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#the hairpin detail bodied me
namazunomegami · 5 months
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emperor!sukuna x imperial concubine!reader
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a/n: part 2 of my self-indulging mess. I had a lot of fun writing him and his drabble got finished way before I developed the whole plotline for Geto lol. I'll try to complete Gojo today or tomorrow and Toji is in the works yaaay!!
Also, I'm so surprised my Geto drabble got so many notes in such a short time!! I wouldn't expected people to be remotely interested in my writing but now I'm getting confident.
And finally, I can guarantee that this reader is gender neutral.
Likes and reblogs are appreciated <33
wc: 674, I know, I know, Geto got the princess treatment from me but sometimes less is more <333
cw: historical AU, scheming, mentions of pregnancy, mentions of sudden infant death syndrome, betrayal, accusations of abortion, execution, nudity, mentions of poisoning, suggestive
credits: i used a colored manga panel instead of a fanart but I have no idea who did the coloring so feel free to help me credit their work. And again, my precious @notveryrussian did the proofread, luv ya mwah <33
MDNI PLEASE! I'm gonna find you and kick you in the butt if you do. If you’re not comfortable with dark content or anything mentioned in the warnings just scroll, there's nothing wrong with that.
His mandate of heaven is very different from Gojo and Geto. Sukuna is a ruthless tyrant, he enjoys crushing any nation he deems either threatening or undeserving to even exist next to his borders. His palace is a snake pit, full of betrayal and backstabbing. Executions are frequent and he needs no valid reason to sentence someone to death, he enjoys the bloodshed and the sight of lifeless bodies. You can’t survive that place acting kind and humble. Sukuna specifically torments his concubines physically and mentally for the sheer enjoyment of it.
His court is probably the most competitive. You need to be as ruthless as he is, you need to become a schemer. One of his high-ranking consorts takes you under her wing. She lets you spend leisure time with her, and somehow, she ends up telling you way more sensitive information than she should. She once managed to give him a child, but the infant sadly died days after they were born. She complained about how hard that pregnancy was and that she’s afraid of going through it again, even though she’s attached to him. And not long after this conversation, she fell ill. Retching out everything she ate, her stomach burned and ached. She was so weak her cycle was two weeks late. She trusted you enough to have you fetch her a specific herbal tea to ease her pain and grant her some dreamless sleep.
And that’s the moment you decide you’ll use everything you know about her to cast her down and take her place.
You accuse her that she’s pregnant but wants to abort her baby. Your story is so intricately constructed from all the details you knew that his officials are on your side without hesitation. She watches you horrified, desperately telling him that nothing could be so far from the truth. Sukuna decides to believe in your words and orders for the consort to be executed. Finding pure joy in how she wails and begs for forgiveness. At the execution, he studies your face, every little detail and reaction and you were aware of that. It’s time to impress him. Your face is still, you don’t even flinch when her head is severed by the neck. The eunuchs come for you at night.
He loves and loathes this tradition at the same time. The servants want to protect him, so they deliver you stark naked to ensure you won’t carry any weapons. Fools, as if a weak and trembling creature like you could ever hurt him with a mere dagger or a sharpened hairpin. Yet it makes you look like an offering. A sacrificial lamb. Maybe because you are.
Some primal instinct tells you to balance your inner strength and innate fear of him. Pull back your shoulders, straighten your back, don’t even think to conceal your private parts. Let your fingers quiver and the sheer dread in your eyes seep through. He mocks you. Almost laughs at you while sitting comfortably on the intricately carved shelf bed, wearing a loose bright yellow robe, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. There’s no reason for him to not do this though, he’s a god, the son of heaven, therefore, everything about him is perfect.
The first thing he asks you is if you’re satisfied with your pathetic attempt to improve your position. You don’t dare to tell him that you feel the guilt rotting your insides. He confesses that he was poisoning her meals, he wanted to watch her wither away slowly and enjoy her suffering, but you ruined his plans. He might spare you, you’re a stupid little thing, you couldn’t have known. He warns you that you need to do so much more if you want to be on his good side. You need to be absolutely despicable to earn his praise. Though you feel content having reached your goal and getting to spend a night with him, somewhere deep down you hope you can leave his chamber in one piece or, at least, alive.
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strwberri-milk · 6 months
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Could I request a scenario where Kaeya and his s/o show up to a ball wearing the formal wear of the opposite sex? Basically, Kaeya's in a ball gown and s/o is wearing a suit.
I decided to keep reader more g/n just bc!! But they are wearing a matching suit w kaeya uwu
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Kaeya thought that he would absolutely kill it in a gown but he’s never had the opportunity to test out his theory.
Until now.
When the invitation to a gala addressed to the two of you made it onto his desk he couldn’t help but grin in delight, deciding that this would be the perfect time for him to test his theory. He wanted nothing more than to see just how great he’d look hanging off your arm, maybe sans heels just because he didn’t know if he felt up to wearing anything above an inch for an entire evening but regardless he knew it would be amazing.
You didn’t complain either when he brought it up, in fact deciding that you’d go shopping with him to buy a matching suit. He loved the idea of looking like he belonged to you and with some adjustments made to a lovely navy blue evening gown to fit his body perfectly he was now ready to attend the event.
Kaeya isn’t a fan of doing anything half assed which meant that he also had his hair done half up and down, a beautiful hairpin of your choosing keeping it up to tease the long expanse of his neck and open back of the dress he chose. He knew he’d get a couple of stares but he couldn’t have anticipated the people loving his look as much as they did. Several people came up to him, those who recognized him giving him sincere compliments about how great he looked and those who didn’t trying to hit on him to which he’d simply gesture to you and remind them that he’s taken.
“Kaeya?” He turns to the familiar voice, smiling at Jean and Diluc before gesturing to his outfit.
“The one and only. Doesn’t this dress look great on me?” He gives them both a spin, Diluc rolling his eyes and taking a sip of his drink.
“Ever the dramatic. I knew the second you came when all the heads turned and everybody started trying to get a peek at you. Honestly this dress is a little understated compared to some of the other suits you turned up in before,” Diluc replies.
“I wanted to warm myself up first. Wearing an extravagant gown might be too uncomfortable considering some of the detailing I saw on some of them. The beads or lace can get terribly scratchy and when I’m going to need to socialize as frequently as I usually do I’d rather focus on my conversational partner than the way the dress is rubbing up against my skin,” he laughs.
“I can attest to that,” you say, laughing along. “Some of the other dresses Kaeya had his eye on would have rubbed him raw. This was the best compromise. Simple and elegant. Plus, the slit makes him look even taller.”
“Well you look great Kaeya. There’s a reason why you’re turning heads,” Jean says, nodding appreciatively at your own suit.
“I would have loved to dress up more too but unfortunately I ran out of time to pick up a new suit for the event so I’m stuck wearing this,” she sighs, gently tugging on the hem of her white suit jacket.
“You look amazing Jean; I’m sure plenty of people have their eye on you too,” Kaeya says sweetly, taking a hand in his and squeezing it gently.
“Now if you’ll excuse me - I’ve got some people to visit!”
Kaeya spends the rest of his night socializing and flitting about, adoring all the attention he’s getting. It’s nothing too out of the norm for him but standing on your arm radiantly seems to make the air about him different. Jean and Diluc know it’s because he’s practically radiating under the sweet kisses and compliments you’re slipping into his ear, tan skin warming as he gives you a playful retort that’s lost some of it’s bite when he gives you a kiss on the cheek.
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sdr2lovemail · 6 months
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Tamayo with a nonverbal demon! reader? they too were saved by Tamayo & works with them like Yushiro.
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Silent affections (GN Reader)
Synopsis: Just some short cute fluff with Tamayo.
Notes: Implied poly relationship, I named this doc "Tamayo and Yushiro throuple?!" I'm trying to scrape the rust off, I'm in such a idea drought. Booooooooo!
Requests are open!
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The sterile scent of disinfectant is the first thing you sense after waking up. Your eyelids are heavy, and they’re a chore to open. With blurry vision, you look around the unfamiliar room. Nothing catches your eye except the shape of a woman.
“You’ve awoken. If you can hear me, blink once.” She seemed to relax a little upon receiving a sluggish blink.
She looks at you worriedly, kneeling beside the futon. With glove-covered hands, she inspects your bandages. “You must be confused. My name is Tamayo. I’m a doctor. Someone had attacked you in the city. You’ve sustained severe injuries.”
Tamayo sighs and removes her gloves, setting them aside. “I’m going to be honest. I can only see these wounds getting worse. While I hope it won’t come down to such drastic measures, I have a way to cure you. Though, that is only a last resort. In the meantime, I will do my best to heal you.”
For the next few weeks, Tamayo would routinely check up on you, changing out your bandages and offering medicine. Her assistant, Yushiro, would stop by to deliver your meals. Though he always glared at you every time he was in the room.
As time passed, Tamayo’s fears were coming true. You were only getting worse. Soon, you would succumb to your wounds. One night, she enters the room with an almost somber look. Your skin had become deathly dull, and your breathing sounded harsh and painful.
Tamayo sits near your weak body, her hands neatly folded in her lap. “How are you feeling today?” She frowns as you give her a sad shake of your head. “Medicine can only do so much. I… I have another way I can help you, but I want your full consent.”
“Yushiro and I are demons. I turned Yushiro myself when an illness threatened to take his life. I can turn you as well. But that means living as a demon. You will no longer be able to go into the sunlight or eat the food you can now; you’ll have to consume human blood. Your way of life will change permanently.” Tamayo explained the process in detail. She wanted you to know what would happen if you accepted.
Her eyes widened when she felt warmth against her skin. You held Tamayo’s hand in a weak grip, smiling softly at her. Your response was a weak nod.
“Alright, I will get to work now.”
“Lady Tamayo! We’ve returned from the market!” Yushiro all but barrels into the clinic, you in tow. “We got the herbs you requested.” The boy’s arms were practically spilling over with bundles of herbs. He insisted that he carried everything.
Tamayo looks up from her papers, smiling at the two of you. “Thank you. Could you bring those into my office?” The words barely left her mouth before Yushiro rushed off to organize everything.
