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crazyvik97rpg · 1 day ago
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Sebastian didn't have to wait long for William at all. He was happily waiting in his room, sitting on his bed still and reading through some of the documents he got. Once William was here - well, he wanted to read through the most important things too, to just know if he had any questions but everything was clear!
Oh, Sebastian was beyond happy to see him! He felt all giddy, way better than days before. His stomach was fine taking any kind of food now and he couldn't wait for William's promised burger for dinner today. But even better than that - he would come home. To his cats, his boyfriend. And William even revealed a little surprise - he brought Dexter over with him! So seven cats to cuddle - there literally couldn't be anything better.
"Awe, really? You brought him? ...That's great, honestly...I feel much better today", Sebastian smiled and slid off his bed to take William's hand, while his boyfriend very generously took his bag with spare clothes and such. Sebastian took the flowers and documents with him. Sebastian, unfortunately, still had his drainage so Dr Cole had explained to him exactly how to care for it - as well as gave him written instructions. One last good bye to Mr Shaw, his roommate - then they were on their way. Finally. Heading home.
When they left the hospital together, Sebastian felt the chilly breeze brush over his face and William's warm hand against his, squeezing. He didn't park far but they had to walk only a little bit. "Do you think we could get something sweet too on the way to the pharmacy?", Sebastian asked once they got to the car and he sat down on the passenger's seat. Sebastian had become quite the passenger prince, heh. William was a great driver anyway. "Like-...a croissant or something? I had breakfast but...I'm still kinda hungry", he smiled a little, just giddy and happy about the fact that they were finally together. And that they were going to spend a whole day together.
"Thank you so much, love. For today, I mean. You didn't have to take the day off and I know Sunday was very busy for you, so...thank you, I love you. I can't wait to get home and spend the day with you".
For I have sinned...
The principal cleared his throat, eyes scanning the notes that he had wrote down before this meeting. It already lasted an hour, and the teachers gathered in the faculty room were becoming restless and bored. But indeed there were some things to discuss, with the concert that the senior class was supposed to perform at the end of the semester, and with recent staff changes. 
William glanced down at his watch, sighing softly. His class was starting in 15 minutes, so at least, whether the meeting will be done soon or not, he will get to excuse himself. He looked out of the window, his mind wandering. Principal’s voice turned into white noise in the background. It was a pleasant day, late summer. But William was looking forward to a slightly cooler weather. Wearing all black could really be bothersome at times. 
“And lastly, I am pleased to announce that we have finally found replacement for the violin teacher. Dear Mr Tanaka, may he rest in peace, was with us for so many years that I’ve been concerned we won’t be able to find someone as good as to fill this position.” the principal spoke. “But Mr… Michaelis, was highly recommended to me, and he indeed has impressive references. He will be starting this week, so please welcome him warmly once he will arrive. Ah yes… about that. He will arrive today at noon, I need someone to pick him up from the train station and bring over for the tour around the school. Any volunteers?” 
William was barely listening, and definitely not paying much attention. He glanced at his watch again, and saw that it was time to leave, as his class was about to start. He raised his hand to excuse himself, and little did he know, he just volunteered.
“Father William! Excellent!” the principal exclaimed. “Just don’t be late, the train arrives at noon.”
“Train…?” William questioned, raising his brow. He had a feeling he was missing something…
***
Right after the meeting, William had to run for the class, so he had little time to clarify what exactly he had volunteered for. He was a piano teacher in this Music Academy, but also he served as a priest in local church. Well respected, and rather liked. So when he later found out it was about the new violin teacher, he didn’t refuse. Who, other than himself, would be a better choice to introduce a newcome to their community?
So even though he raised his hand by accident, he accepted this fate.
After classes, at noon, William took a taxi and drove to the train station, to pick up their new teacher. Wearing black trousers, and a black shirt with a thin tie, was absolutely dreadful in this weather, so William quickly found shelter under the roof of the station platform, that provided some shade.
The train had just arrived. William had no idea how Mr Michaelis looked like, but he figured he will just look for someone carrying a violin case with them. 
He was in for a bit surprise.
@crazyvik97
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fxstpace · 1 day ago
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how you get the girl (teaser)
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summary: when you lose a bet against your brother and he forces you to go on a blind date, the last thing you expect is to find your ex-boyfriend at your doorstep, with a bouquet in his hand and a confession on his lips.
pairing: yoon jeonghan x fem!reader genres: romance, angst, smut, exes to lovers!au, brother’s best friend!au (ft. brother!joshua hong) teaser word count: 0.6k
↳ warnings: profanity (full warnings tba)
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“Hi,” he says. “Thanks for the shower.”
“No problem.” You swallow the hitch in your voice, gripping the chopsticks in your hand tightly. “I hope the water was warm.”
“It was.” Jeonghan hesitates for a moment, eyes flickering all across your kitchen before finally meeting your gaze. “Do you need any help?”
“Oh, uh, no. I’m just making ramen. Couldn’t find anything else, sorry.” 
You hate the way your throat dries and your mouth clams up. You rest your hip on the counter, keeping your body angled sideways so you can keep one eye on the stove without appearing rude. All these weeks, and Jeonghan still manages to render you speechless. It’s almost ridiculous.
He jerks, a movement bordering a shrug and a grimace. It’s rare to see Jeonghan so awkward, rarer still to see him floundering for words. If there’s one thing Jeonghan is, it’s a smooth talker. He can charm his way into anything, putting that honey-rich timbre and smooth baritone of his voice to good use. 
“I hope you don’t mind, but,” he finally says, “I put my jacket to dry by the washing machine. The rest of my stuff is in the hamper.”
“Oh. Okay.” You nod. Of course he remembers the exact layout of your apartment—he had been there when you went house-hunting, after all—but it still serves as a sharp reminder to what you used to have and everything you couldn’t salvage. You give the ramen a small stir.
“We didn’t get much of a chance to talk.” Jeonghan sounds casual, but you know better than anyone it’s just feigned. “Because of the rain, and all.”
“...Right.” You turn off the stove and carefully tip the ramen into two bowls. 
“How have you been?”
You force out a chuckle. “That’s redundant, Jeonghan.”
“Just being polite.” He is still calm, and it irritates you.
“Why did you want to meet me?”
Jeonghan lets his head drop, his long bangs falling onto his forehead. He’s let his hair grow out; it almost brushes against his shoulders. He still has the same lean, lithe figure he’s always had, though. It’s slightly disconcerting—familiar yet foreign at the same time.
He moves to lean on the counter opposite you, crossing his arms over his chest. “I can’t meet up with an old friend?”
“We both know your only friend is Joshua.”
“Ouch.” The laugh he barks out is dry. “I have lots of new friends now.”
Your fingers curl into your palm, nails digging into your skin. A tense silence fills the space between you both. Mechanically, you hand him a bowl of ramen and a pair of chopsticks. He takes them wordlessly, nodding his thanks. 
You pick up your own bowl and walk towards your small dining table. You don’t gesture for Jeonghan to follow—you know he will, anyway, just like how he walked into your life with no warning. Your first bite of ramen nearly burns your tongue. You bite back a yelp. 
“Careful, it’s hot,” Jeonghan warns, a hint of a smile on his lips. You glare at him and it vanishes immediately. “Sorry. But I’m serious—how have you been? We haven’t spoken in a while.”
“I wonder why that is.”
“Still the same, I see,” he says, chewing around a mouthful. “I’ve been good too, thanks for asking.”
“You’re an asshole, Jeonghan.” Your grip on the chopsticks falters. They clatter onto the table, but neither of you pay any mind to it. 
Jeonghan rubs some broth off the corner of his mouth, finally averting his gaze to his bowl of ramen instead of looking at you. You sigh, fighting the urge to crawl back into your room and pretend this isn’t happening.
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↳ a/n: thanks for reading! please send an ask/reply if you would like to be added to the tag list :)
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fillinforlater · 5 hours ago
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The Archive of Smite
This page belongs to the writer named Smite. He wrote fics starting in September of 2021 up until April 2024. In these 2,5 years, over 8.000 people followed him to read some of the craziest k-pop girl group smut out there. Almost 150 stories of sex in all kinds of positions, for many reasons, all over the world (and in outerspace), with too many kinks to count.
"When I started, I kinda wanted to become the best. I wanted my favorite writers at the time - Levi, Peach, Sins, and many more - to know that I could write as good as they can. I wanted to go wilder and crazier."
Smite, though ambitious, was also stupid and naive. At roughly the same time he started writing, two other community legends began their careers. IZ and Kaede crushed everything in their sight, especially the former becoming an absolute legend.
"Writing was fun. At times, it was escapism from everyday worries. At other times, it was fulfillment of fantasies I could never reach. Mostly though, it was just horny. BFH that just became words. If you go through my Masterlist, you might see which idols had some random heights or were just... Always on my hot list."
Smite never really stopped writing, not for long stretches that is. It didn't really occur to him that there might be a sudden, drastic reason to stop. He considered doing so anyways. Something about writing porn about irl people without them knowing or wanting - needless to say, it is an odd hobby. Nevertheless, he enjoyed it amd the community it brought with it.
"I fucking love these guys. So many hilarious peoplefrom all over the world. One became like my best friend, a rock during my emotional struggles. Another was my boyfriend for a short time. Man, I screwed up with him kekw. There are too many to mention. I've had long talks with some, others just came by and listened to me mald or something. I love you all, some of you I consider true friends - part of my soul - and I feel connected, even if you are thousands of miles away."
2024 started stressful for Smite. The pressure of Uni started to collapse on him. Even the thought of big kpop concerts wasn't enough to cheer him up. Luckily though, there was this girl. Sweet, kind, caring and in the same position. Soon, he had found something that seemed impossible. She was in love with him and he in love with her. And when everything unraveled.
"I stopped writing. I burried my drafts. I finished only one story and released it way later. I'm sorry I didn't announce it properly, but I just felt that this smut writing career was over. I don't regret it - I gained something beautiful I want to keep for the rest of my life. She is at least as pretty as Minju, so I call that the biggest win imaginable lol."
So no more smuts from Smite?
"99% no"
No more fanfictions/girl group stories in general?
"Eh, 80% no. Still some unfinished angst that I would love y'all to read tho"
Will you ever reach those 150 fics?
"We will see. In this count there are fics with less than 1000 words. I might just sneeze and finish it kekw"
Any fic you regret not writing?
"Not really? Maybe a proper ending for Starship: Horizon? Or yet another Minju fic? Futa stuff? Gaeul angst x female reader? Or how about a fic with 69 different idols at once? Who but me would dare to write something so stupid?"
Do you think you reached your initial goal?
"Do I consider myself the GOAT? No. That title belongs to either Peach, Levi or IZ. But I know that of my now 8.700 followers some consider me their favorite writer. I'm flattered and thank you very much for reading amd enjoying my work."
Now for the most important question: does this post mean you are finally leaving the community behind for good? Is this your last hoorah?
"..."
"Never."
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daisymbin · 3 days ago
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hii! can you please do fluff prompt 4 with vernon? tysmm
of course!! 🤍
request your own: full prompt list!
check out my masterlist! // hansol's m.list
fluff prompt #4: "stop stealing my food."
it was another quiet evening at home, and hansol had decided to get burgers and fries for dinner. he’d been craving it all day, so naturally, he ordered extra, knowing full well that you always ended up snacking on his food. but that wasn’t the only reason he ordered double.
when he asked, for the fourth time, if you wanted anything, you gave him the same answer as always. “nah, i’m good,” you said, barely looking up from the book you were reading. he didn’t buy it for a second.
“are you sure? i can get extra fries,” he said, trying to tempt you, but you just shook your head.
“really, i’m not hungry. i had a late lunch, i’ll be fine,” you assured him, and hansol chuckled to himself, already you wouldnt be able to resist the food.
the moment you’d turned down his offer, he’d quickly placed the order with double everything: two large burgers, two portions of fries, 1 extra large cups of milkshake. he had even convinced himself that it was a good idea to get extra fries, just in case. it wasn’t like you’d admit you were hungry anyway once you realised you were wrong, so he would just make sure there was enough for both of you. besides, he had a sneaky little trick up his sleeve.
when the food arrived, hansol made a big show of being completely shocked by the amount of food. he carried the bags into the living room, acting surprised. “woah, uh... they gave me way too much,” he said, glancing at you with a mischievous glint in his eyes. you looked up from your book, eyes widening at the sight of two burgers and a mountain of fries.
he pretended to frown, then pulled his phone out and began dialing. “hey, i just got my order... yeah, i think you made a mistake, theres way too much food. oh? the burgers and fries are 1 for 1 right now? i didn’t know that... huh, wow, okay. yeah, i’ll take care of it. thanks.”
he “hung up” the phone and turned back to you with a sigh, pretending to be defeated. “well... looks like i have to eat everything,” he said, trying (and failing) to keep the grin from spreading across his face.
he dug into the first burger, taking exaggerated bites as he pretended to be totally overwhelmed by the amount of food. after finishing the burger, he moved onto the fries, taking slow, agonizing bites, letting the pile of fries grow higher as he left half of it untouched.
with a dramatic sigh, he glanced at you and said, “ugh, i really can’t finish another burger. it’s just too much, you know?” then, with the most pitiful look, he added, “please... help me finish it, or it’s just gonna go to waste.”
you sighed and put your book down. “fine, i’ll help,” you said, trying to act like you were reluctantly agreeing when, deep down, you were practically salivating. you’d been starving the minute the smell of burgers and fries hit your nostrils, but you’d never admit it to hansol.
you grabbed the second burger and bit into it, enjoying the taste of the juicy patty, and quickly finished off a few fries. hansol had his eyes trained on you as you finally ate, a satisfied look on his face.
but then, in true hansol fashion, he slyly reached over and grabbed a handful of fries from your side of the plate.
you gave him a look. “hey!” you said, trying to pull the fries away, but hansol only chuckled and held onto them. “stop stealing my food!” he said, his voice playful but firm.
you raised an eyebrow, about to retort, but then you stopped and glanced at him with a teasing smile. “aren’t you the one who asked for help?” you said, feigning innocence.
hansol grinned. “you’re right,” he admitted, “but i didn’t say anything about stealing my fries.”
you rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the soft chuckle that escaped. "im just kidding," hansol says as you watch him pick up more fries, "eat, baby."
you leaned over to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek as you snuck one more fry. “fine, fine,” you said. “i’ll eat, but only because you’re cute and begging me to help you.”
hansol’s face softened as he let out a small laugh, his eyes twinkling with affection as he looked at you. “me? begging?? yes, I am," he teased, reaching over to give you a quick kiss on the lips.
you smiled against his lips. “you’re lucky you’re cute, or i’d never help you finish your meal.”
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ieatratsforbreakfast · 2 days ago
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oh my god this whole fucking thread is images, get ready for it
[ID:
First image: a tweet from @/autismlor that says "Sorry for being so inactive on this account, the Taylor hyperfixation kinda died a little once I started getting laid Imao" underneath in the replies they say "People bookmarking this are you gonna come back after you get laid and report if it happens to you too or"
Second image: a tweet from @/meanlore that says "honestly ever since i got on the right meds it's been really hard for me to care about taylor swift being gay" then in the replies they say "(lamotrigine for anyone wondering !!)"
Third image: an instagram post from @/btsarmy222777 the photo is a pink and purple gradient with the text "SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN POSTING ON HERE A LOT GUYS I STARTED TAKING A MOOD STABILIZER AND NOW I'M NOT OBSESSED WITH BTS ANYMORE" in white. The caption reads "Still love them though 💜" (purple heart emoji.)
Fourth image: a tweet from @/larryslittlefrk that says "sorry for being so inactive lately, just wanted to give you all total transparency 💕" (double pink heart emoji) with a screenshot of a notes app entry attached. The note is titled 🚨 (siren emoji) life update 🚨 (siren emoji). The text below it reads "hey guys! Life update!!! So they found a bunch of mold in my dorm vent and since l've been home and on antibiotics I noticed how much better I am really feeling and also feel like I can think more clearly now, and with a heavy heart I have to admit I think being a no stunt Larry was probably the mold talking. Not really sure why any part of that makes sense, especially Louis's fake kid and them both hiring beards for 10 years when they pick their own managers now... guess black mold can really affect your brain hahaha! anyways i'm so grateful for the friends i've made through this community and i hope all of you reach the same clarity as i have ❤️ (red heart emoji) get your vents checked everyone!"
