#Coral Grief AU

[cartoondrawer]

🌊CORAL GRIEF AU.🪸

(A Wild Kratts AU)

||PART 2||

||Part 3||

Coming Soon!

||Part 1||

[hupla222]

Ponify Your Horizons Lore

Ack! I just posted but the promise of being able to share my lore with everyone was too great. This au is a fun one and I think it deserves to have its lore written out for everyone to enjoy. Buckle up, this one is a long one. And as always, let me know what you think. I love hearing from people!

Some basic things out of the way. Every breed (earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn) can use magic to some extent. Unicorns are much better at it and have much wider variety though, earth ponies and pegasi can only do like one spell each.

The Main Trio:

Liko: She's a young unicorn from a small town going to school in the big city. One day she was given a mysterious jewel (the Element of Magic) by her grandma and she became determined to figure out what is was. Especially after some strange unicorn and his Kirin lackies attacked her to try and get it. She doesn't have her cutie mark yet, but she shows an aptitude for empathetic magics such as being able to assess other's emotions and shield spells.

Roy: He's an earth pony colt from a small town with a love of adventure. He's always wanted to travel the world, like the pegasi do. He hasn't gotten his cutie mark yet but he shows an interest in navigation, using the soil as his guide. He met Liko when she was trying to hide from that strange unicorn.

Dot: She's an earth pony filly travelling with the RVT. Her mother sent her there when she failed to find her cutie mark anywhere at home. She's not too thrilled and mostly stays holed up in her room. She does show an interest in mechanics however. Liko is obsessed with being her friend and helping her find her cutie mark. Dot developes a crush on her because of this.

The RVTS:

Friede: He's a pegasus who rescued Liko and Roy from that mysterious unicorn and his Kirin. He promised to help Liko find out what her pendant really was and when they do, help her find the remaining Elements of Harmony. His magic allows him to shoot lightning from his wings.

Orla: She's a pegasus who maintains the ship as its handywoman. Her magic allows her to create tailwinds with her wings, aiding in flying the ship.

Murdock: He's and earth pony who cooks for the crew and primarily takes care of Dot. His magic allows him to rapidly grow plant life, bringing them to harvest ready status.

Mollie: She's a unicorn and is the medic of the crew. Her magic is all healing focused, knowing a great many spells to heal all sorts of ailments. Liko really looks up to her.

Lucius: Lucius was a unicorn who ended up befriending five other creatures, all not ponies. They traveled the lands as the best of friends collectively growing to be known as the Six Heroes. Among this group was Gibeon, though he was rarely included. One day this group went to a place called Paradise (Area Zero) to stop a great evil. Paradise was a haven inhabited by a strange breed of unicorn who utilized paradox magics. In the depths of Paradise, they found a tree holding six colorful stones, the Elements of Harmony. When the Six Heroes vanquished the evil with these Elements, Lucius ascended and became an alicorn, promising to always protect the peace.

Gibeon: He's a unicorn the accompanied the Six Heroes on their journeys, assisting them in battle but never truly being recognized. He was furious when the Elements did not choose him as a barer, but the light of its magic did grant him with immortality. He rejected Lucius and ran away to live in Paradise, studying the Elements tirelessly, trying to figure out how he may gain their power and ascend as well. Eventually it struck him that he just could not do it alone and he needed five saps to help him.

The Explorers:

Amethio: He's a unicorn born in Paradise and is Gibeon's younger son. He was trained day and night since he was little on how to use his magic and on how he needs to acquire the Elements. He had two Kirin help him train. His magics allow him to control shadows as if they were tangible things, even being able to set them on fire, hence his cutie mark. He's serious and rarely has time for fun, even though Zirc and Onia try to be there for him.

Spinel: He's a unicorn from the outside (aka not Paradise). He likes to think of himself as the master of all magics, although it frustrates him to no end that he cannot fathom paradox magic. He specializes is surveillance spells such as camera like orbs of magic, hypnosis, and mind reading. No one really trusts him but he is in charge of the airship they use to travel around the region.

Coral: She's a pegasus from the outside. She's wild, likes to fight, and barely listens to what she's told. She's often used for scouting purposes although she wished she could do something more fun. Her magic allows her to create blizzards with her wings.

Sidian: He's a unicorn born in Paradise and is Gibeon's older son. He was trained from the day he was born on how to locate gemstones and that became his special magic. His horn is shattered so his gem finding spell is the only one he can use, all the others just explode. His magics allow him to read and utilize the resonance of the gemstones he finds, allowing him to absorb their inherent magic and fire it through his hooves. He is know as the Secret Weapon of the Explorers due to them using him to find the Elements and generally being the most powerful, though his magic can be difficult to aim upwards. He is more often than not forced to stay on the airship.

Chalce: She is an earth pony from the outside. She's the level headed one, working together with Spinel to come up with plans for the Explorers. Her magic allows her to control plant life, bending to her whim. She tried to act like a mother to Amethio and Sidian, since they never knew either of theirs, but they don't really like her.

Zirc and Onia: These two are Kirin who lived on the mountains the surround Paradise. The two stumbled upon Amethio one day, struggling with his fire magic, and they offered to help, since being Kirin they know a thing or two about fire. Gibeon heard of this and was pleased enough to delegate raising Amethio to them, with him regularly checking in. Ever since they've been grunts of the Explorers, steering the airship and keeping an eye on Gibeon's sons outside of Paradise.

And I think that's it for now. Wow was that long but I just had a lot to say lol. Let me know what you think and if I missed anyone you wanted to hear about! Stay lovely everyone!

[aeristudios]

see you, space cowboy (epilogue)

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: It's been almost a year since everything has happened, and you're ready to come home—to the man who never stopped waiting. .𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: bounty hunter!Wonwoo x bounty hunter!reader, brief mentions of other members (Jeonghan, Soonyoung, Mingyu and Seungcheol) .𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: angst, sc-fi, smut, fluff, lovers to enemies to ???, cowboy bebop elements, space au, established relationship, neo-noir, dystopian-ish if you squint .𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: PLEASE READ ALL THE WARNINGS! heavy angst, very strong language, mentions of murder/attempted murder, gun violence, morally grey characters, grief, guilt/self blame, kissing, very messy oral (f. receiving), nipple play, fingering, nail digging, unprotected sex, missionary, creampie, and still lots and lots of yearning .𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 2.2K .𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝐀𝐍: Reader's nickname is Silver and the reason for the nickname is explained in the main story attached to this: See You, Space Cowboy. I highly encourage you to read that story first because this epilogue will make more sense. I wasn't planning on writing another part to this, but you guys really loved the story and wanted to know what was going to happen to them after this. Tbh, so did I. I loved writing these two and I shed a lot of tears writing their story. Ugh I hope this love finds me one day lol. Thank you to @lovetaroandtaemin & @wooahaeproductions for looking at this with me and thank you again @hobeemin for the banner 🖤

main story visual concept #1 visual concept #2 playlist

The sand here is warmer than you remember. 

It almost feels like silk, running your fingers over the tiny grains that sparkle like gold in the sunlight. The forever tropical breeze sways your hair off your shoulders, your silver hair shining like a beacon in the sun. The waters crash against the rocks, revealing the hidden coral, and you stand there in awe. 

The Sanctuary— your safe place, your peace. 

It’s been almost a year since you took out Aeron and showed the galaxy what a murderer he was, clearing your name with all the evidence you gathered with the help of Selene. There was no trial; his death was written up as self-defense, and no one was going to question more than they needed to. Wonwoo was placed as the interim head of The Organization and had to learn quickly how to take over the ropes and be the Boss. You stayed at a hideaway spot on a neighboring planet, with nothing but oceans for miles and a small island with a house and everything you needed. Jeonghan and Sohee visited often and kept you company, while Mingyu and Soonyoung came to drop off supplies at Wonwoo's request, keeping you alive during your self-isolation. 

The thing is, you could have come back as soon as your name was cleared, resumed your bounty hunter status, and gone back to the life you had before. Wonwoo begged for you to come back, to be with him, and as much as your heart yearned and your body ached for him, you weren’t ready. You were a debilitating mess, and you needed to heal, and bless Wonwoo for wanting to see you through that, but you needed to be alone. You needed to properly mourn and grieve. 

God, Wonwoo is a saint. You’ve put him through so much, and you’re still the sun that rises for him. He sent you updates without you asking, and sometimes you replied, sometimes you were so deep in your pain that you would shut off your phone for days and pretend nothing existed. You’re a shitty fiance; you know that, and you firmly believe that he deserves better than what you have been giving him. 

So why are you here?

Simply put, you miss him. 

Your time apart from him has been agonizing, eating you alive every day. You needed time to heal, but you are ready to come back into the fold. To come back home, which has always been with him. You’ve thought about it a lot; all you could dream about was him. The time you shared your first kiss, when he told you he loved you for the first time, when he asked you to marry him, etc. Your thoughts were loud even when it was quiet, and you knew it was time to quit wallowing in your self-pity and to be the partner Wonwoo deserved. 

You sent him the message yesterday. Just two words.

