#10 - 12 am 'return package'

[segretecose]

infl*encers will post their #busy day to do list and it'll literally be a list of normal things normal people normally do in their 1 hour off work on a normal day without anyone hearing anything about it

[hivemuthur]

What was that? - Ch. 14.

viktorxfemale!OFC explicit!

friends to lovers, co-workers, sexual tension up to the wazoo, pinning and banter that got me frustrated when I was writing it, attempt at humour, some angst and a slow burn with a happy ending and a classic Viktor for once

Ch.1. | Ch.2. | Ch.3. | Ch.4. | Ch.5. | Ch.6. | Ch.7. | Ch.8. | Ch.9. | Ch.10. | Ch.11. | Ch.12. | Ch.13. | Ch.15.

word count: 6,5K

tag: #what was that

author’s note: @rennethen as beta reader and co-author of nsfw scenes. Big decisions are made as we inch toward the ending, more big decisions to come in the next chapter. This one has a bit of angst and making up :')

Cross-posted on AO3

—

A crumpled piece of paper stared at her from the desk, almost offensively. Don’t come. Ekko had been very clear about what was happening in Zaun—how they needed help and supplies—and yet, at the same time, he’d written, “Don’t come.” The words, scratched out in haste and frustration, outlined the chaos unfolding in the Undercity, painted in vivid, heart-wrenching detail. He spoke of the Chem-barons pushing harder, of the Grey spreading faster than anyone had anticipated, but it was the final sentence that cut deeper than the rest: Things look bad, but don’t come.

It was an incredibly stupid thing to say to someone whose first instinct was to do the exact opposite.

She knew how to sneak in unnoticed. She knew how to blend into the Undercity’s shadows, how to remain invisible on its streets even while carrying a massive bag filled with meds and supplies. She knew where to leave the packages and how to find Vander if the need ever arose. Her wardrobe even included the most inconspicuous clothes for this exact purpose, and she had practiced her most inconspicuous stroll to match. Yet nobody wanted her to go.

Ekko had told her not to come. Jayce would probably say the same. Was it fear for her safety? Or was it a plea for her to stay out of a war that had already begun to consume everything? Viktor—though he hadn’t said it so firmly—had shown it in his eyes. More than anyone, he didn’t want her to go. He’d all but forbidden her. The same way she had tried to forbid him from using the Hexcore.

Her chest tightened as she thought of his fractured resolve, of the utterly betrayed look on his face when he had found her clutching onto Jayce in the lab. How she had cried her heart out to Jayce, how she had confessed her complete, unfaltering devotion to Viktor. And yet it was Viktor who should have heard those words. Not Jayce. And certainly not like that. Not stolen or overheard in a desperate attempt to turn him away from his goal. He deserved so much better. He deserved to hear it in the safety of their bed, spoken with love and certainty—not anguish.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed the paper on her desk, her mind returning to the fleeting moment when Viktor had said, I am happy. How quickly that happiness had faded, replaced with another want—one far more dangerous and unapproachable than the concept of being loved. Or perhaps, she thought bitterly, they were equally alien to Viktor.

A knock on the door wrenched her out of her own head.

She glanced around her apartment, taking in its natural state of controlled chaos. Papers were scattered across her bed and floor, a few too many cups for one person splayed across various surfaces, clothes draped haphazardly over the chair. A scented candle burned faintly on the table, its singular ember a small, grounding presence in the midst of her internal monologue.

She sighed, stretched—she’d been sitting in the same position for what must have been two hours—and walked toward the door on wobbly legs.

When she opened it, Viktor stood on the other side, and her first thought was whether he had felt the same as she did now when she had shown up at his doorstep after their week apart. She mirrored his movements from that moment, fighting the immediate urge to pull him into an embrace. Instead, she settled for a gentle chin tilt, a silent beckon for him to come inside.

Wordlessly, she closed the door and turned to face him, only to find his gaze fixed on the floor. His trembling hand gripped his cane tightly, his knuckles white with tension. He looked awful—worn, hollow somehow—but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.

Before she could form the words to greet him, he suddenly clutched onto her like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline.

“Forgive me,” he whispered desperately against her neck, his voice raw and unsteady.

His cane clattered to the floor. Viktor clung to her with so much need, his breathing laboured and erratic, as though every exhale cost him more than he could bear. Renly froze for a moment, startled by the sheer force of his grip, but instinct soon took over. She raised her hands, resting them lightly on his back, feeling the faint tremor coursing through his body. His arms encircled her neck, holding her so tightly it almost hurt, as though letting go might shatter him completely.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, his voice raw, cracking under the weight of his anguish. "I’m so sorry."

Renly’s fingers pressed gently against the fabric of his coat; her touch uncertain but steady. "Viktor," she began softly, but he interrupted her with another broken apology, his words tumbling over one another like a prayer.

"I’m so sorry," he whispered again, the sound of it splintering her heart.

She tightened her hold on him, grounding him as best she could, though she couldn’t understand what he meant. Her mind spun. He did it, didn’t he.

"Viktor, talk to me," she said, her voice calm despite the storm she could feel radiating from him. "I’m here. Whatever this is, you don’t have to carry it alone."

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he pressed his face against her neck, his breath hot and uneven on her skin. She could feel his weight bearing down on her, not just physically, but emotionally, as though the very act of standing upright was too much for him.

"I’m afraid," he murmured at last, so softly she almost didn’t hear him.

"Afraid of what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to startle him.

"Of losing you," he admitted, his words breaking into a sob.

The sound sent a sharp pang through her chest. Viktor, who always carried himself with an air of precision and control, now stood before her utterly undone. He was a man stripped of his defences, standing on the edge of a precipice with nothing left to shield him.

"You won’t lose me," she promised, her voice firm despite the tears welling in her own eyes. "I’m right here, Viktor. I’m not going anywhere."

But he only clung tighter, as though her words weren’t enough to break through the crushing weight of whatever he was carrying.

"You don’t understand," he whispered, his voice cracking under the strain. "I’ve done something… something I cannot undo."

Her breath caught. She pulled back just enough to look at him, her hands moving to his shoulders. His eyes were red-rimmed and glassy, his face ashen with guilt and fear.

"What did you do?" she asked, the question gentle but unyielding.

Viktor shook his head, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I thought I could… fix—," he said, his words halting, as though even admitting it out loud might unravel him completely. "But I… I made a mistake, Renly. A terrible mistake."

A cold dread settled in her stomach. He did it. At least attempted it. She could feel her hands trembling—not just with fear, but with anger. Betrayal coursed through her veins, sharp and biting. How could he?

The thoughts poured into her mind, gnawing at each other, each one more vicious than the last. He’d gone ahead in his anger, in his stubbornness, and risked everything. Risked his life. Left her teetering on the brink of losing him entirely.

And for what? Because what she offered wasn’t enough? Because her care, her devotion, hadn’t been enough to make him stop, to make him reconsider?

The realisation burned her, stoking the flames of her own insecurities. She could feel the edges of her composure fraying as she stepped back from him, her arms dropping to her sides. The absence of her touch seemed to hit Viktor like a physical blow, his gaze snapping up to meet hers, wide and filled with something that might have been regret—or terror.

“What did you do?” she asked, her voice colder than she’d intended, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Viktor flinched, his shoulders sagging as though the weight of her words pressed him further into the ground. His lips parted, but for a moment, no sound came. His hands hovered uncertainly at his sides, as if reaching for something—her, maybe—but they didn’t move.

“I…” He muttered another apology, his voice barely audible, before finally forcing out the words. “The Hexcore. It… it nearly destroyed me.”

Nearly was an understatement. It had destroyed him—briefly—and then put him back together. Or rather, he had put himself back together with the last ounce of his will, while being consumed and pulled apart in every direction.

In that moment, a fleeting thought had crossed his mind, as one of the possibilities presented to him was an end. An end to his pain, to his indecision, to his fear. A blissful nothing had glimmered faintly before him, just within reach, offering peace and absolution. To become a part of the Arcane, forever forgotten and undisturbed.

Wrenching himself away from it had been the hardest thing Viktor had ever done—until now. Now, standing before Renly, he was faced with something even more daunting: proving his worth to her again. Explaining, somehow, that he had found all the answers he thought he needed, only to realise that none of them mattered without her. Explaining that he had stepped away—not because she was a consolation prize—but because she had always been, and would always remain, his first choice.

Emptiness echoed through Renly’s mind. Her anger faltered quickly, replaced by despair. She had despaired for him so deeply. Part of her wanted to reach back out and shield him from the world, to gather him in and protect him. But another part of her was so deeply wounded by the possibility—one that had never come to fruition yet had still clawed a gaping hole in her—that he had chosen otherwise, even briefly.

She willed her legs to move and passed him wordlessly on her way to the kitchen, granting him only a fleeting moment of her hand resting on his shoulder. She put the kettle on and pulled out two cups to later join her ever growing cup display across the apartment.

Viktor dragged himself behind her, eventually slumping into the chair like a defeated dog. They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity until she finally placed a steaming cup before him and took a seat across the table, facing him directly.

“All right. What happened?”

“Renly, I—” Viktor sniffled, struggling to gather words that would make sense. “I am so sorry.”

“Stop apologising, Viktor. It already happened,” she said, exasperated, her voice tinged with annoyance. But seeing how he shrank under her scolding, she softened, reaching out to take his hand.

