The Invisible Library - Blog Posts

Why would we want to stop you that is an epic ship name. But also this is very sweet and I love them being involved with Irene and Kai and being a big family. Celeste is a great name for their baby as well.

"How is the little mignonne?" Ao Shun asked and Li Ming smiled as he looked up from Celeste.

"She sleeps." He replied. "Miss Winters and Prince Kai seem to have accidentally taken a nap." Ao Shun arched a brow before peering around the doorway. He chuckled.

"They must be shattered." He said. "Ophelia is..."

"Quite happy to quietly play by herself for the time being. She'll probably get a little antsy soon." Ao Shun nodded. "It makes me think."

"You want another?"

"Goodness no. One is enough to last me the rest of my life time. No. That maybe we put too much pressure on one person to raise their child, always just the father or their mother, and not everyone has the support of their families." Li Ming frowned. "Miss Winters needs help now, and maybe she wouldn't have done if the Prince hadn't been called away for two months. Imagine what it's like to be alone the entire time."

"She is a human."

"Is she? Tell me, when was the last time you saw a human like her? She may physically be a human, but it could be her binding to the Library, or her bond to the Prince and their children, but no, I wouldn't call her a human."

"Metaphysics isn't my area of study."

"No, neither is it mine. But she's different. She's strong, but she has still needed a lot of help, from myself, from the Prince, and now a psychologist."

"I'll look into the support networks in place." Ao Shun said slowly. "See if there are places that we need to improve on, if you feel so passionately about this then I trust your judgement." Li Ming softly smiled.

"Thank you. Miss Winters may be 'only' human to a good many people. But she's a lot more than that now."

"You're fond of them." Li Ming looked to Celeste.

"Miss Winters asked if I would be Celeste's god father, and I said yes. They asked if it would be okay for her to call me uncle, and for Ophelia to do so as well. Miss Winters only has her parents, no other family members. I said yes, my ties to them will not impede my duties to you, but I would like to be able to... Help whenever I can."

"I love you." Ao Guang said. "Yes, just let me know when you'll be with them in case I need your assistance."

"You don't have to say yes because you love me."

"I want you to be happy." Ao Shun touched his cheek. "If you are happy, then I am happy. And if this makes you happy, then I will not complain. I'll arrange for you to speak with my brother, he has his people watching them, I'm sure that we can reach an understanding with him again."

"Just to give them some extra help when they need it. Heavens knows that neither would ever ask."

"No, they'll just fall asleep in my sitting room." Ao Shun said, shaking his head. "Let's leave them a little bit longer."

I'm calling this ship FrostStorm and no one can stop me

Irene discussing this with coppelia: and then he did not let go for some time/ utterly out of order/ I know! So unreasonable.

Irene: W..why are you squeezing me with your body?

Kai: It’s called a hug, Irene. I’m hugging you.

Ha, this would be fab!

Me: has four prompts to respond to

Also me: new fic idea involving Irene and Kai in a gym room in the Library (they probably have them) a pole and an interruption from Liu Xiang

Yeah, Irene is a quality woman. Docs are fabulous, and that is gonna hurt Silver so bad!

I keep having this thought of them all in a modern world pop into my head, only Silver calls Irene sugar tits and she just kicks him in the crotch

He deserves it so much. Vale would give all his money for this to happen in his presence.

I keep having this thought of them all in a modern world pop into my head, only Silver calls Irene sugar tits and she just kicks him in the crotch

You can kind of share them around? Me desperately trying to put a positive spin on this. But yeah, you are terribly cruel.

Hiya, could you do having seen you dance I know you have no feet (I’ve not got that completely right but can’t remember the exact phrasing, I know I’d be terrible with the Language, I’d say one thing inaccurately and get engulfed in an avalanche, swiftly followed by a tsunami) for Irene and Kai, please?

If I had The Language I’d probably get punished for the amount of Fuck bombs that I drop.

“Having seen you dance, I know you have no feet.” Kai said to Irene, leaning over to mutter to her, their arms linked. “Or I would ask you for a dance.”

“When did you ever see me dance?”

“Russia.” Kai said as they continued to circulate the room. “You stood on Alberich’s toes.” Irene supressed her shudder of disgust.

