#I am a sucker for war threads!!!!

[astrobei]

hi i love your fics and I was wondering if you had any byler fic recs

thanks

hello there! in all honesty, i have not had the time to read a lot of byler fic as of late, but it’s been a while since i posted some recs so i’ll drop a few that i’ve enjoyed recently! as always, i do endorse every fic in my bookmarks to the highest possible degree, so always feel free to look through those for new reading as well <3

say it with your hands by pseudologia (@hellfiremike) — will is a new employee at the movie theater mike works at, and mike starts thirsting over will’s hands to a degree that’s downright detrimental to his employment status

GOD. this fic. i gushed in their dms immediately after finishing it because this might be my favorite modern will characterization of all time, and this is coming from someone who has a million and one takes on modern era will byers. this fic just checked all of my boxes — from the summertime romance to mike’s painfully in-character teenage angsting to will being a frequenter of star wars reddit threads and an enjoyer of sufjan stevens. and the TENSION. oh god the tension. i’ve read all their fics probably three times over each, and i also highly recommend like i am home again, a college au set during a halloween party which made me stare at my phone refreshing ao3 hourly until it updated, and can this be a real thing (can it?) wherein mike and will reunite in a gay bar. enough said

landslide by chamb3rs — the party’s senior year of high school

i don’t often reach for chaptered fics since i usually have such limited reading time, but i’m sooo so so happy i stumbled across this one. there have just been very few fics that have touched me like this one did. i blew through this in one sitting a few weekends ago and subsequently experienced the full range of human emotions (and then some) all in the span of a few hours. everything about this was perfect — the will pov, the weird liminality of transitional periods, the party and byhop family dynamics, down to my favorite portrayal of theeeee jennifer hayes in any fic ever. on top of all of that, this fic perfectly captures the heartbreaking euphoria of being in love with your best friend, and all the ups and downs that come with it. i crawled out of the ao3 tab covered in blood and my chest was hurting and i was shaking and i had damn near chewed my own arm off — and then i sent the link to my friend 10 minutes later and watched her experience the same exact thing like a train wreck in slow-mo HAHAHA

what a time to be alive by passerine_in_jade (@newlesbianprideflag) — will disappears and haunts mike from the upside down

i’m forever a total sucker for a good haunting metaphor, so it’s absolutely not a surprise that this fic is appearing on this list. the premise for this was so so so cool and interesting, and it’s another chaptered fic i’m glad i had a little extra time to read. the way the author had me rooting for mike and will the whole time even though half of the pairing was offscreen for a large majority of the fic is a highly commendable feat. mike’s unyielding loyalty to will and will’s constant faith in him felt so true to their canon selves, and there were so many moments that were so quiet and intimate and tender that i really felt like i was intruding on something. good good stuff

that’s what you get for falling in love by harriet_vane — will gets his first boyfriend in college, and mike, ever the ally, has very normal feelings about it

i want to preface this by saying that this fic is rated m, mostly just for mentions/allusions to sex, and one largely non-explicit portion of a scene in the last chapter. if that’s not your cup of tea, it’s easy to tell when it’s coming up and to skip past it without detracting from the plot, but i think it would be a greater detriment to not rec this fic at all, because it has quickly made the list of my favorite byler fics of all time. something about this take on jealous mike especially resonated with me — his inner monologue is simultaneously hilarious and depressing, and his obliviousness regarding his feelings for will feels so true to life without being overdone or cartoonish. you can tell just how much they really care for each other, and the conflict in this actually made me start crying because it felt so visceral and so fundamentally them. you can tell this author really understands their characters, and the love put into this fic is soooo palpable. it’s the kind of fic where you want to bonk their heads together to knock some sense into them, but you are helpless to do anything but hold on as you’re swung along for the ride.

finally, i try not to just rec fics written by my friends, but my recent reading list would be incomplete without these two wonderful additions:

the way you love me by strangeswift (@strangeswift) — byler exes (absolutely heartwrenching edition)

i’ve been hearing abby talk about her ideas for this fic for the better part of a year as she worked on it, and she actually edited and posted the first two chapters while i was visiting her! and by god is this world a better place with her byler exes concept in it, because if you want angst, you’ll never have to look further than her ao3 page. something about the way she writes will in this fic just makes my heart shrivel up and die in my chest — his quiet resignation, the bitterness (always love a good bitter will byers moment) and the Longing that never quite went away. mike’s characterization is also top notch, and you can really feel the chemistry between them during every interaction. at the time of me posting this list, chapter 4 is not yet up, but trust me when i tell you guys it’s going to soooooo be worth it. :-)

the end is here by bookinit (@bookinit02) — a speculative byler-centric season 5

if you’ve been following my blog for any amount of time, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that haven’s canon rewrite series is hands-down my favorite series across any pairing and fandom. her creativity with her season 5 concepts never fails to astound me — from the scripts she’s been working on as an alternative to the episodes she rewrote for s1-4, to her ideas for possible plot lines, and just incredible writing all around. i’ve had the privilege of reading through her scripts before she posts them to her blog (definitely go check them out) but special privilege bias aside, it takes soooo much skill to create such a visually powerful story in a medium that allows for such little narration, and the corresponding chapters just totally pushes it over the edge. pre-s5 required reading for every byler, and 100000% my new canon if the show doesn’t pan out

this definitely is not an exhaustive list because i have a million and one fics on my to-read, and one day i will get around to reading them all, but i hope there is something on this list that strikes your fancy!!

[cooking-with-hailstones]

A theoretical framework of how arranged marriage, and reproductive politics could work in the Avatar universe.

(Mostly focusing on the ATLA era, but can extend to TLOK as well)

Why? Because I am a sucker for a good arranged marriage story, I’m fascinated by the politics that they necessarily entail, and I am deeply curious about the ways that same-sex arranged marriages can work diplomatically, socially, and politically. Also, no one can stop me!

(There was an excellent thread about how same-sex arranged marriages could work, esp in a feudal political system, that I cannot track down for the life of me, but I’m drawing heavily from what was discussed in that thread. If you know what I’m talking about, please send it to me.)

So: realistically, humans are gonna human, and during peace times, humans fraternizing with other humans leads to unions, and, well, babies. I imagine among border communities and non-benders, relationships with people outside your nation would be fairly commonplace. The hardline intra-nation relationship standard seen in ATLA would be mostly a product of the 100 year war, rather than anything particularly inherent. 

Canon has also established that arranged marriages, especially among the leadership and nobility of each nation, is not unusual (Ursa and Ozai, Yue and Hahn, etc.) We see political alliances through marriage a few different times through the series. 

We also know from canon that strong benders most often hold major leadership roles - not always, but boy it sure helps. This would incentivize intra-nation marriages to ensure that strong bending prowess stays in the family, if you will. Furthermore, it means no one who’s got the wrong flavour of bending for your nation would end up in a position of political power. 

The importance of leaders being strong benders seems to matter less in the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom, but there is still the implication that these leadership roles wouldn’t go to a bender of a different element. And again, since the leadership and nobility of the Northern Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation all seem to be inherited titles, there might be extra pressure to ensure that the blood “stays pure”. 

The Air Nomads and Southern Water Tribe seem to be the notable exceptions. I do not know enough about Air Nomad culture to really factor them in here, but I have some ideas that I’ll save for another time.

So, in our world, arranged marriages have had and continue to have lots of political and cultural importance - it’s a way of integrating families, a means of consolidating wealth and power, ensuring peace between warring or disputing factions, etc. However, in the Avatar universe, this presents issues for benders. We know from Mako and Bolin in TLOK that two parents from different nations can have children who can bend either element. If an earthbender were suddenly a viable contender for the chieftainship of the northern water tribe, or a firebender inherited a high-ranking position at the Earth Kingdom court, that might become problematic very quickly! (And by the time we get to TLOK - entirely viable as a premise! I would love to see this idea explored more, but I’m getting off topic)

Thus, my proposal: same sex political marriages. 

Any political union that crosses the boundaries of the nations could be between same-sex spouses, to ensure that lines of succession do not become complicated by virtue of the Wrong Flavor of Bender being born, while retaining all of the political, diplomatic, and strategic advantages of an arranged marriage. As with arranged marriages in our world, I imagine there would be a spectrum of parents who would want their child’s active involvement in choosing their spouse, to children who grit their teeth and marry their parents choice of spouse in the name of Duty (hi Yue), to children who are forced kicking and screaming into the union their families chose for them.

