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coffeequeenmartha · 16 days
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RTVS Palestine Fundraiser, April 12th-14th
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This weekend, Radio TV Solutions will be holding a 3 day marathon fundraiser event for the people of Palestine.
All weekend long, we will be streaming a variety of games and events in an effort to raise money for on-the-ground aid groups and direct Palestinian support campaigns.
The event will not be a traditional stream fundraiser, rather than pointing people at one donation point, we will be suggesting many different support recipients, and you may donate to any of them. You can then submit your donation amount to be tallied into our rough total.
The information document detailing suggested groups/campaigns to support will open up closer to when the event starts, as well as a schedule of events for the weekend. The event will be hosted on my twitch channel, where http://stream.rtvsfundraiser.live/ links to.
Lastly, if you know of any GoFundMe's or similar site campaigns for Palestinians that you trust as legitimate, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with links and details, and I will add as many as I can to the event document.
Please tune in and support however you can, whether that be through donations, spreading the word, anything and everything helps. Even if you can't or don't want to tune in, please consider donating. See you this weekend!
poster art by the one and only @logmore
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coffeequeenmartha · 18 days
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Please consider donating to my friend's escape fund.
She has survived an attack on her life and the lives of her brothers while distributing aid using our donations. And now she's gone back to her neighbourhood to see it completely leveled. Everything they've ever known is gone. Please help them. They're close to their goal.
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coffeequeenmartha · 19 days
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Ahmed Saad or @/90-ghost's brother in law is currently doing his best to organise the evacuation of his family from Gaza. This family suffers from a combination of ailments that all require medical attention. This is the description on their GFM page:
Hello, I hope you all are doing well!
My name is Mohamed Monir Ahmad Mahmoud, I’m a hemophilia patient from Gaza. I decided to start this campaign with all the hope that you could support me in evacuating Gaza to do surgery for me and my daughter and start a fresh life with my 5 kids out of the ongoing genocide in Gaza [...] I was supposed to go out at the end of 2023 to have surgery on my knees but since 7 October, I had no chance due to the procedures on Rafah crossing, the gate of Gazans to the world. Now, my knees and elbows are bleeding with no access to any type of care and if things stand as they are in Gaza, I won’t be able to walk or make any effort because of the bleeding (currently I am barely able to set up a small fire in front of the tent to prepare food for my kids).
What I ask is 60,000, for travel costs because each one would need to pay 5,000-8,000$ to be allowed to leave Gaza through Rafah crossing and we need around 3000$ more in Egypt for our stay and to obtain visas. We will be heading to Brazil where my brother Diaa lives and there is a huge chance to do the surgeries and access health care as the health care for Hemophilia patients in Brazil is one of the most advanced in the world.
please give generously!!
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coffeequeenmartha · 1 month
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Gaza is a feminist issue, children's rights & human rights issue
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coffeequeenmartha · 1 month
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On this year women's day, all we could think about are Palestinian women in Gaza.
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Nearly 9,000 women have been killed in Israeli attacks in five months. Another 2,100 are missing and presumed dead, while 23,000 have been wounded and over half a million are displaced.
“Palestinian women, especially in the Gaza Strip, are exposed to the worst humanitarian catastrophe,” Ashraf al-Qudra, the health ministry’s spokesperson, said on Thursday.
Dozens of women and girls have also been detained and face harsh conditions in Israeli custody, including sexual abuse.
Women in Gaza also struggle to find menstruation products and access the necessary pregnancy and post-natal care. The consequences on reproductive health, including a rise in stress-induced miscarriages, stillbirths and premature births, have increased significantly.
Women in labour are undergoing caesarean procedures without anaesthetics, and a shortage of post-operative care such as medication, antibiotics and pain relief further exacerbates the situation.
According to the health ministry, 5,000 women give birth monthly in Gaza under “harsh, unsafe and unhealthy” conditions caused by Israeli bombing and displacement.
There are 60,000 pregnant women in Gaza suffering from “malnutrition, dehydration and lack of medical care.
There have also been repeated cases of Israeli soldiers mocking Palestinian women by posting videos and pictures of themselves rummaging through personal belongings in Gaza homes, making derogatory comments and posing with women’s underwear.
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coffeequeenmartha · 1 month
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Boost and donate if you can
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coffeequeenmartha · 2 months
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Be furious.
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Be absolutely enraged.
Images put together by wearthepeace on Instagram, found them here
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coffeequeenmartha · 3 months
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I'm never forgetting the Palestinian babies that were left to starve to death then rot in their beds by the IOF.
I'm never forgetting the Palestinian doctors surrounded by bodies of dead children begging the world to stop the slaughter.
I'm never forgetting the Palestinian children who held a press conference in English to beg the world to stop murdering them because they want to live.
I'm never forgetting the Palestinian Priest who said "We will not accept your apology after the genocide" to the world.
I'm never forgetting the Palestinian Imam who used the speakers of the Mosque, not to call people to prayer but to call out to God while the world around them was burning from American supplied Israeli bombs.
I'm never forgetting the grandfather who held his dead grandchild in his arms. Or the father carrying the remains of his two children in plastic shopping bags. Or the mother holding her dead child in a shroud. Or the father sitting among the rubble after he lost his whole family. Or the girl trapped under a broken building begging for people to save her family first. Or the boy who cried when he saw his brother alive. Or the girl who asked if she was still alive after being pulled from the rubble. Or the boy who carried the remains of his brother in his backpack. Or the old man the IOF used for a photoshoot before they shot him dead after getting pictures. Or the little boy wearing plastic gloves to pick up the remains of his family. Or the graves desecrated. Or the body of that small baby girl left alone in a tent because no one knew who she was or if her family was alive, small and alone and not one person who knew her name to bury her. Or the young boy who was shot in the street while his sister watched from the window. Or the men and boys who were stripped naked in winter. Or those tortured. Or those made to stand in open graves. Or the people who were raped by IOF soldiers. Or Palestinian workers kidnapped by the IOF and then labeled with wristbands, each one reduced to a number, then made to walk back to Gaza to be killed in the world's largest open air concentration camp. Or the people of Gaza starving because Israeli Zionists are blocking aid trucks. Or the Israelis dancing and celebrating the death of Palestinians. Or the lies spread by Zionists and their supporters. Or the people profiting off the oppression and deaths of Palestinians. Or the people of the West Bank being killed or kidnapped by the IOF. Or old woman who was older than the creation of the terror state of "Israel" who was shot by snipers for saying that. Or the Israelis dressed up as Palestinians to enter a hospital and kill three Palestinians in their beds. Or every single Palestinian currently kept in an Israeli prison. Or the journalists, doctors, poets, men, women, children, and the unborn all massacred. Or the fact that WCNSF exists now. Or the woman who refused to wash the blood from her hands. Or the dead, unburied and unmourned.
I'm never forgetting those who chose silence in the face of a genocide.
I may not know all their names but I will not forget the over 30,000 Palestinians dead. Or the over 60, 000 people hurt. Or the unknown number of people missing, still lost under the rubble. Or the 12,000 children slaughtered. An entire generation crippled or murdered.
I will never forget these things when Palestine is free.
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coffeequeenmartha · 2 years
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'Safe', After All (3/3)
Thoma x GN Reader (SAGAU)
Soothing, soft hands part the strands of your hair; in circular motions, they twirl and twist them, tugging delicately and continuously for what seemed to be hours. The surface of Thoma's palms are warm, comfortingly so, and their heat causes a feeling of drowsiness to well up within your mind.
