#enjoy this thrilling sequel folks

[lila-lou]

✨His second exception - Pt. 9/?✨

Summary: The moment Ben found out you were pregnant was probably the happiest moment of his life. However, happiness proved fleeting. Now, he is faced with the aftermath of his shattered dreams. Of what is left of you, and what is left of him.

Pairing: Soldier Boy x Reader

Warnings: 18+ only! Smut, Language, fluff, hurt/angst

Word Count: 7118

A/N: This is the sequel to “His only exeption” - and Part 9 of "His second exception".

English isn’t my first language, so please be lenient. 💙✨

The next two weeks, Ben and you spent most of your time either at the tower or at home together, finding a new rhythm in your relationship. The days were filled with a comforting routine of work and shared moments, allowing you both to heal and grow closer again.

Your parents hadn’t reached out to you since the night they came over, and you were beginning to wonder if the confrontation had left a lasting rift. But then, today, you received a text from your mom, inviting you both over for dinner on Sunday. The fact that she included Ben in the invitation surprised you, but it also gave you hope that they were willing to try to accept your relationship.

Right now, you walked into Ben’s office to tell him the news. He was sitting at his desk, engrossed in some paperwork, but he looked up as soon as you entered.

“Hey”, he greeted, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”.

You took a seat across from him, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. “I just got a text from my mom. She invited us over for dinner on Sunday”.

Ben’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Us? As in both of us?”.

You nodded, unable to hide your own surprise. “Yeah, both of us. I think they’re trying to make an effort”.

“That’s… unexpected”.

You took a deep breath, wanting to be sensitive to Ben’s feelings. “So, what do you think? Are you okay with going?”.

Ben’s lips curled into a playful smirk. “Are you asking me if I’m okay with having dinner with my girlfriend’s parents who might just be trying to accept me? Hmm, let me think…”.

You rolled your eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of your mouth. “Ben, seriously. I know it might be a bit awkward, and I don’t want to force you into anything you’re uncomfortable with”.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. “Well, I’m not going to lie and say I’m fucking thrilled. But if this is a chance to mend things and make them see how happy we are together, then I’m in”.

You chuckled at Ben's straightforward response, appreciating his honesty. "Alright, fair enough. Thank you".

Ben grinned mischievously, his eyes gleaming with playful intent. "Since I'm agreeing to potentially survive a dinner with your folks, can I ask for something else in return?".

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Depends on what you're asking for".

Ben leaned back in his chair, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Well”, he started, his tone lowering, “you know, all week you’ve been too tired to even let me touch you”.

You felt a blush creeping up your cheeks as he continued, his voice turning even more suggestive. “I think now would be the perfect time to… well, you know, make it up to me”.

Your blush deepened at his bold words, and you could hardly meet his gaze. “Ben”, you stammered, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. “That’s… quite the request”.

He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving yours. “Just think of it as a little motivation for me to get through dinner. What do you say?”.

You bit your lip, trying to gather your thoughts. Part of you wanted to tease him right back, but another part was genuinely flustered by his boldness.

"Alright", you said, trying to keep your voice steady despite the flutter in your stomach. "But you better behave yourself during dinner".

Ben's grin widened, clearly enjoying your reaction. He leaned back in his chair, patting his lap playfully. "C'mere", he murmured.

Your cheeks burned even hotter at his audacity, but you couldn't deny the thrill that shot through you. You walked over to him, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement.

As you straddled his lap, Ben wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. His lips brushed against your ear as he whispered, "You know, you drive me crazy sometimes".

You chuckled softly, feeling his warmth against you. "I guess that's why you put up with me".

Ben’s eyes darkened with desire as he pulled away slightly, his hands deftly unbuttoning your blouse. He took his time, savoring each moment as he revealed the smooth skin of your chest. When he had your blouse open, he gently tugged your bra down, just enough to expose your nipples.

You shivered at the sensation of the cool air on your skin, combined with the heat of his gaze. Ben leaned in, his lips brushing against your neck. His breath was warm against your skin as he took his time, his lips brushing over your collarbone and then lower, leaving a trail of soft kisses. You felt your breath hitch as he hovered just above one of your nipples, his eyes flicking up to meet yours.

“Look at you”, he murmured. “You get all worked up so easily. Just a touch, and you’re already trembling”.

You bit your lip, again feeling a blush spread across your cheeks.

He finally took one of your nipples into his mouth, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak. You gasped, your hands instinctively reaching for his shoulders to steady yourself. Ben sucked gently, then harder, drawing a moan from your lips.

“That’s right”, he murmured against your skin. “Let me hear you. You’re mine, and I want to know just how much you need this”.

His words were rough, but the pleasure he was giving you was undeniable. You arched your back, pressing closer to him, feeling the heat between your bodies.

Ben didn’t lose much time. He knew that sucking on your nipples was more than enough to make you wet, so without hesitation, he opened the pants of his suit, pulling out his already hard dick. He held you up with one arm, his strength making it easy, while his other hand grabbed his dick.

Without the need for his words, you quickly pulled up your skirt and pushed your panties aside, a shiver running through you at the anticipation. The tip of his cock pressed against your entrance, and you gasped at the sensation.

“You’re so ready for me”, he murmured, his voice thick with desire. “Just can’t wait to have me inside you, can you?”.

You nodded, biting your lip to stifle a moan as he began to push inside, stretching and filling you in a way that made you feel complete. His grip on your waist tightened, guiding you down onto him inch by inch, until he was fully sheathed within you.

The feeling was intense, the mix of pleasure and the sheer physicality of it taking your breath away. Ben’s eyes never left yours, his gaze fierce and possessive. “That’s it”, he growled softly. “Take all of me”.

You whimpered, your hands clutching at his shoulders for support as you began to gently move your hips, adjusting to the feel of him inside you. Ben tried his best to give you the time you needed, his grip on your waist steadying you as you found your rhythm.

“Just like that”, he whispered, his voice rough with restraint.

You moved slowly at first, savoring the sensation of being so intimately connected. Each shift of your hips brought a new wave of pleasure, the friction sending sparks through your body. Ben’s eyes were locked onto yours, his gaze filled with a mixture of desire and adoration.

Encouraged by his steadying presence, you gradually increased your pace, your movements becoming more confident. Ben’s breath hitched as you rode him, his hands guiding you but allowing you to take control.

“You’re doing so well”, he murmured.

You missed feeling him like this so much. The intimacy, the connection, the way he made you feel—everything about being with Ben was perfect. You’d always heard horror stories about how Supes could hurt or even kill people during sex, but with Ben, it was pure pleasure. He was always careful with his strength, and although sometimes he underestimated it, the most you ever experienced were some soreness and a few bruises.

You couldn’t imagine ever sleeping with someone else. Ben just knew how to push every single one of your buttons.

As you moved on top of him, finding a rhythm that sent waves of pleasure through both of you, his hands guided you, his touch grounding and reassuring.

The connection between you was palpable, a silent understanding that transcended words. You felt safe with him, cherished. Each thrust, each touch, brought you closer together, both physically and emotionally.

Ben’s hands roamed your body, caressing and squeezing, his breath coming in short, heated bursts. “You feel so good”, he murmured. “I’ve missed this, missed you”.

You leaned down, your lips brushing against his ear as you whispered, “I’ve missed you too, Ben. So much”.

Your words seemed to ignite something in him, his grip on your hips tightening as he thrust up into you, meeting your movements with a newfound intensity. You gasped, the pleasure almost too much to bear, but you didn’t want it to stop. You wanted to hold on to this moment, to the feeling of being so completely connected to him.

As the pleasure built to a crescendo, you felt yourself teetering on the edge. “Ben”, you moaned, your voice a desperate plea. “I’m so close”.

His eyes locked onto yours. “Come for me”, he urged, his voice a rough whisper.

With a final, deep thrust, you felt the wave of your orgasm crash over you. Ben followed right behind, his release mingling with yours as he groaned your name, his hands holding you close.

For a moment, you stayed like that, bodies entwined, hearts pounding in unison.

After a while, Ben gently lifted you up, his strength effortless and tender. As he pulled your panties back in place, his softening dick fell against his stomach. He grinned mischievously, whispering, “Keep it inside”, a playful glint in his eyes, referring to his cum.

You blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and arousal at his boldness. Just then, the door to Ben’s office swung open, and MM stepped in. “Ah man, fuck that!”, he exclaimed, quickly covering his eyes with his hand. “Seriously? You guys can’t even keep it in the bedroom?”.

Ben grumbled under his breath as MM stood awkwardly in the doorway, his hand still covering his eyes. “Can’t you fucking knock or something?”, Ben said, his tone half amused, half annoyed.

MM dropped his hand from his eyes, shooting Ben a playful glare. “You’re lucky I walked in and not someone else. You two really need to learn some damn boundaries”.

You bit your lip, trying to stifle a laugh as you straightened your clothes. “Sorry about that, MM”, you said, feeling a bit flustered.

MM grumbled, shaking his head in exasperation. “This is the third time now I’ve walked in on you two. Apparently, some people need to learn to keep it in their pants”.

Ben chuckled. “Maybe you just enjoy the show. Learning anything new each time?”.

MM shot him a deadpan look. “Yeah, I’ve learned that you have zero boundaries”.

Just then, the door opened again, and Annie and Butcher walked in. By now, you were fully dressed, but your flushed face told exactly what you had been up to.

Annie took one look at your face and raised an eyebrow. “Did we miss something?”.

Butcher, always direct, smirked. “Blimey, don’t tell me you two were at it again”.

You raised your hand, a mixture of frustration and embarrassment evident in your voice. “Does anyone here fucking knock?”.

Annie chuckled, shaking her head. “Clearly not”.

Butcher shot back with a smirk, “Well love, you wouldn’t need to worry if Ben could keep his dick inside his pants for more than two minutes”.

Ben rolled his eyes, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Butcher”.

Butcher snorted. “Hardly. Just trying to keep this team somewhat professional”.

MM sighed, stepping in to redirect the conversation. “Alright, enough. Can we please focus on the task at hand?”.

Ben looked up, his eyes hopeful as he asked, “What task? Please tell me it’s something more exciting than paperwork. I’m about to lose my fucking shit with all these reports”.

Annie smirked, knowing how much Ben despised paperwork. “Don’t worry. We might have something that’ll get you out from behind that desk”.

MM nodded, pointing to the folders on the table. “We’ve got intel on one of Vought’s key labs. It’s heavily guarded, but if we hit it, we might get the leverage we need”.

Ben’s eyes lit up at the prospect of action. “Finally, something worth doing”. He glanced at you with a grin. “No offense to you and your love for that shit”.

You laughed, shaking your head. “None taken. Someone has to keep this team organized”.

Ben turned to MM, his excitement barely contained. “Kimiko, A-Train and that french fuck. Tell them to meet us in the meeting room. I’ll be there in a few minutes”.

MM nodded, already moving towards the door. “Got it”, he said, leaving the room to gather the rest of the team.

With the others gone, Ben looked back at you, leaning against his desk with a smile. "You okay?”.

You chuckled. “Besides the fact that I can feel your cum soaking my fucking panties?”.

Ben’s grin widened, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Well, you did promise to keep it inside”, he replied, his tone equally teasing.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t suppress your own smile. “You’re impossible, you know that?”.

“I aim to please”, he said, his voice low and affectionate. He pulled you close, wrapping his arms around you in a quick, comforting embrace. As he held you, he murmured into your ear, “I won’t be gone long. Maybe a few hours. You look out for yourself, okay?”.

You rolled your eyes playfully, mumbling, “Of course”. As you said it, Ben’s fingers found their way to the necklace around your neck—the one he had given you for your birthday. He gently played with the pendant, his touch a reminder of his affection and the bond you shared.

“You still like it?”, he asked.

“Of course I do”, you replied, your voice tender. Leaning in, you pressed a soft kiss to his lips and whispered, “It reminds me who I belong to”, you teased, your eyes sparkling with affection.

Ben’s grin widened, a flicker of pride and warmth in his eyes. “Good”, he murmured, his voice a low rumble. “And don’t you forget it”.

He gave you one last squeeze before reluctantly pulling away. “Time to get to work”, he said, his tone shifting to a more serious note. “I’ll see you soon”.

You nodded, watching as he turned and headed towards the meeting room. You took a deep breath, steeling yourself for the task ahead and feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

Inside the meeting room, the team was already gathered around the table, reviewing the intel. MM had spread out the maps and documents, and Frenchie was studying them intently, pointing out key areas to Kimiko and A-Train.

“Alright pussys”, Ben said, taking charge. “We’ve got a solid plan, but we need to execute it perfectly. Frenchie, you and your chick will handle the infiltration. A-Train, you’re on distraction duty with me. We need to keep their attention away from the lab as long as possible”.

Frenchie nodded, his eyes sharp with focus. “Understood. We’ll disable their security systems and get in and out quickly”.

Kimiko gave a silent nod of agreement, her expression determined.

A-Train crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. “Chaos is my middle name. They won’t know what hit them”.

As Sunday arrived, you found yourself standing in front of your parents’ house, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. Ben stood beside you, grumbling under his breath.

“Why couldn’t I just wear simple jeans?”, he muttered, adjusting the collar of his beige dress shirt. You had convinced him to wear beige slacks and a matching dress shirt, a more formal look than he usually preferred.

You couldn’t help but laugh softly at his discomfort. “Because we’re trying to make a good impression, Ben. Besides, you look really handsome”.

He huffed, shifting uncomfortably. “These pants are squeezing my fucking dick”.

“Well, maybe that’s because your dick is just too big”, you said with a playful smile.

Ben raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Oh, so now my dick is a problem? I don’t remember you complaining last night”, he teased back, leaning in closer.

You felt your cheeks flush but managed to keep your composure. “I didn’t say it was a problem. Just an observation”, you replied, giving him a sly grin.

Ben leaned in even closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “Well, if my size is such a concern, maybe we should give it another go tonight, just to make sure it’s not too much for you".

You bit your lip, trying to stifle a giggle. “Oh, really? And what makes you think I’d want to endure that kind of ‘torment’ again?”.

Ben's grin widened. “Because I remember how you were begging me for more, while I was balls deep inside you, fucking you stupid”.

Your cheeks flamed with heat, and you quickly placed a hand over his mouth, your eyes wide with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. “Ben!”, you hissed, trying to keep your voice low. “We’re about to go inside! Can you please behave for just a little while?”.

He laughed softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he gently pulled your hand away. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave. But don’t think this conversation is over”, he whispered.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t suppress a smile. “We’ll see. Now, let’s go make a good impression”.

With a final shared grin, you turned to the door and rang the bell. Moments later, your mother opened it, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

“Hello, sweetheart”, she said, pulling you into a hug. “Ben, it’s good to see you”.

Ben smiled politely, shaking her hand. “Good to see you too, Mary".

With that, you stepped inside, the familiar scent of your childhood home enveloping you. Your dad emerged from the living room with a beer in his hand. He hugged you warmly, and then turned to Ben. Taking a deep breath, your dad held out his hand. “Ben”, he mumbled as a greeting.

Ben accepted the handshake firmly, meeting your dad’s eyes with a respectful nod. “Frank. Thanks for having me”.

Your dad gave a curt nod, releasing Ben’s hand. “Dinner’s almost ready”.

The atmosphere felt a bit tense, but you were determined to make the evening go smoothly. “Let’s go to the living room”, you suggested, leading Ben through the familiar layout of your home.

In the living room, your mom had already set out some appetizers on the coffee table. “Help yourselves”, she said, gesturing to the array of snacks. “Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes”.

As you all settled into the living room, you could see Ben making an effort to be polite and engaging. He started a conversation with your dad about sports, quickly finding common ground in their shared interest.

“So, who do you think is going to take the championship this year?”, Ben asked, genuinely interested.

Your dad relaxed a bit, appreciating the familiar topic. “Hard to say. The league’s pretty competitive this season. What do you think?”.

They continued chatting, the tension in the room gradually easing. You caught your mother’s eye and she gave you a small, encouraging smile.

After a while, you stood up and held out a hand for Ben. “Come on, I’ll show you my old room”, you grinned.

Ben took your hand and got up, following you with a curious grin. As you led him upstairs, he couldn’t resist pinching your ass roughly with one of his big palms. You jumped slightly, shooting him a playful glare.

“Behave”, you whispered, trying to suppress your smile.

Ben chuckled softly. “No promises”, he whispered back, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

As you reached the top of the stairs, you led Ben down the hallway to your old room. You opened the door and stepped inside, memories flooding back as you looked around. The room was much the same as you had left it, with posters on the walls and a few personal items still on the shelves.

