#Specks of Dust in Hallowed Halls

[tigirl-and-co]

Specks of Dust in Hallowed Halls

Part 3; Small Figure in a Vast Expanse

Part 2 is here!

Hey everybody! This is my first time ever writing smut, and I like to think I did a good job. I hope you'll agree. I did my very best to keep reader gender neutral, at the expense of not being able to dive into detail. That said, this part is quite obviously 18+ Flavour of the day is mutual masturbation~

~~~

If you hadn't felt so, so safe you would have been terrified.

Naked, you were lying miles above the surface of a foreign planet. Instinct told you to be wary of prying eyes, of unseen danger. You were exposed. You were vulnerable.

And yet, you were safer than you had ever been. The warm expanse beneath you, vast and strong, loved you. And you loved it- loved him. So despite the instincts pressing at your mind, you continued.

In preparation for this moment, you and your titanic lover had devised a plan- one simply had to, with a love like this. He had managed to route his optic input to your phone so that you could see what he saw, and integrated your phone's camera into his own network. He could see your perfect face more closely than ever before- every stunning detail burned into his spark.

And when you looked over to your phone, propped up next to you on the vastness of his shoulder, you couldn't help the heat rushing to your face and to your core. In Metroplex's gargantuan servo was his spike, massive and monolithic in stature against the blurry backdrop that was Cybertron.

You tried to imagine yourself next to it, on top of it, but your tiny human mind couldn't quite parse just how large it truly was.

And suddenly, you heard a great, deep rumbling. The sound seemed to emanate from the very air around you, vibrating you down to your bones. You knew what it was, even so intense so as to be all-consuming. It was the voice of your lover.

"Are you ready?"

You positioned your toy at your entrance and whispered back a breathy confirmation.

He began stroking himself, achingly slowly. You briefly considered starting rough with your own toy, but you wanted him to take the lead. You honestly weren't sure how much experience he had- no point in frightening him or making him feel bad by finishing first.

So with agonizing restraint, you pushed your toy up into yourself, imagining it was him. Your Metroplex. You knew that he was thinking of you, too. With every powerful stroke of his massive servo, he was picturing how soft your body was compared to his own.

You would be lying if you said you never imagined something like this. Heat singing through you from both inside and out, grunts that would have been soft now loud enough to echo across the expanse of his broad body stirring you further.

You looked up at his face and then down at your phone and all at once, it happened. You couldn't help but think about the sheer size of him, of both how tiny and inconsequential you were in comparison but also about the power you wielded in that moment.

It was all because of you.

As your raspy breaths mixed with his deep and powerful groans you knew this ancient titan was yours. His spike was so large you could easily slip inside it, and yet you were in control of it.

That thought combined with your toy sent you into overdrive. You started slamming your toy against your most sensitive spot and using your other hand to pleasure yourself. Judging by the whirring of thousands of fans and the speed with which Metroplex was stroking himself, he was close, too.

His spike was weeping fluid. You were weeping with pleasure. And as you climaxed, so did he.

A sound like the roar of a wildfire bursting to life tore itself free from your lover, and you let loose your own howl. The waves of your own pleasure were carried by the vibrations of his voiced rolling through you and the rhythmic pulsing of his beating spark under you.

After he had taken some time to collect himself, he turned his gaze to your minuscule form. His optics could not be budged from you, seeking to take in what just the thought of him had done to your body. Still venting, he managed to smile at you, a smile that made you feel like you had hung the stars in the sky just for him. As he continued to gaze at you, you found yourself believing that you would if he asked you to.

Suddenly, you got a text from a Cybertronian friend of yours, the mechanic in charge of Metty's checkup.

'Aaaand with that, the tune-up is complete! Thanks for making sure his spike still works!'

Still caught up in the afterglow, the two of you couldn't help but laugh. What an absurd pair you two were- a city and a mite that crawled its halls.

You wouldn't have it any other way.

[roguelioness]

fables from the field

[written for ffxivwrites2024]

Day 2: Horizon

Rating: T Words: 1067 Pairing: none

Rows upon rows of grave markers line the entirety of Bloodhowe. Ordinary tombs lie dotted between modest mausoleums, all under the watchful eye of The Song of Kings. 

In another world, her mother would have been buried within those hallowed halls, laid to rest with the rituals and offerings befitting her status as a primor’s daughter. In another world, Alyzen would have lived her life amidst the riotous, uncommon beauty of Gyr Abania, would have spent her life in modest luxury, mingling with fellow nobility within the halls of the palace. Perhaps she might have found contentment here, surrounded by the many towering peaks of Alabathia’s Skull. 

Or perhaps she might have been stifled, caught within a gilded cage.

This land, that had for so long been a name pointed at a direction in the horizon, is now- not quite home, not yet – maybe never – but it is no longer a story shared day after day with sorrow, with anger, with nostalgia. It is real, the crunch of gravel beneath her feet, the dust gathered on the hem of her breeches. This is what her mother had wanted for her all her life, and finally, finally, Alyzen is living her dream.

Her mother should be here. Should be, but isn’t. Should be, but will never get the chance.

There’s a gaping emptiness in her chest, a harsh, caustic grief corroding her lungs as she makes her way towards the cenotaph. Every footstep only highlights the one that is missing – that one that should be here, the one that had tried so desperately to be given a chance to walk the dust-covered road from citadel to graveyard, to gaze upon the unbroken salt flats and towering rock formations once more.

Oh, amme, sorrow leaches from her bones into her blood and her breath. That you could be here to see this.

The monument, which had been but a mere speck in the horizon from the palace balconies, grows larger and larger the closer she gets to it. A few steps further, and she’s covered by its shadow; she shivers, both from the sudden absence of the sun and the lonely, mournful atmosphere. 

Worn cobblestone bricks form the path leading to the stairs. Gripping the bouquet of  alyssum – collected by her own hand from the slopes of Mount Yorn that very morning – she climbs the first of the steps, a wet heat pricking her eyes and blurring her vision.

Malyna Kaide had been a great many things - stubborn and dogmatic, old-fashioned in ways that frustrated her, perceptive to even the smallest of errors; a demanding perfectionist who could not give up control. Yet for all her faults, she had been a loving, caring mother, one who had wanted nothing but the best for Alyzen. That they clashed often was but natural; she had, after all, inherited her mother’s persistence. But despite their many fights, there had been little doubt in Alyzen’s mind that Malyna loved her.

The sun starts its descent into the valleys of the mountainous landscape, the mist covering the slopes turning a beautiful shade of mauve to contrast the dark silhouettes of the tallest peaks. Heavy grey clouds accumulate in the horizon, flanking the setting sun; the sky begins to bleed glorious shades of golden orange. By the time she reaches the monument, the rust stone glows warm in the light.

It seems rather ironic that a monument dedicated to those who perished fighting for their country is build from red brick. 

Or perhaps that was the intention.

Alyzen places the flowers – the flowers she was named after, the small, blue-petaled flower that, despite its delicate appearance, thrived in the harsh arid environment of Gyr Abania – at the base of the tall slab with the long list of engraved names. She recognizes none of them, but there are hundreds upon hundreds of those who had fought with fierce determination for this beautifully wild, untamed land.

“I miss you, amme,” she murmurs. “I wish you were here to show me all the sights that were familiar to you. I wish you were here to take me to all of your favorite, secret hiding spots.”

The tears she’d tried so valiantly to hold back now flow freely. “I may not have understood before, but I do now,” she speaks into the wind, willing it to carry it up, up, up into the sky so her mother might hear them. “It is a marvel, this homeland of yours…” she hesitates. “Of ours,” she amends softly. “I do not have the ties to it that you do, but I feel the strength of it in my heart. I feel the wonder of it in the breath I take. It is fierce, and proud, and willful. Like you,” she hiccups a wet laugh. “I know if you could  see me now, you would tease me for all that I feel.” She curls her fingers into the brightly patterned cotton of her tunic. “And you would scold me for my outfit. I can hear you now, you know. One must wear dark colors for somber occasions. But…” she wipes haphazardly at her face with the back of a hand, “there has been so much violence, amme. So much death. I think, this time, you would excuse me.” 

Alyzen stares at the peaks of Alabathia’s Skull, several of which serve as conduits for sharp, jagged lightning strikes. There will be a storm later in the evening; the air is heavy with moisture, and she can smell the faint scent of petrichor on the wind. 

“I hope I made you proud, amme,” she whispers. “I hope I made you happy. And I hope,” she watches as a gentle gust of wind scatters the flowers about, a few rising up on a draft and drifting out into the mist. “I hope you’re with abbe again.”

The sun takes its rest, marking its absence with a rapidly-darkening sky and ash-blue clouds. The wind dries the tears on her cheeks. Alyzen takes out her little chisel and carefully, lovingly engraves her parents' names into the stone slab.

Some day, her name too will be carved into this stone, beneath that of her parents. But that day is yet to come, and until then… She traces the newly etched letters before rising to her feet. 

Until then, there are places beyond the horizon she has yet to see.

[laserwolf6]

Writing-only sideblog of @tigirl-and-co, more Xreader content can be found @lavaridgecookie

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Specks of Dust in Hallowed Halls

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[cor-lapis-candy]

So there is a very very talented artist on Instagram under the name daione.sith (100% look at their stuff! And of you have the money their patreon cause !!!! The NSFW versions!) And they have a demon Diluc drawing and good lord has it given me an idea.

So here I come like some kind of goblin out of my lil cave of Minecraft and grinding to give you this.

This piece doesn't really need a CW or a TW to my knowledge, but if religious themes or anything to do with possessive themes makes you umcomfy maybe don't read this one!