Encouraged by the sight of drooping eyes, Thoma begins to smooth over your locks with much-renewed vigour, though this time, he also scratches at your scalp in perfect, methodical movements, too.
Hazed and glossy, your eyes attempt to resist the urge of slumber. It's tempting, oh so tempting to give in to, yet there are still a dozen or so questions lingering in your mind, all pleading for either rationality or reprieve.
Frosty blue flashes in the corner of your vision, returning every few seconds or so to complete a revolution around your laying form. The sphere of ice sends pulses of comfort radiating across you, lessening your discomfort so much so that a relieved sigh is able to escape your lips. You relax your head once more into Thoma's lap.
"Thank you, Qiqi," you whisper out, quiet and coarsely - a consequence of the dryness and lingering herbal taste within your throat.
Her head tilts the slightest bit to the side. "Does their Majesty feel better?" she murmurs, curiosity and concern evident in her monotonous demeanour.
The haphazard sigil hindering her line of sight is brought upwards: lifted until it is no longer atop her violet hat. A gloved hand is pressed atop her head - once, twice, and soon a dozen times in succession.
"I'm sure they do!" Thoma exclaims, still resuming the motions he makes to pat her hair. "All thanks to yours and Sayu's healing, no doubt."
Violetgrass, vibrant and blooming in a bouquet, is pressed into a limp hand by small fingers. The stems of them prick and tickle at healing skin. Gentle, whispy leaves seem to curl around your wrists, cradling the mass of broken bones which were their composition so long ago.
Two pairs of giggles grace your ears; so humoured, so happy, that their mere noise causes a swelling of affection and awe to form within your chest. The warmth it carries is encompassing of all, and only serves to further drag your eyelids down by the weight of Sayu and Qiqi's childish amusement.
"Hey, all of you!" there's a sudden and joyful exclamation of. "All the preparations are set!"
Beidou's footsteps are stark and heavy: clicks and clacks crescendo their smooth descent in your direction. All to be seen is the shadow of her body, exuding such confidence alongside contentedness of the strongest magnitude. She hovers above you, blocking the luminescence of the shimmering, dim stars in the blanket of night.
"All that's left to do is take our Majesty home!" she says, adorning a wide and bright grin spanning from ear-to-ear. Poised like pincers, both her hands descend to pinch at the skin of your cheeks.
Rouge of a dark hue spreads across the surface of them both: a wildfire of fluster and embarrassment. There's a choking, gripping sensation taking hold of your throat, and only a mere squeak manages to escape it.
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Desperity and pathos are a miasma, lingering about Liyue's streets in a thick, choking fog. It curls and grips around people's throats, forcing out the prayers and beseeches which escape all of their lips.
Despite your hands covering your ears, the begging is impossible to escape - for their cries are piercing, and echo through your mind like a record with no signal. Sobs, pleads, implorances. Sobs, pleads, implorances. Sobs, pleads-
"I'm so sorry, your Grace!"
"To think I could have been so foolish..."
"Forgive me!"
"...Not even death itself would be enough to atone for my transgressions."
Winds howl and whirl, their ferocity as harsh as your own; the hood concealing your features, however, does not falter in its duty. Piercing thunder bathes the night sky bloody, and in hellish delight the stars relish. Filling is the fear of thousands.
"Ignore them, your Majesty," Thoma whispers, spite and anger fueling his tone. Firmly, his index finger and thumb grasp at your chin, tilting it to the left. "Those heathens don't deserve your attention after what they did."
Though, it was impossible to do such a thing - ubiquitous and absolute, statues mirroring your image surround the harbour: within homes, atop balconies, between stores. The largest of all towers the city square, casting a cold shadow upon hundreds of sobbing, kneeling acolytes.
Excruciation marres its expression; meticulously carved into smooth slabs of stone. Lacking support, the position of the statue, of you, seems to be staggering; clutching at a wound weeping droplets of diamonds and stars. The same substance rolls down porcelain cheeks, dotting them with anguish and pain.
Slashed across its back is a jagged line, revealing rocks reminsicent of bone and muscle. Throbbing beneath the cloak over your shoulders, a past wound flares in remembrance.
"They think they can just ask me for forgiveness?" you murmur, voice raging and angered all the same. "After everything they did to cast me out? To hurt me, to kill me-!"
An aura of danger and mistrust seeps into the surrounding air. Suffocating and merciless, it sucks the life out of lungs, whips at skin like a burn, and causes citizens to cry out in torturous pain.
Glowing locks of hair float upwards, threatening to lift the hood hiding them from sight. Mind so full of hatred and wrong, you don't notice the crimson shield flickering around your body, until it's pulled into a sudden embrace.
"I know, I know..." Thoma speaks, rich in sympathy and understanding. Warm hands run along your spine's surface, soothing and soft to alleviate discomfort. "They don't deserve your forgiveness, nor your mercy."
Face blank and dull; such features juxtapose his gentle tone of voice. Emerald eyes narrow - dangerous intent flashes through them when catching sight of figures in the distance. Horrified and grim, their expressions mirror the erratic glowing of their own visions.
Clutched tighter against his chest, your chest heavily breathes in and out: hazy confusion begins to light up your face. "When... when will we be there...?"
"Soon, dear," he says, darkly yet close to a coo. "Let's get moving, the Qixing may catch sight of us."
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Constant and unrelenting, the shadows of the night are a barricade to your vision - tightly wound with pointed vines, tendrils of darkness coil and curl to form a mass of branches and thorns before you. They shift and tighten at unknown intervals, baring aggressive fangs to those within their perimeter.
A prolonged, tired sigh loosens the tenseness of your chest. Within it is a sensation of want. Of longing. Though painfully minimal in amount, the luminance of the blue moon bathes your features in a soft glow; the window it all filters through acts as a hindrance.
"If only I could just..." you mumble, a defeated and forlorn tint to your tone. Squinted and thin, your eyes scan behind and about: the kitchen to this cottage is bare, and all of importance is your own presence.
Within countless cupboards of oak and fir, you can picture the rows of plates and bowls. Spotless and sparkling, their ability to reflect as well as a mirror was truly a phenomenon to marvel at - such a mere shame, that the cabinets were sealed tight by lock and key.
A breeze passes by. Though faint, its gentle caress against flushed cheeks is unmistakable.
Stillness consumes musings of curiosity, and for one lingering, eternal moment, it is the sole existence upon Teyvat. Leaves, grass, nature discover themselves paralytic, and the wind whispers of newfound revalations.
Absolute, is what becomes of your focus. Narrowed and thin, it is a striking force; leaving four senses null, and only touch to rely on. You reach out to the window, newfound purpose lodging itself into the forefront of your mind.
As expected. It is faint, once again - the sensation of a cold, miniscule gust of wind against the pads of your fingers - yet moreso, it is familiar.
So sudden and so strong, adrenaline rushes through sacred veins, dominating all heeds of rationale. A wrenching, twisting sensation grips at your heart: desperity prospers, and your lungs seize, a mere morsel of pure, untainted air begged for.
"Come on..." you rasp out, irritation grating against the hollow of your throat. "Open up, please."
Violently, the latch to the window rattles, shaking in stressful tandom with its hinges. Yield, the pressure does not, despite cramps stabbing at the tendons of your fingers - further invigorated, they grip at unrelenting steel, turning tender skin blistering red and white.
