#I have no clue if i want to draw it as goofy or horrifying so i kinda just chose both and it looks like that now i guess

[cubicpeebles]

heres some more of the creature

[the-omni-princess]

Blood Bound [Chapter Six]

Author: @the-omni-princess

Pairing: Vampire!Bucky x Witch!Reader

Summary: Vampires and witches have been known enemies since the dark ages. Backstabbing, secrets, and magic turned supernatural brethren again each other. As a natural-born witch, you grew up on these stories, your own monsters under your bed. What happens when one of those sworn enemies claims that you are his blood mate, the vampire equivalent of a true mate? Will you give in to this man out of time? Or destroy him for the sake of your Coven?

Word Count: 3.7K

Warnings: fluff, angst, first time meetings, minor character death, minor injuries, near death, vampire stuff, blood, sacrifices, cursing, mature talk, sex talk (I think this is all the warnings if I missed something please let me know)

A/N:

Also, how do people like the “previously on” bit? Should I just erase it? Stop using it? (I don’t use the previously for word counts)

Also, AHHHHH my fav chapter so far, finally enough build-up TO DO SOEMTHIGN

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[Series Masterlist]  [My Masterlist] [Playlist Inspired by the Series]

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----

Previously…

“Holy shit, I died in the Salem Witch Trials,” your voice rang out throughout the room. Bucky squeezed your hands gently, and you let him act as your tether to the mortal whelm. “We were killed by the very Council that had sworn to protect all witches, and you were saved by the vampires we were told by them to fear.”

“Well, this is just getting deeper and deeper. Before you know it, you’ll be telling me the Coven to the North died because they found out the Council has been killing Naturals.” Tony quipped from the side of the room.

The room froze, taking in the statement. “Well, it would explain a lot,” you murmured. “They were getting powerful, and dominant witches who don’t need as much energy to have magic aren’t easy to control.” That was the last connecting dot. The darkness in the distance wasn’t just some mythical monster. It was the very same man that stood in your living room and drank your tea just an hour ago.

--

“But all of that leads to the question of, where are Nebula and Gamora? Their bodies weren’t found with the Mountain Coven.” Maria rubbed behind Sasha’s ears, enjoying the cat’s insistent purring as she curled up on her lap.

“Mountains… Oh shit, if the Council is going to start investigating the Mountains, I need to warn Steve and Sam. Our hotel is right at the base of the mountains, the Council will blame us first.” Bucky’s grip on your hand faltered, nervously tapping his foot.

“That’s less than an hour away right? Go, bring them here.” It was a simple solution, and yet you had multiple people against it.

“We are not housing the bloodsuckers, y/n. No damn way.” Carol stood, puffing up her chest. It was most likely unconscious, as she tried to assert dominance, but you weren’t buying that.

“Listen, you trust me, I trust Bucky, Bucky trusts these two. The Council will murder them for even being in the vicinity of the Coven’s murders. Please, we have to. They’re his family.” Your hands started to spark, your emotions rising as you tried to plead with your sisters.

Most of them were not going to be happy about housing vampires, so you tried one last thing. “We have to be different than the Council.” That had Wanda and Maria turning away, Maria focusing solely on the cat, and Wanda finding the book she held open very interesting. Natasha and Pepper both were proud of you standing up for your Blood Mate, though the later still thought you were insane.

Carol had calmed down, enough that she saw your hands sparking, to which Bucky had no issue with. The usual burning sparks didn’t affect him as he gladly held onto you. That wasn’t supposed to happen. But at this point, it was going to join a long list of ‘things that were supposed to be impossible,’ right under reincarnation. She sighed softly, running her hand through her short hair before placing both hands in her overall pockets. “Fine. But I still don’t trust them.” She warned, narrowing her eyes at him.

Despite the literal death looks, Bucky beamed a goofy smile, elated to earn the, though hesitant, trust of your Coven. Looking up at him, your heart melted. Seeing his crystal clue eyes sparkle as he smiled made you wonder why the Council even started to hate Vampires in the first place. “Go. I’ll be here, waiting.”

“I’ll be just a minute. Promise, Sweetling,” he grinned, a peak of his fangs showing in his smile as he leaned slightly down and kissed your temple before rushing off.

“Okay, well how can I hate him if he’s that adorable?” Tony whined, wanting the attention he was currently lacking.

“You literally wanted to kill him twenty minutes ago, Tones,” you gave him a pointed look.

He simply shrugged, “That’s before he was calling you sweet names. I’m only protecting you, kid.”

You shot him an appreciative smile before pulling the book Wanda had shown you closer. God, that drawing did look like you. Charcoal with yellow aging lines in the paper, a few smudges, but it most definitely looked like you but in a pilgrim dress, complete with a bonnet covering your hair. While you grazed through the surrounding paragraphs, Bucky had arrived again, this time flanked by two very nervous looking vampires.

Now set on edge, the entire Coven was tense, staring down the newcomers. You stepped forward, giving them a small smile and stretching out your hand towards them. “Hello, welcome to my home, I’m y/n.”

The two new vamps gave each other a look before the darker-skinned man stepped forward. He took your hand and bowed, locking eyes with you as he kissed your knuckles. “A pleasure to meet you, miss. I’m Sam, and the blonde idiot behind me is Steve,” he smiled warmly, a hint of fangs peaking behind his lips.

You blinked a few times, unsure how to react before Bucky thankfully took over. “Okay, okay, we get it, you have good manners. Hands off my girl, or I’ll get the silver,” he growled playfully, taking your hand from Sam and pulling you against his chest protectively. You blushed, tugging yourself away while giving him a glare before looking towards the two new vampires, unsure how to explain the insanity that was currently your life.

The blonde, Steve, took a step forward, hands in his pocket as he assessed you with a once over. “So, you’re the infamous Theodosia?” He wondered aloud.