Have you ever seen the Anemo Archons cathedral in the afternoon?

Rays of golden light transformed into halos of gold and blue, green specks filling gaps between pure white streaks, the air filled with specks of dust that drift and paint the cracks between each colour stained display of devotion. Candles of every kind, pillars and tealights, long burning towers of wax that are lit day in and day out, melting and painting old stained wood with pools of faded whites and yellows, all long since forgotten and uncleaned after their purpose had been served.

There is piety in the air and whispered hymns on the lips of every soul that passes through those doors, heads bowed and hands offered in prayer and open devotion, and yet one resounding set of steps is all it takes to taint and defile, the solid click after click of his shoes against polished tile is a simple rhythm that sinks sin into the very stone foundations of the cathedral, a rot of domination seeping into the roots and curling around the heart of the church of freedom.

A demon in only your mind alone, and a saint in all others eyes, the uncrowned king and deep shadow across your devotion looms over you, standing as he always does, clothed in his jacket and hands ringed in simple yet daunting steel rings, lips moving through mockeries of prayer after prayer as the air fills with thick incense.

The censer by your side long since burnt out, a centerpiece to the flowing wreaths and displays of devotion through fruit and wine, the ash that falls and spills from the gaps tells of age and endless nights in the fogs of devotion and prayers that the red haired man that has come to curl around your back would disappear from your side, that 'The Diluc Ragnvindr' would turn those crimson eyes from you and find some other lamb to lead a stray, and yet again you feel the heat of his gloves drag across your arms, his hands pulling you backwards into the broad expanse of his chest.

The scent of incense is overpowered but the smell of oak, wine and something burnt, like the after scent of a fireplace or boiler pit, it smelt like iron and ash.

You know what lies under the heavy finery, that the moment you step out of these hallowed halls and step over the threshold of your home there is no archon or divine grace to save you, red hair will give way to arching horns and draping layers with loosen and fall away to leave the defined lines and markings of his true nature bare.

A sight many women and men would kill for will lay bare and inviting on your bed, legs spread with one hand lazily pumping his length. Fingers dragging the small trail of pre further down and making the ridges and inhuman shape all that more prominent, black trails that swirl across his hips and up around his chest, for something so inhuman he plays the role well, a thick swatch of red hair covers his chest and leads wispily down his stomach.

The deep red of his hair mats itself with sweat and other evidence of your entanglement, something of both his and your own, and yet it's not a matter of when you would give in but how.

Some Days he would catch you before you got into the cathedral, other day, ones much like this one, he would cradle you through your last prayers and escort you home, making you a sight of envy for all those that would catch sight of the two of you, and oh how people would see. The route he would make you take winds the many main streets and side roads, every set of envying eyes would watch as his gloves hands dug into your hips, how he let you push against him and made him chuckle.

The sound mistaken for mirth when really it was nothing but condescension.

Whatever his end goal was, Diluc Ragnvindr was working his way into your heart and head, somedays all it took was a flash of the fiery red of his hair and you would be wound up expecting those heavy hands and ash laiden words to coax you off your beaten path and into the dark of some ally for a quick moment of hushed breaths and shape teeth digging into whatever skin you had exposed or could be exposed.

But here in your home as he lays back, horns ripping through the plush pillow you had bought not a day before, red tipped claws digging into the soft skin of your hips and dragging you further and further down his cock making the finale ridge of something just shy of to big, to wide, too much for you, press against your opening as he huff out a laugh.

Today he would take you wholly, leave you gasping and open mouthed as he sunk that finale but of himself into you, stained you inside and out with himself, marks of theet and hands mean nothing to how he will know that he finally came in you, finally painted your inside with his spend.

How glorious it will be the day he gets you watch you stumble back from that cathedral to his winery, to drape yourself across his lap and grasp at the base of his horns and beg for him, true devotion to him, true adoration and nothing but from you, to him would be the icing on this long overdue cake.

For now though he will enjoy the fucked out and watery eyes stare from you as he pushes you that little bit further down his cock, bottoming out and drawing a deep gasp from your lips.

For now this will do…

[softrenjunnie]

the battle of hogwarts l pj

pairing: reader x jay

characters: boyfriend!jay, friend!jake, brother!sunghoon, chosen one!heeseung, death eaters, voldemort, other small characters

genre: hogwarts!au, angsty angst (maybe a little speck of fluff somewhere? but i wouldn’t bet on it)

word count: 4.1k

warnings: mentions of blood, wounds, pain, death, torture and broken bones; swear words; character death.

note: spoilers !!!! i reference/talk about a lot of the stuff that happens in the battle of hogwarts, aka spoilers from the “harry potter and the deathly hallows” book (and movies), but i mean it’s a different story so it’s not super spoilery? note that heeseung plays the part of harry potter here !!!! also, the ending is rlly bad and weird (just like many parts of this oop-) but also pretty open so i guess there could be a pt 2? if i ever get the inspiration to write it heh

“stupefy!”

you heard the voice from behind you and managed to leap to your side to avoid the spell just in time, letting the red light instead hit the wall in front of you. you turned around, and instantly noticed the death eater who was standing many meters away, his wand by his head and ready to strike. “petrificus totalus!”

“protego!”

the beams shooting from his wand met the shield yours had produced, blocking it and letting its light die out. closing the distance between you, he lunged forwards and kept casting a variety of spells, which you, with great difficulty, blocked. you couldn’t hold your protection much longer, it was getting too tough - so instead, you turned around and made a run for it. a green beam of light missed your head by only a few centimeters, as you turned around a corner and kept running. you knew he was following you, and you knew you couldn’t keep this up; just as he rounded the corner, you pointed your wand to the roof above of him. “bombarda maxima!” you tried your best to keep your voice as steady and strong as possible, despite your wild nerves. the spell worked; soon, the death eater lay buried underneath the heavy stones that had just fallen.

you let out a sigh as you determined that he wasn’t going to rise, but you remembered to not let down your guard. there were perhaps hundreds of others inside and around the castle, and you knew from this little incident that they weren’t afraid to attack. so as you ran ahead, on towards the great hall where you hoped to find the people you were looking for, it was with your wand raised high and your eyes listening for every small sound in your vicinity.

you had been taken aback at first when that death eater had arrived; you hadn’t expected to meet anyone the moment you stepped out of the room of requirement. you thought everyone ought to be in the great hall, or perhaps outside of the castle - not lurking around on the top floors of the building. but none of that was what was going through your mind at the moment. you were focused on finding-

“jake, watch out!” you could recognize his voice from miles away, and especially when he was calling out for his best friend, but you don’t think you’ve ever heard such desperation in his voice ever before. at the end of the hallway, you spotted him - jay’s wand was shooting rays of all colors as he leaped forward, shooting down the woman in black, long robes who had just a second ago had a good grip around jake’s neck. she lay still on the floor, and for a few moments the boys stand as if frozen, until jake crouches down next to her and declares that she’s still alive, just fainted, to which both boys seem to calm down for a second. that is, until a scream is heard from a bit away, and the both of them run to where it came from, out of sight from you.

you were surprised that you had stopped in your tracks to watch the scene ahead of you, and you shake yourself before starting to run forwards again. reaching the end of the hallway, you turn to the way jay and jake had just gone. through the big entrance to the great hall, your eyes scanned over your two friends who were helping a ravenclaw girl, who you recognized to have been in your charms last year, fight off two death eaters. sprinting towards them, you watched as the girl, who you now remembered is called yewon, got hit by a spell right in the stomach, launching her into the wall behind her with great force.

as the wizard cheered his own accomplishment and was left unfocused on the other students, jake used the opportunity to strike. “expelliarmus!” he yelled, and the death eater’s wand flew out of his grip and onto the floor, close to where jay was currently standing, fighting the other death eater. as jake stunned the wandless wizard, jay did something he shouldn’t have - he bowed down to pick up the wand from the floor, but in that exact moment, the witch in front of him aimed towards him and was surely about to jinx him-

“levicorpus!” you yelled with all your might, now only standing a few meters away from them both, and the witch too dropped her wand, now hanging in the air upside down. 

jay turned his head to where your voice had come from, and his jaw dropped once he saw your face. “y/n?!”

“petrificus totalus.” the witch now dropped down onto the floor, head first, and you almost felt bad for her for a moment before you started thinking about what she could’ve done to jay if you hadn’t jumped in.

“what are you doing here?” jay exclaimed, coming closer to you. “are you completely crazy?”

“a small 'thanks' would’ve been nice,” you scoffed, and before he had the opportunity to say anything else, you turned your head to where your former classmate had crashed into the wall, and spoke again. “yewon? are you still there?”

you didn’t hear an answer, and you ran over to where you suspected she was - and she was right by the wall, lying on the floor and sobbing as she held an arm to her chest.

“hey, are you alright?” you crouched down next to her, placing a hand on her trembling shoulder.

“my arm...” she managed to get out in-between sobs. “it hurts...”

when you looked at it, it wasn’t bleeding nor did it have any visible curses on the skin. you turned your head around to jake, who was now standing behind you. “do you think it’s broken?”

“likely. with that force, i’m surprised more isn’t,” he said, and you nodded agreeingly, pulling out your wand and tapping it to her forearm.

“brackium emendo.”

