#caw league

[implausiblyjosh]

THE AWF PRESENTS... SURVIVE THE NIGHT: IN YOUR BROWSER

This Sunday, the fate of The AWF is in their hands. Sora vs. Xemnas Heart vs. Darkness Who will...

SURVIVE THE NIGHT... IN YOUR BROWSER

YouTube Premiere Link

[implausiblyaverage]

As we get prepared for AWF - In Your Browser II, and uploading all the 10 Minute Title matches to YouTube, take a look at Asriel Dreemurr's entrance!

[gntlmn1]

WECW Classic 7

[touloserrrr]

[reverieparacosm]

Swain x F!Reader, if you have the time and energy?

Swain (League of Legends) x F!Reader

Summary: Worried for Swain, burdened by his responsibilities, you find comfort in his presence.

Warnings: none

Note: Here it is! I wanted to write a small and cute scene. <3

The chill of the night presses against your skin, a welcome respite from the stifling heat of the day. You stand at the balcony's edge, the city sprawled beneath you like a tapestry of flickering lights. A lone raven, its silhouette stark against the moonlit sky, circles overhead, its caw echoing the unease that gnaws at your gut.

You are lost in contemplation, your thoughts a tangled web of anxieties and desires, when a shadow falls across the marble floor. The click of heavy boots on stone sends a shiver down your spine. You don't need to turn to know who it is.

"My dear," Swain's voice, a silken whisper laced with steel, slithers into the silence. "It is late. You should rest."

You turn slowly, meeting his gaze. "My mind, Swain," you say, your voice barely above a breath, "is too restless for sleep."

You feel his presence draw nearer until he is standing right beside you. His physical form is intimidating to most, with his black armor and fierce demeanor, but to you he has always been gentle.

"What troubles you so?" he asks, genuinely concerned.

You hesitate, unsure of how to express the tumult of emotions within you. Swain patiently waits, as he always does, for you to gather your thoughts.

"The responsibility you bear is crushing," you whisper, your voice trembling. "You carry the weight of an empire on your shoulders, alone. What if… what if we lose?" The thought of Swain, defeated, is unbearable. "I only wish there was more I could do to ease your burden. What if you…" you can't finish the sentence. Your heart aches with the fear of losing him, of losing everything.

He turns to face you, lifting your chin delicately with his gauntleted hand so your eyes meet his intense gaze.

"You ease my burden more than you know simply by being at my side. Your caring nature and compassion are a rare light in this world of constant battle and sacrifice. Do not underestimate the strength you give me."

His words warm your soul but still you worry. "What of the future, when we are gone from this world? Will our lives have meant anything if Noxus does not endure?"

A small smile plays at the corners of his lips. "You question too much the fickle hands of fate, my dear, when the present offers so much more."

He brushes a gentle kiss to your forehead, and you sigh contentedly, finally relaxing into his tender embrace. You lay your head against the ornate plating of his chestplate, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart beneath. Here, in his arms, is the only place you feel truly at peace.

After a tranquil moment, Swain speaks again. "Come, walk with me through the gardens. Their beauty may help lift your spirits."

Hand in hand you wander the moonlit paths, surrounded by fragrant blossoms in full bloom.

Fireflies drift through swaying leaves and vines like miniature sparks of hope, their gentle pulse a counterpoint to the adagio of your hearts. Pausing beside a lush orchid display, you admire exotic blooms in muted daylight. Their delicate petals flutter with every whisper, seduced by summer zephyrs carrying whispers of love unvoiced.

Turning, Swain's gaze meets yours beneath a tapestry of stars. His large hand encloses your cheek in a gentle caress, belying the ferocity lurking beneath silk-clad skin. Leaning into his touch, you sigh softly.

"These remind me of you, delicate yet resilient," Swain observes. "Just as fragile beauty can thrive even in the harshest of environments, so too does your kindness persist despite witnessing endless hardship."

His words warm your face with a blush. For such an intimidating leader, he has a poetic soul. You turn to face him, meeting his intense gaze once more. An unspoken understanding passes between you in that moment.

Closing the mere inch between your parted lips, Swain seals your mouth with his own in a kiss of deepest longing. A sigh escapes you both to mingle in the breathless space. His lips mold fervently to yours in slow exploration, reacquainting himself with every subtle contour.

A flick of his tongue begs entrance, which you gladly grant with a small moan of surrender. The kiss deepens as Swain maps your willing mouth with thorough passion. You cling to his broad shoulders, warmth curling low in your stomach from his sensual tutelage alone.

All too soon, he withdraws just enough to graze your kiss-swollen lips in fleeting adoration. Your eyes flutter open to meet his smoldering gaze, mirroring the flames he has kindled within your core with nothing but his kiss.

Chests heaving, you remain locked in wordless communion, desire and devotion flowing between you like an unbreakable current. The kiss has left you aching for infinitely more.

When you finally part from him breathlessly, Swain takes you in his arms and continues on his way at a fast pace. You cling to him trustingly as he carries you back inside, the doors of your chambers bursting open with a flick of his wrist. Gently he lays you upon the feather-soft bed, following to hover protectively over your trembling form.

His eyes drink you in like fine wine before capturing your mouth in another searing kiss.

Hands that have commanded vast armies now roam your body with achingly tender care. Safe in Swain's embrace, all the world seems to fade away, leaving only your entwined forms locked in an ageless dance of passion beneath the starry light.

