#found myself thinking 'oh! there's some chemistry happening'...

[maybe-boys-do-love]

Watching Gemini and Arm flirt with one another on Arm Share was not on my to-do list today, but I'm not mad about it.

[justkending]

Mr. & Mrs. Hunt (Chapter 3/7)

Mini-Series Summary: Two of the most stubborn people in the group partnered together for an undercover mission are also the two people with the most hatred for each other, so what could go wrong? Or is it, what COULDN’T go wrong?…

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger Reader

Word Count: 2100+

A/N Note: I was typing away for the next chapter to come, so chapter 4 will be posted tomorrow (it will also be longer too)! Thank you again for all the support and love you've shown me for this series :) Love all you guys!

_________________

Bucky’s POV:

Why’d I think she’d be able to handle an adult conversation as soon as I started getting serious? When will I fucking learn?

I waited until Y/N shut her door before I went back out to the living room. She drove me insane, but I decided to keep up the habit of staying up late for her. 

During one of her drunken nights at one of Tony’s galas, she had revealed that she preferred sleeping when someone else was awake. In exposing her reason why, it made me sympathize with her trauma. 

“It’s like having a night watch. If someone else is aware, I can put my guard down. Not that that even happens often enough, but oh well,” Y/N drunkenly swayed the side of her silk dress from left to right as she watched the people on the dancefloor.

I knew the feeling of never being able to fully settle into sleep or relaxation because you’d seen all the horrors in the world. We knew what lurked out there and the consequences of someone getting the jump on you.

So, from the first night here, I would stay up in the living room until midnight, sometimes later. Like clockwork, soon after 11 pm, she’d startle awake from a nightmare. I could hear her breathing and heart rate thanks to my enhancements, and I may or may not have channeled them into her room, given the nightmares she’d had in the past. 

So far, there were none so bad to the point I had to go in and check on her, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tuned in to her room and checking every night in case the tides turned. 

Even on the nights she frustrated me like tonight and made me reconsider why I was about to talk to her about… this. This chemistry that was starting to feel closer to real than fake. A feeling I can’t seem to shake, and now I’m wondering if I’m imagining it. Especially when she can’t seem to turn off her annoyance for me even when I think we finally have met in the middle to some extent.

Then again, I lead on that I don’t understand her when it’s quite the opposite. Her story is not far from most of the people who are recruited into our team. A form of a hostage situation where her choices were taken, and she was conditioned to serve some sadistic asshole until she was freed by her own doing. At least her own variation of that… Anyone coming from that kind of situation tends to bond easily over the trauma. 

Not Y/N though…

I never start by being rude to someone. I mean, I’ve been told I’m intimidating and can come off as a terrifying giant assassin, but people in the same field who have seen far worse don’t tend to take that personally, considering almost everyone I work with knows my backstory and the reason behind my resting-assassin-face. 

But Y/N, for some reason, was very standoffish with me from the get-go. For the first few months of us knowing each other, she ignored me, left the room when I came in, found an excuse for another partner on missions, and a list of other things that quickly made me believe she wanted nothing to do with me. 

I may have reciprocated her behavior here and there, growing her annoyance with me even though I didn’t know where the annoyance had begun. I couldn’t help it, given the nasty looks and pure irritation that steamed off her when she looked my way.

I think the sentiment behind her feelings towards me still stands. But then her comment tonight, “I don’t hate you,” got to me.

I threw the laptop I had tried to use to distract myself again to the side. The TV was on, but all I heard was the patterned thumping in my chest starting to grow. 

“No. I want to know fucking why,” I grumbled, standing up abruptly and stomping down the hall to the master bedroom.

The door was shut, and from how she looked, she may have already tucked into bed for the night, but oh well. We were going to talk this out. I couldn’t go another day trying to decipher these feelings and confusions. 

I heard a “Jesus!” from the other side after my metal arm rapped three strong knocks in the center of the light sage-colored door. I banged again when I didn’t hear movement to follow up with it. 

“Calm down, Paul Bunyan! No need to chop the damn door down. I was seconds from sleep,” she groaned before the door flung open, and she squinted up at me with the hall light bringing brightness to her near pitch-dark room. “What? What is it?” Before I could start my sentence, she tensed and looked around me vigilantly. “Shit. Did something happen?” 

I shook my head quickly and instantly saw her shoulders go back and the grogginess return. 

“I want to talk.” 

She screwed her eyebrows up at me. “Dude. Seriously?” 

“Seriously, dude,” I replied sarcastically, pushing past her into her room, turning on the light, and hearing a protest I was too annoyed to listen to.

“It can’t wait until fucking morning when my brain isn’t at 2%?” she crossed her arms, watching me from the doorway. 

“Be real. Your brain doesn’t go below 75% even when you’re sleeping,” I answered, knowing the reality of never being able to shut off fully. Being constantly aware and on the edge of your seat, ready to pounce. 

She eyed me since it wasn’t a diss, and I could see her debating whether or not it was a compliment. 

