#Lovesick //….prelude?

[abnormality-husbandry]

[ they are staring each other down. Why, why is it here. Nevertheless her timer ran out…it was. Shorter. Oh well that’s nothing to worry about, distracting from the roof bug she scowled…it was getting closer. She’d be fine this year right? Yeah…what did she even do the last few years…Gimel couldn’t remember. ]

“You I’ll deal with you later….I. Need to think”

[ the jester simply grinned at her, M flipping it off in response, leaning on a window she gazed outside…fishing a locket from under her shirt. It’s getting too close….she should stay in bed for awhile. Allow the girls to enjoy themselves. Hissing softly as the woman rubbed her temples. ]

[aziraphales-library]

Hi! I feel like in a lot of fics Crowley will casually flirt with Aziraphale (before they're together) making him flustered and i wondered if you knew of any fics where it's the opposite? Like where Aziraphale will casually just flirt with Crowley? I'd just like some confident Aziraphale and some flustered Crowley tbh. It could be any rating ^_^

Thanks in advance!!!

Hello. We have a plentiful #flustered crowley tag that you should check out for more fics like this. Here are some more to add to the collection...

Strawberry Meringues by heldtogetherwithstring (G)

Aziraphale and Crowley finally have their picnic, during which they discuss the invention of meringues and the discovery of honey. The St James Park duck population watches in approval, but neither they nor Crowley could have predicted what Aziraphale's next move would be. OR Aziraphale and Crowley have been pining for so long and Azirphale decides enough is enough.

Sunk On You by Ambra_Sue (T)

When Crowley had to bring his nephew Adam to swimming lessons, he didn't expect to sink quite so fast for the hot, blond swim teacher.

The Burning of Sulphur (Reminds me I'm Home) by Fizzy25 (T)

Crowley wonders if this is what he was made for. If he was made to only admire Aziraphale. If every moment in his life, the stars, the fall, the apple, was only a prelude to this singular moment. He wonders if there will never be anymore to them. Crowley hopes that he will be content with this. In which Crowley is a lovesick, touched-starved occult being who is too in love with Aziraphale to do anything but stare.

Ice to Meet You (Dutch Waltz Into My Heart) by BooknerdMiss (G)

Crowley takes (read: is dragged by) his nephew Warlock to a professional sporting event that he's less-than-thrilled about. Lucky for him, he gets to sit by an angel.

Extraordinary Amounts of Alcohol by AppleSeeds (T)

Crowley gets extremely drunk and stumbles into Aziraphale's bedroom, mistaking it for the bathroom. Crowley doesn't remember much of what happened or anything about his drunken confessions, but Aziraphale does... He just needs to work out whether Crowley really meant what he said or whether it was just alcohol-induced rambling, and what better way to find out than to see how Crowley responds to a bit of subtle, and slightly less than subtle, flirting?

at the airport terminal by bearwonder (E)

Crowley has worked the same soulless job for two decades, and he hasn't had anyone to talk to since his pet snake died a couple years ago. When Industrial Holdings (Holdings) PLC sends him to their annual conference in the US, he expects a week of mind-numbing boredom bookended by two torturous half-days spent in airplanes. But as fate would have it, an embarrassing mishap leads him to meet an unrelentingly positive flight attendant who smiles at him like he's a real human being, and makes him think that maybe, if he plays this right, he won’t have to die alone.

- Mod D

[therobotmonster]

So let's say you're out exploring...

Heading to some dungeon someplace, or just on a general quest, whatever gets you out into the subtropical forests. You come through a clearing, and suddenly you're face to face with an ogre.

Now, your first instinct upon seeing the shaggy, vaguely man-like giant with its gangly arms and mouth of fangs is going to be to draw steel on it. This is what is generally referred to as "a mistake."

An ogre's reach, strength and endurance far outclass your own, and they use makeshift clubs with frequency.

But most importantly, combat is rarely needed to deal with these creatures. Contrary to reputation, they rarely seek out meat, preferring fruits and soft plants. Nor are they enraged by joy and happiness, as many a fool bard prattles on about.

The open mouth smile is considered a threatening gesture to these creatures, as it is a prelude to combat between them. If encountering an ogre, it is best to slowly back away while making yourself as small and nonthreatening as you can, and do not look the beast in the eyes.

Ogres will rarely pursue a nonthreatening humanoid that is leaving their territory.

A pursed lip, 'kissing' expression appears to be a signal of friendliness, and can be used to signal you are not a threat. If an ogre returns this gesture, maintain a polite distance. When they aren't seen as threat, smaller humanoids come across as children to ogre perception. Tales of 'ogre wives' capturing burly warriors and offering them a 'wedding feast' of fruit, insects and strange plants are not, in fact, captives of a lovesick monster.

Rather, the warrior in question has been mistaken for a particularly inept and helpless ogre child (or something close enough to adopt) and is being fed on the assumption they don't yet know how to gather their own food. The 'jealous, watchful eye' of the ogre is more likely the same kind of watchful concern one gives a clumsy or easily distracted child.

As such, it's best to not get 'adopted' in the first place.

--

On Ogres, by Maudlin Dirge, 1572 E.E.

[elikajinnie]

Whispers of Desire: A Night to Remember- Sim Jake X fem!reader

a/n: i did not plan for this to go this way. I wanted to add more but decided against it. Im a slut for this man.

Warnings: Swearing, VERY suggestive content

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The evening was draped in a soft glow, the sun setting with hues of orange and pink as you meticulously prepared for your date with Jake.

The anticipation in your heart created a delightful flutter as you sifted through your wardrobe, searching for the perfect dress that would capture the essence of the romantic evening ahead.

Finally, you laid eyes on it—a flowing ensemble that gracefully complemented your figure, the fabric cascading gently as you held it up. The color, a subtle blend of elegance and allure, seemed to resonate with the sunset hues outside. As you slipped into the dress, its soft material embraced you, enhancing your every curve.

The mirror reflected a vision of beauty back at you, and a satisfied smile tugged at your lips. The anticipation heightened as you moved to your vanity, taking extra care with your makeup. Each stroke of the brush was a deliberate act, enhancing your features with a touch of glamour. The soft glow of your favorite highlighter accentuated the high points of your face, and a subtle hint of color adorned your lips, completing the masterpiece.

With a final glance in the mirror, you marveled at the transformation. The evening held promises of enchantment, and you were ready to step into its embrace. The scent of your favorite perfume lingered in the air as you made your way to the door, the soft rustle of the dress a symphony of anticipation.

As you descended the stairs, the sound of Jake's car pulling up outside reached your ears. The excitement bubbled within you, and with each step, you felt a delightful mixture of nerves and eagerness.

As the doorbell rang, you felt a rush of excitement. Opening the door, there stood Jake, handsome as ever, a bouquet of flowers in hand. His eyes widened as he took in your appearance, and a lovesick smile spread across his face. The air seemed to crackle with electricity as he stepped closer, his gaze never leaving you.

"Wow, you look amazing," he breathed, his voice laced with admiration.

A warmth blossomed in your chest as Jake leaned in, capturing your lips in a sweet, lingering kiss. His touch was tender, but the desire simmered beneath the surface. He couldn't seem to get enough, and neither could you. As he deepened the kiss, you felt his hands gently guiding you toward the bedroom.

As the allure of the bedroom beckoned, Jake's lips continued to dance with yours, each kiss an echo of the growing desire between you two. The air was charged with an electrifying energy as he skillfully led you toward the intimate sanctuary.

The journey continued until, with a subtle shift, you felt the plushness of the bed behind your knees. A gasp escaped your lips as Jake, with a confident yet tender touch, guided you down onto the mattress.

Jake, now hovering above you, seemed to savor the sight before him. His eyes traced the curves of your face, absorbing every nuance as if etching the memory into his mind. The desire in his gaze was palpable, a flame that kindled a reciprocal heat within you.

His lips descended once more, capturing yours in a hungry kiss that sent shivers down your spine. The room seemed to pulse with the shared intensity of your breaths, the whispered endearments creating a symphony of passion.

The gentle exploration of hands on your body was like a sultry sensation as Jake's lips left a trail of heated kisses, starting from the delicate curve of your collarbones. Each tender touch sent a shiver through your body, a prelude to the escalating desire between you two. His lips, warm and insistent, traced a path along the exposed skin, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake.

As he moved upward, the anticipation heightened. The sensations intensified with each lingering kiss, and the air seemed to crackle with an electric energy. Jake's lips, now on the curve of your neck, elicited a soft gasp, your fingers instinctively tangling in his tousled hair.

His journey continued, ascending with purpose, until his lips finally met yours in a hungry kiss. The kiss was a culmination of the sensual journey, a union of passion and desire. The taste of his lips, lingering from the journey upwards, merged with the warmth of your own, creating a heady blend of shared intimacy.

Just as things started to escalate, a glance at the clock snapped you back to reality. You reluctantly broke away, a teasing smile playing on your lips.