An example: Imagine a wedding between two daughters, one of Fire Nation nobility and one from a Water Tribe leader. This union could be MAJOR for shipping and trading, strengthening economic ties between them and ensuring dominance over favorable shipping routes for select fire nation and water tribe merchants. (Now I'm imagining an au of fire and water bending seafaring merchant houseboat lesbians…)

Now there are two diverging ways to pursue this: A. one where these marriages are still expected to produce children, and B. one where these marriages are expected to NOT have children.

In scenario A: Each member of the marriage could be expected to have children via a surrogate or sperm donor from the appropriate nation. The inheritance of each parent would go to the child they sired, but the expectation would be that the offspring are raised by both parents, and share aspects of both cultures. These children would be considered the legitimate heirs of the parents whose genes they share, while having the advantages of being raised with parents and siblings from both cultures: they would be highly sought after diplomats, traders, mediators, and negotiators. The inclusion of surrogate/sperm donor genetics also helps diversify the gene pool among the nobility. I imagine the surrogate or sperm donor would be from a suitable family - not nobility, but not peasantry. Ideally people with a family history of bending. There could be high levels of cultural cache in helping to sire the nobility’s children, even if you cannot legally claim them as your own child.

In scenario B: If the expectation is that these unions won’t have children - or at least any children that would be recognized as legitimate - then this is a convenient way of, uh, well, pruning the family tree of undesirable genetic material. This could include weak benders or non benders. The children who are considered strong benders/desirable would be expected to marry and reproduce with someone of the correct nationality, with the correct flavor of bending, while the non bending, weaker bending, or otherwise undesirable members of the family are convenient tools for families to use for political unions where they don’t risk weakening the line of succession with… whatever it is that the family might not want. These married-off members of the family still hold significant power and influence, they're still considered useful. They just don't get to pass on any inheritance to any children they might have. 

(Both of these feature flavors of eugenics that are gross in their own unique ways! I am not endorsing this! Eugenics is bad! This is an exercise in world building, and hoo boy the eugenicist potentials in the Avatar universe are something I think about a LOT, and on a related note I'm still mad about the handling of the equalist subplot in Korra…)

Anyways, those are my thoughts as they stand now. I fully welcome any feedback, further ideas, headcanons, etc!

[kanonavi]

2023 XVX Fic Recs!

Hi, all, I hope you're having a lovely holiday season! Around the beginning of this year, just for fun, I decided that I would record all of the fanfics that I read this year, and during the summer I had the idea to take some of the best fics I read in 2023 and compile them at the end of the year into a rec list. Since xiaoven was the ship I read the most fics for, I've decided to just do a rec list for them this year, but maybe in the future I'll branch out more!

As with any rec list, please take note of the ratings and the tags for any given fic! Just because something suited my taste doesn't necessarily mean it will suit yours, please take care of yourselves. Now, here are 10* fics that I read this year and think that other xiaoven fans should read too! (Also uh. Sorry for how much I'm about to talk in the reviews lol)

*Keep an eye out for a few bonuses that I've peppered in ;)

~

We Creatures of Fate, by Wackachu

[Ongoing, Teen, 57.9k, 7/?]

Xiao is a weapon forged from red, carved from the hearts of weeping souls and etched into the memories of grieving mothers. While free under the care of a new God, he finds salvation, yet feels as trapped as the day the chains first clamped down onto his wrists. Venti is a God, one born from the wishes of others as opposed to his own. After losing his loved ones, he can't help but feel lost, high on a throne all alone, built upon all things he despised. The two find each other by chance, yet the rest can only be described as fate. ---------- A telling of Xiao and Venti's story with a hefty load of lore

If there is any fic on this list that should be read, it’s this one. I am an absolute sucker for speculative lore when it comes to Genshin, and the picture that the author has assembled of Archon War-era Liyue is absolutely masterful. Within the threads of that beautiful tapestry, they’ve also been interweaving Xiao and Venti’s developing relationship all the way from when they were a newly-freed Adeptus and young Archon respectively. They have a long journey ahead of them (the burn is slow, folks), and I think that said journey is an absolute must-read.

~

Extra Recs: Wackachu has also written two other xiaoven one-shots, which I highly recommend for more bite-size pieces of their excellent taste!

~

the holy light of your single lantern, by boxofcrows (@miralia)

[Complete, Teen, 34k, 6/6]

“Long divided by river and sea, For years we two have failed to meet – And suddenly to find you seems like a dream.” Thousands of years of silence, broken by a single visit.

This fic wrapped up recently, so it’s a great time to go and show it some love! One of my biggest sorrows is that xiaoven is rather lacking in really good canon universe fics compared to other Genshin ships, but this fic managed to fill that hole in my heart. The author does a fantastic job of capturing the way that Xiao and Venti’s conflicting natures and ideals can cause friction between them, all while maintaining the undeniable magnetism that they feel towards each other.

~

Relax In My Arms, by alphaparrot (@aparrotandaqrow)

[Queerplatonic XiaoVen, General Audiences, 5.9k, One-Shot]

As Lantern Rite arrives, Xiao is found exhausted and spent by Qiqi of Bubu Pharmacy, who brings him back to Liyue. Upon awaking, Xiao quickly makes his exit and returns to Wangshu Inn, where Venti is waiting for him on the balcony. Xiao isn't in the mood to party, but maybe a chill hang-out would help him relax. Venti knows just the thing to help Xiao relax and recuperate, and as they both get comfortable, they begin to reflect....

Author's Original Promo Post!

Queerplatonic xiaoven was a flavor of their relationship that I hadn’t tried before this fic, but it really sold me on it. What I’ve always loved about xiaoven so much is the inherent intimacy that can be achieved between them once all of the emotional barriers between them have been stripped away, and I think that those ideas are explored very beautifully here. Xiao and Venti trust and love each other so deeply here, and it shows in every word and touch that they exchange, and I think that it’s a must-read for anyone whose brain chemistry was altered by the ‘Endless Suffering’ trailer (so basically, every xiaoven fan ever lol)

~

i can not save us (but you can), by anemowisp (@sillygirl19)

[Teen, 19.4k, One-Shot]

two boys figure out what the hell they're doing

In the midst of one of the most turbulent times in my life, one particular line in this fic really hit me where it hurt, and it’s one of the few times that I’ve actually cried reading a fic. In my xiaoven-enjoying friend groups, we sometimes call Xiao and Venti old men with teenager problems, which means they don't always work when turned into actual teenagers/young adults with those problems, but I think this fic pulls it off really well.

~

what queer sins stain thy soul, by Anonymous (@sincerelyandyourstruly)

[Mature, 3.2k, One-Shot]

In which Xiao, long-established asexual, learns that identity is not as stable as he’d like to believe.

As an ace person myself, I feel it’s so rare to find a really good asexual character study where the asexuality is actually one of the central focuses of the intimacy taking place (if anyone has any recs of that variety please hit me up!), but I think that this fic pulled that off really well. It also delves into that particular vibe of when one’s identity might be shifting, which can be a really scary thing, but Xiao in this fic is lucky enough to have someone he loves and trusts to support him as he explores his new desires, which was really comforting to read about.

~

Where Words Fail, by kavvueh (@kavvueh)

[Complete, Teen, 34k, 12/12]

Author's Original Promo Post!

"You're Barbatos," Xiao repeats breathlessly. The young man in front of him nods. "Yep." "But..." Xiao cuts himself off and tries again. "You're the God of songs and poetry." The Anemo Archon nods his head sagely. "More or less." Xiao fixes Lord Barbatos with the most incredulous look he can manage. "... You're failing Music Theory."

As someone who was also suffering through music theory alongside Venti as this fic was publishing, all of the attention to detail in the musical aspects of this fic absolutely tickled me. But all of that was merely a foundation for a lovely story about a pair of souls finding their partner in a new life. The musical connection that xiaoven have is one of the essential tenets of the ship, and this fic did a beautiful job of using that idea to its fullest potential.

