#Tarquin is such a good boy so he doesn’t need the same help but he’s on my list cause he precious

[algumaideia]

SJM treatment of Tamlin and why it is wrong

You know, she treated Tamlin so bad that only because of that I became his stan. That is literally the only reason why I am pro Tamlin. Just that. 

First, Tamlin did abused Feyre and Lucien in the second book. This is a fact. So don’t say that I’m here trying to appologize an abuser because I’m not. Actually the story that I wanted for Tamlin is that Feyre kicks him and go do whatever because I don’t care about her, Tamlin feels sad then goes after her, she says how bad he was and etc, Tamlin feels depressed because he realizes she is right, Lucien brings the Tamlin out of his depressive state through the power of friendship, Tamlin tries to be a better person, Tamlin becomes Tarquin’s friend, they both rebuild their court together. You see, my character arc for him has a part where he acknowledge he was being abusive(something that Rhys never did cof cof).

Anyway let’s start with why SJM treatment of Tamlin was wrong. 

I don’t know if my post needs it, but just in case. TW: abuse, ptsd, trauma, depression, sjm bad writing.

Ptsd, trauma and abuse

You know, at the same time that I know Tamlin’s abuse was wrong and horrible I also want to ignore it because, besides the negligence, it was just bad writing. What do you mean by bad writing? Well, let’s compare Tamlin’s ptsd with Kaz and one of my main characters. Why am I going to compare ptsd when I am talking about abuse? I am going to do so because Tamlin’s abuse is caused by his ptsd. Other point, I know it is imature, but I’m very insecure about my writing and compare SJM writing with mine makes me feel better. I’m sorry about that.

Kaz passed through a horrible experience and because of that he has extreme touch aversion. But the trauma and ptsd didn’t change his personality, they weren’t responsables to make a good kid become a rough boy that is the leader of a gang. The circunstances did it (I haven’t read the second book yet, no spoleirs). Of course that the trauma changed the way he interacted with people but what made him change was the fact that he was a lonely child with a heart full of hatred and desire for vengence living in a place full of thieves and gangs. Now Jafari, my main character, also lived a traumatic experience. He has nightmares, triggers and intrusive thoughts. However, the “basis” of his ptsd is that he ignores and avoids his emotions, his grief and his trauma. He doesn’t like conflicts, he is passive, he doesn’t deal with things, he just let things solve themselves. And that’s why his ptsd is based on him avoiding dealing with what happened and trying to process what happened. 

Tamlin’s abuse and ptsd is based on three things: anger, neglect and being controlling. To be fair the neglect and controlling part makes sense, but I still have problems with them. Now the anger is so weird. I don’t remember Acotar pretty well but during all the time Tamlin was UTM he had control over his actions and feelings. Amarantha wanted to hurt him by hurting his love and his friends, she was also problaby sexually assalting him. Tamlin saw Feyre being tortured, suffering and being sexually abused and he never showed any reaction because he knew if he did that Amarantha would make everything worse for her. Considering that how his ptsd and abuse is he having no control towards his anger? It makes no sense. 

In the first book Lucien insults and makes fun of  Tamlin all the time and Tamlin has no problem with it. Not only that but his court has no ranks, not like Rhys’ court cof cof. But now Lucien can’t give him even a suggestion that he is almost killing his only friend who survived during Aramanthas reign? Sigh That’s my problem with Tamlln being a control freak. And I aslo have the feeling that SJM only put it so then Rhys could say it is your choice all the time. 

About the neglect, Tamlin was trying to rebuilt his court, was dealing with his trauma and there was also the fact that Feyre wasn’t safe since other High Lords would be mad with her for having their powers. Tamlin neglecting Feyre is logical. But people forget that Feyre was also neglecting Tamlin. As I said I don’t remember Acotar pretty well but I think that Tamlin asked how Feyre was at some point, but Feyre never did that. She was all: ohhh Tamlin knows that I am throwing up and having nightmares why he does nothing? Tamlin isn’t sleeping well too, but he never asks me how am I doing. You want to blame Tamlin for his negligence towards Feyre? Good, do it, you are right. But Feyre did the same thing. She NEVER EVER even thought to ask if Tamlin was okay, or acknowlegded that he was also suffering. 

At least Tamlin tried to communicate with her, Feyre never did that. For example he gave her paints so then she could start painting again. And this was good, Feyre was depressed and that is why she didn’t painted. One thing that depressed people do sometimes is to avoid doing things they know will make them happy. Feyre was doing that. And this was also Tamlin trying to communicate with Feyre and she just ignored it and then was angry because he didn’t know that she couldn’t stand the color red, but Rhys knew. This is so wrong.

1. Rhys only knew that because he invaded her mind and discovered something she wasn’t confortable talking with anyone.

2. She never told about her problem with the color red with Tamlin. She never talked with him. How was he supposed to know?

3. This was the perfect opportunity to talk about that with him, but she didn’t.

Tamlin's ptsd was ignored through the whole series, he was treated as the worst person ever when Rhys who did the same things was treated as the best person in Earth and his logical actions were treated as stupid.

Tamlin’s “illogical” actions

You know, there is a lot of memes that say how Tamlin was stupid to think that Feyre would like to come back to him after spending sometime with Rhys. Yeah, how dumb! Why he would think that he love of his life would like to come back to him after being kidnapped by the guy who sexually abused her for months, the guy who joined Amarantha for no reason, the guy who has been known for torturing people and having a court full of miserable fae. Hahaha so dumb!! She even sent him a letter saying she didn’t want anything with him, and he was stupid to go after her anyway. I mean, the guy known for being a psycho that kidnapped her was also able to control minds so why wouldn’t he believe in the letter? Hahahaha. *Sigh*

A lot of people criticize Tamlin for colecting taxes in Acomaf, like how could he? People first, where do you think all Rhys money came from? His work? Second, it was the first time he did it in 50 years and he postponed it a month. He was trying to get everything back to normal. Besides taxes are an important part of a governament, it is from them that the governament can make things, like hospitals, better streets(at least they were supposed to do so). SJM didn’t make it clear what a HIgh Lord job is. She said that Tamlin job is to protect the Spring Court, but in every other moment it is implied that High Lord are likes kings so I don’t know. Anyway this makes perfect sense, congratulations to Tamln.

Then he allies with Hybern and people act like he did that to take Feyre back form Rhysand. How dumb! Hahaha. He did that to save his people. The Spring Court was in a delicated position, he lost a lot of his friends during Amarantha reign and they were problaby responsable to protect the Spring Court. The agreement would protect this people, got Feyre back and made him able to spy Hybern. And this is more than Rhys did. He only tortured people to protect a hidden city, nothing more. 

In the war meeting he had the all the right to be angry, but it wasn’t nice to say that about Feyre. I won’t say anything more because I could write a whole post about how wrong this meeting was. 

And finally he helped to resurrected Rhysand and it was put as an amazing thing. But it was nonsense. Why he helped the guy who kidnapped his love and manipulated her? Why he helped the guy who sent his love to destroy his court? Why he helped the guy who allied with Amarantha for no reason? Why he helped the guy who is known for being a monster for years? Specialy condering that this guy could get his powers. And after that Rhys decieded to visit Tamlin and make him more miserable than he already us. But that’s ok because Rhys is the best male. Not only that but Rhys now is visiting Tamlin oftenly in Acofs apparently. This makes me so ANGRY. 

This was my messy post.

Best regards, 

Me.

Ps. Sorry for writing makes sense and its variations too much, but that is because I don’t know English that well so my knowledge is very limited.

[angelathewitch]

Okay I just finished the ACOTAR series for the first time and I have so many thoughts so I'm gonna write them down.

Also I have not looked at any fan theories or been a part of this fandom very much so all these headcannons are straight from the noggin:

Literally what the fuck is tamlin doing.

Okay getting this out of the way cause its a hot topic. Azriel is my baby I love him but

I would have mixed feelings about him being with both gwyn and Elaine. I love the idea of Elaine being azriels sunshine he deserves light in his life (also their scene in ACOSF had me ejdjbdksks) but also all three bat boys being with all 3 sisters rubs me the wrong way idk.

Gwyn is amazing because she's a badass bitch and if azriel doesn't snatch that up I will. I feel like azriel almost gets bulldozed over by the other bat boys (like he will do the dirty work only because he feels inferior) And I want gwyn to help him stand up for himself.

Gwyn is an adult jfc. I'd be more worried about her trauma.

I am totally a elucien shipper I'm SORRY lucien deserves the world

But at the same time I would totally understand if Elaine couldn't forgive him for his involvement in the cauldron business. That shit was wack. I just want this relationship to be the biggest, most "period drama esqe" slowburn.

I have very mixed feelings about lucien. On one hand lucien has never had a home and when tamlin took him in I can see how that loyalty blurred the lines of right and wrong. But at the same time lucien messed up MANY times where the archeon sisters are concerned.

Nesta deserved her kick in the ass because it was needed. She did not deserve everyone to be a little bitch to her. It felt like feyre was the only one who wanted her rehabbed for nestas sake. I definitely would have preferred Nesta to hit rock bottom and choose recovery for herself (cause alcoholism and things can only be truly solved through self help) Everyone else was uncharacteristically nonempathetic. Idk how Cassian could be okay with her treatment after they mated.

