#The Map of Bones

[unicorn-in-stars]

"Hope was not a decision I made. It was stubborn reflex. The body squirming towards the air. The taking of the next breath, and the one after that." - Francesca Haig, The Map of Bones

[bookliteratibookreviews]

The Map of Bones (Joubert Family Chronicles Book 4) by Kate Mosse

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mantle; Main Market edition (10 Oct. 2024)Language ‏ : ‎ EnglishHardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pagesISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1035042150ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1035042159 Book Blurb Olifantshoek, Southern Africa, 1688. When the violent Cape wind blows from the south-east, they say the voices of the unquiet dead can be heard whispering through the deserted valley. Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee from…

[undercover-grisha]

Leigh Bardugo: “Yeah so this country is like old timey magical Russia and Siberia and somewhat a little tiny bit central Asian, so that’s pretty cool. We’ll spend three books on this one country and culture.”

Leigh Bardugo: “And this one is… uh… the rest of Asia. Except India!”

Leigh Bardugo: “India is in this nomadic culture of people over here, or there, or over there. Also they’re Romani too.”

Leigh Bardugo: “Yeah and up here is Scandinavia. Just… all that. And Catholicism. Catholic Viking Nazis up here.”

Leigh Bardugo: “And then here’s New York/Amsterdam/London.”

Leigh Bardugo: “And here’s the frontier. It’s the biggest country but all we know about it is some part has ‘the frontier’ and there was maybe a war at some point and this is where all the black people come from.”

Leigh Bardugo: “And of course we have the Colonies. Whose colonies? Dunno. Pineapple and mango come from there, but I’m not gonna say it’s South/ Central American or Caribbean even tho it… definitely is.”

Leigh Bardugo: “And here’s IreScotland!”

[lupinsversion]

𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐒𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐲

• summary: when james is feeling a bit too needy, he decides to take a risk with reader.

• a/n: i’m bored and it’s thundering and all peaceful, so here’s a small bit of james’ smut to tuck you into bed tonight ;)

• contains: james potter x fem reader, established relationship, public sex, p in v, quickie, mentions of cum

• word count: 1.2k

masterlist || requests

It was a rare, free period at Hogwarts, and students were taking advantage of the beautiful weather, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. James, however, was experiencing a different kind of neediness. He found himself walking around the grounds, his thoughts drifting to his girlfriend and the desire to be close to her. His eyes scanned the surroundings until they landed on a small, secluded corner, shielded from the main pathways.

A sly, mischievous smile spread across his face as his eyes landed on that secluded corner. It was a bit risky, but the allure of feeling her body against his, the need to be close to her despite the potential of getting caught, was too strong to resist.

She was sitting on the cool grass, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine on her skin, when she felt a familiar presence approach her. She looked up to find James wearing a mischievous grin on his handsome face. He wordlessly gestured to the secluded corner, and she followed his gaze, her face heating up as she realized what he had in mind.

She should’ve been concerned about the potential of being caught, but the look in his eyes, the way his voice held a hint of desire and mischief, all but silenced any protests she might have. She allowed him to lead her to the secluded corner, her heart pounding in her chest with a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

Once they were safely shielded by the foliage of the corner, he pulled her closer to him, his hands finding their way to her hips as he pressed her against the wall. His eyes darkened as he looked at her, and he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "You don’t know how badly I need you right now."

She felt a shiver run down her spine at his words, the heat of his breath against her skin, the tightening on her hips, all fanning the flames of her own desire for him. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feel of his body pressed against hers, before looking up at him with a sly smile. "Do I even want to know why you’re feeling so... needy?" She teased.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he looked down at her, his gaze darkening even further with lust. "Perhaps it's the weather, perhaps it's the thrill of the danger," he murmured, his hands gently roaming the curves of her body, his fingers tracing the edge of her skirt. "Or perhaps it's just the fact that you're standing here, looking all beautiful and radiant, and I can't help but want to be as close to you as physically possible."

With a sudden, swift movement, he shifted her stance, making her legs spread wider. His body was pressed tightly against hers, his breath coming out in a low, strained pant as he leaned in to whisper in her ear once more. "You have no idea how much I want you right now," he growled, his hands moving to her legs, gently but firmly pushing her skirt up.