“Has it passed your mind that I may have done that on purpose?” She asked. “Why wouldn’t I stand on his feet when given the opportunity. Petty victories, Kai. Petty victories.” She smiled up at him, and he smiled back. “I will have you know that I am a wonderful dancer, however, you shall never find that out.”

“Please, may I have your hand for the next dance?” Irene slipped her arm out of his and took a few steps toward the bar.

“Sorry, I don’t have any feet. And I need a drink if I have to be here for much longer.” She replied before hedging her way through the groups of people, leaving Kai chuckling and shaking his head.

He caught up with her as she caught the attention of a bartender. “Whiskey, neat, please.” She asked.

“I’ll have the same.” Kai said with a nod, perching on the stool next to her. “So, this contact of yours.” Irene touched her earlobe, toying with the small scar that had been a lobe piercing.

“Our friend hasn’t arrived yet.” She shrugged and paid for their drinks. He gently bumped the rim of his glass against hers before they both took a sip. It was smooth and made their mouths burn a little bit. Irene left a faint lipstick smudge on our glass. “We shouldn’t be waiting too much longer.”

“I told you not to wear high heels.” He muttered, more to the whiskey than to her, then in brighter tones. “Well, good whiskey, women and the music isn’t half bad, I don’t mind the wait around.”

“Where are these women?” Irene said with a frown as she surveyed the room. “I haven’t been on a date for years and would not complain.” Kai looked at her before sighing.

“I was talking about you.” He said softly. “I know you are going to say no, that we shouldn’t, not that we can’t mind you. I know that it isn’t against the rules. I have checked, before you try to suggest that.”

“Kai, I don’t want to keep having this conversation, it’s tiring. It isn’t against any official rules, but it is against mine. You are my friend, let that be enough, please. For both of our sakes.” She sighed and listened to the ice in her glass. “Go and find one of the other women who’ll be happy to go- no, go home with them, not back to our house please, someone who’ll say yes, so that you don’t keep wasting your time on one hundred and one no’s.”

Kai sadly smiled. “I’d rather be rejected one hundred and one times, than get a yes from someone that I could never care for.” He got up though. “I’m going to get some fresh air, I won’t be long. Don’t move, especially if your contact makes… contact.” He cringed a little.

“Alright, stay safe.” He took his drink.

“You too.”

Lmao! You are garnering a reputation.

Hiya, could you do having seen you dance I know you have no feet (I’ve not got that completely right but can’t remember the exact phrasing, I know I’d be terrible with the Language, I’d say one thing inaccurately and get engulfed in an avalanche, swiftly followed by a tsunami) for Irene and Kai, please?

If I had The Language I’d probably get punished for the amount of Fuck bombs that I drop.

“Having seen you dance, I know you have no feet.” Kai said to Irene, leaning over to mutter to her, their arms linked. “Or I would ask you for a dance.”

“When did you ever see me dance?”

“Russia.” Kai said as they continued to circulate the room. “You stood on Alberich’s toes.” Irene supressed her shudder of disgust.

“Has it passed your mind that I may have done that on purpose?” She asked. “Why wouldn’t I stand on his feet when given the opportunity. Petty victories, Kai. Petty victories.” She smiled up at him, and he smiled back. “I will have you know that I am a wonderful dancer, however, you shall never find that out.”

“Please, may I have your hand for the next dance?” Irene slipped her arm out of his and took a few steps toward the bar.

“Sorry, I don’t have any feet. And I need a drink if I have to be here for much longer.” She replied before hedging her way through the groups of people, leaving Kai chuckling and shaking his head.

He caught up with her as she caught the attention of a bartender. “Whiskey, neat, please.” She asked.

“I’ll have the same.” Kai said with a nod, perching on the stool next to her. “So, this contact of yours.” Irene touched her earlobe, toying with the small scar that had been a lobe piercing.

“Our friend hasn’t arrived yet.” She shrugged and paid for their drinks. He gently bumped the rim of his glass against hers before they both took a sip. It was smooth and made their mouths burn a little bit. Irene left a faint lipstick smudge on our glass. “We shouldn’t be waiting too much longer.”

“I told you not to wear high heels.” He muttered, more to the whiskey than to her, then in brighter tones. “Well, good whiskey, women and the music isn’t half bad, I don’t mind the wait around.”

