#chrono tag e

[ask-flame-fugitive-eclipse]

[[ooc note: the following ask was planned in advance with the mod! readers, please make sure to discuss beforehand in DM if you would like to do something of similar nature. signed, the co-owner of the au <3]]

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

The forest breeze fades as the young prince falls into a deep slumber, and the next he knows… he's in the castle once more, but for once, he's.. free? No shackles, no prison cell, and.. no fear. He stands before the throne, with the princess he's been fleeing sitting there. Staring at him, with a wide grin.

"Maybe I underestimated you! I didn't think you'd have it in you to do it."

Upon trying to speak to ask what she means, no words come out. The princess continues.

"I'd hate to leave such a mess, though.. Be a doll and clean up for me, hm?"

Upon turning around.. the body of the head assistant, his brother, lays on the floor. Body covered in burns, metal casings melted into nothing, oil spilled all over… and his lifeless eyes, widened in the terror of his final moments. Looking down, the prince's hands are covered in the same oil that has left his dear sibling. The princess speaks again.

"Didn't you hear me? Clean. Up."

But he doesn't get the opportunity to obey that command. The world around him fades as he's awakened…

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

”NO!”

Eclipse shouted as he woke with a start. He looked down at his hands in horror, expecting to see the blood of his brother. However they now had fires ablaze on them from his extreme emotions. He was too panicked from the nightmare to try to extinguish the flames. He was shaking as he stared at his hands and barely registered the fact Solar was now crouching down in front of him, clearly concerned. Solar didn’t touch him, figuring that would only make the panicking worse.

[basilseedcookie]

its 4am lol

[autism-sprinkles]

feel like a criminal for not shipping melnem. idk it might be the melinoë fictionkin demons I just want nem dead (jov,). I understand the appeal of toxic yuri or whatever but they're just Too Toxic for me. nem is angry with the headmistress and herself but takes it out on mel and it Pisses Me Off,,

[3amnightride]

Some Tumblr Tricks

1. Get a random blogpost from a blog

You like the content of a blog but theres just so much content and you want to see some older stuff? Great, just append /random to the URL and a random blogpost from that blog will be shown:

BLOGNAME.tumblr.com/random

2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts

When you are on your dashboard you can use the following keybinds:

J -> Scroll forward K -> Scroll backward L -> Like the current post N -> See the number of notes Shift + E -> Add post to your queue Shift + R -> Fast reblog Z + Tab -> Quickly switch between dashboard and blog Z + C -> Quickly compose a post Space -> View photoset in a lightbox or start playing a video post

3. More URL tricks

Show all posts with a specific tag:

BLOGNAME.tumblr.com/tagged/<tag>

Sort entries with a specific tag in chronological order

BLOGNAME.tumblr.com/tagged/<tag>/chrono

Get all Posts from a date

BLOGNAME.tumblr.com/day/JJJ/MM/TT

PS: Do not forget you can go totally crazy with the custom theme editor by for example adding a music player https://www.scmplayer.net/ or whatever. Make personal websites cringe again!

[suzukiblu]

WIP WEDNESDAY GAME

Slimmed-down post/rules, but originally taken from @kedreeva.

It’s WIP Wednesday! This week’s theme is “hey I haven't written enough of my OC kiddos lately, let's do some of the cute OC kiddos we've been neglecting".

Here’s how it works:

I will post the file names of five seven(!!) WIPs, and will also post a snippet of new content from one of them to get the ball rolling.

Send me an ask with the name of one of the listed WIPs and I will write you a minimum of three sentences in that WIP in response!

Multiple requests are fine, but please send them in separate asks. Just a little easier for me to fill them that way, and also easier for people to read through the WIP tags smoothly later.

If you’re reading this, you’re invited!

WIP names:

baby clone and all associated trauma (( chrono || non-chrono ))

Cassie makes a claybaby (( chrono || non-chrono ))

feral Kon and liger pups (( chrono || non-chrono ))

Jon gets cloned and is not okay about it (( chrono || non-chrono ))

the one where Kon isn't the father (( chrono || non-chrono ))

YJ accidental baby acquisition (( chrono || non-chrono ))

+ bonus new WIP to play around with, because your author has zero self-control 💜

grief-soup clonebaby (( meta post || art )) (( chrono || non-chrono ))

snippet from "grief-soup clonebaby":

“Wow, you’re super-dumb, huh,” the kid observes. Tim stares blankly at . . . her? Him? The kid doesn’t look at him, apparently too occupied with climbing their(?) way up to the top of the row of cloning tubes laid out against the basement wall for . . . some reason. The climbing. The climbing is for “some reason”. 

Tim knows the reason the cloning tubes are there. 

The kid is tiny, all sharp bones and skinny sinew, and looks about . . . seven? Eight? Something like that. They’re wearing one of Kon’s T-shirts and nothing else, which makes his skin prickle uncomfortably, and their hair is a big tangled riot of wavy strawberry blond(e?) fluff all tumbled halfway down their back and almost taking up more space than the kid does. 

He has no idea how they got down here. 

Is this another Klarion situation? Is this kid, like, some random chaos god or trickster spirit or something? Because he really doesn’t need that right now, especially not in the basement. The basement is a very, very bad place for a chaos god to happen. 

“What?” he says. 

“I figured out the Speed Force,” the kid says, peering up at the ceiling concerningly speculatively. “And also I figured out I was in VR. ‘Cuz I’m not stupid.” 

“. . . what?” Tim repeats weakly. 

The kid finally looks at him and eyes him with very intensely, distinctly yellow eyes.

“Bart and Kon both got grown up in VR,” they say derisively. “If you were gonna tell me how to be them, you shoulda maybe not told me that part.”

Tim stares at them.

[s-4pphics]

a lil meanmechanic!ellie and snobbybitch!reader hc list bc i’m clinically ill and my dark thoughts always win i was gonna write a lil fic but i got tired lol long day 

but hopefully thisll suffice for now😚idk how many imma make for them but the sex gon go crazy

wc;cw: 930 real short n sweet, slutty rude annoying rich!oc, i’m not kidding she’s a bad person, more monologues when will it end, oc is horny and a top letting y’all know rn, imma make this toxic🤭

your shiny brand new pink bentley just stopped working! what the fuck! 

after your dad gifted you your third new car, he instructed you to pull up to the swarovski store and pick up your sparkly limited edition lavender tinted lux chrono watch…. and this happens!

how the fuck were you going to get your new watch without transportation?!

you pulled your phone outta your chanel bag and googled car stopped help…

call a tow truck?!

don’t people just buy new cars when they stop working?! 

you dialed the first number suggested online 

“YELLO!” a friendly gruff voice came through the phone

“ummm, hi, my car stopped working— “

“okay, great! where’s your car located?”

“it’s uh.. near this mall complex.” 

“…okay. i mean…. i mean what’s the address?”

…. you don’t fucking know, you’re stranded!

after spending the next ten minutes asking strangers where the hell you were, you irritatingly whined the address to the man on the phone

why does nothing go your way?!

“okay great! we’ll be there in about an hour to get it!” 

an hour?!

but your swarovski watch—!

“hello?” 

“…yeah, whatever.” you said, hanging up.

this is fucking stupid!

after an hour of angrily pouting in your front seat, you saw a red truck pull up behind you in your rearview 

fucking finally!

you got out your new baby and saw—

oh, fuck

oh fuck!

WEEEEEEWOOOOOOWWEEEEEE—

your brain was sending off red alarms!

behind the man, there was a girl in overalls and a wife-beater, dirty sneakers(yuck!), and a bandana on to keep her sweaty hair outta her face

and your mood immediately got better! 

she’s sexy she’s sexy she’s sexy she’s sexy—

“um, hi! ‘m joel! you called for a tow?” 

oh yeah

“y-yup! that’s me! my cars over there,” you pointed in some random direction as you stared at the girl 

“….okay, uh, we’ll get that loaded and we’ll head over to the repair shop!”

