#but i loved this title :)) if you have the original fic I'd love to read it!

[arkhammaid]

— ˚₊‧⁺˖ DEFINITIONS OF MUSIC.

fandom. formula one

pairing. charles leclerc x professional pianist fem!reader (fc: none)

about. y/n y/l/n is one of the celebreties who has gone viral during lockdown. when she publishes her first album, she raises a few eyebrows with a featured artist

content warnings. social media au, not edited/proofread

notes. this is a very self-indulgent fic... so you all better love it or else 🫵

YOURUSERNAME AND 3 OTHERS

liked by zendaya, hanszimmer and 14'083'874 others

yourusername and 3 others we're proud to announce the album DEFINITIONS. each of the 26 original composed pieces embrace the title itself, the feeling of these words. they're defined by our language and passion, a gift from us to you.

yourusername so happy our baby is finally out, thank you adrian, charles and jamie, for this partnership. i couldn't have done this without you!

hanszimmer This is music.

charles_leclerc And it's finally here! I had so much fun working on this, thank you @/yourusername for allowing me to be part of your project🥰

jamieduffyy absolutely incredible!! stream definitions now!!!

zendaya I'm sobbing over the whole alphabeth, who would've thought... this is 🤯🤯

user holyyyyy shittttttt

user 26 SONGS??? AND MOST OF THEM ARE OVER 4 MINS LONG WE'RE GETTING SPOILED FR

haileybieber listening this on repeat and still getting shivers, this is incredible work 💗

user the butterfly effect is so real here...

⤷ user if you told me i'd follow this one tiktoker because she went viral with her piano only to become a fan of men who drive in fancy circles...

⤷ user SO I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S NOW AN F1 FAN??

user sobbing over nepenthe on repeat

user CHARLES WITH LEMAN?? HELLO??? AND THEN ALSO PHILOCALY??? MY MAN STAND UP AND STOP WRITING LOVE LETTERS

⤷ user what.

⤷ user for the love of god, please look up what the words mean... charles really thought he was slick with this one

⤷ user oh my god.

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Y/N Y/L/N SHOCKS MUSIC WORLD WITH CLASSICAL ALBUM AND FEATURED ARTISTS! FIVE PIECES OF THE 26-PIECE ALBUM ARE IN THE INTERNATIONAL CHARTS. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 'DEFINITIONS'.

From Viral TikToker to Record Holder, Y/n brings Classical Music back in Trend.

By Sara Ristan | Published February 24, 2024

If you know anything about music, you know the current trends. Pop and Rap is what the current generation likes, with a few outliners. From the very beginning, Y/n seemed to be one of them as well. Her first release, 'A Sailor's Wish', has been trending along with 'Solas', by her fellow artist Jamie Duffy for many weeks.

Her other composed pieces never hit the same numbers, that was until she released a full album. 'Definitions' has 26 original composed pieces, mixed with piano and full orchestra. It's an album full of masterpieces, fully deserving the high praise it has been receiving the past few days.

Every piece in the Album is named after a rare word, each one of them beginning with a letter of the Alphabet. Most of them were composed by Y/n herself, her signature moves regognizable, if you're familiar with her music. If you wish to read a full analysis of the whole album, click here.

Notable, besides the mindblowing compositions, are also the featured artists. We have Adrian Berenguer, Charles Leclerc and Jamie Duffy- each of them well known in their niche. What has raised eyebrows however, is that unlike Adrian and Jamie, Charles himself. He's an athlete, a Formula One driver in fact and very well known. While his fans knew about his releases, singles and even an album with Sofiane Pamart, no one was prepared for the partnership with Y/n.

Especially the titles of the pieces, two of them speaking about love, one is even titled as 'Leman', which means lover. Are these two trying to give us hints?

Beside that, five of the 26 pieces are currently in the charts, having already gathered millions of streams within days. Absolutely mindblowing!

click to read more

CHARLES_LECLERC

liked by yourusername, zendaya and 3'099'738 others

charles_leclerc P1 in Driver Championship Standings, P1 in International Charts, P1 in your heart... I love you, mon amour

yourusername ugh, ugly sobbing crying rn, no one talk to me

yourusername i love you too you sap

⤷ charles_leclerc Guilty hehe

⤷ charles_leclerc Doesn't stop me from loving you, cherié

⤷ yourusername i never told you to stop

jamieduffy fucking finally

zendaya @/tomholland2013 why don't you write you love songs for me??

⤷ tomholland2013 you're the one who sings?

user WE WON!!! Y/N NATION WE FUCKING WON

user if you squint you can see me fucking dead BECAUSE WTF IS THIS THEYRE ACTUALLY TOGETHER I CAN NOT IM DEAD OH MYGOOODDDDDD

⤷ user lmao felt

user now we know how charles even agreed to y/n asking for a collab... he has always been down bad for her

⤷ yourusername you're so right

⤷ user OH MY GOD???

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taglist. @keyz-writes , @obsidianjewel , @aimixx , @themercyverse , @lem-hhn , @lupicalbestwolf , @akiraquote , @lpap , @lilypadlover , @adorablezhui , @peqch-pie , @namgification

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE TAGLIST? please send a non-anon ask to be added to the taglist. taglist can be general taglist (all fandoms and all works), fandom taglist (all works within the fandom), series (all works for specific series) or nsfw taglist (all nsfw works and all fandoms).

crossed off tags mean i can't tag you!

ARKHAM MAID 2024

[yanderenightmare]

this might be a stupid question but what are the rules of omegaverse? or like idk how to phrase it but what's the set up?

On Omegaverse

Not a stupid question! In fact, a really good question because the answer is anything but straightforward!

♡ Consensus still pending...

There aren't really any set rules in the Omegaverse, which is why, when reading an Omegaverse fic, there will often be a paragraph or two at the beginning of the story explaining the setting, rules, culture, and dynamics specific to that Omegaverse alone.

Even so, I'll try to explain the overall concept, as well as divulge some of the common tropes different writers use.

And so, first off! Plainly put, the Omegaverse is an alternate universe in which human beings can have an additional gender, referred to as the second gender—most commonly but not restricted to Alpha, Beta, and Omega. Across different Omegaverses, these second genders act as defining factors, often deciding social rank as well as playing a part in determining other physical, physiological, and psychological attributes of a character.

♡ Alpha, Beta, Omega, Whatnow?

Alpha, Beta, and Omega are ranks typically used within the hierarchy of a wolf pack. The general idea is that Alphas are the pack's leaders, with Betas as their second in command, while Omegas exist at the bottom as the lowest-ranking members.

I want to note really quickly that this view of wild wolves is an old conception and has since been criticized and debunked—something I'll write more in length near the bottom of the post.

But anyway, regarding the Omegaverse, this is still the general dynamic, wherein the Alpha, Beta, and Omega titles aren't only used to identify rank but exist as actual bodily differences as well—referred to as second genders.

And, while Alpha, Beta, and Omega are the token types in most Omegaverse settings, they aren't standardized. For example, Betas can sometimes be ruled out entirely to focus purely on Alpha x Omega pairings—while other writers might add even more types into the mix, such as Delta, Gamma, Sigma, etc...

There aren't any rules to this.

♡ Werewolves or nah?

Since the ranking system was originally taken from the wolf hierarchy, it's natural to think that the Omegaverse has to have something to do with werewolves, hybrids, or some other type of bestiality.

The answer to this is both yes and no.

In some Omegaverses, it's true that characters will be some or other version of werewolves. Hybrids with tails, fluffy ears, claws, etc—or shapeshifters who can fully transform themselves into four-legged canines—or any other type of werewolf you can think of.

This is all a creator's choice and up to them to implement or not!

As for other Omegaverses, characters will be described as regular human beings but with added instincts and characteristics in line with what second gender they have: Alpha, Beta, Omega, etc... Here, the whole wolf aspect of things isn't highlighted, though might still be used somewhat metaphorically.

There are no rules to this either. Only options.

Additionally, not all Omegaverse hybrids need to take after wolves alone. The range can be broadened to include any type of dog breed—Huskies, Labradors, Chihuahuas, etc. Here, apart from physical attributes, what type of dog a character is can also play a part in what type of personality they have. For example, Huskies are diligent characters, Labradors are fun-loving and playful, while Chihuahuas are uncharacteristically combative for their size.

I've even come across some writers whose Omegaverse includes any and all types of hybrids, having Alpha horses, Beta oxen, and Omega bunnies. However, I'd say this is less common and will more likely be referred to as hybrid au or something of the like.

♡ Characteristics!

Though there are no rules, there are some common understandings of how the different types of second genders tend to look and act.

Starting off with Alphas. They're usually described as big and strong and come forth as the designated leaders in society.

Personality-wise, they can be loud and oppressive but can also be shown as silent, stoic types who command the room simply with their presence. In any case, they're often very masculine and dominating, always marking their territory and striving to be the ones in charge, with a tendency to be very protective of what's theirs and rather aggressive when challenged.

More physical attributes other than strength and size may be added, such as an array of muscles and a gifted nether region, including the knot.

The knot is most common in Omegaverses that have a hybrid spin. In simple terms, the knot is a group of muscles found at the base of an Alpha's manhood, which swells up when they're close to climaxing to keep their partner from pulling away and so ensuring that their spend doesn't escape.

More traits common for Alphas in the hybrid Omegaverse are bigger and stronger fangs than their other counterparts, as well as larger and longer claws, better hearing, optics, and sense of smell—they're also faster, stronger, and often smarter than the rest. All reasons as to why they're considered the leaders in society.

But all in all, whether you include all of this or not, Alphas are considered the ones at the top of the food chain.

And at the bottom of that food chain, we find Omegas.

Often portrayed as small, weak, and meek by nature—Omegas are the opposite of Alphas. And yet, despite this, Omegas are also highly desired by Alphas for mating reasons. Although this isn't really taken from our understanding of how actual wolf packs work, it is often the case in the Omegaverse.

You see, in the Omegaverse, Omegas are considered highly fertile and domestic, making them objects of desire for Alphas. In turn, Omegas will usually want an Alpha—the bigger and stronger, the better��to provide, protect, and keep them safe from other Alphas.

Furthermore, Omegas are said to be very pretty, sometimes to an irresistible degree, and will often be described as cute and doe-eyed.

Hybrid Omegas have all the same physical attributes as Alphas, but smaller—so tiny teeth, short and sometimes dull claws, soft bodies without much muscle, etc...

Simply put, Alphas are large and dominant, while Omegas are small and submissive.

Now Betas, on the other hand, are a little more ambiguous...

Some choose to make them the odd men out, characters without Omega/Alpha instincts and needs—making them the normal humans in an Omegaverse society. Here, Alphas and Omegas are more or less an altogether different species than Betas.

Others choose to treat the second gender as a spectrum going from Alpha to Omega with Beta in the middle—here, Betas might vary from being recessive Alphas to recessive Omegas.

Others, again, portray Betas only as just below Alphas—so, still big and strong but falling just short of being the biggest and strongest.

Hybrid Betas will be described as something in between Alphas and Omegas, or simply as smaller Alphas—so moderately sized teeth, claws, muscle mass, etc.

There are no rules to this, but all in all, Betas are usually portrayed as being less desirable to both Alphas and Omegas—for these mentioned reasons and for further reasons we'll divulge now.

♡ Scents, Ruts, Heats and Suppressants

This is what makes up the charm in the Omegaverse.

Scent is basically the Omegaverse word for pheromones.

It's often the difference in scent that allows characters to identify and determine whether someone is an Alpha, Omega, Beta, etc. Moreover, scents are used to arouse and are often what induce heats and ruts, which we'll talk about shortly.

But first! Alpha scents are usually described as spicy and musky, whereas Omega scents tend to be described as sweet. Both, respectfully, are designed to attract the other.

