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sidetongue · 1 year

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I don’t know how to start this. First of all, I’ve read all of your message and comments and I appreciate each of you. I wanted to step away from this platform because it feels so wrong being here without Mil. For 8 years, sidetongue.tumblr.com has been a place where Miller has existed not only in my life, but in the lives of people all over the world. Her memory, her story, and her existence are etched into the walls of this blog and I feel like a traitor carrying on without her.

A comment stuck out to me though, and it said something like ‘you’ve built this community and we’re all here for you’. And that’s right; there is such a sense of community here, years worth of friendships, and it would be so unfair to shut you all out. I know many of you cried along with me, and many of you grieve over this little blue dog like she was a close friend. Let me fill you in.

On Thursday (Day 5) I had the day off from work but went in anyway to help put an NG tube in Mil. My vet had spoken to vets up north (where lepto is more prevalent) and they had said that clinical symptoms don’t improve until day 7 at least. That gave us a bit of an explanation as to why we hadn’t seen improvement yet. It gave us some hope. We had to buckle in and get her to day 7. Of course, we needed to get food into her, so a NG tube was needed so we could stop force feeding her with a syringe.

She was such a good sport for her tube. She didn’t fuss or squirm or complain. Her nose bled and I cried. She told me not to worry about it. I told her I loved her and I’d see her later.

At around 4:30pm I got a call from my vet. She said “you know how you asked me to tell you if it was time?” I knew what that meant. It meant something had changed, things weren’t okay anymore, it meant Miller was suffering. I rushed into work.

They told me she had collapsed a little while ago. They ran bloods, and her clotting time was abnormal. She was going into DIC. When I saw Mil she looked so tired. The vet said she’d carry her out onto the grass, but Mil wanted to walk. On shaky legs she dragged her tired body up and walked beside me as we went outside.

Mil got to feel the wind on her face, smell fresh air, see blue skies, and have green grass beneath her feet. I hysterically refused to put on a gown, gloves, and face shield. I didn’t care about getting sick, I didn’t care about protocols, I needed her to feel all of my love in her last moments. And selfishly, I needed to feel those velvety ears, run my fingers through her fur, and feel her warmth beneath my hands.

I buried my face in her neck and clung to her as she fell asleep. I squeezed my eyes shut and for many moments I couldn’t sit back up. Couldn’t open my eyes to a world without Miller in it.

It has taken me over a week to look at and edit these few photos. The SD card had been sitting heavy, holding the last two adventures we ever went on. It filled me with dread, knowing I’d have to sit and look at Miller being happy and carefree in these photos. If I didn’t look at them, then there would always be a little bit of Mil still alive and safe. But I knew, in order to feel closure, I needed to go through them.

My heart shattered over and over again as her bright eyes stared into mine through the screen. So full of life, so unknowing of what was to come. The beach photo was taken on the morning she was admitted, a mere hour before she walked into the vet clinic. Never to walk out again. She had been a little quiet; staying by my side and not venturing off with the rest of the dogs. That’s what prompted me to take her to work. That’s why I only got the one photo, after a seagull tempted her to half-heartedly chase it.

I will never understand why this happened to my little blue dog. My boss has clarified that we STILL do not recommend lepto vaccines and that they are still not indicated due to how very low the risk is. That’s a whole other level of pain. That it was a one in a million chance, that my best girl was the horrific anomaly and we’ll likely never see this disease again.

Thank you all again for your words of support. The other dogs are doing well, no one is sick, and Trickle is still with us. The foster program that Trickle is through has called up the clinic and paid the entire amount for Miller’s cremation; a huge gesture that took off some of the financial burden.

I feel so privileged to have shared Millou with you all - she had more friends than she could possibly ever know, which is saying something because she was just. So comically abrasive. I hope she’s found someone unsuspecting to bark at up there. I hope she’s climbing mountains and eating dead kangaroos. I hope she’s found the equivalent of grandma’s armchair and is snoozing peacefully. I’ll miss her forever.

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hawkins-losers · 2 years

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What died didn’t stay dead | Eddie Munson x Henderson!Reader

Summary: When someone dies in the Upside Down, they don’t always stay dead

Word count: 2k

Warnings: mention of character death, grieving,

A/N: I unfortunately have experience with the loss of a close person and used some of my personal thoughts and difficult moments. I can’t say this fic was easy to write - some parts were personal and hard to re-live -, but I’ve been waiting to write

When Eddie died, you were ruined. Every tear was a rain parade from hell.

You didn’t speak for a few days.

You laid in bed with his shirt on, bundled under heaps of blankets, letting days turned into nights again and again. If anyone were to ask you, you wouldn’t even know what day it was. It was devastating for your closed one to see you so heartbroken and…depressed.

Your mom and brother tried to get you out of bed, but life was much better when you were sleeping – you could see him in your dreams. When you were awake, you were living a nightmare. A nightmare called real-life.

Talking about nightmares, you had those too. Although you hadn’t seen Eddie getting attacked by the demo-bats, you could see it vividly in your dreams. The nasty bats biting his flesh and tearing his clothes apart, eating him as if he was a wild animal carcass.

Whenever this would happen, you’d wake up screaming and thrashing in your bed. Your mother slept soundly thanks to her sleeping pills, but Dustin would drag himself out of bed despite his limp and slide in yours the way you used to when he was little after watching a movie he shouldn't have.

You felt bad for waking him and needing his comfort, constantly apologizing with variations of ‘’I'm sorry for all this. I'm putting you through more than one ever should.’’ and ‘’I should be comforting you. I'm the big sister.’’.

Every time, Dustin would shake his head and shush you with ‘’It's okay. We can comfort each other.’’

and ‘’We’ll get through this, we’ll get past this.’’. He was the best little brother.

Talking about your brother, Dustin had a lot on his fifteen year old shoulders. Not only did he have to deal with the pain of losing a great friend and role model, but also the loss of his sister – in a way. You were present physically, but the strong young woman and your sunshine energy were gone, replaced by permanent teary eyes and a pitch black bedroom.

Every evening, he would knock on your door and bring some food – per your mother’s request. You weren’t hungry, but you forced yourself to eat a few bites just to stop your stomach from screaming and hurting.

‘’I saw Eddie’s uncle today at the helping center. He…he asked about you. He asked how you were,’’ Dustin said one night.

Your fingers crisped around your fork, a lump forming in your throat at the mention and thought of Eddie’s uncle. Eddie was a son to him. Maybe not biologically, but he had raised him since he was eight years old. You couldn't imagine the kind of pain the old man must be in.

Two weeks after the ‘earthquake’, a small gathering was held in the Hellfire club den to commemorate Eddie – a private memorial.

‘’Hellfire club is having a small gathering in Eddie's honor. Mike and I made a collage of pictures and pinned little notes with good memories and stories about Eddie. Steve, Robin and Nancy will be there too. You...it would be nice if you came.’’

Dustin was mentally crossing his fingers, really hoping you’d agree to come. A little fresh air would be good for you. You hadn’t left your house since you collapsed on the sidewalk at the news of your lover’s sacrifice and death.

You bit your bottom lip, hesitating. You hadn’t showered since Monday and your hair had been in a ponytail for a whole week. Going to the memorial would require you to fix your appearance and look somewhat presentable, but brushing your hair felt like a chore.

You also weren’t ready to go outside and see the town you grew up in destroyed by the world that took your boyfriend.

‘’I don't know, Dusty…’’ You played with a loose thread on the hem of your shirt.

Dustin nodded, not doing well at hiding his disappointment, then left.

You felt terrible for declining the invitation. It was so touching of Dustin to host a memorial for Eddie, to take action to honor him.

Since there was no body to bury, there hadn't been a proper funeral – and Mr. Munson didn't have the funds to bury an empty casket for his nephew. It was partly a good thing as there would be no tattering of his grave. Although the allegations against the murder of Chrissy had been dropped, some people still saw him as a devil worshipper.

As if she heard your loud thoughts, your mother stopped by your room before going to bed. She sat on your bed, dressed in her calf-length nightgown.

‘’Dustin told me about the memorial. It’s a sweet idea, isn’t it?’’

You nodded. A memorial was indeed a sweet idea.

Claudia continued carefully. ‘’He also told me you turned down the invitation. Is that right?’’ You looked down in guilt and your mother pursed her lips. ‘’You shouldn’t feel guilty for not attending, but I think he would've wanted you to be there.’’

In the end, you went to the memorial. Your mom helped you get the knots out of your hair and tie it into a neater ponytail. You slipped into a pair of jeans and a hoodie that belonged to Eddie, unable to leave the house without something of his. Something to ground you and act as if he was with you.

It felt strange to be in the Hellfire den without Eddie. It lacked its spark.

Everyone was surprised, but happy to see you.

Garreth came to you first, abandoning his conversation with Jeff to hug you. It wasn’t typical of him, but he had himself dealt with the loss of his grandmother earlier this year and would have loved a hug. Robin followed, along with Steve and Nancy.

‘’I can’t imagine how hard it must be to continue living without him, to keep going, but I doubt Eddie would’ve wanted you to spend the rest of your life holed up in your bed. It’s okay to take your time to grieve and heal, but you gotta keep living, Y/N,’’ the latter said, speaking for everyone.

A lump of emotions got stuck in your throat at her words, but you swallowed it down. If you started crying now, you wouldn’t be able to stop.

On the D&D table was the memorial collage Dustin and Mike had made for their friend. You recognized some of the pictures from band practice, Hellfire meeting or simply goofing around with friends. One of them made you particularly tear up. It was a picture of you and Eddie, taken without either of you knowing – likely snapped by Dustin. He was looking at you with absolute love in his eyes and that smile that was only for you.

Everyone shared their best memories of Eddie, making you tear up and get emotional. Robin and Nancy were on your sides, rubbing your back and handing you tissues. Dustin’s speech was touching, calling Eddie the brother he always wished to have.

‘’I was with him when he held his last breath. He- he told me to take care of my sister, to tell she was the Morticia to his Gomez – whatever that means.’’

Eddie had referred to an old macabre sitcom you and he used to watch at his trailer. Although your appearance contrasted Morticia’s, the love you had for each other mirrored their relationship perfectly.

‘’Although he claimed not to be a hero, Eddie died as one, sacrificing himself to protect his friends and the town that hated him, to protect the people who wanted his head on a silver plate. Very few had the chance to know him – really know him. Eddie was brave, selfless and had the kindest heart. He was a fighter and shamelessly himself until the end. He had an eye for finding the outcasts in a crowd and bringing them together, making us feel appreciated for who we are.’’

All Hellfire members exchanged glances, together today because Eddie took them under his wing, took them in his D&D club.

Followingly, Dustin proclaimed himself the new Dungeon Master, per Eddie’s request. You gotta look after my little sheeps for me, Henderson. He won’t be sitting in Eddie’s throne though – he couldn’t do that. This throne was sacred and only Eddie’s.

A few months later, you were getting ready for bed when you saw your nightstand lamp flickering strangely. The lightbulb was brand new and the lamp never acted up before. You frowned and stepped closer, studying the lamp closely. It wasn’t just flickering, it was flickering in a pattern.

You probably jumped to conclusion too fast and got your hopes up for nothing, but you rushed into Dustin’s room, not caring if he was sleeping or not. You shook his shoulder until he stirred.

‘’Y/N? What are you doin’ here?’’ He rubbed his eyes sleepily. ‘’Did you have a nightmare-’’

You brushed off all of Dustin’s questions. ‘’I saw my lap flicker in the same weird way it did at the Wheelers the night Steve and the others went through the water-gate.’’ You grabbed his arm and pulled him up. ‘’Come see.’’

Dustin frowned, allowing his brain to wake up and slowly piecing it together. ‘’You mean…morse code?’’

‘’Yes! I know you saw him dying, that you saw his last breath, but…what if Eddie got revived in some strange supernatural way and is stuck in the Upside Down?’’

It was a crazy theory, but crazy had become part of your lives since Dustin and his friends stumbled upon that bald girl in the woods a few years ago.

You both went back to your room, seeing the lamp still flickering.

‘’Holy shit,’’ Dustin slipped, recognizing the signal and confirming that it was indeed morse code. ‘’Holy shit!’’ he repeated, at loss of words.

‘’It's Eddie. He’s trying to communicate with us,’’ you said a little too excitedly. ‘’He’s alive. He’s here, he’s-’’

Dustin felt bad for bursting your bubble, but he couldn’t let you get your hopes up. You had just started leaving the house without breaking down and seeing your friends again, he didn’t want you to fall back in the darkness.

‘’Wait! If you are right, I need you to keep in mind that this…thing is not Eddie – your Eddie. Physically, it might look like him, but when Peter got sent into the gate by El, he didn’t return from the Upside Down as himself. The Upside Down transformed him into the being of Vecna – it turned him evil. More evil than he already was.’’

‘’Peter was evil from the beginning. Eddie is not.’’

‘’He got bit to death by demo-bats,’’ Dustin reminded you. ‘’If normal bats can bring you loads of deadly diseases, imagine what a supernatural bat can give you. Whoever is on the other side is not-’

‘’Steve got bit too and he’s fine,’’ you pointed, on the defensive.

‘’Which is a fucking miracle!’’ Dustin practically shouted, forgetting for a moment about your mother a few doors down.

