#amber hal

[ggblasts]

Spotted: Hal Williams, the ever-supportive boyfriend, at another one of Amber West's shows last night. That’s right, Upper East Siders, our guy Hal is officially becoming a regular in the front row, cheering on his musical queen. And honestly? We’re proud of him for stepping up and showing what it means to be a supportive partner. Amber’s been slaying her tour, but having Hal there for moral support is just the icing on the cake.

This marks Hal’s second (or is it third?) time being seen at Amber’s shows, and it’s got us all asking the same question: Is Hal officially part of the tour crew? Or will he eventually make his way back to college? While balancing school and a rockstar girlfriend can’t be easy, Hal seems to be handling it like a pro. But the real question is—how long can he keep up the double life of boyfriend and student?

Amber, of course, looked as radiant as ever, performing to a packed crowd. But it was her beaming smile when she spotted Hal in the audience that really caught our eye. Could these two be any more adorable? We know Hal’s used to the books and lectures, but he’s looking pretty comfortable among the stage lights and amps. Is Amber rubbing off on him, or are we seeing a new side of Hal entirely?

It’s hard not to root for these two, especially since Hal’s been making such a visible effort to support Amber while she’s living her dream. While most college guys are caught up in campus life, Hal’s out here chasing stages instead of grades. We can’t help but wonder if this is just the beginning of his cross-country tour with Amber, or if he’ll soon be packing his bags to head back to school. Either way, he’s made it clear where his heart lies.

And don’t think we haven’t noticed the two sneaking away for quiet moments backstage after the shows. Whether it’s a quick kiss or a congratulatory hug, it’s obvious that these two are stronger than ever. Could we be witnessing the beginning of a real power couple? Hal and Amber may come from different worlds, but they’re making it work in ways that have even the skeptics rooting for them.

For now, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more Hal sightings in Amber’s audience. Will he stick around for the rest of the tour? Or will campus life call him back? Either way, we’ve got a soft spot for these two lovebirds.

XOXO, Gossip Girl.

@halxwilliams @amberwest

[vortship]

Hal's thoughts on dinosaurs?

send me questions you have about my character!

Good question! I guess this can go multiple different ways depending on where she hears about dinosaurs. Hal doesn't have a great filter when it comes to where she's getting her information from, so if she's on say, the Swollen Eyeball Network and reads and article about them having never existed, she might go and run with that. Otherwise, she'd probably think they're really neat! And it'll probably lead to a new hyperfixation movie: Jurassic Park.

[househrt]

househrt's Non-Physically Hurt fic rec list

Fic recs where Wilson and/or House is emotionally/mentally hurt (obligatory: mind the content warnings/tags). I've tried to tag authors' tumblrs where they exist, but pls tell me if I've missed any!

Hurt!Wilson and Hurt!House

Involuntary Commitment by ignaz Creator's summary: House heads to rehab. Things go pretty much as well as you'd expect. Rec notes: 42k. Established Hilson (established in this fic, where they get married for Reasons). Wilson is sad and lonely, House is in rehab and detoxing. They both (separately) get dragged to therapy, as god knows they need

and i fight time (it won in a landslide) by vadeofspades Creator's summary: But the image of Wilson eating the garden, the morning sun on his aged face, the wind in his fully gray hair, and the smile, on his cracked, ever so slightly cyanotic lips, is enough. It has to be. It is time with Wilson. They got five months. Then they got two weeks. Now they have one day. On Wilson's final day, House gets stuck in a time loop. Rec notes: 6.6k. Hilson. Time loop on Wilson's last day. Made me sob

hail mary by ictus Creator's summary: House can't let go. Rec notes: 12.8k. Hilson getting together. House doesn't accept Wilson's diagnosis, and does morally dubious medicine to try and fix it. Made me cry (not a death fic)

Hurt!House

my blood is water with red dye i'm hollowed out with nothing inside by wishbone Creator's summary: What happens after House tells Cuddy he's not okay. Rec notes: 1.1k. Pre-Hilson. 5x24 missing scene. House is hallucinating, crying, and Wilson takes him to Mayfield

Being There by Flywoman Creator's summary: When things get bad, he’s all you can count on. But when things get really bad, it’s impossible to be certain even of him. Missing scenes from 5X24, “Both Sides Now.” Rec notes: 1.9k. Gen. House is hallucinating, having a bad time, and Wilson looks after him

At the Violet Hour by Topaz_Eyes Creator's summary: Wilson's done some hard things in his life. This counts among the hardest. Rec notes: 2.1k. Gen. 5x24 missing scene. Wilson taking House to Mayfield

my armor falls apart by orphan_account Creator's summary: Unintentional touches from Wilson made House realize just how touch-starved he was, but he’d be damned if he ever showed it. Wilson catches on and cares for House when he starts to spiral. Rec notes: 8.8k. Hilson getting together. Touch-starved!House is lonely and sleepy and sad. Wilson is concerned and caring and they're soft together :)))

the amber bracelet by blackbeardskneebrace Creator's summary: The woman laughed, her red glossed lips parting and outstretched her hand. “Rina.” “Hou-” House went to take her hand and froze. Hanging off the wrist of her proffered hand was a bracelet, translucent and honeyed. “Hal?” She asked, brow furrowed, confused at this sudden shift and the hand that stopped inches before hers, now trembling. House got up, gripping his cane tightly and taking a step before mumbling, “I have to go,” over his shoulder leaving both Wilson and Rina bewildered. or: House gets triggered by someone's amber jewelry Rec notes: 1.5k. Gen. House has a panic attack and feels guilty about it

'Samson's Mistress Cut His Hair, Thus Removing His Strength' by Sparklesinthewater Creator's summary: Set in season 3. Stacy doesn't come back. Tritter doesn't interfere. But the drugs and the infarction keep getting House into trouble anyway. Wilson is trying his best (but his best may not be what's best for House). Or: House gets himself a girlfriend. Life goes downhill from there. Rec notes: 129k. Hilson getting together. House is in an abusive relationship with an OC, Wilson is well-intentioned but keeps doing the wrong thing (for a while), House suffers

help me (make it through the night) by vadeofspades Creator's summary: It is Wilson who arrives at House's apartment when he almost relapses. Rec notes: 3k. Hilson getting together. Emotionally hurt!House

and you're trying not to tell him that you love him by Anonymous Creator's summary: House finally registered two hands holding his face so softly it was like they were afraid he’d break. He wasn’t just staring at the bathroom tiles anymore, either. Now there was a body in front of him; rumpled shirt, slacks, dress shoes. A familiar tie he remembered hating. He hadn’t even heard the front door open. He held himself back from yelling. It’s not as if he didn’t want Wilson here. Christ, House thinks he’s the only person besides maybe Cuddy who he’d tolerate at that moment. But seeing him ached. aka what if it was Wilson who showed up at the end of 6x22? and also what if there was even more pining and near missed kisses? Rec notes: 2k. Hilson getting together. Hurt!House

Machete by orphan_account Creator's summary: After the events of One Day One Room, House makes a drunken confession. Wilson turns to Chase for advice. Rec notes: 5.6k. Established Hilson. Wilson learning about and (poorly at first) dealing with House's past trauma

Now What? by mnwood Creator's summary: With Wilson only having five months left to live and House faking his own death to avoid going back to prison, they hit the road with the goal of going to as many national parks as possible. Thinking it's now or never, they get together. Then, Wilson doesn't die. Rec notes: 21k. Hilson getting together. Post-canon road trip, jealous!House

Hurt!Wilson

Control by apographical Creator's summary: All of his life Wilson has felt powerless, out of control. After the whole debacle with Tritter he decides to take control in the one way he can, his diet. Rec notes: 6.6k. Hilson getting together. Trans Wilson has an eating disorder, House is caring (in a canon-typical way)

Illusions to Live By by willywonka3435 Creator's notes: Wilson kills himself slowly. No one notices. Rec notes: 4.2k. Gen/Hilson. Wilson has an eating disorder, House helps (in a canon-typical way)

the arms of the ocean delivered me by RMarie124 Creator's summary: "People are talking around him, but Wilson barely registers what they’re saying. He should be paying more attention, he knows he should. He’s the head of the department, and it’s his responsibility to listen and be the compassionate, patient, caring man they’ve all come to know. The man they expect. That man is nowhere in sight. He hasn’t been for days." Rec notes: 2.4k. Hilson getting together ish. Wilson is depressed, dissociating and vaguely suicidal

thumb, index, palm by PaintedVanilla Creator's summary: Wilson takes his mood levelers. He takes his antidepressants. He has has good days and he has great days and fine days and okay days. He has bad days. He has abhorrent days. Some days he’d like to curl up in House’s arms and be talked off the edge. But he can’t ask for that. He has no reason to be on the edge in the first place. Rec notes: 4.1k. Established Hilson. Past child abuse (Wilson). Wilson has BPD and has a bad time that he (attempts to) hide from House, who runs a DDX on him, trying to figure out his trauma

pills & drinks don't mix by cafewrites Creator's summary: Wilson glances at their glasses stained with alcohol and suddenly remembers his psychiatrist’s words. "Anti-depressants don’t mix well with alcohol," she had warned. "I recommend you lay off drinking until your body grows accustomed to the medication." Rec notes: 1.1k. Hilson getting together ish. Wilson having bad side effects/reactions from drinking on anti-depressants. House helps (in a canon-typical way)

Like Cinnamon and Sunflower Oil by Reddish_Wolf Creator's summary: He could still feel her last breath, warm on his skin, still remembered the grip of her hands on his arm. Wilson pressed his face into her neck, clutching at the hospital gown around her shoulders. OR Amber is dead, and Wilson is great at coping /sar Rec notes: 2.5k. Wamber and Hilson. Grieving Wilson having a bad time feat. canon-compliant hurt!House

Camel's back by fayding_fast Creator's summary: Everyone has a breaking point. Rec notes: 1.4k. Gen. Wilson has a mental breakdown and dissociates (continues in this series)

Three Months by willywonka3435 Creator's summary: "Three months," he said. "Three months since anyone's--" And Wilson's voice trailed away. He knew House didn't go for that kind of thing, and it was a ridiculous admission under the best of circumstances. Rec notes: 3k. Hilson getting together. Touch-starved!Wilson and House who cares in a canon-typical way :))))

Here and Now by hoppa12345 Creator's summary: Set before 1.10 Histories. Wilson has a panic attack. His trigger: losing people. Rec notes: 1.4k. Gen. Wilson freaks out, House helps

Don't Touch Me by OneLastTime (this is me. hi) Creator's summary: James Wilson hates physical contact. It makes his skin itch, his teeth vibrate, and he needs to shake his hands out to remove the residue from the touch. People keep touching him and he wants to scream. Rec notes: 2.3k. Gen/Pre-Hilson. Wilson is austistic, trans, touch-averse and having a very bad time about it

i keep so quiet (it's hard to tell i'm alive) by itooaminthisepisode (anarchy_opossum) Creator's summary: “You’re alone,” he mutters to himself as he paces the room, clawing at the suddenly-too-tight fabric of his tie. “He’s not here, he can’t get you, Wilson, you’re okay...” If he says it enough, maybe it’ll come true. or: A face from Wilson's past returns to haunt him. Rec notes: 1.3k. Gen. Wilson with past trauma being triggered and having a panic attack (Part of Whumptober 2024)

got a sunset in my veins by itooaminthisepisode (anarchy_opossum) Creator's summary: 'He should have seen the signs. Wilson’s been withdrawn for days now, this air of melancholy about him that House had puzzled and pondered and pestered him about to no avail. Then just yesterday he had come alive again, that ruddy flush to his cheeks and a sparkle in his eyes, and House had thought everything was right again, and they would continue on like usual. Then came the call. or: Wilson tries to kill himself. House does his best to pick up the pieces. Rec notes: <1k. Gen. Depressed!Wilson in the aftermath of a suicide attempt (Part of Whumptober 2024)

at the rind by ShanaStoryteller Creator's summary: Wilson keeps having nightmares about House dying. They feel more like memories. Rec notes: 18k. Hilson getting together. Panicky, stressed Wilson dreaming about House dying (in all the ways he almost/could've died in canon).

[feel free to send me fics you think should be on this list and I may add them. The rest of my fic rec lists are here. Last updated 05 October 2024]

[kteezy997]

The Lady in Waiting-Part Two//King Hal

“Join you for tea?” you asked. You didn’t understand, you were part of the staff. The King was used to hosting other royalty. This was completely against traditional custom.

“Yes, please. I would be delighted to have your company.” he said.

You took a moment to register the situation that had arisen. Ultimately, you would not dare refuse the King, nor did you want to. “Of course, your Majesty.”

Henry smiled, his eyes tired but still pleasantly kind. “Right this way.”

This felt entirely backward. But you followed him to the drawing room. There was fresh tea set out for him. You realized that this was most likely an every night routine for him.

“Now, since you work so closely with my fiancé, you’re practically family. I’d like to think that you and I could become great friends.” Henry picked up the tea pot, pouring the steaming amber liquid into two cups. “And as such, I’d love for you to call me ‘Hal.’ All of those who are dearest to me do so.”

You blushed, hoping he would not notice as he handed one of the teacups to you. “Thank you, my lord. If you insist, then I shall call you Hal.”

He gave you another friendly grin, “Please, let us sit down.” he motioned for you to sit down and he did the same.

You felt strange, not because of Hal, but you could not recall if you had ever ‘had tea’ or any personal visit with anyone before. This was uncharted territory for you.

“So, tell me, how did you come to work for the Princess?” Hal asked, taking a sip of his tea.

"Oh, Hal, I would hate to bore you. I am certain you'd not find anything I have to say very interesting. You are the King, you speak with so many interesting people. I would be nothing in comparison, I am sure."

Hal shrugged. "Well, I am interested. Do you think that because you are a servant, your life has less meaning than others? Sure, am the King, but I am no more special or interesting than you are, y/n. Now please, tell me about yourself." he insisted.

You took a breath. You did not really know what to say. No one had ever asked you about yourself before, not even Lady Sophia. "My mother was a housekeeper for the family of the Princess' cousin. She got me this job years ago when Lady Sophia and I were both teenagers."

He nodded, "Were you able to get any schooling?"

"I was, but I had to quit school to work for the Princess full-time."

"Do you ever refer to her as just Sophia?"

You shook your head, "No, Your Majesty. The Princess can be dear, but it has always been clear that I work for her, and we are not friends."

Hal's face softened a bit as he gave a slight nod and looked down. "Hm, what does the Princess like to do? What does she do to fill her days?"

"Well, she likes to cross-stitch. She likes to have guests over for tea." you said, simply.

He nodded, tilting his head little bit to the side, "And you, Miss y/n?"

You blushed, not quite knowing how to interpret the way he was currently looking at you. "What about me, Hal?" you asked.

"What do you like to do? Outside of taking care of Sophia, of course." the corners of his lips turned slightly upward.

You hesitated, as this did not come naturally to you. But there was something about Hal that made you feel safe and secure. He had taken his relaxation time to get to know you, and you thought that had to mean something. "I love to read, to go for walks, and ride horses, if I am able." you smiled, thinking of the little things that brought joy to your life. You found yourself lost in thought as you watched the way Hal's lips gently latched onto the rim of his teacup as he took a drink.

"Does Sophia like to ride?" he inquired.

