#Why are they talking about a party this songs about dying in a cave

[fingerstealer]

[Image ID: Two images.

A screenshot from the music video for Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" with the thumbnail for the music video for CaptainSparklez's parody "Fallen Kingdom" superimposed on top at half opacity.

A screenshot from the music video for Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" with the thumbnail for the music video for CaptainSparklez's parody "Revenge" superimposed on top at half opacity.

End image ID.]

Visual representation of listening to a popular song when you heard the Weird Al version first

[ordinary-barbie]

sexy to someone - porco galliard x reader

summary: After scrolling social media you're feeling particularly insecure about your looks. Your boyfriend, Porco, is determined to convince you that you really are pretty.

word count: 2.3k words

tags: fem!reader, pet names (babe and baby), reader has a tooth gap bc I'm nothing if not self-indulgent, dirty talk, oral (fem receiving), face sitting, vaginal fingering, doggy style, breast play, praise kink, consent checks, reader is self-conscious about her body and struggles with mental health issues

minors and ageless blogs dni.

title comes from the song "sexy to someone" by Clairo.

Normally you loved scrolling through social media, but you just couldn't do it today. If you saw one more vacation photo or one more bachelorette party with someone's former sorority sisters, the already deep pit in your chest would cave in. And it wasn't anyone's fault: you couldn't get mad at your friends or random influencers and celebs for simply posting about their lives. To put it delicately, you were just feeling like a steaming pile of garbage compared to everyone else on your Instagram feed.

Today you hated pretty much everything about your looks. Your tooth gap looked like an eyesore. Your eyes seemed dull and sleepy. Your nose? Meh. Your figure? Nothing to write home about. It was a wonder that anyone liked your Instagram photos at all, and especially unbelievable that you managed to snag a boyfriend, especially someone like Porco Galliard.

Porco was an absolute babe. You'd never been hugely into blondes, but something about him and his undercut had got your heart racing when you met him at a frat party that your bestie Pieck, a Delta Zeta, had invited you to. You were always pretty reserved, and especially nervous to be around a bunch of frat dudes. Luckily, Porco eased your nerves by making you laugh, and the rest was history.

He was funny, confident, and hot as hell, while you were more reserved. When you'd first gotten together, you felt like the nerdy female protagonist in an 80s teen movie who managed to land the most popular guy in school. That had subsided after five years of dating, but now you couldn't help but feel the insecurity clawing at your brain again. Porco could easily get any woman he wanted - why you, of all people? Was he simply settling until someone better came along?

You rolled over onto your stomach and buried your face into one of the couch's armrests, quietly sobbing. Why were you like this? Why couldn't you be hotter so you could look like someone who actually belonged with Porco? Porco shouldn't be with someone like you. There were plenty of cute sorority girls he could've gone after in college, including Pieck or your other friend Sasha.

You recognized (thanks to months of therapy) that you were in a thought spiral, but you felt powerless to stop it. Normally you would go on your phone to distract yourself, but since social media had triggered your insecurities, you decided to settle for a nice little depression nap. That ought to make you feel better, right?

-

When you woke up, you didn't feel as crushingly awful as you did before, but you were still in a bit of a shitty mood. You snuggled tightly in your blanket and stared up at the ceiling, not even moving when Porco came home from work.

"Hey babe, I'm home! Traffic was nuts today - that podcast you recommended to me honestly saved my ass from dying of boredom," Porco joked, kicking his shoes off and making his way into the kitchen.

When you turned your head towards Porco but didn't react, his cheery expression morphed into worry. "Baby, what's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"It's nothing, don't worry," you hurriedly assured him, not wanting to be a burden, especially since he'd had a long day at work.

Unfortunately, Porco was a stubborn motherfucker, so he kept prying. "Come on, don't do that thing where you try to sweep shit under the rug. I can tell something's bothering you. You know you can tell me anything."

You sat up, protectively wrapping your arms around your midsection and chewing at your bottom lip. "I just - why are you with me, Porco?" you asked, your voice wavering. "I mean, look at you. You could be with anyone you wanted and you settled for me."

Porco furrowed his brow. "Baby, where is this coming from? I picked you because you're funny and kind and fuckin' hot."

You snorted. You appreciated Porco complimenting you in his Porco way, but you weren't totally buying what he was selling. "Please, Porco. Gigi Hadid is fuckin' hot. Pieck is fuckin' hot. I'm just..." You gestured to yourself vaguely, making a face.

Porco scoffed, shaking his head. "First of all, Pieck is like a sister to me, so don't even go there. Second of all, yeah, Gigi Hadid is pretty, but she's not you. You're actually the hottest woman I know. I honestly feel like I outkicked my coverage here."

"Porco, stop acting like I'm some big prize," you insisted. "Especially when I scroll through social media and every woman I follow is pretty much a smokeshow, including my friends."

Porco said your name sternly, making you jump. "Is that where this is coming from? Babe, please don't compare yourself to Instagram. You know everyone curates their feed to only share the good shit, even the celebs."

"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that there's so many gorgeous girls out there, and I'm just...me," you responded, staring down at your lap.

"Hey! Look at me," Porco commanded, and you reluctantly met his gaze. "You are so desirable to me. I love you. And I wish I could fight your shitty brain for making you ever think otherwise."

You sighed. "Porco, I love you. I just wish I could see the person you see. I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror earlier and just felt ugly. I hate that I can't just make these thoughts go away."

Porco moved closer to you, kissing both of your cheeks. "Babe, you are a fuckin smokeshow to me. Please let me prove it to you..."

"And just how do you plan to do that?" you asked, arching an eyebrow. You tried to look impassive but you couldn't help but rub your thighs together in anticipation.

"Like this," Porco simply replied, ghosting over your lips with his own. You shuddered, still amazed at how turned on Porco could make you without touching you. "But first - are you sure you want this? And you remember our safe word, right? Just say 'red' and I will stop, no matter what."

You nodded. Porco frowned. "Use your words, baby."

"Yes, I want this. Please touch me, Porco," you whined impatiently, your mind now clouded with lust.

"I mean damn, if you insist, babe," Porco joked before kissing you deeply. He draped his body over yours on the couch, suddenly enveloping you with the smell of his favorite cologne. It was heavenly.

Since your mouth was occupied, you tapped Porco's shoulder, and he instantly ceased his movements. "Everything good, babe?" he worriedly asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just - could we move it to the bedroom, please?" you shyly asked.

Porco smirked. "Okay, dirty girl," he teased, leading you by the hand into your bedroom. Once inside, he slammed the door with his foot, deeply making out with you and letting his hands roam all over your body. You made a motion to take your bra off but Porco stopped you in your tracks.

"Please let me do it, baby," Porco begged, and you happily obliged. After tossing your bra to the other side of the room, Porco shoved his hands under your shirt, massaging your breasts. "Man, I'll never get tired of these tits. They feel so good in my hands."

Porco bit at your bottom lip, and you let out a moan. Porco was driving you wild right now. "That's my good girl," he praised, and those four little words sent a shockwave straight to your core. "I love it when you moan so prettily for me. Now take those clothes off, baby."

That lit a fire under you. You quickly rid yourself of your t-shirt (really one of Porco's, a vintage shirt from the university you both went to) and sweatpants, standing nakedly in front of Porco except for a simple pair of black undies.

Porco let out a breath. "Oh fuck, baby. You're so goddamn sexy." You shyly smiled at him. "Now take a seat for me; I need to taste you."

You sat down at the end of the bed, gazing at Porco as he kneeled in front of you. The fact that he was still dressed in his light blue button-down, navy tie, and khaki slacks from work made this even hotter, somehow. Porco pushed your panties to the side, moaning when he saw gossamer strings of your slick clinging to the fabric.

Porco dove in, lapping at your clit with his tongue and grunting as you arched your back in pleasure. "Can't believe you think I'd want anyone else when I have the sweetest pussy right here. You taste so fuckin good, baby."

Your mind was blank, devoid of any coherent thoughts except for how fucking amazing your boyfriend was with his tongue. You were in the throes of ecstasy, grabbing at his hair to push his face even closer to you.

Porco removed his lips from your clit, eliciting a whine from you. "Easy there, baby," he said, chuckling. "I'm gonna eat you out; I just wanna finger fuck you too. Is that okay?"

Aroused, you reached for his hand, but Porco tutted, shaking his head at you. "Use your words, babe," he reminded you.

"Porco I need your fingers inside me," you whined. "Need your mouth and your fingers in my pussy."

Porco smirked, a dark glint in his eye. "Can't possibly deny you when you ask me so nicely." He returned to sucking on your clit while his fingers pumped in and out of your opening. "Babe, I can't believe you're so wet for me. I could fuckin drown in your pretty little cunt."

You gasped, feeling a warmth in your belly. You felt like you were about to burst, and Porco could sense it too. "Come for me, baby," Porco encouraged you, fingering your clit. "Make a fuckin' mess on my face."

Before you knew it, you were cumming, coating Porco's face with your wetness. Porco wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, moaning happily as he licked his fingers.

"Let me return the favor," you offered, your gaze focused on the way Porco's erection strained in his pants.

"Nah, not this time," Porco refused. "This is all about you, baby."

You softened you gaze, beaming at your boyfriend. You truly did adore this man.

"Be a good girl, lose the panties, and lie on your stomach," Porco instructed as he unbuckled his belt. "Get that pretty ass of yours in the air for me."

You quickly obeyed, tossing your underwear onto the floor and lying face down on the bed, sticking your ass in the air. Porco hummed appreciatively, rubbing your butt cheeks in his hand and lightly biting at the skin before soothing the pain with his kisses. "Can't believe this amazing ass is all mine."

He got up from the floor, retrieving a condom from his bedside table to slide over his dick. You scooched farther up on the bed to give him more room, and the two of you moaned in unison as Porco pushed himself into your entrance. Porco had an average-sized cock, but what he lacked in length, he more than made up for in girth.

Porco growled as your cunt clenched around his length. "Fuckin love the way your pussy feels around me. So warm and so damn tight."

Porco pulled out of you and slammed back in, making you see stars. He pumped in and out, snapping his hips and muttering praises in your ears the entire time. You tightly gripped the sheets, feeling your body light up in pleasure every time the tip of his dick grazed that special spot that made your toes curl.

"Are you close?" Porco asked as you writhed under him. You hummed affirmatively, unable to form words anymore. "Me too. Play with your clit for me, baby. Let's cum together."

You rubbed at your clit, feeling a second orgasm about to wash over you. You came with a yelp, feeling Porco's cock spasm inside you as he spilled his seed into the condom, moaning your name. He tossed the used condom in the wastebasket next to his bedside table, and then two of you laid in bed for a few minutes, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

"Porco...thank you. I needed that," you admitted, lovingly squeezing Porco's hand.

Porco tenderly looked at you, softly pecking your lips. "Of course, baby. You know I always want to make you feel good. And I hope me blowing your back out is proof that I actually think you're hot."

Your mouth dropped open. "Porco Galliard!" you shouted, playfully hitting him in the shoulder.

Porco snickered, but his face soon softened. "Seriously though, I'm glad I could give you what you needed. You know I love you so much, even on your bad-brain days."

You felt a warmth in your chest. Porco could be cocky, sarcastic, and crass, but he had the biggest heart. You were overwhelmed with love for this man who had been by your side through years of highs and lows, who always encouraged you and looked at you like you hung the moon in the sky.

"I love you so much, baby," you said, nuzzling into Porco's chest. He kissed the top of your head and tightened his grip around you.

"Hey babe?" you asked after a few minutes, wiggling a little in Porco's grip.

Porco cocked an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're ready for round two already. I mean I'm down, but let a man take a shower first."

You good-naturedly rolled your eyes at him. "No, you dingus, I just have to pee."

"And they say romance is dead," Porco quipped, loosening his grip so you could get up and use the bathroom.

"Okay, mister drama king," you playfully replied. "Cut the sass and maybe I'll help you get cleaned up." You waggled your ass at him before disappearing into the bathroom.

Porco grinned, fondly gazing at you even while you were on the toilet. "You're incredible, you know that? I can't want to marry your ass someday."

You chuckled. Just Porco, being Porco - and you loved him for it.

[the-bi-space-ace]

13, 16, 21 for the Bad Batch ask!!

13. What jobs do you think each of the Batchers would have in a Modern AU?

Crosshair: I think he's the grumpy manager at a small coffee shop that every employee loves and every customer is terrified of. Any time a customer makes one of the baristas uncomfortable Crosshair is right there ready to throw hands. He's kicked out so many people. That protective streak is going to make him an employee favorite.

Hunter: maybe some kind of camp counselor. Takes the kids on hikes. Is the dude at the bonfire that is really committed to keeping the fire going.

Tech: bro is either a professional gamer or he is a scary good hacker that erases people's medical and student loan debt. Ya know what, maybe both. He is a streamer as his regular job and uses his skills to help people on the DL.

Echo: I think he is either an engineer or he is some sort of doctor. I think he'd thrive helping people but would need something fast paced or challenging to keep himself interested. Oh! Oh wait!!! What if he was a fire fighter?!?! That could work! It's dangerous, it requires a lot of strength and endurance, and it very much helps people. I think he'd be a fire fighter. Fits him perfectly.

Wrecker: I think he'd like being a personal trainer. Someone that helps people reach a certain goal. He loves helping people improve their strength or gain more flexibility or confidence. That's a lot of fun for him.

Omega: Vet. I feel like this just fits.

16. What are some headcanons you have about Echo?

Oh boy. What headcanons do I have about Echo?!?! Well I'm GLAD YOU ASKED!!!

I think Echo has always had anxiety. I think he's channeled that anxiety into learning the regs, honing his skills, and trying to be a top performing (just like a lot of us with anxiety did as kids. we have to be the best so we sure do try.)

He's a tricky little thief. He can steal something right out from under someone's nose and they'd never know. He picked that habit up early on and it never went away. Sometimes he does it just to see if he still can and to practice. He's an excellent thief.

He has broken his knuckles punching someone in the face before. Why do I think that? IDK. He just has.

Sometimes he follows the batch around the ship. Sometimes he talks, sometimes he doesn't. But he tends to pace (can't sit still) and he doesn't like to be alone so it's almost absentmindedly.

Has learned (particularly with Crosshair) that his silence hurts worse than anything he could say to them during a fight. If he's quiet for too long the rest of them get really uncomfortable about it. They'd rather apologize than endure silence from him. It feels too much like disappointment and Echo being disappointed in you is THE WORST.

He tie-dyed one of Hunter's bandanas as a prank once and then hid all the other ones so Hunter HAD to wear it. Hunter still has no idea who did it. Tech knows. Tech has never told anyone. Echo will remember the look on Hunter's face sometimes and laugh to himself.

He actively seeks out Wrecker when he needs a distraction. Wrecker is great at that. Whether it's a physical distraction like sparring, a dance party (let me have my dance parties I neeeeeeed them), or some cuddles Wrecker is the BEST and Echo will seek him out if he needs to.

Speaking of dance parties!!! Echo loved going out to bars/clubs with Fives to go dancing. They had a song that they loved so much they made a dance routine to it. It came on at most clubs and they really stole the show.

With the same idea: He wasn't too sure about dancing in public after being rescued from Skako so it took him a little bit to warm up to the idea but the batch LOVES dancing and he finally caved and went with them. Turns out Wrecker and Tech can learn dances in ten minutes and love to be the life of the dance floor. Echo had a lot of fun that first night and has since learned to just drag Crosshair and Hunter into their antics otherwise they'll sit on the sidelines and watch instead of participating. He's stopped waiting for them to join. He's going to go get them, make them join. They don't get a choice anymore they're gonna dance with them.

ok i'll stop now i got carried away

21. Road trip with the Batch! Where are you going? Who’s driving? Who has the snacks? Who is in charge of music? Who got left behind at the gas station? And other headcanons you have about going on a road trip with the Bad Batch. 

We're going to somewhere like... the grand canyon or Yellowstone bc I've never been and I want to go SO BAD and I've never been that far west before and just need to go so I'm choosing a nature/sight seeing trip. Maybe some stops along the way. Maybe there's a fun amusement park or zoo or something on the way!!!

Tech is driving bc I feel like he'd be annoyed with everyone else's driving and he likes to drive. Plus he can handle driving long distance and has it all planned out. Plus he speeds so we'll get there faster.

Wrecker is in charge of snacks. He'll bring A TON. And he knows the best snacks. We'd never go hungry.

Music is tough for me bc I feel like Crosshair and I have similar taste so I'd pick Crosshair but then I think the rest of the batch would complain about the music the whole time. So I'd also consider Echo who has a decent mix of music that I love and music that I've never heard before so I'd find new bops. Cross and Echo fight over the aux cord final answer.

Hunter gets left behind at the gas station. He spent too long looking at the nuts in the snack section. No one did a head count when they were back in the car.

[vivi-the-goblin]

Happy Holidays!...Ok, look, my hands were kinda tied on this one. The anime showed jynx as their version of santa's elves, and they were the next ice type in line too. That being said...they speak in an unintelligible language that's mimicking human speech, are referred to as "seductive" and "alluring", and are only described as "Human Shaped". That is a description straight out of a horror novel, something akin to a humanoid angler fish or unknowable entities trying to impersonate us without fully understanding. These things are definitely going to lure you in and kill you. That or helpfully lure you away from Santa's workshop. *sigh* And it was based off a Yuki-onna, an ice yokai that resembles a woman with black faces with blue hands (death by frostbite), which lured people into blizzards like OG jynx. It's that combined with the ganguro makeup, a fashion that was reaching its peak in 90's japan as a protest to beauty trends. The original game wasn't planned to release outside japan, and these are people who were shocked to know some westerners didn't like clowns, they didn't know the implications to western audiences. Which is why Jynx became purple it as soon as they found out mid-development of gen 2. Anyway, sorry about that, hard to talk about jynx without that getting brought up so I figured I'd nip it in the bud. Now here's a few examples of how to use these things. - Smoochum are children, seeing the world through feel and taste more than sight. A bit of an issue when that touch makes you fall unconscious. A group of kobolds have been taking advantage of this. Party rushes forward when they see kobolds harrassing (playing with) a small child (bundled up smoochum). The kobolds retreat....only to come rushing back once party members start falling unconscious. - The blizzard blows across the tundra, carrying a tune too muffled to properly understand. It leads the party to a cave they can finally shelter in. They can hear the song clearly now, and realize it is a lullaby in a language beyond the stars. A coven of Jynx tend to thier young. They may even welcome in a party in garbled undercommon, but those who understood their lullaby might be wary. Those smoochum weren't always smoochum, and the party might join them should they rest here too long... -It's uncommon, but some jynx end up becoming fascinated with the humanoids they seem to mimic. luring them in to protect them. When a party loses a fight during a bllizzard, instead of dying they wake up in the care of a jynx. The eternal care, as the jynx has seen they can't survive on their own. They're determined to protect the party from themselves, in the same way you protect a fish determined to leap out of the tank. Not helped when the party slowly realizes it doesn't actually understand them, it's badly mimicking common in the same way you meow at a cat, not actually understanding the words. It's sneak past your captor, or fight if you must. Can't stay forever, it doesn't precisely seem to understand what you eat. And the trinkets around the area suggest you aren't its first pets.

[jacksonjb]

PRE-VIS: Pre-Production Song Timeline

Below is my pre-visualization timeline and rough shot list that I made in my planning notes, with the idea of listing each shot and lyric so I could use it as a reference when both filming and editing

0:00-0:08: Dog barking

0:08-0:18: Ink Spill in water

0:18-0:23: Dolly track observing bailey

0:23-0:26: Gliding past windows (in dark?) 

0:26-0:29: push-in head turning 

0:29-0:32: 'I seen you go down to a cold miror' - pulling back, Bailey walking at camera - mid close up 

0:32-0:35: 'it was never clearer in my era so' - bailey turns head, camera on 225° angle, body on 180° but head turned towards 225° 

0:35-0:38: 'You lick a shine upon your forehead or' - bailey turns head to 135° 

0:38-0:41: 'check it by the signs in the corridor' - back to 180°, bailey looks up and to the side, cuts to walking past exit sign 

0:41-0:44: 'you light my ways through the club maze' - walking forward, head turned to 180° angle, head comes back from looking up, back forward 

0:44-0:46: 'We would struggle through the dub daze' - bailey walking at camera, revert to standard angle  

0:46-0:53: instrumental - could potentially cut to candle burning out shot  

0:53-0:56: 'I see myself In there upon my lover'  - walk into bathroom through door, short track then off frame 

0:56-0:59: 'it's how you go down to the men's room sink' - head over sink shot  

0:58-1:02: 'Sad we talk of how madmen think'  -  looking around simple profile shot  

1:02-1:05: 'I see myself in there upon my lover' - same profile shot, nod towards bathroom stall, whip pan transition 

1:05-1:08: 'I don't know her from another miss'   - whip pan transitions to face bathroom stall, bailey sitting there, says the line 

1:08-1:11: 'I don’t know you from another'  - gets up, says the line,  

1:11-1:13: 'See me run now you're gone,' - dolly track pulling back - another potential whip pan transition to door? 