I'm still digesting Rhys and nestas relationship. I like that they don't like each other for most of ACOSF. Nestas reasons for treating feyre poorly are valid, but not excuses. The feyre, Nesta, and rhys relationship thing is weird cause I see all sides. I need more feyre and Nesta bonding they always get interrupted.

I HATE what SJM did to Mors character. What the fuck is up with mor not liking Nesta. Maybe we will get an explanation in the next book but I feel like mor was set up to be a great LGBT character with himbo allies but SJM just dropped her off a cliff. Big mad.

However I do want eris and mor to end up together. Not necessarily romantically, but I want them to have it out and I want eris to support mor. Kinda want them to be mates. Kinda want eris to be gay as well. Kinda want them to get married and them have consorts.

WHY does everyone treat feyre like a porcelain doll when the IC has more collective trauma than anyone else in this universe. Don't get me wrong I'm all about the hurt/comfort but it was so inconsistently written LOL. When the IC was telling their stories the first night they met and then feyre told hers I cackled like sorry but she is a baby

Rhys's trauma is just as recent as feyres... yeah he's a lot older and seasoned but oh my GOD he was consistently assaulted for 49 years. Feyre does very little to comfort him. Idk I feel like it was SO glossed over.

Like in ACOWAR feyre admits that amaranthas hatred wasn't personal it was general, unlike Tamlins hatred. But amarantha and rhys had multiple personal vendettas against each other. Like his amarantha is vaguely feyres tamlin. Rhys didn't even get to kill amarantha. His trauma is untapped. Rhys is the main character feyre is the love interest idc

Idk what yall say rhys is my baby my lovebug my everything. He's got his flaws but you can't love Nesta and hate him at the same time without being a lil hypocritical

But he's fucked in the head for thinking he was justified in drugging feyre every night for 2 months. Almost more mad about that than the SA (I dont really blame Rhys since it is not cannon to me. SJM just messed up 😌 it was so out of character) did he ever really apologize for that??

ALSO I know smj wanted to write like #consentking but half of what he allowed was so unnecessarily dangerous (like the first AND second weaver encounter- if my SO ran off in the middle of a battle to track down a mysterious creature when the task could have been done after the battle I would have be livid. Mor was justified in being mad.)

I'm so mad rhys didn't flatten tamlin during the high lord meeting. Either it will happen in the future or I will burn these books.

THE BAT BOYS HAVE CONNONICALLY BEEN IN THE SAME ROOM WHILE HAVING SEX. the foursomes in my head gets clearer by the day

I HATE the fact that rhys almost had an existential crisis over feyre being so young when she found her mate and not having "lived" and THEN GETS HER PREGNANT??? Are you kidding me. I'm so mad. I don't wanna deal with babies. I hate babies.

But I DO have a fun headcannon that since the bone carver is a death-god or whatever he KNEW nyx wouldn't survive and that is why he appeared as him. Also when the bone carver offered to take feyres first born in exchange for help rather than the oroboughs I think that was also foreshadowing. The only reason nyx survived was because of Nesta and the bone carver had trouble seeing the cauldron.

((Maybe nyx should have died during the birth idk))

Literally I would have enjoyed ACOSF if instead of the pregnancy feyre was busy looking for bryaxis. Literally what happened to him. Wtf

I know the plot armor is crazy thick around the IC but it would have been nice if one of them died. Well, not nice, but more believable. Maybe thats why nyx should have died. Lol I need therapy.

FREAKING HEADCANNON: the archeon sisters are partially fae. Their mom was definitely a descendant and that's why all three sisters have mates. It was hinted that the sisters had mated because they were powerful and cauldron made but Cassian and rhys could feel the pull before the sisters were turned.

Tarquin is the hottest high lord

The whole blood rite thing was stupid. I would have loved if it was spread out over a longer period of time but it was so unrealistic

You know we all love a good #girlboss🤢 moment but the whole valkarie thing seemed 1. Out of no where 2. Really quickly forced (ACOSF should have been like 2 books) 3. If emerie and mor get together life=complete

The inner circle and ther archeon sisters would not get along if they weren't mated to like 50% of the gang

They're too whiny

It's so weird that the mating bond can only be felt by guys??? Lol wut

Okay I know this is a complicated subject but having LGBTs in a universe with mates based in evolutionary advantage seems more homophobic than having a universe without LGBTs LOL. Like their connection can't be as deep cause they can't procreate?? I did like that SJM made up for it a little by saying not all mates are complementary souls.

Hybern was so powerful and for WHAT. I don't understand

Vassa, lucien, and jurian being a trio is so weird 😐

I WANT A NOVELLA ON THE STORY OF AMREN AND VARIAN. They are my otp. If anyone has made it this far and knows of some good amren and varian fanart pls let me know

Okay that is all for now thank you if you read down to here xoxo gossip girl.

P. S. Also I am starting throne of glass and am having a hard time getting into it. Can anyone vouch for this series please I'm conflicted.

Edit: omg I was zooted when I wrote this and didn't realize my phone autocorrected cassian to Caspian RIP

[hellas-himself]

More Than Enough

Remember that self indulgent crack ship holiday fic I was writing about Cassian and Feyre? And how I couldn’t seem to mix the past with the present? 

It’s a fic now. Still in the same AU just like... the year before. Leading up to the cheesy ass nonsense it is now. Originally it was going to be angsty at first but I think we have enough of that in our real life. If you haven’t read the crackship holidays featuring these two dumbasses, start here or on AO3.

Also. I promise all my other fics are not being abandoned. 

I’ve had a playlist to listen to when writing them but it is so incredibly inappropriate if you understand spanish. and i haven’t made it onto spotify yet. But this song reminded me of them and that’s where the title comes from. Which is funny because Alina is who i put beside Toni Mafud as Rhys and Feyre whenever fan casts come up. ANYWAY. 

Let’s follow Feyre as she thirsts after her best friend. 

.

.

.

I blame it on the music.

Cassian lost his shirt about half an hour ago and is doing pull ups. The garage door is open, letting in the cold winter air. My fingers are cold but I don’t like wearing gloves when sketching. I had been working on hands and eyes but once he tossed his shirt… It’s not like I’ve never seen Cassian without a shirt on before. Between him and his brothers, they seem to always find an excuse to not wear one. But the difference is I don’t find myself daydreaming about what it would be like to run my fingers down their backs.

It’s definitely the music.

Even if I didn’t understand the words, the beat itself is way too sensual to not be about anything else but sex. But the lyrics and Cassian’s sweaty, half naked body mixed with the fact that I haven’t had sex in months is probably the worst mix. I am not supposed to be imagining sleeping with my best friend.

I clear my throat, startling Valo who was falling asleep at my feet.

“Sorry, baby, I need a drink.”

I set my sketch book and pencil down on the crate beside my chair.

“Would you get me a drink, bunny?” Cas breathes out and my face flushes all the more. I didn’t need another detail to this stupid daydream.

“Yeah,” I squeak and head into the house. I already know his post workout drink recipe by heart. I drink ice cold water while the blender is going.

Cassian is suspended in the air, holding his entire body parallel to the floor with his hands. Goddamn him. He drops his head back so that he’s looking at me upside down and he smiles.

“I love you,” he says and I roll my eyes.

“I’ll love you more if you don’t bust your ass.”

He chuckles and just to drive the nail in the coffin that is my desire to be the reason he’s making noises like that, he slowly lowers his body and resumes his pull ups. I set his cup on the table where he has his tools and go back to sit down.

Cassian drops down and walks over to his mat to do his cool down stretches. A new song comes on and the words are so filthy that I find myself staring at him. His tattoos. My ex-boyfriend had always believed I was into Cassian- and I wasn’t. But I wasn’t blind and I’ve been at his house almost every single day since Thanksgiving- he is always without a shirt.

It’s just the music.

“Plan on drawing me?” Cassian asks and I blink. I look away from his tattooed chest and to his face. He is smirking. Shit.

“Uh. Yeah. What better way to do anatomy studies than with a living reference?”

“Anatomy, huh?”

He flashes me a grin before he walks over to the table for his drink.

“Hey, what do you want for dinner?”

His question distracts me from looking at his ass.

“Uh, whatever you want… I’m not really craving anything.” Except you. I sigh and cover my face with my hands and lean over. I need a cold shower.

“Hey… You alright?” he asks softly.

I nod and slowly sit upright.

“I’m just… I’m fine. I promise.”

He doesn’t believe me but he walks over to grab his speaker.

“I love this song,” he says and starts to sing along to it as he gratefully goes back into the house.  

Cassian meets me in the living room now dressed in a white tee and grey sweatpants. He lifts both my legs up so that he can sit down. This is normal. I always use his lap to rest my legs.

“I ordered Greek, I hope you don’t mind.”

“I told you, I’m not craving anything except-”

Fuck my entire life. Cassian raises a brow and I toss him the remote.

“Why don’t we finish your show so then we can watch my movie?”

