#already on chapter 5 of the foxhole court

[owlarchimedes]

So now its time to reread the entire aftg series

[otdiaftg]

The Foxhole Court - Chapter Four

Date: Saturday, May 13th Time: 5:43 PM EST

"I want you to understand something," Wymack said. "I am a loud, grouchy old man. I like to yell and throw things. But I don't throw punches unless some punk is dumb enough to try me first. I have never, ever hit someone without provocation, and I'm sure as hell not going to start with you. You hear me?" Neil didn't believe him, but he said, "Yes, Coach." "I'm serious," Wymack said. "Don't you dare be more afraid of me than you are of Andrew." Neil could have told him it was Wymack's age that made him such a problem, but he didn't think Wymack wanted to hear it. There was no solution to that problem. "Yes, Coach." Wymack gestured over his shoulder and stepped aside. "I already ate, but I haven't put the leftovers away yet. I'll take care of this. You take care of you."

Art used with permission by Rainbowd00dles. Thank you @rainbowd00dles

[c-starstuff-man0]

WIP game

Thank you for the tag @shadowsandlint! I love love you😘

Rules: Make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it!

1. Only honesty.

2. walk of redemption.

3. Meet my boyfriend’s girlfriend!

4. Looking back.

5. Foxhole court.

6. I love running into you! (Chapter 2) Cassian’s day in shadowsinger’s domestic life

And the obvious,

7. Dinner and diatribes.

8. Lover of my soul

9. Can you see a soul in me?

I didn’t realize I had these many WIPs to begin with! I just went damn! It’ll be forever before I get to any of them. I’m currently concentrating on finishing the last three before taking up the rest seriously! Yeah, so that’s where I’m at! Please (and I mean PLEASE) let me know what you’re working on @futurehunt @chairofchaos @talibunny30 @shadowqueenjude @eblocke

I know you already posted your WIP but I wanted to give a shoutout and let you know how excited I am about your WIPs to @somnolentsoul @chunkypossum

[codename-adler]

...dance 'till you find someone to die for...

what if instead of Seth, Riko tried to get rid of Aaron?

Chapter 14 ♟️ [table of contents]

(CW: alcoholism, swearing, drug addiction, physical violence, torture)

The Foxes are lucky to be playing at the Foxhole Court for their game against the Ravens.

Aaron is lucky too.

He can come out of his “homeschooling” at Abby’s and be reunited with his team, even if it’s just outside the plexiglass box and not actually on the court. His only distraction that week had been homework, and Kevin. Kevin came to seek him out every day, if not multiple times a day. Alcohol was a bitch to kick.

However, everywhere Kevin went, so did Andrew. His smiles were becoming even more disturbing than before, his conversations even harder to follow, and his mood even more difficult to predict. Unhinged, was the word. Aaron felt worlds away from his brother, despite his resentment and his hatred.

Kevin had explained to him how the Foxes had been training for the last weeks, in preparation for the Ravens game, yes, but also for the uncertain future of their team; they had to prove that even without Aaron, they could work, they could play, they could fight. That had stung immensely. With Coach and Dan, it had been decided that Renee would be pulled from goal to serve as a subbing backliner to fill in Aaron’s spot. Kevin and Neil were also secretly training to play full halves as strikers, because as soon as Aaron was back, Seth was out. But all of this meant that Andrew, already dangerous, maniacal, unhinged Andrew, would be off his meds for the whole game. His system was fucked, and so was he. The cycle of withdrawal, crazed hyperconsciousness, crashes and focus alternated violently, like never before.

Deep down, Aaron still didn’t understand how such medication could be ordained for a case of mild murder attempt. It also stressed him out that Andrew was in that state to deal with his and Kevin’s revelation about where Seth’s loyalties lay. He hadn’t done anything yet, which was terrifying. Fortunately, most of the time he napped nearby in the grass of the skatepark and left him and Kevin alone.

Kevin, who bitched and bitched and bitched about the situation every time they met up. Kevin, who had been able to comfort him, although that certainly hadn’t been his intention.

“Matt has his room for improvement, but Nicky… Even his height doesn’t make up for his terrible footwork and his inability to just focus. Seth is a wild card, we can’t trust him to have our backs, least of all on the court, so we can’t pull him from the striker position. Allison and Dan can’t be exchanged, nobody else could keep up. Neil’s played backliner before, but I can’t lose him now. Renee will have to do. Your spot is really a bitch to fill, you know that? Even your fucking 5 foot 0 was better defense than the shit lineup we got ourselves now,” Kevin complained. “And Seth’s gotten sloppy beyond hell. He dug his own grave and we’re still paying for it and- And Andrew, Christ, he better keep up and not pull any shit. Why did he have to say yes the minute Coach offered, but when I asked, when I begged, he just-”

“Kevin.” Aaron interrupted.

“What?”

“I know that. You told me before. Repeatedly.”

Kevin’s hands, which had been slightly trembling the whole time he was speaking, seemed to shake more now that he was silent.

Aaron hated it.

Aaron hated himself for it.

