#Rive writes

[riveliciousx]

well, i didn't cry. i chose to start again for the third time and i think it'll be a charm... if i manage to finish tomorrow, that is.

[empresskadia]

Dragon age the Veilguard spoilers??

Viago calls my Rook a damn fine crow and this bitch holds it together for a solid 5 minutes until she's left the diamond and full-on just starts crying in front of Davrin and Lucanis. And it's a slow build-up to that point because Viago's praise has such an effect after everything that's happened. Like their walking through the eluvian, heading back to the lighthouse and Rook is so quiet for once, and her eyes start tearing and the line keeps repeating in her head until she has to place her hand over her mouth but tears are just running down her face and she can't look at either man behind her because she doesn't want them to know how much that shit has hit her heart because oh my god, Viago really does think I'm an amazing Crow. And my Rock is an elf who is still reeling that her gods are a fucking lie to this world while trying to hold together this team.

But the feelings are so overwhelming that she has to stop walking and crouches down to put her face in her hands and just crying because oh my god Viago said I'm a damn fine Crow and still believes in me.

Anyways, this is a very emotional scene for me and my Rook.

So here is my little written scene;

Viago called me a damn fine Crow.

The words echoed in Rook’s head, like a drumbeat she couldn’t escape. It had been easy to keep her composure in the Diamond—her training demanded it. Viago’s offhanded praise had settled in her ears, light as a feather and heavy as a mountain, and she’d stood there with her usual unshakable snark and calm, smiling just enough to deflect attention.

But the moment they stepped through the eluvian, back into the faintly shimmering otherworld, it hit her all over again.

Damn fine Crow.

Rook walked ahead, silent for once, her hands flexing at her sides. The hum of the Veil pressed around them, but her mind was louder. She kept her back straight, her shoulders square, though the reality of it all was pressing in—the lie of her gods, the fractures in her team she'd been desperately mending, the constant strain of keeping herself steady when everything else seemed to fall apart. And then Viago—sharp-tongued, clever Viago—Her fifth Talon. Believed in her. Praised her.

The first tear slipped down her cheek before she even realized it. She clenched her jaw, brushing at her face quickly as if the action could hide her thoughts from Davrin and Lucanis walking behind her. But the line kept repeating, over and over.

Damn fine Crow.

Her breath hitched, and she bit down on her knuckles to stifle the sound. She didn’t want them to see. She didn’t want them to know how badly she needed to hear those words. How much she doubted herself—her worth, her leadership, her place in this shattered world. But Viago has praised her. He'd called me a damn fine Crow.

Her legs gave out. Rook stopped, crouching on the path, her face buried in her hands as the tears came. Silent at first, but then shaking sobs she couldn’t hold back. Her shoulders heaved, and she gasped for air, overwhelmed by everything she’d been carrying and those small words had cracked it all open.

She didn’t hear Davrin approach until his hand rested lightly on her shoulder. Lucanis crouched beside her, softer, concerned. “Rook,” he murmured. “What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t look at them, her voice muffled and raw. “Viago—he said I was a damn fine Crow.”

Davrin blinked, caught off guard. Lucanis let out a soft exhale, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. “Of course he did,” he said, his voice low and sure. “Because you are.”

Rook cried harder.

[encrucijada]

'twas fun while it lasted 🫡 (officially giving up on camp nano lmao)

[nohoperadio]

I went to the Wikipedia page on Les Champs magnétiques (a French surrealist novel written entirely as automatic writing, i.e. typing whatever words come into your head without trying to make them mean anything), which is one of the Wikipedia pages I remember being fascinated by as a young teen first discovering Wikipedia, when at least a couple of you were literally not even born yet, or like barely born. The very short article hasn't changed much since 20 years ago except that the example passage they quote is now a different one for some reason, which I noticed immediately on account of the vibes being wrong despite the new passage also mentioning train stations, and I had to go back to an older revision to see the one I remember from my youth:

The marvellous railway-stations never afford us shelter anymore: the long passages terrify us. So in order to go on living these monotonous minutes must still be stifled, these scraps of centuries. Once we loved the year's last sunny days, the narrow plains where our eyes' gaze flowed like those impetuous rives of our childhood. There remain nothing but reflections now in the woods repopulated with absurd animals, with well-known plants.

For some reason I felt like going back even further to the very first version of the article, created May 8th 2004, and I was rewarded with the fact that the user who initially created the article for Les Champs magnétiques (and the current version is still mostly their work actually) decided to get a bit self-referential and wacky with it; this is how their original version ends:

Keeping the spirit of surrealism, the rest of this entry is done using automated writing (spelling mistakes and all): A strange french book, is this book. I can try to read it but sometinmes I have trouble, especisallym wsince my essay is due in Monday. I have boorrowed a lot of books from the library. Perhapos I can do an automated essay? I mentioned it to my lecturerer and he said it would not work. I wonder if the wiklipedia people will accept this entry. I think they are too strict and it is a pity that surrealism is not an accepted technique if these people knew anything about post-modernism they would realise that everythign like this is valid on some level althought I guess I haven't really spoken about the book, yeah its good, there is poetry towards the end so it's not really a novel.

[zorosangell]

I’ll request for Cora then! I don’t really know what to request tho 🤔 but I love all your writing so I’m sure I’ll love whatever you write. how about just general headcanons? thank you! ❤️

⛥ﾟ・。corazon general and specific headcanons

synopsis: just some headcanons for the nine-foot tall blonde of my dreams

cw: none

a/n: this was so fun to write! thanks anon for the ask. i think i'm gonna open up my inbox for headcanons on other characters like kid or law or whatever

a/n 2: stay safe and rive carefully y'all. happy new year <3

general headcanons (you both are in a relationship)

— while i've seen others view cora as an overall shy, introverted person, i actually think the opposite, at least in some cases

— granted, he's not shouting from the mountain tops or actively going out of his way to talk to others, he is very extroverted with the people he knows and trusts

— like you, queen <3

— he likes to tell jokes and use his clumsiness to make you laugh, even if it isn't on purpose most of the time

— and when you do, he feels like he's on top of the world

— he's also very protective of you

— certain things in your relationship he likes to take a back seat on, but your safety is not one of them

— he's seen some things, and he'll be damned if something happens to you because of his negligence

— in a crowded room, he'll position himself behind you, acting as a guard dog as he keeps tabs on all possible threats

— in a bar, he'll keep a watchful eye on your drink and make sure an arm is around your waist at all times

— on the sidewalk, he will always, always make sure he's on the street side

— but that ties in with him being a perfect gentleman

— that being said... YOU NEVER HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING

— actually gets offended if you try

— you're his lady; when you're with him, you don't lift a finger

— he may be on a marine's salary but when it comes to you he acts as if he has all the money in the world

— loves to splurge on you

"aw, baby, look! that necklace would look great on you, wouldn't it!"

"cora, honey, it's 90,000 berries... and you just got me a 70,000 berry bracelet last week"

"and?"

