#book 3 chapter 21

[adventures-of-the-creeping-bam]

NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY: THE ADVENTURES OF THE CREEPING BAM,  BOOK THREE: WARMER - CHAPTER 21

If you’re new to the story, please go check out Book 1 first …

Book 3 Chapter 1 is here …

MPORTANT:  Please note this story includes content that may be considered mature, such as moderate battle violence, some strong language and occasional mild sexual scenes.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:  THELGAEWYNN

Fuck … that armoured ogre is a fucking trip, but then this whole mess has been.  I’m so pissed at Du right now, he was totally right and I know he’d be feeling real smug and totally lording it over me if things were different.  But they ain’t – we’re hiding in the yard of a fucking brickworks  and he’s a bloody mess again.  It’s all fucked, and I know full well it’s my fault.

That imori … he was the biggest surprise.  He seemed to come right outta nowhere, when we reached the waste ground of the Lower Heath he seemed to slide from the gloom, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground and Dumoli was bleeding beside me.  Turned out he’d just picked up on the attack in time, shoving me aside before the lizardman could cut me open, so he caught the intended gutting stroke hard in his side.  The only blessing was he got tagged so fast he didn’t really notice he’d been laid open in the process, so he was just lying there, blinking in surprise as he tried to sit up.

Brung was the only reason I didn’t get cut down right after that, our goblin friend must’ve just homed in on the imori right away just through that distinctive stink of his that’d been throwing him off before, and he sprang.  Didn’t even bother trying to get his sword out, he just leapt with a blood-curdling snarl and attacked with claws and teeth.  Might be that’s the only reason he wasn’t battered off and cut in two himself, the inexplicable newcomer just weren’t expecting that.

Gave me time to get to Dumoli and start tending to him as he finally realised he’d just been fundamentally fucked up.  The blow hadn’t quite managed to gut him, instead carving a deep, gaping gash up under his ribs, laying his gambeson wide open, but it was definitely still a real bad wound.  He’s bleeding like a stuck pig, even once I dragged off my cloak and bundled it up to try and press down on the wound and stem the flow it quickly got sodden, and I’m scared he could be dead before actual help even arrives.

Gael and the rest turning up when they did saved our lives in the moment, but by then some o’ the others had started to make their own presence felt.  While the imori was distracted I started taking fire o’ my own, somebody was loosing arrows at us and they had pretty wicked aim, one shaft coming close enough I’d have wound up with a broadhead in my throat if I’d moved a split slower.  So I just gave up trying to fix my friend’s injuries and set him to put his own pressure to it while I just took a good hold under his arms and started dragging him to safety.  Anything I could find really.  Which is when I spotted the brickworks.

It's a smart spot for them to work out of, actually – there’s a whole lot of open, empty space here on the Heaths, so when they form their rows of fresh-made bricks to dry in the sun before firing they don’t need space outside the city for it.  Not that there was anything laid out when we arrived that I might’ve needed to stumble over, but maybe this was an off day, when the crews are busy cutting clay outside the city for transport back.  I don’t really know how it works.  All I saw is that the place was quiet and seemingly empty, but the gate to the yard was open, and I wasn’t about to start questioning what good fortune had just presented itself.  Not with all this shit going on …

Then Brung got chucked off and started scrambling our way, and I realised that we had more company – a dragonhalf woman, a particularly striking one too, fully armed and clearly in charge, and a half-orc.  They were starting to close in on us, moving slow and careful since they’d obviously seen Brung laying into their scaly companion, but already starting to flank around us.  Just as Gael jumped in out of nowhere close by, and all hell broke loose.

Turns out whoever this bunch is, they got a wizard of their own, and they just opened up the moment our friends arrived.  They must’ve had those fireballs already primed and ready to go the way they just started chucking ‘em around, and they weren’t even bothering to try and aim first, just hurling at anything that moved they were sure wasn’t their own people.  I called out the best warning I could to the others but they were already peeling off, scattering for cover, and after that I didn’t bother hanging around anymore, I just started dragging Du in earnest, taking full advantage of the distraction while I could.

Thankfully Brung had the good sense to come with us, but I reckon it was as much just concern for Du as anything else.  We tried our best to ignore all the craziness going on outside, instead concentrating on looking for help in here, or at least somewhere we can maybe lay low so I could try to take care of Du’s wound.

I found the first body before we got very far, but then they clearly weren’t trying too hard to hide what they been doing in here.  Reckon it’s the imori’s work, or ‘least he was the one started it all, likely the others joined in once it became inevitable they’d have to kill everybody else.  Turns out the place ain’t quiet cuz they’re somewhere else, it’s just cuz they’re all dead.  Murdered en masse in the middle of whatever they were doing.  The kilns are still burning away, likely full of bricks that are probably getting pretty burnt now.  If they actually do, like I said I don’t really know.

“Thel, trouble.”  Brung growled, keeping low as he started searching the shadows with his indecently bright yellow eyes.

“Really?  I hadn’t guessed.” I looked round for a moment, searching for a safe spot to regroup, keeping my voice good and low.  “Just keep your nose open.”

The look he gave he was enough he didn’t have to spit a retort, but then he never does.  Instead he just started sniffing the air, falling back a little as I kept working on moving Du.  I was most o’ the way towards the back of the line of ovens when he scampered up, surprising me by the way I didn’t even know he was there until he was right on top of us, he’s still so damn silent.

“Down.”  He barely hissed the word but it was urgent all the same, and I took him at his word, dropping Du as gently as I could manage while dropping onto my front.  It took me a long moment to get what he was even on about, the first thing I actually registered was the approach of some seriously heavy footfalls.

This whole place is a clutter, even without the bodies it’d be jumbled so there’s plenty o’ cover, but even so I kept as low as I could and just trusted that, if we were spotted, in this relative gloom far from the torchlight we’d probably just look like more corpses.  Meanwhile Brung was gone almost before I realised it, but then that’s the way he does it.  He didn’t abandon us, I’m sure o’ that, he’s just too good at hiding.

Fucking hell, that ogre is scary.  Been a while since I ran into one, and that last time it was mostly more of a near miss than any actual encounter.  In the end we were able to just run and escape through a nice tight gap, enough we could put some distance between us and it before it could get after us again.  But it still scared the hell outta me, enough that this encounter gave me fresh chills.  I mean I could almost have been forgiven for thinking they actually had a golem with ‘em, but a closer look told me it’s just armour.  Like this thing even needs it.  But that’s telling in itself.

Among the many old war stories Mulden told me over the years he looked out for me, the accounts of his times in the Reaches were the darkest, and definitely the hairiest.  The Tektehrans would put any advantage they could scrape up into the field to turn the tide on the battlefield, and one that the Rundao armies borrowed before too long themselves was the armoured ogres.  Just a handful could tear through a whole company of Terrors in a matter of minutes, ‘least until those unholy guns of theirs started to see use on the front lines.   Then the field became more level again.  But for a while there …

He sure made ‘em sound like the scariest things alive, and seeing that thing stalking through the yard put a cold, hard weight right in the middle o’ me, big enough I just held my breath and pretended to be dead until it was gone.

The ogre weren’t alone, either.  Turns out there’s another merc, waiting here with it.  This one’s a hob, or ‘least half o’ one, since she’s clearly taller’n most I come across, ‘cept maybe that wizard healer, works at the Temple.  She’s quite attractive in a somewhat feral way, slight and willowy with a definite grace in the way she moves suggests the other half o’ her blood might be elven, and she’s young too.  Somehow she seems at odds with the rest I seen in their group so far, more innocent maybe, but I learned not to judge appearances.  ‘Specially not given the company she’s keeping.

Clear enough too she’s likely a cleric, although I suspect for one o’ the more serious, po-faced gods, prob’ly Corvina given she’s dressed head to toe in black.  Her long, heavy robe coat is mostly thick rawhide leather, but trimmed and detailed in black silk that’s clearly an affectation, much like her tunic and skirts, with a heavy wool cloak to complete the image.  The mantle and deep hood are the most striking part of the ensemble, however, thickly trimmed with what look like sleek jet black raven feathers.  Then there’s her gauntlets, with gloves of rich black kid while the steel of her stylishly engraved bracers is clearly treated in a similar way to Thieves Guild blades to appear smoky dark in order to match the rest of her uniform.  If she don’t serve the Raven Queen she’s definitely fooled me.

But instead of a hammer like Krakka, this one clearly favours a sword, although it’s one o’ the longest I ever seen, certainly big enough to look almost unwieldy in her hands.  She don’t even bother wearing it belted on her hip or slung on her back, instead just toting it about in her left hand or leaned across her shoulder in its long, polished ebony scabbard.  I can’t really tell with it sheathed, but it looks like it’d have quite a narrow, slender blade, gently curved with a surprisingly long hilt, although I suspect that’s as much to make it easier for her to wield it with both hands.  However it works, I don’t like to think what she could actually do with it, more so with an actually goddess backing her up.

For a time they just hung around, the hob occasionally sniffing the air round her as she paced back and forth or muttering in hushed tones to the ogre, who’d simply shrug, nod or shake their head in response.  I couldn’t really make out her face under that deep hood, but her manner told me enough about her mood, she was clearly anxious and concerned, but whether about her companions or the situation itself I couldn’t tell.  Whatever it is, it made it clear enough to me this one’s definitely different from the rest.

Once I was sure they couldn’t just pick straight up on it, I took a chance and crept back to Dumoli, who was starting to get his head the situation, ‘spite o’ the blood loss likely making him lightheaded.  Certainly he had enough presence of mind to just take a deep breath, clench his teeth and wince through it as I made another attempt to drag him deeper into cover, all the time taking great care to pay as much attention to those two as I could.  Thankfully they didn’t pick up on it, although I suspect even with the hob’s much stronger sense o’ smell all the blood in the air’s probably enough to throw her off.

Eventually I get him propped up outta sight behind one of the kilns and bend down to tend to his wounds proper.  By now his eyes have turned wild while his face is growing pale, and even in the bad light I can see his lips starting to turn blue.  That’s never a good sign.  But he still manages to focus enough to hold my stare.

