#Moonlit Thorns

[fated-mates]

An absolute classic for a reason, we’re talking about BEAUTY AND THE BEAST today — about the trope itself, about how the 1991 Disney movie brought it back to life (yes, we see you, Dain), and about why we love the vibe of scarred and broken men in a castle being found and renovated by whip smart, bookish heroines. Spoiler: It’s patriarchy.

[mewguca]

i have a surprising following from YouTube community posts so I tried to make some character introduction slides. um I think I kinda failed bc I yapped too much but ah well... aha

ill make more later, hopefully.

my website also has some more info if you're curious (it's a WIP, though)

[partywithoutsmiling]

It is finished!

From left to right, the grandparents- Rosiepuff and Brazen- and the parents, Mulberry and Thorn(berry)

This is the pretty much universal headcanon for all of my AUs, and you can read more about them here

(an additional headcanon to Thorn: the Skull belt is worn only by the Royal Rock Family and the Skull Tattoo marks the Heir to the Throne)

(Considering all that, pretty neat to imagine a fun scenario where Barb notices the tattoo on Branch's chest when he gets zombified, and after World Tour finale leaves her pondering what it might mean)

[empty-vessel-of-a-person]

Spoiler Alert and Theory for Dawnbreaker

I’m glad to pull Zayne’s Moonlit Dream. But it breaks my heart because my theory is that instead of coming back together in Linkon, They got separated…That’s why we are able to meet Dawnbreaker.

Why must you always have Zayne to suffer???!!!!

😭😭😭😭😭💙❄️💙❄️💙❄️

[dreamieparadise]

@moonlit-mystery-writer finished drawing Celeste! Hope you like it? She's soooo pretty!!! Thank you for allowing me to draw her haha

Comms open

[rayan12sworld]

Right now this fanfic is about 2 part ,part 1 is 14 chapter, it's about lan wangji that can hear lies when some one say it

~~~~~

💖💙in the shadow of moonlit flowers

By:Reverie (cl410)

Summary:

It was a curse, some said. A gift, according to others. But Lan Zhan considered it neither a gift nor a curse; it was simply a part of him, the same as his golden core.

But he would treasure it either way, because it was his mother's greatest gift to him, and her last.

Chapter:14/14

Words:56,683

Status:completed

Author's tumblr:@i-like-plan-m (spoiler a head)

Wei Ying’s laugh rang over the courtyard, bright and cheerful as he slung an arm over Jiang Wanyin’s shoulders, ignoring the sect heir’s incensed protests. “Don’t lie, shidi, I know you love me!” The lie sounded like a gong in Lan Zhan’s head, startling him so badly that he flinched, stumbled to an awkward stop, and whipped his head around to stare at Wei Ying, who was for once paying him no attention. His ever-present smile was in place, nothing false or fixed about it. Wei Ying wore happiness and humor like armor, and Lan Zhan wondered suddenly if anyone had ever seen past it. He hadn’t… until now.

~

I know you love me. The low, booming signal of Wei Ying’s lie was significant for two reasons: the timing, and the strength of the sound. The greater the lie, the louder the noise, and this one had left a painful echo in Lan Zhan’s ears from the force of it. And the timing… the lie had been marked on a single word: love. I know you love me. But Wei Ying did not believe this, not even a little. Lan Zhan… did not know what to do with this revelation.

😭😭😭

~~

Lan Zhan stared at his hands. “You like him.” “I— what does that have to do with—” He broke off, pinching the bridge of his nose in a rare display of frustration. “Wangji, is this about Mingjue?” “No,” Lan Zhan said, mutinous, but Lan Huan was still talking, gently explaining, “I will soon be an opposing sect leader, Wangji. Even with the sect’s good relations with Qinghe, our relationship could never be…” He paused. Took a deep breath. Barely repressed grief bled off of him like waves. “We have a duty to our respective sects; Mingjue and I would always be torn in two different directions. It was a mutual decision to no longer pursue our relationship.” “Is it not worth it?” Lan Zhan challenged. Lan Huan drew back, eyes wide from the force of his response, but he forged on, emotions bubbling over too fast to contain. “You once said he was the other half of your soul, but now you smile at a stranger like you did Mingjue-ge. You listen to his lies.” “It isn’t that simple, Wangji—” “No.” Lan Zhan’s voice was so sharp that Lan Huan’s mouth snapped shut. “You like him, so you didn’t listen to me.” “Lan Zhan—” “You ignored me. You said that I lied.” Lan Zhan jerked to his feet, fumbling with his qin as his breath came faster, hitching in his chest. He angled his head so Lan Huan would not see the hurt on his face but wasn’t quite fast enough; Lan Huan made a stricken sound and moved instinctively towards him.

Lan Zhan stepped out of reach. “It hurts me to hear him talk,” he whispered, hating himself for the waver in his voice. “But you ignored me.” He left before the burning behind his eyes could spill over, before his brother’s tangible anguish and remorse could deter him from the truth. Before the emotion rising like a tidal wave in his chest came crashing down and ruined everything

~~meng yao b**** how can you hurt my baby

By your lie ,lan xichen whyyyyyyyy 😭😭😭😭

Notes: Meng Yao: *breathes* LWJ: *loudly plays the “A BITCH IS LYING” song*

~~~~

Since the day his gift had been woven into his golden core, Lan Zhan had never once wished to hear a lie. He could never have even fathomed a situation in which he would prefer dishonesty. Not until Wei Ying. Because sometimes, Wei Ying’s truths hurt worse to hear than his lies.

~

Wei Ying sent him a winning smile, the kind that lit his entire face and turned his eyes into crescents. Lan Zhan’s heart thudded once, hard, in his chest. Oh. “You broke curfew to feed wild rabbits,” Lan Zhan repeated slowly. Exhilaration rushed through his veins, a dizzying contradiction to the slow swoop of his stomach. Oh. Love, Lan Zhan discovered abruptly, felt like hurtling from the sky and experiencing nothing but quiet, tender joy the whole way down.

~

His own brother had fallen victim to it, however briefly, so what was to stop the others from doing the same? He had no formal ties to Qinghe Nie, nothing beyond a welcome that could be revoked, a place that could be taken by someone who knew all things people wanted to hear, regardless of the truth. Emptiness pressed in on him, the world suddenly stark and hollow and loud, so loud, a cacophony of lies that never ended, just got louder and louder and— —stopped, the world falling abruptly silent as he crashed straight into Wei Ying, whose arms windmilled as he valiantly tried and failed to remain on his feet.

~

“Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying stepped closer, eyes searching his face. Lan Zhan still didn’t know what his face was doing, but it clearly wasn’t good. Wei Ying’s eyes widened, worry drawing lines around his mouth and eyes. “Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan choked out, the frostbite burn searing his heart. “What is it?” Wei Ying's hands fluttered uselessly around him as his anxiety spiked. “What happened?” He hesitated— afraid, so afraid— but said Meng Yao’s name between gritted teeth, suddenly desperate to know if Meng Yao had taken this from him, too, if he had stolen his first and only love while Lan Zhan hadn’t been paying attention. “Um. Who?” Wei Ying asked, clearly baffled, and vicious relief hit Lan Zhan so fast he swayed. Wei Ying made a noise of alarm and lunged forward, hands cupping Lan Zhan’s elbows to steady him even as Lan Zhan let his head drop to Wei Ying’s shoulder with a rough exhale

~

"He still breaks rules.”

"Yes. He is… I believe A-Xian is searching for the limits,” she said, too soft to carry beyond the hushed air between them, a space for secrets to surface from the depths. The trees cast long shadows above her that pooled in the hollows of her cheeks and eyes, carving fierce angles into her delicate face. Something about her tone, the odd, sinking melody carrying her words to him made Lan Zhan hesitate. Here, in this space between them, the truth felt like an ugly, dangerous thing, too terrible to look at directly as it unfolded, piece by piece. He gathered his courage. “The limits?” “The punishments here… he is looking for the limit, for whatever it takes to finally provoke the reaction he is expecting to find.” He could not see her face, carefully angled as it was, but that buried truth still stuck in her throat like a blade, staining her words crimson. His own words felt like they were scraped out of him when he found his voice again. “What is he expecting to find?” Jiang Yanli raised her head and looked at him, face ironed into a grim stillness. “Violence, Lan-er-gongzi,” she said, the blade freed. “He is expecting violence.” Her answer was resolute, unwavering. Her honesty sent a shiver of pain through him, the blade unsheathed with a ruthlessness that left them both bleeding. Lan Zhan pressed his hands into the bench seat, the wood groaning and splintering beneath his grip. He did not try to staunch the flow from this new wound, one of many gashes left by an excruciating truth— a reality he’d never thought possible before Wei Ying. Instead Lan Zhan held fast, anchored in place by the same principles upon which he’d built his world.

~

Lan Zhan frowned. When he must return home. A twinge, a faint lilting note in the soft song that carried her words to him. Must. Lan Zhan’s heart thudded hard in his chest. When Wei Ying must return home– but that was not wholly true. Wei Ying did not have to return home. Wei Ying had a choice, whether he realized it or not. But— No. No, Wei Ying had a choice, but it was up to Lan Zhan to make this choice known to him. That tiny kernel of hope inside him sparked, glowing brighter with Jiang Yanli’s offering. Her selflessness astounded him— Lan Zhan could not imagine a world in which he willingly encouraged someone to take Wei Ying from him. But he had not been raised within the torrent of Madam Yu’s judgment and displeasure. Lan Zhan dipped his head in understanding; Jiang Yanli was trying to save Wei Ying from her mother’s towering rage before it broke him entirely, knowing he would never willingly leave his siblings.

"No matter how many times he finds trouble here, Lan-er-gongzi,” Jiang Yanli murmured, watching their approach, “please know that A-Xian only invests time and attention to the places he loves— because the better he knows a place, the safer he feels.” Lan Zhan’s breath hitched. Jiang Yanli looked at Wei Ying as though a part of her grieved, as though she saw a little brother she loved— and one she had failed. But the misery staining her expression had abated, even now with Wei Ying having clearly ensured yet another punishment for trespassing.

~~

Lan Zhan spoke past the sudden lump in his throat and said what he’d wanted to say the moment he’d realized how little Wei Ying valued himself. “Love and respect yourself.” Wei Ying flinched. “Do not make assumptions about others.” So soft it was barely a whisper, Lan Zhan replied, “Do not tell lies.” It wasn’t quite a lie. But the implication— that Wei Ying did love and respect himself and Lan Zhan incorrectly assumed otherwise— was not true

Lan Zhan blinked back the burn of tears. “Life is more than enduring current circumstances.” Wei Ying’s breath caught. “I don’t recognize that one.” “No. It’s… advice,” Lan Zhan admitted, ears hot with the force of his blush. He felt as though he’d revealed something he usually kept close, something vulnerable and hopeful that rarely saw the light of day because it was all too fragile. “Lan Zhan is too wise,” Wei Ying complained, but there was a good-natured grin on his face. He heaved a dramatic sigh and shook his head. “Ah, Lan Zhan, I don’t deserve a friend like you.” The discordant sound of a lie hurt just as badly as the knowledge that Wei Ying truly believed it. “Lie,” Lan Zhan said, voice sharp-edged with pain and displeasure. Wei Ying had the audacity to look surprised. “Isn’t that a matter of opinion?” He asked skeptically, apparently willing to compromise on any point except his own worth. “No,” Lan Zhan replied.