— honestly not very opinionated, doesn't really have many preferences when it comes to material things

— often has you order for him at restaurants, or pick out his clothes for the day

— hates arguing and fighting in general (though arguments are few and far between for you both anyway)

— if you don't like kids, that might be a bit of a deal breaker, seeing as law is a large part of his life

— not only that, but if you just are not a kind or decent person, this is not the man for you

— but trust, if you hit it off with law, you will have this man's heart forever (easier said than done tho)

specific headcanon (story-ish i guess)

— for the sake of whatever, let's say you're the nurse of doflamingo's crew (by circumstance, you're still a good person)

— when you first joined, cora was floored by your beauty; like actually, he fell flat on his face when doflamingo introduced you to the crew

— he was baffled that someone like you was a pirate, and even more so when you opened your mouth to reveal that you were incredibly kind and warm hearted

— (he would later learn that you had been blackmailed by his brother into joining the crew—the warlord promised no harm would come to your family if you joined him)

— initially, he was both enamored and suspicious, seeing as only those with cruel intentions joined his brother's crew

— but as time went by, he was quick to learn that it was quite the opposite, and quick to grow a certain fondness for you

— i imagine cora as a slow burner, so of course all of this happens over a decent amount of time

— but within that time you manage to weasel your way into his heart

— being the ship's nurse, you are always tasked with patching him up after his mishaps

— even though you do slip up and let out a chuckle or two, it never comes from a place of malice, unlike the others

— and even still, you scold and warn him about being careful around fires and hot liquids

— though, most of the time, it goes in one ear and out the other

— sometimes he's too preoccupied with your soft hands on him, or your pretty eyes locked with his

— sidebar: he blushes like a school girl because of his fair skin, i'm talking full on tomato

— anyway, it isn't long before you two become incredibly close

— communicating is a bit of a hassle given his silence, but he appreciates your constant effort

— he makes a point to keep you as far away from doflamingo as possible, often sending you on "errands" to avoid the two of you from interacting

— and when he can't do that, he floats around, not straying too far away as his brother pulls you aside for a chat or asks you to check a pain on his abdomen (barf)

— that doesn't just apply for his brother, btw

— he does that for everyone on the crew, executive or not

— no one gets you on your own without him knowing about it

— on the outside looking in it might sound stalker-ish, but in his mind he justified it as performing his duty as a marine

— all he was doing was protecting a helpless... sweet-smelling... adorably-laughing... angel-looking... young woman

— but in actuality, he was protecting his dream girl

— his dream girl who absolutely loves kids! (if you don't, then, once again, cora might not be the one for you)

— you always treat baby 5 and buffalo with such kindness, even when they act like little monsters; making sure they take their baths, making sure they eat, giving them their monthly check-ups

— it's one of the many things cora loves about your personality

— as well as nurse, you play the role of nanny to the kids onboard

— and your mothering only expands when law and dellinger join the crew

— fast forward to when cora is about to take law away, he comes to you first, severely surprising you by reciting a passionate dissertation as to why you should join him

— he couldn't imagine leaving you behind in the clutches of his brother; no protection, no one to shield you from the horrors of the family

— so it was only natural that his heart fell to his ass when you declined, but your reasoning was that doflamingo still had your family hostage

— though, on one particular night, when you had happened to walk past the door to his study, you overheard him talking to the other executives about how gullible you were, as he had killed your family years ago

— distraught, you ran away with cora and law that night

— and it was bbq chicken from there...

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Fighting

Any words related to fighting outside hit, punch, kick, cut, gut, slice?

Bastinado - to subject to repeated blows

Batter - to beat with successive blows so as to bruise, shatter, or demolish

Bludgeon - to hit with heavy impact

Calcitrate - archaic: kick

Clobber - to pound mercilessly; to hit with force

Combat - to fight with; battle

Cudgel - to beat with or as if with a short heavy club

Drub - to beat severely

Flog - to beat with or as if with a rod or whip

Fracas - a noisy quarrel; brawl

Grapple - to grasp with the hands; wrestle

Hector - to intimidate or harass by bluster or personal pressure

Incise - to cut into

Lambaste - to assault violently; beat, whip

Larrup - to flog soundly; whip

Maim - to mutilate, disfigure or wound seriously

Mangle - to injure with deep disfiguring wounds by cutting, tearing, or crushing

Mêlée - a confused struggle; especially: a hand-to-hand fight among several people

Mutilation - an act or instance of destroying, removing, or severely damaging a limb or other body part of a person or animal

Oppugn - to fight against

Pummel - pound, beat

Rive - to wrench open or tear apart or to pieces; rend; to split with force or violence

Ruckus - a noisy fight or disturbance : row, commotion

Scrimmage - a confused fight; scuffle

Scuffle - to struggle at close quarters with disorder and confusion

Spar - skirmish, wrangle; a movement of offense or defense in boxing

Stamp - to strike or beat forcibly with the bottom of the foot

Thump - to strike or beat with or as if with something thick or heavy so as to cause a dull sound

Thwack - to strike with or as if with something flat or heavy; whack

Tussle - to struggle roughly; scuffle

Hope this helps with your writing. Do tag me, or send me a link. I'd love to read your work!

More: Word Lists ⚜ Words for your Fight Scenes

[truly-sincerely]

IS GORTASH ENTHRALLED?

(tl;dr: yes)

In this essay I will…

Okay, but seriously I did write an essay.

I got here after chasing a very different rabbit down its hole. I'd noticed that Gortash seems to have been throwing out a lot of his stuff (read: mostly employees).

Waldemar Prinski, a loyal banite, sold to a devil for a corn chip

Dark Breaker Antiope, sahuagin wrangler, A Negotiation

The Steel Watch Foundry, Orders to Black Gauntlet Rives

Scribe Yanthus, my beloved, sent on a wild bhaal chase

Vance Farnol, journalist, tho you could argue he had it coming

Goblin Worg handler at Flymm Cargo, plus the Worgs when they run out of Goblin to eat

And, of course, everyone at his Coronation

Was killing all of the patriars and their staff a grim necessity, Enver? Was it?

(Also, he's installed a giant portrait of Bane and a bust of Bane in the penthouse, but he doesn't have a single picture of himself, or any mirrors, for that matter. Food for thought.)

My initial diagnosis was macabre, but obviously I’ve moved away from that line of thinking. He's just way too happy to brag about how much danger he's put himself, us, and the entire world in. It freaked me out the first time I met him (as a Tav). Like I see him glancing at the ground and smiling coyly while saying, "If we're lucky, we'll become slaves," on the back of my eyelids when I go to bed at night.

For the love of all that is holy, could you please turn it down a notch?

I've been obsessed with The Ultimate State since I first read it. It's absolutely absurd nonsense. The item description says it's, "the philosophical ramblings of Enver Gortash." and I feel like it's worth noting that he doesn't write his own propaganda; he has the banites do it for him. But I mean, it really does read like he's twisting himself in knots to connect "unity" and "progress" together, but babe, those jigsaw pieces do not go together like that. Anyway, while thinking about this subject it dawned on me:

They're the same picture.

You know what other line of thinking these two have in common?

They both look so sad when they say this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I abandoned you.

I know we all love to joke about Durge or Gortash feeding the Brain the "Handsome, Younger Man" line, but what if that was just a smokescreen and it's been the other way around this whole time?

Netherbrain: You think you know why you are here. You think you can atone for giving me my power, child of Bhaal, by destroying me with the Netherstones. You are wrong. The Emperor: It’s messing with your mind. Don’t listen to it. Use the stones. Netherbrain: By eliminating Ketheric and Orin, you have simply unbound me. Exactly as I intended. The Crown is now mine to command - mine alone. The Emperor: Don’t listen to it! Focus on the Crown! Netherbrain: You placed the Crown upon me in the depths of Moonrise Towers, and there I was born. The Crown is not my weakness - it is what made me what I am. Gortash: You are delusional - the Crown is how we controlled you! Netherbrain: I respected Bhaal’s child once, but not you, Gortash. I allowed you to control me as long as it suited my purposes. You have played your part. The next order to be given is mine and it is this - die. Gortash: (crumples like a piece of parchment) Netherbrain: When the parasite entered your ruined mind - you became a pawn in my design. Who do you think told the Chosen about the Astral Prism? Who do you think planted the knowledge of Orpheus’ power, and the fear of what it could do? When the Chosen sent my thralls to retrieve the Prism - who do you think let the ‘Emperor’ slip its leash, knowing it would be the one to bring you to me? The Emperor: We were part of its plan… Netherbrain: I only needed one Netherstone loosened from the Chosen’s grasp to guarantee my freedom. You brought all three back to me. In doing so, you have liberated me. This was your role - and it is complete. Now you will witness the Grand Design.

