#Day 1 - King's gambit/Queen's gambit | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rosewaterandivy · 5 months ago

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Summersong Request-athon!

Hi y’all and happy first day of summer! Inspired by @bettyfrommars Pick Your Poison blurbs and enabled by @powderblueblood who assured me that this wasn’t an insane idea, I’ve decided to open up requests inspired by the discography of one of my most beloved bands, The Decemberists.

18+ONLY

Aside from picking Steve or Eddie and a song title, you really won’t have much idea of what you’re getting because we’re are doing this based on pure vibes, baby!

You don’t need to be familiar with The Decemberists’ work, but if you are curious, I’ve linked their albums below. And if you are so inclined, check out the rules below!

1. Select Steve or Eddie

Yes, this does include AU options. Pretty much anything I’ve written is free game including the Back Burner list. If selecting an AU, please specify which one. For example: carpenter!Steve or EBY Eddie, etc.

2. Select a song title

Scroll through the albums listed below and follow the links if you’d like to listen, or you can choose a song at random based purely on its title - whatever strikes your fancy!

3. Submit your request in an ask using the following format: Character + Song Title.

4. Based on your choices, the resulting blurb will either be angst, fluff, or smut, with a slight possibility of monsterfucking if you select a specific AU (iykyk) but ultimately up to my discretion. So please keep that in mind if you decide to play along!

Anon requests will not be eligible for the smut option.

The window for requests will be open from today, June 20 to the official end of summer on September 22.

If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to drop me a line! 💜

Album Choices

*Click the link to access the album on Spotify*

Her Majesty The Decemberists

Shanty for the Arethusa

Billy Liar

Los Angeles, I’m Yours

The Gymnast, High Above the Ground

The Bachelor and the Bride

Song for Myla Goldberg

The Soldiering Life

Red Right Ankle

The Chimbley Sweep

I Was Meant For the Stage

As I Rise

Castaways and Cutouts

Leslie Anne Levine

Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect

July, July!

A Cautionary Song

Odalisque

Cocoon

Grace Cathedral Hill

The Legionnaire’s Lament

Clementine

California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade

Picaresque

The Infanta

We Both Go Down Together

Eli, The Barrow Boy

The Sporting Life

The Bagman’s Gambit

From My Own True Love (Lost At Sea)

16 Military Wives

The Engine Driver

On the Bus Mall

The Mariner’s Revenge Song

Of Angels and Angles

The Crane Wife

The Crane Wife 3

The Island: Come And See/The Landlord’s Daughter/You’ll Not Feel The Drowning

Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)

O Valencia!

The Perfect Crime #2

When The War Came

Shankill Butchers

Summersong

The Crane Wife 1 & 2

Sons & Daughters

Culling Of The Fold

Hazards of Love

Prelude

The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle The Thistles Undone)

A Bower Scene

Won’t Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)

The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)

The Queen’s Approach

Isn’t It A Lovely Night?

The Wanting Comes In Waves / Repaid

An Interlude

The Rake’s Song

The Abduction of Margaret

The Queen’s Rebuke / The Crossing

Annan Water

Margaret in Captivity

The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)

The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)

The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)

The King is Dead

Don’t Carry It All

Calamity Song

Rise To Me

Rox In The Box

January Hymn

Down By The Water

All Arise!

June Hymn

This Is Why We Fight

Dear Avery

What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World

The Singer Addresses His Audience

Cavalry Captain

Philomena

Make You Better

Lake Song

Till The Water’s All Long Gone

The Wrong Year

Carolina Low

Better Not Wake The Baby

Anti-Summersong

Easy Come, Easy Go

Mistral

12/17/12

A Beginning Song

I’ll Be Your Girl

Once In My Life

Cutting Stone

Severed

Starwatcher

Tripping Along

Your Ghost

Everything Is Awful

Sucker’s Prayer

We All Die Young

Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes

I’ll Be Your Girl

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Burial Ground

Oh No!

The Reapers

Long White Veil

William Fitzwilliam

Don’t Go to the Woods

The Black Maria

All I Want Is You

Born to the Morning

America Made Me

Tell Me What’s on Your Mind

Never Satisfied

Joan in the Garden

#cee’s summersong request-athon #steve harrington x reader #eddie munson x reader #Spotify

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shhh-secret-time · 8 months ago

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Queen's Gambit

"Are you lost little bird? These aren't your woods."

Chapter 1

It doesn't take the voice of a king to silence a room, something you and the bard learned very young. A familiar glint of recognition shines in those earthy brown eyes of his, one that you mirror back. The fairy lights that drift around in the room swirl and coalesce around your form. The ball of light circles you once, twice, and then break off into a ray of colors. No doubt the magics of the brown-haired man who limps next to you.

Jimmy Valour, the only other man who you had ties to. A bard who had made a name for himself in the last war, a decade ago he was but a teenager who successfully played both sides of the war. You haven't seen him since your days at the College of Whispers, a school dedicated to the art of being...well a bard.

Now here he was, introducing you to the Elven and Fae nobles of the room. Listing off the titles that came packaged with them. The long and tedious courtroom etiquette would be just that if it wasn't the perfect time to get a feel for the room. First you went down the line of the lower nobles, the scribes and historians that were only there to keep a record of what was to happen today. Then it was the nobles who had stake in this war, families that you could only assume would see to gain. No matter the race, it was the same. You didn't need to be an expert in the inner workings of Fae and Elven politics to know that much.

Lastly were the knights, men and women alike who were donned in leather armor. Vastly different from the metal that the human knights wore. Each adorned with a sun that held their capes on their backs. Green cloaks with a golden symbol that looked like brush strokes, the flag of their King.

A king who has not taken his eyes off you since you entered the room. They're narrowed in just a way that it's almost certain that he's scrutinizing you, watching every little move you make.

No one would think less of a diplomat for buckling under the intense gaze of a King. Any leader worth their name would look at the enemy of his people like this. But you didn't come this far to throw in the towel before even having a chance to speak. Instead, you give him a small nod and a smile, with your lids lowered in just a way that tells him:

"The game has only just begun."

Kyle's brows bounce up for a moment, he covers his lower face with his hand. He rests his elbow on his armchair and leans down next to the stoic looking man next to him. He whispers something to him and try as you might it's impossible to hear from where you're standing.

Raven hair that comes down to the base of his neck, right where the spine connects, falls just above his furrowed brows. Bits of the locks poke out from under the dark blue helmet. Fit perfectly around his head, the front making an M shape. The design carved into the helm is almost as captivating as the Kings gloves. They're similar in the way they swirl and turn into branches and vines. Your eye for design tells you, they're made that way on purpose.

One of the first lessons you were taught when dealing with the Elven and Fae people was to never look them in the eyes. To them the eyes were windows to the soul, only those with a strong bond could cross that line. Even in the courtroom here, most stare at their conversation partner's nose. So, it's worthy to note when you see the King and the knight he's whispering to look each other in the eye. They stare at one another for a while, their whispers dissolving into a silent conversation.

The knight nods after a while and his body physically relaxes. A shift in moods, no longer on the defensive. All in time for Jimmy to wrap up his rambling.

"Thank you, Sir Valour. It's an honor to have such an introduction read by someone as esteemed as yourself, much less by a friend." You thank him, casting him a small side smirk.

"Th-... The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. It's been a while; I see you've made a name for yourself. Quite a few actually." Jimmy responds as he keeps his eyes forward.

"What? Did you think I was going to let you hog all the glory? Maybe we're not as close as I thought." You hum, that playful tone dancing on your tongue.

He escorts you towards the end of the table, down the line of the Kings vision. Ser Clyde follows with an amused grin on his face. The banter between you and the bard entertaining the young knight.

"If this court meeting doesn't tear y-... tear y-... tear you apart then it'd be nice to catch up." He matches your energy with his own playful wisp. Once you sit down, he gives you a nod, but you don't miss the smug smile on his face.

He got the last word for now. Making a mental note to get him back, you turn to the eyes of many. The room has gotten so quiet you could hear a pen drop from the other side of the castle. Ser Clyde shifts from foot to foot, his armor clanking ever so slightly. He stops when you shoot him a small glare, offering a nervous apology.

Your breathing slows to a steady rhythm. Each time you exhale you can feel the emotions in the room. You open yourself up to them and time seems to slow down.

The ebb and flow of unspoken thoughts flood your mind, voices that aren't your own. The people of this court room project themselves onto you like a sunset does open water. It feels as if a spirit passes through you, leaving you hollow to nothing but these feelings.

Sunset eyes stare me down. Spice on a spring day. A gentle breeze breaks the tension. Their lightning eyes shoot me down. They want me to drown. Hands grasping at my clothes to pull me back up.

But it's his that are the loudest. Not so loud that you'd find yourself clutching the sides of your head. Even in his thoughts he speaks with authority and confidence. The King that stares you down holds the voice of rulers long past. They speak together in balance with one another.

Silvered dagger rests in her mouth. With wit just as sharp. She knows not to look in the pyre reserved for Kings. Looking down my table, she stares me down...but she does not see me.

You don't linger on him for too long, you can't. Not when with every passing moment it feels like flying too close to the sun. You're starting to melt and burn. The man next to him sings a different song. The difference is night and day. It is ice and fire. It's the feeling only poets can put into words, but these absurd thoughts coming in would do just fine.

The pain in my back throbs. Flesh cut open and flayed out for my heart to bare. Remember why you're here. Less man than you are steel. I'd cut the throat of every man here if it meant the sun would rise again.

