#Iron Fist Velvet Glove

[lowkeyed1]

Chapter 12 is up! Jade is struggling to bring Graydon and Airk home safe, as the rescue party sets out from Tir Asleen in search of them…

Chapters: 12/? Fandom: Willow (TV 2022) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kit Tanthalos/Graydon Hastur, Jade Claymore/Kit Tanthalos, Kit Tanthalos/Graydon Hastur/Jade Claymore, Thraxus Boorman/Graydon Hastur, Jade Claymore/Graydon Hastur, Graydon Hastur/Airk Tanthalos, Kit Tanthalos/Thraxus Boorman Characters: Kit Tanthalos, Graydon Hastur, Airk Tanthalos, Sorsha (Willow), Jade Claymore, Thraxus Boorman, Elora Danan (Willow), Zivian Hastur Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Trans!Graydon, Arranged Marriage, First Time, Smutfest Submission, Trans Male Character, Strap-Ons, Edging, Light BDSM, Threesome, Actual plot, Sexual Coercion, Mildly Dubious Consent, Non-Consensual Voyeurism, those last three only come up over 3 chapters and are mentioned in the opening notes, Polyamory Summary: The Gales never came to Tir Asleen, and Kit and Graydon's marriage went ahead as scheduled. How do they cope with this arrangement, especially after Graydon reveals a secret?

[empirelead]

she is stubborn , but she is no fool // kuvira edit ( 2 / ? )

[patternwelded-quill]

I'll shoot one back at you for STS---if your books were made into a movie, what would be on the soundtrack? What song plays for the intro, the climax, the end credits, etc?

Hope you have a lovely day also <3

My fantasy stuff would be epic early 2000s orchestral type stuff: Gladiator, LoTR, etc. Growing up on the old sword and sorcery stuff because that's what I had access to has instilled an aesthetic of big sweeping scores with brass and drums and rawr.

The scifi trilogy however, I'd love to get some power metal like Beast in Black. I can see parts of the climactic Siege of Hlóðyn having their titular song 'Beast in Black.' Maybe credits out the series to 'Die by the Blade.' I don't know about the trilogy by the prequel about the Borderwatch Rebellions feels suitable for 'Cry Out for a Hero.' Even if the MC's female and the song gendered male, lol.

[empirelead-a]

[nameless-brand]

Explosions still going off through the night including an elementary school. Again, no casualties. I suppose that elementary school is probably to prove to everyone that there are stakes. Many of the reported explosions involved the industrial complex; I'm not exactly sure what sort of game Riddler is playing. Do the explosions mean Batman lost? Or is it a deathtrap that Batman escaped? On the daytime broadcasts, the rare Live ones, he doesn't seem like he's losing - he's just getting more excited and smug.

In any case, people are afraid to go out, even during the day as they're concerned that the supervillain would decide that his game with Batman would be better played with the general public.

Anyway, onto Riddler's "advertisements" of people and companies who haven't paid him.

So Riddler's reveals include Ace Chemicals, which is now under investigation due to the manufacturing of Agent J2123, colloquially known as Joker gas. Ace Chemicals denies the allegations, stating that if someone were manufacturing the gas inside the company, they don't know about it - which most people are taking as admission. Their stock is tanking. I'll probably grab some once I feel public opinion is distracted by another big reveal.

Simon Stagg, the philantrophist, also is under investigation for the number of deceased animals, chimpanzees mostly, in its attempt to develop air inoculation technology. Part of the revelation from Riddler is that he's paid a good amount of money to Gotham's politicos to suppress that information. There's even a money trail. Obviously, Stagg says everything is lies, but given what's been revealed already, it's hard to believe him.

And, Gotham Zoo employees and its animals, well - the deeds probably shouldn't be repeated in a public venue.

---

Also, I'm playing damage control myself. I had recently acquired a real estate company - the ones that wrecked Chi's orphanage several years ago and forced her out onto the streets. Apparently, they've been doing some pretty shady things to the rent-controlled tenants like forcing them out with very bad conditions or loopholes in favor of people who can pay more.