You step in front of Tamayo with your hands behind your back, giving her a little smirk.
“Hm? Do you have something for me?” She sets her papers down, giving you her full attention. With a hum, you lean closer to her, your face near hers. “Ah, I see what you’re asking.” The demon doctor leans in to kiss your cheek, followed by another on the corner of your lips. Her sweet-scented lipstick left pink stains.
Your smile gets wider. From behind your back, you pull out an intricate hairpin. It was adorned with carefully sculpted flowers. The soft pinks and purples match that of her blood demon art. Tamayo takes the pin, tracing over the intricate patterns with delicate fingers. A sense of warmth fills her chest.
“It’s beautiful. You didn’t have to get me anything. Thank you, dear.” She smiled at you, pressing another kiss to your hand.
Taking the hairpin back, you brush your fingers through her hair. Removing her usual pin, you place the new one in the braid. You clap your hands, wordlessly offering your appreciation for how it looked.
Tamayo brings you into a hug, expressing her thanks once again. “I’ll have to get you something in return.”
Returning from organizing, Yushiro sees the two of you in an embrace and the kiss marks on your skin. He rushed forward, shouting and trying to worm his way into the embrace.
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neiptune · 2 years
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things you do that they're weak for
ft: shinobu, kyojuro, mitsuri, giyuu, obanai
warnings: female reader
wc: 2.8k my god
They love you a tiny bit more because of that special thing you do just with them
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Shinobu
You fix her up. She loves the way you never miss a thing about what she's saying and yet are still able to focus your attention on her as a whole. Clothes, face, hair, it's a habit of yours to check that everything looks right. You're so fond of her, so used to her gorgeous presence you have memorized every little detail about her, so when something is even slightly off you're ready to fix it.
"It was the oddest thing, really. Uzui-san insisted that we all went to his estate to celebrate with some sake and we just sat there together, most of us not even speaking because of how odd it was".
You hum, cup of tea half empty in your hand, head slightly tilted.
"Well, was it fun?"
She shrugs.
"I'm not sure".
"It was nice of him, wanting to celebrate a successful mission. I think you guys should spend more time together".
"Yeah, no. Kanroji-san was drunk after three sips and Shinazugawa-san almost punched Tomioka-san in the face ten minutes after we got there".
Unimpressed, you arch a brow.
"Was he drunk as well?"
"No, he didn't drink".
You both laugh as you lean closer, gently running a hand through her locks to fix the strands escaping her hairpin. She will never get used to how cute you look when studying the final result of your work, wether "work" stands for you fixing her hair, gently rubbing her nose if there's dirt on it after a training session, picking up some crumbs from her lap, trying to fix the wrinkles on her clothes. You check if everything looks good after your intervention, then focus your attention on her once again, smiling with a genuine sense of gratification she finds adorable.
"There, you look prettier now. By the way, can you remind me when Kanroji-san is coming over for dinner? Cause I will hide all the alcohol we own", you grin.
She leanes over towards you this time, fakes a pout.
"So you think I didn't look pretty?"
You open your mouth in an exaggerated expression of pure indignation.
"I didn't mean-"
"Hm?"
Shinobu leaves a sweet kiss on your neck, then distractingly presses her lips to your jaw as you try to gather the right words to say. Typically, you just fail. She's definitely the one making the other flustered in the relationship.
"What was that?", her nose barely grazes your cheek as you sigh.
"You're always gorgeous", you manage to let out, "now just kiss me already".
Kyojuro
She's always oh so happy to comply.
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He'll sometimes return from a mission to find you either curled up in your futon or doing just about anything in his clothes. He never asked and you never said anything, but after the first two times he has started to conveniently forget his haori and uniforms at your estate more and more often. You haven't noticed yet but he also takes something of yours whenever he has to leave for a mission. It's usually something small, like a hairpin or the ribbon of one of your yukatas.
"You know, I'm getting dangerously used to this sight", he smiles, entering your garden, where you're sitting with a book in just his shirt, legs bare under the sun.
"You're home!", book is brutally left on the ground as you get up from the blanket laid on the soft grass to run towards him, a muffled groan escaping his lips as your bodies clash.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt? Oh, I'm sorry!", you instantly try to take a step back. However, the arms he has wrapped around you simply don't allow any movement. Instead, he pulls you impossibly closer, at the expense of his two broken ribs.
"I have never been better", he whispers through your hair.
"You're a terrible but very sweet liar. Now come sit and rest, I'll make you some tea", you smile against his collar, gently rubbing his back. There it is, that smell. On the sour, almost bitter side, yet so sweet and warm and finally close enough for you not to have to wrap yourself in his clothes to compensate for his absence.
He reluctantly lets go and follows you to the blanket you're strongly urging him to sit on. But, once again, he doesn't allow you to leave, fingers gently closing around your wrist to pull you down, so that you can seat between his legs and he can wrap his arms around you, chin resting on your shoulder, eyes closed, the funny feeling of smelling both you and himself on your skin. It's his favorite thing in the world, really.
"Tea", you mutter but he further nestles his face in the crook of your neck, humming.
Mitsuri
"In a minute".
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She loves that you get just so excited to cook for her. You have memorized her favorite dishes, you know with analytical precision the exact amount of bean sprouts, pork and scallion she prefers, you never forget that she enjoys having green tea with sweet treats such as dorayaki or sakura mochi, and you certainly always remember to add a sprinkle of bonito flakes to her soup. If a special occasion is coming up (a birthday, guests coming over for dinner in which guests are almost always obanai, shinobu or tanjiro with his darling little sister, your anniversary, her coming back from a mission, her leaving for a mission) you will most likely start your preparation from the day before. She watches as you make sure to get all the right, fresh ingredients, marinate the meat, clean and flake the fish, cut the vegetables, all while smiling fondly at her, occasionally feeding her as well, and she just feels so loved, cherished, important.
It's one of those sweet, lazy mornings. You have just finished eating breakfast in her garden and you're already getting to work to make sure that everything is ready for dinner. Mitsuri has been sick in bed for a few days, so you have been extra attentive and made sure she got all the vitamins while staying hydrated enough. She thinks it's adorable, how you absentmindedly keep filling up a glass of water and pass it to her as she sits on the counter and watches you wash the rice.
"Can I help?", she asks, already knowing what you're gonna say.
"I got it, thanks. You should rest", flashing her a smile, you begin the process of cutting up some tofu.
She pouts.
"I'm tired of resting! Besides, I want to make you something for once. Please allow me?"
You put down the knife and clean your hands on your apron, fondness evident in your eyes as you smile at your beautiful girlfriend.
"Okay. Let's switch", taking her hands, you help her down and take her place on the counter as she grins triumphantly, gently taking off your apron and pecking your lips as she puts it on.
She is such a sight for sore eyes, her usual braids having left place for a messy bun, cheeks still a little pale but eyes gleaming with solid determination. You patiently observe how she cuts the right ingredients, slowly, attentively, with so much care. Typical. You're usually faster but you don't mind her pace, concentration evident in her stare as she hopes she's able to display just how much she loves you. Even if it's only through a simple curry. Because you're always so good at doing it for her.
"I love you".
"I love you".
You look at each other and laugh in unison.
"I said it first", you stick your tongue out and she scoffs.
"You didn't!"
"Yes, I did, don't argue with me. You can't always have it your way just because you're a pillar, you know?"
She jokingly nudges your hip with her elbow and you laugh again. Without fail, you slowly push the glass towards her again.
Giyuu
"Don't forget your water", you casually say and don't really get why she smiles at you so warmly, knife put down once again to grab the glass and, most importantly, kiss you.
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He's not always up for having long conversations, especially if it means burdening you with his concerns, fears, self sabotaging thoughts. Still, he's not sure how, you're able to tell when something's up. So you've picked up the habit of stealing a few paper sheets from his bedroom, attentively tearing them to obtain smaller pieces, which you either leave around or slip in the pocket of his uniform for him to find. Sure, most times it's just cute, affection infused messages (good morning, I love you; I hope you have a wonderful meeting, don't fight with anyone!; come over tonight, I'm making your favorite :); good luck! Come back soon, I'll be here waiting for you; you never tell yourself so somebody really has to: you look very handsome today) but sometimes you just want to let him now that you noticed, and you respect his silence, yet feel the urge to show that you care. You care so deeply. As if he didn't already know, as if he needed proof. Whatever it is, it'll get better; you are the strongest, bravest, greatest person I know; thank you for allowing me to love you; he knows, he is so proud of you; they would never forgive you for what you said about yourself earlier; come to me when you feel ready?
In the end, he always does come to you. Because who else does he have? Who else would insist so much on loving him so selflessly? He hasn't known love like this before. He hasn't felt it, hasn't allowed anyone to feel it either. But now half of his entire being resides in you, in how you kiss his forehead, gently run your fingers through his hair as you hold him, whisper sweet, comforting words to his ear. In how you just know that it isn't out of disrespect, of lack of trust, that he sometimes doesn't talk to you. In how you accept him, respect his pauses, appreciate the imperfect way he has of loving you.
Little does he know that you've never been loved like that either. Never had someone purposefully always leave the last onigiri for you, gently stroke your jaw with his thumb, firmly hold your body against his throughout the night, smile gently and patiently as you watch him train and ask endless questions about his katas, someone who, without fail, is always outside the estate of the lady you sew for with an umbrella if it's raining. Someone who would steal the stars from the sky if you just happened to ask.
That's why you can't help but smile, warmth blossoming in your chest when he hands you a small piece of paper for the first time, during a quiet afternoon spent drinking tea in his garden.
"What's this?"
"You never tell yourself, so somebody really has to", he shrugs.
You're so gorgeous.
Obanai
So you smile again, sweet blush creeping on your cheeks, heart impossibly full.
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You've been together long enough for him to be absolutely comfortable and relaxed around you. He's used to your presence in his life, loves knowing that he's gonna be home cause that means he gets to surprise you with dinner, he's so whipped he'd sometimes stop to pick flowers on his way to your estate, an activity that almost always leads to him arriving late because he just can't decide which flowers are the prettiest and which colors you'd prefer. However, there's one thing he can't get used to, something that still makes his stomach clench and his cheeks turn the most adorable shade of pink: the pet names you call him. You're so casual about them while he honestly can't keep it together whenever you let one slip out of your pretty lips. "I'm going to the market, do you want anything babe?", "looking good today, handsome!", "honey, I cleaned the kitchen for you", "darling, are those for me?" while he just tries his hardest not to literally burst into flames right there and then.