~~

“I always wondered about you Lans— no way is everyone in the sect so obedient and disciplined all the time!” Wei Ying hiccuped another helpless little laugh. “Your rebellion just started at a young age. You were ahead of the crowd— a rogue baby loose in the Cloud Recesses!” Lan Zhan made a sound that was not unlike a growl and kept his face covered. “Did you really bite them if they tried to stop you?” Wei Ying tugged at his wrists again. “Lan Zhan. Hey, Lan Zhan. Who have you not bitten in your sect, huh?” Lan-xiansheng, Lan Zhan thought darkly, had definitely put him up to that question. “You,” Lan Zhan muttered, before his brain caught up with his mouth. Then the mental image and ensuing jolt of heat nearly sent him tumbling off the dock.

~~

He forgot, Lan Zhan thought dumbly. Forgot to put clothes on. Did Wei Ying wander around Yunmeng half-naked? Was that normal for him? Would he do that here, where Lan Zhan lived? Where Lan Zhan would see him in various states of disarray and be expected to survive that? “Ridiculous,” he choked out. He stomped after Wei Ying, cursing the flare of heat that had undoubtedly turned his ears crimson.

~~

“No,” Lan Zhan said hastily as Wei Ying wrestled his outer robe into place, but the damage was already done. Lan Huan practically vibrated in place, delighted with this new ammunition to mercilessly tease Lan Zhan. “Hi, Zewu-Jun!” Wei Ying chirped, blissfully unaware of the wicked glint in Lan Huan’s eyes. “We’re late for dinner. It’s my fault.” “Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan’s sigh was almost a groan as he watched Huan-ge happily misinterpret Wei Ying’s meaning. “Oh? How so?” “Well, we might have been on time if I hadn’t wanted to talk after–” Swimming, Lan Zhan mentally added with mounting horror as Huan-ge’s eyes nearly doubled in size. After swimming. – “plus I was all wet and kind of sweaty, too–” From the swimming, Lan Zhan shouted internally. Wet from SWIMMING. – “and then Lan Zhan had to remind me to put my clothes back on–” Well, that one Lan Zhan had no explanation for. Who just forgot they weren’t wearing clothes? What kind of obscene place was Yunmeng, anyway? – “and it’s a lot harder to get dressed while speed-walking through the woods than you might think, so now we’re running late.” …Getting dressed after swimming, Lan Zhan added with grim resignation.

~~😂😂😂 I'm dying here, lan wangji can't even talk

Lan Huan made a strangled noise. “So. Why does he feel better now?” “I am taking a vow of silence,” Lan Zhan decided. “You’re looking a little rumpled, too, didi,” Lan Huan managed through choked-off laughter. “Did Wei-gongzi help you get dressed?” Lan Zhan growled under his breath and stalked away, trailed by sounds of muffled hilarity because his brother was the worst. “And in the woods, didi? Where’s your sense of shame?” Lan Zhan considered biting him, for old time’s sake, but out of everyone in the sect Huan-ge was most accomplished at dodging. “What a compelling argument you must have made for him to stay. Solid strategy, didi,” Huan-ge gasped out, clutching his stomach as he bent double with laughter. Lan Zhan whirled around. Planted his hands on his hips, leveled a glare at his brother, and said in his most withering tone, “Wei Ying went swimming.” Then added, “Alone.” Just to be clear.

~

Wei Ying had no concept of his own worth. Could not bring himself to believe that anyone else valued him either. Meaning Wei Ying would never assume that his feelings, if they existed, were reciprocated. Meaning that Lan Zhan would have to take that risk, that first step towards him. Meaning that Lan Zhan would have to be the brave one. He took a deep breath. Another. Gathered his courage, dimly aware that they were still holding hands, and said firmly, “Wei Ying is worth it to me.” Wei Ying’s head came up, eyes wide, mouth parted as Lan Zhan amended, “worth everything to me.”

~

Wei Ying made a muffled sound of surprise against his mouth, which was entirely distracting and also made Lan Zhan want to bite him. Just a little. Wei Ying tilted his head, changing the angle, and suddenly their mouths were aligned and the kiss deepened, becoming soft and slow and sweet. Lan Zhan’s mind emptied of everything but the press of Wei Ying’s lips against his, helpless against the onslaught of sensation, heat pooling low in his belly and leaving him breathless and shivery. They parted when their lungs demanded it, both of them breathing hard, and stared at each other for a long moment. “Oh,” Wei Ying managed. “Oh,” Lan Zhan echoed faintly. “I didn’t know you liked me like that.” He looked as stunned as Lan Zhan felt. His hand was still clenched in Wei Ying’s robes; he could not make his fingers cooperate and release him. “I do.” “Obviously,” Wei Ying teased, because of course he did. “Unless you kiss all your friends like that.” Lan Zhan huffed. “Only Wei Ying.” His face went soft and awed. He leaned in to rest his forehead against Lan Zhan’s and whispered, “Good, because I only want to kiss Lan Zhan.” Lan Zhan closed his eyes and savored the truth of his words. Let it banish the trembling uncertainty of the future, a balm to his battered nerves. Lan Zhan wanted to kiss him again. He tugged on Wei Ying’s outer robe to pull him further into his space. “Again.” “So forward!” Wei Ying laughed, one hand wrapped around his wrist to keep him close. “Lan Zhan, are you always this bossy?” “Yes,” he admitted, and couldn’t help but smile when Wei Ying threw his head back and laughed, breathing life into the weary silence of the jingshi and filling all its empty spaces with humor and wonder and joy.

Part 2

💙In the half shade of my thorns

By:Reverie (cl410)

Summary:

Lan Zhan’s gift did not work on speculation or potentialities. Maybe because there were too many possible outcomes, too many futures that could exist, all depending on an infinite number of choices between now and then. Or maybe because the person speaking did not know whether their theory was true, or if any of their theories might be true, until a choice was made and the future shifted once again.

So how could Lan Zhan ever know the truth for certain?

Chapter:8/15

Words:46,570

Status:ongoing

gremlin lan zhan❤️❤️

"Haha! Look at that, now I’ve corrupted both of your nephews,” Lan-xiansheng told Uncle in a tone so smug it bordered on gloating. “And all I had to do for Wangji was steal Yunmeng Jiang’s head disciple for him.” “Xiansheng!” Lan Zhan hissed, mortified.

"What? Why are you embarrassed, Wangji, it’s hardly a secret! Besides, I was going to steal him anyway, because clearly my colleagues in Yunmeng can’t be trusted with the truly exceptional students.” Lan-xiansheng huffed and then added, not quite under his breath, “Idiots.”

~~~

(This meeting is important.” Uncle sighed when Lan Zhan stared at the ground to hide his disappointment. He seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, but finally added, “However, you may leave once Wei Wuxian returns.” Lan Zhan brightened and thanked him; he pointedly ignored the expressions of everyone within earshot and turned to inform the disciples at the gates to notify him upon Wei Ying’s arrival. “Pushover,” Lan-xiansheng accused Uncle, clearly amused. Uncle muttered, “Which of us bullied the Jiang Sect into giving up its head disciple for him?” )

~~~😂😂 wahhh they really loves him

Come and take it,” Lan Zhan said. He tightened the knot with his teeth, then raised a brow and added, “If you can.” A slow, wicked grin was the only response before Wei Ying leaped forward and the battle resumed. It was hard not to be distracted by the blazing intensity of Wei Ying’s focus. He was beautiful, so bright and vibrant it was like staring at the sun. Lan Zhan could not look away. He felt as though the whole world had shifted when he wasn’t paying attention, and now everything was brighter, warmer. The sun on the earth, scorching. Lan Zhan, drenched in sunlight. Thawing, bit by bit, like winter coaxed into spring, into blooming, by his own personal sun. Had he ever felt this way before? Overwhelmed by the searing heat of happiness, helpless against a smile that widened in slow degrees.

~~

“…Only with you, then.” Lan Zhan swallowed hard, because that was the truth, only he didn’t understand it. “To tease me,” he concluded, with the sinking feeling that he was being mocked. But— “So you’ll pay attention to me,” Wei Ying admitted, looking away as though embarrassed. Truth, Lan Zhan thought numbly. They hadn’t talked about the kiss the night before. Lan Zhan was afraid Wei Ying didn’t want to do it again, but— Wei Ying had just told him something, had been brave enough to be vulnerable with him, so he took a deep breath and met Wei Ying halfway. “I always pay attention to Wei Ying.” Wei Ying’s gaze snapped to his face. “You do not,” he said, half in disbelief. “I do.” “Since when?!” “Since always.” “Oh. Because I caused so much trouble?” Wei Ying wondered. Lan Zhan resisted the urge to shake him. “No.” Wei Ying stared at him expectantly, but Lan Zhan just blinked back at him. “Lan Zhan!” He wriggled in protest. “You can’t just say that and then not explain!” “Behave,” Lan Zhan said mildly, keeping him pinned. “Be nice,” Wei Ying shot back, a little sulky. “Why?” Lan Zhan asked, then smirked at Wei Ying’s look of profound outrage. “What is this! Who are you?! Do you bully anybody else this way?” “Only Wei Ying,” he said with a placid smile; It startled a laugh out of Wei Ying, left him grinning at Lan Zhan from… very close

They are so cute together ❤️

~~~

Lan-er-gongzi, bring your friend over here for a free sample!” “Don’t you want to buy him something special?” “Let him try this, Lan-er-gongzi!” And, worst of all, the elderly woman who sold hand-crafted musical instruments that Lan Zhan often paused to appreciate, who gave him a knowing look and said, “Lan-er-gongzi, does your handsome friend play any instruments?” Ears warm, Lan Zhan admitted, “The dizi.” He could only be grateful Wei Ying hadn’t overheard her, too immersed in his discussion across the street with a local weaver about fabrics and dyes. He grappled with the urge to run away, but the irresistible lure of the gleaming guqins on display proved stronger than the potential embarrassment. “A good duet partner for the guqin,” she said slyly. Lan Zhan ducked his head to hide his burning ears. Why had all of his elders started teasing him so mercilessly? Were they all conspiring to make Lan Zhan’s head explode from embarrassment? Would he ever know peace again?)

No I don't think so ,there will be no peace 😂😂😂

At one point, Wei Ying paused and scanned the street, seemingly oblivious to all attempts to get his attention until he finally spotted Lan Zhan and relaxed, giving him a cheerful wave that made everyone’s focus turn to him for a brief, terrifying moment. He held very still, expression foreboding, and quietly sighed in relief when they swarmed Wei Ying with questions instead. Amateur mistake, Lan Zhan thought with sympathetic amusement as Wei Ying blinked at the sudden teasing interrogation. He did a double take at one of the questions fired at him, rubbed the back of his neck with a bashful expression, and gave a quiet response that had all the aunties in the crowd cooing over him. He glanced at Lan Zhan in silent appeal for help. Lan Zhan just blinked slowly back at him, unmoved, and had the rare, sudden urge to laugh out loud when Wei Ying’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.