Luckily, their behavior doesn't reflect on me since I barely acquired it 2-3 months ago, and I could probably twist it into good PR for me. But the fact I didn't know that the Riddler had sent me a "blackmail note" means I still have bad eggs in that real estate company, particularly the IT department or maybe the mostly-broken-up Board of Directors.

I already figured that though. That particularly company has never felt like Mine anyway. I should've gutted the entire thing from the start and replace everyone who isn't trustworthy. This really just gives me the excuse to do so.

[dekaydk]

God, some people are insufferable.

you said pratchett wouldn't have wanted a second season did you conveniently forget this fact when amazon offered you money or

Terry's orders were to finish the story of Good Omens through to the end, which meant the sequel we had plotted. That was what I agreed to do when I signed on.

And I make much so more money as a novelist than I do as a showrunner or writing scripts. I'm really looking forward to wrapping this up and getting back to being Neil the author again.

[pinkiemme]

Iron fist in a velvet glove

[eyugho]

I wanted to draw fanart of the fic "Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove" by pilotfive! It was so good. The idea of both Harry and Kim in suits could not get out of my mind.

[helslastangel]

How you speak according to your mercury sign 🗣🙉

Pt. 1: Earth 🌎

@helslastangel

Mercury in Virgo ♍️ 💃🏽

You speak at an even pace, not too fast, not too slow. You come off as knowledgeable, but not arrogant. You may be soft-spoken or simply have a voice that is easy to listen to, though not necessarily distinct or memorable. Can discus anything but will be most enthusiastic abs emotive over preferred topics.

Mercury in Taurus ♉️ 🐂

You speak rather slowly but not so slow that others feel bored. Your voice may be on the deeper side or have a mature quality to it. You can talk about the same things over and over for years. Others don't really mind because you're nice to listen to and sound very sure of your words.

Mercury in Capricorn ♑️ 🐐

You speak in a very interesting way, softly yet firmly at the same time. Iron fist in a velvet glove. That's your style. You make have a voice that is surprisingly soft or high-pitched, yet authoritative and people move or act when you say something. Like Taurus, you can go on about the same topics for an eternity, but people will listen because they'd rather not risk interrupting.

[lowkeyed1]

After Graydon’s initial rush of tears subsided, Kit came forward and hugged him from behind, sandwiching him between her and Boorman. She looked up, mouth twisting in a wry smile as she noted the tears standing in Boorman’s eyes. He really did care. She sighed and leaned in, reaching around Graydon to offer Boorman a reassuring pat as well. She still hated sharing just on principle, but… -from the upcoming chapter 13 of Velvet Fist, Iron Glove, my incredibly polyamorous willow 2022 fic

This week’s word is…

✨ HUG ✨

Find the word in any WIP and share the sentence containing it. Reply, reblog, stick it in the tags, tag us in a new post, or keep it private. All fandoms, all ships, all writers welcome.

[aeli-tan-art]

🎶Nothing fucks with my baby

Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing🎶

Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove

[lowkeyed1]

tagged by: @ankahikoibaat tagging: @blackdalek @greyheadedjaco @jaimebluesq @celamity rules: you will be given a word. then you share one sentence/excerpt from your wip(s) that starts with each letter of your word! the word is NOTICE (geez SIX letters? probably gonna have to dip into a few different wips for this i think XD) N Not to mention magic lessons and sword practice, and diplomatic meet and greets… Everyone barely had time to eat and sleep, never mind steal a kiss (or more). -from the upcoming ch 6 of 10 things i forget about you O “Oh, it’s real!” Boorman said. “...Although I gotta admit last time I managed it, it was with a young Nelwyn lass.” -from the upcoming ch 6 of 10 things i forget about you T The rest of the weekend was awkward, after that. Kit didn’t leave her room unless she was one hundred percent sure Graydon was in his. He cooked dinner; she didn’t come out. He left her a plate in the fridge; she ate it after he went to bed, and then did the dishes. She’d like to scoff and say she didn’t feel bad about anything but… doing housework? Without even being asked? Clearly something wasn’t right. -from the upcoming ch 2 of a kiss to build a dream on I "If they’ve been running with a string of horses, they may have cut that lead considerably. We need to go.” -from the upcoming ch 13 of Velvet Fist, Iron Glove C Confounded, Elora frowned. "Airk! We're engaged, doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"My dove, of course it does!" He slid closer, taking her hand. "It means I love you with all my heart and I want to spend the rest of my life with you!"