“I was so angry,” he admitted, his voice low and trembling. “With you, with Jayce. I suppose I felt exactly how you are feeling now.” He looked up, meeting her eyes with raw vulnerability. “I… I touched it. And it just devoured me. Broke me. Showed me what I could become—and the price for it. And I realised… I hated it.”

Renly held her breath, her hand retreating from his. “Are you hurt?”

“No. Well, slightly,” Viktor winced, his lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s mostly my mind that’s hurt. My pride.” He thought of the way the Hexcore had terrorised him, its merciless grip, and how he couldn’t bring himself to tell her the full truth.

“I can’t believe you threw it all away on a whim,” she blurted, unable to keep the accusation from slipping out.

“It was not a whim!” Viktor’s voice rose, but only briefly, before it broke into a sigh. “It was a promise of something better. For you. For me. Mostly for me,” he admitted, his gaze falling, his thoughts spiralling into incoherence.

“Viktor.” Renly’s tone was heavy, her emotions warring within her. “I can only imagine… No, actually, I can’t imagine what you feel every day.” She stopped him with a sharp look when she saw he was about to interrupt. “I’m so sorry that I don’t know. I was… I was afraid to lose you too.” Her voice cracked, betraying the pain she had tried to hide.

“Renly,” he said, his words weighed down with difficulty, yet he forced himself to continue. “I would understand if this were something you cannot forgive.”

“Viktor, how can you—” she began, but the tears rolling down her cheeks choked the words in her throat. She raised a crook of her elbow to cover her eyes, desperately trying to steady herself.

A hysterical thought shot through Viktor’s mind—that this was their teary goodbye—and for a moment, he was certain he’d start crying as well. He closed his eyes, feeling the heat gathering under his lids, when her hands found him again. Her weight settled on his lap, her face nuzzling into his hair.

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, a full-blown cry that dampened his sweater and neck. “You’re so… good, and I haven’t told you,” she said, her voice breaking as she wiped her tears on him. “I didn’t know what I would do if you…” Another sob tore through her, ugly and raw, overblown with all the feelings she had bottled up for far too long.

 Viktor wrapped his arms around her, pulling her impossibly closer as he tried to suppress his own tears. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder, and he whispered hoarsely, “I know.”

And he did. He knew it with a clarity that terrified him. That feeling of being so completely entwined with someone else, so dependent on them for a piece of his own happiness—it was as exhilarating as it was terrifying. Never in his life had he allowed himself to need someone like this, to let someone burrow so deeply into the carefully constructed walls around his heart. But he couldn’t fight it anymore. He didn’t want to.

“Will you…” His voice wavered as he pulled back just enough to meet her swollen, tear-streaked face. “Will you have me back?”

Renly blinked at him, her brows knitting together as if she wanted to argue, to challenge him, to tell him just how wrong he was. She’d never gotten rid of him in the first place. But the words didn’t come. Instead, her trembling hands cradled his face, and she leaned in, pressing a sloppy, tear-soaked kiss against his mouth.

“Yes,” she muttered, her lips brushing his as she spoke the word straight into him, warm and raw and final. “Yes.”

Viktor shuddered under her touch, relief washing over him. He kissed her back, softly at first, then with more urgency, needing to feel the truth of her words. It wasn’t elegant or perfect—it was messy and desperate, as he swallowed her tears down as if they were his own.

Wordlessly, Renly took his hands and guided him toward her bedroom, minding all the obstacles along the way, her movements impatient. Viktor stepped carefully behind her, taking in the clutter of random objects. Not much had changed since the last time he’d been there; she had just added more colourful lamps.

Once they had reached the bedroom, she pushed the door shut before pinning Viktor against it, her hands reaching for his neck to pull him into a desperate kiss. He gave away a startled gasp, as she bit his lower lip and slid her palms underneath his shirt. His coat, long abandoned on the hallway floor, left him wearing the same clothes he had worn the day before, and they gave off a faint metallic smell of blood and gear oil from the lab.

Viktor let out a chuckle, as her needy fingers rushed to undo his buttons and rush him out of the layers, scratching his chest with her fingernails by accident. With almost restrained movements, he did the same for her, as if his regard for clothes had vanished, and he only obliged because of her decency in not ripping the fabric right off his back.

With their mouths still glued together, Viktor let his weight rest on her, as he backed them toward the bed, positioning himself to sit first and pull her into his lap. He cupped her face and pulled her in for a tight embrace, his forehead resting in the curve of her neck. He pressed his face into her hair and breathed in deeply through his mouth and nose, hoping to keep her scent with him forever.

Renly ran her fingers down his spine, the bolts embedded in it, as she gently detached all the parts that corseted Viktor’s frame, rubbing her palms flat along the dents and marks it left in his skin. He let out a relieved exhale, as her mouth came back to his into a messy open mouth kiss, his hands pressing on her shoulder blades. Her lips needy, giving away moans of urgency, as if there wasn’t enough of him.

She stood up, guiding him with her, before she leaned down to take off his leg brace with a few quiet clicks and placed it by the bed. Viktor felt her hands sliding down his thigh, her fingers pressing gently around his knee. She then returned to level with him and licked the seam of his mouth as she unbuckled his belt.

Viktor hesitated; his hands travelled to steady hers before she could pull his pants down. There, below the layer of material, was the very proof of his infidelity, of his weakness. The purple, fluorescent vein that burned itself into the fabric of his flesh—a forever reminder of a moment when he almost let himself be corrupted.

She squeezed his palms and broke the kiss with a sigh. Her hands then cradled his neck, pulling him in so she could ghost his forehead, his eyebrows, his eyelids, his moles, the corner of his mouth, the side of his nose, the spot under his jaw, his neck, with her lips. A silent signal of acceptance, of forgiveness, of the fact that nothing had to be forgiven in that moment. Viktor’s hands hovered in the air patiently until her last kiss, when they rested on her hips, curling under the waistband of her pants.

They rid themselves of the last bit of clothing together, Renly’s eyes lingering for a moment on the alien string in Viktor’s body, his own eyes closed as he slid her pants off with the dull movement of his palms, cradling the skin of her legs. Standing close, but not close enough, Viktor reached out to slowly pull her flush against him. Their mouths came together wrenching breaths out of each other, his thumb stretching the muscle of her cheek as he sunk his tongue in her, breathing heavily through his nose, pressing his chest, his groin, his legs to her and her to his chest and groin so he could feel her naked against him.

Renly’s arms cradled his waist, her palms splayed flat on his back pushing him in, her teeth bringing blood onto his tongue. The fleeting moment of loss was gone, but the feeling of it still present, as they met each other truly for the first time—in hunger and longing, both searching for absolution in each other’s bodies.

Viktor lowered himself back to the edge of the bed, breaking the kiss only to sit her on top of his thighs, her legs straddling him tightly. He clung onto her for balance and for kindness, all their rituals previously established now abandoned for the sake of the urgency of feeling one another, sealing all the things that were close to breaking. He searched for consent in her eyes when his cock found her entrance, and she gave him a silent eager nod against his nose.

Viktor pressed himself in and paused mid-movement, noticing a wince cross her face. “Are you alright?” Of all things, this couldn’t hurt—it mustn’t.

“Yes… ah, yes,” she breathed into his mouth, sinking onto him up to the hilt, the stretch so gratifying she could cry again. A quiet ‘yes’ kept falling from her lips as Viktor’s hips thrusted upwards, their lips and noses bumping against each other in erratic rhythm.

She steadied herself, gripping his chin with one hand and his shoulder with the other, letting him take over, when his hand seized her palm and guided her fingers between them, where their bodies met. A bead of sweat travelled from the pool of her collarbones, down between her breasts, down her belly, to where she touched herself for him.

Her brows knitted together, her mouth hung open between quick breaths, waiting for him, when Viktor cranked his neck to rub his face against hers whispering, “Come on my cock, lásko.”

A full body shudder went through her, as she leaned her weight on him, her thighs clutching around his hips, his bones digging into her flesh, her walls clenching and she muffled a cry of completion into his mouth.

Viktor groaned soon after her, the tightness hugging his cock almost unbearable, as he spilled himself inside, caging her body with his arms, his tongue and teeth dragging across her shoulder. He then collapsed them to the side, still buried within her core, his waist resting on her thigh, his legs curled up under her bum, face nuzzled into her neck.

He kissed her again, his arm stretching out to grab the pillows from the bed head, one to tug under her pelvis as he rolled them over onto it, the other propped under his knee as he hooked his leg underneath hers, their bodies still connected. His tongue exploring her mouth, slowly this time, when his cock slipped out of her, and she let out a disappointed gasp.

Splaying his body on top of hers, their stomachs pressed against each other, he kept kissing her until he felt himself grow hard again. Her belly began to raise and fall more frantically, his own abdomen flexing as he propped himself on one arm and spat into his hand. He reached between them to cup her cunt and rubbed it gently, the slick spreading around her entrance.

He gave his cock a couple of wet strokes to then cage himself around her, one hand above her pressed into the mattress, the other entwining their fingers together, pinning her palm next to her head.

Gently and slowly, he entered her again, his movements soft so she could get used to him once more. The feeling of her walls around him washed over his senses, their scents mixing together, his hips rolling languidly against hers with reverence, as her body accepted him fully. In a pledge of utter devotion, Viktor murmured between his gasps, “I love you so much.”