Betas, on the other hand, are either described as not having scent glands the same way Alphas and Omegas do or have them but exude a very weak scent, which in some Omegaverses might be the very reason they're deemed as Betas—labeled as defective Alphas or Omegas.

This is all up to the writer. There can be many other descriptions defining the Beta type, each different from the first—too many to explain here. A writer can more or less make their own definition of what makes someone a Beta.

But in any case, Alphas and Omegas are often said to be indifferent to a Beta's scent. Likewise, Betas aren't affected by Alpha and Omega scents—either because they can't really detect them or because it doesn't affect them the same way, usually because Betas don't experience heats or ruts such as Alphas and Omegas do—though this can also be decided by the author.

Again, no rigorous set of rules applies here. It all depends on whether the Betas are portrayed as being normal humans in an Omegaverse society or something more like recessive or defective Alphas/Omegas.

But onto heats and ruts!

Omegas go into heat, whereas Alphas go into ruts. Betas, as I already mentioned, are often said to go into neither—but that's a choice the writer makes.

And, as you've probably guessed by now, there are a lot of different choices a writer can make here...

Omegas often have a heat cycle—meaning they experience regular and scheduled heats. You can think of it like the menstrual cycle. It doesn't have to be once a month or every full moon—it can be twice a year before winter and spring or once a year between January and April like female wolves have. Like many things, it's up to the writer to decide. But in any case, Omegas tend to go into heat on a regular basis.

Additionally, the scent of an Alpha can sometimes induce spontaneous heat in an Omega outside their heat cycle.

But what is heat exactly?

Well, heat is the time when an Omega is most fertile. When Omegas go into this heat, they're often said to feel horny for no apparent reason, often to the point of feeling frustrated and feverish, while exuding copious amounts of slick and scent in order to attract a mate.

The degree of these symptoms varies from writer to writer. Some like to portray heats almost like a sickness, describing a burning ache in the lower belly making the Omegas bedridden and damn-near delirious, whereas other writers make their Omegas fully functional, only feeling slight discomfort—while other writers incorporate both for different types of Omegas, some highly sensitive and others not so much. Again, same as with menstruation, some women feel high levels of pain, and others don't feel anything at all.

Ruts are a bit different...

Most writers treat ruts like the Alpha equivalent of heat—meaning it's when their libido is at its highest and their need-to-mate through the roof. But whether this is also based on a cycle or is simply triggered when encountering an attractive mate varies from writer to writer.

The symptoms of an Alpha's rut are also a matter of debate. Some writers make their Alphas go completely berserk, all manners of rationale gone, blacked out with only one goal left in their head: to mate until their ball's empty. Other writers make them simply become hot and bothered and a little more aggressive than normal. And some writers choose both, making their Alphas lose control over specific Omega scents while having less of a reaction to others.

But onto suppressants!

Sometimes called heat/rut suppressants or inhibitors, these usually exist in the Omegaverse and are sort of their version of the pill, only different and with more effects.

Heat suppressants or Omega inhibitors are often explained to minimize the effects of a heat or to prevent it completely, making them highly useful for sensitive Omegas that experience tough heats regularly.

Rut suppressants or Alpha inhibitors are, similarly, for Alphas who experience rough ruts or who are sensitive to Omega scents.

All in all, suppressants and inhibitors are taken to avoid the effects of ruts and heats.

You also have something called scent blockers, which, as the name suggests, makes the person who takes them dull their scent glands, making it so that they don't emit too much of a scent or cancel out their scent completely. This is useful for Omegas and Alphas who don't want to attract attention—and can be used, for example, to keep their second gender hidden from others.

♡ Pairing, Mating, Marking, Biting, and Bonding!

So, as we've already gone over, the most common pairing is Alpha x Omega. But it doesn't have to be that way! Anyone can, of course, be with anyone, even in the Omegaverse. Omega x Omega, Alpha x Alpha, Beta x Omega, Alpha x Beta, and Beta x Beta are all still valid pairs, as well as all other variations with the other additional second genders.

However, there are some things that will work differently or, in some cases, won't work at all.

First on that list are, as we just covered, scents, ruts, and heats.

As I said, Betas aren't usually affected by Alpha/Omega scents, but they can still feel attraction for them anyway! The same goes for same-second-sex relationships. Omegas won't affect each other with their scents, but they can still like each other despite that. Alphas, too, can fall for other Alphas even without them necessarily being affected by one another's scent.

The matter, then, of course, is whether they can satisfy each other when their heats and ruts come along. Generally, an Alpha and Omega are made to please the other, and so it's common to see writers make their Beta x Omega/Alpha pairs and same-second-sex pairs struggle with this—which is where using suppressants and inhibitors may come in handy.

Another thing that will work differently is bonding.

Bonding or marking happens when one or both in a pair mark each other with their bite, thus solidifying them as mates.

This, however, is commonly agreed that only works and happens between Alphas and Omegas, where Alphas will deal the bite to the Omega or both unto each other. This is often described as an irreversible act, forever binding them together as a mated pair.

Depending on the writer's choices, there may or may not be any merit in an Alpha biting a Beta or of a Beta biting an Omega—and even less in two Alphas or two Omegas biting each other.

And so, as you can tell, a lot of the Omegaverse rests on the idea that Alphas and Omegas are meant for each other and only each other—and therein lies the potential juicy conflict, which we'll discuss a little later, but first...

♡ Soulmates!

This is another common facet in the Omegaverse.

The soulmate idea typically rests on two concepts. We went over the first one: the bite that seals the bond between an Alpha and Omega for life. Here, Alphas and Omegas can more or less choose their soulmate.

Additionally, it's often a factor that after the bite is dealt, the Alpha and Omega in that bond will only affect each other with their scents and will only be able to reach satisfaction with each other when experiencing ruts and heats—basically making them fully dependent on one another forever.

The other soulmate concept is based on the idea that an Alpha or Omega will recognize the scent of their mate—at first sniff! Here, soulmates are predetermined and not chosen.

Both of these concepts can exist in one Omegaverse. Sometimes, the scent will be used to identify a soulmate but will still need to be confirmed and sealed through a bite or rejected by not biting.

♡ Culture, Society, and Politics

This is where you can really have fun!

When you have characters in ranks like Alpha, Beta, and Omega, who are supposed to be one thing, it can be interesting to suddenly make them the opposite.

For example, Alphas are supposed to be successful winners—but as we see in real life, not all those who have everything going for them end up with it all. So it could be fun to take the angle of a loser Alpha who hasn't got what he feels entitled to.

Or to have a really successful and independent Omega, who is generally only supposed to be a housewife for Alphas.

Betas can be a fun role to play with too. You can make them salty for not being Alphas, desperate to do anything in order to prove themselves—or you can make them happy outsiders who're relieved they don't have to participate in any of the Alpha-Omega nonsense.

Additionally, as we covered earlier, you can break the normal pairings. You can make Alphas who are sickeningly interested in courting only Betas—who almost seem to think of them as a conquest. Or Omegas, who're frightened of Alphas and end up only courting each other. Or Alphas who think everyone is beneath them and also decide that only those of their own rank are worth their time. Or Omegas who, instead of settling for just one Alpha, goes for two Betas, like in this fic:

♡ TWO BETAS, ONE OMEGA

And that's only breaking gender and social norms! We can also break the body norms! Such as suddenly making a really big and strong Omega and a small and cute Alpha. A dynamic I explore in this fic:

♡ UNNATURAL

♡ World Structure

There are many different types of Omegaverses. Still, I'd say we can categorize the Omegaverse by three different types of world structures: modern, primal, and dystopian.

Modern Omegaverses are reminiscent of the real world but with the added Alpha, Beta, and Omega dynamics.

Primal Omegaverse is where society is set out in the wild—this is also the type of Omegverse that usually features hybrids.

Examples of primal Omegaverse:

♡ SILLY LITTLE MATE

Dystopian is modern Omegaverse, but with laws and politics that support segregation between the second genders where Omegas are usually being oppressed and treated as lesser humans—this is the one I play around with most.

Examples of dystopian Omegaverse:

♡ TWIST OF FATE ♡ THE OMEGA INSTITUTION ♡ HARD-LEARNED LESSON

♡ Second gender and male pregnancy!?

I'm not an expert when it comes to this type of Omegaverse, but yes, male pregnancy is possible in some Omegaverses due to the existence of second genders.

This type of Omegaverse is popular in the Boy Love genre.

Here, Omega males can be impregnated by Alphas.

Male Betas, however, can neither impregnate male Omegas nor be impregnated by Alphas. They can, on the other hand, still impregnate any type of female.

Additionally, Alpha females can also impregnate Omegas. In this type of Omegaverse, Alpha females are often portrayed as futanari—meaning they have both sets of genitalia.

Rules to this vary, though I'm unfortunately not well-versed enough to explain it all. And so I'll leave it at that.

♡ Other Animalistic Elements May Be Included!

Impregnation may be referred to as catching, and babies as pups. Additionally, Omegas will often be said to carry litters, meaning more than just one pup—sometimes a lot more.

Scent glands exist on the wrists and in the juncture between the neck and shoulder—which is also where the bite is dealt.

Imprinting can be another aspect of things. This is something that happens as you grow up, often between childhood friends and siblings and with parents. Imprinting simply means that you recognize the scent of someone else as kin, trustworthy, or a source of comfort. Pets do this with their owners, for example.

A home, bedroom, or simply a bed might be called a nest or den. Nesting is when a character spends time in the nest, typically for Omegas during heat or pregnancy.

Other than that, I'd say there's a lot more one can implement in the Omegaverse. But this concludes the general idea of things as well as some further inspiration for those who might want it.

♡ Wolf Pack Hierarchy: Debunked!

Lastly, I want to clarify that the Alpha, Beta, and Omega ranks aren't really as relevant out in the wild as many would believe.

Wolf packs out in the wild are usually only made up of two parents and their children and, therefore, actually have a similar type of hierarchy to that of human families. Wolf cubs come of age before they turn three, at which point they'll leave their family pack, find a mate, and start their own pack. Leaving no need for ranks, just the simplicity of mother, father, and offspring.

However, wolf packs kept in reservoirs and captivity are different because they're usually much bigger, including not only relatives but random non-relatives, at which point a hierarchy is needed, which is where the idea of the Alpha, Beta, and Omega dynamic originally comes from—from humans studying a large group of mostly unfamiliar wolves held strictly in captivity.

This would be the same as locking a number of random humans together in a house and deeming the outcome a solid case study for what happens naturally when, in reality, it's the farthest thing from natural occurrence possible.

Of course, wolf packs of a larger number do exist out in the wild as well, though they are uncommon. But even then, the simple dynamics of Alpha, Beta, and Omega don't apply as straightforwardly as it sounds.

But anyway, here's a last fun fact about wolves: they mate for life!

♡ For more Omegaverse fics of mine: ♡ FEM x M INSERT ♡ GN x M INSERT

[sits-bound]

Bound: The Star Splitter by @oflights

If there is one thing I am not, it is patient. The minute I finished this fic, I ran off to ask the author for permission to bind it. I'm so happy I'll get to have this one on my shelf!

I spent a lot of time (for me, anyway) on the typeset. I wanted the chapter pages to be special but also was afraid that if I printed them in color, they'd bleed through (like what happened with The Man Who Lived.) But I didn't think I'd be able to fit the text block in my guillotine if I used a heavier weight paper.

Happily, I was able to use the heavier paper and the chapter pages and illustrations (by the absolutely incredible @littlewinnow) without any bleedthrough on the back.

I made the end papers with illustrations off pixabay and foil toner. Do I love them? Not as much as I wish I did. I may do something slightly different for the author copy. We'll see. (Mostly I don't love the color of the cardstock I printed on.)