"Oh, no." you shook your head, looking idly down at your cup in your hands. "No, she prefers to stay inside whenever possible. She was gifted a horse from her parents when she was young, heaven knows why." you laughed. "The Princess does not like to get dirty, or be in the sun for too long, or to go out in the cold. And she absolutely despises bugs." you spoke plainly. You did not dislike Lady Sophia, but you truly had nothing in common with her.

"Well," he began, leaning back to relax in his chair, "perhaps one day soon, I'll take you out riding. It is beautiful scenery here, you will see."

You smiled, feeling grateful for his thinking of you, "That is too kind of you, Your Majesty. But I do not wish to distract you from your royal engagements. I am certain you already have enough to occupy your time."

He waved his hand, "Nonsense. I could use a little distraction." He looked into your eyes, let out a soft breath. There was a calmness between you, a high level of comfort that you did not know could be achieved.

You had never felt so at peace, but also so nervous at the same time. For a moment, you did not feel as if you were in the presence of a King, but just sitting and having tea with a man named Hal. A smart, kind, thoughtful, and not to mention handsome man.

"I like you, y/n, I hope that we will be friends for a long time indeed."

You felt warmth in your cheeks and fluttering in your chest, what on earth was this feeling? "I hope so too." you agreed.

"You mentioned that you like a good book?" he questioned, standing up and approaching you.

You looked up at him, surprised he had gotten so close. You nodded, thinking that perhaps you should back away from him. This could be perceived as a scandalous position.

"Come with me." he instructed, taking your hand.

You stood up with him, feeling as though you were in a dream. A man was touching you. Lady Sophia would be enraged if she knew her fiancé was holding the hand of another woman. And her own lady in waiting, no less!

Hal led you by the hand to the next room. Once he lit a candle, shelves and shelves of books were illuminated.

He released your hand, allowing you to roam around the room. You were stunned. You had never seen so many books in one place before. Not even in the library back home.

"Oh, this is absolutely magnificent! I cannot believe you own this many books." you marveled.

"You are welcome in here anytime you wish. Take whatever book you would like."

"Thank you. I am in heaven, truly." you admitted, smiling at Hal.

He smiled back at you, adding, "This room overlooks the garden." He walked over to the windows, "It allows for a lovely view as you take a break from reading."

You were only a couple of paces apart from him. "This is one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me."

"Oh, it is nothing, y/n. I'll be glad that these books may no longer spend their lives collecting dust." he turned to you.

Just then, you noticed how dark the night sky was behind him. "Oh, it is getting rather late, my lord. I must be getting to bed."

"Mm-hm." he nodded, his gaze lowering. "As should I."

Seconds of silence passed. You felt a strange gravitational pull on your body. Something was pushing you toward him. It was like it was not even your own doing. You stepped closer.

"Y/n." Hal said, his voice just at a whisper. His green eyes had gone from your eyes to your lips, then back up to your eyes again.

You felt a lump in your throat. You blinked and then he put his arms around you in a quick motion. He leaned in close to your face, letting his nose touch yours. You gasped. “Hal.” you said softly, feeling weak.

“Tell me to stop, and I will stop.” he said, his voice taking on a husky tone.

You could not speak. You let him brush his lips on yours. “Please. Kiss me.” you said, your breath on his lips. You felt a need that you had never experienced in your life.

Hal needed nothing else from you, he captured your lips. His mouth was soft as he pressed his lips to yours.

You kissed him back. You could not believe you were kissing the King. The King! Oh, Lady Sophia. You pulled away from Hal. “No! We cannot do this. This is wrong.” you were careful to keep your voice down.

“You are right. I am so sorry. It was my fault.” Hal pleaded, scrambling for his words.

“Let us just forget this and go to bed. Yes, I think we should do that.” you said, out of breath.

“Yes, yes, that is a good idea.” he nodded. “I will see you tomorrow?” he searched your eyes.

You knew that he was strongly hoping that you weren’t angry at him, that things were not ruined.

“Yes. Tomorrow, my lord.” you promised.

@gatoenlaciudad @thebetawolfgirl @musicandbooksaremyhappyplace @softhecreator @tchalamss @lixzey @bitchyunknownuser @ducktapebar @aoi-targaryen @yukideadinside @elloise0 @thatoneweirdgirl17 @mel-vaz @sammy-halpert @iwishchalamet @that-one-fangirl69 @jindongdongie @briefkittenearthquake @imnotoverlyobsessive

[lolahauri]

✎ Introduction ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Requests are always open, and you can send as many as you want, as detailed as you want! I just get to them whenever i can/feel like it.

Anon's: 🌹-🕯️-🍁-❤️-🎴-

Other Accounts: @lolas-favfics @lolamultifandom @lolahaurisfw @chowderpop @lolaloa777

AO3: Here

Get To Know Me: Here

Boundaries: Flirting, nicknames, tmi, spam are all okay.😛Just don't copy or repost my stuff. Translations or taking inspo is fine w cred. <3

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DNI: MAP, ZOO, Pro-Para, Pro-Ana, TERF, Zionist, Bigots, Minors!!!, Discourse Blogs. ❤️🖤🤍💚

Things I Won't Write: ❌

Sex Crimes of Any Kind, Super Violent/Xtreme Kinks, Inflation, Feederism, Abuse, Puke, Shit, DDLG, Age Play, Raceplay, Wound Fucking, Gore, Vore, Misgendering/Detrans, CBT, Sounding, Fisting, Gunplay, Drugging, Stepcest etc...

Things I Will Write: ✔️

Genderbent Characters, Mild Yandere, Daddy/Mommy Kink, Cheating, Mild BDSM, CNC, Dubcon, Monsters, Hybrids, Sex Pollen, Legal Age Gap, Power Imbalance (Prof/Student, Boss/Employee), Feet, Armpits, Piss, Breeding, Mild Blood/Knifeplay, Cock Warming, Dry Humping, Voyeur, Public Sex, Orgy, 3somes, Sex Toys, Overstim, Edging, etc... etc... :P

Trans Reader, Tall/Short Reader, Chubby/Curvy/Fat/Buff Reader, Other Specific Characteristics. ✔️

Ch x Ch / Ch x Reader / Ch x OC / OC x Reader / Poly Ships of any kind.

F/F, M/M, F/M, GN/F, GN/M, Poly Ships of any kind.

Now that that's out of the way, here's the list of fandoms and characters i'm familiar with and will happily take requests on! (you can request other characters from these fandoms, but it might take me longer!)

Adventure Time/Fiona & Cake: PB, Marceline, Marshall Lee, Winter King, Candy Queen, Simon, Ice King, Fiona.

Attack On Titan: Armin, Eren, Mikasa, Sasha, Levi, Hanji, Annie, Historia, Reiner, Erwin, Ymir. 

Avatar: Jake, Neytiri.

Batman Begins Triology: Batman, Catwoman, Bane, Joker, Scarecrow.

Bee & Puppycat: Bee, Deckard, Cass, Toast.

BigBang Theory: Raj, Leonard, Penny, Amy.

Black Dynamite: Honeybee, Black Dynamite.

BNA: Michiru, Shirou.

Bob’s Burgers: Bob, Linda.

Breaking Bad: Jesse, Skylar.

Call of Duty: Konig, Ghost, Mace, Keegan, Krueger, Valeria, Farah.

Creepypasta: Jeff, Jane, Ben, Toby, EJ, LJ, Slenderman, Splendorman, Clockwork, Kate, Masky, Hoodie,

Desperate Housewives: Bree, Gabi, Edie, Lynette, Carlos, John.

Dirty Dancing: Johnny, Baby.

Earth Girls Are Easy: Mac, Zeebo, Wiploc, Valerie.

Elemental: Wade, Ember.

Encanto: Isabela, Bruno, Dolores, Julieta.

FNAF Movie: Vanessa, Mike, William/Steve.

Frozen: Elsa, Anna, Kristoff.

Futurama: Leela, Fry, Amy, Bender.

Gravity Falls: Ford, Stan, Soos, Melody, Giffany, Bill.

Jane The Virgin: Jane, Michael, Petra, Luisa, Rose, Rogelio, Xiomara.

Jurassic Park (1993): Ian Malcolm, Ellie Sattler.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Gojo, Choso, Nanami, Sukuna.

King of the Hill: Hank, Peggy, Luane, Nancy, Dale, Khan, Min, John Redcorn.

Lisa Frankenstein: Lisa, Creature, Taffy.

Little Mermaid (2022): Ariel, Eric.

MHA: Dabi, Hawks, Aizawa.

Moon Knight: Moon System, Layla, Khonshu.

Mulan: Mulan, Li Shang.

National Treasure: Benjamin, Riley.

Nintendo: Link, Zelda, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Luigi, Bowser, Waluigi.

Norbit: Rasputia, Norbit.

Princess & The Frog: Tiana, Lottie, Naveen, Shadow Man.

Ratatouille: Colette, Linguini. 

Regular Show: Mordecai, Margret, Eileen, CJ, Benson.

Resident Evil: Karl Heisenberg, Carlos Oiliveria, Lady Dimitrescu.

Rick and Morty: Rick, Jerry, Beth, Doofus Rick.

Riverdale: FP Jones, Hiram.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: Kim, Ramona, Gideon, Wallace.

Scream 5: Amber, Tara, Sam.

Serial Mom: Chip, Beverly.

Silverado: Slick, Rae, Mal, Paden.

Shallow Hal: Rosemary, Hal.

Shameless: Lip, Fiona, Kev, V.

SheRa (2018): All Adults.

Sherlock (2010): Sherlock, John Watson.

Slashers & DBD: Brahms, Ghostface, Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, Pyramid Head, The Spirit, Huntress, Trapper, Wraith, Trickster, Pearl, Jennifer Check, Stu Matcher, Billy Loomis, Tiffany Valentine, Patrick Bateman, Thomas Hewitt, Vincent Sinclair, Eric Draven, The Artist, Amanda Young.

Spiderverse: Miguel, Jessica Drew.

Spongebob: Dennis, Man Ray.

Squid Games: Gi-Hun, Sae-Byeok, Ali, Sang Woo.

Steven Universe: Garnet, Amethyst, Peridot, Lapis, Jasper, Blue Diamond, Rose, Greg.

Stardew Valley: All Adult Humans (Except George & Evelyn)

Stranger Things: Robin, Billy Eddie, Chrissy, Hopper.

Supernatural: Sam, Dean, Castiel.

Super Store: Amy, Jonah, Dina, Garrett, Cheyenne.

Tangled: Flynn, Rapunzel, Mother Gothell.

The Batman (2022): Batman, Riddler.

The Breakfast Club: John Bender, Allison Reynolds.

The Nanny: C.C, Fran, Maxwell.

Total Drama Island: S1 Contestants, Chris, Chef, Blainley.

Triple Frontier: Frankie, Santiago.

Turning Red: Ming Lee, Jin Lee.

Twilight: Edward, Carlisle, Alice, Charlie.

YOU: Beck, Joe, Peach, Love.

Young Sheldon: Mary, Connie.

~

Abel Morales (A Most Violent Year)

Astarion (Baulder’s Gate 3)

Babbo Natale (Violent Night)

Barbie (Barbie 2023)

Basil Stitt (Lightning Face)

Beverly Goldberg (The Goldbergs)

Bruce (Beyond Therapy)

Charles Ingalls (Little House on the Praire)

Charlie Dompler (Smiling Friends)

Chel (Road to El Dorado)

Dale Kobble (Longlegs)

Dan Conner (Rosanne)

David Levinson (Independence Day)

Din Djarin (The Mandalorian)

Doug Remer (Baseketball)

Duke Leto Atreides (Dune)

Fezzik (Princess Bride)

Francine (American Dad)

Fujimoto (Ponyo)

Georgia Miller (Ginny & Georgia)

Jack Harrison (Translyvania 6-5000)

Jackson Rippner (Red Eye)

Jon Arbuckle (Garfield 2024)

John Doe (John Doe Game)

Jonathan Levy (Scenes from a Marriage)

John Wick (John Wick 4)

King Baldwin (Kingdom of Heaven)

Kitten (Breakfast on Pluto)

Laurent LeClaire (In Secret)

Linda Gunderson (Rio)

Llewyn Davis (Inside Lleywn Davis)

Master Chief (Halo)

Mike (5lbs of Pressure)

Moe Doodle (Doodle Bops)

Nani Palekai (Lilo & Stitch)

Nathan Bateman (Ex Machina)

Outcome-3 (The Bourne Legacy)

Orestes (Agora)

Paul Blart (Paul Blart: Mall Cop)

Paul Cable (Last Stand at Saber River)

Peggy Bundy (Married With Children)

Peter Mitchell (3 Men & A Baby)

Poe Dameron (Star Wars)

Prince John (Robin Hood 2010)

Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd (Top Gun: Maverick)

Rose Tyler (Doctor Who)

Shiv (Pu-239)

Stanley Ipkiss (The Mask)

Star-Lord (Gaurdians of the Galaxy)

Tate Langdon (AHS: Murder House)

The Janitor (Willy’s Wonderland)

Thomas Magnum (Magnum, P.I 1980)

William Tell (The Card Counter)

[halxwilliams]

"Hey, thanks for coming. I just really need someone to talk to right now." Hal said to the person who agreed to meet him. "Just when I thought everything was going back to how it was, I have miserably failed. I have upset Amber again and I know it has something to do with me being friends with Ivy." @ggstarterblog

[theladyregret]

Drow Name Tables

Something I did as a special favor to @kimmurielsscryingmirror (@eldritchmist ) who showed interest. Because it’s...pretty big I decided to make it into it’s own post.

These are a few Drow naming tables that were originally found in an issue of Dragon Magazine. It’s two d100 tables of prefixes and suffixes commonly used in first names. The second couple of tables is a list of common house name prefixes and suffixes.

EDIT: Just a little something for those who care which I didn’t add before because it took me so long to finish the transcription I just wanted to post it lol. The gender difference is noted in the related Dragon Magazine article as being significant. Non Drow may not notice but a Drow will notice the difference. Female names sometimes borrow parts that are normally only considered male and this is considered fine...but a male with a name that borrows a typically only female part would be seen as extremely taboo.