The face of a man who has 20 INT and 16 WIS and is definitely not the brainwashed pawn of a giant brain that's been manipulating him in his sleep.

You think his puny +7 WIS save is gonna beat the Netherbrain when it's been working on his ass every time he goes to sleep for the last nine months? I say thee nay.

Also, and this is probably oversharing, but my dad, who I used to think of as a really smart guy is now a huge Trump supporter. He's an atheist but he'll parrot conservative christian talking points that I've seen clipped from Nazi talking heads. The words that come out of his mouth and the way he smiles when he says completely insane things is haunting.

What all of this means at the end of the day isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but it's kind of sad, and it definitely says something about his characterization. This man is floundering in a soup of his own making. A tragic puppet. A poor little meow meow.

There's an interesting line of demarcation between the various writings that he dictated to Scribe Yanthus, the things he wrote himself, and the things he says to us in the game.

Elder Brain Domination (from Ketheric, but about Gortash)

Suspended Ceremorphosis

The Grand Design

Studies of the Elder Brains

Accelerated Grand Design

Memoir Notes With Recent Addenda

Journal of Enver Gortash

He's so much more motivated and insightful early on, epitomized in Ketheric's entry, "Gortash fears that, energised by the dark energies of the Crown, the brain we now call the Absolute will eventually metamorphose into something new and more difficult to control." And he was right! But that guy's nowhere to be found by the time we meet him.

This one makes me particularly sad, "No weakness but the unexpected. It seems I shall need unexpected allies," because, again, he's right, and we could've saved him if the game had given us the opportunity to say, "No, there is another way. Let's not walk into this obvious trap." He wrote us a roadmap; left a trail of breadcrumbs; and we weren't given the option to follow them.

But I guess that's what fixfics are for.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TAVtalk!

[crystal-overdrive]

List of Banites

I went through the Foundy and Wyrm's Rock to get a list of Banite names, hopefully useful for anyone writing Church of Bane or Gortash centered fic.

Fists of Bane

Fists of Bane are the lowest ranked foot soldiers of Bane who obey all orders without hesitation.

Bagdog - Half-Orc Person

Polanulus - Human Man

Gudrum - Human Woman

Frode - Human Man

Zana Hade - Human Woman

Iron Consuls

Iron Consuls are cunning field officers who excel at coordinating the Fists of Bane in combat.

Jaxbock - Human Mam

Lo - Human Man

Null

Mian

Malik the Cruel

Moosk

Chadd - Orc

Underbite Yoonce - Half-Orc

Marten the Hammer - Half-Orc Man

Black Gauntlets

The Black Gauntlets are priests who command the consuls.

Greyward

Mohlen

Ignur

Aiseha

Mfran

Hahns Rives - Human Man, Overseer of the Foundry Lab

Indora Ralston - Human Woman

Ulova - Human Man

Borri Paver - Dwarf Man

...and my two favorites

Black Gauntlet Tamia Holtz, who seemed to be running at least part of the Foundry, and Fist of Bane Gasper Throaks, the son of a tailor who is a newcomer to the cult, having been given a job by Tamia after spending his time hanging around the Guildhall.

Turns out if you go to the Elfsong Gasper's Mum Clovia is having an affair with Tamia BUT the first time I saw this letter I imagined Tamia and Gasper were getting married and I loved the idea of this vicious overseer being a sweet daughter-in-law.

[hard--headed--woman]

Annemarie Schwarzenbach

(i am so glad i learned about her!)

Born in 1908 and died in 1942, she is a Swiss writer, poet, explorer, philosopher,  photographer, journalist and traveler (yeah that's impressive!).

Her family was a family of Swiss industrialists from the upper bourgeoisie and close to the far-right ; openly lesbian, she lives with difficulty with them and can't wait to leave.

From 1927, she studied history and literature in Zurich and Paris and then began writing articles for the Swiss press.

In 1930, she became friends with Klaus Mann (writer) and Erika Mann (writer, actress, singer) children of Thomas Mann (writer) and had a long affair with the latter. She supported them in their fight against Nazism. The three friends joined the anti-fascist magazine Die Sammlung.

In 1931, she obtained a doctorate. At the age of 23, she published her first novel, Les Amis de Bernhard. She became friends with Claude Bourdet, Catherine Pozzi's (poet and writer) son and a future member of the French Resistance.

In 1933, Annemarie Schwarzenbach made her first trip as a journalist, travelling to Spain with the photographer Marianne Breslauer.

That same year, she travelled to Persia and decided to marry, in Tehran, Achille Clarac, the secretary of the French legation, who was openly homosexual. She did this so that she was no longer dependent on her parents. Thanks to her marriage, she was able to obtain a diplomatic passport, which facilitated her travels. Obviously, it wasn't a love marriage; the two of them did it to help each other and to be able to live free.

She later returned to Switzerland, then left for the Soviet Union and the United States. In 1938, she underwent several detox treatments for her morphine addiction. She fell in love with one of the women in charge of her treatment. During these stays at the clinic, she wrote "La Vallée Heureuse","Das glückliche Tal" (The Happy Valley).

In 1939-1940, when Europe was once again embroiled in war, she travelled by Ford from Geneva to Kabul, via Iran, with the Swiss traveller, writer and photographer Ella Maillart, a journey marked by her addiction problems. The two women's epic journey is recounted by Ella Maillart in her book "La Voie cruelle". It was during this journey that Annemarie Schwarzenbach wrote "Un hiver au Proche-Orient". She also wrote various reports for Swiss newspapers.

On her return, she went back to the United States, where her addiction to morphine, her depressive tendencies and her suicide attempts forced her to undergo several psychiatric treatments. She then became interested in the trade union movement. In New York, she befriended Carson McCullers, who fell madly in love with her and dedicated "Reflections in a Golden Eye" to her.

During a stay in the Belgian Congo, Annemarie Schwarzenbach joined the Free French forces in Brazzaville; she was mistaken for a Nazi spy. Disturbed by this comparison, she began writing a series of poems, including Les Rives du Congo-Tétouan. In 1942, having regained her serenity, she decided to return to Switzerland.

On 7 September 1942, a fall from her bicycle seriously injured her head. She was treated in a psychiatric hospital in Prangins, with electric shocks. Her mother then had her taken back to the Engadine, where she died on 15 November, aged 34.

After her death, her mother chose to destroy a large part of her correspondence. However, the Annemarie Schwarzenbach fonds is preserved at the Swiss Literary Archives in Bern and was made freely accessible on Wikimedia Commons in 2017. She was nicknamed the "inconsolable angel" by the French writer Roger Martin du Gard.

She has created a number of novels, poems, photos and reports during her many travels, and I invite you to take a look at her work!!! She was such an interesting person!!!

I love women with a thirst for life and the world like that; she wanted to discover everything, and created such interesting things!!!

Do check her books, her poems and her photos!

[primadonalover]

Sworn to Hate Eachother

Summary: River and Y/n are sworn to hate eachother, however y/n starts to question her real feelings for her rival when Lamb suggests what could be the deep-rooted problem between them.

Short Note: Those of you who know Slow Horses know the way Lamb speaks. For me personally, I'm not a fan or swearing, so I won't be adding it in my writing. Just wanted to mention this incase you slow horses fans thought I'd written Lamb inaccurately

"How could you! How ... just....JUST HOW!?"

Lamb yelled whilst he marched round the carpet of his deteriorating office, laced with the not so faint stench of cigarettes and alcohol.

"I JUST...." He spoke with an exasperated tone, running his hand through the mess that he called hair.

"Look we're sorry alight." Cartwright spoke trying to reason with the hysterical man.

