#(lol opting for angst first I guess haha)

[masteryoftheseas]

@asoulunbound || The Ram King and Lion Queen AU - Crius & Eurybia

Being late was uncharacteristic of the King. He prided himself on being timely and keeping his word. They had made plans to spend the weekend together; however, the first night he was a no show. No word of being late or cancelling. She was alone in his Southern Palace with a few servants lurking around. While she respected his position as King and understood her place as his mistress (for the most part), he treated her with equal respect and acknowledgment. Even love; something he vowed he could never give his queen. Unpleasant thoughts began circling in her mind and kept her up at night. Half waiting for his arrival and half worried of his whereabouts and goings-on.

Morning came and her eyes heaved with tiredness and restlessness. Still with no sign of Crius, she expected him to forget their weekend altogether. She laid in the bed they shared, contemplating leaving for her own home soon. But a thought that fled once she heard the door open with familiar steps hitting the floor. Steps that belonged to the Ram King.

Eurybia quickly sat up and fixed her hair, trying to look some what presentable to him. He was still her king despite being lovers. However that concern for decorum quickly left as the disappointment hit her all over again. "So you finally showed up, your Majesty. What royal business kept you from even sending word of your absence? If it was even business at all."

[vargaslovinghours]

Avoid it all, that’ll solve it

[dreamrecorder]

Ok so- idk if you’ve seen demon slayer;; but there’s this episode (it was during the spider fambam arc) aNywaYs- so like. Rui yeets ties* (i guess-) Nezuko like. Up in the air. With his weird spider thread jazz— and like. It’s sHarP weird spider thread jazz— so she’s like. Yknow. Being sliced and diced with string— but it kindaaa reminds me of like. Xiao. And his like.... weird... sad.... uh. Karma. Thing. Like y’know where he’s like hanging from his arms- red stuff. Yeah. So like. Now for the actual request

Xiao’s s/o (female if you don’t mind;;) gets kidnapped by like— the fatui or smth. And they tie her up like Nezuko :D to be like “lol haha Xiao be all like-” and she’s just. Like. Dying. Slowly. Dripping b l o o d and yknow. All the tea. And Xiao comes to rescue her— and he’s like 0-0 “wait...” and he realizes that’s like- exactly what happens to him- and so. He beats the fatui’s butts saves his s/o, anddddd she like.

Idk. This is where I need your angst expertise ❤️ like- she could d i e. In his arms. And poor Xiao would be so scarred omg poor thing- BUT THE ANGST- but at the same time;;;; the f l u f f of him being able to save her just in time and she was like fighting for him the whole time or whatever and ended up needing him to save her anyways- and then Xiao feeding her almond tofu until she gets better ❤️❤️❤️

IM SORRY THAT WAS SO LONG- im probably going crazy from lack of sleep from reading fics for too long sndndnsnsj

But if you do this,,, BLESS YOUR SOUL I HOPE TO EITHER BALL MY EYES OUT OR SQUEAL FROM THE WHOLESOMENESS-

Anyways.... thank you! Have a stellar day~ ✨❤️

The heart yearns and the wind heard

lmao this ask is so adorable i hope you’d enjoy this ksks

anyway, full Angst train up ahead but there are moments of Fluff too. There are mentions of blood and violence if those are not your thing- dont worry guys, this goes with a happy ending cos you and Xiao deserve one~ on a final note- non canon compliant and suuuuuuper long- like- legit this is very long

The Yaksha sighs.

He’s here again. His mind and heart has returned his being into this crimson world his demons have created within him.

He feels it. He feels the corruption binding him tighter again for every death he brings by his tainted hands.

He looks at his bindings. And ever so slowly, the red and black coiling around his person will eventually reach his heart.

One day, he thinks, all this crimson and black in this world will swallow him whole and he will see the light no more.

Xiao sighs again.

This is his karmic debt.

~

The moment you stepped foot within Wangshu Inn, you knew he was in his prison again. After giving a quick greeting to the inn keeper, you hastily went to Xiao’s room. The closer you got, the heavier the atmosphere became.

You reached his door and knocked softly. As expected, no reply as he continues to struggle to take back his control over himself. Without hesitation, you stepped in. To anyone else, they would have instantly met his spear at their throats, but with you, this doesn’t happen. Instead, you see him crouched on the wooden floor with a hand on his chest. His knuckles were white and his breathing was ragged. His amber eyes- lost. Observing his form, yes… his moments of corruption are becoming progressively worse.

With swift steps of familiarity to this routine, you went to him and grasped his shoulders.

“Xiao, it’s me…” You whispered with clarity. And oh- how your voice brought a wave of comfort to his soul.

“N-name…” His voice cracked, but him calling to you is always a good sign.

You gave him a small smile and proceeded to grasp his hands together with yours. After which, you then leaned your forehead to his to chant your prayers. As your prayers progressed, slowly but surely, the corruption begins to fade along with the black mist that covered him. However, you took note how this ritual took longer than the last.

Once everything is done, Xiao just slumped onto your shoulders, still breathing deeply. “How are you feeling?” It was a useless question you asked every time this happens, but you always, always, have to make sure.

Usually, he would mutter a small ‘fine,’ but now- words seemed to have left his mind and all he could muster was an almost-unnoticeable shrug.

Truth be told- his response disheartened you, but you did not show it. Instead, you opted to simply encase him in your arms and caress his hair. After all, these are just one of the few, rare moments Xiao would leave himself into your care. Xiao is aware, himself, that his state has been becoming worse and worse. And you both know, that a day would come when he would just attack anyone- friend or foe- without a trace of hesitation. So, just this time- he speaks his feelings.

“Name?”

You answered immediately with a questioning hum.

“What would you do… when I finally lose control over myself?”

It was very subtle, but he felt how your hand stopped caressing his hair for a second, then proceeded to the previous task at hand again. In all honestly, you can never find yourself having an answer to that question. “And why would I ever let that happen to you?” You questioned back, fully aware that you were dodging his question.

Silence surrounded the two of you, unsure on what to do with the sudden heavier atmosphere.

Not wanting to face the cruelty of the world yet, Xiao simply buried himself on the crook of your neck even more. And despite the ghostly sensation of his lips on your skin, you could feel him mouth the words ‘I love you.’

“As long as I’m here,” you whispered, “nothing can hurt you.” And that was the most beautiful lie that the Yaksha has heard, but he was willing to believe all the same.

~

When word about Fatui diplomats starting a bank reached you, there was a nagging feeling in your head that trouble would bring itself present anytime soon. It was like an itch that wouldn’t get away. And the only way to have that itch gone is to scratch it.

“You are absolutely a fool.” Xiao stated darkly with crossed arms, for once disagreeing with the plans of his master.

“We can never know what their intentions are unless we let them start their bank, no?” Zhongli said as he gazed at the marsh spread beneath him.

The Yaksha only scoffed but said no more.

Building up your courage, you deemed it was your turn to voice out your thoughts, “Um… Rex Lapis, I see your point, but wouldn’t it be best to resolve the problem before it persists into something larger? We all know- All of Teyvat knows, that the Fatui are not to be trusted.”

Your archon offered you a kind smile, “I understand your worries, Name. However, as of the moment, they have not presented themselves as such. If they truly are our enemies, then it would be beneficial for us to know their intentions.”

You frowned deeply at his statement. Seeing you do so, somehow, your archon immediately identified your main concern.

“Is this about the Tianquan assigning you to be her representative for the Fatui?”

The moment those words left his mouth, a growl tore from Xiao’s throat, but he held his tongue.

“Did Ganyu tell you?”

The Archon nodded and you sighed.

“I volunteered, actually.”

And at that point, Xiao vanished into thin hair, but you could still his sense his presence around.

“May I know why?” Zhongli questioned gently.

For a moment, you struggled for words. You didn’t know how to describe this ‘itch’ to him. “At first, it was supposed to be Ganyu, since in the Tianquan’s eyes- Ganyu is an adeptus and she does not know that I am, too. Perhaps she didn’t want to put me in harm’s way, a ‘visionless human’ at the side of a harbinger. After some convincing to Ningguang for my volunteering, I spoke to Ganyu next.

“The adepti are divine beings that walk here in Liyue. I had this feeling that putting a divine next to a power-hungry harbinger would become an issue. I told Ganyu that, since I looked ‘harmless’ and ‘ordinary,’ the harbinger’s interest about the divine would never surface.”