This pacifies him and thankfully, his stupid show is so violent and bloody that all thoughts of fucking my best friend fade from my mind.

*

Our annual Christmas party is tonight and I’ve found an outfit. It is the kind of outfit Tamlin would have told me not to wear. It’s blood red and insanely inappropriate for winter with its spaghetti straps and super low neckline. Mor says it’s the perfect thing to wear after a break up and just the thought of all the pictures we’ll take with me and Cassian together makes me believe it.

I hang the dress up in the closet of Cassian’s bedroom. The heels are set beside his dress shoes and I can’t help but think about his reaction. Of dancing with him all night and coming back here and-

“Bunny!” 

“I’m in the closet!”

I hear him chuckle. 

“Shut up,” I call out and walk into the bedroom to find him pulling off his shirt. I feel my face go hot.

“I’m going to shower… do you want me to use the other bathroom?” 

“What? No, this is your house,” I say far more casually than I feel. “Besides, we’ve got time, we can share.” 

I want to punch myself in the face. Cassian starts to grin. 

“The shower might be a little too small for the both of us but I’m sure we could find a way to-”

Cassian laughs when I smack his arm. 

“Not exactly where I like being spanked but I’ll take it.”

“Oh my god, Cassian.”

He laughs and disappears into the bathroom. I force myself to leave the room when I hear the water.  

*

Cassian walks into the kitchen in nothing but a towel, his hair wet, water dripping down his chest. He walks over and takes the sandwich from my hands.

“Fuck, we’re out of beer,” he mutters as he opens the fridge. I grab the second sandwich I made, expecting him to steal from my plate and force my gaze up. On his stupidly gorgeous face.

“I can go get some,” I say but he shakes his head and walks over to take my cup of iced tea.

“Are you cool with us taking a cab tonight?”

“Uh, yeah. I guess.” 

Cassian drinks from my cup and sets it down before pinching my cheek. 

“It’ll just be you and me,” he says softly. “So don’t worry about it.”

I blush at this and Cassian kisses my forehead. 

“I’m gonna go get dressed. Thanks for the snack,” he says with a wink and walks away.

*

I keep my makeup rather muted; lip gloss and the usual winged liner. Nude eyeshadow. Cassian picked out the highlight and I have to admit, he chose well. My hair isn’t going to get any better, so I leave it in loose waves rather than the curls I’d wanted. I’ll leave that to Mor. I feel nervous, this is the first time since the breakup that I’m going out with all of our friends but Cassian will be there, and that’s enough to ease my nerves. Almost.  

“Our ride is here,” Cas says as he walks into his bedroom. He stops and just stares. I approach him and hold out my ID card and debit card, needing to ignore the way his attention has me feeling.

“I don’t have pockets.”

“What?” He blinks and looks down at my hand. He laughs and pulls his wallet out. “You only need your ID.”

“Maybe so,” I say and reach out to smooth down the collar of his shirt while he puts my cards away. I remember my lip gloss and put it in his back pocket, giving him a wink.

Cassian holds my hand when we go outside, helping me down the steps and the driveway. It’s a regular occurrence, but I blush when he opens the door for me. And when he slides an arm around my shoulders when he sits down beside me. We take a bunch of pictures and call Cassian’s parents to check on Val- as if we hadn’t seen him an hour ago. 

When we get to the club, Cassian holds my hand as we walk inside. Cassian and the boys are all friends with the owner, so we get to skip the line.

“Where are we going?” I ask as Cassian leads us up to the VIP lounge.

“Meeting up with Rhys.”

“What’s he doing up here?”

Cassian chuckles. “You know Rhys never passes a chance to be extra as fuck.”

I can’t argue with that.

Upstairs, Cassian helps me out of my coat. His fingers brush my skin and my mind takes a swan dive into the gutter.

“What do you say to a few drinks before we go downstairs?” he asks as he takes my hand. The bouncer outside the lounge acknowledges us with a nod.

“Yeah, I could use it.”

Cassian flashes me a grin and then opens the door.

“SURPRISE!” Everyone shouts and I find all of our friends standing under a Happy Birthday banner.

I am at a loss for words and Cassian laughs, bringing me further into the room. I’d completely forgotten about my birthday, I hadn’t cared enough to even think that anyone else would. But Elain is here with Az. So is Rhys and Lucien, Amren, Varian. Viv and Kallias, too. I’m separated from Cassian as I’m hugged and kissed by everyone. I realize Tarquin and Cresseida are here as well. Rhys is the one who breaks open the first bottle and we all stand around the little table to take shots.

“There is a cake,” Elain says as she hands me another shot. “But that’s later.”

“Later?”

She winks at me and shouts for Azriel.

“That’s my favorite song!” she exclaims and her husband happily ditches his brothers to go out and dance with his wife.

Lucien and Rhys pull me in for another hug as the others begin to trail down to the dance floor.

“You look good enough to eat,” Lucien mumbles and I laugh.

“Don’t tell me you’re already drunk, Luce.”

“We may have pregamed at the house,” Rhys admits. “But we took an uber! It’s okay.”

I roll my eyes.

“You both suck. I’m going to go find me two other cute boys to dance with. Boys who would have invited me to pregame with them and no amount of flirting is going to fix that.”

They begin to whine and I laugh, holding onto Rhysand’s forearms as they keep me caged between them.

“Alright! You win!” I say with a laugh and look over to find Cassian looking my way. He smiles.

I want to ask him to dance but Mor pulls him away before I can open my mouth.

We drink and dance and drink and dance and drink some more. I feel light headed and everything makes me laugh. But I haven’t danced with Cassian yet and that’s enough to dampen the mood. I push my way through the crowd until I find Cassian at the bar. I take the empty barstool beside him and sit down. I order myself a margarita before turning to face him.

“And where have you been all night?” I ask and Cassian smirks.

“Enjoying the night,” he says and takes a sip of his drink.

“Without me?”

I don’t understand the look in his eyes as he takes a sip of his drink. He sets the glass down and leans forward. I didn’t really understand just how short this dress was until he lays his hand on my thigh. If I turn my chair completely, if he moves his hand just an inch more…

“Yes,” he says and kisses me cheek. “But I think I’m about to enjoy it more now.”

“Why?” I manage to say. Cassian’s hand brushes my thigh as he sits upright.

“I’m about to go dance with my best friend.”

“Are you now?”

My drink is set before me and I grab it, chugging it down as Cassian slides off his chair. He turns mine so that I’m facing him completely and puts his hands on my hips.

“If she says yes, of course.”

I finish the last of my drink and set down the glass.

“When have I ever said no to you?”

Cassian grins.

I have danced with Cassian many times. At parties, at the beach, at clubs and bars and festivals. At his parents’ house. I should be used to the feeling of his body against mine, of his hands on me while we dance but not like this. I want nothing more than to take him back up to the lounge and push him down on the sofa or go find an empty bathroom stall.

But I don’t.

Birthday cake and alcohol isn’t the best mix, but I haven’t felt this alive in months. My face hurts from laughing, from smiling. My vision is spotty from all the pictures we’ve taken but I don’t care. Everything is right in the world.

“My feet hurt,” I complain and sit on Cassian’s lap.

“Want me to rub your feet?”

I shake my head and lean into him.

“No. Not until I’m showered.”

He laughs. “Okay.”

I sigh when he wraps his arms around me. He is so warm and smells so good, I want to stay this way forever.

“I think the birthday girl is done for the night,” Rhys says teasingly and I realize I was dozing off. I look up to see Rhys standing there with a stupid smirk on his face.

“Fuck you,” I say and curl up in Cassian’s arms. I feel his hand holding my dress down from showing everyone else my ass.

“Tempting,” Rhys says and then shoves his hands in his pockets. “But I think I’ll pass.”

I don’t think much of the look Rhys gives Cassian in favor of playing with his hair. I take way too much satisfaction in the knowledge that not everyone gets to do this, and that he enjoys it. Cassian seems to win whatever silent staring contest he and Rhys were having and Rhys rolls his eyes and goes after his boyfriend.

“You’re making me sleepy, bunny.”

“Good thing we’re going home together then,” I say before my mind catches up. But Cassian only chuckles and hugs me a little closer.

*

Cassian and I are a laughing mess as we stumble into the house. I lean on him to step out of my heels and he laughs as I shrug off my coat and toss it at him. We’re both trying to catch our breath, and I swat his hand away when he tries to tickle me again.

“I’m taking a shower,” I breathe out and walk off but he stops me.

“Wait,” he says and I turn to find him smiling.

“What?”

“Happy birthday,” he says softly and pulls me in for a hug. “I promise I’ll make you breakfast in the morning.”

“Hm… you really know the way to a girl’s heart, Cas.”

He pinches my side and I yelp.

“Go shower,” he says and kisses the top of my head.

“I won’t be long.”

My shower is clumsy and not at all relaxing. My feet hurt. So I put lotion on my body and grab the bottle of perfume that is on the dresser, except it’s not perfume but cologne. I shrug and put on Cassian’s Nirvana tee shirt and double check I actually have underwear on before I go looking for him.

“Cas?” The house is dark save for the light coming from his room. “My feet fucking hurt.”

