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fishnapple · 6 months ago

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You in their eyes, how do they see you?

(Future spouse/partner/lover)

This is a general reading meant for multiple people. Take only what resonates and leave out the rest.

Your feedback is much appreciated. If you find the reading resonated with you, leave a comment, I’d love to know 🎐

About me | Masterpost Book a reading with me - KO-FI (→ personal reading)

MAELSTROM

• Spirit animal: Turtle

You're a balanced combination of both soft, mysterious energy and firm, assertive energy. They can definitely see that you have mental compatibility with each other. Words flow between you effortlessly, conversations would take hours without anyone noticing time was flying by. They can talk about anything with you without fear of judgement and misunderstanding. You stimulate their mind, and when conflicts arise, you can discuss them logically with clarity without letting emotions take over you. This make problems solving between you and them easier, leaving less space for resentment and unresolved feelings.

You seem reserved and quiet in their eyes. Your display of emotions and affection is subtle and intuitive, a quiet devotion that embraces them every day without suffocating them. Though, sometimes, they would have difficulties in trying to decipher your deeper feelings, to understand you at your core, the part that you conceal from them.

But they admire your ability to embrace your inner child fully. They know that this didn't come naturally for you, there's a journey behind it, lessons and hardship you had to go through in order to protect and bring your inner child to the world, no matter how you're perceived. They love this courage, this fearless attitude when you have to face people's opinions, you don't let yourself be swayed by them. Sometimes, you can even be rebellious. But the funny thing is, the more you fight, the more rebellious you're, the more attractive you're in their eyes. And it's not like you go about it in an aggressive and confrontional method. You do you, unapologetically, like a child unaware of how seemingly "odd" their behaviour is in other's eyes. But they know you're not childish. Behind that oblivious attitude is a strong sense of self, a wise person, ruling their own inner kingdom with iron fists. Like a ballerina, their movements can be so graceful only because they've spent endless hours discipline themselves and practised.

Sometimes, they can think that you're being too engrossed in the pursuit of material achievements, like you're always in preparation mode for some disasters looming in the distant future. Greedy might be too strong of a word, but they can view you as materialistic or have a mindset of lack. They understand that material security is very important to you. You need to feel a strong foundation under your feet to feel safe. That can make you overwork yourself to the point of exhaustion, always looking for the next thing to do. But they can see you putting that same effort in making the relationship work, you care about them and are willing to take care of things to make their life easier. They will feel that you're always there when they need you, your presence is a constant that is very much needed in their life. They would feel empty, a part of them is missing when you're away.

SEA FOAM

• Spirit animal: Fish

They think you're their good karma (if you believe in the concept of karma) or a reward, a surprise given to them by some higher powers. I see the image of someone being ushered into someone's life. Both parties can be quite reluctant at first, but as fate has it, you and them need to be together. There's a heavy element of fatefulness in this connection, or so that's how they see it. You are destined to love each other, no matter how much both of you try to deny or run away from it.

I think you will be the one who does the running away in the beginning. You seem "hard to catch", like trying to catch a fish with their bare hands. You would fleet in and out of their life at first, they can't seem to figure you out. But your presence will be a pushing force in their life, pushing them into a different direction, to where they are afraid to tread but secretly wish to.

In their eyes, you can be a little immature or temperamental, acting on whims of the moment. This makes you exciting and unique but sometimes, also agitating and hard to pin down. It's like they're torn between the feeling of love and frustration for you. Their personality probably is more serious and intense than yours. They want to be in the deep water with their lover, but you seem to refuse to swim there with them. But they will always want to care for you, to protect you from the harsh world outside.

The way you talk and act just exudes a young and pure energy, as of someone who, just for the first time, allowed to go outside to explore. You might talk a lot (compare to them), you ask questions, sometimes funny one, sometimes philosophical one, sometimes silly one. They will like to indulge you, patiently answer each one of your questions, then sometimes they can get irritated and start to lecture you, to that, you will just ask more questions. You want to learn, to understand this world. Behind that seemingly busy bee mind is a yearning to explore, to be free and soaring. And even if they can't fly with you, they sure will gather all the winds to lift your wings, instead of trying to pull you down into their water (who's the fish here?).

Your habits might be a little more messy or undisciplined compared to this person. You seem confused lots of times and don't have a good grasp of how to navigate your daily life efficiently, yet miraculously, you still swim through life effortlessly, much to their amazement. You don't fret too much about the future, somehow always arrive at the desired destination on time, things just work out for you, as if you just need to focus on taking good care of yourself and be contented, the rest will be taken care of for you by some mysterious force. This contrasts sharply with their approach to life, always planning ahead, always wanting to control the outcome. This creates a complementary dynamic between you two. Where you need structure, they provide, where they need spontaneity, you provide. In the end, no matter how different you guys are, you just fit each other neatly, like puzzle pieces.

SANDSTORM

• Spirit animal: Swan

They just know that you're the perfect partner for them, the one they need to get married to or at least make a serious, long-term commitment. You just possess all the qualities they seek in a spouse, the thought of committing probably will appear in their mind early on. You have a natural ability to understand them, nurture and protect them, at the same time, be a reliable pillar of strength for them. You are serious in your commitment, never take feelings for granted, you date with marriage as end goal in mind. They also think you would make a good parent, someone with enough tenderness and discipline to raise children with good balance.

Your work might involve lots of travelling and communicating. They can see that these are prominent parts of your life, demanding a large chunk of your time. They think that you tend to overwork yourself, being too engrossed in working, you're always busy, I wonder if this also means that you don't spend enough time with them, they feel like they have to demand for your time, to take you away from whatever is bothering your mind. Security is very important to you, you need to feel abundant to feel safe, yet they think you hardly ever feel that way, hence the constant working. They will want to help you in this area, just like how you help them. You mirror each other, in energy, in intentions, both of you want to care for each other in the same way as the other person does.

They probably like to hear your voice, be it talking, singing, or making other sounds. It feels soothing and calming for them. What you say also brings a new perspective, widening their view about the world. They sometimes see you as a teacher, whom they should listen to and want to be guided by. You just move through life gracefully, always open to new adventure, but still leave space for contemplating deeper meanings about everything. Like a philosopher wandering through life, observing the world, and sharing wisdom with the people. You need to be constantly in motion, travelling, or just moving around, and they're happy to be your companion, though they might sometimes want to slow down and rest a little.

They think you have a lot to uncover. You hide a huge treasure of deep love inside, something too intense for you to confidently show to the world. They would be sad to see you lock your dreams away, and they are willing to help make your dreams come true, if you would just ask them to. Your inner child is also someone they want to get close to. You seem to be disconnected from your inner child. They can feel that you want to connect, but something in your psyche is scaring your inner child away, making them reluctant to join the "family". From the outside, this makes you look a little cold or unaffectionate, you're discreet with your love, only ever bring it out when you completely trust someone. They would want to reach out their hands and pull your inner child closer, to give your inner child a hug.

DUSK

• Spirit animal: Phoenix

They think that you being in a relationship with them is be a big step away from your past wounds. Not that they want the credit for themselves, but as an admiration for you, for your strength. They can see that you had a great fear concerning relationship and commitment in general. Maybe you have been burnt in the past, childhood baggage, and the bad examples you saw around you made you wary of love. So choosing to be in a relationship with someone, being committed to that person, trusting that person enough to share yourself with them, all of these are really brave actions in their eyes. It shows that you don't let your past hold you back and define you, you rise above it and are willing to change, to choose happiness for yourself. Sometimes, they would reminisce about the initial getting-to-know-each-other phase, how many obstacles they saw in your connection, and how hard it was for them to gain your trust and affection. They would even tease you for it.

Your life seems to be ridden with changes of direction. You're not meant to stay still in one place, both mentally and physically. Life will always present you some events to push you to move. You can't stay stagnant, if you think you're contented with the current situation, then sure enough, there would be an event, an opportunity appearing in front of you, making you reevaluate your current direction in life. So life with you definitely won't lack movements and changes. Another thing is, you also actively seek to restructure your life. From small hobbies to big life decisions, you can be pretty random and go with the flow. You would change the plan at the last minute, planning to turn left, then suddenly turn right because something caught your attention that made you change your mind. Or some mornings, you would suddenly announce that you will take up a new hobby, register for a dance class, learning new language etc. without prior warning.

Life with you would be busy, you always have something to do, a task to complete, a news to watch, a track to run, a book to read. It's like they can't never see you being still. Maybe that also made them feel like you were afraid of commitment when they first got to know you. They could feel that you're too busy for love. But of course, that's not true, being a busy bee is just who you are, and over time, they've gotten used to it and adapted to it well. That busy energy also shows itself in the way you talk. Maybe you talk a lot, very fast, always have something witty to say. They love your humour, your ability to look at yourself, and joke without being defensive. The way you express your ideas and emotions is clear and rational but not cold. You know when to offer the softest words of encouragement and when to debate with the sharpest points.

They think you like to beautify yourself, you like beautiful things but at the same time you seem to be reluctant to spend on yourself, almost like you're stingy with yourself. Even if you like something, you might rationalise and deny yourself that thing. You want to earn lots of money yet don't feel comfortable spending it, especially for yourself. They know this trait of yours, so they will try to guess your desire and get it for you. You're not stingy with them or everyone, though, you're likely to pour your resources into the people you love and the house you share with them. You might like to beautify the house instead. Which is where you would like to stay a lot. You can seem like a homebody to them (with all the busy work) but you will have to go out and make an appearance in the world and they know the world loves you.

SIERRA

• Spirit animal: Phoenix

If they were the wind, they would lift your wings up as much as they could. Your person sees so much potential in you, so many talents, yet you're limiting yourself with your fears. You have an enormous desire to learn and expand your mind. But you also fear going deeper. You might be the kind of person who learns various subjects simultaneously, has a good grasp of everything, but doesn't dig too deep into any particular subjects. Not because you're shallow or impatient, it's the opposite, you know that once you've engrossed yourself in something, you go all in, it would get to the core really fast, and this drains your time and energy so much, you're reluctant to dive in. You also know that there will be hidden things inside you that need to be uncovered if you were to go any deeper. But they think you have the strength to do this because they understand, deep down, you're much happier when you devote yourself to something.

And they know you devote yourself to them and the relationship. Once you're in a commitment, you take it seriously, you see your life as an entanglement with each other, not just one's own anymore. In a way, you're a team person, someone who has a talent for working with people. This makes being in a relationship with you so much easier. Because you're willing to cooperate and want to make a team effort to build the relationship strong, instead of demanding from a selfish stance.

But you're not a pushover or a people pleaser in their eyes. Your individuality shines intensely. You have no trouble being yourself, you can't help being yourself. Even if you wear normal clothing like everyone else, blending in quietly, you still somehow stand out to them. Like a visible halo around you is beckoning them. They admire your creative energy so much, if they're ever short of ideas, they can always turn to you to get some. If you want to pursue some creative endeavours, they would probably encourage and support you wholeheartedly. Because they believe in you.

They also love your playful side, which you only show to a few close ones, and only in a comfortable space. You appear much more serious in public than when you're with them in private. When you're home with them, you can be tender, childish but also very seductive, you show yourself fully to them. You can act silly, making jokes all the time with them, being competitive in games, or playing pranks on them. But all of those are saved for alone time together. Outside, to the world, you're more uptight, serious. People also respect you a lot, looking up to you like a teacher. What you say probably are well listened to by people. You appear as a wise, mature friend, whom people can come to for sound advice. Your person would sometimes chuckle quietly to themselves whenever they see you out in public or with acquaintances. Those people wouldn't imagine how you would act in private, imagine their reaction when they found out some of your silly jokes. They definitely think you have the world fooled.

RIVER

• Spirit animal: Lamb

You're a quiet presence that haunts their psyche in an inexplicable way. They sometimes can't understand why they're so drawn to you, they have that feeling in their heart, but they can't put it into word. If someone asks your person how they feel about you, they would stumble a bit and would take a long time to come up with a coherent answer. Don't mistake this for their lack of affection or commitment, they just haven't fully comprehended your effect on them. When they hear the question, in their mind, the image of you would be conjured up in so many different ways and different areas, it's like you're everywhere.

They admire your grace under pressure. Your quietness doesn't mean you're meek or naive. Your energy is pure and wise. The hardship you encountered in the past didn't turn you into a bitter and cold person. On the contrary, you developed compassion for other's suffering. Everyone has their own story and they deserve to tell them without shame. Each pain is traded with wisdom. They probably wish to learn a thing or two from your stoicism. You're here, in the present, you don't put your mind to needless worrying nor do you cling to the past.

You're the person they would always turn to when they need an advice, your words have a stabilising effect on them, you make them believe that everything will be okay in the end, that they're safe and sound. You might not talk a lot, superfluous information doesn't interest you, but each word holds values. You can talk about deep and taboo topics without judgement, fear or prejudice. Your person will also love your voice, it sounds tender and calming, though they may wish that you would talk more so that they can hear your voice more.

They do notice, when they've gotten closer to you, that you tend to hold in your anger, you don't want it to affect other people, but your person will worry that this can affect you negatively. You also hold your drive and ambitions close to your chest, refusing to disclose them to others. You work silently, diligently towards your goals. It's like you don't want to show anything too overt, your emotions, your struggle, your passion, they are kept simmering inside, while outwardly, you show a serene and placid disposition.

In love, you show a more relaxed energy to them, like a child finally out of the house after a heavy rain, enjoying the freshness and the earthy scent of everything. You can act a little more erratic with them than when you're with other people. Maybe they adore that side of you or more tolerate towards it. You can be unpredictable, not showing your cards fully. They sometimes have to guess how much you love them, how you feel about them. They can ask you for your opinion about other matters and receive practical and solid answers from you, but when the questions change to the topic of personal feelings and love, you can be elusive. This frustrates them greatly but also pull them to you greatly. You're like the muse and the poet at the same time. And they're your avid reader.

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light-me-on-pyre · 1 year ago

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https://www.fimfiction.net/story/352115/the-friendship-test

Link to the story I mentioned in the tags (there's also a reading linked in the story description)

trial 1 was brand yourself or brand the next pony person in line. Nonlethal (unless you lunge for whumper and get your friend zapped to death)

trial 2 was beat rainbow dash or stab the next person in line to the hilt with the dagger. (same person could get beaten repeatedly over multiple turns or you could stab someone once)

trial 3 was toxic laughing gas. Hold your breath!

trial 4 was choose one of your friends to drown.

trial 5 was choice or chance poison. (in the cider one of the whumpees sold for extra flavor)

We don't get to see trial 6 because trial 1 was supposed to be nonlethal (so she says) but damn does the winner get survivor's guilt :)

(I didn't know what whump was when I was in the brony fandom but I think I still figured out what whump was even if not by name lmao)

Hey, I know I've been MIA for SEVERAL YEARS now, but I am writing a fic and I CANNOT get through my next chapter so I'm caving and asking for help.

In this fic, I have a whumper who is into games. They're making the whumpee go through trials. The whumpee nailed the fist trial and they're not happy. The whumper is also in posession of whumpee's family (of which I want two to perish in this chapter and three to survive). I'm having trouble thinking about the second trial.

I would like something intellectual: that is, the whumpee would choose to control the outcome, but it would always be terrible (Sophie's choice sort of deal). At first I thought something akin to the chess in Harry Potter in which each of the charaters represents a piece and if the piece gets captured they die. But I feel like that would be 1) hard to narrate 2) hard for readers to follow and 3) it's literally a rip off.

But I'm having trouble thinking of other ways that might happen. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I can look for inspiration?

#Whump misc #Reminds me of an mlp fic #Probably called The Friendship Test but not 100% sure #Where starlight glimmer puts the mane 6 through a series of trials to test which is the 'best at being an element of harmony'#Or something like that #I forget the specific rules for each trial #But the first is for kindness and all 6 wake up magically restrained in the same room #And they have to say where the next one of them in line gets stabbed #or they can choose to stab themselves #One of them dies from their wounds #One of them is the generosity trial #I think there's only three of them left?#There's three chambers and a big tank of water connected to all three #And once the water starts flowing if none of them do anything all three of them die #But if you press the button to fill your tank faster your friends live #I think they also had the option to press buttons for the other tanks #By nature one of them drowned #The final test was for honesty there were only two of them left #It was a prisoners dilemma situation where if they both agreed to not poison the others cup one random one would be poisoned #It would be a coin toss essentially but if you wrote down to poison the others cup the other cup would be poisoned and you would live #But if you both poisoned eachothers cup you would both die #If you can find it I recommend giving it a read but otherwise I hopefully gave enough description to prompt you :)#I don't remember what the other three trials were but I'm sure they were good too

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blacktabbygames · 4 months ago

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Scarlet Hollow UI Redesign Work In Progress

HELLO! As some of you may know we've been hard at work on a large overhaul patch for the first four episodes of Scarlet Hollow to bring the game closer to our ever-higher standards. While there are a lot of content changes and additions coming with the update, here's spoiler-free look at how the UI side of it is coming along. New UI on top, old UI on bottom. First, and most importantly is the updated textbox. We've been adding a lot of detail to small UI elements, and this is no exception — there are more leaves, and those leaves have some color in them now, which we feel makes the in-game art feel a lot richer. On the usability side, you'll notice that this new box is both taller, meaning that we can fit more options before you need to scroll, and that the scrollbar is located further to the right, meaning options can be longer before flowing onto the next line. (Again, meaning there will be less scrolling.) We've also moved the quick menu into the textbox so it no longer overlaps with any background art.

Next up, we've got the main menu. Not a ton to say here. Logo is smaller and has some color so it feels less stark. The font choice is tighter, and we added a border where the text options start to improve the feel of things. In general we're trying to make options that make the interface feel warmer, more organic, and less sterile.

Next we've got the in-game menu. Again, framing things with organic shapes to provide better flow and separation. We've also added a wooden "frame" around each save game thumbnail give them a more natural feeling.

Similar notes for the new confirmation screen. We're probably going to increase the opacity a little bit. At the moment is a little too transparent.

The journal has new assets, and instead of a generic cross-hatched background, we add a semi-transparent black layer so you can still see the game world behind it.

And speaking of generic cross-hatching, we've also removed it from character creation, instead replacing it with backgrounds from inside the game. Overall this should feel a lot more welcoming.

These backgrounds change with each new slide, too. Here's how trait selection works.

Anyways that's it for now! Happy new year :)

#scarlet hollow #gamedev #ui #ui ux design #game design

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tahbhie · 3 months ago

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How Plot Progression Works—Myths and Facts.

Let me start with a myth.

Last week, a writer approached me with their half-finished draft, unsure how to continue. Apparently, they got writer's block in the middle of the work. For about thirty minutes, we discussed the book freely as if it were a finished and published work.

Then I realized the issue.

☞ The problem?

From the conversation, I noticed that the writer's thoughts and ideas, which they voiced for the book, totally contradicted what they had written.

Their book followed a sequence of events. It was well-calculated, and the plot progression was on point but only to a certain level. I noticed robotic recurrences.

Something like this:

Scene 1— a sudden revelation

Scene 2— an unexpected fight

Scene 3— introduction of a new character

Scene 4— a conflict

Scene 5— another sudden revelation

Scene 6— an unexpected fight

Scene 7— introduction of a new character

Scene 8— a conflict

Meanwhile, all these elements didn't tie to each other in the story. They just performed different roles in each scene and were rendered useless in the next and every other scene that followed.

☞ Why did this happen?

Among other reasons, being extremely rigid with writing advice is a main factor.

Writing advice is great, but don't bend your style to suit the rules; bend the rules to suit your style.

Here's a clearer example of what I'm talking about.

Writing advice often says to keep readers on the edge of their seats within the first five pages, but this doesn't mean introducing unrealistic problems that don't fit your story. For example, introducing a sudden and improbable conflict just to add excitement can disrupt the flow and believability of your plot

During our session, I already understood how to assist, and we were setting our comfortable hours when the writer suddenly said, "I was told to include conflict in the middle of the book, then I ran out of ideas when I got there. I could have added one just a few pages in because I believe it would do well there, but again, I was unsure if that would make sense."

Now, who said conflict can't start a book? When you start your book with a conflict, you just have to ensure that you build towards 'the reason' behind the conflict so your readers can understand.

