Its Been So Long Omg Since I Did These Kind Of Stuff

@hemlock-haven told me to do an art challenge

So I installed tiktok

Imma go kms I became the thing I swore to destroy, a tiktoker

So yeah new OC ig?

Here is Elnath

Handholding for first time

James is @hotpinkmoon 's OC from Bloodlust devotion

(Sweet but short comic of Eve and James)

They where taking a stroll around town when the quite shy and anxious Eve took a leap of faith and held James' hand, not taking much notice of the unhealthy possessiveness that had just spiked in James' heart.

There are small numbers with the order of the pannels^^ sorry if its a bit confusing!

After this post I will get to the requests dw^^

Imma become a dilf hunter

What would the guys look like if they were older? I have a hard time envisioning whether or not James would keep his hairstyle the same or go through any drastic changes within the next 10-15 years lol

I think James will cut his hair and keep it short after a couple of years and then eventually stop dying his hair red after the age of 35.

Seth has the most white hair compared to the rest of the guys and Max and Xavier is the least. (Max is cheating because he keeps dying his hair the same ginger color to keep his appearance young.)

A little late (as always <3) but I finished my art piece for the month of May! <3 April showers bring May flowers, right?  I hate drawing flowers…. This was a struggle… I don’t think I even did that well, BUT I did complete it.  So I’m happy about that.  <3  I don’t know how rain works either, but again, I finished it.  Even if it’s not finished, I am finished.  Hehe.  :3c  But overall I think I like it!  <3  Another month down in my New Year’s Resolution. :D 

super special award for every1 who survived 🥇

Overblot Jamil

(drabble under photo)

If Yandere Jamil were to overblot, I 100% envision him trapping his darling. He would both treat them as royalty and as a slave. Being made to wear the softest of silks and finest jewellery to then serve the new sultan and a mere concubine.

Imagine

You go pick some grapes for Jamil from the bowl that was once made to feed everyone. Your hands tremble a bit at the thought of returning to the once main hall of the neighbouring dorm. Where was Grim to help you out of this one? The now overblotted Jamil laid comfortably spread out on a mountain of soft pillows. His eyes closed and expression calm as he is had finally taken his resting place by force.

You turn back and head to the Sultan's location. The chains around your wrists and chest jiggle as you move. You had been "bestowed the finest of robes by the oh so mighty and powerful yet kindJamil". You roll your eyes at the irony of the portrayal of your new kidnapper. The clothes matched his in an uncanny fashion. Same reds and same chains around the chest piece in the way that made the wearer uncomfortable. Your ankles and wrists had heavy bracelets with tiny bells that resemble what parents often put on their kinds to locate them. Your outfit was not suited fot the cold night in the scarabian dorm and the your crown felt more like a mockery than a symbol of power. Nonetheless the cherry on the cake was of course the golden collar around your neck. It had snakes carved in it and red accents in a way that screams "Jamil's property" without actually putting his name.

Utterly humiliating.

You kneel in front of him and bow your head down, not daring to look at his eyes. You sat a few feet away from him, not really into someone entering your personal space afterall. Personal space that would soon be breached as one of his snakes coiled around your arm. It slid smoothly and soon enough you were yanked rather painfully towards the man himself.

"Sit closer. How would you feed me properly from over there?

Without opening his eyes he chuckled softly, as if you were a mere silly little lamb. You try to stutter a small response but stop talking after the reptile around your arm rests its head on your shoulder. You took the message rather quickly; dont waste my time. Extending your arm toward his mouth, you hang the grape cluster above him. His now sharp teeth pluck a grape and begins to chew it. After an excruciatingly extensive and repetitive course of action, the grapes are now gone and you are left anxious at his future commands.

The worst is expected. Anything from humiliating to painful. It was already pretty embarrassing to wear that outfit but the now unpredictable Jamil was something to fear. You twiddle your fingers. The snakes make soft hissing noise that only adds to your anxiousness. Maybe grabbing more fruit will make them satisfied? You slowly got up from your sitting position, careful not to annoy him, only to be pulled once again downwards. You land rather ungracefully on top of the Sultan. You face explodes pink in embarrassment. Your wrists have been tied by snakes wrapping themselves around them. As the black reptiles squeeze, Jamil opens one of his eyes to look at you are smirks.

