you unbuckle your seatbelt, watching him dodge suitcases, luggage carts, and other passengers as he makes his way to you.

You’re already bursting out of the car as he runs up. He has just enough time to toss his duffel into the back seat before whirling around to catch you launching yourself at him.

“KOU!! I’m-” Before you can get an apology out, Bokuto’s arms wrapping around you squeezes the air right out of your lungs.

“Babe! I’m so happy to see you! Kariya and Osaka were amazing!” He blurts out, bursting to tell you about his trip, “We got to play a bunch of practice matches against the Stings and the Sunbirds! The Stings have this incredible setter Kawahigashi, his sets remind me a lot of Akaashi’s actually, but his personality is completely different, and the Sunbirds have some super strong outside hitters, Fujinaka especially — Do you remember meeting him when we were on the national team together? — and they also have this super young outside now, De Armas, and wow he’s…”

Cheek pressed into his chest, huffing a lungful of his body wash mixed with the slight tang of sweat, enveloped in the warmth that creeps through the thin, long-sleeve compression shirt he likes to wear for flights (if you didn’t know better, you’d think he was purposefully making himself look extra delectable), a dopey smile crosses your face while you listen to his excited rambling.

Taking one more deep breath, you cut him off with a kiss. “Missed you Kou.”

He flashes you a brilliant smile. “I missed you too, baby!”

“We should probably go. We’re holding up the line.”

“Ok but,” Bokuto proudly whips out a black gift bag from who knows where, “open this first!”

“How about I open it when we get home?”

Evidently, that’s not good enough because he reaches inside the bag himself, pushing aside glittery silver tissue paper to pull out some folded black material. You stare at it perplexed as he delicately unfurls the fabric, absolutely vibrating while he reveals the most exquisite piece of lingerie you have ever seen.

Bokuto holds it up for display. Only in the light can you truly appreciate the stunning combination of blacks — textured matte leather, smooth shiny silk, fine mesh panels.

He’s all giddy excitement when he urges, “Try it on when we get home?”

Before you can respond or even nod, your attention is attracted by some yelling nearby.

Instinctively, you turn, only to see an audience of people staring back at you, some laughing, some holding up their phones, some hooping and hollering. Slowly, slowly, your brain is spurred into motion, looking around, deciphering the shouts, the staring, the growing crowd, but it all seems like a normal day at the airport, so—

Oh god — you’re at the airport.

You snatch the lingerie out of Bokuto’s hands, “Oh my- KOUTAROU!” and hastily stuff it back in the bag.

“You don’t like it?” He shrinks, crestfallen.

“No! Yes! Oh my god, KOU it’s not- you can’t just- you can’t just pull lingerie out at the airport!”

“Why not?”

“Because!” You sputter, trying your best now to push him into the car.

About halfway in, his movements come to an abrupt halt and you see his eyes widen in sudden understanding. “Ohhhh.”

“Yes, oh.” You grumble. At least he finally gets it.

“I’m sorry babe. But don’t worry, I understand. Akaashi explained this to me before.”

Now you’re the one confused about how Akaashi could possibly know your boyfriend would do something like this. That is, until he continues solemnly, “He said that lots of people are self-conscious about their bodies, so I have to make sure to compliment you and let you know that I think you’re attractive.”

And with that, he takes a deep breath and cries out, “I THINK YOU’RE SEXY!”

The thing with airports is that they’re built with a lot of glass and steel and cement. A lot of hard surfaces. Hard surfaces that reflect sound very well, you discover, when his declaration continues to echo an almost comically long time after he’s finished shouting, after he squeezes your hand reassuringly, after he puffs out his chest, clearly proud of himself.

“Oh my god Kou, that’s not why- just- get in the car!”

You beat a hasty retreat to the driver’s side as cheers and applause break out.

When you eventually get on the highway, and your face stops feeling so flush, and your heart stops beating so erratically, you finally answer him.

“I’d love to try it on when we get home.”