Fifth image: an instagram post from @/jamesmcavoyupdates. The image is a photo of James Mcavoy standing on what looks to be a gate. The caption reads "im done with this account. Thank you for all the laughs but i have no motivation to keep updating on James. this account was initially to help me let my feelings out and sometimes rant but my antidepressants have started working and they helped me realize i actually do not like James mcavoy as much as i thought i did. If you were looking forward to my updates i apologize you will have to find another account to follow as i am no longer suffering from mental illness. Xx ❤️ (red heart emoji)"
/end ID]
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violenteconomics · 12 hours ago
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so it’s pretty popular in this fandom for the overblotters to have a support group going on, and that’s all well and good and we’ve got a lot of amazing stuff out of it (shameless segue into compelling you to read the “girls in wonderland” series by the lovely jxnebug on ao3, please, it’s awesome), but can you just. like. imagine for a second that everybody else has a support group too, because goodness gracious, do the people who have to witness the overblots need so much therapy.
like. i imagine that it starts off with the first-years and their weekly ramshackle hangouts, and then they all start venting to each other about all the trauma they’ve gone through in the past year, which, thanks to yuu, becomes an unofficial, very unqualified support group.
ace: hey. i’m ace trappola. during my first week at night raven college i had to wear a collar around my neck at all times and didn’t even get to sleep in my dorm, which is probably for the best, because i couldn’t really sleep with that stupid collar anyway. i slaved away making a chestnut tart to apologize to my housewarden with, only to have my apology literally thrown into the trash. and when my best friend tried to stick up for me, they got called stupid and undereducated. and my other upperclassmen just enabled him. i almost got killed twice in that week, and many more times afterwards.
deuce: hello, i’m deuce spade. and i promised myself that i would become the best person i could be for my mom, only to fall short of my own expectations every single time, except for when i literally sign my soul away. i had such high hopes for my housewarden and upperclassmen to guide me to a better future, only to come to the realization that they’re even more flawed than i am. so, basically, there is nobody who can help me now, and i’m doomed to the path i made with my own hands.
jack: this is so unnecessary. jack howl. basically what deuce said, but combine that with the fact that, when you first met, your upperclassmen didn’t have any problems with getting rid of you if it meant their path to victory was assured. your dormmates will never admit that they’re wrong and sooner rip your ear out than say they like you to your face. but you care a lot about them, and deep down, maybe they care a lot about you, too. but the only thing they can do that would prove that in your eyes is improve themselves. become better. be the people you thought they were when you got here. and that is the one thing they will never do.
epel: howdy. my name is epel felmier. my housewarden is all about personal improvement. he’s right to think that i need to rework my thinking about gender and strength, because they are not equal in any way. other than that, though, he has no investment in me as a person. i’m not allowed to eat whatever i want. if he tells me to perform, that’s what i do. if i slip up even a little, he scolds me for being lazy. my posture must be perfect, my diction clear, and my hair flawless. he puts the same pressure on himself to be perfect, so it’s not like he’s a hypocrite. but that’s the thing, isn’t it? he likes me for the things i do — and he hates the person i am.
ortho: hello, world. my name is ortho shroud. not the real one, though. i’m just a poor simulacrum of him that my big brother forged from the flames of his grief and the metal of his self-loathing. but even though idia put his soul into constructing me, i can never truly be the person he wants me to be. my only purpose, and i can’t even do it correctly. for almost my entire life up to this point, idia loved his dead brother more than he loved me, and i just had to be okay with that, because the nature of the STYX organization mean that i didn’t have anybody else. and the one time i tried to change that, i corrupted my brother and almost ended the world.
sebek: greetings. i am sebek zigvolt. i nearly perished recently. the prince that i admired so dearly tried to put everybody to sleep, and in trying to stop him, i very nearly lost a dear friend of mine to the secrets hidden inside his father’s brain. the whole time, i felt distinctly out of place. it was like i was watching one of those soap operas master lilia loves so much. only ever looking. never touching. right before me was a broken family that i only wanted to see come back together, but i couldn’t fix it. for it was not my family to fix. i was helpless. useless. but that is nothing new.
yuu: …hi. i’m yuu. i was ripped out of my home and isekai’d into this world that’s filled with mentally unstable magic people who tried to kill me more than a couple times. i am currently living paycheck-to-paycheck while going to school full-time thanks to a crow who doesn’t know how to adult. and clearly, we all have a lot of work to do.
this goes on for a couple of weeks with just them, but then sebek decides to invite silver, because he’s prolly not doing so hot post-book 7 (and also, silver is basically the freshmen’s official big brother at this point, let’s be real) and then silver invites kalim a few weeks later, who invites ruggie, and then it just sort of snowballs out of control from there.
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vrystalius · 1 day ago
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hello! i'm thirsty for some douma fluff, so i'd like to request the fluffliest fluff of him and reader (fem or gn, whichever you prefer ;]) being the most clingy dorks in love, spending most of their time kissing and cuddling (bonus if his followers are witnessing the cute moment of both)
(if you can't do it, i'll understand. but either way, i love your blog, have a good day! <3)
His dearest darling
The founder and priest of the Eternal Paradise group is always so openly affectionate with you, is there something Douma’s followers haven’t seen him do to you?
Pairing: Douma x gn!reader
Includes: Kisses, Cuddles, love letters
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˚✧₊⁎⁺˳༚ - Kisses
All day, all night, every hour and every minute. Douma loves kisses out of nowhere the most, surprising you every time. He likes seeing the look of surprise take over your face and your cheeks flush in the most beautiful colour as he snuck up from behind you and planted a featherlight kiss on your neck. Sometimes, he’ll spin you around and rip your attention away from whatever you were doing and cupping your face to plant a kiss on your lips, humming in content and pulling away with a big, stupid grin.
Your kisses give him small boosts of energy throughout the day and encourage him to keep going and endure all the stress and boredom that comes with being the founder and head priest of the Eternal Paradise cult. Douma doesn’t care who watching, if he’s feeling especially tired or bored, he will be making out with you wherever and whenever. The elders of the cult may be judging him for being so openly affectionate with you, but then again, why should he care? Douma can dispose of them easily anyway.
˚✧₊⁎⁺˳༚ - Cuddles
Douma will whine and pout all day when you don’t give him the mandatory cuddles he needs to survive. He’s a very touchy demon, whenever you’re close, his hand is resting on your hip or interlocking fingers with yours, or mindlessly playing with your hair. He adores holding you close to his chest and feel your calm heartbeat through your skin and clothes, silently admiring the vulnerability you display over and over to him, wondering how you ended up falling for a demon like him.
Sometimes, some sort of cuteness-aggression takes over his whole body and Douma would pull you closely against his body, trapping your body in his arms and wrapping his legs around yours while laying on top of you, rubbing his cheek all against your face, sometimes even nibbling on your skin while squealing and cooing at you. After those sessions of your husband loosing his shit over you merely existing, Douma goes back to his duties and tasks like nothing happened.
It’s a little embarrassing when he does this randomly in the middle of the halls. His behaviour won’t be as aggressive, meaning he won’t pounce and refuse to release you until he’s satisfied, but he’d hug you tightly and cover your face in kisses before moving on.
˚✧₊⁎⁺˳༚ - Letters
When you two are apart for multiple days on end, Douma makes sure to send out letters expressing his love for you every single day. Sometimes those letters include rather… explicit language when describing his longing and desire for both you and your body, but they do make you excited for returning back to him and demanding him to do the things he fantasises about in those letters.
Once, one of these lovely letters was handed to a follower that was supposed to send it out to you, but mistakenly opened and read it, believing it was meant for him. He never saw his priest in the same light as before and never shared with the other followers what he read inside that letter. Everytime that follower was asked about it, their expression would resemble the so called 1000-yard-stare.
💠
Gods, I missed this stupid demon so much XD I am so sorry that this took so long to post, I hope you enjoyed this anyway!! Thank you for requesting, I loved this <3
DRINK, EAT and SLEEP enough!
Make sure to take care of yourselves, mentally and physically <3
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Hello! Can I request a Platonic! Yandere! Alhaitham x GN! Child! Nahida! Reader? Thank you!
There is a sick God child in Scribe's house
Platonic! Yandere! Al-Haitham x GN! Child! Nahida! Reader
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Description: Alhaitham has repeated time and time again, that he is only an Acting Grand Sage. But life of the nation can't just freeze until new Grand Sage is appointed. So, Alhaitham doesn't have a choice and should work with Dendro Archon to clean up the mess, that was from former sages' actions.
Grudges are petty. Smart person could either to stop holding it, or take revenge. Azar, exiled, striped of all his power and influence, has a grudge. Azar still has his intelligence. Azar still has an ace up his sleeve.
_______
Warning and tags: OOC. Platonic Yandere. English is my second language. Spoilers for Sumeru's AQ. Reader are Gender Neutral. Azar is a bastard. Mentions of attempted murder. Poisoning.
Alternative timeline (I guess) - Wanderer's Interlude happened before Fabulous Fungus Frenzy Event).
Wanderer's name is Azra (after character from "The Arcana" game).
Detect quotes from Nahida's voicelines and special dish description.
Alhaitham made one comment about raising a child together with Kaveh. Take it as you want (as a joke, or a pre-relationship).
_____________
Alhaitham's life goals were, in the eyes of some fellow researchers, unfit for an Akademiya Scribe.
"Having an easy job and living a simple live? Are we really talking about star alumnus of the Haravatat Darshan and not about someone from Vimara Village?"
For a few years, that «ridiculous» situation remained a relatively popular gossip between students. "Mysteriously" it was brought up only when Alhaitham was in an earshot.
Alhaitham didn't care about gossips and being a talk of the Akademiya. He liked his life and that was all that matters.
However, after Lesser Lord Kusanali were freed from the captivity, his normal and comfortable life was, while not outright destroyed, disturbed. Acting Grand Sage was still a Grand Sage, whose duties did not compare with the duties of a scribe. Alhaitham wasn’t oblige to accept the new position, but, the overthrow of sages left Sumeru and Akademiya in chaos, and Alhaitham’s normal life would be disturbed anyway. While choosing between more work and rebuilding his life from scratch, he chose the lesser of two evils.
However, on days like this, when sage’s table was almost bursting under the weight of papers, when there were an archon, who offered their help, and who were now lost among mountains of old documents, that had to be placed on the floor, Alhaitham thought, that starting life from scratch was not a bad idea.
In theory (or in a book) after the coop, Sumeru’s problems should be easily resolved. Archon were free and ready to rule Sumeru again, traitorous sages were stripped of their powers and exiled, and the problem with appointing new sages shouldn’t be that hard. There were enough people, who didn’t dirty themselves with betrayal, and, Alhaitham admitted, Dendro Archon have all necessary means to investigate new sages. Alhaitham himself would gladly assist in choosing Azar’s (or his, if he is counts) successor. Ask him, and Alhaitham will confess, that he made a bet that problems would be resolved quickly, and he would not have to stay Grand Sage longer than necessary.
And then, history and laws reminded of their existence.
_______
If someone read books about Akedemiya's history, they might find a very strange name in a list of previous Grand Sages. Strange in a way "Aren't Grand Sages (or just Sages), normally, are chosen from people of Sumeru? How someone from Fontaine managed to become a head of Akademiya?"
The truth is, Grand Sage Dupont, who lived three-hundred years ago, despite the name, technically, wasn’t from Fontaine. His parents, two Driyoshs, conducted research in a land of Hydro, and, during that time, future grand sage was born. The reason behind his name was lost in time (Did his parents plan to stay in Fontaine at first? Did someone named Dupont saved them?), but, when young Dupont reached schooling age to attend Akademiya, the family returned to Sumeru.
Information about Dupont's Akademia’s days were vague, except of few moments.
First, and the most obvious one, Dupont was smart, and his academic success was undeniable. However, some books from that period mentioned, that Dupont has an annoying trait of skipping from one topic to another in his research papers, using long, overcomplicated (even for Akedemiya's standards) words. Despite that, he never mentioned insignificant information, and, at the end, everything would play its part. That turned an annoying trait into a valuable trait for a researcher. It was a question of time, before Dupont became a Great Sage.
Second, he was obsessed with proving his loyalty to Sumeru. It was unclear, where it came from. He never mentioned, that his peers looked down at him, or if he had troubles with professors.
Third, after spending a childhood in a nation of Courts and Justice, was enamored with lawmaking.
Fourth, he wasn't hiding his tendency to overcomplicate texts (Alhaitham read some of the Dupont books, and, if he was one to judge, "overcomplicate" was a major downgrading), mad loyalty to Sumeru and dreams of making laws.
His days as Grand Sage were unofficially called The Age of Web of Laws.
Age, when Sumeru was flooded with new laws each day, Dendro Archon were pronounced a captured traitor, and people realized, why researchers, who use long words and could jump from one important point to another, probably, should stay away from lawmaking.
Law, after law, on top of three others laws, that connected to unreleased laws made Sumeru's law system a knotted mess.
And then, he remembered about Dendro Archon in Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Lesser Lord Kusanali, during their capture, were ignored. Dupont, for some reason, decided, that Archon, who lost their power and memories during Cataclysm are a traitor and should be treated as such.
He couldn't exile them or execute them. So, as a person in charge, instead, he hopped to make their life a living hell.
There were few hundreds of laws, forbidding or complicating Dendro Archon's possible return to power and rulership. A few dozens laws of making their life in captivity hard (Like a "Seafood law", by which allowed feeding Dendro Archon seafood and only seafood for breakfast/dinner/lunch. Grand Sage failed to realize, that Sumeru, at that point, wasn't a fishing nation, and the required amount of seafood need to be bought from other nations and will cost a lot of mora). Then, the laws, that prohibited the worship of Dendro Archon came. And, when Dupont mentioned, that he will look into possibility of executing Dendro Archon followers, people finally realized, that situation got out of hand.
After a long battle of wits, public opinion and bureaucracy, Dupont was exiled. Most of his laws were banned or cancelled. Even laws about Archon's followers were taken care of.
But, no one cared about Dendro Archon. All laws, that were focused on them were ignored, but never were cancelled.
So, when Lesser Lord Kusanali got on the throne, that useless laws were remembered. Sumeru was in a dire need of sorting them and dealing with them.
_______
That's lead to Alhaitham's and Lesser Lord Kusanali's current situation. To finally get rid of Dupont's laws, Acting Grand Sage and Dendro Archon were working together for the last few days.
Thankfully, it was the last of the bunch, and, if everything went well, in three days the work will be over.
The closest paper mountain tilted, but was stopped by a pair of small hands, emerging from the paper bowels. The next moment, the rest of Dendro Archon followed.
Lesser Lord Kusanali, or, [Y/N], as they called themselves, were almost hugging the much taller tower slowly moving around it, trying to prevent its fall.
[Y/N] managed to not only hold papers back, but also get in the front of the unstable mountain. For one second it looked like papers will stay in place. But, [Y/N] hold a metal container in their right hand and weren't planning on dropping it to stabilize the paper tower better.
Like on a clue, papers on top slid down, ending up on [Y/N]’s head. Alhaitham, without stopping reading the papers before him, grabbed Dendro Archon by the pale green cape. Scribe picked them up, saving from being buried under the paper avalanche. Just in time. The tower fell, and [Y/N] dangled in Alhaitham's grip. Ignoring the blatant blasphemy (who could dare to hold the ruler of a nation, God of Wisdom, as if they were a naughty puppy?), Alhaitham lowered them back on the floor, putting an archon back on their feet.
[Y/N] took off papers from their head with free hand, looking at them in displeasure. They glance at the pile of papers on the ground, reading the titles. They mumbled under their breath, mostly to themselves, not expecting Alhaitham to speak.
“And the Seafood Law is found.”
He looked up from his current documents (Law of "forbid Dendro Archon to walk down the street") looking at the archon with faint interest. As if sensing his gaze, they turned the document in his direction. Alhaitham, quickly reading through the first page, hummed. Without taking away the document, Alhaitham wrote a "Cancelled" on top of the first page.
One more centuries old foolish law that poisoned the life of current Sumeru were dealt with.
Without care, [Y/N] dropped the document on the floor. With a small smile, they turned towards Alhaitham, placing the container before him, on top of the (finally cancelled) "Street law". Alhaitham raised an eyebrow.
"I thought, that you need a small break." [Y/N]'s voice sounded soft and a tiny bit shy. "So, I brought some Candied Ajilenakh Nuts."
They don't seem like traditional Candied Ajilenakh Nuts. Instead of familiar rectangles, Alhaitham was looking at the four-petaled flower, laying on top of the four green-white leaves. He took one of the "leaves", taking a small bite. Syrup melts upon contact with his mouth, nuts easily crumbed under his teeth. Alhaitham swallowed the delicious treat,
Alhaitham, despite spending almost a week working together with Dendro Archon, didn't take them for a cook. Yet, here we are.