“uh huh,” you were so dazed as you watched her biceps ripple as she got some paperwork outta the car 

“….right!” and he walked away

she’s coming over oh god she’s coming over!

“hey. this your car?”

“mhm!” 

you looked at her name tag 

ellie

hm…wanna fuck?—

“cool. just need you to sign here. we’ll do the diagnosis when we get to the shop—“

you didn’t even care about what the fuck she was saying

you wanna eat her out so bad and buy her whatever she wants 

you work so hard, baby, lemme take the stress away! 

“…are you gonna sign…or?”

you were too busy looking at her freckled face and scarred eyebrows to notice she was holding a clipboard out to you 

how about you sign these damn wedding papers! 

“sorry!”

“it’s cool…yeah, just sign at the bottom.” 

she pointed at the dotted line with her calloused finger and you almost sucked it into your mouth! 

turn her out turn her out!

she finally met your eyes 

you wanted her clit in your mouth—!

“um… you can hop in the truck and we’ll head over, it’s like.. 20 minutes—“

“great! let’s go!”

ride my face!

when you arrived at the dealership, you got…. uncomfortable. 

why was it so loud and… grungy looking?

the nice man that answered the phone—joel— guided you into the garage and ushered you to sit on…. dirty chairs and you wanted god to strike you down now

“we’re gonna take a look at your car! it’s in pretty good condition so it shouldn’t be long!” joel screamed at you from the garage exit

you sat and nodded and 

you looked so outta place in here 

pastel colors, shimmery necklace and bracelets, heels!

you stood out like a sore thumb!

rusted, eggshell walls, dimly lit, dusty floor

you wanna leave so bad what the fuck—

“hey!” 

sike you wanna stay ellie’s so fucking fine—

“your car battery’s connection is loose, we’re gonna replace it—“

“today's my birthday!”

you were biting your lip and looking at her with glossy lust filled eyes and you wanted your head between her thighs—

“….’scuse me?”

“it’s my birthday!”

“happy….. happy birthday?” 

“thank you!” now lemme give you head—

“uh huh….. so, the replacement battery is gonna be $60, i can ring you up right now so you're not waiting when your car’s charged.”

you followed her to the desk and….

her fucking back and her shoulders and her ass—

her back her back! you wanna scratch it and make her scream!—

“cash or card?”

“card. my black card!” she needa know you’ll buy her everything—

“….right. go ‘head and swipe.”

you wanna swipe your tongue on her pussy!

but you swiped your card 

and you also reached in your chanel and grabbed a couple hundreds out

“here you go! for your troubles!” 

“what.”

“you fixed my baby! you should get a huge tip! like a really…. really fat one!

lemme give you this tip!

she must’ve noticed your tone, nastily sweet like honey, because her eyes widened before she let out a shocked scoff

you have her you have her—

“are you kidding me right now?” 

what. 

“hm?”

“i’m askin’ if you’re fucking serious? we don’t accept charity.” and she got up

and she looked mad

what the hell?

“w-what! no, it’s not like that— “

“yeah, whatever, your car will be ready in 20. you can take your money and get the hell out.” 

and she stormed off with a slam of the back door. 

…..

oh my god?

…

you want her even more now! 

[inevitably-johnlocked]

hey I'm looking for a fic where John time travels on the day Sherlock comes back after

The Reichenbach Fall!!

Hi Nonny!!

Oh gosh uhhhhhh this sounds VAGUELY familiar... I did a quick tag search on my MFL list and MAYBE it's one of these? They're the ones that I have tagged with both "TRF" and "Time Travel":

All Our Tomorrows by Calais_Reno (T, 3,161 w., 1 Ch. || Time Traveller AU || Post-TRF, POV John, John Loves Sherlock, Sherlock Loves John, Time Travel, Old Age, Sussex, Forgiveness, Happy Ending) – John meets an old man who seems to know a lot about him.

After the Fall by Leloi (E, 7,913 w. || Time Traveller AU || Self-cest, Threesome, Post-TRF) – Sherlock found himself in 221B Baker Street, standing in front of John Watson. His time travel sometimes did that… set him before the one person in the world his life seemed to revolve around... ever since he met the man.

The Time Traveller's Flatmate Series by orithea (E, 68,674+ w. across 4 works || Time Travel AU || Developing Relationship, Threesome, Oral Sex, Hand Jobs, Selfcest) – Sherlock Holmes suffers from Chrono-Displacement: simply put, he time travels unpredictably, against his will. John Watson lives his life the normal way. Or as normal as it can possibly be considering that he first meets Sherlock at the age of six.

The Case of the Moebius Trip by Bitenomnom (NR, 129,218 w., 21 Ch. || Time Travel, BAMF!John, Angst, Death, Post-TRF) – When John finally gives in and accepts a case for the first time since Sherlock fell eight months ago, he finds himself in a unique position: in possession of what his client calls a time machine, and desperate enough to give it a go. If it works, he could travel back in time. If it works, he could save Sherlock.

======

Let us know if any of those are what you're looking for, and if not, friends, please suggest your Post-TRF Time Travel fic options for Nonny to pick from! <3

[lilysqueaks]

Introduction

Hiii👋😊 my name is Lily (she/her | it/its), a horny pan, demi, poly (maybe?), nerdy mouse girl living near the baltic sea in the north of Germany. Often avoid the use of "I" in my sentences for some reason or sometimes talk about myself in third person. No idea why.

Uses Arch btw.

My DMs are open so feel free to message me if you want to talk or if you're in a flirty mood. 🤭 Asks (+anon) are open as well, use them for questions or just to tease me. 👉 👈 I may not respond immediately. Sometimes i'm busy, sometimes i forget to reply & sometimes i'm too shy and don't know what to write. 😅

On HRT since: 05.04.2023 🥰

Married since: 01.12.2023 to @greenpanties 😘

My original posts are tagged with #lily squeaks, and my reblogs are tagged with #squeaky things.

Twitch: twitch.tv/lily_squeaks

YouTube: youtube.com/@LilySqueaks

Minors DNI

Click "Read More" for Interests, Fashion, Games & Kinks.

Interests

Gaming 👾

Everything computer related, e.g. software dev, hardware stuff, basically everything 💻

Sewing 🪡

Fashion

I like everything comfy in pastel and pink. Shiny black if I feel fancy and the occasional blue tones to mix things up. 👗

Games

Feel free to message me if you want to play anything or just wanna talk about video games. 🎮

Nier & Nier Automata

Chrono Trigger

Celeste

It Takes Two

Final Fantasy XIV

Dark Souls

Divinity 2

Stardew Valley

Tunic

RimWorld

Terraria

Oxygen not Included

Viva Pinata

Left 4 Dead

Lost in Random

Mass Effect

Persona

Wakfu

Forza Horizon

Kinks

Everything from a submissive / bottom pov. 🤭

Last orgasm 21.09.24 ???*

*I'm trained with the "Orgasm Go Bye Bye" hypno file by LilithUnleashed. Causing me to be unable to cum without permission, and even forgetting my orgasms. So my last orgasm date is most often the one my dom told me. 😳

Hypnosis

Feet

Bondage

Tickling

BDSM

Brainwashing / Gaslighting

Narratophilia

Temperature play

Impact / sensation play

E-Stim

Chastity

Anal

Tease & Denial

Objectification

Dumbification

Free use

Intox

Somno

Voyeurism

Gentle humiliation & praise kink

Clicker training

Body writing / painting

CNC

Sensory deprivation

Breath play

Latex

Public exposure

Pet Play

CBT

Sweat

Scent / Smell

I'm locked into chasity until the 22. April 2026. You can check my lock status on my chaster page.

Limits

Ruined orgasms

Incest

Piss

Scat

Blood

Vomit

Detrans

Raceplay

Orientation play

Minors DNI

[tbthqs]

Esse não é um exposed, mas poderia ser

Boa noite, dia ou tarde tag rp br e Krp br

Eu sou mod Chronos, mas você também pode me chamar de Jay, isso mesmo aquele do @jaywritesrps. Tudo bem com vocês?