yewon gave out another cry, but this time it wasn't out of pain. “thank you! thank you so much-”

“y/n,” you heard jay’s stern voice from behind you and you turned around once again. his arms were crossed over his chest, and if you had been anyone else, you likely would’ve crumbled under his gaze. but you couldn’t, not now, there were much more important things to do, people were still screaming on the other side of the castle walls and- “please, can’t we talk?”

you stood up, dusting off your knees with your hands before speaking to jake. “make sure she’s okay, please? and pick up that witch’s wand from the floor, and make sure neither of the death eaters get up.” jake nodded at you, flashing you a small smile, before you walked over to where jay was now standing, two tables away from the others.

the great hall was completely empty now, except for the four of you and the two stunned death eaters, and the atmosphere was almost tranquil, even though there was a full-on war going on just a small distance away.

“what are you doing here?” he asked, the desperation clear in his voice. “i thought they made it clear that-”

“i didn’t get to choose what i wanted to do, i was just forced into the room of requirement like everyone else, and-” you took a deep breath. “of course, i escaped. did you really expect me to just follow the others?”

“yes, because you’re underage, y/n!”

“by two months,” you spat, having a hard time controlling your anger at jay’s stubbornness. “i’m two months too young to fight? that doesn’t make any sense, you know i’m better at charms than most of your classmates!”

he shook his head, his eyes wandering around the room. “they were the rules, y/n. i can’t believe you-”

“can’t believe what? that i would want to fight for my school? fight for my friends? fight for this world to not go under-” you let a few tears fall down your cheeks, and you weren’t sure if it was out of exhaustion, frustration, or despair; likely a combination of them all. but you didn’t bother wiping them away. “fight for you. did you expect that i would just sit at home, just hoping that my friends, family, and boyfriend would all survive? not knowing anything and not being able to affect it would’ve killed me, i think you know-”

you were cut off as he pushed his lips onto yours. your eyes fluttered closed instinctively, and your hand that wasn’t currently holding your wand went up to cup his cheek. he tasted of blood from a small cut on his bottom lip and you tasted of salt from your tears, but neither of you minded. kissing jay felt so familiar; it felt like you were home again. it felt like you were back in your common room with him like you’d been a year ago, when no war had been going on and no dark lord was preparing for his final battle. jay’s lips smoothed over yours with such ease and such softness that if you hadn’t been standing, you could’ve fallen asleep from it.

“hey guys,” jake’s voice made you jump into reality again, and you moved your hand from jay’s cheek to his chest to push him away from you far enough for your lips to part from his again. “i hate to be the one to interrupt your moment, but uh... we should really get going.”

you nodded towards him, before looking back over at jay again, who did not look like he had wanted to stop his previous actions, a tiny pout on his lips. now that you were standing so close to him, you could study his face; there were several smaller wounds all over it, and he winced slightly when you reached up to remove a small piece of glass that had been stuck in a cut below his right eye. you used your thumb to wipe away the blood which had leaked down from a bigger wound by his jaw. “episkey,” you whispered, watching as the skin melted together and soon looked as if nothing had ever happened to it.

there was a loud bang, and the glass of the windows behind the staff table shattered everywhere - and in through the hole ran at least a dozen new death eaters, followed by students, teachers, parents, and other adults who were fighting for your side. and amongst them, you spotted none other than your brother - sunghoon was dueling a death eater, whom you’d seen before in the newspapers, all alone, but as he struck the other wizard with a jinx that seemed to have an extreme force, the death eater flew and slammed into a wall just like yewon had done.

in the few moments that you had stood watching your brother, the people around you hadn’t stopped like you, but instead started helping out in battles. you instantly joined jay’s side again, helping him battle a tall and broad man whose wand was producing beams of light at a faster speed than you had ever seen before. “incarcerous!” jay roared, and ropes appeared out of thin air which wrapped around the death eater and held his limbs tightly together.

“good one,” you told him, and turned around to find someone else to help - but standing right behind you was none other than sunghoon. 

“jay, are you dumb?!” he screamed at the boy standing next to you. beads of sweat were rolling down his face and his dark eyes made him look of a mixture between exasperated and exhausted. “forcing my baby sister into a war?!”

“he didn’t force me, you idiot!” you frowned up at him, groaning. “i chose it myself. and what part of me is baby, sunghoon? i’m almost of age, start treating me like it!”

“either way, you can’t be here! you have to get back to the room of requirement!”

you shook your head and took a step closer to him. “in case you haven’t noticed, they’re fighting in here. if we don’t help out soon, we will all be dead. i’d rather die helping out than die arguing about this!”

you walked past him and raised your wand, ready to strike at a witch jake was taking on at the moment, but sunghoon grabbed your arm and pulled you back. you were about to shake him off and complain when he pulled you into a hug. holding you close, he muttered, “i can’t lose you. please, please, take care. never battle alone.” you squeezed him back and nodded into his chest, before pulling away from him. you heard how he told jay to protect you, and the two of them were just about to hug when a red light missed the tops of their heads by just a few centimeters, almost as if it was a signal that you all needed to get back to the war.

you and jay took on one death eater each, throwing spells and shooting colored jets through the air as quickly as you could. but after stunning your opponent, and helping jay do the same to his, you overlooked the room and realized just how many people there were. it was extremely crowded, with injured people crying for help while lying on the floor and voldemort’s helpers assaulting other wizards and witches with both their wands and their bodies. it was overwhelming, there were too many of them, how would you ever win this? your breath became uneven, and you felt like you weren’t getting any air. your head was spinning, and the ground felt like it was shaking below you - it likely was, to be honest - and you couldn’t stay in your place a second longer.

you turned around slowly, before moving towards the opening of the main hall and looked for the best place to go. to your left, your defense against the dark arts teacher was fighting two robed, tall men all by himself, though he seemed to have no problem doing so; to your right, the hallway was empty, so that’s where you went. you found a hole in the wall a bit away, and you could almost hear the fresh air of the night calling for you, so you climbed out through it. instantly, your lungs were filled with the cold air, making you close your eyes in satisfaction and sit down on the ground, relaxing fully. you instantly felt better, and you felt like you wouldn’t have to be out here for a lot longer before you could back inside, just-

“look at who we have here,” said a female voice from beside you, and you opened your eyes and flew up to stand on the stone debris from what had formerly been the wall. you recognized her instantly - she was one of voldemort’s most faithful followers, and you had read about her and her escape from azkaban in the newspapers before. “isn’t it the little mudblood who’s been helping lee heeseung in his plans against the dark lord?” you raised your wand to attack, but she was quicker. “expelliarmus!” your wand flew up into the air and landed right by her feet. you didn’t even bother trying to fetch it, you knew it would be to no avail. “tell me where the boy is hiding, and i shall spare your life.”

“i don’t know!” you cried out.

she raised her eyebrows. “hmm. maybe this will make you remember. crucio!”

you had never experienced pain like this in your life. you crashed down onto the ground, unable to control anything in your body. the pain was obliterating, intense, all-consuming. you screamed, but you couldn’t hear yourself, all your senses being dulled out by the pain. 

and suddenly, she broke off the curse, though your muscles were still throbbing from the curse. “do you know where he is now, then?” she sneered.

“no-” just as you had managed to whimperingly utter the word, she flicked her wand once again. the second hit of the spell felt a lot like the first, but this time she held it for much longer. your bones were on fire, a million knives were pushing into your skin, boiling water was being poured over your body, your head was about to explode-

the relief you felt when she stopped the curse for the second time was indescribable. high-pitched, horrifying laughs were flowing from the death eater’s mouth before she once again spoke. “i think you know now.”

you wanted to slap the grin off her dark lips, but you had no energy to even stand up. instead, you gathered your last bits of power, and said, “i don’t. and even if i had known, i wouldn’t have told you.”

she chuckled, before shaking her head at you. “you silly girl... you deserve this.”

the third time the spell hit you, it was much worse than the other two times; she must’ve gone extremely angry by now. it felt as if you were in space, there was no air for you to breathe. your lungs weren’t working properly. you wished to do anything to make this extreme pain go away, anything... even disappear or... die...

though it had felt like an eternity for you, there were only a few moments after she’d cursed you that the curse was interrupted once again. you couldn’t even look up; you were curled into a ball on the ground, eyes shut tight, wishing that everything would just be over...

soon, there was a shuffle beside you, and soon a hand lay on your shoulder, shaking it gently. “y/n? are you alive? please, be alive...”

by now, you were just barely breathing; it was too hard, it took too much energy from you and you already had very little left.

“hey, it’s all fine now,” a voice told you, as a hand caressed your cheek. “she’s gone. you’ll be fine. please, just-” the voice paused, and when it returned, you could tell that the person by you had turned around and was now yelling towards the entrance of the castle. “jake! get some water, quick!”

you were too exhausted to listen clearly to his voice and try to recognize it, but from his wording, you could easily tell who it was. slowly, you opened your eyes, looking up at jay who sat crouched next to you. he had more bruises and wounds all over his face now than he had had when you had left him, and he was looking down at you with eyes of such panic that you’d never seen before. “fuck, y/n,” he mumbled. “you can’t just go off like that. do you realize how-”

he stopped in his tracks when you reached up with a hand to thread your fingers through his hair, pushing his fringe back and out of his eyes. “i’m fine.”