Electricity courses through you when he reaches over, eagerly kneading the fat of your inner thigh in anticipation.

#haikyuu x reader #bokuto x reader #haikyuu fluff #haikyuu #hq x reader #bokuto koutarou #bokuto fluff #bokuto #froggy scribbles

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favs4palestine · 3 months

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As I try to keep up with answering asks this weekend (bless you all), I would like to ask artists to consider drawing your favs supporting Palestine. 🤍❤️🖤💚

Whether that’s flying a Palestine flag, wearing a kuffiyeh and/or thobe, holding poppies or watermelon slices, picking olives or oranges, having a Palestinian sunbird flying around them—the options are endless!

Use popular hashtags like Ceasefire NOW, Free Palestine, Strike For Palestine so they can trend. You guys are doing awesome, thank you so much for everything. Let’s keep fighting. ✌️

🇵🇸🫒🍉🕊️

#Palestine #fandom #art

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whatsthebird · 1 day

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Week of 21APR2024 Answers

Answers hidden under the cut.

155 - Great Kiskadee by @nohriantomatoes

156 - Fork-tailed Sunbird by @casperwyomingxer

157 - Least Sandpiper by @weremars

158 - Common Grackle by Anon

159 - Common Loon by @pooksbedamned

160 - Yellowhammer by @ascendeddragonsage

161 -Eurasian Bullfinch by @benidryl

How many birds did you get right? Consider adding correct birds to your WTB Life List!

As always, birding is a cooperative experience. Help your fellow birders out by discussing key features that help identity and distinguish a bird in the notes.

Finally, let's give a feathery thank you to this week's submitters.

Keep the game alive! Submit a bird HERE

#WTBAnswers #Birding #Bird Identification

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wiseatom · 2 months

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hiii I saw the ask on camp byler about the party’s cars and since you know cars I was curious have you ever thought about period accurate (80s/90s) cars the party might get or brands that suit them :)

don't mind me answering an ask from SEPTEMBER i am just currently Thinking about Cars . nods at you.

i have def thought about period accurate cars -- mostly for mike and will, but defining their period accurate cars, particularly mike's, is what got me excited thinking about what cars they would drive!

for starters, i have always headcanoned mike in a 1988 pontiac sunbird convertible:

this one is a turbo, which i don't think his parents would splurge for, but you Get the Idea. it for sure gives that clunkier body style that i associate with a lot of cars from that decade, but it's also Kind of sleek at the same time and i think mike would think it's Cool, which is Important to him. and Me. it also does seat 5 so he could cart around almost the whole party <3 mike is very much a car guy to me and you can pry that real and true headcanon from my cold dead hands. thanks.

i've only ever also thought about will's car, and i think he would have a 1990 ford escort:

which my only reasoning for is that it was the successor vehicle to the pinto (which is what joyce drives). i think he'd be sharing this with his mom/el (if she drives), so it's not necessarily His car, but it's what he drives. 2 me.

i'd really have to think about the other party members, so i may come back to this, but that's what i have for now !!

#asks #headcanons #alsooo mike has a pontiac specifically bc my dad drove a bonneville when i was little and my sister's first car was a sunfire #i was Going to give him a bonneville but they were one of pontiac's most expensive models at the time lol #vs sunbirds which were the cheapest and i think mike could make a convincing argument for his own car (<- by being annoying)#ANYWAY those are my thoughts and feelings sorry for not thinking about literally anyone else #but also i feel like mike is one of the first in the party if not The first to get a car so they just mooch rides off of him lol

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imagineandwrite · 1 year

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𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘝

Bye Bye Mondie

Word Count: 812 Warnings: Arguing, drowning, angst, Y/N's got a difficult choice to make A/N: This is only short cause you can interact with it

"That girl!" Ramonda exclaims in panic. That uneasy feeling was growing, and Ramonda knew something wrong would happen. Namor might be her ending, and she hopes you'll be there for Shuri.

"My queen, what should we do?"

