#“I would like to play as Cecie

[1ruby-sapphire]

[woodsborostabathon]

“how could richie’s family possibly want to avenge him when he groomed and murdered people” well first of all he did neither of those things so let’s start there

[hellvst]

OFFSEASON – quinn hughes

featuring ; quinn hughes x fmc (sydney gray) & oc!brother

✮⋆˙ warning & content ; swearing

✮⋆˙ word count ; 2.7k

✮⋆˙ series masterlist – next chapter

a/n ; hi everyone, here's the first chapter of 'offseason'! i thought about making this a prologue but decided not to lol. and again, this fic is inspired by the striker by ana huang BUT make it hockey. also note that this was set around the same time as the 2024 playoffs. weekly updates unless noted otherwise and let me know if i'm missing any warnings. not really proof-read so excuse any mistakes & happy reading!

CHAPTER ONE

QUINN

I wasn’t the type to get a wave of anxiety while playing, but something about playing the biggest match of your life really does fuck you over; both physically and mentally.

The roar of the crowd was deafening, a tidal wave of noise continued to wash over me. 

My sweat dripped down my face, stinging my eyes. My lungs burned, but the adrenaline rush fueled every muscle in my body. There was no stopping me at this point. I was on a high.

Fans cheered for my team, for me, which always fired me up. I mean, I’ve always dreamed of this moment ever since I started to learn how to skate. Playing in the NHL, competing for a Western Conference title, and hopefully earning a spot to win the Stanley Cup.

It’s every hockey player’s dream. And here I am.

Game 7. A tied series against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round playoffs.

Everyone in this building was putting their faith in us–putting their faith in me to win it.

But in this very moment, I tried not to think about the immense pressure that has been put on me throughout this season. Being the new captain this year had its perks, but more importantly, all eyes were on you.

There were lots of articles and reports about me after announcing my captaincy; wondering if my team’s performance would either sky rocket, or plummet down to the ground with my new leadership in the mix. 

Everyone thought that it was a bad idea to name one of the youngest guys on the team to take on such an important role. I get it. Not a lot of people saw me as a leader since I wasn’t the loudest or biggest guy in the room. But seeing how my team’s come this far into the playoffs, I’d say I was doing pretty well. 

The scoreboard flashes: CANUCKS 2 – OILERS 3.

The game clock ticked down. One minute left. The crowd’s tension in the arena was palpable as they were on their feet.

My grip on my stick tightened when I reached the defensive zone, next to Demmer, our goalie. Eyes glued onto the puck, watching the swarm of Canucks and Oilers trying to battle along the boards for possession. 

Edmonton’s Cody Ceci got a hold of the puck, and tried to wrap around the post in front of me. 

He flicked his wrist. But my body reacted faster than I could process as my stick inched forwards in Ceci’s way. The puck bounces off my stick and rebounds off of Demko’s pads.

Fil dived forwards, swiping the puck loose in my direction.

I swiftly caught it and passed it forward to Conor Garland, racing towards the blue line. 

The Oilers were pressing hard as they closed in. Connor McDavid was breathing down Garly’s neck as he skated down, cutting the ice. He sped up ahead, but stumbled–although a piece of his stick poked the puck just enough out of McDavid’s reach.

I was too far behind, I won’t be able to get there. 

I scanned the ice, looking for anyone to take it.

“The puck is loose! And looks like McDavid will take it–AND THERE COMES SIMON GRAY!” The announcers shouted. 

Simon came out of nowhere in my line of view. 

A few seconds ago he was by the boards, but being a fast skater like himself, he easily swiped the puck and gained possession.

Gray skated towards the blue line, glancing up only to find two Oilers about to press on him. 

I caught up and flanking on his left by the blue line, Garland trailing slightly behind.

He needed to pass it, now.

“Yeah, Gray!” I yelled at him, my stick ready to wind up.

Simon ignored me, eyes kept scanning the ice for Garly or Fil, looking anywhere but at me.

What the fuck?

The clock was ticking down, twelve seconds left. We were still down by one.

I was open, wide open. Why won’t he fucking pass it to me?

Ten.

I heard Tocchet spit out a variety of curses directed at Simon, so did our teammates on the side.

My heart hammered against my ribs, my eyes reeked of desperation.

Eight.

Seven.

Frustration loomed over me and took over. I began slamming my stick onto the ice. Hard. Yelling louder than I ever had, “GRAY! PASS THE PUCK.”

He gave me a short lived glance, fleeting look of annoyance. The two Oilers were basically about to jump on top of him. 

Four.

Simon tightened his jaw as he looked at the net with hesitation. Just give me the puck.

Three.

He lifted his stick, winding it back. The crowd roared in anticipation.

Two.

He fired a wrist shot, and the puck rockets towards the net.

One.

It sailed wide, hitting the post in a sickening thud.

My head drops along with my stick. The air in the arena was thickening, heavy with the weight of disappointment. My team just stood there, appalled, as they stared into the abyss of the Oilers flooding the ice.

It’s over.

We lost.

This was the season I thought we had it; a chance to advance to the Western Conference Final, and a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. This would have been the year for the Canucks.

Everyone expected a lot from us–from me to bring home a championship, but we lost.

I skated back to the bench, joining my teammates as they gave me consoling pats on the back and helmet.

I looked over my shoulder. My frustrated eyes found Simon, who was still on the ice, staring blankly ahead thinking about what he had done.

He was probably lost in whatever excuses he came up with.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

The game was over. The damage was done.

The atmosphere was tense. Silence filled the air with the exception of occasional clangs of the equipment being tossed onto the floor. 

Nothing was more awkward than coming back to the locker room–when you just lost one of the most important games in your life. No one knew what to say. But there was nothing worse than facing our coach who entered the room last.

Rick Tocchet walking in the locker room was like a storm rolling in–controlled, yet charged with something heavy. He wasn’t the kind of coach who needed to yell to make you feel the weight of his words. His silence did enough.

The room was dead silent as he stood in the center, arms crossed, looking down at the floor. 

I kept my head up, but I could feel the frustration pulsing off him, off all of us. He wasn’t just pissed at the loss–definitely not–he was pissed about how we lost. 

About the selfish plays, the missed connections, the opportunities that were handed to us on a silver platter but let slip away.

Finally, he spoke, his voice even but firm.

“You wanna win? Start playing like a damn team. What I saw out there was nowhere near a team that would win a championship. This is the playoffs for fuck’s sake!”

No one said a single word. We didn’t need to. We all knew exactly who he was talking about.

I slumped into my stall, jaw clenched, replaying the last few seconds in my head like an endless loop. My chest heaves as I stare at the floor. Across from me, Simon leaned back against the lockers, arms crossed, looking unfazed.

Myers shook his head, the first guy on the team to break the silence, “We had them. We just needed one more clean play.”

The others nodded, thinking the same thing.

Those last ten seconds of the game was between me and Simon, everyone in the room knew that. It was just the matter which one of us was going to speak first.

Simon wasn’t going to talk, but when had he ever? 

Being the captain, the team’s eyes fell onto me, I guess I won that latter.

I let out a sharp exhale, then looked up–directly at Simon.

“Why didn’t you pass it to me?”

Simon shrugged, clearly uninterested, “Didn’t see you.”

My brows almost immediately clashed together. Is he being serious right now? A few players exchanged looks. JT Miller, Millsy, scoffed at that, shaking his head. Simon always had a way with his words, clever tongue. There were times when he caught Millsy off guard, he didn’t like that, not one bit.

“Bullshit.”

Simon smirked, spoke in a mocking tone, “Wow. Cap is swearing now? Must be serious.”

I stood up unwillingly, the blades of my skates clattering against the rubber floor. “You know what? Yeah. It is pretty fucking serious. You don’t want to pass it to me? Fine. But you put yourself above the team, and that’s why we’re packing our shit instead of getting ready for the next round.” 

It’s not that he just chuckled, and shook his head as if this was another post-game rant that pissed me off. He looked amused to see me riled up like this. That’s all Simon ever wanted. To provoke me.

I wanted to slap that grin off his face.

“Relax, Hughes. It’s one game.” He said loosely.

As if the air in the room couldn’t be more suffocating, I was about to lose my mind.

I stepped closer, glaring at him, “It’s not just one game, Gray. It’s every damn game. Every shift. Every time you decide you would rather play your own game than be a teammate. I don’t give a shit if you’re a great player–you’re a shitty teammate, and you have been for years now. It’s not helping this team.”

Silence. Simon’s smirk faded, his jaw tightened. A few of the guys shift in their spot uncomfortably.

