#a familar stranger

[dilebe06]

Tale Of The Nine Tailed & Tale Of The Nine Tailed 1938 e A Familiar Stranger

Un po' di questo... e un po' di quello.

Sono troppo pigra per scrivere commenti su queste serie. Ma d'altra parte, mi dispiace non mettere per iscritto manco due righe: d'altronde, sono tre drama che nel bene e nel male, meritano almeno menzione.

Ma appunto perché sono svogliata, andrò a casaccio, trattando solo le cose che mi sono piaciute e cosa invece mi ha lasciata perplessa.

TALE OF THE NINE TAILED & TALE OF THE NINE TAILED 1938

Questi due li metto insieme perché uno seguito dell'altro. Anche se la seconda stagione si può benissimo vedere senza che si sia manco toccata la prima.

Di questa serie ho amato l'ambientazione simil horror, super inquietante. Tanto che certe volte ho dovuto mettere in pausa la serie per riprendere fiato e far passare l'ansia. Entrambe le stagioni portano in campo la mitologia koreana - adoro- nel modo più allarmante possibile. Non solo è stato super interessante scoprire le leggende della Korea ma il taglio inquietante ha reso la visione ancor più elettrizzante. La cosa che mi rende ancor più felice è il fatto di esser arrivata in fondo senza incubi: ho passato la mia prova di coraggio.

Un'altra cosa che mi è piaciuta è stato la caratterizzazione del lead, Lee Yeon. A differenza di altre creature sovrannaturali più conosciute - coff... coff ...Goblin - il protagonista di questa serie è perfettamente ambientato nell'epoca moderna: non solo sa come funzioni la tecnologia ed il mondo attorno a lui, ma usa tutto ciò con molta naturalezza. Cosa che ho adorato. Come mi è piaciuta tantissimo, l'espressione del Nostro ogni qualvolta c'erano casini: quello sguardo scocciatissimo di chi c'ha altro da fare ma gli tocca stare lì a risolvere bordelli. Adorabile. La qualità più interessante di Lee Yeon comunque non sono i super poteri ma la sua intelligenza. Seriamente, questo gumiho mi ha conquistato più per il suo cervello che per l'abilità con la spada.

L'altra cosa che ho amato, sempre su Lee Yeon, è la sua fallacità. Pur essendo un Dio di Montagna, un Gumiho ecc ecc... compie errori di valutazione, fa sbagli che si riflettono tutti nel disastroso rapporto con il suo fratellino, ad esempio.

Il Fratellino, Lee Rang, è la mia stella di questa serie. Stagione uno e due. Non solo perché la recitazione di Kim Bum è stata fantastica...ma anche perché il suo personaggio è un concentrato di contraddizioni e dolore: ama suo fratello ma lo risente per averlo abbandonato. Vorrebbe passare del tempo con lui ma ha sempre il terrore di affezionarsi e poi soffrire nel caso che Yeon lo abbandoni di nuovo. Un adorabile tsundere. E poi è il personaggio con un evoluzione ed una crescita più bella di tutti. In entrambe le stagioni.

Nella seconda stagione ancor più che nella prima, il rapporto dei due fratelli è centrale ed ho amato questa cosa. La prima stagione - senza fare spoiler - mi aveva lasciato l'amaro in bocca per come era finita. Ma la seconda mette a posto quel finale dando finalmente a Lee Rang la chiusura che si merita. Sul finale di tale Of the nine tailed ci sarebbe da scrivere un poema per quanto mi ha fatto incaz...re.

Altra cosa che mi è piaciuta - e qui andiamo nella seconda stagione - è la storia d'amore di Rang e Yeo Hee. Semplice, romantica, senza pretese. Posso alzare un po' gli occhi per la velocità con cui la volpe ha aperto il suo cuore alla sirena...ma va bene. Condensare tutto in 12 episodi porta anche a questo. Nonostante ciò, la loro storia mi è piaciuta molto, trovando nella ragazza la compagna perfetta per Lee Rang.

Infine nota di merito per la collega di lavoro di Lee Yeon: la divinità di montagna Hong Joo. Fantastica. Spettacolare. E non mi riferisco solo alla sua recitazione ma anche il suo personaggio. So Yeon tratteggia una Hong Joo cazzutissima e badass ma allo stesso tempo fragile e desiderosa della sua vecchia vita con i suoi vecchi amici diventati come una famiglia per lei. Vorrebbe che tutto tornasse come quando i tre erano ancora Divinità di montagna e fa di tutto per proteggere le persone a cui vuole bene. Anche cose poco lecite. L'ho amata.

Ed ora la cosa che invece mi ha convinto meno. La storia d'amore tra Lee Yeon e Nam Ji Ah. Chiariamoci, è una bella storia. Super romantica, straziante, fatta bene e ben costruita. E pure a tratti divertente. Il mio problema con lei è stato il fatto che di drama con due persone che si amavano nel passato, poi una è morta e si aspetta la sua reincarnazione per continuare ad amarsi... è roba già vista. Cioè, Destined with you parla più o meno della stessa cosa. Per questo mi sono ritrovata, a malincuore, a skippare alcuni pezzi di romanticismo tra i due, desiderosa solo di andare avanti nella trama principale o vedere cosa stesse combinando Lee Rang. Ho un feticismo per questo uomo

Anche la trama certe volte non è stata poi così chiara. Alcune volte fa diversi pasticci e ti costringe a porti domande che mai e poi mai avranno risposte. Per carità, la storia si segue bene ma consiglio di vedere le due stagioni godendosi la trama senza porsi troppe domande. XD

Detto questo, Tale Of the Nine Tailed 1 e 2 merita sicuramente la visione. Anche perché per come è finita la seconda stagione e la locandina di una terza già apparsa su Mydramalist, ci sono in ballo altre stagioni... e che ti perdi l'opportunità di vederti e far parte di una Saga?!

VOTO: 7.6 alla prima stagione e 7.8 alla seconda

A Familiar Stranger

Siccome le donne incinte uccise e fatte a pezzi -con testa e feto spariti - in Dark Night non mi avevano ancora convinto del tutto, ho deciso di buttarmi su questo mini drama da 8 episodi che alla fine si è rivelato uno dei migliori mini drama degli ultimi tempi.

Certo, c'è la questione dello scambio di faccia che ancora non mi fa dormire la notte ( l'hanno scuoiata? magia nera? ) ma nel complesso posso pure prendere queste domande e metterle a tacere concentrandomi su altro. In questo caso la trama:

Una povera pittrice viene ricattata dalla figlia del Primo Ministro per sposare il Generale al posto suo cossicchè lei possa continuare a troieggiare in giro con il suo amante, il Principe Ning.

Il ricatto consiste nella vita della sorella della pittrice, sorella sparita anni or sono e che la ragazza potrà rivedere solo se adempierà alle richieste della nobildonna. Anche se questa di nobile ha solo l'atto di nascita.

Per la riuscita del piano, alla pittrice viene data la faccia dell'altra donna appunto - operazione fattasi tramite magia nera credo- ed il sjuo compito è copulare con il Generale e trovare "qualcosa" - ma non si sa cosa - nella residenza del futuro marito.

Quello che però la Nobildonna non sa è che la pittrice ed il Generale si conoscono da tempo: riuscirà la nostra protagonista a fingere di essere la Figlia del Primo Ministro abbastanza a lungo da fregare il Generale o sarà prima quest'ultimo a riconoscerla vedendo oltre la sua nuova faccia?

Inizia così una serie che per le prime 4 puntate mi stava rincoglionendo, dandomi più domande che risposte e facendomi pensare che le cose stessero accadendo a caz...o di cane. Non ne vedevo il nesso...finché da metà serie in poi tutto si mette al suo posto. Le domande trovano risposta, le cose si chiariscono e nel finale c'è un colpone di scena che mi ha fatto sbarellare.

Nota di merito per il personaggio del Principe Ning che, partito come uno di quelli che vorresti solo menare, trova una sua crescita ed evoluzione caratterizzandosi come uno dei personaggi migliori di questo mini drama.

