#but also my beautiful vision of what it could be where all three of them lie to you and then polly says Sigh

[planet4546b]

the thing is that i remain torn about the mason segment in succession because on the one hand i do think it’s a very fun literalization of the constant aa theme of the past always coming back to get you in the way that the past and present in mason are literally intertwined and inseparable, and i like the framing of it as from phoenix in an unreliable narrator sense, where mason says ‘phoenix is so caught up in this thing that happened to him 7 years ago that he is continually retelling it but saying well, what if i had had the perfect info and what if i knew then what i know now and what if i had figured it out right away?’ which is such a fascinating and fun type of obsession with a past event (and even more fun in that it’s actively a lie because the story that mason tells is literally impossible, and yet phoenix is presenting it to the court as true!)

HOWEVER (and this is where i feel justified as a flashback hater) the issue is that especially in a game that is so much about performance, presentation, and facade, i think it’s narratively a hugely wasted opportunity to only hear phoenix’s presentation of events, AND the second day investigation time slot it takes up takes a massive chunk of time away from the rest of our cast and character development they could have had. in the ideal version of succession (to me) the second investigation day is apollo trying to get the full story out of trucy, klavier, and phoenix, giving all of them a chance to lie and present the story in the way that they see it, granting us character insight into how they each feel about the magnifi case and how it continues to affect them (a thing i want for trucy especially badly). i went into the second court day of succession feeling hugely disconnected from the three in the courtroom because apollo had been told this information offscreen and i didn’t know how he felt about it, and instead of piecing together what had happened along with him as the case proceeds, you get told what happened in an (albeit pretty fun) side investigation. so i don’t know! i don’t know. i still feel like succession didn’t land for me like it could and i think both the flashback case and mason are at fault but also. mason is thematically interesting. anyways while im here you can make vegan chocolate mousse with vegan whipped topping and cocoa powder and that’s it. probably 1/2 cup cocoa powder to a pint of whipped topping? pretty good

[zorostitties]

Aurora; 1 (m)

⤕ Your existence had been an endless night, where shadows whispered long forgotten secrets. Trapped in a golden cage, your fragile mind and shattered memories were chains that kept you from dreaming of freedom. Then, he appeared with the first light of dawn, like a gentle sun warming your cold skin. In his gaze, the promise of a new beginning; in his presence, the sunrise your soul had longed for.

In which Alucard saves you from Erzsebet.

pairing: alucard (castlevania) x (f) reader

genre: angst, romance, slow burn, eventual smut

warnings: violence/blood, explicit language, mental health issues, grief, physical abuse.

rating: 18+

word count: 5k

A/N: i made a post some days ago complaining that there weren't enough alucard fics on tumblr. because of that, a demon possessed me to write this story. i hope you'll like it so i can continue writing the next parts lmao ❤️ feedback is always MUCH appreciated! and, as usual, english is not my first language.

⤕  Chapters: check masterlist in bio! ⤕ Also on AO3

Before they gave you a name, they taught you the three simple rules for survival.

Don’t scream. Don’t cry. Don’t fight.

Those rules weren’t taught using words. You learned them as they were engraved on your skin, repeatedly. Night after night. Day after day. Teeth sinking on your neck sending shockwaves of pure pain through your body. Jaws so tight around your jugular that you couldn’t breathe anymore; made you desperately grasp for air in vain. The suction noise. You hated that noise. It was coming from you. The liquid dripping from your wound, warm and sticky, gluing your dress to your skin. The smell of iron. Pain pain pain pain pain. The intense headache that followed. The darkened vision, the dizziness. Your limbs losing all of their strength.

Then - pitch black unconsciousness.

You might’ve fought the first time it happened… or the first times. It is hard to remember. You struggled. You tried to push her away. You tried to punch her, claw her face, pull her hair. And that’s when you learned the don’t fight rule. Every time you put up some sort of resistance, she’d crush you with ten times more strength. You learned, very quickly, that having your blood sucked off wasn’t the worst she or her servants could do. You learned it after broken bones and pierced organs. You learned it after ripped teeth and hair.

You learned that she took pleasure in it.

She liked to see tears streaming down your face. She rejoiced every time you begged her to just let you die.

So, you learned. Don’t scream. Don’t cry.

If you stood still, if you offered no resistance, if you just let her have her way - it would be over quicker. You learned that your blood was valuable to her. You learned that not many things were valuable to her… but your blood, for some reason, was - even though you’d see her feeding from other girls as well.

However, you also learned that all these other victims would simply die after she fed off them. Not only her victims; the members of her entourage’s victims as well. They’d get pale and lifeless very quickly. They’d get thrown away after they stopped moving, their cheeks hollow and eyes rolled back.

You learned that you weren’t like them. For some reason, you always woke up the next day as if nothing happened. Cheeks still full. Skin still colored. Heart still beating.

Perhaps… perhaps that’s what made you valuable.

So you behaved.

They gave you a bed after a while. She realized that your blood tasted better if you were well fed, so the meals got more elaborate over time. She started complimenting you. She’d make you wear the most beautiful gowns. She’d make you sit by her side, silently, as she held her numerous balls. Her guests - her subjects - would bow after her, pledge loyalty, kiss her feet. Sometimes she accepted their words. Sometimes she killed them on the spot.

You’d sit there for hours, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Her abnormally tall figure projected a shadow over you. The sound of her voice made your skin crawl. Her smell made you want to vomit.

Still, you’d behave.

She’d turn to you after she was bored of talking or sick of feeding from other girls. Her hands were bigger than anyone you’ve ever seen; her claws, as sharp as an eagle’s. Her grip on you seemed to weigh tons.

With somewhat delicacy, she touched the necklace they made you wear that night. A huge ruby stone sitting over your collarbones.

“Ruby,” she said almost in a purr. “The same color of your delicious blood.”

A shiver ran down your spine.

“It sounds like a fitting name, My Queen.” The woman that never left her side commented. Her most loyal servant.

She chuckled, passing the tip of her tongue on her fangs.

“Indeed.”

That night, they gave you a name.

Jaw tightened around your jugular. No air. Pain pain pain pain pain. You didn’t fight back. You squeezed your eyes shut, tears falling silently down your cheeks. Headache. Dizziness.

And then - darkness.

“My sister, the moon, burns brightly tonight. She’s very excited, of course.”

The full moon, indeed, lightened the entire scenery, painting it in a gorgeous silver color. It reflected on Erszebet’s golden armor with a hauntingly beautiful glow. A soft breeze played with her white skirt as she gesticulated in her speech. She sounded tired, a calculated tone of hatred in her voice, as she explained in detail the revenge she’d take on her “father”, Amun-Ra.

You scanned the new place with your eyes. A vast garden expanded ahead. What did Drolta say…? Oh, yes. France was the name of the country you’ve arrived after weeks of travel. Although the night was chilly, it was still much warmer than Erzsebet’s home, which was always covered in meters of snow. At least thirty cloaked vampires waited in line for their Messiah’s arrival, being leaded by Drolta, of course.

In the moments your brain was working with somewhat lucidity, you heard conversations about some revolution. It was hard to make much sense of what they meant exactly, for anytime they had “important” conversations with you around, you’d be usually with an open wound on your neck trying to fight the overwhelming weakness and pain. They had the care to not let you be near while you were fully conscious. During the day as most of the Messiah’s court (and herself) slept, you were locked in your quarters. You were allowed to walk out only when Erzsebet needed to feed.

You didn’t understand exactly what they meant by that - in fact, you didn’t understand much of anything at all. You didn’t know why these vampires considered Erzsebet their queen; you didn’t understand why she considered herself a queen - no, she considered herself a goddess. You didn’t know what they meant by “crushing the revolution”, and you didn’t understand what you were doing in France.

Most importantly - you didn’t understand exactly what was their interest in you.

The obvious part: you seemed to be Erzsebet’s infinite source of blood and court jester, as the fact that she could break you in every way and you’d still wake up as if nothing happened the next morning entertained her. However… she didn’t need you. The Vampire Messiah had girls being fed to her daily. It’s not as if she was going through a blood shortage anytime soon. And… it seemed that she also had immense pleasure in simply killing - something she could not achieve with you.

So why keep you around? Why keep you locked with guards holding you at all times? Why drag you along anywhere she went?

There weren’t many moments in which your mind was clear - and in those small moments, such questions screamed in your mind relentlessly. Just… just why?

Why is any of this happening?

Your mind snapped back to reality the moment you heard a new strange sound. You lifted your head to see a big golden cage being brought closer to Erzsebet.

A frightened young girl locked inside it.

The sight didn’t shock you. Yet, you couldn’t help but feel a sting of sadness.

“Daughter of a revolutionary deputy. Member of the Jacobin club.” Drolta introduced maliciously as she opened the cage with the help of her clutch. A servant dragged the brown haired girl out of the cage. You watched in solemn silence as Erzsebet floated out of her chariot.

For a moment, the girl made eye contact with you. She immediately recognized your human features. Maybe, for a split second, she might’ve found some comfort in your image, finally seeing someone like her. Her eyes begged for an explanation; begged for help.

But there was nothing you could do.

You looked down again, not wanting to see Erzsebet sinking her fangs in the young girl’s neck. Silently, you apologized for being somewhat relieved that she was there. Erszebet would leave you alone until she got satisfied of her new victim.

As the sound of her strangled whimpers filled the area, Drolta approached you.

You never got used to it - how vampires could move unnervingly fast. You had barely realized she was standing by your side when you felt her hands hold your waist on both sides, taking you off the horse back as if you were a toddler, and putting you on your feet.

She smirked.

Goosebumps crawled your skin.

Erszebet was cruel, irritating, violent and loud. You knew that very well. Yet… perhaps the fact that you knew she was incapable of actually killing you made you somewhat anesthetized of her presence.

Drolta, however, actually scared you.

She wasn’t loud or reckless, she didn’t act on her instincts like her master. No… she was calculated. It seemed that her eyes were always over everything, like she knew what anyone would do before they even moved. There was something truly ominous deep within her pink eyes. Much smarter than Erszebet. In a way, much crueler.

She caressed your cheek with the back of her fingers.

“Rejoice, Ruby. You have a very important task ahead of you.” She said in what sounded like a purr before dragging you towards a carriage.

Oh.

You… actually knew what she meant already. A memory from not long ago - or was it long ago? - came; the last time you were required to do this… task. And once more, you hated the fact that your memory was so weak, how you couldn’t recall things that should be important, should be essential. Deep down, you knew your real name wasn’t “Ruby”. You knew you might’ve had a past… maybe even a family. Yet, any time you tried to tap on these memories, nothing came. Just frustrating emptiness.

There was actually a third reason for Erzsebet to keep you around and close. A valid reason.

And it filled you with unfathomable remorse.

The chateau was a magnificent place.

You didn’t have time to explore any of it, of course – you were immediately dragged into a room as soon as the entourage arrived, mere hours before sunrise. Still, you had time to see the exquisite gardens that decorated the entrance, the river that seemed to isolate it from the rest of the world. The interior of the chateau was just as mesmerizing. Opulence radiated from every corner, with golden arabesques and crystal chandeliers.

Your room was no less impressive. The bed, big and comfortable; it was a relief to sleep on a soft surface after weeks of uncomfortable travel. The towering windows faced the back gardens and the reflective pools of the water fountains. It was even equipped with a marble bathtub.

Nothing but a golden cage. You were locked in. Two guards stood outside the doors at all times. The door only opened to deliver food three times a day and to clean the latrine.

It was… tranquil.

It had been two… three…? days since you arrived. You couldn’t be sure. In the meantime, your presence was not requested – which made you question if that same poor girl was still alive or if they’d found someone else to entertain Erzsebet. It was a relief. Truly. You didn’t have many opportunities to stay awake and sane for such a long period.

You heard music and voices coming from downstairs, meaning they had a ball at some point. From the peek of the curtains, you saw that the chateau always very busy at night. Yes, it was tranquil – but all that movement filled you with constant apprehension. A strange heaviness in your gut that didn’t let you have a peaceful sleep. Something was going to happen. Something big.

The awful feeling in your gut only got worse when, in the middle of the night, a handful of maids entered your room without warning.

They washed you without any care. They perfumed your body. They brushed and styled your hair with intricate braids that curled at the top of your head in somewhat of a bun. They applied rouge to your lips. They dressed you in a jaw-dropping, beautiful blue gown; as dark as the night sky, embroidered with silver silk lines that seemed to imitate stars peppering around the skirt. The corset was tight but not uncomfortable. It was actually a much lighter dress than the ones you used to wear back at Erzsebet’s country, given how much more pleasant the temperature in France was.

Erzsebet loved luxury. She loved jewels, diamonds, gold, beautiful dresses; she did not allow anyone to appear anything but perfect anywhere near her, as ugliness displeased her eyes. She loved the theatrics of it. That is why, as you looked at the absolutely gorgeous image of yourself in the mirror, the only thing you felt was disgust. Perfectly well put, devoid of any personality trait. Just the way Her Magnificence liked it.

And that… that fucking ruby necklace sitting over your collarbones. It seemed to burn your skin. She demanded you to always wear it.

Your personal collar.

That morning, Drolta herself came to escort you.

The woman wore a black gown made of what looked like leather. You saw her reflection on the mirror and shivered, not having noticed she had entered the room at all.

That same vicious smile adorned her features. She stepped closer, putting her hands over your shoulders, and looked straight to your eyes through the mirror.

“Beautiful as always, Ruby.” You hated that name. You hated the way she said it. Almost a mockery. “You know what you have to do, right?”

You gulped and nodded as your suspicions were confirmed. Drolta rolled her eyes.

“Did you unlearn how to speak? It has been ages since I last heard the sound of your voice.” But she didn’t give you time to answer, dragging you out of the room by the arm instead. The two cloaked guards followed shortly. “You should be proud of yourself, Ruby. Being able to help Her Magnificence is the greatest honor of all. You do know you are the only human she allows in her court, right?”

Oh, what a great honor. You felt your fingers beginning to shake as you approached the ceremonies hall, hearing the sound of multiple voices fast approaching.

It was, indeed, crowded.

The curtains covered all of the windows, since it was early in the morning; the sun reigned in the sky. Some vampires wore the typical black cloaks and some wore aristocratic attires. Quiet conversation filled the great hall. There was an air of expectation and excitement. It only made your guts twist more.

Not many paid attention to your arrival – their queen kept their attention locked on her, standing near the guard rail on the double stairs. You recognized some faces from Erzsebet’s palace; some were completely new. A few sent you the usual looks of thirst upon the realization that you were human. You tried not to make eye contact with anyone.

However, your eyes locked with one of the new faces very briefly. A brown-skinned man, wearing a luxurious purple attire. His long black hair fell to right side of his face, adorning his beautiful features. His green eyes didn’t hold any thirst or malice like the others. He just looked… curious. Astute. You quickly averted your eyes somewhere else.

Just to spot another face – and this time, the sting of sadness in your heart came back.

It was… it was that girl from before.

She wore a white gown – but the collar of the corset was tainted with her own blood. She had very visible open wounds on both sides of her neck. Standing by the stairs, she barely had the strength to support her own weight; her once olive skin now looked unhealthily pale.

You gulped.

Watching her in that state was like seeing yourself. Except this girl was going to die. Very soon.

How was she still alive?

The vampire kept dragging you by the arm, seemingly not noticing your apparent shock. When you passed by the girl on your way up the stairs, she recognized you again – and, once more, sent you a gaze that seemed to scream for help.

That was worse than a punch in the gut.

Drolta made you stop some steps away from Erzsebet. The Vampire Messiah did not bother to look back at you; as you already knew, she was preparing herself to what was about to come. Behind you, an obelisk with inscriptions and engravings was placed. Another cloaked servant approached. He carried a heavy, ancient book on his hands; its cover was made of black old leather, and although it was fading away due to the book’s apparent antique, you could see the outline of an image of the moon on it.

Drolta took the book in her arms, opening it on a specific page, and handed it to you.

“It is time.” She said with a voice filled of pride. “Take your part on the rise of Her Magnificence, and you may have our eternal gratitude.”

You didn’t want their eternal gratitude.

But that’s not what made you hesitate.

