#because one day we'll all end up in the dirt

[mclarenviolet]

Cherry Wine

Astarion x GN!Reader

Warnings: Brief mention of blood/hunting, shameless flirting and a smidge of fluff

WC: 500+

A/N: Continuing the trend of naming my Astarion fics after Hozier songs because the combination is ✨chef's kiss✨ As always I try to keep reader gender neutral but as I haven't proofread this one particularly well please let me know if there's any slip ups!

You enter the firelit camp after your evening bathe in the nearby river, glad to have washed away the intense grime of the bog you'd been traversing for the last few days. You cast your gaze over to where Astarion lounges against a log, wine bottle in hand, his crimson eyes already fixed on you with a mischievous glint.

"Well, well, well," he purrs, a smug smile tugging at his lips. "If it isn't my favorite person in this whole wretched world."

You roll your eyes, failing in your attempt to hide your smile from the handsome vampire. "Spare me your flattery, Astarion. I might just faint from the shock."

He chuckles, his fingers idly tracing patterns in the dirt. "Oh darling, your heart can surely handle a few well-placed compliments from time to time."

You settle down beside him, your shoulder brushing against his. "And what makes you so certain that I'm not immune to your charms?"

Astarion leans in closer, his lips just a breath away from your ear. "Because, my dear, I've seen the way your cheeks flush whenever I grace you with my presence."

You fight back a laugh, shaking your head. "You're impossible, you know that?"

He grins, his gaze smoldering as it meets yours. "Ah, but you love every bit of it."

You feign exasperation, throwing up your hands in mock defeat. "Fine, you win. I'm utterly captivated by your snark. Happy now?"

Astarion's laughter is low and melodic, "Delighted, actually."

As the night wears on, the camp grows quiet, your companions settling down in their tents, undoubtedly exhausted from what felt like endless days of battling amidst that miserable bog. Astarion however stays firmly planted by your side, silver hair seemingly glowing in the moonlight as he stares up towards the stars.

"You know," his tone soft, "despite my 'snark' as you so eloquently put it, I really do quite enjoy our time together."

Your heart skips a beat as his playful façade gives way to a vulnerability that takes you by surprise. "I know." your voice equally gentle.

He leans slowly towards you, gaze meeting yours once more, his lips hovering just inches from yours. "And if I were to do something that's shockingly out of character, would you be too surprised to stop me?"

Your breath hitches as his fingers brush against your jaw. "I guess we'll just have to find out."

And with that, his lips capture yours in a passionate kiss fueled by weeks of teasing and flirtatious banter, of stolen glances and lingering touches.

Astarion's arms wrap around you, pulling you closer as the kiss deepens, his fingers tangling in your hair. You can taste the coppery tang of whichever creature he hunted earlier mingled with the cherry wine he's been leisurely sipping on all evening, a mixture you find unexpectedly intoxicating.

When the kiss finally breaks, you both pull away, breathless and dazed. Astarion's confident smirk fades into a genuine smile, his inquisitive eyes searching yours.

"Surprised?" he asks, his voice a low whisper.

You grin, all too aware that Astarion's keen hearing must be picking up the way your heart pounds in your chest. "Very."

He leans in to press another kiss to your lips, his fingers tracing absent patterns on your back. "Well, my dear, prepare to be surprised more often."

A/N: Welcome to another episode of Violet doesn't know how to end her fics 😌 Thank you for reading, feedback is appreciated as always 💕

[icaruspendragon]

im sorry to ask but i dont know what else to do—how did you do it how did you dig yourself out because it feels like i am choking on dirt and people keep shoveling it onto me and i miss her so much and i dont know how to make this feeling stop. she was my best friend. ive never lived in a world without her before. how did you do it. how are you doing it

grief is so hard and so heavy when we first meet it. it feels like all our arms will ever hold for the rest of forever. and it is, in a sense. once we pick it up, we never really set it down. not fully.

and I don't think it gets lighter, I think we somehow, impossibly, get stronger.

there's lots of metaphors for grief. that's one of them. another one I like to use is that it feels like you're in the grave with them. like lazarus. like yourself. waiting for someone to raise you from the dead. to raise you both.

I've learned a lot about crawling out of the grave. more than I would have ever wanted to learn. like how emptiness is actually quite heavy. or how to pretend like you feel half-alive. but I think the most important thing I've learned is that somedays, we inexplicably end up back in it. and that sucks.

because we just spent months clawing our way through the bugs and the earth. because our soldier-hands have finally breached the surface. because the sun is finally caressing our hell-fresh faces. because for the first time in months we feel like we can finally breath. and then, suddenly, we're right back in the terrible thick of it.

those days make it feel like I'm sisyphus and grave dirt is my rock. or like I'm prometheus and the darkness is my eagle.

but then it's tuesday.

which is to say my brother died on my 25th birthday, a monday. and that day is now a memory that's fuzzy around the edges. single snapshots I know are connected, but I couldn't tell you how. I remember my mother standing in my bedroom and tears and family and phone calls and cleaning my living room because I didn't know what to do with my hands. I remember going to my grandmothers and my phone vibrating off the table and leaving to go get coffee because I couldn't sit still. I remember joking, trying to joke. trying to do whatever I could to make sense of that impossible day. I remember checking my phone and reading and rereading the messages, a mixed bag of congratulations for surviving another year and condolences that my brother didn't, I remember not knowing how to respond to any of them. so I didn't. I remember being surrounded by so many people doing nothing but extending love and kindness to me and never feeling more alone. the world was ending and I was alone. I thought that day would go on forever.

but it didn't.

it ended, as all things do. monday was over and my first day as an only child was done.

and suddenly it was tuesday. and everything was different but also exactly the same.

it was tuesday and my brother was dead. I was so heavy when I woke up that first tuesday. so heavy and confused. I thought the world had ended. it surely felt like it had. but it hadn't. because the world couldn't have ended on monday.

not if it was tuesday.

it was tuesday and my brother was dead but the world wasn't ending. monday should have been our demise, but it wasn't. and it hasn't. and it won't. because just as sure as we have mondays, we'll always have tuesdays.

that's something I've taken a strange comfort in, knowing that we'll always have tuesdays.

the feeling never stops. but I think that's okay. because you're only feeling that way because there was love first. and as much as what I felt on that first tuesday hurts, as much as it suffocates, as much as it consumes, I'd take the hurt and the suffocation and the consumption because the love I felt first will always, always be worth it.

tuesdays will always be worth it.

like yeah, if I loved less, it wouldn't hurt this bad. but I don't want to live in a world where I have to love less. where I was loved less.

I'll take the pain. I'll take the grave days. I'll take the rock. I'll take the eagle. I'll take apocalyptic, earthshaking mondays. I'll take every last wretched bit because goddamn what a miracle it is to love so bad it hurts this big.

I hold that love, his love for me and my love for him, a love that's now become our love in the cage of my ribs while I'm in the cage of the grave. and I dig.

it's monday and I dig.

I dig.

and then tuesday comes.

[axolotlbottle]

❝Like father, like son❞

Art done by my bestie @jester0jpeg !! We both made our own versions / lore of the postal dudes & postal series!!

Postal dude 1 with his son (little kid-postal dude 2! Who we call "the postal kid!").

We actually gave them names, too! (Sorry, they're not P names, but I could care less. Feel free to call them Postal dude and Postal kid if it bothers you that much).

PD1's name is Michael Toddhunter, and his son's (PD2) name is Aster Toddhunter (hehe get it? As in "disaster").

Preface: This takes place AFTER the first postal game. This is an AU of sorts, so just erase the ending of the game + a bunch of other things, and have Michael fuck off somewhere, nobody ever knowing his identity so he gets away with everything. That was a "TLDR" explanation of it. We could maybe explain this better on a different post in the future.

Anyways! Here's some lore we have about them:

Michael is the Command Sergeant Major for U.S army's RI Arsenal. Yes, he did serve in the army before going postal in the first game. Don't ask how he got up to that rank because god knows I don't know either.

He and Aster live in the Quad cities, Illinois, aka some fuck ass midwestern region of cities that only gets some attention from the John deere company that hogs the area. Fuck john deere.

Michael is a single dad. He somehow managed to win all custody over Aster. He doesn't talk about his ex-gf.

They live in a house that's next to a trailer park, so they're not exactly dirt fuckin' poor but they ain't buying branded food either. They're still trailer park trash without living directly in the trailer park though.

Michael has tried to give Aster some sense of normality (sorta) but Aster clearly is not cut out to be a normal child. He's very rowdy, violent, and bullies the neighborhood kids (if you get the reference, you're cool).