You sat on your bed, overwhelmed by the rollercoaster of emotions. Dustin was right, you knew he was, but it was nice to think even if only for a few seconds that the man you loved was alive and calling for you.

After calming down and getting hold of his emotions, Dustin sat beside you, looping an arm around your shoulders. ‘’I want it to be him, I want the person on the other side to be our Eddie, but…’’

He didn’t need to finish.

You laid your head on your brother’s shoulder. ‘’I miss him so much, Dusty.’’ A tear slipped from your eye and Dustin felt his own prickle.

‘’I miss him too.‘’

Taglist: @broadway-or-noway @violetsleftfist @thelaststraw3 @cursedandromedablack @Slashersimpfor @savagejane1 @wh0reforbucknasty @eddiemunson-slut @slvdsjjk @hehehehannahthings @dreamdancers-world @eddiemunsonbby @notbeforelong @lexi-2004 @violetrainbow412-blog @tatespillows @alwayslexii @lilygreennn @milkiane @imahomeslice @bunnygrl16 @cwritesforfun @marauders3rawh0re @your-mom21 @parkersmyth @voguesir @milkiane @andrewgarfields-girlfriend @lilygreennn @alexxavicry @charlie-chick @wandamaximoffs-deadchild @horrorstreet @rmeddar123 @pastel-abyss-x @lil-tracys @luvmybbies @chloepricesgrafitimarker @inluvweddiemunson @i-like-trains @kittenfrostt @simp-for-slasher @m-rae23 @kenzi-woycehoski

Eddie Munson taglist: @nighttwingg @yourfavoriteakutagawakinnie @heizenka @eddiemvunsongf @Eddie_munsons_girlfriend @magicalchocolatecheesecake @eddiemunsonistheloveofmylife @avril-reblog-cave @Fandomfaeryreads @harrys-tittie @straycatarang @fourlokiss @eddiemattress @ghoulishlygrey @paola-carter @bubsonnobx @pauldanoswifereal @ofherscarlettwitchways @kiszkathecook @truewdw1 @bubsonnobx @ohhrexella @Dreamtiara @pastelbabygirl19 @steves-robin @eddiemunsonbby @jenlouvre @bonked-beyond-belief2 @tvserie-s-world @bootlegmothman420 @courtmr @chrisxevans-seb @satinselenite @thikkiesixx @jennilynn63 @nia-um @welcometohellfirw @strangermarvelgirl @sugar-simz @fandomloversvaries @miakatharinaa @julsss321 @m1rkw00dpr1ncess @Minksblog @soph69420world @ameliakf13 @nancewheelersworld @parasadic-blog @nluvwitheddiemunson @veniceb1tch88 @ali-r3n @Luv.eddie @stephylovesmayahawke @ruinedbythehobbit @sweetheart-im-the-boss @jusstdreaaming @hoeformunsonandhargrove @buckyswhxre @tomspidertingle @stormyparker @thechoiceslookgrimm @ilikechocolatemilkh @bbylyneth @bobafettsleftglove @princesseddie @yourfavdummy @xbreezymeadowsmunsonx

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #stranger things #stranger things imagine #eddie stranger things #stranger things s4

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submissiveblender · 10 months

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Photo from the Facebook group This Cat is G R O M P Y

Below the cut is the text from the announcement by his carer Ash Houghton:

"Hey Spudbuds,

I’m honestly not sure how to start this post, but here it goes.

Today, our tiny spud, passed away suddenly in my hands. His energy had been slowly decreasing over the last week or so, and we were hoping it was an illness that antibiotics could treat. He also started showing signs of pneumonia a few days ago, and I had started pneumonia protocol with meds and a nebulizer.

I brought up the possibility of a heart condition with our vet, but Tater Tot was too small to have any tests run on him yet. With how sudden his passing was today, I truly think he had an enlarged heart and it just couldn’t keep up with him. One moment he was walking around and the next he was gone.

This tiny little potato has had such a profound impact on my heart, and I am so unbelievably happy I got to share him with the entire world. What started as me sharing some photos of the goofy new foster I had turned into an entire community focused on kindness, humor and compassion. I am astounded at the reach Tater Tot’s story had, and I cannot express to you just how incredible it has been to see how he has impacted the world.

I hope that his resilience during his short time here continues to inspire people. He was dealt a really tough hand with multiple health concerns, but he didn’t let that slow him down. He showed us that even if we have some struggles, there is always something to fight toward.

I want to thank every person here who has been in his corner cheering him on. It has been so beautiful to watch millions of people around the world unite over the life of one small little creature.

Working in rescue is hard. We put so much love, care, literal blood, sweat and tears into trying to save as many animals as we can - sometimes they just don’t make it, and it is devastating. My heart is shattered. This tiny tot was such a joy to care for, even on the days it was hard as hell. Tube feeding a kitten every day for 6 and a half weeks is no easy task, and I definitely bonded with this guy in a way I’ve never bonded with a foster before. He has left his paw prints on my heart, and I hope he left some tiny paw prints on yours.

I am not shutting down this page even though our little grompy potato has crossed the rainbow bridge. His life has helped bring to light the difficulties of working not only in rescue, but caring for animals with disabilities. I want his memory to live on in the stories of other creatures who are built just a little different from others.

In closing, I would love it if all of the Spudbuds could make a donation to their local shelter in Tater Tot’s honor. Please help his life continue to impact other animals in the world.

Thank you for being a part of Tater Tot’s journey, and for having such a profound impact on me and our rescue. We never anticipated we would build a whole community, but my goodness, I am glad we did.

I will be taking a few days offline. This one really hurt. Tagging admins to watch this post so I can be disconnected for a bit to grieve.

Lots of love to you all,

Mama Bonker"

#tw death #tater tot the cat #196 #i love how excited everyone has gotten about this cat

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the-peddito-and-the-doise-show · 16 days

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YAHOOO IM SO PROUD OF YOU TWO THAT WAS SOA WESOMEEE YYEHAHSGGZHAHVCBAGDGD

... Also. Uhh. Not tryna break the happy atmosphere but... Doise, my bbg, you prolly gotta say your goodbyes now....

“Yeahhh… I’ve been meaning to talk to you guys about that.” The Doise ashamedly said, putting his hands behind his back. “About(-a) what?” Peddito, Pizzamancer, Eigilante, and most importantly Doisette all said in unison. “So, uhh… I may have gone to the afterlife, and I may have possibly struck a deal with a literal god that allowed me to come back… and I may have to come back there again because I’ve already done my part…?” Peeperman: “Y-YOU DID ALL THAT?!” Eigilante: “This is The Doise we’re talking about, peeps. After all, he’s always been a broadway actor, so he’s always going to get in some dramatic situations and whatnot.” “I’m not believing this, I’m not fucking believing this—please tell me you’re joking. Please. Don’t go.” Doisette begged in disbelief. Doisey whimpered, as he couldn’t imagine life without his own father to guide him through the tough parts especially. Doise Chan lowered her head with a saddened expression, as she also couldn’t imagine life without her big little brother. Peddita Chan wanted to thank The Doise for introducing her a friend that was like a father to her. Pizzamancer tried to remain stoic and calm, but he too had been given a purpose to serve someone, that very someone who had treated him like he was his friend. Though he didn’t admit it out loud. Even though all of the recolored “ocs” were made to be blatant copies of their original versions, they too felt miserable about the thought of their friend leaving again when they just got here. Peddito… well, Peddito was glad that The Doise was going. He’d been trying to kill him all of this time. Still though… there was a shard of sorrow somewhere in him that missed the years of friendship he had with him. But he didn’t know that yet. Right as The Doise was right about to part ways with his newfound group of friends, both new and old, a mysterious yet familiar figure appeared behind him.

Once The Doise noticed, he was immediately taken back—and so was the rest of the gang who was not expecting this at all. “YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOAAAAAAAAGGGGGGG!” He had screamed.

“Now, now, calm down, calm down! I am deeply sorry for interrupting your hour of grieving, but I believe I have to speak with him right about now. Come with me.”

The spiritual being then gently led The Doise away from the gang, who was still confused of the whole thing. Meister Stiff: “Uhhh… do you know that guy, Mr. Pizza Magician?” “First of all, I am a professional master of the dark arts for your information, you FOOL! But second of all… no, I have no clue who that guy was.” Gusto: “This-a day keeps-a getting weirder and weirder… I can-a barely remember everyone’s name!” Cement agreed with that statement, still having no clue of who was each person was.

“So, you may have known that your time is up, and since now you can finally rest, right?”

“Yeah, I guess…” said The Doise. He didn’t know where was this leading.

“Well, I’ve got good news and bad news for you!”

“…What’s the bad news?”

“I have to take back the power that I’ve given you before you came back here, y’know.”

“…Aw man—” The Doise had started saying, before immediately being struck by a wave of lightning stemming from the paranormal essence’s hand. “YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOAAAAAAAAGGGGGGG!” He had screamed… again.

“Sorry about that, but it was necessary nonetheless.”

The Doise took a while being back to an average Joe, as he eventually refocused. ”So, uh… what’s the good news then?”

“You have shown incredible bravery, one that you were determined to protect your friends from a being who ‘thought’ he had the upper hand at any costs given. And you were ready to sacrifice yourself for the greater good, while still honoring the memories made with your own friends. For that reason, you’ve been given another chance at life again. I trust that you’ll resting here a lot more peacefully than that rather dark void back there!”

It took Doise a good moment there, before celebrating cheerfully. “Yippieee!” Then, the rest of the gang (who had been secretly listening to the whole conversation), rushed over to celebrate along with The Doise, cheering as well that he was able to stay with them. Especially Doisette (who didn’t care if it affected her tough image) kissed him many times on the cheek for how incredibly lucky she was to have him.

“Oh, and also, I’ve got two familiar friends with me as well—guess you can say that they’re back from their travels! Say hi to them, would you?”

Golden Pizzaboy waved over both Nick and Jerome, who were waiting patiently for them to be called in. “Wassup?” Nick said, trying to be edgy and cool (but horribly failing at it). Jerome himself just gave a supportive thumbs up. Peeperman: “H-Hey, I’ve been won-wondering of where you gu-guys have been!” Eigilante: “Where did you two even go in the first place, anyways?” Nick: “Uhh… South Dakota?”

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tenshinokorin · 2 years

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Diluc’s Letters

because I’m insane, I hand-transcribed all of Diluc’s winery letters in his current outfit event. It was mostly to keep Kaeya’s letters, but I also got the ones from everyone else, which includes my guesses at the authors. (I’m still pretty new to GI having only been playing a couple of months, so there may be errors there.) This is mostly only for my own ficwriting records, but if you find it handy and wanted to do a nice back for me, please feel free to add me as a GI friend, since I don’t have any yet. ^^; My UID is 617026092.)

DILUC'S LETTERS

A letter with Rough Handwriting (Grand Master Varka)

Diluc,

Jean wrote to me lately with shocking news. If I don't miss my guess, she wrote to you too. Her sentiments are those of the Knights as a whole. Crepus was a good man, and I thought very well of him. It grieves me greatly to know that he met with such a fate. As for the defeat of the drake, the honors for that accomplishment should go to your father. I do not accept Eroch's theft of the credit for that deed, which was bought with your father's sacrifice. Stolen credit will not be accepted within the Knights of Favonius under any circumstances. I will not permit it. I have already given Jean the authority to punish Eroch with all necessary severity. The Knights will inform you of the results. I've heard that you've been taking some time off outdoors and may not be easy to reach, so there is no guarantee that my letter will reach you. As such, I'll stop here for now. If it does reach you, then I wish you good health and safety in your travels. Contact us if you need anything. I hope that falcon of yours will help put this letter in your hands. I mean, I don't write in person very often, you know? These may seem like pointless words to you right now, but remember: even the greatest of disasters must come to an end. Mondstadt waits for your return, and if you're willing, the Knights will always welcome you. (If you're not, forget I said anything, yeah?)

A TIDILY WRITTEN LETTER (Alice)

To the heir of the Ragnvindr Clan,

I apologize for sending this letter without notice. You may not remember me, but we've met a few times. We've met near the square, when I sat at the table adjacent to yours at the Good Hunter, and I've seen you in your tavern... You were always busy with a great many things, especially back when you were much chattier than you are now. You spoke cheerfully and often with your brother and friends then. It's probably no surprise that you did not notice me then. But I've always had my eye on you, child. I recall with crystal clarity how my little Klee once made a complete mess of your vinyard while she was trying to catch crystalflies there... But you didn't get angry. In fact, you personally escorted Klee back and even gave her a few bottles of fresh grape juice. Now I think that might jog your memory, yes? Klee recently told me she "Hasn't seen that strange man with the red hair in aaages," so I decided to look into it out of curiosity. My deepest condolences regarding your father. In many of the stories I've been told, you are the model knight: proud, driven, a knight of noble character and lineage. But I know that you're gentler than you appear. If you weren't, you wouldn't have treated Klee the way you did. And since you helped my child out, I hope you won't mind if I treat you as if you were my own. Therefore, I sincerely hope that you will leave the dark place that you are presently in, and that you will not wallow in grief and remorse. Partings are most painful things, but they also encourage us to grow. A bird that has lost the roof over its head will fly further than others of its kind. Go out and see the world. That's the best course of action I can envision. Only by feeling, observing, and listening can your heart be healed. Parents all wish that they can accompany their children forever, and the skies seas, and stars bear witness to that oath. Everything that was your father now finds new life with you. That which you will experience in this world may have been things that your father experienced once upon a time. I hope that the wind will bring you all manner of wondrous things in your journeys to come. In any case, keep your chin up, young child.