In the hazy afterglow you lie nestled against his broad chest, fingers idly tracing patterns across his scarred skin as his even breaths stir your hair.

A deep serenity fills you, chasing away the restless thoughts that had plagued your mind only hours before.

Swain places a lingering kiss to your forehead. "However the tides of fate may turn, know that you have given my life purpose and joy like nothing else. I vow to you that as long as there is breath in my body, Noxus will stand, so that our love may endure through the ages."

You smile blissfully up at him. "Then let this be the new dawn of an era where compassion and strength walk hand in hand." With that you seal your promise with a tender kiss of your own, hearts content to leave the future in wiser hands than your own as you lose yourselves fully in each other's loving embrace beneath the night sky.

[grandmother-goblin]

A Good Kind of Distraction

Ao3 - Masterlist

Summary: Through no fault of his own, Halsin had been distracting Astarion - constantly invading his thoughts and just being annoyingly nice. Not only that, Astarion seemed to have bad luck while Halsin was around. Halsin always showed up at just the right moment to help him out, regardless of whether or not he needed it.

While searching for his missing dagger after a fight with some Stone Lord thugs, Astarion finds himself in trouble again and guess who is there to help him out?

Relationships: Astarion x Halsin

Rating: Teen (for some mild violence and blood)

Word Count: 4.4k

Tags: Fluff, humor, a little kissing, Halsin is a little bit sassy. Written for @silveredbark

Astarion’s heel dug into the sand as he yanked one of his daggers from the still-warm corpse of a dragonborn. The dragonborn, along with several other of his now deceased cronies, were in league with the Absolute. Well, technically someone called The Stone Lord, but that distinction didn’t matter much to him. From what Astarion had gathered from the heated argument he had overheard between the dragonborn and a Duergar Guild member, it was pretty much the same thing.

If the Stone Lord served the Absolute, and even the Guild was pushing back against them, then it made it all too easy for Tav to pick a side.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, or however the saying went.

Besides, it was always a good idea to have friends in the Guild. Those bastards had their finger on every pulse point in the city — if Tav needed information, the Guild would likely have it and then some. For a fee, of course.

Seagulls cawed over Astarion’s head as they swooped past, returning to the beach one by one now that the fighting was over. The susurration of waves and the setting sun calmed the adrenaline that coursed through his veins. He had never spent much time at the beach in Baldur’s Gate; the icy sand and blackened waters under the cover of night had never appealed to him. But beneath the sunlight? It was actually quite lovely.

That was, of course, if one could ignore at least a dozen bodies strewn about.

Using the dragonborn’s shirt as a rag, Astarion wiped the blood from his dagger before he returned it to its sheath. He still had one more of his daggers to find somewhere between the bodies and the sand. Normally the sussur dagger stood out when he threw it, but apparently the beach provided perfect camouflage. While it wasn’t the end of the world if he had truly lost it, it would be disappointing.

Plus, Tav would never let him hear the end of it. That sussur bark had been a pain to harvest and that dagger had served Astarion quite well throughout their journey. He had actually become quite attached to it.

“Gotta say, I’m glad you guys showed up when you did,” the Duergar woman they had fought alongside said, a smile in her voice as she addressed Jaheira and Tav. “Stone Lord pricks might’ve taken out my crew if it wasn’t for you. I think the gnome pissed himself when Big Boy over there turned into a damn saber-tooth.”

From the corner of his eye, Astarion saw the Duergar nod toward where Halsin lounged wildshape. Blood of their foes soaked the fur around his muzzle still as he panted beneath the heat of the sun. It wasn’t uncommon for Halsin to linger in wildshape for a bit after a fight. There had been too many instances where they had thought the fighting was over only to be ambushed by someone hiding in the shadows a moment later. Though it only took Halsin a moment to don on the fur of a beast like Astarion would a cloak, it took significantly more energy.

Lately, Astarion preferred it when Halsin was in wildshape. For one, he couldn’t talk. Secondly, ‘Halsin, the Beast’ was far less distracting than ‘Halsin, the Man.’

If he was being completely honest with himself, Astarion wasn’t quite sure what to make of Halsin. He seemed like a good man. A genuinely good man, which was a rarity in Astarion’s experience. Part of him didn’t want to trust Halsin for that reason alone: no one was as kind and generous as he was without some ulterior motive.

Yet after weeks of traveling together, Astarion couldn’t for the life of him figure out what that ulterior motive could be. Halsin didn’t have to continue traveling with them — he didn’t have a tadpole and he had aided them more than most anyone else on their travels. If he decided that he had done his part, no one would hold it against him. There was so much work to be done to undo the effects of the Shadow Curse, but Halsin had put that aside in favor of continuing to aid them.

“Astarion,” Jaheira called from across the beach, pulling him from his thoughts. “We think that ship came from Moonrise. We’re going to take a look around for more information and try to figure out what they were up to. You’re welcome to join us if you’re done searching for seashells.”

Astarion nudged the corpse of a halfling man with his booted foot, spotting a hint of something silver beneath him. Unfortunately, it had only been part of the man’s belt.

Damn, where the hells had the sussur dagger gone? Surely his aim hadn’t been that terrible.

“You go ahead,” he replied distractedly. “I’ll catch up once I’ve found wherever my dagger lodged itself.”