~

Extra Rec: kavvueh has recently started publishing a new xiaoven fic with a similar setting, so if you enjoy these kinds of fluffy modern aus, give that one some love as well!

~

The Stars in Teyvat are a Lie, and So Is the Sky, by yueyunn

[Complete, Teen, 148.2k, 13/13]

There were several issues that Xiao immediately took with Ningguang’s proposition for him to produce for Barbatos: his other artists had upcoming comebacks and year-end stages that required his attention, he was overworked enough as it were already, and Ningguang was not exactly someone he was looking to do any favors for. While her persistence to overlook all this was one matter, nothing aggravated him more than Ningguang completely ignoring the obstinate fact that he. doesn’t. work. with. idols.

Perhaps I was a bit like Xiao in this fic at the beginning of this year, because I approached the two idol/celebrity aus on my to-read list with open skepticism, and then ended up absolutely adoring them both. What I loved about this fic the most was how much care was put into actually translating the character’s canon backstories into the modern idol au setting. The author clearly has so much love for the characters, and it really shows through in the way that everyone has their chance to shine, even the side characters. This fic also updated recently with 15k words of extras, so it’s a great time to visit or revisit it!

~

Extra Rec: gold rush, by underthethousandstars was the other idol/celebrity au I read this year and really enjoyed, so if those aus are up your alley, I highly recommend it!

~

low-key (no pressure!), by windrise (Twitter - @/wyndrise)

[Ongoing, Teen, 75.7k, 11/?]

Following his friend’s questionable suggestion, Venti partners with Xiao—the resident grouch of his early morning stats class—for his music project.

If you want to sit down with a fic that will give you the warm fuzzies, this is definitely the one to pick. As alluded to previously, I don’t really go for modern aus as much, but this fic absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. I was getting the ‘squee’s as I read about Xiao and Venti growing closer over the course of working on Venti’s project, as the author has an excellent grasp of the deep inner kindness that the two of them hold, and how that kindness would naturally draw them together.

~

bouquet of lies, by underthethousandstars (Twitter - @/zhongliorder)

[Complete, Mature, 85.9k, 12/12]

In a world where humans can use elemental magic, Xiao uses his to move through the shadows becoming Liyue’s phantom killer. Known to the public as Alatus, he is their most notorious assassin. One day Xiao secures his biggest job yet: kill the Crown Prince of Mondstadt, Venti. Harbouring no love towards any royal family Xiao pulls off his mission with success. Or so he thought.

This fic falls solidly on the darker end of xiaoven stories (the ‘Dark Fantasy’ tag is there for a reason!), so if you happen to like your ships with an enemies to lovers flare, this is definitely one to check out. This is one of those stories that really managed to pull me into the world of assassins and political intrigue that the author has crafted, and on top of that it puts a fun spin on exploring Xiao and Venti’s individual guilt and the way that it affects them as people. The first fic in the series is finished, but the second installment is currently in progress, so I highly recommend checking that one out as well!

~

every morning in the dark, by magicites (Twitter - @/bribird_wings)

[Complete, Mature, 77.1k, 34/34]

Stuck in a time loop where he succumbs to his karmic debt, Xiao struggles to see the point in moving forward. Venti struggles to save him.

While by far the heaviest of any of the fics I’ve recommended so far (mind the warnings and the tags!!), if you can stomach the subject matter, this is one of those fics that I would refer to as XiaoVen Essential Reading. The author has a pitch-perfect grasp of what makes xiaoven, qualities which are pushed to their limits as the two of them struggle to break free of the loop that they’re trapped in. I took severe emotional damage while reading it, but my only regret was that I hadn’t read it sooner. It’s definitely A Lot, but it’s so, so worth it for anyone who really enjoys this pairing.

~

And with that, we reach the end of the list! If you've made it this far, thank you so much, and I hope I've given you some fics to add to your to-read list for the coming year! I tried to incorporate some newer fics with some classics, so hopefully there's something here you haven't heard from before.

With that said, I'll hopefully be back next year with some more xiaoven or other Genshin fic recs! <3

[deficd]

GET TO KNOW THE MUN.

respond to the prompts out of character!

what made you pick up the current muse(s) you have? oh man. uh. i guess, following my url's general meaning, i choose to write muses on here that have defied their fates/expectations in some shape or form. this is true for more of my older muses on here, as i've definitely added some recently where i have to kinda twist that a bit. aside from that, i really just write muses that i can connect with on some level. my apparent calling is sad men who are prone to violence and are also incredibly sad/lonely. the mains i have floating in my head are usually there because it's the current media i'm consuming (i.e. star wars: the old republic). i could write long metas on why i adore all of my muses though. c':

is there anything you don’t like to write? uhh, you know. i'm actually pretty open to most things. i need some sort of action going on, regardless of the type, to keep interested i suppose. like, if there's a lot of conversation, i tend to get stuck. that's just because i struggle with it and i don't want to bore my partner, though. aside from that, pretty much any genre you throw at me, i'll be interested in writing.

is there anything you really enjoy writing? I'm a sucker for redemption au's, even if it takes thirty threads to get there. i enjoy writing the aftermath of a character's worst arc, and all of the guilt, pain, and sorrow that comes with it. so do i want to write arcann's redemption? yes. do i want to write about nihilus somehow healing from being a literal wound in the force? yes. (or even, writing who he was before malachor.) ragnar going back to being a farmer? please. all of it, yes. aside from that, i really, really enjoy hurt/comfort, violent/gore threads, general sci-fi adventure, and general fantasy adventure (the campfires, the fights, the enemies in between destinations, etc.)

how do you come up with headcanons?  it's kind of a mix between being inspired by outside sources, such as media, music, mututals, and things that pop into my head after hyperfixating about a muse for three straight hours or something. i do adopt headcanons/partial headcanons from other people, but like sparingly and if it's appropriate/i know them/have asked. most of the time i really just get hit in the face with them though.

do you write in silence or do you play music? i am someone that requires music to write. i need to drown out distractions however i can. i really struggle with being easily distracted (getting tested for adhd soon lol) because i can very easily lose a thought before i'm able to write it down. i find that with music i can focus better, and i have playlists that help with whatever mood i'm going for in the reply.

do you plan your replies or wing them? i usually just sort of write what comes to mind first and then, if i have questions about something, i'll either approach the other mun or write things in the tags. sort of referring to the previous question, i try to write my ideas down as soon as i see a reply, or i'll be prone to forgetting them.

do you enjoy shipping? yes, 1000% yes. i love all sorts of relationships, not only the romantic ones. i don't really get to write about platonic/friendships too often, but i really enjoy the times i can. that said, re: romantic ships, i'm usually on board if there's chemistry between muses. i also encourage other muns to approach me if they think they might want to ship because chances are, i'm already on board.

what’s your alias/name?  Lee

age?  old

birthday?  December 25th

favorite color?  silver, purple, black

favorite song?  i... don't think i can choose? there are all sorts of songs that hit me in the right way. i can tell you a song i'm listening to on repeat right now is The Wind Weeps Eleanor by American Murder Song.

last movie you watched?  Hagazussa: A Heathen's Curse, but I hope to go see Dune 2 this week.

last show you watched?  just started Shōgun and it's wonderful.

last song you listened to?  Dwamn by Tech N9ne 🫣 

favorite food?  fry bread! or a step further: navajo tacos.

favorite season?  winter

do you have a tumblr best friend? um i think i'm close to a few people on here, but the only one i know i can tag for sure is @vuulpecula starbuck has put up with my nonsense on here for years and somehow still talks to me lmfao we have the greatest and the worst ships and honestly i am always always always excited to write with her❤️❤️❤️

and idk if i should tag u because this is an rp meme and this is one of my rp blogs but @oolathurman is my other bestie and i've known and adored them for literal years so. yeah sflkjdslf❤️❤️❤️

TAGGED BY @valorums thank you<3

TAGGING @vuulpecula @riiese @hcxcd @fasciinating @juramentum @mistrdctr / @respondedinkind @auroradicit @red-white-and-trauma @blue-eyed-banshee @helreginn @astridnorddottir @brittlefcrged and YOU!

