#Wraith Stealth

[diagnozabam]

AMD Ryzen 5 9600: Un nou procesor Zen 5, echilibrat pentru gaming și productivitate

AMD a lansat Ryzen 5 9600, cel mai recent procesor din seria Ryzen 9000, destinat utilizatorilor care caută un echilibru între performanță și eficiență energetică. Cu 6 nuclee, 12 fire de execuție, un TDP de doar 65W și o frecvență maximă de 5.2 GHz, acest procesor se adresează atât gamerilor, cât și celor care au nevoie de performanțe solide pentru sarcini de productivitate. Ce aduce nou Ryzen 5…

[arulens-least-horny-jongleur]

i’ve been hiding in trees and bushes to avoid people for almost my entire life, and i have the instinctual reaction to freeze, and stay completely still (excluding breathing). i can do this for upwards of 20 minutes without struggle if i know someone’s nearby and looking for me.

with this knowledge, i can say, with certainty, that the ranger method of “just stay still” is incredibly effective in almost every situation. not necessarily to the point they play it up to in the books, but it genuinely does work.

just curl up, wear clothes that don’t clash with the environment, don’t be where they expect, and

don’t.

fucking.

move.

avoid being at eye height if you can, but i once made direct eye contact with someone who was looking for me in the forest and they skipped straight past me anyways because they were looking for a moving, breathing, person, not a statue.

[ocktavo]

Who Is Ron? Why He So Sour? [MESoM15]

[thestrangeblob]

a little list of canon evidence supporting most elriel theories <3

1. elain and the possibility of her training to be a spy

Elain pushed, “We keep it secret—we send the servants away. (...) No one will know.”

My sister Elain can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles.

She (feyre) nodded toward Azriel. “I think she’s (elain) got you beat for secret-keeping."

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not … Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood the gift he possessed.

Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, “Using me.” She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.

Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.”

2. elain wearing azriel's color (cobalt blue)

Elain rasped, “Nice to meet you,” before hustling after her, the silk skirts of her cobalt dress whispering over the parquet floor. ... She’d (elain) covered her nightgown with a silk shawl of palest blue, her fingers grappling into the fabric as she held herself. ... Elain seemed to realize it, too. She peered down at herself, at the simple blue gown she wore.  ... But Elain wrapped her own blue cloak around herself, ... “Is your father healing?” I added the cobalt of Azriel’s Siphons to the orange and mixed until a rich brown appeared. ... Azriel’s Siphons flashed, a sprawling shield of cobalt locking over Rhysand’s, his breathing just as heavy as my mate’s ... Az held Cassian’s stare for a moment, cobalt Siphons flickering, and then nodded.

3. elain's mating bond to lucien might be wrong

when elain was turned and mated:

Faster than any of us could see, Jurian fired a hidden ash bolt through Azriel’s chest. The ash bolt was coated in bloodbane that the King of Hybern claimed flowed where he willed it. ... “Put the prettier one in first,” the king said, Mor already forgotten. I twisted—only to have the king’s guards grab me from behind. Rhys was instantly there, but Azriel shouted, back arching as the king’s poison worked its way in. (I didn't leave out any lines between these two paragraphs... so why did the poison sink deeper into az when the king says to put elain into the cauldron???)

azriel's mate behaviour to elain:

Azriel smiled faintly. ‘Would you like me to show you the garden?’ But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. ... Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports ... The two Illyrians paused their inspection of me long enough to note my sisters finishing up breakfast, Nesta in a pale gray gown that brought out the steel in her eyes, Elain in dusty pink. Both males went a bit still.” ... ‘Can I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.’ ‘I can help her,’ said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing from his fingers as he extended a hand.” ... The ancient healer jerked her chin toward Lucien. “See what he can do. If anyone can sense if something is amiss, it’s a mate. The mating bond. It is a bridge between souls.” She pointed at Lucien as she saw herself out. “Try sitting down with her. Just talking—sensing. See what you pick up. But don’t push.” (what we see azriel do time and again) “She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly. “We’re the ones who need ...” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.” ... “Because of the shit with Elain?” Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?”

the description of feysand:

But the bond, the bridge between us... it was a howling void.

the description of elriel:

The only bridge of connection ... that knife.

the description of elucien:

“It felt ... strange,” Elain breathed. “Like you pulled on a thread tied to a rib.”

finally:

‘There is choice. And sometimes, yes—the bond picks poorly sometimes the bond is nothing more than some…preordained guesswork at who will provide the strongest offspring. At its basest level, it’s perhaps only that.’”

4. azriel's shadows DO like elain:

In the blinding sun off the turquoise water, his shadows were gone, his face stark and clear. More ... human than I had ever seen him. ... “What now?” Elain mused, at last answering my question from moments ago as her attention drifted to the windows facing the sunny street. That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room. ... Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike. ... But tonight, here in the dark and quiet, with no one to see…He pulled the small velvet box from the shadows around him. Opened it for her. 