"Now where do you think you are going? I want to hear your pretty voice" he coos.

"Now tell me what I want to hear princess~"

(Wow this is my first time writing and it shows goddamn it. I just had this scenario while drawing it)

OMFG YOU MADE MY DAY

You are so telented and I'm absolutely looking up to your ability to juggle work and art

Like seriously they are so on point and so cute

Its so pretty 💗🎊💅

Smol art wip for now bc my tablet pen died before I could start inking lol rip

(sorry these are kinda shitty, I promise I'll try to finish this for y'all as soon as I can 😅)

Decided to celebrate finishing my midterms by doodling my favorite mutuals OCs!! It's my way of saying thank you to each and every one of y'all for being so kind and supportive of me during these challenging times. Your thoughtful messages really helped me to get through the first half of this semester and they meant more to me than you could ever realize. Y'all are S tier individuals, fr 🙏✨️💫

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OC creds:

Eve ©️ @cloudishmagma

Madeline ©️ @thought-bubble-doodly-doo

Ava ©️ doll-puppet

Dahlia ©️ @salandersan

Marcel ©️ @dethmetalclown

Adding my own SAGAU brainrot to the pile

Creator!Reader | Word count: 1551

Someone is speaking.

It’s in a language you don’t recognise. But you still gravitate towards it without a second thought. You haven’t seen anyone in months. Haven’t heard another person speak in just as long. The whole living as a Disney princess off the land had been going pretty well so far; you had ample food, water and shelter. But you were lonely. Squirrels and birds were cute, but they didn’t understand you. You previously had never gone over a few days without speaking to someone that would speak back. And the lonelier you got, the more uncomfortable you became. Hyper aware of the cold and your lack of shoes, unable to relax due to the roaring sea that crashed constantly against the nearby craigs.

You pause as you reach the edge of the forest. Peering through the thin trees to the sandy beach you had woken up on only a month ago. There’s a woman there, muttering to herself as she paces along the length of the beach. She is also dressed as the character Yelan from Genshin Impact. Blue Hydro vision replica and all.

Still. She’s the first person you’ve seen in months. The first person you’ve seen since you woke up on this beach. It’s not weird enough to dissuade you from making your way down to the beach.

“Hello?” you call out.

For a moment you think she might not have heard you. That your voice, brittle with disuse, was overwhelmed by the crashing waves. You open your mouth again to call out to her again, when she turns sharply towards you.

The words she speaks are just as unfamiliar as before. But the fact that they’re spoken by another person is more than enough to fill you with relief.

“Hello,” you say again. Hopeful that that word is universal enough that she will recognise it as English. Even if she doesn’t speak the language. “Can you understand me?”

The woman—you try not to think of her as Yelan—looks at you consideringly. She takes a step forward, hands flexing at her side, before pausing.

“Greetings,” she says, bowing shallowly. Her accent is entirely foreign to you. Rolling the r and placing hard emphasis on the consonants. It makes her tone sound harsh, even though her body language and voice are relaxed.

You smile uncertainly at her.

“This envoy has been searching for you.” Her words are spoken with obvious care. It’s apparent from the concentration on her face, never mind the awkwardness of her speech, that her English is not fluent. But it’s such a massive relief to find out that she can understand you at all. You can’t help the relieved grin that works its way across your face. There was an envoy? A search party? Send out to find you after all this time? You had half given up on the possibility of ever seeing civilization again.

“Thank you. You’re a live saver. What’s your name?” You ask, after telling her yours.

She looks at you with the same assessing gaze. Taking you in; your scraggly hair, your threadbare clothes, your bare feet.

Whatever it is she’s looking for, she seems to find it. Because she crosses the distance between you, pulling her coat off her shoulders and throwing it over yours. It’s far too narrow to fit comfortably, but the fur trim against your face is so incredibly soft that you can’t resist the urge to brush your cheek against it. You snap out of it a second later, looking down at her with an embarrassed grin.

“This one’s name is Yelan,” she says.

It makes you frown. Maybe she really was nothing more than a weird cosplayer. But even so, this was still a person. One that presumably had a way off this island.

If she was even real. Your heart lurches at the horrible thought that this was some kind of mirage, crafted by your loneliness. An illusion would disappear the moment you took your eyes off her.