☞ Should I follow every writing advice with a closed mind?

No, you shouldn't. Remember that you are writing that book because you want to, and your idea was great enough to convince you to actually write. You need to enjoy the process and create what you truly want to create. Follow instructions flexibly.

Now that the myth is out of the way, let's talk about things that make a plot.

➜ Basic plot elements.

Initially, your plot should have the following:

✧ Protagonist ✧

Who are readers following in the story? Make that clear in the first few chapters. If you're writing from a first-person point of view and plan on switching between characters, aim for a maximum of two characters. It becomes clear that those two characters are an important part of the story; hence, they get the privilege to narrate the story from their respective views.

✧ Goals and objectives ✧

What is your protagonist after? Here's one thing you should know: your character doesn't have to know what they want at the beginning of the story. They may be as confused about their life as anyone reading, but as the story unfolds, they find a goal worth reaching and discover the needed strength to reach the goal.

✧ Antagonist ✧

What/Who is standing as a threat? A threat is hell-bent on ruining your protagonist and stopping them from achieving their goals. An antagonist could be an object or a human. It all depends on the concept you aim for. Funny enough, the antagonist could be a lie that starts out seemingly small but ends up being harmful. The rom-com movie "Upgraded" is an example of this concept. The lie the art enthusiast told was the greatest trouble she faced.

✧ Conflict ✧

What are the problems the protagonist faces? Problems can start from anywhere over anything, and you can choose to make them mild and solvable at first while building up to something larger.

✧ Resulting consequences ✧

What happens after the protagonist faces the trouble and tries to solve it? Did they lose anything? Hurt someone? Earn support from people they least expect?

✧ Character arc ✧

How has the journey shaped your protagonist? After going through something they probably never saw coming, how has it changed them? For a timid main character at the beginning of the story, do they finally become brave and display a different side of themselves?

All these are important for a well-rounded story as a whole.

Join the Writers' Universe and connect with like-minded writers.

➜ Secondary plot elements

These elements help you shape the above category.

● Setbacks

Let's use movies to illustrate this. There are certain points where we lose hope for the main character, almost convinced they've lost. We see them at their weakest points, hurt that the antagonist got them good. These moments are the setbacks. The protagonist is made vulnerable.

● Loss

What did the setback cost them? The reason I intentionally labeled this as loss is because to move a plot forward, some things need repairing. Since most loose ends were already from the beginning of the story, adding a fresh loss piques the reader's interest. It doesn't have to be the death of someone. It could be the brutal end of an alliance formed on an emotional scale.

● Break of a new dawn

I just wanted to get creative with the title. This point marks the pivotal change of events, and once again, there's hope for the protagonist as they find solutions to their problems. In this stage, they discover hidden abilities within themselves (this isn't limited to fantasy).

And there you have the important sections of plot progression. But keep these few things in mind. To ensure you're not leaving a huge gap in your plot, try to:

┗→ Introduce elements that work for your story:

It's common to believe something works well simply because it did in your favorite book. You might want to reconsider that with a different mindset.

┗→ Tie elements together:

Of course, this doesn't apply to all, but try to create a link between events in your story. If a fight occurred in a scene, link it to a cause in a few scenes ahead. This can lead to another conflict, this time on a larger scale, without having to introduce something entirely different.

And back to the question that birthed this post:

ᴥ Should conflict come early or not?

It depends on your work, but it can come early. That's not taboo.

There was a movie I watched featuring a female lawyer as the protagonist. The movie started with the kidnap of her only child, and the rest of the scenes drove us to the 'cause,’ then more conflicts, setbacks, and finally resolution. We were also able to explore the character’s personality based on the decisions she took in different emotional scenes.

She tried to keep her calm in some scenes while she just flat-out threw a tantrum in others, but overall, she was a strong woman who was broken by the incidents occurring and then rebuilt. I read a book with the same premise: the main character was a tween who misplaced something precious and decided to go on an adventure to search for it, and that was what the story was built upon.

I always tell writers one thing—own your book. The first draft seems to be the toughest one of its pair, but if you don't allow yourself to freely express your thoughts, there will be no first draft or story at all.

✧✧✧✧

Struggling with any stages of writing? Send me a message, and let's sort it out for a suitable fee.

✧✧✧✧

Do you want to create characters readers are compelled to start a fandom for?

Check out "My Characters and I" extensive coaching session. Understand the secret behind every attractive character. The slots are limited, and this opportunity closes once capacity is reached. Don't miss it; you never know when you’ll stumble upon these golden gates again.

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buriedpentacles · 13 days ago

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How to Work with Nature Spirits

Warning: Long Post under the Cut!!

Before getting into this, I want to preface that this is heavily based on my experiences and UPG. This is intended to be a helpful guide for anyone not sure on where to start but my Number 1 piece of advice will always be: Just go for it. Your experiences will be different from mine and that's a good thing! Be respectable and figure out what works best for you. With that in mind, let's get into it.

First, let's define 'nature spirits'. Nature spirits may conjure a number of associations and concepts depending on your culture, religion or practice! For the purpose of this post, 'Nature Spirits does not refer to any nature-associated deities or entities such as The Fae, Dryads/Naiads/Oceanids/etc, Elves etc - while many of these practices could be applied, each of these entities has specific cultural and religious etiquette attached that I'm not going to get into!

In this post, Nature Spirits are the spirits of all natural things, following the animistic view that everything has spirit. Plants, animals, rocks, metal, landscapes, etc. This is an incredibly broad definition, that can be narrowed or adapted however you see fit, nature is not an easily defined box. You can create your own categories or definitions, if that makes it easier to understand. For example, I may categorise certain spirits by a dominant element, or biome, or breadth, but these categories will always only ever be guidelines. (Note: at some point I want to make a post about different nature spirits along with some personal experiences. Will link here!)

Which brings us to the next point: accept that nature is not neat, and neither are the spirits. There is a level of overlap between different spirits that cannot be easily discerned - there is no clear, easily drawn line between the spirit of The Forest and the spirit of the Trees. The Spirit of that One Particular Crow is not entirely separated from the Spirit of Crow, but they are also not the same. The Spirit of the Stream will flow into the Spirit of The Ocean and you cannot pull them apart, yet you can still work with one but not the other. It is all a tightly interwoven web of spirit, it mirrors the balance and entwinement of the complex ecosystems all around us. Spirits and energies can shift and change with each meeting because of the changing seasons, the time of day, the influence of the landscape around it, or just because. Some spirits can be particularly variable, and it's important to recognise this! When working with nature spirits you must be open minded and adaptable, meet them as they are.

So how do you actually work with them?

This can largely depend on your goal, so I'll break this into two categories; A one time or "casual" relationship, or building a long-term relationship. I have both of these types of relationships - it would be impossible for me to have a long-term relationship with each individual spirit, but sometimes I want to ask them for help. My long term relationships are with Nature itself, and a handful of plant/animal/land spirits, the rest of my practice is made up of much shorter-term relationships that are made much easier by my long-term relationship with Nature. Again, figure out what works for you!

Working with Nature Spirits Once/Casually

Maybe you have a specific spell or petition that you think a nature spirit would be PERFECT to help you with. Or you want to add an extra bit of oomph to your spellwork by working with the spirit(s) of your ingredients. Or maybe, you just want to give (nature) spirit work a go. Whatever the reason, sometimes we just want a short-term relationship with a spirit. This can also be a helpful approach if you want to take something from nature* (i.e. a tree branch to be your wand, some flowers as spellworking ingredients, etc) and want to ensure it's permitted and you respect the spirit.

The best way to approach this, from my experience, is to be honest with the spirit, and respectful. Some Nature Spirits have no interest in helping someone they don't have a relationship with, and some spirits don't want to help period. Leave an offering for the spirit (expanded upon in the Offerings section further in the post), call upon them and ask them if they would be open to what you need. It really can be as simple as:

"Spirit of Oak, I ask you humbly if you would aid in my enchantment. I give you this offering and ask if I may take one of your many branches. I ask that you may allow your magic and wisdom to stay with it and empower it to be my wand. Thank you."

You may get in an answer through divination such as tarot or runes, through your clairsenses, or you can ask the spirit to provide a sign. If they say no, respect that. Thank them and leave. If you aren't willing to hear no, you should not be working with spirits.

If they say yes, but give certain requirements - i.e. "Yes, but only so much. Yes, but I want an offering of xyz in return. Etc" respect that and consider if you're willing to oblige. If not, thank them and leave. Spirits do have preferences and requests, and sometimes they change over time! I.e. in Summer, Oak may be happy for you to take one of his branches, but in Winter, when he and his wards (Oak, in my experience, is a very protective and familial spirit, often charging himself with protection of the land he lives on) are struggling, he may only allow you to take it if you agree to leave some extra bowls of water as an offering.

This doesn't just have to be a one-off, even for short-term relationships. If you are asking for quite a lot or something significant, you should leave multiple offerings over time before asking for permission - especially if the spirit you're working with might be a bit less welcoming.

*If taking something from nature, always ensure you are taking no more than you need and, if applicable, leave more than enough for that resource to survive (unless it is invasive to your area). Respecting the mundane balance of nature is the most important thing. Also, check any laws in your area regarding collecting feathers, certain plants, bones etc!!

Building a Long-Term Relationship

If you want to build a longer relationship with Nature Spirits, or connect more deeply with nature as a whole, there's a few 'steps' I would recommend:

Research and learn about your local area! What plants are you most likely to find? What animals and trees? How do the seasons change and impact the land? What patterns can you find? Do they align with your personal experiences? Join local Birdwatching or foraging groups, pick up localised wildlife books, take online courses! Learn about the world around you!

Get outside and experience it! Get a nature journal to record what you notice - when do you notice the bees coming back after Winter? What are the first plants to sprout in Spring? When do the first Autumnal leaves fall? What animals do you see most? What trees? Sit outside with no intent other than to *feel*. Sit in the forest and let your energy merge with everything around you; feel how the tree roots stretch beneath the soil, and intermingles with stretching mycelium, feel the flap of insects wings and the wind on your skin. Feel the energy of the spirits around you. Like when trying to befriend a crow or stray cat, you must give them time to adjust to your presence.

Leave offerings on a regular basis. This can be done on your altar at home, but often the most effective offerings are ones that aid the physical side of the spirits of well!

Talk to them (without necessarily expecting a response). Say good morning to the magpies on your way to work, tell the trees about your day. Even if you are trying to build a relationship with one specific spirit, it never hurts to connect to nature and its other spirits - sort of like being polite to the in-laws. All of nature is connected, if you're trying to befriend Lavender but throw litter out the car window, it's gonna be much harder to forge a connection.

Ask the spirit if they want a working relationship with you! And respect their answer if they say no. If they say yes, ask them how you've been doing so far - is there something you've been doing that they don't like? Or that they wish you would do more? Do they have any preferences? Requests? Some spirits don't like to communicate through tarot, others have specific times of day they prefer to talk. Some of this can be discerned through research (i.e. nocturnal animal spirits might prefer nighttime communication) but much of it can only be learned by *asking the spirit*.

Keep it up. This is it. This is what a relationship with spirits is: consistent communication and respect. What you choose to do with this relationship, and how it evolves and changes is entirely up to you! Nature is not a religion, these spirits are not a part of a specific tradition or culture (though you are more than welcome to incorporate your own culture/traditions/religions into your relationship with them) and so there are no pre-set prayers, offerings, rituals etc; it is up to you to build a unique and personalised relationship with them!

If you ever want to end it, be respectful and polite. Thank the spirit for everything, provide them a final offering and say goodbye.

Offerings for Nature Spirits

Here are some suggestions of offerings for Nature Spirits, but they are just suggestions and recommendations from my own experiences; come up with your own and figure it out *with* the spirit!! I've divided them into physical and non-physical offerings:

Water (a classic, hard to go wrong)

Wildlife Safe food (this will require research and will be very dependant on your area. HOWEVER, it should not be done regularly, and ideally should be in your garden rather than a public or "wild" area - bird feeders, feeding hedgehogs etc Feeding wildlife can cause more harm than help a lot of the time).

Coins, tobacco, crystals etc (some 'traditional' spirit offerings in many cultures. These are best for any indoor altars rather than outside.

Picking up Litter or other acts of service (an amazing offering, often highly appreciated)

Removing Invasive Species!

Physical touch (NOT for animals or potentially dangerous plants. Do your research. This may be a hand in the river, a hug to the tree, bare feet on the soil.)

Time (a simple, yet much appreciated offering)

A poem, artwork, prayer

Donating to their conservation/aid

Other parts of nature (laying flowers at the foot of the tree, berries for the crow spirit, dressing a fox skull in leaves)

In my experience, acts of service or creation are often much more appreciated than physical offerings! Art in their name, cleaning the local stream of litter, calling your PM to pressure more conservation policies etc are far better than leaving a - potentially disruptive and harmful - piece of food.

What NOT to Do?

This is also UPG based, but there are some things I would really NOT recommend.

Not doing your research. You wouldn't jump into a relationship with a deity without learning anything about them, why do the same for nature spirits? Just because they don't have specific religious lore surrounding them, doesn't mean you shouldn't learn. Pick up a field guide or book on local folklore.

Leaving human food outside. You baked a tasty brownie and want to share it with the Fly Agaric spirit you're building a relationship with? Great - leave it as an offering but TAKE IT BACK HOME WITH YOU. Let the spirit take the energy from it it wants/needs, and then remove it. Do not leave human food outside. If you INSIST on leaving a form of food offering, it MUST be safe for the local wildlife.

Littering. Doing a spell with Birch? Cool. Make sure you don't leave anything behind. Ideally, use compostable or wildlife safe ingredients (i.e. beeswax candles, toilet paper tubes instead of spell jars etc)

Graffiti/Carvings on trees/rocks etc. Sigils and art can be a great tool/offering but PLEASE don't graffiti or carve into trees/rocks/natural things. It does damage them. Write a with your finger in sand or on your palm or recreate it with branches instead.

Taking more than you need. Don't collect every shell you see on a beach, don't pick up every skull or bone your find in a forest, don't pick every mushroom or herb in a patch. Take what you need, ask permission, leave more than you take.

DO NOT GO INTO FORAGING/BONE COLLECTING/HIKING/LITTER PICKING WITHOUT PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. Know the laws in your area. Know the trails and paths. Have a map if the area if large enough. Know what plants are safe to touch, if you're not sure - DON'T TOUCH IT. Know what is safe to forage, ideally have an expert to confirm, if you are not 10000% certain, LEAVE IT (and I mean 100000% certain. Not 99%). Wear proper hiking boots, be aware of the weather and any risks in the area. Keep up with weather warnings. Know if there's any traps in the woods. Going litter picking? Make sure you're aware of any local vaccination attempts, as the devices used to help vaccinate wild animals may look like rubbish. Be sensible, be SAFE.

General Tips and Advice

Use common sense and critical thinking.

Notice how I kept saying "local" in this post? That's because it's ideal for a nature-based practice to be localised to your surrounding area! I live in the UK, so whats the point in me trying to build a relationship with spirit of Bald Eagle? It has no roots in my land, nor in my heritage or craft. It is much easier to connect to a nature spirit that you can actually, physically visit, or that has a deep connection to your culture/religion/heritage than one that you thought "seemed cool".

Take it slow, and take it easy. There are no strict rules besides don't be a jerk. The best expert on any particular spirit is that spirit!

However, its important to be safe. Know how to protect yourself and how to banish. Don't call on any spirit you can't get rid of. Not all nature spirits are friendly.

Nature spirits are also not a monolith. They overlap, they blur and twist together but working with Bramble is an entirely different experience to working with Lavender. Be prepared. You can typically get an idea of a spirit's personality through research - it peeks through in the science and ecology, as well as the folklore.

Practice energy work! Nature spirits, in my experience, love to communicate through energy. Sit with yourself for a while, learn what thoughts are yours, what sensations are your own, so that you can differentiate from others. Get used to the feeling of nature and its spirits - they will guide you and help you, they will teach you knowledge you cannot imagine.

You're allowed to say no, and so are they.

Do not be deterred by your circumstances. You live in a city? There's still nature spirits there, a lot of them. (Will link my post about Urban Nature Spirit Work here when posted). Struggle to get outside regularly? Get a Houseplant (will link houseplant post too) watch nature documentaries, find a way to connect to nature and it will find a way to connect to you.

Remember that YOU are a part nature. You are not an onlooker, you are not an outsider, YOU are a part of the ecosystem, apart of natural history and the complex beauty of evolution and change. YOU are an animal and you are so much more similar to the foxes and bears and flies and butterflies than you think.

I hope this post has been helpful to some! Please feel free to add any of your own points/experiences or ask questions/suggest future posts!!

Praise Mother Nature 💚🌿🪲

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last-words-ofashootingstar · 8 days ago

Text

Curse Your Name

𖤐❝The Preachers Daughter❞𖤐

❥Vampire Ateez x fem reader

❝What is destined cannot be avoided.❞

Masterlist + Visualizers

✫彡wordcount: 9k

(✯◡✯)genre: yandere, fantasy, smut, angst

ಠ_ಠwarning/content: see general warnings in the masterlist: injuries, blood + drinking said blood + hard ons from said drinking of said blood, fear, supernatural elements, age gap (reader mortal/ateez over 300 years old😭), unbalanced power dynamics, forced smooches, fictional religion, soulmate au

➯a/n: and so it begins *evil laughter*

✫taglist✫(i can't think of something clever help lmao) @spenceatiny18 @gigglensnort @londonbridges01 @soobieboobiebaby @killerwaifu @stayatinykatsy @onyxmango

✩index: veil walking - an advanced spiritual technique when your soul leaves your body and takes you somewhere else. Caethnor dialect: ka - spoken before or after a sentence to make it more serious or stern. ba - spoken before or after a sentence to make it softer. mi - added after someone's name to show affection.

there will only be a few instances where i use an entirely made up language but when i do the translation will be written next to it {like this}

❝Drink from me and live... forever.❞

MDNI.

𖤐❝Fate cannot be changed.❞𖤐

Caethnor is a lucky village.

The river that flows in a near circle around the community is beautiful and provides protection and resources. Water grass and marine life are plentiful, even in winter months one could break through a shallower part of the water and fish. There is only one main bridge into and out of the town.

Not only that, it is a good two week journey from the capital of the realm. From the home of the cruel and disinterested High King and his council. You've only had the displeasure of seeing one of them in your lifetime, back when you were a child.

The homes are generational, built by the inhabitants close ancestors. Wood and cobblestone is the extent of the materials. Even then, cobblestone is only on the walkways and floors. Besides one building.

The church that stands at the back of the town. It's built completely of cobblestone.

That's where you almost always are.

And that's where you are now.

Ever since you spilt your first blood, you were wed to The Goddess. That was a good few years ago now. But you still felt like a piece of you was missing. The part that everyone said was filled when they met their soulmate.

You shake your head, ridding yourself of your thoughts and closing your eyes. If you weren't fulfilled with having The Goddess as your soulmate, you just needed to pray harder. That's what your father said.

You're kneeled by the window on the second floor, hands clasped when —

The fluttering of wings makes you a peek an eye open, thinking that you're imagining things like you did in your childhood.

"Oh... Elhyna, li'hora," you whisper as you open both your eyes, watching the large feathered creature hop around on the window sill. You reach out slowly when you see the scroll on its foot, "long travels...?" When you grasps the paper, it flies away; its job complete. {Oh... Hello, bird.}

You hum as you look down at it. It's clearly good quality parchment, and it's sealed with red wax stamped down with the sigil of the realm. You've never seen it in real life before now, only in the old and withering books in the churches library.

"Pa!" You yell through the window to the man who's tending to the offering bowl next to the river. "A messenger bird came! It has a red seal, should I-"

"I'm on my way!" You swear you've never seen the middle aged man run so fast, he's back inside the building before you even blink.

You're sitting down with Tihilda when he busts into the room, panting and waving for you to hand over the scroll you're inspecting.

"Hand it here," he huffs, rolling up the sleeves of his white robe.

He quickly breaks the seal and unravels it, his face becoming dimmer with each word he reads. "What does it say?" Tihilda coughs as she attempts to stand, and you're there quickly with some cooling tea.