This was the first time I had to ever do something like this in front of them. I wasn’t really thinking once my mouth started running–which was very out of character for me, but I couldn’t help it, not when I was so frustrated. I could have said much more, but seeing the increasing tension in the room, they got the point.

JT’s voice was low, “He’s not wrong…”

Simon exhaled sharply through his nose, standing up. Both him and I are practically nose to nose now. I lifted my chin, sizing him up a bit. But it didn’t help that he was an inch taller than me. “You don’t like the way I play? Cool. But don’t come crying when I end up with more points–”

“Hughes. Gray. My office. Now.” Tocchet’s stern voice caused my head to whip to him, and so did everyone in the room.

We both traded glances–both annoyed, neither surprised. It was about time our coach pulled us apart. If Gray kept going, my fists would be colliding against his face not a second later. But I kept my cool.

There was no questioning. We just obeyed, dragging our feet to the coach’s office.

Tocchet was already behind his desk, hands firm on the armrest of his chair, eyes burning with barely restrained anger. 

Once the door was shut behind us, it didn’t take long for the man to be straightforward.

“You two have a problem.” He stared at the both of us. 

He was only stating the obvious. It has been like this for years–the moment I arrived here in Vancouver to be exact. Simon got drafted to the Canucks a year before I did, and he did nothing but give me hell, and progressively got worse each season. 

I don’t know what went wrong. There were many conversations–I tried to figure out what his problem was with me. But, he wouldn’t budge at all no matter how many times I asked.

So, I learned to tolerate him. We didn’t need to be friends as long as we worked together on the ice. I was willing and trying, but clearly he couldn’t do that either.

“Ten seconds. That’s all we needed. But instead, I got–” He gestured to the both of us, “–whatever the hell that was. Sims, Hughsy was wide open while you had two guys on you. Hell, he was so loud that the entire fucking arena heard him.”

Simon sunk further down his chair, “Coach, I thought I had it. If I had passed it to Hughes, it would’ve–”

“Would have what?” Tocchet seethed.

He was upset, all three of us were. I stayed silent, staring off into space, replaying what could have been–actually–the worst last few seconds in the season. He knew if he had given the puck to me, then I would get all the glory in the end. But, I don’t care if I had the winning goal, I never cared about that. I cared about the team. And just because Gray was his selfish, arrogant, and–

“But, Coach–”

“Sims, you don’t need to like Huggy, you just need to work together and start acting like teammates. Because next season? This bullshit stops.”  He said pointing at the two of us.

Tocchet grabs two files and tossed them onto the desk. Simon and I immediately gravitate our attention to it. “This isn’t up for debate. You two are a disaster together. So, this is my way of fixing this mess. I’ve set up a mandatory off-season program for the both of you.”

I frowned at that, reaching for the file, “Off-season?”

“What kind of program?” Simon slowly grabbed the other.

“Cross-training. Pilates. Together.”

“What?”

Both Simon and I practically bursted at the same time.

I wasn’t sure if I heard correctly, like my ears were messing with me. There was no way Tocchet was making the two of us spend our entire off-season together. 

There were no rules about how to spend your off-season, players did whatever they pleased during those four months. Some went on multiple vacations, or hung out with friends, and spent time with families. The organization didn’t care where you were or what you were doing–as long as they put in some summer training before the preseason camps starting in September.

“You’re joking…” Simon said.

Tocchet shook his head, “Does it look like I’m joking, Sims? I threw in a small surprise for you too. I was told she was the best of the best. You will be training with Sydney Gray.”

Wait, Gray? As in–

“My sister? No way in hell! I am not training with her.” Simon said, raising his voice a little. The guys on the other side of the door probably heard that, considering how silent it got out there.

“That isn’t fair. There has to be some sort of bias behind that.” I reasoned.

Since Simon rarely talks to me, I didn’t know much about his family–unless I overheard him talking about them. So, I knew he had a sister, and they seemed close the way he talks about her. Therefore, spending my summer with the Gray siblings just means a recipe for disaster.

“This isn’t up for discussion. I talked with her studio and you two are booked in. You will do these sessions with Sydney twice a week. She is one of the best pilates instructors here in the city. That means you will give her nothing but your utmost cooperation and respect.” Tocchet’s voice seemed to have dialed down, but still held some intensity behind his glare. “Because if you can’t show me that you figured your shit out by September, you’re riding the bench next season. That’s final.”

And there it was…the big drop.

I was anticipating him to whip out that card sooner rather than later. But worst of all, I knew he wasn’t joking. Rick Tocchet doesn’t mess around, at least, not with this.

“Understood?”

“Understood.”

Simon and I both sunk further in our seats, as if our world just stopped moving.

I wanted this offseason to be just how I planned. Time with my family, a chance to reset after the pressure of my first year as captain. Instead, I’m stuck with the one guy on the team who would rather shoot a puck into the post than pass to me. 

And now we’re supposed to fix it with fucking Pilates? With his sister, Sydney Gray, training us? 

Yeah…this was going to be a nightmare.

all rights reserved © 2025 hellvst. please do not copy, translate, or modify my works in any platform.

[oensible]

via Felicia Keller, SJHN

“I’m excited to come here and bring the culture of hard working and try to help the young guys as much as I can,” said the 6-foot-7 defender. “I try to bring stability to the blueline, bring a little bit of toughness around the net and in the corners. And obviously I want to be there for the younger guys cause there’s a lot of young guys here. And I want to make sure that those guys are protected. And they know if anything happens, I’ll have their back.”

-

In the previous two seasons, Desharnais did yeoman’s work for the Edmonton. He said he’s looking forward to settling in with the San Jose Sharks, after lots of movement. “When I signed July 1, you would have told me, March I would be here, with everything that happened, it would have been hard to believe, but I’m excited,” Desharnais, 28, said. “There’s been a lot of distractions outside the ice, whether that was Vancouver or Pittsburgh, and now I can just be here, play, and just find my game, find the best game that I can, and just do anything I can to help the team win.”

-

Desharnais – who has played with both Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby – said the chance to play with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith is exciting. “I’ve played with both of those guys when they were at their peak – I know Crosby might not be at his peak, but he’s still a hell of a hockey player. Just seeing their work ethic and what they do off the ice,” Desharnais said. “It’s going to be fun to come here and see what Mack and Smitty and all those guys do, and I’ll be able to try to help them as much, even though I’m not close to their skill-set.” Desharnais also joins the long list of Sharks with New England and NCAA connections, as he played four years at Providence College – where he played with ex-Shark Jake Walman — and he’s looking forward to engaging in some fun rivalries. Desharnais, who joined practice in San Jose for the first time Saturday, said he reached out to old buddy and former Shark Cody Ceci, who he played with on the Edmonton Oilers. “He was super happy for me. He gave me a few spots – ‘You can try the restaurant there, try it out.’ He’s a great guy, he gave me very good comments about San Jose,” Desharnais said. He also got a text from former Oilers teammate Klim Kostin, ahead of their reunion. “I was pretty close to him. So as soon as I got traded, he shot me a text. He was so pumped,” Desharnais said. “This morning he came to see me. He was like ‘Oh brother, so happy to see you. It’s been so long.’ He’s a great guy. He’s a great player.”

[kilfeur]

Quelque chose me chiffonnait quand Callum avait utilisé la magie noire dans la saison finale. Et du coup, je suis allée la revoir et en fait les effets qu'il subit sont assez similaires à quand il l'avait utilisé la première fois. A ceci près que Callum n'était pas resté inconscient très longtemps. Au début, je me suis demandée si le rituel de purification n'avait pas reset son utilisation de la magie noire. Mais en soit, ça n'aurait pas de sens vu l'avertissement de Cosmos. Et si ça avait vraiment été un reset, il aurait eu un rêve fiévreux tout comme la première fois.

Après je pense pas qu'il soit corrompu, contrairement aux deux sorts qu'il a utilisé celui ci a été interrompu ! C'est d'ailleurs pendant cette interruption que son nez a saigné. Et non un signe comme quoi il a été submergé. Mais ça veut pas dire pour autant qu'il est sain et sauf. Je pense que malgré le sort interrompu, il reste vulnérable à Aaravos. Mais pas forcément par la possession, plus j'y réfléchis plus je me dis qu'au final, Aaravos usera d'autres méthodes pour l'atteindre et le manipuler. Utiliser la possession voir même la tentation de la magie noire serait répétitif vu son développement dans l'acte 2 et ne ferait que le régresser. Personnellement, je pense que les scénaristes vont justement jouer de ça mais l'utiliser d'une manière dans laquelle on s'y attend pas. Car si il y a bien une chose que j'ai appris en regardant tdp, c'est qu'il faut toujours s'attendre à l'inattendu avec eux !