Moving faster than you thought possible, you grab her wrist. She feels real. Her arm is solid and warm beneath the thin material of her sleeve. You think you can feel the beating of her hard beneath your fingertips, but it’s just as likely to be your own.

“Sorry, I just-“you drop her hand. Abruptly aware of what you had just done. “Sorry I didn’t mean to. Please don’t leave me here.”

You do not look up and see her expression. Embarrassment and shame mixing in your gut. Instead, keeping you eyes fixed on your feet.

“This one will not leave Guyun Stone Forest alone,” the woman says softly. “Follow.”

She leads you to a shockingly large boat moored not far off the beach. You wonder how it was possible to have missed it. But you know the answer just as quickly as the question had crossed your mind. You had been far to occupied wallowing in your own loneliness in your makeshift shelter. Hidden away from the elements and the outside world alike. You wonder if there were any other similar vessels or search parties you missed.

A hush falls over the vessel as you board. The crew glancing nervously between themselves as Yelan helps you from the rowboat onto the deck.

The silence is cut by the sound of a woman yelling something, in that same unfamiliar language. You look towards the sound and are shocked by the sight of another woman dressed as Beidou. Electro vision catching the sun light as she walks towards them, chatting jovially all the while.

You are suddenly hit by the thought that what if there are not just a bunch of cosplayers working in search and rescue. After all what kind of search party had access to an eighteenth-century style vessel with canvas sails and rigging? You look up, towards the crow’s nest, and sure enough there’s a young man there dressed like Kaedehara Kazuha.

You look back down at the woman dressed as Beidou. You look at her vibrant purple eye, her overly confident demeanour and say, “Beidou?”

The woman, Beidou, tilts her head to the side as she says something that you assume to be a greeting or acknowledgement of some kind. She looks to Yelan with a predatory smile speaking all the while.

You don’t have much time to process the revelation before Yelan is grabbing you by the upper arm and leading you beneath the deck. Grip far too firm to be a mere suggestion. You suddenly feel incredibly overwhelmed. Is this some kind of Isekai scenario?

Yelan opens a door to a cabin, escorting you inside and finally letting you go. The cabin is sparse, little more than a bad nailed to one corner with a hempen blanket, and a bucket in the other.

“You’re name… it’s really Yelan right?”

“Do not leave this room,” she says in lieu of an answer. “Listen to the captain, listen to this one. This one promises Your Grace will reach the shores of Liyue Harbor safely.”

She leaves. Locking the door behind her.

You watch the closed door with disbelief. Waiting a moment before checking the latch, verifying that it really was locked—it was—before sinking to the ground in a daze.

And just like that you’re alone once again. Only this time, rather than being stranded on an island surrounded by friendly fauna and the open sky, you’re stuck in the dank hull of a ship all by yourself. You want to curl up in a ball on the bed. Only you can feel the boat creak and shudder around you. You’re too scared to move from you perch on the floor, one hand braced against a bed leg. Scared that the moment you let go the boat will lurch, and you’ll be flung across the room.

You realise that Yelan (Yelan from Genshin Impact) said that you would reach the shores of Liyue Harbor. But she never said what would happen afterwards.

It is, by far, the worst possible scenario. You can feel the panic building inside you. All-encompassing, loneliness forgotten. You feel the sting of betrayal. You had followed Yelan in good faith. Thinking that she was your path to rescue, your safety line. Only… for this.

The boat lurches, waves crashing deafeningly against the hull. It drives all thought from your mind other than fear. You’ve never been on a boat like this before. Never been beneath deck in a ship where you could smell wet wood. Where the ship was weak, flimsy enough that you could picture it smashing against the water after the drop from a tall wave.

The ocean only becomes more violent as you fall further into your state of blind panic. Louder and louder. More and more violent. You realise now, just how gentle the waves against the rocky outcrops of Guyun Sone Forest had been. The bucket, the only loose thing in the room, starts rolling around. Getting thrown around more and more violently as the boat crashes down on the uneven sea, again and again and again.

You know without a doubt, that this is the worst day of your life. You wonder how long the voyage to Liyue Harbor is meant to be.

Hey There! Yandere Wally x Reader from our world please?

First Welcome Home request, here we go - and of course it would be about our beloved Wally Darling! For this time, what I'll do is answer 1 old request and then 1 new, then 1 old, then 1 new, etc.

