#but imagine the chaos those three would create

[mossycobblestonewrites]

DC X DP PROMPT #5

You know those ones where Damian gets adopted by the Fentons? Other way round -> reveal gone wrong Danny gets adopted by Talia Al Ghul.

Danny, after a bad reveal that he loses his friends and sister to in order to escape (they sacrificed themselves for him (taking shots, misdirections)) is tired and low on Ecto. He's hungry and he's so so tired. He's flying which ever way the wind takes him, just a little guy in the sky. And oh, what's this? Some Good Soup™? It smells a bit funky, but that's just flavor.

Talia find Danny bleeding green whilst drinking from the pits. She's feeling maternal (sort of) and Damian has just been brought into the world, what's another son? ESPECIALLY a Lazarus child?

Danny wakes up after taking a nap in his spicy soup to a woman that is more of a mother than his own had ever been (which,, yikes) and he's pretty happy. So what if there are assassins trying to kill him and him brand new brother (literally, that kid is FRESH) it's fun. It's enrichment 🤸 he probably needs to learn how to fight normal humans anyway. Talia doesn't even get mad when he accidentally kills the ninjas!!

He's only there for a few months before he gets another new brother! This one's a little weird, but he's also hurt so that's okay! Danny will support his healing journey!!

[dansemacabre]

i’ve been thinking about “sixer, it would eat you alive” since i read it and. man. every layer you peel back makes it worse. im not a bill apologist but. shit

if you (1) take it at face value, it paints bill as an apologetic murderer in his single (and maybe sole) open moment of regret. he doesn’t let his walls down often- only with ford do we even get to see the remnant of his galaxy, see the “actual remorse” ford describes, get just a hint of his origins. but he does it, because he thinks ford should know.

if you (2) take it from ford’s point of view, as something he committed to journal three, like. wow. imagine being so committed to a being that you’d hunt down and kill the monster that destroyed his home, only to (assumably) figure out later that that being was the monster. the small moments of trust, the “good times”, are so key to manipulation. how long did ford hold onto that one shred of vulnerability? no wonder ford stayed for as long as he did. in his eyes, bill was a survivor. ford wanted to survive too.

(slight tw below for unreality- any time i mention our reality, i mean “our reality” as a narrative device used in the book of bill as a proxy for the idea of bill being in our reality, since he can’t actually be in our reality. all of this is a fictional theory about a show/book with fictional contents!)

but if you (3) remember that “even his lies are lies” and absolutely Nothing bill says should be trusted. Whoo boy. if i read tbob right the book itself is being created in the theraprism (even tho it shows up with the ciphertologists at some point? idk that’s a whole other post). it’s meant to show what the reader wants to see; it manifests in our reality as what the collective fandom wants to see. so if we want to see truth, if we want to see where bill ended up and who he actually is, there’s a non-zero chance that the whole interaction was a complete fabrication.

imagine bill, stuck in the actively harmful, probably earth-illegal theraprism, once again being forced to be “fixed” and molded into something more palatable, being forced to conform no matter how much it hurts. (i know natural uncontrollable mutation ≠ just so much murder and destruction and chaos, but. you can’t ignore the similarities. bill has obviously been thinking about those silly straws.)

he looks back on everything that went wrong, back on his relationship with ford, back through every dimension where he wins. would that one moment, that one truth amid centuries of lies, have saved him from purgatory? if he had just been open? shown his damage? maybe he did think of his parents, or his henchmaniacs (especially the oracle). people who he might have once opened up to. maybe he just wanted to open up to someone again.

so in his own weird way, stuck in a cell, he reshaped reality again. in this reality, for this fleeting moment, he had been someone worth believing. and ford had listened, hell, ford had wanted to help. looking back, knowing how he treated ford, knowing how ford ended up because of it, maybe bill would have said the most honest thing he’d ever told ford: i am the monster, i am not worth your time or belief, and i will eat you alive.

[dragon-kazansky]

The song in our hearts

Lestat De Lioncourt x Female Reader

A musician with a heart that sings and an admirer who wishes to see his songbird thrive. Two beings in different worlds get caught up in each other when someone threatens to steal his songbird's spotlight. Loving Lestat isn't simple, and your life will never be the same again. What is eternity without chaos?

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Prepare to meet my plot device lol

Chapter Three - Third wheel

You're sitting at your piano in the empty theater mindlessly playing notes. The melody is new, something no one had ever heard before. You had taken the opportunity of no one being here to come to your familiar friend and play the tune in your heart.

You were so lost in the melody that you hadn't heard the door open and close. Nor did you hear the footsteps coming down the aisle of chairs.

The call of your name as your music ending shortly, unfinished. You sigh and look up to see the manager of the theater waiting for your attention.

“Yes?”

“I hadn't heard that one before,” he says, smiling at you.

You sigh again. “Of course not. It's new. That's not why you came in here is it?” You ask.

He laughs. “No. It isn't. I want to introduce you to someone.”

You can feel yourself wanting to groan. He knew how much you hated actually talking to people, but you wanted to keep him happy. He was, after all, your only chance to perform.

You stand from the piano and hop down from the stage. Jack, the manager, rolls his eyes at you. He often tells you off for doing that during rehearsals.

You now take notice of the man behind Jack. He's about your age, sandy brown hair, green eyes. You look from him to Jack.

“This is Noah. He's a singer.” Jack states.

You nod and look between them both wondering why he wanted you to meet this man. Plenty of people come and go from this theater, you don't usually meet them all personally.

“Noah has a request and I think it's a fabulous idea,” Jack goes on. “How would you feel about playing for him while he sings? You could be a duo!”

You stare at Jack. Noah is smiling softly from behind him. He takes a step forward and you turn your attention to him.

“I adore your talent. I have seen you perform several times and every time I hear you play I feel like all my worries melt away. I want you to play while I sing. I think we could go quite far together, perhaps even be good enough to see the world.”

Those were some strong words.

“I play solo,” you say.

“Hey now, give him a chance,” Jack says. “Look, you're our best performer here. Most of our audience come to see you play your piano. I think it's time to switch things up and try something new.”

“I don't want to try something new. I want to do what makes me happy,” you tell him.

He says your name with a smile, but you don't hang about to listen. You flee the theater and seek refuge in your dressing room.

You're alone in your dressing room for a good few minutes before you hear a knock on your door. You expect it to be Amelie perhaps seeing if you're in here, but usually she just comes in. You don't say anything for a while, preferring to stay alone if it isn't her. However, the door opens and someone comes in. You turn and find yourself face to face with Noah.

You frown.

“I'm sorry, but I couldn't leave knowing I'd offended you. Please just hear me out.”

You sigh softly and turn around in your stool. Noah takes a seat on the table behind him. “I know music is your passion. I've seen you perform many times. To be able to sing while you play… that would be a dream.”

“I play solo.”

“I know… you said that. I just… I think we could be good together. Imagine what magic we could create together. How many people would come to see us?” He smiles wide, excited by the thought.

It is clear popularity is important to him.

“I don't care. Music is all I care about.” And making Lestat happy with your music, of course. After that evening with him, he has been on your mind a lot.

“You can still play your music, just allow me to sing over it. Let me voice meld with your melody.” He speaks sweetly. Almost too sweetly.

“No.”

Noah sighs and then nods. “I understand. I'm sorry I disturbed you.”

Noah takes his leave. You sigh and slump down at your dressing table.

That following Friday you're waiting to get onto the stage to play your beloved piano, especially knowing Lestat would be watching. Perhaps he would permit you to go to his house again to play a duet with him. You certainly hoped so.

While waiting for your name to be called Noah comes up beside you. He adjusts his cufflinks mindlessly in the corner of your eye. You do not spare him a glance, keeping your eyes focused on your favorite instrument ahead of you.

“Good luck tonight,” he says.

You didn't need luck. You just needed your music.

“I'm sure you'll amaze the crowd tonight.”

You once again don't respond to him. Noah chuckles. You hear your name being called and you take a deep breath before walking out onto the stage.

Upon reaching the piano you turn to the crowd, but you're not really looking at them. You're only looking for one face. You spot him up in the boxes. You smile softly when your eyes land on him. He must notice your smile because he smiles too. Knowing Lestat was there was a comfort to you.

Lestat appreciated your music. He understood it. He understood you.

You take a seat at the bench and take another deep breath. Your fingers hover the keys. You imagine for just a moment that Lestat is beside you on the bench. You think about that night in his house when you made music together and how happy you felt in that moment.

Lestat knows.

You begin to play, a smile on your face. You're so ready to give a performance to be proud of, to make this a night to remember, not only for yourself, but for your admirer too. You wanted Lestat to enjoy your gift.

However, this would be a night to remember for all the wrong reasons. As you get into it, you're interrupted by a deep voice singing behind you. Not once missing a note you glance behind you to see Noah enter the stage. He walks to the center and sings with all his might. You stare at him with pure confusion. You did not agree to this.

Catching Jack’s eye off to the left side of the stage you can see him shaking his head at you. He doesn't look the least bit sorry. You turn your eyes back to the piano and try and focus on the music. However, that attention grabbing voice is making it difficult for you to enjoy your music.

Noah was owning the stage. People weren't listening to your music any more. They all had their eyes on Noah. Now, a crowd watching you wasn't your desire, but it was the thought that they were paying mkre attention to him than your magic that irritated you.

When you finished the piece you expected him to leave, but he didn't. He accepted the applause and then looked at you, urging you to keep on playing.

You stared at him with a frown.

“Play,” he says quietly.

You grit your teeth and begin playing the next piece. He smiled back at the crowd and then began to sing. For the next half house he sang though every piece of magic you played. He had taken your moment for his own and you hated it.

Up in his box, Lestat glared at the man. He gripped his arm rest so hard it began to splinter. Who was this fool who dared take away from your beautiful melody?

Lestat could read your thoughts. This was not something you wanted. You were upset that this man had taken it upon himself to perform with you without your consent.

That would not do.

The half hour of your performance felt so much longer to Lestat. He was eager to leave his box and go down to your dressing room, however, you were still playing and he didn't want to miss a moment to lay his eyes upon you, no matter how grating that voice was. Could this even be considered singing?

As soon as the show was over Lestat left his box quickly.

You hurried down to your dressing room as soon as you were free from the stage. You began to pace around the space of the room quickly. Amelie was first to enter. She was quickly to start chatting.

“I had no idea he was going to do that. I know you said no to his request, so I knew you had no intention of that happening. I am so sorry I didn't stop him, but it was too late. When I realised what he was doing I couldn't stop him, not without making a scene.”

You don't reply, just continue pacing.

The next one to enter is Noah, followed by Jack. You glare at Jack. “What was that?”

“That was me showing you how good we could be together,” Noah says.

“I wasn't asking you!” You glare at him and turn back to Jack. “I play solo.”