Sparks lit up behind your eyes for a split second, “Is there a problem with that?” You challenged, squaring your shoulders and standing a little straighter, chin a little higher. You wouldn’t admit it, but Steve was intimidating; tall, broad shoulders and the knowledge that human killing fangs were just beneath those plush lips gave him a darker aura. Yet you had a strong feeling he was just as much of a puppy dog as Bucky was so you didn’t let your fear show.

Steve smirked faintly, relaxing, “None at all. Just curious is all. I’ve always wondered about the woman Buck would talk about in his sleep.” Bucky went red at the statement, glaring daggers at his packmate.

You couldn’t help but laugh, smiling warmly. “Well, make yourself at home. Look out for Tony, he bites. If you need me, I’ll be looking for more spells for memory loss, or information on the Council, or on Soul Bindings,” you turned, Tony growling at the two, picking up a new book and plopping down on the windowsill. You frowned, quickly scanning through the pages, most of the Coven either joining you in looking for more information or in Carol’s case, practically interrogating Steve and Sam.

Bucky sat beside you, and you, not wanting to get distracted, kept flipping through pages while biting your lip. He slowly leaned his head against your shoulder, “You look cute when you're worried,” he murmured.

You couldn’t stop the smile from appearing on your face, “Well, I am worried. I’m hoping for some sort of improving memories spell. I want to remember you. Fully. Not just glimpses of the life we used to share.” You sighed softly, closing one book to open another. “I don’t want you to forget me again,” you admitted in a soft voice. It was selfish, after all, he didn’t choose to be turned, and yet, you were horrified this was all some joke. That you were being too trusting, or that it was all too good to be true, or, worse, there was something bigger and darker hiding in the shadows about to strike.

“I’m scared I’ll forget you too,” he admitted softly. Pausing between pages, the library now mostly empty, only Natasha quietly flipping through pages on the sofa, it felt more intimate. “I’m terrified. I just found you, I’m finally remembering again, and yet, I’m immortal. I’m just going to lose you again.”

Turning towards him, you tilted his chin up before cupping his cheek. His eyes fluttered closed as he leaned against your touch. “I’m not going anywhere, James. We’ll figure this out, I promise.” He nodded faintly, losing himself to your touch, smiling warmly. “You don’t want to turn me, do you?” You questioned lightly.

“God no. I wouldn’t wish this curse upon my worst enemy. I want you to live a long healthy, normal life.” He quickly responded.

“Alright, relax vampy, it was only a question,” you teased.

Comfortable silence surrounded you two, content in simply existing beside each other. You ran your hand through his hair tenderly, letting him lean against you as you skimmed pages. Hours passed like this, quiet and searching, satisfied in the small moments. You didn’t learn much, not enough information was being written about Naturals, and even less so about Soul Bound Naturals, but you got the jest. Powerful alone and lethal together. Threatening one tended to make the other go wild. Hurting one hurt the other. They were each other’s greatest strength and worst weakness. You also had read up on vampire history, learning a bit more about your current nap buddy. Speaking of, you were also fairly sure Bucky had fallen asleep against you, not that you minded much. You realized this morning he must not have fed in a while, and he must be drained. You absentmindedly started thinking of how to bring up the subject of feeding to him.

A sharp crash in the other room had both of you jumping to your feet. You must have dozed off, the book you were reading was on the ground, and your hair mused. Sharing a look, the two of you rushed to the sound, keeping pressed to the walls.

A Council Member, Jack Rollins, stood there, a dagger pressed against Maria’s throat. You froze in the doorway, just out of sight, pressing your hand against Bucky, pushing him back through the door. Rollins was surrounded by the Coven, each with eyes burning straight into the man before them. Tony had his fangs bared, Sam and Steve beside him, fangs also bared, eyes red. Maria herself looked almost bored, rolling her eyes at the man’s threats, despite the blade against her throat.

“This isn’t that difficult, just give us the girl and her little Leech and we can get this over with. She’s a traitor who worked with bloodsuckers to kill the Mountain Coven, last chance. Turn her in.” He warned, a sick smile on his face as the dagger dug into Maria’s throat, making her whimper softly as the knife dug deeper, a trickle of blood dripping down her neck.

“She’s not here, just leave Maria alone!” Wanda’s eyes glowed red, hands swirling in burgundy, the Coven beside her, each witch faintly glowing in power, standing their ground.

“It’s either her or this little witch,” the man snarled, taking a step back and dragging Maria by her hair.

“Stay here, please,” you begged Bucky.

He gave you a glare, whisper yelling a response. “Fuck no, I can’t just-“

“Bucky, please. They’ll need you to figure out the memories, I can handle him.” You insisted, eyes boring into him, pleading for him to understand.

He finally nodded, albeit, hesitantly. “Please stay safe, Little Witch,” he murmured, tucking a stray piece of hair behind your ear. The air was tense, his face only centimeters away from yours, and if Maria wasn’t about to get her throat slit in the other room, you would probably have had enough guts to kiss him. And yet, Maria needed you. Your Coven needed you.

Taking a step into the room, you let your electricity crawl up your spine, down your palms, the sparks gathering everyone’s attention. “Hey asshole, I’m right here. Let her go and get out of my house.” The sparks turned hot blue, your eyes most likely reflected the same color.

He simply laughed, tugging Maria against his chest as a human shield. “Where’s your little Blood Sucker? Got rid of you that easy? Eh, whatever, doesn’t matter. Let’s go, Natural.”

You swallowed against the bile in your throat. Him saying that out loud send a wave of anxiety through your body. “Let. Her. Go.” You countered.

He tossed a pair of cuffs at you, and you caught them easily, making sure they didn’t fall to the ground. “Wear those first.”

“Cuffs? Kinky, but I’m seriously not interested in you like that. Sorry, Darlin’”

“They’re power dampeners. Either put them on and come with me, or witchy savior here will be a reenactment of the Red Wedding,” he responded, growing frustrated.

Seeing no choice, and pointedly ignoring your sisters, you put the cuffs on, the sparks from your body dying out with a fizzle. Your coven had protected you since you were little, it was time to take responsibility. It was time to protect them. It was an easy decision really, you would die for your sisters without a second thought. “All cuffed up, my safe word is Pumpernickle. Now, let my sister go.”