“a-are you sure?”

you nodded slowly at him, closing your eyes once again and letting your arm fall to your side. “i just need to...rest a bit...” jay let out a sigh of relief, and his hand went from your shoulder and up to your face, letting his thumb wipe away a few tears that you hadn’t noticed shedding. “what happened to her?” you hummed, voice low.

“oh, you didn’t hear it?” you furrowed your eyebrows. “i stunned her at first, but then voldemort spoke over the grounds and told his forces to retreat, to give us one hour to treat to everyone’s wounds and to say our goodbyes to those who are leaving us. he said that heeseung has an hour to give himself in, or else the war is on again.” 

you were surprised that you hadn't heard voldemort's voice, but then again, you even now had to put in all your force to hear jay properly. you looked up at him. “he’s not going to, is he?” you questioned, to which jay merely shrugged. “he can’t, that’s-”

“y/n, are you okay?! someone told me what happened,” said jake as he came up to you two, an empty plastic bottle in his hand. “i only found this, it’s empty, i know, but i mean you can always-”

“aguamenti,” jay said to cut off his friend’s rambling, filling the bottle quickly before handing it to you. thanking them both, you sat up straight, although every muscle and every ligament in your body screamed as you did, and drank a couple of sips.

deciding that you wouldn’t get anything done sitting there all night, you put away the bottle and pressed your hands into the ground, trying to push yourself up, but instantly failed. jay saw your struggling and bolted up, offering his hand down to you and helping you stand up once you took it in yours. “how’s your balance?” jake asked as you froze for a few seconds when you were trying to figure out if you were blacking out due to the stinging feeling in your head or due to your blood pressure dropping from standing up too quickly.

“not good enough,” you chuckled. “will you guys help me?” they both nodded, and soon they were by your sides, letting you throw your arms across their shoulders to steady you.

as you walked into the castle again through the hole you had come out from a while ago, you couldn’t help but to think about what jay had said earlier. say our goodbyes to those who are leaving us... he made it seem like there are many who were too injured to bring back. there couldn’t be a lot, could there?

“where is heeseung?” you asked, moving your head between them to look at their faces. “he knows we are fighting, right? he can’t give up!”

jake stopped in his tracks, which made you jump back too even though you all were just a few meters from the main hall by now, and he gave jay a very specific look. “you haven’t told her, have you?”

jay rubbed his hand that wasn’t holding you up against the back of his neck. “i- i haven’t found a good moment to do it!”

“wha-” was all you could let out before jake spoke again.

“and you think this is a good moment?!” he almost yelled, shaking his head at jay.

“i don’t think we’ll find a better one, nor that we have any choice,” jay groaned, and just as your confusion and frustration of not being allowed into the conversation peaked, someone ran into your view.

“oh my god, y/n!” cried yewon, running up to you. “i’m so sorry for your loss, i wish there was something i could’ve done-”

and that’s when it hit you. you realized what jay and jake had been referring to, but you refused to believe it. she must’ve been confused, it can’t have been true, nothing was wrong-

you pulled away your arms from the boys and ignored their calls of your name when you sprinted forwards, past yewon and into the hall. you pushed away your thoughts of your aching muscles and how it was likely unwise to do this; nothing was more important right now than making it all the way to where the dead bodies lay in the middle of the room. they had removed the tables by now, and people were gathering in groups around the wizards and witches on the floor, though you couldn’t see anything other than the one body you were aiming towards. and as you reached him, the world turned black.

“sunghoon,” you whispered, crouching down to the floor and shaking him by his shoulders. “please, sunghoon. you’re not dead, you can’t die, not now, you...” before you knew it, your sobs were uncontrollable, your face buried in his dusty cloak. this couldn’t be real. there was no way. “wake up... i beg of you...”

you felt someone sit down next to you, and then a hand on your back. you instantly turned around and threw yourself into jay’s embrace, crying out loud. your hands clutched at the material covering his chest and once again you had trouble breathing, your breaths unnaturally short and rapid. jay held your trembling body to him as tightly as he could, hoping that if you felt that he was there with you he’d be able to hold you down in reality, to make sure your mind wasn’t floating away. 

but as time passed, and you started realizing that sunghoon wouldn't come back, your sorrow turned into something else. vengefulness. they weren't getting away with this. 

[xoluvx]

perfect balance; t.holland

(gif) Harry Potter AU request Word Count: 1.5K

It was hard to ignore the judging stares as you walked into the vast room which housed one of your core classes: Defense Against the Dark Arts. Somehow, you’d managed to stay out of sight having little to no interactions with anyone since you stepped foot on Hogwarts. 

Everyone’s eyes were on you. Scanning you from head to toe, their eyes never blinking. 

Maybe it was the fact that you were late - “Please, take a seat. I expect this will be the first and only time you are late, Ms. Malfoy.” - or the fact that you were the infamous Draco Malfoy’s daughter. 

“Ms. Malfoy is my mother,” you retaliated half-under your breath before taking a seat on the only empty desk. The seat was hard and the wood smelled of mold and felt almost damp under your fingertips. The woman at the front of the classroom blinked. You could see in her eyes she was debating whether or not to address your attitude. 

Noticing the students were still gawking at you, she simply continued with her lecture on the dos and don'ts and the expectations of her class. You could feel your eyes growing heavier with each word that slipped out her lips. Your body was becoming limp under the heavy cloak of the itchy uniform. 

“I expect everyone to be on time the next time I see you,” she glared at you waving her arms dismissing the students who were urgently scattering like ants rushing out into the hallways. It wasn’t long before you were thrusted into the commotion. Chattering and muffled voices infiltrated your eyes as you absentmindedly walked down the large hallway towards your next class. 

You didn’t have to be an expert to know that everyone was intrigued by you. I mean, your father was Draco Malfoy. He ran these same halls back in the day and though he’d had a ‘change of heart’ who really ever changes? Or so, that’s what was going through everyone’s head at this moment.

“Watch it,” you snarled at the body who bumped into your shoulder. You weren’t raised like this. You tried being more than just the color. You tried to live by the values of your house, but you were also irritable because this was the last place you wanted to be at. 

“I’m sorry,” the boy exclaimed sheepishly adjusting the books in his hands. 

The books covered most of his torso, but you could see the yellow peaking through the crevices and something in your stirred. You don’t know what it was. You couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t the color, you realized. It was the boy. His eyes sparkled in the dim hallowed hallway now empty. You could see specks of freckles coating his nose and the smallest of scars near his eyebrow. 

You opened your mouth the say something, but both your heads snapped towards the figure waiting at the end of the hall with his hands behind his back. “Should you be in class now?” He called out walking towards the two of you slowly. The sound of his shoes bouncing off the walls. 

“Yes, sir,” the boy replied lowering his head respectfully before looking at you once last time. He quickly turned on his heels rushing down the hall before disappearing. 

“Ms. Malfoy, I’d highly suggest you make it to your classes on time. I’ve already heard some complaints, we’d hate to bother your father-” he started saying before you cut him off. 

“On it,” you said giving him a salute before brushing past him. 

- - -

“I think she’s kind of cute,” Tom muttered eating from the plateful of food in front of him. The clamor in the dining room was making his head pound. Three years of this and it didn’t get any easier. 

“Yeah, she’s cute but do you know who her father is?” his friend asked with a mouthful of food causing Tom to cringe as he felt a piece of food his the side of his face. 

"I don’t understand what the big deal is?” Maybe he was naive or maybe he chose to believe the Malfoy family had changed. But he didn’t understand why that was such a big factor in identifying ‘the new girl’. 

“You have to be stupid to not know what her family did,” the red headed boy spit again. 

Tom wiped his cheek with distaste contemplating his words. So what? He thought. He’d noticed something in you that probably no one else had. Mostly because it seemed like you were the type of person who didn’t let anyone near. But it felt like you’d let him. 

- - -

He didn’t see you until a week later. No matter how many times he tried to ‘bump’ into you again, it seemed that you had devised a route that he was unaware of because you were no where to be seen. 

That is, until that fateful day you he entered the library. You were in search for one book, how you were going to find it among the thousand of books there? You didn’t know, but you were determined.

On the verge of giving up, you spotted the cover of the book in a remote part of the library. Only it wasn’t on the shelf. It was held open over someone’s face.

“Oh hey, I was looking for that,” Tom called out quietly at the person holding the book. 

“That’s too bad,” you replied slowly lowered the book to reveal your eyes. Tom gulped with a hint of embarrassment as you stared at him. He didn’t mean for his comment to come off entitled, but he had been looking for the book and what were the odds that someone had been looking for the exact thing? Heck, that someone was reading it already?

“Sorry, I’ve been looking for it for what seemed hours,” he said clearing his throat making his way towards you. You straightened your back against the shelf hoping he’d stop making a ruckus, you didn’t want to get in trouble. 

“Patience. Isn’t that one of your values,” you mocked lifting the book up to your face to conceal your smug smile. You heard him scoff as he continued to walk towards you. 

Soon he was sitting next to you. His legs extended and one of his hands falling in front of the book as if extending a hand shake.

“What are you doing?” you questions watching his hand as if it was something you’d never seen before. 

“Offering a truce,” he explained glancing at your face then his hand motioning for you to accept. 

“Why? I don’t know you,” you retaliated closing the book and placing it on your lap. 

“Well it looks like you have something against me and I want to start fresh,” he cleared his throat motioning to his hand again lifting it up higher so you could take it. 

Rolling your eyes, your lips forming a tight line smile, you took his hand shaking it firmly. This causes him to wince slightly before retrieving his hand. 