Desculpem invadir a tag e atrapalhar a diversão de vocês, eu também estou sendo atrapalhado, assim como os players do grupo que estão numa dinâmica importante pro plot nesse momento, mas é porque tem uma coisa muito chata acontecendo que são rpgs e pesquisas da tag colocando o famoso "copia, mas não faz igual" com o tipo mais variado de coisa desse rpg e já passou da hora de falar sobre isso.

Esse rpg está na estrada desde janeiro de 2024 e a gente tem um plot, uma estrutura e um jeito muito peculiar de fazer as nossas coisinhas aqui. É bacana de ver outros grupos gostarem da nossa proposta, mas é chato pra caramba tanto pra moderação quanto pros nossos players que estão há 5 meses se "matando" de todas as formas pra desvendar o plot entrar na tag br e ver gente de fora estudando a nossa central, até entrando no nosso grupo pra fazer engenharia reversa e emular as coisas que fazemos no nosso, só porque não somos players populares ou que fazem parte de panelas, como se isso desse o direito de invadir o nosso espaço e pegar o que quiser pra tentar replicar no seu.

Nosso grupo foi criado exatamente porque todos nós estamos cansados desse tipo de comportamento tóxico que a tag br insiste em reproduzir por anos a fio. Nosso grupo de player é composto pelo o que chamamos de "lobos solitários", que é basicamente pessoas que estão na tag há algum tempo e que não fazem parte de nenhum tipo de panela, mas que estão cansadas dessa falta de respeito com o esforço alheio e da falta do senso de comunidade que se tornou a tag rp br e a krp br. Então é irritante não só pra mim como moderação, que gasto meu tempo livre pensando em coisas pra deixar a experiência divertida pra todo mundo, quanto pras pessoas que fazem parte desse grupo e que estão realmente empenhadas em jogar, ao ponto de termos virado um grupo de amigos que se dão suporte mutuamente. É frustrante ver que estamos mais uma vez sendo desrespeitados e vendo não só o plot, ou a estrutura do rpg ou dinâmicas, mas também ver réplicas dos nossos personagens espalhados por outros grupos das duas tags, porque não somos populares ou parte dessa ou daquela panela.

De novo, nós somos pessoas que não fazem parte do seu circulo de amizade ou da sua tchurminha, que isso te dá o direito de invadir o nosso espaço e tentar replicar coisas que estamos fazendo aqui no seu rpg. Só porque você acha que internet é terra sem lei, isso não te dá o direito de você desrespeitar outra pessoa tentando replicar o que ela está fazendo. Não custava nada ter chegado aqui na central e perguntado "Mod Chronos, a gente quer fazer um rpg parecido, tem problema?", porque eu falo desde o primeiro dia pros players daqui, o TBT não é fácil e que não é pra qualquer pessoa. Porque a premissa do jogo é justamente essa, é sobre até onde seu personagem e você como player está disposto a ir pra proteger seus interesses, e é muito bom ter encontrado gente que tá disposta a arriscar o bem estar do personagem e a passar raiva por causa de um joguinho, eu entendo de verdade que você queira fazer uma versão mais "calma" do plot e mais focada em outras coisas mais simples, mas é impossível não ficar com raiva de ver algo que botamos um esforço danado pra chegar algumas pessoas e acharem que podem reproduzir isso.

Para encerrar, gostaria de avisar seguindo orientações legais, tudo o que é postado nesse blog desde o primeiro dia é registrado no Creative Commons. Desde o plot, passando pelas as dinâmicas, tasks e estrutura. O Plot, a estrutura e os NPCs, são registrados no INPE também. Até o presente momento não se fez necessário acionar a justiça, mas caso persistam, as medidas legais serão tomada tanto no Brasil quanto nos Estados Unidos, já que a moderação do grupo possui dupla cidadania e o Tumblr.com é juridicamente domiciliado no país em questão.

[olaqueenbeeofastrology]

#shopping for #charity

🛒💃

🪩

B e n e f 🕺t

@tagheuer

⌚️👀 limited

⏱️

Left

#nephrite #squashblossom #necklace

@michelewatches @redlinewatches

@zodiacwatches

🐰

@gemstone-network @gemstonesilverjewelryus @gemstones @jewelry @fashion @crystalgems-blog @youtube @google @yahoo @bing @twobigblondes @consignmentcouture @christiesauctions @sothebys-pe-blog @sothebys @qvc @qvcuk @twitter @tv-moments @variety @thr @watchestobuy @watchesparadise @bestbuy @biglots @target @watchrepairlondon @vintage @watchrepair @vintagewatchesdepot @vintagewatchesandjewellery-blog @gemstone-network @gemstonesilverjewelryus @gemstones @jewelry @fashion @crystalgems-blog @youtube @google @yahoo @bing @twobigblondes @consignmentcouture @christiesauctions @sothebys-pe-blog @sothebys @qvc @qvcuk @twitter @tv-moments @variety @thr @taylor13 @lizzo

@youtube @yahoo @google @thr @variety @instagram @yellowtaxi @lyft @twitter @tumblr @yahoofinance @money @fortune @forbes @wsj @dalailama @uscopyrightoffice @wholefoods @olaqueenbee @olatransits @olavay @pinkjonperry on @instagram

@vogue @ebay @thr @variety

@gemstone-network @gemstonesilverjewelryus @gemstones @jewelry @fashion @crystalgems-blog @youtube @google @yahoo @bing @twobigblondes @consignmentcouture @christiesauctions @sothebys-pe-blog @sothebys @qvc @qvcuk @twitter @tv-moments @variety @thr @watchestobuy @watchesparadise @bestbuy @biglots @target @watchrepairlondon @vintage @watchrepair @vintagewatchesdepot @vintagewatchesandjewellery-blog @gemstone-network @gemstonesilverjewelryus @gemstones @jewelry @fashion @crystalgems-blog @youtube @google @yahoo @bing @twobigblondes @consignmentcouture @christiesauctions @sothebys-pe-blog @sothebys @qvc @qvcuk @twitter @tv-moments @variety @thr @taylor13 @lizzo

@youtube @yahoo @google @thr @variety @instagram @yellowtaxi @lyft @twitter @tumblr @yahoofinance @money @fortune @forbes @wsj @dalailama @uscopyrightoffice @wholefoods @olaqueenbee @olatransits @olavay @pinkjonperry on @instagram

@vogue @ebay @thr @variety

[enigmaticexplorer]

I Yearn, and so I Fear - Chapter XIII

Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

General Summary. Nearly a year since the Galactic Empire’s rise to power, Kazi Ennari is trying to survive. But her routine is interrupted—and life upended—when she’s forced to cohabitate with former Imperial soldiers. Clone soldiers. 

Pairing. Commander Wolffe x female!OC

General Warnings. Canon-typical violence and assault, familial struggles, terminal disease, bigotry, explicit sexual content, death. This story deals with heavy content. If you’re easily triggered, please do not read. For a more comprehensive list of tags, click here.

Fic Rating. E (explicit)/18+/Minors DNI.

Chapter Word Count. 6.2K

6 Yelona

Attraction wasn’t something Kazi experienced from physical appearance. 

Obviously, she appreciated the physicality of certain men—the proportions of their body, certain features, healthy fat distribution. She knew physically attractive men existed. 

However, true attraction, for her, followed a set of steps. 

The first step: respect. Even the most physically attractive man lost all appeal if he was neither respectful nor respectable. A man who proved himself worthy of her respect—who demonstrated integrity, honesty, reliability—was a man she could then trust.

Thus, the second step.

It was trust that quieted the logical part of her brain and allowed her to access the emotional side. Only then could she determine a man’s attractiveness.

As was her current dilemma. 

Frozen between the partition of the living area and the sunroom, Kazi blinked at the sight before her. Specifically the half-naked man in her kitchen.

Damp from her shortened swim—menstrual cramps forced her to quit the lake early—she didn’t know what to do.