He simply replied with a wicked smirk, the silver dagger moving away from Maria as he tossed her aside. Rough calloused hands grabbed onto you, the knife now lodged against your throat. “Sorry, not into knife play, darlin’” you snarled, squirming in his grip.

“God, do you ever shut up?!” He scowled, clearly getting more agitated.

“Nope, and you didn’t bring a gag so you're out of luck!” You ignored the faint burn of the dagger as it turned into your neck.

“Hush, unless you want your coven to know what the inside of your throat looks like,” he growled into your ear, fear shooting through your body. Nat took a step forward, gripping her own knives. “Take another step and she won’t be the only witch I kill tonight,” he warned. “Let’s go, fight and I’ll just pick one of them,” he nodded towards the vampires. He dragged you backward and at the last moment, Natasha took another careful step forward.

Time seemed to slow as you watched in horror. Rollins threw the knife, with absolute precision. It hurled towards Natasha, and yet a blur intersected its path towards its target. Bucky fell to the ground, the silver dagger buried in his chest, graphite grey veins and skin starting to grow outwards from the wound. Silver could kill vampires.

You cried out, a feral screech clawing from your throat as you let your emotions consume you. Electricity crackled, and you abruptly realized the cuffs around your wrists were broken and smoking on the ground at your feet. Agony shot through your chest as you leaped forward, kneeling beside Bucky.

“No, no, no, no. Why would you do that, you absolute idiot!” You cried out, tugging him into your body protectively, your hands struggling to find purchase near the blade. His own body was unaffected by the electricity sparking in your hands as you lost control. Vampires didn’t bleed, but they could turn ashen and die. And as Bucky started to turn grey, his veins turning lead, you realized this could be it. He would die trying to protect your Coven from the people who took you from him in the first place.

“I know what it’s like to lose family, y/n…” He gulped faintly, words starting to slur as he pulled the dagger out, tossing it aside. “Losing your Coven would devastate you. I couldn’t let you live like that.” He tenderly pushed a curl of hair behind your ear before running his thumb across your cheekbone.

Your vision blurred, practically sobbing as you held his hand closer to your face. “But I can’t lose you when we just found each other again. James, please,” you pleaded, your hands starting to tremble. Agonizing anguish started to fill your chest, and you felt like you couldn’t breathe. You tried to keep calm, tried to think of ways to fix this.

“You always were the stronger one, Theo. I promised to keep you safe, and yet you protected yourself. You’re strong, Little Witch. You’ll move on just fine without me,” His voice was getting weaker, and you were vaguely aware of Nat trying to calm you with her powers from across the room, and the fact that where Rollins was standing there was only a pile of ash and scorch marks on the carpet.

“But I don’t want to. Bucky, please,” you pleaded, hot wet tears streaming your cheeks. “Not without you.” You were most definitely shaking now, grief clouding your mind. “I haven’t told you that I’m falling in love with you. This lifetime, right here, right now. My goofy and mischievous, tenderhearted vampire.” You murmured, his cool hand pressed against your cheek. The words echoed in your ears. Vampire. “James?”

Your voice was meek, and his hand twitched, weak in your arms as he replied. “Yes, Little Witch?”

“Fed from me,” you whispered.

“I can’t use you like that…” he groaned softly, the grey veins climbing his neck. “I might not be able to stop, Y/n,” he warned.

You nodded, sniffling softly. “I trust you, Bucky. The ultimate trust, right? I trust you to stop, and even if you don’t…” The words were unspoken but were understood between the two of you. ‘I would die for you.’

“Okay, Sweetling,” he conceded, body too weak to fight your stubbornness.

You raised your wrist to his mouth, “All yours, Angel Eyes,” you whispered softly. He kissed your pulse point, sending a shiver down your spine. For a starving and dying vampire, he showed an immense amount of restraint and control. The artery in his neck turned light grey, the strain shown in his features. You glanced at your coven sisters, all of which were showing a variety of reactions. Mostly surprise you would do this, but Nat and you locked eyes. She could always feel your emotions the best out of the entire coven, and now all she felt was desperation and hope, yet she also felt an unspoken emotion. Love.

Looking back down at Bucky as he bared his fangs, he looked up at you before sinking them into your wrist, his vampire instincts taking over as he slowly drank from your lifeline. The coloring returned to his face, grey lines and skin disappearing completely. But he kept drinking, practically growling into your arm as his eyes flashed red before closing them, concentrated in what he was doing. You ran your free hand through his hair weakly as black spots filled your vision. “I love you, Bucky,” you murmured incoherently just as the black abyss pulled you into unconsciousness. An overwhelming sense of calm filling you.

---

Soft, enchanting humming pulled you into the world of the living. The velvet cushioning of your favorite blanket was wrapped around you, a cool arm draped across your waist, your face pressed into a chilled body. Even groggy you realized exactly who it was, and you didn’t hesitate to nuzzle deeper into his arms.

“James,” you murmured, your voice sounded raspy, wrecked. You most unquestionably noticed the satisfying feeling in your chest, as if being wrapped in his arms was the only place on Earth you belonged in.

“I’m sorry, Little Witch. I should have stopped sooner,” he whispered softly. You noticed he was playing with the ends of your hair, twirling the curls around his finger.

“I told you,” you managed to speak in a small voice, “I trusted you to stop. Even if you didn’t, I made that choice.”

He chuckled faintly, “Thought Tony was going to murder me, definitely looked ready to. Natasha stopped him, said you felt at peace.” He sighed as he pulled away gently, tilting your chin up to lock eyes with him. You absentmindedly noticed you were alone in your room, laying on top of the covers of your bed, contentedly cuddled close. “You were ready to die to save me.”

“You were dying to save my Coven sister.” You let your eyes close as you leaned against his touch, your own hands pressed against his chest. “I would blame it on my emotions, but I would do it again without hesitation.” You smiled faintly into his touch, kissing his palm that rested against your cheek. “My Angel Eyes.”