He honestly has no idea you know very well how flustered you get him, and it's a game you enjoy playing so very much. That's why sometimes handsome turns into a playful dream boat, honey rearranges itself around a cheeky sunshine, babe transitions to a sappy light of my life. You honestly enjoy showering him in affection and compliments but you also can't help but indulge in a little bit of fun, especially if that fun casually takes place in front of others. Others usually being Sanemi or Mitsuri.
When the former visits, you usually sit with them for ten minutes or so and then leave so that they can start their usual banter. "I'm going to take a nap, you guys behave. See you later, sweetie", you blow a kiss to your boyfriend and turn around before you can catch his wide eyes and Sanemi's amused grin. "You okay, sweetie?", you hear his mocking voice as you close the shoji doors.
When Mitsuri comes over for tea or dinner, you stay longer because she's generally much more friendly and enjoys spending time with you as well. Much to Obanai's affectionate exasperation, you two usually end up completely ignoring him while simultaneously talking about him.
"Is he eating enough? I'm sure you take good care of him, y/n, but he looks so pale!"
You smile at her.
"Don't worry, I make sure he doesn't skip any meals. Can't risk my handsome baby getting sick".
Obanai? Floored.
However, when you two are lying in his futon, your nose grazing his neck, his arms around you, he doesn't feel embarrassed. Doesn't wonder why you chose him, if he deserves all the devotion in your eyes and the affection of your words. He doesn't, because nothing has ever felt that right for him. Ever. Not when you leave a kiss on his shoulder and pull him closer, whispering a "good night, I love you darling". Not when he kisses your forehead and whispers an "I love you more, princess" right back.
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the-orion-inexpirience · 10 months
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Better look at,,, hashira Gyutaro,, since ppl seem to like him,,,
I'll draw a full body of Ume's design as well but for now ☺️
I have yet to work out the lore details but, in case you're curious, this is once again my own comfort au and not some sort of,,, roleswap,, so like the plot happens pretty much the same way I'm just retconning the stuff that makes me sad- (completely self indulgent)
Anyways, Gyutaro and Ume, in this, basically lived closer to the present of the story and not,, a hundred years back-
At some point when Ume was barely,, 1 or 2 years old, Gyutaro heard of the butterfly mansion taking in some other kids and decided to basically run away with her in hopes that, maybe they would take her in and she could live a better life there.
Long story short they were both basically raised there, and that's why I've incorporated a few butterflies to their designs and given Ume the uhh,,, the butterfly hairpin
Gyu probably initially got slayer training for protection, and then stopped himself before advancing higher, maybe even refusing hashira training so he wouldn't have to spend more time away from Ume for missions and whatnot. But then at some point she literally draggeddd him to do the training bc "if anyone deserves to be a hashira it's her older brother"
I'll write out more info when I post Ume's design ☺️ hope you guys like this
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punkpoemprose · 4 months
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A Convenient Arrangement- Part 15
Universe: Canonverse Arranged Marriage AU Rating: T (No spice here, see previous chapter for mature content) Length: 2056 Words A/N: One more chapter to go if all goes as planned. Perhaps an epilogue after that if I'm feeling really brave about it. Thank you all for joining me on this ride. I hope you like this penultimate chapter!
The first light of dawn filtered through the curtains of Anna’s bedroom and Kristoff, despite Anna’s efforts to thoroughly exhaust him the night before, had been awake for some time. To the credit of the castle staff, or perhaps Elsa, no one had come up to wake them and demand their pre-dawn attendance toward any matters.
Anna was facing him, her body curled toward him, and he leaned up a bit, moving slowly to not disturb her, so he could block the incoming light with his chest. Anna was usually a heavy sleeper, he knew as much from their nights together, but he was enjoying watching her calm slumber and wanted to avoid her being disturbed if he could help it.
Her hair was slipping from the braid he’d put it in the night before, little tendrils of frizz sticking out and clinging to her pillow. She’d performed mock annoyance with him when he’d insisted that they couldn’t sleep until he’d helped her remove all her hairpins, but she’d acquiesced and leaned into his touch when he’d brushed out her hair and plaited it to the best of his ability. In the daylight he wasn’t sure what strands he’d missed in braiding, and which had slipped out in sleep, but either way he was proud of how well he’d done caring for his wife.
He brushed a few loose pieces of hair away from her face with a finger, careful not to wake her. She scrunched her eyes a little in return, but didn’t wake, giving him more time to take in the way she looked in peaceful sleep.
He thought that someday, if she would let him, he’d count all the freckles that danced across her nose and cheeks. It would take him weeks, months, maybe even years to catalog all the details of her body, but he was excited to have the challenge. He’d never before wanted to spend so much time with a single person as he did with Anna, and he was certain that even if he had her for the rest of his life, it still wouldn’t be enough time for his taste.
***
Anna woke feeling comfortable, warm, and safe. Her first sight of the morning, through bleary eyes, was Kristoff’s eyes on hers. Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the sunlight illuminating his face, and she felt her lips quirk into a soft smile that matched the contented one she saw on his face.
“Good morning Anna.”
He spoke softly, easing her into wakefulness. She was grateful for it as, despite sleeping very well after the evening’s excitement, her willingness to wake up fully was at odds with her wishes to simply never leave bed ever again.
“Good morning,” she returned, the sound of her voice mingling with a yawn she could not suppress despite her best efforts.
He smiled a bit more at that, a grin that she recognized as amusement lighting his features with joy. She wasn’t at all upset by his amusement at her yawning. Kristoff was, perhaps, the only person that held her unwillingness to leave bed in high regard. She supposed, feeling warm at the thought, that it was perhaps in his best interest to keep her in bed for as long as possible given the enjoyment they’d both gotten out of the night before.
“Are we going to try to do something today, or should I try to find someone to bring us breakfast in bed?”
Anna smiled at the suggestion. His eyebrow waggled a bit at the suggestion of staying in bed, and she knew that, despite his insistence at taking her lead in their relationship, that he would be just as happy with that option as she was.
“I have plans for us,” she said, feeling only slightly bad for not agreeing to stay in bed all day with him. If he was upset by this answer, he certainly didn’t show it.
He yawned then, smiling at her still and pulling her closer by her waist.
“What would that be?”
She smiled, nuzzling into his chest once she was close enough to him. She was uncertain as to whether he’d even hear her with her head tucked into his chest when she said, “I just thought that since we’ll be back to learning out new duties soon, that it might be a good idea for us to take the day together to talk a but more about what our relationship is and also I think it might be food for both of us to make another appearance in public so that no one thinks that yesterday was a show. Maybe we could walk around the city and do a little visit with some of the kinder shopkeeps we met yesterday? I could buy you a gift since I didn’t give you one yesterday for our party. I never even got to give you one for our engagement. It just seems like it might be nice.”
Kristoff’s eyes seemed to move elsewhere in the room for a moment but returned to hers quickly. She didn’t really question it, but she did notice it. She supposed he was just thinking about the other things that he had to do in the day and was looking for a kind way to shut down her idea.
“That sounds perfect Anna,” he said before she could even think of a way to backpedal her offer.  She should have realized by now that she never needed to doubt herself when it came to Kristoff. All his reactions to her had always been honest and kind.
She smiled and nuzzled into his chest, not quite ready to get out of bed and start the day after all.
***
Anna had brought him through the city again, shopping and chatting with store owners like they had before, but today the city had been the quietest he’d ever seen it. He’d seen folks sleep off festivals before, but unfairly it seemed at times that they were the only citizens of the city to be out of bed even well into the afternoon. Of course, he had known that his and Anna’s marriage had been looked upon favorably by the people of Arendelle, given that it was the purpose of the arrangement in the first place, but even he was impressed by the amount of debauchery and joy their belated wedding celebrations had inspired.
The few beleaguered shop keeps that they had managed to speak will had been happy for their visits, of course, but he was just as happy when he and Anna, blessedly without a castle guard, had retired from the city proper and decided to spend time on some of the public lands in the surrounding hills.
The afternoon was already upon them, and Anna, in her infinite wisdom, had purchased all the makings of a picnic in the markets and shops they visited.
“I know I already have so many picnic blankets and baskets,” she said, laying everything out with his help, “but now that I actually have cause and company to go out and use them, I feel like it’s not a waste to have bought another.”
“And” Kristoff added with a chuckle, “you were worried that if we went back to get one you already had, and your sister saw us back in the castle, she would realize we were heading out and make us take a guard this time.”
“That is a not insignificant possibility. It may also be possible that I liked the pattern on this blanket because it looks like your sash.”
She was blushing, and as Kristoff looked between his sash, the one he wore most often, and the picnic blanket, he did notice the same mix of yellows, reds and purples, even if the pattern itself was different. He slipped his hand to the fabric around his waist and slid across the blanket to her side. Between them were the remainder of the sweet breads, fruit, and wine that they’d bought in the market.
“Here,” he said, slipping the fabric from around his waist, offering it to her, but then thinking better of it and offering, by extending his hand, to wrap it around her waist for her.
She gave him a curious look, but then acquiesced with a soft grin and allowed him to put it on her. He hadn’t intended to use it as an excuse to put his hands on her waist, but it wasn’t at all a negative to the interaction. He held her, and reveled in the way she looked at him with so much love and excitement in her blue eyes when he stroked his thumb down her side. He tied it gently around her, moving slowly to prolong the contact of his hands on her body. When he was done with his task and managed to pry his hands away from her, he felt something like pride in seeing her wear something of his so proudly.
She’d seemed just as pleased in the market when she’d picked up a similarly styled sash for him as a gift, one that happened to feature the signature green color of so many of her dresses. He tied that to his own waist much more expediently, physically marking himself as hers much in the same way he’d just marked her as his.