WARNING: Yandere behavior, Wally is a warning in general, Isekaid Reader, indirect kidnapping, manipulation, stalkerish behaviour. ***I DO NOT CONDONE IN ANY WAY ANY KIND OF YANDERE BEHAVIOR, IT'S PURE ENTERTAINMENT AND FICTION.***

Yandere!Wally Darling with a Neighbor from our world!

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Opening your eyes never felt like such a bad decision - it felt like a bag of bricks had just hit your head and the light was burning your eyes, making you groan in discomfort.

You tried to stand up all dishoriented and as you sat up on the grass, you noticed you were laying under a tree. And looking at your surroundings you found yourself near some woods and... a colorful neighborhood was waiting for you, just coming down from the little hill you were on.

You stood up, with shaky legs and never praying your eyes away from the neighborhood.

So lost in awe that you didn't notice... you changed - your skin was no longer made out of human flash but felt, dressed with rather colorful clothes - like you were a... puppet.

"Ah, there you are, Neighbor." A calm voice made you snap your eyes from the neighborhood and look at your right.

Yellow skin that seemed to be made out of felt, dark blue hair done in a pompadour, blue sweater and red-orange-yellow-blue striped pants with a soft slime and stare on his face.

"Taking a nap right after arriving to your new home? Ha. Ha. Ha. That's silly..."

"... where am I?" You asked with a small whisper, staring at the other puppet whose smile grew a little bit more and his gaze softened even more.

"My manners, where are they? Nice to meet you. I am Wally - Wally Darling... Welcome Home, Neighbor."

Maybe it was the confusion of the moment and how slowly you started to realize that this wasn't you that - you didn't argue back when Wally took your hand and start to walk you down to the neighborhood.

He introduced you to everyone and you were only met with kindness and happy smiles.

Wally never let go of your hand, his eyes would always come back to stare at you with fondness - like he had know you for a long while...

Soon you were right in front of Wally's home - a big red, blue tiles house which had... moving eyes.

"Hello, Home. This is [Y/N], our new neighbor." Wally introduced you, and Home's door opened gently and moved back and forth, like it was greeting you. And Wally continued: "They will be staying with us until their own home is ready."

You swear you saw Home's eyes darken, like Home knew something... just like Wally.

Those words suddenly made you feel anxious and by pure reaction you tried to step back and break Wally's hold.

But Wally's gentle hold quickly transformed into a death grip one.

"What's the matter, Neighbor?" He asked, his eyes never leaving Home's. "Where are you going?"

"I... I want to go home." You said, suddenly breathless at the anxiety that was quickly becoming paranoia and awareness on everything.

Wally just laughed like you just said the best joke he has ever heard.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha... Silly, silly [Y/N]... this is your home now."

And your new life started that day, against your will.

Fuzzy memories of your original life at our world would swim around your mind, which would cause you to start to cry in despair and 'home-sickness'. And you would be met with Wally's arms hugging you close to him as he cooed and hushed you.

"Don't think about your old home, [Y/N]... it no longers matters - not when you live here now, with me."

It would be hard to sleep - You just knew Wally was staring at you in the darkness of the night, like he was admiring you and making sure you never leave.

Wally is literally 24/7 attached to you, always holding your hand or leaning his head on your shoulder - physical touch is his love language after all!

I can see other neighbors actually gushing at you two and you wouldn't be able to deny anything - and Wally loves how you know your place.

"Oh, you're right... [Y/N] and I look like a cute couple... Ha. Ha. Ha. I like it. Do you like it, [Y/N]?"

You're forced to say yes.

You don't have a single chance on escaping - Either Wally is there to stop you with how deep his eyes are and can froze you in place in fear. Or Home doesn't open his doors or windows, trapping you in a warm cage that is, for now, your home too.

And even if you get your own home around the neighbor, Wally is either stalking you or actually having a 'sleep over' at your place.

Days and nights going by, longing for your original home and freedom - your tears and soft cries would be met with Wally's love, hug and gentle stare.

"Please... let me go."

"Silly, silly [Y/N]... I've seen you for a long while, yearning for you... now that I have you here, in my arms, I'm not letting you go... understood?"

Oooo, I thought of something maybe slightly cute! What about a yan Jing Yuan x Reader, but the reader tends to be much more affectionate with other people, and tends to be pretty formal with Jing Yuan?

