#an untimely frost

[snidely-whipstache]

Fic plans!

In case anyone is curious I was writing down every fic I'm planning for the Queer Twilight series. I finally got over my writers block thank god so I'm back at it. (Sorry if my handwriting sucks)

I'm finishing An Untimely Frost hopefully within the next couple weeks(barring any catastrophic political events that may cause me to have to disappear into the woods. BTW if you don't know any wilderness survival skills you should learn now. Join my queer commune in the woods.) So look out for a new chapter this Friday!

[lucydarkrain]

The Big Four - Rubinrot AU

Background

Twelve gemstones represent twelve time travelers, each from a different era and a historically significant family in London. The births of these individuals were prophesied long ago, marked by unique astronomical constellations that signified their destinies as gene carriers. These individuals possess a rare genetic defect that grants them the ability to travel through time, making them carriers of the time-jumping gene.

Time Jumping Ability

These gene carriers can leap back in time, but the ability is not fully under their control and poses significant danger. Their first “dizziness” signals the activation of this power. To stabilize it and prevent erratic jumps into unknown eras, they must inject their blood into a time machine, called the “timer,” which is controlled by the church. Once stabilized, they can precisely jump to specific time points and remain there for a fixed duration. Without this process, they risk being pulled into random historical periods for unpredictable lengths of time.

The Time Machine and the Blood Ring:

The Time Machine functions by drawing blood from the carrier’s fingertip, linking the blood to one of the gemstones to facilitate precise time jumps. After completing this process, the gene carriers officially join the “Blood Ring,” a group of twelve individuals connected through this unique ability.

The Church of Saint Germain Earl’s Society

Located in the heart of London, the Saint Germain Earl’s Society is a church that safeguards the secret of time travel. Its judges, called Fathers, are the only ones privy to details about the “genetic defect” and “astronomical constellations.” They prepare the gene carriers for their roles through rigorous training, including etiquette, horseback riding, and historical studies, to maintain the order of the timeline. Their philosophy is: “Some things are meant to change, while the rest are destiny arranged by the divine.” The Fathers oversee the two timers, coordinate clothing appropriate for different eras, and manage journals that record historical events. They are also the only ones who can predict the births of gene carriers.

The Blood Ring - 12 Gene Carriers

Jack Overland Frost

The Frost family is one of the most renowned families in England, with its members widely recognized for their high profile in the business world.

Jack was born in the 21st century, in 2047, making him two years older than Merida. His time-jumping partner is Rapunzel. The two of them were very close even though he did not like her at the very beginning due to her family name. He didn’t realize his true feelings towards Rapunzel until the 18th-century Guy Fawkes Night. After Jack’s father left the family, he severed ties with the Frost family, unaware that Jack would become the first genetic carrier in the history of the Frost lineage.

After his parents’ untimely death, Jack was adopted by North, a close friend of his parents. During his teenage years, the church informed him that he was a genetic carrier. Initially, he was reluctant to join the Blood Ring, but with North’s persuasion, he eventually agreed and began participating in the church’s training sessions alongside Rapunzel.

Jack is skilled in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. He attended Winchester College (a boys’ school) at the same time as Hiccup, though they did not know each other. After forming a team with the other three, he and Hiccup became close friends. Jack met Merida during the church’s riding and combat courses, where he enjoyed teasing her as she was new to the church.

Jack was particularly popular among the girls at Rapunzel’s school. He refused to acknowledge his connection to the Frost family, believing they had cast his father out. However, he later discovered that his father had chosen to leave the family to live independently. After Jack’s parents passed away, the Frost family had been searching for him all along.

Jack experienced his first dizziness at the age of 15, traveling back to the early 20th century for nearly an hour. At 16, he officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the genetic carrier of Moonstone.

Rapunzel Peregrin Moore Corona

The Duke of Corona is a distant relative of the Queen and closely related to the Arendelle family. The Corona family has natural connections with the nobility and upper class.

Rapunzel was born in the 21st century, in 2048, making her one year younger than Jack and his partner. She is skilled in dance and etiquette and was told from a young age that she is the genetic carrier in her family. Unlike most genetic carriers, she possesses the unique ability to see spirits, and in school, she befriended a deceased spirit named Emily.

Rapunzel had heard of the historically significant DunBroch family and one day realized, while speaking with Emily at school, that Merida could also see Emily. Upon learning that Merida was also a genetic carrier, the two became close friends.

At a family gathering, Rapunzel secretly found Elsa’s journal, where she read that she would die at the age of 20. Later, she and Jack traveled back to the 16th century to try to persuade Elsa to return home. However, during the crowded event, she got separated from Jack and encountered Pitch, who took her blood.

At the age of 20, just before a time jump, Rapunzel died during the 18th-century Guy Fawkes Night, shielding Jack from a musket bullet. Her first dizziness occurred at age 15, when she briefly spent two minutes in the late 18th century. At 16, she officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the genetic carrier of Citrine.

Merida McDonald DunBroch

The DunBroch family is one of the most historically significant families in England, with a lineage that extends from the 16th century to the 21st century.

Merida was born in the 21st century, in 2049. At the age of 14, she experienced her first dizziness and traveled back to 19th-century England for three minutes. Until that moment, she had no idea that her family was among those with the “genetic defect.” Afterward, in addition to attending school as usual, she began training with her partner at the church. She is the youngest of the Four Guardians.

Merida and Rapunzel are alumni of Westminster School (a girls’ school) and are among the rare few who can see the spirits of the deceased. At the age of 16, she officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the genetic carrier of Ruby.

The year after officially becoming Ruby, the church assigned her to form a team with Rapunzel, Hiccup, and Jack to locate Pitch and retrieve the timer he had stolen. However, due to Pitch’s interference in history, the DunBroch family was destroyed in the 17th century, erasing the events that led to Merida’s birth in the 21st century.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

The Haddock family is one of the most discreet among the upper class. Its ancestors were often high-ranking military officers and generals, and the family’s reputation continues to be widely recognized to this day.

Hiccup was born in the 21st century, in 2047, and is the same age as Jack. He is Merida’s partner. Before his family revealed the truth about the genetic defect, Hiccup had already deduced that he was a genetic carrier by studying various materials at home. Following this realization, he joined the church’s training programs, though due to differing schedules, he remained unaware that Jack and Rapunzel were also genetic carriers. Ever since he joined the church, he’s been waiting on his partner, “ruby” to show up.

After Merida’s first dizziness, Hiccup found her unconscious on the roadside and brought her to the church, marking the beginning of their acquaintance. After the DunBroch family was erased from existence, Hiccup was the only one who still remembered Merida. Through extensive research, he convinced Jack and Rapunzel that she had indeed existed and ultimately helped save the DunBroch family from destruction.

He met Rapunzel in the library and, after her tragic death on Guy Fawkes Night, received a letter from her written in the past. Following the letter’s instructions, he contacted Hiro, a genetic carrier he had never met, and learned there was a way to change history and prevent Rapunzel’s death.

At the age of 13, Hiccup experienced his first dizziness, traveling back to 18th-century England and calmly staying there for ten minutes. At 16, he officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the genetic carrier of Smoky Quartz.

Kozmotis Pitchiner Black

Count Kozmotis Pitchiner is the earliest ancestor of the Black family. His reputation and noble gentlemanly demeanor have been passed down through the centuries since the 17th century. Though the Black family is not large in number, it is one of the prominent families with both historical significance and royal lineage. Kozmotis is a descendant of the earliest gene carriers, making him born with a powerful time-jumping gene that other families do not possess. The strength of this gene not only allows him immunity to disease but also the ability to indefinitely extend his life. As a result, Kozmotis, by constantly altering his attire, manners, and name, has lived for hundreds of years since his birth in the 17th century. Even the Church has been deceived, unaware that “Pitch Black” is none other than Kozmotis Pitchiner himself.

It is said that the blood of twelve time travelers is required to unlock the closed loop of the “Timer,” which then releases energy capable of granting eternal life. While everyone believes Pitch stole the Timer to use this energy to destroy the Church and other families, in truth, he intends to return to the 17th century to save his daughter, who died of hemorrhagic fever. This secret is known only to Elsa. Since his coming of age in the 17th century, he has been a carrier of the Obsidian gene and officially became a member of the Blood Ring.

Elsa Menzel Arendelle

The Arendelle family is a distant relative of the Corona family. Although the family has no noble titles or connections, it is one of the wealthiest families in high society. Elsa was born in the 21st century in 2046, two years older than Rapunzel and Anna. She is Anna’s elder sister and Rapunzel’s cousin. Her original partner was Tadashi Hamada of the Hamada family. Elsa and Tadashi were pursuing Pitch back to 1666 when Tadashi perished in the Great Fire of London, which raged for four days and nights. His death was a severe blow to Elsa, leading her to shut herself off for a long time. Later, she secretly used the Timer to search for Pitch, intending to complete the mission Tadashi couldn’t. However, she was persuaded by Pitch and chose to follow him, assisting him in collecting the blood of twelve gene carriers.

At the age of 14, she experienced her first “dizziness” and traveled back to the 18th century, where she stayed for nearly two hours. At 16, she officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the Aquamarine gene carrier. At 19, after following Pitch, she was labeled a traitor by the Church. She attempted to return to the time before Tadashi’s death but discovered his fate was irreversible. Tadashi, accepting his fate, hoped Elsa would stop blaming herself. Later, Elsa was forgiven by Hiro and returned to the 18th century, where she lived out the final years of Hans’ life with him.