Whether it was the latent magic from the valley in the stone, or his own awareness of the ring in his pocket making it feel warm against his let at the thought, he wasn’t certain. What he did know was that as Anna looked at him with utter reverence, their bodies leaned close together in the verdant hills of Arendelle, he’d finally found the right moment to offer it to her.
He was already on his knees, but he did his best to appear intentional in his actions when he reached into his pocket and pulled from it, carefully watching her eyes as he did so, the ring that he and the trolls had crafted from his heart stone. He didn’t need to glance down at it to see what she sawm he had every detail of the stone and its setting memorized from its creation, a pink stone flanked on the side by other, non magical clear stones, set into a golden band. His family, far better with stone and the metals and gems extracted from them than he could ever be, had made it to his exact specifications. It was imperfect in ways that made it mean much more to him, and by the excitement he could see in Anna’s eyes, he had no doubt that she would love it for those details as well.
 The stone was small and only a piece of the crystal. In his family’s traditions, Anna would have been given the whole stone on a cord as their engagement gift, but given that Anna was not a rock troll who could hold a heavy stone around her neck and the fact that they were already married, some amendments were to be made. If she accepted the ring, the rest of the stone would already be hers, but he hoped that he would have her blessing to turn most of the remaining crystal into other things, earrings, a necklace, to celebrate their wedding and anniversaries. He hoped that she would take it and that she would agree to marry him again.
He cleared his throat, trying to remember the perfect words he’d thought about repeatedly, to ask his wife to marry him. None came to mind, and he wasn’t certain that he’d ever come up with any in the first place.
The joy, excitement, and adoration in Anna’s eyes told him that it didn’t matter. Her hand pressing to his sash, the one she wore on her waist, gave him the courage to say what was in his heart.
“Anna, my beautiful wife, would you do me the honor of marrying me again?”
She nodded, and while her eyes held tears, he knew they were happy ones. She agreed without question, and he knew that this, the moment that she tackled him onto the blanket, pressing her lips to his in joy, was the first day of the rest of his life.
And what a beautiful life it would be.
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fourseasonsfigs · 8 months
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Springtime Snowy Mountain Frame (Handcrafted)
Today we have another piece from my favorite ultra light clay artist.
I had previously bought a scene-in-a-frame from this artist that was a little smaller, and a little more chibi style (Mid-Autumn, Snow Mountain Edition):
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I really like the cute chibi style - you know cutie smiling figs are my weakness! But, I saw this little frame in her store and was immediately taken by how sweet the scene was. I do prefer full body figs, chibi or otherwise, so this half-body size was something I had to wrap my head around. Eventually I was like, wait, why am I dithering around about this? It made no sense! So I stopped, and tossed it into my cart.
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The fig maker sent it in a hard box, and also well wrapped and padded to protect it. Additionally, once I unwrapped the plastic there was some synthetic cotton batting all around the figs. This is the infamous "pearl cotton". Why infamous?
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Let me tell you, I was pulling out microscopically small, invisible coils of this stuff for AGES. I kept thinking I had gotten everything, and then I would take pictures and find a big coil threaded through their hair or curling around their neck, or tucked into one of those little folds.
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The plaque wasn't affixed very strongly to the frame, and freely moved around. It ended up being held in place mostly by the little flower branch. I can't take this kind of anxiety, so out came the glue.
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Before I fixed it into place, though, I thought I'd take a few pics so you could see the detail that it was hard to get otherwise.
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Here we have the underside of the layers and layers of robes. Just amazing detail.
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Without the frame I was able to get the best shot of Lao Wen's face.
I glued the piece down, and it's pretty solid. This thing isn't going anywhere anymore!
These little displays aren't easy to photograph, so I'm going to do my best to try and get as many angles as I can.
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Here we have A-Xu's beautiful face with his hair utterly perfect, and the a rosy bloom in his cheeks. His hair really is amazing here, with some individual strands arranged into his neat high bun. He's also wearing a beautiful white pin in his black hair. I very much think of this as his married hairstyle!
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A close up of the painting on the faces. I don't know how this artist manages to get so delicate a look, but she does an incredible job.
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Here we get Lao Wen's mass of white hair, pulled back in his simple mountain hairstyle. A-Xu's hair also looks great from this angle! I also really like the open expression on his face - he looks light and free of worries and cares.
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Lao Wen looks singularly focused on A-Xu's beautiful face. Who can blame him?
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The top down angle gives a lot of nice detail on their hair styles - you can really see the bangs and the the wispy, soft look of the twists of hair. That hairpin alone is just so delicate.
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For scale purposes, here the frame is with the original Snowy Mountain figs.
Material: Ultra light clay
Fig Count: 433
Scene Count: 30
Rating: Endless happiness
[link back to Master Fig Index for more posts]
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beautiful-02-08-18 · 5 months
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💜HALLOWEEN REPOST PT. 2🖤
From what I know only three characters have these skins and the other two are Kuga and Miyo who have a Frankenstein skin and a Gumiho skin respectively. A little detail I noticed is that the skins kinda fit the characters, like Kuga is strong like Frankenstein and Miyo is rather spiritual like a Gumiho. A Dracula-themed skin for Charming Gold fits him so well; the guy is 1,000+ years old absorbing life forces to stay alive and be beautiful.
Since two of those are based on European origins I decided to design DD’s after Korean origins like Miyo’s. From what I’ve researched the Cheonyeo Gwishin is described as having black hair and wearing white funeral clothes. I thought it would fit her because she is a gloomy and vengeful person. It's also a reference to how she had been living unbothered from humanity for almost all of her 1,000+ years old life until Ulcus’ awakening like a ghost. Including the fact that she is a fanon character, so she’s “invisible” to the cast. Although, slightly goofy as its English translation is Korean Virgin Ghost but I’ll just gloss over that.
Her hanbok is definitely not a faithful design but I thought it’d be fine for this one, besides, neither are the official skins anyway. The hair accessories she has are a bow and a hairpin. In modern funeral customs, women wear a white ribbon hairpin. The other one is called a binyeo which is a traditional hairpin used to fix up a woman’s chignon, but it is known as a symbol of marriage. The pink rose on it is part of her backstory with CG where he gave a pink rose when they were kids to show his gratefulness for their friendship. I also thought her mask would be an iconic look for her so I placed it here too. There are 8 flashes of light here and its supposed to represent the emblems of the characters: Bug, Bars, Nyanya, Mong, Giraf, Peng, Empa, and Pikok.
This art piece took me two weeks already! I got to understand my art limits, but also improve my art skills. While it's only a half-body I improved on things like anatomy. The teeth finally look good but I had a whiplash when I realized that the torso is approximately the size of two heads.
I also did the pizza art trend that was on Instagram on the last art slides, but it is extremely subtle though. Thank you for reading!
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wisedo · 1 year
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1/6 custom wenzhou action figures and how I made them:
It all starts with heads, namely with me complaining to all my friends, that there are no 1/6 heads for ZZS, and then one day I was told, that there is a head, and so it started. Coco had also WKS heads, but they had a lower resemblance then resin heads, so I took the resin head 
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There were two problems:
1. I never painted heads, that are soft
2. To get the head on or off the body one needed to use a hairdryer and some magic
So I decided there is no point in painting a rubber head and recast it (I also recast WKS head, just in case) 
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Then I painted the heads. I was lucky to find a paint that was the same color as the body. I used sponges to make multiple thin layers for the skin to look good. Then I painted the lips, the eyes, some shadows and the eyebrows (it was the most complicated part) 
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For the wigs I used black wet wipes to make the caps and sheep and goat fur as hair. First I glued multiple layers of wipes, so the cap complies with the line of hair growth, then I sewed the fur to the cap, after which I spent a lot of time cutting and styling the hair 
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Shoes.
First come the references and the backstage references. Then some thin leather, paperboard, cutting, sewing, gluing and painting the outsoles white 
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For the robes I used the thinnest cotton I could find, cause we are in a 1/6 world and we still have 4 layers of clothing. The tricky part was finding out how to cut all the robes, so I used all the BTS footage I could find.
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love WoH costumes they look so good and are so hard to cut. I also appreciate the fact that I'm doing 1/6 and not 1/1 cosplay, though with a sewing machine it would be way faster.
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The fan was made of paperboard and thin wrapping paper (it is a low-budget custom). The fan can't be folded due to it's size and the fact that  the spokes are glued.
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There were leaves on WKS outer robe, so I embroider some.
The hairpin was low on details, but after it was painted silver it became shiny, so it did the job.
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And here they are (and a stack of blueprints)
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acacia-may · 11 months
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Faulty Wires and Empty Spaces [YTTD Fanfic]
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Description: Finding Kai sparks a malfunction in Ranger's AI, drudging up a puzzling memory of two brothers and leaving Ranger questioning whether there really is a certain break in his circuitry--faulty wires misfiring into empty spaces. Could there really be something...missing?
Fandom: Your Turn To Die [MAJOR YTTD SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 2 AND THE KAI MINISODE]
Genre: Heavy Angst, Tragedy, Extremely Dark Themes, Family Angst, Problematic/Complicated Fictional Sibling Relationship, Childhood Trauma, Some Sibling Hurt/Comfort in a Flashback but This Story Is Mostly Hurt With Very Little Comfort, Mid-Canon, Possibly(?) Canon Divergent, Character Study, Dark Character, Tragic Character, Unreliable Narrator, No Happy Endings.
Platonic Relationships: Rio Ranger & Kai Satou. Kai & Sei (*cries*).
Characters: Rio Ranger (POV Character). Kai Satou. Sei.
Rating: T for Language and Extremely Dark Themes (Please see "Warnings" below for more details).
Warnings: Language. Character Death. Implied/Referenced Suicide. Implied/Referenced Character Death. Implied/Referenced Murder. Implied/Referenced Death Game. Implied/Referenced Child Abuse. Childhood Trauma. Blood and Injury. No depicted graphic violence but many references to it. RANGER is the POV character (Seriously. The POV character is a deranged sociopathic murder doll. An extremely tragic deranged and sociopathic murder doll and one of my favorite villains of all time, but still... Goes without saying this is a DARK story. Please proceed with caution, friends). Mid-Canon. Possibly(?) Canon Divergent. Pain and Suffering. No Happy Endings. MAJOR SPOILERS for Chapter 2 and the Kai Minisode.