The throne doors creep open, and everyone's eyes turn at the commotion. You shove through the crack as you shout, "Why the hell are those doors so damn heavy?"

Ramonda sighs in relief as she waves the Nymerian forward, "Taraji, tell me, what do you think they should do?"

You huff in disbelief, and the remaining warriors join your confusion. Ramonda raises a hand, and the room quiets. She nods as she waves her hand at you, signaling you to speak.

"Evacuate, um- use emergency protocols, all of it. I don't know what y'all are trained to do," You stammer, your gaze shifting between Ramonda and Riri, the latter giving you nods of encouragement.

Ramonda nods in agreement before turning to the warriors, "She gave you orders."

Ayo slams her spear on the ground, and like clockwork, everyone leaves. The Queen smiles softly at you and raises her arms to cup your face. "You'll be a great Queen."

"You're not dying, and I'm not becoming Queen," You denied, shaking your head free from Ramonda's hold. Riri fidgets as she looks around before stepping forward slightly. "Can't just sit here, so what're we doing?"

"Griot," Ramonda calls, walking upstairs and towards the mullion. "Grant me access to the emergency response fleet."

A holographic map of the city appears, and she begins to pilot the scarab beetles. Glancing back at the pair of young adults, Ramonda nods towards the other mullion as she hands Riri a pair of Kimoyo Beads. "Help!"

You blink, and another water bomb explodes. What if they didn't have enough ships? What if they were too late?

Ramonda glances over when four of the beetles suddenly freeze, and she sighs softly. "Taraji, look at me."

Smiling when you look at her, Ramonda coos, "Everything will be fine."

"You don't know that," You huff, looking back at the controls and piloting the beetles.

"Taraji, answer me. Are you with us?" She asks, guiding the beetles to pick up people. She smiles when you huff out, "Course I am. I'm not leaving any time soon."

"Quick question," Riri interrupts, standing on her tiptoes to look over the hologram. "Is that Shuri?"

A sunbird chases after Namor as he dodges every shot. He dives into the water before shooting up and driving his spear through the aircraft windshield straight into the control panel. He flies away, and Shuri and Aneka crash into the moat.

You're sure she can hear Ramonda saying something, but it sounds far. You could hear Ramonda calling you and Riri telling you everything was okay. But was it? Everything blurs before suddenly clearing, and the process repeats as tears fall from your eyes.

A blob appears in front of you before clearing into Namor. He flies in front of the throne windows and stares at the three behind the glass. His gaze turns to Riri, and you yank her behind you as Ramonda stands in front of you. Hands holding your arm, Ramonda softly speaks, "Everything is alright. Finish our task."

You nod as you and Riri scurry to the mullions. After a moment, Griot's voice chimes, "One minute until the last scarab beetle is to safety."

Riri sighs in relief as you both run behind the Queen. Namor swings his spear into the window and the glass cracks. Ramonda squeezes your arms before wrapping an arm around your waist and her other around Riri's shoulders. "You'll make it through this."

Namor smiles at the trio through the mirror before disappearing. Ramonda shoves you and Riri towards the stairs, "Go!"

"And leave you?" You shout, fighting against her hold. The woman is much shorter than you, but her grip is powerful.

"Run!" She demands, pushing Riri towards the stairs as her other arm still struggles against you.

"She can't lose you. She'll be alone," You tell her, and Ramonda freezes. Glancing between the window and you, Ramonda smiles, "She won't be alone. You'll be there. Take the child and go."

"All this time arguing, if we all go, we can all make it," You say as you grab Ramonda's arm to pull her with you. She yanks free and shoves you, and you flail as you try not to fall down the stairs. Riri tugs you with her, and she grunts when you shrug her off.

"Kumkanikazi, please!" You exclaimed, and Namor emerged with three hydro bombs. (Queen)

"𝐂𝐇'𝐀 𝐓𝐎𝐇 𝐀𝐉 𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐋!"