"Reservation, remember?" you reminded him, his pouty face causing a giggle to escape your lips.

With a quick peck, you pulled him away from the enticing allure of the bedroom.

As Jake maneuvered the car through the city streets, the atmosphere inside the vehicle was charged with a palpable energy. With one hand expertly gripping the steering wheel, he navigated the traffic with a confident ease, his eyes occasionally flickering toward you with an affectionate gleam. The other hand, however, had a more mischievous agenda.

His fingers danced between the gear shift and your thigh, creating a tantalizing distraction. With each subtle movement, the touch sent shivers down your spine. The car's engine hummed beneath the rhythmic shifts, the soft purr blending with the low background music, creating a symphony of anticipation.

As Jake shifted gears, his thumb traced intricate patterns on your skin, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake. The sensation of his touch, combined with the hum of the engine, made the journey an intimate dance between the two of you. The city lights blurred into streaks of color, an abstract backdrop to the shared secret woven in each touch.

When you arrived at the restaurant, Jake smoothly parked the car, and with a deft movement, he turned off the ignition. Instead of immediately unbuckling, his eyes locked onto yours, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. The car seemed to hold its breath as he leaned in, his lips teasingly close to yours.

The proximity was tantalizing, the anticipation palpable as you felt the warmth of his breath on your skin. The mischievous glint in his eyes hinted at the playful dance that was about to unfold.

The car seemed to hold its breath, a witness to the charged atmosphere within. The exterior world became a distant backdrop as the magnetic pull of Jake's presence enveloped you. The mischievous grin transformed into a silent invitation, daring you to bridge the final gap between your lips and his.

But before anything could happen, he released the seatbelt, then gracefully exited the car, quickly rounding it to reach your side. With a gentlemanly flourish, he opened the door, and a rush of cool night air greeted you. Jake's hand extended, inviting you to step out, and as you did, he wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you close.

In the dim glow of the restaurant's exterior lights, his eyes met yours with a sincerity that spoke volumes. "You look so gorgeous, baby," he whispered, his warm breath sending a shiver down your spine. His gaze held an intensity that made your heart skip a beat

The car ride to the restaurant was filled with laughter and stolen glances, but Jake's eyes never strayed far from you. He looked like a lovesick puppy, completely enamored.

Upon arriving in the restaurant, the ambiance was perfect—soft lighting, soothing music, and an air of romance. As you settled into your seats, you couldn't help but notice Jake's attention focused solely on you. He seemed unable to resist stealing glances, and his touch became increasingly affectionate.

The waiter, seemingly unperturbed by the charged atmosphere, approached to take your orders. Jake's hand found yours under the table, and a subtle thrill coursed through you as his fingertips traced delicate circles on your palm. His eyes, intense and filled with an undeniable desire, locked onto yours.

Despite the waiter's presence, Jake couldn't resist stealing moments of affection. Soft kisses were exchanged, each one leaving you breathless and yearning for more. The world around you faded as his lips found yours in a dance of passion, the taste of his lingering kisses teasing your senses.

With a polite smile, the waiter concluded the order, leaving you alone again in your intimate bubble. The menu now seemed like an inconsequential prop as Jake's gaze held yours, the unspoken promise of what awaited after the meal lingering in the air.

The dishes arrived, each one a work of culinary art, but your focus remained on the shared glances and the electrifying touch beneath the table. As you indulged in the exquisite flavors, Jake's hand continued its dance on yours, sending a thrill up your spine with every stroke.

The intensity between you two reached new heights as the meal progressed. The dessert menu arrived, and you couldn't help but chuckle, suggesting, "Let's skip dessert and head back to the car." Jake's eyes sparkled with mischief, and a shared understanding passed between you.

Paying the bill, you couldn't help but chuckle at Jake's eager anticipation. As you reached the car, he swiftly pulled the seat back, his gaze burning with desire. Without a word, he pulled you onto his lap, his lips claiming yours in a hungry kiss. The warmth of the car, the intoxicating scent of his cologne, and the taste of his lips left you dizzy.

The closeness was electrifying, the boundaries between you two dissolving in the heat of the moment. His lips sought yours in a hungry kiss, a fusion of passion and need. The taste of him was a heady blend of desire and familiarity.

As the kiss deepened, a low, guttural exclamation escaped from Jake's lips. "Fuck," he muttered, his breath hot against your skin as he reluctantly pulled away. His eyes, darkened with desire, held an intensity that sent shivers down your spine. Your fingers had tangled in his hair, leaving it mussed and disheveled, a testament to the fervor of your connection. The vivid imprint of your lipstick smeared on his kissed-out lips was a sensual reminder of the stolen passion shared in the confined space of the car.

As Jake sat in the driver's seat, you on his lap, the warmth of the car enveloped both of you. The atmosphere crackled with the remnants of shared desire, and Jake's eyes lingered on you with an intensity that spoke volumes. His hands, exploring with a possessive tenderness, slid up your thighs, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

"You in that dress," he breathed, his voice low and husky, "you made me crazy." His words carried the weight of the desire that had simmered between you since the beginning of the evening. The air inside the car seemed to vibrate with the shared anticipation, the intensity of the moment amplifying the connection between you two.

His gaze roamed over you with a hunger that mirrored your own. The flowing dress, a cascade of fabric that enhanced every curve, seemed to captivate him. Your fingers, still tangled in his hair, felt the rhythmic beat of his desire beneath your touch.

With deliberate intent, his hands continued their journey, sliding up from your thighs to your waist. The touch was possessive yet tender, a silent declaration.

The vivid imprint of your lipstick on Jake's kissed-out lips reflected the stolen moments that had unfolded. His breath, warm against your skin, carried the scent of shared desire, and as his lips sought yours once more, the taste was a heady blend of lingering passion.

In that stolen moment, the world faded away, leaving only the two of you lost in the intensity of your connection.

[destieltaggedfic]

hey i don't know if you've already done this but do u have a comp of fics with cas's true form? i love seeing him as a big unknowable angel 🥰🥰

I have done an ask for this before and I enjoyed it so much I started collecting other true form fics

Prelude – screamsintothesun   Ao3

Set S4.  Across moments, Cas shares what its like in a vessel and Dean recalls what Cas’ trueform looked like to him.

Word Count: 5k                                 No Sex

Lovesick and True-Form – DragonSpear   Ao3

Set S14 AU.  After they got Dean back from Michael, Cas noticed that he stared a lot more.  Eventually he manages to ask why.

Word Count: 2k                                 No Sex

Never Look Away – Chilassa   Ao3

Nonspecific timeframe.  Dean has always been able to see Cas’ trueform.  Something the angel didn’t know until one day in bed he gets upset because he thinks Dean is complimenting his vessel.

Word Count: 3k                                 Non-Graphic Sex

Twenty-Twenty Vision Through Fogged Glass – kathscradle   Ao3

Nonspecific timeframe.  They are together and happy but both are still slightly insecure with each other because Cas will always praise Dean’s soul and Dean will praise Cas’ vessel.  They talk it out and Dean is interested in know about Cas’ trueform and in return Dean is worried that Cas won’t be interested in him as he gets older. (deleted at October 24)

Word Count: 9k                                 Graphic Sexual Acts

neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain - Static_Saturn   Ao3

Set post S15.  Its neither heaven nor hell that Dean ends up in, and he’s happy for his afterlife to be curled up inside Cas’ trueform.

Word Count: 2k                                 No Sex

[allwaswell16]

One Direction fics that have public displays of affection as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

—Harry/Louis—

♡ Remember Me Before You by @kingsofeverything

(E, 293k, New Girl au) Desperate to find a new place to live after he comes home to find his boyfriend cheating, Harry moves into a loft with three strangers.

♡ The Greatest Thing by @infinitelymint

(E, 163k, canon) Harry and Louis haven’t spoken since the band broke up when a dangerous combination of Niall Horan, tequila, and an ordained Elvis impersonator means that the two of them have to embark on their biggest publicity stunt to date - together.

♡ For the Right Reasons by @juliusschmidt

(E, 105k, friends to lovers) Louis may have signed up to be a contestant on the Bachelor, but he’s not interested a ring or a proposal, not from Harry, not from anyone.

♡ dusted in gold by frenchkiss

(M, 100k, fashion au) Harry’s an A-list supermodel, Louis’s his make-up artist boyfriend. They’re something of a dream team.

♡ Been Together Since Way Back When by @alivingfire

(E, 95k, uni au) the painfully realistic college au where everyone's poor, lovesick, tired of school, terrified of the future, and still having the greatest times of their lives.

♡ knock knock, i love you by beautlouis

(E, 86k, uni au) Harry and Louis get kicked out of a statistics exam for passing a knock knock joke note, and subsequently fall in love. 

♡ i must admit i thought i'd like to make you mine by @disgruntledkittenface

(E, 50k, girl direction) Blindsided and scrambling to save face, Louis lets herself get talked into a fake relationship with her new friend Harry. 