1:13-1:16: (drawn out) 'Dream on' - dolly track pull back all the way as bailey stays still - /pan transition to see bailey walking out the door 

1:16-1:25: Instrumental, following from 'Dream On' - pushing into the party and around the corner, seeing the lights and the people. Gimbal shot 

1:25-1:29: Why you want to take to this party and breathe - rack focus onto bailey, focussing between different people to preface 

1:29-1:31: I'm dying to leave - around the party 

1:31-1:33: Every time we grind you know we severed lines - panning around the party - maybe even flash cut of wires snapping/being cut 

1:33-1:37: Short instrumental pause - push in/zoom in on bailey from between people 

1:37-1:40: Where have all those flowers gone - gliding past people, EYE CONTACT - do multiple of these      --------    PARTY SCENES WILL BE IN COLOUR - MAKE LIGHTS POP look at nick cave Loverman MV 

1:40-1:43: Long time passing - flash cut bailey looking around 

1:43-1:46: Why you keep me testing, keep me tasking - crane shots ? More party coverage 

1:46-1:48: You keep on asking - bailey turns head, looks at camera 'you keep on asking' moves onwards 

1:48-1:51: Toy like people make me boy like - back lit, bailey punching the air, doused in shadow, preferably long cloak 

1:51-1:54: Toy like people make me boy like - cut to close up, out of focus background bailey but when he punches it's in focus 

1:54-1:57: They're invisible, when the trip it flips  - bailey singing (ext.?) , moving back, flash cut to light switch 

1:57-2:00: They get physical, way below my lips  - bailey singing, camera moves down to his lower and then passes him by - transition to outside, camera blocked by Bailey's side, then when revealed again we are outside. 

2:00-2:03: And everything you've got, hoi-polloi like - transition following from previous shot, following baileys feet from the ground thru bras basah, side to side angles and shots 

2:03-2:06: Now you're lost and you're lethal - electric dragon 80.000V running across the street 

2:06-2:09: And now's about the time you gotta leave all -  running up on someplace, behind crowds, cutting to him looking around, side of his face, front of his face etc. cut to the front and we see surprise, shock, anger and frustration in close up - but we don't see why.  

2:09-2:11: These good people - crowd shot something - pull back from in front of someplace, lots of people around him 

2:11-2:15: Dream on~  - pulling away from bailey - in party or elsewhere - match cut from shot prior.  

2:15-2:47: Instrumental with pause in it - shots of the party, people talking to, looking at bailey, bailey unresponsive. Lots of gliding shots and dollys, something visceral heartbeat. Fade out when the music slows down…  - when music starts up again, do the aftersun party scene. Black and white flashing, people turning and look etc.  

2:47-2:50: Nicer than the bird up in the tree top - walking at camera with strobe flashing, meant to mimic previous party scene - bailey screaming, yelling lyrics, putting hands over head, 

Pulling at his eyes 

2:50-2:53: Cheaper than the chip inside my laptop - snorricam hell is around the corner shot, somewhere light in the warehouse  

2:53-2:56: All the variations you could do with me 

2:56-2:59: Nicer than the girl up in your mind, you're free - close up on mouth 

2:59-3:02: Automatic crystal remote control - bailey walking, carrying something. Following it along. Grips tighter 

3:02-3:04: They come to move your soul 

3:05-3:07: You're gonna fade into the background - something ephemeral, fading shots, maybe back in warehouse ?  - pull back crowd shot 

3:07-3:10: Like a better smoke will bring you back 'round - cigarette shot ? Something else20 

3:10-3:13: Like a man slide, inside you my dear  

3:13-3:16: Your cheap beer's filled with crocodile tears              

3:16-3:18: See 'em run now you're gone 

3:18-3:22: Dream on~ 

3:22-3:57: Instrumental 

3:57-4:00: Toy like people make me boy like 

4:00-4:03: Toy like people make me boy like 

4:03-4:05: I found a reason~ 

4:05-4:15: Instrumental 

4:15-4:17: I found a reason~ 

4:17-4:26: Instrumental ---------- Cutting between shots of the warehouse, shots of the party, shouts ext. People talking to each other at the party                                                                             

4:26-4:29: Dream on~                                           Bailey being ignored, him looking around, general footage.  

4:29-4:38: Instrumental 

4:38-4:41: Dream on~ 

4:41-4:44: Instrumental 

4:44-4:46: Dream on~ 

4:46-4:57: Instrumental  

[svnflowervol666]

you said send in some headcannons so how about some silly/kinda pesty bf harry <3😔🤌

Omg pls I love pesty bf!Harry. This is super short but I loved writing these so much!

Word Count: 1.2k

NSFW

The first thing that comes to mind is cold feet

No matter how many times you tell him how much you hate it, he’d always either wrap his freezing cold feet around yours or reach his legs over in bed to poke you with his toes just to get a rise out of you

I also think he is the type of person to scream bloody murder from across the house and when you come running to see if he’d fallen down the stairs or cut his finger off in the kitchen, he just looks at you and says some shit like, “Come cuddle with me”

100% is the type of bitch to send you pictures of rotten fruit he sees at the farmer’s market or a squished bug he saw on the train and be like, “Looks like you :(((”

Speaking of annoying text messages

He would send you the most grotesque and haunted memes in the middle of the night for absolutely no reason

And would call you after an hour asking why you haven’t responded to them

He’d also be the type of boyfriend to ask you what you’re doing and when you say you’re taking a bath or getting dressed, ironically reply with, “Without me? :(”

Texts you the morning after he leaves your house and thanks you for the head you gave him the night before

Claims it was “some of your best work yet” every single time

Sends you pictures of his outfits and asks, “Does my dick look massive in these pants?”

All of the pictures of him in your phone are ones of him giving you the middle finger because he cannot take anything seriously ever

When you’re driving somewhere, he’d yell at you at an unreasonable volume to be quiet because his favorite song is coming up next and it’s just Get Low by the Lil John

And he knows every single word and tries to shake his ass in the driver’s seat

Sneaks up behind you and slaps you on the ass for no reason

So hard that it hurts and causes an argument sometimes but he always wiggles his way out of getting the silent treatment

I feel like he likes to people-watch, but he’d also lean over to you after every couple that walks by and whisper some shit like, “Do you think she pegs him?” or, “I bet they only have sex with the lights off.”

He definitely steals food from your plate or wants a bite of whatever you’re eating even if he told you he didn’t want it

“It tastes better 'cos it’s yours” lookin’ ass

When you’re eating a popsicle or a lollipop or anything that can remotely be considered sexual, he’d start moaning obnoxiously and mumble something like, “Fuck, takin’ it so well.”

He mocks you with the most annoying valley girl accent even if that’s not how you talk

Simply just to be an asshole

You’d always come home to him digging through your stuff

Using your skincare products or rifling through your drawers

He’d hold up a pair of your underwear and ask you why you haven’t shown him those yet with the dumbest little pout on his face

I also feel like he’d barge in on you in the bathroom instead of waiting for you to come out

If you’re washing your face or brushing your teeth but he has to pee, too bad

The other way around too if you're the one using the bathroom but he’s looking for a specific bottle of nail polish under your sink smhhh

He always sits on the counter and watches you do your makeup and asks you questions about every little thing you do

“What’s that for? What does it do? How is that color different than the one you just used? It looks the same t’ me.”

“How do you not poke your eye out with that?”

Winces when you pull your fake lashes off

If he even slightly chips the color on his nails, he’d whine for you to redo them until you finally cave and fix it for him

He’d walk over to you on the couch and sit right on top of you with his entire body weight, regardless of how you’re sitting

He breathes heavy and chews loudly on purpose when you’re watching a movie to see how long it takes you to glare at him

If you’re playing with his hair and you stop, he’ll find your hand and put it back on his head to ask you to keep going without actually asking

I feel like he begs to be the little spoon

Even if you’re not sleeping over at each other’s house, he’d text you and ask you to come over and spoon him because he’s cold with the pleading face emoji

When you’re both at a party that he didn’t want to go to, he’d pull you aside after some time and whisper into your ear, “Alright, you said hi to everyone....can we please go home and have sex now? M’ dick’s gettin’ lonely”

When he’s sick.....he is the Biggest Baby

Even if it’s just a cold, he’d act like he’s dying just so you pay attention to him

“Doctor’s orders were cough medicine, tons of fluids, and back rubs from m’ girlfriend.”

I can’t explain this, but.... I know he would try to hold toes with you (I’m so twisted for this I know)

Would scribble random notes on all of your things 

Like your grocery list

Bread, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, ... magnum XXL condoms for Harry :-)

Or the list of phone numbers you keep on your fridge

Doctor’s #, vet’s #, car service #, ... for when you need your ass eaten

He’d absolutely interrupt whatever you’re doing to tell you that he finally found the thing that he saw on TikTok at the store

And when he’s drunk he’d try to get you to learn how to renegade with him

And since I mentioned drunk Harry

He is so loud and obnoxious that it’s unbearable 

He’s one of those boyfriends that starts yelling about how much he loves you and will scream at you from across the room just to wave at you and say, “Hiiiiiiiiii!”

The biggest hype man and would squeal when the DJ plays some shit like Kim Petras or Mr. Brightside

Even though he pretends to hate it whenever he hears it anywhere else

He also announces to the room that he’s going home to “make love” to his girlfriend whenever you’re leaving

He’s extremely stubborn to put to bed when he’s that drunk

Claiming that he doesn’t need water because he’s a big boy or that he’s fine and still wants to fuck you even though he’s falling asleep as he’s talking

When you’re finally both lying down and trying to sleep, he rolls over and starts spewing the weirdest nonsense

“Do you think Lewis and Clark fucked? I mean, they definitely did right? I feel like they did. There’s no way they didn’t.”

“You’ve never faked it with me, have you? I don’t think you have, but you’d tell me if you did, wouldn’t you? You acted kinda weird when we fucked in that tent, but that was real, right?” and then get upset when you start laughing at him

“Can we go swimming tomorrow? I wanna go swimming tomorrow.”

I know he wouldn’t do all of this, but annoying bf!Harry lives in my head rent free so I will simply pretend he is like this in real life to some degree

[cazimagines]

Could I request Laszlo reacting to his wife dying in child birth? Sorry if that's too dark, I enjoy your writing and was in such an angsty mood :)

Warnings: Death, Sad Laszlo

A/N: As I got to the main part (you'll know what part) terrible things by mayday parade started to play and like the timing was so perfect because it fits so well and now I am sobbing.

Extra A/N: Okay literally out of every song on my sad playlist it's choosing all the ones about or that can be associated with death, this is unfair. First 'Terrible things', then 'if I die young' and now 'all I want'. Wtf.

- You and Laszlo were so excited to start your family. You still remember the moment first moment you told Laszlo you were pregnant. You don't think he had ever kissed you as passionately as he did at that moment. He was crying tears of joy as he managed to rest both his hands on the slight bump.

- He became so protective of you, being extremely cautious about everything you did so that you were okay. His arm would be constantly wrapped around you, helping you to new places as it got harder for you to move around.

- Every night he would whisper to you how excited he was your child to be born. He would tell you all the things he planned to do with the child, places he would show them, books he would read, all that he would teach him. In his life he had always been searching for some purpose, it's why he started the institute but he had never felt more like he had found his purpose when you told him you were pregnant. Everything just felt right.

- He'd shower you in kisses every day, telling you how wonderful you were, how beautiful you were. How he loved and adored every little thing about you. John often remarked that he never thought he would see Laszlo expressing his feelings so much until you came along.

- Unfortunately, Laszlo was not at home when your contractions started. You and Sara were having a tea party in the garden when you felt your water break. She managed to guide you into the living room to lay down on the bed, where she managed to call John who rushed to go and fetch Laszlo from his work

- You were screaming in pain as you clutched Sara's hand tightly, it was one of the worst feelings you felt. You wanted it to all be over but the shock waves of pain kept crashing into you and you were beginning to feel so weak. There was a ringing in your head as your eyes became blurry from the pain as you tried to breathe in and out. From the side of your eyes, you could see Sara become paler as he gathered lots of sheets to try and stop the blood from staining the sofa. She didn't know much about giving birth but she didn't believe there should be as much blood as to what was currently coming out of you

- Laszlo had never sprinted so fast to his carriage. After John ran into the room he was in with Theodore what was happening he had charged into it and told Cyrus to get him back to the house as quickly as possible. Already a lot of time had been lost with how long it had taken for John to be informed and then to find out where Laszlo was and rushed to get him.

- As he arrived pain stuck his heart as he heard your shouts of pure pain even from outside the house. He quickly barged into the house, frantically looking for where you were. Usually, men waited outside the room for the baby to be born but he couldn't bear being away from this moment, plus it was unlikely they would be able to get you to a hospital in time and he was the only one even slightly qualified to deal with this.

- He was at your side the whole time, letting you clutch his hand tightly as you squeezed. He kissed your forehead lots of times reassuring you that you were doing great and that it would all be over soon as he anxiously watched where you were pushing. There was so much blood, more than there should be and he didn't need to know from Sara whispering to him 'something is wrong' but everything would be okay. They had to be. They will be.

- After hours the baby emerged. John helped Laszlo pull the child, which was a girl out, and positioned her in his arm. Laszlo's eye sparkled with joy as he looks down at his daughter. 'Look y/n' he mumbles, bringing your daughter over to your side but as he looked back up at you, panic gripped him. You were barely conscious and the ghost of a smile was on your lips as your half-closed eyes looked over at Laszlo holding your child in his arms.

- You shakingly lifted your hand slightly, whispering to Laszlo to hold your hand. He passed your daughter to Sara as he clasped your hand. He started begging you to stay awake, to keep pushing through and that you would be okay as he covered your hand in kisses and clasped it tightly to his chest. His eyes swarmed with tears as you shook your head slightly. 'I love you Laszlo' you whisper before your eyes finally close and your hand goes slack in his.

- He screamed, cried, let out all sorts of noises as he clasped your body, pulling it over to cradle in his arms. Sara and John quickly left the room taking your daughter with them so that Laszlo could have this moment of peace. Tears flowed out of his eyes and fell onto your ever-growing cold skin. He kissed your forehead, closing his eyes as he whispered at you to come back, that he couldn't do this without you, but you never did.

- For the next month Laszlo was an echo of himself. He hardly talked to anyone or interacted with any of the kids at the institute. It was as if a part of himself switched off the day you died. What was supposed to be the happiest day of his life became his worst. Sara stayed around the first few nights looking after your daughter as Laszlo grieved but after a while, she had to go. Laszlo wanted nothing more than to be with his daughter but every time he looked at her he felt the pain of losing you come straight back.

- He blamed himself entirely for your death. He was the doctor he should be done more to ensure your safety, he should have never left you alone that day. It was stupid of him to ever consider working when you were due, if he had been there he could have taken you to a proper hospital. John tried to tell him that it was just a cruel twist of fate and there was nothing else Laszlo could have done but Laszlo refused to listen. He was to blame, that was sure.

- Laszlo hired a nanny to help look after your daughter. He knew in the state he was he couldn't look after her, he needed help. He assumed after a few months he would be able to take on more of a parental role for her but the pain never faded. Especially as the more your daughter grew the more he realised she was a spitting image of you.

- It was like she became another child of the institute. He would watch her play with the other children but he was almost a stranger to her. After missing out on those early years of bonding he just didn't know how to anymore. He desperately wanted to, he would push all the pain he felt inside to try and to talk to her, ask how her day is, even try to take her out to the fair which he thought she might enjoy. But his mind always wandered back to imaging doing all these things with his daughter with you. In the awkward silence between him and his daughter was the reminder that you were no longer there.

- In the end, he had to settle to knowing he would never be as close to his daughter as he truly wanted to, he had to watch her be happy from the side as he slowly caved inwards from his grief.

A/N: I'm so sorry

TAGS: @shrekboobies @arianalilyblack @wonderwoman292 @zemosimp420 @lieutenantn @neoarchipelago @cable-kenobi @edencherries @faustlyaccused @julyvegan @prestigious-tea @hannahbal-the-fannibal @my-blood-is-maple-syrup @competitivepomegranate @mywinterivy @xxlumos @cathana2264 @ajokeformur-ray @nev3rfound

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[reverieregina]

Curse of the all-knowing part 1

Caspian x fem!reader

Summary: Y/N was living her life like anyone in the 21st century, until one day she comes across a portal to a magical kingdom, Narnia. A kingdom she believed to be fictional, is suddenly real. What is the reason for her arrival? And what are the surprises that are awaiting her?

Words: 1806

Warning: None

English is not my first language

I look away from my laptop screen, where Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is playing. I look out at my window, noticing the nice weather, and get the sudden urge of going on a walk. I look back at my laptop. The movie is nearing its end and I can already feel my throat tighten and few tears running down my face. No matter how many times I watch this movie, the ending always gets me. Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace say goodbye to Aslan and Caspian before going to the waves and get back to their own world.

I wash my face so I don't look like I just cried and put on some comfortable clothes for a walk. I would rather chill on my bed but something told me to take a walk. I leave the apartment complex with AirPods, some random song playing in my ears, and go to the woods nearby. I found the familiar path through the woods. The birds are chirping and there are flowers here and there. The forest is giving away a different energy today, something I never have felt before. A gust of wind blows past me, almost pushing me off the trail. I look at the direction the wind is blowing. Should I? I just make sure not too far away from the trail. I follow the wind like I'm Pocahontas or something. I reach a door and furrow my brows. That's random, who would put a random door in the middle of the woods. I open the door like something else would be at the other side, but of course, it's just the same forest. My phone gives away the sound of a notification and I take out my phone as I go through the door. Just as I do that, I lose reception, weird. I close the door behind me and take off my AirPods as I look up.

I look around and notice I'm in some kind of garden, full of rose bushes. Impossible, a second ago it was just trees. I turn around to the door, if it took me wherever I'm then it can take me back. Just as I'm about to grip the handle, it fades away, like the rest of the door.

"No, no, stop it. come back!" I banged my hand on the door but keeps fading until it's gone and it's just bushes. Great, there went what could be my only way home. I look around, it's just roses. I walk around, trying to find my way from here. Survival mode on.

If I had any.

I reach what seems like a Medieval age's castle. How come it looks brand new while the rest in the world is in ruins? I try to find someone and just as I'm about to shout, a person walks by and by the sound of it, a horse is nearby. The bushes are in the way so I'm well hidden. I hate talking to strangers but I need to know where I am. Once again, just as I'm about to shout I stop myself. The bushes are no longer hiding the lower part of his body, his horse body. My eyes widen and my breath thicken. I must be dreaming. The centaur looks around like he could feel someone staring. I crouch down. I stay like that until I no longer hear his steps.

This can't be happening. Centaurs are supposed to be fiction, so why did I just see one? I must be dreaming. I pinch my arm and feel a bit of pain, okay so not dreaming. Still doesn't explain my whereabouts. Think Amy, you were on a walk, you left the trail and went through a randomly placed door. My eyes widened in realization. The door! I'm in a new place and I just saw a mythical creature. I must be in another world. Time to find out where and just work from there. I stand up and am met with an older man. I yelp leaves my lips and the man gets startled by my sudden appearance. After calming down for a few seconds I get a better look at him. He kinda looks like Santa, but shorter.

"I have never seen you before. Who may you be?" He asks. Pretty calm for someone that just saw a person come out of bushes.

"Me? Just nobody, no one!" Great Amy, lie when he seems nice and you need help. The man chuckles at my embarrassing state.

"Well, just 'Nobody.' Care to tell me your name and what you're doing here?" I look at the man that is staring at me very patiently. At least he doesn't see me as a threat. I sigh. I will sound crazy but it's the only explanation I can come up with.

"My name is Y/N L/N and I think I'm in the wrong world." Just as that leaves my lips, I realize how crazy that sounds. On the other hand, I just saw a centaur. The man just stands still, like he is comprehending what I just said. We just stay there staring at each other for some seconds until the man finally says something.

"Come with me." He says and walks away to the massive castle.

"Hey I'm not following a stranger anywhere, I don't plan on dying today!" I shout back. I was raised better than that. The man stops and turns around.

"Do you know where you are?" I shake my head. "Do you know how to get back to your own world?" Once again I shake my head. "Then follow me." Sorry mom, but I have questions and someone has the answers. I follow the man that is faster than you would think but I catch up fast.

"Excuse me sir, but where am I?" I ask. The man looks at me and then forward again. That man has a destination and he is determined to get there.

"You will get answers soon dear child." Good to know.

"Okay, but can I at least get your name." The man smiles at me, making me feel a bit calmer about this situation.

