#alternative arrangement

[nepalenergyforum]

Floods in Eastern Nepal Leave Three Districts Without Power as Electric Poles Swept Away

ILAM, Oct 1: The three eastern-most districts including Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung have plunged into darkness for the past three days after a flood induced by persistent rainfall swept away a vital pole of a transmission line in Ilam. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) confirmed that the electricity supply to all the three districts has been stopped since Saturday after a flood damaged…

[tenth-sentence]

No such arrangements were found necessary for Twitchell, who died a few days after his admission.

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh

[deathberi]

*ੈ✩⋆˙༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･-ˋˏ┈˚⟡˖⋆౨ৎ ⋆｡

[strawbubbysugar]

Base Y/N design for the Bethroned AU! You are a young royal betrothed to Prince Moon, and set to be wed in order to end the war between humans and animatronics!

[canisalbus]

Man now I'm thinking of like. You know that one lady who made a marble gravestone of her and her wife embracing because they couldn't get married legally at the time or something? Just that but your boys because I was thinking sbout how you draw fabric and characters interacting, how you mentioned there was supposed to be a bad ending or something for your plot, and then The Laws Of That Time

(I keep missing all the plot posts somehow lmao really gotta check it all out)

I find myself thinking of this a lot:

[rebornofstars]

i would be interested to hear people's dark world form headcanons for the LU boys, if anyone would like to share 👀 im having trouble remembering what animals exist for some reason 😭

[sarahowritesostucky]

Alpha, Beta (& Omega) Masterlist

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Steve x Bucky

Tags: a/b/o, arranged marriage, domestic discipline, spanking, head of household, dom/sub elements, alpha Steve, beta Bucky, hurt/comfort, wedding night, alternate history, nobility/royalty au, Edwardian time period, m/f/m poly marriage, enemies to lovers

Summary: To save House Barnes from scandalous ruin, eldest son James must agree to a contracted marriage, accepting Lord Senator Steven Rogers as his Alpha, Husband, and Headship.

A contract of engagement. (Word count: 1066) Teen

A most untoward introduction. (Word count: 2368) Mature

A wedding eve's dinner. (Word count: 1619) Teen

A late morning wedding. (Word count: 1862) Teen

A wedding night. (Word Count 2411) Explicit

A honeymoon. (Word Count 2976) Teen

A honeymoon, cont'd. (Word Count: 3536) Mature

A consummation. (Word Count: 2817) Explicit

A fever (Word Count: 3619) Mature

A consummation, cont'd (Word count: 2928) Explicit

A school reunion (Word count 3449) Teen

A sojourn in London (Word count 2010) Teen

A public scene (Word count 3617) Teen

A Headship's rebuke (Word count 3627) Teen

A dream, a visit, a game (Word count 4823) Explicit

A tour of the continent (Word count 5652) Explicit

A homecoming (Word count 4286) Explicit

A settling In (Word count 5616) Teen

A courtship (Word count 3201) Explicit

An Inquiry (Word count 6883) Explicit

Masterlist

@openup-yourmind

[ashthewaterghoul]

Sweet but spicy DewTher hc

(Anatomies are kept vague so it can fit whatever hc you have)

They honestly don’t have sex that much.

Everyone thinks they go at it like rabbits bc they’re so touchy and constantly making dirty jokes and remarks.

What they do do practically every chance they get is cock-warming.

It’s not meant as a punishment or teasing, they just love and crave the closeness.

They’re usually always cuddled up, and that makes their bodies react in a very specific way. They’re not always up for having sex so on that front, it’s almost like a good compromise.

They love that they not only are so physically connected to each other but there’s also something so special about it, on an emotional, almost spiritual level for them.

Everyone’s learned to knock on their doors bc, even if they’re just taking their lunch break together, likelihood is their pants are down and one is just chilling inside the other.

Also into exhibitionist/public stuff (only in front of the pack though) so anytime they have a blanket over them in the common room while snuggling or their pants look a bit weird… there’s a reason for that and everyone knows why.

It’s not even sexual for them, they just love being with each other, in the other’s space and being welcomed in.