Prefix (Female/Male) - Meaning

Akor/Alak                 beloved, best, first

Alaun/Alton             lightning, powerful

Aly/Kel                     legendary, singing, song

Ang/Adin                  beast, monstrous, savage

Ardul/Amal               blessed, divine, godly

Aun/Ant                   crypt, dead, deadly, death

Bae/Bar                      fate, fated, luck, lucky

Bal/Bel                       burned, burning, fire, flame

Belar/Bruh                 arrow, lance, piercing

Briz/Berg                    graceful, fluid, like water

Bur/Bhin                     craft, crafty, sly

Chal/Chasz                earth, stable

Char/Kron                  sick, venom, venomed

Chess/Cal                  noble, lady/lord

Dhaun                          infested, plague

Dil/Dur                         cold, ice, still

Dirz/Div                       dream, dreaming, fantasy

Dris/Riz                        ash, dawn, east, eastern

Eclav/Elk                      chaos, mad, madness

Elvan/Kalan                 elf, elven, far, lost

Elv/Elaug                     drow, mage, power

Erel/Rhyl                      eye, moon, spy

Ethe/Erth                    mithril, resolute

Faer/Selds                   oath, sworn, vow

Felyn/Fil                       pale, thin, weak, white

Filf/Phar                     dwarf, dwarven, treacherous

Gauss/Orgoll              dread, fear, feared, vile

G'eld                              friend, spider  

Ghuan                           accursed, curse, unlucky

Gin/Din                         berserk, berserker, orc, wild

Grey/Gul                       ghost, pale, unliving

Hael/Hatch                   marked, trail, way

Hal/Sol                           deft, nimble, spider-like  

Houn/Rik                       magic, ring, staff

Iiv/Dip                             liege, war, warrior

Iim                                   life, living, spirit, soul

Illiam/Im                         devoted, heart, love

In/Sorn                           enchanted, spell

Ilph                                  emerald, green, lush, tree

Irae/Ilzt                           arcane, mystic, wizard

Irr/Izz                               hidden, mask, masked

Iym/Ist                            endless, immortal  

Jan/Duag                       shield, warded

Jhael/Gel                       ambitious, clan, kin, family

Jhul/Jar                         charmed, rune, symbol

Jys/Driz                         hard, steel, unyielding

Lael/Llt                           iron, west, western

Lar/Les                          binding, bound, law, lawful

LiNeer/Mourn            legend, legendary, mythical  

Lird/Ryld                   brand, branded, owned, slave

Lua/Lyme                       bright, crystal, light

Mal/Malag                     mystery, secret

May/Mas                         beautiful, beauty, silver

Micar                                lost, poison, widow

Min/Ran                           lesser, minor, second

Mol/Go                            blue, storm, thunder, wind

Myr/Nym                       lost, skeleton, skull

Nath/Mer                        doom, doomed, fate

Ned/Nad               cunning, genius, mind, thought

Nhil/Nal                 fear, gorrible, horror, outraged

Neer                                  core, root, strong

Null/Nil                             sad, tear, weeping

Olor/Omar                       skin, tattoo, tattooed

Pellan/Relon                    north, platiunum, wind

Phaer/Vorn                      honor, honored

Phyr/Phyx                        bless, blessed, blessing

Qualn/Quil                        mighty, ocean, sea

Quar                                   aged, eternal, time

Quav/Quev                        charmed, docile, friend

Qil/Quil                               foe, goblin, slave

Rauv/Welv                         cave, rock, stone

Ril/Ryl                                 foretold, omen

Sbat/Szor                           amber, yellow

Sab/Tsab                            abyss, empty, void  

Shi'n/Kren                          fool, foolish, young

Shri/Ssz                             silk, silent  

Shur/Shar                          dagger, edge, stiletto

Shynt                                 invisible, skilled, unseen

Sin/Szin                              festival, joy, pleasure

Ssap/Tath                          blue, midnight, night

Susp/Spir                           learned, skilled, wise

Talab/Tluth                        burn, burning, fire

Tal/Tar                         love, pain, wound, wounded

Triel/Taz                           bat, winged

T'riss/Teb                           blade, sharp, sword  

Ulvir/Uhls                           gold, golden, treasure

Umrae/Hurz                       faith, faithful, true

Vas/Vesz                            blood, bloody, flesh

Vic                                       abyss, deep, profound

Vier/Val                               black, dark, darkness

Vlon/Wod                           bold, hero, heroic

Waer/Wehl             deep, hidden, south, southern  

Wuyon/Wruz                      humble, third, trivial

Xull/Url                                 blooded, crimson, ruby

Xun                                       demon, fiend, fiendish

Yas/Yaz                       riddle, spinning, thread, web

Zar/Zakn                             dusk, haunted, shadow

Zebey/Zek                        dragon, lithe, rage, wyrm

Zes/Zsz                              ancient, elder, respected

Zilv/Vuz                             forgotten, old, unknown

Suffixes (Female/Male) - Meaning

a/agh                  breaker, destruction, end, omega

ace/as                                savant, scholar, wizard

ae/aun                             dance, dancer, life, player

aer/d                                    blood, blood of, heir

afae/afein                         bane, executioner, slayer

afay/aufein                        eyes, eyes of, seer

ala/launim                          healer, cleric

anna/erin                            advisor, counselor to

arra/atar                             queen/prince

aste                                      bearer, keeper, slaver

avin/aonar                           guardian, guard, shield

ayne/al                       lunatic, maniac, manic, rage

baste/gloth                         path, walker

breena/antar                   matriach/patriarch, ruler

bryn/lyn                               agent, assassin, killer

cice/roos                             born of, child, young  

cyrl/axle                               ally, companion, friend

da/daer                                illusionist, trickster

dia/drin                                rogue, stealer

diira/diirn                             initiate, sister/brother

dra/zar                                  lover, match, mate  

driira/driirn                         mother/father, teacher  

dril/dorl                                 knight, sword, warrior

e                                           servant, slave, vessel

eari/erd                                 giver, god, patron

eyl                                       archer, arrow, flight, flyer

ffyn/fein                               minstrel, singer, song

fryn              champion, victor, weapon, weapon of

iara/ica                                 baron, duke, lady/lord  

ice/eth                                 obsession, taker, taken  

idil/imar           alpha, beginning, creator of, maker

iira/inid                                 harbinger, herald

inidia                                     secret, wall, warder

inil/in                                     lady/lord, rider, steed

intra                               envoy, messenger, prophet

isstra/atlab               acolyte, apprentice, student

ithra/irahc                         dragon, serpent, wyrm

jra/gos                                 beast, biter, stinger

jss                                          scout, stalker

kacha/kah                            beauty, hair, style

kiira/raen                              apostle, disciple

lay/dyn                               flight, flyer, wing, wings

lara/aghar                         cynic, death, end, victim

lin                                         arm, armor, commander

lochar                                   messenger, spider

mice/myr           bone, bones, necromancer, witch  

mur'ss                                   shadow, spy, witness

na/nar                                 adept, ghost, spirit

nilee/olil                             corpse, disease, ravager

niss/nozz                           chance, gambler, game

nitra/net                              kicker, returned, risen

nolu                                 art, artist, expert, treasure

olin                                   ascension, love, lover, lust

onia/onim                           rod, staff, token, wand

oyss/omph                       binder, judge, law, prison

qualyn                                 ally, caller, kin

quarra/net                           horde, host, legion

quiri/oj                                  aura, cloak, hide, skin

ra/or                                     fool, game, prey, quarry

rae/rar                                   secret, seeker, quest

raema/orvir                         crafter, fist, hand

raena/olvir                            center, haven, home

riia/rak                       enchanter, mage, spellcaster

ril                                 bandit, enemy, raider, outlaw

riina/ree                     enchanter, mage, spellcaster

ryna/oyn                         follower, hired, mercenary

ryne/ryn                      blooded, elder, experienced

shalee/ral                 abjurer, gaze, watch, watcher

ssysn/rysn          artifact, dweomer, sorcerer, spell

stin/trin         clan, house, merchant, of the house

stra/tran                             spider, spinner, weaver

tana/ton                           darkness, lurker, prowler

thara/tar                             glyph, marker, rune

thrae/olg                          charmer, leader, seducer

tree/tel                         exile, loner, outcast, pariah

tyrr                    dagger, poison, poisoner, scorpion

ual/dan                                speed, strider

ue/dor                                  arm, artisan, fingers

uit/dar                                  breath, voice, word

une/diin                         diviner, fate, future, oracle

uque                              cavern, digger, mole, tunnel  

urra/dax                       nomad, renegade, wanderer

va/ven                             comrade, honor, honored

vayas                         forge, forger, hammer, smith

vyll punishment, scourge, whip, zealot  

vyrae/vyr                     mistress/master, overseer

wae/hrae                           heir, inheritor, princess

wiira/hriir                           seneschal of, steward

wyss/hrys                          best, creator, starter

xae/zaer                             orb, rank, ruler, sceptor

xena/zen                         cutter, gem, jewel, jeweler

xyra/zyr                             sage, teller

yl                                          drow, woman/man

ylene/yln         handmaiden/squire, maiden/youth

ymma/inyon                      drider, feet, foot, runner

ynda/yrd        captain, custodian, marshal, ranger  

ynrae/yraen                       heretic, rebel, riot, void

vrae                                   architect, founder, mason  

yrr                                         protector, rival, wielder

zyne/zt                                finder, hunter

House Name Prefixes - Meaning

Alean                        the noble line of

Ale                             traders in

Arab                          daughters of

Arken                        mages of

Auvry                        blood of the  

Baen                          blessed by

Barri                           spawn of

Cladd                         warriors from

Desp                          victors of

De                               champions of

Do'                              walkers in

Eils                              lands of

Everh                         the caverns of

Fre                              friends of

Gode                          clan of  

Helvi                          those above

Hla                              seers of

Hun'                           the sisterhood of

Ken                            sworn to

Kil                               people of

Mae                           raiders from  

Mel                            mothers of

My                              honored of

Noqu                         sacred to

Orly                            guild of

Ouss                           heirs to

Rilyn                           house of  

Teken'                        delvers in  

Tor                               mistresses of

Zau                              children of

House Name Suffixes - Meaning

afin                              the web

ana                               the night

ani                                the widow

ar                                   poison

arn                                fire

ate                                the way

ath                                the dragons

duis                              the whip

ervs                              the depths

ep                                  the underdark

ett                                 magic

ghym                            the forgotten ways

iryn                               history

lyl                                  the blade

mtor                             the abyss

ndar                              black hearts

neld                              the arcane

rae                                 fell powers

rahel                             the gods

rret                                the void

sek                                 adamantite

th                                    challenges

tlar                                 mysteries

t'tar                                victory

tyl                                   the pits

und                                 the spider's kiss

urden                             the darkness

val                                   silken weaver

viir                                  dominance

zynge                             the ruins

[lolahaurisfw]

✎ Introduction ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Here i'll only be taking requests for fluff, platonic, and angst! Reqs are always open like usual too, and you can request as much as you want and as detailed as you want! i just get to things when i can/want to.

Anon's: None Yet

Other Accounts: @lolas-favfics @lolamultifandom @lolahauri @chowderpop @butterscotch-rpf

AO3: Here

-> MASTERLIST <-

DNI: Map, Zoo, Pro-Para, Pro-Ana, TERF, Zionist, Bigots, Discourse Blogs. Block me if you don't agree. ❤️🖤🤍💚

What I Won't Write:

Smut. (Go to my other blog)

What I'm Willing To Write:

Reader Who Is: Tall, Short, Fat, Chubby, Curvy, Buff. Trans/NB.

Reader Who Has: Depression, Anxiety, DPDR, ADD.

Fluff, angst, platonic, hurt/comfort.

HC's, one shots, short multi-chapter fics, imagines/drabbles.

Canon-friendly, AU's, Canon Divergence, Out of Character.

Ch x Ch / Ch x Reader / Ch x OC / Poly Ships of any kind.

F/F, M/M, F/M, GN/F, GN/M, Poly Ships of any kind.

Fictional Other (F/O) Imagines: +18, no names, they/them only.

Now that that's out of the way, here's the list of fandoms and characters i'm familiar with and will happily take requests on! (you can request others from these fandoms, but it will prob take me longer)

Adventure Time/Fiona & Cake: PB, Marceline, Marshall Lee, Winter King, Candy Queen, Simon, Ice King, Fiona.

Attack On Titan: Armin, Eren, Mikasa, Sasha, Levi, Hanji, Annie, Historia, Reiner, Erwin, Ymir. 

Avatar: Jake, Neytiri.

Batman Begins Triology: Batman, Catwoman, Bane, Joker, Scarecrow.

Bee & Puppycat: Bee, Deckard, Cass, Toast.

BigBang Theory: Raj, Leonard, Penny, Amy.

Bistro Huddy: All Staff Members.

Black Dynamite: Honeybee, Black Dynamite.

BNA: Michiru, Shirou.

Bob’s Burgers: Bob, Linda.

Breaking Bad: Jesse, Skylar.

Call of Duty: Konig, Ghost, Mace, Keegan, Krueger, Valeria, Farah.

Creepypasta: Jeff, Jane, Ben, Toby, EJ, LJ, Slenderman, Splendorman, Clockwork, Kate, Masky, Hoodie,

Desperate Housewives: Bree, Gabi, Edie, Lynette, Carlos, John.

Dirty Dancing: Johnny, Baby.

Earth Girls Are Easy: Mac, Zeebo, Wiploc, Valerie.

Elemental: Wade, Ember.

Encanto: Isabela, Bruno, Dolores, Julieta.

FNAF Movie: Vanessa, Mike, William/Steve.

Frozen: Elsa, Anna, Kristoff.

Futurama: Leela, Fry, Amy, Bender.

Gravity Falls: Ford, Stan, Soos, Melody, Giffany, Bill.

Jane The Virgin: Jane, Michael, Petra, Luisa, Rose, Rogelio, Xiomara.

Jurassic Park (1993): Ian Malcolm, Ellie Sattler.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Gojo, Choso, Nanami, Sukuna.

King of the Hill: Hank, Peggy, Luane, Nancy, Dale, Khan, Min, John Redcorn.

Life Is Strange (2015): Maxine, Chloe.

Lisa Frankenstein: Lisa, Creature, Taffy.

Little Mermaid (2022): Ariel, Eric.

MHA: Dabi, Hawks, Aizawa.

Moon Knight: Moon System, Layla, Khonshu.

Mulan: Mulan, Li Shang.

National Treasure: Benjamin, Riley.

Nintendo: Link, Zelda, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Luigi, Bowser, Waluigi.

Norbit: Rasputia, Norbit.

Princess & The Frog: Tiana, Lottie, Naveen, Shadow Man.

Ratatouille: Colette, Linguini. 

Regular Show: Mordecai, Margret, Eileen, CJ, Benson.

Resident Evil: Karl Heisenberg, Carlos Oiliveria, Lady Dimitrescu.

Rick and Morty: Rick, Jerry, Beth, Doofus Rick.

Riverdale: FP Jones, Hiram.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: Kim, Ramona, Gideon, Wallace.

Scream 5: Amber, Tara, Sam.

Serial Mom: Chip, Beverly.

Silverado: Slick, Rae, Mal, Paden.

Shallow Hal: Rosemary, Hal.

Shameless: Lip, Fiona, Kev, V.

SheRa (2018): All Adults.

Sherlock (2010): Sherlock, John Watson.

Slashers & DBD: Brahms, Ghostface, Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, Pyramid Head, The Spirit, Huntress, Trapper, Wraith, Trickster, Pearl, Jennifer Check, Stu Matcher, Billy Loomis, Tiffany Valentine, Patrick Batmeman, Thomas Hewitt, Vincent Sinclair, Eric Draven, The Artist, Amanda Young.

Spiderverse: Miguel, Jessica Drew.

Spongebob: Dennis, Man Ray.

Squid Games: Gi-Hun, Sae-Byeok, Ali, Sang Woo.

Stardew Valley: All Adult Humans (Except George & Evelyn)

Steven Universe: Garnet, Amethyst, Peridot, Lapis, Jasper, Blue Diamond, Rose, Greg.

Stranger Things: Robin, Billy Eddie, Chrissy, Hopper.

Supernatural: Sam, Dean, Castiel.

Super Store: Amy, Jonah, Dina, Garrett, Cheyenne.

Tangled: Flynn, Rapunzel, Mother Gothell.

The Batman (2022): Batman, Riddler.