Cracks resonate within the joints of aching bones, and with one final, forceful, and heaving shove, displaced hinges give way to streaks of wind. Like twirling ribbons, a turquoise hue illuminates your surroundings. Anemo bounces upon your cheeks in a tender embrace.
"Thank goodness..." you whisper, choked, as the essence of time is grasped tightly within a closed fist of yours. Hiking a leg upon the windowsill, your conscience prepares for the onslaught of frostiness to hit it from the outside environment.
Grass blades part beneath the surface of your bare feet; earth shakes as the tips of your fingers tremble.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The shift in temperature is immediate. Scalding, scathing heat encircles your wrists in a too-tight grip. Murals of flame nip and bite at flushed skin, surrounding all in walls of crimson ember. Courtesy of constricting arms, no longer is the caress of anemo an experience to revel in. Pyro is all that's left to savour.
Though soft and furred, the carpet beneath you burns: feet digging into fine wool, you attempt to thwart the motions he makes to pull you back - further away from the opportunity of escape, further and further from freedom. Knees knocking back into Thoma's own, you thrash violently in his grip.
"Get off!" you cry out, a harsh lump forcing itself down your throat. With strength mightier than ever before, you grasp at his face, utilising pointed nails to shove and claw at clear skin. "Let me out of here, goddamnit!"
Immovable as stone, he remains, despite the rough discomfort of elbows digging deep into his sides. "I can't do that, your Majesty. It's unsafe out there."
"I don't care, let me go!"
Walls, floors, frames. Walls, floors, frames-
Stars flash, lights shine bright; tapestries of swirls are all to see, melding into one blurry, dizzying canvas. Nausea encompasses your senses, and swells of sickness rock against the tissue of your stomach. Though, desperity remains a fuel to your shoving to and fro, relentless against Thoma's muscled arms.
"It seems you won't come to reason..." he murmurs, sadness gentling his tone. Two hands squeeze at your shoulders - their grip tight and suffocating. The chest behind your own inclines with a forlorn sigh. "I apologise, your Majesty."
Predatory, is the sensation of cloth across sacred skin: so sudden and slow, paralysed your muscles become. Such a thin strip of fabric, and yet its gaze, you sense, is one of danger. Gleaming eyes stare down upon your own, watching, waiting, daring a mere twitch.
A slash. It pounces.
Wrestling arms, clawing hands, kicking legs: all encircled, all trapped, all pulled back into Thoma's chest. Constricted and stuck, valiant retaliation strains upon bonds - seam by seam, freedom rips. "Enough!" you shout, rough coarseness evident within your throat.
The world tilts. Descending are the clutches of gloved hands, warmth and care a constant. Into the crook of his neck, encompassing is the heat in which Thoma possesses. "Ssshh..." he hushes, calming whispers tickling at the inner surface of your ear.
When had you even reached the bedroom?
Thrashing ensues. Once more, the tingle of hushes and murmurs grace your senses. "Ssshh. There's no need to be afraid anymore, you're safe here."
"Stop it, stop it!"
His palms' soothing caresses run down the surface of your spine, cradling, stroking, drawing you in once more. Relentless their status remains - the touches, the coos, the stifling warmth.
"You need to get some good rest, dear. Just relax..." he mumbles, the faintest motion of rocking beginning to overcome your body. Back and forth his cradle goes: forwards and backwards, backwards and forwards, back, forth, back and forth... "It'll all be better in the morning, I promise."
A sweet, pungent scent invades your senses, thickening scarce air with a magenta tint. Wide eyes droop hazily; cotton stuffs itself within muffled ears. Phantom claws scratch at the surface of your scalp, and coherency trembles and tremors.
"That's it, I've got you..."
Blurring flames sway in the corner of your vision. Fleeting and flickering, their wrath spreads across violet petals, vibrant in hue. The erratic bites at air are mesmerising, your mind tiredly acknowledges, yet once more you're tilted away from the sight. Denser, the gas returns, diffusing into limp and exhausted tendons.
"You can't- can't keep me here..." you softly sigh, snuffing out your last remnants of energy. Inclined downwards, useless muscles drop heavily upon Thoma's shoulders - in an instant, his arms cradle them close.
"I can, your Majesty." Mumbling lips press against the skin of your temple, their edges curling the slightest inch upwards. "It's the only way to keep you safe from everyone else, after all."
The end! :) Thank you for reading.
Please inform me of any grammatical errors, or references to any specific gender within this post.
Primarily inspired by @nicebonescomrade
Those who were interested in another installment: @chocoenvy @raidengaile @mikachu2x @creation-magician @iloveyanderes @funkypusy @5-stirling-heartstrings @alextheknight707 @harmonbrooke @brieflanguageapricot @sweetbatherodonkey @ratqueen-spleen @thai @yourfaveisblack @midnightraindropme
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coffeequeenmartha · 2 years
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Punishment For Her Wings
Requested by @thatonedummysimp
GN Demon!Reader (SAGAU)
"Farewell, my dears."
Their reactions are immediate. Wailing, pouting and cries are abundant within your vicinity, amplified by the bare, inky black walls of the domain within which you were stood. There's pleads, desperate and raspy, alongside pained howls of both monsters and creatures alike.
Spectres of anemo brush against your cheeks; faint wisps of wind nudge into them, their intent clear and morose. You croon, gently squishing one between your fingers as a wordless comfort.
"I've been here long enough," you chide, though amusement tinges your tone of voice. "You're all aware of how time is different in the Abyss. It's quite a surprise how none of my dear acolytes have come down to complain about it, I must say..."
Footsteps echo behind you, their falls brave and sure. The figure's cloak drags along the ground, concealing their tall, lithe shadow with a cloth so dotted in stars, it is as if the whole cosmos resided within its seams and stitches.
There's a sour, upset expression upon Dainsleif's features, though it dissipates no sooner than when your own eyes meet the navy pools of his. Grasping the sides of his face, you pull back blond strands of hair, then lean forward to press your curled horns against his forehead. Their sharp points angle close to his pristine skin, and yet at ease he still remains.
"Do not fret, my dear Dainsleif," you murmur, pressing a kiss to his temple. "I'm afraid the mortals of Teyvat need to be kept at bay. They grow restless at any disappearance of mine. I promise, I shall be back in due time."
Your lips curl back. Revealed are numerous pairs of pointed fangs, lining blood-red gums like daggers of bone. It's too overpowering, overbearing of a grin - much too large for a being of such kind and loving nature.
Not a second passes before Dainsleif nods, reverence flowing deep within his veins. He raises a hand, and abyssal energy pulsates as he curls it into a fist. Starry blue swirls about the both of you, as does it form a barrier in front of the creatures whimpering and clawing in your direction.
He falters at the sight. Though, his wrist is soon encircled by a long tail, which bends to form a shape similar to a heart. It softly brushes at his skin, like another kiss from your divine presence, and such is enough to focus his efforts oncemore.
"Nothing shall trouble you so long as I am here, my dear."
Concealed by a mask, rouge tints the surface of his cheeks. "Of course, your Majesty."
"Oh, do not call me by such a name, it doesn't befit me at- all..."
There's a sudden, unbearable weight which pulls at your chest: violent and so excruciating that it causes weakness in your knees. The whole world tilts, your vision blurs - it's impossible to breathe.
Flashes filter through your head, too quick to comprehend. There's screams, cries and sobs hounding your sensitive ears, blasting like a broken record. The lips they emanate from are spluttering, dribbling rivulets of unending gold. They cough, gag, and choke on something acidic and jagged within their throat.