♡ From Dust to Lust by jacaranda_bloom / @jacaranda-bloom

(E, 49k, enemies to lovers) the one where Louis and Harry are fly-in-fly-out mine workers, coincidences are totally a thing, karaoke is an underrated form of foreplay, and the universe most definitely works in mysterious ways.

♡ Make It Up To You by its_my_FIC_in_a_box

(E, 37k, uni au) AU in which Harry studies History at LSE and Louis studies design at Central Saint Martin's. 

♡ Hint: I want to be yours by bluegreenish / @greenblueish

(M, 11k, fwb) the one where Harry unconsciously starts acting like Louis' alpha after they spend his rut together and Louis finds ways to make sure Harry's affection doesn't end.

♡ Prelude to Forever by AlwaysAqua / @always-aqua

(M, 13k, Pride) Louis and Harry meet at Pride in Chicago and spend the day falling for each other before getting accidentally separated.

♡ Kiss the Boys by @fallinglikethis

(E, 8k, Pride) “Being able to blatantly kiss pretty boys out in the open is my favorite part of Pride,” Harry says without preamble, leaning into Louis’ space, inviting pink lips quirking up as they get closer to him. “You up for it?”

♡ You're The Pumpkin Of My Eye by @faithinwalls369

(G, 4k, pumpkin patch) Harry and Louis go on a seasonal date, that is sweeter than the confectionery in a trick or treat bucket. It’s filled with sweet snuggles, cute kisses and pumpkin picking.

♡ you and me? always by fearlessrry

(NR, 3k, canon) Canon fic based on that one day in 2018 where Nick tweeted about couples holding hands in this hot weather.

—Rare Pairs—

♡ When you love someone, you make room by louloubaby92 / @louloubabys1992

(E, 20k, Louis/Jamie Campbell Bower) Jamie Campell Bower is a big deal, of that Louis is sure. He's a walking charmer with a jawline to die for. So, it's a bit of a surprise when Jamie looks his way, let alone approaches him to chat him up.

♡ over my shoulder by @nouies

(E, 10k, Louis/Sebastian Stan) The media thinks omega singer Louis Tomlinson is dating alpha actor Sebastian Stan because they bump into each other all the time. Everything changes when they accidentally bond.

♡ With This Wing, I Thee Wed by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13

(T, 4k, Niall/Louis) Niall crosses his arms and pouts, a little line appearing between his eyebrows. “I want Nandos. I like Nandos.” “And I like my dignity,” Louis mutters.

[kobedivision]

Sunshine (Vox Solo)

Lyrics by @uenodivision <3

Bring The Beat!

[Ren:]

In the shadows, I watch my angel, so divine

Her halo's glow, in the dark, it's the only sign

Through the music, my desire, this I'll decree

She's the muse in my world, belongs only to me

A serenade in the night, for the one I seek

With every chord, my resolve grows never weak

In the spotlight's glare, I feel the rising heat

A symphony of shadows, where love and danger meet

From the night's embrace to the dawn's first gleam

I'm the shadow's whisper, and the daylight's dream

Through the darkest hours, to the morning's feat

I rise like the sun, where the light and darkness meet

In the quiet before dawn, my heart's restless plea

A prelude to the chorus, where you're with me

[Chorus:]

"Awaken, my sunrise,"

In your light, the world's hues are born anew

"Every melody, every rhyme, sings of you, my sunrise."

Your radiance casts away the night's cruel disguise

In the heart's symphony, it's you who cues (Yeah!)

"You're the dawn that breaks, my eternal muse."

(Yeah, yeah)

[Ren:]

In the shadows, I watch my angel, so divine

Her halo's glow, in the dark, it's the only sign

Through the music, my desire, this I'll decree

She's the muse in my world, belongs only to me

Whispers of a past, in the silence they confide

A father's tune, a mother's shadow, side by side

In the cradle of chaos, two souls I'd guide

Through the storm, as protector and pride

Battles fought, scars earned, no trace of regret

New brothers in arms, in harmony, we're set

Rock's rebel heart, fans' cheers, and fame's silhouette

My muse, my dawn, in her light, I'm reset

As the night fades away, the stage finds its light

A harbinger of the chorus, where dreams take flight

[Chorus:]

"Awaken, my sunrise,"

In your light, the world's hues are born anew

"Every melody, every rhyme, sings of you, my sunrise."

Your radiance casts away the night's cruel disguise

In the heart's symphony, it's you who cues (Yeah!)

"You're the dawn that breaks, my eternal muse."

(Yeah, yeah)

[Ren:]

In life's grand dance, each step a bold motion

Lovesick claims the rap battle's ocean

She's the light of my world, the love I've always missed

Her voice, her spirit, my muse, she is my Eclipse

[Chorus:]

"Awaken, my sunrise,"

In your light, the world's hues are born anew

"Every melody, every rhyme, sings of you, my sunrise."

Your radiance casts away the night's cruel disguise

In the heart's symphony, it's you who cues (Yeah!)

"You're the dawn that breaks, my eternal muse."

(Yeah, yeah)

[Ren:]

In the shadows, I watch my angel, so divine

Her halo's glow, in the dark, it's the only sign

Through the music, my desire, this I'll decree

She's the muse in my world, belongs only to me

[theemporium]

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSNFKwGve/

James and Death Eater! Reader, or the prelude to him joining the dark side

THAT WOULD BE THEM!!!!

okay but love the idea that james literally just gets turned on every time she tries to kill him. like he is just a lovesick fool obsessed with her, not a single sane or logical thought is going through that boy's head

[madwickedawesome]

i need classical music recs for a tragic love story

NOT putting this under a cut actually because i wish to curse everyone's dashes with these songs . they are all so good please listen to them if you like classical pretty please with like 3 cherries on top!!!!

anywaysOK!! a lot of these songs may seem like regurgitated Sad Classical Music that i use for everything but u have to trust me . when u listen to some of these in a Mood ur entire soul will be crushed i Promise u u have to trust me u have to believe m

i didnt know what Specific vibe u wanted so i kind of took my own creative liberties hope thats alright .. !!Also youre going to have to ignore how LONG classical names are

rachmaninoff - rhapsody on a theme by paganini, op. 43: var 18 (andante cantabile) --- this song plays moreso into the love story part of it but this piece is genuinely sooo beautiful (as are all of rachmaninoffs works lets be honest here).. it is SO romantic it kind of feels like being with someone you love and feeling fireworks and explosions upon realizing you love them, it's very very very lovesick and goes to show the giddy feeling of knowing someone is making you and your life better just by being near you <3

albinoni - adagio in g minor --- this specific arrangement in my playlist is my favoriteee ever.. it uses both harp and general orchestral strings to complete an overwhelmingly Emptying piece of music . this song is very like. "i'm lost without them" kind of thing.it's so melancholy but it also just emphasis any holes in a listener's heart; it's kind of boring if you listen to it while you're in a good mood? but Trust me if you're even remotely sad or yearning you will LOVE love love this piece

ravel - pavane pour une infante défunte, m. 19 (pavane for a dead princess) --- this one is another Especially Life Ruining If You're In The Mood piece; as the name suggests, it's a pavane (slow dance, essentially) which already gives it a lovely undertone, but it's for a Dead Princess and is full of grief and is notoriously played excruciatingly slowly. this song really feels like loss, whether it's post-argument or post-relationship or post-right-person-wrong-time, it emphasizes the feeling of being without someone in retrospect and how different emotions manifest themselves. some points in the song are lovely, full of reminiscing on memories of happiness, but the whole song has a freezing blanket thrown over it to remind everyone that it's for a Dead Princess and a Dead Connection

grieg - holberg suite, op. 40: iv. air (andante religioso) --- this piece is just generally soul crushing??? it feels like the air after particularly heartbreaking disputes, losses, rejections, all the like .......?? it generally carries an emptying vibe like the others do, but this one is laced with love through the middle, showing complexities in relationships and how love is inescapable, despite obstacles

cimarosa - sonata no. 42 in d minor --- this piece is short but sweet..... this is mostly a lovey song, but has a vague melancholy vibe if you really listen.. i always love to interpret this song as looking back on memories with a loved one and realizing just how much you miss them, how dull life is without them happy and right by your side . a quite simple piece but it illustrates the vibe perfectly :)

shostakovich - five pieces for two violins and piano: i. prelude --- about 30% of this reasoning behind this song is that it's shostakovich and i must have him inall of my playlists because he is my special guy. BUT this song is So many emotions . it is so heartbreaking initially, briefly grows into moderately upbeat happiness, then returns to a slower tempo soaked in both love and regret. it feels like the air after a loss, the air while missing someone to the point of it eating you alive; it's a gut wrenching rendition of . horrified love ? is the word that came to mind? it is so Sad

tchaikovsky - valse sentimentale, op. 51, no. 6 --- this song is just. emotional . it's full of love and you can hear the happiest parts of love fighting the worst, it's suffocating and captivating all the same??? i'm not 100% sure how i'd place this piece into a situation . maybe desperate pleas with oneself or another to be loved, to experience connection, something like that??? all that's to be sure is that this piece makes chests constrict it is so full of love and care and life but is simultaneously so full of despair and pain and ouuguhgh i just adore this piece really

poulenc - flute sonata, fp 164: ii. cantilena --- this piece is so sad it is so sad. it feels like the realization that you may be losing someone, whether it's to another or to nature or to life or really anything. halfway through, it evolves into more of a hopeful piece, with a flute sounding like a bird singing, but still falls down the steep downhill slope that Will make you So distraught if you listen to this while in the right mood

the entirety of prokofiev's romeo and juliet ballet --- this is mostly a joke but also. juliets death piece (it was WAY too long to put in here) is so heartbreaking so ..? stares at you with big classical loving eyes?

here's all of those wrapped up neatly with a little bow !! (tumblr refuses to let me link directly for some reason???) i hope they work for you!!!!