His hands continued to move up her thighs, his fingers gently caressing her skin as he hitched her skirt slightly higher. He kept his movements quick, his breath coming out in short, ragged puffs as his mind was focused on the main goal. Once he had her skirt pushed up just enough, he quickly fumbled with his own trousers, unbuttoning them and pulling them down just enough to allow him the access he desired.

His breath hitched for a moment as he realized she had no underwear on, his eyes widening in surprise and excitement. He let out a low, guttural growl, his hands gripping her hips even tighter as he pulled her body flush against his.

His desire for her was palpable, a burning need that coursed through his veins like fire. Without wasting another moment, he pressed himself against her, his body enveloping hers as he claimed her mouth in a rough, desperate kiss.

He felt a rush of heat and pleasure as he pressed himself against her, his body molded to hers in a perfect fit. With one swift movement, he was stretching her walls with his length.

She let out a soft gasp, her body arching slightly, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders for support. The feel of him inside her was intense and overwhelming, making her head spin with a mix of pleasure and satisfaction. Despite the danger of being caught, her mind betrayed her, her body responding to his every touch and kiss with a fierce need of its own. She arched against him, her body meeting his with a fervor that matched his own.

She could feel the tension coiled within her, the need to let go and surrender completely to the sensations that were flooding her senses. The thought of getting caught was an afterthought, overshadowed by the overwhelming need to be as close to him as possible in this moment.

His movements were fast and urgent, his hands roaming over her body, seeking to touch and claim every inch of her. His kisses were fierce and possessive, his lips leaving a trail of heat on her skin. The sound of their gasps and moans were muted by the foliage around them, the risk of being caught adding an extra thrill to the whole experience.

Her mind was blank, consumed by the pleasure and the overwhelming need for him. She felt his body moving against hers, his breath hot and ragged on her neck, and all she could do was cling to him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as her body responded to his every touch.

The world outside the small corner faded away, their surroundings reducing to mere blurs as they lost themselves in each other. The urgency of their need and the excitement of being caught pushed them closer to what they both needed most.

Every touch, every kiss, every movement, was laced with a sense of urgency. It pushed his movements to the very end, his thrusts growing sloppier as her tiny whimpers seem to grow in his ear. With one last deep thrust, he filled her with the most reliving sigh coming from his lips. They stayed close for a moment, foreheads touching before he pulled out, quickly fixing their clothing back to normal.

They stood there for a moment, catching their breaths, hearts pounding in their chests. The sounds of the world around them slowly filtered back into their awareness. But in that moment, all they could think about was the aftermath of their quick, intense encounter.

He let out a ragged breath as he leaned back against the wall, his chest heaving from the exertion. He ran a hand through his messy hair, still trying to regain his bearings. He looked at her for a moment, a mix of amusement, satisfaction, and relief on his face. "That was..." he trailed off, unable to find the words to describe what had just happened between them.

“Risky.” She finished for him in a breathless laugh.

He chuckled at her blunt but accurate description. "That's one way to put it."

He pushed away from the wall, slowly stalking towards her with a wicked gleam in his eyes. He reached out a hand and gently traced her bottom lip with his thumb, his tone dripping with mischief.

"You know, I'm going to enjoy the thought of you walking through the rest of the day, knowing that you've got a piece of me dripping inside you every time you move..."

© lupinsversion 2024

[anonbeadraws]

More Confluence work! Filling an entire coast with strange and wonderful things takes a fair amount! Cities built under opalised whale bones, geodesic domes that study the rainbow soil and the great floating market where you can get anything for a price! And some folks you might get to meet (love to know your favourite!) Find out more on our twitter, we love hearing from you! All work is mine!

[smokefalls]

I am beginning / to see the body as a well / and your absence as a thirst / that pushes its hands / down my throat, lifts the bucket, / drinks and drinks.

Sara Eliza Johnson, "Letter from the Ice Field, December" from Bone Map

[the-sunlit-earth]

a lot of clipping to fix, but hey I got it moving at least! I'll get the Telvanni robe properly physic'd if it's the last thing I do >:0

[elf-simp]

Respite/Return.

[2minutetabletop]

The Monster Bone Map Assets

Just one of these monster bones assets will reshape a battle map, and we’ve got over 200! What sort of encounter do they inspire, GM? :)

→ Download them here!