The Breakfast Club: John Bender, Allison Reynolds.

The Nanny: C.C, Fran, Maxwell.

Total Drama Island: S1 Contestants, Chris, Chef, Blainley.

Triple Frontier: Frankie, Santiago.

Turning Red: Ming Lee, Jin Lee.

Twilight: Edward, Carlisle, Alice, Charlie.

YOU: Beck, Joe, Peach, Love.

Young Sheldon: Mary, Connie.

~

Abel Morales (A Most Violent Year)

Astarion (Baulder’s Gate 3)

Babbo Natale (Violent Night)

Barbie (Barbie 2023)

Basil Stitt (Lightning Face)

Beverly Goldberg (The Goldbergs)

Bruce (Beyond Therapy)

Charles Ingalls (Little House on the Praire)

Charlie Dompler (Smiling Friends)

Chel (Road to El Dorado)

Dale Kobble (Longlegs)

Dan Conner (Rosanne)

David Levinson (Independence Day)

Din Djarin (The Mandalorian)

Doug Remer (Baseketball)

Duke Leto Atreides (Dune)

Fezzik (Princess Bride)

Francine (American Dad)

Fujimoto (Ponyo)

Georgia Miller (Ginny & Georgia)

Jack Harrison (Translyvania 6-5000)

Jackson Rippner (Red Eye)

Jon Arbuckle (Garfield 2024)

John Doe (John Doe Game)

Jonathan Levy (Scenes from a Marriage)

John Wick (John Wick 4)

King Baldwin (Kingdom of Heaven)

Kitten (Breakfast on Pluto)

Laurent LeClaire (In Secret)

Linda Gunderson (Rio)

Llewyn Davis (Inside Lleywn Davis)

Master Chief (Halo)

Mike (5lbs of Pressure)

Moe Doodle (Doodle Bops)

Nani Palekai (Lilo & Stitch)

Nathan Bateman (Ex Machina)

Outcome-3 (The Bourne Legacy)

Orestes (Agora)

Paul Blart (Paul Blart: Mall Cop)

Paul Cable (Last Stand at Saber River)

Peggy Bundy (Married With Children)

Peter Mitchell (3 Men & A Baby)

Poe Dameron (Star Wars)

Prince John (Robin Hood 2010)

Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd (Top Gun: Maverick)

Rose Tyler (Doctor Who)

Shiv (Pu-239)

Stanley Ipkiss (The Mask)

Star-Lord (Gaurdians of the Galaxy)

Tate Langdon (AHS: Murder House)

The Janitor (Willy’s Wonderland)

Thomas Magnum (Magnum, P.I 1980)

William Tell (The Card Counter)

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Good morning and happy Wednesday, my bookish bats! You didn't think that tiny "queer books coming out this fall" guide was ALL there was, did you? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR this month. Happy reading!

❤️ A Vision of Air by Nicole Silver 🧡 Eli Over Easy by Phil Stamper 💛 How to Get Over the End of the World by Hal Schrieve 💚 Kween by Vichet Chum 💙 The Forest Demands its Due by Kosoko Jackson 💜 The B-Side of Daniel Garneau by David Kingston Yeh ❤️ Midnight Companion by Kit Barrie 🧡 Let the Waters Roars by Geonn Cannon 💛 Into the Glittering Dark by Kelley York 💙 When the Rain Begins to Burn by A.L. Davidson 💜 Been Outside by Amber Wendler & Shaz Zamore 🌈 The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson

❤️ A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert 🧡 The Spells We Cast by Jason June 💛 Pluralities by Avi Silver 💚 Salt the Water by Candice Iloh 💙 Beholder by Ryan La Sala 💜 This Pact is Not Ours by Zachary Sergi ❤️ Dragging Mason County by Curtis Campbell 🧡 Menewood by Nicola Griffith 💛 Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout 💚 The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey 💙 Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson 💜 Let Me Out by Emmett Nahil and George Williams

🌈 In the Form of a Question: the Joys and Rewards of a Curious Life by Amy Schneider ❤️ Songs of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield 🧡 A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand 💛 Being Ace by Madeline Dyer 💚 Charming Young Man by Eliot Schrefer 💙 The Glass Scientists by S.H. Cotugno 💜 The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado ❤️ By Any Other Name by Erin Cotter 🧡 Brooms by Jasmine Walls and Teo DuVall 💛 Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender 💚 Shoot the Moon by Isa Arsen 💙 The Bell in the Fog by Lev A.C. Rosen

🌈 Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt ❤️ Family Meal by Bryan Washington 🧡 A Murder of Crows by Dharma Kelleher 💛 A Light Most Hateful by Hailey Piper 💚 Love at 350° by Lisa Peers 💙 Greasepaint by Hannah Levene 💜 The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels ❤️ Mate of Her Own by Elena Abbott 🧡 Mistletoe and Mishigas by M.A. Wardell 💛 Elle Campbell Wins Their Weekend by Ben Kahn 💚 All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters 💙 If You’ll Have Me by Eunnie

❤️ Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Lillah Lawson and Lauren Emily Whalen 🧡 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall 💛 It’s a Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer 💚 Let the Dead Bury the Dead by Allison Epstein 💙 These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs 💜 The Goth House Experiment by SJ Sindu ❤️ Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin 🧡 Mudflowers by Aley Waterman 💛 Here Lies Olive by Kate Anderson 💚 Fire From the Sky by Moa Backe Åstot, trans. by Eva Apelqvist 💙 Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake 💜 On the Same Page by Haley Cass

❤️ A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Caña 🧡 Art of the Chase by Jennifer Giacalone 💛 The Haunting of Adrian Yates by Markus Harwood-Jones 💚 The Sword: Xcian by Elle Arroyo 💙 The Complete Carlisle Series by Roslyn Sinclair 💜 300,000 Kisses by Sean Hewitt and Luke Edward Hall ❤️ Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow 🧡 Blackouts by Justin Torres 💛 Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros 💚 Let the Woods Keep Our Bodies by E.M. Roy 💙 Everything Under the Moon: Fairy Tales in a Queerer Light edited by Michael Earp ❤️ Frost Bite by Angela Sylvaine

🧡 We Met in a Bar by Claire Forsythe 💛 Sweat Equity Aurora Rey 💚 Pumpkin Spice by Tagan Shepard 💙 The Misfit Mage & His Dashing Devil by M.N. Bennet 💜 Love and Other Risky Business by Sarah Brenton ❤️ Enough by Kimia Eslah 🧡 A Fire Born of Exile by Aliette de Bodard 💛 Twelve Bones by Rosie Talbot 💚 Wild Wishes and Windswept Kisses by Maya Prasad 💙 Dragged to the Wedding by Andrew Grey 💜 Fox Snare by Yoon Ha Lee ❤️ Murder and Manon by Mia P. Manansala

[haldenlith]

I Told You So

I can't help myself. I can see how things would go down right in my head. I had to write it.

Unsure if I'll put it on AO3 or not, but for now, have this little fic with Hal/Crow. It deals with Act I of Revenant, so obviously, spoilers.

-

Crow’s bootfalls were gentle but driven, purposeful as he crossed the living room, moving to stand in the doorway of the sliding door to the balcony. He let his eyes rest on his lover, his partner now, a small smile gracing his lips. He knew that still being in full armor, and still wearing his boots, would raise Hal’s suspicions. He had a plan for that. Hal’s skin had turned a slightly darker shade of blue, reacting to all the time spent in the sun. He was careful about tending to his garden. Diligent. Crow would expect nothing less. He was happy the man had found things to happily occupy himself with during his retirement.

Hal sat back, his legs folded neatly under him, turning to regard the Hunter in the doorway. “… You must not be planning to stick around long.” He sighed and began wiping the dirt from his hands. “And judging from where you’re so expertly positioned, you want to make sure I can’t leave before you’re finished.” Hal was too perceptive to miss that. Other times, Crow would be too eager to come over and touch him. A kiss, a hug, or even the simple caress.

It wasn’t like him to stop at the doorway.

Crow chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re right. This is important, and I want you to hear me out.” He gnawed on his lip. “… We’ve got a distress signal from Europa. Eramis’s crew. I… I wanted you to come with me.” Hal narrowed his eyes.

“… Why?”

“I’ve got a feeling. I want someone I trust, and know. I want this to be a humanitarian mission, and I need someone that I know will listen and not just go in guns blazing.” Orange eyes looked off to the side, bewildered for a few scant moments.

“… Your idea of not going in guns blazing, and my idea of that, are clearly two very different ideas, because I recall having done that very thing very frequently. You’re also still not telling me something.”

“I’m telling you everything. I just… it’s a gut feeling, alright?”

“… And you’re not going to let me back into the house until I say yes, aren’t you?”

“I never said that.” Hal stood up and walked over, standing in front of Crow, looking down at him. The Hunter stood his ground, his own amber gaze meeting Hal’s. “… But if you really don’t want to, I’ll respect that choice.”

They stared each other down in silence, backed by the bustle of The City, and the gentle sound of birdsong. Hal finally leaned down and placed a kiss on Crow’s cheek. “… Only for you. Now move. I’d like to clean up before I throw armor on.” Crow heaved a sigh of relief with a smile and stepped aside.

“Thank you, Halcyon. I mean it. I won’t bother you again after this.”

“Oh you better bother me hard and vigorously after this if you really mean that,” Hal quipped as he walked by, causing Crow to snort and chuckle, biting his lip.

--

In finding the distress call, they found Eramis, but in finding Eramis, they found Fikrul. Hal was quick to loose a few screaming and toxic shots in the Scorn’s direction, but pulled back at a sharp “HAL!” in his ear. Crow stopped him from turning his full attention to Fikrul. If it had been anyone else on comms, Hal probably would’ve ignored them, but Crow held a particular sway that he felt obliged to acquiesce.

They would talk later.

“You’re very intent on holding me back from him.” They stood in Crow’s new office, Hal with his arms crossed over his chest. He hadn’t even bothered to take his helmet off. “If I had gone after him, we’d probably have caught him.”

“And we would’ve lost Eramis, which was the second point of that mission!” Crow pinched the bridge of his nose. “Hal, I love you, but I am your superior now. I need you to listen to me.”

“I did, against my better judgement. And I suppose that works, now that we have Eramis in custody. But… why did you insist on me holding fire on Fikrul?”

“I have my reasons. He’s my responsibility to clean up, and I don’t think you putting a bullet in him again is going to help with that.” Hal sighed.

“So, what’s the plan? Talk to him?”

“I’d like to try.” The Warlock threw his hands up in the air. “I’m serious! Let me try. When we find him again. He still calls me ‘father’. Maybe I can get through to him.”

“… Fine. I’m… going to go talk to Eido. You know how to find me,” Hal replied in resignation, turning to leave.

Crow squeezed his eyes shut and called out, “Hal, wait.” Hal paused, looking over his shoulder. “… I didn’t mean for this to become a whole thing.”

“I know. That’s not what I’m mad about. So don’t feel guilty. I think we’ve both had enough of that.” He wagged a finger at Crow, continuing as he begun to step away once more, “And anyway, you know what to do if you’re really sorry.” The Hunter Vanguard couldn’t help but laugh, planting his hands on his hips.

“Horny bastard,” he half-muttered.

“You love it,” Hal called out as he left. Crow wasn’t sure if therapy wasn’t working a little too well on Hal. But, the man wasn’t wrong…

He did love it, and love him.

--

Back on the Tangled Shore, and with Crow. It’d been a while for Hal. The place looked… different. But, this was the supposed location Eramis had outlined.

Of course, Fikrul had beaten them there, only to invite them in. A low rumble of suspicion sounded within Hal. Crow lifted a hand, whispering. “Please.” It was Hal’s turn to have a gut feeling, but he motioned for Crow to lead on. They weren’t attacked on approach, though Hal remained high strung and ready, following in the Hunter’s wake. Again, Crow was regarded as “father”, and Crow attempted to respond in kind, though it was… stilted. Crow could sometimes sound like Uldren, but it seems it was only when he wasn’t trying.

Hal had a bad feeling about this, worse as Crow attempted to dissuade Fikrul. He shifted his weight, watching the exchange.

“You wear his face. You steal his voice. Forget his purpose. Hear me, Father! I will rip this impostor from your bones!” There it was. The moment of everything going downhill exactly as Hal expected.

They had to fight their way out.

After it all, with the bomb exploded elsewhere, the threat eliminated, Eliksni captives saved, Hal looked at Crow. The Hunter was quick to lift a hand. “Just. Don’t.” A soft grunt sounded from Hal.

He saved his words for later, again finding himself in Crow’s office. “Look, I know it’s a dick thing to say, but genuinely, I told you so.”

“Is this necessary? Is this really necessary? Do you need to rub salt in the wound? Because that’s what this feels like. So yeah, you’re right, it’s shitty of you to do that.” Actual animated arguments were rare, but they still happened.

“I’m just saying, I called it, but you insisted we do things your way, despite the overwhelming evidence to otherwise!”

“I’m sorry that my go-to response isn’t ‘shoot first, ask questions later’. Besides, look how well that worked for you in The Dreaming City.” A silence fell over the two of them for a moment.

“… I love you but…” Hal trailed off in soft defeat.

“But what?” Crow replied sharply.

“… But I wish you’d think more with your brain and less with your heart sometimes.” The silence returned as both of the men shifted their weight awkwardly from one foot to the next, looking about the room as if trying to find some easy answer.

“… You love it.” Hal blinked, turning his attention back to Crow. A weak, yet sly smile appeared on the other man’s face before he explained himself. “… You said that to me the other day when I complained. So… have some of your own medicine to go with those tonics you’ve been drinking.”

It was so ridiculous that Hal was at a loss for words for a few moments, before all he could do was laugh softly. The laughter bolstered Crow, his smile widening. “I’m sorry. I guess I should’ve listened to you. But I… I just thought I could reach him. One more time.”

“Your best trait is also your weakness. It’s a hell of a double-edged blade.”

“And here I thought my best trait was my charming smile,” Crow quipped, grinning. “Anyway, we’ve got work to do. This is only going to get harder, and I… I’d rather we keep our battles out there, and not in here. Or at home.”

“I did listen to you, didn’t I?”

“You did, but it’s the ‘after’ that’s a problem.”

“Perhaps it’s for the best I retired when I did. You wouldn’t have been able to survive having me judge you.” Hal’s words made him laugh as he buried his face in his hands.

“Oh god, you would.” They both knew it was all pure and silly conjecture. Hal’s recent tendency to speak his thoughts was a direct by-product of having time to go to therapy, and most importantly, be retired. It was still something nice to laugh about. “Well, I guess I need someone to keep me in check.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be sure to do that, sir.” Crow shook his head, biting back the fact he found that he… quite liked hearing “sir” out of Hal.

“Well, if judging my orders is all, Guardian, then go report down to Eido. I think she wanted to talk to you.”

“Yes, sir, will do that, sir,” Hal replied teasingly, bowing his head with a mock salute before turning to leave. He paused as he reached the door. “See you at home?” Crow smiled and nodded.

In spite of everything, it did feel good to be working with Hal again, even if it meant having to hear him say, “I told you so.”

[lemnnshark]

"Hal is a big, broad-shouldered, dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes."