Your eyes fluttered open, everything felt at ease with him here. You caught him glancing down at your lips, making your smile widen. “Bucky?” He hummed in response as you leaned your forehead against his. “Please kiss me.”

His responding smile set your heart on fire. “As you wish, Sweetling,” he murmured, closing the distance and kissing you. He held your face in his hands tenderly, his own soft lips perfectly slotting against your own. You leaned forward as you deepened the kiss, running your tongue along his bottom lip. He groaned softly in response, pushing forward as he took control of the kiss, which sent a warm spark down your spine. His breathing hitched, and beneath your fingertips, you felt a small thump. You both froze, eyes widening as you pulled away.

“Did… Did your heart just beat?” you murmured softly, trying not to notice how his lips were starting to get kiss swollen.

He nodded, eyes just as wide as yours. “I thought I imagined that.”

You shook your head, the words of one of the Binding books coming back to you. “Bound are each other’s strengths and weaknesses. A heartbeat is a weakness for a vamp.” You tried to reason.

He chuckled, “And here I thought I was going to reason that you’re my life and found your way back to me.”

Blushing, you couldn’t stop the smile from lighting up your features. You also finally realized you were all alone, the house quiet. “How long was I out?”

“A few hours. Everyone went to Pepper’s house. Wanda said something about giving us space.” He shrugged, still busy thinking about the implications of a heartbeat. Was he becoming alive again?

“Hey, Bucky?” You whispered softly.

“Yeah?”

“Kiss me again.” He obliged, closing the distance to kiss you again. He was the one to deepen the kiss first, gentle yet dominating, demanding your full attention. You got lost in his touch, pressed against him as his hand around your waist pulled you tighter against him. “James,” you practically purred against his lips.

He groaned softly, smirking. “I love it when you say my name.” His lips brushed against yours, easily pulling your mouth back on his.

“Then I’ll keep saying it, Angel Eyes,” you murmured, pulling far enough off of him to run a hand through his fluffed up and mused hair. He groaned softly, making you grin as you lightly traced your fingertips against his scalp. “I want to remember, Bucky. Help me remember and I help you remember? All of it? From the beginning? I know a witch from another Coven who can help us.”

He leaned his forehead against yours, lips brushing past yours as he nodded. “All of it, Sweetling. From the beginning. And Theo?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you too.”

--

Tags:

Permanent Tags:

@minetticatinwonderland  / @lumar014 / @maniacproffesor / @gollyderek / @nerdy-bookworm-1998 / @avengerstones / @momc95 / @loving-life-my-way / @thelibraryoffanfiction / @marvelmaree / @thefridgeismybestie

Bucky Tags:

@cassandras-musings  / @darkness-doughter / @novaddictx / @thedancingnerdmermaid / @mood-pancakes / @gracethegeek9902 / @ravennightingaleandavatempus / @sunkissedbarnes / @annavega333

Blood Bound Tags:

@itz-kira / @rinthehufflepuff​ / @evilzinblr​ / @starkrobb​ / @paranoiadestroyah​ / @misplacedorphan​ / @ladysergeantbarnes​ / @gobemywonderwall​ / @yallneedtrek / momobaby227

For a tag, just reply/comment, if I don’t see it, just message me. Tell me what you think! Literally, any comment makes me happy! Like, comment, reblog, interact <3

[kravitzz]

Podcast Recs 2019

Hey there! I’ve updated my list of podcast recommendations for 2019. This includes anything from my top favorites to stuff I haven’t gotten around to listening to yet! For a more up to date version of this list, please go here. 

 * = Favorite! ! = Caught Up # = In progress + = Need to listen

Fiction: *! Wolf 359: Starts off as a goofy space station slice-of-life comedy and spirals into something way, way deeper. Great characters, fantastic plot, and a really great concept overall. *# The Penumbra Podcast: A couple different plots, but primarily a futuristic space noir story. Really cheesy but in the best way, also super LGBT and fantastic and it just makes me so happy. # Beef and Dairy Network Podcast: Just a completely normal podcast about the inner workings of the beef and dairy industry. Nothing weird here, not at all. # Hello From The Magic Tavern: A podcast transmitted from the magical land of Foon! Really chill and funny improvised stuff # King Falls AM: A fun paranormal radio show sort of deal. I’m not far in enough to describe it better. # EOS 10: Doctors in space! It’s gay and funny and suspenseful, I adore the hell out of the writing.  # The Bright Sessions: Superhero therapy! Incredible character building, really cool show. # Within the Wires: I’m only an ep in and uh. I have no fucking clue what’s happening but it’s cool as shit so far.  # Everything Is Alive: A podcast where a guy interviews inanimate objects! It’s interesting and fun. *# Welcome to Nightvale: A classic! A radio show in a desert town that’s much odder than it seems.  # Done Disappeared: A parody of true-crime investigation podcasts. Dumb and funny.

+ Jim Robbie and the Wanderers + Dopple Avenue Hurt + The Thrilling Adventure Hour + Wooden Overcoats + Ars Paradoxica + The Far Meridian + The Strange Case of Starship Iris + Girl In Space + Inkwyrm + Immunities + Mission to Zixx +Kaleidotrope +Midnight Radio

Horror: *# The Magnus Archives: Jonathan Sims, head archivist of a paranormal research institute in London, reads the statements of people who have experienced horrifying things. Things go south very quickly for him and his assistants. HEAVY trigger warning, since it includes lots of the typical horror things such as gore, bugs, cannibalism, etc, but if you can handle it, I highly recommend this show. The writing and characters are so good. *! SCP Archives: Performed readings of different SCP stories. If you like SCP, this show is really good! # Alice Isn’t Dead: A fantastic spooky adventure with a gal trucking across the U.S. to find her missing wife! Made by the Nightvale folks, and it’s really intriguing and well produced. # The NoSleep Podcast: Different horror stories from r/nosleep, acted and read aloud. Varies in quality, but is generally pretty good! Gets better in the later seasons. # Limetown: A well-known faux-journalism horror story. The first season is very good, I haven’t listened to the second yet. # Mabel: It’s been a while since I listened to this one, so I don’t remember much other than it being very, very spooky. # The Black Tapes: The ending isn’t good, but the rest was great. They’re apparently continuing, so hopefully the ending will be fixed.