“Check that alcove where some of them were hiding,” Tav suggested and nodded toward the cliff face that loomed over the small stretch of sand. “I think I saw something ricochet in that direction.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Astarion said, as if Tav should have known what he was looking for even though he had never verbalized it. “Do you enjoy watching me walking around looking like an idiot?”

Instead of taking the opportunity to sass him back, Tav simply shrugged and gave him a shit-eating grin before taking off after Jaheira.

Halsin, on the other hand, didn’t budge from his sunny spot in the sand except to watch their companions follow the Duergar toward the creepy ship. Perhaps he wasn’t interested in whatever the boat had to offer, which struck Astarion as odd. Normally, Halsin was the type to jump on any opportunity to investigate everything and anything involving the cult of the Absolute.

Once their companions disappeared from view, Halsin tilted his head toward him, his expression unreadable behind his wildshape. Astarion stared back with a furrow to his brow. What the hells was Halsin doing? Was he just going to—

Oh.

Halsin was babysitting him.

Astarion rolled his eyes at the realization and tried to ignore the fluttering sensation in his stomach. Deep down, he appreciated the gesture. Very, very deep down. Though Astarion wasn’t sure if Halsin’s watchful eye came from a place of genuine care or from the fact Astarion had a tendency to get himself into trouble.

Trouble that, without anyone’s help — especially not Halsin’s — he was perfectly capable of getting himself out of, thank you very much.

But as much as he hated to admit it, Halsin was directly responsible for saving his ass more than once.

Maybe twice.

Actually, it was closer to a dozen times, but Astarion didn’t want to think about that. He just happened to have quite a bit of bad luck when Halsin was around. That was all.

Astarion groaned as he kicked away some sand covering something shiny, hoping to spot his dagger buried beneath.

Seashell. Dammit.

“You don’t have to babysit me, you know,” he called across the beach.

Halsin‘s ears twitched toward the sound of his voice, then he tilted his head and raised one furry eyebrow as if to say ‘Really?’

Astarion threw up his hands. Fine. If the druid wanted to watch him, he could go ahead and watch the breathtaking performance of The Idiot Who Lost His Irreplaceable Dagger.

It was sure to be thrilling.

The bastard could help, but no. It seemed like he was perfectly content to stay exactly where he was.

Making his way to the alcove Tav had mentioned, Astarion checked the bodies of a tiefling man and a gnomish woman as he went with no sign of the sussur dagger. It wasn’t until he got close to the mouth of the alcove that he spotted a glint of blue on the ground where the sand met sandstone.

“There you are,” Astarion muttered as he retrieved his dagger. It was a little scratched up, but it seemed otherwise undamaged.

Relieved, he tucked the dagger into his belt where it was easiest to grab if he needed it. Not that he thought he would need it again today, but one could never know.

Astarion glanced at a narrow opening toward the back of the alcove. Though he couldn’t see far into it, he noticed a few dots of lantern light lining the walls and casting a dim glow in a yawning cavern, stuffed with crates and boxes and makeshift furniture. So that explained why those thugs were hanging out of the beach — they had a whole hideout back there.

Amidst all of the fighting, he vaguely recalled the supposed leader of the group shouting for additional backup, only to be told by one of the thugs that all of their crew was already on the beach.

Which meant that, if they had any valuables tucked away in that hideout, they were completely unguarded. Maybe some gold, jewelry, and — judging by the creepy boat — even secrets directly from Moonrise Towers. All of it prime for the taking.

Or they could just have drugs and a couple of cheap bottles of wine. It really could go either way with those sorts.

In any case, they always needed more supplies. And gold. Especially now they were practically in the city and they had significantly more, and better, shopping options than when they were on the road.

Gods, what he wouldn’t give for some new clothes and a nicer pair of boots. The kind of garments that Cazador would let him wear, but never let him own. It had been decades since he had gotten new clothes he could call his own, but Astarion had done plenty of window shopping. He knew exactly where he was going to go with some gold to spend.

Perhaps Halsin could get something too. Something that wouldn’t make him stand out so much in the city. Between his stature, his druidic attire, and that sometimes blank and mildly confused look on his face, the man was a prime target for the numerous criminals crawling around the city. Halsin could certainly handle himself, but Astarion would much rather Halsin avoided advertising his newcomer status.

For everyone’s convenience, of course. Not because Astarion worried for him or something ridiculous like that.

Hells, maybe if he was lucky, he might find some clothes in the hideout. He didn’t have high expectations as to the quality of those clothes, but perhaps there could be a hidden gem or two. They had certainly found plenty of treasures in unlikely places on their travels.

Astarion ducked into the hideout, his eyes quickly adjusting to the much dimmer lighting of the cave. Well, once he was inside, he realized it was more of a tunnel than a cave — it let out into the ocean not fifty meters away. A few empty rowboats, tied to a shoddy, rotting dock, rocked in the gentle current far beyond where the sunlight could reach.

Beside the rowboats and a couple of crabs skittering along the shoreline, the place was as abandoned as Astarion expected. A half eaten sandwich laid atop of a barrel alongside an empty tin mug, lantern light still illuminating a newspaper some anonymous thug must have been reading before being called into their last battle.

Their own fault, really. If they valued their hides, the rowboats were right there. They could have turned the other way instead of throwing away their pitiful lives in the name of the Boulder Boss or whatever he was called. The Stone Lord. Something to do with rocks.