A LETTER WITH CLEAR HANDWRITING (winery dude)

Master,

Master Kaeya took leave and stayed at Dawn Winery for a few days. In a rare turn of events, he decided to stay in his original bedroom. He would pace about the grounds when idle, and even asked Adelinde to make him his favorite dishes. Ah, it really does take me back. I shall be honest with you, but I was quite surprised to hear Master Kaeya say that he wanted to stay for a few days. We did not refuse him, however. We believe that even if you were here, you would not refuse him outright. Dawn Winery has always been a more quiet location, perhaps because all who stay here are rather peaceable people. The house is made by those who live in it, and Master Kaeya's uncommon arrival did end up livening the place up significantly. I hope that you are doing well in your travels abroad. Everyone here at the winery misses you. May you remain safe and in good health.

A LETTER WITH ELEGANT HANDWRITING (Jean?)

Dear Diluc,

Welcome back to Mondstatdt, sir. It has been some time since the incident. We discovered that Eroch had betrayed us, and he has been punished severely. I hope that this news will put your mind at ease. In other news, our people have discovered that the Abyss Order has stepped up its activities between Wolvendom and Stone Gate lately. Also -- a mysterious individual that people are calling the "Darknight Hero" has suddenly started showing up out of nowhere all around Mondstadt City. He typically actis in the dead of night, and his intentions are currently unclear. Please stay safe, and notify the Knights as soon as possible should you see anything suspicious. We will send support immediately. Whether you are presently in our ranks or not, all faithful Knights will remember your contributions to the Knights of Favonius. May you remain in good health.

A NEATLY WRITTEN LETTER (Albedo?)

Dear Mr. Diluc,

It is my pleasure to investigate the ley lines alongside you. As you know, my focus is on alchemy, so my knowledge of the ley lines remains quite shallow, and I fear that I will only be able to share what little understanding I have. According to many pre-existing documents, the ley lines can be seen as a medium for storing information. Under certain circumstances, they can record activities that occur in the area around them. All this information goes through a recording and storage process. After a certain period of time, they may be released once again by the ley lines. If I may be so bold as to make a guess, there should be a method to activate the ley lines. Those who grasp such methods can control the times at which ley line information is recorded and released. Judging from the runic symbols and some other clues, I surmise that there are particular members of the Abyss Order who may have a very small chance of being able to achieve this. If you believe that his requires further investigation, these entities may serve as your point of entry. I wrote a paper a few years ago in which I covered my brief foray inro questions concerning the flow of ley lines and other such topics. You will find a copy of this paper enclosed. I hope that it can help to clear up some of your doubts.

A NEW LETTER (Informant?)

Dear Darknight Hero, the Knights of Favonius have stepped up the guard details throughout Mondstadt without making any major movements. The Abyss Order will not have noticed. I am scouting around Dragonspine. The monsters here are scattered and separated. Clearly, they haven't been assembled by the Abyss Order. There are no signs of enemy activity in the south of Mondstadt either. If you can confirm that the other locations are also free of monsters, we will be able to conclude that the Abyss Order has nothing to do with the recent ley line disorder.

* * *

KAEYA'S LETTERS

(A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting)

To D:

A storm is brewing within the Knights of Favonius. Varka's inner circle is preparing to investigate Eroch and his henchmen, and it's looking increasingly likely that Eroch is about to get unseated from that high horse of his. You might not be too pleased to see this letter of mine, but I mean to get this news to you as soon as possible. You don't have to reply.

II.

To D:

Even I was a little surprised to hear that you'd decided to leave on a trip. Jean wanted to write and try to dissuade you, but I advised her against it. As for Varka, I don't think he knows that about this. Otherwise, he'd have probably sat you down for a talk. If you'd like to leave, do it now. The less the people know, the less the goodbyes you'll have to say. Leave at night, too, so things won't be too saddening. Take care.

III.

To D:

Some slightly bad news. Eroch won't be quite so difficult [should be 'easy'? Is this an error?] to bring down after all. The Grand Master's order to investigate has certainly dealt him a major blow, but I wouldn't call the problem "pulled up by the roots' yet. The matter's been handed over to Jean's jurisdiction. She'll take care of this, I believe. Eroch is an obstacle in her path, in any case. Just sit tight and wait for the good news.

IV.

To D:

Recently, a group of businessmen returned to Mondstadt. Word is that the reason for their return is a downturn in business. According to my observations, their employees are regulars at Angel's Share. These people can also be found out in the more dangerous parts of the wilds around the city. Now, a few of them were a little careless and even dropped some pages of their notes on the ground. I took the liberty of returning these sheets to Angel's Share. You know, out the goodness of my heart. I think they might have something to do with you, seeing as how they were there. I also noticed that their notes were written in code. Information brokers, perhaps? Or some kind of secret organization? Whatever the case, it took quite a lot of effort to see those blurred words with only one eye, you know? Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret.

To D:

I didn't try to hide it from you on purpose, you know. But I suppose you found out all the same, huh? I mean, not everyone who wears an eyepatch must be blind, right? Don't people also wear an eyepatch if they have a scar over their right eye?

The long-awaited good news is finally here. Now, I'm going to bring a glass of wine when I go to watch Eroch pack his things and leave on his last day (good riddance, by the way). That should be fun, eh? I know you're not the type to do that sort of thing, but I am, so allow me.

VI.

To D:

Oh my! No sooner did you get back than a mysterious character started popping up. I hear he's called the Darknight Hero. He has repeatedly fought off Treasure Hoarders and monsters in the Mondstadt area -- and he'd even attacked Abyss Order strongholds. So far, it seems like he's on Mondstadt's side, but the Knights of Favonius could never permit the existence of a vigilante. I get the feeling the two of you would get along nicely. Why don't you find an opportunity to get to know him and give him some sage advice? You know, just so he doesn't get caught by the Knights?

VII.

To D:

Per standard procedure, the Knights of Favonius need to take a statement from all relevant parties. Recently, the Knights of Favonius have received reports from a number of eye-witnesses claiming to have seen the Darknight Hero in the vicinity of the Dawn Winery. The Grand Master has assigned the Cavalry Company to this mission. As such, I will be paying you a visit in three days. He seems to think our relationship can be improved if we are forced to talk in person. Don't worry, though. My lips are sealed. This will be nothing more than a formality. Anyway, three days' notice should be enough for you, I presume?

VIII.

To D:

The appearance of the Darknight Hero has indeed brought the Knights of Favonius some valuable time during the Abyss Order's last attack. This helped Jean convince the Knights of Favonius to stop focusing on trying to stop him. This will decrease the limits on the Darknight Hero's actions, but this doesn't mean his situation will necessarily improve. Objects with too honed an edge tend to be damaged more easily. You, I'm sure, are aware of the great dangers that come with acting alone. That said, I would advise against such a course of action.

IX.

To D:

I heard that the Dawn Winery did not suffer any damage. Likewise, the Knights of Favonius only sustained minor injuries, and will recover quickly. However, an employee of a local merchant has gone missing, and their last known location just so happens to align with the Abyss Order's area of activity. The Knights have dispatched people to go to the rescue. Do be aware that the Abyss Order has become more dangerous of late, even going so far as to organize multi-pronged offensives. Perhaps the Knights of Favonius and the Darknight Hero should team up. That might guarantee that things will go off without a hitch, hmm?

#genshin impact #diluc #kaeya #hidden strife event #red dead of night outfit

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redux-iterum · 2 years

Text

A Moment of Sincerity

We’re putting down Puppycat today.

I’ve talked about her before here, but as she influenced a section of the lore of the Redux, and now Iterum, I feel it would be appropriate to tell you all about her and pay her respects before we take her to the vet this afternoon. Sentimental nonsense under the cut.

It’s an unfair thing, really. She’s only 11 years old and has been through a hell of a lot in her life, and now it’s cut short.

For starters, we originally got her to be a playmate of our other kitten, Jack the Ripper. He was named appropriately, because when we brought her home, we discovered that we had underestimated how much bigger than her he was, and he proceeded to “play” so hard that we half-jokingly believe he gave her brain damage from knocking her around and hitting her head. She developed some odd traits afterward, earning her new name after she began to wag her tail like a dog, adore belly rubs, and come when she was called.

Jack ultimately died young, and from that point Puppycat (nee Kelly) dedicated all of her free time to eating. All of it. She ate and ate and ate, to the point that we could no longer just let our cats have food out all the time, because she’d scarf it down, vomit it up, and go back for more. I’ve always described her as “looking like a tick: big round body and tiny little head”.

It got to the point that one night, during the development of the Redux, I was sitting in my room while she waddled about in circles, trying to get me to pet her. I noted with no small amount of irritation that she was the epitome of gluttony - and then it struck me that such a creature would be an amazing monster in Redux!Clan lore. It took no time at all to spin a tale of a hairless, bulbous animal that eats endlessly and will devour anything that can fit down its broken jaws.

Puppy, of course, was nowhere near as aggressive as Yrrun, only bopping or hissing in self defense. The meanest thing she ever did unprompted was reach out and gently tap one of our other cats as she was walking by (who at the time was being bullied by the whole house of animals). It wasn’t appreciated, but it certainly was funny.

She had the habit of coming to sit on my chest when I woke up in the morning to bug me to feed her, as if that would speed up the process, and once stuck her foot in my mouth when I yawned. She's always been awkward about how to express her affection, but her favorite way was to gently reach out and touch a human’s face, doing her best to purr (she didn’t know how to for a long time; she just wheezed happily as a young’un). It’s sweet, but she also has really long claws and so your face always gets scratched up. Still, it’s the thought that counts.

I’ve discussed a cat on Seeker’s blog before named Andy. This was Puppycat’s best friend in the whole world. The two were fat and slow and that only exacerbated as they aged, but they still played in a geriatric fashion with each other. That said, Andy had a hell of a bite, and often Puppy would have to slap him and refuse to stop playing when he hurt her.

One of my absolute favorite memories of all time involves these two. I was at the table in the dining room, which was connected to the office, which they were playing in. Out of nowhere, I heard a scuffle and a hiss, and then Puppycat came out into the hallway waddling for her life, unable to run with her weight. Andy, who was injured at the time, limped after her as fast as he could, as if he could possibly catch up to her. I could have outpaced them both crawling. It was pathetic. The sheer absurdity has never left my mind, and I can see the details of this instance perfectly to this day.

When Andy died is when things really went downhill. I’ve never seen an animal grieve properly before, but Puppycat was clearly devastated. She refused to eat or come inside, even in the cold and rain (she’s hated the outdoors all her life before this), and she lost almost all of her personality. It got to the point where she got skinnier and skinnier until she was actually at the average weight for a cat her age. A bittersweet milestone, but at the very least she wasn’t struggling to walk five steps before giving up and flopping over in exhaustion.

Unfortunately, just as she was recovering from her loss, she came down with a gum disease that made it impossible for her to eat in comfort, bringing down her weight even more. We ended up having to remove all of her teeth except her fangs and put her on pills that she would be on for the rest of her life to keep the disease down and let her get back to her favorite hobby. Notably, she still had the gumption to eat dry food without being able to chew it, but we needed to help her pick up strips of cheese or whatever snack we gave her while we were making food.

I’m not particularly sure what hit her now, but after she started vomiting up her pills no matter when or how we gave them, she’s completely stopped eating and drinking. She’s just stayed outside, crumpled in the gravel much in the way an animal is when they’re trying to run out the clock and pass on. I can’t let her just starve to death like a hospice patient, so in a couple hours she’s going to our nearest vet to have a much swifter, painless end. Lucky thing she’s always been comfortable and cheerful when she goes to appointments.

That’s about all I feel like saying for now, I think. She’s currently lying down in the hall, still limp, still silent. I wish I could talk to her in a way she’d understand, just to let her know she’s been endlessly valued as a member of the family in all the time we’ve had her. She’s brought countless hours of amusement and jokes with her strange little self and even our vets love her to pieces. I would like to tell her the house will not be the same without her.

Rest easy for a bit, Puppy. You’ll be seeing Andy again soon.

#i speak #real talk #pets #readmore

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parcequecestnotreprojeeeet · 2 years

Note

Hi. It’s me, Fanfic Anon #2 again. Hope you’re having a good weekend, EMT (and everyone else!). This was inspired by the images from the hommage for Pierre Soulages. It may be a little on the sadder end, but I just couldn’t get over how sad they looked, and it made me think of some other stuff, and this just kind of came pouring out. I hope you all enjoy it. If this is too sad, I apologize. I’ll do something really light and fluffy for my next piece. Promise!

He was uncharacteristically quiet on the way back to the Élysée. Normally after they went somewhere, especially if he gave a speech, he’d spend the whole car ride debriefing the event with her. Eyes wide and eager, excited and breathless, he’d want to solicit her thoughts, give her his impressions, trade notes on his delivery. Like always, he took her hand the second they settled into their seats, holding it in his and resting them jointly on the middle seat between them, but other than a few soft strokes of his thumb against the back of her hand every so often, he seemed lost in his own little world as he stared out the window at the city as they sped by.