He hurls the bombs, and they explode as they crash into the glass, the room floods. The pressure from the water breaks the floor, and everything falls through. Your body jerks and you look around. The Queen's a few feet away from you. You move to help, and she jolts, pointing to Riri.

You glance between the two, and you're faced with a difficult decision.

Save the Queen.

Save your friend.

Tags: @rxcently, @kgao, @aiden-presscott, @naomis-daydream, @k3nn3dyxo, @youralphawolf72, @lppriceisright, @ddb667, @niyah1101, @oracle-code, @ziayamikaelson, @sakurayuki8655-blog, @shuriislut, @nooshytushie,

STORY MASTERLIST

#imaginewrites: obsession vs love #shuri x reader #shuri x black!reader #shuri imagine #shuri x woc!reader #shuri udaku x reader #princess shuri x reader #letitia wright x reader #shuri angst #shuri fic #shuri fluff #shuri fanfiction #shuri udaku fluff #shuri udaku x yn

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dreadfutures · 1 year

Note

because I wanna send you poetry. for dirthamen, maybe "Knowledge has entertained me and it has shaped me and it has failed me. Something in me still starves." by Mary Oliver

For @dadrunkwriting and as I stare at this photoset and listen to this song:

Pairing: Ixchel Lavellan x Dirthamen (Elvhenan time travel au, #sunbird)

-:-:-

Ixchel has lost track of the hours since she settled deep in the stacks of memories for her studies. As long as she is in a studious mood, the sunlight through the windows in Dirthamen's library remains bright and gauzy; peaceful and warm, but awake, it is the ideal condition to let the Elvhen language wrap around her and sink deep into her mind.

Moreso than any actual information the words impart, Ixchel is starting to get a picture of the roads Dirthamen must have traveled to gain this collection. There are lifetimes of history, divergent and conflicting, contained in these memories. There are the most mundane events viewed from every possible angle, in every possible light. There are exceedingly dry, distant accounts of weather, told secondhand. There are vivid flashes of intense sensation that last only the briefest span of attention.

She has been trying to figure out what connects them--all of them--and the only thing she has settled on so far is people.

Dirthamen, the lonely lord in his empty estate at the edge of the Waking World, his eyes half-lidded with the Dreaming, has a vast collection of lives in his private library.

In many of them, he is at the periphery, an observer of those doing the observing; he is the recipient of these gifts, given freely and out of gratitude. Even the ones stepped in grief are entrusted to his care knowingly.

Ixchel reaches the end of one such account and opens her eyes once more to find a shadow leaning against the shelves down the row from her. The golden sunlight filters in around him, catching in his curls and the soft, almost satiny mass of his raven cloak.

She rises swiftly. "I apologize, I did not see--"

"I did not want to interrupt," Dirthamen says gently, without moving. "Have you enjoyed your lessons today, vun'ean?"

"Yes," she says, unable to hide her smile at the thought of all she has witnessed today in her perusal. "I have more questions now."

"Oh?" Dirthamen chuckles. "Where will we seek answers this time?"

She begins to close the distance between them.

"In our last quest, it was to the depths of the ocean," he recalls. "Perhaps you will goad me into moving the stars for you, next?"

Ixchel shakes her head. "No, it will not be so far," she teases. "The questions are vast... But..."

She raises her marked hand to point at him, into him. Now that she is closer, she can see that his chest is bare beneath the cloak that rests haphazardly around his shoulders. The rest of him is in shadow, but the knowledge of what she does not see--yet--tantalizes her.

"...The answers are here," she says.

Dirthamen raises his chin. "That does not mean I will not make you quest for them," he replies with a smirk. "Especially if they are precious."

She stands directly before him now, but she does not look down to see the rest of the state of his dress (or undress). She laces her hands behind her back and tilts her chin up to try and meet his golden eyes.

His breath streams across her face as he smiles and sighs, fondness leaking out of him and embracing her. She is pleased at this lack of pretense, the transparency of his affection, in this new stage of their relationship.

