#and maybe someone can help explain this to me

[reshinless]

Can you write kinich x reader smut

──── i w'na ride?!

𝜗𝜚 synopsis. whatever position he wants >_o

𝜗𝜚 pairings. kinich x gn!afab!reader(?) see this however u want cuz in som of the bullets i use boobs or discreetly mention chests (kinich is also a lowk perv)

𝜗𝜚 director's notice. i'll explain why he'd like this trust me, !!nsfw content ahead!!

inspired by the moments where he kept hitting the pose where his hands behind his head plus the one scene where he sat in a tree with his hands behind his back (or maybe i'm imagining things.)

kinich who reluctantly visits the beach(es) plus hot springs in the toyac springs region because mualani says you both need it, seeing as how much you both work beside each other, you'll definitely need a nice bath! especially the rumors of the heated conditions the springs seem to excrete.

kinich who no matter how long you and him have met each other, he'll never get used to seeing you in a bathing suit. even when you both were still kids fooling around on the beach with mualani. the atmosphere back then has almost never changed, walking along the sandy coast, feeling each little particle fall over your toes, the sun roughly about to set, the scenery was a sight to behold!

now that you both were older.. he would be lying if he said he wasn't attracted to you, your way of fighting, your appearance, how well you compliment him, it was almost like a corrupt addiction. even ajaw mentions how cheesy it is each time he sees kinich looking at you, whether it be lust or love in his green eyes.

mualani was overjoyed to hear that you've never gone out to swim, especially in the temperature she's usually in. kinich decides to tag along, totally not because he definitely wouldn't mind seeing you in different swimsuits/trunks.

kinich who you didn't mind letting him stay outside the changing room while you put on different suits while mualani actually help you choose (unlike someone who just kept ogling his eyes at you)

mualani who chose something that revealed more than appropriate portion of your skin (which was a lot, and imagine this similar to the one lumine wore!!), kinich who couldn't stop eyeing you up and down, ajaw teasing with digital sunglasses over his face; "y'know sunglasses help cover up what you're tryna look at!"

cue kinich smacking bro away again :pray:

you only got more attractive in his eyes. watching how you walk up to him, holding out a bottle of sunscreen to him, asking if he'd put some on your back before you'd go surfing on mualani's shark.

kinich didn't wanna admit but he was a little more than just turned on while spreading the lotion over your shoulders and back down to your back, his calloused hands feeling you up and down..

kinich who felt a little guilty but couldn't help but always slowly let his view dip down to your ass. shit he could already imagine what it'd look like without that last piece of clothing. too bad he can't rip it off you right here and now.

kinich who ran his hands around your chest, your sides, every curve that you wouldn't suspect him from.. he could already feel the tent in his pants rise.

kinich who couldn't resist looking at your pretty body through the blurriness of the water, almost forgetting to swim back up from being a little more than distracted. only coming back up after mualani mentions he's the winner of holding their breath underwater challenge.

a sigh of relief.. or maybe pleasure rather remembering yesterday on how close he got to be to you, palming his erection with hurriedness, thinking of how soft you felt under his fingers, only a thin layer of sunscreen that wouldn't make it weird between you both, kinich catches himself moan your name quietly in the changing room before he goes back out to you and mualani for day two of your summer break of 5 days in total.

sitting under the comfortable shade of an umbrella he brought, putting sunglasses on to rest for a bit before going in the water, or at least that is what it looks like. in all real reality, he was taking sneaky glances at you from less than appropriate angles, he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it.

kinich could barely hold himself back for the next 2 days, wherein you all toured around mualani's hometown (for the sixtieth time, but then again it never gets old seeing a different culture every now and then!)

on the last day of your adventures with mualani, she offers for you both to finally bask in the warmth of the hot springs! the natural wonder of her home! kinich was reluctant at first, but agreed seeing how you were just oh-so happy to oblige.

this time, mualani got you a different swimsuit, one muuuuuchhh more revealing this time. it's clear now that she knows kinich's little crush on you, and now she knew that you liked him back.

mualani who coincidentally forgot the milk, and silly snacks she baked earlier that morning, oh would you look at the time! i guess she has to go get them... kinich who lowkey panicks, he already is a little flustered from your new look (but manages to quickly cool himself down)

kinich who is gentle while letting you slowly dip your feet into the water, this wasn't his first time here but he knew it was yours, stepping into the water first while holding your palms softly.

you two finally both sit in the springs comfortably, right in front of him, talking about whatever you and mualani did while he sunbathed (under an umbrella). building sandcastles and such.

"ahhh... kinichhhh! you should've been there. i would've wanted you there at least, dunno about mualani-" it felt like almost immediately his trunks tightened.. maybe he got the wrong size?

oh but the sound of you verbally saying you needed him definitely is a huge turn on. well you didn't necessarily say 'need' but you definitely wanted him there, good enough.

kinich who already has you straddled on top of him, directly on his boner, fuck he could feel it already. his hands are already on your hips letting you grind over his erection, this felt better than he could've ever fantasized of!

kinich who lets you ride him, the water you both were already surrounded only made it sound all the more dirtier. it didn't help that the sly little smile on your face, all he could do was bury his face into an arm of his own, looking away from you.

kinich whose hands were in his hair, intertwining with every little strand, the flush on his face only worsened each time you bounced on it, he could barely make eye contact with you, not because he didn't want you.. ohh it was because he thinks if he did he'd come immediately!!

kinich who holds you close as his climax comes closer as well, holding you tight in his embrace, he could feel your warmth, your skin, your everything, all he could was quickly drift his calloused palms back down to your hips, making sure no drop of cum was waaaasssttteeedddd

you could see how good you made him feel, even with just a sneaky, yet lustful glance, yet plop plop plop is all you can hear echoing throughout the cave, your hands propped up on the wall as kinich pushed against your back, his grunts only getting louder, eager to please you. seeing how your eyebrows knotted

kinich who felt intoxicated as hell in your scent, almost breathless as his head fits into the empty slot right beside your collar, fire pooled down inside your abdomen as you slowly reached your peak, watching how beautifully your eyes rolled back, feeling warm semen shoot up in your stomach. holy shit were you a beauty to see.

the musky scent of sweat mixed with the warm water below you both, kinich could still feel you clench harshly on his cock, even after release, fixed & still processing what you both had just done.

kinich who brings you out the bath, wrapped in a towel, bridal style and all, before mualani can come back with the milk and snacks- "hey what is that white stuff mixed in the water- what did you two do?!"

kinich who holds your hand while you both stroll throughout the shops opened up at nighttime, the constellations in the sky connected like it was used to it, the fresh scent of grilled fish was clear in the air's aroma, filling everyone's noses, mualani couldn't just give all this fish just to you two anyway!

kinich who fully confessed his feelings to you, no sex no lust, just him wanting you to sense how much he's been longing for you, in hopes you'd reciprocate it. in which you did with open arms!

m: "aha! i knew it! you both finally told each other you like each other didn't you!!", k: "no need to shout.", y/n: "i suppose!"

mualani will stop teasing for now, and let you two be, just with each other as the stars reflect off the light you've shone into his life.

kinda cringe might delete :100:

[strawbuddy-luv]

Trans Tim off handedly mentioning random things that just confuse people more and more because he never told them he was trans (only Bruce and Alfred know)

Tim: "For the mission I'm thinking I'll go undercover, but it'll take some work to hide the bruises I got earlier. They're everywhere"

Dick: "Oh I think Steph is free right now!"

Tim: "...Ok?"

Dick: "Don't worry I'm sure she'll help you out with this! "

Tim: "That's awesome but I don't think I'll need help. I know how to use makeup."

Dick: "Really-? Ohhh, yeah your public image is like, way more public than ours. That must be tiring, having to hide the bruises all the time."

Tim: "Well yeah but I knew how to use makeup before that. For like, galas as a kid and stuff"

Dick: "...yeah..."

-----

Steph: -Complaining about a man- "And then he said "Oh you should smile more" like "you look like you don't want to be here" like what- what the fuck-??? Maybe I fucking don't dude."

Tim: "Oh yeah I hate when they do that. Like you've spent the entire time bitching about the consistency of snails, I can close my mouth for a few seconds."

Steph: "..."

Tim: "...What-?"

Steph: "Well- I mean yeah but- you know I have to deal with it like...way more, and it's just a bit weird that like, you as a guy are, I dunno, trying to relate? I mean you don't have to deal with it litreally everyday"

Tim: "Well yeah not anymore, but, you know...I still did."

Steph: :...What-"

-----

Tim: -Resting against on of the rooftop ledges-

Jason: "Woah, I can't believe it, Red Robin, slacking. What would Bruce do if he saw this!"

Tim: "Fuck off, it's just period cramps. I was just heading to the fire in the Dimond District." -Jumps off the edge of the building-

Jason: "Yeah whatever Timblina...

Your fucking what-"

-----

Bruce: "And for this mission, we'll be needing someone for the Caroline disguise, but we already know who that is so-"

Dick: "Wait does Steph actually know how to fight in heels-??"

Bruce: "...N-"

Steph: "Yeah Bruce, I mean, you could at least actually ask me before volunteering me to go fight crime in that dress."

Bruce: "You-"

Jason: "I mean no offense, but literally who else would do it? Cass isn't here right now and I don't think any of us are willing to get a boob job for the mission"

Bruce: "No one's getting a boob job-"

Steph: "Yeah! This is bat tech, Bruce probably has ultra realistic titties in everyone's color and size! Jason you wouldn't even need an attachment."

Jason: "I don't think Caroline Hills has fifty gun shot wounds and muscles the size of most those guys heads."

Steph: "Yeah bu-"

Bruce: "None of that will be necessary because none of you" -Pointing at the right side of the table- "Will be going. No one at this table will be needing any prosthetics...Or boob jobs."

Steph: "...Ok but who the fuck is going then-"

Bruce: "Tim."

The entire table: "..."

Steph: "Tim are you really willing to put on boobs for this-"

Dick: "I don't think that's the best idea-"

Jason: "You just said no prosthetics- Oh this'll be fucking rich"

Tim: "...

I...wouldn't need a boob job?? Or prosthetics?"

Jason: "Timbo, that dress is a pretty low cut, and, no offense, your training hasn't given you that many enhancements."

Tim: "...Thank you for the binding compliment?"

Dick: "The what-"

Tim: "Guys I- I already have boobs-"

The Table: "..."

Steph: "WHAT-"

Dick: "You do-?!"

Jason: "Bruce if you made Tim get boobs for some weird mission-"

Tim: "What- No! No one made me get boobs??? Besides, I don't know, biology I guess??? Genetics maybe???"

Dick: "...I'm extremely confused"

Steph: "WHO GAVE YOU BOOBS-???"

Tim: "I'm not really sure seeing as I was born with them"

Dick: "...

OHHHHHH-"

Steph: "What- is this like a birth defect or something???"

Dick: "Tim- Tim I think you're just gonna have to-"

Tim: "I'm trans."

Jason: "...That's-

Yeah

Ok yeah no that- that explains...a lot."