Of course withdrawal wouldn’t be easy, even if Kevin was young, but the sight of him made Aaron ache. And yet the whole point of Kevin not drinking was so Aaron wouldn’t have a trigger to make him use, and Kevin rambling over and over about how desperate the Foxes’ situation was only made Aaron itch to shoot up. And it wasn’t because Exy talk bored him. It was because Aaron felt responsible. For everything. Everything that was, everything that would come to be.

If Andrew crashed during the game.

If Renee or Nicky got injured because he wasn’t there to do his job.

If Kevin crumbled on the court because the Ravens were already tearing him apart from inside his mind.

As Aaron pursed his lips and his thoughts spiraled out of control, he felt a fist bump against his shoulder. He looked to his left and found green eyes staring back.

“I can be back. By the end of November, maybe after Thanksgiving, I can be back. Not… Not fully, I will have to catch up and do physio, but… I can be back. If you still want me,” Aaron whispered.

Kevin’s eyes widened. Aaron saw his Adam’s apple work itself up and down, his eyes glancing at Andrew’s sleeping form, looking everywhere but at Aaron.

“You have a lot to catch up on. A lot to make up for. A lot to gain back.”

“Do you want me to wait until next year?”

Kevin didn’t answer, didn’t look at him.

“Or… Was I just fooling myself thinking you’d take me back?”

Kevin’s head turned sharply to stare at him.

“No. That is not it. Not at all. I am… afraid,” Kevin spoke carefully.

“Of what? Besides the obvious disastrous circumstances of your life,” Aaron asked quietly, trying to be light even when a weight dropped in his stomach.

“They know where you were hurt, Aaron. They know where to hit. They know where to get you. It is not safe,” Kevin whispered.

“You’ve played with worse injuries than that. I can do it.”

“No, Aaron, I have not. It’s not just broken bones, do you not get that? They ruptured your organs. These weren’t strategic breaks, these were meant to kill you! Riko’s never done that before, except the last time I… Maybe you can do it. Maybe you really can. But I don’t want you to,” Kevin said, voice trembling and hands shaking.

Aaron sighed in despair, eyes watering. Exy had always been just an escape, at first, from his terrible mother. Then when he had wanted to escape Exy too, he was forced to commit; and now, when he was finally ready to give it his best, it was being taken away from him.

Aaron hated it.

Aaron hated himself for it.

Tentatively, shakily, Kevin raised his arm, unconsciously making his movement slow enough for Aaron to see it coming and not flinch. His hand came to rest on Aaron’s back, awkwardly patting it.

“A ridiculous philosopher once told me I didn’t have to grow a spine if I already had one all along… I think you forget you have one too. It isn’t over yet. So chin up, Aaron, okay?” Kevin said.

Aaron exhaled a sad laugh and tried his best to keep all the tears and the pain inside.

“Okay.”

Kevin’s hand stopped patting, but didn’t leave his back. Instead he absentmindedly started to rub his back, up and down his spine. Aaron bowed his head and closed his eyes, trying his best to commit this moment to memory, this moment where everything was shit and pain and sadness, but not lonely. Not anymore.

Too soon, they had to leave for the Foxhole Court. Kevin ruffled his hair to gently wake him from his trance. Kevin’s fingers on his scalp seemed to fill his lungs with the air he didn’t know he was missing. Kevin also threw his shoe at Andrew to wake him up without risking a black eye.

They made their way to the stadium, Kevin wheeling Aaron and Andrew guarding their backs, talking nonsense with himself. Aaron had to convince Wymack that it would be best if he stayed with him and Abby, outside the court's plexiglass, rather than in the Foxes’ lounge, alone, where anyone could get to him without trouble. Kevin was still sober, which shouldn’t be surprising at all considering how seriously he took Exy, but Aaron knew that the panic was whispering in his ear to get completely trashed and hide.

Aaron couldn’t blame him, the game was gruesome. He didn’t know how any of the Foxes managed to play. He cringed and winced and hissed at every blow his team took, at every point the Ravens took. Riko and his monsters were clearly winning this: there was no doubt about that. They still fought violently, though, like this was a boxing match and not glorified stickball. But then.

Oh, then.

With 67 seconds left to the game, Johnson and Kucheck cornered Seth. They tripped him and towered over his body in a way that blocked the view to everyone in the stadium, except for Abby, Coach, and Aaron, sitting right in front of that carefully calculated spot. Then they starting hitting. With the butt of their racquets. And Seth’s shoulder was their target.

Rourke came to join them in the battering, shaking his teammates to give the illusion of a fair fight. Soon, black and orange formed a riot that couldn’t be torn apart. But Aaron could hear. He could hear everything. The dirty and threatening insults that were yelled. And the screams. Allison’s outcries of anger. The yells of the referees. The shouts from Coach.

And Seth… Oh, how he screamed.

Aaron could see, too. He could see everything. The racquets hitting that same spot, where Seth’s arm connected to his chest, diving in, plunging, stabbing.

Over,

and over,

and over again.

(read on Ao3 here !)

[accio-victuuri]

Hi, have you read both Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation and Heaven's Official Blessing? Between the two novels (please exclude any adaptation), which one do you prefer and why? And which one is more popular in China?