“I love you,” she immediately whispered into his mouth. Viktor was being careful and precise, drawing out her pleasure and prolonging his. He wanted to savour the slide of their bodies melting into one, memorizing every moan that fell between them. Their noses pressed together, breathing heavily, her brows furrowed, mouths agape as their lips brushed against each other with each push of his hips.

His movements grew more intense, though the pace remained the same. Each slow deep thrust he gave her made her gasp quietly, as his cock kept hitting the right spot. He released her hand to slide his palm between them, his fingers finding her cunt, spreading her lips before resting on her clit. He rubbed it lazily, timing the action with the rolls of his hips and building the pressure withing her as her walls begun to clench around him desperately.

Renly dug her nails into his hips, her brows scrunched together, her mouth panting, breathless, and Viktor only smiled and whispered a quiet, “Yes, you are doing so well.” Her thighs squeezed his hips as she reached another climax, her head lifting from the pillow, crying out into his mouth.

He carefully worked her through the orgasm, before picking up the pace of his thrusts to reach his own completion, her name falling from his lips in a quiet chant. Her walls squeezed against his cock, his arms wrapping around her, face buried in her neck, gasping and panting. His movements grew sloppier the closer he got, when he finally spilled himself inside her with a loud groan, his body collapsing onto hers.

For a moment they both breathed heavily, their stomachs connected, rising and falling together. Then, Viktor rolled off her, pulling her with himself to give her a kiss sealing his devotion to her. He withdrew his cock with a quiet sleek sound, letting his seed leak out between them.

He felt her arms tightening around his neck, her breath growing unsteady, and the flutter of her heartbeat. Then he noticed her chest trembling next to his and pulled back to look at her, only to see tears streaming from beneath her closed eyelids.

“Did I hurt you?” was his first instinct to ask as he eased himself out of the vice grip of her thighs to cradle her face against his chest. “Are you in pain?”

“No, no—” Renly croaked, laughing through her sobs as she dampened Viktor’s chest. “I just feel… empty.” Empty of pain, of anger, of the horrible dread she’d felt when he crossed her doorstep. Empty of doubt and insecurities. All the empty space left to be filled with something new.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” she chuckled, trying to wipe her tears away with her hand, but there were too many. “It’s never happened before. I’m so sorry.”

“Lásko, it’s normal. Cry it out—it’s… beautiful,” Viktor murmured against her ear, his fingers combing gently through her hair. He felt his ribcage swell with contentment, a feeling of utter peace flooding his body from head to toe. Her tears felt like a silent confession etched onto the skin covering his heart.

“What is this?” Renly sniffled again, quieter this time, as she began tracing circles in the damp patch on Viktor’s chest, exhaling slowly through her mouth.

“Temperance,” Viktor mused, cradling her to him as though she were a precious gift. “We’ve been… reforged in our heat, tempered in your tears.”

His words left her gaping into the space in front of her, tracing lines between Viktor’s freckles and moles with her fingers. Silence followed for a while. It was comfortable, with something unfolding. Not love, which wrenched and wounded. Not love, which came only once.

When a yawn tore her mouth apart, Viktor nudged her gently with his chin and asked, “Shower?”

“Yes, shower.” Renly stretched across the bed, pulling Viktor along with her. She grabbed his hands and pulled them above their heads and pressed her toes on his feet, drawing a low chuckle from his throat.

They did all the things they usually did, but somehow it all felt new again—in a new space, with a new emptiness to fill. Renly let the shower run until the water turned warm and prepared fresh towels for them.

They stepped into the shower together, the steam curling around their skin. The first blast of water hit Viktor’s shoulder, and he winced, sucking in a sharp breath.

“Too hot?” Renly asked with a smirk, already reaching for the handle to adjust the temperature.

“Do you usually scald yourself in the shower?” Viktor teased, the corners of his mouth quirking up despite the discomfort.

Renly rolled her eyes, turning the dial until the water was just shy of lukewarm. “Better?”

“Much better,” he said, his tone playful. “Though I’m still recovering from the trauma.”

Renly huffed a laugh and grabbed a bar of soap from the shelf. “I’m afraid you’re going to smell like a coconut,” she said, holding it up as if presenting evidence of her crime.

“Good,” Viktor replied without hesitation. “I love coconut.”

She grinned, shaking her head slightly before beginning her task. Her hands glided over his arms and chest, the soap lathering into creamy bubbles as she worked. She moved with deliberate tenderness, kneading his muscles as though to coax away every last knot of tension that had taken residence in him. Viktor let his eyes drift shut, exhaling as her hands trailed over his shoulders and down his back.

She hesitated when her hand landed on his thigh, the oppressive purple vein even more visible on his flushed skin. Feeling the hover of her touch, Viktor took her palm in his and kissed her knuckles. “It’s alright.”

“Does it hurt?” she asked quietly, and then a thought popped into her head. Of course, it did—it had always hurt.

“No. It just feels… strange.” Viktor pulled her in and wrapped her arm around his neck. “I’ll have to get used to it. It’s a small price.”

When she reached up to wash his hair, he leaned into her touch like a weary traveller finding solace. Her fingers threaded through his damp curls, massaging the soap in gentle circles over his scalp. Every now and then, Viktor caught her hands, pressing a kiss to her fingers and wrists in a gesture that felt reverent. The simplicity of it—the quiet intimacy—made Renly’s chest ache in the best way.

When she finished, Viktor turned her by the shoulders, swapping places with her under the stream of water. He took the soap from her, his hands warm and sure as they smoothed over her skin. He moved slowly, deliberately, as if mapping her anew. The steam curled around them, the water running in rivulets down her back as he pulled her flush against him.

When he reached her hair, his fingers worked through the strands with a skill that surprised her. His thumbs pressed into her temples, eliciting a soft moan as her eyes fluttered shut, rolling back in her skull.

“Good?” he murmured, his voice low and rich.

“Perfect,” she breathed, leaning into him.

They kissed lazily under the stream, the water running between them as their mouths met in unhurried synchrony. Their hands found each other’s skin, not in hunger this time but in care—an exchange of solace, of connection. Every touch felt like a quiet vow, a promise that they didn’t need words to seal.

When they got back to bed, which had been changed by Renly’s insistence—Viktor said he didn’t mind, and he really didn’t—she started to drift off almost immediately. His hands traced the lines of her tattoo, lingering around ‘his place’ in it. After a long pause, he finally took a deep breath and asked, “You’re going to Zaun, aren’t you?”

“Will you hate me if I do?” Renly murmured, barely keeping her eyes open.

“No. Will you let me come with you?” Viktor’s voice was low and steady, though there was a hint of something uncertain beneath it. He truly couldn’t bear the thought of her being alone in there, and he couldn’t bear the thought of her constantly looking over her shoulder to see if he was safe if he went with her.

She shifted slightly, meeting his gaze in the dim light. “Viktor, you know I can’t do that. You will suffocate.” It was a statement that carried no judgment and no guilt. It was just a statement, saying the obvious, and yet—it made Viktor feel like he was just about to suffocate.

He inhaled sharply, but his hand gently found its way to hers, his fingers threading through hers. “I can wear a mask. But… we can talk about this tomorrow.” His thumb brushed her knuckles, a subtle gesture of reassurance. “Just know I’m ready to come with you.”

***

As they walked, Viktor’s grip was tight on Renly’s hand. Their morning was quiet, almost warm, until she made him laugh by dropping half of her sugar dish into his coffee with a smirk. He glanced at her with concern when he saw her putting on her Zaunite clothes, but dared not say anything.

They arrived at the lab together, and Jayce, relieved to see them both, looked up. "Mel fought off the council," he said, almost hopefully. "For now, the Hexcore is to remain as an 'on hold' project. We’re to seal it and put it away." Viktor sighed, a mixture of relief and disappointment flooding through him. Renly placed a hand on his shoulder, cradling his cheek gently with the other.

She moved on to pack a bag with supplies, medications, and gas masks for her trip to Zaun. She felt Viktor’s eyes lingering on her the whole time; she knew exactly what he wanted to do and say, and all the bones in her body ached with that knowledge. Jayce glanced at her and asked, "Are you going?"

Renly replied with a weak "yes," her gaze flicking over to Viktor. He shifted his stance on his cane, his voice soft as he spoke, "Renly… please take me with you. I cannot bear it." The weakness in him tore him apart. The weakness of his body fought the weakness of his pride, and his fragile heart—one that had only just reconciled with Renly’s—beat unsteadily in his chest when he saw her eyes, an apology pouring from them.

"Viktor, I beg you. Please, don’t make me choose," she replied, stopping her packing for a moment. She took his hands in hers. "Because if you make me, I will stay, and you will resent yourself for it."

"I will resent myself either way," he whispered weakly, the shape of his mouth askew as he tried to hold all of his weaknesses back. And even though he knew that none of the options presented to him in his agonizing journey through The Arcane were acceptable, for a fleeting moment, he longed for his body to be whole and able.

"I will go." Jayce’s voice was firm and present, so present, in fact, that both Renly and Viktor turned their necks to look at him.

"Jayce, you can’t—" Viktor shook his head in disbelief. He took a step forward toward Jayce, as if trying to physically stop him.

"I will go, and I will come back—with you." He gripped Renly’s shoulders while making his plea. "I’ll deliver you to Viktor’s doorstep, unharmed, I promise." And that promise was meant for Viktor, as Jayce turned his head to look at his partner.