Steph: "..." -Head in hands- "I am such a fucking idiot"

[yuurei20]

I heard from someone that Azul is actually very strong although he's not very athletic because he's an octo merman he's mostly muscle they said that Floyd has talked about it in bean fest I wanted to know if Azul being insanely strong was just a headcannon or cannon cause its kinda funny to me azul could carry professor vargas that one event on his own when prof vargas is pure muscle

Hello hello! Thank you for this question! 🐙

Yes yes! The first information we receive about Azul being stronger than he looks is from Floyd during Beanfest, who explains,

"Who said anything about Azul bein' weak without his magic? He's real strong. He's slow on land and in water, and he's got lousy athletic reflexes, but that doesn't mean he's weak."

"Azul's bigger than me in the water, and he's got eight huge, heavy limbs. His submission holds are bad news, and he's got crazy grip strength. If he so much as snags you, he can snare you with your arms pinned.

Octopi are, like, all muscle. Seems to me like that wouldn't go poof just 'cause he took a potion to turn himself human.

I'm just spitballin' here, obviously. But all I'm saying is that writing Azul off is a bad idea."

(All of the above dialogue is 100% accurate to the original game! Floyd's "I'm just spitballin' here" line might make it seems like he is just guessing and doesn't actually know, but his original line is closer to, "I don't know all the details," and sounds more like he knows this information is fact, he just can't give a physiology lesson on how it all works.)

But Floyd's information is a little vague: he says Azul has "crazy grip strength" and his "submission holds are bad news," but that is the same line where he talks about Azul in his merform--so is he talking about mer-Azul or human-Azul? Or is he not making a distinction because there isn't one?

Can Azul snare people and pin them down on land, or was Floyd half-relating an anecdote from when they lived underwater?

But then came Book 6 and a line from Azul himself saying that his "arms are quite powerful," unlike Riddle's.

This seems to confirm that Azul is physically stronger than most people, but then comes the thunder spear:

Riddle asks for help lifting it and Azul struggles under its weight, despite how this would have been the ideal opportunity to illustrate how physically capable Azul really is.

But maybe the thunder spears are a tall order for anyone to lift? They're weapons from the age of the gods--maybe they just weren't designed for humans (or creatures in human form) to lift on their own?

Except:

There is Leona, who both lifts and wields the thunder spear entirely on his own, twice (he gets help from Jamil the third time).

But the rules of the thunder spears are unclear: after Team-OctaHearts' spear goes into energy-saving mode Riddle says, "I should be able to handle it now on my own," insinuating that when they are not in attack-mode they are easier to wield.

Azul carries it at first but, due to his infamously poor stamina, he does eventually give it up to Riddle.

When Azul comments on how easy RIddle makes carrying the spear look Riddle explains, "I spend most of my time learning magic. I have ever since I was born," insinuating that he is using a form of magic (perhaps levitation) to carry it and maybe does not have it physically in his arms at all.

(Vil explains that the spears are difficult to control in attack-mode due to the amount of energy they give off.)

And that asks questions about levitation that I have always wondered about!

During Glorious Masquerade Epel is only capable of carrying one crate of apples at a time.

When Malleus levitates an entire apple truck Epel comments, "I'm pretty sure only Malleus could pull off a feat like that…"

Are levitation and physical strength connected? Malleus says that he is physically stronger than humans even without his magic, so he does not serve as a good example.

Is Epel only capable of levitating one crate of apples because that is the limit of what he would be able to accomplish physically? Or do his magical limitations mirror his physical limitations by coincidence?

We know that Leona is extremely powerful (re: Leona's Power). Is Leona both physically stronger than an octopus mermaid and magically stronger than Azul, or is Azul physically stronger than Leona, but his magic wasn't enough for the spear?

And then there is the fact that Azul is, magically, extremely strong:

Jade comments that Azul's unique magic is too strong for even him to control (which is why he designed the golden contracts--to artificially rein himself in). Does that apply to all of Azul's magic, or is it just his UM?

Someone with the muscle of an octopus and a magic too strong to be wielded by its own user seems like they should be able to control a thunder spear on their own--but maybe Leona is just that strong? 🦁

To the original question:

Yes! It is canon that Floyd has said that Azul is insanely strong, and Azul himself has repeated it, but--

edit:

Ahhh thank you very much to the anonymous asker who mentioned Azul's Tapis Rouge vignette! 🥳 In-game example of Azul flexing his physical strength!!📝

And thank you to @basuralindo for the reference to Azul prying Stitch off of the prefect! 🐙 (Azul: "You might've thwarted my efforts entirely if we hadn't been underwater.")

And thank you again to @basuralindo and @mellosdrawings for the Vargas Camp references!! 📝

In a vignette we have Azul volunteering to carry a load of wood for Kalim. He pretends to be struggling under the weight in order to leave a lasting impression of his efforts, but as we cannot tell how much wood there is that he is hauling it can be difficult to tell how heavy it truly is--but then there is Vargas👀

At Trey's request, Jade and Azul are assigned the task of evacuating a bound Grim and Vargas from the mine. Jade takes Grim and runs away, leaving Azul behind alone with the prefect to handle Vargas--did he know that Azul would not struggle with carrying him?💪

Azul does ask for the prefect's help, but only because he is worried about bumping Vargas' head against the rocks--he does not say anything about struggling to carry him!

And this sounds very similar to a comment from Malleus on carrying Idia and Azul through the narrow stairwells of the bell tower during Glorious Masquerade! 🐉🐙

[serxinns]

I forgot to add Yandere. Yandere Alien!Class 1-A x Human!Reader.

Their little earthing~

A/n: sorry for the rush and wait. I wanted to get this done very quickly! But I didn't want you to wait as well! I hope you like it

You were jogging one night while walking your dog you always loved the night you always admired the night as a child you loved looking at the bright stars and picking up small animals and drawing notes about them, yea you were a weird one and still were you were humming the music in your headphones not able to be aware that something or someone was watching you from afar

You notice a convenience store ahead and decide to stop by and get you and your pet a midnight snack before heading home you open the door as the bell rings you walk over to the snack aisle grab as many snacks you can afford and exit out the store until you heard some someone struggling you went out to see what was happening but to your surprise and confusion you spotted a girl with short hair struggling with trying to put a gas pump in the car confused you went up to her and tapped her shoulder which shocked her a bit

"Uh, hello. Need any help?" The girl stared at you as if you were some sort of beauty but snapped out of it "Hello hu- I mean friend! I'm just tryna find out how to fill up a moving vehicle!" She said, smiling. Usually, you chucked a bit. "It's easy, you just-" You took the gas pump out of her hands and put it in the hole. "See, easy!" The girl was amazed at the cute human's intelligence. She hugged you very tight. "Thank you! Thank you! So much. It's getting dark. Would you like a ride home?" She said you were a bit hesitant at 1st about going into a stranger's car but she seems nice and polite and wouldn't do anything to hurt you your dog was big enough to attack someone so if she ever tries to harm either one of you you'll know what to do plus you got a taser and a pocket knife in case she does something

The 3 of you got into your car and drove home. Even tho it was 5 minutes away, you made sure she went the right way. "So where do you live?" "At **** *** street right up ahead," you pointed directly to the road. "Oh, you lived there too?" She said with a bit of excitement in her tone, you nodded in response, "I live three stories down with my friends!" She explains, "Oh, your friends live here too?" "Yeah, 18 of them! Well, in separate houses, tho!"

"Jeez, 6-7 in each house sounds must be chaotic." Your thoughts were interrupted when she stopped at your house and said, "We're here!" Looking at you intensely with a bright smile, "Oh...thanks, I appreciate it! I didn't get your name." "ochako, Ochako Uraraka!" She greeted me with a bright smile as you got you and your dog out of the car "I'm y/n! This is my Dog D/N" you said as the dog's tongue hung low while wagging their tail Ochako smiled "It was nice meeting you y/n maybe me and you can hang out sometime!" You nervously laughed at the offer, trying not to show discomfort. "Yeah..maybe we will have a gold night!" You waved as she drove off

"What a strange girl..." you thought as you entered your own home getting ready for bed

"Phew that was close.." Ochako said as she changed back into her true form, a pink alien with a skinny tail at the back. She crept towards the living room, heading up the creaky stairs slowly, not wanting to wake up her roommates. "What are you doing up?" A stern voice echoed throughout the halls; the girl scoffed as she saw one of her roommates, Tenya Iida, in light baby blue pajamas, his sleeping mask hand on the top of his forehead. "I just wanted to uh..get some snacks. That's all!" Ochako said trying to think up some sort of shitty excuse to throw at him

Tenya started to sniff around. "do I smell?.. were you hanging around with a human?!" Tenya's voice was higher and more serious while Ochako winced quickly, shushing him. "I needed help and they helped me! So let me lend them a ride no big deal!" Ochako protested, trying to reason with her friend, which made him sigh in irritation. "We are going to have a group meeting in the morning about this, but for now, go to bed..." he slowly went back into his room, shutting the door. Ochako felt bad, but at the same time, she kinda.. didn't regret it she felt determined to want to be your friend or if anything closer

The next day roams around. You were busy attending to your garden in your backyard. It wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. It was the size of a kiddie pool. You were busy watering the flowers and picking off the berry bushes. You also took care of, "These would look good for some yummy desserts! And maybe jam!" You thought, drooling at the fantasy of the delicious dishes until some chewing snapped you out of it. You quickly turned to see a little white rabbit just munching away at your petunias. "Hey!" You yelled gently picking up the rabbit as he tried squirming away "the heck are you doing little theif?" You asked the furry culprit while it was trying to get away with a petunia in his mouth you were about to investigate more on the crime untill someone making noises like they're trying to signal a animal

There were 2 boys, one with brown hair and big lips, trying to comfort the other boy with peach skin with a rocky facial texture. The brown hair noticed you peeking out the back yard. "Oh, hello there! We were looking for a pet, a rabbit with white fur," the boy explained. You looked over to the bunny you were holding that looked the same description. The boy said, "Is this your rabbit?" You held up the rabbit high enough so they could see the worried boy was shocked and ran over and quickly grabbed him off your hands hugging and crying a bit "Thank you.." he managed to say as he poked at you smiling gracefully

"Heh it's no problem I just found him munching on my petunia little rascal" you teased at the rabbit while petting his fur the boy apologized repulsively as you quickly reassured him it was fine as the rabbit only ate two "I promise to pay you back my name is Koji, Koji Koda yours?" "I'm y/n! L/n" The two of you shook hands across the fence separating you. The brown hair, who was named Sato, came over and greeted you as well, and it was even nice of him to give you a slice of yummy cake as a greeting gift! Now lucky were you?

The two boys couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful and kind of you were, too. Then Koda wondered if you had any animals yourself while Sato was planning to bake something just for you!