As you hold it for her, you look back towards your father. "Pa?" He's sweating. He looks like his heart is about to fail.

He crumbles it up and tosses it in the fire. "We should begin gathering some offerings to the High Council."

You see now why he was so frightened. Their species is superior to humans. They even feed on your kind. You briefly remember your encounter with the royal Lieutenant many years ago, and it makes you shiver.

"Is King Seon-"

"Ka don't speak that devil's name in this holy house!" His yell makes you jump back, holding Tihilda's ever trembling hand.

"Sorry, Pa..."

"Go, go and do ten prayers. Beg that The Goddess did not hear you summon him to you."

As you exit the room with your head lowered, Tihilda sighs. "Preacher," she shakes her head, "you are too hard on that poor girl. It is not her fault she is fated in such a way."

"She is fated to no one. She promised herself to The Goddess-"

"You don't think that will save her, do you?"

They're in a stalemate for a good moment before his shoulders slump. He makes his way to the table, helping her with the teacup she struggles to hold still enough to drink from.

"I would rather first die than let that be her fate. Let those... false men be her soul mate. I promised her mother..."

"The Goddess does not care about human promises."

"So you've said." He sets the cup down carefully and looks to her, "you still have not seen any change in her future?"

"Not since the day she was born. It is always the same. You know this. Fate cannot be changed." When he says nothing, she continues, "what did the messenger bird bring us?"

"Three of the High King's royal council will arriving in two days time. They expect five sacrifices."

"Five... Oh, heavens. How will we tell everyone?"

He hesitates, "it said not to. The smell of fear t- it taints the smell, it said. They will choose their own offerings."

"It's time to tell your daughter the truth. She cannot-"

"She never has to know. She needn't even meet the retched men. Her encounter with the Lieutenant was enough fright for a life time. We got lucky."

The old woman scoffs, "lucky."

𖤐❝Don't try to put on a brave face.❞𖤐

With a grunt of effort, the men slide the preacher's podium across the cobblestone, revealing a wooden hatch door on the floor.

Your father, since there was no discernible leader of this village, he was the closest thing to such. He gathered you all in the church pews where you would worship together, and told you all that some of the High Council would be here in 'two days time.'

Panic was immediate, but he stressed the fact that they would not be hurting anyone. They just wanted some offerings. Just to be sure, though, children would be hiding in the basement with the Goddesses trusted sisters.

You were one such sister.

It was the very early hours of 'two days time' later, and you had younger boys help you prepare for the councils arrival.

"Thank you, Oswin," you hum as he pulls up the hatch, a cloud of dust coming up with it. "Sweet heavens, when was the last time anyone went down here?"

"I heard," Cynble clears his throat, waving his hand to disperse the dust, "last time anyone was in here was last time the High King was here. About, what? Fifty something years ago?"

"That's what my mother said, her grandmother was one of the Kings meals," Oswin hands you a lantern, a frown on his face.

"My father said the same. The last time they came with warning, everyone hid," you gulp as you take a step down the old stone stairs. "Will you both be joining us in the basement? Don't try to put on a brave face. There is no one to impress."

"I will, yes." Cynble nods quickly, "my little sister as well. She doesn't even know the tales of Vampires, she thinks this is just a practice for if we get invaded."

"Mayble?"

"Yes- aaah!" The teen yells as a rat runs past you all, grabbing onto his friend's arm. "Woooooah, shit, that scared me!" He laughs with a hand on his chest, making you shake your head with a smile.

"We can see." You grin lightly as you look around the room. It has a few dusty beds. A few crates with old blankets on them, clearly used as furniture a few decades ago. "Oswin, will you be joining?"

"No, I traded my spot for my big sister."

"Why would you do that? She's an adult, we're supposed to be hiding children," you give him a questioning look as you hand him the lantern.

As he explains, you gesture for Cynble to help you in pushing the beds together.

"I heard that women and girls taste better to Vampires. Like how humans prefer sweet wine over bitter. A traveler once told me that a Vampire walked right by him even when he was bleeding, so it could drink from his wife. I have a feeling that your father isn't telling us everything, and that blood will be spilt. No- no offense meant, I just mean that, isn't it strange that the High Council would come all the way out here and not feed?"

"I agree." You cough as you yank the blankets off of the straw mattresses, going on as you gather the ones on the crates as well. "I know that my father is not telling us the truth of everything. But I do believe he is doing what he deems best."

You take the lantern and lead them back up the stairs, "we can make room for you, Oswin mi. Don't fret."

𖤐❝Sevalin bou, solenya.❞𖤐

"Down you come," you smile as the toddler waddles down the stairs, "you're so fast!"

It was near mid-day, and with no idea of when the councilmen would arrive; you all decided it was best to get into place sooner rather than later.

You had spent the morning hours cleaning the decrepit room, making it as comfortable as possible. You had it fairly well lit, dusted and swept and blankets back in place after being knocked clean.

All of the (two) babies of the village are laid on the bed with the two other nuns. The handful of toddlers are playing with one another, and the smaller group of teenagers sit along the walls.

All together, it was around twenty people in the basement.

The toddler, Mayble, was the last one. "There you go, sweetie," you pat her head as she successfully joins you at the bottom of the stairs.

You look up, meeting your father's eyes, "we won't be able to hear, but keep it to a minimum anyways, okay? Vampiric hearing is no joke."

You only nod. You're afraid of what's to come; but you don't dare show it with all of the children looking to you and the other sisters for strength.

"Sevalin bou, solenya" he smiles, sadly. {I love you, only child}

"Sevalin bou, Pa."

You turn as the door is shut, covering your eyes as dirt comes down with it. You hear the podium being slid back into place, and after that it's just muffled voices of the congregation.

"(Y/n)," Mayble pulls on your long skirt, "will you tell me a story while we wait?"

𖤐❝The more blood, the stronger the scent.❞𖤐

It was many hours later at this point, you had concluded from the amount of oil that had been burnt up in one of the lanterns. With a sigh, you take a seat on a crate near the few teens who are speaking quietly between themselves.

"Hey," Owsin hums, thankfully having joined his older sister in the basement, "we were talking about soulmates. What about yours?"

"Mine?" You chuckle softly, "no, I don't have one. Neither does Sister Brea or Sister Magiah. We're fated to serve The Goddess."

Sarin, his sister, tilts her head. "Really? No soulmate? And you're okay with that ba?"

"I can't imagine having a soulmate anyways," you smudge the truth just a bit. You can imagine it. You crave for it. You want to feel the spark that your father always described having with your mother when they touched. You want to 'feel like you're being kissed by a million butterflies.'

You wonder why he told you about that, knowing you would never experience it for yourself.

He only talked of her when he indulged in wine.

"My soul is full serving the Goddess." Oh, you'll have to pray so much for lying.

"You dare lie to me?!"

You hear a booming voice above you, making you all jump. One of the babies begins crying. Then the other.

Then some of the toddlers are whimpering and tearing up. While your sisters quickly tend to the babies, you and the teenagers are running over and shushing the children.

One of them slips away, making a break for the stairs. "Aliah!" You whisper yell, making the boy stop, "c-come. Come here, get away from there."

The boy, in his panic, knocks over the lantern you had on the last step. Thankfully, the flame goes out. But less fortunately, glass is now surrounding the boys bare feet. "Don't move ka." You whisper as you slowly come closer.

With a peek up the stairs, you slowly start scooting the glass away with your hand, making a path for him as you ignore the thud thud thud of your heart.

A loud crash spooks you, along with everyone else, and makes your hand falter in its careful movements. A large shard of glass finds its way to your palm — and you have to slap the other over your mouth to remind yourself not to scream.

You hold your pain and bear through it, clearing the way for the boy less carefully; shoving the glass away with your injured hand. You bite your lip as you move your hand, taking the boys and leading him into the group of kids; which have gathered on the beds you had pushed together. The older children surround them, wiping away their tears and praying with the sisters that the chaos went unheard.

You put your back to the bed and face the stairs, looking down at your hand. Every single movement of your fingers makes another gush of blood spurt out. It's unbearable to leave in.

Scent can't get through stone, right?

Whether it can or can't, you don't have time to deliberate. Your body wants the sharp object out, and now.

With a shaking hand, you quickly pinch the glass and yank it out, throwing your head back as you whimper as quietly as humanly possible.

Another loud crash.

Oswin comes and wraps a ripped piece of blanket around your hand tightly, making your eyes fill with tears at the compression. "Shhhh, the more blood, the stronger the scent." He apologizes with his eyes as he puts more pressure on your hand.

Light suddenly comes in through the cracks of the doors. Another crash. Someone threw the podium.

The door is quite literally ripped from the hinges.

𖤐❝I have waited an eternity.❞𖤐

The three members of the Kings council waltz through the village like they own it — because, technically, they do.

Their subordinates follow behind them loyally, as they make their way to the church at the very back of the town that could be seen from the entrance. Theres no doubt about it, that's where everyone is.

They can smell them.

One of the lower ranking men yanks the door open. The prayers stop. "Kim Hongjoong. Jeong Yunho. Jung Wooyoung." He announces them loudly.

Everyone stands up. Quickly. All of their heads bowed.

"This is certainly one of our smaller villages," Wooyoung nearly rolls his eyes as he counts how many people reside here. So little. So little people, in fact, they all fit in the modest main room of the church. No more than fifty, he sees.

"Indeed." The Lieutenant keeps it short, ignoring all the rest of the people as he makes his way to the man at the podium. "Preacher," he greets.

"My Lord, it's an honor to have you in our humble village-"

"Don't bother lying to me. I can hear your heartbeat."

The man, from his bowed position, pauses.

The Vampire laughs at the sight, high pitched and spooking a fair few of villagers. "Aaah, I know you don't want me here, so I will keep this visit short."

The preacher doesn't say anything, he isn't given the chance to as Hongjoong quickly turns away and starts scanning the standing people. "Sit." He commands, and the floor almost shakes from the sudden amount of people sitting at once.

He walks down the aisle slowly, inhaling through his nose deeply.

Obviously, fear is still clinging to the air. But not nearly as much as it would be if the preacher had told them why they're here. If they knew five of them would meet their maker soon... or wish they had.

But beneath the fear, somewhere far, is something that makes his heart beat.

His heart never beats. It hasn't in a long time.

Someone in here... someone smells beyond appetizing.

"Close the doors." The lackeys are doing so quickly, without question. "This is your entire village?" He turns his head, looking at the sweating man.

"Y-yes-" He chokes against the pressure on his neck, Hongjoong had appeared infront of him in a millisecond. He's lifting him in the air by his throat.

"Preacher, I will tell you this only once. I detest liars."

He lowers him slowly, letting go of his throat, "so tell me," he lifts his lip, showing his elongating fangs. "Is this everyone?"

"Yes, My Lord."

He growls and shoves the man away. Row by row, he makes his way down. Each face of anxiety is inspected as he takes more deep breaths. But the sickly sweet smell is stale. Like it's stuck to the walls.

Yunho and Wooyoung look on with a bit of confusion, taking inhalations of their own. But they can't latch onto what he can.

About halfway through the room, Hongjoong is stopped by Yunho, "Joong."

"What?" He snaps. He's completely abandoned his original task of picking five villagers. He only wants the one who smells like heaven.

"There is no children here. Nor teenagers. They are hiding from us."

He huffs in amusement. He was so distracted trying to pinpoint the smell that he failed to notice that everyone in the room was full grown. The smell might belong to someone who's hiding.

He needs to smell it fresh. He needs to taste it.

He's back at the podium, slim fingers gripping the wood so tightly that it creaks. Staring right in the man's fearful eyes, his begin to turn red. He can smell it clearer, like it's taunting him.

"You dare lie to me?!"

The wail of a child comes muffled in the following seconds. Then another.

"From below us?" Yunho starts looking around the floor with a small smirk. Of course he was right.

"Sneaky, sneaky~" Wooyoung joins in the search.

When one of them knocks over something and it falls with a loud bang! —

Hongjoong stumbles. The smell is stronger. Warmer. He needs it. He needs to have the source in his hands. He bares his teeth, putting all of his weight onto the podium and breaking off the sides of it. "Tell me! Before I eat every beating heart in this room and make you watch!"

"Under the podium." One of the frightened villagers whispers. Just loud enough for one of the nameless men to catch it.

"Under the podium." He repeats as he approaches quickly, grabbing the preacher by the robes and yanking him away.

The scent is growing by the second. More and more and more.

Hongjoong tosses the offending furniture to the other side of the room without a hint of trouble. His red eyes immediately trained on a hatch on the floor.

He rips it from the hinges, throwing it into the pews where people yell and cry as they scramble to move.

He's down the stairs without a second thought —

Yunho bumps into his back as he stalls on the last step, his eyes swirling with red as he gets his first scent of what's been driving the Lieutenant mad.

Golden deadnuts... So potent and sweet, like it can be tasted by the scent alone.

Hongjoong's thick boots slooooowly crush the glass below them as he steps down.

The cries of the children huddled together on the bed get louder. But the Vampires can't be bothered to hear them.

Because all of their senses are honed in on you.

"You..." Hongjoong seems to recognize you. "You were right under my nose."

Here you are. In all of your glory, kneeling on the floor with blood seeping out of the fabric wrapped around your hand. In the same village he begrudgingly left you in all those years ago.

You've grown into a woman in all these years since you unknowingly slipped away from him.

Your two pristine braids have red ribbons in them. He knows that it's a hairstyle for nuns, the color of ribbon correlating to your years of dedication. He knows that red means you were still newly promised to The Goddess, but he can't help but feel like it's for him — for them.

Yunho gulps as his eyes follow a drop of blood down your wrist. Red following red as it taints your dress.

The crimson liquid is soaking your baby blue sleeve and skirt as it drips down.

Your heart is beating so violently. You must be terrified.

You are terrified. Staring at them with wide eyes and instinctual fear making your blood gush from your wound even faster.

Their eyes are screaming 'predator' with their red gaze trained on you.

Before you know what's happening, a pair of cold hands are wrapped around your ankles. Chilling you to the bone even through your thick socks.

As you let out a primal, ear shattering scream, Oswin yells out, "no!" He goes to grab at you, but is quickly slammed to the floor by a soldier.

Hongjoong drags you across the floor, and Yunho yanks you up by your dress' collar as you get to the stairs.

You're entirely too frightened to do anything as they carry you up the short stairway.

"Good Goddess," Wooyoung trips as the smell of your blood floods the ground floor, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. He's next to you in the following second.

The petrified crowd of people is stuck in place as they watch you be dropped to the floor. Be it from fear, or the archers ready to shoot at the first person who moves.

"Hid-," Hongjoong pants from the sheer force he's using to hold himself back, "hiding from your High Council? Who do you think you are?"

You only whine and shake your head, eyes going to your father who's trying to pull himself up from the same ground you find yourself on.

"Plea-" Your pleas are replaced by screams as Wooyoung yanks the impromptu bandage off of your hand. "No, no, no!"

Your flailing form is held down by Hongjoongs weight as he straddles your hips.

Both of Yunho's hands cradle your bloody arm like a piece of fine china, rolling down your sleeve; his eyes shining as his fingers come in contact with your skin for the first time. A broken moan parts his lips.

Your struggles have stopped, your fear temporarily replaced by confusion as his skin on yours makes you feel like you're floating.

Wooyoungs hand on yours has the same effect.

Hongjoong catches onto what's happening, and his hand cradles your heated cheek. He nearly collapses on top of you.

What in the world is this feeling?

"Grentizia," Yunho prays as he tilts his head back, looking at the ceiling of the church, "we have finally found her! Oh!" Another moan spills from his lips as his fingers slide in your blood.

Your eyes are still wide with a mixture of shock and fear when his face is suddenly in front of yours, "we're finally complete... I have waited an eternity."

Wooyoung's tongue twitches out of his mouth hesitantly before it dives into your hand, he holds it with his gingerly as he laps up every droplet that's pooled on your palm and in between your fingers.

You try to yank it away, try to turn away from Hongjoong's hand as it cups your cheek, try to look anywhere but Yunho.

You can't hear your father's weak protest over the thudding of your heart. This time, not from fear. This time, from... you can't tell. But as the blue haired man uses your eyes as a window into your soul, you find your skin buzzing from their direct touch.

All you can manage is, "w-what?" You don't have a soulmate. You don't. You don't. You're fated to serve The Goddess —

Yunho's lips upon yours stop any and every thought that you have. It's fleeting, but it's filled to the brim with more tingles.

He pulls back, laughing breathily, "I can't believe it. I can't believe it! Forgive me, beautiful, but I cannot wait another second or I fear I will lose what's left of my mind."

Before you can even blink; his tongue is on your arm, licking up your blood like he's starving, making you squeal and squeeze your eyes shut.

With them shut, you don't see Hongjoong looking down at you with a blush on his cold cheeks; watching his younger brothers feed on you. Watching your face scrunch up with disgust and... something more.

He leans, his breath on your face is the only warning you get before his lips are on your own. He kisses you like he's trying to leave a mark.

The little pleased moans of the others make him impossibly impatient. Usually he has better self control than this, he's the second oldest after all. "Apologies, little one." But you smell so tempting. He lifts your other arm and kisses the skin of your forearm gently before sinking his teeth into you.

A little gasp is all that leaves you. Your mind is entirely fried.

As are theirs.

You taste like nothing ever has. No blood or food compares. They'd rather starve to death than to ever go back after having their first taste. They feel the sparks they felt on their skin ten fold as they travel on their taste buds, down their throats. They settle in their stomachs with your blood like a crackling bonfire.

Wooyoung's heart feels like it might be beating just a bit too fast. Like one more push would make it explode. Along with that, he feels his pants tightening. He would fuck you right here on the floor of the worship building if he had his way. His entire being is eager to please you, to get your heart pumping more and more blood.

Yunho isn't fairing any better, sucking and kissing every little bit of crimson liquid he can get off of his fingers and your arm. He'd hold you down for Wooyoung if it meant getting a chance to see your blissed out face moaning for them. If it's anything like the view right now, he'll probably die a second time. His gaze never leaves your face as you close your tearful eyes, lips forced apart by little whines and weak protests.

Hongjoong is... Oh, Hongjoong... The oldest of the trio feels like a fledgling again. The entire situation has his cock painfully hard and his skin irritatingly warm. The final piece of their puzzle, right here infront of him. He'd hate himself for not sniffing you out earlier if his brain was anywhere near functioning; but it's not. Their final soulmate, held under his weight. He can't wait to see how the others react —

His brain comes back to him.

He hates himself for the next word he utters, but he knows it has to be done lest they send you into an even deeper shock. "S-stop."

The other two stop their feeding frenzy with soft growls rumbling up their throats. They don't want to stop. But they know better than to go against the chain of command.

Even though it felt like it did, the world did not stop around the four of you.

The royal soldiers had gotten everyone out of the basement with a small bit of struggle, and were now shifting on their feet; the smell of your blood was clearly enough to make them thirsty.

Hongjoong blinks a few times as he surveys the horrified looks of the townspeople. A smirk spreads across his bloody lips — "boo."

The simple word spooks a great deal of them, the broken silence is enough to make them jump.

He and Wooyoung laugh at their reactions, the latter playing idly with your numb fingers.

Yunho places his hand on your cheek slowly, looking down at you like you hung the stars in the sky. You're breathing heavily, eyes dazed as you force yourself to keep your eyelids open. The sweat on your skin doesn't stop the way he strokes your face adoringly. "Where have you been hiding, huh?" He chuckles quietly, the question clearly rhetorical.

Hongjoong is tired of all of these eyes on you. "Everyone out." He turns to you, then back quickly, "leave the preacher. Boys, you can feast."

Villagers start scrambling quickly, yells and cries of panic as the handful of lower ranking Vampires chase them out of the church.

It takes a good few moments for the chaos to clear, and he joins Yunho and Wooyoung in inspecting you slowly while everyone clears out. "How did I miss you, little one?" He hums, rubbing your waist leisurely, "you've grown a great deal. I forget that humans do that."

"Please, My Lords-" Your father whimpers from the bench he'd been drug to.

Wooyoung is a blur as he runs to the man, slamming a hand on either side of his shoulders, cracking the wooden pew. "You speak when we tell you to speak!! Be thankful I don't rip your tongue out for lying to us!"