"I… Jayce," Viktor’s words failed him. He knew, of course, that this was the solution to their conundrum. He admired Jayce so deeply in that moment. And even though his mind still whispered horrible insults to himself, he exhaled a breath of surrender. Because he trusted Jayce.

"I told you. You don’t have to carry this alone. And you don’t have to carry this—" Jayce pointed to the bag, "—alone. This is what I can do." He said, his face painted with a reassuring smile, as all three of them stood in a small circle, as if there was no grave danger before them.

Viktor pulled Jayce into an embrace, his voice barely a whisper as he said, "Please, bring her back to me." Jayce hugged him tighter, knocking the breath out of Viktor’s lungs.

They all packed the necessary items into three convenient bags. Jayce’s hand rested on Viktor’s shoulder from time to time, as if to reassure him he would be true to his word. When everything was ready, they stood before the front door, staring at the floor. Viktor let out one last sigh before kissing Renly deeply, for the first time on full display in front of Jayce.

She squeezed her eyes shut, clinging to his wrists. He rested his forehead against hers and whispered, “I love you so much I don’t know what to do with myself.” Renly let out a shaky exhale, then opened her eyes and cradled his face.

“Viktor, I admire you. I respect you. I adore you; I love you so much my heart aches.” She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and kissed him again.

They were startled by a muffled choke coming from Jayce, who had been completely forgotten in that moment. “Guys, this is so beautiful,” he said weakly, pressing his fingers into his eyes, trying to hold back one, maybe two tears.

Renly and Viktor exchanged an embarrassed chuckle, the tension of the moment dissolving. Jayce wiped his eyes, smiling apologetically as he slung one of the bags over his shoulder. “Alright, let’s get moving before Viktor convinces me to restrain you and keep you safe here.”

Renly stepped closer to Viktor one last time, smoothing a hand down his chest. “I’ll be back,” she whispered, leaning in for a final, tender kiss. “Promise me you’ll rest.”

Viktor nodded; his throat too tight to speak. He held her hands in his for a moment longer, his grip unsteady but firm. “Be careful,” he managed to say, his voice breaking just slightly.

Renly squeezed his fingers before letting go, turning to Jayce. He gave Viktor a reassuring nod as if to silently repeat his earlier promise. “I’ll bring her back,” Jayce said softly, the sincerity in his tone like a steady anchor.

With that, the two of them stepped through the door. Viktor stood frozen as he watched them go, his cane trembling slightly in his hand. The sound of the door closing echoed through the room like a final note, and for a moment, he stood there in silence, staring at the empty space where they had been.

The sound of his own sob startled him in the silence. He tried to shy away from it by hiding his face in the crook of his elbow, but it was a futile attempt. His shoulders shook as a full-blown wave of weeping overcame him. The weight of everything—the worry, the helplessness, the love that threatened to swallow him whole—poured out in sobs that filled the empty hallway. His heart, so fragile and raw, cracked under the pressure of letting her go.

He clutched his cane like it was the only thing keeping him upright, tears streaking down his cheeks as he gasped for breath. Viktor rarely allowed himself to cry, but now, in the solitude of the lab, there was no one to witness his unravelling. No one to judge the vulnerability that poured out of him in rivers. For the first time in so long, he let himself feel everything, unrestrained and unapologetic.

He cried out all his anger, cried out his leg, his spine. He cried out the unbearable thought of Renly getting hurt—or worse. He cried out the failure of his dream, the loss of Rio, his lungs, himself—every oppressive thought that gnawed at him, every splinter in every bone of his body. When his throat began to burn, a thought ignited weakly, like an ember. You are good at something. Wiping his tears away, chuckling at the absurd of his outburst, he turned back to the lab and sunk back into work.

[kyywritess]

Know Its For The Better Masterlist

pairing: aged up!katsuki bakugo x fem!reader

summary: After six intense years in Japan, YN LN has firmly established herself as a renowned gym owner. She's known by many pros for her charm, strength, and boxing abilities. She has a strong support system and amazing friends... her life in Japan was everything she dreamed it would be.

But everything changes one fateful night when a mysterious package appears on her doorstep. No note, no return address—just a plain box wrapped with a single pearly pink ribbon. As she unravels the contents of the box, she’s drawn into a dark, twisted mystery that seems to reach deep into her own past—a past she thought she had buried when she left her old life behind.

Started: 11/05/24

Last updated: 01/10/25

Total word count: 34k

Prologue 

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

an: just a little psa, I am a full time student so the chapters may not come out as fast as id like :)

[thebibliosphere]

Hey gang, small update on the Hunger Pangs hardbacks. I’ve only got 12 books left to ship but I’ve unfortunately ran out of my packing materials and need to wait on it arriving. It looks like shipment will be the middle of May, which is longer than I’d hoped for but probably good news for my hands/wrists.

After doing 5-10 boxes whenever I could due to migraines, after being given the okay to return to work in late March, I shipped a whopping 115 boxes in April, including when I was out of action for a week following the ER trip.

Proud as I am of that accomplishment—and so happy that so many people are enjoying their boxes!—it took a toll and now my hands are suffering.

So, rather than try to find alternative packaging materials, I’m going to wait for the shipment and let my hands rest and hopefully prevent any lingering injury.

Thanks for understanding 💖

The good news is I’ll have more time to write, but I think I’ll be using my dictation app for a while 😅

[whipplefilter]

Michigan (2024)

Earlier this week, I was feeling very wistful about NASCAR’s return to Michigan. It’s the first Michigan race we haven’t been at in person in a long time (2020 notwithstanding). It used to be my home track. I’ve driven my car on that track; I’ve ridden in the pace car on that rack; I’ve designed wraps for the exhibition pace cars for that track; I’ve waited out SO MANY RAIN DELAYS at that track, and have driven to that track so many times only to drive home without a race due to rain!!! I love MIS. <3

In classic Michigan form, it rained this week, too. But MIS looked soooo racey this year—it felt fast and wild the whole time, and the various aero Events in this race were kind of nuts. Those early sweeping passes as the lead cars went side by side were a sight to see! And then there were the less fortunate aero moments, like people getting loose fast, and whatever in the heck happened to the 7.

I will say, when the broadcast was like “the 5 says he’s getting looser faster than the others, so the team has made an adjustment to address this” I was like, lmao, that’s not going to go well, because he already said that yesterday. But I don’t think the booth would have any reason to remember that because they are not watching the 5 with the same single-minded neurosis as I am. AND LO AND BEHOLD!!!

THE 5 DID NOT HEED THE BUDDHIST CALENDAR’S SAGE ADVICE

Don't be too tight or too loose.

I had a work thing from 10-12 so I didn’t even get to see KL race today before he wrecked out. ToT So I’m glad it was fun to watch him yesterday, at least.

The 7’s flip was... weird. I guess it’s a function of how fast and how aero MIS is, and being superspeedway-ish without running the superspeedway package, but in this day and age, how does a car single-spin and then get airborne without hitting anything (like grass) that would flip him? Since in the last few years I feel like SO much has gone into making sure the cars have as much reason to stay on the ground as possible.

I was also impressed by Bowman’s late save and the fact that the entire field managed to avoid hitting Ross when he spun, especially considering when KL spun the same way he managed to take out HALF THE PLAYOFF BUBBLE. 😂⚰️💀

[lol-jackles]

why did the agents of CAA move UTA. if they are the biggest one, why did their agents leave?

A few reasons. Some agents were originally from UTA and then returned to UTA because the original bosses they clashed at UTA are no longer there. Other agents didn't like CAA's new business model that expanded into sport clients and so more resources were allocated into that area. UTA took advantage by stirring the pot and promising new and returning agents bigger paydays i.e. partnerships, which was what Jared's agent Jason Heyman took.

"The expected influx of talent from Heyman and Lesak in particular greatly enhance UTA’s ability to package film and TV projects soup-to-nuts, pairing showrunners and screenwriters with marquee stars and directors." - (X)

The agents messaged CAA their letter of resignation at 9:15 am and then arrived at UTA by 10 a.m. to start their new jobs. CAA reacted by mounting a scorched-earth investigation on how the largest defection in history happened under their nose.

After agent #12 left CAA for UTA, we joked that in order to stanch the commission bleed from the missing 150+ actors and talents, CAA should just call themselves UTA and hope some of their agents stay out of confusion.

With that said, talent agencies poach from each other all the time, it's business 101 in every industry.

[rastronomicals]

4:19 AM EDT July 11, 2024:

Led Zeppelin - "Nobody's Fault But Mine" From the album Presence (March 31, 1976)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

Much in the same way that the lyrics to The Beatles' "Glass Onion" acknowledged with a nod and a reluctant wink the gnostic cult of Paul-is-Dead, the packaging of Led Zeppelin's Presence acknowledged the I'm sure at-least-somewhat-discomfitting fact that their group had long since become the most humongous rock band in the world.

By the time of The White Album, and by the time of Presence, respectively, things had gotten to the point where expedience was no longer expedient. The Beatles had tried not to feed the conspiracy theorists, and Zeppelin--modest at least in this one regard--had stayed away from licensing lunchboxes and appearances on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. But at a certain point, things get so big, and so plain, that they become the elephant in the room.

Presence seems to be Zep's acceptance of their own status (beyond even their own control) as Big Dumb Object, an enormous artifact of unfathomable consequence.