[abnormality-husbandry]

[ heaving deeply the woman clutched the grass below her, the ego dissipating as she curled. She hated today..where was it… the bird was late. Being distracted by the flutter of wings as a bird joined the woman’s pathetic display ]

[poetic-mordem]

Hi! Crypt here. I recently made a contribution to the lovely Twist fandom’s ship TreyKei, and I wanted to cross post here as well! I based it off of two Laufey songs, Lovesick and Love Flew Away, and I really recommend you listen to her music! She’s so talented.

It does constitute as a Hurt/No Comfort, but it’s the prelude to a wonderful rp I have going on with a lovely Cater muse, so I wrote it for them and decided to share it with you all as well! I do hope you enjoy!

[puriette]

AND,,, here are the big list of names that we have (there's so many so there might be repeating ones but here you go <3): scooter, brick, casper, jack, crew, casey, arcade, alistair, billiards, landline, elias, silas, adrian, link, valentine, august, beau, marlow, francis, sardonyx, marion, laurence, blip, shutter, pierrot, wake, jamie, angel, piper, harley, paris, caspian, reverend, percival, reagan, nocturn, oracle, augury, helix, gabe, galileo, gale, geo, gyro, gizmo, orion, scorpius, canis, cygnus, corvus, draco, leo, perseus, hydra, betelgeuse, felis, apollyon, puffin, portia, valerian, florian, snapdragon, longhorn, cicada, juliet, toad, cricket, pretzel, chalcedony, carcass, bastion, catacomb, carrion, hunter's moon, ouzel, blackbird, pallid, plenilune, varmint, viol, orchid, mantis, eventide, armory , zealot, lacrimosa, argos, camisado, versailles, alexander, apollo, alcinder, august, elias, julius/jules, knight, valor, leonidas, lionel, pheonix, roman, titus, victor, percival, raegan, carnival, pierrot, dallas, crew, fin, august, val/valentine, jace, orca, gale, sam, squid, leif, sage, caspian, ajax, otto, april, alva, scout, quinn, briar, chalcedony, carcass, otis, bastion, catacomb, carrion, hunter's moon, ouzel, blackbird, pallid, plenilune, varmint, viol, orchid, mantis, eventide, armory, zealot, lacrimosa, argos, camisado, versailles, galileo, gambit, billiards, polybius, arcade, dallas, paris, rome, cable, crew, roo, alois, alastair, caspian, orca, adrian, anchor, dune, crew, erasmus, galiot, heron, landline, twain, gamecube, mechanism, sweepstakes, sundial, archibald, jello, circle, adobe, orwell, pompeii, andromeda, hailey, sirius, stardust, satellite, solar flare, sunspot, waning, titan, keiper, rover, orbit, dipper, ursa, hercules, constellation, belt, rings of fire, red storm, fog, crypt, cloud, frost, hail, daze, dream, drowze, haze, solar, nova, moon, moonwake, floral, rustle, clover, aesthete, splash, poe, bard, stanza, accius, byron, dante, edgar, virgil, wilde, verse, ballad, sonnet, anaphora, lyric, muse, amadeus, tybalt, eldric, alois, beryl, elliot, jasper, sawyer, oslo, raegan, ronan, casper, boris, bruno, chess, arcade, randy, drew, max, landline, browser, mug, cappucino (cino), tulip, mortimer, wilfred, barnaby, sonny, monty, colton, sawyer, cooper, landon, finn, cody, hayden, ashton, miles, arlo, jasper, oscar, ezra, milo, everett, rhys, silas, soren, beckett, river, felix, theo, elliot, william, bowie, baxtor, jax, jay, kaz, magic, alphie, millie, valerie, versailles, paris, jackie, rue, rose, fiore, callie, oliver, francis, charlie, jamie, reese, landline, battery (or battery acid), keyboard, gravel, vault, raegan, nemesis, jasper, sylvester, mars, calamity, valentine, francis , paris, charlie , sticker, pretzel, puffin, junction, chalcedony, dial, cuckoo, alastor, static, livewire, rex, eva, sandie, bouncer, florida, salem, asterisk, lucielle, luminare, cassandra, casanova, alastor, arwen, casimir, dorian, kato, cato, morrigan, basil, anise, cassia, ellis, lennon, xephrys, phineas, theon, castiel, edmond, eldrich, aero, genevieve, gwenivere, aislinn, cordelia, gaia, hera, elsa, ada, ezra, gale, gael, beau, alfred, ackerly, otto, otis, augustine, doris, iris, ida, esther, josephine, alma, beatrix, elsie, effie, alistair, leon, percival, gilbert, atlas, auden, audin, adonis, maynard, hadrian, celia, maude, maudie, rumble, ranger, alistair, aristocracy, delegate, podium, loverboy, cupid’s arrow, lovesick, lovestruck, painted hearts, rose, jaime, reid, rodney, gregg, fang, jock, laurens, pierre, cinn, markus, xander, zane, chartreuse, bumples, RGB, chroma key, the pencil of the earth, palooza, puppet pin, prelude, sizzle, breakfast, clearance, bozo, plasticine, megara, ophelia, delaney, vincent, melinda, seren, cassiopia, darling, griffyn

[rarephloxes]

this is an addendum to this post bc i have no self control and Lucien playing piano turns me to lovesick goo, so:

Opus 28, Prelude nº24: his favorite song to play, complex but turned easy with years of practice. A little broody tune, short and stormy, he likes the repetitive pattern of the left hand, good warm up song, reminds him of the woods in Autumn Court.

Ballade in F Major, Opus 38, nº2: a complex piece he learned when he had a tutor in Autumn Court, Lucien could never play it perfectly, so he forgot about it with the years. Astounding and thrilling, he finds himself drawn to this song after finding it’s sheets, yellowed and crinkled, inside a chest in Spring Court after the war. It reminds him, brilliantly and painfully, of Elain.

Étude nº3 in E Major, Opus 10: Lady of Autumn’s favorite song, she’d have Lucien play it on a loop when the weather was at its warmest. Lucien was always more than happy to oblige, the proud gleam in his mother’s eyes a gentle fire in his heart. It was also a great way to bargain with her and win her lulling hand massages, “We cannot have the house’s pianist with sore, aching fingers, can we, mother?” he’d argue, ever the clever fox.

I’m with you if you tell me Elain likes Waltz of the Flowers, Clair de Lune and Aquarium from Carnival of the Animals. I agree (and so does Lucien), but I feel like her true favorite, the one she always asks him to play when he is practicing, the one she likes to sit beside him to watch his fingers working is:

Carnival of the Animals: The Swan: Elain’s favorite. Soft and entrancing, the type of song that turns you liquid and makes you want to listen to it on repeat. She tells him it makes her nostalgic in the best way. Their firstborn (a tiny girl with fire in her hair, yes, but most strikingly, fire in her eyes, just like her mom) loves to fall asleep to it.

that’s all that came to mind now, if you have suggestions I’d love to hear them!!

[ao3feed-ladynoir]

Gotta Lotta Soft Spots for Marinette

Gotta Lotta Soft Spots for Marinette by Cakedecorator

Adrien Agreste is a famed jazz pianist with the stage name Cat Noir, and he's (obviously) popular with the female demographics. He revels in the attention he gets from the fans when he's genuinely himself as Cat Noir, but when he literally runs into a beautiful young lady named Marinette, he falls in love in an instant.