Oh well, it wasn’t his problem.

His boots were nearly silent against the sand covered floor as he ventured deeper into the hideout, his head on a swivel and his hand on his dagger just in case anyone had been left behind. Besides the sound of water and the echoes of the cave, Astarion couldn’t hear anything that would point to any signs of life (if one did not count the crabs). No voices, no breathing, no movement besides his own.

Tucked in a narrow offshoot, well out of sight of either of the entrances Astarion could see, he found exactly what he was hoping for: gold.

And plenty of it.

Crates and crates overflowing with gold, gems, weapons, and all sorts of shiny things. Also some barrels full of illithid tadpoles and metal boxes of what looked like infernal metal. Tav had made the right call by siding with the Guild, Astarion noted dully. Whoever these people were were obviously not the type to help their cause.

But Astarion was certainly the type to help himself.

Astarion completely intended to inform Tav of the hidden trove, but only after he snuck a few coins and pawnable goods for himself before it went into the general camp supplies. Not that Astarion typically minded the system Tav had worked out to make sure everyone got their fair share of the spoils, he just wanted a little extra that was just for him for something frivolous.

Call it a finders fee.

His eyes landed on a small wooden chest, already opened, a pile of gold coins and shiny gemstones beckoning him. The mound of treasure divoted in the center as if someone had been sifting through the riches. Astarion scooped up a handful of the coins and let them fall through his fingers. The weight and the texture of the metal seemed authentic, and—

“It’s mine!”

Astarion’s feet lifted off the ground and his back slammed against the cave wall, a sharp pain running down his side. A gaunt, jaundiced man with browned teeth and bloodshot eyes glared at him as his boney fingers dug into Astarion’s neck with enough force to strangle a man who actually needed to breathe.

A yelp of pain and some choice words for the gentlemen gathered in his throat came out as gurgling groan, unable to escape the man’s ironlike grip. Astarion blindly reached for his dagger, panic and surprise and pain making his normally deft hands clumsy.

“Not gonna share,” the man snarled, his voice like a creaking graveyard gate and his breath like a crypt. “Not gonna—”

Astarion plunged the dagger into the man’s back without a shred of mercy. Bastard forfeited his life the moment he attacked.

The man jerked away with a snarl of pain, yanking the dagger out of Astarion’s grip with the movement, leaving it lodged in his flesh. Those boney hands tightened their grip around his throat, and he pulled Astarion away from the wall just long enough to slam him against it again.

Blackness colored his vision when the back of his head collided with the stone. A cold sweat broke across his skin as he struggled, his feet slipping on the sand-covered ground and his hands unable to find anything else to use as a weapon.

Fuck. It was only a matter of time before the bastard realized that strangling a vampire wouldn’t kill one and he resorted to something else.

Astarion dug his nails into the man’s wrists until blood wetted his fingertips, desperately prying and pulling with no avail. The man was unnaturally strong. Stronger than any man who looked so sickly had any right to be.

Frantic, Astarion’s eyes darted around looking for something he could use.

Anything he could use.

Come on, think! An all too familiar feeling of helplessness flooded into his mind, telling him to simply stop fighting. Stop fighting because he would only make things worse for himself, and the severity of Cazador’s punishment would increase tenfold.

Astarion shoved the thought from his racing mind. This wasn’t Cazador, and he wasn’t helpless. But fuck, he didn’t know what to do. He didn’t have—

A screeching roar cut the air like a knife through parchment. The hands around his throat ripped away in a flash of brown and white fur, Astarion’s body following like a ragdoll from the sheer force of the moment. The sharp pain in his side screamed as he landed among the pile of treasure and he instinctively took a gulp of air he didn’t need.

Disoriented and trying to ignore the pain, he scrambled backwards to locate his opponent.

Then he heard the distinct crunch of bone, and Astarion’s head whipped toward the sound just in time to see the man’s body go limp in the jaws of a saber toothed cat.

Of course it was Halsin.

Astarion slumped back against the gold and closed his eyes. Part of him was relieved. Thankful for the timely rescue.

Another part of him was very, very, annoyed.

“Astarion,” Halsin said, his voice a mixture of concern and relief, as he practically skidded to a stop beside him, tufts of fur trailing behind him from dismissing his wildshape. Golden healing magic gathered around Halsin’s fingertips as his eyes darted over Astarion’s form — from his torso, to his hip, to his neck, to his face, then back to his hip.

Halsin lowered his hands to the spot on Astarion’s hip with a grimace that no one ever wanted to see from a healer, “Don’t look.”

Astarion looked.

Nausea churned in his stomach at a strip of white between the bloodied, torn, flesh of his hip. Good gods. Astarion vaguely remembered the sharp pain in his side before the man had tried to choke him out, but he wasn’t expecting that.

“I’m going to be sick,” he croaked, the damage to his throat making it difficult to talk.

“I told you not to look,” Halsin replied, his hands steady over Astarion’s hip as his magic soaked into him, soothing as a warm bath. “If it’s any reassurance, it looks nastier than it actually is.”

Astarion wasn’t sure if that was true, or if Halsin was attempting to assuage his discomfort. The thought made him scoff. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

Cazador had done far, far more damage to him than anything on their adventures with Tav. Getting attacked by a strange man in a cave was barely worth a footnote in the pages upon pages of horrors Astarion had endured over the centuries.