Michael calls Aster "My little wild thing" (reference to Aster's favorite book; where the wild things are).

When Aster was 5, for Christmas, Michael gifted him a black cat he bought for $10 at the pet store ( he didn't question it). Michael cruelly didn't think the cat would last long, but that cat might as well outlive him. Aster named the cat "Kostroma" and has shoved his dad's guns up it's ass and used it as a silencer to shoot at beer bottles in their backyard. Kostroma hasn't died (nor appears to be scarred or traumatized), no matter what Aster has put him through. He's like some weird immortal cat (who surprisedly loves Aster as much as Aster loves him). Michael and Aster don't question it.

Aster loves uncrustables. His addiction literaly is grape jelly uncrustables. He has to have one once a day or else he'll start wreaking havoc in the neighborhood.

Michael brings Aster to work sometimes (usually when Aster gets kicked out of school or is being too insufferable for the neighborhood). He can't help it, and it's not like anybody can give him shit for it.

That's all we'll share for now!! Hopefully we'll post more in the future!! Me and my bestie have been working on this since like late May, and we plan to continue to work on it >;). I'll leave ya'll with this doodle I did of Kostroma cat.

[iamatinydinosaur]

I really like your Branch x little sibling reader requests, and I don't know if you request are open, but if they are, I was wondering could you do one based on the first film, where lil sib is taken by chef along with the snack pack (maybe because they heard the commotion and were trying to help people) and obviously they're saved in the end and everything turns out ok, just the perfect mix of angst and fluff, if thats ok, please and thank you.

A/N: Guess what it's my birthday in a week!!! 23rd of January and I'm not ready!!

🐾Branch x Sister Reader🐾

You hear screams. You promised Branch you wouldn't go near the party, but you couldn't just sit here while there was danger. You jumped down the tree you were stargazing in and ran towards the commotion. You saw the cook Bergen put the last member of the Snack Pack in her fanny pack. You gasped, watching the cook go for Poppy. You ran full speed and shoved her out of the way.

Poppy skidded across the dirt, colliding with another Troll. Poppy propped herself up with her hands looking up at the cook and watched in horror as she saw you get grabbed by the cook. You looked terrified. "Branch!" You screamed, but it was muffled because she shut the zipper of her fanny pack. Poppy knew Branch was gonna brag he was right, but as soon as he finds out you got taken. She's dead.

"Branch! Branch! Branch!" Poppy yelled banging on the rock outside his bunker. "I told you I'm not coming to your party!" Branch glared at Poppy. "Branch it's your sister." Poppy mattered. "She got captured saving me." Poppy gasped as Branch pulled her into his Bunker. "She what!" Branch shouted. "I'm sorry, she wasn't even at the Party." Poppy said. "What did I tell you! I told you that the Bergens would find us. But you didn't listen! Now the only thing in my life that gives me meaning has been taken!" Branch screamed, punching a wall. Poppy watched as Branch broke down. You were all he had left and now you're gone. "I'm going to rescue them and Y/N. Please come with me." Poppy pleaded. "Fine. But only for her." Branch grumbled going to pack supplies.

The whole journey was hard. Not for the dangers. For Branch being so cold to Poppy. He knew that the Bergens would come one day. He just couldn't believe you got taken. Ever since your Brothers left you two and Grandma died, you two only had each other. It hurt him so much with everything that happened, but it hit you worse. You lost your colors too. But you were more depressed than Branch. You had only started opening up recently, becoming your old self. Now you're gone.

The two Trolls sat around a camp fire. Poppy looked at Branch, feeling really guilty. Branch has his head in his hands as he thought about you. "Branch we'll get her back." Poppy whispered. "How do you know that Poppy. She's all I have. You don't understand what we have gone through! What she has gone through! Now she's been taken by her biggest fear. All because you guys wanted to be so happy and Party all the time!" Branch burst into tears. He couldn't lose you. Poppy got up and hugged Branch. He would normally push her away but he just let her hold him while he broke.

Timeskip

"Branch!" You exclaimed as you saw him and Poppy in front of your cage. Branch ran over to you. He grabbed your face as he inspected it. He stared at your features. You started crying, you thought you'd never see him again. "Please let's get them out of this!" Branch said. Him and Poppy opened the gate to the cage. You sprinted out and ran into the arms of your big brother crying. The whole time you were in there you couldn't stop having flashbacks to the day Grandma died. You've been having constant panic attacks. The snack pack tried consoling you. However, they knew you just needed your Brother.

Branch held you tightly. "I'm never letting you go again." Branch whispered burying his head in your hair. He was so happy to finally have you back. "I know you told me to stay away. But I heard screams. I couldn't just let them be in dang-" You started but Branch shushed you. "Hey I'm not mad. I'm proud. Despite being terrified of Bergens you still risked your life to save Poppy from one. I'm so proud of you." He whispered.

From now on you're never allowed to leave his side or sight.

A/N: I hope you liked it. I love writing Branch as a protective big brother I have so much fun.

[spaghettificationandpretzels]

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

This is my first time writing for COD, but I've watched some clips and read some fics so I hope I do him justice.

Part one of The Way the Stars Love the Heavens series.

Contains: Fluff, non-sexual bed-sharing, unresolved feelings. Not beta read.

Follow #the way the stars love the heavens for updates

1.7K words

A translator's work is never done.

"Any luck?" It was the question you had been dreading for hours, you were no closer to cracking the horrible mess of coded communications and the frustration was driving you insane.

"No." You sighed at Soap's face, his easy smile wasn't helping, it was almost like he found your frustration assuming. "I'm trying Latin next. You know this is a job for an analyst right? I don't really know what I'm doing here."

He shook his head. "I have faith. You're the best translator we got. I was stopping by to tell you that we'll be gone for the next forty-eight hours, we gotta leave the wire for something."

You gave him a nod and turned back to your screen. "Ok then, I'll be here, like I always am. I'll be lucky to get away from this thing with all the work you've sent my way."

Soap chuckled. "We gotta keep you busy, if you get bored, you might take your talent elsewhere." He paused and looked around, checking that you were still alone before jutting his head towards the common room where everyone else was enjoying some downtime before the jump. "But we both know there are other things keeping you here."

You turned away from the screen and shot him a pointed look. "Shut up, you promised you wouldn't bring that up again."

He raised his hands as he pushed himself off the corner of your desk. "Just saying."

He walked away without another word, and you turned back to letters as they unscrambled at a snail's pace. It was going to be a long night.

****

Knock knock

"Come in Simon." You knew that knock well, the two short raps were the only ones that you ever heard, no one else bothered. 

He parked himself in the same spot that Soap did, on the corner of your desk, but unlike Soap, Ghost leaned his huge frame over into your personal space as he looked over the monitor. "You look like you're making some headway." 

You sighed and leaned back in the chair, rubbing your face as tiredness slowly set in. "I am three per cent closer than before." 

"That's three per cent better than you were an hour ago." He could be so gruff sometimes. He turned from the screen and towards you but made no move to back away. "I was just coming to say goodbye." 

You nodded, he was close enough that you could smell his shower gel under the gun oil and cordite coming off his uniform. "Yeah, be safe." 

Despite the mask, you could tell he was smiling. "Don't work too hard love. The world's not going to end if you get some rest." 

You fought the urge to smile and reached out to shove him playfully, but he didn't budge. "Says the man who never takes his mask off." 

He shook his head and stood up and his massive hand landed on your shoulder. "We'll be back in two days." 

You drummed your fingers on the desk and nodded. "Of course. I'll see you soon." 

His hand lingered for a moment and silence filled the room, times like this, where something hung in the air between the two of you were becoming all too common. "Yeah, see you soon." 

****

Ghost was tired and his body ached, it had been two days of non-stop work and all he wanted to do was go back to base and sleep. The humvees pulled into the vehicle bay and he climbed out, watching as the others dispersed while Soap stayed behind. "You gonna see y/n before you hit the hay?"

Ghost shrugged. "Don't know, I figured she'd be in bed about this time."

"You know that won't be true, it sounds to me that you're avoiding her." Of course he was, he was covered in blood, sweat and dirt and he stunk to high heaven.

He sighed and almost rolled his eyes. "I'll go see but she won't be awake."

Soap crossed his arms over his chest. "How do you know that?"

"Because I asked her to get some rest." He knew that meant nothing, but still, he hoped you do it for him, he did ask nicely.

The look Soap gave him had Ghost walking away, knowing that if he stayed any longer, Soap would start asking questions he wasn't ready to answer.