Ben looked around, taking in the details of your old room. His eyes landed on a picture of you in your cheerleader uniform, and he grinned. “Oh, so you were one of those girls?”, he teased, picking up the photo to get a closer look.

You blushed slightly, rolling your eyes. “Yes, I was a cheerleader. Got a problem with that?”.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not at all. Just didn’t picture you as the cheerleader type. You look cute in that uniform, though”.

You snatched the photo from his hand, laughing. “Oh, stop it. That was ages ago”.

Ben’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he took a step closer to you, wrapping his arms around your waist. “Actually, I should have known”, he murmured, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “It explains your… flexibility”.

You blushed even deeper, giving him a playful shove. “Ben!”.

He laughed softly, pulling you closer. “What? I’m just stating the facts”, he said, his voice low and full of mischief. “You can’t deny it”.

You tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “You’re impossible”.

Ben leaned in closer, his breath warm against your ear. “Do you still have that little uniform?”, he whispered.

You raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you serious?”.

His grin widened, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Absolutely. I think it could make for an interesting evening”.

You laughed, shaking your head. You started to turn away, but Ben’s grip around your waist tightened, pulling you back against him. “I’m serious”, he said, his tone playful yet insistent.

You looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, really? And what exactly do you have in mind for this ‘interesting evening’?”.

“I have a few ideas. But let’s just say it involves you, me, and that uniform”.

You nodded with reddened cheeks towards your closet. Ben’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he made his way over to the closet. He opened the door, rifling through the clothes until he found the uniform. A big smirk appeared on his face as he held it up, examining it with a playful glint in his eye.

“I knew you’d still have it”, he said, his voice a mix of amusement and satisfaction.

You bit your lip, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. “I can’t believe you’re actually making me do this”.

Ben walked back over to you, the uniform still in his hand. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun”, he teased, leaning down to kiss you gently. “And besides, I think you’ll look amazing in it”.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips. Ben handed you the uniform, then turned back to the closet with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Anything else interesting in here?”, he asked, grinning over his shoulder as he opened the top drawer.

“Ben!”, you protested, feeling your cheeks flush even more. “Stop snooping around!”.

But he ignored you, his grin widening as he rummaged through the drawer. “What do we have here?”, he murmured, pulling out an old diary and a few trinkets from your high school days. He flipped through the diary playfully, pretending to read. “Dear diary, today I—”.

You snatched the diary from his hands, laughing despite yourself. “Alright, that’s enough. Get out of there!”.

Ben chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop”.

He looked around the room again, his eyes landing on a photo of you at your prom. He picked it up, studying it for a moment before grinning. “Alright, we got everything”, he said, handing you the photo to take along with your uniform.

You rolled your eyes but took the photo and placed it, along with the uniform, in a small bag. “Happy now?”, you asked with a playful sigh.

“Very”, he replied, his grin widening as he took your hand.

You both walked out of the room, making your way back downstairs. As you reached the bottom of the stairs, you could hear your parents talking softly in the dining room. You and Ben exchanged a quick, reassuring glance before entering the room.

Your parents looked up as you entered, smiles on their faces. “Everything alright?”, your mom asked.

“Yeah, just showing Ben around a bit”, you replied, taking your seat at the table.

As you began to eat, your mom and dad tried their best to engage with Ben, wanting to get to know him better. Your mom hesitated for a moment before asking, “So, Ben, what was it like in Russia?”.

You saw a flicker of discomfort cross Ben’s face, but you gently placed your hand on his thigh, giving him a reassuring squeeze. He took a deep breath and began to speak. “Well, it wasn’t easy”, he started, his voice steady but filled with underlying tension. “I spent decades there, subjected to all kinds of torture”.

Your parents listened intently, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Ben continued, “They were trying to break me, control me. But instead, I became stronger. They conducted experiments on me that enhanced my abilities”.

Your dad leaned forward, clearly interested. “Enhanced how?”.

Ben glanced at you briefly. “They upgraded my powers, made me more resilient. My strength and durability were significantly increased. It was hell, but in the end, I came out of it stronger than ever”.

Your dad leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting from Ben to you, a protective glint in his eyes. “Do you know how to control those powers and, even more, that strength?”, he asked, his tone cautious.

Ben’s jaw tightened, and he tried his best not to roll his eyes. “I’m America’s first superhero”, he grumbled. “Of course I know how to control my powers”.

Your dad didn’t back down, his eyes fixed on Ben. “Can you blame me for asking? She’s my daughter, and I’ve worked with supes long enough to know how they treat humans, especially the male supes. And I know firsthand about your short temper, Ben”.

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension palpable. You tightened your grip on Ben’s thigh, silently urging him to stay calm.

Ben took a deep breath, his eyes softening slightly as he looked at your dad. “I understand your concern”, he said, his voice more measured. “But you have my word that I would never hurt her. I care about her more than anything".

Your dad nodded slowly, seeming to weigh Ben’s words. “I appreciate that, Ben. But you have to understand, as a father, it’s my job to worry. I’ve seen too much to simply ignore the risks”.

Ben nodded, his expression serious. “I get it. And I respect that. But I want you to know that I would do anything to protect her. She’s my world”.

Your dad’s gaze softened a bit, and he seemed to accept Ben’s sincerity. “Alright”, he said, finally. “That’s all I needed to hear”.

Your mom, sensing the tension easing, quickly shifted the conversation to a lighter topic. “So, Ben, do you have any hobbies or interests outside of being a supe?”.

Ben glanced at you, a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, I enjoy spending time with her”.

Your mom couldn’t help but roll her eyes with a soft grin. “Well, and besides clearly charming my daughter?”.

Ben shrugged playfully. “Nah, that’s it. She’s a full-time job”.

Your dad chuckled at that, and the tension in the room eased even further. Your mom laughed too, shaking her head. “Come on, there has to be something else. Hobbies? Interests?”.

Ben leaned back, considering. “I like working out and staying in top shape”.

You looked at Ben, biting your lip with a small smile. “He also likes whiskey”, you mumbled, glancing towards your dad, knowing it was one of his interests too.

Your dad’s eyes lit up with genuine interest. “Whiskey, huh? What’s your favorite?”.

Ben grinned. “I’m a fan of a good single malt scotch. Lagavulin 16, if I had to pick”.

Your dad nodded appreciatively.

Your dad nodded appreciatively. With that, he stood up. “Come on”, he said, gesturing for Ben to follow him into the living room where his bar was set up.

Ben glanced at you, a mix of curiosity and eagerness in his eyes. You smiled encouragingly. “Go ahead. I’ll help Mom clean up”.

Ben gave you a quick squeeze of your hand before following your dad. You turned to your mom, who was already starting to clear the table. “Need some help?”, you asked.

Your mom smiled warmly. “Always. Thank you”.

As you collected plates and carried them to the kitchen, you couldn’t help but overhear snippets of the conversation between your dad and Ben in the living room. The clinking of glasses and the low murmur of voices reassured you that they were kinda getting along well.

In the kitchen, your mom handed you a dish towel. As you began to dry the dishes, you hesitated for a moment, then decided to broach the topic that had been on your mind all evening.

“Mom”, you said carefully, “have some of your reservations about Ben eased tonight?”.

She sighed softly, pausing as she washed a plate. “I won’t lie, I still have some concerns. It’s not easy to just set aside everything about supes and their history. But…”.

You looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue.

She glanced at you, a small smile forming on her lips. “But I can see that he genuinely cares about you. And he’s been respectful and open with us tonight. That counts for a lot”.

You nodded, feeling a bit of relief. “He really does care about me, Mom. And he’s trying hard to make things work”.

Your mom dried her hands and turned to face you, her expression softening. “I can see that. And I can see how happy he makes you. That’s what’s most important to me and your father”.

You smiled, feeling a swell of gratitude. “Thank you, Mom. It means a lot to hear you say that”.

She pulled you into a hug. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? Love can make us do crazy things sometimes, and I want you to stay safe”.

“I promise”, you replied, hugging her tightly. “I’ll be careful”.

After a while, she looked at you again, a hesitant expression on her face. She took a deep breath before speaking. “Stop me if the topic is too sensitive, considering, well, you know. But… does Ben really want kids?”.

You swallowed, your gaze drifting to the living room. Ben, as if sensing your eyes on him, looked over and gave you a quick wink. You smiled back before turning to your mom.

“He does, Mom. He really does. Having kids has always been his dream. Before we found out I was pregnant, he never thought he’d get the chance to have a family of his own”.

Your mom’s eyes softened with understanding. “I see. That must have been difficult for him”.

You nodded. “It was. But now, he’s so excited. If it were up to him, we’d have a whole kindergarten”, you joked.

Your mom chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I hope you won’t say yes to a whole kindergarten. One or two grandkids at a time would be just fine”.

You laughed, feeling the tension ease. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll start with one and see how it goes”.

Your mom looked at you, her expression thoughtful. “Do you know if the baby would be a supe too?”, she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

You took a deep breath, thinking back to the conversations you had with the doctors at Vought while you were pregnant. “The doctors at Vought explained that there’s a high likelihood the baby would inherit some of Ben’s abilities”, you said slowly. “They couldn’t guarantee exactly which powers or how strong they’d be, but they said it was almost certain the baby would be a supe”.

Your mom nodded, absorbing the information. “How do you feel about that?”.

You paused, considering your feelings. “It’s a bit scary, to be honest”, you admitted. “The idea of raising a child with powers is daunting. But Ben has been incredibly supportive, and he’s confident that we can handle it together. Plus, having him as a guide and role model would make a huge difference”.

Your mom looked at you with concern. “Do the doctors think your body can handle nine months of a pregnancy, considering everything?”.

You sighed. “It’s definitely challenging”, you admitted. “There were some complications early on, but the doctors developed a special medication to help. They call it V-Med. It’s designed to strengthen my body and help it cope with the demands of carrying a supe baby”.

Your mom’s eyes widened slightly. “V-Med? Is it safe?”.

You mumbled, “Since I’m the first and likely last woman who’ll carry a supe baby, there’s no way to tell for sure. We just have to try”.

Your mom gave you an unsure look, her worry evident. “But you’re okay with this?”.

You tried to reassure her, your voice steady. “The doctors did a very good job taking care of me in the first place. They were thorough and cautious”.

She sighed deeply, shaking her head. “Clearly, not good enough”.

You bit your lip, tears filling your eyes. The pain of the past was still raw, and you struggled to find the right words. “Mom”, you began, your voice trembling, “I didn’t lose the baby because of any medical issues”.

She looked at you, confusion and concern etched on her face. “Then what happened?”.

You took a deep breath, steadying yourself. “Homelander attacked me. That’s why he’s dead. Ben killed him right after, he’s not retired like the media says. And Ben still blames himself for not protecting me enough, even though he did all he could, always”.

Your mom gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Oh, sweetheart”, she whispered, pulling you into a tight hug. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry you went through that”.

Ben tensed beside your father as his supe hearing caught the conversation between you and your mom in the kitchen. His grip tightened slightly on his glass, the painful memories flooding back. Your dad noticed the shift in Ben’s demeanor, his brows furrowing in concern.

“What are they talking about?”, your dad asked quietly, sensing something was wrong and knowing full well that Ben could hear every word being spoken in the kitchen.

Ben had to bite back his own emotions, the pain and guilt threatening to surface. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “They’re talking about what happened with Homelander”, he said, his voice controlled but strained.

Your dad’s eyes widened in understanding and concern. “I heard the official story, but…”, he trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

“The official story was a cover-up”, Ben said, his jaw tightening. “Homelander didn’t retire. He attacked her while she was pregnant”.

Your dad swallowed hard, digesting the heavy information. After a few moments of silence, marked by the soft clinking of ice in their glasses, he ventured another question, his voice cautious but firm. “Did you have him locked away?”.

Ben turned to face him directly, his expression grim and his eyes haunted. “I killed him”, he stated monotonously. The words hung in the air, stark and cold. He paused, then added quietly, “He nearly killed her and—”. His voice broke off, choked by the weight of what he was about to say next. The reality of the situation seemed to press down on him, making it impossible to voice the deepest part of his pain, that Homelander had killed his baby.

Your dad reached out, placing a hand on Ben’s shoulder, squeezing it firmly as a gesture of support. “You did what you had to do”, he said solemnly, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t even begin to imagine the choice you faced. But you acted to protect your family. That’s what any father would do”.

Ben looked down, nodding slowly, the acknowledgment from your father seeming to offer a small comfort amidst the torment of his memories. “It never feels like enough”, Ben admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… Never mind”, Ben grumbled, emptying his glass. “I’ll just check on her”, he said, before walking towards the kitchen, followed closely by your dad.

As Ben entered the kitchen, he carefully placed a hand on your lower back, a gesture of comfort while you faced your mother. “Are you okay?”, he asked gently.

You looked up at him as he stood beside you, nodding, quickly wiping away a few tears. Trying to ease your momentary pain, Ben attempted a joke. “Oh no, you told her about the fucking iPads, didn’t you?”.

You chuckled, your eyes still wet. “No, I didn’t”, you replied, feeling a bit lighter.

Your mother looked puzzled, so you continued with the story. “Ben bought me three new iPads in one week. Every time the battery went low, he thought he had broken it and would go out and buy a new one”, you said, laughing at the memory.

Ben grinned sheepishly. “In my defense, I had never used an iPad before. I didn’t know the battery could be charged separately”.

Your mother joined in the laughter, her earlier worry momentarily forgotten. “That’s quite the learning curve”, she said, shaking her head in amusement.

Your dad, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke up, a smile tugging at his lips. “So, Ben, I guess technology isn’t your superpower?”.

Ben laughed, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Definitely not. But I’m getting better at it. Now I know what those little lightning bolts on the screen mean”.

The shared laughter and light-hearted banter helped to lift the heavy atmosphere. Ben, with a gentle squeeze on your hip, said, “She taught me well, in more than one way”.

You didn’t just teach him about technology and all the stuff of the ‘new world’, but also in showing feelings, controlling feelings, and most importantly, learning to fall in love and accepting to be loved.

Again you looked up at him, smiling softly, knowing exactly what he meant. Ben cleared his throat, breaking the moment with a hint of playfulness. “Anyway, thanks for having us. Hopefully, you don’t think that poorly of me anymore. Like I said, your little firecracker here means the world to me, and even if she’s robbing me of every fucking last nerve, I will do everything to protect her”.

Your parents both chuckled at Ben’s remark, the tension easing further. Your mother stepped forward, her expression warm. “We don’t think poorly of you, Ben. It’s clear how much you care for our daughter, and that’s what matters most to us”.

Your dad nodded in agreement. “You’ve got our respect, Ben. Just keep taking care of each other”.

Ben smiled, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and relief. “Thank you”.

After a few more minutes of light conversation and farewells, you and Ben finally made your way to the car. As you settled into the passenger seat, you felt a sense of contentment and hope. The evening had turned out better than you had hoped, and it seemed like your parents were beginning to see Ben for who he truly was.

As Ben started the car and began to drive away, he glanced over at you. You were grinning widely, your eyes sparkling with joy. "They like you, Ben. I know my parents, and they really like you".

Ben chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Of course they do. What's not to like? I'm charming, good-looking, and I happen to have excellent taste in women".

You laughed, rolling your eyes playfully. "Oh, really? You think so highly of yourself, huh?".

He smirked, his confidence evident. "Well, I managed to win you over, didn't I?".

You shook your head, still smiling. "You're impossible". He just winked at you.

"Thank you for tonight, Ben. For everything. You handled everything so well… I love you", you said softly, looking at him with all the love you felt.

Ben glanced at you, his eyes warm and filled with emotion. "Love you too".

The rest of the drive was filled with comfortable silence, the kind that only comes from being with someone who truly understands you. As you pulled into the driveway of your home, you couldn't help but feel excited for the future.

Once inside, you both settled into the living room, the weight of the evening lifting from your shoulders. Ben pulled you close, his arms wrapping around you securely.

"So", he said with a playful grin, "about that teasing offer…".

You laughed, leaning into him. "I think we both deserve a little relaxation after tonight".

He nuzzled your neck, his breath warm against your skin. "I couldn't agree more".