But with Cazador, Astarion never had a stupidly kind druid ready to patch him up.

“I’m sure you have,” Halsin replied, the sound of sympathy still so unfamiliar that it felt almost mocking. Astarion knew that wasn’t the case, yet he clenched his teeth. “Now stop talking while I take care of your neck.”

Begrudgingly, Astarion kept his mouth shut as Halsin’s hands hover over his bruised throat. Despite how his adrenaline-fueled mind screamed at him not to let anyone near his neck, he managed to himself calm.

Halsin wasn’t going to hurt him.

Somehow, deep in his gut, Astarion knew that to be true.

“Never thought I would say this,” Halsin commented as his rough fingertips brushed over Astarion’s neck with a featherlight touch, the healing magic seeping through Astarion’s skin and soothing his pain. “But you’re extremely lucky you’re a vampire. Had this happened to anyone else…. Well, I would have had to prepare something more complex than a simple healing spell.”

Though a sarcastic reply danced on the tip of his tongue, Astarion only hummed in response since he wasn’t supposed to talk. He probably wasn’t supposed to hum either, considering how the small vibration aggravated his throat.

Oh well. Like he had said before: Cazador had inflicted worse on him. Comparatively speaking, he might as well have just stubbed his toe.

Halsin’s hands carefully moved to the sides of Astarion’s neck, just below his jawbone, his hazel eyes warm but focused as he worked. Astarion swallowed and averted his gaze.

It wasn’t until that moment that he realized how intimate their position was — Astarion on his back with Halsin kneeling over him. Though Halsin was politely seated to his side, Astarion couldn’t help but imagine if the situation was slightly different. He quickly pushed the thought aside. Now was not the time to imagine being straddled by a handsome, caring, druid.

Halsin’s gentle touch tickled the nape of his neck. “Lift your head.”

Trying to ignore the sudden wave of goosebumps across his skin, Astarion did as he was told. Though he could already guess at the answer by the way his throat felt, he asked, “Does this mean I can talk now?”

“You may,” Halsin replied as his fingers slipped through Astarion’s hair, the healing magic now focused on the spot on the back of his head where he had been slammed against the wall. Then, Halsin’s throat bobbed and he turned his eyes towards the pile of treasure. “But I don’t encourage it.”

“Why not? My throat feels fine now, thanks to your magic druid nonsense or whatever spell you’re using.”

Halsin shook his head. “Because you can be quite distracting.”

Something in the way Halsin spoke stirred up over-eager butterflies in Astarion’s stomach. Though it was entirely possible that Halsin was being very literal and simply didn’t want to be distracted while he worked, Astarion couldn’t help but feel like there was another meaning behind his words.

What if Halsin was distracted by Astarion the same way Astarion was distracted by him? What if….

“In a good way or a bad way?” Astarion asked before he could get ahead of himself.

“Both,” he replied, a hint of playfulness in his voice and undeniable warmth and affection in his gaze. “But if it’s any consolation, you’re mostly the good kind of distracting.”

Astarion’s stomach did a moronic little flip, and he couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth. “So would something like this be the good kind of distracting or the bad kind of distracting?” he asked as he lifted his hand to the back of Halsin’s head, the warmth making him want to bury his fingers in his long hair.

“The bad kind,” Halsin said as his hand moved to a tender spot on the back of his skull that he didn’t even realize he had. “At least, it is for the next ten seconds. But after I’m done healing…”

The glowing golden magic that spiraled from Halsin’s thick arms to his skillful fingers dissipated, leaving them in the dim light from a single lantern hanging from the wall. His eyes locked onto Astarion’s, his expression softening as they watched one another, both of them waiting for someone to see what the other would do next. Neither one of them wanting to make the first move.

Perhaps, Astarion thought, it would be for the best if they both just decided to leave things as they were. Astarion would thank Halsin, Halsin would tell him to be more careful, then they’d go and tell Tav and Jaheira about the cave and all of the loot that was inside.

The moment would be dead and buried, and maybe that was how it should be. After all, what did someone like Astarion have to offer a man like Halsin?

Nothing. That was what.

But when Halsin’s eyes dropped to Astarion’s lips, the hesitation and doubt tying back his desires — what he wanted — unraveled. Damn, maybe it was impulsive, or maybe he was reading too much into the situation. After all, he did just get knocked around pretty hard, and yet…

What the hells.

Astarion’s fingers traced Haslin’s pointed ear as he slid his hand through silky brown hair. “May I distract you now?” he asked, lifting his face close enough to Halsin's that he could feel his breath against his lips.

Halsin chuckled warmly. “I hope you will,” he said as he leaned in, his lips brushing against Astarion’s with a soft, light kiss. The kind of kiss that was so foreign to him that it made it feel like his chest was about to bust with…. Oh, Astarion didn’t know. Something warm and fuzzy that he never thought he would feel again.

“But,” Halsin said as he drew back, his gaze dark with desire but unmistakably happy, “we should get back to the beach before the others start wondering where we went.”

”They can wait a few minutes.” Before Halsin could put any distance between them, Astarion captured the other man’s mouth with his. His hands tangled in Halsin’s hair as he deepened the kiss, nipping gently at his lower lip as he clung to him like he was afraid he was going to change his mind.

