#and. oops. 5k words later

[o-wyrmlight]

Jean doesn’t lead you to your fire exit. Instead he takes you past Torson and Chester. Torson eyes you warily, still a little upset. Chester grins at you like he’s the big man on campus.

You round on him as soon as you’re in reach and grab him by the shirt collar. You press him harshly into the wall. You’re at least mindful enough not to rattle his skull, but you still feel the dim shock of his skinny body hitting the brick. He’s startled and yelps, his hands scrabbling for your neck. He tries to push you off, but you are a beast. You’re a goddamn monster. You do not touch a monster’s shit.

“If I find out you’re the reason my headphones are broken,” you spit, teeth bared and voice like venom, “you won’t be leaving this fucking building for months. You hear me?”

You mean to say, ‘You will be pushing papers instead of hitting the streets.’ It’s hardly a punishment when a guy like Chester is so chatty, but your hell is the office and there aren’t any women here for Chester to womanize. It may as well be the best you can (legally) do.

What he seems to interpret it as is, ‘I will beat the shit out of you so badly, it’ll take Gottlieb months to get you back into working order.’ It isn’t what you mean, but now that you’re thinking about it, your hands are itching and you still have your blood pen clenched in your hand. You need to cap it. The ink will dry otherwise.

Some part of you savors this. If you lean in close, you can feel your body press against his, leeching away his warmth. You can feel his heartbeat flutter along his pulse and taste the fear in his breath. He doesn’t fear for his life—you’ve only beaten one man to death in your life, and it was a pedophilic teacher at your old haunt.

No. He fears for his head. Torso. Limbs. He’s most afraid for his legs.

[tempestmothstorm]

Ok I have a whole section about this in the ddlc theme analysis that will take months to actually finish but the way the theme of nihilism plays directly into the game’s meta existence as a dating sim parody aughhughhhhh

Like most parody visual novels and parodies in general don’t expect you to get invested in the world it presents. Like who actually cares about the in-depth worldbuilding in the kernel sanders dating sim? Like unironically. Its setting either exists to make fun of the world or subvert it, never actually taking its base concept seriously.

And ddlc is like it too, making all the characters the embodiments of their tropes and having a dozen dumb contrivances to fill its cutesy quota. And the player base before playing the game expects it too, either joining for the hype, the horror, the lore, or the parody. Heck even I was like that, knowing all about the cool scares and meta stuff but none of the actual good writing until literally this year. Like no one told me about it the span of seven years. Apparently it wasn’t a selling point. This game has actual heart in it but from an outside perspective it was just another indie horror genre parody. Nobody came in actually expecting to get attached to the world of cute anime girl game featuring beloved anime tropes such as the tsundere and yandere.

And when Monika has her own epiphany she ends up having a pretty similar view too. A lot of things fuel her apathy and overall disillusionment with her life, but I think a big part of it is the fact that not only are the club members fictional, but they’re also badly written anime tropes. It’s like an insult to be compare to that, and yet here she is having to tolerate her existence being a poorly written joke. Nobody would actually want to care for unrealistic cliches, getting attached to badly written characters means you have bad taste allegedly. Why should she care for these tropes that are supposed to be her “friends”, when they have no meaning and can’t care about someone on a real deep or intimate level. Unlike an actual person, a cliche parody can’t have enough substance to mean something. They don’t feel real. They don’t even feel real emotions. Why would they change your life? Why should they mean something to you?

And being forced to live with npcs lab grown to appeal to the very specific fantasies of a stereotypical anime fan while they involve you in their insignificant shenanigans that mean nothing in the end where they get to enjoy the one thing you want more than anything while not being able to understand how lucky they are compared to you?

…Yeah it kinda sounds like hell. Especially for miss manga hater. And when you’re in hell looking at heaven, why wouldn’t you do anything just to get a closer look?

(Also shoutouts to AM in that one audio drama of ihnmaims specifically)

Uh. Problem with all of this. None of it is actually true with the club. They’re fully fleshed out people with depth and complexity. They are just as sentient as Monika is, and by the end of the game a lot of people cared about these characters, this world that was meant to be a parody ended up meaning the world to people. A world that is meaningless in the grand scheme of things holding value nonetheless. Because even if the world wasn’t made to be cared about, people still cared.

This was all probably intentional btw. Maybe not ddlc being labeled a viral mascot horror, but it did help in a different way. While Dan Salvato mentioned a lot about making this game as anime tropey as possible, he also wanted to tell a good story with good characters. He ended up putting his and others’ real human experience into these characters and making them real, characters who are still supposed be the embodiment of their tropes. It’s clear he love and cares about all of them, and it’s even clearer that the internet loves them just as much. Despite being cliches, they had real impact on people’s lives, teaching people new perspectives, allowing people to grow into something better, etc. By ddlc+, they ended up as characters that grew beyond their tropes and became their own people, something that was a big focus within its art and the side stories.

There’s something so genuine about these games that I never got to see as an outsider looking in, and I feel like a lot of people think about it the same way. The same way as Monika. The way that goes against the whole point of the secret ending. Even if they were a parody, the world still loved them. Even if they’re a bunch of ai in an existential science experiment, they could still love and care for each other. Even if they aren’t real. Even if nothing else is real. Even if their existence is meaningless. They can still love each other and find meaning in that.

And I think this meta narrative is just really sweet man. The game still ends with everyone in a bad situation, but that little spot of hope means a somewhat happy ending wouldn’t be antithetical to the game’s themes like other games with sad endings. Because even if the world goes against it and everything else sucks, they can still be happy, together. They deserve it. It’s ok to want them to be happy. There’s the chance for something better

Ok that’s it Ddlc is cool idc if it sounds cheesy I like it

[belphies-cowgirl]

obey me headcanons pt. 4

word count: 5K+ (oops went a little overboard, hope this doesn't flop though)

Lucifer

he has his records organized alphabetically (Satan & Belphie rearrange them at least once a month) 

he once stood in the kitchen at 3 am cutting up fruits and veggies into pretty designs for his brothers to eat for breakfast (even princess's poison apples in the shape of cats for Satan) but they all assumed you made them and you just agreed while half asleep at the table.

Mammon 

keeps all the notes you take for him in class in a folder hidden in the back of his closet (he never bothered to study half of them) 

shoves hell-sauce-flavored ramen cups under his couch when he doesn't feel like throwing them away. you found them all one time and he was so embarrassed and stuttering so much you thought he was gonna pass out. 

Levi 

dusts his figurines twice a week and has to have his manga lined up neatly in numerical order by series (he WILL hover while you put back one of his mangas that you borrowed)

once fainted when you came into his room cosplaying as one of his favorite characters. poor baby needed a few days to recover after that. but you looked so perfect wearing it and it made his heart explode on sight.

he is crazy talented at digital art, it's a secret hobby of his. you just assume he orders digital prints of your favorite characters off akuzon for you. but he's too shy and embarrassed to tell you he's the one who made them. he thinks you'll reject them if you find out. but it's just another way he shows his love for you, even if you don't know about it. 

Satan 

has cat hair all over his room (obviously) and used-up lint rollers under his bed. he wears a sweater and acts like no one can see all that cat hair.

has specific bookmarks for each genre, but he'll replace some of them with any bookmarks you make/give him. his favorite is the cat bookmark with a bell tied at the end of the string you got him for his birthday (sometimes he shakes the book to hear it jingle)

Asmo 

signs his name in cursive with a little heart after the "o"

sometimes he rubs his nose against yours and then walks away. don't question why, he doesn't need a reason to show you his undying love and affection.

he once shrieked when he found out Beel had accidentally eaten one of his bath bombs. that must explain why Beel sneezed glitter in the common room later that night. 

Beel 

keeps the receipts from all of the places you've both eaten at together.

loves it when you bring home leftover jam/sauce packets for him (he loves the mini-apocalyptic apple ones) 

loves it when you pack extra snacks into his duffle before Fangol games. he'll sit on a bench in the locker room after a game and happily munch on them while blushing. you're so sweet for always doing that, he'll reward you with forehead kisses when he gets back to the HoL.

Belphie 

will surprisingly spend time reorganizing his bed in the attic because he stole more of your plushies and has to make room for them (he picks one to curl up with each week) he refuses to give them back but will pout and whine when you say you want them back. if you try to take one back while he's napping his tail will reach out for it and hide it under the covers.

is a little shit (a brat and a menace but anyways <3) he'll whine when you try to get up from under the covers or if you move too much in your sleep. he'll wrap his tail around your leg or waist to keep you from moving. you went to stand up one time and fell forward because his tail was wrapped tightly around your ankle. he glared at you, scoffed, then rolled over, mumbling about how you're always so noisy and clumsy. 

Diavolo 

used to feed the Little D's. Barbatos found out about it because they kept leaving crumbs behind, and later scolded Diavolo and the Little D's. 

keeps a little figurine you got him as a good luck charm on his desk while he does paperwork. sometimes it distracts him because he'll glance at it and start smiling like an idiot just thinking about you, he always shoots you a text afterward.

Barbatos

listens to metal/rock and I refuse to believe otherwise.

sometimes lets the Little D's listen to music while they attend to their daily duties. they'll end up singing and dancing, but one glance from him and they get back to work immediately. 

Simeon 

leaves cute little notes in your locker or slips them into your textbooks/notebooks for you to find later in class. "good luck on your exam today! :)" or if he's feeling romantic, "you look even more ethereal than usual today <3" he has so much romantic rizz and is completely oblivious about it most of the time. like yeah, you totally just swooned and blushed for no reason.

has really good memory. he'll remember almost anything you say or do, but won't remember anything when it comes to technology. he'll be sitting next to you and randomly bring up the most specific thing that you did two months ago on a Friday. yet he can't remember how to check his call log or change a contact picture (he tries to change yours a lot because he just can't decide which picture to use, they're all so perfect)

Solomon 

drinks tea and coffee out of flasks and beakers sometimes because he's too lazy to wash a few mugs. 

he’s basically “malewife” material, but he does NOT need to be in the kitchen. there's a reason why you carry a mini container of antacids with you. he'll lowkey pout when he notices you keep making excuses for not eating his food. come on, one bite won't hurt, he put so much love into that oozing sandwich that just moved a little bit on the plate.

lets you doodle on his notes during class (he teases you about it every time) he writes around the doodles and will cut them out once he no longer needs the notes. he uses them as bookmarks or keeps them in his little memento box. he's the type to keep movie tickets and polaroids with the date written on the back. he kept a polaroid of you making a surprised face when you realized he was taking a picture of you sitting on his bed wearing a facemask and snacking while scrolling on your D.D.D. 

Luke 

keeps a mini first-aid kit in his backpack. did you get a papercut? he's got a bandaid on standby.

he’ll sometimes leave a sweet treat in your locker for you to eat during lunch (in a tupperware container in case you wanna save it for later) he's so precious and puts so much love into his baking.

hides frosting tubes in his nightstand drawer. will throw them all away in a random trashcan at RAD when he's finished with them. can't have Simeon questioning the sudden pile of frosting tubes in the trashcan, which are coincidentally Luke's favorite flavors.

✄ ——————————————————————

feel free to comment, reblog, shoot me a message, or an ask <3

please do not use my work as your own! 

m.list

[mika-no-sekai-blog]

Heya love,

Thank you for taking my request! I hardly think you can ever disappoint!

So, Autumn Court is a rather traditional court, and we know how discriminating against females it is.

Picture Rhys and the IC being invited to Autumn for whatever reason may it be. There, he decides to wander through the grounds. Somewhere in a secured area within the forest, he finds a female sitting by herself—too gentle and demure to belong to Autumn.

She’s shy in her discourse and neglects to tell him who she is. Eris pops up suddenly and pries the female away from him in a manner that’s too protective and possessive to be friendly.

Later on, Rhys realizes that this young female is Beron’s only, and youngest daughter. Secluded from prying eyes, Beron has made sure no one knew who she is until he was ready to marry her off.

But when Rhys finds out, and the mating bond snaps for him, he’s ready to fight for her. Going as far as to ask for Eris’ help, who happens to be extremely close and protective of his baby sister.

I hope that was clear enough and not at all confusing. Take your time with it, love! And feel free to change any detail you deem necessary.

Thanks again🩷

This

Is

Perfect!!!!

Thank you so much🤩💕I love it so much that the story started to play in my head on its own and continued even in the dream. Hopefully, you'll like it

Moon princess

Word count: 9600+ (oops)

Warnings: mentions of Beron, court machinations, swear words, but no fights and no blood this time

I'm thinking about writing another part where they are slowly getting to know each other. Which I originaly wanted to add into this one, but tumblr stopped cooperating somewhere around 5k words in, messes up with saved text and takes forever to respond. Message is clear, I guess I have again too many WIPs in drafts. It happens all the time 🙄 Dividers by @tsunami-of-tears

Rhysand threw the pen on the desk and sighing leaned back in his big leather chair. Since early morning he was sitting in the office, writing letters, reading reports and sorting out complaints according to the urgency. It was already past lunchtime, but he didn't get even half through all the documents. He needed some distraction at least for few minutes.

In the very nick of time, the doors flew open and Cassian casually strode in, a massive sandwich in one hand, a piece of paper in the other one. He held only the corner of it between index finger and thumb, glaring at it as if someone had used it as a tissue.

"So.. What are we going to do with the invitation?" he asked with a full mouth.

"What invitation?" Rhys looked up, tired. This was hardly the kind of distraction he wished for.

"This one," general waved the paper. He flopped down to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. "From the Autumn Court."

Rhysand frowned. "I got invitation?" he asked with feigned calm.