“You … you have to go, Thel.  Go now.”

I give him a long, hard glare for that.  “No.  Fuck that noise.  I ain’t abandoning you, just forget it.”  I try peeling the cloak away from the wound and it just hurts him more as the sticky half-dried blood causes the torn fabric around the wound to shift too.  He fights a shout through tightly gritted teeth and rolls his eyes in clear pain, making me stop at once and just press down again.  “Sorry.”

“Thel, I am fucked.”  His breathing’s heavy, but he’s still making the best effort he can to be quiet.  “I’ll be dead in less than an hour, at best.  I don’t want you to die sooner trying to save me and just getting yourself caught as a result.  That thing … you remember Mulden’s stories, right?”

Nodding, I just concentrate on pressing the ruined, sodden cloak to his wound again, mostly just worried how effective this even is any more.  “Oh yeah.  ‘Nuff to give me nightmares.”

“Yeah, well they weren’t exaggerated.  I saw that for myself.  That ogre cannot be killed.  Not with anything we have to hand.  Hell, I think even Driver 8 would have trouble with that thing.”

“All the more reason for me to get you outta here, then.”  I growl, looking out now so I can keep track o’ what’s going on out there.  I catch a glimpse of the hob, still pacing, but right now the ogre’s somewhere I can’t see.  “I dunno, maybe there’s another way outta here.”

“If there is, you’re going to take it.”  Du reaches up with very shaky hands and wraps his fingers round my own, weaker than I’d like but still strong enough to move my hands away from the cloak.  “Now, please.”

“Yeah.  I will.  With you.”

“No you won’t.”  He shifts himself a little, trying to sit up I reckon, but finally giving up, and casts about, raising his right hand and grasping vaguely.  “Where’s … Thel, where’s my fucking hammer?”

“Somewhere outside.”  I try to push him back down but he reaches up and brushes me off, surprisingly forcefully.  “I was kinda occupied with you, you daft lummox.”

“Oh for …”  He grunts with frustration and takes hold of the sword strapped at his hip.  I rarely seen him use it, he’s always favoured the warhammer, but I know he’s still a force to be reckoned with wielding it.  It’s his father’s, handed down through his family for generations, in fact, from the Founder Times after the Sundering, if he’s got it right.  “Never mind, it’d probably just slow me down anyway.”

“What are you –”

“You’re going to sneak out while I’m distracting that big fucker.”  Du grunts, wincing tightly as he reaches over and draws the sword, which takes a couple tries to get all the way out and leaves him breathing heavy, but even so he stops the moment it’s out, pausing like I’m doing now.  Listening to see if we been heard.  Nothing yet, and when I check the hob’s still looking away.

“Du, c’mon –”

“I’m not bloody arguing with you, Thel.  I’m fucked, so I’m going to make sure you’re not.”  He gives the sword a little squeeze, the leather on his gauntleted fingers creaking a little, and fixed me with a particularly pointed look.  “I made a promise a long time ago, and I’ll be damned if I’m not bloody well going to keep it.”

“Oh yeah?”  I give him a poke right through the bloody cloak, and he tenses instantly, almost dropping the sword as he barely stifles a yelp.  “An’ just how far you reckon you’re even gonna get?  Come off it.”

“Ah … fuck, Thel … come on, I told you –”

“No, fuck you.  I ain’t letting you kill yourself just to save me.  That’s fucking stupid.”  I take a step closer to the corner of the kiln and risk a better look out.  “Besides, I got no idea where that fucking ogre even is now.  Can’t see it.”

“Gone.”  Brung’s low rasp sounds almost right in my ear, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from crying out in shock as I stumble back into cover turning towards him.  He’s just crouching there, watching me with that damnable closed look of his.  “Few minutes ago.  Stiffened up, got a look.  Like it heard something.  In its head.  Then took off.  Not a word.”

I gotta think for a moment to translate all that in my head, but it clicks into place.  Of course.  “Magic … must’ve been that wizard o’ theirs, reckon they can do something like Gael an’ Tulen.  Talked right in their head, called ‘em out to help.  Reckon the others are here in force now.”

“That’s good, then.”  Dumoli hisses, again trying and failing to shift himself into a more comfortable position.  “Oh … fuck … we can just wait them out, then.”

“No …”  I chance a look round the corner again, seeing the hob just standing there in the middle of the yard, looking out towards the Heath now, I reckon.  Thoughtful now, maybe, I still can’t tell under that hood.  “No.  It’s just that cleric, she’s alone.  If I can take her out we’re in the clear, ‘least until the others can sort that shit out on their end.”

Du frowns deep.  “No, wait … Thel, come on.  Seriously, you have no idea what she’s actually capable of, if she even is actually alone here now.  Think straight.”

“That’s just what I am doing, Du.”  I reach over my shoulder and take hold of my battleaxe, taking care as I start to shrug it free of its harness.  If I’m gonna be running the risk of facing that sword, might be better to have something a bit more serious to hand.  “This is the smart play if I’m gonna get you outta here now, while we got an opportunity.”

“Need help?”  Brung reaches over his own shoulder, fingering his shortsword’s hilt, but don’t draw it yet.

Shaking my head, I don’t even consider it.  “No.  If I can’t take her down ‘fore she notices me I need you to get Du outta here.  Any way you can.  Drag him if you have to, but do it.  I give you cover, you use it.  Promise me.”

The goblin don’t answer me for a long, loaded moment, just watching me with that cold, blazing yellow stare.  “Promise.”

“Thel, come on, please.”  Du grips the sword tighter as he tries to stand but it’s all he can do to prop himself up in the first place.  “Ah … fuck, no … please, just think about this –”

“I ain’t dead yet, Du.”  Shuffling in a low crouch, I start to make move the other way to cut round the back o’ the kilns, flank her if I can.  “An’ I don’t plan to be anytime soon, either.”

Du opens his mouth to protest more, but I’m already ducking outta sight before he can get anything else out.  Shifting the axe into my offhand, I press myself against the rough brick of the back wall of the kiln and hold my breath for a long moment, listening out now to see if I been rumbled.  Still nothing … okay then.  I shift my footing and start moving a little quicker, but still maintain as much stealthy silence as I can shod with steel.

I stop again just short of the corner of the last kiln before the big open space in the middle of the yard, where the hob was last time I looked.  Taking a last breath, I heft the axe low in both hands and square my shoulders, ready to move if I have to when I step out.  Then I hold that last breath and chance another slow, cautious glance.

She’s gone.  Okay … that’s unexpected.  I almost stand straight up but check myself in time, instead letting the breath out slow and shallow as I take my first step into the open.  The hair on the back of my neck’s prickling like mad, I don’t like this at all.

I’m maybe halfway out into the middle of the yard, about where I saw her before, when I feel the itch at the back o’ my neck grow more insistent, a cold chill rolling down my spine now.  I tense fast, turning on the spot as I tighten up into a ready guard, and seems like my instincts are on point this time, for what good it does me.  The hob’s right there, and they’ve drawn their sword now, finally giving me a look at just how lethally dangerous that thing actually is as she squares up two-handed with it, low but ready all the same, three feet short o’ me now.

The blade alone is at least three feet long, curved like a dragon’s fang but a good deal more slender, less’n three inches at its widest, it looks like, and tapering to a very fine needle’s point at the tip.  Truth be told the whole blade looks vicious keen to my eye, the worrying long single edge honed to a razor’s keenness, and while the metal seems, like everything else in her ensemble, intentionally dark, there’s something strangely bright about it too.  The metal’s got a strange oiliness to it, but as I watch it almost seems like there’s light playing on it, as if it has its own source of illumination as a subtle radiance starts to build within in.  It’s slow, almost languid, and seems colder, less brilliant than Krakka’s goddess’ Holy Light but … no, this is definitely still some kind of strange God Light all the same.  If I had any lingering doubts that she’s a cleric o’ the Raven Queen they’re gone now.

She’s thrown back her hood now, so I get a better look at her face.  I was right, she is pretty, in a wild kind of way, something like Yeslee but different too.  Her cool, swarthy features are finer, more delicate, again suggesting there’s something elven in her blood, from her delicate, slender nose to her sculpted cheekbones, while her sideburns are much finer and less bristly than other hobs.  Most notable there’s no bristly hair on her chin, while her brows are as thin and fine in their arches as the rest of her features.  Her eyes, though, are as dark as I’d have expected, limpid black pools, and surprisingly large.  She wears her surprisingly sleek jet black hair bound back in a braided bun, and her horns are fairly small, stubby things, dark ebony lightening into almost bone white at the tips as they flick out surprisingly straight towards the back of her skull. 

Strangely, there’s no true hostility in her expression, mostly she just seems curious as she regards me.  There’s something almost … charming in that look, actually.  It’s kind of endearing.

“My, you’re a sneaky one, aren’t you?”  Her voice is soft, quite silken, another touch of elven blood, perhaps, and her accent speaks subtly of home, I realise.  She’s from Abharet like me, although from the sound she grew up further north, near the border, I reckon.  “Shame I caught your scent so easily once you moved.”

“Damn, guess I didn’t think o’ that.”  I keep my own face coolly neutral, very aware she’s still got her alarmingly substantial sword cocked and ready.  “Thought the blood in the air’d cover me.  There’s a whole lot of it, after all.”

There’s a darkening of her expression at that, and it might actually be disapproval.  Now I wonder if she actually had anything to do with this mess.  She is very clean, looking at her.  “That’s true.  Of course, dead things don’t tend to move, so that somewhat gave you away.”

I can’t help smiling a little, she’s got a good point there.  I give a little shrug, cocking my head.  “Yeah, you got me there.  ‘Course you seem the type’d know an awful lot ‘bout dead things.  If you will.”

Now she cocks her own head as she regards me more closely.  “In a way, perhaps, you’d be right.  My Lady has her ways.  She also likes things to stay dead once they’ve passed beyond The Veil.  Things become … untidy if they don’t.  Disordered.”

