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#zhong li packs
captainsaltwater · 1 year
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ZHONG LILI IN LEGALLY ROMANCE
In the source link, there are #230 gifs of Zhong Lili in the first ten episodes of the Chinese drama, Legally Romance. Zhong Lili was born in 2000 and is presumably HAN AND UYGHUR CHINESE, so please cast her accordingly. All of the following gifs were made by me for roleplaying purposes. You can crop/edit however you’d like. All I ask that you don’t include in other gif hunts and don’t whitewash. A like and/or reblog would be greatly appreciated!
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ravenshubb · 10 days
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STARTER CALL!! below the cut are the sideblog urls along with the characters on said blog. so with liking this post, i will make you a starter from the sideblog you pick, whether you just pick the sideblog or you pick a character form the sideblog.
@wclfhcwls. ( teen wolf )
ace li ; zhong chenle. beta.
allison argent ; crystal reed. human.
bang taejoon ; choi san. witch.
daire argent ; danielle rose. beta.
liam dunbar ; dylan sprayberry. beta.
lydia martin ; holland roden. banshee.
scott mccall ; tyler posey. true alpha.
stiles stilinski ; dylan o'brien. human.
@deathsvalcr. ( the walking dead )
aften blake ; katherine mcnamara. human.
caroline raleigh ; danielle rose. human.
devin park ; lee jeno. mutant.
emmett lee ; na jaemin. mutant.
evenorra jenner ; candice accola-king. human.
glenn rhee ; gong yoo. human.
jiyeon rhee ; arden cho. kumiho.
levi park ; kang hyunggu. human.
youngjae rhee ; lee chan. beta.
@bloodyvcins. ( oc gang )
daeshim ; kim hongjoong. leader. wendigo.
junseo ; jeong yunho. arms dealer. basilisk.
haru ; jung wooyoung. hacker. chimera.
saem ; song mingi. fighter. vampire.
@criminxlistic. ( criminal minds )
kieran lee ; park seonghwa. alpha.
aaron yong ; kang yeosang. alpha.
choi sangwoo ; han jisung. alpha.
choi seolhee ; seo yeji. alpha.
@dnsurs. ( jurassic world )
aiden grady ; dylan sprayberry. human.
indy ; crystal reed. hybrid.
max lockwood ; drew roy. hybrid.
robin grant ; holland roden. human.
@diistrict. ( oc wolf pack )
na dylan ; bang chan. alpha.
lang daejung ; lee minho. beta.
yim taehyun ; seo changbin. beta.
cho dongmin ; hwang hyunjin. beta.
yu minki ; han jisung. beta.
na noah ; lee felix. beta.
su kyung ; kim seungmin. beta.
im insu ; yang jeongin. beta.
@nublarsix. ( jurassic world; camp cretaceous )
ben pincus ; animated. human.
brooklynn ; animated. human.
darius bowman ; animated. human.
kenji kon ; animated. human.
sammy gutierrez ; animated. human.
yasmina fadoula ; animated. human.
@ipswitches. ( the covenant )
tyler simms ; choi yeonjun. witch.
kevyn reid ; dove cameron. witch.
peyton halliwell ; sabrina carpenter. witch.
kayelyn scott ; danielle rose. witch.
rayne collins ; jenna ortega. witch.
@wckdmaze. ( the maze runner )
minho ; seo changbin. human.
minji ; arden cho. human.
newt ; thomas brodie sangster. human.
aris jones. bang chan. human.
@theothcrs. ( miscellaneous muses )
daisy duke ; jenna ortega. fear street. human.
novalie fier ; elizabeth gillies. fear street. witch.
bae aera ; park jihyo. gossip girl. human.
bae hyunjin ; lee taeyong. gossip girl. human.
raya taylor ; dove cameron. supernatural. fallen angel.
fiona gallagher ; emmy rossum. shameless. human.
brianna marsh ; sophia, danielle, jessica. it. human.
draco malfoy ; tom felton. wizarding world. wizard.
annabelle windsor ; hwang yeji. wizarding world. witch.
lim seungmin ; lee taeyong. friday the 13th. demon.
park jaesung ; lee donghae. fandomless. human.
kang manshik ; jeon jungkook. fandomless. human.
choi sunhyeon ; lee jeno. fandomless. vampire.
athena hart ; park boyoung. fandomless. angel.
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bizarrequazar · 2 years
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GJ and ZZH Updates — June 26-July 02
<<< previous post || all posts || following week >>>
This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.
This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. A glossary of names and terms often used can be found [here]. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)
06-26 → We Are The Champions’s Weibo posted a clip of Gong Jun’s team winning a match.
→ Gong Jun posted a clip from Go Fighting! to his personal Weibo of himself and one of the hosts having a short conversation in Sichuan dialect.
→ Dragon TV posted a scripted video of Gong Jun and two of the other contestents to promote Go Fighting!.
→ Dragon TV posted several previews for Go Fighting!, [here] and [here], as well as individual stills of each co-star. (They’ve been posting many more clips, from here on I’ll only include promo videos that aren’t from the episodes proper.)
→ Gong Jun’s studio Weibo posted four photos taken during the filming of Go Fighting!. Caption: “The challenge is boundless, and the exploration is endless. Boss @ Gong Jun Simon's ‘ice-breaking’ journey is about to start, lock on Dragon TV at 9 o'clock tonight, challenge together, and move towards the future together!” (mtl)
→ The first episode of Go Fighting! aired. [Full episode with multi-language subs] Fan Observations: A song from Word of Honor’s soundtrack was used during a game where Gong Jun and another contestant had to try to knock each other off a platform. At the start of the segment the caption “君既至 需尽光” (”Now that you’re here, [you] need all the light”) appears on screen, the first three characters being the first half of Gong Jun’s Weibo auto-reply.
→ 21:08 Gong Jun’s studio Weibo posted nine photos from the filming of Go Fighting!’s first episode. Caption: “The sky is clear and the blue waves are sparkling 😎. Tonight boss @ Gong Jun Simon invites you to ‘break the ice’ for team building together! Are you ready to take on a new challenge together?” (mtl)
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→ #Gong Jun cute# and #Gong Jun Go Fighting# were in the entertainment hotsearch on Weibo. 
06-27 → The Instagram posted five pictures of “Zhang Zhehan” wearing a face mask and “video calling” Kele, meant to connect to an essay posted by Zhang Sanjian the previous day.
→ People’s Daily reported that the Ministry of Public Security’s cyber division is starting a six month crackdown on water armies.
→ Fresh posted a commercial featuring Gong Jun and used a photo ad of him for the product on Taobao.
→ Youku posted an fmv-style compilation video of Gong Jun to their Weibo to promote Go Fighting!. Caption: “It turns out that the cool family has a multiverse of Junjunzi: Huo Yan the double-sided boyfriend, Yuan Che who protects his brother, Zhong Wumei the jealous king of the prosperous world, and our brave and sunny Junjunzi @ Gong Jun Simon #Gong Jun changes in seconds to cool Lao Gong# ... 👖 invites you to open the Jun multiverse together!” (mtl)
→ Gong Jun posted a longer cut of the commercial for Fresh on his personal Weibo. This was reposted by his studio Weibo.
→ Kangshifu posted an emoji pack of Gong Jun from their recent ad campaign with him.
→ We Are The Champions posted individual stills of Gong Jun’s team.
→ Zhang Sanjian truthers edited Zhang Zhehan’s Chinese Wikipedia page to include Zhang Sanjian under the nicknames section. 
06-28 → QuelleVous posted evidence that Crystal Li, someone supposedly in charge of Zhang Zhehan’s business affairs after 813 who was supposedly replaced by Xie Yihua around November, doesn’t exist and was actually an account run by Sophie.
→ QuelleVous posted that Zhang Mama sent a cease and desist to shut down the account Xie Yihua and co. were using to impersonate her in May. This is unconfirmed at this time at the time of this post.
→ Gong Jun appeared on an endorsement livestream for KFC. During it, he confirmed that he’s grown and dyed his hair for his uncoming role so that he doesn’t have to wear full wigs (I wonder who he learned that from 😏), said he had recently been on a roadtrip from Chengdu to Xinduqiao, and said that he would soon be posting a vlog and photo log from his trip. [full recording (no subs)] Written translations with clips: [here] [here] [here] Fan Observations:  -  This was Gong Jun’s first non-prerecorded livestream since 01-07.  -  Zhang Zhehan made the same trip by bicycle almost exactly ten years ago.
→ The Golden Blossom Awards were held online:    ↳ Gong Jun won the award for Most Popular Male Actor of the Year for his role as Wen Kexing in Word of Honor! [award video] [acceptance speech]    ↳ Xiao Chu won an award for Word of Honor’s script. The video used to announce the award included a shot of Zhang Zhehan!!! [award video] Zhang Zhehan’s name was also included! (picture below)    ↳ At the end of the show the CEO of Guduo Media, the organization hosting it, gave a message: “On behalf of Guduo Media, thank you for your participation. Without you, this online film and television festival would not have been a complete success. I also hope that everyone who is watching the live broadcast will always look forward to the arrival of spring even in the dark days. Thank you all!” (mtl)
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→ Gong Jun made a post on his personal Weibo thanking Golden Blossom for the award. “I’ll continue to work hard!” The post was reposted by his studio Weibo with the caption: “Feel the charm of the characters and witness the moment of honor. Congrats to boss @ Gong Jun Simon, thank you for your support and affirmation, keep on loving and live up to expectations.” (mtl) Fan Observations:  -  The image Gong Jun used is 5.11MB.  -  The first 63 comments were by CPFs with matching pfps. People from other fandoms made surprised remarks at how the majority of Gong Jun’s fans are CPFs, as well as surprise at how organized they are. CPFs responded, “This is nothing, they should see what we’ve done with more prep time!”
→ Gong Jun trended on Twitter.
06-29 → We Are The Champions posted a clip of Gong Jun’s team.
→ Gong Jun posted six photosets from his trip to Sanya to his personal Weibo. Caption: “Casually ‘toured’ Sanya” This was reposted by his studio Weibo. Hogan later reposted one of the photos advertising their shoes he’s wearing in it. Addition 07-30: Fifth 浅, third only counting Weibo.
→ Gong Jun trended on Twitter.
→ KFC posted two photo ads using stills from the previous day’s livestream.
→ Dragon TV posted four gifs of Gong Jun from Go Fighting!.
→ Yangyang, the MC from the KFC livestream, posted four photos from it of himself and Gong Jun. 
→ A Twitter space was held between Naan and Qilin88 discussing wuxia drama history and tropes in relation to Word of Honor.
06-30 → Youku reposted Gong Jun’s travel photos to their Twitter.
→ Fresh posted a promotional video for their new product spoken by Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)
→ Fans paid for a short video of Zhang Zhehan and Gong Jun to play on two screens in London from 05:11am to 11:29PM BST. [video] 
→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a vlog from his trip to Sanya. Some of the footage is the same as his douyin from 06-14.
→ Donations for the first month of the Zhang Zhehan Monthly Charity Project ended, earning $2231 for the Cybersmile Foundation. At the time of this post, July’s fundraiser has not yet been organized.
→ Through word of mouth, fans started posting on Weibo under the tag #Gong Jun cpf# in place of the Lang Lang Ding supertopic that was deleted during 813. The tag gained 53.7 million impressions within the first 24 hours and is still going strong at the time of this post.
07-01 → A month long LLD Fest began on Twitter. The prompt for the first day was to post one favourite photo of Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan together. Unsurprisingly, many people posted multiple.
→ Gong Jun trended on Twitter.
→ Gong Jun reposted a post by CCTV to his personal Weibo celebrating the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong. Caption: “Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland! ! !” His studio Weibo reposted it as well, caption: “... Wishing Hong Kong a better tomorrow, and for the great motherland to be more prosperous!” (mtl)
→ MUJOSH posted a video spoken by Gong Jun wishing them a happy 12th anniversary.
→ Gong Jun’s studio posted his public schedule for the month: only drama filming. Caption: “Clouds open and the fog is full of green and secluded places, and the noise of floating dust is fleeting. Boss @ Gong Jun Simon's July itinerary is coming like ‘seven’, and the second half of 2022 has begun. I hope everyone can do what they want.” (mtl) Fan Observation: Posted at 10:38. I only note this because recently Gong Jun made two posts at 11:38, a 1129 and 511 kadian. 🤔 Probably nothing.
→ Peng Lihu was exposed for running several accounts, including Golden Shield Cloud Institute, his “assistant”, and possibly Roving Inspection Team.
→ Dragon TV posted individual stills from Go Fighting!.
→ CAPA held a members meeting, shifting some positions but not making any significant changes as far as Zhang Zhehan’s situation is concerned. Zhu Kening has been removed from president but is now head of their new oversight committee. Their new president is Liu Kezhi.
07-02 → LLD Fest day 2 prompt: favourite individual photos of Zhang Zhehan and Gong Jun.
→ Filming began for Gong Jun’s upcoming drama Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Yue Hong.
→ Bluebird posted evidence that Zhiling Lexus (the fake boyfriend from 05-08 and 05-09 who some also suspect has been acting as one of the body doubles) has access to the Instagram account.
→ Chatlogs surfaced suggesting that Chen Liying (aka Chen Ahyi) was the source of some of the slander implicating Zhang Zhehan’s father last September.
→ The cast of Go Fighting! appeared in a video promoting the conservation of the oceans. An image was also later posted to further promote this, asking audiences to guess which of a set of sea creatures each cast member was represented by. Most commenters said dolphin for Gong Jun.
→ The brand’s Instagram account posted a photoshopped picture of “Zhang Zhehan” wearing one of their new shirts at a hotel in Shanghai.
→ Xie Yihua posted a very uncomfortably photoshopped picture of “Zhang Zhehan” wearing the brand’s merch. Fan Observation: Many have noted that it might have been made using [this photo ad] from last year. [overlay]
→ We Are The Champions episode 3 is now available for free (also on YouTube), episode 4 is available with VIP access.
Additional Reading: → Flora’s daily fan news thread → Next week’s post will be late as I’ll be in transit back to Canada. My regular posting of space notes and such will resume after that since I’ll have stable internet again. 🥳
<<< previous post || all posts || following week >>>
This post was last edited 2022-07-30.
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bluntfish · 1 year
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Press-Me-Not, Gilded Anemone (Part II - Warm Greetings)
Is it hard to ask for a date with an elusive man in the snow fields?
This Part: Lunch date? Lunch Date.
Feat. Zhong Nan + Li Guang (flashback)
Also posted on AO3. 🐟
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The next day, you’re making your way past the business district in your town. Danny's is a far cry from the floral shop, which you sometimes frequent as you walk by the storefronts. Flowers are a rarity in Raine so the influx of customers tends to come and go. Either to observe the fleeting beauty of the blossoms or to buy a bouquet on display for special occasions. 
Occasionally, you often read gardening magazines on the news racks when you visit. One section from the articles you refer to was about anemones. These windflowers follow the breeze with their petals and come in a variety of colors. There were also little blurbs for each color's meaning. Shades of red represent varying scales of love forgot. Violet as a symbol of perseverance. White is also a common one; sincerity is its usual meaning. The call for spring, ill wills, and anticipation of the rain were some of the other general representations of this fragile flower. Yet, as the more you think about it, you couldn’t happen to make that association to–
“Aurelius?”
He’s scurrying himself over a crosswalk after the green light. The people in town were bustling over. It was particularly busy, even at the edge of town. And yet, you witness this bulking man clumsily swerving his body akin to rusted gears against a belt grinder. You couldn’t help but stare making his way toward you like his life depended on it. His figure is getting closer as you turn your head, averting your sights.
“(Y/N)! Hey!” he shouted, “Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“You’re alright! I’m glad you made it on time,” you joyously said while staring at your feet. Your cheeks are warm.
“I like…your outfit,” he remarks. 
“Thank you. I don’t think I’ve seen you wear that coat before,” you noted.
“Oh, this?” he said with his hand pulling on his coat collar, “It's nothing. I wore it often when I was in my hometown.”
“Looks good on you. Well, let's get warmed up.” 
The two of you entered the restaurant. Aurelius froze. People are packed into booths and tables. It is very crowded. He often visits this diner near the dead hours of the night, sometimes reconnecting with his former friend from his past. He doesn’t spot him from the masses. Comfort is far from him, as Aurelius makes a hesitant step with you. But you reassure him by squeezing his hand slightly.
The host welcomes the two of you. They have a wing hanging out of their left side. Aurelius did a curt greeting while you requested to get your reservation checked. A booth for two under your name. They turned the pages of their guestbook and directed you to your spot. You specifically asked for a far corner of the restaurant, tucked away from the occupants past the bar. You had some slight stares from its patrons. They looked away when Aurelius made his heavy footsteps, quickly meeting any with a leer without reason.
Aurelius slides himself to his seat while you shimmy through yours. The host leaves, calling upon a waiter to take care of your table. In the meanwhile, you turn to Aurelius who is looking at some side condiments and a smaller menu for desserts. Some of the names he flipped through he recognized, mostly from the smells he waffled from his formative years. He sets it aside and then looks over to the people enjoying their meal, occupied in their bubbles. With a sigh, he looks at his hands and shoves his gloves into his pockets. His glasses are folded and slipped into the front of his coat. The scar dashed across his nose makes him look particular. Handsome even.
“This is the first time I’ve sat here during the day. I often drink with a friend of mine here,” he says.
“Who exactly?”  you curiously asked.
“The Marshal, Zhong Nan. We knew each other way back when I was a kid.”
“He’s a very nice guy when he comes around to the lumber yard. How did you two meet?”
“It's complicated,” Aurelius quietly hums as he’s looking through the menu. “Is it happy hour? You mentioned it in your messages before I got here.”
“Oh yeah, it is! The Raine Special’s pretty good. I recommend the barbecue rack.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Reminds me of your skewerless-skewers,” you laughed. “But enough about food. Do you travel often?”
“Oh yeah, for my bounty hunting. A month ago, I was in Gyrate for a job. City life is a lot different here. I was able to see the beach for the first time in a long while.”
“Ah, the beach! I miss those sights too! What’s the job if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I was there to report how many Miramon I took down for a month. Usually, you send a form and document the type of Miramon but the last few I dealt with were a new type…”
As Aurelius continues to talk about the intricacies of his occupation, your mind wanders elsewhere. Somewhere sandy. Imagine yourself on the beach where you view the ocean waves foam towards the shoreline. And Aurelius is there, relaxing in the water. You assume he has some swim trunks lying about, but that is not the most distracting feature. Your attention is drawn to his arms. Maybe his chest. His behind isn’t that impressive, but you’re fine taking the view in front.  Oh, you can feel he could run for days carrying you across the sea.
“(Y/N)? Was it too difficult to understand?”
The spell has been broken. Reality rushes back to your consciousness. Aurelius leans over with a quick wave of his hand. And quickly, you cover up your daze with a little white lie.
“I’m just…thinking where our menus are going to be here.”
“Oh,” he says, softly pulling himself back to his seat, “hopefully soon.”
A waiter approaches your table with a couple of menus and a small checkbook.
“Sorry for the wait,” he rambled about, “My name is Bob. May I get you two started with something to drink? I also have to inform you we’re currently under happy hour so any of the Raine Specials we have are ten percent off. Plus a bonus deal for couples so take your time to look through.”
Aurelius blooms into a blush after hearing that last statement.
“...does he know?”
“I don’t think so,” you whispered back.
You turn to the waiter after glancing over the menu for a second.
“I’ll take water for now,” you said.
“Make that two, a-also a draft beer along with it,” Aurelius added with hesitation.
“Do you have your ID, sir?”
Aurelius whips out his card. You have never observed a man reveal such a gloomy expression in a photo till now.
“Alright. Thank you,” the waiter robotically responded, “I’ll be back with your drinks.”
The waiter leaves in a rush as Aurelius scans through the items presented at the restaurant. He flips through mindlessly, unsure what he'll be getting. You didn’t have to look at the menu at all. You have an idea of what you want to eat and it's the usual you get every time. You’re just people-watching while peeking through your phone. 
Your friends constantly message you about your date, and you try your best to ignore it. Though it’s harder to ignore when they’re sending you a variety of embarrassing emojis describing your situation after your luncheon. Trying to be sly, you slip your phone under the table to quickly send:
“Can you guys not? I’m busy.”
“Busy kissing that is? Hmm?” one of your friends responded within a few seconds.
You groaned. Aurelius noticed the change of mood and shortly prompted himself to speak up.
“(Y/N),” Aurelius calls out to you, “Have you done anything fun this week?”
You uttered a confused hum in your wavering, stoic persona.
“Not really, other than last night after dropping you off.”
“Oh?”
“I was…well, fixing the other broken ATV we had. The one you found last time. It’s working but some kinks need to be ironed out.”