“Where are these women?” Irene said with a frown as she surveyed the room. “I haven’t been on a date for years and would not complain.” Kai looked at her before sighing.

“I was talking about you.” He said softly. “I know you are going to say no, that we shouldn’t, not that we can’t mind you. I know that it isn’t against the rules. I have checked, before you try to suggest that.”

“Kai, I don’t want to keep having this conversation, it’s tiring. It isn’t against any official rules, but it is against mine. You are my friend, let that be enough, please. For both of our sakes.” She sighed and listened to the ice in her glass. “Go and find one of the other women who’ll be happy to go- no, go home with them, not back to our house please, someone who’ll say yes, so that you don’t keep wasting your time on one hundred and one no’s.”

Kai sadly smiled. “I’d rather be rejected one hundred and one times, than get a yes from someone that I could never care for.” He got up though. “I’m going to get some fresh air, I won’t be long. Don’t move, especially if your contact makes… contact.” He cringed a little.

“Alright, stay safe.” He took his drink.

“You too.”

Super adorable! I just love them as a couple they’re perfect for each other. This was really cool. Thanks.

Hey, can you do Irene and Kai for the ship ask thing? Thanks

Irene wakes up first but it's because she's a restless sleeper and she goes back to sleep pretty soon after. Kai still there and breathing? Good. Back to bed.

Irene but she usually don't mean to, it just happens.

Irene teases Kai for being a snob, Kai teases Irene for her taste in literature (he approves, it just makes her flush whe he mentions Sherlock Holmes around her and Vale)

Kai makes Irene tea, gives her a snack, kisses her forehead and leaves her alone to read. Maybe also wraps a blanket around her. Irene makes Kai comfort food, probably goes down tto China Town so that she can get proper ingredients and they cook it together, but she surprises him with all the stuff to do it and probably preps all of the ingredients, he's a better cook than she is so she let's him take over after that.

I don't think either of them are the kind to say sorry, or really the kind to have petty arguments. Either they are arguing for a good reason, and it's more of a debate with a clear winner and loser, and the loser gradually concedes defeat and admits that they were wrong or its just 'I told you to replace the milk when you finish it.'

'Yeah well I told you not to run the hot tap whilst I was in the shower!' not real arguments just good hearted bickering.

Kai 100% but he will deny it until he's blue (haha) in the face

Splashing through the puddles, kissing underneath an umbrella or awning, and snuggling up to watch the rain out of the windows with big mugs of tea and a plate of cookies

Dumb question. Books. Books. And more books. Kai buys Irene cooking books when he wants to poke fun at her style of pasta or cheese on toast, Irene has bought Kai picture books on more than one occasion because it has a dragon in it

I don't think either of them are big on PDA, so it's just hand holding, kisses on the cheek or forehead. I think I'd have to say Irene napping with her head on Kai's thigh after they have had a picnic by the serpentine on a rare sunny day in Vale's London. That or them linking pinkie fingers whilst working next to or opposite each other.

^^

Yeah, that line is great and really encapsulates them. Yeah it was a bit angsty and I’m like you idiots! What are you doing?! Just kiss!!! *smushes faces together*.

Hiya, could you do having seen you dance I know you have no feet (I’ve not got that completely right but can’t remember the exact phrasing, I know I’d be terrible with the Language, I’d say one thing inaccurately and get engulfed in an avalanche, swiftly followed by a tsunami) for Irene and Kai, please?

If I had The Language I’d probably get punished for the amount of Fuck bombs that I drop.

“Having seen you dance, I know you have no feet.” Kai said to Irene, leaning over to mutter to her, their arms linked. “Or I would ask you for a dance.”

“When did you ever see me dance?”

“Russia.” Kai said as they continued to circulate the room. “You stood on Alberich’s toes.” Irene supressed her shudder of disgust.

“Has it passed your mind that I may have done that on purpose?” She asked. “Why wouldn’t I stand on his feet when given the opportunity. Petty victories, Kai. Petty victories.” She smiled up at him, and he smiled back. “I will have you know that I am a wonderful dancer, however, you shall never find that out.”

“Please, may I have your hand for the next dance?” Irene slipped her arm out of his and took a few steps toward the bar.