He says something but I don’t understand it. His room is open and I step inside, finding him lying on his bed. He’s got basketball shorts on and his hair is loose.

“Bunny!” he says as if he hadn’t seen me all day. “I almost busted my ass in the shower.”

“Me, too.” I say with a laugh. “Maybe we should’ve showered together. It would’ve been safer that way.”

“I like the way you think, Archeron.”

He holds his hand out to me and when I’m close enough, he pulls me into bed with him. “You smell good.”

I snort. “I smell like you.”

“Exactly.”

I swat his arm but he ignores it, putting his arms around me.

“My feet hurt,” I complain, hoping he’ll make good on his promise.

“Just stay here,” he says simply.

My heart stops and starts too fast.

“Like… sleep here?” I ask too quietly.

“Mhm.” He goes quiet for a moment and then groans. “I forgot to turn the light off.”

“I can do it,” I say.

“No… Stay here.”

He goes quiet once more, and I let myself relax. We haven’t shared a bed since we were kids, playing video games until Adela would force us to go to bed. I smile at the thought and rest my head against his chest.

“Goodnight, Cas,” I say quietly, my eyes getting heavy.

“Goodnight, bunny,” he says and lets me go to stretch. Then he wraps his arms around me again and moves us so that we’re on our sides. He presses a kiss to my forehead and I close my eyes, letting the warmth of him lull me to sleep.

.

.

.

@mythicaitt @bookloveaffair @nalgenewhore @candid-confetti 

[sol-futura-est]

Sol didn’t seem like such a mythic character as some people made him out to be, if what I looked at was the individual. Sure, he changed reality at a whim, but there was more to him. It was like you trusted him, as soon as you understood who was in front of you. Implied was a hundred different things, including the fact that he watched over you. As I came in, I greeted Mortimer as he cooked a meal for dinner, but I declined. Even with the meeting shocking me, I was tired. I wanted to read some then head to bed. As I shut my bedroom door behind me, I turned on the lamp at my desk, the same one I had at the arena, a small one, that only lit the hardwood, not the room. On the top of the stack, a detailed account Varo Tarquini’s encampment after the Battle for the Caucasus, where he routed an army one hundred strong in a battle lasting four months. My father had been caught further east, assisting the Sikhs, before he would cut through the Mongol territories, the former Kazakhstan, up into Moscow, relieving that siege with Tarquin, before going further into Petersburg. All in all, it would be three years of fighting, just here, from Georgia north to the Baltic Sea, then another four fighting east, with the remaining three years of this war spent in bitter stalemates, some lasting up to a year. What made this battle special was that one fifth of the former archon’s army, formerly a Georgian, by the name of Kuratisi, was eradicated entirely. Tarquin only had his one legion at partial strength, with barely twenty thousand ground forces engaged at any given point. This was where Svarogovist automated air power, and limited naval forces proved underpowered. We didn’t need to use guerilla tactics every time to bleed them. We didn’t even need to constantly bombard them. We just had to bog them down enough to make them believe that they could face us and do enough damage for another part of their army. They had nowhere to retreat, nowhere to go but back. 

    But they wouldn’t.

   " Today is the 9th of September, 2211. Yesterday, my forces encamped at Volgograd celebrated their victory over the southern army group of these machines. I tried to cajole them, but after a certain point, I decided to let them have the day. Airspace is clear, so are rail lines. We’ll receive our much needed reinforcements via Kiev. I never thought the Intermarians would be much good in war, but they’ve kept good on all their promises. Nobody rescinded quotas, nobody refused their tax. This war wasn’t for us, they understood that. We could’ve stood back. After all, this wasn’t a threat we anticipated. 

    I would’ve gone, senate or not, anyway. But that’s not the point. Air freight and rail freight will be escorting out our wounded, bringing us fresh troops. I hear that the auxiliaries are gonna be in high supply, even with record recruitment numbers out of the major cities, Paris, Madrid, Rome. Even the Celts are putting forth ten thousand troops, with another ten thousand from American mercenaries. They’ll fill in foreign detachments as need be, or, if these bastards take my advice, let these men command themselves so long as they obey regional commanders. The consul is insistent on it, however. Foreigners serve alongside us, use our guns, obey our rules. Julian says it’s to avoid international incidents. Trade with the city states and the American republics isn’t even that important, the only incident we’d have is criticism from one of our own journalists. Even then, what would it matter?

    Two hundred miles east is the front. Roland has the south, up to Moscow, where the Intermarian Army holds out. From their left flank north, is Marcus. His infantry were made for trench war, stagnant war. His lines, his defenses are nearly indestructible for a normal enemy. For this one, he gets to learn a thing or two. Lawrence and the Sikhs are preparing to move onto Orenburg, and after that, we’ll all sweep through in one massive L-shape east. We’ll march until the sea or the Chinese borderlands, or until there’s a mass surrender.

    Every night, I relive that moment Sol visited me. I guess he knew me well, showing up dressed like a Camargue rancher, tipping his hat to me as his eyes gleamed golden light. All the stories I heard talked about him shouting from a summit of a nearby hill as our boys crossed a valley. We had a brief conversation, and even though I thought he’d be taller, it was enlightening. His faith, his strength, you don’t really know it until he affixes your mind, your sight, until he stands before you like king of the world and tells you some poetic riddle you only half understand, before you wake up in your bed, or back wherever you were, as if nothing happened. Lawrence and Marcus told me things like this happen, usually in dreams. Maybe I dozed off and didn’t notice, but all the same it doesn’t matter. In some way, I have his blessing against this enemy. Whatever he is can wait for war’s end. 

    Us soldiers, us farmers, we march forward with or without the support of any king, any God, though we will never refute the help.

    Though a part of me I thought I put away, my Catholic upbringing, is smitten. This man appeared from nowhere. He didn’t tempt me with prize or power. He held an open palm, told me he was proud of me, of my cause, of every soul on the march.

    Was this Christ? And he simply took on the name Sol for reasons I couldn’t understand? Maybe he was Christ and simply let people call him Sol. It wasn’t like he ever introduced himself.

    If it was Christ, would it even matter if I comprehended that?

    Even with so many men under me, cheering my name, even with every newsstand emblazoning my name, this being made me understand the task, he humbled me.

    Maybe when I go home, I’ll teach my daughters some new lessons. Ones of faith, of duty, of discipline in the face of adversity. 

    In a few short years, I’ll be able to go home to them for good. "

[fledgeling-heroes-r-us]