So once I was happy with the text block, I had to think about the cover. I didn't want to do yet another navy book, so I almost went with black, but I decided to peruse the fabric store for starry printed fabric, and brought home a couple of options. I decided I liked this one the best.

I was also nervous about this because I've never used printed fabric on a cover, and I was worried how the title would look. So I reconfigured my original design to make it legible. Oh, and thanks Joann's for having this holographic HTV on clearance! I love how it looks a million different colors, depending on the light and the angle and what it's reflecting.

Now. Go read this lovely fic if you haven't already!

[hp-hcs]

call me black friday, 'cause i just got a helluva BOGO deal (pt 2 of this fic with the long-ass title) — overprotective! simp! riddle brothers x gender neutral! muggleborn! reader

well, gang, i finally did it. ten months later, and i've finally blessed you plebians with a part 2. after the immediate success of pt 1, i had no clue where to take this story, since i'd originally written it to be a standalone, so i just. didn't. whoops.

1.9k words

⚠️will not make sense unless you've read part 1!!!⚠️

warnings: it gets a little awkwardly raunchy? idk reader is just the most self-conscious thing on the planet, drinking, reader consumes alcohol, mild descriptions of wounds, discussed past violence/murder, kissing/making out while under the influence of alcohol, lotta background ships, is it ooc if they're not even canon characters? tom's voldemort's son in this one so he's just an amalgamation of ideas & also not canon

not edited

for the love of god please comment. fic authors thrive off comments and comments alone.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“The rules are simple,” Pansy said, clapping her hands together. “When it’s your turn, you spin the bottle in a circle. You have to kiss whoever the mouth of the bottle points to. It’s enchanted to land on the person you’re most romantically compatible with, and the bottle will become stuck in place until you kiss them.”

“I feel like that kind of defeats the point of Spin the Bottle,” you muttered to Hermione, who stifled a giggle. “Half the fun is seeing people who aren’t compatible kiss.”

But even Gryffindor’s token good girl elbowed you and dragged you over to the forming circle on the floor. Pansy, having crowned herself as the moderator of the game (mostly because no one else cared), went first. 

The party was being thrown in the Slytherin common room, in the Riddles’ honor. Although no one would ever dare snitch, everyone knew that what had happened to those two Gryffindor guys the week prior was directly linked to the Dark Lord’s sons. Even Harry, who didn’t condone murder (except for when he did it *ahem* Quirrell *ahem*), was willing to look the other way for the sake of those two known bullies’ untimely deaths. 

You’d finally been released from the infirmary wing, although your trunk was still completely wrapped in bandages and it hurt to move. You sat on one of the common room throw pillows instead of the bare floor, your aching body already protesting.

You forgot all about your aches and pains as the game started, though. Begrudgingly, you had to admit that the magical version was a lot more interesting. Or at least, there were fewer arguments and fights. 

(Cue lots of “aww”s when Pansy’s initial spin had the bottle landing on Neville Longbottom.)

Money exchanged hands from years-long bets when Harry Potter’s turn ended with him kissing Theodore Nott, and even more money was exchanged when Draco’s spin landed on Hermione.

Despite having made fun of the game earlier, your palms were sweaty as you leaned forward to spin the bottle. The glass Ogden’s bottle pirouetted for a moment before slowing, finally settling in place.

The common room went dead silent.

“Who’s it on? Who’s it on?” asked Seamus impatiently, ducking under his boyfriend’s arm to get a better view. 

“I… don’t know,” said Pansy, drawing her wand to cast a simple straight line charm. The magic glowing blue line sprouts from the neck of the bottle, casting outward and hitting the wall instead of a body.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Harry scratched his head. “That looks exactly halfway to me.”

Mattheo and Tom were both staring at the blue line that had landed right between the two of them.

“Welp, them’s the rules.” Theo shrugged tipsily, wrapping his arms around Harry’s waist and holding the Gryffindor in his lap. “Pucker up, L/n.”

Knocking your cup back for a boost of liquid courage, you gingerly clambered over stray legs and half-crushed red solo cups, trying not to injure yourself further as you made your way to the Riddles. Blaise Zabini offered you a hand to keep you steady as you crossed the circle.

Mattheo’s eyes were as round as saucers as you approached, his hands fluttering uncertainly over your waist as you settled on the floor in front of both boys. Tom had no such qualms, immediately reaching out to rest a ring-laden hand on your thigh. 

“Who wears a blazer to a party?” was the first thing out of your mouth as you took hold of Tom’s lapel. The usually stern man’s lips quirked up at the corners into a slightly dopey smile. You doubted that anyone else present even noticed it except for you and his brother, but you knew immediately that he was tipsy.

“Me, darling,” Tom murmured softly, his hand wandering further up your thigh. He gently rubbed his thumb against your inner thigh in a reassuring gesture. “Is this okay?”

You returned his gesture by resting a hand on his cheek and brushing your thumb against the corner of his mouth.

“Yes,” you whispered breathlessly. You didn’t hesitate after that, leaning forward and connecting your lips. You could faintly hear some of your friends letting out obligatory ooooohs, but you ignored them.

His kiss was uncertain: slow but deliberate. At some point his other hand had come up to cup your cheek, and you could feel the cold metal of his rings pressing into your skin.

When you finally pulled away for air, Tom’s mouth tried to chase yours. 

You turned to his brother, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him in for his turn.

Mattheo’s lips were slightly chapped. Distantly, you wondered if the wizarding world had Chapstick. Your fingers tangled in the soft curls at the base of his neck, your noses bumping into each other clumsily. You both giggled, and you felt his lips turn up into a grin against your own.

