weapon of war .

you  should  know  that  …  whether  you're  on  the  side  that  takes  lives  or  the  side  that  saves  them,  nothing  beyond  your  own  expectations  will  happen.  nothing  in  this  world  can  fill  the  hole  that  is  your  loneliness.  you  will  wander  the  darkness  for  eternity  .

of   all   the   places   she's   ever   (    unexpectedly    )   wandered   into,   teyvat   has   always   been   a   small   favourite   of   hers.    the   way   the   deities   work,   the   distance   between   cities,   the   people   who   have   these    …    visions.    it's   an   interesting   place   to   be.    which   explains   her   wandering   about   the   streets   of   sneznaya.    busy   enough   to   have   her   being   but   another   face   in   the   crowd.    the   streets   are   decorated,   smothered   in   greenery   and   ruby    -    coloured   ribbons    ;    a   holiday's   around   the   corner   (    she   knows   now   thanks   to   the   small   child   with   bows   in   her   hair   who   was   screaming   at   her   mum   for   some   unholy   appearing   doll   from   a   nearby   shop.    )   and,   for   a   moment,   a   quiet   one,   she   considers   getting   one   person,   in   particular,   a   gift.

of   course,   isabelle   barely   knows   the   one   who   caused   so   much   of   an   issue   in   fontaine   (    red    -    hair,   freckles    …    dead   eyes    …    )   but   her   heart's   in   the   right   place.    or   so   she   tells   herself.    there's   no   coin   in   her   pocket,   so   she   seeks   through   the   same   shop   the   child   was   screaming   about   to   gather   two   things    ;    the   damned   doll   the   child   wanted   and   a   hand    -    knitted   item.    something   simple,   since   her   appearance   isn't   necessarily    …    expected.    one   blink   (    a   hallucination   to   others.    )   has   her   returning   to   the   bustling   streets,   hands   fumbling   with   the   gifts   she's   stolen   to   find   a   piece   of   paper   tucked   in   her   pockets.    “    left   up   ahead,   then   a   right    …    ”  

dissociation,  they've  been  told.

EVEN  NOW  THEY'RE  NEARING  that  state  of  mind,  only  dragged  out  of  it  at  the  sound  of  an  oh-so  familiar  voice.  the  whine  almost  gets  them  to  laugh,  but  they  don't  exactly  have  the  energy  to  do  so.  it  takes  most  of  what  energy  they  do  have  to  stand,  making  their  way  over  to  push  the  balcony  doors  open,  finally  coming  face  to  face  with  their  visitor.

ㅤㅤHe sat still as the other inspected him, feeling not too unlike a nervous student awaiting the judgement of their instructor. Except this was his partner adorning him with an item of their own, and his nerves stemmed from two sources. The first being that he wanted to look good for them. Hoped that he did. Phainon wasn't unaware of his appearance; had heard and been told of his above average looks. Yet, here he was feeling the need to appear his best more than ever. Because it was their own. He would gladly let them adorn him in whatever they pleased as long as it meant others would see— that others would know he was theirs. If Ajax thought it looked good on him, then that meant they could take pride in showing him off... right ? The second was simply that he was about two steps from being turned on. They'd stood a little closer than needed while placing the choker around his neck. Adjusted the chain so that it sat just right with fingers so close to skin but making sure not to touch. It almost felt like a cruel test. It silenced the usually chatty, blue-eyed man as he sat there.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤAnticipating something that never came.

ㅤㅤBut that didn't matter, because words perform their job with great effectiveness. Despite following the hand that reached for the chain again, it was quickly forgotten as he turned attention back to the other. So fixated was he that his voice remained lost. The idea of Ajax buying a choker just for him, one they thought might suit him, versus the ready admission that they liked him in theirs. Both would be equally exciting and he would wear them with pride. Just as his mouth finally opens to say as much, there comes a surprise— one he'd been silently hoping for.

THEY  NOTICE  MORE  THAN  ONE  would  think,  how  he  tenses  up  when  their  fingers  are  close  to  his  neck  –  how  he's  presenting  himself  (  much  akin  to  how  a  bird  would,  if  they  really  thought  about  it  )  so  that  their  eyes  are  tuned  in  on  him  ..  not  that  it's  needed  ,  they  barley  look  anywhere  else  when  he's  around  to  begin  with.  they  find  it  endearing  ,  really  –  all  of  it.  having  someone  who  was  just  as  infatuated  with  them,  as  they  were  with  him.

is  this  what  love  is  ?  –  how  strange.