After looking at the book, your fragile memories came back with more clarity. You… you did this ritual twice before. You couldn’t tell how long ago. After it was over, you were locked back to your cell as usual, you didn’t exactly see what happened next – but you didn’t really need to see anything to understand the gravity of what it caused.

Even inside your room, you remembered feeling the stench of rotten human flesh for days.

Just… how many people must’ve died?

At this point, you were resigned to being hurt. You didn’t really see any point in trying to escape the claws of those two supernaturally powerful vampires – it’d only bring you more pain. But one thing was getting hurt... another was getting others hurt because of you. You didn’t want to be the harbinger of death again. Whatever they were planning, you didn’t want to participate.

So you froze in place. Sweat dripped down your temples. Your heartbeat increased.

“What… what are you going to do?” you asked, mustering the courage to speak in a quiet voice.

Drolta wasn’t smiling anymore.

She stepped closer, towering over you. Her eyes burned with contempt and cruelty. She brought her lips close to your ear, not to draw unwanted attention.

“Horrible timing to decide to be brave, darling.” She hissed. “Do what you’re told or she’ll face the consequences.”

She grabbed your face by the cheeks and forced your head towards the stairs.

The girl in white stood there, watching everything with frightened eyes.

You gasped.

She had noticed.

Drolta chuckled.

“We know we can hurt you as we please, dear Ruby… but her? How much do you think she can handle?” You felt the warm press of her lips on your cheek. “Will you condemn her to a slow, horrid death in the name of your bravery?” She whispered, her voice dripping with mockery.

Your breath came shaky and difficult. The room seemed to blur for a second. You knew she wasn’t bluffing. She never did.

Slowly, you took the book from her hands.

Drolta released you with a satisfied grin. She patted the top of your head.

“Good girl.”

She stepped aside.

Your fingers were shaking. The book was heavy. It smelled of mold.

You sat down on the cool marble floor directly behind Erzsebet, the long skirt cascading around your body. You placed the book in front of you. The paper was yellowed and frail; it might rip off if you touched it. The pages had no images, only text handwritten in red ink.

You didn’t understand the words written. However, for some reason, you could read them clearly, although it sounded like nothing to you. You closed your eyes tightly, silently apologizing again for what you were about to do.

Erzsebet raised her head.

It was your sign.

You started to read the enchantment.

Your voice was nothing but a whisper. As the unknown words left your mouth, an already familiar feeling of disgust grew. You didn’t know what those words meant, but something deep within you – inside that darkened part of your brain where your memories must’ve been hidden – knew you were saying something blasphemous, hideous, something that went against your very nature.

Erzsebet seemed to fall into a trance when she heard those words. She inhaled them – the spell – as if they were smoke. Something as heavy as iron weighed over the hall, making all the spectators apprehensive. The tall, red-haired vampire started to gesticulate with wide, almost dance-like movements.

There was a crack in the air in front of her. Then, as she gesticulated, an orb of pure black and white energy materialized. The spectators gasped in awe.

Her movements became more frantic. The orb grew larger. You kept reading, feeling your throat going dry, your body getting weaker with each word. It’s as if Erzsebet was not only absorbing your words, but also your strength. Your eyes blurred with tears which you blinked rapidly to dissipate.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please, forgive me.

The eclipse started.

Slowly, a shadow made its way to cover the moon.

More gasps of awe.

Forgive me.

“Behold, the Devourer of Light!” Drolta announced with pride and admiration. Erzsebet laughed.

Please, forgive me. I’m sorry.

The curtains were dragged. The windows were opened with a gust of wind. The vampires rejoiced.

You gasped for air.

The enchantment was over. There was no more strength in your body.

You covered your face with your hand, not daring to raise your eyes and see the horde of vampires flying free through the windows. You didn’t pay attention to whomever took you back to your room and locked you there. You didn’t have enough energy to get up from the carpet.

For the first time in days, you closed your eyes and slept - hoping to never wake up again and face the horrors you helped unleash in the world.

There was something wrong.

You felt it in the air. A heavy tension. A strange silence.

That was not what you expected after the eclipse. Usually, what followed was a celebration of the conquer, a banquet filled with hundreds of victims upon whom the vampires feasted. Laughter, music, screams of agony, the horrible stench of blood and carcasses.

But now, it was… eerie.

With your body aching from sleeping on the floor, you glued your head to the door in hopes of getting a clue of what might’ve happened. All you heard were fast steps and shushed whispers. You noticed something was definitely wrong as hours went by and no one came to bring you breakfast.

Is it possible that Erzsebet’s plan – whatever it was – went wrong?

These thoughts churned in your mind as you took off the jewelry, undid the tight hairstyle and took off the under layers of skirt that made the dress puffier. Who could possibly go against Erzsebet or Drolta? At this point, your only memories were of being surrounded by vampires. The few humans you met didn’t last that long. You’ve been around them for long enough to understand that most vampires were only slightly stronger and faster than humans. It wasn’t easy or quick to become powerful – and the Vampire Messiah had some fairly powerful servants under her command. In fact, you didn’t think anyone could be more powerful than Drolta. Erzsebet could summon an eclipse, but she didn’t seem to be as experienced in battle as her right hand woman.

As far as your suspicions went, you could be sure that, unfortunately, the insufferable red-haired vampire wasn’t defeated. There were still guards outside your doors. Whatever happened, it wasn’t enough to stop her from accomplishing her… plan.

Sitting in front of the dressing table while you untied one of the braids in your head, you looked at yourself in the mirror. Without the rouge, the jewelry, the neat hairstyle. You were just a shell of a woman, really. Whenever you had enough time to really think about your life – in those brief moments when you weren’t in the brink of unconsciousness or fighting against the pain –, the only thing you could feel was… frustration. It wasn’t even sadness or hatred, only plain frustration. You knew there was something wrong with your head. You knew that immense void in your memory couldn’t be normal. Still, there was nothing you could do about it. They never gave you time to think, to maybe plan an escape strategy. But even if you did – how could you actually run away? You didn’t have the strength to face a vampire head on, even the “weak” ones. And you knew the types of punishment you’d be put through if you were caught.

You always healed, yes. But it didn’t make the pain less painful. Drolta could be very creative in her ways of ensuring your utter submission.

In the end, you were reminded of why you always chose to sleep through most of your sanity. While awake, you were constantly reminded of your current situation and your inability to change it. At least while you slept, you had… peace.

The clock on the wall hit noon. Your stomach was empty, yet you didn’t know if you wanted to eat.

That’s when you caught something with the corner of your eye.

It was quick and silent – barely a flap of wings. You turned your head in time to see a strange mass of black materializing in your room, passing through the breach of the window.

Your eyes widened. Your heart jumped.

That mass took the form of a man.

Your immediate feeling was fear. That was, very clearly, a vampire. His skin was pale as snow, just like his long hair, which cascaded over his broad shoulders. His eyes were hazel, almost golden; they seemed to glow faintly under the shadow cast over his face. He was tall. His attire was black from head to toe – boots, gloves, jacket, cape. He had a calm, yet ferocious expression – analytical, even – as his eyes locked onto yours. He held a long silver sword, its tip pointed directly at you.

The obvious threat in his position should frighten you even more. But that was not was you focused on.

Sunlight hit him through the windows, casting a halo on the back of his head. His hair shimmered with the glow of a million silver coins. It made him look… holy. Like the frescoes you had seen of the Christian God painted on the ceiling of a church Erzsebet once destroyed.

How… how could he…?

“You can come with me peacefully.” He said quietly. His voice was deep. Husky. He almost sounded… calm. But you wouldn’t let yourself be fooled by that; it was unyielding as stone. The stranger didn’t blink for a moment, his eyes tracking your every small movement like a tiger stalking its prey.

He was, in fact, not giving you a choice. The sword in his hand, unwavering and pointed at you, made that very clear.

Your breath got caught in your throat.

There were many things you could’ve said. You knew that man could and would hurt you if you moved too abruptly. Barely five seconds in his presence and you understood: like Drolta, he wasn’t one to bluff.

But you couldn’t bring yourself to feel more afraid, because as he spoke, you caught a glimpse of his fangs – and that other feeling grew stronger.

Curiosity.

“Y-You’re a vampire. How are you standing in the sunlight?” was all you could mutter in frightened amazement.

The stranger didn’t drop his threatening position, yet he tightened his eyes in a subtle sign of surprise. It seemed that your sudden question caught him off guard.

“Don’t you know who I am?” he asked, keeping the same tone. It was your turn to frown. You clasped your hands together, resting them over your legs, and shook your head. How and why would you know him?

“I’m afraid not, sir.”

He narrowed his eyes even more. It looked like he was searching for something, inspecting you with a new type of interest.

“I find it hard to believe that one of Erzsebet’s servants wouldn’t know of me by now.”

You gulped, tightening your own clasped hands.

“I… don’t know many things, sir.”

The stranger still watched you, in silence, for a few more seconds. It hit you in that moment the reason for his apparent confusion. He expected you to fight him.

Then, he straightened his position. You eyes widened with apprehension and shock when he let go of his long sword and it floated – the weapon stood with its hilt turned to the ceiling a few centimeters away from the floor, emitting an eerie metallic sound as it moved.

The man approached you. He was silent – so silent that, if you weren’t directly looking at him, you probably wouldn’t know someone was moving in the same room as you. As if he had dropped that ferocity, he sat down on the bed in front of you with a newly serene expression.

“I was rude in my approach. My apologies.” his voice mirrored the serenity of his face. “I am Alucard.”

Your breath got caught in your throat once more.

You didn’t know what was more shocking. His sudden change in behavior, his absolute calm while in enemy territory… or the fact that he was beautiful.

Again – you were more used to vampires than humans at this point. Every vampire had an uncanny beauty to them. They were attractive and scary at the same time. While you could see and sense very well that this man still represented danger… the “uncanny” aspect didn’t apply to him. He looked young (being a vampire, that didn’t mean much), a man of soft yet striking features.

Ethereal was the word you were looking for.

You noticed that he was paying attention if you were going to react to his name, which you didn’t. You also noticed that he was waiting for you to present yourself as well. Slow reactions. You weren’t used to talking.

“My name is…” your words trailed off.

For the first time, you averted your eyes from his, grabbing the blue fabric of your skirt in discomfort.

“They call me Ruby, sir.”

The man – Alucard – quirked one eyebrow slightly. “Is it not your real name?”

You sighed tiredly. “I don’t think so. No.”

Alucard hummed. His voice was so deep that it seemed to reverberate in your bones. He crossed his arms. “And do you have any idea of why I am here, Maybe-Ruby?”

The unexpected humorous way in which he called you caught you by surprise. Still, once more, you gulped, apprehension growing yet again.

“To… get revenge, I suppose?” The vampire looked genuinely confused for the first time. His quirked eyebrow was an unspoken question. It made you avoid his eyes once again, feeling a mix of anxiety and embarrassment. “For the eclipse.”

He went silent for some moments.

“Did you cause the eclipse?” You heard a sting of danger in his question that only made your heartbeat increase.

“I helped. Somehow.”

“Why?” He was growing more inquisitive.

“I didn’t have a choice, sir.” You blurted out nervously.

Alucard hummed yet again.

When he let out a tired sigh, you finally looked back at him.

“To answer my previous question,” he said as he got up from the bed. “I came here to kidnap you. But it looks like I’m saving you, as Erzsebet seems to be as much of a threat to you.”

You gasped, widened you eyes.

He… he wanted to take you out of here?

The anxiety made your fingers shake. You felt nervous, excited, hopeful… scared. Hell, were you scared. How in the world would this man take you out of here alive? Floating sword or not, did he even stand a chance against Drolta?

“However, I will need your help in return, Ruby,” Alucard continued, now looking back at the windows. “I see you don’t know many things, but I’d appreciate if you made some effort. Now, let’s go. I’m already abusing the opportunity my associate gave me…”

“Wait.”

You grabbed his wrist in a desperate move.

Alucard looked at your hands, then at you – once again, confused and shocked.

You were shaking.

“Thank you for your help, sir. You are very kind.” you managed to blurt out somehow. “B-But I don’t think Erzsebet will ever let me go. She… she has very powerful servants. One of them, Drolta… she will hunt me to the ends of the earth. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, sir.”

You didn’t dare to look up at him.

Perhaps you were being too emotive. You barely knew this man at all; what proof did you have that he wasn’t as cruel as the vampires that were keeping you imprisoned? But at least – and for the first time you could remember – he was somewhat kind to you. He didn’t offend you, didn’t physically hurt you… and that alone was much more than anyone had offered for as long as you knew.

Maybe he could get out of here safely. He wouldn’t have Erzsebet and her entourage hunting him down. Maybe he still had a chance-

Your train of thought derailed the moment you heard his… chuckle.

Your heart jumped within your chest the moment he, with much delicacy, put his own gloved hand over yours and squeezed it reassuringly.

You finally looked up.

Alucard had a small smile on his lips. It wasn’t one of the mean, mocking smirks you were used to. The suspicion disappeared from his eyes, his eyebrows were not longer tense. He looked… gentle. More than that… there was a glint of humor in his eyes, as if he found the situation funny.

The sun that streamed through the windows seemed to shine even brighter, surrounding his entire figure in golden glow that matched his eyes. Yes, he looked holy. Otherworldly.

“I won’t get hurt,” he assured with tenderness. “And neither will you.”

Time itself seemed to stop at that moment.

He didn’t boast about being all-powerful. And you realized that he didn’t need to. Underneath his gentle eyes, you saw unwavering confidence; quiet, motionless and imposing like a mountain. In a way, it was much more menacing than any of Erzsebet’s scandalous actions or bloodbaths.

And for the first time, such menace wasn’t directed at you. It was on your favor.

That was your chance. The only real chance you ever got as far as your frail memory knew. A chance of living in a world where you didn’t have to follow the three survival rules.

Don’t fight. Don’t scream. Don’t cry.

But you wanted to fight. You wanted to scream. You wanted to cry.

You wanted to live.

So when Alucard offered his hand, you took it and got up from the chair.

You didn’t need to say anything. The silver-haired vampire nodded with satisfaction as his sword companion floated closer to him.

“Let’s go.”

Then, you followed Alucard towards the sun – towards the dawn of a new life.

[nonightingalesinberkelysquare]

WARNING FOR GOOD OMENS SPOILERS!!!!

FURTHER SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING BOOKS: The Bone Clock by David Mitchell, You Only Call When You're In Trouble by Stephen Mcauley, and Bibliomaniac by Robin Ince.

Edit: Photos by @polychromicron-persei-8 !!!!!

So I'm sure a lot of the fandom have seen the pictures posted by a very lucky fan who saw the production of good omens happening out in Scotland today!!

However what I'm not seeing people talk about is a hidden gem in the reblogs.

SOMEONE HAD MANAGED TO GET A PICTURE OF THE BOOKS IN THE WINDOW!!!

Naturally, I had to go and do my research to see if these books give us any clues or serve any other purposes other than decorative purposes

AND LET ME TELL YOU

These are the the books visible in the window:

I'll go through them one by one

(Please bear in mind, I haven't read any of these books personally!! The only information I have on them are the little bits I found online in a very rushed attempt at research!!!)

Okay firstly

"The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell

Now, this is the one that I struggled to make sense of the most out of the three.

The story appears to follow a runaway teenage girl who is a "lightning rod for psychic phenomena." These visions are said to reorder reality and send her into a real life nightmare.

However,

It also states that there is a boy who eventually crosses paths with her and who's story "comes together in moments of grace and extraordinary wonder"

As I said, I've never read these books and the only link I could begin to make with this is the idea of a "supernatural being meets another supernatural being and what they can do when they're together defies anyone's wildest dreams" story, similar to what we have seen and could see in GO3.

The next book is where it gets FARRRR more interesting (in my opinion)

NOW

THE TITLE? INTERESTING ASF.

IS AZIRAPHALE IN TROUBLE? OR EVEN CROWLEY?

The quotes are literally taken from the amazon listing itself, but I'll just point out the bits that stuck out to me personally.

☆ "is it ever okay to stop caring for others and start living for yourself?"

And I'm skipping a HUUUUGE chunk of the story here so apologies

☆ "Tom does what he's always done - answers the call."

☆ "Thus begins a journey that will change everyone's life and demonstrate the beauty or dysfunction (or both?) of the ties that bind families together and sometimes strangle them."