A stretch of silence wrapped around them as Zhongli pondered over your words. “Perhaps, are you also planning to dig out the truth of their arrival?”

You nodded, “I knew you would allow them to stay, so I just took it upon myself to unfurl their secrets.”

“Hmmm… I grant you permission on doing this. However, should trouble arise, do not hesitate to tell us.”

~

The glare pointed at you was strong. Even without him saying a single word, you could hear his phantom voice in your head speak with such coldness, What are you thinking?

You simply gave him a reassuring smile, “I’ll be fine, Xiao. I may be a human in mortal eyes, but please do remember that I am also an adeptus, no matter how weak I am.”

Xiao releases a huff, but still sits by your side at the floor of the balcony, letting the moon kiss his skin. “You’re not weak.” He mumbled as he snaked his hand to yours.

To him, you will never be weak. In fact, you were the strongest being he has ever laid his eyes on. Not physically, no. It was you mental and emotional fortitude. Back during the Archon War, he always admired how you kept your head held up high no matter the suffering you have experienced. No matter how much death surrounded you, you still fought. And that strength made you a survivor. During the war, you never failed to help the wounded. Even when someone dies under your care, you held strong for the departed and for those who are left behind. You were a pillar of hope.

He brings your hand to his lips and kisses every knuckle “… Just be careful. If ever you are in trouble do not-“

“Hesitate to call your name.” You finished, beaming at his words.

~

As someone who used to be a healer and a doctor, you were quite familiar with several mild skin diseases that mortals can suffer from.

If there is an itch, you do not scratch it- for you will only aggravate the area even more.

Now that you’re working alongside the Fatui as the Tianquan’s representative, the itch you kept feeling was only irritated more. Especially whenever you spoke with the Harbinger who goes by the name Childe. And since your work requires you to cooperate with him, you also don’t miss the chance to discover what he hides, should the opportunity presents itself.

Childe… his azure eyes certainly have their… charm to those unaware. However, you knew better. You know he’s capable of drowning you just by his eyes. While he may be a cheerful man, his eyes lack the lustre of joy. The eyes are the windows of the soul, yes? If so, all you see is an unending ocean that you do not want to swim in. The surface may be calm, but the deep is relentless. However, duty bound you are- deep within the ocean, you shall find the secrets the Fatui hides.

Again, another scratch to the itch, but it only irritates you more.

~ 

The news of Rex Lapis’s death became the catalyst of you confronting the Harbinger. From Yujeng Terrace all the way to Northland Bank, you ran (with Ningguang’s permission of course). Before you can even open the door to his office, something caught your eye.

It’s faint, but you’re an adeptus. You sensed elemental traces, just smack bang at the middle of the door. You carefully scrutinized the tracings, and fortunately you knew Snezhnayan script. And what you read only made your heart sink.

It’s ready.

With the adeptal arts, you managed to uncover the origins of these elemental tracings.

Scratch.

Without hesitation, you followed these tracings until it led you into some ruins.

Scratch.

Following the tracings further, you find yourself in a dimly lit room. Wary, you summoned your weapon imbued with your element.

Scratch.

Searching the room, you came across several antique boxes. You opened them.

Scratch.

What you saw were familiar. Too familiar. Dimming the room more with your element, you find more Sigils of Permission hanging on the walls and on the ceilings. The energy within them were faint, but with enough numbers, it’s enough to kill a-

“Well, well well, I thought you’d be there mourning for your Archon. But here you are, snooping around someone else’s research material.”

The sound of his voice made you sharply turn your head to him, your stance now more offensive. “What are you planning?” You bit coldly.

The Harbinger hummed a small tune, “Nothing much… But! If you’re really curious, I guess I could tell you.” He hummed some more but you knew he’s not finished. Once he finished his tune, he grinned to you menacingly and the depths in his eyes became even deeper and darker, “After all, I won’t let you leave this place with you knowing my secret~”

~

There was this one time, Xiao struggled against himself so much, he scratched himself red so that he could anchor himself back to the real world. You remembered how much you cried as he slept in your arms. You never wanted to see him do that again. Seeing him hurt himself also hurt you, too. It was like a stab in the heart, then a twist, and twist some more. A slap in the reality that you might lose him one day.

As he slept, you solemnly observed the wounds he sustained himself to. They were angry red, just like blood.

Now, you, yourself scratched that itch in your head too much into a wound for blood to seep through. You scratched too much and now you have to bleed from it.

~

You were slipping in and out of consciousness. Sleep was tempting you more and more but you know you have to wake up. You were aware that this is going on for days.

Everything hurts. You remembered how his blades, imbued with the Sigils, weakened you thoroughly. Every slash he brought to your body just drained the energy away from you. But still you had to do something.

He wanted an adeptus- he wanted an adeptus in order for the Sigils to grow stronger both in number and in power.

Now here you are, bound by chains and suspended at the middle of this empty room. These chains were adorned by talismans that drained away your energy. You were bleeding from your wounds of your previous battle.

Drip. Drip. Drip goes the blood and pools on the ground underneath you. The ground, you barely noticed, was lined by Liyuean script which enacts the ritual of the Sigils draining your divine power from your blood.

To the eyes of a sadist- you were a picture perfect in a canvas. A dark room lined by the damned Sigils, glowing an eerie gold. Then there's you with your bloodied clothes and chains. The red pool underneath was casting a red glow on your way, giving you a red shade to your pale skin.

Everything hurts-

And everything was driving you mad.

You can also feel the Overlord of the Vortex feed from your energy through the Sigils. You sensed his lust for power and revenge. You felt his anger and the corruption within him. You felt his hatred and his want to bring death. For days that felt like years, you’ve been battling against that very same god in your head. This battle was not something you shall not lose to and failure is not an option. If you fail here, then Liyue will fall. 

This god- he was driving you mad slowly.

If ever you are in trouble, do not hesitate to call my-

You shut the thought from your head. You are not going to call him. You will not speak of him. You will not think of him. You will not call him. Not to this place where his corruption will grow. No. You Will Not Call Him.

If it means that me not calling you will keep you safe from the corrupted remnant of a god- so be it. 

Please

However, no matter how much you denied yourself to call his name, no matter how much your heart yearns to be with him- the wind does not ignore the pained sob that left your lips.

~

Ever since the news of Rex Lapis's death and the visit of the Traveler with a Sigil in his hand- the corruption within him just bloomed into something feral.

The Sigil- there was something wrong about it but Xiao doesn't know what is it that is wrong. Then there's you- where are you? Surely with the news of their Archon's death- it would send you to bring forth a meeting for the adepti to talk this over. But now- for days- you remain not by his side.

With you missing- the demons inside him are slowly taking control over him, taking advantage of his vulnerability for you. For each passing day, it was slow torture for him- The worry bubbling in him was consuming him. He glared at the Sigil between his fingers and not failing to notice how his dark aura covers him once more. 

“Traveler,” Xiao called sharply, “What is it you intend to do next?” 

To any mere mortal, the look his eyes held were enough to strike fear, but the Traveler stealed themselves- meeting the adeptus’s gaze with an equally serious calm. “I have my suspicions on a certain harbinger and I-”

“Where?” The Yaksha growled.

“In the Golden House.”

Without a word nor warning, Xiao placed a hand on the Traveler’s shoulder and teleported them to the place where the Exuvia is hidden.

To the Traveler, everything happened so quickly as one event led to another. One moment, they were standing among unconscious bodies of the Millelith then the next thing they knew a corrupted and demonic gust of wind flew them away to the side. Regaining back their vision, they could see Alatus’s spear now at Tartaglia’s barrier made of Sigils. 

Alatus narrowed his eyes at the floating talismans and began to calculate the flow of this incoming battle with precision and accuracy despite his losing control over himself. 

It was a tense minute of sizing each other up, but eventually, Tartaglia has broken the silence with his annoying innocent voice. 

“Who would have thought that I’d have the honor of fighting another adeptus of Liyue?” 

The question immediately fed the corruption within him, the dark aura exploding at it. He knew that he should not believe in the Harbinger’s words so easily, but the glint in the latter’s eyes held truth. You could be out there, hurting, scared, alone. You could be out there, bleeding out. You could be out there dyi-

His aura exploded once more at the thoughts spreading in his being. With a burst of unspeakable power, Alatus lifted his weapon and pierced the barrier once more, this time breaking it without failure. At the threat, Tartaglia backed away as he donned his mask.

In a similar fashion, Alatus, too donned his mask. “I will ask you once,” the Conqueror of Demons spoke with a deathly calm, “Where is she?”