"Why?" Alhaitham wasn't sure, if it was a simple curiosity, or just an attempt in small talk. Child god looked at him with big warm eyes.
"Why I decided to give you a gift? The sea anemone has helped the little fish and witnessed its growth, so it's only natural for the little fish to give something back. Why Candied Ajilenakh Nuts?" their gaze became a little bit dreamy. "One little bite makes the brain starts chugging away at top speed, and suddenly there's no problem too difficult to solve."
Alhaitham hold back a smile. Lesser Lord Kusanali had a moment of "normalcy".
Alhaitham wasn't a believer. Gods were just gods, a part of biological hierarchy, perhaps, a product of evolution. He wasn't the one to defy Dendro Archon's divinity, but he won't pray or worship them. At least, that's how he was. Before he started working with Dendro Archon.
It was easy to be an atheist in "old" Sumeru. For years, Dendro Archon was an idea, an echo of the past. Even history books has no clear images of pre-Cataclysm Dendro Archon. Just a schematic drawing of a human head with large green headpiece. Akasha Terminal only provided information on who Lesser Lord Kusanali were, not on who they are.
Then Alhaitham helped to rescue Lesser Lord Kusanali. Dendro Archon stopped to be an idea. It wasn't enough for Alhaitham to start bowing before the divine. The week of working together with Dendro Archon wasn't enough.
But now Alhaitham didn't know, how to view Lesser Lord Kusanali anymore.
They were an Archon, ruler of the nation.
They were a winner of Archon War, who lost their memories and powers during Cataclysm.
They were a poor soul, who were locked in their own home for five hundred years.
They were a wise person, whose somewhat simple metaphors hide true answers.
They were a child, who have a sweet tooth, liked big gatherings (Aether told him about "A Moment of Dreams") a toy box with handmade toys, who, sometimes, were clueless about proper social interactions.
[Y/N] were too many things, and their picture in Alhaitham's mind became more and more conflicting each day.
He should be respectful, but not a fanatic. He should see them as a god. Not as a child.
So, where does the surge to protect that poor child came from?
Alhaitham's facial expression became neutral again. He closed the container, putting it away.
"Thank you, Lesser Lord Kusanali, but right now I don't have time to enjoy it. There is still a lot of work to do."
Dendro Archon simply nodded, turning back to paper mountains.
"Understandable. Now, where is the law, that forbids children to wear green, gold and white colors is?"
Alhaitham perked up, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Did he forced you to...?"
[Y/N] immediately shake their head.
"No! He was planning to release that law, but, fortunately, the same day he was finally accused of power abuse. Still, not hurt to check out if he managed to sign it. And, if we are lucky, we will finally found that little paper sheet, according to which I can't cancel laws."
Dendro Archon slowly moved among the paper towers.
Alhaitham was back to work. But, from time to time, his gaze lingered to the metal container with Candied Ajilenakh Nuts.
For last week, Lesser Lord Kusanali arranged food for the two of them, and now make something for him.
He cooked before, but never tried to make dessert. Well, we live, we learn.
__________
It was a given, that Alhaitham and Kaveh split the house chores between each other. Yes, Alhaitham might use the owner's status and make Kaveh, who was living here rent-free, do all the chores, but he would never do that. To be frank, the thought of blackmailing Kaveh (or anyone else in a dire situation) was making Alhaitham sick.
So, the cooking was split between them. Of course, if someone wanted to add something to the table when it wasn't their turn, they were free to do it.
Tonight, Kaveh appreciated the dessert Alhaitham brought home.
There were some minor passive-aggressiveness during dinners (Kaveh preferring making soups, or Alhaitham making spicy dishes), but, mostly, there weren't any conflicts, and they will eat each other cooking without complaining, commenting or making a scene and cooking something else.
So, when Alhaitham, who, after dinner, grabbed the cookbook Kaveh brought home a few months ago, and occupied the kitchen, he expects questions from Kaveh.
For now, he was silent. Kaveh observed, how Alhaitham was mixing ingredients.
"You are making a dessert." Kaveh's voice sounded flat. Alhaitham barely glance at him, before returning his attention to cooking. Baklava wasn't an easy thing to make for a newbie baker, but it was the only dessert he has all ingredients to make.
"Since when do you have a sweet tooth? First candied nuts, now this." Kaveh refused to drop the subject.
"It's just a small treat for a child who gave me candied nuts today" answered Alhaitham
"For a child?" Kaveh raised an eyebrow. "Did you take in an apprentice? Or..." Kaveh expression became worried. "Or are you planning to adopt a child?"
Alhaitham's mouth moved, before he could think about his next words.
"What if I am?" Alhaitham send a heavy glance towards Kaveh. "What if I am thinking about taking in a child?"
Kaveh expression dropped.
"Spare an innocent soul, Alhaitham. Kids, especially orphans, need attention and emotional involvement and attachment. And you are... I can't picture, what kind of parent would you be."
Alhaitham, who didn't stop cooking, finally finished forming baklava, put it in an oven. With his back turned towards Kaveh, he shrugged.
"I will be a fine parent. And, as for emotions. Well, I have you for that. Together, we will raise a normal child."
His roommate was silent. When Alhaitham turned around, he saw, that Kaveh was closing and opening his mouth, just staring at Alhaitham with an unreadable emotion in his eyes.
Alhaitham sighed.
"I am not planning an adoption or having an apprentice. [Y/N] are a child from Akademiya I have been working with for the last few days. They were quite helpful, and I just want to show my gratitude."
Kaveh was silent. He spoked in a hushed voice.
"[Y/N] from Akademiya. Child, you have been working with. Alhaitham, I respect your take on gods, and Lesser Lord Kusanali might be a kind and forgiving archon, but, don't you think, that calling them a child and by name is disrespectful?"
Alhaitham didn't flinch.
"I don't think, they would mind. They are kind and forgiving."
'Too forgiving.' mentally noted Alhaitham. 'Azar is still out there. Who knows, what he might do.'
Alhaitham glance back at the oven.
"I just want to show them some kindness. They don't have their memories and for five centuries no one show kindness to them. It's not right."
Kaveh pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Since when you became so emotional, hm?" He didn't wait for an answer, turned around and walked out of the kitchen. Before leaving, he looked back at Alhaitham.
"I hope, that you know what you are doing."
Alhaitham knew. He knew, that [Y/N] need some warmth and parental care.
Also, Alhaitham wondered what Azar was up to?
_____
Since he was a child, Azar knew, that he was born to be great. He was from the family of great researchers. He was smarter, than his peers. He was the best student of Rtawahist. He knew, that he will be a Grand Sage one day. It was his birthright.
In his previous life, he has everything. Power, respect, authority, live of luxury.
Now he has no power, he was despised, under constant supervision of forest watchers and matras and was living in an old hut.
Azar hated Avidya Forest. He hated to have nothing, while the traitorous Alhaitham, Tighnari and Cyno and the joke of an archon have everything.
Azar knew, that he can't change anything. But, he will be damned, if he won't try to get revenge.
He glanced at the night sky. It was hard, he only had one shot.
Lesser Lord Kusanali put him in this position. And they would be the one to pay the price.
It wasn't an option, to kill an archon. It wasn't the most common knowledge, but Azar was aware, what happens, when god die. But, what if an archon became so weak, they will lose a human form?
When they were working together, Dottore mentioned, that he made a poison, that will weaken an archon. He didn't test it. Nations won't take kindly to poisoning their archons.
Thankfully, Elchingen wanted to prove himself to Dottore by all means.
Azar didn't care, what would happen to Dendro Archon. They could either die, or became a twig, he didn't care.
He hated them ever since he, a newly appointed Rtawahist Sage, was allowed to enter Sanctuary of Surasthana. When he saw that thing, that dared to called themselve a God of Wisdom. A meek child, who everyone called forgiving, and who exiled him, instead of forgiving.
For a crime of offending the prodigy, Dendro Archon have to pay.
_______
"Are you sure, that you don't want to have something with your tea?" you tilted your head, looking at your guest. Wanderer, who now calls himself Azra, rolled his eyes.
You two were having tea in your living quarters in the Sanctuary of Surasthana. You rarely invited someone here, but Azra was a special case.
"No, I don't want any sweets."
You just smiled, taking a bite of baklava Alhaitham made for you. It didn't look pretty, but it was tasty. You didn't expect him to give you a present in return, you just wanted to give him something sweet. But, you won't complain.
Azra was silently drinking his tea.
"How is your trip going on?" asked you. "Are aranaras a good company for you?"
Azra shrugged.
"Nothing interesting. Aranaras are fine, nation is calm. Someone is planning a tournament focused on overgrown mushrooms."
You hide a smile behind the teacup.
"Yes, I knew. Yesterday, Kautilya and Elchingen came here, asking for permission to uphold the tournament. They even send gifts." You pointed at a few colorful boxes that were standing on the small table in the corner. "Do you want to participate in the tournament?"
Azra raised an eyebrow.
"Is it an order?"
You shook your head. It wasn't the time to order him around or force him to an interaction. Small steps, time will come.
"No. While it will be a good thing, if you will be more social, I won't force you into talking to other people."
Azra huffed.
"Then I will pass. I still have some parts of Sumeru to visit."
You just smiled.
"As you wish."
You take a candy from the box. It was one of the Elchingen's gifts. It was sweet, and the flavor was a little bit overwhelming, but, still, it was good. Not as good as Alhaitham's baklava.
For a few moments both of you were silent again. Then Azra spoke once again. He frowned.
“Elchingen… That name sounds familiar.”
You waited to Azra to tell you more. After few more moments, he shook his head.
“No, I can’t remember, where I have heard it.”
You tilted your head.
“Don’t worry about it. Perhaps, he wasn’t that important for you to remember him.” Azra just shrug, not looking at you. With a sigh, you put your teacup back.
“Azra, your desire to travel is a good thing, and I did support you. However, if I can suggest, staying in one place is also good. Spent some time in Akademiya, attend some public lectures. Try to have a taste of life in Sumeru.”
Azra didn’t look interested in your idea, but, he nodded anyway.
“Fine, I guess I will put wandering on hold for now”.
If he heard your chuckle, he didn’t show it.
_________
Another day of work was over. Alhaitham and you did a great job, and almost all old laws were dealt with. Azra left, prefering to camp in the wild instead of staying in the capital. You were alone in the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
And you felt sick.
It sounds impossible, but archons also can become sick. While the symptoms will never be as serious as mortal's symptoms, it still will be an unpleasant days.
The most serious "sickness" you had was that one time, when you spend all night, hopping from one dream to another, helping sick children. All of them had fever dreams, and you had to go through multiple strange dreams. It ended in you having a headache for whole day.
You curled on your bed, feeling a wave of nausea. You were hot and cold at the same time, you had a headache, you were trembling.
You hold back tears. For that one moment, you didn't feel like an archon, a victor of a war, a ruler of a nation.
You felt like a lonely, sick child.
You were a lonely, sick child til the morning. Until Alhaitham, who wondered, why you were late, didn't start looking for you.
______
"What do you mean they have been poisoned?" barked Alhaitham, grabbing Tighnari by the hood. Tighnari's ears dropped, he felt, how the fur on his tail stood on end. He didn't expect to be disturbed by Alhaitham.
Alhaitham, who has never raised his voice, looked like an enraged abyss monster. He was breathing heavily, his eyes were narrowed, and his teeth were clenched. And, Tighnari could swear, he heard a quiet growling sound.
"It is true, Alhaitham. Lesser Lord Kusanali aren't sick, they aren't having some sort of godly rebirth. They have been poisoned. They show all symptoms of the poisoning."
Alhaitham breathe in and out. He let go of Tighnari.
A quiet whine got their attention. Dendro Archon were laying on their bed. They were laying under the blanket with their eyes closed, with a wet towel on their forehead.
The bed already was big enough to have two adults comfortably laying in it, and it would look even bigger, when a child were laying here. And now, when Dendro Archon were sick, when they looked smaller and weaker, then they truly were.
Alhaitham automatically moved forward, sitting on the bed's edge. He carefully took the towel and, after dripping it in the water bowl, put in back on their forehead. His hands linger above archon's head, before he made a decision. He carefully pet archon's head.
"How?" Alhaitham's voice was barely a whisper. Tighnari opened his mouth in shock. Alhaitham was surprisingly emotional today. And if his reaction to poisoning was understandable (more problems to Sumeru means him being an Acting Grand Sage longer, than he wants to), but the unexplained tenderness was... unexplained.
"How, Tighnari? How they got poisoned?" Alhaitham turned his head towards the forest ranger. Tighnari, whose thoughts were interrupted, shake his head, trying to focus. It helped for a bit.
"It's not a simple poisoning. Not from bad food, or wrong ingredients, or wrong tea mix. The poison looks complicated. It's..."
"An assassination attempt." finished Alhaitham. Dangerous light flashes in his turquoise-orange eyes. Tighnari stayed silent. There was no need for words. He sat down on one of the chairs, rubbing his temples. Why Dendro Archon can't catch a break? First sages, then old laws, now...
Alhaitham stand up.
"Tighnari, help me transport [Y/...] Lesser Lord Kusanali in my home."
Tighnari jumped up so fast, he felt slight dizziness.
"What?! Wh- You- They- Why?!"
Alhaitham spoke slowly. Like he was trying to explain the situation to a kid.
"There is a traitor, or traitors on the loose. And, it seems, Sanctuary of Surasthana isn't the most protected place. And [Y/N] need to be protected. And I can only trust myself right now."
Alhaitham noticed a change in Tighnari's expression. "You and Cyno too, but, Cyno will be busy with an investigation, and you are living too close to the former sages."
Tighnari's gaze soften for a bit.
"It does make sense. But, are you sure, Alhaitham?"
Alhaitham, who was now looking around, making mental notes on what to take with him, nodded.
"More than I ever have been."
______
You were barely conscious. You heard voices, that sounded, like they were speaking from the great distance.
You felt, how multiple blankets were put around you, and you were carried somewhere.
You woke up in a strange place. It wasn't your room. The bed was smaller, than yours, and there were too many books there. For a moment, you thought, that you were laying in the library.
The room's door opened. You focus your gaze on an 'intruder'. Alhaitham walked inside, carrying a tray with a bowl on it. Judging by a steam raising from it, you assume, that it was soup.
Kaveh tried to follow after Alhaitham. The architect looked agitated, but, the moment he looked at you, his gaze softens. But, before he can step inside the room, Alhaitham kicked the door, closing it right before Kaveh's face.
"Oh, you are awake, [Y/N]."
You tried to talk.
"Where..."
"In my home." Alhaitham's voice was soft. You might even call it "parental voice". Alhaitham put the tray on the bedside table and helped you to sit down. He put his hand on your forehead, like he was checking the temperature. He frowned.
"How do you feel, [Y/N]?" Alhaitham looked concerned. You whispered. Your mouth was dry and there was a terrible bitter taste.
"Bad. Thirsty and hungry."
Alhaitham nodded. He frowned. He picked up the soup bowl. You get a better look at it. It seems, that you have mistaken. It was a simple plain broth, not a soup. Meanwhile, Alhaitham scooped up some broth with a spoon. He blew on it then hold the spoon towards you.
On better days, you would take the spoon in your own hand. But, you felt so tired. You weren't sure you can move a finger.
You let Alhaitham spoon-feed you.
While you were eating, Alhaitham spoke.
"Someone tried to poison you, [Y/N]. To keep you safe, I volunteer to house you, until the danger is gone."
You stay silent. You didn't know what to feel. Were you that bad of an archon? Only deserve to be imprisoned, or dead?
Suddenly, a pair of arms were carefully put around you. It wasn't a real hug, but still a hug.
"I promise, [Y/N], I will deal with it."
After he let you go, he gave you more broth. Then he gave you water. He gave you some medicine (from stomachache and fever).
He tucked you in.
"Rest, [Y/N]. Rest and get better. If you need company, Kaveh is in a next room."
Alhaitham carefully pet your head, before leaving. The door was left open, and you could see Alhaitham's and Kaveh's silhouettes.
Alhaitham's gestures were nice. But, there was something in his voice. Something strange.
It was wrong to read others' thoughts.
But, you wanted to understand.
You reach your shaking hands towards the door. You made a gesture with your fingers.
You release your powers.
______
"Acting Grand Sage, what an honor. How Dori Sangemah Bay could help you?" Dori's tone was anything, but not friendly. If she could, she would send him away. But, she can't. If she didn't want to get arrested by Cyno.
General Mahamatra was standing behind Alhaitham, observing. Near him was standing another person. Another investigator.