Cosa che invece la serie si poteva per me pure risparmiare è la solita reiterata storia d'amore dei due che si conoscevano e si amavano da prima ancora che inizi la storia. Per quanto mi riguarda continuerò a credere che questo escamotage narrativo non solo non sia romantico ma sia pure sinonimo di pigrizia:

facile fare una storia d'amore quando i due protagonisti si conoscono da anni e sono già mezzi innamorati!

Su i due lead posso poi dire poco. Carini e ben caratterizzati...ma niente di spettacolare. Insomma, nella norma.

Infine, una parola sulla Figlia del Primo Ministro: pazza scocciata! Ho goduto troppo quando tutti i suoi piani le si sono ritorti contro ed ha gradualmente perso ogni cosa. BHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Chiaramente poi, essendo solo 8 episodi da 20/30 minuti l'uno non c'è tempo e spazio per approfondire le cose ma quel poco che c'è basta e avanza.

Consigliato quindi per le serate quando si cerca qualcosa di veloce ma che non sia stupido.

Voto: 8 =

[recreationalwordsayer]

sorry doc prescribed me at least 5 erotomaniac delusional thoughts a day

[yuujiology]

sub! itafushi x top!male reader.

tw; voyerism, pervert megumi, teasing reader, megumi likes both reader and yuuji.

megumi was not blind, anyone with eyes could tell what was going on between you and yuuji. the way youd visit his rooms at ungodly hours of the night. the way his hoodie would just barely cover the marks that painted his body.

megumi never classified himself to be a fool, so why was he doing someone so stupid as to eavesdrop on you and yuujis nightly routines? his back pressed against the wall connecting his room to yuujis, bare legs spread, and shirt hiked to a makeshift gag in his mouth.

the walls in jujutsu high were thin, megumi took that as a blessing and a curse.

“ah, youre still loose from yesterday,” your purred, a slick sound followed. megumi conjured the image of you having yuuji, naked on all fours, legs spread, back arched, and face pressed down into the mattress, as you fingered his ass.

megumi, sure, he was a little homosexual, but that visual shouldn’t have got him as wet as it did. megumi fisted his cock with hunger, long needy tugs of his cock as he tried to keep his voice down. his face contorted as he heard yuujis whimpers.

“don’t leave too many m-marks this time, fushiguro,” he cut off with a moan, megumis hips bucked harder at the way yuuji cried his name, “fushiguro was looking at me alot today, haa…”

you chuckled, like you knew something they didnt, “who knows maybe he wants to join us,” megumi nodded vigorously even though he knew you couldn’t see him, hips rolling to meet his hands.

“dont be ri-ridiculous, fushiguro would never!”

oh poor yuuji, if only you knew. if only you knew just how much he craved it. how the thought made his throat dry and cock painfully erect. to be sandwiched in between the you and him is one of his guiltiest pleasures.

“never say never yuuji,” megumi was by no means delusional, he stuck to the hard facts. that couldn’t stop him from thinking you said that for him. that you knew he was breaking his nonchalant character a wall away and fucking into his hand like a monkey.

a cry startled him from his thought as you sheathed into yuuji, giving his plump ass a tap in the process.

megumi was not at all a pervert, he was modest, always lowering his gaze. so why did the image of you rutting into yuuji come so easy to him? as if he was there with you, watching the way yuujis back arched, pressing his plump ass back to meet your thrusts. or the way your muscles rippled as you draped yourself over yuuji to jerk his big angry cock.

his stamina surprised him, usually megumi would have came by now, if he was just by himself. but he held on today, just so he could come together with you and yuuji.

megumis toothy grip on his shirt started to hurt his jaw as he now used two hands to jerk his length, hips pounding into his closed fists as he slapped into them with such vigour, he was wondering how you didnt hear him (if only he knew.)

“i can tell your close yuuji, your clenching around me so tightly, id hate to pull out,” you said through gritted teeth, “you wanna cum for me huh baby?”

“mhm mhm!” megumi whined enthusiastically.

“y-yes! please let me cum,” yuuji mewled in suite.

“do it you both, make a mess and come for me.”

megumi and yuuji cried out at the same time, shocks of electricity ignited inside megumi as he laid limp, his cock spurting pathetically on his hard wood floors.

“don’t be a stranger megumi, feel free to join us next time.” a familar voice rang out in his head as he succumbed to sleep.

part 2?🤫

[tbaluver]

Can you do the boys with a mentally unwell reader? Like she has depression, ocd, or anxiety that she takes medication for?

S/O Who Faces Mental Illness- The Love And DeepSpace Men

parings in order: Xavier x Reader, Zayne x Reader, Rafayel x Reader, Sylus x Reader tags: ( for all ) mentioning of depression/ depressive episodes, ocd rituals, anxiety/ social anxiety a/n: hi anonnie ! ♡⸜(˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ sorry this took awhile, this was sitting in my drafts and i would keep coming back to it. i just wanted to make sure this topic is handled with care. i know that everyone has different types of depression, anxiety, and ocd so i wrote the ones that i'm familar with and gone through. i hope this was okay lmk ! ̤̮

⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆

Xavier:

Xavier has always been such an attentive lover to you and he’s grown increasingly worried as he observed your unhealthy habits. He notices how you spend more time in bed than usual, longer than he would stay in bed. How you seem disinterested in eating, even if it were foods you typically enjoyed. Noticing how these impacts have affected you, he has made the effort to educate himself better on what you’re going through to understand and support you better.

If you were taking any medications, he'll read the entire packet that came with it or look up as much information he can online. He'll try to remember all the side effects that comes with it and makes sure to check up on you whenever you take them.

He notices when your energy plummets so it’s his duty to take care of you. He tries to make everything easy for you. He’ll make sure to tuck both of you in bed, turning off the lights when you both get ready, making sure to have food delivered when you wake up. Xavier encourages you to take a walk outside with him, helping you get some fresh air and encouraging you to step out of bed. He’ll hold your hand the entire time.

Distractions were one of the ways he could get your mind off any anxious thoughts or from any of your OCD rituals. He'll have a list of your favorite things to do and see if it helps. He'll stay with you in bed all day if that's what you need and wouldn't let you isolate yourself. Will also build a fort to cuddle you up in and have you tucked in his arms.

Anytime you two were out and you started to feel drained, then he'll take you back home. You two can stay in and cuddle.

He never pushes you beyond your comfort levels. If there was any situation where you started to feel uncomfortable, then he'll lead the situation and you somewhere else that sets you more at ease.

Zayne:

Zayne is no stranger to the topics of mental illness. He’s gone through extensive studies and many clinical experiences with patients. But with you, it's different. Your struggles aren’t just a clinical case to him, they’re personal. He’s acutely attuned to subtle changes of your mood and actions. He notices the quiet shifts in your expressions, or the way your eyes dull and lose their sparkle. Even though it’s hard to read through his expressions, it truly does hurt him to see you suffer. Your internal pain that you battle inside hurts him more than words can convey.

If you were to go through a depressive episode and you feel like you can’t do everything you need, then Zayne has no problem doing the extra housework or helping you with your physical health. He would reassure you to not feel guilty even though he’s busy with his work or any paperwork's. You have done so much as a loving partner to him and he will always return the favor for you.

He’ll help you shower and dress you up. He'll make sure to brush your hair gently and that you brush your teeth. He’ll even make sure you eat enough and he’ll praise you for taking every bites.

He’s always there for you. Even if he was in the middle of work, he would remind you to never hesitate to reach out whenever you feel isolated or just needed to vent, anything. Spam him, leave voice messages- he’ll read every word and listen to each message and reply with care. No matter how busy he might be, he’ll find a way to call you as soon as he can. He wants to make sure you’re okay and to remind you that you’re never alone, even when he’s away. Your well-being matters so deeply to him that he’s committed to be there for you in every possible way.

He'll keep note of all the side effects you've experienced with your medications, so he's aware of the potential issues that might arise when you take them. Will send you texts reminding you to take your meds at the right time and to make sure you eat before you take them so you don’t get nauseous.

He’s a very attentive and caring partner, he pays close attention to the triggers of your OCD and observes the coping mechanisms you have. He notices your struggle with hand washing compulsions and understands how these rituals can take a toll on you. He’ll try to help you by pointing out that excessive hand washing can actually be harmful, as it washes away the beneficial ones that your body needs.