[ganondoodle]

(idk if anyone wants to keep hearing my opinions on totk book stuff but-)

apparently it says that rauru DID have kids, multiple even, which yeah... is kinda necessary for zelda to even be connected to them so much so that sonia can SENSE a blood connection (which, even with all the excuses with magic, is just a little too far for me to suspend my disbelief bc its over, OVER, ten thousand years worth of generations that seperate her from them that one lil touch of the hand can sense that (feels more like an attempt to make you care about them or .. see them as zeldas "better" parents just bc they exchange a few nice words, i never got the feeling they were 'better' parents and its also kinda disrespectful to her actual parents, like sure rhoam wasnt the best but i wouldnt call rauru better just bc he was polite)- i could see maybe the light power of hylia or sth but since its the coolest dude that ever lived rauru now that had it which still doesnt make sense and makes me unreasonably annoyed and she can sense BOTH of their powers in her? nah) the fact theres NOTHING about them in the game itself is just so ... no way they planned any of this

i dont think theres anything they can do or say that wont make be believe they either

are making it up alla 'fix it in post' mentality trying to hastily explain stuff the game never bothers to do to try and appease fans or let it appear as if they thought about it at all

something went really REALLY wrong during development, which kinda seems likely given how the game turned out (im sorry i cannot let go, its not just the writing, the game design too and how little was changed in the map while being so damn expensive, i dont know how people dont feel scammed q_q)

given that they (allegedly) spent the last entire year of development on polish (where??? where????? huh??? like it would make it more understandable (EXCEPT for the price) if there was alot of trouble, which was also bc it got delayed and ... turned out like this, but they dont want to say it, especially given their reputation, with that quote i have heard way too many times 'a delayed game blah blah') i just??

are they just gonna go and do it like they did with kashiwa (kass)? "they uuuh where flying around the whole time ony cool sonau tech maschines, you just dont see or hear from them ooooorrr they were uuuuh out of the country at the time" (sending invitations to other continents to join their glorious kingdom ;) )

(bet they are also gonna say they did all the stuff like ... moving the shrines around (lol?) and lifting the islands up into the sky- which is still weird bc ... didnt they also say they were living in the sky before coming to the surface?? so where?? did they park all their islands on the surface and the mystery kids had the keys so they had to repark them back into the sky after they returned off camera?? xD also why are the islands so different as an environment if they where from the surface? like even the STONE up there is different- and if they were first in the sky then on the surface and the nback in the sky .. why is there not a single yellow tree or grass in the past- you cant really argue that it changed bc they were up there so long bc .. nothing else changed, the suddendly and totally always there sonau buildings are largely in prime condition, only some slightly moldy, and what we see of the glorious past looks barely any different from the present, aside from like ... some standard trees shuffled, no castle yet and that glowy uwu filter DESPITE that stupidly long time frame between it)

[jackie4dinner]

I go rabid for fanart/ fics that give Remus mobility aids. Grahhhh yes give him crutches!!!!! He would be so against using them but I don’t care!!! Sirius would make him, especially on particularly hard days.

[wewere-here]

if Evacuate The Dancefloor by Cascada doesn’t get used for a Night Wanderlust map I might sue tbh

[bonefall]

You've redid the lake before, so out of curiosity, if you could change anything about the forest territories, what would you change? I actually find the Clans MORE seperated at the forest because of the gorge, road, and river in the way. The only actual space debatable on who it belonged to was sunningrocks as far as I remember

I do have my changes for the Forest Territories too, but buddy, naaaah I have to fight you on the Forest being MORE separated. My brother in StarClan, the new map is full of lake.

They might have well just dropped a Windwaker-level speedrun breaking forcefield in the middle of everything. How can you have a border dispute over a LAKE? Are we walking on water now? Is Jesusclaw going to throw hands

Meanwhile at the Forest, the road was a passable but dangerous border with tunnels beneath. The river had stepping stones and the famous Sunningrocks. The gorge was next to a sliver of land that RiverClan would start dangerous fights near.

Any stealing on your land could be ANYONE. Who is stealing WindClan's rabbits? In the Lake, there's only two suspects, and it's unlikely that ThunderClan would go alllllll the way to the RiverClan side to steal. That's huge.

So changes to the Forest are much smaller. There's only one big change.