~~~~

Lan Zhan obviously had zero problems telling people no if the situation called for it— which was often for someone who experienced actual physical pain in every social interaction— but it was more fun with Wei Ying, if only for the amused reaction it got him. …Or, to be more accurate, for the way Wei Ying’s consistently fond responses sparked the deep, golden glow inside his chest that was rapidly becoming a familiar sensation. He treasured it like he did everything else Wei Ying gave him, because Lan Zhan had learned to expect only pain from others; he never could have dreamed the possibility of this quiet, encompassing joy he felt instead. So he let Wei Ying’s playful scolding envelop him like a salt-sewn breeze, let the riptide of affection drag him under. He surrendered to its steady pull, adrift in those gentle waters until the currents finally converged into the vast, muted depths of reverence. And all the fragments of his heart drifted softly in his wake: a love like light refracting through the deep— a love worth drowning in.

~~~

"It has recently come to my attention that a cultivator within this very room possesses a unique ability that could resolve this dispute without any room for doubt. After all, he is one of the most accomplished cultivators of his generation and has an established reputation for integrity.” Lan Zhan’s breath caught in his throat. The world seemed to freeze, suspending him in this sick state of dread, the impending, inescapable sense of doom. In front of him, Huan-ge and Uncle went rigid in their seats; Lan-xiansheng watched Jin Guangshan with narrowed eyes. Wei Ying made a sound of confusion. Nie Mingjue inhaled sharply. Nie Huaisang dropped his fan with a clatter. And Jin Guangyao looked away, right as Jin Guangshan turned to stare directly at Lan Zhan. “As it turns out, this esteemed cultivator is capable of detecting any lie, spoken or unspoken, simply through proximity. Isn’t that right, Lan-er-gongzi?”