Hello Anon! Yes I did and I prefer TGCF. 🦋

So here’s the long answer of Why.

When I read stories, a big part of it is what i’m feeling while reading it. sometimes even what part in my life that time was. There are books that may not be THAT good but I was reading it while on a trip ( for example ) so i will remember it and have good memories of it.

With that, I read TGCF at a time when I needed something like it. It’s similar to what the Untamed was for me. It came at the right time. The last story I read that I couldn’t put down and just had to finish was Nora Sakavic’s Foxhole Court series. Another thing is when I read MDZS, I already watched the live action and Donghua. Tho I could visualize it better, I was expecting things. I knew where most of it was going. I’ve read posts comparing the novel to the adaptations. I did enjoy it, but as a reader, the discovery of something new was not 100% there. I was trying to analyze it instead of just letting myself read it for what it is.

Compared to TGCF, I went in almost blind. I read a few chapters of the Manhwa so I can have a visual and then I picked up the Novel. I read for 5 days. I couldn’t stop. I knew the hype surrounding it, so I had expectations and i was not disappointed. The story of Hua Cheng. just. wow. And then Dianxia as a character. 🥲

As for popularity, take note I’m not checking any statistics in CHN here. lol. But MDZS is more popular just because it already reached a wider audience. From the novel, manhwa, donghua and especially the live action. more active fans, if you go by the supertopic.

[sargentcow]

Look. I'm only 5 chapters into the foxhole court, and im already mad at how they see Andrew Minyard and dont see him at the same time. I'm becoming attached, and I'm about to go feral.

(I want to say that I have not read any spoilers, and I would like to keep it that way.)

Scream with me

[icanheareternity]

mid-year book freak out tag

yayyy thank you @bloody-wonder for tagging me. always a pleasure talking about books with you (and reading your amazing rants hahaha <3)

1. Best Book You've Read So Far in 2020?

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and the All For The Game series by Nora Sakavic. They were both amazing reads for totally different reasons. It’s been 5 months since I read it and I still sometimes find myself thinking about Patroclus and Achilles and wishing them happiness in the Underworld. As for AFTG I have no words for how amazing and engaging the story and the characters are, I think Neil and Andrew will forever be two of my favorite characters.

2. Best Sequel You've Read So Far in 2020? 

Well obviously The King’s Men by Nora Sakavic.

3. New Release You Haven't Read Yet, But Want To? 

The Switch by Beth O’Leary, I loved her debut novel, The Flatshare, it was very impactful to me. I’m just waiting for the right mood to strike so I can read her second novel.

4. Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2020?

I’m very excited for the manga edition of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. The first volume is going to be released on october (I’m thinking about buying it as a birthday present for myself, since I turn 25 at the end of october). Rainbow is my favorite author and Fangirl is definitely one of my favorite books.

5. Biggest Disappointment? 

The Raven Cycle :( I had such big expectations for this series and it just didn’t live up to it in the slightest. The main characters were amazing though, and they deserved a better book.

6. Biggest Surprise? 

The Foxhole Court. Seeing as book one of the AFTG series didn’t have any romance whatsoever, I wasn’t expecting to like it so much (considering I’m a sucker for romance and almost never actively pick up a book that isn’t straight out a romance novel).

7. Favourite New Author? 

Alice Oseman, I think? I’ve been accompanying her web comic Heartstopper and loving every bit of it and am also on my way to reading all of her novels.

8. Newest Fictional Crush?

Richard Campbell Gansey III. As I said before, he deserved to be in a better series, but I loved his voice in the books, all the chapters written on his POV.

(I feel like I should put Neil and Andrew from AFTG in this category too but I’m not confortable having a crush on either of them since they belong to each other)

9. Newest Favourite Character?

Neil Josten and Andrew Minyard. I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

(and I have mentioned the AFTG series way too many times in one post)

10. Book That Made You Cry? 

The Song of Achilles, I cried through the whole last 90 pages of the book and then for 30 minutes after that in fetal position in the darkness of my bedroom.

11. Book That Made You Happy? 

I guess the book that made me laugh out loud the most was The Lightining-Struck Heart by TJ Klune.

12. Favourite Book To Movie Adaptation You Saw This Year?

Emma. I looooooooved the movie so much, it’s such a fun adaptation with an amazing cast (Johnny Flynn <3) and good photography.

13. Favourite Review You've Written This Year? 

I don’t write reviews, I’m too lazy for that.

14. Most Beautiful Book You Bought So Far This Year?

I don’t usually buy physical books because they are too expensive, so when I buy one is because they are already my favorites. This month I bought Carry On and Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell (I’m on my way to having all of her books on physical copies), and also The Song of Achilles.

15. What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of The Year?

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

i’ll tag @jostens-pitch @anawkwardbibliophile @junebbbuggg @sharing-a-room-with-an-open-fire

this was fun (and it just made me realize that i still have so much to read this year)

[theladyofdeath]

V O I D { F I V E }

Chapter 5. An ACOTAR fanfiction.

Nessian. Elriel. Feysand.

