#all their pieces are so gorgeous...it looks carved from wood...

[6ugly]

visited a pottery studio my class is designing a new building for the other day

[sabersandsnipers]

Halsin Building a Crib

@inmyloveworld continues to feed our shared Halsin obsession

The thought wakes you from a deep sleep. You sit straight up in bed, a small panic gripping you. Halsin stirs beside you at the sudden motion.

"Halsin," you gasp, grabbing his massive bicep. He sleeps on his stomach, face buried in his pillow.

"Hm?" he mumbles.

"Where is the baby gonna sleep? We don't have a crib or anything!" Your voice is both a whisper and a scream.

His eyes crack open a bit at the concern in your voice. His large hand slides over your swollen belly, rubbing slow circles along your taut skin. "Don't worry about that right now, love. We'll figure it out."

His words do little to satisfy your worries. But you listen to your husband and lay back down. He keeps his hand on your belly. The act is almost protective.

Little to your knowledge, Halsin immediately begins plans in his head to build a crib. His woodworking skills give him the expertise to build a safe space for your baby to sleep.

He gets to work first thing in the morning, after making you your favorite breakfast. He leaves your shared cabin and sets out to the thick forest surrounding your home.

His first task, and perhaps the most important one, is to find the perfect tree. He takes his time in choosing, taking in the height, width, and ensuring he'll have enough material to work with. Once he finds what's he's looking for, he sets to work.

He grabs his axe and begins swinging. He’s quick to work up a sweat, so he peels his shirt off and tosses it into the wheelbarrow next to him. The strain in his muscles is a welcome one. Even as more years wear on his bones, he always finds solace in a hard day’s work.

In the midst of the continuous swinging motion of his axe, his mind wanders. And, of course, it always wanders to you. He thinks back to the moment you shared with him your belief you were pregnant, and the joy that rang through him at your words. He thinks of the first time he felt the baby kick, and how he felt the overwhelming need to protect you two.

Throughout his long life he's always known he wanted to be a father. But the world is cruel, and after all the events he had been through, he never thought he would get the chance to share this kind of life with someone. Until he met you. Singlehandedly being the most exceptional creature he ever laid eyes on, he was eager to start a family with you. And you were happy to give him that gift.

Once the tree has been felled and cut into workable pieces, his hands are quick to work. He shapes the pieces into their desired sizes. He carves patterns into the wood.

The sun is nearly setting by the time he’s finished. His back aches but he can’t stop the smile on his face as he admires his work. He knows you’ll be expecting him about now. He told you he was going out to hunt for the day.

You’re curled up in front of the fireplace when Halsin returns, a warm mug of tea in your hands. You hear his heavy footsteps outside the door and excitement sings within you. Your heart already aches to see him even after spending the morning together.

He swings the door open, shirtless and sweaty and covered in wood shavings. Butterflies race through you at the sight.

“What on earth have you been doing?” You ask him, a little breathless due to the sight before you.

He grins. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Your heart flutters at his words. He disappears outside for another second, before carrying in a beautiful crib. Your jaw drops as you stand and make your way over to the gorgeous work set in front of you.

You slide your fingers along the smooth finish, appreciating its sturdy structure. Images of ducks and bears are carved into its siding, and the sight of it nearly brings tears to your eyes.

“I don’t know what to say, Halsin,” you tell him. You meet his gaze, and there’s a slight tinge of red to his cheeks. A shy Halsin is a rare sight, and you’re overwhelmed with the need to hold him.

You step forward and place a long kiss to his cheek. His hands instinctively find their way to your belly. Once you’re able to see pull yourself from the warmth of his skin, you pluck a wood shaving from his dark hair. A small laugh leaves his lips.

“Thank you,” you say, gratitude surging through you.

He grasps one of your hands and brings it to his lips. “You and the baby are my world now. I would do anything for you.”

A sweet feeling stirs within you. After the horrors of your past, you never thought you could find a life of peace. Yet here you are, living a life with Halsin, and growing the promise of a future inside you.

[krahk]

Blood for Ruin

(Or, Alastor and That One Time He Got Drunk and Forgot He Tried To Make a Black Magic Agreement With a Radio Only For It to Come Back to Him in the Worst Way)

Masterlist

Pairings: Alastor x Reader (She/Her/OFC) as reluctant semi-soulmates via non-consensual deal (on both ends). No use of Y/N.

I understand he is aroace, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this idea so here it is.

Eventual smutty smut happening, but be kind dear god am I rusty.

_________________________________________

Exhausted was simply not what you were - you were so past that, your brain so fried out that you didn’t even know what word you were.

Because if you were seeing smiling figure-like shadows on the walls with long dark tendrils wrapping around your surroundings, and radio static from nowhere, then yea. You were fried.

But hey, it had been a crazy long weekend. You’d just spent the last 4 days cleaning up your hoarder of a great aunts shack in the Bon Temps bayou with the other scattered remainder of her family, rooting through about 4 unidentifiable rooms with confirmed animal carcasses and straight up trash-garbage piled to the ceilings. But since your mother died, any family connection at this point was appreciated, right?

‘Couldn’t be more wrong, but it’s too late now’, you think. It was way too late to back out now, you had something to prove. Your Great Aunt’s remaining son had called you ‘slicker’ because you lived in a town with more than one lighted intersection for Christ's sake. And because you used ‘whom’ in a sentence, that opened up an entirely new thrush of nicknames from your distant cousins. You wouldn’t be beaten down, you guys were almost all done with the cleanup anyway, the only remaining items being that of actual use or salvageable material. A couple family members had taken a few items home already, and since you weren’t particularly close with these relatives you weren’t about to ask for anything until-

Well until the little radio was brought out.

For some reason, the craftsmanship of this radio caught your eye. It was a beautiful dark wood, with intricate swirls carved around the speakers - the entire thing was shaped like a miniature church cathedral window. It was clearly vintage, basically a historical piece, you thought - and you did ask quietly if you could keep it. Your uncle fiddled with it to make it work but it needed some attention. It looked virtually untouched otherwise. It was a gorgeous piece, and it looked like it was a new acquisition to the deceased woman’s collection - there wasn’t a spec of dust visible on it. Your uncle figured it wouldn’t be able to pick up football (and also “why would I listen to football when I can WATCH it?”) he let you take it with you.

So you brought it back to your temporary home, the little motel at the outskirts of town (the only motel even close to the town) and set it on the little desk. And there it sat for 2 days before you finally dove in, trying to figure out what was going on with it. You had deduced it was likely the wiring, and after watching 5 or 6 videos on wiring repair on YouTube (good old YouTube) you were fairly confident a simple repair would take no time at all.

But things made in the 20s were a lot sharper, and more metal based, compared to the newer plastic models of recent years. So when you undid the back panel and attempted to unscrew a fastener around the side of the main component, you had successfully sliced your palm open on an errant piece of metal. And holy crow did it hurt AND gush blood immediately. Even though you had whipped your hand close to your chest almost as soon as you realised what had happened it was too late, there was a fair amount of blood that got on the inside of the machine.

Uttering curses, you’d rushed to the bathroom to grab a couple threadbare cloths and sop up some of the larger drops on the desk. Moving around the radio to the light, you had a clearer idea of where your blood landed. Palming one cloth in your wounded hand, your other one attempted to clean up the mess within the radio. Which is where you noticed the funny little symbols written on the inside of the back panel of the radio, which had lain facedown on the desk as soon as you had removed it. These little symbols looked like runes of some sort, unidentifiable to you. They almost looked like they were written out of blood themselves. It was clearly dried now, but the jagged nature of the strokes and brownish un-ink like material that was used to leave the symbols certainly looked like dried blood might look like on old wood.

You wiped your blood off the radio, and ran the cloth right over one of the runes, making it glow briefly with a green light. Maybe.

Well, that was what you thought you saw. But it was so brief you would have missed it with a well timed blink. The sun was setting, light streaming through the window in hazy little streaks, maybe you saw some prismatic effect? Or maybe, maybe you needed a shower and bed. Clearly if you sliced your hand open on a little radio you were tired. Sloppy coordination indeed. You reattached the back panel to the radio and decided to ignore it until you were in a better headspace.

Radio abandoned, you went and started to clean yourself up and get ready for sleep. But when the lights in the bathroom started to flicker, only to stay on slightly duller than before, paired with a strange static that scratched the inside of your eardrums, you decided to end your shower quicker than ever. Exiting the bathroom, you were chilled to realise that the main room had the same ambient experience waiting for you. And if you focused on the moving shadows from what you hoped were passing cars (electric, judging by the lack of engine noise) there was a solid larger mass lingering on the wall with the dresser and broken TV. One that looked like it had a smile, and glowing red eyes (from a car's tail lights, duh!). Yes, yes. Tired. SO tired.

Calling the front did not help, since the static was so loud when you lifted up the receiver you slammed it back down. Your own cell phone was still charging on the side table, flashing the little dead battery symbol to let you know you needed to be more responsible with your charging habits in the future. It could be another 15 minutes before it was ready to turn on.

So, obviously tired, it was time to attempt to sleep. Hopefully. If you were lucky. It wasn’t enough that the bayou was creepy all on its own, the evening took a sharp turn into scary-town after you started messing with the little radio.

Pyjama-clad and ready to sleep you decided that the hallucinations were exactly what you thought they were - hallucinations and nothing more. Nothing spooky, or supernatural, or dangerous.

But you had been wrong before.

It was the initial crashing sound of the motel room door hitting the wall that woke you up first, screaming male voices really kicking your brain into high alert as you scrambled out of bed. Ending up in the corner facing the opposite corner where the door was, you took in what was happening. 2 men, yelling at you for whatever you had - but you were screaming louder than they were, scrambling for anything in your grasp - just that stupid, fucking radio - but judging by the hot impact of a projectile hitting your chest they were not thrilled you weren’t immediately cooperating. Hand clenching around the radio’s cord you hit the corner and slumped down to the floor, lungs burning and immense pain taking over your consciousness. As your mind faded, you could hear the two men bickering, freaking out over the turn their burglary took. Oh, you being shot was an accident? Stellar. Your vision became hazy, it even looked like shadows were overtaking the men as their arguing turned into painful screaming. Whoever came to your aid was simply too late, though you could appreciate the gesture as you died.

You always thought that you would end up looking down at your dying body when the time came, but from the forceful pull downwards your soul felt, it was clear the afterlife had different plans for you.

Now you weren’t really sure what the hell, like actual, literal, hell, was going on. The impact you felt from your sharp tug into the afterlife, landing on a very detailed rug at what looked like the lobby of a hotel was one thing. The tiny radio following your fall shortly after, merely denting a corner of the wood with a loud thunk was another, cord still clenched in your hand. Oh good!

Dazed, you were immediately hoisted up and hugged - yes hugged - by probably the tallest women you had ever met, and the fastest talking one as well. Rambling about “welcome”, “hell rehab”, something or other about redemption - honestly the look of relief you gave the shorter woman who approached and reined in the other made her smirk as she introduced them in a much clearer manner.

Vaggie and Charlie. Vaggie was a resident of the hotel with her girlfriend, the owner and operator of this ‘Hazbin Hotel’, Charlie, both working at redeeming the souls of sinners and getting them into heaven. There were 2 residents, Angel & Sir Pentious, who were not present, a Janitor Nifty (currently wiping your landing spot with a cloth) the bartender, an angry bird-cat man Husk, and the host (also missing) Alastor. Your open mouthed confusion clearly made Charlie snap into attention (finally) because she finally morphed into a being that was capable of conversation.

“So, new to hell?” She inquired.

Well. Duh. “Um yes. I think I was just shot? Am I actually dead?” You asked, hopeful this was a very vivid nightmare.

“As a doornail!” She exclaimed, chipper with positive energy, “Not that doornails are dead, they don’t have souls like you or Angel but really-”

“Yes. You’re dead. And a sinner, which is why you’re here.” Vaggie cut in, patting Charlie on the back. Charlie smiled brightly and nodded at you.

“Yes, and here you can redeem yourself and hopefully make it to heaven! I have faith in our program.”

Oh god this was too much. The sound of a door opening and closing was faintly heard in the background, but that didn’t stop you from being a speedy spiral into mania.

“So. One, I’m dead. Two, why am I in hell I am pretty sure I was a decent human? I didn’t go to church, sure, but I had very little control over my working schedule. Three, is it supposed to be so freaking loud down here? I’m-“

Intense breathing interrupted - yes, breathing. It was the janitor, her one eye staring at you while she lifted the little radio. ”This is diiiirty” she semi-sang. A horrific giggle was lingering under her breath. You grimaced at her behaviour and dropped the cord immediately, avoiding any contact by proxy with this creature. What a creepy little -

“Did that come with you?” Charlie asked, looking confused as you answered with a nod. “Strange, usually possessions don’t follow a soul into the afterlife…” She trailed off, finger tapping her chin with a frown. Everyone turned to look at the manic janitor essentially vibrating with the radio in her hands.

“Interesting! What has inspired us all to gather this fine evening?”

”Alastor!” Charlie greeted an individual behind you. ”This might be our newest resident…she’s just arrived!” Her hands wildly gestured from you to whoever was behind you. You could see the shadow of the person on the floor, stretching into a long figure that looked vaguely familiar. You were certain your eyes were burning a hole into the carpet beneath the shadow. If the shadow was this frightening what exactly was behind you? The shadow appeared to smile wider as you stared at it.

“Hmm!” Alastor, you supposed, responded. “What an exciting new development why - Oh!” Something had caught his attention. He walked towards the janitor, and you glanced at the back of his figure as he walked past you towards the tiny creature. He was tall, very tall, and slender. There was an ominous presence around him, even the nature of his clothing was fashioned in a way that seemed off. It was unnerving. Broad shoulders tapered into a very slim waistline, his jacket flared out behind him in a style reminiscent of a different time. Head to toe red and black, which was also just…something else. But the other patrons also had an interesting approach to their wardrobes as well, save the 2 women. Maybe that was just…how it was here.

“Now where did you find this delightful little item, Nifty?” He said, his profile coming slightly into your view. Dear god, terrifying. You couldn’t even begin to describe his appearance. Chills ran down your back, and suddenly you remembered you were still in very thin pajamas.

“Eh-hehe a dirty radio sir!” She answered, thrilled with herself. “it came with our new guessst” her eye switching from the tallest, creepiest creature you had ever set your eyes upon to your gaze. You swear you could hear the bones crack in the man's neck as he fired his gaze to yours. You were trapped.

“Is that so?” He began to slowly walk towards you, the room filling with a static hum similar to what you felt in the motel room, your skin tingling as he got closer. It was getting harder to hear the others try and talk to the approaching figure, the hum was getting louder.

“And what,” he started, “are you doing with my Radio, my dear?” His eyes were radio dials at this point, sharp jagged teeth glowing alongside them as his head tilted in an inhuman manner, the cracking from before louder than before.

What? Oh for fucks sake. Fuck your backwater, bayou-residing, rude, nasty, hoarder family-

As your eyes rolled back into your head, your body went limp and you hit the foyer carpet. Hard. For the second time that night

**

Part One : Part Two : Part Three : Part Four

[bones4thecats]

➸ Once Upon a Sunrise; Apollo × S/O

Characters: Apollo A/N: I love cute morning-time romances and I decided to so a piece based on them. Hope you like it! ➥ Summary: The sun rising symbolizes the rebirth of something. And seeing your personal sun rise was always the rebirth of why you loved him to begin with.

╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗

╚═════ Apollo ════════════════════════════════╝

☀️ The birds moved along with the wind as the night slowly came to an end. The starts fading away along with the light that the once-beautiful moon had shone down upon the structures surrounding the delicate world around

☀️ Ranging from the Black-Headed Gull's loud and raspy caw, the Crested Tit's beautiful early-morning song, and the light humming of the Hawk-Moth Hummingbird, the cheers of the morning came aloud. They started softly, but finally emerged fully. As if they were a blossoming peony

☀️ Standing in the middle of the gorgeous land was a large castle. In front by nearly five miles was a sparkling pond with flowers, rocks, and trees of all kinds of varieties. Tall or small, wide or scrawny, near dead or in their prime

☀️ The wings of a Black-Headed Gull flapped, sending droplets of water flying in the air as it began to swim towards the edge of the pond. It walked up the sand and onto the small beach-like setting nearby, shaking water off of their wings

☀️ The Gull then took off flying. Their wings flapping delicately against the winds of nature. They flew not in the direction the others went, but in the direction of the castle

☀️ The typical Black-Headed Gull call then cut through the silent building as it flew through, locating a specific room instead of going in them at random

"Good morning, Gully. Would you like a raspberry?" A nymph asked.