~

He should have killed him then and there. But the call of the Overlord of the Vortex must not be ignored as it threatens Liyue. 

In the small opportunity of escape, Childe took it. But he was weak and injured as Alatus swiftly threw his spear to block his way and teleported right in front of him. In a show of power, the Conqueror of Demons lifted the mortal by the neck.

“I will ask you again, where is she?”

In fear, Childe told him everything and at his every word, Xiao listened carefully- never speaking once. But the anger within his heart, it boils- it rages. His amber eyes bored into Childe’s soul- thinking what he should do to this mortal. Oh how killing him would be so nice. However, when the Yaksha’s gaze landed on the regal form of the Exuvia, he merely threw the mortal in its way.

“Killing you would have been easier. However, the crimes you have presented against Liyue are not mine for me to judge.

I leave the Harbinger to you... Rex Lapis.”

Once out of the Golden House, the Overlord roared once more, shaking the lands of the nation. However, along with it, he heard the faintest of voices. I’m so sorry... I couldn’t hold him back anymore. 

Only then did the demons in his heart freely took control of him. Just like the stories of old, where the Yaksha walks, death follows. But they were no stories. In his way towards the ruins where you were held captive, every step he took brought carnage and even more death and blood to taint his hands. No Fatui will leave this place alive. The very being of destruction ended many lives. Each death, the demons were growing stronger.

All he wanted now was to kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill killkillkill killkill kill killkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkill

Then seeing you suspended in the ceiling and bound by chains. Blood was painted on your lifeless skin. Wounds were littered and bruises were blooming on your form. But most of all, your eyes. What were once full of life and hope- now empty and blank. His demons quieted down.

Broken. You were like a broken porcelain doll.

“N-name...” His voice cracked, not believing it all.

With haste, he quickly broke your binds and caught you in his arms. he was fast to check for your pulse and your breathing. And thank the Archons, you were breathing but barely. You were now walking the line between life and death. With all his might yet a gentle caress, he hugged you for dear life. “Name... It’s me...”

But still, your eyes still held no recognition and it shattered his heart to pieces. With further inspection, he sensed the presence within you. A corruption. A certain evil. 

“Name, stay with me please,” Xiao begged with desperation as he fought back tears. “It’s me who supposed to be the corrupted one between us, not you... I’m not allowing you to leave me, you hear me-”

With a ritual of the adeptal arts, he started purging and purifying the evil left by the god who fed from you. He is not letting you stay alone in your prison, not for a second longer. 

Xiao prays and he never prayed before. Even to his master. But just this once, He prays with desperation. You are the light in his darkness. You are the moon in his night. 

The ritual was a delicate process. For every word he spoke, he was rewarded by your screams of pain and the writhing of your fragile body. He wanted to stop, but he can’t. He had to physically restrain you from trying to escape from his embrace and from hurting yourself. And for every cry you released, Xiao merely shuts his eyes clos just for him not to see your pained eyes. Every now and then, Xiao speaks gentle apologies and words of encouragement for you. You were coming back. But still, the evil persists.

You writhed and scratched against him, until you were creating more wounds for blood to seep through. When it came to a point, you began pleading and begging for him to stop, that was when Xiao had shed a tear. So he continues the ritual, his prayers, and his apologies. They were arriving to a point where the ritual is reaching its conclusion but your screams only grew louder.

Please, just a little more...

Please, just stop...

Please...

The corruption disintegrated away from you in a forceful release of dark energy. He was breathing deeply, attempting to calm his loud heart. When he placed his gaze on you, you were breathing rapidly and your eyes were searching blindly and your hands were desperately holding onto him.

“X-Xiao...” You whispered, “Where am I? Where are you?”

With a sigh of relief, the Yaksha hugged you again closer and his forehead to yours, fearing you would go away again. The action made you lift your hands to his face, still searching blindly.

“I’m here, Name... I’m here.” At his voice, the dam in your eyes broke as you cried silently. Xiao was not adept in emotions, but for you, he will face them gladly. He lets you cry as he gives you soft whispers of assurance, safety, love, and promises. However, you were not crying because of what had happened to you. You were crying for him. After experiencing such corruption-

You sobbed some more- you were this close to him losing you and you could not bring yourself to imagine if your roles were reversed.

“P-please,” you said with a broken voice, “please don’t go to the place where I can’t follow...’

The words, at first puzzled him, but after a few moments, he realized and once more it broke his heart. Bringing you closer, Xiao let loose the tears he was holding back. With a gentleness unexpected of the Conqueror, he simply littered your face with kisses. “I promise if only you would do the same.”

With your smile that he loved dearly for so long you too spoke your promise, “I do.” They were simply two words, but the comfort they bring into the Yaksha’s heart was in volumes.

After that, you shared a few tender moments in each other’s arms. Simply relishing the feeling of their familiar warmth. A little later, Xiao spoke, “Would you like to eat some Almond Tofu once we get home?”

The question made you giggle at his innocence, so you agreed. Despite you needing physical medical attention. But Almond Tofu with him? Yes, you two definitely need some emotional healing.

A/N: fINALLY dONE lmao this was supposed to be short but angst really makes me want to write longer everytime haha~ anyway this request really made me ponder bout genshin stuff with all the corruption this and corruption that but then a question popped up like-

how did childe replicate the sigil of permission? since sigils are imbued with divine energy, i just thought how did this guy accumulate so much sigils to the point of freeing Osial- a god!!! soooo i just played with the idea for a bit then figured out maybe these pieces of paper get the divine energy from a divine source right? and the adepti are divine beings of liyue and another thing- you guys might have noticed the change of names in some scenes- i dont know but i think somehow different names represents different side of a person like- we have childe the cheerful harbinger then tartaglia the power hungry harbinger- there’s Alatus who’s calculating and cold, there’s the Conqueror of Demons who’s ruthless and unforgiving, then Xiao who is calm and humane- lastlyyyyy i might post this in ao3 ksks

[connorswhisk]

melodrama (oh how fast the evening passes)

a continuation of a previous fic containing lots of harlivy angst

also on my ao3

Ivy wakes up alone and hungover. This isn’t usually out of the norm for her - except that last night, she hadn’t been alone, and as she blinks the bleariness out of her eyes and winces away from the pale grey light filtering through her windows, she wonders when Harley left.

Because of course Harley had left - Ivy had known, from the first knock on her door, that she would. Harley likes to call herself independent, likes to think of herself as ruler of her own fate, but she isn’t. Not really. Anyone can see that.

Ivy knows exactly where Harley is right now, and it makes her stomach churn (though that could just be the vodka talking (but it probably, definitely isn’t, not when it comes to Harley)).

She pushes herself to her feet reluctantly and shuffles over to the kitchen to fix herself a prairie oyster, trying to piece together the previous night’s events as she does.

Ivy rummages through her cabinets, pulling out Worcestershire sauce - we drank (obviously) - sriracha - Joker was fighting Batman, otherwise she wouldn’t have come - vinegar - we slept together, I know that, but - to the counter, for salt and pepper - but - to the fridge for one of her three remaining eggs (she’ll have to go shopping soon) - but I -

She mixes her ingredients together and wonders, hazily, what the fuck she said to Harley last night, exactly.

A quick throw back of her head, and the oyster slips down her throat easily - she grimaces, smacks her lips, waits for her thoughts to clear - and as the murk in her brain dissipates, the glass falls to the floor, where it shatters into fifty fragmented pieces.

She remembers.

“Oh…fuck,” Ivy curses, at her stupidity, at the glass, at Harley, at everything. She swallows roughly and rests her forehead in the palm of her hand.

Dumbass, she thinks.

She’d told Harley the one thing she swore to herself she’d never voice out loud. She’d told Harley that she loved her. Like an idiot. She’d downed too much liquor, let her tongue get too loose, and ruined everything.

But…Harley had still slept with her, anyway. Ivy can’t be sure if that really means anything or not.

Regardless, she has to right this wrong. Harley left a while ago, and she’s almost certainly with the Joker now, but Ivy can still fix this. She can.

Or, she can at least try to.

After sweeping up the glass shards, she hunts around for her phone for five straight minutes before finding it wedged in between the couch cushions, dust and grime coating its screen. She sighs, scrubs at it half-heartedly with the blanket she’d slept under (the blanket Harley had slept under with her, cradled in her arms, if only for a few hours), and is about to hit the Call button on Harley’s contact, when she hesitates.