~~~

Lan Zhan looked up when Huan-ge whirled around, unclamping his hands in time to hear his brother snap, “Wei Wuxian, get him out of here. Now.” Wei Ying looked a little startled at his tone, everyone else taken aback by the intensity in his voice. But then there were hands on his elbows, pulling him gently to his feet, guiding him through the blurry sea of people. He was aware of white-clad disciples parting, glanced up to find an unyielding line of stone-faced Lan disciples closing ranks again as they passed, covering their exit and blocking line of sight. And Huan-ge, tall and bright and so furious that the force of his qi made everyone shuffle a step aside or even halt in their tracks. His brother was renowned as the perfect diplomat, polite and kind and gentle… so people forgot what it meant to be the First Jade of Lan, the Sect Heir and first ranked in their generation. They forgot that Lan Xichen could be angry

~~~~ fuck Jin Guangyao did itttttt

“Not a curse,” Lan Zhan said stubbornly. How could they call it a curse? How could they reduce his mother’s last gift to him to a curse, let it be stained with all the implications that came with that word, and expect him to be okay with it? Framing it as a curse turned it into something he was forced to bear, something to suffer rather than a gift he would fight tooth and nail to preserve, no matter the cost. Curse implied the caster intended harm and, regardless of the pain and the threat to his golden core, his mother never intended to hurt him— she’d wanted to protect him. Lan Zhan treasured the legacy his mother left him. He didn’t care that her final gift came with pain. If he decided it wasn’t a curse, then it wasn’t a curse.

~~

“Using your power to oppress those without it. Allowing harm to befall a child.” He looked towards the Yunmeng Jiang delegation and quietly added, “Blaming a child for things beyond their control. Harming a child under your care.” Wei Ying sucked in a breath. Across the room, Jiang Wanyin went dead white, staring fearfully at his mother. Madam Yu narrowed glittering eyes at Lan Zhan. He stared her down, unwavering, until she finally scoffed and looked away.

~~yesss tell them babe🤧🤧

He’d thought his only option was to bear the weight of their lies, but… why? Let them carry the weight of their own choices for once. They weren't his responsibility, were not his burden to carry.

~~ of course it's their responsibility not yours

“‘I trust you. I believe you. I am not afraid.’” He looked towards the dais, met Jin Guangyao’s unreadable gaze. “‘I am sorry.’”

~~

“STOP FLIRTING AND GET OVER HERE, ALREADY,” Lan-xiansheng bellowed, drawing the entire room’s attention towards them. “He does this on purpose, doesn’t he?” “Yes.” “…So, are you grateful enough to go over there with me?”

[mip-dev-center]

everything else from june 2023. (except initial lof ref but that gets its own post in july). fuck my stupid baka life. the twr and sls doodle is really cute, haha

[hisui-dreamer]

Hi, congratulations on 1k followers! I love your writing a lot and I was hoping you could do Villainess AUs with Malleus? Like isekai manhwa style? Thank you!!

the gazelle's sweet briar

Pairing: Malleus Draconia x f!reader

Synopsis: your first objective was to avoid the main characters, but it's not easy when you only have the memories of your friend's ramblings to work off of

Tags: cliché isekai plot, reincarnation, fluff, arranged marriage, tw (mentioned): bad parenting, patriarchal society, death

Word count: 1.6k+

Notes: @coralinnii has an amazing series based on isekai villainesses, so i definitely recommend you check out her work too! im so in love with it (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

Masterlist

Once upon a time, there lived a villainess of exceptional allure, her visage as enchanting as a moonlit night. However, this bewitching beauty concealed a heart blackened by a singular obsession with appearances.

From the earliest days of her upbringing, her mother, a woman who had managed to step into aristocracy by charming a noble, had instilled in her a cruel belief: that those who were not blessed with physical perfection were destined for lives of relentless mockery and eternal solitude. This twisted ideology consumed the villainess' every thought, blinding her to the virtues of education and morality. She became nothing more than a porcelain doll, admired solely for her aesthetic charm.

The King arranged a marriage between her and Duke Draconia, the enigmatic descendant of the dragons who ruled the northern lands, believing that such a striking bride would surely please the reclusive Duke.

However, the King remained oblivious to the swirling rumours that pervaded the courtly circles. Whispers spoke of the Duke as a hideous man who had never once revealed his face, perpetually concealed behind a forbidding black mask. When the rumours reached the villainess' ears, she threw tantrum after tantrum, vehemently refusing to wed a man whose appearance couldn't possibly match her own.

Yet, a royal decree could not be denied. Reluctantly, the villainess embarked on her journey to the northern realm in bitter acceptance. It had rained the moment she arrived, the castle dark and uninviting, with thorns crawling onto the obsidian walls. The Duke, an oblivious and shy man, did not greet her at the grand entrance. Instead, she was met by the Duke's advisor, a man with a curiously boyish features.

Humiliation welled up within the villainess' heart, for she felt as if she were being played the fool by the entire duchy. On the eve of her arrival, anxiety gnawed at her like a relentless spectre.

As night descended, the Duke, mustering his courage, attempted to approach the vexed lady.

But when the villainess beheld his masked face, terror seized her like a vice. "Stay back! You hideous beast!" she cried out, her voice trembling with fear, and she recoiled, her steps faltering as she retreated from him.

The Duke, wounded by her cruel words, attempted to console her, his outstretched hand beseeching understanding. Yet, her irrational dread overcame her, and she continued her backward retreat until, with a heart-stopping scream, she slipped from an open window.

That was how the villainess' life ended.

you hadn't actually read the book, but it wasn't difficult identifying who you got reincarnated as

especially with how your best friend obsessed over this villainess because, and i quote, "if pretty, why evil, huh???"

you woke up a week before the villainess would depart for the North, but that week alone was enough to make you understand the way she acted

every day, you were fed portions fitting of a child, had your skin rubbed raw as you were bathed, and not a moment of your mother's nitpicking about a sudden imperfection she found in you

in truth, you were more than glad to leave for the North, even if that's where your life would be on the line

the survival plan was simple: maintain an amicable relationship with the duchy until the night the heroine stumbles in to ask for a night of shelter, to which the heroine would heal the emotional wounds of the Duke, and share with him the beauty of love, bringing warmth into his heart

and so, you arrived at the estate, the castle tall and intimidating with the clouds dark and foreboding

still, you stepped out of your carriage (with wobbly legs) and met the advisor (your friend's favourite character, in fact)

the advisor, lilia, though seemed young, was actually the very man who raised the duke in the absence of his parents

he welcomed you as the lady of the duchy, and led you to your quarters

by nightfall, you were quite comfortable with living in the estate

everyone was polite, the food was delicious (and properly sized), and you had no doubt you'd settle nicely here

as a precaution to the death sequence, you decided to take a stroll in the rose garden after dinner

if you were already on the ground floor, you couldn't fall to your death, right?

but unexpectedly, you encountered a lone figure in the centre of the garden

he was incredibly tall, dressed simply, his emerald eyes fixated on the estate

upon closer inspection, you noticed he had long horns as well, perhaps he was a gazelle beastman?

either way, you were curious about what it was that held his attention so strongly that he couldn't notice your presence

"Excuse me, sir? May I ask what is so interesting about the building?" you timidly break the silence of the night.

The man turns to you, his eyes widening in surprise. "... Do you not know who I am?"

You blinked in confusion at his words. His words filled you with a sense of foreboding. You wondered if this person matched any of the characters your friend had so fervently described, but all you could recall was the beautiful villainess and the enigmatic advisor to the Duke.

"My apologies, I'm afraid I do not... May I know your name, sir?"

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he considered your question. "No... If that is the case, you may call me whatever you wish."

Perplexed by his response, you tried to come up with a suitable name. "Then... May I call you Mr. Gazelle?"

Upon hearing your words, he burst out in laughter. "Hahaha! What an interesting choice. Very well, I accept the name," he said. "In response to your first question, I was observing the gargoyles of the building."

on that night, not only did you learn more about the fascinating functions gargoyles serve, you also made your first friend in this life

strangely enough, you didn't meet the duke at all unlike the novel, which though strange, you greatly welcomed

if you didn't have any ties with him, then it'd be so much easier to just divorce him, get the money, and live a comfortable luxurious life far away from the main characters

though as you say that, you find yourself wanting to spend more and more time with "Mr Gazelle"

despite his intimidating appearance, he turned out to be a very generous person, frequently gifting you little trinkets he's made or bouquets he's arranged

he's started calling you "Briar", after the roses in the garden where he met you

you greatly appreciated the nickname, it felt better to be called that than the name of the villainess, that you could just be yourself and not play the role of a villainess avoiding ruin

you also find that whatever musings you've mentioned to him, they somehow manifest themselves

oh? you wish you could learn about embroidery? the next day there's a basket full of the highest quality threads and fabrics, with a gentle tutor to help you learn

(you still remember how cute "Mr Gazelle" looked when you gave him your first finished product, a handkerchief with an embroidered gargoyle)

what's this? you'd like to try more desserts from the capital you were never allowed to try? say no more! the next day the chef presents you with 10 different choices!

so you assumed he was an advisor of sorts to the Duke, because how else could your requests be granted so easily?

but one day, around two months after you started living in the duchy, "Mr Gazelle" asked you questions about the duke, whether you were afraid of him, would you prefer to meet him, curious questions like that

though surprised by the topic, you answered honestly, saying you don't really believe in the rumours (because you know from your friend he's an ethereal beauty) and yes, you would like to meet your husband

and what do you know? lilia informs you the duke wants to share dinner with you. what a coincidence!! :)

Nervousness held you in its grasp as you stepped into the room. Your gaze remained fixed on the carpet beneath your feet, and your knees bent gracefully as you executed the perfect curtsey.

"Your Grace."

You could hear sounds of shuffling, and then a pair of black boots entered your field of vision. Familiar hands found yours, guiding you to rise and stand upright. "Rise, my Briar," he murmured gently.

With hesitant anticipation, you finally looked up, taking in the obsidian mask that concealed his face. That voice, that nickname, and those enchanting eyes—it was all too familiar.

"Mr Gazelle..." you whispered in disbelief.

His eyes narrowed in mirth as he chuckled. "Although I hold great fondness for that name, I do wish you could call your husband by his name," he said as he began to remove his mask.

"Malleus..." you breathed.

A tender smile graced his lips, and his eyes sparkled with affection as he delicately brushed a stray lock of hair from your face—a gesture he had done countless times before. "My sweet Briar, I implore you to forgive me for deceiving you. I wished nothing more but to know you," he pleaded.

Oh, with how loud your heart was pounding in your chest, you realized that you were irrevocably and hopelessly ensnared in a love story that had deviated far from the original story.

But you didn't feel a single ounce of regret.

Masterlist

if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!

[melonchanverse]

we have so many singers! only this time a person who can actually sing! a delight to the ears. but very cool in general, i think guys would love to see her other talents!! especially miyako :)

NEED TO SEND THIS ONE TO YOU TOO

Welcome to The Amazing Miyako Show, proudly sponsored by the infamous Murakami family! Remember, before you sign that pesky waiver absolving them of all responsibility for your life and limbs, let's get down to the action! You've been invited to be part of the show, and the hungry mob is hungry for some entertainment! Show off your skills, your talents, or your complete lack thereof, and dazzle the crowd! And don't worry, the only thing that could be on the chopping block is your dignity.

Celeste quietly double checks the invite is indeed for her, silently sweating to herself. She doesn't mind the invitation, but... But her in some kind of talent based competition is like putting Reborn in a middle school shooting competition. She is a professional skill wise with just about any of her talents. Maybe she should decline, but she'd hate to disappoint a kid... Especially since they reached out to her... She'll just have to throw the competition by singing a not so modern song, like an "embarrassing mom" would! Going all out like she likes will just add to those vibes then! And she knows the perfect song! ... It's horrifying that it's been 34 years since this song released. She remembers when it came out! Oh well, that's not important right now. [I'll let you picture how the performance went, here's the song lol]

[woozisguitar]

scoups and slut! by taylor swift please…

requests for 200 celebration post: open (but slow updates!)

warning: mentions of panic attacks, use of words like slut and whore, some shitty people, one very vague reference to sleeping together

Flamingo pink Sunrise Boulevard Clink, clink Being this young is art the pink evening sky glimmered over the high-end street of your apartment complex. when you first moved here, sunrise boulevard was a dream. now, the same streets feel fake with no real passion or life in them. being a young actress, with success kissing your feet from the very beginning, people often gave you unsolicited advice. be it about your acting roles or the stardom in general, they always treated your youth like a piece of art they wanted to have their name engraved on. ‘it’s a vicious town. they’ll eat you alive unless you learn to feast first,’ your old co-actress once told you, lighting her cigarette as you waited for the set to be ready. and now, standing in a crowd of people with flesh-colored glitter masks and coy smiles, clinking their champagne glasses with foes and friends alike, you understand what she meant.