 “Tomorrow. Sanctuary.” 

He didn’t respond, but you know that he’ll come. Wonwoo has never let you down; you’re the fuck up in this relationship, after all. 

So here you are, standing on this beach with the sand between your feet, your stomach in knots as you wait with bated breath to see your beautiful man. You close your eyes, letting the wind grace your cheeks as you try to drown out the voices of doubt in your head, and just for a moment, just breathe. 

But then you hear the sound of boots crushing the sand, and your heart starts to pound in your chest, threatening to break free. You slowly turn and look at him, the wind picking up as you are finally face to face with the love of your life. His hair is a little longer now, barely touching the back of his neck, and he almost seems taller? Maybe you’ve been apart too long, and it’s fucking with your psyche. You don’t know. 

But one thing remains the same: his eyes. They are deep and soft when he looks at you. You still see home, your saving grace. 

“Hey there, space cowboy.” 

Wonwoo chuckles at his nickname, raking his fingers through his hair. The sun shines on him in the right way, and there isn’t a lens in the world that could do him justice. 

“Hey, my pretty girl,” he says, pulling you closer to him. You breathe in his familiar cologne, trying to keep the tears behind your eyes at bay, but you’re struggling. You love him so much; he is your lifeline. You hope that you will always find each other in the next life.

“I’m surprised you came.” You say, your voice is trembling. “I thought you’d be sick of my shit by now.” 

“There you go, still not trusting me,” he tsks. 

“Oh, stop, you know it’s not that—”

“No, it’s literally that,” Wonwoo interrupts. “How many times do I have to tell you—or better yet, show you—that I’m not going anywhere? I would do anything for you, baby. You ask me to leap, and I will. You ask me to shoot, and I’ll pull the trigger, no questions asked. I love you. “

His eyes peer into yours, penetrating your soul and leaving you vulnerable. There’s always been talk about how you're the sun that rises and sets for Wonwoo… but he is your twin moons, his soft light guiding you through your darkness. He’s your anchor, your rock, your peace. You were made for each other, and it’s never been clearer. 

“I left you,” you say tearfully. “You needed me, too, and I stayed gone. It’s okay to be mad at me. Scream at me! Do something!” 

“Silver,” the sound of your name makes your heart flutter. “You were never really gone.”

He points at your engagement ring, sparkling in all of its glory. You knew he always looked out for you, even when you couldn’t do it yourself. 

“God, you are such a romantic,” you scoff, rolling your eyes playfully. 

“Only for you, baby..” 

You shake your head, looking across the horizon as the sun begins to set, the sun turning into a stunning display of red and orange hues. You think about everything that has happened to get you where you are now, and even though your name is clear, how can you return to the way things were?

“So, what’s going to happen when we go back?” You decide to rip off the band-aid. 

Wonwoo kicks the sand around, and you see he is choosing his words before responding. 

“I stepped down.”

You look at him, your mouth open in shock as disbelief runs through you. “Y-you stepped down? Is it because of me?”

“Yes, but not in the way you think,” he says, gauging your expression. “I don’t want to be the head of The Organization. That’s what Aeron wanted, that’s what he trained me for. I love the missions and all that, but being the head meant longer hours, less missions, and not being home with you. I would hate that, and I already fucking resent it.” 

You study him, unsure about how you feel about this. “Are you sure? Don’t feel like you need to baby me, Wonwoo. I can take care of myself.” 

“Silver, stop.” His voice is firm but gentle, keeping you in check. “I know you are capable of handling things on your own. But my point is that we would not have the life we have always discussed if I took over. I’m still on the board and made sure you are on it too. So we still get a say in major decisions. “

“Okay,” you think it over. “So, who is taking over?” 

“I nominated Choi Seungcheol to take over. He’s capable and has the mindset to lead.” Wonwoo pauses, intertwining his fingers with yours. “I just want my job and you. Everything will be fine.”

You know of Seungcheol, and though you weren’t friends, you have to admit he is a good bounty hunter. He’s number three behind you and Wonwoo, and the few times you had to do jobs with him, you knew he had your back. Maybe the future isn’t so bleak after all. 

“So what I am hearing is, you still want to marry me?” You tease him.

Wonwoo’s expression softens as he pulls you closer, your lips barely brushing against his. 

“Of course. I’m going to love you for the rest of my life and the next one after.”

“Wonwoo, just kiss me already.”

 His lips crash against yours, his arms wrapped around your waist as your legs buckle at his embrace. His lips taste familiar, like the peace of home you have been missing for almost a year. You are done with the self-deprivation— you want him. Need him. And judging by the way he grabs your ass, he feels the same way. 

“I need you,” you whisper against his lips. 

“I know, baby, “ he says in between kisses. “I booked our favorite room on the way here.” 

Biting your lip, you let him lead you across the beach towards one of the many rooms in the Sanctuary, taking out the key card and tapping it on the reader. He opens the door to a spacious room with a soft king-size bed, expansive windows, and an open sliding door, inviting the ocean air in. You barely enter before your lips find his again, tearing off his shirt and throwing it across the room. You feel him smirk against your lips, unbuttoning your jeans and shoving them down your legs. Your desire for him is carnal, haunting even, and you need him inside of you now. 

“Fuck me, please,” you beg, undoing his belt. “It’s been so long.” 

“Aren’t we needy today?” he teases you. 

“I’m needy all the time.” 

“Touche.” 

He takes off his pants, revealing his stiff cock, and it makes you salivate. In your time apart, you’ve touched yourself to that night in the shower over and over, reminiscing the time he tasted and fucked you like it was the last time you would have that again. Now, you will have many more to come. 

You let him slowly take off your panties, spreading your legs wide as he looks at the sweet nectar between your legs. He licks his lips, grabbing you by your hips and pulling you closer to his face. He takes one long lick in between your folds, his tongue playfully brushing against your clit. 

“Please,” you breathe. “Wonwoo, please.” 

He obliges, eating you like a man with a purpose, to satisfy you. He nips at your thighs just the way you like it, spitting on your clit and sucking you all the same. He is dirty, filthy, sliding his fingers inside you and out of you, and tasting each time. Your eyelids are heavy, and you are on a high,  watching Wonwoo get pussy drunk off you, and it’s taking everything in you to not cum in his mouth. 

“You feel so good,” you cry out. “I missed you.” 

He hums in agreement, the vibrations from his mouth sending jolts throughout your legs. You take off your shirt, your fingers brushing against your nipples, pinching your hardening mounds. With one last lick, Wonwoo stands up, his face wet with your arousal dripping off his chin as he hovers over you. You lift up to meet his lips, tasting yourself on his tongue and understanding his addiction. Your legs wrap around him as he enters you with one smooth, slow thrust.

“Fuck,” you cry out, feeling relief and instant gratification. 

“I know, baby, I know.” 

He moves slowly at first, deep and intentional, like every motion is an act of forgiveness. Your fingers are in his hair. You look into his eyes and nod, giving him the okay to take you however he wants. 

He does that. His pace starts to build, rocking the bed against the wall as he fucks you harder, spilling your name from his pretty mouth. Your nails dig into his back, begging for more as the sound of slapping skin and moans fills up the room, not caring who hears you outside. You’ve never felt more alive, watching his cock slide in and out of you with such earnest, begging for your sugarness to cover him once again. 

“Wonwoo, I—” 

“Go ahead. Give it to me.” 

Your back arches as you see those familiar white stars, sending you over the edge as your release feels like a resurrection. Your legs shake; you're breathless,  sweaty and fucked out. He follows shortly after, spilling inside of you, his body trembling against yours. 

He doesn’t move, and neither do you. You stay wrapped around him, basking in the heat, sweat, and salt of everything you thought you’d lost. Your heart beats against his, a kindred soul in all this, confirming that you have your person and will never let him go. 

“I love you, Jeon Wonwoo.” 

He lifts up slowly, smiling softly as he kisses you sweetly, his thumb brushing against your cheek. “I love you more, Silver. I always have, and I always will.” 

You smile softly, returning his affection as you continue to make up for lost time, taking advantage of your new lease on your lives. At the end of the day, it will always be you and him. 

The Sanctuary, that is you and him—still standing.

And outside, the sea keeps living.

Just like you.

thank you for reading!! I can't believe we are done...

or are we? if you are interested in any spinoffs from some of the other characters in the story, comment, reblog or send an ask <3

[frownyalfred]

I keep thinking about the utrh confrontation and how that would have felt in coral AU. Like I know obvs it didn’t get to that point but like. Oh GOD how badly it would’ve broken Bruce seeing Jason begging him to kill the joker for taking Jason away from him. Oh GOD it would’ve been horrifically painful in such a specific way

Ooof yeah. And imagine Bruce sharing — or not sharing — the true story of how he dropped and went into a shock heat and then the first thing he did was claw his way into the suit to kill the Joker. But he failed. Explaining that to Jason, that he almost died, got mated, or went feral and retreated to keep his sanity and life intact. How badly he grieved him for years — YEARS! How everyone who met him smelled the grief and misery. Aghhhh.