“You never brought anybody back, then?  Would’ve thought that’d be a funny stand for a cleric to take, thought you folk were s’posed to be healers much as warriors.”

“We defend our Faith, above all else.  But others too.  Those who need our aid may receive it, if they ask for it.”  Again that reluctance colours her expression, like she’s not entirely committed to what’s going on here.  “There’s a period before a soul has passed when it can be drawn back, if My Lady chooses to allow it.  But it comes at a cost.  Many find it too great.”

It's interesting, the way she said that seems so filled with regret, I get the idea she’s got some ghosts of her own.  I’m starting to wonder if, if she weren’t here to kill us, I might actually like this one.

“Don’t s’pose you’d be willing to call it quits on this, maybe help my friend out instead?”  I almost don’t ask, but something about her makes me seriously weigh the options.  It’s worth a shot.

She’s a long time answering, her frown deepening considerably, and her eyes flicker about briefly, certainly too quick for me to ever think about taking advantage of a distraction.  Reckon she’s genuinely considering it, which is interesting.  Almost encouraging.  Until she winces, bitter now as she shakes her head with a hiss that shows her sharp teeth.  “No, I’m sorry.  I’m afraid I can’t.  It’s unfortunate, it really is.  You seem nice.  You’re just not on our side.”

“Coming from a merc that almost sounds like hypocrisy.”  I can’t keep the venom out of my words as I speak now, feeling the chill roll down my spine again, sensing violence approaching.  “I thought clerics were s’posed to be above things like money.”

Narrowing her eyes, the half-hob sets her jaw, growing visibly colder now, and at the same time her blade begins to brighten.  The light’s still less brilliant than Krakka’s bright fire, though, I’m starting to get the idea that Corvina’s Holy Light is colder, more subtle, although I doubt it burns any less.  “Careful.  I’m trying to be fair here.”

That makes me glare right back, any semblances of good humour I might’ve been enjoying instantly falling away.  “Fair?  Fuck that.  You’re just like your friends, ain’t no talking round it.  You’re here for money, here to kill me an’ mine for a fuckin’ bounty.  Don’t sound fair to me.”

“Now who’s trying to pretend they’re above it?  From what I’ve been told, you and yours are sellswords too.  This comes with the job.”  She adjusts her grip on the sword, opening her hands out a little more on the extensive haft of the hilt, and I see the slightest shift in her stance too.  As if she’s resolved to her course now.  “You won’t show any more mercy to us than we to you.  Trying to argue anything else is true hypocrisy.”

There’s the quietest hissing coming from her blade now, like a hot sizzle, the kind you sometimes hear in extremely hot metal.  My suspicions are confirmed, looks like.  I feel another chill considering that.

Shrugging, I let out a sigh.  “Fair enough, then.”  And I attack.  No preamble, I just rush her, swinging my battleaxe hard as I can at her.

There’s a momentary widening of her eyes seeing it, I almost catch her napping, but her reaction surprises me.  She’s quick, real quick, darting back with an impressively fluid twist and deft skipping of feet, and instead of biting into her side like I planned my axe clatters into the waiting blade of her impressive sword.  There’s a clang, but it’s a strangely subdued sound, largely muted under a far louder fizzing crackle as the blades meet with a great showering flash of surprisingly bright, hot sparks.  I have to screw my eyes to tight slits to keep from getting blinded, and even then there’s a moment where I’m left with broken lines dancing in my vision as we break and I stumble back.

Fuck … that was like hitting solid iron, a lot of it.  My axe is buzzing with mad reverberations, stinging my fingers and setting my teeth on edge while it’s given me a funny ringing in my head, while I can just about see, if I blink through the blur in my sight, that the blade is glowing.  Like it’s just come out the forge.  It don’t feel hot, but then I can’t really feel that well with my hands right now anyway.  Fuck …

‘Least she ain’t doing much better, from what I can tell.  She’s stumbled back too, holding the sword out to one side with her right hand while giving the other a hard shake, hissing in clear discomfort as she takes two more big steps away to clear space between us.  Ouch … she really don’t look happy at all.  When she looks up at me again I can see the surprise in her eyes, and maybe a little frustration.  Not anger, not yet, but reckon that’s probably coming.

Taking a deep breath, I grit my teeth and clench my jaw as I let go with my left and give it a shake, just to get a little relief from the battering.  My balance is good, at least, my head’s stopped ringing, hopefully there won’t be any more o’ that.  ‘Cept her blade’s still blazing with that strange, cold half-light …

“Oof … that was … what was that?”  she hisses at me after a long, loaded moment, eyes narrowing again.

“How should I –”

She thrusts her sword forward and grips it with both hands in an instant, and before I realise it she mutters something under her breath, what I realise must be an oath as the sword flares again, brighter than ever.  Bright as I seen Krakka’s impressive hammer flare, actually.  I barely have time to turn into it and bring my axe up …

… and it’s like getting hit broadside by a swinging log from a battering ram, I reckon.  Or maybe when Driver 8 swings one of his massive metal fists.  The axe takes the brunt of the hit with another cacophonous clang and this time the flaring blast of sparks is genuinely blinding, enough that all I see is white as I turn right over in the air, a full cartwheel before hitting the ground again.  I land hard and roll, and I got no hope of holding onto the axe as I turn into a limp ragdoll.

Fuck!  I must bounce three or four times before settling, and every inch of me is throbbing, both my arms numb like I just shoved ‘em in frozen river water while my head’s spinning wildly.  It’s all I can do to think about anything at all, maybe just remembering how to breathe, I dunno … for what might be a few seconds, maybe an hour, I’m not really here anymore.

It’s all I can do to roll over again, but something’s pushing me to do it, to try and move at all, some strange insistent … slowly, like the timeless languid crawl of a grinding glacier, my mind starts to function like it’s s’posed to again, then I suddenly remember what’s going on … shit!  I almost flip right over as I snap back to reality again, blinking as I try to look out again, but my vision’s just a blur, everything’s swimming worse than they ever have with tears in my eyes … oh Thorin I hate this shit …

I’m another long, painfully loaded moment realising I ain’t been attacked while I been down, even once I started moving again, and part o’ me can’t help wondering why … then my vision finally starts to clear and I manage to lift my head enough to try looking round, and after some searching I catch sigh o’ the half-hob and realise she’s just standing there, watching me.  I gotta blink a few more times to clear my eyes enough to actually make out her face, and it’s even more surprising – she actually seems shocked.  Maybe even guilty …

Sucking in a deep breath, I manage to force myself up onto my elbows and start crawling, once I got my knees under me too, then start casting about for my battleaxe, finally locating it.  Fuck … it’s lying at least fifteen feet away from me, off to the left, and she’s a good deal closer on the right.  Gods, how far did I even fly?

Well fuck … I got no choice, fight’s still on.  She won’t hesitate long, I’m sure.  Letting the breath go in a very weary sigh, I start crawling towards the axe, knowing full well there’s no chance I could actually get my feet under me yet.  I mean I got no idea if I even got enough strength to swing to defend myself if she does attack me when I reach it.

“Oh fuck … please don’t.”  She sounds so sad, I can’t help glancing her way.  She’s not even trying to lift her sword now, it’s just hanging in one hand down at her side as she watches me go.  “Please just … oh gods, I don’t know.  Stay down, maybe?”

“Will you … ooooh … will you let me live if I do?  Just fuck off an’ leave me alone?  And my friends?”

She winces at that, I can see the frustration return, but it’s a good deal more regretful now.  “Shit … no.  Fuck … you know I can’t –”

“Then go fuck yourself.”  I try to crawl a little faster, and slowly it starts to work.

“Shit …”  She growls it under her breath, and I hear her take a few steps forward, but then she stops, and starts back the other way, sounds like.  Frustrated pacing, like she was doing before, I realise.  She don’t want to kill me, I realise.  So far mostly she’s just been fighting by pure reflex.

I’m getting close … another few feet and I might be able to reach for it, ‘least if I stretch …

“Damn it …”  she hisses, and I hear her starting to come back my way, moving with more purpose now, I realise.  I gotta move … I try to scramble now, and my arms almost give out under me while my knees still seem to hold, so I come bloody close to ploughing myself into the dirt face first … shit!

Then she suddenly seems to stumble, at the same time that I hear a low, angry snarl that I can’t help recognising, and I have to look up as I hear her stumble around while there are sounds of frantic struggling, and I already know what I’ll see … Brung’s come out of hiding and rushed her, jumping on her back and now she’s stumbling about while he claws at her.  They’re both growling and cursing and neither of ‘em are really getting the upper hand it’s such a mess all of a sudden.  And now I got a break …

Determined not to waste the opportunity, I grit my teeth and try scrambling faster, getting my feet under me this time and not so much stumbling to the axe as mostly just falling down right next to it, somehow managing to snatch it up as I roll onto my back.  I keep going, and sort of manage to stumble up onto my feet on the other side, dragging the axe up after me as I stagger in a very wide circle backwards across the open ground, my balance barely there now as I damn near just fall on my back again.  Oh fuck, I’m a totally bloody mess right now.  I realise I never actually been smote before, and it’s safe for me to say I never wanna be again.  This is horrible.

For a long moment I’m teetering, having to wheel my arms as I fight for balance, most o’ my weight on my heels as I’m in severe danger of tipping backwards after all … then I finally settle, and I just freeze, arms stretched out for several more beats, waiting and hoping that I’m finally good.  Then I just double over and start heaving in great lungfuls of air, gasping and wheezing against the stiff, sharp burning pain in my ribs from the hit.  Gods … I still ain’t great here.  But I’m on my feet, at least.  Slowly I start to straighten up, and register the fight again.

As I look up the cleric throws him off, but Brung just springs right back up off the ground without even bouncing and just charges at her, dodging with startlingly deft speed as she tries to swing her sword at him and just bites empty air and dirt.  The blade don’t stick, though, it just carves clean through in a deep gouge and then she draws it out the other side, turning her stumble into a dance that manages to miss a leaping lunge from the goblin, who just goes sprawling.  Only to spring right back up again and pound at her on all fours, still snarling.