Word Count: 2338
Link to original post on AO3. Please do not repost to another site, but reblogs, likes, and comments are appreciated. Thank you!
Note: Many thanks to @repo-net the great for generously offering to read the draft of this story and for providing very helpful notes and feedback as well as the confidence to actually post this. (I couldn't have done it with you!) Another special word of thanks to my sister who played YTTD with me and who loves Kai very, very much--this story is dedicated to her. 💕
Story below the cut. Thank you so much for reading!
Click. The snaps of the hairclip are clasped around my hair now. Without a mirror, I can’t tell exactly how it looks, but I pinned it to the exact same spot as that dead human so it must look just as good in my hair as it did in his. Better actually, seeing as he looked pretty pathetic. They always do—especially when they’re dead. 
My head tilts as I stand over the body. There are small tears all over the clothes from those mechanical leeches. Death by exsanguination is fun, sure, but messy and… 
My hands quickly shuffle through my expression cards. Frustration. The etched face glares down at those ripped clothes. Blood stains are fine. I’ve no problem with those. They add character. And besides, Safalin can always clean it off if I want. But tears and rips? Nothing doing! Guess, the hairpin’s all I’ll get out of this one. 
With a huff and shrug of my shoulders, I switch expressions until my mouth is all cutesy like a little kitten that makes you want to throw up. Luckily there’s another one with clothes intact from the looks of it. Some cheeky bastard Miley couldn’t shut up about because he had the audacity to off himself or something. Where’s the fun in that? 
My hands twitch—shuffling through mouths again until I’m grinning down at the second body. Not so cheeky now that he’s lying face down in his own blood. All that fake bravado and resistance only got him so much, huh? Humans are so stupid. Such pathetic and worthless creatures. Though this one’s not completely worthless, I suppose. At least his clothes aren’t all ripped up, and what’s that tied around his waist? 
I flip the body. 
It’s an apron. 
My hands stop, and my head tilts curiously at the corpse. Have I seen this person somewhere before? 
Sparks of electricity interrupt my train of thought. A malfunction perhaps? Faulty wiring? No good. 
My vision goes suddenly blurry. There’s a whirring sound—a pounding and sparking sensation of misfiring circuitry. 
I forget to change my expression. What is it right now? And what should it be? A grin? A frown? A—? 
My head throbs. I have no choice but to stop thinking. All that’s left is the deafening whirring sound. The spinning room. Electric impulses to nowhere but a dark empty space. Broken wires. And a noise—a…a voice… You… You protected me. 
I clutch my hair in clumps. My hands curling around that hairpin. Stop it. Dad will be so angry when he finds out about this. I’m his prized doll. His favorite— 
The whirring finally stops. I can see something now. A…A dark crammed room. A cot in the corner. Two shadowy figures. 
“What are you doing here, dumbass?” grunts the figure on the cot slowly coming into focus. He is curled around his stomach—wrapped with bandages soaked red with blood. Pathetic. Humans are always so easily injured.  
“Sei, you’re okay.” The other figure has an expression not unlike the one many humans have right before they’re filled with crushing despair—as if they truly believe something better is waiting for them out there. I’ve seen it plenty of times, but there’s something especially familiar about this one. Have I seen this face before? Is this—? 
I stop. That person…that boy. It’s that body with the apron. 
I clutch my head as that whirring noise starts again. Electric sparks fire off into nowhere. I’ll have to talk to Safalin about this faulty wiring before Dad finds out. 
“Yeah, I’m fine,” huffs the other figure, Sei, I guess. Humans and their stupid names I suppose. 
“You’ve been unconscious for two days. I thought you were…” 
Sei huffs and runs a hand through his matted orange hair. “It’s going to take more than a stupid stab wound to kill me, Kai.” He frowns—blinking at Kai with narrowed amber eyes. I think about reaching for one of my own expressions, but I can’t seem to move. What is this bullshit? Why does this tiny, weak human look so much like…? 
“It was a deep wound,” argues Kai though his face and voice betray no emotions. “I asked Father to get you stitches. He eventually agreed. They were kind of crude though, so I’ve been trying to keep the wound clean.” 
Sei frowns again. More sparks. More wires. I can hear his voice even though his mouth doesn’t move: “I bet Father would’ve made sure you got stitches, Kai.” My mouth twitches. He’s jealous of the little dumbass. Of course, he is. Humans are so predictable. 
“You’ve always been Father’s favorite.” I hear Sei clear as day—that envy, that bitterness in his voice despite him not speaking any words at all. Can I read minds now? Not bad for a malfunction. Maybe I’ll keep that—if it’s not connected to that damn whirring sound and those shocks from live wires firing off into empty space, that is. There’s that throbbing in my head again. Clearly the circuit is interrupted or something. 
“I was worried the wound might go septic so I’ve been replacing the bandages,” Kai says aloud. I guess I can’t read his mind, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it was just empty. He seems like the type. “I’ve also been making soup, but you haven’t been able to eat anything…” 
“You made soup? Are you trying to poison me?” quips Sei, quirking an eyebrow. My head aches. 
“No.” Kai blinks before fumbling around for a bowl and holding it out to Sei. Show off, I hear Sei think. My head whirls again. Can I only read Sei’s mind? And why in the hell does he look so much like—? 
“Look at you, Kai,” Sei’s speaking voice cuts me off. Kai holds out a spoonful of soup to him, and as Sei reaches for it, he writhes in pain—coiling around that wound in his stomach in a way that’s clearly imperceptible to Kai but… I glance down at my hand clutching that exact spot on my own body on some kind of reflex. I can almost feel that wound throbbing in my side. What the hell? “You’re basically a house husband now. All you’re missing is an apron.”  
Apron? My head tilts. Didn’t that body have an…? 
That infernal whirring noise cuts off my thoughts. This has to be the strangest malfunction in history. Am I somehow seeing that cheeky dumbass’s life flashing before his eyes? 
No. Something immediately clicks somewhere amidst the misfiring wires. Not Kai. Sei. This is Sei’s memory. 
My head spins, and I start to lose my balance. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to realize it. No wonder that pathetic little human looks so much like me. He must have been the basis for my AI. 
Unable to reach for my expression cards, my own mouth curves into a frown. I am definitely malfunctioning. I’m a perfected version of a human—the superior Sei, I suppose you could say. I shouldn’t see his memories like this so why—? 
“You think so?” asks Kai, cutting me off. I can’t remember what he and Sei were even talking about, but Sei must have found it amusing seeing as he snorted a dry chuckle. 
“Yeah, but you don’t need to do anything else. I’m fine now.” 
My head burns with the sparks of live wires in busted circuitry again. What the hell’s going on? 
“Sei…” 
“What’d you even want to take care of me for anyway?” he snaps jerking away from Kai. He slumps over, and his whole body seems to twist around his injury. The dumbass human. That wound is probably throbbing with pain from the sudden movement, and my own side pangs—as if I can feel the sting of his wounds just like I can feel his jealousy. His frustration. His anger. His… His… 
My head tilts, and I blink at him. There is something else there, but I don’t have a clue what it is. Before I can even begin to think of it, however, I hear those same words from when I first started malfunctioning. 
“You…You protected me.” 
Sei huffs. “Why would I do that, airhead?”
“You protected me,” Kai repeats matter-of-factly. “You didn’t have to, and if you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been injured.” 
“I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing doing,” Sei insists, but his words are laced with indignance and—fear? What could he possibly be afraid of?  
Kai just blinks at him—for far too long, in my opinion, and then he says exactly the kind of dumbass comment you’d expect from a human: “Thank you, Sei.” 
As I wait for Sei to rage or argue or tell him off, my head starts throbbing again marking the return of that unbearable whirring noise. 
“Forget about it,” Sei grunts. “We’re even now—since you looked after me or whatever. Don’t make this a big deal.” 
Kai shakes his head—the infuriating little bastard, but I don’t pick up on much anger or frustration from Sei. Stupid human… 
“It’s not about getting even, Sei. I didn’t take care of you for that.” 
“Then why…?” Sei only mumbles, but Kai must have understood. He meets his eyes.  
“Because we’re brothers.” 
Immediately, Sei rolls over on the cot so he’s facing away from Kai, his brother apparently though they don’t look a thing alike. He groans clutching his wound which he must’ve forgotten about for a moment. Tears well in his eyes—the pathetic little human. Their tolerance for pain is always so low. But it’s strange… I don’t feel much of that pang in my side this time. 
My brow furrows. Sei must be utterly tortured by his wound given how red and puffy his eyes suddenly became. How agonizingly painful it must be. I wonder why I don’t feel it anymore—I don’t feel anything of his anymore. No anger. No inferiority. No fear. No jealousy. He’s feeling—my head throbs again—something else? Something more? Something deeper…?  
Those sparks of electricity dart through my mind as it whirls and pounds—probably trying to complete its busted-up circuit but winding up dead in empty space. Empty space? 
“Sei?” asks Kai rushing over to the other side of the cot. When he sees Sei’s bloodshot eyes, his own eyes widen. 
Huffing, Sei covers his face with his hands. “Dammit, Kai!” 
“I didn’t want you to see that,” I can hear his thoughts clear as day. “I didn’t want you to know…” 
Know? Know what? 
Kai blinks at him for a long time. My head spins. Sei wipes his eyes. Broken wires fire at random—sparks flying everywhere as if they’re darting into dark and empty corners of my mind I didn’t know I had. What? 
Bullshit! If I’m following his brain patterns mine should be even better than his—not filled with faulty wires and empty spaces.
“Kai!” Sei’s startled gasp distracts me once again from my own malfunctioning mind. Kai has his arms draped around him. I shake my head. What a stupid thing—especially seeing as he’ll probably just end up bumping, poking, or aggravating that injury. Sei, however, doesn’t seem to care. His whole, tense body seems to relax as he shifts in his seat so he can wrap an arm around Kai shoulders. 
I hear Sei’s thoughts loud, clear, and determined as his brother grips onto him tightly and pulls him close. “I’d do it again—if that’s what it took to protect you.” 