Dainsleif's arms encircle your waist, acting as an anchor to your drooping body. It twitches and convulses harshly, and his eyes soon become wide and frantic. You can't hear his words, can't comprehend his questions; only see the figure in white that's crying and begging for your aid.
A burning, raging sensation throbs at the centre of your chest - so old and so foreign, that millennia have passed since it last controlled your conscience. Sadism casts shadows upon your thoughts: no more of your own are left.
She needs help.
"What do you think you're doing?"
All of Teyvat stops.
It gazes upon your flickering form, descending to the snowy grounds of Dragonspine at a hellish speed. The earth tilts harshly as you land, and the echoes of crumbling mountaintops and a dozen avalanches follow soon after. Pounds and pounds of snow begin falling at rapid speeds, downwards to trap all those within your perimeter with sheer, numbing cold.
The large, curled horns atop your head glow at their tips, and all of Mondstadt bows. The citizens, the knights, the archons. Their heads are pushed deep into the ground, as are their scraped and newly-bruising knees.
Rasping breaths. They're too quiet. Too lacking. She splutters and coughs, attempting to rid of the ichor blocking her airways. Inky blackness by your command latches onto her torso; wounds repair themselves; bones are replaced with resonating snaps that cause your sister to whimper in pain.
Though, you realise with a low growl, the bloodied, feathered stumps at the back of her shoulders remain absolute - and so does she, for her chest shakes with the force of her tearful sobs.
"I-I can't feel my wings! What happened to them? T-They're not there anymore!"
Crimson thunder strikes within the sky. Its echo shatters the ears of the archons kneeling before you, who cover the sides of their heads with mewling cries. Searing, fiery heat stifles the atmosphere, emanating from the cosmos tinged red with the extent of your rage.
"I created this bountiful land from the kindness of my heart..." you and a thousand unseen voices intone at the same time. "...I shall enjoy watching it burn for daring to harm my sister."
Cracks tear the ground beneath your hovered feet. The molten, toxic lava flowing beneath the crust of the earth blazes forth, disintegrating all in its path. Venti, Ei and Zhongli can only tremble as their frozen, kneeling bodies begin to succumb to the punishment brought forth upon them.
"To Khaenri'ah, my dear sister..." those dead say with you, their shadows surrounding the both of you. "Where the only true worshippers exist."
Thank you for reading! :)
This work was a mixture of two asks which @thatonedummysimp requested:
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Inspired by the SAGAU works of @nicebonescomrade
Please inform me of any references to a specific gender for the reader within this work.
Please inform me of any grammatical errors.
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coffeequeenmartha · 2 years
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Baizhu in the SAGAU?
Surprisingly, I haven't seen a single drop of Baizhu in the SAGAU, despite him being an interesting character to have.
There's quite a few theories that his snake's eyes and his own are both slitted because of a connection between them. Perhaps that makes it easier for him to recognise who his God is?
Feel free to send in some of your prompts or thoughts!
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coffeequeenmartha · 2 years
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'Safe' From Inazuma (2/3)
Thoma x GN Reader (SAGAU)
It's warm within Komore Teahouse; stiflingly so, you've quickly come to realise. There's lingering, unbearable heat trapped within its bare walls, that with each waking moment of the day latches itself upon your scarred and bruised skin. Though worst of all, atop your forehead, shining an unnatural shade as a result of the clamminess festering there.
Blankets upon blankets are constantly wrapped around your body, starkly similar to a butterfly confined within a restricting cocoon. There was no escape to the endless warmth that encompassed your entire being - whether that be in the physical, or the emotional sense.
It's faint, though undeniable. Your heart (a poor old thing, for you were sure it was cracked beyond possible belief) had been beginning to feel quite... content in the coming days. As if a hole in it had been mended; the missing pieces replaced with ones of working nature.
And you were sure the girl by your side was the cause of such a phenomenon.
There's a small, button nose buried deeply into the junction of your neck. Nuzzling, cuddling, and seeking comfort within your ever-silent presence. Short, stubby arms clutch tight onto one of your own, reminiscent of how one would treat a plush throughout their early years of age.
She's adorable. There was no denying it.
Intermittent snores, muffled against your shoulder, are the lone noise gracing your ears. Even so, there's a soft sense of familiarity flooding you from the mere sound of them. It's gentle against your heaving chest; a result of the current emotions knocking about within your skull.
Their constant speed and their constant rhythm were something you could follow - a guiding light within this land of Teyvat that so desperately enjoyed to throw such torturing obstacles your way, and your way only-
"There's someone coming, your Highness."
Exhaustion is evident within Sayu's tone, though juxtaposing such a feature was the sharp, focused glint present in her violet eyes. It's abnormal to witness aggression of any kind upon her expression; those furrowed brows and down-turned lips ultimately end up forming a pang of unsettlement within your heart.
"It's alright," you whisper out, though for what exact reasoning, it isn't quite clear. There's a sore feeling in your throat as it bobs with a thick swallow, and you speak out, "I'm sure it's only Thoma."
Is that a reassurance for yourself, or for her?
There's a short, sudden pulse of discomfort between your brows; it draws out a gasp from your lips. They press together, tight, as do teeth which grate against one another. It's pure, agonising pain, lingering for a moment too much.
Gentle palms lay themselves across your forehead - enveloped in cool, soothing leather that acts as a comfort against clammy skin. There's another two alongside those, grasping at your hands in a too-tight, trembling grip.
"It's okay, Sayu. I've got them," affirms a quiet voice: Thoma's, your mind supplies. "I should've arrived sooner. If I'd known that their injuries were to flare up again..."
Everything is unbearable; the sharp ringing piercing your ears, the flare of open wounds covered by bloodied bandages, the sweat forming upon your brows at the stifling, burning heat emanating from his mere presence. All of it is sudden, and all of it is pain.
"Here, just enjoy these snacks that I've brought back for the three of us, okay?" Thoma murmurs. "I'll reapply our Majesty's ointment. They need it to get better, after all."
Shuffling commences close-by to where you're now laying, somehow a smidge more restrained than before by fabrics of fluff. There's plastic crinkling, and a seal unzipped. What follows is a strong, remarkable scent drifting your way; so delectable, so tantalising, in which it puts Earth's mere treats to shame.
"Oh my, your Majesty," Thoma chuckles out not a moment later, fondness evident in his tone. A thumb descends, which gently swipes at the side of your lips. He muses, "If I'd have known you were one with such a sweet tooth, I would have bought much more dango for you."
"We can share!" Sayu chirps out. "Even though the Traveller said that eating a lot more food would help me grow taller, I don't mind delaying that for you, your Grace!"
Your vision, though moderately hazy and fogged, spans wide enough to witness her arms shoot up in the air, and a beam to stretch across the whole of her expression as she exclaims so. It's adorable, and the soft resonance it causes within your mind and soul is only proof of the obvious.
Thoma chuckles, the force of such hilarity shaking his entire chest. One hand of his reaches out in the direction of her: a pat soon follows, pressed onto the surface of her hood which conceals the look upon her face at such an action. Though, the effect of it is immediate, and her small tail flicks so sudden and so angry.
"Hey!" she shouts.
\\\
Mutters, mumbles and murmurs are what first greet your senses; indistinct as they flitter through your head. There's a sensation of fullness within it, almost as if thick cotton were stuffed down your ear canals, lessening your capability of listening. Shaking your head a little to and fro, an attempt is made to rid of the feeling.