Elora smiled, her face radiant.

"But I'd also like to get some dick."

Elora stopped smiling. -from an as-yet-untitled Airklora+ fic E Elora huddled over the fire, preparing a stew. She seemed content to let Airk think that was why they’d let her come, for now. -from the upcoming ch 13 of Velvet Fist, Iron Glove

----- gamers, your word is FANCY feel free to play along even if i didn't tag you, i love seeing what people are working on <3

[empirelead]

DOSSIER CHEAT SHEET

LEGAL NAME : Kuvira NICKNAME[S] : The Great Uniter, though it's more of a title than a nickname. DATE OF BIRTH : 145 AG; I do headcanon her birthday to be on January 15, or whatever is the equalivent Avatar version of that date. She's a Capricorn Sun, Virgo Moon, and Aries Rising for sure. GENDER : Female PLACE OF BIRTH : Earth Kingdom; unnamed village CURRENTLY LIVING : Republic City's Prison, remember, I don't follow some decisions that were made for the writing of ROTE. Rather than being house arrested, she's currently serving time behind bars. By her own choice. SPOKEN LANGUAGES : Cantonese, which I imagined to be spoken mostly in the Southern regions of the Earth Kingdom where I imagined that to be her place of birth. Though, she did learn how to fluent Mandarin overtime during her time living with the Beifongs. EDUCATION : Homeschooled by Baatar Senior who taught her math, science, reading, and writing, but she didn't really picked up math and science as well as she did with language art and history. Most of her attention, however, was mostly focused on her earth/metalbending training and she wound up being quite fond of the world of art after becoming a professional dancer. HAIR COLOR : Black EYE COLOR : Green HEIGHT : 5'7 WEIGHT : 140

FAMILY INFORMATION

SIBLING[S] : None PARENT[S] : Unnamed mother, unnamed father; current whereabouts are unknown. RELATIVE[S] : Unknown CHILDREN : None, but she and Baatar did talked about having kids. It wasn't something they were in a hurry of having since their lives were once so busy, of course, that reality is no longer within reach. How unfortunate. They already thought of names. PET[S] : None

RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION

SEXUAL ORIENTATION : Bisexual RELATIONSHIP STATUS : Single SINCE WHEN : The past few months. She doesn't really know, she and Baatar have been together for so long to the point where she sometime forgets they're no longer together. It's a new reality still getting some use to since Baatar is the only person she can truly confide in, someone who'd been by her side until she betrayed him.

tagged by: @mpiremoff (thanks~) tagging: @redridcr, @merveiilles, @celestieu, @batinstincts, @torntruth, @castshed, @veroxins, annnnnnnnd anyone who wanna do this~

[marknee]

bts fanfics i think shakespeare would plagiarise the absolute shit out of.

chapter iii. ✷ chapter v.

KEYS ON SEVERITY OF SHAKESPEARE’S STATE:

( ✮ ) — the bastard needs to find better hiding places to ‘secretly’ plagiarise. the tavern, really?

( ♬ ) — notes were found in the trunk by the foot of his bed. not the sharpest quill in the pot, i’ll say. 

( ✎ ) — word on the street is he’s been arranging a performance at the globe theatre next week.

( ♛ ) — why is this play being taught as part of the british exam curriculum? he didn’t even write it!

THE SHAKESPEARE SERIES.

WARNING: keep in mind, some of these authors are very strict on the rule that no minors should read their work if they’re underage, and i will honour that. but, at the end of the day, i am not your parent. so, there’s that. but heed my warning wisely. any smut or 18+ content is highlighted in bold.