THAT LAST QUOTE REALLY STICKS OUT TO ME. Personally, I'd say that could possibly relate to the heaven and hell divides?

But furthermore, we were told prior to the whole NG situation that Aziraphale and Crowley aren't talking.. so could that mean that as soon as they begin speaking once again, they have the power to leave heaven and hell behind? Perhaps stop the divides?

And last, but certainly not least

Now, keep in mind that this particular book is nonfiction and appears to be written from the authors own point of view as he aims to visit 100 bookshops in 100 days.

This has a relatively short description from what I can see right now so I'll put it in here

"Bibliomaniac takes the reader on a journey across Britain as Robin explores his lifelong love of bookshops and books - and also tries to find out just why he can never have enough of them.

It is the story of an addiction and a romance, and also of an occasional points failure."

This one interested me SO much because it SCREAMS Aziraphale character development sort of thing? You know?

I really struggled to find any spoilers for this one whatsoever but one website did mention the author's love for vintage books, which he only ever reads as and when, as opposed to focusing on just one book.

I just thought this was SO SO SOOOOO interesting, and if anybody has any differing thoughts/interpretations or has even read the books, the comment section is a safe space to do so!!! All theories/suggestions are welcomed (any hate WILL be blocked, don't test me).

OR MAYBE THIS ALL MEANS NOTHING AND IM JUST CLOWNING FAR TOO HARD?!??!??!

[httpsdana]

Can you do a Pau request where reader plays for fc Barcelona femeni and he and other players of the men’s team go to watch a femeni game and she catches his attention. Maybe you can end it with them going on a date. It’s okay if you can’t 😊

Admiring From Afar~Pau Cubarsi

・❥・prompt list

・❥・masterlist -> part 2

・❥・who I write for

It wasn't unusual for some of the senior team's players to go watch the femení team matches. It was almost like a tradition.

Pau had come with Hector and Lamine to watch their first match of the ladies.

The crowd in Estadi Johan Cruyff was loud and lively, as the team got ready to dominate yet another match.

When the teams started making their way to the pitch, one unfamiliar face caught Pau's attention.

“who's that?”he nudged Lamine next to him, pointing at the midfielder.

“that's y/n. she just got transferred this year to the team but already saved her spot in the starting line up at 17” Lamine explained, Pau being impressed by her already.

“her vision is unreal,” Hector added, making Pau hum as his eyes never left her.

Hector caught Lamine's eye for a second, giving him a knowing look before the kick off whistle went off.

The moment she received the ball, Pau was hooked. The way she moved so effortlessly, making each skill seem way too easy drew his attention.

“oh wow” he mumbled, more to himself but of course Lamine had heard him.

“does someone have a crush?” he teased, making Pau roll his eyes but he never denied it.

Other than her talent and skills, her beauty was also unmatched. He couldn't help his eyes lingering on her for too long.

As soon as the match ended, after a brilliant performance by the whole team and especially y/n who had provided two assists and scored two goals, the barca social media team asked the boys to come down to the pitch and take some pictures with the players.

y/n was called alongside Aitana and Vicky for these pictures.

She had seen the three boys all over her Instagram, of course, as they are the star boys of the team, but she never really met any of them.

What caught her was the bright green eyes of the tall center back, who seemed to stay on her as she walked closer to them.

“I'm y/n” she introduced, shaking hands with the three boys.

“Lamine, Hector, and Pau” Lamine pointed out,while she nodded with a smile.

“you were incredible out there,” Pau blurted out.

She smiled at his compliment, being thankful that her cheeks were already flushed from the match, so he wouldn't notice that she was blushing at his words.

“thank you” she smiled, before Aitana cleared her throat.

“let's get this picture, yeah?” she urged, while the others nodded.

Pau stood next to y/n, his hand hovering over her back as the ground took a photo, before the girls were rushed to the lockers.

“It was nice meeting you all. see you soon” she waved, before following the others.

Pau stood there for a second, before he heard snickers from behind him.

“don't start” he shook his head at his two friends.

“we didn't say anything” Lamine raised his hands in surrender though his smile said otherwise, “but I ship”

“me too” Hector added with a smirk, making Pau roll his eyes.

“lets just go,” Pau said, already starting to walk away.

“oh he's in love” Lamine said, making Hector chuckle next to him before they followed their teammate.

Later that day, as y/n settled on her couch after a relaxing shower, a specific notification from her Instagram caught her attention.

@ paucubarsi started following you

She smiled, opening the notification immediately. She followed him back, not thinking much of it. Before she could even set her phone down, another notification came in.

Pau Cubarsi

Hey y/n, I hope you're having a good day. I was wondering if you'd like to go out for coffee soon?

With that DM and a simple coffee date, the start of a new love story had begun.

my taglist: @barcapix @paucubarsisimp @spidybaby @mxryxmfooty @n0vazsq @joaosnovia @ilovebarcaaa (lmk if you want to be added!!)

[maidflowery]

Good Morning, Have a Nice Day

Aventurine x Reader

You told your boyfriend, Aventurine, to wake you up early the next morning. But little did you know...

"-up. Wake up, Sunshine."

In your slumber, you faintly heard a voice. The tone was cheerful, almost rivaling the birds chirping outside the window.

"Mm..."

Is it morning already...?

"Oh, the Sleeping Beauty finally wakes up. Hey, don't go back to sleep."

The voice spoke, as laid-back as ever, as if trying to lull you back to sleep.

But... Why didn't I hear any alarm...?

"If you don't wake up by the count of three, I'll kiss you. One... Two..."

"What time is-GAH!!"

When you opened your eyes, Aventurine's dashing face was hovering a few inches away from you. It was apparent that he'd been watching you the whole time.

Close! Too close!

"Your response to your boyfriend's gentle wake up call is to scream to his face...?"

He sulked, but not for long. Soon, he was smiling from ear to ear again. Was the sight of you waking up that fantastical?

"Good morning~ if you sleep again, the counter will pick up from where it left off."

"...More importantly, what time is it right now?"

Seeing how bright the sun was shining outside the window only gave you bad feelings.

Pretty sure you'd asked him to wake you up at 6 AM. You even set an alarm at 5 AM. After all, your class started at 8 AM.

Aventurine looked slightly dejected for a moment, before answering.

"7.30 AM, why?" he asked as if it was someone else's business.

"7.30 AM!? But... Didn't I... Tell you to wake me up at..." You were so shocked that you could only stutter.

"Well, yes, and I promised to wake you up as early as I could." Aventurine innocently shrugged his shoulders.

As early... As he could?

Somehow, you felt there was a huge emphasis right there. The two of you stared at each other, one dumbfounded, one smiling nonchalantly.

Ah!!! Right!!!

He sucks at getting up early!!!

Actually, both of you were.

If this was a movie, then it was probably the moment when the main character shouted, 'I shouldn't have trusted him!'

Thus, you bolted out of the room and began preparing at the highest speed known to man.

"Aventurine!!"

A few minutes later, you dashed straight toward his room again. By that time, you had showered and dressed for college.

But the moment you stepped in, your jaw almost dropped to the floor.

Aventurine stood there with only a white towel draped over his waist. He'd clearly just stepped out of the shower, as his body glowed with a wet sheen.

Glittering droplets of water clung to his chiseled abs, some trickling down even further below. It took you everything not to follow them with your eyes.

Aventurine, who was drying his hair, finally turned at you.

"What's the matter? It's nothing you haven't seen before."

He cocked an eyebrow at you, a playful and tantalizing grin tugging at his lips.

"Aventurine... Why... What are you doing naked!?" you couldn't help but blurt out.

"Says the one who barged in without knocking. Anyway, need anything?"

Saying that, Aventurine approached you, his broad chest filling your field of vision.

Trying to block the view, you shoved your phone to him.

"I'm here to talk about this! Why did you turn off my alarm!? No wonder it didn't ring!"

"Ah, that... But weren't you tired last night? I just thought of letting you sleep a bit longer. How are you feeling now? Did you rest well?"

Aventurine stared at your phone, not trying to deny or affirm it.

Based on his words alone, he sounded like a caring, attentive boyfriend who was just looking out for his girlfriend.

Except you didn't buy it, because of two glaring contradictions.

"Whose fault is it that I barely got any sleep last night!? Also, if that's the case, you must've either disabled it right after I fell asleep, or woke up way earlier!"

"But in the end, I still woke you up, right?" Aventurine gave you an 'all's well that ends well's' smile.

"What do you mean 'in the end'? Were you planning to not wake me up?"

"In the end, I still did, right?"

"..."

He totally planned to!!

Seriously, why is he acting like this!?

In truth, you knew why. You also knew that underneath his nonchalant and flippant attitude, he was sulking.

As you stood there, fuming, Aventurine asked you, putting the towel around his neck.

"Won't you be staying for breakfast?"

"No. Thanks to someone, I have to skip it."

Despite the hint of wistfulness in his tone, you bluntly turned him down, averting your gaze.

"Then, will you be having lunch with your team leader instead? Say hi to him for me."

Hearing that, you raised your head and shot back.

"We've spoken about this! It's just an obligatory meeting to discuss the assignment progress!"

"One that you set a bunch of alarms and even skipped breakfast for. Totally not important indeed."

... It was because you'd ditched one too many of such meetings, missing the next one would totally get you axed. In your defense, that team leader was a prick.

Of course, there was no way you could admit that you often skip group activities to your boyfriend. Or that karma was finally biting you in the ass. That'd be super lame.

We are getting nowhere fast, and I'm running out of time.

"...A-anyway, I'll get going."

You awkwardly turned around, still trying to maintain a tough front.

"Hey, you forget something."

You turned around. "What is—"

His lips sealed yours, and you were unable to finish your words.

"!!"

Aventurine ferociously devoured your lips, leaving no inch untouched, as if imprinting himself. He nibbled on your upper lips, before gnawing on the lower ones. He allowed you a brief moment of respite to reclaim your breath, before resuming his onslaught from a different angle.

The delicate string that was holding your rationality together was about to snap. You were basically holding onto him at this point.

He stroked your tingly lips with the tip of his tongue, gently parting them. Then, his tongue slid in, coiling around your own.

Just as you thought of surrendering completely to this mind-blowing kiss, he stopped.

"...Aren't you going to be late? Whoops."

Aventurine caught you as you toppled forward, burying you in his chest. Immediately, the refreshing, masculine fragrance of his cologne filled your nose.

Embarrassingly, your legs had turned into jelly.

"Oh no. Can you stand? Should we call in sick?"

Within his arms, you could hear him suggest that a tad too happily.

"...No thanks. I'm still going."

You somehow managed to squeeze out those words despite the supple tenderness around you.

"What a shame. Even though your dear boyfriend is home at last."

He spoke in a deflated tone that you could tell was genuine.

Aventurine was a busy man. His business trip would sometimes last for more than a month. Today, he finally had a day off.

All you could do was stare at him as he wiped a trace of saliva from his lips, smiling provocatively at you

"Oh, well. We can always save it for later. If it gets too unbearable, you can always come back to me. Have a nice day."

The kiss that ended as abruptly as it started was his way of giving you something to think about.

As underhanded as always...

You wanted to wipe that smug look off his face!

You grabbed the towel around his neck, pulling him toward you. Briefly, you saw his eyes widen as he was caught off-guard.

"Mmh-!"

Then, you gave Aventurine the taste of his own medicine, but with your own finishing touch.

After the kiss had ended, Aventurine, seemingly taken aback, reached for his lower lip. A red mark had blossomed on his lip, turning it a deeper shade of crimson.

"...I told you, I'll sneak off in the middle, so please wait for me." You said.

Still tracing his lip, Aventurine stared straight at you, his violet-cyan eyes burning from within.

"...Alright. I'll be patient. But I won't wait for too long."

Extra

...Aventurine's patience lasted only until lunch break.

Read more stories

[p2cresci87]

I’ve had this scene of an Elriel HC rumbling around my head the past couple of days. The HC is that Azriel gets hurt during a mission and Elain senses it. Like she knows exactly where he’s injured because she can feel the pain of his injury too.

Please bear with me as this is the first piece of creative writing I have done since high school, but also I hope you enjoy it 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Reblogs, comments, questions, feedback are appreciated ❤️

The three Illyrian warriors touch down in front of the River House, bloodied and battle weary. The routine reconnaissance mission Rhys had planned once Azriel alerted him of the suspicious activity on the continent quickly turned into an ambush.

Feyre and Nesta rush to their mates as they enter the house. Amren and Mor quickly following behind. Azriel notes the absence of one Archeron sister, but quickly pushes the thought of her aside. She was somewhere in the house, her jasmine and honey scent hitting him as he limped through the doorway.

“What happened?” Feyre asks Rhysand, stepping out of his embrace to eye him more carefully, clearly searching him for injuries. “I’m fine, Feyre darling” he states aloud, as if answering a question she asked him mind-to-mind.

“Ambushed” Cassian responds, “One of Az’s spies was captured and tortured until they divulged information of our arrival on the continent”. A shuddered sob leaves Nesta at his words as Cassian turns and brushes away a wayward tear trailing down her cheek. “It’s okay, Nes. I’m here” he whispers, leaning his forehead to hers.

Shame hits Azriel like a blow to the gut. He blamed himself for what had happened to his spy, he had trained them after all. But what ate at him the most was that he had placed his brother’s lives in danger as well. “I do not blame you, nor does Cass” Rhys speaks into his mind, “We knew Koschei’s army was growing, something was bound to happen sooner or later”.

A knock at the door silences the room. Nuala appears from the shadows to open it, revealing Madja on the other side. “Oh hello dear. I received word I was needed urgently at the River House and came as quickly as I could” the healer says as she steps into the house. Seven pairs of eyes look around at each other, the same silent question being asked amongst them. “Do you know who sent for you, Madja?” Rhys asks.

“I did”.

All eyes turn to the staircase as Elain comes rushing down. Avoiding everyone’s stares, she comes to stand in front of the Shadowsinger. Her eyes, Azriel notes, are red rimmed and shining with unshed tears, as if she’s been crying. Worry and anger simultaneously wash over him - Who hurt her? Who made her cry?

He had. Memories of that Solstice night come flooding back. The hurt in her eyes at his words “This was a mistake”. He had heeded his High Lord’s order to stay away from her but everything from that night - his words, the look on her face - haunted him every night since.

“Elain” Azriel whispers as he comes to rise before her, the movement causing pain to radiate from his side from all the blows he took during their impromptu battle. A pained expression crosses Elain’s face as she looks at his side. “You’re hurt”.

“I will be fine, Elain. I just need some -“

“That’s why I called her. I felt your pain and I called Madja as soon as I could. I..” a sob escapes Elain as she recalls the earlier blinding pain exploding from her side as she sat in her rooms, awaiting news of the brothers safe return. Of his safe return.

“You…could feel my pain?” Azriel asks, eyes wide, surprise flickering across his face. “Yes” Elain answers, “I can still feel it, right here”. Elain’s hand gently touches Azriel’s right side. Her fingers delicately caressing the exact spot he felt his ribs crack during the fight. “I..I don’t know how…and before anyone asks, it wasn’t a vision”.

Azriel can only stare at the female in front of him. Beautiful, even with tears streaming down her face and eyes, red and puffy from crying, she was breathtakingly beautiful. He never needed words with her, and now, knowing that she could somehow feel him within her, he needed to be close to her.

Azriel closes the distance between them as Elain too, can only stare back at him. With his wind blown hair and dry blood freckling his face, he is the most devastatingly handsome male she’s ever known. Elain always saw him, all of the things no one else seemed to notice, and all of the things that they did but never dared to address. Knowing she could feel him, sense him and his needs within herself, she too felt the need to have him closer.

Elain wraps her arms around Azriel’s neck, as his arms wind around her waist, welcoming each other into their arms. His face nuzzles into her neck and breathes in her sweet scent. Home, she feels like home.

The sound of a throat clearing breaks everyone out of the stunned silence from Elain’s revelation and the tender moment unfolding in front of them. “Like I told you lot before, if anyone can sense if something’s amiss, it’s a mate”. Madja turns towards the sitting room. “Now, come along Spymaster, let’s take a look at those ribs”.

[icyg4l]

Pick-A-Meme: What Is In Store for You in April 2024?