"Yup," Cassian took another bite from his sandwich, a bit of dressing dripped on his shirt, but he didn't seem to even notice it. Rhys' mouth twitched.

"Oh, really? And remind me, when exactly did I get it?"

"Few weeks ago. Helion also got one. He wants to know what we assume about it and whether we will accept or no. He's still waiting for the answer by the way."

Rhysand raised brows at him. "So you wrote to Helion."

"Nope, he wrote to you right after getting it."

That was the last drop. Closing eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. "I think that we already talked about this at least a million times before, Cass. You can't take my mail, open it, read it and then keep it in your room."

Cassian threw up his hands and the dressing and slice of tomato flew out of the sandwich, landing on Rhys' expensive carpet. Rhysand eyed the stain, blood boiling in his veins.

"I don't do anything like that, bro! You know me. Plus, I don't remember that we've ever talked about such rule."

"That isn't rule I made up. It's called postal secret and privacy. Now bring all my mail! Immediately!"

"Fine, fine," Cassian fumed and rolled his eyes, but at last he stood up, throwing the invitation on the desk and left.

When the doors closed behind him, Rhys flicked his wrist and stain from the carpet disappeared. Then he reached for the invitation and cursed because it was smeared with dressing, too. Rhys licked his dirty fingers, commendably humming and wiped the rest of the dirt with tissue. His stomach loudly rumbled, reminding him that he should head out for some food soon.

He unfolded the paper, quickly scanning the text. Beron was inviting him and his family to a week of festivities on the occasion of a significant announcement. There wasn't written anything else, no more details. Rhysand sighed heavily, drumming with the fingers. His brain coils were working at full speed.

'Significant announcement'

What could it be? Considering that it was Beron, it couldn't be anything good. Because of Cassian, they had last two days left to prepare. He needed to know at least what to expect, so he could work up some plan later.

Azriel?

Claws of his power knocked on Azriel's mental shields. He answered right away, letting him in.

What?

Where are you now? Are you busy?

I'm preparing for the mission we talked about yesterday.

Rhysand considered it for moment, biting on his lower lip. Forget that thing for now or entrust it to someone else. This is urgent.

Azriel answered without hesitation. Fine. Are you in your office?

Rhysand loved how pragmatic Shadowsinger was. No questions. All he needed to hear to drop current job was that it was urgent. He didn't question him. Yes.

I'll be there in a minute.

When Az arrived, half hidden in his shadows as usual, he showed him the invitation and explained the situation. Azriel actually laughed when he heard how Cassian came, asking what was the plan. After that, he immediately disappeared in his shadows, heading to contact the spies they had in Autumn Court.

As expected, Azriel returned shorty before they were supposed to leave for the party. His spies didn't know much, only that Beron was secretly planning something big, the wards around his castle were strengthened and that the frequency of the correspondence between him and Spring Court increased in last two months. There was no time to contact spies in Spring whether they knew something more. Azriel planned to use the time they would spend in the Forest House to spy on Beron and learn more.

It was decided that only Rhys, Az and Cass would go. He didn't even try to ask Mor because he already knew the answer. However, he asked Amren and she clearly refused. She literally said that she would rather give up all her jewellery than listen to a single word of that old, pathetic excuse of a male.

Rhysand winnowed them to the Autumn Court close to the borders of the High Lord's estate. As soon as the world around them stilled, the brisk smell of autumn hit their noses. At gates, a dozen of soldiers stood on guard, armed to the teeth. They eyed them suspiciously, but let them pass. The three of them exchanged look as they stepped in, feeling the strong pressure.

"Putting up so strong wards and then inviting guests, one would think that your High Lord is planning something evil or he got himself a gem of size of his head," Rhys purred, but none of the soldiers even as much as blinked. Pursing lips he nodded. "Sharp guys. I wonder if they would stay still even if we started cutting off their limbs."

"I'm sure they would scream like females," Cassian grinned, folding arms on his chest.

"Are you trying to terrorise our guards, Rhysand?" a sly, bored voice spoke from somewhere behind them. They slowly turned around, arrogant as ever.

"Eris," Rhysand flashed his best cocky smile and shoved hands into pockets. "We are just merely testing them. Since when are heirs on the duty to come to the gates and welcome guests?"

"Ever since the so-called guests are mutts from Night Court," he snarled back, picking non-existent dirt from under fingernails.

Azriel was as always calm and composed, avoiding any attention, but Cassian was his opposite. He straightened up to his full height, squaring his shoulders and gritting teeth. "It's a good custom for the host to respect the guests, especially if they were invited, not to insult them. In Autumn, good manners seem not to be taught though."

Eris didn't react, only scoffed. He turned on the heel and started to walk towards the castle surrounded by reds and yellows. He showed them to their chambers connected by private sitting room, briefly informing them about the time of the evening party and that someone would come to show them the way later.

With a free access to the castle, Azriel didn't waste a minute and as soon as Eris left, he disappeared into the shadows to snoop around.

The party took place in a fancy ballroom. Rhys snorted at the sight of pure opulence, shoving hands into his pockets. Everything in this huge room was made of white marble with gold details, including a high vault ceiling. It was so polished that it looked like a mirror.

Autumn aristocracy and several of the High Lords were already here, so Rhys made a show of checking his appearance, keeping his mask of ruthless arrogance.

He had to admit that Beron knew how to show off his wealth. Massive golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, flooding room with bright light. In the vases next to each marble pillar around the perimeter of the room were big bouquets of flowers made out of gold and copper. The start of the party was planned for the sunset, so the whole room looked like made of gold. Amren would love this for sure.

Rhysand wouldn't let it show on his face, but inside he felt sick. It was overdone and suffocating. And he wasn't the only one who felt that way. Cassian was openly showing his disgust, Azriel scanned the surrounding from under his frowning brows, arms crossed on his chest.

"Finally some friendly faces and my favourite ones," a rich playful voice boomed on their left. Azriel rolled his eyes, not bothering to even look at the coming person and murmuring something about the need of a strong drink, he left. Rhysand with a cocky smile turned in time to see Helion, the High Lord of Day Court, giving a hug to Cassian.

"Good to see you, friend," he purred.

Helion hooked a muscular arm around his shoulders and winked. "What do you say about the host's taste?" he pointed with his chin to the ballroom, speaking lowly only for his ears.

"I say you must feel like home here," Rhys snorted.

Helion pursed his full lips, thinking about it. "Not really. But the drinks are good here," he swirled the golden liquid in his glass and waved them, already heading to the crowd. "I hope to see you later in the privacy of your room, so we can catch up."

Rhysand gave him just nod and his eyes turned to the dais in the same moment as High Lord of Autumn with his wife and sons appeared. Rhysand tried to keep his face emotionless as his eyes fell to the Lady of Autumn. He hated to see the visibly mistreated female, something about her reminding him of his late mother even though unlike Lady of Autumn she was strong and wild and didn't let his father to treat her badly. Maybe it was the motherly vibes they both shared.

He rather averted his gaze to the gathered crowd and half listening to Beron's speech, let his powers lurk around, looking for any useful information he could get from these people. His violet-blue eyes searched for Tamlin, the High Lord of Spring, between the High Lords. Maybe if he played it off well, he could find out more about the business Autumn and Spring were cooking up, but his golden hair and tall figure were nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Beron finished his boring speech with a promise of the big announcement on the end of this week of festivities. Rhysand despised the idea of waiting for the whole week. He needed to know what was going on in order the prepare for it, eventually come up with plan to sabotage it. The sooner he knew, the better.

He tried to find Azriel's mind in the crowd to give him orders, but with satisfaction he realized that Shadowsinger wasn't anywhere nearby, most likely already snooping around High Lord's quarters where he intended to send him. That male was a real workaholic.

As the evening progressed, Rhysand got even more bored. Chat with other invited High Lords led to nothing as none of them wanted to discuss anything of real importance at place where they could be easily heard by wrong persons. Cassian was cleaning plates, Azriel was who-knows-where and even Eris seemed to slip out to the night.

In need of fresh, cool air he moved to the terrace and then down to the gardens, looking for a quiet, dark corner where he could blow out the steam. The sounds of party slowly grew distant, number of guests on an evening stroll decreased. Rhysand didn't want to be disturbed, so he walked more deeper into the dark gardens. Thinking that he found the secluded place he needed, he looked around, noticing guards pacing on the edge where gardens turned into a forest. That piqued his interest. What could possibly be worth of guarding in the forest?

He merged with the night, getting pass the guards unnoticed. It was too easy and thus it was no fun. He hoped for at least a small hitch to make tonight interesting. Hopefully, whatever was hidden there, would be worth of the effort and provide him with some sort of excitement.

He dragged through the forest looking right and left, searching for something that didn't fit in. After half an hour he was ready to call it off, marking it as a great waste of time, when he noticed a soft light behind the thick bush. Carefully stalking closer, he stayed hidden in the darkness of autumn forest and took a look around.

There, hidden behind bushes and trees, spread out a clearing bathing in the cool silver light of full moon and in the middle of that on a fallen tree trunk sat the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. Her petite figure with soft features and porcelain skin glowed in the night. Dark brown silky hair fell in waves to her tiny waist. Dressed up in light, white dress that reflected the moonlight, surrounded by hundreds of fireflies, the small female looked like being of another world. Devouring that fragile beauty, he suddenly remembered the bedtime story mother used to tell him, his most favourite one. How could he forget it?

The story was about Moon Princess who spent her entire life, night after night watching Fae live, dance, laugh and love. Her desire to spend at least one day with them and experience the same things they did, grew so strong that she got sick, slowly fading away. When her father, Moon King, learnt about her desire, he decided to grant her her wish in order to save life of his only daughter. And so Moon Princess descended from the moon to the clearing in the deep forest, instantly feeling better.

At that time, young prince happened to be in the forest on his way back home, witnessing her descent. He immediately fell in love with her and took her to his castle. Gradually, she fell in love with the prince, but when the month her father granted her was coming to its end, she became sad and again fell ill. Her father couldn't stand to see his daughter suffer so much and allowed her to stay with her prince. After some time they got married, had a lot of children and grew old together.

When Rhys was younger, he dreamt about finding his own Moon Princess and having his happily ever after with her. Seeing this gentle creature in the woods now, he felt like he was witness of descent of Moon Princess he waited for. She took the air from his lungs and captivated his heart. Before he knew what he was doing, he stepped out from the shadows. Not wanting to scare her off, he cleared his throat, making as much noise as possible on his way to the fallen trunk.

Despite his efforts, she winced, covering lips like petal of rose flower with her delicate hands with elegant long fingers. Her doe eyes of colour of deepest sea gazed up at him. Recovering from the initial shock, she blushed, readying to run away.

"Don't! Please, stay. I mean no harm," he raised both of his hands, trying to calm her down. She was like a frightened animal. Rhysand assumed it would be for the best if he introduced himself.

"I'm Rhysand and I'm guest of the High Lord of Autumn. I was just on a walk when I noticed you sitting here alone. Are you lost?"

She shook her head, avoiding his gaze.

"What Court are you from? I happen to know all High Lords. I can help you get to the right one."

"I'm.. from here," she spoke shyly, her voice sounded to him like the sweetest melody. He swallowed hard, his palms sweating. What was wrong with him? He was feared High Lord who had more lovers in his life than he could count, yet he felt like inexperienced youngling.

"Can.. can I sit down here with you?" he asked out of breath.

How pathetic, Rhysand, he scolded himself. You finally found female of your dreams and you behave like total idiot. Bravo! She will certainly fall for you and agree to meet you again. You need to come with something better than this.

She bit on her lower lip, considering it, but at last she nodded, moving as far from him as she could. Rhys put on his most dazzling and kindest smile and sat down next to her. She blushed even more.

"The moon tonight is beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes, my lord, I suppose it is."

Rhysand snorted. "I'm not your lord. Please, call me Rhysand or just Rhys if you want. How should I call you?"

Female nervously fidgeted her fingers. "I think I should go." She was about to stand up.

Rhys' hand shot up instinctively, his fingers firmly but gently wrapped around her wrist. Mother above, she was so small and fragile like a porcelain doll. "Please, stay. I understand. No names."

She weakly twisted her wrist in his grasp and he let her go. She sat back down and Rhys sighed with relief, licking his lips. He wanted to make her speak more, yearning to listen to her voice from now until the end of his life.

"Do you come out here often?"

"I'm not allowed to go out much," she whispered hardly audibly, her shoulders slumped.

"How so?" Rhys asked with concern, his gaze again roaming over her petite body. However, he didn't get the answer.

Eris emerged from between the trees, his features twisted in anger.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed and taking female's hand yanked her to his chest. He looked her up and down, checking her for any injury quite roughly.

"Hey! Stop treating her like that! You are hurting her, asshole," Rhysand couldn't stop himself, his mask naturally slid down to its place and he was again fearsome High Lord. He stood up baring his teeth, ready to fight him off if necessary. He wouldn't mind to even kill him to protect this Moon Princess, as he decided to call her until she told him her name, and maybe even after that.

Female's eyes widened at him, but she didn't dare to say a word.

"How did you get here, Rhysand?! This is a private place where guests aren't allowed. If anything, the fact that guards stand at entrance to the forest, should make it more than clear."

"And you," he turned to the female. "What did you do here with this bastard? Why didn't you immediately leave when he appeared? If he finds out what happened here, we both will have a serious problem! Do you even understand that?"

"I'm so sorry. I wanted to leave, but.." she mumbled, cringing, her face pale.

"But what?! Return to your room! Now!"

"I don't know and don't even care who she is to you, but I won't allow you to talk like that with her," Rhys grabbed front of Eris's shirt, staring him down. He was only a few inches taller than the Autumn heir, though the effect was the same.