“I know, but surely it wasn't so bad to give it a chance.”

“You humiliated me!”

“You two work so well together,” Jack argues.

“No. No we don't.”

Jack calla your name softly, but it's Noah who speaks up. “Look, sweetheart, do you have any idea how adored we were? We had then on the edge of their seat.”

“They were on the edge of their seat because they were straining to hear the piano!” You bite back.

Noah laughs.

Amelie steps forward and rubs your arms with comfort. You lean into her embrace and let her soothe you.

“We could go global,” Noah comments.

“No. No, I refuse to let you spoil my moment. It's my music.”

“Look, that was the most popular you had been since you started performing here,” Jack tells you. “You need to let Noah worl with you. Surely you don't want to be stuck here all your life.”

“I like it here…”

Silence fills the room as they all look at you. Amelie is still trying to comfort you. Noah and Jack are staring you down. They want you to cave in.

There's a knock at your door and then a familiar voice. “If I may interrupt.”

You feel relief when you see Lestat slink into the room. He instantly makes his way over to you, pushing past Noah to reach you. You smile as he comes over. Lestat stands in front of you and uses his finger to tilt your chin up. He smiles.

“Are you alright?” He asks.

You nod your head slightly.

Lestat smiles and drops his hand. He joins you at your side. Amelie is shocked to see him here but doesn't say anything. You feel Lestat place his hand on your lower back.

“Who are you?” Jack asks.

“Ah, I apologise.” Lestat grins. “Lestat De Lioncourt. The sponsor for this pure talent in the room.”

“I've never met you,” Noah says, looking him up and down with a deep frown.

“I said for the talent,” Lestat retorts. He then turns to you with a smile. “Shall we go, mon chéri?”

You simply nod your head which makes him smile. Just as you're both about to make your exit, Noah steps forward. “I'm sorry, but who are you? Where are you going?”

“I don't think that's your business. Come, dear, let us go.” Lestat guides you out of the room.

As you leave the theater he puts his coat over your shoulders and walks with you down the street. There's silence between you for a little while, but then Lestat breaks it.

“Who was that man?”

“I don't really know. Jack, the manager, introduced him to me earlier in the week. He's called Noah. Claims he's a fan of my music and wants to sing to it. I tried to tell Jack I play solo… but Noah took it upon himself to join the performance tonight.”

Lestat looks displeased.

“Are you alright?” You ask softly.

He turns to you and smiles. “Yes. Do not fret. I shall not let that man take away your sparkle.”

“You told Jack you were my sponsor. I don't have a sponsor.”

He grins again. “You do now.”

You look at him in wonder. “Why?”

He chuckles. “Is it not obvious?” You shake your head. He chuckles again. “I want you to bloom.”

A warmth floods your chest as the thought that this man you have only known a short while cared so much about your passion. The smile on his face almost made you believe he knew just how happy hearing those words had made you.

“Thank you.”

“There is no need to thank me,” he tells you. “This is my gift to you.”

Lestat walked you home and did not leave until he was certain you were safe inside. Even then, he took his time heading back. He was not about to let some pathetic human man ruin your beauty.

@awanderingghost @theprettiesthead @cosmixstar @theblueslytherin @katherine2098 @sawendel @floofdeloop @sitkafay @bigbaddie45 @bluscryn

@secretisme4

[schemmentigfs]

Blue Faces, Red Tempers.

Summary: Melissa gets a taste of her own medicine when your son pranks her by painting her face blue before your weekly dinner with the abbott crew.

just a lil crack to celebrate season four that premieres tomorrow. 🤍 (not revised!)

The house was unusually quiet, the early morning sun barely filtering through the curtains. You were already up, moving quietly around the kitchen, trying not to make too much noise. The scent of freshly chopped vegetables and simmering sauce filled the air as you prepared for tonight’s dinner.

Your work family—Janine, Gregory, Jacob, Barbara, Ava, and Mr. Johnson—were all set to come over for the traditional weekly dinner. It was supposed to be a simple gathering, a night of laughter and relaxation. You just hoped that everything would go smoothly, especially since Nicholas had a habit of turning calm moments into chaotic ones.

Melissa, of course, was still asleep. She had pulled a late night with lesson plans and was finally getting some much-needed rest. Her hair was a wild, tangled mess against the pillow, and she was sprawled out on her side, snoring softly. It was one of those rare, peaceful moments in the Schemmenti household.

At least, it was until Nicholas found his way into the bedroom.

You were too focused on stirring the sauce to notice his quiet footsteps sneaking past you. A few minutes later, you heard him giggling from down the hall, and that was when you knew—something was definitely up.

“Sweetheart?” you called out, your voice echoing softly through the house as you wiped your hands with a towel, the remnants of dinner still lingering on your fingers. When no response came, you felt a hint of concern tug at your heart, so you sighed softly and headed upstairs, your footsteps light on the wooden steps.

As you reached the top of the stairs, the familiar creak of the floorboards beneath your feet sounded like a warning. You paused for a moment outside the bedroom door, taking a deep breath to brace yourself for whatever awaited you inside.

Pushing the door open, you were greeted by a sight that was both hilarious and slightly terrifying. There lay Melissa, dead asleep, and nestled under the covers completely oblivious to the tiny artist hovering over her with a small tube of blue face paint in hand.

Your son stood at the edge of the bed, his hands clutching the object firmly. The expression on his face was one of intense concentration as he prepared to embark on his artistic mission.

A rush of laughter bubbled up in your throat, but you quickly stifled it, not wanting to startle either of them. “Nicholas Alexander Schemmenti!” you scolded calmy, trying to keep your tone light, but the amusement and concern made it difficult. “What are you doing?”

“Mommy looks like she needs some paint!”

You couldn’t help but shake your head at the sight. It was both adorable and slightly terrifying to see your daughter with a paintbrush in one hand and her imagination running wild. You stepped further into the room, prepared to intervene if the chaos escalated any further.

Nicholas was being incredibly meticulous for a newly three-year-old, his tiny fingers streaking and smudging the paint all over your wife’s face while humming to himself. He had gone for bold strokes across Melissa’s cheeks and forehead, creating a bizarrely abstract yet charming masterpiece. The older woman didn’t stir once during the entire process. Not even when Nicholas decided to add a final touch—a big blue dot on the tip of her nose.

Leaning against the wall with your arms crossed, you couldn't stop laughing with your hands over your mouth and your eyes wide. But then, you realized what kind of storm would brew when Melissa woke up. Still, the sight was too precious to ruin, so you grabbed your phone and snapped a quick photo for posterity. She wouldn't mind later, would she?

You had to stifle a snort as you watched the redhead boy beam at his creation, feeling nothing but pride at his artistic endeavor. For a moment, you contemplated waking her up gently and explaining the situation. But… you decided to let your wife get a test of her own medicine, since she was a practical joker and never got what she really deserved.

Instead, you made a quick decision. You hastily removed any mirrors from the bedroom and the bathroom Melissa normally used. If you were going to let this play out, you were going to commit. You just needed to keep her unaware for as long as possible—at least until the crew arrived.

“Come on, Nick,” you whispered, ushering him out of the room before Melissa stirred. “Let Mommy sleep.”

Nicholas looked up at you with wide eyes, smiling as if he had just completed the Mona Lisa. “She looks pretty,” he whispered back holding your hand.

You ruffled his messy curls, trying not to laugh. “Yes, she does, bud.”

—

By mid-afternoon, Melissa finally woke up, still blissfully unaware of her new ridiculous blue face. You had managed to keep her distracted for most of the day, and she hadn’t once noticed that all of the mirrors were mysteriously missing. She wandered into the living room, still groggy, yawning loudly as she scratched the back of her head.

“Hon, why didn’t you wake me up earlier?” she grumbled, leaning against the counter. “I overslept.”

“You needed it,” you said, forcing a straight face as you chopped more vegetables. Her green eyes still looked heavy and glossy with sleep, and you could tell she was trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness.

Melissa scowled a bit, rubbing at her face absentmindedly—smearing the blue paint even further across her cheek. You had to turn away quickly, pretending to fuss over the stove as a laugh bubbled in your throat. “Yeah, yeah,” she mumbled. “So, what time’s everyone comin’ over?”

“Should be here in about an hour,” you answered, working hard to suppress your amusement. “Everything’s almost ready.”

She nodded, yawning again as she headed toward the bathroom. “I’m gonna freshen up, babe,” she called over her shoulder. You immediately panicked, moving quickly to intercept her.

“No, wait! Maybe…don’t go in the bathroom yet,” you rambled, waving her off casually. “I, uh, spilled something in there, and it’s a bit of a mess.”

Melissa turned and raised an eyebrow at you. “What? You spill somethin’?” she asked skeptically.

“Yeah,” you said quickly, nodding. “It’s a bit of a disaster. Let me clean it up first.”

She narrowed her eyes, but shrugged. “Alright, whatever. But you owe me a coffee tomorrow for letting me sleep in so late.”

You let out a relieved breath as she moved to the kitchen, completely bypassing any reflective surfaces. For the next hour, you managed to keep her busy while finishing up dinner, all the while making sure she had no opportunity to discover what had been done to her face.

The doorbell rang a little after five, and soon enough, the Abbott crew trickled in. Janine and Gregory were first, followed closely by Jacob and Barbara. Ava and Mr. Johnson, true to form, came last, with the principal dramatically announcing her entrance like she was arriving at the Met Gala.

Your wife, unaware of the blue mess still decorating her face, greeted everyone with her usual no-nonsense attitude. She was grumbling about how you’d let her sleep too long and how she hadn’t had enough time to properly wake up. Everyone else, however, could hardly look her in the eye without their faces twitching in suppressed laughter and shock.

“Hey, Schemmenti!” Ava called from across the room, smirking as she eyed the eldest. “Looking real fresh today. Did you do something different?”

The redhead’s eyes narrowed as she glanced over at her. “What’re you talkin’ about, Coleman?”

Ava smirked but shrugged casually, shooting a look at the others. Janine, Jacob, and Barbara were all biting their lips, trying their hardest not to laugh. Even Gregory was barely holding it together, his eyes shifting nervously and in an awkward manner as if he was afraid of bursting out in laughter and facing Melissa’s wrath.

“Nothing, nothing,” Janine said quickly, her voice squeaky with barely restrained giggles. “You just seem… refreshed.”

The second grade teacher grunted, raising a brow. “Uh-huh. Sure, lowercase.”

You silently wrapped an arm around your wife’s waist, fighting back a chuckle. She looked absolutely ridiculous, but surprisingly adorable.“Be nice to Janine, baby.”

“Fine. Whatever.”

Barbara broke the silence, her brow furrowed in mock seriousness as she tried to hide her amusement. “Shall we eat?”