Something bugged me when Callum used dark magic in the season finale. So I went back and saw it again, and the effects he felt were quite similar to when he first used it. Except that Callum wasn't unconscious for very long. At first, I wondered whether the purification ritual had reset his use of dark magic. But in itself, that wouldn't make sense, given Cosmos' warning. And if it had really been a reset, he'd have had a fever dream just like the first time.

However, I don't think he's corrupted, as unlike the two spells he used, this one was interrupted! In fact, it was during this interruption that his nose bled. Not a sign that he's been overwhelmed. But that doesn't mean he's safe. I think that despite the interrupted spell, he's still vulnerable to Aaravos. The more I think about it, the more I believe that, in the end, Aaravos will use other methods to get to him and manipulate him. Using possession or even the temptation of dark magic would be repetitive given his development in act 2 and would only set him back. Personally, I think the writers are going to play on that, but use it in a way we don't expect. Because if there's one thing I've learned from watching tdp, it's that you should always expect the unexpected with them!

[flighter312]

I dunno if ya do asks or not. But, looking at your KronFau parents au with Ceci is just making me think of baby Ame just randomly coming home with an automaton

KF: whatcha got there?

Ame, half dragging a semi unwinded Ceci: mud!!

HI im late because i never really check tumblr, and i dont know how to do asks in general so i hope this works, but im taking a small break from drawing rn, HOWEVER i will give you this brainrot that turned out to be longer than i expected but i need to yap

an kronfau parents, baby ame au where maybe ame is very ""isolated"" from her peers (probably due to being constantly dirty and having a fascination with small living creatures and being a completely yapper over them(takes after fauna)), so shes used to playing by herself

you didnt specify what type of age cece would have, so im choosing to imagine she appears to be a few years older than ame (spoiler: kronii learns mechanics and always fixes cece up so she also ages with ame, but thats later on)

but maybe kfa moves to a secluded area because they are not made for the city (no matter how much kronii wishes they were), but fauna's happy because at least theres a cottage, and ame's happy because they live near a creek which means DIRT! AND BUGS! AND SNAKES- (and kronfau has a heart attack the first time ame brings one in)

but theyve gotten a little used to ame bringing in lots of creatures (which she eventually has to say bye bye to on the porch because kf is NOT hosting bugs in this home)

however, one day ame is following maybe a tiny spider and ventures off a little more than she's used to, narrating her whole journey, maybe like-

Mama said not to go too far without permission! BUT- she didn't specify who's! [in a high voice] "Ame, can i have YOUR permission to go off beyond the river? (a one foot wide stream of water)" [in a deep voice] "Why, yes Ame! But only if you bring back something fun in return!" [normal voice] "Well, if you say so!" and she skips along and splashes through the puddles

of course, the creek looks the same (but ame NEVER gets lost! right...?), and maybe ame shouldn't have lost track of the (tiny) river, but uh, its fine! eventually mama fauna will call out to her and she'll use her voice to come back home-

and then she trips on a rock.

but then its a very weird rock. like.. weeeiiiiirrd. like. a leg- OH MY GOD

oh no need to worry, its still attached to its person- OH MY GOD

ame probably hides behind a tree or something but after nothing happens, she decides to grab a stick and poke the person. still, nothing happens, so ame decides, yup! thats safe! and inspects it, and what do yknow? this person has "one of em windy- thingies" on their head, and ame knows what to do with that!

so she ends up carefully grabbing it, and then twisting it! or trying. but it doesnt budge. so ame thinks-

"Mum's super strong. What does she do before lifting heavy things...?" And she widens her stance- "ALL IN THE LEGS BABY-"

and the key finally budges and ame falls onto the person's lap. and when she looks up, the thing looks back at her and- OH MY GOD!!!

a friend!!

and ame introduces herself and the robot asks her if she could wind her more, but ame says its too heavy (she tries again, to no avail), but she knows someone SUPER strong!! (mum kronii, of course), and they can ask her for help!

"Where is she then?" "...Good question!"

but ame knows because ame NEVER gets lost and ... ames lost. but its okay! because right on time, fauna starts calling out for ame. however, it sounds like the voice is coming all around them, and.. it appears ame's plan is falling apart. but ame doesn't panic! she NEVER panics! especially when its gonna get dark soon, and ame's afraid of the dark, and shes all alone in this big forest creek whatever-

but she's not alone.

and when this strange person robot windy toy asks if ame is trying to find the voice, ame says yes, because her moms taught her to not lie (and she doesnt feel like lying right now).

so, moss peels away, cobwebs fall apart, and leaves rustle towards the ground - and ame's friend stands up.

next thing you know, kronii's getting ready to go out into the creek because fauna's getting worried that ame hasn't showed up, until ame calls out-

"MAMA! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!" "Oh, thank goodness, my heart- ... Amelia. What is that." and uh oh! fauna told ame to try and not get dirty today! (she says that everyday, but whos keeping track) but still, ame can't really lie in this scenario, so- "Mud!!"

and kronii and fauna just stare at this robot girl because. what. the fuck.

"Kronii! No cursing!" "I THINK THIS ONCE I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO."

and wouldn't you know it. kronfau adopts another daughter.

something like that :) hope this is fine! also sorry for being late, i really dont check tumblr but i should more often! this is fun haha

[kittyball23]

Announcement!!

For those of you keeping up with my writing, I will actually be putting a pause on the request-taking. It’s been a little tiring to keep up the daily updates (and honestly I’m surprised at myself to have kept up as long as I have lol). But yeah, my streak stops at 36 days because I need a little break to a) spend time with my family for the holidays and b) refresh and be in a better mindset for the new year so that I can continue writing 🙂

I appreciate every comment, like, and reblog that I’ve gotten so far and thank my readers so much! 💖

Also, to keep you all in the loop, here’s some of my upcoming stuff. This includes a mix of requests and also my own ideas that I would like to work on once I start up again:

Untitled Cliva oneshot (Grown-Up Stuff)

Untitled Cliva date (Brodacious!)

Untitled AU where Bruce hears about Floyd’s capture on his True Crime podcast (The Wormhole)

Untitled Broppy schedules intimate time alone (Grown-up Stuff)

Untitled Broppy reaction to first time (Grown-up Stuff)

Untitled AU where Branch gives up his talent to save Floyd from dying (The Wormhole)

Untitled Branch prepares a nursery for his and Poppy’s baby (Brodacious!)

Untitled Broppy baby is born (Brodacious!)

Untitled Cloud Guy plays a prank on BroZone (Brodacious!)

Untitled Spruce’s ketchup incident (Brodacious!)

None of these are in any particular release order, and I have no set date at this moment for when I’ll update again.

In addition, I’ll also be catching up on answering Asks from my Inbox (I need to catch up lmao, so I’m tagging the folks that apply on that behalf: @aquamarine-dream-queen, @ceci-butterfly, @miniglitch07, @ladywitch17, @chipmunkfanno1love, @bf-1352, @toonmania25, @imholtorf, @burningmusicfunnygiant, and Anonymous requesters!)

[saradika]

Happy Valentine's Day, J! 💖💖 I'm going to be playing the Sims 4 tonight and maybe making myself some brownies? Haven't decided lolol. Do you have any plans?

I would love a little 💌 with our favorite Metal Man, Din Djarin please! 💖 Hope you have an amazing weekend!

hi ceci and omg that sounds like the best night!!!! I would love to play the sims and eat brownies with you 💖 mine was lowkey, watched the new bridget jones and ordered in - it was nice! and yes!!! I went with biker!din, just for a little twist!

Din is solid beneath your grasp. Cheek pressed against leather as his bike winds higher, leaving the city behind.

It’s clear skies and tall trees when he finds the space he’s looking for. A little grove, the perfect place to lay out his plan - a blanket, cheese from his trip to naboo and glasses of corellian wine.

Warmth awaiting you, in the tucked-away cabin. He’s yours for the weekend, and you are his.

[valentines moodboards 💌 - closed]

[woodsborostabathon]

when a piece of media lowkey kinda seems funny as fuck sometimes but u got a severe lifelong phobia of it that u have Tried to get over to really almost no avail so u gotta just mind ur business

[maracujatangerine]

I woke up thinking about this so I'm asking! How would Cory fair if, for some unimaginable reason, Lydia had no choice but to have Wayland watch him for the weekend??