Despite the weight of the exhaustion he felt, he got a second wind when he saw the light coming out from under your office door. He walked right by and into the kitchen, then plucked your favourite MRE out of the cupboard and threw it in the warmer before making his way to your office.

He knocked on the door twice and your raspy, sleepy voice came through the wood. "Come in."

You were in different clothes but he could see how tried you were, your eyes red and ringed with heavy bags. "You been to bed?"

You nodded. "I tried but the alarm went off, they changed the code again so I'm back at it."

He shook his head and raised the green bag. "I brought you food."

You reached out with a grateful sigh and took it from him. "You have no idea how much I need this." His mask crinkled with a smile and he sat down on the only other chair in the room. You looked him over and gave him a slight smile. "How was the op?" You could smell the blood on him but you wouldn't dare say anything, you didn't want him to leave.

"It was what it was." Part of him wanted to elaborate, to tell you about the shit he saw, but he didn't want that in your head too, even if you knew you'd listen.

You tucked into the food, the hot meal was perfect and you couldn't fight back a moan as it started to sate the hunger you didn't know you had. Ghost's chest rose sharply but you didn't say anything, and he looked at the pouch in your hand. "Good?"

You nodded. "Amazing. Thank you."

You wished he'd take the mask off, sure he had nice eyes but seeing his full face would have been better. He pushed himself up, reached over and tapped the desk. "Now that you're all fed, I'm gonna clean up and get some rest. If I don't hear you open your door within the hour, I'm coming to get you."

You sighed. "Yes, yes, I know, I need to sleep."

He shook his head and opened the door, looking over his shoulder to get the last word in. "That you do."

****

Ghost took extra time in the shower, the hot water soothing his body as the blood and dirt washed down the drain. In the steam, he wondered to himself why he was being such a coward, it was as plain as day how you felt about him, yet he couldn't voice the return of your feelings. Maybe he was worried about what it would mean for your friendship but deep down, he knew nothing would really change, just the fact that he had said the words out loud.

He turned off the water and threw on some sweats and a t-shirt, knowing that the halls of the pod that held the 141's dorm rooms and your office would be empty was enough that his mask was unnecessary. He thought about heading to his room, knowing he would hear you through your shared wall if you decided to listen and get some sleep, but he knew you and decided to check your office first.

Light was still coming from under the door, but for once, he didn't knock. He pushed open the door with the same careful quiet that he used out on a mission and smiled to himself when he found you curled up in your chair fast asleep. He knew the meal would have you off in dreamland, and part of him was happy that it was like this, although he was loathed to admit why.

He placed one arm under your knees and the other around your back and lifted you into his arms, carrying you the short way to your dorm, knowing there was no way you'd rouse with how tired you were. But when he came to your door and pulled the handle, it didn't move and he was at an impasse. Sure, he could root around in your pockets for your keys but that would wake you up and he didn't want to do that.

He thought back to when, in a drunk haze after a celebration, you accidentally found yourself in his bed, muttering about the wrong door before falling asleep on top of him. He reasoned to himself that you'd had shared a bed before, so this time wouldn't be any different before he opened his door and went inside.

He placed you on the bed, climbed next to you and pulled the covers over your body, the tight space forcing him close to you. He sighed as his second wind left him and rested his head on the pillow, looking over your sleeping face with a smile. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair off your face, caught up in the moment until your eyes blinked open. "Is this a dream?"

"No." He desperately hoped you wouldn't get up.

"Oh good, you're pretty."He let out a genuine chuckle, his chest filling with warmth as your hand landed on his cheek. "Do you want me to go back to my room?"

There was no way in hell he was going to say yes, not a single part of him wanted that. "No, you can stay, I didn't want to wake you looking for your keys."

You sighed and nuzzled closer into his chest, his arms wrapping around your body to hold you in his embrace. "Thank you, I'm think I'm too tired to move anyway."

"That's alright love, I got to look after my favourite girl." He had no idea what all this meant, not your confession at finally seeing his face nor the fact the your warmth against him was making him feel things he wouldn't dare voice. "Goodnight y/n."

Your lack of a reply and the slow up and down of your chest was enough of a reply for him to take the leap, and he pressed his lips to the top of your head as he spoke. "I love you."

Part 2

[sleepyselkiesims]

Simply Lilac

Name: Piper O'Donovan Age Group: Young Adult Orientation: Confusion. She/They Hometown: City native, recently re-located to Mt. Komorebi. Occupation: World-renowned gardener for vampires Traits: Bro, Loves the Outdoors, and Unflirty Aspiration: Nature Likes: Anything outdoorsey, really Dislikes: Anything you have to sit down and focus to do, and cooking. Gifts: Holly, blue milk, and eggplant (literal) Misc: Likes dirt. Other: No CC whatsoever. In desperate need of better party/formal attire (note: they will be covered in mud eventually)

In Depth: Piper's love for gardening first blossomed when they came across their grandmother's rooftop garden. She didn't realise that some plants came from her grandmother's homeworld, nor did she care. It's all about getting covered in dirt babyyyy

Piper's father took her on a fishing trip one time because he wanted to explore the city, and accidentally got his girl utterly obsessed with it. Yeah, it was pretty clear Piper wasn't cut out for city life at all.

The first thing Piper did when they moved out was get her very own garden! Full of only the weirdest and wildest. Had the watcher placed a bed in there, Piper would never ever leave.

But leave they did! To explore new worlds! Gain new skills! Make every day an adventure! End up on their Watcher's banner image thing!

But none of that backstory or skill building matters anymore, after a tragic skiing accident knocked Piper out, depriving them of her memories. She doesn't even remember how to garden! I bet they probably think they just sprouted up from the earth themself.

Will this unflirty gremlin manage to flourish in her new surroundings? Is this reset exactly what they needed to figure out how to love? I guess we'll find out!

Another thing she doesn't know is her sister Sereia already failed at @samssims bachelorette challenge due to being too ace for Mildred! So there's the double bonus of seeing if the lack of love runs in the family!

Oh, and she's a mermaid. So she might water herself along with the plants.

Expect chaos.

Watcher

Are you comfortable with your pixel person:

Flirting with other contestants? (The bachelorette will have the ‘player’ trait cheated and her boundaries set to no jealousy, so it will not impact your sim’s relationship with her.)

WooHooing other contestants?

Flirting with/and or woohooing NPCs?

Flirting with the host?

Changes to traits via gameplay prompts? (ie. Evil to Good, depending on what your Sim does, or adding traits)

(Humans Only) Becoming an occult?

(Werewolves Only) The Fated Mate mechanic? (If a werewolf ends up winning the challenge, I will cheat out that sentiment)  

@ethicaltreatmentofcowplants If any of these happen I will be delighted

[aethersea]

still thinking about the trump voter I talked to the other day who was like "well the democrats have had four years to fix things," as proof that clearly they weren't doing that so they weren't worth voting for. and I just. do you think the democrats are our friends? do you think they're a bunch of saints? they're politicians! where did your cynicism go, man, the whole system is corrupt and dishonest and we've always known this. the difference is in degree. the difference is in what they do BESIDES and DESPITE the corruption.

god I just. idk I think this next complaint is old as dirt but people have GOT to stop thinking about politicians as friendly folks who are on your side. miss me with that. you can get that on a local level sometimes, but on a state or federal level, you will have a few radical outliers if you're lucky. a politician is not a buddy. a politician is a person who has power over your life, and a politician is a person doing a job, and it does not and has never fucking mattered if they're someone you could hang out and shoot the shit with! that is not part of their job! that is not the part of your life they have power over! they are not your friends!

the democrats have not fixed the country bc a) there are too many forces working against that, b) fixing a country is a convoluted goddamn problem and it'd take decades, not years, and c) they don't necessarily care all that much! they're just people doing a job! they care mostly about keeping their jobs!

look, there are probably a lot of politicians who do care deeply about helping people. there are also lots of politicians who don't give a fuck, but do a great job pretending they care deeply about helping people because they know that's how they'll get votes. I fundamentally do not care which one of these two people is in power so long as they pass and enforce laws that help people. yeah it'd be nice to have the first person, but so long as shit gets done we'll call it a win.

because there's a third, way more common type of politician, who not only doesn't give a fuck, but knows how to get ahead without actually following through on a single campaign promise. that politician is saying all the right things, just like the other two, but they don't pass a single helpful law and instead will pass a bunch of, like, food safety deregulations in exchange for cash from large companies that don't want to worry about health inspectors.

you know what keeps us safe from that? it's when 'doing some useful things for society sometimes' is a good way for a politician to keep their job. otherwise we will end up with no politicians who do useful things for society, out of sheer natural selection.