In the kitchen, Wolffe was preparing the lumina berries. The same berries she had prepared for months before he decided to intercede. They hadn’t discussed it. Each morning, when she retrieved the individual bowls of sliced and chunked berries, she didn’t question their prepared state and Wolffe pretended nothing was amiss. 

Something about the situation felt significant. So Kazi ignored it. 

Except she couldn’t ignore it in this moment. Because her damn cramps had deviated her from her meticulously-structured routine.  

Now she not only had confirmation Wolffe was the perpetrator of the prepared berries, but she also learned something new: He worked in the kitchen shirtless. 

His physical state was hardly a problem. The main level was a shared space, and he clearly had his own morning routine separate from their brief overlap. He was allowed to exist in the kitchen in whatever physical capacity he felt comfortable.  

But she hadn’t expected him to be shirtless. 

Consternation twisted alongside her worsening cramps. 

Maybe she should wait on the back porch for twenty minutes and then return when she was expected. They could continue to pretend that he didn’t prepare the berries— 

“Ennari?”

Fuck.

Pretending she hadn’t stood beneath the partition for minutes debating whether or not she should hide outside, Kazi approached the kitchen. Wolffe observed her through narrowed eyes, arms folded across his chest. The moment she reached the bar—their positions switched from their usual routine—he glanced at the chrono on the wall. His shoulders stiffened slightly. 

“I couldn’t swim any longer,” Kazi said. Her tone carried an apologetic note and she nearly rolled her eyes. They were adults; they could discuss the berry situation maturely.

Beneath the intensity of his gaze, her face felt warm. Too warm. 

She decided she didn’t want to discuss the berry situation.

“I think I’m going to go into work earlier.” She played with the tucked flap of her towel. “I’ll take off early so Neyti can see the beginning of the Festival. Fehr said it’s something kids like.”

Wolffe leaned against the counter, the move unhurried and just as effortless as his appearance. Her eyes flitted down his body in a quick assessment.

“Do you want me to take Neyti to school?”

Healthy fat padded his stomach muscles. Dark hair trailed from his lower stomach to his gray sweats. Lines cut into his hips.

“Ennari.”

“You want to take Neyti to school?” she said slowly.

The corner of his lip twitched. “That’s what I said.”

She frowned. “Why would you do that?”

“You said you’re going into work early.” An arrogant smirk curved his mouth. Amusement lit his features. “Are you feeling alright? Temperature too warm?”

Throwing him a bland look, she nodded at the berries. “Why do you prepare those every morning?”

Former amusement darkened into discomfort. A muscle flexed in his jaw and Wolffe stilled, a subtle warning in his face.

“I’m more than capable of preparing breakfast for Neyti and myself,” she added. 

A taunt underscored her blasé tone, and Wolffe breathed a low chuckle. He ran his tongue along his teeth, regarding her with a calculated look that made her blood heat.

“Answer my question,” he finally said. “Do you want me to take Neyti to school?”

She rubbed her arm. “If you don’t mind—”

“I don’t.” 

“Thank you.” She tilted her head to the side, quirking an eyebrow. “Now answer my question.”

“No.” Wolffe turned away, retrieving the knife he had set aside, and concentrated on the lumina berries. 

Kazi glowered at the sculpted planes of his back. 

Muscles lined his shoulders and arms. Muscles that spoke to years of arduous training. His back was a map of physical adeptness sketched with an array of white and faded scars. Black ink encircled his left arm from wrist to shoulder, its design purposeful.

“Why not?” she demanded. “Maybe I should make your caf and see how you like my interference—”

“Drop it.” 

Wolffe scowled at her over his shoulder. The muscles along his body were tensed, and he exhaled a harsh breath, setting aside the knife and closing the space between them. He stopped before her. 

Her heart stuttered in her chest. Droplets of water fell from her hair and shivered down her overheated skin.

Lowering his face to hers, Wolffe calmly, quietly said, “You’re not ready for that conversation.”

With that, he sidestepped her and approached the bookcase. 

Bewildered, she stared at his retreating body. “What does that even mean?” He ignored her and she scoffed. “You can’t just leave in the middle of a conversation—”

The white, peeling bookcase snapped back in place. Her dragon figurine, its scales blacker than a stormy night, regarded her, its maw parted in a teasing grin, like it shared in a secret she didn’t yet know.

Early evening sunlight emphasized the charcoal lines of Neyti’s sketch. 

The scratching noise of the little girl’s stylus filled the silence of the main level. Wiping down the kitchen’s counters—a last-minute decision to try and calm her nerves concerning the upcoming Festival—Kazi washed her hands and then leaned against the counter. 

From her vantage point, she watched Neyti sketch. Her tongue poked out the side of her mouth as she corrected the finer details of a young boy’s face. 

Who the boy was, Kazi didn’t know. Though she had a sneaking suspicion based on the scar on his chin. 

Her gaze slid to the kitchen windows. Outside, a downed tree rested along the jungle’s border. Fox had spent the entire afternoon felling the tree and then lugging it back to the house. Its purpose eluded Kazi, and he refused to answer her questions, but he seemed to have found a new project outside of his usual carvings. 

A glance at the chrono confirmed it was still too early to leave for the Festival. Half an hour remained. 

Originally, Kazi wanted to avoid the Festival’s festivities and locals. Years had passed since she last attended a holiday celebration and she wasn’t keen to begin anew. Large crowds, drunk people, tight spaces. It lacked appeal. 

But a majority of the locals would attend, including Neyti’s classmates, and Kazi wanted Neyti to experience something outside the mundane of everyday life. Even if these festivities differed from Ceaian tradition. 

Still, she found herself rubbing her clammy palms together to stifle her apprehension. This was an opportunity to socialize. To interact with Neyti’s classmates’ parents and make a good impression, an impression that would reflect positively on Neyti. 

The simple dress she wore—cream colored and decorated with abstract floral designs—was light and airy, its style recommended by Fehr to “blend in” with the locals. The thin material hugged her waist, falling to her upper thigh. She hadn’t worn a dress in a long time, and she had forgotten how much she liked them.

Then again, her first partner loved when she wore dresses. She was a body to be perceived. A younger body. A younger body for the male nearly two decades her senior to look at and touch and fuck—

Stiffening, Kazi glanced at the chrono again. They still had twenty-seven minutes until they needed to leave. 

Running her hands down her dress, she decided its straps were too uneven. The left side was too tight. She untied the thin strings of her strap and readjusted. 

The positioning was awkward, the readjustment difficult, and sweat started to slick her spine. Frustration clenched her jaw. She blew a loose strand of hair from her face. A finishing bow completed the knot.

The damned strings remained uneven. She tried again. 

Her appearance tonight mattered—professional yet friendly, more easy-going than aloof. She needed to be composed, a good listener with witty remarks. She needed to be warm and approachable. She needed to be perfect. And she should eat before so no one saw her—

The bookcase swung open. 

Tensed and flustered, Kazi regarded Wolffe as he emerged from the steep stairs. Water shimmered in his dark curls and his face looked dewy, freshly moisturized from a shower. He wore his usual attire, and a dark gray poncho rested in the crook of his elbow. 

Pausing her failed attempts, she glanced at his poncho. “Are you joining us?” 

“Fox is paranoid with safety concerns.” Wolffe rolled his eyes. Kazi pursed her lips to smother her amusement, deciding against mentioning his blatant hypocrisy. “Cody and I agree he’s being unreasonable. We’re all going.”

“Oh.” A hint of relief quieted her former nerves. She looked him over. “Have you ever been to a Harvest Festival? Or any holiday celebration, for that matter?”

The corner of his lip quirked. “Never.”

Trying to casually correct her dress’ strings, she asked, “What holidays do you celebrate?”

“Dunno. It’s never crossed my mind before.” 

The barest perceptible amusement dried his words. He took a step closer. 

“By the way,” she said conversationally, hoping he didn’t notice her inability to fix her dress. “I stopped by the Marketplace and picked up a seedling fertilizer.”

Another step closer and Wolffe frowned. “Seedling fertilizer?”