Aquamarine Moonlit swimming pool What if all I need is you? when you saw him, the world seemed to stand still for a moment. there was something about him, something you knew you’d spend your whole life trying to decipher. maybe it was his eyes that sparkled under the moonlight, or the easygoing smile that made his beautiful dimples pop. you were never one to believe in love at first sight, not one to give into the fantasies you often starred in, but god, he made you want to believe in it. he was wearing black slacks, a white shirt with an apron, serving the people around you. you didn’t even see what he was serving, just taking one when he approached you and gave you the same damn smile. call it delusion, who cares, but you knew you had to know him. his name, what he liked, disliked, all of it. a thought popped in your mind, ‘what if all that was missing in this life was him?’

Got lovestruck, went straight to my head Got lovesick, all over my bed Love to think you'll never forget Handprints in wet cement

now, you weren’t exactly known for making good decisions. often listening to your heart more than your brain, your reputation preceded you. what you thought was love in the past had disguised itself as a snake in butterfly wings to bring you down. still, the heart wants what it wants. your brain, riding on the oxytocin high, or as the locals would call it, was ‘lovestruck,’ decided that it was a great idea to ask the host about the contact information of the catering service she used. making up a sad excuse of the staff’s lovely personality and great food, you flattered her enough to get the email and phone number from her. now with the name of the company, it was quite easy to track them down and find where they were located. luck seemed to be on your side because they had their employees listed on their webpage along with their photos. scrolling through the list of names, you found the picture of the same man you saw last night. next to his picture was his name, choi seungcheol, in bold. a small, reasonable part of your brain tried to convince you that this was a stupid idea, but you were too lovesick to care.

a quick email about seungcheol’s lovely service, followed by a subtle name-dropping and sweet-talking, ended with the company agreeing to meet you, bringing him along. sure, you had to drop the sudden house party notice on your team and the fact that you reached out to catering yourself, but you were far too deep in this to back out now. tomorrow you were going to meet seungcheol, and that’s all you cared about.

Adorned with smoke on my clothes Lovelorn and nobody knows Love thorns all over this rose I'll pay the price, you won't the next day, you found yourself sitting in a cafe reserved by your team, looking outside the window waiting for seungcheol and his manager to arrive. you tried to get seungcheol’s contact information from them but couldn’t—company policy or something. either way, the devil on your shoulder convinced you to hatch a plan to try and get seungcheol closer. you looked over at the faces of your team members and for a second felt bad because they had no idea that this was all a caprice to fulfill the desires of your lovelorn heart. the bell above the door rang, snapping you out of your thoughts. you saw him enter along with a man who looked like he was in his mid-forties. the manager introduced himself to you and your team, but you were too distracted by seungcheol to pay proper attention. clad in a simple white sweatshirt and blue jeans, this man looked more beautiful than any other celebrity or model you had met. your team went over the plans with his manager while you stole glances at the gorgeous man who stuck to the sidelines.

while your team was discussing the various options, you announced that you would order everyone something, asking seungcheol to accompany you to the counter, which made you earn a few confused glances from your team. ignoring them, you made your way to the counter, finally getting a moment of privacy with seungcheol. “hi, i’m yn,” you exchanged a smile. seungcheol’s lips quirked up in a teasing smile, “i think everyone here knows who you are, miss y/n.” “you don’t have to call me miss, just y/n is fine,” you mumbled, feeling your cheeks warm up in embarrassment. way to go y/n... “alright, just y/n. i’m seungcheol, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he smiled, giving his order at the counter. you quickly followed his cue, giving the order for your team and made your way to the pickup counter with him by your side. the shy smile wouldn’t leave your face no matter how much you tried to fight it off. “so i’m guessing you will be in charge of catering at my house,” you said, looking up to see him already staring at you. “well, you specifically asked for me, so yes i will,” seungcheol replied, the stupid teasing smile not leaving his face. “right, so i was thinking wouldn’t it be easier for me to contact you if i had your number…?” you trailed off, looking at him with hopeful eyes. “shouldn’t your team contact me, y/n?” you flushed yet again at his teasing, trying to come up with a reply. seungcheol laughed and reached out, pointing at the device in your hand. you unlocked and gave it to him, watching as he opened a new contact page and filled in his details. “here you go,” he said, giving you your phone back. “by the way, you really suck at flirting,” he leaned back, taking his order and walking back to the team.

But if I'm all dressed up They might as well be looking at us And if they call me a slut You know it might be worth it for once And if I'm gonna be drunk Might as well be drunk in love the past two weeks or so had been eventful. you saw seungcheol every day at your residence, from tasting the various items off the set menu to deciding on the outfits for the staff, he was present for it all. the night when you first met, you spent hours debating whether to text him first or not. then around 11pm you decided to bite the bullet and sent him a small ‘hi, this is y/n’ text. his reply came quicker than you had anticipated, which read ‘hi, just y/n.’ you never knew a simple text would have you feeling so many butterflies. while your conversations were strictly professional, you couldn’t help but look forward to every notification from him. having seungcheol so close and around only resulted in your feelings increasing for him. when the day of your party arrived, you wore your prettiest dress, partially hoping for seungcheol to take notice. and boy, did he take notice, with his jaw slightly dropping as his eyes raked over your form. you took this moment to have a proper look at him too. dressed in dark gray dress pants, a white button-up, and maroon tie, seungcheol ditched his apron as the current stand-in manager. “done staring?” he asked, the same teasing smile gracing his face. “are you?” you flirted, terribly so, and pushed past him.

while the party was a success, you realised pretty late that the attendees took notice of you, in the wrong way. sure, you did have a reputation with dating, labels and names like ‘slut’ and ‘whore’ commonly gracing the headlines with your picture on the front page. you always decided to look past that, telling yourself it's just the media and this is the curse of success. but now, it felt a little ridiculous because it involved seungcheol. plus, it wasn’t like you kissed him in front of everyone. all you did was make conversation about the various foods and laughed at his joke or two. when your publicist told you about the article, your hands were itching to text seungcheol, asking him if he was alright. even after a warning of not contacting anyone, you decided to fuck it and text him, perhaps it might be worth being called names for once. nursing yourself to a bottle of wine, you were long passed out when your phone pinged with an ‘i’m fine but how are you? :(’ text.

Send the code, he's waiting there The sticks and stones they throw froze mid-air

you saw the text from seungcheol. texting back an ‘i’m alright, don’t worry,’ you decided that you might as well shoot your shot. it was now or never. you texted him a quick ‘hey, i have to confess something, do you think you can meet me today? my place?’ seungcheol’s reply came a second later, just a ‘yes, i’ll see you there,’ to which you replied with ‘dinner’s on me :)’

seungcheol arrived right on time and you let him in. “i ordered chinese. i didn’t know what your preference was, so i hope you like it,” you said, giving him a nervous smile. he smiled back reassuringly and said he loved chinese. you showed him your living room just as your food arrived. there, now sitting next to each other with chinese takeout in between the two of you, you decided it was the right time to confess to him. “so, i want to tell you something,” you started, and seungcheol put down his food, giving you his undivided attention. you took a deep breath and started, “i really like you, really, really like you, and i know it’s silly and stupid because we’ve barely known each other for two weeks, but i do. and i completely understand if you don’t like me, i get it, truly. this life and dating me comes with a lot of drawbacks and secrecy, so i understand if it’s too much. i just really had to let you know this,” you finished, feeling breathless from your rant. you looked up to see seungcheol smiling at you. he tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “i know. plus, if i didn’t want this, i wouldn’t be sitting here with you.” he simply leaned in to kiss the corner of your mouth.

Everyone wants him That was my crime The wrong place at the right time And I break down, then he's pullin' me in In a world of boys, he's a gentleman

the next few months were absolute bliss. seungcheol was everything and somehow more than you could’ve asked for. you found out that this catering business was actually his part-time job to help put himself through grad school. yet never once did he care about your status, money, or fame. whenever you were worried things might get too much for him, like when a new hate article was released, you were shipped with a co-actor, or whenever people recalled your past relationships having no idea about what went on behind closed doors, all seungcheol would do was hold you close and tell you that he didn’t care. all he wanted was you, just y/n, no one else, he would say, recalling your first conversation. then the news broke. someone spotted the two of you holding hands and walking in the dead of night. with no one in sight, you made the stupid mistake of not hiding yours or seungcheol’s face in public. when your pr team asked if you wanted to go public to simply make the public scrutiny easier, rather than them trying to pry into your life, you could confirm and ask them to back off. seungcheol’s opinion, when asked, was simply ‘whatever works best for y/n, i’ll be happy with it.’

the confirmation announcement had alright responses. not good, but not bad either. but the worst always happens behind closed doors. with seungcheol in the spotlight, every other actress in your vicinity wanted their hands on him. whether it be sliding into his dms or straight-up trespassing at his job, demanding him to be present with other staff members, trying to sink their claws into him somehow. one of your so-called friends invited you to a party and unbeknownst to you, hired seungcheol and his catering for the same. when you saw seungcheol along with the other staff members, she tried to make a spectacle of your boyfriend, trying to insult both you and seungcheol. she thought he would cave in and was doing you a favor by revealing his ‘true form,’ but when seungcheol saw your trembling hands, unshed tears, and shaking form—all signs of the impending panic attack he had become so well-versed in handling—he didn’t give a fuck about anyone or anything. he just held you close, in the middle of the now-quiet party, and whispered if you wanted to leave. when you nodded yes, he held your hand and walked you out of the door, leaving his apron by the patio. he held you close as you tried to even your breathing, humming softly under his breath to distract you from your thoughts. slowly drifting off in your car, you sent a small thank you to the fates for finally sending you a true gentleman.

Got lovestruck, went straight to my head Got lovesick, all over my bed Love to think you'll never forget We'll pay the price, I guess

the next day, the headlines went crazy. pictures of seungcheol embracing you in the middle of the party went viral everywhere, and that’s when you realized, he also made sure to shield you completely from all sides so none of the pictures showed your tearful, panic-stricken face. seungcheol had just sent a resignation to his job when you walked into your living room, eyes welling up with tears. seungcheol saw your phone in your hand, fearing another horrible headline. you, however, hastened over and buried your face in his chest, murmuring a small thank you. seungcheol buried his face in your hair, basking in the moment of quiet. when your pr team called to discuss how you wanted to handle this, you told them to announce your short hiatus, wanting a break from everyone and everything. both of you knew relationships, in this life, came with prices to pay and yet decided to jump in headfirst.

But if I'm all dressed up They might as well be looking at us If they call me a slut You know it might be worth it for once And if I'm gonna be drunk I might as well be drunk in love

seungcheol told you about his job the same evening you told him about your hiatus. “why don’t you move in with me?” you suggested, which surprised seungcheol. “what?” “yeah, i mean it makes sense. you’ll save up on rent, which means you don’t have to take another job, and i get to have you around so i don’t spiral whenever a new article pops up. it’s a win for both of us.” seungcheol hesitated for a second, as much as he loved being with you, he felt like he was taking advantage. when he voiced his concerns, you absolved them by reminding him how much you wanted this and how having him around would be more of a favor you’re doing for yourself than him. slowly, seungcheol moved in and notified his landlord, officially taking his place in your home.

Half asleep Taking your time In the tangerine, neon light This is luxury You're not saying you're in love with me But you're going to

with seungcheol moving in, mornings definitely had its perks. the soft tangerine orange glow of sunrise slowly gracing his sleepy features while he cuddled himself closer to you was a view you would not be able to forget even in death. on his off days, you would spend late mornings in bed, slowly waking each other up with kisses, and you realised no comfort in the world would compare to this luxury. the same bed seungcheol unravels and puts you together every night was witness to the first time he murmured that he loved you. a kiss on your forehead every morning, and you knew you were irrevocably in love with him too.

Half awake Taking your chance It's a big mistake I said it might blow up in your pretty face I'm not saying do it anyway But you're going to