"You don't need to apologies for me, I'm not a baby." Y/n rolled her eyes at the agent that stood by her.

"Well you acted like a baby on the mission didn't you." Cartwright scoffed in response.

"Are you serious right now?! You were the one who was acting like a baby!"

"It was MY mission, therefore I got the gun!"

"Your can't shoot to save your life! I should have had that gun! It's just incredible how STUPID you are!"

"THATS NOT TRUE!"

"YOU BLOODY ALMOST SHOT ME! WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL THAT?!"

"IF I'M STUPID THEN YOU MUST BE-"

"THATS IT!" Lamb shouted slamming his fist against his desk grabbing the attention if the two bickering intensely.

"First of all, you screw up a mission, a mission that was quite important for our reputation I might add, my reputation to be more direct. Second of all, the only decent reason you can give for this royal screw up is that you both "don't like eachother" .What are you a pair of children?! Thirdly, you both make my life a living hell! I mean..I mean what is it? I just don't get it?!" Lamb spoke in a state of confusion as he sat down staring at the two who both looked to floor ashamed.

"I mean I just don't get it, I....wait...oh bloody hell I should have seen this before." Lamb huffed leaning back in his chair rubbing his head.

"Seen what ?" River spoke as him and y/n looked at eachother confused but still with great hate.

"It's been staring me in the face this entire time!" Lamb rambled on. "Just so obvious!"

"What's obvious?!" Y/n asked curiously.

"Well, that you fancy eachother!"

"WE WHAT!?" Y/n and River exclaimed, almost falling to the floor with shock.

"Well clearly, there seems to be alot of...tension between you both sooo maybe you too both just need to f-"

"Don't finish that sentence!" River interrupted making Lamb chuckle.

"This is ridiculous, me!? With him?! " y/n scoffed pointing at River.

"Oh excuse me but what is exactly wrong with me?" River turned his rival putting his hands to his hips.

"Oh let me see, uhhh always seeking approval from others, self centred , can't do your job properly, that hair-"

"Wait, what? My hair , what's wrong with my hair!" River exclaimed looking from Lamb to Y/n.

"I mean where to begin." Y/n laughed whilst going to touch it only to have Rive slap her hand away.

"He just assaulted me." She spoke folding her arms turning to Lamb.

"Aleight alright alright I've had enough of this, both of you just do what you want but don't come crying to me like a bunch of babies when the other annoyes you, right! Now y/n get out whilst I talk to River."

"But Lamb-"

"Look I'm in no mood to argue, just go." Lamb waved his hand at y/n.

"Fine." She spoke glaring at River who stood there smirking as she slammed the door.

"Well that seemed intense." Louisa commented to y/n as she stormed out of the office.

"Yea well what's new with Cartwright." She mumbled siting down.

"So who one this round then?"

"Not actually sure, I mean Cartwrights the one still in the office and I don't hear shouting so...."

"Yea sounds like Lambs favours him this time." Louisa commented sitting next to y/n as they both began filing and sorting through old documents that Catherine asked them to look at.

"I don't know why, he was CLEARLY in the wrong."

"I don't even know why Lamb puts you on missions together, we all know it'll end up going wrong cause of a disagreement." Shirly spoke joining in the conversation.

"I think he enjoys it." Laughed y/n "You know he basically said me and Cartwright has sexual tension, I mean can you imagine."

Louisa and Shirly just glanced at eachother smirking.

"What! Guys come on! Me and Cartwright, that's crazy." Y/n shook her head in disgust.

"Well I see the way he looks at you and I just wonder." Louisa spoke whilst shirly nodded in agreement m

"He looks at me with hate, hello ? Has everyone lost there mind!"

"Oh I don't think he looks at you with hate exactly." Shirly chuckled.

"Fine, be like that but I swear that nothings going on between me and that stupid man."

Just as y/n spoke River stepped out from Lambs office glancing at her in the process, clearly hearing that last comment.

"See." Louisa smirked

"Shut up." Y/n hissed back as River walked up to them.

"What did Lamb want?" Shirly asked him.

"Uh another mission." He grumbled in response "He also says that he wants the filling done ready for tomorrow."

"Thats ridiculous, it'll take forever." Louisa spoke stunned as the rest looked on.

"I don't really think he cares." River responded trying to be sympathetic. "Anyway I'll see you guys tomorrow." He gave a small wave to the group, to only be ignored by none other than y/n.

"He looked sad that you ignored him." Shirly teased once River had left.

"OK enough, this is not a high school rom com, let's get it together people." Y/n stated strictly, trying to focus on the files though her mind kept going back to River, always River.

3 hours later

"Uh this is torture, even Lambs left." Shirly huffed putting her hands in head.

"Yea I was meant to be meeting up with some family tonight." Sighed Louisa still working through files

"And I had a party, we've all got problem." Shirly grumbled from her buried head.

After a minuet of thinking y/n spoke up .

"Look you both have plans for night and I don't have nothing better to do, so why don't you guys head out and I'll try and do my best with these files."

"Y/n you don't have to do that." Said Louisa

"Yea coudnt Catherine deal with it tomorrow." Spoke shirly.

"Oh no she's been of sick today, I don't want to have a bunch of work for her tomorrow. Honestly guys it's fine you go."

"Well only if your sure?"

"Louisa I'll be fine."

"Thanks bye!" Shirly exclaimed jumping up ,grabbing her coat and running out to the door.

"Well she woke up quickly." Y/n laughed as Louisa collected her stuff ready to head out.

"Hey y/n, thanks again." She called before heading out the door.

"Right then." Y/n said to herself as she looked at the remaining stack of papers. "Let's get this done."

As time went by y/n manged to work her way the the piles of papers, one file at a time. Though she coudnt help but think about what Lamb and the others had said and implied. Why did they all think she and River liked eachother, everything he did irritated her and probably the other way around aswell, but still, maybe there was something there? No she thought to herself, your being stupid y/n.

Suddenly whilst she was lost in the landscape of her own daydreaming a huge bang came from downstairs makeing her jump out of her chair.

"Wait what time is it." She mumbled looking at the clock , maybe it was Louise and she forgot something?

3 in the morning! That's not louisa. The worry continued as crashing noises continued and the sound of a person walking up the stairs became clearer. Not knowing what to do and not being equipped with any weapon she quickly grabbed an empty bottle of whiskey from Lambs office and hid behind the door.

She couldn't help but shake as the steps came closer and closer. Soon the door that she hid behind opened and figure that seemed to limp appeared.

Not knowing exactly how to handle the current situation y/n did what she usually did best . Throw a blind fit of rage.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT!" She screamed jumping out from her hiding place, going to hit the stranger with the bottle.

"What the hell!" A familiar voice retaliated in shock.

"River?!' Y/n exclaimed confused, dropping the bottle. "Is that you?!"

"Yes it's me! Why's it so dark !,# why are you even still here?!"

"Well I thought you were a some thug so I turned of the lights to hide and I'm still going through the files, what are you doing here!?" She spoke going to find the lights switch.

"Doesn't matter." He grumbled turning away from her as the light turned on.

"What's wrong." Y/n spoke with suspicion as she watches him from behind. "Your limping."

"Just leave it."

"Uh no, you can barely stand on your leg and-"

"I hurt it."

"Hurt it? Hurt it how?" She carried on pushing

"Does it really matter y/n." River spoke, not angrily, no attitude infact y/n sensed a tone of tiredness and exhaustion in his voice.

"You gonna turn around to face me then." She crossed her arms determined to find out what was exactly going on with him.

For a moment he didn't do anything, just sighed.

Y/n walked up and gently put a hand to his shoulder.

"Please Cartwright, I know there's something wrong."

"Fine." He huffed tuning to face her.