Hongjoong begrudgingly gets off of your shell-shocked form, meandering his way over. "Yah," he tilts his head, and Wooyoung moves out of the way, still glaring daggers at the man who's responsible for hiding you. "I remember you now, preacher."

Yunho can't help himself, and gives your wound one chaste lick; giggling quietly at the way you shiver. He takes his jacket off, and maneuvers your limp body around to drape it around you. "W-what?" You mumble hoarsely, deep in the throes of distress.

"Shhh," he coos, carefully lifting you up. He sits you in his lap, holding back a moan and forcing himself to ignore his hard-on as he focuses on grounding you.

"Yes, I remember clearly." Hongjoong squats infront of the man, your blood still on the corner of his mouth; he licks it up slowly. "You lied to me not just today, but all those years ago. Tsk," he has to stop himself from gutting him on the spot. "You're lucky the High King didn't come himself, you'd be eating your own guts by now."

You gag at his words, slowly coming back to yourself. You feel like you're in the middle of a bad dream and a waking state. Nothing is making sense. But at the same time, it's all clicking into place.

Hongjoong looks over his shoulder, standing up. "Look who's back," he smiles in a way that might be kind. "Hello ba," he repeats your words from so many years ago, "isn't that how you said it, little one?"

You stare up at him jaw-dropped, wide-eyed. Yunho's finger brushing away a stray hair on your face feels like an electric shock, and you jolt; immediately looking down at the floor.

"T-toriel?" Your chin wobbles, and you gulp loud enough for the Vampires to hear. You look to your father, who's washed in an aura of shame and fear. "Ba sev vela toriel?" {What's happening? I don't know what's happening?}

Wooyoung leans over the back of the bench, now behind your father, and looks at him expectingly. "Sounds like she's asking you a question, Papa."

Yunho doesn't care what you're saying or about the fact that he doesn't understand it, he leans his head against yours and revels in the sound of your voice.

"(Y/n) mi, s-sev en'mali, I'm so-". {(Y/n), from my very soul, I'm so-}

"Waaaaah, holy shit!" Wooyoung reaches the conclusion first, grabbing the back of the man's neck and yanking him back. "You told her she didn't have a soulmate."

Yunho and Hongjoong both have realization fall over them. Yunho gets sad for you, while Hongjoong gets angry.

"Oh, I really have to kill you now."

"No, please!" You cry as soon as he takes a step towards him. "Please, My Lords! Have mercy on us, please, please, we-" Yunho's hand finds it way over your mouth as you plead, and your heavy hands try to pry it away.

"Is this true, preacher?" He asks, his voice lined with a barely concealed edge, "you told her she has no soulmate?"

"My Lords, you have to understand-"

"Little one?" Hongjoong looks to you, and Yunho removes his hand; instead holding your shoulder. "Tell us."

"My Lord, I- I have no soulmate, it's true. The seer- ah!" A small yelp slips up your throat as Yunho's touch once again shocks you. He has a pleased smirk. "...I'm promised to The Goddess."

"You are promised to us," Wooyoung quickly corrects you. "Your father has been spinning bull shit." He yanks the man again, and you face away as he fights back a yell of pain.

"Lying to the crown is betrayal. And betrayal is only punishable by death," Hongjoong goes to step again, but you find the strength to lift your arm and grab his hand with both of yours.

They watch on with slight disbelief as you slide from Yunho's lap and kneel, your head lowered and your arms trembling as you hold onto him. You force yourself to ignore the tingling spark.

"Please, Lord Kim..." His heart is beating again. How are you doing that? "Have mercy. I beg of you. I kneel before you-"

"Oh, stop it." He'll give in if you don't.

"Lord, he's all I have in the world. Please, spare his life..." You find yourself sobbing as you hang onto the Lieutenants hand, "I'll do anything."

The three Vampires look to each other, and glee overcomes them. "What was that?" Hongjoong smirks, and any hope your father had is shattered.

"I'll do anything..." You sniffle, your head still facing the floor when you feel a pair of arms wrap around your waist. They haul you up quickly, and you yelp in surprise.

It's Wooyoung, and he's carrying you down the aisle towards the door. "You'll be coming home with us."

𖤐❝Little one is brave.❞𖤐

In exchange for your father's life, you're now packing up all of your Earthly possessions.

It's hard with only one hand really functioning properly, but you've refused Yunho's help. You don't want anything from them. You don't know what kind of trickery Vampires can do, but you're certain that's what the tingles you felt are a product of.

Your parents wouldn't lie to you your entire life over something so monumental, right? Tihilda wouldn't go against her oath to help people find their soulmates, right?

The door to your home opens without warning, and Wooyoung waltzes in like he owns the place (again: because he technically does).

You sniff as you look away from him, going back to painstaking folding your laundry on the floor.

"Yah," he points to Yunho, who's sitting in the corner watching you, "are you making her do that all on her own?"

"She wouldn't let me help." He shrugs, leaning back as he watches him unroll his medical pouch.

"Come here, (Y/n)," he hums as he pulls out a vial of liquid, sitting a few feet away.

"No." You whisper, but they catch it. Of course they catch it.

Wooyoung sits up stalk straight, blinking at you in disbelief for a moment. Nobody is brave enough to say 'no' so plainly to any of them. Then, he feels disrespected. You may be one of his soulmates, but he's not going to let that slide. "No?"

It's your turn to straighten up, freezing as if you realize what you've said. "I-"

"Get over here, now."

He doesn't have to say anything more, you're sitting in front of him as fast as humanly possible; your head hung low. "I'm deeply sorry, My Lord..."

"Mhm," he tuts his tongue, grabbing your wrist gently and making it face palm up so he can inspect your injury.

You didn't like him before, when he was insufferably loud — but now you certainly don't like him, when's he's quiet with a barely concealed anger. "Forgive me ba," you expect a back hand or scolding or anything other than what you get, really.

"Give me a kiss," he says plainly, "and I'll forgive you."

You can hear Yunho chuckling from behind you, he's taken your place in folding up your clothes and packing them into the bag they've provided.

"A ki-ss?" You glitch internally. You never kissed anyone — well. You've never initiated a kiss with anyone.

"That's right." You hate that his smug little smile makes you want to do it even more.

You sigh, grab his jaw, and turn him to the side before giving him a quick peck to the cheek and retreating just as fast as you came in.

"Wow," he giggles, "you loopholed me. Very clever! I'll take it~" He carefully pulls your hand forward, "now, let me clean this up, yeah?"

You don't have much choice in the matter, but it's heartwarming that he waits for you to be ready for the sting of the disinfecting liquid. You hold back your noises of pain and breathe deeply, closing your eyes.

"Little one is brave." Hongjoong's voice makes you jump, looking to him with wide eyes for just a moment before you go back to staring at the floor like you were earlier.

Yunho tosses him the bag. "Anything else you want to take, beautiful?" You don't have much, all of your possessions fit into the one bag.

"Oh," you go to grab the item that comes to mind, but Wooyoung has a tight grip on your wrist as he applies a healing salve.

"Stay still."

"What is it?" Hongjoong asks, leaning against the wall with the bag in hand, "I'll get it."

You bite your lip. You don't want anyone else touching it. "I'll get it, My Lord."

The moment Wooyoung is done wrapping your hand, you hurry to the bed and reach between the cot and the mattress, feeling around blindly.

They watch curiously as you find what you're looking for.

A small dagger with an engraving on it that they can't quite catch even with their heightened gaze before you sheath it.

"A knife?" Wooyoung asks baffled, "aren't you a pacifist? Y'know, cause the whole nun thing?"

"Yes," you shake your head, "but I don't like being defenseless."

Hongjoong laughs softly, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and leading you out of the door after you clip the weapon onto the side of your boot. "You're full of surprises, huh?"

𖤐❝You sure she won't spear us, Joong?❞𖤐

Much to your displeasure, you were on the back of a horse with Yunho sat behind you; going on two hours now.

Although you insisted that you had never ridden a horse before, and therefore had no way of knowing how to use it to run away, they seemed to think you would use it to bolt. But, truthfully, where would you even go if you did run?

You spent a good hour thinking about that over the lazy chatter of the Vampires around you. They knew where your home town was, clearly. And thankfully a lot of people were left unscathed, you saw as you were lead to the gate. Your father among them.

If you were to go back, it would undoubtedly bring chaos with you when the men who were convinced they were your soulmates gave chase.

If you were to take your chances and try for another village, you had little hope that they wouldn't follow you there as well. Being entirely honest with yourself — you didn't even know what villages or even cities were around you. You never even thought of leaving Caethnor.

You were plucked out of your safety zone and placed on the back of an animal which you had no way of knowing how to tame, with a royal council member resting his hands on your thighs and two others riding along side you.

You hadn't even noticed when the seemingly endless march came to a halt, you only looked up from the soft brown mane of the horse when you felt Yunho's ever present weight behind you leave.

You look over slowly as he dismounts, and then survey your surroundings. The small group has stopped near a narrow stream, veered off the beaten path.

"We'll stop here for the day, get some rest," Yunho explains as he sees your curious eyes looking around, lifting his hands to you, "come."

You sigh, having no choice but to lean forward and steady yourself on his shoulders as he lifts you from the tall animal. "Thank you, My Lord." Your voice waivers as do your legs while he carefully plants your feet on the ground.

"Oh, she speaks," Wooyoung jests as he leads his horse to the edge of the water, letting it drink as he pets its neck. "I was beginning to think you fell asleep with your eyes open."

"Oh, leave her be," Hongjoong chuckles as he joins him.

The group engages in conversations that you don't bother to listen to as you shuffle to the nearest tree. You lean against the bark and sigh with relief, taking some of the weight off of your weary hips.

How has this become your reality? You went from thinking you had zero soulmate, to beginning to believe you had three Vampires as soulmates.

Every time Yunhos skin brushed against yours, you felt it... the same sparks you felt in the church. And you could no longer write it off as a fear induced hallucination or the tingles of blood loss.

Like you're being kissed by a million butterflies...

You blink your tears away quickly before anyone can see them. You don't want them to ask, because you don't have an answer.

You're just confused. Confused and unfortunately, hungry.

You reach down and slide your knife out of its holder, ignoring the look that one of the soldiers gives you as you start looking around the tress for a suitable branch.

With another sigh, you push off the tree and go to your chosen branch; snapping it off the tree with a small groan of effort.

You settle further down the stream, away from the rest of them, and certainly away from the three councilmen.

You yank off your boots and socks and roll your skirt up at your hips a few times. You can still feel eyes on you, but you pay them no mind as you sit at the edge of the water and dip your feet into the water.

The longer the fish can feel you, the less spooked they'll be when you start trying to catch them.

You're thankful that everyone leaves you alone as you begin sharpening your stick to a deadly point. It would give you time to think, if you were doing that. But you found yourself with a blank mind. Maybe it was still all too much to think about.

"You think she's going to try and drive a stake through us?" Wooyoung nods towards you from where the trio sits along a fallen log.

Hongjoong hums as he moves his gaze to look at you, "no, she's not stupid. She feels it too, I know she does."

"Hey," Yunho starts, "how do you think the others will react? I think San might faint." The others laugh lightly with him.

"Seonghwa is going to be over the fucking moon."

"Mingi more, probably," Hongjoong yawns as he leans his head on Yunho's shoulder, watching as you slowly stand and make your way to the middle of the stream. "He's had to watch her all this time, in his visions. He's going to freak out when he sees her for the first time."

"Do you think she's what he imagined? He said that she's always just a blur. He can only see her soul in those vision."

"She's certainly not what I imagined. The irony is hilarious," Yunho smirks as they observe you watching the water, "I mean come on. A preachers daughter — a nun? Fated to a bunch of Vampires? The Goddess must have more of a sense of humor that we thoug- woah!" He yells as you suddenly stab into the water, your makeshift spear coming back up with a fish on it. "Good heavens!"

You smile down at the fish proudly, once again ignoring everything around you as you make your way out of the water.

"You sure she won't spear us, Joong?"

𖤐❝Death is the most human thing.❞𖤐

The sun is lowering in the sky, the day almost done.

When you started collecting fallen sticks for a fire, a female Vampire named Manon had followed you. After you gave her a questioning look, she said simply, "the Lords told me to keep an eye on you."

She's polite enough to not ask about your situation, and you appreciate that about her as you slowly begin talking more and more.

When you had been getting frustrated with starting the fire, you looked around for help and met eyes with Yunho. Without a word, he stood up and came to the small bundle. A smile on his lips as he produced fire from his fingertip and lit it ablaze. You had to stop yourself from letting your jaw drop, you had never seen a mage in action.

You were initially the only one around the fire as you cooked your fish; it seemed that the rumor about Vampires being cold blooded was true. The lowering temperature didn't bother them.

Manon was the first to join you, offering you a flask. And with the promise that it was just water, you took it with a small smile.

You were now simply staring into the flames as the sun grew ever lower in the sky. Your brain was allowing itself to think about the situation again. And you don't like that one bit.

Because that meant that you were thinking about the fact that your father, your mother, and Tihilda had all lied to you your entire life. The fact that they knew the answer to why you always said that you felt a part of you was missing, and they withheld it from you.

If they had told you the truth, would you have even wanted it? The reality of being not just one, but multiple Vampires soulmate was daunting. Everything you've heard about them. Everything they've done. What they are.

If they had told you, it might have explained a lot. Your dreams and your hallucinations as a child. They all seemed to link back to the royals.

"What are you thinking about?" Wooyoung asks softly as he lowers himself to sit beside you.

You shove your thoughts far away and clear your throat, "nothing, My Lord."

"Oh, come on," he nudges your shoulder with his light, "we have to spend the rest of our lives together, open up a bit. Or it's gonna be a rough few thous-" He stops himself, faking a cough into his elbow. "Ahem, anyways, what's on your mind?"

You eye him suspiciously for a moment in the corner of your vision. "Uhm," you dig your makeshift spear into the dirt, "just, things... when I was a child, I had these- these dreams? But, they felt like I was really there. And sometimes, they would happen. And now, I think it's because of you all."

He listens intently, leaning back on his hands.

"When I was a girl, I had a dream of Lord Kim visiting our village. And, a few days later, he did."

"Ah, that's what he was talking about? How you've grown?"

You hum affirmatively, tracing a pattern into the soil.

He watches you close, every move you make. "What else have you dreamt of as a child?"

You hesitate for a moment, like you weren't expecting him to continue the conversation. "Well," you exhale softly. May as well converse with the man that The Goddess has slapped you in the face with. "There's... there was a spirit, a man, who always came to me in my dreams- in my waking hours too. As I grew older, he went away. He would tell me to stay where I am, that my fate would come to me. For a while, I thought they were divine visions. That I was an oracle," you stifle a laugh, "I followed the villages witch around asking her how I would know when my fate found me."

"You sound like you were a cute kid," he smiles your way, and his heart starts thudding as you return the gesture. He gulps before asking, "did the man tell you his name?"

You look up at the darkening sky as you file through your memories. The dreams and the hallucinations all stopped when you first bled, when you became a woman. It was quite a few years ago by now. "Uhm," you drag on, "I don't rem-"

𖤐 You were eleven. Sitting on the steps of the village healer's home while your mother got her weekly treatment. You were sad. She wasn't getting any better.

There was a presence beside you. There was no one there. "Your aura..." It was the same voice you heard at the river. "Why are you sad, sweet child?" His voice was clearer. It had become so with the years.

"I'm not supposed to speak to spirits," you had said as you clasped your hands in prayer. When you are haunted by the spirit: pray — that is what you were told to do. "I bid you leave me be ka."

"I am no spirit, I am you and you are me. I can feel your sadness. We can feel it." There was the ghost of a hand, just the faint feeling of it. It was large and cold, it wrapped around yours in a way that felt... comforting. "I might ease your pain."

You were told that spirits were dangerous. Conniving and malevolent. That they would weasel into your heart and then take advantage of you. You knew this. But this... spirit — he didn't feel any sort of crude.

You needed comfort, and there he was.

"My mother," you whispered, "she has fallen gravely ill. She is in such pain, I fear she might not recover."

It was silent for a long moment, but you knew he hadn't left you; you still felt him in the air. "Death is..." He stalled, and you swore you could feel his sigh against your skin. "Should death come for your mother, she will be at peace. She will no longer be in pain after she joins The Goddess."

You take another long pause to register his words. "But... she will no longer be here."

"Does the thought frighten you?"

This was the longest conversation you'd had with the invisible man at the time. You always got spooked or interrupted. He'd asked many times where you were, but you were always too scared to answer should he be malicious.

"Deeply, yes." You hadn't admitted it aloud. Not even to your parents. Death, especially of those close to you, scared you. One of your friends had left the village on a trip with her family, and she did not return with them. Only sadness and grief.

"Death is the most human thing. You should not fear it, sweet child. It is only the beginning..."

The summer sun was beating down on you. His cold hand was still upon yours. "What is your name?" You had asked. Your curiosity had gotten the better of you after his comforting words. Your father said that to speak the name of evil was to bring it to you. But you wanted to know.

"Mingi." He had replied quickly. 𖤐

You turn to Wooyoung after a long moment and find him staring at you.

"Mingi."

His eyes widen at that, "Mingi?" His shock turns into laughter, "oh, oh wow! We thought he was jesting!"

Your brows push together with confusion, "what?"

"I'm sorry," he says through his giggles, "I'm sorry- it's just, that was no spirit."

"How could you know that, My Lord?"

"Because he's the royal seer. He's our soulmate — your soulmate." He watches the cogs turn into your head as you take in the information, going on to explain, "he felt it more than all of us when you were born. He nearly fell over. He started watching over you by veil walking, trying to figure out where you were. He never could, I suppose because he's never been to your village he couldn't place it."

"W-wait, what?" You hesitate, "who's 'all of us'?"

"The council." He states simply, licking his lips as he hears your blood start rushing. "We're all fated together."

You stare out at the horizon, watching the sun inch its way down. You were back to being in disbelief. Two or three soulmates, sure. A few Vampires, you could handle. But you've heard that the High King has seven council members.

"Shocking, isn't it?" He hums, leaning forward, "for us too. Vampires with a human soulmate... The Goddess should know better. I should warn you, beautiful — the King has a large appetite."

Tears are welling up in your eyes, and Wooyoung embraces you even as you try to lean away. He buries his head in your shoulder, arms locked around you. He forces himself to calm down, so close to your pulse point that he could easily take a sip. But he doesn't want to make you even more scared. He just wants to hold you.

The sun is giving its last rays of light, half way below the horizon.

You tilt your head, watching dumbfounded as something starts blocking the sun from below.

The moon.

An eclipse.

The moon is taking over the sun, blocking out its light.

As they align, it swallows the star whole.

The sun becomes void.

𖤐❝THE PREACHERS DAUGHTER❞𖤐

𖤐❝NEXT TIME❞𖤐

You feel like you've never been so exposed in your life.

There's eight pairs of eyes on you, each of which belonging to a Vampire more frightening than the last one you look at.

As you scan the royals slowly, your hand starts trembling. "Do- do I have to, My Lords?"

"Yes," Yunho meets your gaze as you come back to him quickly after taking a peek at the High King. "It's okay ba." He's taking up your dialect in your two weeks together. It makes you slightly less nervous. "We won't let them get out of control."

You take a deep breath and look down at your hands. You pinch the needle tighter and bite your tongue as you prick your finger.

𖤐❝CURSE YOUR NAME❞𖤐

#ateez #ateez smut #yandere ateez #smut fic #yandere fic #ateez fic #ateez x reader #ateez fantasy au #ateez fanfic #angsts fic #yandere ateez x reader

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cece693 · 1 month ago

Text

I wanted to begin writing for twilight again, but didn't have any ideas for who. So this fic is mostly be just going with the flow.

Sparkling Awkwardness

pairing: jasper whitlock x male reader x edward cullen tags: you are a newborn, but even then you can't catch a break, tug of war between two vampires, comedic elements, pre-relationship, reader is not that old, newborn vampire

In Forks, Washington, the perpetual gray skies had always been your friend—before and after you became a vampire. But not even the cozy gloom of the Pacific Northwest could hide the shimmering tension stirring between Jasper and Edward over you, of all people.