A strange wanderer in a big hat volunteered to help with investigation. Of course, no one would consider allowing him to help, but after Lesser Lord Kusanali themselves confirmed, that wanderer is their old acquaintance and can be trusted, he became a part of investigation team.
It was impossible to cover up the poisoning. So, all of Sumeru knew about the investigation. Including Dori.
Alhaitham's voice was calm. Terrifyingly calm.
"Do you knew, who tried to poison Dendro Archon?"
Straight to the point. Dori focused her attention on her fingernails.
"There is some information. But, I really want to hear, what Akademiya can offer for..."
"ALHAITHAM, STOP!"
A pair of hands grabbed her by the shoulders. She was picked up and shoved into crates, where she had stored goods she planned to sell during the upcoming tournament.
Turquoise-orange eyes met with golden brown. Alhaitham hissed, while Cyno tried to pry him off Dori.
"A life of poverty and exile, if you don't cooperate. A good deal, don't you think?"
Dori tried to struggle, but Alhaitham's grasp was too strong.
"Alhaitham!" growled Cyno. Alhaitham almost spit his next words.
"I have a sick child in my home. A child, who was poisoned and who still suffer from it. And you want me to be calm, when she is demanding a price?!"
A million thoughts were raising in Cyno's head. He was aware of Alhaitham's views on gods. But, thinking about gods as a product of evolution is one thing. And thinking about rule of the nation as a child was another.
Meanwhile, Dori shouted.
"I will help! I will! But, please, I do need a protection! If rumors are true, Fatui might be involved."
Alhaitham let Dori go. His voice was hard as steel.
"Speak. And I promise a protection.
And Dori spoke.
About a man named Elchingen. About strange purchases of rare herbs he made. About him being seen in a company of Fatui solders. About Elchingen mentioning "Master Dottore". And rumors of Elchingen meeting with former Grand Sage.
______
You were sitting in the common room of Alhaitham's home, next to the man himself.
Well, perhaps, at this moment, you should probably call it your home.
Kaveh was working on some project in his own room, while you were trying to focus on the book in your hands. It was hard.
Instead of a text from the book, you have been remembering some articles from "Steambird".
"Fontaine merchant was torn apart during the tournament in Sumeru"
You knew the truth. Azra made sure to leave you a message through aranaras, before leaving to Snezhnaya.
You got lucky, that the poison Elchingen gave you weren't the original one, but a replica. Without all necessary components, it wasn't lethal for an archon.
"Former Grand Sage tried to assassinate Dendro Archon"
"Former Grand Sage is under arrest"
"Former Grand Sage hang himself in the cell"
Alhaitham didn't tell you the truth. But you understand, what really happened.
Traitors were dealt with. You felt much better. You could return to the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
You can't.
"Because you are still in danger, [Y/N]."
"Because after one will come others, [Y/N]."
"I will make sure, that you are safe. I will change Sumeru and make it safe for you."
You cast a quick glance at Alhaitham. You spoke.
"If you need help with something, I could..."
Without looking at you, he put a hand on top of your head, ruffling your hair.
"Don't worry, [Y/N]. Leave it to adults. Have a happy childhood, my child."
You probably could fight. You could order him to knock it off. You could exile him.
But every time you try to do it, you will remember his thought.
The thought you read a few months ago.
"I wish, that [Y/N], that my child lead a peaceful life"
And you let him coddle you, to parent you. You let him to constantly watch over you. You let h be a gray cardinal, staying a Scribe, but manipulating the current Grand Sage. You let him reshape Sumeru in your honor. You shoved Azar's demise in the deepest corner of your mind.
Sages' actions came from their greed for power.
Alhaitham's actions came from the parental love.
If you were a bird, that never knew the taste of freedom, that sages were a cage, and Alhaitham was an indoor garden. Both were a captivity. But the garden was a better illusion of a freedom.
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cherry-pop-elf · 1 day ago
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Follow My Lead
Curly x Disabled!Reader
Can be read as platonic
AN: Purely self indulgent. I’m suffering extreme disability issues do to the change in weather and it’s very painful and exhausting. So here we are. Friendly reminder of disability’s existing and lives can still be lived. Thank you
SUM: You were returning to the Physical Therapy center for your weekly appointment. As you enter the designated gym, with its nurses, you noticed someone new. New people in the waiting room, and new people in the gym. Wonder who that new nurse is to…
Warnings: Disabilities, medical discussion, reader’s disabilities are vague but will have issues that are common in the disability community, PTSD, Trauma, Everyone lives except Jimmy, lots of medical discussion, so much trauma Jesus Christ
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“Just wait for a few minutes and we can call you back.” The woman would tell you. You would give a nod and returned to your seat in the waiting room. Right next to quite the chipper fellow. With floral attire. There with a much older man. Perhaps his father?
“Hi-!” The floral guy would say, before the older man nudged him. Telling him not to bother the other people here at the gym here. You didn’t mind. People can make the atmosphere here so depressing sometimes. It’s nice to have some sunshine.
“Hello!” You returned, meeting his energy. That had him just beaming.
“You two are new here, aren’t you? First time here?” You asked, as the floral man nodded. The older just let the younger do all the talking. The floral one seemed the social butterfly anyway.
“Yeah. It’s not for us though. It’s for our friend Curly. And also Anya! She’s a nurse. Since she’s a nurse she’s helping him with the other like physical therapists here. He really needs a-lot of extra help. His arms and legs are missing, eye is missing, had so many skin graphs. He’s been through A LOT. So we’re here for moral support.” He explained to you, and you would listen.
Damn that Curly really went through alot. Sounded like he lost the limbs then actually was without them earlier in life. He’s going to have a long journey ahead of himself.
“Swansea here is also helping install stuff at Curly’s place to make it easier to move around in. Like railings, changing door knobs, stuff like that! He’s got prosthetics he’s still getting used to, but he also uses a wheelchair when they make his muscles ache too much.” He would ramble on, and you happily listened.
It was so nice to have someone be so positive. Many able bodied people just treat disabled situations with such mourning and sadness. It was refreshing to have someone have a positive outlook. To be excited to help compared to just mourning and worrying.
“You can come back when you are ready-!” A physical therapist would call for you. As you went to leave, the floral man was quick to call out.
“Oh! I’m Daisuke!”
“Well hello Daisuke. Please talking to you-!” You would wave, before heading back to the gym area with everyone else.
Typically most physical gyms would have a designated nurse for each person, that way you can be watched carefully and monitored for improvement. This gym, however, allowed that people who had progressed to a certain level can work out independently with the gear offered here. As a means to allow more independence, and for them to improve or care for their health by their own speed.
It seems like that Curly guy won’t reach that milestone for ages.
He was very easy to notice amongst the often elderly folks there. The rare younger type, but often it’s from some kind of long turn injury or recovery of surgery.
There you would see a man using the standing bars. Metal bars on each side, and a person would walk through the middle. Gave them the ability to use their arms to keep support instead of using all their weight on their legs.
Just like Daisuke said he was in pretty rough shape. His arms had prosthetics and same for his legs. A eye patch covered his missing eye, and much of his skin still was incredibly rough.
Despite it all, he’s trying. He’s shakily walking through, with his arms on the metal, and he’s taking it step by step. Still trying to adjust to having somewhat of limbs again.
Next to him was a kind looking woman. Her eyes looked like they had seen too much, but her smile said she is willing to keep on living. To spite the world she will be happy.
“There you go Curly. You are doing a good job. Just take it very slow. There’s no need to rush. You will be able to do more once you adjust. How about you finish this walk and we can sit down. Then we can try and use your arms for a while. Legs are the most exhausting.” She would say to him.
She had such a warmth in her voice. A nurse that everyone wished they had after any life threatening event. She was perfect for a physical therapist.
“Shit shit shit-!” He would start to panic, and he would end up slipping. She was quicker though. She managed to grab him by his chest, as his limbs went limp. Just dangling like a doll. He looked so humiliated.
Maybe he needed a friend.
“Hi! I heard you two are new here. That guy in the waiting room, Daisuke, told me a little about you two. Do you need help with like, oh I don’t know, anything? I’ve been coming here for a while now. If you want anyway.” You would offer, as Anya would help him stand back on his bionic feet again.
“Oh that is very kind of you. I think we are alright, for the time being. But thank you so much.” She was so gentle with her words. Clearly each word was truly kindness, and not just words to push someone away.
“I wouldn’t mind it. I….I have no idea what I’m doing.” Curly would admit, as there was still shame in his expression. As if he felt unworthy to be there. To be helped at all. That he just deserved the worse.
Very relatable.
“Oh sure! Oh oh! Maybe I can be on the other side of the bar. You can place your hands on my shoulder and your other arm on hers. We will hold you up ourselves so when you slip you don’t fall.” You offered, as you stepped into position.
Anya would do the same, and made sure there was a hand on his back and one on his chest. To help him keep himself straight, and if he slipped you both can push him back into place.
“Deep breaths Curly. You got this. You are almost to the other side.” Anya reassured, as you smiled as well. Suppose seeing you both trying so hard helped him gain the motivation to push through.
Each step was heavy, slow, and frustrated. He was trying his best, but sometimes his muscle spasms kicked in and his leg would just move the wrong way. You could relate to that. Muscle spasms were so annoying to deal with. Especially in public. People think you are on some kind of drug and question you. Annoying as hell.
It was slow, but you didn’t care. He needed a little extra help and you figured you could offer it. Make things just a little easier for him. It’s rough. You know it so well.
He finally reached the other end, and Anya couldn’t help but clap and beam. So proud of him. So damn happy he did it. Course when she let go he ended up falling into you, but you managed to help him get back up again.
“Sorry! Just you did it! Before you know it you’ll be running and jumping. You’ll be back to skiing in no time.” She would encourage, before bringing the wheelchair over. The two of you helping him sit in it. Such a relief.
“You ski?” You asked, as Anya would help take his legs off. Let him breathe for a while. While she did that, he gave a small nod.
“Before all….this….I used to really be quite the athlete. I loved winter sports. If it was in the snow I was there. Snowboarding, Skiing, ice skating, ice climbing, I used to do it all. Even was a body builder. To think I used to do so much…..” He sighed, as he looked over at his arms. Looking at what was once muscle and bone. Now just metal and specialized plastic.
“Hey….I know you’ve been told this a million times, so I’ll just say it from a person that also doesn’t have the best mobility either. You’ll have good days and bad days. Some more extreme than others. It’s gonna to fucking suck. It’s gonna hurt. It’s going to be exhausting. You’ll have days wondering why you should even stay alive. But you’ll also have days where you can accomplish simple things like making your own dinner. Taking out the trash. Fold some laundry. You’ll get there. It’s gonna suck but you’ll reach it.”
Having someone keep it blunt with him seemed to be what he needed to hear. Was like he learned a mistake about keeping things to sweet. That sometimes you need a reality check.
“Thank you….I think it was very important for me to hear that. Thank you.” He would do his best to smile at you, but the nerves in his face were rather damaged. You wouldn’t be surprised if he needed some more surgery there to.
He’s still going to go through so much, but maybe having someone who can genuinely relate to it all could help.
“Hey, I come here every Saturday. That way when I’m painfully exhausted from it I can just relax and have Sunday be a complete recover day.” You said, as you walked with him as Anya rolled him over to a spot to not bother people. She would soon sit across from him, with a small ball, and the two of them would try and play simple catch with it. Both to help with his arms and his new adjustment with a single eye.
“Think that sounds like the best plan for me right now as well…” He nodded, as that was the way you two could agree on it.
He would do his best to play catch with her, but it kept falling in his lap. His limbs just not moving quite fast enough, and his send of direction never quite there. Was so frustrating, and you understood it.
“Said a million times, I know, but take it from me. You’ll genuinely get there. But it will take a while. Not days. Not weeks. Months if you keep at it. But it’ll get there.” You reassured, as you stepped away. Off to do your own exercises for your own issues.
Was a peaceful gym day like that. Spending what spoons you had to take care of yourself. Every now and again, when taking a breather, you looked over to him. Seeing Anya help him get used to his limbs. Small things like picking up something, catching, even paddy cake. Taking it slow for him.
Once you ran out of energy you would kinda hang out with them.
You didn’t ask him how he ended up like that, you just let yourself breathe. Breathe as he spoke what he wanted to speak about. Same for her.
From what little pieces you could pick out from them it sounded like they were victims of a ship crash. No wonder he ended up so fucked up. That fact he’s alive at all is insane to you. Anya deserved way more credit.
There also seemed to be a shared enemy between them. When a person called over for a therapist, named Jimmy, the way they flinched and looked around like someone started unloading a gun. Whoever this Jimmy was sure made his mark on them.
Once he finally couldn’t go on any longer she would take the arms off as well. Letting what was left of his limbs breathe. He was so exhausted, but he seemed happy. Happy to have made some kind of progress, and even happier he had someone to talk to through it.
“I’ll see you next Saturday.” You smiled, and waved, as you started to leave. He gave a wave of his own, before Daisuke and Swansea returned to him. There to carry his prosthetics and be his cheerleaders.
You were happy for him. He deserved a support network.
He deserved to smile again.
You just knew he did.
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aventurineswife · 3 days ago
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(っ╹ᆺ╹)っ plz, in case no one has asked yet, the other obey me characters with a thembo? If you can't do all of them... At least Thirteen and Diavolo, thank you 💖✨💖✨💖✨
Obey Me! Side Characters With A Thembo!Mc
Tags: Side Characters x Reader (Diavolo x Reader, Barbatos x Reader, Solomon x Reader, Simeon x Reader, Luke x Reader(Platonic) Raphael x Reader, Thirteen x Reader, Mephistopheles x Reader), Fluff, Humor, Thembo!MC/Reader, Lighthearted, Can be read Romantically (for others except Luke) or Platonically, Misunderstandings.
[Obey Me! Brothers ver]
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Diavolo loved your carefree nature. There was something refreshing about your innocence, like a ray of sunlight breaking through clouds. He’d be meeting with you in his office, and you’d be lounging on his couch, legs kicked up like it was your personal throne. He couldn’t help but smile every time you misinterpreted something he said with that look of unintentional innocence.
"Diavolo, how do I lift this heavy thing?" you asked, holding up a stack of papers that were almost taller than you. "It looks... heavy. I might need your muscles for this one."
Without missing a beat, Diavolo walked over to help, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. "You don't need to worry about lifting anything, MC. You are the strongest person I know," he said, lifting the papers easily with one hand.
"Are you sure? I mean, I guess I could try..." You puffed your chest out, only to trip over your own feet, falling into his arms.
"Here, let me help," he chuckled, carefully setting you down. "Just be careful next time."
Barbatos was as composed as always, but you brought out a bit of playful teasing in him that no one else could. His careful precision and your lovable lack of understanding always made for an amusing dynamic.
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"Barbatos, I found the weirdest thing in the kitchen! It was like... a small round food, and I thought it was an apple, but it wasn’t?" you asked, holding up a strange, translucent item. "Do you know what it is?"
Barbatos chuckled softly, peering over his shoulder at you. "Ah, that would be a lychee fruit, MC. Not an apple. It's quite different in taste, but I imagine you'd enjoy it."
You blinked. "Huh... I thought it was one of those fancy apples from the human realm. Well, I’ll eat it anyway!" You bit into it with enthusiasm, your face lighting up at the sweet taste.
"You're always so full of surprises, MC," Barbatos said, his smile carrying a hint of affection. "Do take care not to confuse them next time."
Solomon often found himself both amused and exasperated by your antics. But when it came down to it, he had a soft spot for your honest nature. Even if you lacked the finesse for magic, you were always willing to try your best, even if you sometimes miscast a spell.
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"Okay, MC, let’s try this simple spell again." Solomon instructed, as you stood with a determined expression, wand in hand.
"Right, right, I can do this!" you said confidently, despite the previous attempts having failed miserably.
You raised your wand, focused, and shouted, "Leviosa!"
Instead of lifting the object, the entire room seemed to shake, with the object glowing bright purple and floating in every direction. Solomon barely managed to catch it mid-air.
"MC..." Solomon sighed, his face both impressed and slightly concerned. "You do know that was a very complex variation of the spell, right?"
You blinked up at him, still smiling, completely unaware of the chaos you’d caused. "Oops... maybe a little too much?"
Solomon rubbed his forehead, chuckling under his breath. "You're impossible, but that's what makes you so fun to teach."
Simeon always tried to keep a calm, serene demeanor, but whenever he caught sight of your goofiness, he couldn't help but laugh. Your personality was pure sunshine, even if you were clueless to the social nuances around you. One time, you had tried to bake a cake for the others.