That's dumb as in "incapable of speech," not as in "stupid," just so we're straight. But since we're there, let me note that Presence perhaps more than any Zeppelin album save II demonstrates that a certain amount of stoopidity is unavoidable or even desired if you're going to play the cock-rock game.

Plant's lyrics to "Achilles" reference some etching or the other of William Blake's, so my point is not to disparage Zeppelin's obvious operational intelligence. Still, Zeppelin were all about contrast: I dare you to check out the live video from '77, and tell me that Plant's suggestive mannerisms as he sings the band's 11-minute epic aren't a little stoopid . . . .

Ah, but I digress, 'cause the key concept here is not "Dumb" but "Big." Think thunder. Think "Hammer of the Gods," if that helps.

After four albums where at least part of the idea had been to leaven the heaviness with keyboards or acoustic instruments, Presence was a return to the undiluted bombast of the second album. Guitar bass drums voice recorded in a mere 18 days--not necessarily simple, but certainly direct.

The instrumental contrasts that for good or ill had been there on III, IV, Houses of the Holy, and Physical Graffiti were absent on the band's seventh album--and maybe that's why it's long been their least popular. Funny thought, that: maybe Zeppelin were so goddamned popular not because of the parts that rocked, but because of the parts that didn't!

I don't want to go overboard, however. I don't want to make it sound as if Presence were a piece of the nascent pub rock of the time, because the very first track belies that. "Achilles" is the third longest studio track for the band and features perhaps Page's most intricate guitar orchestration, with as many as 12 overdubs. It's routinely described as proggy, or even Yes-like (and if you don't believe that, consider that Dream Theater is one of the many acts who have covered the song). And note that Jonesy is playing an eight-string bass.

Leave it to this band of contrasts to feature a 10-1/2 minute song about a Greek demigod with painstakingly multitracked guitars on their back-to-basics record . . . Presence is perhaps Led Zeppelin's most misunderstood album, but for Page Plant Jones & Bonham, that may have been The Object all along.

File under: The Object Of It All

--

[forabeatofadrum]

El WooWoo! I have finished Persona 4 Golden (mom holy fuck-) so I have something to share again. Thank you @artsyunderstudy, @bookish-bogwitch and @that-disabled-princess for tagging me and @martsonmars, @wellbelesbian, @whatevertheweather for the Sunday tags.

I just got home from a local Pride event. It was a lot of fun, especially the part where I hit a homophobe with a protest sign. Everybody clapped.

First off, I have revised my submission for the @klainefanzine2025. There's one part I'm stuck on, so I might ask one of the beta's to help me out here. Tenses in the English language are wack, you know? (Although... Dutch isn't much better.) (Sexy fokschaap, anyone?)

AND! I DID WRITING! LJUBILI SE! As I keep saying, I am stuck and I think I will remain stuck. I last published chapter 9 and my head is still :p when it comes to chapter 10, 11 and 12, but I just finished chapter 13! 🥳

Have some of that for this fine Wednesday:

The doorbell rings. Cooper jumps up. “My package!” he runs off towards the door, and Quinn and Blaine share a look. It’s probably Denise. They’ve told their families that Quinn’s “friend” is joining them, but Cooper must’ve forgotten that in his excitement. And they’re right. Cooper returns without a package, but with Denise in tow. Ideally, Denise would’ve come to the Anderson house with Blaine and Quinn, but she had an appointment. “Dee!” Quinn says and also gets up. She introduces Denise as her friend. Judy already knows Denise a little bit, but Blaine’s parents have no idea who she is. If their families think it’s weird that Denise is here, they don’t show. In fact, Cooper seems very excited to her again. He immediately shakes her hand, puts on a dazzling smile, and asks her all kinds of questions about herself. Blaine and Quinn share another look, although this time they’re amused. Blaine’s brother is flirting with Quinn’s girlfriend right in front of their noses.

Lil reminder: Cooper met Denise at the airport!

And now, the weather: @quizasvivamos @coffeegleek @caramelcoffeeaddict @raenestee @tectonicduck @nightimedreamersworld @urban-sith @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @confused-bi-queer @special-bc-ur-part-of-it @larkral @cutestkilla ​ @facewithoutheart ​ @shrekgogurt @rockitmans @bitbybitwrites @shame-is-a-wasted-emotion @esilher @kurtsascot @blackberrysummerblog @nightimedreamersghost @ivelovedhimthroughworse @thnxforknowingme

[felassan]

Spacelab9 have revealed more details about the upcoming Dragon Age Vinyl box set. (It's a 70 track collection which will include songs from DA:O, DAII, DA:I, DLC and also some DA:I bard songs.)

I found this new info blurb about the cover art really interesting 👁️ (emphasis mine):

Deluxe package features all-original artwork by Dragon Age Concept Director Ramil Sunga and Lead UX Artist Danny Richardson, created exclusively for this album set. The beautifully detailed artwork presents a pictorial timeline following the lore of the Dragon Age series, beginning at the dawn of the Golden City, throughout the City's Fall and culminating in its re-emergence as the Black City, seat of the Old Gods. [source]

hello??? (the announcement blogpost for the vinyl contained the flavor text "From the land of Thedas, at the dawn of the Golden City".)

they also announced that the pre-sale for the box set was scheduled to begin April 27th (can't see it atm unless I'm missing it, maybe it's not yet started?) and that on the BioWare Gear Store it will begin on May 10th. each outlet will offer their own exclusive color variant of the vinyl.

lastly they also posted the full track listing (emphasis mine):

"DISC 1 SIDE A [DRAGON AGE ORIGINS]

1. DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS (2:49) 2. ELVES AT THE MERCY OF MAN (1:21) 3. RUINS OF OSTAGAR (1:18) 4. THE COMMON DWARF (1:24) 5. THE PARTY CAMP (0:44) 6. THE DALISH (1:18) 7. DARKSPAWN IN THE WILDS (1:13) 8. HUMAN NOBILITY (1:21) 9. URN OF SACRED ASHES (1:01) 10. JOIN THE GREY WARDENS (1:53) 11. BATTLE THE DARKSPAWN HORDES (1:05) 12. MAGES IN THEIR CHANTRY (2:01) 13. LELIANNA'S SONG (2:33)

DISC 1 SIDE B [DRAGON AGE ORIGINS]

1. THE CHANTRY'S HUBRIS (3:16) 2. THE NATURE OF THE BEAST (1:30) 3. TAVERN BRAWL (1:15) 4. THE DALISH ELVES ENCAMPMENT (1:18) 5. FERELDEN AT WAR (2:57) 6. KING EDRIN (1:32) 7. CHALLENGE AN ARCH DEMON (3:12) 8. THE CORONATION (1:03) 9. I AM THE ONE (HIGH FANTASY VERSION) (4:02)

DISC 2 SIDE A [DRAGON AGE II]

1. DRAGON AGE II MAIN THEME (2:03) 2. HAWKE FAMILY THEME (2:00) 3. QUNARI ON THE RISE (2:04) 4. LOVE SCENE (1:39) 5. VISCOUNT (1:29) 6. TAVERN MUSIC (2:11) 7. KIRKWALL ARRIVAL (5:13) 8. ROGUE HEART (3:12)

DISC 2 SIDE B [DRAGON AGE II]

1. JOURNEY TO DEEP FEAR (2:55) 2. MAGE PRIDE (4:03) 3. KIRKWALL TOWN ACT 2 EXPLORATION (2:05) 4. DARK DAWN (3:22) 5. FENRIS THEME (2:30) 6. NIGHT ATTACK AND VICTORY (1:56) 7. DESTINY OF LOVE (3:25)

DISC 3 SIDE A [DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION]

1. DRAGON AGE INQUISITION THEME (2:52) 2. THE WRATH OF HEAVEN (5:25) 3. ESCAPE FROM THE FADE (1:14) 4. CALLING THE INQUISITION (1:59) 5. IN HUSHED WHISPERS (4:49) 6. THE WESTERN APPROACH (2:07) 7. JOURNEY TO SKYHOLD (1:48)

DISC 3 SIDE B [DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION]

1. THE DAWN WILL COME (1:58) 2. ORLAIS THEME (2:44) 3. THE SCAR (0:56) 4. SIEGE OF ADAMANT (1:14) 5. WICKED EYES AND WICKED HEARTS (3:35) 6. THEDAS LOVE THEME (1:59) 7. CHAMPIONS OF THE JUST (3:55) 8. SACRIFICE (1:01) 9. RETURN TO SKYHOLD (2:13) 10. EPILOGUE (1:10)

DISC 4 SIDE A (BONUS DLC TRACKS)

1. I AM THE ONE (DARK FANTASY VERSION) [DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS] (4:10) 2. MAIN THEME [DAI DESCENT DLC] (2:58) 3. AFTERMATH [DAI DESCENT DLC] (1:29) 4. DARK SOLAS THEME [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (3:01) 5. QUNARI ATMOSPHERE [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (2:41) 6. LOST ELF THEME [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (3:58) 7. D'READ KODA (1:08) [HIDDEN TRACK]

DISC 4 SIDE B (DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION - THE BARD SONGS)

1. ENCHANTERS (3:23) 2. GREY WARDEN (2:12) 3. I AM THE ONE (1:58) 4. ONCE WE WERE (2:10) 5. RISE (1:26) 6. SERA (1:45) 7. FALL OF THE MAGISTER (3:01) 8. SCOUT LACE HARDING (2:08) 9. THE SLIGHTEST ONES (2:28)" [source]

👁️ Hidden track - "D'Read Koda"? ^^ Koda like a coda? (of interest here is that the recent Mass Effect vinyl collection contained some previously unreleased and some rearranged/remastered music.)