NOTE: dear readers, welcome to phase two. did you miss me? it’s been a long time coming, i assure you, so i’m glad to finally get the ball rolling on the next few chapters of incredible stories. my quill has been neatly sharpened, so are you ready?

⠀

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( ♬ ) KEYNOTE — by @missgeniality

!! hoseok x reader | 18.5k !!

strangers to lovers, non-idol!au, smut, slight fluff.

dear reader, after some time away having finished phase one of this series, i happened to unwillingly stumble across some newfound knowledge of shakespeare, which enlightened all that i knew of. unbeknownst to me, shakespeare did write about sexual endeavours within his plays. exhibit a: “but i might see cupid’s fiery shaft, quenched in the chaste beams of the watery moon.” a midsummer night’s dream, act iii, scene i.

but, did shakespeare write: “a gruelling war between your self-respect and lascivious yearning, a war waged for way too long - the fact that you're even thinking about it, your self-respect has to give in to your desires.” indeed not.

effectively, this story doesn’t grant you time to settle in. if anything, you have all but one option when diving in to the sharks: to surrender, allowing yourself to be thrown into the deep end - to a dark predator, who from that moment, sits at the table he’s created within your mind, body and soul, and feasts on every last ounce of sanity you thought existed.

truthfully, what could say it better than: “metal could melt under his scrutiny — you’re nothing but a mere mortal.”

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( ♛ ) ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR — by @faryn_rose (ao3)

!! seokjin x reader, jungkook x reader | 48.4k !!

historical!au, violence, drama & romance.

“no, you decided. monsters did not spare people's feelings.”

there are those who fall under the supposition of being an iron fist in a velvet glove, and there are those who persist it. if anything, i argue a third exist: those who prove themselves neither.

throughout this story, it appeared two emotions were consistent in their approach of lurking within its entirety - heartbreak and betrayal. after all, people find themselves doing wild things in the name of love. in the battle between two men, both equal in their share of time on the battlefield, to win the precious heart of the reader, it provokes the question: who do you choose? the proud general willing to die for you, or the gentle chief who vows to keep you safe? certainly a tough choice.

the title is seemingly a perfect choice for this exhilarating fifty-thousand-word story. for the loser is left wondering whether the fight was worth the struggle.

not mentioning the loss of pride knowing their attempts were, in fact, faulty.

but, as said, all’s fair in love and war.

“he treated me like i mattered, like i had power in this world. and i decided that i couldn’t let someone like that go.”

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( ✎ ) 1999 — by @tattookoo

!! campus royalty!jungkook x reader | 17.9k !!

90s!au, college au, hockey!au, fake dating, smut.

“kook, it’s really not hard to pretend to be into you. you’re very easy to love.”

with an unruly raven-haired rake with devastating dimples as the love interest, i am fully subscribed to the belief this utterance lies true. if anything, you’d be a fool to not swoon over this dashing playboy of the 90s.

this story hones into the idea of fake dating for the sake of rebuilding a reputation. but, as it seems, nobody’s fate truly rests in their own hands.

as we know - or will come to in time - a real relationship requires more of something that a fake perhaps less so: vulnerability. true, it carries the burden, yet it leaves space for commitment to linger, though as a visitor, and not as a resident. it seems commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.

the author does an incredible job of bringing every aspect of being exposed to the susceptibility of love, and that is what earned itself a place in my series.

yet, why is it we continue to delve into stories like these? well, for the greatest adventure we humans can ever go on: to run the risk of rejection, and to be completely okay with it.

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( ♛ ) HOOKED — by @joopiterjoon (ao3)

!! namjoon x reader | 102k !!

friends with benefits, smut, angst, 18+.

typically, when tornado warnings siren, it’s our cue to turn tail and flee. so when tornado warnings siren within people, why is it we do not take initiative until the damage is done? even worse, what if they siren within ourselves? as we know, we cannot run from ourselves.