It's been a while since I saw Brung this mad, he’s genuinely worked up, I can tell.  Maybe it was seeing me threatened and alone, and clearly beaten on the ground, entirely at my attacker’s mercy, that was enough.  Last time saw him actually lose his temper he shredded ten men with nothing but claws and teeth.  The fact this girl’s still standing tells me she’s got some impressive skill of her own.

This time when he leaps at her she don’t bother trying anything fancy, she just sidesteps and then throws out her arm in a sharp, fast whip, backhanding him in the air and sending him spinning away.  This time he really does bounce, and he curses all the way, I’m sure of it even though it’s in that weird chittering goblin language he always uses when he really swears.  The cleric just growls under her breath, and I can see her robes have been somewhat torn and shredded, although it don’t look like he managed to actually draw any blood.  But she’s pissed all the same, ready to follow through while he’s still down.

I can’t let that happen, so I charge her myself … or I try to, anyway.  Mostly I just stumble forward, almost landing flat on my face but somehow managing to find my feet well enough to turn it into a very clumsy drunkard’s run.  I try my best to aim my path and don’t bother with any fancy moves, I just bear down on her the best I can and then swing a wild haymaker at her once I’m close enough.

She see me coming, but by then it’s too late for her to stop me, an’ I don’t reckon I could stop myself if I tried.  She manages to sidestep the axe itself, but I’m still bum-rushing her, so I still manage to just plough into her in a careening stumble and it’s low enough that I sweep her legs out from under her.

As I go down and do my best to turn the fall into a roll, I feel her flip right over my back and go down hard behind me, letting out a winded whoop as the air’s knocked out of her.  This time it don’t hurt all that much when I bounce, and I land on the other side with my knees under me and I don’t feel like I’m about to fall over this time, so I just react accordingly.  Thanking Thorin I still got the axe I get one foot under me and lunge at her, this time swinging high and bringing my axe down hard on top of her while she’s still working on pushing herself up.

There’s another great clang as our blades meet, she’s still too quick or just too alert for me to quite catch her this time, but this time there’s no great sparking flash, no fizzing noise, her sword’s cold and quiet in her hands.  Guess she didn’t have time to recharge while we were floundering, then.  I reel back, this time thankful there’s no real jarring from the hit, and she rolls backwards too, finding her own feet and ducking into a low guard with her sword gripped at the ready between us.  Easily long enough to keep us apart …

Brung rushes her now, I catch a flash of his dark form through the corner of my eye, but I’m just a beat late realising I’m giving him away too, she ducks away from him as he tries to leap onto her again.  As he goes sailing past she starts to swing her sword up, and I just know she’s intent on cutting him in half while he’s flying past, and I can’t allow that.

I swat the sword away with a more subdued ping and follow through by just jumping on top of her before she can right herself, ditching the axe now as I just start throwing punches.  Reckon whatever patience I had left is gone now, the fact she tried to kill my friend’s soured it.  As it is my first punch connects with a satisfying meaty thud and I follow through the best I can, but as I send her reeling back it manages to foul my aim instead so the next hit goes wide.  In the end we just go down together again, sprawling in a flailing tangle.

“Oh gods, you … fuck!”  she snarls as she tries to bat me away, but she clearly ain’t so comfortable at hand-to-hand.  “Get off me!”

She manages to get a clumsy hit through my defences as we scrabble in the dirt, the heel of one of hand catching me just under my eye, and my head snaps back from the surprising force of it, she’s a whole lot stronger than I would’ve thought.  Or maybe that’s just cuz she’s a cleric, it’s the strength of Corvina or something.  It hurts, a genuinely stunning hit, and I find myself clumsily reeling back.  I manage to get my own lucky hit in almost entirely by accident, managing to clip an elbow across her own face that likely bloodies her nose, I can’t quite tell, then I tumble to the ground and my head’s spinning again.

When I land it’s a tiny miracle I’m actually still facing the right way so I’m able to see her as she struggles up onto hands and knees, slowly reaching up to wipe her nose the best she can with the leather inside her bracer.  Looks like I was right, her nose is good an’ broke, blood pouring out of it, and she’s got quite the hot look because of it.

When she grabs hold of her sword and starts to drag it up she’s still looking at me, like she’s planning on genuinely murdering me now, and it’s sobering enough to clear my head all on its own.  I roll over and manage to get myself sitting up, and quickly cast about searching for my axe.  Shit … I can’t see it.  What the fuck was I thinking throwing it away like that?

This time when Brung jumps on her he takes her more by surprise, so when she swings her sword the angle’s wrong and it hits him broadside with the flat of the blade.  Even so, it’s a forceful hit and he goes flying, I see him spinning off while she turns to watch him go in somewhat dumbfounded surprise, and it’s enough to finally put the spur in me proper.  I forget about my battleaxe and just shove myself up, starting a fresh charge before I even got real footing.

It's a stumble instead of a rush, but I’ve put some force into it so I come at a full, low run, and I’m clawing the axe out of its loop on my right hip around the same time I start twisting, winding up to chop her down before she can stand.  I bring my other arm up almost as an afterthought, but it feels right, maybe I can drive it right down into her, kill her with a single stroke if I hit hard enough.

Except that she’s already turning back as I’m coming, and I got no way of stopping myself now, I got too much momentum and there’s no real distance between us.  I don’t think she even brings her sword to bear with any real thought, she’s just shifting in place as she starts to react, and it’s just in the right place in the moment.  Or maybe the very worst place, depending on who’s counting …

The only time I ever actually been stabbed, it was back in Hedesh, when I was a super dumb moron of a kid who hadn’t really learned to fight yet.  I’d barely been on the streets for three months, and a few bigger street kids were trying to take the leftovers I’d just managed to beg off a market stall from me.  I was having none of it, even when one of ‘em pulled a knife on me, I just puffed up and tried to bluff my way through.  Maybe I just didn’t think he’d really follow through with the threat.  If I hadn’t been found by a cleric of Helios that would’ve been it for Thelgaewynn Frostforge.

Mostly what stuck in my head from it was the pain.  Focused, and very hot, like my guts were on fire and I didn’t think I could survive that, never mind the actual damage itself.  This is so much worse, though.  And the blade ain’t even hot, I realise.

It’s like a white hot searing sliver of something driven right through me, and what armour I’m wearing don’t do shit against it.  I just keep sliding onto the blade, deeper, it goes right through me and I don’t stop until I hit the narrow guard.  By this point my legs have long since given out under me, I’m down on my knees and the only thing that’s actually holding me up now is her, she’s still holding the sword and looking me in the face.  She looks more horrified than I must do.  It’s almost funny.

“Oh … oh fuck … no … no, I didn’t …”  She starts to babble, suddenly struck rigid as she gawks down at her sword run right through me, and when I look down I can see the blood coming outta me now, and it looks like a lot even with the blade plugging the hole.  “No, no no … I’m sorry, I didn’t –”

“Thel!”  Du’s voice sounds like it’s a thousand miles away from me, or maybe it’s just cuz I’m starting to hear a rushing noise, it’s just starting to take over, like high pressure in my ears maybe, I dunno.  Suddenly I feel very heavy.

The half-hob jumps at the call, and it gives me a jolt too cuz I’m essentially attached to her now, her eyes flickering to the right where he’s likely coming now … just as another of those strange unseen doorways opens and someone else is here.  It’s some human, a tall, sandy haired young man but not that good looking, a bit weaselly if I’m honest, somewhat sallow in the face and looking decidedly under the weather now.  He’s dressed like some ridiculous dandy from Tabaphic, I notice, all burnt umber wool and quilted red leather, like some small child’s interpretation of a mage drawn in too many primary colours.  For a beat I find myself wondering who the hell this is, but then I remember I never actually got a look at their wizard before …

For a moment he exchanges words with the half-hob, who seems too rattled to really respond very coherently, she’s unable to take her eyes off my bleeding midsection and her blade rammed right through it.  I can’t make out what they’re saying, the roar in my ears has completely drowned everything else out now.  Meanwhile out the corner of my eye I catch sight of Brung, up once again even though he looks a bit battered now, scrambling back to us.

Finally the wizard just spits something, looking like he’s had enough now, and takes hold of the cleric, who only now starts to come back to herself enough she looks like she wants to protest … then he says something that I feel and they’re both gone with another of those strange optical illusions displacing the air around me and suddenly I’m just released.  And I feel something burst inside me …

Guess the blade really was mostly plugging the hole, because when I drop onto my back now a great splash of my own blood spurts all over me, enough that it hits me right in the face.  Oh fuck … it’s just gushing outta me now, I can feel it, my head’s getting light already.  The blinding, searing pain’s still there though, cut right through me, and I could really do without that.  I press my hands to the wound the best I can but it feels horribly big to my probing fingers right now, and it hurts even worse trying to apply pressure right now, even if wasn’t bleeding right out my back too.

Brung drops to his knees at my side a moment later and his eyes are wider than I ever saw ‘em before, his open mouth giving him a strangely uncertain look.  I never saw this expression before, I genuinely didn’t know he could even make it … fuck me, he’s scared, not for himself but for me.  He starts to reach out for the wound but stops himself.  When he looks at my face he takes a few beats to find his voice, but even when he finally starts talking I can’t hear him, the rushing sound’s worse while my head’s swimming like crazy.  Oh fuck, I really am dying …

“I’m … Brung, I think … I’m not … oh, this is strange … um …”  I can’t even hear myself speaking, at best all I hear is some kind of muffled empty … something …

After a moment or two of searching I finally spot Du, but he’s still far across the yard, looks like he’s crawling across the ground towards me, dragging himself along with one arm while he holds the other hand to his bleeding side.  Oh, that can’t be good, might just be neither of us are gonna survive the night …

“Du … Thorin, reckon we’re both fucked …”  I try reaching out to him but my hand just flops vaguely in his direction, I got no real control over it now.