He'll be very reassuring when you feel the need to constantly check up on things. He won't judge you for it but instead he'll offer to check on it himself and reassure you that everything is okay.

It wouldn’t be new to him to avoid places that were crowded or super noisy. He would know where all the less crowded and quiet places are. At this point, he already had taken the time to understand your triggers and sources of anxiety. He just wanted to be well-informed so he can help you avoid these situations and provide the support and care you need.

If you were to experience an anxiety attack, he remains calm and patient and helps you try to breathe. Whenever you need to vent, he’s always there for you. He’ll let you curl up on his lap while you talk, gently stroking your hair. Although he’s quiet while you talk, you know he listens to every detail and he doesn’t want to interrupt you. After you finish sharing, he’ll offer advice or discuss the situation to help you work through it together.

Rafayel:

He knows that you were going through significant struggles because it often kept you doing certain things with him. There are times when the weight of your depression and anxiety feels so heavy that it drains your motivation, making your favorite hobbies or simply just doing anything seem out of reach. Sometimes the intensity of your OCD leads you to stay up, unable to rest because you repeatedly check things like the light switches, doors, windows, and everything else in the house.

OCD is a topic that Rafayel wouldn’t tease or be playful on with you. He notices the small things when you repeat patterns or prefer certain number sets. He’s very patient and understanding about this topic but anytime you feel as if your ocd ritual was messed up, he is quick to run to your side and reassure you that everything will be okay.

Rafayel has been in a dark place himself so he knows the signs when you’re struggling. Whether you’ve been through this over and over again, he’ll help you through this every single time. If you don't have the energy to take a shower or a bath, then he’ll simply carry you and wash you himself. He’ll join you and use your favorite bath bomb scents and make it a little fun by blowing bubbles at you. A smile would curl up on his lips when he sees you smiling again.

He wouldn’t force you to talk. He’ll do most of the talking and hopefully it takes your mind off anything you were anxious about. When you are ready to talk, he’ll praise you. It’s a big step forward in healing and he would be listening attentively to everything you say.

Rafayel would text you throughout the day and ask how you were feeling. He's always there at your beck and call. If you need anything, he already has it and he's on his way to you.

If you were out in public and you started to feel uneasy, he would lead you somewhere else. Rafayel would always be holding your hand for security and to make sure you were always right by his side. He doesn't mind wherever you both go, as long as he's with you. He makes sure that you two can go to places that aren't crowded or noisy but still enjoyable and fun for the both of you.

He’s very worried whenever you take medications. He knows that they can have some mean and nasty side effects and that’s the last thing he would want you to go through. He’ll always make sure to check up on you a couple hours later to see how you’re holding up.

Sylus:

It does not take him long to notice you were acting off. Nothing can get past this man and he doesn’t want you to feel like you have anything to hide from him. No matter what the issue is, he isn’t leaving your side and you’ll both work on the issue together. He doesn’t want you to go through anything alone.

When you feel empty and you simply want to sink into your bed and lay there motionless because everything in the world was just too much, Sylus will not hesitate to take action. He’ll make sure you're eating nutritious meals by calling his private chefs or he’ll make them himself. He’ll sit right beside you and watch you take enough bites or he’ll spoon feed it to you himself. Sylus would make sure to tell you that you were doing so well even if the bites were big or small. After you are done eating, he’ll make sure that you take all your meds and check up on you if any of the side effects arise.

He’ll be right by your side at any doctor's appointments. He’ll carry you to the bathroom himself or he’ll use his evol to help wash, dry, and dress you up. Sylus would encourage you as well to go on walks with him so your body is still moving and so you can get some fresh air. He does all of this because he loves you and he doesn’t want you to lose any of the progress you made. He knows your capabilities and he knows you will get through this. He’ll be right by your side the entire time.

When he notices that your OCD rituals are becoming overwhelming, he doesn't hesitate to step in to help. He finds engaging activities for the both of you to do so it steers your focus away from the obsessive thoughts. Understanding how OCD can distort your perceptions, he uses distractions as a way to gently pull you out of that obsessive cycle.

Sylus would let you know that he’s accessible. Whenever you need him, feel free to call him any time and he’ll drop anything and come by to help you.

Don't even bother brushing off any of your issues. Anything that bothers you, he's always there to listen and help you. He’s a great listener and he never judges you for any problems you had and the reason behind your behavior. His shoulder is for you to lean on, cry on, laugh on, and hold on, etc. He’s understanding and wants you to be happy again.

When he’s away, he will have food delivered to you. He’ll make sure you eat and that you take your meds right after by calling or texting to remind you. Or he’ll just send Mephisto to you. He’ll caw/squawk repeatedly until you finish your meals.

[diabolichare]

Familar Stranger

DP x DC au with a dash of dimensional travel where Danny, due to his ghostly nature, looks slightly different depending on how others perceive him. 

Warning: OP has no knowledge of space other than Google and is also a non-native English speaker; proceed with caution.

Same startup kits; Danny becomes the successor to the Infinity Realm (he's a baby by both ghost and human standards, so there's a temporary council for now). Anyway, he still has some power over the ghosts, so he asks them to lessen the amount of fighting to focus on schoolwork and "princely education." 

Now here's where my brainrot begins.

The Lazarus Pits, necromantic rituals, or portals of any kind that have "death" or "soul" in them tend to be connected to the Ghost Zone. However, the zone has its own defensive mechanism, so unless someone *Fentons* actively makes a gateway or has "experienced" death, it's nearly impossible to come upon the zone. A certain furry bridage in Gotham has unknowingly ticked all the checkboxes.

During a misson, one of the bats got caught in a magic situation and got transported to the Infinity Realms. They wandered around, dogding ghosts, slowly getting insane from all these damn corridors and living paintings, before they stumbled upon a seemingly random door (CW is involved; he's having a great time testing the poor bat).

Opening the door leads them to the universe. They closed the door, then opened it again. Yep, that's an entire universe complete with its own planetary systems and, oh, so pretty stars growing and dying in a blink of an eye. Another check around shows them that this is the only door so far in the endlessly long hallway. They look down (if there's even a down, for there's only infinity) and take an experimental step. The Milky Way lit up under their feet, with stars gathering around to form a twisting path to nowhere. 

For the next couple of hours, days, or minutes, they made their way through the galaxies. Just when they were about to spiral into a midlife crisis, they heard... humming? 

Did they finally lose it? They asked themselves before noticing a glowing figure sitting on an asteroid nearby.

"Hello?"

The figure flinched, and life paused. The blackhole by their left stopped spinning, the stars weren't twinkling, and the figure turned their head. Now it's their blood that runs cold.

"You're not supposed to be here."

Lazarus-colored orbs stared back at them with a familiar face but an unfamiliar voice. Damian tilted his head, looking at them in confusion (there's something wrong, wrong, wrong-). They blinked because, what the hell, seeing something other than a scowl on the boy's face is WeirdTM. Suddenly, that's a teenaged Jason staring at them, much closer than he(?) was before.

At this point, they realized— eyes moving over the entire regalia and the glowing crown that just appeared—they're probably in deep sh*t.

[alicentsgf]

I do understand the criticism that Alicent and Rhaenyra have been at odds with each other at this point longer than they were friends, and personally i dont think we got enough justification at all for the circumstances of alicent and rhaenyras relationship this season. But implying they should be strangers by now? That doesnt make sense. You dont just stop knowing someone you spent your entire childhood with. Someone whose been part of your family one way or another for your entire life, even if you were feuding for half of those years. You would still have that familarity and attachment, even when you've wronged each other so many times over you've started to lose count. I have a lot of time for criticism of HotD, but acting like Alicent and Rhaenyra should be strangers by now just doesnt reflect reality. It is so so hard to make strangers of someone you've loved that deeply, even when it feels like all they've done is hurt you.