Anna Kristen Arendelle

Anna was born in the 21st century in 2048. She is Elsa’s younger sister and Rapunzel’s cousin of the same age. The Arendelle family is one of the rare families to have two gene carriers in the same generation. To protect Elsa and Anna, the family rarely allowed them to attend social gatherings with other families.

When Elsa experienced her first dizziness, Anna mistakenly believed the genetic defect was a disease. Later, when Elsa officially became the Aquamarine gene carrier, the family revealed that Anna was also a carrier. However, fearing the dangers of time travel, the family forbade Anna from participating in the Church’s training sessions. After Elsa defected to follow Pitch into the past, Anna demanded to join the training, vowing to personally bring Elsa back. At 17, Anna experienced her first dizziness and encountered Elsa and Pitch in the 19th century. At 18, she officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the Emerald gene carrier.

Hans Westergaard

The Westergaard family is a renowned lineage of winemakers, specializing in crafting fine wines for royalty since the 17th century.

Hans was born in the 18th century in 1744. He was the thirteenth and youngest son of the Westergaard family and the only gene carrier in his lineage. Despite being born into the family’s grand estate and his unique status, Hans was never valued by his parents or siblings, except for a close relationship with his closest-aged brother.

When Elsa first experienced dizziness and time-jumped to the Westergaard estate, Hans was 16 years old. He immediately recognized Elsa as a gene carrier. They shared many common topics, and Hans experienced true friendship for the first time during the two hours she stayed. At 17, Hans had his first dizziness and, at 18, became a Blood Ring member as the Diamond gene carrier.

Later, Hans attempted to use Elsa’s trust to seize the blood she collected for Pitch, driven by a deal proposed by Gothel. However, realizing Elsa was also deceiving him, he chose to stop working for Gothel and willingly gave Elsa his blood. Hans died during the Battle of Bunker Hill in middle age but left behind his treasured wine cellar as a gift for Elsa in the 21st century.

Violet Vowell Parr

Violet was born in the early 18th century, in 1703, as the eldest daughter of the third-generation Baron of the Parr family and the first gene carrier in the family. She is the partner and lover of Wilbur. From a young age, Violet knew she was a gene carrier, but she disliked this genetic defect, feeling it made her out of place in the normal world. After spending time with Wilbur, her perspective on herself and the world changed, and she became more confident, ultimately becoming his lover.

After Wilbur stole the Timer, Violet persuaded him to return it to the Church. Unaware that Elsa was also a gene carrier, Violet was tricked into giving her blood. Violet strictly distinguishes between the past, present, and future, believing the future is predetermined and accepting that one day she and Wilbur’s lives will end, albeit on different timelines. She was the first to discover Madam Gothel’s ambitions and wrote to the Church to warn them. At the age of 17, Violet officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the Amethyst gene carrier.

Penny Forrester

The Forrester family’s earliest ancestors date back to the 18th century.

Penny was born in the early 20th century, in 1908. In her youth, she immigrated with her parents to the United States during its Golden Age, where she gained minor fame in Hollywood. Penny was the second gene carrier born into the Forrester family since the 18th century. She learned she was a gene carrier during her teenage years and officially became a member of the Blood Ring at the age of 14 as the Morganite gene carrier.

At 14, during her first dizziness episode, she nearly died in the American Civil War before returning to London. With the Church’s help, she stabilized her time-jumping ability and returned to the United States. Her partner was Hiro, and despite the Church’s disapproval, she enjoyed asking him questions about the future. At 18, Penny was recalled to London and tasked with bringing Hiro back to the Church after he illegally used the Timer. However, she fell into Pitch’s trap and was imprisoned by him. After Madam Gothel’s secret was revealed, Penny joined forces with Hiro, Violet, and Wilbur to stop her plans.

Wilbur Robinson

Wilbur was born in the late 23rd century, in 2295, as one of the heirs to the Robinson family, a technological dynasty that developed from the 21st century to the 24th century. Wilbur was the first gene carrier in the Robinson family and Violet’s partner.

Wilbur knew from a young age that he was a gene carrier, but unlike his father, he lacked an aptitude for invention. After officially becoming a member of the Blood Ring, he believed time-jumping was the only thing he was good at. At 16, during his first dizziness episode, Wilbur jumped back to the 21st century, where he encountered a painting called “Violet,” which he found strange. At 17, he officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the Sapphire gene carrier.

At 18, Wilbur and Violet became lovers. Unable to accept that they lived in different centuries, he attempted to steal the Time Machine, mimicking Pitch. As punishment, the Church banned him from time-jumping or accessing the Time Machine. At 19, Wilbur saw the painting of Violet again in his own time and realized the person depicted was Violet. This realization triggered an unconscious time-jump back to her timeline. Hiro later discovered that Wilbur was the only gene carrier capable of precision time-jumping without a Time Machine. After training, Wilbur mastered this ability, which became the key to saving all Blood Ring members.

Hiro Hamada

Hiro was born in the late 23rd century, in 2296, as the younger brother of Tadashi Hamada, who was four years his senior. After Tadashi’s death, Hiro became the sole heir of the Hamada family.

Before Tadashi’s death, Hiro was unaware that he was a gene carrier. However, their birth dates (excluding the year) were identical, making Hiro one of the 12 gene carriers, and the inheritor of Tadashi’s gem. Hiro’s high intelligence allowed him to master all knowledge about gene carriers within a year. At 14, he officially became a member of the Blood Ring as the Tanzanite gene carrier.

Hiro illegally used the Time Machine to investigate Tadashi’s death and discovered it was no coincidence or accident. After discussing his findings with Violet and Wilbur, Hiro realized all events pointed to Pitch. While helping Wilbur train his unique abilities, Hiro saved Penny from Pitch’s trap. After reading a letter from Violet, the group discovered that Tadashi’s death and the conspiracy against gene carriers were orchestrated not by Pitch but by Madam Gothel.

Other Characters

Madam Gothel

Born in the 18th century, Madam Gothel was responsible for providing attire and tools for gene carriers within the Church. She coveted the Timer Machine’s power, which could grant eternal youth, and learned all its secrets. Knowing Pitch’s background, she planned to let him gather the blood of gene carriers, only to eventually take the immortality elixir from him.

To release the Time Machine’s power, the blood of 12 gene carriers was needed, along with the death of the final carrier. Mistakenly believing Tadashi to be the final carrier, Gothel orchestrated his death in a fire. However, the final carrier was actually Hiro, who shared Tadashi’s birthdate. Gothel lured future-born gene carriers to the 18th century on Guy Fawkes Night, aimed to kill Jack Frost but Rapunzel catches the bullet for him. She intend to eliminate all 12 carriers and their families to elevate her own.

Emily Jane

Emily Jane is a ghost who haunts Westminster School for Girls. Rapunzel, who can see Emily, befriends her. Emily has long black hair like Rapunzel but has forgotten much of her past after centuries of death. While investigating Pitch, Rapunzel hears the name “Kozmotis Pitchiner,” and Emily recalls that her surname is Pitchiner, realizing she is Kozmotis Pitchiner’s daughter.

Through Rapunzel, Emily conveys to Pitch that she has come to terms with her fate and urges him to do the same. Eventually, Pitch accepts his daughter’s wishes, drinks the immortality elixir to neutralize its effects, and becomes mortal. He and Elsa return to the 16th century, living out their days in London. Emily’s wish fulfilled, she no longer lingers in the mortal world.

[sodamnradd]

The notice is posted Saturday morning:

Hiring head lifeguard. Submit applications to Hooch for consideration.

“Looks like I’m getting a raise.” Malfoy’s voice startles her.

Hermione’s duffel knocks his hip on her way out. “We’ll see.”

-

Sunday, she submits her application.

“It’s down to you and Malfoy,” says Hooch. “Demonstrate strong initiative this week.”

-

Monday, Malfoy’s shift starts first. Dark aviators slide down his nose. “No need to test the pH. Hooch saw me do it an hour ago.”

Hermione shows him the finger and receives a whistle blow in return.

-

Tuesday, a little girl scrapes her knee on the shallow steps. Malfoy’s halfway down the ladder when Hermione reaches her. She grins smugly at him as she escorts the weepy child to Hooch’s office in search of rainbow plasters.  

-

Wednesday, Malfoy rescues a rubber ducky from its untimely demise in the pool filter. The toddler’s spirited mother fondles Malfoy’s bicep and leaves him a glowing review in their feedback box.

-

Thursday, Hermione and Malfoy dive for lost spectacles. Malfoy reaches them first. Hermione lands a hard kick to his thigh before breaking the surface, spectacles in hand.

-

Friday, sweat trickles down Malfoy’s chest as he cleans the pool with a leaf net. Hermione drops her shorts by the lifeguard chair, a cherry red swimsuit underneath. The weight of his gaze follows her all the way up the ladder. 

-

Saturday, they close together. “Might want to pack extra aloe tomorrow. You know, to soothe the burn when I get promoted.”  

“When I’m promoted,” Hermione steps forward, edging Malfoy closer to the pool, “I’ll have you disinfecting showers every day.”

His gaze drops to her lips. “I’ll make you blow that whistle all day long.”

She grazes his abs with her fingertips. “Wouldn’t you rather I blow something else?”

When Malfoy’s eyes bulge, Hermione gives him a hard shove. He catches her wrist, yanking her into the water.

-

Sunday, Hooch paces her office. “Shagging in the pool?” Her eyes glow furiously. “You’ve violated half a dozen health regulations!”

Hermione flushes.