“For your garden.” His confused silence demanded an answer and she shrugged. “I noticed some of your plants have dry patches so I asked one of the parents at Neyti’s school for advice. He’s a farmer, and he told me the problem most likely derives from the intensity of the sun’s rays. So he recommended this fertilizer. Like sunscreen, but for plants.”

Sometime from when she first started speaking to now, Wolffe had closed the distance between them. He stood as close as he had that morning. Close enough individual water droplets in his curls caught her attention. 

Bemusement scrunched his features. “You got fertilizer for my garden?”

It was her turn to frown. “Yes?”

“I’m surprised you thought of me.” The confession was quiet, carrying an undertone of surprise and something softer. Wolffe searched her face and then dipped his chin to her shoulder. “May I?”

The rasp in his voice slid down her spine like a rough caress. Her nod derived mostly from shock at his offer rather than actual acceptance, and though they already stood so close, Wolffe closed the little distance remaining. 

Warm knuckles grazed the top of her shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat and she bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to keep still.

Wolffe looped the strings of her dress in a methodical approach. His movements were unhurried, intentionally slow, as if he were uncomfortable tying the strings. But she had seen him work in his garden, seen him slice the lumina berries, seen him fix things that required a careful, practiced touch. His fingers were deft in their capabilities, and he was more than capable in tying her dress. 

Each skim of a knuckle to her bare shoulder heated her blood. She fought the urge to shiver. 

“I can’t believe you’ve never celebrated any holidays,” she murmured.

His fingers stilled for a moment and then resumed. “We didn’t have that sort of luxury.”

Tensing at the curtness in his tone, she flattened her palm to the counter, soaking in its coolness. Wolffe sighed, his exhale somewhat annoyed. A slow, controlled caress of his hand brushed along her shoulder and behind her neck, as if he were trying to smooth away her tension.

Her fingers curled into the chilled counter.

“Holidays were meaningful to my family and me,” she said, watching the evening sunlight flit across the walls. “They’re some of my best memories with my parents. I can’t imagine growing up without them.”

“I didn’t have much of a childhood.”

“No, I guess you didn’t.”

A gentle tug and the white strings were tied, completed in a tiny bow matching the other. Prepared to thank him, Kazi turned around but her words faltered.

Their chests were brushing. The heat of his body sunk into hers. She could see a faded scar indented into the dark skin above his lip. The top clasps of his button-down work shirt were unfastened, and she thought back to that morning. Thought about the muscles toning healthy fat and the trail of dark hair down his stomach. 

A fleeting desire encouraged her to press her hand to his chest. To feel the beat of his heart and the heat of his skin.

Ignoring the thought, she angled her head back to meet his gaze. 

Thick lashes framed his eyes and he blinked at her, unrushed yet assessing. His gaze dipped from hers to her shoulder, hesitation lined his features, and she understood why a second later when he tentatively flattened his hand to her shoulder, his thumb circling her skin in an agonizingly slow caress. He studied her in a private, intimate manner.

Disquiet ghosted down her spine and she swallowed.

A piece of her wanted him to touch her more. To slip her dress’s straps from her shoulders and touch the bare skin it revealed. 

A piece of her wanted him to lower his calloused hand to her breast and feel her. To slide his hands down her spine and hold her close, hold her tight enough she couldn’t run. 

But another piece of her feared those wants. 

Touching turned into nakedness, turned into sex, and sex hurt. 

And even though it had been five years, she remembered the pain. She remembered her stupid hope it would feel better the more she did it, and the resigned agony when it didn’t. 

She was scared to be intimate with another man, and she was even more scared of disappointing someone she wanted to be with. 

It was all so stupid to consider, anyway. 

There was nothing between her and Wolffe. She was overreacting. Creating a false narrative because she hadn’t felt a man’s touch like this before.  

Wolffe brushed his thumb along her shoulder to her collarbone. His eyes shifted from hers, to her lips, and back.

All she could remember was the pain. The way her body never adjusted and the shame she endured knowing something was wrong with her—

“Neyti!” 

Her exclamation earned a nonplussed jerk from Wolffe. Disregarding the confusion on his face and the silent question in the narrowing of his eyes, Kazi stepped away from his touch. From him. His fingers twitched once but he immediately released her. He backed away to the opposite counter, his expression guarded, and crossed his arms.

Kazi looked toward the table, to the little girl. To her salvation. Neyti stared curiously at her, and she mustered a tight smile.

“Do you want to get your gifts?” 

A toothless yet excited grin lit Neyti’s face and she closed her sketchbook, hurrying toward the garage. Reemerging with a meshed bag, she cautiously approached Wolffe. He cocked his head to the side. A tiny hand disappeared into the bag and returned with a pale orange, tear-drop shaped fruit. 

Wolffe considered the outstretched fruit. Hesitation lined his features but soon softened, and to Kazi’s surprise, he knelt before Neyti, the height difference between him and the little girl humorously noticeable. 

With a small smile, he accepted the fruit, murmuring a quiet “Thank you.”

Bashfully, Neyti hid her face in her shoulder and retreated to Kazi’s side. 

“It was Neyti’s idea,” Kazi said, running a hand through Neyti’s hair. Wolffe returned to his full height, peeling the fruit. He regarded her with a careful expression, and she tried not to blush. “It is tradition, after all.”

Either oblivious to the lie or uncaring of it, Neyti hefted the bag higher. Kazi released a mirthful chuckle and gestured for Neyti to lead the way outside. She pretended she didn’t see the knowing look Wolffe levelled on her—the look that clearly said It wasn’t the kid’s idea.

Outside, Kazi oversaw Neyti gift Fox, Cody, and Nova a citrus-star. Their confusion led to her retelling the tradition, and each of them shared a piece of their citrus-star with Neyti who dutifully ate her share.  

The sun continued its downward arc, settling behind the jungle’s rolling hills, the sky a burnished copper. 

Aware of the waning time, Kazi ushered everyone back inside. Neyti returned to her sketch while the men prepared for the Festival. 

The brief lull gave Kazi the opportunity to check on Daria, her sister suffering a migraine. A symptom Healer Natasha claimed was normal for this stage. Still, she worried Daria’s lack of proper medication the last few months had accelerated her disease past a point of medicinal control.

Closed shades darkened Daria’s room. A handful of seconds passed as Kazi grew accustomed to the darkness, discerning her sister from the lump of bed sheets and quilt. 

“Do you need any pain relief?” she asked softly, stepping next to the bed.

Lying on her side, staring vacantly at the opposite wall, Daria shook her head. 

Kazi scanned her sister’s room, noting the new succulent she had gifted Daria. The plant was a random purchase from the Marketplace last week when she bought the citrus-stars. 

A blue stem with a handful of dark purple blossoms, the tiny plant provided a splash of color among the dominantly green succulents. She was surprised her sister had grouped the new succulent with the others. Daria preferred aesthetic organization and the succulent’s random coloration disrupted the cohesiveness of the grouped plants.

Awkwardly fiddling with a braid, Kazi offered Daria the final citrus-star from the bunch. “I know it’s not Ceaia’s harvest time, but I thought we could celebrate.”

Silence succeeded her offer, fermenting like an unwanted stench. She searched her sister’s face—for a twinge of acknowledgement or kindness or ephemeral interest—but Daria remained unmoving, apathetically disinterested.

“I can peel it,” Kazi said, “and we could share it.”

Finally, Daria shifted her attention from the blank wall to the citrus-star. For a stilted moment, she observed the fruit. Her upper lip curled and she turned away, pulling the thick quilt around her shoulders. “I’m not interested in meaningless gifts.”

Dropping her hand to her side, Kazi accepted the dismissal with a resigned nod. 

It was a pathetic attempt on her part, anyway.

Eight bonfires blazed among the ferny clearing of Hollow’s Town’s park. The night sky was clear and stars shimmered their mirth alongside the floating lights strung along and between thick trees.  

People milled about, laughter a harmony to the twangy music of the band. 