but your days weren’t all in blissful warmth. sometimes, your insecurities would get the best of you, and you’d ask him if all this was a big mistake and if you were really worth taking such a big chance. “this could blow up in your face, seungcheol!” you yelled after a long and difficult night of overthinking and doubting. “so be it,” was all he said, and the sheer determination in his eyes made you realize he would never leave you, no matter how hard it got.

And if they call me a slut You know it might be worth it for once And if I'm gonna be drunk Might as well be drunk in love

five months later, you decided to go back to the industry. by now, time had played its part and the general public was on your side. you steered clear of places and gatherings you knew would only cause you harm, opting to spend the nights cuddled with beloved boyfriend. every time he gives you the same damn smile, you know it was all worth it again and again.

a/n: happy new year <3

[mewguca]

I finally got around to making height charts for them yayyyyy ^^

buncha extra variations under the cut

I'll make the refs proper soon!!!

[keriarentikai]

A low/no-angst WangXian podfic rec list for hard times and cozy days

This list is far from complete and incorporates suggestions from the MDZS podfic discord server as well as comments on the last iteration of this post. But in the end, this is only my opinion of what’s cozy and low-angst, so please make sure to read the tags yourself before embarking if you’re feeling sensitive!

(list is alphabetical by title)

a garden in your ribcage by puddingcatbeans, G, podfic by GinevraFangirl (1 hour 48 min) – there’s just something about this one, a modern-with-magic AU focusing on plant magic, that gets me and feels so soft.

Accidents Will Happen by vesna, E, podfic by AuntieIroh (6 hours 26 min) – soft, post-canon mpreg. A little angst and illness, but mostly very sweet.

and having a marvelous time by varnes, M, podfic by Spinifex (13 hours 43 min) – this is a very sweet Sound of Music AU and Spinifex’s voices just KILL me.

Bodega Love by cicer, T, podfics by a big group in 2020 possibly for an event? (1 hour 16 min) and by Lotus Pier Lakeside team for VT Mystery Box 2023 (1 hour 37 min) – another very funny Modern AU with insane podfic energy

grow by cafecliche, T, podfic by jellyfishfire (1 hour 32 min) – post-canon, wwx is de-aged. Honestly I don’t remember this super well but it was recced by lightningshowl and I remember liking it. I’ll relisten and report back soon!

i know who i want to take me home by ScarlettStorm, E, podfic by rionaa (1 hour 45 min ish) – wwx finds a very drunk lwj in his bar and has to take care of him until his brother comes to get him (and then later they get together). I just love the fic and rionaa + Thali’s reading is so sweet.

in the shadow of moonlit flowers by Reverie (cl410), T, podfic by raitala (5+ hours). Lwj can tell when people are lying. It’s soft and lyrical and very soothing imho.

it is wednesday, my dudes by ritualist, M, podfic by jellyfishfire (26 min) – wwx is a health and safety inspector and needs to check out the strip club where lwj works. This podfic makes me laugh every single time.

leave all your love and your longing behind by ScarlettStorm (a.k.a. The Asshole Dog fic), E, podfic by rionaa (between 10-15 hours, I didn’t look up the exact number, sorry!) - not entirely angst-free but this podfic is my happy place. Modern AU, lwj and wwx have a chance meeting and get to know each other and fall in love, of course.

Lost Boys by raitala, E, podfic by KeriArentikai (13 hours 41 minutes) – Modern AU, wwx and a-yuan are reunited with lwj after a long time and move in with him. Not angst-free, entirely, but it’s very soft and absolutely what I listened to when I was sick and needed a blanket in a podfic.

lovely thorns and singing crows by isabilightwood, E, podfics by exmanhater (3 hours 30 min) and semperfiona (4 hours 10 min) – super fun Addams-family vibes modern AU. Maybe not traditional comfort reading, but soft and fun.

Magical Marriage Ribbons by starandrea, Not Rated (but a bit of sex), podfic by dangercupcake (19.5 hours so far) – alt-canon, wangxian get together as teens, soft vignette style. It’s not an angst-free fic but it’s definitely a comfort listen for me.

Meng Yao vs. the Board of the Homeowner's Association by Ariaste, E, podfics by rionaa et al. (some length!) and GinevraFangirl et al. (also some length!) - another funny, manic modern AU to get your mind off of things.

My Leaves Reach Ever for the Sun by nonplussed, T, podfic by neireid (3.5-4 hours) - I can’t sum it up better than the author: “AKA the fic where WWX crossdresses his way into winning his life, love, and liberty”.

plant a little happiness (let the roots run deep) by fleurdeliser, E, podfics by exmanhater (4 hours 26 min) and knight_tracer (4 hours 52 min) – I’ll admit I don’t remember this one too well, but it was recced by flamingwell, LadyEn and addictedtostoriesandcrochet, so it’s clearly a winner. Another one to add more comments to once I’ve relistened!

save a sword, ride a socialist by sysrae, E, podfic by exmanhater (3 hours 15 min) – funny modern-with-magic, wwx-is-a-gremlin AU. Maybe not exactly what I’d consider a comfort listen, but definitely a good, light distraction listen.

Seasons of Love by sweetlittlevampire, T, podfic by kisahawklin (some amount of time!) - very soft bunny-based modern AU

shades of grey spill from my veins (bleeding ink all over the page) by Reverie (cl410), M, podfic by KeriArentikai (8 hours 10 minutes) – wwx raised by the Nie, told in a vignette style for the most part. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Somewhere I Belong by athena_crikey, E, podfic by zaffre (2 hours 6 minutes). Pilot!wwx takes scientist!lwj into the north of the Prairies and they hit it off.

stray cat strut by ScarlettStorm, E, podfic by KeriArentikai (6 hours 17 min). Canon-era, wwx gets trapped as a cat! And then a catboy! Very cute, funny, low-stakes fic.

The Peanut Butter Jar AU by ScarlettStorm, E, podfic of fic 1 by Khashana (3 hours 22 min), fic 2 by sunkitten_shash (4 hours 37 min) – fox-shifter WWX gets in a bit of trouble and is saved by animal-rescue worker LWJ. Super funny and quite light.

The Wild Geese's Tomb by The Feels Whale, T, podfic by kealdrakemna (8 hours 16 min) – time-travel fix-it that just makes everything a bit better.

this moonlit heart is home by Selenay, M, podfic by exmanhater (55 min) – cat!wwx! Very cute

through a window softly by impossibletruths, T, podfic by Rhea314 (1 hour 48 min) – yet another one I need to relisten to, but that I remember liking and that was recced by addictedtostoriesandcrochet.

without your new eyes by anaphoricae, E, podfic by LadyEn (7 hours 29 min) – soft didn’t-know-they-were-dating fic

Work in Tandem by MimiSpearmint, E, podfic by GinevraFangirl (2 hours 36 min) – modern with magic; wwx is Lan Sizhui’s flying instructor and is into his hot dad.

I will hopefully continue to update this as appropriate fics come to my attention. Everyone has different tastes as to what constitutes a soft comfort listen, but I'm extremely happy to hear suggestions of what should be added.

[coz-for-concern]

Wilted Roses

Michael Kaiser & Alexis Ness; A little bit different, but I saw a tweet talking about Ness's hair looking like a wilted rose and got inspired (plus I LOVE Blue Lock)

Warnings?: Michael Kaiser, Slight BLLK chapter 288 spoilers :D

Flowers were such fickle things; they required water, but never too much, and sunlight, but it couldn’t be too direct. One misstep in their care—a moment too much or too little—and they would succumb to wilting, their vibrant colors fading into a dull, lifeless whisper. This delicate choreography of demands was precisely why he loathed tending to them.

But watching them bloom was nothing short of enchanting. It was perhaps the singular thing he truly cherished about flowers. He adored witnessing the delicate petals unfurl, revealing a symphony of vibrant colors that danced in the sunlight. 

Each blossom exuded a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that seemed to wrap around him like a warm embrace. In his eyes, there was no other reason to love flowers; they embodied a captivating magic that transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Roses were his absolute favorite, enchanting him with their dazzling array of colors, each hue whispering myriad meanings. To Alexis Ness, roses were far more than mere flowers; they were a profound symbol of beauty and resilience wrapped in delicate petals yet veiled by their menacing thorns. 

Ness adored them above any other flower he’d seen, willing to endure any sting if it meant he could witness the spectacular transformation of those buds as they unfurled into vibrant shades that burst forth like fireworks against the bleak, magicless tapestry of the world he inhabited. 

Each bloom was a celebration, a vivid contrast to the monochrome existence surrounding him. It filled his heart with hope that flickered even in the darkest corners of his life. He yearned to see more of the magic in life, the same magic that roses granted him. 

Each time Ness mustered the courage to share his dreams, he was met with a torrent of ridicule as insults rained down upon him like stones. His mind was a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of magic, filled with enchanting tales of wizards casting spells and fairies dancing in moonlit glades—visions that existed solely within the depths of his imagination. 

His brother and sister, oblivious to the wonders that captivated him, would mock him relentlessly, their laughter echoing in his ears as they dismissed his beliefs as mere childish fantasies, leaving him feeling more isolated in his whimsical world.

Was it so strange to harbor dreams that felt like vibrant constellations in the night sky? Perhaps he was misplaced, a solitary star adrift in a family of pragmatic scientists whose minds were anchored in reason and empirical evidence. They rarely acknowledged the allure of magic, the enchanting possibilities that danced just beyond the veil of the ordinary. 

In quiet moments, he wrestled with doubt, questioning whether the fault lay within him. Would it truly be so painful to reshape himself, to don the cloak of conformity and mold his essence to meet their expectations? Heavy like unspoken words, the thought lingered as he contemplated the cost of surrendering his dreams.

Ness yearned to uncover the magic that dwelled within the world around him, the same enchantment he perceived in the vibrant blooms of flowers swaying gently in the breeze. The memory of his first encounter with true magic had grown faint over time, but it resurged vividly when he turned eight years old and stumbled upon the exhilarating game of soccer. 

The moment Ness felt the cool, textured surface of the ball beneath his foot and propelled it forward with a well-aimed kick, a rush of freedom surged through him. It was as if he had unlocked a secret sanctuary, a hidden realm where he could momentarily escape the weight of his family's ridicule and sharp-tongued insults. 

The soccer field transformed into a magical oasis, where each goal represented a point scored and a triumph over the suffocating shadows of disapproval. In that space, surrounded by the joyous laughter of friends and the thrill of the game, Ness discovered a boundless joy that enveloped him like a warm embrace, filling him with hope and a sense of belonging. Soccer, to him, was pure magic.

His deep-rooted desire to defy his parents' expectations became the fiery fuel driving his every move. Ness longed more than anything to silence their doubts and show that he wasn’t foolish for believing in the existence of magic.

To him, soccer represented the first crucial step on his journey to self-validation. With every kick of the ball and every sprint across the field, he poured his heart and soul into the game, channeling his passion and determination into each moment.

Bastard München marked his second pivotal step on a journey filled with longing and anticipation. Within the chaotic disarray of the soccer pitch, Ness first laid eyes on the mesmerizing blue rose, a symbol of the magic he had yearned to witness for what felt like an eternity. 

This enchanting bloom represented more than just beauty; it embodied his desire to nurture, safeguard, and witness the flourishing of something extraordinary. As he gazed upon it, the rose took on a new form—one that captured his heart and imagination—manifesting itself in the captivating figure of Michael Kaiser.

In Michael Kaiser, Ness saw every ounce of magic he’d been searching for. He craved it; he wanted to see everything, to make Kaiser the greatest the world had ever seen, and to share the magic Kaiser had with the rest of the world. Maybe then…then his family would believe in such things as magic. 

Ness immersed himself entirely in the pursuit of elevating Kaiser to unprecedented heights. He meticulously fine-tuned every aspect of Kaiser’s training and performance with unwavering dedication, orchestrating a relentless regimen that left little room for anything else.

Day after day, Ness relinquished his own dreams and passions, pouring every ounce of his energy into nurturing Kaiser’s burgeoning talent on the field. The vibrant hues of Ness's own aspirations dulled as he dedicated himself entirely to the pursuit of Kaiser’s greatness, becoming a silent guardian in the background, sacrificing his identity to uplift another.

Each decision he made echoed with a singular focus: achieving glory for Kaiser. In that pursuit, Ness found the flames of his identity flickering dangerously low, fading into the background of his unwavering devotion. It no longer mattered to him whether he existed in the spotlight; his sense of self was wholly eclipsed by the brilliance he yearned to ignite in Kaiser.

It felt like pure bliss, enveloping Ness in a warmth that transcended the boundaries of the pitch. Being with Kaiser, both in the heat of competition and in moments of quiet companionship, was nothing short of a dream come true. It was as if he could call Kaiser his own—a cherished treasure. 

In his mind, Kaiser transformed into a radiant rose, tenderly nurtured by Ness's unwavering care. Each day, he watched in awe as this rose unfurled its delicate petals, a symbol of growth and beauty that filled Ness with an unparalleled sense of pride. He sat there steadfast, watering the rose of Kaiser with love and dedication, basking in the sunlight of their shared moments, knowing that his efforts were finally bearing fruit.

Or he thought they were. Ness didn’t know where his mistakes came from; he was usually so perfect getting the ball to Kaiser. Yet, as his plays began to grow increasingly predictable, the precision of his passes faltered. Ness could feel the weight of the moment bearing down on him, his chest rising and falling with each anxious breath as he listened intently to the unmistakable scuff of the turf beneath Kaiser’s cleats, the sound echoing like a drumbeat as the striker approached Ness.

Ness felt a twinge of anticipation as he glanced at Kaiser, half-expecting him to wave away his concerns with a reassuring smile, to confidently declare that it was just a minor setback and that the next chance at glory would undoubtedly come their way. 