“That’s good to hear,” he says, fumbling with his menu.
“But otherwise, I was taking care of the lumber shop. Had a lot of customers asking me for firewood or some projects like making a chair. But nothing of note. Did I mention it before?”
“Not at all,” he says with a smile, “I like hearing you talk about your life.”
You forgot the things that Aurelius does daily are anything but normal. The mundane talk of your life unassuming suggests a cushion from his mental strain. Life on the tundra is still rough as ever, and he’s willing to take any chance to lessen the blow of wilderness. Even with a small whisper, like that night long ago. Small whispers. Things like asking for water occasionally.
“Your waters. And your beer, sir?”
You turn to your left. The waiter appeared right in front of you and set down two glasses of water. The two of you were engrossed in your conversation that his presence was ignored completely. Till now. His appearance startled Aurelius slightly, not to the point of him jumping from his seat. But he did jolt for a second.
“Are you two ready to order? Or do you need a little more time?” the waiter continues, unfazed by the reactions.
Sweat beads on Aurelius’s forehead. One glance and you know this man didn’t decide what he wanted.
“Do you want me to order for you?” you quietly asked him.
“It’s fine. I-I uh–”
He stares intensely at one part of the menu and points it out with such vigor. You sat in silence with the waiter till Aurelius opened his mouth.
“I’ll take this. The b-barbecue rack special. Is that alright?”
“Sure thing, sir. I’ll write that down. And for you?”
You filled him your order by a reflex. The waiter nods as his pen traces your voice on paper.
“You two enjoy your conversation,” while he trails off towards the kitchen.
Aurelius releases the tension from his shoulders and sinks into his seat. His head rolls against the headboard and his eyes are drawn over to your hands resting on the table, peeking through the desert menu.
“Sorry, I feel like an idiot,” he murmurs.
“You’re not. You’re trying.”
“If you say so,” he wheezes anxiously while scratching the back of his head before continuing his thoughts. “Sometimes I hate being nervous like this. Especially with people around me. I feel uncool.”
“Uncool? If you’re so uncool, care to explain what happened earlier this week? With that girl?”
“You mean the adventurer I came across?”
“Yeah. I was wondering what you were doing with her. You didn’t give much detail after you said you went to the mountains with some kid.”
Aurelius immediately sits up. 
“...did you think I went on a date with her first?”
“Obviously not,” you said, folding your arms, “I was curious. Because it sounds cool. I couldn’t climb that high I think.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. It was actually dangerous.”
“Why is that?”
Aurelius takes a breath before calling upon his memories of the encounter. A few days prior, the man was returning from a failed hunt in the snowfields. It was then he heard a girl’s voice piping under a pile of snow. First, he ignored it. Then her arm reaches out to his foot which startled Aurelius into his fight-flight response. Soon, a pause. He pulled the lass up out of the snowdrift and dusted the snow off her orange get-up. Her name was Li Guang, an esper of the Vermilion Bird and a well-traveled explorer investigating the Raine Tundra. Aurelius suggests that she return to safety outside and is willing to guide her promptly. But she refuses.
“I came to the snowfields to find treasure,” she smiled, “It’s somewhere here but I have to climb.”
“Where?”
She points to the highest summit, a far distance from the Raine Wall. The mountain stood as the wind was blowing at a reasonable speed. Aurelius begrudgingly heaves a sigh. Out of his own volition, he accompanies her. Not for the sense of adventure, but the overt dread of a teenager risking her life over the most dangerous parts of the tundra. This man has seen death countless times. He was there to ensure safety. It unsettles him if no one else is there to ensure her safety. Someone he wished he had when the things he loved were taken from him.
They walked, scaled, and climbed upon the rocky peaks. Aurelius treads carefully as Li Guang joyfully races to the top. From there, she hands him a rope tether as she descends to the cliffside. Every minute, every second of his body shakes against his steeled determination. The wind’s breeze invokes the howling cold, nearly knocking the girl out. And Aurelius hears this. From her sudden plea, he rapidly uses the power of Ullr as support. Till he hears another shout hoisting her up in relief.
He wrapped his retelling with the photo Li Guang took. A picture of a snow lotus growing on the crevices. He showed this image from his phone where you gawk in awe. The texture of the flowers appears feathery upon husks of greens radiating around the blooms.
“That’s beautiful.”
“I thought about raising some myself, but I think they’re better where they are.”
“She would’ve been stuck under the snow if you weren’t there,” you claimed.
“Speaking from experience?” he replies with an eyebrow raised.
“Oh hush,” you softly laughed. “You’re fine Aurelius. You’re just looking out for her.”
“I guess,” he mutters. “What surprised me the most after the fact… she told me the snowfields are her favorite location so far.”
“There are perks to living in such an icy land. For example, meeting you.”
His ears turn red, along with his timid expression drawn all over his eyes and lips. Unable to meet your gaze, Aurelius gulps down his drink as his hands withdraw to himself. He couldn’t help but chuckle at your flirty comment.
“Wish I went to the mountains with you. Overlooking Raine at such a distance sounds wonderful,” you continued.
“Well,” he mused, “if you’re with me, I’ll take you anywhere. As long it's not endangering the both of us.”
“Oh wow, Mr. Marksman? Trying to set me up on a tour?”
“Not just a tour. An expedition.”
“To where?”
“Do you want to start here?” he confidently grins, pointing to himself.
You can feel the heat of your cheekbones hurting. Aurelius is satisfied.
“Pretty smooth. You win this time,” you said, admitting your defeat.
“What’s my reward?” he teased.
“Quality time with yours truly.”
“Fair trade,” he snorts.
“Do you feel better now?”
“Better?” he repeated, “You mean our conversation?”
“Helps drown out the noise.” You winked at him.
He responds by gulping his beer in contentment. In the corner of your eye, light snowfall flutters about from the restaurant window. The sight calms you. You silently wish this day lasts longer, a bit more with the white-haired hunter.
“Living here isn’t so bad, now thinking about it. When you told me you’re not a native, I thought it was weird you want to make Raine your home. Not a lot of travelers come by because of the cold weather, I assume.”
“At least it’s bearable… quiet. I can hear my thoughts walking on the snow when I want to be alone,” Aurelius says after taking a sip of his beer.
“I wonder why I can’t pinpoint what got me so drawn to you,” you frankly questioned yourself.
His eyes perked as he took another sip. His glass settles gently on the table as he leans in.
“There’s a lot of things, I think,” you pondered.
“What could you possibly see in me?” he eagerly questioned.
You glance at him, with a very quiet smile.
“A lot of things. But the first thing that came to mind is that you’re pretty dorkish.”
The table lifted a few centimeters after the slight impact of Aurelius’ fist against the surface.
“D-Dorkish?! I’m not! Where did you get that idea?”
The patrons turn their heads to Aurelius’s table, wondering where the source of the sound was coming from. But Aurelius is wrapped up with your claim that you can feel the heat of his body won’t contain his esper powers any longer. It stirred something inside of him, another side you didn’t think you’ll be discovering now. In public no less.
“Aurelius, calm down,” you giggled sheepishly, “I mean it in a cute way.”
“Cute?! Are you making fun of me?” he retorts.
“No, no! I’m not. Listen to me.”
You grabbed his hand. Naturally, he relaxes. You feel the fuming energy leaving him.
“I’m saying that because that’s just you. You’re just being yourself and I like that!” you confessed in a harsh whisper.
The man’s voice shriveled inside. His sweat beads and beads down to his chin. Upon the realization, there were a bunch of eyes on him. He’s ignoring that now. He stares at his draft beer. Unmoving. He takes another sip. At that moment Aurelius wanted to die a painful, slow death. A death he’s unable to achieve. The sheer embarrassment of himself getting riled up from your measly remark was enough entertainment for you and some of the patrons noticing your antics. Yet, you couldn’t help that you’re also partly guilty for getting him like this.
“...you like me for what I am?” he spoke after calming himself down.
“I do. Sorry for getting you heated.”
“No, it’s my fault. I should’ve thought about it more before I said anything,” Aurelius groans.
“Maybe you should process your thoughts more before speaking, diner patron. You’re disturbing the peace,” a deep voice calls out to him from afar.
Aurelius' eyes nearly bulge out, as if he knows. You instantly look behind his shoulder. A blue-haired man wearing a bucket hat is emerging from his bar seat and walking towards your booth. Metal footsteps echo. A shrug of a red, long coat draped around the shoulders. Wisps follow him like children’s balloons ever so drifting from his position. You recognize his expression from a mile away, along with the ghosts who accompany him.
“M-Mr. Zhong. Hello!”
“I was wondering what’s with the noise. I didn’t think it could be from my dear friend, Aurelius,” the man spoke.
“…hey Nan,” the white-haired man mumbled, greeting him with a weak wave.
After clearing his throat, Aurelius sits upright. Awkwardly, he raises his hand toward you as if he’s making an offer or seeking parental approval.
“This is (Y/N), my date.”
“Hm? Your date?” 
Zhong Nan is the marshal in charge of the jurisdiction of Raine. He oversees the Raine Wall, a formidable area to deter the constant onslaught of the untamed frontier beyond the tundra. It is his sworn duty to protect the inhabitants from any threats permeating across the border. And he does this alone. As such, he takes complaints from anyone but he extends an invitation to chat sometimes. Just like the lone wanderer who sits across from you. However, like Aurelius, you can feel a sense of longing for his homeland as he wishfully turns his gaze to the window a few times, then scans over your frame. Immediately, he recognizes you.
“Oh, we’ve met. Your father helped install the new table at my station.”
You nodded along. Unknowingly, Aurelius gulps his draft beer again.
“Is there anything else we could do for you, Mr. Zhong?” you asked if you were back at home.
“Not at all. I’m enjoying the current furnishings. If I need more, I’ll commission your family again.”
You give your respects with a simple bow, while the ghostly-riddled man shrugs it off.
“Forget the formalities. This is a light-hearted affair.”
He turns to Aurelius, patting his shoulder like an older brother to his younger sibling.
“Is this the person you were talking about a few nights before?”
Aurelius sputtered in mid-drink. “I-I mean yes but–”
“Such a lucky fellow. You should hear him rambling about you when he is down for a few drinks. He’s a total riot.”
Aurelius’s face gradually— No, immediately turned beet red. He’s morphing into a clam, chucked in the coldest waters several miles away. Unable to hold on to his glass, he shrinks to the corner of the booth. Zhong Nan continues with his expression speaking of hidden mischief.
“He can get pretty chatty once he’s loosened up. He went on and on about how he misses you like a boy lost in love for the first time in forever.”
“What did he say? Was it sweet?” you proposed.
“Ask him yourself. I can’t articulate his proclamations.”
Zhong’s smirk cemented the feelings you had suspected. The fondness of this man. He went out of his way to acclaim his affections to a friend. Hearing that made you happy. But Aurelius… his response was different. He was silently loud. The ghastly man felt the soft blow of a fist towards his arm. His eyes glance over to the marksman and couldn’t help but just belt out a slow, awkward chuckle.
“I’ll tell you when we get to your place. It’s a lot,” the hunter shyly admits with a tear down his cheek.
“Hah! I’ll leave you be. And (Y/N), don’t be a stranger. Join us for drinks next time.”
“Thanks for the offer. I will when I can.”
“Catch you later, Marshal,” Aurelius says in a muffled voice.
“Will do, old friend.”
Zhong Nan nods off tipping his hat and returns to his spot. 
Aurelius uttered a breath barely escaping his teeth.“...sorry about yelling at you earlier. And with him. I’m not like that at all… when I’m just…”
“I know,” you assured him with your fingers dancing on his palm. 
His mind drifts. The sensation of your fingertips in his hand. He gently does the same in return. He wants to lock the scene in his mind. Replaying it for hours on end. Then you two remembered you were in a space. A public space where you receive substance. The waiter saw everything as he set his pull-out tray. He pretends he saw nothing. You both shy away from your affections as your plates are presented in front of you.
Your food is the same as ever, but the flavor is a lot more punchy. Maybe your senses have heightened since the Marshal’s encounter. It’s also your first time witnessing Aurelius handling barbeque. The sauce smeared against his lips. You laughed as you brought up a napkin to his mouth, and he thanked you promptly before cleaning out a rack. 
Time goes by. You forget the people in the restaurant. Your bill comes through soon after. You split a portion of your luncheon with Aurelius. Though he insists on paying for everything, you declined. You rather let him pay when you’re out drinking instead, which he laughs at for the high tabs he’ll rack in your presence. You sat another thirty minutes, chatting away whatever comes to mind. Foliage is the subject of your conversation.
“(Y/N), you’re knowledgeable about trees. Do you spend time on hobbies other than your family business? I don’t remember if you raised any plants or…”
Your palms get sweaty. You never mention your hobbies to him since it’s something you kept to yourself mostly. As you’re building his confidence to speak, you are also trying something in motion too. You slowly pulled your phone out and slid it to Aurelius after unlocking the screen. He squints, bringing the phone to his view. His eyes glimmer.
“Wait– Is this what I think it is?”
He zooms in on some of the details of your sketches. Small buds, fragile leaves, and bundles of stalk over twine. The composition was arranged in a way that you focused the attention on the buds more than the other parts of the plants. Aurelius immediately recognizes what you’ve drawn. The packaged flowers he delivered to you before.
“...you kept it the entire time?”
“Why would I throw it away? I told you I would cherish it,” you meekly replied.
“...wow, I-I uh. I’m surprised you kept it. It’s cool. Really cool.”
You mutually relate his bashfulness at this note. You kept going, talking about yourself and the things you like. He doesn’t bat an eye, completely engrossed in your passions, your thoughts. He enjoys hearing you speak about what you love. And in turn, you found common ground with Aurelius. Writing isn’t his strong suit, but you gave him some advice about your favorite genres. Including poetry.
“It’s nice to figure out a stanza pattern and try to make something out of it.”
He disagrees. “Seems complex.”
“It’s easier to put my thoughts on paper than saying it out, as you could tell.”
“I get it. Could you share some with me?”
“R-Really?”
“Maybe have some of your drawings on my walls too, on top of that,” he contemplated.
“O-Oh I’m not that good! It's just what I do for fun.”
“If you enjoy it, what’s stopping you?” he questioned, “it’s good work. If it makes you happy, you should continue doing it.”
You didn’t bother to protest. Being complimented about your work feels nice. Makes you warm and fuzzy. Your overall appearance softens under his kind words.
“Maybe when we get back to my place, I can show you my sketchbook. There’s a lot more in there.”
Sounds like it’s the cue to leave. The two of you depart from the restaurant. It’s still late afternoon. Your hands are occupied leading Aurelius through the many storefronts in town. On the way to your place, Aurelius stops in his tracks in front of the floral shop. He notes the amount of flora beyond the window. You tugged his jacket.
“Planning to buy some?”
“Someday. In the future,” he ponders.
Your conversations with the white-haired hunter continued during your walk. Plants, nature, whatever comes to mind. He seems to take it well though the moments of silence were appreciated. Aurelius isn’t much of a conversationalist, though being comfortable with you proved that he does see you as company. Good company you desired. If your final days were marked with this man, then you hope it's just like this. Hoping anything else could make this day even brighter.
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luffystaro · 2 years
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ZH0NG L1 L0CKSCR3EN5 ?! 彼はとてもかわいいすごい、あえて彼は本当に本物ですか?🐗
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moonbeamsung · 3 years
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Right Side of Town
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Will an age-old rivalry stop him from listening to his heart?
for @fruityutas ’s ‘the outsiders’ collab
member: chenle (featuring wayv)
au: soc!chenle x gn!reader, ‘the outsiders’ au, ‘grease’ au, 1950s/60s au
word count: 12.0k
genre: angst, drama, action, romance, suggestive, fluff
warnings: underage drinking and smoking, profanity, unhealthy mindsets regarding status and wealth, mild violence (verbal conflict + mentions & very brief descriptions of weapons/blood/injury), suggestive content (vague allusions to & implications of sex which are neither graphic nor between chenle/reader + kissing/making out), mentions of food, use of slang from the time period, hospitals
author’s note/disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional, and the actions of the characters do not depict their actual personalities in any way. I do not condone this behavior. Also, this is the first ever collab piece I’ve written and I’m very thankful to be participating! Feedback is encouraged and appreciated.
taglist: @nakamotocore @navyhyuck @chicksung @mrkcore @mieohmy @rouiyan @sicluvz @kunrengui-reblogs @luvdhl @berrysungie @rousrxxn @m1ss-foodi3 @hyuckefi @angelhee @jisungsmochi
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Zhong Chenle has everything, and what he doesn’t have, he gets. From money and a flashy car to a tight circle of friends that will stop at nothing when it comes to defending their high-class clique, what more could he possibly want?
Simple: he wants to make life as miserable as possible for the town’s rivaling gang of greasers.
Miles away from Chenle and this divided community, you’re anxiously awaiting the life that lies ahead of you within it, shifting nervously in the backseat of the family car. With everything you’ve ever known packed up and sealed inside several cardboard boxes, you’re at the mercy of the highway as it rises and falls, twists and turns to take you to the place where a new chapter in your story will begin. In the front seat, your parents are gushing over the flourishing suburbs you’ll be living in, but you’re sick to your stomach.
The uneasiness you feel only grows once you get there. From chain-link to white picket fences, they both look equally uninviting, with razor-sharp edges and rusted locks or pristine latches shut tight, as if they contain something sinister. Every shadow looms like it’s someone’s darkest secret, and there’s a palpable tension lingering in the air when you step outside. You can breathe it in, lungs inundated with something that’s not unlike smoke. You wonder what’s been burning. The ominous stench weighs you down like a ball and chain.
In this town, you have nothing. No past, no reputation, no expectations. Any other person your age might feel free, but you? You feel lost.
Little do you know that moving into a house on the west side will become your one-way ticket to fitting in, to belonging. And when a certain boy takes notice of his new neighbor, you eagerly accept the security he offers.
The ‘sold’ sign has been removed from your freshly cut lawn for a few days now, so Chenle decides that it’s time to scope out the latest additions to the picture-perfect suburban streets. He definitely doesn’t ignore the sleek Ford Thunderbird that’s parked in the driveway, undoubtedly an indication of the kind of people he’s dealing with. But what was he expecting? You live on the west side of town; you’re automatically the most superior of socialites.
Chenle’s smooth strides take him all the way to your front porch, and he rings the doorbell just after putting on the most welcoming expression he can muster.
“Would you get the door, please?” Your mother doesn’t even bother answering it herself, instead calling out your name as soon as she looks out the kitchen window through the patterned curtains and sees a boy around your age. It’s about time you made a friend, anyway.
Timidly, you turn the knob and step back to let the door swing open, meeting the eyes of your visitor.
“Hey,” he purrs out a deep, suave greeting. “You must be the new kid. Welcome to the neighborhood.” When you only smile and give a well-mannered nod, he shifts his weight from one foot to the other, stuffing balled-up fists into his jean pockets as his mouth opens again.
“My name’s Chenle, by the way. What’s yours?”
You tell him, and he raises a groomed eyebrow at your confirmed ability to speak.
“So that’s what you sound like,” the boy smirks a bit. “You’re a quiet one, huh? Well, don’t be nervous. Nothing to be scared of around here.”
You think otherwise. It seems like there’s plenty to be scared of. And what’s up with him treating you like a pet that just learned a trick?
With a slight frown you ignore his patronizing comment, changing the subject entirely. “I don’t suppose you go to the high school down the road?”
“Yeah, I do. You going there too?”
“Sure am. What’s it like?”
Chenle shrugs dismissively, tapping a foot. “Like any other school, with your typical hierarchy and all. You have us, and then you have the greasers.”
“Hold on,” you cut in. “What do you mean, ‘us?’ Who are you, then?”
“The Socials, or Socs for short. You’re one, too. We all live on this side of town, and all the greasers live on the east side. Don’t even bother associating with them, though. You stick with me and you’re golden. Unless… you don’t want to.” His voice lowers with the last syllables.
Great. There’s always a catch. According to what Chenle’s told you, instead of getting a valuable education at the highly-esteemed school your parents heard about from all the way across the country, you’re being sent into a raging battle between two competing socioeconomic classes. You start picturing corridors full of confrontations, insults and rogue punches flying. A social bloodbath of sorts. And Chenle’s offering to let you join his side.
You consider your options. He’s all you have right now, and the last thing you want to do is get on his bad side by doing the opposite of what he just advised. You’re not exactly sure what he’s capable of, but you don’t want to find out.
“...Okay,” you eventually respond, failing to conceal the fear both in your voice and on your face as well as you had hoped. “As long as I don’t have to fight anyone.”