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"You know, Simeon, I think I got the recipe right this time!" you said, holding up a cake that looked... interesting, to say the least.
Simeon peered at the lopsided cake with an expression of both surprise and concern. "Are you sure, MC?"
You grinned confidently. "Definitely! I followed the instructions! No way it could be wrong!"
Simeon bit his lip to suppress a laugh as he cut a slice. "Well, I admire your confidence... though I believe you might've misinterpreted the sugar for salt."
You blinked at the slice, eyes wide. "Oops. I mean... who knew salt could give cakes that... unique flavor?"
Luke adored you. Your simplicity and strength made him feel safe, like you were the protector in the duo, even though you often needed protecting from yourself. It wasn’t unusual for Luke to ask you for help with things, though you had a tendency to get distracted easily.
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"MC, can you help me carry this basket of ingredients?" Luke asked, looking up at you with his wide, trusting eyes.
You grinned, eager to help. "Of course, Luke! This is totally my thing!"
As you grabbed the basket, you started to walk toward the kitchen, but... well, your attention drifted. A butterfly fluttered by, and you were off chasing it without a second thought, leaving Luke standing with the basket in hand, watching in mild confusion.
"MC?!" he called out. "You promised to help!"
You returned a few minutes later, out of breath, with the butterfly in your hand. "Look, Luke! I caught it!"
Luke chuckled, shaking his head, but still grinning. "You never stop, do you?"
Raphael’s patience was endless, and he appreciated how your straightforward nature complemented his own more reserved disposition. Though he would occasionally shake his head at your antics, he admired how you could be completely yourself.
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"MC, do you need help with that weight?" Raphael asked one day as you were trying to bench press a surprisingly heavy set.
"Nope! I got it!" You responded, pushing with all your might. The barbell was barely moving. "This is easy! I just need to try a little harder."
Raphael stood nearby, arms crossed, watching. He couldn’t help but be impressed by your sheer determination, though he was definitely concerned about your technique.
“MC, might I suggest a different approach?” Raphael said calmly, walking over to assist you. “A little more control and less effort can sometimes be more effective.”
You let out a big sigh. “Guess I’m not as strong as I thought...”
Raphael chuckled, gently correcting your form. "You're strong, MC. But strength isn’t just about force; it's about balance."
Thirteen was always amazed by how you could be both the most brilliant and the most oblivious person in the room. You once tried to invent a device for cooking breakfast in bed but somehow accidentally turned it into a small nuclear reactor.
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"MC, what in the world is that?" she asked, eyes wide with both curiosity and fear.
"Oh, this? Just a little something to help me make eggs and toast faster!" you explained, waving it off nonchalantly.
Thirteen sighed. "You know, MC, that is far more advanced than what anyone needs in a kitchen... You should probably step away before it explodes."
You glanced at her and smiled sheepishly. "Oops? Maybe I can cook with a regular stove next time."
Thirteen just grinned and patted your back. "It's so fun seeing you experiment, though."
Mephistopheles was one of the few who could tease you without worrying about getting overly frustrated, though you did manage to surprise him with your bizarre takes on life.
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"You've been staring at that puzzle for hours, MC. Are you sure you're doing it right?" Mephistopheles asked, noticing you trying to put a jigsaw puzzle together upside down.
"Huh? Oh, I thought the picture on the back looked cooler." you said, tapping your chin thoughtfully.
Mephistopheles stifled a laugh. "Well, you're certainly... a unique one, MC. But if you flip it over, you might find it easier."
You smiled brightly. "Oh, yeah! I forgot about that." You flipped the puzzle over and immediately got to work, not realizing that your answer was the most logically simple one.
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sitp-recs · 1 day ago
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hiii liv!! any soft eighth year recs??
I read nice things and I’m just craving some soft drarry :)
thank you hope youre doing well
Hi anon! Ahh I adore Nice Things, such a healing fic and a perfect read for the holiday season ❤️ here are some soft 8th year fics for you:
Thermodynamic Equilibrium by @dorthyanndrarry (T, 5k)
Harry's far too hot. Draco's always cold. And somehow against all odds, together they create a perfect equilibrium.
What Country, Friends, Is This? by khalulu (M, 8k)
When Harry and Draco are paired up for a nebulous “capstone project” in 8th year, Draco suggests they use it as an opportunity to take a free Grand Tour of Europe.
warmest part of the winter by warmfoothills (T, 11k)
It’s not even a balcony, it’s just a window with a bit of a ledge, and Draco’s read Shakespeare anyway, he knows how this one ends.
Said and Unsaid (or, The Value of Knowing When to Stop Talking) by bryoneybrynn (T, 15k)
When the Interrogator asked if he had anything to say on his own behalf, Draco shook his head, his lips pressed tight in a thin line. There was nothing to say that wouldn’t sound like an excuse.
On Our Way by evils (E, 30k)
Draco is trying to spend the summer keeping his head down, but a repair project and a certain snowy owl have other plans for him.
All Things Go by @sorrybutblog (E, 33k)
Draco’s back at Hogwarts by court order. Harry’s back for no particular reason at all. Some things change, some stay the same.
Like Lightning at Your Fingertips by potterwatch (T, 43k)
The problem with living with another insomniac is, eventually, they find out you’re one, too.
The July Tree by @oknowkiss (E, 51k)
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail… nor well-meaning friends, nor questionable communication skills, nor seven years of hating each other’s guts can keep Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy from falling in love.
The Promise of Summer by Omi_Ohmy (M, 66k)
How was Harry supposed to know that coming back for eighth year would be so confusing? Everything is the same, and yet not the same. And nowhere is this more obvious than with Draco Malfoy.
Azoth by @lol-zeitgeistic (E, 88k)
Now that Harry is back at Hogwarts with Hermione for eighth year, he realises that something’s missing from his life, and it either has to do with Ron, his boggart, Snape, or Malfoy. Furthermore, what, exactly, does it mean when one’s life is defined by the desire to simultaneously impress and annoy a portrait? Harry has no idea; he’s too busy trying not to be in love with Malfoy to care.
Helix by Saras_Girl (E, 92k)
Seven months after the end of the war, Harry is feeling lost. Fortunately, he is about to be offered an unexpected and sparkling chance to find himself again.
Far From The Tree by aideomai (E, 112k)
The arrival of Harry Potter’s children—snapped back in time, the children themselves guessed, twenty or so years—was the most interesting thing to happen at Hogwarts for years.
Written on the Heart by who_la_hoop (E, 113k)
Unnerved by the attention he’s attracting from everyone – the Slytherins are the least of it, to be fair – and struggling with a raft of changes to Hogwarts itself, Harry wishes he could be happy that one constant remains: Draco Malfoy really fucking hates him.
where all the veins meet by @saxamophone (E, 146k)
It's the summer of 1998. The battle is over, and Voldemort is dead, but Harry still has more questions than answers. Who is he without a piece of Voldemort's soul in his head? What is he supposed to do now?
Bonus: a smutty Christmas treat 🎅🏼
The Romantic Prawn Who Loved Christmas by bixgirl1 (E, 39k)
When Draco, forced into sharing a room with Potter for the year, finds out that Potter has a sleepwalking problem, he expects the odd conversations and the weird games of chess.
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forest-hashira · 3 days ago
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Keeping Warm
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having now recovered from writing smut back in september, i am back with more demon slayer smut! partially joking but writing smut really does take more out of me which is why this one took so long to come out. this is my promised second entry for my autumn leaves anniversary event, which is still open if you would like to contribute something! anyways, i hope you guys enjoy 💜 also big thanks to @awkwardchick87 for beta reading this for me!
event masterlist | read on ao3 | wc: ~2.6k | cw: obamitsu x gn/afab reader (female anatomy but gender neutral pronouns), undefined but implied established relationship, cockwarming, orgasm delay/denial, oral (reader receiving), making out, cowgirl position, slight sub iggy/dom mitsuri (not too heavy tho), creampie
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Obanai had never been fond of cold weather. Much like his scaly companion, he preferred the warmth of spring and summer, and spent as much of his time as possible indoors during the fall and winter. If there was a chill in the air, it would cut straight through to his bones, no matter how many layers he wore. He never mentioned it to anyone else, knowing there was little that could be done about his difficulty regulating his own body temperature, but as soon as both you and Mitsuri had wormed your way past his defenses, the two of you had picked up on it, and did everything you could to keep him warm.
Which, he supposed, was how you all wound up the way you were now.
The temperature had dropped before the sun had set, and he had barely finished lighting his fireplace when he heard Mitsuri calling out for him.
��Obanai!” she’d chirped, grinning brightly when he came to the door to greet her. She’d held a thick blanket in one arm, her other hand holding yours. You’d offered the serpent hashira a pleased smile as well, just as happy to see that he was, in fact, home. 
“Hello, Mitsuri,” he’d replied, smiling behind his bandages. He’d greeted you, too, then tilted his head slightly. “Not that I’m not happy to see the two of you, of course, but can I ask what brings you to see me this time?”
“We know you don’t like the cold,” you’d explained. “We wanted to make sure you stayed warm tonight.”
He hadn’t thought much of the way Mitsuri’s eyes glinted when he’d invited the two of you in, assuming she was just excited about having a sleepover with you and him, since those didn’t happen exceedingly often, given your positions in the corps.
Now he was wondering if he should’ve read into that glint a bit more, since she was straddling him as he laid on his back on his futon, you sitting by his head. Clothes had been discarded quickly, so you and Mitsuri were entirely bare, and the only thing Obanai still wore was his bandages.
“We’ll keep you warm, ‘nai,” the love hashira cooed, rolling her hips against his, and he let out a shuddering breath, his hands gripping lightly at her thighs. She paused at the touch, tilting her head slightly. “Wait until you’re given permission, love.”
“Apologies,” he murmured, releasing his hold on her, instead digging his fingers into the futon beneath him.
“All is forgiven,” Mitsuri assured him, slowly beginning to roll her hips again.
Your fingers glided across his forehead, gently brushing his hair from his eyes, and you smiled at him when he looked up at you. “Can I take these off?” you asked quietly, fingers ghosting down his cheek until they reached the edge of his bandages.
There was the tiniest moment of hesitation – less than a second, really – before he nodded. “Yes,” he breathed, remembering that Mitsuri liked when he said the words aloud. “Yes, you can take them off.” 
With nimble fingers, you delicately unwound the bandages from the lower half of his face, setting them off to the side. As always, you were careful not to touch his scars; he was comfortable enough to allow you and Mitsuri to see them in private, but he still didn’t like them to be touched. “Stunning as always, ‘nai,” you said, giggling softly when his face darkened with a blush at your words.
The sound of your laughter sent his heart fluttering, and he smiled slightly back up at you. He still found himself flustered whenever you complimented him, but he never argued, even if he disagreed with your words; how could he, when your eyes always shone with genuine, eager affection?
Mitsuri shifted her weight slightly from her position atop the serpent hashira, and he gasped, his hips bucking the tiniest bit with surprise. Knowing the movement was unintentional, the love hashira chose not to chastise, instead grinning down at him. “Someone’s eager,” she teased, a small laugh tumbling from her lips at the way the older man’s blush spread from his face down his neck to his chest.
“Looks like you’re warming up,” you said, a teasing lilt to your words as well. As you spoke, you carded your fingers through his hair, nails scratching lightly against his scalp. Just as you knew would happen, the touch sent a shiver through the serpent hashira. “Or maybe not.” 
With an exaggerated pout, you looked back up at Mitsuri. “Looks like he’s still cold, ‘Tsuri.”
She fake pouted right back at you. “Well we can’t have that, now can we?” Her gaze dropped to Obanai’s, and she tilted her head slightly. “Do you need more to stay warm?”
“Please,” he answered, nodding eagerly. “Yes, please, Mitsuri.”
Her peridot eyes flashed. “Well, when you ask so nicely…”
When she stopped the slow rolling of her hips, Obanai almost whined, staring up at her pleadingly; you knew from experience he was mere moments away from openly begging, if the love hashira decided to push him even just a tiny bit more. He was in luck this time, though, and she had mercy on him. She raised herself off of him slightly, just enough to wrap her fingers around his hard cock.
He barely stifled a gasp at her touch, and when she began to sink down onto him, his eyes rolled back in his head. The feeling of being inside of either of you was something he knew he would never take for granted; the warmth and intimacy of it was too precious to him. It took him a few moments to catch his breath once Mitsuri was fully seated on him, the heat of her almost unbearable, while somehow also being exactly what he needed. 
The love hashira sat perfectly still atop the serpent hashira, watching as he fought to compose himself once again. She could be patient, and she knew you could, too; besides that, this was far from the first time the three of you had done anything like this, and Obanai had proven each time that he was more than capable of being obedient and taking direction. There was no doubt in her mind that he would manage it again this time. When she saw his two-toned eyes flutter open once again, she smiled down at him.
“‘Nai,” she cooed, slowly trailing her fingers up his stomach and chest, delighting in every minor jump and twitch of his muscles beneath her touch. “You’re doing so well… Can you do something else for me?”
“Anything,” Obanai replied, almost before Mitsuri finished speaking. He was willing to do anything she asked of him, even if all it earned him was a smile. The same went for how he felt about you; maybe holding the two of you so close to his heart would only cause him pain one day, but for now it only brought him peace, so he would make no effort to change how he felt.
Mitsuri’s smile inched closer to a smirk. “I want you to make them feel good.” Her eyes darted up to your face for a moment, though his stayed locked on her.
“How?”
“With your mouth.”
Finally, he tipped his head back slightly to meet your gaze, his pupils blown wide. “I would be honored to pleasure you that way,” he told you, almost reverently.
His words had heat pooling in your gut, and you swallowed thickly. Even if you hadn’t already known how skilled he was with his tongue, you wouldn’t have been able to deny him when he looked so beautiful when he asked. You nodded in response, not quite able to find your voice in the moment.
“Thank you,” he murmured, taking your hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss your knuckles. His eyes never once left your face, and the feeling of his lips against your skin sent a shiver down your spine.
“Don’t keep him waiting,” Mitsuri told you, a faint edge to her voice – not sharp, but motivating nonetheless.
Never one to disagree or deny yourself pleasure from either of your lovers, you carefully pulled yourself away from Obanai, shifting so you were hovering over his face, facing the love hashira. You didn’t lower yourself to be within his reach, though; Mitsuri was still calling the shots, after all.
Obanai felt his mouth begin to water as he looked up at your pussy, so close yet still so far away. He flexed his hands against the futon, eager to devour you but doing his best to be patient.
Apparently getting a thrill from the control she had over the two of you, Mitsuri sat in silence for a moment, simply looking you over, before she said, “You can touch them now, ‘nai.”
The serpent hashira barely remembered to thank her before he locked his arms around your thighs and dragged you down to sit on his face, his mouth already open and eager to please. The first taste of you on his tongue had him moaning against you, and you gasped at the vibration against your cunt.
“Fuck,” you breathed, one hand going to Obanai’s abdomen to steady yourself, the other landing on Mitsuri’s shoulder. You met her gaze, and the heat that had risen to your cheeks spread a bit further when you saw the glint in her eyes.
“He’s quite good at that, isn’t he?” she asked, somewhat teasingly. As she spoke, one of her hands pushed your hair away from your face before coming to cradle your burning cheek. “Feels like he’s keeping you nice and warm, too, hm?”
“Y-yes,” you stammered, lashes fluttering a bit as you felt Obanai trace a pattern across your clit. You couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but if you’d asked, he would have admitted it was his name; an invisible mark stating that you were his as much he was yours and Mitsuri’s.
“Good,” she murmured, smirking slightly as she pressed her thumb to your bottom lip for a moment. When your lips parted slightly at the touch, she pulled you into a kiss. 
Her lips were soft and plush against your own, and in mere seconds you found yourself being devoured from both ends, completely at the mercy of your two ravenous lovers. Your grip on her shoulder tightened as you moaned against her, reciprocating the kiss as best as you were able.
It wasn’t long – an embarrassingly short amount of time, in fact – before your legs were shaking around Obanai’s head. “‘Tsuri,” you whimpered, breaking the heated kiss in an attempt to catch your breath. “I— ah! —I’m close.”
“Already?” she asked, a teasing edge to her voice. When you nodded, she tilted your chin up slightly to meet her eyes again. “I know you’ve earned it,” she added, glancing down at the man beneath you for a moment. “But do you think he has?”
“Uh-huh,” you answered immediately. “He’s— fuck — making me feel s-so good.” With practically every breath, small moans and whimpers slipped from your lips, and if the serpent hashira’s hold on you had been any less secure, you’d have been grinding down on his tongue, eagerly chasing your release.