“Sorry, I don’t have any feet. And I need a drink if I have to be here for much longer.” She replied before hedging her way through the groups of people, leaving Kai chuckling and shaking his head.

He caught up with her as she caught the attention of a bartender. “Whiskey, neat, please.” She asked.

“I’ll have the same.” Kai said with a nod, perching on the stool next to her. “So, this contact of yours.” Irene touched her earlobe, toying with the small scar that had been a lobe piercing.

“Our friend hasn’t arrived yet.” She shrugged and paid for their drinks. He gently bumped the rim of his glass against hers before they both took a sip. It was smooth and made their mouths burn a little bit. Irene left a faint lipstick smudge on our glass. “We shouldn’t be waiting too much longer.”

“I told you not to wear high heels.” He muttered, more to the whiskey than to her, then in brighter tones. “Well, good whiskey, women and the music isn’t half bad, I don’t mind the wait around.”

“Where are these women?” Irene said with a frown as she surveyed the room. “I haven’t been on a date for years and would not complain.” Kai looked at her before sighing.

“I was talking about you.” He said softly. “I know you are going to say no, that we shouldn’t, not that we can’t mind you. I know that it isn’t against the rules. I have checked, before you try to suggest that.”

“Kai, I don’t want to keep having this conversation, it’s tiring. It isn’t against any official rules, but it is against mine. You are my friend, let that be enough, please. For both of our sakes.” She sighed and listened to the ice in her glass. “Go and find one of the other women who’ll be happy to go- no, go home with them, not back to our house please, someone who’ll say yes, so that you don’t keep wasting your time on one hundred and one no’s.”

Kai sadly smiled. “I’d rather be rejected one hundred and one times, than get a yes from someone that I could never care for.” He got up though. “I’m going to get some fresh air, I won’t be long. Don’t move, especially if your contact makes… contact.” He cringed a little.

“Alright, stay safe.” He took his drink.

“You too.”

Aww, this was sweet! You kept them hanging though, I guess they’ll have to wait until next time to get together. I really enjoyed this snippet, thanks!

Hiya, could you do having seen you dance I know you have no feet (I’ve not got that completely right but can’t remember the exact phrasing, I know I’d be terrible with the Language, I’d say one thing inaccurately and get engulfed in an avalanche, swiftly followed by a tsunami) for Irene and Kai, please?

If I had The Language I’d probably get punished for the amount of Fuck bombs that I drop.

“Having seen you dance, I know you have no feet.” Kai said to Irene, leaning over to mutter to her, their arms linked. “Or I would ask you for a dance.”

“When did you ever see me dance?”

“Russia.” Kai said as they continued to circulate the room. “You stood on Alberich’s toes.” Irene supressed her shudder of disgust.

“Has it passed your mind that I may have done that on purpose?” She asked. “Why wouldn’t I stand on his feet when given the opportunity. Petty victories, Kai. Petty victories.” She smiled up at him, and he smiled back. “I will have you know that I am a wonderful dancer, however, you shall never find that out.”

“Please, may I have your hand for the next dance?” Irene slipped her arm out of his and took a few steps toward the bar.

“Sorry, I don’t have any feet. And I need a drink if I have to be here for much longer.” She replied before hedging her way through the groups of people, leaving Kai chuckling and shaking his head.

He caught up with her as she caught the attention of a bartender. “Whiskey, neat, please.” She asked.

“I’ll have the same.” Kai said with a nod, perching on the stool next to her. “So, this contact of yours.” Irene touched her earlobe, toying with the small scar that had been a lobe piercing.

“Our friend hasn’t arrived yet.” She shrugged and paid for their drinks. He gently bumped the rim of his glass against hers before they both took a sip. It was smooth and made their mouths burn a little bit. Irene left a faint lipstick smudge on our glass. “We shouldn’t be waiting too much longer.”

“I told you not to wear high heels.” He muttered, more to the whiskey than to her, then in brighter tones. “Well, good whiskey, women and the music isn’t half bad, I don’t mind the wait around.”

“Where are these women?” Irene said with a frown as she surveyed the room. “I haven’t been on a date for years and would not complain.” Kai looked at her before sighing.