There was cheering from the other partygoers, who were happy to move on to the next victim of the bottle. But even as the game resumed, you found yourself sandwiched between the two brothers. You found you had no desire to return to your original spot across the circle. You and your boys were quickly forgotten as the group became focused on Blaise and Luna kissing, leaving you three in your own private bubble.

~~~

The revelry of the night continued without any further hiccups. While Tom had sobered up a bit—after all, he was still Head Boy, and therefore technically required to be responsible—Mattheo had continued to drink. A lot.

And he was sloshed.

At some point, he’d started kissing you again on the Slytherin common room couch. He was mostly just slobbering all over your lips, clumsily smooshing your faces together the way a child does with Barbies.

“That’s enough of that,” Tom grunted in displeasure, seemingly appearing out of nowhere to wrangle in his brother’s behavior. “C’mon, Romeo, up you get. Time for bed, before you do something you’ll regret.” He manhandled his younger brother up off of you and hoisted Mattheo over his shoulder. The younger Riddle just laughed, trying to pat his brother’s head in thanks, but ended up missing his target and accidentally smacking Tom in the ear. 

You reluctantly got up from the common room couch, trailing behind them as Tom carried his brother upstairs to their shared dorm.

Shutting the door behind you, you watched as he dumped Mattheo onto his bed, sighing as he got to work untying his brother’s beat up Converse. “Drunk idiot,” Tom muttered.

You laughed, coming over to help Tom undress Mattheo. Drunk Mattheo did not want to be of any help, so trying to wrestle his jacket off was like trying to undress a dead fish. When you reached for the buckle of his belt, he leered up at you. 

“Trying to get in my pants, pretty thing? S’alright, you don’t gotta be sneaky about it. Just ask, an’ I’ll give you the world.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Riddle,” you drawled. “You’d be expected to beg for that.”

“I love to beg.”

“For fucks sake, Matt, shut up!” Tom hissed, lightly smacking his shoulder. “You can flirt when you’re sober. Now is not the time.”

Dragging his jeans down his narrow hips, you steadfastly averted your gaze to literally anything other than your best-friend-slash-crush’s half-naked body. Since when did Hogwarts’ stone walls become so interesting?

“Tommy?” you heard Mattheo say in a soft and small voice you’d never heard before as you busied yourself with folding his jeans into a perfect square, just to have something to do other than stare at Mattheo’s body. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

Tom sighed affectionately once he was done redressing his brother in a clean shirt and a pair of pajama pants, making your lips quirk up in a small smile at the sight of the little cartoony quidditch players zipping across the charmed fabric. Tom leaned down to comb sweaty curls out of Mattheo’s face and press a kiss to his brother’s forehead. “Always, Matty.”

“Can Y/n join us?” he asked in that same soft voice.

Tom hesitated, turning to glance at your stiff and awkward figure. “Y/n? Would you mind joining us tonight?”

“Join you?” you spluttered, dropping the folded jeans square on the floor in surprise. Your voice sounded a bit strangled as explicit images filled your mind. No, no! Not the time, Y/n! Get it together!

“To cuddle?” he clarified, raising an eyebrow at your sudden clumsiness.

“Oh! Uh. Yeah. Of course.” You hurriedly turn away to take off your shoes, cheeks bright red in embarrassment.

When had you started thinking about your friends like that? you wondered.

With a wave of his wand, the older Riddle had managed to transfigure Mattheo’s bed into one a full size larger. “You want some different clothes to sleep in? I can find you some stuff.”

“Sure, that’d be great,” you mumbled. Tom nodded, opening one of Mattheo’s dresser drawers—which was a mess; half-open drawers puking socks and t-shirts onto the floor. Seemingly knowing how to make sense of the disaster, he immediately located what he was looking for and tugged it out.

“Here– you can wear these as shorts. They’re clean, I promise.” He tossed you a wadded up ball of fabric as he wandered over to his own armoire—everything inside was neatly pressed and hung according to color—to find you a shirt.

Instead of questioning why he wouldn’t just give you one of Mattheo’s shirts when he’d literally just been at the younger boy’s dresser—instead purposefully giving you a piece of clothing from each of them—you just unfold the ball of fabric in your hands. 

Oh, Lord.

Boxers. 

He’d given you a pair of Mattheo’s boxers to wear. The really loose kind, plaid in pattern. They reminded you of those muggle Fruit of the Loom kind you always saw in the non-magical stores back home. You gulped when Tom returned with one of his worn-soft casual button-ups. 

“Will you help me with my T-shirt?” you murmured quietly, not wanting to disturb Mattheo, whose eyes were clearly growing heavy as his breathing began to even out.

Tom nodded, waiting for your nod of permission before reaching out for your shirt. He carefully maneuvered the soft fabric up over your bandaged torso, chucking it onto the nearby desk chair once it was off. His fingers hovered over your bandaged ribs, where a line of red-brown had seeped through. Tom’s expression hardened and his jaw set. 

“We should’ve made them suffer longer,” he hissed, eyes tracing the tail of one of your wounds that peeked out of the top of your bandages and sliced across your collarbone.

He then dressed you, buttoning up his large shirt on your smaller frame. He politely averted his gaze, changing into his own pajamas, as you slipped off your bottoms and traded them out for the boxers. 

Tom helped you into bed, so as to not jostle your injured torso too much. You laid on one side of Mattheo while Tom laid on the other. Even with his excellent transfiguration of the mattress, Mattheo’s body still took up most of it, starfished out across the entire bed. 

Once you’d settled into bed, you whispered, “G’night, Tom,” so softly, you’d assumed he hadn’t heard it.

After a long moment of silence, you heard a quiet, “Goodnight, Y/n,” before Tom snuffed out the lamp on the bedside table.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

hey so fun fact i actually hate this

people who wanted a pt 2 like a year ago or requested it from my recent poll lol:

@babyyd0llll @leona-hawthorne @siriuslyobsessedwithfiction @justyourlocalfriendlydinosaur @yufufuyu-mindy-dreamon @pleasantlycrazyworld @amell333 @evanescentlover @like3gremlinsinatrenchcoat @slytherinboysappreciation

[percyweasleyapologist]

Hii!! Do you have any fic recs for Percy x Oliver? I’m not usually a golden trio era fan but I’m intrigued :)

(Ideally not too long and not too angsty)

YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PERSON

I gotchu

Okay so I had to include these two because even though they're long, i love them too much not to put them in:

good old-fashioned lover boy- @aeoneskova (I LOVED this one. It's definitely my all time favorite and you should totally read it! It's basically a fic through all 7 years of his time at hogwarts and it has amazing writing, fun original characters, and soooo much more!)

More than Alright - Always_Coffee (This one completes my top 3 list, it's AMAZING) It's a longer one that goes throughout the hogwarts years and after. It has lots of Penelope and Percy's friendship, angst, fluff, literally everything you should definitely read it!)

It's the truth- SquaresAreNotCircles (this account is great, check them out for more perciver stuff!)

Burn Across the Sky-MoonyTheMarauder1(beforethemoon) (This is a short one and it was one of my first perciver fics and although it doesn't have much, it made me go down a rabbit hole which ended with me being obsessed)

7 times Molly tried to set Percy up and 1 time it worked- wynniwirt (This is in my top  3 Percy fics. It's not too long but it's funny and makes me smile! Also i love @winn-wynn, she's the author)

Percy and the Weasleys and Oliver Wood- EvanescentLife (another fun fic that covers their hogwarts years)

The Oliver Fiasco- audrxyweasley (This is part of a series called 'A Series of Fiascos' by audrxyweasley, it starts with this fic and then continues from there. It's absolutley amazing with angst and fluff and i'd totally recommend that you read all of them :) and this is also in my top three, it's tied bc i couldn't choose)

Still think he's the weakest- Hhhhhheeeeeelloo1 (this is a cute little on shot that i loved)

Home for the Holidays- EvanescentLife (a muggle college au where percy and oliver go on a holiday road trip, it has so much fluff and it's just great)

Strangers- Jade33 (this is a series but it's so good!! it's still pretty short though.)

This one doesn't have a title but here's the link- Thewolfprincess (@guess1mjustheren0w is the author and she's one of my fav people on tumblr and she's such a good writer, I think she has one or two other percy fics that you can check out!!! It only has one chapter so far- but i'm excited for the rest :)

Also @elisedonut, @armadilloradio, and @sarkylittlemonster are some great writers that you can check out!! They have a bunch of wonderful perciver/ percy centric fics!

[physics-of-one-piece]

Oh gosh thank you for the tag physics, I'll make a post about my wips too, all art of course, but before I do that I need to know more aboit this one:

"I’ll build castles for you, my love (look at me, not my brother)"

All of the wips sound lovely, can't wait for them🫶

Aaaaa, @skullfacedlady I can't wait to see what you're working on! 💕🫶🏻❤️

Oh, "I'll build castles for you, my love (look at me not my brother)"

(sighs wistfully)

This is my baby. The original. The LEGEND. The one that started it all with the Rosinante's Wife!Reader trope. Where to even start with this one? First, I'd like to link all the posts I've made up until now about this fic, it includes scenes, as well, if you want to read them.

Snippets of Doflamingo x Reader in the fic ie first ever post of the fic, the og, the LEGEND

Things Doflamingo does & says in "I’ll build castles for you, my love"

Things Rosinante does/says in the fic + Rosinante’s thoughts before he dies scene snippet

Rosinante’s Crew (Crow Corps), scenes with them + scene of Doflamingo interacting with them after Rosi’s death

More scenes from the fic, including Rosinante x Reader Scene, Rosinante & Law Scene, Doflamingo x Reader Scene

Another Doflamingo x Reader scene from the fic

How Doffy shows acts of care for Reader by providing financially for her in the fic (though this is overall for his character)

Now, let's start on explaining some more about it. The title is inspired by that thought I had when I looked at these two Donquixotes side-by-side. Like. Reaaally looked. They look very similar to each other. Their faces are nearly exactly the same at FIRST GLANCE (they have distinctive differences but a normal person wouldn't notice that from a simple glance). Usually people would say Rosinante looks like Doflamingo, except here, you meet Rosinante first.

So to you, Doflamingo resembles Rosinante when his hair is down. It's only a second, but your eyes completely change for that split moment when you think he's Rosinante. And Doflamingo notices this - it's very easily noticeable. And it fckn... Annoys him. A lot 🤣. Bcs Doflamingo was never told "oh you look like your brother" it was Rosinante who always experienced that sentence. So it's a real punch in the gut for Doffy, including his pride. Especially as he falls in love with Reader. Reader has (understandably) preconceptions about Doflamingo. So Doflamingo needs to break that preconcepted image Reader has of him so she can truly see him. It's a new experience for him.

The fic, originally, at its first outline, was only Doflamingo x Reader. But then I wanted to flesh out the entire story and Rosinante & Law happened, and they became their own chapters, and fit into the story so well, and it was my first attempt at Rosinante x Reader and damn it pulled on my heartstrings.

The Doflamingo in this fic is the Dressrosa Takeover Doflamingo (he hasn't taken over Dressrosa yet at all when he meets Reader, he simply cuts his hair short and changes his entire style after entering the Grand Line in this fic)

Why?

BECAUSE I ADORE HIM. He is HANDSOME AS HELL. WOW. JUST. WOW. And I needed to write sth with him and the idea just came. He still has a bit of his upward spikes, so when they go down they cover his forehead probably exactly like Rosinante's. And that fucks up your mind. It's an absolute mindfuck.

The story can be separated in 4 Arcs, which are for now the chapter titles.

The Marine - Chapter 1

Rosinante x Reader - it spans throughs years of Rosinante's life in the marines + meeting Reader & getting married, ends with him going on the Donquixote Pirates Mission

The Sick Boy - Chapter 2

There are 3 weeks of emptiness between when Doflamingo tells Rosinante about the Op-Op Fruit and Minion Island. These three weeks are all in Chapter 2, where Rosinante takes Law to you so you two can care for him and keep him alive. It focuses on Law, Rosinante's death (the only Minion Island scene for now), and Law's journey back to you to tell you the truth of what happened - with a polar bear and two boys sneaking into the submarine with him on the way 🤣. It ends with Rosinante's funeral and Law officially forming the Heart Pirates. ❤️‍🔥

The Warlord - Chapter 3

Doflamingo x Reader - This one is finally very much Reader's POV focused, with a bit of Doflamingo's POV as well. This part covers the next nine months of Reader's pregnancy, and Doflamingo's visits to Marineford during the weekends. There are so many things here — fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, domestic life, humor, Doflamingo singing while he cooks in a pink apron with a flamingo drawn on it with "Kiss the flamingo 🦩"... Doflamingo knocking on your window drenched like a pink cat and stripping naked while your back is turned, Doflamingo being an absolute demon you should not mess with (but you do) but also a soft three meter meow meow 🥺. Also the best support during pregnancy. Seriously. He's great at that part. Also. Doflamingo's charming smiles. Doflamingo's puppy eyes. Doflamingo's. Fucking. Puppy eyes. Damn him (I say lovingly)

The King - Chapter 4