Beneath your fingertips is a rough, wooden surface, which you faintly begin to trace the grooves of. Though, it is an arduous task when everything seems to be moving, rocking backwards and forwards despite the sheer inability for such a thing to happen within Komore Teahouse.
You pry your eyes open - forcefully, so as to avoid succumbing to the unbearable urge of slumber once more. Everything is blue, you quickly come to realise: from the vast, empty skies spanning miles above, to the omnipresent waves surrounding the boat on which you were now sailing aboard.
It's too confusing of a sight to be real. "Am I dreaming...?" you whisper out, though loud yet lazy currents of seawater prevent your words from being heard.
"Oh! Your Majesty, you're awake!" the voice of Thoma exclaims. "I knew you were powerful, but to have the power of foresight even while unconscious? I never even thought such a thing to be possible."
There's a small gasp nearby; footsteps sprint in your direction, creaking the boards of polished planks bellow them. After, follows the patter of much more relaxed ones, seemingly heavier compared to the first.
Violet eyes meet your own, framed by a short fringe of grey hair. Joy casts a spark within them, and they crinkle as the emotion soon taints tiredness to excitement. Sayu's hands clap together: slowly, so as to not initiate a pulse of pain upon your fragile, aching forehead.
"Hi, Sayu..." you greet, uneasy and unsure. "What do you mean by foresight? Why are we... where are we...?"
"Well, our rendezvous point is just over there!" Thoma, with a smile so calm and wide, responds. He raises a hand to his left, and its index finger points in the direction of something unseen. "We should be picked up pretty soon by my contact, and then we'll be taken to Liyue by them! I'm just surprised that you woke up right before that happened."
"T-To Liyue?"
A sharp spike of discomfort lingers across the surface of your back, dragging downwards from the very tips of your shoulders to the lowest point on your hips. Throbbing beneath bandages of linen occurs; an old, ever-present scar from your last... visit to Liyue aches.
There's heavy sloshing within your stomach, brought on by your sudden movement made to stand upon the ship's decks. Everything hurts, stitches become undone, and yet the urge still persists: to search for a way off of this dreaded route to Liyue.
His hands encase your waist. A crimson shield surrounds the both of you. It's all too much, all too familiar.
"I-I can't go back to Liyue again!" you cry out, thrashing against his cradling arms. "Not after what- after what Zhongli did!"
"Your Grace, it's alright! I promise, no one will dare to think about hurting you."
"They already did, Thoma!" Tears begin to well up within your glossing eyes. "Things will be the same, I can't go there again!"
His own soften considerably. "Shh, shh... Your Grace, I don't want to... I don't want to bring you there asleep."
"Asleep? What are you...?"
There's a horn; blasting loud and clear for what seemed like miles about. It's startling enough for the air within your lungs to be grasped - pulled out and replaced with burning hot steam. Thick, cloudy mist parts before your very eyes, and the sights further behind than the immediate vicinity of the boat are revealed agonisingly slow.
Baring sharp, wooden teeth emerges the sculpture of a dragon head: following it is the mast of a ship so large that it pales in comparison to your own. A figure is visible upon the edges of it, a crimson sword laid atop their shoulder as they stood evidently proud.
The Alcor.
Adrenaline dissipates out of your body, fast, leaving your body limp and still in Thoma's gentling grasp. "No..." you whisper, defeated as ever. "Beidou's going to tell Ningguang. That can't happen, it can't... not after what Ningguang did."
"Everything's alright, your Grace. Shh..."
Your addled mind can't bring itself to compute his mumblings. Your surroundings blur - shadows spread through the corners of your vision like creeping hands. There's too much going on.
Something is held beneath your nose. It's sick and sweet aroma evades your senses, enters your nostrils, and conceals your mind with a haze.
What's happening?
Thoma's arms tenderly embrace you as you fall, just as there's a joyful greeting shouted by the figure aboard the Alcor.
Thank you for reading! :)
Please inform me of any grammatical errors in this post, or any references to a specific gender.
Primarily inspired by @nicebonescomrade
Those who requested a second part: @ratqueen-spleen @yourfaveisblack @midnightraindropme @iloveyanderes @mikachuarts
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coffeequeenmartha · 2 years
Text
Chess Beside the Hearth
Diluc x Male Reader
"Checkmate."
That one line, one word, practically pierced the current thick tension within Dawn Winery's walls. It was only a second later that a disbelieving scoff, laced with utter confusion, escaped (Y/N)'s mouth. "No way!"
Narrowed eyes gazed downwards, scanning over the black-and-white chessboard set up in front of them. It was with great annoyance that (Y/N) came to the realisation that his king piece - once standing tall and proud - now laid toppled over beside a knight piece of the opposite colour; also surrounding it were two bishops and a singular rook.
Diluc let out what was close to a chuckle at his reaction. "Care for another round?"
It was instinctual when he removed his and Diluc's intertwined hands from one another, instead opting to fold his arms and mumble a touch petulantly, "That's the third time I've lost today, all in a row! How are you so skilled at this?"
"I've indulged in chess for as long as I can remember," the redhead replied, reaching over and gently grasping his partner's hand once more. "There's more to it than just practice."
There was a glare that had begun to form across (Y/N)'s face; firm yet somewhat half-hearted in manner. After a few tense moments or so, it was as if all the anger, annoyance, fight dissipated out of his system. Rigid muscles relaxed into the couch they were seated on, taking comfort in the smooth leather and soft cushions of it.
"I really need to work on my game, huh?"
"I'd be happy to teach you." The answer was said with no hesitation.
"That sounds great," (Y/N) sighed, a wide smile beginning to dance across his features. Two arms, one of which was sporting a glowing Vision, reached forward, resting themselves upon Diluc's shoulders and loosely connecting at the back of his neck. "But let's save it for another time. That way we have an excuse to go on an entirely different date and spend more time together."
A chuckle rose within the wine tycoon's chest. In a fluidly-smooth movement, his hands were soon laced around his partner's hips, and then, a moment later, his head was leaning into the warmth of their right shoulder (though not as hot as his own, he still found comfort in it all the same).
There was a peaceful silence now; only consisting of their soft, in-sync breaths and the crackle of a nearby hearth's flames. They licked and bit at the air - sending tufts of smoke into the atmosphere and tainting the room with a faint, smoky scent. Though, (Y/N) would argue that it paled in comparison to the rich, fruitful aroma currently emanating from his fiancé.
He couldn't help the whisper of, "Your hair is so soft..." that rolled off of his tongue.
A lock of soft, crimson hair had been wound around his index finger now, being twisted and tugged in a surprisingly delicate manner in order quell his urge for affection. The strands of it felt like silk; softer than a pillow, a feather, softer than anything he could have ever imagined.
"I've been meaning to ask," (Y/N) piped up, a curious tilt edging its way into his tone. "What products do you use on your hair?"
"Adelinde is the one who has been providing all sanitary items within the Manor, I believe. If memory serves me correct, the batches of hair nourishment that she import contain wolfhook and lamp grass essence." Diluc inched the slightest bit closer to his companion, a new thought making itself known in his mind, being, "I'd be happy to provide you with a supply of it, you only need ask."