[ashesandhackles]

Fic recs

I read a couple of fantastic fics recently, and they all deserve some love. So, giving them a shoutout. As Moments Do by @thecat-isblogging-blog

Canon compliant. Remus Lupin centric fanfic that follows him through OOTP and HBP. Chapter 3 has been updated and here is a chilling excerpt of Remus channeling his "Goodbye Peter" side:

Keep up, Peter. You’ll get lost. James would say. Wrong way, Peter.

Reaching the end of the platform Lupin called out in unison with James’ ghostly voice:

“Wrong way, Peter.”

Peter stopped in his footsteps, shoulders tensed just as Lupin pointed his wand to his exposed back.

Peter’s rat sense seemed to be keenly threaded to him. He turned to peer over his shoulder, the sliver of moonlight catching his nervous, watery eyes.

The Sultan and Scheherazade are One by eldritcher Grindeldore, with the most fantastically careful imagery. I am so taken by the prose of this author. Excerpt:

"I will build you a Rome," I promised him. 

"We will build us a Rome," he corrected me, placing an easy hand on mine.

"The Rome that the ancients yearned for, egalitarian," I murmured.

Our dreams were one, and our wills twined.  

Albus's hands came to clasp mine in his. The magic of him seeped into me, and mine unto him. 

Trothed became he and I, to man and cause, under a yew tree. 

The Snow Child by @saintsenara

A short folk horror story with Merope Gaunt, Tom Riddle Snr, and of course Voldemort.

Excerpt:

Merope has seen the little boy too. 

He comes to her window - she sleeps on the floor of the kitchen, while Morfin and Marvolo sleep in their one, tiny bedroom - and peers in. He has his father’s face, and his father's jet black hair, but his skin is unnatural, waxy and snow-pale, and his eyes are as red as blood.

‘I created you,’ she says to him. ‘I dreamed of you and now you are real.’

The boy shakes his head. ‘I am not yet real, because my father does not believe. You must make him.’

Merope nods. 

Bistable by TheDivine Comedian

Always a sucker for OOTP era Sirius and Remus, and I adored this one shot.

Excerpt:

James, he thinks. James. I am walking to my grave.

The train stops with a shudder and he nearly loses his precarious footing. Turn around , James says. Turn around now. You’ll go mad in there again.

Sirius laughs under his breath. Like anyone would notice. Besides, this is for you.

The James in his mind huffs and shuts up. Spilled out onto the platform, Sirius once again comes face to face with his own mugshot, a faded print on a tattered wanted poster.

Think/ Hope by @whinlatter

Post break up, bittersweet Hinny, with RON cameo? Sign me up. Cutting out an excerpt from the larger rhythm (you'll know when you read it) of this fic feels blasphemous, but I committed to the format:

He flops down on the sofa, feet up on the coffee table, eats straight from the hot plastic as he flicks through channels. The nine o'clock news is all budget this, Hong Kong that, Tim Henman out at Wimbledon. The nine o’clock news is not Dumbledore's dead, Snape murdered him, there’s a war on, Harry Potter's dropped out of school to go hunt bits of Voldemort's dismembered soul.  

Dropped out of school, he thinks. Scandalous, delinquent. What d'you reckon? he asks the Ginny in his head. Harry Potter, troubled dropout? Do anything for you? The Ginny in his head laughs. 

I also recently made other fic recs here: Nymphadora by @bluethepineapple and a bunch here for a rarepair tag game

[stingslikeabee]

meet the mun

1. what made you pick up the current muse(s) you have?

I always credit Melissa to a combo of three particular things: a) my personal interest and passion for the Japanese nightlife scene and its uniqueness; b) the movie 'Sucker Punch' (and particularly the character of Vera Gorski); and c) a post that once made the rounds when I first joined the FFVII rpc that wondered if the Turks didn't visit Wall Market for the chili fries or because the girls happened to have the best intel.

And then it was like something clicked inside - I sudden had this 'vision' and Melissa was born after some crafting as a brothel madame who had strong mama bear/caring and nurturing vibes and who had set herself in opposition to Corneo. The two alternatives in terms of earning people's loyalty (fear/love), a cold war of sorts, a lot of fun and layered dynamics to play with from a Wall Market perspective (such as trading intel, working as an informant, etc) and tying in to the game main events.

I always preferred to pick 'minor' muses or to craft characters that fill in spaces and make a world livelier - Melissa just felt right. I guess she works nicely because no one ever thought it was absurd to have Corneo as a nemesis - even with Remake revamping the HBI and making it something else, I decided to stick to my OG view and I was incredibly well-accepted! :)

2. is there anything you don't like to write?

I am very plot driven - and therefore threads that are just winging something and with no ulterior purpose just bore me and I lose muse fast. I like threads to be like book chapters, with an objective in mind - once that's done, I prefer wrapping it up and starting a new one. Smaller things I deal with in asks (although there is nothing preventing me from turning an ask into a thread when it sparks the good muse food).

So I tend to have a basic, over-arching plot line to follow and I enjoy discussing it offline with my partners so we can ask each other what we are thinking in terms of next steps, if a certain event would be interesting, etc. Believe me, this doesn't take away the surprise - I have been hit by unexpected feelings so many times, I love it.

In addition to that, I struggle with fighting/action sequences (I am just super bad at it), overly descriptive things (a room, someone's clothes, a landscape). It just feels like everything I have ever studied about English goes out of the window and my writing turns super dull, I hate it.

3. is there anything you really enjoy writing?

Emotional stuff - of any kind. I have found out that my preferred writing method is one that mixes a lot of thoughts, emotions and bits of lore together, so although a given reply may not give much in terms of objective actions, it will make room for further emotional or introspective discussions to happen. Characters working out their own feelings and perceptions in relation to certain things is a favorite of mine and my replies are frequently novella-like because Melissa thinks (and feels) so damn much.

I also do like setting the scene (as in giving context for a particular interaction) in starters or asks and expanding on lore. Worldbuilding is another favorite of mine and I often make extensive research into stuff that is only going to be briefly mentioned in a thread. Other than that, I'm also into sharing/including NPCs to make the flow of a thread feel more like a book and crafting these small cameos is super fun.

Oh - I do enjoy writing the usual shippy things (including those on the platonic side of things), particularly with Melissa who has such a strong preference for these themes when compared to other muses. However, without plotting (and since she's an OC), it all feels very soulless if I don't know how to get there in a way that makes sense or seems to be aligned with every character involved.

4. how do you come up with headcanons?

I get inspired by different types of media and a lot of real-life references. For general lore/worldbuilding, I tend to leverage from historical or current events whenever possible, all the while trying to tie these things with the existing canon; for muse-specific verses, anything can spark an idea: a quote in a movie, a song, a certain TV show.

5. do you write in silence or do you play music?

I always have music on - it tends to change depending on the specific verse or muse, but I generally have key songs to fall to while writing.

6. do you plan your replies or wing them?

I plan them as a rule (including asks and memes) - even if it's mostly in my brain and as a general line that I want to follow so I can go from A to B within a few paragraphs. It doesn't always work, though - sometimes I rework the entire idea, or get hijacked by the muse and directed to something else instead.

7. do you enjoy shipping?

Yes - I adore it, and building connections and creating ships is something I really like to do, from discussing it to dropping aesthetic posts to a customized tag. For Melissa in particular, they play a large and significant role as she is someone very much transformed and shaped by love and attachment to people, so my ships for her invariably become a part of much larger and complex verses.

This also goes for platonic dynamics - I like the concept of ships because they allow me to visualize a setting/plot much better and build around it with so many little additions that it feels alive and organic. I start creating timelines and events and it is just so satisfying to see it all coming together.

One thing I have learned with time is that, despite enjoying shipping, I like to be able to talk/connect to the other mun offline (talking about it and plotting is fun!) but also I try to be selective to the point of exclusivity. Because I am so plot-driven, I end up building so much around one variant/portrayal of a given character that I just become partial to it and blind to others - and because I don't want to project my dynamics onto duplicates, I'm multi-single-ship as a result (as in multiple ships, but just a single one per each muse - although exceptions sometimes apply).

8. what's your alias/name?

Mari, because that's how everyone calls me anywhere, anytime. I actually get confused/bothered if my full name is used because it sounds more serious and I just think it's either a stranger calling me or a boss/my mother being angry, haha.