Just, yeah…

✨Them✨

[radioapple-au-tradingcards]

Echoes of Eden

Confirmed Au’s

♦Au: Echoes Of Eden

♦Creators: JuicyLuci🔞

♦About: Once the pride of Heaven, Lucifer Morningstar is now a fractured shadow of his former self, exiled and disgraced. When the Kind of Hell, Alastor, demands an angel as a pawn in his sinister game, Lucifer sacrifices himself to protect his daughter, Charlie. As he descends into the depths of Hell, Lucifer must confront not only the horrors around him but also the transformation within, as Alastor's dark obsession threatens to consume him entirely.

Bsky || Twitter || Instagram

[spokenfromtheheartandsoul]

it's still so funny to me that when sand snaps, "scoot over" to ray all annoyed, ray responds to this request for more bed space by simply draping half of his body over sand instead of the bed. and sand is just like. yeah alright

[tenth-sentence]

Although the standard social unit in Flamingos is the breeding monogamous pair, a number of alternative heterosexual pairing and family arrangements occur.

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[interrogatormentors]

Where is Equius. How is he doing?

D --› Well D --› This is a bit of an une%pected query D --› I am here, obviously, but I am occupied completing my duties as they are requested D --› Many within this organization run fast and 100se with protocol but I refuse to e%ecute anything that would give off an undignified, ine%perienced air D --› It behooves me to set an e%ample so that the title of rebel may become synonymous with nobility D --› As perverse as that may sound at first D --› But I am honor bound to serve the heiress with more care than the mediocrity of f001s that make up the vast majority of our forces

D --› Hm D --› I was not anticipating such a STRONG response clamoring for my presence D --› It is rather startling, I have not %ed such respect in a while D --› Neigh, ever, in fact D --› Perhaps I have at last found what I have been 100king for D --› Polite company among the commoner drivel at la

D --› I D --› Hm D --› Such di%ussion feels inappropriate for civilized conversation D --› Perhaps the topic you wish to discuss is classifiable as a more D --› Hrk D --› 100d nature

:33 < soooo do y

D --› Yes D --› I require a towel D --› These ruffians are attempting to rile me up D --› The continued inaccessibility of the e%ercise room shall be my bane

[agent-birdnoises]

why are there always so many fanfic ideas in your head and yet so little time to write them all?? 😭

[autisticlancemcclain]

Beast.

That’s how everyone describes him. Town to town, village to village, whispered voices describing Prince Keith’s roaring temper and snarling fury. The manners of a lone wolf and attitude of an angry grizzly bear, those are the rumours. He’s vile, he’s mean, he’s ugly and horrible and rude.

And Lance is supposedly engaged to the asshole.

To be wed.

Is this really what he has to look forward to, in life? Trading himself away for his future husband's riches, essentially? A life of luxury and opulence in exchange for his soul? He might as well make a deal with the devil. He might be able to stay at home, then.

“We’re here,” Marco says softly. He pulls on the reins, stopping Blue – the McClain's horse – in front of the impossibly tall iron gates. He swings off the saddle, landing soundly on his feet before reaching up a hand to help Lance.

Lance snarls at him, heaving himself off himself and stepping away from his brother, busying himself with stroking Blue’s broad, soft nose.

“Lance,” Marco tries, sighing heavily. “C’mon. I know it’s not…ideal, but it’s a castle, right? I know you’ve always wanted to live in a castle.”

Lance grits his teeth, keeping his back to his brother. Rage makes his hands shake and clench where they’re wrapped around Blue’s mane, so he forces himself to relax.

“You don’t know anything about what I want. None of you do. None of you care enough to know.”

“Lance, stop it. You have to know that none of us wanted this –”

“There are four things I know, brother,” Lance spits, finally turning to face him. Marco starts at the anger in Lance’s expression, the vitriol in his tone. Lance stalks forward, and Marco takes a small step back on reflex. “I know that the town gathered to choose one young person to be engaged to the prince, as is custom.”

He takes another step, but this time Marco stays where he is.

“I know that every single person in the town, man and woman and child, made their vote.”

He takes one final step, milimeters between him and his brother, jabbing his finger into his chest. Marco remains where he stands, face stony.

“I know that there are nine other people besides me in my family. And I know that there were only three people in the entire village who didn’t vote for me.”

Finally his face crumples, anger finally giving way to the pain churning in his chest.

“I know that six of you at least decided I wasn’t worth keeping. And for that, you’re all dead to me.”