There is now a Mothermouth Moorland/Mothermouth Marshland, just above Carrionplace. It is a floodplain that Shadow and Wind had a massive war about. It is the best source of flax in miles.

Any retroactive mentions of random "pine" in ShadowClan are gone. It is a bog. The only pines there are yew, juniper, and scotch, with cedars being planted around Carrionplace to fight the smell.

There's a patch of new-growth, introduced sycamores. They replace the forest that burned down back in DOTC, and are in what-is-now ThunderClan territory. They're next to the hiking trail.

The bridge between RiverClan and ThunderClan is new. It wasn't there when Mapleshade fled.

There used to be five oaks at fourtrees. One caught blight and died within 5 years of SkyClan's exile, crushing Ripplestar.

And that's about it for physical changes. It doesn't need a ton of fixing imo.

[lupinsversion]

𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐨𝐯𝐚 - 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐤

• summary: when aleksander finds himself falling for reader, he doesn’t know how to express it.

• contains: aleksander x fem reader, complicated feelings, longing, self doubt, angst

• word count: 4.5k

masterlist || requests

Aleksander felt a strange mixture of warmth and discomfort every time he looked at Y/N. Ever since she had arrived at the Little Palace, he had found himself noticing her in a way he had never noticed anyone before. It was annoying, how she seemed to always pop up in his mind when he least expected it.

He tried to ignore the feelings, telling himself that they were nothing important, just a fleeting attraction. He was the Darkling, after all, and he couldn't afford to be distracted by such petty feelings.

But no matter how much he tried to ignore it, the feeling lingered on, a constant presence in his mind that he couldn't quite shake off. He found himself thinking about her when he should have been focused on leading his armies or strategizing for their next move. He found himself watching her during council meetings, his eyes drawn to her figure and her sharp eyes.

He tried to convince himself that it was simply a matter of admiration. She was young and talented, after all, and it was natural to be impressed by her skills and potential. But somewhere inside him, he knew that there was something more to it. He found himself drawn to her in ways that were deeply disconcerting. He felt a magnetic pull towards her, a feeling of longing that he couldn't seem to shake.

And as the weeks went by, he found himself growing increasingly frustrated with his own feelings. He was the Darkling, leader of the Second Army, and the most powerful man in Ravka. He had to be above such frivolous emotions, above such unnecessary distractions. He couldn't risk letting emotion cloud his judgment, not when the fate of their war hung in the balance.

So he tried to push the feelings aside, to ignore the thoughts that kept bubbling up in his mind. He told himself that she was just a grisha, one of many under his command, and that she held no more importance to him than any other soldier of the Second Army.

But no matter how hard he tried to dismiss her from his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special about her. He had never met anyone quite like her before, and her quiet determination and resilience were intoxicating.

He found himself noticing the little things about her - the way she spoke, the way she smiled, the way she carried herself. He admired her passion for learning and her quick mind, and he adored her loyalty and her honesty.

He often found himself drawn to watch her during training sessions, his eyes following her every movement as she moved with confidence and grace. He admired her skill and her dedication, and he found her infectious optimism a refreshing change from the constant seriousness that permeated the Palace and the Second Army as a whole.

And then there were the moments when they were alone. The times when their conversations grew longer and more intimate, when they shared secrets that they dared not tell anyone else. These were moments that he secretly cherished, moments where he felt closer to her than he had ever felt with anyone else.

He realized that this growing attraction to her was a liability. He was the Darkling, the general of Ravkan Army and the Second Army, the most powerful grisha in all of Ravka. And love is weakness. Love is a liability. Love is the worst possible thing to have in the middle of a war.

He found himself torn between his growing affection for her and his duty to his country and his army. He couldn't let himself be distracted by her, no matter how much he wanted to. He knew that love could lead to recklessness and careless decisions, and he couldn't have even the slightest hint of weakness in his character.

The more he tried to resist his feelings, the stronger they seemed to become. He found himself dreaming of her at night, imagining what it would be like to hold her in his arms and feel her soft skin against his.

He woke up in cold sweats, her name on his lips, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing control. He tried to convince himself that he was just lonely, that he was just missing human companionship, but he knew deep down that those were just excuses.