Hello beautiful people. Tonight marks the beginning of a new month, April!!! I am so excited to be delivering a new PAC reading. I will continue to be as consistent as possible. Please book a personal reading with me here! And without further ado, please pick your pile!

Top Left-to-Bottom Right (1-4):

Pile One: I feel like you’re going through a rebirth, a spiritual purification. You need to purchase some hyssop, Pile One. I feel like you’re going to be looking at life from a different perspective. There’s a decision that you’re going to have to make in order to be content with your life. You have to choose yourself! I also feel like this month you’ll be focused on going outside into the city! You could get invited to some type of festival or a cooking class perhaps. It seems like this month you should be focused on taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone, Pile One. But even with all of this happening, you should keep your eye on the prize. Discipline yourself and keep your head on straight to the narrow path. Don’t get distracted by the bs, Pile One. 

Cards Used: Death, The Fool, Knight of Cups, Judgment, Nine of Cups, Temperance, Queen of Swords, Four of Discs. 

extras: white clothes. chicago. tundra. icicle. party girl. 

Pile Two: After I pulled some cards for this pile, I saw the vision of someone parting a moving mountain, like holding two mountains to avoid being crushed. I see that you have a big heart, Pile Two. You would do something like this for other people. But there’s someone in your life that is taking advantage of that. There is a connection, particularly love, where the efforts you put forth aren’t being reciprocated. It’s time to know your worth, babe. This is especially true if you are in a long distance relationship. I see that you will be meeting someone new who appreciates your energy and is willing to take care of you. But in order for this to work, you need to keep an open mind. This person is a bit eccentric, Pile Two. I also see that if you have been searching for apartments, you will be preparing to move out of your neighborhood by the end of the month. 

Cards Used: King of Wands, Five of Cups, Justice, Two of Wands, The Lovers, 4 of Discs, The Fool, 4 of Cups (RX), Two of Cups (RX), The Emperor, Page of Cups. 

extras: playing cards. heartbreak hotel. dracula. pity. sarcasm. brooklyn. candlelight dinner. mardi gras. 

Pile Three: This pile has been having hangups about a certain situation. Perhaps, you’ve been having dreams about something that occurs in your waking life. These dreams are in fact premonitions. You need to be taking note of them so that you can make the best decision. You may have been drawn to Pile One. I feel like this pile is getting settled in with something, maybe ‘it’ has to grow on you. Don’t let anyone affect your decision making at this time because you are the one that has to live out the effects of it. You could be going off to college, making the decision to move or stay in your hometown, deciding whether or not you need a new car or should just get it repaired. Either way, you need to lean into your intuition. Depend on yourself. I feel like this pile has been listening to the new Beyoncé album heavy. So if you resonate with that then this is definitely your pile. Don’t make a decision that you will regret. Watch your environment closely. 

Cards Used: Temperance, The High Priestess, Knight of Pentacles, Seven of Cups (RX), 8 of Swords, King of Wands, Five of Cups. 

extras: “blinded by tradition.” lilith. yodeling. partition. oracle cards. eye for an eye. watermelon. “my precious.”

Pile Four: Oh, Pile Four. You’ve been working on yourself big time, haven’t you? Because of this, I feel like April will be the month where you receive recognition for your efforts. I feel like this pile participated in Lent or Ramadan, or you’ve just been disciplined and staying out the way. I feel like you will be introduced to a new lover soon that you’ll meet through friends but you’ll be uber cautious of them because you’re used to being by yourself. Lots of people will try to get your attention during this month but I feel like you’ll continue to stack your coins and enjoy your time as a bachelor/ette. There’s many opportunities for you to make money, especially if you’re a young entrepreneur. I see the image of someone scanning through a brochure. So please, do what you have to do to make that money! But don’t let it make you! I also see that you could meet your mentor at some type of conference as well. You really need to network, Pile Four (to my fellow introverts, all will be okay, love).

Cards Used: King of Pentacles, 9 of Cups, The Tower (RX), The Sun, Ten of Cups, Ace of Discs, Nine of Wands, Wheel of Fortune, 3 of Cups, Princess of Cups (RX).

extras: BLT. hummus. pilates. health conscious. “please don’t partake in that.” suburban. office hours. sneak peek.

[thephantomcasebook]

I'm not a book reader, but I've been intrigued by the theory that Alys Rivers uses the faces of men's true loves to hypnotize them and get into their heads. As you mentioned It's a popular idea from the books that could potentially be adapted into the show. In the show, it's suggested that Alys is 400 years old.

As you're are more familiar with the books, can you explain what Alys does there? Did she ever take on Helaena's form? I'm also curious about the Alys and Aemond relationship. Some fans, especially "Alysmond" shippers, argue that their relationship is consensual and that Aemond genuinely falls for her, even suggesting that they have a love child. However, I'm struggling to understand how a man who burns her house and spares her only to make her his bedmaid can be considered to have a consensual romance between them. Can you please help clarify this dynamic for me?

Umm ...

It's tricky, cause, there's a shit ton of theories out of and in universe about who and what Alys Rivers is.

No one really know in universe where she came from or who she is. She's just always been there. Some people think that she's Harwin and Lary's bastard sister. Other people think that she was their wet nurse. Other people can't remember a time that she wasn't at Harrenhal. She is enchanting and beautiful ... or so she seems to the men she targets.

She's tried to seduce Daemon, Criston, and Aemond in "Fire and Blood". In terms of Daemon and Criston, they rejected Alys advances, and went rushing back to their beloveds - Rhaenyra and Alicent. Criston dies shortly after rejecting Alys, in a desperate suicide rush to rescue Alicent. And Daemon dies at Harrenhal after having a confrontation with Aemond and Alys before his fatal duel with Aemond over the Gods Eye.

The book doesn't go into detail exactly about how Alys seduced Aemond or by what means she did it. But it is accounted as strange and really out of character for Aemond (in universe). After making Alys his submissive bed slave after taking Harrenhal, Aemond starts acting weird and psychotic. Then, he basically desserts the Greens and the War, leaving both Criston and Daeron high and dry. Aemond decides not to rescue Alicent and Helaena like Criston is desperately urging him to. Instead, Aemond decided to take Harrenhal for himself and basically become a sort of defacto king/warlord.

So, Criston abandons Aemond and Alys to take what men they have left to go and try and rescue Alicent. Meanwhile, Aemond and Alys begin a destructive and devastating reign of terror through the Riverlands, buring alive any Blacks in their castles and keeps. Making Daeron and Criston, basically, the last men standing for the Greens. And when Criston is killed, it all falls on Daeron as the last of the Greens. And my boy, Daeron, becomes MVP of the Dance - he just wants his mommy back!

The theory is that Alys sees Aemond in the same light as Melisandre sees Stannis and Jon Snow. There's some sort of bigger destiny or importance to Aemond's blood and legacy that Alys takes upon herself to preserve by having his son.

The most popular theory is that Alys and Aemond are the direct ancestors of Catelyn and it's through the wedding of Ned and Catelyn, the blood of Wargs and dragons, that gives Bran his ultra Three Eyed Raven powers.

There's actually no scenes of Aemond and Helaena ever interacting, despite them dying the same day, with Helaena killing herself the very evening that Aemond is killed. Also there's the strange coincidence of the fact that their two dragons die in a similar way. With Vhagar dying from a large fall and Dreamfyre dying from being pierced in the eye.

But the idea of Alys seducing men by using the faces of the women they love or taking on their attributes comes from both Daemon and Criston's interactions with her in the book, and how both were inspired to go back to Rhaenyra and Alicent quickly after rejecting her. And with Daemon's vision in 2x03, it seems to be a proven theory.

[ily-fictional-women]

Bloody but Beautiful

Summary: The night can bring in many dangers, many monsters, and many realizations. 

Pairing: vampire!Kate Bishop x fem!reader

Warnings: Talks of blood, minor implications of abuse, and a small dash of spice

Word count: 1448

a/n: Been gone for a long time lol. Was at a mental health low, got good, had my birthday, and got broken up with. Anyways, I’ve been obsessed with Interview with a Vampire so ya’ll are getting a vampire au! (Reblogs are welcome and critiques/advice are heavily encouraged, but please no translating.) 

Kate stands at the top of the rooftop listening for any type of commotion. But the thumping hearts coursing with rich red blood are too distracting. It’s been over a month since she treated herself to any good blood. Animal blood works. But it can only keep the urges down for so long. Tonight is the night, she's sure of it. 

Or, that is until she smells a familiar scent. “What are you doing here Y/n?” Y/n lets out a dramatic groan before laughing a little, “I swear Kate, I’m gonna be able to jumpscare you eventually.” Kate keeps her view on the city, “You are welcome to try. Again though, why are you here Y/n?” 

Y/n moves closer to Kate, wrapping her arms around her neck from behind and resting her chin on her shoulder, “Before Clint left he emphasized it was good to not go on patrol by yourself. And you weren’t at your apartment.” She’s too close Kate thinks to herself. 

It’d be so easy to do a quick turn and take a drink from her pretty neck. But her phone buzzes with a police alert before she can give too much thought to the idea of draining one of her closest friends. Y/n moves her gaze to Kate’s phone, “What is it?” 

“Hostage situation not too far from here, the tracksuit mafia is holding a few girls. Did you bring your knives?” Y/n lets go of Kate quickly flashing one of her many daggers with a grin, “Did you bring enough arrows?” Kate rolls her eyes at the tease, “Always.” 

//

Y/n takes out an electric arrow drawing it back and releasing it to take one of the guards at the front entrance. “That should be the last one on the outside, you ready to go in?” Y/n gives her an affirming nod. Kate takes another arrow shooting it to create a zip-line. 

Making it across the way the two observe the scene through the glass rooftop. If it weren’t for Y/n being here this could be quick for Kate. She could use her strength to easily knock out all the men. Then used her speed to bring the girls to safety, leaving her enough time to drain at least three of the men and dispose of the bodies before any police would find the girls safe. 

But, she also does love a challenge. “Looks like there’s about seven of them on the inside, three with guns all aimed at the girls. Four with bats or crowbars. How do you want to do this Kate?” 

“I’ll use a few of my smoke arrows giving us enough time to get in. You take out the ones without guns with your knives, I’ll use my arrows to get the ones with guns. But I’ll need you to get the girls out of there before I tie them up just in case one of them gets up. Just in case any backup arrives.” 

Y/n looks at Kate with slight concern, “Are you sure you can handle them all?” Kate grins assuringly, “I’ll be fine, are you ready?” With Y/n nodding Kate breaks the glass of the rooftop the sound already triggering the tracksuit mafia to look up. Quickly shooting a few smoke arrows though and their vision is compromised. 

Y/n drops down first based on the memory of where each man was she throws her first knife in the direction of a man with a crown bar. Hearing a loud yelp once the knife made contact she ran in the direction being able to see him from behind she put him in a chokehold long enough for him to pass out. 

With Y/n now occupied Kate aims from the rooftop as the smoke starts to clear. Before the men can start shooting she draws her arrow making sure to not aim at any lethal areas for the men. She shoots two in the shoulder with tranquilizer arrows. Then the last in the foot with a glue trap arrow. Using another arrow to knock the gun out of his hand. 

As the smoke fully clears Y/n looks up at Kate as she begins to untie the girls, “Everyone’s out like a little kid. You can come down.” Making her way down Kate gives Y/n a serious look as she unties the last girl, “You should go right now. They probably already called for backup. Get them as far away as possible, okay?” 

Y/n hesitates for a moment, “Fine.” As she leaves with the girls Kate knocks out the man she stuck with the glue trap. Beginning to pile them up so it would be easier to tie them together Kate pulls out a knife from one of the men Y/n took down licking the blood clean off of it. 

The rich taste was definitely something incomparable to animal blood. She can feel her fangs start to slip out, but she manages to control herself tying up the rest. Making her way outside she hears some yelling in a nearby alleyway. Taking a quick peek she sees a man yelling at a woman. Then he slaps her.

Wasting no time Kate uses her speed to take the woman a few blocks away noticing bruises all over her. Some old. Some new. Making her way back to the man before he could even notice the woman was gone she used her strength to toss him so hard into a nearby dumpster it leaves a dent in it.

She picks the man up by the jaw lifting him to his feet. He groans in pain, “What the fuck are you.” Kate slams him down on the ground, “Someone just trying to good. You on the other hand. You’re a monster.” She draws out her fangs, “I don’t like monsters.” Lifting him up again she sinks her teeth into his neck sucking out his blood, draining him dry. 

As she drops the man feeling satisfied she looks up to see Y/n her mouth agape. Panic immediately rises in Kate, “Y/n I- I can explain. Just don’t-” Y/n cuts her off. “You’re beautiful.” Y/n looks at Kate admiringly. Covered in blood, the moonlight giving it a slight shine. Y/n repeats again moving closer to Kate resting a hand on her bloodied cheek, “You are beautiful.”

Kate leans into Y/n’s touch, “You’re not scared?” Y/n leans closer to Kate her lips only a breath away from hers. “How could I be afraid of a beauty like yours?” Kate closes the space between them the kiss slick with blood. As things became more heated Kate pulls away looking at Y/n, her lips now tinted with red. 

“So you knew? And you don’t care?” Y/n wraps her arms around Kate once more, “No I don’t care, and I assumed you were either a vampire or a narcoleptic recluse with a hobby of archery.” 

Kate giggles kissing Y/n again, pulling away for a breath Y/n smiles. “How about we clean this up,” she gestures to the man on the ground, “then you take me back to your apartment.” 

“Deal.” 

//

Tossing their gear on the floor not wasting any time getting into the apartment Kate pushes Y/n against the entrance door kissing her like she needed it live. As Y/n’s hands move to grip at Kate’s waist Kate's hands wander up to the zipper of Y/n’s jumpsuit. 

Tying the top half around her waist her sports bra exposed, but more importantly, her neck exposed. Y/n pushed Kate away for a moment, guiding her to sit down on the couch. As Kate sits she watches as Y/n takes a seat on her lap. She rests her hand on Kate's cheek again lightly brushing her thumb.

“You can take a small drink, if you want.” Kate squits her eyes for a second, “You trust me enough for that?” Y/n nods and Kate begins kissing her again. But slower this time, as her hands move across Y/n’s body she moves her lip’s attention from Y/n’s lips to her cheek, then her jaw, but as she reaches her neck she pauses. 

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes, I’m sure.” At the confirmation, Y/n can feel Kate’s fangs slowly enter her neck. The feeling causes a sense of excitement to swell inside her. This blood was different for Kate though, it was so much better. Blood always tasted good, but blood with lust– no. Love, rushing through it. It’s a rich delicacy. A delicacy Kate could get used to. 

[oceansssblue]

From the stuck in a snowstorm Christmas prompt:

Can I get Rex X Male Reader where they get separated from Anakin, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan during a mission and are forced to hide in a cave till the storm ends please?

Male Reader is injured from saving Rex’s life from a droid attack and Rex is using all his willpower to not think about what would have happened if he lost him.

The angst buildup to confessing your feelings is the best type of word food.

Your wishes are my orders... Let's jump with the prompt number 9 (stuck in a snow storm) rn! 🫡

I write original ideas but I swear I like the classics and basics so much too... 🤪

Enjoy!

Xx, Blue. 💖

PS. For those who may be wanting to do a request, I'm leaving you the list of prompts at the end of this oneshot if you want to check it out. I also accept your own request ideas as long as it's xmasy.

"THE MOST IMPORTANT THING" – REX / MALE READER 💔💖

WARNINGS: fleeting mentions of wounds & blood. Thoughts about almost losing someone. Snow storm & freezing temperatures. Comfort & first kiss.

Rex can barely see what's five steps ahead of him. Even with the improved vision provided by his helmet, the blizzard makes everything blurry; a white picture of snow that would have been beautiful if it hadn't turned into a storm –and Rex needn't to make his way across it in order to get to safety–. His objective is to find cover in the mountains; but even if they appear to be close in distance, it's not an easy task to acomplish. He has to fight each step of the way; his lower legs sinking on the snow as he walks and making it incredibly tiring to advance forwards. He can't stop, though. You can't.

You're injured; arm drapped over his shoulders and finding strength in the Force to not let yourself drop unconscious. It's tempting; but you refuse to succumb to blood loss and fatigue. You refuse to be a dead weight for the captain to carry. You know he's worried enough as it is.