Soon after you encounter most of your neighbors Denki invites you to a barbecue party along with his friends from, the other neighborhoods, and everyone I mean everyone greeted each other oh so even most gave you gifts all in their minds wondering about the same thing they just had to have you

Whenever you participate in a neighborhood event somehow your other neighbors like Mina, momo, and Jirou would want to join as well so will Yokoyama will tag along as well and they wouldn't even do the program just be too busy paying attention to you or to try and get your attention

Kirishima, Bakugo, and Ojiro would invite you to work with them in the nearby gym to watch you work out as they work out on their own they always compete to try and see who lifts the most trying to impress you or if you ever need help (you didn't) they'll try and do anything to smell your scent or find any excuse to touch you like holding your hands guiding you how you should lift a weight or bakugo and Ojiro wanting to spar box you when he's mainly just tackling you on the ground hands on your waist or your neck, and if you ever get any attention they'll do an abnormal glare at them signaling them to back the fuck off their little earthling

Momo would occasionally invite you to tea with just the two of you, and Koda would let his rabbit out on purpose in YOUR yard so he can have an excuse to go to your backyard and always excuse himself as in your wooden fence may has an entrance for animals for it, Sato and mochiko would invite you over to each other's house to go over to one house and you all bake together or have a baking competition

They all love their little human they plan to reveal their true intensity for you...someday tho maybe when they take you away but for now they work on protecting you with their lives

[baldurs-writers-3]

Wyll Ravengard: A Baldur's Gate 3 Fanfic Rec List

This week, we have Wyll Focused fics! Check under the cut for ten incredible fics all about our favorite folk hero, Wyll Ravengard. And as always, comment and kudos if you like them!

Blood-seeking Blade by specimenbag (24809, Teen) Content Notes: Canon-Typical Violence Pairings: Astarion/Wyll

The end of the world must be nigh, Wyll thought, if Wyll of the Griffins spares a monster and lets him be a bloody traveling companion. Or, the series where Wyll is a Witcher, and Astarion is the vampire he saved

Reccer says: I love literally everything about this AU. The author includes helpful notes to explain witcher terminology so its very accessible. The vibes are immaculate and the characterizations are so well done.

Nothing Like the Sun by odessacastle (159772, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion/Wyll

Wyll and Astarion meet before his exile! Fate wants things to proceed down a similar path, however.

Reccer says: It's neat to see two canon companions have the 'oh shit we knew each other before this tadpole bullshit!!' that you normally just see more OC focused, it makes for very different starting interactions. Also man Wyll is bad at vampire spotting.

the blade falls by PurpleCatGhost (4097, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Wyll & Friends

Wyll used to know his own limits fairly well, but that was before the tadpole. Besides that, having friends you can rely on is also a new experience, though at least this one is a nice one

Reccer says: I really enjoy Wyll realizing just a little bit too late that his injuries are worse than he thought, and then everyone's response to that being "How dare you not tell us you needed help >:("

Bouquet of the Frontiers by Tavylia_Sin (5796, General) Content Notes: Pairings: Wyll & Friends

Wyll tries to spend the tiefling party off on his own. His friends decide they would much rather adorn him in flowers and affirmations instead.

Reccer says: Very sweet. The found family vibes are impeccable

Hells Escape Pact by ushauz (17613, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Karlach/Wyll, Astarion/Wyll, Astarion/Karlach, Astarion/Karlach/Wyll

A bit of a 'bad end' for three of the companions. Wyll is a proper demon type in Hell, Karlach never got out, and Astarion got sacrificed in the ritual. What now?

Reccer says: Bad end doesn't have to be bad forever!

Window to the Soul by normal_thoughts_official (653, Mature) Content Notes: depersonalization Pairings:

little snippets from wyll's childhood, through his time as the blade and how he sees himself as a person (and not)

Reccer says: for a short story it packs a damn punch, left me emotional

Saviour Complex by fantailsock (12246, Mature) Content Notes: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Pairings: Wyll and Friends, minor Astarion/Wyll

Five times someone helped Wyll out and one time he helped himself.

Reccer says: I'm always a sucker for found family and the team forcing someone to learn how to value themselves, and this fic is perfect for that

Less Than Ideal by jeejaschocolate (5021, General) Content Notes: some internalized ableism and drinking to cope Pairings: Astarion/Wyll

Being burned by hellfire left Wyll with poor eyesight in his solitary eye. Astarion notices. Of course, he can’t keep his opinions to himself.

Reccer says: Lovely exploration of vulnerability

a story better than the real thing by not_whelmed_yet (1100, General) Content Notes: N/A Pairings: N/A

Wyll is alone in the woods, in the wilderness, and the heroes of his youth spoke only of victory so maybe he can convince himself of it, too.

Reccer says: a wonderful character study of Wyll as the Blade of Frontiers - creating a storybook persona so he can try and distract himself from the miserable realities of his current situation. very sad. very fascinating.

And then we have three recs for the following: Allemande by adrezarach (7255, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Wyll/Tav, Wyll & Ulder Ravengard

Wyll is developing a crush on Tav and comes to realize that they’ve met before, when they were amongst the nobility of Baldur’s Gate! An introspective character study of Wyll, touching on how his life intersects with Tav’s over the course of nine years. He dances, he dreams, and he thinks about the storybook hero he wants to be.

Reccer #1 says: I really enjoyed this read and the author has a Wyll voice that feels very distinctive and true to character. Reccer #2 says: The author has a distinctive and poignant Wyll-voice, and the contrast between the timeframes of the fic is really interesting. Reccer #3 says: The author has such a strong grasp of Wyll’s character and a distinctive narrative voice that suits him really well. I love how they played with past and present so that the reader can see his changing thoughts over his life pre and post pact. It’s a strong piece as a stand-alone, but it’s clear the author has long term plans for this characterization and this dynamic. One of my favorite wyll-centric wylltav pieces.

The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ!

Next week, we’ll be back with the evergreen trope, Misunderstandings!

[nekomanager]

GIVE ME EVERYTHING ♡ BOKUTO KOUTAROU

it was a double celebration, and you happened to end up trapped in a restroom with the birthday boy, your highschool crush, BOKUTO KOUTAROU

f!reader, semi-public, intefermoral, rough, mentions of alcoh0l, drunk, creampie

It was your class’ reunion, which you really doubted if you’d attend. It’s in a loud club. Pretty wild for your liking. You sat quietly and alone as you watched your former classmates danced the night. You took a sip of your drink. Tequila sunrise was pretty basic but it had a bubbly flavor. You smiled at your drink when someone scooted so close to your face.

“Y/N are you sad? Why are you doing sulking here?”

Bokuto-san! The only person you could remember significantly back then. It was also his birthday today! You remembered that he would always share his lunch with you and make you laugh unintentionally with his crazy antics. You really thought that he’s cute whenever he sulked. Now, you remembered that he used to isolate himself whenever he’s upset.

“No, I’m okay.” You explained, but he looked at you with a questioning expression. "Happy birthday, by the way."

He took your wrist and dragged you to the dance floor. “Then have fun with us!”

You both tried to make your way to the dance floor, when a partygoer accidentally spilled his drink on your shirt. Who even brought his drink walking in this tight space?

“Are you okay, Y/N? Hey! You-“

You tugged on his shirt to stop his protests. “It’s okay, Bokuto-san. I can clean this up in the restroom.”

He stared at you for a brief moment and then gave you a big grin. You both pulled back out of the crowd and took the shared restroom as the other ones weren’t available.

“Let me help you out!” You were surprised when he just followed you inside and insisted on assisting. “Here, I have handkerchief.” He offered and you shyly accepted, dampening the cloth. You wiped it against the stain of your shirt yet you struggled to remove the blot.

“Hmmm…. “ He stepped closer to you and grabbed the hanky from your hand as he wiped against your shirt right on the spot on your upper-right chest. Your faces were so close to each other that your foreheads were almost touching. His breath fanning the tip of your nose and the back of his fingers was casually bumping onto the plump of your breast.

You both started breathing heavily. The smell of alcohol sweet on your breaths as both of your throats were now drying up for a different kind of thirst. You even forgot about the loud party music coming through from the outside.

You felt your face heating up and it suddenly came to you that there were only the two of you inside the restroom. You were about to take back the handkerchief from him, when the lights suddenly went off.

“Y/N!” Bokuto screamed and scooped you in for a big hug. “What was that? What happened?”

You blushed. “I don’t know. A power outage?” No. There were lights seeping through the space of the door and there was still that loud ass song. That’s when you remember that the light switch for the restroom was outside. Somebody must’ve accidentally turned it off!

You began moving forward, making way for the door, when he stopped you clinging even tighter. “Don’t leave me, Y/N!” He begged and you stopped. You didn’t really know why maybe it’s because he smelled so good despite the liquor and his hug felt so warm. It could possibly be because you had a crush on him during high school.

You remained in his arms, savoring the moment of getting close with him, when you felt the bulge on his pants hitting your stomach. “B-Bokuto-san…” You said and shifted in his embrace, his hard-on being rubbed by your body and his knee was actually just right at your crotch.

“Ack- ugh, Y/N, you-“

You panted while you felt like something in between your thighs heating up. Despite his protest, he started swaying his body too and you squirmed against his embrace. Your bodies gyrated and moved against each other. Him pleasing himself against your stomach and you rubbing your pussy against his knee. The empty bathroom was filled with your pants and suppressed moans.

“Are you- are you okay, Bokuto-san?” You asked, your forehead flat on his chest. “I! I feel so hot like I’m about to burst!” He said through gritted teeth as he desperately rubbed himself off against your plush body.

“M-Me too! Me too~”

“Y-You are?” He asked, breathless.

“Mhmn, yes~”

“I know!” Bokuto exclaimed and said, “We can help each other.”

“Huh? O-Okay…” Your heart started racing so fast.

“A-Are you sure?” He asked again, holding your shoulders and trying to look into your eyes amidst the darkness.

“Yes~” You replied, feeling the build up inside your walls.

“Okay! I’ll go first.” He said and you heard rustling of clothes while you reflexively felt him up through the darkness, trying to find where that hard thing was until you made contact.

Gripping on his cock gently, you were half-amazed and half-curious. “I-It’s big…and twitching.” You had never held one in your hand before. You explored his length, dragging your knuckle.

“Augh~ Y/N, if you- if you hold it like that-“ He held your wrist to stop you.

“I-I’m sorry. What should I- Oh, I guess it’s my turn.” You realized. This must be liquid courage that you could undress in front of him or maybe it’s the darkness as well. You pulled your pants and underwear down and pressed your body close to him again. He gulped. His leg felt your wetness and that made him ever harder. Squatting a little so his dick was just right at your cunt, he shivered with you as his tip touched the lips of your pussy. He slid himself along your slit, lubricating his cock and massaging you at the same time. You flinched at his action and reflexively closed your thighs, sandwiching his throbbing cock in between your flesh.

“Gah, Y/N!” He moved his hips, pleasuring himself through your soft thighs, while you felt the friction of his cock against your pussy. You wrapped your arms around him as you felt your knees getting weaker, wanting more and more of him. He held your ass as he prepared to enter inside you.

“Shit! Condoms! I forgot condoms!” He said, almost sobbing. He’s so close to feeling how amazing you felt all around him. Just your thighs weren’t enough and the fact the you were swaying back and forth to rub yourself against him meant that you’re as into it as he was too, but he forgot condoms.

“Doesn't matter.” You said, in a tone that begged him to be inside you already.

Thank goodness! He internally cried. Now, he’s gonna make sure this was all worth it. He spun you around so you’re facing the wall and smoothed his hand over your back so you’re now bending forward. Aligning his cock against your slit, he finally thrusted inside you from behind.