Previous chapters:  Fanfic Masterlist

“It sounded like a dream; it tasted like damnation.”  from The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

Nesta woke up early the next morning, but it wasn’t until 8 or so that she got a surprise visitor.

Elain hurried past the guest room towards the bathroom, but slowly backstepped a second later.

She looked into the room, brown eyes wide. “Wh- Nesta?”

She had been at a party the night before when Nesta has gotten there. Everyone had been asleep when she had gotten home.

Nesta sat up in her bed, a small smile for her younger sister. “Surprise.”

Elain’s eyes remained wide. Nesta didn’t know if it was just because she was shocked to see her or if it was because she hadn’t yet seen her hair, or lack thereof, in person yet.

Before Nesta could string together another sentence, Elain was running inside of the little bedroom, throwing herself on top of her sister. “I missed you!”

“I missed you, too,” Nesta muttered into her hair. “Feyre still asleep?”

Elain froze. “Okay so, don’t tell dad, but she’s at a boy’s house.”

Nesta blinked. “She spent the night at a boy’s house?”

Elain rolled her eyes. “Not like that. At least...I don’t think so. Not last I heard. Anyway, I’m just telling dad that she’s at a friend’s and I’m going to get her in a little bit.”

“And why are we lying?” Nesta asked, intrigued.

“We’re not lying. He is a friend,” she said, winking as she nudged her sister in the ribs before throwing her arms around her neck, once more. “Oh, I’m so happy you’re here. How long are you staying?”

Nesta hesitated. “A while.”

Elain gave her a curious look, but nodded. “We’ll talk details later. I’m just so happy to see you.”

A soft knock came on the already opened door.

Isaac stood in the doorway, a mug of steaming black coffee in hand. “What’s your plans for this Saturday, ladies?”

“I’m going to get Feyre this morning,” Elain said, nodding. “She stayed at a friend’s house last night. Then I was thinking we’d do some shopping downtown.”

Isaac blinked. “Feyre made a friend?”

“Yeah,” Elain smiled without missing a beat. “They’re getting along really well. One of my cheer squad mates.”

“Alright,” he said. “Nesta? What about you?”

“Going with Elain,” she said, much to Elain’s delight.

Isaac nodded, his eyes holding Nesta’s for a moment longer. “Alright. Well, you three be safe. I’ll see you tonight for dinner?”

“We’ll be here,” Elain smiled, clapping her hands.

Nesta nodded, trying her best to smile. Her heart wasn’t in it, though. She wasn’t sure if her heart would ever be in it.

Nesta smiled, but she felt nothing.

She never felt anything.

Not anymore.

~~~

Feyre woke up with a pounding headache and a hazy memory.

She shot up on the couch, fully taking in her surroundings. She had no idea where she was, had barely any memory of the night before.

She remembered going with Elain to the bonfire. Remembered the punch. But after that?

Rhysand.

Oh gods. Rhysand. She had a vague memory of her shoving her hand down Rhysand’s pants.

Her cheeks burned.

“I know you from somewhere.”

Feyre spun around, fully aware that her breath reeked.

A young, teenage girl stared at her, hazel eyes curious, curly brown hair pulled back into a bun.

“She goes to your school,” a guy answered from the kitchen. “Feyre, my sister, Cecily. Cece, meet Feyre. Oh, and I’m Cassian.”

Feyre’s mouth opened, then closed.

The three of them were alone.

“Rhys is in the shower,” Cassian said, guessing her thoughts, mouthful of scrambled eggs. Feyre felt sick.

“I...should go,” Feyre hesitated.

“Rhys drove you here. Don’t you remember?”

Feyre blinked.

She remembered her hands in his….

Feyre cursed, her face falling into her hands.

“It’s okay, Elain is on her way,” he chuckled.

Feyre’s cheeks burned to the point that she was almost in physical pain. She couldn’t imagine what Elain would say when she arrived, but she knew it would be embarrassing.

Another dark-haired male stepped into the main room from the hallway. He gave Feyre a polite nod as he went into the kitchen and began to dig through the fridge. Feyre recognized him from the bonfire.

“So, you all live together?” Feyre asked.

Cassian nodded.

Feyre, not knowing what else to say, sunk back down onto the couch.

The bathroom door opened a minute later. Rhys came out, a towel around his waist, tanned skin still glistening.

He caught Feyre’s eye and grinned. “Ah, she’s awake. Good morning, Feyre darling.”

Feyre didn’t respond.

“Already in denial about your flirting last night?” He asked, leaning over the back of the couch. “That hurts.”

“I was drunk,” she mumbled.

“You know what they say,” he began, “drunk people always tell the truth.”

“I’ll wait outside,” Feyre announced, rising to her feet.

Rhys stepped in front of her. “Stay. Please? Have some breakfast….if you can stomach it. I’ll even put a shirt on.”

Silence.

The room was met with utter silence.

“Fine,” Feyre snapped, after a moment passed. “But the minute Elain is here, we’re leaving.”

Rhysand’s grin simply widened as he grabbed a tee shirt and a pair of sweatpants off the ground and meandered into one of the back bedrooms to dress.

Before he could come out, a precautious knock came to the front door. Feyre watched as Azriel’s eyes shot up and he hurried to open it.

Feyre’s sister stood on the threshold, smiling at Azriel once she met his gaze. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” he replied, quietly.

Feyre quickly ducked around Azriel and past Elain, hurrying toward the car as quickly as she could. She only froze when she saw who sat in the passenger seat.

Feyre hadn’t seen Nesta in a while, but she knew her oldest sister hadn’t been doing well. Looking at her now, Feyre didn’t even recognize her.

She was far too thin, her head buzzed. She was wearing a black jacket that nearly swallowed her whole.

Nesta’s eyes met Feyre’s and her entire body tensed. Feyre took the remaining footsteps cautiously. When she sat in the back seat, neither of them spoke a word.

They simply watched Elain, and although all they could see was her back, Feyre knew she was giggling. Azriel watched her, hazel eyes soft, as Elain said whatever it was that she was saying.

“Who is this guy?” Nesta asked, out of nowhere.

Feyre was so unprepared for the question that she jumped at the sudden noise in the silence.

“Azriel?” Feyre asked, surprised by the steadiness of her own voice. “A friend of Rhysand’s.”

“And Rhysand is the boy you slept with last night?” Nesta asked.

Feyre scoffed, not even bothering to tell her that it wasn’t what she thought when she said, “And you’re one to judge? How has Tomas’ bed been treating you lately?”

Nesta didn’t reply.

She didn’t even look back to glare at Feyre, which is what Feyre had expected her to do.

Instead, they fell back into silence as Elain hurried back toward her car.