(Y/N) whispered a quick word of thanks, and then he was back to curling red tresses around his fingers - soothingly and keeping care that his motions didn't force tension upon the strands. It was to be expected that this would soon have an effect on Diluc, acting as a relaxant and coaxing his muscles to sag even further forward; so much so, in fact, that (Y/N) almost felt his form slip off of the couch that they both occupied.
His eyes widened. In a spur-of-the-moment action, he shifted his body to better allow for Diluc to lean on. "Here..." he mumbled, and only then did the weight of the man finally rest completely upon his chest. This time, (Y/N)'s hands were occupied with stroking the top of his hair, massaging and placing firm pressure atop his scalp.
Hot - nearing the precipice of scalding - breaths blew onto his neck. They were fleeting in nature, and yet still sent an exhilarating sort of shiver shooting through his spine. Nerves akin to tingling were left coursing through his veins.
There that scent was again, (Y/N) faintly realised: a blend of berries and oak exuding from locks of fiery amber. It enchanted him, lured him in. Before he even knew what was happening, he had engaged - leaning forward to give a gentle kiss to the tip of Diluc's nose. The returning nuzzle he felt only sent his thoughts into a frenzy, becoming fuzzy with every minute longer they spent in each others company.
Blushes the same shade as an inferno spread across the both of their cheeks.
Extra! (tw! NFSW joke)
"I still don't understand how you can stomach that... grape juice of yours."
An exasperated breath of air escaped Diluc's mouth, followed closely by his sigh of, "Darling..."
"No, seriously. It tastes like five fruits crammed into one bitter concoction, not even mentioning the texture of it," said Vision-holder spoke. Laced within his tone of voice was a subtle bit of utter seriousness, yet at the same time, it held a spark of light-heartedness. He noted on, this time with a notable boost to his charisma, "I can name one thing that tastes and feels better on my tongue, I guarantee that."
It was with a small, fond smile that Diluc allowed his partner's voice to filter through his ears - it felt like waves of water, of music, affecting the whole of his senses in a soothing way. His eyes gazed downward, idly staring at the plates of meat and vegetables laid before them both.
The tilting down of his head, however, did not one thing to halt (Y/N)'s expression to shifting when out of Diluc's sight. Knowing and sly, a smirk settled across his features; as if aware of something that his fiancé was not (that something being a particular joke he had just now spoken without thought).
Thanks for reading! :)
Like my Albedo x Reader oneshot, this was also an old work that I'd wrote for a mutual of mine.
Please inform me of any grammatical errors in this post.
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coffeequeenmartha · 2 years
Text
A Dance in Dragonspine
Albedo x Female Reader
The climate of Dragonspine was one of endless chills and shivers; a known fact throughout all of Mondstadt, and perhaps even all of Teyvat. It was to the sheer cold that caused numbness in the fingers and heart that many adventurers found themselves succumbing to, and yet the one daintily jogging along faded paths and soft snow held no weakness in their limbs from the frostbite.
(Y/N), as they were referred to by the Knights of Favonius, slowed down her pace, settling into a nonchalant walk as she caught sight of a familiar view a dozen metres or so away. Torches lit by soothing fires were at both sides of the entrance to a cave of sorts - a small crevice in the ever-large mountain beside Durin's remains.
She sighed. With a few steps, she had finally made it within the cave. Boots shook off clumps of snow, stuck to their leather material as a result of both moisture and deposition. Hands patted down a coat in an attempt to remove any lingering dust, and then proceeded to reposition the vision attached to her hip.
Curious eyes began to wander about, soon spotting a figure stood at the right side of the cave (or lab, as it had been repurposed as). In front of them was a pine-wood table, holding a whole assortment of potions, books and more. They seemed to be making vigorous notes with a parchment and quill; handwriting slanted yet elegant all the same.
"Albedo," the woman acknowledged, keeping in mind that her voice was to be low. She bundled up the coat around her body tighter, if anything to conceal the speeding up of her heart at the sight of her partner.
It was with great disappointment that only silence met her call. In fact, the only response to it from Albedo was a slight nod of his head, which made the blonde locks flowing down his neck sway. With an exasperated (yet fond, all the same) shake of her head, (Y/N) strolled up to him. Chancing a peak over his shoulder, she bear witness to whatever he was so focused upon.
"What are you doing?"
There was not so much as a glance given to her. There was a thin layer of something unknown in his voice as he replied not unkindly, but lightly to her question, "Conducting an experiment as to my hypothesis that music affects the growth of plant life."
(Y/N) hummed, a smile playing on her lips. "I see..." she mused. In a moment's notice, the smile across her features soon morphed into a slight frown. "Would this experiment happen to be more important than the Knights of Favonius award ceremony taking place right now?"
Albedo's movements to pour a vial of colourless solution into a beaker halted, though only for a moment. Not a second passed before he carried on with his shuffling around of equipment and samples, expression smooth as marble.
"My heart, a ton of people were waiting on you. Sucrose was, Lisa was, heck - even Klee was!" she informed in a tired manner. Pinching the skin between her brows, she added on, "She was asking where you were after the Acting Grandmaster had given her a little medal for her, well, enthusiastic work ethic as the Spark Knight."
A spark of intrigue had begun to settle in his cyan eyes. "Klee received an award?" he asked, looking up to meet (Y/N)'s gaze.
"Yeah. Kaeya brought her to the ceremony as an alternative to solitary confinement."
"Kaeya?"
Her hum of agreement seemed to be a switch to Albedo's attitude - though it had become more open with her mention of Klee, now, it had returned back to how it was before; silent, closed-off, and focused. He shuffled about again, mixing various vials of liquids and solids together, though for what exact product, she didn't know.
To a corner of the table laid out before him, there sat an ornate marble vase - within it a drooping, decaying cecilia. Its petals, usually blooming and faced upright towards the sun, were instead greying at the edges and at the verge of falling off. Its green stem looked as brittle as bone; most likely snapping if even so much as a breeze blew over it.
"I saw you there, y'know," (Y/N) finally broke the silence with.
Albedo remained strangely muted, not even a twitch of his face as soon as the words escaped her mouth. He instead opted to reach out and grasp the cecilia between his fingertips, rotating it in his hands as if to inspect its life. Though, (Y/N) easily noticed the glazed look in his eyes, not entirely focused on what he was trying to do.
"You were wearing quite the pretty tuxedo, I have to say," she admitted, moving closer and into his field of view. She tugged at his clothing's hood, successfully removing any folds within its soft material, then proceeded to straighten his ever-so-tilted Geo vision. "But now you've changed out of it. Why did you leave?"
There was a speckle of pink dusted along Albedo's cheekbones, now. His grip of the cecilia loosened the slightest bit, causing it to almost drop to the ground if not for (Y/N)'s reflexive movement to catch it. It was without thought that she suddenly decided to place the flower somewhere else; apart from its designated spot in a vase.
Over his right ear, it went. In plain view, and contrasting perfectly well with his jacket of a similar colour.
He flushed the tiniest bit brighter. In an attempt to rid of the rising shade of red accumulating on his features, Albedo cleared his throat, then intoned, "I merely realised that there was no more point to attend such an occasion. The stalls there were, how do I put it...?"
He turned back around to his work, carrying on, "No fun, nor of any interest to me."
"No fun?" she repeated, a note of disbelief in her tone. (Y/N) reached out, taking hold of his chin gently and tipping it in her direction. She stroked his porcelain-like skin, in a way that seemed to apologise for her abrupt action. "I saw you there for a maximum of five minutes, my heart. You're trying to tell me that the sight of people dancing, awards being handed out, and Good Hunter's food were no fun? I know for a fact Klee and I were in view of you the whole time while we were dancing and waiting for you to join us."