In his darkest moments, he could almost admit to himself that he was in love with her, that he was falling for her hard and fast. He had never felt this way about anyone, and it scared him to the core. He had always seen love as a weakness, and to feel it now, to feel it for her, was both exhilarating and terrifying.

And the thought of admitting his feelings, to himself and to her, felt like too much to bear. He couldn't imagine what she'd say, what she'd think of him, of the Darkling, the scariest and most notorious grisha general in all of Ravka. She would probably laugh in his face, or worse, she would look at him with disgust.

The truth was that he didn't deserve her. He was too dark, too filled with darkness and shadows that would surely taint her light. She was too innocent and pure to be dragged into his world of violence and darkness. And yet, despite all his logical thoughts and his rational mind, he couldn't help but feel drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.

As Aleksander watched her train, he felt his heart rate increase. He'd been feeling this way lately whenever he saw her, like he was some kind of lovesick schoolboy. It was ridiculous, and he hated it. He knew that the only way to combat it was to distance himself from her, to create a professional and distant relationship between them rather than the more affectionate bond they had now.

He took a deep breath and walked towards her, keeping his expression neutral. "Y/N." He said quietly, his voice betraying none of his tumultuous emotional state.

She was mid cheer when she turned to him, her hands slightly in the air from her celebrations before they dropped to her sides. “General Kirigan.”

He felt a familiar jolt of admiration at the sight of her cheerful smile and her gleaming eyes, but he quickly tamped it down. He couldn't let himself get distracted by her charms again, not when there was so much at stake.

"I was hoping to discuss some matters with you. Perhaps somewhere more private?" He said, gesturing towards the direction of his office. His voice was cool and composed, betraying none of the emotions that were raging inside him.

She tried not to show her confusion, but she couldn’t help but be a bit shocked in the slightest. “Yeah, yeah. Did I do something, sir?”

He shook his head slightly, his expression giving nothing away. "No, not at all.” He assured her in a low and measured voice. "It's just a matter of some importance, and it's best discussed in private."

He gestured for her to follow as he turned and marched toward his office, his steps confident and steady. He could feel her eyes on his back, and it took everything in him to resist the urge to turn around and look at her. He wanted to watch the way her steps swayed and the way her hair bounced around her shoulders as she moved.

She hadn’t expected his steps to be so quick, and she found herself struggling a bit not to fall behind. During their short walk, she couldn’t help but try to come up with all different types of scenarios in her head.

He could sense her struggle to keep up, but he didn't slow down. He needed to get to his office quickly, before he lost his nerve and changed his mind about confronting her with his idea. As they approached the door to his office, he held out his hand to open the door, waving her in first.

She walked inside, a room that she had surprisingly never been in before. Her eyes scanned the small decorations, the hardwood of the desk, and small little hints of him that weren’t obvious to just a normal passing eye.

As he shut the door behind her and she looked around his office, he couldn't help but feel a wave of vulnerability wash over him. She was in his private space, surrounded by his things and his scent. The thought made him slightly tense, although he worked hard to hide it.

He crossed to his desk and stood behind it, leaning his hands against the edge of the desk and leaning forward slightly. His expression was neutral, his voice still level as he spoke. "I have a proposition for you, Y/N."

“A proposition, sir?” She asked curiously, her brows ever so slightly furrowing.

He took a moment to collect his thoughts, trying to keep his mind from straying to the way her eyes crinkled when she frowned. "Yes. One that I think will benefit us both.” He said, his tone still coolly professional.

“I’m listening…”

He studied her for a moment, taking in the sight of her standing in front of him, her expression slightly confused and curious. He knew he should have felt in control of the situation, like a man of power making a proposition to a subordinate. But instead, he felt uneasy, as if he was the one being offered something, as if he was the one who lacked power in this situation.

He took a deep breath, then spoke. "I've noticed your talent, Y/N. Your skill with amplifiers, your dedication..." He paused for a moment, before continuing in a low and measured voice. "You're valuable to the Second Army and to Ravka as a whole. And I have an offer that I think would be very beneficial to both of us."

As he spoke to her, he could feel his heart pounding against his chest, as his mind raced with thoughts of what he was about to propose. He couldn't let her see that he was nervous, though. He couldn't let her see that she affected him to such an extent.

He continued in that cool and measured tone, trying to keep his true feelings from seeping into his words. "I want you to become one of my personal grisha. A member of my elite guard, my person circle. The jobs are better, and you'll have access to other benefits as well."