Malfoy has the audacity to ask, “But who got the job?”

(350 words, prompt Poseidon from LDWS Feb 2022, came 2nd place. I recently stumbled upon this one again and don't think I've ever cross-posted it anywhere before. I, for one, can use a bit of summer in this January frost.)

[listofwhyyouloveher]

hcs for the gang (separate) with an anxious younger fem reader? like maybe 12-13-14? Reader is used to people suddenly walking out or being pulled away of her life (her father died in a car accident, her childhood best friend suddenly had to move away, other close friend went missing, a cousin of hers died because of a sickness, etc, etc) so she's kind of constantly stuck in the mindset of "this could be the last moment togheter" (the boys are kind of obvlivious to reader's past with sudden departures). so when she feels like too much time has passed without anything bad happening to her she kind of just drops onto their side and cuddles up to them, shutting everything out completely and just kind of burning the memory of them and that moment into her head (like the way they smell, the clothest they are wearing, how warm their bodies are, how their voices sound, etc, etc) poor reader's just a traumatized bean lmao 😭

Summary: The Outsiders w anxious!reader

Warnings: anxiety mentions, mentions of death, mentions of loss

Author's Note: none

PONYBOY CURTIS

Ponyboy has always been helpful after the loss of your family. It was written in the news as a "freak accident" but to you it was your whole life being shattered.

In a way, Pony knew what you were going through, having lost his parents too. So he was your rock in such a desperate time.

You're life was genuinely a tragedy, you'd lost quite a lot. So you made him promise he'd never leave, and of course he agreed because there was little he liked more than you.

Although summer was unbearably hot, the winters always shocked you with their biting frosts and chills. You were huddled in a ball on the couch thinking about your past when Pony sat next to you. Immediately, you wrapped your arms around him, burying your face in his neck and shutting your eyes tightly.

Pony was used to your moments, where you shut everything out and just focus on him. He smelled like books, charcoal and faint cigarette smoke. Pony stroked your back gently, letting you absorb the moment.

JOHNNY CADE

Johnny has never felt the loss of a loved one, to him, he's never had many loved ones. However, his lackluster way of empathizing with you made a sincere impression on you.

You connected with Jojnny very quickly after your parents death and he was always willing to hold you when you got night terrors, or when you just couldn't deal with the world. He felt that in some way, you completed each other.

Tonight, you had another dream. It was a terrible cycle of having your family ripped from your life and out of your heart again. You sprung out of bed, warm and sticky sweat still fresh on your goosebump-ed skin. You dialed Johnny number and prayed to every god you knew that he was home.

He arrived at you door within 10 minutes, finding you curled up under your covers, shivering and shaking. He helped you sit up and wiped your tears. Slowly, you wrapped your arms around him, just being there with him. His callous yet soft hands patted the bare skin of your shoulder, his rough denim jacket uncomfortably rubbing against your skin, everything about him you engraved in your mind.

SODAPOP CURTIS

Sodapop was no stranger to loss, and to dealing with the overwhelming grief that pours out. He had enough strength to help Pony get through it and with your parents untimely demise still fresh in your mind, he knew he needed to do it again.

For the longest time, he would hold you to sleep, comforting you, telling you that he'll never leave. He found equal solace in comforting you as you did getting comforted by him.

You made it your goal to memorize everything about Soda, as to never forget. He never wore hair grease at night so his hair smelled like soap and his skin smelled like wood and a mechanic shop. He always wore an unbuttoned button up and was always a little too cold at first. You would say you studied him like a muse, but in reality in his eyes you were the muse, the angel with decorated wings in a painting.

STEVE RANDLE

Steve never meant to get involved with the only girl in the gang. He feared that it would throw off the comfortable balance you had created for yourself. But the day he saw you crying on the curb, red and puffy lips and eyes, something tugged in his heart. He was by your side, asking what was pestering you. You showed him the scrap of paper that listed the dates of your family's death. It was if the ink was still fresh because the news shocked him too. He was reminded of all those nights he poured drink after drink for Soda, eyes brimming with tears that were too stubborn to fall.

He found himself in the same predicament, pouring you a big glass of hard liquor, watching you sip at it before down the whole glass. He sat next to you, unsure of what to do next when you silently rested your head on his shoulder.

His hair smelled like grease and his button up like motor oil, but it was a comforting, down to earth smell. Something in your stomach twisted and you felt your nose burn and eyes well with tears. Noticing this, Steve swung his arm around your waist, pulling you close, trying his best to comfort you, someone who'd been there for everyone in a way that was purely angelic. He wanted to mimic your soft touch and happy smile, so he let himself be consumed by you.

TWO BIT MATHEWS

Two-Bit had always thought of himself as a poor communicator and comforter, but the way you confided in him after the death of your parents bloomed a new love I'm him for being such a important person in your life.

It was no secret that he enjoyed being the one you relied on and he would often go out of your way to bring you thinks, soup his mom cooked, flowers he picked that he knew your dad grew in his garden.

He was sitting with you on your couch watching home movies your mom made, his hand gently patting your plush thigh when you curled into him. He smelled like pizza, probably his dinner, and the Disney princess perfume that his sister liked to wear. It was an odd combination but it was humbling, reminding you of a home you yearned for now that you lost yours. He gently wrapped his arm around you, smiling down at you, someone he loved as dearly as his family.

DARRY CURTIS

Darry was never the one to comfort. He found that he could get more done by bottling all the emotions up, pushing Soda and Pony to work hard through their pain. But he knew he couldn't do that to you, and in a way, he made Pony and Soda jealous by how he treated you, soft and feathery with kind words and patience.

He invites you over for dinner when Soda and Pony would go out together with the rest of the gang. Everytime he makes your favorite food and you sit across from each other. He stabilized you everytime your thoughts ran, helping you through this tough time. It was these moments that you tried to memorize, the smell of Darry's cologne mixing with your comfort food and the faint scent of the rest of the gang, you wanted it pierced through your very soul, staying there like a tattoo.

Darry reached for your hand, stroking your trembling fingers.

"You ok, kid?" He ask, voice soft like a small flame. You look up at him from your food, there's a bittersweet smile on your lips that he's seen so often. You interlock your fingers with his and cry.

DALLAS WINSTON

Dallas hates you. He tells himself that everytime he sees your smiling face. There was no hiding his contempt for someone so unbearably joyful. But he wasn't happy when you finally dropped your smile, when you fell to your knees, hands clenching onto nothing and tears falling from your eyes to the ground like bullets. He was there the day you got the news. There was no saving your family, there couldn't even be a proper funeral due to your lack of money.

He wanted to hold you, but Dallas doesn't hold, Dallas grips and tugs and rips at anything soft. So he merely sat with you while you cried, body trembling and racked with sobs that made your body ache.

He pulls a cancer stick from his pocket and lights it. The scent and smoke of unfiltered tobacco burns your already red eyes but it's a familiar feeling. He hands you a cigarette that you gladly take and he holds his lighter up to the end. His hands smell like smoke and musk, a woodsy scent that you find yourself almost reaching for. The comforting scent of a home.

[thollandsgirl2013]

Hi there I'm the on who requested this and I was think that they are making cupcakes if that is ok?

Peter frowned, staring at the strange colour before them. “No, it’s blue! I didn’t even put any green in there! I put in blue and then pink dye.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I’m sorry, babe. It looks like Squidward met his untimely end.”

Peter threw his hands up. “How does blue and pink even turn into this weird colour? It was supposed to be purple!”

Y/n chuckled. “Maybe it’s a new shade—‘Squidward’s regret.’ Perfect for when your mixing skills go sideways.”

Peter sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips. “Alright, fine. Next time, you��re in charge of the colours.”

Hi! Thanks for clarifying. Hope you enjoy this.

---------------©®©®©®©®©--------------

𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭

Parings → Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings → fluff, baking mishap, kitchen disaster.

Summary → Peter insists on making frosting solo. Chaos ensues. The reader watches the disaster unfold like a wise woman sipping tea.

The kitchen smelled like vanilla and burnt ambition.

“Are you sure you don’t want help with the frosting?” You asked, eyeing Peter warily as he lined up the food coloring bottles like he was prepping for battle.

Peter scoffed and rolled up his sleeves like he was about to perform open-heart surgery. “I got this. I watched a video.....two, actually.”

“That’s one more than the last time you tried something in the kitchen,” you muttered, sliding the tray of cooling cupcakes closer to the edge of the counter.

He shot you a cocky grin and turned back to the bowl of frosting with the confidence of a man who didn’t know fear. “Trust the process, babe.”

“Last time I did that, the toaster caught on fire,” you reminded him, already eyeing the fire extinguisher.

He was undeterred. He reached for the bowl of pale pink frosting and studied it like he was about to solve a chemistry problem. With precise intent, he grabbed the bottle of blue dye and, instead of the careful few drops you expected, he absolutely drenched the frosting.

“…Peter. That’s not a ‘touch’ of blue. That’s an avalanche.”

He waved you off without a single ounce of regret. “This is the perfect ratio. Blue and pink make purple. Basic color theory.”

You pressed your lips together, trying not to laugh. “Sure, Professor. Let’s see how that goes.”

“Shh. I’m in the zone.”

Peter mixed with enthusiasm, turning the spoon in big, dramatic circles, his biceps flexing just enough to distract you for a second, the frosting slowly transforming into… something unnatural. And not in a cool sci-fi way. In a what-is-this-mutant-color kind of way.

A few minutes of aggressive stirring and mumbling to himself later, Peter stepped back with a frown, staring into the bowl like it had personally betrayed him.