It takes everything to not physically shiver at that. Those blue eyes that you catch a quick glimpse of are shards of ice. Ice if it had lost the crystal colors and were laid flat. Yet there's something animalistic about them. Primal even.

It feels as if hours have passed since you sat down. Hours of these councilmen and women staring you down waiting for you to speak. Fortunately, it's only been a few seconds. Wading through the raw rivers of emotions will do that to you. A drawback to your little gift. But it was a small price to pay to level the playing field.

Pawn to D4

"Ladies, Gentlemen, and those who do not define yourselves as such, thank you for allowing me into your capital. With tensions as high as they are, you're taking a gamble on me. So, for that I thank you." You break the silence with a carefully constructed opening. "It's a shame we live in times where this is the case. Only a decade has passed since the war. Ten years and we can all recall it as if it were yesterday."

"It would not be like that if many of us didn't feel like it was yesterday." An older gentleman chimes in. Red hair like the Kings, but there are brushstrokes of white going through it. A thin mustache and beard that goes with it.

"And for that I apologize. I cannot speak for all of my people, to do so would be foolish and a waste of time." You waste no time with a response.

You predicted someone would come in with such a comment. The difference in the way humans and elves age is no secret. A fact Elves like to remind Humans quite often.

"Then who do you speak for Human? If a so-called diplomat cannot even speak for their people, then what good are you?" Donnel spears the question into you, voice dripping with malice.

"I am good enough for the Grand Wizard and enough to know my role at the table Ser Knight." You smirk down at him, tilting your head to the side just enough to dodge the spear.

His voice was the loudest amongst the people here. His thoughts were that of a cadence, marching soldiers gladly ready to die for their home. Fists pounding on shields taunting the enemy to come closer.

You wouldn't play his game. He's not even a player at the table.

"Then you speak for your King?" Kyle speaks as if he already knows the answer to the question, but he wants to hear you say it.

Pawn to D5

"I am both his mouth voice and my own your Majesty. The Grand Wizard trusts that I come here today with both kingdoms intentions at heart." As you speak your hands gracefully pick up the chalice.

They offer hospitality, it would be rude not to partake. Second rule of the Fae, a dry throat does no one good.

"To wet your tongue after spouting such blatant lies. Humans have never had anyone but their intentions at heart." A noble woman at the table snaps her fan. The blue and white fan no longer hid her angular face, or the birth mark directly under her eye.

"The same could be said about any living being when it comes to the tides of war. Do you not have you and your own best intentions?" You scoff a bit at her remark, but you don't offer much more. Before she can respond, you continue speaking. "But I'm not here to talk about history. I'm here to speak of the future. How to prevent another war."

Pawn to C4

Kyle's lips press together as he watches how you interact with his people. How you respond to every snide comment or glare, he notes how you walk the line of acknowledging them and refusing to give them your time. It's done so in a way that no one could call you out for being rude, you're following proper etiquette. He's torn between being impressed and frustrated.

Pawn to C4

"So, I come to you with everything on the table. My people cannot handle another war." You emphasize the word 'cannot' with your fingers pinched together and your pinky out. "We will not survive another onslaught from both sides. Your people outnumber us there's no questioning that, we're not able to ascertain the exact number of troops you have at the ready, but the number is inconsequential."

You can feel Ser Clyde shift again, his jaw tightens most likely, so he doesn't speak out of turn. To him you've just admitted defeat, shown that you and your people are weak, and he couldn't be further from that. He wears a red cloak for a God’s sake. The grip on his sword tightens, but as quick as he grips the leather, he lets go.

"Wise words. It speaks volumes to know when you're outmatched." The red head speaks again, stroking the ends of his mustache with his finger and thumb.

"Words are cheap. It is actions that carry! And every action the humans have taken has led to the suffering of our people!" Donnel scowls, slamming his fist down on the table.

"In a meeting such as this, words.are.everything." If he wants your attention so badly then he would have it.

You turn to him and stare him down, eyes trailed to the space between his eyebrows. There's not much space from how furrowed they are, almost connected in one thick line. Even if he does stand taller than Ser Clyde, compared to you he is a child. Out in the battlefield he would have you dead to right, there is no denying that, but here he is a victim.

"You bellow like a wounded boar when adults are trying to decide the fate of tomorrow. You have already made your intentions clear; you don't wish for peace so why are you still here? Why do you waste our time with your squeals and wails? If tomorrow comes and there is war know you had your hand in it. If it is peace that we decide I hope this memory burns into your mind forever. Ser Knight I ask of you, respectfully, to think - before - you - speak." Each word that spills from your lips is a dedicated strike. Unlike Donnel's sloppy swings, yours are honed. Trained to know where and how to strike to make it hurt.

You know you struck a nerve when you see the vein in his forehead pop, and his teeth grind so loudly that Jimmy stops playing that whimsical tune. Just as the final tune dies down in the room and your lips rest, he stands. He's taken the bait. Shown that he's not fit to be in this room.

"Ser Donnel. I gave you one, it seems you forget yourself still. Wait outside." Kyle's voice echoes like the roar of thunder. The storm is subtle right now, not yet at its full potential.

"But your Highness I-"

Kyle doesn't need to say more when a sigh escapes his lips Donnel stops. Freezes in place like ice was being directly pumped into his veins. From the way the knight next to him was glaring, maybe it was. Kyle waves his hand and said knight walks over to Donnel, all but grabs him by the forearm and walks out with him. The dark wooden doors behind you slam shut, muffling the sound of footsteps.

Jimmy resumes playing music like nothing happened. There was no fight, there was no look of disappointment. Just a council who took a second to breathe and the sound of his lute.

Pawn to E4

"Forgive me for calling recess early like this, perhaps we should all step outside and collect our thoughts. It would seem we were woefully ill prepared for your arrival." Kyle stands to his full height and addresses you with an even tone.

Each step he takes off his throne demands your attention, no spell on this earth could put you in a trance quite like him. The bright green healthy leaves beneath him float around the unseen gust of wind. They spiral around him before fluttering away to the patches of soft grass that make up the floor. The gold that flickers off his wings creates a light wherever he goes. You watch as it brightens and dims in time with his breathing, fading in and out but never fully going out. To call it a candle would be an insult.

When you don't stand like the other council members Clyde puts his hand on your shoulder; the iron gauntlet rests heavy. If it was one thing Clyde was, it was bold. You look up at him and offer a smile, the polite one that is expected of you. It's when he sees that dangerous glint in your eyes that he pulls back and offers it out to you instead.

Of course, you take it and bring yourself to your feet, straightening out your dress as you do. Patting down the fabric of your dress, you collect yourself. Regain composure and try to smile again. "Apologies Ser Clyde, thank you."

"You're fine, I just didn't want to be the next target of that tongue of yours. I thought when the Grand Wizard sent me here to escort you, the only thing I'd have to be on the lookout for was the occasional bandit. I didn't think you were actually going to make me do my job." He jokes to ease the tension.

While you don't find it funny by any means, you can appreciate the effort. "I thought I caught you in the corner of my eye dozing off, figured I'd wake you up a bit." The innocent tone in your voice does not match your smile.

"Madam you wound me. To imply that I, the Grand Wizard's one and only Red Cloak, would fall asleep in a meeting so very important. Why I'm hurt. I think you might need to step outside and remember yourself." He smirks down at you, bringing your hand up to his lips. "Perhaps we could go together? Enjoy the scenery?"

You laugh, it pulls an actual laugh from you. Again, it's not his joke that's funny but the fact that he's trying. Your laughter is brought to an abrupt halt as you pull your hand back. "No. It's adorable that you are trying though, I think a few lessons on how to court a woman and you might be in league well enough to try again."

Clyde feigns a pained look, but he lets go of your hand and that smirk returns. "Suite yourself, you know where to find me if you change your mind. Gods know I cannot say no to a beautiful woman."

"I know Ser Clyde. Many know."

"You're better off trying to seduce a vi-... a vi- ...a snake." Jimmy cuts into your conversation, ambulating over to where you stand.

"Ha!" Clyde doesn't bother to watch the volume in his laugh, fueling the bards stupid grin.

"Oh? And now two grown men must team up to try and attack me? Jimmy, my dear friend, I always said that someday you would go far. I only wished you had stayed there" You purse your lips at him and for the first time since you walked through the double doors you feel at ease.

"Oh~!" Clyde exclaims, bringing his fist up to his mouth. Of course, not to muffle the sound, but out of shock.

"It's funny you say that...I'd love to see your point of view, but I can't get my head that far up my ass!" Jimmy grins at you and your brow twitches, visibly bounces in annoyance.

"It's good to see you again too darling." Your frown breaks and turns into a smile, laughter rings out like the sound of bells. Jimmy joins you in that and memories of better times come flooding back to you.

"Wait...so you guys are actually friends?" Clyde looks between the two of you with confusion on his face.

"So, where'd you find tall, dumb and ha...ha...handsome?" Jimmy asks as he rests back on his crutches, ignoring Clyde.

"The Grand Wizard sent him with me, he's been dutifully escorting me through the lands." You gibe with an eye roll.

"Hey! .... You think I'm handsome?" Clyde seems to reject any form of insult; it slides off him like a blade would a shield. Maybe you really were no match for this man.