Side Swapper Introduction: Shadow Weaver

Introduction Name: Daesii Ta’arkin Soelle Also Known As: Tarquin Soul (originally by Cynthia, later his human world alias and preferred name), Tarq Age: 17 Birthday: January 28th Species: Hybrid. Half shadow meister, half feldarhl Blood Type: Unknown Astrological Sign: Aquarius Gender: Male Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Past/Bio: Tarquin was born as the second son of Crothe, king of a dimension named Death Valley, and his second wife. The two were forced to marry and produce a child by the kingdom's council, in an attempt to strengthen the meister species as it suffered from plague. As he was an unwanted child, he sometimes found it difficult to bond with his parents, and bonded better with his father and his brother's mother than he did his own mother, though this was likely primarily due to the fact that the valley was having an extreme negative impact on his mother's mental state. Having the ability to sense life and death, and considering the poor state of his kingdom, Tarquin also found life in the valley to be emotionally damaging to him, despite the fact that he knew nothing else. Being royalty in a time of unrest, Tarquin and his family were targets of abduction and assassination attempts, and when the culprits were caught they were often tortured for information and then executed publicly, things Tarquin either witnessed first hand or was aware of anyway due to his sensory abilities. As he ended up being susceptible to the plague sweeping his home dimension, Tarquin was often kept isolated, only allowed to see his tutor and parents at set times of the day, though his elder brother often broke isolation to see him. When he was seven, his older brother told him about the stories his human mother had told him of her home, and how it sounded like a paradise, and how shadow meisters could open rifts to that world. Okolio, the elder brother, took Tarquin to this world to start a new life, as both of them found the valley to be a disturbing and scary place. Earth honestly wasn't that much better for them, being a loud, bright and confusing place with overwhelming sensory input, and, being children, they clearly hadn't thought things through and had to go from living in a palace as royalty to trying to survive on the streets. Eventually, their behaviour on the streets and their abnormal appearances had them catching the attention of others, specifically three other super powered youths, around the age of Okolio. Two of these three teenagers, Nolan and Edward, wanted to become vigilante heroes for reasons Tarquin never really understood, and convinced the other three boys to join them in their dumb hero work. The team even was vaguely successful, for a group of stupid kids playing hero. They did actually stop a few crimes here and there. This all ended when a pro hero by the name of Greenfield slaughtered Okolio during one of the kids' 'missions'. Unable to do anything but bear witness to the murder, Tarquin began to think about tracking down the man who killed his brother and getting revenge. The others in his team were unable to get him to come away from this new obsession, and the team as a whole began to come apart at the seams. Eventually, during a particularly nasty argument, Tarquin lost control of his powers, causing severe injury to the self-appointed team leader, Edward. He later died from his injuries, and Tarquin fled. He later joined a school claiming to aid those with powers, hoping to learn to control them. This is where he had his first encounter with the heroes, who had infiltrated the school after a tip off that the school was actually a cover for a group wishing to capture subjects for experimentation, similar to if not the same as the facilities that held Luca or Ruby Dagger. Tarquin himself never learnt their plans, and wasn't at all interested in the deeper secrets of the organisation. He was just there to learn to control his powers. When the chaos kicked off, rather than lend anyone a hand, he used his powers to make a getaway. From that point on, his clashes with the heroes tended to be as a result of him causing trouble, either due to poor power control, committing crimes to survive or as part of his drive to track down Greenfield. Plus, he just now generally had a petty dislike of heroes, so he liked causing them trouble. When he finally did manage to track down his brother's killer, he found himself very ill equip to deal with him or take him down, and came away from the resulting fight badly injured. In moments, it seemed like everything had changed, as Greenfield put a bounty on his head in the underworld and he found himself being hunted. Injured, starving and scared, with nowhere to turn to, in desperation he fled to Circle Headquarters to beg for help. Being good people at their core, the heroes agreed to help him. In time, he agreed to help save others again, and was drafted into a new hero team, where the other heroes on his team could watch over him and make sure he behaves. About Him/Her Personality: Tarquin is a quiet person who finds it difficult to trust others. He wants to see the good in people, but is so used to people baring their worst that it is difficult to see past that. He has low self-esteem due to his poor health and lack of control, and never truly learnt how to deal with his emotions. His powers make him quite sensitive and he finds he is easily upset. Regardless of this, due to his shy nature and lack of trust towards others, Tarquin prefers not to burden others with his concerns or worries, and tries to keep himself to himself. He finds himself often thinking along one train of thought in an almost obsessive nature, and struggles to change focus. Occupation: Hero, crown prince of Death Valley Likes: Shiny things The dark Picture books Plants and animals Photographs and the memories they hold Dislikes: Greasy food Loud and chaotic environments People who try and pry into his personal life Sweet food and smells Himself, probably Hobbies: Sightseeing, learning new things Fears: Death, mostly. Also one time Nolan showed him what Pokemon are. He finds them terrifying and is glad they are only fictional. Due to all the death he sensed at hospitals in his home dimension, he also finds being in and around medical buildings and rooms makes him very uncomfortable. Strength: Tarquin knows his limits well and knows when he can and cannot push himself. His sensory abilities help with stealth and allow him to avoid detection. Weakness: Tends not to mention important information, such as dietary requirements, which leads to his poor health. His inability to trust others causes problems of its own, as does his obsessive personality. He also has poor control over his own powers, which can easily cause him to accidentally harm his own allies. Talents: Tarquin isn't sure what his individual talents are. He's sure everyone has a talent or two, but no-one's ever called him talented for anything involving not using his powers. Appearance Height: 6'3 Cup Size: N/A Skin Tone: Powder blue Eye Color: Blue Hair Description: - Color: Black - Highlights: N/A - Length: Shoulder length - Style: Shaggy, unkempt - Worn: Loose Extra: - Scars: Tarquin's scars are mostly across his arms and torso, and so are most commonly covered by clothing. - Piercings: Nasal stud on the left side. - Tattoos: N/A - Facial Features: As a carnivore, his teeth are very different to those of a human. If they were to be compared to an animal, they would be most like those of a feline. - Scent: Well, his breath probably smells a bit vomity...otherwise I don't normally think about what my characters might smell like. Whatever the others wash his clothes in and whatever body washes are available, tbh, he doesn't care. Then again, tea tree and mint shampoo has a really nice smell to it in his opinion, so maybe that. - Other: Underweight, black claw-like nails. Relationships Father: Crothe Mother: Noth Siblings: An older half-brother named Okolio, and a younger half-sister named Viahar Relatives: Step-mothers Cynthia and Han-Linn Best Friends: Unsure. He supposes he would consider Whisper and Hex to be his closest friends at the moment. He also is very fond of Persephone. Friends: The other members of his team, certainly. Love Interest: Whisper, Persephone (formerly), Lolyo (formerly) Hero Information Code/Hero Name: Shadow Weaver Place of Origin: Death Valley, Shadow Dimension Residence: Australia Affiliations:  Teen Titans, Circle, Hellwing Academy Team Mates: Whisper, Hex, Crayon, Zhen, Astral, Shard, Beacon, Luca (current team) Leo, Lolyo, Demon, Edward (Old team) Mentors: Potentially the members of his previous team would count, as well as the members of his current team. Allies: Circle and Squad. His allies as a villain are probably all gone now. Enemies: The main one is probably Greenfield. He's also pretty sure Nolan has been manipulating him for ages and he's also just made loads of enemies in general. Powers and Abilities: Flight, shadow manipulation, electrokinesis, the ability to open rifts between worlds and the ability to sense lifeforms, but not identify them - for instance, he could tell you a building is occupied, but not if it's occupied by people or vermin. His ability to sense life also doubles as an ability to sense the moment of death. Weapons: None Transportation: Prefers to travel on foot or via his powers, but will travel by vehicles if he must. Extra Information Quotes: "I can't trust them not to hurt you...that's the problem." "We don't need subtle!" Theme Song: Never Turn Back - Crush 40 Food: Beef, beef is good Drink: Plain water Color: Baby blue Animal: Birds Flower: Imperial Hysen, a flower native to his home world. They are a rare, large plant that grow few and far between. Their leaves are small, and of a very pale green colour, and the flowers that grow are large and can come in dark pink or powder blue with layered petals. Season: Spring

[the-suriel-deserved-better]

Thoughts while reading Acowar.