5. elriel's aesthetic as light and dark

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection ... that knife.

if y'all want any more cold hard canon to back up any other elriel theories/arguments/takes comment it on this post and I'll add it to the list LMAO

good day and good night y'all stay safe our there<33

[lovemyromance]

SJM:

Writes "If anyone can sense something amiss, it would be a mate"

*Azriel figures it out*

SJM:

Writes Azriel & Feyre question the Elucien mating bond

Writes the words "Elain had hoped for love that would trump even a mating bonds

Writes the words "What if the cauldron was wrong"

*HOFAS: Proved the Cauldron to be indeed, wrong*

SJM:

Writes "Elain was the only one who guessed." She nodded towards Azriel. "I think she has you beat for secret-keeping"

Writes Nesta wondering if Elain had been "taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or those two shadow-wraiths she calls friends"

Can y'all not see where this is headed orrrrr...?

Foreshadowing for Elriel is clear. Has been done. Repeatedly. No interpretation involved. No "well you seee 🤓 - Elain says she is happy in the NC but actually she is miserable bc she wears a black dress " level twisted analysis involved.

And people are still out here sitting behind their keyboards analyzing pages upon pages of sparks and sunlight? Here's a hint: SJM is very obvious with her foreshadowing. If you do not immediately see it - chances are - your interpretation of "foreshadowing" is not accurate.

We have had 3 books of slow Elriel buildup in the background, SJM barely lets a single scene of Elain or Azriel go without mentioning the other one in some capacity (*cough* potatoes), there has been a romantic coded rescue, a scene where the trusted hero offers his love his most prized weapon/possession, a secret tryst under the moonlight, a clear set up of external obstacles (*cough* thank you Rhys for the forbidden love trope)

AND Y'ALL are still sitting here like HM. 🧐 I wonder🧐 who the next FMC could be 🧐 Who is the next couple 🧐 What could possibly happen next in SJM's overly complex and game of thrones level intricate writing and plotting for Fae Smut? 🧐 mayhaps have we even been introduced to the next FMC?

Please end this clownery 🤡🤡 Or just start practicing your shocked Pikachu faces now, ig.

[offtorivendell]

A new article that came out on E news and states that fans speculate the next book will be about elriel also mentions that "the teacup foreshadowed her fate of being made into high fae" which reminded me of your theory.

Hi anon! Thanks for stopping by.

If you mean this news article, then yes I heard about it recently!

Firstly, it shouldn't need to be stated, but this is all in good fun. If your first reaction to this incredibly innocuous post is to be nasty about it then please take a deep breath and go outside. The fresh air will do you good. I don't know anybody who thinks that anything NOT from SJM or BB is actual confirmation.

Weirdly enough, the tea post got a few random reblogs a few days ago for no apparent reason, so who knows what was going on at the time. I'd pretty much forgotten about it - given everything that's happened in the Maasverse recently it's not been important, for spoilery reasons - but either way, whether the author of the article saw it or not, I do hope that tea will feature in Elain's story, as it would be so appropriate for a Seer to read tea leaves!

Also, while I don't think the ring is cobalt blue - it does seem more purple to me - Elain did glow in a purple gown, so... my clown makeup remains lol. 🤡

“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends. Gone was the ill-suited black dress from the ball, replaced by a gown of amethyst velvet, her hair half-up and curling down to her waist. She glowed with good health. - ACOSF, chapter 58

As an aside, apparently people are being nasty about the long book = biggest wingspan comment? Idk, I thought that was clearly a joke (and not even one made by an Elriel at that). It even reads as ship neutral to me, no matter how the E News author took and used it. I hope whoever made it knows that it was actually fucking funny, and clearly in good humour. I'm sorry people are being crummy about it.

Anyway, like the rest of the fandom, I'm hoping that we're all put out of our misery early next year with some sort of direct FMC/main couple confirmation.

🕯️🕯️🕯️

[deathxfawn]

*sigh* i'm not sure why we're arguing over whether or not Nuala and Cerridwen are Elain's friends, but anyway this line exists:

"She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends."

this is not Nesta speculating whether or not the twins are Elain's friends. this is Nesta mentioning that Elain herself has called the twins her friends.

she also gave 5 people gifts on solstice: her sisters, Azriel, and the twins.

i'm not sure why this is even a debate. well, that's a lie, i do know. if Elain's friends are Azriel's spies, the other ships are basically dead in the water. it really feels like i'm walking into a kindergarten class when i log in and see what this fandom has gotten itself into.

[stervrucht]

@steddieangstyaugust Day 30: Vampire

1730 words

Blood crawls where it can't go

[Part1] Part2

There’s something wrong with him.

Eddie has felt it ever since he woke up in the Upside Down, alone, clothes torn to shreds, soaked with blood, but otherwise unharmed. He still remembers the way those teeth tore into him. How the bats gnawed and bit, tearing at his skin until it gave way. 

Yet, there’s nothing to show for it. Nothing at all.

Did he dream it? Wouldn't that just be so like him, dozing off post-battle in some weird-ass hellscape? Fucking good for nothing.

He was surrounded by bat corpses and Dustin was gone. The bedsheet rope from the portal was cut off, just as he remembers, only now a new makeshift rope had taken its place—ratty curtains tied together. The others probably left through there. 

When Eddie makes his way through the portal, the world is a mess. He is instantly hit by the whaling sirens: the air alarm, ambulances, fire trucks. The whole shebang. 

The trailer park looks like an earthquake ran through it and pulled the ground apart at places he’s sure used to have dwellings standing there. There are people everywhere, clutching at each other, pulling at debris. They’re shouting names and consoling crying children.