THEY  SHAKE  THEIR  HEAD  AT  THE  THOUGHTS  ,  fully  focused  back  on  him  now  –  grinning  toothily  at  the  gasp  he  makes  as  he's  pulled  forward.  their  own  eyes  hold  a  similar  dark  look,  glancing  over  him  –  letting  out  a  pleased  hum  as  they  twist  the  chain  back  around  their  fingers  to  keep  him  close.  this  was  a  dangerous  game,  they  knew  that  –  but  really,  they  wouldn't  have  it  any  other  way.

❛❛  WHATEVER  I  WANT  YOU  TOO  ?  –  that's  rather  dangerous  ,  don't  you  think  ?  ❜❜  they  glance  towards  the  hand  now  wrapped  around  their  wrist,  humming  in  thought  for  a  moment.  their  next  actions  are  quick  –  moving  to  push  him  backwards,  one  step,  two  –  and  once  his  legs  hit  the  chair  they  follow  suit.  they're  not  bashful  about  how  they  sit  against  his  lap,  back  to  once  again  twirling  the  chain  around  their  fingers  debating  on  actually  giving  in  to  what  he  wants.

❛❛  WELL  THEN  ,  СОНЕЧНЕ  –  what  if  i  only  want  you  in  this  choker  ,  what  then  ?  ❜❜

( 🌿 ) PULLING HER SON into a hug she exhales ; worried about not just her youngest but her middle .. she had faith that ajax could remain here until teucer understood their reasons. faith could only bring their family so far --- that much she knew far too well.

IT OCCURS TO her then that she hadn't asked how long her boy would be home for , a frown beginning to arise as she pulls back , yet still maintaining contact with her son ( and would unless they chose to break it ).

❝ IS YOUR VISIT that short that you believe there is little time for him to understand your reasons ? how .. long are you here for ? ❞ too short once again. if not by HER desire it would be her husbands. natalya wished to know which it was.

STRAIGHTENING HER APRON the matriarch sighs softly , shaking her head -- whether to the concept of teucer running away or disagreeing in the first place was anyone's guess. ❝ HE'LL COME HOME if he grows upset enough upon where he cannot remain in the same spot. you are his anchor , my darling .. while emotional ..

he still HAS A MIND in that head of his. running into the forest of fae and beast would be not on his mind with little supply. your father and i explained such to him in the past when .. he wished to explore ALONE. ❞ those few minutes that led to days had been more stressful than any could imagine for her --- pleading once for the youngest to ONLY go into the forest with a guide or one of his siblings .. and to take the shotgun with them. even with such a weapon she would implore that the act not be taken in the FIRST PLACE.

THEY  DON'T  ANSWER  HER  right  away,  only  lean  into  her  touch  –  letting  out  a  soft  sigh  at  the  feeling  of  comfort  the  hug  brings.  admittedly  they  missed  physical  touch  ,  they  missed  being  held  as  childish  as  that  may  sound  ..  it's  why  they  don't  want  to  speak,  not  until  she  pulls  back  leaving  them  feeling  cold  once  again.

how  long  are  you  here  for  ?

❛❛  …  A  WEEK  OR  SO  ?  ,  maybe  a  bit  longer  if  i  play  my  cards  right   –  i  will  still  be  here,  in  snezhnaya  but  …  off  towards  nod  krai  ,  we  have  a  job  to  do  there,  and  i  have  quite  a  few  soldiers  to  train  in  the  meantime.  ❜❜  it  wasn't  their  shortest  visit  home,  but  no  where  near  as  long  as  they  wish.   in  truth  if  it  was  their  choice  they'd  be  there  for  a  bit  longer  ,  maybe  even  take  a  leave  of  absence  –  but  they've  been  away  from  work  for  far  to  long  after  fontaine  that  they  don't  feel  comfortable  doing  so.

THEY  GROW  SILENT  AGAIN  AS  SHE  SPEAKS  ,  they  knew  teucer  had  been  taught  not  to  traverse  into  the  woods  –  something  even  they  had  told  him  more  times  than  they  can  remember  –  yet  it  didn't  remove  the  worry  from  their  mind.  he  could  be  stubborn  ,  go  against  the  wishes  of  his  elders  (  shown  by  how  he  had  traversed  to  liyue  all  on  his  own  )  which  is  why  their  worries  are  there.