[boowritess]

rubbish days

141 member of your choice x reader

maybe you're the regular barista, bartender or waitress at the cafe/bar he often frequents. or you're the uni student, worker, or just an average civilian he often crosses because you guys happen to live close or frequent the same grocery store? perhaps are on the same bus or train?

but whoever you are, he sees you often enough that the both of you look at eachother with familarity and offer a small nod or smile. and if by chance circumstances lead you both to be close, maybe you both chat about the weather or how busy the day is.

on this particular day, he is so quick to spot you amongst the crowd or maybe turning the corner in a store- honestly it's embarrassing to him how quick he is to catch you in a crowd. he can't help it, you brighten his day.

but this day, your eyes don't meet his. there's no small nod or small smile. rather your face is blank and something is off. he can see it in your eyes and the way you stare blankly in front of you. there's a dullness to them, a slight sadness.

and before he can stop himself, "weathers shit this morning, eh?" he speaks, in that familar deep tone of his that draws your eyes to finally recognize him. though it seems to take a bit. "just bout saw three people slip on the pavement." when there's a lightness that starts to rise he adds, "though i might've been one of them."

his heart nearly fucking gave way when a smile falls on your face and then you laugh and he swears he died. but when you say nothing more and look away for a brief second.

he nudges you softly, barely a nick against your arm but it's enough for you to look up at him. "you alright, sweetheart?" he asks in a gentle tone. though he feels like he shouldn't of asked- because at the end of the day he is a stranger to you other than a familiar face you see in public. before he can apologize, you let out a deep sigh and shake your head. though you don't say anything else.

"then how about i get you something warm to drink? if you're busy we can stop by the coffee cart. it's a rubbish day and something warm might do ya good, though only if you want to, sweetheart." he speaks to you with a softness, in a way that lets you know that you can simply decline and maintain the status between you.

but then you find yourself nodding, and the walls you have built today are cracking when your shoulders slump. "that would be good. thank you." your words are soft and a little cracked but it makes him smile gently and lead the way to get a hot beverage.

maybe you don't say anything about what you're going through. maybe you simply get to know him.

but maybe you do tell him. tell him the weight that has been on your shoulders. tell him all about the current mental struggle going on in your brain since the day wore on or maybe when you first woke up. maybe you tell him about upcoming anxieties from work or uni. or maybe you just tell him you're tired. or how alone you feel at the moment. or how everything is just going down hill.

you don't know why you tell him but when you look at him - well actually when he looks at you, he has an aura that makes it seem he is willing to go to battle with every single thing you say. so you can't help it. especially when all he does is not look at you like a freak - because maybe that's what you feel like - but he looks at you like he truly understands what you're going through.

so when you're finished. there's a hint of regret at having dumped all this onto him. though it's washed away when he takes your hand in his and he offers a soft smile, "thank you for telling me, sweetheart. you've done something not many can and talked about what's going. that's a sort of strength that not many could do and i'm proud of you for doing so."

then he's giving you his number, "whenever you want. whenever you need. day or night. for a talk or even to go do something. i'm yours."

the implication of his words having an unknown deeper meaning.

maybe from there you both stay and chat a little longer. maybe you have to go or he has to get back to what he was doing.

whatever happens next, all he can do is beam with pride when he see's that spark of life in your eyes return. at how you visibly brightened.

from that day forward. the dynamic between you two changed. from strangers to friends. and with the time that you need, friends to lovers.

a/n: ya'll i tried so hard to make it a you choose thang. but i just needed a comfort fic (cause homie is going through it mentally) and didn't know which 141 to choose lol. anyways i hope ya'll are doing okie mentally, physically and maybe spiritually. don't be afraid to reach out whether to me or someone else. ya'll ain't alone- especially my mentally struggling betches i love u and see u. drink some water xx

[silverkat1620]

Just finished The San Lorenzo Job and am now thinking about Sophie in Redemption out and about and doing cons with the crew getting recognized as a doppleganger to Rebecca Ibanez.

Like, these San Lorenzo kids who grew up under/just after the Ribera Administration who don't have an inkling of all that was going on, but who remember watching on TV as a pretty lady who seemed nice said to never let anyone take your voice from you before *immediately* being gunned down in the attempted assassination of the new president. These same kids, now young adults who are traveling or working out of country passing Sophie on a street or in a restaurant and having a *moment*.

How many do you think stop and stare? Or tap her shoulder and ask if anyone has ever told her how much she looks like San Lorenzo's much-lamented not-quite First Lady? How many have shared with this familar stranger how much that woman's ladt words meant to them? How much her last command insipered them?

Do you ever stop and think about Sophie, especially after Redemption season 2, being confronted with all the foundations she laid without knowing it?

[shazdemon]

How Harry meets Tom....

It is a tiny person, the first glance reveals. A firstie? Amusement overtakes curiosity. Ofcourse. A curious litte baby snake, from the color on his robes. Well, this will be easy enough. He continues forward.

The dark brown that meets his green knocks the breath out of his chest. He is unprepared, wholly, completely, utterly lost for what's in front of him.

Tom Marvolo Riddle. Lord Voldemort.

His lungs cannot pull in enough air, his magic tightening up into a pulsing core, static crackling for one second between his fingers. He pulls them into a tight fist and calls forth every Occlumency practice he has ever had the displeasure of experiencing, an attempt to quell the rising tides of now unfamiliar emotion crashing like waves through him.

Tom fucking Riddle. The firstie encroaching into his private library table.

Lord Voldemort. His what? Future study buddy? He almost laughs out loud at the absurd thought.

Dark eyes have never let go of his own yet. He forces in a steady yet deep breath, trying to replenish the lack of oxygen since his body apparently forgot how to breathe for the last ten? fifteen? seconds.

And Tom Riddle still looks at him, stares, he has not blinked once.

"Hello, I am Harry Potter. Regular occupant of this table for the last four years, hopeful occupant for the next three. And you?"

Vs how Tom meets Harry

It had been maybe an hour before he was interrupted and for a second he is outraged as his newfound secret hideaway is disturbed.

He looks up and the outrage mellows to curiosity at the look in the others eyes. Eyes that seem to widen as if in recognition.

How is that possible?

Palpable shock and surprise evident in that sharp, handsome face.

As if he knows Tom, this stranger he has never seen before, as if he has suddenly run into a familar face in an unexpected place. As if seeing Tom is so surprising that he can't breathe, he hasn't taken his eyes off of Tom's for even a second, or even blinked really.

And then Tom's eyes follow as the surprise clears from his face, giving way to acceptance, and his words surprise and shock Tom in turn.

He had been expecting to have to introduce himself, expecting the boy to rudely demand an introduction such as they had, as he had, on the train, and then, he had been expecting to be dismissed, —with an insult that Tom is unfortunately growing ever more familiar with now.

It is because of this foolish assumption that Tom is totally off guard by the words that fall out the other boys mouth.

Both were equally entertaining to imagine and translate to words ❤️❤️

(For the whole fic https://archiveofourown.org/works/55248685)

[boombox-fuckboy]

Hey. Could you rec any podcasts with sapphic couples as their mains? Or a sapphic story. And so on. I only really know about where the stars fell and Alice isn't dead.

You're off to a strong start. Here's 20, there's more out there, but I tried to pick a variety. I'm going to put a ★ next to the ones I think will fit best, but they're all good.

Arden: (Fictional "True Crime", Investigative, Comedy). On the 25th of December, 2007, heiress and young actress Julie Capsom crashed her car into a tree and fled into a nearby forest clearing, leaving a trail that seemingly vanished into thin air, and a dismembered torso in the trunk. A decade later, Bea, the first reporter on the scene, and Brenda, a detective on the case, are hosting a true crime podcast about it, and neither is remotely impressed with what the other has to say. Arden is also a retelling of various Shakespeare plays.

The Author's Anathema: (Horror) Looking for some extra cash, and with some help from her girlfriend Eleanor, college student Natalie takes a small job to narrate an audiobook for a reclusive anonymous author. The book being a horror wouldn't be such a bother, but the stories within are... Familiar. Too familar.

The Beacon: (Urban Fantasy) Bee is a perpetually anxious university student who discovers she has the ability to create fire, and decides to start a podcast to find others like herself. She quickly discovers she's not alone, but a series of bizzare animal attacks suggest superpowered freshers are far from the only strange thing on campus.