“Yeah!” The entire crew chimed in unison, laughter bubbling up as they eagerly gathered around the table, ready to dive into dinner despite Melissa’s bizarre appearance.

Dinner was set up on the dining table, and everyone gathered around, trying their hardest to act normal. Melissa sat at the head of the table, completely oblivious to the paint still streaked across her face. You were honestly amazed at how long you’d managed to keep this going.

As everyone dug into the meal, the conversation was light and casual. But beneath the surface, the tension of suppressed laughter was palpable. Everyone kept sneaking glances at Melissa, their shoulders shaking from the effort of not losing it entirely. She seemed to sense that something was off, her sharp eyes darting around the room, trying to figure out what was so funny.

You could see the gears in her head turning. She nudged you, and you gave her an innocent smile.

“You’re too quiet,” she whispered. “What’re you hiding from me?”

“Nothing. Just enjoying the night, honey.”

You shot a wink at Nicholas, who was happily sitting at Melissa’s side, munching on his mac and cheese like he hadn’t turned the dinner into a comedic spectacle.

Finally, in the middle of a conversation about some ridiculous thing Ava had said at development day, Nicholas climbed out of his high chair and wandered over to his mother. He tugged on her sleeve, a big innocent grin on his face.

“Mommy,” Nicholas said in a loud whisper. “You’re blue!”

Melissa blinked down at her, her expression deadpan. “Huh?! What’re you talkin’ about, kiddo?”

“You’re blue!” the boy spoke again, giggling and pointing at her face.

For a split second, she just stared at her son, completely confused. Then, she looked up at the table, and that’s when the dam finally broke.

It started with Jacob, who snorted so loudly that his drink nearly came out of his nose. Janine was next, practically falling out of her chair with laughter. Barbara tried to maintain her composure but failed, her laugh spilling out as she covered her mouth. Gregory chuckled quietly, while Ava leaned back in her chair, smirking like she had been waiting for this moment all night.

“What the hell is goin’ on here?” Melissa asked, her voice dripping with irritation. Her eyes flicked from one person to the next, her brow furrowed in confusion.

You couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Lissa… baby… Nick… he painted your face while you were asleep.”

There was a moment of silence as your wife processed your words. Then, her eyes widened. “What?!”

She shot up from the table, nearly knocking her chair over in her haste to get to the nearest reflective surface. She stormed down the hall and into the bathroom, where you had finally replaced the mirror. A second later, a loud, horrified yell echoed through the house and the whole neighborhood.

“Oh, you’ve gotta be fuckin’ kiddin’ me!” The redhead shouted. “I look like a damn Smurf!”

Everyone at the dinner table dissolved into uncontrollable laughter, even Mr. Johnson letting out a rare chuckle. You covered your mouth, trying to stifle your giggles as Melissa stormed back into the dining room, her face freshly scrubbed but still faintly tinted blue in some spots.

She pointed at you, clearly annoyed. “You think this is funny, huh?”

You bit your lip, nodding as you approached her. “A little,” you admitted. “But you still look cute.”

She shot you a deadly glance, the look on her face practically screaming. Why didn’t you stop him? You just shrugged.

Melissa sat down at the wooden chair with a huff, her cheeks still faintly tinted blue despite her efforts to scrub it all off. She reached for her glass of wine, taking a long sip while glaring at everyone, especially Ava, who seemed the most entertained.

“I swear to God,” she muttered, shaking her head as she looked down. “One more damn laugh outta any of you, and I’ll—”

Before she could finish, another round of giggles erupted, this time from Janine, who was struggling to contain herself. Jacob, too, was snickering, his face turning red as he tried to take a sip of water. Barbara, who was usually the calm and composed one, couldn’t hide the grin spreading across her face.

“Alright, that’s it!” Melissa slammed her hand down on the table, making everyone jump. She turned to Nicholas, who was sitting beside her, completely oblivious to the chaos he had caused. Leaning over, the older woman gently placed her hands over his ears, covering them with care. “Okay, bambino, cover your ears for a second, okay? Mommy’s gotta say somethin’ to the idiots at the table.”

The toddler giggled, thinking it was a game, and nodded enthusiastically. “Okay, Mommy!” he chirped, his small hands coming up to cover his own ears under Melissa’s.

With Nick’s ears safely blocked, Melissa turned back to the group, her green eyes narrowing as she leaned in, her voice low and dripping with mock-threat. “You guys wanna keep laughin’? Keep it up. See what happens. I swear I’ll make your lives a living hell. Janine, I’ll volunteer you for every damn committee at Abbott. PTA? All you. Science fair? Hope you like buildin’ volcanoes.”

Janine immediately stopped laughing, her eyes wide as she waved her hands in defense. “Wait—Melissa, no! I—”

“Too late, Teagues,” she growled, pointing a finger at her. “You started this.”

“And you, Hill,” Melissa turned her gaze to the next target, her voice even more menacing, “I’ll throw every tech problem your way. Oh, the projector’s broken again? Guess who’s fixin’ it. All of ‘em. Every. Single. One. Even if they ain’t broken, I’ll say they are.”

Jacob’s laughter died in his throat, replaced with a nervous chuckle. “Okay, okay, message received,” the social studies teacher said, raising his hands in surrender. “No more laughing. Promise.”

“And Gregory,” Melissa said, her eyes locking onto him next. “You wanna keep smilin’ over there, huh? I’ll personally make sure you’re stuck with Ava in her damn bunker away from Janine.”

Gregory’s smirk quickly faded as Ava cackled across the table, leaning back in her chair like she had won some kind of victory. “That’s right,” she said smugly. “Ain’t nobody wants to stay with me in my bunker. Not even you, Gregory.”

The man’s face twisted into a grimace. “I-I wasn’t laughing that hard, Melissa. Really. Just… a little smile.”

“If you say so.” She narrowed her eyes, not convinced.

Finally, she turned to Ava, her annoyance reaching its peak. “And you, Ava,” she growled, her voice low and dangerous. “You’re already walkin’ on thin ice, so I don’t even gotta threaten you. You just wait—next time you leave the school for more than ten minutes, I’m tellin’ everyone about that talk you had with the man who came to inspect our school. You know the one I’m talkin’ about.”

Ava’s cocky grin faltered, her eyes widening in panic as she leaned forward. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Try me,” your wife said with a devilish grin.

At that, everyone went silent. The only sounds were the clinking of cutlery and the faint hum of the refrigerator as Melissa sat back in her chair, looking satisfied with herself. You couldn’t help but smile as you watched her regain control of the situation. Even with a face still tinged blue, Melissa Ann Caterina Schementi was a force to be reckoned with.

[twistedkans]

Yours - Part One

→ A Glorious Masquerade Malleus x Reader x Rollo commission for my bestie

Warnings: mild Rollo-typical psuedoreligious content Characters: Yuu (Reader), Rollo Flamme, Malleus Draconia Word Count: 1.6k

Part Two | Part Three

(Also available on Ao3)

༻ My Heart ༺

“I miss you deeply, unfathomably, senselessly, terribly.” ― Franz Kafka, Letters to Milena

────────────────────────────────────────────

“...Magic is such a troublesome thing. Wouldn’t you agree?” Rollo’s eyes looked through yours, as if analyzing your very soul. There was a fire behind his gaze, waiting to be ignited. It made you feel a bit self-conscious.

He continued without giving you the chance to respond. “I can only imagine how arduous it must be to spend your days surrounded by a gaggle of rambunctious, foolhardy mages.” His body was rigid, and his lips were pursed, curling downwards at the edges ever so slightly to form an almost imperceptible scowl. Expectant of a long-winded tangent, you kept your mouth shut.

“The world would be much better off without magic and the chaos it brings. Surely, you must have had similar thoughts?” As he spoke, he extended his arms out in an almost welcoming yet sorely off-putting manner, like that of a religious figurehead. His voice carried a similar authority that made you want to crawl in a hole and hide, but he almost sounded desperate at the same time.

In his mind, he knew he was right. You were just an unfortunate, magicless human stuck with a bunch of mages. They were nothing but wild animals that could snap at any moment, but you weren’t the same.

You were perfect.

And maybe you could agree with him, to a certain extent. All those overblots you witnessed—and had to deal with—were caused by magic, and plenty of other tricky situations you and your friends had found yourselves in had magic at their forefront. Magic was as spectacular as it was troublesome, but it depended on how it was used, did it not?

You did not say this to him. This didn’t need to be some deep conversation, and really, you didn’t want this to be a conversation at all, at least not with Rollo.

You brushed off his words with a shrug. “I’m used to it.” Though the man before you clearly expected more, that fire in his eyes blooming into something hungry, you didn’t dignify him with a single word more.

Rollo’s scowl morphed into a piteous frown. “Oh you poor thing. You have yet to realize the burden you carry.” His voice was soft and cooing, a stark contrast to the monotonous apathy that always spilled from his lips. It sent a shiver down your spine.

Rollo’s eyes fell shut as he took a single second to internally compose himself. “Worry not, my dear…friend, the pain such practices bring shall no longer reach you.”

There was a pause, and you had your fingers crossed that Rollo wouldn’t open his mouth again so you could leave. You didn’t want to be rude, nor could you afford to be rude and potentially tarnish your reputation and that of Night Raven College, but this conversation was an annoyance at best and panic-inducing at worst.

You didn’t trust Rollo, but you felt that he was already revealing more of himself than he would with others. As much as it deigned you to consider the thought, as little as you cared for anything he had to say, perhaps Rollo was just out of touch, isolated by his own views, and in need of someone he could talk to.

You could be that person for him, couldn’t you?

That was what he wanted you to think, without realizing it was what he wanted.

“I’ll keep you safe, Yuu.”

What?

“Hey, Yuu! You’ve got better things to do than stand around.” You were pulled from your thoughts when Grim jumped up on your shoulder and waved his hands in your face, which caused you to stumble back and land on the ground.

You groaned in pain. “Ow, Grim!”

But Grim was far too excited to notice. He created fireworks with his magic to show you, and you found yourself smiling and laughing with him. Your conversation with Rollo was pushed from your mind.

Rollo, however, could not keep his eyes off of you, for your joy was both a blessing and a sin.

“...Hmph.” Rollo held his handkerchief to his mouth as he spoke, and his sharp gaze was the only indicator of his foul mood.

That gaze of his, critical and filled with the fires of hell, followed you around the square.

And oh the things he wished to say, the things he wished to do, yet he too could not tarnish his reputation. Not yet. No, he could not let you see who he truly was.

They would pay, and you would be saved.

────────────────────────────────────────────

Laughter and dancing surrounded you, vibrant colors filled your vision, and the sweet scent of Fleur City delicacies made your mouth water. Everyone was having a good time, yourself included. Even when you didn’t feel like dancing or jumping around anymore, you were content to sit on the sidelines while Grim showed off.