The tip of Halsin’s tongue brushed against his, sending a shiver down his spine. Damn it — Astarion didn’t even know if this meant anything to Halsin but he wanted it to. He wanted to be more than just a bit of fun for him. Though he knew Halsin didn’t hold himself back when it came to his most carnal desires, Astarion also believed Halsin wasn’t the type to be careless with another’s heart.

Halsin groaned and pulled Astarion closer, inhaling deeply like he was breathing in his scent, and—

“Footprints lead this way.” Jaheira’s voice cut through the growing haze of lust like a light in the dark.

“They couldn’t stay put for ten minutes?” Tav said, sounding more annoyed than concerned. “Astarion, I expect to wander off, but Halsin?”

“I’ll bet you a gold piece that Astarion probably did something stupid again,” Jaheira replied.

“Yeah, I’m not taking that bet.”

Halsin’s lips drew into a thin line as if he was trying to hold back a laugh. “If they ask,” he said, offering Astarion a hand as he got to his feet, “we had to go after a straggler.”

Astarion scoffed as he accepted Halsin’s hand, gold coins clinking beneath him as he stood. “Isn’t that what happened? I mean, we did take care of that brown-toothed menace over there.” He cocked his thumb towards the corpse that he had honestly forgotten about until that moment.

“Exactly,” Halsin replied. “I’m just going to leave out the part where you wandered in here by yourself without telling anyone.”

The lingering tingle on his lips from Halsin’s kiss did not stop Astarion from rolling his eyes. “Oh, you are so kind.”

“I’m detecting some sarcasm,” Halsin said with a chuckle. “Come on. Let’s get back to the others. Perhaps I can distract you later.”

Judging by the look in Halsin’s eyes and the fluttering feeling in his own stomach, Astarion had no doubts about that.

Only a few steps from the entrance to the cave, Astarion gave a frustrated groan. He turned sharply on his heel and began to trudge back in.

“Where are you going?” Halsin asked.

Astarion didn’t even want to look at Halsin as he answered, “I forgot my damn dagger.”

---

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! Comments are always appreciated!

[impostores0o]

Noxus pt1:

Swain, the Noxian Grand General League of legends/Riot gamesAll credits to: • Victor Maury •, Vlad BăcescuSwain Production Art

´´I tried to scream then, to confess it all. To somehow beg for forgiveness. But there is nothing now, save for the soft murmur of whispers. I spill my secrets, this tale, into your ears. Fading like the rustling of wings, as the raven cries its carrion caw..." Raum The Demon of Secrets

Credits to: Larry "The Bravo" Ray Swain development

"I have learned enough to detest all men. Only nations may be revered." — Swain

League of legends/Riot games Swain development Swain promo art

"A power beyond mortal understanding gave me the vision to see what most cannot. I peer through the darkness others fear." The Noxian Grand General

Legends of Runeterra Set 2 - Rising Tides Swain character All credits to: SIXMOREVODKA STUDIO Fanart from: @ovsosito

"If they already call me a villain, what will they call me when I succeed?" The Grand General Swain

[villain-connoisseur]

Dropping by the ask box again to get your thoughts on the Karasu and Yukimiya interaction mehehehe 🤭

i hope you are ready hahahaha

Starting with Ch 288

First off...FINALLY....WE GET YUKIMIYA BACK (APOSTLE OF VICTORYYYYYYYY ZOMGGGGGG). I had a feeling he was going to come back in and with the current rankings...I do suspect more of a showdown between him and karasu. I can't wait to see what the rankings will be after this final match since they are literally next to each other (pleaseeeee let them make the team). yukimiya's dribbling (and boy needs to score another goal...it's been years...come onnnnnn) vs karasu and charles....uyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Next...we get a nice ass shot of karasu's thighs so I had to contain myself. The most important part ahahahaha so relevant to the series.

karasu just analyzing, as usual, is just *chef's kiss* uyyyyyyyy. AND the line "That's when I'm gonna hunt"...PLEATH SIR. his panels were dangerous because i swearrrrrrrrr *blush*

I just hate how short this chapter was. I mean granted it was right before their break, but still...the next chapter better make up for it. I really want karasu using his metavision and just 1 v 1ing yukimiya because come on...their rankings clearly indicate that they have to match up against each other and they need to battle it out. it is the last match of the league.

now in regards to the last two episodes.

look...i BARELY survived. you've seen me simping HARD with the posts i've made. i had to crawl my ass around just to even move because we were SERVED SO WELLLLLLLLLLL.

*replays episodes*

*inhales*

KARASU CALLING HIM YUKKI. WHEN THE HELL DID THEY GET SO COMFORTABLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I REALLY REALLY REALLYYYYYY need to see more bonding time in the facility. the starting eleven and the subs had what...fifteen days (I think) after the third selection to practice their plays and pretty much learn each other's styles...so I.WANT.TO.SEE.HOW.THEY.ALL.WORKED.TOGETHER.TO.PULL.OFF.EVERYTHING.