"I'm Professor Cornelius." Finally an answer! But why does his name sound familiar? I'm sure I never have meet him before, have I? As we walk to wherever he is taking me I notice the people around us. People dressing in Medieval clothing, dwarfs, minotaurs, and centaurs. I would think that we were on a movie set but I'm pretty sure we passed by a badger that was talking to a mouse.

We reach some enormous doors and the professor opens them up, looking around for someone. I slow down my steps. This place is magical, with pillars and a glass roof. It is so new yet so familiar. People were happily chatting, clearly happy for something since they have a small celebration of some sort. The deeper I go into the room the quieter the people get. Guess I crushed the party and I'm pretty sure I heard someone mention my clothes. When I reach the Professor I see him with his back turned to me while talking to someone and the surrounding people look at me with suspicion. Ignoring their staring, I look behind them. There are two thrones on a dais. Am I about to meet royalty?

"Miss Y/N, come here." Says the professor, taking me out of my thoughts. "There is someone you should meet." I walk the few steps to the professor and as he moves to the side I'm met with the most handsome man I have ever seen. He smiles and a warm feeling is spreading in my chest. The more I look at him, the more I realize.

I know who he is. I saw him just two hours ago.

"Miss Amy, let me introduce you to-" The professor starts, but my mouth worked faster than my brain and didn't let him finish.

"Caspian." His name leaves my lips. The man in front of me is Caspian. Everyone looks perplexed but I don't care, I can't stop staring into his eyes. They just give me comfort, I could stare into them forever. I finally know where I am.

"Professor Cornelius," Someone is talking but who I don't know. I just can't move. "I thought you said that she is from another world."

"She said that she is and her clothes are something I have never seen before. Also, she seemed so confused over where she is." He answered. Well, obviously my clothes are something you have never seen before, I'm from the 21st century.

"And how do we know she is telling the truth?" The same man asked. I finally find my voice and talk for the first time since I saw Caspian.

"I am in Narnia, aren't I?" I ask. Caspian chuckles and takes a step towards me.

"Yes my lady, you are in Narnia and I'm its king. Tho it seems you already know that." Caspian explained. I feel the blood rush to my cheeks and I look away from him. I look to my right and I see a balcony. Not saying another word I walk towards it. I can obviously hear someone laugh a bit and their footsteps following me but I keep going. While out I see the clearest ocean I have ever seen. A bit to the right and I see a cave in the distance. Must be the cave the Pevensies came from in the second movie. Someone stands beside me but my eyes are back on the ocean.

"Beautiful isn't it? It takes your breath away." Caspian. That man has been taking people's breath away for years.

"Yeah," I answered. A few seconds go by until I realize my mistake, he is royalty. "Your majesty." I bow, more or less. He laughs, gosh I could listen to that laugh forever.

"No need to bow and Caspian is just fine, Lady Y/N." Once again I feel the blood rush to my cheeks. I don't know if this is better or worse than watching him through a screen.

"Well then Caspian," I emphasize his name. "Call me Y/N." He put his hands on the rails and looks at me, the atmosphere goes from comfortable to extremely serious.

"Lady Y/N, I was told you were from a different world yet you know my name. I would really like to know why and how."

"I think it's for the best if we speak somewhere a little more private. Because what I'm about to say will change everything." He nods in understanding. A new world is nothing new to him, his friends and his ancestors were from another world. But what is new is that I'm not from the same one as the Pevensies.

"Follow me."

Next chapter

[canary3d-obsessed]

Restless Rewatch: The Untamed Episode 11 second part

(Masterpost) (Other Canary Absurdity) 

Warning: Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!

Message from the Lan Clan

After dinner the Yunmeng bros go to talk to Jiang Fengmian in his study. They're quiet and respectful here, with no shoulder-shoving or arguing. This scene has such Brady Bunch energy, where Dad's Study is the Man Place where boys come to talk about Serious Things.

The boys tell Dad Jiang about the Yin Iron and he says yeah, I know. This is probably why he let them run off on their road trip without punishing them, but he could have, like, shared data with them so they might have actually achieved something related to the Yin Iron, rather than just wandering around the countryside bonding with Lan Wangji and Nie Huaisang.

He shows them a letter from the Lans that basically says the Lan Clan is in the shit, and he tells them they've got to go to the Wen indoctrination because otherwise they will also be in the shit. 

He gives the boys a warning about the Yin Iron, which is that 

1. it can be refined and 

2. if you refine it carefully, it will not control you. 

Awesome tip, will definitely use, thanks pop.

(more behind the cut)

Jiang Cheng wants to argue about going to the Wen party, but Wei Wuxian vocally gets on board, not leaving any opportunity for whining. 

Wei Wuxian is only sucking up a little bit in this scene. He obviously has a lot of affection for Jiang Fengmian, but WWX doesn't play up to his favoritism nearly as much as he could. Compare, for example, how he leans into Yanli's preferential treatment of him.  

Fight Outside the Cold Cave

Over on the Gusu side of the country province township, the disciples have gathered outside the cold cave that previously none of them knew about, and Su She is freaking out. 

Most of the acting in The Untamed is naturalistic, but then there are occasional characters who are portrayed with a much more theatrical, broad style. Su She's villainy is not given a lot of layers; he's playing a type, more than a person.

Many of the villains in The Untamed are played this way, but not all. Wen Zhuliu, for example, is a genuinely horrifying bad guy while also conveying depth and ambivalence--despite having hardly any lines. And JGY is a masterpiece of a performance. For Su She, the directors or the actor have opted for "sniveling backstabber" as a type, which is unfortunate, because it robs his final scenes of emotional impact.

Lan Qiren tells the disciples to get to safety. He rushes forward, gamely getting his ass kicked by human cuisinart Wen Xu.  He's not as effective a warrior as either of his nephews but he's a brave S.O.B.

Hanguang Jun to the Rescue

Before things can go completely pear-shaped, Lan Wangji sails in with his guqin.

The Blue Steel technique of the Lan Clan

Like many gifted learners, Lan Wangji's musical abilities are more advanced than his social skills. Here he musically makes the ground literally explode, almost as if it had been specially rigged with incendiary charges.  

Lan Wangji is very pretty when he's worried, and his affection and concern for his uncle is touching. He's 100% not interested, as we will see, in Lan Qiren's whole "lets all die for the future of the Lan Clan while my nephews hide" agenda. He's on his own agenda of smiting the wicked and protecting the weak.

Notice how Su She is standing right next to Lan Qiren here, even holding his arm? The next thing that Lan Qiren says is to tell all the disciples to keep up as they run into the cave. Somehow Su She totally does not keep up, and he gets caught outside along with a bunch of other disciples.

Giving Up

Wen Xu and his men kill most of the other caught disciples, and then threaten Su She, asking him how to get into the cave. In fear for his life, he tells them. Not cool, Su She, but possibly forgivable. Although when you voluntarily join a, you know, battle cult, physical courage is kind of an important qualifier.

But this shit here...

They didn't fucking ask about the books, douchebag.  

Su She was there in Lan Qiren's house when the two heads of his clan knelt to each other, each claiming the right to be the one to stay behind and die. And he heard Lan Qiren say that the ancient books are the foundation of the clan and that only if LXC and the books survive, will the clan continue. By giving up both men, and pointing out the book situation, Su She has totally earned his expulsion. 

Lan Wangji Takes a Stand

Lan Wangji decides, for the first but not last time, to openly defy his uncle...and it's got nothing to do with Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji is a hero, who follows the dictates of his conscience. His conscience is extremely filial and extremely orthodox, but he’s got a growing open-minded streak.  This is going to cause a whole lot of conflicts for him over the next few years.

This time, however, he manages to skate out from under the whole disobedient, unfilial thing by citing Lan Yi's directive, which means Lan Qiren has to accept it because she's his predecessor and elder relative (She is probably not a literal ancestor, since she spent her life in a cave putting fucking headbands on fucking rabbits which probably didn’t leave time for having babies).

This is a pretty extraordinary moment for Lan Wangji and for Lan Qiren, because Lan Wangji just asserted his own form of authority to do the exact opposite of what Lan Qiren wanted, and Lan Qiren just sucked it up and let him.

It's also very different from western stories involving a holy McGuffin such as the Yin Iron. Lan Wangji's solution of "fuck it, just let the bad guys have it, it's not worth so many people dying for" is refreshing and surprising to me, a westerner raised on The One Ring, the Grail, the Death Star Plans, etc.

Lan Wangji steps out of the cave and uses a sword blast to save Su She, the ungrateful bastard, from getting stabbed by Wen Xu. Then he surrenders, and they break his leg to slow him down. This does not actually incapacitate him, because he is Lan Fucking Wangji, already a BAMF at like 17 years old. When they whack his leg, his chunk of Yin Iron falls out onto the ground.

That thing was in a magic bag of holding before. So...it just falls out when you whack him? If they whack him again will his guqin fall on the ground? What about candy?

Archery Practice at Lotus Pier

Meanwhile, back at Lotus Pier, the brothers are enjoying some quality time together before they head to the hostage-taking indoctrination.

Wei Wuxian is such a great cultivator that he can hit a distant target even when he jerks his bow upwards as he releases the arrow.

Jiang Cheng seems fairly pleased, and proud of his brother. He's competitive and fundamentally grumpy but not, at least here, a sore loser.

Club Ruohan

We go over to Da Club, where Wen Ruohan is yelling at Wen Qing for letting Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian go. He names them both, so they're becoming more and more known to their enemies. Which is not a good thing.

He menaces her with the zombie mosh crew, having them kill a dude in front of her and then saying her baby brother will be next in the circle of zombies if she tries any more stunts. Neither of them can imagine how much zombie ass her baby brother is going to kick, later in his (un)life.

Side note: What is up with WRH’s hair? Why bother pulling your hair up over your ears if you're going to leave an enormous curtain of it over your face? It's because he knows there's a wind machine next to his throne, isn’t it?

Leaving Lotus Pier

Jiang Cheng: when I ran off earlier in the year on my road trip you didn't pack a goddamn thing.

Wen Indoctrination

Is it even possible to stand next to this much active volcanic shit and not, uh, die? I live in the tornado part of the US so I don't know much about lava (yet. 2020 still has 2 months to go). But it seems like it would be hard to breathe the air. Also they appear to build houses on lava piles, which seems imprudent.  I say that even as someone who plays The Elder Scrolls Online, which is full of lava towns and nonsense like “ash farming.”

Nie Huaisang is adorable at all times, but particularly here, when he's so happy to see his friend who *didn't* fuck his gege and then abandon him without an explanation. 

Nie Huaisang: I'm so glad I can count on Wei-Xiong to be consistent and not vanish for months, or become a traumatized shell of his former self, or, like, horribly die.

Jin Zixuan isn't quite as happy to see Wei Wuxian.

Wen Chao enjoys the sound of his own voice way too much, and is malevolent and boring. On the plus side, he likes to stand with his hand stuck out in the air, which is fun for your resident photoshopper.

Nie Huaisang is so miserable every time he's holding a sword, or blade, or whichever we're supposed to call this. He's got his fan tucked into his belt, which is sweet. He is happy to give up his sword but don't you dare try to take his fan.

Meanwhile Wei Wuxian is worried about Lan Wangji, and Jiang Cheng isn't.

Lan Wangji shows up under guard, and takes his position at the front of the line, but without any extra disciples. The Wens let him change into snowy white robes after breaking his leg which will go well with arterial blood spray. He's focused and is determined not to interact with Wei Wuxian in this public context.

When I was little, I would sit near my best friend at church on Sunday, but not be allowed to talk to her until church was over, and it was exactly like this. She was good at churching and I was hyper and hated church. We are still best friends and these things are still true.

This interaction is like a thumbnail for the whole dynamic of these three boys: Lan Wangji outwardly ignoring Wei Wuxian while having many interior feelings about him; Wei Wuxian demanding attention and creating a bit of a scene, due to his very genuine caring; Jiang Cheng telling him to leave that boy alone for fuck's sake.

Lan Wangji: Stop trying to talk to me Wei Ying, I’m busy composing a song in my head about the two of us and our love for each other. 

[dreamescapeswriting]

BTS Reaction | Wish You Were Sober [Song]

A/N: Based on Conan Gray’s song  - Wish you were sober 

Seokjin: ~ This party’s shit, wish we could dip, go anywhere but here

It was supposed to be a small comeback party but it seemed as though Jimin had invited every single person they knew to the dorms and the placed was rammed full, some of them Jin didn't even know which made him uncomfortable. He found you in his room sitting on his bed with a book and laid in one of his shirts, thank god his room was the one with the lock.

"Too much for you too?" He questioned handing you a mug of hot chocolate and sitting down beside you on the bed and looking at the book you were reading from.

"I wish we could dip," He mumbled against your shoulder but he knew he couldn't he was the oldest and even though Namjoon was the leader Jin was still responsible for anything happening in the dorms.

"Maybe we can just put a movie on and watch it together, it's not every day we get to be alone like this." You laughed closing your book and shifting so you were laying with your head on his shoulder.

"What movie are you thinking?" You smirked looking over at the X-Men movie series you'd been dying to get him to watch and he groaned getting up and putting them into the DVD Player.

(X)

Three hours had passed and you were fast asleep on the bed next to Jin, he was quietly scrolling through his phone thankful that the party wasn't loud enough to wake you up but it was as if he'd thought to soon because as soon as he went to curl up and sleep beside you there was a smashing sound before the music cut out. You shifted in your sleep but remained still so Jin ventured out to find out what had been broken when he found the glass pannel that connected the living room and kitchen was shattered and on the floor while Jungkook and Jimin tried to shift into their rooms.

"Stop! Explain!" He ordered and they looked down at the glass that surrounded the floor,

"We were throwing a ball around and I guess I threw it too hard?" Jungkook suggested Jin stared at him.

"You guess?" Everyone else in the dorm began to slowly leave now the party had been brought to a stop and Jin ordered everyone to bed while he cleaned up the apartment.

(X)

"Hey, no. Go back to bed you," He ordered but you ignored him and continued sweeping up the broken glass.

"I can't sleep without you," You yawned putting the glass into a bin before sweeping up some more while Jin cleaned up bottles that had been left all over the place,

"At least they're all gone now," You said to him as you finished with the glass and walked over to him, he hummed annoyed that he was the one cleaning everything up but glad the boys were all asleep.

"Go back to bed, I'll be back in a minute." He kissed your cheek and you walked off back to his bedroom only to come back three seconds later,

"Jungkook took our bed." Jin groaned walking through to pick the maknae up and throw him over his shoulder and take him to his own bed.

Yoongi: ~ Ima crawl outta the window now, cause I don’t like anyone around

Yoongi didn't even know what he was doing there, he'd only agreed to go along to the house party because he knew it was something you wanted to do. But the second he got there he wanted to go home, you were dragged off by a bunch of girls all giggling about something while he was left alone to explore the giant house on his own. It was some giant frat party that he wasn't interested in and he never thought you would be either, he understood you were both in college and having fun was in your nature but this wasn't usually your kind of thing.

"Y/N! Y/N! Y/N! Y/N!" He heard a group of people chanting your name and he looked over to the kitchen to see you downing a bunch of shots after being handed them by some girls you barely knew. He had no idea why you were doing this but he didn't like it, he slowly made his way through the packed hall and stood in the kitchen watching you, he wanted to protect you in case someone decided they wanted to try something on with you. He was your best friend and he hated the thought of someone kissing you, or holding you in any way that he wasn't allowed. He'd been in love with you since you were kids but he was never going to admit that to you.

"Yoongi?!" You slurred stumbling over to him in the living room an hour later, he stared at you as you reached him. Your hands were stretched out for his help and he wrapped his arm around your waist helping to stand you up straight.

"There's an en-suite upstairs, take me." You showed him the key and he nodded helping you walk towards the staircase being careful not to trip you up or walk you into anyone else that was drunk there.

"You're wasted." He groaned when he got you into the bedroom, he locked the door behind you both not wanting someone else to come in and then he helped you into the bathroom.

"I think I drank too much." You giggled drunkenly and he hummed moving the hair from your face as you hunched over the toilet throwing everything except vital organs up.

(X)

"You feeling any better?" He asked when you came back into the bedroom holding your head,

"No, it feels like someone has been clawing at my throat," He groaned telling you that it was probably the stomach acid you'd been throwing up mixed with the alcohol that you'd been drinking.

"Hello!?" Someone was banging on the door and you cringed at the thought of someone else trying to come into the room, you were supposed to use the bathroom and lock up behind you but the muffled music sounded better than the actual music and all you wanted to do was leave.

"Too many people." You said to Yoongi as he went to leave out of the door, you pointed at the window which was a small drop-down to a flat rooftop.

"Out of the window?!" He asked putting the key down on the bed and rushing over to you to make sure you didn't fall and hurt yourself, once you were secure on the roof he followed.

"We should go and get something to eat, I'm starving." He smiled happy that you weren't slurring on your words anymore,

"Pizza?" He quizzed as you climbed down a drainpipe and dropped onto the floor below,

"Sounds good!"

(X)

"What were you drinking a lot for tonight?" He asked looking at you from across the table, you were sitting in a small pizza shop talking back and forth about that night and what you could and couldn't remember.

"I was erm, I guess just trying to fit in with the girls in my class?" He sighed at you and reached his hand out to touch yours, it could have been the alcohol in your system or just your feelings for Yoongi but your heart skipped a beat at the sudden action from him.

"You don't have to fit in, being you is good enough and if it's not for them then fuck them off. You're one of the best girls I've ever met in my life." You smiled down at the floor and he moved so he was sitting beside you,

"I mean it y/n...I wasn't ever going to do this but after tonight and seeing how you don't see how amazing you are...Fuck, okay I'm rambling. I've been in love with you since we were kids and I'm telling you now because I don't know if I'll ever do it again-" He was cut short when you grabbed his face and started kissing him suddenly. His eyes widened as he realised you were kissing him but he soon relaxed into the kiss and put his hands on the back of your head drawing you closer to him as you made out in the middle of the pizzeria.

Hoseok: ~ Kiss me in the seat of your rover, real sweet but I wish you were sober

So cliche to call your brothers best friend when you were wasted at a party and didn't know who else to call, but you trusted Hoseok with your life and you knew Namjoon would be in the studio all night. Plus, if Namjoon ever found out you went to a party like this and got wasted he would kick your ass for it before telling your parents about it.

"Hey! Sleepy! Get in!" You heard Hoseok yell from across the road, he was standing beside your range rover waiting for you to get up and unlock it. You'd brought your car not thinking you were going to drink but once you got there drinks were being handed to you and out of peer-pressure you caved into drinking.

"This is smart you know," He said taking your keys from you and getting into the driver's seat, you looked at him as you got into your seat and laid your head down.

"What is?" You slurred trying to focus on him but your eyes kept drifting onto other things thanks to the alcohol levels in your system that were starting to make it hard to see things clearly.

"Getting someone else to drive for you, though I don't see why you choose me." He let out a breathy chuckle but you just giggled at him,

"I know why I choose you." He cocked an eyebrow at you and smiled,

"Oh yeah? Why is it then?" You tapped your noise putting on your best British accent and said,

"Spoilers Sweetie," He chuckled at you as he turned around the corner to your house and you smiled back at him not wanting to be home so soon.

"Your brother will kill me if he ever finds out I did this," You nodded in agreement with him, Namjoon would have both of your heads on a stick.

"Then I guess you'll just not tell him." You laughed sitting up straight when you saw the living room light was still on meaning your parents were still awake.

"Stay here, sober up a little and then I'll walk you home and say you've been with me practising." You thanked him and began questioning him on how practice was going. You and Hoseok had always had a special connection, you got along with him really well compared to the others.

(X)

"So why did you choose me?" He questions an hour later as you were getting ready to get out of the car, you still weren't sober but you were stable enough to head inside without tripping over your own feet.

"Because I fancy you, which is stupid considering you're my brothers best friend." You leant over the middle of the car and stared him in the eyes,

"You're just cute," You bopped his nose before staring at his lips and leaning closer, he stayed still as he watched you until he felt your lips on his and his eyes fluttered shut.

"Shit, Y/n. No." He pulled away and you started tearing up at the thought of him pushing you away from him like that,

"Just forget this happened." You got out of the car and sprinted into the house before he could ask you to wait.

(X)

The next morning you walked into the kitchen to see Hoseok sitting at the breakfast bar drinking a mug of coffee while your dad was leaving for work.

"Hoseok? What are you doing-"

"We invited him to stay after he dropped off your car keys, fancy forgetting that you drove to the BigHit building." You dad laughed kissing you on the head and leaving without a goodbye, you awkwardly poured yourself a cup of coffee.

"About last night..." Hoseok watched you closely trying to see if you were going to regret kissing him,

"I erm..I'm sorry I kissed you and told you my feelings, I know it's weird cause you're Namjoon's friend and I'm just his dorky younger sister..."

"You're not just Namjoon's dorky younger sister, you're the girl I've had a crush on for a while but again...You're Namjoon's sister it would-"

"Be too weird?" You whispered looking at him with heartbreak in your eyes, but he shook his head.