9. age?

Old enough to remember the hype re. having a Blockbuster card around here; these where the premium video rental shops, haha (and nope, I never had one, I only wished I had).

10. birthday?

A late winter/early spring child! As a kid I thought I was born in spring and loved it, but then I realized spring is just later in September and that I was actually a winter kid by a few days, haha. But growing up, winter (winter as I know it, mind you) became my favorite season, so it was all good!

11. favorite color(s)?

Used to be black, silver and blue but these days I'm super fond of turquoise and shades of green? I seemingly cannot settle on a single one forever.

12. favorite song(s)?

I am contractually required to always reply with 'GLAY' and 'Yuuwaku' haha (this song is so damn important in my life). Here's an awesome video to introduce you to my favorite band.

13. last movie you watched?

'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' - one of my top 10 favorite movies, one of my top 5 movie openings, one of my top 3 Fincher movies.

14. last show you watched?

I just finished (re)watching 'Nana', only this time I made it to the last episode. I forgot how emotional this show made me feel and how epic the soundtrack is.

15. last song you listened to?

'Raise Your Glass' by P!nk, a courtesy of my spotify shuffling things haha.

16. favorite food?

I never know what to say here, there is just SO MUCH I love? I think pasta generally ranks very high, followed by pastel and pão de queijo. On the sweet side, I am obsessed with coconut and paçoca.

17. favorite season?

I might have spoiled it here, but it's winter - again, my winter. Brazilian winter. Tropical winter. The winter I have experienced in the Netherlands was depressing, dark and horrible where my nose bled, my skin cracked, I got shocked every time I touched anything metallic and I was just miserable; I love blue skies with sunshine and something below 20 degrees outside.

18. do you have a tumblr best friend?

I do! I mean, I could just say that I have a bunch of really awesome mutuals and I wouldn't be lying; or that I am closer to some than to others, and that would also be true. But it's no secret that @dojimakaichou is just on another level because Dawn and I talk every day to the point I feel weird if we don't; we don't just talk about roleplay, we talk about everything, we have weekly movie dates, we send each other gifts, we record videos for our families and we spent 10 days together last year with plans for more annual encounters. :) She's my bestie (and not just a 'tumblr' bestie) and honestly I only wish we lived closer but we make do!

tagged by: @bitterarcs cursed me (and I loved it!) tagging: anyone who wants to - this has gone around for some time now so I'm pretty sure I'd be tagging people again~

[roleplayfinder]

( can this be posted anon? im sorry it's been awhile since i've been on tumblr and im not sure what im doing ))

Hello I am KAT! I am almost 30, and looking for new writing partners. I only write on Discord as I have a busy schedule, and also it’s the easiest platform for me. I’d like potential writing partners to be 21+, okay with darker themes, and big on ships! I’m a sucker for ships, they are my favourite to write and will hold my attention best. NSFW themes can and probably will occur. I have very few triggers and like getting into the nitty gritty of things. 

  I have an extensive muse list of many canon and OC muses, though my current fixations and cravings would be the following fandoms ; 

   My Hero Academia, Star Wars, DC ( mostly Batman-esque characters).

  Any of those would be an absolute bonus! I love to chat OOC, and share headcanons and world build, and spam with character/ship edits or images. I mostly do MxF ships, tho MxM ships I can do too. 

  I am also so down to form a mini group server and go nuts with ships and threads and just chaotic fun. 

  If any of this seems appealing to you feel free to send me a request on Discord!

  Discord —    .whatsername.

 PLEASE send me a message after I accept the request! 🖤

[dynmghts]

"Plots please."

ohhhh i am such a sucker for mentor / mentee dynamics i collect them for katsuki like shiny gold coins for my dragon hoard ... i am also a sucker for an almost parental dynamic because let's not forget katsuki is house arrest problem child #2

I. ADJUSTING TO THE DORMS. I do think Katsuki is adaptable, but in that begrudging "I'll only do it because I have to" mentality: he takes time to adjust, and there's been a lot that happened in quick succession. Between the training camp, kidnapping, rescue, home visits before he moves onto the dorms, preparing for the provisional licensing exam, the fight with Izuku... I think he's genuinely struggling to settle in. I would love to see Aizawa kind of help him out on that front - especially if, say, Katsuki has an hour-long break in his sleep and he spends it pacing around the dorm past curfew. A part of me has a feeling Katsuki's sleep is not exactly restful for some time after the kidnapping.

II. POST-WAR MENDING. This still strikes me deeply because Aizawa hasn't seen that Katsuki was revived (so far; I doubt it'll be brought up until after the war in canon, but we are mere subjects to Horikoshi's whims), so I think it'd be super cool to explore the aftermath and the assurance that Katsuki made it. I'd love to see a thread on how Katsuki's state after the final war (which I have a headcanon about here!) may have affected Aizawa, as well as how Katsuki just copes with... This massive setback to his health, and him needing his teacher's support through it so he doesn't push it too far. I think that Aizawa will make an important cornerstone for Katsuki's healing.

III. TEAM-UP UNDERGROUND MISSION. I thought about this for 0.2 seconds and was like "hey, actually, this would be really cool", because what if Aizawa took him under his wing for a team-up to learn something other than upfront confrontation? Because while Katsuki can manage anything under pressure, he definitely doesn't thrive in an underground environment outside of that. I'd love to see Aizawa helping him get accustomed to the new situation - because as Pros, I imagine you can't be too picky with your assignments early on in your career, and Katsuki isn't going to be lucky to get away with above-ground missions all the time. Also, I just think it'd be neat to see these two on the same mission.

@erxsxre / PLOTS PLEASE, ACCEPTING.

[findyourrp]

Hello I am KAT! I am almost 30, and looking for new writing partners. I only write on Discord as I have a busy schedule, and also it’s the easiest platform for me. I’d like potential writing partners to be 21+, okay with darker themes, and big on ships! I’m a sucker for ships, they are my favourite to write and will hold my attention best. NSFW themes can and probably will occur. I have very few triggers and like getting into the nitty gritty of things. 

I have an extensive muse list of many canon and OC muses, though my current fixations and cravings would be the following fandoms ; 

 My Hero Academia, Star Wars, DC ( mostly Batman-esque ).

Any of those would be an absolute bonus! I love to chat OOC, and share headcanons and world build, and spam with character/ship edits or images. I mostly do MxF ships, tho MxM ships I can do too. 

I am also so down to form a mini group server and go nuts with ships and threads and just chaotic fun. 

If any of this seems appealing to you feel free to send me a request on Discord!

Discord —    .whatsername.

 PLEASE send me a message after I accept the request! 🖤

.

[darkdoverpseeker]

Hello I am KAT! I am almost 30, and looking for new writing partners. I only write on Discord as I have a busy schedule, and also it’s the easiest platform for me. I’d like potential writing partners to be 21+, okay with darker themes, and big on ships! I’m a sucker for ships, they are my favourite to write and will hold my attention best. NSFW themes can and probably will occur. I have very few triggers and like getting into the nitty gritty of things. 

I have an extensive muse list of many canon and OC muses, though my current fixations and cravings would be the following fandoms ; 

 My Hero Academia, Star Wars, DC ( mostly Batman-esque ).

Any of those would be an absolute bonus! I love to chat OOC, and share headcanons and world build, and spam with character/ship edits or images. I mostly do MxF ships, tho MxM ships I can do too. 

I am also so down to form a mini group server and go nuts with ships and threads and just chaotic fun. 

If any of this seems appealing to you feel free to send me a request on Discord!

Discord —    .whatsername.

 PLEASE send me a message after I accept the request! 🖤

.

[lausticzt-a]

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ . 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓭-𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓹𝓸𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓬 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓮 ◞ 𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖊 . ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ @calcitration ⤸ Send a ★ and I will list some thread ideas / general plots I’d like to do between our muses.

Excuse me as I ramble and scream my thoughts because listen, LISTEN, I have a few! Before I do let me break it down! <3

Summary: New recruit to the Military Police and Laura is going to be hovering around because she lowkey begins to grow a fondness for them, hitch, marlo, etc. and Annie sticks out to her like a sore thumb. The betrayal of Stohess District. Helping to monitor Annie during those years she's crystalized before she moves more towards the Survey Corp (even though all factions begin to work together). The possible dynamics of that during the war.