Harley’s probably glued to Joker’s side at the moment, and won’t be able to pick up Ivy’s call. And even if Ivy left a voicemail, there’d be almost no chance of Harley getting to listen to it - not with the Clown Prince of Crime constantly leering over her shoulder, holding the leash he has on her tight and grinning like the fucked-up bastard he is.

So Ivy opts for a text message, instead, typing and retyping and hitting the backspace key until she has something that’s hopefully not completely terrible and awkward:

Me: Hey, Harls. IDK if you remember much about last night, but I just wanted to apologize for anything I might have said to you. Drunk me is such a mess, LOL. But anyway. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way. Just wanted to let you know. Haha.

She hits send before she can think twice, immediately cringes (“Haha?” What the fuck is wrong with you, Isley?), and makes herself put her phone down so she isn’t staring at the screen, waiting for a reply for hours.

Ivy busies herself with watering her plants and shaking off the last remaining strains of her hangover, trying to keep her mind occupied with other things, but always seeming to return to Harley, despite her best efforts. She knows Harley won’t hate her for her drunken confession - but it’s a little nerve-wracking, and a little anxiety-inducing, and a little heartbreaking, too. What with the way things are.

It’s not that Ivy’s expecting Harley to stop talking to her; but it’s not that she’s expecting her to say I love you, too, either.

No matter how much she’d like that, it won’t happen.

Three hours later, while Ivy is dully flipping through the channels and forcing herself away from the memories of the night before, her cell phone buzzes on the coffee table in front of her, and her heart leaps to her throat.

Ivy swallows, mutes the TV, and opens her messages before she starts worrying too much about it.

Harls: hey ivy!! nah, i don’t really remember SHIT from last night, lmfaooo. guess i went a little too hard on the vodka as usual. so if u said anythin freaky to me, here’s your free pass to pretend it never happened! lol.

Harls: lmk if you’ve got another gig planned, btw. mistah j’s gonna hit the wayne charity ball next week and he wants me to stay back and fend off any motherfuckers who try and attack while he’s gone. you could come over if u wanted, give me some company? i’d sure appreciate it, pammy. anyway, had fun last night. hope to see you again soon!! ❤️❤️🖤🖤

Ivy swallows a second time, but this time, there’s a lump lodged in her throat that just won’t go down, and she can’t bring herself to write back.

It’s about what she’d predicted Harley would say; but that doesn’t make it sting any less. Ivy can tell she’s bluffing, can tell that she remembers - being a misanthrope has its perks, and Ivy can read people like nobody’s business, even over text - and she knows Harley so well, anyway, knows her more than anyone else, has let her do things to her that no one else has, and no one else ever could, and Ivy knows -  

Ivy knows better.

And it doesn’t matter. It won’t matter. Not until Harley leaves the man holding her back and pulling her strings. Ivy does what she can to help her out, but…

Sometimes, Ivy thinks that Harley might never go through with it.

And that…that scares her.

Ivy throws her phone across the couch, pulls her legs up to her chest, and pretends that she can’t feel the way her eyes burn harshly and her chest aches, deep and to the core.

And it doesn’t work at all.

[ofmusingsxandmayhem-a]

Get To Know The Mun!

REPOST DON’T REBLOG

———  BASICS! ♡

(PEN)NAME: Pluto :)

PRONOUNS: She/Her

ZODIAC SIGN:  Gemini  

TAKEN OR SINGLE: Taken

———  THREE  FACTS! ♡

I can bend my elbows backwards. It’s pretty gross but it’s a neat party trick.

I used to work for Disney.

I have 6 tattoos.

———  EXPERIENCE! ♡

I first started RPing back in 2010 on a SPN forum. I had two OCs and tried my hand at a canon too. It was fun to try, but it didn’t last for ages. Then in July 2012 I was introduced to tumblr RP by a friend, and I decided to start writing as Benji from Mission Impossible. I wrote as him for quite some time, before extending out to a blog for Ilsa, and then eventually another blog for Louise from Arrival. It became a bit too much to have so many blogs, so I opted to bring some of them together on this blog and I guess the rest is history? 

———  MUSE  PREFERENCE! ♡

Honestly not sure if I have many preferences? I tend to lean towards a variety of characters, especially when it comes to ages just because I like to see older characters. But I don’t know if I have preferences?? Same when it comes to muses I write opposite, I don’t mind. I’m not that interesting when it comes to this haha

———  FLUFF / ANGST / SMUT! ♡    

FLUFF: I enjoy fluff and sweet things, because it’s just nice to see my muses happy now and then given how much I also love to put them through hell lol (see next point). But I do feel there comes a point where there’s too much... happy. If everything is too happy all the time, then it gets a bit boring for me. It’s just not really a good example of real life, which I know not everyone wants to explore but yes.

ANGST:  I honestly adore angst. I love exploring various difficult situations and some darker themes, though not all of them. I think it’s interesting to put your muses into negative situations or have them face difficult choices and explore how they would react and what they would do. Also I just enjoy putting my muses through hell so...  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SMUT: I used to write it and it was cool to explore that aspect of my muses lives and relationships, but I made the choice about a year ago to stop writing it for personal reasons. I don’t miss writing it, because I’ve always been able to find huge amounts of enjoyment in threads that didn’t contain smut. I did find a brief significant drop in my interactions when I initially stopped writing it, though, and to this day I still have some people turn me down because they want to write nothing but smut (power to you, but not for me). 

Tagged by: @xxj0kerxx​ thanks!!!!

Tagging: anyone who would like to do this! 

[wildpokemon]

OTP Tag Game!

Thanks for tagging me @swordbending!!

It’s actually kinda hard to pick 10 top ships?? I always think I ship a lot of things, but past like the top 3 it was hard for things to come to mind lol - I like most pairings from most of the showsI watch, so narrowing it down in order was sorta tough.

Marinette/Adrien (as in the whole Lovesquare) - Miraculous Ladybug

Tsukishima/Yamaguchi - Haikyu!!

Katara/Zuko - Avatar the Last Airbender

Zuko/Sokka - Avatar the Last Airbender 

Sokka/Suki - Avatar the Last Airbender

Alya/Nino - Miraculous Ladybug

Juleka/Rose - Miraculous Ladybug

Sokka/Toph (can you tell I like Sokka? lmao) - Avatar the Last Airbender

Hinata/Kenma - Haikyu!!

Protagonist/Ryuji - Persona 5/Persona 5 Royal

I had a LOT of fun answering all the questions too, but in typical me fashion I wrote, uh a lot, so the questions/answers about the ships are under the cut. (there’s a lot of questions too lol, no pressure for you guys to answer them all or even read mine tbh)

Tagging: @chatnoirinette, @peterbparkcr, @botherkupo, @chataclysmes @yeet-noir, and @amimons

1. do you remember the episode/scene/chapter you first started shipping 6 (Alya/Nino)?

I remember I always thought they were canon, even before they started dating in the show just because of how fanart depicted them, and how they were generally together and vibing off each other, so I didn’t really think about shipping them at first - it was just sort of a-given to me, I guess? But the scene in Zombizou where Nino opts to stay behind with Alya so they can be turned together is what sold me on loving them fully.

2. have you ever read a fanfic about 2 (Tsukishima/Yamaguchi)?

Dear god lol, so many. I think I’ve read every single canon universe T rated fic of them on AO3. I went through a phase a couple months ago where I just read tsukkiyama fics every single night. Tbh I didn’t even realize how much I liked them together until I tried out a few fics focusing on them (although the characterization of their dynamic can be kinda hit or miss for me. i don’t like when tsukki is just reduced down to “inconsiderate smug asshole.” but that’s a whole other thing that i could spend paragraphs talking about, but i won’t lol)

3. has a picture of 4 (Zuko/Sokka) ever been you screen saver/profile pic?

Nah, I like to keep any of my real life stuff - like phone wallpaper or computer screen - pretty fandom general. The idea of any of my coworkers seeing me open my phone and it being a picture of shipping fanart would make me die inside lolol. Plus for like tumblr headers/icons etc even then I like to stay more gen. I love shipping and it’s fun, but I’m ultimately here for the main storylines.

4. if 7 (Juleka/Rose) were to suddenly break up today, what would your reaction be?

Oh man, that makes me sad af lol. They’re one of the few (basically) canon ships on the list and the idea of it being explicitly written in the script of an episode that they’re no longer together would be devastating lol - there’s no need to do that to them lol, they’re so happy and sweet together.