"It didn't appear that way to me," her partner said. It was as if the manner in which he spoke was defensive, inching close to perhaps even petulant. He reached up a gloved hand to hold one of hers - the one still under his chin. Slowly, he lowered it, keeping their fingers intertwined as he finally muttered, "You were dancing with Kaeya."
"Well, beside him, yes. Not exactly with him, per- per say..." Her sentence all of a sudden trailed off into silence. There were a staggeringly large amount of cogs that had begun to twist within her mind, turning either left or right and causing her to reach a startling realisation. "I don't suppose you were jealous of that?"
There was an unmistakable shade of pink lighting up the whole of his face now, which Albedo had chosen to snap away from her view. Although the flush of his cheeks were not as dark as to make it impossible to blame on a hot environment, (Y/N) knew better. The icy winds and numbing chill of Dragonspine's atmosphere were nowhere near warm enough to cause such a spontaneous blush.
Through a subtle cough, he denied, "Not at all," in the calmest way he could.
(Y/N) felt a soft smile begin to play on her lips. She shifted to stand behind him, and with little effort placed her head upon Albedo's right shoulder. It was all instinct now; her arms wrapped around the whole of his waist, holding onto him so tenderly and the exact same way she had numerous times before. During those nights spent in each others embrace and simply enjoying the pure freedom within Mondstadt's walls.
"Albedo..." she hummed, closing her eyes. The air from her vocal cords blew at the cecilia settled atop his ear. "Would you rather it have been us dancing beside one another?"
The eventual response to her question was not one of verbal agreement. It lay on the tip of Albedo's tongue, and yet remained stuck there, unable to escape his mouth and leaving him strangely silent in his lover's hold. The only action that resembled any answer was the way his form relaxed into her - muscles no longer tense, and eyes no longer wide open, now shut like hers.
"The night is still young," (Y/N) mused. "How about we have that dance?"
She didn't listen out for an agreement or disagreement (for she knew she didn't need to), only turned Albedo with the arms around him, facing him her way and allowing for her to gaze upon his features tinged rouge. Her hands grasped his, placing them upon her own shoulders; shaking with an ever-so-quiet chuckle.
There was a click to their left. Beside a nearby alchemical table, settled on a small stand, sat an ornate, wooden-carved gramophone; that passed onto Albedo from the Spark Knight's mother, Alice. The black disc atop its surface spun, and with that came a soft melody out of its horn.
Musical notes seemed to surround the two, weaving between their bodies that were now in the process of swaying, gently to the airy tune in sync. Their gazes met each others, (Y/N)'s one of smugness and knowing, and Albedo's one of acceptance and peace. Together, in a warm embrace that fought off even the coldest of chills, they danced, totally entranced by Alice's music in Dragonspine.
And as they did, the decaying, drooping cecilia settled atop Albedo's ear began to gain a semblance of life anew. Petals bloomed open, turning a white colour that matched the snowflakes falling down from the clouds; outside of their shared abode.
Thank you for reading! :)
This was originally written for a mutual of mine as they have quite the love for Albedo.
Please inform me of any grammatical errors in this post.
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coffeequeenmartha · 3 years
Text
'Safe' in a Teahouse (1/3)
Thoma x GN Reader (SAGAU)
Across your thinning arms were faint pulses of pain; throbbing and harsh enough to awaken your consciousness. It wasn't difficult to recall the causes of them all - rather, the memories were etched into your mind with a jagged blade, scraping and grating against your brain.
Though, it was through the faint haze you were experiencing that a realisation struck you. The pain wasn't as harsh as it had been before. Why wasn't it...?
Frail hands stretched out, coming into contact with what felt like soft cloth covering agonising wounds. Beneath the bandages, a cold ointment had been generously lathered; providing relief to your physical ailments.
Confusion. It made itself clear on your expression, that had previously been blank due to being in exhausted slumber. With trembles all over your body, you slowly managed to sit yourself up, though with the motion came a sudden urge to gag. There was a burning sensation rising up from within your throat.
It escaped. Not vomit (as you had expected it to be) but salt. Salt that was mingled in with water and bile, which landed inevitably upon your blanket-covered lap. However, you couldn't bring it upon yourself to care when breathing soon became such an arduous task.
Coughs were wracking your whole form. It was difficult to distinguish whether the tears leaking from your eyes were from the pure agony you were experiencing, or the rush of emotions and memories that had now also presented themselves to you.
There was a quiet patter of footsteps in your direction. What shortly followed were a pair of gloved hands pulling several strands of hair back from in front of your face, just after having placed a bucket beneath where you were hurling.
The person's helpful gesture resumed until you could no longer feel the salt causing anymore sudden spasms of your heaving chest. You were grateful.
Especially since it was... difficult to find someone so kind in this version of Teyvat you were in.
You fiercely fought to prevent another round of tears, begging to make themselves known. Though your eyesight was hazy, and your brain too fogged up with past events on repeat, it was quite easy to identify the man sat before you, on his knees and glancing down at you with what could best be described as worry.
Worry? It'd been a while since you'd come across something like that.
Their mint-green eyes crinkled with said emotion. It was obvious that they were attempting to be gentle in their actions and motions towards you so far, and yet you still couldn't help the involuntary urge to flinch back.
"Hey, hey, it's alright," Thoma spoke, a clear note of pity in his tone at your display of fear. "You're safe here, I've made sure of it. No one should be coming for the rest of the day as far as I'm aware."
You glanced down when something warm nudged at your hands. Presented there was a bowl of miso soup, steaming and radiating a warmth that you hadn't felt for weeks at best. Compared to the dry, cold and rotting food you'd been consuming this whole time, this was to be considered a mere luxury in your eyes.
"F...For me...?"
Pity appeared in Thoma's gaze again. A small, sad smile graced his features at your whisper, as he nodded affirmatively. He watched on as you lifted the bowl to your cracked lips (with obvious hesitance) - remaining silent and understanding as not a moment later you began to down the soup as if it were your last feast to ever savour.
Your throat throbbed like a bare flame at the sheer speed you swallowed the delicacy, though you couldn't even find it within yourself to care at such a point. All that mattered was that you were safe; safe and relatively well-fed, as opposed to the norm of wandering about in the wild on an empty, growling stomach that pleaded for sustenance every waking moment of the day and night.
"It's a good thing I was able to fish you back out of the ocean after what the Raiden Shogun did," Thoma mused. "You get it? Fish you back out?"
At the flat look you levelled him with, he reconsidered his words immediately.
"Sorry, sorry..."
The overhead lights shining down upon the both of you were bright: so bright, in fact, that your brows furrowed as phantom pain throbbed at your temples. It made it difficult to translate what Thoma was mumbling to you in a quiet pitch, perhaps to lessen the discomfort clear upon your grimaced face.
"I must apologise for how everyone treated you back there, outlander. Even I have to admit that it was quite... harsh considering you don't even seem to be aware of what crime you're committing."
"Crime?" you repeated, a certain tiredness lingering in your sore voice.
The man was silent for a few moments, as if deliberating your demeanour and mannerisms. He placed a hand beneath his chin, glancing over your form that, despite being wrapped up in a soft, warm blanket, shivered at regular intervals.
"As I suspected," he muttered. "It's a mere coincidence that you share similarities with our Majesty, I'm sure. You're not trying to impersonate them at all, are you?"