After a moment of staring up at Clyde, Jimmy goes back to his conversation with you. "I see. Well, they say the dumb ones plow the-"

"Do.not.finish that sentence Valour. I swear on all that the light touches I will tell this courtroom of that night you drank Dragon's Fire and Elderberry Mead."

"Yo-... You wouldn't dare."

"Oh? You have little faith in those you call your people. Think they would listen to a viper?"

"They'd sooner listen to a viper than a human it seems."

You sigh and cross your arms over your stomach. Even if he is joking, there's truth to those words. A man would rather get himself thrown out than to listen to you, even if he was like a child, it still hurt. However you had a job to do, you'd come too far to let a tantrum stop you.

"Well maybe not all of them." Jimmy breaks you from your thoughts.

Your brows knit together in confusion when you see him turn and walk away again. No goodbye, no indicator that he would return, not even a snarky remark. From the corner of your eye, you see Clyde bow his head and put his arm over his chest, his fist knocks into the opposite shoulder.

It isn't until you feel a warm light on your back that you piece together who could get both men to act accordingly. Kyle stands towering over you and Clyde; it makes you wonder if that warmth is coming from his wings or the small smile on his face.

But even caught off guard like this you wouldn't allow yourself to panic. You turn back towards him and bow as you had when you first entered the courtroom. His hand comes down next to your face, offering it out to you with a silent nod.

He wouldn't make you panic, but he would catch you by surprise. You stare at the hand for a moment before taking it. You damn the hesitation in your movements, but he doesn't seem to notice; and if he did, he's courteous enough to not make a deal of it.

"Might I borrow her for a moment? I wish to speak with your diplomat a bit before we regather." He's addressing Clyde when he speaks.

Pawn to E6

"I um...I'm not really supposed to-"

You cut him off, as Kyle pulls you up from your bow. "I will be fine Ser Clyde. If his Highness wanted me dead, we would not have even made it into this room. I'd be honored to accompany you."

Queen to A4. Check

Kyle smiles again, this time it reaches those greens in his eyes. There's a little spark behind them, this silent game you're playing with him is entertaining. He can't recall if he's ever been this entertained with a headache, but it's impressive. Every part of him needs to know more about the source of both.

Bishop to D7

"I will return with her shortly, worry not." There's something in his tone that almost sounds like he's trying to be playful. If a fire could be playful, you'd think this is the closest it would sound like.

"Uh...yeah okay. I mean, of course Y-Your Highness!" Clyde stands there and watches as Kyle moves your hand to his arm. How small you looked next to him, and how the large robes he wore engulfed your hands.

The mask is quickly put back on, it was nice to breath while you could. Silence falls over you two as he escorts you through the castle. You catch glimpses of decorations and paintings hung high on the beautiful walls. Vines of ivy and grape leaves wrap around the columns in a tight hug. Passing art pieces that you would most likely never see again, yet all you can seem to focus on is the direction he's taking you.

Queen to C4.

Tucked in the corner of the board, Clyde stands there waiting for you to come back. He looks to the bard who simply offers him a friendly shrug. Jimmy gestures for him to walk over, making Clyde look behind him. The bard rolls his eyes and points to him with the crutch. Then to the spot next to him, in his corner of the board.

So far, two pawns have been removed.

But the games only just begun.

Prologue | Chapter 1 | 2

#south park #sp fanfiction #south park fanfiction #reader insert #south park x reader #x reader #kyle broflovski #kyle broflovski x reader #Kingdom Come #Chapter 1 #Fantasy AU #clyde donovan #jimmy valmer #stan marsh #shhh its a secret

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riis-reborn · 6 months ago

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Eyes up, guardians.

Titan/Hunter player seeking destinyblr gaymers to grind out Season of the Wish rewards and Season of Defiance/Deep/Witch titles !

With intention to introduce myself and get to mutually know other Destiny players before playing together, hi! I've been playing Destiny 2 since The Witch Queen and Destiny 1 between 2018-2019.

My requirements:

- Season of Defiance progress. I need help completing the legend difficulty Triumphs for the Queensguard title

- Chill and patient personality. I don't want to be too frustrating to play with and cause you to quit. I show respect and grace to others especially when they struggle with activities, and need that energy matched.

- Tumblr messaging or Discord for text comms

- (optional) Microphone for verbal communication. Text is fine for me if that's what you're comfortable with, using mic makes ingame communication quicker. I can only speak in English & very limited Español.

- (optional) Limited progress made in Season of the Deep/Witch/Wish. I don't want to be a burden to be carried, I will mutually help you get your triumph score up too! 💪

- (optional) Interest in other end-game activities. I like Gambit, I have experience in some exotic quests, The Shattered Throne, Vault of Glass, and Prophecy. I would like to finish King's Fall and VotD sometime.

Lastly, I'm only seeking a fireteam right now to grind until June 3rd reset, but as I mentioned above I have end-game experience and I play Destiny almost every day; If you've been seeking a casual but devoted and curious Destiny mate to play long-term, you've found one! Id be happy to face the final shape alongside trusted fireteam members.

If interested please hit my ask box up or leave a reply with the name of your Risen character and I'll reach out to you 🫶

#destiny #destiny 2 #playstation #gamers of tumblr #destiny lfg #Waits until the last two weeks to grind 350 days worth of content like a boss #I can be trusted with time sensitive matters

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whatever-the-fucky-i-reads · 3 months ago

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Oneshots - Part 1

King of Hearts by astxrwar

Reader Insert Madness - Chapter 43 by MadRedQueen000 (on ao3)

He is in Love by GypsyArt (on ao3)

Imagine Marvel Universe - Chapter 14 by ificouldhelpyouforget (on ao3)

Gambit Oneshots by LadyMoonshadow (on ao3) (15/?)

Counting Cards by cemeteryspider

Rooted in Love by cemeteryspider

Genosha Revisited by cemeteryspider

The Two of Cups by cemeteryspider

Nothing Without You by triptuckers

Drunk in Love by triptuckers

Discoveries by triptuckers

Here When You Wake Up by triptuckers

Feelings that Flicker by triptuckers

Different Time by rebelliousstories

Rightful Spot by rebelliousstories

Touch Me by mlmxreader

Make Out or Be Caught Trope by dinogoofymutated (also on ao3)

Gambit Headcannons 1 by dinogoofymutated

Remy, No! by dinogoofymutated (also on ao3)

Down to the Felt by intoxicated-chan

Let ol' Gambit Show You How It's Done by cera-writes (also on ao3)

You Look Different by cera-writes (also on ao3)

You Wearin' My Shirt I See by cera-writes (also on ao3)

I Do by cera-writes (also on ao3)

Tangled Threads by cera-writes

Cramps and Comfort by cera-writes

The Hand that Deals by cera-writes

Before the Storm by queenxxxsupreme

Remy LeBeau/Gambit x Fem!Reader (blurb) by kiwicopia

Ashes of Desire by librababe99

Balcony Tryst by cera-writes

Like Nothing Matters by cera-writes

A Moonlit Dip by cera-writes

Drunk in Love by cera-writes

Remy LeBeau x half-demon gn!Reader by cera-writes

Be Gentle by cera-writes

Too Sweet by cera-writes

Come Back to Me by cera-writes (also on ao3)

Untitled Oneshot by cera-writes

Magnifique by cera-writes

A Welcome Respite by cera-writes

Jealousy by cera-writes

Queen of Hearts by EmoFairyPrincess (on ao3)

Running Till the Road Runs Out by redfiona (on ao3)

Joyeux Anniversaire Mon Amour by GypsyArt (on ao3)

Clean by thirtysomethingloser92 (also on ao3)

Chase by TheLadyMienshao (on ao3)

Out at Sea by ThymeSprite (on ao3)

Simply Perfect by Rakshasha (on ao3)

Your Best Bet by Luna Draconis (on ao3)

Ma Chèrie, Where is Your Imagination? by tomboycowpoke (on ao3)

All that Was by SoftImaginesCity (on ao3)

X-Men Imagines by LadyWolverine (on ao3) (38/?) (Gambit featured starting Chapter 12)

The Cajun Charm by LadyWolverine (on ao3)

A Game of Cards by LadyWolverine (on ao3)

Leave Me Alone by PleaseTakeAwayMyInternet (on ao3)

Avengers and Friends NSFW Alphabet - Chapter 28 by purplegirl123 (on ao3)

The 30 Day Relation-SHIT Challenge - Chapter 3 by MockingbirdNIvans (on ao3)

Lady Luck Tonight by KillerKissed (on ao3) (Unfinished Series that kinda works as a oneshot)

Take Me Dancing by Totallynotashieldagent (on ao3)

Rare, Not Unheard by Totallynotashieldagent (on ao3)

Marvel Preferences, Imagines, and Drabbles by DontKnowHowIGotHere (on ao3)

Kitchen Encounter by little_cheshire_fandom_cat (on ao3)

Tumblr Prompts and Other Short Fics - Chapter 1 by ozhawk (on ao3)

Dances by RoseInIvy (on ao3)

Desperate Times and Desperate Measures by rebelliousstories

Lead Me Home by pabbit

Untitled Oneshot by gus-the-goldfish

For You, Anything by cera-writes

Cards on the Table by librababe99Magical Relationships by rebelliousstories

Magical Relationships by rebelliousstories

Un Bisou by felucians

A Walk Around the Quarter by cera-writes

Untitled Oneshot by vixemi

Healing Hearts by importantangels

Untitled Oneshot by bulletmedic

Mon Amour by choerypetal

Untitled Oneshot by planchettewrites

Ma Belle Evangeline by cera-writes

Coffee Shop AU by uglypastels

I'm Just Half Alive (In My Struggle to Survive Without You) by planchettewrites

Untitled Oneshot by gaybybirth

They Don't Know Her Like I Do by delicatenightfury

She's Not That Stupid by delicatenightfury

Number Blocker by arkhamsdarkestknight

Put on a Goddamn Shirt by dame-nervy

Imagine Meeting Remy LeBeau in New Orleans by silentwaters4

You're My Girl by alexsnerdycorner (also on ao3)

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minecraft-llama · 1 year ago

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Chess Blog Day #33 - The Queen's Gambit

The queen's gambit is characterised by the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4

It's called a gambit because white is giving up the pawn since it's not defended.