"Oh my gosh cartwright!" Y/n exclaimed at the sight of him, face all beaten and bruised, cloths partially ripped and covered in blood.

"Happy?" He muttered, clearly in pain.

"What happened!?" She still coudnt get over the state he was in.

"I..." He began and looked down, tears began to form in his eyes. "I can't get into all this now, it's to much, everything just hurts." He tried his best to pull himself together but wasn't a success as soon the tears ran down his bloodied face uncontrollable.

Y/n had no clue what to do. She had never seen river cry, upset or even vulnerable, not like this.

"Do you have anyone who can take care of you, family maybe?" She asked softly still not sure what to exactly do.

He just shook his head "I dont want to cause my grandad any upset and um, there's no one else. That's why I came here, there's first aid kits and it's safe ."

"Oh right." Y/n repleid and the two just stood there.

"You can just carry on working if you want. I'll take care of myself." River stated and went to go and find a first aid kit , hobbling about the room, wincing every now and then.

"For goodness sake Cartwirght sit down." Y/n chuckled seeing the man trying to reach for the first aid kit on a high self.

"What-"

"Just sit down, I'll get that."

Once she got the kit and river was sat down as comfortably in the chair as he could y/n places the kit on the desk and began to seacgr through it for everything that was needed.

"I can do -"

"Cartwright I did nurses training, so can you put your pride aside and let me just help you, it looks like it just trust to move." She spoke sternly to which he nodded in response.

Sitting on the desk opposite him she began to gently rub the blood from his face.

"Thank you y/n." He spoke looking up to her as she took care of a cut on the side of his head.

"Thats ok" She smiled down at him and continued to work. "So was this to do with the mission Lamb sent you on?"

"Yea." River responded "I had to retrieve something from the park but I uh had a run in with Duffy ." He tried to brush it of.

"Wait Duffy did this to you!?"

"Yes this is all his fine work."

"I can't...I can't believe he did this to you."

"Well he does hate me." He chuckled in response as y/n got up to get him some water.

"I hate you but I'd never do this to you." She responded sadly. "I hate seeing you like this River."

"Wow." He laughed slightly taking the glass from her and watched as she sat opposite him.

"What?"

"I don't think I've ever heard you call me by my first name before."

"Don't worry I'll get back to cartwright. " She chuckled awkwardly realising what she had done aswell.

"Oh.....it's just I preferred it when you called me River." He spoke avoiding eye contact with her.

"You do?" She asked with a slight smile with river responding with a polite nod.

"Well then ......River, how are you feeling now."

"Just terrific." He chuckled

"Seriously River, you've had some very nasty injuries, I'm surprised you don't have concusion."

"Maybe I do!"

"Well then maybe we should test that.." the pair chuckled and y/n helped River stand on his feet , carefully holding onto him. She coudnt help but blush as they stood so close together. Maybe Lamb was right? No stop thinking that ! Y/n thought pushing his words aside.

"Can you stand ok?" She asked as he clucthed onto her arm,keeping her close to him. There faces close, only parted by height.

"I think I can." River spoke almost in a whisper a line of nervs laced in his voice. Y/n was sure she caught his eyes dart from hers to her lips then bach but she to her eyes. No. Lamb couldn't be right.

"Shall I let go so you can stand on your own then." She went to pulll away from him only for River to hold her tighter to him , staring down at her with a longing in his eyes.

"River I -" Before she could finish she felt his beaten and bruised hand gently cup her cheek , lifting her head slightly so that they were gazing into eachothers eyes.

"Can I ask you something?" He whispeed closely to her lips gently rubbing her cheek with his thumb.

"Yes." She spoke nervously.

"You don't actually think I'm stupid do you?" He asked sounding embarrassed. Y/n coudnt help but chuckle with how concerned he seemed about it.

"No River of course I don't, I was just angry."

"Oh that's good then." He smiled nervously inching closer.

"And you know." Y/n smirked looking up at him , you have pretty great hair aswell."

"Oh really?"

"Yea I do." She smiled, gently running her fingers through the golden hair, causing his cheeks to flush as she did so.

Suddenly and without thinking through anything y/n leant up on her tip toes and gently placed a soft and delicate kiss to Rivers lips.

She could feel the man's shock depsite how they'd been obviously moving closer and closer to eachother by the minute.

However River swiflty got over the initial suprise of y/ns bold move and leaned into the kiss, softy but not lacking in any passion as he moved his lips against hers.

Soon his hands trailed down to her waist trying to pull her as close to him as possible.

As the kiss became more intense with River backing y/n up against the desk, the realisation suddenly struck her overwhelmingly.

"Wait River wait." She mumbled against his lips beginning to pull away as he lightly bit down on her bottom lip.

"What..whats wrong, did I do something worng. " He whispered nervously afraid he'd messed up.

"No you didn't but-"

"Well let's carry on then." He chuckled going in for another kiss only to be gently pushed back again.

"River we can't." She spoke looking down.

"But why? You kissed me !"

"I know I did."

"You seemed like you very much enjoyed kissing me!"

"River I know-"

"You said you liked my hair!"

"I do!"

"Then what's the problem!?" He began raising his voice.

"Lamb." She mumbled

"What do you mean?"

"If we happen , then he'd be right!"

"Wait, just wait a minute , you clearly like me and I REALLY like you ...alot! We'd be great together, you know we'd be great together but your just to proud to admit that Lamb was right!"

"River he'd never let it go, we'd get comments everyday! By everyone, not just Lamb!"

"Oh so our relationship would be an inconvenience to you! Or maybe an embarrassment!"

"We're not even in a relationship Cartwright!"

"Yea youve got one thing right." He scoffed and began for the door. "And don't call me River again!" He yelled slamming the door on his way out.

"FINE BY ME! ITS A STUPID NAME ANYWAY!" Y/n screamed back tears in her eyes. "I MEAN OBVIOUSLY YOUR MUM NEVER CARED ABOUT YOU, TO GIVE HER SON A STUPID NAME LIKE THAT!"

Y/n thought she heard him stop on the steps, was he coming back up. Maybe she took it to far. No wait, he's leaving.

She liked him, she knew she liked him alot, but once again they ended up in a fight.

Well that was it now, there was no coming back from what was said.

Hope you all enjoyed thus darlings!

Shall I consider a Part 2😏💕?

[riveliciousx]

im really considering not using tags anymore because the activity here is dwindling and it's just me and my demons at the end of the day

[bitterkarella]

Midnight Pals: Sex Advice

Graham Masterton: it may interest you to know Masterton: that when i'm not writing horror Masterton: i'm writing sex guides Barker: oh yeah? how's that work? i thought you were british Masterton: i Masterton:

Barker: how you gonna write a sex guide when you're british? Masterton: you're british Barker: ah ha ha oh you got me ha ha ha! Barker: this guy's good Barker: he's real good!

Edward Lee: bro you write sex guides? Masterton: yup! Masterton: like 'Mr and Mrs. Erotic Briton' Masterton: and 'Tepid Sex Teatime Soiree' Lee: bro

Lee: bro i'm trying to get my buddy howard laid Lee: you got any advice bro? Masterton: let me see the client Lovecraft: Masterton: ah Masterton: no i don't

Lee: bro c'mon bro Lee: help my bro out here man he's dying Masterton: ok um well Masterton: ok first you need to woo the lady Masterton: try buying her some chocolates Lovecraft: [sweats] oh i can't do that

Lovecraft: I've heard chocolate's from Belgium Masterton: Lee: oh i shoulda mentioned that Lee: my bro here is racist against Belgians Masterton: yeah no that's right and proper Masterton: fuck Belgium!!!