Fireworks in their abundant colors and rays of spectacularity distracted you from all thoughts, and you were unaware of the presence behind you.

Someone’s breath tickled your neck, and a familiar low chuckle rang through your ear. It was only then you realized who had disappeared from the festivities.

“Hornton?” You tilted your head and were greeted by a pair of emerald green eyes and a toothy smirk.

“Are you enjoying yourself, child of man?”

And for a single moment, one that lasted an eternity, time froze. Your senses were starved, consumed, and overwhelmed by Malleus Draconia. The burning taste of fire, like the hot breath against his neck, or his lips on yours and what you imagined he would taste like. The scent of flames, of the forest, of death, pleasantly so. The lull of his voice, low and deep, melancholic like that of a gentle wind or light rain. The touch of leather as a finger ran along your jaw and grazed your neck in a way that gave you goosebumps.

Those emerald green eyes, brighter than any gemstone, staring into yours as if you were the most valuable treasure in the dragon’s collection.

You masked your nerves with a chuckle, but that didn’t stop the blood from flushing your cheeks. “Yeah, it’s been really fun. I’m just a bit tired…”

Malleus gave you a thoughtful look. His voice dropped to a whisper, spoken like a hidden secret revealed for your ears only. “Follow me, if you so desire.”

You watched him turn with a swish of his cape and walk off to one of the nearby alleys. It took you only a moment to gather your senses as your surroundings flooded them to enter the alley behind Malleus.

The sounds of Topsy-Turvy Square grew more and more distant as you traversed through the dimly-lit alleyway. Every sound put you on edge, but in your mind, you knew nothing bad would happen to you.

Those same emerald eyes were waiting for you, and you could tell the fae wore that same smile as always when you spoke with him. Something pulled you forward.

A hand reached out, and you took it, not thinking twice. “You came. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

“You knew I would,” you replied with a sweet smile that Malleus cherished in his heart.

There was silence, a comfortable quietude as you took in his features, from the strands of hair that fell past his chin, shimmering even in darkness like raven feathers, to the pale pointed ears with tips tinted pink, to his arms only covered by a sheer black fabric, revealing more skin than you had ever seen of him before.

You dared to step forward. From this position, you had to tilt your upwards just to peer at his face. He wasn’t looking at you, rather, his gaze followed the path through the alley from which you emerged. His voice fell to a soft, melodic murmur, almost as if he were talking to himself. “Indeed I did.”

Silence. Tranquility. Your own heart beating in your ears. Words caught on your throat.

Malleus finally looked down at you. To him, you were a treasure, something so precious and close to his heart that it ached for you every moment of every day. Even before he met you, he yearned for you. You were the missing piece in his heart, the one meant to be close to him, to break through the surface and discover who Malleus Draconia really is.

He was the siren luring you deep into the recesses of his heart, so that you may carve your name into his very being.

“I missed you, child of man.”

You could never realize the weight of those words on his heart. How it yearned for you.

Innocently, you replied, “I’m sorry if you wanted to spend more time with me today. We can go back to the square and hang out if you want.”

Malleus ran his fingers up your arm, stopping at your shoulder, where he gently but firmly gripped. “Do not apologize, it has been my pleasure to watch you enjoy yourself so much.”

The two of you never returned to Topsy-Turvy Square.

────────────────────────────────────────────

Harsh, uncalloused fingers gripped an ink pen with fervor. Sharp eyes followed each word as it was written with elegant curves and curls, with only the bright glow of a crackling fireplace for light. A single sentence was spoken with a soft, pleading tone.

“I love you, Yuu.”

I won’t let him take you away from me.

I can save you.

I will save you.

For all he wanted to say, there was nothing more to be said. He was aware of the dangers of such love, the sacrifice he was due to pay, and the torment he would put himself through for repentance.

And, of course, he was well aware of the horned fae who watched his every movement with piercing green eyes.

Just to spite him, he repeated himself.

“I love you, Yuu.”

[dee-writes-angst]

Crowded Battlefields: Lost Hearts (Eris Week Day Three)

FEATURING Eris Vanserra x Reader

SUMMARY sometimes we must hurt those we love in order to protect them... or at least, that's what you were always taught, seems Eris doesn't agree.

CONTENT WARNINGS angst, descriptions of battlefield/war-like setting, betrayal, hurt, absolutely no comfort, just pain here, guilt, poor bb Eris :(

AUTHORS NOTE happy day three of @erisweekofficial!!! I'm running a bit late with this one, apologies, but that just means you get two posts in a day!! As always, I hope you all enjoy! <3

The battlefield was nothing like you had imagined it would be. There was no glory in the chaos, no honor in the blood that stained the ground beneath your feet. The sky was painted in an unforgiving shade of gray, the air thick with the metallic tang of iron and the acrid smell of smoke.

But none of that compared to the weight of the guilt pressing down on you like a shroud.

Eris stood across from you, his amber eyes burning with a fire that had once made you feel safe, loved. Now, that fire was cold, hardened by betrayal. His usually sharp features were marred by disbelief and anger, and he stood rigid, as if holding himself back from crossing the distance between you. His hands trembled by his sides, and you knew it wasn’t from fear.

It was from the weight of the sword he was now forced to raise against you.

You tried to breathe, but each inhale felt more difficult than the last. There were no words that could ease the torment in his gaze, no explanations that would soothe the storm you had created by aligning yourself with Hybern.

He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but nothing came out. The hurt in his eyes, the confusion—it was all too much. You could almost feel his heart breaking as he searched your face for answers, for a reason why the person he had once loved more than anything was standing on the side of his enemies.

“Why?” His voice was a raw whisper, barely audible over the din of war behind you.

You swallowed hard, the taste of ash on your tongue. You had practiced this moment in your mind, how you would explain your decision to him, how you would defend yourself, but now, standing in front of him, words abandoned you. Everything felt like an excuse, hollow and meaningless in the face of the devastation you had caused.

“I had no choice, Eris.” It sounded pathetic, even to your own ears. “You have to understand, I—”

“No choice?” His voice was louder now, cutting through the heavy air like a blade. “You chose this.” He gestured to the carnage around you, to the armies clashing in the distance, to the torn banners of Hybern fluttering in the wind. “You chose to stand with them.”

You flinched at the venom in his tone, your chest tightening painfully as his words sank in. He was right, of course. You had made a choice. You had made the decision to betray him, to leave behind everything the two of you had built together, for reasons that, at the time, had seemed justified. But now, faced with the wreckage of your actions, it all felt like a mistake.

“I did it for survival,” you choked out, your hands shaking as you tried to hold onto whatever remnants of your resolve you had left. “I did it to protect myself, to protect the people I cared about.”

Eris’s laugh was cold, humorless. “And yet here you stand, leading Hybern’s army against the very people you claimed to protect.” His gaze hardened. “Against me.”

You couldn’t meet his eyes anymore, your shame weighing heavily on your shoulders. You had known the consequences of your decision the moment you had made it, but nothing had prepared you for the reality of seeing the pain in Eris’s face, the anger in his voice, or the way his hands curled into fists as if he couldn’t decide whether to strike you down or fall apart.

“I never wanted it to come to this,” you whispered, but even as the words left your mouth, you knew they weren’t enough. Nothing would be enough to undo what you had done.

His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “But it did. And now, here we are.”

You could feel the tremor in the air between you, the tension so thick it was suffocating. Memories of the life you had once shared flashed through your mind—quiet moments in the Autumn Court, stolen kisses beneath the canopy of trees, the warmth of his hand in yours as you navigated the complicated world of politics and war. All of it was gone now, reduced to ash by your own hand.

And it was too late to take it back.

“I loved you.” The words were a quiet confession, as if Eris was only now realizing the depth of the betrayal. His voice cracked, just for a moment, before he steeled himself again. “I would’ve given you everything.”

Your throat burned with unshed tears, but you refused to cry. Not here. Not now. You had made your bed, and now you had to lie in it.

“I loved you too,” you said softly, the admission breaking you apart inside. “But love wasn’t enough.”

Eris’s eyes darkened, a storm brewing in their depths. “No. I suppose it wasn’t.”

Silence stretched between you, heavy and suffocating. You could hear the battle continuing around you, the clang of swords and the screams of the wounded, but it all felt distant, as if the world had narrowed to just the two of you.

“What happens now?” you asked, though you already knew the answer.

Eris’s expression was unreadable as he took a step closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over you. “Now?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “Now I do what I must.”

Before you could respond, his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, and in one swift motion, he drew the blade from its sheath. The metal gleamed in the dim light, and for a moment, you thought he might strike you down right then and there.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he raised the sword to your throat, the tip resting just below your chin, forcing you to look up at him. His eyes, once full of warmth and affection, were cold and unforgiving now.

“You made your choice,” he said quietly, his voice laced with a sadness that cut deeper than any blade. “Now you have to live with it.”

You swallowed hard, the sharp edge of the sword grazing your skin.

“I never wanted to hurt you,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “But I couldn’t stay.”

Eris’s jaw tightened, his hand steady on the sword. “You already did.”

With that, he lowered the blade, stepping back as if the very sight of you pained him. You watched as he turned his back on you, walking away without a single glance over his shoulder.

And as he disappeared into the chaos of the battlefield, you realized that the person you had betrayed the most wasn’t him.

It was yourself.

ERIS WEEK TAGLIST

@littlest-w01f @mp-littlebit

[kiarakarma]

For you, when do Hua Cheng and Wei Wuxian meet? I can't really imagine how they met or where

Good question, I hope I don't make this too long tho 😅😅😅

Here is my Headcanon on how Hua Cheng and Wei Wuxian meet:

So we all know a Bitch called Wen Chao.

He threw Wei Wuxian into the Burial Mounds, hoping he would die.

Yet Wei Wuxian didn't die but came back even stronger than before.

So what if he fell so deep into the Burial Mounds that his soul reached Ghost City?

While Wei Wuxian is at a loss and wanders around he follows a few 'people' (he doesn't know that he is currently a spirit).

Hua Cheng is alerted to a strong and powerful presence, other than his of course, entering his Ghost City. As he is seeking for the presence, he comes face to face with a lost Wei Wuxian.

Hua Cheng, the gentleman, decides to show Wei Wuxian around and the two share their knowledge with each other.

Wei Wuxian eventually tells him about the possibility of demonic cultivation and is prepared to be laughed at or judged as many others have done so. Yet Hua Cheng doesn't do either of those, instead he becomes intrigued and asks questions, fascinated by Wei Wuxian's mind.

Having found someone who would listen to him and support him, Wei Wuxian starts his journey into demonic cultivation. Hua Cheng is with him every step of the way.

Three months have passed and Wei Wuxian has finally broken through. He has become the creator of demonic cultivation and created the Yin Tiger Tally.