At that moment, Ness craved that certainty from Kaiser more than anyone else—above teammates, coaches, and even his own inner doubts. As long as Kaiser offered him that solid promise of assurance, a conviction that they would rise together from this fleeting disappointment, then Ness would find a way to steady his own faltering spirit.

“Hey, Ness?” Kaiser’s voice flowed into Ness’s ears like a melodious symphony, each note infused with the promise of reassurance he so desperately craved. At that moment, hope flickered to life within him—everything felt as though it were on the brink of perfect resolution. Kaiser was about to unveil a meticulously crafted plan, one that only the two of them could execute with precision and flair. But then, the unexpected fell upon Ness like a sudden storm, “Give up on soccer.” 

The words enveloped Ness's mind like a thick fog, suffocating him. Kaiser couldn’t possibly be serious, could he? Ness desperately clung to that hope, yet the pure disgust etched on Kaiser’s face as he glared down at him spoke volumes. In that piercing gaze, Ness felt the weight of his worthlessness—reduced to nothing more than a mere pawn meant for Kaiser’s game.

 If he couldn’t even fulfill that singular purpose, what was the point of his existence on the field? The thought gnawed at him, a gnawing void where his sense of value used to be. Maybe Kaiser was right, maybe it was time for Ness to hang up his jersey and just, forget magic existed. 

Ness had held the delicate bud for what felt like an eternity, nurturing it with care until it transformed into the striking bloom that was Kaiser. In that moment, he almost forgot how unpredictable flowers could be—how they could thrive one day and wilt the next. 

 It was then that he noticed the vivid blue rose once more, beneath Kaiser’s feet as he walked away from Ness, its petals unfurling gracefully in the soft light. The rose had been a constant companion, steadfast and unwavering, much like a loyal dog devoted to its master, lingering faithfully at Kaiser’s side.

Ness had nearly lost sight of an important lesson: when flowers are planted too closely together, only a single bloom can truly thrive. In their desperate struggle for survival, one flower would seize the nutrients, overshadowing its neighbors and leaving them to wither away.

 In this garden of life, the strongest emerged victorious, basking in the sunlight while the weaker, choked by the competition, succumbed to the shadows. This was a stark reminder of nature’s harsh decree—a poignant dance of resilience and fragility in which only the most robust flourished and the delicate faded into obscurity.

Ness was a wilting rose, fragile and weary, standing in the shadow of someone far more formidable. He had chosen to place himself next to this towering figure, drawn in by their strength and confidence. Now, however, he found himself grappling with the consequences of his own naivety, feeling the weight of his misguided choices pressing heavily upon him.

While Kaiser got to bloom, Ness was left behind, a stepping stone, a pawn…Someone used to do nothing but provide Kaiser with ‘nutrients’ to grow, all because Ness craved to see magic. 

His parents were right, his brother and sister were both right, everyone was right. Ness was an utter moron for believing in something as stupid as magic. 

Now, he had to live forgotten, curshed under Kaiser's feet, as a wilted rose...

Shout out Mitski for getting me through this one, I hate Michael Kaiser and spent a good 30 minutes staring at a picture of him to insult him before I kept writing.

[spidercookie18]

your heart was pounding. it felt like it was seconds from beating out of your chest. your legs instinctively moved forward. not willing to turn around. not willing to stop moving.

your breath was so loud in your ears. it only served to make the fear in your belly grow bigger. the fear of how loud you were being. you were sure he could hear you. the adrenaline made you nauseous. or maybe it was how hard you were running. what would happen when he caught you? you didn't want to know.

it was rare to say that the boys scared you. they were trusted souls that you spent much of your time around...but they were still wild animals at heart. beasts with an appetite that could not be satiated by mortal standards. they could eat, and devour, and gorge til their hearts content. they didn't always eat for sustenance, but they always ate their fill of flesh.

as you ran through the woods, the trees snagged your clothes. the rocks and thorns cut through your skin. the thin branches whipped across your cheeks as you pushed through a thicket. trying desperately to flee from what was hunting you down. you could feel the warm blood and tears trickle down your face. they chilled your skin as they cooled. it was a sickening feeling that drove you forward. there was little you could do to guide yourself through the night. the moonlight barely shone though the canopy of the forest. blinding you. trapping you. you were a mouse running in his labyrinth. he was toying with you. and you knew it.

if this brunet beast wanted to catch you, he could have easily done so by now. he was enjoying this. you couldn't have imagined your fling with Paul the other night would drive Dwayne to this. he was livid that him and the others had to stand off to the side while you had your way with Paul. you were having innocent fun. well, not so innocent. but you didn't think his jealousy would make him go absolutely mad.

he lured you to the woods in the night. with promises of passionate moonlit love making. soft, sweet, gentle love and the warm embrace that Dwayne was best at. you had pictured his big strong arms wrapped around you. keeping you safe, sweet nothings of hiding you away from his brothers and making you his.

but this was nothing like you'd imagined.

you waited for him, in the cold and the dark of night. you waited almost to the point where you thought of leaving. the sense of unease in your belly.

something was watching you

you had no idea it was the gentle giant you knew and loved. mad with envy. he finally appeared when you called him. his phone ringing in the tree nearby. he landed in front of you. the quiet sound of his shoes touching the ground was a reminder, in the back of your mind, that he was a hunter. you only knew he was there, because he wanted you to know. when he stood, and walked to you, it made the hair on your body stand on end. something was wrong. very wrong. you tried to call out to him, but your voice left you the second you noticed his gleaming eyes. they looked like they were glowing as he moved towards you in the night. you felt your body shiver. was it from the cold? or from fear? he chuckled. it was darker than you'd come to know. Dwayne was going to prove a point to you.

something to be feared, and not toyed with. he was a predator, a monster, a vampire. and he was going to have you, whenever he wanted you.

"It seems you've forgotten your place, rabbit." his voice boomed in his chest. you felt your heartbeat pick up. you moved a foot behind you. your body instinctively getting ready to flee from danger. "run, rabbit," that sickening laughter left the cavern of his sternum again. from the dim moonlight you could see Dwaynes fangs peak through his smile. "run."

that was all you needed. maybe it was his thrall, or how he acted. but you were afraid.

afraid didn't even begin to cover it. you felt a pure, primal fear etch its way through your veins. it settled into your bones and tore through your muscles. it screamed and shouted like a siren going off in your brain. and it told you, like Dwayne had, to run.

your next step took you by surprise. the ground was further down than you anticipated, and you tumbled to your knees. you hit the cold, wet dirt hard. your palms were scraped, and gravel and dirt stuck to your hands. you sucked in air through your teeth. your body ached. a thousand thoughts raced through your mind and you knew this was an opening Dwayne would not hesitate to take advantage of. you heard his deep laugh in your ears; like he was right behind you. and you flinched. there was no one there.

he was in your head.

you shut your eyes. trying to focus on what was happening. this was not a break you could afford to have. with a cry, you willed yourself to get up. your legs buckled as you tried to stand, and as you found your bearings, you were knocked back to the ground.

Dwayne blindsided you. he tackled you from your side, full speed, and you bent as he hurled you both across the air. when you finally hit the ground, you felt the wind be knocked from you. his weight was unbelievable. the dense muscle structure of him and his vampire brothers made them incredibly heavy. you kicked and screamed, but you knew it wouldn't help. you tried to push him off. you clawed at him and at the ground. anything you could think of.

his nails gripped into your sides, and Dwayne turned you onto your stomach. you tensed. waiting. preparing. for the pain of him. to tear your flesh like paper. like you'd seen them do to others. you could feel the vampire's breath on the back of your neck. the anticipation of Dwaynes fangs brought tears to your eyes. you tried to tense your shoulders to hide your neck from him, but he easily gripped the back of your head and moved it to make a space for his mouth. you could hear the wet of his mouth as he prepared to devour you. you felt a sob come from you. involuntary, and the last thing you did before Dwayne came down on your skin.

"Got you."

his voice was calm again. smooth, and warm like amber, with a hint of sadistic humor in it. instead of the sensation of his sharp fangs, it was a gentle kiss to your ear. the sound and feel of his lips against the shell of your ear was a shock to you. "w-what?" your voice came out meek and confused. "I got you, haha." Dwayne was amused. he shifted to the side and got off of you. he gently helped you up to sit on the ground in front of him. you were still in shock. your mind went blank. the adrenaline of fleeing for your life, and the unknown threat of Dwayne's foreign behavior, juxtaposed to his kind smile now was a shock. the way he looked over you. he was plucking the leaves and twigs from your hair. gently straightening out your clothes.

"you were really scared weren't you?" Dwayne laughed. "I can hear your heart beating sooo loud." he retracted his hands from your hair, and sat on his haunches in front of you. his large brown eyes bore into you. they looked over your form, and they finally settled on the cuts along your palms, and your cheeks. "oh, babydoll, let me fix that." he took your hands in his and turned your palms up towards him. he rubbed his thumbs over the dirt to wipe it off, and with the flat of his tongue he licked the blood off your skin. the sting of the abrasions in the meat of your hand slowly dissipated. his tongue was cool, and wet, it helped soothe the last of the pain.

"you-," your mind was ablaze with an array of emotions. Dwayne ignored you. he sat forward and his wide, slimy tongue licked across your cheeks to your ears. Covering the length of the thin cuts in your face in his saliva. getting the last of the blood off of you. "you fucking asshole!" You shoved your hands into Dwayne's chest. "you scared the crap out of me!" you punched his shoulder. angry that he did this just to mess with you.

you were pissed. and Dwayne was laughing again. "oh come on, I wasn't going to do anything," he snickered.

you huffed, "you hurt me!"

"no i didn't," he scoffed.

"I'm bleeding!"

"well, not anymore"

"you tackled me!"

"oh yeah, i forgot about that,"

he reached a hand out to you, apologetic in his nature; but you, still angry, pushed him away. "fuck this, I'm going home,"you wanted nothing to do with him anymore. he lied to you, and made you run though the woods. your nice outfit was cut up and filthy now. there was no point in sticking around for whatever he actually had planned.

Dwayne watched you stand and turn to leave, "if you do that, I'll just bring you right back here."

you flipped him off, still walking away from him. having no actual idea where you were in the forest you picked a direction and started off.

"Y/N, I'm warning you," Dwayne called after you.

"fuck you!" you tried to feel for your phone in your pocket. praying you didn't drop it somewhere under a log or something. luckily, you found it. you decided that you were just going to call one of the other boys to come and get you. that would really piss Dwayne off, but you wanted to get even with him. deliberately trying to get under his skin. as you were about to start dialing for one of the other vampires, you felt the ground leave from under you. Dwayne came up behind you. he simply picked you up around the waist, and walked you right back over to where he had tackled you. you flailed against his hold, and he placed you back on the ground. your feet felt the safety of the dirt below, and pushed him off. you grunted, and turned around to leave. He stepped in front of you. "Dwayne, knock it off," you turned again and started to leave. Dwayne scooped you up in his arms and walked you back. "Dwayne! I'm serious!" you shouted at him. He still had you cradled in his arms.

"I'm serious too. I'll just keep bringing you right back here." he gently squeezed you in his arms.

You pushed your hands to his chest, "put me down you jerk!"

"okay, fine" he opened his arms, and you fell five feet to the ground.

you hit the ground with an 'oomph'. your ass and back were hurting now. you hated imagining the way the mud looked on the back of your pants. you shifted to the side to rub the back of your hip where you fell. Dwayne was looking down at you. half sorry, and half irritated with you.

thats it. you were done fighting him. you grabbed your phone, and with your muddy fingertips you swiped at the screen.

"what are you doing?"

"I'm calling Paul to come get me," you crinkled your nose at the brunet.

Dwayne laughed. "What's Paul gonna do? He's not gonna take you away from me. He doesn't even answer his phone!"

"He does when I call him,"you stuck your tongue out at him. the phone was ringing. after a moment, Paul picked up. you both could clearly hear his jovial voice through the speaker. "Paul, I need you to come get me, Dwayne's being an- aah!," Dwayne scooped you up without letting you finish your sentence. the fast motion of him grabbing you almost made you drop your phone. you were fighting to get out of his hold, but after you realized how high up you were, you clung to him. "D-Dwayne put me down!" You tried to sound fierce, the faux threat of what could happen if he denied your request. "Poor choice of words, Y/N," you could feel Dwaynes hold on you slip. "WAIT!" you clung to the collar of his jacket. anywhere you could get your hands.

you both could hear Paul's worried voice through the phone.

'y/n? what happened?'

"You are being a fucking brat!" Dwayne snarled in your face. "You're being a bigger brat!" you wiggled and grunted against him. "