“So we’re good?” he asked rubbing his hand.

You chuckled. He was dorky. But he was still cute. His freckles danced as a smile formed on his lips upon hearing you chuckle. 

“Yeah. So exactly how long were you looking for this book?” You asked lifting the book and waving it to put emphasis on it. 

“So much so I lost track,” he informed reaching over playfully trying to retrieve it from your hand, but you were quicker than he was and  you pulled it out of reach causing him to topple over slightly. He bumped into you and you chuckled once again as he joined in.

“I didn’t say I was going to give it to you,” you said teasingly watching him compose himself. He dusted his vest playfully putting on a composed face, but his lips were quivering and you could tell he wanted to laugh. 

“Cunning. Isn’t that one of your values?” he teased narrowing his eyes as a smirk spread across his lips. 

“Touché,” he’d used your own wit against you. But you couldn’t say you didn’t find it charming. Endearing, almost. 

“Why don’t we take turns?” he asked no longer laughing. A serious look on his face as he searched your eyes. 

“Why don’t we read it together?” you suggested searching his eyes as you still held the book above your head. His hand reached for the book, this time you didn’t move. His fingers brushed against yours and your heart fluttered. Were his fingers always that warm? Or what was he doing to you. 

“Where did you leave off?” he asked confidently opening the book as he placed it on his lap. Pulling your legs towards your chest, you huddled near him. Your body slightly touching the side of his, your chin brushing against his shoulder as you looked for the page. 

You might’ve been cunning, but he was patient and maybe that was a perfect balance.

- - - 

@ajmaniac​ @rebekkah4766​

[thefinishpiece]

My Love Is Higher

The appearance of my love is a star. Exploding in the dark. Until only shadowed dust remains.

My love is higher. Too high to see.

I inhale you—deep and longing. The longing is too much. It is causing me apart. There are so many spikes within my heart. I cannot stand when we belong to the same shard—it paralyzes me.

My love is deep. So deep it hurts.

All the peaks, all the stars, all the realms. From everything above to everything below. Side to side. Within and without. Together and apart. The troubles of gods; the qualms of aliens. From the linguistics of force and quantity, to the language of demise and infinity. The inevitable.

My love is higher than yours. You will see.

I see you. Out in that world of yours. Spinning around the questions they ask—what makes me think you would listen to me? On your toes, you’re looking every direction but mine. Yet, in your eyes I notice the tilting reflection of a loneliness beyond. You want to let someone in; but you do not know who. It could be me—why do I think it would be me?

It will never be me.

My love adores you. But it mourns me.

A glass tongue shatters on my lips, cutting corners from my mouth, blood and bits. Whenever I try to speak to you, my voice is taken away it seems. In canyons far away—where vultures screech more sensibly than me. When you come near, my orbit goes awry. Planets fall from every side, ricocheting off the stars. How could such little things be so hard? I should not care, but then again, I should not be anywhere near your space. I do not want to ruin your heaven.

I ruin everything.

My love idolizes you. But it defeats me.

In the hallowed shallows of shadowed halls, a place of holiness and above, I build your face. In shiny stone and jewels plucked from the cores of earth, I wrap the elements to develop the pose of which all shall know you. I recreate the delicate points of your shape, from the tender tips of your swallowing cheeks, to the nose that twinkles when you grin. The articulate deepness of your eyes, lashes so perfectly astride, with irises the color of martian skies. But it is not tender enough; it lacks the glow. All it takes is a single crack and my idol collapses into a puddle of ash and smoke.

I cannot make anything worth anything.

My love worships you. But it breaks me.

Sometimes you are so clear to me. A transparent vision of the other side of infinity. I can see within your translucent frame, your gnashing tubes and webbed veins. Your organs doused in fluid, constricting and expanding to a rhythm without a metronome. Squirting tiny specks of heat and joy, the body slurps it up and more—everything grows. Everything knows where it goes. Where do I belong in there? I peek into the dungeons of heart—peeling back the gates, guts spewing out. The leftover remains of forgotten hopes and dreams. On the floor beneath the room where I thought I should be, I do not see anything. It is all empty. All belongs to you.

I belong to nothing.

My love deserves you. But I do not deserve love.

Do you even notice me? When you are caught in my gaze, do you know how you make me feel? The sight of you makes my body constrict and swallow itself. I can’t stay stable around you. My heart implodes and the organs in my cavities push so much they rip and tear and swell into blistered faces, spewing spit and blood in vain desperation to capture just a single breath. But there is no breath. Not when you are around. My throat enflames. My head dizzies. My whole vision blurs. I am so dizzy, I will trip over every thought that passes, or every moment that continues, until you are gone and away. Even then, you remain stuck in my imagination, as if you were really there, the mere appearance of you smearing my stability in to a paralytic seizure. I cannot imagine talking to you. If I did, what would I say? I might say nothing. Or I might say some garbled shrieking that is only reminiscent of speaking in the sense that my lips are physically mobile, but the sounds are discordant dystopia. I might spit on you. Snot might drip out from my nose. Saliva might leak on the side of my lip. I get so dry around you. The air is suffused by your heat—your conflagrating attractiveness. And you are attractive. Not just because I love you, but you are attractive to everyone else I imagine. All to the detriment of my pursuit.

I do not think I will ever catch you.

My love devours you. But it cripples me.

I am afraid of losing you to the coyotes and vultures. To the scavengers with their shallow skin and nervous appetite. They do not desire you for you—not for your person, your being, your affectation, your composite of atoms that makes you up, your inimitable quantum frame that is the same lustrous beauty no matter where in the universe you are, or where in time you go, or whatever the circumstances of which you should be put somewhere, for it does not matter, you are the same glorious deity in all dimensions—they desire to consume your flesh and lick your bones and leave the remnants to dissolve away in the desert of abandonment. They want to make a feast of you—I want to make a symphony. A rising tide of lushness, of melody, curving into bends, loops of technical marvel, as if imitating the structural mathematics of physical forces, gravity converted to lucid harmonies, plucked strings, choirs of molten voices creating suns as they sing, shining in darkness like luminous eyes on a lustrid spider. If you have ever seen the interloping folds of time and space, dimension within dimension within dimension, the endless quantum coils that form the appearance of reality; if you have ever seen reality cast into cascades, across voids and fades, the fractal grid of physical existence, the architecture of the universe—if you have ever seen these things, then you know what exists in your eyes. And these scavengers would pick their teeth with every line and vector and vortex, digest these cosmicalities into excrement, then move on to their next lesser victim. They do not distinguish between gods and goats—they eat them all with the same hollow satisfaction, the same meaningless hunger. That is not love—so why do they even try? And I am afraid you may be cornered by them. Surrounded by their neurotic hunger. I fear such a scenario. It is impossible to know if you would choose me over them. I keep waiting for a sign from you, but I do not receive anything. You seem elated to speak to the wolves. You smile and twirl for them while continuing to ignore me. My conducting hand falls, my orchestra becomes silent. I see now there will be no crescendo of forces. No passionate physics to be recreated. No design to be revealed. How long can I watch you share attention with wolves before I surrender the hunt?

I do not have the strength to fight them.

My love is a spectator sport.

If only you acknowledged me. Or maybe you do. It is difficult to discern the implications of human ceremony. The forced and cyclical habits we conform to—we obey. Such as three times now, you may have grinned at me. In a passing glance. But is it politeness? I bet you smile at everyone. Strangers. Stalkers. Savages. Are you just being polite? When the scavengers approach you, you smile and laugh with them—or is it at them? Perhaps you’re only amusing them? But do you want me to approach you? I must admit, I am a perishable coward. I do not know if I have the spine to go to you and say to you these things, thoughts, emotions, opinions—to share my portion of the human condition with yours, hoping the two shall intertwine and form the veritable identity of humanity, and then we will send it across the stars through the edgeless scapes of discovery. Ascension. Transcendence. Or maybe just hello. I will disappoint you. I will not provide anything of value to you. I am just an admirer. A voyeur. An astrologist peering through a telescope into the soul, viewing clusters of miraculous being and divine shores, constellations of heavens, never being able to touch these celestial beaches—never able to hold in ny hands the purest sand, fine and crystalline, slipping through my fingers with the smoothness of hours through a day. I will never know. And I, too, will never know what it is to touch your love and have it touch me. You are smoldering. If we could dance, move in sequence and symmetry, we would undo the heavens above and hells below, and all earths and suns between, the whole portrait of the cosmos spiraling out in tangent volts; the wheel of time, spinning, spinning, spinning, stopped. And when we finally stop, our feet stomped, our chests heaving, panting, ceasing—the universe will have its heat death, and we will have our love. It will keep us together when everything else is vanishing. If only you knew how we could dance. And be in love. Be with me. I would invent languages for you. New ways of describing your beauty. I would devise equations of you. To explain the material of your beauty. There would be new elements, new forces, new modes of consciousness; I would remake the entire vale of knowledge, reshape it in your form, redo the universe as if it only belonged to you—if it does not already. It seems so. So unreal. It will never be. Because you will never love me. Why should you? I am less than dust. I am not even the shadows on the edge of your light. I am worse. I am sinking in the abyss. Deeper and deeper into insignificant existence. Until even the tiniest particles laugh at me. The only grace I shall save is the memory of you—and I will make each remembrance feel like an eternity.

So goes my grace.

My love is doubtful. But not of you.