“Mhmn~” You moaned, keeping your stance.

Bokuto began pounding. His long and thick cock was razing your tight little pussy. He was so strong, fast and rough that you now had your cheek all pressed up against the wall. You closed your eyes, feeling nothing but his hard member going in and out of you. Your legs were now getting wobbly with the way he’s thrusting with so much speed and intensity. He leaned forward, placed a kiss on your cheek which made you inch your face close to his. Your lips joined together, exchanging wet, sloppy and messy kisses until he caught you by surprise. He lifted you up, his hands under your thighs, gripping firmly. You reached a hand from behind you to hold onto the back of his head. His face nuzzling the crook of your neck. He thrusted deep and hard as your legs dangled and swayed with his every movement.

“Boku...Bokuto-sahn~”

“Boku!” He exclaimed, correcting you as his sweat trickled down from his forehead. Pressing his face further in your shoulder, he suppressed his groans as you moaned and whined endlessly.

Oh! Oh! Oh! You leaned your head back as your lips hung open, drool slipping out from the side of your mouth. You’re going crazy!

Something inside you snapped. “Bokuto!” You cried as your vision was shrouded with pure white light. Was it just your eyes? Or was the electricity back again? He thrusted even faster to meet his orgasm, dropping your legs as he came. His arms now wrapped so tightly around you as you both trembled. You felt him fill your pussy with his warm cum.

He slid out of you which had his liquid dripping down your inner-thigh and that’s your cue to clean up. You caught your breath and strength, standing upright. You looked back at him and noticed him gaping with wide eyes. Your eyes dragged lower and you finally got the sight of his cock. Damn, he’s huge and…

“Y-You’re hard again?!” You said in surprise.

His face reddened and then he admitted. “Oh, it’s because I’m now seeing you naked!” He looked at you, eyes full of wonder. “You’re just so hot, Y/N!” Just that sweet bouncy ass raised in front of him a while ago, was making him want to drive inside you again.

“That’s-“ Remembering your state of undress and the fact that the lights were finally on, you quickly grabbed a strip of toilet paper and wiped the mess in between your legs. “We…We can’t do any more of that here anymore.” You were, after all, in a club’s restroom.

“Does that mean we can do it again somewhere else?”

You blinked at him twice and he had that clueless expression that meant no seduction yet you shyly replied, “I guess so.”

Bokuto excitedly pulled up his pants and wrapped an arm around you, escorting you out of the restroom as you walked in zigzag. “Then let’s get out of here now!”

@pixelcafe-network

[fxckadoodledoomunson]

A Heart Divided -1-

|1| The day the mermaid got her heart broken…

Summary: You find yourself heartbroken after finding out not only that Eddie now despises you. Will you discover the truth to why and how he can date someone close to you?

Warnings: swearing, smoking, Eddie being a dick, angst.

You didn’t understand. Until recently, you and Eddie Munson had been good friends.

When you first met him, you were asked by one of your teachers to tutor him, and although he had his Hellfire club and his band while you were on the swimming team, you always planned the tutoring around it.

Over time, the two of you became close. Even when your teacher told you that you no longer needed to tutor him, you continued to help him especially as it gave you a reason to spend more time with him, after you had developed a crush on him.

The last time you two spoke was before you went away to a training camp for spring break when Eddie tried to convince you to join in the campaign before you left. As much as you wanted to, you told him that you were unable to as you had to go straight to the camp after school. So, not only did you miss the campaign, you also missed the championship game.

On the first day back to school, you waited twenty minutes for Eddie to pick you up, which he never did. He didn’t even call you to let you know that he couldn’t pick you up.

“Aww…Guess Lover Boy’s not gonna show up,” you heard your older sister taunting you. You huffed as you went to grab your bike and cycled quickly to school.

Luckily, you managed to ride to school ten minutes before the bell rang. After you had chained your bike to the rack, you began to head inside when you spotted Eddie getting out of his van, along with one of younger members of Hellfire, Dustin Henderson, who was getting his bag out of the vehicle.

As you headed towards the van, Dustin greeted you as he headed into the building. You stopped and waved at him as he was catching up with Mike Wheeler and Lucas Sinclair before you waved and smiled at Eddie. Usually, Eddie would wave back at you. However, he just glared, averting his gaze while taking a puff of his cigarette. It confused you, but then you thought maybe he nervous about finals coming up soon or maybe he wanted to make sure that he got to class in time before Principal Higgins can kick him out. Or maybe he was pissed off with you for missing the campaign, even though he knew that you had to leave for camp immediately.

You cautiously walked towards him, as he threw his cigarette, stubbing it on the ground. You flashed him a smile, as you began to break the ice, “Hey Eddie, how did the campaign…”

Eddie silently brushed past you, as you lowly continued to speak, smile vanishing. “…go?”

You turned around, following his movements, so bewildered by his silent treatment that you didn’t hear someone calling your name.

“Hey!”

You jumped in fright, as you felt a pair of hands clap onto your shoulders. You turned your head to find your neighbour and best friend, Chrissy Cunningham standing behind you, smiling as she let out a giggle whilst you huffed in relief.

“I’ve been calling out to you, did you not hear me?” She asked, as she linked her arm with yours, as she pulled you towards the school, telling you, “When did you get back? You have to tell me about training camp.”

As you both walked through the hallway, you explained that you got home late the previous night before telling her about the swimming training camp, you beating your record and how big the swimming pool was. After asking what she did, Chrissy told you how she spent spring break with her boyfriend Jason Carver and his family. You were about to ask more questions when Chrissy abruptly interrupted, “There’s Eddie.”

You turned to find Eddie standing by Jeff’s locker, talking to him, Grant and Gareth when Chrissy happily waved at Eddie as she greeted him, “Hi Eddie!”

To your surprise, Eddie waved back at her, and even smiled back at her, which caused Jeff and Gareth friends to interrogate him about his new found friendship with Chrissy when Grant greeted you, which caused Eddie to silently glare at you, as you waved at Grant. However, you quickly lowered your hand as Eddie muttered something to Grant.

You swiftly turned your head to Chrissy as you asked her, “Uh, Chrissy…Since when are you friends with Eddie?”

Chrissy had let out a small giggle, before quietly confessing to you, “Since I bought some weed from him before spring break.”

You furrowed your brow, as you both headed to homeroom, where Chrissy greeted Jason, while you couldn’t help but wonder if Chrissy was the reason why Eddie was giving you the silent treatment. Did something happen between the two of them? Did she tell him about your crush on him and it made him being off with you? You mentally shrugged the thought off as you thought, No, she wouldn’t.

You never told her about your crush on Eddie, but even if you did, she wouldn’t have blurted it out to him, especially if Jason and his friends might tease you for it.

Throughout the day, you thought you might have a chance to talk to Eddie whenever you had classes together or during your lunch break, but every time you were near him, he would either ignore you or move away from you.

Between classes, you went up to Dustin and asked him if he knew if Eddie was okay, without mentioning that he’s been ignoring you.

“He seems to be okay,” Dustin replied.

You slowly nodded, as you asked him, “Well, the next you see him, can you ask him to meet me after school? By the bleachers at the football field?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll tell him to meet you,” a puzzled Dustin told you.

As he started walking away, you shouted, “Thank you!”

Dustin turned around as he smiled, before heading to his next class.

You had let out a sigh before heading your next class.

After school, you started walking towards the football field when you were approached by your friend and colleague, Robin Buckley.

“Hey!” She greeted you, as she approached you. “Are you coming to work?”

“I need to do something first, but I’ll be there after I’ve finished,” you replied.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

You turned to watch Robin run to Steve Harrington’s car, as Steve got out and waved at you, before getting back inside. You waved back, as he started his car, before driving away. You took a deep breath, before heading to the bleachers and sat down, anticipating Eddie’s arrival.

While you waited, you took out your diary, decorated with stuck on drawings of mermaids. You had never shown anyone your diary before.

However, if someone was to read it, they would’ve thought that you were writing a fantasy story. Ever since you had watched one of Eddie’s campaigns, you got inspired to write your diary entries as if it was a character telling their story, even included some drawings.

You took out your pen and started writing…

After a long journey from deepest part of the ocean, the mermaid had finally returned to shore to see the valour bard once again to hear his new adventure. However, when she saw him, he never acknowledged her presence. She didn’t understand, no matter how loud she called out to him, he ignored her. Was the wind blowing so hard that he couldn’t hear her? Or did he-?

You stopped writing, as you heard two people talking before hearing a feminine giggle. You looked up to find Eddie happily chatting to Chrissy, who had lightly patted his chest. The more you watched their interactions, the more suspicious you were of their friendship.

As they moved closer, you stuffed your diary into your bag and picked it up, as you stood up before approaching them, calling Eddie’s name, which made the pair of them stop on their tracks and turned to look at you. As soon as Eddie shifted his attention to you, his smile dropped, making him dart a glare at you.

“Did Dustin pass on my message?” You meekly asked, feeling nervous as he continued to glare at you. “To meet me at the bleachers?”

He huffed, as he stuffed his free hand into his pocket, as he carried his metal lunch box.

And for the first time in a week, he began to speak, bluntly telling you, “Yeah. He told me.”

You lowered your gaze to the ground, unsure what to say to him when you heard a confused Chrissy speak, cutting the tension, “Well, I gotta get to cheer practice.”

You looked up, as Chrissy gave you a small smile, before telling you that she’ll see you at your workplace afterwards. She then turned to Eddie, saying goodbye and thanking him.

“No problem, Chrissy,” Eddie called out, as Chrissy ran towards the gymnasium, leaving you and Eddie alone together.

You shifted your attention to Eddie and you were about to speak when Eddie rolled his eyes, as he started walking away from you. You called his name, as you followed him to his van. As you caught up with him, you shouted, “Eddie-!”

“WHAT?!” Eddie bellowed, as he angrily turned to face you.

“What the hell is wrong with you? You didn’t let me know that you weren’t gonna pick me up like you said you would, and you’ve been ignoring me all day. Why?”

Tears started streaming down your face, as you waited for Eddie’s explanation when he moved closer towards you as he darkly responded, “Because I don’t want to be around a conniving bitch like you.”

You gasped, hearing those harsh words. You began to silently sob when you heard Dustin calling out to Eddie. You lowered your head, as you wiped your tears with your sleeve, sniffing sharply, holding back your tears before you brushed past Eddie, ignoring Dustin calling out to you, as you headed towards your bike.

An hour or so into your shift, you quietly stacked the returned VHS tapes into their respective shelves, as you evaded Robin’s questions about why your eyes were puffy.

As much as you liked Robin, you couldn’t bear the questions, not wanting to lash out at her. Thankfully, Steve told her to not keep pestering you with her interrogation, asking her to help serve the next customer.

While Robin served the customer, Steve kept an eye on you, as you made your way to the Horror section to put away a tape when one tape got your attention. You picked up a copy of The Omen, as you thought about the first time you and Eddie watched it together. You quickly wiped the single tear running down your cheek, before putting it back when you heard a male voice softly spoke, “Hey.”

You turned to find Steve standing beside you, holding a copy of Halloween in his hand.