Eddie is spotted as soon as he leaves what remains of the trailer. 

He freezes, staring right back at the wondering eyes of a woman. Her eyes widen with a small flame of recognition until—

It dies behind her eyes the next second. She carries on, hauling arms full of belongings towards a car.

That’s weird.

That’s so fucking weird.

He has no time to dwell on it though. Definitely shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. 

He could head to Reefer Rick’s again. Thinks he could do it mostly unseen. Maybe lay low for a few days until things calm down. He’s pretty sure he still saw some cans of mushroom soup deep within the kitchen cabinets. A roof over his head and a stomach full of food would certainly help him sort his thoughts.

He moves carefully through the remains of the trailer park. Every now and then, people stare, but no one says anything. No one cries ‘bloody murder’ or crosses their hearts. After a while, Eddie realizes stealth seems hardly necessary. 

The people just don’t care.

Fair enough. Hawkins looks like the apocalypse rolled in and went to town. There’s probably bigger fish to fry than some suspected satanist-turned-murderer. 

He isn’t sure when he goes from sneaking to walking, but he does eventually. And maybe he died after all. Maybe he’s nothing but a ghost wandering the mortal realm. A wraith maybe, that’d be pretty cool. 

Except, people are looking. They stare at him, open their mouths, only to close them again, thoughts seemingly slipping away.

No one stops him the whole way out to Reefer Rick’s.

—

He tries eating the soup, but the moment it hits his tongue he gags. He can’t keep it down—can’t even swallow it. After his so manyth attempt, he decides to throw it out. It’s no use.

He’s so hungry.

He’s starving, gut aching with sharp pain.

He wanders around Rick’s house, unsure what to do with himself. His legs are restless and his stomach won’t stop its incessant aching. 

That is until he enters the boathouse. He hears the padding on nails on wood before he sees them.

Rats.

There is nothing he can do to stop himself from chasing them. He’s much faster, more agile than he remembers—much more than any rat.

He captures the pest with ease, holding the little rodent by the scuff of its neck. It struggles against his fingers and squeaks with fury. Eddie stares at its brown fur, cocks his head as he studies it with newfound interest. He feels its heat under his fingers and hears its heartbeat inside his head like a song.

The next thing he knows, he feels fur on his tongue and tastes blood on his lips.

—

He visits the hospital the next day. 

He walked all the way from Reefer Rick’s with no one to stop him. He enters the hospital without a problem and asked after all the names of his friends. The receptionist gives him the same strange look: a second of recognition before her eyes turn glassy and it’s business as usual.

He gets two hits: Maxine Mayfield and Steve Harrington.

He visits Max first and finds Lucas by her side. He feels a little bad about how they left things—he hasn’t really spoken to him since the campaign. 

That seems so long ago. 

There is no use in addressing it now though. Lucas has other things on his mind. Max lies bent and broken in bed. The gentle beeping of the heart monitor assures him she’s alive, even though she doesn’t seem like it. He gives Lucas’ shoulder a reassuring squeeze and tells Max to hang in there before moving to his second target.

Steve Harrington is in much better shape than Max. 

He lies in bed, his torso bare except for where it’s wrapped in bandages. An IV hanging off his arm, clear fluid in the bag by his side. Steve stares at the little TV, unaware of Eddie’s presence.

A strange feeling swirls in his gut as he stares at Steve. He takes in the soft pink of his skin, a little more pale than normal, but full of life nonetheless. His eyes move to the gentle curve of Steve’s neck where tendons draw tight lines as he leans his head to one side. 

Eddie can’t stop staring, saliva pooling in his mouth. Did Steve always look this good? He wants to sink his teeth in, crawl under his skin and consume him. Taste his mouth and drink his sounds—

What the hell is wrong with him? 

He swallows thickly, hands clenching and unclenching as he tries to compose himself.

Steve turns his head.

His eyes widen and Eddie sees it again—should be used to it by now—the dying of realization, words slipping from the tip of the tongue. Whatever got Hawkins in its grip, it’s doing a damn good job of keeping Eddie out of trouble.

There must be something wrong with him. Steve’s frown confirms it.

Eddie clears his throat, willing his unease away. “Hey, man. How’re you holding up?”

“Been better.” Steve raises his arm with the IV. “Preventative antibiotics. Something about sep…sepsis?”

Eddie nods, eyes finding their way back to Steve’s neck. He can hear his heartbeat from here, doesn’t even need to look at the little screen to know it’s elevated. Is Steve nervous or is it the drugs?

“I—” Eddie pauses for a moment. He doesn’t know what to say. “Did you get him?” he whispers that last part, afraid of who might be listening in. 

Steve nods. “Torched the fucker. Nance shot him to pieces too.”

Eddie feels some tension leaving his body. “Good. That’s good,” he sighs.

“You and Dustin did well.” Steve’s eyes are on him, gaze intense. “We couldn’t have done it without you guys.”

Steve doesn’t mention the fact Eddie woke up, alone, in the Upside Down. 

Abandoned.

It’s strange. Somehow it feels too significant to omit, yet he doesn’t say it either. He lets it hang unspoken between the two of them. 

“You need anything? I can get you something,” Eddie says eventually. He points a thumb over his shoulder towards the door. 

“Actually,” Steve starts, a small smile playing on his lips, “I’m dying for a soda.”