~~~~

Rhysand wasn’t too surprised when Feyre didn’t say goodbye. He was, however, surprised to find her phone still sitting on the couch.

He’d put it in his pocket as he went for a walk through the city.

Cassian and Cecelia were busy arranging their father’s memorial service while Azriel had to go to work at the garage. Rhys offered to help Cassian, but he just brushed his friend off. Cassian hated his father. Rhys even thought that he was happy to see the old bastard dead after everything he’d put his children through.

Hatred of their fathers. It was one thing they had always had in common, even when they were young.

So, that left Rhys to waste a day out of the apartment.

The sun was shining, the air finally becoming brisk with the approaching Autumn. He thought to spend it messing around with some lyrics he’d been working on, but it had been a while since he’d been to the rivercourt.

It sat just along the Sidra, although it had seen much better days. The court paint had long ago faded, the concrete cracked. The basketball hoops no longer had nets, but it didn’t stop Rhysand.

It was his favorite place to play, it always had been.

He’d loved the game. Once.

Before his father wanted him to become a slave to it. Then it had become torturous.

But every now and then, Rhysand liked to relive those days when he was nothing more than a boy who loved a game.

He had been good, too.

As he pulled up to where the three-point line would have been on the broken concrete, Rhysand squared himself up and took a shot.

It effortlessly fell into the middle of the rim.

Rhysand didn’t move as the ball bounced off the concrete, into the grass. He spun around, slowly, taking in his surroundings and breathing in the fresh, salty air.

But as he closed his eyes, all he saw was her.

~~~~

Cassian, Azriel, and Rhys pushed through the doors of Rita’s. Helion had done an impressively professional job on their fake id’s. At eighteen and nineteen, they barely passed for twenty-one. At least, that’s what the skeptical glare of the bodyguard checking id’s at the door told them.

“Beer,” Cassian told the bartender, “whatever’s cheapest on tap.”

After showing the bartender the black X that was drawn on the back of his hand, the bartender fulfilled his request. Cassian hated the taste of beer, but he could use it.

All he had thought about all day was his father.

His anger had built up until he told Cece he was sorry, but he needed the rest of the night off and they could resume dealing with his death in the morning.

Azriel and Rhys hadn’t hesitated when Cassian had asked if they wanted to join him for a night out on the town.

Cassian was glad, too, because it would have been far more pathetic getting drunk alone. And three hours later, when they were all stumbling around in the parking lot howling at everything and nothing at all, Cassian was grateful for his two best friends, even if this memory would be nothing more than drunken haziness that he would barely remember.

“Shiiiiiiit,” Cassian breathed, getting behind the wheel of his truck. He blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision.

“You shouldn’t drive,” Azriel said, falling into the passenger seat. “Let’s call a cab.”

“I’m so drunk!” Rhysand screamed, standing in the bed of the truck with his shirt over his face.

Cassian and Azriel howled.

“Sit down, jackass!” Cassian hollered, pounding on the back window. “I’m fine. We live less than fi-five minutes from here.”

Azriel, completely unaware of what he had said before, was singing along to the radio, obnoxiously loud, head hanging out the window.

He could hear Rhys joining in for the chorus, voice worse than Azriel’s.

Cassian shook his head, sputtering a laugh as he put his truck in reverse.

It was only three miles to their apartment, but they barely made it a mile down the road before everything changed.

Even the beauty of the starlit night sky of Velaris could not diminish the tragedy that would unfold a mile down the road from Rita’s.