After a moment I catch sight of movement from somewhere beyond him, a dull red glow slowly approaching I’m having trouble focusing on now, reckon my eyesight’s starting to fail me.  I’m only vaguely aware of Brung starting to clutch at me with more earnestness now, likely trying to tend to my wounds, and I can sort of hear muffled sounds, both close by from him, and further off from where Du must be, that suggest they’re both calling for help.  Then the glow starts to resolve itself and I blink, which clears it up some, and I finally recognise it’s two blazing red coals moving in the darkness, which means it’s Driver 8.  Of course.  From what I learned so far ‘bout what he can do makes sense he’d be the one to find us.

The golem ain’t alone, either, I can see more vague shapes moving round him, some slipping past to rush towards us now.  Some o’ the others arriving.  I wonder if Krakka’s one of ‘em.  And I wonder if he even can do something to help me right now …

Given that half-hob was a cleric of the Raven Queen, Goddess of Death … somehow I reckon getting run through with her sword ain’t good news …

Last thing I really register is someone else skidding to their knees at my side and essentially shoving Brung out the way, strong hands starting to work at my wounds with more accomplished hands, and I realise they’re human … oh, it’s Kesla.  Okay … I didn’t know she knew anything about medicine.  As I finally black out I realise I keep learning new things about that woman.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

[stromuprisahat]

Why don't I buy Malyen's sudden change of heart in R&R, pt. 3*

*It's the last pages of S&S actually

Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men- Chapter 3: The Abusive Mentality - REALITY #6: He is manipulative.

I went through a few of the last chapters of Siege and Storm to find examples. Some fit better, some would need a bit looser interpretation, but I don't have the strength to go through more rn.

Few abusive men rely entirely on verbal abuse or intimidation to control their partners. Being a nonstop bully is too much work, and it makes the man look bad. If he is abusive all the time, his partner starts to recognize that she’s being abused, and the man may feel too guilty about his behavior. The abuser therefore tends to switch frequently to manipulating his partner to get what he wants. He may also sometimes use these tactics just to get her upset or confused.

There are some signs of manipulation by abusers that you can watch for: · Changing his moods abruptly and frequently, so that you find it difficult to tell who he is or how he feels, keeping you constantly off balance. His feelings toward you are especially changeable.

Right after deciding about everything.

· Denying the obvious about what he is doing or feeling. He’ll speak to you with his voice trembling with anger, or he’ll blame a difficulty on you, or he’ll sulk for two hours, and then deny it to your face. You know what he did—and so does he—but he refuses to admit it, which can drive you crazy with frustration. Then he may call you irrational for getting so upset by his denial.

Sure, here it's Tolya confronting him, because Alina would NEVER...

· Convincing you that what he wants you to do is what is best for you. This way the abuser can make his selfishness look like generosity, which is a neat trick. A long time may pass before you realize what his real motives were.

· Getting you to feel sorry for him, so that you will be reluctant to push forward with your complaints about what he does.

· Getting you to blame yourself, or blame other people, for what he does.

· Using confusion tactics in arguments, subtly or overtly changing the subject, insisting that you are thinking or feeling things that you aren’t, twisting your words, and many other tactics that serve as glue to pour into your brain. You may leave arguments with him feeling like you are losing your mind.

Alina wants nothing but to accomodate him, so he accuses her of lying about it:

· Lying or misleading you about his actions, his desires, or his reasons for doing certain things, in order to guide you into doing what he wants you to do. One of the most frequent complaints I get from abused women is that their partners lie repeatedly, a form of psychological abuse that in itself can be highly destructive over time.

Her attention. That's what he wants. Not her being safe from rumours, but choosing to spend time with him instead of her duties.

· Getting you and the people you care about turned against each other by betraying confidences, being rude to your friends, telling people lies about what you supposedly said about them, charming your friends and then telling them bad things about you, and many other divisive tactics.

In some ways manipulation is worse than overt abuse, especially when the two are mixed together. When a woman gets called “bitch,” or gets shoved or slapped, she at least knows what her partner did to her. But after a manipulative interaction she may have little idea what went wrong; she just knows that she feels terrible, or crazy, and that somehow it seems to be her own fault.

[cmweller]

A Starting Sentence a Day

"There was a lot of talk going around about Himself."

[internutter]

A Starting Sentence a Day

"There was a lot of talk going around about Himself."

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

“You’re sure you want to do this?” | Moth Work

THE DARKROOM ISN’T HAUNTED, but a dead man owns it—and they know which one. It sits in the forest like a rejected organ, misplaced and veiny with perennials. Negatives and cigarette butts litter the entrance, clinging to the steel panel door. From an aerial, they might look like misplaced stars.

Harrison shoulders the door first, traps it open with his boot. Dust and sunrays rake his back as he combs through cardboard boxes and mountains of photo paper. Lonan follows silently, still wearing Harrison’s jacket. Trails of smoke from his cigarette catch in the negatives pinned up by clothespins, chemical peeling between layers of ink. In one hand he tends to his smoke, and in the next, lugs in the canister of gasoline they found in the cabin’s cellar. As Harrison fumbles for his flashlight, Lonan sets it down by the table, and it sloshes like the Pacific. He stares at his fingers, the tools, the opened bottles of developing fluid—anything but the pictures. Harrison clicks his flashlight on, and puts it face up on the table.

“You’re sure you want to do this?”

Spent the evening drawing a movie-still style image of Harrison in the opening scene of Moth Work! It’s been a goal of mine to do this for forever & now I can die happy lol.

Harrison & Lonan set out to burn down a darkroom (circa 2019).

[readbooksummary]

Frankenstein Summary

Frankenstein is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment.

[therandompagesblog]

SKZ Mate Series

SUMMARY:

Going from one werewolf pack to another. There's no turning back now, not when you know what you left behind. A dangerous situation is now replaced with something less sinister. Can Y/N learn to trust another group of werewolves?

Warnings:

This fanfiction may include distressing themes so please read with caution. MDNI All rights belong to the author. I own the created characters and plots to make this fanfiction. The themes DO NOT REPRESENT the real people. It is a dark romance themed fanfic!

⚠️ Omegaverse, A/B/O, Marking, Biting, Mating, Blood play, Mentions of Assault, Mentions of Violence, Mentions of Torture, VERY SMUTTY, Misogyny, Anxiety, Depression, Angst, Fluff, M/M/F, Possessive SKZ, Cursing, Pet Names, Humiliation, Kinks, Gaslighting, Sexism, Dom/Sub dynamics, Threesome, Foreplay, Begging ⚠️

💫🐺🌙

Before starting I would like to give a MASSIVE SHOUT OUT to these amazing works of art. These people's works inspired me to write my own A/B/O. So please also check their works out.

@ot8xbangchansgirlsblog The heart of the pack 12/10!!!! An addictive read. It was also the first ever A/B/O I encountered, but I love how pure it is and the romantic mxm involvement! And Idol SKZ!!! PLEASE JUST READ IT!!!!!

@doitforbangchan All Bark and No Bite 12/10!! The SMUT blew my mind. The dynamics between the reader and Straykids were incredible. Overall iconic and is a MUST read.

@last-words-ofashootingstar Allure 12/10!!! Made me feel a certain type of way. Felt like a sinner for reading it. Absolutely loved Seonghwa being a menace. Another definite read!!

@felixsramen Yours Truly 12/10!!!! Love poly stray kids with fem reader. Its such a wholesome read and I love love love it!!! Please read it!!! (Not A/B/O related but needs to be recognised)

@jakeys-layla Fanfiction Recommendations 12/10!!!! Has all the recommendations for you From A/B/O to historical and royalty fanfictions. Her account is a lifesaver and she's still recommending.

MASTERLIST

Cast and Characters

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11 ⚠️💦

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15 ⚠️💦

Chapter 16 ⚠️❗

Chapter 17 ⚠️‼️

Chapter 18 ⚠️‼️

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21 ⚠️💦

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24 ⚠️

Chapter 25 ⚠️

Book 2 is here. Chapter release: 13/11/2024

Feeling Inspired by my fanfiction. Go ahead and write your own. Any ideas, concepts or themes used please credit me accordingly© If you are unsure message me, I definitely do not bite 💙

[stromuprisahat]

#that was actually so hot of him #especially when he said “because you would be the strong one?” #he believed in “Alina Starkov supremacy” 🛐 #Aleksander wanted Alina to rail him send tweet

theweeklydiscourse:

Amazing close reading! Alina running away suddenly forced his hand, he had to act fast and lock the situation down before Alina could do any more damage. I think you’re right, if he truly wanted to prime her to be his submissive slave, he would’ve capitalized on her obvious insecurity and inferiority complex (and perhaps even made her reliant on his own amplifying abilities) It seems to be that collaring her was done because of the high stakes of that situation, failing was not an option

aleksanderscult:

@theweeklydiscourse Exactly! He wanted her to practice her powers otherwise he would cut off her lessons with Baghra. And the Darkling was the only one that encouraged that she can push her powers and to reach heights with them if she wanted.

He didn't want her to take that power unwillingly:

See- How horrified he was after what was done to her in R&R. He's literally the only person with appropriately appaled reaction.

Her "friends" are sort of like:

"Yeah, Alina's powers went to other people, but she'll always be Grisha! Let's give her a new kefta and pay her to stay out of sight, because it's what she says she wants now..."

(Honey, I want so many things, when severly depressed. Doesn't mean I should get them.)

He had little time and little patience.

I think a lot of that patience is about personal understanding AND their current political situation.

He's always been proud of who (what) he is- he cannot grasp why would Alina deny herself so badly, intstead of finally embracing her being Grisha now that she knows (and knows what her hiding did to her). Plus as you mention- now is the least convenient time to have doubts about her identity and involvement in where Ravka's heading.

BUT he never wanted that stubborness and ferocity to be directed against him:

*against his political plans

He finds her stubborness annoying, when things she cannot understand well are concerned. I think if Ravka wasn't in such dire situation, he might be more flexible and willing to listen to her (naïve, immature) opinion.