Doflamingo x Reader - Follows post-childbirth after Reader & Rosinante's child is born, and the next two years of Doflamingo & Reader raising the child and eventually the fall of Dressrosa and Doflamingo becoming its king... I can't say too much for this one cus I don't want to spoil it too much, but... It's good. So good. And is the last chapter of the story with a Happy Ending for Doflamingo x Reader. Also, 100% will try to write some smut for this chap, bcs I neeeed it at this point. 😩

Here is the summary I made for Doflamingo's Part ie The Warlord Part when I first thought this would just be a one-shot (ha, fool!)

Summary: To Donquixote Doflamingo, family is everything. A month after Rosinante’s death, Vergo delivers him damning information after he’d ordered a full deep dive into Rosinante’s fourteen years of absence — his brother had gotten married years ago. And not only that, his brother’s wife is pregnant. Doflamingo does something both impertinent and bold, just as any pirate — he enters the Grand Line with one goal — become a warlord, meet you, and be there for you during your pregnancy. He makes history, stealing and robbing Heavenly Tributes almost every few days, conquering the Grand Line and its underworld — and is made a warlord the next month.

As the pink flowers on the single pink cherry blossom tree in Marineford sway in the wind, so do the pink feathers of Doflamingo’s coat as he steps foot on Marineford a few days later to attend a meeting with the higher-ups — and meet you.

You don't need the curse of his protection or his blood money, or want him in your child’s life — your husband would roll in his grave. However, as a former Celestial Dragon and now a warlord, Doflamingo gains permission to visit you on weekends in Marineford, and not even Fleet Admiral Sengoku can do anything about him as the orders come from "up high". The newly appointed warlord is just as your husband described him as - stubborn, sadistic, enjoys mocking people, laughs at their suffering, and a manipulating schemer. As the warlord forces you to spend more time with him, you realise there is more to the older Donquixote than your late husband told you.

I'm trying to figure out which scene to send...

How about... The first meeting?

Excerpt:

You were about to tell Tsuru they brought the wrong pirate to meet you, but then, your gaze reached his face. You inhaled sharply, the thought coming before you could stop it because of the eerie similarity of the chin and cheeks, and for a split second you thought it was…

Rosinante.

But his skin was tanned, a bronze colour. And his smile... It was all wrong.

That wasn’t your husband’s smile. It was too sharp, too wide, too wicked.

Doflamingo was taller than Rosinante, but gangly and long-limbed like him. He was bigger than on his wanted poster. His hair was no longer long and uplifted like a dragon’s head, but instead the spikes were shortened, sticking upward.

Your heart picked up its beat, dread spreading in your stomach.

Evil emanated from every fibre of his being.

“There you are.” said Doflamingo victoriously, smiling all the way.

***

For what song would fit the fic... (Giggles evilly)

This one, Doffy is thinking this one 24/7

I don’t want to let your body go 🎶

Be my queen, I'll be your king 🎶

We'll be rulers I'll give you everything 🎶

I'll be your king, you'll be my queen 🎶

Unbelievers get down on your knees 🎶

We can rule the world 🎶

So be my girl 🎶

Thank you for the ask! Can't wait to see what you're working on! ❤️❤️❤️

Taglist: @fanaticsnail @queenmimi2817 @daydreamer-in-training

[ladyhoneydee]

Fic Recs - Expanding Hyrule Bingo!

If you're looking for some hot fresh recs that you may not have seen before, boy do I have the post for you!

For the last few days, I have been compiling answers for the @expanding-hyrule TBR Bingo Community Challenge! If this is the first time you're hearing of it, EH is a LoZ fandom project that intends to popularize a tag and create an archive for Original Legends, or LoZ fics, art, etc that create their own version of Hyrule, characters therein, and plot different from the canon games. The Bingo Challenge is a project to get people viewing and talking about more of these stories!

Of course, as a chronic overachiever when it comes to fandom, I got blackout on my bingo card. And because several of the works I counted aren't yet in the Expanding Hyrule Fic Archive, I felt this would be the perfect way to get the word out about even more cool works!

If it has a * asterisk, I had already read or been reading it prior to the announcement of the challenge. If two ** asterisks, I had already read or been reading it prior to discovering EH!

A1 - Recommended by a friend: Cycle of the Stars by @daeyumi

A2 - A genre I don't normally read: The Ritual of Lomei Labyrinth by @pocketseizure **

A3 - Caught up on a work: The Legend of Three by @fablesfables **

A4 - An incomplete project: Mark of a Hero by @amelias-zelda-calamity-quintet **

A5 - I made an Original Legends work: Too Old to Keep by @ladyhoneydee (me) **

B1 - Updated this year: Uneasy Lies the Chosen of Farore by @drsteggy **

B2 - Less than 5000 hits or 500 notes: Hero of the Dunes by @webhead3345 **

B3 - Picked because of the synopsis: Vessels by @ro-blaze **

B4 - A comic: Chained Truths by @mirensiart

B5 - Subscribed to an ongoing work: All That Hurts Us by @karama9 **

C1 - A familiar creator: A Link to the Stars by @abbyz-elda **

C2 - An Original Legends work not in the archives: The inconsistencies of fate by @stinkyguar

C3 - Show Us Your EH TBR: The Hunt by andrhars **, A Link to the Stars: Constellations *, Divine Gemstones by @divine-gemstones, all updates for ULtCoF, THotD, ALttS, AVftD, and CotS since Jan 2

C4 - By a mutual or someone I'd like to be a mutual: The Princess's Heart by @loz-untold-myths **

C5 - Multiple POVs: The Legend of Zelda: A Crossing of Stars by @ixtaek **

D1 - A new favorite: A Voice From the Desert by @avoicefromthedesert *

D2 - A reread: The Conviction to Save by @advocaado **

D3 - A fic: The Promise by @zeldaelmo ** (rated E)

D4 - A genre I love: In the Blood by @zeldaseyebrows ** (rated E)

D5 - Picked because of the title: Linkubus by RoughInTheDiamond * (rated M)

E1 - A compete project: Cherished by @sparklyhyperbole **

E2 - Last updated more than a year ago: Path of the Infinite by @shadow-djinni ** (rated M)

E3 - A new creator: Depth of Darkness by VeeLilu **

E4 - Less than 1000 hits or 100 notes: On My Honor by @pelicanpig **

E5 - Left a review in EH's Story Spotlights: The King's Lament by @transmascgerudo ** (rated E)

If you pick up any of these, I hope you enjoy! They all come with my blessing <3

[beaconfeels]

Fic authors self rec!

When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤ I was tagged by the luminous, lovely @lucky-bishop

Anniversary (Sterek. Rated M. 15,620 words) The title of this one ended up being misleading, because I originally just posted it as the first chapter and thought it was complete, but then I kept getting ideas and now it's a 15k completed fic that is going to get a sequel eventually. Features love letters, Derek getting to heal, and the lads being romantic AF.

Can't Fight This Feeling (Steter. Rated M. 23,812 words) This is my most popular fic on AO3 by kudos, so it's nice to know me and my audience agree on something for once :D This one has oblivious Stiles taken to a whole new level, and them falling softly and sweetly into friendship and love.

Frenemies with Benefits (Steter. Rated E. 11,629 words) This fic is pretty niche, so it's not my most popular one with readers, but this is a list for MY fave fics, so she makes the cut. Stiles is a fat, cis female in this one. See what I mean about niche? She and Peter are both bi and they have lots of good sex because I just felt like getting to see a fat woman get the dude and have a hot sex life, mmmk?

I Can't Heal you (But I'll Hold You) (Sterek. Rated M. 23,327 words) I finished this one back in 2015, but I still have fond hopes of continuing this as a series and making it a full crossover with Supernatural someday. It stands well on it's own though. Stiles is deeply traumatized after the nogitsune. Derek takes him on a roadtrip to help him heal. The beginnings of Magical!Stiles, the boys falling deeply in love, emotional hurt/comfort up the wazoo. What more could you ask for?

Live, Laugh, Read Smutty Gay Books (Stargent. Rated E. 12,209 Words) I love smutty queer romance, and Chris and Stiles being stupidly in love and pining unnecessarily for each other. Also, this was inspired by vids of JR reading things out loud for fans. Chris reading smutty books out loud would definitely kill both Stiles and all of us. Anyway, in my humble opinion this one's great fun.

I feel like I've seen most of the writers I know get tagged in this already. If you haven't and you see this, please do say I tagged you and share your fics! I'd love to see what people's personal faves are.

[sagan-starstuff]

What's the origin of your blog title? "We are made of starstuff" - Carl Sagan

OTP(s) + Shipname: Mulder and Scully, good old MSR. The one ship to rule them all, no one will ever do it like they did it.

Favourite colour: Basically all shades of blue

Favourite game: I don't really game much but I am playing Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild right now and it's pretty great.

Song stuck in your head: "Still Alive" by Jonathan Coulton thanks to my brother taking me a trip down memory lane

Weirdest habit/trait? I am pathological about keeping my nails short. It's not even a sex thing, I just haaate the feeling of having them more than like...2mm of overhang.

Hobbies: Reading, gardening, baking, slowly getting back into writing fic. I also have like....a dozen crafts/arts that I pick up for a month and then abandon

If you work, what's your profession? I'm a medical doctor. (IYKYK)

If you could have any job you wish, what would it be? Astrophysicist but somehow without all the math and computer science that seem to be required. I just wanna look at pretty pictures of space all day.

Something you're good at: I'm a pretty decent baker.

Something you're bad at: Talking coherently about my feelings.

Something you love: My husband and son. Chocolate. The feeling of the sun on my skin. The X-Files. Looking at the night sky. Walking around art museums.

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: The X-Files. Also microbes!

Something you hate: Anti-intellectualism. Unfairness or injustice. Hypocrisy. The current state of American politics. Raisins.

Something you collect: X-Files stuff! And Terry Pratchett books. And books in general.

Something you forget: Biostatistics. I re-learn how to do the calculations before exams, then immediately forget.

What's your love language? Quality time and touch.

Favourite movie/show: The X-Files, always forever. I also love Contact, The Princess Bride, and basically everything Studio Ghibli, 30 Rock, most Michael Schur shows (not The Office, though)

Favourite food: Seafood. I'll eat anything that swims/scuttles/clings to the side of a boat.

Favourite animal: Cats, owls, Highland coos. My specific dog.

What were you like as a child? Smart, shy, generally well-behaved, awkward around my peers, made furious by injustice or unfairness. Basically like now, just less well-behaved.

Favourite subject at school? SCIENCE!

Least favorite subject? None, really. I was decent at math, I just lost interest once I got past Calc I.

What's your best character trait? I like to think I have a sense of personal integrity. If I think something is unethical, unfair, or unwise, I refuse as much as I can to go along with it.

What's your worst character trait? Limited patience. The above traits also can make me a little rigid, and I've had to work a LOT on not just flat out telling people I think they're wrong, I've had to work on developing a sense of compromise and diplomacy.

If you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be? UGH my commute, there's so much construction and the roads in my city were laid out so poorly that it should NOT take a long to get to/from work as it does.

If you could travel in time who would you like to meet? Carl Sagan or Ida B. Wells.

Recommend one of your favourite fanfics (spread the love!): Shine On by @cecilysass, the whole time it was coming out I'd drop everything I was doing when a chapter dropped. One of the best Revival fics I've read. An AU, technically.

I stole most of this list from @randomfoggytiger because I'm laaaazy but participate if you like!

@baronessblixen, @dd-is-my-guiltypleasure, @welsharcher

@agent-troi, @amplifyme, @laurencem, @illaisland, @halfali3n,

@virtie333, @television-overload, @brenayla, @nachosncheezies,

@leiascully, @catharsisxf, @numinousmysteries, @frogsmulder,

@suitablyaggrieved, @loubetcha, @storybycorey, @rachg82,

@spooky-jordan, @borogirl, @jessahmewren, @skelavender,

@unremarkablehouse, @thefinalpaperheart, @redteekal,

@sigritandtheelves, @lesbianagentofnothing, @kiivitaja,

@unremarkablehouse, @freckleslikestars, @pianogirlxf,

@justice-for-queequeg, @scullysmywife, @xf-cases-solved,

@muldersfingers, @is-on-its-way, @sarie-fairy,

@lilydalexf, @thescullyphile, @teenie-xf, @touchstoneaf, @ellivia,

@trusttnno1, @settle-down-frohike, @thursdayinspace,

@sagan-starstuff, @b0oker18, @singeart, @bakedbakermom,

@slippinmickeys, @pookie-mulder, @thatfragilecapricorn30,

@deathsbestgirl, @calimanc, @goodshipsmulder, @vincentsleftear,

@aloysiavirgata, @pennyserenade, @dreamingofscully,

@xxsksxxx, @writingwell, @trans-spidey, @scullys-scalpel,@daynascullys, @precedex-files, @bakedbakermom, @msrafterdark @cecilysass

[perotovar]

get to know your moots

tagged by angels @guiltyasdave @kedsandtubesocks and @morallyinept ty bbs <3

-

what's the origin of your blog title?: my title is only visible on my desktop theme, but it's "white roses, black doves" which is a lyric from "take me back to eden" by sleep token

OTP(s) + shipname: halsin/astarion, frankie/santiago, thorin/bilbo, shane/tim, river/frankie, joel/tess, i have a lot lmao

favorite color: dark green

favorite game: baldur's gate 3 (no one is surprised)

song stuck in your head: "take me back to eden" because i started singing it when i read my blog title lmao

weirdest habit/trait?: biting my nails. i've tried stopping for years. fuck anxiety.

hobbies: playing video games, making gifs, making bracelets

if you work, what's your profession?: not currently! i'm a student.