———————————

A/N: Please let me know what you think. 🥰

-

Part 10

-

Taglist: @deangirl96, @thatgirljayy, @suckitands33, @deans-spinster-witch@mimaria420@kaz11283@uncle-eggy@jackles010378@vxnilla-hxrddrugs @meowmeowyoongles@sarahgracej @zemosdarling228 @leila22rogers @mostlymarvelgirl@emily-winchester @blacknoirr @onlyangel-444@seasonofthenerd@staple-your-mouth@artemys-ackles@selfdestructionandrhum@mystic-mara @kat-nee @samanddeaninatrenchcoat @star-yawnznn @me1501 @CheyNovaK @faephoria @hobby27 @baby19sthings @fitxgrld @winchesterwild78 @uddiifiigj @libby99hb @urgogodancer @urinternetmom

[mxmollusca]

EXCITEMENTSTRONGPREFERENCE

hello dear ones! I am thrilled to announce the launch of The Ship of Theseus, the multimedia STE/DE POV sequel to In Favor with Their Stars.

infinite love to @nordarknessdimsthesky and @emi--rose for their audio/editing/moral support. Kyle has released an accompanying audio drama to go with it!

a reader requested that related posts be tagged with #TSOT so that folks may avoid spoilers, and so I humbly ask that you do so 💚 thank you in advance

I hope you enjoy!

[cassiaratheslytherpuff]

Drarry Podfic Recs - Length 6-10 hours

A list of podfics I've enjoyed. Sorted first by length, then alphabetically.

This is the list with podfics that are 6-10 hours long. I also have lists for Length 1-3 hours, Length 3-6 hours and Length 10+ hours or you can check out the masterlist.

6-8 hours

Title: Stop and Stare Read by: lastontheboat Authour: Saras_Girl Length:~ 7.5h Rating: Mature Summary: Harry’s life is full of care, he has no time to stop or stare; he has no time for anyone’s shit, until his friends aren’t having it. A story about the unravelly things. 2015 advent fic. I was so excited when lastontheboat did another advent podfic and it did in no way dissapoint. This is perfectly read and exactly what I want in December (and let's be honest, January-November as well)

Title: The Boy Who Only Lived Twice Read by: TheOneCalledEli Authour: lettered Length:~ 6h Rating: Explicit Summary: Harry Potter is an Unspeakable. Draco Malfoy is the wizard who shagged him. Adventure! Intrigue! Secret identities, celebrities, spies! It's all right here, folks. Drarry as secret spies is so much fun and excitement, and the slow falling in love and wanting but not knowing was just so perfect. And TheOneCalledEli reads it so brilliantly, it made me fall in love with this fic all over again!

Title: The Four Doors + Eight o'clock, tomorrow evening Read by: lastontheboat Authour: fluxweed Length:~ 5h + 1h Rating: Explicit Summary: It’s been four months since Harry lost his memory. Four months of dead ends and no answers. With time running out until his memories are gone for good, Harry agrees to a course of Legilimency therapy with a renowned specialist: Mind Healer Draco Malfoy. I love this! Communication and memory loss and falling in love. Brilliantly read too! And the sequel is smutty brilliance.

Title: Who we are in the shadows Read by: Sandstripe Authour: Quicksilvermaid Length:~ 7h Rating: Explicit Summary: What happens when you’re forced to become the very thing you despise? Ex-Auror Harry Potter, tossed out of the Ministry for something he had no control over, has been looking for a way back to his former life. When he comes across Draco Malfoy in the criminal underbelly of Wizarding London and in need of protection, Harry figures bringing him in to face the Ministry's justice is his ticket back to everything he's lost. But nothing is exactly as it seems. Not even Harry himself. And as he gets drawn further and further into Malfoy's world of honour and deception he finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew—about his childhood nemesis, the Ministry job he misses so much, and most of all, about himself. What happens when you’re forced to see that you were wrong? This fic feels a little like a healing bruise. By which I mean that it hurts, a little – but in a good way. Sandstripe does a brilliant job of making all the emotions come across and I'll definetly be listening to this many times.

8-10 hours

Title: Chasing Shadows Read by: lastontheboat Authour: manixzen Length:~ 9.5h Rating: Explicit Summary: The murder of Lucius Malfoy seems impossible—no cause of death, no traces of spell-work, no potions in his system. The only leads Harry and his partner have are the trail of missing wizards the deeper they go. That and the help of the victim’s estranged son who now spends his time bartending at a queer-friendly Muggle pub. A case fic featuring a closeted Harry Potter, an out-and-proud, tattooed Draco Malfoy, and a murder mystery that seems to lead to more questions than answers. This fic is so good! Harry has hidden being gay for years and years and his growth to live as who he is is beautifully interwoven with him and Draco falling in love and a thrilling crime plot.Also I just love Draco in this! He's grown so much and is so attentive and he makes the smut so steamy! The reading of it is so well done and just brings so much life to the fic!

Title: Headlights in the Snow Read by: magsmagicalnightmare Authour: Saras_Girl Length:~ 10h Rating: Mature Summary: What’s big and purple and smells like tea? Harry is about to find out. Advent fic 2016. You can never go wrong with Saras_Girls christmas fics, and this is another great one! And it's so brilliantly read I felt like I was on the bus listening in on conversations. magsmagicalnightmare brought this fic so much life and personality and it's brilliant!

Title: If the Fates Allow Read by: lastontheboatAuthour: Saras_GirlLength:~8hRating: Mature Summary: What's that crackling in the walls? Harry has no clue at all. He'll eat some cake and drink some wine. Because he is completely FINE. -A story about life's disregard for our plans. An advent story in podfic form?! I’ll be listening to this every single December.

Title: Running on air Authour: eleventy7 Length:~ 8h Rating: Teen and up Summary: Draco Malfoy has been missing for three years. Harry is assigned the cold case and finds himself slowly falling in love with the memories he collects. This is a beautiful story and it's read just as beautifully.

Title: That Old Black Magic Read by: reveriepi Authour: bixgirl1 Length:~ 8.5h Rating: Explicit Summary: Centuries ago, marriage contracts were the norm — ready-made alliances between families, expected and complied with, without complaint. But norms have a way of changing, and when a long-dormant contract flares to life, Harry has to navigate an unexpected splintering of the path he'd thought would be easy after the war... with Draco Malfoy. I'm screaming about this podfic actually because I love the fic so much and having the characters brought to life like reveriepi does is just such a treat!

Bonus (podfics on my tbr):

Heaven Through a Window by Jocunda Sykes read and written by JocundaSykes 8.5h

My Big Fat Weasley Wedding written by slyth_princess read by Melcarrianna 7.5

Rookie Moves written by peu_a_peu read by sweaters_in_the_summer 7.5h

Tea and No Sympathy written by who_la_hoop read by Cailynwrites 6.5

[magpiefngrl]

Hellooo! 💕

Sorry to slide in like this, you absolutely don't have to answer this, I just have no idea how else to grab your attention 😫

Your drarry fic series 'Arthur and the Lust Leaks' is seriously one of my all time favourites, they're just so hilarious! I love the dynamic between Daphne and Draco, Arthur (of course!🐣) and the general concept is just wonderful on its own XD

The concept of magic folk getting "Lust Leaks" when they're extremely horny is actually GENIUS!! Like what, how on earth did you come up with such a clever idea!?!?

My question is how would you feel about others using the concept? So long as you're credited for the inspiration, of course!

Thank you! You're brilliant!!💖

Oh what a lovely ask! I'm so glad you like the concept and thrilled you enjoy the 2 fics! I had a ball writing Daphne and Draco and ofc Arthur is adorable <3

How I came up with the Lust Leaks. When I joined the DTH fest, I'd only published one drarry fic that I'd written non-stop and obsessively over a few weeks; a fic which had poured out of me in a torrent. With The Full Monty I was more deliberate. I had a prompt, which gave me a direction to follow, but I wanted to do more. Now, my favourite author is Astolat and one of the things I love about her work is that she always has some cool magical element in her stories. I'm a fantasy author at heart, and her inventiveness and worldbuilding truly resonates with me. So, with this new drarry fic of mine, I wanted to create a magical element that would be new and interesting and would fit with canon.

I thought of developmental stages for children. How magical kids' magic appears when they're young. I can't remember the exact age it's supposed to happen, but in my mind it was linked to the stage where kids develop ego (around age three) (ego meaning the psychological theory, not selfishness). And then I thought what's another big stage of development (adolescence, lots of hormones) and what happens then? (sexual maturity). And what if, during that tumultuous time of their life, their magic goes haywire too?

I can't remember if I came up with the concept first and used it in the story or if I came up with something embarrassing happening to Draco and decided to dig into that idea and develop it. Either way, it went: idolise astolat-> magic appears when toddlers turn into children -> adolescents have raging hormones and this could affect their magic-> lust leaks when horny.

I wanted to write more in that 'verse myself. Back in spring 2017, I'd started writing a Lust Leaks Hogwarts-era fic inspired by a throwaway line in the fic about Blaise and how everything he touched grew wings and flew. I also began a sequel of the Full Monty with the title Saving Arthur. But I had a few big fests coming up and a birthday fic to write, and they got abandoned.

Finally, to answer your question: If you wish to use the concept in your fanfiction, then I'd be happy for you to do so. The credit would be much appreciated, and perhaps even a link to Full Monty for anyone curious to see the origin? That'd be brilliant.

However, this is only for fanfiction. If you're interested in using the concept for original fiction or any kind of work commercially available, then my answer is no. But I'm assuming you want to write drarry/ HP fic :)

This was a fun trip down memory lane. Thank you for sending the ask, for your very kind compliments, and I hope you enjoy playing with my lil' idea xx

[ursafootprints]

Hello, I've been obsessing over your fic 'you should never cross my mind' and just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate it and your work!

Also I can't help asking if maybe you'd be willing to share a small snippet of the sequel? I'm soso excited for it❤️💙

Aww thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it-- I was honestly shocked by the response, because I've never written something with an unambiguously unhappy ending before and thought that tag would probably be a major deterrent to readers, haha. I'm thrilled people have liked it so much!

As far as a snippet-- sure! I'll put it under a cut for the folks that want Zero Spoilers, as this snippet does contain the inherent premise of the sequel, but I promise it's nothing that the summary and tags wouldn't spoil once the fic is posted anyway:

"Well," Bruce said as he clipped up the transparencies from Peter's chest x-ray. He smiled, cringing and awkward, and said, "Young love, right?" Tony stared at the x-ray, blood running cold at the sight of roots. "Listen, I know that you probably have a lot of preconceptions about Hanahaki disease from TV and movies, and it can be serious, but in the vast majority of cases it's actually very treatable," Bruce said, seeing the frozen expressions on both Tony and Peter's faces. "And we're catching it early, so there's plenty of time to attempt behavioral treatments before we even need to worry about medical intervention. Peter's healing factor might mean we have a longer window than usual, even." "…Behavioral treatments?" Peter's voice was tiny. He didn't look in Tony's direction, and Tony didn't look in his.

[bisexualshakespeare]

[ID: Dear Willow Supporters (and Vocal Opposition, you guys get in here too): Writing to you today, one… preposterously, criminally and immeasurably lucky fool. The outpouring of kind words, support and passion for our shabby, idiosyncratic little show has been nothing short of mind-blowing and profoundly moving, not just for me, but for every one who worked their butts off on it. We're all inexpressibly grateful and thrilled that you enjoy watching it (almost) as much as we enjoy making it. Even those of you who didn't enjoy it, yet stuck with it for eight hours to critique each episode and let us know exactly which choices you weren't a fan of. That too is its own… incredibly specific form of flattery, and we appreciate it! As a life-long devotee of Deadline Hollywood, I also appreciate that punchy headlines drive clicks. So I understand how "WILLOW CANCELED AFTER ONE SEASON ON DISNEY+" is fun and juicy. However, as I'm nearly certain I've had more conversations about this in the last couple weeks than Nellie Andreeva (of whom I remain an ardent fan), I feel fairly confident that, if asked, neither I, nor the folks at Lucasfilm, would or have actually characterized it quite that way. The truth is less splashy, but here it is: A decision was made last week to release our main cast for other series opportunities that may arise for them in the coming year. With all the tv and movies in production around the world, it feels unfair to limit an actor's availability without a clear sense of when you're going to need them again. It's further trivialized by the simple reality that the scripts we've been working on require just as many actors (from our first season) with whom no such contractual hold exists. Nothing prevented Annabelle Davis, for example, from taking another show, but you better believe Mims appears in every single VOLUME II chapter. If you're asking what this means for you as a viewer, or me as the creator, here's what I think it means: Due to forces much larger and more intricate than I would ever pretend to fully understand, production of streaming shows is slowing down across the entire industry, and Willow won't resume filming in the next 12 months. But here's what's equally true: with the enthusiastic and unwavering support of Lucasfilm and Disney, we've developed and written what we hope is a brain-meltingly fun, richer, darker and better VOLUME II, which builds on the characters and story of our first eight chapters (The Wyrm survives!).

VOLUME II is all about courage, desire, acceptance and the comedy and beauty to be found in even the darkest places and moments. It's about the enemies we must inevitably confront, both without and, often far more insidiously, from within. But, above all, it's about the ineffable and enduring magic of friendship. I am confident I speak for everyone involved when I say that we'd all like nothing more than to deliver VOLUME II, on the scale expected and demanded by the story we're telling. Are we going into pre-production? Not right now. Does that mean we're never gonna make it? Absolutely not. Three weeks ago, we got a third season of Party Down, 13 years after season two. Between seasons two and three of Atlanta? 4 years. Curb Your Enthusiasm seasons 8 and 9 had a hiatus of 6 years. Not to mention, this little movie I love called Willow, that didn't get its well-deserved sequel for 35 years. Perhaps the one thing Hollywood has consistently been great at, over its entire history, is servicing the appetites, no matter how obscure, of its consumers. And I have total confidence that, if an appetite for more Willow persists, Disney, Lucasfilm and this amazing cast and crew will satisfy it. Is now the best moment to campaign/demand more? I don't really think so. I recommend preserving your outrage for the many real outrages in the world. The entertainment industry is in a moment of radical, global upheaval. The terrain ahead is unknown. But do I think enthusiasm for the show will still be meaningful a year from now? Or two? Definitely. As are all the people you recommend Willow to, that can enjoy it whenever they want. But declaring it dead, in the cultural in which we now live, feels, frankly, as anachronistic as… I don't know… putting a Soundgarden cover in a fantasy show. As for me, personally, I've been working on Willow for nearly five years. I've had the privilege of playing in sandboxes built by George Lucas, and stewarded (with deepest care and love) by Kathy Kennedy, for nine years. If you've hated the castles I've built, or helped build, in those sandboxes, this news should come as a tremendous relief and welcome respite. If you've enjoyed some of it and want more, I promise you that whatever I have to offer will only be cooler, funner and more exciting for the momentary break I'm now afforded.

I know the fandom can be divisive. I know sometimes people say mean things, but I gotta tell ya, from deep inside… that has not been my experience at all. I love all you guys! And I relate and identify with every single person who is passionate about Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Willow, even if we crave slightly different things from them. I think an open dialogue and fan involvement only enriches these worlds as they grow larger, fuller and more inclusive. I have the best job in the world. And if you think I don't deserve it, you're absolutely right! No one deserves to have this much fun at work. I love everyone I've had the tremendous good fortune to collaborate with these past nine years, and I couldn't be more excited for what lies ahead. Ignore the bird, follow the river, I promise it'll take you where you need to go. Jon A picture of the ending credits of Willow season 1 that show three book volumes sitting on a shelf. /]

From Jon Kasdan’s Twitter

[stylincheetah]

To commemorate the end of our months-long, start-to-finish foray through the Bleach anime, @smengus and I have made some updated graphs of our top ten Bleach men--now with commentary from both parties :D 

[mymainwastoocluttered]

Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Floyd, Jade)

The Leech twins are very particular about one thing in specific: anything that's boring is a big no. That includes their dating life.

NOTE: I only write for female reader but everyone is welcome to read it!

There we go, folks, I finally opened my Elvis playlist after resisting for so long. It's like I haven't learned anything in all my past Fandoms. Also... second part, maybe?

The eels call each other "other half" because I think it's cute

ANGST. But not just for Reader ;) With a hopeful ending? Maybe?

This has a SEQUEL!

— (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

— Floyd

Floyd's relationship is going well. So well that it's a problem. Now Shrimpy is old news, and will willingly show Floyd everything she is and does, taking away the thrill of hunting down that information.

And worse, Floyd has become predictable to her. She can tell what he is feeling and what he'll do just as well as Jade, which takes away the fun of being a wild card, even if most of the time she lets him do whatever he wants.

Differently from Azul, the eels, and specially Floyd, do not enjoying the curse of knowing. The unexpected has always been more interesting.

But now he's bored of this relationship. And Floyd is not one for sticking around to boring things without knowing they'll have interesting results.

"Shrimpy, let's break up," he bluntly tells her as soon as he arrives to their usual lunch spot at the Monstro Lounge. "You're no fun anymore."

The girl stares up to him, and he feels a rush of pleasure at the whirlwind of feelings in her eyes betraying her blank expression. Oh, at least she gave him a last moment of enjoyment! Maybe, if she keeps showing all those feelings, he'll keep her around as a friend–

Then she blinks and the feelings are gone, all replaced by a calm tide of understanding and kindness. She smiles at him, her usual gentle smile back in place, and gets up, leaving her half drank drink and some money on the table.