You never asked to be so desirable; you certainly hadn’t been in your human life. But now, you were a shiny new vampire with a perfect complexion and a magnetic personality—at least, so you’d been told. You still felt like the same slightly clumsy, socially awkward guy, except you no longer tripped over your own feet unless you were actively trying to blend in. It was weird. Oh, and apparently, both Jasper and Edward thought you might be their “mate.” That word alone was enough to give you hives if your skin could still do that. It made everything feel predetermined—a cosmic real-estate deal on your afterlife.

No, thank you.

You plopped down on the gleaming white couch, adopting what you hoped was a casual position. Edward sat at the piano bench, absentmindedly letting his fingers hover over the keys, while Jasper paced near the staircase. They were doing that silent eye-contact thing—what you liked to call “vampire telepathy” (you knew it was actually Edward reading thoughts and Jasper sensing emotions, but still). Either way, you were definitely the topic, if the frequent side-eye glances were any indication.

You cleared your throat, forcing a grin. “So, are we going to continue the silent stare-off, or do I need to crack a few jokes to break this tension?”

Edward turned to you, lips curving into a tight, apologetic smile. “Sorry,” he murmured softly. “Old habits.”

“You guys have old habits? You’re basically the definition of ancient habits,” you teased. “I’m the new kid on the block. Cut me some slack. I’ve only been a vampire for—what—three months?”

Jasper stopped mid-pace, sending you a faint smirk. “If it helps, you’re doing a fine job adjusting. No unintentional biting incidents this week.”

“I appreciate the recognition. We can add it to my vampire résumé,” you said, only half-joking. “Next up: perfecting the sparkle. Do you think if I rub my cheek up against a disco ball, I’ll blind everyone within a two-mile radius?”

Edward’s eyes sparkled with suppressed amusement. “Might be a bit dramatic, even for us.”

Jasper shrugged. “No more dramatic than having two vampires fight over you, I reckon.”

You grimaced, nose scrunching. “Yeah, about that.” You cast them both a meaningful look. “Are you two really fighting over me? Because I’m not exactly used to…you know, this.”

“Yes,” Edward said at the exact same time Jasper said, “Of course.” Then they flicked irritated glances at each other, as if each wished the other had said anything else.

When Carlisle brought you home after that near-fatal accident, you had been delirious and bleeding out. Edward, in typical heroic fashion, had insisted on saving you. Next thing you knew, there you were: newly turned, hungry for blood, and fitted with a brand-new wardrobe courtesy of Alice.

You’d spent the early days stumbling through the house, flinching whenever someone shut a door too loudly. But from the get-go, you noticed two sets of molten gold eyes on you more than the others: Jasper’s and Edward’s.

You didn’t think much of it at first—maybe they were just protective. But it quickly escalated from polite overprotectiveness to…whatever this was. Tense stands in the living room. Soft arguments at midnight. That time Jasper accidentally crushed a chair arm because Edward “invaded your personal space.” Or the time Edward snarled under his breath for no apparent reason when you innocently asked Jasper for some sparring tips.

Needless to say, that’s when you began to suspect something was afoot. And apparently, that something was the so-called mate bond. You still didn’t buy it.

A creak on the polished floor made you realize you’d been tapping your foot anxiously—only to discover it was Jasper edging closer to you. He had that concerned older-brother-turned-smitten-face again. Meanwhile, Edward looked up from the piano, watching you like you were the only thing in the room worth paying attention to (besides maybe the antique piano itself).

You sighed, addressing them both. “So, as fun as it is being the center of your undead soap opera, can we talk about the whole ‘mate’ thing? I still don’t buy into it.”

Edward studied you, a hint of a frown creasing his perfect forehead. “I’ve heard your thoughts,” he began, “and I understand why you’re—”

“You heard my thoughts?” you cut in, eyes narrowing. “Hey, man, that’s private property up there. At least charge admission.”

A sheepish smile briefly pulled at his lips. “I try to respect your privacy, but strong emotions tend to overflow.”

Your cheeks heated (which was impossible, physically, but you felt it). You cleared your throat. “Well, guess I should keep my strong emotions dialed down—like that’s even possible. I’m brand-new at this vamp thing. I can’t walk across the room without rearranging furniture accidentally.”

Jasper let out a low laugh. It instantly relaxed some of the tension in the room—he couldn’t help broadcasting some of that relaxation to you, as was his empathetic gift. “I’ve got no intention of forcing you into anything,” he said gently. “It’s just…I feel how your emotions waver between us. It’s intense.”

You threw up your hands. “I can’t help it! You two are like walking advertisement campaigns for impossibly cool vampires. I mean, Edward, you’ve got that brooding poet vibe, and sometimes your hair looks like you walked off a shampoo commercial—”

He seemed surprised. “I—thank you?”

You went on. “Jasper, you’re the calm center in a raging storm, and plus, that Southern drawl is kinda hot. Sorry, is that weird to say out loud?”

Jasper blinked. “It’s— it’s not unwelcome.”

Edward’s lips twitched in a smile. “So, you do admit you feel…something?”

“Well, yeah!” you exclaimed. “But does that mean I have to pick and stamp a romantic label on it right now? Because that’s a lot of pressure.” You flopped back against the couch dramatically. “Especially when I’m trying to figure out why my sparkles look more like glitter glue than fancy vampire confetti in the sunlight.”

You heard a snicker and glanced to the side. Emmett was leaning in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, thoroughly entertained. Alice stood behind him, grinning like this was the funniest show on earth.

“You’re both about one push away from a territorial meltdown,” Emmett teased his brothers. “And I, for one, can’t wait to see who’s gonna punch whom first.”

Jasper shot him a warning look. “Not helpful, Emmett.”

Edward winced. “I’d prefer if we avoided violence.”

You rubbed your temples. “Yes, please, let’s not have that. It’s already complicated enough without fistfights.”

“Aw, come on,” Emmett drawled, “vampire fights are the best. It’ll be over in about two seconds and destroy half the house. Great entertainment, if you ask me.”

Alice laughed behind her hand. “I saw a vision of that once. Rosalie was not happy about the furniture repairs.”

In an effort to shift the mood, you sat up straight, cleared your throat, and pointed at Edward and Jasper in turn. “First, you.” You locked eyes with Edward. “Stop reading my cringe-worthy daydreams—I can’t handle that level of exposure.”

He pressed his lips together in a teasing way, then nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

“Second,” you said, turning to Jasper, “no more flooding me with calm vibes to manipulate me into hugging you for, like, five minutes at a time.”

Jasper put a hand to his chest, feigning offense. “I don’t do that on purpose. Usually,” he added under his breath.

“And third,” you said, scanning between them, “I don’t want either of you jumping to assumptions about being my ‘mate.’ I don’t even know what that truly means aside from it being the vampire version of destiny. Maybe I’m too new to see the big picture, but…” You shrugged, folding your arms. “I’m not ready to commit. I like you both. Deal with it.”

Edward’s eyes flickered with relief and a shade of disappointment simultaneously, as though he’d half-expected you to declare an immediate eternal bond. Jasper gave you a solemn nod, managing a small, humble smile.

“So you want to, what, keep this casual?” Edward asked.

“I want to keep living—uh, un-living—my new existence,” you corrected, “without strapping myself into an epic love saga just yet. Let me be a baby vampire who can’t even do a normal grocery run without wanting to pass out from the smell of raw hamburger.” Your voice dropped into a mock superhero tone: “Time to buy more steak sauce, but oh wait, I can’t eat human food anymore.”

A strained silence passed, then Edward sighed, letting the corners of his mouth lift. “Fair enough.”

Jasper stepped closer, just enough that he could have touched your arm, but he hesitated. “And if we…I don’t know, slip up? If one of us tries to edge the other one out?”

You raised an eyebrow. “You both have about a century of experience on me. I promise, if you slip up, I will find some comedic way to remind you. Maybe I’ll laminate a scoreboard.”

At that, Jasper chuckled quietly. Edward dipped his head, biting back a grin. It seemed the cold war between them was cooling off—somewhat.

Emmett broke into a broad smile. “Aw, man, a scoreboard. Please put me in charge of that. I’ll keep track of who gets the most time with you. Strictly for comedic purposes, of course.”

From across the house, Rosalie’s voice rang out, “Don’t encourage them!”

As the sun sank below Forks’ ever-present clouds, you rose from the couch, nearly tripping over the rug on your way to the door—reflexively, Jasper grabbed your elbow, steadying you. Edward hovered just behind you, poised to catch you if you stumbled further.

“Thanks,” you murmured to both of them, awkwardly aware of their closeness. Being flanked by two protective vampires had once seemed terrifying, but now it felt…comforting. Still weird, though.

“We’re not going to solve everything tonight,” you said, taking a purposeful step back so you could see them both—and so you didn’t spontaneously lean into someone’s chest. “Let’s just agree not to tear each other apart, yeah?”

Edward extended a hand toward Jasper, as if to form a truce. Jasper eyed it warily for a moment before accepting the gesture in a calm, if reluctant, handshake. “Alright,” Edward said. “No tearing each other apart.”

Jasper nodded. “Can do.”

Feeling a spark of mischief, you clapped your hands. “Great. That’s one less lawsuit for Dr. Cullen to worry about. In the meantime, Emmett—please start designing that scoreboard.”

“On it!” Emmett crowed from the doorway.

“Have a good night, you two,” you said to Jasper and Edward. Then, with a flash of a grin, you headed for the stairs, half-dreading, half-anticipating the comedic fiascos tomorrow was sure to bring. Behind you, you heard their faint conversation:

(Edward) “He’s definitely going to drive us insane, isn’t he?”

(Jasper) “Yep.”

(Edward) “… And you’re okay with that?”

(Jasper) “I think I am.”

Your lips quirked into a smile. Even if you didn’t believe in mates, you had to admit—it felt pretty good having not just one, but two admirers who thought you were worth fighting for. Sure, you still sparkled like a glitter bomb gone awry, and your vampiric existence remained confusing at best. But if that’s the price of comedic immortality… well, you could live—er, un-live—with that.

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kairawrites · 9 months ago

Text

off track.

minors dni 18+, thanks!

🌺masterlist🌺

pairing: lewis hamilton x black!reader

author's note: careful kaira, your Lew fantasies are showing. this is not edited, didn't need to chicken out of sharing it.

Summary: Keeping your relationship a secret is tough when Lewis can’t keep his eyes or hands off you.

Words: 2254

On track, Lewis Hamilton is fast, calm, and laser-focused, with an instinct for precision that makes every lap feel effortless. His driving is a masterclass in control, blending speed with a strategic mind that sees opportunities where others see limits. As the adrenaline surges, it sharpens his senses, fueling a relentless drive to push boundaries and seek perfection, making him not just a competitor but a force of nature on the asphalt.

Off track, he's slow and relaxed, with movements that are unhurried and deliberate. He savors each moment, finding joy in the simple pleasures and beauty around him. His demeanor is calm, almost meditative, as he takes the time to appreciate the world outside of racing. When he speaks, his words are thoughtful and measured, often turned to praising others and acknowledging their efforts. His humility shines through, as he effortlessly uplifts those around him, offering encouragement and gratitude with a sincerity that reflects his deep respect for people and life.

These habits carried into the evening, which had stretched far longer than he preferred. The event was a glittering affair, filled with familiar faces and the kind of small talk that came with the territory. It was an opportunity to converse with celebrities from different industries, and networking—a skill he had honed over the years—was second nature to him. He moved effortlessly from one conversation to the next, seamlessly blending charm and intellect. The number of introductions, handshakes, and posed smiles under the barrage of camera flashes blurred together, each interaction a practiced routine.

Yet, despite the buzz and the endless flow of champagne, his attention was elsewhere. His thoughts kept wandering back to you, the one person who stood out in the sea of glittering gowns and tailored suits. Every so often, his eyes would seek you out across the room, lingering on you as you moved through the crowd. He found himself captivated by the way you smiled, the way you laughed at some offhand remark, and the way you carried yourself with effortless grace.

The conversations around him faded into the background as Lewis watched you, his focus narrowing until you were the only person in the room who mattered. Each lingering glance he sent your way was filled with unspoken thoughts, a silent pull that neither of you could ignore. Even as he navigated the demands of the evening, you remained at the forefront of his mind, an irresistible presence that drew him in, no matter how much he tried to stay engaged with everyone else.

A month--that's how long it's been since he's last seen you. Work obligations, on both ends, proving to be an obstacle. It wasn't ideal for your reunion to be at such a public place.

The stunning emerald, green gown that flowed like liquid silk, the color a striking contrast against your deep brown skin, making you look like a jewel amidst the crowd. The gown featured a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit, adding a hint of allure while maintaining an air of sophistication. The rich green fabric caught the light with every step you took, highlighting the gown’s luxurious texture and making you the center of attention. You stood out so brilliantly that you attracted the gaze of every man in the room.

Most men would scowl at the idea of other men admiring their girlfriend, but their attention didn’t spark jealousy in Lewis. Instead, he admired each detail of your ensemble, knowing that every element was tailored to suit his taste. His eyes were drawn to the plunging neckline of your gown, where a delicate necklace nestled against your skin. The necklace, a gift from him, was a masterpiece of craftsmanship: a simple yet elegant silver chain adorned with a single, brilliant diamond pendant. It shimmered subtly, catching the light with every movement you made. Lewis couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride, seeing how the necklace complemented your beauty and how, despite the undercover nature of your relationship, every detail was a reflection of his admiration and love for you.

Tonight, his hello came in the form of his touch, his fingers brushing against yours with a gentle, intimate caress as he removed the empty champagne flute from your hand. You felt a shiver of warmth at his touch, a familiar sensation that sent a flutter through you. He replaced the flute with a glass of wine, his right hand settling possessively on your hip for the briefest of moments. His touch reassuring, grounding, as his thumb dragged along the fabric of your gown resting against the small of your back.

“Stunning as always, Ms. Y/L/N,” he notes, his touch tracing the curve of your hip. Lewis leaned in slightly, his breath warm against your ear as he adds, “I was hoping we can find a more private place to talk later.”

You sipped your wine, the cool liquid a sharp contrast to the heat of his touch. With a cheeky smile, you responded, “You expect the man of the hour to disappear unnoticed?”

He nodded towards the bartender, signaling for a refill of his whiskey. As he turned back to you, his eyes held a playful glint. “You’d be surprised what I can do, love,” he said with a grin, his touch leaving a sudden chill as he withdrew his hand. His gaze swept the room, taking in the crowd with a calculated look, as if considering the best way to make his escape without drawing too much attention.

Accepting his glass, Lewis took a leisurely sip, savoring the rich taste of his whiskey. His gaze returned to you, and he shamelessly took in every detail of your appearance. His eyes roamed over the elegant curve of your neckline, the way the gown accentuated your figure, the length of your thigh, down to your ankle. Retracing each feature, the corner of his mouth turning up as his gaze traced the curve of your lips.

Despite the warmth and familiarity of his gaze, you felt a twinge of nervousness. Each time his eyes meet yours, they seemed to pierce through the layers of confidence you typically exude. The intensity of his admiration, though flattering, made your heart race slightly. His gaze lingered with an intensity that was both flattering and unnerving, causing a delicate warmth to creep across your cheeks. The heat spreading from your head to your toes, causing you to find relief in the wine you held. Despite your surroundings, and the respectable distance between your bodies, you could feel the weight of his attention, the way it made you acutely aware of every movement and every expression, as if Lewis could read your thoughts with just a look. It was something you haven't gotten used to and probably never will.

The way his eyes had a way of making you feel like the center of his universe, which was both exhilarating and a little unsettling.

You cleared your throat, shifting your gaze to his emptying glass. “Congratulations on your Grand Prix, Lewis. Looking to unwind tonight?”

“In more ways than one,” he replied with a grin, his eyes twinkling with humor. “Don’t worry, I’m not behind the wheel tonight.”

You giggled, your eyes meeting his with a playful challenge. “Looks like you’re trying to get into trouble.”

His smile widened, and he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Promise, I’ll save the best kind for you.” He winked, a hint of mischief dancing in his gaze. As he turned back to signal the bartender for his refill, his hand lingered on your hip, creating a warm, comforting pressure. Once his drink arrived, he met your gaze. "As always, the pleasure is mine, Ms. Y/L/N," he smiled before returning to his guests.

And believe me, it was.

Tonight, his eyes admired the chestnut lipstick, noting the contrast of its rich hue against the soft, full curve of your lips. His gaze drawn to the way your teeth gently dug into the tender flesh, a gesture of both contemplation and restraint. His thumb traced the curve of your bottom lip, the touch light yet insistent, encouraged you to release the bite and reveal the full, seductive shade of your lipstick. You had spent time perfecting your makeup, after all, and he intended to appreciate every detail.

Tonight, he spoke praise into the warmth of your ear, his voice softening as his lips and tongue traced the delicate curve of your neck. His gruff tone melted into a whisper, and he pressed gentle kisses to your pulse, each touch sent shivers down your spine. The contrast of his rugged voice with the tenderness of his actions creates a captivating intimacy, as if he’s recommitting and savoring each inch of you to memory.

Tonight, his calloused hands traced the curves of your hips, admiring the gentle dips and contours as he gripped and kneaded the soft flesh beneath the fabric of your dress. His fingertips dragged and lingered, moving slowly towards your thighs, igniting a thrilling heat with each deliberate touch. His senses were flooded with your scent, a heady mix of perfume and warmth that fueled him with a high he could only ever capture on the track. The intensity of the moment, the closeness of your bodies, and the undeniable chemistry between you all combine to create a rush unlike any other, driving him to lose himself in the sensation.

It was the feeling of pleasure he felt with you, that was unmatched by any woman before, which fueled the movements of his fingers as they slipped between your legs. The strokes of his thumbs meticulously hitched your breath, fluttering your eyes closed. The heat of his mouth, sucked against your chest, your neck, the weight of his body pressed you against the chilled bathroom door. The pressure he built weakened your knees, your fingers clinging to his shoulders as you struggled to breathe.

"Lew…"

His brow arched, his teeth catching the overhead vanity light in a brief flash of white. "Hmm?"

Your lips parted, but your voice was caged beneath the shaky breath his touch pulled out of you. The tremor in your chest revealing the effect he had on you, making it difficult to form coherent words. His touch, both electrifying and tender, left you breathless and yearning for more.

You should've tried harder, fought against the voice in your head screaming for you to push him for more. More than just kisses and the warmth of his fingers. The voice urged you to regain control of your limbs, unbuckle his pants, and feel the part of him you'd missed the most--but you couldn't.

All you could think of is how much you've missed this—how every touch, every whisper felt like it had been too long in coming.

"It's been too long," he murmured, completing your thought as if reading your mind. His left hand rested on the base of your throat, the metal of his rings cool against your overheated flesh. His thumb pressed gently against your chin, tilting your face upwards, compelling you to meet his gaze. His touch was both commanding and reassuring, reminding you of the depth of your connection and the longing that has only grown in the time apart. "You missed me?"

Your response fell short of what he wants. The soft nod of your head, before it lulled back to rest against the door was not what he wants. He wanted to hear the tremble in your voice, the shift in octaves, that replayed on a loop in his mind when he tried to recreate the warmth of your touch in his bed alone. He wanted to see the clouded mixture of lust and pleading in your eyes as your hooded gaze holds his, but your eyes are gripped shut denying him what he wanted.

Instead, you responded by gripping his wrist, keeping him in place as he attempted to slow his pace. Your hips rolled desperately, attempting to matching the circles he drew against your skin.

His chuckle washed over you. His lips warm against the corner of your mouth. Despite your attempt of control, he easily regained it. His touch drifting from your clit, dragging painstakingly slow along the outside of your folds.

"Seems you've forgotten a few things. Hm?"

His touch is meticulous, never brushing against the spot you need, leaving you yearning for more. He kissed your lips slowly, the tenderness of the gesture both soothing and electrifying. Sucking against your bottom lip, he repeated the action as your hips instinctively jerked seeking the high slowly threatening to slip away.

With a soft, commanding tone, he told you, “Lemme see those pretty eyes.”