A maypole adorned with bioluminescent silver flowers and strung with streamers of dark green and blue stood as a focal point. The sprouted flowers revealed a honeyed center. Their color and unique petals drew Neyti to them like a bee to pollen.

Glasses of ale—a staple from the local brewery—were passed among patrons. Tables boasted various competitions: the largest vegetable, the best-tasting fruit, the most unique crossbreed, the best presentation.  

Carnival games—droid darts, planetary ring toss, vibroblade throws—garnered the attention of younglings and competitive adults alike. 

Near an outer bonfire, Kazi smothered her amusement as she watched Cody and Fox compete at a vibroblade throw game. Nova watched from the side, waiting to play whoever won. According to Wolffe, he was the best at handling blades. 

Though Nova appeared at ease, his eyes darted across the park, a hand casually resting against the blaster strapped to his thigh and hidden beneath his poncho. The other men each carried as well. And while their moods were sportive, their vigilance was unwavering. 

Sipping from her glass of ale, Kazi wrinkled her nose. Wolffe snorted and she scowled at him. 

“I don’t understand why you bother with it if you don’t like it,” he said, drinking from his own glass. He seemed to like the ale, judging by the fact this was his fourth glass. 

“It’s not bad,” she said.

Wolffe’s unimpressed look called her bluff.

The truth: One of Neyti’s classmate’s mother offered her the glass. Wanting to appear friendly and personable, Kazi accepted the drink and then joined the woman, whose name evaded her, and a few others in conversation. 

The parents were either self-centered about their younglings, or disappointed, reverting to patronizing jokes to hide their own frustrations. Slow sips of her ale resulted in her downing half the glass by the time she caught sight of Wolffe and excused herself from the group. 

A quick scan of the field revealed Neyti playing a hopping game with one of her classmates. Based on her concentration, she had no plans to lose. 

“Cody mentioned you might not join the upcoming mission,” Kazi said, returning her attention to Wolffe.

He straightened, rolling his shoulders back. “I’m considering it.”

His guarded demeanor told her he wouldn’t answer more questions about it, so she switched topics.

“I have time off from work in three days.” Pretending to study the amber ale in her glass, she slid a sidelong glance in his direction. “I was planning on taking Neyti hiking. If you don’t go on the mission, you could join us.”

Originally, she wasn’t going to invite him. There was a line she didn’t want to cross, a professional boundary, and, if she were being honest with herself, she didn’t want to endure his possible rejection. But a part of her was hoping he wouldn’t mind spending time outside the house with her and Neyti. 

Wolffe blinked his surprise. Kazi steadied herself for the rejection—

“I’ll be there.”

Shock coursed through her veins, but she kept her features neutral, instead, smiling smally and nodding her acknowledgement. A service droid passed by and she set aside her half-finished drink, Wolffe doing the same. She glanced at Cody and Nova who were taking turns at the vibroblades.

“You didn’t want to compete against them?” she asked. “Too afraid you’d lose?”

A slow smirk spread across his face. “I know how to play to my strengths. And I don’t lose, Ennari.”

For some reason, his words sounded like a warning and she searched his face for the answer to a question she didn’t yet know. His gaze burned hot against hers. Hotter than the nearby bonfire; hotter than the ale she had managed to keep down. 

She wanted to look away; she wanted to step into him; she wanted to change the subject; she wanted to lift her hand to his face and trace his rounded jawline; she wanted to run.

Too many conflicting thoughts and emotions fought within her. She didn’t know which to heed. 

To her relief and disappointment, Wolffe broke their stare, reaching into a pocket of his trousers. He retrieved a small, dark brown packet. Hesitation squared his shoulders and he cleared his throat, extending the packet to her.

“They’re seeds,” he said. 

“Seeds?” He nodded as she appraised the packet. “For what?”

“You said it’s tradition.” He looked mildly embarrassed, awkward. With another clearing of his throat, he reached for her hand. “They’re for you.”

She jerked her hand away, shaking her head. “But I didn’t get you anything.”

Wolffe frowned. “I don’t care—”

“I don’t want them.” Her words came out antagonistic and rude. She winced.

The packet of seeds breached the space between them. Wolffe narrowed his eyes and she looked away.

It was thoughtful. Too thoughtful. If she had known he was getting her something she would have prepared. She would have bought him something. 

“I didn’t get you anything,” she repeated, rubbing her chest to quiet her unease. “I’m sorry.”

“I have a hard time believing Neyti was that thoughtful with her gift.” Wolffe scoffed, a hard edge to his voice. 

Tension pinched her skin and Kazi shook her head, trying to think. Trying to rein her growing emotions.

The smoke from the bonfire was too suffocating. 

Harsh laughter and squeals of younglings pounded inside her head. 

She rubbed her hands together, hugging her arms to her stomach. 

She stared at the packet of seeds. Her muscles were too cramped. Too tight.

Huffing an unamused breath, Wolffe reached for her hand again, and when she tried to pull away, he gripped her tighter, placing the packet of seeds in her palm. 

“I got this without the intention of receiving a gift in return,” he said, curling her fingers around the packet. “They cost me nothing.”

“It’s the thought behind the gift,” she murmured. His thumb stroked the back of her hand, swift and light, before he released her. She swallowed. “Thank you.” 

He gave a short nod. 

She lifted the packet to the fire, trying to see inside. “Are they seeds for a vegetable or fruit?”

“Plant them and you’ll find out.” 

Pocketing the seeds, she tried to read his expression. His disgruntled scowl told her he hadn’t expected her reaction, and he was annoyed. Or disappointed. Probably both. 

Chagrined, she dropped her gaze to the crackling logs of the fire. The snaps of the burning logs sounded like chattering skeletons teasing her. They told her what she already knew: She had overreacted. 

It wasn’t a surprise. She tended to overreact when she believed she wasn’t doing enough—being enough. 

But gift-giving on Ceaia—between a non-related male and female—was considered a mark of courtship. Usually, the gift presented was a collection of three flowers, each representing a distinguishing personality trait. 

The custom was old but Kazi had found it somewhat endearing. One of the few customs she appreciated. 

“Thank you,” she repeated. Her eyes remained on his, and she hoped he could at least hear the sincerity in her voice—the vulnerability and gratitude. 

He stepped closer. “I have a packet—”

“Kazi?”

The male voice startled her enough she flinched, spinning around to face the person. An orange glow from the bonfire’s flames licked at the approaching male. A few confident strides closer and she made out light brown hair, darker skin, and an impeccably tailored suit. 

The name popped into her head. “Jason.”

Jason smiled. “You remembered.”

It wasn’t an impressive feat.  

From the networking events, balls, and cocktail parties her mother forced her and Daria to attend, Kazi was accustomed to memorizing names, businesses, and every bit of gossip she overheard. Her mind contained a bookshelf of categorized, useless facts concerning certain individuals. It didn’t matter how many years passed, she remembered the most minute details. 

And it was one of the reasons she excelled at analytics. 

“I’m surprised you remember me,” she said, considering Jason warily.

“It’s hard to forget someone like you.”

The muted scoff from behind reminded her of their audience and she forced a tight smile. Jason’s gaze remained on her face, not even bothering with Wolffe. 

“I’ve been wanting to speak with you. To apologize.” Jason took a step closer, a grimace on his face. “It was my understanding you had agreed to our dinner. It wasn’t my intention to blindside you.”

Wincing at the memory, Kazi clasped her hands behind her back. Her fingers brushed against a pair of trousers and her cheeks warmed. 

“I was caught off-guard,” she said. Keenly aware of the quiet man to her back and the one who stood a bit too close in front, she released an awkward laugh. “Well, it was nice to see you—” 

“I was wondering…” Jason tossed her a sheepish grin. “Would you be interested in stepping away and getting a drink?”

Either Jason lacked basic observational skills or he was self-assured enough he didn’t care about Wolffe’s presence. 

Softening her smile, she started to shake her head. “Thank you, but—”

“I don’t want to be too forward,” Jason interrupted, “but I was interested by you at dinner. I would like to start over.”