The Department of Variance of Somewhere, Ohio: (Weird Fiction, Horror, Sci-Fi) On day one of a new job at the Department of Variance, in the middle of her workplace orientation, Jasmine's new workplace goes into lockdown. Guided via walkie-talkie by Scarlet, an experienced security officer, Jasmine must make her way down 20-odd shifting floors of strange entities and experiments. Ideally without becoming one of them. As a disclaimer, this one is the only addition to this list that isn't actively romantic yet, however there are canonically sapphic characters, and I am fairly confident it's headed that way.

★ Elixir: (Urban Fantasy, Romance) Set in a fantasy world's equivalent of the american prohibition, lawmakers daughter Elsie approaches someone unexpected in search of her missing sister: Vera, an alchemist and propriator of the local now-elicit hush bar.

The Far Meridian: (Magical Realism) An agorophobic young woman wakes up to discover her lighthouse home has moved overnight. It quickly becomes clear this isn't a once-off, and she decides to use this as an opportunity to search for her missing brother, having some strange encounters along the way.

Interference: (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance) Jacq is a D&D podcaster. Geneva is an orc scientist studying ancient human ruins the next world over. What happens when these women from different realities begin picking up each other's broadcasts?

Khôra Podcast: (Sci-Fi) Somewhere between adapted from and inspired by various greek myths, Khôra follows four women who deserved better (Atalanta, Echo, Medea, and Medusa) on a grand space adventure to find the golden fleece while keeping out of the reach of the olympians who own and run the galaxy.

★ Mabel: (Mystery, Supernatural, Horror, Romance). The live-in carer of a dying elderly woman attempts to contact her granddaughter, with little success. The contents of voicemails only get stranger, and what starts as a subtley creepy mystery-horror develops to poetic lesbian fae body-horror.

★ Midnight Radio: (Light Supernatural, Romance). Sybil McIntyre, host of the ever-popular 1950's nightly radio hour, begins exchanging letters with an old fan who has reluctantly returned to visit Sybil's beloved town.

Mina's Story: (Sci-Fi, Romance Elements) Still dealing with a major loss in her family, a young woman volunteers for a long-term cryonics project. The episodes are her audio logs after waking up each time, always the same place but centuries after she went to sleep. A story about grief, change, and the intersection of past and future.

Mirrors: (Sci-fi, Mystery, Supernatural). The audio journal of three women from different periods (past, present, and future) who seem to share little in common bar the strange inhuman, ghostly figures they have started seeing.

Night Life: (Supernatural, Noir) Utterly wacky one-episode story (more of a short audio movie) about an ex-vampire hunter turned private eye who finds herself dealing with the shenanigans of mafia and vampires in the wake of an upcoming mayoral election. Find it on the feed for The Lightning Bottler.

The Night Post: (Supernatural, Mystery). The conscripted couriers of Gilt City are both respected and shunned, integral to the city's function, but inexplicably tied to the supernatural. It's not something they like to talk about. When his husband goes missing on the job, Milo is called to take over. Clementine took over from her father a long time ago, yet recently someone else with her face has been delivering her own unsent letters. Val's not going to discuss how she ended up there, but she will absolutely open people's mail (filled with their own supernatural tales) to read aloud.

Palimpsest, Season 2: (Horror, Romance, Fantasy Elements). Set in the 1800s, a young woman becomes the maid to a supposed fairy noblewoman, who is being kept as one of many "denizens", living curiousities, in a large house. Each season is a different story, this is Season 2.

★ The Pasithea Powder: (Sci-Fi, Thriller?) The last major interplanetary war was full of atrocities, but none more infamous then the creation of Pasithea Powder, a memory altering drug which was used to horrible effect and landed it's entire team of creators in prison. So when decorated war hero Captain Sophie Green sees one of them wandering free, worlds away from his prison, she gets in touch with a very old, estranged friend: one Dr. Jane Gonzalez, who's behind bars for the very same reason.

Starship Q Star: (Sci-Fi, Comedy) The small crew of a tone-deaf space agency's attempt at a PR mission wake up at Mars to discover that they - and the one botanist abandoned on Mars base - are now the last surviving members of humanity. Co-captains and ex-girlfriends Aurelia and Sim must now dedicate themselves to protecting their crew and finding a new home, but they're rarely on the same page about how best to do it.

★ The Strange Case of Starship Iris: (Sci-Fi) When the shuttle carrying the crew of scientific research ship Iris explodes, Violet Liu finds herself stranded in space, the last survivor with no way out. Until her emergency broadcast is picked up by a passing ship. But the crew aren't who they seem to be, there's more going on here than anyone knows yet, and Violet must decide who she can really trust.

Unwell: (Supernatural). Lily Harper revisits her supposedly haunted childhood home to help take care of her aging mother. The house is weird, sure, but there's something far stranger haunting the town of Mount Absolm than simply ghosts.

Weaver: (Supernatural, Romance Elements). The musings of the entity within the old house about the girl she fell in love with (the only thing she can remember), and her two new coinhabitants, who do not yet know she exists.

[thefirstlioveyou]

isn’t it interesting that for a good majority of audience, all a straight relationship has to do to be considered peak fiction or writing is to make out and have an unhealthy dynamic that loser cishet men can self insert themselves in? for general audiences, these ships don’t need to prove themselves why they’re good - they just have to be a boy and a girl.

but then you got a fully fleshed out dynamic between two characters of the same sex, where their endgame fulfills their personal arcs and are meant to be; they just work, all while still reaching their full potential as characters. but instead of support and, y’know, basic media literacy, it’s always, “why is everything gay now? why can’t they just be friends?” well, because they only ever are! that’s why!

maybe it’s because i’m queer and will naturally be drawn to media i can resonate with, but it’s incredibly rare for me to believe there’s romance in a fictional het ship. it’s almost always souless, always the same formula. there’s no effort to make the audience fall in love along with them. don’t get me wrong, there are queer relationships that also feel poorly written and i cannot seem to be drawn to, but i’ve never experienced this the same amount of times i have with a het ship; not even close.

however, i never felt this way watching stranger things. lumax, jopper, jancy - they are absolutely believable romances. there’s conflict, there’s reason why they love each other. but most of all, the relationship takes its time to grow. the writers understand pacing is an important factor for writing romance.

this is why mileven always seemed so different from the rest, and why it was always destined to fail because of it. it was forced. literally in the narrative, it is pushed upon mike by his friends. el is kissed and because she sees mike in this pedastal from her trauma regarding male caregivers, she follows through and grows an unhealthy dynamic from the understanding of love she’s only ever been familar with. i genuinely believe she never would have seen him in a romantic light if he hadn’t kissed her. and finally, their character arcs just cannot be fulfilled if they continue to stay together - they just can’t. they just go back to square one with zero growth.

there is no actual appeal to the ship. it was cute the first season! but… that’s it? they kept getting pulled away from each other by the story itself, so they get like no time together. and the time they do, they’re busy breaking up. they have no common interests, they can’t give each other what they want/need, they unintentionally trigger each other’s traumas, still have yet to connect on a personal level.

but, i guess that’s what you call beautifully written television romance.. i guess that’s where we are.

[wishmaster]

I wish to be a handsome, insanely rich and muscled man.

Your new body is handsome and makes you tons of money as you spend most of your time filming sex videos, becoming one of the hottest young porn stars. At the end of the day your ass is so familar now that you can't even bend over at a club before you get recognized.

Most of your time on camera is usually just you doing normal things around your house sans pants. Throughout the day your visited by other studs , they come in and start fucking you. It's tiresome some days but oh so satisfying when the stranger fills your firm ass with his cum.

[vsyrworld]

i rrly need a quick fluffy post monza charlos fanfic so here is my shot (turn out its not quick but anyway)

rated : m (bcs of they kiss a lot)

tags : sleepy cuddle and kisses, singapore as core memory, not beta read so sorry bout error.