☀️ Lightly cooing, the bird landed on the nymph's hand, taking the berry out of her hand and eating it with a gulp. She smiled and pet the bird's head before it flew off. As the bird's wing's flaps faded off into the distance, the nymph stood with a bouquet of flowers in her hands

☀️ The flowers, which were a mixture of crocuses and oleanders, moved as the woman walked. While she took each step, her hand had water. She then held it above the flowers and lightly spritzed them to preserve their beauty and health through the heat

☀️ Once the crocuses and oleanders were watered and put inside of a vase, the nymph stepped in front of a large dark-wood door. Carvings of the sun and nature surrounding it stood out against the white-walled building around

☀️ She lifted her arm up and took a deep breath. Taking her knuckles and lightly tapping them against the wood, she could hear the knock on the inside and outside and smiled, making her presence known before she left

══✿══╡

☀️ Shuffling around in the thin sheets, you groaned. Waking up was hard. You may be a deity that has lived for thousands upon thousands of years, but that didn't mean your old habits didn't stick with you throughout that time

☀️ While you sat up and stretched your back out so you could actually wake up, you heard your husband do the same. Instead of being like you and allowing your hair to become a mess overnight, Apollo tied it back to keep it less knotted

☀️ He reached behind him and pulled it out of the ponytail. As the elastic band came off, his long pink hair flowed down his back, hitting the bedding gently as you smiled. Apollo looked at you and smiled teasingly

"What? Admiring your dazzling husband?" He said.

"Perhaps." You replied.

"What a surprise. It's as if every time I look at you, you're already trying to catch my gaze. As if you wanted me to see you and you alone~"

"What if I do?"

"You have won millions of times." He whispered in your ear, smiling as you giggled.

"Now..."

☀️ Apollo pushed his hands under your knees, lifted his arms up and making you fall onto your back. Thankfully, you didn't hit your head that hard. But, even if you did, Apollo just began tickling you, so you most likely wouldn't have acknowledged it anyways

☀️ As the laughs filled the room, the nymphs that could hear smiled. They may have wanted Apollo for themselves years ago, but hearing and seeing how much you two bonded, they just wouldn't imagine their Lord being with anyone else other than you

[prince-toffee]

L I F E I S A H I G H W A Y !

Written by Prince-Toffee (me)

Art by the absolutely supreme @themazziah @cosmiccanineart

Created as part of The @spopbang 2024

Before we begin, I just want to say thank you to @themazziah for creating this absolutely gorgeous piece of art that you're looking at right now. It was so good in fact that I was inspired to rewrite the story to incorporate it into the narrative. When writers and artists were being paired up, I was sure I'd be left without a partner, but after you said that I was your first choice I was honestly so moved and touched. Thank you for picking me. Nothing I write could ever express how lovely it feels to read a kind comment like that. And that's why I'll try to get back into writing Entrapdak fics, it's been a while, and I'd love to do more, the world can never have enough Entrapta and Hordak in it. (and Glimmadora, my first time writing them, hope I did okay) Thanks, Mazz, I hope this story gives you a good few chuckles.

Second of all, thank you to all the organisers of @spopbang I may not know many people there well, but right from the start people were nothing but kind and helpful, and this event is a beautiful gift to the fandom. You guys are absolutely amazing!

Finally, on a more personal note, this is a three parter, I could only manage to finish Act One before the deadlines as I was working on my final university assignments at the same time, and now I'm finished and free! And I can't think of a better way to celebrate! I'll try to get the rest of the story out as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy this little space road trip.

Life Is A Highway

Act One (of Three)

~One Year After The Defeat of Horde Prime

CloneTown, or as the inhabitants of the settlement chose to dub it, Doormat, was a small shanty town at the foot of Mount Dryl on top of which Castle Dryl stood. The doormat of Dryl, of Etheria, of the universe, Adora assumed that was the intended joke. The warrior of light examined the sign closely, a hastily put together sign stood before her, it read: ‘Welcome To’ with CloneTown crossed out. A separate board, made of wood not matching the rest of the sign, was nailed underneath, on it carved crudely was ‘Doormat’. Adora never knew clones had a sense of humour, then again, it wasn't like she spent much time among them. Or at all. As She-Ra, the Protector of Etheria, she visited many villages on the continent, observed as many cultures of as many people as she could, opened her heart and reached out a helping hand to all... all except the newest refugees of Etheria. Every time she had ventured to a clone settlement, she felt unease - most villages across Etheria worshipped her (so to speak, and that invited its own unique forms of exhaustion), but when she set foot on clone grounds, she felt unwanted, which of course, she was. Perhaps the unease emerged from the fact that all the staring eyes that silently watched her stroll into town as she did so now, all belonged to the same face, the face of her old master. One she worshipped in her youth, but no longer. But that didn't matter now, now she was walking down the muddy roads of Doormat, and attracting quite a few puzzled, angered glares. Adora approached in her normal form, strolling up as a 9-foot-tall glowing, radiant, goddess might have been a bit too much. Not that it mattered too much as she still stuck out like a sore thumb, she was the only non-clone in the village, nothing she could do about that. The warrior was cloaked in torn and tattered robes, a hood obscuring her face, so at least they didn't know who she was.

Soon enough the Warrior of Grayskull happened upon her destination, Bar Nefcy, a local, clone-ran establishment. She got a bit lost, but Entrapta’s directions were correct. There was a hanging sign spelling out the bar’s name in uncharacteristically bright pink paint. Almost acting as a centrepiece of the town. From what she heard about it, the establishment acted as a sort of neutral ground for clones: regs, defects, and whatever came between. And as she entered the establishment, she wondered whether that mentality and ideology would extend to her. And almost immediately she got her answer as the chatter throughout the room stopped, all the various patrons turned to look at her, a sea of red and green eyes staring into her. She wasn't exactly scared, if anything came down to violence, she had plenty to keep herself safe, including the enormous broadsword channelling cosmic energy that would transform her into the most powerful woman in the universe. Adora made her way over to the barline and sat herself down, each of her footsteps making the wooden floor creak, which could be heard over the silence.

She attempted to stay invisible and stay silent until her contact would show up, however that turned out to be unlikely as she caught a glimpse of her bartender, a small “Oh!” escaped her and she immediately regretted it, and felt awful about it. Adora’s bartender did not look like a regular clone, he was downright bizarre, he was overgrown with vines, flowers, and moss, all intertwined and weaved into the clone’s being. Where his eyes would be, now two thick vines ran outward spreading into a patch of moss and grass atop his head. Effectively rendering the man, blind. Admittedly, she stared for a bit too long, but she didn't think he'd know.

“Well?!”

“?”

“I may be as blind as a bat, but my hearing is as good as ever. I heard you walk in and sit down, the floorboards are on purpose. So? What’ya want?”

Adora gulped, and put on her best diplomatic voice, “No drink for me, sir. I only ask permission to stay in your bar for- I don't know, uh, a few more minutes. I'm meeting a... friend, shall we call him. A clone. I'm a friend! An ally!” Whoof. She never had to pull that card out before. The bartender didn't seem to look convinced. The diplomatic voice slipped halfway through all that. “Please.” She finished with an awkward smile on her pinched face.

“Uh huh, look this is a clone-establishment, not for… natives. You're unsettling my clientele, so if you'd be so kind and find the exit as I can't, ya know on the account of a magic flower growing out of my face. Good day, Princess.” Wait he knew? How? Was her voice that recognisable?

Just then another voice rose from the back of the bar, from a far corner booth, “Ah, come on Manny! I thought this was a ‘neutral ground’ and whatnot. You gonna denie the guy their poison? They're just trying to get through today like the rest of us.” The bartender, who Adora now knew was named Manny, groaned in annoyance, if he could roll his eyes, he would have. Adora turned around to see where the voice was coming from. There, far in the back, in the corner booth, set an elderly patron a clone no doubt, he spoke with the same voice. But he too looked downright bizarre, unlike all the other clones. This clone was thin, like a skeleton, he looked sickly. (A defect, they were called, she believed, though not entirely sure). The lower half of his face looked normal enough, well for a clone that was. But the top half of his head was a glass-like red dome with some strange displays flashing inside like a radar monitor. And not only that, protruding out of his face was a long witch-like nose, sharp as a knife. Almost as sharp as the red teeth that formed a, what was meant to be a friendly, smile.

The clone wore a mechanical suit (of armour?) that framed his skeletal features. His feet were kicked up on top of the table. His feet resembled… clamps? Like mechanical vulture talons. There was another clone at the corner booth with them, but they had their back turned to Adora, they were clearly uninterested in this interaction. The vulture-like clone stood up and wobblingly made his way over to Adora. It was clear he was drunk. But from Manny’s reaction she gauged that this was his default state. The bird-like man spoke up again, “Leave the freak alone. ‘Serve all, not one’, right?” The woman noticed that the clone acted as if he had a cup or glass in his hand... But he didn't, there was no drink in his curved hand.

“V,” Manny spoke, so that was his name, “Should have known this freak was with you, something always happens when you're around here. Trouble seems to follow you wherever you go, and you always bring it here. So why don't you take your royal friend, and go lead trouble away from here.”

“I won't cause any trouble, I promise.” Adora proclaimed, she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, she placed the page onto the table and slid it over to Manny. “I'm actually here on behalf of the Queen, to hand you this Establishment License to let you run your business officially... it was illegal before, just so you know. As a show of gratitude and togetherness.” Adora gave her best smile. Manny just looked at the piece of paper and groaned, he turned around and walked off with the paper in hand, grumpy. Adora swivelled around back to V, she awkwardly thanked them, “Hey, thanks, uh, V was it? For taking my side. And I'm sorry I caused a commotion here.”

“Eh,” He waved dismissively, “Don't take it too personally kid, Manny over there's still a little peeved that you turned him and a bunch of others into walking compost heaps back when you turned The Velvet Glove into a giant tree, heh.”

“I- I did that to him?”

“Oh, not just him, every clone hibernating in a pod and whatnot. Thousands.”

“Oh, gods, what have I done.” She murmured to herself, she combed through her hair, a thousand yard stare on her face. “I'm so sorry... I didn't know I was unwelcome.”

“Eh,” He shrugged, “Don't take that too personally either, neither is he.” V pointed behind him with his thumb towards the doorway. Adora followed the thumb to the silhouette in the door frame. Hordak. Her drinking partner had arrived.

The Ex-Lord of the Horde entered the establishment and silence befell the bar once more, the collective of eyes glared at him and followed him as he slowly made his way over to the warrior Princess. Not too different of a reaction that they greeted Adora with. V just then realised there wasn't a drink in his hand and so he moved out of the way to give Hordak room to sit down next to Adora. He did so. The villain maintained silence, Adora thought it was to seem intimidating, but in reality he simply had no idea how to talk to people, and was too awkward to be the one to begin the conversation.

Hordak was cloaked in a black cape and hood. His blue, curly, fringe poking out from under the hood. Another thing she just now noticed about Hordak was that his eyes were different, usually fully blood red with black makeup around, just now realising that those must have been contact lenses of some sort, because now she witnessed his real eyes. Soft and organic rather than the glass shields which is what their texture usually looked like. Now his corneas were fully pitch black with black pupils and bright blood red irises, the way they shifted about it somehow made him far more emotive. He was clad in matte black and gun metal grey plated armour with neon red highlights running throughout. No Horde symbol on his chest plate however, The Wings of The Vampire where nowhere to be seen. What Adora didn't see was the First One's crystal embedded within his armour powering his entire suit. He wore the same double slit dress he always wore, thighs on full display. That was certainly a choice.

Adora spoke up first, “Sooo, ahem, I'm sure you're wondering why I asked to meet with you.”

“Yes.” He spoke with his deep, smooth voice, “Entrapta, my dearest, did not disclose why you wished to meet. And why here of all places. I am usually summoned to BrightMoon by the Queen.”

“Weeeell, I thought meeting here might make you feel more comfortable. Heard this place serves drinks to anyone, guess... guess not.”

“Hmm, indeed. I do not drink here. I am unwelcome. I do not blame anyone for that belief. My shunning is just.”

“I thought you'd be a hero to your people, especially after killing Prime and all.”

“You killed Prime. I'm surprised many of my brothers haven't turned to worship you She-Ra Adora.”

“It's just Adora. And more people ‘worshipping’ me is the last thing I want.”

“And as to why many of my brothers hate me? Well, everyone has their own reasons. For many I will always be that authority figure, a High-General, sending them off to their deaths. For others, like Manny here, good man that Manny, they believe my... ‘campaign’ here has led to your people hating them. I destroyed any chance of a peaceful coexistence. I am keen to agree with him.”

Adora didn't disagree, but there was more to it. She did not want to unpack all of it just yet so she chose to instead change the topic of conversation, “Hordak. The reason I wanted to meet with you... I have a job for you.”

“I imagined as much. However, it is usually the Queen who imparts assignments upon me and my brothers. Why this- breaking of routine?”

“Because this concerns the Queen. This ‘job’ isn't her idea, it's mine, in fact, it took a lot of convincing to get her onboard.”

“And the mission is?”

“A road trip, so to speak.”

Hordak quirked his brow. “Ooooh-kay.”

“There is an Intergalactic Conference in the Summit solar system, few galaxies away. Glimmer needs to attend in the next few days. It's quite possibly the most important event in Etheria’s history.”

“And what does the conference pertain to? If I may ask?”

“Securing Etheria’s status in the universe. Glimmy wants to appeal to The Council of The Known Universe and have Etheria recognised as a developed-enough world to join The Council. Ever since Etheria had been freed from Despandos it has been at the mercy of the rest of the universe. As a magical mediaeval world, Etheria’s has been seen by the rest of the universe as ‘underdeveloped’ and ‘primitive’ and as ‘defenceless’. Becoming a part of The Council will grant us safety. Their technology advancements. Limitless food and medicine - access to planets they’ve constructed dedicated solely to agriculture and harvesting. Respect among other worlds. Protection from other tyrants across the cosmos like Prime. Make sure it never happens again. The Council of The Known Universe, turns out, was established to create a barricade against tyrant empires like Prime and The Galactic Horde. Etheria needs protection like that, but there's a problem.”

Hordak placed a hand against his chin as he pondered on the matter, “The Primusians.”

“Yes. You've heard?”

“I have, through the ‘grapevine’ as you would call it; clones talk, or think (telepathically), especially here. V doesn't keep anything to himself. Primus pirates have been assaulting crafts around the system, many of them clones seeking home off-world. They've been quite active since our ‘stunt’ with the Minister of Armament and Defence. You're afraid they have their sights set on the Queen. Making transporting her a major risk.”

“Yeah, you got it. I knew you'd catch on.” Hordak shot her an inquisitive look as well as a bombastic side eye, “Anyway, the plan is to send a new unmanned decoy ship on the route to the conference. Pirates explode it, and hopefully they'll think the bodies got incinerated.”

“That's that then.” Hordak remarked satisfied.

“Yeah, except Glim still needs to make it to Summit. And that's where you, and your... team comes in. I hear you have a ship, don't know how, but you do. You'll escort Glim on the longer way around the Black Donut system and deliver her to the conference on time.”

“That will take days.”

“One week exactly. One way each. That's why I’m here now, the Queen’s orders.”

“It does not sound like the Queen would be thrilled about this idea. My brothers can be... a lot.”

“She isn't. But she knows it's the right thing to do.”

Hordak sighed. “Adora why would I-“

“Because you owe me.” She suddenly became incredibly serious, her glare at Hordak hardened, and Hordak fell silent. He really did. Freeing him from Prime’s influence. Dropping in a good word for him at his trial. He most likely wouldn't have been with Entrapta at all without her. He simply nodded in agreement. “And... because I love her.”

“And you would trust me to keep her safe?”

“The same way I'll keep Entrapta safe while you're gone... So? Deal?”

-        - -

Day One (of Seven)

“No. No deal.” Glimmer remarked defeated. “This is a bad- ugh- I don't like this plan, just stating that for the record.” The Queen of BrightMoon spoke to the holo-pad, arguing with the screen. On the other side of the screen was a smiling but slightly scared Adora. Glimmer marched through the corridors of Castle Dryl, the never-ending labyrinth, that Glimmer was 80% sure was constantly shifting, trying to confuse her. It didn't help that she was constantly going down, deeper into the mountain. Entrapta was the master of traps after all. But Glimmer continued on her path anyhow. She had a map display hovering over the holo-pad that clearly outlined where to go. And surely this wasn't a trap, a planned scheme to assassinate her, right?

“I know what you're thinking; It's not a trap.”

“I- wasn't thinking... that.” She squinted at the map overhead, “I swear the corridors are moving, how is that even possible. It also doesn’t fill me with confidence that Entrapta called this, ‘The Basement’.” The monarch wore her traditional purple outfit, glittering cape, golden accents around the belt, shoulder pauldron, and of course her royal tiara. Her stern look faded away and a sadness took its place. “Why couldn't you’ve come with me?”