She kept her watchful eye trained on him, just as she had during the service and afterwards when they had spent time with and consoling the beloved family he left behind. She has seen what these hommages and pantheon tributes, even the funerals and memorials they attend can do to him, her sensitive, empathetic husband. This kind man, unafraid to show his emotions, who proudly wears his heart on his sleeve - as demonstrative in his sorrow as he is in his happiness. He loves deeply, he grieves deeply, he feels deeply. And his beautiful heart, his big heart, his sweet heart, which she would do anything to protect, was clearly hurting.

“Chéri?” she inquired softly, trying to gain his attention without startling him.

“Hmm?” he answered nonverbally, slowly turning away from the window back towards her.

Her heart broke to see his downcast face, the deep lines on his forehead, the tears pearling in the corners of his eyes, the frown pulling down his mouth. “What’s wrong? What can I do to help you?”

He smiled briefly at that, the light not quite returning to his eyes, but his appreciation for her care and her devotion clearly making a difference, if even for a brief moment. “I’m okay, Brigitte.”

“This isn’t okay, Emmanuel. Let me help you. Whatever it is that’s upset you or that’s troubling you, just talk to me. I love you. I am here for you, always. Just talk to me.”

He took a deep sigh as he weighed his options and his next words carefully. They were always honest with each other, even when it hurt. Their honesty was their strength, it’s why he trusts her more than anyone else in the world, especially now, and he knows, she sometimes has these thoughts and moments too. “I’m just thinking about his widow. They were together for 80 years, Brigitte. I haven’t even known you for 30 years yet, and I don’t know what I’d do without you. She’s just lost her partner, and all I can think about is what would happen to me if I lost you, and -“

She cut him off before he could work himself into any more of a state, reaching over with the hand that wasn’t holding his to gently cup his face, her thumb rubbing small, soothing circles on his cheek. “The thing I hate the most about our situation is the fact that my age makes it likely that I’m going to go first. I can’t stand imagining the world I’m going to be leaving you in because I can’t even begin to imagine a universe where you go first and leave me behind.

“You know, since my sister passed, I’ve had a complicated relationship with death, and knowing I’m only promised the present, I hold on to each moment. So each new day, I hold to the fact that I have today with you, that I love you more today than I did yesterday, and I say a prayer each night in gratitude for that gift of one more day with you.

“But, I promise you this, every single second I have left in this life I am yours, I will love you until my dying breath, and whatever lies beyond, I will be with you in whatever form I can, and I will be waiting for you to come home to me. You will never, ever be alone, not if I have anything to say about it. Do you understand me?”

He nodded gently, the heavy feeling in his stomach releasing a little at her words. “Yeah,” he smiled again weakly, this time holding it a little longer. Turning slowly so he could press a soft kiss on the palm that was still cupping his face, he asked, “when we get back, can you just hold me for a minute?”

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll hold you for forever.”

Hellooo Fanfic Anon #2!❤️

Oh my heart! I felt you were going there. The way you built it, Emmanuel being sad and thoughtful... And when I had the confirmation it was him thinking about losing Brigitte 💔 It was sad, yes, but sad in a touching way. Him scared, her reassuring him even if she fears it too... so beautiful 🤧

(I wonder if it’s something they actually talk/think about...)

Thank you so much for another beautiful piece! ❤️❤️❤️

#fanfic #fanfic anon 2

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idreamofblueming · 2 years

Text

Hidden Strife Event: Dawn Winery Letters

A Letter With Rough Handwriting:

Diluc,

Jean wrote to me lately with shocking news. If I don't miss my guess, she wrote to you too. Her sentiments are those of the Knights as a whole

Crepus was a good man, and I thought very well of him. It grieves me greatly to know that he met with such a fate.

As for the defeat of the drake, the honors for that accomplishment should go to your father. I do not accept Eroch's theft of the credit for that deed, which was bought with your father's sacrifice.

Stolen credit will not be accepted within the Knights of Favonius under any circumstances. I will not permit it.

I have already given Jean the authority to punish Eroch with all necessary severity. The Knights will inform you of the results.

I've heard that you've been taking some time off outdoors and may not be easy to reach, so there is no guarantee that my letter will reach you. As such, I'll stop here for now.

If this does reach you, then I wish you good health and safety in your travels. Contact us if you need anything.

I hope that falcon of yours will help put this letter in your hands. I mean, I don't write in person very often, you know?

These may seem like pointless words to you right now, but remember: even the greatest of disasters must come to an end.

Mondstadt waits for your return, and if you're willing, the Knights will always welcome you. (If you're not, forget I said anything, yeah?)

A Tidily Written Letter:

To the heir of the Ragnvindr Clan,

I apologize for sending this letter without notice. You may not remember me, but we've met a few times.

We've met near the square, when I sat at the table adjacent to yours at the Good Hunter, and I've seen you in your tavern...

You were always busy with a great many things, especially back when you were much chattier than you are now. You spoke cheerfully and often with your brother and friends then.

It's probably no surprise that you did not notice me then. But I've always had my eye on you, child.

I recall with crystal clarity how my little Klee once made a complete mess of your vineyard while she was trying to catch Crystalflies there...

But you didn't get angry. In fact, you personally escorted Klee back and even gave her a few bottles of fresh grape juice.

Now I think that might jog your memory, yes?

Klee recently told me that she "hasn't seen that strange man with the red hair in aaages," so I decided to look into it out of curiosity.

My deepest condolences regarding your father.

In many of the stories I've been told, you are the model knight: proud, driven, a knight of noble character and lineage.

But I know that you're gentler than you appear. If you weren't, you wouldn't have treated Klee the way you did.

And since you helped my child out, I hope you won't mind if I treat you as if you were my own.

Therefore, I sincerely hope that you will leave the dark place that you are presently in, and that you will not wallow in grief and remorse.

Partings are most painful things, but they also encourage us to grow. A bird that has lost the roof over its head will fly further than others of its kind.

Go out and see the world. That's the best course of action I can envision. Only by feeling, observing, and listening can your heart be healed.

Parents all wish that they can accompany their children forever, and the skies, seas, and stars bear witness to that oath.

Everything that was your father now finds new life with you. That which you will experience in this world may have been things that your father experienced once upon a time.

I hope that the wind will bring you all manner of wondrous things in your journeys to come.

In any case, keep your chin up, young child.

A Letter with Clear Handwriting:

Master,

Master Kaeya took leave and stayed at Dawn Winery for a few days.

In a rare turn of events he decided to stay in his original bedroom. He would pace about the grounds when idle, and even asked Adelinde to make him his favorite dishes.

Ah, it really does take me back.

I shall be honest with you, but I was quite surprised to hear Master Kaeya say that he wanted to stay for a few days.

We did not refuse him, however. We believe that even if you were here, you would not refuse him outright.

Dawn Winery has always been a more quiet location, perhaps because all who stay here are rather peaceable people

The house is made by those who live in it, and Master Kaeya's uncommon arrival did end up livening the place up significantly

I hope that you are doing well in your travels abroad. Everyone here at the winery misses you.

May you remain safe and in good health.

A Letter with Elegant Handwriting:

Dear Diluc,

Welcome back to Mondstadt, Sir.

It has been some time since the incident. We discovered that Eroch had betrayed us, and he has been punished severely.

I hope that this news will put your mind at ease.

In other news, our people have discovered that the Abyss Order has stepped up its activities between Wolvendom and Stone Gate lately.

Also -- a mysterious individual that people are calling the "Darknight Hero" has suddenly started showing up out of nowhere all around Mondstadt City. He typically acts in the dead of night, and his intentions are currently unclear.

Please stay safe, and notify the Knights as soon as possible should you see anything suspicious. We will send support immediately.

Whether you are presently in our ranks or not, all faithful knights will remember your contributions to the Knights of Favonius.

May you remain in great health.

A Neatly Written Letter:

Dear Mr. Diluc,

It is my pleasure to investigate the ley lines alongside you.

As you know, my focus is on alchemy, so my knowledge of the ley lines remains quite shallow, and I fear that I will only be able to share what little understanding I have.

According to many pre-existing documents, the ley lines can be seen as a medium for storing information. Under certain circumstances, they can record activities that occur in the area around them.

All this information goes through a recording and storage process. After a certain period of time, they may be released once again by the ley lines

If I may be so bold as to make a guess, there should be a method to activate the ley lines. Those who grasp such methods can control the times at which ley line information is recorded and released.

Judging from the runic symbols and some other clues, I surmise that there are particular members of the Abyss Order who may have a very small chance of being able to achieve this.

If you believe that this requires further investigation, these entities may serve as your point of entry.

I wrote a paper a few years ago in which I covered my brief foray into questions concerning the flow of ley lines and other topics. You will find a copy of this paper enclosed.

I hope that it can help to clear up some of your doubts

A New Letter:

Dear Darknight Hero, the Knights of Favonius have stepped up the guard details throughout Mondstadt without making major movements. The Abyss Order will not have noticed.

I am scouting around Dragonspine. The monsters here are scattered and separated. Clearly, they haven't been assembled by the Abyss Order.

There are no signs of enemy activity in the south of Mondstadt either.

If you can confirm that the other locations are also free of monsters, we will be able to conclude that the Abyss Order has nothing to do with the recent ley line disorder

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (I)

To D:

You might not be too pleased to see this letter of mine, but I mean to get this news to you as soon as possible

You don't have to reply.

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (II)

To D:

Even I was a little surprised to hear that you'd decided to leave on a trip.

Jean wanted to write and try to dissuade you, but I advised her against it.

As for Varka, I don't think he knows about this. Otherwise, he'd have probably sat you down for a talk.

If you'd like to leave, do it now. The less the people know, the less the goodbyes you'll have to say. Leave at night, too, so things won't be too saddening.

Take care.

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (III)

To D:

Some slightly bad news. Eroch won't be quite so difficult to bring down after all.

The Grand Master's order to investigate has certainly dealt him a major blow, but I wouldn't call the problem "pulled up by the roots" yet.

The matter's been handed over to Jean's jurisdiction. She'll take care of this, I believe. Eroch is an obstacle in her path, in any case.

Just sit tight and wait for the good news.

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (IV)

To D:

Recently, a group of businessmen returned to Mondstadt. Word is that the reason for their return is a downturn in business.

According to my observations, their employees are regulars at Angel's Share. These people can also be found out in the more dangerous parts of the wilds around the city.

Now, a few of them were a little careless and even dropped some pages of their notes on the ground. I took the liberty of returning these sheets to the Angel's Share. You know, out of the goodness of my heart.

I think they might have something to do with you, seeing as how they were there. I also noticed that their notes were written in code. Information brokers, perhaps? Or some kind of secret organization?

Whatever the case, it took quite a lot of effort to see those blurred words with only one eye, you know? Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret.

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (V)

To D:

I didn't try to hide it from you on purpose, you know. But I suppose you found out all the same, huh?

I mean, not everyone who wears an eyepatch must be blind, right? Don't people also wear an eyepatch if they have a scar over their right eye?

The long-awaited good news is finally here.

Now, I'm going to bring a glass of wine when I go to watch Eroch pack his things and leave on his last day (good riddance, by the way). That should be fun, eh?

I know you're not the type to do that sort of thing, but I am, so allow me.

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (VI)

To D:

Oh, my! No sooner did you get back than a mysterious character started popping up.

I hear he's called the Darknight Hero. He has repeatedly fought off Treasure Hoarders and monsters in the Mondstadt Area -- and he's even attacked Abyss Order strongholds.

So far, it seems like he is on Mondstadt's side, but the Knights of Favonius could never permit the existence of a vigilante.

I get the feeling that the two of you would get along nicely. Why don't you find an opportunity to get to know him and give him some sage advice? You know, just so he doesn't get caught by the Knights?

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (VII)

To D:

Per standard procedure, the Knights of Favonius needs to take a statement from all relevant parties.

Recently, the Knights of Favonius have received reports from a number of eye-witnesses claiming to have seen the Darknight Hero in the vicinity of the Dawn Winery.

The Grand Master has assigned the Cavalry Company to this mission. As such, I will be paying you a visit in three days.

He seems to think that our relationship can be improved if we are forced to talk in person.

Don't worry, though. My lips are sealed. This will be nothing more than a formality. Anyway, three days' notice should be enough for you, I presume?

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (VIII)

To D:

The appearance of the Darknight Hero has indeed bought the Knights of Favonius some valuable time during the Abyss Order's last attack.

This helped Jean convince the Knights of Favonius to stop focusing on trying to stop him.

This will decrease the limits on the Darknight Hero's actions, but this doesn't necessarily mean that his situation will necessarily improve.

Objects with too honed an edge tend to be damaged more easily. You, I'm sure, are aware of the great dangers that come with acting alone.

That said, I would advise against such a course of action.

A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (IX)

To D:

I heard that the Dawn Winery did not suffer any damage. Likewise the Knights of Favonius only sustained minor injuries, and will recover quickly.

However, an employee of a local merchant has gone missing, and their last known location just so happens to align with the Abyss Order's area of activity

The Knights have dispatched people to go to the rescue.

Do be aware that the Abyss Order has become more dangerous as of late, even going so far as to organize multi-pronged offensives.

Perhaps the Darknight Hero and the Knights of Favonius should team up. That might guarantee that things will go off without a hitch, hmm?