Will you stop?!" Dwayne held you easily by one arm around your waist, and with the other he gripped your chin; forcing you to look at him. "I'm sick of your attitude!" Dwayne's face was in a hard scowl. He looked down at you through his glistening eyes, but you tried your damndest to keep from looking at him. he dug his nails into your jaw, pulling your face closer to his. "Look at me!" he growled. there were tears of frustration threatening to break over your waterline. you stared defiantly up at him. the redness in the tip of your nose beginning to grow as you tried to hold back your tears. your breast heaving against his chest. the furrow in your brows. even with all the anger in your round, little face, Dwayne couldn't help but think you looked adorable. you, this small, angry creature, covered in mud and still vaguely smelling of blood and perfume. you hated him in this moment. with all the passion your body could hold, you hated him. but that passion turned into something else as Dwayne pushed his lips against yours. the hate and anger in you morphed into heat. heat in your face. in your chest. all though your body you felt hot. you kissed him back, still desperately clinging to him. his lips were so full and soft against yours, though he kissed you with feverish want. you couldn't help but moan into his mouth. a soft whimper left you as he moved to kiss down your throat. he snatched the phone from you and turned you around. you were disheartened to feel the absence of his kiss on your body. Dwayne still had his arm around your waist, and flew you both over to a nearby branch. your body was thrust into the branch. it hurt like hell. you could feel the wind be knocked from you. your legs dangled freely in the air. it was evident from the deep pain that there would be a harsh bruise across your abdomen when this was all over. Dwane slid the phone across the branch til it was just out of your reach. you tried to pull yourself up and across the branch, but a large hand was pressed against your back to hold you in place. Dwayne hooked a finger into the hem of your jeans, and ripped the seat of your pants open. the grating sound of the denim ripping was enough to make Paul start screaming worryingly into the phone again.

'y/n! are you okay? what's happening??'

"Paul ju-," you tried to reach for the phone to hang it up, but the vampire nearest you had no intention of letting you get it. Dwaynes fingertips dug into the plush of your hips. his claws leaving harsh red lines as he pulled your ass up towards him. your phone just out of reach on the branch. you didn't dare try for it again for fear of losing your grip on the tree. you could feel Dwayne's breath on you again. this time, it was lower, much lower. he gave a teasing lick across your bare slit and you yelped. poor Paul on the other end could only listen to your cries. he had no clue where you both were, and even if he did, Dwayne would just drag you away to a another hiding place. you could feel your brunet captor give another teasing lick across your cunt. this time, it dug lightly between your folds. he pressed his wriggling muscle further and further into your warm slit. his tongue was sitting fat in your cunt. it wiggled in and out of you. dragging across the ridges of your pretty pink pussy. you bit your lip, trying to keep your moaning to yourself. you didn't want poor Paul to have to listen to that. Dwayne knew you were trying to be quiet, but he wanted to punish you and Paul. he wanted his little 'brother' to be jealous. both that he was enjoying the taste of you, and that he wasn't part of the mix. Dwayne started twisting his tongue inside of you. He latched his lips around your sopping cunt and sucked on your needy little bud while his tongue worked you over. "Oh fuck! Dwayne!" your voice sounded so whiney. it was such a horny sound you were making, and you tried to burry your face in your forearms.

Dwayne was satisfied with your reaction, and slowly pulled his tongue out of you. He watched as your feet kicked desperately at the branch below, trying to find something to stand on to no avail. He rubbed himself through his jeans, and teasingly rubbed his thumb and forefinger across your slit. he undid his fly and button, he lazily massaged your aching nub. he heard your breath catch in your throat, and your desperate little dance of trying to find something to stand on only grew as you looked to find a way to get more pressure to your nub.

Dwayne licked his lips. the smell of your want in the air was enough to drag low growls from him. he wanted to take you then and there when he first caught you, but he was worried he overdid it. he wanted to get your hear racing, but he still wanted you to enjoy yourself.

your vampire lover was languidly stroking his cock. he lined himself up with your entrance and dragged his tip up and down your slit to collect some of your love. he bit his lip in anticipation. Dwayne looked over to the phone screen, that was still lit with the call screen and Paul's contact name. "Hey Paul," Dwayne called out. His deep voice echoing through the treetops. "I want you to listen. real closely," the brunet poorly stifled a chuckle. you gasped loudly as he pushed slowly into you. your breath hitching in your throat. the sharp cry of a wounded animal; being pierced by this beast. Dwayne watched as your should blades shifted under your clothes, watching you paw at the tree. not actually trying to get away as you wanted him more to devour you. he savored how you opened for him as he pushed further in. and you could feel your eyes cross as he continued to stretch you.

it was always a feat to take Dwayne.

it was a tight squeeze. you could feel your walls gripping the life out of Dwaynes member. even with the extra lubrication from Dwaynes slimy tongue, it was hard for him to move. your nails dug into the bark of the tree. you could feel the tears beginning to pick the sides of your eyes. Paul was on the other end, still listening to you gasp for air. the high pitched, broken whines in between your panting. Dwayne finally settled against your cervix. if you weren't pressed flush against the tree you were sure you'd be able to see the bulge of him through your skin. he gave a gentle push further in, wishing so horribly that you could take his last inch. you winced. it was almost painful, and he hadn't even started moving. Dwayne pulled back,

s l o w l y

dragging his heavy tip through the ridges of your tight cunt. it was agonizingly slow. you half wanted to turn around and beg him to hurry up and fuck you. his tip sat just on the inside of your entrance. almost all the way out of you. he tugged his hips backwards and with a loud POP, your cunt released him. "oohhh, fuck," he growled. he gripped himself around the base, and wiped his tip across your clit. he gathered more of your love that was beginning to drip down you, and eagerly shoved it back inside. "ooooh, Dwayne,"a breathy moan left your throat. he pressed through your walls again, and pressed himself against your ass. he was as flush against you as he could be, and he gripped the rest of your jeans and ripped them further apart. he half pulled himself back. his fingers laced themselves through the loops on your pants and slammed himself back in you. he pushed you forward against the branch. he started an eager speed. it wasn't overly fast, but it was firm. he fucked into you with a steady pace. all you could do was hold on for dear life as he fucked into you. the wet sounds coming from you two. the sloppy sucking sounds of your cunt as it enveloped Dwayne. "oohhh fuck that's good" he grunted. you were embarrassed that Paul had to hear that. why hadn't he hung up by now? you couldn't reach the phone to hang up, you just waited for Dwayne to finish having his way with you. "m'sorry Dwayne, I'm Sorry!" you tried to focus your vision on the dim light of your phone screen. anything to keep your mind off how good your lower-half felt. "I know you're sorry, babydoll" Dwayne laughed. his thrusts were painful. every push felt like he was trying to break through your cervix. and every pull felt like he was dragging your organs out. "you're sooo sorry, you just needed to be fucked, nice and good didn't cha?" he accentuated his thrusts on his words. he was grunting. trying to remember how mad he was with you and Paul. he'd almost forgotten about Paul.

he wasn't just fucking the brat out of you, he was putting on a performance.

Dwayne adjusted his hold on you. he wrapped an arm around your belly, still keeping you up while your legs were dangling freely in the air. and with his other, he spat on his fingers and reached around for your clit. you let out a wail when his wet fingertips started rubbing quick circles around your nub. "Dwayne!" you were mortified to be moaning his name so loudly.

"you hear that Paul?" Dwayne spat. "she's begging, for me!" he felt you clench tighter and tighter around him. it felt like you were sucking him in. when he pulled back, you only sucked him in further. "come for me babygirl," his skilled fingers easily brought you over the edge. and you felt the release come in waves. Dwayne felt your warm wet cunt pulse around his length, and you screamed. you screamed like it was the last sound you'd ever make. like it was your saving grace. your legs shook, and you continued to milk Dwayne's cock for everything it was worth. "mmhp, fuck," Dwayne grunted. he continued to piston his hips against you, riding you through your high. it was euphoric. you felt like you were on cloud 9 as your vampire lover continued to use you as a fuck toy. you fell limp against the tree. if Dwayne wasn't still holding you up, you'd have surely fallen. the brunet thrusted one more harsh move against you, and forced his extra inch down into your cunt. you cried out, and he spurted his cum deep inside you.

Dwayne was bent over you. his long hair coming across your face. his forehead was pressed against your back as he finished painting your insides white. he kissed your back gently, and listened to the soft breathing from your lungs. he pushed himself up and gently started to pull out of you. when he saw his come immediately start to drip out, he pressed himself fully back into you. he didn't want it dripping out of you on the way home. and he'd completely ripped your panties off along with your destroyed jeans. he chuckled when he realized he was going to have to take you home, fully sheathed in you. he leaned across you and picked up your phone and spoke into it, "we'll be home soon. see you then." he hung up on Paul and put your phone in his jacket pocket. "now... how the hell am i going to do this?"

[morphic-mythos]

ARCANA OBSCURA: a personal occult library

Disclaimer: this post is a perpetual WIP, serving as an archive of all the books I've read on topics of non-Hellenic paganism, witchcraft, occultism, etc. I read widely because I enjoy expanding my perspective.

This is by no means a list of recommendations (in fact, there are some titles on this list I wouldn't recommend), but feel free to treat it that way if you're looking for suggestions!

Other reading masterlists:

DIVINA OBSCURA: a personal Hellenic library

TRIVIA OBSCURA: books to honor Hekate

CULTURAL HISTORIES

A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult, D.K. Publishing

On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears, Stephen T. Asma

Grimoires: A History of Magic Books, Owen Davies

Darkness: A Cultural History, Nina Edwards

The Spectral Arctic: A History of Ghosts and Dreams in Polar Exploration, Shane McCorristine

The Witch, Ronald Hutton

The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World, Malcom Gaskill

WITCHCRAFT

Psychic Witch, Mat Auryn

Mastering Magick, Mat Auryn

Urban Magick, Diana Rajchel

Of Blood and Bones: Working with Shadow Magick and the Dark Moon, Kate Freuler

Year of the Witch: Connecting with Nature's Seasons through Intuitive Magick, Temperance Alden

Rebel Witch, Kelly-Ann Maddox

Witch in Darkness, Kelly-Ann Maddox

Weave the Liminal: Living Modern Traditional Witchcraft, Laura Tempest Zakroff

By Rust of Nail and Prick of Thorn: The Theory and Practice of Effective Home Warding, Althaea Sebastiani

Path of the Moonlit Hedge: Discovering the Magick of Animistic Witchcraft, Nathan M. Hall

OCCULTISM

The Book of Hermetica, Hermes Trismegistus and the Three Initiates

Lifting the Veil: A Witches' Guide to Trance-Prophecy, Drawing Down the Moon and Ecstatic Ritual, Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone

MUSINGS & MEDITATIONS

Becoming Dangerous, Katie West

Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power, Pam Grossman

Waking Up to the Dark, Clark Strand

Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

DREAMS & SYMBOLISM

The Forgotten Language, Erich Fromm

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Moonlit Bonds

Warning: vague mention of violence, emotional intimacy, sickness

On a moonlit night, the city sprawled beneath them like a glittering tapestry, its lights twinkling in the darkness as Hero and Villain clashed on the rooftop of a towering skyscraper. The air crackled with tension as their powers collided, each determined to emerge victorious in their eternal struggle.

"I won't let you get away with your crimes any longer, Villain!" Hero declared, their voice echoing across the rooftop.

Villain scoffed, their expression twisted with amusement. "And what makes you think you can stop me, Hero? You're nothing but a thorn in my side."

But as the battle raged on, Hero's movements grew sluggish, their once vibrant aura fading to a pale glow. Villain noticed the change immediately, their grumpy demeanor softening for a fleeting moment as concern flickered in their eyes.

"You don't look so good, Hero," Villain remarked, their voice surprisingly gentle. "Are you feeling alright?"

Hero managed a weak smile, despite their exhaustion. "I've been better," they admitted, their voice barely above a whisper. "But I'll be fine."

But Villain wasn't convinced. Without hesitation, they scooped Hero up in their arms, their surprising strength supporting Hero's weakened form.

"Come on, let's get you out of here," Villain said, their tone gruff but caring. "I won't let you suffer alone."

Hero couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected display of kindness from their longtime adversary. "Never thought I'd see the day when Villain became the hero," they teased, their voice laced with affection.

Villain rolled their eyes but didn't protest, their focus solely on getting Hero to safety. And as they carried Hero back to their hideout, the cityscape stretched out below them, a breathtaking panorama of lights and shadows.

In the quiet moments that followed, Hero rested against Villain's chest, their breathing slow and steady as they basked in the warmth of Villain's embrace. And amidst the soft glow of the moonlight, they found themselves opening up to each other, sharing secrets and dreams they had never dared to speak aloud.

As Hero's strength began to return, they found themselves lost in the depths of Villain's eyes, their hearts pounding in unison with the rhythm of the night. And in that moment, they knew that their connection went beyond the confines of hero and villain—a love that transcended the boundaries of right and wrong, binding them together in a bond stronger than any force in the universe.

And as they gazed into each other's eyes, their hearts overflowing with emotion, Villain whispered words that echoed through the silent room, a promise of love and devotion that filled Hero's soul with hope:

"Despite everything, despite all the battles we've fought, I've never felt more alive than I do with you by my side. And no matter what the future holds, I'll always be here for you, my dear Hero." Masterlist