"It'd be too weird if I didn't talk to him first and now I know that you want me to I will try." He promised you pulling you closer to him and smiling at you, he ran his hand over your cheeks.

"How's your hangover?" You shrugged your shoulders as he kissed your forehead lovingly.

"Not too bad," He smiled and kissed your forehead once more.

"Good, I'll go to the studio and talk to Namjoon about asking you on a date, if he says yes...Would you like to go out sometime?" You giggled at him and nodded watching him get up from the bar stool and leave the house.

Namjoon: ~ You kissed me at your door pulling me close, begging me to stay over

You and Namjoon hadn't been dating long when your best friend decided to throw a birthday party for herself and begged that you go along despite parties not being your thing. Namjoon had agreed to go with you even though they weren't his thing either and you had both planned to find a room in the house to go and sit alone together, just ride out the party to make your friend happy but that wasn't how it had happened. The moment you walked through the front door of her house she handed you a drink and demanded you drink it in front of her, then it was just one after the other until Namjoon lost count and you were swaying from side to side. Now you were standing in a bathroom holding your head,

"I want to go home Joonie," You whispered not wanting to be there any longer, it had been two hours of non-stop drinks and drinking games all ending in your having a drink but your best friend wasn't even drunk yet.

"I'll take you home, you don't have to do this if you don't want to." But he knew you were the type of friend that wouldn't say no to someone if you knew it would make them mad or upset, he brushed the hair from your face and walked out of the bathroom with you.

"Where are you going?! We just started!" Your friend yelled handing you another drink but Namjoon took it and put it down on the side explaining that you were too drunk and he was going to make sure you got home safe.

"Text me!" She called going back to the kitchen as you and Namjoon walked out of her house,

"Thanks, Joonie," You slurred and he bent down so you could get onto his back and he could piggyback you down the road to your apartment.

(X)

"You seem to have sobered up a bit." He laughed as you brought him down for another kiss in front of your front door, he'd stopped off at a small food place to get you something to eat and some water to sober you up and you were already feeling better,

"I am." You whispered kissing him once again and putting your hands into his long brown hair, you tugged on the strands a little and he let out a groan of pleasure which made you smirk.

"You should stay over Joonie," You teased running your finger down his chest and towards the waistband of his pants tugging at them a little. It wouldn't be the first time he stayed at yours or you stayed at his, you'd done it a lot since dating but it would be the first time staying when you were drunk.

"You're still intoxicated, it would be wrong." He told you as he took your wandering hands away from his waistband and put them back by your side.

"Well, will you just stay with me, sleep next to me? You know I sleep better with you here." He agreed and walked with you into your apartment and smiled as you went to make you both a hot drink to unwind with.

Jimin: ~ Tripped down the road, walking home

Jimin was just as drunk as you were so you had no idea why he was the one walking you home when Namjoon was the sober one of the bunch,

"Shit." You giggled as you fell over at your driveway, you scratched your knee on the pavement cutting open the new jeans you'd gotten and bleeding a little.

"You okay!?" Panic overtook Jimin's body and it was as if he hadn't touched a single drop that night, he was down on the floor next to you looking at your knee to see if you needed to go and see someone.

"Jimin it's just a cut," You hissed as he ran his hand over it and shook his head telling you that he needed to go into your apartment and help you out.

"Is this just another lame excuse to get me into bed?" You joked as he walked you into your kitchen and sat you on the kitchen counter. You and Jimin had always been flirting with one another back and forth and it was just a normal thing between you now, though you were only friends with the boys there was just something with Jimin that made it different.

"Shut up, you could have an infection." You watched as he walked around your kitchen looking for something,

"What are you looking for?" You questioned not offering to help in any way,

"First-aid kit?" You nodded at the top cupboard and he reached up for it and came back over to you sitting down on the barstool while he cleaned up your knee.

"There's no chance of affection-"

"Shut up," You hissed as he began adding rubbing alcohol onto your knee cleaning the blood up and then taking off bits of gravel from your knee.

"You could have hurt yourself, you need to be more careful." His voice was filled with concern and he was no longer the flirt Jimin that you loved to tease, he stood up between your legs and looked down at your face.

"I'm fine Jimin," You whispered but he cupped your face in his hands, rubbing his thumb along your cheek and then sighing as he stared down into your eyes shaking his head.

"You could have been hurt though, what if I'd let you go on your own? You could have fallen over worse than this." He grumbled frowning as he thought about you getting hurt, it hurt him to think about.

"Jimin, look at me I'm fine." He stared into your eyes searching them for any sign that you were lying to him but the thought alone of you being hurt was too much for him.

"I just never want anything to happen to you," You smiled running your hand over his cheek,

"Is this some weird way of flirting with me again?" You teased but he shook his head at you,

"This is some weird way of me telling you my feelings for you." You were stunned into silence and he groaned,

"I should have said anything-" He was cut short when you kissed him shutting him up and smiling when his hands held onto your waist.

Taehyung: ~ ripped jeans and a cup that you just downed, take me where the music aint too loud

The house was rammed full with people it was hard to move around to find you but Tae had to find you, you'd called him in a state of panic begging for him to come and get you and he couldn't stand the thought of his girlfriend somewhere she didn't want to be. But when he found you you were standing in the kitchen in your ripped black jeans and a white shirt downing drinks looking happy as can be,

"Tae!" You slurred dropping the cup full of liquid you were holding and wrapping your arms around his neck but he wasn't hugging you back he was just staring at your shoulder.

"You sounded scared," You nodded wiping your mouth on your sleeve and pointing over at a group of girls all staring at you,

"I was but they found me and gave me this drink, and let me tell you it makes my head hurt but I feel better." Taehyung began pulling you through the cramped hallways and towards the bathroom he'd seen on his way to you.

"You don't drink much, why did you just accept drinks from people you don't know and where's your best friend?" He grumbled pulling you into the bathroom and sitting you down on the edge of the bathtub. You looked up at him and drunkenly giggled,

"You're cute from this angle." He rolled his eyes at you and then ran the cold tap telling you to drink some water from it,

"The music isn't so loud in here, it's nice." You whispered loving being able to hear your own thoughts for a little while. Taehyung smiled softly at you and sat down next to you on the edge of the bathtub.

"Thank you for coming to get me," You told him as you turned off the tab and wiped your mouth on a towel,

"It's alright, I'll take you for takeout when we're done in here," You frowned pointing out that you had just drunk water when he started counting, a wave of nausea took over your body and you were on your knees in front of the toilet clutching onto the bowl for support while Taehyung stood behind you and rubbed your back soothingly.

"Let it all Jagi then we'll go get food." He chuckled as you groaned about never drinking again.

Jungkook: ~ Don’t kiss my lips and please don’t drink more beer.

Jungkook was beyond wasted and it was starting to piss you off, he'd promised you that this would be a quick visit to the party but an hour later and you were standing in the corner waiting for him to come and get you.

"You okay pretty thing?!" You heard someone slur from beside you and you groaned moving away from the drunken excuse for a person and went to find your boyfriend on your own.

"Kookie?" You called out when you saw him playing beer pong in the kitchen,

"What is it?" He called out over the music scoring another point, he walked over to you while the other team was drinking and kissed your lips. You grunted at the smell of vodka on his breath,

"Don't kiss me, you're wasted. Can we go now?" You questioned looking over at his friends who were all screaming for him to come back to their team.

"One more game baby, then I'll go."

You watched the 'one more game' as it turned into four more games before finally the tenth round had started and Jungkook was drunker than before.

"Jungkook I'm leaving," You told him and walked out of the kitchen hearing a bunch of ''Ooh's'' coming from his friends as he followed after you.

"Why are you such a buzzkill, I told you it was a quick stop." You got into the car without saying anything and started it up,

"Y/n. Don't ignore me, I hate it when you ignore me and you know it." You did up your seatbelt and stared at him,

"I'm going home. Take a taxi if you're going to stay," He glanced at the clock on the dashboard and then he realised that he'd fucked up.

"Shit...Baby, I'm sorry, we totally missed dinner and-"

"Jungkook, it's whatever. Are you coming home or are you staying?" You hoped he was going to get in the car with you and go home. He opened the door and got in the passenger seat, laying his head on top of yours on the gear stick.

"I'm sorry...again." He did nothing but say sorry the entire drive home and then for the rest of the night he continued to say sorry until you finally told him to shut up and go to sleep.

Tagline: 

@writingdreamsnottragedies @yoongisdumplingcheeks @snowy-meowl @lynnthevirgo @jooniesdarlingdimples @chimchims-stories-and-tales @fan-ati--c @lyoongx @mitzwinchester @callingmyangel @rjsmochii @btsiguess-kpop​ @kneel-begyourpardon​ @taestannie​ 

[rosethornewrites]

T and G rated fics I read this weekend!

This is all The Untamed/MDZS fics.

So I learned last week that I can only add 100 links. And I read over 100 fics 😬 so now this is gonna be two posts. Additionally, I’ll likely start posting these daily from now on. It just gets to be a lot.

Finished:

Tumblr Fics:

BEETOBER 2021 DAY 2 - EARRING, by @bloody-bee-tea

Rated T:

find a home in him, by makebelieveanything and nerdzeword

“Come on a-Cheng, let’s go,” she prodded, gently ushering him out the door as she handed off jackets to both boys.

“Why the fuck is he always doing stupid shit and making us run after him for?” Jiang Cheng complained as he shrugged into his jacket, Lan Wangji donning his own in silence.

“Wangji?” Yanli prodded gently. “Are you alright?”

“... what if we never find him?”

“We will,” Yanli said confidently.

or Modern AU where Wei Wuxian runs away from his foster home when he turns 18, and it doesn't end the way he planned.

My Brother's Keeper - Purple Years (The first stage of grief), by ArchiveWriter

Set after WWX plunges from the cliff after the battle at Nightless City. The ramblings of Jiang Cheng's mind in the first stage of grief, flicking back and forth between the past and then.

thank you, drunk me, by carmiemaybe (glazedlilies)

Or where Lan Zhan is confused at Wei Ying's behaviour after the previous, drunken night's events.

This Grave Will Not Be Mine, by Rana Eros (ranalore)

The Burial Mounds' claim to Wei Wuxian has been superceded.

Qinghe Jue, by Merinnan

Nie Mingjue promised to protect his brother. He wasn't going to let qi deviating and dying at Jinlintai stop him from keeping that promise.

With What Proof, by Preludian_Staves

"I know he did it!"

"What proof do you have?"

Meeting the Family, by sami (part of a series)

Wei Wuxian has a secret.

I’ll stick to my single-log bridge till it’s dark, by autumncolour

Can’t anyone give me a nice, favorable road to walk on?

Lan Wangji leaves the Burial Mounds. Wei Wuxian gets drunk. The night in Yiling is clear and dark, and full of thick, half-understood longing.

Love Me on the Sunlit Grass, by Eliza (second in a series)

Zizhen will always be there when Jin Ling calls in a panic about his uncle.

the mutability of survival, by tunnelOFdawn

All the ways Lan Zhan, Wei Ying, and Jiang Cheng could have died in canon.

i'll keep walking, by justdoityoufucker

Wen Qing died.

This, she knows; from the painful lick of flames to the unavoidable choking that came with the smoke to the wickedly satisfied grin on Jin Guangshan’s face before she closed her eyes the last time. She hoped, those last few moments, that it would be the end. Wei Wuxian would be free, and the last remnants of their family would be safe. She hoped that Wen Ning wouldn’t feel any pain, when the time came for him to follow her.

-

Or, the one where Wen Qing ends up in the past and fixes the future.

Rated G:

天涯之外 / beyond the world's end, by yuer (vintageblueskies)

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji says, his voice cracks open in a way Wei Wuxian has never heard before. He crosses over to where Wei Wuxian is still sitting; Wei Wuxian starts to scramble up, but Lan Wangji just shakes his head, gets to his knees next to him. And isn't that something? The untouchable Hanguang-jun on his knees in the Burial Mounds, dirtying his pristine robes to sit next to Wei Wuxian.

-

or, lan wangji returns to the burial mounds

Song of My Heart, Mate of My Soul, by SakuraKage

The Gusu Lan are said to have an innate connection with music. The Gusu Lan are also said to love deeply – with their whole soul – so deeply that they seem to only be able to fall in love once.

Lan Wangji knows these rumours. He also knows the truth, or close to it, as it has been handed down through the generations. Their connection to music runs far deeper than the other sects could dream. Every Lan heart contains a song, a musical piece that encapsulates the very fiber of their being, and it only comes to life under a specific set of circumstances. The parameters to unlock your heartsong are highly disputed, but the generally accepted condition to fill is … to meet your soulmate.

see your face, hear my voice in the dark, by arypls

Wei Wuxian is having trouble falling asleep but Lan Wangji is there with gentle words and soothing touches to show his husband he's no longer alone.

If I knew what safety looked like, by askanis

Beautiful, brave Wei Ying is waiting for Lan Zhan to tell her she cannot be all of who she is. She will listen, if Lan Zhan says this. If Lan Zhan even looks uncomfortable, Wei Ying will take this back and never mention it again. Will pretend that this is not her truth, perhaps until she believes it herself.

And Lan Zhan will never get to fully see Wei Ying for who Wei Ying is.

underneath the magnolias, by krizzlesandblues

Summer in Cloud Recesses means iced fruits sent by merchants, more practical trainings for juniors, with some of them catching up on their lessons.

But for the youngest members of GusuLan Sect, summer means classes under the big magnolia tree.

Word Up, Talk the Talk, by Larryissocute

It wouldn’t have been a problem (it really wouldn’t) if they weren’t best friends. Wei Wuxian doesn’t know what good deeds he did in his past life to be blessed with Lan Wangji as a friend nor does he know what evil things he did to be cursed with being only a friend to Lan Wangji.

Or the one where Wei Wuxian kisses Lan Wangji and then runs away.

Hai Shi — Sleeping Hours, by Saint Er (wwxsays_er)

It's right before bedtime, when a drunk Wei Wuxian shows up on Lan Wangji's door, and suddenly, this has now become Lan Wangji's problem.

In the Silence, by XianleDianxia

With his husband and son on a night hunt, Wei Wuxian is left to his own thoughts. His temperament is not as calm as Lan Wangji would like it to be.

intervention (how to convince your very gay brother that he, is in fact, gay), by okok29

"You guys hold hands all the time around campus and he takes you out to brunch every Saturday. He even brings you roses," Jiang Cheng emphasizes.

"Yeah, as bros do!" Wei Ying says cheerfully.

jiang cheng tries to forcibly drag wei ying out of the closet.

No Regrets, by Sarehz

Lan Zhan gives his forehead ribbon to Wei Wuxian as a sign of his love.

Look Down to Reminisce About My Hometown, by Nadat (one-shot series)

A collection of short stories following a Promptember list; will add tags and alter the rating as appropriate. It will be mostly live action show canon but I may borrow here and there from the book if something strikes me.

jin ling's uncles and aunts, by saheeli

jin zixuan invites all of jin ling's uncles and aunts to his birthday party. there are more than he even thought possible.

Helianthus, by tinykira

"Say, Lan Zhan. Do you know that when people die, they become plants?"

~

The Jingshi, which was formerly called as The Gentian House, is now also full of sunflowers.

Magical Marriage Ribbons, by starandrea

But consider this: the Lan forehead ribbons are magical, and the mountain knows it. (It takes Wei Ying less than a day after Lan Yi’s cave to realize more than just her wards consider him family.)

Or: If you’re accidentally betrothed to your classmate in a mostly legitimate life or death situation, how long can you wait to tell him before he finds out by accident?

their mothers sons, by silversshadow

In one world Jiang Fengmian gave Wei Ying more attention than he did either of his own children. In this world he can barely look at the child.

A series of short looks into a different timeline.

You blow me away, by silverclaw

Lan Zhan’s neighbour is playing a song that has been stuck in his head for ages. The neighbour just so happens to be the singer of said song and he’s supposedly laying low.

Echo Of My Heart, by ColdBloodedReptile

A short insight of Lan Wangji's thoughts during Dafan Mountain, CQL version.

And the scene in Jingshi before Wei Wuxian wakes ft Lan Sizhui.

A new score, by Lhaewiel

Wei Wuxian does not know this new score. It is evening, Gusu looks like a painting during this time of the year, with snow slowly falling down and covering the court outside.

Parallel Lines, by Sarehz

Wei Ying: Lan Zhan is going to break up with me!

Nie Huaisang: No, he's not. But please tell me in great detail why you think that.

Jiang Cheng: [Unfortunately sharing an apartment with Nie Huaisang and therefore has no choice but to listen] Please leave me out of this.

Why Wei Ying Shouldn’t Matchmake, by PrinceJakeFireCake

Lan Wangji is NOT jealous of Jiang Cheng. He’s just trying to figure out why Wei Ying likes him so much. Wei Ying thinks it’s great that Lan Zhan has a crush on his brother. (Hint: he does not)

to home, by Guinny (4 chapters)

'My Wei Ying,

It seems that we are winning the war. Wait for me. I will come home. I will come home to you. We will spend the rest of our lives in peace. Far from all of this. In a place that is quiet and there's only us.

Yours,

Lan Zhan.’

if you love him, never let go, by cloud_wanderer

three times lan wangji let go, and the one time he swore to never do it again

Hard to forget, by Lucky_Moonly

“Aiya sorry for interrupting what must be a very interesting read,” a boy who seemed to be a first year as well, cheekily exclaimed, before he smiled widely at Lan Wangji and he stepped inside the compartment. “But did you perchance see my pet axolotl? He’s black and he’s missing one of his front legs!”

in sickness & in flames, by talesfromthecryptid (2 chapters)

the one in which lan wangji has a cold and wei wuxian fusses over him and falls even more in love with him, something he didn't even know was possible but oh, it really is.

learning and the dead, by northofallmusic (tofsla)

In a small house of his own, after everything, Wen Ning works with his hands.

Unpredictable, by canis_m

If Lan Wangji had said a few more things while drunk in Qinghe.

Waited For Precious Moments Such As This, by Preludian_Staves

He would not trade these precious moments away for anything in the world.

Unfinished:

Rated T:

No Regrets, by AluraRose

Lan Wangji took a deep breath, centered himself, and swallowed his pride.

“I apologize.” He bowed low to Jiang Wanyin and held it. “I wish only to help your brother. I humbly request access, and give my word that I will touch nothing and speak to no one of what I see.”

“I can’t just let you in there!”

“Even to save Wei Ying?”

And suddenly the wind seemed to go out of the sails of Jiang Wanyin’s anger. “I can’t” he repeated more quietly.

In order to save Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji must first convince Jiang Wanyin to trust him.

Your Name On My Chest, by Director_XuanWu

Lan Wangji is the president, at the beginning of his second year on his first term.

Wei Wuxian, his ex fiancé, was dishonorably discharged from the military because of a well hidden scandal.

They meet again after 13 years. Lan Wangji will drop everything for him. Wei Wuxian will sacrifice himself for him again. What does it take to finally be together? Too many goodbyes, too many heartaches. Yet they conquer all.

Whatever it takes, by Moonlit_dewdrops

Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian are sent back to the past. This time, they can save everyone they love. They can make the right choices. They can learn to trust one another. However, everything comes with a price.

underneath your skin, by tardigradeschool

Wei Wuxian falls into the Burial Mounds. His body walks out.

White Flames in a Red Sky, by ZipZapZop

Maybe it hadn’t been a good idea to run away in the middle of a snowstorm.

OR

Wei Wuxian needs help, but he can’t understand that for the life of him.

and so it goes, by doyeorem (pomellogranate)

"While a person is dead in one particular moment, they are still alive and well in all of the other moments of their life, because all of time exists at once."

-

In which Hanguang-jun is at Qiongqi Path, and instead of Jin Zixuan's death, he witnesses Wei Ying throw himself in the way of a punch from the Ghost General, and three swords - one of which is Bichen.

The Burial Mounds is enraged and offended, and many suffer for it.

Purgatory Divinity, by sinfulempire

"Your third and final mission is to rewrite history, Wei Wuxian."

In which Wei Wuxian, the son of the Heavenly Demon Empress, Cangse Sanren and the Celestial, Wei Changze has to rewrite history in order to prove himself worthy of the throne, however, this was a mission that he did not sign himself up for.

[WARNING!! WARNING!! System error, system erro-]

"What-"

Upon accepting the mission, Wei Wuxian found himself back in the past. He had returned to his 6 year old body accompanied by the system at the dingy streets of Yiling- far before Jiang Fengmian had found him and took him in.

Wei Wuxian was alone and surrounded by numerous hound dogs.

Rated G:

Coil Tightly, by Thunderstruck (Blueyed_Impala)

When Wei Wuxian stumbles across a shady pet store in the back alley of his new town he ends up leaving with a companion for life, and more than he bargained for.