#genshin lore #diluc lore #kaeya lore #genshin impact lore #hidden strife genshin #i really hate all these enters but also i wanna stick as close to source formatting as possible #mane this makes me so sad #the letters not the formatting #knights of favonius lore

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cinnamonfm · 1 year

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ic task 004: interrogations.

she’d always anticipated seeing the inside of an interrogation room. but when she’d played the scenarios over in her head, she had always been the legal counsel, laying her hand over her client’s to signify that they should probably stop talking lest they incriminate herself. and yet, here she is. the person being questioned. flanked on either side by her own lawyers, there to represent her. worse yet, both of them were there as a favour to her father.

“the important thing to remember,” begins quinn ellis - who, if memory served, was inching closer to being made partner at her father’s firm. no wonder he had been practically jumping at the chance to earn some goodwill with his boss. “is that at this stage, you’re not a suspect. and we’d like to keep it that way. so as always, best course of action is to say as little as possible. cooperate, of course, but we have to be careful not to give them potential ammunition down the line.” heni resists the urge to roll her eyes. thank you, very informative. and here she’d been, all but simmering over with a wish to spill any and all secrets to the fucking bureau. instead, she just nods. the other lawyer (some fresh-faced associate whose name heni has not bothered to learn), flashes her a perfectly reassuring smile. “anything becomes to invasive, we request they terminate. we’re here to make sure this happens on our terms. we’ll get you through this. you feeling ready? ” our terms, she thinks, is shorthand for ‘in a way that will keep your parents off our backs’. “as ready as i’ll ever be.”

with that, the woman gets out of her seat and strides over to the door, opening it with surprising force. “thank you for giving us time to liaise. our client is ready for you now.”

there’s a moment of relative silence after they’ve all taken their seats. once again, heni allows herself a moment to think about how absolutely ludicrous this whole situation is. all this, because greer went walkabout?

“miss astor, thank you for taking the time to come talk to us. my name is agent choi, and i’m joined today by my colleagues agent brown and agent murray.” would it be cruel to say she didn’t care? that she could honestly not find the slightest iota of interest in learning their names? hopefully, this would be a one-off. answer some questions, avoid most of them, walk out the door never to speak to either of these three people again. of course, it would be a bad look. so she doesn’t. “we’re trying to clear some things up, and we’re hoping you’d be able to help us.” she can’t help but notice that agent choi doesn’t speak to her lawyers, he looks directly at her, basically treating them as though they are not there.

“let’s begin with something easy. can you talk about your time capsule video? give us some context for the clip that was leaked?”

suddenly, she’s glad she’s in the presence of people who aren’t her parents. she doesn’t want to elaborate on her crippling sense of perfectionism in front of the people who bent her into that shape. the entire reason she’s up at five each morning, making sure she’s on top of all her work. the reason she didn’t just say fuck it and refuse to do the interview. “surely the lore of my pseudo-breakdown matters less than figuring out who leaked it, right?” she asks, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. a girl was missing, a bunch of personal data had been leaked and the fbi’s initial concern was what? her abysmal work-life balance?

agent choi opens his mouth to respond, but agent brown gets in before him: “it helps us get a sense of the wider picture. to consider new angles pertaining to the investigation.”

heni tilts her head slightly. “it was a minute of me talking about being so stressed i’ve not had the time to grieve my missing best friend. is that context enough? or would you like me to elaborate on why i’m exhausted? will that help you find my missing friend?”

and there it is. the hand on top of hers, urging her to shut the hell up.

“agents,” quinn speaks, in the dulcet tones of someone who de-escalates for a living. “is there any particular reason we’re expending effort on the video clips? or should we perhaps move this along?” despite the gentleness to his voice, there is a harsh undercurrent. something insinuating that he won’t hesitate to demand the interview be put to an end should they decide to dig this hole any deeper.

“were you aware that greer morrison had submitted a video at the end of last year?”

“i am now,” comes her answer, perhaps a little too biting. she’s quick to reel it in before getting another passive aggressive gesture from either of the two lawyers. “we’d talked about it, discussed doing it together, but it’s not like she showed me a script and asked me to approve of it.”

agent choi nods, takes a second, and then asks : “ had you ever heard of anything regarding THE NAIVE NEWCOMER using steroids?”

heni blinks. once, and then again, as if the act might change what she’s just heard. of course, it doesn’t. the question remains the same. the environment remains the same. the surreal air of it all remains very much the same. “steroids? no. did he? why would i know? ” there’s no answer forthcoming. not surprising, but still immensely disappointing.

the next question makes her heart sink a little. “some students brought up your relationship with him - why do you think they thought it was relevant?”

because they’re nosy gossipers, she thinks, almost biting down on her tongue to prevent herself from saying it. unnamed lawyer #2 looks at her : “you don’t have to answer this if you don’t want to, henrietta.”

“no, it’s fine.” truth is, she didn’t really want to answer any of these questions. “we are - were close, even before he got with greer. so maybe they thought i’d know something because of that. but i had no idea he was using. turns out, there was a lot i didn’t know about him.”

“like what?”

“well, he’s been expelled in connection with a missing person’s case. that’s not exactly something i’d want in a friend. least of all when the missing person also happens to be my best friend.”

agent choi skims through his notes, flipping the page over before proceeding to ask: “had greer brought up breaking up with him ever? or anything of the sort, like she did in her video?”

“sure - but it was never something she actually considered, you know? her m.o for any little bump in a relationship was always to break up. plus, i think she was mainly saying it to me to offload. sometimes people just say things for the sake of saying things.”

“were you at the party on june 4th in the hamptons that greer is pictured attending on riley vanderford’s social media?”

“my client would have been in the antibes at that point,” quinn says. he taps a manila folder lightly with his fingertips. “should you require any proof, it’s all in here.” agent choi lets his gaze fall to the envelope before shifting it back in the direction of quinn, before ultimately settling on heni.

“no, no need for that at this point. we’re just canvassing. getting a sense of things.” part of heni wants to throw something at them. why is she here, having to answer questions about parties she did not go to and videos she barely remembers filming? shouldn’t they be out there, looking for someone who actually had something to do with this? “miss astor, were you aware of greer planning to travel to portugal this summer?”

heni shakes her head. “had i known, i would have shared it with the police during the initial questioning.”

“interesting.” it’s agent murray, shifting slightly in her seat. “because we have it on record that you were not exactly cooperative during your last sit-down. is there anything else at all you’re not sharing with us?”

before either of the lawyers can get in the way, heni offers up her answer with the clear cadence of a silver spoon against a crystal glass. “other than me feeling like this has been a waste of both of our time, no. i think we’ve been pretty exhaustive in our coverage today.”

#– tasks.#ogdentask

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kye-865 · 4 days

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I’ve always had a really big love for writing. I love putting all of my thoughts and big feelings into characters and it’s really helped me get through some moments in my life that I don’t think I wouldve been able to get through to the point I am now without it.

I’m going to get slightly (very emotional) sappy here so bear with me.

I found Fable whilst in the middle of experiencing so much loss and grief. It was just after loosing two older family members and just before loosing a really young family member and then being in a really toxic friendship group that was in the process of kicking me out and I was so wrapped up in grief and guilt and anger.

I found Fable smp when I felt so alone in the world and it’s given me such a like comfort space online. I’ve gotten to create so much that I’m so proud of but that has also really helped me.

I struggle creating the initial ideas to make a character. Once I’m there, I can create the character properly, but I struggle so much with creating characters.

We are all very very aware at this point that I enjoy exploring emotions within my fics. Even if the fic doesn’t look like it’s exploring some sort of emotion, it is, I can assure you of that.

I think my absolute favourite fic I’ve ever written is “love, loss and grief” because it was me exploring what my grief is but through Rae’s grief for everyone he’s lost. It was so heavily based on my experiences of losing two family members, then my entire friend group and then a really young family member and my thought processes through that.

My favourite line from that fic is “it’s the last act of love that those you’ve lost give. It is hanging onto those memories that you created and leading you to create new ones.”

I didn’t get to say goodbye to the people I lost and I tried really hard to convince myself that it was okay and in the end I had to look at it as a whole and realise that it’s not okay but my grief is because I loved these people so much.

It took so long for me to realise that grief is not something that can be fixed because there’s nothing broken about it.

And in the year and a half of losing all of that and trying to cope with things that were constantly changing, my writing was something that remained constant. It was something that I could control. I ran the storyline. I chose the emotions. It was something I could just pour my emotions into it even when I didn’t entirely know what I was feeling.

I struggled a lot with feeling like I couldn’t do anything of worth. It was like nothing I made was ever going to be anything. But it is something. And seeing how much people actually like what I make. I look at my ao3 account and see like even just the kudo count and I honestly cry about it. Because my writing used to be for me and my mum and now there’s actual real other people reading what I’ve written and they enjoy it.

I found Fable start-mid season two and was initially like “this going to be a little comfort thing I can watch” and then it got to Halloween of season two and that was where I went “I relate to some of these characters more than I’d care to admit” and then it got to early season three when Rae was trying to cope with his anger.

That hit home a bit as I would accidentally lash out at people when I was grieving and then I’d feel absolutely awful once I had stepped away from the situation and to see that in a character was so cool.

And that goes for all of the characters. I can relate to or at least sympathise with every character in some way and to see things and emotions and all sorts that isn’t typically shown in media actually be shown is so cool.

I went from having no friends and only sharing my work with my mum, to feeling like I belong somewhere in a community and for that I will be forever grateful

Anyway, this was just going to be an appreciation post for fanfiction and turned more into an appreciation post for Fable and the community.

Anyway I will at some point maybe actually write a proper appreciation post possibly but for now, please just know how much I appreciate everyone who has ever even looked at something I’ve created.

I just-

thank you to the Fable smp cast and thank you to the community

#I got really emotional in this one #it’s like two in the morning #and that is emotional hours #emotional rambles

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rosetintedglassesbs · 8 months

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If anything I’m tired , I’m emotionally exhausted but somehow I’m still fighting with everything in me to find a sense of familiarity within myself , I’m fighting daily with the urge to give up and let my anxiety and depression win , I’m fighting against my own head everyday and tbh I don’t have allot else left but there’s this small part of me that knows somewhere along the line it’s going to get better, I am going to be the version of myself that would of made my little squidge proud ,

I’m doing it for them ,I’m going to become a much stronger person , giving up isn’t an option, I’ve spent the last 4 months crying and avoiding life and that did nothing for me , it didn’t help , I just allowed myself to drown and I refuse do that , I refuse to keep living in this trap inside my head , I won’t do it , I’m not scared anymore but rather I’m determined to find a way back to myself .

Although I have the longest road and I won’t magically wake up tomorrow fixed , tbh I won’t ever fully feel whole again , I’ve accepted that life as I once knew it has changed and I will ever feel different , I will forever feel as if something is missing from my life , the way I view myself and my actions will forever be different . Grieve isn’t something I know how to do , I have no idea how I’m suppose to grieve and I’ve suppressed allot of it because I’m scared of it , every second I wonder what my life would of looked liked , I can’t grasp the concept of missing someone I never met, but I do , I miss all the moments I could of had , but how can you not miss someone that has forever changed your dna , and a dna that will forever live inside of you , my body won’t ever feel the same again .

I look at life very differently , I look at the people around me very differently because no one knows how this feels , and most of the time I feel alone because I don’t have anyone who can reassure me that one day I won’t feel as if I’m drowning .

But I won’t allow myself to wallow , I nearly lost my life that night back in June , I’m lucky to still be here now and I should celebrate that, I should be grateful and while I am so beyond grateful that I’ve been given what feels like a second chance there’s a part of my heart that will always ache for the what ifs , and for the moments and memories I won’t ever get to have , the future I almost did have , and I’m not taking about the future as in 10 years time I’m taking about how different my life would of been in 3 months time , but I’m taking this moment , this dark period of my life to do something with my life , to live with more meaning , I won’t live in fear ,I refuse to live in fear it’s simply not happening anymore , I have to choose myself and I have to heal , and I’m willing to give it everything I’ve got ,

Even if I have to spend the next few months dragging myself through the days , crying my way through somewhere and some how I am going to make it and I’m gojng to be ok , and it’s a promise to myself but also a promise to my little angel , I want to make you proud .

I want to be the person I know I’m capable of being , I need to live again , I need to find a way to feel alive .

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memoirsofaseraph · 9 months

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Hey baby.