Shall I compare you to the mysteries of the universe? You are sound. Bending. Curving. Waning. Constantly dying. Perpetually fading. The way every note exists for only as long as it is a note, then it disappears into the ether. A fiber in a patchwork behemoth. You are vibration. Curling. Waving. Bounding. Leaping to and fro, across spatial scenes, across fields of intrepid distance, across intimate bounds, the close stitches in a patchwork atom, or as far out as the untouchable edges of opposite galaxies, spanning across every conceivable possibility and every possible conception, more infinite than infinite itself—you are vibrating through everything. Everything pulls in and pushes out with you. Your every breath is a pulse of life, of the universe, of soul—you are the elysian ring, repeating circles throughout the graves of gods, of creators and destroyers, of whatever it was before it all began and whatever it will be after it is all over. In the blank disposition, in the realm of nothingness, in the prison of that eternal white slate, there is no feeling or thinking or seeing—but you will hear a gulp inside you, one last pulse and then you are gone forever. And not just gone, but entirely away. Totally without being. Being anything or anywhere. No anytime. And yet, there you are, the sound of whatever it is keeping this whole thing going. I do not believe in a god. But I do believe in you and your music, which is the only reason any of this exists in the first place. To give meaning to music. To conceive of what music is. So that when I hear you, I will know I am being blessed by the voice of the void. You have been given life for this sole purpose. And now you have achieved it. You have come full-circle. And you—cosmic siren you are—could lead me into a black hole and I would not care or be concerned. I would cease for you. If you asked me to. You should ask me. But I cannot make demands of you. I want to share with you. Share a meal. Share a planet. Share a lifetime. Share a secret—the most internal, deep, profoundly affecting secret. I want to be a part of you. Be your eyes. Be your lips. Be your hair. Your fingernails—I really don’t care. Any piece or fragment of you is enough because you are so imbued with wonder and perfection, even a speck of crud behind your ears is worth spending an endless vacation being there. Any part of you is a home for me.

What do you hear when you listen to yourself?

My love is deafening.

You are light. Crippling light. Blinding. Burning. Fearsome. A cold burst, slashing onto the spectrum of sight, icy and lucid. Lines of you everywhere. Spotted snowflakes of shimmers, slicing their way through every side and corner. Shadows move from space, shoved from their home by wherever the randomness of your luminosity chooses to go. A spectral plume. You are magma within a darkened cave, your shine molten and makeshift. But powerful. Ancient. Dissolving. Melting. You are the first light of life and the new light after death. You are golden steam. You are glimmering breeze. You are an eruption of colors and cadences. Your frequency is lashing and lucid. All darkness is scorned by you. You are ethereal as you pass through barriers and spaces, expanding across the whole universe effortlessly, traveling at a speed all your own, harnessing the hue of energy and reflecting your shade off every conceivable object that has been conceived. And in the future, too, you extend, dangling your dazzling rays in flirtatious dimensions, peeking between past and present, between what is and what is not, between the ceaseless born and dying, through the holes of time and out the other side in unfazed ferocity, still gleaming and glowing like the heart of Zeus. Rip it out and eat it. Your light—you are light—tints the universe in your palette, rather playfully, as if you aren’t even trying. It just emanates from you so naturally, like the universe was created for the precise purpose of providing you a canvas upon which to bleed your light. And just like light, you are there one moment, but the next flash —

Gone. Never around my ugly shadow.

My love is blinding.

I’m higher than space now. Floating up there, in an above beyond scope, a place so high it is bending from frame and folding into itself like a galaxy collapsing. So far from fire I can see no smoke; so far from light I can see no shadow. There is only me, I, myself—whatever you prefer, though I know you prefer nothing, absolutely nothing, because if you had a preference I wouldn’t be here. I’d be with you. Or I wouldn’t be alone at least. I’d have you here with me. We could float together, hand in hand, drifting along our own daydream. We could be the clouds in each other’s skies, the petals on each other’s flowers, the mountains on each other’s planets. All of that as a simple, imaginary space to us, up here, so high we are ascension, we are seraph in sex and sound and soul. We are angels, full of magnificent wings, lustrous and lucent and feathery like the lashes of a star. We may never come down—we should never come down. We should be architecture. Things should be built within us and around us. Our design should evoke an era, the era of us, that the time we spend together should startle the ages, shall pulse throughout the momentum of the universe, so potent until we strike heat death itself, twisting our bone flame blade through void heart and bleed another big bang god to crawl from its remains and vomit the universe once more. That we should be eldritch and eternal and elegiac. That we should be more ancient than spirits and gases and thoughts. O, let us be that dust between webs, that hanging and ethereal phantom of passages and passing time and passed through worlds. Divine us, and we shall be the matter, energy, force. O—so many things we could be! But you have forsaken us. I am so high now I cannot even know you. I’ve lost touch with body, form. I—is it still an I?—higher than god now. I can see the celestial throne. There is a kingdom beneath me, that of a heaven, of one and many elysian places, draped in vines that never cease growing, and clouds of gold that cry a crystal rain so pure it shatters on the air. Angels sing to me, a whole choir of eyes and rings, emitting in their voices a ballad of two lovers split apart and the universe that forms in the space between them. There is all the passion, longing, desire, heartbreak, pain, envy, hatred, suffering—all of it of all the mortal and non-mortal things, echoing to me. I can feel the vibration of every atom; the breath of every living thing. Flesh is like clay in my hands. I turn water to blood and blood to life. Flowers bloom. Babes are born. But I can take them, just as easily, and turn them to rot. I can peel the skin by a whisper, and deprive the seas with a flick. I can fell galaxies at will, crumble them into less than ash, roll up the world into a ball of decay, crush it no different than crushing a blade of grass. Let me burn this garden in glorious flames until all that is left is my own sadistic joy. Destroy everything, laughing, pleasuring, rending it by claws unimaginable, tearing in directions of nightmarish geometry that your brain would coagulate itself just trying to hold a concept of. End, let it be, end to all things—until I am alone. Alone. High I have gone—so high I am truly alone. Nothing else is near me. Not even myself. And as I fade, I believe I see a memory of you.

O, let it be that I see you as the last thing!

Your love is higher than mine.

[gospellighthouseofprayer]

Whyte House Family Devotions: Prayer for the Family, Church, Nation & World #347 (5/3/18)

https://soundcloud.com/danielwhyteiii/whyte-house-family-devotions-prayer-for-the-family-church-nation-world-347-5318

[caption id="attachment_40916" align="alignleft" width="156"] Daniel Whyte III[/caption] My family and I have had morning devotions, or family altar as some people call it, every day ever since my wife, Meriqua, and I were married 30 years ago. We have prayed and read the Bible together as well as other devotional books as a family, and it is the only reason why this family has stayed together, and the only reason why God has blessed our family and used our family in ministry all of these years. We read Ephesians 5 and 6 every morning as it relates to the role of each member of the family and how that we need to put on the whole armor of God to fight against the devil who is seeking to destroy our family and all Christian families, churches, and Christians. So, now after 30 years of doing this in our home, we are opening this up to others who don't have a family to pray with, who don't have a spouse, or who are single by choice, and to encourage all families who are still intact to go back to the family altar and have devotions together every morning. In these devotions, you may hear me deal with a temptation I'm facing in my life, you may hear me rebuke my wife about not doing what she should be doing, or you may hear me get on one of my children's cases about something they're doing. Don't be shocked; this is real life. SING "DOXOLOGY" Praise God from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost Amen Billy Graham said, “Put God to the test when troubles come. He won’t let you down. In the midst of a painful illness, Paul begged God to intervene and take it away. But God replied, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ It was sufficient for Paul, and it will be for you.” ------ PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ------ EPHESIANS 6:12-13 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stephen J. Cole writes in his commentary on this passage: "Christians must be fighters because Satan and his forces are real, evil, and powerful. To shrug off an enemy as a pushover when he is armed, organized, experienced, and dangerous, is to invite defeat. I have seen believers that disregard the reality and power of the enemy. We dare not do that! But I've also seen some that give Satan too much credit. They view him as being almost as strong as God is. It's as if God is desperately trying to get the upper hand, but He hasn't quite succeeded. And they blame Satan for everything, from car problems to anger problems. We need to avoid this error as well. William Gurnall observes that there is a great difference between how God and Satan deal with their followers. God reveals to His followers the strength of the enemy, but Satan does not dare to reveal to his followers the strength of God, or they would mutiny. So we need to look at what God tells us about the strength of the enemy." ------- PRAYER ------- DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE: Psalm 136:10-15 10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. Regarding this passage, Matthew Henry writes: “The great things God did for Israel when he brought them out of Egypt were mercies which endured long to them; and our redemption by Christ, which was typified thereby, endures for ever. It is good to enter into the history of God's favours, and in each to observe and own that his mercy endureth for ever. He put Israel in possession of a good land; and it was a figure of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” --------- PRAYER FOR THE ESTATES 1. Clergy (church) 2. Government 3. People (citizens) 4. The press (media) 5. New media/Online journalists PRAYER FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP - For all pastors, church leaders, denominational leaders, Bible teachers, missionaries, and ministry workers. GOVERNMENT LEADERS 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." President Donald Trump