That whirring noise. That pounding in my head. The little sparks and burns of misfired electric currents. If I could move, I would clutch my aching head, but I can’t move. I can barely even think. I can only watch, growing more and more painfully aware of a glaring break in my malfunctioning circuit—of my faulty wires and empty spaces. 
I clench my fist. Does Sei have something…I don’t? 
Surely not. After all, I am his perfected version—his superior version. Dad’s greatest creation. There’s nothing a filthy, worthless human could have that I don’t already possess in its most perfect form. 
But then—what? What is he—? 
“I’m just… I’m glad you’re okay…” Sei mumbles quickly before pulling away from Kai as I wrack my brain with bits and pieces of unanswered questions. Feeling those electric currents in dark synapses to nowhere—as if something is…missing. 
Faulty wires. Empty spaces. 
Something burns in my mind. Am I really that…broken? 
My head pounds and so does my circuitry—pulsing with rage as I grit my teeth, clench my fists, then tear and swipe at the memory. I shouldn’t have dark and empty corners. I shouldn’t have busted up circuits or faulty wiring. My circuitry is perfect. My programming is perfect. I am perfect. Superior to this flawed prototype. I am not broken! 
I rip that worthless human’s memory apart until it’s as torn and bedraggled as the clothes on the body of the Sacrifice. Now that even the phantom of that memory is in shreds, I can see that body and its ripped up clothes again—weak, pathetic, and useless, slumped over in a worthless dead heap. Just like Kai’s. 
I tower over what’s left of him—staring at it until I can see nothing else. Nothing except his long, matted strands of hair, his pale, sallow skin, and wrinkled, bloodstained apron. My head throbs and burns with live wires of broken circuits. I can still hear his voice.  You…You protected me. 
I pound at my head with clenched fists. Tugging at clumps of my hair. Pulling at that hairpin until…it all finally ends. 
… 
My head tilts as I stare down at his body. I shuffle through my expression cards until I’m grinning once again. No more faulty wires. No more empty spaces. 
With a swift flourish, I take his apron. It’s mine now. 
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valiantstarlights · 10 months
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(DND AU) Details about the Endless siblings' (and Hob's) characters: Names, hair/eye/skin color, and physical descriptions.
Disclaimer: All these names (except for Dream and Hob's) are from fantasynamegenerators(dot)com. Trust me, I did my best.
Destiny
(Half-Orc Monk)
Character's Name: Gramalgar Marsh
Hair color: Seaweed (#354A21)
Eye color: Seafoam (#3DED97)
Skin color: Sage (#728C69)
He/him. Tall, muscled, short hair in a mohawk.
A single large tattoo of black waves that starts from his left wrist, wrapping around his left arm, covering his left shoulder, and crashing right in the middle of his chest. Upon closer inspection, the waves are composed of lines of prayer.
Sleeveless roughspun tunic, dark trousers, well-worn boots. A simple sturdy staff.
The others' notes on his character:
"Shrek, but a half-orc with hair and a tattoo." - Delirium
"Punk Grandma Marsh." - Desire and Despair
"Ermahgerd the Half-Orc Monk with a prison tat" - Destruction
"He really researched the shades of green holy shit." - Hob
--
Death
(Gnome Cleric)
Character's Name: Ylssa Kindhelm
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Dark Brown
Skin color: Dark Brown
She/her. Curly hair always in an updo for practicality's sake, but always decorated with pearl hair pins by the dozen.
Piratecore outfits in neutral shades.
Has an enchanted flask that's always filled with cool and sweet lemonade.
The others' notes on her character:
"So...bridal hair, but pirate core. Goddamn what a vibe" - Desire
"The flask is a nice touch, considering her character's sailor background." - Dream
"She's so prettyyyyy 🌼" - Delirium
"Marsh's to do list #1: steal Ylssa's pearl hairpins at the earliest opportunity." - Destiny
--
Dream
(Elf Bard)
Character's Name: Erendriel Emberfall
Hair color: Raven Black
Eye color: Has central heterochromia (pale blue on the outer part of the iris and flickering firelight near the pupils)
Skin color: Pale, almost ashen
He/they. Long, straight hair that reaches his waist, worn in a simple, loose braid.
Prefers to wear well-made comfortable clothing in black, white, or shades of grey.
His main instrument is a lute. It's made from dark wood, has silver-colored strings, and depicts the phases of the moon along its body.
During battle, however, and in very close-quarters combat, he can change instruments and use an ocarina made out of black porcelain instead.
The others' notes on his character:
"blue and blood-orange-eyed bitch, so pretentious" - Desire
"The love of my character's DND life. Absolutely beautiful. 🖤" - Hob
"am i drunk or did I hear Dream say 50 shades of grey? 👀" - Destruction
"I'm gonna steal his ocarina and swap it with a kazoo." - Death
--
Destruction
(Dwarf Barbarian)
Character's Name: Regnik "Reggie" Dreldivarr
Hair color: Copper Red
Eye color: Rock Grey
Skin color: Tan
He/him. Average height as far as dwarves go. Long, slightly lank hair. Has the most magnificent beard in the world. Wears a large beaded bracelet on his left arm, (it currently has 2 rows) and each bead represents an unforgettable moment in his life. He carved the beads himself, of course.
Because he lives in the wild, he takes, trades, or buys clothing he likes or thinks will be useful. Just in case. He's a little bit of a hoarder that way. Sometimes wears mismatched clothes. Like a heavily repaired studded leather armor and an expensive-looking snow-white human noblewoman's fur coat.
The others' notes on his character:
"Vegetable man." - Delirium
"Ask Destruction later if Reg's fashion is inspired by what I had to wear in the 1600s." - Hob
"No. No. Absolutely not. Reginald needs to have a makeover. I will not have badly-dressed party members on my watch." - Desire
"Marsh's to do list #2: steal Reggie's white fur coat at the earliest opportunity." - Destiny
--
Desire
(Tiefling Sorcerer)
Character's Name: Temerity (born Valrai Aranthos)
Hair color: Originally black, but dyed white
Eye color: Solid pale turquoise (#AFEEEE)
Skin color: They have vitiligo, so mint (#9FE1BD) and an even lighter mint (#D4FEF0). Their horns ombre from their skin color to a darker green (#0A3B25).
They/them. A little above average in height for a tiefling. Their horns curve upwards and outwards, then back and down, and then curving upwards again, ending it pointed tips, which are decorated in dangling opal and silver jewelry.
Their clothes are flowing and in cool tones to complement their skin, eyes, and (dyed) hair.
The others' notes on their character:
"Virtue Name: Audacity." - Dream
"They're so coooool~ 🌼 Super minty fresh in color! I'm gonna give them a eucalyptus and white roses flower crown!" - Delirium
*math lady GIF on the geometry of Temerity's horns, but tries his best to draw them anyway* - Destruction
"I'm so intimidated by all these hex color codes." - Hob and Death
--
Despair
(Dragonborn Paladin)
Character's Name: Gerrhanuallith Vyrazys (Childhood name: Defender)
Hair color: N/A, but she has four horns, and they're all solid black.
Eye color: Yellow.
Skin color: Her scales are green. At Desire's insistence, the hex color codes are #2D4C06, #405A19, and #4B6E1E.
She/her. On the taller side of dragonborns. Definitely taller than Marsh. Muscled, stern-looking. Has a jagged scar that goes from her left jaw to just under her right eye.
Upper two horns angle up, then back, then up. Lower two horns angle up and out, back, then up and out again.
Austere and clean clothing, always.
The others' notes on her character:
"Oh wow my twin really chose violence for her name. I'm gonna call her Vee. V for Violence." - Desire
"I'm gonna call her Gerry. Her first name is too much." - Delirium
"Jeh-rah-noo-wah-lith I'm gonna kill whoever makes these random name generators." - Hob
"I can't, my INT score IRL is too low for the name and the horn angles. 😭" - Destruction
--
Delirium
(Halfling Druid)
Character's Name: Jill Barleyblossom
Hair color: Light brown, like barley!
Eye color: Amber? Kinda like Desire's, but darker in shade! Their eyes are so pretty, I always thought so.
Skin color: Kinda fair, but I want to have freckles!
She/her! Jill is...kinda small for a halfling, but she's gonna turn into big animals later so that's okay.
I like what the girl hobbits are wearing in Lord of the Rings, so that's my fashion! I don't wanna go barefoot, though. I want really sturdy footwear, but I want pretty flower designs on them.
I also want to have a shoulder bag! A normal one that can hold a normal amount, so I can gather pretty rocks and have somewhere to put my notebook and color pencils. Do those exist in DND?
The others' notes on her character:
"aww sunshine girl :)" - Death
"tfw Delirium has a better fashion sense than Destruction." - Desire
"Jill finally thank Christ an easy to remember name." - Hob
"Marsh would take one look at Jill and say, 'I can't steal from this child, but I can steal for her.'" - Destiny
--
Hob
(Half-elf Rogue)
Character's Name: Leoran Sylvaris
Hair color: Dark brown hair
Eye color: Dark brown eyes
Skin color: Kinda tan, I guess?
He/him. It's basically me as a half-elf rogue to be honest. 😂 Ah, but I would like to have my hair up in a manbun during fights.
I can occasionally have a beard, especially in the cooler months. Nothing as magnificent as Reggie's, though. I suppose it would look like my beard in 1389. Which...only Death and Dream have seen, sorry. Uh, imagine Thorin's beard in the first The Hobbit movie, I suppose. In the hotter months, I think I'll just stick to the stubble.
Clothes. Dark in color, hidden pockets everywhere for knives, ropes, caltrops? Other rogue stuff. Think maybe Bucky Barnes in The Winter Soldier movie. Yeah, that's a good look.
The others' notes on his character:
"Are you kidding me Hob as Bucky Barnes in The Winter Soldier??? 🔥💋🍆🍑💦" - Desire
"Ninja Hob with a less magnificent beard during the winter. I can respect that." - Destruction
"Hob as a half-elf rogue in a manbun. Dream is gonna flip his shit but I just bet he's writing Darcy-ish notes like 'not handsome enough to tempt me,' because he's an idiot." - Death
"[redacted due to tumblr's low spice tolerance]" - Dream
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celinamarniss · 1 year
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Still frantically trying to get chapter two done by next week so here, have the next excerpt from We Can't Keep Meeting Like This.