84. Unfortunate Circumstances

CW: NSFW, non-con, institutionalised slavery, dehumanisation, box boy universe, pet whump

“Of course, dearest. You and Lydia should enjoy your girls’ weekend together and I’ll keep an eye on the pets.”

“Are you sure you are all right with looking after Cory-boy, too?”

“No problem, Ceci. It isn’t more than right considering your friend took care of Brutus for our trip. We should help her in return.”

Mistress Cecilia pouted prettily.

”But that sounds so boring and full of drudgery, dear. Perhaps I should stay to keep you company?”

Wayland gave Cecilia an affectionate kiss. “Don’t you worry! I’ll have some fun too. I might have a few friends over tonight.”

“That sounds better.” She wrapped him in a quick hug. “See you in a couple of days!” Looking at Absalom, Brutus and Coriander all kneeling in line, she added. “Be good, pets.”

And then she was out of the door.

*

Handcuffs clinked as Wayland locked Cory’s hands behind the pet’s back. Then, he pushed him down to kneel on the cold floor. Brutus watched helplessly as Coriander, naked, lowered his head. His scarred back, the vulnerable arc of his spine, the blonde hair falling freely around his face. The fair-haired pet looked… broken.

Wayland rubbed his hands together, grinning.

”Don’t worry your sweet little head, pet. We are going to have fun together. First, Absalom is going to make you feel so good. He is a wizard with that mouth of his. He knows exactly what to do.” He smiled languidly. “And then, Brutus here, will take you from behind.”

Wayland reached up and patted Brutus’ upper arm a couple of times. Just like you would pat your horse or your hunting dog. For once, Brutus didn’t feel the elation that praise from his Master usually gave. Instead, he felt a sick, cold dread roiling in his stomach.

“You’re going to pop some pills, boy.” Wayland said. “So that you can stay nice and hard for a long, long time.” He chuckled to himself. “This will be a show for me and the lads to enjoy. I have heard from Cecilia that your dear Mistress Lydia doesn’t even play with her boy toy.” He spat. “Just what you could expect from that fridgid bitch, am I right?”

He reached out to smooth over Coriander’s hair in a mock caress, only to violently fist his hand into the silken, blonde tresses and force the shivering pet’s head up. Tears glimmered in Cory’s grey eyes, catching the lamplight, but the pet did not let them fall.

“Hmm.” Wayland almost purred at the sight. “But that should mean that you are nice and tight.” He laughed. “Perhaps too nice a treat for a simple guard dog, maybe all of us should have you? Brutus can get his chance when we are all done.”

He looked up, behind Brutus’ shoulder. “What do you think, Absalom? You little whore. I’m sure you have all the experience in the world when it comes to these matters, don’t you?”

The romantic gracefully sidestepped Brutus’ hulking form and sashayed into the room. When he passed the guard dog, he turned his head and locked eyes with Brutus. The eye contact somehow electrifying, meaningful, as if he wanted to share a message. But Brutus had no idea what Absalom meant to convey, and the moment passed.

“That’s right, Master.” Absalom stepped close to Wayland, let his hand glide lightly down the bigger man’s chest. He looked up at him through his eyelashes. “But..” Absalom said slowly. “Why would you bother with these… amateurs?” The pet tilted his head upwards, as if inviting a kiss. “I can give you and your friends all the entertainment you need.”

He turned his head slowly towards the door. Again, that meaningful glance towards Brutus. An expression of urgency flickering over his face, only to be completely erased when Absalom looked up towards Wayland again. “You can send them away.” He suggested, coyly. “We can have some privacy to enjoy ourselves before your friends arrive.”

“Aha, I know what you want.” Wayland said. “You just want to have the chance to curry some extra favour for yourself.” He laughed. “That’s kind of sly. Smart for a pet, at least.” He grabbed Absalom’s chin, forcing the pet’s head further upwards. “It will be fun playing with you. But me and the lads, we probably want some novelty as well.”

He looked over all the three pets with a calculating expression that chilled Brutus’ blood.

”Maybe..” he said, and the glint in his eyes held no hint of clemency or compassion. “Maybe I’ll just take all three of you at once.”

Brutus awoke, heart still beating fast with fear. The familiarity of the sparse room. The shapes of his weights on the rack at the end of his bed, each of them glistening silver in the light from the street lamps. The hard cot beneath him. It all brought him back to reality.

Coriander was safe, at home, with his owner. Absalom probably asleep upstairs.

It had all just been a dream. But the uneasy feeling stayed with Brutus for a long time.

*

The ‘it was just a dream’-trope is a bit of a cheap cop-out, I agree. Sorry about that. ☺️

I don’t think Lydia would ever leave Coriander with Wayland. She would rather leave him to stay home alone.

Thank you for the fun ‘what-if’-inspiration, Anon! ✨💖✨ (I love getting asks, but I am very slow in responding to them.)

*

Tag List Part 1: @cupcakes-and-pain @whump-em @whumpzone @wh-wh-whu @neuro-whump @carnagecardinal @cowboy-anon @whump-me-all-night-long @redwingedwhump @myst-in-the-mirror @haro-whumps @eatyourdamnpears @bloodsweatandpotato @pinkraindropsfell @whumptywhumpdump @theydy-cringeworthy @whump-in-progress @whumpsy-daisy @nicolepascaline @whumpcreations @briars7 @shiningstarofwinter @whumppsychology @alex-ember @miss-kitty-whumptastic @whumpy-writings @in-patient-princess @youtube-fandoms-bands @goblinchildindabog @mazeish @distinctlywhumpthing @inpainandsuffering @canniboylism @icannotweave @incoherent-introspection @kim-poce @broken-typewriter @the-monarch-whumperfly @whumpers-inc @grizzlie70 @lil-whumper @writingbackwards-blog @sunflower1000 @wingedwhump @thecitythatdoesntsleep @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @onlybadendings @rabass @wolfeyedwitch @melancholy-in-the-morning

[elysian467]

Queen Ava Nash

I absolutely love Ava with my life....She is the best as both Ava Nash and Ava King because she is Her very own self!Be real guys,we all act petty at times and retaliate when we are wronged...yet she didn't cross the OCD boundary (not that Eli complained about it) and tried to make amends for when HE left the meeting to see her(Eli ily but that's all on you babe😆)

I have loved Ava long before her book came out because she is REAL.She was the coolest(She Reads!),most relatable and strong character.

She has her obsessions(Pink and Shopping),her passion for cello(plays violin and piano like a pro-mentioned in gow),is actually sassy and savage and loves her friends(remember how she checked glyn for injuries-the super cute moment won't get out of my head).She loves people and is not afraid to express it but she does not let herself be wronged and disrespected too.

Some people hate her for being blonde,loving pink and shopping but that's how people are!tf is wrong with u haters!?....Absolutely nothing wrong with being a social butterfly and party girl(though my heart breaks when its revealed as her coping mechanism from her episodes)

The way she messes with Eli when he hurts her feelings(he does it for her own good but she doesn't know that!) is called childish and bratty in so many posts but I think its real.That's what we do when we want to retaliate against our loved ones without truly hurting them(You are brats and childish haters)

She loves the fighting matches between the REU and King's U and that's so real like why the hell do girls have to be scared and worried mums who can't tolerate boxing???Like nobody is forcing the guys to do it!?(No one's dying chill tf out)

Also I hate Jeremy for when he spouted rubbish to Ava about not being there for her bestie Cecy and being toxic!?Like dude I googled toxic and you were there!?And before anyone comes at me,let me tell you that I read that unasked opinion way before gow was released so listen carefully....Ava repeatedly asked the reason for Cecily's breakup but she didn't reveal it(understandable since it can be difficult to talk about)Refusing to ask someone for help is refusing someone the chance to be helpful.....Ava,Glyn,Annie or anyone else couldn't know what happened if she doesn't tell them...Similarly Ava didn't tell her about her worsening condition or how she's been hiding the extent of it and how she was forced to marry Eli because that's reality....while they are each others confidants,no one tells someone EVERYTHING,there's always a tiny part hidden which may be known to one while unknown to another person.So Jeremy spouting shit to Ava just proved his serious need for therapy.I liked Cecily but only when she wasn't showing her doormat behaviour(Which was in every context related to Lan and Jeremy) proved by the point how she lacks assertiveness when Jeremy purposefully badmouths Ava,almost makes her cry when she is known to be "the protective mother hen of the group".(Like Ava has been your bestie since nappies!?Where is your protectiveness now??)Ig people find it cute but its really not when he is literally jealous of her relationship with her GIRL best friend Ava(Honestly there shouldn't be a problem if there was a Guy best friend either but you get the point)THAT'S REAL BOLD RED FLAG BEHAVIOUR(hurting someone's bestie is CUTE!??)