~~~

Don’t be mad at me, but I’m no longer going to do tags! They don’t work half the time and they add, like, an extra half hour onto every post....so, from this post forward, every chapter will be tagged “tacmc void” and I will be updating weekly. :)

[naslostcontrol]

2019 in review

Thank you @stazyros for tagging me. Hope you are doing well and will have the lovely year ❤

I have problems with memory 😅, so it took me too long to remember what exatly happened in 2019 (it seems like this year was so long and so short at the same time). So yeah please don't judge me lol

Top 5 movies (I rarely watch movies lately, at least the new ones, and even more rarely like them...so these movies were realised in 2019 I guess)

1. Rafiki

2. El Camino

3. Us

4. Greta

5. IT Chapter 2

Top 5 shows (in that order)

1. Druck

2. Skam españa

3. Mandalorian

4. Raising Dion

5. American Horror Story

Top 5 songs (I associate 2019 with druck soundtrack, because I mostly listened to songs used in seasons 3 and 4 🤦‍♀️😂)

1. You are somebody else by Flora Cash

2. Sand by Lary

3. Bullet by Lost Name

4 Barfuß am Klavier by AnnenMayKantereit

5. Safe with me by Soap&Skin

Top 5 books (I didn't read much this year, only bought books...but found time to reread smth that I already like)

1. The brothers Karamazov (again)

2. Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe

3. The Foxhole Court (all parts tbh)

4. Goldfinch

5. Leah on the Offbeat

Top 5 positive things that have happened in 2019

1. I won grant for my research

2. Thanks to druck met lovely people here

3. Traveled a lot: visited Oslo, which was my dream, and went to Mumford and Sons concert

4. Gave multiple presents to my mom, including making it possible for her to visit our family that doesn't live in Russia

5. According to last tests my cancer didn't grow and overall I feel much better

I don’t know who’s been tagged, so @navollidiot (or @montag0911, don't mind me, I just physically can't stop tagging you, I know it's dumb), @chaoswillcalmusdown, @dana-song, @silent-in-sin, @angelika-kk and honestly anyone write smth if you want.

Happy New Year!

[fire-bear]

I posted 3,075 times in 2022

138 posts created (4%)

2,937 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fire-bear

@nakasomethingkun

@whatthebodygraspsnot

@littlecofiegirl

@missbearisland

I tagged 2,529 of my posts in 2022

Only 18% of my posts had no tags

#patreon - 627 posts

#all for the game - 498 posts

#the foxhole court - 497 posts

#fan fiction - 385 posts

#art - 255 posts

#shameless - 251 posts

#neil josten - 242 posts

#andrew minyard - 237 posts

#voltron - 232 posts

#captive prince - 85 posts

Longest Tag: 91 characters

#so i can actually get stuff done around the house while they expect us to watch the funeral

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Another chapter is up!

Excerpt:

Neil was sitting, cross-legged, against the wall in the hall when Andrew opened the door the next morning. Somehow, he had come across an Exy ball and was throwing it up and down, a particular light in his eyes that made Andrew clench his jaw. He stopped playing with it when he noticed Andrew, his expression lighting up even further. Somehow, it struck Andrew deep in his core. 

“Don’t,” he said, teeth gritted.

Perplexed, Neil blinked at him. “‘Don’t’ what?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“Where?” Andrew retorted, gesturing at the ball.

That successfully got Neil’s attention off of him. “Oh. I went into Kevin’s room while he was sleeping.”

“Of course,” said Andrew, and turned away. He began to make his way down the hall; behind him, he could hear Neil as he scrambled to get up and follow. The rest of the house was quiet, save for the occasional settling creak. Unless, of course, it was their resident ghosts. Andrew ignored the noises, regardless, and headed for the kitchen.

18 notes - Posted October 6, 2022

#4

The second chapter to this.

Neil’s been woken in the future by the Foxes and, not an hour later, he’s getting into a car chase. Will he ever get to the Den?

Excerpt:

“I’m,” Neil began. He stopped when everyone looked at him. Even Andrew seemed to be watching him. “I’m Neil,” he finally said. “Um, Neil Josten.”

“Ooh!” Nicky exclaimed. “I can’t wait till we get back. I’m totally gonna look you up and see if any of your socials are still up.”

“Socials?” asked Neil, baffled.

“Yeah, you know, like… Metaverse stuff and whatever,” Nicky explained. He paused and blinked at Neil who stared back. “Was it not called Metaverse?” Nicky leaned into the black-haired man as he asked the question.

With a huff, the man answered, “That’s not my specialty, Nicky.”

“Kevin!” Nicky whined.

Heaving another sigh, Kevin said, “I don’t think so. I’m not sure what they were called then. But I think they had Twitter.”

“Twitter?” asked Neil, still confused.

20 notes - Posted March 28, 2022

#3

More shenanigans with the magically age-regressed Neil and Andrew, this time at the Court.

Excerpt:

“Where are they?” Aaron asked, wondering if they had followed the girls into their locker room.

“Huh?” said Nicky, glancing over at him. “Aren’t they in the lounge?”

Aaron’s blood seemed to freeze. “What do you mean?” he asked, slowly enunciating each word as dread began to fill his veins instead.

“We… We left them in the lounge, watching that game,” Nicky told Aaron, the colour draining from his face as well.