We watched Little Fish a few days ago, I needed to write about it for a few different reasons. I’m so glad we watched this together. So so so glad. I cried so much in front of this movie, and back then it used to be something that made me so sad — because I could see myself relating to it, in a way. I was losing the one I loved too. I remember watching this and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind some night in January, or early February, when we were going through some stuff. I was thinking of you so much while watching these movies, every little thing on the screen made me think of you and at the time, I felt just like the characters. I felt like I was going through the same thing as them, even though our story was very different. Having to forget someone I loved against my own will. Dealing with the fact that I had so many memories of you (and with you), even though they couldn't really mean anything anymore. It felt like such a waste. Building a foundation with someone for months, only for it to fall apart, and having to let go. When we watched it together, it was so different. The meaning itself became so different. I was no longer feeling my heart ache because I was losing you, or because I was having to deal with our relationship being over. This time, it kind of turned into a fear. I was no longer relating to it, I was fearing that this would happen to us eventually. And I wasn’t watching it while grieving what we had, this time it was really like, “Oh… that is my worst nightmare”. Being with you really made me think of life as something deeper. I used to be someone who was so careless, literally not caring about a thing or anyone. I was taking life as it is. Quite literally. With you, everything is so different. Everything makes sense and I want to keep this, keep us forever. The scariest thing to me would be to lose you, one way or another. I realized that life is really so short and every little moment matters. Because finding your person is so peaceful, right? Finally knowing where and with who you belong is the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my whole life and I want to preserve it forever. It’s also very scary. I find myself overthinking about it sometimes, like if something were to happen to you, or to me. Anything. I don’t know. I know it’s silly and I really hate this but it also makes sense, somehow? I’m the happiest girl ever since I’ve been with you. I love you, and you’re my favorite person in this entire universe. To think that this… that you could be taken away from me at any given time is the scariest thought. I don’t think about this very often, and I pray that you’ll always be okay, that we'll always be okay. I pray that we have so many more years to spend together, so many more decades. But watching Little Fish with you made me more aware of how unsure life really is, nothing is ever promised and no one is safe, unfortunately. Sorry, that was quite a depressing entry… But I needed to let these thoughts out. To remind you — and remind me as well — that you’re the love of my life, that our relationship is the most precious thing I have and that I want it to last forever. That I need to spend as much time as I can with you. It's the only thing that really matters to me, to give you my love until my life is over.

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clouds-rambles · 3 years

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hello!~ o(〃＾▽＾〃)o

can i request headcanons for kaeya, diluc, childe, and venti on what they would while their s/o dies in their arms? (if thats okay with u <3)

thank u sm! :))

BESTIE THE PAIN I FEEL RN!!! Omw to make hurt some of my faves hope you enjoy <3

Also guys I’ve been here for a day how are there almost 50 of you following?!

Pairings; (Separate) Kaeya, Diluc, Childe, Venti x reader

Warning(s); hurt, big hurty, reader death, vague wound description, cursing, talk about dead bodies

Keep reading under the cut!

Kaeya

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. You were meant to live forever with him. You were supposed to grow old with him and become a parent to your future children. You were-

“Kaeya” you choke out smiling at your partner above you. The man shakes his head mentally pleading with you to not die “Kaeya I will always be on the wind” you tell him, a shaky, bloody hand raised to his cheek to weekly caress it

“Please” he pleads “Please don’t die on me [name]” you smile at him feeling the breaths in your lungs disappear

“I’m sorry Kae--ya” you apologise before passing away in his arms

He doesn’t move for a long time. He doesn’t feel for a long time. The one person he could share his secrets and his love to gone. Away with the wind

Kaeya doesn’t remember the last time he cried, but he’ll remember this one.

Your beaten, bruised, broken, dead, and beautiful body slumped in his arms as his tears fall from his face as he feels an absence in his heart

How is he supposed to live on if this is the pain he feels right now?

Jean eventually stumbles upon Kaeya out in the wilds, still clutched to your now cold and even more lifeless body

Jean manages to get the man up with your body held close to his chest

“Jean, I can’t, I can’t let them go” he pleads as if he’s waiting for you to simply wake up in his arms

“Kaeya...” Jean says in a concerned tone having never seen him in such a state, even he seemed to quickly recover from his fathers death

Eventually Jean coaxed Kaeya to go back to the city and leave your body in the hands of the sisters. Where they dressed you up and prepared a funeral service for you

The funeral was larger than Kaeya was expecting, you had affected a many more people than he realised from your small jobs around the city. Kaeya can’t help but be awed at how many people you’ve helped while you were in Mond

The usual chatter of Mondstat is quiet and in a time of grieving for about a week or so, many people have wonderful memories of you and Kaeya seems to be collecting them all, that and bunches of flowers. Many of which find themselves laying on your tombstone as Kaeya tells you about his day

A month passes and it seems like everything's back to normal, Kaeya is back to his outgoing self. He spends more nights at the tavern, but even Diluc doesn’t have the heart to cut him off.

Jean seems to pick up on the smallest things, goddamnit Jean, the extra nights at the tavern, the eyebags, the weeping she can hear from his room. In it’s own right is heart-breaking, the acting Grandmaster cannot imagine what it’s like to be actually experiencing that kind of pain

Diluc

No, not like this

You had both decided that night to join each other in your little vigilante escapade. Which was fine you had both done this before, but tonight resulted in something very different

Here you are, head on Dilucs lap. This could be considered romantic, and often was, were it not for the fact you felt like you choked up a mixture of your lung and your bloody supply

“Diluc” you speak with a much worse for wear voice, the red-head looks into your eyes, eyes already gaining moisture. A similar scene has befallen him before, a Diluc knows how this ends

“Please” he pleads his voice wavering “Please don’t leave me” he chokes back a sob and tears fall off his face the salt hitting your own

“I love you so much” you start, Diluc shakes his head. Must you hurt him so with last words? “Don’t blame yourse-” another set of hacking befalls you as you lose more blood

“Please” he pleads again as the grip you had on his arm goes slack indicating your loss of life

Diluc screams, he cries and he hugs you close. He screams into the air of Mondstat until his voice hurts and he cries until all he’s doing is dry sobbing and he holds you close until you’re broken body is pried from his own broken mind

A wondering Jean heard his screams into the night sky and hereby answered them. She never expected to see Diluc, still in his vigilante getup, crying over your body

She calls for more guards who take your body from his and Jean helps Diluc get back to the estate. At one point during the walk Jean can feel DIluc shaking and hyperventilating. So they stand for a moment, Jean holds and comforts the wine-master before they move again

Jean has never seen such emotion from Diluc before, and she wholeheartedly hopes she’ll never have to see it again. Seeing Diluc so raw and rife with emotion is enough to make anyone cry. And Jean nearly did on more than one occasion.

Your funeral is small, much to Dilucs request and really only were attended by the estate and Jean. Diluc didn’t want to cry again in such a large audience

Though the maids often hear pained sobs coming from Dilucs room as he contemplates and often blames himself for what had transpired. Maids daren’t speak up about what they hear though, Diluc’s pain is more than understandable

Diluc throws himself into work opting to man the bar most days of the week and fighting for the city as often as he can. People around him are more than concerned

Diluc’s stoic nature seems to be intensified now, not wanting to let another person in and die in his arms. He’s seen enough death for his life and wishes not to lose more loved ones

Everything seems to have moved back to what life was before you arrived in your life, depressive, monotonous, boring, mundane for the most part and sad. So very sad

He wishes for a day where his heart isn’t strife with grief, but he doubts that day will not be coming anytime soon

Childe

You grin up at him, feeling close to naught pain coming from the gaping wound thanks to the excess of adrenaline that’s pumping through your body

“Childe” you say the smile still on your lips in an attempt at not making the situation as dark and horrific as it is. Childe speaks your name in return

“I love you” you tell him mustering the strength to cup the mans cheek, who immediately nuzzles into it. The situation almost doesn’t feel real to him. He’s going to be shaken awake by a very unwounded you in just a moment and inform him he’s having a nightmare

But that moment doesn’t come. Nor do any words come from you. Your slow rhythms of your heart remind you that he’s still got time, but you’ve expended all your energy. Your smile you’re wearing seems to be dropping

“I love you [name], I love you so much, you are everything I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you” he rambles bringing your body to his chest

“Live for--- me” you sputter out into his chest, a dying wish that Childe isn’t too sure he can uphold. Is it really living if he’s an empty vessel.

You go limp in his arms and he can no longer sense your heartbeat. Death had finally laid claim to you

Childe sits with you for hours, you’d expect him to be wailing like a banshee if you knew his personality but that’s rather not the case. Sobbing quietly is a better word for what happens. Most of his sobs and hacks for air are hidden in your hair. He pulled your body to his shoulder just to weep

Eventually he finds himself mustering the courage to walk back to Liyue Harbour. You firmly held in his arms. He knows that if he walks too plainly the Millelith would pry and ask too many questions for his fragile heart to answer

Childe ends up barging into the wangsheng funeral parlour, which surprises Zhongli a little. He’s about to go on a rant to Childe about how he must book an appointment, until he sees your lifeless body in his arms

The funeral is arranged quickly and neatly. There aren’t many people who attend, Childe is okay with that, he secretly wants to see his family and cry on their shoulder a bit

Instead he opts for a letter, which arrives to the family tear stained and lacking the usual penmanship ‘I’m sorry, you won’t be able to see [name] after all. They passed away not too long ago...’ he basically writes your arbitrary in the letter. And his whole heart is in every word he writes

Determined not to let anybody in Childe finds himself in a pattern, when he’s not throwing himself into battles he’s doing paper work or yelling at his subordinates and when he’s not doing that he’s doing his weekly fight with the traveller. Childe gets next to no sleep and instead opts to reading and rereading every letter and note you’ve ever given him

If Childe passes out at his desk nobody bothers him either in fear of getting yelled at by the harbinger or an understanding of losing a loved one

They never said being a harbinger was fulfilling work. Yet, he let himself believe that he could be fulfilled and content with a lover. What a shameful lie

Venti

He’s awfully quiet. He hasn’t experienced death in so long. Especially one he thought would be forever.

He couldn’t even get to you to hear your last words. Ironic isn’t it? He hadn’t heard that guys last words either. And yet this pains him so much more

Sure mortal lives are fleeting but he was certain he had more time with you. More time to see you grow old, more time to put off your inevitable mortality. More time to-

He’s hyperventilating, Venti’s body shakes as he finds nothing to ground himself not even the person he loves so dear is there for him. He feels like he could explode, breaths caught in his throat refusing to surface and come up for air. Despite being an immortal archon, the breaths that refuse to surface don’t fail to make him feel like he’s choking

A bard he is. And one that knows every song from the past, present and future. Suddenly the pained songs from the future make sense to him. He knew what was written. A love lost

Suddenly he finds himself crying and hunched over your deceased form making promises to the wind that he’ll never forget you. Much like he’ll ever forget that bard

He isn’t sure how long has passed but he’s still sobbing over your form, there aren’t many tears left for him to cry but he can’t find himself stopping. He feels like they’ll never stop.

Maybe he could lay beside you and sleep for another thousand years. But that would only delay the inevitable. The inevitable sinking feeling.

Maybe it was his fault for letting himself fall in love with a mortal, but in the moment he could truly see you living life with him. He could see a marriage, children. He wanted you to have it all.

Damn celestia and all things above for not letting you ascend, at least when he inevitably ascends you’ll be there to greet him. Curse that and your mortality

Jean eventually stumbles upon him during a recon mission to find him covering your body in various flowers, a crown made of cecelias don your head. He’s quiet, but he’s saying goodbye. Who would blame him? Jean doesn’t interrupt him and only wishes you a farewell

News of your death spread around town like wildfire, your grave donned with more flowers than Venti can count. He almost feels bad about not doing a public service after seeing how many people are truly in mourning

Diluc doesn’t push Venti to pay his growing tab no matter how much he should. And Diluc doesn’t say no to Venti singing his happy tunes in the tavern

It feels like his life has retuned to normal. Though Jean can’t help but look out the library window to see Venti sat atop his statue with an expression, as Jean can only guess, of sadness.

Venti finds himself going back to an old schedule again but he can’t miss the nagging feeling of somethings missing. The something being you

Sometimes he half expects you to hug him from behind, or join him up at the statue, or kiss him on his nose, or-

Venti can’t quite comprehend how he feels, he just knows there’s a hole in his heart where you belonged. And he doesn’t want to let anyone find their way into there

He doesn’t want to lose again

It’s happened too much

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douxie-casperan · 3 years

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Rise of the Titans and the assassination Hisirdoux Casperan’s character development

I’ve been ranting so much since Wednesday morning that I finally condensed by thoughts of WHY this one subject keeps setting me off namely the utterly diabolical way they handled Douxie and Archie’s relationship in Rise of the Titans and how it wasn’t just enough to hit him with the nerf bat.

Please note I’m at the point where I literally cannot tell the difference between Aaron headcanons, Teny headcanons and my own they are all mixed together in the blender that does funky things. I also apologise for typo/weird wording it’s half 1 in the morning and I’d rather sleep than edit.

If asked to sum up Hisirdoux Casperan there are certainly several things that come to mind:

Sees the value in people as a whole and will find do anything if there is a chance of help someone out

Prefers tactics that disable/banish rather than kill an enemy yet willing and able to pull the trigger if circumstances become forced

While not academically inclined he is very capable of thinking on his feet and outside the box calling back to his time on the streets where a split-second decision making is the difference between being caught and not

Terrible at planning he’ll be in there figuring it out as he goes along which is what makes the previous point so vital to literally how he goes through life

A natural charmer that would let him talk his way out of trouble 9/10 providing a perfect cover for his distrustful nature and reluctance to be touched by random people

Very down to earth, humble and never one to brag unless outright sassing someone

Will bang out some hot tunes at the drop of a hat, his love of music has never wavered once since he caught the bug despite instrument hopping ironically becoming a jack of all trades much like his magic style

The earliest memories he can recall are him as a young boy lost in the woods where he was for an unknown amount of time before his soon to be familiar finds him amongst the roots covered in dirt and drying tears, there is nothing before that. Unbeknownst to him is the colour of his magic matches the blue of a lost mother’s eyes and the song that haunts his nightmares as much as fire could well be hers though there is no way to be sure. From that moment on Archibald, shortened to Archie, would become his entire world and their friendship only becoming closer during the years they prowled Camelot together trying to keep themselves in one piece until the fateful day Douxie tricks the wrong person leading him straight into the path of the famous wizard Merlin Ambrosius.