As he put it on the shelf, you began to speak, “Look Steve, I just-“

“Listen, I’m not gonna ask,” Steve interjected, raising both hands in the air. “I was gonna say…if you need to go home, just go. No questions asked. I’ll just tell Keith that you’re not well.”

You gave him a small smile, before telling him, “Thanks Steve, but I think I need to work to take my mind of things.”

Steve sighed, as he patted his hand on your shoulder, before telling you, “Just do what you need to do.”

You were grateful to have Steve in your life. Ever since you two met on a double date with his ex girlfriend Nancy Wheeler and the former baseball player, Mark Warner, he had been like the sibling that you’ve always wanted.

You lightly patted his hand, before he headed back to help Robin when you heard the bell ring as the door swung open, making you turn your head.

It was Chrissy and Jason, along some of his teammates. You quickly turned away, not wanting to see Chrissy.

You heard Jason telling her that he was gonna get her favourite movie when you heard Chrissy calling you.

You swiftly moved to the other side, pretending to tidy up the shelf when you heard footsteps approaching you, before hearing the familiar sweetly voice speak, “Hey, didn’t you hear me call you?”

You bit your tongue, as you continued to tidy the tapes when Chrissy grabbed your shoulder, forcing you to face her, as she asked, “What’s wrong with you today? You’re acting weird.”

You pushed her hand away aggressively, as you retorted, “You tell me.”

A confused Chrissy furrowed her brow, as she asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Does Jason know?” You bluntly asked, as you crossed your arms. “About you and Eddie? Your secret meet-ups?”

“Well, uh…no,” Chrissy hesitated. “But you don’t-“

“Understand?” You scoffed. “Oh I understand completely. I guess one guy is not enough for the Queen of Hawkins High.”

Chrissy was left flabbergasted by your accusations.

“Wait, you’ve got it all wrong, I’m not-“

Not wanting to hear anymore, you brushed past Chrissy, as you announced to Steve, as you headed into the staff room, “I’ve changed my mind, Steve. I’m not feeling great. I’ll make up for the last few hours another time.”

Steve and Robin turned to the door, before shifting their attention to the confused and upset cheerleader, who ran out of the store in tears, as Jason followed her, wondering what was going on.

A few moments later, you were cycling through your street, heading back to your house when you spotted Eddie’s van parked on the pavement between yours and Chrissy’s house. You figured that he was either waiting for Chrissy in his van or they were together at her place doing God knows what.

Either way, you didn’t want to see either of them. As soon as you got off your bike, you took your keys out of your pocket and unlocked the door, before stepping inside. “Hello?” You called out. “I’m home.”

As you took off your bag and jacket, placing it on the sofa, you heard music coming from your sister’s room. “I guess she’s got a guy in her room again,” you sighed, being unsurprised. You started to amble up the stairs, wanting to crawl under your bed cover and forget the earlier events.

As you got near to the top of the stairs, you noticed that your sister’s door was open. As soon as you got to the top, you called out to your sister and asked, “Can you turn it down? I need to-“

You froze as you caught your sister straddling on the guy’s lap. You then noticed the familiar pair of hands clad in rings rubbing her back. That was when you realised that your day had gotten worse. You knew then why Eddie’s van was parked outside. He wasn’t with Chrissy, but your own sister.

Not only was your sister making out with Eddie, but she was also wearing his Hellfire shirt.

You sniffled, trying not to cry, as you slowly headed back downstairs when one of the steps creaked, catching their attention.

“Oh, you’re home,” you heard your sister bellowed over the loud music. You turned around to see your sister and a shirtless Eddie sitting on edge of the bed. “We didn’t hear you. Oops.”

Your sister had let out a fake giggle, as she moved closer to Eddie, telling you, “You know Eddie, right?”

Of course I know, you tramp, you thought. I’ve only known him and tutored him since the beginning of the school year.

“We have kinda been seeing each other recently,” your sister bragged, before kissing Eddie, telling him, “Right, babe?”

“Right, princess,” Eddie replied, whilst darkly looking at you, “Since…spring break.”

You felt your heart break as Eddie glared at you. You let out a short gasp, before mumbling that you were going to get some air. You quickly ran down the stairs as you heard your sister and Eddie giggle, before hearing moaning from the pair.

You swung the door open, and stormed out with tears brimming in your eyes when you saw Jason’s jeep park outside of Chrissy’s house.

You knew that you owed her the biggest apology, even if she might not forgive you for your accusations.

As you watched Chrissy and Jason get out of the jeep, you wiped away the tears, before approaching them when you overheard them talking. “Jason, can you not call Eddie a freak?” Chrissy scolded her boyfriend. “It’s not nice.”

“Why are you defending him, Chris?” Jason asked, as they walked up to her door. Chrissy was about to respond when she noticed you coming closer.

Chrissy crossed her arms, as she bluntly asked, “May we help you?”

You sniffled, before asking her, “Can we talk Chrissy? Please?”

Before Chrissy could answer, Jason scoffed, making you lower your head, “After the way you spoke to her earlier? I don’t see why she should waste her time listening-“

Suddenly, Chrissy placed her hand on her boyfriend’s shoulder, telling him, “It’s okay, Jason.”

After she told him to go, Chrissy gave him a peck on the cheek, saying goodbye.

As Jason walked back to his jeep, he shot a glare at you, before driving off.

Chrissy turned to you, before telling you, “Whatever you gotta say, just say it. But just know that I would never cheat on-“

Suddenly, Chrissy stopped scolding you, as she noticed tears running down your cheeks, as you silently sobbed.

Chrissy’s face softened, as she slowly moved closer to you, as she asked, “Hey…what’s wrong?”

You sniffled, before you began to apologise, “I’m sorry, Chrissy. I shouldn’t have accused you of messing around with Eddie behind Carver’s back. When I saw you two together and the way he acted around me, I thought…”

You started sobbing uncontrollably, when Chrissy wrapped her arms around you and hugged you tightly. She softly shushed you, as you sobbed into her shoulder, before telling you, “Come inside and tell me what’s going on.”

A few moments later, you silently sat on the couch, blankly staring at the window when Chrissy came through the living room, placing a cup of herbal tea on the coffee table for you, before sitting down beside you.

“So, what’s going on with you and Eddie?” Chrissy softly asked.

You sniffled, before telling your best friend about how Eddie had been ignoring you most of the day and how he called you a conniving bitch, even though you don’t know why he would say that.

“What?” Chrissy gasped. “I can’t believe he would say that.”

You continued to sob, as Chrissy handed you a tissue. You wiped your tears away with it, before revealing, “And the worst part…after I caught him making out with my sister, he mentioned that he’s been seeing her since spring break.”

Chrissy had put her arm around you, as she softly said, “Oh honey…”

You had let out a sigh, trying to hold back your tears when Chrissy asked, “You like him, don’t you?”

You turned to her, surprised that she figured it out your feelings for Eddie.

“That was why you thought I was cheating on Jason with him?”

You sniffled, before telling her, “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I can’t tell you enough how sorry I am for…”

Chrissy hugged you, before softly telling you, “You don’t need to apologise anymore. I understand where you were coming from. I forgive you.”

You returned the hug, as tears were brimming in your eyes once more when you heard voices coming from outside. You and Chrissy got up and went to the window, finding Eddie and your sister making out outside his van, before she went back inside with a smug smile on her face. At once, you went back to the sofa, trying not to cry, as Chrissy watched Eddie glancing at your sister, before noticing Chrissy standing by the window.

He smiled, as he waved at her when Chrissy glared at him, before shutting the curtains, which made Eddie feel confused.

After she sat back down next to you, Chrissy suggested, “Listen, why don’t you stay over tonight? We can watch a movie or something if you want.”

“Really?” You asked.

Chrissy nodded, before telling you, “I’ll just tell my mom that you’re tutoring me. I’m sure that she’ll let you stay.”

You smiled, as you hugged her, before thanking her. “Thanks Chrissy. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Suddenly, Chrissy pulled away, revealing a serious look on her face, before asking you, “You know I said that I bought some weed from Eddie before spring break?”

You nodded, before she confessed that she had been having nightmares for a long time, and she came to Eddie for weed, hoping that it would help her.

“Oh Chrissy…” you softly said, as you placed your hand on her shoulder. “I had no idea that you were going through something like that.”

“That’s why I’ve been to see Ms Kelly before spring break. And even though she’s been trying to help me, it still didn’t make the nightmares go away.”

You hugged Chrissy, doing your best to comfort her when you heard the doorbell ring.

“I better get that,” Chrissy said, as you let her go.

After she stood up and walked to the door, Chrissy opened it to find Eddie standing on her doorstep.

“Hey Chrissy,” Eddie grinned, unaware that you were in the house.

Chrissy sternly looked at him, as she crossed her arms and asked, “What is it, Eddie?”

Eddie’s grinned dropped, as he noticed Chrissy’s stern expression.

“Uh…I was wondering…” Eddie began to reply, as he nervously scratched the back of his head. “If you wanted to come over to Gareth’s place with me and watch us rehearse.”

“Can’t. I’m busy,” Chrissy coldly declined.

“Oh…okay. Well, you’re still coming to the Hideout tomorrow, right?”

“Maybe. Is that all? Only I have homework to do.”

Chrissy placed her hand on the door handle, as she told him, “you know, may you should focus on your studies too instead of getting your…”

Chrissy shuddered, before continuing to speak, “I can’t even say it.”

Before a confused Eddie could respond, Chrissy slammed the door in his face.

Chrissy deeply sighed, as she headed back to the couch, while you sipped your tea.

As Chrissy sat beside you, you told her, “You can go to the Hideout tomorrow if you want to. Don’t feel that you have to not go because of me.”

“Well I won’t go…without you,” Chrissy replied.

You spluttered into the cup, before you turned to face her.

“What?” You asked.

“Just because Eddie’s being cold with you, it doesn’t mean that you should stay away. Besides, the Hideout is a public place. It’s not like he can kick you out himself.”

You sighed, unsure whether or not you want to go to the Hideout and feel Eddie’s wrath.

Suddenly, you heard a car pull up, before hearing your parents talking.

You placed the cup onto the table, and stood up, before telling Chrissy, “I’m gonna speak to my parents about staying over.”

“Okay, hopefully I’ll see you later,” Chrissy replied.

As Chrissy walked you to the door, she hugged you once more, before telling you, “Everything will be okay.”

[balladeerssong]

Scaramouche x fem!Reader smau. masterlist.

prev. | PART IX. - almost. | next.

in which silence is good and bad at the same time.. (written part).

Much to your surprise, by the time you got ready after agreeing to take a walk with Kunikuzushi, he was already outside of your apartment's door. The streets were dimly lit, but it wasn't hard to notice his puffy, red eyes under the streetlights. There was never silence between you two - you usually kept the convo going with whatever was on your mind. However, this time around you knew he didn't need that right now. He simpy needed someone to be silent with; someone to keep him grounded while he lets the soft wind sort his thoughts for him.

You walked in a lazy pace on the route you took the first time you hung out. The park you stopped at was one you visited countless times before during your previous years at the Akademiya, but being there with Kuni in such a comfortable silence it felt so different, it would be hard to explain. Sitting side by side on the swings, both of you gently pushing yourselves back and forth while countless thoughts occupy both of your minds.