“Did they go with the girls-?” Aaron started, already turning to go find his pint-sized twin.

“No,” Kevin interrupted him, his hand and face still dripping. “They went into the locker room before we came in here. We told the… children not to move.”

“You told Neil and Andrew not to move?” Aaron asked, incredulously.

20 notes - Posted January 11, 2022

#2

A new chapter with the kids, this time with added shopping. It’s a good thing some of the Foxes have money to spare...

Excerpt:

“But-!” Kevin began, his voice shrill.

“No, Kevin,” said Wymack, firmly. “There’s no way to reverse this any quicker, and we’re not having them go up against fully grown adults, however young they may be, or however good Neil and Andrew are.”

“Jesus, Kev,” Allison piped up. “We all knew you were that obsessed-” She broke off when Renee put a hand on her arm. Renee shook her head, her smile absent as she looked at Kevin with that serious expression Aaron had glimpsed sometimes.

Looking back at Kevin, Aaron realised that his eyes were even wider than before, his chest rising and falling a bit too rapidly to be regular breathing. It took Aaron a second to realise that Kevin was returning to his old ways of having a panic attack over a sport. Then Kevin spoke and Aaron grimaced. “But,” Kevin said. “If Neil doesn’t play, what will Ichirou think?”

24 notes - Posted August 11, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

The first chapter of a Captive Prince story wherein Damen’s father dies, his huge tech company goes to Kastor instead of Damen and Damen ends up going to college to study journalism where he meets Laurent...

Unfortunately, this first chapter is more of a prologue than anything, so no Laurent yet. I apologise. 😓

Excerpt:

Late CEO’s Son Attacks Brother at Graveside

Damianos ‘Damen’ Xanthopoulos, son of Theomedes Xanthopoulos, the late CEO of Akielos, was seen attacking his older brother Kastor yesterday, despite his father’s grave not even being covered.

No-one knows what prompted this violence, but it brings into question his mental well-being after losing someone of such importance. With the company without a head, would it really be wise for Theomedes to bequeath Damen with the running of Akielos? Should he be associated with the company at all? Could this damage Akielos’s stock?

Perhaps Kastor, as stoic and calm as ever, should be put in charge…

24 notes - Posted March 12, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[thislittlebadwolf]

So, most times I get tagged in a tag game I put that post in my bookmarks for later cause I want to finish going through my dash first. Thing is, if it’s something that’ll take a little longer to answer I won’t do it immediately afterwards. And then it stays in my bookmarks, and then I forget even though it’s right in front of my eyes. And then I feel guilty when I notice the post again. Like this one.

rules: list 10 books that have touched your life in some way. they can be anything, even a short comic book, and there is no right or wrong answer. just 10 books that have stayed with you. tag 10 people including the person who tagged you.

I’m really sorry, @coldsaturn, that this took so long! >_< Back when you tagged me I wanted to link you to the time I already answered this, but then I thought I should give explanations why these books touched me just like you did - and realized I couldn’t even name reasons for some of them except that I remember liking them immensly back then. Now, since it took me so long I’ve read some more books and actually found two that deserve to be on this list so I’ll start with those.

1. The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness Everyone who loves to read YA fantasy or postapocalyptic stories should read this book! It’s refreshing to read about people who aren’t the protagonists in some great story but, well, just live there when said story happens. What would be the main plot in some other novel is summed up in a few sentences at the beginning of each chapter while the story of this book is about a normal teenage boy trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. That he lives in a world where big supernatural events happen every few years and that his best friend happens to be a demigod doesn’t matter for him and his friends. They aren’t indie kids after all, and everyone knows that the big stories happen only to indie kids. The way this book shows up the cliché plot points of YA fantasy is great, because sometimes you do wonder what other people in that world would think of what’s happening, or where the Random Guy Who Saves The Day™  suddenly comes from - and here is this answer.

2. The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx I was debating if I should list this but I think it deserves to be mentioned. Consisting of short diary entries spanning a year and some equally short explanations by the people involved that were added for publication this book is a rather quick read that gives insight in the life of an addict who happens to be a rockstar. A great reminder how drugs can destroy a life and an excellent source for writers on the POV of a drug abuser. Also, if you buy this book you do some good cause a part of the cost gets donated to Nikki Sixx’ fundraising initiative for an organisation that takes care of runaway and homeless youth.

3. Inferno by Dan Brown If someone asked me what book I would recommend for everyone to read it’d be this. Dan Brown is the best thriller author, he always manages to write novels you don’t want to put done until you’re finished. The series about Robert Langdon is always like a treasure hunt where he has to figure out one puzzle only to find another with beautifully woven in historic facts and entirely plausible theories. Inferno is no different yet it is. It not only entertains and gives you some interesting knowledge, it makes you think. Really think. Because this book is about trying to stop a Mad Scientist who wants to stop the overpopulation of the human species. It doesn’t gloss over the fact that overpopulation will in fact become a huge problem even though it is never talked about. And it makes you question which side you want to win.