I know some people hated Ava when she slapped Anni but be real guys...They became friends with Annie that year while Creigh has been her close friend since she was born(Ava talked about how he was there for her in her dark time)I am totally with Anni when she shot Creighton because he made her shoot...was she supposed to watch her brother die tf!?(totally with her father's explanantion on the plane which she didn't heed to)Anyways Ava slapping her was totally right(lot less than what people would have actually done in real life situation when they see someone who SHOOTS there loved one)

The girls as individuals are okay maybe good ig but they are boring that's a fact...literally zero pride,self respect,self worth,no personality at all.

Loved Ari(Need her book god plsss😭)

So as you have read I LOVE AVA(I love Eli too but this is Ava appreciation post so😅)

Ava always retaliates....when Eli made her angry she messed with him too...She respected herself and demanded it when and where needed.She had the guts to warn Eli to treat her as his wife or she will find someone who will.

Ig people won't like me comparing her with other girls but the difference is so startlingly clear(Others were said to be several attributes like sunshine,strong,not-like-other-girls,relatable bla bla bla...but they couldn't keep up half of what was promised.....Ava was brilliant and so much more)❤❤❤❤❤💖

(As for the men my fav was Eli ofc)

(Loved Landon,Remi and Nikolai too)

(I find it soo amusing that Ava and Eli were my favs way before gow was released...doesnt happen often😁😆)

[archonsoflove]

Ships included in order of appearance:

Tartaglia / Zhongli

Cyno / Tighnari

Alhaitham / Kaveh

Il Dottore / Pantalone

Zhongli / Reader

Tartaglia / Reader

This is a long one! I'll be updating it regularly as I read more that I enjoy ~

exodus 20:3: you shall have no other gods before me (Explicit)

Childe finds out that the alcohol in Liyue is a force to be reckoned with. It leads to much more than just a hangover.

ajax's adventures with Dog-Lizard (Fluff)

That’s got to be the weirdest looking dog Ajax has ever seen in his life.

after hours (Explicit)

A man is approaching him with a bundle of hardware, straps, and coiled ropes in his arms. He’s wearing a tailored suit — definitely expensive — but missing a tie, and his shirt is unbuttoned far enough for Zhongli to see a nasty set of scars that run across his chest.

He’s very attractive, a little intimidating, and not at all what he’d imagine an accountant would look like-

law and order (Explicit, ft. Neuvilette)

This can’t be the accountant, can it?

There seems to be more than meets the eye when it comes to the Chief Justice and the God of Contracts. A simple trip to Fontaine with Ajax for a vacation turns into something more than they both anticipated.

ceci n’est pas la perfection (Explicit)

After Zhongli asks Childe to marry him, Childe panics and runs away to Fontaine to sort out his feelings. Rejected and confused, Zhongli chases after him to try to understand why.

contractual obligation (Explicit, ft. Lumine)

“You drew up a contract for what?” Lumine stares at her lunchtime companions, jaw working, no further words coming out. When she’d received an invitation to lunch from Zhongli, she hadn’t expected much.

fishbowl:heaven (Suggestive, Angst)

Childe, a world-class professional runner, is reeling from a diagnosis with a terminal heart condition. Stuck in bed with a failing heart, he can’t run, travel, or do anything that gave him purpose before. His career and life appear to be over.

To help him adjust, the doctors prescribe Childe virtual reality therapy. He doesn’t expect much to come of it until he meets a mysterious fellow patient, Zhongli.

etched in stone (Explicit, Fluff, Slice of Life)

I Lie Awake In The Night Just To See Another Dawn (Explicit)

A trip through the ages as Zhongli and Childe learn what it means to love each other.

Childe has returned to Snezhnaya, Liyue has moved on from Osial's reawakening. But war on the borders lying between Fontaine and the land of ice looms ominously on the horizon. While war seems inevitable, and politics begin to shift, Zhongli knows he will follow Childe to the ends of the earth, even if it costs him the highest price.

old instincts die hard (Fluff, Hurt/Comfort)

Is the life of one mortal worth the death of a God?

After spending the greater part of his life all too used to the threat of a blade being drawn against him, Childe has learned not to trust a hand raised toward him, lest it seek to strike while his defenses are lowered. But now in a fresh relationship with Zhongli, he finds his old instincts standing in the way of enjoying something more with the man he's come to adore.

Childe's guide on what to do when your lover turns into a pint-sized dragon overnight (Fluff, Humour)

red thread (Explicit)

When Childe and Zhongli first began their relationship, Childe thought he was prepared for whatever Zhongli might throw at him. Draconic heats, Adepti courtship rituals, scales - he was ready for anything. However, waking up next to a tiny, chubby dragon was not something he thought he’d have to consider.

Childe's face burns. “Zhongli,” he hisses. “This��is the theatrical performance you wanted me to attend?”

red heart, orange sun (Explicit, ABO dynamics)

wait, is this play about us? (Explicit)

Four occasions that make Childe’s heart race, for a variety of reasons.

dragonheart (Fluff, Implied MPreg)

Zhenyu's next best-selling light novel has finally arrived in Inazuma! Childe definitely was not expecting to star as the main protagonist when he picked up the new collection, though...

a wasp in every fig (Explicit)

A tsmok of the north meets a dragon of the east.

venus caelestis (Explicit, NSFW Art)

Zhongli tries something different, and Childe is a very, very good boy.

the heart beats in its cage (Explicit, Angst)

childe hasn't spoken to zhongli in 3 weeks, but through the misfortune of becoming afflicted by an aphrodisiac, he finds himself at zhongli's door in search of help

an age of gods and monsters (Mature)

“So, pretend I’m her. Just for the night, one night, you can have her back.” Childe curled his fingers into the front of Zhongli’s shirt. He hoped he sounded self-assured, not desperate.

my all (Explicit, Angst)

When Liyue faces an inevitable catastrophe, Childe finds himself back in the past to retrieve the Gnosis that Zhongli has lost. Perhaps if he returns to the present with it, both Liyue and its Archon can be saved.

tame the thunderclouds (Explicit)

Childe asks Zhongli for one last dinner before leaving Liyue. Zhongli accepts.

more espresso, less depresso (Fluff)

it is a privileged sight for zhongli, to bind the eleventh harbinger and force him to his knees.

set in stone (Explicit)

There's a quaint little coffee shop that catches Childe's eye as soon as soon as he arrives into town. The man that works inside is more exhilarating than any drink Childe has ever tasted.

promises and proposals (Explicit)

What do you do when you write about a certain six thousand year old consultant so much in your letters that it somehow convinces your entire family you're not only dating each other, but that you're also engaged?

lithic oath (Explicit, ABO dynamics)

Childe and Zhongli have been happily dating for nearly a year, and they’re just as in love as ever. Zhongli is perfectly satisfied with the state of their relationship, but an unexpected development between two of his closest friends spurs him to consider his future plans with Childe. And just maybe he’ll need to pick out a ring one of these days.

as the sun gazes upon the moon (Explicit)

Liyue Harbor is the last place on Teyvat that Ajax wanted to see a second time, but the Tsaritsa's orders are absolute.

Childe is lost to the abyss for a week.

calm my head (Explicit)

hook, line, and sinker (Explicit)

Zhongli wants to try something new, and Childe would simply agree to anything when he's caught between his thighs.

off the record (Explicit)

Childe once saw a glimpse of his nerdy Uni roommate Zhongli, and it was over for him. Cue the pining, the moping, the fucking around to forget the sight of those rock-hard abs hidden underneath those sweater vests. Just one problem: Zhongli thinks exactly the same.

stone endures, and the tide will always return (Explicit)

An important meeting is coming up. A last minute change radically alters Zhongli's plans.

the fox of feiyun slope (Explicit)

The cobblestones of Liyue Harbor have been replaced by asphalt, the buildings by sleek skyscrapers and storefronts. Rex Lapis is a figure in the history books, nothing more, and the Harbinger Tartaglia is barely more than a footnote in his long and storied legacy. No one believes in the old Archons anymore.

night time; tea leaves; good company (Explicit)

A certain fondness for a client was good; it made the job easier and the quality of the work more genuine. Zhongli had never once gotten attached. He didn’t expect this boy to be the first.

frame the wallflower (explicit)

Lonely nights are best spent over pots of tea in good company. In terms of tea, Zhongli already knows what he likes. In terms of company - he makes a discovery.