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Sir, I… thank you.” She spoke softly, gratitude swimming within her blood.

He felt a pang of guilt at the way her eyes had widened, as if she felt grateful to be offered this. He quickly buried the feeling, reminding himself that he was doing this because it was practical, because it was tactical. He couldn't let her know that deep down, he was doing this because he wanted her nearby all the time.

"There are a few... conditions of acceptance.” He added, his voice low and serious. "As expected.” He added internally, mentally berating himself for being such a fool.

"You'll need to follow my orders without question, without hesitation, and with complete obedience.” He continued, trying to ignore the growing lump in his throat.

“I expected as much, sir. I thank you for this opportunity.” Her voice was soft, genuine. She couldn’t believe that she was even offered this.

His chest tightened at her response. He couldn't believe that she was actually accepting his proposition. A part of him yearned to tell her that there was a selfish reason behind the proposition, that it was partially for his own selfish desires, not just for the sake of Ravka. But he couldn't admit that. Not now. Not ever.

"You'll also need to be available whenever I need you. Be it for missions or for training or for other duties, you'll be at my side." His tone was firm as he spoke, his eyes never leaving hers.

“I understand.” She gave the slightest nod.

He studied her closely, taking in the way her eyes held his gaze, the way her lips twitched ever so slightly as she nodded. He felt a strange, confusing mix of emotions welling up in his chest, but he quickly pushed them down. “There's one more condition," he said, his voice dropping even lower.

Her head tilted slightly to the right. She had heard of a few soldiers being chosen for this, but never once heard of any more conditions than the ones he had already listed, and she couldn’t help but wonder why this seemed different.

He watched her carefully, waiting to see if she'd still be willing to accept with this final condition. He knew it was selfish, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't stop himself from wanting her by his side, from wanting her close, from wanting to keep her safe. He couldn't stop himself from wanting her for himself.

He wanted to say so much more. He wanted to tell her that he was doing this because he was selfish, because he didn't want to be distracted by his feelings. Because he wanted her beside him, always. That he was scared of the way she affected him, of the way his heart pounded when he saw her smile, of the way his chest felt tight whenever she was in danger. He wanted her there, safe and by his side, where he could hear her voice and see her face all the time. Where he could touch her, hold her, feel her warmth, smell her scent.

But he didn't say any of those things, of course. He couldn't. He was the Darkling, not some simpering, lovesick fool. He was the Darkling, feared and powerful, not some puppy who followed a girl around. He had to suppress all those feelings, no matter how much they felt like they were suffocating him.

"You will live in my wing from now on. You'll have your own room with a private bathroom, of course, but you're expected to be available to me day and night.” He said, his tone firm and authoritative, but his heart was racing beneath his chest. He could feel the tension between them, thick and electric, and he knew he was crossing a line by suggesting this.

The thought of her moving out of her shared room with her friends saddened her a bit, but she knew that this was one of the greatest opportunities that rarely showed up. After a moment of processing, she nodded.

He watched her, his heart hammering against his chest. He couldn't believe he had actually said it, that he had actually asked her to move into his wing of the Little Palace. It was reckless and selfish and foolish and probably a thousand other negative words. He knew that he was only setting himself up for more heartache by making her constantly present in his life, but he couldn't resist the idea of her being there, within arm's reach at all times.

The first few days of her being part of his personal guard were a strange time for him. He found himself both elated and uneasy at the constant presence of her in his quarters. On one hand, he was over the moon about having her near him, in his space, seeing her every day. On the other hand, he found himself feeling more vulnerable and exposed than ever before. Being constantly alone with her, being constantly around her, made it harder and harder to keep his feelings hidden.

He found himself constantly battling with himself, trying to keep his interactions with her as strictly professional as possible. At the same time, he wanted to be closer to her, to touch her, to feel her hands on his arms as they trained. He found himself staring at her more often than he cared to admit, watching her every move with a growing longing in his heart.

During training, he found himself struggling to focus on anything other than her. He was grateful for the dark clothes that covered his body, as it allowed him to hide his reactions to her presence, to the sound of her voice, to the sight of her training. He found himself constantly reminding himself that he had to maintain a strictly professional relationship with her, even though every fiber of his being urged him to cross the line into something more.