5. why is 1 (Marinette/Adrien) so important?

Omg where to even begin lol. The lovesquare is the emotional core of the show haha. And the fact that there are so many different dynamics between just two different people is so fun, and funny, and often times chaotic. Tbh there’s nothing not to love about them. Plus from a writing standpoint, I just love how different it is and the potential that’s there.

6. is 9 (Hinata/Kenma a funny ship or a serious ship?

Hmm, they’re definitely not funny - like, not a joke. But I don’t see it as super serious either, and I also don’t think I’m that serious about shipping them. I like them together because I think they’d be very sweet and tender, and I love how much Kenma quietly likes and admires Hinata’s crazy energy and enthusiasm. I can just see them as like a real and normal couple, no need for any heavy angst lol. That’s what I like about them too

7. out of all the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry?

Gotta say it’s Marinette/Adrien. They’ve got tons of chemistry, and like different incarnations of that chemistry, in each side of the lovesquare. Plus, imo, they’re like actual soulmates or w/e so yeah haha, gotta be them. Zuko/Katara probably a close second for me though, something about them has always just scream “unspoken bond” to me (platonic or romantic, idc), and to me that’s a big part of chemistry.

8. how many times have you read/watched 10′s (Protagonist/Ryuji) fandom?

I played Persona 5 vanilla and it’s NG+ back in 2017 and have over 200 hours logged on it, AND I just beat Royal like three days ago, with another 130 ish hours of playtime haha. I love love the game and the story and might consider doing NG+ for Royal too, but idk how soon. It’s a big commitment to play such a long game for a fourth time lol. I only skimmed through the anime adaptation of it though, it was uh...bad.. sorry lol

9. which ship has lasted the longest?

Like, in canon? Considering only 3 ish of the couples on my list are even canon, probably Sokka/Suki? But even then we have no idea how long they were together after the war lol, so idk *shrugs*. Once Marinette/Adrien ARE together in canon though, I’m sure it would be them lol

10. how many times if ever has 6 (Alya/Nino) broken up?

Never lol, could you imagine? I’d be so sad.

11. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 (Tsukishima/Yamaguchi) or 8 (Sokka/Toph)?

Probablyyy, Sokka and Toph. They’re just way way more combat ready. Sure Tsukki and Yamaguchi are athletic and smart and can probably run fast (even if Tsukki hates running), but Toph is literal world’s best earthbender and Sokka can actually handle all sorts of weapons, plus he’s super smart and resourceful. Damn, now I’ve just imagined Yamaguchi dying in a zombie apocalypse and I’m sad lol.

12. Did 7 (Juleka/Rose) ever have to hide their relationship for any reason?

It was hidden bc the writers are cowards lmao. They’re technically only canon bc of Thomas Astruc’s tweets. (even though anyone with a brain can see they’re clearly super couply in the show)

13. Is 4 (Zuko/Sokka) still together?

Sadly, as far as we know, they’ve never been together. But could you imagineee, post war the Fire Lord starts dating the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe?? I’d love it

14. Is 10 (Protagonist/Ryuji) canon?

Lmao, canonically best friends. Even though Ryuji says Joker makes him feel “free,” changed his life, saved his life, and you can spend dates together in Hawaii, school festivals, on Valentine’s Day?? Exchange chocolates?? AND Royal added so many dialogue options that imply either we have a crush on him, or he’s got a crush on us. We can also imply he’s a dumbass lol, but that’s part of the fun too isn’t it.

15. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?

This... is so complicated lol. I’ve got Sokka in three different ships, so does he has doubles running around?? Are they a big polyamorous team?? Damn, Zuko’s in two ships two. They’re all either master benders or masters of combat or swordsmanship (or both). And then Marinette/Adrien and Alya/Nino are literal super heroes. Unfortunately, all my volleyball boys and Juleka/Rose (for now) are just regular people so they’d probably lose (sad). Is use of the Metaverse allowed?? Cause then Ryuji and Joker could just dip in there, kill everyone else’s shadows and win. TBH they could bring everyone ELSE into the Metaverse and just all escape and then everyone - three Sokka’s and two Zukp’s included - could survive, take down the shitty adults who put them in the arena in the first place. This concept is too much for me lol, I’m spiraling I need to stop.

16. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 5 (Sokka/Suki)’s ship?

Nah lol. That would just be rude lol

17. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond?

Hmm, tbh I’m not that serious about shipping to get like, super angry about any of them. If someone doesn’t like a ship, eh. Although, I think if someone said that Marinette and Adrien were badly written and clearly not meant to be together, that would probably piss me off lol.

18. Do you spend hours a day going through 3 (Katara/Zuko)’s tumblr page?

Lollll, not anymore but I definitely did back when I was first getting into fanfiction n stuff. They were the first big ship that I actually was like actively participating in. I’m really picky about Zutara content too though, so now tbh I probably wouldn’t go through the tag so much.

19. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all forever, which ship would you sink?

I don’t like this question lol, all of the options make me sad. But, probably Sokka/Toph. It’d be the least emotionally destructive I think, and I think they could both handle staying friends well enough.

Wowwww that took a while haha. Thanks again for tagging me Nicole! This was super fun!! And thanks if anyone actually read all of these lolol

[mia-cooper]

2019 fanfiction in review

I usually put more effort into pimping my favourite fics of the year, boosting a few new writers in my fandoms, etc. This year, however, I have not, for reasons both within and beyond my control. Which is pretty much my excuse for not Doing Better with writing for the past month or so, but hey. At least there’s this.

.......................................................

1. Best fic(s) you read all year, and why?

How can I even begin to list all the beautiful, shocking, feel-good, feel-terrible-but-in-a-good-way, envy-inducing, page-turning, soul-destroying, fluffy, hilarious, infuriating and horny fics I’ve read this year? I can’t. So I will instead list three that come immediately to mind.

@curator-on-ao3 – The Dismissed Protocol (rated T, VOY, TNG, Janeway & Crusher)

This fic made me angry. So angry that I left a ranty and incoherent comment, slammed down the lid on my laptop and stormed around the house for a bit. Why was I so pissed, you ask? Because this fic hit a good few of my personal triggers around bodily autonomy and the right to make informed choices, and because although the fic ends triumphantly, it’s somewhat of a pyrrhic victory and it left a really bad taste in my mouth. Which, considering this is fiction, is the mark of some really good writing. When it comes to tackling difficult topics with a fresh and thought-provoking perspective, and without opting for the easy answers, Curator never disappoints. This story is just one of many examples of that in her work.

@love-in-the-time-of-kolinahr​ – it will take place without witnesses (rated E, DSC, Pike/Number One)

Okay so let me start by saying it was the author’s fucking EXCELLENT pun of a pseudonym that made me read this in the first place. Then it was the poem they quoted (Discovery by Wislawa Szymborska, which is like a portentous rocket in the guts). Then it was Una’s scales-off-the-eyes, we-are-true-equals, don’t-bullshit-me-lover candidness in the way she sees, talks to, knows Chris Pike. I adore Pike in his laconic-space-cowboy-with-a-heart Disco incarnation, I like him a lot as the CoolDad in AOS, but this fic? This fic gives me smart, forthright, deeply tender Number One, and Pike as the fractured and very human hero I hope like hell we’ll see more of because they are definitely making a Pike series RIGHT? It is written. Anyway… this fic is beautiful and harsh and deft and real and sexy and poetic and at its core it’s about love, and who doesn’t love love?

@captacorn​ – Stars in a Ruined Sky (rated M, VOY, Paris/Torres)

It took me a while to read this one because CaptAcorn was posting it at the same time I was writing my epic, and I had no brain space to maintain a hold on someone else’s dark and compelling plot. But when I picked this one up, I couldn’t put it down. It is AMAZING. A Timeless AU, set in a universe where Voyager crashed and most of the crew survived, this goes where no other 100k+ epic I’ve read before has dared to tread, and it does so without flinching. The details are what make this unforgettable – there’s no magic reset button, so when something bad happens to the crew, there are actual lasting consequences – but it’s the humanity of the characters (if I can use that word to describe a crew that includes aliens) that makes it unputdownable (fuck off, my nana said that’s a word). This is not an AU I want to think happened, but CaptAcorn makes it one that rings true. And I’ll definitely read this again when I have the emotional fortitude for it.