Military Police Days (overall). I would love to explore and interact during this period especially given how opportunistic it is. Laura would watch her like a hawk and it's not even about suspicion, but the initial curiosity about Annie. She'd probably also grill her about Trost though. Just them finding that time together to interact during their duties and her inserting her own authoritative figure to oversee them (she doesn't have to, but ends up interrupting more and more) Military Events. I am a sucker for the classic nobility and military gathering / events and will always insert it into this canon. They can suffer together. She will tell her to suck it up, because she has to. Also just, the little bits of normality of day to day during this time.

Stohess District Incident. Thread ideas / General plot because Laura was already livid about what happened in Stohess. Also guilty that she didn't know about Annie (she wouldn't have known, but she needs to be perfect and be a step ahead everything so), so having that conversation either during the war or in another scenario would be, fuelling my angst.

[lordliing]

🏛 my opinions on softblocking

🖨 my opinions on callouts

🔑 my favorite type of threads

📫 my favorite type of ships

🖼 my favorite types of characters

Softblocking-- Honestly, I could care less, but I am also a pro-blocking someone I have no interest in/is bothering me and not taking a hint. Do what you need to make your RPC experience the best it can be.

Callouts -- Do I think they can help raise awareness? Sure, sometimes. But its very easy to take situations out of context and embellish the truth, and hard to disprove. Callouts are really a last resort in my opinion, and hard to take seriously, especially if you do not know the writer.

Favorite type of threads -- I love a bit of drama and suspense, I like writing horror as well. It's honestly hard to choose what is my absolute favorite.

Favorite type of ships -- I am a sucker for villains in love-- just two evil people that hate everything but their one person gets me lmfao

Favorite type of characters -- I have a problem with writing traumatized men who are usually labelled as terrorists, regular criminals or war criminals because they were doing what they thought was right. Usually they are wrong, very VERY wrong. I'd name some if I thought people would have any idea who I was talking about. Previous characters I wrote were Kerry Eurodyne (Cyberpunk 2077), Hanzo Shimada (Overwatch), and Carlos the Scientist (Welcome to Night Vale)

[moontheoretist]

General Ross laughed—a raspy, weak thing and his hair seemed even grayer in the low light. “Decades, Stark. Decades in service. I believed in that shit. Had to.” He looked down at his bandaged hand and downed the alcohol in a gulp. Tony’s brow furrowed. He had known the General in a professional capacity for a long time. This was…different. Tony poured him another shot; half, this time. “It’s easy to get caught up in it. The movies, the video reels, the parades. The museums filled with history labeled as ‘American Greatness.’ The first successfully enhanced human on known record was a 6-foot-something, blonde haired and blue-eyed white man and all of it is the first thing you see when you wake up until you shut your eyes at night in a bedroom full of memorabilia. Pledging Allegiance to a flag before you’re able to form abstract thoughts. It’s all you know. And it’s a damn good story—so good and pervasive you never even begin to think. Your family’s been doing this for, what? How long?” “One of the first colonists—served with Washington himself,” came the mumbled reply. “Mm. I get it. But then you grow—start looking outside the box. You begin to hear the rumors; you hear the disturbing, gut wrenching things done for country and corporate interests. You learn about the rape, the killings, the kidnappings, the human trafficking, the burnings, the genocide, the greed…the drive to consume everything—people, land, capital. And then you wonder about your place in furthering that destruction. All that effort and sweat…for what? I’ve read the classified reports, General; just as you have. And the two of us…well, we made our decisions in the name of Empire.” “Tch. You sound like my daughter.” “She’s a very intelligent lady.” “That’s all her mother. Smarter than my ass, at any rate. Refused to join JROTC and buried her head in biology books instead. The Old Man had his own ideas about women serving so he didn’t get on her like he did me before he went six feet under at Arlington. I was sort of relieved to be honest—at least she wouldn’t end up like…Elias.” Tony noted the name but knew better than to follow that thread. Instead, he said, “So you’ve had your doubts for a while.” “Naw… …well. …Perhaps. Perhaps. But what else could I do?” “When you got a hard ass parent breathing ~legacy~ down your neck? It’s difficult to do much else. You keep on because to do otherwise would be to admit your family shed blood and died for…that. You’d have to acknowledge that you’re way more comfortable with atrocities than you’d care to admit. That your loved ones have died and you’ve wasted decades on…horror. That was how that line went, wasn’t it? 'The horror—the horror.’” “Hn. Hated that movie.” “I imagine it made you uncomfortable. I did prefer the book myself although both are phenomenal. On the other hand I am a sucker for Marlon Brando. Ooh, he was a fine specimen in his prime.” Tony sighed and adjusted himself better on the aging barstool. “I’m not saying this to rub salt into wounds because I’m not any better. When I started making weapons I had no real idea about life or death. I was in grade school. But I was good at it, it made Howard happy, so I built away. Then when I was old enough to know better? I, too, kept on keeping on. And who knows how long I would have if I hadn’t, finally, gotten a taste of my own medicine. Until I was the one being shot at—until I was the one with shrapnel tearing up my insides. Until I was being dumped head first into filthy water. I didn’t pull any triggers, and, sure, if not me then someone else would have filled the void…but the thing is those hypotheticals don’t change a goddamn thing. I can’t put that shit on any one else. And now here I am sitting on the spoils of wars, with a daughter of my own and I think about all those other daughters who…well.” Tony trailed off, eyes on the bottle in his hand. It would be easy to go right back into what he knew. Terrible for him and other people, but comfortable. Known. Every day was a struggle in breaking new ground and he wondered if there would be a time there wouldn’t be. “You think stepping out of the game will cleanse your soul?” Ross sounded curious, not sarcastic. Tony had an inkling he wasn’t asking for Tony’s sake. “I wish I had a better answer than no. Decades of being the Merchant of Death doesn’t get cleared away by a year of playing nice and giving away smartphones. That’ll be a part of my identity until I die and long after—I’ve got to make peace with that.” “Then why bother? When you’re in so deep-” The General cut himself off and his hand had closed into a fist. It shook from the force of his grip. Tony pulled his gaze away to rest on the worn grain of the wood beneath his fingertips. “I believe…now, at least, that you do the right thing because it’s the right thing. You grow, listen to others…fuck up, take your licks, learn. And at the end of it all you hopefully do better. My family plays a part—an important one. But I…I’ve got to put in the work. Me.” Ross sighed, long and heavy. “You know you don’t have to, Stark. You’re so loaded your grandchildren’s grandchildren won’t have to work a day in their lives. You could give that suit of yours to someone else and take a backseat. Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes would be exceptional. Even I can’t fault his record.” “Yeah…I’m wrestling with that, too. But it’s not just me, General. You could retire tomorrow. And with your record you’ll be buried in so much metal I could make another suit from it.” Ross snorted at that. He toyed with the shot glass before setting down and pushing it away. The old CRT hanging from the wall in the corner showed a replay of yesterday’s baseball game. Howard used to promise to take him to one—never did. Something was always more important. “If you know about Project Rebirth then you know about…what else is out there, I’m guessing.” “I know we’re not alone.” “I just wanted our kids to be safer, Stark. That’s all—that’s all. Then it all got twisted up and fucked.” Ross paused. “I chose Blonsky because he was one of us—he understood the life. Highly decorated—well trained. He was on our side. But what came out of him was an abomination. It makes you think, Stark; makes you really think.” “Abomination. Fitting.” The silence between them stretched miles. The bartender was humming along with the juke—some old country thing where the singer probably lost his woman, house, farm, and dog and not even in that order. The General suddenly asked, “You a fan of Captain America?” “Hated him. But those’re my daddy issues talking.” “I used to look up to him. Old Man served in the Second World War and told me all about his exploits. I used to think, 'that’s it.’ That’s proof that everything we stand for is right. And if we had more of him? It would be better for everyone. Conflicts would end so much quicker with less bloodshed. And if they were hurt they would be able to heal. No more corpses being left out to bake and swell in the sun.” “That would suck for the other guys, considering our track record with war crimes. But as long as America’s dominance is assured, am I right?” “You and I both know that war’s inevitable, but if—no. No.” Ross pressed his fingers against closed eyes. “That’s that old fool in me flapping his gums. All I’ve done was cause…hurt.” “The road to Hell.” “Heh, indeed.” Ross ran a hand over his mouth. “I’ve seen some shit, Thunderbolt. It made me question what we’re really doing on this dirt ball hurtling through space.” “What are we doing…hm,” Ross murmured. “What am I doing? What if it’s too late for me?” “Figured you were the type to rest when you’re dead.” “…I thought the same. But when you catch on that you’ve become what you’ve hated—shit, maybe you’ve been projecting all along.” Ross turned to face him, finally, with his brow furrowed. “Now I’m not one to get all touchy or sit with these sort of things, and God knows it’s not like I could have told this to anyone else—they’d have thought I’d’ve lost it.” “Happy to be a sounding board for your thoughts, General.” “You have given me a lot to think about, I suppose. But why are you here, Stark? Really? "Like I said, General. Most I can do is work on doing better.  Eventually, we will, all of us will, have to question what it really means being American; or, I should say, being human.”