I'm just venting at this point but god. since when do we believe politicians are good people. obama was a godsend for this country and this world, he achieved so much good, and also he never so much as shut down guantanamo bay. the bar is in hell. the bar is in hell, and every single politician running for office will tell you otherwise, and we have got to stop listening to that and look at what they do. and keep demanding they do better, instead of replacing them with people who will do worse just because at least it's a brand new grifter.

[nobodylikety]

Cat hybrid! Liz 🐈

Yeah I knooow it's been a while, I was kinda busy and had a bloody writers block,,, BUT HERE I AM, back with my blurbs and thoughts about hybrid! IVE, this time with Liz and her orange cat bevahior

tags: cat hybrid! liz x fem! reader, hybrid AU, fluff.

Cat hybrid! Liz is an absolute homebody! This house cat will hardly want to leave her home and go places, because inside her home are you, the rest of hybrid! IVE, her bed and all the food she can ask for.

Cat hybrid! Liz's swimming skills are as good as a sinking brick <3 she's not a very good swimmer, because cats themselves are not very fond of water. And as for bathing? no way. If it occurs to you that it's bath time, chances are Liz will demand some good cuddles afterwards.

Cat hybrid! Liz has orange cat energy, she's absolutely chaotic and goofy! Not only is she constantly fighting with Puppy!Yujin over silly things, but they are also accomplices and sometimes get into trouble together, because together they are twice as love bugs and the sweetest little cat and puppy, although not very bright! <3

+ like all orange cats, she's the most cuddly and goofy fuzzball. And when she's near you? she runs towards you, with her tail wagging all happy and for sure she tripped at least 3 times and ran into 2 walls, in the process of TRYING to get on your lap. She's such a good girl, kinda silly, but good girl 🩷

Cat hybrid! Liz lacks feline grace and agility…because her orange cat vibe is stronger. She can't jump, she can't climb…she always falls. BUT if she hears you open a bag of chips anywhere, she won't hesitate to ask for her portion (or steal it  ^_^ ♡)

Cat hybrid! Liz has a habit of flopping up on the sofa and looking at you intently, with big eyes, wagging her tail in anticipation, all serious and predatory attitude,,, before giving you the silliest, most affectionate headbutt out of nowhere <3

🐱 ، ﾟฅ ｡ [ Kitty shenanigans ]

Liz always finds unique ways to get into trouble, but she never fails to be the most adorable and affectionate kitty you'll ever meet.

Not a day goes by that Liz doesn't get into trouble. Like that time when Liz and you were playing together in the garden, and Liz started chasing the butterfly she'd found with such enthusiasm that she ended up tripping over a flower pot and falling face first into the middle of some flowers. And what did Liz do? she got up, shook the dirt off her fluffy ears and looked at you with an innocent expression, as if nothing had happened.

With that silly little smile, the same one she always does.

Or that other time, when Liz was trying to catch a fly buzzing near the window, but she jumped so hard that she ended up hitting the glass, leaving a little nose smudge on the glass.

Or like now, with the most frequent mischief that takes place almost every morning, and always in the kitchen.

You're preparing toast for breakfast, when Liz decides it's an excellent idea to hop across the table to inspect your culinary work. So with an air of elegance she tries to land gracefully, but instead of it, she trips over her own tail and falls face first into the tray of eggs, scattering them all over the kitchen. And of course, not before knocking over the pile of frying pans and pots, creating a chaotic clatter.

"Don't worry, Liz," you say with a chuckle as you help her up. "I think we'll have scrambled eggs this morning."

"Meow," she replies, looking up at you with innocent eyes, as if it's your fault.

Because It's never her fault, it's always yours.

And that sometimes makes you want to wrap Liz in cotton, to stop her from endangering her own life in her own stupid way. Liz really is a bit of a rebel, even when she's not actively trying to get into trouble.

But... you have to accept her for who she is, and if you're honest with yourself, there's something incredibly endearing about this goofy, sensitive, lovable little cat (who attempts to break herself more than once a day) that's part of your life.

Because even after a day full of stumbles and falls, when you sit on the sofa and enjoy the peace and quiet of home, with Liz purring softly as you stroke her head, her sweet gaze and carefree, goofy attitude reminds you of how wonderfully special she is.

So despite all the misadventures, you wouldn't for a moment change your life filled with Liz's antics.

Cat hybrid! Liz 's love language is giving you the goofiest headbutts and being dumb with you! (she has a weird sense of humor) so Liz is always tripping, falling, flopping clumsily on you, just for the sake of showing you her love for you!

+ This. Kitten. ALWAYS (LITERALLY ALWAYS). FALLS OR TRIPS OR GETS INTO DUMB STUFF.

Wants your attention? climbs the ledge closest to you, and before falling gracefully next to you, trips and falls on your head.

She's going to climb on your lap? miscalculates and ends up with her head stuck in the sofa.

She's going to purr you to lull you to sleep? she chokes on a hairball before she even opens her mouth.

And the list goes on, because Cat hybrid! Liz is an adorable bundle of leggy nonsense, and she loves you with all her heart. ♡

[comfort-questing]

7. magic with a cost

they had made a resting place for her in the back of one of the supply wagons, where she lay limp and motionless as a dropped doll among the borrowed blankets and cloaks. for a while there were others, but as the hours went by and the road rolled past beneath them, the visitors trickled away. after a while even the healers left to return to their own places in the ranks, because there was really nothing they could do for her. "we'll wait and see," said the last one to leave. "using power like that - "

sitting hunched between two crates nearby, Saf only nodded, because recriminations would be pointless. the only one of them who had much clear idea of the consequences was currently enduring said consequences, and thus not available for comment.

"thanks," she said, anyway. "thanks for trying."

and then the two of them were alone at last, and she could lean over and let the hard mask of courage dissolve from her face like stone turning back to flesh.

"Ketry," she whispered, and there wasn't any answer, not even a twitch of her friend's empty face or a catch in her faint breathing. "please wake up. everything's all right now. we're safe because of you - please, please - we'll be back home soon - "

she swallowed down the lump in her throat, harshly. beneath them, the wagon wheels creaked along, dry road dirt rough against metal rims. somewhere, someone was probably leading their horses further up the cavalcade, where they ought have been if not - this.

Ketry's lips were dry again. Saf reached for the water cup and dipped the rag in it, to squeeze a few drops into her friend's mouth. there was cold sweat on her forehead, matting the fringe of her pale hair; the color had been quite gone from her face these last hours, skin oddly gray under the summer's tan.

"stay by me," Saf murmured, as if those were the only words she could find now. "stay by me."

-

three days now they'd been fleeing before the invaders, the last remnants of the westlands beyond the mountains, leaving the long green slopes and the feathered clouds behind to be filled with smoke and destruction. and Ketry the only mage who'd stayed this long, her brave friend who had never been one to give up.

we won't make it through the pass in time, the others had said, the leaders riding up and down the ragged line of refugees, keeping their voices down for fear of being overheard. they're too close on our heels.

and Ketry, glancing up at the rocky slopes shutting off the sky above them, so different from their homeland: I might be able to help.

the wry twist of a smile on her face, the faraway look in her eyes. the sudden stillness as she'd waited, Saf next to her, at the long trailing end of their retreat.

stay by me, she had said, and closed her eyes and reached out a hand; and in the trampled grass of their tracks, the mountain fell.

and when the dust cleared, Ketry was in her arms, unmoving.

-

so she waited, there in the wagon, under the tattered canvas as the scraps of blue sky dimmed to gray and black, and the lamp swung golden above them. she curled up into the blankets and wrapped her arms around Ketry, as if somehow to press the warmth and life back into her.

there was no news to give to the others at sunset, or at moonrise either, but sometime in the flat dark hours between midnight and dawn Saf startled awake to the awareness of something changed. it took her a long moment to place it - Ketry's slow breaths didn't waver, and the thready pulse in her wrist hadn't altered either. but then she tried to turn her head to look, and felt something stay her; and realized it was Ketry's free hand, tangled there in rest amidst her hair.

and that was sufficient hope to let her close her eyes again, and wait for morning.

[apocalypseornaw]

Soulmate AU Series- Benny

Benny Lafitte x Reader

You and your soulmate have the same tattoo

@decadentstrangernacho I swear I didn't forget this!!!