There are two main responses to the Queen's Gambit (but loads of others, too!):

Queen's Gambit Accepted

Queen's Gambit Declined

These are called the QGA and QGD for short.

They look like this:

The QGD is much more common, but they are both good.

Actually, the Queen's Gambit isn't a real gambit. This is because the pawn can almost always be won back.

For example in the QGA white usually plays 3.e4 attacking the pawn.

There are only two ways of defending it, 3...b5 and 3...Be6.

After 3...Be6?, white has the simple 4.d5, and there isn't time to defend the pawn because the bishop is attacked.

After 3...b5 a bunch of complicated things can happen but both players usually end up with the same number of pawns.

You might be wondering if, since there's a Queen's Gambit, there's a King's Gambit. Well, there is.

Tomorrow: The King's Gambit.

#chess #board game #opening #openings #gambit #queen's gambit #strategy

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roalinda · 1 year ago

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Entry for @hprecfest

☆Day 9 : A rare pair fic (less than 2000 fics on AO3)☆

Queen's Gambit by TheFeistyRogue

Pairing: Bellatrix Black Lestrange/James Potter

Summary:

Bellatrix rules Slytherin as its Queen... all she needs is a King by her side, or at her feet.

Category: F/M

Rating: T

Words: 1, 726

If you are a fan of rare pairings and don't mind a bit of dark spice, I absolutely recommend this. Despite this work being short, it shows how the Black family's mind works and how they use their beauty and shrewd wit to get what they want and how they are attracted to cruelty which had made Bellatrix attracted to James' dark side. The only thing that may seem a bit off in this, however, is the age difference which the writer probably had ignored in favour of the plot and believe me the plot is wonderful enough for the reader to ignore that completely.

"Baby, my sweet baby," Potter sang back, for she was certain that it was Potter now. "You are too cruel to me."

"I'm Bellatrix Black, darling, I'm cruel to everyone," Bellatrix drawled.

2. Moments in time by @indigostars

pairing: Fleamont Potter/Euphemia Potter

Summary:

The first time Euphemia saw Fleamont Potter, she was twelve and he was a newly Sorted Gryffindor. He had the most bizarre and unruly hair Euphemia had ever seen. It stuck out at all angles, looking as if he'd never brushed it in his life.

[or; the story of Fleamont and Euphemia Potter]

Category: M/F , G

Rating: G

Words: 8, 954

One week," she said to Fleamont, who was busy eating some sausages. "One week, and Minerva has already sent us a letter. Your son is out of control."

"Why is he always my son whenever he gets in trouble?" Fleamont grumbled.

This one-shot is a jewel. The way that Euphemia and Fleamont met, how they lived and loved and died and their deep bond is so well-done in this, making it a real worthy story.

#hprecfest2023 #Day 9 #Bellatrix black #James potter #fleamont potter #euphemia potter

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solarsonsmp · 11 months ago

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The Torch

symbolises motivation, ideals, light, Learning, purpose, clarity, freedom and luck.

images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com

Heroes of the Torch are The Dreamers, Ones of Light, Ones of Day, The Shining Ones or The One of Gambit They glitter gold dust as they walk with Lore Armour

Observer Haki

you have glow on everything within a 30 block bubble of yourself

Sunlight Yellow Overdrive

when below 20% health, gain immunities to most negative effects (burning, poison and weakness) and give you strength II and fire aspect punches

Holy Knight

attack damage and speed double when defending allies

Destiny Child

The Hero has become something entirely new. They are the central pillar, the point that things revolve around. They’re special. Their presence alone could turn the tide of a battle and their name or visage would hold serious weight, a living legend. They don’t have the title of legend or divine or sublime they are it. you get a special weapon after sleep at level 100

Sun Paper- 3 Pieces of paper that mix between different Lore Weapons and effects being 90 different outcome

given to Jesters, Jacks, Servants, Merchants and Oracles

Sparkalibur- The Holy Sword of Captain Sparkle's and only drawn from the ones that sleep in the Mine's for 5 long night if has 19+ without enchantments and is a unbreakable Golden Sword that creates light if held and the sword will kill the unworthy

given to Striders, Kings, Knights and Doges

Prism of Light-giving the user the ability to shoot a laser of rainbow doing the same damage as a there experience level

given Wizard, Witch and Cleric

Challenge from the Gods: Here comes the Sun You

need to kill the Wither King in the nether with a Iron Sword that you used to save a village from a Raid and write about your journey

Quest of Knights, Doges, Servants and Striders

Challenge from the Gods: Paperback Writer

You need to find the Bastion Remnant collect 5 gold blocks at the Bastion Remnant and write about your journey than bring it back to the Lapis Library

Quesr of Wizard, Cleric, Jesters, Merchants and Oracles

Challenge from the Gods: Sun King

Become Experience level 1000, after that become the riches in the server with 200,000 emerald block in your inventory, become the most famous by killing 1 king and writing about your stories and become the most powerful with the Orphan Slayer after beating the Blood God

Quest of a King, a Queen and Jacks

#minecraft #smp #solarson smp #torch #element #sunflower plain #the beatles #jojo bizarre adventure

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sirendeepity · 2 years ago

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Books I've read in 2022

I'm starting this on 24/09 because I know the time this is going to take me will be too much, so (present-me note: it didn't take me too much, just an hour or so, I was just feeling lazy)

77/ 22 (updated to: /52)

The Foxhole Court ★★★★.5

The Raven King ★★★★.5

The King's Men ★★★★.5 (there's not a single right thing in here but yes?? Read this shit??)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue ★★★★ (not as life-altering as they said it would be but oh, Luc)

The Inheritance Games ★★★★ (the vibes were there but everything else was not? TikTok what are you doing?? At least it was fun tho)

The Hawthorne Legacy ★★★.5

Caraval ★★★★

Legendary ★★★★★ (Tella <333 Dante <333 Jacks <333)

Finale ★★★★★

House of Sky and Breath ★★★ (where do I begin: loved Bryce, but now not anymore, loved the story, now it's giving me the ick, Hunt was neutral, now I lowkey hate him, Tharion wtf is wrong with you, but the Rhun, Flynn, Dec trio with Ithan and the new (female) addictions? Immaculate. Ariadne is queen aND I WANT HER WITH FLYNN THEY ARE SERVINGGGG)

The Love Hypothesis ★★★★ (I read that this year? Mh)

From Lukov With Love ★★★

Shatter Me ★★★ (half a let-down, half a mind trip, but Kenji <333)

Destroy Me ★★★★★

Unravel Me ★★★.5

Fracture Me ★★★.5

Ignite Me ★★★★

Restore Me ★★★.5

Shadow Me ★★★★

Defy Me ★★★★

Reveal Me ★★★★

Imagine Me ★★★★

Believe Me ★★★ (I kept asking myself why Aaron was still a bitch until I realized that's how morally gray characters are supposed to be and not the watered-down version aka "I'm a bad guy until you learn about my trauma and how misunderstood I am, and magically I'm the perfect saint character to ever exist" and, yeah)

Flock ★★★

Exodus ★★★★ (we love rainy days, don't we baby?)

The Finish Line ★★ (useless, I hated it, it shouldn't exist)

Corrupt ★★★.5

Hideaway ★★★★★ (Nikova mf Banks ladies and gentlemen)

Kill Switch ★★★★.5 (Damon is a psycho by day and a poet by night, also he and Andrew are the same person in different fonts)

Conclave ★★★

Nightfall ★★★★★ (WillEmmy SERVED but BanksEmmy had so much potential, which wouldn't have gone to waste if someone *looks at Penelope Douglas* got her head out of Erika Fane's ass.)

Fire Night ★★★★

Punk 57 ★★★★

Addicted to You ★★★ (my very first comment to this was mean, like mean-mean, so I'm censuring past me and saying: I don't hate LiLo anymore, they're still nowhere near the top but we like some good character development here)

Ricochet ★★★

Heartstopper 1 ★★★★★

Heartstopper 2 ★★★★★

Heartstopper 3 ★★★★★

Heartstopper 4 ★★★★

Only a Monster ★★★★ (I literally cannot remember what happened at the end of this? Like, I remember, but I don't? Anyway I loved it and AARON MY GOODNESS you're a little Malfoy and I love this for you. I'll definitely do a reread before the sequel comes out)

House of Salt and Sorrow ★★★.5

Shadow & Bone (reread) ★★★.5

The Risk (p.s. I refused to give a rating to this because some things should just not be rated and whatever tf this series was is one of those things)

Sidetracked

Scarlet Angel

All the Lies

Paint It All Red (what in the jesus christ was that-)

Twisted Love ★★★.5

Twisted Games ★★★★

Twisted Hate ★★★★★ (JULESSSSS MF AMBROSE YES)

Twisted Lies ★★★.5 (I don't remember a single thing because I was too distracted by JulesJosh to actively read this </3 but one day I'll reread this the right way, pinky promise)

They Both Die at the End ★★★ (it's written in the goddamn title why was I surprised?)