She takes one more dawdling step closer.

"What is more precious than these?" she asks, gesturing briefly with a tilt of her head at the books around them. "Of all the memories of all the moments, ever, these are in your home. And I will read them all. So...what is more precious than them, for me to know, of you?"

Her question unbalances him, but it is not uncertainty or discomfort that fills his face. Rather there is an intoxicated dizziness in his eyes as the air grows charged between them.

She would purr, and is sorely tempted to brush up against him, so happy is she to have flattered him.

"I want to know you," she says slyly. She edges closer, but he lifts his chin a little more--just enough to keep her lips from brushing his skin.

She does not miss how his throat bobs as he swallows.

"Very well," he says through a hidden smile. "You will have all the knowledge you seek, in time."

His voice dips to a precious hum.

"But what happens when your curiosity is sated?"

She gasps mockingly, shocked that he would even make the suggestion.

Dirthamen's golden eyes peer down at her, glimmering beneath lashes gilded with fading sunlight.

"For all that I have gathered, knowledge has entertained me," he says, "and it has shaped me...and it has failed me. Something in me still starves. But will it be enough for you, vun'ean?"

Ixchel stands on her toes, her nose brushing his chin. "I hope not. I want to learn all my life, new things, with you."

A deep, steadying breath fills Dirthamen's lungs, and he closes his eyes. She trails her lips down the edge of his jaw and slowly lays her arms over his shoulders, slow enough that he might draw away if he wishes to continue this aloof act of his. But he does not, and her hands come to rest in the mass of dark curls warmed at the back of his neck.

"I want that too," he breathes.

#da drunk writing circle #sunbird #dirthamen x lavellan #elvhenan au

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ddarker-dreams · 1 year

Note

happy holidays lock 🫶🫶🫶 i'm here to say i'm IN LOVE with the way you write and how you turn mundane prompts into interesting and colorful pieces literally word dancing ‼️‼️ your stories helped me expand my vocabulary as someone whose first language isn't english i get introduced to new terms everytime (it's a bit embarrassing to admit LOL, moving on)

oh and i mean to ask for book recommendations as well ! after all, a devoted reader makes a good writer. i can't say i'm not interested in your taste in literature

AA thank you so much ❤️❤️ i love taking little ideas and seeing how much horror i can infuse into them… that’s honestly how most of my stories come to be. i’m glad that they’ve been able to help some with vocabulary too!! i’ve tried to be more intentional these past few years with expanding my vocabulary, whenever i come across a new word, i slap it and its definition into a google doc so i can review it later hlslgkskfk it’s also a good resource for coming up with fanfic names…

oooh, as for book recommendations, here are my favorites! anyone who has been around this blog will probably be familiar with everything i’m about to list by now since i talk about it pretty often goskgkskfks

the brothers karamazov by fyodor dostoevsky (this is my absolute favorite of all time!!)

notes from underground by fyodor dostoevsky

the picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde

we have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson

frankenstein by mary shelley

faust by johann wolfgang von goethe

jane eyre by charlotte brontë

i basically have a strong inclination toward gothic/existential/psychological works.

i had another anon who asked what i’m reading right now, so i figured i might as well answer that here!! i’m currently about 50 pages into demons by fyodor dostoesvky. i’ve been loving it so far. dostoevsky’s cutting edge wit still holds up centuries later which is kinda wild. after i finish demons, i’m onto a book recommend by @bye-bye-sunbird called dragonwyck! i’m excited to check that one out 👀👀

#sweet asks #recommendations #answered #Anonymous

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lover-of-the-starkindler · 1 year

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Bookish Fortnight 2022

Day 7:

Most memorable character:

Telemakos from The Sunbird by E. Wein

Most annoying character:

...I remembered this as 'terrifying', so my answer was going to be the villain from The Black Stallion Returns by Walter Farley; who is actually not all that diabolical after all, but my childhood memories of the book gave him a much more imposing presence than the words on the page.