An anchor of all things, marking your right wrist from the day you'd turned eighteen. Your soulmark, the one sure way you had of knowing who your soulmate was should you ever meet them. What a crock. If the myth was true and Zeus was the one responsible for splitting souls in half and forcing them to try to seek out their missing part you wouldn't given him the satisfaction of playing into the game.

You wore a leather cuff around your wrist, covering the mark. You knew for a fact someone could be happy without ever meeting their soulmate, hell you'd seen first hand the pain Sam had gone through when his mark faded after Jess, the pain Bobby had still been in from Karen's death and how insane John went after losing Mary.

Most hunters had taken to covering their marks, whether with cuffs like you and Dean or in some other way. Your life was destined bloody, brutal and short. Why drag some poor idiot down with you?

When Dean got blasted to purgatory you and Sam ended up splitting ways for a few months. He needed a break but you knew if you ever stopped hunting and gave yourself time to break you may not ever pull yourself back together.

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

Almost a year passed when one night while you were crashing in one of Bobby's many cabins you got a call from Sam saying you needed to meet him as soon as possible. You never would've dreamed Dean was waiting with him.

You and the boys quickly settled back into the routine the three of you had gotten used to over years of hunting together. It worked so why try to fix it?

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

One night after a particularly bloody hunt you were washing your hands in the sink of the hotel the three of you had picked while Dean waited for you to stitch his arm. You glanced up and realized he was standing in the doorway, holding your bandana to the wound but his eyes were glued to your bare wrist "Dean, you good?" You asked him as you dried your hands off. Sam had already put your shoulder back in place and cleaned up well enough to go after food so it was just the two of you.

He shook his head almost as if he had been in a trance "Yeah, I'm good sweetheart" you narrowed your eyes "Either you're lying or having more ptsd from purgatory. Which is it?" He shrugged "I'm exhausted and starving" you laughed at his words "See? Easy enough to tell me what's really wrong"

Dean didn't want you to know he was staring at your soulmark because for the last year he'd been staring at the matching one. Hell you still didn't know exactly how he'd gotten out of purgatory. He'd told Sam the entire story and even introduced him to Benny the weekend you'd gone to help Jody out but happened to leave out the part about Benny being your soulmate. How the hell should he approach the fact when he knew that your aunt had gotten killed by a nest and that was when Bobby had found you? Hell you'd hated the soulmark since it first appeared, even trying to get a tattoo over it.

He sat still while you put three stitches in his arm then cleaned the wound about the time Sam came walking back in the door. Sam wanted to tell you about Benny but would he if he knew?

You laid across the backseat of the impala laughing as Dean purposely sang along badly to the radio just to make Sam groan. You weren't sure where the three of you were headed because both of them were being dodgy about it but you didn't care. You trusted them fully and if they said there was a case, there was a case.

You'd almost dozed off when you heard Dean's voice and thought at first he was talking to Sam but then he said "Yeah, we'll meet ya there" who? Were the three of you backing another hunter? And what was bad enough to warrant four sets boots on the dirt?

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

About an hour later you felt the impala lurch to a stop and sat up to see where you were. It looked like you'd headed south, were you in Louisiana?

The impala was parked in front of a gumbo shack. You motioned towards it with your hand "What are we doing here Dean?" He glanced back at you and shrugged "Don't know about you but I'm getting hungry. Figured we'd stop for a bite"

You weren't sure what the two of them was up to but you noticed him and Sam exchange a loaded look. "Is something going on?" You asked and was met with two innocent shrugs that were anything but. You wanted to argue more but your stomach growled and Dean grinned victoriously.

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

You followed the two of them into the doors of the gumbo shack. Music played from an old jukebox but whatever was cooking smelled amazing. You spotted a pretty brunette woman at the register who greeted the three of you warmly and said to sit anywhere.

You picked a corner booth, giving the boys the wall and putting your back to the room. Any other time you'd insist on your back to the wall but with them you knew you were safe.

You felt a familiar prickling at the back of your neck but ignored it when the pretty brunette walked over. Her name tag said Elizabeth and you could see Dean's dimples he was grinning so hard. "What can I get for you three?" She asked, her accent telling you she was from around here. You glanced at the menu then back at her "It all looks good. Any recommendations?"

She smiled warmly "looking for a sandwich or something filling?" You cut your eyes at Dean "We've been on the road a while so I'd say something filling" she nodded "Then I'd say the gumbo. It's my favorite" "All we needed to know. Three gumbos" she wrote down on her order pad then looked at the boys "Drinks?" "Tea" all three of you echoed. She laughed "Love an easy table. Roy will bring it over if I'm busy"

You watched her walk off then glanced back at Dean "If you don't try to get her number I am" he laughed "You're always eager on the button to bust me aren't ya?" You shrugged with a grin.

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

While you waited on your food you glanced around the inside of the restaurant. There were a few other patrons but your eyes landed on the man at the grill. He was around Dean's height, maybe a couple inches shorter but damn was he broad. He turned as if he could feel his eyes on you and when his blue eyes locked onto yours you felt your face warm. He was really good looking but you hated getting caught checking someone out.

The moment didn't go unnoticed by Dean who whistled low "Sweetheart are you claiming everyone in here today?" Refusing to let him see you blush you rolled your eyes "Why not?" He laughed and poor Sam looked just done with you both.

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

You were emailing Garth when you felt a shiver go up your back and looked up to see the man who'd been cooking was sitting bowls down in front of Dean and Sam. You met his eyes and he gave you a warm smile "Enjoy darling"

He extended his right hand to place a bowl in front of you but his sleeve was rolled up to his elbow exposing his wrist and the anchor marking. You froze staring at his wrist as the prickle ran across your back again.

You looked from the man to Dean, realization sitting in that this was your soulmate and he was a vampire. He gave the slightest shake of his head and you felt like you'd been dipped in ice water. He knew, both things. You felt tears spring to your eyes and looked at Sam but he looked just as guilty. "Guessing you still haven't told her?" The man asked and you started to shake your head. The two people you trusted had lied to you and apparently whatever God was responsible for soulmates had a sick sense of humor.

You stood up, shoving past the vampire and headed for the door. You felt like you were going to be sick.

“Why did you think springing all this on her was a good idea Dean?” Sam and Benny both had been under the impression he'd told you everything but it turned out he hadn't told you anything.

Dean shrugged “She couldn't attack him in a restaurant Sammy! I mean we know her thing with vamps, was there any good way of her reacting here?” Benny shook his head, feeling oddly protective of you even after only meeting you once “She shouldn't have found out like that” he snapped.

Dean cut his eyes at him, raising an eyebrow but Sam laughed lightly “He's met her now, it's his instincts to protect her” Dean nodded slowly “Soulmate shit is weird” then added “Sam track her phone we gotta find her”

Ok maybe storming off on foot in a town you didn't know with no money and only a handgun was a bad idea but how could they hide this from you?

You unsnapped the cuff as you walked, staring at the anchor. Why a vampire? And how had Sam and Dean met him and why hadn't they taken care of him before ever having the chance to find out he was your soulmate?

You shook your head and snapped it back. You needed to call them but you were still pissed.

—-------------------

You weren't sure how long or how far you walked before you heard the familiar rumble of the impala's engine pulling up next to you.

You stopped walking and heard Dean's voice “Sweetheart, I'm sorry. Please just get in and I'll tell you the entire story” you spun to face the car and realized it was only him “Where's Sam?” “With Benny. Now please get in”

You were hurt yeah but deep down you knew you could trust Dean with your entire life. You could give him the chance to explain even if it had better be the mount Everest of explanations.

About an hour later you and Dean were pulling up to a small cabin. When he parked you hesitated, picking at the cuff on your wrist “All I'm promising is to introduce myself. I trust you enough to trust him” he nodded “All I ask”

You climbed out the car behind Dean and followed him to the porch before realizing Sam and Benny were sitting on it watching the two of you. They stood as you got closer.