Aged Up, No Miraculous, and Jazz Musician AU

Song(s) Included, With/Without Modifications:

Prelude to a Kiss - Duke Ellington As Time Goes By (A Kiss is Just A Kiss) - Louis Armstrong

Words: 6144, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Miraculous Ladybug

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Characters: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Nino Lahiffe

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug

Additional Tags: Fluff, Jazz, Pianist Adrien Agreste, Jazz Age, References to Canon, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - No Kwamis, Alternate Universe - No Miraculous, Aged-Up Character(s), needed to do this, Mentioned Gabriel Agreste, Mentioned Sabine Cheng and Tom Dupain, Nino Lahiffe Ships It, Nino Lahiffe Is So Done, Smitten Adrien Agreste, Lovesick Adrien Agreste, Stage Names, Song Lyrics, Fluff and Humor, Inspired by Webkinz, Adrien Agreste/Marinette Dupain-Cheng Fluff, Hot Mess Adrien Agreste, He gets better, It Gets Better, Designer Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Musician Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31424750

[polymathemawrites]

hand holds 3/7

in which a witch is met and mathias accepts a gift 

He wakes slowly, his face pressed into the hollow of a decadently warm shoulder, when he moves his head to the side his mustache must tickle because Flynn rumbles a soft laugh. He hasn't slept this deeply in years, his limbs feel loose, his body warm, his mind refreshingly empty.

"Why do you feel so good?" His own voice sounds rough and raw, "Why do you have to be so..." too many words here and all of them damning, "Warm and soft?"

Flynn drags his hand down Mathias' back, knuckles rolling over his vertebrae and it pulls a deep groan out of him unwilling and unwanted so he hides his face against Flynn's neck only to have the man dig at a particularly thick knot in his shoulders. When he groans again it's straight against Flynn's skin and the response is perhaps not planned on Flynn's part if the little gasp that proceeds the bucking of his hips against Mathias' leg is any indication. The mumbled apology right after cements the notion though, Flynn does sound sufficiently sorry and even tries to pull the evidence of his morning arousal away from the leg Mathias has shoved against it.

An irrational part of Mathias urges him to grind his leg up instead and give Flynn something to really gasp about. He can feel the jump of the man's pulse beneath his lips and he literally cannot remember the last time he was in a bed with someone he was attracted to. Alright potentially a lie, as he remembered the last time, it's just he's had to kill most everyone he's ever been in a bed with - attracted or no. Usually being in the bed with them was a prelude to getting close enough to sink a dagger into them, actually.

He doesn't want to sink a dagger into Flynn, he wants to sink into the man and lose himself entirely, to taste his skin and hear him make more of those soft little sounds. To get him to lose control entirely and all for him. He wants more than he should, almost desperately so in that moment, for Flynn to sink into him too but literally. The thick heat of the length he can feel pressed against him, pressing inside of him instead, to feel him buried to the hilt. So he rolls himself away, leaving the warm nest of the bed to put more kindling into the stove.

When he turns back to the bed Flynn is watching him from beneath the weight of his lashes, eyes trailing the length of Mathias' form with a look of such hunger and longing it freezes him in place, quite a feat considering the air itself out of the bed is rather frigid and he wants nothing more than to get back under the covers a respectable distance from his bed partner. "By the tides Mathi, you're so beautiful." There is a soft honesty and dedication in his voice, a tremor of emotion that turns the words from flirtatious to longingly painful.

"I'm old and scarred, I don't think anyone would ever use that term to describe me."

"They must be blind then, come on love, you're going to turn into an ice pop standing there. I'll not touch you inappropriately. You're more than capable of cutting off any offending body parts anyway, but you're safe with me."

"I have no desire to cut anything off of you, or cut you at all." He's crawling under the covers before he's even finished talking and Flynn's body is better than a blanket wrapped hot brick. They both groan, tangling limbs back together, bodies pressed flush. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Flynn looks at him, that same soft painful longing but this time with something else mixed in - something that makes Mathias hurt for him, a kind of disbelief mixed with hope. He's heard enough about the man's exes, he's learned enough on his own too about Flynn's past. He realizes he shouldn't have said that, shouldn't have said he wouldn't hurt him, because with the way Flynn is looking at him right now, the greatest hurt he could inflict on him would be rejection.

"It's alright love, I'm used to it." Flynn smiles at him, a cheap trick, a mask sliding into place but he's nowhere near as good at it as Mathias is. It's all for Mathias this theater performance, absolution, forgivance before the wound has even been inflicted. So he takes the man's face between his hands and leans in, pressing chapped lips to equally chapped lips, swallowing the gasp when it comes. Mathias has been hiding behind one mask or another his entire life; right now he's tired, open raw from a near death experience, and pressed heart to heart with the man he's been wanting for months now, watching like a lovesick dolt from one deck to another across a negligible stretch of harbor.

When he tilts his head and lets slip his tongue against Flynn's lips the man blooms into the affection like a rose, barely subdued hunger and soft pressure. Mathias struggles to keep himself tender, to stop from biting a lip or pulling at the tangled mess of Flynn's ponytail. He ends up shivering with the restraint, having to pull back. His own breathing is wrecked and he isn't just shivering no, he's trembling over it all. Flynn's hands are petting over him, everywhere at once, and he has to close his eyes, ride through the shock of pleasure and the fire of his nerves all alight.

"Mathi?" Flynn's concern would grate on his nerves if it were anyone else.

"It's been awhile." He breathes it out along with an unsteady laugh.

"Was it alright?"

Mathias brushes their lips together again, chaste in comparison, before pulling back, "Perfect." Flynn himself is perfect. "But, I need to get an hour more of rest at least, then if possible I'll need to dig us out and go look at that encampment."

"I'll have to admit I was hoping you'd give up on that and stay in bed all day." Flynn grins at him, close enough to kiss, close enough to do quite a lot with. He slips one hand up to brush the hair back from Flynn's face, the other hand still cupping his cheek. Flynn flushes dark in response, the freckles banding over his nose and cheeks so sweet. "You're so gentle, love. No one's ever been this gentle with me." The soft wonder in his voice tears Mathias up inside, makes him want to rend and hit and tear apart - not Flynn, no, everyone who had hurt him before. He can't right now, so he moves forward and presses another chaste kiss to Flynn's softly parted lips.

"Is it in apology? You don't need to feel bad, I don't expect this to leave the cabin. I know it's the whole situation, right? No hard feelings, mate." Flynn whispers against his lips, his hands betraying his words in the way they clutch and covet against Mathias' back and hip. It was cruel for him to have called out the flirting as he'd done the day before, when he was the one who encouraged it all the time. He can't help but to think some of Flynn's doubt and apprehension now is his fault, as it is always his fault when communication breaks down. He's the master spy here, he should know how to handle one ex-pirate and his own huge crush on the man.

"Flynn?" His own voice sounds so wrecked, so he presses himself closer to the sailor, moves his face to hide against the skin of Flynn's shoulder again. The hold Flynn has on him tightens, his hands gentle and kind, petting and stroking him, obviously comforting and it works.

"Anything love, what do you need?"

You, is the answer, one he isn't sure he has the right to give, "It's not an apology, I won't ever hurt you if I can help it. I'm not prone to sweeping things under the rug in my personal life, I handle them as they necessitate the need to be handled. You're not a problem, you're beautiful and ridiculous and I've been fond of you for some time now."

"Oh." Flynn whispers, the sound full of wonder and tenderness. "I'm quite fond of you too, Mathias."

"You've been rather obvious about that, yes." He's tired, his body still drained from the night's trials. The comfort that he's given by the heat of Flynn's embrace is too much for him entirely to resist. He yawns, right against Flynn's skin, and feels the man laugh softly followed by a kiss against his hair. "You're in danger, just being familiar with me, it paints a target on you, Flynn."

Another laugh rumbles through Flynn, only succeeding in pulling him further into relaxation, "I'm already in danger all the time, getting touchy with the Spymaster isn't going to hurt my reputation anymore than sailing forth on Alliance silver is. In the places I came from before you met me we'd of called that 'blood money', Mathi." Flynn begins to stroke down his back again, less rubbing out knots and more a slow down and up along his spine like the brush of tide on sand, it's criminally relaxing, "Go back to sleep, love. I've got you. You deserve your rest, tides know you must be tired."

He drifts in and out, probably longer than an hour, at least it feels longer - when he does wake up entirely he feels energetic and back on his game. Flynn is asleep, still holding him, beautiful and open. He takes the liberty to brush the man's hair back, feeling the soft silk of those auburn bright strands and then giving into the desire to sink his fingers into it entirely.

Flynn has a beauty in him that makes Mathias ache to touch, one that isn’t just physical. The loyalty to his friends despite the betrayals he’s faced, the bravery he displays without even realizing, and a thousand other delicate things one shouldn’t find in the heart of an ex-freebooter. Life has not been kind to Flynn, he doesn’t need his dociers and files to tell him that; and yet, these cruelties have only shaped the man into an even gentler person. They are so diametrically different and Mathias shouldn’t feel the way he does, it will cause so many problems for him down the line, but right now on Winter’s Veil Eve, he wants nothing more than to give himself this one gift.

To not be alone, to have someone waiting for him and vice versa. But to ask that of Flynn felt like a sin.