Eddie gets two sodas from the vending machine in the hallway, and they drink them together while making small talk. Eddie doesn’t have much to say—can’t form too many coherent thoughts really—with Steve’s presence next to him. It’s calling out to him like a siren’s song, the sound of Steve’s voice like a melody.

He forces his eyes down. Makes sure not to look at the way Steve’s throat bobs as he drinks. 

Once they finish their drinks, Eddie excuses himself. His hands are itching for skin, and he tastes the ghost of metallic blood on his tongue. 

The rat thing. 

It had been fucking weird, yet something within him calls for it—screams for it. The moment he hears the rapid beat of their tiny hearts in a back alley a few streets away from the hospital, he starts running.

—

Steve stirs awake and the living room is dark and quiet. He sits himself up on the couch, back hurting from the strange position he fell asleep in. The table is clear of D&D attributes and all chairs are back in their rightful place. Did he dream it all—his living room filled with kids, joyously shrieking in victory under the careful narration of Eddie’s voice?

“Jonathan and Nancy came to pick them up.” Eddie sits across from him in a chair, legs crossed, his form illuminated only by the gentle blue light bouncing inside from the pool. He speaks like he reads Steve’s mind and his eyes shine bright, reflecting light like a cat’s would. 

Steve shudders. The scratches on his knee ache, the phantom of Eddie’s nails still present.  “You’re still here.”

Eddie uncrosses his legs and leans forward, lower arms resting on his knees. “Didn’t want you to wake up alone.”

His tone sounds sincere, normal even. 

“I’m always alone.” Steve runs a hand through his hair, tries to tame it a little after it got messed up by lying down. His heart is still thundering in his chest, nervous anticipation running through his veins like a drug. 

Eddie is silent for a moment, two glowing orbs staring at him unblinkingly. “You don’t have to be.”

Steve licks his lips. He can feel it now. A choice. It feels like he’s balancing on the edge of a cliff, staring down the deep void and considering whether he should jump. “You’re asking to stay?”

“If you’ll have me?” 

Eddie’s words are deceptively simple, but there’s more to them. An unspoken question. Steve considers it, imagines the warm embrace of what’s down at the bottom of that cliff. 

Wonders if Eddie will be there to catch him. 

It would feel so good to give in. Run away from suffering and pain and the knowledge of what horrors are out there. 

“I would,” Steve says finally. His voice is surprisingly steady. He feels confident in his words.

---

To be continued.

This turned out much longer than I anticipated. I will post a full version on Tumblr and AO3 once I get around to it <3

[aurana-i]

💀💀💀

Elain throughout whole ACOSF being foreshadowed as a spy:

“She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she'd been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.”

“She nodded toward Azriel. “I think she's got you beat for secret-keeping.”

Gw*n: can’t keep a secret even for one night

🤭🤭🤭

Gw*nriels daily exhibit the worst copycat and ‘pick me’ behavior, unable to come up with a plot to support their ship because half of it is so insignificant to the story (not Azriel). Their only option is to take the existing foreshadowing for Elain to become a spy and claim that it’s actually Gw*n who’s gonna take that role. A girl who expressed no spy behaviour whatsoever and quite contrary to a spy couldn’t keep a secret. Pathetic.

[platosshadowpuppet]

Turkey Tail mushrooms are tough and scale shaped.

They are edible, though not really worth the effort, and have historically been used mostly to treat respiratory illnesses.

Their most interesting use, however, is as armour by the fae. Elves clad in hauberks of fungi mail are a sight few want to see in the Wild.

Each fungi scale is inscribed with a sigil of protection or stealth. The result is a warrier as hardy as a troll and quiet as a wraith.

Many have tried to copy this art but so far none have succeeded. There are plenty of corpses spread through the Wild in a jacket of poorly sown mushrooms. In the imitators' case, all that was achieved was a funerary suit that sped their dissolution into the wood.

[chiqelatasblog]

CHAPTER ONE : The First Failure

-> Ao3 link is here.

-> Prologue is here.

-> Chapter Two link is here.

Pairing : Sub Zero | Bi-Han x Reader

Summary : As you navigate the challenges of this forced union, the uncertainties about the future cast a daunting shadow over your every step. Amidst the grand promises that bind your clans, there lingers a fear—the apprehension of an impending first night that both duty and tradition demand.

The journey ahead unfolds as a delicate dance between obligations, fears, and the pursuit of control in a destiny that feels beyond your grasp.

.

.

.

Two months ago…

‘’The plan is quite simple; gain the trust of the grandmaster. Once you win his, the entire clan will trust you anyway.”

‘’Easy to say but difficult to implement. We've been fighting them for too long, brother. That's why it won't be easy for him to trust me. It may take me months or even years to be able to do what you say! If we could come up with another plan-"

"You will do whatever I say."

Your brother rudely interrupted you, casting a disdainful gaze down at you, his stature towering over yours. Despite not averting your eyes, a subtle shudder ran through your body.

Given your brother's easily provoked and irritable nature, angering him was not only a simple feat but also a dangerous one. To maintain your composure, you tightly pressed your lips together and offered a slight bow of your head as a form of apology.

"It seems that our forces are insufficient to defeat them."

While your brother was speaking, he began to slowly circle around you, just like a hunter observing his prey.

“We need a different plan. We must catch them by surprise so that victory will ultimately be ours. Isn't that right, sister?''