He snickers at this and at your obviously distressed expression. “Oh, don’t worry about that. No one’s gonna drag you to a rumble or anything.”
Chenle’s shrill laugh, despite being at your expense, contrasts his demeanor and lightens the mood, so you try to smile.
“But I hope you like parties. There’s one almost every weekend.”
“I’m not sure… my parents probably won’t—”
“They don’t have to know,” he waves a hand. “Just tell ’em you’re going to the Nightly Double. They show 4 movies a night on weekends, so you’ll be covered for hours. Speaking of which, we should go.”
“Huh?”
“To the Nightly Double. It’s a drive-in, you’ll like it. How ’bout I pick you up on Friday? You can meet my friends.” He’s talking so fast that your brain struggles to keep up. Is he seriously asking you out?
The front door has been closed for some time now, but it’s at this moment that your mother pokes her head outside to check on you. Upon seeing Chenle’s tall frame leaning against one of the porch’s columns, she asks, “Who’s this?”
“Zhong Chenle. I live a few streets away,” the boy extends his hand and she shakes it, approval in her eyes, before she turns to you for an explanation. “He invited me to go to a drive-in movie with him this Friday. May I?”
“Of course, dear, but we’ll need to discuss a curfew with your father.”
Chenle’s used to hearing this. He suddenly interjects as politely as he can, the confidence in his voice compelling. “If I may, I should tell you that this is a very safe neighborhood, and most everyone here agrees that a curfew isn’t even necessary.”
Her gaze turns inquisitive, though more scrutinous than critical. “Your parents let you stay out late?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
And his practiced persuasion works like a charm, because she agrees without any further interrogation.
“That’s fine, then. I’ll leave you two be,” your mother excuses herself with a smile, disappearing into the house just as quickly as she emerged from it a minute ago. “Easy,” Chenle grins. “Now you can get away with just about anything.”
But should that relieve or frighten you?
Before you can decide, Chenle’s already starting down the steps. “I’ll see you on Friday. It’s a date,” he winks.
You retreat back inside once he’s gone, marching upstairs to your room and all the while trying to process whatever the hell just happened.
When that day rolls around, a car you’ve never seen before pulls up in front of your driveway. Even as the twilight sky above begins to fade, you can still identify the model: a Mustang, coated in shiny red paint and seemingly without a scratch anywhere.
For a moment you’ve completely forgotten your commitment, but one glance at the driver’s seat and the memory comes flooding back to you instantly. A halfhearted promise to be back at a reasonable hour is made and directed towards very unconcerned parents before you’re off. Maybe too unconcerned.
Three others are haphazardly piled into the backseat of Chenle’s car, presumably the friends he mentioned a few days ago. The passenger seat has been left empty for you, so you slowly climb in next to the boy behind the wheel.
“Glad you could make it,” he hums. A hand motions to each of them in turn, then shifts the cramped vehicle into gear. “This is Sicheng, Ten, and Yangyang. We’re all tight.”
“Hey.” His friends greet you in something close to unison. You note that they appear to be at least a year or two older than Chenle, but it’s like he reads your mind before you can even open your mouth and ask, informing you that it’s not unusual for students to get held back at least once, or even multiple times.
Deciding it would be rude not to, you briefly return the favor by introducing yourself to them over the top of the seats that separate you, and are met with smiles that seem to mask an underlying intention. Good or bad, you can’t decipher. This is quickly forgotten, however, because a few minutes into the drive they’ve become totally absorbed in their own rowdy discussion. The volume of noise emanating from behind you is deafening, and any conversations that you might try to strike up with the other occupant of the front seat are rendered useless, the sound of the radio only adding to the chaos as it grapples for dominance against their voices.
By the time you reach the drive-in theater, a large amount of the lot’s parking spaces are filled, mostly with cars that look just as expensive as the one you’re in. Chenle isn’t phased by this, taking his time, and he swiftly puts on the brakes when he finally manages to secure a good spot in the middle. As soon as the vehicle rolls to a halt, the rest of his friends scramble to exit, backseat doors flinging open and narrowly missing the side of a Corvette that pulls in next to them.
“Son of a bitch, Yangyang! I give you a ride and you give me a heart attack by almost denting another car? That’s the last time I’m taking you anywhere.”
The boy offers a half-sheepish, half-smug apology, since he knows Chenle doesn’t really mean it.
“We’re getting popcorn,” one of them declares, and the rearview mirror’s placement allows you to see a few more people joining the three as they walk off towards the concession stand.
“Grab two sodas for us!” Chenle shouts hastily, before they’re out of earshot. Ten’s hand raises in acknowledgement of the request.
He digs through his wallet for some money to pay them back, placing it on the car’s dashboard, then leans back and directs his attention towards the supersized screen. The first movie of the night has already started, but there are plenty of kids just milling around the lot and talking, only there for the social scene.
“What do you think?”
“It’s—”
“Well, what do we have here?” A harsh knock on the open passenger windowsill interrupts, startling both of you. “Look at this, boys! Zhong’s got himself a sweetheart.”
The perpetrator looks different than Chenle and his friends. He’s clad in a leather jacket with gelled-up dark hair, wearing a mischievous smile on his face. Something tells you he isn’t a Soc.
Chenle sneers and confirms your assumption. “Beat it, greaser.”
“Aw, you want me to leave so you can neck in the backseat?” He chortles, his booming laughter attracting more attention than either of you would like.
“Cool it, Lucas,” another voice cautions. “You don’t wanna scrap with that one.”
“Actually, Kun,” he hisses, cracking his knuckles. “I’m just trying to have a good time here. He’s the one that’s looking for trouble with us, don’t you think? I’d love to give him a taste of his own medicine.” The second greaser comes into view, frowning and tugging harshly at the taller one’s collar.
Chenle currently sports the most menacing facial expression you’ve ever seen on anyone. “Your friend there’s got a point. Better back off now,” he growls.
Lucas smiles coldly, “What you gonna do, pretty boy?”
His last comment must have struck a nerve, because before you know it Chenle is swinging the driver’s side door open and angling his wrist to throw a punch. “Get lost before I skin you alive, hood!”
With the verbal threat of violence in play, both boys whirl around and run, being joined by two more figures in the distance and disappearing into the eerie darkness of the streets, where only the stars remain to light their way.
“Those bastards,” he seethes through clenched teeth once back inside the car. “Now you’ve seen it for yourself. Greasers are just lousy, good-for-nothing bums, always asking for a fight.”
You say nothing. Though the encounter did make you uncomfortable, you feel like there’s more to this story, more that Chenle isn’t telling you. It’s going to take a lot for you to trust him, and he knows it, too. But for now, you both turn back to watching the flickering film.
At some point he asks if you’re cold. Despite the shake of your head you still feel him reach over to drape his letterman jacket around your shoulders. His hands graze over your skin for a moment, and they’re warmer than you would have expected.
Yangyang and Ten return shortly after, one bearing a soft drink in each hand and the other with a palm outstretched in Chenle’s direction. He hands over the loose change he had gathered earlier while wondering aloud, “Where’s Sicheng?”
“Probably making out with a girl he met in the concessions line. She dragged him to her car and we haven’t seen him since.” Your cheeks suddenly heat up as you remember Lucas’s remark. People really do things like that at a drive-in?
“You’d be surprised by what goes on back there,” Chenle adds, seeming to sense your shock. How does he keep doing that?
Gesturing with a thumb stuck out in said direction, the boy draws your eyes over to the lot’s far end, slightly less illuminated and with the poorest view of the movie screen. Only a few vehicles fill those spaces, but it’s too dark for you to see anything else. You don’t think you want to.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
There’s silence for a while. It’s broken when Ten reaches into his pocket for something, and you instantly recognize the small objects he procures from within the fabric compartment as cigarettes.
“Light me up, will you, Liu?”
“Sure thing.” Yangyang extracts a shiny box from his own pocket and flicks open the cover, a small flame igniting the end of the paper tube. “Want one, Chenle?”
“No, thanks.” He shoots you a glance from the side, asking the same question with an eyebrow quirked.
“I don’t smoke,” you defend quickly.
“You don’t smoke, or you never have? There’s a difference.”
Yangyang’s smart-mouthed reply is nearly enough to make you lose your temper, but Chenle’s abrupt grip on your arm stops you from acting rashly. “Shut your trap and quit bugging them already.”
“I just asked a question! Damn, what’s got you all considerate lately?” He scoffs at the younger boy, indignant.
Ten suggests the two of them roam around to try to find Sicheng, and if they’re lucky, maybe someone with a convertible so they can sit and enjoy the remainder of the second movie. Once again you’re left alone, but thankfully no slick-haired strangers approach you this time.
What encroaches upon you, however, is Chenle himself. He must think he’s being smooth when he reaches across you and into the glove compartment for something, yet you see through every last gesture. It’s almost laughable, how bold he is. But Chenle doesn’t do subtleties, a fact that’s evident in the hand he leaves behind to rest lightly atop your thigh. Not in the slightest.
Even so, it works. You don’t brush his hand away, and neither do you shrug off the arm he tosses over your shoulder in the midst of a highly exaggerated yawn. He knows he’s triumphed when you slump against the back of the seat, head resting against his shoulder and cheek pressing into his thin shirt. You’re relaxed, no longer on edge. And that spurs something within Chenle. He’s always wanted to be feared instead of adored, but you are slowly becoming the lone exception to this golden rule, one that he’s lived by all his life.
The film ends, and it’s only when his friends come into view that you break the physical contact. Sicheng has rejoined them, with hair askew, plaid shirt untucked, and the faintest print of lipstick adorning his jaw. He doesn’t seem the slightest bit flustered, either, which is odd considering you all know exactly what he’s been up to. Actually, he looks rather pleased with himself.
“How was the movie?” Sicheng inquires breathlessly.
“Why don’t you know? You were here too.”
He scoffs, “Um, I was a little busy in case you forgot.” Sicheng punctuates his sentence by pulling his undershirt to the side and revealing more of the crimson marks, smirking at Chenle with mirthful eyes the whole time. Everyone save for you and the latter of the two boys erupts in obnoxious hoots of praise and congratulations.
“You sly dog,” Ten murmurs proudly to him while delivering a firm pat on the back. Yangyang wolf whistles, doing the same. He glances over his shoulder at your indifferent gazes, “Some fun you two are.”
Chenle remains unamused.
“I’ll take that cigarette now.”
After celebrating Sicheng’s score for a much longer amount of time than he deemed necessary, the night’s designated chauffeur finally wrangles his three friends back into the car and sets off for each of your houses. Somewhere along the way, in between puffs of tobacco, Chenle misses a turn.
“Hey, what’s the big idea, Zhong? The suburbs are that way.”
“I know, Lee,” he snarls. “You trying to tell me how to drive?”
Ten subsequently quiets down.
But by now, they all know where they are: the east side. You pick up on the change in scenery as well, noting the run-down homes and desolate parks. Sitting there in the front seat and expecting him to turn back around at any moment, you’re puzzled when he only continues on, his speed lessening but foot never leaving the gas pedal.
The truth is, Chenle’s spotted the same gang of greasers from the drive-in, and he’s watching them like a hawk from behind the wheel as they amble down the sidewalk, then turn down a smaller street narrowly separating two buildings.
He makes one more loop around the central grassy area that resides between several blocks of homes, giving them just enough time to disappear between the shadows and lull themselves into a false sense of security, but not too much time. They won’t get far, he’s certain of it. Sure, it may be their territory, but when Zhong Chenle has an idea in mind, nothing and no one dares to stand in his way.
It’s only when he skids to a stop next to this same alleyway that you speak, still partially afraid you’ll be scolded just as Ten was.
“...What are we doing here?”
Chenle doesn’t answer you right away, instead glancing at the passengers in the backseat with an expression that says trust me. They look just as confused as you feel, but they follow him out nonetheless.
“It’s nothing, baby. The boys and I just have to take care of something. We’ll be right back,” he leaves you with a reassuring smile that isn’t very reassuring at all. You suddenly wish this Mustang had actual windows.
The four of them circle up just in front of the hood of the car, where Chenle explains his plan. His back is to you, so you can’t see his eyes darken dangerously, as if they and his words are infected with a fatal poison. All that’s visible to you is the image of them nodding in mutual understanding, vanishing into the gloom shortly after.
You contemplate doing something stupid like running away, but that idea is quickly thrown out the window considering you don’t even know where you are, much less which way is home. The same wave of uneasiness that had settled over you when you first set foot in this town is returning, comes flooding back as you’re abandoned entirely, with only your thoughts to keep you company.
Chirps of crickets and the mechanical hums of flickering streetlights pass through the air, ultimately obscuring a few distant shouts and the sickening thump of fists against skin. Switchblades flip open, high-top sneakers pound against the pavement, and though an even match, the skirmish ends with one party far less fortunate than the other.
There’s something disturbing, something artificial in the smile Chenle flashes at you as they return. It’s too dim in the car for you to see his hands gripping the steering wheel, much less his bloodied knuckles. You aren’t even looking. You just want to get home.
When the following week begins, so does the school year. The main courtyard is buzzing when you reach the campus that bright Monday morning, filled with students milling around and talking to their respective cliques. Once the bell tower produces a resounding chime, all the small friend groups combine to form a horde of teenagers, and you fall in line among the mass of complete strangers as they rush past the doors, swarming the corridors like moths to a flame.
Nothing inside the building appears to be out of the ordinary. Lockers line the walls, the lights overhead glow a harsh, blinding white, and the classrooms are seemingly the only places where Socs and greasers can coexist without being at each other’s throats. Though you suppose it’s not by their own volition, and more due to the threat of a teacher’s punishment.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” are the words that reach your ears just as an arm slings itself around you, and you’re not at all surprised to see that the voice in question belongs to none other than the supreme Soc himself, whom you’ve been avoiding all weekend.
Ever since Chenle brought you home Friday night, you had stayed cooped up inside, trying to make sense of every last encounter the evening had entailed and ceaselessly replaying every moment in your mind like a broken record. The way his demeanor switched from one extreme to the other so quickly was off-putting, as were Lucas’s words about the boy and his mysterious venture to the east side. Top it all off with the vague excuses about his strange disappearance into that ominous alleyway, and you’re thoroughly unnerved.
You never should have doubted your first impression of the place, because somewhere, somehow, it’s not quite right. You’re sure of this. Below the surface something is lurking, and now that your curiosity has been sparked for better or for worse, there’s no backing down.
“Hey, Chenle,” you reply, hoping the reluctance in your voice isn’t too evident. In an instant it seems like all eyes turn towards you, as if your association with him is a coveted rite of passage. Greasers and Socs alike stop to stare at the two of you, gazes sharp and shrewd.
The attention doesn’t faze him whatsoever. “Don’t mind them, it’s normal. You’ll get used to it.”
You shrug, fixing one of your sleeves and opting to regard the tiled floor with excessive interest, thinking solely about how you can’t escape this hallway soon enough.
“Where’s your first class?”
So you tell him, and he walks you there, undoubtedly earning a few looks from those already inside. The teacher is nowhere to be found, and two boys linger by the large window at the back of the classroom, sneaking a few cigarettes. At first you don’t believe you’ve ever seen them in your life, but your opinion changes abruptly upon laying eyes on their non-smoking companions: you recognize them as the same greasers from the drive-in, Kun and Lucas.
They must have gotten into some sort of trouble, because the former of the two has a black eye and a busted lip. The latter clearly didn’t fare much better, attested by the scrapes visible on his exposed arms and littering the sloped curve of his throat, and the unnamed greasers display similar afflictions on the parts of them that aren't concealed by shiny dark leather. That makes four, you conclude, so they’ve got to be the owners of the other two silhouettes that joined Kun’s and Lucas’s as they bolted from the lot.
Resentful scowls are briefly exchanged between the rivals, and Chenle’s hand leaves the small of your back when he turns to go. This leaves you to find an empty desk, but by the time their silent staring contest had ended many more students had filed in, so now you’re stuck in a seat that’s much nearer to the greasers than he would approve of.
You’ve decisively learned their names once the teacher finishes calling roll, Xiaojun and Hendery being the two new additions. All four of their voices sound much gentler than you had anticipated, but maybe it’s just the setting. You can still recall Lucas’s thunderous tone from the other night and its occasional ringing in your ears.
The class itself goes by rather quickly. In what seems like the blink of an eye you’re packing up your things and starting for the door, but the greasers’ formidable figures block your path, preventing your exit.
“You,” the one named Hendery glowers. “You see these bruises?” He rolls up one sleeve to unveil a sickly-colored canvas of black and blue spots, embellishing his flesh like souvenirs of the pain he felt upon their infliction.
Hendery keeps his eyes on you all the while, even when yours lower to glance at his injuries. “Know how we got ’em?”
Chenle’s constant warnings to you about not so much as conversing with what he deemed the inferior social class seem relatively void now, since you suspect you won’t get anywhere without providing a response. You shake your head.
“No?” He shares a look with the rest. Of course you don’t. “I’d love to tell you, but I’m not sure you’d believe me if I did.”
Xiaojun leans over slightly as if to murmur something in Kun’s ear, though his words end up sounding anything but discreet. “He’s probably brainwashed them already.”
Growing impatient with their cryptic statements, you huff, folding your arms across your chest. “Just spit it out, would you?”
“Since you’re dying to know,” Lucas snickers threateningly, “your boyfriend and his little posse did this to us. Surprised?”
“We fought back, of course,” Kun adds. “But it’s not exactly fair when they pull switchblades on us.”
You’re caught in a stunned silence, not even bothering to correct his inaccurate reference to Chenle. They really got out of the car on Friday night just to jump these guys? Surely you could have prevented it somehow, right? Perhaps he would’ve listened if you’d said something. Or perhaps it wouldn’t have made any difference.
A sincere “I’m sorry” is about all you can muster, and it dawns on the greasers then that maybe you’re not too far gone. Xiaojun steps forward, gaze suddenly warm, and places a hand on your shoulder. “You don’t look like the type, anyway.”
“...What?”
“You don’t have to be like him and all the other Socs, you know. No one’s forcing you,” he imparts, palm lifting and moving towards your face now. “You can be different. Set an example.”
The moment his fingertips make contact with your cheek you jerk away, wide-eyed. He must mean well, but you feel like you’re falling into the hands of the enemy. You notice that his steps forward have created a gap in the broad-shouldered wall that surrounds you, so you don’t hesitate to dart past them all and out the door, seeking the boy in question. The promise of the moment passes; you’re already lost to the current.
To the greasers’ dismay, the dynamic hand of time begins to mold you into someone else. You no longer represent their hopes of ending the bitter rivalry that envelops this small town, a rivalry they don’t even know the origins of in the first place. These hopes are far-fetched, they’re well aware, but who can blame them? You can’t, for you once wanted to do the same.
As days blur into weeks, your grip on Chenle’s hand in the halls gets tighter, your actions grow less good-natured and your attitude sours. If you’re being honest with yourself, Xiaojun’s words never leave your head for one second, although they’re concealed by the public persona you had felt so much pressure to acquire. You gave into it, and you gave into everything that came with being a Soc.
Well, almost everything.
Chenle shows up on a chilly Saturday evening to take you to one of their notorious weekend house parties. It’s been months since school began, and yet you’ve never attended. In a way, you’re holding onto a piece of your former self by way of your abstinence from experiencing such a thing, but you suppose he’s not going to let you make any more excuses tonight. So you leave your true self at the door, slipping into the disguise of malice and conceit you’ve fashioned for yourself ever since you discovered its necessity in your everyday life.
“C’mon, it’s gonna be fun,” he drags out the last syllable childishly, tugging on your arm as he leads you to his car. “Promise I’ll take you home if you don’t like it?” He attempts to compromise, and it seems genuine enough.
“...Fine, but I’m holding you to that, Zhong.” You grumble, shoving his shoulder across the Mustang’s center console. He catches your hand before you can withdraw it and plush pink lips meet knuckles in a spontaneous kiss, the boy’s sly smile never faltering.
The smile reappears when you pull up to the event’s location, and he spots your slack-jawed reflection in his rear-view mirror. You had thought the homes in your neighborhood were nice, sure, but they all pale in comparison to this one. If they’re mansions, then this is a whole damn palace.
Clearly, you’ve still got a lot to learn about this place.
It takes a few minutes for him to park somewhere, seeing as the gigantic driveway is full and the small suburban lane is crowded with cars on either side. He eventually engages the manual brake a few blocks down and offers his hand as you start towards the luxurious residence, sauntering next to the road. This casual pace is quickly interrupted, however, because without warning a car speeds by and startles both of you.
Of course Chenle barrels down two-lane streets at high speeds from time to time, but in an act of blatant hypocrisy he curses out whoever is behind the wheel for nearly running you over. You crash directly into his chest when he yanks you backwards by the hips, and gasp, though it’s more due to his immediate reaction than the peril you had just narrowly avoided. His breathing feels labored against your shoulders, and the fact that he seems more shaken up than you is inappropriately comical, since a near hit-and-run is no laughing matter.