❛❛  …  I  HOPE  YOU'RE  RIGHT  ,  i  just  ..  worry.  i  don't  want  him  to  fall  into  the  same  traps  as  i  have  ,  i'd  much  rather  he  hate  me  than  run  off  and  go  missing  ..  i  want  to  keep  history  from  repeating  .  ❜❜

Teasing & Seduction

❝ Can’t stop looking at you… is it distracting, or am I just imagining it? ❞

❝ You’re playing dangerously close to my patience… and I’m not sure I want you to stop. ❞

❝ Careful… the closer you get, the harder it is to think straight. ❞

❝ Is that a challenge I see in your eyes, or am I hoping it’s one? ❞

❝ You know exactly what effect you have on me, don’t you? ❞

Magnetic Tension

❝ Every time you speak, my attention refuses to wander elsewhere. ❞

❝ Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you move. ❞

❝ You brush past me again and I swear… my heart skips. ❞

❝ Keep teasing me like that, and I might just have to react. ❞

❝ I can’t tell if I should be angry or… enjoying this too much. ❞

Intimate Closeness

❝ Stay a little closer. Just for now. ❞

❝ Don’t move. I’m memorizing every detail. ❞

❝ You’re warm… and I’m not sure I want to let go. ❞

❝ Your voice sounds different when it’s just for me. ❞

❝ One look from you, and suddenly I forget how to breathe. ❞

Dark Playfulness / Danger

❝ You like flirting with danger… do you enjoy it as much as I do? ❞

❝ I could hurt you… but I’d rather have you want it. ❞

❝ You’re tempting fate by standing so close. ❞

❝ Don’t get too comfortable… I like keeping you on edge. ❞

❝ You’re playing a game I might just let you win. ❞

Aftermath / Lingering Glances

❝ Don’t think I forgot the look you gave me earlier… ❞

❝ You left me thinking about you longer than I care to admit. ❞

❝ Even when you’re gone, I feel you here. ❞

❝ I can’t decide if I want to run or stay… and that’s your fault. ❞

❝ I’d follow you anywhere… even where I know I shouldn’t. ❞

over a year ago, i made this meme & since then, it’s blown up. so, over a year later — i thought i would make a new one. so here it is, after several requests & a pile of brains,  THE PRE-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP MEME 0.2 send me a  ✿  and i’ll fill out the template below. bold for things i could definitely see or want, italics for things i could see or am unsure of and striked out for things i don’t want or cannot see.

FRIENDSHIP.     childhood friends  /  work buddies or coworkers  /  family friends  /  friends with benefits  /  smoking buddies  /  adventure buddies  /  fake friends  /  recently friends  /  party buddies  /  friendship of need  /  dying friendship  /  circumstantial friendship  /  partners in crime  /  old friendship  /  [ your muse ] is the good influence  /  [ your muse ] is the bad influence  /  [ my muse ] is the good influence  /  [ my muse ] is the bad influence  /  opposites attract  /  ride or die  /  frenemies  /  roommates or flatmates  /  penpals  /  exes to friends  /  enemies to friends  /  other

ROMANCE.     childhood sweethearts  /  [ your muse is mines ] childhood crush  /  [ my muse is yours ] childhood crush  /  exes  /  exes to lovers  /  forbidden lovers  /  highschool sweethearts  /  secret relationship  /  opposites attract  /  long distance  /  unrequited [ from your muses side ]  /  unrequited [ from my muses side ]  /  unrequited [ from both sides ]  /  skinny love  /  friends to lovers  /  enemies to lovers  /  spurious relationship  /  power couple  /  newly entered  /  soulmates [ metaphorical ]  /  soulmates  [ literal ]  /  awkward  /  turning toxic  /  toxic love  /  cheating [ on your muse ]  /  cheating [ with your muse ]  /  other 

FAMILIAL.     siblings [ half ]  /  siblings [ step ]  /  [ my muse ] is an older sibling figure to your younger sibling figure  /  [ my muse ] is a younger sibling figure to your older sibling figure muse  /  [ my muse ] is a parental figure to yours  /  [ my muse ] is a child figure to your muse  /  guardian figure  /  legal guardian  /  adoptive child  /  foster child  /  [ your muse ] is taken under mines wing  /  [ my muse ] is taken under yours wing  /  other