One of your brother's hands grasped the end of your hair, which was falling down to your waist, and pulled it slightly, showing that he wanted to get an answer from you.

"Yes brother, you are right."

“A lot of blood has been shed because of this war between the clans. You don't want to let the blood of our dying brothers remain on the ground, do you?"

‘’No.’’

"Good, I'm glad we agree on that."

Your brother caressed your hair with fake affection. When his movement caused you to shiver more noticeably than before, you got angry at yourself for the weakness you showed and stifled your shiver by nibbling hard on the inside of your cheek. Your brother gave a sinister smile, showing that he was aware of the power he had over you and enjoyed it.

‘’You will gain that man's trust, (y/n). Any information you get there is worth gold to us. You can put an end to this war and take your place among us.''

Your brother released your hair, easily reappeared in front of you in two big strides, grabbing your chin and lifting you up to look at him.

"I know how much you desire this. Don't you want to finally be accepted? Moreover, if you complete this task, you will be remembered as a savior.”

You swallowed. Of course you wanted this very much, you had spent years working non-stop, going from one mission to another in order to be accepted. You were cruel to yourself, but your desire to be appreciated was so great that you often ignored your body's flags of rebellion for you to stop. And now, the opportunity you were looking for was presented to you.

Thanks to your talent, you would frequently execute your missions without detection, accomplishing them with flawless stealth and agility. You never found the need to talk your way out of trouble since you had never been caught.

Consequently, people began crafting nicknames for you, acknowledging your existence despite never seeing you. Ghost, Shadow, Nightmare, Specter, Wraith... Among them, your preferred alias was the Silence of the Night. It carried an air of elegance blended with danger, sounding almost poetic.

The more perfect you were at your duties, the less successful you were at impressing people. As someone with the blood of a noble family, you always made sure that your movements looked fluid like water, graceful and measured. However, most of the time, you would think that you couldn't do it right because you tried too hard for it and it looked like the exact opposite.

Despite your abilities being unknown to anyone in the clan, you remained invisible to them. As a result, you didn't have many people around you to talk to in your life. Over time, this led you to give up on trying to establish a dialogue with them, prompting you to retreat into your own shell.

“Put your worries aside,” your brother said, the corners of his lips turning down in distaste as if he heard your thoughts. "You carry our blood, it is not even possible for you to fail."

You swallowed once more. You wanted to succeed in this mission and prove yourself more than anything and anyone. However, this duty also conflicted with your own values. Yes, the Lin Kuei Clan was your enemy and you needed to deceive them for the future of your own clan.

Only then could you bring an end to this war and lead your clan to victory. For this, you simply had to gather enough information and create the right moment by taking advantage of the element of surprise.

But was this really what needed to be done?

Would you be able to do this?

‘'Men are generally simple creatures. Their thoughts often revolve around fighting and sex; complicating matters too much will only confuse them. The grandmaster of the Lin Kuei is no exception. Don't let his cold demeanor intimidate you. Utilize your femininity to captivate him, distract him, fill his mind with you. Refrain from expressing your opinions on any subject; instead, be silent and observant."

Your eyes filled with tears of despair as your eyebrows furrowed slightly. But you didn't spill them, you wouldn't give your brother this satisfaction, nor would you humiliate yourself in front of him.

“When you become his wife in a few months, your body will now belong to the grandmaster. Do whatever he wants. The more you satisfy him, the easier it will be for you to approach him and learn the order inside."

You knew you wouldn't deny what was said; you were merely a pawn in this war, with no right to voice objections. It was unheard of. Nonetheless, despite the looming marriage in two months, your brother's words induced a knot of tension in your stomach.

"Did you understand what I said, sister?"

You were able to say, "Yes." in a dry voice.

A sinister smile, reminiscent of a snake, appeared on your brother's face. He cupped your face with both hands and placed a small kiss on the top of your head, as if sealing the spoken words.

''Nice, very nice. Since we agreed, you can withdraw (y/n).”

Today

You stood in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do.

About half an hour ago, you were married to the grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. The wedding was held in a simple ceremony attended by clan elders, family members, and high-ranking special warriors.

Even though the wedding dress fit like a glove, you felt like you were suffocating throughout the ceremony. It was as if your lungs did not fit into your chest; no matter how deep you breathed, it was never enough, preventing you from suppressing the growing tension inside you.

That's why you focused your gaze on one place, looking only in front of you, and tried not to lose control. You were a warrior; you shouldn't have been intimidated by a marriage. Moreover, it wasn't even a real marriage; it was just a significant step towards leading your clan to victory.

Still, despite all this, the weight of the task, its reality, and the obligation to meet expectations began to weigh on your shoulders with each passing minute, making itself felt more clearly.

During the ceremony, neither you looked at the grandmaster nor he looked at you. Both of your eyes were focused forward, both of your stances were upright, and there was a distinct gap between you, almost large enough for a person to fit in. It was obvious from every aspect that you were married out of necessity.

“I hope this union will end the ongoing hostility between the two clans. Now we are all a family under this roof; your happiness is our happiness, your sadness is our sadness, and your war is our war too.”

With the echoing voice of the clan elder, the trembling in your body increased even more. When the rings were brought to you in a fancy box to be worn, you turned your body towards the grandmaster, and this time you fixed your gaze on his chest, avoiding meeting his eyes directly.