+ The Blood Crow Stories + The Alexandria Archive + TANIS + Rabbits D&D/Actual Play: *! The Adventure Zone: Look. You know this one. An actual-play podcast that starts off slow and picks up really quickly. 80% comedy, 20% plot, and 100% amazing. Balance is the first campaign and is D&D and a mix of fantasy and sci-fi. *# Critical Role: I’ve been riding with this show for years now, but I haven’t actually listened to the podcast format of it! The show itself is fantastic though, so I’m still recommending it. Follow the in-progress D&D adventure of a bunch of great voice actors. Sorta the flip of TAZ, in that it’s like 80% plot and 20% comedy. Also 100% crying. Their first campaign is complete, and they’re currently partially through their second. # Godsfall: A pretty rules-heavy DND podcast. Really really well produced. # Friends At The Table: Not really far in enough to make much judgement! + Heroes and Halfwits + Tabletop Champions + Join the Party + Dames & Dragons + Bombarded + The Mortal Path + Dnduet + The Venture Maidens + The Broad Swords + Six Feats Under

Nonfiction: # Wonderful!: Happy and pure, Griffin and Rachel Mcelroy talk about things that make them happy. I enjoy listening to random episodes when I need a pick-me-up. # Oh No, Ross and Carrie!: Ross and Carrie go around and investigate different fringe science, paranormal, and spiritual things. They’re super fun to listen to! + The Worst Bestsellers + Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men + Mysterious Universe + Bunker Buddies + Imaginary Worlds + Conversations With People Who Hate Me + Dead Pilots Society + Harry Potter and the Sacred Text + Storybreak + Shmanners + Positiviteeny! + Still Buffering + The Supermega Podcast Comedy: *# My Brother, My Brother, and Me: Really good goofs and advice from the Mcelroy brothers. It’s so good. # Sawbones: Medical history with Sydnee and Justin Mcelroy! Sydnee is an actual doctor, so it’s a wonderful combo of dumb humor and really good information. # My Dad Wrote A Porno: Title kind of says it all. Very, very funny. + What Should We Draw? + Revisionist History + Hardcore History + More Perfect + Making a Podcast with Myself True Crime/Supernatural: *# My Favorite Murder: True crime and murder stories, as told by some very cool and funny ladies. They’re like my goth comedian moms. # Heaven’s Gate: A podcast about the cult Heaven’s Gate. Only 10 episodes, really interesting and well produced. # Lore: I listened to this forever ago and loved it! Really good paranormal and spooky stories. # And That’s Why We Drink: Em and Christine talk about the paranormal and true crime while getting drunk and chatting about their lives! They have a great dynamic and it’s just a fun comfy show to listen to. + Judge John Hodgman +Spirits + Blurry Photos + Expanded Perspectives + Wine and Crime + Cabinet of Curiosities Journalism:

*# 99% Invisible: Beautifully written and edited journalism about design and life. I love the hell out of this podcast. *# Reply All: Journalism and weird stories about technology and the different ways it affects us. I highly recommend listening to episode #102 and #103, Long Distance, if you want an incredibly interesting story about spam callers and trying to hunt them down. # Ear Hustle: Stories about the life of prisoners, made by a prisoner! Really interesting journalism. # Setting the Record Queer: A queer interview show. Pretty new but really fun! # Twenty Thousand Hertz: A podcast about sound design and things relating to it. Very well produced and interesting. + Family Ghosts + Ologies

[k-liight]

finally doing some stuff for OCs I never do anything with oop XD" here's the full cast lineup for my story Viki, which is one of my oldest stories that I still plan to do something with, lol. (they've been around even before I started teaching myself how to draw!) these guys have been through a LOT of redesigns over the years, but I'm pretty satisfied with these designs. I changed the plot a bit to make it more of a sci-fi story, but a lot of the the original themes still stand X3 and now I'm gonna ramble about the characters and the story like I always do lol