With one hand in Flynn’s hair and the other trailing over his chest to lay against his heart, the man’s brilliant blue-green eyes blink open to meet Mathias’ gaze.

“Love?” Flynn’s voice is rough from sleep, whiskey smooth and it sends a thrill through him, just the easy way Flynn calls him that, as if it doesn’t hold such a deep and sentimental meaning, as if love wasn’t so dangerous for a man like Mathias.

“I’m about to go scout, just wanted to let you know.”

Flynn is suddenly wide awake, his eyes bright and sharp and his hand curling against Mathias hand over his heart, “You really think I’m going to let you go out there alone?”

He frowns down at the man, “Fairwind, I am a trained assassin and the Spymaster of Stormwind, are you really implying I cannot handle myself on a scouting mission?”

“No, it’s not that.” Flynn mirrors his other hand, reaching up to card his fingers through Mathias much shorter hair, “I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you and I was just here, waiting for you, would rather be there with you. I know I’m a coward, mate, but I love you. Can’t really hide that anymore and I’d rather go down with you, than never know what happened to you.”

“That’s why this can’t happen.” Mathias pushes away, standing to stalk over toward his clothing, but Flynn is right on his heels, and if Mathias’ body wasn’t such a traitor to him in concern to Flynn then the man embracing him from behind would have ended very badly for Flynn, broken bones the least of injuries Mathias had inflicted in the past on instinct alone. Instead he melts back against him, soft heat from Flynn’s chest and stomach pressed so enticingly against Mathias’ back. The toned strength of his arms wrapping around his waist, sailor’s tattoos shifting over muscle. “This can’t happen.” He repeats himself but it sounds weak and thin.

“Don’t run from me, please. I won’t hurt you, Mathi.” The words are placed against the side of his neck along with a brush of lips. Feathermoon had asked him if he was running from himself, it’s partway true, he isn’t running from Flynn, but from what might happen to him.

One gift, one impossible gift, that he shouldn’t give himself.

He turns in the circle of Flynn’s arms, pushing himself up even as Flynn tilts his head down. The kiss is slow and deep, Flynn’s tongue tracing Mathias’ lips and slipping past them as soon as they part. He kisses Mathias like he’s been doing it for years, perfect and slow, thoroughly ruining him. Flynn parts them, cupping the back of his neck and his hip, looks into his eyes and Mathias cannot imagine what the man sees in him that could inspire a look of such soft adoration. He knows Flynn doesn’t have false expectations about him which is what makes this all so painfully right. Flynn knows who he is and can still look at him like that.

“I’ll take whatever you give me, love. I’ve been a secret before, been someone’s mister too, whatever you want from me-“ he cuts Flynn off with another kiss, raw and wanting, he can’t stand to hear the rest, to hear the pain underlying that brittle hope. Flynn groans against his lips and begins to walk them backwards - back to the bed, but Mathias stalls them and pulls back.

“I want you, more than I should, more than is good for you. I’m lonely and I tried my damned hardest not to slow down enough to ever feel it, but your charm and dogged persistence on friendship with me has undone me. I don’t want a secret or a one night stand, Flynn. I want you, all of you, as mine, and I would that I be yours.”

The flush on Flynn’s tanned skin is decadent, the look of wonder in his eyes is breathtaking, if Mathias was a more poetic man he could have written sonnets about the beauty before him.

“I’m yours, love. Have been since I laid eyes on you to be honest. You’ve taken up my every idle thought, and the more I’ve been around you the more sure I’ve been that if I do one thing right in my life it will be to love you.” Flynn’s earnest confession and the hold he has on Mathias completely tears apart his every doubt and fear. “I know it might not work out, tides know none of my attempts have done so in the past, but I will give you my best try and you already have my whole heart.”

“If this is your way of convincing me to allow you to come with me, it’s worked.”

Flynn grins at him, fox-like and wicked, “Good. Now to convince you to let me follow you everywhere else. But we’ll take that one a bit slower.”

They dress quickly and Mathias even consents to letting Flynn do back up the job he’d undone of his armor the night before. It is painfully domestic and familiar and Mathias would think to ask how it was Flynn could be so familiar with his armor if he didn’t know the man had the hands of a thief and the eyes of a pirate.

The door is snowed tight up so Mathias ends up climbing out the cabin’s singular tiny window. Flynn can’t fit as much as he tries but Mathias is able to dig out the door for him. The blizzard has left everything covered in thick inches of snow, nothing untouched by winter’s blanket. Already he’s longing for the dusty bed and Flynn’s warm embrace.

When he’s got the door open Flynn tugs at his pauldrons, “Give me these, love.”

“What? No, stop that.” Mathias flushes over his own ineffectual batting at the Captain’s hands.

“You’re going to wear my coat, you’re not built for this weather, don’t argue with me.” Flynn grins at him while putting his finger playfully over Mathias’ parted lips. “Thought of it right as you slipped out the window or I would have put it on you before.”

He allows the coat to be slipped over his arms and ignores how it’s too large for him because it’s actually blissfully warm around him. Flynn ties it closed with one of his own belts and Mathias flips the fur-lined collar up to keep the chill from biting the back of his neck.

“Oh.” Flynn breathes out the word, a mixture of emotions but none of them particularly bad, “Tides I didn’t think what seeing you in my clothing might do to me.” The laugh that follows is tellingly nervous and Mathias’ eyes track down the man’s body to catch on the stiffy he’s obviously sporting.

“I don’t know how on Azeroth you’re capable of that in this weather but hold that thought till I’m off duty.” Mathias does perhaps tease him by slipping forward to kiss him, tasting the hungry groan fed past Flynn’s lips before parting to head south.

He doesn’t need to glance back to know Flynn is following him, if it weren’t for the trust he has in the man, the crunch of snow would have alerted him just fine.

Despite Mathias’ reservations about Flynn’s stealth abilities the man easily falls into the shadows alongside him, his steps going from loud and ringing to silent as a hare as they come closer to the coast the two Champions had indicated on the map. The late afternoon sun casts strange shadows through the winter-dead trees, shifting as wind blows their skeletal branches about, further aiding the play of darkness that obscures them from sight.

The first sign of trouble comes in the form of thick spiderwebs, laying like traps between the trees. Last night in the thick of that preternatural storm, unsuspecting travelers would have run right into them. Now they are easy to spot and the two of them silently weave between the traps of silken thread.

The first victims are spotted soon after, a thick cocoon large enough to hold a whole orc surrounded by smaller ones. Mathias passes near enough to one of the smaller ones to spot the outstretched hand, frozen solid and teal tinged from it’s likely original green. Having broken free of the spider’s snare only to freeze to death in the blizzard, what a horrible way to go.

As to the creatures that had laid these traps there was no sign. No long legs or skittering sounds, nothing but the wail of the wind.

Further in they find the encampment proper, the red and spikes favored by the Horde proper are half covered in snow and further cobwebs. There is a single large tent that Mathias reasons is the command tent and he’s about to pull back the flap to enter it when it flings open.

He moves quickly to the side, brushing Flynn’s arm as he does and effortlessly the other rogue follows him back to slide into the thick shadow beneath a nearby tree. Flynn moves his arm around Mathias and together they crouch down in the snow.

The figure to hobble out of the tent is one Mathias recognizes based on intelligence reports but never seen in person till now. At one point she would have been a woman like any other Kul Tiran lass, but now the Drust magic wrought through her has turned her into a child's nightmare. The hag woman wears a grey tatty dress and a shawl of greying lace that had been made in a winter theme of snowflakes although they quaintness it might have once held is made horrific by the dark blood and vicera staining the threads.. In the rats nest of her greying hair she wears a bough of holy and mistletoe - oddly festive considering her bloodied grotesque face and the arm she is gnawing on, of the size that would have belonged to one of the goblins. She stops then, eyes trained on the tracks of trampling footprints and most damning of all, the fresher set of their own dancing steps appearing fresher. She must of spent the night in the Horde's command tent, supping on her familiars' work. At least now Mathias is relatively sure that blizzard really was a supernatural work, and they're looking at the perpetrator.

She can't see them, or she's pretending she can't, because she spins a slow circle, casting her bulbous eyes around in attempt to find them. At his side Flynn's arm tightens a little against his waist.

"Tell Baba where you are, maybe she has gifts for you!" The old woman cackles, blood and spittle further staining her chin and the front of her dress.

Flynn moves closer to him, slow, his lips are hot against the shell of his ear, "Does your mother still live?" The whisper is such that not even an elf would have heard it, Mathias is sure. He shakes his head. "Stay here at first." Flynn directs him and Mathias grips his arm hard enough to perhaps bruise, only lessening his grasp when Flynn stalls in his standing. Turning to look at the man, Flynn reaches out to cup his cheek and mouths out the words Mathias desperately doesn't want to see, 'Trust me. Just for now.'

