"In The End, The Path I Took Was Like That Of A Turtle Who Hides In Its Shell. Still, Turtles Have Always

"In the end, the path I took was like that of a turtle who hides in its shell. Still, turtles have always been a symbol of longevity. Perhaps in order to reach Eternity, one has to follow their example."

--- Raiden Ei

Eudaimonia

Eudaimonia--- the feeling of living well and being happy

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To the person who has somehow found this, I don't know you. You could be on the other side of the world from me or live in my neighborhood.

But I want to wish you happiness. Not for views or followers or any other selfish reason, but because you may need it. I wish for these words to find you and comfort you on the day that you may need it most.

I wish for you to be loved by everyone around you. I wish for you to have a loving family and friends that cherish you for who you are. I hope that you can be yourself around your loved ones, and treasure every moment with them, because time goes by so fast.

I hope you live comfortably and don't have to worry about money every day. It's okay if you're not rich, but I hope you have enough to get by and treat yourself once in a while. I don't know you, but I bet your amazing self deserves some relaxation once in a while. It's okay to indulge a bit. Just don't squander all your hard-earned money xD

I hope you can love yourself one day. It doesn't have to be tomorrow, or next month, or even next year. As long as you can be satisfied with yourself one day, that's enough. I hope you realize how beautiful you are. Stop being hard on yourself and degrading yourself for not looking pretty enough, for not being enough for others, for constantly failing at everything you do. You are not worthless. You may look at yourself in the mirror every day and mentally scream at yourself why you can't be more good-looking, why you can't do this, why you can't be that. Stop it. Everything in this world has a purpose, and you were born for a reason. You are beautiful inside and out, you are loved, you are special and unique. If you want something, you can do it. I've been insecure, and I can tell you that it gets better. There will come a time where you will be proud of yourself for not giving up.

I wish for you to get to know yourself. Take some time off and explore! I hope you can do the things you love to do, regardless of pressure or money. Everyone has their passion, and I think that your passion is great, whether others look down on it or not.

Don't hide anymore. I wish I could look you in the eyes and tell you that you are amazing the way you are. I write this to you because I wish somebody told me this. I wish somebody made me feel loved no matter what I did and do and will do. So I'm sitting here typing this very very long "letter" out in the hopes that someone, somewhere, who needs to hear these words very much, finds them.

It gets better. I promise. You're worth it. One day you'll look back and be proud of yourself for not giving up.

" Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

[Joshua 1:9]

Unruffled

Kaeya x reader

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-A mini series set in Mondstadt

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-Unruffled (pt 1)

-trigger warnings: none

-Unflurried (pt 2)

-trigger warnings: mentions of alcohol

-Unburied (pt 3)

-trigger warnings: pain, mentions of needles

-Unleashed (pt 4)

-coming soon?

~Eyes of Compassion~

BTS Jungkook x Reader

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-Trigger warnings: none, I think...

-Angst?

-Female reader. Sorry if the character doesn't really represent you...

-All work is mine, please let me know if anyone plagiarizes me!

-Uh, my first actual story, so feedback would be appreciated!

-Since I can't figure out how to type in italic, thoughts might be in all lowercase?

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Jeon Jungkook thinks he's in serious trouble.

He can't stop looking into her eyes. He's fascinated by the depth of her eyes. A perfect fusion of caramel and chocolate. And her beautiful, lush, healthy hair, cascading like a waterfall down her shoulders and back.

He doesn't think he can bring himself to initiate a conversation either. He's too busy admiring how put together she is, how impeccable her fashion taste is. He swears she looks cuter than she was yesterday. Does she know how good she looks, he wonders, in that white turtleneck sweater and black leggings that emphasize her slim legs? Everything, down to her nails, is perfect.

He hopes he looks somewhat perfect.

Everything needs to be perfect on this date for her.

But it's not.

Jungkook drums his fingers on his leg nervously. Since the start of their date, Hyeji was on her phone, barely sparing a glance at him. He thought he'd make it up to her, for being busy with work lately, and take her out. In his mind, he thought she'd be the same affectionate, warmhearted, giggly person he fell in love with. They had a lot to catch up on, and he missed her.

He remembered the days where they had done everything together. Cooking, karaoke, arcades, movies. They'd done it all. There was nothing he wouldn't do to make her smile. He missed her laugh, the sincere, head-thrown-back giggle she'd make whenever he picked her up and spun her around, not caring who was around.

Gosh, he missed kissing her.