“~Oh, StarLight, I'm sorry. I want to always be at your side, and I would be if I could. But the strange signals emanating from the Crystal Castle, it could mean LightHope’s back. And if LightHope is back, which her is she? And why would she be transmitting off-world?”

“So you'll be on the other side of the universe.”

“As soon as I'm done I'll B-line it to you. Just- just wait for me. You're in good hands until then.”

“...I wish I could hold you, I miss you already.” Glimmer's words brought a warm smile to the She-Ra’s face. Adora turned away, avoiding eye contact, a blush rising across her face.

“I miss you too. But please, trust me, it'll be okay.” Adora turned to look at something out of the holo-pad’s view, she sighed, “I have to go. I love you. See you in a week.”

And the transmission terminated.

Glimmer sighed. Already missing Adora’s voice. She believed she was approaching her destination, a large mechanical door stood before her. The GPS on her holo-pad indicated that she had reached ‘The Hangar’. “Okay.” She accepted the journey ahead with one word. Glimmer swiped the touchscreen on her whole pad, the bypass code got transmitted to the control panel at the doors ahead. The green light indicated the door unlocking. And the metal doors slid upward with a hiss. A light spilled into the corridor, so much so Glimmer had to shield her eyes with her hand. She took a step inside and almost tripped over immediately. She looked back to see what it was, and noticed that the floor was littered with a variety of… strange and seemingly unrelated things; Pipes, cables, and various other pieces of machinery, she guessed. There were also art supplies; Paint buckets, brushes, canvases, and spray cans. As she turned around to face forward once again she ducked immediately as she was almost closelined by a low hanging clothing line, various photographs hung up along it. Various landscapes from the brief glimpse that Glimmer caught of it.

“Look out.” A familiar voice called out, but it came from an unfamiliar character. Glimmer followed the voice to match it to the clone face. The man wasn’t even looking at her, which meant she must have yelped quite loudly at some point. She re-composed herself and made her way to the clone, the closer she got, the more details revealed themselves to her. The man was, in fact, a clone, he had the same voice and Hordak’s face, but that was almost where the similarities ended. The tuft of hair on top of his head was dyed in a patchwork of every colour, it was quite strange seeing all that colour on a clone. But the most defining characteristic was the fact that he was wheelchair bound due to his two missing legs, amputated just above the knees. The defect was sat in front of a sizable canvas, a paintbrush in hand and in the middle of creating a new painting. The painting was, no doubt about it, gorgeous. It depicted Doormat, at the foot of Mount Dryl. The light that had blinded Glimmer earlier when she entered had come from the massive open hangar bay doors letting the daylight in. She assumed that was where he got the photos and references from.

“It's beautiful.” She remarked.

“What? This? Thank you, but no, it's just a warm up, and it's hideous. I think I might be having an off day. See that tree?” The clone pointed to a perfectly fine tree on the painting.

“Right.” She should have probably introduced herself, “I'm-“

“Cargo.” He finished.

“Not how I'd like to put it. But yeah, I- uh- I’m Glimmer.”

“I know. You’re the Queen. You send me and my brothers on suicide missions.”

“Yeah... uhmm, yes, soooorry about that, and you are?”

“Moe.”

“Moe. I'll- I'll remember that. Is Hordak here?”

“He's with Entrapta, doing… whatever mad-scientists do. Making time travelling microwaves that send your meal forward in time to when it's already done?”

“Heh, it's Entrapta, it wouldn't surprise me. She can do anything she sets her mind to.”

The joke seemed to resonate with the artist, he smiled, “We're taking off soon, Dak’ll be down in a bit, feel free to get set up on the ship, try getting used to it, the trip’ll be a few days long.”

“Thanks.”

Glimmer turned to the ship in question, The Annihilation it was called. It was a Horde troop carrier dropship repurposed as a mobile home to The Defects as they recently began calling themselves. Looks like they were really owning it. The dropship had a new paint job, no doubt thanks to Moe, an angry face painted over the cockpit, angry eyes and a row of sharp teeth. And a mural on the side of the hull, abstract, but unfinished, she presumed. The ship had Christmas lights hung up all along it, a TV satellite dish on top, and a footpath leading to the lowered ramp into the loading bay. The Annihilation was surrounded by a white picket fence, turf of fake grass, a small cheap fountain (kinda ugly, with a gnome spitting out water at the centre). And a mailbox at the front, not that anyone ever sent in any mail, it was all very cute however.

The Queen of Light made her way into the loading bay, up the ramp, and quickly realised it was... A living room? A TV, a couch, and a carpet. All bolted down so it wouldn't fly out presumably. She was surprised at the mundanity of it all, she was expecting something far more alien or militaristic. While her head was in the clouds she tripped yet again. She growled at her own clumsiness, “What? Do I have two left feet today? What now?” She looked down at what had tripped her up and she almost jumped out of her skin. It was a man, slumped over, on the ground, leaning against a wall, a cable lodged into the back of his head. He was silent, he wasn't moving. Glimmer’s thoughts raced madly; He's dead. They killed someone and stuffed him into their ship. She was looking at a corpse right now!

Then a voice came from above, “Heh, you know that happened to me once.” She looked up to see a skinny man hanging upside down from the ceiling like a bat, he smiled with his bright red fangs, “Mortar shell. Blew me into pieces. Turns out I grabbed someone else’s leg! HA!”

“...Wh- What?”

“Two left feet! We all match so the joints just pop in! Customizable action figures, batteries sold separately.” V cackled to himself as he descended from the ceiling and landed before the monarch. Glimmer wasn't sure how to respond, or what she was looking at, some sort of birdman? She was at a loss for words, since her mind was still on the potential corpse at her feet. “V.” He indicated himself with his hand.

“Is this a dead body?!” She pointed to the clone on the floor in panic and anguish. V craned his neck to look past the Queen. V waved it off matter of factly.

“Eh, don't worry about Drag. Kid’s just taking a nap.”

“So I shouldn't be worried?”

“Oh, well, no, you definitely should. ‘Nap’ so to speak. The truth is far more horrifying. You see little Drag is in a state of constant rapid brain degradation the curjigger he's hooked up to continuously recreates his brain through... woff nanobots? I don't know, Dak’s the one who does machines. The boy fainted not long ago, so he'll be out for a good while.”

“How long is he usually out for?” She still asked panicked.

“Uh, I don't know, varies, sometimes hours, sometimes days, whatever the story needs really. I'm sure he'll be back by the third act.”

“... What are you talking about?”

“I don't know. Anyways, make yourself at home, but not too much, the chaotic mess is on purpose.”

“The ‘I know where everything is’ type of organisation system?”

“What? No, I don't know where anything is, it's just to annoy Hordak. Sometimes I dump buckets of mud and dust inside just to see how furrowed his brows can get. Ha! He gets so angry.”

Glimmer just now noticed that V had patted the couch as he made his ‘make yourself at home’ statement. “Wait, I'm… sleeping on the couch?” She remarked in disbelief.

“Weeell, yeah, what did you expect?”

“A room?!”

“Ahhh... No. Heh. No.”

“Unbelievable.”

“Hey, it's not that bad, this is the best spot on Anni! You got a perfect view of the TV (which has channels from the next three galaxies). A few itchy blankets and who knows what wonders hide between the couch cushions; Just today I found Drag’s goldfish’s food... Oh shoot, I knew I forgot something.” He tapped his chin.

“I'm in Hel. I died, and now I'm in Hel.”

“HA! Not yet. But The End is coming. Soon!” V waltzed away saluting her away as he ventured off to check up on his younger brother’s fish.

“Wait! Can't I have Drag’s room? Or is his room the corridor?” She asked sarcastically.

“Sorry, Candy Floss, he ain't interchangeable. You’ll just have to deal with it.” The doors to Drag’s bedroom closed and he was out of earshot.

“...Great. Perfect. Great idea, Adora. Thanks, hun.”

-        - -

“I wish you could stay.” Entrapta sadly remarked.

Hordak took a moment to reply, he looked away and down, “... As do I, Beloved.”

It was another day, another mission and once again the universe had decided to tear them apart as it often did. It was especially bittersweet and tragic as the couple had plans for today, family picnic, so to speak. Entrapta sighed as she soldered the motherboard in front of her, their mask down and covering her face, “I was really looking forward to working on the power couplings for the hyper light telescope. I bet we can see the Lynks system from here! I heard rumours that they've managed to construct an entire artificial star! It powers their two nearest colonies!... I- I can wait for you... And we could do it together when you get back, how long can the escort be? Two?- Three days?” She tried to keep up a genuine smile.

“We estimate a week to the Summit system, and one week to return.” Hordak hid most of himself under his cape like a weighted blanket, “I know how much you love star gazing, you shouldn't have to wait for me. You should enjoy yourself without me.” He reached out for Entrapta’s hand. Entrapta let go of the soldering iron, and accepted the taloned hand of her partner. The Ex-Lord of the Horde softly massaged her hand, his thumb moving in circles.

She gently squeezed Hordak’s hand in return, “But I'd love for you to be with me. Us, together, you know?” She snuggled into Hordak’s chest, leaning her head against him. Dak held her hand and placing his other hand against Entrapta’s back, a gentle touch, “That's the life I wanted for us.” She murmured lowly, almost a purr.

“I know.” Hordak spoke solemnly.

“...It feels like we're apart every day now. I thought things would get better… and here you go again.”

“I know. But this request- it came from-“

“Adora, I know.” Entrapta lifted her mask, revealing a small smile, “That's the only thing I like about this.” That made Hordak raise one of his brows, “You, opening up to her, it's cute. She's a good girl. I'm glad you're making new friends.” She patted Hordak’s chest.

“Well, I wouldn't go that far-“

“Hordak.”

“Ah!” Hordak jumped, scared by the voice inside his head. The clone turned around to find Lee, another one of his brothers, just standing there – Menacingly. “Lee! How did you- ? Where? Why?!”

“We have a problem.”

*Italics indicate telepathy – Toffee*

“What?”

“The Queen is currently in our home.”

“Yes, she is the cargo.”

“…Why was I not informed of this?”

“Because you wouldn't have liked it.”

“We are transporting (possibly) the most powerful woman in the universe - that is going to turn heads, and paint a target on our backs. Are we not meant to be secret task force?”

“That is why we and the She-Ra are the only individuals aware of this mission. And, were you not the one who urged me to establish a more trusting relationship with the rulers of this world? Do you not think that a favour such as this would aid in improving relations between clones and natives?” Lee pondered on it, he nodded. He would have grunted if he could, unfortunately for Lee, his entire lower jaw was missing. By far his most noticeable and unique feature.

“...Sooo? Are we-? Is this-? Are we done? I'm just getting half of the conversation here, just so you know.” Entrapta poked in.

Suddenly V also appeared out of nowhere behind Hordak, “Hey we have a problem.”

“Gahhh! Where did you?! How- What?! Ugh. Yes, we know; the Queen.” Hordak face palmed.

“What? No. It's Drag’s goldfish, it's dead.”

“What? I thought you were feeding it.”

“I thought Lee was feeding it.”

“Well, I thought Moe was feeding it.”

Hordak sighed, face in his hands, “Fine, we'll figure it out on the road, just go, get out of here.”

Lee just looked at him, and turned away, “I'll be on the ship. I'm assuming all the relevant mission information is on board?” Hordak nodded. “Then I will be there, studying.” And the clone disappeared as soon as he appeared. V followed.

“He's scary good at that.” Entrapta remarked.

“Hmm.”

“I don't think he likes me.”

“They’ll come around...”

Both of them stood there for a moment, in silence. “So... you should probably get going.” Entrapta remarked sadly, not ready to let go again so quickly.

“Mmm.” Hordak looked around the lab, “Where is Imp? I wished to say goodbye to him before departing.”

“Probably hiding, lil rascal hates to see you go. He misses you you know.”

“I know…” A sadness washed over his face. 

“Look, I know you're at work, the last thing you need up there is me. But-”

“I would spend my entire life at your side! I love your voice. I adore your beautiful mind. And worship your heart for all the love you have offered me. You are not a hindrance!”

“Okay, okay, haha.” She looked down at the ground with a warm blush on her cheeks, “I know, I get it.”

“You think so little of yourself, I know how you are. And I do not appreciate it.” He landed a soft kiss on his partner's cheek. Which drew a chuckle from her.

“OK, OK, enough! You know I can't take compliments!” She exclaimed joyously as she smooshed his cheeks with her soft gloved hands.

“It is my duty as your lab partner to remind you of your worth, your beauty and your wonder, and that is just a scientific fact. Now, what- uh- what were you going to say before I rudely interrupted?”

From a large pouch on her utility belt Entrapta fished out a small Rubik’s cube-like object, which shifted in her palm and unfolded into a large two-handed holo-pad, and handed it over to Dak, “You know how I've been working on the intergalactic communications array?! So, I've been working on downsizing it and managed to incorporate it into a screened device - this holo-pad will allow us to stay in touch, even worlds apart. It’s only a prototype, of course, but it should work perfectly.”

What a loving gift. Entrapta always bestowed such wonderful presents, Perfuma proclaimed that it was her love-language. Hordak did not understand what that meant exactly, but his mind wondered, how could he further ‘communicate’ in this ‘language’? “Beloved, I- This is a most thoughtful gift, but... it is standard protocol to not take any contraband that could possibly link us to and could be traced back to Etheria in case the ship is breached... but, I suppose with the literal Queen of Etheria on board, that rule does not apply.” He smiled. Entrapta matched the smile.

“I will call you, when you're on your way, later today.” She raised on her tippy-toes and kissed her tall partner on the cheek, “Keep you company.”

“I would appreciate it.”

         Hordak and Entrapta lost themselves in each other's eyes as they often did, they wordlessly embraced in a warm hug. Their foreheads found each other, eyes closed, they allowed themselves to smile just a little.

         “I love you.”

         “I love you, more.”

         “Scientifically impossible, I love you far more.”

         “No, I love you more!” They giggled softly to each other.

-        - -

Glimmer had unpacked, to the best of her abilities, that is to say she was pecking at one of her packed lunch sandwiches and marked the couch as her territory by placing her luggage all over it. The Queen was now just sitting on the couch, slouched. This was going to be a long trip, she could tell. So she tried to distract herself by glueing herself to the TV. Unfortunately, the channel she was watching was broadcasting from an alien system with a language she did not understand. She could infer from the tone of the voice and the acting what was going on. It was some sort of telenovela, ooorr a reality TV show? No, Glimmer had no idea where the remote was. So that was it, her life for the next week. Hopefully Adora and the rest of the Princesses would take her on the way back after the conference.

         “Oh, nice, that's a good episode.”

         “What?” She turned back to see V standing behind her like a dad at a BBQ over a grill, a coffee mug in hand.

         “Sapphire Lakes. Great show. A handful of wealthy women who pretend to be friends are locked up in a small lake house for a week where they scream, lie and backstab each other for a cash prize. It's truly peak television. Tiffany's just confronting Jade about cheating with Keith.” He pointed gleefully at the screen.

         “How do you know all this? It's not even in Etherian?”

         V taped the side of his head, presumably where his ears would be, wait, did he even have ears? “Air-Vibration Translators. Convert any nearby language to clone speak.”

         “Huh.”

         “Your majesty.” Glimmer’s eyes followed the voice to the clone entering the drop ship, it was Hordak. Long black cape covering his body and draping behind him on the floor. His battle armour underneath, no longer bearing the symbol of the Horde, but rather the symbol of Dryl, purple gear with a star at its centre. Proud property of his wife. 

         “Hordak, finally. I wanted to speak with you.” Glimmer spoke up.

         “Lee here?” Dak turned to V.

         “Yeah, he’s in.” V replied, still glued to the TV screen.

         “What? I didn't see anyone enter.” Glim remarked confused.

         “Yeah, that's Lee. If he wants to, you won't see him all week.” V shrugged.

         “One can only hope.” She murmured.

         “I see you've already gotten acquainted with the crew. Uh- Make yourself at home, I suppose. We depart soon.”

         “Uh- Thanks...”

         “...”

         “...”

         “...Soooo, How- uh- how are you?...”

         “Yeah, I'm- I'm good- I'm alright... How... Are you?”

         “Good. Good...

         “... Yeah.”

         “... Alright, let's go.” He awkwardly turned around and departed to the ship's cockpit.

         V stopped on the way, “Hey, Daky, beloved brother of mine, my favourite person in the whole wide cosmos.”

         “What do you want?” Hordak sounded tired already.

         “Can I drive?”

         “No.”