During those three months, Hua Cheng and Wei Wuxian grew closer and closer. They shared their life stories and their understanding reached a higher level.

When it was time for Wei Wuxian to return, he was hesitant on leaving.

On one side he had to go back to Jiang Cheng and Yanli and take revenge on the Wen Clan for eradicating the Jiang Clan.

On the other, he wanted to stay with the only person who understood him, who supported him no matter what, who he shared a bond so strong that he didn't know what it was...

He didn't want to leave Hua Cheng.

Yet he had to.

He knew. Hua Cheng knew.

Hua Cheng reassured Wei Wuxian that he will always be there for him. He will always watch out for him.

Hua Cheng created Chenqing as a gift for Wei Wuxian, knowing how he liked to play the flute.

Anyway this is sooooo long. I'm sooo sorry, I got so into it 😅😅😅

[critmaswishingtree]

Masterpost and Wrap Up

(pun intended)

Thanks everyone to a wonderful inaugural Critmas Wishing Tree! You all managed to create fifty-eight prompts, with twenty-nine works by eighteen creators. Eight creators managed more than one work: five managed two, and three managed to fill three prompts! Twenty-six relationships were depicted (a lot of them had at least one Liam O'Brien character), and works ranged from general to explicit.

The final word count? 64,583 (and two fancomic panels).

This is all to say there's a lot of good stuff in there, so you should check them out beneath the cut:

(authors, if I missed tagging you and you have a tumblr, just let me know and I'll add it)

Campaign Crossovers

Talks are had after the big battles are over. Discussions of the future are had.

Oh I want... by Wolfblazer (1033,Mature)

Pairing/Characters: Orym/Dorian Storm, Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings: None

Essek may have prodded Ashton's powers into mixing poorly. This can be fixed! ...Eventually.

Chaos Comes a Calling by @masterqwertster (1863,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Ashton Greymoore & Essek Thelyss

Warnings:

There is a punishment when Vax breaks the non-intervention rules to save Keyleth.

Doing Time by @masterqwertster (Fancomic, 2 panels, General)

Pairing/Characters: Vax'ildan & Slitch the Imp

Warnings:

On that fateful day in Zephrah, Will meets a legend.

spirit of my silence by beancove (2752,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Orym/Will, Keyleth/Vax, Vax & Will

Warnings:

After coming back from the dead for a second time, Laudna meets with one of the women who helped to kill her.

Dog Eat Dog by @gauzemer (3210,General)

Pairing/Characters: Laudna & Imogen, Ashton & Laudna, Cassandra & Percy De Rolo, Cassandra & Laudna

Warnings:

Campaign 1

It’s been too godsdamn long since Vax has had some time to himself to enjoy his release, so the moment he spots an opportunity to do so out in the woods away from his friends in camp, he takes it. He couldn’t have predicted the thoughts of Grog that come to his mind, though, filling his fantasies just as much as Vax imagines that the Big Man would fill him…

Mud or Something on Your Face by bardlock (2459,Explicit)

Pairing/Characters: Grog Strongjaw/Vax'ildan

Warnings:

The blade is your implement. You'll need it if you want to do this right.

this is a love story by @gauzemer (3662,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Keyleth/Vax'ildan

Warnings:

Multiclassing is Vax's love language.

The Kissing Bough by @gauzemer (1436,General)

Pairing/Characters: Keyleth/Vax, Percy/Vex, Percy & Keyleth

Warnings:

Campaign 2

Caleb lets the hand reaching for components fall heavy on a knuckle, knocking solidly on wood and holding it there. The sound echoes through the silence, into Essek’s bones. “Clearly you are aware, arcanist, that a major point of holding these seminars is to receive feedback from our peers. While I am... grateful for your input, I’d ask that further questions be-” “The ‘point’ of a lecture is to teach what you know, not throw half-baked theory at the audience to see what sticks! I’m honestly sick and tired of unschooled, untrained wizards waltzing in here to- to pontificate to their betters under the guise of arcane discovery!” Caleb’s hand is still on the table, expression carefully neutral. “...Are you finished?” Essek learns something new about himself while attending his partner's presentation

Snap Ignition by BeanieBun (2866,Explicit)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings: None

Ever since he had first sat in on one of Caleb’s lectures at the Soltryce Academy, Essek has been drawn to the way Caleb holds himself when he’s sharing the knowledge he has learned the hard way. There’s a confidence in Caleb that comes naturally to the surface. He is commanding, methodical, and takes care that those who are present get what they need from him. Essek’s not sure he’s ever been more attracted to Caleb than when he first sat in the lecture hall trying to hide how he was lusting after Professor Widogast. Or: When your partner confesses to you how turned on he was to see you in your element as a professor, you work with him to find a way to recreate it via sexual roleplay in your magical demiplane wizard tower as you discuss and show the practical sexual applications of dozens of spells to your adult “students” who are nothing more than a Programmed Illusion.

Class Is in Session by bardlock (887,Explicit)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

The last thing Essek had ever expected was to be trapped with Caleb’s ex, seemingly doomed to freeze to death. And yet, here he was. Against their will, Essek and Eadwulf find themselves trapped in a collapsed fissure in the depths of Aeor. Separated from Caleb and forced to take a long rest to regain their spells after a long day fighting Aeorian monstrosities, Eadwulf knows exactly how to keep them warm. After all, he, Astrid, and Bren had been no strangers to needing to keep warm in the chill of Trent Ikithon’s tower. All these years later, he still knows just what to do. Even if it means being far closer to his ex’s new boyfriend than either he or Essek would like.

Snowed In in Aeor by bardlock (1133,Mature)

Pairing/Characters: Eadwulf Grieve & Essek Thelyss, Eadwulf Grieve/Essek Thelyss, Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Kai Willowfright, a disgraced wizard, finds himself fleeing the Empire in the midst of a budding war. Captured by Xhorhasian soldiers, it is soon discovered that he is in possession of a Luxon beacon. He surrenders to the Bright Queen, and is granted protection in Rosohna—on one condition. Supervising this human foreigner falls to Hassan Threll, a high-ranking drow mage of the Kryn Dynasty’s court. Though repulsed by each other at first, the human and the dark elf begrudgingly work together to ultimately fetter out the ugly truth behind the war. They shift from enemies, to friends, and begin to wonder if they have discovered something even bigger—love—in A Heart Brighter Than the Beacon.

romance novels: a scholarly approach by @justlikeswitchblades-blog (2176,Mature)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

See title

When Caleb met Verin but didn’t know it was Essek’s brother by witches_chant (2956,General)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Verin Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

Caleb had to protest when another plate was set in front of him. "My friend. This is simply too much."

Sweet Treats by 917651827 (1462,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

Professor Widogast has had a very long day. His partner helps him unwind and realize how loved he is. Essek is protective of Caleb’s rest; if Caleb wants this to escalate, he will have to ask. He buries his nose in the crease of Essek’s groin and takes a long pull of the citrus and spice scent he finds there. Essek shifts again. Lips quirking in a mischievous smile, Caleb inhales deeply, then noses at Essek’s firming cock. There is an answering choked noise from above him. “Gods, Caleb,” Essek sputters. “Mmm,” Caleb rumbles. He props himself up on one arm. The bright flush of Essek’s cheeks and his blown pupils betray his interest, as does the white-knuckled clutch of his fingers around the couch arm. “I want to hold you,” Caleb says, licking his lips.

Melt by @inanerial (5844,Explicit)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

Excerpt of Caleb Widogast and Essek Thelyss' expedition into the Aeoran ruins, detailing an encounter with a yet-unknown Abomination. (They encounter an Aeoran experimental beast. It goes as well as you'd expect)

Tongues and Teeth by cryobees (613,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

Caleb didn't know Essek knew how to use a sword. He is suitably impressed.

Love is Made of Knives by @valakiir (1124,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

Their mission from the Cobalt Soul is simple: steal some damning documents off a corrupt government official with very specific tastes, which Essek suits perfectly. After watching Essek play honeypot all night, all Caleb wants is to be reminded of who Essek is really devoted to.

Switch by @luddlestons (3326,Explicit)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

Caleb did not keep a book of appointments, but he entertained himself nevertheless by imagining Jester penciling in for him—Da'leysen afternoon: vibe check old friends for any signs of evilness. The entry would be completed with an all-too-appropriate drawing of a dick. Three old friends getting to know each other again.

Reclamation by @burningdarkfire (2011,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Astrid Becke/Eadwulf Grieve/Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

Jester doesn't get to celebrate the holidays as openly as she would like in Nicodranas, so Artie shares the holiday traditions he's adopted instead. When he goes a step too far, he promises to make up for his mishap.

moral lessons for a fey boy by @justlikeswitchblades-blog (1864,General)

Pairing/Characters: Artagan & Jester Lavorre

Warnings:

Wulf and Essek duel. Wulf is loving it and slightly distracted.

Corps-a-corps by @valakiir (2016,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Eadwulf Grieve, Essek Thelyss

Warnings:

Essek, Caleb, and Astrid have an unconventional arrangement where everyone gets what they need. There is a new book on the table. New to Essek, at least. Its leather cover is scuffed, but the gilt embossed border speaks to a certain level of expense. More than that, it’s the discolored edges of the parchment that catch his eye. They’re uneven, aged. He hangs up his light outer robe, stacks his shoes by the door, and dispels his disguise. It is a relief to see his own hands again. He is walking, but his footsteps hardly make a sound. He approaches the table, runs a finger across the beautiful cover. There is a harsh crack that echoes from upstairs, but he does not flinch.

Fascinating Configurations by @inanerial (2269,Mature)

Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Astrid Becke & Essek Thelyss, Astrid Becke & Caleb Widogast

Warnings:

In another world, Yasha fights Earthbreaker Groon

Sandstorm by @critterfloozy (1024,Mature)

Pairing/Characters: Yasha Nydoorin, Earthbreaker Groon

Warnings:

Campaign 3

After Predathos, Orym gives Relvin the news.

Last Night I Dreamed that You Were A Child by @critterfloozy (1116,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Imogen Temult & Relvin Temult

Warnings: Major Character Death

New Year's Eve in Zephrah is even better when the man you love is there with you to watch the fireworks, Orym discovers as he watches Dorian stare at the exploding colours in the sky in awe.

groundbloom by beancove (1267,General)

Pairing/Characters: Orym/Dorian Storm

Warnings: None

Ashton finally gets around to asking Marwa on a date. Or do they?

Schrodinger's Date by @critterfloozy (1347,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Ashton Greymoore/Marwa Endalia

Warnings: None

Bells Hells stumble into a tavern late one night looking to rest. All Orym can think about is how amazing Dorian looks in his sheer shirt and tight pants and wants to show him how much it effects him. Dorian loves his look and the confidence it gives him and making Orym flustered doesn't hurt ether.