♡ enjoy ♡

///

carlos is so so done. so freaking wasted as he could only sprawled on his bed, lying there like a death log. feet cramp, shoulder aching, body hurts everywhere. and finally after a dreadful weekend, enormous laps of attacking and defending rewarded by a worthy podium, is an ecstasy but not for long as he has to spare his social energy for boring long ass press interview and celebration. at least the last one is another reward.

he thought.

if isnt because of that stupid thieves out of nowhere, he already eating his dinner out, have a drink that charles had promised him through interview and the bad thing was charles also already texted him, "matee! lets have a drink together tonight!!", he read and left the chatroom opened, and then his watch accident, ran his breath out then the police -- oh merde, charles must be waiting him at bar or atleast his response and yet- carlos told rupert to skip a dinner and call it a day.

the other bad news is, if he is too tired. he couldnt sleep. and tifosi are still out there whatever the chantng or lullaby they are doing-- its actually nice and heartwarming-- but he needs sleeps. constantly nagging by the anonymous hands, scents, crowds making him dizzy. he lost sense of familiarness. then he remember this week, they didnt film anything about c2 challenges. carlos hadnt had a chance to annoy charles because they are cramped in a big crowd, people here people there --

his phone ringing stopping carlos from circulating haze thought

lazily, or more pricisely, fatiguely, reach his bed side stand and swipe the call without minding the caller id,

"carlos?! you okay? where are you now?" carlos stunned in silence but his lips form a smile, cahlos

"hey" he turned his body to lay down on his left side. the phone is on top of his right ear, as he dropped his own hand to matress, "sorry" he speaks slowly, his energy already depleted

"forget it, the important is you are ok." charles' voice smoothing right to his ear.

"hm" he hummed in agreement. already closing his eyes.

he heard a chuckled from other line, "do you want me ...um..."

carlos smiled as his hand mindlesly caressing the empty spot beside him,

"dont wanna get up. too tired" he said truthfully. the bed is already swallowed him half of his body and soul,

"okay" charles said. carlos didnt expect anything so he doesn't hang up the phone.

but he knows charles will come anyway,

thus when his hotel room door closed with a soft thuds, and his arms streched into a cold empty spot is finally, finally, now replaced by a slender warm figure.

carlos with eyes closed, instinctively wraps the body and pulling him so his chest against charles' chest, legs tangled each other, a warm laugh land on his sleepy face

"is this how you greet me, hm? mister ministary of defence? pole sitter? podium winner? or hm a superhero who chasing down the thieves around the street hmph--"

carlos shuts him with long deep kiss, with the very last energy he had. his hands welcoming him by smoothers down the softness of hoodie charles' wears. it is so warm and cloudy. charles fresh scents is a lily, musky vanilla. sweet and calming makes him dropped his lips into charles juncture neck.

"wrong," he replies and left a warm kiss on charles exposed skin. "it's your lover." finally. a familarness.

charles breathed out as his finger massaging carlos hair softly. "hi to you too, mi amor"

they take their own time respectively, trying to gain and mapping each other body again after a full weekend constantly dealing with stranger sweats, sticky skin.

"miss me?" charles said into carlos thick hair. he loves when charles does that.

he opens his mouth to answer but then his wicked mind does something else,

charles let a sudden moan as carlos nipped and sucking charles neck slowly, open mouthed, "ca- ah, carlos, wait" the way charles gripped carlos hair's is so addicting. its soft but firm, delicate but sensual. carlos cant get enough from it.

carlos grunts and continue licking the spot, "you said you tired, ah-" charles didnt even finished his sentence because their hards-on rubbing against each other and carlos circling his arm on charles wait, trying to get the friction

but carlos is tired, so the movement is painfuly slow thus creating a consistent gap of moan from charles. "you menance" charles said between moan as he chin up carlos so they are facing each other.

"open your eyes you idiota" carlos slowly blinking his eyes to find charles hazy gaze straight at him with such a fondness.

carlos breath into his face and decide to gives him a eskimo kisses. the one that he and charles likes to do. its ticklish but sweeter than lips kisses.

from carlos hooded eyes, he bring his palm to caressing charles' cheek, "tired. sorry" and eyes flutters to shutting again

charles laughs like a lulabby to him, "okay okay. so don't rub on me. let save it for the morning" he exchanged the kiss by rubbing his nose to carlos cheek and back again to carlos' nose, then he stayed there.

"charles" he said after a moment with, of course, the tifosi singing at outside

"hm?"

"tell your fans to shut up please"

charles giggled then smacked carlos biceps that hugs them close, "hey that's rude to say like that!" carlos didnt mean it but he really really need a quite and good sleep. really, he let out a dissapoint grunt

charles shifted his head to see beyond carlos shoulder, at the closed curtain window, luckily they couldnt be seen from outside. "they are not my fans, carlos"

another nose rubbing, "its ours"

carlos smiled at charles statement as his mind start day dreaming about monza podium celebrations. he is enchanted by the prancing horse.

"si, but i really need a quite moment." carlos hummed,

charles doesn't answered him, only shifted his head closer to him then flushing their forehead together. breath rising constantly with each other, trying the best to focusing their breathing rhythm and so the tifosi chant become a soft background sounds.

"charles" carlos said again between the time their chest expand.

"i'm here" a slow long exhale drawns out from both of them.

as both of them inhaling the oxygen, carlos closed the gap by placing himself to charles' lips with a soft kiss. charles , slow but reassuringly, sealed them with pulling carlos closer and they start to exchanged some languid kisses. it was a simple peck then turns into a french kiss somehow, back again to calmer one and ending it with their most favorite kisses all the time, the one long deep kiss.

to have charles lips against him, and their nose flushed into each other cheek. carlos kissing him raw and breathlessly until the air in his lungs sucked all out, charles not wanting to apart from carlos' lips, cluthed his hand to carlos' tshirt, and other one is settle down at spaniard cheek to trails carlos face up and down. thus, carlos answered it by tighting his waist grips.

they pulled out together in a loud exhale, "god i love when you do that" charles giggled and bring their nose kissed each other affectionately.

carlos grins widely with his eyes still closed. he rubs charles' in agreement.

"carlos i have an idea"

"what is that?"

"lets go to singapore a couple day quicker than others"

charles statement successfuly makes carlos' eyes open. he analyze charles expression but none other than a soft private smile he gives him and there is a longing, like a want feeling, a desire and a permission for spending a time together outside racing schedule

"you want to flight early?" he reassure charles again, afraid it's might his delulu scenario since his brain is not working properly.

"us. i want us to ..." charles dimples appear as he bites his lips nervously,

"to what?" carlos raised his eyebrows

"you know, do what couple do?" he said shyly

carlos swear he melted against the bed sheet ever more, "date then?" he gives charles a kiss on his dimples.

which create a soft giggle, "you can say that"

"yeah" carlos brings his hand into charles' nape and goes into his cheek where the dimple is rested. he really really want to feel him all.

singapore, a perfect runaway country. is not monza, is not charles' monaco and it is also not carlos' malorca. it's their singapore.

"yes, i like that" carlos said again this time between the kiss.

"yeah?" charles is caressing his eye bag. smoothing them like a butter, making carlos purrs

"yes and then we can make love there too" he grins teasingly and a hand smack on his chest making him laughed.

"you are really what max said, naughty" charles rolled his eyes, "but yes i guess we can"

"in the pool?" he pushed again, eyes glint with a mischieve, "pool sex?"

"oh my god cahlos, stop!" charles put his own hands to covered his well redden face.

he chuckled seeing charles flushtrated so he dropped a kiss on charles' hand, whispering a "carino" against the slender fingers.

"if is not singapore..." carlos trailed his voice down as charles opened his hand and settled it down into carlos' cheek. A circular hand motion drifting him to sleep,

"if is not because of singapore, i wouldn't be here with you" he said before closing his eyes

he doesn't have to see charles expression, he already know it by all of his heart

so he doesn't protest when charles tucked him down, resting his chin ontop of carlos head, wraping his arm protectively as carlos felt a drop of forehead kiss

"let's sleep and get out from here"

with that, carlos finally get his best sleep in that day.

[fragolar]

Secrets of the Forgotten Realm || Geralt Of Rivia - The Witcher

Greetings, It's been a while, specifically more than a year. My fixation for Geralt of Rivia has been re-awakened. And no. Before you ask, I will not watch the fourth season. I didn't even watch the second, since I come from the videogames and books. I'll try to make this a series, but also each chapter would be conclusive on it's own for those who like stand alones.