Wow, there’s no Janeway/Chakotay in my top three. What? So here’s a bonus:

Northernexposure’s trilogy – Soft Light, Aftershocks and Resolution (rated E, VOY, Janeway/Chakotay) – three for the price of one! I mean, when northernexposure posts a new fic I race to read it no matter what, but smut! Beautifully written, true to character, sexy sexy smut from one of my all time favourite authors! How could I turn that down?

2. Best fic(s) you published all year, and why?

Mmmyeah to be honest I kinda feel as though my writing peaked in 2017, but here we go.

Desperate Measures (rated E, VOY, Janeway/Chakotay and other pairings) – because there’s angst and smut and the plot is twisty as fuck and I feel like there’s a pretty satisfying payoff. And it’s really long and relies on the reader engaging with my OCs which people seem to have done, which makes me think that if I ever do want to go write another original novel, maybe I won’t want to burn it as soon as I’m done.

This Is The Moment (rated M, DSC, Pike/Tyler) – because these two have exhausting chemistry and I couldn’t not write this but it was hard to make it come out of my brain the way I wanted it. But I’m really happy with it.

And I have a soft spot for First Officer’s Log (rated T, VOY, Chakotay & Tuvok, implied Janeway/Paris), because I just really love Threshold, okay? And while the episode is wack on so many levels there are really dark and heavy themes to explore there which I feel have gone very unexplored and I hope my fic struck that same balance between moral philosophy and holywhatthefuckery.

3. Favourite opening line(s) in a fic you published in 2019:

From Bad Maquis (rated M, VOY, Janeway/Chakotay):

The only thing more restrictive – and bosomy – than this outfit, Kathryn mused as she stared at her reflection, was her holodeck governess costume.



Still, at least she didn’t have to leave her quarters wearing this getup, and thank goodness for small mercies. Because she was on the verge of backing down from this challenge as it was, and Kathryn Janeway did not chicken out. Ever.

I mean, it sets the scene, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t love Janeway in leather.

4. Favourite closing line(s):

This is maybe cheating a little bit because this fic isn’t finished, but this first chapter can stand alone and I won’t be continuing it for some time (first, I have to finish the two prequels, haha). Anyway, these are the closing lines from Inertia (rated T so far, VOY, Janeway/Paris and others):

When the daze clears and Tom looks up to discover that his hovercar is parked in front of an address he’s never visited but has nonetheless memorised, maybe he should feel a little bit surprised.



He doesn’t. No matter how far he tries to go or how long he stays away from her, turning up at Kathryn Janeway’s door is inevitable.

Why do I like it? Well, I have an everlasting appreciation for Janeway/Paris, for one thing. For another, if you read the rest of the story and understand what Tom has just learned, you’ll want to know what happens next. I hope. I sure want to know.

5. The fic that was best received, and your favourite comment(s) on it:

That would be Desperate Measures again. It’s my longest fic by far and I was absolutely bowled over by the response to it, but one of my favourite comments on it is this one:

It actually looks like Janeway is saying gimme and it cracks me up.

Honestly though… the depth and kindness of comments on that fic in particular, the time and thought and effort that people have put into their reviews … it made up for every moment I wanted to chuck it in and never look at that fic again, or any other.

6. The fic you wish had gotten more love:

Honestly, I was surprised there was so little response to my @voyagermirrormarch​ fic trilogy, Heaven in the Shape of Hell. I really thought they’d be crowd pleasers, but it shows what I know, lol. I haven’t even finished the third one because the lack of interest made me wonder if they were just really shite, but I’m not so butthurt about it anymore and I will come back to it someday.

7. How many fandoms you wrote for in 2019, and which inspired you most:

Does Star Trek in all its incarnations count as one fandom? If so, I wrote for two (Trek and Marvel). If all the different versions of Trek count separately, I wrote for seven (MCU, AOS (that’s Trek Alternate Original Series, not Agents of SHIELD), Disco, Mirror, Enterprise, DS9 and Voyager).

Anyway, I guess I’ll never stop being inspired by Voyager, so even if Disco season 3 and the Picard show do nothing for me, I’ll always have that.

8. Your favourite pairing(s) to write for:

I mean, Janeway x Chakotay, for sure. But I’m deeply, deeply invested in Janeway x Paris at the moment.

9. What you’re writing now/next:

I’m struggling through the second part of what was supposed to be my contribution to @25daysofvoyager​. I’m actually going to post the first part once I’m done with this quiz in the hope it’ll kick my ass into gear. I’m also on semi-hiatus from Kinetic Friction, but I’ll be going back to it as soon as I’m done with my 25 Days fic. At some point after Kinetic there’ll be the sequel, and then the rest of Inertia. I’m also contemplating something for Threshold Day, possibly throwing something into @voytalentchallenge​ (don’t count on that one), and I have an idea for a pre-Enterprise D, pre-Voyager meeting between Picard and Janeway (with smut, obvs), plus all the other fics I’m definitely going to write …

And of course there’s my meat raffle. Time to pimp that one again. Donate to AO3 and if I draw your name out of the hat of randomness I’ll write you a fic to your specifications (roughly).

10. Writing goals for 2020 (word count? new fandoms/pairings? anything?):

Look, I’d just really like to actually write to some of the prompts I’ve had sitting in my ridiculously complex filing system without getting sidetracked by the newest shiny thing to catch my eye. In terms of fandoms, I hope I’ll write more for Discovery, I’m looking forward to Picard, and I would like to branch out from Trek a bit. More MCU, definitely, and maybe others if I get inspired. The main thing I want out of writing fanfiction at the moment is for it to continue making me happy, though, so I just hope I keep having fun with it.

[ralfstrashcan]

thoughts on the older sh generation (maryse, robert, luke, jocelyn, valentine, jia, imogen, etc)

In short: They all suck hahaha. Kidding!! (Or am I???)

Maryse. For this I wanna differentiate between Good!Maryse and Bad!Maryse. I have a lot of appreciation for Bad!Maryse because she’s a greatly balanced character, calculating, cunning, a true opportunist and dipping into emotional abuse/manipulation (though I honestly don’t think she does it intentionally).I very begrudgingly tolerate Good!Maryse. I don’t hate her redeemed state per se, but I roll my eyes whenever she’s on screen and it has everything to do with her ‘redemption’ that happened in one second and off-screen. I’m all for a character seeing the error of their ways and becoming the best version of themselves but you have to work for that and the show didn’t. Instead of showing her struggle, of showing the hardships a redemption brings, two steps forward and one step back, the glacially slow improvement of the relationship between Maryse and all the people she wronged (her children and especially Magnus) the show opted for instant forgiveness and family feels from everyone involved. And it pisses me off so much. So everytime goody two-heels Maryse makes an appearance, declares her love for Magnus and has the audacity to lead him to the altar (when this was clearly Cat’s place!!) I’m reminded of the disappointingly cheap 'character development’ we got and rage XD

Robert. What is there to say about Robert except that he’s disappointingly wasted potential in human shape? He was surprisingly supportive of Malec after 1x12, he wanted to ‘talk Maryse around’ and instead of exploring this potential of him being the supportive and less racist parent, the one with an actual cordial relationship with Izzy and exploring the family drama that ensues when he cheats, the show pushed him aside and made him a weak-spined tool that’s good for nothing. So yeah, Robert can get lost since he’s a waste of everyone’s time.

Luke. Oh yeah, my man Luke. I have a lot of fondness for Luke because he’s the cool dad friend and a cool cop. But boy does he lack common sense sometimes haha. It’s infuriating. Always sticking his fingers into weird substances instead of, idk, using his werewolf senses. He used his pack as a personal army to defend his interests (aka supporting the shadowhunters) and it’s why they cancelled him (and rightly so). He pointlessly wanted to get framed for Heidi’s massacre and gives shit advice (Maia: How do I tell people what to do when I can’t get my own life to make sense? - Luke: You’ll figure that part out.). But he’s the dad. I love his energy and the way he emotionally supports Clary and Simon and Jace and kicks ass (whenever the plot allows it, lol).

Jocelyn. Wait, did I say Robert is a waste of everyone’s time? I take it back. Jocelyn is the real waste of everyone’s time. She’s so annoying. Never gives any relevant information, is self-righteous to a degree that makes me sick, and freakin unteachable. The only good thing she ever did was leave the Circle and love Clary. But apart form that she’s constantly getting on my nerves with her pathos. Ngl I cheered when she died. *Lorenzo voice* Goodbye and good riddance.