Female gaped at him in shock, but as soon as Eris let go of her arm, she backed few steps, then turned around and ran away. Rhys wanted to ran after her to make sure she wasn't hurt, but he banned himself to even move. His outburst was bad enough, giving out too much.

They stared at each other, heaving.

"Back off, Rhysand!" Eris snarled lowly.

"No!" he growled back. "Who is she?"

"That's none of your business," Eris glared at him, unmoved.

"Now when I met her, it is my business. I won't just stand by and watch someone hurt females for absolutely no reason."

Pushing him away, Eris burst into fit of laughter. "Good joke, Rhysand, really. Maybe you should clean up your own yard before you start poking your nose into other people's affairs." With that he left, heading in the same direction as the female.

Rhys just stood there, taken aback, gazing after his receding back. He didn't want to admit it, but Eris was right. There was still too much to improve in his Court, but that didn't mean Eris had any right to point it out. In this regard, Autumn wasn't any better than Night.

Later that night Rhysand was pacing in their sitting room, while Azriel and Cassian watched him from couch with concern.

"Don't you want to finally tell us where you disappeared?" Cassian groaned, sipping his drink.

"Did you find anything out?" Azriel added. Ever since he returned he was frowning, angry that he not only couldn't find anything useful, but also that Beron's office and chambers were so warded that he wouldn't be able to get in even if he had a whole month for it.

"Nothing like that," Rhysand growled. The thought of the female and her scared gaze where eating him up. He needed to see her, to make sure she was all right. But where to look for her? Then his gaze fell to his brother, half hidden in his shadows. If anyone was able to find her, then only he.

"Fine, so listen up," he groaned. While still pacing back and forth, he told them everything about his encounter with her and described every detail he remembered.

Azriel listened him attentively, nodding at last. "I will look for her while spying around. But I have to warn you - don't keep high hopes. There's an entire part of castle where I nor my spies couldn't infiltrate no matter how many times we tried it. And we work on that for years. If she is held captive in this castle, they can keep her there."

Rhysand sighed and ran hand through his hair. Eris knew her, but he wouldn't tell him anything. Could she be his lover? Or some secret fiancée? Wife? Or she belonged to another Vanserra? Just imagining that such fragile, young female was here to satisfy Beron's needs made him feel sick.

He needed to calm down, to do something to change the flow of thoughts, so he stepped to the bar and poured a glass of whiskey. He emptied the glass in one gulp, the liquor burning his throat. He grimaced and poured himself another glass. He sat down.

Cassian and Azriel started to discuss something, but he couldn't focus on their words even if he wanted. He could still see her in front of him, surrounded by silver moonlight, beautiful and so unearthly. He was only snapped out of the memory when Cassian put his big hand on his knee.

"Stop it," he muttered in amusement. "It's nerve-wracking when you nonstop tap your foot. Even Azriel here is getting nervous because of you."

"I don't-"

"You do," Azriel nodded, corners of his mouth twitching. With raised brow he looked at Cassian. "What do you think? Finally?"

"Finally," general agreed.

Rhys was confused. "Finally what?" he snapped.

"You are in love," Cassian howled with laughter and Azriel joined him shortly.

"I'm not in love. I'm just worried," Rhysand retorted, crossing hands on his chest and almost tipped the drink on his expensive shirt.

"And now he's even blushing like an innocent schoolgirl," Cassian was laughing so hard that tears were rolling down his cheeks.

"What's so funny?" Helion appeared on the threshold, light smile playing on his lips.

"Nothing. They are just two bored idiots," Rhysand groaned. Helion was the last person he wanted to find out about his encounter. High Lord of Day was the worst gossiper in entire Prythian.

"Oh, c'mon. I want to laugh, too. I'm bored here. This is the worst Court to be in."

"Because you would like to make out with a certain lady who is out of your reach?" Rhysand grinned. This lifted his spirit a bit.

Helion groaned, flopping onto other couch. "Don't even remind me of that matter."

To that Cassian started to laugh even harder.

Helion frowned at him. "Is he okay?" Rhysand only shook his head.

"Two lovesick birds," Cassian tried to calm down, Azriel next to him was massaging his hurting cheeks. He hadn't laughed so much in ages.

Helion watched them with wolfish grin and shiny eyes. "Idiots or no, I'd love to see them worn out in my bed anyway."

Azriel stopped smiling immediately, the idea had never been to his taste. Cassian just shrugged. "Maybe some other time, but thanks," he playfully winked at Lord of Day who obscenely ran teeth over his lower lip.

"I'm already waiting for the day."

Rhysand cleared his throat, grinning. "So.. Did you come for something specific or just to make obscene proposal to my brothers?"

"Actually, yes," Helion smiled, still undressing his long-term targets with eyes. "I and other High Lords are worried. You certainly already heard about something going on between Autumn and Spring."

"Sure, I did."

"I didn't see Tamlin at party tonight. I have quite bad feeling about this."

"Me too, friend," Rhysand swirled the golden liquor in the glass. "Me too."

"I guess that you don't have more detailed information on this matter that you could share with me."

"Unfortunately, I know just as much as you and the others. Azriel here is trying to find out something while we are here and his spies are snooping around in Spring, but we haven't heard anything new from them, have we?" He turned to Shadowsinger who only shook his head.

"But if you find out something, you will share it with us, right?"

"Of course I will. I can imagine only one scenario in which Beron is after the access to the Wall and human lands. We both know very well what it would mean."

"Do you think that Tamlin would allow such thing?" Cassian asked seriously.

"We can only hope that he has enough common sense to not allow it," Rhysand emptied his second glass.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

The week of festivities passed quickly. Beron prepared all kinds of activities to keep his guests entertained. Rhysand had stopped counting the number of hunts, competitions and banquets he absolved right after the first day.

Azriel spent most of the time in the shadows, spying all around the castle, following Beron like hound, but there were no news about the female nor the plans Lord of Autumn had.

Rhys started to have very bad feeling about this all and grew nervous with every passing day in dark. He kept his eyes on Eris who was obviously ignoring him, hoping he would make a mistake and take him to the female. However, Eris, the cunning fox, after the first ball never left the room, participating on every event from the beginning to the very end.

When it was finally time for the last ball, Rhysand was so nervous and irritated that even his brothers were avoiding the conversation with him. And he wasn't the only one. All gathered High Lords seemed to have enough of this shit show and masquerade, waiting only for the big announcement.

That evening, the atmosphere in the ballroom was suffocating, none of the Lords bothered to tune off their powers anymore. When Beron with his family appeared on the dais, five pairs of hostile eyes gazed at him from the crowd, waiting.

Thank you for coming and blah blah blah, Rhysand didn't really listen that old asshole, not until Tamlin appeared on the dais next to Beron who announced that they were intending to make an alliance together. Tamlin seemed to be taken aback to see everyone and to hear that they spent the whole week here, so apparently he wasn't invited for the shit show nor Beron bothered to notify him about the recent events.

"And to confirm my good intentions, my only daughter, Selene, will marry Tamlin," Beron declared.

The wave of shock ran through the crowd. As it seemed, even Autumn aristocracy didn't know about the existence of the mentioned daughter. High Lords looked at each other. Their worst fears had come true. Beron was after free access to the Wall.

However, right at that moment, it was the last thing Rhysand cared about. The doors behind Beron again opened and from the dark of the hallway a small figure emerged. Dressed in dress of moonlight colour with dark brown waves styled into a complicated hairstyle, his Moon Princess walked into the room. She looked up and their eyes locked. Exactly as that night in the forest, her beauty took all the air from his lungs, but it wasn't the only thing that happened at that moment.

Something inside him broke, the crack so loud everyone in the room had to hear it. And in that hole in the middle of his chest, a shimmering gold thread formed, blooming like a flower. The thread shot out, bridging over the entire room. Gently touching his Moon Princess, it wrapped around her and bound their souls together.

Rhysand watched it all with wide eyes and slightly opened mouth. As understanding hit him, he wavered and took a small step back, shocked. Beron's daughter was his mate. The Mother had a strange sense of humor, but in certain way it made sense. The feeling he had when he saw her on the clearing, the pull, the need to make sure she was safe. Of course she was his mate.

"What's going on?" Azriel, always the most attentive, as the only one noticed his moment of weakness.

Rhys couldn't take eyes off of her, barely managing to force his lungs to work again. "She's.. she's my.." He didn't need to finish the sentence.

Azriel's eyes also widened, jumping between him and the female. Even Cassian who overheard them, gaped at him.

"Are you sure?" Rhysand gave him a look and Azriel shook his head. "Of course, you are. Whatever you decide to do now, you can count on me," he said darkly, tendrils of shadows dancing around him.

"And on me," Cassian pat him on the back.

After the shocking announcement, the party was naturally over or at least for High Lords certainly, as they all left right away.

Helion stopped briefly at the doors of their chambers with grave expression to tell them that all the High Lords agreed that the wedding must not take place. For some reason they expected that the Night Court would take care of that, but they were ready to assist them if needed.

Honestly, Rhysand didn't remember much from what had happened after the bond snapped for him, not even how he got back home and to his bed. He lay there in the dark, unable to sleep, all the satin sheets suddenly too scratchy and insufferably hot. His mind was nonstop returning to the only thought - he had a mate and she needed his help.

He tried to analyse the moment when it snapped for him. He was curious whether she felt it too. Though, no matter how many times he replayed the scene in his head, he couldn't find a proof she felt it. Her eyes were sad, her expression shy and guarded. She walked into the room, stopped at Tamlin's side and accepted his waiting hand without a single wobble. She was shivering like leaf in the cold breeze, but all for the different reasons. At dawn he finally came to conclusion that she didn't know about the bond.

He kicked off the blanket and changed. He was determined to solve this problem as soon as possible. He wouldn't leave his mate in hands of any other male.

The Town House was completely silent when he ran down the stairs taking two at a time. The wedding was supposed to take place on the day of the autumnal equinox. That left him only a month to solve this. He didn't have much time and had to start right away. He rushed into his office, almost breaking the doors, and took a sheet of paper and a pen. Quickly he scratched letter and without reading it again sent it. He waited for the reply whole day, without leaving his office. He didn't even eat nor sleep. When there was no answer, next morning he wrote another letter.

Nobody came asking him what to do. His family already knew where they were needed the most. Azriel took all his spies and dividing them into two groups, he sent one group to Spring, the other one under his lead headed to Autumn.

Cassian collected all information and maps they had of the Forest House and looking for places where wedding could take place, he began preparing plans from kidnapping the bride before the ceremony to snatching her from groom's hands before they could say their yes.

Amren shut herself up in her apartment, searching old books with ancient magic for the ways how to break through wards.

For Mor, this was hard. She couldn't be much of help in this case, so she took it upon herself to take care of her cousin and made sure that he ate three times a day, took shower and tried to rest. She gladly accepted the role of an emotional support, listening to all his worries and self-loathing whenever he was in mood to talk.

On the fifth day when there was still no answer, Rhysand decided that he wouldn't wait any longer. He only had a limited amount of time and it was inexorably running out.

Without invitation he winnowed to the clearing near Tamlin's manor in Spring. As expected, it took only mere seconds and Tamlin appeared in his beast form, ready to turn the intruder into shreds. When he saw Rhysand waiting for him, he slowed down.

"What are you doing here?" he growled angrily. "I thought that not sending a reply is quite a clear answer."

"So you read the letters. I need to speak with you. You are doing enormous mistake-"

"That is not your business!"

"The problem is that it is my business. It's all High Lords' business, for the fuck's sake! You are going to open for Beron a way to the Wall!"

Tamlin snorted. "No, I'm not. I would do no such thing!"

"But yes, you are. Why else would Beron want to make an alliance with Spring?!"

"I can assure you that he won't get to the Wall."

"You are wrong and you know it. Whatever is going on, it won't take long and he will get what he wants."

Tamlin just gazed at him, muscles in his jaw ticking.

"What is it what you need so much that you are willing to work even with that old bastard, Tam?"

The beast's gaze wavered, but he wouldn't give in so easily.

"Tam, talk to me. We used to be friends and damn good friends. If it is a help you are looking for, I'll send you any kind of help. Do you need more soldier? You can have them. Money? Bride? Skilled officials to help you rule the Court? You can have it all, you just need to tell me. But don't go into alliance with Beron.."

Tamlin seemed to consider his offer. "I-.. I have tied hands.. I'm trying, but I shouldn't have been ruler.. I'm not built for state affairs. Everything is falling apart and now.. my advisers gave me an ultimatum.. They ask for heir otherwise they will leave me alone in this mess.."

Rhysand blinked in surprise at sudden honesty. With Tamlin, they had a lot of bad blood standing between them like a wall. Ever since Rhys' mother and sister were killed and he and his father killed Tamlin's family in return, they had hardly spoken. This was definitely progress or so he thought.

"I don't need your help, Rhysand," Tamlin murmured, "return to your Court before I make you." Tamlin pivoted, heading back into the forest.

Rhysand planned to solve this without mentioning Selene and the bond, but now there was no other way. Tamlin didn't want to listen and wouldn't accept his offer. This was the last thing that could change his mind.

"You can't marry her!" he called after Lord of Spring.

The beast stopped and looked back at him. "Why can't I?"

"Because.. she is mine."

Tamlin snorted, again moving.

"She's my mate." Rhys only whispered it, but the sweet spring breeze carried the words to his former friend. The beast halted in the middle of the step and fully turned to him. He searched him for any hint of lie, but when he found none, the emerald eyes widened.