Forced apologies, by Io_Palladium

Jiang Cheng confronts Lan Zhan after Wei Yings punishment and it changes everything.

[thebibliomancer]

Song of the Dark Crystal liveblog pt 26

Song of the Dark Crystal by J.M. Lee because Naia and Kylan are trapped on a mushroom with a snarling Skeksis Satirist. That’s a heck of a place to wait a whole weekend before continuing.

Last times on book: Kylan, Naia, and Tavra have been on a quest to find a bell-bird bone firca that they can use to warn all Gelfling about the Skeksis. There’s been complications and setbacks. Tavra is a spider now, due to circumstances. They have a fourth party member, a Grottan alchemist named Amri. And the Skeksis Satirist skekLi and an army of millions of spiders have taken over the Caves of Grot and the Grottan Sanctuary where the extinct bell-birds used to live. But the upside is that Kylan has trapped skekLi with him and Naia on top of a mushroom. Wait, that’s the upside?

Chapter 26

An epic mushroom top showdown, with musical finish

Kylan and Naia parted, flanking skekLi instinctively. Armed with the staff, the Skeksis’s reach was incredible. With the long weapon, he might even be able to sweep them both off the platform in a single move, should they be in the same place.

Naia says the game plan should be to get the staff away from skekLi but given that their equipment is Gurjin’s Sweet Metal Dagger and the clothes on their backs… outlook bad. Kylan instead wonders whether they should try escaping.

skekLi guesses Kylan’s thought and laughs that a Drenchen’s wings aren’t for flying (they’re more fins for swimming better) so Naia’d be lucky to save herself, let alone Kylan.

skekLi’s beak broke into a grin.

“Though we could then say you had fallen for each other! Ha!”

Oh snap! That’s the wit that earned him the sobriquet Satirist!

Just puns and dunking on people.

I assume he dunked on the wrong person and that’s why he’s in a cave.

The sweet pun dunk has skekLi turn his attention to Kylan briefly and Naia uses the opportunity to close in and… honest to god, she does a SHORYUKEN

Naia surfaced right inside the space made by his outstretched arms, then jumped, holding her fist up and clocking skekLi solidly in the bottom of his bill. His beak made a loud CLACK and he stumbled backward.

Amazing. Incredible. Another thing I’d like to see in puppet.

Apparently, I was right when I said that skekLi is the scrawny nerd Skeksis because both Naia and Kylan realize that he’s not a fighter. He’s bigger and stronger and has more reach but he’s uncoordinated in a fight.

Kylan manages to get inside his guard too and bites his wrist. Alas, he doesn’t get skekLi to drop his staff and the Skeksis also flings him almost off the mushroom. But nice try, Kylan.

While dangling, Kylan spares a glance down.

“I don’t mean to add to our troubles,” he said, “but the spiders are coming.”

You have a gift for understatement, Kylan.

Yeah. The MILLIONS OF SPIDERS are crossing the lake at the base of the petrified giant mushroom so they’ll be climbing up soon. And that will spell very bad times. Even worse times than being trapped on a mushroom with this nerd forever.

Kylan tries to get Naia to run because friends but she insists on not leaving him. Because friends. And because he’s their bard and the quest reward is an instrument and they’ll need him to play it.

skekLi finds this hilarious. Because what a cute quest. Adorable.

“Oh yes. The bone! The bell-bird bone from the Book of Raunip. Krychk told me of it, that you had a bone to pick. Ha! I’m sad to say, you won’t find it here. Poor, stupid Gelfling. All the bodies have been borne away, chewed up by ruffnaw and crawlies and time.”

I mean, he has a POINT. Its been about a thousand trine. On the other hand, the nests and feathers are still here, in flagrant disregard of good sense. So I don’t know what to believe.

But I like that skekLi saw the punpportunity and went for it. I’m still not sure how good he is at satire but he has a wit.

skekLi shifts into Chamberlain-energy PEACE PLEASE mode. He really is like a scrawnier quippier Chamberlain that even skekSil would bully.

He tells Naia if she surrenders and comes to the castle, he might see his way to sparing the other Gelfling. 

“We only need a little essence. A little, only a little. From you and your other half. In exchange, we would feed you. Care for you, as we have always cared for Gelfling. We need only a little to save our Emperor.”

Naia presumes that what the Emperor wants is to steal life from his Mystic counterpart and she won’t truck with that, if she knew what a truck was. But skekLi insists no, if the Emperor is dying then his counterpart is dying. And only special Gelfling essence can save them.

Kylan has serious DOUBT about this, especially how this all sounds too good to be true, and warns Naia that this Satirist is clearly lying. But on he rolls.

“That is what you want to do, isn’t it? Drenchen? Save the others? Save the Crystal? Save Gelfing - save Thra? To do so, help us save Skeksis. Look! We are not mad with Gelfling. Even when it bites us. We only want Drenchen twins, for reunion. Only a little. You would spare only a little, if it might save everyone… wouldn’t you?”

Kylan again objects that this is all pretty fishy, that if the Skeksis just needed a little, they only needed to ask. skekLi responds indignantly yeah like that would go over well. Just dress up nice, stroll into the village, ask to borrow a cup of life goo. Suuure.

Although, the more pressing thing is 1) they were draining Gelfling before they knew about Gurjin and Naia. That’s what set off this whole thing. Rian discovered that his girlfriend had been drained. 2) They don’t know that special twin essence would work. Aughra said it won’t. 3) This good of the many thing is pretty dubious when at this point I’m sure the Skeksis have killed more Gelfling than there are Skeksis and Mystics combined. 

That obliquely reminds me that I’m glad that the big prophecy didn’t get play in the Age of Resistance series. During Chamberlain’s PEACE PLEASE moment, he claims that the Skeksis just wiped out the Gelfling because they were scared of the prophecy that Gelfling would overthrow them. Classic fiction trope genocide backfire. You try to thwart a prophecy by doing a lot of murder and it blows up in your face.

But the series has it so that the Skeksis were exploiting the Gelfling long before they started drinking them, were drinking them before they started trying to wipe them out, and had messed up the environment with their exploitation of the Crystal. So, yeah. I don’t buy what you’re selling, skekLi! Not even at a limited time offer reduced price!

“But listen, Gelfling. Listen. Gelfling people entrusted the castle and the Crystal to the Skeksis. We keep it. We protect it. Dust the mantel, clean halls, and so on. All for free, with never thanks. So, least Gelfling could do is help the Skeksis when they can. What are two lives to all lives on Thra?”

Wow, he is really good at playing up sob story here. ‘Oh woe is us we have to live in a giant castle.’ When we’ve seen and we know that the Castle is/was stocked full of staff and guards and that the Skeksis go around to do a census and tithes.

But it doesn’t matter, skekLi was just saying sweet sounding words to fill space because SPIDERS ARE HERE

Dammit, you let him monologue and talking wasn’t a free action and now we’re lousy with spiders!

The Skeksis chuckled to himself, gnashing his teeth.

“Gelfling waited too long. Time to make a deal is over. Now the deal is only that both Gelfling come quietly, or Spriton dies.”

But but but but, killing time is also what Amri needed to do!

He calls over from one of the bell-bird nests, waving a tiny bone. Even just waving it blows some air through it, releasing an eerie tone that makes the spiders and the skekLi sit up and take notice.

“Play it!” Kylan shouted. 

“Play it? I’m no musician!”

“Just blow in it!”

“Oh!”

Hah!

Kylan: ‘It's a wind instrument, not rocket science, Amri!’

Amri: ‘What’s a rocket?’

Except it's not not as complicated as Kylan hopes.

A long soft note rang through the corrie. It was faint, and only one note, but it brought a chill to Kylan’s spine. The spiders that were closing in on the nest where Amri perched backed away, too close to the sound of breath in the bell-bird’s bone. Even the spiders on the cap trembled, whispering among themselves in hesitation and fear.

But the note did not grow louder, instead fading out as Amri lost breath. Kylan fidgeted in frustration, licking his lips. He knew if he had the bone, he could raise its song to fill the entire corrie. Amri was blowing too hard, or too soft - either way, it wasn’t enough.

“It’s too difficult! I don’t know how!” Amri called. “I’m sorry!”

And that’s why you have a dedicated bard. 

I like Kylan getting frustrated, seemingly not because they’re all about to be spidered, but because Someone Is Musicing Wrong.

He asks Naia to go get the bone and bring it to him but she hesitates to leave him alone. skekLi mocks them, because its what he do, and pokes Kylan with the staff in a patronizing way.

Which just unleashes the primal Angry Kylan within. He grabs the end of the staff and holds it so skekLi can’t pull it back (because he is the scrawny nerd of his group.

“I’m not a hostage,” [Kylan] growled. “And I”m not helpless. And I’m not weak! Naia, go get the bone from Amri and bring it to me. Then I will take care of the spiders and this Skeksis liar!”

Kylan has hit his ‘aren’t you tired of being nice? Don’t you want to go ape shit?’ point!

This is amazing, by the way! Kylan isn’t heavy enough to prevent skekLi from actually picking up the staff so he’s just clinging to it while skekLi waves it around trying to dislodge him. 

Another thing I would very much like to see in puppets!

Naia is still torn because she wants to protect her best friend Kylan and so splits the difference while still trusting him not to die if she’s not there for five seconds. She doesn’t fly over to Amri. She hasn’t flown at all and now is no time to stress test the wings. But she tells Amri to throw the bone to her.

Kylan feels like his heart is exploding with pride because Naia trusts him but uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Uhhhhhhhh

You want to THROW the plot critical item across a vast gulf? And its a tiny, hollow bone so it probably doesn’t throw all that well. Not aerodynamic, not very able to fight wind resistance. Is this a good idea? Amri isn’t sure its a good idea but he does it anyway!

skekLi slams his staff into the mushroom ground, breaking it in an attempt to dislodge Kylan. Which he does because Kylan is smart enough not to hang on for that. 

When the staff crystal breaks, the ringing distracts the spiders and the skekLi and the Skeksis can’t do much more than curse as Naia jumps off the mushroom to catch the bone.

Which is falling slowly because it has a web parachute on it?? Good job, Tavra! I don’t know when you learned to do that! Is it instinctual? Are you just that skilled??

Kylan now gets to taunt that Naia totally caught the bone and will be up to give it to him any time now. And skekLi basically goes NUH UH.

C’mon, man! Where’s the wit I briefly knew you for?

Kylan snatched one of the staff’s splinters, stepped, and threw it like a miniature spear. It made its mark, striking skekLi in the shoulder, sticking out like a pin. The Skeksis squawked and yanked it out, but Kylan threw another, and another, sticking him full of darts from his own staff.

Oh my god this is amazing. This is ridiculous and amazing!

“GRAGGGHHH!” roared skekLi. “Stop it! Stop it, Gelfling!”

“Or what?”

“Or - or - wait! Stop it, and! AND! Stop it and we’ll let you go! Eh?”

“I don’t think you’re in a place to negotiate!”

Oh my god it just got better! This is a truly ridiculous scene!

Naia DID catch the bone and she IS coming to Kylan but she’s being obviously chased by ohgodsomany spiders.

skekLi claims he’ll do something kind and orders the spiders away. Before leaning over the edge and just yanking Naia back up to this mushroom cap. 

He’s not good at fighting but he’s great at plucking Gelfling from places, I guess.

skekLi holds Naia up by the back of the neck and tries shaking the bone off of her but she refuses to let go. She throws it to Kylan and the Skeksis threatens to kill her if Kylan plays the bone.

Naia tells him to do it anyway because she’s figured she’s pretty safe from casual Skeksis violence since they need her for twin goo although skekLi is angry enough to go ‘yeah but what if no?’

We might be in movie territory where we have a standoff between a Gelfling, a plot item, and a Skeksis with a hostage except there’s a third party.

Tavra-spider was hiding in Naia’s tunic and runs out along skekLi’s arm and… GOD. She bites him ON the eye. Geez, Tavra! You don’t mess around!

So now we have Tavra-spider running around on skekLi’s head and him freaking out slapping his own head with his non-Naia-grabbing hand and this is all very silly. Also, very serious but very very silly.

And in this silly spectacle, Naia reminds Kylan to play the bone.

The note was a thousand times stronger than when Amri had tried. It filled the corrie like wind, or water, or fire. Its reverberations circling against the walls from the pool at the bottom and all the way up to the sky. As it echoes, it reinforced itself, growing louder and louder until the mountains themselves began to sing with its song.

And the bone flute works! The MILLIONS OF ANGRY SPIDERS just start falling off the walls in droves, Tavra-spider, confined to a spider body, falls off skekLi and does a dead spider impression with her spider legs folded under her. Buuuut it doesn’t affect skekLi as much and covering his earhole with one hand, he makes ready to smash Naia against the mushroom with the other.

I guess that makes sense! It sucks for the Kylan Crew but it makes sense! The Skeksis are aliens to Thra and logically (?? with magic bird bone flute crystal music) aren’t as affected by the song of Thra.

But maybe it just needs the right accompaniment.

The song of the bone-flute faded, but skekLi’s death thrust halted midair. A second note, then a third, vibrated through the corrie. The tones were deep. Primal. Voices, Kylan realized. As the tone-tone chant sank into the walls of the cliffs, Kylan picked up the bone-flute from where he’d dropped it. He played the instrument and found the single note joined the other two with no discordance. It was the song of Thra, after all - the song that would move mountains.

skekLi dropped Naia. She fell with a gentle thump, then climbed to her feet and stumbled away. The Skeksis was frozen where he stood, eyes wide and pupils tiny, panting so heavily that drool dripped from his open mouth.

Naia doesn’t dwell on being a second away from death just recently and notices the New Challengers.

Over on the edge of the corrie wall, urVa and urLii have reentered the plot and and filled the corrie with their song.

I love the Mystic song. I love it more when it saves Naia.

One held a tall bow, arrow nocked, though the point was lowered. There was no need to use the weapon while skekLi was held immobile by the bone-shaking song. He twitched and jerked against the power of his other half. He could do no more harm to the Gelfing, at least for now.

Maybe a Mystic could keep a Skeksis in one place…

Aughra’s words echoed in Kylan’s memory.

This is really cool but its raising my expectations for the Mystics! I know they have other stuff they could be doing but maybe they should go around singing the Skeksis away from causing trouble! 

Plus? Now I’m imagining an urRu barbershop quartet!

[canyonmoonlily]

| What Goes Up |

live! on tour series

A/N: Here comes the Smut ;)

.....

“Y/N!”

“What?” your entire body lurched upright at the sound of your name. You could hardly see thanks to the blinding sunlight streaming in through the unfamiliar window. You hardly remembered what the hotel you were staying in looked like you’d been so inebriated the night before.

“Alarm!” The same voice that had woken you from your slumber called from beyond the closed door. Oh. It was only then you noticed Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin was playing very loudly. At first, it had worked great as an alarm but you’d grown used to it and could sleep through it like a pro now.

The voice that had called for you to turn it off must’ve been one of your bandmates. According to your phone, it was already 10:30 am so you might as well start your day. You stretched and moved to get out of bed after turning it off only to find you are, in fact, stark naked.

Oh fuck. Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.

You hurriedly grab your robe you’d hung on the bathroom door and wrap it around you. You were scared to look in the mirror and see hickies or some indication of promiscuity from the night before. You had nothing against sleeping around, but considering you’d still only ever slept with someone once, you weren’t usually bold enough to sleep with a stranger. Which only means that if you did, in fact, have sex last night it was with someone you knew.

Like Harry.

The last thing you can remember is Harry singing along with George Harrison’s voice as you cried into his chest. Like the emotionally unstable psycho you are! your brain added.

You ripped the metaphorical bandage off and took a glance at yourself in the bathroom mirror only to find no evidence that anyone had touched you the night before. You also didn’t feel sore other than a slight headache. Considering you hardly ate, it took nothing for you to get drunk so hangovers were never really an issue for you.

You feel like you’d know if something had happened the night before. It had been a hot minute since the one and only time you’d had sex before. The only obvious differences in your appearance seems to be the absent of the makeup you’d worn the night before and your clothing. Had Harry taken off your makeup for you? Your chest contracted at the thought of him taking the time to play caretaker to drunk you.

Then you remember the way he’d kissed Kendall the night before, and remind yourself that despite the Game Night events, you were only friends. And that was all you’d ever probably get out with him. You needed to place your mental emphasis on the fact that you had him in your life at all and be grateful for that. There was no point in stringing yourself along on the hopes that one day he’d fall in love with you and the two of you would live some kind of happily ever after. Your life was far from a movie and you were far too old to be entertaining such fantasties anymore.

....

Harry watched you slip out of the green room with a heavy heart. You were like no one he’d ever met before. Last night, with all of your drunken ramblings and your little hands grabbing at his hair, calling him pretty. You had laid with your head in his lap for hours, going on about everything from George Harrison to the inherent good or evil of human nature.

He’d gazed at you adoringly, laughing the night away while the party died downstairs. He’d left Kendall alone but he wasn’t worried about her, she knew he didn’t love her. It was purely a publicity stunt, as always.

Harry shouldn’t love y/n. He knows this. Columbia records was considering signing a deal with your band, a major one that would launch your group even further into music stardom. You’d only released one album, and already had a huge fan base. Harry’s opinion the matter was of great value to the record label, and he’d been given specific instructions not to go and “make any unprofessional or romantic connections with the three of those girls.”

Harry had agreed to those terms, but that was before he knew you.

The first time you stepped into the pre-tour production meeting room he thought he was going to vomit. You’d all stumbled in late, being scolded by your manager, John. You hadn’t noticed Harry was even in the room.

You were slightly shorter than average, with all of the right curves and long, golden hair down to your waist. You donned an old Ben Folds Five tshirt and high waisted denim. You couldn’t seem to keep your hair out of your face. Your bandmates looked pained every five seconds as you whispered what was clearly absolute nonsense into their ears throughout the meeting. The way your eyes sparkled with mischeif, your unabashed goofiness nearly smacked him out of his chair. You were nothing like what he expected when he’d been told he’d be touring with an all girl band. You were the most alive thing in the room.

He knew why you were upset. It was because Kendall was wrapped around him like a fucking sloth after tonight’s show in Cleveland.

His feet didn’t consult with his mind before he found himself following your fleeting figure.

“Y/n!” He called.

You stopped dead in your tracks, refusing to look back at him.

“What is it, Harry?” Your sweet voice was a bit hoarse.

“Where are you going?” Harry’s voice was small, reminding you of your younger brothers back at home. You felt the cold armor you’d wrapped around your heart bend a little.

“To bed.” You responded simply.

“Listen, Kendall and I...it’s not—“

“Harry I didn’t ask. You don’t know me an explanation.”

“I do, though. What happened after game night—“

“—doesn’t need to be talked about it again. I’ve already erased it from my mind. Your secret is safe.”

“Secret? Y/n what the hell are you going on about?” Harry’s voice broke a bit, at that you finally turned to face him.

“I know you probably don’t want her to find out about that—or anyone to for that matter. It wasn’t very professional of us.” The shining of tears on your face took Harry by surprise, as you’d melt your words void of all emotion.

“Y/n I don’t give a shit about her!” Harry nearly yelled. “Well, no, I do care about her but not in that way.”

You narrow your eyes at him. “Then why are you two making out every time I see you together? Harry, you’re not making me feel any better.”

“It’s a stunt. It’s for publicity. To keep the paps entertained.”

“Oh.”

“I....y/n, these last few months we’ve spent...” Harry can feel himself getting choked up as he struggles to meet your eyes. When he does, you can see he’s fighting back tears and you don’t know what you expect him to say next. “I think—no. I know that I am in love with you.”

Your breath gets caught in your throat. The skin tight, bell bottom jumpsuit you’re wearing seems to be 100000x tighter than you remember it being a few hours ago.

“You don’t have to say it back, you don’t owe me anything, I—shit. Shit I’m sorry.” His chin is wobbling now and the world’s biggest rock star is falling apart right before your eyes. But in a second, your lips are on his before the first tear can fall.

His whole body caves into yours, pulling you closer then you think you’ve ever been held in all of your 22 years on this planet. Your hands find his hair as his lips move in sync with your own. They’re soft and sweet and suddenly the only language you know how to speak. He is clinging to you like a man starved, though you know he is anything but.

“I love you. I thought it was obvious already but, I’ll say it a million times if you need to hear it: I love you. I love you. I love you.” You day in between kisses. Harry pulls away slightly to meet your eyes and can feel himself going cold. “What?” Your brow furrows at his expression.

“I just never want to forget the way you’re looking at me now.”

Then your back is against some nearby wall and his lips are on yours again faster than you can register anything that’s happening. The kiss swells into something more urgent, more passionate than before as your tongues begin their dance. His hands are everywhere, and you forget where yours end and his hair begins.

His lips begin trailing to the underside of your jaw and a moan slips out before you can stop it. He groans a response, and you swear you can feel something hard pressing against your lower stomach. Harry’s entire body has caved into yours, you standing on your tippy toes to press yourself more firmly against his willow-y frame.