Valentine. He’s pretty good at influencing and manipulating people, considering the fact that the only thing he has to offer is fanatism, home-cooked spaghetti and emotional abuse. I mean, why does anyone follow him? He’s supposed to be so charismatic but… I have yet to see something that convinces me. Don’t get me wrong, I love Alan van Sprang’s acting but the actions of the characters and how people react to him don’t line up at all. Anyway, as a character Valentine makes a decent villain. He’s brute force instead of refined elegance but we can’t all be Asmodeus, right?

Jia. Ugh, honestly I don’t know. I did like her up to the end of 3A because I felt she was stern but just. After that I was not so sure anymore. For example that deal she tried to strike with Iris? Shady as shit. And to this day I’m not entirely sure she didn’t know about Aldertree’s little undownworldering-downworlders-program. She does make a good politician though, I guess. I like her vibe but I’m not sure about her morality.

Imogen. *sigh* Talk about a character who could have SO EASILY EVADED HER DEMISE. Honestly. First aid first, then fire message sending. It’s not that hard. I just… smh. You get no sympathy from me, Imogen. Apart form that she’s a hypocritical hardass, pretends to care about justice but really just cares about favoritism. And her “It’s the Herondale in you” spiel is so ridiculous XD XD I mean, points for comedy?! The only thing that really works in her favor is that she’s the only character who actually looked better after a haircut. (Underhill weeps in the background. Speaking of which!)

Underhill. He’s a nice fella. Finally someone who appreciates the work Alec does as Head of the Institute. Even though he was occasionally misused as a plot device (to bait cheating angst in 3x06, to appear anti-Magnus in 3x15) there was always an acceptable explanation for his behavior so I didn’t have to resort to hating him. He really started growing on me when I included him as a background character in a few of my fics. He’s a gentleman and a true friend and I adore him.

Hodge. I’m kinda fond of Hodge even though he turns out to be a traitor. Tbh I never really got why he did that? He didn’t strike me as super anti-Downworlder so the only explanation I see is revenge on the Clave and I mean, supporting genocide just to get personal revenge? Talk about a shit morality. And how could he betray the Lightwood kids like that? He helped raise them, dammit. Can I just pretend there’s an alternate timeline where he didn’t betray them and is the cool uncle friend? Thanks.

Aldertree. Lovely as a character, despicable as a person. He’s so sleek and slimy that it’s a delight to see him act and even more delightful to see him be put in his place by Alec

Lydia. She’s not strictly part of the older sh generation but a) I headcanon her to be a few years older than Alec, what with her position as Clave Envoy and already having been married so that has to be enough because b) how could I pass up this opportunity to proclaim my love for her?? She’s a wonderful character, steadfast in spite of her less than ideal situation and her ensuing resignation. She still tries to be just and good and fight for what is right. I’m forever robbed that she just disappeared, never to be seen again during S2.

Did I forget anyone??

[yoon-kooks]

With Love and No Regrets💋 2

Pairing: ??? x Reader, Taehyung x Reader (this chapter)

Genre: Angst, Handwritten!AU, inspired by TATBILB

Summary: Seven stories, seven regrets, seven letters… to all the boys you may or may not still think about…

Word Count: 2.8k

Parts: Prologue // 1 // 1.5 // 2 // 2.5 // 3 // 

Warnings: none

A/N: hands up if you remember your first crush ever 😔✊

Fifth grade might’ve been your prime. You were a whopping ten years old, all the kindergarteners looked up to you as their senior, multiple boys in your class had their eye on you, and you developed your first crush. His name was Kim Taehyung.

Unlike Jungkook who you had met in kindergarten, the existence of Kim Taehyung was unknown to you until fifth grade came around. And boy did he hit you like a truck.

Taehyung was cute. Perhaps one of the cutest boys in your class, up there with Kim Namjoon and Jung Hoseok. And sure, you would’ve loved for fate aka your teacher to seat you right next to him for the entire school year. But the truth is, fate wasn’t always so kind. Because Taehyung always somehow ended up on the opposite side of the room from you.

But why leave everything up to fate? You weren’t that passive when it came to love—at least not at age ten. So you found another way to connect with the boy.

One stormy October morning, you discovered a common interest between Taehyung and yourself. Rainy days were always your favorite because your class was blessed with some free time in the school’s computer lab during recess. After all, you were the type that opted to stay behind a screen instead of facing things head on.

“Ahin, how are you level 77 already?” you asked your best friend as you glanced back and forth between her level 77 mage and your level 32 bandit on the computer screen. Her character had a lot more swag with the sunglasses and shit compared to your basic ass character with the default clothes.

“That’s because my screen time isn’t limited to one hour a day like you,” Ahin shrugged. “At this rate, you’ll be a noob forever, Y/N. Taehyung’s gonna over-level you soon.”

“Taehyung plays StapleMory, too?” You were intrigued because StapleMory was already your favorite MMORPG, but with the addition of a cute boy thrown into the mix, you’d have to beg your mother for an extra hour of play time.

“Yeah, he started playing a few weeks ago and he’s only a few levels behind you.”

“What’s his username? I wanna add him to my friend list.”

“Why? Are you in love with him or something?”

“What? No, of course not.” You didn’t have a crush on him just yet. You didn’t even know what a crush felt like.

“Well I don’t know his username either,” Ahin said. “I just heard him talking about it with Hoseok. Try asking them instead.”

You’d only made the smallest of small talk with Taehyung in the first month back from summer break, so you didn’t know him well enough to casually start a conversation with him at recess without it feeling a little forced. On the other hand, you did have an already established acquaintance with Hoseok thanks to summer school a few years back.

You peered down at the pair of boys several computers down from where you sat, locked onto your target, and rolled your chair over in that direction. When you caught a glimpse of familiar character sprites on their screens, you knew what to do.

“You play StapleMory, too, Hoseok?” The character on his screen was a heavily armored warrior holding a long blue spear.

“Y-you play too, Y/N?” He looked shocked. Shocked but not upset. Though maybe if you both had put two and two together sooner, you could’ve advanced your acquaintanceship with him beyond summer school.

“Yeah, and Ahin plays too.”

“I play too,” Taehyung jumped in. Contrary to his natural handsomeness, his character was on the ugly side equipped with a bow and arrows. “Well I just started, so I’m only level 30.”

“Oh, so you’re still just a noob,” you laughed as if being two levels higher than him was anything to boast about.

“Well what level are you then?”

“Higher than you.” You really should not have had that smug look on your face, but you did.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes at you. It was a challenge. “What’s your username? I’ll add you.”

“YoungHinata.”

“Is that some kind of Naruto reference or something?”

“Yeah, duh.” You didn’t know. It wasn’t your username.

After typing the username in, Taehyung’s jaw dropped. “Level 77? That’s… impressive. You already have your third job advancement?”

You wanted to psych him out a little, not impress him. Clearly that didn’t work out, so you abort. “Nah, I’m just kidding. That’s Ahin’s character.”

“Haha very funny. I guess I’ll add her then, not you.” Taehyung sent Ahin a virtual friend request right in front of your eyes. “Unless you wanna tell me your username.”

Were you feeling threatened? No. But did you want Taehyung to be your friend? Yes.

“It’s… TacoCat98.” You admit you were self-conscious about the name, and you would’ve picked something a little wittier like TacoBelle if you’d known you’d be playing with a cute boy. But nobody could’ve predicted that.

“Seriously?” Taehyung laughed at your username as he typed it in. He had no right to clown you when his own username was something as simple Vante, and you totally did not get the reference if there was one. And he only stopped laughing once he saw your character. “You called me a noob when you’re only like two levels above me? Noob.”

“It doesn’t matter! I’m still higher than you, so ha!” You got the last laugh, but not the last say.

“Not for long, Y/N… Not for long.” The confidence in Taehyung’s voice was admirable with a hint of flirtiness, but you wouldn’t let him get the best of you. Or so you thought.

-

It had quickly become a regular thing for you to hop online after school with either Ahin, Hoseok and Taehyung, or just Taehyung. Your mother was pleasantly surprised to see you zipping through your homework with newfound motivation, and she even granted you an extra hour of screen time to reward your excelling academics. Little did she know that your motivation had everything to do with a boy.

With that valuable extra hour of play time, you did everything in your power to stay ahead of Taehyung. You grinded, took on quests, asked Ahin for advice on the best equips and places to train, and you did so without a minute to waste. The only time you took a break from leveling up your character was when a certain notification popped up on your screen.

[Vante has logged in!]