All four Jedis assigned to this mission had worn some sort of armour for the 501st, 212th, and 464th's batallions relief; but armour isn't undestructible, and it doesn't completely cover one's body. There's always vulnerable spots required for movility; and a droid had managed to get you on one of those. By pure luck, the captain is sure. Tinnies can't aim with that sniper-like precision. It's why so many of them are needed to make one clone's work.

Even with three battalions meshed together, the army sent by the Separatists had been massive. The fight had prolonged for over a week; and at one point, Rex had been surrounded by ten droids at once. Trying to command his men at the same time, making his orders known over the sound of blasterfire and explosions, he hadn't noticed a droid attacking him from his dead angle of vision; and it was then when you had jumped in to save him. When Rex had twisted around in surprise and had seen the frizzed cloth in the gap between your chest and abdomen plates he had almost pannicked; but you had shot him a calming –and pained– smile and assured him it was just a superficial wound before dodging another attack and pushing forward. Rex had had to force himself to concentrate throughout the rest of the battle. To not think on the implications of your acts; of what could have been.

But here, with none of his men at his sides and no trace of Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ashoka –they had all splitted into pairs in order to scout the city after the end of the battle when the snow storm had surprised them–, he has nothing to distract him from said thoughts.

You could have died. Jedi, for all of Anakin's recklesness, aren't inmortal; he could have lost you. Forever; a permanent absense and void in his heart no one would be able to cure. All those little things Rex always looks forward too —a cup of hot chocolate shared after a hard mission, the way your face lit up and innocently waved when you saw him across the hangar, all the little spontaneous trips you insisted for him to acompany you around Coruscant, if only using an excuse to show Rex what life could be outside of war... All of that would dissapear, disolve as if it had never existed; and Rex would be left staring into nothing.

They finally reach the mountains; and after a little while longer, they find a safe spot for them to take refuge in. They almost stumble inside –both of their legs aching and trembling from the cold and effort by now–; but being protected from the harsh and unforgiving wind is an instant relief.

Rex helps you to sit down; and you stretch your legs on the rocky floor of the cave and let him tug you backwards so that your shoulders are able to rest against one of the walls. You're shivering; the freezing temperatures managing to slip under your armour and specially on your vulnerable open spot. It's not all bad, though; you guess that the combination of the quick self-cauterizing blaster shot and the cold have managed to sort of keep the wound in stasis. Your vision is blurry and blackening when you try to move your head around, though; you feel dizzy and weak too. You don't know if it's because the wound, the post-battle fatigue, the cold, or all of them combined.

"General?" You hear Rex's voice ask, and it's only then when you notice his voice sounds too close and clear and realize he has taken off his bucket. "I think you're a step away from frostbite. You should take the armour off; it's so cold it's making you more damage than good at this point, now that we're hiding here".

You nod distractedly. That makes sense, yeah. You move your right hand to the shoulder attachments of your chest plate; but your movements are too slugish to pry the seals apart. The Captain's hands gently tug yours away and he tries to do it instead.

"Let me help you, okay?" He asks, always a bit wary to touch you and cross the line between General and trooper –it had taken a really long time for him not to jump at your ocasional affectionate pat on the shoulder or squeeze on his arms–. "Just try... Try to stay with me, General".

You hum in agreement and close your eyes; following his gentle commands a bit too slow for Rex's taste. He carefully pries each plate from your body and sets it aside; packing it up in the same way all clones do with theirs. You don't even react when your wound is exposed to the cold air; but Rex is quick to cover it with a bacta patch anyways. Then goes the plates of your back; and youre finally left in the soft and comfortable tunic and unders you always wear for the battlefield.

A new wave of exhaustion hits you; and your body slumps forward, only saved from smashing into the ground by Rex's quick hand on your shoulder.

"Hey. Hey, General. Cyare don't... Don't leave me".

You can hear the fear in his voice. The pain. The panic.

Even if it's an almost impossible task, you manage to blink your eyes open if only just for his sake.

"m' not going anywhere, Rex. I just need to sleep" you mumble grogily, trying to control the way your mind spins.

Rex opens his mouth, ready to ask you to stay with him, to not leave him here; but you continue and reassure him.

"This' one of those times you're gonna' have to believe in the Jedi magic. M'not dying. I just need to sleep and connect with the Force".

Rex reluctantly –scared– nods. He knows you had received a different training from Anakin, Ashoka and Obi-Wan; the Jedis he's used to work with. But all Jedis are not the same. While the previous three had grown more focused on how to use the Force to fight, you had cultivated other aspects; telepathy, healing. Kit Fisto had been your master; and though he had definitly teached you the art of the lightsaber, he had also encouraged you to explore your gift for telepathy –he was a powerfull telepath too– and even offered you to spend a few years learning Force Healing under the supervision of Jedi Stass Allie in the Temple. You had once explained to him you were nowhere close to be considered an expert on such themes; but that you could at least accelerate the curative progression of wounds a bit, if only enough to evade the risk of inminent death.

Rex doesn't need your skin to be completely closed and looking as if the shot had never happened; he had enough with avoiding your loss for now.

"Okay" he whispers back with a shuddering breath. "I'll let you sleep, then. Just let me... Let me hold you against me. You're still freezing and I don't want to risk it while we both rest".

"Kay" you mumble in response, closing your eyes again and dropping your head back against the wall. "But hurry up, my brain's fuzzy".

Rex nods and rushes to take his own armour off; staying in his blacks and taking a seat by your side, with his back against the wall. He then burries his thoughts about rules and impropiate gestures and pushes an arm under your knees; the other one around your torso, and then he uses a small burst of energy and tugs you towards him so that you're resting in his lap, between his crossed legs.

You make a little surprised sound; but inmediately melt against him when he pulls a heating emergency blanket from his backpack and places it around your body. You hum feeling gratefull and cuddle closer to his chest; hiding your face in his neck and tugging the blanket closer to try to cover him as well.

His hands give you a soft squeeze. Shortly after, you surrender to unconsciousness.

Rex has a lot of time to think until you wake up again between his arms.

He takes the moment of respite to breathe in your warmth and soothe his stressed mind; his galoping heart. It was terrifying, almost losing you; but you're safe now. Your breathing has eased with time; your deep, pained frown slowly relaxing and an almost peacefull expresion making its way across your face.

It's still a huge relief for him when you groan and open your eyes; blinking slowly to try to make a picture of whats happening and where you are.

Rex only softens his hold on your body so that you can sit down straigther and turn around to face him. You stretch your neck and shoot him a tired but warm smile.

"Hey" the captain rasps. "How are you feeling?"

You glance down at your dressed wound and take a moment to analyse yourself. You're still tired, and your muscles ache, and you're in desperate need of some water and a shower; but here in Rex's lap, you can't help but feel content and safe.

"Better" you decide to answer, smiling softly. "You?"

Rex tries to give you a tiny smile; but it's such a pained, little unsure thing that it tugs at your heart.

"I'm fine" he answers, one of his hands carefully caressing up and down your back under the blanket.

You shove down a pleasant shiver and tilt your head to the side.

"I don't have to be a Jedi to know that's a lie" you tell him cautiously, your own hands travelling down to catch his with yours. "Tell me, if you want?"

Rex stares at you for a few seconds and sighs.

"You shouldn't have jumped in to save me" he starts, glancing down at your hands, unable to hold the weight of your beautiful eyes on his while he confesses this. "You're one in a million. A Jedi General. Hundreds of lifes depend on yours. Mine is replacable. I'm not important, and you..."

"You're the most important thing in mine".

It's soft and sweet; the way you finally tell him what you've been keeping to your heart all this time. What you've been struggling with.

"What?"

Rex has the most cute stunned and confused face you've seen before. His eyes lock onto yours inmediately; almost not believing your words, like needing to check you've really said that to him. That you mean it.

You smile wistfully and squeeze his hands. They're rough, callous formed on the spots where his skin frictions with his favorite pair of DC-blasters; the hands of a soldier that hasn't had the chance to be anything else. It's why you have been trying to show him the rest of the world, the little pleasure that can be found in the simplest everyday things. He deserves it. All his brothers do.

"I have never wanted more than I had" you begin, deciding to finally bare your heart once and for all to him. "All I've ever wanted to do is help others, and I've grown up with that purpose without having nothing else to fight for. Nothing that I wanted for myself. No secret that I had to keep trapped inside ny mind or heart. Yet..."

You reach up to trace reverent fingertips over the captain's cheek. You feel his stuttering breath against your skin; smile at the loving, hopefull way his golden eyes are silently watching you.

"I want to keep you, Rex. Every morning I find myself expectant and tense until I see you in the distance. Everytime we're close, everytime we talk, it fills me with a comforting warmth" your eyes track a sinfull path through his lips. So tempting, so close to yours. You can't help yourself and trace a thumb over them. Rex gasps, and his eyes flicker through your face, his heart filling with devotion and passion too. "I want to burn, though. I've been trying to hold back, but I can't. I want to get closer. I want to kiss you. I want to be able to relax between your arms when everything gets to be too much. You might think that in the grand scale of things you're not important. Perhaps, seing it that way, none of us are. What I can tell you is my personal truth, your spot in my individual scale; and there's no other person I deem as important as you".

You're desperate to kiss him; but you feel like he wants to say something too, so you try to be patient and wait for him.

Rex cups one side of your face in his hand. It trembles. You understand the feeling; and smile encouragingly. You have been worried about mistaking his kidness for something more too; of crossing boundaries. But he has nothing to fear now. Still, you understand. Your heart is speeding up in your chest too; as it does with everything exciting and new. Your feelings for him aren't; but this closeness, the real posibility of kissing him for the first time, is.

"I've loved you for a long time now" he admits, voice gentle and firm despite his own nervousness. "Perhaps for as long as I've been able to understand what romantic love is. I... I'll be happy to have you, cyare. When you need me and when you don't, too".

His words shoot warmth and joy to every cell of your body; a radiant smile perching on your tired face.

"Can I kiss you?" He asks, bringing your face close to his with a gentle tug of your chin.

You smile and sigh.

"Yes..." you whisper over his lips. "Yeah".

THE END.

Didn't I make you two cute? Aaaaah 💖 Hope you like it! Xx, Blue.

Still accepting Xmas requests, you can use any of this prompts (except 9) or one of your own!

[literatureloverx]

HIII>< Good day to you my dearest🤗🤗 Have you eaten? Drink? If not then please do! I know I said It might not be able to interact with you but like the weather is so bad in my country(there's like three storm rn), also some volcanic activities and some freaking illness going around rn😭😭 Whatever spiritual power there is hates my country cause what is this😭😭. Anywayyyy, I lost track again°>° well uh I just got suddenly curious on how, when, where fyodor and his darling got married. Like what was the process of it, the preparation, the people invited and such. I'm imagining it as somewhat very private event and very intimate (It's fyodor obv) Probably not a lot of people invited. It'll obviously be in a cathedral of sort with a priest and such. Ohh now I wonder how it'll work considering different cultures and religions (of darling). Like in my culture you can invite the whole village! Your distance cousin's friend might even be there😆 I'm kinda exaggerating but it does happen. Also the wedding clothes of darling and Fyodor! Ahhh I'm imagining Fyodor rn🥰🥰🥰

Also I'm really really sorry🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️ for overwhelming you with my ask! Well that's the end of it! Ig??? I'm going to do my projects now... Thank you for listening to my yapping and being so kind! 🫵❤️❤️❤️Truly you are amazing. I hope you have/gotten a good day🙏

Sincerely —🧛🏻‍♀️🫀Anon

Good day, my love, 🧛🏻‍♀️🫀-anon! ♥️ I’m doing well and hope the same for you. Please take care—it sounds truly concerning. 🥺

Regarding your request, I must admit I never thought about it either, lmao. By the way, you can invite the whole village in my culture too—though I wouldn’t do that! 😭 Close family and friends are all I need. ♥️ I wrote some headcanons, I hope you enjoy reading them!♥️

Also, I’ve come up with pictures for my 🍷💝-anon who needs visualizations.

Fyodor x ideal type fem!darling, marriage, wedding, visualisation, religious themes etc.

Fyodor & his darling’s wedding

The process would be very thorough, with high security measures and many people involved in the preparations.

As Fyodor’s little princess and soon-to-be bride, you won’t experience any discomfort because of it.

There will be plenty of people handling the arrangements for you.

All you need to do is relax, choose your wedding gown, select your jewelry from the exquisite vintage pieces Fyodor orders from around the world, and provide your preferences for the cake flavors and the flowers.

You’ll only need to engage in the preparations that interest you—your fiancé ensures that you’re always comfortable with everything that’s happening.

I don’t see either of you inviting many people due to security measures, and honestly, Fyodor has no one to invite.

So, it will likely be just the two of you, your close family (such as your parents and siblings), and the priest along with the staff who will be serving you.

Since you’re marrying Fyodor, it will naturally be very intimate and private. We can’t expect much glamour or razzamatazz.

The vows would be exchanged in the cathedral, and later you’d move to a medieval-themed setting for the wedding celebration.

There, you’d enjoy a meal and your wedding cake. Perhaps you might even dance to your favorite waltz—who knows?

Considering different cultures and his ideal type, your darling, being introverted and easygoing, would likely embrace Fyodor’s vision of their wedding.

This means there might be no village invitations, which could seem a bit sad, but it’s all part of Fyodor’s unique way of doing things.

~

Those are elegantly feminine. Fyodor would certainly admire the lace, as it’s traditionally seen as a symbol of femininity—something he would appreciate for its delicate beauty and timeless charm.

Those gowns are fine, but they show the maximum amount of flesh permissible for a cathedral setting, especially when marrying a traditional, possessive man like Fyodor.

You’d definitely need a veil if you choose to wear such a wedding gown.

Fyodor could wear just about anything, but here are some classic groom outfits. I can definitely see him opting for the white one, as most of his clothing is white and he associates himself with the color.

However, the darker outfit could also suit him, especially considering the official picture of him in a fancy dark-colored tuxedo.

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow

[certifiedfujo]

Start of the Beginning just an itafushi idea i had been working on apologies for any grammar errors! wc: 4.2k

Itadori…

ITADORI

“YUJI”

Yuji wakes up to banging at his door and a voice calling his name. wait. that voice was Megumi! Yuji shot right up at this realization. He rubs his eyes and stretches with a yawn, until his eyes catch attention of the clock on his bedside table. His eyes widen in shock at the time. 8:50. He was going to be late if not for his angel Megumi. He then rushes to open the door.

“I’ve been calling you for five minutes. We’re late.” Megumi says with a hint of irritability in his voice.

“Sorry, I guess my alarm never went off…” Yuji says rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile plastered on his face.

“Well go get ready, you still have time. I’ll be waiting for you in the common area. But hurry up!” said Fushiguro as he walks away.

He continues to stare at Megumi’s back even as he walks away so he won’t hear him rush towards the bathroom. Itadori has never washed his face and brushed his teeth (still making sure they’re minty fresh) so fast. He puts on his clothes hastily, not caring if they're wrinkled. He runs to the common area, where Fushiguro always waits for him in the morning. He gives the rushed boy a granola bar to eat while they walk to classes.

“Thanks!” Itadori says with a bright, closed-eye smile.

Megumi’s eyes widen slightly as he looks away with pink dusted cheeks, “it’s nothing, now let’s go. We’re lucky if Gojo’s late today.”

The two boys walk together in silence as they both take in the beautiful scenery that is Jujutsu High. Pretty pink cherry blossoms flowing down from the trees with the slight breeze. Spring was the season of flowering plants and new beginnings. Megumi walks with his hands in both his pants pockets, as he watches the cherry blossom petals fall in front of him. He looks at one going across his vision onto Yuji’s hair. He looks at him with such a loving gaze, but only because Yuji wasn’t looking (not true, this is just how he looks at him). He hesitates before he picks it off with the smallest of a smile on his face. Yuji turns his head up and then looks at Megumi.

“The cherry blossoms are really falling today; it’s almost like cherry blossom rain!” Itadori jokes and nudges Megumi in the side with his hip.

“Yeah.” Megumi smiles softly.