Mind the swearing and spoilers kids. -2 years before the wall? Wait is this like a baby bat Rhys POV? -oh God this field isn't a nice place. Kinda like it tho. - omfg 6 High Fae... 6, to defeat one Illyrian... damn. - Rhys is so protective if his brothers it's killing me. -AGH PART ONE HERE I FUCKING COME. -Yes Feyre, burn this shit. -Already thinking about that wingspan Feyre? Can't blame ya. - Ugh Tamlin no can you not enter this moment just yet. Ugh Lucian I'm fucking watching you. -Oh for Fuck sake I gotta read about Ianthe soon to? -ugh I just want some smut and it's only page nine. -Feyre you can roll your eyes. God knows I am. - Oh hey Ianthe, go Fuck yourself Ianthe. -You definitely revived something from Rhys hands Feyre, but it was far more pleasurable than torture. -Lucian I won't ship you and Elaine. But please, for the love of God, kill Ianthe. -Oh hell fucking ni, Jurian, go fucking Fuck yourself and stay the Fuck away. -Oh snap, Nesta and Elaine already so powerful they can drain the cauldron. -Oh snap, Feyre laying down these facts. Also that's how I spell Miryaim's name. -Feyre you savage. -Jurian, talk about Elaine like that again and I will kill you. -Oh Fuck off Ianthe, I've read enough of you. -Okay Lucian, my heart is softening towards you. -God I missed you Alis. -Damn summer solstice is giving me goosebumps. -Rhys you are giving me life. -Uh Oh, Tamlin's getting jealous of friendship. -YOU FUCKING BURNED THEIR WINGS. -Ahhh Feyre you also cringing about Elaine being fucked by a fire blooded male?? Let me introduce to Azriel. He's far better in my opinion. -All these painting titles... we're they like, working title for Acowar. -Rhysand you get that tongue to work. -Also Tam you prick. -TAMLIN YOU MOTHERFUCKING PRICK HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A WHIPPING. -God Alis, my bae. -Feyre slit her throat. -Yes Feyre Fuck this bitch up. -Oh these twins. Can you fucking not. - Go Lucian Go. -Bring on Part Two. -"He can get in line," Feyre getting a list of people who wanna kill her to rivals Aelins. -Oh for Fuck sake, everything was going so well, until Lucian's brothers showed up. -OMG CASSIAN YOU'RE BACK. -AZRIEL MY CUPCAKE. -"There's no such thing as a High Lady," bitch excuse me. -Cassian you melt my stone cold heart. -Mor my darling. -OMG IT'S HAPPENING, RHYS IS COMING. -Amren, boo. Hru? -Lucian being called a girl, I'm dying -AGH RHYS. -"Go find somewhere else to be," I know what that means. -The smut was worth it. -Oh I missed the banter of my baby bats. -And Rhys' swearing begins. -Cassian sunning his wings. I wonder if a certain Nesta sees. -Cassian trying to be chill around Nesta is my new aesthetic. -Nesta reads romance. Hell Yes. -"You come between a male and his mate, Nesta Archeron, and you're going to learn about the consequences the hard way." Trying to foreshadow something there Cassian? I Ship. -No is mentioning the sorrow and longing in Cassian eyes, Feyre, for the same reason no one mentioned it when Rhys looked at you all those months ago. -Reading about Elaine is painful. -I'm relating to Elaine and all those open curtains too much... shit. -Cassian you're to precious. -I missed the Amren/Cassian banter so much. -Shit Mor is getting pissed. -Feyre keeps calling Rhys mate and I'm feeling bad for the Australian readers. -"Because I can't stay away" well Fuck me if they ain't mates. -Nesta looking as Cassian like he's the only one in the room. -Damn right there was a reason Lucian wore a fox mask. -Idk what to write but the nessian at pg.203. gahhhhhhh. -"Surely Nesta wasn't anything he couldn't handle," omfg Feyre, it's hilarious of you to think that. -Feyre were you not there for Acomaf. He was very clearly, cocky then. -Library sex? I'm in. -oh, so no library sex. -To the Bone Carver we go. RIP. -Oh so, the Carver, and the Wearer are- I'd be shocked only I read that spoiler. -Oh so the Carver is a mirror type of perosn? What even is a mirror person? Is it his kink? -Oh Nesta having death powers. -Feyre constantly calling Rhys mate tho. -Tbh all I wanna know is who or what the carver appeared to Cassian. -Everyone in this book be complementing Rhys good taste. -Ah Az and Elaine be starting. Az be carrying his ship. -Poor Cassian. Nesta will come around, I promise, I read the spoiler. -YES AZRIEL SHOW HER THE GARDEN. I'VE READ THIS SPOILER PAGE SO MUCH AND NOW IT'S MINE. -You know, I wrote a fanfiction about Az and Elaine in a garden and her calling his scars pretty. They kissed in it. -"Azriel isn't the ravishing type," Rhys you should read the fanfic I wrote about him. He loves to ravish. -omg Cassian calming Nesta- ugh how many more pages until this kiss? -Az, sunning your wings for Elaine? How scandalous. -"Why not make them mates?" Feyre babe I'm asking the same question. -FEYRE YOU SHIP ELRIEL TOO? Oh sweetie I love you more than Cassian rn. -Rhysand, let Feyre play matchmaker. -I was about to bash Kier for insulting Az, but Az got this shit. -Oh not this fucking Eris bitch again. -Rhys the Fuck you playing at? -Okay, ngl I know Mor is gay but those Eris know? Ffs. -Okay everyone is fighting and I'm more intrigued than I should be. -D'as Nessian. -Double d'aw Elriel. -Pg.303 and back to sassy Az. -Sassy Az KS giving me life. -It was at page 306 that I realised I was in love with Az. -Nephelle's be giving me goosebumps. -Yes bathtub scent with Rhys. -Oh it's actually a massage scene? I'm in. -Feyre are you trying to start a war? Cassian flying with Nesta. Dammit who am I kidding I wanna see that. -Yes Az, help Elaine in the garden. I am sailing this ship. -Nesta watching Cassian lick his fingers and I'm like, now imagine that kissing elsewhere. -Nes? I ship. -Some shit happening in the library. -ohhhh so we finally reached the part where people wonder if Elaine is a seer. -Yes Feyre, put Elaine's riddles together. -Okay that scene was intense but Nessian at the end was calming. -"Amren on the hunt," a novel by sjm. -Damn Az, took you awhile but bravo, she's a seer. God it couldn't be any easier to love you. -Lucian I swear to God if you die, looking for this sixth queen, I will kill you. -Also where is my Suriel. -Shit Alis don't die. -oh FFS, look, "king" of Hybren, old buddy. If you'd kindly fuck off. Only it's late, I don't need these plot twists. -Look, "King," I'd pay good money to see you try and take Feyre. -Rhys if you could destroy my upcoming exams the way you did those ships, I'd be grateful. -pg.379, more smut, hell yes. -pg.381, Nesta all concerned. -The amount of sex feysand are having. That wingspan must be truly impress you Feyre darling. -So Cassian is terrible at complements. -Ah yes boys, bringing up that wingspan again. -This Nessian tho. -"she threatened to freeze my balls off," Kallias, Viviane, welcome to my heart. -I'm in love with Viviane. -God sake, Tamlin Fuck off. -Tamlin, let me tell you, Rhys and Feyre have fucked so much I'm sure he could recount every noise she is capable of making. -Fucking shut up Tamlin. -Eris if you'd kindly shut the Fuck up too, it'd be a pleasure. -Pg.438, Nesta, damn, *blows kisses.* -nvm of 439, Go Feyre. Slay. -Helion.... wait... look I can't go around loving all these people. It makes me look like I have a heart. -You know I'd be surprised at Lucian being a whole, some air of dawn court, but I already read that spoiler. -Okay mor is gay why is- you know what, never mind, I give up. -Oh. Oh Fuck. -lol, I'm so tired, whenever I hear the wall mentioned all I can think of is humpty dumpty. -"Don't even start," Nesta, sweetie, we've been shipping this since the last book. -Part three here I come. -btw this is still the same day for me. I've read up to part three in a few hours. It's two in the morning. Never underestimate a fangirl deprived of her smut. -Jurian just has to show up, doesn't he. -idk who I am to believe anymore. -I wanna say Fuck this shit I'm out. But I am so in. -So am I meant to trust Jurian or not. -Damn Tarquin. -Nessian will kill me quicker than these plot twists. -Ayyy more shut, god I love you Sarah. -Yes, the Suriel is coming into play bitches. I'd been surprised by what happens only I've seen this spoiler too. -Okay first thing first, Ianthe please Fuck off Secondly rip Suriel 2K17. -Cassian what happened. Nesta please. I know the ending and shit but tf happened. -Feyre be joining up these dots about which way Mor floats. -This, Varian, Amren thing, yeah I'd like another five books of it. -Awww, Az, you're to sweet and selfless. -I'm so tired IDK how to feel anymore. -Oh greatttt, Feyre got hit with an arrow. Any more plot twists. -Wait Tamlin? Fuck, ugh. -d'aw, Elaine kissed his cheek. -it's four in the morning. I have less than one hundred pages left. -Shit. -Fucking hell Elaine stab them bastard. -Also Nessian hell yes. -Also...wait what's happening. -Rhysand you fucking bastard it's five in the morning don't do this to me. I know you live god dammit don't fucking do this. -oh thank fuck that's all settled. -This book. These plot twists. These ships. It's all so heart wrenching and shit. -Wait is she flying over Velaris in her lingerie. -Fuck it's half five in the morning. I read this book in under 24 hours. I need to sleep. *hours later* -omfg I need to read this shit again. It was so good. The High Lords, the banter, the near death experiences. The romance. The sass. Sarah you queen. -if the at least the novellas don't have nessian or Elriel tho I may be tempted to cry. And that, my friends, is a snippet of the roller coaster if thoughts and emotions I went through. I was too tired to cry during it but my heart was successfully ripped out a few times.

[birdiethebibliophile]

Ratings and Recs:  Lucien Ships

Lucien/Cassian (Lussian):  Adorable af. Lucien being sad and Cassian helping him sort out his feelings and cooking him food. Bonus points if they’re mates (ehehehe be on the lookout for this fic from me). Domestic fluff prime material. 15/10. Fic:  @squaddreamcourt​‘s  While We Spoke of Many Things and  A Court of Stars and Fire, @hazelestelle​‘s Infatuation, my drabbles Never Alone and A Spoonful of Sugar, and my Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed.

Lucien/Rhysand (Rhycien):  The Young Lucien Angst ship - which means this only works when both boys are young and dramatic (versus old and dramatic). Extra points for Rhys shamelessly seducing a Lucien who is trying his best to resist and 100% fails. 13/10. Fic: @pterodactylichexameter drabble here, @valamerys​‘s Insufferable and Not That Straight, and my In Passing.

Lucien/Elain (Elucien):  Could be soft and fluffy or could be pretty hardcore kinky (looking at @valamerys​ and @squaddreamcourt​). Flowers + sunlight. Good ship for a fem!Lucien, as well as High Lord! either of them. Honestly, so many different directions this ship could go. 9/10 for variety and possible canon results. Fic:  pretty much all of @valamerys‘s stuff... there’s so many for this ship I can’t link them all. There’s also some good ones by @illyrianazriel, @pterodactylichexameter, and @sarahviehmann. Also, @cass-ian has one of the only fem!Lucien fics I’ve seen here plus a fantastic flowershop!AU, Bright as a Flame, Soft as a Rose.

Lucien/Feyre (Feycien):  Can only ship pre-ACOMAF, but a very good ship all the same. Lends itself towards angst and smut. Bonus points for pissing off Tamlin. 7.5/10. Fic:  @valamerys‘s Sequistrialis, @squaddreamcourt‘s  Mirrors Do Not Have Mercy (She Least of All), @abookandacoffee‘s We Become Our Needs, @illyrianazriel‘s In the Shelter of Your Arms and Under a Darkening Sky.

Lucien/Azriel (Luzriel):  The angstiest possible Lucien ship. Very serious, can be very kinky, definite possibility of casual relationship. Two Sad Abused Boys trying to drown their own trauma and darkness in each other’s. 10/10 for extreme angst. Fic:  @illyrianazriel‘s Shadow Fire, my In the Eye of the Beholder, @valamerys‘s Doves and Ravens Fly the Same.