Masterton: but actually chocolate's not originally from Belgium Masterton: it's from south America Lovecraft: what??? that's even worse! Lee: yeah bro you're not really helping your case bro

Lee: bro c'mon give my bro some advice on how to get a lady Masterton: well my expert advice is Masterton: Masterton: have you considered just jerking off? Lovecraft: [sweats]

Graham Masterton: listen ladies Masterton: here's a tip that'll really rive him wild in bed Masterton: next time you're out hiking, pick up a small flat stone

Masterton: and when you're getting in the mood Masterton: surprise him by pressing it against his perineum Tabitha King: Sonia Greene: Angela Carter: Masterton: that means his taint Tabitha King: oh! his taint! well, of course

Masterton: they love me in Poland! Masterton: see, they erected this statue of me as a dwarf Barker: oh yeah they gave you the Keebler elf hat and everything Masterton: it's not a Keebler elf hat! Masterton: it's a dwarf hat! Masterton: there's a difference!

Poe: why are you a dwarf? Masterton: you know, because Masterton: Masterton: look, it's because Masterton: look, dwarves are very important to the polish people, okay? Masterton: they're, like, really big in their culture! Masterton: really big! Masterton: not literally, tho

Barker: yeah for real, why are they putting up statues of you in Poland Poe: it's probably like when they put up that statue of me in boston Barker: i thought you were from Baltimore Poe: yeah but i did visit boston once Barker: Barker: yeah ok sure that counts

[celestialseawitch-ff]

OCs and Worldbuilding: Otis Spratt

Otis Spratt is a character that shows up a lot in my fanfic these days. He's such a lovely, grumpy, and intelligent wizard. I almost always have him paired with Minerva McGonagall, but he's also interesting simply as a stand alone.

He's the Head of the Department of Mysteries. He's old enough that he likely wasn't taught by Dumbledore -- if he went to Hogwarts. He's Asian but has a name with a completely different etymology, which suggests he's from a family of immigrants several generations back. Like there's so much happening there.

But the most interesting backstory to him is that Otis Spratt is actually a rewrite of a character. Originally, the Head of the DoM in my worldbuilding was a character named Alexander Rives. Many of Alexander's key attributes were passed on to Otis -- they're both quiet, serious men. They're both at the very least grey wizards, though Dumbledore would easily classify both as dark or dangerous. Most notably, they both hate Albus Dumbledore.

Another very interesting fact about Alexander Rives is that while he hated Albus Dumbledore, he married Ariana Dumbledore II, Albus' only child. Ariana is an OC I didn't love nearly as much as Alexander. I liked her as a concept because of the interesting dynamic it created in relationships between Albus, Tom Riddle, and other characters. I have an old abandoned Jamione wip (that is actually one of the inspirational stories for The Marked One) where Tom Riddle and Ariana were in love.

Most notable about Alexander Rives is that he originated in a story that is the direct predecessor to the story, Where the Pieces Fall. The original story was a Sirmione (I'm not sorry for abandoning it, it was terribly written) time travel fic where Hermione is severely injured as she is cast back in time. She is hit with a horrible curse that leaves her extremely ill and weak. Sound familiar?

That story was eventually scrapped because of the aforementioned terrible writing among other things. But I provide for you below the introduction scene of Alexander Rives and Ariana Dumbledore II.

“Unspeakable Rives,” Professor Dumbledore greeted stiffly but not unkindly. He paused and his eyes twinkled. “Or should I say, Head Unspeakable now?” 

The middle aged wizard raised an eyebrow. He nodded. “Of course you already know.”

There wasn’t anything that Dumbledore didn’t know. He was worse than the nursemaid Rives had when he was a boy. It rankled him that Dumbledore seemed to know even Unspeakable business before anyone else.

“I make it my business to know,” Dumbledore responded with raised brows, his voice tight. The two did not get along. They hadn’t for a number of years. “I’ve got to keep up on my students, don’t I?”

A slight tension appeared in the creases in the corner of Rives’ hazel eyes at that. He wondered if it was meant to be a threat. 

“I haven’t been your student for a great number of years, Albus.”

The hair at Rives’ temples had grown grey, mixing with the dark brown waves and curls of his hair. Lines creased his forehead. He’d attended Hogwarts when Dumbledore had still only been a Transfiguration teacher. A time before the elder wizard had grown to dislike the new Head Unspeakable.

“To what do I owe the summons?” 

Rives nearly grinned at Dumbledore’s snippish tone. He hated being summoned like some sort of dog. But nothing could be done about it. When the Head Unspeakable requested one’s presence — no matter how much that person disliked said Head Unspeakable — one went.

Rives nodded his head towards the private hospital room behind him. “Thought you might be able to help out with a bit of a missing persons mystery for me. Interested?”

Dumbledore’s eyes glittered with intrigue as Rives knew they would. “Delighted. Shall we?” He gestured to the closed door and Rives nodded once before leading the way.

The private room in St. Mungos was nothing special, simply a space that could always be kept reserved and private for Unspeakable injuries. A small window let in a little light into the sparsely furnished room. A hospitable bed with two bedside tables were all the room contained, that and the young girl within the bed.

Rives closed the door behind the both of them and waved his wand. Unspeakable charms flew up around the small space like a fortress. Only another Unspeakable could gain access while they were in place. No risk of being overheard. 

Dumbledore barely paid the wards any attention. He’d been involved in Unspeakable business before which was one of the only reasons Rives felt comfortable calling on the older man. That and the undoubtable connection between the girl and the Headmaster that Rives believed the two to have. 

Dumbledore’s breath caught and it was obvious he’d found the same connection that Rives had seen the second he’d found the poor girl.

“I’ve never seen her before,” he calmly stated.

His eyes scanned the young witch frantically, despite his calm tone. She was unnervingly familiar. Her brown curls kinked and fanned out across the pillow not unlike how his own had in his youth. Her skin was sickly pale though, and dark shadows were cast beneath her eyes.

Rives nodded once. He had figured Dumbledore wouldn’t recognize her as a student, but he had to be sure. He waved a wand and conjured himself a chair to sit in. Dumbledore did the same. “Could she be a student from another school?”

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. “Perhaps… I’ll send a few inquiries out, if you’d like?”

Rives shook his head. That would only complicate matters. He knew the girl was from the future. He just needed to be sure.

“Do you know who she is? What’s happened to her?”

“She was cursed with a terribly dark spell. They must have been impeded somehow, though. I think she may have tried to deflect it. It would have killed her otherwise.”

Dumbledore nodded once but didn’t ask what the curse was.

“A Death Eater attack?”

Rives learned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “Possibly.” He didn’t give any more information. Dumbledore only needed to provide confirmation that she wasn’t a student, anything else and the headmaster was just fishing for information. Rives wasn’t going to feed him anything. 

The headmaster gave the girl another long, piercing look. “She looks just like Ariana.”

Rives stared at the girl as well. “Yes… I’d thought much the same thing.” He glanced at the headmaster. “That’s why I called her as well.”

Dumbledore’s eyes flickered up and they clouded with a bit of anger. Rives leaned back in his chair, unconcerned. He was Head Unspeakable now — despite Dumbledore’s best efforts otherwise — and the headmaster could do little about Rives interacting with his daughter, Ariana Dumbledore II. 

Rives stood and nodded once. “Thank you for your confirmation. I will contact you with further information soon.”

Dumbledore’s mouth pinched into a tight line. He didn’t want to leave. Of course he wanted to know who the girl with the remarkable similarity to the Dumbledore family was and where she had come from. Who had harmed her? But, there was little the old man could do against such a dismissal. As much as he hated to admit it, Rives was the one in charge and he knew no amount of charm would convince the Unspeakable to let him stay.

Dumbledore rose from his chair and nodded once. They headed towards the door.

Just then, the wards fell and the door opened. A small body in an Unspeakable robe slipped in and the wards raised once more. The hood fell back and a head of curly auburn hair streaked with silver fell about the woman’s shoulders. She was petite, with sharp blue eyes and a pretty mouth. Her eyes glittered when she took in the elder wizard standing before her.