[coin-goofball]

I was thinking about how Darkstalker turned Fierceteeth into a perfect copy of Clearsight, and how that sorta defeats the only thing Animus magic cannot do, and that is raise the dead, since an Animus could turn another dragon, or even a rock, into a perfect copy of a dead dragon, complete with every last memory and mannerism.

Thus, we get tonight's AU idea. A grief stricken Turtle turns a statue of his father into an exact copy of his father, every last memory and detail.

Complete with the perfect story to explain that reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated.

By the time Turtle truly comprehends what he has done, well, too late to change things back. Coral has Gill back, even if Turtle will be the only one to know the truth.

[goose-consumer]

Pearl's gem placement analysis

I mentioned this previously, but for those not in 'the know' all the gem placements in my AU have meanings behind them. Generally for this, I use Toonsnooper's videos on youtube as basic guidelines. Quoting him, "chest gems symbolise emotional depth, intuition and raw personal expression", all of which can be found in abundance with Pearl. She is unapologetically herself, and embraces her placement with this attitude.

Similarly to Yellow Pearl in the OG series, Pearl would have started off when she was first given to Blue attempting to pretend that she had no thoughts and feelings. What I mean by this is that she would adhere to her role as a pearl due to her obsession with rules and standards. Going to Earth not only changed Blue, but also Pearl. On Earth, she found herself and let go of the limits of what a pearl was 'meant' to be. She was loud mouthed, rude and this was absolutely empowering for her. Resisting one's nature in relation to their placement they were born with makes a gem miserable, so finally alloweing herself to be the ever impulsive Pearl she is was essential to her growth. Making decisions with her 'heart' instead of her 'head' benefits Pearl greatly as when she doesn't listen to her gem, she tends to fixate too much on rigidity, not taking into account how fluid rules can actually be.

These same emotions that help drive her decisions also can overwhelm her entirely though. Its was causes her to lash out at those around her, to scare away all of Lapis' potential partners. She cannot think logically in situations that cause her feel negative emotions and that instructs how she goes about her life. Pearl never takes a breather, she never steps back from whats aggrivating her. Instead, she charges ahead, and often gets herself in trouble due to this with those around her. Pearl's emotions are rooted in her pride, which is why she is such a confrontational gem. In a world without Lapis and Steven in her place, she is powered by her negative emotions. She yells at Garnet and ignores Coral's orders, never stopping and thinking about how they too are grieving as she is too overwhelmed by hers. Only when she stopped distancing herself from the other Crystal Gems (both physically and emotionally) could she reach stability, as while allowing her grief to control her, she stiffled all her other emotions in the process.

Pearl's arc is to remember to embrace all of her emotions fully, as allowing one to smother the others is incredibly unhealthy.

[mrsvante]

Waiting in the Water - Two

pairing: jimin x oc

genre: mermaid au, strangers to lovers, angst

summary: when alma finds an injured man on the shore, she has no idea he belongs to a world beyond her own. jimin is unlike anyone she's ever met—mischievous yet gentle, with an undeniable pull that draws her in. as he helps her find joy again, she opens his eyes to the beauty of life on land, and their connection deepens into something neither of them can ignore.

but jimin's presence hasn't gone unnoticed, and forces from the sea threaten to tear them apart. with the weight of two worlds pressing down on them, alma and jimin must decide if love is enough to bridge the divide—or if some destinies can never be rewritten.

warnings: grief, hints of depression, minor character death

word count: 1,480

Unfamiliar Territory

Fire.

It surges through his chest, lancing out in tendrils that coil around his ribs and settle deep in his muscles. His pulse thunders in his ears, in perfect sync with the sharp rise and fall of his breaths.

Breath.

His eyes snap open.

He gasps—air, too thin, too dry. It burns his throat, a foreign sensation after a lifetime of cool water filling his lungs. His body reacts before his mind does, and he tries to sit up. The movement is a mistake. A sharp, searing pain crackles through his torso like a bolt of lightning, forcing him back down with a hiss.

“Oh no! You ripped your sti—”

The voice startles him.

His lips peel back, a low, guttural snarl escaping his throat. His claws flex, curling into the soft fabric beneath him. His pupils expand, scanning his surroundings for danger, until they land on you.

You are huddled in the corner of the room, a club gripped tightly in your hands. Your wide eyes—so bright, so afraid—lock onto his. You are frozen in place, your breathing uneven, your heart an erratic rhythm that pounds against the walls of your chest.

He snarls again. He does not trust you.

With fluid grace, he moves, ignoring the sting in his wounds as he leaps from the structure he’d been laid upon. Bare feet land silently on the wooden floor, muscles coiling beneath unblemished skin as he crouches low, a predator assessing a potential threat. One hand drifts over his torso, confirming the source of his pain.

“I—I’m not going to—Christ, Alma, he hissed—uh, I won’t hurt you.”

The weapon clatters to the floor, abandoned as you raise your hands in surrender.

He watches you closely, the sharp angles of his face betraying nothing. The tension in his shoulders does not ease, but he allows himself a breath—a slow, measured inhale.

Then he moves toward you.

You squeak and shrink back, but he pays you no mind. His head tilts slightly as he leans in, his nose skimming just above your crown, drawing in your scent.

Sunshine.

Seaspray and coral.

His brow furrows.

Sorrow.

Your scent carries a sadness so potent, so deep, that it nearly unsettles him.

“Hey!” Your voice snaps him from his thoughts.

He ignores you. He moves lower, inhaling along the underside of your jaw, the delicate slope of your clavicle. The warmth of your skin radiates against his own.

“Hey! Watch it!”

Your hands press against his face, an attempt to push him back.

His response is immediate. A growl, low and primal, rumbles from his chest. The sound makes you stiffen, a tremor running through you as the fine hairs on your arms rise in alarm.

You are not a threat.

He has always been told land dwellers are dangerous creatures—vile, cruel, with sharp weapons and no regard for life beyond their own.

But you are small.

Fragile.

You have no claws, no fangs. No natural defenses that could protect you should he choose to strike.

He steps back.

You stumble away from him, nearly toppling over the structure behind you. For the first time since his awakening, you take a moment to truly look at him.

He watches your gaze drift across the unmarked planes of his chest, the sculpted ridges of muscle that move with each foreign breath. It isn’t until your eyes lower past his navel that a strangled noise catches in your throat.

He notices your sudden distress, your quick scramble to turn away.

“Goodness, you—you’re naked—you need some clothes!” You sputter, flustered. “Let me grab you some sweatpants or something.”

He reaches for you before you’ve barely taken a step.

A startled gasp leaves your lips as he yanks you forward, the force causing your feet to slip beneath you. You collide against his chest, warm skin meeting warmer skin. His claws press into your arm—the pressure just enough to break the skin.

The scent of fresh blood tickles his nose.

You whimper, and he releases you immediately.

He watches as you cradle your arm, waiting for the skin to heal itself. But it does not. Your blood continues to bead and drip, soaking into your sweater.

Strange.

He lifts his hand, licking the crimson from his claws. The taste is rich, sweet, laced with something uniquely you. A shiver runs down his spine as the understanding flows through him. Weaving meaning of this unfamiliar world into words he can comprehend.

Then it sits there in his mind as if it was always apart of him.

“Allow me to assist.” He says, testing the newfound language on his tongue.

Your voice reaches him again, shaky but determined.

“No…no, uh…I’ll do it.”

You take small, cautious steps backward. He can hear the way your breath quickens, the way your mind screams at you to run.

“It was not my intention to harm you,” he says, his voice smooth, cool—a stark contrast to the animalistic growls that came before. “After waking in unfamiliar wat—territory, my instincts were on alert.”

“Y—Yes, well could’ve fooled me!” Your hands flail in exasperation. “That’s the last time I drag someone off the rocks. I even stitched you up, and I hate blood.”

He blinks. “Thank you. It was most kind.”

You stare at him, as if unsure how to process the sudden shift in his demeanor.

Then, after another wary glance, you nod. “Yeah, sure. Let me, um, get you some clothes. At least some pants.” A blush dusts your cheeks.

He watches you retreat toward the stairs. He does not miss the way your gaze lingers on his hands, on his claws. He does not miss the way you hesitate before turning your back to him.

Curious.

He follows.

The scent of your emotions fills the space as he steps into the room behind you. He does not need to see your face to know something in this place unsettles you.

Then, without warning, you spin.

A startled cry leaves your lips as you find him standing there, mere inches from you. Your breath hitches. Your pulse stutters.

For a moment, he says nothing. His eyes drift past you, scanning the racks of clothing, the neatly arranged trinkets. He inhales.

“I smell your mate,” he murmurs. “Though the scent is old. Barely present.”

Your silence speaks louder than words.

He studies your expression, the way your lips tremble as you struggle to form a response. The way your fingers tighten into fists at your sides.

“Have you been abandoned?” he asks. “Or will he return to you soon? Makes are quite territorial in regard to their mates.”

The question strikes something in you.

Your grief is thick, suffocating, threatening to spill over. He can see it in the way your throat works around a swallow, in the way your lashes flutter rapidly to push back tears.