Previous parts of the chapter here and here.
The main entrance to the lounge slid open to reveal the two men Brax had sent to find Trask, propping up a third man between them. Din recognized Trask from his holo, though the man’s face was twisted into a mask of fear. 
“That was quick,” Brax called. 
“Found him on level two,” one of his men said. “The usual place.” 
Trask’s eyes darted from side to side, the look of someone who knew his number was up but was still trying to find a way out. Din knew the expression too well. 
He started pleading as Brax’s thugs manhandled him through the doorway. “It’s a setup—I swear! I’d never cross you, Brax, you gotta believe me. This is a setup!”  
“Petyr, Petyr,” Brax scolded. “You think anyone would believe you now?” 
“It’s a set-up!” Trask insisted in a frantic squeal. His eyes lit on Mara as he was drug, none too gently, toward Brax. “I knew it was a fix—I told you, Brax! She’s behind it! Don’t you know who she is?! She’s one of Talon Karrde’s people! She’s his Second!” 
Brax turned to follow Trask’s pointed finger, his brow creasing as he spotted Mara. “Arica?” 
“It’s her—the Jade woman! She’s the one behind this! I didn’t do anything. It’s her!” 
Din hoped that Brax would dismiss Trask’s accusation as the last ditch attempt to shift blame that it was, but Brax held up a hand and rose to his feet. Several guests shifted away from Mara, clearing a path from her to Brax. Even her tattooed friend took a step back. 
Din felt himself tensing as Brax approached Mara. Extremely dangerous, the puck had said, do not engage. 
“Huh,” Brax said. “I never noticed before. But you do look like her.” 
“An unfortunate resemblance, I assure you,” Mara said, her voice clipped. 
Brax shook his head slowly. “I know Trask’s a liar—that’s why I hung him out to dry. But that doesn’t mean he’s wrong about you.” 
She moved so quickly that no one had time to react. One of the long diamond pins from her hair was in her hand and pressed up against Brax’s throat in a matter of seconds. 
“No one move,” Mara’s voice rang out. “The end of this needle is coated in Cyanoxis poison. It’s a very painful and very messy death.” 
The crowd was too stupid to obey completely. There were shocked cries, the sound of a glass shattering on the floor, and people scurrying out of range. Others stood where they were, craning their necks to watch what would happen next. Brax’s men reached for their weapons but no one drew on her. Din quietly shifted his blaster out of his holster. 
Where had Luke gone? He’d melted into the crowd somehow, leaving Mara alone to face off with Brax’s bodyguards. She stepped back so that Brax’s body half-shielded her from the room, her arm wrapped around his shoulder so that the hairpin still rested at his throat. 
“I’m going to give you a choice,” she told Brax. “You can shut down all of your clubs, give up every stake you have in and walk away, or…” 
She leaned in close and murmured in his ear, her voice dropping to a whisper so that whatever threat she was detailing, it reached Brax’s ears alone. All of the color drained out of his face. 
“Alright,” he croaked. “Alright. Whatever you want—” 
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637lemonbelle637 · 8 months
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Tamayo x Yushiro
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The forest was lightly littered with sakura petals that danced through the soft wind and fog. Tamayo stared in awe at the surrounding forest. It was bright, glowing with fireflies scattered along the path. The moon let off a beautiful shine in the night sky.
Tamayo was sitting peacefully at a small bench in the middle of a group of cherry blossoms. Her hair was wonderfully done, braided with a flower tucked behind her ear. Her kimono was a gorgeous lavender and her eyes were still the same breath taking pale pink and lavender fade.
She waited quietly in the small forest, until she heard rustling from behind the trees. She tilted her head and saw Yushiro emerge from the forest. "My lady.." Yushiro mumbled bowing his head. Tamayo smiled and scooted slightly to the side on the small bench. "Yushiro." Tamayo greeted.
A few days before, Yushiro had requested that he see Tamayo in that very forest before their fight with Muzan. Tamayo was happy but also heartbroken. She had not yet told Yushiro of her plan for the battle and she couldn't bare to think of his reaction when the time did come and she was to die.
Yushiro smiled and sat next to her on the small bench. Tamayo heard him take in a deep breath and start to speak, "My lady... I wish to tell you something." Yushiro turned his body towards Tamayo and Tamayo did the same. "Well, I am all ears." She replied waiting for him to start again.
Yushiro took a deep breath and gave her a bright red rose. The thorns had been picked off and it's petals were vibrant and lively. Yushiro fiddled with his hands, his thumbs rubbing softly over each other. He finally began to speak after a moment of silence.
"Lady Tamayo. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I dream night and day of spending all of eternity by your side. You have given me more chances then I deserve and a wonderful woman like you deserves more than the world itself can provide, no you. You deserve the universe in your angelic hands, you deserve everything." Yushiro stood up as Tamayo stared in slight shock.
Yushiro kneeled down on his knee in front of her and took her hand with a soft smile on his face. "My lady. There are never nights that don't glow by your soft light. There are never moments warmer then your touch. There are never sights more beautiful then your face. I cannot offer you much. But I can offer you my love, dedication, and strength. For you, I'd give anything and everything."
Tamayo stared in awe and Yushiro. His words sent a fluttering warmth through her body and his hand in hers was a comfort she could not describe. "Oh Yushiro.." She smiled and leaned down giving him a gentle kiss on his head. "I am so happy to have you by my side. To have someone as great as you beside me brings me a joy I could never put into words."
Tamayo stopped and then smiled again. She pulled her hairpin from her braid. It was the light purple hair pin with a smooth bead and flower attached to it. "If anything happens Yushiro..." Tamayo mumbled remembering her plan that would result in her death. "Take this. To always remember me." Tamayo set her hair pin in Yushiro's hands.
Yushiro looked distraught at the thought of loosing her and for the first time in years, he felt tears fog his eyes. He gripped the hair pin in his palm and nodded. Tamayo stared and lowered her body, wrapping her delicate arms around Yushiro. "I don't deserve you." Yushiro mumbled.
"Yes, you do." Tamayo answered.
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Yushiro stared at the canvas. A beautiful woman painted carefully with precision and detail. Her eyes almost looked real. Yushiro set his hand on her face. The other hand gripping a hair pin of light lavender color. The painting pictured the woman sitting on a small wood bench in a forest of cherry blossoms. The scene in the painting seemed awfully familiar but he couldn't place his hands on when or what the moment was.
He vaguely remembered a confession but that was all. Yushiro felt a yearning for the woman he painted. An extreme longing. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't remember her to well. He could remember her face, her kindness and of course through the hair pin he owned, her faint scent.
But her voice and the memories he had of her, were all drifting farther and farther away. There were nights he screamed at himself for forgetting and nights where he cried at his paintings side hoping and wishing that the women would wrap her arms around him again and pull him into a warm embrace. He stared at the painting once more. Her eyes almost staring directly at him and her smile soft and sweet. He felt tears and a chocked back sob bubble up in his throat.
He suddenly felt a shiver down his spine as he had remembered. A shocked revelation that had been hanging on the tip of his tongue for years. He quickly took a purple paint and painted on the corner of the canvas a name.
He felt himself want to cry more as he spoke is a shaky and sad voice, clutching the hair pin tighter than before.
"Tamayo..."
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WAHHHHHHHHHH Yushiro and Tamayo's story is so sad. Just the fact that he has to paint Tamayo because he already forgot so much about her. The pain he must go through every night and everyday. I just can't. It breaks my heart...
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sylvia-forest · 2 years
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Spoilers from Shaw's New Company Projects
⚡Spoilers under the cut~
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As night falls, the whole city has gradually fallen into a deep sleep, only the neon lights on the streets are shining tirelessly.
After a four-hour drive, we finally caught up with the opening of the black market tonight.
I parked the car by the river and walked down with Shaw.
In order to get in, we both dressed up in disguise. At this moment, the thin dresses on our bodies couldn't resist the cold night wind at all. I couldn't help rubbing my arms.
MC: hiss… Is the black market here?
I looked at the dimly lit building in front of me, a little unsure.
MC: But isn't this an art gallery?
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Shaw: Which black market would brazenly state that they're a black market?
Shaw stretched out his suit jacket, and it seemed that he was not very comfortable with such formal clothes.
He glanced sideways at me and clicked his tongue.
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Shaw: Where are your earrings?
MC: Because it felt a bit exaggerated, so I took them off.
Shaw: Put it on, you can't fall off your outfit when you go to a place like this.
Shaw took out the jewelry box from my bag and motioned me to tilt my head.
MC: Are you going to help me wear it?
Shaw: What else?
Shaw leaned over, his fingers touching my ears. *He personally put on the earrings for her, screams!!!*
His movements were very careful, and I could only feel the tickling sensation, and the metal had already passed through the ear hole.
MC: Done?
Shaw: Yeah.
I don't know if it was my illusion, Shaw's fingertips seemed to stay on my earlobe for a second before letting go. *I've a hunch that he personally bought these earrings for her, just my guess!*
With the fake identity that Shaw brought up, we successfully entered the art gallery.
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Unexpectedly, the building which was dark and quiet from the outside, was a totally different place from the inside.
In the brightly lit hall, many men and women in costumes were walking and talking, and everyone held a copy of today's "commodity book" in their hands.
If you fancy something, there will be a waiter who will take other boxes to discuss with the seller in detail.
I quietly flipped through and finally saw the "Turquoise Painting" at the end of the booklet
Unexpectedly, the waiter looked embarrassed after seeing the "Turquoise Painting".
Waiter: I'm sorry, a buyer had also taken a fancy to this painting. I've already gone to discuss it with the seller. Would you like to take a look at something else, miss?
Once this painting was bought by an anonymous buyer, trying to find it again would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
MC: IWe don’t want anything else~ I don’t know other pieces of art, but I’ve seen this “Turqoise Painting”. I like this one!
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Shaw's expression became a little subtle the moment he heard me holding my throat, he barely held back his smile and cleared his throat.