As you obey and lift your hooded lids, his smile widened with a mix of satisfaction and adoration. It’s a smile that starts in his eyes, which crinkled slightly at the corners, and spread to his lips, revealing a hint of his teeth. The smile is warm and genuine, a reflection of the affection and pride he feels as he takes in the sight of you. The pride he feels in knowing that no other man had the same effect on you. There’s a touch of playfulness in his expression, as his tongue passed over his lips.

“Attagirl,” he murmurs softly, his touch returning to your clit.

The content giggle that escaped your lips, melted into a breathless moan coaxing his finger between your slick folds. It was a sound he'd chase until the end of time. Once it was unlocked, he knew soon the sound of his name on your lips would follow.

"...that's what I've missed," Lewis hummed.

#lewis hamilton x reader #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #f1 x reader #lewis hamilton x black!reader #lewis hamilton smut #lewis hamilton x you #lewis hamilton imagine #black! reader #black reader #x black reader #sir lewis hamilton #lewis hamilton black reader #black reader fan fiction #black reader fic

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novlr · 4 months ago

Note

Any tips on how to describe indoor spaces so they feel real and match the vibe of the story without throwing in too much detail?

Getting interior scenes just right is all about finding the balance between setting the mood, showing the unique personality of your story world, and keeping the plot moving. There are lots of ways you can use senses, action, and background to set a scene, all of which can work seamlessly with the type of story you want to tell. Here are some tips on how you can achieve that:

How does it look?

Lighting: does your space contain the soft glow of lamps, harsh fluorescent lights, or natural light?

Use colour and textures like peeling paint, plush velvet, or sleek marble.

Size and scale: is it claustrophobically small or impressively grand?

Architectural features: does the space have high ceilings, crown mouldings, or exposed beams?

Furnishings: are they modern, sparse, antique, or cluttered?

Style and decor: what style is represented, and how does it affect the atmosphere?

State of repair: is the space well-kept, neglected, or under renovation?

Perspective and layout: how do spaces flow into each other?

Unique design features: describe sculptural elements, or things that stand out.

Spatial relationships: describe how objects are arranged—what’s next to, across from, or underneath something else?

How does it sound?

Describe echoes in large spaces or the muffled quality of sound in carpeted or furnished rooms.

Note background noises; is there a persistent hum of an air conditioner, or the tick of a clock?

Describe the sound of footsteps; do they click, scuff, or are they inaudible?

Include voices; are they loud and echoing or soft and absorbed?

Is there music? Is it piped in, coming from a live source, or perhaps drifting in from outside?

Capture the sounds of activity; typing, machinery, kitchen noises, etc.

Describe natural sounds; birds outside the window, or the rustle of trees.

Consider sound dynamics; is the space acoustically lively or deadened?

Include unexpected noises that might be unique to the building.

Consider silence as a sound quality. What does the absence of noise convey?

How does it smell?

Identify cleaning products or air fresheners. Do they create a sterile or inviting smell?

Describe cooking smells if near a kitchen; can you identify specific foods?

Mention natural scents; does the room smell of wood, plants, or stone?

Are there musty or stale smells in less ventilated spaces?

Note the smell of new materials; fresh paint, new carpet, or upholstery.

Point out if there’s an absence of smell, which can be as notable as a powerful scent.

Consider personal scents; perfume, sweat, or the hint of someone’s presence.

Include scents from outside that find their way in; ocean air, city smells, etc.

Use metaphors and similes to relate unfamiliar smells to common experiences.

Describe intensity and layering of scents; is there a primary scent supported by subtler ones?

What can you do there?

Describe people’s actions; are they relaxing, working, hurried, or leisurely?

Does the space have a traditional use? What do people come there to do?

Note mechanical activity; elevators moving, printers printing, etc.

Include interactions; are people talking, arguing, or collaborating?

Mention solitary activities; someone reading, writing, or involved in a hobby.

Capture movements; are there servers bustling about, or a janitor sweeping?

Observe routines and rituals; opening blinds in the morning, locking doors at night.

Include energetic activities; perhaps children playing or a bustling trade floor.

Note restful moments; spaces where people come to unwind or reflect.

Describe cultural or community activities that might be unique to the space.

How is it decorated?

Describe the overall style; is it minimalist, baroque, industrial, or something else?

Note period influences; does the decor reflect a specific era or design movement?

Include colour schemes and how they play with or against each other.

Mention patterns; on wallpaper, upholstery, or tiles.

Describe textural contrasts; rough against smooth, shiny against matte.

Observe symmetry or asymmetry in design.

Note the presence of signature pieces; a chandelier, an antique desk, or a modern art installation.

Mention thematic elements; nautical, floral, astronomical, etc.

Describe homemade or bespoke items that add character.

Include repetitive elements; motifs that appear throughout the space.

What is its history?

Mention historical usage; was the building repurposed, and does it keep its original function?

Describe architectural time periods; identify features that pinpoint the era of construction.

Note changes over time; upgrades, downgrades, or restorations.

Include historical events that took place within or affected the building.

Mention local or regional history that influenced the building’s design or function.

Describe preservation efforts; are there plaques, restored areas, or visible signs of aging?

Describing indoor spaces doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Focus on the details that matter most, tie them to the mood or characters, and let your readers fill in the blanks. A well-crafted space not only sets the scene but builds your character's relationship to it. Use sensory language, background, and action beats to tie it into your narrative, and don’t be afraid to play around with motifs and contradictions, depending on who is experiencing it!

#writeblr #writers of tumblr #writing tips #writing resources #creative writing #writers #writing #writing community #creative writers #writing inspiration #writerblr #writing advice #writing reference #writers on tumblr #ask novlr #writer

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legendaryvermin · 9 months ago

Text

So my home ttrpg group is between longform games right now, and I have been planning to bring a bunch of games to them this weekend as options for what we might play next. However, I have been trying to figure out how to talk about the games in a way that doesn't rely as much on me explaining the vibes to them.

I know that people have a bunch of qualitative categories for how they explain games, but I find the idea of saying things like Dark Fantasy OSR, or Lesbian Goofball PBTA less helpful when talking about how games actually play, especially when two games in the same category are like, wildly different in the way they use their frameworks.

So I invented a 6 axis, 1 to 5 star rating scale for TTRPGs that you are free to borrow when talking to groups, or whatever.

TTRPG 5 Star Rating Matrix

Width

What is the scope of this game? Is it narrowly about one thing or does it encompass many types of play? (Credit to friend of the blog @ostermad-blog for this one, they came up with it from my draft)

Weight

How much cognitive load does the player need to bear? Do rules often need to be referenced verbatim? Can those rules fit on a handout?

Wargame

Is the player expected to apply tactical acumen? Is movement tracked tightly or loosely? Does a bad build punish a player?

Writers Room

How much are players expected to make narrative choices and drive the story without the rules scaffolding them? Does this game fall apart without excellent improvisational storytellers?

(Prep)Work

Does this game require a lot of pre-planning by the facilitator? Are there intricate systems to attend to outside of table play? Can I put in the same amount of time as other players and still have everyone leave happy?

Whimsy

Expected tone of the game. Does this game have difficult thematic elements baked in? Is the core subject or role in the game high or low risk?

Here are some games I know well and how I calibrated them:

I have breakdowns of what each star rating means below the cut if you're curious. Happy Gaming!

Width

⭐ - As written, the game has basically one mode of play, or one thematic core that it meditates on. May have phases, but textural difference is minimal.

⭐⭐ - As written, there are at least two modes of play, but the scope of that play is highly thematically focused or highly dependent on using the game’s own lore. Might have only one kind of character (e.g. Mech Pilot) that it supports. Has limited tools outside of the primary mode of play.

⭐⭐⭐ - Has a variety of modes of play, but may be rigid in their execution. Might encompass multiple kinds of characters (e.g. Doctor, Lawyer, fighter) or character options. The narratives that this game tells within its setting are narrowed, a three word description tells you what kind of stories it can tell with consistency.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Loose framework, but with some kind of thematic grounding. Describing the framework in 3 words doesn’t tell you the kind of stories that the game tells (e.g. Dark Fantasy, Star Wars Romp).

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- As written, this game is designed in such a way that it doesn’t put specific limits on what sorts of stories that it is meant to tell. It might ask players to define abilities or stats for themselves. The Facilitator is going to pitch a thematic grounding on top of the rules set.

One Star Examples: For the Queen, Dialect, Honey Heist Five Star Examples: Fate Core, Savage Worlds, GURPS

Weight

⭐ - It is reasonable for a player to be able to recite the rules from memory. The game may be prompt based, or driven by a flow of rules that are read aloud as played.

⭐⭐ - Players can hold most of the most important information about the game in their heads, with a page or less of rules reference needed to play smoothly. This reference could all fit neatly on the character sheet if one is present.

⭐⭐⭐ - Everything a player needs to know about the game is visible on less than 3 sheets of reference. Players are more or less expected to know exactly how their own abilities work in precise detail, and are unlikely to make a mistake in executing them.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Players make extensive use of multiple reference sheets to keep rules moving smoothly. No external tools are needed, but players memorizing the details of all of their abilities is taxing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Players and facilitators will prefer to make extensive use of external tools or reference to keep play moving smoothly. Expecting a player to have the exact details of their abilities memorized is not reasonable.

One Star Examples: For the Queen, Stewpot, Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands Five Star Examples: Dungeons and Dragons 3-5e, Lancer, Edge of the Empire

Wargame

⭐ - As written, this game does not treat combat as mechanically different from any other aspect of play, or does not include narrative violence at all.

⭐⭐ - While players may engage in combat, it is minimally different from regular play. There may be tools or abilities for players to use to conduct a fight, but the texture of those fights is thematic, not mechanical. Narrative and consequence drive the action, not hit points.

⭐⭐⭐ - As written, combat has its own set of rules. This game may have some elements of buildcrafting, but either it is difficult to build something that doesn’t work, or the player may meaningfully invest in other modes of play and still find a commensurate level of satisfaction. If combat occurs, spacing is kept in mind, but is tracked in relative terms (range bands) or highly simplified (zone based combat).

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This game has buildcrafting that is somewhat mandatory if players wish to survive a fight, but there is still a meaningful choice in choosing a non-combat role. It may use a grid or a spacing system to help players visualize the combat. Fights are driven by mechanics, not by narrative.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- To enjoy this game, players must spend time buildcrafting. If a player’s build is suboptimal, there may be significant parts of the intended experience that will either feel tedious, or that the player will not have meaningful access to. This game is played on a grid.

One Star Examples: Wanderhome, Dialect, Belonging Outside Belonging Five Star Examples: Lancer, Dungeons and Dragons 3-5e, Valor

Writers Room

⭐ - Players in this game are not expected to provide much in the way of narrative substance. Story is something that is driven by external input or tools, and players are there to imagine and react. The player need not separate the self from the character they play in any meaningful way.

⭐⭐ - The mechanics of this game drive most of the narrative, or else the narrative is set for the players by an external source or player. Players are encouraged to play optimally rather than dramatically, but do have room for expressing the identity of their character within the game’s mechanical frameworks.

⭐⭐⭐ - While the game does provide strong scaffolding to tell a story, the players present are expected to drive the story within those frameworks. The game’s systems create and resolve conflict on their own, but works best when the players are willing to choose the dramatically interesting option even if it mechanically non-optimal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The game provides some mechanical tools that create and resolve drama, but there is a significant expectation that the players are buying into and driving the game’s thematic concepts. Players are the ones deciding what the scenes should be and when to end them, but mechanics still help determine outcomes.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- The players are expected to drive the narrative at all times. Tools for deciding what scenes to do and when to end them are limited, optional, or vague. There is no meaningful scaffolding that creates conflict or resolution, it is incumbent on those present to manifest those things.

One Star Examples: Alice is Missing, Ribbon Drive, For the Queen Five Star Examples: Wanderhome, Systemless RP

(Prep)Work

⭐ - Facilitators are not expected to do work outside the time at the table. All rules can be read while the game is played. No memorization is needed.

⭐⭐ - This game expects the facilitator to have read the rules in advance, but the rules are so few that they can be run from a single reference sheet. At times, the facilitator must think about and potentially advance and adjust the narrative of the game behind the scenes. Prep is qualitative; answering questions about where the narrative is going to go, who will be there etc. The game can be run smoothly predominantly as improv.

⭐⭐⭐ - This game expects the facilitator to not only know the rules, but to imagine scenarios where the group must play. However, the scope of the scenario design is limited and qualitative. It takes a bit of pondering and perhaps a sketch and a few words of notes. Alternatively, the facilitator must design simple foes or track a simple background system. The work is trivial, and can be done with a bit of time before session.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The facilitator of this game is expected to have run systems between games, or created usable maps or scenarios. Generally, games at this level have some reduced wargaming component. The facilitator might need to engage in enemy design, but the work is limited or imminently reusable. The work is non-trivial, and failing to do it will somewhat impact the quality of play.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- The facilitator of this game puts in significant time between sessions engaging in game design activities. They are expected to plan narratives, write NPCs, draw maps, run significant background systems, and design enemies and combat encounters. The work is significant outside of play, and failing to do it beforehand will result in a worse table experience.

One Star Examples: For the Queen, Alley-Oop, Lasers and Feelings Five Star Examples: Lancer, D&D 3-5e, Stars Without Number, Edge of the Empire

Whimsy

⭐ - This game’s thematic core is considered dark, taboo, or difficult, and separating the game’s mechanical features from this subject matter is next to impossible. Games with horror elements almost certainly fit within this category. These games encourage extensive pre-play safety talks.

⭐⭐ - This game is designed to look at dark subject matter, but doesn’t expect the player to spend all of their time there. Players explore difficult topics, but may get to choose what topics to explore, or when to explore them. Games with political messaging/commentary tend to fit this category. These games encourage pre-play safety talks.

⭐⭐⭐ - This game may have dark aesthetics, but doesn’t enforce them mechanically. Alternatively, there are mechanics that address difficult topics in broad strokes, but players are given leeway in the rules with how any difficult topics are approached. These games may encourage safety talks.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This game may have the option to explore dark topics, but none of the mechanics are tied to such topics. This game may have violence in its aesthetics, but players may choose to adjust the aesthetics at the table to suit their comfort. These games tend not to talk about safety in their text.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- This game is designed to focus on thematic material that is considered to be relatively safe. The game is unlikely to tread into violence or trauma without effort.

One Star Examples: Trophy Dark, Dungeon Bitches, Vampire the Masquerade Five Star Examples: Honey Heist, Princess World, Beach Episode

The system here isn't about what's good or bad, to be clear. I think there are good and bad games at every level of these categories, but when I think about what my game group is good at and comfy with, I don't think we go in for things at like the 5 end of the Writers Room scale. It's too much work, and most of them aren't pro improvisers.

Similarly, if we play another game that is a 4 or 5 on the PrepWork category, I don't have time to run it these days. So this helps me make practical choices about our next game.

#ttrpg #indie ttrpg #game design #dnd #ttrpgs #ttrpg design #d&d #lancer rpg #steal this #safety tools #five star ttrpg matrix

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the-cosmic-cauldron · 3 months ago

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Today, we’re going to talk about Mercury signs and their texting habits. If we were to rank which Mercury placements are the worst texters by element, I’d say fire Mercuries take the crown. On the other hand, air Mercuries are probably the best texters. But let’s break down how each element communicates through text, starting with none other than fire Mercuries.

Fire Mercury (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

Fire Mercuries text in bursts of inspiration. Since their thinking isn’t sequential or linear, their thoughts are all over the place and move fast. Because of this, they don’t do well with consistent texting—it requires too much sustained focus, which they aren’t naturally suited for. Instead, fire Mercuries prefer calling. If they’re texting you back-to-back, it’s likely because they can’t call you at the moment.

Generally, fire Mercuries text when they’re excited about a topic, interested in you (like a crush), or eager to make plans. They also text more when they’re angry, often ranting before suddenly dropping off. Their texting style is inconsistent, much like fire itself—spontaneous and unpredictable.

Earth Mercury (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

Earth Mercuries tend to be slow texters, often taking hours to respond. This isn’t because they’re ignoring you—they’re either busy or carefully processing what to say. Some Earth Mercuries are meticulous with their wording, preferring practical and to-the-point messages rather than emotional or overly expressive texts.

Like fire Mercuries, Earth Mercuries often prefer calling over texting, especially when clarity is needed. They like efficiency and may opt for a phone call just to get straight to the point. They’ll typically text when they need to make plans, help you with something, or ask for help themselves. Otherwise, they don’t see much purpose in excessive texting.

Air Mercury (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)

Air Mercuries are the ultimate texters. While they can be inconsistent like fire Mercuries, they have a lot to say. Their texts might not even be about feelings or personal matters—these are the people who will text you paragraphs about something they learned, an interesting event, or the latest drama.

Air Mercuries love to interact in different ways, so expect memes, GIFs, photos, videos, TikToks, and links flooding your phone. However, don’t be fooled—if an air Mercury has a lot to say, they’ll call you in a heartbeat. At the same time, if they don’t feel like talking, they’ll avoid phone calls altogether and stick to texting.

Water Mercury (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)

Water Mercuries have a natural flow to their texting style. They’re often consistent texters and are less likely to pick up the phone unless it’s an emergency or they’re in an emotional state where they need comfort.

Their texts can range from straightforward messages to vague or cryptic ones, sometimes just consisting of emojis. They’re the type to check in on you with messages like, “How was your day?” or “How are you feeling?” They excel at checking up on people, but their moods influence their texting habits. When they’re in their feelings, they may leave you on read or not respond at all.

Water Mercuries also crave in-person connection, so they may text you to figure out when you’ll see each other next. Their texting style often has a nurturing quality—almost like a parent checking in to make sure you’re okay.

#astro notes #astro observations #astroblr #astrology #astro placements #astro community #aries #cancer #capricorn #gemini #taurus #leo ♌️#virgo #libra #scorpio #saggitarius #aquarius #pisces

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aealzx · 5 months ago

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Update Post

Prologue | AO3

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The rest of lunch was filled with more casual chatter, and after somewhat helping Alfred clean up the dishes the group headed for the Batcave. Bruce was quick to wordlessly lift Danny onto his arm again once they got close to the stairs, setting him down carefully close to the main computer as Damian fetched a rolling stool and Tim started to set up the computer for what they needed.

“Don’t feel like you need to rush. If you need a break we can come back to this later,” Bruce assured quietly as Danny gratefully took a seat on the stool.

“Here’s the pen,” Tim was quick to come over as well, holding out what looked like a tablet stylus with a few buttons for Danny to take. “Hold the front button to free draw. And if you want to do straight lines between points just tap the button higher up to switch modes, tap the front button for each point of the lines, and double tap to end the connection on the current line,” he explained, manipulating Danny’s hand to follow the instructions as well as demonstrate the functions.

Danny was surprised to see faintly glowing hologram lines appear wherever the pen tip was when the buttons were pushed, huffing a small giggle in pleasant surprise. “Woah…. So cool,” he commented, impressed by the advanced technology. “Uhm…. So, I guess… the entrance was like this…,” he rambled brokenly, figuring he should just get going and get up to start drawing what he could remember in the open space.

It took him a second to get the hang of the device, and with Tim following him around to be able to make any adjustments Danny requested he ended up getting caught up in the explanations and feeling less scrutinized. His movements were a bit slow as he tried to conserve his energy, and sometimes he had to float to reach where he needed to, but it was a lot more effective than trying to describe what no one else could see.

“The frame is mounted on the wall, and there’s two metal doors embedded in the wall that we can use to somewhat close the portal. It doesn’t block anything that can go intangible, but it keeps humans out and masks the gateway from being easy to find while in the Infinite Realms. There’s a simple alarm light on top that alerts us of any anomalies. And a filtration system on the right side. Which is actually one of the more important parts. Like I said earlier, the portal extends into the wall about… this far. It’s masked by the ectoplasmic energy now that the portal is on, but I looked into it more closely a few months ago. There’s some sort of structure within the tunnel walls that directs the flow of ectoplasm once it’s pulled from the Infinite Realm. It loops on itself, in a spiral, passing through the ecto filter first. The raw ectoplasm from the realm is corrupted, and we use the filter to strip out the impurities. Kind of like separating the different elements of human blood. Then it gets bounced around within the tunnel, hitting eight hot spots here, here, hm,” he hummed for the rest of the points, as he drew circles to mark them, “all before getting pulled back to the middle again, which creates the visual spiral we can see in the portal from the outside. There’s a minor amount of electricity maintaining certain functions, but for the most part it’s self sustained by the ectoplasm.”