if you could have any job you wish what would it be?: something in the film industry. cinematography, film editing, music, anything

something you're good at: i think i'm pretty good at being creative. not in any particular way, someone else would have to tell me lol

something you're bad at: at the moment, writing LMAO i can't get the words out, maaannn

something you love: i love a lot of things lol i'm having some arnold palmer tea/lemonade rn so i'll say that

something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: metal bands and pedro lol

something you hate: a lot lmao but right now, it's homework

something you collect: so much................. it's a problem. little figurines/funko pops, d&d dice, plushies, stationery, etc

something you forget: SO MUCH. it's the depression/anxiety i think

what's your love language?: acts of service/words of affirmation

favorite movie/show: narcos and lotr

favorite food: ramen

favorite animal: bison and bears!

what were you like as a child?: i was a relatively good kid, but i was a little shit too lol

favorite subject at school?: english, american sign language, and orchestra

least favorite subject?: math/science, but i appreciate these a LOT more in college

what's your best character trait?: i think i'm a good friend? again, someone else would have to tell me lol

what's your worst character trait?: i hold myself back a lot out of fear

if you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be?: today? i'm skipping class to do homework, so i guess i'd change that i'd have to do homework LOL

if you could travel in time who would you like to meet?: jrr tolkien

recommend one of your favorite fanfics (spread the love!): literally any of the frith fics people wrote 🥹 they're all SO amazing

-

np tags: @sp00kymulderr @for-a-longlongtime @quinnnfabrgay-writes @ozarkthedog @chronically-ghosted

@moonlitbirdie @userparamore @iero @morallyinept @sin-djarin

@covetyou @arthurhowlett @reedrchards @lotusbxtch @wolvieispunk

@gasolinerainbowpuddles @djarinmuse @almostfoxglove @schnarfer @missredherring

@agentmarcuspike @ghostofaboy @bonezone44 @yopossum and anyone else that wants to <3

[beefrobeefcal]

get to know your moots!

ty for the FULL PRESSURE TAG @strang3lov3 🥩💜🐛

what's the origin of your blog title?: it came about bc I saw Pedro looking beefier... and thusly - BEEFRO BEEFCAL

OTP(s) + shipname: Gomez & Morticia Addams GORTICIA or MOMEZ

favorite color: neon hurt your eyeballs violet or pink

favorite game: hide and go seek.

song stuck in your head: I have TING A LING A LOO by Benny Hill stuck in my head atm

weirdest habit/trait?: I wave at the TV/screen when someone dies in a movie/tv show.

hobbies: writing, making things in canva, doing my nails... i'm very boring

if you work, what's your profession?: I'm an administrator/educator for a not-for-profit organization.

if you could have any job you wish what would it be?: stay at home cat mom

something you're good at: I am good at making power points and abusing canva pro

something you're bad at: focusing

something you love: frozen pepperoni slices

something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: film studies. that and why THE RINGS OF POWER was wrong.

something you hate: costco lights, grocery carts with a bunk wheel, traffic

something you collect: So many things: nail polish, pusheen plushes, decorative eggs, pop art, fun purses, dolls, vintage playmobil, lego... the list could go on...

something you forget: to file my taxes (sorry CRA)

what's your love language?: I love to cook and take care of my beloved, and in return, I enjoy the same and quality quiet time together.

favorite movie/show: narcos, any of the ALIEN movies (and I do mean any of them), the boxtrolls, Mindhunter, Anchorman, Coneheads, ParaNorman

favorite food: pasta with a good chonk sauce, peanut butter on a spoon, cheese, rice bowls, nicely done toast

favorite animal: cats (obvi) and raccoons and platypuses, manatees, sloths, and baby variants of all of those.

what were you like as a child?: undiagnosed.

favorite subject at school?: english, history, art & biology

least favorite subject?: math can eat my ass and choke

what's your best character trait?: i'm hilarious.

what's your worst character trait?: I can be convinced to join into a bad idea easily and I have a reactive temper

if you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be?: there would be a hot dog stand outside my office.

if you could travel in time who would you like to meet?: I'd travel back to King Henry IIX and then show him how many great docs and papers there are about his daughter and not him.

recommend one of your favorite fanfics (spread the love!): The Devil's Backbone by @moonlitbirdie - I will never not sing this fic praises. I love it so much and I have read it many times.

NoPressureTags: @bitchesuntitled @noxturnalnymph @maggiemayhemnj @whocaresstillthelouvre @inept-the-magnificent

[sauron-kraut]

Get to know your Mutuals

Thank you for tagging me @perlen-gold! 🖤

What's the origin of your blog's title? @lvsifer and I were talking about a certain Middle-Earth cookbook with some truly funky recipes, unfortunately there were none for Mairon so we were like... What would he eat? He would definitely be into eating raw meat. Mettbrötchen are a German specialty, basically a bread roll with butter and minced raw pork (yes, you heard that right), preferably with pepper and red onions. So Mairon's Mettbrötchen was born - doesn't it just fuck phonetically?

Favorite Fandoms: The Silm fandom 🖤 I have never been truly active in any other fandom.

OTP(s) + shipname: Angbang (Mairon/Melkor). Most other ships I love/like are fucked up in a way that makes OTP sound wrong to describe them (not that an OTP can't have a fucked up dynamic of course!).

Favorite color: red, black, gold, rusty colors, yellow

Favorite game: Not a a gamer person.

Song stuck in your head:

Weirdest habit/trait? Super randomly talking to myself when I'm alone at home? Could be pieces of dialogue I'm planning for a fic, could be imaginary discussion scenarios with friends or coworkers... you name it.

Hobbies: Writing.

If you work, what's your profession? I'm a linguist specializing in language change, particularly grammatical change. I don't currently work in that field though; I work at a technical university in event management and student recruiting.

If you could have any job you wish what would it be? I'd work as a linguist and teach at university again.

Something you're good at: Learning languages quickly, imitating native accents in languages (other than English, probably due to my idgaf attitude when it comes to that, so have a weird mix of different accents in English mixed with a very slight German and Dutch accent. lol), teaching, public speaking, being thoughtful with gifts, cooking

Something you're bad at: Remembering birthdays, sometimes texting back, sometimes cleaning, MATH (oh god)

Something you excel at: being anxious, overthinking, understanding how languages are structured and applying this to learning them

Something you love: reading, poetry, writing, my apartment, partying, various altered states of consciousness from time to time, dancing, 80s music, techno, prosecco, cooking, food, Berlin, fandom, my mom, my friends, traveling

Something you could talk about for hours without off the cuff: linguistics, language change, The Silm

Something you hate: coriander and water melon

Something you collect: Nothing really that comes to mind.

Something you forget: birthdays, appointments

What's your love language? The concept of love languages has its problems but if I just use this to describe how I do express my love: giving cute gifts, cooking for people, listening to them, open communication, spending quality time together

Favorite movie/show: LOTR and MANY more, show: DARK, Sense8, The Sinner

Favorite food: so many different soups, kebap, pizza, STEAK, schnitzel, peruvian food, birria tacos

Favorite animal: three-toed sloth

Are you musical? I know how to play the saxophone and I did so decently. But I wouldn't say I'm musical.

What were you like as a child? I have to quote @perlen-gold here: An insufferable know-it-all.

Favorite subject at school? German, English, philosophy, biology

Least favorite subject? MATHS. And PE.

What's your best character trait? I'm honest and good at communicating openly.

What's your worst character trait? Avoidant behavior, procrastinating literally everything

If you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be? I would make the sun rise again so it doesn't feel like another of those depressing winter nights.

If you could travel in time who would you like to meet? I can't think of anyone I'd genuinely want to meet.

Recommend one of your favorite fanfics (spread the love!):

elektra by @lvsifer. What a masterpiece. Also please have a look at the fanfics I recommended here!

Last but not least, show your favorite fanart of your favorite character(s) (please remember to credit/add links!):

Mairon by @lvsifer

So many more art from talented and skilled artists that I love, but I had to make a decision here and this one will haunt me forever 🖤

✨Tagging @crackinthecup, @cilil, @elevenelvenswords, @admirably-abhorrent, @tauw-nu-fuin, @peasant-player, @blauerregen and @lvsifer

[expanding-hyrule]

To go with our Story Spotlights community project, it's time to launch Expanding Hyrule's first community challenge: TBR BINGO!

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

Rules

All works must by Original Legends to count.

You don't need to finish catching up with a work for it to count (outside of specific prompts), just enough to say a few nice things about it.

A work can only be used for one square across all cards.

Multiple cards can be submitted.

There are three ways to get entries in the prize raffle: A Single Line/Standard Bingo is 1 entry, a Full Card is 5 entries, and posting about the works you're reading is an additional entry for any completed cards. Be sure to tag @expanding-hyrule if you post about your Bingo entries so we can find it!

Completed Bingo cards need to be submitted by Jan 14th, 2025 to the included Google Form.

Challenge List

Letters are rows, numbers are columns, reading left to right

A1 - Recommended by a friend

A2 - A genre I don't normally read

A3 - Caught up on a work

A4 - An incomplete project

A5 - I made an Original Legends work!

B1 - Updated this year

B2 - Less than 5000 hits or 500 notes

B3 - Picked because of the synopsis

B4 - A comic

B5 - Subscribed to an ongoing work

C1 - A familiar creator

C2 - An Original Legends work not in the archives

C3 - Show Us Your EH TBR

C4 - By a mutual or someone I'd like to be a mutual

C5 - Multiple POVs

D1 - A new favorite

D2 - A reread

D3 - A fic

D4 - A genre I love

D5 - Picked because of the title

E1 - A compete project

E2 - Last updated more than a year ago

E3 - A new creator

E4 - Less than 1000 hits or 100 notes

E5 - Left a review in EH's Story Spotlights

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

Prizes

Several of our very talented creators have volunteered their time and talent to offer the prize pool you see below. If there are any creators who would like to add a prize to our prize pool, please reach out to the blog!

The prize pool works via raffle. After the form closes, I will begin the process of contacting our winners via DM from either this blog or @amelias-hart. Winners will have 24 hours to get back to me or forfeit their prize. After which, I will help coordinate you with the prize you picked. Entry requires providing contact information, so you must be old enough to have an account to enter.

Keep in mind creators have final discretion on what they are and are not comfortable creating. Be respectful of their time.

Writing

500 word drabble (In fandom, genfic to NSFW) - @drsteggy

500-1000 word drabble (French or English) - @karama9

Art

Fullbody color character drawing - @doubtfulloser

Flats halfbody character drawing - @hummbirds

Flats halfbody character drawing (with optional animal companion) - @nayru-s-clay-tablet

3-4 server emojis - @alternate-triforce/ @doomed-era

Half-size portrait of one or two characters, with gradient flats (will need character references or details) - @aheavenscorner

Other

500 word drabble or pencil sketch - @loz-untold-myths

[percyweasleyapologist]

Any chance you've got some good perciver fic recs?

Ah of course!!! I haven't read some in a bit bc i'm finish a longer marauders one- but here's some that I've recommended before :)

good old-fashioned lover boy- @aeoneskova (I LOVED this one. It's definitely my all time favorite and you should totally read it! It's basically a fic through all 7 years of his time at hogwarts and it has amazing writing, fun original characters, and soooo much more!)

It's the truth- SquaresAreNotCircles (this account is great, check them out for more perciver stuff!)

Burn Across the Sky-MoonyTheMarauder1(beforethemoon) (This is a short one but it was one of my first perciver fics and although it doesn't have much, it made me go down a rabbit hole which ended with me being obsessed)

7 times Molly tried to set Percy up and 1 time it worked- wynniwirt (This is in my top  3 Percy fics. It's not too long but it's funny and makes me smile! Also i love @winn-wynn, she's the author)

More than Alright - Always_Coffee (This one completes my top 3 list, it's AMAZING) It's a longer one that goes throughout the hogwarts years and after. It has lots of Penelope and Percy's friendship, angst, fluff, literally everything you should definitely read it!)

Percy and the Weasleys and Oliver Wood- EvanescentLife (another fun fic that covers their hogwarts years)

The Oliver Fiasco- audrxyweasley (This is part of a series called 'A Series of Fiascos' by audrxyweasley, it starts with this fic and then continues from there. It's absolutley amazing with angst and fluff and i'd totally recommend that you read all of them :) and this is also in my top three, it's tied bc i couldn't choose)

Still think he's the weakest- Hhhhhheeeeeelloo1 (this is a cute little on shot that i loved)

Home for the Holidays- EvanescentLife (a muggle college au where percy and oliver go on a holiday road trip, it has so much fluff and it's just great)

Strangers- Jade33 (this is a series but it's so good!! it's still pretty short though.)

This one doesn't have a title but here's the link- Thewolfprincess (@guess1mjustheren0w is the author and she's one of my fav people on tumblr and she's such a good writer, I think she has one or two other percy fics that you can check out!!! It only has one chapter so far- but i'm excited for the rest :) 