Like...reader will hug and ruffle the hair of Yanquing and Yunli (much to their chagrin), but tends to be much more stiff with affection toward Jing Yuan, if showing him any at all. Maybe the reader thinks being affectionate with Jing Yuan would be considered inappropriate, considering he is the general and 'The Divine Foresight.'

The perfect distance

Yandere!Jing Yuan x Reader

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the Seat of Divine Foresight as you stepped through the grand doors, a small satchel of medicine tucked under your arm. Jing Yuan sat at his desk, the usual stack of reports before him, though his gaze lifted the moment you entered.

"Good morning, General." you greeted with a polite bow.

"Ah, if it isn't my diligent healer." he mused, resting his chin on his palm. "Come to check on me again?"

"Of course. The healers at the Alchemy Commission insisted on a follow-up after your last mission." You approached, setting the satchel down neatly before stepping back, hands clasped behind you.

"Always so dutiful. You know, a little informality wouldn’t hurt."

"Respect is important, especially for someone of your standing."

He chuckled, but there was a weight to it. "Is that so?"

Before he could say more, the doors burst open, and Yanqing stumbled in, panting. "General! The—oh, Y/N! You're here!"

Your entire demeanor shifted instantly. A bright smile broke across your face, and before Yanqing could react, you reached out, ruffling his hair with a laugh. "Look at you! Did you run all the way here?"

"Hey—stop that!" Yanqing protested, though there was no real heat in his voice.

Jing Yuan's fingers twitched against his desk.

You only grinned, giving Yanqing’s cheek a playful pinch before turning back to the general—your expression smoothing back into polite professionalism. "My apologies for the interruption, General. I’ll ensure your medicine is properly prepared."

Jing Yuan hummed, his gaze lingering on you. "No need to apologize."

You were warm with everyone else—affectionate, even. But with him? Only proper distance.

-----

The Alchemy Commission was bustling as usual when you arrived, the scent of herbs and medicine thick in the air. Lingsha glanced up at you.

“Back again so soon?” she teased, setting down a mortar and pestle. “Don’t tell me the General’s been overworking himself again.”

You sighed, leaning against the counter. “You know how he is. I swear, if I didn’t bring him his medicine personally, he’d forget it entirely.”

Lingsha chuckled, but then her expression turned sly. “Speaking of the General… anything new with him?”

“New? Well, his recovery is progressing, though he still insists on working through fatigue. His blood circulation—”

She held up a hand, cutting you off. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then…?”

“I mean, anything interesting? You’re around him all the time, and yet you never have anything to say about him besides his health reports.”

You shrugged. “There’s nothing else to say.”

Lingsha gave you an incredulous look. “Nothing? You’re telling me that the man who half of the Luofu sighs over doesn’t warrant any personal commentary from you?”

You frowned, genuinely confused. “I don’t see why it matters. I’m just doing my job.”

“That’s exactly the problem! You treat us like family. But with him, you act like a soldier reporting to a superior.”

Unbeknownst to you both, a certain silver-haired general had paused just outside the doorway, having been on his way to greet you—until the conversation took an unexpected turn. Now, he stood just out of sight, arms crossed, listening with far too much interest.

You sighed. “It’s different with him. It would be improper to act casually.”

“He’s still a person, you know.”

Jing Yuan, still eavesdropping, nodded silently in agreement.

You shook your head. “It’s not that simple. I respect his position too much to overstep.”

“Is that so?”

You nearly jumped out of your skin as Jing Yuan stepped into view.

“G-General!” you stammered, immediately straightening your posture.

“Speak of the devil.”

“I had no idea my presence was so… intimidating.”

You swallowed hard. “Not intimidating! Just… respectable.”

“Respect is one thing. But treating me like a statue is another, don’t you think?”

You opened your mouth, then closed it, unsure how to respond.

“Even he thinks you’re too stiff.”

Jing Yuan hummed in agreement. “Indeed. I was just passing by, but it seems I’ve stumbled upon quite the enlightening conversation.”

Your face burned.

Oh, this was bad.

----

The streets of the Xianzhou Luofu were alive with celebration—lanterns glowed warmly against the dusk, the scent of spiced wine and roasted delicacies filled the air, and laughter echoed through the bustling plaza. It was one of many festivals the Luofu held, but this one was special: a gathering to mark the General’s full recovery.