Summary: As Geralt continues his search for Ciri, he finds himself drawn to the secluded Amell Mountains, rumored to house a kingdom unknown to most. Guided by tales from Jaskier, Geralt ventures to the remote ruins of the mountains, where he encounters the enigmatic Princess Lexa Mor'wena, secret daughter to the absent King Ardan Mor'wena, who's on an expedition. As Geralt's curiosity is piqued by the mysterious princess, he embarks on an unexpected journey, his path becoming intertwined with Lexa's in ways he never imagined.

/mɔːrˈwɛnə/

Every step felt like a stab in the ribcage. Amidst the thick, intense mist, the Witcher finally understood why no one ever attempted to search for the lost kingdom. It was intense, the path uneven, long. The humidity making it hard to properly breathe.

Which, after all, wasn’t so lost. Simply hidden, enclosed by rough bark and dense leaves that deprived it of light.

Fatigue weighed heavily on his shoulders, his feet ached, and his mare was restless.

“What's wrong, Roach? Are you tired?” he asked. She snorted, clearly not amused by this journey. “Alright, alright. We’ll stop for a bit... Look, there’s a spring nearby. You’re thirsty, aren’t you?” His hand went to stroke her muzzle.

Once they settled down to rest, sleep began to take over; Geralt was exhausted. And so they spent the night, lighting a small fire, eating the little food they had left from hunting, and finally falling asleep in the middle of the forest.

Grave mistake. Upon awakening, Geralt's eyes weren't greeted by the now familiar leaves but to cement. Alertness jolted through his body, making him spring from the floor to dissipate the confusion. He was in a cell - a quite claustrophobic one, too. "Oh, the White Head is awake." A disinterested mumble reached Geralt's ears, making his eyes dart to the source. A guard stared at him, amused, before speaking again. "Hey, White Bunny, what's your business up in the woods? Don't you know scary wolves roam around? You're lucky that we found you before they did." Geralt scoffed, shaking his head slowly. "I wouldn't worry about a couple of wolves who bark." The guard frowned but quickly recomposed himself. "I asked you why you are here. Don't make me repeat myself a third time." "What would happen if I did?" Geralt was amused, no denying that. "Important personal matters, I'm searching for a girl." "Girl? The Princess?" Geralt raised an eyebrow, his thoughts briefly drifting to Ciri. Did they know her? "I'm looking for someone," he clarified, hoping to avoid more suspicion. "What's your matter with the Princess? How do you know about her?" The guard pressed. "No harm. Let me see her, and I'll go. King Ardan wouldn't treat an old acquaintance this way." The guard's expression grew increasingly perplexed. From his perspective, not only did this stranger know about Princess Lexa Mor'wena, but he also claimed familarity with King Ardan. Panic began to set in as the guard realized he might have severely mishandled the situation. If the King learned how badly he had treated a known guest, he would be in deep trouble.

"You must be the White Wolf my men found sleeping in the forest with his horse." The woman spoke calmly, seated on her throne. Geralt was kneeling in front of her, feeling a mix of disappointment and surprise. King Ardan had a secret daughter, a Princess unknown to the outside world. This explained why the King could leave his Kingdom for extended periods without fear of attack. There was always someone to rule in his absence. And Ciri was nowhere to be seen. "Are you perhaps the Butcher of Blaviken?" Geralt's head lifted up, not expecting to hear such an old name. Upon his expression, the Princess continued. "I’ll take your silence as an affirmation. I have never seen a Witcher before, let alone the Butcher-"

"Princess Mor’wena, I’d rather be called Geralt of Rivia."

She smiled amused, resting her cheek on her palm as she leaned on the throne armrest. "My guard said you were searching for me. How did you even know?"

"It’s a different kind of a princess, I’m searching for. I didn’t know about the King having such a pleasant surprise, however. I’m not complaining."

"Pretty words won’t get you anywhere Geralt. Are you talking about the promised child?" How much did she know? And why didn’t Geralt know anything? "I’m getting tired of your loud silence. Let us discuss after having lunch. You probably are starving."

Geralt rose from his kneeling position, his expression remaining neutral, then he gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. "I appreciate your hospitality, Princess," he said, his voice husky. "I have many questions, and I'm sure you do too. Lunch sounds like a good place to start."

As they walked to the dining area, Geralt remained observant, his sharp eyes taking in the surroundings and the demeanor of those around him. He kept a polite distance, his movements measured, showing respect but also an underlying readiness for any potential threat.

After a moment of silence and finally seated while attending their food, he asked, "What do you know of the promised child?" His tone was curious but cautious, seeking to gather information without revealing too much of his own vulnerabilities.

"Not much. My Father had told me about your unfortunate accident." Lexa looked at him. "I guess you learnt how to stay silent during the years."

Geralt was weirdly amused by how pungent she was, just like her father, but she was much more unfiltered. She seemed to not care how strong he truly is, or how impacted she could be from the way she spoke to him.

A spoiled child with a gold crown on her head. Geralt smirked to himself. "What's her name?" "Cirilla." "A nice name." Lexa began to drift off topic. "Did you choose it?" "She's not my child-" "Not biologically and yet..." "Princess, careful." His voice growly, warning her. A shiver of excitment running down her spine. "I may appear friendly, but I'm not here for fun."

"So the White Wolf would try to bite?" Lexa provoked. "He'd devour." His yellow eyes looked at her, knowing well what she was doing. And she looked quite pleased with his threats, something promising behind those words. Next part.

[esper-union-lounge]

Puppet Strings...

Not beta read

Yamato (Izanagi) x Reader

Summary:

You always feel his presences, and hear his voice, yet he never felt real. Until the Twilight came, you were bounded by the Order's puppet strings.

Tags: TW: Implied Stalking, Dark ending, Yamato is evil, ft Luo Yan, mind control.

"You can't hide from me~"

You felt his voice was spinning around you in total darkness. In a heart beat, you looked around trying to locate where his voice was coming from.

Yet, your futile efforts have earned a chuckle that escaped from his lips.

"... I see you~..."

You heard him say.

A faint sound of music began to play gradually getting louder. The tune felt eerie, so eerie, you couldn't help but to feel a goosebumps running along your spine.

You instinctively step backwards even though you know there is no horizon for you to escape in this space. Standing at nothing but a void of emptiness.

The music got even louder, the pitch and rhythm of the music box felt intrusive. Forcing it's way into your head, you covered your ears as your mind swirled. Aching at how the force was vibrating against your skull.

As you stumble back, in agony of the discomfort, you felt something, or someone, wrapped their arms around you. A hand snaking its way up to your thoart. Hitching your breath, you felt fear erupting from your core all the way to your chest. Freezing on the spot, just like an animal would when met with headlights.

A familar voice chuckled against your ear, "Found you~"

The grip on your thoart suddenly held tight.

Immediately you jolted.

Eyes snapped open, you got up from the sofa. Your breath still heaving from the fright of your dream.

You were having the same dream sequence again, only this time the stranger seems to be coming closer.

Your head turned left and right, looking to see where your were. You mind felt ease at the familar sight of the Esper Union Lounge. Currently empty, with the television still turned on.

"You're awake," a deep voice spoke.

Swallowing, you cleared your dry throat and looked up to see Luo Yan, a chief of the Scavengers, looking down at you.

"... Yes, sir," you answered. Your voice shook a little.

Readjusting your position, you stood up and went for the television remote. You can tell, it's getting late by how empty the headquarters were. Everyone would have clocked out by now. All, except for Luo Yan.

"Breaking News, another murder case has been report in Gyrate, amassing at total of..."

You turned off the television before the news anchor could finish her sentence.

"You should head back, it's getting late, and..." Luo Yan said with a rather stern voice, " I would hate for the incident last week repeat itself again."

You can tell the Chief was on edge lately. You couldn't help but to find the the incident just a blur. Your memories a week pior felt muddled and blank, and sometimes your head feels heavy. Yet, you think the Union members were acting a little too serious about it.

Admist the muddling in your memory, all that was remembered were you chasing after someone. Supposedly, stumbling upon a scene, you witnessed something you weren't supposed to. There was a flash of the colour red before having to wake up from the hospital bed.

What exactly happened, seeing how you lost that portion of the memory, the others spared you the details.

"Setting a curfew for me?" you questioned, simply out of curiousity.