[ggblasts]

Spotted: Hal Williams and Charlotte Scott gracing the cover of The Spotlight magazine, and if you ask me, they’re giving more than just best friend vibes. The duo was seen having the time of their lives during the shoot, laughing, playfully posing, and sharing a chemistry that’s impossible to ignore. We’ve always known Hal and Charlotte to be the ultimate bestie goals, but when you see how effortless their connection is, you’ve got to wonder—are they really just friends?

Hal, one of the hottest young actors of his generation, has been collecting awards like they’re going out of style. And Charlotte? A world-renowned top model, with a career so iconic she’s a household name. It’s no surprise that The Spotlight cover is about to fly off the shelves with these two on it. But with all that fun and flirting, it begs the question: is Amber, Hal’s girlfriend, starting to feel the heat? Could there be something more than friendship between these two stars? Stay tuned, Upper East Siders—I’ve got a feeling this story is just getting started.

And Amber, darling, if you’re reading this, I hope you’ve been keeping an eye on your man. Because from where I’m sitting, those two looked a little too comfortable. Maybe it’s time to tighten your grip before someone else slips right in. Just a friendly reminder that in this town, nothing stays platonic for long.

XOXO, Gossip Girl.

@halxwilliams @charlottexscott @amberwest

[oldmanffucker]

The woman laughed, her red glossed lips parting. She tossed her black hair over her shoulder and turned to them a degree, outstretching her hand. “Rina,” she introduced herself.

“Hou-” House went to take her hand and froze.

Hanging off the wrist of her proffered hand was a bracelet, translucent and honeyed. Her bracelet was that fossilized resin that trapped him, mosquito-like, on that bus seat. The bus seat beside the bus seat beside the window where he remembered the scarf red collision through the yellow looking glass of an amber necklace.

The elephant in the room they'd so thoroughly avoided was sitting on House's chest.

“Hal?” She asked, brow furrowed, confused at this sudden shift and the hand that stopped inches before hers, now trembling.

House got up, gripping his cane tightly and taking a step before mumbling, “I have to go,” over his shoulder leaving both Wilson and Rina bewildered.

read the fic

[sgt-seabass]

𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏

✧˚ · . Tortured under King Lee's reign, you make your escape.

pairing — farmhand!Hal Carter x princess!reader w/c — approx 1k this is a dark fic. 18+ only. listening to — ♫black crown warnings —non-consensual king!lee bodecker x reader, non-graphic non-con, non-major character death, reference to suicide, skin scarring via candle wax, but it's all okay because Hal is a sweetheart a/n — written for @the-slumberparty's warm up drabble challenge. i got the word 'neck', which inspired this drabble. not beta read, we die like men.

The subtle amber glow from the candle on your bedside table casted a beautiful horizon across your quarters. The quarters which were once your mother’s.

You had been placed in them when she threw herself from her window, plummeting to her death instead of facing a world where her husband was dead and a new king would reign.

Her blood painted the white roses red. And you’d never been able to look at the expansive flowerbeds since.

King Lee had come into succession, bringing darkness with him, covering the whole castle in an ominous aura.

To the town, there was an illusion of grandeur, one your stepfather and his son, Prince Carter, were good at upholding.

Lee visited you every night. His cruelty never got easier, his hand heavy and cock painfully big. If you weren’t beaten, you’d be fucked – or sometimes both.

You were the king’s punching bag. The sole daughter of his dead betrothed.

Sometimes his son would visit too, and it’s on those nights that you truly wished to join your mother.

Perhaps you were cowardly that you hadn’t already followed her footsteps out of the window and into the garden below. But you still had an inkling of hope.

Hal had shown you the possibility of happiness. A sweet farm boy you met while sneaking into the town's markets. He’d given you a handful of fresh raspberries, a soft smile on his lips. “Pretty dames shouldn’t have to pay.”

He was the first sincere person you’d met. And he was your ticket to freedom.

Hal would be waiting for you in the gardens below tonight, and you would flee with him. You would be free. A bird to the wind with endless routes ahead.

The candle flickered as your door opened, the hinges groaning as you were met with the sight of your king, a nightly occurrence you dreaded. “Miss me, princess?”

Like muscle memory, you lay back on your bed as Lee pushed up your nightgown, hands rough against your sensitive flesh as the familiar dance begun. “Always so soft. Makes me just want to mark you more.”

Your gaze turned to the candle, listening to the slight crackle of the wood wick as Lee mounted you.

The wax had begun to dribble down in the catch below, droplets falling like a body from a tower.

Black crows cawed outside as you felt the painful stretch, your core stinging. It never got easier.

Lee spoke to you, but you just listened to the rustling oak trees outside as the candle burned lower, glazed eyes looking to your king when he ordered you to do so.

After tonight, you would be gone. No more blood. No more tears. Just life, the way it was meant to be lived. Free and without conviction.

Time passed, the pain didn’t stop, and neither did your king. You always cursed his stamina.

Eventually, Lee came with a shout, his seed spurting across your stomach. But he wasn’t finished with you.

He never was.

The candle had burnt nearly to the hilt, with a large reserve of wax at the bottom.

“Show me your neck, princess,” Lee ordered, forcing your head back before you could even heed his words.

The movement exposed your marred neck to him. Littered with scars and old burns, you wore a collar of pain.

While you may escape, there were some things you would never get back. Your dignity, your innocence, and your purity.

Lee took the candlestick, tilting it over your neck, so the smouldering wax dripped over your skin.

You cried out to deaf ears, writhing underneath your king as he tried to claim you. What Lee didn’t realise was while he may have taken your body, he would never have your heart and soul. They were for Hal only.

Your flesh warbled under the heat of the wax as it cooled and hardened on your skin, tears dropping down onto the cotton below. Lee always liked to see you cry.

“Cover this up tomorrow. We have a banquet in the evening,” Lee ran his fingers against your wounds, admiring his work for a moment before leaving you. “I will have a dress readied for you.”

Thankfully, Lee left, giving you a chance to prepare for your escape.

Ignoring your soreness, you dressed in a simple black dress, the same you wore to your mother's funeral. It was nondescript and would help if you needed to hide.

From under the bed, you pulled out the rope you had stolen from the knight's storeroom, securing it to a load-bearing pillar before throwing the rest out of your window.

When you looked down, you were met with the smiling face of your saviour. Hal stood below, dressed in a dirty tunic with a blade strapped to his back. Your knight in muddied armour.

You hoisted yourself out the window, trying your best to scale the side of the castle.

What seemed like an easy task was far from it, and two-thirds of the way down your arms gave way, letting go of the rope and your only lifeline.

The wind whooshed through your hair, and for a moment, you accepted this was where you’d die.

Your fall was broken by two burly arms catching you, allowing you to crash into him, sending you both to the ground.

“Hal! Gods, are you alright?” You quickly sat up, hands bracing on Hal’s solid chest.

He just laughed from his spot on the ground, holding your sides gingerly. “I’m wonderful. My dream came true. The gods have gifted me a beautiful damsel.”

“Oh, stop it. We could have died!” You gently whacked his chest before Hal got up, helping you to your feet.

“But we didn’t. And now we have the world ahead of us, princess.” Hal’s hands cupped your cheeks, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips. “Sorry, I couldn’t wait.”

“You can have a lot more kisses when we get out of here,” you smiled, body in a world of pain, but it didn’t matter. Your heart was content.

“Then let’s not waste time. I’m impatient to taste your sweet lips again, princess,” Hal said cheekily, grabbing your hand and beginning to sneak you through the castle grounds.

“I’m not a princess anymore. I renounce it,” you whispered to him, ducking behind a barrel when a knight walked past.

Hal’s eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “Ah, but you’re still my princess. The ruler of my heart.”

“You’re a sap.” You took a deep breath as you reached the edge of the property. From here, it was the open world. “I’m scared.”

“Me too. But the fear will guide us. We’ll get through this.” Hal kissed the back of your hand.

Hal pulled out a silk scarf from his back pocket, your eyes widening at the beautiful floral pattern. “Hal. How did you afford this?”

“Years of workin’, princess.”

The soft material was looped around your neck, covering your scarred skin and protecting it from the elements.

Hal secured it, his touch gentle and full for adoration, before you snuck through a hole in the castle walls.

Unbeknownst to both of you, King Lee watched from above, arms crossed with a smug look on his face. Freedom would not come without a fight. Nothing was ever that easy.

To be updated on when I post please follow @sgt-seabass-library and turn on post notifications.

[comfort-questing]

things heard in silence

It was a cold night and a colder morning, gray daylight sparking off the thin frost on the stones of the courtyard. Someone had huddled up by the wall, faded cloak pulled tightly around them, head bowed and red hair tumbled loose to hide their face.

Under cover of the hair, Selick was biting at her knuckles, an old habit from her childhood that returned at the worst possible moments.

He's got to be all right. There just isn't any other way about it.

But if he's going to be all right (said the mean, sneaking voice in the back of her mind) why are you freezing yourself solid outside the infirmary at dawn because you couldn't sleep nor bear to wait any longer?

Because he's my friend, Selick savagely told themself. And friends like to have their friends nearby when things have – not gone so well –

There, now it was starting to get light in the sky above the walltops, and a door slapped open and shut somewhere near the guardhouse. It made a little more sense, now, her being there. Sullenly, gritting her teeth, fighting the tight sick knot of fear inside her, Selick clambered upright and went the seven or eight paces to the infirmary door.

Tala, who had been sitting up in a chair by the door, looked obscurely up at her from the half-finished stocking she was darning. "Selene, isn’t it?"

"Selene Aberan," said Selick. "I – I've come to – to talk with Hal…" She could not stop the slight shaking in her voice. She had to get a grip on herself. In a moment she might cry, and what would that look like? Surreptitiously, she clenched her numb fingers around fistfuls of her cloak.

Tala's eyebrows were a study. Selick suddenly received a horrific vision of herself from the outside, and hated what she saw: some sniveling little girl, shadow-eyed and sleepless, more fit for a sappy romance novel than for a borderlands fort. But if she had had the strength to stand up straight and match the healer’s resolute glance she would have done so.

"Haldyn's awake," said Tala, quietly, "so you can talk, if you like, but don't pester him for answers.“

“He’s awake?” She cringed at the hope in her voice.

“After a fashion, anyway.” Tala’s mouth tightened a little, needle pausing mid-stitch through the faded wool. “It’s been a long night for all of us.”

Finally Selick dared to look about the half-shadowed front room of the infirmary, then skitter towards the quietly-burning woodstove and the bed next to it. The soft tousle of Hal’s brown hair spread out on the pillow, the empty sprawl of one hand just above the quilt’s edge - she paused on the tips of her toes, squinting close, watching for the small lift and fall of his breaths just to assure herself.

Why am I such a twitchy little fool? Selick thought viciously, again. If there were a war on, or if they’d been up north before the Fort was built, this wouldn’t be new to her, be strange. They would have had to get used to this sort of situation… to feeling so everlasting powerless.

"Selick? What're you doing here?" Hal's voice, cracked and tired and quiet, but entirely and unmistakably his.

Every nerve in her body tautened at once, bright and sharp. Trembling, she set her back against the wall and sat down, so she was eye-level with Hal as he lay under the blankets on the bed. All the color was leached out of his face save for the cloudy amber of his eyes, skin gray beneath the summer’s tan, each breath bringing a wince and twitch of pain to his pallid lips.

He looked half a ghostly thing, and altogether weary, in a way she had never seen him weary before; and the despair was sick and bitter in her throat as she swallowed.

"Hey, Hal," she managed to say, pulling her knees in close to her, tucking her hands together so they would not shake. "I wanted to come talk." That sounded odd. "We miss you." That sounded silly. “I was… worried about you.” That - that just sounded obvious, and soppy in addition.

He was shivering under the blankets, despite the layers weighing him down, and it took him a moment to answer. "Did Father tell you – what happened?"

"No… not yet." She’d heard enough, from the guards who’d reached the walltops first; enough, and more than enough to keep her from sleeping. She didn’t know that any more information would have helped. "There was a fire in the stables last night," she said, just to have something to say.

"Why?" Hal blinked, muddled.

"We don't know for sure," Selick had to answer – which was true, but begged the question of why they had said it in the first place. It was only that there were too many things that they was about to say, that lurked around in the corners of what to say, and could never be quite said. Things like I have nothing to do to help you besides bother you and who attacked you yesternight? and don't die, you dolt. "But - all the horses are safe, and a lot of the structure, it was just - the tack room, I think. I don’t know.“

Back to things you don’t know, Selick, she told herself sourly. Would you be done with saying what you don’t know? But somehow the last intolerability of this situation was that she could not half talk suddenly. Not with her friend watching her with that awful, exhausted look to his face.

Long pause. Selick watched Hal out of the corner of her eye, trying to look like she were only watching the floor; she didn't know what to say next. There had got to be a better way to manage this sort of talk. Unfortunately, all the examples she'd heard of ran far too romantic, or laid too much stress on glorious deeds accomplished.

She wasn’t part of a story like that. All she knew was that if Hal were gone, it would be like part of the stars were gone from the sky; if Hal were gone, the color would be gone from the future, like a flag left out in the noon sun. And she could find no words to share that in any way she knew, or any story or ballad she’d heard, so she huddled there in silent frustrated waiting.

Hal solved the problem by speaking next. "Father and I talked. Last night." He coughed then, a painful wet sound, squeezing his eyes shut as the effort wracked him. "I went up to the walltop… because of the note I’d gotten… Daevrel was there. He said – I'd always been protected, that I'd been safe – when others hadn't been. His family's dead, Selick. They died in the plague. All those years ago."

Daevrel. So the guesses were right. Selick gritted her teeth again, the sudden heat of rage surprising her.

Hal's eyes were still shut, the twist in his mouth remaining.

"He said - said that I didn't belong here. He hated me, Selick."

"Blast him.“ Her voice seemed to have come unstuck all of a sudden, shaky as her stuttering breath, throat aching with tears and anger at once. "What does he know? Who cares what some vile traitor like him says, who’d strike down his own lord’s son for - for what - “

"This is going to sound silly," said Hal, almost in a whisper, "but I didn't think – anyone could hate, here." He smiled crookedly, as though laughing at himself. "At least not hate me. Can you – believe that? Before this business, I've have thought – that I could trust them here, that I could trust all of you. Is this – what they all think of me? Spoiled – weak – luckier than I deserved – ?"

Before she thought, she’d flung herself forward, crossing the slight gap of floor between them. "Oh, hush! You numbskull.“

There were flecks of blood on his lips, now, where his teeth had bitten down against pain; she reached out, sleeve tugged up over her hand, to blot them away. More wrong to see, to think of such things, than to touch him then.

"You're right," she said, through clenched teeth. "It does sound silly. Because it is. Because people who lie about everything and leave you secret notes and stab you in the middle of the night are so, so trustworthy in their judgement, you know?“

Hal froze for an instant, as her hand brushed over his face, eyes focusing and unfocusing dimly.

" – And whoever said that it mattered, really? Nobody has everybody be their friend. Maybe you don't either. But – you've got us, Hal. Me and Lirent, and Renian, and Issya, and your parents – and Jossin, too – we will find Jossin, Hal, I promise. And Gerald says you set the smartest rabbit traps in the borderlands, and Kremder thinks you're the best fellow on patrol for getting everyone to listen to you – "

Selick paused, and before they could let themselves be too afraid, she grabbed at Hal’s limp hand on the pillow - an odd sort of thing a for second-class scout to do for her commander, no doubt, but his chilly fingers wove into hers as if he were the one lost and drowning, and her hand reaching out in rescue.