"Babe?" he tried. "Do you not like the food? Do you want me to order something else?" He picks up the cafe menu.

Hyeji looked up from her phone and smiled.

"Jungkook, it's okay," she reassured. "It's just my boss. You know how he is." She looked down at her phone again as it lit up, tapping out a message.

Jungkook frowned. "Is he giving you a hard time? Is everything at work okay?"

Hyeji sighed in defeat. "Honestly, Jungkook, everything's fine. You don't need to worry. I just-" she paused as her phone began ringing. "I need to take this call," she said. "I'm sorry, just wait and I'll be right back."

compassion, jungkook. remember to be compassionate and understanding and patient, he mentally chides to himself as his temper rises slightly.

Jungkook stares longingly after her as she hastily gets up and walks outside the cafe. What did he do wrong? Suddenly the strawberry cheesecake that he ordered for them to share doesn't seem so appetizing. He clenches his fist under the table.

Five minutes pass.

Fifteen minutes.

Has it been half an hour already?

Jungkook makes up his mind to go outside and look for her. He's so done with this silent treatment.

After paying for the meal they barely ate, Jungkook gets up and walks out, running his hands through his hair in frustration. Hyeji isn't outside the cafe. He looks left and right.

No sign of her.

maybe she left, he thought.

she wouldn't leave without telling me. would she?

The street outside is bustling, full of chattering and laughing people. There are happy couples everywhere, giggling and kissing and holding hands. Jungkook feels sick.

He wants to sit down. There's a bench under a tree, right there, but there's only one bench, and there's someone sitting there already.

screw it, he thinks. he needs to sit and think.

As he approaches the bench, you look up.

You're wearing a t-shirt and jeans. He can't help but notice your worn-down blue and white sneakers, the small white clip in your hair, the way your eyebrows press together questioningly as he walks toward you. And your eyes. Your eyes remind him of Hyeji. Caramel and chocolate. Comfort and warmth. Like she used to be.

His eyes sting painfully.

"I... uh, is it okay if I sit here?" he manages. There's something different about you. It's throwing him off.

You nod in confirmation and scoot over to one side of the bench to make room.

"Thanks," Jungkook exhales.

"No problem," you reply.

Jungkook sits down on the other side of the bench and sighs slowly. It's a long, weary sigh, the kind that someone makes when it's been a long day and they don't know what to do.

He fishes for his phone in his pocket and texts Hyeji.

[4:02 PM, July 22]

Jungkook:

Babe, are you okay? (Sent)

Where are you? (Sent)

no answer, he thought.

He shoves his phone in his pocket in disappointment.

You glance at him. "Usually I don't talk to strangers," you chuckle," but are you okay?"

woah.

Jungkook is surprised by your question. He didn't expect you to look at him with that pretty face, let alone ask him something. He searches your eyes hesitantly. He has to give you credit for being kind.

"Um, are you listening?"

"Huh?" he says. "Oh, I'm sorry... just... zoning out for a bit."

"I can tell," you say, with a hint of humor in your voice. "I said, are you okay?"

Jungkook starts to nod, and then pauses. "To be honest, I'm not really sure," he confesses.

He looks at you for any sign of judgement. But you, your eyes tell him that you're open to listening.

"Well..." he runs his hand through his hair, unsure where to start. "My girlfriend, I haven't seen her in a while due to work, so I took her out on a date today. But she was just... she was just on her phone the entire time. She didn't really talk to me, heck, she barely looked at me." A bitter laugh springs out from his throat. "I asked her about it, and she said her boss was just giving her a hard time."

You gaze at him with understanding. "I get that," you murmur.

Jungkook inhales slowly. "She stepped outside to call her boss, and she... never really came back in. God, that sounds stupid, doesn't it?" Another bitter laugh works its way up his throat. "I feel like a jerk, ranting to a stranger."

The corner of your lips go up. "I'm Y/N," you say, and reach your hand out for a handshake. You fully smile when Jungkook shakes your hand. "There, we're not strangers anymore."

Jungkook chuckles. "I'm Jungkook."

"Jungkook," you say thoughtfully. "That sounds familiar."

Alarm bells go off in his head. What was he thinking, giving his name to a stranger? Well, to an acquaintance.

"It's okay," you reassure. "If you're someone famous or something, I won't tell anyone. I can't even remember who you are anyway."

Jungkook laughs slightly at that.

"So, why are you here? I don't think people sit on a bench for an hour," he says lightly.

Your eyes narrow slightly. "And how would you know I was here for an hour?" you challenge.