However, Luo Yan wasn't in the mood for a light banter. "Go home",he said, "I am staying here for a while, I will wrap this place up."

Without another word, Luo Yan with his usual scowl on his face. He walked away and began to turn off the lights. While you stood on your spot, thinking to yourself. Maybe, you shouldn't have tried to joke around. Maybe that incident is serious.

"Goodbye, sir," you bid your farewell and headed out of the Esper Union Headquarters.

Walking your way through the busy streets, the late afternoon glow basked Gyrate with warmth. Yet, a sudden a chill ran down your spine. The air around you felt cold, there was a sense of uneasiness as you walked along the streets.

You weren't sure if there were a pair of eyes watching you from afar, or a million pairs of eyes watching you up close. This feeling was all too familar, and it stuck with you as you returned home.

The same fear from your dream began to resurface. The musicbox tune replays in your mind.

Tossing and turning, you lay awake in bed. Looking up at the ceiling, your gaze landed at clock on the bedside table. It was hours into the night, and you couldn't fall asleep.

The throbing sensation was vibrating against your skull. The faint sound of tingling made it worse. Sitting up, the tingling sound became apparent.

The tune of its metalic strumming lure your out of bed. You weren't sure if it was your imagination but it felt so real.

Reaching for the door of your room, you turned the knob and went into the living room, only to came face to face with a stranger...

Or more so...

Someone familiar...

He stood in front of your door and smiled at you, "... Found you.~"

It seems something has refreshen your memory. It all came flooding back.

It was like a nightmare replaying itself.

The man in red, whom, you met a week pior. He continued to look at you, anticipating you for a reply. Yet, your face was drained of colour. His sudden appearance amplified your fear, rendered you speechless. Instead of answering him, like he expected you to, you opened your mouth to scream.

The stranger's smile quickly disappeared and immediately grabbed onto you, covering your mouth before you could make a sound.

The box like object in his hand continued to play the music from your dream. Intruding into your head, the agony grew while the tune filled your mind. You tried to wiggle out of the strangers grasp, however, his grip only became tighter, and he looked at you with a sharp gaze.

"Don't fight it," he spoke, his voice sounded so sinister, "You know this by now. The pain will only get worse."

You weren't sure what he's taking about. Everything felt confusing, and you began to grow weak as the second went by, it wasn't long when your protest ceased.

Your mind went blank, eyes void of character. You stood still, like a puppet.

A chuckled escaped Yamato's lips. His sinster voice echo through the room, for he couldn't contain his exictment.

"Finally," he spoke, "The plan can finally set into motion..." He said to himself.

His hand went into his pocket, rummaging for a small trinklet before Yamato grabbed your hand gently. Opening up your fist to place a golden coin, minted in a familar symbol, you saw before; inside the files of Luo Yan's office.

"Let's see if you are a good puppet for me," Yamato said, "A new order is about to take seed in Gyrate~"

His words felt like a breeze. You paid no mind of what he said. The music from the box was still swirling in your head, as you waited for his command.

He closed your palm gently, incasing the minted coin in your hand.

"If that Scavanger haven't been so hot on my trail, I would have left you alone~" Yamato chimed, "you are just the puppet I need, to go through this task~"

He grabbed your chin, pulling your face closed to his. Examining your face, before his grip choked a respond from you, "... Yes, sir.

The grip on your face hurts, you squinted your eyes in pain, despite so, your mind was still in a thick haze, ready to take in his next request.

"That Scavanger Chief would still be in the Union headquarters at this hour. Why not go give him a "warm welcome" from the Twilight Order." Yamato grinned and let go of your hand.

"Kill him," Yamato's voice chanted in your mind.

Like a puppet, his orders were like strings attached to your limbs. Involuntarily moving, as you headed out seeking to do the puppeteer's bidding.

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Author's note:

Holy Yamato...

(C) Esper-Union-Lounge

[drachonia]

𝐭 𝐡 𝐞 𝐰 𝐚 𝐲 𝐢 𝐥 𝐨 𝐯 𝐞 𝐝 𝐲 𝐨 𝐮 .

Alfons Sylvatica x OC insert (Marguerite)

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: i was inspired by my friend fairylibe's alfons fic, please go check out all of her stuff, she does wonderful work and is an absolute sweetheart. <3

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: modern au, implied reincarnation, mention of dub-con (mind-altering curse used), oc insert, vague mention of workplace harrassment.

Long wheat-brown hair waved behind Marguerite as she walked briskly down the streets of the West End, brushing through her long bangs with slender fingers as she trotted home from practicing late into the evening. Loud, boisterous laughter made her involuntarily jolt, turning down an alleyway as she felt a familiar presence almost envelop her. Her eyes fell on a young man - a man probably a few years apart from herself - clad in a dark jacket, crouched next to an aged man who seemed vacant. She glimpsed a clouded, faintly happy look in the old man's eyes, noting how he almost looked past the younger. The sight was both heartwarming yet also chilled the brunette to the bone, watching as the young man slid a pair of short leather gloves back over his fingertips once he'd slipped the old man's eyes closed. Dark vacant eyes met a bright, almost suspicious pale blue.

A few heavy heartbeats passed before the man spoke, stepping closer, Marguerite stood stock still, fingers grasping her duffel strap tighter.

"Now, what is a pretty bluebird like yourself doing here?" He smiled in an eerily calm manner, almost as if he wasn't trying to appease a stranger after she witnessed the death of a man with him as the only suspect of foul play.

"Walking back from work." A few steps aside, she started to walk out of the alleyway. "Do you work around here, then?" The clunk of his shoes on the pavement behind her was oddly comforting despite the loud nighttime streets Soho was so well-known for. "Does it benefit you to know that, sir?" She continued, noticing how he'd fallen in step with her, arm ghosting behind her as they walked, almost as if to shield her from any passerby as they began to blend into the crowds walking up and down the streets. "Not particularly, I was just wondering if I'd found a comrade in arms." He raised his brows suggestively, lips curving up at the edges, though it wasn't a sickeningly sweet expression…she actually couldn't help but chuckle at it.

"And what kind of friends did you hope we would be?" She slowed her pace for a moment, looking up at him and sneaking a closer look at those smokey dark eyes of his. His teeth sank into his bottom lip before he pursed them in almost mock thought, "You could say I've had a hankering for some company, just like any companionship."

"You talk like you were born last century," she rolled her eyes, mildly concerned at how far he'd followed her already, "You're being awfully persistent if you just want company. My job isn't in this district, I commute through here to get home." She confessed, looking before crossing in front of a few cars, the dark-haired man just behind her, "I didn't assume, but I admit now I'm even more intrigued." He chuckled next to her, "I've got nowhere to be tonight." Marguerite internally groaned, not sure how she could get out of this without lashing out at a total stranger whom she had no idea what he was capable of.

She heard some familiar voices from work and quickened her pace, the steps behind her seeming to notice as she tensed further next to him, even pressing into his arm a bit. Eventually the busy night streets quieted as they led into the neighborhoods, the performer's anxious mind soothed by the quiet duo of footsteps on the pavement. "Was someone bothering you, by chance?" She almost jumped as her new 'friend' addressed her, "By the looks of it, you seemed to want to get away from there." brown waves shook along with her long hair as she shook her head, "It's not that I hate that part of town, I just stumble across some familar faces that…aren't so pleasant. Guilt by association, if you will." She shrugged, blue eyes downcast as a gloved hand brushed her arm gently, helping her regain her sanity as she walked the streets with him. Eventually, the sound of her humming started to fill the silence, quiet at first, but steadily growing as she kept her pace toward home without wavering a single step. Eventually, her feet stopped at the gate in front of her house, glancing over at the man, noticing his expression was a tad more contemplative than just empty.

"I appreciate you walking me home, mister…" "Alfons, Alfons Sylvatica." "Alfons, then. Excuse me." She turned to leave, only for a curious hand to catch her wrist, a mystical smile appearing on his lips, "That's quite the cold behavior, isn't it?" Her brow furrowed in confusion, only for his now-bare fingertips to brush the nape of her neck, shrouding her mind in a fog. "What exactly would make you spurn your boyfriend like that?"

lace headers by saradika.