“…What the hell?”

You wandered over, peering into the bowl like it might blink back at you.

“…Peter. What is that color?”

His brow furrowed. “No, it’s blue! I didn’t even put any green in there! I put in pink and then blue dye!”

You tilted your head. “I’m sorry, babe. It looks like Squidward met his untimely end.”

Peter threw his hands up, completely baffled. “How does blue and pink even turn into this weird color? It was supposed to be purple!”

You grinned, arms crossed. “Maybe it’s a new shade—‘Squidward’s Regret.’ Perfect for when your mixing skills go sideways.”

Peter exhaled, defeated but mildly amused. “Alright, fine. Next time, you’re in charge of the colors.”

You patted him on the back with mock sympathy. “Smart man. I was trying to help you avoid this, but nooo, ‘two videos’ Peter had a vision.”

He pointed a spatula at you dramatically. “I did have a vision! It just… turned out to be cursed.”

You tried not to laugh, but the bowl looked like something between toothpaste and sorrow. “Well, unless we want to traumatize the cupcakes, I suggest we frost quickly and hope nobody questions it.”

Peter looked at the sad, alien-looking frosting and sighed. “We’re committed now. The cupcakes must be frosted.”

You smirked, grabbing a spoon. “At least I hope they’ll taste good. They’ll just look like SpongeBob’s nightmares.”

As you both started frosting, Peter side-eyed his monstrous creation. “I still think it’s kinda cool. Like, interdimensional frosting.”

“Yeah, from a dimension where taste buds go to die.”

He nudged you with his hip. “Wow. The disrespect.”

“I’m just keeping it real.”

You worked side by side in silence for a moment, well, as silent as things get when Peter was muttering under his breath about ratios and frosting betrayal. You focused on making your cupcakes look semi-presentable while he… attempted some kind of swirl pattern that ended up looking like a squid’s midlife crisis.

“Okay,” you finally said, taking a step back. “Not completely tragic. From a certain angle. If you squint.”

“Hey, I call this one Galaxy Vortex Collapse,” Peter said proudly, pointing at one particularly lopsided cupcake.

You burst out laughing. “That one’s giving ‘failed science fair project.’ ”

Peter grinned, then licked a smear of frosting off his thumb. “Still tastes good though.”

You tilted your head. “Bold of you to taste-test the regret.”

“Oh, come on,” he said, scooping a fingerful of the frosting and holding it up to your mouth. “Try it.”

You hesitated, giving him a suspicious look. “If my tongue turns blue-green, I’m suing you.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “It’s called taking risks, babe.”

You rolled your eyes but gave in, letting him feed you the frosting. It was… actually good. Not amazing, but sugar’s sugar.

“Okay, not bad,” you admitted, swallowing. “Still doesn’t justify the trauma to my eyes, though.”

“Visual chaos. Tasteful chaos. Balance,” Peter said like he was quoting some ancient culinary proverb.

You finished decorating the last of your batch, proud of your relatively normal-looking ones. “I’m not saying I’m better, but—”

Peter held up his hands. “No, no. You win. You’re the frosting queen. I’ll stick to webbing up criminals.”

“Good choice.”

Once the tray was full of your chaotic creations, you stepped back and admired the mess. The counter was dotted with sprinkles, smeared with frosting, and somehow, one of Peter’s socks had a pink stain on it.

“How?” You asked, pointing.

Peter looked down. “I—don’t know.”

You laughed again, reaching for your phone. “Okay. We have to document this.”

Peter groaned. “Do not post that. I have a reputation.”

You snapped a photo anyway. “Your reputation is ‘menace to frosting.’ ”

“Hey! I’m a menace in a cool way.”

“Sure, Spider-Fail. Sure.”

Peter laughed, grabbing a bottle of water and leaning back against the counter beside you. “This was fun, though.”

You glanced at him, then smiled softly. “Yeah. Disaster and all.”

He nudged your shoulder with his. “You make even baking fails fun.”

You leaned your head against his. “That’s because you’re cute when you’re panicking over frosting.”

Peter groaned dramatically. “Don’t tell May. She already thinks I can’t cook.”

You patted his cheek. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.”

He paused. “Unless I post that Squidward photo.”

‎∗ ࣪ ˖༺ 𓆩☆𓆪 ༻˖ ࣪ ‎∗

[ninjatrashpanda]

Of Freezing Cold and Cozy Warmth

Written for @bucktommywinterfest (It's a bit late, sorryyyy x.x)

Prompt: "I've actually never seen snow before."

Rated: G

Tags: established relationship, fluff, light h/c, AU canon divergence

Read on AO3 here.

“Fuck me, why is it so cold?!”

This was insane. Completely unacceptable. How did people choose to live in temperatures like this?!

Logically, Tommy had known that he should be prepared for this. He’d known that Los Angeles was significantly warmer than a lot of places in the country. And he’d taken it seriously and prepared himself mentally. He’d figured that he had been ready when he and Evan had boarded the plane back home.

Now, standing outside the airport and waiting for Evan’s parents to pick them up, it became more than obvious that he wasn’t prepared. Nothing ever could’ve possibly prepared him for the wind to give him the worst hug of all time, or the icicles it drew down his spine. It felt like Winter itself was attacking him with countless tiny daggers to his face and especially his ears. Evan had told him to buy a beanie or a pair of ear warmers, but he hadn’t taken him seriously.

Oh, what a terrible mistake that was.

“Uh, because it’s December and we’re in Pennsylvania?” Evan answered with a raised eyebrow and barely concealed smile, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

Tommy shot Evan a glare so venomous it could have melted the frost off his eyelashes...if his eyelashes had actually been frozen. They weren’t, but it felt like they might be any second now.

“This is not December. This is the Arctic tundra, and I didn’t sign up for this kind of abuse,” Tommy retorted, pulling his hoodie tighter around his head. It was useless against the gusts of wind that seemed hell-bent on cutting through every layer of clothing he had.

Evan, of course, looked unfazed. If anything, he looked amused. Dressed in a thick winter jacket and wearing the very beanie Tommy had mocked in the store just last week, he seemed utterly immune to the cold. It was infuriating. “I told you it was going to be cold, Tommy,” Evan said with a chuckle, his breath visible in the air. “You can’t blame me for your stubbornness.”

“I’m not blaming you,” Tommy said through chattering teeth. “I’m blaming this state. How do people live here?!”

Evan rolled his eyes, but Tommy could clearly see the onset of a fond smile at the corners of his mouth. “You’re being dramatic. It’s not even that cold.”

“Not that cold?!” Tommy exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch. He waved his hands around like a madman, a feeble attempt at warming himself up. “This is frostbite weather! My toes are going to fall off! I can’t feel my nose! This is how I die!”

“Relax. My parents will be here in, like, five minutes,” Evan said, checking his phone. “You’ll survive.”

And that sent a completely different sort of shiver down Tommy’s spine. Margaret and Phillip Buckley were a…complicated subject, and even after two years of dating Evan and meeting his biological parents several times, he wasn’t quite sure what to think of them. They’d been…awkward at first, but Tommy had expected that. It wasn’t every day that your 33-year-old, previously thought-to-be-straight son showed up at your daughter’s wedding with his newly minted boyfriend. There was no script for a situation like that. Over time though, they’d gotten around, and Tommy figured they at least were able to tolerate him, considering that he was invited whenever they came to Los Angeles. (Though even if they didn’t, Evan, Maddie and Chimney probably would probably make sure he was included anyway.)

Of course, Tommy was also acutely aware of the rather…tumultuous past of the Buckley family.

The story about Daniel Buckley and his tragic, untimely death had come out of Evan in bits and pieces over their time together. Tommy had first heard Daniel’s name around a week after Maddie and Chimney’s wedding, when Evan had mentioned that they had originally planned to leave two empty seats at their table at the reception. One for Kevin, of course, and the other for someone named Daniel. Tommy hadn’t known who exactly Daniel had been, but clearly he must’ve been a big deal when a space at the bride and groom’s table was kept empty for him.

He had first learned that Daniel had been Maddie and Evan’s brother about a week after that. It was at the first of a few double dates with Eddie and Marisol (and boy, did he still kind of cringe whenever he thought about her and the way her and Eddie’s relationship had ended), when she had mentioned a petty squabble she’d recently gotten into with her own brother. Both Evan and Eddie had shared anecdotes about their sisters, and Evan had openly wondered what his relationship with Daniel might’ve been like. Marisol had been visibly confused (Tommy had very much seen the discreet head shake Eddie had sent her), but Tommy had obviously connected the dots.

He hadn’t learned that Evan had been a savior baby until a few months later, when, on their frequent journey of making Evan watch movies, Tommy had decided to put on My Sister’s Keeper. The choice had been an innocent one. He had thought it was a tearjerker that Evan, with his endless compassion, would appreciate. He hadn’t expected his boyfriend to sit frozen through most of it, his face pale and jaw tight. At first, Tommy had thought that it was just the movie getting to Evan like it did to most people, but by the climax of the film, Evan had abruptly stood up and muttered something about needing air.

The aftermath of that night, from Evan explaining the circumstances of his birth, to Tommy profoundly apologizing for his movie pick (Evan had assured him it was okay. There was no way Tommy could’ve known), to the revelation of just what Margaret and Phillip had actually done to both Evan and Maddie, had stuck with Tommy in ways only his father and his past in the military had otherwise. A cold, seething rage at the Buckley parents had filled him to the brim, a sense of anger so harsh that he hadn’t fully been able to let go of it even now, a year and a half later.