“Oh?” Kazi breathed a dismayed chuckle. “I thought I was antagonistic and rude.”

He laughed. “You were quiet, but I didn’t take it to be antagonistic.”

Polite earnestness crinkled his eyes and she internally grimaced. The need for distance encouraged her to step back, to allow some breathing room between her and Jason’s advances. She backed into something hard.  

Wolffe didn’t move. Didn’t even flinch at the connection between their bodies. 

To her utter perplexity, he pressed closer, the heat of his chest palpable through her loose sweater. A graze of his fingers on her elbow seemed his attempt to remind her he was there.  

Her movement finally drew Jason’s attention to Wolffe. Lacking suspicion or annoyance, Jason scanned Wolffe with an air of indifference. 

Kazi had seen those looks at the few marriage balls she attended. A perusal of one suitor to determine if another suitor was a threat or could be turned into an ally. A perusal to assess the situation and determine if a woman could be convinced away from the suitor currently courting her. 

Obviously, the comparison was an exaggeration since Wolffe wasn’t courting her. But Jason didn’t know that.  

Straightening, Kazi inclined her head to Jason. 

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in exploring anything at this time.” Her tone remained kind, practiced. “I have duties that require my attention and I don’t have the time or the capacity to pursue something.”

Though somewhat crestfallen, Jason accepted her rejection with an air of grace. His smile, while disappointed, was understanding. 

“Raising a youngling does require time and attention,” he said. His gaze shifted between her and Wolffe. “I wish you both the best of luck.”

“Oh—no.” Kazi moved away from Wolffe. Her laugh was strained as she looked between a wary Wolffe and a confused Jason. “We’re not—no. It’s just my sister, Neyti, and me.”

Jason blinked his surprise. “Apologies, I must have misunderstood.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “It was nice seeing you.” 

As soon as the night’s shadows engulfed Jason, Kazi released a shaky breath. 

The air between her and Wolffe thickened with an awkwardness heated by the nearest bonfire. A lick of sweat dribbled down her spine and she lifted her hair off her neck in an attempt to cool her body. 

Beneath the orange light of the bonfire, she regarded Wolffe. His brows were drawn together in calculation, and his mouth was downturned in disapproval. Or maybe it was doubt.

A pop from the bonfire jumped her heart and she released her hair, rubbing her hands together. An odd amount of tension was pulling taut in her shoulders, knotting in her stomach. She needed to move. To do something to escape the awkward development—

“Is that a common occurrence?”

The gruff question yanked her from her thoughts and she frowned. “What?”

“Arranged marriage dates.” Wolffe sounded offended by the words.

“No. Not for me, at least.” The hard look in his face demanded further explanation and she sighed. “It’s tradition on Ceaia and some other planets in the Outer Rim. It’s not as common out here as it is in the Inner Rim.”

At a table nearby, she caught sight of his brothers. Hoods covered their faces as they listened to a handful of drunks slurring stories of exaggerated adventures. A hasty survey of the clearing located Neyti. The little girl stood beside the maypole, playing a bag-toss game with a boy her age.  

“Some people don’t know any better,” she said, nudging a few pieces of ash that had landed at her feet. “When you’re raised that way from birth, it seems normal and acceptable. But I didn’t grow up that way. At least, not initially. When my father died, my mother forced Daria and me into that lifestyle, but I never liked it.”

“Your sister subscribes to it.”

Kazi scoffed. “My mother’s doing. Daria was so young when our father died and she was always closer to our mother. She didn’t know any better. But I struggled. The thought of an arranged marriage scared me. I wanted something—”

She cut off, biting the inside of her cheek. Her aspirations in a partner weren’t his business.

“You wanted something real,” Wolffe continued for her. And though he said it like a statement, it was underscored by a question. Curiosity. 

“Customary courtship determines if people are compatible for marriage,” she said. “And while I agree it’s necessary to determine if you and your partner are compatible in life, traditional compatibility is based on physical appeal and what a partner can offer, completely ignorant of one’s personal beliefs, morals, and ambitions. It emphasizes duty, and ignores emotional connection. It’s not what I want.”

They stood much closer, once more. She could see the reflection of the bonfire’s flames in his cybernetic. If she wanted, she could lean forward and rest her forehead against his chest. 

“And what do you want?”

“I…” The weight of his gaze bore into hers, like the endless crush of a hurricane’s waves, surrounding and drowning. She shook her head. “I need to concentrate on Neyti and Daria. I don’t have time for superficiality.” 

“Try again, Ennari.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Like I told Jason—”

“He’s a stranger.” Wolffe cocked his head to the side. “I’m not.”

“It doesn’t matter. My answer is the same. I don’t have time for superficiality—”

“And if it’s not superficial?”

Huffing her exasperation, she scanned the ferny clearing. “I haven’t met someone like that, so I don’t know.”

Wolffe was silent for a moment too long. “You haven’t met someone because you won’t allow yourself to get close to them.”

“Excuse me?”

“Tell me I’m wrong, Ennari.”

She clenched her fists. “You don’t know me.”

“I know you better than you think.”

“Then you should know I have more important things to do than waste my time on a male.”

“Waste your time?” Wolffe demanded.

“What decent males are there?” She threw her hands up. “They’re all a waste of my time.”

Scoffing, Wolffe looked away, toward the bonfire. Agitation flexed in the hand he dragged through his hair. Annoyance flared in his nostrils as he settled a hard, disbelieving scowl in her direction. 

“You are one of the most frustrating people I know.”

Offended, she glared at him. “What have I done to annoy you?”

“I would like to know what you want—”

BOOM.

A burst of color erupted in the sky. 

Kazi watched it for a millisecond before large arms grabbed her. 

A hand shoved her face into a chest. 

Another hand gripped the back of her neck. 

A second explosion shook the air.

The arms tightened around her, pulling her even closer. 

And then the clapping started. 

Awed whoops and shouts of ecstatic glee echoed across the clearing. Younglings squealed, and the sound of whistling rockets filled the air succeeded by a brilliant shattering of bronzed hues.

Understanding calmed the harsh beat of her heart and Kazi leaned away from Wolffe. His face was tilted toward the sky, jaw clenched tight and chest heaving. 

Gently, she attempted to maneuver herself away. Eyes still on the sky, Wolffe refused, his arms seemingly locked in place. Eventually his features shuttered and he released her, sliding a trembling hand through his hair.

“They’re fireworks,” she said. The blatant obviousness of her statement earned her a reproving glower, and she dropped her gaze, searching the field for Neyti. 

To her left, Fox was approaching, his expression neutral though she detected a hint of worry as he carefully assessed Wolffe. Behind him, still seated at the table, Cody was speaking into Nova’s ear, gripping the man’s shoulder. Nova nodded, rising to his feet, his lips flattened in a thin line. 

People gathered closer. Bodies jostled hers. 

Kazi clenched her fists at her sides and forced herself to breathe. To ignore the swarming crowd.

A tiny hand tugged on her arm. Kazi hid her relief behind a strangled smile, kneeling to the ground. Distraught had harshened Neyti’s features into tight lines. 

“They’re fireworks,” Kazi explained softly, resting a shaking hand on Neyti’s shoulder, squeezing her gently. “They’re used for celebrations, like tonight. They won’t hurt you. I promise.”

A particularly loud burst of snowy white made Neyti flinch. But the longer she watched the display, her distraught ebbed into curiosity which eased into fascination. 

A throat cleared and Kazi pushed herself to her feet, appraising Wolffe. His face was stony, like it had been in the initial months of his arrival on Eluca. 

The reversion unnerved her, and for some reason, she thought she might be to blame. Something had happened in their conversation that he didn’t appreciate.

“We’re leaving,” he informed her. His tone was clipped, hoarse. 

“Okay.” 

He turned on his heel, joining his brothers, not bothering to wait for her to say anything else. 

A burst of coiled purples and effervescent greens decorated the night sky. Kazi ignored the fireworks, her attention lingering on the rigid shoulders stalking through the crowd. 