“Shit-shit. Harry, someone could see—“ it suddenly dawned on you that you’re just passionately making out with in the middle of the hallway.

“Oh—oh.” Harry’s brows furrow and you see a glint of hurt in his pretty green eyes. You gently cup his face.

“No, I don’t mean it like that!” You whisper yell the reassurance. “You know I’d love to be seen with you. I just, H....I’m insecure about this kind of stuff.”

Amusement paints a pretty smirk on Harry’s face.

“You mean....sex?” He teases and you swear you could wrap your hands around his throat and throttle him if you had another 5 inches of height and actually stood a chance.

“Yes, sex, now come on.” You mock his accent and tug him away from the wall, the two of you giggling like horny teenagers.

...

Within a minute Harry has you pressed up against the door of his private bus. He’s fumbling with the strange lock and kissing you like he’s dying at the same time. You’re floating.

Once the latch clicks into place, your feet leave the ground again and your laid against something soft. The warm lighting is hitting Harry in a sinful way—he looks like the color gold personified and he’s smiling at you like you’re the Sun. He towers over you and you’ve never felt smaller. You start to wrap your arms around yourself but he stops you.

“Just let me look at you for a sec, y/n/n.”

With one last heated look he dives back into you and you’re a mess of tangled limbs again. You can feel his hands ghost over your clothed breasts and his lips ghosting over your neck again.

“God, I can’t get enough of your neck. Ya’ve got tha prettiest neck ‘ve ever seen,” he groans with a grind of his clothed, hard cock into your own clothed heat. You’re making noises you’ve only ever made before that time after Game night. And you know you’re ready to give it all to Harry. Anything he wants from you you’re willing to give.

His hands roughly grope at your breasts and you nearly scream. He’s pulling his shirt off and unzipping the top of your jumpsuit before you can do it again. Harry sucks in a breath of air at the sight of your naked chest.

“God—those tits. Just like I imagined ‘em,” he says before taking a nipple in his mouth, suckling on you like some animal. You whimper under his attention and he stops briefly.

“Angel, is this alright?” Harry looks into your eyes and holds your gaze.

“Yes, yes. T-take what you want from me.” You nod vigorously and submit yourself to him. His response is a growl you feel travel straight down to your core.

He goes back to your breasts, leaving lovebites and growling out the occasional “mine.” His lips trail down to your hips, right above your pelvis as he shimmies the rest of your jumpsuit off your legs.

Then the warmth of his breath is on your pussy and a single kiss is pressed to the front of your lace panties.

“H, you don’t have to—“

“I want to. Please.”

You nod and gulp. At this point, Harry’s seen more of your body than anyone else has and seems to be enjoying it. The only other time you’d had sex all the lights had been off and there was next to know ForPlay.

“I’ve just never had someone—do that.” You offer you an explanation. Harry freezes.

“No one’s ever eaten you out?” He asks incredulously, his head poking up from between your thighs. “What the fuck, why?”

Your cheeks heat up and you suddenly can’t make eye contact with him. “Well my ex, he and I only ever did it one time and he just...didn’t.” Harry nearly chokes on his own breath.

“You’ve one ever had sex once?” his hands are gripping your thighs now and he’s subconsciously moving closer to your face.

“Y-yeah. God this is embarrassing.” Your hands cover your now red face and tears gather in your eyes, lower lip trembling. This is not a conversation you wanted to be having but you also didn’t want to lie to Harry.

He pulls his hands away from your face and nearly crumbles at the sight of your glassy eyes. “No, no. Why is that embarrassing? You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” He coos softly, brushing away any tears that had fallen. You felt so small and seen in his embrace.

“Because I thought that maybe I was the problem? That something about me was ...off so he left me after we...you know.”

Harry audibly scoffed and cradled your face in his hands. “I’ve wanted this, I’ve wanted you for so long,” His voice is gruff and honest. “There is no one I’d rather be with right now. And that idiot ex of yours is a fucking madman because you’re never getting rid of me after tonight.”

You kiss him and feel something in your chest ache in an almost foreign way. You didn’t know you could feel like this. He kisses you back harder and the heat between you builds again. His hand cups your lace covered pussy and rubs gently over your clit and you jolt. His lips trail back down to your heat and before you can register what is happening his nose is pressed against your mound and inhaling you like some meal. A growl resonated in his chest and he begins tugging your underwear down your legs.

His tongue delves into your folds gently, teasingly. He finds his way to your clit and then sucks the breath from your lungs. You go pigeon toed and nearly scream at his assault on your most private area. You’re making noises that feel foreign as they leave your mouth but Harry laps them up along with your heat. He’s growling and letting out little sweet comments about how good you taste and you don’t know how you’re going to ever look at him without blushing again.

“H, H I’m close,” you whine out, little body shaking under the weight of his arms holding your torso down. Your hips are bucking up wildly but Harry is comepletely unbothered, giving no indication that he’d heard you at all. It isn’t until he sucks un your clit with a new vigor that he makes his intentions clear.

You’re screaming, toes curling, his name falling from your lips so loudly you’re sure everyone in the stadium can hear you. You’re fucked and you don’t even care, Harry’s cooing in your ear as tears fall from your eyes, descending from your high. He pulls your body into his and whispers sweet nothings in your ear until you come back to reality.

“Are ye alright, angel? We could just go to sleep?” Harry asks gently, warm breath in your ear.

“No, no. I want you. I’m just a little overwhelmed because no ones ever...he didn’t... make me you know.” Your face is heating up again.

“Why are you still talking about sex to me like we’re in middle school, y/n?” He laughs loudly. “I just spent the last 10 minutes face first in your pussy. You can say the word orgasm around me.”

You can’t help but laugh but also swing an arm around to sock him in the chest but he catches your hand and steals your breath with a kiss. His hands slide up the smooth expanse of your back and he straddles you, caging you to the end with his body.

You buck your hips into his, a hand snaking down to palm his rock hard member through his briefs. It feels, much larger than you anticipated. He growls and ruts against your hand like an animal.

“Please, Harry...” your eyes are hazy with desire as they meet his nearly blackened ones. He whips his briefs off and settles himself at your entrance.

“Are you sure? You’ll be stuck with me after this.” He half joked, looking into your eyes with a choking intensity.

“I’ve never been more sure. Please.”

He lets out a loud cry at the feeling of your heat around him and you’re whimpering uncontrollably at the intrusion. But you love it, God it hurts but you love it. Harry had not prepared himself for how tight you would be. It was like bedding a Virgin. Your ex must not have been well endowed, Harry thought.

Harry can’t believe how good you feel, and he’s never been particularly loud, but he’s crying out with every movement. You’re trembling beneath him, whimpering and yelping. Both of you just consumed with the other. You take his hand and place it around your throat, and his eyebrows shoot up in an expression of utter shock. He grips your throat in his hand and builds speed quickly. Milking his cock in your tight heat.

“You feel so fucking good. You’re mine now, mine.” He growls through clenched teeth as his hips snap into yours. You’re practically in tears.

“Yours. Yours yours yours.” His cock has reduced you to a weeping echo chamber.

When the two of you climax it is like the clash of a symphony and he collapses into your body, holding you closer to him than anyone’s held you before.

As you drift off in his arms, one nagging thought plagues you,

What the fuck were you going to tell your bandmates?

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Maybe you’re not the worst thing ever

A new story based on this song->https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLYiyK7uqUE

So enjoy! It is based on the two's first meetings-ish. So they're all still getting to know each other.

You're frigid and demanding I shudder at your call

"Victor, move your ass! The wood isn't hauling itself."

"I am hauling ass and hauling the wood unlike you." Victor yelled back at the brunette shrew who roughly pushed past him with her much lighter load of cooking supplies and weapon belts. 

Ash ignored his words, the usual coming from her, and Victor grumbled to himself seeing a knife slip out from her pile. The wood dug into his neck, splinters digging into his sweaty skin as the hot burned down despite the shade of the trees. 

"You heard the woman, haul ass." One-eyed Sousa cackled, making a whipping motion as he walked past, carrying nothing. Dios, he hated that guy. He thought he was all that because he faced down the Captain of the Norburg Guard and lost his eye as a result. The eyepatch being a point of pride and a mark of being one of the toughest criminals in the Everrealm. 

If he didn't have this wood, he'd show Sousa a thing or two about his right hook. Make him No-eyed Sousa. As Victor thought his bitter thoughts, his boot got caught in a root. He struggled to keep his balance, managing to stay upright despite dropping a few pieces. He left them there. They were in the damn woods, there was firewood everywhere. 

As he stared ahead at Ash and Sousa before him, he knew he really wouldn't try to pick a fight with Sousa. There was a reason he was lagging behind with the woodpile with the likes of Justino, Mario and Luis. Together, they were a fearsome gang, but they weren't top dogs. Not like those two. They made the plans, stole the most money, more willing to stay and fight. They’d kill if needed. Victor bent down to pick up the knife, jogging a little so he could reach the cave that they were going to shelter in faster and dump the wood as well as give the knife back to Ash. 

It wasn't a gesture of nicety. She just needed to know that she wasn't so perfect. If not for the fact that she had a lot more knives she could throw back at him, he would have shown his knife throwing skills. Aim it at the tree she was leaning against, impatiently waiting for the rest of them to catch up. As if glaring at them would make them come faster.

He reached her side, touching her shoulder to grab her attention.

She slapped his hand away, a knife aimed at his throat, "Don't touch my body!" "I wanted giving you this." Victor responded, pointing a knife at her throat in turn. "Hmmph" She snorted, grabbing the knife, still looking at him suspiciously.

Victor rolled his eyes. She was always snippy with him whenever he came too close. As if he was going to try anything with her. He didn't like her that way. Sure, he may have had a few dreams about her and stared at her too long a moment but he was only human. He glanced back at her turned away from him. Hip jutted out as she ordered the other men about. 

She turned to the side, her silhouette perfectly reflected from the sun shining behind her. All those curves hugged in all the right places by her tight pants and corseted vest. All for practical purposes. She didn't need any loose fabrics getting caught in thorns. He loved that practicality. 

But that was where the attraction stopped. She yelled so much. Looked down at him for some reason. Which was a lie. He knew when she lost her respect. It was during the Cariza heist. As he ran out of the side entrances, bags stuffed with doubloons and precious artifacts, he bumped into a little orphan girl. 

He knocked over, and like a rookie, he stopped to help her up. It was a mistake, but it was just instinct. She had such big violet eyes and was so small. She was a kid. It had been a close call but he got away, the guards had no chance of getting on his heels once he wheeled into the labyrinth of side streets. 

But that little orphan girl. She had been a pickpocket. She cut a hole in one of his bags and he had left a trail of coins leading to them. They had to the bags there and make a run for it.

Ever since then Ash gave off the air that she thought him as a bumbling fool and he wouldn't stand for that. He had already been treated like a clown by the people in the palace growing up. Yelled at by Shuriki when she exiled him, his so called best friend doing nothing to help. Being called a disgrace as his parents kicked him out of their family once they learned of his part in the Shuriki plot. Yelled at guards for pickpocketing and thievery to survive. 

No, he didn't need that. Someday he'd get the respect he deserved by reaching the top. The top of what He didn't know. But he needed power for that. 

He looked at Ash again. If he was held at knife-point with no chance to escape, another thing he would admit was that he admired Ash for more than her looks. He admired her ambition. She didn't take crap from anybody. No one dared to disrespect her. She had presence, she had confidence in herself as she should because her mind was cunning. He liked how unlike Sousa or even Shuriki, she didn't make others do the work for her, she controlled the operation. She did the research, she found the entrances and exits, she took charge. 

She annoyed him with how she disregarded his abilities or use, yet when she talked of her plans for a new heist, he felt swept away by her. 

With her, he felt like nothing was impossible, they could achieve anything together. If only she realized that he was talented in his own right. 

Unlike the other men, he had come from nobility, son of the treasurer, he knew how to act among the upper class so as to infiltrate parties. He could charm the men and ladies, disarm them with only his words. 

His quick hands were not clumsy as the others. They may have teased him that with his pampered upbringing that he had soft hands, but he also had soft hands so as to steal people's pockets clean.  Yes, if anything she should be sticking by him instead of Sousa. 

In a platonic criminal partners sense. Not that it would matter much. He'd eventually screw her over so he could be on top. “Victor! Get the fire started!" Ash's voice cut through his reverie. Then again, maybe he was better off alone. 

Whenever you come near me My flesh begins to crawl  

Ash walked around the perimeter of the cave, the moon full in the air highlighted how desultory the woods were. 

Only owls and crickets chirped in the biting night. She looked back at the cave, the dying embers barely lit their faces but it was enough that she could see the men were fast asleep. As if their snores weren't enough indication. 

She sniffed the night air and started to walk into the darkness. She closed her eyes, knowing it was better to rely on her sense of smell to find the lake she had noticed as they walked through this area than be distracted by her sight. Yes, she smelled the fresh odor of natural water just ahead of her, then felt something brush against her shoulder. 

She paused, eyes flying open. Her eyes adjusted to the dark to find nothing. She slowly touched her shoulder and found a stray leaf. Ash growled at herself for her stupid cautiousness. 

She'd been alone ever since she was a child. Ever since Zopilote destroyed her village, she had relied on herself. She faced thieves, guards, animals and more. She feared nothing. But she knew that wasn't why she jumped at the leaf. 

It had felt like a man. 

It had felt gentle, like when Victor touched her shoulder to hand back the knife she dropped. 

She wasn't used to a gentle touch. 

It just...she didn't even remember the last time she hadn't felt someone touching her softly. 

She was more acquainted with tackles, punches, shoves and others among the like from living with criminals and running from the guard who didn't care about her gender when it came to roughing her up. 

Ash shook her head trying to banish any thoughts of gentleness from her head but Victor popped up again. Gentle. It was so like him.  

In the middle of a damn heist, he helped a child after knocking her over, and look what happened, he got nicked by a tiny brat and they lost all the loot they had worked so hard to steal. 

He was too soft. She saw the look in his eyes when he railed against his family and some friend named Esteban. Oh the anger and malice were there, but she also saw fondness when talked of happier memories. He wasn't hardened like the other criminals. He had had love in his life. He was more likely to show love to others too. 

He was a weak link and he'd bring down them all someday.

And yet there was something about that was intriguing to her. For a moment, when he touched her, she almost had wanted to lean into him. 

Not that she'd ever try again to find out. 

She had a mission to focus on. Even though this mission had been taking 27 years with nothing to show for it. It was exhausting and dejecting. She wanted a break. 

No, she couldn't go there. That was weak. She couldn't allow herself to take a break, she had to focus. She had discarded almost everything of her past, her old name-Azula, her innocence, everything that would bring back those painful distracting memories.  The memories themselves were harder to lose, but she was dedicated. She could force herself to ignore them through sheer will. 

She reached the edge of the lake and pulled out the tamborita she had stolen from a hermit wizard years ago.

She inhaled deeply and began to practice the spells she had memorized before Sousa carelessly burned up her book for fire two months ago. 

The magic thrummed through her veins, a raw burning rose in her throat. She felt her body ache and boiled as if lava was flowing through her, electric sparks, flying from her the tamborita. 

She looked at the water despite the watery tears from the power. Water helped, she could imagine she wasn't as fired up as she felt. 

But the magic was too much. It hurt too much. She couldn't concentrate enough to get the pain within her to concentrate itself into a blasting spell. 

She wobbled, falling into the water, gasping and cursing her weakness. She needed to do better if she was going to find Zopilote and convince him to teach her. If she could even find Zopilote. No, she'd get to that later. 

Now she had to focus on her own paltry abilities. She was pathetic. 

“Hey, is someone here?" An unfamiliar voice called and several light blue uniformed guards come out of the pine trees. 

The Norburg Guard! 

Ash dived under the water, holding her breath as long as she could, unhearing of what was going on above. 

But her lungs burned almost as much as the magic had, and she couldn't take it.

The need for oxygen pounded her chest and she rose up.  But sometimes, there are moments I'm not repelled at all Maybe you're not the worst thing ever  

Victor was not stalking. He had merely noticed that Ash who was supposed to be watching them had wandered off. That was never a good sign. 

It allowed them to be open to ambush by whatever was out there in the wild if a guard wasn't there to sound the alarm. 

Alternatively, she was hoping for exactly that to happen so she could be rid of all of them. Either way, he wasn't going to be suckered into that sort of trap so he followed her to see what she was up to. 

He had almost been caught, when she had paused suddenly he banged into a tree. But he kept his cool. He had been so confused when they ended up by the lake. She wanted a bath? 

Unfortunately, she did not strip off her clothes as he had been somewhat hoping for, instead she pulled out some strange wand object and began waving it around, muttering an indecipherable language.

It hit him where he had seen such a familiar image. Back at the palace when he was a boy, he had seen the royal wizard Alacazar perform spells for their amusement. It had taken, he, Elena and Esteban a lot of begging since King Raul and Alacazar had told them that Alacazar was busy doing spells for the protection of the good and couldn't be on call like a jester but sometimes that managed to persuade him. 

Ash was nowhere near Alacazar's level. Though there were few sparks flying, the brunette ended up diving into the lake before anything substantial came blasting out of the tamborita. 

Victor was at odds with what he should do. On one hand, it was clear that she didn't know what she was doing while he had some information that could help.

On the other hand, Ash was practicing magic which he was pretty sure the rest of the gang didn't know about. Especially Sousa. He would not look kindly to the threat of someone being more powerful than him. Maybe he could let it slip and become Sousa's right hand man, close enough to overthrow him when the time came. 

But then again, Ash had magic. He knew magic was a much easier way to get power than through fists. Shuriki had taken over Avalor in less than a day with a swirl of green clouds and a llevlqu spell. She controlled armies and controlled people like his cowardly ex friend, Esteban. 

If Victor had someone with magic by his side. If Victor had magic... He had never considered it before, he knew only the most learned men and women could become wizards after years and years of practice because they had access to the books and the chispas. 

But if Ash was somehow practicing in the middle of nowhere and on the run, maybe Ash could teach him as well? 

“Hey! Is anyone there?" A squadron of guards burst through the trees, killing the quiet of the forest with snapping branches and hacking away at bushes. 

Victor could see Ash had gone underwater but he knew she wouldn't last long. She'd have to come up for air sometime and the guards were closing in to examine the lake. The moment they saw her face, they'd know who she was. Wanted posters of her face were in twelve kingdoms. 

There were Wanted posters of his face too, less prominent than the others but maybe that would be enough to get their attention. 

"Over here, suckers! You don't even deserve your swords if you can't catch me!" Victor called out, waving his hand mockingly before running. He didn't dare look back, that was the best way to get distracted and fall, he just stared ahead, branches whipping face, needles stinging his eyes, but he didn't let up. His lungs ached but his legs never stumbled. 

He ran on instinct heading straight for the cave. He trampled hands and fingers as he ran into their hiding spot, raising anger and alarm in the den of thieves but he gave no warning of who he was running from. 

He headed to the back where a small crevice had been formed and shielded over by a plaster of rock. Thin enough to remove if needed but looked as solid as stone. He dove in, frantically digging himself into the cramped space before putting the plaster in front, cutting off any source of light. 

He heard the yells, the clashing metal of sword against daggers, the sound of skin cut and groans of wounded. He heard the curses aimed at the guard, at Ash, at him. He heard the sound of rhythmic soldier boots, pacing through the cave, methodically searching for any hiding places where he could have gone. Then he heard silence. 

His muscles popped and cracked as he untwisted himself from the tight space, thankful that his fear of getting caught overcame any remnant of his claustrophobia. 

He slumped against the cave walls, allowing himself to breath again and become reacquainted with his limbs. 

He began to berate himself for his foolish chase now that he had time to think about it. 

Was he crazy? Now that Ash and he were a gang of two, easier to run from the police, but less protection if they were surrounded. Neither of them were the best fighters when it came to hand to hand combat. And he was only assuming that Ash would stick around with him. Díos he had been so damn stupid, idotic. 

No wonder she thought of him as a fool. What kind of criminal rescues his partners? Why did he—

His thoughts were interrupted by the presence of another in the cave. Ash. 

Just like in the sunlight, her face was hidden in the shadows but the moon high in the sky behind her, framed her body beautifully like a nocturnal fairy creature, the water that clung to her body glistened. It made her look gorgeous, magical, unreal. 

But her blue eyes, the same color as ice pinned his green orbs to her, making him very aware that she was real and starting to come a lot closer into his personal space. 

She was searching his face for something, he couldn't imagine what? Was she trying to find some sort of mark to prove he was the idiot she imagined she was. If so, this ungrateful wannabe witch should know he wouldn't take such disrespect without a snark. 

"The common courtesy of when a person saves your life is to say thank you." Victor said, eyes firmly squinted into a glare. Ash's eyes stopped searching his face, and looked into his, "Why did you do it?"  "That's not a thank you." 