Dean looked from you to Benny before formally introducing the two of you. You took a deep breath before extending your hand. The moment Benny shook it there was a feeling like electricity that hit your mark. He must have felt it too. “Darling I didn't know Dean hadn't told you about me. I wouldn't have agreed to ambush you with this. I don't expect anything from you I just wanted to meet you once Dean told me about you, after he saw my mark or well after he saw my mark and fully trusted me”

—--------------

Like you'd noticed before he was good looking, broad with bright blue eyes and a crooked smile that made your heart flip and that accent was a killer. You almost forgot about him being a vampire, almost. “I didn't mean to react like that but me and vampires don't have a good track record” he nodded “Sam filled me in on your aunt”

You reached for his right hand and he gladly gave it to you, watching as you lightly traced the anchor on his skin “I have no clue why a hunter and a vampire were chosen for each other” he shrugged “When I was human and even after I was turned I figured I didn't have a soulmate because there was no mark but then this showed up”

You looked up at him “When?” When he told you how long the mark had been there you laughed “That was when I turned eighteen. So your soulmark showed up while you were in purgatory?” He nodded “Didn't figure I'd ever have a chance of meeting you until Dean landed there”

You realized you still had his hand so you dropped it gently before offering him a smile “Guess you're not that bad. You helped Dean, you don't feed off humans and you're not ugly” he laughed at that “And you're downright beautiful”

You shook your head “Easy Lafitte on the sweet talk” “Yes ma'am” he teased and you shook your head “I can offer you my friendship, if anything more comes we'll cross that bridge when we get to it but for now we can get to know each other” he smiled “I'd like nothing more”

[dyrewrites]

Hi I'm a day late but happy Storyteller Sunday! How does agriculture work in your world? Are there harvest rituals or festivals? Are the growing seasons affected by any unusual factors?

Never too late for fun questions!

If discussing Mar as a whole, there may be something to find near the twin cities, where seasons are actually a thing and there are more creatures interested in plants.

But, as I've not delved into too much off the Spine (and what I know is wrong now because this book went and ruined it all), we'll stick to Weald and Wen.

You won't find too much in the way of agriculture, as everything complex enough to do it on purpose in the twin woods are carnivorous.

However, the Auru, who are fairly new to the woods and make their homes on the Rim of the grand rock those woods grow from do know their way around a farm. Well...a garden. But all they can get to grow in the fungal Wen they edge are plants already found there, and not only in the woods but in that specific patch of the wood. The plants do not seem to enjoy being planted anywhere but their own dirt. One herd boasts delicious tea made from a flower that only grows on the Weald side's Rim--half a world a way for what dangers lurk between. None know how the herd manages and their leader will insist it was sheer force of will.

No rituals involved for the process, or the sowing/harvesting. Auru of the Wen refrain from, well, a certain crystal gremlin would say 'anything fun' and she could be right.

Now there are harvest festivals in the twin woods, but they're reserved for Fyrni in the Weald and they're not related to plant-life.

They're akin to hunting parties but with a ceremony attached. It is one all Fyrni in the warren are part of, and many of them continue the festival after the harvest departs (praying for their safety and success). There's also a relatively painful magic used to hide what they are before they leave their warrens, which includes a little song and lots of snuggles.

The 'harvesting' comes after subduing their prey with blood-sung weaponry not meant to kill but to stun--this is reliant on the emotion of the user, so accidents happen. They then beg the Lady through Song and Breath and complex runes drawn in blood, and some invasive poking of claws into flesh, to allow them a gasp of life from the subdued. Something to add to their own, to keep them living.

It ends up a gooey little ball they gotta shape into something a tad more practical to carry about and munch on, but they're essentially eating little bits of souls. Harvesting little bits of souls. Those who perform this harvest are known as Reapers. Typically there's also a Weaver, who tends to wounds, and a Speaker, who can Sing a path through the Breath for a quick return home. Together this party provides their warren with nourishing 'hyla'...the soul bits all mushed and melded to an edible gelatin substance.

They're very important to the warren, and there's a huge party if they make it back and many privileges awarded.

->Weald and Wen Taglist<-

~Lemme know if you want on/off~

@sapphicwizards @tragedycoded @rowanmgrey-author @watermeezer @badscientist

@hyacinthslibrary @olliexwrites @wyked-ao3 ^.-

[persephonememes]

* (  STICK SEASON FOREVER BY NOAH KAHAN /  SENTENCE PROMPTS.

These may have been edited for clarity or length or to better apply for roleplaying.

" how you been? "

" what does it mean? "

" i am stuck between my anger and the blame that i can't face "

" i miss the way you laugh "

" but you know how it gets out here "

" you got all my love "

" if you need me dear, i'm the same as i was "

" it's all okay, there ain't a drop of bad blood "

" i just hope that your scars heal "

" i was scared to death "

" i'll never let you go "

" i don't get much sleep most nights "

" i'm seeing you in every dream "

" i'll love you when the oceans dry "

" i'll love you when the rivers freeze "

" don't you know there's a coffin buried under the garden "

" i'm in the process of clearing out cobwebs "

" someday i'm gonna be somebody people want "

" it's been a long year "

" would we survive in a horror movie? "

" i wanna love you 'till we're food for the worms to eat "

" i know every route in this county "

" i'll tell you where not to speed "

" honey, come over "

" no one will tempt you, we know you got sober "

" it's yours if you want it "

" i've been ready for you to come home "

" i didn't think to ask you where you'd gone "

" why'd you go? "

" i haven't drank in six months on the dot "

" don't you find it strange that you just went ahead and carried on? "

" the last time i drank i was face down passed out there on your lawn "

" are we all just pulling you down? "

" remember telling me that you thought you were cursed? "

" love is fast asleep on a dirt road with your head on my shoulder "

" those things I miss but know are never coming back "

" if i was empty space and you were formless shape we'd fit "

" i'm still angry at my parents for what their parents did to them "

" i know there are worse ways to stay alive "

" why is pain so damn impatient? "

" the last that i heard you were down in new orleans "

" i worry for you. you worry for me. "

" it's fine if we know we won't change "

" i'm leaving this town "

" i know that you're fearing the end "

" i only tell truth when I'm sure that I'm lying "

" how have you been and are you bored yet? "

" time moves so damn slow "

" i stopped caring about a month ago since then it's been smooth sailing "

" i would leave if only i could find a reason "

" i got dreams but i can't make myself believe them "

" i don't want to say goodbye "

" i'm still here with you "

" for a minute the world seems so simple "

" who was i to watch you wilt? "

" i promise to be there this time "

" i'm naming the stars in the sky after you "

" i'm remembering i promised to forget you now "

" it's all the same, anyways "

" i ain't proud of all the punches that i've thrown "

" i gave your name as my emergency phone call "

" i'd die for you "

" why do you do this to yourself? "

" this place had a heartbeat in its day "

" it just ain't that simple, it never was "

" we'll drink to new year's "

" i'm not ready to let go yet "

" now the weight of the world ain't so bad "

" i saw the end, it looks just like the middle "

" who am I to complain? "

" now the pain's different. it still exists, it just escapes different. "

" don't you cancel any plans "

" all lights turned off can be turned on "

" i'll drive all night "

" don't be discouraged "

" i've been exactly where you are "

" if you could see yourself like this, you'd have never tried it "

" won't you stay with me? "

" i even gave up driving after nightfall "

" i'm ain't angry at you, love "

" i'll be waiting for you "

" we spent so long just getting by "

" i'm not a city girl "

" it still has a lot of meaning to me because i grew up there "

" it's a small community of people that really look out for each other "

" last time i was in the back of a cop car, i fell in love "

" it's all the same anyway "

" let's drive for no reason "

" honey, it's starting to storm "

" i won't be alone for the rest of my life "

" i broke a bone that never healed in my hand "

" so when i hold you close, i might loosen my grip. but i won't ever let you go. "

" but i won't ever let you go "

" remember when we called the cops 'cause you got too high and you got scared? "

" could you imagine that? "

" i'm running out of tears to cry "

" maybe something's changing me "

" you love me and i don't know why "

" i only call you once a week "

" does it bite at your edges? "

" do you lie awake restless? "

" this town's the same as you left it "

" your page was blank, but i read it "

" i stare out that hallowed ocean as if to pick a fight "

" for the dreams my old man dreamt for me, lay on the other side "

" we're overdue for a revival "

" we spent so long just getting by "

" who the hell likes living just to die? "

[pendarling]

As Assumed🥀

CW: language

Hero stumbled backward and observed the scene in front of them. It wasn't every day they dealt with the pesky Antihero now and then. Their grey morals and deliberate betrayals made it difficult to trust them over time. Villain had even made a few comments on their strange behaviour, but the sneaky son of a bitch was at it again today.

That would all change; Hero stared at the bleeding persona leaning up against the brick wall behind them, their lips chapped and eyes boring a hole into their face. It was ridiculous that Antihero thought they could win; the only person who's ever gotten one over them so far was Villain, and quite frankly, it was only because Hero let them.

If they weren't so devilishly handsome, well…

Antihero smirked poorly, their breathing slow and shallow, "What's the matter? Don't tell me you've given up."

This one was particularly cocky.

They scoffed in response and fixed their hair, charmed at their attempt at hurting them with false words. "Look at you." The Antihero was utterly covered in bruises, their suit torn in edges and a face full of scars. "I think we both know how this will end."