“i need to work on me with me." while this quote may appear ordinary, i fear its the most impactful, and arguably the most important, piece of dialogue in this story - the understanding that the only person who is going to fix you, is yourself. a tough pill to swallow - especially if you were shattered against your will - but one we must digest eventually.

shakespeare wouldn’t have a clue, regarding all his characters are broken beyond belief - and that, in most cases, ends up being their demise.

alternately, this story leaves you with two ending options. i shan’t tell you which is best, dear reader, as that choice belongs to you. but, a simple thing i like to remember:

“love is loss.”

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( ♛ ) HEARTBURN — by @jiminrings

!! jimin x reader | 41.7k !!

heavy angst, emotional infidelity, more angst.

“the ones we love have the power to inflict the greatest scars, for what thing is more fragile than the human heart.” i can’t remember for the life of me who said this, but dear lord, does it just hit the mark for this story.

to cheat is to lack integrity. which jimin palpably inherits. but, it seems in order to acquire agency, sometimes bad things have to be someone’s fault.

throughout this tripartite story, you witness the growth of each individual character - and perhaps the loss of parts, too. each has their depths, their faults, their beauty. nobody is left dry, and it truly brings the story together in a way that connects so well.

“guard your heart, y/n. let it be yours before you share it again.” i ask you, author, what provoked you to write such heart-rending words? and i ask you, dear readers, to bathe in the words i say next: your heart is yours before it is anybody else’s.

this story is not just about the destruction of a great trust, but about a birth of trust within yourself and what it means to wholeheartedly put yourself first - especially in desperate times when nobody else will do it for you.

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( ♬ ) TOLERATE IT — by @archivedkookie (ongoing)

!! taehyung x reader | 6k !!

heavy angst, one-sided love, forced marriage, smut.

“the worst way to love somebody’s to watch them love somebody else and it work out.” body better, maisie peters.

unrequited love is a killer. a crushing, sinking pain when your heart reaches the depths of your stomach, and it’s more common experience than one might think - especially between you and i.

whilst this story is still ongoing, i know i’m about to be completely swept off my feet. especially with leading quotes such as: “because before all this happened, you were his friend.”

this story feels familiar - the words familiar too. simply because i assure we’ve all been the the exact boat - the one floating upon stormy seas of rejection. we understand the readers pain, we sympathise with it, and we connect to it.

“not your love to be tolerated when you know you should be celebrated.”

we’re fools of love, that’s all we are. there’s no magic or defiance behind it.

and in the words of the perks of being a wallflower: “we accept the love we think we deserve.”

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( ✎ ) LEVEL OF RESTRAINT — by @lemonjoonah

!! jimin x namjoon x reader x taehyung | 13k !!

office!au, bdsm!au, 18+, thriller, smut.

“any position beneath you would suit me nicely.” why don’t you shut the fuck up?

now, tell me, at what point does one cross the thin line between obsession and possession? what are the defining factors, and when down that very same faded line, does one reach a great epiphany they’ve reached a place of no return? does ‘love’ not beg for sacrifice? does it?

setting the scene, with characters like these, it’s hard to not risk the fall of betrayal from the thrust of arguably non-consensual sexual situations, but i’ll let you be the judge of that. effectively, this story is one you have to experience for yourself, dear reader, in order to understand. there is only so much i can tell you- reveal, express, without running my mouth and ruining the whole plot line.

though, i shall leave you with one piece of advice. a thought for you to ponder on: pay attention.

and talk about jimin and namjoon being sex on legs all you want, but there is no denial this story has a deeper, more sinister verona.

lady macbeth said it herself: “look like th' innocent flower, / but be the serpent under't.”

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( ♬ ) WANT A TASTE? — by @suga-kookiemonster

!! yoongi x reader | 18.3k !!

friends to lovers, humour, shopping mall!au, smut.

"who are you, yoongi? what is your truth?” if there is something i can respect, should it be this line.

i believe there is a rich beauty in the small, gentle exchanges between strangers, to which ripen, transforming into the most special of connections between friends - and before long, between lovers. it’s a slow and steady process i’m sure, but i find those types of love are the most worthwhile. 

patience is, of course, dear reader, a virtue.

in my humble opinion, this story does nothing but breathe fun from its very core, encapsulating the sweet essence of excitement - of belonging - and burrowing itself around you like a warm blanket. that’s the sheer power of a writer - to familiarise the strange and mystify the familiar.

tell, aren’t you intrigued?