I feel like we were robbed so much during the third selection and the lead up to the match. there was so much potential for development TT_TT

the fact that yukimiya and karasu are able to strategize on the spot and immediately establish roles...like pleaseeeee can you two be any more.....*urghhhhhhh*...and that ball...fucking lucky ball was able to be in between them. how i wish i was that ball. LOL. all kidding aside, i really wish we could see more team bonding and practicing because i want to see how they became trusting of each other's skills that they can make an on the spot decision of who does what in that split second.

don't even start me with the last episode. i nearly died when i first saw THE scene. i knew it was coming. i thought i was prepared. i thought my body was ready, but my spirit was so weak and thirsty. i do think we were robbed of the scene with aryu, karasu AND yukimiya from THAT manga panel. i can tell that karasu is the crowd favorite (according to the latest popularity poll), so i can see why the animators chose to focus moreso on him. I wish we saw him being a momma crow to otoya and bachira, but hey...we got shirtless caw caw bitch.

i sound like a broken record....but damnnnnnn these two know exactly how to bring me to my knees......they are our top two gentleman in all of blue lock for a reason. best boyssssssss

they also brought me to you so for that...i'm thankful for our 1v1 emperor and our assassin <3 <3 <3 TT_TT

[demacianswings]

𓅪┌[  CAW CAW  ]┘ , an independent, semi - selective, RP blog for QUINN , DEMACIA'S WINGS from LEAGUE OF LEGENDS. this is a side blog / follows from @madamescissors

𓅫 headcanon ⸝⸝ universes ⸝⸝ story ⸝⸝ valor ⸝⸝ short stories

𓅫 plotting call ⸝⸝ prompts ⸝⸝ nsfw prompts

𓅫 rules ⸝⸝ main blog

[yharnamcrow]

[A video. Eileen is practically speedwalking into Malva's chamber, still dripping wet. Malva is reclining on the back of her chamber in a throne, watching Eileen. As she enters and the others file in behind her in the visitor's area, it becomes clear why Siebold suggested this chamber next. Huge gouts of fire spout from two braziers on the floor, heating the room up far enough that it is rather likely they will all be dry by the end of this fight.

"Welcome, challenger, to my Blazing Chamber! I am Malva, and I shall be your opponent today." She snickers slightly at the sight of Eileen. "I see Siebold had his merry ways with you."

"I would advocate for less chit-chat. A battle would suit me rather more."

"As you wish... Eileen, was it? Let me show you, then, that your feathers are not resistant to fire."

Malva releases a Pyroar at the same time Eileen releases Corvinne.

"Wing attack!"

"Noble Roar!" Corvinne is faster, hitting the Pyroar in the throat before she ever manages to take a breath. She soars back to her starting position with a rather smug air, then swoops in again before anyone can give any commands. "You ought to train your Pokémon better, challenger. Unwanted actions reflect badly on you."

"Who says this was unwanted?" Eileen raises a finger, twirls it. Corvinne swoops in again at the freshly released Torkoal, which is busy setting up Curse.

"Ah. Nonverbal commands. How annoying." The Fire Elite moves her glasses, eyes Corvinne's movements after Eileen's next gesture. "Stone edge." The rocky spires crunch against Corvinne's wings with a resounding noise, leaving the bird to crash into Torkoal before rolling to a halt in front of Eileen. She struggles when getting up, but caws angrily at the turtle. "Aw, look at that. Things happen so fast..." She throws a full restore at her Pokémon.

"Corvinne, you don't need to do this." The bird caws again, dark energy coalescing. "Oh you stubborn thing. Very well. Night slash. And then you rest." The attack hits with resounding power, a critical hit. And when Torkoal falls, Corvinne easily retreats.

"Your Pokémon don't seem to listen all that well to you," Malva remarks somewhat snidely, releasing a Talonflame.

"Oh, they listen just right. Maria, you are up." The Absol takes to the field with a nearly deafening cry, face pulled into a snarl made all the more fearsome by the stark shadows the fire throws. "Sword's Dance, then bite."

"Brave Bird." The hit hurts. Doubly so the Talonflame however, the rocky helmet of Maria doing its job admirably. The Absol growls lowly, before pouncing, fangs sinking into the wing joints of the Talonflame as it comes in for another dive. Maria is clearly not in a good position, her body battered and wreathed in the signature flames of a Burn, but she took the Talonflame down. Malva grimaces slightly as she releases her last Pokémon, a Chandelure.

"Come back Maria, you did so so well." Eileen runs her hands over the Absol, then returns her right as the feline's eyes begin to roll back. "Hm... Corvinne. How do you feel about a second run?" The bird practically releases herself, cawing loudly. "Brilliant. Another Night Slash, if you please."

"Not so fast. That bird is practically on her last legs." Malva begins to formulate a retort, another attack command. She never gets the chance to let it loose, not when Corvinne's attack crashes into Chandelure with all the power of a critical hit empowered by type effectiveness to boot. As the Chandelure falls, so does Marva's expression.

"And yet, she did her job admirably." Eileen chuckles darkly.

"Fantastic. Utterly fantastic. I'll report to all the world the news of you and your Pokémon dominating the Pokémon League! I AM a Holo Caster star, after all. Heh, I'm such a busy woman… " She practically runs back to her throne, draping herself over it again. "If you beat the last of the Elite Four, you'll face the Champion."

"Oh, I will. Farewell, Elite Malva." Eileen turns on her heel, exiting swiftly.]