Hero watched them as they spat to their side and fixed their posture again. "We'll see." Hero heard them cough and lounged again to finish the job, their weapon aimed straight at their chest. Antihero side-stepped it, but not until they were nicked.

A swift punch to their gut sent them back, and Hero's eyes lit up proudly as they collapsed. "What was that?" They mockingly smiled back.

Antihero felt their legs shake under their weight before giving in; their blood began trailing against the cemented ground.

"You…" they looked up dazed, the light beaming in their direction as Hero stood tall. "you're… evil."

"Hmm… is that so?" They aimed at them again, ready to finish their job, when a swift wind grabbed Hero and tossed them away. Their back fell against the hard building, eyes widening in shock. They couldn't breathe, and just for a second, they felt a devastating presence overwhelm them.

A worried voice broke through the air as Hero opened their eyes against the settling dust to scan the area.

"Antihero!" It was Villain's voice. Hero could pick it out of a crowd.

They slowly sat up from the debris and stared at the scene before them.

Villain rushed to Antihero's side and knelt beside them. There was something crucial to their interaction, though; Hero furrowed their brows with confusion. They couldn't recall the concerned feature etched on Villain's face before.

They watched as Villain slowly moved the dirt from Antihero with a motion so swift and delicate they could've sworn that was something only Villain had done to them. So what… what was it that they were looking at here?

Antihero laughed softly, their smile curling into Villain's palm that carefully caressed their cheek, "Worried about me? That stupid expression doesn't suit you at all."

"I thought I told you to stop being so reckless." Villain ran their thumb against them.

What is it?

What is it that made Hero's heart burn? Something tightly squeezed their throat and pinned them down.

Hero's gaze couldn't stop taking in the scene before them. Why was Villain so sweet to Antihero? Wasn't such an action not reserved just for them?

Their mind tormented them with images of their past interactions, conversations, and games. It led Hero to conclude that they took it the wrong way. It was never about them, was it?

Everything up to this point right here… it wasn't fair.

But Hero was so confident that no one else had tried to make their heart flutter as much as Villain. When they were in the midst of a battle, it was always Villain who wanted to fight them first. Villain had always admired their strength rather. Nobody else but them. Them.

Hero felt their cheeks flush; it wasn't flirting. How could they have misinterpreted that?

All their years of crime fighting, looking forward to their next interaction and coming up with wittier words than them had all come down to this? Had Hero become so disillusioned to believe these false realities that it pushed their career?

Their heart started pounding in their chest as they watched Villain stand and take their stance. There was a very protective demeanour surrounding them. Hero could tell. That was the same way Villain would stand when protecting them against other villains. At least, they thought it was.

They crawled back to their feet, struggling to hold the burning tears begging to reveal themselves. They bit their lip to slow their breathing down.

Don't do it, not here.

"Ready to pick up where you left off?" Villain gave them a sharp grin.

A taunting grin.