“No…” Your voice is barely a whisper. “No, he didn’t abandon me. He died… in an accident.”

The weight of your sorrow presses into his chest. He does not know what to say.

You force a smile. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to call you. My name is Alma.”

He tilts his head. Then, softly—

“I am Jimin.”

Your breath catches as his fingers brush against yours, the brief contact sending a spark of something electric through your veins.

“Jimin of Serein.”

Your lips part. A question lingers there, but before you can speak, he lifts your injured arm.

“I shall assist you. Causing injury is not how I repay kindness.”

You flinch as his tongue sweeps over the torn flesh. Tugging your arm with, no avail, to release it from his firm grip.

“Why are you licking me? Stop it!”

“What—How did you…” A protest forms on your lips, but then—relief. You stare, transfixed, as the wounds begin to close, knitting together before your very eyes.

Your shock is almost amusing.

“How did…how did you do that? What did you do to me?” You ask, twisting your arm around in search of bleeding wounds.

“How is that possible? That’s not possible…humans can’t—“

“I am ineo,” he tells you, watching as the truth dawns in your eyes. “Land dwellers call us many things. Mermaid. Siren.”

Disbelief wars with reality in your expression.

“But…where’s your tail?”

His lips twitch. A laugh bubbles up from his throat, rich and unrestrained.

You’re nothing like the legends tell of land dwellers.

Greedy and fearful beings that walk upright and have nothing but cruel and perverse intentions. Namjoon said to never interact with them unless he wanted to return to Marmoris before his time.

He never questioned his brother. The gnarled scars on his skin were a clear enough warning.

But his brother never told him about land people like you. And for the first time in his life, Jimin begins to wonder—perhaps his brother was wrong about land dwellers after all.

previous | next

masterlist

[nephilimbrute]

with side order coming up i decided to make a recap(???) of my side order au. apologies if some of it isn't clear / doesn't make sense

it starts with the retirement of off the hook after octo expansion, roughly 2 years after splat2. (note that the chaos vs. order splatfest likely didn't happen, splat3 happens in some other way idk.) this part is a little janky but there's this "commander" (not related to tartar in any way) that decides to take over inkopolis via power and mind control. out of spite and as a first step they decided to go ahead and literally Kill pearl, who later died in marina's arms. after that marina wasn't able to do anything for the remainder of the day but hold pearl's body, and as the sun came up the next day only then did she decide to bury pearl just outside the pygmy mansion

her grief still persists, marina tried her best to keep the death of pearl a secret, during interviews she just says "oh she's been off the grid lately" or "visiting family", and when going out she'd try to make it quick to avoid being spotted by fans and it would only be for running errands. marina's grief (unfortunately) keeps her alive, she takes care of herself since its what pearl would've wanted. frequently she hallucinates pearl being there, and she's developed a fear for being around others, as well as gaslighting herself into thinking pearl is still alive, just away. she spends all of her time staying in the pygmy mansion. she waits and lingers, doing this routine over and over again for ~100 years, and eventually inkopolis itself crumbles to dust and is left barren

those 100 years pass and it's marina's time to shine!..kind of...the only feasible option for her was to brainwash everybody into a state of being "calm", making them into mindless walking zombies. despite everything she still felt guilt for what happened to pearl. inkopolis turns into a bleached dystopia, corals grow due to the neglect of it being cleaned, it becomes completely quiet and only marina is left with her thoughts

by the time the side order DLC takes place, she ""accidentally"" frees agent 8 from their "hypnosis". agent 8 suffers a splitting headache as soon as they're released and completely loses the ability to speak, their memory getting worse by each passing second. often times they get a sort of "déjà vu" or "flashbacks" of when pearl and marina were happier. marina still loves them dearly but she's afraid of hurting them, so she distances herself away from them, but 8 keeps on trying to reach her. in the DLC, marina acts like a final boss to the story, and when going against her she doesn't try to stop 8 from defeating her or attack back but instead she accepts it

extra stuff; the brain coral is used to control the minds of the inkfish, the other bleached corals represent neglect. the whole theme of side order is focusing on one's mental state and watching it deteriorate(?), memory loss (and similarly to octo expansion, 8 trying to get their memories back). marina sometimes wakes up with scratches or bruises (to which she denies), and she becomes somewhat dependent on agent 8

[fireflies-owl-city]

Beach Day (ElderLily modern au)

Elder Faerie and White Lily are on their first date since they tied the knot and got married to each other, and it’s your classic day at the beach! Sadly, Elder Faerie isn’t as excited for this as he’s acting, for he has a secret he’s kind of ashamed of

Tags: transmasc elder faerie, body dysmorphia, elder faerie has top surgery scars, a shitload of fluff and cuteness

“I can’t wait to show you the beach! It’s so beautiful.” White Lily excitedly told Elder Faerie.

As a kid, Coconut Beach was one of her favorite places to visit, next to Dragon Hill. It was this beautiful beach, with the softest sand, the clearest water, the cleanest coast, and so, so many different sea shells and little fish, and even some bits of coral from a coral reef near the coastline. That beach, as well as the national park, sparked her love for travel, and as soon as she was old enough to be on her own, she traveled the world, discovering new cultures and figuring out who she truly was.

It’s how she met Elder Faerie, it’s how she fell into that coma, it’s how she discovered all the fear and grief and darkness that plagued the world and sparked yet another passion, one for peace and love and justice and prosperity. But above all else, it’s how she realized just how precious her friends and her lover truly are, and how despite her now fragile form, she must care for them in any and every way possible. Crazy how the butterfly effect works, huh?

That beach changed her life, and now, that beach was going to be hers and Elder Faeries first date since they married and moved in together.

“And I can’t wait to see it, my love.” Elder Faerie replied, glancing at his wife and smiling softly.

Admittedly, Elder Faerie was happy to be going to this beach. He had seen just how happy Lily was to be taking him to this place, and the way her eyes lit up while describing this place to him, and after seeing all the horrible things she had been through recently, he knew he had to do whatever possible in order to preserve that innocent joy. Even if that meant facing a fear that had been looming over his head for years now.

See, Elder Faerie is a transgender Man. He was born a girl, with his cutesie innocence and his love for both cute girl stuff like fashion and makeup along with boyish stuff like video games and fantasy weapons. However, when he hit puberty, he realized something was off about his identity, about the way his soul felt broken when he developed curves and breasts, and his suspicions were confirmed when he discovered the gender spectrum in health class; he realized that he was in fact, a man. Sure, he still liked the classic “girly stuff” like cute dresses and his long, luxurious hair that reached down to his waist, but didn’t mean that he was truly a man.

He was a man stuck in a girls body, and now with a new body build and a bunch of crazy hormones, he was aware of how trapped he was, and he hated it.

Of course, White Lily knew all of this, and it almost made her love him even more. The way he braved such a difficult time, how he discovered such an amazing thing about himself, and how he was willing to share such a personal detail with her made her heart flutter with admiration and love.

However, because of his gender identity, Elder Faerie had gotten top surgery when he was in his early twenties, and while White Lily was fully aware of this too, she had never seen the scars left behind by his procedure.

Despite how wonderful he felt no longer having breasts, he hated those damned scars. It felt like some sort of burden, a dark secret that was harder to own up to than even realizing that he was trans. It made him feel incomplete, disgusting, fake. He had tried overcoming his fear by coming up with some stupid scar story like trying to dry a kitchen knife off with his shirt, but nothing realistic enough came to mind.

He wanted so desperately to believe that White Lily would accept him no matter what kind of scars were on his body, but nothing could calm his fear.

“…sunscreen, umbrella, drinks…” White Lily was mumbling to herself. She then turned to Elder Faerie, who had a wide-eyed blank expression on his face as he tightly clutched the steering wheel. “Are you okay, honey?”

Elder Faerie snapped out of his daze and glanced at White Lily with a confused expression on his face. “Huh? Oh, of course, I’m just thinking of all the wonderful things that might be at this magical beach you love so much. I packed my bathing suit, right?”

“You’re wearing it, silly. Don’t you remember putting on your swim trunks before we left?” White Lily giggled, “Are you… sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” Elder Faerie reassured her, “just tired I guess.”

Just then, they pulled into the beach’s parking lot, and after finding a place to park, they got out and unloaded their stuff. Walking onto the soft sand on the beach, the couple found a spot, laid out their towel, and got to enjoying the beach. They shared snacks and drinks, made cute little sandcastles, and talked about life together.

Then, White Lily wanted to get in the water.

“I’m going to get changed into my bathing suit,” she said, pointing her thumb at the nearby bathroom, “why don’t you take your shirt off so we can go swimming? The water is really nice.”

Elder Faerie nodded. “Go ahead, I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Once she had walked off, Elder Faerie sat down on the towel and wrapped his arms around his knees, burying his head in the space between his knees and his chest. He just felt so… ashamed. He was ashamed of his body, of the scars on his chest, of his fear, of his cowardice, hell, he was ashamed of his shame! Most of all, he was ashamed of his lack of trust in his own wife. He knew White Lily loved him for who he was, and that she would be perfectly fine with the remnants of his top surgery. However, something deep within him was withholding his ability to show her the truth. Would she really be fine with it? Even if she was, how would she react to the way he kept this from her. There were just too many variables to trust that it would go well.