Even in this situation, you felt small and cornered against the grandmaster's large body. You knew you could easily blend into the shadows and escape from there if you wanted; it would be effortless for someone of your skill. Unfortunately, running away was not an option for you as you had to hide your powers from them.

Your head could only reach the man's chest, and the cool air emanating from him had raised the tiny hair on your body. The danger signals emanating from every part of the grandmaster were clear as day; you could feel his dark aura and dominant nature to your core.

You raised your hand when the grandmaster, who was about to become your husband, reached out to put the ring on your finger. Your hand was shaking noticeably, just as you had feared. You hoped that he would think you were shivering because of the cold.

While shame turned your cheeks pink, you felt the grandmaster's gaze on you for the first time and, unable to help yourself, you stole a glance from behind your eyelashes.

When you directly met the grandmaster's eyes, at that moment your heart was filled with a strange feeling that you had never felt before, as if your heart had fallen into the void.

They were definitely the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen in your life. Dark brown eyes, with the gaze of a predator, were slightly slanted and framed by dark lashes. It reminded you of the snow leopard you encountered while wandering through the forest once, beautiful but also wild. He had a distinct danger that meant he could easily tear you to pieces if you got close to him.

The grandmaster's touch sent a shiver through you as he placed the ring on your finger, his dark eyes never leaving yours. It was as if you were jolted awake from a dream, and you quickly shifted your focus to your hand.

The silver wedding ring on your finger was plain, with a smooth surface that felt cool against your skin, and adorned with only a small, dark blue gemstone. After looking at the ring for a few more seconds, you moved to put it on the grandmaster's ring in the same way, and again the man's intense gaze never left you.

You didn't remember the rest of the ceremony, you were too nervous and stressed. You had no idea how you got to this room, all you remembered was the similar corridors and the cold seeping through the stone walls.

You told the two women who came to help you to take off your wedding dress that you wanted to be alone and asked them to leave the room, and you somehow managed to take off your wedding dress with numb fingers.

With your legs feeling like jelly, you open the suitcase left in the corner of the room, where your belongings are kept. Carefully, you take out the nightgown your brother had chosen for you, unfolding it with a sense of reluctance and uncertainty.

Examining the satin, black nightgown with its long, floor-sweeping skirt and deep slit, a wave of nausea washes over you. The front of the nightgown is once again crafted in a deep V-shape, mirroring the design of the slit, making you acutely aware that it could easily expose your breasts without any effort on your part.

As you slip into the nightgown, your growing nausea intensifies, and an unsettling sensation grips you – akin to being a gift meticulously prepared for presentation. The overwhelming feeling brings tears to your eyes, and your lower lip begins to tremble slightly.

Anticipating the upcoming moment, you frequently refrain from pondering how your first time will unfold. Coming from a noble family, voicing your opinions on marriage is a luxury you don't possess. It's a duty, an obligation shared by everyone in your family, a fate dictated by the needs of the clan's future.

Reflecting on your parents' union, you recognize that, for those of noble blood, marriage is more duty than choice. The realization has always been too daunting to confront. The notion of a stranger, someone you've never met, easily penetrating your privacy has consistently sparked fear, causing your heart to race and beads of cold sweat to form.

And now, you've reached a point where you can't run anymore.

With fingers numbed by tension, you delicately adorn yourself with jewelry left by your mother, seeking to conceal the scar that stretches along your throat. Each piece, though carrying a sense of protection, is recognized as nothing more than a fragile illusion.

When the last necklace settled down to stand in the middle of your chest, the question that you didn't want to think about but couldn't stop from appearing echoed in your mind.

Was he going to hurt you?

You were not oblivious to the whispers that circulated regarding the first night, and unfortunately, the majority of the gossip you caught wind of painted a rather grim picture.

Given your origin from the enemy clan, he has every justification to revel in your suffering. Under different circumstances, you would never hesitate to fight and defend yourself.

Your body, shaped by years of training, is acquainted with pain, and you've acquired the skill to endure it. Yet, despite your ability to suppress pain in your mind to a certain extent, it proves insufficient to pacify the fear welling up within you—a type of fear both raw and primal, an emotion you’re unfamiliar with.

Besides, you had no idea how to satisfy him. Your life was spent in rigorous training, tasks, and strict discipline. Moreover, being an outcast in your clan, you had never formed emotional connections with anyone, making you clueless about how to satisfy him.

Finally, you dabbed on a perfume with an intense scent that irritated your nose, applying it to your wrists and a bit on your neck. The overpowering smell of vanilla engulfed your senses, intensifying your nausea. Due to the stress you had been feeling since the morning, you could only manage to drink water, and the bitter taste of rising bile lingered because there was nothing to expel.

Not now. Not now. I can't throw up now, no. Please no.

While desperately trying to calm yourself down through self-assurance, the door of the room opened quietly, causing you to freeze in place. When Lin Kuei's grandmaster stepped into the room in all his glory, a cold breeze also entered with him.

You trembled like a leaf in the thin nightgown you were wearing. Maybe it was due to the tension you felt, you didn't know, but the grandmaster's large body made the room suddenly feel small.

‘‘What are you doing here?’’

The deepest sound you'll ever hear in your life echoed through the room. You swallowed; you were sure you hadn't done anything wrong, but the way the man was asking made you doubt yourself.