They arrive to class, and they brace themselves for whatever lecture Gojo might give them for being late. Despite, being a pretty chill and laidback guy, Gojo would get really mad when students were late. Or so he would say… (Nobody believes him, but they also don't want to test him). Thankfully Gojo wasn’t there, it was just Nobara silently filing her nails at her desk.

“Yo! Nobara!” Yuji exclaims while high-fiving Nobara.

“You guys are late today, what gives?” She asks squinting her eyes at the boys suspiciously.

“Yuji woke up late, so I was the one who had to wake him up.” says Fushiguro, huffing.

Yuji puts on an embarrassed little smile as he walks over to his desk and sets his stuff down. He sat right in the middle of the class, so he could be next to both his best friends. Nobara sat next to the window, because she liked to look outside and just think, while Gojo blabbered away during his lesson. Megumi sat right by the door, because he wanted to be the first one out of the class.

Suddenly Gojo arrives, dramatically opening the door, and looking around the class ro make sure all (three) students were there and seated.

“Gooood morning my little students!” he exclaims a little too enthusiastically for how early in the morning it is. “Today’s gonna be a fun day. We are… coloring!” he said before throwing his arms in the air gleefully.

Megumi says under his breath clearly irritated, “I rushed over here for this?” He rubbed his temples to ease his anger at the tall, unbelievably jolly man.

“YES, you heard me right. We're gonna do some stress-relieving color by number sheets. How fun!” the tall man says excitedly, spreading the coloring pages on his desk. “Come up and get some. I brought crayons, colored pencils, and markers! Be creative!”

Yuji raises his hand, “Why… are we coloring today?” he said with genuine confusion.

“Cause I didn't wanna teach today, and you guys look kinda rough… not to be rude though, heh.” Gojo responds winking at the pink haired boy.

The white-haired man then pulls up a student's desk, puts it in front of the class and sits down. The students watch him intently. “I'm coloring with you guys, too!” he says gushing with joy. “Well, what are you all waiting for? Get a paper, this is for a grade~”

Everyone then gets a paper and each their materials. Yuji makes a beeline for the crayons, Nobara takes the markers and Megumi the colored pencils. While watching them get their supplies, he finds it silly that each student got what matches them the most.

Megumi looks over at Yuji, in curiosity, and boy was he focused. Megumi had never seen him so concentrated; it really was quite cute. He smiles fondly at the boy. Megumi really was utterly infatuated with that boy, everyone could tell. Everyone but Yuji, seemingly. He could never read Yuji's actions, he really was quite dumb when it came to this. Little did he know though, that Yuji felt the same way, if not even deeper. Yuji was so smitten by Megumi, it was insane. He would go to sleep and think about him, hoping to dream of the boy. Woke up and the first thought on his mind was I can't wait to see Megumi today. They were completely obsessed with each other. But they were both so scared of rejection (even though neither would reject, but they're too dumb to realize).

Yuji colors with such a passion that nobody has ever seen him put forth towards anything school related. He really was a goof when it came to academics, a straight C student. Even Nobara was engrossed in the coloring. Gojo was right, they really did need to de-stress.

Class went by pretty quietly and smoothly. Everyone was extremely concentrated on their coloring sheets, even Gojo has his eyes stuck on coloring. As class came to an end, they all looked at each others papers to compare them.

“You didn't even color in the right colors.” Megumi snaps at Gojo.

“I did say to be creative now, Megumi. Let me be the artist that I am, this is a judge-free zone, little dude.” The tall man sassily snaps back at the irritated boy.

The young boy rolls his eyes and turns to sit back at his desk to wait for the bell go ring, but not before turning in his by-the-book colored page. Yuji used very bright variations of the colors that were for each number. And Nobara, well, she just wanted to make it look pretty, so she didn't quite follow the numbers either.

The bell rings and shakes everyone to the core. Gojo jumps in his seat and looks at the clock behind him. “Jeez, didn't know it was already time, alright guys you're dismissed. See ya tomorrow!” he says with a bright smile. Are his teeth sparking?! Seems like the coloring really did put everyone at ease, they were so relaxed the ring of the bell spooked them. How silly.

Nobara is the first to run out.

“Sorry guys, gotta run. There's a super sale at the mall today, and I AM NOT missing it. Catch ya later!” she says to the boys before speeding towards the dorms to change into normal clothes, she would rather die than go out in her uniform. If she encountered modeling agents at the mall, they wouldn't even look at her in her uniform! The two boys watched as she took off.

“Hey, wanna hit up the convenience store? I'm kinda hungry…” Yuji asks thinking out loud at the last part.

Megumi thinks for a second. This is a chance to be alone with him. “Sure. I could go for a snack or two.” He says walking ahead, expecting Yuji to follow him*.*

Yuji smiles big and wide, glad to have some one-on-one time with his favorite person, he speeds up to catch up with Megumi.

As they walk to the 24-hour mart, they pass by a small river to stare at the fish.

“Ha, that one looks like Gojo!” laughs Yuji as he crouches, pointing at a white koi fish with the brightest blue eyes they've ever seen.

“Hey, you're right it does.” Megumi smiles and joins him. “You have an eye for comparisons, you know.”

Yuji looks at Megumi as he admires the brightly colored fish. He’s so handsome. Yuji thinks as he takes in his best friend's face. Long eyelashes over gorgeous dark blue eyes and cheekbones of steel, oh how Yuji wishes he could just hold them and kiss him on the lips. A small tint of pink creeps up on his round cheeks. He smiles and looks away before standing up.

“Come on, I wasn't lying when I said I was starving.” Yuji gestures his hand towards Megumi in a hurried motion.

Once they get to the store, Yuji looks like he's going to explode into confetti; the look of excitement on his face is so obvious. Megumi laughs at his expression.

I made him laugh! And I barely even did anything! Yuji thinks, fist pumping away from Megumi.

Yuji walks toward the chips section first, Megumi just follows. He picks up some spicy squid flavored seaweed chips and beef flavored potato chips. Megumi looks around and grabs the safest option, salt and vinegar potato chips. You can never go wrong with salt and vinegar.

“You should definitely try these” Yuji says as he holds up the seaweed chips to Megumi, “they're my favorite ever.”

Megumi takes mental note of Itadori’s confession for later reference.

He takes the bag and examines it. “Are they extremely fishy? I don't like extreme fishy flavors that much. Makes me feel all gross…” Megumi says shuddering as he recalls the last time, he ate sushi with Gojo. He threw it all up because Gojo fed him so much sushi topped with raw fish.

“Nah, they’re pretty spicy though. Hope you can handle the heat.” Yuji smiles with a wink.

Megumi just stares at him. He’s mentally blushing, but he can’t show that side to Itadori. “Ok, well you can get it. I’ll just try a few from you.” He says afraid of buying a full bag because of the incident with Gojo.

“Alright, let’s go grab some real food now. These are all just snacks...” Yuji says pouting as his stomach grumbles lowly. Megumi smiles goofily as he hears the growls of Itadori’s hungry belly.

They venture around practically the entire store, and end up with a basketful of food and drinks. Most belonging to Yuji. When they reached the cash register Megumi immediately offered to pay.

“No no, Megumi it's ok. I've been saving weekly allowance, I can buy it.” says Yuji shaking his hands in disagreement.

Megumi then shoves the card in the boy’s face. “I’ve got Gojo’s card, you don't have to worry. The guy is literally swimming in money, he won't notice a couple bucks missing.” Megumi says slyly with a smirk plastered on his chiseled face.

Itadori put his hands up in defeat and stepped aside so Megumi could pay. “You got it boss!” He says grinning.

Once they start their venture back to the dorms, groceries in hand, Megumi spots a cute little area under a big tree right by a sparking river. His eyes light up as an idea starts to take form. “Hey what if we had a picnic under that big tree over there. It's a nice day out.” Megumi says as he looks over at Itadori for approval.

Yuji replies enthusiastically, “You just have all the bright ideas, don't cha!”

“Race you!” The pink haired boy says, not giving the messier haired boy a chance to process what he had just said. “Hey- wait up!” Megumi says laughing and running towards the spot as fast as he can. But nobody can beat Yuji at running, he's just too fast.

When Megumi finally meets Yuji at the spot under the tree, he's sprawled out on the grass, smiling with his eyes closed with the most relaxed expression. True happiness and tranquility. Megumi wishes he could take a picture of this moment. He takes a mental picture instead, he'll cherish that forever.

“Ready to eat?” He says placing all the bags down on the soft, freshly cut grass.

“Oh man, I've been waiting for this.” Yuji exclaims thankfully and he shoots straight up from where he was laying.

They both sit crisscross, in front of each other (almost like a picnic date). They picked many various kinds of sandwiches, so many different flavors and combos. Itadori mostly picked, Megumi was just going with the flow.

As they're eating, Yuji looks across at Megumi curiously. He notices a smear of sauce on the side of his mouth.

“Come here you have something…” Yuji says as he reaches for Megumi’s face. Megumi leans forward then Yuji swipes the side of his mouth clean. He brings his thumb to his mouth and licks it clean. “There, all clean!” Yuji innocently says. Megumi can feel his heart pounding in his chest. Oh, if only Yuji knew what he did to him. But Yuji knew, he wasn't that stupid.

“oh- um- thanks.” Megumi struggles to spit out, as he looks down, struggling to hide a faint blush all over his face.

Itadori blushes a pretty pink and smiles before going back to stuffing his face.

They finish all their snacks and drinks, and I mean all, as they watch the sun slowly go down. They're lying next to each other on the pillowy grass, looking up to the sky as it turns from hues of yellow and orange to more pinkish and purple tones, signifying the upcoming nightfall.

Yuji turns his head to look at Megumi, admiring his side profile. His nose is so perfect and his eyelashes oh my God. He thinks to himself as he stares with hearts in his eyes at the raven-haired boy. He shifts into a position where he's lying on his side to get a better view of Megumi. Suddenly, Megumi turns his head to look at the boy, visibly startling him a little. They both just stare at each other for a while. Searching each other's eyes for God knows what. Drinking in the faces of each other as if memorizing each little detail. Yuji’s faint freckles or the mole under Megumi’s right eye. Megumi also turns to lay on his side for the same reason. Now they're both admiring each other under the lilac sky, stars starting to light it up. The sunlight shines on their faces, making them both look beautiful as night approaches. Yuji opens his mouth as if he was going to say something, but quickly shuts it, hesitating. They were so close Megumi could feel the air from Yuji's nose. The pink haired boy reaches his hand towards Megumi's face and holds it. Oh, how he's longed to touch his soft cheeks. He rests his hand on his cheek as he looks deeply into his eyes, eyebrows furrowed, searching for an answer. I want to kiss him. I need to kiss him. Is all on Itadori's mind right now. His eyes sparkle as he looks at the boy before him with such love and admiration. He’s nervous. What if he didn’t want a kiss… Especially from someone like him. He looks down dejectedly, thoughts racing and getting the better of him, his hand is still softly resting on Megumi’s cheek. He rubs his thumb on the boy’s cheek.

Megumi looks at him with widened eyes, he never expected such a move from Itadori. Does he want to kiss me? He wonders in his head, but this time he doesn’t brush the thought away. He wants to kiss Yuji so badly, it almost hurts. He’s wanted to kiss him ever since he saw his face, he had such perfect lips. He had always wondered what they’d feel like on his, what he tasted like, the pressure of his kiss. These thoughts make Megumi crack a small smile and a pink blush takes form on his face. When he looks a Yuji, he looks hesitant, as if he was scared to do something. Nervous even. Megumi has never seen him like that. He felt quite prideful actually, he made him nervous. He almost looks like he’s given up. No, Megumi will not let an opportunity like this go, he needs to kiss him right now. He’ll never do it, if he doesn’t do it right now. Especially because of the sentence Yuji has on him, he has a time limit, and he needs to take this one risk before it’s all turned to dust before him. He reaches for Yuji’s face and places both of his hands on either side, and looks into each eye, scanning them. Yuji looks taken aback; surprise written all over his face.

Megumi gives himself strength before he does what he’s about to do. He prays that this goes his way, the right way. He braces himself and closes his eyes as he quickly leans in to kiss the pink-haired boy. Yuji is even more surprised at this sudden act, but he kisses back right away. They mold perfectly into each other’s lips. Their lips move at a mellow pace against each other. Yuji moves his hand to the back of Megumi’s neck and turns his head to deepen the kiss, furrowing his brows and raising his shoulders. Megumi moves his arms to the small of Yuji’s waist (not very small because of Yuji’s tough build), drawing him in closer to him to that their chests are touching. Megumi is the first to pull away for air. He huffs lightly as he looks Yuji in the eyes and licks his lips before going back for more. Yuji smiles into the kiss as he notices Megumi’s desperation. He presses his lips deeper into the kiss, he truly cannot get enough of Megumi. He needs more. He hooks his arm around Megumi’s neck, deepening the kiss (if it could even get deeper), and climbs on top of him, not ever breaking the kiss. Megumi opens his eyes suddenly not expecting all this movement. Yuji still has his eyes closed and eyebrows furrowed, Megumi observes. He’s so cute when he’s concentrated, Megumi thinks. He wraps his arms around the small of his back and holds the hood of his uniform. He pulls him in ever so closely, almost as if he was afraid that if he didn’t hold him in such a strong embrace he’d fly away like a feather in the wind. He wasn’t going to lose the thing he loves most in this world. Not now, not ever, he’ll make sure of it. Yuji was Megumi’s entire world, and Megumi was Yuji’s.

Megumi, feeling bold, pokes the tip of his tongue into the kiss asking for entrance, after taking a short breath of air. Yuji instantly gets the message and opens his mouth. They poke around in each other's mouths, exploring newly unlocked lands. Yuji pulls away for a moment, both hands on the sides of Megumi’s face squishing his cheeks a bit and looks into the messy-haired boy's eyes. He smiles a smile that is so full of love, Megumi almost melts. He leans his face into Itadori’s hand and looks deeply into his eyes. Yuji goes back in for another kiss, their souls intertwining. They make out slowly with such a passion, as if they won’t ever see each other again after today. They kiss for a couple minutes more, stopping for breaths every now and then.

Megumi pulls away for a moment and by habit checks his watch. It’s 8:30, dorm check is in 30 minutes! He gasps quietly as he turns his wrist to show Yuji the time.

“Oh shit, I hadn’t been keeping track of time! Got a little carried away there…” Yuji says winking at the last spoken sentence.

“We need to go Yuji. As much as I’d love to continue this, we’ll get our butts kicked if we’re not in our rooms at nine.” Megumi says looking away, rosy-cheeked. He realizes their current position and nearly has a heart attack. Megumi is sat up arms behind him supported his weight, and Yuji is sitting on his lap his legs on either side of Megumi’s body. The blush on Megumi’s face is even more evident now.

“That means you need to get off of me.” He says through gritted teeth clearly embarrassed and red as ever.

Yuji laughs at his statement and his current state and stands to walk over him, but not before giving him one last short kiss on the nose. Megumi only rolls his eyes, trying so hard to hide a smile but failing.

Yuji helps Megumi up to his feet, as he dusts off his pants and shirt. “Let’s run!” suggests Itadori with a cocked head and small smile. But, before Megumi can respond, he takes his hand and starts running, forcing Megumi to catch up with his fast pace. As they’re running, Yuji looks back a few times to smile at Megumi, trying to encourage the boy.

They finally reach Jujutsu High after 10 grueling minutes of pure sprinting. Yuji made it looks so easy, but if we pan the camera to Megumi, he has his hands on his knees and he’s panting like a dog. Yuji pats him on the back and had an apologetic smile on his face, Megumi looks up at him still huffing for air and gives him a thumbs up as a ‘don’t worry about it.’

“Come on, quick. You didn’t wanna be late right?” Yuji ushers the exhausted boy towards the dorms. Megumi can only nod his head at Yuji’s question. Goodness, am I this out of shape? It can’t be. Megumi thought, afraid. As they reach the first-year dormitory, Nobara is in the common area on her phone. “Hey guys, you came just in time. What were you two up to?” She asks eyes still glued to her phone. “Hey Nobara, we just went for a few snacks, nothing too crazy… Gotta get this guy to his room. See ya tomorrow, kay?” Yuji says as he gestures to Megumi. “Ok, yeah see you.” She replies still engrossed in whatever social media platform she was on. “Why are you acting like I’m disabled, I can see myself to my own room.” Megumi states with a raised eyebrow. “Ouch, I was just being a kind guy. Nice guys do finish last, I guess.” Jokes Itadori receiving an elbow in the ribcage from Megumi in return.