"I understand, Floyd," she says, and her voice trembles a little before steading. Shrimpy gently takes one of his hands and squeezes between hers. "Thank you so much for all those happy memories. I hope we can still be friends and that you find someone who will keep you entertained."

Then she drops his hand and scurries off. Floyd is left in the middle of Monstro Lounge, silent and frozen, the warmth on his hand slowly fading as time moves on. It takes him another minute to snap out of it, and now he's in a terrible mood and he doesn't even know why. He was supposed to be happy! The boring thing was taken care of! He's free! Free!

Except he spends the rest of the day sulking. Except he ends the day depressingly throwing himself on the bed and clutching his pillow with trembling hands. Except he tosses and turns and dreams of (Y/N). Except he wakes up grumpy. Except he does terribly at classes and gets scolded. Except he works terribly at Monstro Lounge and gets scolded. Except he doesn't even feel like getting annoyed at the scoldings. Except he spends the rest of the day sulking. Except he ends the days staring at his ceiling with a blank expression. Except he starts the days grumpy and tired. Except he skips classes because he feels like breaking something. Except he gets scolded every day for missing class and being late for work. Except

"Floyd, this is enough," Jade appears in his line of view, openly worried as he leans down to look at his twin. "What is bothering you so much? You're tearing up."

Floyd blinks, finally noticing the wetness in his eyes. Jade sits on his bed and Floyd sits up to stare at him. This is not a scolding. This is an intervention, one of Jade's rare moments of care, where he drops all his lies and half-truths.

Much how his Shrimpy used to do.

"Floyd..." Jade murmurs, hands cupping Floyd's face and thumbs catching his tears. "What is the matter, my other half?"

"... I broke up with Shrimpy," Floyd sobs, not holding back his tears or his words. "I thought... I thought she was boring, and she was! There's never anything interesting anymore, so I– I broke up with her, but... Hic...!"

With a wail, he throws himself at his brother's arms, squeezing him with all his might, hiding his face in his neck. He's crying harder than he has in years, the last time being when they were children. Jade only hugs him back, hand soothingly rubbing his back, knowing exactly what his twin needs. Floyd sobs out more words, some he can't even understand himself, but his other half only listens, nodding every now and then to assure him that he's being listened to.

Once he's done crying, he's so tired that he doesn't protest when Jade lays him back on his bed and then takes his place by his side. Sharing a bed comes naturally to them, and so does the cuddling. Usually, Floyd would tease Jade for being a softie, but he doesn't have the strength to muster even a huff.

"It seems, Floyd, that your feelings run deeper than just interest," Jade says after a moment, ungloved fingers running through Floyd's hair. "You probably... no, you definitely like her, romantically. Maybe you even love her."

"I don't love boring things!"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but she is not a thing, brother," Floyd can't believe that mister schemer said that also, but Jade's words are upsettingly making too much sense. "She's a girl you seem to hold dearly."

"But, then, why was she boring?"

"... I can't answer that, my other half. I'm not even sure you were bored. Every time I saw you with her, I thought you were at your happiest."

Floyd deflates even more, cuddling his brother for comfort, wishing he was cuddling his Shrimpy. She'd always let him cuddle and squeeze her, and giggle when he'd knead her sides or nip her shoulder. It was... nice. Not exactly fun, but nice. Made him feel warm. Warm like when she'd bring him food she cooked herself. She'd repeat the dishes he liked, and it was... nice. Warm. Like her kisses, always so gentle and sweet. Expected. Nice.

Not really fun. But really nice.

It didn't make his blood pump, but it warmed him. Made him... satisfied.

"... I wanna my Shrimpy back."

"Fufufu... should we prepare then?"

— (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

— Jade

"I'd like to talk to you later."

Her eyes widen for a moment before she nods, and Jade relishes in the nervousness creeping up her back. A very rare feeling when it comes to his girlfriend lately.

(Y/N) was the most interesting person when they first met, and in all aspects but teir relationship, she still is, what with her lack of magic, her determination and her pechant for getting in troubro helping others. But months into a relationship, and Jade has found everything there is to find about her. Sure, the shenanigans she brings are always entertaining, but he doesn't need to be more than a friend to be part of those.

Doesn't need to waste effort into maintaining a romantic relationship.

So he won't. Jade loves being efficient, after all.

Which is why there's already a paid drink on the table when she arrives at Monstro Lounge. If he wants in whenever shenanigans happen, he needs to at least be liked and trusted enough to be an option in case things got bad. So a proper, honest break up is the best. He even lets her take a sip of the drink and swallow it before opening his mouth, to avoid her choking.

"I'll be direct, since I don't want to drag such unpleasant moment much longer," he starts, staring right at her eyes, "The truth is... I'm breaking up with you."

Silence.

"C-Can I ask why?" (Y/N) stutters, playing with the drink's straw. "Did I do something?"

"Oh, no, you did nothing. And that's the problem. You see, me and my brother... we don't like boring."

He knows he's being cruel now, but he wants to finish this quickly. Jade is the type of person with much to do and very little time, so every minute is precious.

"Oh..." she mumbles, taking a deep breath before mustering up a smile. It looks a bit crooked, but it is still as kind as always. "Right. I understand. Thank you for being honest, Jade. I hope we can still be friends...?"

"Of course, I'd love that."

"Right... right. I'm gonna- I'm gonna go now, ok? Thanks for the drink."

She runs off, no doubt going to tell her friends about the break up. If it's her usual group, then she'll be fine. Jade takes the glass, finishes the drink in one go and immediately moves to the next task on his long, long list.

Jade does very well the days after the breakup. He excels at work, he excels at school, he excels at keeping his brother from bothering others too much, he excels at taking care of his terrariums. Truly, he's so efficient, one would believe he is the one with either ten limbs or a cloning magic. He's so effficient that he... doesn't have as many tasks as before.

And without tasks to fill in the time, it becomes obvious the holes in his schedule. Without a girlfriend to walk to class, he has to wander the hallways alone. Without a girlfriend to cook with, he has to cook and clean alone. Without a girlfriend to tutor, he doesn't know what to do but sit on the library with his textbooks open, all assignments completed to perfection. Once the amount of tasks went down, his time alone went up, and he has no idea how to feel about it.

He knows even less how to feel when he sees (Y/N) talking with that Savanaclaw first year—what was his name again? Jake? Jack?—animatedly, touching his arm and even leaning on it, sharing with him her pretty giggles and shining smiles while the boy drinks up her attention with a bright blush and a fake scowl. They walk off arm in arm, and Jade stands there, stupefied, feeling something inside him tear like paper.

"Other half, what is it?"

"Floyd?"

Floyd approaches with uncharacteristically worried eyes, hands raising to cup his face. Jade allows him, only to flinch back when he feels a thumb smear something wet on his cheek.

Oh.

"... who did this?" Floyd growls, and Jade is warmed by the knowledge that his brother, his twin, his other half, is always willing to fight in his name.

"I did this to myself," he admits quietly, stepping closer to the other. Floyd is clearly confused, but accepts his brother in his arms nonetheless, understanding that Jade is feeling a bit too vulnerable at the moment. "It seems not even I am safe from stupid mistakes."

"Of course, you silly fishy~" the other pats his back lightly, squeezing him with all his might in an attempt to comfort. "What did you do?"

"... I broke up with (Y/N)."

"Oh, that's stupid."

"Thanks."

"It's the truth," Floyd shrugs, now patting his head. "You really love Shrimpy, though. Always beaming near her, why did you break up? Did she do something? I'll squeeze her for you!"

"No, no, I just... Thought it was boring."

"... Huh. I didn't have that impression at all. If anything, you always look happy near her, like she hung the moon and stars. It's even sappier than when you're looking at mushrooms."

Jade chuckles softly, knowing that he has no way of denying it. Not when he still spends time to wait for her between classes only to remember the two are not together anymore. Not when he cooks for her and then has to eat it because she's not there anymore. Not when he wants to fight that wolf boy for daring to take away her attention, despite knowing he also has no right to it anymore.

Not when he loves her so dearly, and still broke up with her.

He needs to get her back.

"... Floyd. Would you like to join me in my next plan?"

"What's the plan? If it's fun, you can count on me~"

[lambtotheslaughterr]

The Night Shift

[THIS STORY WILL CONTAIN THEMES OF NON-CON/DUB-CON, MENTAL-EMOTIONAL-PHYSICAL ABUSE, ETC. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. 18+. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT]

WC: 6857

{This is a long one, folks. Over 20+ pages. But it enjoyable nonetheless. I hope you enjoy. Dividers provided by @firefly-graphics}

NIGHT OF THE DAMNED (sequel oneshot)

            Being a night owl came easy to you. Afterall, it was part of the job. Besides it being a requirement though, you enjoyed it. There was always something about the night, moon high & heavy in the sky, that kept you energized, aware, prepared. Unlike the others in the crew, you didn’t need coffee or tobacco to keep you awake on the job, the excitement alone did it for you. You sometimes wish you had an agenda like others on the crew—vengeance or being a damn purist—but you simply enjoyed the thrill, the danger you would potentially get yourself into when it came to facing them.

            The Salvatore’s. Brothers. Or others like them: vampyres. The Salvatore’s though, they’ve been on the crew’s hit list for quite some time now, long before you joined, but they always remained rather elusive to the attempts made by your colleagues. Tonight though, tonight was the night. At least that’s what the crew’s leader announced when everyone gathered together at the abandoned warehouse turned headquarters moments ago.

            “We got a hit. A solid one.” Urien, the leader & founder of  Night Shift—a vampyre hunting organization you found yourself a part of—began. “A reliable source informed us that the Salvatore’s have been, & will be again tonight, at an underground vampyre club in the city.”

            A few others in the crew smirked proudly, one among them—Natalia—was especially overjoyed at this information, despite the lack of enthusiastic display. Everyone on the crew knew well that if anyone had it out for the Salvatore’s it was her. They had killed her husband & sister. Natalia never spoke about it, it was what you had heard from others in the crew, but of everyone there, her life was impacted the most. Natalia felt you staring in her direction & craned her head to meet your eyes. There was a significant scar left at the junction of where her neck & shoulder met: a souvenir from the night she & her family was attacked.

            Natalia raised a single eyebrow towards you, challenging you. She knew you weren’t here out of anger or some spiritual righteousness, no, she knew your interests lied elsewhere, thus she never particularly liked you.

            Dropping your gaze from Natalia’s, you returned your attention to Urien. Urien was a living, breathing survivor of many vampyre face-offs. He was littered in battle scars, all of which he bared as a reminder to the crew about what they were up against. It wasn’t unusual that he would remain shirtless during meetings, a maneuver to keep your intentions & motivations clear.

            “Natalia, Raphael, Jonas.” Urien called out the members who have been part of the crew the longest, “You three will go tonight, blend in, reconnaissance. We don’t want to make an attack going in blind.”

            The three nodded in agreement. “Byron, Hilda, ­­_____.” Urien says your name last, “Back-up. You’ll remain a block away, watch your crewmates’ back. Shit hits the fan you pull the plug, cause a distraction, get them the hell out.”

            “Gladly.” Hilda sneers proudly, one eye milky, the other a dark pool of brown. Hilda had a taste for destruction: bombs being her specialty. Other than stakes & vervain, Hilda experimented in the past with a few unlucky newborn vampyres, & much to her pleasure, bombs easily terminated the blood-suckers as well, but only if you could get them dazed & confused, otherwise they used their inhuman speed to snap your neck & get the hell outta dodge all before the countdown went from 2 to 1. Hilda learned that the hard way, but she survived. Still though, she enjoys playing with her explosives.

             “Raymond & I stay here. We’re the voices in your heads, your eyes in the sky. What we say goes, got it?”

            When no one objected, like normal, Urien nodded once, “Alright, Night Shift, time to clock in.”

            It was half past midnight; Natalia, Raphael, & Jonas disappeared into the club a little over an hour ago. Parked a block away, you, Byron, & Hilda stayed hidden inside a large SUV with deeply tinted windows, all your eyes on the club just up the street. From the outside, it was inconspicuous—no one loitered in front drunk & unstable which was often seen outside human clubs. Except for the single man dressed in all black, who still wore shades in the middle of the night, no one would know question that the seemingly abandoned church was anything but. As far as the Night Shift was concerned, the only way to get entry to the club—especially as a human—was to have a vampyre bring you themselves. Fortunately for Urien, he found the one vampyre he felt he could trust to get the three humans in the club.

            It was quiet, too quiet. Sitting in the middle in the backseat, you were growing restless. Your palms were rubbing your thighs, antsy for action. It’s only been an hour, but you were becoming impatient, wishing you had been part of the three to get inside. Urien, like nearly everyone else on the crew, knew you were far from the first batch of choices to send in on a shift. You were too unpredictable, too entranced by the chaos that would surely ensue. You often wondered why Urien bothered to keep you around then if he thought you to be uncontrollable, but still, here you stayed. But you knew you were a good dog, listened to your masters commands, however, if you got into a scuffle with the right person, nothing would stop you. It kept your blood flowing.

            Byron cast a glare in your direction from the rearview mirror. Like Natalia, Byron didn’t care for your presence on the crew; you had no real reason to be here except for that you could pull your own weight.

            “Itching for a kill?” He questioned, the tone of his voice sour. Byron didn’t enjoy the killing. Staking out, being the escape, those he could do, but put a stake in his hand & he would falter. It was no wonder that he always remained a part of the second shift.

            “Why? Offering?” You bit back.

            “Sucker.” Byron whispered under his breath. Hilda rolled her eyes at his comment. ‘Sucker’ was a term used in the vampyre hunting community that referred to a human vampyre fanatic—typically humans who wanted to be vampyres, fuck them, or be surrounded by them. The term never bothered you. You knew you fell into none of the categories, you simply enjoyed the rush of fighting something…strong, unnatural. Always gave you a reason to push yourself.

            Thirty more minutes passed. No word was heard from Urien or Raymond, the two of them being the mediators between the shift inside the club & the second shift waiting in darkness outside. Only if shit hit the fan would contact be formed between the two shifts to secure a successful rescue & getaway, otherwise, the second shifters were left in the literal dark.

            You couldn’t take the stillness & quiet anymore. You need to get out. If you couldn’t fight something, you needed to at least move. If not, then you just may end up taking Byron up on his indirect offer. Sliding to the passenger side of the SUV, you unlocked the door. Immediately following, the lock disappeared into it’s socket, trapping you. Pausing, you sighed heavily in annoyance, “Unlock. The. Door.”

            “And why the hell would I do that?” Byron challenged, “So you can sing & dance & show off to the vamps just where we’re hiding.”

            “Take a look around, Byron.” You gestured to the view outside the windshield: empty, dark, desolate. “No one cares. I just need to stretch my legs.”

            “Good thing we have plenty of space in here for you to do just that.”

            You went to snap at him before Hilda intercepted, apparently amused at the banter but tired of listening to it, too. “Jesus, unlock the door Byron. She can take care of herself.”

            Byron glared momentarily at Hilda before returning his eyes to you, his hands briefly moving to unlock the doors from the controls on the driver’s side panel, “If you’re out there & anything happens, don’t expect me to swing back for ya.”

            Gripping the door handle, you roll your eyes, “Wouldn’t dream of it, By-By.”

            Slamming the door shut on a quip Byron was in the process of making, you walked backwards away from the SUV & the club, knowing better than to approach the club without Urien’s instruction. As tempting as it was to stray from your master, you didn’t want to press your luck on reconnaissance night. The Salvatore’s were too high on the priority list for the Night Shift to risk fucking it up this close to snagging them. Reaching the end of the block that the SUV was parked on, you began to softly stretch your limbs. It didn’t take much but it was enough to get your heart pumping. The adrenaline that would course through your body during a fight was almost as good as sex. Your body needed it. It demanded the fight, the struggle, the ability to overpower something inhuman. A pleasant sigh shiver racked your body at the thought of straddling a vampyre & plunging a stake into their cold, dead heart.

            Really, you had no personal issues with vampyres—hell, if you weren’t a part of the Night Shift, you might even admit to them being rather cool, but they weren’t any use to you if they were your friends, your kin. You wanted the danger, so that was the only aspect of them you appreciated: how easily they could kill you.

            When you finished stretching your limbs, you reached into the holster at your thigh, unlatching the clip & fingering the blade just inside. The blade, much to any vampyre’s chagrin, was coated in a fine layer of vervain. Not enough to kill, but enough to hinder their attacks. Running the tip of her thumbnail against the blade, you closed your eyes, your lips parted as you imagined swinging it & thrusting the blade into the fleshy muscle of a vampyre. Their screeching was music to your ears. You smiled. You wanted to relish in the feeling just a moment longer but before you could, the honking of a horn sounded.