Mitsuri seemed to brighten a bit at that. “Good, I’m glad. You deserve to feel good, love.” She grinned when the pet name had you practically melting for her, and she pressed another quick kiss to your lips before turning her attention to her other partner. 
“‘Nai,” she said, tracing a fingertip lightly down his torso. “Once you make them cum, I’ll let you cum, too.” She punctuated her words with a roll of her hips, promising so much more once he did as he was told.
The action drew a loud, wanton moan from the man, which in turn had you gasping and dropping your hand from Mitsuri’s shoulder, leaving both hands now braced against his stomach. He tightened his grip around your thighs, pressing you as close to him as he could as he increased his efforts. 
When he shifted his head slightly and pressed his tongue into you, not giving you a moment to adjust to the feeling before he was fucking you relentlessly with it, you cried out. The sheer amount of pleasure coursing through your body at that moment had you trembling from head to toe, but it wasn’t quite enough to tip you over the edge. You squirmed the tiny amount you were able in his hold, trying to get some sort of stimulation to your clit.
Thankfully, Obanai seemed to get the message, and he loosened his hold on you with one arm. It allowed you to shift a bit more, but the movement wasn’t really necessary once his fingers found your clit. He rubbed quick, almost aggressive circles on it, matching the insistent pace of his tongue inside you. 
“Oh fuck!” you wailed as your orgasm crashed over you, your head dropped forward to rest against your pink haired lover’s chest. Despite having brought you to your peak, your raven haired lover showed no signs of letting up, still devouring you as if his life depended on it.
“Looks like you’ve earned your reward,” Mitsuri mused, beginning to rock her hips, giving Obanai the pleasure she’d promised him. 
It quickly became apparent to you that she was eager for release, too, because within just a few minutes she was fully lifting herself up and down on his cock, little sounds of pleasure slipping from her every time their hips made contact. Managing to come back to yourself a bit, you lifted your head from her chest, dipping in and taking one of her pretty pink nipples into your mouth and sucking hard, the way that always made her whine and plead for more. 
“Oh, yes, keep doing that,” she gasped, beginning to pinch and tug the other nipple herself. The more stimulation she got there, the louder she moaned and whined; she’d always been sensitive there, and you loved the reactions it would pull from her.
When she grew closer to her orgasm, she went back to simply rolling her hips and grinding down on Obanai’s cock, chasing the pleasure she knew awaited her. You decided to take advantage of the change in her movements, reaching between her legs to play with her clit. You were drawing close to another orgasm yourself, and you wanted desperately for all three of you to cum together.
She gasped, crying out your name as she fell apart, riding Obanai even harder to bring him to the heights of pleasure, too. It didn’t take long for him to get there, if the moan he let out against your pussy and the gasp Mitsuri gave were any indication. The vibration of his moan was enough to send you toppling over the edge again, a shuddering, breathless moan escaping you as you released Misturi’s nipple from your lips.
The three of you took a moment to catch your breath, not bothering to move from your positions at first. Eventually, though, both you and Mitsuri crawled off of the serpent hashira, one of you lying on either side of him and curling up as close to him as you could. After a moment, Mitsuri reached behind her, fumbling a bit until she found the blankets, including the extra thick one she’d brought with her. She pulled them over the three of you, and you let out a soft sigh of relief. Obanai wrapped his arms a bit tighter around the two of you, and you eagerly pressed further into his space – you were there to keep him warm, after all.
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creatingblackcharacters · 3 days ago
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hi there; first, thank you for making this blog and all the lessons you do, i really appreciate them as a Black person because it highlights a lot of struggles i face with fandoms in general, and why i dont interact more in certain spaces. it makes me feel seen
with regards to your questions, i'd also like answers to them from nonblack fans, especially nonblack anime fans. i don't even mean consuming anime with overtly racist caricatures of black characters (because numerous anime fans pirate their anime and never send a cent to the creators anyway), i mean how can they make fanworks of it?
how can they look at something that they are told is wildly offensive, but then defend with "well, this is how it looks in canon"? where is the line drawn between what's okay and what isn't? as long as it's slow and gradual, is there no line at all?
these are probably just rehashings of your own followup questions, so please excuse that, but i do have an anecdote
i joined a casual anime server the other day and a lot of folks were lamenting one Black character's racist design and how often those on social media will replicate it without thinking/caring. The thing that struck me is that, I've checked this character's tumblr tag regularly for a long time. There are always people who will post art/fanworks of this character with his racist design. Yet hardly ever, if ever, (outside of Black fans) have I seen any of these folks- the ones in the discord server- try to talk to artists/writers/fan creators/etc via asks/replies/etc. There's a notable amount of people in that server and a notable amount that agreed the design was outright racist and that they'll never make fanworks like that, and yet still silence
i'm not entirely sure what would be the line, or the "okay, that's enough" moment to spur any of these folks into action. i'm not sure if there is one. the only reason i don't make my own "hey what is wrong with all of you" post and blow up is because I've made a wonderful little friend group in this fandom who get it, and I don't want them to get caught up in whatever happens if I were to make a post like that
And this is just for getting people to stop using the canon design of the character, i.e., to stop drawing him as a racist caricature. This isn't touching on the people who 1) lighten his skintone [he's been horribly whitewashed over time, which has been reflected in some fanarts and fan merch], or 2) give him a looser hair/straight hair texture, rather than his type 4 hair (there's also #3, which is fanfiction with straight up slurs, and horribly racist writing in it that my friend heavily warned me not to read, but that was more of a one-off case and I've had the creator blocked a long time now).
my point being, we (Black fans) can't even get folks to stop with the caricatures, which we have to start with, and then there's even more of an annoying uphill battle with the other stuff. I'm just so tired of all of this; it makes me want delete my own works and turn away from fandom all together because i can't stand it.
trying for polite and assuming ignorance hardly ever works, speaking bluntly doesnt work at all, making public posts hardly goes anywhere (partly because of how rarely people reblog things anymore, partly because it makes people 'uncomfortable' to share this information with others). Black fans so obviously need help to combat this, and yet it's like sitting at a tea party and hearing all these pretty words in this one setting, yet nobody does anything different/better when the party's over/outside this setting.
sorry for dooming a bit, but like, genuinely i would like to know where the line is for nonblack folks? what is the point/are the points where you would speak up against antiblack racism? have you ever considered speaking up? if there's ever a moment you recognized antiblack racism and didn't say anything, why didn't you? did you consider how your lack of speaking up might affect your fellow Black fans? or how Black fans may be interpret this as silent agreement with the racists/with the racist 'norm'?
..those could maybe be alternative ways of asking your last followup question?
(if i've made any blunders or overstepped here, please let me know!)
No, I'm glad you spoke up! I too would like to see answers!
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jsmelodies · 2 days ago
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Cassian thought it was supposed to be simple. 
Find the witch in the woods.
Convince said witch to give him Ataraxia.
Rescue the princess from the dragon guarding her tower, with said sword, from said witch.
If only the damned witch stopped getting in his way.
Read here on ao3
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3
And she's done, folks! Thank you to everyone who's read this/interacted with it in any way. It feels so strange to say goodbye (for now), but I had to finish a multi chapter one of these days.
**Slightly nsfw chapter**
Chapter 4
Being wrapped in Cassian’s arms was her favorite thing, she decided.
He held her close, not letting her out of his grasp as they slept, his breath tickling her where it hit the crown of her head. He was all muscle beside her, his chest slightly hairy and soft to the touch, and she nestled closer, tucking her head beneath the crook of his chin.
She wasn’t used to cuddling after sex. Not in this capacity, anyway. At most, she’d stay for an hour or two, just until both parties came down and their heart rates settled, but her pride always forced her to leave.
She didn’t want to leave Cassian’s arms.
When they’d finished, and Cassian finally separated himself from her, he cleaned her up with such care that she’d almost teared up. Then they’d settled together under the blankets, his arm over her waist while their legs tangled together. Her chest pressed against his, and they’d fallen asleep that way.
Peaceful. That was the right word for it. The slow movements of his fingers on her back, and feeling his heavy breathing beside her—it was everything she didn’t know she needed until she had it.
She felt the moment he woke, when he shifted and let out a long, deep sigh.
“Nes,” he said, with a voice hoarse from sleep, his hand playing with the ends of her hair.
She tilted her face back to look at him, and his eyes blinked open, with the adoration she’d quickly become used to directed at her, mouth curving as he remembered where he was.
“Hey,” she said softly, running her thumb over his cheek.
Cassian’s stubble was rough on the pads of her fingers. In a split second, she decided this was how she wanted to wake up every morning from here on out: across from Cassian’s lazy grin, the warmth of his arm seeping through her as he reached over the crook of her waist. 
She didn’t stop him from leaning down, connecting his lips with hers. He swallowed her whimper with his kiss, and delved his hand into her hair. His tongue lingered on her lips, and she opened for him.
He groaned against her mouth, the sound reverberating through her bones, and his knee slid between her legs. Parted them.
The movement of her hips, as she aimed to get closer, had him pausing. He forced himself away. Forced himself to look, without giving into that raw, physical need.
“We need to talk about it,” he said, resigned. “Before we go again.”
“Do we?”
“Yes, princess.”
She had to admit he was right. Cassian deserved the truth—all of it. “What do you want to know?”
His mouth opened, and closed, as if he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to say. Eventually, he settled on, “Why?”
Why.
Why do any of it? She knew that was what he was really asking. “Because I tend to be very, very overprotective of my sister.”
Cassian lifted an eyebrow. “And that’s all?”
Her pulse fluttered. Not out of nervousness to tell the truth, exactly, but because she’d grown used to not sharing her secrets. Secrets that, as her betrothed, Cassian should know. “A lot of people pass through here,” she explained. “I’ve become quite skilled at determining who is good at heart, and who isn’t.”
He waited silently. Patiently. Letting her tell the truth of it at her own pace, face filled with understanding.
“These woods can bring out the worst in a man. More often than not, that’s what I see.” She stroked his cheek tenderly. Fondly. “But in rare cases, it can bring out the best in one, too.”
He clutched that hand in his own, bunching it and bringing it to his mouth for a kiss. “Which category do I fall in?” he asked, the lines of his face crinkled in amusement.
“What do you think?” she said, chuckling. “I have seen your heart, Cassian, and I know that it’s good. And perhaps, selfishly, I kept it for myself.”
She watched it all soften, the look on Cassian’s face. “I’m glad that you’re the one to hold it,” he whispered. “And I think that you are allowed to be selfish, when it comes to love.”
She’d guard it fiercely. And from the look that Cassian gave her, he knew that truth as well.
“Why did you leave?” he asked. “All those years ago. People speculate, and I suppose the witchcraft has something to do with it. But…why?”
“Because my mother deemed me dangerous.,” she said, looking away and drawing circles on his arm. “There was another witch here, once. I apprenticed under her for a time, until she passed away. It’s just been me ever since.”
“How long?” 
“Five years.” Right before she met Tomas. But she wasn’t quite ready to talk about that yet.
“You could have come back,” he said.
Nesta shrugged. “Enough people called my kind monsters,” she said. “And there is a kingdom’s worth of knights who would see any kind of monster killed. So why would I?”
He took her chin, tilting it back up to meet his gaze. She saw guilt, of all things, flash across his eyes. “It must have been lonely,” he said quietly.
“You have no idea,” she said.  “I love it out here. It’s my home. But sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to life than this.” She opened her mouth to continue. “I…”
She tried to find the words, but they didn’t come to her. Instead, water blurred in her eyes, a tear escaping onto her cheek.
“Hey,” he said, wiping away that stray tear. “You don’t need to tell me all of it today. You know that, right?” he said. “We have a lifetime ahead of us. When you’re ready, I’ll listen to whatever you need. You can throw whatever you need at me; I won’t break.”
For that, she was grateful. 
He got close again, chest going flush against hers. “And I don’t ever want to make you cry, Nesta,” he said against her lips.
She closed the distance, kissing him again. He had no qualms about doing it back, and he peppered them across her cheek, her nose, her forehead.
He traced her curves with his hand, from her breasts down to the small of her waist. “I’ve wanted to touch you like this for days,” he admitted. “From the moment I saw you, I wanted you in my bed. Is that so bad?”
A part of her softened at that. “You can have me whenever you want.”
He chuckled. “No. I didn’t mean that. Well, yes that. But I meant…this.” 
He established what he meant by resuming his earlier attentions. He kissed the crook of her neck, and slid his hand over her back.
“Getting to know what your skin feels like, when it’s been a long day, or week, or month, and to be able to just be with you.” He kissed a freckle on her shoulder. “You are everything to me, Nesta.”
“Cassian,” she said. Perhaps it was a bit desperate.
His voice was guttural as he said, “Come here.” He parted her mouth with a press of his lips, tilting her head up and holding it steady with his hand. 
He lifted up onto his elbow as he kissed her relentlessly, moving to pin her beneath him on the mattress.
But that wouldn’t do. Her promise to herself from earlier came to mind, of what she wanted to do to him, and she halted him with a hand to his chest.
Then, she retreated from the bed. Stood at the foot of it. He watched her hungrily, eyes silently questioning why she wasn’t beside him.
“Come here,” she said, crooking a finger.
Cassian crawled. He made his way towards her, lifting himself onto his knees when he made it to the bottom of the bed right before her. 
“Come back to bed,” he whispered. 
“I will,” she promised. She traced her finger down the side of his face, over his strong chin. “Sit down for me.”
He leaned away, the skepticism clear on his face, but he did as she asked anyway. He swung his knees out from beneath him and sat on the bed.
His face was as hard as stone as he looked down. Up. Over the peaks of her breasts, which he took in his hands, to her hips, and all the way back to her eyes.
His hands slid down, moving to cup the bottom of her thighs. To pull her onto his lap, which she couldn’t find it in herself to stop.
She was unable to tear her gaze away from his cock that had gone hard again, jutting upwards between their stomachs. She wrapped her hand around it, tightening her grip until his head fell back with a groan.
“Nesta,” he rasped, letting her do as she wanted with him. His throat bobbed, and she leaned in to kiss it, relishing in his muscles tightening beneath her.
It wasn’t enough. She leaned forward and kissed him once on the lips before releasing him and kneeling on the ground before him.
His eyebrow raised in amusement. “What do you think you’re doing, Nes?”
“I’d think that’s rather obvious,” she replied, leaning down until her lips were right over the head of his cock. 
Her hands ran up the inside of his thighs until her right one gripped his base, giving it a gentle squeeze. She nearly got her tongue on him before his hand was wrapped in her hair at the base of her skull, pulling her head away from him with a simple tug.
“Oh, no you don’t,” he said, snarling slightly. “Princesses don’t get on their knees.”
Cassian pulled her up to his level, likely assessing what, exactly, he wanted to do with her.
“I should return the favor, shouldn’t I?” she asked, her tone light. “You’re making me think you don’t want my mouth on you.”
His gaze intensified. “I never said that.”
“That’s too bad for you then, isn’t it?” she teased. “Poor Cassian, not getting what he wants–”
He silenced her with another tug to her hair, fingers tightening until the feeling bordered on pain. His hazel eyes glinted as she saw him formulating his plan.
“Such a brat,” he muttered. “Fine, sweetheart. You want to suck my cock so bad? You’ll do it from your throne.”
She was about to ask him what he meant by that until he dragged them both back across the bed. Cassian laid on his back, pulling her thighs over him so they rested on either side of his face. 
“Sit.”
He used his demanding tone that she rarely heard, the one that sent shivers down her spine, and forced her down so that she hovered right over his face.
Holding her leg steady with one hand, he used the other to push her down so her mouth was right in front of his cock, his instructions clear. 
The last thing he said before pulling her onto his face completely was, “I assume you know what to do.”
***
He had her one more time on that bed before they pulled themselves off of each other. After she took him in her mouth, she’d laid down on his chest until she felt him pressing against her once more.
All it took was one amused glance, one twinkle of her eye, for Cassian to flip them over, snarling as he held her hands over her head.
And the rest…Well. She supposed if they had a lifetime together, she could grow used to wasting hours in bed, feeling Cassian move in her.
If she had to.
The sun was fading, flickering through the leaves of the forest when they finally cleaned themselves off and managed to get their clothes back on.
“We should go back,” she said. “I imagine my father will want to have a ceremony in the next few days.”
And she wanted it, too. Even if she hadn’t just brought him to her bed, she’d want him at her side sooner rather than later anyway. Permanently.
She’d fought her feelings towards him since she met him, and she was tired of it. She wanted the entire world to know that this was the man she had chosen, that he was the man she loved.
“It’ll be strange going home,” she said, looking out the window to the field outside the cottage. 