[Vante sent you a message!]

Vante: hi Y/N >:)

TacoCat98: why r u sending me a mean face? :P

Vante: freedom of speech?

TacoCat98: ok?

Vante: come train with me :(

TacoCat98: where r u now?

Vante: where the fire boars are

TacoCat98: kk

You might’ve been in the middle of a jump quest that you’d have to restart later, but you were willing to forfeit some good EXP in exchange for time with Taehyung. The two of you were close enough in level where it’d be mutually beneficial to train together on the same map anyway. So you hustled over to the fire boars.

As soon as you walked through the portal to where Taehyung said he was, you witnessed a hoard of flaming pigs chasing an ugly green-haired archer. Rather than extending a hand to help the boy out of danger, you take pleasure in watching him struggle to find safety on a nearby platform.

“why didnt u help me????” A speech bubble appeared over Taehyung’s character. “i almost died!!”

“i didnt wanna kiss you,” you typed, with a very embarrassing typo. “i meant KS you… not kiss you lol”

“r u sure that was a typo?” Taehyung changed his character’s facial expression to a hmm face.

“KISS wouldnt have made sense in that context!!” K.S. was the abbreviation of kill steal, which was when someone (often a noob like Taehyung) is trying to kill a monster but then a higher level player passes by and instantly kills the monster as a form of mockery. Kiss, on the other hand, meant something very different.

“right…”

“RIGHT.” You made your character flail around in the air like a kid having a tantrum before jumping down to release all your awkward energy out on the fire boars. “can we just train now??”

You sent Taehyung a request to join your party, and he accepted it, but he remained right where he was instead of joining you on the battle grounds.

“or we could just talk,” he typed. That not only surprised you, but also meant something to you. It meant he’d rather spend time chatting with you over leveling up his character. You were more important to him than the game itself.

You jumped back up to the safe platform and faced Taehyung’s character. “we could.”

You didn't know if he was just luring you away from training so he could sneak past you in levels as soon as you logged off, but maybe it didn’t matter. You only had two hours a day to do whatever you wanted on the computer, and Taehyung was what made your time feel well-spent.

And if he ended up surpassing you in levels as a result of that, you’d lose bragging rights and that hold over him, but something in you wanted to believe he wouldn’t leave your noob ass behind.

-

For a solid year, you never grew bored of Taehyung and his antics. Even in the classroom, it became apparent that you two were no strangers. You teased him about his new haircuts, he teased you by shouting “TacoCat98” across the school yard, and you both exchanged ugly faces as you passed by each others’ desks. All of that was innocent and cute, though the more intimate stuff remained online.

You can’t remember the exact moment you first acknowledged your feelings for Taehyung because it was your very first crush and you had no way of recognizing the signs. For a while, you assumed your first crush would be Namjoon because he had all the stunning physical qualities you thought you wanted in a boyfriend. But with Taehyung, it was something else that you couldn’t quite comprehend. All you knew was that he made your day a little brighter. And you found yourself thinking about him. A lot.

But nothing could’ve made you realize your crush more than when he asked you about it right after graduation.

Vante: hey

TacoCat98: hey

Vante: do you like anyone?

It was your chance—the golden opportunity. You wanted to scream “YES, IT’S YOU” through your computer. But on the off chance that he didn’t feel the same way, you wanted to save yourself from a potential rejection. You told yourself you’d only confess to him if you felt 100% confident that he felt the same way. Despite having a gut feeling that that might’ve been the case, you needed more answers.

TacoCat98: lol why r u asking?

Vante: bc u know how my group of guys had a talk after the grad ceremony?

TacoCat98: umm no? and yall arent “guys” yet btw. youre still boys lolol

Vante: whatever -_-

Vante: anyway

Vante: the BOYS had a talk about who we liked in our class

Vante: so i know who likes u

Someone liked you? That was definitely news to you. No one (to your knowledge) ever had a crush on you in your ten years of life. Naturally, you were curious as a kitten as to who it was, and if it was in fact Taehyung himself. Or maybe he was just bluffing. If that were the case, you were going to bluff back.

TacoCat98: well i know who likes u too :P

Vante: who?

For some reason, your dumbass didn’t anticipate him asking you to spill the tea. Especially not when you were alluding to your own crush on him.

TacoCat98: u tell me first and then ill tell u

Because how romantic would that be if the feeling was mutual and realized on the online platform where it had all begun to bloom?

Vante: hoseok

TacoCat98: wat

Vante: hoseok said he likes u

Vante: ok next

You needed a long minute to comprehend what had happened. Hoseok liked you? Hoseok? Hoseok didn’t even know you the way Taehyung did. You rarely even spoke to him outside of when he’d play StapleMory with you and Taehyung. So how was it possible for Jung Hoseok to develop a crush on you out of nothing? Spoiler alert: It wasn’t possible. But you didn’t know that at the time.

Vante: so… who likes me?

An idiot liked Taehyung. And that idiot was you. But after he didn’t confess to you like you had hoped, there was no way you’d confess either.

TacoCat98: actually i promised to keep that a secret

Vante: but u said u would tell me >:(

TacoCat98: well im srry!!

TacoCat98: it’s not like you were sharing your OWN crush, so why r u so mad lol

TacoCat98: hoseok probably wanted to keep that a secret but u told me anyway

Vante: true

Vante: dont tell him i told u >.<

TacoCat98: ok i wont

Vante: good

Vante: now back to the original question… tell me who u like

TacoCat98: i dont like anyone lol

Vante: seriously…

TacoCat98: really i dont lol

Vante: everyone has a crush

TacoCat98: and your crush is…?

Vante: ahin

He typed it without hesitation, not a sliver of doubt. He confidently told you about his crush on your best friend as if that information wasn’t going to get back to her. Maybe he intended for you to tell Ahin so he wouldn’t have to confess himself. Or maybe he just wanted to make you jealous. The latter was what he accomplished.

As a friend, you loved Ahin and envied her for how easily she got along with the boys in your class. Just as her StapleMory character outshined yours, she had the same effect at school. It honestly didn’t surprise you that Taehyung chose her over you. You had just hoped and envisioned that this time it was you.

TacoCat98: AHIN!!! can i tell u something?

YoungHinata: sure lol

TacoCat98: i like tae

YoungHinata: omg

YoungHinata: really????

YoungHinata: u should tell him!!

YoungHinata: he always acts like he likes u too

TacoCat98: i dont think he likes me like that

YoungHinata: y tho???

TacoCat98: i just have a feeling :(

YoungHinata: well youll never know for sure unless u confess to him

TacoCat98: nah im fine with him never knowing

TacoCat98: i just wanted to get it off my chest so i told u instead of him lol

-

After elementary school ended and middle school started, you were more thankful than ever that you and Taehyung had established an online friendship. You wouldn’t have otherwise known he attended the same middle school because you had zero classes with him in sixth grade and literally never saw him on campus. You owed a lot to the online platform for all the opportunities it provided you with in chatting with your crush. At the same time, a relationship built upon online engagements had its limits.

[Vante has logged in!]

TacoCat98: hihihi

Vante: i havent seen your face around these parts in a while

TacoCat98: blame my teachers >:(

TacoCat98: more hw = less staplemory

Vante: same

Vante: dont u think it’s weird tho

TacoCat98: whats weird?

Vante: how we talk on here but not irl

TacoCat98: i guess we never see each other at school anymore

There were a million better ways to respond to Taehyung’s comment, but that’s how you chose to respond. You had every opportunity to say, “hey let’s meet up at lunch tomorrow” or “wanna get milk tea after school?” But you were too dense to realize what he wanted out of that conversation. You took it more as a subtle breakup like “we can’t be friends anymore because things are awkward now irl.” After all, you were on the wrong side of an unrequited love, and it was almost inevitable that he’d develop other crushes on his new classmates who outclassed you.

It was only after you both quit StapleMory later that year and left your friendship to die in cyberspace that you heard a rumor floating around regarding you and Taehyung. One of your new middle school friends said Taehyung had asked her if it was true that you had a crush on him.

How did Taehyung know about that? And why did he even care? He was supposed to like Ahin. He told you himself that he liked Ahin. If you were his crush, he would’ve told you. He should’ve told you. Because you were fully convinced he no longer cared about his little gamer friend when there were plenty of prettier kids to pursue. And whether or not it was the truth, you took it to heart, despite all the other signs that had said otherwise.

So, no. The rumor wasn't true. You didn’t have a crush on him. Not anymore.