         “I'm a pilot! I was a pilot back in the day! I'm good at flying. I'm a pilot... Can I-?”

         “You are not touching my ship.”

         “But you let Entrapta work on the ship!?”

         “That, dear brother, is because she's competent.”

         Glimmer huffed as she leaned against the couch cushions, “This is going to be a long week.” She returned to her slouching.

         Hordak marched up the small steps that led to the cockpit which was a narrow space; and sat one on the front seat, the pilot seat from which one would steer the ship via the steering wheel and the numerous unlabelled buttons covering the control panels on either side of the wheel, some blinking, some not. (How Hordak knew to press what, was beyond this trans-fourth-dimensional narrator.) V attempted to flick a switch, but his hand was slapped away by Dak, who didn't even take his eyes off the panel. V frowned like a toddler that was denied cookies from their mom, and he fell down onto the back seat of the cockpit, the navigator seat. The navigator would advise routes throughout space and monitor the status of the ship.

         A finger taped Glimmer on the shoulder, she turned to see Moe, now on board, “Can I take some of these?” He asked, pointing to the pillows on the couch.

         “Uh, yeah, sure.” She handed the clone the pillows, and watched him make his way to Drag. Moe climbed down from his wheelchair and gently moved his brother to lean forward, still unconscious, and placed a pillow behind his head. He wanted to lift his younger brother and place another pillow under him, but Moe, being a defect, was unable to lift his weight. So, he was surprised when Drag did lift up. He looked up surprised to see that Glimmer had lifted the comatose clone up by the underarms. Moe was pleasantly shocked for a moment, but continued and placed a pillow for Drag to sit on and one to lean against. Glimmer lowered him, and helped Moe up onto his wheelchair. And pushed his wheelchair to the couch.

         “Thanks- Bay doors.” He pointed to a big red button with a lock image on it. Glimmer pressed it, and the ship’s ramp receded in and the heavy shutter doors sealed them in, and would seal the void of space out. “Thanks.”

         “No problem.” They returned to the couch.

         “He's always sore when he wakes up.” He remarked worryingly. The gesture was cute, that little act of kindness surprised Glimmer.

         V’s voice echoed through the ship, “Non-clones and gentle-clones please take your seats as we're about to rocket ourselves into the void of space through a wall of fire surrounding the planet, so we're all probably going to die, so say your prayers to whatever deity you believe in, won't matter though because we live in a nightmare world where there truly is no god.” He announced cheerfully. A loud smack could be heard and an “Ouch.” from V.

         Hordak’s voice came through, “Ignore him.”

         “You’ll get used to that,” Moe spoke up, “That's like Dak’s catch phrase.”

         “Is your brother, the bird one, always like that?”

         “No, he's usually worse. He's on good behaviour since we have a guest over.”

         “Are we- going to experience some turbulence? No offence to your brother but anything he makes is usually held together by duct tape. Are we about to turn into a giant fireball? He loves big fiery explosions.” Glimmer asked concerned, recollecting about the Fright Zone.

         “HehHa! Yeah that sounds like Hordak, alright.” He wheeled himself over to a front corner of the ship which had a standing canvas, some small cabinets at the side supposedly housing some art supplies. There was also a small circular window at the corner framing the view of the outside. “The Annihilation has been through a lot, but you won't find a more reliable (and lucky) ship in The Holy Armada! You won't even feel the take off.”

         “How do you know?” Glimmer asked unconvinced.

         “Come take a look.” He just pointed to the window. Glimmer, confused, waltzed over to the window, her eyes widened in shock at what she saw. A blue surface, rippling and kicking up as the ship zoomed past; a river, then fields of trees, zipping by. They had already launched. Mount Dryl shrinking into the distance.

         They had launched from the side of the mountain, out of the hangar bay doors, cloaked by Entrapta’s holographic disguise field. Soon they surpassed the clouds, and pierced into the atmosphere. For a moment the window became coated in fire and flame. And then it passed, and now the Queen of Light stared out into an endless black void reaching out into infinity. Across the blackness were white speckles; stars, distant suns, sustaining worlds and civilizations all of their own, Etheria a distant speck to them all.

         Before they could leave Etheria behind there was one obstacle left; a barrier of warships guarding the planet from the upper atmosphere. An impenetrable wall of hull and fire power. The most powerful warships that side of the galaxy. After the Fall of Prime over a year ago the clones were freed from his control, left to aimlessly wander Etheria - for the first time in their lives without purpose. The clone population was stranded on Glimmer’s magical world, the Princess Alliance weren't about to just let their invaders take back their war machines and leave to who knows where, or worse, turn the weapons back against Etheria. So, at first the warships over Etheria were disabled. But over the following months, as Entrapta established communications with various systems, and rumours began to spill out. A sizeable number of them coming from the clone grapevine. The refugee clones slowly began to form pockets of community around Etheria. The Princess Alliance never stood against it, and even helped establish those pockets, BrightMoon was always involved in combating homelessness, a programme started by Glimmer’s mother, often allowing homeless citizens take shelter and live within the walls of BrightMoon castle.

         Within the clone settlements many managed to establish contact with the outside, smuggling becoming a major enterprise. Clones being the main item smuggled off world. Through Hordak various rumours reached her; Word of various larger neighbouring systems eyeing Etheria with watering mouths. Smaller less developed planets often fell prey to larger powers, Glimmer wasn't about to let that happen. And the answer was right under her nose. The clones knew how to operate the worships, of course they'd be supervised by BrightMoon knights, but to her pleasant surprise the clones dedicated themselves to their posts rather quickly and without much convincing or argument. They were desperate for a mission, for a purpose. And so, Glimmer gave them one; Protecting their new home.

Glimmer sighed, “I'm going to be honest I would’ve felt much better about this if the starships could escort us... No offence, uh…”

“Moe.”

“Moe.”

“Short for Mosquitor.”

“Oh.”

“I'm guessing the point of all of this is to stay unseen, and not to attract much unwanted attention.”

“It is. Heh, not to mention the reason why we're going to The Council of the Known Universe is to make allies, it’d be hard to do that if we just pulled up with a starship overhead. Don't want to prove the threats and fear mongering rumours correct.”

“Didn't you just reason your way out of the predicament?”

“I suppose I did.”

“Also, those aren't starships, heh, you haven't seen a Starship yet. Warships of The Holy Armada are impressive, no doubt about it. But starships are unfathomably enormous. Giant rings, large enough to surround an entire sun, draw power from it, often acting as a shipyard constructing warships for the Prime’s endless conquest. They’re pretty, in a horrifying kind of way.”

Glimmer couldn't even imagine something of that scale. Things like that often made Glimmer put things into perspective of how small and secluded Etheria was. How little she was in the vastness of the cosmos. It frightened her, but she chose not to think about it. But unbeknownst to the Queen that phobia had led her actions subconsciously. Many people are guided by fear, even kings and Queens, whether they know it or not. Glimmer, whether right or wrong, was stepping along the path of fear.

Glimmer’s eyes scoured the dark space and managed to spot a small brush of green among the canvas of black, the only spot of colour in space. “Huh.”

Moe took note of the response, “What? The Velvet Glove? Huh, looks different than when I last saw it, greener!”

“Yeah, that might have been my and my friends’ doing. My… friend, Adora, kinda,” Glimmer scratched the back of her head, “Turned the ship into a giant tree.”

“With many of our brothers still within.”

“Yeah, sorry about thaaAAHHH!” The Queen of Light embarrassingly shrieked as she noticed a third figure standing behind them silently. A man missing his lower jaw. He narrowed his blood red eyes, their wrinkles around his eyes more visible. Glimmer covered her mouth like an old Victorian maiden. “Sorry. My bad. Sorry. Hehe.” Lee seemed unamused. The old clone’s pupils lit up and he turned to Moe. Moe turned back to face him, his pupils lit up too. The two stared at each other without a single word spoken for a moment or two. Glimmer’s eyes shifted between the two. Are they buffering? What's going on?

Moe returned his gaze to the Queen, “He– ugh, welcomes you on board and wishes you a pleasant stay. And is honoured to be in the presence of royalty, especially one of whom allows us to stay on your world.”

Lee signed with his hands, clearly some sort of sign language, Glimmer managed to make out some of it, but not enough to further the conversation, “I'm sorry I don't know sign language, I- I should but I don't.” She remarked sadly.

Moe translated for his brother, “He just wants to discuss with you- uh- some matters.” He sounded a little awkward and nervous. Lee gave him an angry look for not translating fully. Moe just shrugged.

Outside across the depthless night a streak of light zipped across their view, Hordak spotted it, and moved to tail the craft. It was the decoy ship. As a mediaeval planet-locked civilization BrightMoon had no spaceships with which to cross galaxies. Which was why Adora got Entrapta to step in, and she was all too overjoyed about it. Being the genius she was, Entrapta fished out a crashed Horde ship fixed it up and customised it, now sporting the colour scheme of BrightMoon; purple, pink, and gold, even a painted mural of Glimmer on the hull. You couldn't get more overt than that, if this bait wouldn't work, Entrapta didn't know what would.

That was a lovely day, Entrapta and Hordak made a whole day of it, a date, that was what normal couples did so they thought they'd try it out too. And it was wonderful. Just them working together, bouncing ideas off of each other, problem solving, like two lobes of the same brain working in tandem. It was like a dream. Hordak would cherish this memory for years to come.

Hordak pulled up behind the decoy ship. With a single press of a button the clearance codes were transmitted from The Annihilation to the warships. Then; quiet. This moment was always horrifying. The silence. The wait. Hordak and the rest of the crew knew the codes were correct, Glimmer approved them herself, but each time Hordak’s mind briefly flashed to the thought of; What if the codes were wrong? If the warships would open fire, they would be dead in seconds - if not instantaneously vaporised by the battery lasers then they would freeze in the void of space. Seconds ticked away. They waited for the go-ahead; Hordak tense, V, behind him, completely relaxed and indifferent - the fear of death had left the old clone long ago, and then...

A green light lit up on the control panel. And the barricade of warships began to part like the Red Sea. And the tightness in Hordak’s chest disappeared and he released a sigh of relief. The two ships bypassed the armada wall and soon after separated, Glimmer watched the bait craft shrink into a dot out of the window and disappear. Soon the armada faded from visibility as well, and they were off on their voyage, no turning back now. Nothing but an endless stretch of darkness.

“Well, I guess there's no going back now.” She stepped up to the cockpit and looked on at the eternal night ahead.

V put his feet up on the pilot chair ahead, annoying Hordak, “Why so gloomy your highness. They should call you Gloomer. We’re here to have a good time! You know this is a road trip, and you know what that means!”

Dak: “No.”

Moe: “Oh Prime.”

Lee just turned around and left to his room.

V opened a compartment in the chair he was sitting on and pulled out a CD, and practically crawled over Hordak to get to the front control panel and slid the disc into a rectangular device. Glimmer believed it was called a CD player. And so music began to play from it. A country song come on not that our protagonists knew what that was exactly. The song began:

‘Life is like a road that you travel on,

When there is one day here and then the next day gone,

Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand,

Sometimes you turn your back to the wind’

Hordak face palmed, unable to escape the sound of the song, trapped in the pilot's seat. He had clearly heard this song a thousand times before. “I can't believe this.”

‘There is a world outside every darkened door,

Where the blues will not haunt you anymore,

Where brave are free and lovers soar,

Come ride with me to the distant shore’

Glimmer bowed her head down and sighed, “This is my life now... for the next week... No going back.” She echoed the words to herself once more. She turned and waltzed back to the couch defeated.

‘We won't hesitate, to break down the garden gate,

There's not much time left today, yeah –

THE DEFECTS, FEATURING QUEEN GLIMMER OF ETHERIA, STARRING IN:

‘L I F E   I S   A   H I G H W A Y  !’

‘And I want to ride it all night long.’

End of Act One (of Three)

___

Next Time on LIAH

"I've been checking our food cabinets, some thing's eating our supplies, some thing's here with us."

Dun. Dun. DUN!

---

"Don't be mad!"

"What did you do?!"

"I said don't be mad!!!"

---

"Is that a shotgun?!?!"

---

"Fifty Romulaks?! Where are we crossing over to Terabithia?!!"

---

"Keith... I'm pregnant."

"I knew it."

To Be Continued

[astarionsilverbough]

astarion catches halsin whittling a bust of his head out of a palm-sized block of birchwood :} he doesn't recognize it :}

yo hey whoa WHOA

okay yeah let’s go

It happens about three days after they leave the Grove for the Creche.

They’re camping on the Risen Road near the river. Astarion and Gale disappear for their usual bath together - they stay in the pairs they’ve previously selected mostly out of ease, though Karlach joins Lae’zel and Halsin’s group - and Halsin, having already bathed, produces a block of wood from his pack.

It fits neatly in the frame of his hand. Three-fourths of the block have been carefully carved and coaxed away by the gentle sweeps of Halsin’s knife. He works in silence for a few minutes, losing himself so utterly in his task he hardly notices he’s not alone until Wyll is speaking.

“Good gods man,” the fighter says, peering over Halsin’s shoulder at the small piece, “you’ve captured Astarion perfectly. Karlach, look at this.”

“Oh, whoa! Halsin, that’s amazin’,”Karlach says wonderingly as she peers over Wyll’s shoulder while he peers over Halsin’s shoulder. “You’ve even captured his little, little smile lines! Oh!”

“What’s all this, then, why are we cooing over the druid?”

As it always does, Astarion's voice makes Halsin's heavy heart feel about two hundred times lighter and younger. Wyll and Karlach both step back and Halsin looks up at Astarion nears, his damp hair falling over his curiously furrowed brow.

"Oh," the vampire hums, sounding a bit... befuddled. Almost... apprehensive? "Well who's this... handsome young thing, then?"

He's being entirely genuine. He doesn't recognize himself - but Wyll and Karlach, who barely know the man, did. It does look like him, then. Halsin knows it does - he's carved Astarion's face a thousand times over the last two hundred years, after all. He could carve it in the dark.

Karlach rolls her eyes. "Oh, come off it," she says with a laugh, gently smacking the back of Astarion's shoulder. "You don't have to play coy. You're bloody gorgeous, Astarion."

Astarion's eyebrows shoot up as it occurs to Halsin that vampires... Vampires can't see their reflection. Not even in water. His chest grows almost immeasurably tight. It must show on his face, because Wyll clears his throat then and says, "we ought to get the fire going, aye? It's getting chilly out here for those of us not running on infernal engines!"

"Wh -?" Karlach manages, but then Wyll is all but frog-marching her away and Halsin's world shrinks down to Astarion and only Astarion.

A relief.

If he could keep the world this small, he would.

"Is this... Is this really me, darling?"

Astarion sounds... His voice is more vulnerable than Halsin's heard it yet. Oh, but there were no words in any language to describe what was happening within the great former archdruid as he takes in Astarion's expression; it's one of an almost awestruck grief, of curious hope and something approaching the innocence he once embodied when he was younger and unafraid.

"Yes," Halsin utters on a breath. "Yes, little star, it is."

The vampire's eyes are swelling with tears. His bottom lip quivers even as his mouth curves into a soft, wondering smile.

"Me... now?"

"That is the only you I see," Halsin says quietly. "The Astarion you have always been and will always be."

"Oh," Astarion whimpers. When Halsin offers up the carving for Astarion to hold, to memorize with fingertips and thumbs, Astarion falters for a moment before he takes it so carefully Halsin almost shatters then and there.

"Huh," the vampire breathes, gazing down at his own carefully crafted visage with tears streaming down the real article, "well. I... I look more like him, don't I? Like father."

"You look like Astraea when you smile," Halsin murmurs, clambering to his feet. He sweeps a curled finger under Astarion's chin to catch the tears beading there and thumbs over the taper of it.

"And you have her eyes," the druid says. Astarion lifts those sunset eyes to meet his and before he can protest, Halsin bows to kiss the argument off his tongue. Astarion grips the carving in one hand and slides his arms around Halsin's neck; the bigger elf catches him in the crook of his elbow and draws him close, as close as he possibly can.

It's never close enough.

"But when I look at you," Halsin says in elvish, taking a step back towards his tent, "I see Astarion. I see the way your hair curls around your ears and the way your eyes wrinkle when you laugh. The way your lips part right before you're about to be kissed."

Astarion's ears go pink. "Oh - stop," he protests weakly against Halsin's lips, squirming as Halsin lifts him effortlessly from the ground. "Enough poetry, just tell me I'm beautiful so we can move onto the exciting part."

Stepping back through the flaps of his own tent, Halsin catches Astarion in another gasping kiss and turns on his heel. Astarion doesn't flail or cry out when Halsin moves to get him down on the cot; he trusts Halsin with the same ease he always has, fingers carding nimbly through the druid's hair as he kisses over Halsin's jaw and noses at his ear.