"So stop thinking about people hating you. Start thinking about us. We're your friends, so what we say counts more than what he says. You’re ours - you will always be ours - and mine - and I will - “

Her eyes were swimming with tears now, and it was too late to stop them; but somehow it didn’t seem to matter anymore, now. And half a breath away from her Hal was smiling, just a little bit, which mattered the most of all.

“ - and I will never let anyone hurt you like this again,” they said, thickly - “so next time you do something utterly stupid like you did last night, come get me first.”

She dashed her free hand across her eyes, savagely, and tried to smile, though it didn’t feel very convincing. But Hal’s crooked smile had broadened anyway, almost enough to banish the pain-lines from his face, and he squeezed her hand in his.

"All right, Selick, I promise,“ he said. ”I'm sorry – for glooming you. Please tell - the others hello from me?"

In that moment Selick realized they weren't afraid at all, not anymore, not in any way. Because somehow she had found the words she needed, or something close enough to them anyway. And Mercy willing, there would be time to find all the words they would ever wish for, whether they were new words or the same as the old.

Perhaps it was the light shaky pressure of Hal’s hand in theirs that steadied them, after everything, and made it so simple to straighten the pillow behind his head as he coughed again, and brush back the tousled curls from his sweaty forehead.

"Sure, Hal, I’ll tell them." Her voice was steady now. Rooted and quiet. She got up to her feet, then, not trembling, not cold anymore. "Get some rest, all right? And Lirent will probably be by later, too, once they let him out from cleaning up the tack room."

They even managed to smile at Tala, as the healer came to take their place at Hal’s bedside, with fresh bandages and a strong-smelling cup of something. Tala smiled back, with a knowing sort of nod. “We’ll be seeing you, Selene?”

“Yes - I’ll be back,” Selick said, and opened the door, to step out into the sudden blinding brilliance of the morning beyond.

[thirdeyeblue]

Ten x Rose | Adult | One-Shot (9k) | AO3

Tags: First Time, Confined Spaces, Dry Humping, Fluff & Smut, Etc

Since I wrote this way too early for a Halloween fic back in February, it’s only fitting that I share it way too late on Tumblr (past 10 PM on Halloween night). I’m not feeling super great mentally, however — and posting fic makes me happy. May it hopefully find at least one person who’s never read it and wants to keep the spooky spirit alive a little longer. It’s not my best fic, not by a long shot, and the whole premise was lovingly contrived from an inside joke born out of Discord server lore — but it is what it is! 🎃

On a small, Earth-like planet called Roon, it was always autumn.

The Doctor landed the TARDIS near an orchard abounding with great, big apples he claimed were the sweetest and juiciest in the universe, having Rose’s mouth watering before they’d even stepped foot onto the luscious grass beyond the doorway.

Before them was a field lined with endless rows of fruit-bearing trees, each filled with multicolored apples so heavy that they bent the branches they grew upon.

Signs were posted every so often; worn, painted arrows indicating a myriad of family-friendly attractions within walking distance. This is how they realized the orchard they’d arrived at was actually a year-round, traditional, Halloween-themed farm; replete with pumpkin carving, petting zoos, photo ops, and what was supposedly the biggest ‘haunted maze and adventure’ on the planet.

Rose hardly even had to beg to get the Time Lord to agree to explore once they’d picked their fill of apples, even after he’d surmised they landed in the relative ‘off-season’. 

‘Far as I’m concerned, that’s just fewer people around to get in our way,’ he’d declared with a grin. 

After dropping their bounty back on the TARDIS, they went hand in hand down a seemingly endless row of trees, following the arrows that directed them towards what was more than likely the epicenter of entertainment.

The lack of crowds on the farm made it easy for the pair to take advantage of whatever they wanted. They spent a guilt-free hour in the Cider Barn sampling all sorts of sweet drinks, scooping pretzels in apple butter; then raced down the street to spend far too much time petting the planet’s sort-of-but-not-quite-Earth-like livestock.

(Rose’s favorites included a flock of docile chickens as tall as rubbish bins, as well as a pair of noisy horses with dog-like paws.

All afternoon long, they were looking forward to their ‘haunted adventure’, deliberately putting it off until nightfall, per the advice of an employee. He’d been a teenage boy with violet skin and amber eyes; wrists sore from dipping and packaging candy apples, obviously overjoyed to finally have a customer for the first time in hours. 

"It's not the best time of year to come here," he'd told them with a shrug. "Might be a little scarier if you go after hours."

They thanked him and bought two sliced caramel apples, snacking on their treats at a nearby picnic table that overlooked a massive labyrinth of hedges.

It was already sunset, so when they’d finished eating, they returned their baskets to a collection bin and linked arms. Together, they began to make their trek towards the first part of their ‘adventure’: an arched gate leading into a dense forest. 

They figured it couldn’t hurt to get a tiny head start.

x

With arms crossed, Rose brushed her palms up and down in an attempt to create friction, hoping to warm herself up as she watched the Doctor kneeling over a rock and grinding down pine needles. She wanted more than anything to wrap herself up in his great, big coat, but he’d left it on the TARDIS, having not foreseen any of this. 

It'd all taken them by surprise: the duration of the ‘adventure’, the dramatic drop in temperature, and the need for anything that would have done a less archaic job of accomplishing what he was now working to achieve by means of a makeshift mortar and pestle. 

About an hour and a half into their surprisingly lengthy jaunt along a winding path dotted with holographic horrors, flashing lights, and spooky sounds, something had caught the Doctor's eye. He’d dragged Rose behind several tall bushes when he caught sight of something lurking in the distant dark: a species of canine known as "crendals". The large, wolf-like hounds were terrifying to look at, but according to him, had only been utilized due to the fact that, in spite of their ghastly appearance, they were virtually harmless.

That is, unless you happen to be made up of “deliciously warm and plasma-based blood”, something that didn’t typically exist in the advanced species of that particular solar system. 

“Probably been ages since a proper human came around,” the Time Lord mumbled absently as he dropped another hefty pinch of needles onto the flat rock and began pestling with determination. “Crendals aren’t native to Roon, so someone had to have brought them over, and… Suppose since it’s the off-season, it seemed scarier to let a bunch of big, threatening hounds loose than continue paying actors to lark about in makeup and costumes.” 

After several moments, seeming content with his work, he scooped half of the powdered pine into his palm and rose to stand before his companion with an apologetic smile.

“So, what is this going to do, exactly?” she half-chattered.

“Well. Unless you'd prefer that I fashion a rope and bind you to my body for the last leg of the forest, our safest bet is to utilize a simple, temporary olfactory misdirection.” He picked some of the fragrant green substance between three fingers, holding it in front of her. “Pine is a pungent fragrance, like citrus. Incredibly proficient at masking the smell of anything else around it, which is why it’s often utilized as fragrance in things such as candles and cleaning supplies. Sort of like the way fruit is so often used to cover up the taste of vegetables in smoothies and liquor in cocktails. Now, just hold still...”

Rose did as he said, trying not to think about how it might not be so bad to be bound to him as he began to blow pine dust around various points around her body. She also tried not to pay attention to how nice his breath felt as it caressed her neck, then her arms, then thighs. Her attempts to distract herself were nearly thwarted when he collected a little more from the rock and began applying it to her visible pulse points, suppressing a shiver when his fingers pressed beneath her ears and rubbed gentle circles into her sensitive skin.

“That should just about do it,” he smiled, bending down to collect the rest in a leaf, then folding it up shoving it into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “If I’d have brought my bloody coat, it’d have done a much better job of disguising your scent, but… Well. suppose I’ll never leave that behind again.”

Rose drew a cold-shaken breath. “It’s f-fine,” she chirped.

The Doctor’s eyes widened as realization swept over him. “Blimey, why didn’t you tell me you were freezing?”

“I-I’m not that c-cold.”

With an exaggerated sigh, he had his jacket unbuttoned in seconds, pulling it off and prompting her with a nod to extend an arm so he could begin slipping it onto her. “I’m sorry, Rose — I forget I’m flush with layers when I haven’t got my coat on. Good thing is, this should only help to cover up your... human-ness.”

Being that it’d been resting against his cool skin, the jacket wasn’t very warm at first, but the insulation had her warming up almost immediately anyway. Plus, it did smell like him, which was a lovely little added bonus. “Thank you,” she sighed, and still standing behind her, he smoothed the material over her back. “D’you really think we’re gonna be safe like this?”

The Doctor spun her around and put his hands on her shoulders, raising his eyebrows in that way that he does when it’s most imperative that she listen, and listen well.

(Bit difficult to listen with the way he was now more dressed down than she’d ever seen him, barring the Christmas jimjam incident)

“I will not let anything happen to you. Alright? Never. Just gotta get through the maze, and we’ll be on our merry way.” He smiled. “I’m sure the exit is just on the other side. Now…” Releasing her, he stepped back and held out his arm, which was now clad in nothing but a navy blue oxford. “Shall we?”

They walked stealthily — or rather, as stealthily as they could with arms fastened to one another — through the last leg of the forest, finally entering an area made up of tall, artificial hedges that made up a classic maze. Enormous jack-o-lanterns and assorted props were spread all over, including real, donated skeletons, but only of the native species. The rest were fake, extraterrestrial recreations (with “an embarrassingly shoddy lack of anatomical accuracy”, according to the Doctor).

There was a depressing lack of anything actually scary, reinforcing why the apple-dipping teenager had suggested they go at night; but the threat of encountering the mangy, red-eyed, wolf-like beasts around every corner was more than enough to make Rose shiver from more than just the chill.

Eventually, the narrow hall of the maze opened up into a large, circular courtyard lined with wrought iron lanterns that glowed dimly through the thick cover of fog, as well as a tall, ornate fountain that stood as a silhouette in the center of the haze. There were spider webs spread across every hedge and lamp post, as well as spooky, ambient music playing from speakers disguised as fake rocks on the ground.

“See Rose, we ought to be getting close. Been a while since we’ve seen one of these old fake rock speakers, hasn’t it? They really skimped out for a good stretch, and if I had to fashion a guess, I’d say it’s probably because nobody wanted to go hiking out that far. Really, there’s nothing to panic ab—”

The sound of a snarl in the distance cut him off, and he clutched her hand tightly, tugging her closer to his side. When she looked up at his face with alarm, he tilted his head in the direction he intended to lead them, which was through one of three openings in the hedges that lead elsewhere in the maze.

Continuing on with their strategy of following a single wall in one direction, they proceeded to make their way toward the opening on the right, picking up their feet as quietly as they could.

Neither said a word as they stepped through what was now a new area to them: a long path with a massive influx of spiderwebs strung all across from one side to the next, with skeleton alcoves lining the length of it. The spiderwebs (fake, thank god) were obviously placed strategically to require attendees to exert themselves a bit, bobbing and weaving through the thready, straggling obstacles like secret agents through a complicated network of lasers. 

They met each other’s eyes again to nod in solidarity, relinquishing their held hands to begin their journey through the maze-within-a-maze. Rose wanted so badly to just tear down every web and be done with it, but to make any unnecessary noise would have been very bad indeed.

It was difficult to tell where their pursuer lurked until, just a row over, a growl tore through the quiet space.

In a move completely void of grace, the Doctor’s hand shot out to the side and grabbed one of the plastic human skeletons with the nonsense anatomy by the neck, yanking it from its alcove with a plastic clattering of bones. He then grabbed Rose around the waist and all but threw her into the small space, stepping in and pushing her into the fake, plastic hedge. She swallowed hard, now cramped into the tiny rectangle of space with the Doctor completely boxing her in. 

Under normal circumstances, she’d be having something of a claustrophobic panic attack, but… well. It was the Doctor, and he was so close, and her fear was suddenly at war with a very different feeling — one which she abruptly shut down before it could fester into something very, very bad.

The next words he spoke came out quickly and quietly, but without so much as a single flub.

“Right. What I’m about to do might seem incredibly rude, if not more than a bit offensive — but I assure you, I’m only doing it because it’s absolutely vital in order to ensure your safety — so, if you… you know, if you wouldn’t mind standing still—”

Before she had a chance to puzzle through whatever it was that he was on about, claws clacked and scratched against the stone walkway nearby, pushing him into action. Without further delay, he used his whole body to press her into the hedge, tucking his face into her neck as he proceeded to grind himself against her.

Rose’s hands shot up to take hold of his shoulders as her legs nearly gave out. She gasped lightly but swallowed the urge to make any more sound, lest she gives herself away. He rubbed his body against hers over and over, doing so in a way that was undoubtedly not meant to be sexual, but her body didn’t know that — only that she and the Doctor were smashed together in the dark, and between the tight proximity and his breaths on her neck, it was almost enough to break her teeth from how tightly she clenched her jaw.

She hadn’t even realized the enemy was closing in on them until, through her half-lidded eyes, she caught a glimpse directly behind him, meeting a pair of huge, red, pupil-less eyes set in the face of the massive head of a Crendal standing no more than ten feet off.

“D-Doctor,” she whimpered, and oh god, that sounded ridiculous, didn’t it? It sounded like she was certainly enduring something, but what that ‘something’ was, err...

It definitely wasn’t fear.

“Rose,” he moaned into her neck — again, moaned into her neck — using his hips as the primary point of pressure the next time he rubbed against her, and ahhh, she did shudder then, because how could she not? It hadn’t seemed sexual before, but now it clearly was, and oh, okay, yeah, coherent thought was no longer something she would consider a ‘distinguishing feature’ of her psyche.

“Th-the… it’s right there,” she indicated as her head fell forward, landing on his shoulder. It was truly embarrassing, considering he wasn’t even applying any pressure where she really wanted it — also clearly wasn’t hard. Because what he was doing wasn’t sexual. Not one bit. 

“Right there?” His voice was exaggeratedly husky as he pushed her into the hedge with his hips, making her gasp again. 

Rose’s eyes squeezed shut as her arms wrapped around his neck. God. She was hopeless to hide her state if she responded even minutely, so she bit down on her lip and just waited for it to be over, waiting for either him to stop or to just be eaten by the creature and be done with it already. 

The mere fact that randiness was dominating over fear in a situation involving a Lovecraftian beast was something she didn’t feel like examining, not that she could — it was difficult enough to think clearly.

Quite abruptly, the Doctor pulled away from her, avoiding her eyes as he cleared his throat.

“Right, then. Think we’ve thrown it off for now.” He turned away from her and peeked around each corner, then gestured outward from the alcove with a tilt of his head. “Let’s go.”

Rose righted her posture, straightening her skirt and clearing her throat as it registered that her face was burning hot… and she was alarmingly aroused. She didn’t even know what to say as he led her out into the open area and carefully replaced the skeleton, but thankfully, he spoke first.

“Sorry ‘bout that, I’d, erm, intended to just get enough of my scent off on you, but when the Crendal lingered, I sort of… Wellll. I panicked, and, well, I realized I needed to resort to more… radical measures.” His hand darted up to ruffle the hair on the back of his head. “It was either that or pretend to be eating you. Anything to ensure they knew you were, erm, spoken for, so to speak. In one way or another.” He still hadn’t met her eyes, ducking beneath one of the webs and holding it up so she could pass through easier. 