            Pulled from your reverie, you saw that the SUV was reversing towards you. Hilda rolled down her window, “They’re clear. Let’s get outta here.”

            You were both relieved & displeased by this information. Displeased because it meant no action tonight, but relieved as well, because that meant that if things went well, your chances of getting into the club on attack night were guaranteed. Suppressing a sadistic grin, you threw open the back door & hopped in. Your fingers itching for that kill.

            To anyone in the vampyre hunting community, the Salvatore’s were well-known. Behind the originals—the Mikaelsons—they were next on the ‘most wanted staked’ list. To you though, you couldn’t care about who they were. Of course, there was some interest on your part—the idea of getting to take down one of the legends would bring you great satisfaction, but as for who they were & why they were at the top, you were indifferent.

            It was the night before the planned attack on the brothers. Urien was going over the anticipated roles for the following evening. Everyone sat haphazardly around the long rectangular table but remained focus on the task at hand. Just ahead, plastered on the cement wall, were two sketches of the Salvatore brothers. You had to admit the brothers were handsome, sexy even. Both of them wore deep, brooding stares. The sketch on the left you knew to be the older of the two—Damon. Reputation pegged him as the more violent of the two. If given the choice, you imagined going one-on-one with him would be nothing short of fun. The sketch on the left was Stefan. He was known to be diplomatic one. But much like everyone on the Night Shift knew, Stefan was not innocent. Just because he chose to not kill in some instances didn’t exempt him; he was still a threat for as long as he was upright. At least that’s what the Night Shift told to be the case. You didn’t care. You just wanted to kill something.

            “_____”. Urien addresses you from the head of the table. You had been twirling your switchblade between your fingers, lost in thought. Returning the blade to the holster attached to your thigh, you rested your elbows on the table, awaiting instruction.

            “You’re in the club with Natalia, Raphael, & Jonas.” At this information, you truly struggled to hide a wolfish grin. As if he could see right through you, Urien continued, “You do not make a move unless I tell you, do you understand? You are there in case one of the other three become incapacitated for any reason. You are the second wave, not the first.”

            It wasn’t a role you particularly enjoyed, but you were used to it at this point. You were enough of an asset to send in for support but not enough of one to trust to make the first move correctly. You had a habit of making things last a bit longer than necessary, all in the name of fun, of course. Regardless, you were getting in the club tomorrow night, & regardless, an attack was happening. Your heart hammered with excitement deep inside your ribs. Urien moved onto the other roles that would be played out. Losing interest in his voice, you peered just past his bare shoulders to the sketches behind him.

            Tomorrow night, you thought to yourself as your eyes stared intently at the drawings on the wall, a mischievous smile gracing your lips, then you’re all mine.

            The club was in full swing, & much easier getting into than you had anticipated. All it took was the four you meeting with the vampyre Urien trusted, Zara. She met the four of you down the street. She looked you over, wondering who the hell you were. You had smirked knowingly, “Problem?”

            Zara had smiled, her sharp canines proudly on display, “Don’t tempt me, honey.” Natalia gave you a dirty look before Zara gave you, specifically, the breakdown. Don’t say a word, follow her lead, keep your eyes to yourself until you’re in the main part of the club. Easy enough, but you sure did have trouble listening to anyone who wasn’t your master.

            Despite it all though, the five of you made it into the club without issue. The same guard from the other night, gave everyone the once over, Zara vouching for the four of you, before allowing you all to slip inside the heavy wooden doors. The hallways were dimly lit by lit lanterns that clanged lazily against the ancient stone of the building. The air gave you chills but the goosebumps that erupted across your body only amped up your heart rate. You felt like a junkie on her way to getting a fix.

            The main part of the club opened up behind another set of heavy wooden doors. Once inside, your body began to thrum in excitement. The club was spacious, two floors, the second do which was actually below the one you were currently on. In the center of the main floor was a roped off section of the stone floor that had broken apart, showing only the metal rods that originally kept the stone in place. It was like looking down a wishing well & seeing a whole new world hidden below. The club itself was decently packed. Almost every moving body in the space was dancing, potentially high off something, but you weren’t sure what. In environments like this it was difficult to make out who was vampyre & who was human. But then, if you focused enough, you could make out the private rooms just on the edges of the room. Hidden behind sheer blood red cloth, you could see vampyres & humans alike coming together as one, either in the form of fucking or feeding.

            Zara led you to the dance floor while the other three split away. Everyone had their role to play tonight; as much as you didn’t like it, your role wasn’t activated unless plans went to hell. Playing your role of Zara’s blood bag, she pressed her body against yours. She was dressed in a gothic stylized black corset dress while you sported a long sleeve turtle neck & ankle length black skirt. Your role was to appear timid, afraid, thus covering the most delicious parts of your body. Little did the vampyres in the room know, under your skirt was your holster attached to your thigh, your handy switchblade tucked away, along with a few stakes & a small can of vervain spray. Your hair was rolled up into a messy bun, not wanting your mane to get in the way should you find yourself in a fight.

            Subtly keeping your eyes on Natalia as she lined the edge of the room, Zara placed her hands on your waist, moving herself to press her lips to your neck. Normally you wouldn’t trust a vampyre to get this close, especially in a room where the vampyres to human ratio wasn’t in your favor, but for the sake of your role, you allowed her to, though you did let your fingers brush along your thigh a few times, feeling the holder hidden underneath.

            “Careful.” Zara whispered behind a devilish smile, a smile for show, “Movements like that will get you noticed. Turn around.”

            Not waiting for you to listen, Zara turned your body so your back was pressed to her chest, your hips matching in movement as she swayed your body along with her. The music pumping throughout the club was dark techno, the deep bass reverberating the stone floor you were standing on. Zara continued to graze your clothed neck with her lips. You allowed yourself to enjoy the feeling briefly as your eyes gently surveyed the room. A soft ring sounded in your ear: Urien.

            “_____, the shift is in place. If things go well, they’ll succeed & you all will be out in no time. If not, you know what to do.” He briefed you through the earpiece. You nodded once, not responding. Communication was always one way unless trouble happened. Trouble that you hope happened tonight.

            Zara’s hands on your waist disappeared. You nearly stopped dancing to react but couldn’t risk breaking character. However, just a moment later her hands reappeared on you, though this time on your hips. You let her hands wander, knowing she was also playing a role. But when her hands started to fall towards your thighs, towards your holster, you grabbed her wrists, stopping her. Only then did you realize that it wasn’t her arms you were grabbing. Before you could properly respond, a hand came up to your throat, latching onto it, the other arm wrapped securely across your midsection, keeping your arms tightly in place to your side.

            “Ah-ah.” A deep bravado voice breathed hotly against your ear, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

            Part of you began to panic, but the bigger part, the part that was hoping for this, began to glisten on the inside. It had to be one of the Salvatore’s, & if it wasn’t one of them, it was someone close to them. The hand that was on your throat swiftly removed the earpiece before crushing the small item between their thumb & forefinger.

            “You shouldn’t have done that.” You countered, “That’s only going to alert them.”

            A soft chuckle sounds from the man holding you, his taut chest rumbles against your backside as he laughs, “That’s what we’re hoping for.”

            Before you’re able to attempt any sort of move, you feel the mans hand press against the space just above your left breast. A threat. Easily he could tear past your flesh & bones & rip your heart from your body. You were not in a position to counterattack at this moment. Understanding the position you were in, you allowed your body to go slack. You win, you thought begrudgingly to yourself, for now.

            “That’s right.” The voice hissed jovially, “Don’t fight it. You be a good girl & follow me.” With that, the man harshly gripped the back of your neck, his thumb placed conveniently at the base of your skull. Should you try anything, he could snap your neck without a thought. His other hand bent your right arm painfully behind your back, holding you in place as he walked you forward through the sea of clubbers. Between the amount of people on the floor & the disorienting flash of lights, it was difficult for you to survey your surroundings, to see if you could make out any of your crewmates.

            “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about them,” The man shared, as if reading your thoughts, “You’ll be together again shortly.”

            As the two of you made your way through the throng of people, not a single person, vampyre or human, noticed what was occurring before them. You wondered if you walked into a trap. Were they waiting for you? Did they see you coming? More so, where was Zara? You didn’t have a chance to see if she gave you up to the man behind you or if she too was in his way. Was she to blame? You imagined all your questions would be answered shortly.

            Just off the dance floor, between two private rooms, was a darkened hallway. You were led down it, your shoulder joint beginning to pulse from the uncomfortable angle it was being bent in. You inhaled sharply as the force behind you pushed you into door. You could hear the smile in the man’s voice when he said, “Oops. I’m clumsy.”

            You didn’t have an opportunity to rebuttal when the door swung open. Just inside, the first thing you noticed was your crewmates. All of them. Though Jonas was down for the count. You were unsure if he was alive, his body was lying unmoving on the floor across the room. Natalia had tears running down her face but her expression was one of anger, she glared hotly at the man just straight ahead. Raphael was looking forlornly at the ground. You had to guess that Jonas was dead.

            “Here’s the last one, brother.” The man that stood ahead of you initially had his back turned. With your arrival, he turned slowly, looking you over slowly, as if assessing if you were a threat. Indeed you were, but did they know that yet? The room was dimly lit, the only light emanating from the same lanterns that hung in the stone corridors of the church entrance hallway. But even with the little light available, you recognized the man to be Stefan Salvatore. Which means the man holding you…

            “Damon. Knew I could count on you.” You felt the hands on your arm & back of neck release, shoving you forward so you fell on your knees.

            “Careful with this one.” Damon’s voice lowered in a playful manner, “She’s antsy for a fight. I can feel it.”

            Damon came into your view as he joined his brother before you. The only furniture in the room was a single desk, coated in what looked to be a blood red finish with detailed fixtures, & a wall of floor to ceiling bookcases. It didn’t fit with the theme of the club. But you didn’t care. What you cared about was that it was two against one. Part of you was thrilled, especially with it being the Salvatore’s, but even you knew that if your crewmates were unable to back you, then your chances were very slim.

            “Is that so?” Stefan questioned in turn, his eyes remaining on you. He reached for a glass filled with something thick & red, what you could only guess to be blood. He took a sip & you watched in trepidation as the veins around his eyes appeared, like claw marks. Your heart thrummed in your chest. Chancing a look to your right, you made eye contact with Natalia. A sneer was still evident on her face but she quickly glanced to her own thigh. Her dagger was missing. Then she swiftly glanced toward the desk before returning her gaze to the brothers. Following her trail of sight, you noticed her daggers handle sticking out from under the desk, surmising it must’ve been knocked in that direction in a struggle. You had your own on you, but still, a second weapon nearby would make things slightly easier.

            “She’ll kill you.” Natalia spit. You were surprised, much like the brothers, at her statement. Damon laughed loudly at this, resigning himself to lounge lazily against the desk.

            “She can try.” Damon replied with a tone of amusement, “I’d like to see it.”

            “_____.” Natalia spoke your name again. Your eyes met. The look you saw behind them was one that made you uneasy but you understood. Whatever she was about to do, you needed to make it worth it. “Kill them.”

            You nodded once, letting your hand ghost over the dagger hidden behind your skirt, in preparation for the unknown. Damon growled at the interaction & in a split second he appeared before Natalia. She had been anticipating the move, maneuvering herself to fall backwards before Damon’s hands could grasp her head. As she fell backwards, with great speed for a human, reached above her head & behind her back to withdraw her infamous sword that had been sheathed against her spine. As the sword glinted in the dim light, Raphael kicked his leg out, knocking Damon to one knee. You took this chance to roll to your side, tearing your skirt in the process to access your dagger. Coming to a stop, your dagger gripped firmly in hand, you raised yourself to one knee.

            Natalia & Raphael traded blows & jabs with Damon, keeping him distracted, leaving you with Stefan. While you would’ve much preferred going one-on-one with the bigger badder brother, you would settle for the meeker of the two. Stefan glowered at you with a massive grin on his face, standing casually, as if he was waiting in line at a fast food chain. Controlling your breathing, you rose to your feet, stepping once to the left, making it so you could still keep your eyes on the trio that were fighting. To your disappointment, Stefan didn’t match your step. He was allowing you to get closer to him. His confidence annoyed you. But he didn’t know you. That would be his first mistake.

            When you were only three feet or so away from him, Stefan spoke plainly, “I am going to enjoy ripping into you.”

            You smiled playfully, anticipating the fight, “What are you waiting for, then?”

            Stefan nodded once, finishing the rest of the blood in the glass, “You’re right.”

            The glass he had been drinking from hadn’t shattered against the floor yet before he appeared just before you. It was expected though, forcing you to step back slightly just enough to swipe your blade across his abdomen, cleanly slicing open his silk, black button up. “Sorry. I hope it wasn’t expensive.”

            Stefan bared his teeth as he glanced down at his wound. Thanks to the vervain coating the blade, his wound would heal slower. His nostrils flared as his eyes darkened, rising to meet your own. With inhuman speed, he gripped your arm, intending to snap it & force the blade to drop, but not before you tossed the blade to your other hand, reaching between your bodies to slice open the arm that grabbed you. Stefan roared out, growing impatient with your technique. You wanted to rub it in more but knew it wasn’t the time, nor the place. Others were counting on you.

            Just as the thought crossed your mind though, the sound of bones snapping sounded in the room. Foolishly, you took your eyes off Stefan to follow the sound. Raphael was lying on the floor, his neck broken. Damon now had Natalia caged in with an arm across her front, holding her arms back. Her eyes met your own. She knew it was over for as well as you did. Damon, using his other arm, bent her head enough to expose her neck before bending down to tear into her throat. Blood spurted from the attack & pooled below her. Natalia’s eyes never left your own. Then they closed. Damon dropped her body, his mouth & chin caked in Natalia’s blood. He grinned proudly, licking his lips, “I knew she looked familiar. I never forget such a divine taste.”

            In the incredibly short amount of time it took to watch Natalia’s life be drained, you forgot about the foe gripping your arm, something you would regret. Stefan took the chance to grip the other arm that held the dagger, snapping your wrist. You screeched in pain, using your other arm in an attempt to evade his hold but he was immovable. The dagger fell to the floor & he kicked it away before spinning you around, pressing your back to his chest. Your breathing was erratic, your heart beat fighting to explode from your chest. Stefan held his face against the top of your head, slightly swaying your bodies together as if you were lovers dancing. He moaned softly, “I can hear your blood pumping. It’s rushing. You must be scared. So. Scared.”

            You grunted in response, trying without luck to get out from under his arms, but you knew without your dagger your human strength was nothing compared to 160 year old vampyre.

            “What are you waiting for, brother?” Damon questioned, stepping over the bodies of your fallen crewmates, “Take. Her. Out.”

            “In time, brother.” Stefan replied, his voice almost whimsical, “Let me enjoy this before I snuff it out.”

            Damon grinned devilishly, “I’ll be disposing of the bodies.” He kicked the limp arm of Raphael, “This one is still warm, I think I’ll give him to a few hungry newborns. Can’t let food that falls into our lap go to waste.”

            You winced, watching in unbridled rage as Natalia & Raphael’s bodies were dragged out of the room by Damon. Before he closed the door, Damon winked at you, “Have fun.”

            When it was only you & Stefan, you felt your adrenaline begin to subside. One-on-one. But without a dagger. Your chances were still slim but not impossible. Natalia’s blade was still nearby. Stefan hadn’t noticed it yet. You just needed to get yourselves over to it, close enough to swipe it. Stefan inhaled deeply behind you, his nose grazing the shell of your ear. Shivers wracked your body at the action. There have been countless times you were in such a position with a vampyre but they didn’t take their time like this. They were hungry, like you, but for something else, they were in a rush. Stefan though, he was taking his time, for why you didn’t know. But you’d be damned if you didn’t take advantage of it.

            Prepared for the pain, you threw your head back, feeling the crown of your skull connect with Stefan’s nose. You heard a crunch & reveled in the sound before he dropped you abruptly. Taking the small window you had, you pushed yourself backwards between his legs, using your feet to kick the backs of his knees, making him fall to his knees. He spun around but not before your steel-toe boot connected with his face, forcing his head to snap to the side. In his momentary state of stun, you army crawled to the desk, fingers stretching for the daggers handle that teased you. The tips of your fingers had barely grazed it when you felt a warm grasp on your ankle yanking you back. Your broken wrist was trapped between your body & the floor as Stefan pulled you away from your only protection, the pain shot through your body & you cried out.