   the story starts with Steve Emmerson and Julia Sezmachek, a young couple whose relationship was like that in a fairy-tale. ask anyone who knew them, and they'd say that no two souls had never been more in love. Julia was young and sweet and beautiful, like a Disney princess, and Steve was her chivalrous Prince Charming who would do anything for his princess. their wedding was one of the happiest days of their lives, and when they one day found out Julia was pregnant, they were overjoyed. the majority of Julia's pregnancy was stable and healthy as the happy couple eagerly expected a beautiful baby girl.    but such happiness could never last forever. while Julia planned on being a stay-at-home mother and letting Steve earn money as a doctor, she was also an insanely curious woman, so it was only a matter of time before she found out of Steve's connections with scientists whose work did not follow basic safety codes. in her curiosity, she stumbled upon the lab of one of her husband's friends, where she had an accident just days before her due date. no one knows exactly what happened in that lab. but when Steve suddenly heard screaming from the lab and frantically rushed over to the scene, his wife was on the floor, in pain, strange chemicals scattered all around her, and her water had just broke. there was no time to investigate what happened as Steve frantically rushed Julia to the hospital to deliver their baby. and when they arrived, it didn't take the doctors long to realize that the baby Julia was giving birth to was much, much different from what they saw in the sonograms. one emergency c-section later, and Julia had given birth to a monster.    18 years later, Viktoria Emmerson, more commonly known as simply Viki, wonders what her life would have been like if her parents hadn't been so horrified of her monstrous form that they gave her up to a literally underground research facility. like her mother, Viki is very curious and sweet-natured, but she can be rather temperamental, and her feral instincts make it hard for her to control her emotions. she longs to explore the outside world, and Dr Jacinda Calleron, the woman who more or less raised Viki as her own daughter, also wishes the young mutant could have some freedom, but she knows that Viki would never be entirely safe out there. standing at 6'9" without even counting her horns or her ears, well over 200 pounds of muscle, and freakishly mutated, Viki is far too fearsome in appearance for her to be seen by just anyone. she also has immense physical strength and sharpened senses, something Dr Chad Ingrid likes to take advantage of. you see, the facility Viki has been raised in is no more ethical in nature than the scientists Steve used to work with, and Dr Ingrid has ran countless cruel experiments on poor Viki to help him create his own "supplements". Dr Calleron has never approved of any of the experiments Viki suffered through in her life, and if it weren't for her, the mutant's existence would be much more bleak, but Dr Calleron has gifted her with many things to enrich Viki's life. thanks to her, Viki was able to learn many artistic skills and research whatever subject she wanted. because of this, she is quite book-smart and very musically talented, but socially naive. Viki feels like it's her fault that Jacinda and Chad are forced to work together even though they don't get along in the slightest, and when they get into a huge fight, Viki disguises herself and finally escapes from the research facility that night.        Viki bravely manages to hitch herself onto a moving train in the middle of the night and rides it until she comes up to a small Texan town that morning. that's where she meets the Danlane family-- parents Hank and Denalia, siblings Dinah, Ralphie, and Ben, and their Great Pyrenees dog Snowstorm. they're pretty well-known in the area for their goofy yet friendly nature, and Hank is something of a local celebrity due to his job as a rodeo clown. as a running gag, his face is never shown without clown makeup. his Romani wife Denalia was a dancer in her youth, but now makes good money as an electrician. perhaps that's where their daughter Dinah got her intelligence from-- she's currently in college for engineering and is already great and building and fixing mechanical things! her love for greasy workshops and working with power-tools doesn't stop her from being a girly-girl at heart though X3 meanwhile Ralphie is likely the biggest dork in town, but he's great at making people laugh. in fact, he aims to become a stand-up comedian one day! and young Ben is rather innocent and kinda spacey, but his positive nature is contagious. he's very physically agile and can dance like his mother, but he's also a skilled tree-climber, to the point where people affectionately compare him to a monkey. Viki is immediately attracted to him and quickly falls in love with Ben. and Snowstorm is your typical pooch who has NO clue how huge he is and frequently crushes poor smol Ben by sitting in his lap, but he can't possibly be mad at THAT face X3 they're the first people to befriend Viki and even offer to let her stay with them, and when they accidentally see her without her disguise, they don't shun her for her monstrous appearance and accept her. and for the first time ever, Viki feels truly happy.    Viki also meets three aspiring rockers-- Zeke Choi is a smooth, confident metal guitarist and Dinah's boyfriend. Celia Choi, Zeke's twin sister and Ralphie's girlfriend, is generally very soft-spoken, but don't let that fool you-- this girl can SCREAM! she prefers to take the backseat as a bassist, though. and Penny Hamilton is an eccentric drummer who used to date Ben before realizing her true identity as a lesbian. to this day, they're best friends. the three of them needed a singer to complete their rock band, so when they discover Viki has a beautiful voice, they know they found their frontwoman~    it's not all fun and games after Viki runs away from the facility though, as Dr Ingrid is in pursuit to get her back and Viki has to protect her friends as well as come to terms with her mommy and daddy issues. but perhaps she needs to learn how to accept herself before she can do any of that...

[jaegertango]

WoW: Noire

I had this idea that I wanted to experiment with, because it sounded kinda neat. I wanted to write a story that was done in a narrative-style similar to how those noire comics were done in. The problem with it is that those comics at least offer pictures to set a cool atmosphere in, and the narrative sets the overall mood. Still, I wanted to give it a try, and I think it came out kinda cool, even if it’s dialogue-heavy and not much of a story.

So here’s this thing, it’s a lot different from my usual stuff so it might not be as good.

           There ain't no room in this city for heroes. Not anymore.

           Underyork's been a shithole for years. It's probably always been like this; I can't remember the time anyone's said anything 'bout “the good 'ol days of Underyork.” If they're there, the people around for it are all dead. All that's left are the murderers, the swindlers, the murder-swindlers, and the lawyers. Only way to survive in this place is to be one of those four, or learn that the last is no different from the rest. There ain't no room in this city for heroes, and the ones calling themselves that are lying to themselves.

           My name is Rasputen Tarsalai. And my job's to find the liars.

           I don't make an easy living. Sure, I could just blast my way into fortune with my friends Smith and Wesson, but I didn't want to be like every two-bit bastard calling themselves a detective. They're like roaches in this city – detectives for killings, detectives for love, detectives for metal; you can't walk two feet in Underyork without tripping on some stiff's card. Me, I keep my class. I don't draw attention unless I need it, and I ask the questions that matter, not that ones people wanna hear. All it's gotten me so far is this shitty office space on the corner of Rogue and Quarter, and a constant fucking headache.

           Until that dame came in.

           That's what she was. Sensual, graceful, like brandy gliding on ice. Only a dame moves like that – no broad or whore could smile like that at me. She had blonde hair like platinum gold, and wore a black dress darker than gunpowder. Even the blood on her face, splattered across her cheeks like ruby red lipstick, was more intimate than a lover's kiss. It was all I needed to pay attention to her.

           “I hear you can find people, Mister Tarsalai” she spoke as breathlessly as I was. She was dangerous – and I liked that.

           “I can. Is there a reason I should?” I spoke back, offering her a glass. She refused – I knew she would. Nobody with half a brain in their skull would ever take a drink from a stranger.

           “I've got two thousand right now – and eight thousand for later,” the dame charmed, and I could see a flash in those bright blue eyes. Those were a killer's eyes, no mistaking them. This wasn't personal enough for her to do the job herself.

           “Looking for a hubby or somethin'?”