Childe, a young CEO of the multi-billion dollar company “Fatui”, is dealing with more inappropriate gestures and remarks in regards to him being single than he cares for. Zhongli, a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Home, is going through a financial crisis, with every possible liability hitting him at once.

wrapped up in pure gold (Fluff)

When ranting to each other over drinks one night, they come to the most absurd solution to both of their problems: pose Zhongli as Childe’s boyfriend and sugar baby, just until everything settles, of course. Childe has more than enough money to spare, Zhongli doesn’t mind helping a friend in need, and their arrangement is flawless. At least, it appears to be that way.

nodus tollens (Explicit)

Childe accidentally proposes to Zhongli. Zhongli accepts.

one of us dies tomorrow (Explicit, Angst)

In all his years in the Fatui, Childe has never had problems following through with his archon’s orders. That is, until The Tsaritsa sends him his final mission--to leave Snezhnaya and marry the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis.

swore to stone and spoken (Explicit, ABO dynamics)

Tomorrow, Tartaglia will take Rex Lapis's gnosis or die trying. Today, Childe gets a final chance to tell Zhongli how he feels. No misunderstandings, no betrayal, and no doubts.

erosion (Mature)

It's been some time since the whole "nearly destroying Liyue" thing. Zhongli has decided he wants their pair-bond to be mutual and asks Childe to mark him. Childe has an existential crisis.

slow embers (Fluff)

There are two things that make Childe who he is--one is his Archon, with her icy fingers and arctic voice and eyes that see into every part of him. The other, as it turns out, is Zhongli.

why does my baba call my teacher baobei? (Explicit, Fluff)

Childe returns. He and Zhongli go on a food tour.

“Guili… over here!” a gentle velvety voice rings through the huddle of parents greeting their children.

man i love fishing (Explicit, Comedy)

Guili perks up at the sound, screaming “dada” and drags Childe towards the most ethereal man he’s ever laid his eyes on.

before it winds down into memories (Explicit, Angst)

Childe’s disastrously down-bad for the MILF next door.

pick me up, take me home (Fluff, Angst)

Childe has his doubts, but Zhongli reminds him that he’s loved.

ganymede (Explicit, Comedy)

Zhongli and Childe finally reunite, but Zhongli didn't expect his beloved to arrive bearing injuries instead of a long-awaited embrace.

“Can we get a room with two beds for the night?” Zhongli asked.

phantom lines (Explicit, Fluff)

She looked through her book of reservations before furrowing her brow. “I’m sorry, gentleman, but the only room I have left is our Honeymoon Suite.”

some kind of resurrection (Explicit, Comedy)

In which Childe has insomnia, vandalizes public property and runs into a mysterious funeral consultant on his first night in Liyue.

between the raging tides (Explicit, Hurt/Comfort)

After overhearing a fascinating story about an obscure temple tucked into some corner of Liyue Harbor, Childe had only meant to have a little fun at Zhongli's expense; he'd earned at least that much after the Osial Incident. Unfortunately for Childe, his track record at outmaneuvering Zhongli isn't exactly stellar.

i wake with your memory over me (Explicit, Reincarnation)

“Isn’t this backwards, Morax?” There’s a mocking edge to Childe’s tone. “Since when do gods get on their knees?”

the white cicada society (Explicit)

Zhongli has lived, died, and remade himself eight times when he sees him again.

The murders aren’t limited to the one Bank. They’ve been trailing down the Liyue border, getting closer and closer to the city. The Tsaritsa has a new mission for him: to figure out who, or what is targeting Fatui forces.

divine intervention (Explicit)

Against his best wishes, Childe is forced to see Zhongli again at the morgue. It becomes clear that he’s going to need a guide, and Childe resolves to quash his pride, and their differences to request his help to navigate Liyue and solve the case.

jade without blemish (Explicit, Mutual Pining)

“The only thing that can counter the mark of an Abyss Lector is the essence of an archon,” Zhongli explains, not meeting Childe’s eyes.

a kiss to show my sincerity (Mature, Fluff)

The Emperor and Empress of Liyue were known throughout Teyvat as a loving and powerful couple. But behind closed doors, it was all an act. Needless to say, a certain Snezhnayan diplomat's trip to Liyue did not go as planned.

“Childe?” Zhongli walks over. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” he croaks, pretending he didn’t think that Zhongli looked outrageously pretty in his clothes.

“Your face is red. Have you fallen ill?”

introspection (Fluff)

“No, no, no. I’m fine. I’m peachy. ” He says, like a liar.

"Ah... a lizard."

As far as stupid things that Childe has said through his life, this easily contended for the top position on the list.

between dreams and nightmares (Angst, Mutual Pining)

A dragon. This was a dragon. Which is arguably also a lizard.

What I Cannot Put into Words, I Offer You in the Weight of Gold (Angst, Pining, Fluff)

When the Abyss clings onto a person, it follows—and in this case, it follows Childe to his station in Liyue, leaving three of his companions with a puzzling missing person’s case and, for Zhongli, unresolved feelings that weigh on his old soul, alongside a series of strange dreams.

meteor shower (Explicit)

Childe processes just how different Rex Lapis, God of Contracts, and Zhongli, Wangsheng Funeral Consultant, really are. They coincide at the worst of times, and it does some truly awful things to his heart.

How would it feel to fall in love again? To be held, live in the present, and enjoy a mortal life?

Care to Learn More About Wangsheng Funeral Services? (Explicit, Comedy)

If only a God could ever experience such pleasures and luxuries. They are short-lived and not worth it. At least that's what Zhongli had thought until he truly tried it. But the past will always come back to hunt the God. Happiness truly is a luxury.

the autumn winds are sighing (Angst, SickFic, Fluff)

“Zhongli…” Childe whispered as quietly as he could, which wasn’t hard due to the shock of the situation. It figured that between getting married to an Archon, becoming immortal, and having to deal with three other Archons circling around their business that it would be Zhongli’s fully mortal employer that would really pull the rug out from underneath his feet. “Did you agree to let Hu Tao give a commercial for the funeral parlor at our wedding?”

It’s been two months since the storm, and Childe hasn’t seen Zhongli not even once, not since that fateful meeting with the Signora where the truth is finally unveiled.

the world is water (Explicit)

And what a fun little kick to the gut that is, the realization that not only had he been played by all sides, but he's also being tossed aside like trash now that his use had run its course.

Childe doesn't visit Zhongli until it's almost too late.

andante, andante (Fluff)

a cheating man's bouquet (Explicit)

higher education, falling in love, and genius invokation tcg. not necessarily in that order.

you're exactly what i need (Explicit)

a married man flirts with tighnari at the flower shop so cyno decides to put the man in his place the next day.

verdant304 (Explicit)

after sparring with Alhaitham, Tighnari tends to Cyno's bruises

After being pushed into a corner, Tighnari takes unsolicited advice from his university project partner Alhaitham and tries to sell lewd pictures of himself on the internet. That was the idea anyway, in practice he can't take a good picture to save his life.

a cure for denial (Explicit, ABO dynamics)

Luckily, his estranged roommate Cyno has a knack for taking really good pictures...

scientific curiosity (Explicit)

Tighnari asked for help dealing with his heat after being on suppressants for ten years. Cyno was more than willing to assist.

Led by the prospect of an exciting botanical discovery, Tighnari heads into the Avidya Forest and invites Cyno along. Little do they know just what kind of discoveries await them there.

i'll show you every version of yourself tonight (Explicit)

“When we have sex, you like to call me things,” Kaveh continues, trailing off into a whisper.

Alhaitham props his cheek on a hand, looking only slightly amused with where this is going. “What things?”

dancing in the refrigerator light at 2am (Explicit, Hurt/Comfort)

“Like… like, pretty– and such.” Kaveh’s pout deepens into a frown. “Do you mean it?”

tracing other people's poetry (Explicit)

The people of Sumeru are granted dreams, and Kaveh is given nightmares. Now, Alhaitham does whatever he can to help quiet down Kaveh's mind in any way he can.

Three or Four (Or Possibly Five) Easy Steps to Living Harmoniously With Your Roommate (Fluff, Comedy)

Alhaitham has yet to identify this feeling that resides in his chest, this heavy and all-consuming, unpredictable feeling, whenever Kaveh is involved. He wants to open himself up and crack his ribs into tiny chucks, to remove them from their places and peer inside his heart so that he may finally learn what lives here.

in a language he understands (Fluff, Angst)

Kaveh devises a plan to get Alhaitham to smile by being aggressively nice to the man (and also maybe if he makes Alhaitham happy, he can score a discount on his rent or something). Alhaitham thinks Kaveh ate some mind-altering mushrooms and is, understandably, confused and mildly afraid.