Tommy shook his head. Evan and Maddie had forgiven their parents. They had gone to therapy together and mended their relationship as well as they could. They were on good terms, which was why he was in the middle of what felt like the Antarctic’s asscrack right now anyway. And besides, after all the shit he had pulled back during his Closet Era™, who was he to judge anyone anyway? It would be more than hypocritical.

“Hey, Earth to Tommy,” Evan said, snapping him out of his thoughts. “You’re starting to look like a puppy that got lost in the snow. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Tommy startled, his head snapping over to Evan, his eyes wide as dishes. He recovered quickly, though, and shot Evan a sheepish look. “Just thinking about what your parents are gonna have to say about you popping the question.”

Evan froze, his easy grin faltering for the briefest of moments. Then his expression softened into something warm, almost shy, as a blush crept up his cheeks, and not from the cold this time. “You think they’ll be surprised?” he asked, his voice quieter now, as if he was scared Margaret and Phillip could be hiding behind the next corner.

With an exaggerated hum, Tommy tilted his head, pretending to think hard about it. “I mean, on one hand, you are incredibly handsome, with a heart of gold and a massive dick that makes angels sing, while I’m just, y’know, me.” He gestured to himself dramatically, as if he was the most repulsive being on the planet. “But on the other hand, everyone back home knew. Hell, I knew for about a month before you proposed. You’re not subtle.”

An incredulous, awkward laugh escaped Evan’s mouth, the blush on his cheeks turning a shade brighter. “Excuse me, but I am absolutely subtle. And you had no idea. None. Nada. Zilch. Zero.”

“Oh, yes, of course, I had no clue!” Tommy shot back, raising his hands in surrender. A move he instantly regretted when the Pennsylvania Winter air crept through his pores directly into his bones. With another shiver, he quickly brought his palms up to his mouth and breathed into them, the warmth of his breath a temporary, but welcome relief. “But seriously, do you think they’ll be weird about it? I mean, it’s one thing for me to just be the boyfriend you have when they expected a girlfriend, but it’s another thing entirely to, you know… potentially be the son-in-law.”

Evan’s gaze held his own for a beat, steady and warm, in spite of the icy wind that Tommy was sure was going to turn his skin blue any moment now. “They’ll be fine,” he said firmly. “They’ve come a long way. We all have. And if they’re not, well...” His face turned harder suddenly, almost determined, even. “It wouldn’t be the first time I picked somebody I love over them.”

Tommy stared at Evan, his breath coming out as a plume of fog in the cold air. He couldn’t decide if the warmth in his chest was from Evan’s unwavering confidence or from the sheer force his heart was currently beating with. He couldn’t fight the tears that shot into his eyes.

“That’s… probably the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” he sniffed, rubbing his eyes. “Also kind of terrifying? In a way? But mostly sweet.”

Evan’s face broke into a soft smile again, the kind that always made Tommy wonder how he ever got this lucky. He’d been a horrible human being in his youth, from the way he’d kept quiet under Gerrard’s captainship, to how he’d strung Abby along for years in an attempt to “fix” himself.

Not for the first time in the last few years, Tommy thought about just how little he actually deserved the life he had. He didn’t deserve a job he loved. He didn’t deserve for the man of his dreams to love him back. He sure as hell didn’t deserve to get married to said guy, or to get chosen by him over his literal family.

Almost as if he read his mind, Evan stepped closer and pulled Tommy into a kiss. Evan’s mouth was surprisingly warm on Tommy’s own, as if it was completely immune to the air around them.

The gentle softness made Tommy’s lips tingle, a sensation that traveled across his cheeks, which turned a soft pink almost instantly, to his ears and then down his neck and into every fiber of his body. Almost instinctively, Tommy wrapped his arms around Evan, pulling him ever closer against him, as if any remaining inch of space between them was an affront to reality itself.

The moment stayed frozen between them for a second, filled with nothing but the howl of the wind and the crunch of snow under a passing car’s tires. For once, Tommy didn’t mind the cold as much. Not with Evan looking at him like that, his blue eyes lit up like a pair of sapphires hanging in the night sky.

He felt it then, the weight of his past slowly lifting off of his heart. He wasn’t that guy anymore. He had gone out of his way to be someone better, someone he could be proud of being. Someone who did deserve the love and happiness he experienced day after day with his fiancé.

“Alright, loverboy, if we stand here any longer, I’m going to turn into a human popsicle,” Tommy said as he pulled away, his teeth beginning to clatter almost instantly as a shiver went down his spine as a particularly cold gust swept over them.

Evan laughed, pulling him closer as if to shield him from the biting wind. “Good thing that they’re here, then, huh?”

Tommy followed Evan’s gaze to see a familiar SUV slowing to a stop just a few feet away. His stomach did an immediate flip, the butterflies waking from their momentary hibernation. He tried not to let his nerves show as Margaret and Phillip stepped out of the car.

Margaret was the first to approach, bundled in a sleek wool coat that somehow managed to make her look as effortlessly composed as ever. Phillip trailed behind her, his face lined with age but still kind in a way that always threw Tommy off balance.

“Buck!” Margaret called, her voice cutting through the wind like it had never learned to be anything but commanding. Her arms opened wide, and Evan stepped into them without hesitation, his beanie brushing against her neatly coiffed hair as he bent over (Tommy honestly had to wonder where the hell Evan’s size had come from, because it definitely wasn’t from either of his parents). “You’re freezing!” she scolded, pulling back just enough to fuss over him.

There was a part of Tommy that wanted to be bitchy and crack a joke about who was actually freezing here, but he held himself back. No need to piss off his future in-laws over the temperature. (Also, it was Tommy’s own fault that he was cold. But he wasn’t ready to acknowledge that yet.) So, he hung back, trying not to feel awkward as he hovered near the luggage. Then, while Margaret continued to fuss over Evan, Phillip came up to him, offering a small smile.

“Tommy,” he greeted, extending a hand. “Good to see you again.”

Tommy took it, shaking firmly despite the numbness creeping into his fingers. “Good to see you too, Mr. Buckley.”

“Please,” Phillip said, waving a hand as if to shoo away the formality. “It’s Phillip.”

“Right. Phillip,” Tommy tried the name out, and it felt just as strange as it always did. He could never quite figure out if he was crossing some invisible line by addressing them so casually or if the line had ever even existed in the first place.

With that, Margaret finally let go of Evan and turned to him, her sharp eyes a tad softer than the last time he’d seen her. “Tommy,” she said with a nod, her tone cordial and vaguely friendly, but far from the warmth you’d hope your Partner’s parents would show you. She walked a few steps over to him and regarded his…less than adequate wardrobe. “I hope the flight wasn’t too bad. You look…unprepared.”

“No, it was fine. Thanks for asking,” Tommy replied, keeping his voice polite but neutral. He wasn’t about to dive into the six-hour battle he’d waged against turbulence, hectic layovers and airplane coffee. “And yeah, uh, I didn’t take Evan seriously when he told me about how cold it is. You know, I’ve never actually seen snow before, so I figured…”

Margaret’s eyebrow slowly climbed up her face, her expression turning more and more incredulous. Tommy bit his tongue. This is going swimmingly, he thought. Great impression to make on your fiancé’s parents, really.

Out of the corners of his eyes, Tommy saw Evan and his father share a look, though he wasn’t sure what kind of look it was. For a fraction of a second, Tommy wondered if Evan was about to ask for his engagement ring back, and he wasn’t sure if he could do that. The ring was simple, a bronze band with a celtic weave design, but Tommy had fallen in love with it almost instantly. If Evan would now ask for it back…No, he wouldn’t. He already said so. Tommy couldn’t think like this. He couldn’t doubt his and Evan’s relationship like that.

Eventually, Evan cleared his throat, quickly gaining his mother’s and Tommy’s attention. With a large, almost blinding smile, he stepped in, grabbing the nearest suitcase and gesturing toward the SUV. “Alright, let’s get everything loaded up before Tommy loses his toes. And we should probably stop at a clothing store when we get to Hershey, you know, for reasons.”

Phillip chuckled, taking the hint and grabbing another bag. “Welcome to Pennsylvania in December, Tommy,” he said, almost cheerfully. “Get in the car before you turn into a smurf. Evan and I got the luggage.”

Tommy didn’t need to be told twice. Without hesitation, he climbed into the SUV, immediately basking in the warmth that enveloped him. It was like stepping into heaven, if heaven smelled faintly of peppermint and pine air fresheners. He let out a small groan of relief, his fingers tingling as they began to thaw. He could already feel life returning to his toes, though they were still mad at him for subjecting them to such a brutal ordeal.

A minute later, Evan climbed into the seat beside him, shaking snowflakes off his jacket as he leaned over to press a quick kiss to Tommy’s temple. “Feeling better already?” he asked, his tone teasing but laced with genuine concern.

“Not quite,” Tommy muttered, sticking his hands in front of the vents to warm them faster. “I think my soul is still somewhere out there, frozen on the curb. But at least the rest of me is starting to defrost.”

Evan laughed, the sound soft and fond, before reaching over to grab Tommy’s hands and rub them between his own. “Well, we’ll get you some gloves and a decent jacket before you have to face the cold again. Or maybe I’ll just have to keep holding your hands like this everywhere we go.”

“Now, that’s a solution I can get behind,” Tommy quipped, leaning into Evan’s touch. “But I’m holding you to that.”