Soldier, Poet, King- Thewolfprincess (another one my @/guess1mjusttheren0w, it's still on the first chapter, but so good!)

Also @armadilloradio and @sarkylittlemonster are some great writers that you can check out!! They have a bunch of wonderful perciver/ percy centric fics!

[jeewrites]

Get to know your Moots!

Thanks for the tag @djarinmuse and @guiltyasdave 💕. Gave me flashbacks to those myspace surveys back in the day!

what's the origin of your blog title? this is my first tumblr and foray into writing fanfiction lol. coming up on my 1 year anniversary soon!

OTP(s) + shipname: DinLuke, even if I want the tin can man all for myself.

favorite color: orange like the Texas sunset (probably bc I'm a little homesick atm)

favorite game: making the students center clay blindfolded (ok, it's more like an "exercise", but I have a lot of fun with it okay?)

song stuck in your head: Fantasy by Mariah Carey

weirdest habit/trait?: i have to have a clean workspace before I make/create, so I usually start my creative practice... tidying.

hobbies: turning them into careers, lol. umm, ceramics keeps me occupied and I recently took up watercoloring. powerlifting is on hiatus after I tweaked my right shoulder.

if you work, what's your profession?: ceramicist/potter

if you could have any job you wish what would it be?: i... have the job I want. after 22 years of trying to find the thing that lights my entire soul up.

something you're good at: parallel parking. the loml once doubted my ability to squeeze the rental SUV into a spot and I nailed it the first attempt. he knows better now

something you're bad at: self-compassion (but I'm working on it)

something you love: that feeling when you hit a new PR on a lift or make the folks at the gym go 😮 when you do something for reps when they thought you were going to rep it once.

something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: cooking and recipe development

something you hate: white supremacy and settler colonialism

something you collect: notebooks

something you forget: i... don't remember? it's getting worse with age lol

what's your love language?: quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts (like doesn't have to be expensive, but I feel like gifts that hit are the ones where I didn't even know I needed/wanted. it's like being seen and the loml is an expert at this)

favorite movie/show: shawshank redemption (non pp related); triple frontier (pp related) is oddly my comfort show?

favorite food: sushi

favorite animal: capybaras

what were you like as a child? i was intensely shy until I was about 8, then I was... exuberant and probably more than a little annoying. i miss the amount of energy i had!

favorite subject at school? does basketball count? if not, calculus.

least favorite subject? computer science (more so bc of the teacher, than the subject)

what's your best character trait?: determination

what's your worst character trait?: insecurity

if you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be?: i'd make the period related fatigue vanish.

if you could travel in time who would you like to meet?: my maternal great-grandmother

recommend one of your favorite fanfics (spread the love!): this one is my comfort fic (Din x Reader) featuring my favorite tin can man. I've read it at least 4 times all the way through. The emotional journey of this fic is ::chefs kiss::

A Place of Safety by @/the_invisiblewoman on Ao3:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48440488/chapters/122182636

NPT: (I know a lot of folks have been tagged already, but if you'd like to play!)

@evolnoomym @burntheedges @katareyoudrilling @rebel-held

@tinytinymenace @toomanytookas @maggiemayhemnj

@almostfoxglove @nerdieforpedro @juletheghoul

@bloviating-vy @bageldaddy @intheorangebedroom

@littlemisspascal @secretelephanttattoo @schnarfer

@clawdee @iknowisoundcrazy @iamskyereads @christinamadsen

[gigabyte-flare]

Follow the Stars | Part 1

Summary: Pixel is a Proxy with a rather unconventional way of entering the Hollows: a battle android that she controls with her H.D.D.. When her best friend goes missing, seemingly lost in a Hollow, Pixel jumps at the chance to rescue her, but not before meeting a mysterious wolf Thiren that catches her eye.

Word Count: 4.3k

Pairing: Von Lycaon x Original Character

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. You are responsible for your own content consumption. If any of the following warnings trigger you, please read at your own risk. Minors do not interact, this story is 18+ only.

Warnings: Strong language, graphic depictions of violence, depictions of PTSD, domestic violence and emotional abuse (not perpetrated by Lycaon), masterbation, unprotected p in v, oral (m and f receiving), size kink, knotting, creampie

More warnings may be added in future entries

A/N: I had originally planned for this to be a reader fic, but the more I was plotting it out in my head, the more I realized that New Eridu is the perfect place for my OC, Pixel. This is very likely going to flop but I don't care; I'm very excited about this series. Based loosely on Chapter 3, Lycaon's Agent story and his trust events, I will be trying my best to not write the existing dialogue word for word, but in some instances, it can't be helped. This will be my first time introducing Pixel to you all and I hope you all love her as much as I do!

Title inspired by Come Alive by San-Z and Hoyo-Mix

Divider by cafekitsune

Pixel: Hey Rain it's me. Is everything ok I haven't heard from you

Pixel: Rain it's Pixel again, call me when you get this

Pixel: K Rain, this isn't funny please call me

After reading through my chat history from the last few days with Rain, I put my phone to my ear; Rain's phone just rings and rings and goes to voicemail, "Rain, it's Pixel. Please call me, I'm worried about you."

I hang up, gently tossing my phone aside as I put my feet up on my coffee table. I knew in my gut something was wrong. Rain and I have been best friends for years now, she would never just blow me off like this without telling me why. A part of me wanted to get PubSec involved but where she is one of the best hackers in the Proxy business, it wasn't worth the risk. That's not even mentioning that I, too, am a Proxy. That's just asking to get burned.

I turn on the TV to the news only to find that the trial against the Vision Corporation is just about to begin. Supposedly they had cut cost in the Metro expansion project by failing to relocate the residents of Canvas Street, leaving them to the mercy of their explosives and the Dead End Hollow.

Fucking money hungry pricks.

The camera pans over to the individual that is representing the residents of Canvas Street and my mouth unconsciously hangs agape. I'd recognize the pinked haired loud mouth anywhere: Nicole Demara of the Cunning Hares.

"What kind of mess did you get yourself into this time, Nicole?" I ask myself as I take a sip of the can of soda in my right hand.

Just as I set the soda can down on the coffee table, I hear my phone vibrate next to me. I reach to grab it, my stomach dropping upon seeing Rain's name in my Knock Knock notifications. I couldn't open it fast enough, however the wave of relief that had been rushing through me is cut short when I am greeted by what appears to be a completely blank message.

"… the hell…?"

Before I can even process what I'm looking at, another message from her comes through; blank just like the previous one. Followed shortly by another. Then another.

Then another.

Knowing Rain's skillset, I take my phone over to my computer desk, plugging my phone into it to inspect the messages. I was expecting to find encrypted messages, but to my surprise, the messages were truly blank. Just as I unplug my phone from the computer, another message comes through, only this time, it's not from Rain. It's from the last person I would ever expect to get a message from:

Phaethon: I need to call you

I scoff as I stare at the message in disbelief. I'm a decent enough Proxy, but Phaethon is legendary. They were one of the first Proxies to master being able to directly sync to their Bangboo to communicate to their agents in the Hollows; although if they saw what I'm running with these days, they'd likely shit themselves. Regardless, I'm friendly with Phaethon. For me, we have a friendly rivalry.

Still, I'm puzzled as to why they want to call me; I need to be cautious, this very well could be a PubSec trap. Unfortunately for me, my curiosity gets the better of me.

Pixel: Go ahead

Immediately after sending the message, Phaethon calls. I accept the call and put the phone to my ear.

"Phaethon, for what do I owe the pleasure?" I ask as I walk over to the sliding glass door to the balcony of my apartment.

"Listen, I need to make this short. I need your help."

I raise an eyebrow at the man's voice on the other end as I open the sliding glass door to step out on my balcony, "… go on."

"You know the Cunning Hares, right? We need you to meet up with them outside the--"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa hold on," I cut him off as I shut the door behind me, "do you have any idea how many Dennies they owe me? I'm not doing jack shit for the Cunning Hares!"

"Pixel please. Phaethon will pay you, now let me finish. We need you to meet up with them outside of a Hollow. Can you do that?"

I fold one of my arms across my chest, using my hand to rest my elbow on as my other hand continues to hold my phone up to my ear, "what's this about?"

"We've been trying to track down a hacker named Rain to decrypt a flash drive for us--"

"Wait a minute! Did you say Rain?! I've been trying to get a hold of her for days, do you know where she is?!" I frantically ask.

"That's what we're trying to figure out. Nicole's been getting these weird blank messages from her."

"I've been getting them, too," I reply, turning around and leaning against the balcony railing, "I tried to see if they were encrypted or something, but they're truly just blank."

"That's what we found out, too. We were able to trace them back to the Ballet Twin Towers."

"The Ballet Twins?" I once again raise an eyebrow, "that's impossible, they were engulfed by the Hollow years ago. She wouldn't be able to send any messages out if she's there."

"That's the thing, the top of one of the towers is coming out of the Hollow because it shrank at some point. We believe she's there."

"So where do I come into this? Isn't Phaethon perfectly capable of handling an operation like this?"

"Normally yes, but currently, PubSec is at my place."

Flashes of red and blue catch my attention from the corner of my right eye and I turn my head to look. I live in one of the apartment buildings just outside of Sixth Street, giving me a clear view of it and I can clearly see several PubSec vehicles in front of the Random Play video store.

"They're there right now?" I ask.

"Yeah… we helped a couple of PubSec officers in a Hollow not too long ago and somehow they were able to trace our Bangboo to our place."

Well, son of a bitch… the owner of Random Play is none other than the legendary Phaethon.

I can't help but let out a short chuckle, "well that was certainly a rookie move, Phaethon."

"Shut it. We should be able to throw off their trail, but we won't be able to meet with Anby and the others outside of the Ballet Twins Hollow in time. Hence, why I'm calling you, Pixel. Can you meet them over there at 9:00pm?"

I look at my watch, it's just past seven, that should be plenty of time to prepare.

"Yeah I can do that. Listen, Phaethon. I'm only doing this because of Rain, got it?" I reply, my voice firm as I stand up straight and walk back into my apartment.

"Thank you, Pixel. Anby has the flash drive we need Rain to decrypt once you find her. I gotta go. We owe you big time."

Before I could even reply, Phaethon ends the call. I slip my phone into the back pocket of my jeans as I reach down to the remote on the coffee table, turning the TV off before setting it back down.

"You sure as hell owe me, Phaethon," I say to myself as I walk into my bathroom.

I stand in front of my bathroom mirror, scrutinizing myself for a moment until I run one of my hands through my short hair. I'm nothing remarkable; brown hair, blue eyes, average height and unfortunately on the overweight side, tactfully hidden by my baggy t-shirt, complete with a faded print of the Starlight Knights. I honestly hate how I look, so I try really hard not to focus too much looking at myself in mirrors.

Knowing I'm going to have a headset strapped to my face for several hours, I lather soap into my hands and rub it onto my face before rinsing it off. I finish my business in the bathroom and walk back out towards my computer. Standing next to my computer is a large form that has a white sheet covering it. Phaethon has their special Bangboo they use to dive into Hollows, I use this.

I pull the sheet off, revealing what's beneath it. This is Pixel and she is an android. Having found her in a Hollow a couple of years ago, I believe she was dumped there by the Marcel Group. With her human appearance, synthetic skin and internal hydraulic fluid that even looks like blood, whoever made her wanted her to look as human as possible. I dressed her in trendy techwear with a neon blue jacket with hot pink accents and dyed her short white hair into a brilliant neon blue. Her eyes are blue as well, however that's hard to see with her eyes being closed.

The only clue to her true identity that I have is the barcode on the back of her neck and beneath that is either a model number or serial number: P1X3L. And that is where my Proxy alias came from. I had used a Bangboo like most other Proxies right up until I found Pixel and after Rain helped me program her to assist me in diving into Hollows, I took up the name of Pixel and never looked back. As far as anyone is concerned, this is Pixel, not my sad excuse of a human husk. Although, now that I think about it, I don't even remember what I was going by before I started going by Pixel; must not have been that cool if I can't remember it.

In addition to Pixel's hyper realistic features, both her arms are equipped with mantis blades. She's loaded to the brim with sensors and data regarding most of the nearby Hollows, although the data I have on the Ballet Twins Hollow is severely out of date; not a lot of Proxies go there. This will give me an excuse to collect updated Carrot data. Strapped to her thighs are two Ether pistols for when I can't use the mantis blades.