"Beautiful," Halsin says, leaning up on his palms to look down at the vampire. Soft dusk light filters through the canvas of Halsin's tent, lighting Astarion up in shades of burnished gold. The breath punches gently out of Halsin and he shakes his head. Catching Astarion gently by the jaw, the druid bows and kisses him in the way that makes the blood run hot enough to tempt the change.

"I would invent a new word for you if I only knew how," Halsin says against Astarion's lips. "You are solar storms and hurricanes, Astarion Ancunin - you are the sea beneath a fractured sky and the first winter freeze."

Astarion trembles. "I distinctly remember telling you no more poetry" he manages, "only moments ago, even. You can't have forgotten already. I hope you haven't, or we have bigger problems than - mmhmm..."

He licks the words off Astarion's tongue. The vampire melts beneath him, tears dripping down his temples and into the snowfall of his hair.

"Astarion," Halsin breathes achingly. "Astarion."

"There it is," Astarion whispers, "your new word. Every time you say my name - every time you say my name, I know how beautiful you think I am."

A pause.

"But the carving certainly helps. Feel free to make more. Of any part of me, in fact."

Halsin grins against Astarion's teeth and gathers him close, finally skin to skin.

It's almost close enough.

"Oh, I will," the druid burrs as Astarion scrapes a heavy, needy gaze over his face, lips parted against Halsin's like he's a snake poised to swallow a mouse. Halsin slides a hand between his thighs and the elf whines.

"Good," Astarion groans.

And he does. Only once he's done some thorough research, of course.

Astarion insists.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Queen Anne Victorian lovers, this is a beauty. Built in 1887, it took the current owners 20 yrs. to restore it. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, it has 4bd 3ba and is priced at $550K. But, here's the kicker- if you want all the furnishings you can buy them for a total of $665K. I am swooning!

Oh, I would have to buy it complete. This is filled with gorgeous antiques. My mother had an antique shop and the price is good for all of this.

OMG, look at the fireplace, but the art above it and the carved library table.

I wonder if you could pick & choose- like say I didn't want that pair of statues in the cabinet.

Nice library/den.

I like this vintage bath, but why would they buy a claw foot tub without the feet? It's balanced on a wooden box w/a piece of wood to stabilize it. They can take that and leave the sink & toilet.

Wowzer, look at the formal dining room.

Like the simple kitchen redo. I wonder if that's an original sink.

There's a lovely dinette area for everday dining.

Plus, there's a great pantry.

From the dining room, you can go to the stairs. Look at the bronze newel post lamp.

The bedrooms are all so beautiful, I can't tell which is the main one. You can just take your pick.

The beds have wonderful canopies.

This is an interesting bathroom. The antique sinks & toilets are fabulous.

Here's one of the smaller bedrooms.

Another great vintage marble sink.

Stairs going up to the attic. There's another bronze lamp. I've never seen them on several floors, usually just the main hall.

The finished attic- this is so nice.

This horse hitch out front looks like it could be original.

Beautiful porch in the backyard.

[brooks-corner]

It Was Always You - Jacob x reader fic

Chapter 2 - Hello Jacob Black

Thank you to those who reblogged my story I appreciate it :) I honestly didn't think anyone would see it so I'm glad it's getting some attention even if it's just a little. Feel free to give me any critiques regarding my writing!

Enjoy

When you wake up, the first thing that you notice is that these aren't your sheets. Your eyes flutter open and confirm that this is indeed not your room. There is a window to your left and it tells you from the lack of light that it is still nighttime. You sit up from the sheets and try to remember what happened to you.

You remember the wedding. But was that all a dream? You're still wearing the silk wedding guest dress so that tells you that it did indeed happen. What did you do after the reception though? You remember how you felt flushed and stuffy around the guests, something about a red bird? Now it is all coming back. The tree branch, the wolf. You wished animals could talk. You wanted to know why the scary creature helped you. Because you are sure it did. It freed you. It cleaned your wounds... or you guess licked the blood off. Now that you think about it, wolf saliva being slathered onto your gash doesn't sound all that sanitary.

You remove the camo blanket that was draped over you so you could examine your leg and see what the damage was but, surprisingly, you find it all bandaged up with gauze and everything. Who helped you? Whoever found you in the woods you would need to thank because you could have been seriously injured. Making it back to your house would have been a pain in the ass with your leg.

You get up cautiously, being careful to not putt any weight on your bad leg and look around the room to find the door. As your eyes scan the room, you can see various items. Straight ahead of you is a poster on the wall with a flowing river and mountains in the background. Out of the window is a beautiful field followed by a lush forest. You figure that whoever own this house sure does have a gorgeous property.

Now that you are a little more awake, and your eyes have adjusted to the dark, you can clearly tell that this is a boy's room. All of the color in here is predominantly green paired with the various clothing items on the ground screams teenage male.

Above the bed you can see a dream catcher. You always had bad dreams. Violent ones at that. You would wake up in the middle of the night with a cold sweat after someone would stab you or punch you in your dreams. You always hated that. They come sporadically but you definitely wish you had a dream catcher. Even if they don't really work it would be comforting to you. The boy which the trinket belongs to is really lucky or really crafty because you have never seen a dream catcher like this one. You can tell someone spent a lot of time on it. The design in the middle is very intricate for one this small. The diameter of it would be comparable to your palm but there are a couple of things hanging down from it that makes the piece of art stand out. Hanging from the inside are various tiny rocks with one carved into a wolf howling in the middle. You really like this dream catcher. You admire the boy who has it, as he must have some good taste.

The sound of hushed shouting brings you out of your state of admiration for the trinket. You look towards the source of the arguing which is the door that leads out of the room. A warm light is coming from the bottom of the door, and you decide to head out into it. You realize that you should be heading home now so your dad doesn't get too worried. While figuring out a hop and drag method to get you through the door on your bad foot, you manage to make it through and go down the hallway towards the people you were hearing.

You hope that you don't get them mad for interrupting anything, especially if it was a fight. That would be awkward. However, you really do need to be heading home. If it was late at night when the wedding ended, it would definitely be late at night now.

You follow the sound of people, and it gets louder and louder until you finally make it to its source. Although it took a while, you managed to hobble over and peer over the wall to see what the group was doing.

The very first thing you notice is that everyone there is shirtless. Except for the girl but regardless. All of the guys were in just shorts. Granted there were just two boys but still. It made your cheeks turn bright red. It wasn't like you hadn't seen a shirtless guy before, but you were never really good at talking to boys. You would always end up stuttering of sorts or embarrassing yourself one way or another. You thought it would be best just to avoid boys if you could help it. Although, it kind of seems unavoidable now.

Through the hushed arguing you can make out a couple of words.

"...and how could you have let this happen? We talked about this. What if she wasn't someone important?!"

You can tell it was a very angry girl who had said that part.

"I was upset Leah. And who was going to be out there in the middle of nowhere anyways?"

A boy with a low voice responded defensively.

"Well obviously someone Jacob!"

Jacob. The boy's name is Jacob.

"Who Leah? Say it. My imprint. Not just anyone. It was meant to be that I was out there when it happened. Then maybe we never would have met."

"Yeah, right after you finished crying about your unrequited love. Give me a break."

"Okay break it up you two," The voice was a mans and much lower than the other boys.

"Ahem."

Your voice cut through the fighting. You felt bad about listening in on their conversation and you wanted to go home anyways.

Everyone's attention was on you now. Including the shirtless men.

"H-hi um." You advert to not stare and continue, "I uh really appreciate you guys letting me stay here. I really do. Whoever found me in the woods I owe you one. Same to the person who patched me up. But I should really head home soon my dad is going to be worried and-" The blush on your cheeks made you want to die. Why did you have to be like this? Thankfully you did not have to continue your flustered plea because one of the boys spoke up.

"Hey yeah I get it uh is your leg, okay?" He made a move to get closer to you. You recognize his voice to be Jacob's. If he was a teenager he was definitely the most jacked you've ever seen. He had a black shoulder tattoo that contrasted against his tan skin nicely.

The only girl, who you can only assume is Leah, scoffs. "She's fine Jacob." You guessed correctly.

"Uh y-yeah it is a lot of b-better thank you. Um do I know you?" You ask the boy with a strong blush filling your cheeks.

Jacob notices and smiles but thankfully doesn't say anything about your flushed face. "No, you don't know me, but I am friends with your sister."

Leah bursts out into a laughter and the other man snickers.

"Ignore her, that is just Leah. Nobody likes her." He whispers in your ear which makes you laugh and helps you calm down a bit. The man starts to talk to Leah about calming down, and they go off on their own mini fight.

Meanwhile, you copy how Jacob whispered to you and got on your tippy toes to return you conversation, "So how do you know Bella?" This brings a grin to Jacob's face.

"We grew up together before she moved down with your mom. When she moved back here, we kind of reunited for a while since her shithead boyfriend left for a couple of months.

"You didn't like him either?" You said more happily than you'd like to admit.

"Wait you don't like him?" Jacob looks taken aback but you didn't miss the grin that was across his face either.

"I always thought he was creepy. I am not going to lie I loathed the fact that they got together but I guess it all worked out in the end." You shrugged.

" I can already tell that I am going to like you." Jacob responded with a smile.

With the conversation over, yours and Jacob's attention return to Leah and the man's conversation, or rather, argument.

Jacob took one look at it and decided that he was not going to deal with it right that second. "Come with me." he said. And so, you followed.

Jacob took you to his car and drove you back to your dad's place. The ride there were filled with conversations about the hatred for Edward, the introduction to who the man was, Sam Ulley, and your guys' full names. Thomas Jacob Black (who is indeed 17, the same as you) and (your full name) got along really well during the ride home and you would be lying if you said you weren't sad that the car ride ended too soon.

Per usual, dad was worried about you but at least he didn't call his troops in when like Bella went missing for the night. He almost went bezerk when he saw your beat-up leg but when you explained that it was your fault, he calmed down a lot and called you a clumsy idiot.

Your dad thanked Jacob for looking after me and when I went inside, I noticed that Jacob watched me until I got home safe, but not before we exchanged numbers.

Going to bed that night all you could think of was how everything is so natural when it comes to talking to Jacob. And how thankful you are that he helped you. And if you were being completely honest, how excited you are to see him again.

[honeeslust]

Sukuna | Untitled 10.22

STARRING: Reader x Sukuna (JJK- king of curses) x Maddie (Euphoria)

SYNOPSIS: Bestie you look so pretty when you cum…

TW/KINK: monster fucker, bondage, alcohol, multiple “ahem”appendages, threesome, Bukkake (🥵I’m too exhausted after this for it to be so short )

🖤word count 3k+

🖤 well I finally finished it. Thoughts anyone??? This one had me feeling so defeated lol.

She promised it would be fun. Whatever it was, you didn’t actually know, but you wanted to go with the flow. “You have to enjoy yourself too.” She said with that beautiful half smile that turned your stomach to molten. Nervous about it or not. Something about this night just felt right to you. You took her outstretched hand and hopped out of the car behind her.

She was breathtaking. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face, her bright eyes were shining. Her petite figure was hugged seamlessly by the little black dress you helped her pick out. Seeing her in it now, under the sultry orange and purple sky, how gorgeous sun kissed skin was, her pretty face…Your heart skipped a beat.

With your hand in hers, you exited the car. Your earthy goth girl beauty was equally matched in your own way. Having styled your ebony locks on pigtails on either other side of your head. The colorful pieces arranged artfully to frame your pretty face. The yellow dress you wore hugged every right curve of your body and accentuated your tawny skin glowing in the warm evening light.

…

You both flinched when he opened the door. A towel just barely clung to his hips and god if he didn’t have those hips… you know, those perfect lines carved along his pelvis, little veins trickling down his happy trail. He spoke, and you had to tear your eyes away from the entree that stood before you still dripping from his shower, all the beads of water still rolling along his skin making him glisten beneath the warm light emerging from somewhere behind him.

“Maddie,” he said, drying the droplets of water from his face and hair. When his eyes finally met the likes of your own, his brow twitched with a certain interest. “Who’s this?” he said, hitting that signature bad boy lip bite.

Sukuna? The king of curses? Really? How? Does it really fucking matter?

…

Moving aside he let you both inside, his eves all covering the both length of your body as you walked past him. he excused himself to dress, stopping to comment on how cute Maddie’s friend was. “She looks like a little forest nymph…. “ or nympho? He wondered to himself.

When he returned he led you both to the bar. It didn’t feel right calling it a room as it was just as nice as any bar. Soft lights, cherry colored wood, and a leather sofa that you were sure had a story or two to tell. Eyes like a predator were at your back as you pretended like the intensity didn't have burning up inside. You focused on browsing his record collection, walking your fingers through the catalog before making a selection “Oh, I love this, can I play it?” You said excitedly, showing him the one you found.

He nodded his head to you and your eager self couldn’t wait to hear the clarity of the music given how nice his setup was so nice.

play Hypnosis by sleep token

The music didn’t just bounce off the walls, it— moved. It moved through you. You smirked, taking the drink that Maddie now held out to you. You shot the honey colored liquor and gasped as it burned the entire way down.

Your eyes watered and Maddie’s pretty plum colored lips parted as she laughed with you. She took your glass. And went back to the bar where he sat half off the stool, gray sweats draped shamelessly low, no underwear either. You knew he was planning all the dirty things he’d want to do to you.

“You want me to tie her up for you daddy”

You heard her whisper this and your heart jumped.

Their eyes never left your body as you rocked your hips to the beat. It was entirely fucking tantilizing to say the least.

She returned with another shot. This one, you were prepared for. By the time the burning subsided you were already feeling airy. You swung your hips as you mouthed the seductive lyrics of the song. You were joined by your bestie as she matched your rhythm and shimmied her perfect waist against you, her simmering siren eyes seducing you the alcohol melted away you inhibitions.

Her fingers slipped down to your waist and she encircled them around your hips, moving with you as you rolled them from side to side. “You trust me, right ? you looked at her with soft eyes wondering why she even had to ask. She knew you did. The entire world had let you down except for her, not her. not ever. You nodded at her and didn’t flinch when she leaned in and kissed your lips.

Her mouth was soft and pillowy. Her tongue tasted like cherries and whiskey. You wanted more of her. The kiss deepened and your body quivered the more your tongue lapped lovingly over hers. Getting to know her this way wasn’t how you actually expected the night to go. But who were you kidding? You had a crush on your best friend and impulse control wasn’t your strong suit.

Hungry blood-colored eyes regarded the two of you now. His presence was setting off something wicked inside of you. You hadn’t known him before tonight and his presence felt dangerous. - but as dark as you knew his thoughts of you were, it wasn’t unsettling but arousing. You found yourself wanting to show him just how much you had yearned for her. — and how much you were willing to let him get a taste of you.

Sukuna saw the way you reacted to his watchful and wantful eyes. “Nympho it is” he mumbled to himself having you pegged the moment you bit down on your bestie's lip while you flashed him an enticing look.

When he came up behind you, you shuddered at his immense stature now casting a shadowy darkness around you. Maddie tipped your chin upward and licked a soft line from under your jaw, up to your lips, and her sweet tongue dove into your mouth again. Sukunas hands found themselves at your waist, the width of one splayed perfectly across your stomach, pressuring you closer to him. Your head tilted to allow her pillowy soft lips to move along your neckline. She continued slowly up the side of your throat until the Kings lips connected with hers. Their tongues looked delicious as they pleasantly engaged, slipping against each other in a sloppy erotic kiss.

You were just a warm bundle of nerves as you watched the way he made out her. You were lost in the depth of her dark eyes that gleamed when she pulled back. Sukuna grazed your hand just lightly like he was testing how sensitive you were. He sucked the air between his teeth so pleased when he found just how high you were vibrating. He was breathing you in now, moving with you as you swayed so gently. You arched into his tight body, inviting more of his touch. Both parties' curious hands explored your sofness. As much as you could feel every sensation, it all seemed to blur together, leaving you lost in a sea of hands and tongue. The light moans of you and your bestie mingling nicely with the ambient soundtrack encouraging your lustful acts from the background.

The king of curses was entranced with the likes of the two of you. Her siren eyes, your doe ones. Her petite frame and tight ass in that dress, your thick hips perfectly accentuated by the tight fabric that hugged every right curve of your body.

Maddies delicate fingers were toying with your supple tits over your dress. You glanced over your shoulder to be met with Sukunas mouth and his crude tongue dove in to explore the warmth of your mouth. His kiss was intense but short. He left you panting to instruct Maddie “Take her to the room.” He spoke to her but his eyes were on you, almost glowing.