It wasn't until your phone lit up in your hand, a text notification appearing on your screen. You took a glance at Kuni, who seemed to be too lost in thought to even notice. You took a second to open and read the messages you've recieved.

A serious message from Ajax? Surely a "once in a blue moon" experience.

You thought for a second. Issuing a call in such a serene moment would be so disrespectful, no? He probably wants to talk about something regarding the duo stream on sunday, that can probably wait a few hours.

His short response gave your heart a light squeeze. It was never your intention to hurt his feelings, but sometimes it was hard to tell if he's being serious or not. It's really just about the stream.. right?

"That message you got must be interesting. You look so distressed." Kuni's voice was quiet as he spoke. The tears he likely shed a while ago were still straining his throat.

"Oh, just one of my friends asking me where I am. Nothing to worry about."

He nodded in response, his feet slowly dangling in the air below him. He was looking at the full moon above the park, perfectly visible - its reflection in his eyes serving as a spotlight to give a clear view of his uncried tears. It felt like such a perfect moment to say something. To ask what happened, to tell him it's okay, but nothing left your mouth.

"Sumeru is great, I like it so far." He spoke before you could. Despite the comical timing to say this, it sounded genuine.

"I'm glad you do! You being here is great as well." You shot him a sweet smile, an innocent, unsuspecting one.

He wanted to tell you, he wanted to tell you everything on his mind. How his best friend was right. How he fell in love with you after the first day, how he got attached so quickly he never spent a single break in uni without you solely because of it. How his mother never loved him, never spent time with him, gods, she never even LOOKED at him. And when he saw the way you smile at him so effortlessly, how natural it is for you to be kind to him, to guide and help him, he immediately felt the bleeding hole on his heart starting to heal. But at the end of the day it was all a dirty, pitiful excuse in his head.

So maybe silence is the best choice for now.

[writingcold]

Chapter Eight - Internal flaws and internal conflicts will lead the way

Content Warnings:  I need to put this here - this is a work of fiction. There will be imagery of violence, character deaths, inequities, poverty, heavy angst, and adult sexual situations throughout the story. Please read at your own discretion. All characters are fictional, though some of the big events that are shown are historical, but may not be historically accurate. 

Thank you to @edgingthedarkness for all of her help as my all mighty beta for this fiction. She listened to me drone on and on about it for months on end. She really took a bullet for this one! She created the banner for this story as well! Also thank you to @katuschka for her amazing skills in bringing our hero Jakub to life. Divider art by @ firefly-graphics.

The Dead

Jake X Fem!Reader

Chapter Eight word count: approximately 6000 words

Warnings in this part: Sibling arguing, feelings of self doubt, grief.

Chapter 8.1: Swansong in the Graveyard

     “Spill it,” Owen said as he stared directly into his phone.

      Fighting the urge to laugh, I found distraction in yanking the pan of eggs from the stove before they burned. “Spill what?”

      “Gran says that you’re still in Frankenmuth.”

      I nodded as I plated up my breakfast. “So?”

     “I don’t know when the last time you were in a single place that long just to do research,” he jabbed. “If you wanted a dude in lederhosen, I could’ve flown you here to-”

     I grumbled, bobbling my plate and coffee to the table away from the phone. “It’s just more than I planned on. That’s all.”

     “Still not talking about the story is what is bothering me,” he admitted, turning back to the screen just as I returned to grab my phone from the counter. “Typically you’re done with research and writing by now. How interesting can that touristscape be?”

      I rolled my eyes and moved the topic away from me but it boomeranged back within minutes.

     “What about that literacy bit you have - isn’t that coming up?” 

     Eating slowly, I explained how the conference would traverse across three days and many state-based authors and educators of all levels teaming up for more impactful and meaningful methods of catching the interest of kids and adults …

      “Stop,” he growled as I finally hit the bored button. A twinkle in his eye caught me off guard as he leaned in close. “You gonna take the cute pilot to the conference?”

     I blinked. I blinked again as my brother’s grin grew smug. “Pardon?”

     “The pilot? Maybe he can fly you two out and then-”

     “Owen,” I tried to break in, but he continued to ramble. He spoke unabashedly. “Owen, please.”

     “Come on, Y/n,” he jabbed. “He’s a good looking guy. How could you not-”

     “I’m hanging up.”

     “No! What the hell is going on?”

     “Don’t want to talk about it.”

     He sat back in his chair. When I finally looked at the screen and took in his expression, I knew he got it. Maybe.

     “Since when?”

     “Since when, what?” I dodged.

     “You’re not seeing that guy.”

     “Well, since it wasn’t anything but fun anyway-”

     “Jesus,” he huffed. He did not bother to wait for my response. “When are you gonna give this up and take meeting someone seriously?”

     “Maybe when you-”

     “Dumbest argument ever.” He flipped me off and my jaw dropped. “I at least got married. Divorced, yeah. But I was married and loved it, remember? You won’t even try for fuck’s sake.”

     “I’m just saving a whole lot of trouble for someone.”

     “Bull shit.”

      “You’re not my therapist.”

      “Considering you don’t have a therapist, I kinda am, sis.”

      “Owen, let it drop.”

      His eyes pierced the screen and hit mine and my cheeks colored all the more. It was the same look mom would deal out when we were caught avoiding chores or doing something naughty.

      “I just want you to be happy.”

      “I don’t need to be in a relationship to be happy.”

      “No, but you sure as shit deserve to be happier.” He fell quiet and I picked at a bit of dry skin on my palm. “I know this year is hard. Shit, every year has been hard.”

      I swallowed. He looped us back to a conversation from my prior year’s birthday. I had officially out-lived my mother. To think that by the time she was thirty two, Corrine had lived her whole life. The notion made all the bruises of losing her and Dad all the more fresh. Grief is strange that way. Loss does not get easier as the years pass. It doesn’t heal. No. Those are the kind of wounds that are permanent. They rear up every day and your brain just puts the pain into a box with a lid and a label to remind you. But it never goes away. Owen was the only one who knew who Mom and Dad were for us. Gran might have been her mother, but Corrine was our mom. That kind of permanence doesn’t go away. Not ever.

      Feeling wrung out and done, I told my brother that I loved him and would talk with him in a few days. Upset was not the right word. It was easy to brush others off as just not understanding the situation. With Owen, hiding was not an option. What was an option was to shove the whole conversation to the side and ignore it for a few blissful hours to focus on research. 

     “Fuck,” I sighed as I looked at my scattered pile of notebooks and the singular tab that was open on the laptop. 

     What was there really to research? I had followed the thread of Jake Thomas and of Yakov Petrov to its end. Whoever the hell it actually was in that cemetery was just as elusive as the story itself. Was there a pirate? Yup. Was there a love story right out front and center? Yes. It hurt my head all the more that both were dead and stuck in a cemetery trying to figure out how to ‘move on’ but not leave each other.

      “God, this sucks balls,” I griped.

      How dramatic would it be to torch a manuscript? Would it hurt? Would I laugh maniacally as I dropped it page by page into the open flame? Or perhaps let it spoil in the rain. Ah, even better - cast it to the wind off some mountain would be delightful, I would imagine. The writers of old must have relished in the self murder of their work, unlike what it takes today. Striking a simple delete key does not seem to have the same killing stroke.

     My vibe must’ve been casting a bat signal as a text came through from Vin, scheduling a check in in a few days. I grimaced. I was going to have to get my shit together and make my story the best ever gothic pirate romance. Fuck my life. In truth, I was at a dead end. No pun intended, of course. Guitar Jake or Yakov the Artist. There was no real way to incorporate them in the story either. Maybe they could be side characters? The dynamic could add to a comedic element. Twentieth century hedonist rock star meets nineteenth century hedonist artist from deep in his own family tree…

     “I have officially lost my shit,” I muttered as I made myself move away from my perch at the table.

     Truth be told, if my research was complete, there was no reason to stay in Frankenmuth - was there? The idea seemed wrong. The thought was frayed at the ends like it was trying to stop me from leaving. I melted into the soft cushions of the sofa. Funny idea that was - but why? My fingers found the comfort of the tangled, corded fringe of a pillow as my mind began to drift.

⭒☾   I smoothed the scratchy lace down across the bodice of the dress. The pit of my stomach bristled with opposition. I did not need another party. I did not need to dance and smile and laugh falsely. I did not need to breathe in smoke and the same conversations over yet again. I wanted to lay with my Jakub and feel his warmth around me. I wanted to read to him and him to me and listen to his breathing with the crash on the velvet shore as the sun cast its last rays to the sky. I wanted to feel his strength and bask in the heat of us.

      However, there I was, walking down the grand stairs, eyes cast to me as if I were some entity to be in awe of. Father was clapping his hands and his voice was booming across the house guests in a tone of celebration. The players began to draw their bows across their strings in a lively jig that tugged the gathering to the wide planks of the ballroom. I blew out a breath that was sour as I cast a wary eye at the backs of my guests. I took refuge with my lovely sister-in-law, Celeste, in the sitting room where voices were hushed and tempers were placid. Somehow, she had hidden a tiny book of sonnets in the folds of her skirts. We read together and kept out the voices of those around us. 

      “Have you seen him? Has he been here to call upon you?” she whispered, her voice full of conspiracy wrapped in grace.

      I nodded as I turned the page. “Been here two days and every moment he can, he is here.”

      “I thought I had caught a glimpse of him on the beach when Astrid and I were at the market this morn,” she said. Her smile was dreamy as she leaned into me. “He’s so handsome. If all you say is true, Maéva, he is a good man that you love.”

      The words shivered across my skin and tingled in my breath. Celeste was my only confidant. She was the only one that knew of how my heart fluttered and my smile sparkled any time my Jakub was near. She was the only one I knew would not cast judgment to his station in this world, as she herself was the daughter of a stablemaster. And she was just as giddy as me when it came to my tales of how we would dance in the tide as it tumbled ashore, or the little trinkets that he would bring to me from his ports of call. She would swoon just as much as I would over the pretty little rock or the pressed flower that would remind him of something I wore or made him feel.

     “Dance with me.”

      I looked up to find Matthias hovering above me, his hand, although turned up for me to take, was kept against his hip bone. I did not like his face. There was a darkness about him that he did not shake, nor did he try to truly hide. His status as a future viscount was his bank that he had overdrawn upon to make himself elevated over the rest of us. We all knew why the viscount had brought his family to this place - he was poorer than those that made their way on the beaches and on the ships of the harbor. He only presented lavishness and superiority due to the blood in his veins. Looking into his dead eyes and his flat mouth, I made my apologies that I was not well enough to dance. Celeste slid her fingers through mine to hold me close.

      “I am sorry, sir,” she said as if her tone was filled with silk. “But our Maéva feels a fever coming upon her-”

      He reached for our joined hands and separated us. “She looks plenty strong enough.”