As the car pulled away from the curb, Margaret glanced at them in the rearview mirror. Her expression was unreadable, but she didn’t say anything about the way Evan’s hands lingered on Tommy’s. It made him gulp a little, his earlier fear of her rejecting him coming back. But then Evan pulled his hands up and kissed his knuckles, and he looked at him with such huge amounts of love that Tommy couldn’t help but relax. Evan chose him. Was choosing him. Would always choose him. Margaret and Phillip might not ever be his biggest fans, but Evan’s words echoed in his mind: They’ll be fine. And if they’re not…

Tommy reached up to wrap an arm around Evan’s shoulders, and he melted into the embrace and rested his head on Tommy’s shoulder, his hand moving to rest on Tommy’s knee. With a sigh, Tommy looked out of the window, admiring the Pennsylvania Winter Landscape, the last of his worries giving way to a sense of content. Marge and Phil would be fine. And if they weren’t fine? Well, Evan had already made it clear where his loyalty lay.

And for now, that was enough.

[xplainthexmen]

Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men, Episode 462 - Angst and Continuity

In which the 1990s were very long; if you die in the simulation, you die in real life; Adrienne Frost is a bad person with good clothes; we judge the number 57; things just keep happening; and Penance somehow gets even more complicated.

X-PLAINED:

Bevatron

Generation X #55-57

The Hellions and their untimely demise (again)

Uncanny X-Men #281

A continuity conundrum

Many allusions and references

Cognitive dissonance

Dancing between the raindrops of continuity

Resolution

Emma Frost, triumphant

Fashion

Emplate (more) (again)

Propeller beanies

Feelings

Explosions

One way to solve a problem

Whether you should read Dazzler: The Movie

The worst possible power swaps

NEXT EPISODE: The secret origins of Gambit’s fart ghost girlfriend!

Check out the visual companion to this episode on our blog!

Find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that right here!

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[supersecretwritingblognumba2]

Veils of Ash

A small note: I recommend listening to "Black Friday" by Tom Odell while reading this chapter!

An Attack on Titan Fanfiction (Also posted on Wattpad)

Before Grisha Yeager's fateful encounter with Carla, he had a daughter with a mysterious woman within the walls. This woman was not just any ordinary individual; she belonged to a rare and powerful lineage known as the Draconians. Y/N Yeager entered a world unaware of her true heritage-a realm inhabited by ancient beings who possess the extraordinary ability to transform not into Titans, but into dragons.

After the untimely death of her mother, Y/N was raised in the safety of Wall Maria alongside her younger half-brother, Eren. With her fierce spirit, sharp intellect, and unyielding loyalty, always shielding her family from the dark truths of her lineage. Even with her close ties to Eren and their childhood adventures, Y/N felt constrained by the necessity to conceal her true nature. However, as the shadows of despair and terror encroach upon their lives, she is pulled into a destiny laden with peril-one forged in flames, drenched in blood, and tied to a history veiled in ash.

As Y/N undergoes training with the 104th Cadet Corps, she is determined to fight against the Titans threatening humanity. Her journey with Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, where they forge a bond of friendship and bravery. Yet, amidst the camaraderie, Y/N's path intersects with Bertholdt Hoover-a quiet, observant young man, weighed down by his own dark secrets and the burden of his role in the ongoing conflict. The battlefield becomes a place of unforeseen connections, as two adversaries find themselves drawn to one another, each navigating the treacherous waters of loyalty and betrayal.

But the heart of a dragon remembers-memories entwined with fire, resilience, and vengeance. As the truth about Y/N's bloodline slowly unravels, it threatens to ignite a blaze that could consume everything she holds dear, altering the very fabric of their world forever.

Chapter One: A Name Not Quite Hers

| Shiganshina District - Year 834

When Carla baked, the entire house filled with the irresistible smell of fresh, warm bread. The scent was rich and sweet, wafting through the air and clinging to the walls like a comforting embrace, making even the frost of a winter morning feel soft and warm.

Y/n perched on the edge of the well-worn kitchen table, her feet gently swinging above the polished wooden floor. With long, hair cascading over her face, she narrowed her eyes in concentration, reading the same dog-eared page of her worn book for the third time. But the words had faded into the background; her true focus lay elsewhere, on the world around her.

Outside the kitchen window, she picked up the familiar sound of the old gate creaking open, a noise that would seem faint to anyone else but rang clear and bright in her keen ears. Grisha was home.

Carla, busy kneading dough on the countertop, noticed the sound as well. She glanced toward the door, wiping flour from her hands on her apron, and offered Y/n a warm, encouraging smile. “Go and greet him,” she suggested gently, her voice soft and nurturing as she nodded toward the hallway.

Y/n hesitated for a moment, her heart fluttering with a mix of anticipation and trepidation.

Grisha Yeager was her father, and while she understood that biologically, he often felt like a distant figure to her. He seemed to inhabit a realm beyond her grasp as if he were straddling the visible world and some hidden dimension. He never raised his voice, was never cruel; yet, there was an absence in his gaze that she sensed starkly, a lack of the open affection that Carla always bestowed upon her.

Despite her reservations, she obeyed.

Quietly, Y/n made her way to the door, opening it just a crack. She looked up at Grisha as he stepped into the house, bringing with him a chill from the outside. His coat, was dusty from the road, his sharp eyes landed on her and he offered a quiet smile—neither surprised nor unkind—one that seemed to bridge the gap between them, however faintly.

“Have you been practicing?” he inquired, his deep voice smooth.

Y/n nodded in response, her heart beating a little faster. She had indeed practiced, pouring her effort into honing her skills, yet she kept that to herself.

He didn’t ask to see what she had been working on; instead, he simply acknowledged her with that same quiet smile, and in that moment, she felt a flicker of connection, fragile but present.

| Later that week - same house, same quiet kitchen

Carla was humming a cheerful tune, the melody light and airy as it filled the kitchen. Her round belly, prominent beneath her flour-dusted apron, swayed gently with her movements. These days, her pace had slowed, the weight of her impending motherhood evident in every step, yet her voice remained vibrant and full of warmth.

"Do you know what I'm going to name him?" she asked, placing a delicate hand on the swell of her stomach as if cradling the life inside her.

Y/n shook her head, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

"Eren," Carla revealed, a smile lighting up her face. "It means 'saint' in some ancient tongue." Her gaze softened as she looked at Y/n. "You're going to be a wonderful big sister."

Y/n hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The idea of a little brother felt foreign and daunting, but she nodded, all the same.

Carla reached out, her fingers gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind Y/n's ear. "You’re mine too, you know," she said, her voice soothing.

Y/n believed that wholeheartedly. Even though they weren’t related by blood, the bond they shared felt deeper than any familial ties. Carla never regarded her with doubt or disdain; there was always an unwavering love in her eyes.

Not even on that stormy day when Y/n returned home, soaked to the bone, droplets of rain evaporating off her skin as if they were steam on a hot surface. Not when she had gone into the alley and confronted two older boys, returning without a single bruise while they had not come back at all. Not even during those restless nights when she woke up in the dark, her eyes glowing faintly like embers, her muscles burning with an inexplicable heat that she couldn’t comprehend. Carla remained steadfast, her acceptance unwavering through it all.

| One year later - after Eren is born

She cradled her newborn brother for the first time when he was just a few days old. He was so tiny, a bundle of noise and constant movement, squirming in her arms.

With surprising strength for such a small being, he wrapped his tiny fingers around hers, and she gazed down at him—this brother whose arrival had been met with uncertainty in her heart.

"You're so small," she whispered, almost in awe.

From her bed, Carla chuckled softly. "So were you, you know. We all were at one point—tiny miracles."

Y/n struggled to believe that. She had always felt different—too big for her small frame, too expansive for the confines of this house, and too big for the cramped walls humanity hid behind. At times, her skin itched, as if it were a costume that never quite fit.

Yet, at that moment, Eren locked his big, unblinking eyes on her, and something within her shifted, settling in her chest.

He needed her. And for the first time, she realized she could be needed.

| Year 844 - The mountains, inside the Shiganshina district

Snow fell softly and silently across the winding forest trail, each flake reflecting the muted light of the overcast sky. It blanketed the skeletal branches overhead and muffled the crunch of winter boots pressed into the frost-laden ground. Y/n walked closely behind her father, Grisha Yeager, her eyes sharp and observant beneath the snug hood of her thick winter coat. Eren trudged beside her, his cheeks flushed a vibrant shade of red from the biting cold, and a palpable sense of boredom seemed to seep from his every step.

"Are we almost there?" he asked for the third time, his voice tinged with impatience.

"Almost," Grisha replied, his voice low and burdened, his thoughts elsewhere. He had been unusually silent during their journey. The leather doctor's bag hung heavy at his side, bouncing slightly with each purposeful stride he took.

With a playful smile, Y/n glanced at her younger brother. "If you ask one more time, I’m going to toss you into a snowbank."

Eren responded with a dramatic, exaggerated gesture, sticking out his tongue at her.

Y/n smirked in amusement, but her expression quickly shifted back to seriousness as her attention returned to the path ahead, an unsettling tension starting to build in her gut.

"Why are we going so far into the woods anyway?" Eren asked, his curiosity finally overcoming his boredom.

"We’re visiting a family," Grisha said, the weight of his words hanging in the chilly air. "A patient of mine."

Y/n was already aware of who they were visiting—the Ackermans. Grisha had spoken of them in hushed tones previously. They were a reclusive family, the kind that lived on the outskirts of society. Y/n had caught occasional glimpses of the girl, Mikasa, but had never met her face to face.