He hates she keeps clinging to things that hold her back (*cough* Mal *cough*), and while a part of it certainly is jealousy, it's the insignificance of that life he's so opposed to. He's been looking for a way to change the world since he was thriteen. Why she wants to be nothing?! Why doesn't she put all her potential behind a larger goal? Why doesn't she aim higher?!

That said, I think he would consider these particular qualities a gigantic turn-on, if we take Ravka and Grisha out of the picture.

He'd be the blue fox, waiting for whips and red-hot pokers with stars in his eyes.

What kind of "Alina" did Aleksander want?

I've seen so many different people in this fandom give their own opinion about how did the Darkling wanted Alina to be.

Did he wanted her meek, weak and obedient?

Did he wanted her strong and powerful?

So I took the liberty of creating this post to analyze this issue through his own words, thoughts and actions.

I know how popular the "Aleksander wanted her submissive by the way he put that collar around her" theory it but it doesn't really stand because:

A) we will never know how things would turn out if Baghra didn't approach Alina that particular night but it actually seems that he wanted to take her with him to the north.

“The key to the Shadow Fold is finally within our grasp, and right now, I should be in the war room, hearing their report. I should be planning our trip north. But I’m not, am I?”

He couldn't keep the truth from her forever so at some point of that journey he would definitely spill the beans to her.

B) he forcefully put the collar around her throat because she showed resistance at the worst possible moment. The Darkling had already set the wheels in motion: the King was slowly getting sick and the whole country (and most importantly, their enemies) would know it (so he had to work fast before anybody got any ideas of siege, rebellion or war) and he himself would have to show his true colors and plans. By having Alina slip away and act all dramatically with Mal was a blow to his plan and stomach since not only he had Alina as an enemy now but he fell for her so her rejection hurt him on a personal level.

(that weekend MUST have been the worst of his life)

He didn't want her to take that power unwillingly:

Or steal her powers in a violent manner:

He had little time and little patience. He worked his ass off for centuries and tolerated so much bullshit from the monarchs. He wouldn't allow her to foil his schemes. But it's also interesting how his feelings got in the way too and, therefore, acted impulsively.

But! How did he wanted her?

Well, the very fact that he grew up around a very strong, powerful and stubborn woman is an answer by itself. Baghra's influence definitely played its part if you look at this from a psychological point of view.

“It seems that most men are after a significant other that will essentially replace their mum.

A recent study by eHarmony has found that 64 percent of men are in a relationship with someone who shares significant personality traits with their mother. Fortunately, it’s totally normal from an evolutionary, psychological standpoint.”

Many studies have shown that plenty of men and women search a partner that resembles their mother and father respectively.

It wouldn't be surprising if Aleksander was the same given how many centuries he spent with his own mother and how much of an influence the latter was to her son in his childhood.

There is an abundant amount of proof in the books that Aleksander wanted Alina to be strong, powerful, to embrace her true self and believed that there was more to her.

He thought of her as someone like him and could see himself in her, no matter how much Alina denied it.

Baghra raised him to value power, so seeing Alina shy away from it is strange and peculiar to him. She has the chance to change everything and she seeks things that are beneath her. Aleksander can't fathom that because he doesn't believe that she's meant for something as simple and pathetic as this.

He chastises her for the choices she makes and the wishes she has. She was destined to shine and be seen and here we are watching a girl trying to hide her potential.

If Aleksander wanted her submissive he would be glad to see her state in the beginning of S&S. She's weak, right? So a perfect victim to have that can't fight him back. But, in fact, he's furious, disappointed and unsurprised with her state.

Aleksander never wanted her meek or weak. He even admired her stubborness:

(there is a sense of admiration and annoyance here)

BUT he never wanted that stubborness and ferocity to be directed against him:

He even thought of her better than the men that surrounded her and believed that they couldn't measure up to her power:

The aftermath of their battle in the chapel is extremely interesting because we see the Darkling showing a genuine admiration for her powers and how quickly she (sort of) mastered them:

It also seemed that he showed understanding for the fact that she wanted to keep her freedom. Now that was a very good reason to fight him in his eyes. Since the Darkling himself believed in freedom and fought for it.

And, of course, he offered her a throne at his side. He didn't mind sharing power as long as she wasn't an obstacle to his plans.

He strongly believed in equality between them and according to the author he envisioned a future with her:

In order to have someone to keep your power under control then that person needs to be as powerful as you.

And then we have him at his most vulnerable state confess that he didn't lie about equality after all:

He talked about equality again and again. His disgust and anger every time he saw her weak from not using her powers was prevalent as well as his admiration every time she used her powers to their fullest.

The only thing in which he found her inferior to him was her knowledge of power. Which is understandable since Aleksander had much more time to understand it, study it and use it.

In RoW, his anger and disappointment for her state continues.

So:

1) He believed that she could rule as Queen and her life in hiding is not right for her.

2) He believed that she was meant to be powerful and strong and stood by that statement many times.

3) Didn't consider her life a worthy life at all.

The only character in the Grishaverse, the one that people keep saying that she wanted her weak, was the only one that wanted the opposite for her and considered her fate disgusting, wrong and tragic.

His plan of having Alina on an equal stand beside him continued in this book as well:

Which means that he wasn't lying when he said that he didn't intend to make a slave of her.

And of course her stubborness was a trait that he found annoying and admiring at the same time. It showcased how strong-willed she really was:

So according to his own thoughts and words, I would say that Aleksander actually admired her fierceness and determination. It showed strength and he found it attractive. In fact, it probably even enhanced his conviction that she was the right partner for him.

But he didn't want that hostility to be directed against him and his plans. Which is not weird at all because what kind of person would like someone to screw up his goals.

In conclusion: Aleksander was actually the biggest fan of "powerful Alina".

[hellsitegenetics]

Blast the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1 from the Bible so we can finally know what was the first creature God created.

[1:1] In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,

[1:2] the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

[1:3] Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

[1:4] And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

[1:5] God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

[1:6] And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."

[1:7] So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so.

[1:8] God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

[1:9] And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.

[1:10] God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

[1:11] Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so.

[1:12] The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.

[1:13] And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

[1:14] And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years,

[1:15] and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so.

[1:16] God made the two great lights - the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night - and the stars.

[1:17] God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth,

[1:18] to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

[1:19] And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

[1:20] And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky."

[1:21] So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

[1:22] God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."

[1:23] And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

[1:24] And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so.

[1:25] God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

[1:26] Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."

[1:27] So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

[1:28] God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

[1:29] God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.

[1:30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.

[1:31] God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

String identified:

[1:1] t gg G cat t a a t at,

[1:2] t at a a a a c t ac t , a G t t ac t at.

[1:3] T G a, "t t gt"; a t a gt.

[1:4] A G a tat t gt a g; a G aat t gt t a.

[1:5] G ca t gt a, a t a ca gt. A t a g a t a g, t t a.

[1:6] A G a, "t t a t t t at, a t t aat t at t at."

[1:7] G a t a aat t at tat t t at tat a t . A t a .

[1:8] G ca t . A t a g a t a g, t c a.

[1:9] A G a, "t t at t gat tgt t ac, a t t a aa." A t a .

[1:10] G ca t a at, a t at tat gat tgt ca a. A G a tat t a g.

[1:11] T G a, "t t at t t gtat: at g , a t t at tat a t t t t." A t a .

[1:12] T at gt t gtat: at g , a t ag t t t t. A G a tat t a g.

[1:13] A t a g a t a g, t t a.

[1:14] A G a, "t t gt t t t aat t a t gt; a t t g a a a a a a,

[1:15] a t t gt t t t g gt t at." A t a .

[1:16] G a t t gat gt - t gat gt t t a a t gt t t gt - a t ta.

[1:17] G t t t t t g gt t at,

[1:18] t t a a t gt, a t aat t gt t a. A G a tat t a g.

[1:19] A t a g a t a g, t t a.

[1:20] A G a, "t t at g t a g cat, a t a t at ac t t ."

[1:21] G cat t gat a t a g cat tat , , t c t at a, a g . A G a tat t a g.

[1:22] G t, ag, " t a t a t at t a, a t t t at."

[1:23] A t a g a t a g, t t a.

[1:24] A G a, "t t at g t g cat : catt a cg tg a aa t at ." A t a .

[1:25] G a t aa t at , a t catt , a tg tat c t g . A G a tat t a g.

[1:26] T G a, "t a a ag, accg t ; a t t a t t a, a t t a, a t catt, a a t aa t at, a cg tg tat c t at."

[1:27] G cat a ag, t ag G cat t; a a a cat t.

[1:28] G t, a G a t t, " t a t, a t at a t; a a t t a a t t a a g tg tat t at."

[1:29] G a, ", a g at g tat t ac a t at, a t t t t; a a t .

[1:30] A t at t at, a t t a, a t tg tat c t at, tg tat a t at , a g g at ." A t a .

[1:31] G a tg tat a a, a , t a g. A t a g a t a g, t t a.

Closest match: Naumovozyma dairenensis CBS 421 chromosome 11, complete genome Common name: Budding yeast

(I could not find an image of this organism, so here is an image of Naumovozyma castellii instead.)

[noneorother]

I bought Aziraphale's Bible so you don't have to.

Am I insane? Yes. Was it worth it? Maybe. In most* of both season 1 and season 2 of GO, there's a very specific Bible on a bookstand next to Aziraphale's desk. It's a vintage illustrated plate book by Harold Copping, known as the Harold Copping Bible, published by the religious tract society in London in 1910. It features some of the most well known Old Testament stories, summarized and annotated by the Bishop of Durham at the time, and illustrated by Copping, who was freshly returned from a sojourn in the middle east. Ironically, It was meant as a lay-person's version of a comic book, short, exciting by use of exotic illustrations, and easy to read.