"It snapped for me the moment she stepped into the ballroom and our eyes met. I think she doesn't know though," Rhysand continued quietly, hoping he would understand and cancel the wedding. All he needed, was more time to find a way to get her out of Autumn. He didn't ask for anything more. She didn't need to find out right away that he was her mate. He would be completely fine with only a friendship as long as he knew where she was and that she was safe.

Tamlin's eyes narrowed and darkened, one corner of his mouth lifted in a half grin. "Don't worry," he said lowly. "I'll take good care of her. She will have anything she wants and I will protect her. I promise you."

"But will she be happy? Without her mate?"

"If she doesn't know about that, I see no reason why she shouldn't be. One can't mourn something they don't even know that exists."

"Tamlin, you don't understand-"

"But I do understand," he interrupted him. "See you at the wedding. Or rather not. Now we don't want to try our luck, do we."

"Tamlin!"

"Get lost!"

Rhysand fought against the magic of wards that after the dismissal was forcing him to leave. He wasn't done here yet. However, not even a High Lord could stay in other Court if the Lord there expelled them. Unwillingly he winnowed back to his house.

He stood in the middle of his office, heaving heavily. Tears gathered in his eyes. He ran hand through his dark hair and then dragged it down his face. He looked around, searching for something that could ground him, finding nothing. He fell to his knees and yelled so loud that walls shook.

In a blink of eye Cassian appeared at his side and clumsily held him, checking him for injuries. He seemed to be relieved to find none.

"He refused," Rhys sobbed. "I told him and he refused.."

"I'm so sorry, Rhys," Cass spoke kindly. "But.. We will solve this. Don't worry. We all will do our best to get her out of there."

Next week Rhysand's mood was switching between being furious, coldly calculating and falling into depression. At the end of the week, Azriel returned and whole Inner Circle gathered to share all facts they knew and come with some solution. As far as they knew, Selene lived in warded part of the castle where only family members and chosen maids could enter. Azriel spent the whole two weeks trying to break in but to no avail. Amren also had no luck with her research. Wards were a complicated ancient magic and to break through so strong ones, they would need a very powerful and dangerous magical object like Cauldron that was lost for centuries and they didn't have time to look for it anyway.

Rhys only sat there, gloomy, listening. He was again falling into depression.

"What if we got help from the inside?" Cassian suggested, looking around the table.

"From Vanserras?" Azriel looked up. His hazel eyes lit up with idea and he turned to Rhys. "I think that it's quite good idea."

"Thanks," Cassian grinned.

"And who would you ask for help?" Mor rolled eyes. "Beron? His wife? Or his rogue sons?"

Azriel didn't pay any attention to her insults and continued. "I think that the heir would be willing to help us if we convinced him."

Rhysand finally looked up, frowning. "He told me that he doesn't want to see me anywhere near her."

"Exactly! Don't you see it? Who let her out during the party when Beron was too busy to notice it? Eris. Who was out there protecting her? Eris. Who is often visiting the warded quarters despite having chambers in a completely different part of the castle? The answer is again Eris. I'll bet that he goes there only to visit her. Several times a day actually."

"Why should he want to help us to kidnap her?" Rhys shook his head.

"Because he cares for her," Azriel answered simply, tilting head to the side in disbelieve that Rhysand didn't get it yet. "I heard that he isn't thrilled for the coming wedding."

Rhysand clenched hands into fists, thinking. During the last two weeks they had tried everything and nothing worked, even Tamlin laughed him out. There was nothing else they could do except of waiting until the wedding day and then try one of the risky plans Cassian had prepared for that case.

At last, he nodded. "Fine then. Can you deliver message to him?"

Azriel smiled. "Gladly. If you write it right now, he can get it tonight."

Two days later, Rhysand winnowed to the river bend on the border of his Court and hid into the shadows under the trees, waiting. He didn't have high expectations, he was avoiding the hope so as not to be disappointed in the end. The time ticked by while he watched flowing river, but in his mind he saw only her, his Moon Princess bathing in the silver moonlight with shiny big eyes and soft smile on her lips. He could keep watching her lovely profile forever. If that was all he was allowed in this lifetime, he would die a happy male.

Thirty minutes later another male winnowed to the same bend of the river, his red hair looked like blazing flames in the setting sun. He eyed the empty river bank and nearby tree line with arrogant, bored expression. He crossed hands on his chest, glaring into the waters.

Rhysand stepped from his hideaway, casually walking with hands in the pockets to the place where the other male waited at. "I already started to think that you won't come," he tried his usual cocky tone, but even to him it sounded fake.

"You are the one who wanted to meet up at this.. where are we actually?" Eris raised a brow, disgusted.

Rhysand shrugged. "Just old campsite. Nobody is coming here anymore, not after what happened here. Old story. The most important is that we can talk here without being overheard."

Eris clasped hands behind his back. "So? What is so urgent? I'm busy with wedding preparations as you know."

"That's the reason why I need to speak with you." Rhys swallowed hard. He was preparing for this discussion ever since Azriel left with his letter in the pocket. Despite everything he decided to be honest for once instead of making up lies. "That wedding must not take place."

Eris raised brows at him. "Why?"

"Because..," he tried to say it aloud, but couldn't, "it can't happen."

"Good try, but I don't have time for this. So if you don't have any good reason for this, I'm leaving." He pivoted.

"She's my mate."

"What?!" Eris turned back to him so fast that he almost slipped on the stones.

"You heard me. Selene, your sister, is my mate."

Eris just gaped at him, eyes wide, but at least he wasn't about to leave anymore.

"The wedding is the biggest mistake. I don't think she knows about the bond, but she won't be happy. You have to help me stop it."

Eris's mask slipped down for a moment and Rhysand noticed pain hidden beneath. "I can't. It's too late."

"It isn't. They aren't wed yet, there's still time."

"And what do you expect me to do? Do you want me to go to my father and tell him: hey, forget about the alliance with Spring, her mate resides on the other side of Prythian? That would 100% work."

Rhys rolled eyes. "No, just help me get her out of there. If there is no bride, there won't be wedding nor alliance. This will solve all the problems at once and nobody gets hurt."

Eris snorted. "And what about her? What will happen to my sister?"

"She can live here, in my Court. I'll protect her, give her home and take good care of her. You will be welcome to come visit her anytime you want."

Eris shook head in disbelieve. "You will keep her at your side like some sustained lover? No, in such case she's better in Spring with Tamlin. I saw them talking together and he was really kind and respectful to her. That's what she deserves, Rhysand. The respect. There might be no love between them yet, but it can change in the future. He will provide her with the same things you are offering, but he will make her his wife."

Horrified, Rhysand took a step back. "Lover? What? Don't put words into my mouth. She doesn't know about the bond and I won't push her into relationship with me. If she wishes so, we will be friends. She decides what we will be, not me. But if the bond snaps for her and she accepts it, I'll more than gladly marry her right away. In my Court, she will have freedom she never had and in marriage we will be equal. In everything."

He gave him a doubtful look, laughing. "Equal? Mother's tits! I won't believe such empty promises."

"These are no empty promises, I'm serious. Can you see me laughing? I'll make even a bargain with you. If she agrees to marry me, she will be my equal. I'll make her a High Lady."

"There is no such thing as High Lady." Eris stuck out chin, narrowing eyes.

"Then she will be the first one. Do you want to bet?"

"No, but I want that bargain."

"Fine," Rhys smiled for the first time since he learnt that his Moon Princess is doomed to marry another male. "So, what do you want in exchange for your help?"

Eris tilted head to the side, pressing lips into thin line. "Help for help. When the time comes, you will help me get rid of my father."

"We have a deal." After wording their vows, smell of magic filled the air and a small tattoo appeared on their bodies.

"Great that you agreed so easily. I was ready to get down on my knees if necessary," Rhysand grinned.

"That sounds like a lot of fun. Especially, in this awful state you are in. I think I'm going to change my mind."

"Good you can't," Lord of Night patted his shoulder with new tattoo.

Eris barked with laughter.

"Now tell me, just out of curiosity, is Selene really your sister or just half sister? It doesn't really matter to me, I'm asking because-"

"She looks so different?" Eris finished the sentence with fox grin. "She is my sister. Frankly, she looks like clone of father's great grand mother. I would show you her picture, but.."

"No need. I believe you."

Eris raised his brows doubtfully.

"How exactly do you imagine her abduction to take place? If your spymaster can so easily get into my chamber, I'd say you don't need me."

"Believe me when I say that we already tried to get to her. Unfortunately, not even my brilliant spymaster can get through your father's wards. That's why we need your help."

"I see. I'm relieved to hear there are wards that can stop you and your people."

"If we weren't in such time crunch, we would find way in for sure. But we don't have so much time now," he winked. "All I need from you is to get her out of the wards inside the castle. It really doesn't matter whether you take her to your room or to that clearing, as long as she will be somewhere where we can get to her."

Next hour or so they spent discussing the details of the abduction, so the both sides knew the exact meeting place, time and what to do. When Eris left, Rhysand return back home, feeling much better. In good mood he shared the plan with Cassian and Azriel who would go into the action with him. Now he just needed to wait for message from Eris. If he hadn't seen with his own two eyes how much young heir cared for his sister, he would doubt his intentions. This all was possible only thanks to the exceptionally strong sibling love and overprotectiveness. In moments like this Rhys thought about his own baby sister. What would it be like if she was still here?

Days were passing one after another without any news from the Autumn heir until finally four days before the wedding a small piece of paper appeared on Rhysand's desk. He opened it and skimmed a neatly written short message.

Cassian! Azriel! he called in his mind.

Ever since he made the deal, they were staying in their rooms in the Town House instead of the House of Wind, just in case they would need to quickly move on. It took them only a minute to get to his office. As soon as they appeared on threshold, he happily waved the paper in the air.

"Get ready! We leave an hour after sunset."

Exactly one hour after sunset Rhysand winnowed the three of them to the Autumn Court's borders, the rest of the way they had to fly to avoid being detected by the magic of the wards that Eris inconspicuously lifted for several minutes.

Thankfully, wards around the Forest House weren't so hard to get through and Azriel could safely get them in without any help. Under the cover of night, Rhysand led them through the grounds to the clearing where they were supposed to meet with Eris and Selene. They slipped past the patrol on their way, unnoticed. Just to make sure they weren't walking into a trap, they silently landed in the forest and went on foot the rest of the way. Hidden in the dark shadows under the trees, they waited.

Ten minutes later, Eris appeared on the clearing dimly lit by the waxing moon. And he wasn't alone. Holding his hand, a small figure walked behind him.

"Be careful here," Eris kindly warned his sister and she smiled in answer.

When they stopped in the middle of the clearing, Selene looked up on the moon, bathing in the silver light. With her long hair down and in the snow white dress, she was stunning. Meanwhile, Eris intently gazed into the night, his body tense. Rhys nodded to his brothers and moved forward. They assumed she would be less frightened if he went first. He let the dry twig to crack under his boot on purpose, notifying them of his arrival.

Both siblings turned in the same time. Tension in Eris's shoulders melted away, replaced by sadness. Selene seemed to recognize him and shyly hid behind her brother.

The males nodded in greeting. "Everything okay?"

"Nobody saw us."

"And Beron?"

"Some kind of troubles with goods for wedding in the port."

Selene watched their quiet exchange calmly from behind the brother's back, curiously peeking at Lord of Night. She didn't seem to be surprised by the turn of events at all.

Rhys nodded at last and leaning to the side to get a better view, he smiled at her.

"Hey there," he said so softy he surprised even himself. "Do you remember me?"

"Yes, my lord," Selene answered shyly and hid even more into brother's shadow.

Rhysand huffed in amusement. "I thought we already had this conversation, darling. Only Rhys for you."

Eris winced at the way he addressed his sister, but didn't say a word. Instead he took his sister's hand and pulled her from behind him. "It's okay, dear. He's here to take you.. to safety."

She looked up at him with her big bright eyes, waiting. "I'm sorry, Sel," Eris continued, "I can't let you marry Tamlin. I genuinely think that he would be a good husband to you, but you wouldn't be happy with him. That's why you have to.." He couldn't finish the sentence, his voice failed him. Rhys noticed the tears in his eyes and decided to ignore them for now. He understood how hard this must be for him.

"So you allow me to leave with my mate?" Her silent question made them both gape at her in shock. Eris recovered as first and smiled sadly. He reached into the pocket between the words and pulled out a bigger bag.

"I- I packed you some clothes for the start.. and a couple of your favourite things.."

"You know about the bond?" Rhysand's heart stuttered. He didn't expect that.

She met his gaze for a second and quickly shied away, blushing fiercely. "Since the night we met here," she took her brother's sleeve between fingers and stepped closer to him, partly hiding behind him.

Rhysand was so happy that he couldn't find words. He had so many questions that he didn't know where to start. Cassian and Azriel quietly approached them and Selene's eyes widened with fear.

"That's okay, they won't hurt anyone. They are my friends who came to help me get you safely to my Court," Rhys held out hands, explaining. "This is Cassian, General of my armies, and this is Azriel, Spymaster. They are big, clumsy and quite grumpy, but both are very kind-hearted, I assure you. We grew up together like brothers."

When introduced, Cassian grinned widely and waved at her, while Azriel put hand on his chest and slightly bowed.

Eris scoffed, rolling eyes.

"It's time. We should go before someone notices she's gone," Azriel murmured lowly. He was right. It was too risky to stay here for too long.

Rhysand cleared his throat nervously and offered her hand. "Can we?"

She looked up at her brother questioningly. Eris's jaw tightened as he turned to face her. At first he only held her hands, suppressing his feelings, but then he broke and pulled her into a hug. He whispered her something in the ear and tried to wipe his tears away stealthily while pretending to clean some dirt from her shoulder.