The Man Makes The Clothes by fuuwindgoddess (2329,Explicit)

Pairing/Characters: Orym/Dorian Storm

Warnings: None

Will loves to appreciate a pretty face, but his heart has only ever belonged to Orym. Luckily, while he can't recognize his developing feelings for a visiting noble, his husband recognizes the signs.

Honey, It's a Crush by @sociallyawkwardfoxwriter (6405,Teen)

Pairing/Characters: Orym/Dorian Storm/Will, Orym/Will, Dorian Storm/Will, Orym/Dorian Storm

Warnings:

Laudna was having a ball. She had won the last five hands at Imogen’s guidance, and a stack of chips was beginning to obscure her even better than the shadows. It was delicious, playing the lady. It seemed that with a certain but undefinable measure of wealth, she could cross from being dangerously different and into delightfully eccentric. She schooled her hungry smile into a fox’s grin and bade the dealer to begin another game. She should have known it would attract the wrong sort of attention. Laudna and Bella catch up 20 some odd years later after a chance encounter at a casino in Kymal.

Old Friends and New by @astoriacolumnstaircase (4133,General)

Pairing/Characters: Laudna & Bella

Warnings:

[nic0-r0bs]

I am writing my 7DS fanfiction about the other Arthurian knights and legends.

But since I have to tie it up with NNT, I am re-writing some of the canon scenes. And since it got me thinking, I've decided to change a thing or two:

CHARACTERS

- Meliodas won't be groping Elizabeth every other second because SHE IS A MINOR AND HE'S KNOWN HER SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD, I DON'T CARE IF THEY'VE MET IN A HUNDRED LIVES, IT'S GROSS. I will have him respectfully keep distance, looking at her with love more than lust, partly because he doesn't want Elizabeth to get her memories back so soon by falling in love with him. When she will get her memories back, he'll be touchy as he wants (which is, a lot).

- He'll look a bit older too. I understand that he was supposed to represent the usual shonen teenage protagonist, but I don't see the issue, actually. He'll still be a short king, of course, because we need short kings.

- Diane won't be portrayed as a 15-year-old girl mentally. Just… no. She's 1500 Years and a mercenary, I refuse to have her behave like a child (and then having seven children). Her crush on Meliodas will be more mature, too.

- Elaine will look a bit older. I mean, like Meliodas, short people who look younger exist and are totally valid, but she's p3do bait and just… no.

- Mael will be central because I find that his character arc had SO MUCH MORE potential but they kinda just... forgot him? But it would have been so interesting to see him dealing with PTSD and paranoia, not knowing if what he sees and experiences is real or not, and all the moral dilemma lf finding out that he's been raised to be a weapon but everything he believed in was a lie. Also he never truly wanted to fight and k1ll, but then he committed atrocities while being Estarossa and... I don't know, I think it would have been great seeing him having a proper development and healing. Because I fell in love with 7DS because everyone there is a sinner, everyone is evil somehow, everyone committed something terrible (with the only exception of Howzer), but we learn to love and root for those characters because they're complex... Or at least used to be.

- Also it would be nice to explore Gowther gender identity and expression and make it more complex, wouldn't it?

WORLDBUILDING

- Since all my OCs are described wearing things that would be common in the VI century (around Arthurian period, "historically" speaking) (btw, I've had fun seeing what Celts were wearing during that time… Women were fighters and would also wear trousers), or, at least, in a fantasy setting, the original characters clothes will be a bit different, too. The Boar Hat uniform will be different, because I refuse to let Meliodas lewd on an innocent and clueless sixteen-year-old Elizabeth.

- Regarding the lore… I had a bit of fun. In my fanfiction, the Sacred Tree will be a "spawn" of Yggdrasil. I imagine Chaos creating the Universe with different worlds and the Yggdrasil connecting them. It just happens that one of its roots developed its own tree in Britannia, opening portarls to other realms: the Demon realm (in Cornwall, since in Arthurian era there were the Dumnonii, whose name resemble the word "Demon"); the Sky realm (both of Goddess clan and of the Celestials); the Fairy realm (the Tree being a portal) and the Giants realm (Megadoza stone being a portal).

- Also, there are the Ragnarok chapters in the mobile game, so that's the perfect excuse to put them there as well.

- Since there's different "parallel universes" I've also thought that time will pass differently in different realms. Faster in Britannia and slower anywhere else (since also in Purgatory time flows differently). This is mainly because this Whole "I'm three thousand Years old dating a literal child in my eyes" gives me the ick. I'm talking about Meliodas, King and Elaine especially. I also find that in some cases the math doesn't add, if you look at some character's official age (I'm looking at you, Estarossa/Mael, you're even 20cm taller when you're a Demon).

- And yeah, since I like history and mythology a bit too much I may include a bit of geopolitics of the British isles in the IV century and Celtic culture as well.

Anyway, this project has been fun until now, but since I'm not writing it in a linear way, it's time to work into the canon to tie everything together.

I may write a part 2 about my OCs, in the meantime let me know if you have some headcanons which you want to share!

Also hopefully I'll post some new drawings

[mumms-the-word]

So I’ve played a bit more Veilguard and y’all

Y’ALL

Y’AAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL

Spoilers below the cut (which I may turn into a lore post later idk)

UM SOUTHERN THEDAS IS DYING?

I have everything spoiler tagged and hidden, idk if people are talking about this but EXCUSE ME??

MY WARDENS AND HAWKES ARE IN DANGER

Okay but like let’s think about this for real (I'm going off memory from replaying the "meet the inquisitor" scene like 3-4 times so forgive any missed details; also I disbanded the Inquisition in this game so idk if that has an effect yet)

Inquisitor and Morrigan said that the south is under siege from a legion, an army, a swarm of darkspawn the likes of which Thedas has never seen. Thanks Ghilan’nain for creating new horrors. That sounds bad but then it gets worse

Denerim, a city that has canonically withstood the Fifth Blight and was the showdown site for a battle against a darkspawn army and an archdemon, is lost. We lost the capital of Ferelden.

Everyone is fleeing to Redcliffe, which is decently defensible but not impenetrable. Redcliffe has already suffered waves of undead and (theoretically) a super dark pseudo-future full of demons and red Templars and such. It stood up pretty well against both, but it’s not great if it’s Ferelden’s last stand against the darkspawn.

What about the Hinterlands? Amaranthine? Gwaren? Inquisitor writes that Ostagar and the Korcari Wilds are seeing surges of darkspawn again--that's where the darkspawn poured forth during the Fifth Blight. That's not good!

Orzammar is helping, but I can’t imagine they’re not also suffering. Are the darkspawn flooding the Deep Roads? Orzammar can’t defend against them forever if it’s worse than we think. Are the Legion of the Dead overwhelmed?

Kirkwall has fallen. A city that has withstood, within the last 25 years, a refugee crisis from the Fifth Blight, a violent qunari invasion, the explosion of their Chantry and the ensuing mage-templar chaos that nearly brought the city to its knees, and the Breach, which opened up dozens of Fade rifts in the city that Varric was still dealing with after the Breach was actually closed. It's gone, it's unlivable, so much so that the Acting Viscount had to evacuate her city and her army to freaking Starkhaven, which is usually their mortal enemy (Prince Sebastian Vael tends to want to annex or control Kirkwall smh)

(Also Aveline is Acting Viscount? that makes sense and also I love that for her, but man what a time to be in charge)

Ostwick, the home city for Trevelyans, is threatened by the rogue Antaam, so I can only imagine that Wycome, where a surviving Clan Lavellan would be, is also threatened by the Antaam (Wycome is closer to Antiva and Rivain anyway). And the rest of the Free Marches is apparently experiencing "the worst" of the darkspawn threat. How many cities other than Kirkwall have fallen? Like Ferelden, what's happening in the spaces between?

In Orlais, the darkspawn have apparently cut a line directly through the country. Both Halamshiral and Val Royeaux are barely holding out, which is partly surprising and partly not. Halamshiral and Val Royeaux are luxurious cities, not defensible fortresses. That said, they have the benefit of the Orlesian monarchy's standing army and the Divine's templar (or templar-equivalent) army, so perhaps that's why they're both still standing.

But I imagine the Exalted Plains, the Dales, the desert landscapes of the Western Approach (which already had lingering darkspawn threats)....those must be suffering. Are the Dales themselves blights, the greenery dying? Is the newly-healing land of the Plains now facing death and destruction again?

I mean, yes, the threat of the gods in the north is also very bad but I am stuck on this idea of trying to figure out how our beloved characters from the last three games are dealing with this! This is their turf!

We know the Inquisitor is running around trying to help but what about everyone else? Like, can you imagine...

How is Alistair doing, facing a blight that has been described as "worse than any blight the world has ever seen"? Either he's a warden and he's sick of dealing with this, or he's the king and he's facing the total annihilation of his kingdom again, only this time the odds are infinitely worse. Is his Warden wife fighting alongside him, or is his Queen helping him keep everything together?

What about Zevran? Is he staying in Antiva, causing chaos among the Antaam who have taken over various cities there, or does his Warden romance convince him to go down south to try and help? And Leliana? if she's Divine, she's likely manning the chantry's armed forces, but if not, where is she operating? Is she with her lover, the Warden, or if she's alone, is she back in the game of fielding information to all the necessary forces who need them? She's not the Inquisition spymaster anymore, but that doesn't mean she's not active

Aveline is fleeing to Starkhaven, where Sebastian is, and Varric is with us in the lighthouse. Isabela is with the Lords of Fortune. What about the rest? Did Merrill flee with Aveline? Is Hawke with them? Or is Hawke with Anders, or Fenris, fighting wherever they need to be? (Assuming, of course, they're not left in the Fade). What about Bethany or Carver, if they're alive? If they're Wardens, surely they're in the thick of it, fighting darkspawn. If they're not, have they gone with Aveline to Starkhaven?

And our DAI friends. Cullen is in Ferelden--has he joined forces at Redcliffe, if he's not romancing the Inquisitor? Is his family okay? Dorian is in Minrathous, we can safely assume Josephine is in Antiva City. I can only assume Josephine is trying her best to keep Antiva City safe through her connections and influence, but how long until events there force her to leave too?

Cassandra is from Nevarra so she may be home, or she's Divine, or she's traveling. If she isn't with her romanced Inquisitor and she isn't the Divine, surely she's out there fighting. Against what? Venatori in Nevarra? Or will her allegiances to Orlais bring her down there to aid a Divine Leliana? Sera is still in Orlais too, presumably, as a Jenny that helps the Divine. Are they both facing the darkspawn threat?