A part of her would always love it here. It was her home when nowhere else seemed to be, and for that, she would always be grateful.
But everything didn’t always have to stay the same.
“I can see why,” Cassian said, agreeing. “It’s nice here, though. We don’t have to stay at the castle, not if you don’t want to.”
“I like it here, too,” she said, looking back at him. “Maybe we could come back here, some of the time.”
“We will.” Cassian extended a hand, waiting for her to take it. “Ready?” he asked.
With one last glance around the cottage, she slid her hand into his. The smile he gave her was warm, bright, as her fingers wrapped around his, and he guided her towards the door.
Something pulled at her. Not at her heart, but the source of her power—
Nesta stopped, and put her other hand to his chest. “Wait.”
Someone was here. The magic of her wards alerted her to their presence. The sensation was neither glowing and warm like with Cassian, or chipped and cold like Kallon and the others. It was…perfectly neutral. 
“We need to start heading back, sweetheart,” he murmured. “It’s going to get dark soon.”
“No, I know. But someone’s here.”
She moved to the window, looking to see who had ventured in. At the very perimeter of the fence were two knights, donned in leather armor that allowed them to move freely.
The wards let them through, and they tackled each other to the ground just as they got beyond the fence.
“I got here first, asshole,” the dark haired one said, climbing on top of the other red haired knight.
“I don’t think that makes much of a difference,” the one on the bottom said with a sneer.
“Do you know them?” she asked over her shoulder.
“That’s Sir Azriel,” he said, pointing at the dark haired one. “And the other is Sir Lucien.”
“And? Tell me of them.”
She looked back, to where his eyebrows had bunched on his forehead. “They’re both good,” he seemed to settle on. “I’m partial to Az because he’s like a brother, but they’d both be good to her. And they’re both fond of her, I know.”
With any other man, she would not have believed the words so easily. But he was Cassian, and she found that she trusted his input, and valued the truths that he spoke. So she turned on her heel, grabbing Ataraxia as she made her way outside.
They were too consumed in their brawl to notice her approach. “You want to marry Elain?” she asked.
Both of the men straightened up in her presence, as if they were two boys caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
The one with red hair—Sir Lucien—cleared his throat, and said, “Yes, my lady.”
She was silent for a few moments, giving the pretense that she was deliberating. Then, she threw Ataraxia onto the grass.
“Figure it out amongst yourselves,” she said. “I have somewhere to be.”
***
It didn’t take long for the two knights to scramble off, dashing back into the forest. When she could no longer see them, Cassian joined her outside, and they once again prepared to depart.
Nesta patted Ruby’s nose as Cassian tacked her up. She admired the way he bent over, how a few stray curls made their way free from how he had it haphazardly tied behind his head.
Ruby pushed into her hand, looking for treats. “She likes me better,” Nesta said.
“She does not.” Cassian ducked under her neck, fixing the saddle on the other side. “Speaking of pets, what’s Bryaxis going to do while we’re gone?”
“Oh, I don’t feed him,” Nesta said. “There’s nothing I can catch that he’d be that interested in, anyway.”
Cassian visibly shuddered, looking up from where he tightened one of the leather straps. “Your cat freaks me out.”
“Again, not a cat.”
“Yes. He’s made that perfectly clear, thanks.”
She chuckled. “He likes you, at least. If he didn’t, he would’ve torn you up ages ago.”
“Reassuring.” Cassian stepped back, patting Ruby’s neck as he joined her. “I’m not going to ask how you came into the possession of a beast that takes the form of a common house cat, because I have a feeling it’s a long story.” He kissed her cheek. “And one that you’ll tell me eventually.”
She thought of the story—of how she’d tracked down the beast in the darkest parts of the forest. Offered him the hearts of the cowardly men who trespassed and overstayed their welcome, and a warm roof over his head, in exchange for the protection that came with his fangs and claws.
A symbiotic relationship, if she had to put a word to it.
“You would be right.”
Cassian merely waved it off, and motioned for her to step to the horse’s side.
He placed her on the saddle, leading the two of them through the forest by the reins. He kept his hand at his sword, as if expecting some threat to appear. She wondered if he was always this way when he ventured through the trees, or if it was different, now that she sat on Ruby’s back.
His more than occasional glance over his shoulder confirmed there may have been some merit to the latter.
When the forest cleared, he joined her in the saddle. She felt the warmth almost immediately as Cassian pressed up against her back, drawing her closer to him with an arm around her waist. Her body relaxed into his, letting him steer Ruby closer to the castle gates. Towards home.
Ruby ran through the grass, and Cassian kept his grip firmly around her, not willing to let her go. And all too soon, they passed underneath the first of the gates, towards the edges of the city.
Knowing he was behind her gave her the confidence to bring down her hood, letting the fabric down to her shoulders.
The sun streamed down, a delicate warmth in the setting light as they walked the cobblestone streets. There were women unclipping the last of their laundry from the lines and putting them into baskets, and the children in the streets paused in their playing, peering at her while Cassian clicked his tongue, urging Ruby along.
Some of the kids ran off, returning with their friends, their mothers, their fathers.
Slowly, the pool of people became larger, thicker, as they emerged from their homes to see who Cassian brought home.
They loved him, she realized. The children watched him with awe, at the show of strength he displayed. They looked up to him.
There was no one better suited for it.
“Nervous?” he asked, tightening his arm slightly around her.
She scowled. “No.”
Even though he couldn’t see her do it, he chuckled at the tone of her voice anyways. “They’re excited to see you.” He leaned in even closer. “Their princess, the woman I am to marry.”
A moment later, “The woman that I love.”
Something about how he said it in her ear, the low gravel, the assurance, had her taking in a sharp breath. Only he could say things like that, could take her apart with just a simple statement.
She wasn’t used to a man being so…steady. Immovable as her insecurities crashed, unyielding in his affection.
It was everything she loved about him.
They spent the rest of the ride in a comfortable silence, and Nesta even dared to smile at some of the folks they passed on their way, giving polite dips of her chin to those that waved. Those looks of shock turned to fondness—that Cassian had found happiness. 
Fondness that was extended to her, even though they barely knew her.
Cassian guided Ruby into the castle courtyard, where the sound of clashing steel echoed over the stone. He dismounted first, his thighs flexing as he landed in the dirt. Then he brought his hands to her waist, lifting her from the saddle with ease. 
He placed her down right in front of him.
“I can get off of a horse myself,” she said.
“Can you?” he whispered. His hands lingered on her waist a few seconds longer than he needed to, though Nesta couldn’t say that she minded. “I wouldn’t want you to fall, sweetheart.”
Maybe he just liked having her close. He’d been that way with her all day, not letting her out of arm’s reach for more than a few minutes. 
With heated cheeks, she realized the rest of the knights were watching. Despite pretending they were busy training, or talking with each other, she knew they were watching every single moment of this interaction.
He cleared his throat. With a flourish, he bowed and brought her hand to his lips.
His eyes flickered up, hazel dancing through his dark eyelashes, and all she could think about was how those eyes met hers in the same way only that morning, his lips on a decidedly less honorable place.
He seemed to remember it too, the corner of his mouth rising into a smirk.
“My lady,” he murmured against her skin.
She fought her blush with everything she had, but she still felt it painting her cheeks. “Don’t call me that.”
Cassian’s grin was a feral thing. “My apologies,” he drawled, “princess.”
Oh, mother.
Princess. The word echoed around the courtyard, whispered from one person to the next. It didn’t surprise her. She hadn’t been seen here in any formal capacity for years, after all. It was too much to ask for her return to be…quiet.
No one dared to approach, though, only looking in with shock, frozen in her peripheral.
Rhys found them first, arching a singular brow when he saw Nesta on Cassian’s arm. 
She’d met the arrogant asshole years ago, when she’d knocked him down a peg in front of his father. He hadn’t seemed to like that.
He seemed to recognize her as well, his gaze hardening as he approached.
He bowed his head, offering deference. “Princess Nesta.”
“Sir Rhysand.”
“Come, now. Only my enemies call me that.” 
Her brow lifted. “And you have many of those?”
His teeth glinted as he gave her a cruel looking smile. “Some things never change, I see.”
Cassian threw his arm around Nesta almost immediately, stroking his fingers against her as he held her in his steady grip.
“Rhys,” he said, a cautious edge to his voice that she wasn’t familiar with. “I’d like to introduce you to my future wife.”
She looked up at him, noticed the set of his jaw in a firm expression. Cassian had his brow raised at Rhys, almost as if daring him to say something.
Drawing his line in the sand. 
Rhys blinked. He paused, his mind thinking, before nodding slowly. “Congratulations to you both. I suppose I’ll be your brother in law soon in more ways than one.”
Cassian noticeably relaxed, the arm around her shifting more towards a touch of affection, rather than a protective one. As if Rhys would be able to harm her, anyway. Even though she didn’t technically need it, the gesture was nice, regardless.
It took a couple of seconds for the words to register. “Feyre?” she asked.
“Yes. We’re to be wed.”
“How the hell did you get her to agree?” Cassian asked. “Last you told me, things were…” he grimaced beside her. “Rocky, if I recall.”
Of all things, Rhys looked away and blushed. “A story for another time.”
Nesta narrowed her eyes. If the red mark on his neck was anything to go by, there was more to the situation than he let on. She’d be talking to Feyre later, to get the details. Although, she didn’t have too much room to judge given the way she had let Cassian have her just that morning.
“Nesta!” Feyre dashed down the palace steps, running towards her.
She slammed into her, hugging her as if she hadn’t seen her in years. Maybe…maybe she’d spent too much time away from this place.
Nesta hugged her back. “Hi, Feyre.”
Feyre leaned back, and beamed. “Welcome home.”
***
Nesta’s father smiled broadly when he saw that she’d chosen Cassian. She’d noticed him fidgeting and trying to hide the nervousness from his smiles ever since he broke apart from his conversation with Rhys, and part of her knew that he was terrified of the judgment her father would give.
He’d told her of the insecurities he faced, of being looked down on in the knighthood for his lower status. She hadn’t cared one bit, even though her mother had insisted once that only a duke or a prince would ever suit her. But the woman was dead, and couldn’t input her opinions anymore.
And quite frankly, Nesta hadn’t paid any mind to her words after her mother sent her away. 
Her father welcomed him with open arms, though, saying he was glad to have Cassian as a son. She could have sworn Cassian froze as the man hugged him, eyes comically wide, before returning the gesture. 
Then her father proclaimed they would be wed the following night.
That evening, they ate and they drank as they celebrated the upcoming union. And when Nesta’s mind started to go blurry, Cassian guided her from her seat, gently holding her wrists and saying she’d had enough.
They were set up in different rooms the night before. It was tradition, and as far as everyone knew, Nesta was still virtuous. 
So while the hall was rowdy and chatter made its way through the halls, Cassian led her to her room and paused in the doorway. His was right across from her—so they wouldn’t truly be too far apart, but it felt like it regardless.
He drew her close and placed a kiss on her forehead. “This’ll be our last night apart, princess. I promise,” he said.
She grabbed his wrist, trying to pull him inside. But he stopped her with an easy flex of his muscles, not letting himself be persuaded otherwise.
“You’re drunk,” he said, chuckling. “We’ll play all you want later. Get some rest, you’re going to need it tomorrow.”
They shared one last kiss before he broke away, Cassian pressing his forehead to hers, and Nesta longed for the following night. When she could drag him into her room, and no one would blink an eye.
She watched his retreating form reach his door before she closed her own. And when the world had gone quiet, and she made her way into her bed, she shut her eyes.
***
Nesta ran her hands over the smooth fabric of her gown. For the wedding being this last minute, it was perfect—a satin gown of deep red that she knew Cassian would nearly weep over.
Two ladies from the palace pinned small braids atop her head into an updo that weaved across itself. While she typically favored her coronet, this seemed to suit the occasion. 
They were twins, from the look of it. They chattered as they worked, and Nesta was content to let them gossip the morning away. 
She had years of gossip to catch up on, after all.
“Could you give us a minute?”
Feyre’s voice was the last thing she expected to hear. In the mirror, she could see her sister standing in the doorway, paused by a slight hesitation and an unsure smile.
“Feyre.”
The ladies left the room silently, bowing their heads as they passed her sister. Feyre took a seat on the settee in the corner.
“You look beautiful,” Feyre said.  “Cassian’s a very lucky man.”
Nesta snorted. “It depends on how you look at it, I suppose.” 
“I think we’ll have to disagree on that,” she said lightly. Feyre stalled for a minute. “Elain arrived back today.”
“Did she?” Nesta’s mouth curved up. “With a suitor in hand?”
“With two.” She heard Feyre shifting in her seat. “It’s caused quite a scandal. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
Nesta hummed. “I might have been a little distracted.”
“With a certain hulking knight?” Nesta lifted her eyebrows, meeting her sister’s inquisitive look through the mirror. But her sister waved it off. “I’m the last person to judge. Those three can be…persuasive,” she clarified. 
Nesta just stared for a moment, unused to the openness between them. The familiarity in the words. But she couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. “That’s one way to describe it.” Her eyes crinkled with it, and she said, “I’ve missed you, Feyre.”
Feyre’s expression turned hopeful. “Does this mean you’re going to come back home?”
“Can I say that I haven’t decided yet?” Nesta asked. Her shoulders tensed slightly, waiting for her sister’s response. Not that she thought Feyre would cast her off, but…
She’d seen the look of disappointment on Feyre’s face too many times to count, on the days where her little sister begged her to stay instead of returning to the forest. She’d always hated being the cause of it.
But Feyre merely smiled. “You’d make a wonderful queen,” she offered. “If you want a reason to stay.”
“I always thought you would,” Nesta rebutted. “You’ve always been brave, when I never was.”
“Well, that’s not true in the slightest,” Feyre said. “You were always my big sister. Nothing could scare you. Plus,” Feyre added, “You have no trouble keeping all those knights in line. I think you could manage to rule a kingdom.”
“I’m not certain I wish to,” Nesta admitted. “Listen, Feyre. I’m sorry that I wasn’t here, that I didn’t—”
“Don’t,” Feyre said, cutting her off. “I get it, Nesta, I do. It sucked, but I understand why you stayed away.” Her sister stood, joining her in front of the mirror. The next thing she knew, Feyre had wrapped her in a hug, holding her tightly against herself. “I just hope it doesn’t always have to be that way.”
They broke apart, and as Feyre held her hand, her smile still on her face, Nesta couldn’t help but agree.
***
Their wedding took place that evening. 
The first thing that Nesta thought when she saw Cassian standing at the altar was that for once, he was polished. She knew he was nobility, that he was the son of a lord, but this was the first time that he truly looked the part.
He’d always been beautiful in the rugged way, like he was carved from stone. Like the gods themselves had crafted him in their hands. It was the sort of beauty that was wild, that was not meant to be kept behind palace gates.
Today, though, that wild hair was contained behind his head. Instead of armor, he donned his court finery: nice pants and a black tunic with silver embroidered on the edges. Over top, he wore a dark red jacket. Simple, but elegant.
His mouth broke into a wide grin when he saw her at the door. And she found her heart filled with hope, with every step that she took towards him.
It went faster than what she wanted. A priestess named Gwyn tied their hands together with a white ribbon. His palm was beneath hers as she promised her undying devotion, and he squeezed her hand as he did the same. 
His voice wavered as he repeated the words, sparing no attention for the crowd that had formed beyond them, curious to see their princess again. No, it was fully on her. His eyes locked on her own, tears swimming with the hazel, swearing off all others and tying his life to hers. 
She watched as those tears formed fully, streaming down his face as he finished the words, and the priestess started her speech.
And before she knew it, Nesta was declared his wife.
He smiled into their kiss. Chaste, and merely a promise of what was to come later, when she had him alone.
The last few days had been a whirlwind, but Cassian’s hands kept her steady, gentle as they held each other in silent embrace where they stood. The guests began to filter out, but Cassian took the moment to hold her there with him, only separating from her to cup her face in his hands.
“You look beautiful today,” he murmured.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” She reached up to wipe those tears away. “Let’s go make an appearance, husband.”
***
The mid summer breeze was cool when they stepped outside of the temple. There were cheers as they walked through the courtyard and into the great hall, which was bedecked for the celebration.
Despite the short turnaround, Nesta’s father went all out: there was a feast that could feed hundreds, with a roasted pig and barrels of mulled wine that filled goblet after goblet along the walls.
Cassian didn’t hesitate to spin her around and around on the dance floor, and when the guests were distracted he pulled her into an empty alcove where only the echoes of the music could find them.
She half expected him to kiss her right then and there. He hadn’t touched her in over a day, and he was probably as restless as she was. 