Placing my hand onto her shoulder, I give it a gentle squeeze, "ready to get to work, Pixel?"

I sit down in front of my computer, booting up my HDD system. I grab a series of wires with nodes on the end that I then proceed to stick all on my forehead, temples and behind my ears; these are neutral transmitters that I use to control Pixel remotely. I then grab my headset along with my headphones, putting them on.

Pixel is activated by my voice, so I say the command loud and clear, "Pixel, engage."

The headset on my face whirls to life, going through it's start up sequence before the words "Welcome back, Pixel" come onto the screen. Pixel opens her eyes and I can see the inside of my apartment through her eyes, including me sitting at my desk. Seeing myself used to really freak me out, but I've gotten used to it. I also used to get really motion sick when controlling Pixel, but thankfully that's no longer a problem.

I take a couple of steps forward, lifting my harms and flexing my hands, making sure my synchronization with Pixel is completed before I really start moving around. Once I'm confident I'm synced up, I ball my fists, grinning.

"Let's Rock!" Pixel and I exclaim in unison.

"UgggggghhhhhaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Billy cries out, throwing his hands into the air, "Anby, where's the Manager?! Didn't Nicole say he'd be here by now?!"

Anby glances down at the clock on her phone before looking back up at Billy, "yeah. It's not like him to make us wait like this."

Did something happen? Anby thinks while pacing back and forth.

Nekomata seems completely unbothered by the situation as she's currently grooming her cat ears, her two tails twirling absentmindedly. Anby lets out a deep sigh and continues to pace. She surely hoped that nothing happened to Wise; recently a soft spot had begun to form for him, their mutual passion for movies often bringing them together. His sister, Belle, is equally as nice; always full of energy and positivity. Her thoughts are suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone's voice, a female voice.

"Hey, sorry I'm late!"

Anby turns around, unable to hide her shock upon seeing Pixel approach them, her asymmetrical neon blue hair and unique clothes unmistakable. Didn't the Cunning Hares owe her an exorbitant amount of money?

"Don't worry, Phaethon is covering your fee this time around," Pixel says, seemingly reading Anby's mind.

"PIXEL!" Billy shouts, running over and wrapping his arms around her, "It's good to see you but… where's the manag--"

Anby quickly shoots Billy a glare.

Realizing his slip up he corrects himself, "I mean Phaethon, are they alright?"

Prying herself from Billy's grasp, Pixel brushes herself off before answering, "Phaethon should be fine. They found themselves in the crosshairs of PubSec so they sent me over in their stead."

A lump forms in Anby's throat at the mention of PubSec, but she recomposes herself, "we appreciate you coming, Pixel, even if Phaethon is paying you."

Pixel gives Anby a nod before walking towards the railing overlooking the Ballet Twins Hollow placing her hands onto the railing and leaning forward, "so, what's the situation?"

"We're looking for a hacker named Rain inside the Hollow. We believe she's in there somewhere. Most likely on the piece of the roof sticking out of the Hollow," Anby explains, gesturing towards the Hollow.

Pixel nods in acknowledgement, "I have a personal stake in this as well. Rain is my best friend. Do you have any Carrot data on the Hollow?"

"No. The one we have is severely out of date," Anby replies as she stands next to Pixel, crossing her arms.

"Same here… we'll make due. It's better than nothing; I can try to record new data while we're in there."

Pixel pushes herself away from the railing, turning around and putting her hands on her hips. Her gaze shifts to Nekomata, raising an eyebrow.

"Who's she?" Pixel asks, her gaze scrutinizing.

Nekomata stands at attention but approaches Pixel cautiously, "Nyah! I'm the newest member of the Cunning Hares. The name's Nekomiya Mana, but you can call me Nekomata!"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Pixel," Pixel replies before turning back around to gaze up at the Hollow, "now that introductions are out of the way. let's get this show on the road, shall we?"

I never envy the Agents that risk their lives in the Hollows. Even through Pixel's android body, I can feel the pressure of the Ether inside the Hollow. Just as we enter the Ballet Twins Hollow, I bring my right hand up and press a hidden button that's behind my ear, engaging my holographic glasses. They tell me a wide range of information; including etheric levels, heat signatures and Carrot data for the Hollow I'm in.

"So… where is your Bangboo? I've never heard of a Proxy entering the Hollow themselves," Nekomata asks me as she bounces to my side.

"These glasses are my Bangboo," I reply, the lie coming out smoothly has it has so many times in the past, "I reverse engineered them from bangboo technology."

That part isn't entirely a lie. When I found Pixel in Hollow Zero, it was Rain that helped me equip her with Bangboo technology so that I could use her to dive into Hollows. In truth, there wasn't a lot of work that had to be done; most of it was programming the glasses. Pixel was already corruption resistant and had a ton of Carrot data in her system. Pixel remains a huge mystery. With a few keystrokes at my H.D.D. back at the apartment, I begin recording new Carrot data.

"Do you think the rumor about the Ballet Twins is true?" Nekomata asks, moving in front of me and walking backwards.

My gaze shifts up to her, "what rumor?"

"That this place is haunted."

"Don't be ridiculous," I immediately rebut, walking around her to follow behind Anby and Billy, "there's no such thing as ghosts."

"Aww come on, meow! You have to admit it's a really interesting rumor!"

In that moment, one of my sensors goes off for a split second: an unknown heat signature coming from behind us. I stop in my tracks, turning around. Nekomata dramatically skids to a stop upon seeing me stop and turn around. She follows my gaze before darting and cowering behind me.

"What is it?!" she whimpers.

I don't see anyone and my sensors aren't picking up any other heat signatures. Despite this, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck and arms stand on end, suddenly very thankful that Pixel can't portray that. Anby and Billy quickly join our side, looking around.

"I don't want to alarm you all," I begin before turning on my heel and continuing forward, "but we're not alone."

"Is it a person or an Ethereal?" Anby asks, walking beside me with her sword at the ready.

"Hard to say, whatever it is tripped my sensor for only a second. Still, we need to stay alert."

We make our way through the Ballet Twins building, taking out an Ethereal or two along the way. That random heat signature from earlier is still fresh in my mind, making me uneasy. I can tell it's making the others uneasy, too. Eventually we come upon a large room, our steps echoing the expansive space.

"Does anyone else find it odd that we haven't run into that many Ethereals? You'd think a place where the Carrot data is so out of date would be crawling with them." I ask, stopping in the center of the room.

"I was thinking the same," Anby replies as she stops and addresses me.

Billy and Nekomata stop and turn to me as well. Billy scratches the top of his head and glances around while Nekomata takes a moment to groom her hair. I'm startled when one of my sensors goes off again; another heat signature. Same as before, it only popped up for a moment. I glance around myself, but I don't see anyone.

"We're being watched. Stay sharp guys," I say, rolling up the sleeves on my jacket.

Billy, Anby and Nekomata nod at me in unison, all of them taking out their weapons and looking around the room. A flash of movement catches my right eye and I immediately turn to it, deploying the mantis blades in my arms.

"We've got company! Ethereals!" I shout, charging at the Ethereal, leaping into the air and coming down onto them; one of my mantis blades coming down and piercing its core.

Despite my annoyance about the Cunning Hares not paying what they owe me, we fight together in perfect harmony; even with their newest member, Nekomata. We make very short work of the Ethereals, rendering the large room silent once more.

"That presence you felt before…" Billy begins, turning back to look at me, the anxiety in his voice heightening, "that was the Ethereals, right?!"

I shake my head as I approach them, "I'm not sure, something doesn't feel right. Don't let your guard down."

Standing in front of me, Nekomata looks down at both of my arms, the mantis blades still deployed, "are your arms fake?!"

"They're prosthetics, yes. I lost them in a Hollow years ago," I reply, another lie rolling easily off my tongue.

"Neat!" she says as she once again starts to groom her hair and her ears.

A flash of light from behind Nekomata catches my attention and I quickly realize something is hurtling towards her.

"Nekomata look out!" I shout, shoving her aside and bringing my right arm up to deflect whatever it was that was flying at us with my mantis blade.

A large spear-like weapon makes contact with my blade, however there is so much force behind the weapon, as I move my arm to deflect it, the various components of my mantis blade immediately shatter. The weapon spins in the air, impaling itself into the ground behind us. My arm sparks and makes whirling sounds as I try to move it.

"Shit!" I curse to myself as I look down at my busted arm, dark red hydraulic fluid dripping from it.

"It's a giant pair of scissors," Anby points out, pulling her sword out and taking up a defensive stance.

A loud clanging noise begins to reverberate through the large room, causing my breath to hitch. Anby and I spin around, my left arm returning to its normal state as I pull out one of my Ether pistols, pointing it at the source of the sound; a set of stairs leading into the darkness. As Billy and Nekomata cower behind us, I see someone come out from the darkness, stopping at the top of the stairs. From where we stand, I can tell he's a Thiren, admittedly a handsome one; his large bushy white tail swinging behind him. He's wearing a vest with a white shirt rolled up at his elbows, black dress pants, fingerless gloves and a mask that covers one of his eyes, his other exposed eye seemingly glowing a bright crimson in the darkness. What really catches my attention are his powerful looking mechanical legs. This is not someone to mess with.

"A wolf Thiren?" Nekomata whispers from behind me.

I tighten my grip on my pistol narrowing my eyes at him.

"You're all quite skilled. It's no surprise you were able to get through the building unhindered. However, I must ask you to leave. This is private property."

"Who are you?" I ask, my stance unwavering despite his smooth voice giving me chills.

"You are not in any position to ask such questions. I'll give you thirty seconds to explain your presence here before I--"

"WAAAAHHHH OH NO!" a female voice cries out before the sound of something crashing is heard.

A circular saw blade rolls out from the darkness behind the wolf Thiren, rolling down the stairs. All of us watch as the saw blade rolls before tipping over in front of us. There's a moment of awkward silence before our attention is back on the wolf Thiren.

He clears his throat before continuing, "in summery, the Ballet Twins are not open to the public and--"

More crashing sounds cut him off again, causing one of his erect ears to twitch towards the direction of the sound. He closes his eye and groans as a young girl steps out from the darkness, holding what appears to be a staff in her hands. Her green hair is in pigtails and she's wearing a maid outfit.

"How many times do I have to stress that the floors and one's weapon are to be kept in pristine condition," he growls, looking over at the young girl.

"I'm sorry Mr. Lycaon, I'm so sorry!" the girl whimpers, giving the Thiren and apologetic bow.

Lycaon… why have I not heard of him? I think to myself; I make a mental note to look him up later.

"Ugh… I'm so tired…" I hear another female voice from behind the Thiren.

"Ellen," he snaps, turning his head slightly to the left, "some professionalism, please!"

"Okay, okay…" she says as she walks up to his side; she's a shark Thiren with black hair with touches of red, also wearing a maid outfit; the giant scissors must be hers.

"Wait a second…" Nekomata suddenly says, stepping out from behind me and looking at the green haired girl, "Corin? Is that you?!"

"Nekomata! Anby! Billy! It's so good to see you!"

"Do you know them, Corin?" Lycaon asks.

"I don't know the blue haired lady, but I know the other three! They're the ones that saved me from the Hollow that I told you about!"

"This blue haired lady is our Proxy, her name is Pixel!" Nekomata exclaims as she gently places her hands onto my arm that's pointing my pistol, "it's ok, they're friends!"

I glance over at her, furrowing my brows before hesitantly lowering my weapon and putting it back into its holster.

"The Proxy that enters the Hollows herself. Your reputation proceeds you, Master Proxy," Lycaon says, his crimson gaze locked onto me; causing my heart to race.

He knows me? I swallow hard.

His gaze shifts from me to just behind me, "Rina, you may stand down."

My gaze follows his and I turn around slightly to be met with a woman that's floating in the air with long dirty blonde hair. Unsurprisingly, she's also wearing a maid outfit. She's accompanied by two floating Bangboos.

"Holy shit!" I cry out as I jump away from her.

She giggles, floating away from me, "your powers of perception are impressive, Master Proxy, you almost saw me!"

"She means you weren't even close!" one of the floating Bangboos follows up before both laugh wildly as they follow behind the woman who is now floating towards Lycaon and the others.

"Since you're not trespassers, that makes things easier," Lycaon says, descending the stairs, "allow me to introduce ourselves."

Rina joins them and they all stand at attention, facing us. Even through my headset, I can feel the immense regal aura coming from them. Lycaon clears his throat once more.

"We are Victoria Housekeeping."

Part 2