and his administration Vice President Mike Pence First Lady Melania Trump Second Lady Karen Pence All White House staff including: Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro All leaders of federal agencies including: Congressional Budget Office Director Keith Hall All state governors including: Vermont Governor Phil Scott All city mayors including: Cocoa Beach, FL, Mayor Dave Netterstrom All members of Congress including: Florida Representative Stephanie Murphy All law enforcement officials including: Cocoa Beach, FL, Police Chief Scott Rosenfeld All military leaders including: Defense Secretary James Mattis / National Guard Bureau Chief General Joseph L. Lengyel Leaders of nations around the world including: Namibia’s President Hage Geingob and Prime Minister Saara Kuu-gon-gel-wa For the peace of Jerusalem PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE / CITIZENS PRAYER FOR THE MEDIA PRAYER FOR CURRENT EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD - For the comfort of families and church family of the 15 people killed in an attack on a church in the Central African Republic. - For the comfort and salvation of the families of 26 people killed in bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan. - For the resolution of the Rohingya migrant crisis where hundreds of thousands have fled Bangladesh to escape military-led violence. PRAYER REQUESTS Bhima please provide them with the money they need to build orphanages and plant churches; bless the seminary students with all that they need Eric please heal his daughter and provide him with the money he needs to repair their church building, pay bills and buy medicine, Bibles, bikes, and print tracts Vicki Please end the drought in Israel; for the peace of Jerusalem THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR Matwetwe Yohana Onyoni THOSE WHO HAVE RECOMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST Megan Christine Fredrick DEVOTIONAL READING: “Seeing Our Need,” by Billy Graham Psalm 53:1 says, “Only a fool would say to himself, ‘There is no God.' And why does he say it? Because of his wicked heart, his dark and evil deeds. His life is corroded with sin.” “We live like little ants on this little speck of dust out in space. We get a Ph.D. and we strut across the stage and say, ‘Well, I don’t know whether or not there is a God.’ And we can’t even control ourselves. We can’t even keep from blowing ourselves apart. We can’t even keep from manufacturing nuclear weapons that could destroy the world. We can’t even keep from hating each other, and fighting with each other, and killing each other. We can’t even keep from stealing from each other. We can’t even keep from dying, because all of us are going to die. No wonder the Bible says, ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,’ because a man that would deny the existence of God, and his own need for God, is a fool.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Now, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell. First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God's law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death…" Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Now that is bad news, but here's the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen. If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read "What To Do After You Enter Through the Door". Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University's Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

[blackchristiannewswire]

LISTEN: Whyte House Family Devotions: A Prayer for the Family, the Church, the Nation and the World #347 (Thursday, May 3, 2018): “Seeing Our Need,” by Billy Graham

https://soundcloud.com/danielwhyteiii/whyte-house-family-devotions-prayer-for-the-family-church-nation-world-347-5318

[caption id="attachment_40916" align="alignleft" width="156"] Daniel Whyte III[/caption] My family and I have had morning devotions, or family altar as some people call it, every day ever since my wife, Meriqua, and I were married 30 years ago. We have prayed and read the Bible together as well as other devotional books as a family, and it is the only reason why this family has stayed together, and the only reason why God has blessed our family and used our family in ministry all of these years. We read Ephesians 5 and 6 every morning as it relates to the role of each member of the family and how that we need to put on the whole armor of God to fight against the devil who is seeking to destroy our family and all Christian families, churches, and Christians. So, now after 30 years of doing this in our home, we are opening this up to others who don't have a family to pray with, who don't have a spouse, or who are single by choice, and to encourage all families who are still intact to go back to the family altar and have devotions together every morning. In these devotions, you may hear me deal with a temptation I'm facing in my life, you may hear me rebuke my wife about not doing what she should be doing, or you may hear me get on one of my children's cases about something they're doing. Don't be shocked; this is real life. SING "DOXOLOGY" Praise God from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost Amen Billy Graham said, “Put God to the test when troubles come. He won’t let you down. In the midst of a painful illness, Paul begged God to intervene and take it away. But God replied, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ It was sufficient for Paul, and it will be for you.” ------ PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ------ EPHESIANS 6:12-13 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stephen J. Cole writes in his commentary on this passage: "Christians must be fighters because Satan and his forces are real, evil, and powerful. To shrug off an enemy as a pushover when he is armed, organized, experienced, and dangerous, is to invite defeat. I have seen believers that disregard the reality and power of the enemy. We dare not do that! But I've also seen some that give Satan too much credit. They view him as being almost as strong as God is. It's as if God is desperately trying to get the upper hand, but He hasn't quite succeeded. And they blame Satan for everything, from car problems to anger problems. We need to avoid this error as well. William Gurnall observes that there is a great difference between how God and Satan deal with their followers. God reveals to His followers the strength of the enemy, but Satan does not dare to reveal to his followers the strength of God, or they would mutiny. So we need to look at what God tells us about the strength of the enemy." ------- PRAYER ------- DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE: Psalm 136:10-15 10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. Regarding this passage, Matthew Henry writes: “The great things God did for Israel when he brought them out of Egypt were mercies which endured long to them; and our redemption by Christ, which was typified thereby, endures for ever. It is good to enter into the history of God's favours, and in each to observe and own that his mercy endureth for ever. He put Israel in possession of a good land; and it was a figure of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” --------- PRAYER FOR THE ESTATES 1. Clergy (church) 2. Government 3. People (citizens) 4. The press (media) 5. New media/Online journalists PRAYER FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP - For all pastors, church leaders, denominational leaders, Bible teachers, missionaries, and ministry workers. GOVERNMENT LEADERS 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." President Donald Trump and his administration Vice President Mike Pence First Lady Melania Trump Second Lady Karen Pence All White House staff including: Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro All leaders of federal agencies including: Congressional Budget Office Director Keith Hall All state governors including: Vermont Governor Phil Scott All city mayors including: Cocoa Beach, FL, Mayor Dave Netterstrom All members of Congress including: Florida Representative Stephanie Murphy All law enforcement officials including: Cocoa Beach, FL, Police Chief Scott Rosenfeld All military leaders including: Defense Secretary James Mattis / National Guard Bureau Chief General Joseph L. Lengyel Leaders of nations around the world including: Namibia’s President Hage Geingob and Prime Minister Saara Kuu-gon-gel-wa For the peace of Jerusalem PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE / CITIZENS PRAYER FOR THE MEDIA PRAYER FOR CURRENT EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD - For the comfort of families and church family of the 15 people killed in an attack on a church in the Central African Republic. - For the comfort and salvation of the families of 26 people killed in bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan. - For the resolution of the Rohingya migrant crisis where hundreds of thousands have fled Bangladesh to escape military-led violence. PRAYER REQUESTS Bhima please provide them with the money they need to build orphanages and plant churches; bless the seminary students with all that they need Eric please heal his daughter and provide him with the money he needs to repair their church building, pay bills and buy medicine, Bibles, bikes, and print tracts Vicki Please end the drought in Israel; for the peace of Jerusalem THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR Matwetwe Yohana Onyoni THOSE WHO HAVE RECOMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST Megan Christine Fredrick DEVOTIONAL READING: “Seeing Our Need,” by Billy Graham Psalm 53:1 says, “Only a fool would say to himself, ‘There is no God.' And why does he say it? Because of his wicked heart, his dark and evil deeds. His life is corroded with sin.” “We live like little ants on this little speck of dust out in space. We get a Ph.D. and we strut across the stage and say, ‘Well, I don’t know whether or not there is a God.’ And we can’t even control ourselves. We can’t even keep from blowing ourselves apart. We can’t even keep from manufacturing nuclear weapons that could destroy the world. We can’t even keep from hating each other, and fighting with each other, and killing each other. We can’t even keep from stealing from each other. We can’t even keep from dying, because all of us are going to die. No wonder the Bible says, ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,’ because a man that would deny the existence of God, and his own need for God, is a fool.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Now, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell. First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God's law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death…" Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Now that is bad news, but here's the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen. If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read "What To Do After You Enter Through the Door". Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University's Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

[tigirl-and-co]

Specks of Dust in Hallowed Halls

pt. 1

This first part is just an introductory piece, to try to help me get the flavour down. To get me used to writing Metroplex. Also bc nobody writes anything for him but I love him so much. My beautiful sonsband who is three times the size of the Chicago metropolitan area <333