Blade Breaker ★★★★ (Sorasa Sarn aka mommy-)

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder ★★★★

Good Girl, Bad Blood ★★★★★

As Good As Dead ★★★★.5 (mind-blowing. New fave series, new fave author, new fave everything. Don't sleep on Ravi Singh or I'll come for you)

Kingdom of the Feared ★★ (I am so not happy with you, Kerri, and I'd like to personally buy a vibrator for you because your horny inner teen should be left outside of your books, thank you very much)

The Final Gambit ★★★★★ (I was ready for the misery and this book managed to disappoint my expected disappointment? Make it make sense? Anyway Jameson might have gotten the girl but Grayson got me so a win is a win)

Every Heart A Doorway ★★★

Love on the Brain ★★★★.5

King of Wrath ★★★

If We Were Villains ★★★★.5 (De Nial is a river in Egypt, your husband is gay!)

Greywaren ★★★★ (everybody shut up I'm in my feels)

Cruel King ★★.5 (*sounds of dying*)

Deviant King ★★★.5

Steel Princess ★★★ (halfway through this one I got bored of the couple so I have little to no memory of what happened, so don't ask)

Twisted Kingdom ★★★

Black Knight ★★★★★ (Kimmy <3333)

Vicious Prince ★★★.5

Ruthless Empire ★★★★★ (SilverCole for the win I said what I said)

Royal Elite Epilogue ★★★.5 (the guys' groupchat 💀💀)

Addicted for Now ★★★.5 (it only took me 7 months!!!)

Kiss the Sky ★★★★

Hothouse Flower ★★★★

Thrive ★★★.5 (tandem reading this with the two before saved my ass because I could already see the other 7 months of nothingness)

Addicted After All ★★★.5

Fuel the Fire ★★★.5 (I was expecting a bit more from this but we can't always get what we want)

bonus: The Demon in the Wood, The Witch of Duva, The Tailor, The Too Clever Fox, Kill Joy.

Also, I am currently reading ("reading") Siege & Storm, The Atlas Six, and Long Way Down. I'll probably finish all of them in 2023 because I'm not in the mood to read anything right now *hides Wattpad and its trashy slytherin boys' fanfictions* so yeah, 77 books in a year is pretty damn good, isn't it?

#dee reads #2022 reads #this was a productive year #well not really since I had so much time on my hands #otherwise there was no fucking way I would've been able to read so many books

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marzowo · 1 year ago

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I technically have been here for two years buuut i havent actually doen any kinda introductions,just said i was a twitter refugee amd left it buuut a intro would be nice so here i am :))

hi im marceline, just call me marz

Ive been on earth foor 16 years? and some months,ive got a fuckton of siblings and a crippling mentality

Im in a shittone of fandoms and i have a different fixation per day

Im easily distracted and me holding a relationship is like me holding warm butter so if u can handle distant anti socials

Hi :]]

I have a crippling Ao3 addiction and have short term memory (kinda)

I also read manhwa if ur into tht too (manhwa,manhua,manga,danmei(limited) u name it)

Unfortunately i dont really do anime anymore,like i know basic summaries but i dont watch the anime

i mostly read the manga

I am a Neptunic NB who goes be all pronouns +Star/Starself (if u couldnt tell i have a space hyperfix)

List of Fandoms im in

Percy Jackson

Welcom Home(current fixation #1)

My Mxtx Era(Mdzs[Mo dao Zu shi],Svsss[Scum Villain Savin System],tgcf[Ti/Tu guan ci fu..only srry iforgotifitstiortuguanlol)

uhhhĥhh Bungou Strsy Dogs 🐕

Spiderman (Specifically Tom Holland)

Spiderverze! (i still need to fisnih my spiderson smh)

Danny Phantom

Genshin Impact

Hannibal

YOI(Yuri [its actually yaoi smh] on ice)

Harry Potter

Very limited as im yet to read it buuut,Hunger Games

DBH(Detroit Become Human[Kara my beloved])

PJSK :D(Project Sekai)

Underworld Office (bcs Eugene)

DC(not DC comics lol,Detective Conan :))))

Assassination Classroom

Murder Drones(Fixation #3)

LMK(Lego monkie kid/king-fixation #2 lol)

Code geass(Lelouch has me by th shirt collar omfg)

Fullmetal Alchemist

Voltron(Me when they lowkey forced LancexAllura lmao)

SHE-RA(Unfortunately just the modern one,older she-rq looks badass af+he-man is a total himbo )

OrV(Omniscient Readers Viewpoint,Has me pulled away by the ankles atp. Fixation #4)

Wednesday (reluctantly atp,its probably the only series ive finsiged within the last 12 months/srs)

Hmmm maybe Demon Slayer/Kimetsu No Yaiba

Encanto,if it counts

BL(Blue lock ;])

Erased/boku dake gai inai dachi(i think thats right)

OHSHC(Ouran highschool host club)

Criminal minds ofc,but only till s3 or s5,i got too lazy to finsih it b4 it was taken off netflix

Showtunes/Musicals(Specifically the songs lol buut,Heathers,uhh Dear evan hansen,a lil Hamilton, etc...etc)

Enola Holmes

Saiki K

Umbrella Academy

SpyXFamily

Legacies

TBP(The black phone :/)

Legally Blonde 1 & 2

Oshi No Ko(my idol? i think. Manga Timeline only)

TNMNT(Specifically the 20 something one,2020?2022?

unOrdinary

Moriarty The Patriot(Its just Gay Sherlock and Jame Moriarty)

Carmen Sandiego ofc (shes a queen)

{coming to the end lol}

the Owl House

The Queens Gambit(Im gonna rewatch it agian :>)

Bridgerton(bcs dramatic Victorian ppl are really hot)

Avatar(The one from my childhood,Guess which)

Twilight (bcs i have an older sister)

TBHK(Toilet bound hanako kun)

And very reluctantly (i left 5 months ago) My..My dsmp phase

+More :D extensive list i know.

Theres more

But ill stop here bcs i dont think anyones gonna read allat

Anyway pls follow me everywhere bcs i shitpost constantly

Literally whatever is in my brain goes online

Uhh heres my alternative socials

Reditt/Reddit

Twitter

Ao3:I forgot

Special Mention:Spotify

Marz has invited you to join a Blend on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/blend/taste-match/a0d45a403ea80217?si=V1jNTL7zR2CwVmMwXvnmgw&fallback=getapp

Also i kinda do art sometimes

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anna-dela-luz · 2 years ago

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He compartido 1534 publicaciones este 2022

¡Son 728 más que en 2021!

8 publicaciones originales (1 %)

1526 reblogueos (99 %)

Estos son los blogs que más he reblogueado:

@onenillup

@codealiaswave

@sandmansraven

@spasticatt

@artverso

He etiquetado 7 publicaciones en 2022

#my art: 5 publicaciones

#digital art: 4 publicaciones

#rogue/gambitweek2022: 3 publicaciones

#rogue: 3 publicaciones

#gambit: 3 publicaciones

#wip: 2 publicaciones

#josuke higashikata: 2 publicaciones

#jojo's bizarre adventure: 2 publicaciones

#jjba art: 2 publicaciones

#diamond is unbreakable: 2 publicaciones

La etiqueta más larga tiene 24 caracteres

#jojo's bizarre adventure

Mis publicaciones más populares este 2022:

WIP part 2 for the rogue/gambit week

50 notas. Fecha de publicación: 9 de febrero de 2022

Commission for @virfujiwara

B&W version

54 notas. Fecha de publicación: 5 de julio de 2022

54 notas. Fecha de publicación: 9 de junio de 2022

Rogue/Gambit Week 2022

Day 7 - Free Day

Royal Family

This is an alternative sketch I made for when I was working on the piece I posted for Day 1. I polished it a bit + the kittens and here it is.