Lucien/Tamlin (doesn’t have a ship name and shouldn’t):  Terrible, abusive, one-sided, and pretty much canon compliant. Points for that as well as for Lucien being really sad, because, you know, he is. 5/10. Fic:  @squaddreamcourt‘s  The Wax Between His Feathers and my A Fox in a Trap.

Lucien/Ianthe:  As bad as the previous one is, this one’s about a hundred times worse than that. 0/10. Fic:  @squaddreamcourt‘s Whilst The High Lady Was Away.

Lucien/Kallias (Kallucien):  The fluffy Young Lucien ship. Good chemistry character-wise, foxes, both Lucien and Kallias being happy and away from their families. 7/10 for adorableness. Fic:  I don’t think there’s any written yet, but I’m working on one. Also there’s @escapingtheconstrictingboxes‘s moodboard here.

Lucien/Tarquin (Luquin or Tarcien, idk which):  Two very dutiful courtiers getting each other to loosen up. Tarquin’s optimism versus Lucien’s experience. I always imagine long days at the beach (my poor ginger baby gets very sunburned, “golden-brown” skin ain’t got nothing on the Summer Court’s sun), tickle fights, and both of them working on getting lesser faeries the rights they deserve. 8/10. Fic:  as far as I know all the fic that exists so far is my drabble Salt and Steam. (Technically a brotp. We all know it isn’t really.)

Lucien/Andras (Landras):  Both adorable and hella sad. Mostly involves Lucien not admitting his feelings and being devastated after Andras dies. Headcanons galore, but most fic is looking back at their relationship. 8/10. Fic:  @sarahviehmann‘s Foxeye, @squaddreamcourt‘s  The Wax Between His Feathers.

Lucien/Andras/Elain (Elandras):  Since all this takes place in an AU where Andras doesn’t die, it’s about a hundred times more adorable than the previous one. Some shippers (myself included) have come to the consensus that Andras is absolutely gay, and it totally works for this ship (check this page with @pterodactylichexameter and @illyrianazriel). A fabulous ship for kidfic and domestic fluff. 12/10 for everything being happy. Fic:  @squaddreamcourt‘s Old Lovers Born Anew, @illyrianazriel‘s drabble here, my  A Bloody Love.

Lucien/Cassian/Azriel (Caluzriel or something):  Bat boys teaching pumpkin prince how to be a warrior. Cassian taking care of his Sad Boyfriends. Lends itself equally to fluff and smut. 7/10. Fic:  @squaddreamcourt‘s Initiation.

Lucien/Elain/Azriel (Eluciel):  The obvious solution to all shipping wars. Elain helps her boyfriends get their heads on straight because yeah, they’re all in love with each other, this works out. Both majorly fluffy and majorly kinky. Bonus points for mutual pining with Lucien and Az. 10/10. Fic:  @pterodactylichexameter‘s drabble here, @squaddreamcourt‘s The Sandwoman, and @cass-ian has a fantastic WIP in the works for this ship, so keep a lookout!

Lucien/Kallias/Viviane (Kalluciane):  Because Kallias and Viviane’s story is really sweet but I want to ship Kallias with Lucien. I think it would work. 7/10 for who knows how this would be, really. Fic:  I don’t think anyone’s even considered this before, so there’s absolutely nothing.

Lucien/Elain/Tarquin (Eluquin):  Summertime and the living is easy... basically the most relaxed, easy-going Lucien ship. Lots of happiness and softness, fluff and smut galore. 11/10 for the aesthetic of at least 5 of the 7 Courts in one ship. Fic:  no actual fic, but there’s a fantastic headcanon post here by @cataclysmic-star!

Lucien/Feyre/Rhysand (Feyrhycien):  Plays on how loyal Lucien is in a really good way. Bonus points for neither of them being an absolute dick to him like they were for most of ACOWAR. 9/10. Fic:  @squaddreamcourt‘s  To Kneel Before The Night.

Lucien/Rhysand/Tamlin (Lusandin):  I have no words for this. It’s all Harry’s fault, honestly. As most of these ships are. But this one more than most. ???/10. Fic:  @squaddreamcourt‘s  When In Rome.

[moiraineswife]

FORTY FUCKING SEVEN

47) Do you have any f/f or m/m ships?

Funny you should ask Alicia....

I’m gonna section this off because like Organisation.

F/F:

Right, first off, if they’re not related, and they’re ladies....assume I ship them in some capacity okay. But my faves...

ToG:

Manon/Elide: my main ladies forever lowkey sad/bitter that they aren’t canon. QoS is still the gayest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life okay. The tower rescue scene was...everything. And Abraxos loves her too??? And so does Asterin? And they both drive so much of each other’s character development and fulfil so many of each other’s needs and I just *never stops screaming about malide*

Aelin/Manon: I feel like this should be self-explanatory like...u did witness that one scene in QoS did you not???  You know the one.

Aelin/Lysandra: also...self-explanatory.

Lysandra/Nesryn: LOOK THIS ONE IS REALLY ADORABLE OKAY??? and there’s fanart for it that’s forever branded into my mind because it too is adorable. Like there’s that one scene in QoS where Nesryn escorts Lys home and looks after her and I’m just like...yep that’ll do. But also it’d be cute?? Lysandra dressing Nesryn up in all these really fancy dresses and Nesryn just being -_- but doing it anyway because it makes Lys happy. Lys watching Nesryn train and just...drooling a little bit. Ladies being SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE OTHERS WANTS AND NEEDS THERE IS NO JUDGEMENT THERE IS ONLY SUPPORT. and really good sex.

mmm those are my main ToG ones (I’m probably missing sixteen different things but anyways)

ACOTAR:

ehehehhehe *rubs hands together with glee*

Mor/Nesta: tbh if you’ve been following me for any length of time and you don’t know I’m trash for this ship...well how??? I’ve written like...bucketloads of sin for them I mean? Also like, speaking of that sin this ship started as a vague hmm okay this might be kinda fun musing and turned into....domestic wives. because like..if you don’t need domestic, happily married mesta in your life then you’re doing it wrong okay you just are. they’re beautiful. tiny fierce hellcat and her court of nightmares princess it’s LITERALLY EVERYTHING. They balance each other out really well too? Mor’s composed fire and Nesta’s wild ice. But they both have a lot in common too? I think they’re actually both pretty reserved, for all that Mor wears her heart on her sleeve that doesn’t mean she lets anyone know her or truly lets them in or trust them. And Nesta is trapped behind a bigger wall of ice than Jon Snow and I just *sobs* love them opening up to one another and trusting one another and just fiercely defending the other against any man who dares look at them the wrong way. Also really hot sex. Like that’s just a given. 

Mor/Elain: this one is @pterodactylichexameter‘s fault (most of these are your fault too, you know this Alicia) and it’s one of those things I just...enjoy any which way really? I just like them spending time together it’s really sweet? They just get on, there’s no drama, there’s no upset everything is just happy and mellow and nice and it’s lovely. (Except for when Elain ties Mor up in bed but you know, that’s a different story. Ahem) Please imagine morain as roommates though (Alicia this one’s your fault too) and sleepy Elain, hopeless gardener Mor (really, she’s terrible, Elain despairs) and holding hands and lazy morning sex, and colour-coordinated outfits okay. And giggly slow-dancing at Rita’s and eskimo kisses and just THEY’RE DRIPPING WITH SWEETNESS YET SOMEHOW I ALWAYS WANT MORE. (bonus consideration: Mor/Lucien/Elain ot3. Because. Mhm. I have many ot3s. Except more bonuses. They’re great fun.) 

Mor/Feyre: what you should be getting from this so far is that Mor is bi af. Ahem, for the most part I will admit that I sorta prefer this one as platonic actually? They have...such a deep meaningful friendship and it’s beautiful? but at the same time I just cannot ignore the fact that the first time Feyre sees Mor she just....yep, this is Rhys’s female equivalent in the looks department....Not your most heterosexual thought ever, Feyre darling.  

Listen, there aren’t enough non-related ladies in this thing for me to happily ship it’s very upsetting. (ie we’re now moving on to the dudes) 

M/M: 

ToG: 

Chaol/Aedion: Look, I can’t re-read HoF and not ship Chaol and Aedion I just can’t. (Also they’re both bi af so that helps) but it just. look HoF does all my explaining for me just like re-read it with a Chaedion lens, you’ll have a lot more fun I promise. 

Rowan/Gavriel: listen, my first thought when Gavriel appeared (and Aelin’s first thought too god bless you child) was: okay so this is gay. I never quite got over that. Also I refuse to believe that these two were like...emotionally and dramatically tattooing each other for the past century, half naked, in a small space with one another and things never got steamy I just don’t okay. I’m not letting go of this hc. You can’t make me.  

...this is apparently all I can think of for ToG. Which is sad. I need to pull up my ship socks. Moving on. 

ACOTAR: 

oh boy...brace yourselves. 