“Fae…?”

Elder Faerie’s head shot up at the sound at his nickname, and he saw White Lily standing before him, looking concerned. “Fae, what’s wrong? You’ve seemed off all day.”

“I’m okay, I promise.” Elder Faerie replied, shaking his head.

“Honey…” White Lily sat in front of Elder Faerie, “I can tell that something’s wrong. I know you want to support me and share my passions and stuff, but I don’t want you do feel like I forced you to come here.”

“No, it’s not that, I wanted to come here! I just-“ his breath hitched, and he could feel the sting of tears in the corners of his eyes, “I just-”

Before he could say anything more, White Lily leaned forward and pulled him into a hug, squeezing him tightly and nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck. “It’s okay, Fae. You don’t have to worry about anything, i promise. I won’t force you to tell me what’s wrong, but I can’t help you if you don’t communicate with me. Just tell me what you need from me and I’ll do whatever I can to make you feel better.”

Though hesitant at first, Elder Faerie returned the hug, relaxing into White Lily’s grasp. “There’s… something that I need to show you.”

Elder Faerie stood up and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, shrugging it off of his shoulders. There was his bare chest, featuring his top surgery scars.

White Lily stood as well and gazed at the scars, gently reaching out and grazing them with her fingertips. “This is what you wanted to show me?”

“As you know before we met, I got top surgery.” Elder Faerie explained. “The doctors removed the breast tissue, and I didn’t have boobs anymore, and it felt amazing. But these scars, they made me feel ugly and unwanted. I know I could’ve easily trusted you to see them, but I couldn’t bring myself to show you.”

Once he had finished, White Lily immediately pulled him into a loving kiss. “You are not ugly, you are the most beautiful person in the universe, and you have been the most amazing boyfriend ever. Even before we confessed our love for each other, even when I was in that coma, you were the most incredible man that I could have ever encountered in my entire life, and a few scars aren’t going to change my view of you.”

“I’ve just felt so ashamed of them,” Elder Faerie admitted, “I was ashamed of my scars, and ashamed of my own inability to tell you. I mean, I’m supposed to be the brave one in this relationship! I’m supposed to support you, protect you, keep you safe and loved! And I’ve survived so much, and yet I’m afraid of showing you a few little scars.”

“It’s okay to be scared, my love.” Lily replied, “it’s okay to be vulnerable, and you don’t need to protect me. And how I see it, these scars tell a story. One of pain and fear and confusion and doubt, but also one of hope and love and triumph. They tell a story of a challenge you were able to overcome and the way it changed you for the better.”

Elder Faerie looked at his girlfriend lovingly, feeling himself start to tear up again. “I love you so much…”

“I love you more~” White Lily replied in a cheerful, sing-song tone of voice, “now c’mon, once you touch the water you’re going to love it.”

White Lily grabbed her lovers hand and started to pull him towards the water. Elder Faerie happily followed, quickening his pace so that he could walk next to her. Once they reached the water, White Lily dipped her toes in, Elder Faerie following suit. Then White Lily playfully kicked water at him.

“Hey!” Elder Faerie said through giggles. Putting his hands up defensively, he kicked water at White Lily as well, earning a giggle and a similar response from White Lily. Soon, the tension between them had melted away, and it was as if their sad yet intimate moment had never happened. The two were playing like kids, giggling and splashing each other, swimming out into the deeper parts of the water, and even exploring the nearby coral reef, White Lily of course having to wave hello to all the cute little fish that swam past them.

Soon, hours had passed by, and by the time they had dried themselves off and loaded their stuff back into the car, the sun was setting behind them.

“Today was amazing,” Elder Faerie gushed, “you were right, that beach is amazing.”

“I told you, that beach changed my life,” White Lily agreed, “I know it’s just sand and water, but that beach is the reason I decided to explore the world, and we both know what would’ve happened if I had never traveled.”

Elder Faerie chuckled lightly. “Well, you did travel, and we met, and we fell in love, and now we’re married, so it doesn’t matter.” He hesitated for a moment, then added “Maybe we should go there more often. Maybe even invite my little brother and his son when they visit.”

White Lily smiled softly and rested her head on her husband’s shoulder.

“That would be amazing…”

Taglist: @janayuga @katsunemillennium @trustymikh @c00kietin @tartelongan @cedric-my-beloved

[steddieunderdogfics]

For Challenge Monday-Colors in the Title, I have these in my bookmarks so I thought I'd share:

Rainbow in the Dark by etlagiapet:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40619730

my heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue [Series] by LexiRoseWrites

https://archiveofourown.org/series/3460981

Red Touches Black - Daemon AU [Series] by Sparkle_Fiend

https://archiveofourown.org/series/3226062

harlow gold by

MacksDramaticShenanigans

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40451553

Rainbow In The Dark by etlagiapet

@etlagiapet

Rating: Mature

23,388 words, 5/5 chapters

Archive Warning: No Warnings

Tags: Post-Season/Series 04, POV Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington Are Best Friends, Platonic Soulmates Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson Lives, Post-Canon Fix-It, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Slow Burn, Eddie Munson Needs a Hug, Soft Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson's Vest, Gay Eddie Munson, mixtapes, Possibly Unrequited Love, Steve Harrington Makes Life Harder for Himself, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Mild Smut, Miscommunication, Requited Unrequited Love, No beta we die like Barb

Summary:

Steve doesn’t get a word in before there’s another splash. Robin squeals. He tears his gaze from the demobats, which dip and dodge around each other in a strangely graceful, hypnotizing dance, and looks at the water again because how the fuck many are there? He was sure they’d all been killed. He didn’t think there were any left. This was supposed to be over. But it’s not another demobat. It’s not a demogorgon, or Vecna, or any of the other insane shit they’ve seen over the last few years. It’s not even a fish. It’s a person breaking the surface of the water, sputtering and gasping with dark hair plastered over pale skin, and when they reach up to clear their vision, silver rings glint in the waning sunlight. Or: Against all odds, Eddie is alive, complete with two new demobat pals. Which means Steve is forced to face some feelings he threw onto a mixtape and then ignored because those feelings were wrapped up in too much grief and it was easier to just erase Eddie Munson from the equation of Steve Harrington’s Big Bisexual Crisis.

Red Touches Black by Sparkle_Fiend

@sparkle-fiend

Rating: Mature

39,324 words, 6/6 chapters

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Everybody Lives, Alternate Universe - Daemons, Getting Together, Friends to Lovers, POV Eddie Munson, Post-Season/Series 04, Hurt/Comfort, Protective Steve Harrington, Angst with a Happy Ending, Jason Carver Being an Asshole

Summary:

"Red touches black, poison lack. Red touches yellow, kill a fellow." A silly rhyme, to help remember the difference between a harmless kingsnake and a deadly coral snake. Wayne taught it to him when he was fourteen, and Calpurnia settled in the form of a scarlet kingsnake. Given the way people recoil when they see his daemon, he's pretty sure no one else in Hawkins has ever heard it before. Or maybe it doesn't matter - maybe Eddie is the one they think is toxic. **** Vecna is defeated, Max is saved, and Eddie's name has been cleared. All should be right in the world of Hawkins, and Eddie's only concern should be his inconvenient crush on Steve Harrington. But there are people who still think Eddie is guilty of murder, and they're not willing to let it go.

Thanks for the recs!

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[cartoondrawer]

Paisley’s outfits for Coral Grief!

[mamamittens]

And I Knew Your Name

@newscoozines

Here's my individual piece for the soulmate AU zine!

My AO3 version!

Gol D. Roger/Portgas D. Rouge

Soulmate AU: Enemy and Lover name on opposing wrists.

Word Count: 2,560

There was a thick black band on his wrist. Only one.

Usually, this was meant to signify loss. To cover up a fated name was to hide from fate itself in grief. That wasn’t quite Roger’s aim, though. If he wasn’t so worried that somehow that fucking name would appear somewhere less hidden he’d have cut off his own arm to be rid of it. It was an insult that they even darkened his skin with their dedicated letters.

He'd hide this until his dying breath if need be. Something Reyleigh would often roll his eyes at over Roger’s dramatics. But Roger was often called dramatic so that was hardly anything new. He was a self-proclaimed ‘simple man’. With few, albeit passionate, interests.

Adventure.

The sea.

His crew.

A good fight that set his blood alight and made his bones ache from the force—as rare as such a thing was these days. It made him nostalgic for his early days at sea where a true challenge was around every corner. He wouldn’t trade away any of it though. His only true heading that distant point on the horizon. The One Piece.

His name would be legend. Echoing well into a new age and if he was a very lucky man, into the ears of…

He rubbed his thumb over the delicate scrawl across his right wrist. The one not covered with a band. Hidden for a slightly different reason behind long sleeves.

If word got out who’s name was on his wrist, the Marines would hunt them down mercilessly. Though he knew in his heart that anyone who he’d have the honor of bearing their name could very well take care of themselves, he was a romantic at heart.