Marco says nothing. His face remains impassive, not even a glint of sympathy or even pity in his eyes. Nothing but stoicism. Lance thinks of how his mother had already had a bag packed for him when the results of the lottery were made public, how she wouldn’t look him in the eyes. How his father wasn’t even home to see him off. How he wasn’t allowed to see his niece and nephew one final time. How he heard his siblings arguing over who would have to escort him to the castle, how Marco had drawn the short straw.

His heart hardens in his chest. He averts his eyes, wiping his cheeks. He’s only embarrassing himself.

Lance wraps his hands around Blue’s reigns and guides her to the gates with him. “I’m taking Blue.”

“Wait, Lance, you can’t –”

Fitting, that Marco speaks now.

“Consider it my dowry,” Lance snaps, and slams the gate behind him.

He ignores Marco’s calling, taking the first turn he sees on the cobblestone paths to finally duck out of his brother’s sights. Marco won’t follow him past the castle’s gate, anyway, but he’ll give up faster if he can’t see Lance, and Lance is tired of hearing him. He deserves the walk home, anyway. Lance hopes it takes him a couple days. Maybe he’ll send Blue back when he’s in a better mood.

If he’s ever in a better mood. Seeing that he’s basically locked into a fancy prison for the rest of time, now.

“C’mon, Blue,” Lance mutters, tugging her along. She noses gently at the back of his neck, but trots along happily. “Let’s find you a stable or something, huh? I’m sure a fuckin’ stone from the ground of this place is worth the entire town. If they don’t have a stable, I'm rioting.”

Lance keeps grumbling as he guides Blue along random paths, stumbling over poorly-kept paths overgrown with roots and vines. “Some place this is, huh, Blue? Our cluttered kitchen is more organised than this place. What kind of rich asshole prince doesn’t pay a groundskeeper, or something? Weirdo.”

Blue neighs at him, looking at him in a way that’s almost chastising, if a damn horse can look chastising.

“I’m allowed to call him names! He’s basically forcing me to marry him because he’s too horrible for anyone to fall in love naturally!”

At another one of Blue’s looks, Lance huffs, kicking a random rock off into the distance. “Yeah, yeah, okay. I’ll be nice. But, like, proportionally. I’m not going to kiss his royal ass, or anything. I’ll just refrain from kicking him when I’m so inclined.”

This time Blue’s whinny is almost amused.

Lance maybe needs to see if there’s someone his age around here to make friends with, or something. He’s going batty if his only friend’s a damn horse.

“Oh, hey, that looks like a stable. No other horses, though. And how old is that hay?” Lance pokes at the pile, which disintegrates to nothing at his touch. “Well, that’s not very welcoming. What kind of castle can’t afford some decent hay?” He guides Blue gently into one of the admittedly spacious stable stalls, carefully untying her saddle and harness and hanging it on the wall. He guides her head into a thankfully full water trough, and then sets off in search of some food for her. He hums quietly as he peeks his head in each of the other stalls, then steps outside of the stable. “There’s gotta be something somewhere.”

But there really isn’t. Lance must look for twenty minutes before he finally gets frustrated, stomping back to Blue’s stall with his hands on his hips.

“This stupid place is barren,” he tells her. She lifts her head from the water for a moment to neigh softly at him, nudging him gently. He presses a kiss in between her eyes, then pats her on the side before stepping to the side. “I’ll find you something, though,” he assures. “I’ll be back in a bit, okay? I’m gonna poke around ‘til I find somebody.”

He takes his time strolling around the castle grounds, whistling to himself and poking through every door he finds. He finds several garden sheds full of old, rusty tools, and several gardens that are completely overgrown with weeds. Every window he looks through is so caked with dust and cobwebs that he can barely make out anything. Every side door has a lock that’s completely rusted shut.

“Am I in the wrong castle, or something?” he mutters to himself. All earlier feelings have completely faded in favour of confusion. He may not know much about princes and royalty and riches, or whatever, but he’s relatively certain that most castles don’t look so…run down. Tired. Old.

Abandoned.