If Blackwall is a Warden, is he even still alive? If he's not a Warden, I can imagine he's back in the Free Marches, fighting darkspawn until his dying breath. Iron Bull and his Chargers, too, if they're all alive from DAI. Whether he's in Orlais, Ferelden, the Free Marches, or passing near Tevinter to be with Dorian, he and his team must be constantly dealing with the blight and the gods acting crazy. Unless, of course, he or Blackwall are with the Inquisitor, fighting right there on the front lines.

Vivienne has probably rallied mages in whatever Circle she's established to help, but help how? Joining the forces of the Divine, or leading a campaign of her own? If Cole is human, is he finding little ways of helping, or has he been human so long that he's forgotten how? If he's a spirit, he's back beyond the Veil. Does the chaos in the south now draw him back? How can a spirit of Compassion, whether human or spirit, deal with what is happening all across Thedas?

I have so many thoughts. And I will probably write fic about it. It all just keeps churning in my head. I love it. It's horrifying. The game may have moved on very quickly from it but boy oh boy am I thinking about my Wardens and Hawkes and Inquisitors and going "What are you going to do?? The world is dying!!"

If I learn more I'll turn this into a lore post that isn't hidden by a cut, but for now I have some mural memories to live through (time to cry about Solas again) and then it's side quest city babyyyy so idk when I'll have an update again lol

if you made it this far, well done :') appreciate you

thank for joining me in this chaos!

[drcomttheo]

Amidst the Chaos

Draco Malfoy X Fem OC

SUMMARY:

Voldemort seeks to kill and torture Allie (the main original character) as she finds herself grappling with the deaths of both her parents.

After her mother, Ada, was discovered to be a spy, Voldemort sent Death Eaters Dolohov and Yaxley to fulfill the task. They succeeded on September 1st, 1995, the start of Allie's fifth year.

Voldemort, the cunning strategist, harbored a suspicion that Allie possessed vital insights into the workings of the Order, a belief rooted in the legacy of her parents, who were both esteemed Aurors for the Ministry. Thus, the Order thought it would be better for her to leave Hogwarts. Allie found herself taken away to Ilvermorny, where safety awaited her, alongside her Keeper. (guardian), Jax (the male original character), who is posed as her brother. After spending her fifth year in Ilvermorny, Allie returns to Hogwarts for her sixth year on the one-year anniversary of her parents' deaths, and she and Jax are both sorted back into Slytherin. The story unfolds, revealing the dangerous consequences of keeping secrets—a slow burn that ignites with tension as loyalties are tested.

Allie X Draco with moments between Allie and Mattheo Riddle.

The dynamic between the three of them created high tensions and led to the creation of an intricate web of friendship, rivalry, and unspoken emotions that threatened to fall apart at any time.

WARNINGS: Major and Minor character death, implied non/con, underage non/con, smut, emotional abuse...

WORDS: 142k

A/N: Since April 2, 2024, I have dedicated myself and all my free time to the process of mapping out, writing, listening to, and editing this fic, and I am pleased to announce that on December 7, 2024, I have finally reached the completion of this journey.

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UPDATES: TWO CHAPTERS EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY STARTING, THURSDAY DECEMBER 19TH 2024 THEY SHOULD ALL BE UPLOADED ON MARCH 6TH, 2025 !!

CHARACTERS:

Alsephina (Al-sef-ee-na) Hesper (Allie) is the main original character.

Allie embodies strength and resilience, confronting numerous setbacks yet consistently finding a way to persevere. Her sarcasm and stubbornness create an atmosphere that is anything but mundane; she possesses an unwavering courage to express her thoughts openly. She is often the life of the party and is effortless in various social circles.

Jackson Hesper (Jax), also known as Jackson Russo. (OC)

Jax represents the quintessential big brother archetype. His fervent dedication to safeguarding Allie is evident, and he is not one to easily forge friendships. He possesses a quiet demeanor, yet he is fiercely protective of those he holds dear.

Alsephina Hesper PLAYED BY: Harriet Herbig-Matten

Jackson Hesper (Russo) PLAYED BY: Nicholas Galitzine

Ada Hesper (Allie's mom) PLAYED BY: Carey Mulligan

Henry Hesper (Allie's dad) PLAYED BY: Cillian Murphy

Mattheo Riddle PLAYED BY: Benjamin Wadsworth

Theodore Nott PLAYED BY: Lorenzo Zurzolo

The remaining characters are portrayed by those who embody them in the films, or you may envision whomever your imagination conjures.

CHAPTERS

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-EIGHT

TWENTY-NINE

THIRTY

THIRTY-ONE

THIRTY-TWO, EPILOGUE ONE

THIRTY-THREE, EPILOGUE TWO

THIRTY-FOUR, EPILOGUE THREE

LIGHT MEETS DARK- DELETED SCENE

[which-qsmp-egg-would]

It's finally time for the February summary!

And you NEVER guess who won again!

Richarlyson

With 12/58 polls won (20%!!!) and another win under his belt, it's safe to say I'm scared of him. Richarlyson was voted most likely to:

Dig holes in the yard for no reason

Be a terror to a babysitter

Pretend to be kidnapped during a road trip

Try to get struck with lightning

Be a biter

Be better off if he were raised by wolves

Spin in an office chair enough to break it

Wear shorts in 0° weather

Lick a metal pole as a joke but get stuck

Be an Ethogirl

Start the plot of 'The Parent Trap'

Love 'Fortnite'

Wonderful chaos child.

SunnySideUp

Some things never change, do they? Coming in 2nd place for the 2nd month in a row, with 11/58 polls won, is our sunshine princess! They've been voted most likely to:

Sleep with no less than 7 blankets

Demand to paint her parent's nails

Watch Winx Club

Hold their breath to get what they want

Cry every time a parent takes her fishing

Drive around the island in a toy car

Become a leaf millionare on the playground

Wear light up shoes

Follow an internet tutorial to become a mythical creature

Have the most insane roleplay with barbie dolls

Make friendship bracelets

What perfect results for Tubbo's princess!

Dapper

I was actually surprised to see Dapper in 3rd this month! With a score of 9/58 polls won, she's certainly climbed the ranks this time! Dapper has been voted most likely to:

Be really into bugs

Have a dinosaur hyperfixation

Learn how to perform magic tricks

Be able to name every local animal species by name

Perform surgeries on his stuffed animals

Hyperfixate on 'Digimon: Digital Monsters'

Love 'Undertale'

Create "potions" in the bathtub

Collect mundane objects

Ah, just like his father. (I think they would love Digimon, and I will CRACK on this hill)

Pepito

Next is the littlest huevo ever, Pepito with 8/58 polls won! Pepito has been voted most likely to:

Climb a tree and get stuck

Have a comfort blanket that's probably falling apart

Have a pocket full of rocks by the end of the day

Sit on the floor to watch TV

Only sleep in a onesie

Wear velcro shoes because Pepito can't tie Pepito's laces

Accidentally call the teacher mom/dad

Be unable to keep a poker face

I'm realising how long this post is going to be now...

Tallulah

Now is when the point drop off happens. Coming in at 5/58 polls, Tallulah has been voted most likely to:

Eat flowers and judge them by color and taste

Make Valentine's day cards for everyone on the island

Write a musical for her siblings to play in

Cut her own hair

Be the teacher's pet

I'm glad to see her higher up on the list this month! I can't wait to see if her model gets redesigned, I'm confident it will look awesome.

Chayanne

Coming in just under his sister with 4/58 polls, Chayanne has been voted most likely to:

Be concerningly excited to go fishing

Read Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'

Play the drums

Make a pillow fort to comfort a sibling after a nightmare

He may have come in lower this month, but I'm sure he's happy his sister is getting the attention.

Ramón

These next three are tied, with 3/58 polls won! Ramón has been voted most likely to:

Get really into Hide and Seek

Be on tech for Tallulah's musical

Join Richas in the plot of 'The Parent Trap'

Leonarda

With 3/58, Leonarda has been voted most likely to:

Pretend to be a werewolf on the full moon

Be raised by Wolves

Wear Heelies

Empanada

Now the last with 3/58, Empanada has been voted most likely to:

Sew cool outfits for her siblings

Exclusively eat poptarts in the morning

Have a sugar crash from all of the Valentine's day candy

I'm noticing a theme with those three.

Pomme & Chunsik

Unfortunately, Pomme and Chunsik did not win any polls in February. While Chunsik is the newcomer, Pomme hasn't won a poll yet! Although after that wonderful Paintball poll, I imagine that will change for March! Better luck next time, my complimentary-colored eggs.

[jerzwriter]

Thank you, Nonny, for this three-word ask. As someone who grew up in New York City and cities in New Jersey, the moment I saw your Trystan x Carolina prompt, I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I hope you enjoy this!

Book: Crimes of Passion Pairing: Trystan Thorne (M) x Carolina Rose (F!MC) Rating: Teen Words: 602, plus 2 text messages Summary: There's a blackout in New York City, and Trystan runs into some issues attempting to get home to Carolina.

A/N: This was just what I was looking for when I asked for 3 word asks! Just some light fun! Thanks so much for this, Nonny! Participating in @julychallenge Pink: Playfulness, Love, Fun Black: Seduction, Attraction,

Carolina lay atop her bed in her darkened room, with sweat dripping down her neck. It was only four PM, but the shades were drawn to keep the sun out as much as she could. She did her best to remain motionless—anything to help with the brutal heat. Heatwaves were never fun, but in New York City during a power outage? They were hell. She had been in the office when the lights flickered out, and Mafalda picked up her phone.

“Yep! Con Ed confirmed it, it's a blackout!”

“Ah, fuck,” Carolina groaned, tossing her pen across the desk. “Just what we need!”

“Yeah, well, with the heat as bad as it’s been, it was bound to happen sooner or later. At least it's still light out. Why don’t you head home? We can’t do anything here, and I’d prefer you were off the streets before dark.”

Carolina quickly took her up on the offer; she knew the chaos backouts could bring to the city and would be happy to avoid it. She text Trystan to fill him in.

Nearly an hour had passed, and despite her discomfort, she couldn't wait for Trystan to arrive. Suffering in this heat was not fun, but somehow, suffering together didn’t seem as bad.

A commotion on the street below caught her attention, and she jumped out of bed to see what was taking place. She peered out the window to find children laughing and running around a fire hydrant they had opened, spraying water everywhere. She smiled as she remembered the summers from childhood that she spent the same way. Her father would open the hydrant and then tell the children:

¡No les digas a los bomberos que un policía hizo esto! (Don't tell the firefighters a cop did this!)

Her phone beeped again, pulling her from her memories.

Carolina couldn’t help but laugh,  imagining Trystan impeccably dressed, now drenched from head to toe. When he knocked at her door, she rushed over to let him in. There he stood, water dripping from his normally well-coiffed hair, his designer clothes clinging to his frame. Carolina bit her lip to stifle a giggle, but when Trystan broke out laughing, she happily joined in.