“Asshole,” he rasps, and his eyes flash with contempt as he glares at the retreating tail lights, steadily fading into the distance.
A bit unaccustomed to his touch, you pry Chenle’s hands from their position and shrug, “I’m okay. Let’s go.”
You don’t have the energy to repeat these actions when his wrist slithers around your waist one stretch of sidewalk later, simply allowing him to hold you close. Upon approaching the front yard, you can start to hear the muffled roar of rock and roll blaring inside, but your eardrums are unprepared for the sheer volume of all the improvised guitar riffs and drum solos that flood the night air when the door opens.
The person standing behind it is someone you recognize from your high school’s hallways but nothing more. Despite living here for quite some time now, you’ve never really gotten close to anyone besides Chenle and his friends.
A cold breeze nips at your skin and you’re eager to be let inside as soon as possible, but as your luck would have it this acquaintance decides to strike up a conversation with Chenle, talking about his folks hardly ever being home and how he’s always able to throw these parties. You watch warily as the host takes big swigs of the beer bottle in his hand between each sentence, nose wrinkling at its pungent odor.
It’s like you aren’t even there for a few moments, but his peripheral vision is probably hazy from the alcohol he’s consumed, and finally he steps to the side to let you and Chenle into the foyer.
Solid purple lights glare down at the partygoers from the ceiling, making every figure inside glow a blazing violet. You hear a familiar voice approaching, and Ten appears in front of you just seconds later.
“Hey, guys,” he greets, speech slurred and smile vacant. “Drinks are in the kitchen.”
The older boy begins to lead you two from the entrance and down a hallway, passing dozens of delirious bodies swaying to the deafening music along the way. It’s so loud in here that you can barely hear yourself think.
Someone drags Ten off in another direction mid-escort, but fortunately Chenle doesn’t seem to get lost, only clutching you tighter and continuing to navigate through all the crowded rooms. You reach the liquor cabinet soon after, with its contents raided and doors already ajar.
Glossy flasks of whiskey, wine, and everything in between litter the adjacent counter, along with discarded cups, some still half-full of god knows what. He manages to procure an empty and seemingly unused one from somewhere nearby, and reaches for an undisturbed bottle of vodka.
The liquid bubbles up and he takes a languid sip, letting it slide down his throat with an acidic burn he’s well accustomed to by now. He’s distracted for a moment, a moment in which you decide to snatch a cup for yourself and do just the same. You don’t smoke and you don’t drink, but to hell with that. Everyone’s always telling you to live a little, so tonight you will.
It’s darker in the kitchen than in the rest of the house, meaning that Chenle doesn’t notice you’ve grabbed the vodka until you’re lifting the rim of the cup to your lips and, consequently, coughing once you taste its contents.
“Shit, you know that’s booze, right?” He plants a slap on your back, hard enough for you to regain your breath but not quite enough to hurt.
“Of course I do, wiseass.” The chagrin dripping from your voice nearly makes him flinch, so he doesn’t ask any more questions. All he knows is that you’re bound to get wasted much faster, being a novice drinker. There’s no telling how you’ll act when you’re all boozed-up, and in a twisted sort of way, it thrills him.
You reluctantly digest more of the substance, pinching your nose in order to avoid its pungent flavor as much as possible while dealing with the unpleasant buzz it leaves behind on your tongue. But Chenle remains largely unaffected, appearing much more clear-headed in comparison to you as you begin to stammer and stumble, rapidly losing your grip on sobriety.
The alcohol makes you loosen up, and he can’t help but chuckle when you stagger into another room with him in tow, beginning to twist and shout to the Beatles song that just came on the radio. Everyone around you spins and bounces to the rhythm, crowd pulsing like a heartbeat. There’s a wide smile blooming on your face, and Chenle absolutely loves it.
He loves when you pull him in by the shoulders, loves the blissful elation glimmering in your eyes, loves how you dance like you’re the only two people in the world. This is a side of you he wouldn’t mind seeing more often.
A familiar tune by the Beach Boys follows and has everyone shouting along in tipsy delight, then the tempo relaxes. It’s a slow song.
You clasp your hands behind his neck, fingertips brushing over the soft locks of dark hair at the nape, and it feels euphoric. The way you lean your head on Chenle’s chest makes his inebriated heart race; his hands begin to sweat at the tenderness of your every breath. But no feeling is quite as euphoric as the sensation of your lips, rising to meet his own after delicately departing from their idle place against the elegant curves of his collarbones.
Awestruck, the boy freezes, yet melts at the same time. He’s heard the sayings, heard how drunken words reflect sober thoughts, and by extension he gathers that drunken actions must represent sober desires. If you’ve wanted this all along, why haven’t you said so?
Truthfully, you’ve resented yourself for it from the beginning. Developing a crush on someone so reprehensible in thought, word, and deed was never an aspiration of yours, yet here you are. Perhaps fate knew what your heart wanted before you did, but why him? He’s so…
He’s so him, but you’re you, and you suppose that’s not much better. The vows you made to uncover the secrets and the stories behind this mysterious town were broken, and you relinquished them for a fabricated identity that’s a burden to display. You did just what you said you wouldn’t and fell right into the trap.
In spite of these mistakes, hope still remains, and not just for you.
Most of the time, Chenle appears cruel and uncaring, but no one is truly and completely evil. Not even him, an Elvis-esque devil in disguise who’s polite at first but shows his true colors when he’s around the rest of his preppy, madras-wearing gang. You know this, and you’re reminded of it through his occasional gestures, miniscule but nonetheless meaningful. You remember when he holds the door or lends you the coat off his back that those parts of him are the parts you fell in lov—well, you’ve learned to appreciate. In due time, you feel as though redemption could come within Chenle’s grasp. It’s up to him to accept the invitation.
But redemption isn’t something either of you are looking very worthy of right now.
Not when mouths and hands and eyes are wandering in the middle of this makeshift dance floor. Not when you’re kissing him like this, movements so full of haste and impatience that they might just tear the very fibers of your soul apart.
He doesn’t hesitate to match your pace, easily pressing against your lips with an addictive vigor and wrapping his arms around your body. The lights, the music, and the people all fade away, becoming mere supporting roles in this romantic scene while you two steal the spotlight.
After what seems like an eternity, your lungs begin to yearn for air, so you break away just for a moment to satisfy their demands with a few gasps of oxygen. You’re all too keen to bestow more of your frenetic kisses upon Chenle’s skin, and this time your gaze falls lower than his lips, ravenously eyeing the area beneath. You don’t get very far down his neck, though, because a better idea comes to you, and now you’re all but tripping over your own two feet as you haphazardly guide the boy out of the crowd.
It’s true that Chenle is no stranger to what goes on at Soc parties. He’s seen it all, so he’s quite familiar with the visual of couples coming and going, sneaking in and out of spare bedrooms to fool around. Chenle is also smart enough to know that such a short-lived impulse is far from a good idea, and if his gut feeling is any indication, he has a pretty good idea of where this is going—or where you want it to go, at least.
He lets himself be stolen away and follows your shaky footsteps down one of the house’s many corridors, your grasp on his wrist shockingly firm given your current state of mind. He lets your lips meet his once again, not even two seconds after you fling open a random door and slam it shut behind the both of you. He lets your warm breath fan over him and he lets your hands roam his torso. But the moment he feels you pull on his shirt, as soon as it comes untucked from the waistband of his jeans, he intervenes.
Chenle’s moral compass may be skewed, but at least he knows better than to let that happen.
“Easy, easy,” he cautions, escaping the position of being caught between your figure and the wall. “We both know you’d regret it in the morning.”
You only hum in protest, reaching out a stray palm to tug yourself closer so you can plant more kisses along his jaw, but it’s obvious that you’re fighting a losing battle. He proves resolute, despite it taking nearly all of his strength and self-control for him to push you away a second time. Reluctant as you may be to suppress such newfound and passionate displays of affection, you comply, touch melting into a more innocent one. “Fine…”
Context is crucial, however, and it’s something that Sicheng severely lacks. He happens to be passing through the hallway when he glimpses one of the bedroom doors opening up, and the sight of both of you exiting is enough to make him assume the outrageous.
In a mix of disbelief and amusement, his eyebrows arch beyond his bangs. You look dazed, eyes glassy as you cling to Chenle’s side, and he doesn’t seem to mind at all, placing a casual arm at your waist. What else is Sicheng supposed to think?
So he only laughs at the younger boy, dismissing his attempts to explain. “Dude, we didn’t—”
“Sure, you didn’t. I’m not stupid, Chenle, I know that look.”
Realizing the effort is useless, he decides it’s easier to agree than continue to argue. Chenle sighs and returns Sicheng’s insistent remarks with a shrug of resignation, “Yeah, but I’m gonna take them home.”
“You had booze?”
“A little. I’ll be fine.”
It really isn’t that far between this house and yours, plus the roads are virtually empty in the middle of the night. Except for a close call or two in the form of nearly driving up onto the sidewalk or colliding with a street lamp, you both make it back safely, though Chenle isn’t looking forward to your admonishments for being under the influence.
On the bright side, you’ve sobered up slightly by the time you get there, your body having had several minutes to process the alcohol it’s been flooded with. After being brought along on so many late-night escapades by his group of friends, you obtained a spare house key in case of any possible emergencies. With droopy eyelids you manage to recall where said key is located, and though the term ‘emergency’ is ill-defined at the moment, you deem it necessary for the current situation. It’s at least a small stroke of luck in this atypical evening.
He watches you dig through a potted plant on the side of your porch until you remove your hand from the dirt, triumphantly hoisting the small metal object into the air.
Sure enough, the lock turns. So does your companion, but you catch him by the jacket.
“Stay.”
You’ve never been more glad that you come from a family of such heavy sleepers. Even in the darkness of the house you can see Chenle’s eyes, as round as saucers in frightened anticipation of a discovery that never happens. The creak of the stairs makes no difference, and you easily reach the second floor without incident.
All that’s left for him to do is remove his outerwear and crawl underneath these unbelievably soft-looking blankets of yours, so warm and so tempting. The added heat from a second occupant, namely you, doesn’t hurt either. But he stops short, an unfamiliar sentiment clawing at him from the inside.
Is he, the Zhong Chenle, actually nervous?
It may sound absurd, because of course he’s been nervous before. What makes this particular instance different is that he’s never had the time to actually acknowledge such a feeling’s presence in his own heart like he does right now. He’s nervous to be close to you in more ways than one, and to label you as anything more than a friend to him. He’s nervous, and it’s all because of you.
You. You bring out something new in Chenle, something that’s like fabric snagging on a roughened edge. He’s caught, entangled in you. You’re the best kind of thorn in his side, giving him an aching feeling that perhaps the life he’s always known isn’t the only life to live.
His friends say he’s going soft, which they never do without also casting a pointed glance in your direction. It’s a fact, unavoidable and undeniable, that you’ve rubbed off on him.
Most stunningly of all, Chenle is starting to think that’s not such a bad thing anymore.
But this sort of intoxicated self-reflection is hardly an instantaneous process. More thoughts soon begin to infiltrate his head, pertinent and irrelevant alike, and Chenle finds himself pondering more deeply than he ever has before. He sits there on the edge of your duvet, listening to your breaths level out as you presumably drift off to sleep, still clad in the same clothes you had worn to the party.
Maybe it’s the vodka talking, but if you had asked him to give up everything then and there, he would have listened.
Too bad you’re passed out cold when he’s just reached his most persuadable mentality.
At last the act of contemplation becomes too overwhelming for his dwindling consciousness, so he gives in to the sweet embrace of rest. Tomorrow will bring a headache, for sure, but a part of him hopes it will also bring some recollection of these revelations.
And bring a headache it does. Except it’s not the kind he was expecting.
“Chenle!”
His ears ring and his forehead throbs with the volume of your harsh warning, albeit a whisper, but it’s loud nonetheless. There’s barely any time for the boy to register what the hell is happening, his only explanation coming in the form of a singular, second-long image: his discarded jacket flying across the room and a satin avalanche of pillows drawing near, about to obscure his vision.
The cushions produce a soft thump against Chenle’s figure, and he’s about to open his mouth to speak when another voice that definitely doesn’t belong to you sounds throughout the room. Oh.
“How was the party?”
“Fun,” you assure your father with an authentic but strained statement, trying to hide the exhaustion and apprehension in your voice. He seems to buy it, and makes a few offhand comments before resuming his strides down the upstairs hallway.
Realizing that the door’s been left ajar, you move to close it, but out of nowhere he appears in the entryway once more. Your very own surprise sends you tumbling backwards onto your bed in order to hide the suspiciously human-shaped lump covered by the sheets. Chenle winces underneath the abrupt pressure, his sleepy mind and body still adjusting to the jarring surroundings in a way that’s far from desirable.
“I almost forgot, honey. Your mother and I were thinking—are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Your words begin to slur as panic builds in your chest, all while you mentally apologize to the boy you’re currently and unwillingly smothering for all the early-morning commotion.
Your father can’t leave the room soon enough, but thankfully he shuts the door this time. Chenle is nearly gasping for air by the time you snatch the blankets away, letting out a sigh that’s just slightly overdramatic.
“Geez, what was that for?”
“I had to! You know my folks would kill me if they knew I brought a boy home from a party, much less saw him in my bed!”
“But they know me,” he counters.
“…Not really.”
Chenle is confused by this. He studies your downcast expression regretfully, the space between you instantly filling up with a thick and brooding tension.
Like most parents of west side kids, yours have remained blissfully ignorant of the Socs’ antics thus far, and you hope it stays that way. They’re quite possibly the only ones who know the true you, for that matter, seeing as you’ve never once altered your demeanor at home. It’s always been an escape from the demands of having a vivacious social life over the course of these past few months.
So they don’t really know Chenle, and when you’re outside their walls they don’t really know you, either. You’re living a lie, an illusion that’s wearing off and wearing you down. Sooner or later, the wool’s bound to be pulled from their eyes, and the eyes of everyone else.
Ultimately the memories of last night that came crashing down as soon as you opened your eyes this morning, however hazy they may be, are more than sufficient to convince you of one thing: your little charade has gone on for far too long. You simply can’t keep it up. “I need to tell you something.”
“Oh?” He breathes out with large, curious eyes, tinted red and the tiniest bit puffy from his hangover. Oh god, you must look far worse. Your dad didn’t notice, did he?
It’s no matter; Chenle commands your attention again as he moves the conversation along with an admission of his own. “Well, I do, too. You first,” the boy insists, in a voice that’s far too cheerful for what you’re about to reveal.
“I don’t want to be a Soc anymore.”
There’s a pause. For a moment, he’s baffled by the initial shock of the sentence, as its words completely oppose his entire perception of you. Or it seems like they should.
But he’s no fool. Chenle has undoubtedly picked up on your reluctance to join his and his friends’ schemes, yet you always give in. You’ve likely undergone the same sort of character transformation he felt like carrying out the night before. Unless…
A fear, irrational and ridiculous as it is, worms its way into his thoughts, injecting an unchecked fury into the response he gives before you even have a second to elaborate. With a start, he pushes himself upwards to stand, towering over your slouching figure that still remains seated on the fluffy mattress.
“What did they say to you?” He seethes, already forming a mental hit list that contains the names of four certain someones. They must have put you up to this. He’ll kill them. He’ll—
“What are you talking about, Chenle? Who?”
“That crowd of hoods!” His tone is assumptive and bitter. You’ve never heard such a sting in his words, even with all the risky confrontations he’s gotten into. “You’re just like them. They put you up to this, right? They’re only using you to use me—”
“Calm down,” you stutter out, not used to dealing with his volatile emotions when they’re directed at you. “No one put me up to anything!”
A breath of relief leaves you when he stops throwing around such accusations, and instead stalks over to one of the windows in your room. It’s silent, and oddly so, while he inspects its view as if he’s anticipating the sight of a few leathery figures beneath, huddled behind some bushes.
“I’m telling you, there’s no one there.”
“Do you swear?”
You fail to suppress a disapproving scoff; you shouldn’t have expected anything less from him. “Yes. I swear.”
He turns around, pacing back towards the bed and reclaiming his spot beside you. The fire in his eyes dissipates.
“This is exactly what I mean,” you admit softly. “I see how you act, and it makes me realize that I’m tired of pretending.”
“What?” His voice is timid now, cautious, as if the indestructible walls he’s built up around himself for so many years have come tumbling down and he’s left powerless, vulnerable.
“It’s like all you want to do is pick a fight or drink and smoke and party. I’m tired of pretending that I’m okay with the way you live, and I’m tired of pretending I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for someone like you. But I need to stop telling myself that you can change because it’s clearly too much to ask.” The conviction in your speech is remarkable, and it makes Chenle wish he was more like you instead of himself.
The question he asks next is probably—no, definitely stupid, but he does it anyway. For peace of mind.
“So… you’re not a greaser?”
“God, no. And I don’t want to be one. All I’m trying to say is that I’m not fond of how you spend your time, and I’d rather not be involved in it.” Gaze meeting his, you return the questioning look on the boy’s face with a sad smile of your own.
“I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but—”
Before you can get another word out, you feel two strong arms envelop you in a hug.
The sudden embrace lasts for a few minutes, or perhaps for just a few seconds; you aren’t sure. It feels like heaven either way. Soon you feel a vibration against your shoulder, right where his face is buried. Upon asking him to repeat himself, you finally make out a small “I wanna change,” and you think you might be dreaming.
“Really?” A nod. “How do I know you’re not still drunk?”
“I’ve been sober since I woke up, I swear.” Chenle lifts his head, eyes shining under the light emanating from your ceiling. “I’m starting to see that I’ve done a lot of bad things. You’ve helped me realize that. But I don’t really know how to do good ones. Can you…”
“I’ll help you,” you pledge, arms still wrapped around his middle and hands absentmindedly toying with the fabric of his undershirt. He smiles, warm and true, and your heart is now fluttering for multiple reasons.
Actually, you have a request of your own, and it’s a bit impromptu. You can’t help it. Your feelings for the boy have swelled and reached a new level after hearing him accept some accountability by admitting to such things. To say the least, you’re proud of him.
“Since we’ve gotten that out of the way,” you change the subject almost inappropriately quickly, taking a shaky breath prior to speaking again. “Can I…”
The way you trail off and glance downwards to trace the angles of his face with your vision is enough to reveal your intentions. His lips have never looked more inviting, and this time it’s his turn to approve with a small tip of his head.
“Are you still drunk?” He questions, raising an eyebrow.
You hum and look away, flustered by the suggestion. “No! I really like you, Chenle…”
“Then yes. As long as you don’t try to take my clothes off again,” he teases. Just because he’s willing to give up messing with others doesn’t mean he’ll stop messing with you. You’re too cute and you make it far too easy.
“Don’t remind me," you cringe.
Chenle bursts into laughter at the reaction, but the eagerness of your kiss swiftly cuts off the sound.
It’s somewhat different from when you kissed him last night. Now you’re fully aware, more deliberate in your movements, but the same amount of zeal remains. His hands come to rest gingerly behind your head and yours grip his sides in desperation, the moment in itself a mix of soft and strong. Once again he mirrors your speed and uses just as much force, enough to send you backwards at one point.
The image of you crashing onto your bed urges him to take more drastic action, so he wastes no time in leaning down to pepper light pecks along your skin. Chenle allows you to return the favor some moments later, delighting in every feeling, every sensation, and only stopping when the rhythm between you slows down naturally. You hold him close, lazily nuzzling into his chest as you press kisses wherever you can reach.
With the morning’s sunshine filtering in through the windows and your arms around him, a new day has begun for Chenle. If he’s going to change his tune, it has to be now. He may have everything, but the one thing he can't stand to lose is you.
He just didn’t expect it to be this difficult.
While Chenle’s trying so hard to make a change, everyone else at school isn’t. The dynamic is tense as always, and corridors and classrooms are full of students with glares so piercing they could bore holes into the steel lockers.
Other Socs flock to his side, not even uttering a greeting and instead launching into conversations about their next act of hostility against the greasers to establish some sort of superiority. No matter what they do, it’ll never be enough, they’ll never be satisfied. The closest they could ever get to having a ‘last laugh’ would entail eradicating the east side itself.
If someone had asked Chenle a few months ago, he wouldn’t so much as hesitate to endorse such a plan. But now, he knows better. Much better.
Anytime he feels his long-ingrained social instincts start to kick in, he squeezes your hand, an action that passes under the radar of all except you. Or so you think.