Finally he makes his way around to what must be the front entrance, with doors several dozen times the size of him. He runs his fingers over the grain of the wood, feeling a surface much rougher than he expected, like wood that hasn’t been oiled in years. Several rose briars grow across the door, holding it shut. Lance has to jog back to one of the garden sheds and use a dull pair of garden shears to hack them away. (He feels bad for destroying such beautiful plants, but decides he’ll save the buds and make a flower crown for Blue later. She looks adorable in pink, so she’ll look like a horse fit for a prince once Lance has finished braiding the roses into her mane.)

He’s expecting the door to be jammed shut, like all the others he tried, so he gives it a very hefty shove to try to encourage it to open.

And then lands on his ass with a yelp when the door opens easily.

“I love my life,” he announces to no one but the dank, dark entryway. “It is so wonderful here. First I get married off to some rando without any input, and then this entire stupid castle exists. If one more bad thing happens to me I am going to simply cry until I dry out like a salami, and then I shall allow myself to be eaten by crows.”

Lance swears he hears a muffled giggle.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

No response.

“Okay, I’m a little kooky, but definitely not so much that I’m imagining people laughing at my truly excellent jokes. I won’t bite, you know. And I promise I’m very charming and only a little miserable about my situation.”

There’s another giggle. He’s sure of it, this time. He tries to follow the sound, but it doesn’t really get him anywhere, because this stupid castle apparently decided to splurge on the creepy and imposing factor and skimp on all the lighting. He stumbles forward, hands outstretched, seeing if he can find an oil lamp or something. Hell, even a stick he can light with the scattered matches he has in his bag. He finally finds what feels like a table of some sort, and runs his fingers over it – grimacing at the thick layer of dust – until he finds what he thinks is a candelabra, which is hilarious. The place can’t afford a rag to wipe off the surfaces, but it can afford a real-life candelabra.

“I hate rich people,” Lance says mildly, striking the match on the rough door and lighting the three half-melted candles.

“Careful with that match, kiddo. This place is really flammable.”

Lance shrieks, throwing the candelabra – the living candelabra! The talking candelabra! What the fresh fuck! – to the ground and scrambling backwards. The candelabra clatters to the ground with a curse – what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck – rolling a couple feet before straightening itself out and bending its arms to its centre as a man might bend his arms to put at his waist.

The candelabra has a face, in the wax.

“What the fuck is going on,” Lance whimpers. The candelabra’s face seems to soften. Lance fights back hysterical laughter at his own mental pun, even though it’s objectively hilarious. It’s not the time. Now is the time to freak the fuck out.

“Hey, hey, take a breather,” the candelabra says. It has a deep, smooth voice, that makes Lance think of those shiny knights in the stories his Abuela used to tell him.

“You are a talking candle,” Lance responds.

The candelabra huffs. (Can the candelabra huff? Does the candelabra have lungs to huff, or is it just an attitude thing? Did Lance hit his head on the way to the castle ground, and is now dreaming?)

“My name is Shiro,” the candelabra says. He smiles softly. “You must be the fiancé.”

Lance decides, right in this moment, that he’s just going to accept his weird delusions until he wakes up. It can’t hurt, right? Nothing can be worse than being married off to Some Guy, prince or no.

“That would be me,” Lance says, trying and failing to keep the bitterness out of his tone. “Mail-order bride, at your service.” Shiro makes a face, wax eyebrows furrowing, so Lance decides to take pity on him. “Yes, I’m the fiancé. My name is Lance.”

“It’s good to meet you, Lance.” Shiro blows out the candle on one of his arms and holds it out. Lance shakes it, wary of the hot wax. It’s not Shiro’s fault Lance is in this garbage situation. “I’m sorry there was no one here to greet you. Over the years we’ve gotten a little…lax, in our hospitality.”

“That would explain the general air of despair and misery.”

Shiro laughs again, brightly and fully. “You’re a witty one, aren’t you?”

“So I’ve been told. My suitors lined up along the block, you know. I’m sure Prince Keith had to fight them off with his bare hands. Shame he ditched before we could be properly acquainted. I suppose we have the rest of our lives to get to know each other.”

“I’m sure it’s not proper for me to laugh at jokes at the expense of my Prince,” Shiro says, in a way that tells Lance he is holding back giggles.

Lance is very proud of himself. He may never be the smartest or strongest person in the room, but he’ll be damned if he’s not the funniest.

“I’ll wear you down eventually,” Lance says, waving a dismissive hand. “Now, do I get to meet the coathanger butler and duster french maid, or are you the only talking furniture?”