He wanted to see them in person first. Happen across their path.

The Voice of the Sea laughing as he felt his pulse race under his thumb.

Soon~

Gol D. Roger grinned.

He could feel it in his blood.

Although… given how vague the Sea could be, he didn’t expect soon to be so… well, soon.

Scarcely a week later, in fact. In a dingy bar on a tiny, terrorized island.

His crew was boisterous as always while the staff scrambled to accommodate them. He’d leave a good tip and spare himself the lashing Reyleigh would give him otherwise. They were hardly hurting for money and the people here could use it.

A bottle fell, shattering as Roger winced under the withering glare of his best friend and first mate. Quickly leaning down to scoop up the glass before the barmaid cut her shoes on it or tripped. He’d never hear the end of it then.

Roger sensed more than felt the edge of a blade touch the crown of his head, trimming a few hairs from the barest brush.

Reyleigh levelled his gun as Roger grinned.

“Oh? And to whom do I owe the pleasure~?” Roger nearly purred in amusement, impressed despite himself. His eyes flickering up to leather boots too small for a man.

Interest piqued, Roger followed the line polished leather over toned calves to just shy of practical shorts with many pockets. A flash of pale thighs visible from his vantage point. Puffy white shirt that bared slender arms with a generous bust. The woman kept her bladed staff level at his head, but his mind was far away from the possible danger his hair was in.

Pink. Her hair was the first, pale blush of dawn at sea with eyes the color of deep red coral. Expression deeply unamused and more than a little annoyed. Freckles splashed across her cheeks in a way that begged for his hands to see if they were flecks of sunlight to be brushed away. She looked like she knew exactly who he was and didn’t give a shit.

The world sang a note of sweet triumph and he knew her name like he knew the call of the Sea.

Deeper than the waves and beyond the cut of the horizon. Deceptively delicate in a way that invited him to touch while challenging him on the right to try.

He waited, breathless like the sea before a hurricane. Already forgetting the question while knowing the answer. But he wanted to hear it.

Needed to hear it.

To bear witness to the moment her voice carried in this dank little bar in the middle of nowhere like a revolution.

“Portgas D. Rouge. Bounty Hunter.” Her voice did indeed carry. Firm like adam wood and carving a space in his soul to last forever.

Roger nearly swooned, his knee touching the ground in reflex as he feverishly wondered if begging would earn him more words or just a look of disgust.

He was willing to risk it for a chance.

“You can take me anytime.” Roger breathed, the moment broken by Reyleigh groaning in disgust. A firm boot kicking his back jerking a grunt from him. “Anywhere.”

Another, much more pointed kick he ignored. He meant what he said.

Rouge—oh, what better name than the color in his veins? Racing in with every beat of his heart?—seemed equally disgusted with him. But her eyes were on him and him alone, so Roger counted that as a success.

He stood suddenly, power he didn’t realize he could still call his own helping him rise to his feet. Blade cautiously moving out of the way as Rouge eyed him with suspicion.

“What game are you playing, pirate?” She sneered, her lovely features twisting and pulling him closer. Taunting him to touch, or if he dared, taste. That would likely end with a blade in his gut but for even a heartbeat of time the price seemed fitting.

He travelled the Blues and saw so much beauty. It was only fair that he paid extra to hold it in his hands.

Roger rotated his wrist, sleeve pulling back as he bared her mark with a proud smile.

“Whatever game leads me to you, love.” Roger sighed, watching as she glanced at his wrist in confusion. Her eyes widened and for a moment she seemed to recognize her own handwriting.

But then she snorted, setting aside her weapon to flash bare wrists—both of them—at him.

“You’re full of shit!”

Disappointed, Roger pouted. He’d been hoping to one day see his name across a wrist he wouldn’t shatter in fury. But he supposed it was only fitting.

Like the Sea, Roger had no claim to Rouge herself. But she’d always have a claim to him. He’s always loved things he couldn’t keep.

Roger reflexively reached out to grasp her hands and she pulled back with a snarl. His lips quirked as he sighed, reminded of the sharp snap of waves on the hull of Oro Jackson. Deadly and filled with promise if he stepped foolishly.

But he was doomed to be a fool his whole life, so he found the steps familiar and with no shame.

He pulled back his hand and looked Rouge in the eyes.

“This is already more than I could ever ask for.” Roger reassured her, lifting up his wrist to brush his lips over the curve of her name.

Rouge flushed as though she could feel it and it took everything inside him to not surge forward and embrace her. To show her for just a moment in time how humbled he was to bear her name.

It didn’t matter that her wrists were bare. He’d been marked as hers from birth and that was a greater blessing than he could have ever wished for.

“Ewwww!”

“Gross!” His youngest boys hissed from well within the protective circle of his crew. Roger chuckled, glancing back at them with a wink.

They were still so young… they’d understand one day.

“Get a room, captain!” Reyleigh complained, nursing a beer.

Roger huffed at that one.

“Oh, she’d never let me!” Roger mourned. “I’m blessed to yearn from afar like the mountains calling to the depths of the sea. Maybe if I’m lucky she’ll deign to drown me.”

Several of his crew members screwed up their faces in disgust.

“Look at what you’ve done! You’ve mortified the poor girl and all she wanted to do was turn you in for money!” Crocus laughed, Roger’s head whipping around to find only the flash of Rouge’s silhouette as she left the door. His heart fell as tears pricked his eyes.

Still, he didn’t despair long. Couldn’t even if his crew wasn’t teasing him mercilessly.

Soon! Again~! Again~! The winds laughed from the crack under the door.

--*--

Rouge huffed, pulling her jacket in close as a cold breeze whipped across the cliffs. She’d been in the business since she was a young girl surrounded by pirates so stupid they’d drown in a puddle. They were a plague just about everywhere they went and she felt a curl of satisfaction in her heart every time she dragged more in. Even if they were barely worth the cost of rope to tie them up with.

She’d always been that way. Stubborn and burning. Her home island always tutting about her lack of order and propriety. When she was a kid, the others would tease her about her temper. About her pink hair too soft for someone with such a rough mouth. Taunt her with assurances that her wrists were blank because she’d always make enemies but never anyone of note.

Her ma said it’s because even the Sea knows when it’s beat—realizing before she even drew breath that deciding who her little rose bud loved and hated was futile.

And judging by the shit show in the bar only a month prior, Rouge decided that it was a good call to leave her skin blank.

If there was anything she was certain of, it’s that the scruffy pirate fool was closer to her mortal enemy than any lover she’d ever claim.

“If I’d known I’d be blessed in such a way, I would have brought an offering for the Sea.” A soft, husky voice reverently spoke. Rouge jolted, looking behind her to find it was that damn pirate again. His eyes just as wide as the last time she saw him, face open like she was the first sunrise he’d ever seen.

Her glare did nothing but delight him and Rouge tried not to think about how striking he looked in the golden light. The sun and sea had been remarkably kind to him, as had a life of piracy. Broad and strong with tan skin, he looked like he was ready to weather any storm. But his eyes looked like he was ready to fall to his knees at her word.

It was irritating and weak… but Rouge couldn’t help but think it strange.

She’d been stared at before. Leered upon like she was a delicate flower inviting their touch.

But she’d never been looked at with such open admiration. Like she was a storm breaking across the horizon with the fury of a hurricane and he had no desire to find safe harbor.

Gol D. Roger looked like he would die happy crushed under the waves and lost forever.

Still, he was irritating.

“Do you need something?” Rouge hissed, dismissing her train of thought swiftly before he noticed and was suddenly encouraged to continue his bullshit.

“Always. But I’d be a foolish man to not relish the chance to beg—if you’d have me.” Roger walked closer slowly, coming to a stop by her side, his eyes reluctant to leave her.

“Have you no pride? I thought that was something you pirates killed for.” Rouge huffed, rolling her eyes. Was she supposed to be impressed as how quickly he intended to fall at her feet?

“Arguably, I have too much pride. But there’s no shame in being man enough to know want.” He protested.

“You’re just saying that because of some ink. I bet you wouldn’t be saying any of that if your wrists were bare.” Rouge shivered a little as the cold wind swept by them, though the edge was less with Roger taking the brunt of it.

“If I didn’t have your name on my wrist, I would have fallen to my knees when you introduced yourself. I needed to prepare myself for when I finally heard you say it. I think I still might fall to my knees, actually. What other response could I have to such wonder?” Roger admitted candidly and Rouge wondered if the man was capable of feeling shame or this bizarre lustful worship of a women he’s barely spoken to.

“Do you really think I’m going to swoon when you talk like that?” Rouge asked despite herself.

“Of course not… I can dream of it though.”

“Dream smaller.”

He laughed, loudly and with his whole chest for a long moment. Finally, he calmed, wiping his face with a large grin under his black moustache.

“I’ve always been told I’m too ambitious for my own good!” Roger barked. “But I meant what I said. This is more than I could ever ask for. Every sailor get used to admiring the stars from a distance.” He said, looking at her with a fondness she couldn’t understand.