Hmmm. I'm not going to point to a specific character, but I ran across this trope a couple of times where there is a woman who presents herself as a classic bad girl and yet is somehow also pure and noble. It’s very uncomfortable to read.

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yandere-romanticaa · 2 years

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yandere! Al - Haitham who watches over you like a hawk, his busy brain getting even busier as he thinks about you endlessly, short-circuiting on itself in the process.

yandere! Al - Haitham who is well known for his terrible attitude and stone cold heart is finally lost for the first time in his life. The man who typically has an answer or solution for everything is left stunned, puzzled even, as he keeps trying to understand you and himself. The empty void he calls a heart suddenly comes to life and it is impossible to hide, everyone notices the shift in his attitude.

yandere! Al - Haitham, who courts you in the most old fashioned and traditional way possible, and he just does it so suddenly that you don't know what to say. There are no emotions written on his face but his eyes tell a different story. No longer is the the stone cold researcher hellbent on discovering what needs to be discovered, he stands in front of you as a regular man.

yandere! Al - Haitham who never takes no for an answer and no one tries to stop him. Persistent is his middle name and there is nothing in this world that could possibly make him go away. He made his intentions clear and you accepted several of his gifts, you might as well be all his and he yours.

Something before I go to sleep. Tagging @bye-bye-sunbird 👀📝

#yandere #yandere x reader #yancore #yanderecore #yandere aesthetic #yandere imagines #yandere x you #genshin impact #alhaitham x reader #yandere alhaitham #genshin #yandere genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #yandere genshin x reader #yandere genshin impact x reader #yandere genshin imagines

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red-sea-itinerary · 2 years

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a continuation of these generational feelings, hunting edition:

The Winter Prince:

“I want you to hunt for me,” you said at last. [...] “Bring me the sun, and Artos will follow to do my bidding. Agravain knows, he is also pledged to me. He will go with you.”

“I prefer to hunt alone,” I said.

“I don’t trust you alone.”

I shrugged indifferently. “Nobody trusts me.”

The Sunbird:

“Coming with me this morning?” Goewin finished abruptly, shouldering her satchel. “Or is your father going to take you hunting?”

“He is,” Telemakos answered forcefully, although this had not been established, or even hinted at, in his odd paternal encounter in the middle of the night. But it was the chief reason Medraut made his sudden appearances in Kidane’s house, and it was what Telemakos lived for.

The Lion Hunter:

“Will you teach me to throw a spear?” Telemakos asked his father.

Medraut looked up. “I have not the ability. I am trained as an archer and a swordsman. [...] If the emperor wants you for his warrior, he will give you a spear, and show you how to use it.”

“I, a warrior?” Telemakos said, and laughed. “I want to hunt with you. It doesn’t have to be lions.”

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barry-kent-mackay · 2 years

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Out of curiosity, are any birds in particular your favorite? You've painted so many that I imagine it's hard to pick favorites

The late T.M. Shortt, who I consider to have been Canada’s greatest bird artist and illustrator, and a mentor of mine, once answered that question by saying it was whatever he was working on at the moment.

But I can give you a better idea.

I love mockingbirds, in and of themselves, although I have not painted all that many (although I have painted all species of mockingbirds, thrashers, and catbirds…the entire family). And in terms of actual art, I’ve probably painted Double-crested Cormorants than anyone else; I quite love them, and they are a delight, artistically.

But another way of answering is that I like what I call the “middle birds”. In the old phylogenetic order (before it got turned on its head by DNA analysis) they were the bird families between the water birds, birds of prey and so on, at the start of the listing order, and the songbirds at the end. Things like owls, cuckoos, kingfishers, trogons, woodpeckers; parrots; broadbills, and so on – characteristics that I seem most to enjoy drawing and painting include loosely webbed, soft plumage; large eyes; medium sized; iridescent or interestingly variable colour patterns and so on.