Yangyang notices his uncharacteristic denial of a cigarette. Ten is shocked when he passes up the chance to jump a couple of younger greasers walking home. Sicheng can’t believe his refusal of a party invite. His three closest friends could become your biggest obstacles.
So when they all insist that both of you join them at a local diner after school one day, you know exactly what it’s about.
By the time you arrive they’re already occupying a booth in the corner, each boy holding a cherry-topped milkshake or an ice cream cone. The oldest spots you first and the rest follow suit, gazes as cold as the desserts in their hands.
After ordering treats of your own, Ten waves you over, motioning to the empty side of the table. No one speaks at first, until Yangyang gets impatient enough to slam his chocolate shake down with a huff.
“What the hell is up with you, man?”
Chenle feigns confusion with a clueless expression, but it fails. “Don’t give me that look, Zhong.”
Sicheng echoes the younger’s question. “What’s going on?”
“Fine, fine, I’ll talk.” He feels your foot nudge his beneath the table, giving him a boost of confidence.
“I just don’t like living this way anymore. It feels wrong and I’m not proud of the person I’ve been, okay?”
The boys stare blankly, dumbfounded.
“...Living as a Soc, you mean?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
A chorus of protests erupts, everyone at the table beginning to shout except for you. The other customers look over with contempt, rolling their eyes and trying to return to their private discussions. Kids will be kids.
“You can’t do that!”
“Are you crazy?”
“You’re practically king of the school!”
“I know, I know! I don’t care,” he declares. “I’ve decided I don’t want any part of this. If I’m labeled an outcast, so be it.”
“Oh really?” Ten turns his gaze towards you, and you instantly feel small. “Tell me, Chenle. Did they have something to do with this?”
“Yeah, what’s with that?” Yangyang jumps in. “They come along and all of a sudden you have a conscience?”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” you argue adamantly. “It was his decision, not mine.”
Confirming your words, the aforementioned boy nods. “I may have gotten a bit of a wake-up call from them, but this is what I want to do.”
The three hum, exchanging glances in the silence that encompasses your five-person group. Distant chatter fills the rest of the room, but it doesn’t interfere. They’re all starting to follow his logic, but whether or not they’ll follow in his footsteps is still up in the air.
“What about us, then?” Sicheng inquires stoically.
Chenle takes a final sip from his milkshake glass. “If you ever come to the same realization that I did, you’re free to join me.”
At his signal, you slide out of the booth and he does the same, displaying his newfound habit of holding your waist shortly after.
“But it’s your call.”
Ten, Yangyang, and Sicheng look on, open-mouthed and astounded, as you both stride out of the doors.
What just happened?
You’re asking yourself the same question weeks later, when you’re sitting in the familiar front seat of Chenle’s car. He’s walking out of the school’s main entrance, beaming from ear to ear.
“You’ll never guess what I just did,” he chatters, settling in behind the wheel and beginning to back out of his parking space.
“Hm?”
“I asked Kun and his gang to meet me downtown this weekend, to talk things out.” Chenle sounds pleased with this arrangement, but your gut twists. “Are… are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Why not? It’ll be like making a truce; I’ll just say we’re square.”
You explain that you have a bad feeling about the whole thing, but he continues to assure you, saying that it’ll be fine. Eventually you relent, but only after he promises to bring you with him.
“You should ask the other guys to come with you, too. Safety in numbers.”
“Ah, I dunno. They’ve barely spoken to me since that day at the diner.”
Though Chenle’s a happier and much less hostile person now, you see the flicker of hurt in his eyes when he remembers how his friends chose to stay behind, to cling to their old mindsets as they’ve always done. He doesn’t hold it against them, but he wishes things could have been different.
And his altered demeanor hasn’t gone unnoticed by the greasers, either. They find it off-putting, since they’ve never known a Soc to treat them like they’re anything more than an inconvenience. Lucas especially doesn’t like the sound of Chenle’s request. None of them do, really, but he’s the only one that’s able to get his hands on a surefire way to make sure the boy doesn’t try anything.
On the selected day, almost every street is bustling with activity. Every street except the block the two parties agreed to meet on, conveniently. As you near the location, the rate at which your stomach turns begins to increase. You can feel something heavy lingering in the air, and your brain is screaming at you to turn around. You have half a mind to reach over and yank the wheel in the opposite direction, but this will be good for Chenle.
At least, that’s what you tell yourself for the rest of the drive, and the words keep repeating even when you step out of the Mustang. A clock tower tolls nearby, signaling the top of the hour, and just like that, it’s time.
“Just stay here,” Chenle advises. “I didn’t mention that you were coming, so if they see you they might think I’m up to something.”
Pretty sure they already do. That’s what you want to say, anyway, but you remain quiet.
Four figures await at the end of this chosen alleyway, which lets out onto an equally empty road. One of them peeks around a shallow corner between the buildings and alerts the rest as soon as they see Chenle making his approach. Lucas slips a large hand into the pocket of his jeans.
You're anxiously leaning against the side of his car, where he had told you to wait. Once the boy turns down the thin passageway and you become unable to see him, the pounding of your heart grows louder in your ears, now overpowering the buzzing sounds of the town’s center. You can’t help but notice how narrow of a space it is. Surely he wouldn’t have much room to turn around and run? If need be, of course.
But as time goes on, the unlikelihood of that scenario seems to shrink.
This was a bad idea from the start, because how are they supposed to recognize that his intentions are good? After years of only having only bad ones, surely they’re jaded enough to think it’s all a ruse.
You don’t know why you start to run, why your legs begin to carry you faster than they’ve ever carried you before, but a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach guides your accelerating footsteps.
“Look, guys, I don’t want any trouble.” He’s trying his best, but Chenle’s efforts to explain that he’s got nothing to hide, no tricks up his sleeve, are in vain.
“Right.” Hendery deadpans. “What’d you say… you wanna talk, right?”
They have him backed up against a dumpster and facing the street he entered from, meaning that the quartet’s backs are turned to you. Even Lucas’s frame is tall enough to temporarily obscure the sight of a lone figure, your figure, charging down the alley and towards the group. None of them see you coming.
A glint of metal catches your eye. You run faster.
“Yes! Yes, that’s all. Just talk.” He takes a step forward, one stupid step. One too many. “Gimme a chance to—”
Bang.
Several things happen then, all in the span of about half a second. With a strength you weren’t even aware of possessing, you burst through the gang’s barricade-like stance to tug Chenle to the side. Unfortunately, it’s at this moment that your footing decides to fail you, and you end up essentially switching places with him.
The tallest of the five boys looks on in pure horror as the lead bullet punctures not Chenle’s arm, but yours.
What’s most surprising to you, though, is the fact that you don’t fall to your knees or pass out. Not at first. You just stand there, trying not to look down at the place where your shirt’s been torn by the projectile, leaving behind a scarlet wound that smells distinctively of rust.
Movies always made it seem much more dramatic.
Someone’s screaming. Maybe it’s you. Everything is muffled, your vision is fuzzy. Chenle’s next to you and his mouth is moving but you don’t hear any sound come out, feeling only a dull pain in your ear from the presumably high volume.
The pain. It reaches you slowly, like paper absorbing a droplet of ink, flooding your left shoulder and surging all the way down to the ends of your fingers.
So much for managing his hostility. Chenle is spewing obscenities at all the greasers while simultaneously recovering from his own wave of shock, stunned by what he so narrowly avoided and by what you put yourself in imminent danger of.
By now, the gun has clattered to the ground, and Kun turns his attention to his companions. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out who brought the weapon as it’s laying right next to a pair of distinctive shoes, some dirtied high-tops that he knows belong to Lucas. The man’s face is nearly ashen, struck with regret.
“Bringing a heater? Really?” Kun reprimands him. “You didn’t even think to mention that, did you? I know we all had our doubts, but this?” Xiaojun reinforces the admonishments, sticking close to Hendery while they decide whether or not to offer help.
Lucas doesn’t respond, his only movement being when he kneels down next to Chenle as he tends to your now-crumbling form, but the hand he extends is quickly swatted away. Curses are still flying under the youngest’s breath in order to keep his mind and mouth busy, too busy to cry, while he wraps his letterman jacket around your upper arm.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he murmurs, trying to reassure you and himself at the same time.
You retain no memory of the ambulance ride or of your arrival at the hospital. The next time you open your eyes, you’re told that two days have passed, and you’ve already had surgery on your shoulder.
An off-white ceiling glares down at you, but the presence beside you is far more comforting. Along with a nurse, Chenle’s face is visible in your peripheral vision, and you can see your whole family standing at the foot of your bed as well.
She notices the way your face brightens a bit, some of its normal color returning. “He’s been here holding your hand the whole time. Except during the surgery, of course.” The nurse finishes her thought with a smile, expression warm and kind. Chenle squeezes your palm in his, standing up and stepping outside into the hall to let those you’re closest with have some time with you.
As the door opens, seven sets of eyes snap towards it, only three of which Chenle was expecting.
“What are you doing here?”
Xiaojun, Hendery, Kun, and Lucas appear the most apologetic he’s ever seen. Granted, such an emotion doesn’t make its presence known on their faces very often, but there’s a first time for everything.
“We came to see them.”
“And to say sorry.”
“I don’t think so,” he starts, but Ten catches him by the wrist. “Give ’em a chance. We’ve been talking.” Chenle looks to the others, and Yangyang nods, followed by Sicheng.
So when your family exits the room and your mother waves Chenle back in, all seven of the boys follow him.
It’s a bit overwhelming to see eight faces peering down at you, but even more puzzling to you in your groggy state is their dynamic. No one’s arguing or trying to start a fight, and if it weren’t for the difference in attire, you’d believe they were part of the same friend group.
Apologies are given, though they’re not just from Lucas. Among the rest of the guys, numerous expressions of shame and remorse are exchanged, too. It’s most likely the direness of your situation that’s to blame for their heightened awareness of emotions, but the incident itself seems to have been the incitement of change that they all needed. If it can happen to them, what’s stopping the effects from rippling throughout the whole town?
A contented grin on your lips, you lift your good arm to wave at the boys as they exit. The sun has gone down at this point, and your family just returned with dinner for themselves. Your food rests on a tray that the same nurse from earlier brought a few minutes ago, and Chenle has reclaimed his spot at your side, as faithful as ever. He knows he'd be the one in a hospital bed right now if it wasn’t for you.
The boy gently pecks your cheek, his loving gesture enough to melt away any pain that might have remained.
“Thank you, Chenle.”
“For what?”
“For everything.” You chuckle a bit, “There's no one I’d rather jump in front of a bullet for.”
“Don’t say that!” But he laughs along.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Chenle whispers softly, just like he did some 48 hours prior. And this time, he believes it.
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imissjoongsmullet · 3 years
Text
My Prince (5)
Pairing: Minghao x reader
Genre: fluff/(angst)
Summary: Life is not exactly easy being the royal gardeners’ daughter but at least it’s simple. When you’re suddenly called upon to serve as the prince’s personal servant, things get a little more than complicated, especially considering the secret history you and the prince share.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Warnings: general angstiness, a bit of a slow burn, very romantic, very soft, the fact that this will most likely become a long series cause I have no chill
Word Count: 7K
Author’s Note: this is long overdue but also, this is just long! I just couldn’t stop writing and so now this chapter is 7K so yeah ENJOY!! ✌️
Let me know what you think, good or bad, I love the feedback ♥
Fine.
Those last words he'd said to you kept playing in your mind the following days. Technically he'd said other words since but they'd been cloaked in formalities; commands from a prince to a servant, nothing more. You'd really screwed up this time, you'd lost him forever. It was a thing you'd known would happen from the start but that didn't soften the pain now festering in your chest.
Minghao had met with Zhong Mei, as he had supposed to that day. He'd been a perfect picture of royalty, graceful and pleasant; and she'd been lovely as she always was, smiling all the way through the meal. Meanwhile you had stood flanking the wall with Tou Ma, trying to keep your tears from spilling over. You'd kept your eyes down, counting the colorful mosaics that threaded the shiny black flooring until the whole thing was over.
Not that any of it was over of course.
After the prince and his bride's first official meeting, the two were ushered out into the gardens to "spend some time alone" while you helped Tou Ma with a another seemingly endless string of wedding-related tasks.
Slowly but surely your body reverted to autopilot, working your hands raw and your legs sore. You barely realized you were spacing out until at last, you lied down in your sheets on the floor of the maid's quarters and cried. You cried and cried in stuttered silence, praying the sun would not come up again. You didn't know how you'd face another day. You thought about feigning illness but knew Tou Ma would not be so easily fooled.
*
“You’ll be out in the gardens today,” the head maid explained with a weary expression. This whole wedding business seemed to have taken a toll on the old woman as well. “Floral arrangements need to be decided on and I need you to oversee the whole thing gets done in time. Can I trust you with that?”
Your head bobbed up and down faster than was polite. A rush charged through your chest at the idea of spending time with the flowers. Despite your frequent complaining as a gardener, you’d always enjoyed taking care of the vivid, fragrant plants that grew in the royal gardens. But more than that, you knew what this request must mean.
“Mother!” you cried, breaking out into a run. She looked older and shorter somehow, but her embrace was as tight as ever.
Of course, your parents would be working on the flower arrangements as well.
“Look at you!” she said, holding your face in her dirt-stained hands, “my daughter, a real part of the castle.”
Overwhelmed with grief for the life you’d left behind, a sob welled up from the back of your throat but before it could break free into the morning air, Tou Ma interrupted.
“There is lots of work to be done so we better start at once,” she said matter-of-factly, unrolling a long piece of parchment, “I have sat down with both the royal family and the Zhong family respectively and decided on a theme and color scheme for the celebration. I have listed all requirements specifically. The types, the arrangements, the placements, all of it has been meticulously planned.” She then turned her head your way. “I’m leaving you in charge of making sure everything is accounted for on the day. This is a big task, but regrettably, I am far too busy taking care of everything else to take this on as well. And you are the gardener’s daughter, after all. Do not disappoint me.” With another one of her stern looks, she handed you the scroll, gave a curt bow to your parents and walked away.
Now this was a task you were up for. You gazed around you, at the stretches of colorful flowers that ran as far as the eye could see. There were rows and rows of chrysanthemums that spawned in colorful formations, bushes of peonies flanking cobbled pathways, a whole field of the most delicious-smelling lavender, lilies and azaleas and roses and narcissus flowers and you felt all at once, at home. For a moment you seemed to forget the prince and your feelings. It was like a giant slimy toad had just slipped right off of your shoulders, leaving you feeling light as air.
Looking over the list, you were up for quite the challenge. The sheer amount of flowers that would need to be harvested for this event, on such short notice, was startling. But with the help of your parents and their staff, you were confident you’d be able to pull it off. You spent the whole morning and most of the afternoon rushing from one end of the garden to the other, figuring out which plants would be needed, when they’d need to be cut and who would craft what particular piece. It was a little strange, being in charge when all the gardeners were quite a bit older and definitely more experienced than you, but your parents kept encouraging you whenever you stuttered.
“I’m so proud of you,” your mother said as you both sat down for a rest underneath a pine tree on a hill overlooking the garden. She pulled out a packed lunch for the both of you: rice wrapped in bamboo leaves with plum fillings.
“Mother,” you sighed, not knowing how to react. You felt like a fraud. You weren’t what she thought you’d become at the castle. You weren’t some high-standing servant, near and dear to the king and queen. You were a screwup. You’d caused so much trouble since your arrival at the castle you were quite frankly surprised you hadn’t been banished yet.
You could see most of the royal gardens from here; well, the most beautiful parts anyways. There was almost no one out there today. Everyone was most likely busy preparing for the wedding except—
Minghao was strolling through the rose garden ways away from the hill you were sitting. You could see him clearly, his upper body sticking out over the bushes. Zhong Mei was beside him, wearing a white robe with some sort of lilac pattern on it. You couldn’t see the expression on their faces but the close vicinity with which they walked by each other made your stomach turn upside down. Your eyes followed the two figures until their path ventured right and a large chestnut tree obscured your view.
“Let’s just keep working,” you said, getting up as you folded your lunch back closed and slid it in your pocket.
“Tell me what’s on your mind, child.” Your mother’s voice hadn’t changed at all, croaky like a frog but filled with warmth.
You kept your back turned to her, hugging yourself close.
“What do you mean?” you asked.
“My little flower,” her voice came from behind and you felt a hand land on your shoulder, “something is bothering you.”
“I’m fine.”
She chuckled at that. “Liar. I can tell by the way your shoulders hunch,” she said, turning you around to face her, “and look, your eyebrows are all droopy.”
You shook your head. “First of all, that doesn’t make any sense and besides, I don’t want to talk about it.” You knew at once it had been a vain attempt to fend off the stubborn woman. You watched her heave a deep sigh. She was shorter than you but somehow always managed to make you feel like a baby. Her wrinkled eyes scanned your face quizzically for a few seconds before her lips curled into a knowing grin.
“You need to let go, flower,” she said, poking you in the chest with a dirty finger.
You stared at her incredulously. “Let what go?”
The old woman rolled her eyes, smiling still. “Whatever it is that’s causing all of this good-for-nothing heartache!” She patted you on both shoulders. “Go on, away with it!”
A tiny smile crept its way onto your face. “It’s not that easy.”
Your mother sighed deeply once more and turned to look out over the gardens and the castle.
“I know, dear,” she said, “the castle comes with complications these gardens could never carry. That’s why me and your father stay out here, between the fruits and the flowers. You on the other hand,” she went on, turning back to you and taking your hand, “you have some reason for staying at the castle, no?”
Your face burned at the words. You didn’t know what exactly your mother was implying but the way her deep eyes bore into yours now made you feel awfully exposed.
“You can always come back to us, of course,” your mother explained further, squeezing your hand, “but if your heart lies no longer here—”
“It doesn’t matter where my heart lies,” you cut in, taking a step back, “how I feel doesn’t matter.”
Your mother’s eyes creased as they filled with something you hated to see. Was it pity? Understanding? Whatever, you didn’t need any of it. For the smallest of moments you’d thought your problems might be solved with some wise parental advice but that had clearly been a child’s thinking. This problem didn’t have solving. You just had to learn to live with the fact that Minghao was gone forever and he’d never look at you the way he had that night under the orange trees. He’d never smile at you the way he had when he taught you how to read, he’d never touch you the way he had that evening in his chambers— or even— you couldn’t bear remembering his kiss. It was too much. It should haver have happened.
“Let’s just keep going, please,” you said at last, keeping your eyes on the grass between your feet.
The rest of the day went by like a tidal wave. In a matter of hours, you’d crossed the whole of the gardens at least half a dozen times, hauling around heavy equipment, making lists, delegating tasks and making stupid amounts of mini mock-ups of the flower pieces Tou Ma had asked for. By the time you entered the castle, you were so exhausted you thought you might just crash in a closet on the way to your room. The hustle and bustle inside the castle walls had died down as well. Aside from the occasional servant, the dark hallways were deserted and quiet. Yawning freely, you shuffled your way through them, only to get startled by the sudden noise not so far away.
“Silence, son,” a voice whispered irritably, “the castle is asleep.”
“I’m sorry.”
Hao.
Without thinking, you approached a door you’d passed before. You didn’t know what lay behind it, only that, right now, it was being occupied by the emperor and his son, prince Minghao.
“You’ve heard by now the protests haven’t seized I assume. We’re losing not only the Shingmin people but all the highlands. I have tried to protect you from your destiny for far too long I’m afraid.”
There was a long pause. You felt the pain of it right through the wood of the door.
“My son,” the emperor added wearily, “I did not want to leave this country to you on the brink of war. But the season of peace has run out. You are young and overly frivolous at times but we must believe you are capable. It is time to stop thinking about yourself and take on the responsibility you’ve always known was yours to take on. You have the power to free us all. Your legend will be told for centuries to come.”
“My legend,” Minghao spoke at last. His voice was dry and void of emotion. You wanted to go to him. You wanted to help but you didn’t know how.
Krrrr
The floorboard creaked under your feet as you’d subconsciously leaned in closer to the door. There was no way they hadn’t heard that. You pushed away from the door and set off at a run, heart racing, all the way to the maid’s quarters.
Your covers were warm and your eyelids heavy but regardless, you couldn’t seem to find your way to sleep. You tossed and turned until you were sure your hair would be a rat’s nest the following morning. Your body was lying on the floor, between dozens of happily snoozing servants, but your mind was still at that door, listening in. You knew Minghao wouldn’t appreciate it but you felt sorry for him. The weight resting on his shoulders was colossal compared to the slimy toad that tended to bother yours. His legend was beyond famous. Every person in Namin knew it like they knew the color of the sky. Every person in Namin was counting on him. You could tell by the way they looked at him. He was a savior to them. But he was just a boy. You knew that. He knew that. He was a boy, desperately trying to figure out how to live up to a legend that was born with him; a boy trying to solve an impossible riddle, trying to unlock some big secret, trying to somehow heal an entire nation.