      I searched for my father, but he was too busy clapping Matthias on with encouragement that I knew any argument would be for not. The anger toiled under my breath as I voided my expression. One dance. And then I could build upon Celeste’s fever fib. My eyes stared forward while my feet and frame moved in time with the players. I imagined my Jakub, dressed in the fine fabrics that Matthias wore, showing off the strong body and grace he had been blessed with. I saw him with his hair drawn back and his hands polished. But that was not him. No. My Jakub was wind blown and wild and hardened by work. His mind was open and his words were shaped by his experiences. That was the man I loved. Threadbare and hungry.

      Father and the viscount were close, talking with wide smiles. Their words were fast and glib looking. Father’s excitement was palpable. His hands were like two excited birds flitting around him. I gave the man I danced with no satisfaction of words. But then he gave me only silence anyway. It was as if he and I were in unvoiced agreement to pacify the patriarchs that were obviously so much more aflutter over our nearness. Soured thoughts were bending the joyful notes that filled my ears. Each face that I looked upon held anticipation and cheer. Anxiety stabbed at my feet. My limbs turned heavy as I turned away from him to give me some distance from his nearness. Celeste hurried towards me, her pretty face stretched with concern.

      “Come. The air grows too close for us here,” she was saying as Matthias reached to catch my shoulder.

      “They expect us to dance, madam,” he said, voice icy and hand heavy on my skin.

      “They can be disappointed then,” she remarked.

       My feet fumbled forward. I was thankful for the full skirt to hide such ungainly steps. My breath felt hot in my mouth and my stomach lurched. Everything felt woozy as Celeste maneuvered us through the tangle of guests. I wanted my rooms, but instead, she drew me to the parlor where she could shut away the eyes and wagging tongues but get me to sit.  

      “You do have a fever,” she said as she cast the window open.

      “No,” I said, wiping at my mouth. “I was just faint. Perhaps his sickish perfume was too close to my nose.”

      “He really is a brute. I heard Abel saying some rather unkind statements about that one.” She was pouring a few drops of wine into a tiny glass as I tried to compose myself. “We can hide here for a while. I’m sure Papa will be on the hunt for us, but I say let him hunt. I do not trust him when he is with the viscount. He changes when that man is near.”

      She was correct. Father changed in the face of bred privilege. My soul quivered across the notion. My father’s intentions were becoming very clear. It sickened me. I wondered if they were in negotiations for my hand already, or perhaps still in the discovery phase like two dogs, sniffing at each other to see if the carcass of the other was willing to submit. Tears prickled at my eyes at the thought. I had no control over this and it was as if I was a prized bitch looking to be sold. Celeste took to my side, but I could not be consoled. I wanted my Jakub. Such a simple dream to love him and be with him… ☾

      My lungs burned like I had been under water too long. I sputtered and coughed through emotions as I pushed away from the couch. I was crying. My cheeks felt hot and sticky and wet with strangled cries that I had just been having in my dream-state. I was quick to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water to cool the effects. The dreams were getting harder to take. I had tried to write them down as is, but they were like smoke through my brain, too thin and elusive to really record. Although, I was discovering that elements of these pieces were landing more often into the story. Spooky. It was the sense of my brain leaking out uncontrollably onto the proverbial page that bothered me more than the gothic pirate love story as a whole.

     I needed out of the rental for a bit. It was too late for lunch, but early supper wasn’t a horrible thing. Deciding on the diner, I packed up my bag and thought perhaps I could tuck into a corner and proof the last few pages over coffee and sandwich without having to hog a booth or table during a rush. I was correct that it was not busy, but there was a rather large, loud group that had pushed six tables together in the middle to accommodate their numbers. By the look of it, it was a men’s group that was meeting for their afternoon dose of gossip.

      I slid into the booth that the server had waved me to. My eyes rolled closed over the first sip of steaming coffee. God that was good. I tucked behind the laptop, fighting to keep my expression blank as I read over the squishy words that I was daring to call worthy of a story. I sat back as the server returned to take my order. As I handed her the menu, I noticed a set of eyes I had seen before - faded blue jean colored and a very sun weathered smile met my gaze. I grinned at the kind man from the park who had been working.

     Dinner finished, and some hot gossip taken in with hearty laughter, I decided to walk through the park by the library, and perhaps step foot inside as it had been a few days since I had looked across the books and care that Becca and the others had helped me through. Stopping at the florist, I purchased a few large plants to take along in thanks. It would be my first step in severing the connection here. I owed them so much, even if it did not amount to what I would really be using in the story. 

      “I come bearing gifts,” I announced as I struggled through the door.

     Becca was quick to help. “Oh, these are lovely.”

     “I thought a little more green in here would keep you bright,” I said, smiling across the wide range of plants and live displays that would carry the library through the winter.

     I helped her put them close to the windows by my workstation. I grinned as I looked at her. “I’m afraid I’m nearing the end of my stay,” I admitted, my fingers drifting across the huge binding of the newspapers.

     She smiled. “You’ve found what you’ve come for.”

     I nodded, though reluctance swam across my heart. “I believe that I have. You have been so good to me here.”

     Emotional outburst aside, it was going better than I planned. We chatted a bit before I set into the books that had become the path of my story that made my fingers itch, despite not really liking the plot. Perhaps I will settle into it at some point. 

      “Oh my goodness,” Becca exclaimed from behind the glass of the back office. 

      I was not the only one to sit up, prairie dog style looking for the source of upset. She was making her way towards me with a look that might have been inspiration. I glanced around to find that other patrons were just as puzzled as I was.

      “I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before, Y/n,” she proclaimed as she had eyes cast down on her phone, scrolling. “What was I thinking? Or… well. Not thinking is more like it.”

      “Uh, wanna catch me up here, Becca? I’m not from here, remember,” I laughed at her flustered state, sure she was thinking full sentences, but what was coming out made no sense.

      She grinned as she waved at me. Her exuberance washed over me and it was hard not to get caught up in it, even though I had no idea what was going on. “I have someone I need you to meet.”

Chapter 8.2: Swansong in the Graveyard

     “We need to run.”

     The words blazed in my thoughts as I watched the creature rise from my grave once more. I had come to the decision that this feminine form could not be Maéva. If the memories that had been shown to me thus far were true, then this thing could not be her. If this thing were my soulmate, there would be no hesitation within and know me for what I am - hers. And the truth would be the same for me, but all I could feel towards it was… curiosity. Perhaps anger. Jealousy, even. How such a creature could be doomed to repeat or seem to repeat the same construct of a path over and over without meaning…  Wait. What am I if that road of thought were true?  What am I in this half existence but the same as the creature - am I nothing more than goo from the ether that has been chained to a strip of ground because of some man’s greed and foul nature? For lack of a better phrase, I closed my being off from the lights of the world as the creature slipped away once more. Could something such as myself be petulant? The stray thought struck as the gate whined to its closed position.

     “We need to leave.”

     Her hands were shaking against my chest. Whatever had happened had just occurred. She had run to me still dressed in her fine cream and olive green gown. The lace puckered and draped across her breasts and dripped from her shoulders. I could not stop myself from dragging my fingers across her collarbones and up along her graceful neck. I tried to soothe her with my words and touch and kisses, but she whipped herself away from me.

     “Jakub!” she cried, her delicate fingers tucking into tight fists.

     “Just tell me then what has happened,” I said, unable to keep the edge of impatience from my tone.

     She withdrew a few steps. Her features slacked with an expression that made me quiet. “I am to marry.”

     The bottom of my very shallow world fell away. I could not understand her words that she continued to speak. Every bit of me was frozen on the notion that she was meant for another.

     “Jakub,” she whispered.

      I kissed her. It was all I could do. Our dream was to be severed. I pressed my fingertips into the plump of her blurred out cheek and the hardness of her back as if I could force her to be part of me through this mourning. She reeled back from me with a frustrated cry.

      My thoughts thinned and I found myself kneeling, hands dug into the darkness of the dirt. I begged the cosmos to allow me to see her - to see my Maéva. To know her features, her expressions, her… her soul and how it resided in her eyes. I could feel her innocence. I could feel her goodness. It danced across my fabric. But to just glimpse her eyes and know her. My chin tipped and I looked into the velvet of the night sky and the swirl of songs and begged for that scrap of memory.

      “No- no, Jakub,” she stammered. “We can leave this place - together. We can go to the east! We can build our lives there!”

     “Maéva, you don’t know what it’s like-”

     The sound she made hit me. I had insulted her.

     “I don’t know what? How to live without my family? Or do you mean to say I do not know how to live without my family’s wealth?”

     I felt a sigh bubble through my chest. “You don’t know what it truly means to be cold or hungry. Despair is not what I ever want for you.”

     “If it means we are together, I would gladly show you what strength lies in these bones of mine.” 

     She was so resolute. So sure of herself. It was the trappings of her always having what she needed that gave her that kind of confidence. I felt small for these thoughts. She possessed such knowledge, such a drive to learn - but this. What she was asking would take away the shelter that allowed her to thrive in that world.

     “Jakub - you could learn to farm, or build ships or apprentice in some other trade,” she was explaining. “And I could teach!”

     “Teach?”

     “I taught you. Surely there is no other more stubborn student!” Her laugh was pulling at my resolve. “Or I can learn to be a clerk, or even farm at your side if you are willing to have me.”

     She was reaching for me once more and I could not keep my hands from passing across the fine fabric that held a menagerie of flowers and moths and swirls of colors that I could’ve studied for days to pick out all of the finer details. She knew there was nothing I would not do for her. But this - to just run. To leave them all behind and live in this world together - as equals.

      “My mother,” I whispered into her hair.

     “Of course we will bring her,” she said without hesitation.

     Her exuberance was hard not to purchase in to.

     “You have been to Boston and New York. We can make our life there. We could be free there,” she continued on.

     I paused, knowing that no ship would be leaving any time soon. “When does your father expect this wedding?”

     “June.”

     The lake ice would have the harbor locked up for a few more weeks. If LaBeau was willing to wait to give his daughter away, that gave us the opportunity to book passage. My purse was too light to do this - to make our escape. I was already a beggar. How was I to do this without coin, without…

      She kissed me and led my hands against her fine dress. She was shivering with cold. I folded her close knowing that I needed to return her to the cage of her rooms - at least for now. I wrapped my coat around her, the bite of cold nipped at me but she allowed me to hold her close as we began to walk. Maéva was like a bird, chirping out plans and flittering with excitement. 

     The doubt attacked in the silence of my brain once it was alone. How could I care for her? Surely she would come to regret stepping so willingly into the depths of poverty and find her love turning to resentment when the realization came that her belly was empty and her body exposed to the true harshness of this world. To know that she would willingly walk into the sheer unknown only because she loved me, set my brain on needles with thoughts of unsureness. She trusted that I would provide what I could and in trade she would care for me. Though these lands of the new world were framed as obtainable dreams, that was still only true for those of wealth. Maéva would grow tired of the scrabble to just survive on the daily means of hard labor. Perhaps I should walk away and let her to her path of husband and titles and …

      My gaze turned to the way the tops of the trees bent under the angry gust of wind. It matched my own thoughts. I had entertained leaving her behind? I wanted to leave her to a fate chosen by her father? If an entity such as myself could feel shame, I am sure I was feeling it the only way I knew how. The waves of color that thundered around me, billowing into storm clouds, were gathering to punish me. Fun was on them - apparently all of this was punishment across all time.