He lets Flynn go, turning his head from him because he cannot stand to watch Flynn leave the shadows and safety of his side. Instead he turns his attention back to the witch, and slides his daggers from their sheaths, only finding shallow comfort in the weight of them in his hands.

The crunch of snow is once again apparent as Flynn leaves behind his skills to cough nervously, drawing the old hag's attention. Mathias watches the man give a rather dramatic bow.

"Hello Grandmother, I am a poor orphan from Dampwick, what gifts do you have for me?" Flynn's voice betrays the strength of his performance, it's shaking with fear.

The old woman hobbles toward Flynn, training one of her eyes on him as the other rolls lazily around the clearing still, looking, tracking, watching. "Your mother loved you very much, let me see..." the woman's attention turns from Flynn, dropping the gored up 'treat' to sort through the bag slung at her waist, "Let us see what Baba has for her grandson, but first, why have you come out alone?" She wags her finger at Flynn, still digging through the bag - just like a matron scolding an errant child on the streets of Stormwind.

Flynn stands slowly, his frame looking ungarded without his coat, Mathias grips his blades harder. "I don't know what you mean, grandmother."

The old woman laughs and moves her hand from the bag, too swift to sharp, Flynn isn't able to get out of range of the seeds she scatters at him, and within moments thick brambles and thorns raise up from the snow-packed earth, chaining Flynn in place. "Come out, child. Or Baba will make a feast of your friend."

Mathias takes a steadying breath, stands, and sheathes his blades.

When he walks he makes no sound, but she still finds him quickly as the shadows let him go.

"Hello grandmother, I am an orphan from Stormwind, I only want for one gift and it's not in your bag."

The old witch looks him up and down and then smiles at him, it's sickening what with the black of her rancid mouth and the blood stains, "Your mother also loved you very much," the words sting him more than he would have thought they could, "Take your gift, but earn it. Give me your gloves." She holds her hand out, "Since you both cost me my sup."

He grits his teeth and quickly removes his uniform's thick leather gloves. Instantly they sting from the chill, but he hands them to the old woman. She watches as he takes himself to Flynn's side and kneels in the snow, applying himself to the task of freeing the man from his botanical prison. To the side the witch tosses herself back onto one of the tree stumps the Horde had left behind when they'd made their camp, cackling a little as she bounced down. He ignores the way Flynn looks down at him until the man starts to struggle, maybe to aid him and Mathias throws him a quelling look, "Stop. You're going to cut yourself."

"I'm sorry, love." Flynn whispers, but Mathias isn't mad at him and he reaches up to squeeze the man's thigh where brambles aren't holding him still.

The first cut slices open his thumb. They come fast from there, no matter how careful he tries to be, and he's capable of picking the most tricky of locks, clearly an enchantment - she really meant for him to earn his prize. He works quick and concise, ignores the prick and drag of thorns as they come, when his palm slices open he breathes in a hiss and Flynn throws a plaintive look to the witch.

"Please Grandmother, please stop. He's spilled enough blood over me and I'm not worth it."

"He'd spill more for you lad, let him work. He's almost done, see?" She must have done something as quite a lot of the brambles have fallen away, more than what Mathias has already removed at least. It only takes a few more minutes and then he is standing and stepping back to let Flynn move.

"I was going to give you a blessing of the sea, but instead I will let you leave with your lives. You've seen what you came for anyway, children." The witch beats her bare feet against the stump, still holding Mathias' gloves. "Wash his hands with melted snow and Winter's Kiss or infection will set in, child of Dampwick." She jumps from the stump and stoops to pick up the arm she'd discarded before. Hobbling over to them after she rights herself, Mathias pushes down the urge to pull his blades, his hands were practically useless anyway, dripping blood on the snow. She hands Flynn the goblin blood-stained gloves and then peers at Mathias sharply. "Child of Stormwind, you will lose everything if you stay the course. Listen to Baba, she has given you your gift, do not waste it."

Flynn tugs him off into the trees, beating a steady path back toward the cabin, he doesn't look back but Mathias does - only to see nothing but an empty Horde Encampment and their own footprints in the snow.

"What -was- that? My intel implied the Order of Embers routed out the coven working in Drustvar. Yet you seemed to know exactly what to do in that situation until you went and got yourself rooted." He's putting his gloves on as Flynn pulls them along, the insides are clean enough and will prevent him from leaving a trail of blood the entire way back at the least.

"The Baba Yaga are older than that coven, they're protectors of the woods and have a nasty habit of eating wee babes, but they're also fond of orphans, especially ones who lost their mothers at a young age and lacked a loving matronly figure. I had a hunch I knew which Baba it was but they're all hard to tell apart and if I got it wrong she'd of just turned us into pigs and eaten us anyway so it was worth a shot." Flynn's voice is still trembling and the laugh he gives off is nervous and lacks all warmth. He turns, stopping sharply and brings Mathias' hands up between them, cupping the backs of his hands to leave his palms skyward, and bending to kiss his temple Flynn breaks. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, love." He's crying, hot tears fall against Mathias' own cheeks, startling him.

Before Mathias can react Flynn is moving again, arm wrapped around him, his other hand still holding Mathias' hands up in front of them. Keeping them elevated, Mathias realizes. "It's not your fault she was a vindictive wretch, she didn't even care it hit the floor, she just wanted to watch us suffer for her amusement."

"Of course she did, but I shouldn't have tried to run, I panicked. I... have to say I hoped you would have left me there, Mathi." Flynn stops sharply and gentles his arm from around Mathias, "Stay right there, love." He heads right for a cluster of bright blue blossoms rising up from the snow, Winter's Bite his mind helpfully supplies. His hands are itching something awful in the confines of his gloves and he feels hot, his head aches. Of course the brambles had been enchanted too, or tainted in some other way. He realizes now why Flynn had begun to lead them back to the cabin instead of toward the nearest town. His skin has gone hot and he can feel sweat beginning to bead at his brow. Flynn's coat has become stifling hot, but he dare not take it off, knowing that this heat won't benefit from the cold winter air.

When Flynn returns, hand full of flowers, Mathias is swaying on his feet, "You know I would have rather liked our first date to be less work oriented, but thank you for the bouquet, Fairwind. I do trust you, you know, I do." The Captain stares at him, mouth agape, before he laughs suddenly, loud and lovely, the sound carrying over the quiet forest. "Better get me in bed before I fall over, darling." Too late though, Mathias pitches forward and it's all black, but somehow his last thought is certainty that Flynn caught him, he trusts him afterall.

[hydrospanners]

fic masterlist: swtor

at the request of literally no one, i’ve created a masterlist of all my swtor fic. first is a chronological collection of all the swtor fic i’ve written in my “canon”. it’s broken up into snippets of time relative to the events of swtor. aus and gift fics are at the end. this is more for me than anything else, but if you have a bunch of time on your hands and want to read some fic--enjoy!!!

i am the most self-indulgent author known to man so there are numerous fics that don’t feature any canon characters in any significant way. i’m not sorry, but i did mark them with an asterisk for everyone’s edification. i also wrote actually vaguely descriptive descriptions instead of whatever bullshit i put in the descriptions on ao3. all links go to ao3 because tumblr was not designed for reading and it shows.

53 fics below the cut... what a trip, y’all.

backstory these fics are about things that happened before the opening of the class story. 

* a very velaran life day - snippets of different life days in the velaran family history. no canon characters in it yet, but maybe this christmas i’ll get to some fics that aren’t solely about my own ocs.

* the shape of things to come - the story about how rea finally joined the jedi at the ripe old age of sixteen.

* a dimming star - the first steps on rea’s jedi path. they aren’t fun ones, lads!

* necessary sacrifice - like three years down the timeline and still no canon characters! rea continues to struggle with this whole being a jedi thing, and it continues to struggle with her! this one features a haircut as a symbol of a turning point in the story.

bars and stripes - canon characters??? in my fic????? its more likely than you think. this is a shameless ripoff of an episode of m*a*s*h masquerading as doc backstory. does it have cameos and/or mentions of other healer companions? maybe!!!

prelude these are fics set during the prologue of the class stories, everything that happens between the start and completing the capital planet missions. 