But my (expensive) gain is now your gain! As I've collected here every visible page in both seasons for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Season 1: All episodes Adam & Eve Genesis iii (1:3) / HCB page 10

Season 2: Episode 1 Joseph known to his brethren Genesis xlv (1:45) / HCB Page 28

S2E1 14:21, S2E1 17:41, S2E1 39:45

Season 2: Episode 2 Jacob's vow Genesis xxviii (1:28) / HCB Page 22

S2E2 5:49

Season 2: Episode 2 Joseph known to his brethren Genesis xlv (1:45) / HCB Page 28

S2E2 13:38 (see S2E1 above)

Season 2: Episode 2 The Brazen Serpent Numbers xxi (4:21) / HCB page 36

S2E2 16:12, 43:40

Season 2: Episode 2* Bible on the desk, Magazine on the stand Annuel L'art Pour Tous, Cover (1861-1880 most likely)

S2E2 22:10

The French L'art pour tous industrial design periodical will have to be a story for another post. For now, just enjoy this 1880 edition copperplate of cherubs discovering a microscope...

Season 2: Episode 2 Imaginary page from HCB, Job KJV Job (18:1) / HCB N/A

S2E2 22:29, S2E2 40:05 Obviously, the plate illustrations and text look different here than in the real bible, because they were created for the show. But there are a few more particularities here. For one, this layout with the thin grid around the text, as well as the paragraph symbol next to the first title, indicate that this would have been a printer's proof copy, not a finished book. It shows you the layout grid and can be annotated for changes. Second, there seems to be a war going on between fonts. Where the "chapter" of Job begins, we get a font and a style similar to the original bible, which gets rudely interrupted by a dropped capital (from the real book) and a Gothic-style font/verse numbers like in the original King James version of the printed Bible.

Season 2: Episode 3 The Brazen Serpent NUMBERS xxi (4:21) / HCB page 36

S2E3 1:18 (see episode 2)

Season 2: Episode 5 By the Rivers of Babylon Pslam cxxxvii (19:137) / HCB page 52

S2E5 21:20

Season 2: Episode 6 Bible missing, L'art pour Tous on the stand Annuel L'art Pour Tous, Cover (1861-1880 most likely)

S2E6 10:21, 17:21, 18:15, 34:28 (see episode 2)

Season 2: Episode 6 Closed HCB, L'art pour Tous on the stand behind HCB page 0

S2E6 37:58, 44:20, 48:08

[ramonathinks]

THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY

you should press the sound on the video :)

summary

awkward, that was the way you were always described. but now freshly 19 and with a body to die for, you’re excited to finally go to your family’s old beach house to unwind for break. until you find out your sister brought her two idiotic best friends. (reader is shoko's step-sister!)

general content tags: BLANK ACCOUNTS/MDNI (18+), reader is ofc black but i don’t think i will use any actual description (but i did mention she has braids in), small age gap (2 years; reader is 19 and gojo 21), angsty in some places, romance, frenemies -> lovers, pining, gojo is a little shit and teases reader, smut, slight miscommunication, oral (m! and f! receiving), handjobs, beach sex, fingering, choking, somewhat of a secret relationship, feelings, lap sitting, premature ejection, squirting, weed, alcohol, shotgunning, creampie, dirty talk, flirting, pet names, lipstick kink, gojo is whiny, face sitting, jealousy, tiny bit of impact play, dry humping, praise, degradation, etc

mona’s note to her moaners: this is really just some vignettes or a mini series more than anything. i have no definite set of chapters lol, this is just a little summertime thing. but i just want to thank you all for supporting me so much <3 and being here for me! this has nothing to do with the book/show, i just liked the title lol.

tag list.

playlist.

chapters.

edit: i just realized i never put the video template i used so the user is moone on capcut!

[staytinyville]

Stay Alive Masterlist

" Came like a Miracle, Look like a miracle, Just like Miracle, Those few words...."

Synopsis: When you started working at a pharmaceutical company, you didn’t realize where it was your life was heading. After getting a patient mix up, you meet seven men who would didn’t seem to want any other nurse that wasn’t you. When you start to know them, you notice things that made you question if they were really human. No matter what excuse they would give though, you would always go home with a heavy heart. The day the truth is revealed to you, things take a turn for the worst.

Pairings: BTS poly!ot7 x Reader

Genre: Mystical Creatures AU, Fluff, Romance, Angst, Fantasy

Warnings: Smut in future chapters, toxic work environment, abuse

Taglist: I have decided to write smut chapters. However it’s just one per member. Maybe some things here and there. With that being said. I will not have a taglist on those chapters for fear of having minors tagged. My books are mostly for a general audience because smut isn’t my main writing. However with the very small number of chapters I will probably do, it’s best to not tag anyone. I understand some of you have ages but I don’t want to struggle with picking out each adult blog. Thank you for understanding.

A/N

(1) -- (2) -- (3) -- (4) -- (5)

(6) -- (7) -- (8) -- (9) -- (10)

(11) -- (12) -- (13) -- (14) -- (15)

(16) -- (17) -- (18) -- (19) -- (20)

(21) -- (22) -- (23) -- (24) -- (25)

(26) -- (27) -- (28) -- (29) -- (30)

(31) -- (32) -- (33) -- (34) -- (35)

(36) -- (37) -- (38) -- (39) -- (40)

(41) -- (42) -- (43) -- (44) -- (45)

(46) -- (47) -- (48) -- (49) -- (50)

" Those few words that saved me I'll be by your side after many nights..."

Taglist is officially closed!

[stromuprisahat]

Six of Crows- Chapter 21 (Leigh Bardugo)

Busy life, isn't it?

If Kaz is seventeen, and joined the Dregs in twelve,

he'd have five years to PLAN and achieve all that. Except he wasn't arrested since fourteen,

so unless he fucked up big after one of his big targets already done, we have three years only. All while gaining trust of his boss and co-workers, making a name for himself, recruiting useful people he needs to get to know first and organizing such endeavours as rebuilding a whole fucking harbour, when already owning at least a part of the Crow Club?

This is a world of liars, merchants and cheats. It should take some time before he establishes himself enough for others to be willing to deal with him in a way ALL the risk won't be on his side.

Kaz allegedly managed way too much in a way too short time.

He either should've been written as older, a child from already established family or have an admitted supernatural time-managing skill alongside his superbrain and miraculous amount of luck. Not even being a prodigy guarantees success. Just look at the amount of failed "gifted" children on this hellsite.

He's so "lucky" he's hard to take seriously as an underdog he's presented as. If he can do so much with so little in such a short time without memorable setbacks, he "doesn't have it so bad".

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Link 1, Link 2 :)

Digital Good Omens 2 Sountrack is coming out in 4 days! 🥳 CD version in October! :) ❤ Coming soon on vinyl…

Out to Stream/Download from 25th August. Out on CD 13th October. Coming soon on vinyl…

David Arnold’s ‘end of the world’ complex and multi-genre soundtrack.

From the Award-winning composer of Sherlock and Casino Royale comes a follow up to the hugely successful, Emmy nominated Good Omens soundtrack.

Good Omens series 2 premiered on Prime Video on 28th July. The series follows the odd couple, angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) in their quest to sabotage the end of the World. The six-episode sequel to the popular adaptation of the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, concerns the Archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) arriving without his memories to Aziraphale’s bookshop. Aziraphale and Crowley attempt to find out what happened to Gabriel, whilst hiding him from Heaven and Hell, both eager to find him.

The Soundtrack

David Arnold’s soundtrack to Good Omens was first released in 2019 to favourable reviews, with BBC Music Magazine calling it “a rollicking trip to hell and back”. Blueprint Magazine described it as “a great listen” and Sci Fi Bulletin commented on “plenty of memorable themes” to conclude that “This is another work of art from Arnold”. At times nostalgic and eerie but always varied, beautiful and full of excitement, the Good Omens 2 soundtrack showcases Arnold’s every skill from his composer arsenal. Featured here are orchestral arrangements with sprinkling of Sugar Plum Fairy pizzicato and percussion, jaunty strings and mighty choral sweeps from Crouch End Festival Chorus. Added to the mix are rock guitar riffs, and psychedelic 70s sounds and all together they create a haunting otherworldly feel, complementing the fantasy and the quirky humour of the show. The spirited Waltz of the opening theme is also present in the second series and it wonderfully sets the scene for fantastical mayhem. In series 2, this robust, evocative, and funny music entity, becomes yet again another character in the story. Award-winning composer David Arnold is well known for his blockbuster scores, including Stargate, The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Hot Fuzz, Paul, Independence Day, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Casino Royale as well as for his TV work such as Sherlock and Dracula. Also available: The original soundtrack to the first series of Good Omens >

Tracklist

– Disc 1 – Chapter 1: The Arrival 1. Before the Beginning 2. Good Omens 2 Opening Title 3. Into Soho 4. Something Terrible 5. To The Bookshop 6. Maggie and Nina 7. He’s Smoking 8. Tiny Miracle 9. Heavenly Alarm Bells Chapter 2: The Clue 10. Avaunt! 11. The Song is the Clue 12. It’s What God Wants 13. A Mighty Wind 14. Whales 15. Gabriel Returns 16. His New Children 17. Am I Awful Now? 18. Fallen Angel Chapter 3: I Know Where I’m Going 19. Police Arrive 20. Scotland 21. We’re Going to Hell 22. People Get a Choice 23. My Car is Not Yellow 24. Beelzebub in Hell 25. The Book 26. The Fly 27. Mr. Dalrymple 28. We Need to Cut 29. I’m Going to Save Her 30. Crowley Goes Large 31. Not Kind 32. Beelzebub Isn’t Happy – Disc 2 – Chapter 4: The Hitchhiker 33. Hell-O 34. Nazi Zombies 35. March of the Nazi Zombies 36. Crowley Pep Talk 37. The Magic Shop 38. Catch The Bullet 39. Zombies in the Dressing Room Chapter 5: The Ball 40. I’ll Let You Have It 41. We’re Storming a Book Shop 42. Monsieur Azirophale 43. The Candelabra 44. Here Comes Hell 45. Gabriel Gives Himself Up 46. Shax 47. The Circle Chapter 6: Every Day 48. Bin Through the Window 49. Gabriel Leaving Heaven 50. The Halo 51. Gabriel Revealed 52. Gabriel’s Love Story 53. Leaving The Bookshop 54. Gabriel and Beelzebub 55. Crowley and Muriel 56. I Forgive You 57. Don’t Bother 58. The Biggest Decision 59. The End?