“Two Dumbledore’s for one occasion?” Her mouth turned up on one end into a devious little smirk. “This really must be a crisis.” 

“Dumbledore,” Rives greeted with a nod of his head.

Unspeakable Dumbledore nodded once in return, “Rives,” before giving her father a kiss to his bearded cheek. “Father.” She glanced between the two wizards she knew very well hated each other. “Are you leaving?”

Dumbledore smiled kindly at his daughter, pretending the air of animosity between himself and Rives didn’t exist. “I’ve served my purpose, I believe. Your patient has never been a student of Hogwarts.” He turned to Rives, wishing he could stare down his nose at the younger wizard and hating that Rives was taller. “If she needs to be placed within Hogwarts come the fall, please do inform me.” 

Rives nodded once in return. “Thank you, Headmaster. We will be in touch.”

Dumbledore kissed his daughter’s head before departing. The wards snapped back into place after his departure. Ariana turned and raised an eyebrow at Rives, a slow smirk spreading across her face.

Rives shook his head. “Don’t say it.”

“I think you’re growing on him.”

“Ariana.”

“Alexander.” 

His glare was fierce. She chuckled under her breath. “I brought the heredity potion you asked for.” She pulled a small phial of green liquid out of the depths of her robes and tossed it carelessly to Alexander. He caught it deftly and glared at her as she moved past him to the bed. She jerked to a stop once she grew closer.

Alexander came up behind her. He towered over the younger Unspeakable, her head barely reached his shoulder. Ariana was still, her entire body tense. “She’s not me.” Despite the firmness to her tone, there was an obvious question behind it.

Alexander shook his head. His hand came up and touched her arm gently. She softened under the gesture. “I don’t think so. I didn’t know you in school but I think she’s…” His hand dipped into his pocket and he pulled out a phial. He handed it to her.

Ariana turned the small glass bottle over and the sand inside tinkled against the glass. “Time dust? Used time dust.”

“From a time turner,” he confirmed.

“Which only goes back in time.” Alexander didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. Ariana’s hand tightened on the bottle. “You need a strand of my hair?” She turned to him, her blue eyes bright. “For the heredity potion?”

He nodded. “One of hers as well.”

Alexander leaned forward and gently plucked a strand of hair from the unknown girl’s head. He dropped the long, dark brown curl that looked not unlike his own into the small potion. Ariana dropped in hers as well. A puff of smoke emitted itself from the now bubbling liquid. The cloud was pink and smelled like cherries.

Neither said anything.

Finally, Ariana nodded once, shakily. “What happens when someone travels back in time further than one has been born?” She looked up and met Alexander’s light eyes. 

His jaw clenched. “The person erases everything that came before them… and the Ministry — if they find out — kills that person. The hope is that it will preserve the timeline, but it’s already been shattered beyond repair.”

Ariana’s hands trembled and she squeezed them into tight fists. “They won’t find out.” Her eyes hardened on her boss, well aware she’d just verbally committed treason. 

Alexander did not appear upset. “No,” he agreed, “they won’t.”

A flicker of confusion flashed across her eyes. Alexander turned and opened the drawer of the side table closest to them. From within, he pulled out a long gold chain, at the end of which held a golden heart shaped locket.

“She was wearing it when I found her.”

Ariana’s hand went to her chest. Her fingers slipped beneath the collar of her cloak and pulled out the same gold chain of her own necklace. It also had the same heart shaped locket at the end of it. Both gleamed in the light from the window. 

Ariana shook her head. “You didn’t even need the potion, that’s proof enough.”

“Protocol,” was all he said and she nearly rolled her eyes.

“Was there anything in it?” 

Alexander nodded. He handed her the parchment he’d found inside the locket earlier. The witch quickly opened it and scanned the single sentence within. 

Keep her safe.

It was in Alexander’s handwriting. 

Ariana shook her head. “I don’t even want to know what could possibly be happening in the future that you felt it necessary to send our daughter over a decade and a half into the past — at least.” Her gaze drifted to the young, still unconscious witch. “What happened to her? Where did you find her?”

“In the DoM,” Alexander responded gruffly. “She was lying on the ground, out past the Hall of Prophecies and the Pool of Consciousness.”

Ariana’s eyes widened. “How did she get that far into the Mysteries without tripping any alarms?”

“Technically, she was already in there. The charms work for people entering but… time travel doesn’t work on the wards the same way they do for apparating or portkeys.” Ariana nodded and handed the parchment back. Alexander slipped it into his robes once more. “She was injured. Someone had cast the Conteri Curse on her.” 

Ariana's breath left her in a whoosh. “The Conteri Curse? But - she’s just a child.”

“Apparently, that didn’t matter.” He shook his head. “It was well cast too. She’d already progressed to the second stage of effects when I’d found her.”

Rage burned in Ariana’s heart. She’d never had her father’s cool temper. Blessed, instead, with the hotheaded fury her mother had been known for. “Who the hell did this to my daughter?”

Alexander’s eyes were cold and hard as he stared at the young witch’s torso, where had only hours before there had been a massive, gaping wound. “I don’t know. But I want them dead.”

[bugs1nmybrain]

Hello. I have an idea for L x reader. They are making out and stuff and some of the task force walk on them. But it is completely fine if you dont want to write it. So no pressure :) Have a nice day.

I'm more than happy to write this!

Warnings: MDNI, Almost nsfw makeout session

L was supposed to be paying attention to be taking notes about his current findings on the Kira investigation..and then you walked in. And what a distraction you were. He couldn't tell how long it had been, all he knew was that you two had been lip locked for a good while now.

He can't really remember how you even ended up in his lap. He couldn't help but dig his fingers into your waist and pull you into the kiss even more. You find yourself grinding along his lap, provoking a light whine from your lover. Your breath was like a warm fire amongst his lips, saliva gluing you together. Your kisses were loud, producing wet sounds in the air.

L removed his hands from your waist and slipped them underneath your shirt, holding your hips. You rive against him and fumble with his hair. His hands guide further up your body and then--

The door opened.

Before you stood Chief Yagami, Matsuda, Aizawa, and of course, Light. Each one of them painted an individual look on their face. Chief Yagami and Matsuda looked as if they couldn't believe what they saw, Aizawa just looking straight up disappointed, while Light was chuckling under his breath.

You jump off L's lap quicker than lightspeed. All you could do was simply stand there embarrassed.

"Did Watari say you could come in?" L asks.

"Uhh..yes. He said you would be in this room..uh..were we interrupting something?" Chief Yagami asks sheepishly.

"No, come on in. Have you found anything new about the investigation?"

So he was just going to act like nothing happened.

"Yes, actually," Light intervenes. "Kira seems to be altering his regular killing routine..but I'll admit, Ryuuzaki, I never took you for someone who was sensual."

"Yes, well, there are many things I have learned to do. May I ask why you're so intruiged?"

"Oh, it's nothing personal," Light defuses. "Wow, (your fake name), Ryuuzaki sure is fond of you, isn't he?"

You feel your face getting hot at the invasive question. You have to question his motives. An innocent question could be intel for someone like him.

"Ryuuzaki, shouldn't you let us when it's not appropriate to be arriving? "Chief Yagami remarks.

"Good point. I suppose I lost focus of the time." Despite L's collected appearance, he was embarrassed more than he would let on.

"Oh, will you drop it? Let's talk about what we came here for!" Aizawa says to your relief, dropping the conversation.