“Course.” She sounded breathless. 

“Good thing is, you should absolutely smell enough like me to keep those hounds off of our trail for a little while... Suppose pine wasn’t cutting it as much as I’d hoped it would.”

“R-right.” Rose brought a fist to her mouth and coughed, ducking beneath the web he’d cleared for her. They were nearing the end of that stretch of maze, but the bulk of her energy had since shifted to trying to steady her heart and her breathing. The Doctor had to have picked up on the state she was in, and now he was acting uncomfortable because of it. There was no other explanation for his skittishness.

Mortifying. 

How did apple picking turn into this?

Thankfully, the next several minutes passed smoothly as they continued their strategy of following the wall in one direction. Amongst the quiet music (now reminiscent of a run-down carnival) and ghostly sounds playing from hidden speakers, they encountered a couple of ‘ghost’ holograms that were actually quite impressive, as well as their first (what would turn out to be the only) proper hired actor of the night: a man with a chainsaw that clearly didn’t have a chain running through it.

It was still quite jarring after having not seen anything but crendals on their trek, and with hands clasped, they ran for their lives, not stopping until they finally popped out of the other end of the maze just a moment later.

Before them was a pumpkin patch to their left side, which lay against another series of apple trees. On their right was a big, rusted barn that blocked most of their view of the rest of the field.

“Ahh, brilliant, if that’s the barn I think it is, we’re right at the end. Spotted a brochure at the Cider Barn. Only unfortunate bit is that we’ll be missing the little shop, since it’ll likely be closed this late at night… Really ought to have planned this better… But! No matter. Let’s just go around.” He squeezed her hand and tossed her a grin, finally meeting her eyes for the first time since the alcove, and her heart stumbled. She swallowed roughly and smiled.

“Yeah, that sounds good, I think. Lead the way.”

Together, they tiptoed along the back of the barn, keeping their eyes and ears peeled for threats until they reached the corner of the building and walked around it. Still threat-free, they snuck quietly along to head to the front of the building, hands clutched between them, and Rose was so ready to just finally get out of there — to just get back to the TARDIS and put the whole experience behind them.

… And deal with her body’s pleas to cope with what’d happened in the maze.

As they rounded the next corner to step in front of the barn, they saw the aforementioned little shop, which took up half of the barn, walled off to one side. On the other side was a large, open space; in the center of which they were able to make out the shape of one of Halloween’s classic cliches in the moonlight: a hearse.

A rather large hearse, at that. The elongated back had a higher ceiling than Rose would have expected, and curiously, the rear door was hanging wide open. 

“Look at that, Rose! Just like back home, eh?” The Doctor’s voice was an enthusiastic whisper. “Oh, it’s a beauty, too. You know, I always wanted to drive one of these. Not the most efficient mode of transportation, nor is it exactly eco-friendly, but truly unique in both appearance and purpose.”

As he wittered on, Rose was busy scanning the landscape of trees and pumpkins they still had to traverse when she spotted a very welcome sight in the distance: the main cluster of barns, booths, and pavilions they’d first arrived at outside of the orchard. More important than anything about their 'haunted experience' was how it seemed like they'd gone much further away from where they started. They really had just looped around it, and quite brilliantly. She hadn’t even realized they’d gone in a circle. 

Then she heard a snarl, then another, and at the same time, hers and the Doctor’s heads both whipped to their right, where they saw an entire pack of crendals not far off. At least seven or eight, by the look of their shadows.

“Well. That’s not good,” the Doctor murmured. “That’s very not good indeed.”

Rose looked up at him with wide eyes. “Could we get into the shop, do you think?”

He turned to her and reached into one of his suit jacket pockets, almost immediately withdrawing his hand. “Bollocks. I stashed my sonic in my coat earlier... Remind me to never go anywhere without that blasted coat again, even if we’re in the bloody desert.” He frowned, then turned fully towards her, meeting her eyes head-on. “Don’t worry, though, they can’t see from that far off — but we need to hide. Come on.”

Taking her hand again, he ushered her towards the back of the hearse and gestured into it. “Get inside, quick, quick.”

Rose did as he said, climbing into the vehicle. There was a massive coffin in the center, which sent a chill down her spine despite knowing there definitely wasn’t a body — it was a prop, after all. She slid alongside the box and sat pulling her knees to her chest, watching the Doctor trying and failing to pull the door shut.

“Oh, brilliant,” he scoffed quietly. “The latch is jammed… Oh, there isn’t even a latch. What sort of hearse is this?” A nearby growl made him stiffen, and he tossed a glance at Rose. “Get down. Far as you can. Now.”

Right when she began to lower herself as directed, she had an epiphany that, in retrospect, seemed fairly obvious. 

“Doctor, wait, why don’t we just…” She got up on her knees and tested the heavy lid of the coffin, then pulled it open, not knowing what else they could possibly do that would be a better idea. She reached inside and felt the surprisingly plush interior, then she was climbing in, sitting up as she held up the lid. “Plenty of room in here, yeah?”

And there was. There was more than enough room for them to lie side by side, it would just be a bit tight. The walls were deep enough that they could close it and still have plenty of space above them, hopefully not feeling entirely like they were being buried alive. They could spend the rest of the bloody night in there if they wanted.

She saw his silhouette look back and forth from the coffin to the outside a few times. He must have been weighing the risk factor, but the sinister sounds of snarling and panting were drawing even closer — likely no more than twenty feet off — and his mind was made up. He pushed himself up and climbed into the box, still sitting up halfway on his side when a loud, barking growl jarred them from right outside the barn.

In a moment of (quite literally) blind panic, Rose grabbed his arm and yanked him down hard, accidentally knocking him half on top of her. Just for good measure, the sharp jostling of weight sent the lid of the coffin crashing onto his head, knocking him the rest of the way down onto her and practically crushing the wind from her lungs.

“Ouch,” he whispered in the pitch-blackness, seemingly unbothered by his position, chest to chest with one of his thighs sandwiched between hers. She was very happy he wouldn’t be able to tell just how deeply she was blushing. “Are you alright?” 

Rose’s heart was pounding painfully from both fear and position. She couldn’t see his face — or anything, for that matter — but she imagined his deep brown eyes fixed on her with a look of concern that creased his brow beautifully. “I-I’m fine. Are you? Is your head—”

“Shh,” he covered her mouth with his palm in a fraction of a second, and before she could protest, she heard the crunching of paws on dried grass nearby, followed by a series of sniffs and deep, rumbling snarls.

The Doctor lowered himself further onto her; slowly, carefully; even taking consideration to adjust himself so there was more of his body touching hers. Covering her scent in his again, she imagined. That didn’t matter, of course; because the Doctor was on top of her with his hand on her mouth in the dark, and his thigh was so painfully close to her groin, the area of which was covered by nothing more than knickers beneath her skirt.

“Shhh,” he repeated almost shakily, pressing meaningfully against her, his chest and belly encroaching on hers and his thigh irrefutably pressed between her legs. 

She shuddered. 

He noticed. 

At least she assumed he noticed, because she felt him grow slightly rigid as soon as it happened — but it was too late. It would have taken the restraint of a nun to keep her body from reacting to what was happening, and she was nothing of the sort, so she was absolutely fucked. 

They needed to get out of that coffin. 

Soon.

Her breaths through her nostrils were heavy and irregular. Just like back in the alcove amongst plastic hedges and skeletons, she wasn’t even thinking about the threat anymore, because in that small space, every sense was heightened — all of them concentrated on the Time Lord above her.

Outside, they could hear at least one of the beasts coming to investigate the hearse. Rose could hear it sniffing around on the floor of the back of the vehicle as its mates growled and cackled in the distance, and seconds later, the sounds of its sniffing traced the thin line where the lid of the coffin met the base. 

Without warning, the Doctor nearly mashed his palm over her mouth as he pressed his thigh down hard between her legs.

Oh. God. Rose’s nails pressed into his shoulder over his layers as she bit the inside of her cheek, squeezing her eyes shut, channeling every shred of self-control she had to keep from moaning or shaking or grinding on him like some incorrigible little trollop. 

The Doctor remained perfectly still above her as lust and frustration rushed about like madness in her skull. She wondered what he was thinking, because of course he knew, didn’t he? Why else would he be hell-bent on providing such intense barrier between her crotch and the open air while creatures were attempting to sniff out a human nearby?

When it finally grew quiet outside again, he exhaled in a heave of a sigh, pulling his hand from her mouth. She heard soft ruffling in the bedding as he planted it beside her head. 

“Rose,” he murmured, his voice almost strained. And still not moving off of her, she noticed. “Are you…”

Her stomach dropped.

Please don’t send me home, please don’t send me home, please don’t send me home…

“Well… yeah.” She turned her head to the side, nose practically touching the wall of the coffin as she felt shame and embarrassment washing over her. “Sorry. Can’t exactly help it.”

The Doctor didn’t speak for a moment, completely still above her again, then she heard the distinct sound of him wetting his lips.

“Was gonna ask if you’re alright.” 

He finally let off some of the pressure between her legs, and as though he’d instead been pressing his leg over her windpipe, Rose gasped in a quiet breath, doing her best to avoid sucking down air as though she’d been tied up at the bottom of the pool. It was much easier to think clearly without feeling him touching her there, however indirectly.

“I’m the one who should be apologizing,” he added. “I had to… it’s just…Thing is, they can smell far better than they can see, Rose, and… and…”

“Doctor…” Rose sighed. “I get it. S’fine.”

“You see, in times of intense adrenaline brought on by stress, the body is highly susceptible to strong reactions to things such as—”

“Doctor. You haven’t got to say anything else, just…” She deliberately clunked her forehead against the wall of the coffin. She just wanted him to shut up, please for the love of god just spare me the embarrassment. 

“Oh. I, well…” she heard him swallow, “I just wanted to tell you that it’s normal, alright? For stress to make the body do things it normally wouldn't, erm…”

Rose was at her wits end. “Right, of course, s’the bloody hounds that made me feel like this,” she bit out, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I… wait.” The Doctor was silent for a moment, and she swore she could almost hear his brow wrinkling above her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Still struggling to breathe properly, Rose curled her toes in her trainers in a nonsensical beat from one foot to the next. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.” Because he had to have been pretending. Of course he was. Surely she wasn't just dumping a bucket of new information over his head.

The Doctor’s voice was deep and serious the next time he spoke.

“Indulge me.” 

... Or maybe it was new information.

Maybe she could have just kept her mouth shut. Saved them both the trouble. Her fear of rejection was searing hot inside of her, loud and growing and clamoring about.

Well… It was too late to walk it back now.

“I just mean… y’know. Maybe…” Her voice trailed off, then she collected herself. “Maybe I’m not reacting like this ‘cause I’m scared.” She licked her lips. “Maybe I’d, you know, still react the same way even if there weren’t any… dogs.”

There were several seconds where the Doctor said nothing; not moving an inch as he allowed the air to fill with the sounds of their breaths, hers still far more uneven than his.

She'd already said too much. She knew that, and she was scared — but for that quiet, in-between period, she found stasis beneath him; in the surprising warmth and smell of him, all crisp autumn leaves and warm, sticky caramel from the apple slices they’d been dipping before they’d embarked. 

After the longest handful of seconds she could ever remember experiencing, there was a slight shift, and she knew he was closer now. She could feel the presence of his face right above hers, could hear the sound of her breaths bouncing off of his face at a much closer proximity.

“Rose…”

His voice was low and labored, and though Rose always thought there couldn’t be a chance he would handle it well if he were ever made privy to her feelings, his body language would suggest that he had no intention of moving away.

Not a single centimeter.

“You’ve been in this state before around me,” he realized. “Not just tonight.”

She should have known he could tell. Of course he would be able to. Her heart clenched with nerves. She was searching his voice for any evidence of disgust, any indication that he was uncomfortable with this revelation, but she consistently turned up short.

“Yes,” she admitted, biting down on her lip and chewing anxiously.

“Was…” He cleared his throat. “Are you saying that was because of—”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” He swallowed. “Oh.”

“... Yeah.”

A few more seconds of silence.

“Really?”

She rolled her eyes. “Doctor, don’t be stupi—“

He dropped down and kissed her suddenly, swallowing the end of her sentence with the insistent press of his lips that was so unexpected, it took her a second to register that it was actually happening. It was imperfect, messy; an impulsive clash that only hit the mark by half — the other half landing somewhere in the vicinity of her chin. 

Rose didn’t care if it’d landed on her bloody eyebrow. The Doctor was kissing her. He’d just found out that he turns her on with semi-regularity and now he was kissing her, breaking away and coming back to take her lips properly in a demanding snog that swiftly had her heart fluttering with the beat of a hummingbird’s wings.

Before she could wrap her arms properly around him, he used his thigh to push very deliberately between her legs, the action so unexpected that a moan flew unbidden from the back of her throat.

Breaking away again, the Doctor breathed in through his teeth, pressing a little more firmly against her. “That okay?” 

Rose nodded shakily, frantically; but just as soon realized he probably couldn’t tell, so she did the only thing she could think of and rolled her hips down to grind against him. 

The groan he responded with was incredible; possibly the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard. Shock and pleasure zipped brilliantly through her, adrenaline running high, then she felt him moving and shifting above her.

He rolled onto his left side just slightly as his hand moved and reappeared at her hip, skimming down the outside of her thigh, then slipping beneath her knee. Rose could only surrender to his actions as he pulled her leg further open, readjusting his lower half at the same time.

As his weight settled comfortably back over her, her frazzled brain shorted out as she fully recognized their new position, with the Doctor’s hips between her thighs. 

Her breath hitched.

“Rose,” he whispered, so close to her face. He lowered his forehead to hers and pressed tenderly, shaking as she felt him stiffening beneath his pinstriped trousers. He grew hard much quicker than she could have anticipated — probably a Time Lord thing — but in that impeccable moment, she could feel him there, feel the gorgeous weight of him resting between her legs. He was letting her feel it, feel him, and her responding goosebumps covered her body from head to toe.

“Doctor.” Her arms were like jelly as they attempted to clench around his neck. He kissed her softly as he drew back, then rolled forward and ground his erection against her. He moaned and Rose gasped out a small, squeak-like sound, her head dropping hopelessly against the soft pillow beneath her as a tremor ran through her in the darkness. “Oh, god…”

The Doctor hummed deeply and kissed her again, then he was tugging at the denim skirt of her overall dress, pulling roughly until he’d gotten them up far enough to push her legs further apart. When he pressed himself against her that time, she made a needy, begging sort of noise against his mouth, feeling the length of him pressed snugly against her. It left very little to the imagination other than wondering exactly what it might feel like to have him inside of her.

She hooked her leg around his hips to slowly rut against him and he groaned achingly; trapping her lower lip between his teeth, skimming fingertips around her thigh to grab a handful of her bum as he pinned himself to her with a firm push of his hips.

It took a few tries to work the angle out, but when they did… Oh, when they did. 

Amidst a soft chorus of moans, three hearts beat heavily between them as he began a slow, dragging rhythm, pulling her close each time he ground his hard cock against her. Rose let out a shaky mewl as the fabric of his trousers slid along her thighs, rasping over her knickers; precise, focused thrusts working his length against the split of her folds to rub gentle friction along her clit.