And I love birds that have soft, warm colours, so find myself attracted to desert birds quite a bit, although paradoxically, also to birds of tropical rainforests. I like to work life size, so I think that is part of the attraction of the middle birds – from, say, jay, grackle, cardinal size up to say Barred Owl or Broad-winged Hawk size.

But I get “turned on” by any group of birds I’m working on. Shorebirds for example, or waterfowl, and I love doing raptors. My biggest challenge would be tiny birds, like hummingbirds, sunbirds, kinglets and so on, especially when I work in oils.

Meanwhile, here is one of my favourite paintings (now hanging in my living room), a family of American Coots, in acrylics. It’s life size and these are softly coloured birds in my favourite size-range.

#q and a #birblr #birds #birdlr #artist #barry kent mackay #text post

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carlsonjackson · 2 years

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Black Panther: Wakanda Eternally: The First Trailer, Cast, Plot & More

"I needed to discover a method that I felt like I could hold going and a means that our Black Panther family could hold going," director Ryan Coogler told EW about the trailer. We are unlikely to have an answer before the film’s launch date of eleven November, though the first official trailer, launched on 3 October, provided more clues. It seems to indicate a female figure in a model new Black Panther go properly with, prompting speculation that Shuri, Nakia or Okoye might be behind the mask. It additionally features a closer look at Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, the ruler of Atlantis and the film’s primary antagonist, and Dominique Thorne’s debut as Ironheart, earlier than she headlines her own Disney+ collection in 2023.

Motion Pictures At Amc

On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman, who was set to reprise his position as T'Challa/Black Panther within the movie, passed away after a 4 yr battle with colon most cancers. On October 11, 2018, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Ryan Coogler had signed on to return to write down and direct the movie with production expected to begin in late 2019 or early 2020. On February 14, 2018, Kevin Feige revealed in an interview that he needed Ryan Coogler to return to write down and direct a sequel to Black Panther.

Angela Bassettramonda

This was to accommodate Wright's fractured shoulder and a concussion, which had been extra serious than initially determined, and was not expected to have an effect on the film's release date. The United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carried out new guidelines on November 8 requiring non-U.S. Citizens to be absolutely vaccinated towards COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination earlier than traveling to the country. The Hollywood Reporter famous that this could current a problem for Wright's return to filming in Atlanta since she is not a U.S. citizen and was reportedly not vaccinated.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly

Please do not make assumptions regarding complicated wording, different sites' speculation, and people's headcanon across the web. This is likely to not be revealed until the movie comes out, and hopefully will not be spoiled. The actor, who played Border Chief tribe W'Kabi within the first film, revealed that he didn't movie any footage for the sequel as he was dedicated to the movie Nope, which reunites him with Get Out director Jordan Peele, and capturing for both overlapped. One character who we are able to officially verify won't be returning is Daniel Kaluuya's W'Kabi. New to the forged are I May Destroy You star Michaela Coel and UFC champion Kamaru Usman, though their roles have but to be confirmed. Dominique Thorne will make her MCU debut as Riri Williams, aka Ironheart. That's a transfer of four months from July 2022, and the sequel takes the original place of The Marvels, which has now moved again to July 2023. While nothing is set in stone, we hope this would be the final shift for the movie. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Trailer Shows Menace Of Eternal Warfare With Atlantis For more deep dives on the MCU, take a glance at our guides to all the upcoming Marvel motion pictures, tips on how to watch the Marvel films in order, and our rundown of the Marvel timeline. It also provides followers a glimpse on the new fits for both Ironheart and the model new Black Panther, whose id is but to be revealed. Plus, Winston Duke's fan-favorite hero, Mbaku, additionally pops up several times in the trailer, looking like he'll play a significant position within the battle against the Atlanteans. The set that sees Shuri within the suit is titled Shuri’s Sunbird, and comes with figures of Riri Williams/Ironheart, Nakia, and the evil Attuma. Seeing as Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia was a favourite to be the following Black Panther, but is pictured alongside Shuri within the suit, it seems that evidently T'Challa's super-smart sister is the brand new Black Panther. I May Destroy You's Michaela Coel has also joined the line-up as Aneka, who within the comics is chief of the Dora Milaje. Tenoch Huerta, meanwhile, shall be taking half in Namor, king of the underwater realm of Talocan – he is the antagonist of the movie, although why he involves blows with Wakanda is a mystery for now. Whoever emerges as the model new Black Panther and no matter course the sequel takes, it’s clear that it’ll be dedicated to paying tribute to each T’Challa and Boseman. “Chad’s passion and genius and the influence he made on this industry shall be felt endlessly,” director Ryan Coogler mentioned on stage at Comic-Con in July. Black Panther Wakanda Forever movie goes to new locations in Wakanda that we’ve never seen before and it goes to new places in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What Is The Release Date For Wakanda Forever?