Masterlist | Chapter 12 | Chapter 14

A/N: Poor Kazi overthinks her emotions and is quick to jump to conclusions. Poor Wolffe is second-guessing the things he thought he’d figured out.

Also, I know this is so basic of me, but here’s an image depicting the style of dress Kazi wore. Obviously, as described, the colors were more muted and the dress more cream colored. 

[ask-flame-fugitive-eclipse]

Eclipse we can also see into people's dreams don't overthink how we can enter your mind we just can and well according to the latest gossip

Solar had a nightmare where he killed your brother mistaking him for his sister and he thinks you hate him and want to kill him because of just how vivid the dream was

In the dream he also killed a bunch of kids all the ice heirs

I think he's scared of becoming his sister

”That must be why he’s so scared”

Eclipse walked closer to Solar, but noticed he still tried to move back

“Sol, I don’t hate you, that was just a nightmare. I care about you, you’re okay”

Solar stopped moving away, but didn’t move closer to Eclipse

[6loodlvstt]

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 call me whatever | chrono 18

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 he/it | vampkin | demiomnirom cupiosex

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 ext info: i have npd, autism, ocd, osdd and bpd as a warning before you interact with me; im kinda tone deaf so please use tone tags; i also have very low empathy

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 its fine to send me asks of any kind

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 this blog may contain: yandere themes, nsfw, gore, talks about blood, and violent thoughts

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 this is more so a yandere account, i dont have anyone, just post out of having too much love

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 i dont have a dni, ill block you if you make me uncomfortable

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 that being said; i support proshippers, rqs, transids, and paras

˖°🦇ִ ࣪𖤐 i would appreciate if minors (or anyone who wants/needs to) blocked my love lust tag, its just my nsfw posts

⋆ ♰.˚🩸⌗ p o s t s ˎˊ˗ - all posts

⋆ ♰.˚🩸⌗ r e b l o g s ˎˊ˗ - reblogs

⋆ ♰.˚🩸⌗ d a r l i n g s ˎˊ˗ - asks

⋆ ♰.˚🩸⌗ l o v e l u s t ˎˊ˗ - nsfw posts

˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ taken anons: 🦴, 🩹

[darksideofthemamon]

I got tagged by @radellama ! Thanks, Rads!

1. why did you choose your url?

I thought it sounded catchy ^^" I'm honestly not good at thinking about these things. Titles too.

2. any sideblogs? if you have them name them and why you have them.

I have 3!

@janusofguardia for my Chrono Trigger AU (Janus gets taken in by Guardia instead of the Mystics)

@lila-chantilly for my Kingdom Hearts OC/s

@the-journey-was-the-point for all Tolkiem-related things, including OC's and LOTRO!

3. how long have you been on tumblr?

Uhh 5 years? I only started in 2019 ^^" I wasn't here for its heyday

4. do you have a queue tag?

No! I don't really queue, I only sometimes schedule posts for the timezone.

5. why did you start your blog in the first place?

I wanted to post my art and interact with fandoms! I ended up being active here the most because it's really fandom-centric, accommodates a lot of post types (art, long text posts, asks), and isn't subject to the same algorithms and commercialism the other social media sites are. It's much quieter here, and the only ones who stay are like-minded people, so I really like it. It's all about having a space to creatively express myself.

6. why did you choose your icon/pfp?

It's my KH OC! She has her arm in brace, and I recovered from an injury just last year, so I felt it represented my inner self.

7. why did you choose your header?

I wanted to show off my best works XD

8. what’s your post with the most notes?

Fanart of Asami Sato from Legend of Korra!

9. how many mutuals do you have?

Uhhh I don't know how to count that... I'm gonna guess 10-15????

10. how many followers do you have?

89!

11. how many people do you follow?

311!

12. have you ever made a shitpost?

Hmm I think I sort of did? It's a joke on the ending of KHUX, and one of the few times I've drawn Eraqus

13. how often do you use tumblr each day?

Often! I check it all the time, honestly ^^"

14. did you have a fight/argument with another blog once?

Nope! And anyway I'd be happy to block.

15. how do you feel about ‘you need to reblog this’ posts

b y e

16. do you like tag games?

Yeah!

17. do you like ask games?

Yeah, I also sometimes reblog prompts in my sideblogs!

18. which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

Hmmm I'm not sure if any are? @_@

19. do you have a crush on a mutual?

Nope!

20. tags

ok so no pressure obviously!

@undeadrabbit-reblogs @loremastering @angbands-last-hero @tambermizukiart @chirithy564 @saephrond @lanthanum12

and whoever else wants!

[solradguy]

Went digging for something else, forgot what it was exactly I was looking for, and then misremembered and dug up the ASW favorite game/series survey results instead lol They hid the top 10 in a Tokyo Game Show talk, so here they are:

Guilty Gear Strive — 2518 votes

BlazBlue: Centralfiction — 2363 votes

Guilty Gear XX series — 2203 votes

Guilty Gear Xrd series — 1960 votes

脱出アドベンチャー series — 1803 votes

探偵 神宮寺三郎 series (Jake Hunter) — 1512 votes

Digital Holmes — 629 votes

Kunio-Kun series — 612 votes

Wizard's Harmony series — 526 votes

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle — 464 votes

Here's through to 20, from the official survey results page.

11. Guilty Gear 2: Overture — 444 votes 12. BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma series — 413 votes 13. BlazBlue: Continuum Shift series — 404Votes 14. World End Syndrome — 364 votes 15. Of Mice and Sand series — 285 votes 16. BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War — 284 votes 17. Guilty Gear X series — 258 votes 18. Prismaticallization — 233 votes 19. Guilty Gear (1998) — 219 votes 20. River City Girls series — 207 votes

Some funny honorable mentions from the survey page (this was out of 50 total games/series:

39. Tottemo E Mahjong series — 15 votes

47. Guilty Gear Isuka — 6 votes 48. Under Night In-Birth — 5 votes

50. BlazBlue: Revolution Reburning — 3 votes

[suzukiblu]

WIP WEDNESDAY GAME

Slimmed-down post/rules, but originally taken from @kedreeva.

It’s WIP Wednesday! This week's theme is "baby Kons". Nothing else. All Kons, all babies, all the time.

✨️ b a b i e s ✨️

Here’s how it works:

I will post the file names of five WIPs, and will also post a snippet of new content from one of them to get the ball rolling.

Send me an ask with the name of one of the listed WIPs and I will write you a minimum of three sentences in that WIP in response!

Multiple requests are fine, but I’d prefer if you sent them in separate asks. Just a little easier for me to fill them that way, and also easier for people to read through the WIP tag smoothly later.

If you’re reading this, you’re invited!

WIP names:

love is being stupid together ( chrono | non-chrono )

Clark wakes up alive ( chrono | non-chrono )

Superboys Switch ( chrono | non-chrono )

de-aged Kon and the Lane-Kent family ( chrono | non-chrono )

interdimensional kidnapping via Robin ( chrono | non-chrono )

snippet from “love is being stupid together”:

Superman is being more annoying than he has ever been before, which is saying something. 

“Why are you like this?” Lex asks in exasperation as Superman stares intently at Experiment Thirteen through his office window. Lex didn't open it for him, so he's just floating out there with his nose and hands pressed to the glass. It is extremely irritating. He could just break the damn thing, for fuck’s sake. It’d be less annoying than the smudges he’s leaving. The window washers won’t be here ‘til Thursday, for fuck’s sake. 

Apparently stalking is fine for sanctimonious alien boy scouts, but property damage is a bridge too far.

And Lex does mean stalking. Superman keeps showing up wherever he takes Experiment Thirteen, even when there is absolutely no illusion of a logical reason for him to be there, and isn't even pretending to be showing up for any reason other than checking in on Experiment Thirteen, who he's taken to calling “Kon-El”, of all things. 

He told Lex it was the name of a cousin of his back on Krypton who Experiment Thirteen reminds him of, because it's “strong-willed”. Lex, for the record, did not ask.