They parted and Selene walked over to Rhys' group, her cheeks wet.

Eris sadly watched as Rhysand gently picked her up and handed her bag to Azriel. "Everything is going to be fine. He will take good care of you.. I'll visit you soon," he looked at Rhys who nodded in agreement.

"Anytime you want."

"Oh, and take this," Eris reached into his pocket and handed her a blank sheet of paper. She turned it in fingers, confused. "It's enchanted. If you want to talk with me, just write on the paper and it will teleport to me. When I answer, it will return. If there would be any trouble with it.." His eyes moved to Lord of Night.

"I'll gladly help you with it or you can write a letter and Azriel will deliver it for you."

The mentioned one nodded in agreement and opened the bag so she could put it in.

"I'll miss you, brother," she sobbed.

"I already miss you. Stay safe." Eris stepped away, hardly keeping his tears back. He put on his cool mask of heir, but his amber eyes were giving him away.

"Thank you," Rhysand swallowed hard, hardly suppressing his own emotions. "When you are ready, let me know. I owe you for this. And don't worry. She will be safe and well cared of. I'll write you when we arrive."

Eris only nodded, fists clenched at his sides and retreated a few steps to give them enough space. Rhysand summoned his wings and carefully took off followed by his brothers. Selene watched Eris until trees obscured her view. Then she wiped her tears and rested head on his shoulder. It took him by surprise and for a moment he forgot how to use the wings.

"Sorry," he apologised for the shock and she hummed in answer. He exhaled shakily, again feeling like a youngling on the first date. "A-are you scared? Of flying?"

"No," she whispered between sobs.

Rhys tugged her closer to his body, gently rubbing her shoulder with thumb. "I know it's kind of scary for you. You don't know me nor my family, but I promise I'll do anything to make you happy. And the bond.. I won't pressure you. It's up to you-"

"I want the bond," she said firmly, interrupting him. "I saw that we will be happy."

"You did?" Rhysand raised a brow. Eris probably failed to mention that his baby sister was a seer.

"Sometimes I see little flashes of my future. I knew that you will come for me."

He huffed. "Of course you did. You are the Moon Princess after all."

"Who's Moon Princess?" She seemed to calm down at last and stopped crying, but she stayed hidden in the crook of his neck.

"Well, she's someone my mother used to tell me a story about. Do you want to hear it?"

She nodded and so Rhys started quietly whispering the story into her ear while they were sliding through the peaceful night sky, heading to their own 'happily ever after'.

[abeautylives]

My Name or Nothing At All

a/n: Oh hi. My lovely, beautiful and very smart friend convinced me to write this after I sent her a teeny tiny imagine based on that look on Josh’s face. 5k+ words later, my first fic was born. Oops. Shout out to all my pookies who got to read it first <3

pairing: Josh x f!reader

summary: You’ve made your boyfriend jealous for the first time, and he simply won’t stand for it :)

warnings: 18+ minors stay far away, language, light arguing, graphic sexual content, oral (f. receiving), fingering, unprotected penetrative sex, yadda yadda - enjoy!

update: read part 2 here

Josh can sense the look on his face before he’s even begun to process how he’s feeling. Is he… jealous? That seems ridiculous, but as he watches you from where he’s perched on his seat near the pool tables, he can see the playful smirk dancing across your lips. And it’s directed at the bartender who’s barely focused on the drink he’s mixing for you. Are you batting your fucking eyelashes at this guy? Oh okay, and suddenly this is the funniest bartender on earth, got it.

Hearing your flirtatious, and honestly pretty theatrical, laughter from across the room, Josh decides he’s seen more than enough. Hopping down from his barstool, he makes his way toward you slowly while taking in your body language. You’re fully leaned over the bar top, barely even on your stool anymore. Your legs are crossed, causing your skirt (which is already hugging your body, leaving little to the imagination) to ride scandalously high on your thigh. Your chin is placed on top of your folded hands as your elbows rest on the bar. Well shit, you look absolutely smitten with Mr. Bartender at this point. Josh can feel the heat rising from his own chest, creeping up his neck to his cheeks. He’s definitely jealous, and he’s a little pissed off.

Finally reaching you, with a gentle hand placed to your lower back, you hear his voice barely an inch away from your left ear.

“Having fun over here without me darling?” he practically hums, the tone and low pitch causing you to sit up straight and move your ass back to be fully seated on the stool. Turning your head to him, you grin as your eyes scan his face. His cheeks are flushed, his eyes narrowed at you with an obviously fake smile stretching across his lips. He’s so breathtakingly beautiful, but you can tell something is off.

“Oh,” you giggle out, “Austin was just telling me some stories about the craziest things he’s seen drunk people get up to in this city. He’s worked at a bunch of different bars in the last f-“

“Austin,” Josh cuts you off, directing his attention to the bartender, “we’d like to close our tab. There’s been a bit of an emergency and we need to go. Now.”

The final word comes out clipped, and is directed at you. Eyes wide and eyebrows raised, you look at your boyfriend like he’s grown a second head. Josh is never rude like this to the staff of any establishment, especially one you frequent regularly. Your shock and confusion are clear on your face as you attempt to ask him if everything is alright, what’s the emergency? But he cuts you off again as Austin places the slip for Josh to sign down on the bar top.

“Go get in the car,” he breathes out at a volume low enough for only you to hear as he signs the receipt and drops the pen to the bar in lieu of handing it back to Austin directly. He passes you his keys and you’re already moving towards the front of the building; you don’t see the fire behind Josh’s eyes as he tells Austin to have a good night, muttering “go fuck yourself” under his breath as he turns on his heel to follow you.

He finds you already in the passenger seat of his Jeep, and as he lifts himself into the driver’s seat you’re bombarding him with questions.

“Is everyone okay? Are YOU okay? What’s the emergency?” you spew out quickly, feeling slight panic start to bubble up.

“Y/N.. shut up.”

Your mouth drops open and you stare at his profile, bewildered, for just a second before he starts to speak again.

Hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes set forward, with a deep and eerily calm voice he says, “There is no emergency. Unless of course you consider my girlfriend flirting with the bartender like a shameless slut an emergency.”

A loud bark of a laugh breaks out of you immediately. “Joshua you cannot be fucking serious right now, I thought something was wrong, I thought someone was hurt for Christ sake! You’re an idiot,” you finish on a giggle and put your seatbelt on. “Let’s go home.”

Turning the key in the ignition, Josh looks over to you briefly. “We will be going home, to OUR home, that we SHARE, because we’re in love yeah?”

“Obviously Josh, what the fuck are you-“

“You love me, and yet you left me at that table to wait for you while you were giving ‘fuck me’ eyes to Austin in front of the whole fucking bar. Including me. How do you think that makes me feel?” He hasn’t raised the volume of his voice, but you can feel the anger rolling off of him in waves as he starts to drive. You won’t tell him, but he looks so good like this. The way his jaw is tensed up right now just makes you want to nip and bite and lick it; you squeeze your thighs together at the thought as he glances to you to speak again.

“It feels shitty Y/N. And I’m pissed off and I think you need a reminder of who you belong to.”

Oh, fuck.

You know Josh doesn’t look at you as a possession of his, but right now you’re feeling a little bit like you need to be possessed. Making him jealous wasn’t intentional, you’re just a little tipsy and the bartender was friendly.

“Josh…” you speak quietly, once again at his profile as he’s focused on the road and turning onto your street. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“Save it.” Damn, can he let you get a full sentence out? Your cheeks grow warm, a little from embarrassment as your body reacts to the venom in his voice, and a little from your own anger at his behavior.

Pulling into the driveway of your home silently, he puts the car in park and turns it off. As you both remove your seatbelts he turns his body to you, “Don’t even think about running in there and hiding away in the bedroom or elsewhere. I’ve realized I just can’t let you out of my sight without you turning into some promiscuous hussy.”

This makes you smile, almost laughing in his face, but the look in his eyes gives a warning. Despite his choice of words, he’s not joking so you drop the smirk and simply nod your head. He nods back and you both step out of the Jeep and head to the front door side by side. With a hand once again placed on your lower back, he unlocks and opens the door with the other and guides you inside just ahead of him. Without turning around, he pushes the door closed and flips the lock with one hand and grips the front of your shirt with the other, pulling you close enough to his body to feel his breath fall across your lips.

Barely more than a whisper he states, “You’re mine. Only mine.”

You’ve been turned on beyond belief since the third? fourth? time he cut you off mid-sentence tonight. But THIS. You can feel the wetness pooling between your thighs before he even brings his lips to yours. The kiss is soft and it lingers, this is your Josh and god do you love him with everything you have. As you reach up to cradle his jaw in both hands, he stops you, gripping each wrist before you can make contact with his skin.

Forehead now against yours, he tells you, “Ya know babe, I really intended to get you home and let you know what a bad girl you’ve been tonight.” He pulls one of your wrists to his lips and places a kiss to it before doing the same to the other. “I was really fucking mad. I thought about punishing you, but I could never hurt you. Considered fucking you and not letting you finish. M’just not a selfish person though, ya know?”

With that, he waits and makes sure your eyes are open and on his. You nod slightly, wanting him to keep talking, to tell you everything he’s thinking. You’re already practically panting, and literally dripping with anticipation for where this is headed.

At your cue, a small smile forms on his perfect lips and you get just a peek at his top row of teeth. “I think that not letting you cum isn’t really a suitable punishment for your wanton behavior with Austin. I think you need a good reminder of exactly why you love being mine, not his, not anyone else’s. Mine.”

A small whine escapes your lips. “Baby, I love you, I don’t want anyone el-“

He cuts you off, again, but this time with his lips, crashing into yours with enough force that your teeth clash together. This doesn’t stop him, as he releases your wrists and brings one hand down to your waist and the other up the side of your neck and around to find purchase in the hair at the base of your skull. Using the hand in your hair, he maneuvers your head to move with him, however he needs, to gain full access to your mouth. On a sigh, your lips open just enough for his tongue to find its way in between them. Matching his eagerness, yours pushes back and they dance together like this, like they’ve done hundreds of times before. You’re melting into each other as your hands move to grip the front of his white t-shirt, then reach around to splay your fingers across his back and pull his body closer.

Needing air and a moment to clear his head and get back on track, he pulls away from the kiss. “Fuck,” he pants out with a heavy breath, “Stop apologizing, stop making excuses. I’m gonna show you exactly why you love me so much. I’m gonna fuck you so stupid that all you can remember is my name.” With that, he pushes you away from him and turns your body towards the stairs. “Get up there.”

He doesn’t expect you to go up and wait for him, he wasn’t joking when he said you weren’t leaving his sight. As you make your way to the stairs and ascend, he’s right on your heels with a playful hand gripping and leaving a light smack to your ass. Crossing the threshold of your shared bedroom, you’re spun back around to face him. His breathing is still labored, and your panties are soaked. His cheeks are tinted a rosy pink once again, his lips slightly kiss-swollen and you know your features match his right now.

Reaching out to the hem of your shirt, he tugs it upwards and over your head without a word. He only spends a moment admiring the bare skin he’s revealed before reaching behind you to undo the clasp of your bra. As it falls loose, he lifts a hand to nudge your chin, wanting to see your eyes. When they meet his, your pupils are already blown wide.

“Oh sweetheart, I haven’t even touched you yet.”

You breathe out a laugh and almost attempt another apology for upsetting him, almost tell him that you don’t even regret it though because his jealousy has gotten you hot and bothered to an embarrassing degree, almost tell him to shut up and get on with it. You’ve remembered however, that he doesn’t want to hear it. Josh has promised you some sort of punishment, or “reminder” as he’s called it, and you’re more than ready for him to deliver.

“Smart girl, remembering to keep her mouth shut,” he hums out his satisfaction at your silence. Reaching to push the straps of your bra past your shoulders and down your arms, he continues, “Need the rest of your clothes off. Need to see all of what’s mine.” His touch and his murmuring, almost as if he’s talking to himself, cause goosebumps to raise on your skin. Once your bra has been tossed to the side, he looks you over to admire his handiwork.

“Are you wet for me, sweet girl?”

All you can do is nod your head, you don’t want to displease him, not now that things are finally getting fun.

“Tell me, I wanna hear all about it.”

You swallow thickly before responding, “Y-yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“I’m so wet for you Josh.. I have been since the drive home. Only for you..” You add the last part hoping that he’ll finally let you in on his plans for you. How he’s going to remind you who you belong to.

He palms his dick over his pants, his growing erection becoming noticeable. With a slight growl from deep in his throat, his eyes scan your body from the top, stopping at the waist of your skirt. “Show me. Take the skirt off, touch your pretty little panties and show me.”

Fuuuuuck. This is not how things usually go. Josh is sweet. He’s sunshine, everybody says so. He’s the same in the bedroom, lovingly removing the clothing from your body and touching you as if you’re made of porcelain. Something delicate and precious, he usually savors every moment. Cherishing you. Right now though, you can tell his jealousy has left him feeling a little emasculated, unsure of himself. He’s asking you to prove to him that you want him. Only him. So of course, his wish is your command.

As he watches closely, only a foot or two of distance now between you, you peel the skirt down your legs from the top. Wanting to put on just a little show for him, you bend seductively at the waist to push the skirt down past your knees and allow it to pool at your feet. You take this opportunity to also slip your shoes from your feet and push each item away from you with your toes as you stand back up to face him. He’s been watching with rapt attention, his bottom lip sucked firmly between his teeth. After rubbing himself over his pants once again, he crosses his arms and brings his eyes to yours.

“Touch yourself, love. Show me how bad you want me.”