“What do the stars have to do with anything?” Rouge couldn’t help but ask, her gaze caught in his as the world fell quiet. Even that devilishly cold breeze falling still.

“The first thing you learn to use when sailing is the stars. You’ll never touch them. You won’t even see them all the time. But they’re always there and they burn.” Roger whispered fiercely, “If I thought there was a chance, I’d gladly burn at your hands. Your touch would scorch my bones until there was nothing left but dust. Carve out everything that’s yours and—if you deign to—throw the rest to the Sea. I could rest at the bottom in peace having known your embrace.”

Rouge, not for the first time, felt flushed at his words. So bold and shameless, she’d never guess he was a pirate menace if she didn’t already own his bounty poster.

“I-I still intend to turn you in for the money.” Rouge hissed, turning away sharply. Already aware it was too late to hide her fierce blush.

A rough, calloused hand grasped her own gently. Just enough to stop her, fingertips tracing over her delicate wrist as he pulled her back. She looked at him in shock and embarrassment. He lifted her knuckles to his lips and kissed them chastely.

“Or I could just buy you dinner?” Roger suggested, his breath curling over the back of her hand.

Her wrists were bare, not that some ink would tell her what to do.

He was a pirate and she, a bounty hunter.

But Roger… looked at her like she was beauty and death wrapped in one. Aware and covetous of her thorns. He was an idiot but strong. Passionate.

He may look at her like a man beholding a squall bearing down on his sails until they were shreds. But she was the one left breathless.

“That can be arranged.”

At her soft words, he lit up like the sun. Rouge had never been soft, but that was alright. Roger was soft enough for the both of them.

[losingmymindrn]

As a fellow coral lover I would like to request coral relationship head cannons with a gender neutral reader (if you write this kind type of stuff sorry if you don’t) specifically before the hunger games and during. Coral relationship head cannons in general lol (like I. Said before could it be gender neutral reader) i don’t request stuff a lot so sorry if this is all over the place

Hello fellow Coral lover😌 ask and you shall receive (tw: mentions of suicide in the last few)

Coral is the biggest lover. She's completely attached to you, and would be destroyed if something happened to you, even if she does show it

Coral will bring you everything she finds pretty, like a sand dollar or an unbroken shell she found on the beach. In the first few months of dating, your shelves are filled with trinkets from the sea

Coral will spend lots of money on you. You want something from the market? It's yours. You can't find any clothes you like? She's having it tailored for you

Coral thinks about you day and night, and especially when she's out sea and has no way to reach you. She loves coming home to see you by the docks. She has no shame in hugging you in front of her crew

Coral will walk to your house in the pouring rain just to see you, and you'll always chastise her for being so reckless

She will beg you to go to those stupid parties other wealthy familes have, because she does not want to go alone and suffer by herself (My au)

If you are a crafty person, she likes it when you come to her house and make whatever. She says it's stupid and worthless but it's all joking, because on the inside, she's melting at how adorable you are when focus

If you read, Coral will let you into her office while she does her family's business. She does say just how distracted she is when you come, because she thinks it'll make you insist on not coming (my au)

Accidently, you might catch Coral drinking or smoking. Coral claims it's to calm herself and relax, but you know it's horrible for her. You always beg her to stop, and she does but it's hard for her (my au)

She takes you on long walks on the beach when it's raining. Well, more like you find her walking in front of your house and join in her stormy night walks

Coral loves going swimming with you. She'll be up at 2am so that you two can go swimming without anyone there

She kisses you like there's no tomorrow. She's scared every time you two kiss, she'll lose you

on the train ride to the games, she is already making the toughest choice of her life. Save mizzen, or save herself and go back to you

The first night in the zoo was the first time she had cried in a while. She missed you so much it was painful for her

Each tribute she killed ment she was closer to you, but closer to having to kill Mizzen

On her breaks, she would think of you. She would think of your lips and how warm you were. Each time she would repeat in her mind what she would say when she got home to you

As she died, her favorite memories played through her mind. You, her mama, her best friend. She wished she fought harder, ran faster. She would've been able to kill Lucy Gray if she did. But she didn't, and that cost her her life.

When not either of district Four's tributes came back, you and Mags, Coral's best friend, screamed and cried until you could both fill your own ocean

You couldn't get up after that when you came home. You were stuck to your bed and refusing to eat. Mags came by to lay with you. She had been taking care of Coral's family while dealing with overwhelming grief as well. You appreciated it, but you just wanted Coral

When you could get up, you went to Coral's house and rushed to her room, covering yourself with her pillows and burying your face in her pillows, sobbing your eyes out while Coral's scent still lingered on it

Sometimes you'd stay with Coral's mother, but you where mainly in Coral's room. Everything that was hers was the only thing that kept you together while tearing you apart

You don't live long after this. With the consent starving and fact that Coral couldn't and would never be back to love you, made a suicide welcome in your mind

You take your life by the sea, in the same spot you and Coral would watch the waves. Maybe it was too much, you were still young and could find other lovers, but it had been two years by now, amd you weren't any better

You held the ring she bought for you in your hands, slipping it on as you drank the poison you bought from the black market, your last thought of Coral's lips on yours

[frownyalfred]

Hello yes it’s me again 🤠 I’ve decided to continue this little series of “things that have caused me to wake up in the middle of the night and clench my chest and go “GAh” because it is summer, I have too much free time to cry over very good fanfics, and writers deserve to feel noticed (coming from a writer who’s favorite comments are the ridiculously detailed/long/rant ones) So without further ado…

d. the coral room fic tags being like “Omegaverse 🥰 Enemies to Lovers 🥹 Nesting 💖” but then in parenthesis “but Bruce’s ver of nesting is stealing super weapons to assasinate Clark” the first time I saw this tag I spat out my coffee and probably laughed for about three minutes and to this day I randomly wake up and laugh about I don’t know why it resonated so much but it was genius

e. On a less happy note I physically cannot bring myself to ever again open your fic “Silent Running” because the first time I read it I don’t think I slept that night. Definitely a wake up-go “GAH situation there, the absolutely bone chilling way that fic settled with me?? Idek why?? Like it’s definitely not dead dove whatsoever yk, but the way you write this subtle nuanced “something’s-wrong” feel… The way you wrote it? I can’t explain? But I’m not sleeping well if I ever read it again?

f. GAH THE WAY YOU TALK ABOUT ALF/MAR/THOMAS I FEEL LIKE A SOLDIER ABOUT TO GO TO THE TRENCHES I FEEL THIRTY YEARS OLDER I FEEL LIKE IM FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE??? BECAUSE YOU DO SUCH GOOD CHARACTERIZATION OF THEIR DYNAMICS BUT THERES THIS UNDERLYING IMMORTAL SADNESS TO EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM BECAUSE LIKE. THE BASIS TRUTH OF DC IS THAT MARTHA AND THOMAS DIE. It’s so ingrained into canon that they are the DEFINITION of doomed by the narrative- and not just Martha and Thomas as characters, but the Alf/Mar/Thomas relationship as well!! SND YOU MAKW ME ABSOLUTELY FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM?? HOW DARE YOU?? Why would you do this to us? Why must you write such good character dynamics?

g. Speaking of characterization, let’s talk about your characterization of Jason Todd. Let’s talk about the absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS way you write him. Because like there is no babygirlification in sight, but there isn’t any of that misogynistic Jason Todd homicidal meathead stuff either- you’ve somehow written him better then half the dc writers out there. Like I FEEL like I’m reading about Jason Todd himself in what I consider to be his purest form (like Under the Red Hood). You don’t push off his grief and trauma, you don’t misinterpret his feelings and emotions, you don’t make excuses for his mistakes and actions, you instead embrace the barebones of his character in its entirety in this??? Breathtaking way??? Like I don’t wake up and go “GAh” when I dream about this, I instead silently levitate from my bed like I’m ascending to the next plane of existence.

h. NGGFFFHHGHHKDHX the way you wrote Clark in “eye in the sky” HELLO MA’AM WHAT WAS THAT WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT-

Because it’s a Injustice AU right! You know what’s happening! You know that it’s so bad, that there is no longer Clark but Kal, that the regime is horrible, and that’s how you start us off, with the glimpses into the inner workings of the Regime and you know it’s just as bad as ever and you think you know what to expect- and then you meet Clark Kent. GAH. GaH. AUTHOR. WHY WIULD YOU DO THAT? IT HURTS!! It hurts to have Duke walk in and see Clark Kent, see him with his plaid shirts and glasses and you are completely taken by surprise because you were expecting Kal! What’s Clark doing here!! He’s supposed to be dead!! And then it hits you how GENIUS it is to write it like that (after you stop crying from pure shock. I’m a bit of a crybaby). Like AUTHOR YOU HORRIBLY BEAUTIFUL WRITER YOU. YOU KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

I. And what’s worse- how it must be for BRUCE!!!! GAH! GAHHHH! WHAT DO I EVEN SAY TO THIS? The psychological torment, the emotional damage, the potentials for angst, I’m actually getting all breathy just thinking about oml I start rolling around my bed like a crazed burrito and if anyone saw me they’d probably think I was possessed and/or having seizures. Im realizing maybe this got a bit too long.