‘‘I was brought here,’’ you said in a soft voice. Compared to the turmoil inside, you were glad that your voice came out smoothly and clearly, without cracking. ‘’Did I do something wrong to make you angry?’’

‘‘I don't want you to be here.’’

As the grandmaster approached you with confident strides, you made an effort to project an air of composure, stifling the inner protests urging you to step back and maintaining a poised posture.

You didn't want him to think that you were afraid of him; it was too dangerous to put such power in his hands already.

Once the distance between you closed, you were able to look at him decently for the first time, having to tilt your head back a little to do so.

He was dressed in a traditional outfit of dark blue and black with the colors of his clan, and there was the clan's crest on a silver brooch attached to the left side of his chest. The grandmaster in these clothes looked more like the Chinese monarchs who passed through ancient times than a warrior in it.

His black hair was carefully gathered, and his complexion, pale enough to reflect the moonlight, framed a masculine face. With an arched nose, thin lips, and a jaw marked by strong lines, his features were striking.

Yet, what left the most significant impression and held your gaze was his eyes. Unblinking, dark orbs conveyed pronounced arrogance, a testament to his accustomed habit of looking down on others, coupled with a commanding power that compelled obedience. His dominant air shifted the room's atmosphere in an instant.

Normally, intimidation never came easily to you, a trait instilled by the harsh experiences your own family subjected you to. Your family, especially your demanding late father and your brother following in his footsteps, shaped your resilience. No one had the luxury of choosing their family, so you learned to keep your guard up and navigate around them.

Despite being a stranger, the man before you exhibited a fundamental difference that set him apart from the individuals in your family within seconds. Wordlessly, through his upright posture and tense shoulders, he conveyed a silent threat, one that lingers and continues to affect you.

‘’This is my room," stated the grandmaster. Although his voice was as quiet as the night itself, it resonated so deeply that it seemed to rumble in your ears. "The fact that we are married does not mean that we will share the same room. This marriage is no more than an alliance; you are my wife on paper, not in reality."

You remained silent, unsure of how to respond. This revelation caught you off guard, and as the temperature in the room dropped, you had no doubt that the grandmaster started to notice your trembling body.

In a whispering voice, you finally managed to ask, "But shouldn't we be fulfilling the binding of the marriage ceremony?"

"I can clearly see that you don't want to do this; you look as timid as a bird," remarked the man. One of his black eyebrows slightly lifted in a mocking manner. "I've heard that birds have heart attacks and die when they get too scared. Is that what happens when I touch you?’’

Despite the cold in the room, your cheeks flushed with embarrassment and a touch of anger at being perceived as weak. The man's words carried a sarcastic, arrogant tone that ignited a surge of anger within you.

You lifted your chin and looked directly into the eyes that were carefully watching your every move like a hawk. This action of yours was bold, perhaps even displaying a rudeness unbecoming of a noble woman, but in that moment, you didn't care.

‘’I am here to fulfill my duty.’’

"We've both just fulfilled what was expected of us already, little bird.’’

You frowned at the sarcastic nickname that came out of his cold voice.

‘’On paper, you are my wife, and I am your husband. We are no more than that. We won't be. If you want this alliance to be sustainable, don't take the ring off your finger, don't try to pry into my business, and keep your mouth shut as long as you're around me. I'm sure you're talented enough to do all of these things.’’

Without giving you a chance to answer, the grandmaster grabbed you by the arm and kind of dragged you after him towards the door, while the coldness emanating from his hand took your breath away.

‘‘Your own room is at the very end of this corridor, I'll call someone in a moment to bring your things.’’

When he closed the door in your face as he finished his words, you stayed where you were in shock. Not only were you kicked out like a little child, you were also insulted.

You stayed there, your rapidly beating pulse create a ringing in your ears, while your breath coming out of your lips created a thin smoke in front of you.

You had failed the first task you were expected to perform. You knew that when you had to report to your brother, he would ask you questions about tonight and wonder if you were successful in influencing him. If you tried to lie, he would catch it very easily. You've had enough time to ignore this concern for now, but you've fallen into a complete unknown about what you should do.

As you walked towards your room with silent steps, you also felt more humiliated than ever. You've never heard of a woman being kicked out of a room on her wedding night.

Marriage was a sacred bond, according to the belief the marriage would end the same way it began. You knew well how important it was to fulfill this, especially for those who care about old traditions, such as your own clan.

Despite the marriage being crafted for an alliance, even if it was merely a facade, both sides exchanged marriage vows. While the incomplete conclusion of the ceremony lessened your concerns about the first night, it now overwhelmed you with anxiety and humiliation that you couldn't fulfill it.

Tomorrow morning, when you emerged from another room, everyone in Lin Kuei would find out the truth. Was the grandmaster's reluctance to touch you solely due to your status as his enemy? Or perhaps, beyond that, did he harbor a dislike for your appearance? Maybe that's why he wanted you out of his sight as soon as possible.

‘’Why does it matter what he think?’’

You said to yourself. Crossing to your room, you closed the door behind you and sat down directly in front of the windows, which illuminated the room with moonlight, without bothering to look inside.

‘’It doesn't matter what he think about me, he is my enemy, and I am his. I need to figure out how I can get this resolved as quickly as possible, that's all.’’