“all the time you've spent with him has already alerted you to the fact that his hard persona is all a front.”

took you long enough.

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( ♛ ) THE WEDDING ARRANGEMENT — by @sugaurora (ao3)

!! namjoon x black!reader | 44.2k !!

enemies with benefits to lovers, smut, romance.

“and maybe that's because it wasn't the kind of love you always expected, but something different that you hadn't fully let yourself accept.” if this were any other topic of matter, i would let wit take its course. however, as it is not, i am inept from doing so - rather i shall let your own imagination prove itself dominant, dear reader.

effectively, if there is anything this story has mastered, it’s the realisation that assumptions can erode any relationship, and inevitably are a fate we, the human race, continue to face and to fight.

“strangely, the first thing you thought of was home.” while i presume i join the line of overdue attendants to stumble across this indescribable romance, to say its definitely left its mark - perchance, more.

if you seek a delicious story to sink your teeth into, let this take the cake. besides, the story isn’t the only appetising option on the menu.

“you're a walking erotic novel cover, namjoon.”

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( ✮ ) FINAL SLEIGH — by @floralseokjin

!! seokjin x reader | 23.3k !!

office!au, rivals/enemies to lovers, smut.

in order to reach the beautiful rose nestled within its bush, you must first combat the prickly thorns to which ensure its survival by the name of protection. mind you, shakespeare never said that - i did. my quill is just as sharp it’s practically lethal.

the art of protection within humans, i say, is much different. it jumps out in strange forms, but each is just as valid as the other. which is what indefinitely makes this trope all the more interesting - especially in this story.

“feelings was a scary word, an uncertain word, but you thought you liked the way it made you feel.” arguably, if a pair are able to surmount this indescribable nine letter word, possibly even sit with the idea, then perhaps their journey marks itself a success. and that to me, is worth fighting for.

this story is a perfect mix between comedy and actuality, plenishing us of pure enjoyment while hooking us round the legs in the name of desire disguised. a perfect mask, indeed.

we’re all playing with fire. but if you don’t take that foolish risk, how’d you know you’d burn?

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( ✮ ) SIT. STAY. — by @daechwitatamic

!! seokjin x reader | 14k !!

neighbours!au, dog parent!au, smut.

“if you love somebody, let them go.” not to delve too deep into things, but baring in mind society’s self-destructive addiction to faster living, it poses the question whether “stay” within this context carries a much heavier weight than intended. asking someone to stick by you in a world which thrives on the act of haste, is a form of intimacy one may not throughly tread.

but understand this, dear readers, i do not miss anything.

the affinity within this story is one to point out. it’s so raw and genuine that it feels uncomfortably natural - to the point that freshly reading this felt like returning to an old friend your soul grew attached to in a past life, glad - and almost grateful - to encounter them once more.

“would you be better off telling him later, when things are settled, when you can tie up the story nice and neat?” oh, how you wound me. just so, the new in a relationship is a hard course to navigate, especially when it comes to our deepest shadows - perhaps it would be easier to stick a decorative bow over the cracks.

but then again, how else would light get in?

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( ♛ ) BLOOM — by @hobidreams

!! florist!namjoon x assassin!reader | 20.7k !!

smut, action, angst, opposites attract.

in the nature of life, it is normal for us to resist death. but in the nature of the world, in the end, death overwhelms life. but ‘tis not death itself we find ourselves afraid of, rather the possibility of it. “like how a child fears what might lay beyond a closet door, beneath a four-frame bed.”

even i fed the dark, hungry demon of that spiralling thought once.

within this captivating story, the two main characters of life and death coexist beside each other. neither try to dominate and drain the power of the other. they simply rest, side by side, together. while joon grows life through his plants, the reader strips that of what is so. to each to their own. the birth, and the destruction.

but, dear reader, does life beg the existence of death? or simply, is it the other way around? can death suffice without existence? “you can't seem to sleep… without the comfort that there's something growing, thriving in life just a few feet away.” …perhaps.

despite the pair being so different from one another, neither allow that defining characteristic the chance to ruin their dangerous, but very real connection. well… until the last petal falls.

but i shall let you discover that for yourself.