You hadn’t expected such an event to be held in his honor, much less to be personally invited. But when the summons arrived, you couldn’t refuse.

Dressed in simple but elegant robes, you arrived early, intending to help with the preparations. Yet the moment you reached for a stray decoration to adjust it, a familiar voice stopped you.

“Now, now. Must you always be working?”

You turned to see Jing Yuan standing behind you.

You quickly bowed. “General. I just thought I’d assist—”

“You’ve done more than enough,” he interrupted smoothly. “Tonight, you should enjoy yourself.”

You hesitated, but nodded. “…Understood.”

Jing Yuan lingered for a moment, as if waiting for something more, but when you said nothing else, he chuckled and turned away, disappearing into the crowd to attend to his duties as host.

Left to your own devices, you did what came naturally—you kept busy.

You helped a group of children untangle their kite strings, laughing as they tugged at your sleeves, begging you to join their game. You chatted with the servers, exchanging jokes and lighthearted complaints about the hectic preparations. And when you spotted a young man struggling with a heavy tray of fruits, nearly tripping into a table, you immediately stepped in, steadying him before disaster could strike.

“Careful” you said, helping him adjust his grip.

He exhaled in relief. “Thank you! I swear, these trays are cursed.”

You grinned. “Just take it slow.”

He smiled back, grateful, and before long, the two of you found yourselves sitting at one of the long banquet tables, sharing a drink and easy conversation. He was a junior clerk from the Sky-Faring Commission, you learned, and his stories about bureaucratic mishaps had you laughing into your cup.

You didn’t notice the pair of golden eyes watching from across the plaza.

Jing Yuan stood near the edge of the festivities, a cup of wine untouched in his hand.

How effortlessly you showed warmth to others.

And yet, with him, you still kept that careful distance.

Then, with deliberate steps, he began making his way toward your table.

The clerk noticed first, nearly choking on his drink when he recognized the approaching figure. “G-General?!”

“Mind if I join you?”

You weren’t entirely sure how you ended up being whisked away from your conversation, but Lingsha had appeared out of nowhere, looping her arm through yours with a cheerful, "There you are! I need your help with something!" before dragging you off without another word.

"What’s the emergency?"

She huffed, adjusting the sleeve of her robe. "This sash won’t stay straight. Fix it for me?"

You sighed but obliged, fingers deftly retying the fabric. "You could’ve asked one of the attendants."

"And miss the chance to rescue you? Please. You had no idea what is going to happen next."

You paused. "…What?"

Lingsha waved a hand. "Never mind. Just—try not to look so approachable to random people tonight, okay?"

Before you could ask what she meant, she was already slipping back into the crowd, leaving you standing there, confused.

Shaking your head, you decided to find Yanqing and Yunli instead—familiar faces, easy company. You spotted Yanqing first, the young swordsman grumbling as he tried (and failed) to sneak a pastry from one of the dessert trays. You snuck up behind him and ruffled his hair.

"Hey—!" He whipped around, scowling, but the moment he saw it was you, his expression shifted to exasperated fondness. "Oh. It’s you."

"Miss me?"

He rolled his eyes but didn’t pull away when you playfully tugged at his ponytail.

Yunli, ever the composed one, merely raised an eyebrow as you approached. "Must you torment him?"

"Absolutely," you said, reaching up to adjust the slightly crooked pin in her hair. She sighed but allowed it, her lips twitching in amusement.

Meanwhile, across the plaza, Jing Yuan was surrounded.

People of all kind—all vying for his attention, some with thinly veiled flirtation. He smiled, nodded, gave polite replies, but his gaze kept drifting—past them, past the crowd, to where you were, laughing with his disciple as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The night had been a blur of laughter, music, and far too many cups of Xianzhou’s strongest liquor. You hadn’t meant to drink so much—truly, you hadn’t—but between Yanqing daring you to try the spiced wine and Lingsha cheerfully refilling your cup every time it emptied, you’d lost track.

By the time you realized you were swaying on your feet, it was too late.

The world spun pleasantly as you wandered away from the feast, the cool night air a welcome relief against your flushed skin. The lanterns blurred into golden streaks, the distant hum of voices fading as you found yourself near one of the Luofu’s tranquil ponds, the water shimmering under the moonlight.