“Well, this isn't quite how I envisioned my arrival,” he said, stepping inside.

Carolina shook her head, a grin spreading across her face. “You look ridiculous.”

He took her hands, pulling her close to him despite his dampened state.

“Ridiculous or not, I’m here. And so glad to be with you.”

She leaned into him, relishing the coolness of his wet clothes against her burning skin.

“I missed you too.”

Trystan looked around the darkened room. “So, back to our original discussion... what can we do without power?"

“I have a few ideas," she winked. "But first, let’s get you out of those clothes.”

“Wonderful!” He smiled, batting his eyelashes. “It sounds like we have the same idea!”

“No air conditioning, remember!”

“Lina,” he begged, gently trailing his tongue over her lips. “You’re not going to let a little thing like that get in our way, are you?”

“Of course not,” she smirked, taking his hand and leading him to the bathroom. “That’s why God created showers!”

“Shower sex!” He exclaimed. “I like it! Can we have another power outage tomorrow?”

Carolina pushed his back against the tile wall, her lips overtaking his as she turned the water on them – clothes on and all.

“That can be arranged,” she cooed.

For the remainder of the afternoon, the heat outside was nothing compared to the heat in Carolina's apartment.

@choicesficwriterscreations

Tagging others separately.

[assblastergaster]

while i understand the complaints about the tone of DA:V (especially because the game suffers a lot from those EA/bioware writing team cullings and three different development cycles) , i think it’s a kind of “in-canon” acceptable explanation for a lack of things like elf/dwarf/qunari racism, slavery in tevinter, mage bigotry is just the rush the characters are in to solve this crisis. your team is simply not interacting enough with other people for long enough to get to know their complexities. it’s not the most satisfying explanation—but i think it explains a lot.

like the other games are on similar time frames (except DA2) BUT with the constant idea that no one really believes that the world is ending. however, after the events of inquisition, the entire world has been forced to deal with the ramifications of solas’ shit and the literal veil tear across the sky that was seen across the world. and the southern chantry (the only one with real power) has been gone for 10 years, meaning the EVERYDAY pressures to hate mages have gone, especially after people realized free mages don’t just randomly turn into demons all the time. the game literally starts with the Magisterium exploding half of the world’s largest city, the blight rising in the south, and the antaam invading the east (predicating on the fact that Seheron has fallen into chaos). like in origins, i think there’s an uneasy alliance between everyone right now regardless of magic or not.

racism and slavery are poorly addressed, regardless of an explanation, but semi-reasonably we can also conclude that this is because your rook/companions is not literally traveling through the world like the previous MCs were (given eluvian travel), and you spend little time in each area to interact with people who aren’t literally your contacts (who you know aren’t racist/magephobes) or your enemies (a given). now, a lack of all the previous conflicts between races mentioned even in passing, or between NPCs, and a complete lack of moral grayness of the companions regarding the issues magic/race, is just bad. but, of course, i think that this is a result of the writers’ working conditions. EA doesn’t want a game with complex, interwoven storylines that deal with horrible topics that you may or may not come to terms with—they want money. so the DA writing team doesn’t get the time they need to add these layers, and are instead made to focus solely on the complexities of the Evanuris and their history.

yes. this is copium—to the nth degree—but i refuse to be a pussy bitch who whines that this game shouldn’t be canon at all. that’s stupid, and be real. all of the games, even in the last DLC of origins, have been absolutely hated at first. no one likes the way the writers go with anything, because they have to choose a single path in the twisted, complex world we all have grown to know. there are parts of this game that i would rather just imagine didn’t happen (taash’s story being handled so amateurishly for one, the whitewashing of the crows, etc.), but the ultimate story is not bad—and it doesn’t “undo” nearly as much lore as many people have claimed it does. Solas either is made to, or chooses to, undo mistakes that set the modern Thedas into motion thousands of years ago. he rids the world of the artificial doomsday he created, to bring it back into a state it was before them (potentially bringing back titans in some way), for the next game to face the ancient evils that existed in their world BEFORE what we knew to be true.

the games have always been leading up to this. Mythal as flemeth is a classic example of—you think you know, but you do not. The evanuris didn’t know what ancient forces they were messing with and still were brought to their knees by themselves—which is literally the plot of Origins.

[p-h03n1-x]

Excerpt from Xiao Zhan’s interview and WeChat article posted by Elle "Xiao Zhan, The Simpler, The More Complex"

Part 3 Elle September 2024 magazine with Xiao Zhan. Link to part 1 here and part 2 here

ELLE: Do you watch any sci-fi movies or read sci-fi literature?

Xiao Zhan: Yes, I used to enjoy reading "Three-Body Problem." Recently, I’ve been watching some sci-fi shows, like the American series "Kaleidoscope" and "Chao's Adventure in Parallel Universe." They all touch on infinite loops and parallel universes. I find the concept of parallel universes fascinating because each choice you make could potentially create a different parallel universe.

ELLE: Do you ever imagine what Xiao Zhan in a parallel universe is like?

Xiao Zhan: Yes, I really do. For example, is he still an actor? Maybe he is, but is he still filming now? Is he still singing? Or is he a designer? Is he working for someone, or has he started his own business? (laughs) Yes, I really think about this.

ELLE: What about the future? What do you think it will be like?

Xiao Zhan: Wow, I actually think the future might see a return to simplicity. This world might become more beautiful, with people going back to more fundamental ways of communicating.

ELLE: That’s interesting. Why do you think that?

Xiao Zhan: Well, I’m personally a bit averse to the omnipresent nature of the internet. When we were kids and didn’t have phones, we’d chat over meals, and friends would call each other downstairs to play, hide-and-seek, and various games. I actually think those times were precious.

ELLE: Do you think the profession of acting will still exist then?

Xiao Zhan: I think it will. I believe as long as life continues, drama will continue. People need an outlet, and they need emotional resonance and solace, whether through images or sounds. So, I think that even if the world were to be destroyed, as long as people still exist, drama will definitely exist.

[that-dreaming-dragon]

Noemata and Exomemories

I don’t really get much exomemories. Not from other lives at least. Depends on when and how you or I count lucid dream world, it’d be a toss up for me to call all of them exomemories, but I also wouldn’t say some of them aren’t. It gets fuzzy at time whether it truly is just made up chaos from mind, or if it has been a view into a different world. Sometimes they felt like that.

The dream I talked about last day has a bit of element of exomemories in there. How much? I do not know.

Other moments where I have exomemories are from vision. This was me doing a group guided mediation, and I sort of fell asleep, but then.

Thunder booming, flashing, the storm raging. The sky is dark, and the ocean is wailing. Peeking through the clouds, a sliver of form, a white dragon darting in and out of the storm clouds.

I don’t actually know if it was indeed my kardiatype, but there is a inkling of it being true, so I’d like to think so. And based on that, I do think they have a storm based power. Just like your typical generic east asian dragon. (You can see I have a lot of gripe of my kardiatype being seen as Haku)

You can say the rest of the thing I figured or theorized are based off of the exomemories, I would call some of them noemata, even if a bit wobbly. Because how am I sure my kardiatype was a prince of the ocean? To be honest, I’m not certain either. Sometimes there are just things we don’t or can’t know about our identitype, and that’s okay, their significance and for the identification ones, our self identifications, do not diminish just because we end up having created element within. After all, the phrase “to make memories” is not just a metaphor. You are “living, doing, creating, experiencing.”[1]

Talk about created memories vs exomemories. I also had a flash of vision with my hearttype that confused me to no end, because while it is a possible headcanon of mine, my mind was no where near thinking of a headcanon to even get there.

Laughter. A kid with bright blond hair running towards a village, a house. A pair of eldery couple came out to greet the young child.

I know that’s not Konoha. And I know that kid is me/not-me/Naruto.

It’s really interesting how I can remember it so clearly, compare to my dream memories that are faded at the edge, blurry. I think that’s why I see that as a exomemories. There’s too much other sensation, the sight clear, the sound loud, and maybe scent? You also see I had momentary confusion between the self pronoun there. That was the spark for me to ponder if it may be a kardiatype that was later disregarded, as while important to me, my Naruto hearttype wasn’t a foundational building block of who I am. I also don’t know if Kurama was with that Naruto. But here is where noemata comes in.

I have a lot, and a lot of noemata. Things I just know in my gut. Maybe for my fictomere they are influenced by the source material as well as fandom interpretation. But still. Headcanon and imagined story in my head had this ethereal feeling, like they are not all there, much more pliable, but also more distant from me.

My Naruto hearttype has a Kurama with him. And has a far strong tie to Uzushio. I don’t know if Uzushio was around, maybe that’s why that little bit of exomemory, that Naruto wasn’t in any place recognizable. It look like a random village, all wood hut. Maybe those are Uzushio people.

I think that is true.

A lot of the times, noemata just pops out of nowhere. Or sometimes, I ask questions, and something within me will answer. And I will know. It is why when I assist others in self discovery, I will ask questions, and the “no”’s and “maybe”’s are just as valuable as “yes”’s.

Sometimes you don’t even have to ask questions, something external will trigger and you had that lightbulb turning on moment. Like how I realized that three-tailed kitsune is specific is my Naruto hearttype’s paratype, and how my Aurelion Sol is the 5th concept version that people dub the “unbounded” form. Or that my kardiatype’s guarded village was one that was in ancient Japan, not one of the well known period people likes to talk about.

My own style of self discovery is very lax, “follow the flow” style, however. I got a lot of noemata jumpscare this way.

Like how out of the thousands of pokemon, it was Mew that resonated with me and become a archetrope, instead of say, dragonite or ditto.

Like I somehow figured out I’m not neccessary flying so much that I’m floating. Like how Mew does. Or that I don’t breath any elemental attack. Or the various detail discovery with each and every one of my forms, how the aquatic form have far more different physics than many of my other forms (shark head, sonar receptive ears, quill feather on back though that’s more from phantom shift than pure noemata, turtle flipper though that’s more a empathy moment from playing Ark Survive Evolved and seeing how the magmasaur’s hind leg moves), how I’m just certain that the dream dragon kintype is a present thing, current life thing.

It gets harder and harder to tell if some noemata are purely random, or maybe born from the churning of internal contemplation that always accompanied the discussion on alterhumanity within the community. Like when I figure that I do not eat physical substance, or how I know I as a dragon is a spirit, sort of like youkai and kami, sort of a energy being, sort of a pokemon like creature, a rpg monster.

Regardless of exomemories, noemata that are from random chances or from deliberately triggered knowledge, or created memories or personal “canon”, these are all the breadcrumbs of one’s alterhumanity, all important, all precious.

[1] You’re Here to Make Moments, Not Memories

https://medium.com/mind-cafe/youre-here-to-make-moments-not-memories-249970eed41f