He offered her his hand instead, leading her into him gently as the orchestra began another tune. She raised a questioning eyebrow.
“One dance, just the two of us. With no one watching,” he explained.
Her heart melted a bit at that. He pulled her in closer, humming softly to the music that played while they swayed together. 
And although knowing the little things would come over following months, and years, she felt at home in his arms. She knew him. Her soul knew his, connected on some level that she couldn’t explain. Maybe it didn’t need an explanation.
Nesta wasn’t afraid of what she saw. And neither was he.
People she hadn’t seen in years came up to congratulate them as the night went on. With each interaction, her back tensed up tighter and tighter, until Cassian finally took notice and drew her away.
“Should we turn in for the night?”
She blushed slightly, imagining what the guests might say about their early departure. But she found she didn’t care about it in the slightest. She nodded, and his hand slid to the small of her back as he led them to their quarters for the night.
Once he shut the door, Cassian kissed her once, twice before slowly turning her around so she faced away from him.
He started undoing the buttons down her back, his large fingers struggling to separate the tiny things from the fabric that held them together.
“Who designed this?” he asked, curiosity lacing his tone. “The enemy of husbands everywhere.”
She stifled her laugh, trying to stay as still as possible. “It’s part of the wedding night experience, struggling to get your bride’s dress off her.”
“I think you’d be disappointed, sweetheart, if I struggled too much to get it off.”
She was just glad he hadn’t gone the route of ripping it off her body. Though, to be fair, he’d nearly done it the morning before. He was more in control today, content to enjoy the moments of the day as they happened.
And she liked this dress. She was glad it wouldn’t become a pile of shredded fabric, destroyed by a man with no taste.
Once he got it to a point where he could, Cassian pushed the dress off of her shoulders, but there were still buttons going all the way down to her waist.
“At this rate, it'll take all night,” she muttered.
“It’s ok, Nes. I’m a patient man.” His breath was right there, hitting the ridge of her ear. “I’ll have you in that bed soon enough.”
“Something tells me you’re not patient at all.”
“You’re in a mood today, aren’t you?” Cassian bent over then, picking up the bottom hem of the gown and bunching it around her waist. “Since I’m apparently so impatient, maybe I should just fuck you in this.”
She whimpered softly, letting her head fall back to rest on his shoulder. Which he took advantage of. He hummed, leaning in to press his lips into the side of her neck. Her cheek. Her ear. 
“Is that how you want it, Nes? Rough and uncontrolled?” 
“I—” Nesta could barely speak.
Even though she couldn’t see it, she could feel the smirk that graced his lips. “Where do you want me to take you, then? The desk? The wall?” He nipped at the bottom of her ear. “The floor?”
“That’ll destroy your knees.”
“So be it.”
Before he could begin his plan, though, Nesta turned in his hold. She took his chin in her hand, pressed between firm fingers, holding him right where she wanted. His smile only grew.
“Maybe I wish to take you.”
“I don’t think you could manage it,” he teased.
She hummed, considering, then gave a gentle tug with her hand. She watched intently as he bent over, amused as the large, hulky knight that was her husband allowed himself to be pulled without complaint. 
“I’m going to be on top,” she said.
One slow hand ran down her back. “Are you?”
The flecks of green in his eyes sparkled in the candlelight, like tiny stars that were only hers to look at. They roved over her. “In the dress, I hope?”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes, despite knowing she didn’t want to go through the process of taking it off, either.
“Lie down, husband, so I can have my way with you.”
She caught the hitch of his breath, the indication that he was just as excited about the prospect as she was.
He took off his jacket first.
Then, with a fluid motion, he tugged his shirt over his head, revealing the prominent lines of muscles on his abdomen. Which he made sure to flex as he dragged the shirt from his shoulders.
Her mouth parted, struck by the beauty of her husband. Everything from his tanned skin, to the stunning hazel of his eyes, to the jawline that could forge steel. 
He undid his hair, and it fell into its normal waves. All of the heat she normally felt when she looked at him intensified, and he smirked.
He took a step back towards the bed. “Whatever you command, wife.”
***
She didn’t know if she would ever get used to how sweet he could be after they came together.
He kissed her softly, worshiping her like a goddess, and asking if she needed any water, or food, or blankets. Even though she had been the one to ride him until he couldn’t think straight, holding his release with an unrelenting grip until he begged her for it, somehow he was still taking care of her.
She’d collapsed next to him, stray hair from her updo sticking to the sides of her face from sweat. He’d brushed them away, his soothing hands running over her skin, lingering at the dress still bunched at her torso. “Let’s get this off of you, yeah? I wouldn’t want it to be ruined.”
He carefully undid the last of her buttons so that it could slide down past her hips. Then she was bare, and she realized as he held it out to her that he’d brought over a shirt for her to change into, one of his. She blinked away tears as large hands found each of the pins in her hair, removing them and letting it cascade down her back. He ran his fingers through it, combing out the tangles that had gathered over the course of the day, with a heartbreaking tenderness.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked, once he’d hung the dress on the chair in the corner, returning to the bed with her. “I know that was intense.”
She was still tingling with the aftershocks of pleasure, but Nesta found she was completely relaxed. “I’m perfect,” she said. “Come to bed with me, Cassian.”
She grabbed his hand, pulling him beside her, and they made their way under the covers.
“No one else,” he said. “For either of us.”
“No one else,” she replied. With one more kiss before she settled, Nesta said, “Cassian. I love you.”
Her brave knight hummed, and his steady arms were around her once again. This was right where she belonged. The thought came to her as her eyes drifted closed, as she burrowed deeper into the warmth of his body.
“I love you too, Nesta,” he whispered, as she teetered on the edge of being asleep.
It was the last thing she recalled, before she dipped into unconsciousness. And while she safely slept in Cassian’s arms, she couldn’t deny the pure contentment that flowed through her.
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wholelottaprompts · 3 days ago
Text
ᡣ𐭩 Emails I Can't Send Prompts ᡣ𐭩
from the album Emails I Can't Send, by Sabrina Carpenter
"And I still make excuses for you constantly."
"Sorry that I pulled the 'it's not you, it's me.'"
"You're not my friend, and baby, you never were."
"It's times like these I wish I had a time machine."
"Whatever, you're a waste of time."
“Oh, so you do have a type."
"Where else can we go?"
"I hate the way you left me dry."
"Give me a second to forget I ever really meant it."
"Don't say sorry now."
"One day, I'll make sure you get a real apology."
"I tried to look for the best in the worst."
"Oh, so you can reply."
"I'm so tired."
"You want me? I'm done."
"I wonder how many things you think about before you get to me."
"You're lucky I'm a private person."
"I'm over that son of a bitch."
"Don't make me cuss you out."
"You're so vicious."
"Nobody gets my jokes, everyone here thinks I'm fucking rude."
"Why were you somewhere else when you were next to me?"
"I can't help it, it's a habit."
"You act like a bitch."
"I never saw him and we never kissed."
"There's nothing left here to decode."
"Were you lying to me and the family?"
"If you wanted brown eyes, I could have got contacts."
"You don't feel remorse."
"That never made too much sense to me."
"I can't read your mind."
"Why'd you let me down?"
"You knew I would see that."
"Looking at you got me thinking nonsense."
"Bet you wanna love me now."
"How do you do this to me?"
"Tell me what's gonna happen."
"You knew I would notice."
"I'll drive you home."
"I don't even know, I'm talking nonsense."
"I want you there sometimes."
"She looks nothing like me."
"Your signals are mixed."
"Everything reminds me of you."
"I know you know it keeps me up."
"You drive me crazy."
"Chase me."
"Did you even give a fuck?"
"You disgust me."
"Now I'm a homewrecker. I'm a slut."
"Tell me I was more than just a decent opportunity."
"Why do you look so happy?"
"I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thanks to you, I can't love right."
"I know now even if I tried to change that somehow, you'd end up with her anyway."
"You fit every stereotype."
"Does she step out of the spotlight so you bathe in it?"
"Now I can't even look at you."
"You said I'm too late to be your first love, but I'll always be your favorite."
"I know what you're about to say."
"Does she get up on top of you more than I would?"
"He had it coming."
"I deserve my own consideration."
"I look up from my phone and think there's no chance it's you, but it is."
"He's good for my heart, but he's bad for business."
"I've got death threats filling up semi trucks."
"How am I supposed to close the door when I still need the closure?"
"All my friends think I've gone crazy."
"I care, but I don't."
"Please fucking fix this."
"Tell me that you miss me in your life."
"It feels so good not caring where you are tonight."
"You were all I looked up to."
"Was I being lied to?"
"I got ways to find you anywhere."
"You miss me? No duh."
"Maybe we should do this on purpose sometime."
"It was all so innocent."
"What the fuck is patience?"
"I can't even stomach loving someone else."
"God, I love you, but you're such a dipshit."
"You're good at impersonating someone who cares."
"I bet your house is where my other sock is."
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sanguineterrain · 2 days ago
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Hi Sanne! Could I please request a Wally x reader where she’s super clumsy and kinda shy so when he flirts with her she gets all flustered and clumsy and Wally thinks it’s the cutest thing in the world? Thank you!
got this request AGES ago and forgot to post. hope you like! I don't know much about wally's personality admittedly except for the few comics I've read with him 🫣
gn!reader. wally makes your body and mouth clumsy. kissing and confessions. drinking.
****
"So what exactly is this again?" Roy asks, peering at his glass.
"It's a mocktail," you say.
"No, I get that, but why is it blue? And sparkly."
"It's supposed to be the ocean," Dick says. "Duh."
"Oh, sure. As usual, I'm the idiot. Never had the creative mind to find worlds in drinks. 'S like I'm drinking a snow globe."
"I can get you something else," you say, laughing.
"No, I like the snowglobe." Roy curls his hands around the glass protectively. "My snowglobe."
The team's decided to try their hand at a trivia night at a local bar. It's gone better than you expected, with only one near-blowup and no glasses thrown. All in all, a good night.
"I would like another daiquiri, please," Donna says, holding up her glass. "These are delicious. What flavor did you say this one was?"
"Passion fruit."
She nods. "Indeed. I'm passionate about this fruit."
"Don't get my team too hungover," Dick says, eyes shining and cheeks pink from two drinks.
"I'll do my best," you say.
If only Wally were here, you don't say. He'd be a big help in getting everyone back to the Tower. You have no idea how you're going to manage the Wonder Twins and Garth wobbling all over the sidewalk. Roy, though perfectly sober, will provide zero help, too busy giggling at Dick's lack of motor skills.
You take Donna's glass because she deserves another passion fruit daiquiri if she wants it, darn it. You order that and another two baskets of fries. Dick's got the tab. Everyone's taking advantage.
"Need a hand?"
You turn with the fries cradled in one arm and the daiquiri in your other hand. You don't anticipate Wally to be standing as close as he is.
The baskets go flying.
"Whoa!" he says, darting out to catch the food. He does so perfectly, of course.
"Oh!" Your face goes hot as Wally grins at you.
"Careful," he says. "All those heroes and not a single one came to help you carry the food? They should be ashamed of themselves."
"They're, um, having a good time. It's okay, really." Did you manifest him being here? "I was just thinking about you."
Wally's grin widens. "Oh, yeah? Anything in particular?"
Now, why did you say that? Your tongue just gets so clumsy around him.
"I was—I mean, it wasn't—I was thinking about how helpful it would be if you were here. I was hoping you'd come."
"Well, hope no more! You've got an official superhero on your side."
Wally wriggles the glass out of your hand and gestures for you to go ahead. Now you're carrying nothing. You go, knowing that protesting does no good with Wally.
"Seems like wherever you go, Wally isn't far behind," Roy says, waggling his eyebrows. "You two psychically linked or something?"
Dick and Donna exchange smiles. You look at Wally, mildly mortified by the teasing.
"We're soulmates, actually," Wally says, and that makes your whole body hot. "Wouldn't expect you to understand, Arrow Boy."
"Dude, I'm hurt." Roy clutches his chest. "I thought we were soulmates."
"You wish. Where's Garth?"
"Bathroom," Dick says.
Donna makes grabby hands for the drink. She takes a long sip and gives you a thumbs up. You return it.
"We should play pool!" Dick says.
"No way, you cheat," Roy says.
"I do not! Donna, do I cheat?"
"Physically, Dick doesn't cheat, but he has a long history of psychologically manipulating opponents," Donna says.
Roy snaps his fingers. "Bingo."
"I don't cheat, I'm just that good." Dick smirks. "Anyway, I'm tipsy, so my aim will be off."
Roy rolls his eyes. "Yeah, right. No bets. I can't afford to lose anymore money to you."
"Fine. You two joining us?" Dick asks, looking at you and Wally.
"I don't know how to play pool," you say, a little embarrassed. Working on a team of superheroes, the least you could do is know how to play pool. Pool is obviously a cool people game. Batman probably taught Dick pool when he was, like, eight.
"That's fine, we can teach ya," Roy says.
"No, we suck at teaching," Dick says. "Remember, Roy? Remember how we suck at teaching people? Wally's way better at teaching."
Roy glances at Dick, then at Wally. He nods slowly. "Ah... yeah. Our, uh, shortcomings as teachers—yeah, we suck. Wally, you're up!"
Wally squints at them. "What're you talking about? You guys are better at pool than me."
"Not true! You can calculate physics in your head and shit. Go on. Shoo, fly," Roy says, waving him away.
Wally looks at you, questioning. You shrug, trying to play off how nervous you are at the prospect of being alone with him.
You follow him to one of the pool tables. He takes down a cue stick and gives it to you.
"You really don't have to teach me," you say, suddenly self-conscious. "It's not a big deal."
"I don't mind," he says, smiling. "Plus, what if you're a pool prodigy and we never find out because I never taught you and unlocked your ability? Tragic."
You laugh. He beams. You back up against the table and the wooden edge hits your back. You wince.
"You okay?" he asks, inspecting you.
"Fine." You sigh. "Okay, I'm ready to unlock my special abilities."
"Right on. So you're gonna hold the cue like this."
He puts it in your hands and adjusts your grip.
"Okay, and you're gonna stand like—uh, is it cool if I touch you?"
"Uh-huh," you say, hoping your voice isn't high and breathy.
Wally gently bends you forward and moves your hips so your legs are planted. He's behind you, mouth near your ear.
"Alright," he says, and your whole body goes aflame. He's so close. "So pull back..."
You pull back the cue and promptly elbow Wally in the stomach. He grunts and you drop the stick, mortified.
"Oh my God," you say, spinning around. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. God—"
You dart away, the humiliation too overwhelming. You're making a beeline for the bathroom when Wally appears in front of you. Damn superspeed.
"Hey, hey," he says, hands on your shoulders. "I'm okay. Seriously, don't even worry about it!"
"No." You shake your head. "I give up. I'm too uncoordinated for this stuff. There's a reason I'm not out on the field."
"Aw, c'mon, none of that," Wally says, rubbing your arms. "You're a valued member of the team even if you don't go onto the field. What you do is important. You're like our Oracle."
"I've been tripping over my own feet all night," you say, looking down.
No guesses as to why you've been so clumsy. Starts with a W, ends with a Y.
"Well, I'll always be there to catch you," Wally says warmly. "I have great reflexes. It's kinda my thing."
You busy yourself with picking at a loose thread on your shirt, so Wally won't see your response to that.
"I'm still sorry for elbowing you." You cover your face at the memory. "Ugh."
He laughs. "Nah, it's okay, honestly. I'm a tough guy. Put on my own suit and everything."
And now, your mind is inundated with images of Wally in his suit.
He carefully tugs your hands from your face, gaze soft. You're caught off-guard as Wally rubs your knuckles with his thumbs.
"Listen, I..." He glances around as if searching for words. You've never seen Wally at a loss for words. He's usually talking too fast for anyone to keep up. "I don't know if maybe I'm misreading this. I don't think I am. But if I am, feel free to elbow me again."
Your eyes widen. "I would never—"
And quick as anything, Wally leans in and pecks your lips. It's warm, like a shock of electricity. You barely have time to process it.
"Oh," is all you can say.
Wally smiles nervously. "Is that a good oh or a 'I'd like to punch you in the face' oh?"
"I like you," you blurt.
He relaxes into a grin. "Know what? I kind of suspected. Especially after those idiots practically forced us into playing pool. I'm dumb but I'm not that dumb."
"You're not dumb, Wally."
"When it comes to this stuff, I really am. But I'm happy you like me because I really like you. Like, a lot."
"Yeah? Elbows and all?"
Wally laughs, draws you in again for a kiss. "You can elbow me any time, babe."
44 notes · View notes