Their training sessions became a sort of torture for him, as he watched her moving with incredible grace and accuracy, her movements sharp and precise. He found himself watching with fascination as she dodged and moved and attacked, his eyes following her movements with hunger and affection. But he couldn't let her see him looking at her that way, so he masked his adoration with a sharp command or a cold comment, pretending like he was just checking on her technique.

She, however, just felt like she was disappointing him. She was certain that given some more time, he would resent her and his decision to even give her such an opportunity. She worked hard, endlessly dawn to dusk, but still, she didn’t feel as if it were enough.

She backed up a few steps when the training session came to a close, fiddling with the straps of her specially made gloves that helped her powers reach further.

He watched her fiddling with her gloves, his eyes tracing the movements of her delicate fingers, his chest tightening with longing. He knew that she was talented and dedicated, and yet she doubted herself. He wanted to tell her that she was more than enough, that she had more than proven her worth to the Second Army. But he couldn't. He had to maintain his cold, impersonal demeanor, even though every fiber of his being wanted to pull her into his arms.

He took a deep breath, clearing his thoughts from his head before speaking. "You're improving." He said, his voice low and measured, even though he wanted to say so much more. He wanted to tell her he was impressed with her progress, that she was amazing, that she was perfect. But he couldn't. He could only give her a subtle compliment, hidden behind a mask of disinterested authority.

Her head slowly turned over to him, a slight sweat to her brow as her lips parted to take slow, measured breaths. “I’m by far the longest one to improve. I’m failing, you can say it.”

His heart dropped at her words. He could hear the doubt and insecurity in her voice, hear the way she tried to hide her vulnerabilities behind casual nonchalance, and he felt a deep urge to tell her that she was anything but a failure. He wanted to assure her that she was more talented and capable than most grisha he'd encountered, that she was a valuable asset to the Second Army. But again, he couldn't. He had to maintain his façade of cold detachment.

She undid the straps to the gloves and took them off by the fingers before clasping them both into a hand, looking down at them in thought.

He took a step forward, his voice low and measured. "You're too hard on yourself. You've improved quickly, but there's always room for improvement. Don't compare yourself to others, only compare yourself to your previous performance. You're improving, don't doubt that.”

She glanced outside, noticing how it was getting dark. “I better rest, continue at dawn.”

He watched as she looked outside, knowing she was right. It was getting dark, and they needed their rest to stay strong for their next mission. He felt a sharp pang of longing in his chest as she spoke of continuing in the morning, a longing to spend more time with her, to talk with her and be near her.

Her steps were slow and measured as she moved to walk past him and towards the exit of the room.

He watched her move past him, every step feeling like a blow to his heart. He wanted to reach out, to touch her, to pull her back and hold her close, but he couldn't. He stood there, frozen, feeling like a man being torn apart.

As she reached the exit, he couldn't resist calling out to her, his voice a sharp and harsh command, though full of affection deep down. "Wait."

Her head snapped in his direction, a look of confusion etched on her features.

He took a deep breath, his mind racing with a mix of emotions, of longing and need and desire. He knew he shouldn't cross the line, but he wanted to feel her presence for just a moment more, even just for a minute. He took a step towards her, his expression still controlled, despite everything going on inside him. "Just... stay for a moment.” He said, his voice softer than before, his heart pounding against his chest.

He watched her carefully, seeing the confusion in her eyes, but he saw underneath it, a glimpse of understanding, of the possibility that she felt the same way too. His heart hammered against his chest as he waited for her response, hoping beyond hope that she'd accept, that she'd stay with him, atleast for just one more moment.

“Okay.” She whispered, letting her hands fall to her sides.

He felt a wave of relief wash over him at her small, soft word, "okay". Her quiet acceptance felt like a weight being lifted off his chest, and he felt a surge of emotions, a mix of relief, longing, and adoration. He wanted to reach out, to touch her, to take her hand in his, to pull her closer and hold her tight. But he didn't. He stayed where he was, trying to keep his voice steady and calm.

"Come here.” He said softly, gesturing for her to come closer to him. He couldn't take it anymore, he had to feel her presence, even if it was for just a moment longer.

Her brows furrowed but she took two small steps closer.