“What do you-” 

“You say you don’t hate me, but it sure as fuck doesn’t feel like it. From day one, it has felt the very opposite of that,” I cut her off with a harsh laugh at the end, getting right to the chase. 

I’m standing at the end of her bed, arms crossed, and keeping an intense stare on her. Her stance straightens, and she shuffles her weight on her feet, arms mimicking mine. 

“I thought you didn’t want to talk about it,” she said in a guarded tone. “What changed?” 

“I can’t go on with this if I don’t know,” I answered honestly, motioning between us. 

“I argue you have to go on with this either way,” she popped a hip, leaning against the threshold of the door frame. 

“Y/N,” I level my eyes at her, and I can see her take in the seriousness in my features. “Just tell me why.” 

She looks at me with a tilt of her head as if considering her options in how she wants to approach this conversation. 

“We just don’t- mesh well…” she says slowly as if trying to sell it, but even she knew she was lying out of her ass. 

“Bullshit. Try again,” I shook my head once and kept my eyes trained on her. 

“Bullshit? You wanted to know-”

“I wanted to know the truth. You’re selling bullshit, and not very well, might I add. Be honest. Now.” 

She huffed a laugh before blinking at me. 

“We’re the same ranking if you’ve forgotten. Therefore, I won’t be taking commands from you, especially with that tone. But since you’re so hellbent on knowing my reasoning, maybe consider how you talk to me.” She took three slow steps closer to me as she spoke. “So ask me again without being a military servant, and maybe I’ll consider staying civil with you.” 

She is one of a very select few kinds of people actually able to intimidate me. Her story was one to compete against mine. Though not many knew all the details since she was adamant about people being in the dark about it, we all knew what she was capable of. Her enhancements, although similar to mine, were not nearly as strong in most aspects. However, that didn’t deter her from being able to take a man quadruple my size down and keep them there.

I knew enough about her brain to know that it was one of the sharpest ones I had come across in my time. Everyone on the team had enough experience in this life to be able to manipulate a lot of situations, but Y/N was the queen of manipulating a situation to work out better for her and her team. It was like she was five steps ahead constantly, and it could be intimidating at times- not going to lie. A strategy someone in our field would think they had down until they saw her ridiculous efficiency at work. Hence, why she was her own kind of weapon for our team.

I give a single nod in acknowledgment, knowing my intensity would be matched and not work in my favor. 

“You say you don’t hate me, and after these few weeks, I’m starting to believe you somewhat. However, our history keeps me from following that hope,” I answer. 

She seems to take something from my confession and lock it in her mind for later use. 

“Our history is complicated,” she replies, looking me up and down subtly and then moving to the side of the bed where the sheets were disturbed. 

I now notice the detail that only one side of the bed was disrupted while the other stayed perfectly made. My own detail to lock away for later. 

“But why? Who said it had to start like that?” My hands go up. She gives me a look like I should know the answer to that and I raise my eyebrows. “You think I’m to blame for our bickering and aimless fights?”

She scoffs, “I wouldn’t say aimless. There are definitely targets to be hit.” 

“Cut the shit.” 

“No shit to cut,” she counters quickly, sitting on the edge of the bed with one leg under her and shrugging. 

“I’m trying to have an adult conversation, and you’re acting like an angsty teenager.” I deadpan, attempting to keep the twitch in my eye at bay.

“And you’re acting like a crotchety old man who demands my respect,” she shouts back. “Ever think maybe that could be the reasoning behind our never-ending feuds?” 

“How could I? You don’t talk to me unless you're dissing me, fighting me, or attempting to make me look bad,” I give a large fake smile. 

“Take a fucking hint then, Grandpa,” she enunciates her curse. 

So I do. I backtrack our conversation and come to a conclusion. Maybe it's not an accurate one, but it's an idea nonetheless. 

“You think I demand respect from you? When have I ever told you that you have to have respect for me?” I asked, more confused than angry now- but definitely not low in anger either.

She stares at me, contemplating her answer. 

“Maybe we shouldn’t get into this,” she waves between us minutely, diverting her eyes to the bathroom door on the wall to the left.

“I won’t be able to sleep tonight if-”

“Not much different than most nights. Welcome to the crew,” she huffed, shifting to adjust her blankets over her in an irritated mood. 

“Why are you so against talking this out?” I growl, forgetting all sense of mental clarity and stomping to her side of the bed, aggressively throwing her blankets off her. “Stop trying to go to bed and talk to me like an adult.”

“An adult?” She takes in a high-pitched breath and stands straight in front of me. “You’re the one who just threw my blankets off like a toddler throwing a tantrum because he didn’t get a cookie after dinner! Sorry to break it to you.” Her finger jabbed into my chest. “But I owe you nothing, Barnes! I owe no explanation. I owe no respect. I owe no reason for how I choose to act around you.” 