Once you were in said room, it was clear what you were going to be theirs to enjoy. Maddie was all over you, following his commands to tease you more just to watch the way you’d whimper whenever he would tell her stop. It was like a game. He was testing you. She was testing you. How far could you bend before you’d break?

You were finally about to find out.

Sweet sweet Maddie and her heart shaped mouth smiled at you before taking your hand and leading you to the large platform bed at the center of the room. The mirror on the ceiling made you shiver seeing yourself looking so desperate to come. Maddie pushed at your shoulders to seat you on the bed. She walked over to a chest and retrieved something, keeping it just out of sight . Sukuna sat on the throne-like chair positioned in front of the bed barefoot and his chest puffed, his wicked grin making you squeeze your legs trying to control the simmering heat gathering there.

You were nothing but nerves and butterflies now. Maddie came back with a pretty black rope and stood next to the throne. They looked so good, and they were both looking at you. “I wanna see more of her, Maddie.” Sukuna said glaring at you. “Take her clothes off.”

Maddie peeled the dress away from your body, slowly so he could enjoy the show. “Yea, just like that,” his smoky voice crooned. She was careful, only touching when she needed you to lift and arm or part your legs. In the end, whatever she did, your arms couldn’t move an inch. The rope she threaded between your legs and around your waist somehow kept your hands at your side. The shallow breaths you took expanded your ribs and the harsh texture bit into your skin. The vixen that now knelt between your legs stared directly into your eyes, her nails tickling the inside of your thighs.

“You think your bestie tastes good.” He appealed to the raven haired woman preparing to devour you. “Don’t worry I’m about to find out.” She said winking in response to your nervous smile. “Ahh” you breathed at the way her warm mouth touched on your equally tempered wetness.

She licked from side to side. Swirling the little bead so delicately before sucking at the bit. Sukuna watched on, palming the thick arm hugging his thigh in those sweats. He flipped it up over the waistband and swaggered over pumping his powerful looking dick in his hand.

“It ain’t gonna suck itself you pretty little nymph”

He smiled at his own inside joke, indelicately palming the back of your head before you could finish gawking at the solid demonic cock that hung unsheathed before you.

Ohh how unprepared you were for his size. He was throbbing at the back of your tight throat, making you gag and drool. Your bestie was right there between your legs , working her tongue along the center of you. The king growled hoarsley “fucking hell” watching as you, his new little nymph toy struggled to suck his dick. You flinched making the rope restricting your movement sink into your wrists as you throated what was the biggest cock you’d ever taken. He was impressed with how hard you tried but he was simply too much. It was even harder to focus on sucking him right when Maddie was delving into you with her tongue. Her nails sunk into your thighs as she slipped a hand up your body to pull at your perked tits. She playfully flicked at your nipple making you whine while your lips were still wrapped around his dick.

He turned his attention to Maddie. She stood as he pulled her into a sloppy wet kiss. The way their tongues slid against each other had you trying to close your legs.— but again the urge and wantful clenching persisted only making you burn with a much deeper need to feel something, anything again.

The two left you panting at the edge of the bed. Sukuna forced your friend’s beautiful body over the edge to the regal looking chair. “Watch” Maddie said assuming the position, face down ass up him.

He took his time, pressing her open to taste her. “Ohhh” she groaned, looking back at him and then at you. “ you want fuck him too bestie?” She said, rolling her eyes in pleasure. He knelt on the chair behind her tiny body, inching himself inside her. “There you go,” his hissed sinking deeper until she was shaking and cursing. Sukunas slutty little hips clapped against her perky behind faster now, the way her ass vibrated had you creaming as you longed to feel the way his cock was stretching her out. She took that dick like a fucking champ. Her nails clawed at the wood as she arched for him so he could fuck her sensless.

The symmetry between them was drawing you in. The erotic image had you tugging against the tightly knotted latches that kept your legs spread wide. Your pussy was trembling with need, the tightness was repeatedly closing in on nothing and the emptiness almost hurt. You bit down, breaking the skin and tasting the blood on your lip as you moaned. He laughed.“ she’s desperate…,” he growled lowly and the guttural rasp made you shiver. “…don’t worry.ssssss- I’ll be with you shortly little nymph”

Maddies pussy was soaking her thighs, her body was trembling like she was about to explode. She bent and writhed flinching from his thrust. He was going feral, knocking her tender walls loose. His brutish way had you anxious for your turn. He repositioned himself to mount her tiny body and rode that fucking pussy. Your body was on fire watching him make her come all over his cock. He slapped her ass and pulled out, making her wince.

She gasped, shaking as she descended back to earth. And now he was in front of you, his cock still dripping with Maddies wetness as he stroked it. Strong hands were hot against your skin as he positioned you flat on your back against the bed while he leaned over the side to be between your legs. You felt Maddie’s soft body behind you, her hands brushing down your shoulders after she loosed your hands from the ties. Sukuna folded you over, forcing your legs to the mattress and leaving you spread wide open to him. He peered over the pretty mound between your legs and dark eyes bore into yours as he licked directly into your center, his tongue was demonic and powerful as it slathered your cunt.

It was so sudden your mind couldn’t comprehend the pleasure but your body was ready for detonation instantly. The oncoming climax hit you like a ton of bricks and before you could even catch your breath. There she was. Licking right against his tongue over your clit. Back and forth, so sloppy, so fast, so wet, so fucking hot. Her moans tickling you, his groans vibrating through you. The two tasting your wetness together. They drank from your fountain until your body screamed from how tight you were squeezing.

He finally released your legs and the room spun. You were just barely starting to melt back into yourself, when you limply laid your back to the bed and he swung your leg over his broad shoulder. Maddie’s hair dangled over you, tickling your skin as she kissed your lips. “Ready or not little nymph, " he said, taking your round thighs into his grasp. He tapped the heavy spade to your clit making you groan. He tried pushing every lush inch of his dick into you and you squealed like the innocent little nymph he saw you as. His nails were cutting into your thighs as he started fucking you slow. your cushy warmth sucked him in and greedily making the deviant between your legs shudder from the clinch. “Fuck little nymph you you’re so tight.” He sighed as he pumped slower, giving you a chance to fully take him in before he’d knock your lights out. Maddie’s tongue was dancing on your neck. “ y/n you take that dick so fucking good.” She moaned while Sukuna was diving deeper and deeper till your eyes were rolling. He chuckled hoarsely “look at your bestie” he grinned devilishly at Maddie who was sucking all over your tits as they bounced from the momentum of him driving hard and fast into you.

“You love that fucking cock don’t you?” She teased smirking at you. You looked down at the way he was splitting you in two, filling you with so much of him that you could almost taste the darkness that was overtaking you. You could feel every inch of his rigid cock now. The pressure of every snap of his hips against you forced gutteral groans from your throat “Ohhh your so fucking deep” you wailed looking into his eyes , the darkness now feeling like it was encompassing your entire body. It felt like there were hands all over you. And there were. “Oh my -mmmmm I’m gunna come so fucking hard.” he squeezes your ankles and shoves two of his fingers into your mouth. The other hand closes over your neck as he fucked you faster. pounding away, the noisy sticky wetness was flowing freely as you practically black out blind.

The mirror above reflected the sea of body parts, all connecting so primally like animals in heat. Your bestie was at you ear, coaxing you along “mmmm bestie, you look so fucking pretty when you come.”she kissed you and you sucked her tongue into your mouth. The harness still clinging to your body was digging into your skin as you bore the orgasm that was tearing you from your sanity. His immortal cock was thoroughly ruining you.“Mmmmh little nymph”, he growled burying himself inside you, pulling out just enough to watch the way your battered little pussy spread around him when he plowed into it again.

Maddie laid at your side to taste the wetness that was dripping out of your overstuffed cunt. The friction her tongue provided at his base combined with the tight hole that was sucking him dry was too much and he grunted bottoming out and kissing you to keep from coming. Her tongue worked the wetness over your clit again making you scream. “Mmm,” growled the pussy drunk Sukuna as he pulled out to kiss you both. “ c’mere” He said lying on his back presenting you both with not one but two—- each so thick and heavy from tip to hilt.

Lying back onto the pillows, one set of muscular arms behind his head, the other bringing either of you closer. Your eyes met hers and there wasa mischievous glint of excitement in her eye. “Let me take you for a ride.” He beckoned with the lusty thrust of his hips making them bounce like they were taunting you. Your bestie smiled at you, making you melt all over again. Your lips met hers and you each palmed one of the ungodly appendages, the ripples of the thick veins adorning the blushing cock felt so good against your hand. As big as he was, you were ready to feel it again.

Taking your position was tricky, but you both straddled him. You in front, Maddie’s thighs pressing right against your own as she matched the motion of your hips when you began to ride him. The whorish ambiance was loud and lewd. Still, you were the center of their attention. Her fingers plucked at your tender nipples, his pressed little circles over your clit. You howled, dragging your nails down his chest making him smile as you marked him. “Such a good little nymph?, cmon.” With little effort he lifted both of your thighs and fucked you both hard and fast from below. He was actually a beast. Jackhammering two cunts at once, simultaneously kissing your spot and hers. So many hands all over you. No way to run as you bounced from the sheer force. No way to stop coming all over his demonic dick one last time.

She screamed with you, creamed with you, — your sinful cunts taking every last brutal inch until you collapsed.

You felt sated as you rested on your knees before him, his forbidden seed casting you both in his pearly essence. You caught more with your tongue, completely enraptured by him as you stroked more from his still pulsing cock head. His guttural groans making your fucked out hole contract. Maddie licking the runny slick from your breast as it dripped down.

The list‼️

From the honey pot🍯

[mirabai0821]

Tavalstarion Headcanons

I think it's time for some of my Tav x Halsin x Astarion headcanons. Halsin

Halsin's not good with words and so feels a bit inadequate with the flattery of his two lovers. He calls Tav "little rose" and Astarion "little star" for exceedingly simple reasons.

Since Astarion cannot see his reflection and nobody in camp is talented in the visual arts, Halsin works on a wood carving, creating e most lifelike figure of Astarion that he can, right down to the little curls that wisp about his head like so much morning fog. It takes the better part of a year, and it was difficult to work on in secret since elves don't sleep much and vampire elves even less. Halsin's a bit older so the work takes a toll on his eyes and back, spent hunched over the small piece of wood with an assortment of delicate instruments to get the most detail. Tav buys him a little magnifying glass to wear on his head so he can see better.

Astarion is genuinely speechless when he finally receives his gift. But it doesn't last for very long when he realizes how handsome he is. "This is what I've been working with for all these years? No wonder you both fell in love with me, I'm gorgeous!" Halsin has a tendency to stay close to Tav in combat. She's a bit fragile and though she has training as a bard and a sorcerer, she's not particularly powerful in either specialization so he feels he must stand between her and threats because it doesn't take much to knock her down.

With Astarion, though, while Halsin will of course intervene when needed, he lets the vampire fight on his own. Astarion, before being freed from Cazador and even after, doesn't have much confidence in his ability to protect himself or others. Halsin wants him to develop the confidence in his own martial prowess so is less likely to keep such a close eye on him, at least not with the idea to intercede. He does however keep an eye on him in combat because he loves Astarion physical competence in combat. He's so deft with his knives and the flourish he puts on his arrow shots. And the way he looks in leather armor doesn't hurt either.

Halsin is all things to both his lovers. Whatever they require he serves. With Tav he has a tendency to take a firmer, rougher hand. Growly, dominant, panting sweating sex. With Astarion he's softer and tends to let him lead. He absolutely delights in the way Astarion takes him. It is not so often that a big bear like him can be made to mewl.

That's not to say he isn't also soft with Tav and there has been more than one occasion where he's let the both of them boss him around while on hands and knees.

He does not like the Underdark for reasons I'm sure you can guess. But he swallows his fear to visit Astarion when he's down there helping with the spawn.

Astarion

This was Not In His Plan. It was tough navigating the shape of this relationship, not the least of which because he's never been in a real, loving relationship let alone one where he has to navigate the emotions of two people and not just one.

They have an agreement that all emotions regarding their arrangement, no matter how petty or inconsequential, would be discussed openly and earnestly (with no jokey deflections!!) which he availed himself of often.

Overcoming jealousy was hard for him. He just felt that Halsin is such a better specimen of partner for Tav than he is and it'd just be better for all involved if he receded to mere friendship. Halsin is the one okay with sexual intimacy, he's more mature, he's stronger, he can protect Tav where he cannot. All he felt he offered was a "project" for Tav to fix because it is in her too-sweet-by-half nature to want to make something better. They just looked so good together, that their love was easy and he offered nothing but difficulty with his mercurial emotions and intimacy issues. The jealousy he felt wasn't because Halsin was taking up too much of Tav, but rather envy that the two do look so effortless together. He felt he didn't fit.

So his lovers made him fit. They spent a lot of one-on-one time with him. Mostly Tav and Astarion but after a while Halsin too. In the early times it was very much that Astarion was in a relationship with Tav and so was Halsin, but it took a moment before Astarion and Halsin developed their own relationship.

As they're both bigger than him, Astarion's a bit physically intimidated by his lovers. If this were The Bad Times, he'd default toto bratty, dominance all purred commands and such. But so much of his personality was cultivated as a survival mechanism that he doesn't know what to do now that there's no need for such artifice anymore. Astarion's never been allowed to just be and because of that it's hard being in a relationship because he simply does not know how to act. With them he's finding out what it is he wants and what he likes.

What he wants: everything. Not hyperbole. Halsin and Tav love him and love on him so much and he sucks it up like a dry sponge tossed in a lake. That was easy to figure out. He's greedy. He'll take 9, 10, 12 helpings of affection and ask for me. He nearly purrs when he's called "little star" by either of them. Adores idle touches, locking of pinky fingers on walks. He appreciates drive-by acts of affection like getting a kiss on the forehead as the other simply walks by him without stopping or asking for acknowledgement of the action. They work like little reassurances. "I am here, you are still loved. All is well."

Sex was difficult to sort out. That's where a lot of his jealousy stemmed. "They have that, I want it too! Why can't I?" When the "why can't I?" part stemmed from his own need to come into his desire at his own pace. Interestingly enough, Astarion's first time wasn't with Tav like he figured it would be (like it almost was before he botched his seduction.) but with Halsin. They were having a moment alone, Astarion went for it and ...kept going for it.

He realized later that it was Tav specifically he was having a hard time being sexual with because he associated sex with her with his botched seduction. He meant to seduce her (away from Halsin no less) as a means to cleave her to him. But because she was so damnably sweet, so eager to please him, so utterly guileless he couldn't go through with it. He associated sex with her with hurting her and was thereby reluctant to pursue it with her. Halsin had no such baggage.

Tav

Tav (not her real name by the way) is a bard who cannot sing. Not that she has no talent for it, but for 10 years she was physically incapable of singing. She was raised in Baldur's Gate along with her sister and the two of them formed a popular singing duo managed by their father. After a while, Tav wanted to strike out on her own and did so under less than ideal circumstances. After she left she just wasn't able to sing anymore, like she had some psychological block preventing it.

Thankfully, whatever was blocking her from singing didn't stop her from using her other musical talents with the lute and lyre. For ten years she wandered, plying her services as an high-profile accompanist. If you wanted high-class music for your performance in some Lord's house, you called Tav. She also ghost wrote songs for performers and is responsible for a couple of big hits in Waterdeep and Athkatla (too bad she didn't negotiate royalties for those contracts.)

Despite being able to muddle along well enough on her own, singing was her true love and so, after 10 years she returned to Baldur's Gate in hopes that writing the wrong she wrought when she left would lift the mental block on her ability to sing, but the Nautiloid sucked her up before she could do that. However, in a weird twist of fate, whatever the tadpole did to her, fixed her and she can sing again finding that 10 years of disuse didn't dim her incredible singing ability.

During her 10 year walkabout, Tav had to learn to protect herself by dipping into sorcery. Because she came to it so late in life with no formal training, it means she's not the strongest magic wielder.

She was smitten with Astarion immediately. He's beautiful and sassy how could she not. That he was a vampire made no difference to her.

She was also smitten with Halsin immediately. It is very rare that someone can make a 5'7" tiefling feel small, but he sure as shit did.

She's very insecure about her body with her two elfin lovers. It's always a toss-up being a tiefling in a relationship with non-tieflings because you'll never know how they'll react to all the infernal bloodline curse stuff. The horns, the skin, the tail, the cartilaginous markings on her body. They love her body of course, but it was still a great source of anxiety before getting to that point.

Early in The Arrangement, it was difficult making the boys understand that this wasn't just a way for her to have wine with her honey or vice versa.

"You two are not gears, Astarion. You can't just swap in and out to make me work like I'm a clock you happen to fit. You two are the very concept of time itself. The clock doesn't make sense without it."