His manners were so, so different to what you were used to. This was the first time someone had held a civil conversation with you since your tumbling arrival onto Teyvat's land, you realised with a hitched breath. He... he's the first person to really listen to me.
"I don't even know who this Majesty is, Thoma," admitted your wobbling and wavering voice. "All I know is that everyone has been hostile towards me for supposedly impersonating them. I don't... I haven't been..."
A soft, almost indecipherable sob wracked your throat, flaring an ache through your rough and injured vocal cords.
"I-I just want to go back home."
It was as if Thoma himself could feel the anguish you were beginning to experience, echoing within the confines of his mind just through hearing your weak sobs. His eyes softened, and muscled arms built up from years of grueling housework made a move to place themselves upon your shaking shoulders.
In a moment's notice, however, they halted.
"...How do you know my name?"
Huh?
A sense of confusion - but also fear at the way his voice became dangerously low all of a sudden - overtook you. Swallowing a thick lump of mucus and emotion down your throat, you managed to croak out a hesitant response, though with the way it was spoken, it appeared to sound more like a question than a definitive answer.
"E-Everyone knows it...?"
"No, no, no, that isn't true," Thoma murmured. His brows furrowed: a sign that he was to be in deep thought. "Only those from the Yashiro Commission know me, and those that I'm a close contact of. You're not any contact, as far as I'm aware."
Your pulse spiked. From how rapidly your heart now began to beat, truly, it was a miracle that it had not managed to escape your bruised ribcage. Beads of sweat formed at your temples, and you knew it wasn't a consequence of the warmth within (what you assumed to be) Komore Teahouse.
Or was it?
There was an aura now surrounding the man before you; dangerous and worryingly so. The pyro vision clipped to the belt around his waist seemed to burn in accordance with his addled thoughts. A searing heat was emanating from it, too - you had no doubt about it from the way in which your face flushed from the sheer temperature.
"A-Ayaka's the one who told me it!" you stuttered out, managing to at last build up enough nerves to do so. Flowing through your veins was a sudden rush of adrenaline, fueled by the newfound determination and goal you now had in mind.
"Milady was the one who handed you over to the Raiden Shogun in the first place," he refuted; monotone and blank. His sharp, emerald gaze met yours. "She doomed you to Divine Punishment. I see no reason as to why she would give you my name."
I need to get out of here.
The plain mat which you had been laying on shifted across the floor. The blanket that had been wrapped around your shoulders was carelessly thrown to the side. You shot up from your position, removing the items that held a hindrance to your escape. Though pain rippled through your body at the speed in which you did so, it was as if your receptors had become numb to it all.
All you could focus on was the door ahead of you: the exit to this nightmare. Who cared if it were to lead to another group against your entire existence? Anything would be better than being within the radius of Thoma's stifling rage.
A hand grasped your arm.
It was abnormal that Thoma still remained seated upon the ground. A glint of desperation and (what you took to be) madness was present in his wide eyes. "You said you wanted to go back home?" he quizzed, almost pleadingly. "Where is your home?"
"I don't know- Earth?" your reply was; sarcastic in nature yet possessing a hint of anxiety. Your senses, your mind, your soul were each intent on getting out of Komore Teahouse as fast as possible, even as much as your body was.
His tight grasp upon your arm ceased.
"Just like the prophecy said..." he mumbled, a faraway daze entrancing him.
You took advantage of the distraction.
At a speed almost impossible to achieve within usual circumstances, your legs sped away from the man, pumped full of energy and blood. The lights above and down below blurred together until all you could see was yellow. Yellow which formed a halo beneath the door in which you were so close to reaching-
It all dissipated in the span of second. His arm was back again; restricting your movement and holding you in place. Grey filtered out your surroundings until everything was as monochrome as the situation itself was.
Struggling ensued. Attempts to free yourself were made a countless amount of times, though they all led to naught in the end - for when you finally twisted your whole body around, an inch away from reaching the handle of the door, a ruby barrier prevented you from doing so.
Scribed upon the shield encasing you both were murals of boiling flames, shuddering with heat and seemingly alive when things became clearer. Nipping at your skin, you realised with a start that though the pain they caused was minimal, it was as if they served a warning to you.
There's no escape, they seemed to say.
Thoma's arms surrounded you once again: they were impossible to get rid of this time. They held tight, despite the pushing, shoving and thrashing you aimed at them out of sheer desperation. Escape was now starting to become an outlandish concept with each second that ticked by.
Hands curled around your waist. They pulled back, bringing along with them your body and hope of freedom. As soon as your back made contact with the ground, his hands descended, making sure that you were indeed held down enough not to warrant another try of escape.
"What are you-?"
"Ssshh..." he hushed, leaning close to make sure his words were heard. "Sshh, it's okay."
"Let me go!" you shouted, gripping his arms with sharp, pointed nails. You could see harsh indents and grooves making themselves prominent against his clear skin.
"No no no, I can't do that, your Majesty," he rambled on. "Those people out there... they haven't realised your true identity yet. They haven't... they don't know how precious you truly are."
"Thoma, I'm not this God that all of Teyvat keeps thinking I'm impersonating-"
"Barbatos and the others always said you'd be weakened once you returned to Teyvat. I just never thought that what would be lost was your memory, not your power."
There was further warmth surrounding you now, and with a frantic glance down, you were able to identify that its cause was a familiar, soft blanket being wrapped around your form. Whereas when you had awoken it had been a comforting material, now, it only served to keep you further docile.
"If I'm this supposed God, then why don't you let me go-!"
"Thoma! The hell is all that ruckus in there? You havin' a guest over or somethin'?" a stranger's voice called out; muffled and quiet from behind the door leading to the rest of Komore Teahouse.
The pyro user craned his neck up, facing it in the direction of the (most likely) Inazuman citizen. His features, housing a mad grin and desperate gaze, twisted into something more innocent within a few seconds. His tone of voice changed from pleading to carefree as he airily responded, "Yep! Just an important guest that I have over, no need to worry!"
A shiver ran down your spine at the display of such talented duplicity.
Green met your angered eyes, which shone with unshed tears that threatened to escape at any moment. You glared at Thoma, trying as hard as you could to convey the sheer disbelief that was pumping within your concentrated blood.
This wasn't what you wanted. You would've preferred any other consequence than the one you were trapped with now; no way out, and no way for anyone to come in, either.
"A very important guest," he continued on, whispering so that the citizen could no longer hear his words. "Your Majesty, I need to keep you safe from those heathens out there. Who knows what other unspeakable crimes they'll commit towards you?"
The blanket was tugged tighter around you; the shield he had created with his vision became even more stifling in the already-humid environment of Komore Teahouse.
"You'll be safe here, your Grace."
He gently grasped at one of your hands, ladled with bruises and cuts of every sort. A thumb grazed over them, carefully so as to not rouse anymore needless pain. As if an afterthought, he then proceeded to lean forward, kissing right atop a particularly scarring blister.
"I must once again apologise on their behalf," Thoma finally murmured, lips pressed against the skin of your hand as his own shook with concealed rage. "What they did to you..."
His head inclined downwards, similar to how it would have if he were positioned in a bow.
"...I'll make sure it never happens again."
Inspired by various SAGAU writers, though primarily @nicebonescomrade
Please do inform me if I am missing any warnings in the tags.
Please make me aware of any grammatical errors that have been made, or references to the wrong pronouns.
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