———

next chapter

[sylviesoothsayer22]

Lured Deep Beneath The Waves (Teaser)

He Xuan x Wei Ying

Premise: Mortal Fisherman!WWX is used as his village’s sacrificial bride in order to appease Water Demon Xuan. It was originally supposed to be Jiang Yanli, but the wife of the village head, Madame Yu, decided that WWX should switch with her beloved daughter (without his input, of course).

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a teaser for the main fic (which is about 80% done). I'll be posting the HeXian work once it's edited and complete.

He would’ve done it had she just asked. Madame Yu really didn’t need to go through all the trouble.

By the heavens, if this backfires, he’ll haunt Madame Yu for the rest of her miserable life.

Wei Ying just hoped that jiejie was alright.

Ignoring the pins and needles running up and down his legs, Wei Ying shifted into a more comfortable position and decided to pass the time by squinting through his bridal veil, counting the stars. 

He was on star number thirteen when it suddenly disappeared, like a candle flame swiftly blown out. One by one, the stars winked out of existence, the shadows shaping the moon into a crescent drew back like soundless curtains, until it resembled a great, lone pearl stitched upon endless black cloth. The crashing waves slowly fell into a murmur and Wei Ying was left with his own blood pounding into his eardrums.

SPLAT!

He startled. Back going ramrod straight. 

SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!

Wei Ying felt his body break out in cold sweat. Adam’s apple painfully bobbing as he swallowed.

Someone or some thing was climbing up the cliff.

Wei Ying slammed his eyes shut and started doing what he hadn’t done in years. Pray.

Who should he be praying to?! The Flower Crowned Martial God? No. That doesn’t make any sense. He could hardly call himself a cultivator let alone a warrior.

Should he pray to Crimson Rain for luck? Best not. The Ghost King was pretty finicky and he might end up displeasing Black Water if he started praying to a rival Calamity.

Water Master Shi Wudu? Oh, now Wei Ying was asking for eternal torture. It’s no secret that Water Master and Demon Xuan had a rivalry as tumultuous as a ship caught in a malstrom. 

Which of the thousands of negligent, apathetic gods is more likely to show Wei Ying a shred of pity? Maybe-

An overwhelming coldness washed over Wei Ying, as if he had just been doused with seawater, the wetness seeping into his skin. Whatever breath he had in his lungs was viciously expelled.

He didn’t need to open his eyes to know that the figure had stopped just a foot away from him. 

…….

Thanks for reading.

Stay tuned for the full work~

[kalmiaphlox]

Till Lies Break Our Hearts Masterlist

Kalmiaphlox - Ao3

Master-Masterlist

Summary:

I am Astarion Szarr. Who I was before is dead and gone. Don't talk too much. Don't smile with your teeth. Don't be you. - A vampire spawn subservient to his master's will, Astarion is forcefully married off to the Zau'viir's, a reclusive noble family living on the outskirts of Baldur's Gate. Expecting a cold reception as a sacrificial lamb, Astarion is stunned to find a household filled with laughter and warmth from everyone - except his new wife. How is he supposed to bend her to his side when she holds him at a distance? Cazador expects a steady flow of family secrets, but Astarion is realizing that the mines beneath the Zau'viir manor are shallow compared to what this family is hiding. Arranged Marriage AU set before BG3's events.

Pairing: Astarion x Named Tav/OFC

Rating: Mature, but may change to Explicit

Main Tags: Arranged Marriage, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Vampires, Drow Culture, Family Secrets, Angst, Trauma, Eventual Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Pre-Canon

Chapter 1: Bound Together

Chapter 2: In-Laws

Chapter 3: First Look

Chapter 4: So Below

Chapter 5: A Family Affair

Chapter 6: Burnt Out

Chapter 7: A New Experience

Chapter 8: Drunk On A Rhythm

Chapter 9: A Feast For All

Chapter 10: Drain You Of The Mourning

Chapter 11: Oblivion for Two

Chapter 12: Eyes Lazy For The Truth

Chapter 13: I Don't Wanna Do This Anymore

Shortfics:

Damn, this is what it feels like to be you? - Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

I really like her face, OK?

Hircine by @/amalhin

Hircine by @/nikadraws

Hircine by @/goromimii

Hircine by @/niye481