All these thoughts floated haphazardly through your head, bouncing and clashing within the walls of your skull until, sudden as a bolt of lightning, they clicked together.
A Vast Unfathomable Secret.
That’s what the book must have been for all along. You shot up from the floor, wide awake now, and set off towards the prince’s library.
It made so much sense you cursed yourself for not seeing it before. You burst through the heavy oak doors and went to light a candle. The room looked beautiful at night, moonlight shining through the circular windows, casting hazy glows on the walls of books.
You had no idea how to start. You’d searched for this book so many times. Then again, you hadn’t been able to make your way through the entire room yet. Filled with stubborn determination, you grabbed your candle tightly and climbed up to a section you hadn’t explored yet. You could read the spines now, thanks to Minghao. In this particular section alone were books about geography, fortune telling, animals and plants you’d never even heard of, as well as poetry. You were tempted to open some of them but knew you had a more important goal. You made the mental note of reading as many books as you possibly could when all of this was over; if Minghao would continue allowing you to come here, at least. 
When the first section revealed nothing, you moved on to another, and then another. You’d finish off the whole room before you’d give up. You had to help the prince in any way you could; if you couldn’t be with him, at least you could still be of use to him.
*
When you woke up, bright sunlight was already streaming into the room generously and your body ached in all kinds of places. You immediately knew you were in trouble. You’d fallen asleep slumped against a bookcase and were now most likely extremely late for your appointment in the gardens.
Tripping over your tunic, you burst through the library doors and onto the long deck. It was a humid and hot day. Up ahead in the distance, like tiny brown specs against the vibrant green grass, were the gardeners’ huts, where you were supposed to meet with everyone to start harvesting and putting together the flower pieces for the wedding.
Oh shoot, the wedding. The wedding was tomorrow. It was actually tomorrow. Not wanting to waste any more time than you already had, you jumped over the railing and tumbled into the grass below. One of your feet landed in something wet but that didn’t matter now. You ran to the huts, not caring about how the long grass and prickly bushes dirtied your clothes, but when you finally arrived, panting like a dog, there was no one there. Instead, a note hung lifelessly on your parents’ door.
Flower We’ve gone ahead and started harvesting See you soon
A huge wave of gratitude coursed through you at those words.
Thanks mother
You raced through the gardens, catching up with everything that was going on.
Thanks to your parents, you were still somewhat on schedule. Aside from delegating tasks, you helped in creating bouquets and garlands and wreaths in rich oranges and reds, as well as deep pinks and purples. The air was sticky and dense. Sweat crawled down your temples as you worked beside your parents, but you were glad for the hard labor; it distracted you. Your nails blackened and your hair filled with twigs and pollen. It felt good. You were surprised when the sun had only just started going down as the last of the decorations got finished.
“Don’t underestimate us,” you dad said with a grand smile, “I don’t know how you fancy people do it at the castle, but we work fast.”
You smiled back at him, glad to have made it in time.
You moved the decorations to a safe place they could be preserved until the morning, which took another hour or so but after that, you were all done. Tou Ma hadn’t even given you any other tasks for the day, which meant, you were free.
All at once, an unavoidable exhaustion took over you. The hot sun and humid air had drained your body that had grown unaccustomed to the life of a gardener. Another reason was probably the fact that you’d slept propped up against a bookcase the night before. A hot bath sounded amazing right about now. And after you might even be able to take a nap? Yes, that sounded good. You needed sleep.
Sighing and panting, you dragged yourself back to the castle. Instead of the main entrance, you chose a smaller door on the left wall that was meant for servants mostly. Coming around the corner you let out a sudden gasp, finding the door blocked by a broad-shouldered man with a long scar across his cheek.
“Identify yourself,” he said sternly, looking your muddy form up and down. The side door had never been guarded before. You supposed it was another wedding-related thing.
After explaining who you were and what you’d been doing outside, the man stepped aside, grunting something inaudible as you passed. Whatever, you thought, entering a modest-looking corridor. At least you’d be able to reach the maid’s quarters without running into—
“WHAT IS THIS MESS?!”
Tou Ma.
The tall lady strode towards you, looking like an underfed but furious bull.
“Look at the floors, they have been polished just this morning and now!” her voice reached a crescendo, “look at this! You want me to seizure!?”
"I'm sorry," you blurted out, "I've been preparing the flowers and—"
"Are they done?"
"They are—"
"So something has gone right today at least! Honestly it's suffocating, all this work in so little time I swear the emperor wants me to lose my marbles I've still got so much to do, this whole thing is ridiculous! Could they move the wedding to next week so the castle can prepare to its fullest abilities? Probably but will they? No, no of course they won't that would make my job too easy, wouldn't it?!"
You were staring into the face of a deranged woman. Tou Ma was sweating the white powder right off her face, fanning herself for dear life.
"Um," you tried, once the woman seemed to be taking a break to catch her breath, "is there anything I can help with?" You regretted the offer the moment the words left your lips but you couldn't stand seeing her this way. No matter how much the vile old woman tormented you, seeing her usually strong personality weakened like this made you feel sort of bad.
Tou Ma eyed you suspiciously for a few moments before she caved.
"Very well," she said, "you will run an errand for me. In my haste I forgot to bring the empress' scarf out with the rest of her robes for the celebration. They need to bask in the moonlight tonight."
"Of course," you replied, though you had no idea what she was talking about. Wealthy people really did have all kinds of strange rituals.
"They will be in her private chambers," she went on, "I'd fetch them myself but I'm on my way to a meeting with the chef and I've yet to go over the guest list with security and her majesty will need her bath before nightfall and I haven't had a scrap to eat since sunrise and—"
"That's alright," you cut in, for the head maid was panting again, "I'll grab her scarf and bring it to the deck, I guess?"
"The south east deck on the top floor, child, that's where we're leaving them out," Tou Ma explained, clutching her chest.
"Got it," you said, turning on your heels.
"It is a scarlet thing," Tou Ma call after you, "silk with gold-thread details."
"Okay," you called back as you made your way down the corridor.
"Child!" her screechy voice cried before you could round a corner, "I beg of you, wash up first will you?"
You did as you were told and had your bath. It was not the long, relaxing bath you'd hoped for but it did manage to wash away some of the exhaustion from your body. You allowed your muscles to relax for a few minutes, hopped out and hurried towards the royal quarters. You'd only ever visited Minghao's chambers; his parent's area was completely new territory. The place was guarded heavily by men who only let you in after a thorough interrogation and once inside, you realized you had no idea of where to look for the scarf.
You were in a rectangular room with shiny, red-toned walls and floors. It was completely bare save for the golden candelabras that lined the walls. Two black and gold doors that faced each other waited for you.
Clueless, you tried the first door. You knocked twice and waited until you were sure you weren’t disrupting something. When nothing happened, you opened it. You were met with complete darkness. With a bit of a struggle, you pulled free one of the candelabras from the hallway and entered the dark room.
It was extremely minimal. There were no windows. Only a simple bookcase and a large writing desk. Scrolls of parchment and bottles of ink lay spread out across it. Seeing them made you feel suddenly feel as though you were seeing something you weren’t supposed to. This was the emperor’s private study.
Backing away fast, you found yourself in the hallway once more. You tried the room opposite the study, entering after knocking. This room was anything but dark. The whole west wall was non-existent, giving sight to stretches of grassland and the mountains up in the far distance. As the sun set, it cast a breathtaking pink veil over the master bedroom. The bed, sitting on a raised platform was impeccably made. You could just envision Tou Ma arranging the perfectly white pillows by size, making sure not a single crinkle was left in sight. The room was so clean though, you couldn’t imagine the scarf would be here. There was no closet or dresser for it to hide in either, however, there was a small doorway in the corner of the room, half-covered by a silk curtain. As you approached you smelled the sweet aroma of incense. Gently pulling back the curtain, you peered inside, finding a room that was more or less the same size as the bedroom, but which felt smaller due to the abundance of stuff that was in it.
The walls were virtually covered with dressers, all identical, ornate and black lacquered. There were ottomans in various jewel tones on which piles of discarded robes lay, and in the corner stood a intricately carved wooden vanity with a mirror that reached the ceiling.
This must be it, you thought as you entered. You carefully went through the clothes on the stools. You wished you had time to admire their craftsmanship but Tou Ma’s exasperated expression kept your mind on the mission at hand. The vanity was cluttered with all kinds of trinkets you’d never seen before. You supposed there were the creams and powders used for beauty purposes. There were a couple of small drawers that opened to reveal more beauty products and a couple of scarves that clearly weren’t the one you were looking for. You began to feel tired again. Gingerly, you sat down in front of the vanity. Gazing at yourself in the mirror it occurred to you how much you didn’t belong in a room like this. You let your eyes drift over the the reflection of the cluttered space, until they landed on something they hadn’t noticed before. There was an unlocked chest sitting in a corner by the entrance. Multiple colored fabrics were spilling out from its mouth. You rose up and hurried over. There were so many scarves it was hard to make out where one piece of fabric ended and the next began. Getting impatient, you started pulling out the contents of the chest, keeping a lookout for anything scarlet and gold. Your heart sank however as you were reaching the bottom without having found something that even remotely looked like the empress’ wedding scarf. Not before long, the chest was empty, except for something dark and solid that lay all the way at the bottom, and bunches of fabric lay all around you on the floor.
What were you going to do? You’d promised Tou Ma.
Sighing, you peered into the chest. You now noticed the leftover item was a small book. You knew you should leave it alone; this was clearly an item the empress liked to keep to herself, but your curiosity got the better of you. You pulled the book out of the chest and held it up to the light. It was a small book, the brown leather cover a bit tethered and the gold writing on the front slightly faded. The golden lily, however, was still unmistakable.
You heart lurched as the title registered in your mind.
A Vast Unfathomable Secret.
It was right here in your hands; exactly as Minghao had described it. What wisdom was inside this little, brown book? And why was it here, in the empress’ wardrobe of all places? Nevermind. You forced your questions behind closed doors. None of those things mattered right now.
This was it: your chance to help Minghao.
*
You were at his door in no time and in your haste, you didn't even pause to knock before coming in.
"Minghao, I found it! I f—" you gasped as something warm crashed into you, sending you to the floor.
Minghao stood over you with a blank stare on his face. The coldness in his eyes sent a pang of doubt through your system. You shouldn’t have barged in like this. What were you thinking? Just as you were about to apologize and leave however, his eyes landed on the book clutched tightly in your hand. They widened, his eyebrows crinkling slightly, his lips opening in stunned silence.
"I found your book," you tried again, barely able to look at him.
Nothing happened for a good few seconds in which you wondered whether Minghao had fallen in some sort of trance, but then he knelt down beside you and took your hand. Your heart leapt as he pulled you up. His hand was so warm.
“You—” he said, staring from you, to the book held between you and then right back up to you. You noticed his eyes start to burn with intense emotion. He looked happy at first but you soon realized there was much more than joy behind his expression. He stared at you unblinkingly, standing perfectly still as a statue, but clearly waging a violent war within himself. You thought for a moment he might cry, his eyes turning sadder and sadder until, to your surprise, his lips formed the tiniest smile and he let out a sigh. You had not a moment to react to this strange turn of events because the next thing he did was grab tight hold of both your arms and kiss you.
This was nothing like the kiss you’d shared in the gardens. This kiss was the unleashing of desire. He held you close as his lips claimed yours with desperation. He did not let go when you thought he would and neither did you want him to. The book lay forgotten on the floor as, at last, you were all his. You felt his hand move up to your face, brushing a bit of your hair back, then cupping you by the back of the neck, begging you to stay close for those few last moments before, inevitably, reality struck.
He pulled back abruptly, looking completely stunned.
“You can’t tell anyone,” he said, his face swiftly filling with hurt again.
“Hao,” you replied, out of breath yourself, “wait,” because the prince was already pushing past you.
“I have the final wedding rehearsal,” he said, hurrying out the room before you could do anything to stop him.
You stood with yourself in quiet for quite some time, staring at the door.
Emotions were starting to bubble up inside you but you were so sick and tired of crying you forced your tears at bay by focusing on the only thing that could possibly distract you right now.
The book was still on the floor and now, it was begging to be read.
You sat down on the floor and picked it up. It didn’t feel heavy at all. You always imagined the book Minghao had been looking for would be huge; some grand exposition of wisdom. Maybe battle techniques? Or secret information on dragons, perhaps? But what could a tiny book like this one do to save an empire, or in the least, its prince? Heart pounding, you opened it, only to stare in confusion at something that made no sense to you at all.
Once upon a time, it read.
Once upon a time, there was a mountain. On that mountain stood a castle so tall it could reach the clouds in the sky and in it lived the great ruler. The ruler was very proud of his castle, because it stood taller than any other castle. The inhabitants of the castle sometimes complained about the cold winds that blew through the windows. They muddled up their long hair and blew away their paperwork. But of course this was all worth the magnificent views they got when they looked outside, according to the ruler. At the bottom of the mountain was a cave that lead to a whole underground town. In that town lived many people. Their days were clouded in darkness but the earth around them kept them warm and safe. One night, the ruler’s son was asleep when the wind whooshed right into his bedroom. It picked him up like a newborn baby and took him out through the window. The son shouted and cried for help but no one could hear him over the raging wind. The little boy shrieked all the way down until the wind plopped him down unto the grass. There he continued to cry in the darkness, helplessly, for no one would be able to hear him so far down. Little did the boy know, someone did hear him cry. All the way down in the cave town, a girl was sitting up in bed, wondering what that whining noise was. Curious, she crawled through the tunnels of her town, following the strange sound until she was at the mouth of the cave and saw the boy sitting in the grass. “What’s wrong?” she asked the boy. The boy jumped up at the sight of the girl, his cheeks flushing. “I fell down,” he answered. “From all the way up there?” the girl asked with big eyes. “Of course,” the boy said, “where else would I come from?” “I live in the ground,” the girl said, “how strange is this?” The boy and girl sat together in the grass, talking about their homes all night. The boy explained how cold his room was, and how the wind took his toys away from him, tales to which the girl hollered in disbelief. She then told him that she couldn’t even see her toys because it was so dark in her house and the boy laughed at how silly that was. When the sun came up the boy and the girl noticed a black dot in the sky. They watched as the dot grew bigger and bigger until the boy recognized his father. He was hanging from a big balloon that was slowly letting him down to the ground. “What is this?!” he bellowed when he noticed the girl. “She is my new friend,” replied the boy with a big smile, “she lives in a cave.” Just then, murmurings roused from the mouth of the cave. People emerged from it, chattering to one another until they set their eyes upon the scene in the grass. “What is this?!” they all cried at once. “He is my friend from the mountain,” said the girl, eyes sparkling, “the wind brought him to me.” The ruler and the cave people were outraged. It was plain as day that people from the castle shouldn’t get along with people who lived underground. “You should be ashamed of yourself!” shouted the ruler. “It’s a disgrace!” the cavetowners roared. The ruler grabbed his son by the arm and tied him to his big balloon, just as the cave dwellers took hold of the girl, dragging her back into the dark. Days and weeks and months passed and the boy and the girl didn’t meet, at least, that was the people around them thought. Every night, the boy crawled onto his father’s balloon while everyone else was asleep and drifted down below, where the girl would greet him with a smile and they would spend a wonderful time. Over time, the boy felt something grow within him; it was a secret. It started small as a little firefly, hovering around his empty chest. But by the time the boy was as tall as his father, the secret had become so vast and unfathomable, it was like a fiery blaze that enveloped him entirely. At any moment, he felt the secret might burst free. He could not let that happen. It frightened the boy so much, he began to keep his lips shut tight. When people around him spoke, he just stood by and watched. When his father asked him a question he simply nodded or shrugged. Only at night, when he ran free with the girl, did he open his mouth. The most beautiful sounds spilled out, laughter and song and shouts of glee. As he did so, he felt the secret grow and grow but he did not care in the night; he did not care how the inferno within him swelled against the confines of his body, how it roared on inside, begging to break free. As much as the boy ignored these happenings, like all secrets, break free, it did. He felt it rumble in his stomach first, then move up towards his throat, just as he’d sat down for breakfast. He clasped his neck in surprise. He wanted to shout at the people around him to hide, for the secret was surely coming, but not a second later, it exploded from his lips like a flaming tornado. It took over the room in an instant. Soon, the whole castle was set aflame. People cried for help but they were too far up for anyone to hear. They crawled up on the roof, shouting to the clouds in desperation but no one called back. Trapped by the flames, the boy knew only one thing to do. He heaved himself over the ledge of the dining room window and looked down. In a voice as loud as he could muster, he called for the girl. His ears picked up something of a reply but he couldn’t be sure; after all, the fire around him crackled obnoxiously loud. But she must be there, he thought, she would never abandon him. Gathering all his courage he leaned over the edge and let go, falling away from the castle and his father and the people who didn’t understand, towards the arms of freedom, where there was no need for secrets, where he was alright, just the way he was.
The book trembled in your hands as you finished the story. This was nothing like you’d imagined A Vast Unfathomable Secret to be about. So many things ran through your mind but right at the forefront was, overwhelmingly, Minghao. Minghao, Minghao, Minghao. All this time, you thought the book would reveal some kind of clever solution to help him save Namin. In the end, the book had revealed nothing more than his heart.
You knew you weren’t supposed to be here. You were probably supposed to check in with Tou Ma and help prepare for the celebration but you couldn’t do that. You had to see him, even if it meant watching him from the sidelines as he ran through his final wedding rehearsal. You were half hidden behind a wooden pillar, feeling as if your knees might give out. Minghao walked aside his mother to the front of the room, where a tall monk waited on a raised platform. The room wasn’t decorated properly yet but it had been filled with so much candlelight, the whole thing looked enchanting nonetheless. Zhong Mei came out as well, skin glowing in the warm firelight. She joined Minghao on the platform, facing him. There was a bit of a pause as Mei’s parents did some fervent explaining to the monk. The spectators in the room began murmuring amongst themselves. Your eyes never left Minghao though. He looked nervous. His cool mask wasn’t sliding on as easy as usual. He looked down for a long time before starting to scan the room. A shiver ran up your spine when his eyes suddenly met yours. He was quick to look away though. It seemed like Mei was saying something to him then because he nodded awkwardly at her in reply, though he couldn’t look at her.
Finally, Mei’s parents stepped aside and the monk stepped forward. He cleared his throat as he straightened out his robe, ready to start his speech.
BANG
A thunderous crashing sound broke the silence and the whole room shook.
*
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dollyreblogs · 2 years
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The Silk Energy:
The Silk Energy is a form of combat all the Brothers have learned and can manifest in their own unique way if they chose too. It's the art of condensing your energy, chakra, and strength into an invisible but powerful string, or a silk.
The silk has many capabilites and each bother has a different way of using it because of thekr unique energies.
Shou Ming actually manifests the silk into his hair, which is why it looks so soft and basically will take a piece of his hair and form it into any weapon he chooses at will. Since it's made of his own energy, it'll pack quite a punch.
Tengfei manifests the silk through his clothing. So let's say he's fighting an enemy on a rooftop and they manage to push him off, his silk will sprout from his clothing and proceed to rescue him, since its invisible, it'll make it look like he's floating. He's more of a stealthy kinda guy so he has his silk stab throw his enemies, it doesn't hurt them but since its his energy, it puts them under his influence.
Li is a trickster and having a powerful invisible energy string only makes it worse. His enemies have to take caution approaching him because he's set traps everywhere. Like Akira is walking over to him and Li casually holds his hand to reveal a piece of string tied and when he pulls it, Akira's foot gets caught in the trap and he's now upside down as Li makes his silk cocoon around him.
Cheng use of the silk is actually weaving it together to create a net for his enemies, and blow them up by making the silk explode but Sin found out about that and was upset so now he just traps them, he also uses his silk as a hammock and stuff because, hey, it's still silk and its still comfy.
Stan likes how fast and sharp his silk can cut, and it can cut through ANYTHING. Anybody, any person, and any weapon. However since he doesn't want to kill too much, he simply just has it cut or slit his enemies but not enough to kill them, enough to distract them though so he can deliver the last blow.
Zhong uses his silk but turning other things into thread and manipulating it. Like he transfers his energy into something and it turns to threads and he can manipulate it for anything; fighting, protecting and such.
Since they are using their own energy, a huge weakness is that their attacks must be fast and calculated. That's why when they attack, they always have a plan, because it takes a lot out of them. This is also the reason why all brothers are required to fight in pairs.