     I had watched the ice slowly crush against the shore. Maéva fought with me to take her purse and purchase three tickets on the first ship that could carry us east. It was going to be hard enough to try to get her aboard without recognition, but to be forced to use her own money - it was not the start to our lives that I wanted and it bruised my ego in a way that was difficult to swallow. After years of watching my mother struggle to keep us alive, then adding my hands to the work, it was beyond hard to take her money, no matter the cause. I had fought my way through this life. I would fight my way to get away with her, even if it meant I had to take her as a married woman - take her from that rogue of a man her father deemed better.

     It was bitter. My need to stand in our way because of some perceived notion that I had to be a man for her was dragging upon us, threatening the tender thread of a chance that waited for us. What a fool I was.

     Another grand ball celebrating the engagement roused me from my sulking, for that was what I really was doing - acting like a child who had been scolded and paddled. I snuck up onto the side patio, staying to the shadows with my eyes searching for Maéva. There were musicians playing and people moving around with huge smiles that oozed privilege. I saw LaBeau waving his arms around and acting like he was the rooster on the field while his daughter stood at another man’s side. I hated it - the sight of that man, that Matthias, being so close to her made a rage boil in my belly that I could not tolerate. 

     Their hands met and he guided her through a dance that made the guests of the party clap their hands and smile their most beautiful smiles. No smile was upon Maéva’s mouth, however. Quite the opposite. What more, Matthias mirrored her hard expression. I watched as she turned, full of grace, full of beauty while her father beamed in his greed and lust for title for the family. And the man who was equally bright - that must have been the viscount. He was practically leering over the merchant’s purse that swung so heavy at his side and dripped from the walls of his marvelous manor house. They were the mechanism that drove this union, surely.

     I caught Maéva’s eye, but withdrew deeper into the shadows. Amongst the smiles and delicate music, I solidified my presence as an outlier. I would free her from this fate that her father wanted more for himself than for her. To know that he would damn her for a few scraps of veneration was sickening. Was his wealth not enough, must he really have a title to put before his name as well? 

     Pathetic.

     The veil of clouds streaked across the velvet of night, curling and swirling through the air like the smoke from Monsieur LaBeau’s fine pipe. I could feel the anger I had felt across the expanse of time. If that was a lesson that I needed to learn from, then in my stubbornness, I never learned to let that malice subside. I could feel it still bubble and toil on my echoed thoughts.

     I stole away from the manor house like a stray cat turned away from its supper. I lingered on the edges of the beach, not wanting to be seen by anyone for fear of seeing the toil of my struggle over her. I had sequestered her coins under the floor of my bed. I would collect those coins and find a ship to the east coast. It would be easier to hide in a city. Perhaps we could get to Savannah. I had listened to a fellow deck hand ramble for hours about the warmth and wild beauty of the near tropical port. Or maybe Philadelphia. There were many, many people there making hiding amongst them easier.

     I knew she would be in the market the following day with her matron. We’d found it easy enough for me to shadow her for a chance to talk. It was always near the baker when Leila would have her attention pulled enough away from her charge that we could sneak away for long enough for the woman to take no notice. The morning found me lingering amongst the fringes of the market square, my stomach empty. Mother had used the last few coins for medicine for the woman next door. The babe had been sick for days. Mother had been trying to apply the typical remedies, but the fever was slow to break and it was obvious that the child's needs were beyond her hands. She bartered where she could, but when there was nothing left to barter with, she would turn to what her body may earn. I would be sure to beg the stable master and the blacksmith for work, even if it meant for a few scraps to get us through a few days.

      And there it was once more. I hid this from Maéva. This aspect of struggle. I wondered if I did it to protect her or keep her blind? It did not matter. She would hear me once more lay out what was ahead, but I knew in my heart that she would not listen. She would have to learn hunger and need through experience and I would have to keep my tongue about me as she waded through the mire in hopes that she would not wake and realize the horrible mistake that she was making on loving me.

     Close to midday, I was near giving up that she would arrive, and getting more frustrated as I knew I should be finding work for my hands, not standing idle. Finally, she appeared, fresh and bright amongst the damp and dingy pier. I fought my heart from just running to her. How foolish would that be. No. I waited and quietly watched as she looked over the wares she was there to procure for another day in the grand house. Her matron was already looking thin of patience. I wonder if Maéva had deliberately worn her through before even reaching the market for the sole purpose of this visit. I bided my time, moving slowly and making sure to look at the different vendors before stopping once more before the baker’s stall. My stomach stabbed and complained. I was fighting the urge to snatch a lump of bread that had been cut apart and tossed to the side as stale as it was easier to feed it to the birds than a human in need. I dug my fist deeper into my torn pocket in hopes that it would keep me from the easy notion of theft. She approached, relieving my thoughts of my hollow belly.

      “Good day,” she whispered, hiding her mouth in her outstretched arm.

      I smiled and nodded as I looked for the matron. “Talk?”

     I moved away as was our warrant in such affairs. I would find her once more closer to the beach once she was able to slip the eye of Leila. There was a spot under the well trod boards of the pier that was in between the massive pylons where the boulders sheltered the land. I waited, breathing in the soured, fish riddled air. Maéva appeared in all of her faceless brightness, but I could feel her smile radiating off all of her body. It was always the same without fail whenever she came near. I could only imagine what I actually looked like, but on the inside - I swooned over her nearness.

     She took my hand and I leaned in to kiss her mouth, but I stopped before the sweet crush touched my lips. “Will you want to go to Savannah?” I whispered.

     Half of a breath later, her arms were thrown around my neck and her lips to mine with a trill of laughter. I found myself caught up in her exuberance. My love for her was absolutely consuming and yet so strong that I felt as if I could sustain on our love alone.

     Coyotes chirping in the distance drew my eye back to the present. The creature was once again laying upon my grave. It was torture not knowing the significance of this being. Or perhaps it was the anguish of knowing this lingering was my form of purgatory. I was languishing across centuries of time that I should have been with her - with my Maéva. 

Yeah. So where do we go from here? 💚

Tags are in the comments as it seems to work best that way! If you want to be added, let me know.

@edgingthedarkness @its-interesting-van-kleep  @lvnterninthenight  @katuschka @thewritingbeforesunrise @ignite-my-fire @takenbythemadness @jakekiszkasbuttsweat @fleet-of-fiction @demonrat444 @klarxtr @peaceloveunitygvf @hollyco @lipstickitty @joshym @itsafullmoon @josh-iamyour-mama @jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka @way-to-go-lad @jjwasneverhere @gretavangroupie @emojakekiszka @wetkleenex-gvf @vanfleeter @losfacedevil @myownparadise96 @lizzys-sunflower @literal-dead-leaf @musicislove3389 @raceb14

[lacebird]

just him and purple ♡

[caelanglang]

when they started to fall, it never stopped : skk

[valhallavalgrace]

How have your interactions with your floormates been? Do any of them seem particularly friendly?

I think this might be your guy to talk to, Leo, just a hunch...

prev ask

[puppyeared]

i feel like im not making any sense but does anyone else feel like there are stories that let u run with them and ones that spell everything out for you

[fareehaandspaniards]

What are fingers? (I don't know) And another post of Ymir adoration

I'm so confused trying to realize the logic behind the existence of the Fingercreeps. We have Ymir. He's a high priest. A former follower of the Moon. A Carian - he taught young Rellana, confessed the stars and chanted them, and he is also obsessed with the Fingers (or rather, their birth). Beneath his cathedral can be found Metyr, the Mother of the Fingers. As well as under the cathedral of Manus Celes, the Two Fingers that Ranni killed.

(Also they look much more like Metyr than Two Fingers from Roundtable hold)

These cathedrals are ancientt. And the Fingers have always been there; we can tell from the name that they are cathedrals erected on the site of the Fingers. As best we can tell, High Priest Ymir is VERY closely related to the Carian sorcerers - he also has in his arsenal spell of Miriam that attacks us in the Carian library. Plus, the statue in the Carian library shows him wearing robes like Rennala's and a headdress similar to Ymir's.

But I can't understand - if the Fingers have always been around the Carian family, how could the Liurnian Wars have happened? The Liurnian Wars were a conflict between the Golden Order and the sorcerers. One didn't want to accept the laws of the other. But the Two Fingers (and other fingers) - the RETRANSLATORS of great will - have always been with the Carians? How is conflict even possible if they lived hand in hand (lol) ? Perhaps I'm just being inattentive or not remembering something? Again, like with Bloodborne, where Sky and Cosmos are different realities, then here the Moon and stars are different things. The moon (as I understood it) is a deity and something along the lines of the Great Will, the Formless Mother, etc. Stars are the course of life, the very course of fate, which Radahn sealed, and which was used by astrologers back in the days of the neighborhood with the Giants on the Mountaintops of the Giants. Ymir denied the moon, but accepted the stars. He was an ardent orator and preaches things. Also, does he long for "redemption?" But to whom and for what?

Nevertheless, Ymir embodied a true ambition to take the place of a deity in his own mind. He is the high priest of Metyr, the mother, but a far better mother in his opinion would be himself. He has gone mad for love! Yuri may have been his first heresy - an attempt to replicate the miracle of motherhood, most likely with the power of Metyr herself. More likely, having created the unsuccessful Yuri, to whom he became attached with all his soul (We never once see the Fingercreeps usually have names), and the desire to become more powerful and embrace all possible Fingercreeps at once with his love was born? In the ashes of the young Fingercreeper it is said that they love their mothers very much when they are young.

Ymir desired this love :(

But I still do not really understand the logic with Liurnian Conflict and Carians/sorcerers being so much connected with Fingers and Fingercreeps. Two Fingers and fingercreeps seems to have one bloodline, they all come from Metyr and she comes from the Greater Will.

[triglycercule]

Murder trio

i actually cried seeing this in my inbox i will not lie. like actually fucking cried tears of joy /srs absolutely no words can express just how absolutely thralled i am that you drew this. i'm actually ACTUALLY so so overjoyed and flattered and so happy that someone could manage to encapsulate just how much i love the jk!trio and just how silly they are and how you put your own spin on this and made them just as cute and silly and amazing as i've always wanted to see I'M ACTUALLY CRYING THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DRAWING THE JK!MTT 😭😭😭

im so sorry for the late answer i have literally had no time to draw but TYSM FOR THIS I DREW MORE JK AU 4 YOU TO THANK YOU❤️❤️💜💜💙💙 ‼️‼️

they just got out of an extreme gaming session at the boardwalk arcade and now the suns setting and killer wants to get ice cream before it sets so they can watch the sunset but as usual she's a bit too excited for horror and dust to keep up and dust is absolutely dying (she gets ZERO excercise and killer is FAST) and horror just wants to take her time and also spare dust from killer's wrathful running speed. its ok though they manage to eat the icecream while watching the sunset even while slowed down (the vibes in this one are immaculate this is what jk fashion au stands for. silly fluffy important friendship bonding memories. i love. it's not full effort because i wanted to get this done quickly so i wouldnt respond late but im UNFORTUNATELY busy and now its been a day,,,,, I STILL LOVE THE ART YOU SENT ME THANM YKJ SO MUCH)

[derpinette]

SPERG YOUR HEART OUT