Ash glared. 

“I want to learn magic and become a wizard." Victor said, making it more of a command, leaving no doubt that he'd badger her if she turned him down. 

Ash's eyes grew wide and Victor grinned. Haha yes. He, the common thief, the fallen noble had stalked her to her "secret" magic practice without her even realizing it. 

She looked away with a huff. They stood side by side staring out of the mouth of the cave for longer than a few seconds that made Vicor uncomfortable. Was she going to say anything? Should he just chance it and leave? 

"I'm not a wizard." Ash said quietly, "I'm training to be a malvago." Victor tensed, trying to still a shudder than ran down his back. He had heard of stories of malvagos, the twisted wizards who only worked for themselves using dark corrupted magic. 

But another part of the shiver was not just apprehension of the dangerous magic that the woman beside him was toying with but intrigue. She was right.

Malvagos were evil to the wizards' good, and he knew he was cast out of the good 19 long years ago. Malvagos didn't live by any rules, malvagos could do whatever they wanted. Just what Victor wanted.

“I want to be a malvago." Victor corrected. Victor could see the side view of Ash's face with her disdainful scowl, "It takes dedication." "Which you don't have enough of because you failed." Victor needled. 

Ash smacked his torso with her tamborita, hitting a particularly sore spot he had strained from wood-carrying. 

"It is painful." She snapped. 

"I can handle pain." Victor shot back. “You're a pampered royal." 

"I've been a thief for 19 years. I've lost my softness." "The pickpocket girl." Ash pointed out.  

Victor cringed thinking of his blunder, but managed to twist the situation. 

"Better yet for infiltrating the nobles. I know how to act, how to talk. I'll blend in which is more than I could say for you. Plus I know several languages, how to find secret passageways in mansions and I cook." Ash raised an unimpressed eyebrow, “You cook?”   You're utterly disgusting I loathe your manly stink 

Doña’s lips curled into a sneer as Chancellor Esteban struggled to enter the carriage and close his umbrella at the same time without getting wet. 

He failed in both respects, the umbrella getting caught in the doorway allowing the wind and rain blown in more, splattering them both with its icy sting. 

Dona wrapped the shawl tighter around herself and looked out the window at the turbulent darkness and trees swaying unsteadily in the storm. Of all days to go to Córdoba for trade talks. 

However, business waited for no one and it wasn't like they were attempting to travel overseas in this weather. It was just going to be several bumpy, uncomfortable hours in a carriage with a man who was awkwardly moving around in the tiny carriage area and getting water all over her. 

With the limited room, Esteban threw the umbrella onto the floor and took off his jacket, shaking his arm out of its sleeve, water droplets flying everywhere with no regard to the fact that she was in the carriage too. 

This was so like him. So oblivious and self-absorbed. 

She had made no secret of how incompetent she found him in financial matters and that she'd much rather work alone despite their last few collaborations working for the better. 

But at least she was respectful enough to limit their conversation to business matters and ignore him in all other areas of life. At least she didn't jostle and bump into him as if she didn't notice his presence. 

Esteban managed to wrangle off his soaked jacket and sank into his seat with an audible huff of annoyance. He raked his hands over his bangs that were also sopping wet and dripping unattractively onto the upholstery and down his face.

The carriage began it's uneven ride, the abrupt start causing her to smack her head against the window she was leaning against. 

Her head pounded in time with the rumble of looming thunder and it matched her mood. She had been feeling at the most neutral about this upcoming event, figuring that she'd be more enthusiastic once she was in a room with a blazing fire and with merchants that she could actually talk to instead of this stuffy chancellor who seemed to move in perpetually state of panic or resigned dutifulness to the queen. 

But now, everything irritated her. Her head with a throbbing bump. Her hair felt strained against her scalp with bobby-pins. The rain was incessantly pounding like a hundred pebbles against the carriage that no amount of covering her ears would muffle the sound. The enclosed quarters where she couldn't move without entangling her legs with his. His overpowering, overused amount of woodsy cologne permeated the air, canceling out the much more pleasant smell of her jasmine perfume. 

And she was so unnecessarily wet thanks to Esteban.

Another splash of water dampened the edge of her gown as the umbrella Esteban carelessly dropped rolled around the floor. It was no matter, her dress was black and no one would notice, but she hated the feel of the soggy silk against her ankle. 

She felt the random streams of rain that still ran down her hair and neck and wiped it in disgust as some trickled it down her back before she could rub it dry. She closed her eyes, trying her best to keep calm at the less than pleasant feeling. 

There was no use reminding this annoying man to think of other people beside him, he'd only forget. 

She inhaled but all she smelled was the awful cologne filling her nose. It's wooden tang combined with the wet rain burned her nose, the sound of constant rain became more acute as the thunder grumbled louder. 

Sudden and unwelcome like the spontaneous outpour above, she remembered another time she'd been wet, and miserable, in much worse circumstances than this. She hated these flashback, memories she should be over with by now, it’s been 9 years, but she still could feel it as if it was yesterday. 

The thunder changed to the rumbling crash of flooding waters going over her, silencing all other sounds, numbing her body with its frigid temperatures as the waves dragged her down. 

Water, water everywhere. Water pushing and bowling her over, her eyes blinded by the sting.  

The water reaching down her throat, grabbing the screams and oxygen. Esteban ran his fingers through his hair once more and shook his head, the water hitting her in the face. 

That was it!  I see your mouth start moving And God, I need a drink  

And then, from out of nowhere, I'll look at you and think Maybe you're not the worst thing ever "Do you have to shake yourself like a dog? Who raised you?" Esteban’s carriage companion snapped. 

Lightning flashed at the moment, sending jagged shadows across her face, highlighting her furious green eyes sparking with barely concealed ire at him.

It's been one minute in the carriage and he wanted a drink. He knew he should have brought the two bottles of wine. One as a thanks to King Juan for hosting and one for himself to get through this. 

Honestly, she was being over dramatic over a few drops of rain. He was the one who had gotten soaked to the skin. He could feel his shirt clinging him to uncomfortably and hated the dark grey look of his once white pants. He was the one who had the right to be irritated. 

And who was she to ask who raised him? She was the one who constantly made jabs about how his royal upbringing made him lazy and ignorant of financial matters even though he had been doing very well in conducting and organizing the foundations of Avalor trade for the past 29 years. 

He practically invented the jargon. That was all him. No, he wasn't going to respond. Any conversation with her was going to be a headache. He had papers to study for the upcoming meeting.  

Esteban's teeth grinded together as he casually smoothed down his pants and went on to open his leather-bound ledger where he held his files for the event so he could begin to read them over. 

He quickly became absorbed in his work, crossing out lines and rewording paragraphs so demands would be more palatable even though Shuriki was asking for more jewels and materials than Avalor would be able to return.

However, Shuriki's demands must always be sated. 

Esteban felt a migraine come on as he thought about the last time he came up short from the trade deals. Shuriki had railed and yelled at him, not too bad considering they both knew she couldn't do worse or else lose the only one willing and competent enough to do the kingdom's paperwork so she could look at herself in the mirror all day. They both knew she could not execute him.

That didn't mean she'd wouldn't toss the painting of his abuelos and Isabel into the sea. Or tear it apart. 

Or a dozen other types of destruction she could imagine up and describe in detail with that cruel, knowing smirk on her face. 

Just thinking about it brought the pressure of guilt against his heart. His family in stasis, unknowing of his secret, of the pain Shuriki had brought to their beloved kingdom. 

Perhaps it was merciful but he hated to imagine that stasis. Happily staring at him through the pastel paint, shriveling up in flames and ending in the Spirit World. 

All because he had brought Shuriki to Avalor in a misguided attempt to gain power and defeat her. All because he hadn't worked hard enough to protect them. All because of him.

This had to go well or else she'd-"Will you stop that?" Doña’s voice hissed, cutting through his thoughts like a sharp teakettle. 

"What now?" Esteban snapped with an audible defensive edge from the thoughts that still consumed him. 

"Stop reading under your breath, I'm trying to sleep." she said. 

“I'm preparing for our meeting. Something more important than your beauty sleep." 

"It's called time management. I sleep at night, and rise with the sun so I finish all my work by mid-morning. It's something you should do instead of constantly scrambling around between your siestas." She put an sarcastic emphasis on siestas. 

Esteban bristled. She had no idea how hard she worked. No one did. 

She may think he was lazy but he needed those siestas because he couldn't sleep. Not when the silent night allowed his noisy thoughts run wild, usually to memories of a far-off happier past that he had no idea how much he'd treasure.  

So he moved on to less personal subjects than his sleep schedule. "The kingdom's future economic collaboration with Cordoba is at stake here." 

"Avalor's future collaboration with Cordoba will be fine. Don't act like it's so dire when it's Shuriki's favor you're so worried about." Esteban reeled back like a gut punch at how close to home that comment was. 

How he hated the truth that he was breaking his back to make this witch, this murderer happy and comfortable on her crystal throne and help her oppress the kingdom he had loved.  

And that this ice queen had also guessed the ulterior behind most of his actions. He wasn't going to tolerate it. She may be young and may not like be other wannabe lackeys who only wanted to smooze up to Shuriki and increase their own power. Or those council members that truly wanted to help but were to naive to last. She was competent, a deadly combination of useful, practical with ways to help the kingdom but not easily manipulatable. He could appreciate that in a co-worker, especially since she did make his work go faster since their collaboration. However....

He didn't want another person who could needle him and remind him of his misery. 

Worse than crabs

Worse than scurvy 

The morning sun rose and for once in her life, Ash was staying by a man who she was pretty convinced was her inferior in every way. 

A man who hummed under his breath as he cooked, who smiled at his little successes in pickpocketing, proclaiming he was a "Victor,"  who helped people up when he knocked them down, who saved her when he had no reason to. A true criminal would never do that. 

Yet when she had broke the surface of the water and saw Victor coaxing the guards to chase him, something..something giddy and strange entered her heart. 

No one had ever saved her before.

It just wasn't done. Criminals betrayed one another, they delighted in it, showing off their lack of loyalty and selfishness. 

Ash would never have done such a thing as risk her neck for someone else nor would she have wanted anyone to do the same. She could handle herself just fine. But Victor wasn't like that.

She was grateful that he saved her. She had never felt something like that when she realized what he had did. The feeling of relief, thankfulness, the feeling of safety. 

She hadn't felt that in a long time, and what's more was that she liked it.  What was worse was that she wanted more of it. 

It was like a break from the harshness of life.

“No," she reminded herself, "I don't need a break from the harsh world. I thrive in the harshness." Not that she wanted to be rescued. She wasn't going to be stupid enough to put herself in danger for no reason when she could handle situations herself. 

But he was cooking breakfast just for her. 

Something else no one had done for her and it was bringing the same happy thankful feelings she was trying to squish down.   It was so pathetic. 

So she busied herself with drying off her tamborita by the fire, forcing herself not to look at him cooking even though her eyes had a strange newly powerful pull to see what he was doing. 

She didn't look up when he handed her the food so he set it on the ground beside her. Only once he had gone to the other side of the fire to eat his breakfast did she pretend to have just noticed it. 

She hoped he didn't think she was trying too hard to ignore him. Then again, he couldn't guess that she was intentionally ignoring him. It's what she did on a regular basis. 

He knew better than to imagine her being soft to him, she was out of his league.

She ate the stew, surprised by how flavorful and rich it tasted. He really could cook! They should have put him on dinner duty more often, this was delicious.  She must have been looking too satisfied because she saw from the corner of her eye that Victor was smiling that foolish boyish smile that made him look younger than he was. 

Reminded her that he was untrained as a criminal, a rookie despite his 31 years on the street if he was making such stupid mistakes as helping someone when they fell. 

So Ash reluctantly set down the stew without finishing it and began to hunt around the area for weapons that guards may have dropped when hauling Sousa, Luis, and Justin away. 

Victor ambled up behind her, scouring the ground and talking, "So when did you begin learning magic? Why? I mean you're pretty tough on your own with a knife." 

Must he insist on filling the silence with conversation? Especially with that questions. Why did he want to know about her life, the whys and whens? They were criminals together. They did not need to know about their personal lives.

But she could sense Victor waiting for her to reply or else he'd just ask the question again. He didn't know, but it was just too personal.

Close her eyes and she could go back to that fateful day as vividly as if it happened yesterday. The screams of people losing their homes, their belongings, their lives. The crash of buildings. 

The crunch of her beloved mice's bones so similar to the squishing sound of her parents being vaporized. 

Ash shook her head, she never dwelled on that latter thought too long. It made her too emotional. If she allowed herself to think about it, she'd freeze, stuck in that awful memory just as she had been too helpless to do anything when she saw it happen.  She saw the buzzard's crooked nose, his dark wings flaring out and those vicious yellow eyes as he gleefully cackled at all the destruction. Zopilote, the malvago who ruined her world and her worst enemy. He was the reason she was trying to learn magic. 

So she could get close to him, ask him to let her be his protege. Surely, he wouldn't remember that helpless little girl. 

That way, once he taught her all his tricks and spells, she'd use them against him, and burn his feathers to the dust. Then she could go on to take over the kingdom if she chose to. 

She'd be the one and only. No one would dare to hurt her. They'd all fear her power. 

But to say that outloud. She could never. A personal vendetta. To save herself from helplessness. Her reasons were weak, emotional. Almost as soft as him. 

"I began to learn magic a few years ago when I stole a wizard's tamborita as for why... isn't it obvious? Power." Ash raised herself to her full stature which unfortunately was just a little shorter by the forehead since her heels broke and she had to make do with sturdy boots, "Power is all that matters if you want to make it the world."

Victor nodded knowingly at her statement, "Power is everything. I understand the feeling completely." 

She doubted that he experienced the same sort of pain she had suffered but she remembered.

Criminals didn't share pasts, too personal, too weak, but Victor tended to rail about his past. How his parents abandoned him when they found out his part in a coup d'etat. Exiled from his home. How he lost his entire world. He knew how she felt. 

Worse than lice or plague But truth be told You're growing on me just like mold  

And though, you're so annoying  

"Yes, I'm working for Shuriki's whims but it's the only way to get anything done." Esteban yelled, surprising both of them with his volume and by the rawness in his voice, the crack in it when he said the last word.  

He inhaled, but his voice still held a waver from the emotions tumbling forth from his words, "I-I don't want to. I don't like to work to make her happy. But I have to. I'm the only one in the kingdom who has the ability to help form the laws and legislate among a dozen other things that you don't know about.” 

“The laws that required cities to open homeless shelters and soup kitchens, the repeal of the whistling act punishing anyone who dared to "disturb the peace" by whistling, the creation of new cement roads to lower villages, that's all me. The only way I could do that was by suggesting these acts when she was in a happy mood.  It's a bargain. She's willing to "throw me a bone" if she has her silver mines and noblins. As long as I seem loyal and useful." Esteban raised his head, forcing eye contact with the woman across from him who looked frozen with shock.  Esteban slumped back, tiredness overtaking him as his emotions ebbed. He was so so exhausted. I tired of having to deal with this disdainful co-worker. So like all the others who sneered at him and dismissed his contributions. They would never know, no one would ever know all the work he did. It was what he deserved. He brought this upon himself. The tiredness. Emptiness. Faking civility to that evil witch who killed the people he loved. The was also an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. He was stuck here. He couldn’t just quit her job. He had nothing to go back too. He was alone in this crowd of nobles who either sucked up to him or derided his work for the queen. And what was worse, was that all this work was so small in the grand scheme of things. Everything was worthless.

His breath caught and he clamped his mouth shut. Steeling himself against the choked sobs in his throat. He couldn’t show more weakness. He would not. He already knew the mistake of being vulnerable in front of someone who seemed harmless.  Besides he still had his work to do. As long as he was alive, he would try to lessen the cruelty of Shuriki’s rule. The Avaloran citizens wouldn’t suffer more than they had to because of his mistake. 

“I may work for Shuriki. But I'm trying to make Avalor better for the people too."

 So easy to despise

Doña knew her mouth was moving but she couldn't make anything come out of it. She didn't know what to say really as she processed everything that Esteban said. 

Doña settled for curtling nodding her acknowledgment and turning to stare out the window. She could settle some of her thoughts better without his dark eyes boring into her, daring her to contradict him. 

All her ideas of Esteban were wrong. She had known Esteban worked for Shuriki. He was Chancellor, Shuriki was queen, it was obvious. 

She thought he had done it somewhat willingly as a way to continue his luxurious lifestyle as well as it being his duty as a royal from the former royal family, continuing the family legacy. A way to act like he knew everything when he knew nothing. 

She had thought he'd done it for duty and money, with no care to the lower class people he supposedly served. But he did care. 

She could hear it in his voice that the people of Avalor mattered to him. That Shuriki was his cross to bear if he could lighten their life with cement roads and the permission to whistle in the street. 

She also felt stupid. Who did she think created the laws? 

Everyone knew Shuriki didn't work, preferring to stay inside doing secretive Shuriki things and only coming out for formal parades in her honor, cheering required. It all had been Esteban. 

Under his arrogant, condescending, regularly irritated demeanor, his concern for appearances and royal protocol, he cared. 

She cringed thinking of all the snide comments she had made, all the opportunities she used to remind him that she thought him incompetent and she had no respect for him or the work that she had thought he didn't do.  

A guilty coil formed in her stomach she hated apologizing, especially when she knew her words meant nothing to him. "I didn't know." She mumbled in direction to the window, hoping that maybe her words would get caught in the noisy rattle of wheels over rutted stones. "Obviously." Esteban said disdainfully. 

"I-I..." Doña stuttered, frustrated by how she had no words to say. Well nothing she could say out loud. She couldn't tell him that she had been so prejudiced against him because she had never met a rich person who actually did his own work. She never met a noble who actually cared about poor people, they only believed the poor were lazy and deserved their station in life. 

But she couldn't say that. He already thought she was stupid enough compared to him, he didn't need the added fuel of lack of credentials and education that came with being a peasant.

So she settled for half-truths, "I've been told I'm judgmental- I thought that you were just a lapdog for Shuriki and I was the only one carrying all the work You do much more than I realized, so.. sorry I guess." 

She chanced to look back at the Chancellor who was looking at her with an unreadable expression. It was pleased, and questioning, and suspicious all at once making her squirm uncomfortably. She already apologized, what more did he want. 

"Thank you," he said slowly, "It's good we have an understanding." 

Doña began to relax, when Esteban added, "I'm glad you care about the citizens of Avalor too." Doña opened her mouth, ready to argue the point. No, she didn't care about ordinary people too much. Her business took priority. 

She found the people in the city to be whiny, what did they have to complain about? They had their shops and restaurants, they should be learning to pull themselves up with their own money than come to complain to her about the roads and restoring crumbled sidewalks. If people in the mountains could survive for years without the amenities like cement roads and street lamps while working on the fields of others, these independent business owners could too. She only fought for their rights because of electability. 

Yes, that's right, she did it for electability. To admit anything more, people would get suspicious. 

Why did she, who claimed to have been born of a rich merchant family from Nueva Vista, care about the likes of farmers and villagers in the hills? 

Not unless she understood their poverty, was a former peasant. 

But Esteban was different. He wouldn't suspect she had closer ties with the poor. He'd assume she was just as caring like he was.  At that came another realization. Esteban cared about the citizens more than she. It was an unfortunate epiphany. She had liked the idea that she was a better person than him. 

Not that she would admit she thought he was a better person than her. 

In fact, it might make things easier between them with this... what was the world he used? It'd give them an understanding. 

“Yes. Sort of. You know."  Well that was eloquent. This was exactly why people called her silver-tongued. 

Esteban just nodded at her, a slight smile peeking from his mustache as he went back to reading his papers. Doña turned back to the window, the rain had faded to a gentle cascade down the window lulling her to sleep.  And though, there's something scary Behind your cold, dead eyes

Ash was smiling at him. It was weird. Very weird. 

It was so genuine and almost fond and...Victor couldn't help but return it too.

Though the look in her eyes still unnerved him with how intense the icy blues were. But the smile...she looked almost sweet. 

And it dropped just as quickly as it came and she started ordering him around. Again. 

Victor rolled his eyes. He should have known better. 

She would never look at him as an equal. It was best to think of her as a platonic criminal partner. 

Ash began to walk away, her hips swaying. Fine. He would only think of her as a sexual being with no real emotions whatsoever. 

Not that he'd ever make a move. She’d probably add easily seduced on top of emotional weak and leave him. 

Something he could never admit was that he couldn't bear the thought of doing the criminal life alone. 

When he had first been cast out, he had wandered the streets in a daze, unsure of how to survive by himself without money. 

He had pieced his way of surviving through minor pickpocketing tricks and sleight of hand on street corners, impressing tourists and citizens before attempting bigger thefts. But he had been alone. 

The isolation felt like a physical presence even though he was alone in the crowd. 