All you can hear from the hallway is laughter, as the two boys head to their respected rooms. Yuji drops Megumi off at his door and swing back and forth on the balls of his feet. Looking around, expecting something before he goes to his own room.

“Oh, you're such a dork.” Megumi smirks before grabbing Yuji’s face abruptly and kissing him quickly. “Now go to your room.”

“Night, Megumi.” Yuji smiles with pink cheeks as he’s walking backwards to his room, in order to still see Megumi’s face as he departs from him.

“Goodnight, Yuji.” Megumi smiles tiredly before yawning and closing the door.

Once Yuji sees that the coast is clear, he closes his own door and leaps into his bed squealing like an excited little girl. His dreams have just accomplished today, and he certainly cannot believe it. He smiles a toothy smile and stares at the ceiling replaying what had happened just under an hour ago. These new memories were his to keep forever and he replays them in his head as he drifts off into deep sleep.

Once Megumi closes his door, he puts his back to it and slides down. He’s in shock. Processing everything that happened today at that very moment. His face was redder than ever. He was so happy; this was the best day of his life. He walks over to his bed and smiles like a giddy little kid, tucking himself under the covers. He drifts off into a peaceful sleep and he thinks about all that’s happened today.

This was the start of the beginning of a beautiful blossoming love.

thanks for reading! i was really contemplating whether or not to post this, but i'm lowk glad how it turned out for my first time. Let me know what you think! make sure to hit the like button :)

[katuschka]

Scene One – Lampshade

Jake Kiszka x f!Reader (1st person narrative)

2.541 words

On my bedside table, I have a beautiful art deco lamp. When my lover leaves, he ties a scarf he wore for days on top. And when he’s gone I let my window open just a bit, the gentle breeze sets the scarf on motion, just like the waves in the tempestuous ocean.  Once or twice, I swear, I could smell him in my dreams.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, intended for adult readers. Any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental. Also, if you're under 18, go find some other entertainment elsewhere.

Warnings: longing, alcohol consumption, penetrative sex, phone sex and masturbation, sex toys, phantasmagorical dream visions

Taglist

It’s been almost three weeks since I last saw him. I’m trying to convince myself that it’s not that bad, but the truth is that I always start missing him the moment he leaves. It’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m a grown, independent woman, engaging in my daily routines...or breaking them, just to stay sane. 

But, it feels as if a part of my soul got attached to him. It travels with him wherever he goes and I feel it tugging at my insides every now and then. At first I thought it was just a side effect of the early stages of falling in love. I believed that it would get easier with time, but it never did. If anything, it only got worse. 

It’s bearable during the day. My mind’s too preoccupied with my job, thank god. It’s not really much different from when he’s here. I still have my work to do and he’s busy too, until we finally meet at home to share a glass of wine or two. And then we fuck.

That’s why early evenings are the worst when he’s away. The house is just too big, too quiet, and my mind too restless. No sound of the strings being plucked greets me when I get home, no smell of savory dishes waiting for me in the oven or on the stove. I’m too lazy to do it myself, so I just order in, only to be reproached by him later that I’m not taking proper care of myself. My lover does all these things. My body’s spoiled with constant hugs and my cheeks peppered with warm kisses. So, on days like these, this is what his lady misses. 

He knows that, so he tries to call anytime he can. It’s easier in between shows. He makes sure to call me around eight, even when it’s already 3 am where he’s at. Him being a night owl, this has never been a problem. Sometimes it’s just a quick hello to make sure I’m ok. Other times we talk for hours. 

I didn’t expect anything like that today. He might call late or not at all. Probably not at all because today’s show was too important. He wanted me there, but I couldn’t go this time. I had an important project to finish and came home pleasantly exhausted. In a perfect world, we would celebrate our respective achievements together, but this world is not perfect, so I have to content myself with the fact that he is. 

Well, not really, but I wouldn’t change a thing about him. 

So, I just poured myself a glass of wine, climbed in bed early and tried to read, only to find myself checking the Instagram updates constantly. I don’t do it very often, because I’m not really keen on seeing hundreds of women swooning over him, but someone might be streaming the show, and I just couldn’t miss it. 

Before he left, he fastened his scarf on my lampshade. That little piece of fabric is basically marinated in his scent – his strong, yet religiously comforting cologne mixed with the warm smell of him. I made sure to leave both the bedroom door and the window open, to create a slight draft. After three weeks, the scent had already faded a bit, but I still could get whiffs of him while falling asleep. Just like today. The livestream I found ended mid-show, but I wasn’t really paying attention anymore. I could feel my eyelids getting heavy long before the concert ended and without even bothering to turn off the light, I fell asleep with my phone still in my hand. 

Except I couldn’t sleep. The thunderstorm in the distance and the billowing wind kept me awake. The sky was clear when I went to bed, so I couldn’t understand where the clouds came from. It didn’t matter anyway. 

He was here. In my bed, sleeping. The intoxicating scent of clove and incense mixed with his musk wrapped around me like a second comfort blanket. The bedside lamp illuminated his disheveled hair and the clothes he had carelessly thrown over the armchair next to the bed. He was naked and all of the sudden, so was I.

It was our bedroom…and it wasn’t. The southern wall was gone, exposing us to the elements outside. Our garden turned to a stony shore, with the waves of a rough sea crashing upon it. Somewhere in the distance, I could see the storm raging.

I was feeling snug under the blanket, the warmth he elicited sheltering me from everything else around. I reached out to touch him. His skin was warm and dry and I snuggled closer to him from behind, inhaling the comforting aroma of his relaxed, sleeping body. 

He never slept much. Sometimes I wondered how he could function after yet another sleepless night, and the dark circles under his eyes often worried me. But when he did fall asleep, he looked like a baby boy, his full lips slightly parted and his brows turned upwards. A man of paradoxes. He would fuck my brains out just moments after he spoon-fed me pistachio ice-cream. My doe-eyed barbarian. A romantic adventure, but a reptile too. Always offering something new. Just like the sky outside, with the full moon now illuminating the stormy sky. Where did it come from? It was hanging there in mid-air in front of the clouds, so big, so close it seemed that I could reach it with my fingers if I just stepped outside of the room. 

But I didn’t want to. Instead, I slowly swirled around him like a serpent. I could feel him stir, his body responding to mine. It was a silent dialogue. He turned to me and pushed my chin upwards to nuzzle the soft skin behind my left earlobe. I could hear him murmur a prayer, the words of which I didn’t recognize, but I understood it anyway. I could feel his hand travel slowly down my belly, pulling my thighs apart, his palm sliding gently to my pussy and his middle finger slipping in between my folds. It’s been too long… My body reacted immediately. I arched my back and gasped for air as his moistened fingertip glided over my clit in slow circles. He kissed my shoulder and I could feel his parted lips stretch in a smile before he nibbled lightly on my skin covered with goosebumps.

He spread my thighs even more, like the petals of a blooming flower. I felt the weight of his body on mine as he shifted, obscuring my view, silencing the wind, his porcelain face dimming all the celestial lights behind him. He was coming home. 

I cried out when he entered me, grabbing pillows on both sides of my head. He, too, yelped like a puppy, laying his head on my bosom just for a while, to gain his composure. I felt every exhale of his quickened breath on my skin, and enveloped his body with my limbs in a false promise to never let go. 

He started moving inside me and I felt absolutely lightheaded, as if we were floating in an empty void. It got darker with each deep, long thrust until time and space around us disappeared and the only thing that tethered me to reality was the rhythm of his beating heart and the alluring sounds of his raspy moans. We moved together languidly, drunk in love, and the waves of pleasure running through my body intensified with each passing second. My fingernails dug into his skin…so deep until he suddenly stiffened and screamed in pain right next to left ear…

…nooo…at first I couldn’t tell where I was or who I was until the sound of my phone ringing on the pillow next to my head slowly brought me back to reality. I couldn’t believe it. What? Why? I looked at the screen and saw the name of the only person whom I could forgive for calling me right fucking now!

“Jake? Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I breathed out. 

A moment of silence before the man on the other side responded. I must have sounded pre-t-t-y irritated. “Babe? Did I wake you up?” 

Of course you did. What day is it? Oh yeah, it was slowly coming back to me. Madison Square Garden… “What time is it?” I breathed out.

“Almost one am here, your midnight. We just arrived at the hotel a moment ago, I haven’t even had a shower yet, I just had to hear…”

“Urgh,” I interrupted him with a groan, not in a reaction to what he said. My still not fully awakened body was just fighting with my mind as I tried to sit. I was still slightly disoriented and my coochie weeped. “I, uhm, I’m sorry baby. I just had a very intense erotic dream…the first one in years. And you just happened to interrupt it at the worst possible moment.”

“Oh, daamn!” he chuckled. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Not funny Jake. No one else but you could ever make me this wet. The sheets below me are literally soaked through.” I heard him inhale sharply on the other side. It took him a few more seconds to respond. “You’re wet?” It sounded a bit like a stifled groan, followed by him clearing his throat. Poor Jake, he was so taken aback by my response that Oliver had to take over. “Thaths probably because I was absolu-te-ly on fire tonight, my love! Telepathy must be one of my many superior powers. Now I need to clean the mess…”

“What do you mean?”

“Phone sex, obviously.” 

I laughed. Nah, I’m not a fan. I love his voice, don’t get me wrong, but it couldn’t possibly make up for all the stuff that my subconsciousness flooded my brain with just a moment ago. Also, I’ve always found the idea of phone sex strangely disconcerting. We could do the most obscene stuff face to face without even batting an eye, but to be describing to him how I’m touching myself? No, thank you. I’d be embarrassed. Don’t know why. That’s just how it is, And that’s what I told him.  

“Oh come on, let’s try it.” Jake was back. “Besides, it’s a mutual obligation now. I’m already hard.” 

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. “Ok Jake,” I crooned monotonously, “what are you wearing?” 

“Oh GOD!” he moaned theatrically. “You sound so sexy when you’re bored. Mmmmm.”

I laughed again, in earnest. “Sorry,” I chuckled. “Ok, let’s try it. But I’m not going to describe what I’m doing. You tell me what to do.”

“Deal.”

I heard his sheets rustle as he shifted on his bed, which meant he already had me on speaker, so I did the same. I adjusted the pillows, stripped off my babydoll and tried to find a comfortable position. “Ok Jake, I’m ready.”

“Good girl. Now, close your eyes and cup your breasts. Let your thumbs draw slow circles around your nipples. No pressure.” His voice suddenly sounded huskier than before. 

“Are you jerking off?” And then I heard it. The unmistakable sound of his fist sliding rhythmically up and down his cock. Of course he was. 

“You can’t blame me sweetheart,” he breathed out. “I got here, still full of adrenaline from the show, only to hear you tell me that I was fucking you in your dreams. I couldn’t wait any longer.” 

The sound of his heavy breath made my pelvic muscles contract and my heartbeat quicken. I licked my fingertips and let my hand slide between my legs, trying to ease the ache. “Talk to me Jake. Forget the nipples. Guide my fingers.”

“Who’s impatient now?” He let out an involuntary moan, swallowed harshly and continued: “Squeeze your clit between two fingers, scissor-like. Now rub from side to side and gently pull.”

I knew what he meant. His technique was completely different from mine and effective in its own way. I never tried to recreate it before. I did now, and it all suddenly came back to me. The dream, his touch, his dick, stretching me, fucking me, our loins dancing together to the rhythm of our heartbeats…

“Not enough,” I whined. “I need more, Jake.”

“Ok, time for Mini Me.”

That was yet another thing my lover did for me. We found a company that makes custom dildos using castings of real customers. Now, a cold piece of silicone can never compete with the real jake, but it was the next best thing whenever I needed to release the tension after a long day. I loved the shape of it. It was mine. I opened the drawer and reached for the toy. “Now what?”

“Ride me,” he groaned. 

“How am I supp…”

“Let’s pretend we fell off the bed.”

“What?”

“Off the bed! Now!” he commanded. I climbed off the bed and attached the dildo to the wooden floor. “Mini Me’s ready. What now?”

“Now sit.”

I did as I was told. I got on my knees, placed the tip between my folds and slowly slid all the way down. Our roles reversed for a brief moment as I was now guiding him through. I heard him spit into his palm and groan with relief. It was his time to take the reins again. “Move,” he rasped. “Grab your hips and pretend it’s me. Set the pace, but tell me.”

I started moving my hips in a slow, sensual rhythm, while whispering up and down and up and down to him. I was now close to my bedside table, the fragrant scarf only a few feet from me. I closed my eyes. The illusion was almost perfect. 

“That’s my girl,” he moaned. “Do you want to go faster?”

“No, this is fine.”

“Ok, continue baby. Let me hear you.”

We continued like that for several minutes, eyes closed, listening to each other. I could hear that he was close as his low moans turned to high-pitched whimpers. My thighs started shaking and I had to catch hold of the bedside table to ease the tension in my legs. I opened my eyes and that’s when I saw it. The multi coloured lampshade. As I was moving, so were the colorful lights before my eyes. It was like being there, under the stage lights, as I was listening to my man. The most beautiful song. It overwhelmed my senses and I came, screaming. From the haze of my own high, I heard him finish shortly afterwards. 

I wanted to hear every detail of his show, and he wanted to know about my project, but we were both already too exhausted, so he promised to call me again in the morning. I knew he would, because that’s what my lover does. 

@its-interesting-van-kleep @takenbythemadness @edgingthedarkness @writingcold @ignite-my-fire @klarxtr @jakekiszkasbuttsweat @fleet-of-fiction @lvnterninthenight @myownparadise96 @GVFstuddedmajesty @josh-iamyour-mama @jazzyfigz @sanguinebats @thewritingbeforesunrise

[inthemaelstrom]

So we're about six weeks out from another "most important election of my lifetime" and it's predictably making me literally sick to my stomach. When Trumpacabra got elected in 2016, I threw myself into politics in a way I never had in my lifetime and it almost wrecked me. I was one of those people who never voted for religious reasons (long, separate story) and I felt I had to make up for lost time. By the time 2020 rolled around, I was an unhealthy mess. I had stopped reading. Everything. When I wasn't watching MSNBC and political commentators obsessively, I started consuming absolute junk TV: home improvement shows, crack paranormal ghost hunter crap, etc. Things with no plot, no emotional investment, no danger. No fear.

Right before the 2020 election, old fanfic friends from my days in the Master and Apprentice Star Wars listserv found me and saved me.

They dragged me back into fandom, introduced me to Discord, and got me writing again. I updated a story I hadn't touched in 5 years. I made new friends online and in RL. I got some great fiction and fic recs from those friends and discovered a subgenre called Hopepunk—low stakes fiction with very little if any violence and fear and with happy endings. (Becky Chambers writes a lot of what I read, and Amy Crook has also become a favorite.)

One morning, I had one of those really vivid, realistic, linear plot dreams that literally dragged me out of bed to the keyboard. It was a meet-cute modern au of The Phantom Menace's characters, set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I cranked out about 2000 words the first day. Then another 2000. Then another 2000. Then another 2000. And so on every damn day for the next four years until I had four novels, about 668k words, several timestamps written by three other collaborators who've come on board, some beautiful art I've been allowed to use, and now a fifth book in the works.

This is the Yooperverse.

It's not just The Fic That Saved Me, it's the place where I'm writing a vision of what the world could be like into being. A place where people with fucking obscene amounts of money don't spend it on themselves, or hoard it, or exploit other people to get more, but use it to help other people. It's a place where people who are bigoted dicks either get their comeuppance and crawl back under their rocks, or learn better and do better. It's a place where abused kids get rescued, everybody gets therapy and healthcare and is paid a living wage, people learn to value themselves and each other, and protect each other and defend each other. It's kinky and queer (although I'm neither) and above all, if not entirely safe to be both, I'm trying to write both things as just being another setting on the dryer. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It's not a utopia, by any means, because there are still assholes and the government is still ... the government, and capitalism is still a thing. There's some danger, especially in the first book, and there are accidents and illnesses and the vagaries of life. In the middle of the series, I had spinal surgery and was out of commission for a few months and that made me start thinking more about my main character dealing with aging and the limitations thereof. There's a LOT of mental health issues and the working through thereof, and a lot of ongoing process. Nobody's perfect. The world outside is still pretty much what it is. But in the little corners where my characters dwell, life is pretty dang good, sometimes great.