“I was talking about you.” He said softly. “I know you are going to say no, that we shouldn’t, not that we can’t mind you. I know that it isn’t against the rules. I have checked, before you try to suggest that.”

“Kai, I don’t want to keep having this conversation, it’s tiring. It isn’t against any official rules, but it is against mine. You are my friend, let that be enough, please. For both of our sakes.” She sighed and listened to the ice in her glass. “Go and find one of the other women who’ll be happy to go- no, go home with them, not back to our house please, someone who’ll say yes, so that you don’t keep wasting your time on one hundred and one no’s.”

Kai sadly smiled. “I’d rather be rejected one hundred and one times, than get a yes from someone that I could never care for.” He got up though. “I’m going to get some fresh air, I won’t be long. Don’t move, especially if your contact makes… contact.” He cringed a little.

“Alright, stay safe.” He took his drink.

“You too.”

How about you do both?! Go for it!

How would everyone feel about me writing Ao Shun and Li Ming raising their biological child? I really want to write fluff for them and with them having a baby and love the idea of them having a child together since that would be a possibility, however I also know that with Li Ming being a trans character, and that this is definitely an area that I don't know much about even though I'm aware of multiple cases where trans men chose to have children

Yeah, Irene totally abhors mornings.

In my head Kai is a morning person and Irene isn't, so breakfast in bed for Irene is very common

No, they’re one of my fave couples, they are deeply in hate/love and together forever!

Silver: Nothing ever pleases you, does it?

Vale: Not anything you do, no.

Am an utter fanatic for those scales and the floor, this is fabulous

I think Kai is just being unreasonable

Irene: Starting off my day with two eggs for breakfast!

Kai: Those are chocolate eggs

Irene: Diet plan just says "two eggs", so let's not get too picky

All very swish! Yeah Bradamant for sure makes the highest priority to look fabulous as she stabs someone.

Request from @some-sort-of-firefly for a Bradamant aesthetic board.

In my head she's the most glamorous Librarian that the Library has ever had, and could kill a man with her stilleto heel

Not a bad realisation to have, Vale is pretty epic.

Vale: My idea of flirting is being as sarcastic as possible and seeing if they can handle me

Yeah, I reckon the dragons are pretty chill about stuff like that. But li Ming and Ao shun are forever.

Li Ming x Ao Shun with 66? Because like you I also cant stop thinking about them.

“Do not tickle me.” Ao Shun sleepily muttered into his pillow (black silk, obviously). Li Ming stretched and groaned and curled up against his side, reaching for him again and sliding his fingers over Ao Shun’s back to wrap an arm loosely around his hips, pressing his face to the dark hair spilling across the covers.

“That wasn’t the intention.” Li Ming replied, nestling against him, eyes barely half open, intending on allowing himself to slip back to sleep for half an hour more if he could. Maybe an hour, there was nothing too pressing to deal with, and he’d showered before going to bed.

He’d returned late, had a long and very hot shower to work out the aches of travelling, and crawled into the bed that Ao Shun was already occupying, reading underneath the light of a solitary lamp.

He’d been too tired for much more than crawling under the covers on the other side of the bed, his side of the bed if they were in the same world (he always slept closest to the door, a constant protector, even at night), and had been asleep before Ao Shun had even wished him goodnight, or hello for that matter.

“Good morning.” Ao Shun said, now that he was a little more awake, he rubbed sleep out of his eyes and shifted to hold Li Ming and he kissed the top of his hair. “Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I have in weeks.” It was always the same response. He always slept better when he knew that his partner was less than an arms reach away.

The finest beds, thick and plush mattresses of feathers, large enough to fit a half dozen people in it and probably a few pets as well, and they always ended up pressed against each other. Curled around one another, bodies touching, even when it was a hot night, they still would sleep close, fingers brushing when the heat became too much to tolerate. Li Ming may run cold, but Ao Shun ran hot and it quickly became uncomfortable for Li Ming to be wrapped up in what felt like a furnace to him.

Ao Shun smiled. “Good, you were exhausted last night, you work too hard mon etoile.” Li Ming tilted his face up to smile at him with sleep hazed eyes. “Oh… you forgot to wash your eyeliner off. Hold still, I need a picture of this.” Li Ming huffed and rolled away from him, pulling the covers up over his head.

“I am going back to sleep.”