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boardboxes · 3 years
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babe what's genshin impact (this is absolutely bait for you to talk ab your interests, but i also really want to know bc it's everywhere)
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YES OK OK (it makes me so happy that u asked)
Genshin is a rpg game where you’re this traveler who got shot into Teyvat, and your (traveler aka lumine/aether depending on whether you chose female/male) goal is to find your sibling who was lost during the fight in the opening scene of the game
AS YOU PLAY U CAN GET MORE RLLY COOL CHARACTERS WHO DIFF POWERS AND HAVE A COOL SOMETIMES SAD BACKSTORIES. my personal favorites are kaeya, zhong li <333, and mona.
you do world quests and unlock places on the map where you can travel and meet new characters/unlock other quests, but you start out in Mondstadt where you meet the characters who are your starter pack if you will. You can go around beating the shit out of hilichurls for loot, forage , and with some of the stuff u forage you can learn to cook as well. Or you can go to places in town to buy your supplies to level up/eat whatever yk. As any game, the difficulty increases as u go along and the more you’ll need to level up your characters. But the stuff usually is not too hard to find, at least I’ve never really had an issue (it’ll usually tell you where you can find the items if you click on it)
ANYWAYS THE WORLD BUILDING AND CHARACTERS ARE SO GOOD AND I LOVE THE GAME SO MUCH. LIKE DILUC AND KAEYA <3333 THEIR BACKSTORY IS SAD. U SHOULD TOTALLY PLAY IT. AND THE MUSIC IS SO SOOTHING TOO
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erikmaza · 4 years
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Best of Wmag.com: 17 from ‘17
Friday was my last day at W magazine. Today, I join Town & Country as its new Style Features Director. The last day was not at all as I had planned it. Instead of being in the office, I was in Pittsburgh, where my flight to New York from L.A. had been rerouted a day earlier because of the bomb cyclone. By the time I landed and got to One World Trade, it was already mid afternoon, and I didn’t have time to appreciate that it had been nearly two and a half years since I joined the magazine. In a way, it’s a perfectly fitting ending—working on the internet doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for reflection. You move fast, for long periods of time, make snap decisions, some that you regret in hindsight, others that proved prescient, and you do this ad nauseam, somehow ideally calibrating the magazine’s values with the internet’s appetites, hoping that along the way you publish good stories that will make people pause and enjoy a good piece of writing or a beautiful image. As I look back on my tenure there, it’s remarkable that in such a short period of time we grew the site’s modest audience to its size today, and that we did it, for the most part, with pride. That’s a testament to a great and tireless team of writers, editors, social media and visual wizards—some of whom I recruited from as far away as Miami!—who were dream colleagues—collaborative, funny and smart as hell. Picking my favorite pieces from the last year was not easy, but it was a reminder that all the hard work paid off.
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What it Feels Like for a Woman, and James Comey—By Nell Scovell
The Women of the Women's March—Words by Katherine Cusumano, Video produced by Karine Benzaria, images by Driely S, Victoria Stevens, Hannah Sider, and Tyra Mitchell. 
Paris Hilton Invented Everything You’re Doing in 2017, and She Knows It—Words by Emilia Petrarca, images by Mayan Toledano, styling by Caroline Grosso, visuals by Biel Parklee, video by Kelly Bales. 
How the Whitney's Riskiest, Most Political Survey in Decades Came Together—By Fan Zhong
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The 14 Types of Street Style Stars You Meet in Paris—By Mike Albo, short by Aaaron Christian. 
Plus, Chameleons of Frieze New York—By Mike Albo, short by Aaaron Christian. 
Why is Fashion So Obsessed with Space?—Words and illustrations by Marisa Acocella. 
Plus, What Happens at Ralph Lauren's Polo Bar After Dark?—Words and illustrations by Marisa Acocella. 
Glenn O'Brien Could Do Everything Except Live Forever—By Linda Yablonsky
Plus, insightful remembrances of Jim Walrod (by Diego Hadis) and Liz Smith (by Michael Musto.
How Eckhaus Latta Finally Got Mainstream Fashion’s Attention—By Stephanie Eckardt
Inside the Surreal Scene at Donald J. Trump's Inauguration—By Dan Duray, images by Benedict Evans.
Plus, Kyle Munzenrieder on Ivanka Trump; Brooke Marine on Rosie O’Donnell; and Stephanie Eckardt on New Yorkers Against Trump, with images by Matt Bernstein. 
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Queen Elizabeth Plots Some Twists For the Next Season of the Royal Family, TV's Longest-Running Soap Opera—By Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Things Vetements is Over—By Kyle Munzenrieder
Life Ball 2017: A First-Hand Account of the World's Most Explosively Decadent, Supermodel and Drag Queen-Packed Charity Gala—By Isaac Oliver
Plus, the best RuPaul’s Drag Race recaps in the biz, by Kyle Munzenrieder. 
Meredith Hagner, Search Party's Favorite Narcissistic Millennial, Explains How to Be a Successful Social Media Stalker—By Brooke Marine, video by Rebecca Scolnick and Karine Benzaria
Troian Bellisario On Life After “Pretty Little Liars”—By Lauren McCarthy
Why Renata is the Real Star of Big Little Lies, According to Renata—By R. Eric Thomas
Plus, Marisa Meltzer on Celeste, Miriam Bale on Jane, Maud Deitch on Bonnie, Allyson Shiffman on Madeline, and Brooke Marine on the year in TV. (We really, really loved BLL.) 
Don't Look Like Vladimir Putin—By Horacio Silva
What I Learned About Love From My 80-Year-Old Dad—By Bob Morris, illustration by Jonny Ruzzo
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dreamcity-rawr · 5 years
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werewolf!nctdream (1)
   in which nct dream are werewolves
Mark Lee: 
the alpha in him shows even through his human form. he is an independent human but he strives as a leader wolf. he is this carefree and friendly persona as a human but sometimes, his alpha persona soaks through to his human self and he makes sure people know he’s an alpha. yet he’s not very aggressive. he’s calm and collected. the reason why no one’s ever suspected him to be a werewolf despite his aura as an alpha is because he has great self-control. and you didn’t think you’d ever find out either, even as his close friend. but you’ve seen him turn one time he was over-stressed. it almost gave you a heart-attack but thanks to how calm he was even when caught, you managed to stay calm as well. and after that revelation, you two got even closer than before. “I hate it when people don’t treat me with enough respect….but you can totally ruffle my hair and pat my back and call me fluffy, it feels good coming from you”
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Huang Renjun: 
a lone wolf in both forms. no one ever notices him much because he stays very lowkey, straying away from any unwanted attention mainly because he doesn’t want to deal with the drama of being found out. he doesn’t trust anyone enough to tell them either, not even you, the class president. but one time during a field trip, he was about to turn and he knew you were the only person he could trust with his secret at that moment. so when he suddenly barges into your tent, seconds before turning into a wolf in front of your own eyes, words were stuck in your throat. you didn’t know what to make of it but you knew he was seeking your help, so you hide him from the rest of the camp throughout the whole day. from then on, you became the person he always hung around for he put his trust in you. “I can’t believe I trusted you enough and barged in like that….still, I’m thankful you also trusted me enough to not call the hunters on me. So I’ll forever trust you with my secret”
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Lee Jeno: 
his great strength is really something else and he isn’t even trying to hide it, expecting people wouldn’t question how on earth he could kick a ball from one end of the field to the other without much effort. but with great strength came weak self-control. you found that out when you were walking home late at night. some men cornered you and pulled you by your wrist. he was there to witness it and was furious anyone dared to touch you. in the blink of an eye, he was hovering over the men in his wolf form. you were so surprised and terrified, you ran straight home. he approaches you the next morning, you think he came to threaten so without waiting, you say you’ll keep your mouth shut and not tell anyone he’s a werewolf. but that’s not what he came to you for, he couldn’t care less if you told anyone, “y/n are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Did they do anything to you? God, I was so worried and… I’m so sorry for scaring you…”
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Lee Donghyuck:
is very proud to be a werewolf and uses his abilities to his advantage. lowkey even wants to brag to people about being a werewolf but he knows people won’t accept that and that he might be in danger by doing so, so he carefully chooses who to reveal it to, one of those people being you. he tells you quite early on and you didn’t believe him at first, but he literally turns right in front of your eyes just to prove it to you. you’d avoid him the next few days, still trembling but he rubs it in your face even more, eventually, at one point, you come to terms with it and accepted the random 4am visits from him in his wolf form, chewing on your soft toys and messing up your sheets. Sometimes, he asks you to comb his fur because he loves the feeling. “why did you lock all the windows yesterday night? I told you I’d come by for nightly tummy rubs!!!”
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Na Jaemin: 
he hides his werewolf self very well. but one thing he can’t seem to take control over are his random heats. he’d be absent from school one a month and people’d think he’s just really prone to fevers. but when you come over to his house one day to give him his schoolwork, you walk straight in on a whole fluffy wolf, sleeping on the bed, breathing heavily and the room is too stuffy and hot. not knowing where jaemin is, you decided to wait and in the meantime, get some cool water for what you thought was his pet. the wolf kept whining and you sit there, running your hand through his fur in an attempt to ease his condition. somehow, you fell asleep and woke up an hour later, only this time instead of the wolf lied jaemin, with flushed skin covered in sweat, panting and whining every other minute. you knew then that he is the wolf and ignore your shock just to help him through his fever.   “It’s embarrassing to be seen in such a state….but if you ever feel cold on a winter night, feel free to come by and cuddle me, I’m a fluffy heat pack. I like it, you like it, it’s a win-win”
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Zhong Chenle: 
soooo fragile! he was adopted into your family ever since he lost his pack. so he’d treat you in the same way he used to treat his pack. runs so fast during tag, expecting you to catch up. screams so loud expecting you to do that too as it is contagious for him. eats a lot and gives you a lot of food too, thinking you eat just as much. but later on, he realizes you’re not like him and truthfully, it makes him very sad and hurt. he’d go on, not interacting with you for some time but you always do your best to assure him you don’t mind this difference. so he becomes close to you again, mindful to treat you with more care. and he’s quite insecure of himself being a werewolf. but you always tell him you’ll be by his side no matter what and that you see him as everyone else, if not more dearly.   “I can’t believe you still howled through the night with me even though I must have looked like an idiot…you’re amazing”
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Park Jisung: 
wolf form or human form, he’s always so curious and playful. being so young as he is, he has this great enjoyment in exploring new things, so he’d always be this happy-go-lucky person. It reflects the same when he’s turned, he’s a total little puppy, running a lot, jumping a lot, tumbling a lot. your families are very close. growing up, you just thought you were playing with this little puppy and a little boy at the same time, but eventually found out they were both one. so it is very natural for you to be around him now, still in his playful nature in both forms. sometimes he’d be so hyped he’d make you get on his back or to chase his tail with him. “y/n! is that a rabbit? Oh my god! let’s go let’s go let’s go! We gotta catch it!!!!”
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  author’s note thank you for sending in the request and I hope it was to your liking~
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deluxedreamcream · 4 years
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Shea Butter: Multifunctional Dream Cream
Intro
With skin being one of our most delicate and important organs it’s of essential importance that we care for it properly. Hydration and nutrition are key factors in maintaining the health of our skin. Extreme temperatures, stress, aging and the use of chemical filled detergents are toxic to our skin. Finding a natural product that provides protection and encourages healing should be a high priority for us all.
Many sources believe shea butter is that product. If you haven’t discovered shea butter yet, stay tuned while I elaborate on this nutrient rich dream cream.  As one of the most natural and widely used ingredients in today’s moisturizers, shea butter is gaining popularity and momentum as an effective remedy to many skin and hair ailments. With its long history of use, low price point, creamy texture and nutrient rich make up; no harmful side effects shea butter is an ideal product that’s versatile and accessible.
Shea butter can be used in many different ways as a means of healing or a method of remedial treatment. It’s packed with vitamin A and E which make it a great choice for softening the skin. According to, Kathryn Watson of Healthline, “The rich tree-nut oils in shea butter can soak into your skin, creating a smooth and soft barrier that seals in moisture. This moisturizing effect can last several hours” (Shea Butter for Face). Based on scientific research and experience many sources agree that shea butter has much potential benefit as a soothing skin and hair softening agent. Sources also agree that moisturized skin is critical to maintaining polished, soft and vibrant skin. Yet, other sources indicate it can have different effects on different hair textures.
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History
With a long and dynamic history, shea butter has found its way into many of today’s cosmetics as a key ingredient. Shea butter is a creamy solid substance that is extracted from the seeds of the Shea tree which is indigenous to Africa (How to Use Shea Butter). It’s usually off-white or beige in color. Shea butter has been harvested for centuries in Africa.  According to Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez and Kristeen Cherney with Healthline.com, Healthline is an American website and provider of health information, “There is evidence that food, skin balms, soaps, shampoos, traditional medicines, cooking, and lamp oils have been made with Shea butter in Africa for thousands of years. Its use has been documented as far back as the 14th century” (Shea Butter for Hair). Likewise, Bryce Tarling of Alive: Canada’s Natural Health & Wellness Magazine agrees, “Shea butter is extracted from the kernels of Shea nuts. Traditionally used as an edible oil and medicine in Africa, where Shea trees are grown, today it’s used as a cocoa butter substitute-and as an ingredient in skin care products” (Winter Skin Care Relief). It’s versatile, effective and widely used in different capacities. This is an indication that Shea butter is tried and true.
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Nutrients & Skin
Packed with powerful nutrients and vitamins, shea butter has softening and healing properties that offer nourishing benefits to the skin. Tarling asserts, “shea butter contains numerous bioactive ingredients such as vitamins A and E, essential fatty acids, and other phytonutrients essential to health. Shea butter contains compounds such as triterpene acetates and cinnamates, which a 2010 animal study showed to have significant anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor benefits for skin” (Winter Skin Care Relief). For example, “Triterpenes have been found in many plant species...they may induce cell migration, proliferation, and collagen disposition. Triterpenes also enhance the tissue repair by reducing the length of time for wound closure…” (Anti-Inflammatory Skin Barrier). As Lin, Zhong, and Santiago of the International Journal of Molecular Science report.   In the same way, another source agrees, “shea butter is typically used for its moisturizing effects. These benefits are tied to shea’s fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids. When you apply the shea topically, these oils are rapidly absorbed into your skin. They act as a “refatting” agent, restoring lipids and rapidly creating moisture…shea butter has significant levels of vitamins A and E, which means it, promotes strong antioxidant activity ” (22 Reasons to Use Shea). As Kathryn Watson and Cherney of Healthline explains.
Watson and Cherney go on to state, “shea butter is also antibacterial, antifungal, boosts collagen production and may help sooth conditions like eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. The high levels of linoleic and oleic acid in shea butter balance each other out which makes it easy for your skin to fully absorb it and won’t make your skin look oily after application” (22 Reasons to Use Shea). Shea butter has the potential to reduce fine lines and slow the process of aging. According to PRNewswire, “The secret to shea butter's potency lies in its ability to stimulate collagen production. Collagen, which is the skin's primary structural protein, provides elasticity and gives skin a vibrant, youthful appearance” (Cleopatra’s Choice Releases).  Because of shea butters bio-chemical composition it can be used in a variety of ways including as carrier oil that blends well with essential oils. Essential oils are highly concentrated oils that are extracted from roots, seeds and plants; they contain powerful nutrients as well. In addition, shea butter offers some of the same benefits to the hair.
Hair
Adding shea butter to a person’s hair moisturizing routine would be very beneficial.  Everyone’s hair structure is the same, regardless if the texture is fine, coarse, strait or curly. Nearly, every hair strand consists of three layers, the cuticle or outside layer that protects the inside cortex and medulla layer from damage. Because shea butter contains tiny fat/oil molecules that penetrate the hairs cuticle layer this oil can be a protectant that stops dehydration and helps to prevent breakage by making the hair shaft more pliable. According to Tarling,”Hair often gets damaged from dry winter air and sun, shea butter’s light non-greasy texture and exceptional moisturizing properties make it an ideal leave-in conditioner” (Winter Skin Care Relief). Our skin and hair can easily absorb the vitamins and nutrients that shea butter is overflowing with.
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Side Effects/ Allergies
Studies show, shea butter has nearly no side effects or allergic reactions. According to Watson, “shea butter is an incredibly low-risk topical ingredient. Allergic reactions to shea butter are rare. Even people who are allergic to tree nuts, the family that shea nuts belong to, have a low risk of reaction to shea butter on their face. Researchers believe this is because shea nuts contain little of the tree-nut proteins that trigger allergies” (Shea Butter for Face). It works well with any type of skin.
In terms of how it may affect different hair textures, Fernandez and Cherney go on to say, “Oils and butters can leave a film on your hair. This may not be desirable if you have thin hair, as this can weigh it down. Excess oil in your hair also isn’t suitable if you have oily skin, as this can put even more oil on your face, shoulders, and back, leading to breakouts” (Shea Butter for Hair). A little shea butter goes a long way, there’s no wonder it is a popular choice for today’s moisturizers and conditioners. Storing shea butter in locations that are too warm may melt it into a liquid form, and storing it in too cold of a place will cause it to become a hard solid and make it difficult to use, Fernandez and Cherney explain (Shea Butter for Hair). Shea butter is known for its staying power, it won’t become stale very quickly. However, proper storage is important.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, shea butter is a natural, safe and effective moisturizer. With its combination of fatty acids, vitamins A & E and its creamy texture it can offer a tremendous amount of relief to dry, irritated, and inflamed skin. Moreover, these powerful nutrients can benefit the hair as well. Because of shea butters molecular structure it penetrates the hair strands cuticle layer and is easily absorbed by the hairs cortex layer. This prevents dehydration of the hair. Likewise, this added moisture increases the hairs flexibility thus reducing breakage; for added benefits like aromatherapy shea butter blends well with essential oils. Overall, it’s a great choice for moisturizer.
If you are thinking of trying shea butter, here’s a link to an all natural source of whipped shea butter that’s infused with essential oils.
 Deluxe Dream Cream
Works Cited
 Abbas. AFRICAN SHEA TREE - TREE OF LIFE: HISTORY, HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF THE SHEA TREE, 1 Jan. 1970, herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com/2012/02/african-shea-tree-tree-of-life-history.html.
About Blessing Okpala HI THERE.. IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU..Cooking is a passion I developed at a very tender age from my mum and this online platform is where I aim to share and grow knowledge in all things cooking. View all posts . “12 KEY REASONS YOU NEED SHEA BUTTER Amp-Version.” Global Food Book, globalfoodbook.com/benefits-of-shea-butter.
Cherney, Kathryn Watson and Kristeen. “22 Reasons to Use Shea Butter.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 21 June 2051, www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/what-is-shea-butter.
Cherney, Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez and Kristeen. “Shea Butter for Hair: Raw, Hair Growth, and Natural Hair.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 8 July 2051, www.healthline.com/health/shea-butter-for-hair.
“How To Use Shea Butter for Hair & Skin - Beauty Tips.” Garnier, www.garnierusa.com/tips-how-tos/how-shea-butter-improves-your-skin-and-hair.
Lin T-K, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical   Application of Some Plant Oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018; 19(1):70.
 PR Newswire. “Cleopatra’s Choice Releases Industry Leading Shea Butter Reference Guide.” PR Newswire US, 11 Feb. 2015. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.delta.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=201502110830PR.NEWS.USPR.PH28864&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
“Shea Butter Tree, Vitellaria Paradoxa, Brown Subject, White Background.” Alamy, www.alamy.com/stock-photo/shea-butter-tree.html.
“Shea Butter with the Seeds.” 123RF, www.123rf.com/photo_9964290_shea-butter-with-the-seeds.html.
“Sheabutter Images.” Shutterstock, www.shutterstock.com/search/sheabutter.
Tarling, Bryce. “Shea Butte: Winter Skin Care Relief.” Alive: Canada’s Natural Health & Wellness Magazine, no. 362, Dec. 2012, pp. 65–68. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=87558906&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Watson, Kathryn. “Shea Butter for Your Face.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 7 Apr. 2026, www.healthline.com/health/shea-butter-for-face.
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cannedapricot · 6 years
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Road Trip with! NCT Dream
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the album,,,,,,, the mv,,,,,, i’m soft don’t touch me,,,,,,,,,,,, here’s a road trip au based on their mv to let my uwus out. also this gif makes me hella emo
hello
so i know school has started in most countries
but for this au, pretend that you’re still on summer vacation!!
aka what i wish i was on rn ugh
anyways!!
high schoolers! dream!!!
except-
mark’s already graduated high school
and will head off to his uni after the summer ends
then donghyuck, jeno, jaemin and renjun’s gonna graduate before next year summer
which really means
that it’s gonna be the last summer of your crew as high schoolers
this thought didn’t really go through your head until a week before school starts
when the 00 line fucking shows up at your door with their bags already packed
and bright smiles
you’re just like-
????when did we agree on a sleepover????