            Stefan turned you over onto your back. You held your wrist to your chest, your teeth bared as you kicked again, this time getting him square in the chest. Stefan growled but was undeterred by your assault. His hand found your throat as he leaned forward to snarl into your face, his canines sharpening. Before he had the chance to tear into your neck, like he promised he would only moments ago, you found yourself bracing yourself on your elbows, taking your unbroken wrist & wrapping it around his neck, using it as a means to bring yourself up to sink your own teeth into his neck.

            The taste of thick, coppery blood filled your mouth. Stefan howled at the feel of your teeth breaking skin. His hands gripped the back of your neck, trying to pull you off, but you tightening your jaw, drawing more blood & screams from the vampyre before you. You felt Stefan’s hands grip you tighter, though this time it was almost as if they were holding you against him, like a mother holding her child to her breast as she fed them. Then he groaned softly, almost like…like he was enjoying it.

            Suddenly you were ripped away from him, falling to your back as you peered up at him. His shirt was coated in his own blood, the cut along his abdomen from your dagger was still bleeding. His button-up had become more shredded in the fight; the neckline slack & the lower half hanging loosely, exposing the bottom half of his stomach. Stefan remained above you on his knees, his head hung back as he caught his breath. Your own breath was coming in pants as you tried to calm yourself. You eyed the daggers nearby, both of which were too far out of reach. Stefan would kill you before you had the chance. What else could you do? He had proven to be a stronger enemy than you had imagined.

            A soft chuckle sounded from the man before you, his head hanging lowly, casting an eerie shadow across his fine features. Your eyes met. If you were going to die in this moment, you weren’t going to stop fighting until your heart stopped beating. Stefan stretched his neck, & you watched as the bite wound you left healed until all that was left was a stain of red from the blood that had escaped.

            “You’re fun, I’ll admit.” He shared, slowly leaning forward like a panther preparing to strike.

            Mustering up the saliva you had, you spit at him. You laughed, proud of your childish last attempt as your spit mixed with his own blood sprayed across his face, “Fuck. You.”

            His eyes darkened but he nodded, “If you want.” Your heart shuddered at his response. What does he mean… “But only as I rip into you.” He pushed your hair away from your neck & you wrestled to get out from under him, suddenly horrified by the change in his intention, “In more ways than one.”

            A scream tore from your throat as he pressed himself against you, his teeth sinking into the junction where your neck & shoulder met. Your turtleneck didn’t make a difference to the vampyre above you as he settled between your legs. Your broken wrist was useless in defending yourself, all you could manage was to press your unharmed arm against his shoulder as you tried to shove him off, but even you knew it must have felt like an incessant insect buzzing in his ear.

            “What are you doing?!” You cried out when you felt a hand tear your skirt more so, warm air caressing across your exposed thighs. Stefan growled into your neck as he continued drinking from you. You could feel your hair growing sticky & wet as your blood pooled below your head. “No, no no. NO!” You continued to shout when you felt the vampyre’s hands graze the edge of your underwear.

            “No!” With one shout, you kicked out, trying to roll out from under him. This isn’t happening, this isn’t happening. Never before had you found yourself in this position before. It was always fighting, killing, hurting the other, never…this. Stefan Salvatore. You had severely underestimated the dangers of the man who continued to hold you down.

            Your kicking & squirming was useless as you began to feel your consciousness slip. You could feel your strength evading you as you tried to hold on. In a final attempt, you reached up with your uninjured arm to grip that back of his head, yanking pitifully on the hair at the nape of his neck. The action had the opposite effect. Stefan released you as he sighed heavily, his hot breath in your ear, “You’ve been a delight. It’s a shame it must end.”

            With a snap of his wrist, you felt your underwear tightening against your skin before they were torn from your body. Your breath was shallow & you could only meekly cry out when you felt Stefan reaching between your bodies. You knew what was coming. You couldn’t stop it. Then when he was finished, he would kill you. This was it. This was how you would die.

            A sharp pain shot up your spine as Stefan tore through you, exactly as he promised. He sheathed himself inside you entirely, groaning at the feeling of your walls fighting against the unwelcome assault. He didn’t move for a few seconds & for that you were quietly thankful. You almost wished he had finished draining you of your blood before he began raping you, at least that way you could be totally unaware, free of him. Then he began to thrust.

            You sneered as he moved above you, his hands gripping your hips as he adjusted your legs to accommodate the width of him. His teeth grazed over your wound & you winced at the stinging that followed. His tongue lapped at the blood there & you moaned out in pain, your hands lying limply to your sides.

            “Just kill me.” Your voice didn’t sound like yours. It was hoarse, defeated, weak. That wasn’t you. But as Stefan Salvatore pushed himself deeper inside you, the vibrations from his groans resonating through his chest to yours as he pressed himself against you, you knew you had fallen so far. You were completely & entirely at the hands of this vampyre.

            “In time,” Stefan responded, his own voice grainy as he rutted into you sharply, “I’m going to enjoy this first.”

            As he sped up, you knew the end was coming. You winced under his assault, the feel of him inside you feeling as if he was tearing your body in two. Had you not been on the edge of losing consciousness, you would’ve laughed at the authenticity of his promise. As if having read your mind, Stefan leaned up to gaze over you as he grew close to finishing. His hand reached for your throat, his fingers at the edge of your wound & you hissed, your own hand gripping his wrist. Stefan’s eyes darkened in euphoria followed by the claw mark like veins. His hips snapped against yours & you wanted nothing more then to reach out & snap his neck. With a final stroke, Stefan came, collapsing against you as he moaned into your neck, his teeth finding your wound again. You could feel his cock pulsing within you followed by a liquid warmth. A wave of nausea rolled over you but never came to fruition. You’d be dead here shortly, the only good thing the vampyre could provide you at this point.

            Stefan Salvatore remained atop you for a moment longer before removing himself from between your legs. You sighed in relief, glad it to be over, in more ways than one. Gasps & shudders wracked your body as Stefan tore the turtleneck, exposing your wound in all its glory. In your fading peripheral, you made out a proud grin. His eyes fell from your wound to the curves of your body before landing on where his hips rested against your own then rising to meet your eyes, “They don’t call me a ripper for nothing.”

            The last thing you saw was Stefan baring his canines as before he devoured your neck. The pain was dull, fading. You swallowed, tasting the last remnants of his blood in your mouth. The taste made you sick. No no no… his blood was in your system & he was killing you. You wanted to scream, stop him, but something told you he knew exactly what he was doing. Your lips parted with a desperate plead on your tongue but in moment you felt your heart slow, the world before you disappearing.

            But you knew you would wake to another.

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Whew! Shiiieeeet. Woke up & cranked this one out. Let me know what you think! This was written as a oneshot but I see it could have potential for a few more parts. However, that idea will be placed to the side for now while I work on other WIPs.

I look forward to hearing from ya. Thanks for reading!

oona<3

[witchercommentcrawl]

The Witcher Comment Crawl Guide to Crawling

How it works 

The Witcher Comment Crawl will provide you with:

An event post with a list of fanworks.

A designated window of time (7-10 days) in which to read, review and comment on the fanworks. (The goal here is to center the community around the same thing at the same time!)

Daily recommendation posts of each fanwork during the event window that contain talking points and ideas for how to start your comment. 

A form for you to submit comments for fanworks where you don't have a social media account or wish to comment anonymously.

Optional achievement badges! You can claim and share your badges wherever you want. Leave a comment on a fanwork, claim a theme-participant badge! Follow a new creator you discover from the Crawl? Claim a badge!

An optional spreadsheet with links and details of all the fanworks. Tumblr feeds go by really quickly and we don’t want you to miss anything! 

An optional spreadsheet to keep track of the number of comments you leave every event, which you can use to claim more achievement badges!

If you don’t have the time or ability to comment during the official event window, that’s okay! Please leave comments even if it’s been a day, a week, or a month after the event has concluded. 

Our ultimate goal is to provide you a list of amazing fanworks so you can leave feedback for the creators and have fun. Read! Review! Comment! Share the love! 💬❤️

Code of Conduct 

We understand that not every canon, character, ship, or characterization and trope will be to everybody's tastes. 

Be respectful and courteous in your comments.

If there is a canon or character or pairing that you don’t like, you are not obligated to read it or look at it. DO NOT leave them a negative comment.

Do not leave unsolicited constructive criticism or critiques.    

Do not leave racist, homophobic, transphobic, etc. remarks in your comment.

Do not leave comments along the lines of ‘I hate this ship but like the art.’

Do not ask the creator for sequels or give the creator unsolicited prompts. We are focusing on the individual fanworks only. If you are interested in more fanworks, look at the creator’s feeds and bookmarks to discover more of what they like and make. 

If the mods discover you have left a hateful or character/ship-bashing comment you will be blocked from viewing the community’s posts. 

Creators are not obligated to reply to comments.

They have already gifted us with their fanwork. They may have any number of reasons why they can’t or won’t respond to comments.

Some creators might not know how to respond to comments and will be too shy to engage. That’s their prerogative. 

Other creators may be thrilled and might even answer any questions you have about their work. You never know what you might learn! Always be respectful when you ask questions in your comments. 

Contact the Community

Your community organizer is @kuwdora. 

You can direct questions to the Witcher Comment Crawl via Asks or send an email to witchercommentcrawl@gmail.com. There will be periodic feedback surveys to gain a better understanding of what you’re enjoying about the event and solicit ideas for future themes and events.

Mod tag: [name] - this tag will let you know when a post has been written or edited by another organizer or contributor. These are folks helping with writing and tagging event posts, commenting guides for the Crawl and more.

Major thank you to @bawdybean @bookscorpion @castillon02 @daerienn @elle-ja-bell @flightsfancy1 @handwrittenhello @inanoldhousewrites @katwritesthings @lovelysailboat @salamanderinspace @spacecores for contributing ideas, feedback, amazing projects, and support to get the event up and running.

[foibles-fables]

"We need to heal from HFW"

I'm sorry, I've enjoyed your blog for awhile now (as you are one of the very few blogs who ships Aloy x Talanah and not with a number of older men) but please consider that not everyone thinks HFW is a bad game, because you seem to do that a lot.

In fact a majority of fans - myself included - genuinely loved the game and thought it was a fantastic sequel. I'm sorry you were disappointed with HFW, you have the right to your own opinions about it, but always talking like it's a fact that HFW is a bad game that everyone agrees with...isn't what everyone agrees with.

I'd hate to have to give up enjoying your blog, and you're probably going to tell me to do just that, but I'm so tired of the negativity in this fandom.

Oh...this made me really sad to read, anon. :(

It wasn't my intention to frustrate with the part of my post you quoted there. I thought it was pretty clear that it was a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek remark specifically regarding Talanah's HFW questline--which is, near-objectively, one of the weakest parts of HFW's story...if not the weakest, as far as returning characters are concerned. No true pettiness or malice meant on my part. Just a joke.

I'm well-aware of the fact that not everyone thinks HFW is a bad game. I know the majority of the fanbase found it to be excellent. And I'm genuinely glad about that! I'm thrilled that it was enjoyable and fulfilling for them. It makes me very happy to see folks left satisfied by a piece of media they've been looking forward to experiencing, even if I was left disappointed myself. I've never once been under (or think I've given) the impression that Everyone shares my opinion? No fandom is a monolith. I wish this wasn't the case, and that we were all satisfied.

I still undoubtedly love this series--and one can love something and still be critical of or see faults in the way aspects of it are handled. That said, I'm moving past the letdown and looking forward to what's next.

I don't think I've been unduly negative or vitriolic towards HFW, at all. I don't hate-blog. I lift creators up, I talk enthusiastically about the aspects of the game I did enjoy. I won't apologize for expressing my critical opinions in a level-headed (if not sometimes self-deprecating and/or sardonic) way. I also won't ask anyone else to conform to them, or EVER blame or look down on anyone for liking a Thing I personally found to be less than satisfying.

I'd also never just tell you or anyone else to give up enjoying my content over a difference of opinion. That's your choice, anon. I do hope you stick around, because at its core, we all love the property and its potential--even those of us who were let down by HFW (in fact, that's what makes it even harder to sit with these feelings of disappointment). But the way you curate your experience is, ultimately, up to you.

[lover-of-the-starkindler]

tagged by @holmes-and-hollers

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers (◠‿◠✿) (if you feel like it!!)  I’m changing it up to also include favorite five fics you’ve read because not everyone is a writer (or likes to self-rec)

Thanks for asking! Let me just dust some of these off, and then I can tell you a little bit about my current favorites...

Way back when, one of the first fics I wrote was called ‘Glorfindel Returns’ which featured a relentlessly-determinedly-(and probably obnoxiously) cheerful Glorfindel working his way to Imladris from the Havens and meeting all the folks, a five-gaited mare (that got stolen and then returned), and an ambitious sequel that I never finished. I think I managed to cram just about everything I liked in a story into it, and folks were very kind and told me they enjoyed it.

Ranger’s Apprentice fic: Headswap featuring time-travel (but it was all a daydream), siblings, and substantially altering canon because why not. I like this one so much, I cannot even begin to tell you how happy this piece of self-indulgence makes me

Ranger’s Apprentice fic: Code of Honor the advantage of writing a slightly-to-the-left version of an early book after reading a much later book is you can come back and use the later canon to improve things

Ranger’s Apprentice fic: [like all the stories I have yet to write, this one is my favorite] Legend of the Sunrise Knight; a book 8 AU in which I let certain siblings live and invent an even more complicated royal family :D :D :D (Okay, I do have most of an outline, which is how I know that I like this one a lot)

Star Wars fic: [like all the stories I have yet to write, this one is my favorite] no title features Anakin Skywalker pulled forward in time, to find out that his son is almost all grown up, he-Anakin Skywalker-died on some foolish idealist crusade and his step-brother is less than thrilled by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Lars farm is about to be attacked, and then Anakin and Owen and Beru end up impersonating Imperial officers and all sorts of wild shenanigans ensue over and around the events of A New Hope. I have a very good time with this one, and wish I knew how it wraps up (a title would be nice too, but I’d rather have a satisfying ending)

bonus: original fic: The Kidnapping of Agnes Sweetheart features mistaken identity, resourcefulness, and cheese.

[curious-minx]

Notable 2020 Video Game Soundtracks That Can Be Enjoyed As Standalone Experiences

Video Game Music is gaining recognition, with many soundtracks receiving vinyl pressings, orchestral concert reviews, and an increasing presence on music streaming platforms such as bandcamp and Spotify. We’re also witnessing the uprise of indie video game development teams where games are being made by the sort of passionate type of game designer that takes soundtracks seriously.  Soundtracks by small teams of developers such as Celeste, Undertale, Disco Elysium, Hollow Knight, RuneScape, and Lisa: The Joyful are titles with soundtracks that easily stand up against the likes of bigger budget productions made by reliable sources of video game music like Square-Enix and Nintendo.

2020 is no exception in terms of having one of the biggest budget soundtracks around with Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which builds upon a legacy of industry-standard-creating soundtrack work. Taken as a whole, Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s soundtrack is clocking in at over 8 and half hours of music. The soundtrack has three composers with the Beethoven of video game music, Nobuo Uematsu, most notably coming out of retirement to get the job done.  Here are some other amazing 2020 video game soundtracks more conducive for standalone background listening:

TETRIS EFFECT by HYDELIC 

Genres: EDM, Ambient Pop and straight up Ambient 

Describing this album makes me feel like I’m some sort of burnt out fanciful raver, head permanently lodged in the clouds. The level of giddy technicolor enthusiasm rivals that of Icelandic Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi, but if he wanted to keep his post-rock firmly planted in the outdoor music festival on Mars territory. Despite the album’s notable two hours runtime, each and every song feels like its own uniquely crafted composition, no repetitive motifs or nostalgia-baiting.

There is unfortunately still a Tetris movie in some sort of shaggy state of development in Hollywood right now. The movie is being billed as a dull biopic about the creator of the Tetris game. Whereas listening to Tetris Effect you imagine a Tetris movie directed by someone more fitting like the Wakowskis. Tetris Effect’s opening song “Connected (Yours Forever)” is a bonafide vocal pop song, like a more sugary CVRCHES-style cooing of the lyrics:

“I’m Yours Forever

There is No End in Sights For Us,

Nothing Can Measure the Kind of Strength Inside Our Hearts,

It’s all connected we’re all together in this life, don’t you forget it

We’re all connected in this”

Try your best not to imagine a cast of Hollywood’s most beautiful plucky orphan mutant misfit youths using the power of Tetris to heal a broken and dying planet!

Notable Track: Next Chapter

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HADES by DARREN KORB

Genres: Progressive Metal, Folktronica, Folk Metal, Dimotika, Greek Folk Music

Darren Korb has become one of the most notable video game composers of the past decade. Korb, an integral member of the Supergiant family, continues to outdo himself with each and every soundtrack. Bastion and Transistor originally found Korb creating a niche for himself with downtempo folk-infused electronic soundscapes and even some vocal pop with collaborator Ashley Barrett. Hades is an altogether different beast for Korb, who much like the developers of Hades, have found themselves at the height of their powers.