* memories - rhese? do you finally get a say in all this??? this is the moment rhese and rea finally see each other for the first time since they were recruited to the jedi, set at the very start of the class story.

attachments - kira and rea talk about rhese. that’s it. that’s the fic.

act one all the stories set between killing tarnis and beginning preparations to capture the emperor (everything after coruscant ending and pubside balmorra starting). rip orgus. one day ill finish all those wips about how sad it was when he bit it. in the mean time, can i interest you in some gifsets?

lessons - now rea’s padawan, kira reflects on how bad rea is at teaching, though maybe without as much clarity as i just implied.

a tangled web - so stupid it’s basically crack, kira has to rescue rea from an embarrassing situation.

of flowers, failure, and the virtues of friendship - kira and rhese start to bond over the shared torment of having to be around rea. rivals to friends (one day i’ll write the “to lovers” part that comes after).

act two all the stories during the time when the knight is prepping for the assault on the emperor’s fortress and then assaulting it. everything between pubside balmorra starting and breaking free from the emperor’s fortress after that super successful plan to bring him in alive. great job jedi!

filling the table - is that shipfic????? the reason i started writing swtor fic in the first place??? this is rea being thirsty disguised as me sewing seeds for the eventual doc x rea romance. pazaak themed for some reason? (doc x rea)

when the wicked play - this is me being obsessed with the translation of video game violence to vaguely realistic circumstances posing as doc feeling some kind of way about rea murdering a whole bunch of dudes who wanted to hurt her but weren’t powerful enough. not primarily romantic but definitely some setup for their relationship.

night shift -  everything is doc x rea and nothing hurts. rea’s got work to do but who can work when there’s a horny mustachio’d doctor trying to persuade her back to bed??? it’s not love it’s just good sex!!!!! honest!!!!(doc x rea)

these nights never seem to go to plan - rea isn’t yearning for affection, she’s just too tired to get out of doc’s bed after so much boning. okay maybe this is about slightly more than good sex after all... doc x rea TENDERNESS.

somewhere we’ve not been before - this is the good shit lads!!!! doc x rea!!! first dates!!!! shenanigans!!!! honest to goodness falling in love between all that fucking that do!!!!!!!!!!!! (doc x rea)

no better taste - a sequel to the last fic featuring the morning after!!! some post-horniness introspection!! tenderness!!!!!! hints of yearning!!! god i miss the days before the mind control and the carbonite when the problems were normal things like commitment and abandonment issues. (doc x rea)

heart - rea sends doc a rocking “thanks for the great sex” gift!! rhese is disgusted by every part of it! this is comedy folks!!!! (doc x rea... i guess)

interruptions - rea takes a work call while she’s boning doc. that’s the whole fic. i think this was my first spicy fic?? i can’t remember. (doc x rea)

* where you go to rest your bones - sibling tenderness!!!! their relationship is super complicated, but rhese is reminded that underneath all the bullshit rea really does love him a lot.... it’s both sad and not sad at the same time. schroedinger’s sadness.

gifts - the crew tries to plan a gift for rea, but what do you get for the woman who’s banned from everything?? so dumb it’s basically crack and i’m not sorry for it.

crapshoot - the crew takes bets on what rea’s next Bad Idea TM will be. she shows them you can’t predict chaos. basically crack but i don’t care.

spoonful of sugar - vignettes about the jedi knight crew dealing with sickness. almost entirely comedy and/or fluff. doc x rea content is present and rhese x kira content is suggested.

a little eggstra - grocery shopping gone awry, based on an old tumblr text post. hella stupid, yet hella fun. doc x rea is in the background.

to break our bones for kindling - you thought we were just having good times??? you’re a fool. doc’s job is to heal people and rea’s job is to break them. sometimes they have work-related disagreements!!! be sad with me. doc x rea.

* when a problem comes along, you must whip it - i can only stop being stupid for so long, so here’s the story about how rea came to possess her lightwhip, the stupidest weapon known to man. these events do not go well for rhese.

things unsaid - a dumb doc x rea drabble about stupid shit rea says when she’s been mortally wounded. if doc were to just let her die, no one would blame him.

* the things you do for love are gonna come back to you one by one - a bit of a character/relationship study about what rhese is willing to sacrifice for love of his sister, no matter how complicated things are between them. a second chapter about what rea sacrifices for rhese is in my wips and will be completed... .eventually. 

lovesick - doc x rea ship content. my interpretation of that one conversation where doc’s like “hey would your jedi powers tell me if im going crazy also do you love me? check yes or no. i will not elaborate.”

* the things we left behind - oh no lads.... we’re building up to the fortress shit.... our good times are over. rea does some underhanded shit to make sure her brother doesn’t go on this mission to capture the emperor cause the plan does not seem like a great one.

act three wow wasn’t act two fun??? so much silly nonsense and love. now get a drink assholes it’s Time To Be Sad. act three covers everything in the class stories after coming back from that super successful assault on the emperor’s fortress (great job jedi!) to finally stabbing the bastard in the dark fortress and hoping that gets the job done at last. (spoilers: it doesn’t!!!!!) aka stories from belsavis to the final assault on dromund kaas.

everything we left there - it’s trauma time!!! rea’s fucked up from the fortress and feeling the pressure (thanks for the prophecy scourge!!! love that!!!!) so she hurts people she cares about to protect them. it’s her signature move!

the only thing that’s real - rea continues to be fucked up from what happened on the fortress but hey... at least she isn’t fucked up alone??? sad doc x rea content.

into the jungle - the gang is on belsavis and no one is having a good time! since rea isn’t herself, doc tries to pick up the slack and reassure kira that it’ll all be okay! it goes about as well as you’d expect.

interlude now that i’m looking at it, there are some serious gaps in my fic coverage. anyway, sad hours are over, the emperor is (kind of but not really) dead and there may still be a war on but things are looking up! this covers everything between the emperor’s death and the beginning of kotfe, including forged alliances and the shadow of revan.

hands too hungry - doc finally takes rea on that honeymoon she didn’t really care about in the first place! tragically, rea is way too horny to be impressed by what an amazing vacation he planned for himself them. peak rea x doc content.

no kind of romantic - it’s doc and rea’s one year anniversary but they are both working on opposite sides of the galaxy. sad! it’s doc x rea fluff disguised as angst.

a little help from a friend - rea and theron are worst/best friends and i recycle romance tropes into annoying friendship ones. this is the least sexy sharing body heat fic you’ve ever (not?) read. bite me.

retirement - rea has some feelings about her very violent, stressful job and how it interferes with her husband doing things that actually help and heal. doc x rea content.

the dreaded kotfe content these are sad hours!!! this is everything from arcann’s invasion on, cause i’m not breaking it up by post-carbonite storyline you bastards. i don’t know why i’m being so hostile no one asked me to do this.

every doubt we had - after watching what may have been his sister’s death by exploding starship, rhese is having trouble sleeping. no one is more surprised than him when seeks out doc for comfort! doc & rhese brothers by marriage solidarity. carbonite angst...

love is a waiting game - rea’s been MIA for six months since the ship she was on bit it and her crew is finally making some changes. doc is sad about it. doc & rhese brothers by marriage solidarity again. doc x rea angst.

waiting - some time has passed and now rhese is the sad one again!!! grief is so funny isn’t it??? hahahaha haha hahahaha why is no one else laughing? doc & rhese brothers by marriage solidarity yet again.

the greatest distance - rea’s back baby!!!! oh but this isn’t a celebration. she’s taking a tour of her long lost ship now that all the people she loved aren’t in it. it’s a sad one, fellas. 

* when the stars are the only thing we share - rea tracks down some people from her past to help her track down her brother since he went missing while she was having a nap. no canon characters were used in the making of this fic.

leave her sleeping a little longer - rea has a dream and wakes up missing doc even more than she was before. sad hours. doc x rea angst.

take back what the kingdom stole - after theron pulls some Shenanigans (you know the ones) his friendship with rea is in peril. they both break character and actually talk shit out for once.

a wish your heart makes - rea dreams a dream. so does doc. it’s a wet one. this makes it sound lighthearted but actually it’s angst with a side of porn. doc x rea supreme spicy/sad content.

overserved - back to crack baby!! rea gets drunk and acts a fool based on a joke made in a discord server. this is the best shit i’ve ever written.

thrusting back into my skin i feel anew - the band is back together again and everything is fine!!!! just kidding -- actually people change a lot in six years and rea and doc are having some trouble fitting back into the marriage they had back then. doc x rea angst but with a hopeful ending!

non-canon fics i’ve written a couple of things with my dumb characters that are too stupid even for me to put into their canon story or are otherwise aus. these are them, listed in no particular order.

the lies we tell ourselves - a sadder (yet possibly more realistic) take on the ossus reunion and what follows. a bit experimental. doc x rea angst au.

archiban frodrick’s kennel - a romance au where doc is a vet and rea has a pet with a health issue, inspired by my own stupid dog whom i love very much. doc x rea. spiciness suggested but not detailed; sorry horndogs.

fallen - a fun au where rea’s shittiness as a teacher and everything being bad leads to kira falling to the dark side... its angst lads.

the new recruit - rusk’s squad adopts a kitten. that’s the fic.

cruel - ever wonder how things would have turned out if rea was never smuggled off eriadu and got plucked up by the sith?? no??? well i have and i wrote about it. the self-indulgence never ends.

fill my lungs with sweetness - a gift fic for @hoiist; flower-themed vignettes about doc expressing his love for hoiist’s knight, vii. this is some real soft shit, lads.

remember me, love - another gift fic for @hoiist; this time some ossus-flavored angst about doc seeing through vii’s eyes in his dreams. what he sees is not comforting!!! all aboard the angst train--choo choo!!