~~~

There was only one holoform who was a regular at the human's game nights. Sure, a lot of Cybertronians were curious about their organic allies, and quite a few of them counted the humans among their friends and would show up on occasion. But they were busy, they had other diversions, and quite frankly they just didn't 'get' it.

But every Tuesday night, as far as Tuesday nights can exist on a planet with a completely different solar calendar, Metroplex found himself in the company of mammals.

Metropex had been alive for so, so long, and he had lacked any intimacy for most of his lifespan. Being so large, close connections weren't really in the cards. He had tried, over the eons, to mix among the Cybertronians with a mech holoform, but they treated him too reverently. He could not be 'one of them.' He was an Other. A respected and revered Other, but an Other just the same.

But the humans... once they had become accustomed to him being truly sapient, a person in his own right, they even treated his city mode as casually as one of their own. When asking for assistance getting around they called him nicknames like 'Metty' and 'Plexiglass', and they had allowed him access to their private texting groups. There were occasional 'Let's go Mets!' memes, with images of his buildings over top the sports team logo, sent to him in displays of camaraderie.

He truly enjoyed every ephemeral klik of it.

So he would join them once a week to play their games. The silent scribbling during Boggle, the drama of Betrayal at the House on the Hill, and the playful trash-talk during a heated round of Mario Kart... all of it filled his spark. He especially enjoyed video game game nights, where a large portion of the humans would be packed in on the couches and chairs and he would often find someone's legs draped over his own. After so long spent being unable to touch anybody, the simple heat of shoulders pressing him in and backs leaned against his legs from those seated on the floor was holy. Every now and again one of the humans would fall asleep and lean harder against him, and he felt love pulsate through his circuits.

This was what he was protecting. What he was fighting for. All kind creatures in the universe were his fellow beings and his charges, and he would protect them. It was what he had been built to do, but more importantly, it was what he chose to do.

To reward love and compassion in kind.

[tigirl-and-co]

Specks of Dust in Hallowed Halls

Part 2; Linguistics

Part 1, the introductory chapter, is here!

Now we get into the shippy stuff! And bonus points for anybody who recognizes the book I've chosen here

"Howlsong, who had fallen asleep at the outer edge of the canyon while he waited, led them silently back through the forest. Fritti, full of vague resentment and doom, had no conversation to offer, either. After a long stretch of unspeaking travel, Pouncequick finally broke the stillness.

"Just think, Tailchaser," he said, "we've actually been to see the Queen of Cats!""

You were curled up in a nook that you had unofficially claimed as your own somewhere in the human residence. Made more comfortable by a few blankets and pillows, you had chosen it for its out-of-the-way location and because Metroplex could both see the spot with a camera and use a nearby speaker to talk with you.

In your lap was your phone, currently accessing his personal communication line, which let him hear your voice.

Metroplex loved your voice. It was his favourite sound, the most wonderful melody he'd heard in all his unfathomable eons of existence. Every syllable, every stutter and stumble was permanently caught in his memory circuits, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

And when he learned you had a collection of books back on earth, he had practically begged you to import some to read to him. Not only was he desperate to hear your voice, Metroplex was also curious about you. What you liked to read, what the human culture you hailed from was like, what you thought about things...

So, you found yourself contacting a friend on earth to bring a few books to the supply ship every so often, and spending a bit of extra cash to get them shipped here and back. You didn't mind. It felt nice to be heard. To have your interests acknowledged and considered important.

And, quite honestly, you simply enjoyed hearing him speak. The deep rumble was both soothing and impossible to ignore, and his contemplative nature gave every statement the gravitas of some ancient philosopher comprehending the universe.

"So, Metty, what'd you think of that chapter?" you asked, keeping your own opinions out of it. You were just as interested in his thoughts as he was in yours.

A few moments of pause. "Hm... are human noble courts typically like that?"

You chuckled. Of course that's what he picked out- he'd borne witness to much more sophisticated councils time and time again. In fact, some other part of his processor was probably preoccupied with one now.

"Honestly? Never been. But if I walked in to one and it went like that, I wouldn't be surprised in the least. Fancy people looooooove making overly complex routines and rules and then not actually doing anything to help." You looked up into his camera and beamed at him. "But I get the feeling that sort of behaviour isn't unique to my species."

You felt as much as heard his merriment at that one. "No, it truly is not. Although I've found Cybertronians prefer bureaucracy to bloodlines."

You snuggled back into your nook, still making eye contact with the camera as you got ready for what was certain to be the nerdiest bout of flirting any human had ever partaken in outside of a lab. "Ah, humans most definitely get up to red tape and government nonsense too, but I'm afraid that compared to millions of years of rule-writing, ours would pale in comparison."

You smirked. "Although I'd like to see what would happen if somebody addressed Prime as 'Your Regal Softness.'"

Metroplex desperately wished he had finer control over his internal mechanisms so that he could embrace you right now. But he would have to settle for watching you curl up against his walls. "Knowing that mech, he would assume it was an actual title and wear it with pride."

You burst out laughing at the image, and how it didn't seem all that far-fetched. You both respected Optimus, but that didn't mean you couldn't be irreverent about him in private.

And as you chatted with the titan, book now just conversational fuel, you were struck by how easy it all was. The meandering levity, the way you each made both space and time for each other...

And how easy he was to love.

[tigirl-and-co]

Some of you may have noticed the lack of updates for Specks of Dust. that series is going on temporary hiatus, as I'm just not comfortable writing for a character who has like. one other writer. it feels too competitive, and I'm just not able to keep myself from comparing my work.

In a big fandom, where even a niche character has like 50 fics, it's fine. I'm okay with being a face in a crowd. but I've got issues as a person, and sharing space is one of them. It makes me feel derivative and jealous, and I'd rather write and feel happy about it. Nobody's at fault, I just need to do what's good for my own mental health.

I hope you all understand, and will read my other Transformers fics as they come out.