[demonscantgothere]

Litost by Helholden, Ch. 28: For the Good of the Realm

During Ar-Pharazôn’s rule of Númenor when Sauron holds the position of the High Priest of Melkor, Galadriel is captured in the middle of a war, imprisoned, and handed over to him as a sacrifice to be made in the Temple of the High Priest, but Sauron has other plans. From Akallabêth to the founding of Gondor, unlikely allies are forged. | Bronwyn searches for clues to King Halbrand’s true identity—until someone catches her in the act. Galadriel/Sauron | Halbrand. 155.3k | 5.2k chapter.

Theo watched her, waiting for his mother to disappear around the corner, before he glanced down at his ring, clenching his fingers in a tight fist—nails digging into the flesh of his palm. He looked at the closed door of King Halbrand’s chambers before surveying the hallway with a cursory glance to make sure no one else was within the vicinity, and then he looked down at his fist, where his ring sat upon the bone white knuckles of his grip.

A deep, droning noise filled his ears as his eyes went black—black as midnight, black as a starless sky, black as ink, black as the endless Void itself beyond the spheres of the World—as he reached with his mind across leagues and leagues of distance and space and tall, swaying grass and white sands and cool wind and crashing waves and birds cawing through the sky to the coastal shores of Dor-en-Ernil.

We have a problem, he whispered—to the answering voice on the other side of the veil.

Keep Reading

[implausiblyjosh]

In Your Browser III this Sunday!

THIS SUNDAY, AWF will be IN YOUR BROWSER........ THREE!

The IA TV Title and AWF Men's Championship will be defended! Returning favorites like Miku, Lobo, and Superboy! Exciting debuts like Johnny Silverhand, Kratos, and Queen! LIVE on YT this SUNDAY at 12:00PM CST!

[implausiblyaverage]

This March 31, 2024, things are going to get... F4TAL... IN YOUR BROWSER!

See it LIVE, on YouTube, at 12pm CST!

[gntlmn1]

WECW Classics 6

[pokemon-researcher-cross]

IRON VALIANT IS REAL???

I admittedly don’t socialize with others much and tend to be very behind on the news of the world as a result. Anything of note going on? Good, bad, small, big. I’d just like to hear what’s going on in everyone’s world right now. 

As I said, I do not socialize much so I do not have much news to share. Doctors said the break in my fibula has healed completely so I can be more up and about again. I’ve spent most of the past few days sorting through files. Had V visit again, gave it an oran berry.  

[real-team-luster]

Darrin and the Great Crater: Part 1

Darrin Scintiller arrived at the Zero Gate on the back of a Skarmory he had rented, not wanting to bother with the typical Flying Taxis. The Steel-type cawed and nipped at its feathers, staying in place. Darrin's watery blue eyes scanned the surrounding area, and he spotted the distinctive Top Champion Geeta standing there, alongside a blonde woman he didn't recognize.

"Greetings." The Chairwoman said with a respectful nod. She had a soft, almost unnoticeable Paldean accent. "Darrin Scintiller, yes? I'd like you to meet Briar, an associate of mine and expert on Area Zero."

"Really, Geeta, you're too kind." Briar chuckled, but her oddly-colored eyes never left Darrin's face. "I've been informed you have a mysterious Pokemon in your possession- would it be reasonable of me to ask for a look at it?"

"Coquillant, I should assume." Darrin said, nodding. He didn't see any reason why not... but after rummaging around in his bag, he couldn't find the strange creature anywhere. "Hmm, I was certain it was sleeping right here, how odd. I hope it didn't get left behind somewhere."

"That's a shame." Briar shook her head forlornly. "No matter. I have reason to suspect that very Pokemon may be the same one my ancestor Heath discovered many years ago- Terapagos. Based on the description you provided, it doesn't seem like it could be anything else."

Darrin blinked. He had heard of Heath before, yes, but only in whispers, calling him a madman blinded by greed. He had no idea this woman was his descendant, and the talk of Coquillant being another Pokemon entirely had the man feeling confused.

"If that is the case," Briar continued, undaunted by Darrin's silence, "it would be quite the discovery. We have only documented a single Terapagos up to this point, and that individual is held by one of the Paldean Champions. Its presence in Kalos suggests there may be more than that- an entire population, even. Imagine that." Was it his imagination, or were her eyes sparkling like crystals?

"Hold on a moment." Darrin said, shaking his head back and forth like a Gogoat trying to ward off a swarm of Cutieflies. "These Pokemon- Terapagos- they're very rare?"

"Extremely rare." Briar nodded. "I would go so far as to call them Legendary, but that's up to personal choice, of course."

Darrin took a deep breath, preparing his usual spiel about how Legendary Pokemon were a farce, but Geeta interrupted him with a simple upturned hand.

"Terapagos's Legendary status notwithstanding, the goal of this mission was to determine what its presence meant for the Paldea and Kalos regions and their ecology." Geeta said, her voice calm but authoritative. "I've already received authorization from the Pokemon League to make a voyage into Area Zero. I believe seeing it will help you understand why this is a matter of such importance."

The man could only nod. Her explanation made perfect sense, and he had to admit he was curious to see what the Great Crater had in store, considering he had heard so much about it from friends, colleagues, and even strangers on the internet. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and he wasn't going to turn it down.

"However, as I'm sure you already know, the Pokemon and even basic terrain of the area is extremely hazardous." Geeta cautioned. "For that reason, I have one request. Briar, Darrin, I know you are both very capable Trainers. Will you please demonstrate that strength for me with a battle?"