“Lí…” Ao Shun softly said. “My raccoon.” Li Ming sat up and glared at him.

“We are not making this a thing.” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and grabbed his dressing gown as he got up and padded toward the bathroom on warmed tile floors. “I am not a raccoon, I was just tired.”

“I know you were, love. Come back to bed and there will be no more mention of your resemblance to adorable little creatures.”

“I am taller than you.”

“Barely-there-resemblance. Come back to bed, please.” Li Ming sighed.

“Just because you asked me nicely.” 

Lí means raccoon, which is exactly what I needed to find out today and made me do the happy hand flappies

Ooh this is cool! And for sure counts as evil, you’re on the way up in the villain stakes, at the moment I think you’re a local nuisance villain but you’re stepping it up.

Kissing prompt #2 with Silver x Kai because it's Sunday

“Can I kiss you?” Kai tried to not snort too derisively. “Have you never been curious about kissing a Fae? How… narrowminded? I thought that you would be more adventurous than that. Keep it in the species? Oh, that would make miss Winters is the exception.” Kai turned to snap at him but stopped short, lips parted to bitterly spit out some pithy remark, but it died on his tongue.

Kai had some protection against Fae, due to his inherent nature as a dragon, and a noble born one at that, glamours could be cut through, a warm knife through butter. Most of the time. Sometimes he was caught off guard and he found himself swept up in the flow of a narrative, and even though he knew that it was all a story, he couldn’t get himself out of the current he was drowning within.

He was beginning to see why Irene was always so tense around Silver.

She was steeling herself against the man’s powers.

Something Kai was beginning to wish he knew how to do.

“Has the cat got your tongue?” Silver asked, he smirked and tilted his head ever so slightly, lavender hair catching the light and seemed to be threaded with gossamer. He slowly blinked his golden eyes, the pupils were wider than normal, something only usually seen in Silver at the end of a very long party with plenty of liquor, or when he chose to turn his eyes to a new prey.

“Shut up.” Kai forced out between gritted teeth, the small voice at the back of his head, that he wished he could gag, wished that Silver keep talking with that low, stroking, purring voice, in tones not unlike music.

Silver pouted. He flicked the tip of his tongue out to wet his lips and Kai swallowed thickly, the tension in his spine intensified and it was hard to not move toward Silver and take him in his arms and kiss him and-

Kai screwed his eyes shut and took a shaky breath, trying to breath deeply, but his lungs failed him.

“Did I touch a nerve, my dear prince?”

“I said shut up.” Kai opened his eyes again and managed a small reprieve when Silver took a slight step back, mildly alarmed by the red glow that Kai’s eyes had taken on. “You are a disgusting creature. I can tolerate working with the Fae, I can accept that we need to find a way to live in harmony, but I will never tolerate the way that you try to use people like they are nothing but your playthings.”

“They enjoy being my playthings. Believe me, I ensure that each and every one of them enjoys it.” He paused, and then. “I’d make sure that you enjoyed every moment that you would spend in my bed. We don’t even have to use the bed, if you prefer.” Kai would have hit him, he wanted to know what that flawless skin felt like under his…

No. He refused to allow himself to be drawn in by this creature.

He swallowed again and the red faded out of his eyes, like dying embers.

“So, can I?” Silver asked, taking another step forward.

“Can you what?” Kai sneered.

“Can I kiss you? I have never kissed a dragon before.”

“I will not be a notch in your bed post.”

“Oh, dear prince, we could be so much more than that.”

Does this continue to add to me being evil? First I start killing off everyone, and now I wont let anyone get a kiss.

Yeah it’s definitely been centuries if not millennia. I’m not sure how long dragons live but it’s absolutely been ages of them together.

Li Ming x Ao Shun with 66? Because like you I also cant stop thinking about them.

“Do not tickle me.” Ao Shun sleepily muttered into his pillow (black silk, obviously). Li Ming stretched and groaned and curled up against his side, reaching for him again and sliding his fingers over Ao Shun’s back to wrap an arm loosely around his hips, pressing his face to the dark hair spilling across the covers.

“That wasn’t the intention.” Li Ming replied, nestling against him, eyes barely half open, intending on allowing himself to slip back to sleep for half an hour more if he could. Maybe an hour, there was nothing too pressing to deal with, and he’d showered before going to bed.