[transgenderer]

ok, im gonna try to do basically an "annotated" apocalypse of herschel schoen, by which i mean go through each chapter and write thoughts on all of them.

epigraphs, and the prefaces:

so, the wordsworth epigraph is just exactly what herschel claims, when he talks about forgettting. but how do we interpret the zizek opening? i think we are to understand the movies to be humans, and the vcr to be santa. santa holds all humans within them, and in a way "lives their lives for them". like the ant in the man, and the tree in the ant. and BECAUSE santa lives their lives for them, they are free to empty themselves out, to walk into the night. vincent is an advocate then, for far niente, doing nothing

"of merriment" opens with a description of the way the splendor of christmas mimics the utopia that is the post-santa world. but what do we make of "night herself girding her body in the holy shell", and the star riving the body of knight with beams? vincent and miriam? the "hymnal" being referenced is presumably "santa clause is coming to town". the "book of life" is, i suppose, the record of humanity, while judgement is used in the sense of a coming "judgement day", apocalypse

so, assuming miriam HAS been decieved, and herschel has no earthly fanbase she's writing for, then she was lead to believe her job is to show how he was human. which makes sense, i guess. the whole point of herschel's humanity. and it is true, in any case, that they "already know it", so then maybe it should be interpreted literally: they do already know herschel's life, but they want another human, a more human human, to judge if he was properly human. and that's what this comes down to...

what are we to make, of the arrangment of the papers? its emphasized, a lot. is it just a human quirk of his? and what do we make of miriams emphasis on laughter, given the intercessor's association with laughter? does she not buy that he is concerned with the actually humorous?

as already mentioned, "i dont know what the question, but my answer is yes" is true of herschel. but also, this is the introduction of the carrier, and im still nnot sure how to fit it in. is human kind the "carrier" of santa, because he trained on us? he is, in a way, implicit in us...

the origin of the revelator's preface is unclear. are we to understand it was in his texts, and miriam added it? he talks about the adversary, so it must be, i guess? notice that "disfiguring to reveal what was hidden" is *exactly* what santa does, try to simplify himself enough to be conceivable. and herschel mentions the 7000th day for the first time here, which he does far later when discussing santa, it wont be necesary then, to simplify, but it is now.

in the simulation reading, the adversary must be the simulation itself, right? that's what's preventing them from knowing, that's what keeps them incarnated. and then the wide shallow bowl is santa, which we are rushing towards joining. herschel is expressing that he was created to be part of the machine, and is now being prevented? maybe? note that the obstruction is explicitly connected to the question of "should there be some on earth who are like you and me". i think maybe "like you and me" is being subtly distinguished from "being as we /are/"? its a bit unclear

I remember, while you do not remember.  Yet we are exactly alike, you and I.

It is of shadows, that you do not remember.  It is of the body, that I remember.  In the body there is no difference between us.

In the body there will be every difference between everyone, for the Original Creation is suffused all throughout with boundless variety of flesh, dirt, grass, hair, branch, bough, berry!

maybe we can read this as "we are meant to be distinct, fulfilling different roles inside the Whole Thing. but we are incarnated, so we are the same?" im not sure how to combine "in the body there is no difference between us" and "in the body there will be every difference between everyone"

if herschel is right, that people are born knowing, why would the simulation make that so? why only take it away when they get words? is it...a metaphor? idgi. maybe he's just wrong?

the presence of the intercessor's preface is...confusing. not sure what we should amek of it

[bi-bard]

Unreal Unearth - Hozier Writing Challenge Masterlist

Hello! Here's the writing challenge masterlist for Hozier's "Unreal Unearth".

This is easily one of the most beautiful albums I've ever listened to it. It is full of gorgeous lyrics and music. I hope that the stories I have constructed for it can reflect that.

I hope you guys enjoy these stories!

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De Selby (Pt. 1)

And Sit Unseen, With Only the Inner Upheld Jack Kline X Reader [Supernatural] Summary: Two Nephilims find themselves taking shelter with the Winchesters. However, no safety and security could match up to true connection and understanding.

De Selby (Pt. 2)

I Wanna Fade Away with You Dick Grayson X Reader [HBO's Titan] Summary: (Y/n) and Dick's connection was one to be envied. By friends and family and anyone who had known them. This connection is good until it seems to be turning Dick into someone different. Now, the biggest question is whether or not that change is bad.

First Time

Some Part of Me Came Must Have Died the Final Time You Called Me, "Baby" Joel Miller X Reader [HBO's The Last of Us] Summary: Joel is offered a rare glimpse of hope after the apocalypse had started. However, the universe can pull away signs of hope just as fast it can offer them.

Francesca

If I Could Hold You for a Minute, I'd Go Through It Again Charles Rowland X Witch!Reader [Dead Boy Detectives] Summary: Whoever claimed that risking your life was only for the living had never seen the true devotion of a ghost before.

I, Carrion (Icarian)

But If We Fall, I Only Pray, Don’t Fall Away from Me Captain Sean Renard X Reader [Grimm] Summary: (Y/n)'s new reality forces many secrets to come to light and many decisions to be reconsidered.

Eat Your Young

It's Quicker and Easier to Eat Your Young Peaky Blinders X Child!Reader [Peaky Blinders] Summary: A new gang attempts to put down roots in Birmingham, much to the displeasure of the Shelbys. However, as tensions rise, more is revealed about this new gang... including some concerning cracks in the foundation.

Damage Gets Done

You and I Had Nothing to Show but the Best of the World in the Palm of Our Hand Daisy Jones X Reader [Daisy Jones & the Six] Summary: In which two dear friends find themselves face-to-face years after they lost contact with each other and it's as if a day had never truly passed. Except that it did. The only question will be what they will do now that it had and they were both such different people.

Who We Are

And the Hardest Part is Who We Are Nikolai Lantsov X Reader [Shadow & Bone] Summary: A long line of unfortunate events leads two old friends to learn more about each other and themselves.

Son of Nyx

Son of Nyx Hannibal Lecter X Reader [NBC's Hannibal] Summary: An exploration of two forms of grief; one for a death that occurred long ago and one for a death that is set in stone but has not yet occurred.

All Things End

And Just Knowin' that Everything Will End Should Not Change Our Plans Merlin X Reader [BBC's Merlin] Summary: A story of love, loss, and accepting the inevitable.

To Someone From a Warm Climate (Uiscefhuarithe)

And I Wish I Could Say that the Rive of My Arms Have Found the Ocean Kaz Brekker X Reader [Shadow & Bone] Summary: Time can be essential in earning trust. If only it didn't take a matter of seconds to lose that very trust.

Butchered Tongue

A Butchered Tongue Still Singin' Here Above the Ground Morgana X Reader [BBC's Merlin] Summary: Morgana escapes from Camelot after her attempt to tear apart the kingdom and kill Uther. Now alone, she finds some kindness in (Y/n), who may end up being far more important than Morgana would have ever considered.

Anything But

I Would Do Everything Just to Run Away Mr. Knightley X Reader [Emma. (2020)] Summary: Mr. Knightley's eyes seem to lock onto an old friend of Emma's. Said old friend's eyes seem to lock on any of the potential exits around them. Some may be able to read between the lines. However, some people require a far more direct response.

Abstract (Psychopomp)

All My Love and Terror Balanced Between Those Eyes Will Graham X Reader [NBC's Hannibal] Summary: A collection of nightmares that have been haunting Will the most recently.

Unknown/Nth

And There are Some People, Love, Who are Better Unknown The Master X Reader [Doctor Who] Summary: [End of Season 12] The Master was known for doing whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. However, after so much time together, (Y/n) wanted to believe that they would be offered some kind of mercy. Oh, how wrong they were.

First Light

But After This I'm Never Gonna Be the Same and I Am Never Going Back Again Eleventh Doctor X Reader [Doctor Who] Summary: (Y/n) had never known true peace like they did with the Doctor. They had never known such support, such acceptance, such love. What will happen when (Y/n) learns that their perfect existence isn't all that they thought it was?

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