Korb also contributes vocals on this album, and I can say without hesitation that these are some of the nicest vocals I’ve ever heard from a video game music designer, because video game musicians are bonafide musicians.The album clocks in at two and half hours and separate from its game is still an absolute thrill ride.

Notable Track: In The Blood

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DEFECTIVE HOLIDAY by MECHATOK

 Genres: Ambient Trance, Balearic Beat, Progressive Electronic, Nature Recordings, Spoken Word, New Age

One glance at the album artwork is all it took for me to know that I must listen to this album. Defective Holiday is an indie walking simulator that is explicit about its intentions: a lightly interactive one hour experience. This soundtrack clocks in at only 31 minutes and it is purely the most conventional album in terms of length.

Last week in late November, Mechatok announced a collaboration with one of the leading zoomer Swedish cloud rap mavericks Bladee, the cofounder of the Drain Gang. Last month gives a pretty clear picture of what kind of circles Mechatok is floating in on. Highly online gonzo vaporwave maestro James Ferraro is another apparent influence on this soundtrack, especially regarding the way the sinister mundane dialogue is woven into the soundscape. There’s one particular track on the Defective Holiday OST, “Rescue Shot Buibo”, that is adorned with standard trap-style drum fills that give the album a shot of energy before wandering back off into the haze. This soundtrack and video game is all about the pure vibe and aesthetic nature that are currently trending in these extremely stressful times.  In a time where all of our holidays were defective from the very start, I think the casual walking simulator will remain a genre high in demand. I have a feeling we’re going to hear a lot more from this empathetic young German.

Notable Track: Valley

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Last of Us II by Gustavo Santaolalla, Mac Quayle (and Ashley Johnson)

Genres: Ambient, Cinematic Classical, Dark Ambient, Spanish Folk Music 

L

The Last Of Us is a horror game where the music itself is arguably playing a critical character role, which can only be expected billing two titans of audio visual soundtracks. Of course Academy Award winner Santaolalla knows his way around a soundtrack. Wielding a resume of astonishing versatility in various TV and film projects, he might have found his higher calling in not only video games but in the horror music canon. Last of Us is an extremely emotional series, and with the wrong soundtrack, the experience could become insufferably bleak. The occasional  splashes of color and light are what make this soundtrack so unsettling and eerie. Not since Silent Hill 2’s Akira Yamaoka has there been such an effective standalone horror video game soundtrack experience. No wonder Gustavo Santaolalla is one of the only video game composers integral enough to the game to warrant a cameo banjo-playing character model based off of him.

As if having one major composer from prestigious TV and movies wasn’t enough, Mac Quayle, composer of the whole Mr. Robot series, contrasts against Santaolalla’s acoustic contributions. The soundtrack itself is sequenced in a way that switches between the two composers. “The Cycle of Violence” composed by Quayle, a track that more than lives up to its name, is immediately followed by Santaolalla’s somber “Reclaimed Memories.” This dance between violence and heart is what the Last of Us excels at as a franchise, and that is why this soundtrack is an effective stand-alone experience.

The only disappointing part of the soundtrack is that Ashley Johnson, voice actor of Ellie’ three songs, is not included in the game’s official tracklist. Ellie’s “Take On Me” a-ha and “Future Days” Pearl Jam covers have made a little history by being the most powerful songs sung by a video game character. When Ellie sings and plays on her guitar they aren’t some little Easter egg idling moments to provide levity for this heavy revenge horror story. These songs are used to make some of the strongest character development choices made by a video game character seen in recent years. Ellie is joining a small club of singing video game characters alongside Parapa the Rapper and  maybe the cast of obscure Atlus title Rhapsody: Musical Adventure.

Notable Track: Unbroken

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Persona 5 Royal Straight Flush Edition by Shoji Meguro 

Genre: Acid Jazz, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal, Lounge, Jazz-Funk 

This is one of those soundtracks that, much like Nobuo Uematsu’s work in Final Fantasy, is really the heart and soul of the entire Persona franchise (and his work in the adjacent Shin Megami Tensei universe is equally as noteworthy). Persona 5 Royal finds Meguro making his most complete, funky, and otherworldly opus that sounds like no one else in the biz.

You will find many people online scouring message boards, subreddits, bandcamp features, and Yahoo Answers looking for more music like Persona 5. Outside of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, how many other games are packed to the brim with truly foxy songs!? Persona 5 could not predict how badly the title “Throw Away Your Mask” would age, despite the game being more than ahead of its time with the majority of NPCs wearing PPE. Be a good Joker, put on your mask and keep chasing Meguro’s acid jazz-infused dragon through many more semesters to come.

Notable Track: I Imagine

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Streets of Rage 4 by Olivier Deriviere & Various

Genres: Electro House, Nu Jazz, Synth Funk, Acid House 

Composer Olivier Deriviere is a living definition of a video game soundtrack journeyman. He has a career stretching back to the early 2000s working on notable big budget titles like the divisive 2008 Atari fifth Alone in the Dark installment and Remember Me, an unsung buried gem from the PS3/360 era Capcom title. Remember Me is where Deriviere’s electronic leanings started becoming especially prominent in his sound. On the Streets of Rage 4 soundtrack Deriviere has completely come into his own element, developing a whole new sense of campy playfulness.

Electronic French House music can be a divisive genre. For every Daft Punk commercial success there is a band that ruffles feathers like Justice. I sense a strong presence of late departed French House titan Philippe Zdar of Cassius as well. If you’d played this soundtrack for me out of context, I would have guessed an obscure voguing tape from the 80s or a really talented mysterious DJ set. Instead, this is a sequel to a classic beat em up franchise that left a portion of players disappointed by the game’s four hour playtime. The soundtrack is over an hour and fifty minutes long of high octane House music bliss. Much like the Tetris Effect soundtrack, it is truly impressive how much depth these tracks have when they could have easily been nostalgic recycled beats. Sometimes a game’s soundtrack can offer more post game enjoyment than an actual game.

Notable Track: Chill Or Don’t

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Hylics 2 by Chuck Salamone & Mason Lindroth 

Genres: Experimental Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Hypagogic Pop, Stoner Rock, Jazz-Rock

A soundtrack that comes closest to capturing the experience of hearing the Earthbound or Katamari Damacy soundtracks for the first time. The Hylic indie RPG series is a wonderful and strange beast that is ready to frolic and show its playful side. Hylics is a part of a recent uprising of indie games being developed on the RPG Maker software. 2020 year has left us all with variations of the same stressed out adjectives: Weird. Messed Up. Surreal.

Why not listen to an album from a game that is the perfect embodiment of that surreal mantra? Step away from your computer, draw a bath, and put this album on. Thank me later!

Notable  track: Xeno Arcadia

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Ultrakill: Infinite Hyperdeath (Act I Soundtrack) by Heaven Pierce Her aka game developer Arsi “Hakita” Patala 

Genres: Drum and Bass, Industrial Metal, Ambient, Progressive Metal, Acidcore 

Nothing says “modern indie game development” more than a game built completely from the ground up by one person. Ultrakill’s developer “Hakita” is one of those kindly folkloric DIY figures that make video games such an extensive art form. The game is a painstaking gloriously bloody ode to Dooms of yesteryear but with plenty of its own fine tuned style. The perfect soundtrack for when you’re painting your personal Hell a darker shade of gore, but also would really like to kick your ass into shape if you need an adrenaline boost to your Quarantine blues.

Notable Track: Panic Betrayer 

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Risk of Rain 2 by Chris Christodoulou

Genres: Progressive Rock, Space Rock, Space Ambient,  Post-Rock

Something about the country of Greece brings the best kind of futurism out of the country’s composers. Christodoulou’s Risk of Rain 2 soundtrack is no Bladerunner knock off. This soundtrack for the colorful sci-fi indie rougelike is punchier and less nocturnal than your typical synth-heavy sci-fi soundtrack. Risk of Rain is one of the more successful Kickstarter series around and has the best quality an indie game can have: it feels like a labor of love on all fronts. There’s no reason a rougelike like Rain of Ruin or Hades needs a soundtrack this good, but Christodoulou casts a spell with his electronic-driven prog rock that makes you want to keep respawning. A huge missed opportunity if Christodoulou does not get to soundtrack an earnest sci-fi action-adventure for even big screens. Oh! This soundtrack also features some spoken word segments from Werner Herzog; what more do you need to know?

Notable Track: The Rain Formerly Known As Purple

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Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus by Guillaume David

A big debut project from an up-and-coming composer Guillaume David. Prior to the making of this soundtrack, David was a video game voice actor who worked on a Resident Evil Devil May Cry crossover voicing the character of “Hunk.” Warhammer 40K might become a franchise that more people will care about solely based on the quality of this installment’s soundtrack. When you see the title Warhammer 40,000, what sort of sounds come to mind? If you guessed “Neo gothic cyber Gregorian chants that seamlessly melds the ancient and futuristic”, you would be correct. A turn-based action game could possibly fall into dull territory, but with a visual identity as strong as Warhammer 40K  melded with a suitable musical atmosphere, the action and world becomes irresistible. This soundtrack is a brisk 56 minutes and the other soundtrack on this list with a more conventional runtime. Not a second is wasted on this dynamic and fantastical soundtrack. Prior to hearing this soundtrack I had no intention of ever looking into playing a game based off of something as convoluted as Warhammer 40K, but now I very much want to know what these robot priests are about. That’s the magic of a quality soundtrack.

Notable track: Millenial Rage

/////

Honorable Mentions:

Happy Listening! 

[magpiefngrl]

I posted 807 times in 2022

94 posts created (12%)

713 posts reblogged (88%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@mikkeneko

@veliseraptor

@ohnoyizhan

@lqtraintracks

@bloody-wonder

I tagged 804 of my posts in 2022

#fanart - 178 posts

#drarry - 84 posts

#wangxian - 81 posts

#the untamed - 70 posts

#mo dao zu shi - 49 posts

#to queue or not to queue - 45 posts

#i laughed - 41 posts

#writing - 35 posts

#inbox - 35 posts

#ofmd - 32 posts

Longest Tag: 127 characters

#death of the author is also not 'ignore everything that is actually in the text in favor of what you feel like saying about it'

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

9 1/2 days has updated omg

Photo credit: Andrew Hocking (this is a picture of Kennack Sands, it's a real beach in Cornwall)

Kennack Sands, chapter 7 of my Cornwall fic aka 9 1/2 days, is out. It's only been two years, no big deal lol

It's drarry, rated E, currently sitting at 54k with two more chapters to go. It's a Canon Divergence (or rather Detour, you'll see) from the events of Book 7 with Harry and Draco being stranded together after the escape from Malfoy Manor.

Link to Chapter 7

Link to Chapter 1 if you want to read from the top

My eternal gratitude to @lqtraintracks who has betaed the chapter on short notice and gave me some excellent suggestions. Love u <3

66 notes - Posted June 4, 2022

#4

Hellooo! 💕

Sorry to slide in like this, you absolutely don't have to answer this, I just have no idea how else to grab your attention 😫

Your drarry fic series 'Arthur and the Lust Leaks' is seriously one of my all time favourites, they're just so hilarious! I love the dynamic between Daphne and Draco, Arthur (of course!🐣) and the general concept is just wonderful on its own XD

The concept of magic folk getting "Lust Leaks" when they're extremely horny is actually GENIUS!! Like what, how on earth did you come up with such a clever idea!?!?

My question is how would you feel about others using the concept? So long as you're credited for the inspiration, of course!

Thank you! You're brilliant!!💖

Oh what a lovely ask! I'm so glad you like the concept and thrilled you enjoy the 2 fics! I had a ball writing Daphne and Draco and ofc Arthur is adorable <3

How I came up with the Lust Leaks. When I joined the DTH fest, I'd only published one drarry fic that I'd written non-stop and obsessively over a few weeks; a fic which had poured out of me in a torrent. With The Full Monty I was more deliberate. I had a prompt, which gave me a direction to follow, but I wanted to do more. Now, my favourite author is Astolat and one of the things I love about her work is that she always has some cool magical element in her stories. I'm a fantasy author at heart, and her inventiveness and worldbuilding truly resonates with me. So, with this new drarry fic of mine, I wanted to create a magical element that would be new and interesting and would fit with canon.

I thought of developmental stages for children. How magical kids' magic appears when they're young. I can't remember the exact age it's supposed to happen, but in my mind it was linked to the stage where kids develop ego (around age three) (ego meaning the psychological theory, not selfishness). And then I thought what's another big stage of development (adolescence, lots of hormones) and what happens then? (sexual maturity). And what if, during that tumultuous time of their life, their magic goes haywire too?

I can't remember if I came up with the concept first and used it in the story or if I came up with something embarrassing happening to Draco and decided to dig into that idea and develop it. Either way, it went: idolise astolat-> magic appears when toddlers turn into children -> adolescents have raging hormones and this could affect their magic-> lust leaks when horny.

I wanted to write more in that 'verse myself. Back in spring 2017, I'd started writing a Lust Leaks Hogwarts-era fic inspired by a throwaway line in the fic about Blaise and how everything he touched grew wings and flew. I also began a sequel of the Full Monty with the title Saving Arthur. But I had a few big fests coming up and a birthday fic to write, and they got abandoned.

Finally, to answer your question: If you wish to use the concept in your fanfiction, then I'd be happy for you to do so. The credit would be much appreciated, and perhaps even a link to Full Monty for anyone curious to see the origin? That'd be brilliant.

However, this is only for fanfiction. If you're interested in using the concept for original fiction or any kind of work commercially available, then my answer is no. But I'm assuming you want to write drarry/ HP fic :)

This was a fun trip down memory lane. Thank you for sending the ask, for your very kind compliments, and I hope you enjoy playing with my lil' idea xx

68 notes - Posted December 7, 2022

#3

Happy 10th HP anniversary, LQT!

This month my darling friend, @lqtraintracks, celebrates ten years in the HP fandom.

Ten years omg! 🎊🎊🎊🎊

Ten years of passion and enthusiasm and love for drarry and the HP world; ten years of spreading joy to other fans; ten years of astounding writing (gods, I envy her so!); ten years of invaluable contributions to the community.

Lqt, the fandom is blessed to have you as a member and I feel honoured to call myself your friend. I thank my lucky stars I joined drarry when I did and got to meet you 💖

Here's a few things you should know about Lqt:

1. She's a phenomenal writer. No, I don't use this word lightly. If you haven't yet sampled her work, you're missing out. If I were you, I'd rectify this asap. Lqt's craft is a masterclass of its own: strong sentences, beautiful prose, thoughtful characterisations, scorching sex scenes, lots and lots of feels. Her writing sizzles. She's so quotable too. I can't think of another writer who has such a strong gift to write lines that the whole fandom imprints on and can remember years later. For instance: "I've fucked you in that shirt." I'm still losing my fkn mind over this line. Mention Blood and Fire, one of Lqt's masterpieces, to a reader and they'll immediately go "omg I've fucked you in that shirt!!!!!!"

2. She's a supporter of queer and trans rights in true Gryffindor spirit. Passionate and tireless, Lqt actively tries to make fandom a more inclusive, safe and welcoming space for everyone. She's an example to emulate.

3. She's a fierce, generous friend. I don't know what I've done to deserve her, but her generosity and kindness and support seem never ending. She's been there for me, esp during a tough period last year, and has listened to me vent when I felt like getting things off my chest; she's given me advice when I asked for it; and has been a relentless cheerleader when I needed a boost. She's the kind of friend who reads my fics even when they're in fandoms she's not familiar with. She might know nothing about wangxian but she will read my fics and she will comment with some lovely praise, and--I don't know if I ever told you, @lqtraintracks, but that floors me every single time. That you read and comment on my wangxian/hualian/non-HP fics. I'm a bit choked up about it, ngl

Right. *wipes tears* Recs!

My first LQT fic was Entropy to Ecstasy (drarry/ 4k/ E), a stellar example of second person POV and, er, rimming. Is this the most delicious combination or what? The longing in this fic is tangible; the UST through the roof. I adored it and still do; what a marvellous introduction to a great writer.

My latest LQT fic was Heart Like Neon (drarry/ 41k/ E) and it was one of the highlights of 2021. It's got enemies to lovers and hate sex and UST to-die-for but also excellent new magic (the Reaching! how amazing and such a Harry magic!), a large cast handled deftly, and a fantastic relationship progression. And again: so many wonderful quotes! "Being good… it’s not just one choice. It’s a thousand different choices. And that’s just one day." How do you do it, LQT????