It's no real secret that Merlin is a very closed off person who keeps his emotions as well guarded as his secrets, prefers the style of negative reinforcement over positive encouragement and is a very strict perfectionist in his. At this point in his life he can be very easily described as a disaster that is genuinely doing his best with every little mistake held of his head and his future self when brought back to that time period is belittled by Lancelot (Errand boy) and Arthur (Boy) too meaning it’s hardly a wonder his confidence was very fragile revelling in the times where he could do things without being told off for it. With Morgana largely ignoring him too (Though personally I like to think as he got older she’d occasionally take an interest until the blistering arguments with their master started to talk over daily life) a certain disguised dragon would have remained a lifeline and give that physical affection he craved much like being told he’d done well never seemed able to earn.

With Killahead he’d lose that home and family he made leaving just the two of them behind struggling to figure out their place in the world that had abandoned them.

There wouldn’t have been the words for it back then but the way he had been treated prior was outright abusive instilling very bad habits into Douxie yet by irony he was always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and help those in trouble without thinking earning a reputation as the Shepard of Fire. He refused to become like him seeking to be better, perhaps not as a wizard (Even though he was learning new charms and spells along the way) but certainly as a person. Despite everything he suffers through or witnesses in the intervening years, the loss of friends and kindling of far newer ones he never loses his good heart

That said is it any wonder that after rightfully sassing Merlin for resurfacing, ignoring his existence despite being in the same town and only visiting him to run a finding errand that all the confidence he’d managed to build completely from scratch after Camelot wavered causing him to fall back solely into trying impressing his old Master who was acting like his humble apprentice must have coasted the past few centuries who himself fell back into old habits of belittling? It’s only when Merlin started to truly listen and acknowledge that this was not the same Moppet he once knew after Excalibur was fixed that their relationship finally started to become more like equals. After the defeat of Janus the changeling that broke into the castle he touched Douxie’s shoulder with a genuine smile and for a second he simply didn’t know what to do because the old man never did this before his brain kicked into gear and realised he’d finally earned that one thing he’d been so desperate for his entire life: That in Merlin’s eyes he could be more than a failure who only caused problems for the closest thing to a father figure he’d ever had, never solved them.

A staff will be earned, history would be set back on trap by banishing Morgana tag teaming with Archie because they know one another inside and out, as promised he’d get the kids back to the present but soon after things would go badly wrong. They’d lose Jim and because of his very nature he’d make a gamble to try and get him back because that life is worth trying for just for in a moment of surprising selflessness Merlin would be sacrificed to save him. The only constant in his life apart from Archie would apologise, openly express pride and how the greatest thing he’d ever done was saving this orphan, call him son for the first and final time before turning into ash in his arms. There would be no time to grieve for things will barrel into the crescendo of Douxie sacrificing his own life to buy everyone time to escape because if they did that everything he’d ever done would be worth it with one last whispered goodbye.

(Zoe sees him fall, so does Archie – His heart would break if he was conscious just like theirs does when his body crumples into the ground)

On the very fringes of the Light Realm he is gifted one more conversation with Merlin in a truly heart-breaking sequence (THANKS TENY) where they can just talk without any fear of consequence or politics and just be completely honest. Douxie is allowed to stand equal to Merlin, to have the hug he’d needed since he was a child and be allowed to simply let go of every pretense and cry his heart out because this can never happen again. He’s allowed to say goodbye to both his master and Morgana who had both shaped so very much of his life but like the painting he’d always remained firmly in the long shadows of until that moment.

When Hisirdoux Casperan finally leaves Wizards if we just accidently deliberately put the shawarma back in along with checking in with Zoe before departure, it is with having learned to live during his wandering years but this is the point of true freedom because he can finally escape into his own light with Archie by his side to keep Nari out of the hands of those that would see the world harmed. It won’t be easy but it feels possible somehow even with the knowledge everything is simply running on borrowed time.

Then Rise of the Titans happens.

At first everything is genuinely fine! No more running, they engineer a solution shut the Order’s magic down to make them a lot less dangerous and potentially at least incapacitate them until they can come up with a longer-term solution but all the best laid plans and all that. Douxie’s quick thinking stops the train from crushing any of the people below and it’s a very him style move to switch places with Nari to stall for time because for some reason the plot disabled Claire from portaling her or any of the threatened people/heroes to safety. He openly sasses the Order despite knowing the consequences will be bad for him because once again he’s managed to trick them, buy time that at the other end isn’t even slightly utilised until he’s forced back into his own body in excruciating pain. Archie immediately mobs him with comfort just as he has done every single time the wizard is distressed or collapsed with exhaustion without thinking because that is what their bond is like, incredibly close and far more than the Soul Bond mark that connects them together. They’re very alike in that regard, you have to earn the right to touch while equally knowing exactly what form the other needs the most in that precise moment in a way very few others could.

Bar the moment of figuring out that an illusion is in place to hide where the Order is opening the Genesis Seals and the brief insistence on reconnecting with Nari somehow Douxie manages to forget everything that makes him who he is after this point choosing to stand in the background being very no thoughts head empty or can only use the most basic spells of his youthful days not the seasoned master wizard he should be. Nomura is treated like an innocent slip rather than an outright death he did absolutely nothing to prevent (Not to mention the stupid daytime thing) nor seems to care particularly about afterwards yet with Nari’s he’s allowed to openly grieve in a gorgeously animated visual showing how he’d failed to keep her safe despite everything. He did nothing to help here either mind despite allowing himself to be tortured in the same piece of media to keep her safe, just watched another loss happen right in front of his eyes in his conga long line of them.

Then there’s Archie, oh god then there was Archie.

The dragon who even here he’d been shown to have an incredibly close bond with him decides you know what sod that tell him goodbye I’m going to make a joke about having a kingdom now dad and me are trapped in here forever. Douxie on his part looked sad for all of three seconds saying that he hoped he’s happy like it's a pet that wandered out into the world one day and never came back instead of a lifelong companion that has been there for as long as he can remember. He was now completely alone in the world since Zoe was also written out entirely and because every bit of his background had been forgotten about it somehow meant nothing. This wasn’t “I know you miss him, I know you need to grieve but you are running out of time” moment like things had been with Charlie, this was “cool shapeshifting dragon cat is now stuck in a plot hole that’s a shame” with zero pay off or any of the genuine reaction that should have been there or hell even trying to Ohana him back that very second because it never should have happened in the first place. Then even this wasn’t enough somehow, they managed to de-power Douxie even further into uselessness bar the (Admittedly nifty!) sticky feet stunt, the one who fought Skrael and Bellroc to a stalemate was shunted aside with barely a thought and his head would somehow get even emptier.

The one person who knew the danger of time magic the most stood by and said nothing.

The one person who would suffer the most by a reset because the lynchpin to his issues would be asleep if you got it wrong and should have drilled it into Jim’s head the best time to aim for stood by and said nothing.

The one person who had just suffered the loss of his familiar, best friend and only family along with the almost sister like Nari stood by and said nothing.

Then to add further insult to injury the caption when Douxie and Archie is shown says Some go their entire lives living an existence of quiet desperation because every drop of his character growth, his ability to finally start addressing his trauma instilled back in the 12th century, the staff he longed for was instead openly mocked by going “Aww he got his cat friend back how nice!” Everything he’d rightfully earned and had now would be unable to progress until certain criteria are met because it hinges entirely on the Trollhunter going to Merlin’s tomb and there’s only so much your support network of two (One if she’s written out) can do, the root of the majority of his issues all stem from one man.

And this folks is why I’ve been going on multiple rants about Douxie in particular, everyone was hit with the out of character bat to some degree in this film but when they came for him they didn’t just stop after they took his legs out because they wanted him to suffer from something he’s never had any control over to begin with all over again. Abuse survivors deserve better, these characters deserve better and we as viewers deserve far far better writing than we were forced to endure.

#Ooc - Behind the curtains #Rise of the Titans #Rise of the Titans spoilers #RotT Spoilers #RoT spoilers #Wizards #Tales of Arcadia #ToAWizards #Hisirdoux Casperan #Douxie Casperan

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helloalycia · 3 years

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lose you [two] // leigh shaw

summary: following her kiss with you, Leigh begins to act unfairly towards you and says something she instantly regrets.

warning/s: none i don't think?

author's note: only one more part after this! hope you’re all liking it, and if you’re not an elizabeth fan, i’ve got a kara danvers two parter coming up after this so stay tuned! also the lena imagine part three one is still in the works, so don’t worry, i haven’t neglected it!

part one | part three | masterlist | wattpad

Leigh had ghosted me before. She'd done it on and off throughout the first six months following her husband's death, unable to maintain contact when she barely had energy for herself. And I was patient, always, because that's what she needed. But this was different.

Her absence in my life was nothing to do with her grief, but rather the kiss she gave me the day I decided to take her out. It just had to be that, otherwise she was merely being ignorant and I knew she wasn't that harsh without reason.

Whenever I texted or called her, it wasn't with the intention of talking about what happened. She hadn't brought it up and I didn't want to pressure her into speaking about it, especially if it was a mistake (which, selfishly, I hoped it wasn't). I just wanted to hang out with her like we used to, but she was giving me blunt responses or claiming she was busy. It was like she was doing her utmost best to push me away and I couldn't take it anymore.

After about two weeks, she simply stopped responding to my texts. Her 'busy' life was keeping her from even acknowledging my contact and that was when I couldn't put up with it any longer. This wasn't about grieving or needing space, this was about her avoiding me for something she did.

On my day off, I headed over to Beautiful Beast, Leigh's mother's fitness studio where she worked. When I arrived, Jules was sat at the front desk, wiggling a pencil before her eyes distractedly.

"You look like you're real hard at work there, Jules," I commented playfully, smiling at her as she paid me attention.

"I was testing out that whole rubber pencil trick," she said nonchalantly.

"And your conclusion?" I asked, leaning against the front desk.

She couldn't help but smile. "It's pretty cool."

I chuckled at how cute she was. "Good to know."

"So," she began, leaning back in her seat. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I was hoping you could tell me if Leigh is in? I feel like I haven't seen her in a while."

Jules was about to respond, then her eyes fell behind me and she smiled. "Speak of the devil... there's your answer, Y/N."

I followed her gaze and realised the class that was going on in the studio had ended, with students leaving tired but happy. Leigh trailed out after them, using a sweat towel to wipe her face and push the loose strands of hair from her ponytail out of her face. She approached the desk, but upon spotting me, seemed surprised.

"Y/N," she said, rounding the desk to stand beside Jules. "You're here. Hi."

She was casual, unbothered by the fact that she'd clearly been ignoring me the past few weeks. I decided not to question it, instead offering her a small, awkward smile.

"Hey," I greeted with a nod. "I was hoping to catch you. Are you, er, busy?"

She avoided my eyes as she lowered her sweat towel, now grabbing her water bottle from the desk and busying herself with it.

"I mean, I've got class in an hour," she said with a shake of her head.

"Perfect. Maybe we can grab lunch and talk?" I asked, not giving her chance to decline since there was no reason to.

She furrowed her brows, feigning confusion. "Talk? About...?"

I pursed my lips, raising a brow with disbelief. She was seriously going to play it like this? Judging from the absent stare she was sending my way, she was. So, I glanced at Jules, who was back to distracting herself with her pencil and barely paying attention to what we were talking about, before looking back to Leigh.

"About things...?" I settled on, knowing she'd know what I meant. "I haven't heard from you in a while."

Leigh scrunched her nose, shrugging apologetically. "I'm sorry, I'd love to, but I'm going to be practicing for my next class. Maybe not today."

I kissed my teeth with annoyance. "Hm. Okay, sure. Good luck with your class, I guess."

Rolling my eyes, fed up at her pretence, I said a quick goodbye to a half-listening Jules and left them both to it. I'd like to think Leigh would come to her senses and contact me, but maybe that was wishful thinking. Either way, it was certainly not thinking for now, so I tried not to let it bother me for the time being.

—

Waiting on Leigh to make first contact was probably not the brightest idea, since I was sure if it was up to her, she'd just ghost me forever. But I was stubborn and I wanted to make a point (clearly not a very good one since she still proceeded to ignore me...), so another week passed without speaking to one another.

The only reason I went over to her house one evening was because Jules asked for my help with something. Since I was a graphic designer, she'd asked me to help design the promotional material for this new set of classes she wanted to start at work. Of course I said yes – in the many years I'd befriended Leigh, I'd also befriended Jules. I was happy to help, even if it meant awkwardly bumping into Leigh.

When I arrived, I was greeted by Leigh and Jules' mum before being led to the dining-room with Jules to help her. I tried to hide the fact that I was subtly searching for Leigh around the house, genuinely wanting to make sure she was okay despite the radio silence on her end, when Jules seemed to notice.

"She's not here," she said, making me look to her, embarrassed I'd been caught out. "She's on some date."

I raised my eyebrows, nodding. "Oh. Cool."