[source]

[dramalets]

Darling @blneobin tagged me in the 10 BL characters you want carnally thing. I am a dumb lil gray ace queer so I expect I have a different definition of want carnally than some 😂. But I will persist regardless. (I picked gals and guys because 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Mork - My Ride

He’s a puppy dog. He just wants to love and be loved in return and I would never ever get tired of looking at that dimple. Also you get his awesome uncles as throw in bonus. No way to lose here.

Ink - Bad Buddy

I just love her so much. I’m a useless lil femme with a competency kink a mile wide and dang does she hit it. The way she’s so sure of her self and what she wants, but is never arrogant about it, and how she treats Pa like the princess she is. A dream.

Pisaeng - Be My Favourite

Patient, loyal, great at love and excellent at self reflection. (Maybe I do just want a dog, damn.) The sacrifice he’s willing to make in episode 12 just got me right in the gut. I’d loved him the whole series but that was the Cherry. I’m just a Kawi looking for my Pisaeng.

Yu Na - Semantic Error

I’m ace not blind. I need this women to pin me down and tell me off. *ahem* Where did that come from. Anyways. She’s stunning, funny and a great friend.

Jim - Moonlight Chicken

He’s absurdly beautiful firstly. But I also love the way he learns. He admits his faults and works on them, that’s a decent human being right there. Plus Y’know he must be great in bed because Wen was HOOKED from the off. 😂

King - Bed Friend

Right. Not only is this man’s beauty a reason to believe in god he’s also just a wholly good bean. He never pressures Uea, he always meets him where he’s at, and he LEARNS. He makes mistakes and he admits those and learns from them. Cat kink aside he’s a great example of husband material.

Korn - Together with me

Listen, is he perfect? Absolutely not lol. But he’s the original standard for muscle bound Himbo pups and I adore him. (And those kisses? God damn.) *that gif is not Korn but if you search Korn you get the band so shh.

Tinn - Laws of attraction

The entire package. Hot, sweet, protective and good with kids. Those arms????? Get out.

Nim - The Warp Effect

Honestly she’s just hot, confident and gets very delulu when she’s in love. She can box me anytime she likes. (High key also wanted to pick her partner Molly too so you get a gif with both ✌🏻)

Pure - My gear your gown

This is a weird pick I realise 😂. Pansexual king, problematic in a lot of ways but loyal, loving and kind. Also he does actually listen to Folk and I feel they actually probably would have had a healthy relationship long term. Idk man. He’s just a great friend, confident in sex stuff and funny. Also v pretty. (All his gifs are from Shadow and fuck me I am NEVER watching that.)

If you read this far 😽

If you’d like to do this pls do! (And tag me.) It was a fun waste of time.

[naoyaslut]

The Hills Ch. 22

pairings: ran haitani x fem reader+18!

warnings: torture, mention of blood, blood and violence, minor fluff, cliffhanger

wordcount: 2.8k

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

It was just about dusk.  Naoto Tachibana had just returned to his apartment, tearing off his suit jacket before hanging it on the coat rack beside the door.  Closing the door behind him, he began to empty his pockets setting his cellphone down on the coffee table in his living room.  

He was getting nowhere with this case.  Ivy hadn’t brought him any viable information on Ran Haitani or Bonten as a whole.  Even though he suspected Haitani to be involved in Kenji Oh’s murder, he had absolutely no way to prove it.  

Attempting to blackmail Y/N L/N didn’t work either.  If anything, it backfired.  Sighing in frustration, Naoto turned his head toward his cell phone, the vibrations from the small device rattling the glass tabletop of the coffee table.  

It was an unknown number; this was normally how Ivy contacted him.    

“Tachibana,” Naoto pressed the phone against his ear and his eyes widened in surprise at the sound of Ivy’s voice.  It was low, she sounded winded, her voice hoarse as she spat out her words hastily.  

“I-I have some good intel on a shipment of narcotics coming in on Saturday,  Bonten is expected to pick them up at the pier in a shipping container.  I have the serial number written down, are you ready?  And be quick about it,”  

Naoto stumbled toward the coat rack, taking a pen out of the chest pocket of his suit jacket along with a small notepad.    

“Go ahead,” he replied,  

“KBCR 068121”  Ivy inhaled, her voice shaking lightly.”  Saturday, 1 AM sharp is the pick up on the east side of the shipment yard, near the security booth… I have to go, I’ll contact you soon,”  

“Wait-”  

The call was disconnected immediately, and Naoto quickly slung his jacket back over his shoulders before stepping back out into the evening.  He was heading back to the office, he had to let Vancouver know about this.    

Sanzu disconnected the call with Naoto on Ivy’s burner before dropping it on the floor and crushing it with the heel of his boot.    

“Great job sis,”  Sanzu smiled big and wide, his perfect teeth fully visible.  “Now that that part is taken care of, you owe us something,”  

Ivy shrank into herself, her jaw tensing as eyes followed Sanzu as he walked behind the chair she was tied to.  Sanzu and Rin had relocated her from Tantra to an abandoned warehouse.  The floors were covered in thick plastic and an old, rusted metal table in the middle of the room with an assortment of tools that she assumed belonged to Sanzu.  

Most of them looked brand new.  Knives, vice grips, a razor, and a couple of syringes still in their sterile packaging.  It was a lot.  Sanzu was the resident torture expert, and she knew exactly what was about to happen to her.    

After the call disconnected, Ivy had long since gone quiet breathing in long drawled breaths to try and calm her shaking nerves.    

It was just her and Sanzu in the room, Rin had stepped out for a smoke. And Ivy’s eyes watched in fear as Sanzu rounded the table before snapping on a pair of latex gloves.  He turned to her with his eyes bright and unassuming while snapping on a facemask.  

“Normally I’d strap you down to the table for this, but I honestly think we’ll be okay if I just sedate you a little,” Rounding the table once more, Sanzu pushed the chair Ivy sat in closer to the metallic table until she was chest level with it.  “It should be pretty quick anyway,”   

Ivy choked on the breath she was inhaling, coughing to clear her airway and whipping her head around to the entrance to see if Rin had returned.  He was still nowhere in sight.    

“What are you going to do to me?” Ivy huffed, teeth grinding heavily against one another.  She was pretending not to be afraid, but yes, she was crazy.  But Sanzu was on a whole different level than she was.    

Sanzu picked up one of the scalpels from the table and began to remove the plastic keeping it sealed, he looked at the doorway for Rin as well ignoring Ivy’s question.    

“Rin, let's go let's get this over with!”  

Rin answered back a moment later sticking his head into the door, he had his burner pressed against his ear.   

“Ran is sticking with his girl tonight, he won’t be able to make it,”  

Sanzu simply shrugged and his free hand knotted itself into the hair of Ivy’s hair located at her nape.  Without any hesitation, he slammed her face first into the metal table, the dull thud of her skull echoing about the empty warehouse.   

Ivy gasped out in pain and shock, her eyes blinking profusely as the pain and tears began to flood her frontal lobe.  The first impact stunned her, but the second one caused her vision to darken and she soon realized that she was lying in a puddle of her own blood against the table.  

Now, barely conscious Sanzu pressed her face against the table so that she was at least a little bit still before the sharpened edge of the scalpel began to slice into the outer edge Bonten tattoo that had been etched behind her ear.  

Ivy screeched in pain in response, her body tensing under the searing pain of the sharpened instrument cutting through her skin.  

“Just keep still, I’m nearly done,” Sanzu responded lazily, his eyes focusing on where her skin split open like molten butter. He was enjoying this, and he was calm about his reaction completely opposite of Ivy whose arms were pulling desperately at the restraints around her arms. “There, easy-peasy"   

Sanzu removed his hand keeping her in place against the table and removed the piece of flesh before tossing it on the table in front of Ivy.  

Ivy reeled back so hard; the old wooden chair flipped backward crumbling underneath her weight. She was screaming at the top of her lungs, her face red, smeared with snot and tears.  

“S-Sanzu, what the fuck did you do?!” she screamed, still tugging at her arms in an attempt to free herself.   

“Sorry, boss's orders, had to remove the ink, don’t worry though, I won’t be the one to kill ya” Sanzu laughed under his breath tugging his flu mask down over his face. “Ran may get that honor,”  

Rin stepped back into the open warehouse, his burner phone still in hand, and began to talk to Sanzu about what? Ivy wasn’t paying attention.  

She was too focused on the stinging pain in her throat, biting her tongue so that she wouldn’t scream any more than she’d need to.  

The chair that she was tied to was now in pieces and Ivy was able to get to her knees quietly enough, before sprinting toward the open exit of the warehouse.   

Rin frowned seeing Ivy moving out of the corner of his eye before he shoved his phone into his pocket.  

“S-shit, she’s getting away!”  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

It had been a few days since you were locked at home, alone, with one or two cars watching the house. Ran was still irate. You could sense it. And even though you had a scheduled appointment today, it was very obvious that he didn’t want to let you go.   

You were getting an accurate measurement of the baby today and another ultrasound that you assumed Ran would get a kick out of since it had been a while since he had been to any appointments.  