TAGLIST: @screamertannie @bebejungkook @taleasnewastime​

© marknee, 2023. all rights reserved.

[empirelead-a]

what shatter's you?

betrayal.

you are so tired of giving your trust away, only to have it thrown back in your face... your heart has been broken, again and again, by those you've mistakenly believed in. "perhaps this time will be different", you say. my dear, it won't. your heart is too gullible for the cruel world around you

tagged by: @leafageinthewind (thanks~) tagging: @guthalo​, @castshed​, @burdenedreverance​, @mpiremoff​, @veroxins​, @sekizuiken​, annnnd anyone who wanna do this~

[antebunny]

a cuckoo in the nest update

a plan, a snippet, and a question

plan is of course subject to change

no idea how long it will be

anyways, here's the snippet:

---

A seed of suspicion sprouts in the stake park. Someone whose name may or may not rhyme with Grick Dayson strong-arms Bruce into taking his family to the skate park nearest to their home in Bristol. Necessarily, the fae accompanies them. Bruce expected it to be on its best human-like behavior in public, but even he, paranoid bastard that he is, underestimates the cunning of the creature. Gone is the lost little boy act; in is the rascal preteen boy who hollers at his older brothers from the sidelines to do a kickflip.

Within minutes, the fae has acquired a skateboard. After a couple of wobbly attempts at using it, the fae progresses to attempting to drop in. If the fae were a human child, Bruce would strongly advise it to practice more before making an attempt. If the child were his kid, Bruce would insist on wearing kneepads and the like before stepping foot on another skateboard. 

As it is, Bruce is not even sure that the fae can be hurt in the same way as humans. Through his research and through the fae’s demonstration, Bruce has learned a little about how fae operate; namely, that they separate body from being. A fae can be hurt through incorporeal, intangible means that mean nothing to humans, such as using a “true name” and striking deals. Humans can break bargains, lie, and call each other names without anything resembling consequences. But is the reverse also true? Are fae immune to bullets and knives and all the weapons humanity has to offer? Bruce is quite certain that Tim–the particular fae forced upon him–has no idea.

“TIM!”

Speak of the devil. Bruce’s gaze instantly snaps to the bottom of the half-pipe. His eyes land on Tim’s skateboard, which sails away from him (it). The fae stays on its hands and knees as Jason and Dick pound over dirty concrete, flying over the railings and people to reach him first. Both hover as Tim pulls himself to his feet. 

“You okay?” Dick squats next to Tim. “Those knees look pretty banged up.”

But Tim’s attention isn’t on his skinned knees quickly welling with beads of blood or the boys by his side. His gaze stays trained on the runaway skateboard. “I used to be able to float,” he cries, and bursts into tears.

Jason pats him on the back. “Alright, calm down, Timmy’s Delivery Service. We’ll getcha back in the air in no time.”

“I don’t want to!” Tim shoves his hand away, perfectly emulating the preteen boy behavior it is pretending to be. “I’m not going to float, ever again. I’m gonna learn to skateboard.” And he marches all of two petulant steps away from Jason before he freezes and looks down at his knees. 

Like he’s surprised they hurt. 

Long after Dick cleans and patches up those cuts and bruises, Bruce’s eyes keep looking at Tim’s knees. The fae bled red just like any human and had not expected it. The fae wants to learn skateboarding and wants to leave behind the dreamlike ways of the fae. This fae–Tim–wants to be human. This fae has known nothing but the fae realm and the life of the Unseelie Court. An iron fist in a velvet glove, the rule of the Unseelie Queen. Perhaps, with time and exposure to Gotham, Tim now values the marvels of the human realm and wishes to join it? Is it possible they might turn against the Unseelie Queen?

How old is the fae?