Kaveh used to think that Alhaitham had mastered the art of ignoring him. The man would remain unflappable as he continued to read his worn copy of The Origins of Enkanomiyan Language, even when Kaveh was a hair’s breadth away from shattering the windows of their house with his severity of pitch.

No amount of screaming, threats to throw things, or violently waving in front of him could get Alhaitham to pause in his thirst for knowledge. As it turns out, Alhaitham literally just turns his hearing aids off so he doesn’t have to listen to Kaveh.

Romantistique (Explicit, Fluff, Angst)

It’s for this exact reason that Kaveh has decided to learn Sumerian Sign Language.

ships in the night (Explicit)

As it turns out, the journey to falling in love is a long one.

between you and me, the universe slips by (Explicit)

Kaveh is tasked with securing the funding for Kshahrewar from the Acting Grand Sage. Things get complicated.

mortise & tenon (Explicit)

A month ago, Kaveh appeared, disrupting Alhaitham’s quiet life and became his roommate. In less than a week, Kaveh left the house in anger. When he returned, it was the night of Alhaitham’s birthday. A year later, Alhaitham will celebrate his birthday again. This is a story that takes place within the span of a year and a few months. A story where Kaveh finds a grandmother’s unfinished wish, completes it for her grandson, and finds love again.

forbidden fruits of knowledge (Explicit)

Beautiful, he wants to say, the word saccharine on the tip of his tongue. His initial assumptions are false—no marble pillar can shiver as beautifully as this miracle of flesh and muscles and tendons, wonderfully reactive. Kaveh wants to take him apart, unravel the threads of his relentless rationality until nothing remains of him but this humanity, all this softness that does not quite fit right with the rest of him.

Kaveh bites the inside of his cheek, his head full of images of all the possible positions a man can lie with another. It’s unsettling how vividly he can recall the pleasure of something he’s never done.

he talks the talk alright (Explicit)

He really should have known better than to use a suspicious knowledge capsule. Much less one called The Arts of Men: Advanced Techniques Vol. 1. What was he thinking?

Alhaitham tinkers with a pair of Akasha terminals. While Kaveh is away in the desert for a project, they use the devices to indulge a little.

discordant intervals (Mature)

the art of drowning (Explicit)

Dottore sulks during a celebratory banquet. In his enduring generosity, Pantalone offers him something to complain about—the threat of a good time.

After a gruesome mission, Dottore knows just what Pantalone needs. It goes without saying that relaxing is hardly the right word to describe the events that transpire.

exuvia (Explicit)

i am all your sweetest tunes (explicit)

His heat did not come around often and both of you took the opportunity to indulge in this fleeting time for as long as you could.

as gold as the ginko trees (Explicit, Plot Heavy)

Zhongli has been with many partners throughout the long years of his existence, humans and adepti and archons of all genders and backgrounds. But you...you’re unlike any he’s ever laid eyes on. He can’t get enough of the taste of your skin, or the way you blossom under his touch. It’s intoxicating.

Life at the monastery has been nothing but peaceful, in no small part due to the protective seal that keeps the village safe. When the shrine holding said seal is destroyed, panic sets in as the village is now in danger of any Archon war aftermath.

The people are desperate for protection, and when Morax makes an appearance in your tiny village, the people are ready to make a deal no matter the cost.

tricks of the trade (Explicit)

tastes like heaven (Explicit)

When an operation goes tits up and you have to flee, you find a handsome young man to help with your get away. When you discover the fact that this handsome young man is not only an enemy agent, but a Fatui Harbinger you find yourself in more danger than you ever could have expected.

Childe is the accomplished one, between the two of you. He’s the one with twenty-three restaurants spread out across Teyvat, sixteen Michelin stars to his name, and a reputation of being Masterchef Teyvat’s toughest judge, despite being the youngest.

All this, and it’s your warmth he’s lapping at like he’s never tasted anything like it.

[grapecaseschoices]

Beloved Grapes 🍇some questions from the fanfic hype ask!

(Also also before the questions: I adore your writing very much!! Even in your tags. There was a recent set of tags where you also wrote something like "I don't know how to word it/I'm not making sense because I'm tired" or something but you had worded it so perfectly beautifully. Anyway. I feel like you also use these really fun turns of phrase which are both unique and always perfectly suited. I still think about the "eye crinkle to eye twinkle ratio" which you wrote in a post about Nat and Kai! Anyway mwah I am eating your writing and your thoughts.)

Terrible OC (In terms of, like, villains. We're being positive today!)

Fic(s) you would/have forced someone else to read

A fun writer quirk you've noticed (Specific word(s) they repeat, detailed setting description, a lot of adjectives, trope they write really well, etc.)

hello pumpkin!

(haha i actually forgot what i wrote that so i am so flattered that you did! like that is really ... i guess touching? i mean i've made no bones that my memory is shit, so i forget even my own stuff. BUT THAT SOMEONE ELSE HOLDS LINES I'VE WRITTEN IN THEIR MINDS. i might tear up?? anyway ima stop before i embarrass myself. but ty <3 :-D)

1] Terrible OC (In terms of, like, villains. We're being positive today!)

okay, so i'm really shit about remembering to read shit on tumblr and i havent read ao3 fanfic in some time. so my answer here might not be satisfactory.

most of my time the past couple have been on rp, you know? but yall dont know my rp buds. [BUT I ENCOURAGE YALL TO GET INTO RP. IT IS SO FUN WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE!!! I feel it challenges your view of your character - an your own writing - in a way writing fic/an original story solo or playing IF doesn't. the collaborative aspect is fun and i love the planning, but there is so much you cannot plan. you will surprise yourself with what you write and what your characters will do. but that's another post]

BUT! i will say for fanfic oc, @ava-du-mortain Cecilia du Mortain. it's been a while since I've read Ceci so my memory is fuzzy -- or LIA, rather. And I wouldn't call her a villain ... but I wouldn't say she's just ~misunderstood~. There is a darkness to her I find intriguing that I feel echoes her sibling's, and Pap has linger without making her cartoonish but intense instead ... coming to my mind was a snippet she showed me between Nairuz and Lia.

2] Fic(s) you would/have forced someone else to read

again, i am so bad with this fandom! and i havent been on ao3 a minute my brain is tired.

but, off the top of my mind, not to be egotistical but @lalizah's gift to me for the .... i forgot what it's called. but yall can read it HERE!!

And here is my ao3 bookmarks. Don't at me. I know. What is it I know? I just. Know. lol.

3] A fun writer quirk you've noticed (Specific word(s) they repeat, detailed setting description, a lot of adjectives, trope they write really well, etc.)

I really wanna add rp peeps! But hrm. My first thought was @evilbunnyking So, I'll go with that! Love the way with words, the way characters and characters actions are stated/described. I'm such a sucker for that when it isn't just adjectives but essence? does that make sense? no.

i'm tired. lmao

[betterbemeta]

The idea of the barbie movie makes me feel some way that is hard to describe for the same reason a lot of my agender experiences are hard to describe. There's a lot of concrete language, projected expectations, shared understanding of binary gender experiences... but not very much for 'null' experiences.

Nonbinary experiences are muted in general, but often do get described-- in contrast to the binary. Even 'gender-neutral' is usually conceptualized as androgynous, could-be-male-or-female. 'Neither gender' is usually thought of like, 'a secret third thing' rather than 'nothing.'

I grew up disliking barbies because they were a toy my parents didn't prefer. My parents are older, so they saw a lot of cultural shifts: the '60s as kids, the '70s as young adults, the '80s happened as they began to gain stability and had me in the '90s. So the journey from 'baby dolls' to 'fashion dolls' really didn't hit any feminist women-can-be-adults statement to either of them. They were fully awake for Reaganism and how it turbo-boosted femininity as a consumer product. I know that's the opposite of the typical 'my boomer parents' narrative but it's the truth.

So I didn't play with dolls, dress-up or otherwise, much as a child. I found other outlets for that type of play that satisfied me. I played a lot of pretend, I dressed up in my own costumes, I designed characters, I wrote and drew them, and I 'dressed up' avatars in video games. I really didn't feel like I missed anything.

I began questioning my gender more when I had to present more feminine for things like job interviews and for work. I realized that I was playing a role that was not 'me', but dressing up like a doll. You know, not just 'costume time' but 'costume time, with accessories that come in the box.'