Idly, you searched the waiting room of the doctor's office to see if you could get a glimpse of your “husband”, who had been constantly walking in and out of the building to smoke. He insisted that he wasn’t smoking, but you could definitely smell the lingering odor, no matter how long he stayed outside and sprayed himself over with cologne.  

“Mrs. Haitani, the doctor is ready for you now,” An older nurse popped her head out of a locked door to make eye contact with you, and in response, you looked around the room again. He was still outside. It caused you to sigh in disappointment as you stood up, pulling the hem of your dress back down over your knees.   

“Is something wrong?” the nurse asked, she must have read the gloomy expression on your face.   

Smiling in response you shook your head before walking in her direction.   

“No, everything is fine, I’m ready to go back,”  

The nurse nodded again, pushing the door open wider and stepping aside. Her eyes went past you briefly, her smile widening.   

“Is this Mr. Haitani?”  

Glancing over your shoulder, you nearly jumped out of your skin at how Ran had crept up on you. You didn’t hear him approaching at all.  

He responded before you could, addressing the nurse only, he didn’t even spare you a glance.   

“Yeah, that’s me, are we ready?”  

Your shoulders drooped in dejection at his obvious method of shunning you, it made you feel unwanted and as if he didn’t even want to be here in the first place. Pressing your lips into a thin line you glanced back at the nurse trying to control the tears that you were holding back.  

“Mrs. Haitani?” the nurse asked, a bit of worry in her voice.   

“I’m ready,” you forced a smile, and Ran followed you back to one of the examination rooms.   

At the risk of unnerving your husband any further, you sat quietly in the room while the nurse took your vitals. Blood pressure, temperature, and even a urine sample to run for any abnormalities within your body.  

Ran did the exact same thing, he was deathly silent, and his eyes focused on his phone which was seemingly the most interesting thing in the entire world at that point in time.  

When the nurse finished her workup, she patted you on the shoulder after having lean back on the automated table, reclining it backward, and moving the sonogram machine over so that the specialist would be able to use it when she entered.   

“Alright, the tech will be right in let us know if you need anything!”  

“Thank you,” you breathed, smiling so hard that your cheeks had begun to hurt.  Things were awkward still between you and Ran. And it made you feel sick to your stomach, pretending things were okay and they really weren’t.   

At least they weren’t from your end. All Ran saw was that he was protecting you by shutting you out and keeping you locked up in a tower as if that would simply solve all of your problems.   

You were on the verge of tears, pinching your bottom lip between your teeth to keep it from wobbling and your face twisting into some ugly crybaby face.   

“Ran,” You whispered, hoping to get a word in before the technician came back into the room.  

He looked up from his phone hesitantly, those bright eyes of his widening in surprise when he saw your face. It was scrunched up in an impossibly cute way, tears gathering at your lashline while you tried to contain them.   

He felt bad and was confused as to why you were so upset all of a sudden. (Men am I right?) Leaning forward in the chair he was sitting in, he reached forward his hand swallowing your smaller one in his palm.  

“What’s wrong-”  

The technician knocked and pushed the door open to enter and stopped while only a few steps inside the room. She took a quick look at both of you and quirked a questioning eyebrow.  

“Is... everything ok?” she asked out of the blue.  

Pulling your hand out of Ran’s you quickly wiped at your face to be sure there weren’t any tears visible. The last thing you wanted was for the medical staff to think that there was something else going on.  

“Everything is fine,” you interjected, forcing the fifth smile you had for the entire day.   

Everything was routine, the technician gifted both you and Ran with yet another sonogram photo, one was 3D and the other was classic black at white that had the details of the size of the baby.   

Baby Haitani was measuring a little over 7months, which meant that you were further along than originally anticipated. It would be possibly 2 months before the baby could come, maybe even sooner.   

Your throat tightened while staring at the 3D sonogram, you could see everything. Her little nose, her eyes, there were separate pictures of her toes. It was a little breathtaking to see it all so soon.   

Ran seemed to be rather blown away if you will as he threw his arm over your shoulder staring down at the image. She had his nose, you could see, and although not extremely detailed her face looked as sweet as could be, he was in love.  

“Can’t believe the little bean is actually a baby, I can already tell she looks like you,”   

There was something giddy in his voice as he scrutinized the ultrasound, pulling back to press a kiss to the side of your temple.   

You stopped in mid-stride pressing the sonogram to your chest and giving Ran all of your attention. Things seemed better, for sure. But you still needed to talk, you felt off.  

“Ran... we need to talk when we get home,” you suggested, nibbling on the corner of your bottom lip.   

Ran nodded in agreement urging you to continue moving to the exit, he fished out his cell phone that had started to vibrate in his pocket before he looked at the incoming number that was on the screen.  

“Yeah, I know baby... I’ve been acting like a spoiled brat,” It was Rin calling his cellphone, answering the call pressing it to his ear pressing another kiss to your cheek. “We’ll talk when we get home,”  

You nodded in relief, a faint genuine smile etching its way onto your lips. It seems as if things were slowly starting to return to normal between you and Ran, especially after this doctor's visit. You were grateful he was there today and even more excited to plan for your baby’s arrival. You two hadn’t even thought of any names yet.  

Pushing through the double doors of the private doctor's office, you pulled the sonogram from your bosom to stare at it once more. Ran was still walking behind you, talking to someone over his cell phone. He seemed agitated now, storming through the doors with the phone still against his ear as he nearly screamed into it.  

Hastily he grabbed hold of your arm, pulling you towards the black SUV the two of you rode into the appointment.  

“And when was anyone going to tell me that? She’s been missing for 2 days? There’s no fucking telling where she is!”  

The sound of sporadic gunfire ricocheting off the black SUV and the nearby building caused you to flinch before Ran pushed you down behind one of the open backseat passenger doors.  

You opened your eyes as the sound of gunfire died down, a black vehicle skidding off down the road and out of sight.  

“W-what was that?” you mumbled, your hands unwinding themselves from Ran’s suit jacket to run them over your belly to be sure you weren’t injured. It sounded like it was gunfire, unfortunately, that wasn’t the first time you had heard it.  

Ran didn’t respond immediately but was pressing a number into his phone and waiting for them to pick up on the other end.  

“Are you alright?” Ran asked, his eyes scanning over the front of the hospital to be sure that whoever had fired at the two of you was long gone. It appeared the coast was clear.  

Pressing your hand into a spot on your shoulder you rubbed at it slightly, now aware of a faint stinging now that all of your adrenaline had worn off.   

The grey dress you were wearing was becoming uncomfortably sticky against your skin, the sharp pain pulsing even more as you pulled your hand away. Something was wrong.   

You could hear your heart thundering in your ears once you caught a glimpse of a red substance staining your fingertips.  

“Get someone over to 4th street we're on the side of the maternity ward, someone just unloaded a fucking submachine gun in front of the doctor's office,” Ran stood up reaching down to bring you up with him. “Are you alright?”  

His heart nearly stopped as he stared down at you in shock, your hands covered in what seemed to be your own blood and a pool of the same-colored liquid gathering underneath you from your spot on the sidewalk.  

You appeared to be in shock, your hands grasping at the hem of your dress to see where all of this blood was coming from.   

“R-Ran... what’s going on?”  

“Here, c’mon I gotta get you back inside the hospital...”  

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Tuesday, November 28

Buffy: (comes into the room) Well, it's official. Chris and Eric didn't come to school today. Xander: That's no coincidence. Willow: Maybe they finished their project. Buffy: God! What if it worked? What, what if that poor girl is walking around? Xander: Poor girls, technically. Buffy: What could she be thinking? Willow: And what are they gonna do with her? Giles: (comes in also) I don't think we need to worry about that just yet. I spoke to a press person this morning about the remains. The police have finished sorting through them, and apparently they found three heads in the dumpster. Buffy: They only had three girls. Giles: Precisely. Willow: So, they don't have the whole, uh, package? Xander: Heads must be no good. Huh. I found 'em attractive enough. Well, obviously I'm not as sick as Chris and Eric.

~~Buffy Episode #14: "Some Assembly Required"~~

[Chaptered Fiction]

Exposure Ch. 1-5/5 (COMPLETE) (Buffy/Spike, E) by thoughtsofahouseplant

Blood and Chaos Ch. 64 (OC, Ensemble, M) by Aetheron, quote_Amy_unquote (Sannah_banana)

Goodbye to Everything That I Knew Ch. 9 (Buffy/Spike, M) by My_Barbaric_Yawp

Cultivating Chaos Ch 15 (Spike/OC, Ensemble, M) by BunnyQuill

Hope is the thing with feathers Ch. 2 (Buffy/Spike, unrated) by wildflowerr_wildfire

Return of the Soulless Vampire: BTVS S9 Rewrite - a WWS story Ch. 44 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Hoomanbeans

The Text Message Memories of Buffy and Spike Ch. 1-25/25 (COMPLETE) (Buffy/Spike, T) by julikobold

California Sun, Chapter 12 (Buffy/Spike, T) by To Be Hers

The Neighbor's Point of View, Chapter 59 (Buffy/Spike, Ch. 59) by the_big_bad

Wraith, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, M) by simmony

Crash and Burn, Chapter 22 (Buffy/Spike, E) by NautiBitz

(Buffy/Spike, ) by

Bad Necromance, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Rea

Cherry On Top, Chapter 6 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Maxine Eden

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork:Buffy and Angelus by artsying-ifer