It's not that she'd be happy with one or the other. She wouldn't. It wouldn't work.

She needs both of them.

Tav did not go into this Arrangement with a plan. She didn't even know there could even be an Arragement at all. It was very haphazard. "Welp, I love you both and I'm making it both your problems! We have to figure it out together because I know about as much to make this work as you both do."

Through the events of the story Tav is left with a disability affecting her heart. She has great hangups about this because it means she's unable to protect those she loves the way they deserve.

Because of her condition, sex sometimes has to be a restrained, delicate affair while her lovers tend to approach her with a delicateness she'd rather they not. But because her lovers can't be that rough with her, it means she has to be rough with them and ... sis can wield the strap effectively. After all, while she was out for 10 years, a lot of the relationships she did have were with courtesans who taught her a thing or two.

Finally...

Tav/Halsin/Astarion

The sleeping arrangement was the first and easiest thing to sort. Even though they initially defined the arrangement in relationship to Tav, Halsin immediately became the cucumber in the middle of the sandwich.

The bear cannot fathom his great luck. "A heart for each arm." He says.

For Tav it's more like a necessity. She well and true needs both of them.

Astarion is greedy and selfish in best possible definitions of those words. "Whats better than one lover? Two." Essentially. He would have been fine with just Tav but that great bear of an elf wants to come along too? Ok sure? Oh and he loves me too now? Even fucking better. Everything's coming up Astarion!

"The gods owed me for this you know," He said once. "All the bullshit they put me through, it's only right I get two of you. One wasn't payment enough."

So you have Halsin: Hmm, this is nice. Isn't this nice guys? Tav: I will literally die without the both of you. Astarion: I am no longer accepting anything less I am due so that means I'm taking both of you.

Threesomes don't happen all that often. Not because they don't want to of course, but because they are logistically difficult to execute between three different libidos, ages, and tastes.

More often than not, the way it really happens is because one of them will wake up and catch the other two. (And it's often Tav catching Halsin and Astarion.)

And when they do, they have a tendency to just be really, really sweet about it. It's not professional night at the debauchery den, it's achingly beautiful. Not to say professional night at the debauchery den doesn't happen, it's just not all that common.

All three love to watch the other two. Like that is their favorite way of sexual intimacy. One gets off watching the other two couple. It feels so voyeruistic and naughty...and it is, and that's why it's their favorite.

Astarion though, silver tongue as he is, takes it one step further and will taunt the shit out of whoever is watching.

"Isn't she lovely Halsin," he says, rocking into Tav who might as well be in the Astral Sea for how well she's been fucked.

"See how well she takes me? Watch, watch and listen. As for you, little songbird, do put on a good show for our guest." To punctuation his point, he snaps his hips forward bringing Tav out of whatever lust filled haze she was floating in right back to the delicious present.

Or. Astarion lowers himself inch-by-delicious inch onto Halsin's meaty cock to the frustration of both his partners.

Astarion groans, loudly putting on a show for both knowing what his voice does to each of them. Halsin can barely contain himself from fucking up into him, but when the little star is like this, he's in control and any flouting of his authority would be met with punishment.

"He feels amazing inside me," Astarion purrs, tilting his head back to great effect. "So full. Such a delicious burn, darling. Oh."

Tav has been made to sit and watch, bound only by the suggestion she not touch her throbbing pussy. She will face no punishment if she pleasures herself, but if she does, she forfeits the pleasures she could receive for her obedience.

Astarion loves to play with them like this. To show Tav how much he's enjoying what she can't have right now, while making Halsin shiver and shake and beg underneath him. Desperate for even the tiniest bit of friction.

"Watch him fill me darling, keep those pretty eyes on me."

He could, and does, keep this up all night.

The one thing that is a no go for all three of them is talking about the others' ages. It is a sore point especially for Halsin and Astarion that they are involved with a woman who will die long before either of them do.

"She did this on purpose you know," Astarion said, Tav dozing between them as she often does since she's the one who needs 8 hours. "How do you mean?" "This. Us." He reached for the bear to tease a lock of hair back into place.

Halsin still didn't seem to understand him, so though it was difficult to voice aloud, Astarion spelled it out for the druid.

"She wanted all three of us together, encouraged us, you and I, so that when she leaves us, we will not be alone. "

Astarion hated the frown that put on Halsin's face. "I bet she doesn't even like you all that much. She just knew I did." Halsin rewarded Astarion's attempts at levity with a smile. "Are you sure about that, little star? Was it not I who put her to sleep thus?"

Astarion shrugs, uninterested in facts.

It will be a long time yet, though, before she does leave them. Far longer than any of them expect or could even hope for. If you want to find out how, you'll just have to keep watching this blog now won't you? :)

[kindofsortofmaybe]

a one shot prompt of Willow interrupting Hunter while he's making palismens at work???

hi tysm for the prompt!!! this was fun to write :)

Distracting

“So, working with Dell has been going well?”

Hunter smiled, his eyes creasing at the corners in that way Willow loved. It had taken about six months for Hexside to be rebuilt enough to start up classes, and another three months after that, Hunter decided he wanted to carve a new palisman. It had been somewhat difficult to function without one for those nine months, but Hunter couldn’t find it in himself to replace Flapjack so quickly. After carving Waffles, he found he liked the work, and Eda set him up with her father to learn more about the trade. He had been apprenticing for Dell ever since.

“Yeah,” he replied, “it’s been going really well.” Hunter was sitting on the floor of Willow’s bedroom, having just come from an afternoon with Dell, and the two were just catching up on each other’s weeks. “I’m not a natural or anything, but he says if I keep working as hard as I am, I’ll be a pro in no time.”

“That’s great, Hunter,” Willow replied, beaming proudly. She loved seeing him happy and loved when others recognized how great he was.

“Thanks.” Suddenly his smile was directed at her, and it took her breath away. Even after being together for months, she couldn’t help but pine after him. “But, speaking of working hard,” he continued, “he sent me home with some spine wood to practice on. I thought I could work on it here while you work on that oracle essay?”

Willow groaned loudly and practically melted off of her bed, ending up in a strange position that had her top half on the ground, facing Hunter, while her legs remained on the bed.

“Don’t say that to me,” she whined. “I would rather do anything but that essay.” Hunter laughed at her, so she blew a raspberry in retaliation.

“Well, tough luck, cause I’m practicing carving either way. So essay or no essay, no distracting me, okay?”

“No promises.” Hunter poked her arm with his socked foot, prompting her to laugh. “Alright, fine. No distracting you.”

“Thank you.” Her boyfriend pulled his supplies out of his backpack—setting a small cloth on the ground to catch the wood shavings—and got to work. Willow watched him for a few minutes, then stared at the ceiling aimlessly for a few minutes, and then looked back at Hunter. She let her legs drop off of the bed and shimmied a few inches across the floor to be closer to him.

“Are you done yet?”

“Do I look done?” Hunter retorted, waving the barely-carved piece of wood to emphasize his point.

“Yes, yes you do. It looks perfect. It’s clearly a carving of me and it’s gorgeous. Now pay attention to me, instead.” Hunter gave her a deadpan, but it only further encouraged her.

“Pleeeeease? Just give me one little smooch and I promise I’ll leave you alone,” she pleaded, sitting up to give him a better view of her exaggerated pout. Hunter laughed, surprised, and she watched a splotch of red bloom from his cheeks to his ears. She would never get tired of having that effect on him.

“Fine, but only so you’ll stop distracting me,” he conceded (though they both knew that was not at all why he agreed to kiss her). They both leaned in, but while Hunter expected a quick and chaste kiss, Willow had no intentions of letting him off the hook that easily. She grabbed him by the collar with one hand and splayed the fingers of her other hand across the back of his neck, pressing their lips together firmly and feeling a jolt of satisfaction at the surprised noise that came from the back of his throat. But he adapted quickly, dropping the carving knife and chunk of wood in favor of placing his hands on her waist. Her heart beat wildly in her chest at the contact. Their lips moved in sync, as if they were made for each other, and Willow, feeling bold, nipped gently at Hunter’s bottom lip. When they parted a few moments later, his face was bright red, his eyes were wide, and his hair was looking worse for wear as a result of Willow tangling her fingers in it.

“Hi,” he said, breathlessly.

“Hi,” she replied with a quiet laugh.

Willow did not stop distracting him for the rest of the afternoon, and in the end, neither of them got much work done at all.

[m-jelly]

Let’s see…

Well hello there 👀

Might I slip a request? Let it penetrate you? 👀

How about a Modern AU! Mike oneshot? Perhaps a fluffy continuation of the smut I requested for your winter event! It’s been a few months of dating Mike, and he is just so wonderful ❤️ It’s summertime now, with the weather being gorgeous in the small village. With all the nice weather, we are able to spend plentiful time with Mike in his carpentry shop! I forget what we were doing in the smut story, were we a baker? 🤣 I think it would be so cute to see a story of just Mike and us having fluffy times in his shop, seeing him show off some of his capabilities for us 🥰 Our little setup is connected to his shop, meaning we get constant view of our man working 👀

Of course, feel free to alter anything you wish!

- Le Skittle

WELL WELL WELL! If it is SKITTLES. Hi <3

Summer Crafting

Pairing: Mike x Fem!Reader

Genre and tags: Modern AU, fluff, romance, being a couple, summertime, admiring our man.

Concept: Many months into your relationship, you have moved shop location to Mike's Inn. Mike makes sure that the carpentry part of his inn is right next to your little shop. On long days you gaze at your lover and admire him.

Muscles flexed as sweat glistened in the summer sun. A soft grunt escaped the rough man as his large rough hands ran over curved wood. The tall muscle-bound frame rose up and raked back messy sandy blonde hair. Long fingers bent and moved as hair was tied back.

Pale blue eyes locked onto your body making you feel naked even though you were dressed. A playful smirk spread across kissable lips. You'd been caught staring, but you didn't care. You wanted to admire him more and he enjoyed you looking.

You left your post and checked your oven to see your sausage rolls were perfectly cooked. The filled contained meat hunted by Mike and cheese you made together. You collected one thick big one and paired it with a nice cold lemonade.

With a gentle blush on your cheeks, you hurried over to your boyfriend with the food and drink. Your heart skipped a beat when he Mike smirked a little and took what you were offering before giving you a loving kiss.

Mike took a big bite from his sausage roll and moaned. "So good, my little pumpkin. The meat, spice and cheese work well together."

"I'm so glad!"

He downed some lemonade and gasped. "You're just a perfect little peach, aren't ya?" He leaned closer to you. "I wanna take a bite."

Your cheeks burned. "Why don't you?"

He chuckled. "Because we're both at work. Behave and I'll give you everything we both want and need later."

You saluted to him. "Yes sir!"

Mike let out a deep chuckle. "You are so cute."

You giggled a little. "So, I haven't got any customers..." you walked closer and put your hands behind your back and pushed your chest out "mind showing me what you can do?"

Mike finished his food and led you into his workshop. "Mm, sure. I'm making a rocking chair for a customer."

"Oh cute!"

He grabbed a piece of wood. "I'll make one when we have a baby."

You blushed a little. "That'd be cute."

He grabbed your wrist and pulled you over to him. "Let's start." He stood behind you. "We need to shape the wood, so we'll heat it up and put it in this mould to help us."

You shivered as you felt Mike's broad chest against your back. "Y-Yes."

"You're doing well." He kissed the side of your head. "Now we wet it a bit more because we like it nice and wet." He leaned down and whispered against your ear. "The wetter the better."

You gulped hard. "You are not talking about the wood anymore, are you?"

"Maybe I'm talking about a certain wood."

You moaned a little. "I love that wood."

"I know you do." He chuckled and worked with you to bend the wood. "You're very good with your hands."

"Thank you." You huffed a bit. "This is hard work."

Mike locked the wood in place. "There we go, we leave that there for a bit while we carve another part." He pulled you over to the next station. "When you carve you go with the wood. Got it?" He placed his hands on yours and pushed the tool. "With the wood."

You hummed as you worked with him. "With the wood."

"You got it." He let your hands go. "You got it."

"You're incredible to make all these things."

He walked away and picked up a log making you blush at how strong he is. "Thank you." He slammed the log down and sighed. "I have you to inspire me now."

You hugged yourself and smiled. "Well, you make my baking better."

"Aw, thank you."

You walked up to him. "Bend down."

He leaned down to you. "Yes?"

You grabbed his shirt and kissed him. "I love you, Mike."

"I love you too."

[rokkit-story-time]

Hypnovember Day 2 - Sleepy/Seduce

CW: First-person POV, hypnotic language, dub-con, talk of worship, "bad" end

Your first clue should have been how quickly the scenery changed. In only a few steps, you seemed to step from a forest in full bloom to one bathed in autumn colors, fallen leaves forming a carpet that almost seemed rolled out for you.

The second was the sounds. The wind and rustling seemed to grow louder... but only because of the sudden absence of noisy birds and insects. It was like the whole forest around you had fallen asleep.

Maybe how long you'd been hiking made you ignore the signs, or maybe it was just that your curiosity drove you to push ahead anyway. Whatever the reason, one foot continued following the other long after you should have turned back.

And now, you find yourself standing in a clearing. The afternoon sun filters through the trees, falling upon a most intriguing sight...

A small statue, and a simple shrine.

'Simple' truly is the only way to describe the shrine: four thick pillars hold up an angled roof, while in the center sits a pedestal with a built-in offering bowl. A heavy bell hangs above, the rope long since rotted away by time. And that's it.

The statue, however... you step closer. It's only a little shorter than you are, an intricately carved, unpainted piece of a fox with nine tails fanning out and around it. Four of those tails cross in front of its paws, creating a small cradle at the base. The leaves on the ground are thicker in front of it, softer, dry... inviting.

Something in your mind says this is a *bad* idea. That this place is unnatural. Dangerous.

But you're tired. The hike has been long and stressful, and the shade of the trees perfectly highlights the spot you're looking at. It's like you were meant to rest here, like it was made especially for you...

...it would be rude to reject such an invitation, wouldn't it~?

You unsling your pack and set it carefully in the cradle of the fox statue's paws and tails. Just a quick nap. A bit of reprieve before you're back on your feet for hours.

You pat the leaves carefully before laying down. No insects scurry out, no critters disturb the quiet whistling of the wind through the trees.

You lay your head back on your pack. The leaves are springy, thick, cozy, your pack lumpy but not uncomfortable. You shift a little to find the best position, then close your eyes.

It's peaceful here. Quiet. Serene. An atmosphere that makes it so easy to relax, so easy to let yourself...

"...just drift away~"

The voice is so gentle, such a soft whisper, that you can't even be startled by it. It's nothing but soothing, a pleasant backdrop to help lull you to sleep.

"That's right~ Sleep~ You're already dozing off, after all..."

Right, and as empty as the woods were, as devoid of other life, of course it follows that this is just a dream anyway. That it's...

"...all in your head~ My voice, my presence... they're aaall in your head~"

That's right, just a wonderful dream... floating on soft, pillowy tails, your head resting on plush thighs, as that lovely lilting voice whispers to you~

"Nothing to fear here~ No worries, no cares... just sweet, blissful relaxation~

"Letting my voice fill every little nook and cranny of your mind~

"No need to think any thoughts of your own~"

"Just let yourself sink deeper, deeper down..."

You wiggle a little, hands groping around as a chill runs through you. Soft fur meets your palms, and you pull it over yourself like a toasty blanket. So warm... So cozy...

"So nice~ Letting yourself go, putting all your weight onto my tails... I've got you, so just relax~"

Relaxing into this lovely dream, yes...

"Letting yourself go, putting all my words into your mind... I've got you, traveler~"

Dropping. Falling. Floating. So nice to be in Akina's embrace...

...you don't know where that name came from.

Something jolts in your mind, and your eyes snap open.

Gorgeous orange eyes flecked with red and yellow gaze back at you through elegant, round-rimmed spectacles, holding your vision fast. Matching feathery hair brushes against your own head. Faintly you register the forest canopy behind her.

...this is no dream.

"I never said it was~" Her voice is music on the breeze, sweet, soft, gentle, tickling you ears and echoing in your skull. "I said I was all in your head~ My voice... my presence... my *power*~"

Your body won't move. You can't tell if it's because you can't move it, or part of you refuses to. There's only the faintest nudge of panic in your mind, rapidly being subsumed by pleasant feelings filling you.

Would it really be so bad to give in to her? To let go completely? "Would it really be so bad to give in to her~? To let go completely~?"

You feel fingernails trace gently along the sides of your head, and your eyelids flutter.

"You have nothing to fear~ I promise~ It will feel so wonderful, and you will be so happy~

"...so *fall* for me, traveler~"

Her fingertips touch your temples, and your eyes slide shut as the last tension leaves your body. A faint smile tugs at your lips as a pleasant wave of tingling relaxation sweeps across you.