You do as he asks, slipping the first two fingers of your right hand between your legs, over the drenched cotton of your panties. The pressure is light, but your body has been buzzing for what feels like hours now and the sensation of your fingertips running over your clothed pussy has you biting back a moan. With your own bottom lip now between your teeth, you lift your hand towards him and rub your thumb together with the fingers that are coated with your arousal.

His hand shoots out to grip your wrist and bring it closer for him to inspect, which moves your bodies nearer each other. The glisten on your fingertips makes him smile, a full-fledged toothy grin, before he moves your fingers to his mouth and slips them between his lips. His tongue moves slowly around each finger, savoring the taste of you. Pulling off of your fingers with a pop, he whispers out, “So sweet.. tastes like heaven babe. Need more…”

Josh presses his palm to the center of your chest and lightly pushes you backwards until the backs of your knees meet the bed. You remain standing that way for a beat, until he moves forward and presses the full length of his body against yours, leaning his head down to press a kiss into the skin of your shoulder. From this position he turns his head slightly so he can speak directly into your ear.

“Lay back on the bed sweetheart. Be a good girl for me, for once.”

You scoff at that, a small sound but he’s heard it.

“Don’t forget that you’re in trouble, love. Batting your pretty eyelashes at that idiot, laughing at everything he said. Was he really so charming that you forgot all about me?”

You bend your knees to take a seat on the edge of the mattress. Exasperated, you spit out “Josh, seriously? I’m literally naked in our bed for you and you still think that I give a fuck ab-“

He cuts you off, of course he does, but this time a hand is clasped over your mouth and the other is gripping the back of your head. You feel your eyes bulge and your pussy clench around nothing. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Stop talking. For the love of god, shut up. You’re a brat, you know that?” His gaze has gone hard again, his jaw flexing as he pulls his hand off your mouth long enough to run it over his face. He replaces it quickly. “Here’s the plan my love… I told you I couldn’t punish you, that I couldn’t hurt you. So instead what m’gonna do is make you cum. Once, maybe twice on my mouth, once on my fingers at least, maybe I’ll make you make yourself cum while I watch…” He pauses to think that over for a second, then shakes his head to regroup his thoughts, “And definitely again on my cock. Again and again. Because you, are mine. No one else’s. And you’re never going to forget that.”

Removing his hand from your mouth, he allows you to take in a gasping breath before using the hand on the back of your head to pull you down to the mattress by your hair. You’re almost afraid to make a sound, afraid that he’ll stop. His mouth finds you, soft lips leaving a bruising kiss on yours. His hands are all over you now, your exposed torso left without his attention for too long. His kisses trail from your mouth to your jaw, down your neck where he sinks his teeth in lightly, drawing a shudder and a moan from your body. He smooths his tongue over the marks he’s left behind before continuing his path down your chest. No time is wasted there however, his need to taste you and feel your first orgasm of the night has him in a rush.

Your breaths are heavy as he assaults your skin with his mouth, his hands reaching the waistband of your underwear where he teases his fingertips for a moment. You whine at this, whimper out his name, encourage him to keep going.

“That’s right baby,” he mumbles against the skin covering your hipbone, “that’s all I wanna hear, my name, say it again.”

And you do, over and over, Josh Josh JOSH please baby please please…

Josh smiles to himself, loving the sound of his name in your fucked out voice. He still has barely touched you and you’re practically quivering underneath him. Slipping his fingers under the sides of your panties he draws them down your thighs, past your knees, and pulls them away from you. Stopping to peek at the dampened material that was resting between your legs, he smiles again as he kneels on the floor in front of you. His hands find their way to your knees and creep inward to push them apart, effectively spreading you open to him.

His gaze lingers on your exposed pussy for a moment, witnessing your arousal dripping (literally dripping) out of you. He licks his lips before raising his eyes up to your face, where he finds you already looking at him. Your chest is flushed with anticipation, and he thinks to himself that you look quite beautiful spread out for him, wanting him so badly. He doesn’t speak it out loud, you are being punished after all.

Your eyes don’t leave each other’s as he lowers his face to your core. He can’t resist reaching forward to swipe his fingers through the wetness first, just to feel the slick, satisfying slip of it. He pops those fingers into his own mouth briefly, removes them and licks his lips one more time. A pleased hum comes from you both before he leans in and licks a broad stripe up through your folds, ending with a flick of the tongue over your swollen clit. Your body jolts at the action, having been floating in a haze of arousal for far too long.

“JOSH fuck, Josh please don’t stop..”

“Sweetheart I’m just getting started,” he replies directly into your cunt before he begins to lick at you in a frenzy. He’s eating you out like a starved man, tasting your need for him, before he focuses his attention with pointed flicks to your clit. His hands move under your thighs and around to pull them closer to his face and as your back arches off the bed, he sucks your clit past his lips. One of your hands flies down to grasp onto his curls and the band that’s been stretched taut low in your belly snaps suddenly, his name spilling from your mouth with a string of expletives as your orgasm pulls you under and your thighs close in around his head, shaking. He laps at you slowly as you come down, easing you back to earth with him.

As you let your legs fall open and you attempt to open and focus your eyes on his face, he’s already buried it into your pussy again.

“JOSH! Josh it’s too much, gimme a minute!” you gasp out, gripping and tugging on his hair to try and pull him away from you.

It works briefly, and he lifts his head only long enough to shoot you a shit eating grin, his lips and the lower half of his face shining in the low light from the window.

“I don’t give a fuck if it’s too much, cum again for me.”

Two fingers slide up through your slick folds before they’re plunged into you and his lips are reattached to your overstimulated clit. You’re already pulsing around his fingers and he can feel how close you are to giving him another. He’s sliding them in and out of you at a quick, steady pace and lifts his face from you to watch himself work, enjoying the sound and feel of your wetness coating him. Tearing his eyes away from the sight to glance up at your face, he finds your cheeks red and eyes screwed shut.

“Baby,” he coos up at you, but your eyes remain closed and your hands move to grip the comforter on either side of your body. “Y/N look at me,” he commands with force as he moves from his kneeling position on the floor to join you on the bed. Your eyes shoot open and land directly on his as he’s now hovering over you, his fingers still tucked deep inside you.

“Hi pretty girl,” he sounds innocent but as soon as you attempt a shy smile at him, he curls his fingers inside you, tapping that spot that makes your toes curl.

“FUCK Joshuaaaaa,” his full name leaves your mouth in a whine and he simply repeats the motion with his fingers. Again, again, then pumps them in and out of you once, twice, three times. A final curl of them causes you to cry out and your cunt clenches down around them. Your mouth remains open in a silent scream and your body tenses and releases onto his hand.

“That’s my good girl, doing so well… we’re not done yet though babe.”

You’re a panting mess, limp against the mattress as Josh leans over your face. Tapping his fingers to your lips, you allow him to dip them into your mouth. Your tongue swirls around them until he seems satisfied and pulls them away to stand from the bed. It strikes you that he’s still fully clothed as you hear him kick his shoes off.

You focus on his movements as he goes to disrobe slowly, casually. He’s no longer in a hurry even though his dick hasn’t been touched and it’s now straining against the material of his khakis. He spots you eyeing it. “Hey, eyes up here pervert,” he giggles.

“Oh I’m the pervert when you’ve been-“

“Quiet. My name or nothing at all.”

God damnit. Why is that sexy? You need to remember to not let him make a habit of it.

He continues to remove his clothing, lifting his shirt up and over his head. You watch his muscles flex as he does, first his stomach then his arms. He shakes out his curls once it’s off, moving to undo his belt.

“Josh…” you speak quietly, but it’s his name so you think he won’t mind. He quirks an eyebrow at your questioning and nods his head, so you continue. “Let me help. Let me take care of you, you deserve it.” Your doe eyes and pleading tone don’t work on him though.

“Hmm, no I don’t think so.” He pulls his belt out of the loops, pops the button on his pants and pulls down the zipper. Unceremoniously he tugs his pants down and kicks them away, standing now only in his black boxer briefs. You’ve propped yourself up on your elbows to watch him, your mouth is practically watering. He’s truly so beautiful. You can’t believe he would think you could want anyone else, he is everything.

“Joshua…” He looks up and stays silent. “You’re so hot babe.”

The smile nearly splits his face in half, his famous dimple making an appearance. “Don’t try to soften me up sweetheart. Thank you though.” He laughs off your compliment as he drops his briefs to his ankles, allowing his now painfully hard cock to spring upward. You almost comment on it but he doesn’t let you get a word in, he’s already moving back toward the bed with his hand now gripping himself. He lets out a groan as he strokes himself once, twice, slowly. Your body is tired but you push yourself up the bed and rest your head on the pillows. As he crawls up to you he resembles an animal stalking its prey, the look in his eyes is needy and hungry. You can’t look away.

“Sweet girl, you know I love you right?”

You only nod in response, you don’t think he wants to hear anything else.

“I want at least two more from you. You think you can do that for me?”

You nod again as his face reaches yours, your breaths mingling together as he nudges your nose with his. He’s between your legs and the tip of his cock is also nudging your entrance, his grip around it still firm as he runs it through the wetness that lingers there.

“Kiss me, babe, please.”

He almost scolds you for speaking but instead, indulges your request. As your lips meet, he pushes himself into you, sliding in easily and bottoming out. You let out a squeal into his mouth and he groans in relief. His hands, now gripping the sheets on either side of your head, flex a couple times before he brings one to your cheek. “Fuck, you feel so good baby, made for me. Mine, you’re fucking mine.” He growls out through gritted teeth. “You ready?”

He gives you a second to nod your head and captures your lips again as he pulls out, leaving just the head inside of you before slamming his hips into the back of your thighs. His name leaves your mouth in a yelp as he repeats the motion, building up to a bruising pace. The hand that was on your cheek comes to rest on your throat with light pressure, just enough for you to feel it. You feel completely possessed by him as he looks down between your bodies to watch himself moving inside you. You’re his, no one else’s. He has to know that.

Bringing his eyes back up to meet yours, his pupils are wide, his eyes so dark they’re almost black. Beads of sweat have started to form across his forehead, causing his curls to stick there. He’s slamming into you, your body being pushed toward the headboard, the tip of his cock brushing your cervix on every stroke. You can feel another orgasm creeping up on you slowly, and he can feel it too as you clench around him.

“I can feel you squeezing me, you’re such a good girl baby,” he grunts out. “Give it up for me.” He brings his free hand to your face, and you open your mouth, ready to accept anything he’s got to give. His thumb is on your tongue in an instant and you suck it lightly for a moment before he pulls it away and moves to bring it down to your extremely sensitive clit. His body shifts as the other hand leaves your throat, he’s moved back with his weight on his heels and he grips your waist. As soon as he’s got his thumb on your clit, he adds pressure as he moves it in swift circles. It’s immediately overstimulating, he hasn’t lost his rhythm as he’s pumping his hips into you, and you cry out his name.

“That’s right love, tell me who you belong to, who this sweet pussy belongs to.”

“You Josh, you you you, only y-you,” the words stumble out of you.

“Who makes you feel this good baby?”

“Youuuuu Josh,” you whine, the circles he’s drawing on your clit are unwavering and you know you’re seconds away from a third orgasm.

“That’s. Fucking. Right.” Each word is punctuated by a sharp thrust and you feel the wave crash down over you. It’s powerful and pulls you under as a haze of colors flash behind your eyelids.

“FUCK baby, that’s right, you’re soooo fucking good for me, my good girl,” you can hear Josh speaking, his excited words rushing out of him, but it sounds distant, like you’re floating outside of yourself. His rhythm has faltered and he strokes into you once, twice more before he’s spilling himself deep inside you with a drawn out groan. The grip on your hip is white-knuckled and sure to leave fingertip shaped bruises. He resists collapsing onto you, holding himself up as you float back down to the bed, to this universe. When your eyes open you first see his smile. It’s huge, all of his perfect teeth on display, the little gap between the front top two making you smile too. As your gaze moves lower you see that his torso, his stomach is soaking wet.

“What the fuck is-“

“You fucking squirted, I can’t believe this.” He sounds giddy, like a kid who just got exactly what he wanted for Christmas. “You’re so fucking perfect. And all mine. How did I get so lucky?” He’s almost giggling as he slowly pulls out of you and comes to rest on his side next to you.

“I’ve… never done that before,” you’re giggling now too, taking in Josh’s afterglow as he’s looking down, transfixed by the mess you’ve made of the bedding.

“Yeah, you think Mr. Bartender what’s-his-face could’ve made THAT happen?”

“Austin. His name’s Austin.”

Josh’s head whips up at that, a fire back in his eyes.

“Oh sweetheart… that was the wrong fucking answer.”

Part 2 ��

[phanfictioncatalogue]

3k-5k Words Fics (6) Masterlist

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five

A Nun and A Priest: You Get Me Closer to God (ao3) - Spring_Haze

Summary: When Dan dresses up as a sexy nun for Halloween in America, he finds himself longing for a sexy priest.

and the days after that (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: He can hear Dan’s voice coming down the hall, laughing with someone from the crew, and it makes his breath stop in his chest.

(doomed tour usa, autumn 2022)

cat bells (ao3) - N_Chu4Ever

Summary: The catboy photoshoot, except it all goes weirdly wrong because Phil accidentally bought Dan a magic cat costume off the internet. Oops.

🌸 cherry blossom 🌸 (ao3) - natigail

Summary: It had been a silly dream at first. The idea to have a cherry blossom tree in their garden they didn't even have yet. It hadn't felt like it was something that would really happen.

But it was real. Dan was watching their tree, Phil's arms around him, and hoping they would get to see its first bloom soon.