His kisses were teeming with emotion as he pulled one moan after another from within her, moving his body in wonderful sync with hers. She clung to him just as he clung to her, not caring for one second that this was all very sudden — she wanted him, she was smitten, and if the way this was finally going to happen just happened to be fully clothed in a pitch-black prop coffin, she would take it.

When the tiniest little sound cut off in the back of her throat, the Doctor broke away with a shuddering breath, murmuring her name against her lips. It was intoxicating, and oh, she wanted more than anything to look at him, to see her beloved, beautiful Time Lord spun out in pleasure. However, just to be able to hear him, to feel him; it was so intimate, so perfect, that she didn’t care if she never saw anything else ever again. She could stay suspended with her Doctor in the heart of darkness forever, until she breathed her last breath, so long as she could do so in the cradle of his arms.

So softly, he pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue sneaking out to gently tease her lips apart as warmth bloomed through her chest like cotton wool. She parted for him and he slid inside; his caramel-sweet tongue moving like velvet over hers. 

He was a devastatingly brilliant kisser, she was pleased to find; lost to the way he continued shrouding her in affection, rocking into her with insistent hips. 

Scraping her nails through his hair, Rose lowered her calf from his hips to wrap around the back of his thigh, tugging him closer each time he rocked into her, whimpering hopelessly into his mouth. He broke away and panted hotly over her lips between a few wet kisses, still hard at work unraveling her.

“Oh, Rose.” He met her hips with a swiveling twist that made them both shiver and gasp, and again, why did it have to be so dark, she was aching to see him. “This feels so good. You’re so warm and soft…”

Her breath caught on a moan and she nodded, eyes nearly closed. She started to say something, but then he swiveled into her again and her voice fell into a whimper, completely lost to what he was doing to her.

“Yes,” he hissed, lowering his face to her neck and sucking softly at her skin before kissing his way up to her ear, where he began to whisper as he moved. “You make such sweet, lovely sounds. You must look so beautiful, Rose… I wish I could see you right now. Wish I could watch you.”

“Aaahhh…”

“Oh, yes… Yes, just like that...”

“Please,” she sounded quiet and frantic, split on a razor’s edge as her hands moved across him like she didn't know where she wanted to touch most, when really, she just wanted to touch him, all of him, all at once. Her hands found his perfect bum, then moved again to his lower back, pressing her tension into his oxford with her nails. “Oh, please, Doctor…”

He purred against the shell of her ear, flicking his tongue across her earlobe. He then drew back and kissed her again, three loving presses of his lips, his mouth slanted over hers as he whispered, “Anything.” Another kiss. “Anything you want. I’m yours.”

“Please,” she repeated, shaking all over. She couldn’t believe how badly she needed him, how much she loved him. She couldn’t believe he was doing this with her. Her heart felt like it might burst. “Pleasetouchme.”

He hummed again, a hungry, impassioned sound that expressed approval as he eagerly raised his hips and slid a hand down between them to cup her sex. 

“Ooh,” her hands clenched at the fabric of his shirt and tugged. “Yes…”

The Time Lord let out a tattered sigh as he rubbed a few circles over her knickers. He only toyed with her for a moment before slipping beneath the edge of the thin fabric, flicking it aside so he could press intently, two fingers dipping between her soft folds. He breathed out a curse.

“Rose,” he growled, then briefly pressed inside, pumping gently as she mewled and writhed beneath him. “Oh, sweetheart. Just feel how wet you are…”

His slick fingers retreated to coast upward through the split of her, then he was playing with her clit, stroking back and forth before painting tiny circles that had her whole body racked with shivers. Endless, quivering sounds poured from her lips as he touched her reverently, skilled and determined.

She was so close already. She’d already been dancing along the edge from their grinding, but now she was properly there, rotating her hips along with his touches, picturing what he must look like above her as he stroked her. She mewled his name again on a shuddering breath and he kissed her, sucking at her lip as his fingers teased the pulsing bud again and again. He broke the kiss to lay his forehead back over hers.

“So beautiful,” he purred, nuzzling her nose. “Go on, sweetheart… I want to feel you come for me… That’s it…”

Seconds later, her mouth fell open as she slipped straight over the edge, gasping, nearly breaking her hands with how tightly she gripped his shirt to keep from crying out in the darkness. The Doctor’s fingers continued slipping back and forth over her clit; soft, wet caresses that propelled her through her pleasure, slowing down near the end as he brought her down gently. 

As she returned to herself, he was pressing kisses all over her face, ending at her lips, where he welcomed her tongue back into his mouth in a lazy snog that he moaned into almost instantly. 

“That was wonderful,” he murmured when they broke apart, making her melt with the way she could literally hear his smile in his voice. “I wish I could have seen it, but oh, the sound of it…”

Rose came so close to saying it: ‘You can see it any time you like’, ‘We can do it again as soon as we get back to the TARDIS’, but she was afraid to, so she just kissed him again, sliding a hand into his hair to hold his mouth against hers.

When he pulled back, he dropped a kiss to her forehead, then pressed another to the tip of her nose. “Was that alright?” he asked once she’d been quiet for a moment. “Is everything…?”

She exhaled in a soft huff. “God, yes, but…”

“... But?”

She steeled herself as her tongue darted out across her lips, tasting him there. “Do we have to stop?”

A few seconds passed before he spoke.

“Rose,” his voice was somewhat guarded, trepidatious. “What do you…?”

“I mean,” she pressed into him, where he was somehow even harder now, which was a bit too much stimulation over her for a moment. “You’re still…”

“Oh… Oh, don’t worry about that,” he chuckled lightly. “I’ll be alright.”

Ergh. He was always taking the lead in just about everything they got up to. Why did that have to end at sex?!

She took another long, deep breath. “But… do you want to stop?” 

“As opposed to…?”

Damn it.

Right, okay then. He had to be deliberately skirting the obvious, she realized. Playing dumb because he was the one worried about overstepping her boundaries.

She rocked up into him and he groaned, breathing hot and heavy, pressing into her at the same time. The sound spurred her on, and she did it again. 

“I want to do this,” she purred, pushing against him one more time. With a burst of bravery that she latched onto with everything she had, she reached down between them, pressing her fingers over the button of his trousers. “Without these.”

The Doctor gasped at the unexpected touch. “F-fuck… Rose, are you sure?” A pause. “Here?”

No hesitation this time.

“Yes.”

Thank god, he didn’t need any more convincing after that. 

It was a little frantic in the tight space as they both attempted to divest him of his barriers, like they were both equally worried the other might change their mind about this reckless thing they were getting up to in the dark. Still, the Doctor slipped the button free himself, which was followed by both sets of hands working in frenzied tandem to get both his trousers and pants down his legs as best they could — which was just about to his knees.

Rose reached between his legs and wrapped her hand around the warm, smooth skin of his shaft, then he swore again, moaning and dropping his mouth to hers. He lowered his hips as she continued to stroke him, reaching with her other hand to pull her knickers further to the side, not even caring about taking them off. She needed him desperately, no more interruptions.

She gently pressed him through her slit, teasing herself with the silken head of his cock. Bloody hell, he was so smooth against her; so much hotter than the rest of him, pressing tantalizing heat against her sex as she guided him up and down again and again. She couldn’t wait to feel him inside of her, and he must have felt the same, because the sounds he made now were every bit as eager and needy as hers. It only served to make Rose wetter for him, igniting a primal need that brought her just short of begging him to fuck her.

They moved together a few times, slickening him up. He was breathless, trembling above her, then she positioned him at her entrance, keeping him there to guide him as he pushed forward and into her. 

“Fuck,” they gasped in unison, then his lips were back on hers. He kissed her as he buried himself deep, fitting her perfectly, then he broke away so they could both moan.

“Ooh...” He drew back and slid into her slowly. “Oh, Rose.”

She didn’t know how to form words, overcome with emotion and all-encompassing completeness beneath him, so she pulled him down mould her lips against his. He felt so good inside of her. 

The Doctor started to make love to her right there on the bedding of their coffin, and did so exquisitely. The threat outside was long forgotten, replaced by their soft, tremulous sounds of pleasure, joined together in the dark.

“Oh, god,” Rose’s hands returned to his lower back, sliding down to his bum and pulling him closer with each delicious slide through her heat. “Don’t stop.”

He whispered her name as he slid a hand back beneath her to angle her pelvis, then his hips, making her cry out softly as he entered her with one exploratory thrust that was both hard and fast. The adjustment created the perfect pathway, which he followed eagerly, each thrust driving his cock straight into her g-spot as he entered her. 

Over and over, he drove his hips into her, burying himself deep; panting and moaning above her as Rose spiraled into a procession of whimpers and curses and ragged, wavering moans. Tiny specks of blue burst through her vision in the dark as the Doctor fucked her hard and slow, nurturing that delicious heat as it pooled inside of her all over again. 

It was difficult to believe what was happening to her, that the Time Lord would share himself with her like this, but the thought was fleeting as he brought his mouth to hers. “I’m yours,” he murmured through her parted lips, dipping his tongue inside to glance against hers before withdrawing slowly from her mouth. “So long, I’ve wanted this. Wanted you… Needed you… Oh, fuck, please tell me you’re close…”

“So close,” she insisted breathlessly. “Doctor…”

He brought a hand to her face and caressed her cheek with his fingertips, drifting across her eyebrows, her eyelids, then her mouth, and she realized with a skip of her heartbeat that he was trying to ‘see’ her, trying to paint a picture of what he looked like while he moved inside of her.

“Beautiful,” he rasped, kissing her before tracing her lips again. “Mine. Oh, Rose. Need… Please…”

His desperation meshed with the incredible feeling of him throbbing deep inside of her, and Rose came hard; her climax hitting her with a suddenness that made her entire body surge upwards against his. He gasped out her name as his body stiffened, then with a heavy, shuddering moan, he was coming apart above her, riding her through her orgasm as he joined her in release.

Their bodies shook as they slowed to a stop, kissing each other over and over, not an inch between them. They continued to exchange languishing kisses as they caught their breath, slowing until he finally broke away, resting his forehead against hers.

“Wow,” he gasped. “Oh, wow.”

“Yeah.” Rose laughed. “Wow.”

“Rose, that was unbelievable.” Another soft kiss. “You’re incredible.”

Her heart, still raw with emotion, did a flip in her chest. “Doctor…”

“Mm?”

“Are we alright?... You and me?”

Again, she could practically hear his face contort above her. “What do you mean?”

“After that, I just mean…” 

He cut her off with a brief kiss, then he sighed. “Rose, I don’t know what that was for you, but as soon as I get you back to the TARDIS, we’re going straight to the Vortex so we can do that again. All day, preferably, with the lights on, so I can see every brilliant face you make.”

She blinked, not knowing why she was so shocked — only that she most definitely was. “Really?... You’re not, I don’t know, planning on running for the hills?”

He laughed properly at that, sliding back and out of her before carefully repositioning himself at her side. “What I said a moment ago wasn’t just… dirty talk.” He sought out her forehead in the dark, then traced his fingertips along her hairline and brushed a few loose strands away from her face. “I have actually wanted this, you know.”

Rose was incredulous, wishing she could look at him properly; wishing they had so much as a single Christmas light to be able to see each other in the darkness. It was killing her, not being able to make eye contact with him for any part of this. “But why didn’t you say anything?”

“Come off it with that. What could I have said? I’m not supposed to get up to these sorts of things. I don’t get up to them, thanks. Well… that is to say, I have, but I certainly haven’t in… Oh, longer than I can even remember. Certainly not in this body, nor the previous.”

The relief that flooded through her was almost embarrassing. Perhaps once or twice, a couple of incidents had led her to believe that he’d perhaps that wasn’t the case, but she trusted him completely, knowing he wouldn’t lie to her about something like that.

“We can talk about this in the morning, though. Hm?” He cupped her cheek and leaned forward, missing her lips again now that he was in a new position, having not memorized their location from her side. They both laughed lightly before he kissed her again, his lips resting perfectly over hers before he drew back. “Should probably get some rest. At this point, I’m certain I smell just as much like you as you do like me, so I’d rather not risk crossing that field tonight.”

“We’re just going to sleep here?” Rose grinned, certainly not hating the idea. “Grab a kip in a coffin?”

“Well. We’ve just grabbed a shag in a coffin, haven’t we? Where exactly is your line, Rose Tyler?”

They laughed together again, ending as he pulled her close and tucked her head beneath his chin. She snuggled up to him, happier than she ever thought possible. 

After a little light pillow talk, they finally drifted off, arms glued around each other in the night. 

x

Early in the morning, the Doctor jolted awake to the sound of a loud creaking sound, followed by the hearse shaking beneath the coffin. 

It was light enough outside that the light shining through the cracks in the coffin dimly illuminated the space, and he looked down at Rose, who was looking back at him with wide eyes.

She had never looked more beautiful, and blimey; he wanted to tell her as much, wanted to show her, wanted to pin her down and fuck her all over again, but it seemed they had more pressing matters to attend to.

“What was that?” She asked quietly.

Outside the box, there was another voice. 

“What? Is there someone in there? Hey, who’s in my hearse?!”

The Doctor held up a finger, then he turned his head as he pushed up slowly on the lid, peeking out. At what he saw, he cleared his throat. “Ah.”

Directly outside of the hearse, they’d managed to miss the elaborate photography setup about fifteen feet away. The roof of the hearse was also on hinges with a mechanism to prop it open, and clearly, they’d taken refuge inside the coffin that was intended for people to pose inside for a photo op.

“Who are you!?” a large, green-tinted Roonish man yelled from beside the vehicle, arms crossed. “What are you doing in there!”

The Doctor lowered the lid and looked down at Rose, who had her lip caught between her teeth. Her face was tinged pink as she smiled sheepishly. 

“Erm, well. Rose, it would appear we’ve taken shelter in a Halloween photography setup.”

“What?!”

“There’s cameras and haystacks and lighting rigs outside, evidently.”

“Oh.” Her hand flew up to her forehead, and she looked like she was trying very, very hard not to laugh. He smiled.

“I’m calling the authorities!"

“No, no, no, no —” the Doctor pushed up the lid again, this time joined by Rose, who popped up at his side. “There’s really no need for that —”

The man’s jaw dropped when he saw that he wasn’t alone. “Wait… Wait! What were you doing in there? Get. Out. Of. My. Coffin!”

Rose waved a hand flippantly. “Sir, please at least let us get decent, for god’s sake.”

The pair disappeared back into the coffin, ignoring the angered babbling of the employee as he prattled on. They held back their laughter as best as they could; exchanging a few kisses as they got their clothing situation in order, pulling things up and buttoning them, and tucking things back into place. 

It took a moment, but when they finally got out of the coffin and stepped dizzily out of the back of the hearse, there were already security guards waiting for them.

With just a touch of guilt, the Time Lord reached into the pocket of his suit jacket, which was still being worn by Rose, and retrieved his psychic paper, demonstrating that they had every right to be there, as they were testing the safety and durability of the coffin. It didn’t please the owner of the photo stand at all, but they were still allowed to leave, which they did hand-in-hand, running at full tilt for the TARDIS. He already had too much in store for their day, and jail didn’t factor into any of his plans.

The following evening, a brand new and far superior coffin appeared in the hearse with an apology letter neatly tucked inside.

The previous model was hauled away, stored deep in the TARDIS, awaiting what was destined to become a new and brilliant Halloween tradition… One they would be sure to enjoy in a far more private location next time.