No one to confide with, no one to even talk to. He could go days on end in silence. Or only talking to himself. But he felt he might go mad from the loneliness. 

Then he met up with a gang of small-time thieves. He had dumped them, transferring in and out to whoever was most useful to him or wasn't in jail but at least he wasn't alone. 

They weren't going to be friends, but she were company. He didn't want to be alone again.

 "Victor, come." Victor defiantly stood where he was. He wasn't some dog though she seemed to act like it. Then he felt a bit stupid standing there like a statue but before he could casually walk to Ash, she was stomping over to him.  "Are you going to constantly disobey my orders?" Ash scowled, ominously stating "If you really want, I'll teach you magic but you need to follow my orders or else."

Victor froze, his mouth open idiotically but unable to close it. She was offering to teach him some magic. 

There were so many things this could mean. 

That she thought him capable of learning magic. So unlike his parents who thought he was capable of nothing but failure. 

She thought of him having potential to become an equal. Unlike Shuriki and Esteban. 

This scary, sexy, intense woman wanted him to stick around.  Unlike everyone else in the world. Maybe she was not always the vicious shrew he thought she was. And though I'll never like you It's nice to realize

Ash scowled fiercer but inwardly screamed at herself. Why the hell did she offer that to him? 

She should have just threaten him like anyone else and not offer him a chance at power. 

She couldn't imagine Victor with magic. 

He would only bumble it up like he did without magic. 

Yet..it might make things easier if he stayed around. 

Someone to cook for her, someone who seemed easier to control, someone who wouldn't try to grab power from her or hurt her.  Someone that wouldn’t hurt her. 

That last thought sent an uncomfortable flutter in her stomach. Safety was something she always wanted. Safety in power would be preferable but...

She looked at him, his eyes wide with amazement as he nodded, unable to speak his answer. 

Ash nodded curtly and forced herself to walk back to the cave, and not betray how uncertain she felt with this turn of events and whether she'd be able to control its outcome. Maybe I shouldn't quite say never....

Esteban wiped the sleep from his eyes as the coach-man knocked on the door. 

The carriage had rolled to its stop at a local inn since they would be meeting the King in the morning. It was rather too large a house to acquire the title of an inn, but that was a mere label since this establishment hosted many nobles who wanted to "rough" it in a quaint peasant-style house that had all the amenities and servants of a mansion. 

The rain had left when they had crossed the Avalor-Córdoba border so he had no trouble with his umbrella as he stepped out of the crisp night air. The sun was up in the horizon and Doña was looking far too alert for the morning while Esteban was still asleep on his feet. 

"Oh good. I'm getting hungry." Doña said briskly, sweeping into the doorway.

"You weren't kidding about being a morning person." Esteban stared at her, dumbly trudging inside. He couldn't wait to fall into the bed. “Chancellor, your book." The coach-man tapped him on the shoulder as the tired man got inside. Esteban gratefully took the book, horror at having forgotten his files for even a moment breaking through the fog. "Thank you, sir."

 Esteban looked through the book, all the pages were accounted for, however.. he had only edited two thirds of his proposal. He had fallen victim to sleep before he could finish. And he had to finish before he presented it. This was important. He could always sleep after the trade talks.  So he dragged himself to the dining room where Doña was sipping some tea and looking over her own work as the kitchen staff bustled around. 

The image wasn't as irritating as it usually was to him. Doña acting all superior about her time management and constantly working on her financial statements even at a supposedly relaxing meal like breakfast. She was just doing her part in working for the kingdom, for the benefit of the people like he was. 

"Coffee por favor. Strong with sugar and cream." Esteban yawned. 

Doña looked at Esteban skeptically, the guy who complained every morning that he went on trips to other countries that the maids woke him up too early, he was going to have breakfast with her? 

He looked like he was about to face-plant and sleep on the table. She must have been staring since Esteban made an attempt to straighten up and pat his ledger, "I need to finish this." 

Oh right.. His work. If Esteban was going to sacrifice his personal comfort and beauty sleep, it'd be for the kingdom. 

Esteban was holding his head up with his chin and Doña felt her heart tug with pity. What yesterday she would have seen this as another strike in his laziness but now..."How about you go to bed, Chancellor? I'll handle this." 

Doña gently tugged his ledger from his grasp. Esteban opened one suspicious eye, "You'll get the Córdobans to give us more silver than what we're willing to give in return?"

“Yes, to please Shuriki and help you help the kingdom." Dona nodded, a smile creeping across her face even though she didn't quite know why. 

It was a little gesture, she shouldn't be feeling this..this good about making him happy. They were just co-workers, they weren't going to end up becoming friends because they shared a common interest. Please. 

Esteban looked at her and a fond smile grew, perking up his mustache which made Doña smile more in return even though she tried to resist the urge. "Thank you."  Ash arranged the leaves and moss in a somewhat comfortable arrangement to sleep on and started gathering another for a pile for Victor to sleep on near the windy, colder edge at the mouth of the cave. 

No need for him to get too happy thinking she respected him. She didn't, she really didn't. He was inferior, no matter how he made her feel inside. 

But as he dragged the cauldron inside to get out of the heat, a feeling of contentment settled over her. It was peaceful, no running, no practicing, no watching others for backstabbing. She didn't feel tense and alert as usual which worried her since that usually meant the beginning of a trap. 

But Victor wouldn't do that to her. He was safe. She wanted to enjoy this feeling while it lasted. 

Victor brought the cauldron to its place, wiping his forehead from sweat but didn't allow himself to huff and stretch his muscles even though he wanted to.

He wanted to look like he was so strong that these things were effortless. Not that he was trying to impress her or anything. He just wanted to make himself seem useful and that way she wouldn't leave him. 

He looked around at the much more empty cave and noted the two makeshift moss and leaf beds with a pleased smile. It was nice that she was trying to include him now even if she was as bossy as ever. 

He felt good about the future of their potential partnership. Though he was nowhere near her level of confidence nor her ability to lead, make plans nor her relentless determination. He hoped that some of it would rub off on him too.

And maybe together with the magic they learned, he would get the power he wanted. He'd get the respect he deserved. 

But for now at least he wasn't alone.  Maybe you're not the worst thing ever

[ala-mhinyan]

The World is Ours

It was easier to leave home when home was the mouth of a shark. He was grateful to the siren song of duty; It was a wonderful escape in moments like these. How often had these eastern walls and beams been a sanctuary to him—only to turn vile and steely like cage bars the very next second? Either it was safety or it was the jaws of an animal waiting to pounce, there was never an in-between. Tonight was no different; the gentle kiss given to Terbish’s forehead when the little girl hopped into bed for the night—his careful caress of fingertips against the soft of Mede’s cheeks as the little boy was lain to rest within his crib—the passing of his fingers along the inner softness of Ayanga’s wrist. How their eyes said passages—no, scriptures without the need for a single word to be spoken.

Ayanga was the first to smile. Warm. Polite.

“Be careful.”

C’tolemy returned the smile. Warm. Polite. Mimicked.

“I will.”

He didn’t wait too terribly long—taking a step toward the door only to lull in hesitation while his eyes etched the face of his smiling husband into his mind. Another step. Another pause.

Then he was gone.

Each footfall toward the door felt like a weight being taken off and a shackle being locked into place, the chains rattling with each step.

Sanctuary or Prison?

Where had the time gone?

.::.

Time seemed fleeting.

When his feet touched upon stone and skittering sand, he knew it had been about a bell into nightfall and his scouting teams were preparing their armor and weaponry for their routines. The tribe was doing much better after the nightmare C’sah had rained down upon it that fateful night—so well that the need for provisions from others had dwindled down to nothing and the tribe had reached a self-sustained level of reassurance.

They could hunt their own food once more. Their reserves of meat, grain and berries had been largely recovered. Their stock of furs and leathers were back to a decent level. Weapons had been made, armors crafted and new Coeurl tamed for mounts.

Much of the everyday happen-stance had returned to the lives of the Coeurl—if not for the striking reminder every time they stepped out of their caves that the population had been cleaved to only a third of what they had been. They’d gone from nearly 200 people to barely more than 60; with a vast majority of those losses coming from the younger and middle generations. There were few children left and it was a miracle if they had any of their families alive with them, much less their parents.

But the Coeurl would persevere. They always did. Against the worst odds. Against the overwhelming tide.

They would sooner martyr themselves than accept defeat.

That pride; the Burning Pride of the Coeurl rang solidly through his blood like a beating drum and reinvigorated him—reminded him for which his blade was sharp, why his eyes were sharper and why his claws could cut through diamond. They were bravehearts. They were warriors. And even in death, be it by blade or flame, that incessant pride would drum to life and seize his bones and demand that he pay tribute to that which birthed him.

The fire that gave his soul purpose.

By the time he’d let his awareness catch up with where his mind had wandered? The scouting parties had been organized and sent out, food reserves taken accurate stock, guard cycles changed and weapons/armor appraised. He couldn’t recount any of the details—but by the blacksmith’s winning grin it had gone well.

He offered a lopsided smile in return. Polite. Warm. Broken. Confused. But True.

Where had the time gone?

.::.

“Nikkasai.”

Pale gold sift through nothingness to find the source of the voice—yet here, in this waking bleakness, there is nothing waiting. Ayanga watches his feline lover stare blankly at him through long lashes, knowing by the distant look on his husband’s face that C’tolemy’s pale eyes aren’t really -seeing- him. Again, he prods. Hopeful.

“Nikkasai.” More urgently.

A small, rounded ear twitches this time and recognition colors the Seeker’s face when the conscious part of his mind awakens. His full lips pull into a small, sheepish smile and he leans into the extended hand that cradles the soft of his cheeks—nuzzling into that tiny bit of affection like a dying man to an ocean.

“Where have you gone, Nikkasai? This isn’t like you.”

C’tolemy’s eyes sift away from that worried, beautiful face to look over his environment. He was back home—how long had he been here? What time was it? Terbish and Mede were nowhere to be found and given the intimate touch against his cheek, he could only assume that the pair were off with Melody outside or it was time to sleep. His peripheral caught the warm, shining rays and he knew it was late afternoon—the slug of fog making it difficult to think despite looking relatively chipper. No one had noticed something was wrong but Ayanga.

He always did.

“I am just tihahd, Sajanavaa,” He reassured softly, the sound of his own voice foreign and in-human to himself. A blink and he saw himself through his husband’s eyes—

Who was he looking at?

Who was he?

The Seeker shook his head to shake the thought loose, smoothing a hand over his swollen belly with a fond smile given toward his husband. “Feah naught, theah ‘as been much to adjust to. I am just a bit moah tihahd than I anticipated—all I need is a good night’s rest at ‘ome. I’m suah C’mayan can take caeh of th’scouts foah th’daeh.” That seemed to satisfy the surface level worry Ayanga showed, the rapid staccato of the familiar scaled beast behind him slowing down. If he gave his husband a chance to take care of him, it would be a bit of good to soothe his worried nerves.

Pregnancy was a new, scary situation for him—something that brought him a deep joy that no one else on this star could rob from him. And in the same vein, a double edged sword that seemed to further remove himself from his own person. There was no one to talk to about how he felt. As far as he was aware, there was no one close to him that could understand the immense amount of confusion and depersonalization he felt just existing as he did now.

No men had given birth that he’d known and that left him uniquely alone. Confused. Afraid.

It was no wonder he’d retreated into his head to find the answers, only to find nothing at all waiting for him but more endless circles.

And when he would come to?

It was nighttime; the Seeker tucked into bed with his husband curled around him protectively—rumbling in an affectionate gesture more felt than heard. C’tolemy lay awake and his gaze focused on the wall across from their bed—a distinct chill of fear creeping up around his ankles and clawing along his calves. A fear unique to him. A problem that had no solution.

Chunks of his day gone in but a blink of an eye. No recollection of his progress. No time to address the changes in his body, much less his psyche. No time to address his traumas. No time to acknowledge the nightmares that shocked him awake at night. No time to prepare for the child growing in his belly. No time to appreciate the way his body was changing. No time to just�� sit. And be. No time, no time, no time for anything at all.

Where had the time gone?

[croc-odette]

i love ds9 and here are some episode premises that i wish had happened

DND EPISODE: already talked about this but a dungeons and dragons holosuite episode. jake is the overly prepared DM obviously, nog, ziyal, and alexander are players. nog’s player is clearly his idea of sisko, a lawful good paladin; ziyal plays as a cardassian rogue (played by dukat, but clearly based in personality on kira); alexander plays a mage who is kind-of worf kind-of jadzia and keeps switching between them through the game). there’s an NPC version that’s clearly also based on sisko at one point, but from jake’s point of view knowing him as his dad to compare how differently jake and nog, a cadet, see him.

as the game progresses, it becomes clear that the Big Bad is based on a combo of dukat/winn (corrupt government/religious figure). ziyal struggles with the classic DND question of ‘just because i would do this, does that mean my character would?’ except she’s realizing that her dad wouldn’t do any of the selfless things she wants her character to do. alexander keeps trying to solve shit through weird cantrips or puzzle solving instead of fighting and jake is like ‘it’s not deep it’s just a cave bat please roll initiative’. bashir and garak show up as like, the old couple from the princess bride and everyone has to be like ‘jake they’re not dating in real life this rpf shit is kind of inappropriate’ and he’s like ‘wait what? i thought they were dating’. miles is an NPC and dies. nog thinks jake’s-sisko-npc is too silly and disrespectful and jake is like ‘he’s MY dad’ and they have to take a break to argue about it and jake is like ‘your dad is cool too’. nog’s character changes to lawful good paladin rom. actually this whole game is ‘arguing about dads’ time now that i think about it, which jake is not really equipped to jump in on since he has a normal cool dad who he basically just thinks is embarrassing because he’s the ~messiah~ or some goofy bullshit. ends with them calling it a day after the final boss battle and then jake and nog privately talking about whether or not they can trust ziyal if she has to choose between ds9 and dukat, which was an ulterior motive of the game. ziyal is clearly clearly rattled by what the game made her realize and goes to see kira, who she doesn’t tell about the game but who still gives her a hug, and ziyal realizes that kira’s her hero (and like, her mom). alexander tells worf and dax about the game and dax thinks it sounds fun as hell and asks alexander if they can come next time, and worf is like ‘....... only if i can be a blood mage’. nog and jake go home and tell their dads they love them. 

shit i blacked out

PRANK WAR EPISODE: escalating series of pranks starting with jadzia putting hair dye in bashir’s shampoo and ending with the space station accidentally going into a meltdown self destruct scenario. garak is torn between helping jadzia and quark, who are clearly the better pranksters, or helping julian and odo, who suck at pranks but are his lunch friends. everyone has to tell garak that he’s way too intense about ‘pranks’ which are actually just really dangerous booby traps he puts in people’s quarters. sisko ends the episode by grounding everyone; no holosuites for a month!! yes even dax

GREAT RACE EPISODE: there’s some kind of macguffin resource on a planet (a klingon escape pod with a survivor with crucial intelligence information?), but they can’t teleport directly to it. a vorta and jem h’dar team and a ds9 team beam down on opposite sides of its location and are both racing to get there first, having to macgyver together vehicles and tools on the way. lots of excellent outdoor on-location settings and comparison of the jem h’dar/vorta dynamic and the ds9 federation dynamic. ends with the jem h’dar almost winning but turning on the vorta at the last few yards, and sisko’s team beams out as the jem h’dar chant victory. no i refuse to think this is same plot as ‘the ship’ or whatever

KASIDY EPISODE: set earlier in kasidy/sisko’s relationship, kasidy agrees to go with jadzia as a third-party observer to negotiations with a nearby bajoran colony over a trade agreement with the federation. jadzia and kasidy bond over gossiping about sisko on the way, but once they get there kasidy disagrees with the starfleet’s contract during negotiations which causes tensions, and recommends that the bajorans reject it. she and jadzia get into an argument about starfleet and its ideals, and why kasidy chose to be an independent captain rather than a starfleet captain, and how that doesn’t make her lesser than starfleet captains. jadzia realizes that kasidy is right and petitions superiors for a new contract, which kasidy approves of. they go home tenser then when they left, but when sisko asks jadzia what she thinks of kasidy, she very seriously says that she has incredible compassion, intelligence, and integrity, and that she doesn’t need or want jadzia’s approval. but has it anyway

MUSICAL EPISODE: someone already outlined a great musical ep where lwaxana comes in with a betazoid cold and it makes everyone burst into song in another text post and like 100% cosigned

SHAKESPEARE EP: holosuite shenanigans; every character is suddenly stuck as someone from a different shakespeare play. garak is an enthusiastically combative beatrice, kira is cordelia, worf is hamlet, jadzia is a very amused katerina, julian is puck, miles is duncan (”i get MURDERED?”), odo is benvolio and kind of bummed he’s not romeo, etc. i actually don’t know any shakespeare play that well but i think it could be neat. julian is the only fucking person on ds9 who actually knows any of it well enough to figure out what’s going on, except for sisko who doesn’t really care for shakespeare but generally knows about the plays (maybe a good opportunity to talk about the racism in most ‘classic Earth’ pop culture that star trek tends to uphold without criticism). i don’t know shit about the 40 plays that shakespeare wrote about british kings but i could see sisko ending up in that kind of intense role and refusing to play into it, as do the rest of the characters who refuse to fulfill their respective roles and instead find another way to end the program.

KLINGON OPERA EPISODE: goodddddddd can we see some klingon opera, mac. i’ve been dying to see some klingon opera. premise is they believe that someone is assassinating ambassadors and so they tag along with a andorian ambassador who loves opera to see if they can figure out who the assassin is, however the andorian plays it down as over-worrying and that they should use it as an excuse to enjoy themselves. worf and jadzia go and have a lovey dovey time, sisko and kasidy go and have a lovey dovey time watching worf and jadzia get super into the opera together. julian is asked to go in case there’s poison used or first aid needed, and miles is like ‘the last time i went undercover i came home with trauma and someone’s cat so no thanks i hate klingon opera’ and after some increasingly overt passive aggressive implications that julian should take HIM, julian asks garak to go with him. bonus points if for some reason they are wearing the stupid tuxedos from doctor bashir i presume. a lot of loud arguing about the opera which almost gets them kicked out. at the end of the first act, one of the actors DOES try to kill the andorian but jadzia jumps in front of the phaser beam (cue worf being very concerned and annoyed that she could have gotten killed, jadzia being very smug and pleased with herself, her head in his lap, in a pose mirroring an earlier couple in the opera). julian feels like he would have noticed if he hadn’t been distracted by garak, and when it turns out the andorian ambassador has sensitive info about cardassia’s civilian government, julian accuses garak of intentionally trying to distract him to make sure the andorian actually died, which turns into a huge argument (ideally in a very opulent klingon opera house bathroom). during the argument, julian realizes that garak was trying to hint to him that something about the assassination attempt was off; he pieces together aloud that the andorian and the actor must have been in league together, to fake the andorian’s assassination so they could not be tried for profiteering by illegally selling weapons to the cardassian central control during bajoran occupation, which they are currently under investigation for. the other ambassador assasinations were planned by the andorian to cover their tracks. the andorian is arrested, as is the actor. at the ballroom afterparty, sisko and kasidy, in a good mood that everything worked out, agree to join in on traditional klingon dancing. worf and jadzia take a peaceful walk through the gardens and worf recites some really lovely klingon poetry about how sometimes it’s NOT a good day to die if someone loves you, that none of us fucking understand without looking it up. julian and garak talk on the balcony, and julian posits that garak is loyal to cardassia, but which part of it? garak answers, very close and meaningfully looking at julian, ‘like most things... it’s complicated.’

i was about to say ‘fake wedding episode’ but literally LITERALLY that was the shotgun wedding lwaxana/odo ep. i love star trek

KEIKO BOTANIST EPISODE: kira accompanies keiko to bajor to help find a medicinal plant that was thought to be wiped out during the occupation but might still exist in a remote mountain region based on local reports. a nice episode where we learn more about bajor and see how bajorans are coping and healing. over a campfire, kira thanks keiko for accepting her into their family. keiko tells kira that she was really intimidated by her when they first met, and then realized she’s one of the most loving people she knows. just a nice episode, maybe some mild nature survival conflict, but ends on a hopeful note of them finding the plant. miles beams down with the kids to have a picnic with keiko and kira, and kira’s happy to see children playing carelessly on bajor again.

JAKE AND ZIYAL EPISODE: everyone thinks jake and ziyal are dating because they’ve been hanging out. julian’s an idiot and mentions to sisko ‘must be hard, huh’ and sisko’s like ‘WHAT must be hard’ and julian’s like oh my god were we not supposed to talk to him about this. jake and ziyal aren’t dating but as soon as sisko tries to talk to jake about it jake is like ‘i’m not but actually maybe i SHOULD ask her out’ and sisko is like fuck. okay no that’s fine. this is more of a B-plot but basically give jake and ziyal age-appropriate love interests they’re both RIGHT there