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Shaw: It's okay, darling~ I will pluck out all the stars and moon from the sky for you. *screaming intensifies, he literally said that! And his voice OMG!!*
Shaw: And you. Don’t try any “first come first served” tricks with me.
Shaw: Go to the seller now and tell him that someone is exchanging "Mrs. Dusheng Flower Hairpin Painting" for his "Turquoise Painting", will he do it?
The waiter's expression changed drastically when he heard “Mrs. Dusheng's Flower Hairpin”, he immediately nodded, turned around and hurried towards the box.
After a while, we saw him running towards us with a happy expression on his face.
Waiter: Sir, ma'am, the seller invites you to come over for a cup of tea.
Shaw: Very good. Remember that I want the high quality Pu’er tea.
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kc-and-co · 2 years
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May 1905
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“Your father said you wanted to see me. Are you alright?” Elspeth Stagg knocked on the grand mahogany door to Siobhan’s old bedroom. Though she had been a frequent visitor at the Llewelyn Manor, she had only been asked to Siobhan’s room in the rare instances Ed and Henry had called on her when they couldn’t quite relate to Siobhan’s troubles.
Elspeth had always loved the opportunities she was given to be a mother figure to Siobhan through illness, loneliness, celebrations, travels, and happy homecomings; but there was something special about the look of defeat on Siobhan’s face when she handed over her hairpins with a groan. Making her way to the door, wild curls trailing behind, Siobhan cursed and let out a shaky breath. “Yes, at least I will be ok when I decide on a hairstyle. Nothing I know how to do with this mane of mine looks right with the dress.”
“Siobhan?” Elspeth’s voice cracked from the other side of the door. “Are you wearing it now? You would like for me to see it? Now?” her voice was suddenly weak. “Has your father seen it?”
Siobhan poked just her head out of the door, concealing the rest of the ivory garment from view. “Of course not. I wanted to surprise him, and Galen, of course. Henry is the only one to see me in it before the wedding but I thought you might want to. Maybe you could even help me decide on the rest of it? Jewelry? This awful hair? I am certainly not wearing makeup in the July heat. If you want everything else to be a surprise, I understand. I just needed a mu- I needed you,” Siobhan confessed.
With that, Elspeth rushed through the door just as she had any time Siobhan needed her but the sight of the wedding dress stopped her in her tracks. “Siobhan, I always knew you would make a beautiful bride. I just never dreamed you would look so -“ she found herself at a loss for words as she took in the intricate lace details of the gown. Careful not to wrinkle the delicate fabric, she took Siobhan into a gentle hug. Her smile widened as Siobhan squeezed her tightly, disregarding the dress.
“So… happy? You know that I would never choose to marry if I were not entirely certain of my choice. I am certain that I wish to spend my life with your son. I’d love nothing more than to join your family,” Siobhan offered with a smile as she sat on the rug at Elspeth’s feet and handed over the silver hairbrush.
Elspeth ran the comb through Siobhan’s hair as she twisted the curls into place. She found herself lost in the memories of the first time she had sat with the young woman between her knees and twisted her wild curls into a simple bun wrapped in two simple plaits. The girl must have barely been thirteen when she first joined Galen for a school break.
All those years ago, it had rained the entire weekend. The weather hadn’t stopped Siobhan, Galen, and even Hadrien from skipping rope and collecting rocks outdoors. When the three returned, her sons had shaken the rain from their soft hair and gone about their quest for tea and scones in the kitchen. Siobhan returned with her flaming locks nearly the same size as the rest of her tiny body. Elspeth couldn’t sit by while the poor girl tussled with her tresses.
It was not until weeks later when she received a letter from Edwin Llewelyn that the significance of the moment was truly understood. Nobody had ever been allowed to make something presentable of his daughter’s hair without facing the little girl’s wrath. Yet, in the days that followed, Siobhan had tried and failed to replicate the simple style while raving about talents Elspeth was unaware she had.
As a mother of boys, Elspeth Stagg had never learned intricate plaits or updos. She wore her own hair very simply to attend to her hard work. Still, Siobhan regarded her simple skill with awe. Though Siobhan was a frequent guest of Galen’s, time was always reserved for the girls and the hairpins. On a spring afternoon in her sixth year, Siobhan had made a startling request. For years, the girl had wanted to keep her big hair away from her face so that she could keep up with the shenanigans of Hadirien and Galen. That day, with a new blush to her cheeks, she asked only to look pretty. In an instant, Elspeth knew her darling son, with his consuming affinity for the girl, would be loved all his days. Again, she wrapped two plaits around the base of a simple bun to a delightful review from her young friend.
Even when Galen had not been present, the women maintained their tradition. Near the end of her lecture tour, Siobhan had spent a week with Elspeth getting to know Hadirien’s wife and new daughter. Though she had not seen Galen in several years, she maintained her love for him and was constantly writing letters to send to him in the desert and included a photograph with each piece of correspondence. For the last photo she sent, she insisted her hair be done in the way that only Elspeth could. The way she felt most beautiful.
The memories flooded her heart as Elspeth clasped a stunning gold feather clip into the same style Siobhan had always loved. It was not intricate or delicate, it was far removed from the ornate bridal trends. It was perfect for the pair of friends who would soon be bonded in name. The same delighted squeal of approval Siobhan had uttered in her childhood filled the room as she studied the style in the mirror. Though when she turned to shower Elspeth in gratitude, the remembered images of the rowdy child, the lovestruck teenager, and the ambitious young woman faded into the radiant bride before her. “My dear, you have always been part of this family.”
@cursebreakerfarrier it’s an honor to blend these amazing families with you 💙❤️
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rentnhop · 1 month
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Bike Rental in Ladakh
If you’re an adventure junkie like our team, getting a Leh Ladakh bike rental for a road trip along the Leh-Manali highway should be high on your bucket list. Add this activity to your list and make the best out of your journey. Winding through some of the world’s highest mountain passes, this route offers unmatched vistas and challenging riding terrain.
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As someone who has done the trip, let me share my experience of getting a bike on rent in Ladakh and prepping for the epic journey ahead. Whether you’re a pro rider or a novice, these tips will help make your Leh-Manali highway road trip smooth and memorable.
Choosing the Right Motorbike
The highway between Leh and Manali spans 479 km of varying road conditions. And 479 Km looks huge distance when you don’t have much experience. You’ll encounter smooth tarmac, gravel stretches, and steep inclines. So the bike must be up for the challenging trip. Yes, this is a challenging trip. 
A tried and tested option for the Ladakh terrain is the Royal Enfield Classic 350 or 500cc. These sturdy bikes can handle unpredictable roads with ease. I’d recommend renting an Enfield from one of the many bike rental in Leh. Do a thorough inspection before hiring - check tires, brakes, lights, etc.
If you prefer more power, bikes like BMW G310R or Kawasaki Versys 650 are great alternatives. But opting for fancier or heavier bikes can get tricky if you’re a novice rider.
Whatever you choose, pick up the bike at least 2-3 days before your trip. It’ll give you time to get accustomed to the bike and fix any issues. Don’t forget to get spare tubes, a patch kit, and a portable air pump in case of punctures.
Getting Paperwork in Order
Riding to Leh and Manali from Delhi involves crossing state borders. So proper paperwork is a must to avoid hassles with traffic police. Here are some important documents you’ll need:
Valid Driving License
Registration Certificate (RC) of the rented bike
Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
Motor Vehicle Insurance
Inner Line Permit (ILP) if visiting restricted areas
It’s best to get multiple photocopies of all documents in case the originals get misplaced. If renting from an agency, check if they can provide the RC, PUC, and insurance. The bike agencies in Delhi are quite efficient in handling paperwork.
Apart from these, do carry your bike’s service record, ID, and address proofs. Print out a detailed itinerary with emergency contacts too. It’ll come in handy if you need assistance en route.
Preparing for the Ride
Once you’ve got your bike rental in Ladakh, some pre-trip preparation will go a long way in ensuring a safe Leh-Manali trip.
Firstly, get geared up. Get a good quality helmet, riding jacket, pants, knee guards, gloves, and ankle-length rider boots. These will safeguard you from harsh weather during the 10-hour-long riding days.
Next, assess your physical fitness. Work on stamina through cardio, yoga, and strength training leading up to the trip. Acclimatize your body to high altitudes by taking small hikes around Delhi.
For the bike, get a thorough service done including an oil change, chain lubrication, and battery check. Stock up on ample fuel, engine oil, and spare parts like bulbs, spark plugs, etc. They’re life savers in case of breakdowns mid-trip.
Finally, plan your route well. Mark key stops like petrol pumps, ATMs, and accommodation in Google Maps beforehand. Travel apps are great for road trip planning.
And that’s it! With the bike on rent in Ladakh, paperwork handled, and preparatory drills completed - you’re all set for the Leh-Manali highway adventure.
Life on the Highway
Once on the road, staying alert and adopting safe riding habits are key. The route has some precarious sections like the Zoji La pass and Baralacha La with steep hairpin roads.
Ride slowly and keep a safe distance from other vehicles. Be extremely cautious of gravel, wet patches, and potholes. Hydrate well and take plenty of breaks to avoid fatigue.
Carry basic tools and spares to manage minor repairs en route. At high altitudes, look out for symptoms of AMS like headache, and nausea. Descend immediately and rest if this happens. Use a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels regularly.
Though challenging, the picturesque views along the highway make up for any difficulties faced. From azure blue Pangong Lake to mountain-flanked roads around Khardung La - the vistas will take your breath away.
Make the most of them by stopping frequently at viewpoints. Chat with friendly locals, sip ginger lemon tea at dhabas, and capture memories on your DSLR. The varied landscapes and culture of Ladakh are best experienced at a slow pace on your own set of wheels.
Conclusion 
Before you know it, you’ll be riding into Manali marking the end of the epic journey of bike rental in Ladakh. As you return the bike to Delhi, you’ll be left with a treasure trove of memories, gorgeous photos, and a sense of accomplishment. So what are you waiting for? Use these tips and start planning your dream bike rental trip to Leh-Manali today! Let me know if you need any other suggestions. Ride safe and ride happy.
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