He’d returned late, had a long and very hot shower to work out the aches of travelling, and crawled into the bed that Ao Shun was already occupying, reading underneath the light of a solitary lamp.

He’d been too tired for much more than crawling under the covers on the other side of the bed, his side of the bed if they were in the same world (he always slept closest to the door, a constant protector, even at night), and had been asleep before Ao Shun had even wished him goodnight, or hello for that matter.

“Good morning.” Ao Shun said, now that he was a little more awake, he rubbed sleep out of his eyes and shifted to hold Li Ming and he kissed the top of his hair. “Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I have in weeks.” It was always the same response. He always slept better when he knew that his partner was less than an arms reach away.

The finest beds, thick and plush mattresses of feathers, large enough to fit a half dozen people in it and probably a few pets as well, and they always ended up pressed against each other. Curled around one another, bodies touching, even when it was a hot night, they still would sleep close, fingers brushing when the heat became too much to tolerate. Li Ming may run cold, but Ao Shun ran hot and it quickly became uncomfortable for Li Ming to be wrapped up in what felt like a furnace to him.

Ao Shun smiled. “Good, you were exhausted last night, you work too hard mon etoile.” Li Ming tilted his face up to smile at him with sleep hazed eyes. “Oh… you forgot to wash your eyeliner off. Hold still, I need a picture of this.” Li Ming huffed and rolled away from him, pulling the covers up over his head.

“I am going back to sleep.”

“Lí…” Ao Shun softly said. “My raccoon.” Li Ming sat up and glared at him.

“We are not making this a thing.” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and grabbed his dressing gown as he got up and padded toward the bathroom on warmed tile floors. “I am not a raccoon, I was just tired.”

“I know you were, love. Come back to bed and there will be no more mention of your resemblance to adorable little creatures.”

“I am taller than you.”

“Barely-there-resemblance. Come back to bed, please.” Li Ming sighed.

“Just because you asked me nicely.” 

Lí means raccoon, which is exactly what I needed to find out today and made me do the happy hand flappies

This is so sweet! I love them as a long established couple but still being fabulous.

Li Ming x Ao Shun with 66? Because like you I also cant stop thinking about them.

“Do not tickle me.” Ao Shun sleepily muttered into his pillow (black silk, obviously). Li Ming stretched and groaned and curled up against his side, reaching for him again and sliding his fingers over Ao Shun’s back to wrap an arm loosely around his hips, pressing his face to the dark hair spilling across the covers.

“That wasn’t the intention.” Li Ming replied, nestling against him, eyes barely half open, intending on allowing himself to slip back to sleep for half an hour more if he could. Maybe an hour, there was nothing too pressing to deal with, and he’d showered before going to bed.

He’d returned late, had a long and very hot shower to work out the aches of travelling, and crawled into the bed that Ao Shun was already occupying, reading underneath the light of a solitary lamp.

He’d been too tired for much more than crawling under the covers on the other side of the bed, his side of the bed if they were in the same world (he always slept closest to the door, a constant protector, even at night), and had been asleep before Ao Shun had even wished him goodnight, or hello for that matter.

“Good morning.” Ao Shun said, now that he was a little more awake, he rubbed sleep out of his eyes and shifted to hold Li Ming and he kissed the top of his hair. “Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I have in weeks.” It was always the same response. He always slept better when he knew that his partner was less than an arms reach away.

The finest beds, thick and plush mattresses of feathers, large enough to fit a half dozen people in it and probably a few pets as well, and they always ended up pressed against each other. Curled around one another, bodies touching, even when it was a hot night, they still would sleep close, fingers brushing when the heat became too much to tolerate. Li Ming may run cold, but Ao Shun ran hot and it quickly became uncomfortable for Li Ming to be wrapped up in what felt like a furnace to him.

Ao Shun smiled. “Good, you were exhausted last night, you work too hard mon etoile.” Li Ming tilted his face up to smile at him with sleep hazed eyes. “Oh… you forgot to wash your eyeliner off. Hold still, I need a picture of this.” Li Ming huffed and rolled away from him, pulling the covers up over his head.

“I am going back to sleep.”