Chips (ao3) - philsmeatylegss

Summary: Dan struggling with the concept that all healthy couples should fight.

Comfort in Chaos (ao3) - Anonymous

Summary: Phil wakes to Dan having a nightmare that he struggles to rouse him from. It later transpires that there is a reason behind his unsettled and panicked behaviour.

DreamCasts Presents (ao3) - SummerFlingsAndThings (QueenJunoTheGreat)

Summary: Phil's son is obsessed with the faceless man who narrates audiobooks.

Dan's daughter is obsessed with the brightly dressed librarian in charge of the children's department.

And Dan and Phil? Well, they're a little obsessed with one another.

easy for you to say (ao3) - phantasticworks (steddieworks)

Summary: Phil tries to convince Dan to throw away the grey shirt. Dan can’t do it.

Golden Boy (ao3) - hygge

Summary: Phil takes a drawing class in university and needs a subject for his drawing final.

growing up or just going down (ao3) - SylvesterLester

Summary: Phil is 15 years old today. He's going to have the best birthday of his life, to kick off the best year of his life.

Right?

hard launch at last (ao3) - calvinahobbes

Summary: “Maybe the exact right moment won’t ever present itself.” Dan can feel himself hurtling towards some cosmic revelation as they stand here on a sandy beach in Portugal, the ocean bringing out the blue in Phil’s eyes.

home renovations (ao3) - possumdnp

Summary: Phil is a new homeowner with a knack for getting himself into awkward situations around cute guys. Dan is a builder who's always working on renovations around Phil's house. What could go wrong?

(An alternate meeting YouTuber Phil/builder Dan AU.)

I know you, hands under my sweatshirt (ao3) - midorijpg

Summary: “How are you?”

It's with an undertone of fear that he dares ask that, as always, even if he knows that he’s lucky if Dan even decides to answer. And as he imagines, Dan just tilts his head, looking at him as if lost in thought, swinging the bottle with his hand before just resting it on the floor.

“Make room,” he just says.

“What?”

“I said, make room.”

or, something something about having bad days and growing up and realizing you don't (completely) fit in couches anymore.

in this smoking chaos (ao3) - writingcollective

Summary: Dan bottoms for the first time, not being able to shut down his inner demons that whisper internalised homophobic thoughts into his ear. But Phil guides him through it, somehow.

Like a cicada rhythm. (ao3) - emmibug

Summary: every night they share the same bed, legs twisted together, arms holding each other close. dan and phil haven’t grown up from their childlike sense of friendship which leads people to believe there’s something deeper going on.

a dan and phil childhood best friends to lovers AU where they share the same bed and always have done.

Magi (ao3) - yikesola

Summary: Dan doesn’t know how he hadn't thought about a gift for Phil yet. Phil is still feeling a little weird about how much he spent on Dan’s gift.

A fic about coincidence and sacrifice.

Neighbourly Nook (ao3) - wednesday_ukiru

Summary: The stranger had a dimple on his cheek that appeared when he laughed.

“I’m Dan,” he said, extending his hand. Phil reached for it with extreme eagerness, their knuckles knocking together in a particularly painful way, and they both winced, but Dan immediately broke into a smile. “I don’t know why I offered you a handshake, I never know how to do them.”

Revolving Door (ao3) - intoapuddle

Summary: Phil really doesn’t want to think about what Dan said. He really would like to leave, and take this strangled feeling elsewhere. But he can’t stop listening to Dan’s song.

so american (ao3) - ae121

Summary: Phil has been living in London for a year and thinks he's gotten pretty used to the city. He works part-time at a bookstore, using it at first to gain some friends, now it's just fun for him. His friends are constantly trying to find him someone to date, but all of his dates don't go well.

Well, that's until he met Dan.

Sunshine on the street at the parade (ao3) - ForeverJustAnEmoKidAtHeart

Summary: Dan and Phil meet at a Pride Parade.

so good (ao3) - grievingwarwidow

Summary: dan gets a piercing

since i wrote you last (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Dan and his letters to Santa over the years.

The Knight of Wands (ao3) - Nefertiti1052 (Succubusphan)

Summary: Phil had always had dreams that he couldn't quite comprehend and a certain intuition about what was truly important for his future.

They fade to nothing when I look at him (ao3) - phasamtasie

Summary: Arriving in the kitchen Phil made himself his one cup of coffee he allowed himself on weekend days and stared out the window lost in thought, so it took him a few seconds to register why the light had seemed so much brighter than usual at 8am. With childish delight he saw that it had snowed overnight, and not just the usual UK dusting where one could still see the grass underneath but a proper snow, coating everything outside in a bright white.

OR

Dan and Phil go sledging.

trouble between you and i (ao3) - calvinahobbes

Summary: Phil can't stand the silence for another moment. "I don't want to break up," he says.

Weight on my Shoulders (ao3) - ByTheFire

Summary: When Phil starts getting some unexpected gifts from his dad he starts to worry if he knows something he is not ready to share. Thankfully Dan is there to make it all a bit less scary. All Phil can hope is his dad doesn't want to change who he truly is.

when i walk in the kitchen, my heart hits the floor (ao3) - aura_sky

Summary: a phivorce fic

based on the Renee Rapp song (In the Kitchen)

or

Dan walks into the kitchen and he misses Phil.

[lestappenforever]

[Untitled Lestappen]

It all started with a crash.

Well, technically, it started with a blue-eyed boy with blonde hair getting screamed at in a language he couldn’t understand when he was only 12 years old. He remembered looking at the boy, who couldn’t be much older than himself - (two weeks older, to be exact, he’d learn later) - and watching the spark disappear right out of those icy blue eyes. 

That was the first memory Charles Leclerc had of Max Verstappen: Watching Jos Verstappen, Max’s own father, scream at this 12 year old child with an intensity that turned his face red and made every blood vessel in his neck look dangerously close to popping. 

But if anyone ever were to ask Charles when he started to realize that his feelings towards the same Max Verstappen he had known since childhood had begun to change into something else, something bigger, something terrifying he couldn’t - or wouldn’t - quite put his finger on, he would say that it all started with a crash. 

Because of fucking course it did.

--------------------------------------

This is my first attempt at writing fiction in years, and my first ever attempt at writing Lestappen. So, would anyone even want to read a Lestappen fic with this intro?

I have a lot of ideas for this, with "slow burn", "hurt/comfort", "angst", "idiots in love", "Charles Leclerc needs a hug" being some of the many tags that would be fitting.

Should I keep writing and hopefully turn this into a multiple chapter monstrosity?

EDIT:

I kept writing and it turned into a 5K+ words chapter. Oops?

You can find it here.

[sunshineprincejeremyknox]

When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let's spread the self-love 💞

I have been sitting on this for like a month oops.

I don't honestly know that I have a top 5, but I'll give you a general 5 of the ones I look back on most fondly / enjoy rereading most:

From my newer stuff, there's this t4t Danny Fenton/Tim Drake fic I wrote for the @haunting-heroes-creative-games Olympics Who Wrote That:

Can I have your autograph? | Rated T | 5k words, complete Dick Grayson really wasn't trying to set his little brother up with his favorite skateboarder when he asked the guy for his autograph. In all honesty, this worked out even better than it might have in Dick's wildest dreams.

I am also very soft for this Fox/Bail/Breha fic I wrote (which was also podded by @kbirbpods HERE)

without any strings attached | Rated: T | 2k words, complete Time spent on Alderaan with Breha always feels like a vacation.

Just all of the False Confidence series ngl (also podded by @kbirbpods HERE)

My winterhawk Tarot Sequence AU is still my best attempt at a plot-driven multi-chapter and includes GORGEOUS art from Soapyquartz

(would you) rescue me | Rated: M | Length: 26k, complete

“Why you?” James asks. “Why me what?”  “Why did Natasha ask you?”  Clint wants to say, Natasha always asks me, but it’s better if less people know that than more.   “Because I’m good at what I do.” - an urban fantasy au (inspired by KD Edwards' Tarot Sequence series)

one of my later short winterhawk fics, a Vampire AU for my friend @shatteredhourglass

blood & sunlight | Rated: T | Length: 2k, complete

This human does not appear to have heard the rumors, or if he did, he clearly chose to ignore them. Bucky doesn't think he has a healthy self-preservation instinct, either, because everyone in the diner goes still when he walks in, and he doesn't turn tail and run.    He just walks up to the counter, casual as anything, and drops into a seat.      In the moments it takes for him to get that far, Bucky notices one more important detail.     He's bleeding.     The smell of it is fresh and sharp in the air, and Bucky has to put focus into keeping his fangs from descending in response.     Fuck.  This might be the stupidest person Bucky's met in centuries. 

[tarisilmarwen]

Past Me, naively: Oh this fic will be easy, it's just an interconnected back and forth between the scenes, probably 2k tops.

*5k words later and counting*

Me: .......oops.

[halfbit]

AH LMAO i accidentally deleted a post again oops

haha anyway. i just wanted to do a little positive update that i did manage to write/draw last night. not a huge amount, but progress is progress

also if i keep it up im on track to hit 5k words on this story today which is wild. well for me, a lot of people write way more on here but honestly i havent done that much in ages for a story story that wasn't a script or outline. its been slow but i'm glad i actually managed it since it felt really impossible.

whoo, i might share an excerpt on biptome later of what i've already written but im kinda terrified ngl, i havent shared my writing in an actual public space in years, and everytime i look at it it seems to get a bit more wrong :') aaaaaaahaha

[due-nesin]

Interwoven. (teaser)

synopsis: ‘Jung Hyunchan, the heir to the Sequoia Hotel chain, was found dead in Incheon high’s kitchen.’ 

6 friends, 1 dead, 5 suspects, 1 culprit and 100 interwoven stories.

featuring: Lee Heeseung as Lee Soohyuk; Ahn Yujin as Min Sohye; Aisha as Seong Yeonha; Yoon as Park Taeji; Jeong Yunho as Kang Moonseok; Hwang Hyunjin as Jung Hyunchan.

genre/pairs: Thriller, suspense, mystery, romance. bestfriends-to-lovers (established relationship), friends-to-lovers, exes-to-lovers, one sided fake dating (?), betrayal, mature themes, break up, messed up characters.

warning: swearing, character death, trauma, a bit of gore, toxic relationship (no abuse!), misunderstanding, a lot of crying and violence. (more to be added as the story progresses.)

wc:  350 words; estimated wc per chapter: 5k-7k.

taglist: Open. Send an ask or comment to be added. You’ll be tagged when chapter 1 releases.

a/n: this is our first fic oop. This a chaptered series, the first chapter will be out by 31st December! Updating will take time as both Leo and Yushi have their school work and personal stuff to do as well. Hope yall understand! constructive criticism is much appreciated. Please give lots of love :)

"I said we're over." he drawled, rolling his eyes. The girl cracked a nervous grin, hoping he was just joking. He couldn't just end things like this now. Not like this at least. It should be her dumping his ass, not the other way around. "Okay, great joke babe. Now, let's have lunch. I specially made it for us."

She took out the lunch box, laughing humorlessly. He sighed, annoyed by her mere presence, and muttered, "Listen, babe, I'm not joking. We're done. I don't want you acting like you're in love with me when it's clear as hell that you're just using me." He retorted her as she stood there trying to process what he just said.

"Using you? What do you mean, dear? I think it's just a misunderstanding. We can talk it out later. Come here." She rambled nervously, motioning him to sit with her. "Oh please stop it. I'm done with you and your fake-ass self. I'm not dumb. I got those signs. You thought I won't notice? Using me to get to my father and eventually my company as well? Ugh, you're so pathetic." He snarled, his tone getting louder. She just stood there, surprised and suddenly the innocence in her voice was gone. "Oh, you found out?" 

Now that it was finally out, she gave up on acting. "How and when did you know? Who told you? I swear, I'll sue them." She exclaimed, gritting her teeth. He growled, "It doesn't matter. Just fuck off. By tonight, I'll make sure that your small company gets taken down." 

She clenched her fists, glared at the boy, and said, "Small? I see." He rolled his eyes and looked away. The girl got up, grabbed her bag, and went for the door. She stood at the end and chuckled,

"You'll regret it, peaches. You will." A small smirk played across her face. The boy scoffed at her, the nickname making him cringe. "Oh, I'm leaving the lunchbox for you. Enjoy your meal, who knows it may be your last one?" she said, banging the door close.

They’re all different from one another; but if there is something that they have in common, it’s that they’re all liars.

[rafesangelita]

congrats on 5k you deserve it! can i request a 🍪 for bitchykook!reader w/ the song ‘agora hills’ by doja cat?