           “Oh no no, let's call it a... misunderstanding between friends,” she replied like silk, and I was following along like the needle. “Maudy was a man I've had my eyes on for some time. Truly a man befitting of many gazes. A shame that he died.”

           “I'm... sorry?”

           “Don't be darling, I was the one who wanted him dead – and that was taken from me,” her voice returned, and I shot back my whiskey. I needed the edge to keep back the shivers. This dame was getting more and more poisonous by the second – and I was getting drawn in like a mosquito to fire.

           “You got any clues?” I growl back, knowing better than to try and shut down a job that already had payment on the table. The only thing worse than picking up a dead-end job is refusing one that's already confirmed.

           “I know Maudy used to always spend all day at the Crow and Cross, maybe that helps you?”

           The Crow and Cross. Typical – he was a fuckin' lowlife. No wonder she wanted him dead.

           “All I need, sweetheart. So what do I call you when I come back for the rest?” I spoke, snatching at my first fee before the dame could get her fingers back.

           “Well Mister Tarsalai, you can call me... Kitten.”

           Kitten. Whew. I needed to get out of there before the lamp or I blew a fuse.

           If Underyork's good for anything, it's a decent walk – so long as you knew how to. A lot of people have forgotten how – you'd think they wouldn't, but then they end up in the wrong alley, and then later in twenty difference pieces on the market. It's all about reading the environment, and blending in. Keep your coat closed, your hands in your pockets, and your eyes straight ahead – if you know how to walk, you don't need anything else to look around. Not like Underyork itself is much to look at. There's rubbish thrown everywhere, roaches are always in the street, and you're having a lucky day if you pass by someone in this hazy daylight. Funny, how in a city of thousands, it's rare to see another soul not slinking in the shadows. Either you live well enough to enjoy the smog of Underyork, or you struggle to live in the alleys like all the other dogs.

           And the Crow and Cross is a haven for those mongrels.

           It didn't take long to find that tavern. It's a sleazy little pile of brick and broken glass that should've gotten bulldozed years ago, but even the tractors don't wanna dirty up their tracks with that toilet of a bar. Trash attracts trash, and this place prides itself on being the biggest magnet there is. 'Course, it's because of that reputation that it's also the most lawful place in Underyork – for what that's worth anyway. Thief's honor is about as trustworthy as a rubber bullet, but that's still more trustworthy than anything else.

           When I opened the door, it looked exactly the same as I last saw it – a fucking mess. Cretins and bastards on all sides, playing their cards or nursing their drinks. I can feel their eyes on me the instant I walk in – they know who I am, and they know I don't belong here. I'm not stupid enough to come in alone though, I always bring my friends with me wherever I go. They know that too, or else I'd be gutted for my liver by now. There's only one person who's not looking at me when I walk in, but I only need to see the back of his stupid goddamn head to know exactly who it is.

           And I know that he'll be my best shot at figuring this dame's rival out.

           “Shouldn't a bleedin’ shitbird like you be outside crapping off the roof?” I call to that goofy red undercut, and he responded immediately. That thin little face, so enraged until he sees it's me – then he relaxes and smiles, like nothing's wrong. Otis “B.” Fucking Aderry – full name. Nobody knows what that “B” stands for, besides me. Pah, bastard – a cowardly little goblin like him suits the name of this bar.

           “Shouldn't a dogfucker like you be kissing up to the hair of it again, you sad drunk?” he scoffs, expecting me to react. I don't. I'm not here to repaint the Crow and Cross with his intestines – I'm here for information, and I know he has it.

           “You hang around here a lot, Aderry. It suits a bastard like you. Happen to know a guy named Maudy?”

           “Hmf, I know a lotta guys, dogfucker. Maybe you can refresh my memory, huh?” he spits back, and he grins those yellow, jagged teeth at me as he rubs his fingers together. Otis is nothing more than a rat among wolves, not enough meat to even consider eating. But just like the rat he is, he's got his paws in everyone's shit, and nobody wants to bite a shit-covered rat. There's only one way to deal with them.

           “Try not to spend it on that crappy wine of yours,” I say as I toss a roll of the bills at him. Now the bar knows he's got cash – he'll have to fight to keep it on him, and he knows the only thing standing between him and a junkie starving for his next fix is me. I can see it in his posture – he's excited, but now he's in the spotlight. He needs to give me just enough of what I want and scuttle out, or he won't have that cash for long.

           “O~h yeah, I think I remember a guy like that. Tall, big, fancy-clothes, Aquarius?” He snickered after he took a long whiff of the cash. “He your type?”

           “He's dead, so now he's your type,” I growl back, keeping my eyes on his hands. I don't need him trying to make a quick getaway. “I want to know who killed him.”

           “If I'm telling you, you didn't hear it from me, dogfucker,” Otis murmured seriously, stuffing the roll into his vest and smoothing that stupid undercut of his back. “I got enough people wanting me dead.”

           “You don't tell me who it is, they won't have to wait much longer.”

           “Fine! His name is Haarithur Yedelryn – he freelights as one of those shitty bluebloods, but he's as filthy as the rest of us,” Otis grinned widely, picking at his teeth. He thinks I can't see the way his weaselly little face scrunches up when he lies “You got your name, now leave me alone.”

           “You can't lie for shit, Aderry,” I chuckle, and I can't help but smile at his horrified reaction. I take another step closer to him, and when he backs up a bit closer to the bar, the other patrons look over curiously as well. They know I can't just kill him so easily – but there wasn't anything against bloodying him up a bit. Which only made getting the money from him that much nicer...

           “Alright fine! So it wasn't some damn blueblood – that was too good for 'ol Maudy! No, you think one guy got him? Pfeh!” Otis spat in the bar, looking disgusted, which had to say a lot for how he already looked. “Only way any of us recognized him was one of his arms – still had his signet ring on. Betcha whoever's got the matching one knows what happened to him~!”

           “You happen to have the other ring still?” I ask, but I already know the answer. I had to ask though – it was the only way I could get that slimy cretin to confess.