But the fic that has carved itself in my heart is Blood and Fire (drarry/ 45k/ E). (The banner above is a realistic depiction of the state of my mind and body while reading the fic.) It's a story of second chances; of regret and mistakes; of making amends; of forgiveness. It's got agonising pining and excruciating longing; palpable tension and hot hot hot hot sex. It includes the most emotional hug of all times. It's a fic that makes me feel like "a bundle of kindling who invited fire over for dinner". (see what I told you about the quotes? She's fkn killing it!) It's a drarry classic (yes, I went there) and it's a fic that I will never, ever forget. For me, this story is up there with Donna Tartt and CS Pacat.

LQT, happy anniversary!!! May you enjoy another 10, 20, or more years in fandom! I'm so happy to know you 💖

79 notes - Posted January 14, 2022

#2

I started watching Avatar The Last Airbender (just season 1 so far) and had a look at the wikis. Can't tell you how shocked I am that the show isn't Katara x Zuko endgame. Shocked I tell you!

83 notes - Posted March 24, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

9 1/2 days is complete!

I think it's pretty obvious from the graphic that I began this fic a loooong time ago, back when we used to create collages for our fic posts :DD Trends have changed, people post some gorgeous banners these days, but this collage waited patiently for literal years for me to get my act together and finish writing, so there was no way I'd use anything else. Old school graphic it is.

******

Fic Title: 9 1/2 days

Warning: Author Chose Not to Use Warnings

Rating: Explicit

Length: 69.6k

Summary:

After the events at the Manor, Harry and Draco find themselves stranded in the countryside with a broken wand and Death Eaters on their tail. This is the story of an uneasy truce, featuring faerie forests, seaside caves, Romani camps, kind old ladies, and a shared bed in an attic.

Or how two boys fell in love in the midst of a bloody coup.

******

Thank you to the fabulous @lqtraintracks for her thoughtful suggestions in these last two chapters. The story is much better as a result. <33

Links to new chapters: 9, 10.

Read from the start

ETA: I've got some free time today and tomorrow so if anyone wants to send asks about the fic and its progress through the years, if you have any questions as to what hindered me, what spurred me on, or about what inspired me; or whatever: send me an ask! It's such a huge weight off my shoulders and I feel I need to get a lot out of my chest.

105 notes - Posted June 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[what-big-teeth]

Admire (Male Naga ; Fic Raffle)

And done! @glugenash​ requested a meet-cute between a male reader and a naga of any gender. I decided to go with a male naga and let my imagination take hold to make this wonderful idea even cuter. I hope you all enjoy this fic! Male Reader (POV) x Male Monster If there’s one place you can truly relax while curling up with a good book, it’s the library.

Ever since you moved into town for a better job opportunity, you attempted to combat the new stressors that turned up as a result. Exercise, meditation, doing the bare minimum on the weekends. Nothing could compare to the public library and its innate charm. This is why you’re seated at your favorite table.

Tucked into one of the historical building’s many corners beside a large window, there’s always just enough sunlight to happily bask in and use while reading. These simple reasons—and the woodsy, vanillin scent of the surrounding book collection—are why you’ve decided to revisit an old series. Something about embracing a nostalgic memory at your table alleviates your pent-up stress like nothing else.

Which is why the sensation of being watched feels so foreign.

You’ve attempted to look around as discreetly as possible. But your eyes haven’t encountered anything out of the ordinary. Just the usual, book-lined shelves and wooden lectern holding an old, massive dictionary.

Still, you can’t fully shake the feeling. Your gut has rarely led you astray, which is why you keep glancing around. After a fleeting moment, you think you see a dark shape shrink away behind a nearby shelf. You stand up, intent on finding out who your odd observer is. But an insistent buzzing from your jeans pocket breaks your focus. Knowing that your library hasn’t made the full transition to a ‘loud facility’ yet, you step away from your spot, leaving your book behind to take the call outside.

Unsurprisingly, it’s work. Or rather, your boss. One of your co-workers has taken ill suddenly, and he needs you to fill in for her shift until he recovers. There’ll be extra pay as compensation, which helps to sweeten the deal. But when your boss mentions the project your co-worker has been toiling over for the last few weeks, you silently wince. You honestly would rather not take on the extra work, but the extra money would really help.

Your boss says your name in a questioning manner. Looks like you accidentally zoned out.

“Sure thing,” you say with a forced, cheerful tone. You can already feel the mounting stress that’ll have you on edge. With a final, merry “thanks!” and farewell, the call ends. This new development calls for some extra self-care.

You head back inside the library, making your way over to the built-in cafe. It’s a welcomed new addition, especially since they make some of the best, homebrew tea and pastries you’ve ever had. With your cup of honeyed chamomile and warmed confection in hand, you return to your sunshine laden table.

Your book is in its usual spot, but it’s been closed with a tasseled bookmark keeping track of your place. You didn’t pick up one while greeting Jason at the circulation desk. After mentally marking which page you left off on, you untuck it from between the pages. The design is, well, it’s amazing. Hand drawn swirls of complimentary colors balance each other out while being lined with careful, fine-tipped black lines. And the tassel is uniquely soft to the touch, the threads feeling similar to silk. You’re so drawn to the workmanship of the bookmark that you almost overlook the neatly folded piece of paper on the table.

The Farandale Chronicles is one of my favorite series. If you’d like to read something similar, I’d like to suggest the Crystal of Might series, written by Malkus Morak.  — D

You re-read the note a few times. But no matter how much you attempt to place the neat handwriting, you can’t. There isn’t anything untoward about the suggestion, honestly. And the bookmark is an unexpected, if creative gift. Decision made, you replace the bookmark and head over to the Science Fiction section.

It doesn’t take long to find the suggested book and read the blurb on the jacket’s interior. You can’t deny that it sounds like something right up your alley. Even better, there are three more books in the series.

“Think I will try this out,” you mutter to yourself. “Thanks for the suggestion, D.”

You bundle the new book together with your old favorite, being cautious of your food, and fall in line before the circulation desk. It doesn’t take long for you to reach the front and greet the tawny, curly-haired minotaur behind the counter with a smile.

“How are things going, Jason?” He nods in reply, stalwart as ever as he carefully checks both books for possible damage before checking them out to you.

“Three weeks, as usual,” he murmurs with a deep voice. He gestures to the new book you’ve decided to read. “Should I put the sequel on hold for you?”

“That’d be great!”

After nimbly using the keyboard to complete your request, he hands both books to you with a gentle puff of air.

“Anything else I can help you with?”

Wetting your lips, you tug the handwritten note from between the cover and first page of Morak’s book.

“Would you happen to know whose handwriting this is?”

Jason gently takes the note from you, his warm brown eyes scanning the contents. With a small cough, he hands it back to you.

“Sorry, I don’t. But I’m glad they wrote on a slip of paper instead of damaging the book.”

You can’t help but chuckle. Ever since you met him, Jason’s always been a stickler for the rules when it comes to the library. Quiet yet firm. You pocket the note, being careful to not crease it any further.

“That’s fine,” you say. “It was worth a shot, anyway.”

“Be sure to finish your food while on site,” he says. “The Director is still leery about folks taking off with the cafe’s food.”

“Don’t worry,” you say, smiling. “There’s a bench outside that called to me when I stepped out earlier. Take care.”

As you leave with your new reading materials and food, you can’t stop the thrill of excitement that wells up inside you. Besides being a place of reprieve, you beloved library has provided an interesting mystery as well. And it’s one you intend to solve.

_______________________________________________

Like clockwork, you return the same day next week. Thankfully, your boss was kind enough to give you the weekend off after you took on your duties and that of your sick co-worker. It gives you just enough time to destress at the library. This time, you make a beeline for the cafe, ordering some calming tea and a new, but delectable looking pastry. Jason greets you at the circulation desk and checks out Molak’s second book to you. Once you’ve checked that your usual spot hasn’t been taken, you swiftly lay claim with your purchased items and settle in your seat.

After drinking your tea and eating your pastry, you find yourself feeling better. You open the hardback’s cover, highly interested in seeing what’ll happen to the protagonists next. But two slips of paper flutter out from the book, like before. The material is thicker this time around, similar to reinforced sketchbook paper. Your eyes widen as you realize why.

The subject of the drawing is someone you know too well. It’s you. The sketch depicts a past you sitting where you are now, looking content with a soft smile on your face as you read. Little details jump out as you take in the entirety of the work. The slight dents on the side of the old table you graze your hand over time and time again. The way you hold a book that you find immensely but surprisingly pleasing. The almost starstruck expression lighting up your features as you leave this world for another while reading…

Underneath, in familiar elegant writing, the caption reads ‘Entranced Beauty’. Heat wells up within your cheeks as you read the words over and over again. Your fingertip glides against the lettering as you pick up the other slip of paper from the carpeted floor.

There have been many times I’ve wanted to tell you how wonderful you look when you’re lost in your own world. But I’m afraid that, verbally, words fail me. At least this skill of mine can say more than what I could ever hope. For a while now, I’ve hoped I could be invited to come along with you as another book takes hold of your imagination. But I refuse to think that such lofty hopes can be achieved, considering what I am. I’m merely glad that my suggestion was pleasing to you, and I hope I can continue to provide doors for you to walk through when you need a break from this world.  — D

Your heart pounds loudly inside your chest and head as the heat in your cheeks spread throughout your whole body. All you can think about is discovering who your admirer is and meeting them face to face. After all, someone who can write and such sweet thoughts and draw so beautifully can’t be as bad as they think. With this thought as encouragement, you find Molak’s collection and take the third book of his series from the shelf. You wait in line behind a couple, a gorgon and gargoyle, as Jason helps them with their items. Once they’re taken care of, you step up to the circulation desk and set the book down.

“Find everything you were looking for?” he asks.

You’re tempted to say ‘yes’, but stop short.

“No,” you say. “I...I need your help.”

You show Jason the sketch and note, asking once again if he happens to know anything. After all, the note and sketch had to be put in place before you checked out the second book. And all holds are reserved behind the circulation desk for all patrons.

A strange silence falls between the two of you. It’s broken by Jason coughing into his closed fist as he averts his gaze.

“You do know something, don’t you?” you murmur.Jason glances your way before letting his eyes drop to the computer screen in front of him.

“I get it.” You pause to reign in your voice, surprised at the sudden loudness of it. “I understand you’re trying to protect D, especially because they feel like they can’t face me. But you know me, Jason. I won’t hurt them. I just want to meet them and tell them my appreciation.”

Once more, you bring out the sketch and place it on the circulation desk before you. “Please, help me.”

Jason’s gaze finds the sketch and settles on it. He finally lets out a soft huff of air then rubs the back of his neck with his hand.

“I didn’t realize how deeply D fell for you,” he says. “I thought it was just a crush. Alright. I’ll help you out. Not only do you deserve a happy ending, but so does D. Just...be gentle with him, alright? He’s been through a lot.”

“I will,” you say, letting your words carry your promise. “Thank you, Jason.”

“Don’t thank me just yet,” he mutters. “Gonna have to see how this goes, first. Alright, D always comes like clockwork on Wednesday evenings...”

You take Jason at his word and return to the library at the time and day he suggested. Sure, it involved rearranging your work schedule somewhat, but your now-well co-worker was more than happy to return the favor you showed her. Probably helps that she’s somewhat of a romantic and readily agreed after you explained the situation to her.With careful steps, you make your way towards your usual spot. The last few rays of the setting sun fall onto the table and the naga sitting at it.

The quiet breath you’re taking in stalls at the sight.

With rich, golden brown skin, you can’t help but wonder why D would think himself unattractive. More so thanks to his jet black hair, which is pulled back into a bun, and his matching scales. Even the slight creme of his underbelly, which you can barely make out due to his button-down shirt, is charming. Remembering Jason’s advice, you carefully approach the table as he remains lost in a book held in his clawed hands. It’s the third book in Molak’s fantasy series. You can’t help but smile at the realization.

“Excuse me,” you say.

D startles, tensing at your soft voice. His pupils dilate somewhat in reply as he looks at you. With him looking head on at you, you notice the scaled skin on the sides of his neck. A hood, like that of a cobra. He looks close to bolting right then and there, but you gently press on.

“By chance, are you D?”

D gulps down a few breaths of air.

“N-no, I’m…”

Your body intuitively moves, laying a gentle hand on his upper arm in what you hope is a soothing gesture.

“I want the same thing,” you say. “I want to let you into my world so that we can make one of our own. Together.”

The scaled hood at his neck flares somewhat, but you don’t feel any fear. If anything, you’re entranced. How can such a charming, handsome naga think he’s anything less? After a few tense moments, D finally relaxes then nods.

“I...I am D.”

He meets your gaze, and you almost feel yourself fall into the molten gold of his eyes.

“I didn’t want you to know because not too many people want anything to do with me. My lineage is from a King Cobra clan, which makes me venomous. And that tends to make others uncomfortable. I-I didn’t want you to feel the same, but I couldn’t hide how I felt about you after I first saw you a few months ago. Jason thought...he suggested I could let you know anonymously and I agreed. I thought that would be best. I’m just surprised you’d want to seek me out.”

You can’t help but smile while gently gripping D’s upper arm.

“You left me with an amazing mystery to solve. And as much as you want to know me, I found myself wanting to know the person behind the ‘D’ moniker. I still do, if that’s alright with you.”

D gives you a soft smile in return, which reveals a hint of his sharp fangs. They’re rather cute, just like the rest of him. He stands up and extends a hand towards you.

“Then, let me officially introduce myself. I’m Danilo.”

You take his hand and shake it while giving him your name. When he attempts to pull his hand away, you gently squeeze it. Danilo’s breath catches as you maneuver your fingers so they twine with his.

“B-by chance,” he nearly squeaks out, “do you like Filipino food? I know a place that serves dishes similar to what I grew up with back home.”

“I haven’t had it before,” you say, “but I’m excited to try it out. I hope you don’t mind acting as my culinary tour guide.”

Danilo gives you another soft smile as he huffs out a laugh.

“Not at all.”

You both head towards the circulation desk, where you see Jason positively beaming at the two of you. As Danilo tells you about his work as a graphic designer and animator, you find yourself hanging on his every word. As he hands Jason the third and final book of the trilogy, you smile.

You can’t wait to see what else you both have in common.

[blysse-and-blunder]

in lieu of a commonplace book

5pm, sunday, april 18, 2021

somethin...somethin....passage of time, accelerating, ???, something

reading finished n.k. jemison’s the city we became! in the end, i did really enjoy this one, but... it is all character and atmosphere and flavor. which i guess makes sense now that i know there are going to be sequels? like, the plot that does happen is mostly in tense conversations, or flashes of people using their powers as a result of tense / emotional conversations, and... the suspense build *was* sweet, but it was all in service of the concept. don’t get me wrong, the concept was awesome, and the details, all the thought that went into generating these rich characters! but you could tell that that was where most of the attention was-- the characters, their dialogue, and the sensory descriptions. i ate it up, it’s written with a lot of little stylistic things that feel very fresh and fun, like fic almost in their informality and familiarity-- it felt like an energy drink after a lot of fruit juice or something. it did sweep me up in vicarious nyc love, but also, i hope the sequels are a little less about painting word pictures and people’s feelings (am i really saying that??), or at least, that they do it in a less self-consciously showy way.

listening spent some time today catching up on taz: graduation while sorting through documents and starting my taxes (sigh); spent a loooot of time this week with my grading/2021 playlist on repeat; this is instrumental and vaguely folk/celtic-y, but also, is so exciting and such a bop, i can’t recommend it enough for the kind of starts-chill-but-gets-progressively-more-thrilling, energetic in a way that makes me feel like I’m making some kind of progress, dance-energy: montreal by Talisk. just get a load of the drop at 2:02ish

watching started wandavision on thursday night with celeste, mainly as a social thing bc i don’t watch a lot of tv these days unless it can double as a virtual friend-hangout, but whoops i was really entertained? by the knowing homage to the 50s sitcom, the stupid jokes and winky nods that were awful but also so *true*, and i laughed way harder than necessary at the line ‘...i wore a turtleneck’ in answer to an accusation about someone’s flagrant display of beatnik enthusiasm. so unfortunately i am definitely going to finish this show, i watched the first five eps with G and M on saturday night and we were all super into it, and god dammit marvel i hate that i now care about these characters but i guess? i do? or i do while the episodes are playing, which is what counts probably

playing couple rounds of bananagrams on saturday, D&D on sunday, good for the soul

making i’m going through a real gluing-broken-shit-back-together couple of months, it feels like-- having finally purchased the dang glue, i am now catching up on broken things. fixed a couple of fragmentary mugs, this time, and while they may never hold tea again, i’m pleased they’re not in pieces any longer