Artwork:Wine of the mother. Death of the innocent. (Willow) by pzyii

Artwork:Spike by loser-magoo

Artwork:Character Sketches by vu-prod

Artwork:Spike & Drusilla by pocketsizedann

Artwork:Buffy & Spike by thegothicalice

[Fandom Discussions]

Top Five Episodes of Buffy that don’t have Faith in them but do make you think of her by coraniaid

part of me thinks that Season 4 would work a lot better if the Initiative had heard of the Slayer before by coraniaid

my vote for the most unfairly criticized episode of each season by coraniaid

Beer Bad definitely isn’t the worst episode of Season 4 by coraniaid

Top 10 Spuffy fics I’ve read (Nov 2023) by mcgnagallsarmy

thinking about wishverse buffy. by sunflowerlesbian99

it’s not that I don’t get why the scoobies get hate in certain parts of the fandom by jennys-calendar

Why I relate to Buffy Summers as a chronically ill person by buffyrouge

BTVS Percy Jackson AU Characters by unseentravler

Was Tara Maclay from Buffy the Vampire Slayer fridged? by wasted-women

In which episode did your favorite character actually become your favorite character? by JellyfishDry9464

Buffys fashion choice. by Hairy-Membership-461

Tail man in season 5 by snowblind2022

Best acting skill of your fave character's actor? by Sudden-Star-7190

Why do people hate Xander so much? by imnotokaywiththis_

SMG declares there’s “too much sex” on the show by RealisticAd4054

Characters you identify the most with (and why) by Archonate_of_Archona

Does every monster/demon just punch and kick? by MasonicPleb

wasn't Sunnydale hot? was there a reason willow had so many warm looking hats? by milkmamasilk

Vampire MMA by Virtual_Row_8445

First-time watcher. How is this show real by LateRegistrationz

What's something from season 1 that you thought was good? by george123890yang

Is this scene from an actual episode? by Taeolian

(S)layers of foreshadowing by not_firewood_yet

Am I the only one who hated Angel, gave it a chance, and was won over? by Singaya

PUBLICATION: Return to the Hellmouth by kcmurdarasi

PUBLICATION: Angel Season 4: Trying to Make a Better World by andrew-heard

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: Why Sarah Michelle Gellar Turned Down The Role Of Cordelia Before She Got Buffy by Slash Film

'

PUBLICATION: James Marsters Is Proud of Subverting Expectations With 'Buffy' & 'Torchwood by Collider

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[abubblingcandle]

unofficial Febuwhump Masterpost

So this is for Febuwhump as I am a sucker for challenges to push me to finish fics lol. But when I was signing up to do Febuwhump like the one rule was to post on the day and in order which I am just not going to be able to do so I'm doing this unofficially not tagging or looking to "win". Just using the prompt list as inspiration :) It'll probably take me another 6 months lol anyway.

This one is also going to be mixed fandom as some Strike Back will fall in here too

1 - Helpless - Dutch Courage Ch4

The team start to realise that this is not a joking matter when Nelson Road is broken into by Jamie's stalker. Jan manages to coach Jamie to continuing with his life and the greyhounds band together

2 - Solitary Confinement

3 - "Bite down on this"

4 - Obedience

5 - Rope Burns

6 - "You lied to me" - A Treatment Room Doors Moment Ch3

Roy recovers from his surgery, prickish through and through. Jamie is being ... weird about football. And Roy receives a care package.

7 - Suffering in Silence

8 - "Why won't it stop"

9 - "I love you"

10 - Killing in Self Defence

11 - Time Loop

12 - Semi concious

13 - "You weren't supposed to get hurt"

14 - Blood Stained Tiles - Where the Hell is the Karma Ch5

Jamie returns to London to continue his recovery now he is free of captivity

15 - "Who did this to you?" - A Treatment Room Doors Moment Ch4

Roy and Phoebe make an impromptu trip to Blackpool to see Jamie play in a preseason friendly. Jamie has an emotional breakdown in front of a statue of a Blackpool legend

16 - Human Shield

17 - Hostage Situation

18 - Too Weak to Move

19 - "Please don't"

20 - CPR

21 - Unresponsive - The Little Black Book

Will Jensen's back up plan started off wholesome. Then it became precautionary. Then it became necessary.

The story of Will's little black book of files through tales of his relationships and career

22 - "You weren't meant to be there"

23 - Presumed Dead

24 - "I'm doing this because I care about you" - An Effective Echelon Ch1

When Jamie is rejected by Man City and Richmond in one day, he is in dire need of someone to take his anger out on. Who else would be better than Roy Kent? Get into a little fight, get punched, maybe feel something again, go home, job done.

What this plan doesn't take into account is Roy inviting him inside and giving him a bed for the night ... and not punching him in the face!

25 - Found Footage

26 - "Help them"

27 - Left for dead

28 - "No ... not like this"

29 - Not Allowed to Die

[evrenergy]

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[whentherewerebicycles]

trail snaps & a pip streeeeetch from yesterday. I’m two days away from testing but I feel sure in my heart that I’m not pregnant. it’s fineeeee it’s fine but I’ve been doing budget calculations and it looks like I will probably need to pick up a second job (college consulting work again sigh) so I can keep funding this whole process even with the salary cut. I have a few options in mind and will apply for my top choice one this weekend I think. I feel ethically very bleh about the industry but I do genuinely enjoy the actual student work and it’s good to have the option in my back pocket when I need to make extra $$.

got a bunch of errands done yesterday whoooo and also got two new cookbooks I cannot wait to dive into. I have a couple more returns to do (ah returns the bane of my existence) but am waiting for two packages of potential work clothes to arrive so I can do everything at once. the patio table I ordered arrives sometime today so I’m hoping to assemble that to see if it’ll work! and I want to do a little replanting of the flowers and herbs I bought yesterday if I can find soil.

so let’s see here’s the day:

5:30-7:30 coffee, lounge, emails, planning

7:30-8 shower/get ready/breakfast

8-10:30 work on foundations module, ping AS about rescheduling, work on tasks as assigned, print quince return label

10:30-11 CD mtg to review module

11-12:30 finish up tasks as assigned

non-work stuff:

email AU to confirm time

assemble table if it looks good

exercise (some combo of dog walk, gym run, and/or skate depending on whether my sister is coming over today or not)

maybe plant herbs if I have soil? if not maybe run and grab some this afternoon?

finish scrubbing sap off deck (did about a third of it yesterday with moderate success)

do a 10 min ‘all too well’ tidy of the house lol just want to put things back in order a bit

measure outdoor wall for wall tapestry (not sure if it would look good but I’d love to cover up that ugly siding somehow if I can)

do laundry

grocery run

[jeganj]

SRIVANI Break Darshan – Online, Tirumala & Airport Booking

Introduction:

Tirupati, the spiritual capital of Andhra Pradesh, is home to the revered Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala. Devotees from all over the world visit this sacred shrine to seek the blessings of Lord Balaji. To enhance the pilgrimage experience, Padmavathi Travels offers exclusive services, including Srivani VIP Break Darshan, Tirupati Airport Offline Darshan Tickets, and Two Day Tirupati Tour Packages. With priority access, hassle-free travel, and expert guidance, our services ensure a divine and stress-free journey.

Experience the Srivani VIP Break Darshan

The Srivani VIP Break Darshan is a premium privilege extended by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for devotees who contribute to the Sri Venkateswara Aalayala Nirmanam Trust (SRIVANI). This initiative allows devotees to enjoy a faster and more exclusive darshan experience while supporting the construction and renovation of Hindu temples.

Benefits of Srivani VIP Break Darshan

Priority Access: Skip long queues with direct entry.

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Donation: Contribute a minimum of ₹10,000 to the SRIVANI Trust via the official TTD website.

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Darshan Day: Report at the Vaikuntam Queue Complex (VQC) at ATC Circle by 5:30 AM. Follow the dress code and carry valid ID proof.

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Must have a valid boarding pass for an inbound flight to Tirupati Airport (TIR).

Offline tickets are issued only on the day of arrival.

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Arrive at Tirupati Airport and go to the designated ticket counter.

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Reach Tirupati and collect darshan tickets from the JEO Office in Tirumala.

Check for hotel availability in Tirumala or Tirupati.

Overnight stay at Tirupati.

Day 2:

Early morning pickup at 6:00 AM for VIP Darshan at Tirumala.

After darshan, return to Chennai by evening.

Pickup & Drop Locations

Available within Chennai city limits.

Why Choose Offline VVIP Darshan at Tirupati?

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Special Arrangements for Senior Citizens & Differently-Abled Pilgrims

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Tirupati Car Rental Packages from Chennai

Pricing & Vehicle Options:

Etios / Swift Dzire (4+1 Seater) – ₹11,000

Ertiga / Innova (6+1 & 7+1 Seater) – ₹16,000

Innova Crysta (6+1 & 7+1 Seater) – ₹17,000

Tempo Traveller (12+1 Seater) – ₹19,500

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Pickup Time: 5:00 AM

Drop Time: 10:00 PM

Cab Options: Swift Dzire / Etios A/C

Temples Covered:

Tirumala Balaji Temple

Alamelumangapuram Padmavathi Temple

Varahaswamy Temple

Hanuman Temple

Govindarajan Temple

Kapila Theertham

Dress Code for Pilgrims

To maintain the spiritual sanctity, devotees must adhere to traditional attire:

Men: Dhoti and shirt or Kurtha and Pyjama.

Women: Saree, Half Saree, or Chudidar with Dupatta.

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