“hEY YOU UP FOR A ROAD TRIP TO COMMEMORATE OUR LAST SUMMER AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS?”
“uh-”
“come on, dear y/n, it’s not like you were planning on doing anything else”
you eyes narrow 
becaUSE DID THEY JUST ASSUME YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO
i mean,,,, they’re right tho,,,,, all you’ve done all summer is laze at home because it’s way too hot outside,,,,,,,,but,,,,,,,,,,,,
“can,,,,, you even drive tho”
“hahHAHAHAHAHAH DONGHYUCK? DRIVE?” 
“i even don’t trust him with my fish what makes you think i trust him with the wheel”
“okAY JUST BECAUSE I FAILED MY DRIVING TEST TWICE DOESN’T MEAN YOU GUYS CAN BULLY ME”
fuck no one’s sane here
but what’d you really expect from two jocks and two art geeks
the same jocks and geeks that pushed you back into your own home and watched as you packed
wipes away tear
“why am i always forced to do dumb shit with you guys”
“whAT DO YOU MEAN????”
and so you were pushed out the door after having a word with your parents
who only agreed to let you go cause they deemed renjun trust worthy
because he’s the only one who at least acts normal around your parents
“whoSE CAR ARE WE EVEN U S I N G- oh”
right on the curb parked mark’s old and stuttering blue car.
on which he sat in the driver’s seat, trying to get the old thing to play music
“are you sure we’re not gonna die”
“nope, but it’s the only car we have available”
jeno whispered in response, throwing your bag in the trunk
“ah, y/n, i see you’ve been successfully dragged into hyuck’s dumb idea”
donghyuck climbs into the passenger seat next to mark, 
flipping his friend off in the proccess
“you are all here because we are all friends and we love each other”
you, being squashed in the back seat:
“no - not really”
“wtf jaemin there’s another row of seats in the back stOP TRYING TO PUSH ME OUT”
“BUT I WANNA SIT WITH Y/N????”
“fucking donghyuck”
“WHY ME???? WHAT HAVE I DONE????”
wow great start to your trip 10/10
picking up chenle and jisung literally took five seconds
they lived next to each to each other
and it only took one excited nod from chenle for jisung to tag along
and that’s the story of how you ending up being in a shotty blue car with seven teenage boys
miles from home on an empty ass road
screaming the lyrics to micheal jackson songs into the heat (thanks to dj haechan)
at least mark got the speakers to work again
“wherE ARE WE EVEN GOING???”
“IDK LOL”
“WAIT WHATTHEFUCJ-”
at one point, jisung and chenle at the back decided to sit up onto the car, with their legs on their seats
“I’M PRETTY SURE THAT’S ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS”
“yOlO!!1!1!!!1”
“how the fuck do i disown them”
“push them off”
everything was going swimmingly
until the car breaks down in the middle of the road
“i knew this was gonna happen sighs”
mark then jumps out to check the hood
then immediately notices something wrong rip
“hyuck, pass me the box in the glove box.”
“you’re prepared???? does this happen often or????”
so mark tries to fix the car in the blistering heat with renjun nagging beside him, holding an umbrella to hide the two of them from the sun
whilst the rest of you start playing uno on the back of the car
multiple times, not once, buT MULTIPLE TIMES
CHENLE HAS LOOKED AT YOUR CARDS
HE’S DOESN’T EVEN TRY DEFEND HIMSELF WHEN YOU POINT IT OUT
WHAT A LITTLE SNAKE
“FOR FUCKS SAKE ZHONG CHENLE IF U DON’T STOP I SWEAR-”
jisung won every round 
which made the rest of you bond trying to break his win streak
“jeno do you have a plus four to screw him up with”
“i only have a green plus two if that helps”
and that kinda goes on until mark lee emerges from behind the raised hood, telling y’all to give the car a push
“yeah just a second, jisung’s finally losing-”
“hA YOU THOUGHT”
THROWS DOWN FIVE NINES
INFURIATING
everyone grumbles as they hop off and start pushing
“lets just put our rage into pushing this stupid car”
which ends up moving easier than y’all thought it would
so the seven of you stumble a little when the car started moving by itself
mark nearly drove away himself lmao
made the group of you chase after the car for a moment lmAO
you wished he did drive off though because the second the car starting moving with everyone back on,
he yells,
“lET’S GET IT”
“siri where’s the nearest bus stop to get home”
“HSEGFSUEF NO I’M SORRY :C”
then as the day slowly got darker,
your screams didn’t die down lol
the latest feud was over chocolate vs vanilla
and you honestly think about how you got stuck in a group of dumbasses
“remember when hyuck hated jaemin and jeno back in freshman year lol”
“nO SHUT UP RENJUN”
“LMAO DIDN’T HYUCK DISLIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY CHUCKED A BASKETBALL AT HIS HEAD”
“what you still remember that? i’m sorry hyuck :’cccccc”
“NO JENO I’VE FORGIVEN YOU AGES AGO- FUCKING RENJUN-”
the group of dumbasses did make you laugh though
so maybe it wasn’t so bad
night then came and the conversation finally started to tone down
mark pulls to the side of the road 
“let’s call it a night, yeah?”
the rest of you mumble in agreement
“our last summer as high schoolers huh”
you hum, running your hands through jaemin’s freshly dyed candyfloss hair
“but will anything change even if you guys graduate?”
chenle asks from the back, head on jisung’s shoulder
“not much, i don’t think. we just won’t see each other as much.”
it was a clear night, and the stars were brighter than ever
everyone was staring up at the night sky, enjoying the cool breeze
“we always have summer right?”
a round of agreement sounded before jeno cuts through-
“does this mean we’re going on another road trip next year?”
“way to ruin the mood jeno”
“oh please no, i don’t think i can handle another one with you dumb fucks”
lies
you loved every moment with them
“this is a cute moment and all, but can jaemin get off of us now?”
renjun asked, referring to the long boy sprawled on top of jeno, renjun and you
“i was planning on sleeping in this position tho-”
he didn’t get to finish his sentence before the three of you pushed him off
mark chuckled before leaving his seat to pull the hood over the open seats
“good night”
you were shook awake by mark the next day, greeted with a sky that wasn’t even awake
“what’s going on?”
“fancy watching the sunrise?”
turns out, mark woke up earlier than the rest of you and drove to an empty beach to watch the sunrise together :’)))))))
you stumbled out of the car, legs soft from sitting for too long, finding the rest of the boys sitting on the hood of the car and on the concrete in front
donghyuck pats the space next to him and you hop on top of the creaky car
“is this safe”
“probably not”
“ o h “
it’s all quiet before the sun starts coming up
then gasps were heard and wishes were made
and it was all heartwarming :”)))))
before all of you made a dash to the cold ass water
trying to chuck mark in
“whY ME????? I DROVE Y’ALL HERE”
“YOU’RE LEAVING THAT’S WHY”
“SBRGOSBEGOSBAE??????”
S P L O S H
chenle was screaming the entire time
then one idiot cough hyuck cough accidentally chucks sand into mark’s blue car
which then leads to mark pulling the squad into a self wash station
“come one guys let’s wash this car together!!1!1! wE’rE aLl In ThIs ToGeThEr”
“wow i suddenly dont know you”
then some idiot coUGH HYUCK COUGH starts chucking suds at everyone
AND JAEMIN’S LOWKEY TRIGGERED BECAUSE NOT HIS NEW HAIR
SO HE FIRES BACK
AND RENJUN WHO WANTED TO HOSE THE SUDS OUT OF HIS HAIR ENDED UP FIRING WATER AT CHENLE’S FACE
EVERYONE STARTED LAUGHING LIKE NO TOMORROW AND YOU GOT A GOOD VIDEO OF IT LMAO
AND EVERYTHING JUST ENDED UP WITH EVERYONE GETTING A FREE SHOWER AT THE STATION
and renjun getting pinned to the car by jeno but u h 👀👀👀👀👀👀 
y’all end up drying yourselves by sitting under the hand dryers in the bathroom
“at least we don’t have to worry about showering”
“hyuck you started this shut up”
hopping back into the small car, the group decides to start heading back
mainly because your snack supplies were running low
but also because you don’t think the car’s gonna survive any longer
but mostly because snacks were running out
“chenle ate all the fucking pocky”
“nO JISUNG DID”
“WTF-”
“i love best friends throwing each other under the bus”
taking a shorter route home, you stop at a basketball court to move a around for a while
“why is jaemin and jeno on one team, they’re the star basketballers of our school tf i call bs”
“you literally picked your own team-”
nomin vs the rest of u fuckers
no surprise, nomin won
now you guys owe them mcnuggets
“hA SU C C”
“let’s leave them behind quiCK TO THE CAR”
mark: trips over own laces running
in no time, you were in front of your own house again
unlike before though, you lowkey didn’t want to leave your friends
“i still can’t believe that we ran out of snacks in a day and a half-”
“blame chenle”
“hEY-”
renjun pats your shoulder as jeno and jaemin go get your bag for you
“we’ll be living and sleeping at mark’s place until he leaves. you’re welcome to join”
mark from the driver’s seat: what.
and as they drive away with mark questioning when this was decided,
you head back inside to restock you bag, leaving for mark’s house just a few hours later
when high school started up again, you weren’t surprised to see renjun having chensung in headlock in front of your locker
whilst hyuck just whispers-
“right in front of my goddamn salad” at the sight
creaking open your locker, the first thing you do is stick up a group photo taken on your trip
nomin lean on your shoulders, craning their neck to look at the photo
“we look dumb”
the picture was taken by mark setting a timer on his phone then running to join the picture 
everyone was lined up, leaning against the old blue car against the sunrise
but mark bumped into haechan who bumped into jeno, who bumped into jaemin etc etc
and the picture ended up coming out with everyone slanting as y’all fell in a domino effect
but the smiles on your faces were precious :’))))))))
“i think it’s cute” 
you say, closing your locker, ready to face another year with these fuckers.
hi i’m apri and i present to you yet another unedited piece of shit :’)
listening to the dreamies’ album while writing this made me really emo about mark’s graduation so it got really deep in the middle im s o r r y
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pixtolsandqueens · 5 years
Text
A Family Legend (Drabble)
So to create my KFP character, I made a small legend behind her family to explain some of her stories, so here you guys go. If you like this, I’ll post a strawberry poll to vote on if she should get a blog!~
Once there were three sisters. Zhong Li,  Su Lei, and Song Shi. Li and Lei being the oldest, Shi being the youngest. The two older sisters loved to terrorize, and all together create a living hell for Shi, as she refused to marry. “Shi! Why will you not marry? Are you worthless???” The sisters would cry. Her father, named Wei Hu was a rich lord and thus had already married the two older girls off. But when he came to Shi, who always sat near the window with marriage proposals, she would again refuse. “I do not wish to be married for selfish reasons, Father.” She would say. Finally, he’d had enough of her stalling, and during dinner, he slammed his fists on the table. “I will find you a husband and you will marry him by sundown of tomorrow if it kills me!” He yelled.
Distressed, Shi went to the temple near her home to pray for help. As if by a miracle, an old man appeared. “Why do you weep?” He questioned, placing himself next to her. “My father will only arrange my marriage for selfish reasons. He does not care that I wish to marry of my own accord.” Shi cried. “Do not weep. Pack your things, and follow the road to the next village, there will be a man waiting for you. You may stay with him.” The old man said. Shi thanked the man and left to do as the man had bid her. Only packing the things she would need. A change of clothes, some coins, and a few other necessities. She then wrote a letter explaining her reasons for leaving. Before, in the dead of night when no one was awake, she ran.
A week went by before she reached the village, and she walked straight to a lords house as if in a trance. The lords' son sat there, and when he spotted her, torn and bruised from the travel he instantly brought her in. Within the next day, she was back to full health. Another week passed, and she and the lords' son had fallen in love and soon married. But the old man had neglected to tell her the price for his protection and help. When Shi became pregnant, she gave birth to a girl. She had three more children, also girls. 
From that time on, though no one could hurt Shi’s heart or body if she truly loved them, she and her descendants could not bear a single male child.
And thus we reach the current family.
The husband thought this was a wives tale, and when his wife became pregnant, he assured her they would have a son. But lo and behold, the child was a girl. They had six daughters, no sons. Frustrated, as his wife gave birth to the last child, another girl, who she had named Xue Hua, he questioned if the legend was actually real, and she nodded with a tired smile. He sighed, and picked up his crying daughter to soothe her. “My little Hua...You will have a hard journey. But if our protection remains true, you will find love, and happiness despite this,”
So! Do YOU guys want Hua to have her own blog or no? (Her WHOLE FAMILY ARE CLOUD LEOPARDS)
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xiezuo · 6 years
Note
Please Can I have chenle as a prince who falls in love with a serving girl bc I’m trash for that soppy nonsense and he is my prince and honestly the lack of content for him is a crIME
Masterpost | Rules | WIPs
It’s ok my dude ya boy right here’s got you covered. I love writing this kind of stuff ! Realistically speaking this makes no sense but it’s fiction so I had fun with it lol
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Zhong Chenle (NCT)
Chenle may be a prince and set to rule his kingdom one day but he’s still really humble about it. He wants to treat his people fairly and he doesn’t care if you’re a noble or a peasant : he’ll treat you as an equal and be kind to you
So it’s only natural that when he meets you, he’s going to treat you like a friend rather than a servant
You mom herself being a servant, you grow up in the castle and it’s when you’re about four that you meet prince Chenle for the first time
And because you’re about the same age, you instantly click and become best friends
Since you’re both kids, no one really pays attention, but as you grow older and start working as a servant too, people around the castle start to look down on your friendship with Chenle
Even your mom doesn’t really approve because servants aren’t supposed to mingle with royalty
But Chenle doesn’t care about these rules, he thinks they’re really stupid and he likes you and that’s the only thing that matters
He often sneaks up on you while you’re working, sometimes to help you despite your protests, but more often than not he’s there to coerce you into ditching your job to spend time with him
It’s the only time he ever brings up the “I’m your prince, you have to do as I say” argument, and you absolutely hate it because it works
Of course the other servants notice this and rumors start running around that the two of you are actually dating
Which isn’t too far off from the truth as you both have a huge crush on each other, you just don’t want to admit it to yourselves (and each other)
But word of your little escapades eventually reach your mother’s ears and she’s really afraid you’ll end up in trouble or hurt
So one night she sits you down and explains to you that your social status and his are worlds apart and she tells you about how one day he’s going to marry a princess from another kingdom
It leaves you completely heartbroken but you understand and agree with her and you decide that it’s best if you just move on
So you start avoiding him, even requesting to work in a different part of the castle so he doesn’t find you
And Chenle is left really confused because you just ??? Vanished ??? And none of the other servants seem to know where you are
So eventually he gets really worried and goes to see your mom because he hasn’t seen you in weeks and it’s not normal ??
Your mom feels horrible after seeing the genuine care he has for you but she carefully explains to him that things have changed and that you can’t see each other anymore
And he’s even more confused and very intent on finding out where you are
So he sends off some of the guards to find you and they do
Turns out you’ve been appointed to the Queen’s (his mother) headquarters
He practically runs up to you, you hear him call out your name but you don’t respond until he catches up and asks you what’s going on
And at this point it’s just too much –it hurts too much and you’re in tears because you don’t want to do this but he deserves an answer
So you tell him everything : about your crush on him, about how your friendship is impossible because of your respective social statuses, about how you’d rather end things now before you’re in too deep and end up being devastated when he has to marry some royal girl when he’s of age which is like, really soon
Chenle listens to everything you have to say without placing a word, going from shock at your confession to sadness and frustration and it’s only when you try to leave that he speaks up
He tells you that he doesn’t care about you being a servant and that he’s really upset that you think things like that should matter, and that the thing he loved the most about you was the fact that you always saw him as just Chenle, your best friend, and not prince Chenle of the Zhong dynasty
He tells you that you’re really special to him and that if he has to marry anyone, it’s going to be you, and that he doesn’t care if it turns into a scandal
You try to convince him that it’s a really bad idea but he’s the one who ends up convincing you to let him handle everything with his parents
But rumors fly rampant in the castle and eventually the Queen hears of this
So that evening at dinner, she ends up exposing Chenle for this, and at this point he couldn’t care less, so he tells his parents that the rumors are true and that he loves you
Chenle’s father gets mad and tells him that they can face a severe political scandal if he marries a commoner and even worse, a servant girl, and that as future king, Chenle has to think about what’s better for the future of the kingdom
The King ends up demanding him to stop seeing you, cutting off all ties, and tells him about how he’s supposed to marry princess Yizhuo of the Ning family, a poweful clan of the neighbouring kingdom
And Chenle ain’t having it
He understands why royalty marries the way they do and that for a kingdom to prosper, they need allies and that he’s the King’s only direct heir
But he can’t have that, what he wants is you, like he always have
And he thinks he’s old enough to be able to make his own decisions and he’s about to speak the truth to his father
“Exactly, one day I’ll be king. One day I’m going to be able to make decisions on my own and you won’t be there to monitor me. Maybe it’s time to start letting me do what I want. And what I want is to marry for love, not for politics. I want to show people that you can be born with a title and change it if you work hard enough. And if you’re not going to let me do that, disown me. I’d rather be a poor peasant married to the woman I love rather than being a miserable king with a wife I can barely look at. I’m sure Yizhuo is great, but I’m in love with Y/N. You can pass the crown to my cousin Renjun, because if I have to sacrifice my own happiness for a crown, then I don’t want it”
And the King is left completely shaken because his son has never spoken to him like that
And prince Renjun, his sister’s son, his second in line for the throne after Chenle, but he’s too proud to forego his own son to give the crown to someone else who doesn’t even carry the Zhong family name
He’s extremely reluctant to do it but he eventually agrees, telling Chenle that he’s going to give your family some land so at least it doesn’t look like Chenle is marrying a nobody
And Chenle is so happy that he jumps down from his chair and immediately runs up to your room to tell you the good news
More like jumps on you to hug you into near suffocation the second you open the door and your mom is extremely confused
Chenle ends up blurting out everything that happened and that you need to pack your things because your family is moving out of the servant headquarters and into nicer lands
It takes a few days for everything to settle but your family now has its own land to rule over as counts and your parents don’t have to work for the King anymore
Meanwhile you stay at the castle and your room is now near the Queen’s, meaning that you get to see her everyday
And she kind of looks down on you at first, really not appreciating the fact that her husband had to almost beg Yizhuo’s father to marry his daughter to his nephew Renjun instead for a former servant girl, all to maintain his alliance with the Ning family
But she eventually warms up to you once she sees how much Chenle loves and cares for you
It takes you a while to get used to this way of living, now being part of royalty, and Chenle helps you learn all about the etiquette and introduces you to the important people in banquets and dinners which you now have to attend
And it doesn’t really hit you that you’re going to marry Chenle and become his Queen until your coming of age ceremony and the Queen starts talking about the wedding preparations
And you’re kind of freaking out, a lot actually, and you panic in the middle of your dress fitting
Chenle ends up having to spend half of the night reassuring you that you’re going to be an amazing Queen and wife
But to be honest he also gets scared that you suddenly decided that you don’t want to marry him
But you want to do this. You love him and you want to marry him, you’re totally freaking out but you can do this
You and Chenle spend almost every waking moment together for the two months preceding the wedding
And you both just fall more and more in love with each other
Of course there are moments of doubt for the two of you because you’re still so young and you almost wish you could wait a few years but it’s custom to marry very young within royalty
But you’re also convinced you’ll be happy with Chenle, you’ve known him all your life and you have the chance of marrying your best friend
You have to keep your background and upbringing secret however, that’s the one rule of the contract, so whenever some important man or woman asks you about your past, you have to make up lies
But you understand why it’s necessary so it doesn’t really bother you, plus it’s not like you have to hide it from the King and Queen or Chenle and live in fear of being busted by them since they already know
You never quite get along with Chenle’s parents, although you’re closer to his mother
The King barely speaks to you and you feel like you have to prove something to him
But to your surprise, the King ends up delivering a very heart-warming speech on your wedding, thanking you for making his son happy and teaching him that life isn’t always all politics
Speaking of the wedding
The whole kingdom is invited, it’s very public and it makes you very anxious but the second you see Chenle smiling at you from the altar, you know everything is going to be alright
You feel like you don’t really fit in with all the traditions but Chenle stays by your side to support you the whole time
He helps you get more comfortable with this way of life and you always feel like he’s going to be there for you no matter what happens
You as a duo end up being adored by the people because you’re the first royal couple to allow different social and political classes to marry and allow common people to become knights or get higher-end jobs as long as they’re qualified for it and have access to things like education
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luffystaro · 3 years
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zhong li icons?? @📝🤕
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