"Thaaat's it~" Her voice is coming from within you again, filling you like a dream... the best dream you've ever had, leaving you wanting only to stay asleep and keep dreaming for as long as possible. "At last~ Slide into sweet slumber, succumbing to the seductive siren's song of sleepy submission~"

Something shifts in the sensations she's sharing.

A weight gently settles onto you, a pressure... her body, pressing softly against yours.

"No resistance left now... no thoughts, no will, but *mine*~"

Another feeling comes through the haze... breath. Hot on your chin. Climbing.

"And in one last moment of bliss, your fate is sealed..."

Her lips touch yours.

Something in you breaks. Melts. Dissolves under the sudden rush of warmth and comfort that floods you, of pleasure as it overloads what remains of your brain.

You don't know how long it lasts.

You don't know when it ends.

You only know *her*.

"Sleep and sink deep for me, traveler~ Deeper than ever before~ And by the time you wake, there will be a simple traveler no more~ Instead, there will be a perfectly devoted servant... of Shimizu Akina~"

[madefate]

Via has only just recently mastered drawing with crayons without snapping them constantly. As such, it should be an honor that one of her first masterpieces ( ? ) is being toted in one hand while she weaves her way through tents and crowds to tug on Blitz's sleeve. "I drewed you this." / @vanaglcria

If he has to listen to one more sinner make one more fucking comment about the state of the circus or the unfamiliar animals or a complaint about the food, Blitz is going to dismantle the concession stand board by board and throw the pieces at them. He can't fuckin' win - surely one day back manning the stands would be a welcome relief for his wrist to stop acting up so he can go back to repairs, right? No - because they're in Hell of course.

Blitz is commenting carving some choice expletives into the wood of the booth - who cares, he'd be the one fixing it if and when Cash noticed it - when he feels a gentle tug on his shirtsleeve. He blinks, not quite expecting something reaching up from down below him - and, of course, he's met with the sight of piles of soft red fabric with two little glowing eyes looking up at him through the gap in the costume.

❝ Well isn't this a surprise, ❞ he says - voice instantly and entirely warm, all of the irritation sliding off his back as he automatically bends down to pick up Octavia and sit her on the counter, ignoring anyone who might looks his way to serve them shitty popcorn.

And then his breath catches when she offers him a picture - I drewed you this.

Octavia's taken to coloring and drawing with a passion and seriousness that only a kid can hold - all consuming, and very, very colorful. Fizz has been great at sitting with her and showing her how to use crayons when you're still getting used the grip and strength of your hands, and Stolas is practically an artist himself. Blitz - Blitz didn't realize it would occur to Octavia to draw something for him.

❝ You drew this, Sweetie? It's gorgeous ! Lemme see - ❞ He recognizes the sketched out figures and splotches of color when he sees features - Stolas' eyes, Fizz's arms, Barbie's horns - he himself is holding balloons. And in the center is the littlest one - a combination of feathers but also horns and a tail, and Blitz has to swallow past the desperate thought that he wishes his mother could be here to meet her.

When he's collected himself, he presses a kiss to her forehead through the costume fabric. ❝ You are the most talented impling in the world, Sweetheart. I love it. ❞

[theladygia]

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway.

Thanks to @ellionne for the tag :) I have not written/posted as much as I would have like lately, but I've really enjoyed writing what I HAVE posted.

Hope you guys have too!

Demon in the Details - Do you think you're clever or something? (Chapter 2/?)

Harry Potter || Tomarrymort

Fuck, it’s gorgeous. Tom groaned, inwardly of course. He wasn’t going to show the demon any weakness, especially such an exploitable one such as attraction. But Tom desired power in all its forms, and this demon echoed with power.

2. Come on Down, to Hadestown (Chapter 4/8)

Harry Potter || Tomarrymort, Hinny

And so he left Harry there in the forest, with only memories and a burning ankle. Tom returned to the Otherworld and reinserted himself back into the daily workings of the court, charming disgruntled judges and finally etching the snake carvings that will function as his new spy network among the jury.

3. (Don't you know what you're finding? This is) heaven in hiding

Harry Potter || Harry/Bill/Fleur

Not for the first time, Harry considered the merits of lodging a formal complaint about The Hogwarts Career Counseling Session. 

4. Helluva Way to Find You, Wasn't It? (Chapter 3/3)

Harry Potter || Sirry

Harry’s fingers traced the ridges and dips of his glass, knowing better than to fill the empty tumbler up for a fifth time. He’d already had to cast a weak sobering charm on himself before Sirius handed over the latest mix.  He was trying to keep himself from any other form of fidgeting as he waited.  Sirius was clearly still processing that his godson would eventually be serving an eternal deity as a conduit between the worlds of the living and the dead. Old news for Harry, but he could see how someone new to such knowledge would be having somewhat of a mental breakdown over it. 

5. I walk the line

Harry Potter || Sirry

The vial would be innocuous if Harry didn’t know it for the deception it was.

6. The Puddlemere United Calendar Fiasco of 2002-03

Harry Potter || Harry/Fred/George, Perciver

“It’s a lucky day to be a reserve, ain’t it boys,” Peregrine Derrick sighed out as he and his two teammates who had shown up to the pitch early took in the new photographer’s set up, the makeup artists who had spread their products out on the seven brought-in vanities, and the racks of navy and gold clothing. Oliver Wood and Harry Potter, the only other Hogwarts graduates who’d earned spots on Puddlemere United’s starting lineup for the upcoming season, grunted and nodded their agreement, respectively.

7. scars (to your beautiful)

Harry Potter || Tomarrymort

Mirrors aren’t one of Harry’s favorite pieces of furniture.  It still catches him off guard, at times, that favored pieces of furniture are things he can have these days. Preferences have never stopped feeling like an item he couldn’t afford. But he has a house now, one of his own that is firmly his own. An interior that he can decorate as he wishes, a pantry he can stock as full to bursting as his anxiety would like.

8. you look so perfect standing (sitting) there

Haikyuu!! || Kenhina

As he put his hair up in the half-bun he’d been favoring recently and sighed, Kenma knew he was being ungrateful. So many people would kill or do other equally exhausting things in order to have as distinctive a guide to their soulmate as he had, but he’s already sixteen years old in a city as bustling and global as Tokyo, and the glaringly bright orange hair he’s been dealing with since his fifth birthday hasn’t led him to anyone or anything besides a lot of odd looks.

9. The Loveliest Crown of Thorns You Ever Did See

Harry Potter || Tomarrymort

Sirius is full of shit. This isn’t a surprise nor a realization. It’s a fact Harry has always known. He’s lived with his godfather for more years than he even had with his parents before their deaths, so Harry is well aware of the utter nonsense Sirius is willing to let spew from his mouth to achieve his end goal, whatever it may be. 

10. Entwined (Chapter 9/?)

Harry Potter || Tomarry, Jily, Wolfstar

“Harry!”  Lucas’s yell cut through the air and had all four Potters turning around at the sound. They should have been looking south anyway, Harry realized, considering the train station was, well . . .  somewhere vaguely that direction. Harry felt a little sheepish at not knowing where the station actually was, but his dad always apparated them, or they took a Portkey when they left the country, so how was he to know? His mother’s laugh broke him out of his thoughts. “Your friend sure has a lot of energy for a boy who’s been on a train for the past five hours, Har.”

Most of my go-to writers to ping have already been tagged, so I don't want to double tag y'all (but know that I'm tagging you in my heart). So I'll throw this to the two who I haven't seen hit with this yet and save the other eight a double notification. You're up, @lerya-fanfic, @alissiawrites! (If you want to, that is!)

[theofficersacademy]

Things have been quiet across the continent of Fódlan, physical rebuilding and political reknitting continuing apace even despite midwinter's chill. Actually, the weather's been pretty mild this season, for better or worse. Life goes on, but there is one constant throughout:

you need money!

And, incidentally, so does the church.

Enter: some obscenely rich bloke thinking about buying an island, but they're picky! The island they've settled on is gorgeous but it does have its share of problems - problems that, thankfully, can be washed away with the clink of a few gold pieces. Removing monsters? Easy. Laying down infrastructure? No problem. Transport of expensive cargo? Consider it done!

All of this is where the Church of Seiros comes in, deft faculty in tow - helping out with these commissions is, after all, a good way to ensure the aforementioned faculty continue to get paid. Plus, Garreg Mach needs to ensure they've funds enough if they want to stay in the list of Top 10 Academies To Study At!

A trip to a semi-tropical island in the middle of winter is a nice little bonus, one supposes.

Faculty and Staff Mission: Top up the treasury!

Though the mission is labelled for the “faculty and staff,” this Mission Season is for all muses unaffiliated with the student Houses. So if your muse is affiliated with the Church of Seiros, the Knights of Seiros, the Town of Garreg Mach, Abyss, the Ashen Wolves, or Those Who Slither In The Dark, this is their time to shine!

Like always, threads using tasks from the Faculty and Staff board must contain an Unaffiliated character as a participant (which means that faculty affiliated with any of the three houses do not count), but there are also non-mission tasks available to everyone without restrictions.

Faculty and Staff Mission Task Board

Right, so, about those monsters! It turns out they might be smarter than you are, because you can't just walk up to them and start swinging, and they also look to have little interest in your cute traps and snares. You're going to have to get creative about it, before the hunters become the hunted. [Grants Any Skill +1]

You quickly learn that it isn't just an island you've set foot on - it's a whole archipelago! That said, there are no bridges connecting these separate isles, so when a real nasty storm rides in, sucks your barges out to sea, and leaves you in the lurch... Surely help won't be too far at hand, but in the meantime it's best you do what you can to survive. You know, just in case you've got to hunker down for longer than anticipated.

It's time to put all of your recent building experience to work toward a tried and true marvel in engineering: bridges, intended to connect all of the various islands in the archipelago. This job is a perfect workout for those itching to use their muscles, as there are tons of metal and wood to lug about. The supervisors in charge of the project, however, are a bit demanding. They drive you hard and have even begun prohibiting breaks! Will you write a formal complaint to the eccentric owner of these isles, or will you perhaps instead take matters into your own hands? [Grants Authority +1]

There's something calming about island life when you're not in the thick of work. The odd breaks you've managed to carve out for yourself offer the opportunity for an activity unique to coastal surrounds: exploring tide pools! These little pockets of seawater dot the intertidal zones of the rocky beaches about this section of the archipelago, and are treasure troves of marine microbiomes waiting to be discovered.

If there's one thing the incredibly rich are known to enjoy, it's their exotic imports. This mysterious benefactor of yours is no different; your task for the day is to shuttle some rare creatures from port to the stables. They're perfectly docile, supposedly, but whispers are quick to spread. Those from Magvel recognize Gargoyles and Deathgoyles when they see them, but you don't have to come from afar to know that whiplike tails and talons that can tear through flesh with ease might just spell trouble. Aaanyway, be sure not to harm a hair on these exorbitantly expensive beasts' heads! [Grants Flying +1]

NEW! Rumor has it there is a beautiful cave at the northern end of the archipelago, and if that isn't enough to tempt you, then how about the promise of treasure washed in by the waves? It is not a trek for the faint of heart, however, requiring climbing, rappelling, and even jumps to navigate. Adventurers heading in had best come prepared with plenty of rope, but be warned: though the sights and loot are said to be more than worth the danger, danger indeed there be! You had best not be caught inside after the tide begins to flow. [Grants Bow +1] 

NEW! 'I caught a butterfly fish! Did it change from a caterpillar fish?' ... 'I caught a ray! A few more and I'll have a tan!' ... Such lines as these have been heard shouted from aboard your client's large boats (some strange manner of ship called a 'yacht' apparently), and they all share two things in common - the first being delightful wordplay, and the second, everyone's favorite: it's an ocean fishing tournament, baby! Take these large fancy ships for a spin and see about landing the biggest and rarest catches out there!

NEW! Now that you're done clearing out the monsters, there's a spot of infrastructure you've been asked to attend to. It's not buildings you're constructing on this particular island, however. No, the more you look at the blueprints, the more obvious it is: from pitfalls to swinging axes to strange walls that punch out at you, it's clear what you're doing. You're setting up a maze of traps. At the end of the day though, you're being paid good coin, so you'd better put your back into it, yes? You will, after all, be testing your work for quality assurance. [Grants Lance +1]

Non-Mission Task Board

Trends are cyclical, so they say. The latest and greatest in fads sweeping Garreg Mach is the return of ~penpals~ except, erm, this time it isn't just for fun. No, this time it's a school-wide assignment! Students (and faculty!) are intended to be paired at random, so you could wind up with just about anyone as your partner. Of course, if you'd rather exchange letters with your friends, there's nothing saying you can't rig the system just a little...

Every year it's the same: there is a need for voluntolds-- ahem, volunteers-- to clean up after the Ethereal Ball has rung its last, and this iteration is no exception. Between food fights and burn marks, there is much to tend to. Worried about being shorthanded, the Church has come up with a fun little game: the more you clean, the more points you rack up! At the end, those with the most points can supposedly look forward to a reward, although... No one really knows what the exact reward in question is supposed to be...

Master your fears, lest they master you. A strange guru has just pulled into town, here to spread his agenda of curing people of their fears. For a small fee, he will treat you with exposure therapy, pushing your greatest ick into your face until you are forced to accept it. Scared of creepy crawlies? He's got those. Heights bothering you? He has a course. Existential dread weighing on your shoulders? He might have to check the back. Come on down and get your remedy today! [Grants Faith +1]

Brace yourselves for the arrival of the Garreg Mach Chronicle, the monastery's brand new tabloid, premiering post-Ethereal Ball. Coincidence? Probably not! They do however have one problem needing solved before they can launch: a lack of proper news-worthy stories. Grab your parchment and pens and maybe a friend and get after them 'scoops'!

Who doesn't love learning about epic battles of yore from various other continents? But everybody knows that sitting around reading dusty history books is dull; instead, you are being made to reenact your assigned battle yourselves in a show-and-tell to the rest of the class. The seminar leader has even provided a dress-up box to aid you in your endeavors. [Grants Heavy Armor +1]

NEW! The librarians are at their wit's end. There are far too many overdue books signed out right now, and so they have decided: until each and every one is accounted for, no more library access! Got a class you need to do some research for? Tough luck. Want a quiet place to hide from the hustle and bustle of lunch break? That's too bad. Get out there and shake down your fellow classmates and faculty for their tardy books!

NEW! Ain't no party like a slumber party! The latest fad of late has been to host secret sleepovers. Unlike the church-imposed roommates from a month or so ago, these are unauthorized get-togethers testing your stealth, comradery, and bravery. After all, it takes guts to follow through with the main event at most of these gatherings, whose main purpose is to perform summoning rituals for tiny 'demons' meant to grant wishes, cause trouble, and anything in between. Are you part of the problem, or are you on the other side wondering 'who keeps summoning these things?!' [Grants Reason +1]

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the divided task board work?

This season’s mission is assigned to the Unaffiliated Muses. Therefore, tasks from the ‘Faculty and Staff Mission Task Board’ must be undertaken by someone that is affiliated with the Church of Seiros, the Knights of Seiros, the Town of Garreg Mach, the Underground Citizens, the Ashen Wolves, or Those Who Slither in the Dark. However, they may choose to perform the task with someone who is not from their group as well. In logistical terms, this means that if you play a non-Unaffiliated muse and want to do a mission task, you must ask someone who plays an Unaffiliated muse to thread with you. All thread participants will still receive any skill point rewards. Tasks from the ‘Non-Mission Task Board’ have no house restriction and can be undertaken by anyone.

These aren’t the only threads I can do, right?

Of course not! These are just prompts to help give some ideas of possibilities. You’re always free and encouraged to make up your own threads.

If my muse is not an Unaffiliated muse, can I still write an open starter for the mission tasks?

Yes, but only the non-mission tasks. Your character must be Unaffiliated to write an open starter for this season’s mission.

How do I claim the skill points?

In order to qualify for the skill point, the thread must clearly allude to the listed task and preferably feature the task being completed. You do not need to message the masterlist to claim your skill point.

Can I only do one task?

Nope, you can do as many as you’d like with as many different partners as you’d like! You can do the same task with more than one person! However, you can only claim any skill point once.

What if my partner leaves or drops a skill point thread?

If the dropped thread has at least 2 reblogs and you have hit at least 400 words on your end, you may still claim the skill point.

Remember to use (and track!) the #toa open tag for any open threads, and you can also post a link to your open thread on the appropriate Discord channel! If you have any other questions or concerns, shoot us a message through the masterlist or on Discord!

- The House Leaders