#<- that's a writing tag

[lunastarhawk]

Tides of Memories part 28, Chapter 3 - The Privateer: On the Tides of Fate

These chapter names are getting ridiculous.

WiP Wednesday has turned out to be a freshly posted entire chapter, hurrah!

It's silly, and too long, I know it is. I've lost control. It's Julian and Altheia's story and they are out of control. But I'm having fun, and that's the point really.

Summary

Julian continues to regain memories of the beginning of his and Altheia's time together from her days as a privateer, reliving the intense spark of attraction and intimacy, the thrill of life aboard her ship, and a close encounter with pirates.

Excerpt

“Are they pirates?” “Not the aggressive kind, but yes. Her captain and I have something of a history,” she said tersely. “He’s a nuisance.” “The Vesuvian smugglers you were talking about?” “Either that, or he’ll know about them.” “He’s tacking towards us, Cap’n,” Maurice called. “I see that, thank you. Keep steady, the wind’s in our favour.” She grinned suddenly. “This’ll be fun. I do love when he puts up a fight. I wonder if he’s got himself a magician yet.” Julian felt the thrill of adrenaline rush through him, but he was conflicted. He’d had enough of standing on the sidelines of a battle for one lifetime. And he certainly didn’t relish the prospect of watching Altheia get hurt - though he couldn’t deny finding the sudden fierceness of her incredibly attractive. And then he felt guilty for doubting she could handle herself - he was very sure that she could - and guilty for having such inappropriate feelings at such an inappropriate time. Altheia turned her head to look properly at him for a moment, and her expression softened. She sighed, glanced up at the sails and, apparently judging that there was enough wind that they didn’t need any of her magic, gestured to him to follow her. “Come with me. We’ve got a few minutes.” She hopped down the steps and onto the main deck, and then through the door to her cabin. Julian followed her, but as soon as the door closed behind him she swept him into her arms and pulled him down into a passionate kiss. He was so surprised that he didn’t respond immediately, but when she pressed her thigh between his legs he melted into her. Between kisses, he managed to murmur, “I have… absolutely no idea… what’s going on.” Altheia couldn’t help but laugh against his mouth, but she entwined one hand into the curls of his hair while the other wrapped around the small of his back, pulling him closer. After a moment they broke apart for air, and Altheia gave a breathless chuckle as she rested her forehead on his collarbone, her hands on his shoulders. His hands came to rest in the curves of her waist and he looked into the bright sea-green of her eyes as she reached up to tug affectionately at a curl of hair that had escaped the tie at the back of his head. “Julian, I…” She paused, bit her lip, looked down. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” Julian blinked down at her, struggling to form a thought, never mind words. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said eventually. She lay her palm on his cheek. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. But you should go below decks, I think. Maybe with Kiri.” Julian, still very aware of Altheia’s lean thigh between his legs, her hand on his cheek and the other on his hip, her waist beneath his hands, grappled with what she was suggesting. He shook his head, and gave a rueful burst of a laugh. “I can’t… quite find words,” he told her. “Or thoughts, actually. But I… I don’t want to hide away. I want to be by your side.”

The rest is on AO3!

[cityelf]

this poem is about being nonbinary.

[so-many-ocs]

[on the verge of having a complete breakdown] i need to make some kind of list or perhaps sort things into categories

[samuelroukin]

they need to invent a writing that is easy. and fast also

[evidently-endless]

i think we should remind musicians they can absolutely make up little stories for their songs btw. it doesn’t have to be about them at all. you can invent a guy and put him in situations to music. time honoured tradition in fact.

[vulpinesaint]

quiz enjoyers! i am now inviting you to come create something in my workshop❕

[butchfalin]

the funniest meltdown ive ever had was in college when i got so overstimulated that i could Not speak, including over text. one of my friends was trying to talk me through it but i was solely using emojis because they were easier than trying to come up with words so he started using primarily emojis as well just to make things feel balanced. this was not the Most effective strategy... until. he tried to ask me "you okay?" but the way he chose to do that was by sending "👉🏼👌🏼❓" and i was so shocked by suddenly being asked if i was dtf that i was like WHAT???? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?????????? and thus was verbal again

[kilgarraara]

"I guess I never really faced my fears before"

[frankierotwinkdeath]

Y’all want Taylor Swift to be gay so bad but you won’t even write femslash about her

[noodles-and-tea]

Icons, truly

[lunastarhawk]

The Fondest of Farewells

Tides of Memories part 28, chapter 6

Through their ritual, Julian relives his lost memories of his and Altheia's first goodbye.

Excerpt

“It’s what I do.” She was almost talking to herself. “When I’m at port. I like to spend a night with a man. And I always say, just like I did to you, it’s just a night.” She gave a wry smile as she glanced at Julian. “Or in your case, a day and then perhaps a night. Sometimes they say they’ll see me next time I return, and sometimes that’s true. But I never… But with you I felt… and that was the risk.” She sighed, as if frustrated with herself - both for saying too much, and for not being able to say what she wanted to. Julian squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. I understand.” “Do you?” “I… think so.” He gently tilted her chin up, and her sea-green eyes met his, tendrils of dark hair blowing across her sun-kissed ivory cheek in the brisk breeze. He held her gaze. “I want to see you again. I do. I have to.” “I like you, Julian,” Altheia said in a hurry. “A lot, actually. But I belong at sea.” “I know that. But you’ll come back to Vesuvia sometimes, won’t you?” “No more than once a year. This journey will take me several months, and then I’ll likely need to stop at Port Tremaire for a while and deal with… ugh.” She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Doesn’t matter.” “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll settle in Vesuvia, I’ll set up a clinic. I’ll go to this tavern you mentioned, the ‘something Raven’, and one day I’ll hear tales about how the dread Privateer Altheia drove out another band of smugglers.” She snorted a laugh. “Will you?” He dared to kiss her smile with his. “Yes. And if I’m very lucky, I’ll find you at the something Raven, and you’ll out-cheat me at cards…” He laughed when she poked him in the side with her elbow. “...and you’ll bring me aboard to entertain you for a day and perhaps a night.” She gave a small, sad smile. “What if I have a man in every port?” “Then I’ll be your man in Vesuvia.” “Even if it’s only for a day and perhaps a night once a year?” “Even then.”

The rest is up on AO3 :)

[beepboopappreciation]

Is this anything

[jonquilandlace]

[geezmarty]

(bellara/taash) nerd/jocks lovers rise up

[samuelroukin]

hell yeah brother