Have Time — Will Travel by flower-of-el (NibelungVelocity)

[starfrckled-a]

CONT // & @thesellsword  (  bronn  )

   IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT IS GOING TO PULL HIM TO HIS FEET, between the promise of food and Bronn speaking about having more to drink  (  they had plenty already, sure, but Thoros doesn’t find it in him to care  ).    « Give me a moment, will you? I don’t think my legs work yet. »   groan turns into a messy, hoarse laugh as he lets his head rest against the wall at his back  ——  impact a little harder than intended. If he keeps at it he doubts he will ever stop feeling hungover, though it’s better this way, better than having that god awful smell of burned flesh stuck to his nostrils, so it’s no surprise, really, when he ends up rising to his feet too fast and almost loses his balance, despite holding on to the other man’s hand. He has to grab onto his shoulder too, to keep from falling to the ground like the drunken fool he is.    « Y’ want me to try and make you a believer? »

[maastrichtiana]

Cal’syee’s living an episode of Shameless, Xandra’s living her TNG dreams, Vulcan’s on the set of HBO’s Rome, gloating about historical accuracy while still workshopping a quip about the world’s smallest violin.

First I was just squee about the new Summers baby, because I’m a sucker like that. The Krakoa era is a goldmine for wish list character interactions, everything and the kitchen sink. Soap opera and spectacle. Another stitch in a dangling plot thread, from I think 2013?

Ewing, you mad genius. Im obsessed with this page. Infinite room of parallels. I could write a 30,000 words easy.

“Safe from us, Gabriel.” Guffawed at Deathbird’s self-awareness. And the imagine of Gabriel suing for monthly monitored visitation as a matter of asshole principle and getting exactly what he wanted, cut away gag from an action shot, someone yelling where Scott is, cue panel of him halfway across the galaxy in dad mode.

But then you think about it. Vulcan was never a baby, he got ripped out of his mother by his future BiL and tossed in an age accelerator, it’s why he’s so messed up. All of which he blames his father for. For being too weak. His own kid was born after War of Kings, Cal’syee was imprisoned and experimented on by space evolutionaries, because the kid had “unique genes,” (still need to read that New Mutants run, and Xandra’s debut in Mr and Mrs X). Both happy parents are the Cains to their siblings Abels. Cal’syee was exiled for matricide and sororicide, Gabriel roasted Corsair AND D’ken, Corsair got better, The third parent more or less, symbolically and thematically. “Mr. Summers was my father/I… am Emperor Vulcan.”

Kudos to the X-Books forum for guessing the kid is actually a girl, Gibby’s “my son” versus Cal’syee’s “our child…” I thought Mom was diplomatically pointing out Gabriel’s sudden parental entitlement, but Cal’syee being jaded by a lifetime of Shi’ar Succession Shenanigans is funnier.

[lathalea]

This is such an awesome idea for an ask game, I couldn't resist!

Character: Thorin

Trait: I learned embroidery and it's so much fun, but I also enjoy being active and playing sports!

Type of relationship: soul mates 🐻 (I am a sucker for "the One" concept the Dwarves have 😅)

Thank you and have a good day/night!

Heeelllloooooo @thewhiteladyofrohan 💙💙💙 I'm glad you've joined the fun!

I must say I especially like your choice, not only because it's Thorin - but also because of the "Dwarven Ones" trope (I'm hopelessly romantic I guess). It's been a pleasure to write this imagine for you!

I know it took me a while and I'm sorry, but real life got in the way. Hope my little gigantic imagine makes up for it a bit - I wrote most of it a while back but only now managed to finish it. Oh, and I hope you'll forgive me the pinch of angst here - but the tarot cards asked for it...

🐻 - Soul Mates with Thorin

(By the way, that's surprising, this is the second tarot spread for a Thorin story I do when one of the cards turns out to be the Raven - The Journey - the guiding spirit and psychopompos. Coincidence? Also, have you noticed that he's feasting on a skull of a deer, or maybe even an elk? Take this, Thrandy! ;))

You always admired prince Thorin from afar. He was always courteous, mature for his age, and – of course – very handsome and you were not the only Dwarf-woman to think this way. It wasn’t difficult to notice that he had quite a few admirers and many ladies seeked the opportunity to spend time with him. Perhaps it was for the best that you weren’t a noble so you didn’t have many opportunities to meet the prince. This way you didn’t have to see how he talked with all those ladies, how he smiled at them, how he took them in his arms and danced with them all night long. All you had were glimpses of him as he walked through the markets of Erebor on some errands, when he trained with Dwalin or when he rode off for a scouting trip. It had to be enough for you.

After the dragon came and all of your people had to escape Erebor, everything changed. It didn’t matter any longer who was a noble and who wasn’t – everyone helped each other as best they could. You traveled east, living through hardships and doing your best to survive in harsh conditions.

You used to be an embroideress, you inherited the skills from your mother, but now all the beautiful fabrics and silk threads were burned to ashes by dragonfire along with your past life. With all the Orcs attacks happening more and more often, you decided to make yourself useful and learned how to fight, trained by Dwalin.

On some evenings on the road you saw Thorin’s ashen face, the constant frown on his face, his brilliant blue eyes looking into the distance, stars shining above him. It seemed that the horrors of the past kept him awake, just like you. With time, you started talking with each other during those rare moments when you were alone together and soon you felt comfortable enough to confide in each other. The silent, brooding prince chose you to share his burdens with – someone who wouldn’t judge him, wouldn’t expect him to act like a future king, someone who saw him just as a Dwarf.

You never dared to tell him about your feelings. It was better, you decided, that he didn’t know he was your One. This was no time for hopeless romantic thoughts. Your people needed shelter and Thorin had to focus on his duties, helping his grandfather and father with leading thousands of Dwarves through inhospitable land and finding a safe place to stay. Last thing he needed was to be embarrassed by your declarations of love he surely didn’t reciprocate. Staying quiet was the best option.

Years passed and soon it was clear: you were preparing for a war. King Thror was killed by Orcs in Moria when he tried to reclaim it. His son and all the dwarven clans decided to avenge him. Fighting was long and hard, but you persevered and managed to survive, fighting side by side with Thorin, Dwalin and Frerin.

The tragic battle of Azanulbizar left everyone scarred. Many Dwarves lay slain, even though the Orcs were vanquished. With his father and brother gone, Thorin grieved alone, distancing himself from everyone for days. Even you failed to reach him. When he finally emerged from his tent, the prince you had known was gone. You were looking into the pained eyes of a reluctant king.

Soon your new king led the Longbeards to the Blue Mountains and you started a new life there, building new halls for your people. A new home.

The quiet evenings with Thorin by the fire were a song of the past. With all the construction work, Thorin had many duties to attend to and more important things to do than idle talk with a simple warrior like you, you thought. You missed the closeness you shared but there was nothing to be done about it. He would sometimes meet you in passing, exchange a few polite words, and ask about your wellbeing. Once he told you that if there was anything you needed, all you had to do was let him know. He was courteous as ever, but you knew it was his politeness speaking. Whenever you met him, you saw sadness lingering in his eyes, but even your usual jokes couldn’t disperse it. When you asked about how he was doing, he would always reply: “well enough”, his eyes set on something above your head. As much as you tried, you couldn’t rekindle your old bond. But perhaps that was how it should be. He was a king now, after all, and you swore your allegiance to him, just like all the other warriors did.