[kararisa]

darling, starling ✧

pairing: scaramouche x gn!reader

genre: social media au, modern/celebrity au, friends to lovers, fake dating

summary: being the world-famous singer-songwriter "zenith", the limelight has been on you ever since the start of your career. however, the media becomes relentless when leaks of music you never meant to release begin to circulate. your friend scaramouche, meanwhile, seems to have gotten stuck while writing his second book. with a deadline fast approaching, he comes to you with a deal: act as if you're dating him so he can gather reference material and, in turn, he'll help keep the press' eyes off of your leaks until you release your next album. a win-win in your book, so why not help a friend out?

side ships: venti x xiao; thoma x ayato

warnings: swearing, crack, slight angst (?), alcohol consumption, yn wears makeup sometimes, depictions of online hate; specific chapter warnings will be listed at the beginning of each chapter — will be updated as the series continues

status: ongoing

author's notes:

did some minor reworking so if you've seen this for the second time, you're not hallucinating dw

yes this is my second smau. yes I still don't know what I'm doing haha. timestamps don't matter unless I say they do

apologies in advance if i miss any grammar mistakes, english isn't my first language ^^

written chapters are marked with (★)

pre-concert party !!

0.1 - lost hearts • 0.2 - welcome back, shithead

profiles:

clown central™ ([name]'s friends)

the waffle house (scara's friends)

1st verse — for future reference || playlist

1 - is this real? • 2 - enjoying yourself: a guide

3 - bitchless since birth • 4 - attention

5 - unwritten rules (★) • 6 - we're doing couple things

7 - safe with my indifference • 8 - when's the wedding

9 - iridescence (★) • 10 - worst date ever

11 - then beg • 12 - a little bit scandalous (★)

13 - not too late • 14 - only here for you

15 - i can fight • 16 - wine-stained lips (★)

2nd verse — where words fail, music speaks || playlist

17 - it's so joever • 18 - famefucker

19 - i miss my parents • 20 - none of your business

21 - child of divorce • 22 - don't text and drive

23 - neon escape (★) • 24 - this can't be real

tba

3rd verse — hate to be lame || playlist

tba

encore !!

tba

— the taglist is currently open! if you’d like to be added feel free to reply or send in an ask! – if your blog isn’t highlighted it means i can’t tag you.

[ckret2]

✨⚠️ Wasting Away Again in the Goldilocks Zone ⚠️✨

If you're new here, this is one of those "human Bill in the Mystery Shack" redemption fics, you know the drill: Bill illegally escapes death via reincarnation; the Shack crew imprisons him til they can figure out how to kill him; but they won't, because Bill's gonna make friends with them and literally everybody else in town. Whether they like it or not.

Featuring!! The slowest redemption arc you've ever read; "human" Bill that doesn't decide being trapped in an alien body is fine; show-style episodic plot structure; individual plot arcs for characters you've never even cared about; so canon compatible we even include the dang coloring book; and so TBOB-compatible over a year before TBOB came out that I'm considering taking up a position as the Oracle of Delphi just so Apollo stops barraging me with dodgeballs.

New chapter every Friday, 5pm CST! Yes, that includes this Friday!

For art, doodles, upcoming scene excerpts, and posts about characterization & plot plans, see my #bill goldilocks cipher tag. For the fic itself, the first few chapters are on AO3, but tumblr's 60 chapters ahead:

⛓️ 1 Part 1. Bill returns, in a bedsheet toga.

⛓️ 1 Part 2. Bill tries to murder the Stans & Soos (with time travel).

⛓️ 2. Dipper and Mabel save the day (with time travel).

⛓️ 3. A tense evening as the Pines prepare to get rid of Bill.

⛓️ 4. Plot twist: the Pines physically can't get rid of Bill.

⛓️ 5. The gang goes to a diner at 3 a.m. for hostage negotiations.

⛓️ 6. Bill escapes from Theraprism. [NEW!!!]

⛓️ 7. "How'd Bill get here" flashback; plus, entering his new prison.

💇‍♀️ 8. Bill gives himself a haircut and depression.

💇‍♀️ 9. Bill & Ford grudgingly have a sincere conversation; regret it.

💇‍♀️ 10. The kids decide Bill won't ruin their summer. Also: Pacifica!

📓🔺📓 TBOB BOUNDARY: Everything above this line has been edited for 100% compatibility with The Book Of Bill and posted to AO3! Everything after this line has not been edited... so it's only 98% TBOB compatible. 📓🔺📓

🧚 11. Mabel gives Bill the most beautiful makeover ever. (It's not.)

🧚 12. Pacifica advertises Harry's Hairy Fairy Formula. Bill wants it.

🧚 13. Pacifica refuses to share; the twins discover its side effects.

🧚 14. Mabel wins Bill's eternal friendship with arts & crafts.

💭 15. Bill, Ford, and Dipper have nightmares that are Bill's fault.

💎 16. Ford has a fun day with Mabel but everything goes wrong.

💎 17. The day goes right again thanks to healthy communication.

🎥 18. Mabel's Guide To Local Animals, co-starring Bill Cipher.

🧊 19. Wendy snoops into the weird things happening in the shack.

🧊 20. Wendy meets the weird thing (it's Bill).

🎂 21. Stan & Ford's birthday party! Bill gives evil gifts.

💭 22. Bill "helps" Dipper's nightmares; no one knows his motive.

👁️ 23. Bill's ex is back in town and nobody's happy about it.

👁️ 24. Everyone's even less happy to learn Bill has a sex life.

🧿 25. Mabel and Bill make friendship bracelets! :)

🧿 26. The Pines take Bill to the mall. He wears terrible things.

🧿 27. Bill breaks Mabel's heart (and panics to fix it).

🏳️‍🌈 28. Bill talks his way into going with Wendy to Rainbow Club.

🎃 29. Bill contacts the Henchmaniacs on Summerween morning.

🎃 30. Costume making. Mabel pries into Bill's past, with crayons.

🎃 31. The Trickster's pals trick-or-treat; and Bill terrifies Dipper.

🪮 32. Dipper & Mabel make a poppet to control Bill.

🦷 33. Stan takes Bill to the dentist. In handcuffs.

🦷 34. Dentist & tooth fairy attack. Stan & Bill are still handcuffed.

🦷 35. Bill & Stan reach a painful understanding and stop the fairy.

🛁 36. Anime night; and Mabel makes Bill do community service.

🛁 37. Bill plots escape and runs into Wendy. Dipper panics.

🛁 38. Bill has the worst and stupidest day of his afterlife.

🌅 39. A cultist finds Bill; Bill tries to re-recruit Ford.

🚙 40. Gideon broadcasts car commercials; invokes Bill's wrath.

🚙 41. Bill apologizes for bullying Gideon. lol no he blackmails him.

🌕 42. Bill tells Dipper secrets of the universe; predicts an eclipse.

🌖 43. Gravity is disappearing; Ford and Fiddleford investigate.

🌗 44. Ford & Dipper drag Bill hiking; Bill faces his death.

🌘 45. Ford demands answers Bill can't give as totality looms.

🌑 46. Totality. Bill decides whether Ford lives or dies.

🌒 47. Bill feels rotten but finally explains the eclipse.

🌓 48. Bill has a complete mental breakdown.

🌔 49. The gang limps home. (Plus: a second dimensional eclipse.)

💿 50. Bill finally processes that mental breakdown.

💿 51. Dipper and Mabel try to remember the Axolotl's poem.

📖 52. The gang reads Flatworld. Bill isn't thrilled.

📖 53. Mabel tries to get Bill to talk about his home world.

⚛️ 54. Dipper, Ford, and Fiddleford do paradox physics.

📖 55. Mabel learns college-level geometry.

📖 56. Mabel & Bill have fun; Dipper & Ford prepare for murder.

💀 57. The execution of Bill Cipher.

💀 58. Everything you wondered about how Bill escaped.

💀 59. Everything you didn't wonder about how Bill escaped.

💀 60. Everything you never imagined about how Bill escaped.

✨✨ 🪐 61. The Axolotl finds the second dimension's corpse. ✨

📙 62. Soos vacuums the attic (wow exciting)

📙 63. Soos decides how he feels about Bill's treatment.

📙 64. Fixin it with Soos: home redecorating!

🎥 65. The gang makes plans for the night.

🎥 66. Dipper's Guide to the Fremont Nightwigglers

🎥 67. Mabel's Guide to Secret Sleepovers

🎥 68. The aftermath of everybody pulling all-nighters.

🏖️ 69. Beach episode! The Pines fish! Bill tans!

COMING SOON:

🏖️ 70. Bigfoot, Agent Powers, and the cool teen gang.

Hey!! Go read chapter 61 now! I posted it out of order so you probably haven't read it!!!

🪐 61-2: The 2D massacre is so much worse than the Ax thought.

🪐 61-3: A building inspection in the Nightmare Realm.

🪐 61-4: Even when Bill fixes things he breaks them.

🪐 61-5: A shape meets Bill as the world burns.

COMING SOON:

🪐61-6: The gods & Bill negotiate him leaving Dimension Zero.

EVENTUALLY WHEN WE GET BACK TO NORMAL NUMBERING THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE:

🕴️ 71? The government investigates the Mystery Shack... again.

I skipped chapter 61 because it was about the destruction of Bill's dimension and it was scheduled to post the week TBOB came out. By the time I finished rewriting it to be TBOB-compatible, it was like, 5 or 6 chapters. I'm gonna finish posting them first to see how many chapters they actually are and then I'll update the numbering of the subsequent chapters.

This post was last updated November 8, 2024! If you're seeing this post as a reblog and it's been a while since then, check back on the original post to see if more's been added!