It's a vision of a life we all deserve. It's the thing I loved about Star Trek's universe, where people's basic needs are cared for and the obstacles to them developing their best selves removed. It's what I've loved about science fiction in general, especially Ursula LeGuin's: that opportunity to explore possibilities that are better than the present. It's modeled on the MacArthur Genius grants, but you don't have to prove your worthiness first. My main character invests in people's potential, young or old, with scholarships and grants and a steadying hand. His partner builds low or no-cost housing for people in need. There's an informal network of queer and straight kid rescuing going on under the noses of unfriendly governments and failed social service safety nets. The main characters build refuges, literal and emotional. They love each other fiercely and respectfully.

Right now, we're living in a country that is almost the antithesis of these ideas, for far too many of us. People are being manipulated by their fears, which are stoked by unscrupulous, lying shitbag politicians whose all too real evil would never make it past the pitch if you were going to try to sell it as a TV show or movie. They're consciously turning us on each other with lies about our common humanity, about the state of our country, about who and what's responsible for many of its faults, sewing suspicion and hate. And though the Yooperverse started as my personal comfort fic, I'm trying in my very small way to counteract what's happening in the world right now.

I've always believed in the power of story to change people's minds and lives, and I've experienced it myself. When I talk about story, I don't just mean fiction, though. I mean the narratives we tell ourselves and others about our own lives as a whole and day by day or moment by moment. I mean the stories we tell about each other when we're together, at the bar, at wakes, at a party. I mean the stories we invest in as fans in whatever kind of media we consume. I mean the stories we spin for ourselves and others to explain what the everloving fuck is wrong with the world.

Stories aren't separate from the world, they are the world. They tell it into being. They give it shape and purpose and meaning and a sense of possibility. Whatever stories we tell ourselves or each other about how things should be or how we should act as human beings (also called our "beliefs" or "morals" or "ethics"), they shape us, and we shape society. We are society, both together and as individuals. One person with a big voice and a story can tip a mass of people into either violence or solidarity.

I have no illusions that the Yooperverse will ever have that kind of power. It has a tiny audience on AO3 and Discord and it's mostly written for me to explore the things I feel deeply about, and wish I could do, and to teach myself to be a better person and live up to my own ideals. It's a world I'd like to manifest, to call into being, even in a small way. Even if it's just a story.

[yazthebookish]

I posted my take on the Lightsinger theory and Gwyn's "luring" powers theory on Reddit two days ago but thought I'll reshare it here (with some additional thoughts)

The only canon information we have on Lightsingers:

Nesta winced. Cassian went on as she scanned the bog, "There are lightsingers: lovely, ethereal beings who will lure you, appearing as friendly faces when you are lost. Only when you're in their arms will you see their true faces, and they aren't fair at all. The horror of it is the last thing you see before they drown you in the bog. But they kill for sport, not food."

Does this correlate with anything Gwyn did in ACOSF? The answer is no.

I am not saying it is impossible for her to be a Lightsinger though where things stand it's unlikely in my opinion, but I'd attribute any potential powers either singing or glowing to her River Nymph heritage. We have no idea of her powers and she's also half High Fae of course she'll have powers like every other High Fae.

I think a lot of the "canon evidence" are different interpretations of the text but sometimes try to present itself as concrete evidence or proof when it isn't. Some attribute her singing during the services as the cause to Nesta having vision of the Prison and the Harp, but that also means we will have to ask what connection is there between Lightsingers and the Prison/Harp? And some believe it's the lyrics that trigger the vision as they're written in the ancient language and "Nesta saw what the song spoke of". Some believe Nesta power reacting to the crackling energy around Gwyn is a sign that she is a Lightsinger, but like... that's an indicator she has powers just like how Nesta in a later chapter felt Merrill's ornerry power. How is crackling energy means it's a Lightsinger when we never saw them? Powers recognize each other sometimes, just like how Feyre was surprised when Eris was able to detect a cold flame in the Dagger Nesta forged when it was given to him as a gift (like calls to like, Eris also has flame power).

In the bonus chapter, it's described at one point that the Shadows danced with Gwyn's breath as if it heard some Silent MUSIC (emphasis on music and not song). What was referred to as Music between Souls? The mating bond. Interestingly enough it was that same night when Nessian consummated their bond and they were connected by a music between their souls. So that could be a hint, and at the end of the scene Azriel hears a distant beautiful singing and the shadows sing back, hard to tell whether if it's Gwyn, who went back to trying to cut the ribbon, starts to sing or it's also another wording for a hint at the mating bond (also called the Song of the Soul).

I'm more keen to believe it's the mating bond because there are far more parallels and similar mate language to support it across all her three series and if someone is going to tell me "but Lorcan's chest glowed after he took the blood oath from Aelin—" my love context matters in this case and it doesn't invalidate the 10+ examples I can pull out of similar mate language like in the bonus chapter.

To ADD, for Azriel to be lured to the library at 7pm because of said Lightsinger singing, he has to be able to HEAR the singing for the power to influence him and Azriel didn't hear any singing, he was conscious and aware of his actions. It was mentioned Nesta sang with Gwyn at the services frequently and she didn't make any comments on a vision being triggered or her constantly seeking out Gwyn so there are holes in those kind of conclusions—again, because we never see Lightsingers on page.

"But when he arrives to the library it chimed 7pm!! That's when they sing for the dusk service" welp that's another hole in the theory, it depends on Azriel being drawn to the library because of Gwyn's singing but if he showed up at the library and they don't sing until 7pm then before the clock chimes at 7pm, they weren't singing so... not a convincing answer. Also, Clotho is usually seen during those services and Azriel still found her at her desk.

Early on when ACOSF came out, some readers made connections between Lightsingers and Shadowsingers and made the assumption that Lightsingers are the Shadowsingers' Light counterparts. That's why you had people musing about Azriel's mate being a Lightsinger, but canonically Lightsingers are evil once we go back to the text but we don't even see them to know for sure how they wield their powers or if they even sing because Shadowsinger Azriel doesn't need to sing when he uses his power.

In an Elain book (in this scenario it's her and Azriel), I don't see any purpose of Gwyn being revealed as a Lightsinger or anything about her powers because it'll be used as a plot device for an Elain/Azriel romance rather than contribute to Gwyn's own growth and that's why I don't like it. It will have implications on Nesta and the Valkyries dynamic too. If that's the case it will mean Gwyn will need more page time in an Elain and Azriel book to tackle something like that, especially if they're going to "help" her since that's the reasoning I see often—that she's not evil but she doesn't know it and if she did they will help her but like... why? To make her realize she has been keeping them apart or that she wanted a necklace she didn't even have any clue about.

Given Gwyn's history who even at the end of the book said despite training it didn't erase the fact that she let her sister die, she is still dealing with survivor's guilt, she still refuses to wear the priestesses stone, and also her desire to leave the library and see the world (which we didn't see yet). She has a lot of promise as a character than be a plot device for someone else's relationship.

The way I see it, Gwyn's theoretical powers is used to absolve Azriel of any accountability for his actions (ala Necklacegate) because it's not a good look on him, so it's better to pin it on someone else by saying he was lured against his will (since I often see that the reasoning behind her presence in the bonus chapter is to hint at her powers).

So if I have to read about Gwyn dealing with her powers whether they're good or bad, I'd rather see it from her point of view and for it to be beneficial for her own personal arc and healing journey. My problem isn't her having questionable powers (which I don't mind because many SJM characters had questionable powers but used it for good), I don't want it to be used as a plot device for another couple just to smear her as a character and clear the actions of the other male character so his "love interest" doesn't blame him for his actions.

Whew, this was long but I adore Gwyn and I am not a fan of the current version of the Lightsinger theory. I think even if SJM makes it happen, it would probably play out way differently than the fandom expects.

Also, it's not in SJM's style to use other woman drama in her romances. The other women are often 💀 or insignificant past lovers. I don't see her taking that route with Gwyn at all.

She could be half Asteri and I would still love her and be eager to explore her powers and story, I just don't like it being used to further another couple's conflict or whatever (they already have Rhys and Lucien).

And no, I hate the idea of Gwyn being controlled by either Koschei or Merrill because it takes away her agency and the suggestion here is about her doing things that harms others, how will that not have any implications on Nesta and Emerie and the trio's healing journey? Given her own tragic history and the fact that she was helpless and powerless to help her twin sister and she's still dealing with survivor's guilt over it all.

"Why did you sign up for this, then?" Nesta drank the glass Gwyn extended. "If you already have mind-calming exercises you're accustomed to?"

"Because I don't ever want to feel powerless again," Gwyn said softly, and all those easy smiles and bright laughs were gone. Only stark, pained honesty shone in her remarkable eyes.

Her being controlled is putting her in a powerless position again because she has no choice but to do Koschei or "evil" Merrill's bidding that could potentially harm Nesta and the others. I despite it.

And if I have to read about any comparisons between Gwyn and Ianthe as proof that priestesses can be evil, I'll go insane.

Also, if Gwyn's power can influence anyone through her singing, it would've influenced every single person in the services. It would have influenced other members of the IC. This particular theory is weak and depends one interpretation of the text that tries to present itself as evidence of an evil creature that never even shows up on page.

Gwyn wasn't added in the bonus chapter by coincidence. Sarah confirmed she left crumbs all over the book and specifically his bonus chapter, and what we speculate may or may not be confirmed in the next book so you can't dismiss the bonus by saying it has no relevance when the author said she left crumbs for readers to theorize about, which leads me to believe she wants us to come up with different theories until she publishes the next book where we'll know for sure if we nailed it or not.

[theotheronedotorg]

Could we maybe get Mama Walker and a reader insert doing a little craft with the boys? Like they make bracelets to help remember their mom by.

When I got this ask, I had asked if the reader insert should be my own, like how Mama is a reader/character insert or a reader insert from one of their own stories. We settled on a reader insert from their story series 'CoD Ghosts Cryptid Hunters'. I quite like it, and it's fascinating to read,,

Anyways, the reader's name will be left unsaid, but the nickname will be Val, for @brokenpieces-72 story reference.

However, to make this closer to my story-making, I'll be putting in a bit of a change. I also don't want to Copywrite (I don't know if you even can do that on here, so in case you can, I'm not risking it.) anything from their story, so that's why I'm making these changes as well,,

I hope this is close to what you had in mind, and I'm sorry if it's not what you wanted,,

I'll stop rambling now so you can read,,

--

"What was she like?"

David froze at the question, his body stopping like time had stilled. Logan seemed to do the same from where he sat at the table, colored wool strings and beads of all kinds spread out on the wooden surface.

Val, the boys' friend for about three weeks now, stared at the picture of Elias's wife. It was one of the few taken on their wedding day, and it was clear, even though the darling dress made her look so elegant, that she was pregnant with David. The white fabric draped over her body looked like a marble sculpture. The white flower embroidery was like vines etching against the see-through sleeves and layered skirts that hid her legs and followed her in a three-foot drape. Her shoulders were bare, and the sleeves that ended at her wrists had a ribbon-like strap around the ends of the light, baggy fabric.

A loose, single braid wrapped around her head acted as a crown, with white flowers set in the crooks and the bends. The rest of her hair was set in a low bun with a few more flowers set in the beautiful fluffy mess. A few strands of hair framing her face made her youth at the time even more apparent.

Elias talked about that day a lot, even when Mama was still alive. He talked about how she smelled of Jasmine and Ylang-ylang. How her makeup was so perfect that it made her glow twice as much. He spoke about how her pregnancy that day was kind to her, how she hadn't had any pains other than the given back pains, and even that was merciful on her that day.

David took in a breath, his green eyes (a hue that his Mama's would constantly change to no matter what lighting she was in) glanced over towards the picture that sat comfortably on the table Logan was at. The mahogany frame had swirls and intricate designs that matched the photo's elegant uniqueness. The glass that protected the photo was thin and had a clear coating to it that left no smudges when someone were to touch it. Elias took extra care of that photo, even before her death.

"What was your mom like?" Val questioned once more, turning her head towards the two and pausing as she eyed their frozen bodies.

David let out a silent breath, pushing it out for the sake of his lungs. He didn't need them to feel like they were going to blow because he couldn't find the energy to breathe again. He couldn't take his eyes off the picture, and from the corner of his vision, he could see Logan curling in on himself.

"She- uh. ." David started, brushing off his sweaty palms on his pant legs. He cleared his throat slightly, the sting of hot tears appearing behind his eyes. Even though it's been about three years since her death, he still couldn't get over it. Not fully. Questions about her always made him want to cry. "She was kind." He pushed out, his throat feeling tighter by the second.

Logan nodded from where he was, his fingers pinching the strings that were typically used to make homemade bracelets. He'd generally stopped talking after Mama's death, but sometimes he'd let out a peep or two, just to let his vocal cords feel useful once more. But he'd mainly do that alone.

"She used to do a lot of things." Logan managed to let out, his gaze downcast as he felt the eyes of his friend and brother on him. "She used to be a hairstylist when we were little."

David felt a tightness in his chest greaten at his brother's voice. It was shaky and raspy from misuse and emotion, but it was his voice. He took in a sharp breath through his nose and moved to sit down with the two, taking a bead from the pile Logan had made and inspected it, his eyes scanning the little bird that was printed on the white surface of it.

"She had a lot of hobbies." David started, his lips turning up into a soft smile at the memories that sprang to mind. "Like bird watching. She'd go out in the mornings and just watch the birds, saying that was the best time to watch them because they were just waking up with their kids."

Val looked between the two from where she sat, her eyes saddening at the sight of the two returning to their depressive states. She didn't mean for them to regress. Honestly, she didn't. She just wanted to know more about the famous woman who birthed her two best friends.

She took in a breath and looked down at her pile, eyeing the assortment of colors and sizes of beads, a few of them having bird pictures on them as well. She picked up a white thread, eyeing it like it could solve life's secrets in one single word.

"What," she started, her words trailing off just as they slipped from her lips. She took in a breath and glanced up at the two, noticing how they looked at her. They weren't looking at her like they wanted her to stop talking. They were looking at her like they wanted her to express themselves. They must have gotten that from their mother. She'd seem like the type to have people express themselves instead of bottling up their emotions. "What kind of colors did she like?"

It didn't take long for the two brothers to lighten up. Making things for their mother was something they always loved to do. Getting their dad to buy her stuff on Valentine's Day was how they gifted her expensive items when they were little, and when they got the chance in school, they'd make her anything. Cards, books, pictures, poets, bracelets, necklaces, shirts, jackets. Things that she'd be glad to have and/or wear.

Making her a bracelet of all her favorite colors and patterns reminded the two of her personality and her clothes. For example, a solid pink bead and a white one with a fox head picture reminded the two of when Mama used to dress up in onesies, especially a pink fox, whenever she'd build pillow forts with them. A white bead with a picture of the sun was a memory of her taking David and Logan to a park where she and Elias would sit on a bench and watch the two play. A solid black bead and a white one with the picture of a squid were a reminder of times when they'd go to the aquarium, specifically for the squids so they could try and spot them from where they would be hidden.

David managed to tell the story of her funeral. She used to be a medic in the army (apparently, she'd done everything) and met with a group of soldiers who showed up at her burial. A captain, a lieutenant, and a sergeant. They had said she was the best person anyone could ever work with/for. The sergeant wasn't one to talk, but the boys knew sign, and he had stated how their mother used to treat him like a son before she had left the service when she got pregnant.

Val ended up learning so much about their mother that she honestly wished she had met her. She would have loved to have a mother like that. So involved with her kids and so happy to see them smile.

Mrs. Walker sounded like someone who would have adopted her if she could. She honestly wished that was something that would have happened instead of her meeting her fate at such a young age with boys who weren't even old enough to know what death was and a husband not ready to lose the love of his life.

--

I am so sorry! I never meant for this to get away from me! It was fun to make, but I'm still so very sorry for taking so long!

Taglist: @brokenpieces-72 @rerejunebug