At that point Danny had moved around enough his legs were starting to hurt and feel weak, so he plopped back on the stool from before. It seemed to be a good time to take a break anyway, for Wally and Raven were starting to walk around the crude designs.

“...This is a fibonacci spiral…Or at least it’s extremely close,” Wally spoke up first after coming to a stop in front of the diagram again, gesturing to the energy current lines. “And you said the measurements weren’t exact?”

“Yeah. I measured the opening once, and it was very slightly over two meters in diameter. With the tunnel going back about three meters, but also slightly more. I just thought it was because my parents weren’t being careful with the measurements,” Danny confirmed with a tired nod, absently rubbing his leg.

“Or it needed a different measurement system…,” Wally mused, a few thoughts starting to click in his head. “Tim, make the diameter 2.094 meters, and the depth 3.141 meters. Then space out the concentration points to match a fibonacci spiral.”

As Tim tapped on a wireless keyboard to adjust the diagram according to Wally’s direction he squinted slightly. “Two point… Wait, that’s the conversion for four and six Egyptian Cubits respectively. That’s one of the oldest measurement systems.”

“From one of the oldest civilizations known for being rather involved when it came to matters of the dead,” Wally added as a way to confirm Tim had come to the same realization as him.

“Egyptian cubits?” Danielle repeated, scrunching her nose in confusion. “What would that have to do with anything? And why four and six?”

“They’re numbers that different cultures associate with the dead. Four, six, and also eight like the concentration points,” Wally explained, pointing to the different aspects. “Combined with the fibonacci spiral, one of the most common shapes that has often been associated with representing life, and it’s starting to look like this portal is a ritual for life and death.”

“It does,” Raven confirmed with a nod, stepping forward. “The method is old, it’s not really used anymore in modern techniques because of how simplistic it is. It leaves too much up to the one performing the ritual, which means there’s a much larger chance for error. Was this all they had? This was enough for them to get it to work?”

It was a little alarming to hear Raven and Wally imply that the Fenton couple had most likely unintentionally performed a rather old and risky mystic ritual or something instead of just messing with science. But what caused Danny to pause the most was Raven’s question if it had worked. He wasn’t sure he wanted to answer that. He knew he should probably tell them the truth, but he didn’t exactly like talking about that event.

Unfortunately Sam didn’t seem to share his reluctance. “It didn’t work,” she admitted a little too bluntly, causing Danny to flinch. “From what I heard nothing at all happened when they turned it on. It wasn’t until Danny was looking around inside it that it actually activated.”

That revelation caused a few reactions of surprise from the others who didn’t already know, and Danny couldn’t help squeezing his left hand as a faint memory caused it to burn with phantom pain, crawling up his arm.

“Wait- You were inside the portal when it activated?!” Wally burst, gaping at Danny in extreme concern.

It was hard to figure out how to answer without having to fall too far back into the memory of that event, which caused Danny to remain quiet for a stretch of time, pressing his thumb into his palm tightly as his gaze couldn’t focus on anything for the moment. Eventually he forced himself to meet Wally’s gaze, drawing a slightly shuddering breath before answering. “...What?... Did you think I got this way by drinking ectoplasm or something?” he tried to joke, but the tremor in his voice made it fail.

No one seemed to know how to respond to that, realizing that Danny had ended up half dead because of an accident with an unstable lab experiment. Something that Wally was no stranger to himself, but it still something he wasn’t pleased to hear.

With the awkward silence, Jason gave a small huff and strode forward to semi roughly cup his hand on the back of Danny’s head and ruffle his hair a little. “Guess that’s one way to do it,” he muttered, just to break the silence and try to provide some sort of comfort.

With his comment, Raven took that as a chance to voice her own questions. “...Were either of your parents present when it happened?” she asked, confusion prompting her.

“...No, they weren’t even home,” Danny confirmed, feeling defensive in case Raven was going to say something to blame them or something.

She didn’t have anything to say about Jack and Maddie’s actions though, instead falling into an even more confused, thoughtful silence. “...That doesn’t make any sense…,” she muttered absently.

“What’s the anomaly?” Damian asked, prompting her to speak more.

“There was no offer of intent,” Raven responded, looking up and accepting the unspoken direction to explain. “This arrangement is the bare minimum material construction for an inter realm gateway. But because of that there are parts of the ritual that are missing, that still have to be fulfilled for it to work. Mainly payment, and instruction of intent. These days the intent is usually inscribed into the array to facilitate clarity and stability, and the payment is usually in the form of something being added to the array with the intent to sacrifice it.”

“Wait- So all those stereotypes of people being sacrificed to summoning rituals and stuff isn’t baseless?” Tucker sputtered, immediately associating Raven’s choice of words for meaning human sacrifices.

“Living people are one of the highest forms of payment, so unfortunately it can be common to use them,” Raven confirmed. “But even so, there has to be someone else there to express the desire to use them as payment, and determine what for. Which, from what you’ve all explained, there wasn’t anyone there to do so. I can’t imagine any of you wanting to kill Danny, and I doubt he was trying to offer himself since none of you even knew that was a requirement.”

“Hold up- Are you saying the portal only opened because it took Danny as a sacrifice?!” Danielle blurted, subconsciously stepping in front of Danny defensively.

“Excuse me!?” Jazz gasped, also moving forward.

“It’s the only thing that makes sense for what you’re telling me to have worked,” Raven insisted defensively, withdrawing slightly. “If it was a temporary portal I can understand if there was somehow an annulment of payment since the cost is much smaller. But considering the portal has remained open all this time that must mean a standing contract of sorts was established. Especially when we consider Danny’s state as a perfect liminal being. It seems like the Liminal Realm adopted Danny as one of its own in return for allowing a permanent connection to be established. An equal exchange, a link between two realms with a being who represents that connection.”

“That’s impossible,” Danny snapped, rising to his feet again. “I don’t know what realms you’ve worked with, but the Infinite Realms don’t function like that. Getting into them is probably a lot harder than I thought, sure. But there had to be someone there. The realm wouldn’t just…kill me on its own.”

“The realm of Hell is well known for taking the lives of people any chance it can. Especially those who mess around with rituals unknowingly. If you can’t imagine anyone who was there having a clear intent to sacrifice you, then it would have had to have been the realm itself choosing to take you,” Raven explained, forcing herself to remain calm and not trying to be antagonistic.

“Well I don’t know anything about Hell, but out of the two of us I’m pretty sure I know the most about the Infinite Realms,” Danny snapped back, memories of other people not being willing to listen to him about important matters causing him to get quickly irritated from anxiousness. “So when I tell you that it doesn’t operate that way, then believe me. There might not be much in the way of laws inside the Infinite Realms, but that’s because the highest law that the Realm has is that everyone always has a choice.”

“How do you know that for certain?” Bruce asked, his voice much calmer than the others as he was only trying to add data to back up that apparent fact. He was also trying to help the two children break off their argument by giving them another person to address, but it didn’t quite work.

“Because I’m not the Ghost King!” Danny exclaimed, having the brief thought that he should probably settle down and destress as he was rapidly starting to feel dizzy, but being too invested in the conversation to listen to his own mind. He couldn’t allow another misunderstanding about the Infinite Realms to persist. Not again. “Clockwork said we always have a choice, and it listened when I said no- It accepted me saying no, even though that meant there’d be no king. It wouldn’t-...” he broke off as the dizziness suddenly increased, causing him to sway and be unable to keep himself standing as he put his hands to his head. His face felt hot despite the rest of him starting to feel frigid.

Luckily Wally was quick to zip over to him and catch him, pulling Danny close and crouching carefully to help him partially lay down without being on the floor.

“Danny!”

There were several people who called his name out of varying levels of concern, but there wasn’t much they could do without crowding as Dick made it to their side first.

“...His fever spiked,” Dick informed after resting the back of his hand on Danny’s cheek and forehead. Danny didn’t respond, his head was still spinning, but he wasn’t surprised. Stupid him and pushing himself too far. Again.

“S… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stress him out,” Raven apologized readily, her hands gripping each other in front of her.

“We know you didn’t. The conversation simply got out of hand,” Damian consoled as Tim brought the discarded blanket from before over to the others to get Danny bundled up again.

“Yeah well… telling someone they were murdered instead of dying accidentally is kind of a big deal,” Jason pointed out, feeling a bit snippy from his own unsettled emotions.

“Regardless, I think we’ve learned enough to know we should try something else,” Wally spoke up before anyone could react to that comment. “We can problem solve other issues later if needed, but it’s probably best to conclude for the rest of the day.” And to enforce that statement more he scooped Danny up to prepare to take him back up to bed. “Bruce, let’s bypass the Infinite Realms. Do you think they’d be up for having a realm frequency scan at the Watchtower? Maybe this weekend? It’ll probably be better to just try to connect directly to their realm instead of dropping them off in the connecting one.”

It was a good idea from what they had just learned, even if they had originally explored this possibility to try to use something the kids were familiar with. Bruce nodded in agreement. “I’ll make arrangements. Thank you for your time today.”

Nodding back to Bruce, Wally turned to head back up stairs with Dick following to bring the IV pole along. “Alright kiddo, let’s go back to taking a break,” he commented to Danny, who just let out a grumbled noise of annoyance as well as discomfort while shrinking into the blanket. It earned a chuckle from Wally, who could understand the frustration the boy had even if he couldn’t personally relate. “At least you had an actual meal today. I hear you’ve been stuck to bread and broth for now, which totally suuuucks.”

It was idle chatter as they took the stairs, but it did help Danny feel a little less like a weakling. As they left Tim saved the progress they made on the computer, then turned to look at Danielle since she was the easiest to get answers from. “What did he mean by Ghost King? I wasn’t aware that the Liminal or Infinite Realm or whatever had a monarchy.”

“Eh, we didn’t know for a long time either. But since everyone is allowed to make their own choices, a long time ago some ghost named Pariah Dark made himself king because no one could beat him and he was greedy. But a couple years ago Danny kicked his butt, and some people wanted him to be the new Ghost King because of that. He said no though, so now there’s currently an anarchy,” Danielle explained easily, shrugging.

“He said no to being a king?” Jason asked, both confused and mildly impressed.

“Ruling a realm is a lot to ask of a fourteen year old. Especially a realm full of chaotic ghosts who are apparently only there because they were too stubborn to fully die,” Danielle answered, folding her arms with a mild chuckle.

“That, and Danny didn’t think it counted because he was using a suit that enhanced his abilities a hundred fold,” Sam added.

“Over time he’ll probably get to the same level anyway. But the suit disappeared, so it wasn’t like keeping the title from anyone that challenged him would be easy either,” Tucker added on top of the others.

“He had enough to deal with trying to balance school, hiding from our parents, and dealing with the other ghosts causing trouble. He didn’t need to add ruling a realm on top of that,” Jazz enforced, having always agreed with Danny’s decision.

“Smart,” Jason acknowledged, though he wasn’t sure if he would make the same choice. Ditching the rest of highschool to become a king for a realm with very few people actually didn't sound all that bad.

“My turn for a question,” Danielle spoke up, raising her hand unnecessarily and earning some snickers.

“Sure, what’s up?” Stephanie accepted, feeling it was only fair the visitors got to ask their own questions.

“It’s actually more for Raven,” Danielle clarified, pointing to the girl. “Earlier, when we were doing the whole ritual thingy to get ectoplasm, you mentioned that Danny and I are favored by other realms. And just now you said that the ectoplasm was a gift to me from the Infinite Realm, and talked about how the Realm was the one that took Danny. But I thought realms weren’t sentient…… Are they?”

It was a question that mildly surprised Raven, but she was happy to clarify and elaborate further. “No, they’re not actually sentient in the sense that the realm itself has a mind of its own. Realms have often been mentioned to act, or favor someone, or behave in some manner akin to sentience because it’s easier for people to understand in some regards. But really it’s just the result of the cumulative thoughts and emotions of the beings who belong to that realm. The reason you and Danny are favored by the Liminal Realm is more because the people of the realm seem to like you.”

“Wha- really?” Danielle blinked, openly confused despite that explanation also having made some sense. “I always thought most of the people there didn’t like us.”

“Most of the other ghosts do seem to like picking fights with you two when they show up,” Sam agreed, finding it amusing that the Infinite Realm’s people apparently had favorites.

“Well… like is probably not the correct word,” Raven admitted. “They ‘favor’ you in some manner.”

“I thought being a favorite was just a more intense form of liking something,” Tucker countered, that clarification having not mitigated his confusion at all.

“People always have favorites. But they’re not always nice to their favorites. A favorite punching bag, for example,” Raven tried again, this time earning understanding nods and being able to move on. “Now if you’re wondering why you were given a gift from the realm, when someone is a Realm's favorite they're usually bestowed with special privileges and abilities. Like how Superman seems to be pretty indestructible. Batman has some unusually lucky situations. Things like that. Those boons are normally spread between all who are favorites of the realm. But it is possible when there's only one, distinct favorite they could become more akin to that of a god. I’ve noticed that you and Danny have a rather distinct connection to the Liminal Realm that makes me think you’re quite favored in varying regards.”

“Wait, hold on,” Tucker sputtered, realizing something from Raven’s suggestions. “Are you implying that Danny might be getting, I dunno, new powers or something, because the other ghosts really like using him as a punching bag?”

The connection being said aloud earned a barked laugh from Jason and Stephanie, but Raven only gave a slight smile. “Perhaps,” she half agreed. “It’s a potential that could happen based on what I’ve read and heard.”

“HA! Poor kids,” Stephanie snorted, “At least you’re given stuff to fight back with.”

“Yeaaaah being the favorite child is starting to not seem like a good thing,” Danielle chuckled along with her in good nature.

“So…,” Tim started, pulling them back to a connected issue, “Back to the more uncomfortable part of this. Danny being used as a sacrifice to open that portal was essentially because… enough people in the Liminal Realm were aware of him, aware of the event, and willing to use him?”

“That’s… an accurate way to put it,” Raven admitted, though she wasn’t completely sure herself either. “Based on what I’ve heard, and using simple logic, that would make sense. But I don’t know how true it is, since I don’t know what the Realm was like at the time the portal was opened. There could have been a specific person there, it could have been a collective desire… I don’t know. But I’m fairly certain Danny is the reason the portal is open.”

It was a somber thought, but Tucker couldn’t help shuddering as another thought came to mind. “Makes you wonder how Vlad got his portal to work.”

“You say that like you actually believe the man hasn’t already killed someone before,” Sam retorted dryly, unimpressed.

“...Fair point,” Tucker agreed.

“.... Aaaaand Vlad is?” Tim prodded, starting to think this was someone they should know about after that exchange.

“The guy that created me, and almost killed me,” Danielle responded bluntly, expression going decidedly neutral.

“A sick freak that wants to kill Danny’s dad so he can marry his mom and adopt him as his own child,” Sam added, folding her arms.

“...Ooookay. Write that down Tim. We do not make friends with this Vlad guy, and definitely keep him away from these guys,” Stephanie prodded, poking at Tim since he still had the keyboard for the computer, earning a few snickers from the others.

_________________

Iiiii couldn't manage to focus on anything else to work on today, so I ended up catching up on what I had written |D Lot's of headcanon in this one.

___________

Tag list: @galaxy-sharks-and-bottled-ships, @starscreamlover, @nerdynonnativenarnian, @dragongoblet, @megacharizardx99

@bellathecatastrophe, @cj-ghostemoji-destielpie, @asexual-insomniac, @wolfeyedwitch, @tkiesai,

@fanaroff, @raven1508, @nebulainajar, @serasvictoria02, @oliocelottafanfics,

@honeysuckletook, @omniithe-deer, @wolf-under-the-stars, @gingernutcalo, @that-random-fangirl,

@op-sys-chaos, @kirasigncomics, @ehobep, @paranoid-ira

#my art #dpxdc #dcxdp #dp x dc #dc x dp #phantom rogues #writing #long post #really long post #headcanon

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isak-dot-gov · 4 months ago

Text

Unrivaled

Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Reader

Word count: 1212

Summary: Paige is on set for an Unrivalled ad shoot where she’s answering calls for the company’s merch department(inspired by that one Unrivaled ad)

Isak Speaks: I honestly have no idea how I came up with this but I hope someone out there likes it lol.

My Masterlist :)

...............................................................

The Unrivaled ad shoot was well underway, and Paige was in her element. She was used to the camera lights and the constant flow of new challenges, but today felt different. There was a playful air to the set, and the whole team was buzzing with energy. Paige, always professional but with a healthy dose of humour, knew this was going to be one of those shoots she’d remember.

The concept was simple: she’d be answering calls as if she worked in the Unrivalled merch department, giving potential customers all the information they could possibly need. But there was one twist: the team had arranged for one of the calls to be from you, her girlfriend, and unbeknownst to her, you had been looped in on a prank that the production crew had cooked up.

“Alright, Paige,” the director said, his voice cutting through the low hum of the set. “This next segment is all about the phone calls. You’re going to be answering different questions, sticking to the script, but you can really play with it. Just have fun with it, okay?”

“Cheeky, light, and fun. Got it,” Paige replied with a wink.

She grabbed the house phone, adjusting the small mic attached to her gray hoodie and checking herself in the mirror before stepping in front of the camera and sitting one the cream couch. The lights flickered on, and the crew was ready to go. Paige was a natural—her smile was bright, her posture perfect, and her charm on full display. She looked every bit the star.

“Okay, here we go. First call in 3... 2... 1…” The director’s voice faded as the first phone rang.

Paige answered the first call by holding the phone to her ear, adopting the professional tone of a customer service representative. “Hello, Paige here, with Unrivaled merch department. How can I help you?”

The first call was a quick one, with the person on the other end asking about the fit of a hoodie. Paige smoothly replied, “Yeah, don’t worry. If it fits me, it’ll fit you,” flashing a smile for the camera, causing the crew to laugh.

They ran through a few more takes, each one bringing out a bit more of Paige’s playful side as she joked and riffed on the script.

“You’re either in, or you’re out. No pressure,” she said, speaking into the phone as she struck a dramatic pose.

“If you tell people the future is unrivaled, I’ll give you half off,” she added, winking at the camera as though she were letting the audience in on a secret.

The crew applauded at the end of each take, clearly impressed by how effortlessly Paige owned the role. But as they moved to the next part of the shoot, she had no idea what was coming next.

It was time for your call.

Backstage, you were practically vibrating with excitement. The crew had kept everything under wraps, and now it was your turn to play your part. You knew Paige would never expect it—she thought she was just doing another typical day of shooting, and now you were about to throw her for a loop.

The phone rang in Paige’s hands. She picked it up and smiled, ready for the next caller. She was already in character, and it would be easy for her to slip into another round of humorous responses.

“Hello, Paige here, with Unrivaled merch department. How can I help you?” she said, sounding chipper and completely professional.

You, trying to hold back your laughter, greeted her in your sweetest voice. “Hi, Paige.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Paige’s eyes narrowed slightly as she recognized your voice. “Babe?” she said softly, the suspicion creeping in. Then, realizing she was on camera, she quickly adjusted. “Uh, I mean… How can I help you?”

You couldn’t hold back your grin any longer. “So, I don’t really have a merch question,” you started casually, savoring the moment. “I was wondering... can I play you one-on-one?”

Paige’s face froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief as her mouth parted slightly. She didn’t expect this—not at all. The question hung in the air for a beat, and she blinked as if trying to process what she just heard.

You could practically hear her thoughts racing, and then, with an exaggerated sigh from her lips, she gave in. “Can you play me one-on-one?” she repeated, making sure to sound as deadpan as possible before she rolled her eyes at your request. “All right.” She looked into the camera and shook her head in mock exasperation. “They just can’t let it go.”

The crew was losing it in the background, and you could hear the laughter starting to bleed through into the audio as they realized what was happening. Paige, trying to keep it together, leaned into the phone with a slight smirk creeping onto her face. “You just had to make it about basketball, huh?”