₊˚⊹ᰔ 𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬

pairing: cocky!rafe x bitchy!kook!reader

summary: ❝kissing, i hope they caught us, whether they like or not. i wanna show you off, i wanna show you off. i wanna brag about it.❞ — you and rafe make your relationship official by showing up to a party together.

warnings: excessive pda, suggestive language, making out, dry humping, drinking, i feel like voyeurism should be a warning because everyone is feeling things watching the two of you lolll, suggestive ending

word count: 0.7k

a/n: i’ve had this song stuck in my head foreverrrr!! thank you for this req <333 i could also imagine ‘agora hills’ playing while they’re making out with eachother lol.

rafe knew he was the luckiest man on the island when you accepted his girlfriend proposal. you never gave anyone the time of day, always shutting down any advances guys tried to make on you. you were nearly impossible to obtain, but the kook king himself loved a challenge. rafe wasn’t the first persistent man to come your way, but he was the first, and only one, who was able to handle you and your personality. you were mean to him and instead of cowering away, he was mean back, prompting you to keep running your mouth so he could ‘use it for something worth losing your breath for.’

you pushed him, and he pushed harder. he wasn’t intimidated by you, and you loved it. while you two decided to keep your relationship under wraps, both of you came to the mutual decision to go public. especially since you and rafe still had people who expressed the utmost interest in both of you. ‘swear, i’m gonna knock his teeth in when i see him.’ rafe would be cursing under his breath every time you told him about a guy who tried hitting on you. ‘seems like it’s time to make our relationship known, don’t you think?’ you had agreed, already thinking about what outfit you should wear for the night.

a few hours later, and rafe was guiding you through the crowd at topper’s house, all eyes falling on you two. you could feel the glares from the girls who thought they had a chance with your boyfriend burning against your skin. you basked in the feeling of crushing their egos, your piercing eyes meeting theirs as rafe pulled you closer to him. he was so tall and so handsome, butterflies fluttered in your tummy at the sight of him. rafe took your hand, fixing himself behind you as you two approached his friends, presenting you like a gold medal as topper and kelce got all of their friends to cheer for you and rafe.

“that’s what the fuck i’m talking about, ‘cameron!” topper gave up his seat on the couch, motioning for you and rafe to sit down as he poured everyone a round of shots. rafe felt his chest bloom with pride when all of his friends ogled you as if they couldn’t believe you were really sitting here in his lap. “looks like you did the impossible.” kelce whispered in rafe’s ear while flashing you a smile. handing you a shot, all of rafe’s friends wished you two the best before all of you downed the burning liquor. soon, one shot turned into four, and before you knew it, you and rafe were very tipsy and handsy.

instead of being seated in his lap, you were now straddling him, your dress riding up your thighs as he basically sucked your face off. you couldn’t help but move your hips against his, his hands coming down to rest on the globes of your ass as you pressed kisses along his neckline. it wasn’t long before rafe’s friends, and practically the whole party knew the color of your underwear, a drunken ‘oops!’ leaving your lips when you turned around and saw everyone looking at you with dark eyes. while girls wanted to be you, the guys wished they were rafe who had a girl as beautiful as you grinding on their lap.

“they’re all looking at us..” you giggled against rafe’s lips. “i don’t care, let them watch,” he took his bottom lip between his teeth, “just wanna show you off.” rafe blinked slowly, bringing his mouth to your neck where he nipped softly at your flesh. you moaned, hands finding the erection in his pants. “fuck.” he hissed when you palmed his length, his cock twitching in his pants when he saw the way you were looking at him. “aye, ‘top,” rafe nudged his friend, “s’your room free?” topper glanced between the two of you, watching the way your fingers trailed underneath your boyfriend’s shirt.

“it’s all yours, bro.” he nodded upstairs. pausing their conversations, the group of guys watched as rafe helped you up from his lap. “there’s condoms in the bathroom.” topper cleared his throat, in which you turned to face him. “we don’t use those!” you waved him off with a giggle, a smug grin taking over rafe’s features. now everyone knew he was was fucking you raw every chance he got. placing his hand on the small of your back, rafe guided you upstairs, both of you still trying to makeout on the way up there. kelce cursed under his breath when rafe landed a harsh smack on your ass, a wicked smile gracing your lips.

“i just know those two have the craziest sex.”

[blocksruinedme]

22. describe your writing process from scratch to finish.

28. handwritten notes or typed notes?

44. any writing advice you want to share?

22) my writing process!

be living my life, possibly babysitting or driving (maybe talking about blorbos)

think "hey what if...."

become possessed

from there it splits Version A - the fastest, and rarest, one

A1. get to my couch (or a different laptop place, or a notebook if desperate)

A2. Frantically let words spill out of me, often wishing my fingers could keep up with my brain. It's sometimes almost painful, needing to get the words out

A3. edit for a variable amount of time an post

My first published mcyt was like this - watched ranchers in the crossover at 11am, ideas marinated all day, came up with "what if tango's the key to fix fwhimmy" walking to my car at 5pm, started writing like 5:15 and published at maybe 1am. almost 5k long. Insane. that was MY EX STOLE MY SOULMATE.. | Empires SMP S2 1.19 (rated T) and I'm told also With Their Knife to His Throat (rated M) but I legit have next to no memories of writing that one, I think it was 48 hours from idea to published (4k).

B - normal version. Note: all of this is interspersed with working on a lot of other stories

B1: Have an idea, probably frantically but maybe it builds

B2: Think about it a lot, maybe ideas in a little notebook if they are coming at the wrong times. 

B3: write down bits of prose as they come, do a lot of outline in gdocs. 

B4: start writing from the beginning based on outline but also what feels right - in any given moment, i know more about the story than i did when i wrote the outline

B5: if i’m lucky write chronologically and work through the outline and add things. Often a section isn’t coming and i skip ahead. If it’s not happening, it’s not time for it to happen. To write the way I really want to, I need to know how it ends, so I can have the story build. 

B6: probably fuss a lot

B7: beg people for help and to tell me it’s okay to publish

B8: stress a lot about if it’s good enough and about minor changes i could make

Optional: B9: put it down for 1-7 months (i just published a fic from january, and two of my bang fics are from september and november)

B10: publish it pretty much the same as it was in B8

(I deleted C by adding B9 but already wrote D)

D: Probably just the once

D1: See a prompt for driving after dark and get unexpectedly interested

D2: write 2k of notes while trying to get another story done

D3: Give myself 6 days to write those 2k of notes and then it’s 20k and my longest fic ever and oops needs a lot of typo fixes: The Key to His Problem (rated E)

The editing etc process:

 During every version of this I have a gdoc shared with people and am begging for advice. If i can’t decide on a word when i’m writing and have some flow going, i say “they were all [very] surprised” and leave a comment (or just the brackets) to come back later and fix it. THIS IS MUCH OF HOW I WRITE FAST. The first draft is to get out it out of my head, the second draft is to get it into the reader’s head. SOMETIMES the flow is perfect and i don’t need to do this, but like, idk, 10% of the time? 

A lot of the words in [brackets] will wind up staying as is, but it gives me permission to move on without feeling like i’ve settled. 

Editing sometimes involves a lot of of editing passes, sometimes just because i want to work on it and don’t want to write. This can mean the early parts get soooo much more love. 

Sometimes I print out a fic that has gone through a set of editing and do more on paper. It can be great. I just see the story differently, and it mostly keeps me from adding huge amounts, and i catch errors i didn’t otherwise. 

Usually i put up the ao3 draft a few days earlier and start adding tags and putting in my text (which i do in html) to look at it. The title often comes the day i publish, cause i wait till the end.

28. handwritten notes or typed notes?

typed unless i don't have my laptop. I started carrying around a pocket sized notebook in march and i'm onto my second one. I got it in a Japanese stationery store and got hooked, i have this line in many sizes, here's my pocket notebook -https://www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Mnemosyne-N184A-Twin-Ring-Memo-Pad-A7-Graph/pd/7379 I've written in this baby in the corner of a club cause i had ideas waiting at the bar for a drink.

44. any writing advice you want to share?

You have to get the words out. You have to get the words out. You have to get the words out.

Good words can be, often are, born of less good words.

Don't be afraid of editing! Great fiction generally comes from editing! Put down some fucking words even if you hate them and get to the next part. I do this, I am not preaching advice I don't take. I'll leave a comment sometimes to tell my future self I didn't think they were good words, I just needed them out. It's fine, I survive every single time.

If you don't need to edit, swell! But if you're stuck, just keep writing something -- or if that won't work, or you feel shitty, take a break. Work on another story, do something else, but if you're miserable and slamming your head against the wall, STOP! Don't hurt yourself! Because you shouldn't hurt, and because you'll associate writing more and more with hurt.

Get other people involved. Share snippets with your friends (if you've got an appropriate discord, make a channel for it!) Trade off reading with your writer friends. If you like my writing, know that not a single word I've ever published hasn't been read by multiple other people. My pre-fic writing was generally group works, so that's what feels normal. The idea of publishing with not even anyone to say "Hey Vee, this makes sense in your brain but not mine" is terrifying. You don't need to Have Serious Beta, it can just be cheerleading or really general "point out if anything is a big problem". I found out this week i am a "phenomenal cheerleader" -- your friends, or some kind soul on a discord, don't need to give you literary analysis to say "this part is cool, your fic is good, i hope you publish!"

Fandom is shared joy. Share your joy in every way - cheerleading others, getting other to share joy with you on your works, leave comments, leave kudos, reblog, make happy posts, keep the negativity to smaller spaces, SHARE THE JOY. I've been in fandom legit longer than some of you have been alive and it's always the joy, that's what it always comes back to. Hold onto the joy, that's what will last in your hearts. <3 <3 <3

[basalamander-corner]

Camp NaNoWriMo Week 1 Progress

Decided to do it this way instead of posting each day individually! This will probably work much better in the long run, and will be much easier to keep track of instead of 30 reblogs that definitely get annoying after a while!

Project Name: The Shifting Tides (side blog is @the-shifting-tides-wip)

Goal: 30k words.

Tagline: Sometimes we must fight for a future we ourselves cannot see.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT+, Romance, Adventure, Young Adult

Progress under the cut!

Day 1

Words typed: 1,242

Total words: 1,242

Times updated: 3

First day of Camp NaNoWriMo hooray! It was a pretty easy day. I spent about 2.5 hours (started around 6:30pm, ended around 9pm) typing, and got a lot of work done. I met my word count goal, and then some! Maybe I should have made a bigger goal... oh well!

Most of what I typed today was finishing up the last chapter of part one. I skipped most of part one so I'll be moving to part two now!

Day 2

Words typed: 1,067

Total words: 2,309

Times updated: 2

Day two went by pretty smoothly! Although I suppose both days have been a weekend, so after today things might change!

Regardless, I just started part two and it's gone really well! The main cast has finally started their journey (about 30k words in oops), and are heading towards their next destination. It really won't take long before we get to meet the other half of our main cast, and I can't wait!

Day 3

Words typed: 1,032

Total words: 3,341

Times updated: 1

This time, I still felt really good about myself! I wrote for two hours straight and put on some episodes of Inuyasha in the background! I finished the first chapter of part one, so we're finally getting closer to meeting the other half of our main cast!

Day 4

Words typed: 1,039

Total words: 4,380

Times updated: 1

Wow! I’m really on a roll here! 1k words in one sitting isn’t something I usually do. I typically top out between 300-450 words in one sitting (my sittings are usually 90 minutes). But honestly, that just means this should go very well! Even if I don’t reach my goal of 1k words a day tomorrow or the day after, I’ll still be able to reach my goal of 30k words by the end of the month!

Day 5

Words typed: 1,120

Total words: 5,500

Times updated: 1

Officially reached 5k words today and then some! Woohoo!

Day 6

Words typed: 984

Total words: 6,484

Times updated: 1

We've finally been introduced to the next half of our main cast! Viridian's introduction was really fun to write (as always), so I'll definitely have to share that chapter later! Keep an eye out!

Day 7

Words typed: 998

Total words: 7,482

Times updated: 1

We just finished up with the introduction to the pirates here. Saran and his friends are officially part of the crew now, so we'll be moving towards the catalyst of the main conflict soon! This next section will be writing about the pirates and doing some lorebuilding for them.

[mystically-yours]

OMG THANKS FOR THE TAG MY ALBIE BABY!!

drabbles:

sweet as gourd | solomon x gn!mc [inspired by a scene in xo, kitty. It hurts writing this with how I had to describe the ingredients...]

first class, vegas | mammon x gn!mc [just something short n sweet. not much for a big deal]

sooooo bitter | platonic asmodeus x gn!MC [asmo such a judger in this one- "really girlie? really?"]

go go sexy!!! | beelzebub x gn!mc [mc cheering on beel as he plays fangol hehe :33]

fics:

out with the wind | apollo!simeon x hyacinthus!gn!reader [hehehe :)]

in death do us part | orpheus!diavolo x eurydice!gn!reader [another myth one :))]

longfics: [possibly atleast 5k words if I actually finish these]

my dearest, pearly baby! | mammon x gn!mc [HEAVILY inspired by tatbilb. especially since a certain someone gave off Peter Kavinsky vibes and I just eksbskanah- was supposed to be short but nope. I'm Eden.]

your bridge of cards | mammon x fem!mc, [inspired by Taylor swift and a guy who I used to know. Typical relationship story: how it began, fell apart and the memories that came with it].

for princes, by thieves | simeon x gn!mc [for flufftober! even though this MIGHT be finished much later. filled with a lot of small poems <3]

oops! a type i error | barbatos x gn!mc [very long overdue..]

I have a LOT T^T but yeah I will be prioritising my event and I suppose a couple drabbles + one of the myth fics for now

no pressure tags: @chrollogy , @fandoms-x-reader , anyone who would like to join! <3

wip tag game !

rules — list the names/titles of docs in your WIP folder + open your inbox to asks about them

thank you @wokelander for the tag <3 i always get distracted so some of these are partially written while others are just ideas! i'm sure i have more, but i can't find them right now lol

break up 'cause i'm bored | denji x best friend reader (cheating)

can't hold it | yuta x reader (piss)

stumbling in the dark | megumi x reader (step/incest)

lend a hand | satoru x reader

a perfect fit for me | yuji x reader

dumb mutt | naoya x puppy reader

keep them happy | nobara x reader x yuji (established nobara x reader)

like it better | leon kennedy x reader (age gap)

tagging: @papersirens @kentophilia @madaqueue @rosesaints @chositooo and anyone else who wants to! no pressure ofc <3

[dragonbagel]

the way i only write on my phone bouta have my thumbs lookin like those mfers from spy kids