Anny

126 notas. Fecha de publicación: 26 de febrero de 2022

Mi publicación más popular de 2022

Rogue/Gambit Week 2022

Day 1 - King and Queen of Thieves

This time around I took a more Comic-like approach in this illustration, it took me a long time so I hope you like it ❤

Anny

401 notas. Fecha de publicación: 20 de febrero de 2022

Descubre tu resumen del 2022 en Tumblr →

#tumblr2022 #resumen del año #mi resumen del 2022 en tumblr #tu resumen del año en tumblr #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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emeraldgreaves · 2 years ago

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23 Books in 2023

[2022]

Finished

Loved / reread / read

The Vegetarian by Han Kang (12/29/22 - 1/4/23)

The Defining Decade by Meg Jay (1/5)

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu (1/6)

Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim (1/6-1/8)

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (1/5-1/11)

Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries #5) by Martha Wells (1/4-1/19)

The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino (12/27–1/19)

Swan Dive by Georgina Pazcoguin (1/19)

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (1/24-2/3)

Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace (1/20–2/9)

I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown (3/4)

Once Upon a Marquess by Courtney Milan (3/1-3/10)

This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan (4/4)

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (4/23)

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin (finished 4/29)

Nuclear Family by Joseph Han (4/27- 5/3)

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula LeGuin (4/30-5/9)

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (reread, started est. bigolas dickolas saga & finished 5/25)

The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan (5/11-5/26)

Life Mask by Emma Donoghue (5/27-5/30)

Lady of the Camelias by Alexandre Dumas, fils (reread, 5/14-6/4)

My Not-So-Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella (6/4-6/6)

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery (6/6-6/7)

Shakespeare Saved My Life by Laura Bates (6/7-6/11)

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin (6/4-6/18)

Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield (6/14-6/21)

Beauty by Robin McKinley (reread, 6/22-6/24)

Geisha: A Life by Mineko Iwasaki (6/26-6/28)

A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare (6/29-6/30)

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston (6/30)

The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan (reread, 7/1-7/3)

Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare (6/30-7/4)

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (7/3)

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (7/10)

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (7/18)

Persuasion by Jane Austen (7/14-7/22)

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (reread, 7/21)

Burnout by Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA (7/23-7/24)

Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin (7/3-7/24)

The Red Palace by June Hur (7/26-8/2)

The Farthest Shore by Ursula LeGuin (8/1-8/15)

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King (9/2-9/3)

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (9/3-9/4)

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor (9/22-9/27)

A Mathematician’s Lament by Paul Lockhart (9/23-9/28)

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou (9/28-9/29)

Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang (9/27-10/02)

Foreverland by Heather Havrilesky (10/03)

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee (10/21)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (finished 10/27)

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up / Spark Joy by Marie Kondo (11/15-11/18)

Raise Your Voice by Kathy Khang (11/28)

The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly by Margareta Magnusson (12/5-12/6)

The Art of Discarding by Nagisa Tatsumi (12/5-12/7)

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson (12/11)

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (12/17-12/24)

The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis (12/28-12/31)

Ongoing

The Worst Journey in the World: The Graphic Novel by Sarah Airriess (1/17–)

Lord of the Rings (via LOTR Newsletter)

DNF

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel (12/28–1/12)

Astray by Emma Donoghue (1/4-1/13)

Time Squared by Lesley Krueger (2/10)

Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok (3/18-3/19)

Density rhapsody lmao (4/4-4/18)

Madly deeply alan rickman (4/19-4/20)

Be the bridge (4/20)

The dead romantics (4/20)

Bronze drum (5/1)

This is how augusten burroughs (5/3)

Tastes like war grace m cho (5/4)

The duchess war courtney Milan (5/11)

The calculating stars mary robinette kowal (5/11)

Frugal wizard brandon sanderson

Fool moon jim butcher (5/21)

Vladimir julia may jonas (5/29)

Light from uncommon stars (6/11)

The spy who came in from the cold by john lecarre (6/25, try again later)

How not to be wrong by jordan ellenberg (6/29)

The great derangement by amitav ghosh (7/28)

i keep my exoskeletons to myself by marisa crane (9/16)

the key to rebecca by ken follet (10/03. not even tim downie can rescue this)

Frostblood by Ely Blake (11/something - 12/11)

Too Like The Lightning by Ada Palmer (12/17. wanted to love it though)

The expatriates by janice yk lee (12/27)

#emerald reads #new year new books!#emerald speaks

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13thpythagoras · 1 year ago

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chess knowledge thus far, late life beginner and my rating is climbing, I play best in the mornings, and worst late in the day, alcohol makes me play horrible but I play fine with cannabis + a touch of tobacco at the ends. coffee chess and a smoke is an addiction for me i admit so why not go all in 😂😝😭

getting 2 rooks on the 2nd or 7th rank is pretty much an op strategy to mind in any middle game;

converting pawns is bigger than donkey kong

controlling the center is extremely clever

bishops on the ledge and knights in the middle will push you over the edge of solving the riddle 😂

haxo gambit / scotch gambits are my faves, king's gambit can be deadly af and stockfish says to take it but you need to know all of that line or you're toast, vienna into king's gambit is tough, modern scandinavian (can I call that the viking??) has deadly lines too. Queen's gambit is overrated, just never accept it, queen's gambit accepted is winning for the queen's side. I just counter-gambit and push the same pawn or E pawn for the Albin. Learning the Rousseau... fried liver, even the gambit, just fails to the queen pawn push two, and then knight to the edge attacking that bishop.

keeping an active king isn't always a bad thing especially if the queens are off the board. I've seen successful king runs to safety after the king side got breached. i've seen some crazy games

first I practice a few games against the computer, try out super aggressive openings and see how the lines play out. researching fun gambits etc

then start games vs people with 1 minute+1 second games, where you get plus one second per turn and you start with a minute, start premoving if you are low on time but just try to get ideas out...

5 minute games mid day, try to stay positional

10 minute games at the end of the day, just stay with material and grind away, and check that blunder blindspot for both sides' every move.

for a weird trick I accudentally discovered, but if you wait 10 seconds too long on the second move, it can lull the opponent to sleep, maybe if you start slowly. Then you can ratchet uo your speed during the game if it stays defensive and build a time advantage. Most games end by timer if it's 1:1 or 5 mins...

80% of quick amateur games end on time, and of the remainder, I'd say most of those hinge on pawn conversions to queen. Checkmate is pretty rare but can be a deadly threat that yields material wins...

#chess rating climbing #late life beginner #on track for master level in a year or two #my puzzle elo is pushing 2000 #but my bullet rating is like alllllmost 700? haha

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inoppositionflorien · 2 years ago

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How to play Chess as White once you know how the pieces move and some notation and not much else: by A Deeply Overspecialized Super-genius Chess Player.

A mistake many players make when playing chess is on their very first move, when they play 1. e4, as seen on the board below.

This is a mistake, and you should not do this ever. In fact, to prove a point, let's learn some chess judgement notation. These are symbols used to indicate how harshly you are judging someone else's (or your own) move. For example, "!" means a very good move, and "!!" means a move so good that it effectively won the game right there, whereas "?" means a bad move that makes things worse, and "??" means a very bad move, a blunder, a move that ruins your day. There are also !? (which means not good but probably doesn't immediately make things worse) and "?!" when the annotator gets lazy and can't decide whether a move is good or bad but wants to write something there anyway. 1. e4, in this system, for example, would be annotated as "1. e4???" because it is a massive mistake worse than any other move and has already cost white the game in spirit even if not necessarily in practice. The most common response is 1. c5???, known as the Sicilian defense, probably because some guy played it once in Sicily, thus forever tarnishing chess. If that is played, the board will look like this.

At this point, the game is already a draw no matter who checkmates first, because just look at it! Neither side has won in spirit. The only way white could possibly redeem their position is to play the Bongcloud opening (also known as the Tsar Alexander Opening as of right now when I named it to sound more serious), and claim that they played e4 merely to facilitate the extremely stylish Ke2, which leads to very "sharp" positions, which is what chess players say when they want to say that the game will be over far too quickly, and sound fancy while doing so. (Incidentally playing Ke2 against the Sicilian is already technically called King David's opening, but I think that's a bad choice of name as of right now because I am both capricious and arbitrary and there is not a thing you can do about it.) This position is, of course, still unsalvageable and a moral draw, but at least white is making the effort to be amusing.

As you can see, 1. e4 is an aberration against all things good, and is the kind of move that votes for Ayn Rand, Paul Ryan, or Mickey Mouse in every US election. But instead of beating around the bush (both of which 1. e4 thought were good presidents), let us get to the best move in all chess, 1. d4. (Best written as 1. d4!!!), the move that instantly wins you the moral and spiritual victory.

(Pictured: The best move in the game, in its natural habitat.)

As you can see, unlike with e4, where any response short of c5 instantly is a win for black, d4 has no responses that are instant victories for black. Black's best response is to attempt to capture but a pale imitation of the raw genius of 1. d4, and that is to meet it in kind with 1. d5. 1. e5 is also an option, known as the englund gambit (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE ENGLISH OPENING OR THE LONDON SYSTEM), which only holds back black's inevitable moral defeat one move, but d5 does attempt to trick white into playing something that only the lowest of low people would play, 2. c4, entering the poorly named "queen's gambit" which should really not be called that as it is not a gambit. But we shall focus on 1. d5, as it is the true strongest option.

Here, black attempts to bait white into the poorly named queen's gambit, as previously said, which may lead to interesting positions, but the sheer shame that would descend upon your shoulders for playing 2. c4 would break any player, so it should not be played for your own health, safety, and moral fiber, especially when the moral victory can easily be attained with 2. Bf4, entering the LONDON SYSTEM, the single best thing ever to happen to chess ever. (The classical london system starts with 2. Nf3, which is of course, worse.) This bishop will make your opponent irrationally angry and they may attempt to Thomas those Beckets, but that will be a problem for later.

(Here you can see how white wins on move 2, morally speaking. Black can only hang their head in shame and hope, in vain, that they may somehow salvage this position.)

The game does, however, continues after achieving the moral victory with the London system (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE ENGLISH OPENING, 1. c4, which is an idea worthy only of ridicule, NOR the previously mentioned ENGLUND GAMBIT!) Another benefit to 1. d4 is that it outscores 1. e4 by one point of win and three of draw. Only 1. Nf3 outscores it, and the Reti (as it is called) is obviously just a prelude to performing the London System's less interesting cousin, the Colle System, which also features d4, and thus cannot be taken seriously as an opening in its own right. Black's best response is e6, to which white will respond with e3. Nf3 is also an option, but we will leave the king's knight in her relatively safe spot behind the pikes of the pawn-line for now. (fun chess fact: the pieces are all genderfluid, but the white king's knight specifically does tend to err more on the she/her side of pronouns on most days.) The position is now as follows.