Dwalin’s training made sure you didn’t have much time to wallow in self-pity. Instead, you worked on improving your fighting techniques. On some occasions, Thorin would join you and the other warriors at the training grounds and you could admire his flawless technique with a sword and his skill as a warrior.

Many years passed and the Blue Mountains started truly feeling like home. Trade flourished, and people got on with their lives. You and your mother reopened your embroidery shop and were doing well, but you didn’t forget your warrior’s training.

There were marriages and children, but you remained unwed. Your mother guessed there was someone in your heart, someone unattainable, and never tried to force you into an unwanted marriage. You decided to focus on your craft instead, occasionally riding out with Dwalin and his warriors whenever your sword and shield were needed.

During one of your excursions Dwalin told you he was leaving and joining Thorin on a quest to reclaim Erebor. After hearing more details, you were sure you wanted to be a part of it.

You asked for an audience with Thorin and, to your surprise, you were invited for a meeting with him. You offered your sword, but Thorin immediately declined, stating that this would be a perilous journey and he wouldn’t like to endanger you. You were a Dwarf-woman, a precious and rare member of your race.

You reminded him that he told you once to ask if there was something you needed. And this was precisely it - you needed to go, you needed to help reclaim your homeland, and you needed to make sure that Thorin, the Dwarf you loved beyond words, would survive this dangerous mission.

He looked deeply into your eyes but you withstood his piercing gaze. Reluctantly, he finally agreed.

Thorin’s Company, you included, left towards the Lonely Mountain, leaving the safety of the Blue Mountains behind. It was a dangerous journey that took you many months, but it rekindled hope in your heart. In the company of his most trusted friends Thorin was more like his old self and some nights he joined you on your watch (or you would join him) and then you talked as if you were back under the starry skies of Dunland, exchanging your thoughts and sharing the burden of your worries.

One chilly evening when everyone was fast asleep you talked for many hours and fell asleep with your head on Thorin’s shoulder. You had a strange dream of a warm hand caressing your cheek and fingers running through your hair. In the morning you woke up on your bedroll, covered by his fur-lined cloak. You haven’t slept that well in ages.

After escaping Mirkwood and leaving Laketown you arrived in Erebor, and then hell broke loose. Dragon sickness took over Thorin, changing him beyond recognition, and he searched for the Arkenstone day and night, demolishing the place, shouting ridiculous orders at everyone. You confronted him, told him to stop and get some rest, trying to get some sense into him, but he roared at your insubordination and accused you of treason. There was only cold greed in his eyes when he discharged you from his service as a warrior and ordered you to leave the Mountain.

Your Thorin was gone and you left Erebor brokenhearted, but you decided to stay nearby. You knew that he succumbed to some kind of darkness, but you refused to leave for good, hoping that it all would pass. You saw the Elven warriors preparing for war and observed the negotiations between Thranduil, Bard and Thorin from outside of the Mountain. When the orc army approached, you were ready.

The battle was long and bloody, but you kept on fighting, rejoicing when Dain Ironfoot’s army joined the fray. And then finally Thorin and his companions emerged from Erebor and you saw in your eyes that it was your Thorin again, not that greedy monster from the treasure chamber. As he fought, you cut through the Orcs just to get closer to him, but there were too many of them in your way. You saw when he rode off to Ravenhill.

When you arrived there, it was almost too late. Azog was there, his weapon delving into Thorin’s chest while your One was on ice, on his back, his face covered with blood. You shouted with anger and charged towards them. Your sword pierced the Pale Orc’s back and he fell lifeless on the cold ice before he could do more damage.

Thorin was heavily wounded but you worked quickly, trying to stop the bleeding. The wound wasn’t deep and you hoped that it wasn’t fatal. Thorin tried to tell you something, speaking in disbelief with a faint smile, “You came back…”, his hand squeezing your fingers gently.

He was taken back to Erebor where Oin and the Elven healers tended to his wounds. They said that if he survived the next three nights, he would live.

So you stayed by his side for those three nights, watching over him. He was unconscious, but you made sure he was comfortable and warm. To kill time, you took out a bundle from your backpack that you took with you all the way from the Blue Mountains and you continued working on the embroidery. It was going to be an embroidered cloak, dark blue and golden, and you meant to give it to Thorin when you were finished. It was supposed to be finished before the Quest, but you ran out of time and now you could finally continue. You believed he would wake up soon and, since his fur-lined cloak was lost along the way, he would accept your heart’s gift. Since he was a king and you – a discharged warrior, there would not be any courting gifts between you. This was the only thing he could get from you without raising suspicions and you poured all heart into this cloak and its fine embroideries.

On the third night a fever washed over him and you were dreading the worst. You sent for Oin. In the meantime Thorin regained consciousness and whispered through pale lips, his eyes brimming with emotion, “Forgive me for my words. I was not myself. I never doubted you. You were the closest person I had to…” He choked on his words. “Forgive me… Farewell, Amrâlimê…” he whispered and closed his eyes.

You couldn't believe your ears. Was it really you he meant? Could this be true? Your heart beat impossibly fast. Was it possible that he felt something for you too, something more than just camaraderie? Swallowing your tears, you tried to wake him up, you pleaded, hoping he would open his cerulean blue eyes again but to no avail. Was Thorin going to be taken from you forever before you had the chance to tell him about your own feelings? You helplessly looked at his lifeless features.

That was when Oin arrived. After a quick examination it turned out that Thorin still had a faint pulse, but was holding on to his life by a thread. You let Oin do his healing magic, all the time holding Thorin’s hand and whispering reassuring words, words of forgiveness, love and hope into his ear.

Finally Thorin’s breathing evened out and his fever broke. Oin assured you that he was out of imminent danger and needed to sleep. You sat by Thorin’s bed this time as well, not leaving him, observing the steady movements of his chest, even though tiredness was hard to overcome.

You woke up with your head on the bed and a warm hand touching your cheek, fingers running through your hair. Thorin was awake. Although he was still weak, there was a smile on his face. “I heard your voice in the darkness. It helped me find my way back to you, Amrâlimê,” he said. “Do you truly mean it?” you mumbled, still not able to believe what he was implying. “Have you not guessed? You are my One. You have been my One since Dunland.” “All these years… Why didn’t you say anything?” “I was a homeless pauper with nothing to offer, and then a ruler in mourning. How could I allow myself to hope for love if I knew that my people needed a home?” He pressed your hand to his lips. “And now…?” “Now I heard your words. I know your heart…” “My heart is yours,” you admitted, covering his hand with yours. “If you will have it.” “There is nothing else in the entire world that I want more,” his smile deepened. “If you accept my heart in return.” And then you simply replied, “I will.” Your declarations were sealed by a tender kiss.

To Oin’s astonishment, Thorin’s recovery took much faster than he expected and soon your One was up and about.

Erebor turned into a busy place - the kingdom was being rebuilt and Dwarves were returning to their homeland, but you and Thorin managed to find moments of solitude whenever you could, counting stars at night, exploring the glittering caves under the mountain, waiting for the first rays of the sun to paint the morning sky pink or dancing among the snowflakes swirling from the sky. That was when Thorin gazed at you with tenderness and asked, “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and queen?”

Your courting felt like a dream. There were sweet kisses, caresses and little tokens of your affection.

Finally the day had come to exchange your final courting gifts – your wedding gifts. On the day of your wedding Thorin gave you the most beautiful necklace you have ever seen – the gemstones matched your eye color and you recognized his handiwork – he must have worked on it for months. You offered him the cloak you started lovingly embroidering in the Blue Mountains and finished in Erebor, weaving in all your love into its patterns. The rich color of the fabric and fur lining reminded you of the cloak Thorin lost along the way, the one he covered you with on that night on the road. When you held each other’s hands and promised each other unending love and devotion in front of the people of Erebor, you recalled that night clearly. You had dreamed of someone’s fingers running through your hair, of his gentle touch and of his whisper: “I love you more than life itself.” You started your new, happy life with Thorin knowing that this time it wasn’t a dream.

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