You plopped down at the edge, legs dangling precariously over the water, and giggled to yourself.

Oops. Maybe too close.

You leaned forward—just a little—to peer at your reflection, but your balance betrayed you.

For a brief, dizzying moment, you felt yourself tipping—

Then strong arms caught you, pulling you back against a firm chest.

“Now, now,” a familiar voice murmured, “That would be a rather undignified way to end the night, don’t you think?”

You blinked up at him.

His silver hair glowed under the moonlight, his golden eyes crinkled in amusement. He looked unfairly handsome, and in your drunken state, you saw no reason not to say so.

“Wow,” you breathed, reaching up to poke his cheek. “You’re really pretty.”

His eyebrows shot up.

Then he laughed—a deep, rich sound that sent a pleasant shiver down your spine. “Is that so?”

You nodded sagely. “Mhm. Like a painting.”

His gaze softened. “And here I thought you only saw me as ‘The Divine Foresight.’”

You scrunched your nose. “That’s stupid.”

“Oh?”

“You’re Jing Yuan,” you declared, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You laugh at bad jokes. You forget your medicine. You let Yanqing win sometimes even though he definitely doesn’t deserve it.”

“I see alcohol makes you rather… honest.”

You sighed dramatically, flopping back against him. “I’m always honest. You just never listen.”

He hummed, shifting to steady you. “Then perhaps you should tell me something else.”

“Like what?”

“Why,” he said, voice dropping to a murmur, “you treat everyone else with such ease… but with me, you keep your distance.”

You frowned, struggling to form a coherent thought through the haze of liquor. “Because… you’re important.”

“And that means I deserve less of your kindness?”

“No!” You huffed, frustrated. “It means I can’t mess up. If I’m too casual, if I say the wrong thing—what if you realize I’m not as put-together as I pretend to be?”

The confession tumbled out before you could stop it.

Jing Yuan went very still.

Then, slowly, he tilted your chin up, forcing you to meet his gaze. “That’s what you’ve been worried about?”

You pouted. “It’s a valid concern.”

He chuckled, thumb brushing lightly over your cheek. “Silly thing. Do you really think I don’t know you?”

“I’ve watched you scold Yanqing for skipping training,” he continued, amused. “I’ve seen you trip over your own feet in the halls. I know you sneak extra sweets when you think no one’s looking.”

Your face burned. “You—noticed that?”

“I notice everything,” he said, “Especially when it comes to you.”

Your drunken brain short-circuited.

Before you could respond, he sighed, shifting to lift you into his arms. “Come on. Let’s get you somewhere you won’t drown.”

You whined but didn’t protest, too busy marveling at how nice his chest felt to lean against.

Somewhere in the distance, Lingsha watched the scene unfold—then smirked and turned away, deciding some things were better left uninterrupted.

>The Morning After<

Your head pounded.

Groaning, you buried your face into the pillow, willing the world to stop spinning.

Wait.

Not your pillow.

Your eyes flew open.

This was not your room.

Oh no.

Fragmented memories flashed in your mind—Jing Yuan’s arms around you, his laughter, your embarrassingly honest rambling—

You sat bolt upright, then immediately regretted it as your skull throbbed in protest.

A cup of water and a small vial of medicine sat on the bedside table, along with a note:

"Drink this. We’ll talk later."

Your heart hammered in your chest as you scurried into the Alchemy Commission, still nursing the remnants of your hangover. The moment you arrived, you grabbed the nearest healer by the sleeve.

"Switch shifts with me. Please. I'll owe you forever."

They blinked at your desperate expression but shrugged. "Uh… sure?"

You nearly collapsed in relief. Perfect. Now you could hide behind the counter, avoid all human interaction, and—most importantly—never have to face him again.

-----

The General of the Luofu was distracted.

Reports lay unfinished on his desk, his usually sharp mind clouded with thoughts of you—your drunken confession, the way you'd curled against him, the way you'd finally spoken to him without that infuriating formality.

And then you'd vanished.

His fingers tightened around his brush.

Did you regret it?

Was it just the wine talking?

Or worse—had that clerk from the Sky-Faring Commission caught your interest instead?

The brush snapped in his hand.

"…I see."

He exhaled slowly, setting the pieces aside. He was Jing Yuan, the Divine Foresight. He did not lose composure over such things.