Lucien/Andras: my boys, my sweet boys, my prince, my sentry, my fox, my wolf, MY SONS. I’ve waffled about these two before but they just have...a truly wonderful dynamic. Because Andras in all his chill, affable, unflappable, loyal, wondrous glory is the only one who can deal with Lucien when he is young...and even more of a little prick than he is currently. And they’re dripping in angst which appeals to me as well (why do I always get attached to ships that are literally dead before we even meet them....Don’t answer that I know why) we could be here for some time if I go into details so I will just..move on. (Also, please read the scene where Lucien finds out Andras is dead with the idea that he was secretly in love with him...makes everything ten times more painful and make much more sense) (double bonus: please consider the world’s most pure and adorable ot3: Lucien/Elain/Andras) 

Lucien/Rhys: hehehehehhe I love this ship. I’ve lowkey loved this ship There’s just...nothing heterosexual about their first scene together in ACOTAR. Nothing. At all. And these two have a History with one another. Also it’s just like snark to the power of twenty. really hot sex. and angst. what’s not to like??? (mega double bonus points: Feyre/Rhys/Lucien....don’t....get me started...on that ship. just. don’t. just take my word for it that it’s MAGICAL) 

Lucien/Tarquin: shout out to @valamerys she gets full credit for this one I’m just putting it on here because I really like it toooo. 

Bonus OT3s: 

because this is where the real magic happens let’s be honest. I’m just going to mash all of these together. 

Chaol/Nesryn/Dorian: I don’t really ship Chaol and Dorian on their own (romantically) as it happens. But fling a little Nesryn in there and I’m sold. Just...the image of Nesryn having these two boys wrapped around her little finger is...too delicious not to ship.  

Mor/Dorian/Azriel: (Alicia’s fault tooooo...just assume everything from here on out is Alicia’s fault. also if you haven’t read Alicia’s doriel fic a)- you have not lived b)-do that now) Dorian would 10000% fall into a foreign kingdom, find the two hottest people around and proceed to have incredible sex with them this thing writes itself tbh.  

Lucien/Aedion/Elain: this is like the mother of all cross-over ships okay. (And mine and Alicia’s favourite child. you shouldn’t have favourites. but we do) Elain with these two towering males attending to her every want and whim is...something special. And Aedion and Lucien have enough fire themselves to be able to handle the other. And they just work...incredibly well when you write them, they flow very nicely. Bit more emotional than doriel toooo these three would definitely set up house together and go the whole hog of just becoming a happy little poly amorous unit. This mostly consists of Elain bossing the two of them around and them waiting on her hand and foot and being delighted to do this. 

Lucien/Andras/Elain: look I’m aware I already mentioned this lot but they are Special and they needed to be mentioned again okay. Andras is gay af but that isn’t stopping them, he and Elain still very much love each other and work together very well (they’re a nice little....moment of peace amidst the chaotic hurricane that being with Lucien always is. they take nice quiet walks around the gardens...and Elain enjoys sitting with wolf!Andras to watch over her while she reads outside) And the three of them together just balance and work so well??? it’s beautiful and just THEY’RE SO PURE. THE PUREST OF PURE. *starts sobbing over the twenty ‘Andras lives’ AUs we have so far composed*  

...I think I’m going to end on that beautiful, pure note. there is no topping Elandras. 

[torentialtribute]

Incoming Bath boss Stuart Hooper insists he is prepared to back himself against Bath’s owners 

As a schoolboy, Stuart Hooper spent most of his time doing three things: studying, playing rugby and picking turnips.

Growing up in the Devon countryside, he failed to make ends meet when he was given his first job by the local farmer.

"I remember expecting £ 20 or so at the end of my first day but the farmer paid me with four turnips!" he recalls.

Stuart Hooper believes his experiences outside of rugby will help him succeed at Bath

Hooper picked turnips for four years, until he was offered his first rugby contract as an 18-year-old.

His calling was elsewhere and he never looked back. He became a respected clubman with Leeds, Saracens and Bath, although his medal collection was thin and never played for England.

That's partly why his appointment as Bath's director of rugby – due to be announced this week – has come as a surprise to many. When asked how it all happened, Hooper turns back the clock to those turnip-picking days and a PE project which earned him an A grade in his GCSEs.

'It was 1996 and I did this school project about the impact of rugby clubs turning professional, 'he explains. 'I wrote a letter to every club in the Premiership and Bath were the only club that wrote back. I wish I could find the letter now because, from that day, I became a Bath supporter.

'During my career, I was lucky enough to captain Bath for five years. That was pretty special but I was never going to be the best player. I don't have any regrets about my career, but I never won the Premiership, I was never capped by England and I always felt like I could give a bit more.

'What I was good at was getting the best out of those around me. My motivation these days is to achieve what I didn't achieve as a player. When I got to the twilight years, I started to think about what I can do to help this club be great again. Now, it's just getting to the starting line. "

Bath's incoming director of rugby spoke exclusively to Sportsmail's Nik Simon

Type Hooper's name into YouTube and there are no big highlights reels. One of his standout performances was as a youngster at Leeds, when he set out to get under Martin Johnson's skin for 80 minutes – making a statement by refusing to be intimidated by the World Cup winner.

His recently-renovated home on the outskirts of Bath, where he lives with his wife, Kate, and their four boys, Max, Alfie, Jonty and Oliver, has no photographs and shrining his playing days.

"I've been a rugby player but that's not my identity," he adds.

Now Hooper is ready to redefine himself as a coach. His appointment has come a year early following the surprise departure of Todd Blackadder.

Hooper captained Bath for five years from the second row and has a long association

Aged 37, he will be the youngest director of rugby in the Premiership and he will need to draw on every drop of youthful exuberance and anti-Johnno resistance. He has completed a degree in business management and leading by example, he is already known for arriving at his office at Farleigh House by 6.30am.

But many people have already written him off. Comparisons have been made with Nick Kennedy, whose youthful London Irish tenure was short lived.

Doomed for failure? Questions asked about Hope's authority to lead one of England's biggest clubs but Leo Cullen, with Leinster, has shown that it can be done. And Hooper has faith that his formula can end Bath's trophy drought.

"People are entitled to say that I am too young but I have absolute belief in what we are doing," says Hooper, who will oversee a coaching team including Neal Hatley, Andy Rock, Luke Charteris and Girvan Dempsey. "I'll be DoR and there'll be a group of flat-level coaches that will evolve over time.

" In previous years, we've followed a model where someone comes in, you throw them the keys and say "crack on". By 2023, we're determined that 50% of our first team will be home grown. My motivation is about having people who genuinely care and home-grown players give you a really good foundation who grow together, evolve together, are vulnerable together and strong together.

'We're starting to get a real solid core of people here: Nathan Catt, Tom Dunn, Charlie Ewels, Tom Ellis and Zach Mercer all came through the academy. Then you've got people like Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph and Beno Obano who are all really entrenched in the Bath way. '

Hooper is confident in Bath's vision to promote more homegrown players into the team

But what is the Bath way? In recent years, the club has become accustomed to frustration, inconsistency, a lack of silverware and rumors or interference and discontent behind the scenes. Blackadder has been unable to end the trophy drought but Hooper paid thanks to his rebuilding work as the Kiwi prepares to bid farewell to the Rec after today's game against Wasps.

'Todd's a quality guy who came in and did a fate of repairing jobs, "says Hooper. 'We'd finished a few days before he came in through a season where we'd had a few ups and downs with a difficult group. The Sam Burgess stuff gets overplayed but that was just one of the things that happened that year and, ultimately, we didn't perform. One of the big things that underpins a sports team is that feeling of togetherness. Todd came in and started to repair some faith.

'Now I talk to the guys about 10,080 minutes. There is 10,080 minutes in the week and 80 or those is the game. That 80 minutes is just our show time. The supporters see 80 minutes, which is cool, but we need to maximize the other 10,000 minutes. We don't want to be scrapping for fourth place at the end of the season. We want to be first with a home semi-final. May is when we want to go to work… not go on holiday. ”

Hooper praised his predecessor Todd Blackadder for his work as head coach at Bath

The true extent of Blackadder's repair job is yet to be seen. He was a popular figure among the players but some say that he was treated poorly by the club's hierarchy. Others feel that it was too nice to call out any meddling behind his back.

Such feelings were reflected when the players bought a mug engraved with 'My Boss is a ****' – aimed at owner Bruce Craig and CEO Tarquin McDonald. Hooper, however, insists that he is ready to stand his ground in his new terrain.

"For me, it is a very, very positive dynamic," he says.

"You never get respect as a leader by just doing what people think you should do. It's about believing in something, having an opinion and standing up for it. The playing group, me Tarquin, Bruce are all heading in the same direction but that doesn't mean we agree on every point every day.

We have to challenge, to fall out and find the best decision for the club. It's not about what's best for me, what's best for Tarquin, what's best for Bruce, what's best for the players. It's about what's best for Bath rugby. The relationship with those guys is part of the club. Standing up to them is part of the job. The players standing up to me is part of the job.

'I didn't know about the mosquito but we can always work on the environment. Have we got the absolute environment do we need to win the Premiership? No. We need to work on it daily. It's a big group of guys so it's complex and evolving.

'Have we got work to do on our environment? For sure. Exeter have been on a real journey and they've been successful. We're not Exeter or Saracens … We're Bath. We're very confident in the way we want to do it but we do have work to do. We've got a lot of work to do, for sure. ' img-share "/>

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