Though the visit seemed routine—a simple house call to check on a patient living at the forest's edge—Y/n felt a forbidding sense of unease knotting inside her, a visceral instinct she had learned not to ignore. Something was off.

As they approached, the Ackerman house loomed ahead, its uneven silhouette stark against the gray sky. The chimney stood silent and cold, devoid of any welcoming smoke or warmth.

"Strange," Grisha muttered, an uneasy frown creasing his brow. "He mentioned that his wife was feeling unwell."

Y/n’s shoulders stiffened as they closed in, her senses sharpening. Suddenly, she caught a whiff of something foul, a putrid odor that clawed at her nostrils. "Can you smell that?"

Grisha turned to look at her, confusion etched on his face.

Y/n stepped forward cautiously, her heart racing. "Blood," she breathed, the word escaping her lips in a trembling whisper.

Grisha frowned, his brow furrowing deeper. "What are you—"

"I said—" She moved faster now, her instincts kicking in as her eyes narrowed, "—I smell blood."

Seizing the moment, she reached the door first, her boots sliding slightly on the icy ground as she knocked firmly, impatience rising. When no answer came, she pounded on the door with renewed urgency.

Grisha, now serious and alert, pushed past her and grasped the handle.

The door creaked open with an unsettling ease, revealing a sight that snatched the breath from their lungs.

What greeted them was an unsettling silence—punctuated by the horrific scene within.

The interior, once a cozy home, now lay in disarray. The small space was neat, but chaos reigned—furniture overturned, a table upended, and a bowl of what appeared to be uneaten food shattered on the floor. But the most chilling aspect of the room was the sight of the bodies lying motionless.

Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman were sprawled on the floor, lifeless, their faces pale, void of the warmth of life.

Fresh pools of crimson blood coated the wooden floor, slick and glistening, stark against the muted tones of the room.

Grisha inhaled sharply, rushing forward to check for signs of life, his heartbeat racing in his chest. But Y/n already knew the truth. The metallic scent was far too strong, too lingering—they were hours too late.

She turned slowly and scanned the rest of the room for any signs of Mikasa. There was nothing. No sign of her presence. No indication of a struggle.

Just... an overwhelming absence.

Grisha’s voice broke the suffocating silence, sweat beading on his forehead. "Was the girl, Mikasa, around?"

Eren muttered a quiet, dazed "no," his wide eyes staring blankly into the distance, as if unable to comprehend the horror before them.

Though Y/n could hear her father’s voice, it felt distant and muffled as she remained transfixed on the lifeless bodies—the crushing realization dawning on her amid his frantic reassurances about waiting for him at the mountain's base.

She could feel Grisha gripping their shoulders tightly, but both Eren and Y/n’s faces were ashen, mirrors of shock and disbelief in the face of the unthinkable horror that had unfolded.

|  Year 844 - Deep forest near Shiganshina District

The cabin loomed like a dark scar amid the pristine whiteness of the snow-covered forest, its presence both isolated and unsettling. A chill breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it the faint, metallic scent of blood—a scent that Y/n recognized as belonging to the Ackermans.

Crouched beside her, Eren’s intense gaze was fixed on the flickering light illuminating the cabin from within, the shadows of men moving behind the curtained windows.

“She’s in there,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with urgency.

Y/n nodded once, determination etched on her face. “I’ll wait beside the door. When the second guy steps out, I’ll take him down. Are you sure you can handle the first?”

Eren's jaw tightened, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. “I’ll manage,” he replied, steeling himself for what lay ahead.

With a brief, reassuring touch on his shoulder, Y/n moved quietly toward the door, her movements as silent as a flickering shadow under the cover of dark branches. Settling beside the doorframe, she pressed herself into the cold ground, hiding from view.

Inside the dim cabin, Mikasa was bound and silent in the corner, her delicate wrists raw and inflamed from the rough ropes and icy air. One of her captors remained sat at a table by the small window, peering outside, while the other meandered about, his low grumbling breaking the tense silence.

Suddenly, a timid voice broke through the tension. "Hello?" Eren called, expertly feigning a shaky tone as he opened the creaking door. “I got lost… Is someone there?”

The man at the table rounded on him, eyebrows furrowing in irritation. “What the hell… how’d you find this place, brat!?”

The kidnapper stood, taking a few steps toward Eren, a predatory glint in his eye.

The second man barely glanced away, distracted by the arrival of this unexpected visitor. Eren, standing vulnerably in the doorway, shivered, his wide eyes filled with feigned fear. “M-my parents… I can't find them—”

The first man crouched down, a grotesque smile creeping over his face. “It’s alright, we’ll take care of you.”

“Thank you, mister…” Eren muttered, his voice dropping as he gripped the man’s collar tightly, his real intent surfacing like a coiled serpent. In a swift motion, he slashed a blade across the man’s throat. “Now die, you bastard!”

Chaos erupted as the second kidnapper shouted, charging forward, his face contorted with rage.

“Bastard!”

Eren turned—his eyes widening—but there was no need for him to react.

As the man crossed the threshold outside the cabin, Y/n sprang into action. With precision, she lunged forward, embedding her knife deep into his neck, silencing him in an instant. His body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, lifeless.

Breathless, they exchanged a quick, glance before rushing into the cabin's interior.

Eren rushed to Mikasa, his hands shaking as he cut away the ropes binding her. “We’re Dr. Yeager’s children. I’m sure you’ve met him before,” Y/n said as she crouched down to meet Mikasa’s frightened gaze.

“What happened to the third one…?” Mikasa asked softly, her voice barely audible amidst the chaos.

Before Eren or Y/n could respond, heavy footsteps thundered toward them. A third man, massive and furious, emerged from the shadows, his eyes narrowed as they darted between the dead bodies and the freed girl.

"You little shits!" he bellowed, the room echoing with his rage.

Eren lunged for his knife on the floor, but the man reacted faster, delivering a brutal kick to Eren’s stomach that sent him crashing against the wall.

Y/n charged forward, adrenaline fueling her, but the hulking figure brushed her aside like a mere inconvenience, advancing toward Eren.

She skidded across the gritty floor, her mind momentarily dazed from the impact.

The man tightened his grip around Eren’s throat, lifting him off the ground, and choking him with overpowering strength.

Eren sputtered, gasping for breath as muffled cries escaped his lips. “Fight…! If you don’t fight, we can't win!”

Y/n struggled to regain her footing, her head spinning with pain, but Mikasa was already rising with newfound resolve. There was an electrifying shift in the air as she seized the knife, a wild gleam in her eyes.

With a surge of determination, she plunged the blade into the man's back, her movements swift and lethal, striking like a bolt of lightning.

As the enormous figure crumpled to the ground, Mikasa stood there, panting, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Alive.

Slowly, Y/n sat up, blood trickling from her mouth, and wiped it away, momentarily stunned but fueled by the chaotic thrill of survival.

| A few hours later, deep in the forest

The air hung heavy with the metallic scent of blood, mixing with the crisp cold of winter as the pounding of galloping hooves shattered the eerie stillness of the snowy landscape.

In the clearing, snowflakes danced in the air as a squad of military police rode in, their horses kicking up plumes of powdery white. At the forefront, Grisha Yeager’s eyes, sharp and alert, surveyed the scene with escalating dread.

"Eren! Y/n!" he called out, his voice echoing through the trees.

Without waiting for his horse to come to a complete stop, he leaped off, his boots crunching audibly against the ice-covered ground as he sprinted toward the small cabin nestled among the pines, his heart racing like a war drum in his chest.

Y/n was the first to emerge from the cabin, her shirt smeared with a faint tinge of red that stood stark against the white landscape. Despite the chaos, she exuded a sense of calm, her posture steady, eyes resolute.

Behind her, Eren trudged forward, his demeanor muted, the dirt and grime streaking his pale face telling a story of struggle and fear. Between them, Mikasa walked barefoot, her small feet leaving prints in the snow. She was wrapped in Y/n's oversized coat, which engulfed her slight figure. Her arms hung limply at her sides, and her eyes were fixed somewhere far away as if her mind had drifted into another realm.

Grisha froze, a deep feeling of alarm settling in his stomach.

For one heart-stopping moment, he took in the entire scene—the three of them, the blood, the frigid air swirling with uncertainty.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, he dropped to his knees in the snow, pulling both Eren and Y/n into a tight embrace, relief and panic intermingling in his chest.

"Dammit! I told you two to wait for me at the base of the mountain!" he scolded, his grip on their shoulders firm. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?!"

Eren, his voice a blend of anger and desperation, replied, "We only stopped dangerous beasts! They only looked like humans!"

"Eren!" Grisha began to speak, but Y/n interjected, her voice trembling but passionate. "If we hadn't shown up, it would have been too late! The military police would never have made it in time!"

Grisha took a deep breath, closing his eyes in frustration. "Even so, you two were incredibly lucky!" he emphasized, his tone harsh but concerned. "You shouldn't have acted with such disregard for your own lives!"

Eren cast his gaze downward, tears glistening in his eyes. "But... we just wanted to save her..." His voice cracked as he spoke.

With a reassuring squeeze, Y/n intertwined her fingers with Eren's, grounding him with her touch.

Grisha then turned his attention to Mikasa, who stood slightly apart, detached. He knelt in the frigid snow before her, his heavy coat settling over his broad shoulders to shield him from the cold, his expression softening.

"Do you remember me?" he asked gently, his voice low and warm despite the biting chill. "We met several times when you were younger, but..."