While reassuring yourself, you nervously nibbled on your lower lip. The challenges ahead were proving to be far more demanding than anticipated, yet you hadn't found the courage to vocalize this realization.

[starsreminisce]

The canon:

“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.

The inspiration:

I was pouring myself a goblet of golden sparkling wine when Lucien finally appeared behind me, peering over my shoulder. “I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.”

I guess we would need something more recent like from SF?

“By the Cauldron,” a familiar male voice said beside Cassian, and he turned to find Lucien in the archway to the training area. The rest of the priestesses and Azriel had left ten minutes earlier. Nesta hadn’t even noticed. “Feyre said she was training, but I hadn’t realized she was … well, training.”

Lucien still sneaking up on people like a habit Elain had picked up, because while I remember Azriel being able to keep quiet and move stealthily, I don't recall him sneaking up on people like Elain did to Nesta, the same way Lucien did to Feyre and Cassian.

[ocktavo]

Bored of the Rings? [MESoM13]

[devi1sange1]

“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth from Azriel or the two half wraiths she called friends.

Read that again and tell me Elriels are just “making things up” when we say Elain is suited for/being set up for spy work. Like seriously, comparing her to the Spymaster and the only other known spies in the NC is like… not an obvious hint?

But sure we’re just lying and mischaracterizing Elain blah blah blah.

Btw emissaries can engage in some espionage type of stuff too. Maybe consider that before we ignore the context we’re given just because of ships.

[professional-ghost-rider]

i adore hearing about people's cod ocs/self inserts!

so here's mine!

Name: Taylor Starling Callsign: Wraith

Her recruitment into Task Force 141 didn't come easy. Nor did getting her to cooperate with the US Government in the first place. She wouldn't be here if prison wasn't the only alternative.

Taylor Starling, expert codebreaker and stealth operative, was arrested for committing treason at the age of 24. The company she worked for went down with her. 23 men and women who'd been doing good work for the country, domestically and abroad, were suddenly behind bars. "Why?" You might ask. For conducting espionage operations with no authority or permission from the United States Government.

Taylor's life had never been easy. Bouncing around juvenile detention centers throughout her teenage years for silly things like petty theft and the occasional infiltration of a classified government data networks. No big deal. But federal prison is a lot different than juvie.

Then Kate Laswell went sniffing around the recently busted operation; found Starling's file. She was given an option: spend the rest of her life locked up...

or join the CIA.

Not surprisingly, the reckless young woman, deciding that she wasn't quite ready to give up on living just yet, chose the latter. Even if it was hard to understand why they wanted her. Laswell explained that they’d never seen such a talented codebreaker and hacker, especially that young. So Taylor went along with it. After all, she was doing the same shit she’d always done, just for a fatter paycheck and without the looming threat of life in federal prison.

Two years of intelligence work later and Taylor is being approached by none other than Captain John Price. He and Laswell have decided that her skills as a stealth operative have been… underutilized. They want her to join some ragtag band of special forces assholes dubbed Task Force 141.

Let’s just say it didn’t take much convincing to get her back out in the field.

aside from general headcanons and x reader content, I’ll most likely be posting more about this crazy lady because I love her dearly. she literally got shot while pregnant once but no big deal.

[lovemyromance]

‼️ Warning: CANON TEXT AHEAD! ‼️

Elriels don't need to "force" this narrative of Elain being friends with N+C just because we want her to have ties to Azriel and a spy arc - that is already happening. It is in the canon text. that's on SJM, not Elriels

ACOWAR: There was a sparkle in Elain's eyes and she smiled making bread with them.

ACOFAS: Elain continues to spend time baking with N+C , buys them solstice presents

ACOSF: SJM BLATANTLY SAYS "as if she'd been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends" & says Elain had found joy and friends (In N+C specifically) in Velaris

They are friends. Just because we don't have Elain's POV doesn't change that fact. Just because Rhys pays them to take care of his household doesn't change that fact.

If they're not friends because Rhys pays them, then Gwyn isn't Nesta's friend because as HL he also provides Gwyn a place to live in the library, free of charge. Doesn't that sound absurd??

Next, Azriel & Elain are attracted to each other. They get aroused by touching each other. They want each other, badly. Again - this is not something Elriels made up. This is in canon text. There is no foreshadowing involved - it is flat out written on the pages

Azriel's bonus chapter:

You can say it's just lust. You can say he's toxic and an incel. It still doesn't change the fact that they want each other, and SJM wrote that down on the page.

Azriel is protective of Elain. He goes to rescue her himself, does not wait for anyone else to volunteer first. His shadows may vanish around her when he is comfortable and happy, but when he feels defensive of Elain, his shadows swarm him. Why tf would his shadows go crazy in her defense if they hated Elain?

ACOWAR: He is the first to notice Elain is missing. He is the first to volunteer to rescue her.

ACOSF: Azriel is visibly affected when he hears Elain might be hurt by Nesta's words. His shadows swarm him, and prepare to strike when Elain gets insulted by Nesta.

There are so many more Elriel moments that are explicitly written in the text that I could point to. So, so many because their relationship has been slowly being built up in the background for multiple books now. Why are we ignoring all their development? Why are we digging into absurd excuses to discredit the words SJM has written?

This is what the story has been setup for. If you don't like it, read something else I guess??