It shouldn't have bothered me – Leigh had been on a handful of dates in the past month, attempting to move on – but it did. Maybe it was because I foolishly thought our kiss meant something to her, since she initiated it. Clearly not, since she was already moving on. It didn't help that she couldn't just act normal with me if it meant nothing to her. No time for her best friend but time for dates with random people? Not cool.

"Did something happen with you two?" Jules asked whilst starting up her laptop.

I hid my panic with confusion. "What do you mean? Did she, er, say something?"

Jules shook her head, leaning on the palm of her hand as she glanced at me. "No, nothing. I just thought I'd ask since I haven't seen you around with her lately. Thought maybe you'd fallen out or something."

So she hadn't told her sister what happened. Maybe she really did want to forget about it.

"No, she's just been busy I guess," I mumbled in response, before pulling my memory card out my bag. "Forget that anyway. Let's see what we can do with your promo stuff, huh?"

Leigh long-forgotten, I showed Jules the designs I'd come up with for her banners and posters, which she was super excited about, and got to work. We mocked up some promotional material for her to get printed soon and she talked me through what she had in the works which was adorable since it was great to see her invested in everything. She'd come a long way from rehab and it was refreshing to witness.

We snacked so much whilst working that by the time I finished, I knew I wouldn't need to eat dinner. Jules' mum offered, but we were stuffed and it was getting late.

"If you need anything else, just let me know," I told Jules as I grabbed my bag to leave. "If you want anything changing, also let me know."

She gave me a thumbs up and a grin. "You got it, chief. Thanks again. I know you have an actual job to do an–"

"Don't do that," I stopped her with an amused smile. "I'm always happy to help you out."

She nodded appreciatively. "Well, thanks. I'll let you go."

I waved goodbye to her before shouting a goodbye to her mum and heading to the door, letting myself out. Only, when I opened the door, I squealed awkwardly upon seeing Leigh making out with some random guy on the porch. The uncontrollable noise that escaped my lips was enough to pull them apart with a start.

"Y/N," Leigh got out with shock, wiping her mouth and clearing her throat. "What are you– what?"

Still dumbfounded, I swallowed hard and looked away. "I– er– sorry to interrupt. I'm just gonna– mhm."

Closing the front door behind me, I quickly walked around the pair and began to leave, trying not to let my surprise, hurt and irritation build up inside of me. It wasn't my business if she kissed somebody else. It was her life – she could do whatever she wanted.

"Wait, Y/N!" I heard her call and winced at the sound.

Pretending not to hear her, I picked up my pace and finally made it to my parked car, fumbling for my keys in my bag under the dimly-lit streetlamp.

"Y/N, wait up!" she called again, and I risked looking up to see her approaching my car quickly, eventually stopping by my side.

Now that I had a better look, I saw that she was dressed up beautifully for her date, wearing a black dress that accentuated her curves and high heels that dared anybody not to stare. Though, when I met her gaze, I saw her ruined red lipstick and was reminded of the stranger she'd just been making out with.

"It's cool, I'm sorry," I repeated, shaking my head and wishing I could feel my keys in my bag already. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's not like that," she said breathlessly, holding her jacket and watching me carefully.

Finally finding my keys, I pulled them out and unlocked my car. "Not like what?" I asked, glancing at her with a tight jaw. "You can go on dates, Leigh. It's not my business."

Her expression softened. "Then why are angry?"

"I'm not angry," I said, before realising it was a little more hostile than I intended. "Look, forget it. Just enjoy your stupid date. I've got to go."

Before I could open the door, she grabbed my arm and pulled me back, eyes darkened with annoyance.

"What's your problem?" she asked impatiently.

I shook her off me and widened my eyes with disbelief. "Are you serious right now? You followed me!"

"Yeah, because you're clearly pissed at something!" she snapped, crossing her arms. "What's your problem?"

For once, I wasn't going to put up with her bullshit mood swings. It wasn't fair how she was treating me and I was going to do something about it.

"You're my problem, Leigh," I admitted with a glare. "I've been waiting for you to call or text or make some freakin' effort to acknowledge my existence, but as usual, nothing. And then to top it all off, I find out you're on some date when you can't even find a spare second to text your best friend that you're okay!"

She scoffed. "Sorry I have a life, Y/N."

Clenching my jaw, I pushed down the anger that was bubbling up inside. She looked so smug, like she'd done absolutely nothing wrong in this scenario, and it was pissing me off.

"You know what? Never mind," I gave up, releasing a shaky breath. "You clearly don't get it."

I tried to move around her and get into the driver's seat of the car, but she groaned loudly with petulance.

"Why the hell were you even here anyway?!" she asked, like she had the right to. "Couldn't you leave me alone for one night?"

I tried not to laugh. "Don't flatter yourself, love. If you'd actually bothered to talk to me, you'd know I was here to help Jules with her posters."

"Sorry that I thought that you couldn't leave me alone for two minutes," she said with a bitter smile. "It's like you don't even know how to function without me in your life."

I clenched my fists with frustration. "Wow, Leigh, big-headed much?"

She laughed dryly, shaking her head. "I kiss you once and now you won't leave me the hell alone!"

Leigh and I had been in so many arguments before this one – it's like they were inevitable with her – but I'd put up with them. I'd let her yell and call me names and treat me like shit because I knew she didn't mean it, it was a heat of the moment thing. But something was different this time. Her words stung a lot more than they should have, especially when they were delivered by somebody I thought I was in love with.

I unclenched my fists and scowled at her. "Go fuck yourself."

Not bothering to wait for her response, I ignored the way her expression changed into one of regret and guilt. I ignored her as she tried to tell me to wait. And I ignored her as her she knocked on my window when I got into the car. I didn't spare her a glance as I drove away, feeling tears prick the corner of my eyes.

Leigh Shaw could be such a bitch sometimes.

—

"Y/N, you've got a–"

"Whatever it is, I'll sort it," I reassured my new assistant. Ever since my promotion, it felt strange to have somebody work for me, but I was slowly getting used to. "Go have your break, Taylor! You've not moved from this seat all day."

Taylor smiled bashfully but nodded. "Okay. Thanks a lot."

I gave her a reassuring smile as I watched her leave. I'd just finished a long meeting with a client and couldn't wait to get to my office and procrastinate for a bit before getting on with some work. Only, when I opened the door, I was surprised to find someone sat in the seat in front of my desk. Maybe that's what Taylor was trying to tell me.

"Hello, can I help you?" I called politely, closing the door and stepping inside.

"I like the new digs."

I froze, smile fading when the stranger stood up and turned around. It was Leigh and I wasn't sure how she'd gotten here, but I wasn't dealing with her right now.

it had been a few days since we'd argued and she'd been trying to get in touch, but I completely blocked her number. It wasn't a permanent decision, but rather a temporary solution to a problem I wasn't in the headspace to deal with right now.

Every time I thought about Leigh or what she'd said, I felt so angry and fed up. She had no right to treat me how she did or make me feel like this when it was her fault. Blocking her was the easiest bet until I decided how to deal with everything. Clearly she hadn't gotten the hint though, since she was waiting for me in my office.

"How did you get in here?" I asked through gritted teeth, trying not to roll my eyes at the stupid smile on her face.

"Your new assistant let me in," she said as I headed to my desk, before adding comically, "She definitely has a crush on you by the way."

I narrowed my eyes at her from across the desk. "You need to leave."

Her humour disappeared, as did her smile, when she met my gaze with remorseful eyes. "I just want to talk."

I shook my head, looking down. "No, this isn't the place for this. And I've heard everything you had to say, Leigh."

"Y/N, please," she pleaded, stepping forward. "I want to apologise."

With a stern stare, I said, "Go."

"Please, just hear me–"

"No!" I erupted with anger, making her jump at the volume of my voice. "You don't get to do this! Not now, not here!" Swallowing the lump in my throat and trying to hide the hurt in my voice, I nodded to the door. "Just get out. After all, I wouldn't want you thinking I'm obsessed with you."

She pressed her lips together and looked down to her fumbling hands with guilt. It was quiet, though the air between us screamed with unspoken words. I hated this so much, the arguing, the anger, the resentment. But I wasn't giving in this time. She'd gone too far and she had to learn that her actions had consequences. She couldn't just get away with it. She had to respect my space.

"I'm sorry," she said gently, looking up with a genuine expression.

I clenched my jaw and said nothing as I waited for her to leave. Finally, she pursed her lips before turning around and going. When the door closed behind her, I let out a breath and sank into my chair, feeling exhausted at the short conversation. I wasn't ready to talk to her yet and I wished she'd just respect that.

Following that, I made sure to tell Taylor when she came back from her break to not let Leigh into my office until further notice. Or rather, not let her upstairs until further notice. She wasn't allowed to bother me in my workplace just because she felt bad.

Of course, not letting her in only meant I received more calls. Especially since I blocked her number, so she deemed it appropriate to call my work phone. Every time Taylor came into my office to let me know it was Leigh, I had to tell her to tell Leigh I was busy and end the call. And the times when I wasn't there, I had several messages from Leigh to reply to. It got to a point where I had to temporarily block her number from work, too. It was the only way to have some space without completely flipping out on Leigh.

One day though, Leigh decided to pay me a visit. She was resilient, I'd give her that much.

Taylor asked me what I wanted for lunch when I said I was in the mood to go out and eat and she could join me if she wanted to. She agreed and we both made our way to the bottom floor before leaving the building. But then I saw Leigh hovering about outside the front door, approaching me as soon as she spotted me.

Already rolling my eyes, I tried to sidestep her, but she was adamant on being a pain in my arse.

"Leave me alone, Leigh," I told her tiredly.

"They won't let me in and you've been avoiding my calls," she said, a little peeved. "What were you expecting?" Her eyes flickered to Taylor, who seemed awkwardly stuck between our bickering. Rather rudely, she asked, "Can I help you?"

Taylor didn't know what to say as I glared at Leigh harshly.

"Don't be a bitch just because you're pissed at me," I insulted, before looking Taylor apologetically. "D'you think you can give us a minute, Taylor? This won't take long."

Taylor nodded, glancing between Leigh and I. Leigh had her arms crossed, focusing a hard stare on Taylor as she walked away. When she was out of earshot, I lightly poked Leigh in the shoulder to get her attention.

"That's not fair," I muttered angrily. "She didn't do anything to you."

Leigh glanced towards her again before looking to me questioningly. "Where are you even going with her?"

I squinted at her judgementally. "If you must know, we're getting lunch. It's that time of the day in case you couldn't tell."

Leigh uncrossed her arms and straightened up. "So, what? This is a date?"

I furrowed my brows. "What? No! What are you–?" I glared at her. "This is none of your business!"

"Well, if it's not, you're definitely gonna give her the wrong impression," Leigh stated with a shrug. "She has a crush on you. Is that even allowed since you're her superior an' all?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose to contain my frustration, before meeting her spiteful green stare.

"If you came here to give me your unsolicited opinions, I don't want them," I said under my breath, making sure passers-by on the street couldn't hear us. "Now, leave me alone."

Her spite dispersed and was replaced with guilt. "Wait, no, I–"

"No, Leigh," I told her firmly, eyes silently pleading for her to give me some space. "You have to stop this."

Green eyes searched mine desperately, but I didn't have time for this, so I left her standing there as I rejoined Taylor and hoped lunch would help me forget about Leigh and her impatience.

"Sorry about that," I said to Taylor when I rejoined her side.

Taylor smiled reassuringly as we began to walk. "It's okay, don't worry about it." It was quiet, before she spoke up again. "Do you mind if I say something a little out of place?"

I looked to her curiously. "Er, sure?"

"I obviously don't know the specifics of what happened between you and your girlfriend, but–"

"Girlfriend?" I interrupted with raised brows. "Taylor, Leigh and I– we aren't–"

She seemed to catch on, eyes wide with embarrassment. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I just thought– well, she's very persistent and I thought that maybe you were together and in a lover's spout or something."

Heat crept up my neck as I loosened my collar. "No, nothing like that. She's just a friend."

Breathing out, Taylor said, "Oh. Well, I mean, I guess my advice still applies. She seems to really care about you."

I snorted. "She has a funny way of showing it."

Taylor smiled. "I know. My boyfriend is the same. We once had an argument and he did the same thing your Leigh is doing. Wouldn't stop bothering me. At home. At work. I let my stubbornness get to me and didn't want to hear him out."

I pursed my lips, glancing at her. "What did you do?"

She laughed like it was obvious. "I heard him out."

That didn't sound like an option for me right now.

"She doesn't respect my personal space," I explained to Taylor, glad to have someone to vent to. "She did some... hurtful things. I'm not making it easy for her."

"Clearly," Taylor noted with amusement. "Look, that's just my experience. But all I'm saying is that your friend Leigh seems to care about you a lot. To the point that she'd glare daggers at your very unavailable assistant."

Goddamn Leigh and her ability to embarrass me even when she wasn't here.

"Thanks, Taylor," I said appreciatively. "I'll have a think about it."

She nodded knowingly. "Anytime."

I definitely wasn’t ready to hear Leigh out yet, I knew that much.

#leigh shaw x you #leigh shaw x reader #leigh shaw imagine #leigh shaw #elizabeth olsen x reader #elizabeth olsen #elizabeth olsen imagine #sorry for your loss imagine #sorry for your loss

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