…Yet here he was, standing up, cloak already swinging over his shoulders as he strode out of his office.

Fine. If you wouldn’t come to him, he’d find you himself.

----

You were safe.

Hunched behind the counter, pretending to organize herbs, you let out a slow breath. Maybe if you stayed here long enough, he’d—

"Where is Y/N?"

Your blood turned to ice.

You ducked lower, praying that he wouldn’t see you.

"They, uh… switched shifts?" the other healer said nervously.

Footsteps. Moving away.

You nearly sobbed in relief.

…Until a shadow loomed over you.

"Hiding, are we?"

Slowly, painfully, you turned your head.

You swallowed.

"G-General! I—uh—was just—"

"Crawling away?" he supplied helpfully.

You winced.

Before you could react, his hand shot out, gripping the back of your collar like a misbehaving kitten. "Up."

You yelped as he hauled you to your feet.

You knelt before him in the empty side room, hands raised in surrender, face burning with shame.

"Explain."

You gulped. "I… may have acted inappropriately last night."

"Oh?" He tilted his head. "How so?"

"I—I drank too much. I said things I shouldn’t have. I embarrassed myself—and you—and then I ran away like a coward—"

"So you do remember."

You nodded miserably.

"And yet," he continued, voice dropping, "instead of facing me, you chose to hide?"

You flinched. "I thought… you’d be angry."

"Angry?" He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. "I was worried."

Your eyes widened.

"Now," he said, stepping closer, "come here."

You blinked. "Wh—?"

"I can’t hear you from there."

You hesitated, then shuffled forward on your knees until you were right in front of him.

He leaned down, his face inches from yours, his voice a low murmur.

"Now. Tell me again—why did you run?"

"I… was scared."

"Of?"

"Of… you realizing I’m not as composed as I pretend to be."

"I already told you—I know you."

You bit your lip.

"And," he added, fingers brushing under your chin, "I rather like the real you."

"So no more hiding," he murmured. "No more formality. Understood?"

You nodded weakly.

"Good." He straightened, offering you a hand. "Now get up. We have work to do."

You took it, your face still burning.

After The Incident (as you now referred to it in your head), things… changed.

Not drastically—you weren’t suddenly clinging to Jing Yuan’s arm or calling him by some ridiculous nickname—but the stiffness in your interactions had melted away.

You still bowed when necessary, still addressed him with respect, but now…When he made a terrible joke during strategy meetings, you rolled your eyes instead of forcing a polite laugh. When he "forgot" his medicine (again), you scolded him openly instead of couching your words in deference. And when he teased you—which was often—you gave as good as you got.

Jing Yuan, for his part, seemed delighted by this shift.

But there was something else, too.

A lingering glance when someone spoke to you a little too familiarly.

A casual step closer when a visiting diplomat eyed you with a little too much interest.

A look—one that had even Yanqing gulping and backing away when he tried to drag you into another ill-advised sparring match.

At first, you thought you were imagining it.

But then Lingsha smirked at you over her tea.

"You really don’t see it, do you?"

"See what?"

She just laughed.

Whispers spread through the Luofu.

"Did you hear? The General personally reprimanded that merchant for overcharging them."

"He reassigned three clerks just because they were rude to Y/N in passing."

"I heard he nearly leveled a training ground because someone accidentally knocked them over during drills."

(That last one was an exaggeration.…Probably.)

It hit you one evening, as you sat across from him in his study, reviewing supply reports.

He was leaning back in his chair, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly mussed from running a hand through it one too many times. He looked… relaxed.

And then it struck you—

He likes having you here.

Not as a subordinate.

Just… as you.

Jing Yuan noticed your stare and raised an eyebrow. "Something on my face?"

You shook your head, smiling slightly. "No. Just thinking."

"Dangerous habit" he teased.

You threw a crumpled piece of paper at him.

He caught it effortlessly, grinning.

No one dared to mistreat you.

No one dared to overstep.

And no one—absolutely no one—dared to flirt with you within Jing Yuan’s line of sight.

(You weren’t sure whether to be exasperated or touched.)

But when you mentioned it to him, he merely sipped his tea and said,

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

You snorted.

Liar.

-----

I'm currently facing writer's blockkkkkkkkkkkkk.(╥﹏╥)