As she took those two small steps closer to him, he couldn't resist taking a step towards her as well, closing the gap between them slightly. He felt his heart pounding against his chest, his hands tightening into fists to stop himself from reaching out and pulling her into his arms. He felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump off and let his emotions carry him.

"Closer.” He whispered, his voice hushed and filled with longing. He wanted her closer, as close as possible, to feel her warmth and hear her soft breath and smell her sweet scent.

“Sir, if I walk any closer we’ll be pressed up together.” She whispered.

His heart skipped a beat as she acknowledged the close distance they'd be standing at if she moved closer, his chest filling with longing and adoration. He wanted to feel her against him, to feel her heat against his own, but he couldn't. He knew he couldn't cross that line, even if he was desperate for it. "I know.” He whispered, his voice filled with a mix of longing and restraint.

He wanted to say more, to tell her how much he wanted her closer, how much he yearned to touch her, to pull her into his arms and hold her tight. But he couldn't. He couldn't cross that line, not here, not now, not with her. But he couldn't resist a slight step towards her, closing the small gap between them a little bit more, his chest almost touching hers.

He felt her warmth, her presence, her breath brushing lightly against him, and it was all he could do to resist the overwhelming urge to wrap his arms around her and pull her closer, to press his body against hers and feel her in his embrace. It was a torturous thing, standing this close to her, feeling her body so near his, having her so close.

His eyes flitted from hers to her lips, his thoughts filled with longing and need and desire. He felt a deep ache in his chest at the proximity and intensity of his feelings, of her presence. He wanted so badly to close the small remaining gap between them, to reach out and touch her, to feel her soft skin against his fingertips.

He swallowed hard, his throat dry and his mind clouded with yearning and desire. He was so close, so close to crossing that line, but he couldn't, no matter how much he wanted to. He took a small step back, trying to create some distance between them, but it was like trying to fight a raging inferno with a single drop of water. The flames of his need for her were too strong, too intense to be put out by something so trivial as a slight step back.

He felt as if he was teetering on the edge of a cliff, his heart pounding against his chest, yearning for the feel of her body against his, for the warmth of her skin and the softness of her breath. He wanted, no, he needed to reach out and touch her, to pull her into his arms and hold her tight, to feel her softness and warmth against him, to feel her breath mingling with his, to feel the beat of her heart against his chest and hear the soft sounds of her breathing.

He took a deep breath, composing himself and trying to push back the overwhelming feelings that threatened to consume him. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to put his feelings aside and act as he should. He looked at her, his expression schooled back to his usual cold and detached mask, not letting her see the turmoil within him. "You may go, rest now. Tomorrow will be a tiring day." He said, his voice stern and distant.

Confusion and shock carried through her body in a tidal wave, he brought her so close to only dismiss her. She took another glance at him before making her exit, knowing better than to question the general.

He watched her leave, his heart aching and his mind racing with guilt and longing. He cursed himself internally for pushing her away, for being unable to suppress his emotions, for letting his longing for her take over his mind and cloud his judgment. He cursed himself for being weak, for being a coward, for not being able to be the General he was supposed to be and ignore the feelings that were slowly consuming him.

He stood there, alone in the room, feeling the weight of his loneliness and longing heavy on his shoulders. He wanted to go after her, to apologize and pull her back into his arms, to hold her close and confess his feelings. But he knew he couldn't, no, he wouldn't. He couldn't let himself be that weak, to let his emotions run wild and compromise his responsibilities, his duty, his role as the General of the Second Army.

© lupinsversion 2024

[sunnytheopossum]

Two half-bodies down, six to go! I just caught the worst cold of my life today, so this is a little sloppy and partially rushed (so I might redo it…), but it’s done, and I’m happy with it for now!

I headcanon Sarah as the original vessel for Skully, and Seth as the founding member of totheark, so for these guys’ little bits of background symbolism, I put in Skully in the shadows behind Sarah’s tree as well as a little Skully face carved into the tree, and I put eyeballs carved into Seth tree (because if I remember correctly, eyeball imagery in totheark videos is theorized to be the signature of the founder? I think??)

If I manage to kick this cold by Monday, you can probably expect to see another one of these done then (Brian’s), but if not, then the next day definitely.

[sophsicle]

Of His Bones, Chapter 6

"Barty wants to tear him apart.

Wants to take him in his mouth."