With an exaggerated sigh, she looked straight into the camera. “Ok. Ok.” She played it up, giving the camera a knowing look that suggested she’d just been ambushed in the most Paige-like way possible.

The whole scene felt like a hilarious sitcom moment, with the cameras capturing every ounce of Paige’s fake annoyance and your playful glee. You could hear the production team beginning to play with the audio, stacking the overlapping calls on top of each other in post-production. Paige, still answering the fake calls with her usual charm, did her best to finish out the script, but she couldn’t quite hide her amusement.

“Yes, yes. I am unrivaled,” she said, dramatically leaning into the mic with a smirk on her face, clearly in on the joke now.

The director yelled “cut!” and the crew erupted into applause. Paige stood up from her seat and immediately turned to the side, searching the room for the culprit.

You stood behind the set, trying to hide your grin. But it was no use. Paige’s eyes locked onto yours, and the playful look in her eyes was unmistakable.

“You’re so dead,” she said, shaking her head in mock anger. “What was that, huh? One-on-one? Really?”

You couldn’t help but laugh as she approached, her arms crossed over her chest. “You should’ve seen your face when I asked. You looked like you were about to quit the shoot.”

“I should’ve,” Paige muttered under her breath, but her lips twitched as she tried to suppress a smile. “I’m going to get you back for this.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” you teased, stepping closer to her. You leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “But it was worth it, right?”

Paige rolled her eyes but wrapped an arm around you, pulling you into a side hug. “I’ll admit, it was funny. But next time, you’re doing the shoot.”

“Deal,” you grinned, savoring the rare moment of being able to catch Paige off guard.

The crew was still laughing, and as they started packing up the set, Paige looked over at you with a knowing smile. “Next time, babe, I’m bringing my A-game. Just wait.”

“Oh, I’m looking forward to it,” you said, leaning into her side as she led you away from the set.

#wbb #uconn wbb #paige bueckers #paige bueckers x reader #unrivaled

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shhhsecretsideblog · 1 year ago

Text

No Time To Hide

This was something I wrote for an Imagine You’re Pregnant prompt, original post here. Thought I’d make a side blog and post it here as well cos I really enjoyed writing this and might be tempted to write more birth fics

Eva opened the wooden window of her small cottage, letting the cool autumn air whip through her hair. The smell of woodland and damp grass filled her nostrils as she took a long, calming breath.

Describing herself as a green witch, Eva loved her little cottage hidden away from everyone deep within the rich forest. Coven life was never something that appealed to her; the idea of being constantly surrounded by other witches, their opinions and their magic, was torture for Eva. She much preferred her own company, free to live her life the way she wanted. Free to use her own style of magic, without the distraction or judgement of others. It was why she decided to live here in the heart of the forest. There was a river that flowed through the centre of the woodland, the ancient trees stood tall around her home, and the forest floor was packed with all manner of plant life. It was perfect; just her, the elements and Mother Nature.

Despite her preference of living alone, as time passed Eva began to yearn for something… it wasn’t romance or friendship, but the idea of a child. Children were never something she had considered, but as she grew older Eva had begun to see the benefit of having children. Someone to pass all her knowledge and wisdom to, someone to love and care for and share all that she’d learnt. She wanted to pass on this way of living, to create a legacy.

A few months ago, nine to be exact, she enchanted a local townsman - not that he would ever remember it. And now here she was, rocking side to side and cradling the underneath of her heavily pregnant stomach, preparing herself as birth drew near.

The cramps had started yesterday afternoon, small and barely noticeable at first. Eva had been terribly uncomfortable these last few weeks, suffering constant aches and twinges, so she did not immediately give them any thought. However when they got sharper and more frequent, forcing her to pause whatever she was doing, they soon got her full attention.

Not knowing how long this could take but knowing she would eventually lose mobily as her labour progressed, she collected all her preparations and got the supplies ready. Blankets, towels, sterilised medical equipment, all within easy reach in the main living room. Snacks and drinks lay available on the coffee table and a pot of hot water sat by the open fire keeping a constant warm temperature.

“Mmmnnngghhhhh” Eva moaned deeply as the latest wave peaked. She leaned forward resting her elbows on the window sill, jutting her hips back and swaying them slightly. The baby was low and heavy in her pelvis, the head pressing downwards as her body slowly opened up.

When the latest pain had eased Eva straightened and looked down at her swollen stomach, speaking lovingly towards her unborn babe. “You’re really coming aren’t you little one? I’ve not done this before so please take it easy on me.” Her child responded with a gentle kick prompting the witch to smile.

Over the next few hours Eva got into a good rhythm riding out the contractions, each one hitting sooner than the last and with incrementally more vigour. She paced, rocked, squatted, kneeled, trying to find any comfortable position to ride out the waves. Her low and heavy stomach made moving from position to position cumbersome; one hand staying on her bump or her lower back at any given time, while the other kept her supported on whatever furniture or surface was nearby.

As the contractions ramped up, creeping steadily towards unbearable, the witch’s teeth clenched tight and she growled behind them. Three minutes apart. Holding on to the back of her armchair Eva lowered herself into a deep squat. Sweat covered every inch of her body, her thin linen dress and underwear clinging to every curve of her fertile frame.

Her hips were in agony, the pressure building. She opened her mouth to wail but no sound came out, shocked into silence by a sudden burst between her open thighs. Immediately the pressure eased and Eva could catch her breath again. The wooden floor below her feet was soaked; her waters had broken.

“Oooooooh okay- We’re getting so close- Are you ready to come out now baby? I cannot wait to meet you.”

Eva stood up, cradling the curve of her spasming bump. Her bare feet stepped ungainly out of the puddle on the floor and she quickly threw a tea towel down to soak up the worst of it.

“It’s just you and me, little one. We can do this.” Eva reassured herself, rubbing circles around her swell, preparing for the intensity to soar now her waters had gone.

However, before the next contraction could strike the witch startled at the sudden loud interruption of ringing bells. Rapid and urgent, the piercing chimes echoed all around her cottage, howling through every room.

Witch hunter!

The enchantments set up around her hidden home in the forest hadn’t gone off in decades - she had almost forgotten the wards were still in place. And yet the incessant ringing immediately chilled her to her very bones, suddenly haunting her with long forgotten memories of the brutal murders of her fellow witches.

Her stomach clenched with a new, different sensation - fear. At any other time Eva would arm herself with weapons and potions and storm outside on the offence, making sure to take down her enemy before he had the opportunity to strike. But now… the pressing weight in her hips and the constant aching of her contracting womb showed she was in no position to attack, or even defend herself, if put up against a murderous witch hunter.

She had to get out of here. The warning bells throughout her home would soon reach the ears of the witch hunter and then he would beeline straight to her hidden sanctuary. She needed to find somewhere else to hide.

Distracted by the chimes, Eva was unprepared for the next contraction when it ripped across her body, rooting her to the spot. She doubled over in pain, palms planted firmly on her thighs.

“Unnnhhhhhhhhhhhh no-no-no-no……” she whimpered through strained breaths as the pain skyrocketed and her belly hardened. Panting heavily the witch ignored growing desire to bear down. Her waters had broken, she was probably almost fully dilated, if not already. But she couldn’t stay here. If she stayed, both her and her child would certainly be killed. She had to leave and find somewhere safe to deliver this baby.

After what felt like an eternity, the contraction finally faded and she bolted straight out the back door of her cottage, leaving barefoot with nothing but the clothes on her back. She had wasted precious minutes since the warning alarm riding out that last pain - she couldn’t afford to waste any more time gathering supplies to take with her. Eva took off as quickly as she could, disappearing deep into the lush green forest.

She barely got out of sight behind the first set of oak trees before another contraction was already upon her. Two minutes apart. Leaning against the rough bark of the nearest tree, Eva squeezed her eyes shut and tried hard to swallow the whimper creeping out her throat. The unbearable pressure was demanding in its silent request and her knees trembled with the effort of ignoring it. The baby was so heavy, and dangerously low. Feeling like it would just fall out if she took a step too wide. Yet she remained strong, persevering and weathering the storm in her uterus, determined to keep this baby inside of her until she got somewhere safe.

The second the pain let up an inch the witch was on the move again running as fast as she could across the forest floor. Over ferns and moss, rocks and fallen branches, thankfully the hardened soles of her bare feet were used to the uneven terrain. She made sure to keep off the main footpath and stayed hidden within the dense trees, but it made for more of an obstacle course than she’d like. With added weight of her labouring belly she couldn’t move at speed and on a few occasions nearly lost her balance. But deeper and deeper into the forest she went.

The trees became her allies, providing cover and support when she was forced to stop with each new powerful contraction… 90 seconds apart... 60 seconds apart. A large, ancient willow tree with an unusually curved trunk was the latest comrade in her fight for survival. Eva had pitched herself within the alcove of the trunk, out of sight and leaning back against the bark, lifting the weight of her hardened stomach with both hands. The long hanging branches brushed the forest floor in a circle around her position, hiding the witch behind a nature-made curtain.

“Grnnnhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Eva could no longer hold in the animalistic sounds of her extremely advanced labour. The baby was right there, nestled deep in her widened cervix, desperate to be born.

“Nooooooooo-please-baby-wait-a-bit-moreeeeeee-” she begged through gritted teeth. The next contraction started before the current had even finished and the need to push was too powerful to refrain. Knees bending and thighs widening, Eva’s body pushed of its own accord.

It felt right, pushing. It was what she was meant to be doing - to follow nature's primal instinct. And yet she couldn’t forget the very real threat of the witch hunter, still hidden somewhere in this forest, poised and primed to kill her.

The fierce contraction continued to hold her hostage. A long grunt escaped her mouth as her body pushed along with the pain.

“I can hear you, witch!” A gravelled voice taunted from across the thick forest.

Eva’s eyes widened and immediately clamped her mouth shut, biting her lips together drawing blood. Half squatting against the tree, every muscle in her body continued to strain as it forced the baby lower and lower and lower. She couldn’t stop pushing even if she tried. One of the hands cradling her stomach shakily ventured south, lifting up her dress and feeling between her legs. Through the thin damp fabric of her underwear she could feel the baby’s head begin to enter the world.

She panted silently, tears streaming down her cheeks. The forest stretched out for miles, completely uninhabited in all directions; she was all alone. There was nowhere to go and no one to help. Heavily pregnant, being hunted, and seconds away from birthing this child.

A loud snap of wood echoed from a few metres away. Eva suddenly bolted like a startled deer, consumed entirely by fear and survival, and disappeared again into the thickened wood. She ran, wide legged, the heavy boulder of a baby’s head deep in her pelvis screaming to be born. Push! Her body cried out. Stop running and PUSH!

But she couldn’t. If she stopped she’d be dead.

Another contraction ripped through her as she ran. 30 seconds apart. Her muscles tensed and squeezed as she ran, her body trying to force the baby out despite the mother’s desire to hold on a bit longer. She could barely stay upright, the raw adrenaline no longer enough to keep this birth at bay. Her legs became jelly, all she could feel was pain and pressure and fear. Eva faltered, she couldn’t go any further. Out in the open she planted her hands against the nearest tree, widening her stance, and pushed. Hard.

“Mnnnnnnnrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!”

More of her baby’s head began to appear behind the fabric of her tight underwear.

“Ohhhhhhhhhh-Hecateeeeeeeeeeee!” she whimpered, praying to the deity.

Her baby was close to fully crowning, she could feel it. The white hot agony of being widened and stretched beyond anything she imagined made her eyes water and throat nauseous. She retched, a dry heave, and desperately tried to catch a breath through the dual need to push and the sudden urge to vomit. The texture of the rough bark beneath her palms was the only thing keeping the witch semi-grounded and preventing her getting swept away in the overwhelming sensations currently tearing her body apart. Still bracing the tree, Eva’s head dipped as she took slow deep breaths, ignoring the instinct to push in order to ride out the sudden nausea.

An ominous whistling sound drifted through the trees carried on the wind. Eva could barely hear it over the thundering beating of her heart, that is until she heard:

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” The voice sang.

The witch hunter was close. But so was her baby... Eva felt between her legs again to evaluate just how bad her situation was. It was bad. Her underwear was stretched beyond repair as it housed a significant portion of her baby’s head, filling her cupped palm. Ignoring all the pain and her body’s pleas to push, she panted heavily and tried to think! She needed a plan to survive.

The witch hunter had physical strength, yes, but he did not know these woods like Eva did. This was her home, her sanctuary, and she knew every inch like the back of her hand. Beyond her laboured breaths and the unnerving whistling of the approaching witch hunter, Eva registered another sound nearby - the swooshing sound of running water. The river - she was by the river!

Lifting her head the witch frantically scanned the surrounding area, getting her bearings of where she’d ended up within the woodland. She was a few hundred yards from the river’s edge, about a mile from her cottage. It wasn’t an area she often visited because of…. That’s it! Okay, it wasn’t a great plan, and there was no way to know if it would work, but it was her only shot of survival.

She took a steadying breath through the current contraction squeezing her womb, fighting once more against the primal need to push. The baby’s head filled her underwear, millimetres from a full crown. If she pushed again there was no way she’d be able to stop until the head was fully born.

Whimpering through the pain Eva stood up straight, one hand staying between her legs, and she prepared herself to move. Just get to the river. She told herself before making her way unsteadily east.

The sound of rushing water grew louder as she stumbled slowly through the forest. One step. Another step. Nearly there. She knew exactly where to go, and where to avoid, desperately trying to stay focussed on her surroundings and not succumb to the agonising pain crowning between her thighs. Keep going.

“You can’t escape me, witch!” The voice threatened, getting closer.

Eva stumbled into the side of a tree, her bare shoulder scraping against the bark. Pausing, she took a brief moment to breathe through the pain. It was a mistake. The second she stopped to inhale deeply her body started bearing down again, forcing the baby down. Immediately the head came to a full crown in her damp underwear and she screamed.

“WITCH!” The murderous voice roared.

Eva turned and saw a flash of black leather through the distant trees, and it was coming her way. Cupping the baby’s head she tentatively wobbled forwards, knees trembling, staggering towards the riverbank. The blinding pain was constant, her eyes barely focussing. She had to make it to the exact right spot or her plan would certainly fail. Her footsteps were shaky but determined as she continued the last few carefully placed steps in her journey. Behind her the crunching sound of a disturbed forest floor drew ever closer.

Reaching the river’s edge Eva collapsed against the large boulder that sat on the grassy bank. She made it. Turning around against the stone, the cold granite pressed against her back as she faced the woods and waited for the imminent arrival of the witch hunter. But the baby’s head inched lower, her body stretched to its absolute limit. She wanted to cry, to howl, to scream. Instead she focussed inward, drawing on all the power from the earth under her feet, and taking a deep breath she finally, and intentionally, followed her body’s demands. Teeth gritted, a growl behind them, she pushed with everything she had. Her whole body trembled, bearing down against the pressure of the large round head slowly appearing between her thighs. The ears… a nose… she could feel it all. Her hands frantically scrambled under her dress and within seconds the baby’s head popped out into her underwear and she cupped it quickly within her palm. The relief was instant and for a brief moment Eva’s heart calmed as she held her child’s newly born crown.

The witch’s reprieve was short-lived as the approaching footsteps from behind one of the nearby trees resulted in another person soon entering the river's edge. The witch hunter was dark haired, full beard, but was not as athletic as Eva was expecting. There was sweat glistening on his temple and dripping down his neck, disappearing beneath a thick leather jacket. His mouth practically drooled at the sight of her and he gripped the long hunting knife in his hand. The lust for her death was haunting.

“At last… you’ve given it a good go, I’ll give you that, but you cannot escape your fate.” The man said as he took a step towards her, threateningly swishing the knife in readiness. “You are an abomination, evil incarnate. Witchcraft has no place here. My family has been taking your lot out for centuries. And it looks like I get the honour of not only killing you… but the next generation as well.” He glared at her pregnant swell.

“No- no! This- this child is innocent…” Eva panted, still holding the head of her half-born babe hidden under the draped fabric of her dress.

The witch hunter scoffed and took another two ominous steps in her direction through the fallen autumn leaves. Eva watched each step with a laser focus.

“No descendant of a witch is truly innocent.” He drawled, tilting his head with an unnerving animalistic incline. “Wickedness will run through its veins, there is no saving its soul.”

Eva couldn’t take her eyes off his feet, watching every step he took. She chose this location for a reason, knowing she needed to end up exactly here by the rivers edge - dangerously using herself as bait. His heavy boots crunched through the orange leaves, sauntering slowly towards her like he was toying with his prey. So close. Her heart stopped, breath held as Eva prayed to all the Goddesses for her plan to work. Then whoosh!

The witch hunter was suddenly hoisted in the air by his foot, caught in a primitive trap laid here many years ago by the previous inhabitants of these woods, whom were long dead and forgotten. The man roared as he was pulled sharply towards the sky, his arms flailing, the hunting knife falling from his hand in his shock.

Eva exhaled heavily and closed her eyes in pure relief. The steady thumping of heart pulsed around her body, beating once more now the immediate threat disappeared. The man yelled and shouted at her as he hung limply from the tree, but the sound barely registered with the witch. Her senses had been overtaken by the sudden movement of the baby, turning inside her, and an all too familiar urgent weight pressing down signalling her work was not yet over.

Eva tried to move but she was too far gone, too deep in labour, every muscle seemingly locked in position. “Unhhhhhhhh Hecate….. mnnnggghhhhh the baby- the baby is comingg…..” she whimpered, the pain splitting her in half as she was stretched once more with the baby’s shoulders. All her bodyweight was pressed back against the boulder, and she managed to sink towards the ground. Squatting deeply, her large rounded stomach rested heavily between her thighs.

“Ohhhh it’s coming…. I- need… mnghhhhhhhh I’ve got to… got to pushh...”

She ripped off her underwear as the next contraction started, freeing the baby’s head from the confines of the damp linen. With both hands ready to catch, the witch pushed with renewed determination. “Urghhhhhhhhhhhh!” One shoulder was out! Then the next shoulder. She took a breath, panting, holding the child dangling from her body. Eva became suddenly hyper-aware of the breeze and leaves, the nearby river and the crisp autumn air, all the elements surrounding them which her child was now being born directly into. Trembling, she beared down fiercely once more and within another few minutes a newly born witch entered the world.

Eva sobbed with relief, quickly pulling her daughter up over her stomach and placing her against her chest. The infant made a soft gurgling sound, her first breath, and then started to cry. To a new mother it was the most beautiful and reassuring sound in the world.

“Disgusting…. Filthy little vermin.” The witch hunter sneered with venom.

Eva had forgotten her audience and looked up with hatred at the man still swinging upside down from the tree. She held her baby tight and secure against her skin, as if shielding the child from the mere sight of him.

“You should drown that thing in the river.” He spat.

Red, blinding fury overwhelmed the new mother. With the pain gone and her baby safe in arms, pure fury raced through every pore of the witch’s body, consuming every atom of her being. Rising slowly, babe still clutched in hand, Eva approached the hanging man with eyes glowing with revenge.

“When I get free, I'm gonna enjoy splitting you from ear to ear!” He roared.

Her head tilted in observation watching the man’s disgusting arrogance in his determination to kill her despite still struggling against the rope binding his leg. Apparently unaware his threats were idle and his attempts to escape the trap were futile.

The witch bent down carefully to pick up the large silver blade that had fallen amongst the browning leaves. The man didn’t see the new mother pick up his weapon, and didn't notice the switch when the hunted became the hunter. Eva stalked silently, murderously towards the hanging man.

Before he could open his mouth to mock or belittle or challenge her, Eva’s hand swished past his vision in a flash, the blade gliding through the witch hunter's throat like a knife through butter. The man’s eyes widened, taking a heartbeat to register what just happened, before the cascade of blood erupted from the open wound and he began to choke and splutter.

Eva dropped the knife.

Delicately readjusting and shhhing the newborn cradled in her arm, she took one final look and started their journey back to the cottage. Eva found comfort in the sounds of the forest; of the flowing river, the whistle of a breeze, and the drip drip dripping of her enemies blood now pooling onto the forest floor.

#birth kink #pregnant kink #clothing birth #panty birth #birth denial #public birth #forest birth #giving birth #birth fic #birth fiction #fpreg birth #tw: blood #tw: death #my writing

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