Hero's fists tightened, a cold glare piercing the other. They wouldn't let Villain fool them again. Enough. These stupid thoughts consumed them and made Hero forget what they were about. No more holding back, no more chatting them up. This was a fight.

~~~

MASTERLIST

[nhasablogg]

Icarian (allow the ground to find its brutal way to me)

Fandom: Stranger Things

Summary: Steve is running through the forest. He can feel his hunter closing in.

A/N: Thiiiiiis is some sort of attempt at writing something... Halloweeny? Spooky? Suspenseful? Idk. I was thinking I would try to write some Halloween esque fics throughout the month, but we'll see if I'll write more than this heh. Hope you like it!

Words: 1.3k

Steve was doing his best to not trip over tree roots that had infested the ground of the forest. Seriously, he couldn’t remember it ever being this bad. Only when he was running, which he currently was, when the roots were death traps more than nuisances. Of course that was when they decided to appear. Just his luck.

Heart in his throat, Steve jumped over a fallen tree branch, wondering if the forest was out to get him as much as his hunter was. It was strange that it was just during moments of complete panic that his mind managed to produce coherent thoughts in between all his absolutely jumbled ones. It was nearly funny, hearing the logical ones amidst the screaming and cursing, because that was all that he managed to really think as he ran through the semi-darkness. That and the occasional hunch that told him in what direction to run in, as if that would help. As if he wouldn’t get completely obliterated before managing to get out of this godforsaken forest.

Yet all the time spent among these trees, dates and mischief and the occasional need to just get away, led his feet in what he knew was the most suitable direction. Even though his mind and body were freaking out entirely, one part of him was doing its utmost to get him through this with as few scratches as possible. He could hear his hunter closing in and took a left, going deeper into the forest toward thicker trees, hoping to lose him enough that the noise and movement of the bushes wouldn’t matter. That his panicked gasps for air wouldn’t be audible.

He wasn’t sure how the hell he’d ended up here anyway. A day as any other, foggy and muggy, not at all the fall weather they were used to. Maybe the fog was what had resulted in this chase, was what had given Steve time to flee in the first place and get this far without being caught. But the fog was also making him uncertain, feeling as if he would trip over stones at any turn. Slowing him down, or so he assumed. His form wasn’t what it had been in high school, but he’d run away from enough monsters to know what adrenaline could do.

The mugginess was making his shirt cling to his chest, a piece of hair stuck to his forehead. “It’ll be fine,” Dusting had said, shoving a tree branch out of the way and letting it go before Steve had been able to get past it.

“You’re an asshole,” he’d replied, just narrowing missed having his fucking face whipped. “This will end badly, I’m telling you.”

“Since when were you a pu-”

“Shit, fuck!” The memory was interrupted by his ankle slamming into something and he fell headfirst toward the ground, finding himself lucky to land on something soft. He could imagine how easily he would come out of this with a stick through his eyeball, blood everywhere, excruciating pain turning him into nothing but wailing. But all he got was a scrape over his wrist where he tried and failed to catch himself against mossy bark. He lay there, for a moment, allowing himself to whimper through his heavy breathing once before falling silent. Listening. Knowing damn well no one could’ve missed that fall. Or?

The forest was quiet, sans the occasional rattling of leaves high above, and Steve tried to press his body as flatly against the forest floor as he could. All he could smell were leaves and dirt, all he could feel was the thudding of his ankle and the hammering of his heart.

“You’re not scared, are you?” That voice, only heard in his head, was inevitably Dustin’s, although the tone was different. The tone was playful in a way Dustin never was. Not accusing enough to be Robin’s, although she would probably have told him to stop being a wimp, too. Although he had Eddie’s voice entirely memorized he was grateful it wasn’t his, even though the words so obviously were. Steve’s heart was already frantic enough from the chase.

This was ridiculous. He was never speaking to Dustin again once he got out of here.

The sound of a twig breaking was what made him scramble to his feet again, realizing that if he was to be stagnant he couldn’t do it there, on semi-open ground, and so he started lugging his body through the trees again, his ankle protesting slightly but otherwise seeming uninjured. The fog seemed to have cleared up slightly, or maybe he had simply gotten used to it. It felt as if he’d been running for hours, but he knew it had barely been ten minutes. He couldn’t even have gotten very far. Was running in circles for all he knew.

“It will be fun,” Dustin had said, dumping his bag on the ground as the group gathered around him. “A trial of endurance. Of speed. Of survival skills.”

“Now you’re overdoing it,” Lucas had said and Steve had been glad someone else was voicing their disapproval. But Eddie had seemed excited, and so Steve hadn’t protested again. He was kind of regretting it now.

“You nervous?” Eddie had asked him quietly, breath against Steve’s cheek. Steve had shaken his head, had acted tough about it. But of course he’d been nervous, and now he regretted not being honest. It made him feel pathetic, tripping through the forest, hunted for fucking sport. How he’d survived literal monsters in the past he couldn’t explain.

He stopped in his tracks just before falling over a fallen tree, cursing under his breath as he tried to climb over it quickly. Too many obstacles in too little time. He felt as if his hunter was breathing down his neck now, and he turned around only to prove to himself that it wasn’t the case, and ended up with a hand around his arm dragging him back over the stem.

He screamed in surprise, then in slight terror, and then, finally, in panic as fingers dug into his abdomen, making his whole body twitch against Eddie’s. When Steve got a glimpse of him through his ticklish laughter, he saw that he was just as flushed as him.

“Fifteen minutes,” Eddie said, stilling his fingers and leaning down to press his lips to Steve’s temple. “You might survive.”

“I’ve survived before,” Steve said, feeling grumpy. “That’s why I don’t get this exercise.”

“Eh, it’s good to hone your skills.”

“And entertain the kids.”

“That too.” Eddie curled his fingers over his belly again and Steve tried to shove him away, but the way they’d landed had Eddie hovering over him and it made it harder to get away. “But now you’re at the mercy of the tickle monster.”

“You’re so annoying.” It might’ve sounded serious had Steve not been giggling, exhausted, ticklish, glad this stupid experience was over. “Not there-”

“Oh here?”

“Eddie.”

Eddie laughed, but left his belly alone. Unfortunately it only meant he moved upward, to the sides of his ribs, making Steve squirm into the earth beneath him, feet kicking, profanities flying. But it was all nearly - nearly - worth it when Eddie kissed him, the two of them entangled for as long as they felt they could get away with it.

“Did you fall before?” Eddie asked once he’d helped him up, brushing leaves off of him. “I thought I saw your tumble out of sight.”

Steve sighed. “I did. It fuckin’ hurt.” Not that much, but he felt he needed some sort of sympathy after being dragged into this. “I thought you’d catch up.”

“I got confused and stopped, but heard you once you got up again.”

Steve hummed. He felt as if Eddie had paused on purpose to let him catch his breath, but didn’t call him out on it. “You be the prey next time. See how you like it.”

“Sweetheart.” A hand around Steve’s waist. “There’s nothing I’d like more than to be chased by you.”

[authormars]

listen if it was abt what I want it would be all of them . take a random guess/pick one you love the most and bless us with war au-

We'll go with the heaven one, as that one has an actual, well thought out story (and Barb doesn't die in this version)

Heaven and Hell are at war (Thanks Demon King!!) Diavolo is around 20k years old (4k years younger than he is in my normal au) and Lucifer is around 19k.

Before the war, there's a meeting to try and get them to make peace again. There, Diavolo meets Lucifer for the first time. They happen to stand near each other before the meeting and Diavolo immediately thinks "SAINTS AND SINNERS HES GORGEOUS"

Lucifer is an archangel at this point, so he's very, very powerful and is always around the other three (Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel) When he catches Diavolo staring, he glares at him and goes "What do you want, demon"

Diavolo's immediate thought was to reply "Your hand in marriage" but he knew better. He simply awkwardly smiled and looked away.

Skip a head a couple hundred years, war is waging, Hell is losing (as they do) Diavolo is out on the battlefield, enjoying fighting, killing angels and such. Though, Barb stops him from killing a certain six angels when he crosses their path.

In one battle, Diavolo encounters two of the archangels, Michael and Lucifer. He manages to get into a fight with Lucifer (mainly for his own fun) but then manages to defeat him. The other angels retreat, not realizing they left one of their own behind, and Diavolo takes him as a prisoner of war (which both sides are doing)

Lucifer is not happy to be locked up in a room, in the basement of the castle, in Devildom. But he can't do anything because magical handcuffs prevent him from using magic. Diavolo visits him all the time, growing fond of him (though Lucifer seems to hate him more every time)

Diavolo's father suggests they do an experiment on him. See what happens when an angel indulges in sin.

Diavolo does the easy one first. Wrath. He steps inside of Lucifer's room and allows him to fight him, allowing him to win, on occasion. Then, gluttony. A starving man loves a feast (and ignores his virtues).

Diavolo took notice that Lucifer's pearly white wings had begun to grey, and not from dirt given the angel cleaned them every day.

Diavolo continued with each sin, slowly watching his favorite angel descend from heaven, slowly becoming corrupt and sinful.

The final two proved to be difficult. Lust and sloth. Lucifer's wings were nearly black, one sin should do the trick. Yet, the angel never seemed to stop doing anything. He would pace or talk or scratch at the walls. Anything to keep him busy. So, Diavolo resorted to lust.

It took weeks of befriending the angel, then months of getting him to fall in love with him. Once he had finally turned his wings black, the war was lost and heaven wanted its angels back.

Heaven was not happy when Lucifer returned, wings as black as night. But the Father said what happened was out of his control, so he was allowed to stay.

Lucifer found himself strangely missing Devildom. He didn't have to worry there about being the perfect angel. Around Diavolo, he didn't have to care as much about anything.

And when Lilith happened, Lucifer fought and lost and fell

In the end, Diavolo got his favorite angel and Lucifer got his prince.

[foxes-that-run]

Meet me in the Hallway

His debut's opening track - first taste the world had of solo Harry Styles. MMIH drew a line under 1D, telling the listener to not expect a teen popstar. It's slow and is still one of his more vulnerable songs.

Inspiration

You can hear the influence of Pink Floyd's Breathe in MMIH. Harry has long listed Pink Floyd as an influence, and he has a tattoo for the Dark side of the Moon Album cover, of which Breathe is the opening track. On 29 September 2016, while finalising his first album, Harry gave a 10 song mix tape to Another Man, Breathe was the first song.

It likens love to addiction, and includes not communicating with his partner, similar to Fine Line and Clean. It also has similarities to Only Angel. It was later referenced by both Harry and Taylor's songs about each other.

When was it written

MMIH, Kiwi and Sweet Creature were the first songs written for the album, in LA between February and May 2016. MMIH and Kiwi are in this photo of the album taking shape from before Harry cut his hair for Dunkirk.

Live performances and emotional range

Harry hasn't played it live since July 2018, it has emotional range:

Taylor was in London, in Hampstead Health start of 2018. Harry writes Fine Line (Jan 2018) & Taylor - Cruel Summer (mid-2018).

9 March - Joe and Taylor look miserable in the US Joe hikes in dark jeans and nikes, and again in London April 8.

11 March - Harry's tour starts again and MMIH was particularly hard to perform. In Copenhagen 19 March 2018, he turned away and left:

23-30 June - Taylor 1 week break in the US, now both in the US.

1 July - He smirks in the same song and sings "Running with you" rather than thieves:

The next week, Taylor and Joe were uncharacteristically papped in Turks and Caicos. That night, Harry talked to a fan who fell in love to MMIH. He then broke up with Camille shortly after and wrote Cherry and Falling.

Lyrics

Meet me in the hallway Meet me in the hallway I just left the bedroom Give me some morphine Is there any more to do?

In Only Angel Harry sings about breaking a knuckle on her bedroom door, driven by hunger, here he is overwhelmed with sadness mixed with desire.

Hallways are mentioned in many Haylor songs

Harry and Taylor have stayed in the same hotel many times, when they dated they did in NY and have both attended many international awards, like the 2013 NRG awards in Cannes.

Harry likens his attraction to his muse as a heroin addition. Taylor later sang in Death by a thousand cuts Taylor refers to this "Gave up on me like I was a bad drug".

Taylor had previously likened getting over Harry to recovering from a drug addiction in the closing track of 1989, Clean. "Ten months sober, I must admit / Just because you're clean, don't mean you don't miss it / Ten months older, I won't give in / Now that I'm clean, I'm never gonna risk it"

Just let me know I'll be at the door, at the door Hoping you'll come around Just let me know I'll be on the floor, on the floor Maybe we'll work it out I gotta get better, gotta get better I gotta get better, gotta get better I gotta get better, gotta get better And maybe we'll work it out

"Maybe we'll work it out" is almost a precursor to the chorus and end of Fine Line's uncertain "We'll be alright"

He's aware the person does not feel the same about him but is hoping that will change. Also similar to Fine Line, here is willing to be on the floor for her, whereas in the later Fine Line with great vulnerability he sings "I don't want to fight you / And I don't want to sleep in the dirt"

I walked the streets all day Running with the thieves Cause you left me in the hallway (Give me some more) Just take the pain away

Harry is lost and searching for a way to take his mind off his muse or find answers.

Taylor refers to this line in "Ready for it..?" "Knew I was a robber first time that he saw me / Stealing hearts and running off and never saying sorry"

In Saint Paul he changed this line to running with you and did the pointing up motion he has in medicine.

We don't talk about it It's something we don't do Cause once you go without it Nothing else will do

He sang this verse at the start of the tour 2017 - but not in 2018.

After pleading his love to take the pain away and be with him.

A theme in many of their songs reflect on the lack of communication:

In Fine Line Harry sings "Spreading you open / Is the only way of knowing you" to reflect that are drawn to each other but don't communicate:

In Message in a bottle, Two Ghosts and Sunflower Vol 6 Harry and Taylor are Tongue Tied

In Wish you would he 'Still doesn't know what [Taylor] never said'

They have spoken in interviews about song being the most amazing unspoken dialogue, that they can say things in song they can't to each other.