I have to do this in increments otherwise I kinda just look crazy… 🌚 I’m just a girl 🎀 (I’m so sorry)

Moral of the story is once again I love your works and you are a good writer 💁‍♀️💐

Oh my goodness, thank you so so much for this lovely ask!!

d. thank you, I love that tag. and it’s accurate for the fic — that’s just Bruce’s way of getting settled!

e. I feel that! It was a dark fic for sure. I’ve been writing too much dark Clark recently, I need to change that.

f. their relationship makes me feel genuinely ill sometimes, not because they’re bad but because of the weight of the future hanging over them. I want to write another fic for them in my room full of coral verse for sure.

g. thank you so much! He’s a hard character to write sometimes but I try to avoid pushing him too far to any extreme. He’s complicated even if it might not seem like it!

h. thank you for mentioning this! It was definitely a deliberate choice to have Duke meet Clark and not Kal. The casual menace of it was just too attractive to me.

i. yeah, Bruce is really going through it in that fic. You know when you’re going through something rough and you just shut down as much as you can? That’s how I view him in this.

Thank you so much again!! This was the best thing to wake up to.

[sombrathedragon]

persona au, while Clay is still being interrogated

Clay:In the end, Coral was just a woman suffering from grief…afraid to let go of what she loved…of who loved her…which I guess is an unfamiliar concept for you

Blister:…did

did you just call me bitchless-

Clay:Does a rainwing shit in a rainforest?

Blister:Damn fuck I do to you- Oh yeah-

Clay just coming up with insults left and right but good for him honestly 😭

[caffernnn]

Free! Anniversary Fic Recs 🦋🐋🐬🦈🐧 Can you share your fav fics from each year (2013-2023) Free! has been around?

This is a very fun ask!! Lemme root through my bookmarks and see what I can find 😅

2013 - A lot of the stories I have saved from this time are shorter lil one-shots like “Never Leave” by Shimegami (classic mh hug-it-out interlude fic) and “The Sound of Settling” by teke (feelings realization stuff), but one other one I liked was “The Ocean You Gave My Heart” by miaoujones. Smut warning for that one (if that’s not your thing), but something about desert-bound Makoto learning to swim and indulge in water with Haru, thinking upon meeting him that he’s a wonder whether he’s really a mermaid or not, that’s neat!!

2014 - starting to realize the ones I kept any note of from the early years are some of the popular mh fics probably already recommended 10 times over, but there’s a reason why people sing their praises. If you haven’t checked out fics from tide tothemoon like 2/13189000 (mhtokyo my beloved), their writing is *chef’s kiss* delightful. Another AU I haven’t been able to bring myself to revisit was orihime’s reincarnation stories from “I cannot be without you, matter of fact.” There are two different stories, one where Makoto remembers their past lives and a follow up where Haru remembers, and oh that made me ache dude.

2015 - Speaking of suffering, have y’all checked out Heart’s Departure yet? I think we’ve referenced and talked about that story enough for it to speak for itself 🥴 heartbreaking circumstances but still cosmic and so so beautiful. Then, once you’re done crying about that story, hop over to “Shake the Heavens” by Ad_Astra to break down over (what I described in my ao3 bookmark) Makoto and Haru’s “inherently cataclysmic devotion.” I guess 2015 was the year of shoving the boys into tragic AUs and seeing how much they were willing to give up to get back to each other. A whole vibe

2016 - let’s goooo gamers, more AUs!! “I’d Create Oceans For You” by trashness is a fun fantasy adventure that has both tender moments and interesting action (and some banger art from donguris omggg). If you want something more future-fish-flavored that shows that happily-ever-after doesn’t save you from your grief, “Sublimation” by RedScribbler was great. You can find more of my thoughts on that one if you scroll back a bit in my “fic recs” tag — one of y’all sent it in and yeeees it was so up my alley!

2017 - Alright fellas, there are so many to choose from, because now we’re getting into the macbetha years! Who would I be if I didn’t mention “Eyes Wide Open All The Time” tbh?? It’s a long one with its own hard-hitting involved lore and world-building, but Beth builds this unique story in a way that pulls from the characters we know and love so effectively. I’ve sung the praises for this story multiple times (and could so do it again bro don’t tempt me) but I’ll end off with saying that if you’re fascinated in watching deeply-wounded people who’ve been put through hell learn how to make a life in the aftermath, there’s something special for you here. Aaaand, if you want something about 1/10 the length and not as heavy, “159 (Architect/Interior Designer AU)” by intoxicatedcinnamon has some fun moments 😌 that’s another one where you can find more of my thoughts somewhere in the fic recs tag (love when y’all send me stories 💚💙)

2018 - “Coral and Bone” by Macbetha my beloved!!!! Wanna play mermaids and fight the gods? Maybe try to find that summer magic that makes you want to keep going and accidentally fall in love on the way? I am puuushing you toward this story bestie. Everyone’s here and everyone’s having fun! OH ALSO I’m throwing in “Night Changes” by SEMellark because I love stories where Makoto and Haru actually figure out how to talk to each other. (Side note — a lot of these are probably gonna be things I’ve rec’d in the past, so feel free to scroll my tag for more details and consider this list an extra endorsement 😅)

2019 - (drops basket full of love for mutuals) OOPS OOPS OOPS!!! Don’t mind me, just popping in with some “Let’s Get Married” by sagesprouts and “Anthropocene” by testosterogna, nothing to see here but some classic natsunao shenanigans and one of the sickest elemental bender AUs out there 😌✨ I also have some fics from Svana saved from this year, but I’ll be mentioning her again later so hold on okay!!

2020 - alright, now the list is getting longer with everyone jumping back in during the early pandemic days 🏃🏻‍♀️SO FIRST OFF “green eyes, you’re the one I wanted to find” by infinite_always is an absolute FLUFF FEST of a soulmate AU! Unbearably tender moments but who doesn’t love that every so often? OH AND we have another one of my all-time ultimate fic recs here!! “Reaching” by CupNoodles55 has shaped and reshaped how I look back at Eternal Summer in the way I’d want any great canon-compliant fic to. Big love for interlude scenes and extra bits that help recontextualize or deepen what a moment could’ve meant in the show. Gonna end off 2020 with “The Sea Aflame” by Dizzydodo because even though this urban fantasy story is unfinished, I was super drawn in by the prospects of dragon!Makoto and whatever god stuff was going on with Sousuke. An interesting universe I love thinking about again from time to time.

2021 - Starting off strong with “love on the water, love underwater (and so on)” by rudimentaryflair because we love introspection here!!! Lovely writing style with lines that make me want to scale the walls. This take on Makoto is so so special. Also gonna rec “To Clear Away Today” by suhmayzooka (omg hiiii) if you want to be thrown into another hard-hitting intricate AU with loads of potential. Love exploring what we’ve got to see of the world so far 💞 and OOOH IT’S TIME!! “Extraordinary” by Svana_Vrika is basically canon to me at this point. Svana has a lot of sweet shorter stories with Makoto and Haru (look here, look here), but this one is everythinggg my guy. Similar appeal to “Reaching” mentioned earlier: a story of interludes that bring the story we already know to life in a delightful new way. Required reading for mhtokyo fans forreal. ONE LAST ONE OKAY!! “Teacher” by VeloxVoid is a great future fic with teacher!Makoto and artist!Haru (and I’m not biased just bc it was a gift exchange for me with details fit to my specific tastes wdym🧍🏻). Domestic blisssss

2022 - Ooh we’ve almost caught up y’all ☺️ gonna start with “All This and Heaven Too” by SocksAreArgyle because sometimes the bestie crafts a smorgasbord of smut with a delicious throughline of character/relationship development baked in. If you want your choice of spicy makoharus or some character exploration, you’re SET with this one. Next is “I Let My Heart Go” by martincrieff because sometimes the bestie looks at poor pining Makoto and goes “you know what would be messed up?” AND I JUST !!! So full of love and now full of flower petals. Hanahaki!Makoto my dearest boy!! Aaaand ending off the year with some tender mh (to Ikuya’s detriment) in “The Night Train” by Lizzyboo. They’re so softtt with each other and UGH this story is so nice. Love watching people take the crumbs from FS/FS2 and make a meal 💜

2023 - The year is young! And old! So here’s some more, with who knows how many bangers yet to come 🎉 First going to throw in the Makoharu Week 2023 collection for your perusal because I saw some fantastic stories emerge from that event. If you have twitter, I’d recommend also seeing some of the threadfics posted over there from the event as well 💚💙 and I thiiink I’m gonna close off for now with “just like it was always meant to be” by tonfea because they’ve been putting out banger stories that deserve all the love. Haru introspection is one of those things that isn’t always done very well (which is especially hard to reckon with in older fics) but tonfea’s stories all have an intimate understanding about Haru’s mind and journey that just makes sense.

Alright hello we made it to the end!!! Might’ve thrown in more than expected but I hope makoharu enjoyers find something on this list that fits their fancy 🥲 (and if anyone wants to rec something or ramble about a story here that they loved I’m all ears)