In it, he described the expertise of making the second movie without his pal “cathartic”. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler paid tribute to Boseman in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Chadwick Boseman's brother, Derrick Boseman has spoken out against the thought of retiring the character of T'Challa rather than recasting. He believes that his brother wouldn't have been so egotistical as to wanting the character to die with him and would as an alternative want the character's journey to proceed. From the indies positive to be jockeying for Oscars, to a model new Halloween and Pinocchio, here are the films we're most excited about this fall. Newcomers to the solid include Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, who will quickly be starring in her own Disney Plus present Ironheart. In the Marvel comics, Riri is a genius who constructed her own version of the Iron Man suit. Angela Bassett is also again as T'Challa's mom Ramonda, whereas Winston Duke returns as M'Baku, Florence Kasumba returns as Dora Milaje warrior Ayo, and Martin Freeman reprises his position of Everett Ross. Daniel Kaluuya, nevertheless, will not be returning because of scheduling conflicts with Jordan Peele's sci-fi horror film Nope.

Wakanda Endlessly: Here’s The Brand New ‘black Panther 2’ Trailer

The suit clearly inherits T'Challa's kinetic pressure absorption, however is extra ornate, with gold armour accents across the length of the suit. "It's clearly very emotional without Chad," Kevin Feige has said of the sequel. "But everyone can be very excited to deliver the world of Wakanda again to the public and again to the followers. We're going to do it in a method that might make Chad proud." There's also hassle brewing between Wakanda and the underwater kingdom of Talocan (rooted within the mythical Aztec paradise Tlālōcān and changed from the comics' Atlantis), ruled by Namor. Wakanda and Atlantis have come to blows within the comics earlier than, too, so the movie would possibly take inspiration from these storylines – you probably can learn concerning the comics history of the warfare between Black Panther and Namor via the link. One of these shows Shuri carrying what seems to be the Black Panther costume, together with the gold accents that we saw on the suit within the trailer.

Yes, Christian Fascism's Anti-lgbtq Hate Extends To Asexual Individuals, Too

It appears to indicate a feminine figure in a model new Black Panther go well with, prompting hypothesis that Shuri, Nakia, or Okoye could probably be behind the mask. It additionally features a closer look at Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, the ruler of Atlantis and the film’s main antagonist, and Dominique Thorne’s debut as Ironheart, before she headlines her personal Disney+ sequence in 2023. Coogler advised a loving story about his final time at Comic-Con, when he showed the primary footage of 2018's Black Panther to a rapturous viewers. Also returning are Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Angela Basset as Queen Ramonda, Danai Gurira as Okoye, and Florence Kasumba as Ayo, the three most notable of the Wakanda Royal Guard, the Dora Milaje. Also returning are Winston Duke as M’Baka, and Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross. The forged from Black Panther is returning with the notable exception of Boseman, who the solid still had as primary on their call sheet while filming the movie.

#Black Panther Wakanda Forever #Black Panther Wakanda Forever movie #Black Panther Wakanda Forever film #Black Panther Wakanda Forever 2022 #Black Panther Wakanda Forever box office #Black Panther Wakanda Forever review

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