4. The Dispossessed. An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin Sci-Fi at it’s finest. With the current developments in politics I find myself thinking about this book again. It’s about a scientist who lives on a planet with no laws and visits the neighbouring planet with a society similar to ours. While ‘no laws’ might make you think about chaos this is a story where anarchy worked out fine. People on that planet learn to share everything and respect each other from the very beginning, and the occasional black sheep gets punished by others. It’s a society based on kindness and respect, not materialism and egocentricism. And the book shows what someone from there experiences in a society like ours.

5. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón The first novel that features the Library of Forgotten Books, and the one that does so extensively. It’s a hommage to books and how they can touch and influence your life. Truly beautiful, both in story and writing. This was one of those books that really didn’t let me go for days and weeks after I finished it.

6. All for the Game (known here as The Foxhole Court) by Nora Sakavic I love angst, I love to see characters suffering, and I love to see characters fight the impossible. This is a trilogy that has all of that and more. I never would’ve thought that a sport setting would appeal to me but this story is just perfect with the incorporation of the (fictional) violent sport exy. A boy on the run who dares to follow his dream which leads to danger catching up again, an emotionless boy who takes promises too serious, an alcoholic (ex)superstar, a whole team made up of young adults who carry their demons, the greatest coach with the best motivational speeches, a superstar with daddy issues, the yakuza, a mass murderer - everything about these books is amazing!

7. PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern Yes, I do read romance novels! And I’ve been a fan of Cecelia Ahern from this book onwards. All her stories show life in a beautiful way, and PS I Love You does so with a bittersweet story about the big romantic love and finding your way back to happiness after you lost it. The protagonist’s husband died of cancer and left her twelve letters containing one task for each month of the next year. It starts with little things and goes on to finding more confidence and making great memories. It shows that love conquers death, and that true love means you’re able to let the other go when you have to.

8. Look Who’s Back by Timur Vermes A book that struck a nerve because it’s scarily believable. Hitler awakens in 2015 Berlin and gets mistaken for a very devoted comedian leading to him starting a career on TV. In the beginning it’s hard to stop laughing with all the hilarity of the misunderstandings, but as the story goes on a feeling of dread grows when more and more people start to agree with him and you can see that it would happen in real life too.

9. Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid Brillant and thrilling crime novel about crime authors getting murdered like the victims in their own novels. Before each new murder discovery stands the actual killing scene from those author’s novels, and Val McDermid managed to write each of those in a writing style different to hers. To one day write like her is the dream.

10. Julian’s House by Judith Hawkes Difficult to decide on the last one to put on this list. In the end I went with this one even though it’s been ages since I’ve read it, because it’s the reason I believe in ghosts. A couple moves into a supposedly haunted house and finds out it is. Doesn’t sound like much but I remember it as a thrilling story that’s different than expected. It taught me that energy can neither be created from nothing nor simply vanish, it can only be transformed. And since souls are energy...

After all this time it took me to actually sit down and write this I’d feel weird to tag people and expect them to do it. If you want to do it I’d be happy if you do and tag me so I can check it out though! :)

[otdiaftg]

The Foxhole Court - Chapter Eight

Day: Saturday, June 17th (*Saturday, June 15th in TFC) Time: 5:05 PM EST

He hoped Wymack couldn't speak German and switched languages to lay into Andrew. "What the hell is your problem? How can you threaten Nicky for coming onto me but condone drugging me out of my mind against my will? Why can't you just leave me alone?" That wiped the irritation off Andrew's face. It was forever before Andrew answered in German. "That's unexpected. Did no one tell you I hate surprises?"

Neil swallowed hard, trying to clear the tightness from his throat, and forced himself to explain.

Andrew said nothing for so long Neil thought he'd blown it, but finally Andrew moved. Wymack shifted his weight, ready to intervene if things turned violent, but Andrew only came to stand right in front of Neil. "Then why did you come here?" Andrew asked. "Because I'm tired," Neil said, trying to sound defeated. It didn't take much effort. "I have nowhere else to go, and I'm too jealous of Kevin to stay away from him. He knows what it's like to hate every day of his life, to wake up afraid every day, but he's got you at his back telling him everything's going to be okay. He has everything, even when he's lost everything, and I'm—" Neil didn't want to say it, but the word was already there, broken and pathetic between them, "—nothing. I'll always have and be nothing." Andrew reached up and forcibly uncurled Neil's fingers from his mouth. He pushed Neil's hand out of the way and stared Neil down with nothing between them. Neil didn't understand the look on his face. There was no censure over Neil's crooked parents or pity for their deaths, no triumph over having backed Neil into admitting so much, and no obvious skepticism for such an outlandish story. Whatever this look was, it was dark and intense enough to swallow Neil whole. "Let me stay," Neil said quietly. "I'm not ready to give this up yet." That strange look left Andrew's eyes. His expression cleared to stony indifference and he let go of Neil. "Keep it if you can. You and I both know it won't last long."

Art used with permission by Jordanshenessy. Thank you so much @jordanshenessy !

*In The Foxhole Court, Nora wrote the date as Saturday, June 15th which would be inaccurate to the dates stated, both previously and later on in the story. I have changed it after researching which date would be more accurate to the story and current time frame.*