It disturbed me for a little while, but eventually I found the idea freeing. For the first time, I was not just 'bad at doing 'girl' but 'someone who can assume the form of a girl' even if the way I acted and felt was just 'me.' It occurred to me that ordinary girls probably didn't feel like they were collecting 'garb' like for a SCA event or a ren faire to go into the city every day. I am going to the party in disguise, I am a shapeshifter, I can Assume The Form You're Comfortable With, impostor syndrome who?

For a lot of people, this would be 'being in the closet.' Or it would be 'girlmoding' or 'boymoding' or whatever. And others might be like, 'it's not trans representation to present as the gender you're assigned at birth!' But it's actually impossible to 'present as' the null. We don't look at the people around us and think 'are they all in costume, pretending? What if they're nothing?'

In fact, conservative power despises this idea and projects it on the most vulnerable people in the queer community. If somebody passes an anti-cross-dressing law, they think they are safe from doubt. But if they went to a wedding and everyone in their gowns and suits told them, we're not men or women, it's dress-up, it would be a nightmare for them.

To me, the idea of 'a doll' is that whatever the plastic looks like, that is not a girl. Ceci n'est pas une pipe, you know?

[bookishjules]

tomorrow is gabriel lightwood birthday! do you mind sharing some hc of him?

his birthday is now yesterday (my apologies to both gabriel and you anon) but i think we can still celebrate with some hcs hehe

i think that once gabriel kinda found his own agency and started discovering the boundaries of his own morals and priorities, he also started finding other smaller ways to stake his claim on his own identity. and by small, i do mean slightly silly. like maybe there's a certain color tie that's very much not in style that he decided he loves and he wears it everywhere. idk just something to remind him that he can be his own person and that he can change yk?

less of a hc but i think this plays a lot into why his older children are both so much their own people. he never would have wanted to control how they viewed the world. given how cecily was raised, she would definitely feel similarly.

now that i'm on the topic of their family, i think gabriel would be a really playful dad. tossing kids up in the air, chasing them around.

he also takes the time to learn each kid's language in a way that helps them communicate and feel understood, which i think points to his aptitude for the teaching parts of parenting as well.

semi-related, i feel like his love language(s) is definitely more quality time and physical touch than any of the rest.

in fact i think he's so bad at gift giving that it's endearing. he's good at meaningful gestures, but only when the situation happens naturally. when it has to be planned and intentional tho.. like cecily's birthday will come up and he'll be at such a loss that anna got used to buying her mom an extra present with her dad in mind, and usually it's just the kind of thing he would have gotten cecy.

and speaking of birthdays.. happy belated to our beloved brat hehe <3

[oensible]

Oh Brodie also does breakdown episodes for trades...!

[Video description: Brodie's Breakdown episode for the Sharks–Stars trade on 2025 Feb 1, consisting of segments where Brodie analyses the trade, clips of Sharks general manager Mike Grier's Zoom media availability, and clips of Stars general manager Jim Nill's in-person media availability. Full transcript (edited from the Youtube auto-captioning for concision/clarity) under cut.

(Brodie Brazil in his home studio side-by-side with the Shark's trade graphic that reads: "Official trade details. San Jose Sharks receives 2025 1st round pick, 2025 conditional 3rd round pick. Dallas Stars receives D Cody Ceci, F Mikael Granlund.")

BRAZIL: Well, on this first day of February 2025, the Sharks made another significant in-season trade in trying to steer the future of their franchise. San Jose's top point producer, Mikael Granlund, and their second leading time-on-ice player, defenseman Cody Ceci, are headed to Dallas. In return, San Jose gets the Stars' 1st overall pick of 2025, plus a third round pick this upcoming summer, which is dependent on Dallas making the Stanley Cup Final.

(Side graphic cuts to a clip of Granlund celebrating on ice with the Sharks.)

BRAZIL: Both former Sharks are on final years of their respective contracts and set to be unrestricted free agents this summer. In working with GM Jim Nill of Dallas, Mike Grier said he knew the assets he held and finally heard the return that he was hoping for.

GRIER: I think at the end of the day it was the return... Granny and Cece are two players that did really well for us and we valued, and we set our price out and Dallas was ready to meet it, so that's really the main reason why we did it now, I think.

NILL: Well, you get to a point, you know, you got to give up assets to get, and we got to the point where... when I'm talking to teams, our major assets—and they're younger players—they're on our team right now, and I'm not giving those players up. They're too good of players and when you're getting ready to build to get into the playoffs—to make the playoffs, first of all—and get into the playoffs, you need that depth, and all of a sudden I start to to ship out somebody else on our roster for somebody else coming in? Doesn't makes sense [for] where we're trying to get to.

GRIER: I think Cece is someone who's proven he can play well in the playoffs and he's a big right-shot D, so I think we had a lot of teams interested in him and Granny—at one point I think there was 11 or 12 teams that had shown significant interest in him—so lots of teams, lots of interest. They're two good players, two good people, but we just kind of felt we were able to get what we wanted so it's something we kind of had to do.

BRAZIL: (side-by-side with a clip of Granlund scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins) The NHL's trade deadline is March 7th, which, yeah, is 5 weeks away, but based on recent moves like Rantanen to Carolina and now Granlund to Dallas, it does kind of show that the league's general managers are willing to deal a lot earlier than they ever used to and take advantage of this time down the stretch run of a season—especially here in the month of February with the four nations tournament kind of breaking things up.

GRIER: You've kind of seen all the trades that have happened within the last week, right? I just think things have heated up around the league for whatever reason it may be, the break coming... you get out of the break and you're basically at the deadline, so I think teams [are] just trying to get out ahead of it, so this week things kind of picked up. Jim and and Dallas have a good staff there and he was great to work with and, you know... they were aggressive for going after both guys.

(Jumpcut to another clip of his media availability)

GRIER: The market kinda dictates how things go. It's not too dissimilar than Blackie; I think in a perfect world [we] maybe would have held onto Granny and Cece closer to the deadline so our group could have them for a little bit longer, but it doesn't always work out that way and the market just kind of heated up over last weekend... so we kind of took advantage of the opportunity that came our way.

BRAZIL: (side-by-side with a clip of Granlund in the Sharks' fistbump line) So within this two-month time span the Sharks have now dealt their top goal-preventor in Mackenzie Blackwood back on December 9th to Colorado, and now their top point-getter in Granlund to Dallas. In this season where the build portion of a rebuild is very evident, Grier realizes the human side of saying farewell.

GRIER: Go off here, but I'm sure it's not easy for the group. Granny's been a big part of us here since he's gotten here, you know, not only his on-ice play, but what he's done off-ice. He's really helped mentor some of our young players, he practiced hard, played hard all the time, and tried to share his knowledge of the game and that's kind of the way hockey goes, right? Guys, the veterans, share their knowledge with the young guys and now... it's time for those young guys [to] hopefully learn from him and they can kind of keep building on some of the lessons and things that Granny shared with them.

(Jumpcut to another clip of his media availability)

GRIER: It's never easy when you get traded as someone who went through it myself and I think both guys took it well... we all play the game to win and try and win the Stanley Cup and and play those meaningful and important games so I think while there was probably some disappointment I think there was also some excitement to have the opportunity to go to a good team that's had a lot of success over the last few years and have a chance to go to the dance and try and win it.

BRAZIL: (side-by-side with a clip of Cody Ceci scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers) Obviously one question that still remains anytime you trade two players away and get strictly picks back in return, is who fills those key spots on the Sharks roster for their final 28 games? Especially right now for a San Jose team that also is facing some injury setbacks.

GRIER: Yeah, we're definitely beat up right now and hopefully we can just get through next week, get through these three games and get to the break, and then I think we should be able to hopefully get most of the guys back after that. For now, we expect these guys to—it's a good group down there even though this will be hard for them—but to still play hard and go out there and try and win games, and I'm sure we'll probably dip into the Barracuda with guys who deserve a recall, whether that's our young guys who are playing well or some of the vets down there. Sometimes it's easy to overlook those guys, but some of our vets down there are having really good years and deserve a look up here, too, so that's how we'll fill out the lineup.

BRAZIL: (side-by-side with a clip of the Sharks walking out to warmups and giving fistbumps to the audience before a home game. Ceci is seen at the start of the clip, and Granlund also appears several players after him) The Sharks' next game isn't until Tuesday night, hosting Montreal. It's also the exact same time as the AHL's All-Star break, so with the Barracuda off then, it should give San Jose some more internal options if anybody is going to be called up.

End of video description.]