           “You think I would? First-come, first-sell babe! The Legion’s signet always gets good cash!” Otis snickered, waving me off knowing I didn’t have anything else to ask him. It would have been worth the stab wounds to beat that sick grin off of his face, but I still had a job to do. Knowing this case, it wouldn’t be the last time I see his shitty mug again.

           “Try not to drown in that bottle, shitbird,” was the last thing I spoke to him before I finally got to get out of that mess of a bar.

           It was a dead-end, but it was just enough to go on. That dame, that Kitten, never decided to mention that Maudy was part of the Legion family. Everyone’s got a family in Underyork, but they’d sell their own mothers out to be a part of the Legion. There’s money, there’s power, and there’s security in being part of the Legion – but it wasn’t easy to get into, or get out of. Once you were in, you were in – and a bodybag wasn’t enough to get you back out. The Legion protected their own, but they also used them ‘til there wasn’t anything else they could bring back to life. No detective would be stupid enough to sneak around Legion territory, especially on a hit like this. Suddenly I knew why this dame didn’t want to risk her neck so broadly – one wrong move, and the whole family would be after me too.

           Turns out I’d already made one.

           I knew I was being followed. Knowing how to walk in Underyork means knowing you’re not truly ever alone – and also knowing when something’s about to go down. I could practically smell it amongst the smog and rain; bloodthirst. Somebody wanted me dead, and I had a good idea why that was. There was no need to go back to my office just to bloody it up – not when the streets are filthy enough I could make some extra mess there.

           “Let’s just cut the bullshit lads,” I stop and call out, turning around. Sure enough, even though the streets behind me are empty, I could choke on the tension heavy in the air. They’re worried – they expected me to find an eventual alleyway on my way back. But now that I’m calling them out, they have to either kill me now on the streets, or risk their pride getting stepped on. Ruining someone’s professionalism is what I live for.

           I wait an entire four seconds. I know it’s only a matter of time. No Legion hitmen could stomach someone taunting their jobs. My hands hover by my coat. I know I’ll move faster; they’d have to get behind me to-

           I whip around myself, backhanding the sneaky fuck about to ambush me. His mask warbles, and his cloaking device shimmers in defeat. I can see the outstretched cloth in his hands: chloroform. They wanted me alive, and that was their biggest mistake. Obviously they had questions for me, but I couldn’t care less about talking to them. It was time to introduce them to my two friends.

           Both of my friends have been hungering for some warmup time. Of course, when you feed them nine-millimeter slugs all day, of course they’d love nothing more than to vomit them out at full force. I rocket three shots at my closest assailant, but only one of them nails him in the leg. The blood spray is all I need to know he’s wounded – and the steady barrage of shots firing my way signaled there was more than just him. I duck behind a truck, but the bullets don’t stop. Whatever firepower they brought beat out my Smith and Wesson. I’d have to guess a P90 – that staccato tapdance of gunpowder was both violent and long-lived. But I also knew I had an opening when the bullets suddenly halted, and I took my chance.

           I round the truck to get a proper shot – but there was someone in my way.

           People don’t help others in Underyork, that’s a rule of knowing how to walk. Those in trouble have to get out of their problems themselves, or else they’ll drag everything down with ‘em. But there that other guy was, that brute of a man closing the distance with those loud, thundering gunshots. Shotgun blasts; judging by how fast he’s pumping those bad boys out, I’d say a Spas-12. Whoever he is, he was distracting those bastards from gunning me down. So I went to find the first of my would-be killers.

           I can see the blood trail leaking on the ground. The fact he didn’t try to jump me after getting shot is proof of how amateur my ambusher is. Pain had him conflicted, and now I was the hunter. Even with his cloaking device, I can practically smell his fear. He’s close – and soon about to be dead. I look over to the side of the street, where I could see the blood abruptly veer off to the left in a smear. I grin – and then fire a round to the right. The sidewalk erupts suddenly with blood and brain, a black-tressed figure appearing from nothingness with a giant hole in the middle of his breathing mask. Trying to fool me with a fake bloody trail – a nice try, but not good enough. As he struggles lamely for life that won’t come, I don’t hurry his death for him; there are more important things than his mercy. I look back to the man who helped me, and I need only to see his face to groan.

           “You know you’re being ratted out for killing Maudy?” I snort, glaring at the man with his smoking shotgun.

           “Ironic – I’m looking for the ones that actually DID kill him,” Haarithur Yedelryn growls at me. He may be the only blueblood in this city worth a damn, but he’s still a blueblood. Being connected to any of the police force is as dangerous as having bonds with any of the families in Underyork, but Haarithur’s come through for me several times.

           “You know he’s Legion, right?” I question him, setting aside my friends so that I could better talk.

           “It’s why I’m here Tarsalai. The whole family is up in arms,” the blueblood grumbled, setting aside his shotgun as well.

           “Over one of their brothers dying? They kill their own bloody lot all the time,” I ask curiously, now more interested.

           “Not quite. Maudy was ripped apart by someone outside the family by the looks of it – and even they don’t know who did it.”

           The image of Kitten’s bloody face ran through my mind. I knew the dame was dangerous, but suddenly she seemed even more threatening. Inter-family betrayal getting out to the commonfolk was bad – there was going to be far more blood in the future, and that might be too good for business. I look towards the corpses that Haarithur had blown up in the streets, and I know they’ll only send more.

           “I’m looking for the right half of one of their signet rings – happen to find anything?”

           “How about this Tarsalai – share what you got with me, and I’ll share what I know. Like old times, egh?” Haarithur grinned, and even with that handsome look of his, I still leer at him. Bastard – there’s always an angle he’s working. I don’t know why he insists on breaking the rules of Underyork as a blueblood, but working together was sacrilege. Still, he had information I wanted, and I only had just a bit to offer – it was a win for me in the end.

           “Fine – like old bloody times. Let’s head back to my office,” I grumble, knowing this was only the beginning to yet another headache of a case.

           There ain’t no room in this city for heroes. What it needs is less-evil villains like us.