“Lí…” Ao Shun softly said. “My raccoon.” Li Ming sat up and glared at him.

“We are not making this a thing.” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and grabbed his dressing gown as he got up and padded toward the bathroom on warmed tile floors. “I am not a raccoon, I was just tired.”

“I know you were, love. Come back to bed and there will be no more mention of your resemblance to adorable little creatures.”

“I am taller than you.”

“Barely-there-resemblance. Come back to bed, please.” Li Ming sighed.

“Just because you asked me nicely.” 

Lí means raccoon, which is exactly what I needed to find out today and made me do the happy hand flappies

This is very pretty, that building looks beautiful!

This looks gorgeous!

Yeah, he just wants someone to break silver’s pretty face, if not permanently. Preferably him but he might be gracious and let Irene do it as she also suffers from Silver.

Silver: one day, I’m going to say “fight me” and someone really is just going to fucking deck me

Vale: believe me, that day is closer than you think

Vale dreams of that day. Sometimes it’s all that keeps him going.

Silver: one day, I'm going to say "fight me" and someone really is just going to fucking deck me

Vale: believe me, that day is closer than you think

Vale more than anyone knows he’s not a sensible person in charge.

Li Ming: where is everybody?

Vale: Irene had a nervous collapse, Kai is looking after her, Silver went back to bed, and I’m in charge.

Li Ming: fuck.

Vale: i know right?

Irene has to admit that Vale is being realistic.

Irene: Ever wonder what heaven is like?

Vale: Why bother? None of us are ever finding out.

He is very relatable, a great model for today’s youth!

Kai: [shining a flashlight under the bed]

Kai: Vale, are you ready to come out and interact with people yet?

Vale: [demonic screeching]

Kai: Understandable. Have a good day

Vale being fabulous as usual.

Kai: [shining a flashlight under the bed]

Kai: Vale, are you ready to come out and interact with people yet?

Vale: [demonic screeching]

Kai: Understandable. Have a good day

Aww, this is lovely! You’ve got me shipping these guys so hard.

20 for Li Ming x Ao Shun because I've been thinking about that ship a lot today

Same. Its a very good ship

Assassination attempts against the dragon kings were not unheard of or unexpected when they did catch wind of the plans to do so. And Ao Shun had more than a few experiences of being tackled to the ground when someone took a shot at him.

And Li Ming had more than a few experiences of taking down would be assassins and protecting His King.

Ao Shun ordered the room empty and Li Ming went to leave as well but Ao Shun snagged the cuff of his sleeve and held him in place. When the last of the courtiers had left he pulled Li Ming to his chest and cupped his jaw with almost too warm fingers that pressed into his cheeks almost too roughly, and kissed him hard enough to snatch the air from Li Ming's lungs and make him grasp the front of Ao Shun's robes in a tight grip, holding him as tightly as he was held in turn.

"You're hurt." Li Ming said, resting his forehead against Ao Shun's, before reaching up to smear blood off his cheek, a bullet graze from the shot that slammed into the throat with a terrible clanging sound of lead on ebony. "I wasn't fast enough, and you were hurt." The temperature in the room was dropping fast and frost began to creep along the marble flooring, rendering it essentially an ice rink.

"You saved me." Ao Shun replied before kissing him again. "He could have killed you."

"He wanted to kill you."

"People are going to have to try a lot harder than that to kill me." Ao Shun replied.

"He. Hurt. You." Li Ming pulled him back in and kissed him, just as roughly as the first. "He's lucky that the guards got to him before I could rip his throat out with my claws."

"Oh, Mon Étoile, you'll get the chance." Ao Shun said, before reluctantly stepping away. He took a deep breath before Li Ming closed the gap again and kissed his cheek. "Did you just... Kiss me better?" He smiled.

"No, this is kissing you better." Li Ming said, before pressing his lips to Ao Shun and threading his fingers into the loose strands of ebony hair that had been tied back before things had gone sideward in a rough tackle to save his life. "Learn to duck faster."

"Learn to not throw yourself in harms way."

"Never." There was a private doorway from the throne room right up to the private quarters and Ao Shun pulled him toward that door, tucked away in a dark recess. "I want to speak with the prisoner, if he had co-conspirators..."

"That can wait, we'll be safe in my suite. And... Alone."