Black has two options here, Nf6, by far the most popular choice, and Bd6, which is less popular, but attempts to Thomas white's Beckets right out of the gate. We shall talk about 3. Nf6, and if you want to Thomas some Beckets as black, we can learn more about that at some point maybe in the future, or maybe not. For now, we must consider white's response, which will obviously be to move one of those two knights. Because white's c pawn is very important for its capacity to go forward and thoroughly ruin people's days, 4. Nc3 is not an option that any person would ever play if they want to be truly great at chess, despite the repeated insistence by some "high-ranked" players that it is an aggressive and interesting move. Thankfully, the vast majority of players see through their empty words and play the much more sensible moves of Nd2 or Nf3, both of which are extremely good. Nf3 is the most popular by far, and thus we get the characteristic kingside of the London System, by which you may know your downfall if you should play as black.

And just a few short moves later, which should be obvious to anyone, white already has the moral victory, and will soon gain the actual victory, as seen here.

Qg3# is of course, at this point, inevitable, and black probably should have resigned the moment white got that new queen, or perhaps more accurately, when 1. d4!!! was played, but instead can be seen here, running away in a manner most undignified from the inevitability of crushing defeat, and has brought great shame upon their name (all of their names). Thus, you now understand how to play the London System (the best chess thing to play) to both Moral and Actual victory. If you do not, perhaps the sheer brilliance of the moves has not yet sunk in, and you should think on the matter, perhaps by stroking your chin and saying "hmm" loudly. This will prove your superiority to those fools who thought they could outthink you.

#long post #Chess inanity #You spent how long on this?#Part one of a series #no please no not a series

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minecraft-llama · 1 year ago

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Chess Blog Day #29 - Introduction to Chess Openings

Chess openings are the moves that you make to start a game of chess.

Chess openings are arguably the least important part of chess. Often players can make completely random moves for the first few moves and as long as their position isn't lost they'll be fine.

However, sometimes games are decided in the opening, especially in tricky openings or with opening traps. We saw before how for beginners Scholar's Mate can be hard to defend against.

Playing a good opening is also a great way to maximize your chances, and you have nothing to lose by learning some.

As players improve openings become more important, especially in slower games.

The reason I mentioned them being relatively less important is because many players spend too much time studying openings without winning many more games.

With that out of the way, let's talk about some opening principles.

The main thing you want to achieve in an opening is to control the centre of the board. This is why 1.e4 and 1.d4 are the two most common first moves.

The next thing you want to achieve is minor piece development. Most of the time you should move knights out before bishops. This is because knights only really have two good squares to go to, and most of the time they only really have one. Bishops, on the other hand, have many squares they can move to and so you should wait and see what your opponent does before committing them.

The next thing you want to do is castle. If you're in a position where you would prefer to castle long you will of course also need to move your queen first.

The final stage of the opening is connecting your rooks. This happens once you have castled and the queen, bishops and knights have all moved. The rooks defending each other is very often useful.

Now let's talk about how openings are named. If an opening name ends with the following:

Attack: (eg. Horwitz Attack) This is an aggressive opening for white.

Defence: (eg. King's Indian Defence) This is an opening for black. This is just convention because white goes first. Many "defences" are still quite aggressive. It's useful though because you can immediately tell which side an opening is for just by its name.

Counterattack: (eg. Traxler Counterattack) These are black openings that are definitely aggressive. Usually in response to an attack by white.

Opening: (eg. Spanish Opening) This is an opening by white that isn't quite so agressive.

Game: (eg. Italian Game, not to be confused with the Italian Job) Used to refer to openings for by either side. For some white openings it's used interchangeably with "opening" (Spanish Opening/Spanish Game, call it what you like).

Gambit: (eg. King's Gambit) This is used as a name for openings where one side sacrifices something (almost always a pawn, but sometimes a knight or even more rarely a bishop). This is mostly white openings but not always.

Countergambit: (eg. Falkbeer Countergambit) This is when one player plays a gambit but the other side not only declines the gambit but plays one of their own. It's the Uno reverse card of chess openings. This is mostly black openings but not always.

Now that we've covered the basics of openings, it's time to look at some.

Tomorrow: The Spanish opening.

#chess #board game #strategy #opening #openings

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by-nina · 3 years ago

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Exchange

Artwork by @caesurables; do not repost.

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2021 | Day 1 – King’s gambit/Queen’s gambit Rating: M (light drinking, sexual content) Genre: Lemon Word Count: 3,230

A/N: Happy Royai Week, everyone! Welcome to the spiciest thing I've written so far, which marks the first time I'm starting Royai Week with smut. I hope this feeds you well. Special shoutout to Mica for adding life to this with the gorgeous art! 😍

Something stirs in her; on one hand, it would be easy to call it yearning. But on the other, nothing that concerns Roy Mustang has ever been easy. Riza has always equated these things with methodical moves and calculated risks.

And so, for once, Riza pictures herself playing her game not for Roy’s sake, but for hers. She imagines that the stakes are different, the rules may be broken, and the only person she has ever wanted is both her gamble and her prize. She could have it all now—she need only play her piece.

———

Roy Mustang was made for a night like this. Handsome, stylish dress uniform, hair slicked back like a frame around his striking facial features, an air of dignity in his walk, his posture, even his gaze. He wears it all so well that he stands out from older, more distinguished company in the East City Hotel, where tonight, the Eastern Army is holding an extravagant ball in recognition of its recently promoted officers.

Riza is present as well, of course. For the occasion, she has traded her usual military attire for a blue satin gown with a flatteringly slender silhouette. A sash pinned with the insignia of her rank hangs from her shoulder to her hip. Having gone up the stage much earlier in the program for her own recognition, she has now retreated to the far end of the room, from where she’s got a full view of Roy as he waits to be called in front of the crowd.

Her promotion from Second to First Lieutenant is nowhere near as significant as his becoming Colonel, but it is no less her night than his. Selfish though the thought may be, it’s true that Roy owes this night to her, every title and every honor conferred to him. In every aspect of his life, she has made a crucial choice that allowed him to take a step in the right direction towards their goals—his goals that she has chosen to make her own.

“For the rank of Colonel, Roy Mustang…”

It was Riza’s choice to join him in the military, and it was this choice that has kept him on his path and his eyes on these goals. She has been devoted to his success just as much as to her act of atonement, but she was not subservient to either. Roy also carries with him the burden of their sins in Ishval. Her responsibility over his atonement means that she has more power than a subordinate would normally have under their superior. Anyone could be a dutiful subordinate or competent bodyguard, after all, but only she could be trusted with his life as well as his death.

“… the formidable Flame Alchemist…”

And it was her choice to reveal the secrets of flame alchemy, entrusted to her by her father, that first set him on the path towards his goals for the people and the country in the first place. Had she not trusted him, Roy would have searched further and longer for some other practice of alchemy. Had Riza chosen to die with her father’s secrets, Roy might not have come anywhere near who he is now.

“… and Hero of Ishval.”

Every choice she has made in their intertwined lives has determined the course of his, even when he should have been none of her concern. This was especially true in Ishval. She could have pulled the trigger at any time when she despised him most. She could have reversed the choice that brought him to Ishval. Riza chose instead to be an ally—a friend in a war where every other sense of humanity seemed to have been lost.

The Hero of Ishval was made through her actions; as was the Flame Alchemist; as was this shiny new Colonel Roy Mustang. As he is introduced by Lieutenant General Grumman, he takes his place at the center of the ballroom stage, and his titles and promotion seem all the more impressive due to the fact that he is the only new Colonel being recognized tonight. The crowd erupts in a reverent applause which Riza does not join in.

In different circumstances, if it weren’t for the very cards they have been dealt, tonight could have truly been happy, a cause for celebration. But their plans continue forming and unfolding; this game on which they have staked their lives does not pause. And so Riza watches him as she drinks her champagne, quietly imagining the steps they ought to take next, the moves they must plan, the sacrifices she must make in this gambit where she is both player and piece and he is the king set to take it all.

Her life is a game which she plays for Roy Mustang to win.

When his moment passes and the ceremony moves on, Roy descends from the stage, searching through the crowd for Riza. He finds her and meets her gaze across the room, and for a moment she wavers in her train of thought. She is familiar with this feeling. She has felt its pull before, but never this strongly, never with enough clarity so as to explicitly name him its object. How could she possibly feel it towards someone for whose sake she has forgotten her own needs and her own desires? How could she not be indifferent instead?

Riza leaves her champagne on a nearby table and turns in the opposite direction to walk off its effects. The party thankfully offers plenty enough distraction from the drink and from Roy. She meets a few colleagues here and there, makes small talk, and when she loses sight of Roy, she’s certain that he has been intercepted by people wishing to congratulate him or rub elbows with him for his prodigious rise through the ranks. She soon manages to extricate herself from the crowd and disappear from the ballroom.

———

“You should be celebrating tonight, Lieutenant.”

Riza knows that Roy has found her before he even speaks. She didn’t think that he would. She had wandered around the hotel until she found herself in distant, unfamiliar hallways decorated with beautiful artwork that she could admire until her intoxication had worn off enough to safely drive home. But there is no mistaking the sound of his footsteps or the scent of his perfume tinged with the liquor from the party. Part of her wants to disappear again, but his proximity in an otherwise deserted place seems to further slow down her currently unreliable reflexes.