THIS IS A PERMANENT DYNAMICS CALL , if you like this post it lets me know that you are open to talking about what dynamic you want between your muse && childe .

these relationships can be familial, friendly, romantic, rivals, hateful, or really any dynamic that you see fit. just know that this will be something that i want plotted out, to talk about && maybe have an idea in mind of what you already want before you like this, and please note if you do want something more romantic , most of childe's romantic ships will start out more on the lines of a FWB situation as they don't fall in love easily. they need to form attachments first.

i am also open to most ships , i will always let you know if there is one i am not open to. with that in mind , please note i do not ship zhon.gli && childe romantically .

with that said , i am also up for dynamics being different in every verse , i do have verses listed on my carrd && we can always talk more about that as things get plotted and figured out .

(steel meets skin, laughter turns to breathless stillness)

Training Grounds & Bruised Pride

❛ You’re getting better… but not good enough to beat me. ❜

❛ That swing would’ve taken my head off if you weren’t distracted staring at me. ❜

❛ You call that a punch? Try again. Harder. ❜

❛ Careful—if you keep touching me like that, I’ll forget this is just training. ❜

❛ You’re supposed to disarm me, not pin me down. ❜

❛ If you wanted to get me on the ground, there are easier ways. ❜

❛ Oh, so now you’re blushing? Didn’t expect that from you. ❜

❛ Don’t hold back just because I’m close. Hit me. ❜

❛ You like this too much to call it practice. ❜

❛ You’re bleeding. …and you’re smiling about it? ❜

Clash & Proximity

❛ Stop moving—if you do, I’ll let you go. Maybe. ❜

❛ You’re enjoying this way more than you should. ❜

❛ I could feel your heartbeat when I had you pinned. ❜

❛ You’re supposed to block, not get distracted every time I breathe. ❜

❛ Funny how you only get serious when I get close. ❜

❛ Is this still a fight, or are we pretending it is? ❜

❛ If you wanted to touch me, you could’ve just asked. ❜

❛ That smirk’s going to get you in trouble. ❜

❛ You’re trembling. Adrenaline or something else? ❜

❛ You’ve got a death wish standing that close. Or maybe just a bad idea. ❜

Verbal Sparring & Tension

❛ What’s wrong—afraid I’ll beat you? Or that I won’t stop when I do? ❜

❛ Keep taunting me and I might forget to pull my punches. ❜

❛ You talk too much. Let’s see if I can change that. ❜

❛ Didn’t realize arrogance was one of your fighting styles. ❜

❛ Don’t act so calm—you’re shaking. I can feel it. ❜

❛ You like pushing me, don’t you? ❜

❛ Admit it—you only challenged me so you’d have an excuse to touch me. ❜

❛ I thought you were dangerous. Turns out you’re just distracting. ❜

❛ You keep saying this is training, but you keep looking at my mouth. ❜

❛ Try again. And stop pretending you don’t want to. ❜

Pinned & Breathless

❛ You should really get off me… unless you plan to stay there. ❜

❛ You gonna move, or are you enjoying the view? ❜

❛ You’re heavy. …Don’t you dare move. ❜

❛ Your hand’s still on me. Not that I mind. ❜

❛ Is this where you finally admit you like losing to me? ❜

❛ You can let go now. …anytime. ❜

❛ I said training, not straddling. ❜

❛ If anyone walks in right now, I’m blaming you. ❜

❛ Don’t look at me like that. You’ll make me forget we’re supposed to be fighting. ❜

❛ I thought this was about technique, not temptation. ❜

Aftermath & Smolder

❛ You’ve got blood on your lip. …Here, let me— ❜

❛ You hit harder than you should. I liked it. ❜

❛ I should hate how close that was. But I don’t. ❜

❛ You’re shaking. Here—catch your breath. ❜

❛ For someone who swears they don’t care, you sure looked worried when I fell. ❜

❛ You didn’t have to pull me that close. ❜

❛ I’ve fought a lot of people. None of them ever looked at me like that. ❜

❛ Are we still sparring, or… something else? ❜

❛ Tell me you didn’t feel that too. ❜

❛ Maybe next time, we skip the weapons. ❜

the  earth  is  speaking  to  us,  but  we  can't  hear  because  of  all  the  racket  our  senses  are  making.  sometimes  we  need  to  erase  them,  erase  our  senses  –  then  maybe  the  earth  will  touch  us.  the  universe  will  speak.  the  stars  will  whisper