"Dr. Yeager..." Mikasa's voice cut through the air—cold and distant. "Where do I go from here?" She stood there, cheeks flushed from exposure, her small frame enveloped by Y/n’s coat. "I’m cold, and… there's no place for me to go anymore..." Her gaze fell to the ground, and she barely blinked, the weight of her sorrow heavy. Blood matted in her hair, and a tremble ran through her fingers.

Y/n, standing close by, crossed her arms, her expression softening.

Eren stepped forward, a flicker of determination in him. He hesitated only for a moment, then unwrapped his red scarf—the one Carla had lovingly knitted for him last winter. With deliberate care, he reached up and wrapped it around Mikasa’s neck, his movements defined by gentleness.

"You’re cold," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze as a flush crept up his cheeks. "So, y'know... take it."

In that instant, Mikasa blinked once, as if awakening from a trance.

Her fingers curled around the warm fabric of the scarf, and for a heartbeat, her breath caught in her throat. Her shoulders trembled lightly as her emotions threatened to spill over.

And then she exhaled.

Grisha placed a steady hand on her shoulder, grounding her further in the present.

"You don’t have to go back to that house," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "If you’d like... you can come live with us."

Mikasa’s gaze flicked up, first to Grisha, then to Eren, and finally to Y/n.

No words passed between them—just a tentative, slow nod.

Y/n stepped closer, brushing aside a stray lock of hair from Mikasa’s forehead, being careful not to touch the bruises that marred her skin.

"Let’s go home... to our house," Y/n said softly, offering Mikasa a warm smile.

Mikasa looked up, tears shining in her eyes, her heart swelling with a mixture of sorrow and relief. "Okay," she whispered, "let’s go home."

Hey there! I’m so excited to share the first chapter of this book!

For what feels like forever, this story has been in the back of my mind. Now, after finally mustering up the courage and finding the time, I can get started on writing it!

This book is a romance for Bertholdt, a character who I feel deserves much more love and attention than he's received. He’s complex and intriguing, with many layers of depth and personality that I believe many don’t see. He’s one of my favorites, and I can't wait to give him some much-needed love.

As a friendly reminder for anyone who decides to read this book: this is my very first time pursuing writing. I’m just beginning, so please keep in mind that my goal is not perfection, but rather to share a heartfelt and intriguing story that resonates with you.

Thank you so much for your support, and I genuinely hope you enjoy this story!

With all my love, Vera.

[utilitycaster]

note: this is a lighthearted poll to vent frustrations about puzzles; I overall have really enjoyed the game, and you can also just hit da bricks with many of these puzzles or you know. watch a video on how to do it. Venting about a specific puzzle mechanic encouraged; venting about other things should be done on your own blog and not mine.

[snidely-whipstache]

Listen I know I said there would be a new chapter already but in my defense I am under a lot of stress and I have a bangin new job and I also had to rewrite said chapter TWICE because it wasn't hitting the way I wanted so I had to reread the whole damn fic so I could figure out what was wrong also my outline is useless now because I changed so much on the fly also I'm trans and in texas and am debating wether to crowd fund my top surgery or my escape first so that's been great also one of my cats died. So yeah. I'm working on it.

[mrsoharaa]

┌─── ∘°❉°∘ ───┐

ೃ࿐ Geto Suguru x Ariel’s frosty vacay ☃️❄️🤍

∘°❉°∘ This endearing frosty sabbatical inquires; a cozy lovely rented out cabin high in the frost bitten mountains surrounded by nothing but frosted trees and heavy blankets of thick powder, romantic horse back riding through the adoring snow, warm fireplace embraces (with, unfortunately and untimely,the intrusion of Satoru’s brunt appearance 🙄…but when we kick him out, heavy makeouts and more ensues 😌👀), long romantic walks through lit up trees and bushes that decorated with beautiful lights and the sound of the calming forests cooling winds and subtle bird singing in the distance, snuggly comforting sit outs in the rented cabins yard admiring the scenery with delicious hot cocoa and each others warm bodies, a lovely stroll through the distant towns gorgeously decorated shops and stand by’s (again, with the sudden appearance of one Gojo Satoru bargaining in our the gracious date, I’d bombard his ass with consistent uneven harden snowballs, all while Suguru just laughs…and eventually joins in) 🤍🥰

└─── °∘❉∘° ───┘

[ghulehvous]

IWD at the Ministry

Ministry Headquarters - All staff

6 March 2016

Dear Colleagues,

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and we hope you will join us for some of the special activities taking place across the Ministry.

Sure, you’d have preferred the equal pay and opportunities for promotion that you asked for at our last all-staff meeting. We do appreciate that more work needs to be done around our gender pay gap but it’s just too complex right now because …well, actually we’re not sure why…our Board of Directors probably just doesn’t feel like handing out any more money to women. But hey, it’s only Mummy Dust, right?

Instead, we invite you to enjoy a free cupcake from the cafeteria (with special purple frosting!) and attend one of the dedicated sessions offered by our Papas Emeritii: 

Inspirational Women in Ministry History with Papa Nihil: Be inspired by what these amazing women managed to achieve despite being oppressed by, well, everyone, and/or dying an untimely death!  

Fabulous Florals with Papa Primo: Because all women love flowers and gardening, right?

Resting Bitch Face: A Masterclass with Papa Secondo: It’s a misogynistic term but let’s face it, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. So why not let Papa Secondo help you deter unwanted advances from assholes in this practical workshop. 

Plenary: A practical guide to the female orgasm with Papa Terzo: This is exactly what you think it is, only common decency would not permit us to use Papa Terzo’s working title of “Come ‘n’ get it ladies”. We do not doubt that many of you will avail yourselves of the (admittedly deserved) smug bastard’s hands-on demonstrations. 

We look forward to seeing you there. 

NemA and kindest regards,

Ministry (In)Human Resources

(You can find the full set of Letters from the Ministry on my Ao3)

[crevicedwelling]

i feel like you would enjoy this story. A couple years ago we had a repeat visitor praying mantis who hung around near our flower bed by the front porch. The yard was like a moving carpet with the amount of crickets that year so it wasn't like she had to work hard to hunt 😨 She was a big girl too, much bigger than I'm used to seeing for a Carolina, so I'm pretty sure she was a granny as well and that ended up working out in her favor.

We called her Lady, both because she would just sit there and watch you like an elegant lady while you worked in the yard, and also because she was equally good at being right in the way leading to a lot of "hey LADY" while we tried to gently encourage her to not be in the path of danger 😂

So, once during that summer Lady apparently decided she was going to make a house call and come right up on the step. I guess chaos was calling and no one was around to answer for it. So there, right on the step she waited. I almost stepped on her before I noticed her huge booty and nearly refractured my spine yeeting myself backwards to avoid her untimely demise. 🤣 She waddled off after that. I'll never forget that silly mantis.

Thank you for sharing your bug friends/neighbors ❤️

lovely story! mantises have lots of personality

unfortunately, I would imagine very few if any mantises can live long enough to become grannies. all the eastern species I get (Chinese, Narrow-winged, European, and Carolina) only live for a few summer months and die with the first frosts. even the longer-lived tropical species rarely live over a year

[chickenkurage]

Frost would respond to their worries be saying he's fine at first and that he's already accepted it, but then be unable to stop the tears from coming up despite his best efforts.

No matter how Frost tries to stop the stream of tears falling down his cheeks, biting his lip, forcing that smile on his face, screaming at himself in his mind to stop the tears from showing them in front of his siblings, he just couldn't hide the pain anymore no matter how much he want to lock that vulnerability deep within his heart.

What is this? Frost was supposed to be fine. He already accepted the fact that he'd died in the real world. His life now starts in outernet together with his siblings... Everything was fine! He enjoyed talking with Vic, spending time with Cho and Dark, and hanging out with Sec and the Skittle gang. He should be perfectly content and fine... But he's not. He just couldn't forget how he left his mother alone in their financial struggle. How about DJ and his friends? How would they react to his untimely death? Every time these thoughts sprung up in his mind, his heart couldn't stop aching.

Sensing their little brother's distress as Frost tries to desperately wipe away the tears on his face, wordlessly, they all wrapped their arms around them until those sniffs turns to soft sobs in comfortable silence

..... :pp - JM

[fodlansbestmom]

Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff; Life and these lips have long been separated: Death lies on her like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.

indie Sothis + Sirius of the Fire Emblem series

Heavily headcanon based + canon divergent

OC + crossover friendly

“These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume.”

[bunnyinthewall]

Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all.

Romeo and Juliet are alive and well and the parents of seven kids. I’m the oldest, with the emphasis on ‘old’—a certified spinster at twenty, and happy to stay that way. It’s not easy to keep your taste for romance with parents like mine. Picture it—constant monologues, passionate declarations, fighting, making up, making out . . . it’s exhausting.

Each time they’ve presented me with a betrothal, I’ve set out to find the groom-to-be a more suitable bride. After all, someone sensible needs to stay home and manage this household. But their latest match, Duke Stephano, isn’t so easy to palm off on anyone else. The debaucher has had three previous wives—all of whom met unfortunate ends. Conscience forbids me from consigning another woman to that fate. As it turns out, I don’t have to . . .

At our betrothal ball—where, quite by accident, I meet a beautiful young man who makes me wonder if perhaps there is something to love at first sight—I stumble upon Duke Stephano with a dagger in his chest. But who killed him? His late wives’ families, his relatives, his mistress, his servants—half of Verona had motive. And when everyone around the Duke begins dying, disappearing, or descending into madness, I know I must uncover the killer . . . before death lies on me like an untimely frost. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️