Riza smiles dryly. “Does it matter if we received our actual promotions a week ago? We all know this is just an excuse to flatter ourselves and have a good time without spending our own money.” Roy smirks as she shakes her head. “Either way, I think I'll enjoy the party much better here, away from the crowd. But you're everyone's darling for the evening. They'll be wanting you back."

Roy sighs and rubs the side of his head, as if the very thought tires him. "I see enough of them at work. And there's going to be more of them around now, especially when we get transferred to Central. This night isn't about them."

The mention of Central causes Riza to bristle with alertness. She whips her head around to ascertain that the hallway is deserted. Behind her, she finds an intricately carved double door, and she quickly strides across the hallway to it. To her surprise, it is unlocked; the room beyond it appears to be dark and deserted. Riza shoots a glance at Roy as she enters. He swiftly follows.

Riza spots a nearby floor lamp just before she locks the door. For a moment, the room is pitch black, then Riza switches on the lamp. Its warm glow is just enough for her to make out Roy’s face and the silhouettes of the furniture in the room. They seem to have found themselves in a lavish parlour with a high-backed sofa and matching armchairs, a handsome tea table for two, a fireplace carved from white marble, and a vintage piano.

“I see you’re already making plans for proceeding to Central,” Riza begins. “We should be more careful about discussing them from now on, Colonel. Everyone has their eyes on you.”

Roy stares at her questioningly. Then, a small laugh breaks through his expression, and he shakes his head. “I’m not. I didn’t come looking for you to talk about our plans.”

She frowns. “What is it, then?”

“It’s just like I said. You should be celebrating tonight.” He draws what sounds like both a nervous breath and a laugh. “It wouldn’t have been right to enjoy the party without you. You’re the reason we’ve both come this far.” He pauses, and then his voice turns softer than before. There is no trace of a smile left in it or on his face. “I know you know that, Lieutenant.”

In the soft light, Roy’s face appears flushed, his features softer than they were when she watched him back at the ballroom. Riza doesn’t realize just how close he is until the scent of champagne on her is lost to his raspberry wine. Something stirs in her; on one hand, it would be easy to call it yearning. But on the other, nothing that concerns Roy Mustang has ever been easy. Riza has always equated these things with methodical moves and calculated risks.

But never in any of their plans or her own did she consider this a possible outcome, that Roy Mustang would be kissing her with one gentle hand on her face and another on her waist, or that the warmth of his body could be such a welcome comfort. He kisses her as if he has known for a long time just how closely he would need to lean in, how to tilt his head to the correct angle so that the curve of his lips would fit perfectly with hers. Riza senses this not because of unrestrained passion—on the contrary, Roy is perfectly still. The kiss is tender, but the rest of him is tense, as if it’s the only thing holding him together now. Or as if it’s the only thing he has held out for all this time.

Roy breaks away from her slowly, and it’s Riza whose heart is thundering in her chest. Perhaps, had the game been hers alone to play, it wouldn’t have led them so far so soon. Had it been she to approach him first, they might have only teetered over their fragile lines and not fully crossed to a point of no return. But Roy has taken her by surprise where the playing field has always seemed to be even between them. This, she cannot accept—she has never made a gamble that she did not see through. This will not change now.

She will play her game on her own terms.

Riza flings her arms over Roy’s shoulders as she kisses him, one hand running through his hair and undoing it back to the style she knows and likes best on him. It makes her want more—thank heavens that he realizes it right away. He responds so ardently that they stumble, so he steers her until she falls back against the piano and dissonant notes blare over their sighs. His hand runs down her side, over her hip and into the slit of her blue dress, where he reaches under her thigh and lifts it up against his leg.

But Riza refuses to give in so easily. She trails her hand down his front, all the way down to where he has started to turn hard. A gasp escapes him when she wraps her fingers around his erection and tugs at it. It gives her an opportunity to push back and reverse their positions so he is seated on the piano—it clangs unpleasantly again—and she is leaning over him as she makes short work of his jacket and his shirt to kiss his chest. The further down Riza drags her lips, the less familiar she is with the territory she is exploring, but she goes on until she brushes against that warm, rough outline. Riza tugs his trousers down, and when he springs free of his clothing, she takes Roy into her mouth.

He is exactly how she wants him right now, inelegant and vulnerable with his head hanging all the way back. Riza starts off slowly, but she is eager to figure out whether she can get him to unravel more quickly with her lips running back and forth along the length of him, or with her fingers massaging the base which her mouth cannot reach. His pleasure seems to build unhurriedly until she twists her tongue around, making him throb and moan quaveringly. She becomes hungry to hear more of him and picks up the pace, never mind that the effort is choking her. Roy grips her hair until it falls out of its pins, ultimately coming loose down her back. She goes, and goes, and she thinks he might be close, but then—

But then Roy pulls her up so he could kiss her, and Riza sighs in pleasure, and it isn’t enough for her just to watch him unravel anymore. She falls into him in a blissful, drunken haze, allowing him to kiss and caress her and unzip her dress. She could burst into flames at every part of her that he touches, even the scars that he had left on her back when their game was at its deadliest. He begins rubbing her between her legs, and there it hardly matters whether his touch flutters over her skin like candlelight or pushes as suddenly as lightning—the sensation just builds and builds, like a storm stirring up the sea.

How could he know so well what to do with her, how to give her just enough and yet leave her wanting more without ever having explored her this way before? The question is quickly lost in Riza’s mind as he finds other ways to arouse her. Now, he’s pulling the top of her dress down, switching positions with her again, alternating between kissing her lips and her breasts. It’s easy to follow him where he goes when he’s leading her through a dazzling trance, easier than it has ever been to follow him in any other way.

The storm slows only once as Roy’s lips brush against her ear with a stammering plea. “Do you want me to—can I keep going?”

Riza hardly recognizes the sound of her own voice when she gasps, “Please.”

Slowly, carefully, he enters her, with her dress hiked up above her hips. Despite the mild ache that comes with it at first, it feels better than anything she could have planned or imagined. Riza is shaking now. She buries her face in Roy’s neck and moans there, where only he can hear her, and she feels his excitement growing at the sound of it. He begins to thrust into her—clang, clang, clang, goes the piano—first at an even pace, which helps ease away her initial discomfort. When the tension disappears from her shoulders, she finds herself swaying against him hungrily. He varies from going exhilaratingly fast to tantalizingly slow—clang, clang, clang!—and at some point, she whimpers—

“Roy—"

It seems to awaken something feral in him. Everything he does with her is greedy now, from his kisses running clumsily from her neck to her lips and back, to his hands grabbing at every part of her that he can reach—and although she likes him like this, unhinged and at the same time in complete control, it makes her want to give him more than she is getting.

Riza pushes herself off the piano and into Roy, and he is more than willing to let her drive him down to the floor. There, she pulls at his hair as she kisses him, then shifts slightly so he can kiss her chest while she slowly sinks down and allows him back into her. Their rhythm is easier to find this time. She starts off at a pace that builds up the heat in her body just right, then later allows his hands and hips to guide her with more fervor and intent. Soon, the pleasure is just too close for her to wait any longer, and they are both overcome with an aching desperation—

“Roy”—she pleads, groans—“oh—"

“Riza—ahh—fuck—”

“Don’t stop, don’t stop—"

Roy climbs over her, snaking his arms around her to grab at her chest, and he enters her from behind without breaking their rhythm, thrusting vigorously until and throughout her release. The rush, the bliss, the high is simply unthinkable—Riza presses her forehead down and bites her own hand hard to keep herself from screaming. She sinks into an ungraceful sprawl on the floor, drenched in sweat and tremors and Roy’s weight all over her body, but also as feeling if she were made purely of her sensations, with no physical body at all.

A moment passes, or two, or an eternity before she turns to lie on her back. Roy has collapsed next to her and entangled with her, so he adjusts to make way for her. She then finds herself looking up at him; Roy is leaning over her, seeming like an entirely different person with his gentle gaze, his tousled hair, his clothes only barely clinging to his body. His clothes—a reminder of who he is, and therefore, the gravity of what they have just done.

The high subsides almost as quickly as it came over her.

The room is piercingly silent as they scramble back to their feet and several meters away from each other. They keep their backs turned as they smooth their clothes back onto themselves and comb their hair into some normal, unquestionable style. Riza’s senses settle back into rationality at last. This was not a different way to play their old game. This was a temporary escape, a rare exception to her life’s unwavering rules.

“Riza.”

It’s unsettling how he says her name as if it were what he normally calls her, so she does not respond. Surely, he understands that what has just transpired between them must remain in the past, in favor of the reality that they left outside the door. Surely, he knows as well as she does that that reality has already resumed before they have even left the room.

He calls her name again. Riza, again, refuses to acknowledge him.

“Lieutenant.”

Her resolve wavers for only a moment. Riza knows exactly what he is doing. She knows her own excuse for this lapse in judgment—she knows how to keep it from happening ever again. But she can tell by his current insistence and his earlier passion that he doesn’t consider this a mistake like she does. This is, after all, exactly how he plays the game—head on, without hesitation. Roy has broken the rules more thoroughly than she has. He would have done so without her instigation. He has made perfectly clear the gamble that he is willing to make for her.

Riza turns, brushing past Roy and out of the room without so much as looking at him—leaving him behind the door, leaving as much of her selfish desires as she can possibly let go of—because she knows she must keep him from gambling everything away.

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