Jungkook scratches his chin. "I think I saw you sitting here when me and my girlfriend started our date, which was... an hour ago." He furrows his brow as he looks at you more closely.

You do seem calm and unruffled, he'll admit that. He didn't notice the slight red tinge of your eyes when he first sat down. "I think it's my turn to ask if you're okay," he continues.

You smile slightly. "You're observant, I'll give you that."

Jungkook cocks a eyebrow, waiting.

You take a deep breath. "Well, my boyfriend and me were planning to go on a date here. If I assume correctly, it was gonna be at the same cafe that you went to. But, uh," you laugh lightly. "I think he stood me up. Probably for work or something," you say ruefully. "I should've known he didn't really plan to come. We've been drifting apart for a couple months."

It's Jungkook's turn to look at you with understanding.

You take another deep breath. "To be honest," you begin. "I think he's cheating on me."

Well, Jungkook wasn't really expecting that.

"I saw him texting someone, I think another girl," you say as you look down at your hands. "He told me Hyeji was just his employee, but he always has weird marks on his neck coming back from work, and-"

Jungkook tries his best not to gasp. He really did. He still couldn't stop the small intake of breath as he heard Hyeji's name.

hyeji.

hyeji.

hyeji.

she cheated on me?

she cheated on me??

my girlfriend, who i would do anything to make her laugh, cheated on me?

He looks at you with panic in his eyes. And it hits you a moment later.

"Jungkook? Hyeji... she's your girlfriend?"

He barely nods.

it all makes sense.

somehow, i've been cheated on, and so has Y/N.

Forcefully, he wrenches his brain back on to the right track, with "i've been cheated on" thundering in his mind.

You clench your hands. "So I've really been cheated on," you voice aloud. "Jungkook, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..." you trail off as Jungkook brushes her hand.

"Y/N, don't be sorry. I guess... some things happen for a reason," he says bitterly.

He hides his face in his hands. "Y/N," he whispers. "I gave her so much. I still love her so much. Is this... is her cheating on me my fault? I went away for work and I wasn't there for her and-" his voice cracks.

You gently pries his hands away from his face and squeezes them. "It's not your fault, Jungkook. Look at me," you command. "Jungkook, listen. It's not your fault, it's my boyfriend's fault. Well, now my ex's fault," you chuckle, bitterness in your tone.

"Jungkook? Listen, Jungkook, it's not- oh, don't cry," you say with a note of worry. Jungkook can't help the lonely tears that trickle down his face. He doesn't want to cry.

"Please don't cry." You brush a tear away with your thumb.

His phone buzzes to life in his pocket, his ringtone warbling out into the world.

Jungkook hastily wipes at his eyes and fumbles for his phone. "Stay quiet and don't say anything," he orders.

"YAH, JUNGKOOK WHERE ARE YOU?! IT'S 5:30 AND YOUR DATE ISN'T OVER YET?? THIS IS NOT HOW I RAISED-"

Jungkook hits the speaker button off and grimaces in apology to you.

"Please, hyung, I'm on my way back. Please don't yell, I'm okay, I'm-" Jungkook's voice breaks just the tiniest bit. "Do you guys still have any leftovers for dinner? The date didn't... really go as planned."

Jungkook mutters a bit more into the phone and then hangs up. "I'm really sorry, I have to go," he murmurs. "I'm sorry for the trouble, I-"

"Wait," you say. You swipe his phone from his hand and quickly add your number, then hand it back to him.

"You can delete my number if you want, but if... if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here, okay?" you say. Jungkook swears he has never heard more understanding or compassion in someone's voice.

"If we ever talk again, maybe I'll remember who you are next time." You give a little laugh.

Jungkook gazes at you with gratefulness. "Thank you, Y/N," he rasps. "Honestly."

He takes off suddenly, jogging down the street.

Jeon Jungkook knows he's in some serious trouble.

Masterlist

[BTS]

-Eyes of Compassion (Jjk x female reader)

-Flowers of Remembrance (Jjk x reader)

-Five Minutes (ksj x reader)

[Genshin Impact]

-Unruffled (Kaeya x reader) (mini series)

-a random rant that you don't want to look for

[Other]

-Eudaimonia

[In progress]

-Unleashed (kaeya x reader) (pt 4 to Unruffled)

-Torn Roses (kth x reader) (hanahaki au)

-We're All Hurting (jjk x reader) (series)

{Status of Requests}

OPEN

REAL

— Georgia O'Keeffe