I was pissed. Royally pissed, and yet… I couldn’t seem to see past the pure sadness in her eyes. The actual pain that she tried so hard to hide, but in her state- the state I had put her in- she was losing the battle. She was losing it and yet not breaking her eyes from mine, knowing I could see it.

My intensity shriveled slowly as seconds passed, and she didn’t try to fight the tremble on her lip. 

“What did I do?” I asked softly, my hands instinctively coming to her arms, but the touch made her break the eye contact and turn fast, making my hands drop. “Y/N, what did I do?” 

And I meant it. What had I done, and how could I change it?

Marvel Tags:

@thejourneyneverendsx​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @death-unbecomes-you @mythos-writes​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​  @srrymydood​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @xa-dia​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @redhairedfeistynerd​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @morganclaire4​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @connie326​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @captain-asguard​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @mollygetssherlockcoffee​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @teenagedreams-bucky @shower-me-with-roses​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @livstilinski @basicallylool​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @starryeyeseunbyul​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

My Lovelies Forever:

@natura1phenomenon​ @lauravicente​ @kakakatey​ @traceyaudette​ @notyourtypicalrose​ @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce​ @sandlee44​ @thorne93​ @thefaithfulwriter1​ @essie1876​ @greyeyedsmile14​ @capsiclehan​  @xostephanie​ @averyrogers83​ @awesomenursingstudent​ @gh0stgurl​ @cs-please​ @jjlevin​ @rainbowkisses31​ @deannotmoose​ @their-bibliophile​ @kitkatd7​ @willowbleedsonpaper​ @mariaenchanted​ @snffbeebee​ @couldabeenamermaid​ @rebekahdawkins​​ @alyispunk​​ @billyseye @hallecarey1​​

Bucky Barnes Tags:

@chloe-skywalker​ @charmedbysarge​ @jbarness​ @bellamy-barnes​ @katiaw2​ @aikeia​ @stopjustlovethemcu​ @enchantedbarnes

Mr. & Mrs. Hunt Series:

@jackiehollanderr @mrs-bucky-barnes-73 @theroyalmanatee @wintrsoldrluvr @alexakeyloveloki @learisa @bxckybxrnes24 @lillianacristina @selella @heletsmelovehim

[metalomagnetic]

Hey Metalo- the It runs series is currently 470,893 words all together; when you started writing the story, did you expect for it to become this long? Was the plot fully thought out in your head, or did it change and expand considerably? And how did the idea even come to you??!!?

Oh, not by far! I thought It run would have around 100K words, at best!

My problem is that I never outline. I always know the beginning, the end, and some major plot points to connect the two, but that's it.

It runs became so huge, because, as I wrote, I started falling in love with the characters. Or just found myself needing to flesh them out. So, in my head, I knew Marlene exists and she'll be with Sirius and Bella would kill her, I knew that from the get go- but, as I started writing, from chapter to chapter, I liked Marlene more and more, and then I thought- wait, Sirius needs to be very close to her (and so does the reader) for her death to mean something. And there you go- 50k just on Marlene! And same goes for Peter, Rabastan, Rodolphus etc.

Other plot points evolved naturally, and then I had to shift my initial ideas to incorporate them. For example, I really thought Sirius choosing to abandon the Order would go differently- I had another vague plan in mind, which I kept until literally two chapter before I decided on a different path.

And most of Voldemort/Sirius scenes come to me when I sit down to write a chapter- almost none were planned beforehand. I just get an idea and think 'oh, this would be fun for Sirius and Voldemort' and then I go to write it, but some need set up, so I build a set up, and there you go, another 20k out of nowhere.

The werewolf wedding almost didn't happen. The chapter was ready to publish, when I was speaking with a friend about werewolves in HP, and a possible Greyback/Voldemort, and then I thought- you know what, It runs could have some werewolves in it, it would make the world feel more real. Hmm, how to incorporate them? Oh, what if Voldemort drags Sirius to a pack event and Sirius shifts into Padfoot? That would be funny. So then I wrote it, found ways to incorporate it, and that was that. (It was pretty much the same with the vampires. Last minute decisions). Only both these scenes then spiralled into other scenes, and so forth.

As for how the idea for It runs even came to me- Sirius was always my favourite character, but I gave up on him in fandom. He's still my favourite though, along with the Black family. So I really wanted to write him and explore his relationship with family, but then I didn't know who to pair him with. Remus is out of the question for me, James would make it completely AU (and I do like a general air of canon compliance) so I really didn't know who would fit with him. Why not Voldemort, I thought, my other favourite character, who I was already comfortable writing? And then I wrote the sex scene, just to try it out, see if they have chemistry. And oh, they did! (The sex scene in Norway was the first ever scene I wrote for It runs). After that, I started thinking about a general plot, and that was that. (Fun fact, it took me like 300k words to reach the sex scene in Norway, once I started writing the story😂)

Anyway, I didn't mean for this answer to be so long- you see my problem and tendency to say too much? That explains my novel length chapters.

[yn-honeybun]

Drooling over you~

Max Thunderman x black!reader

A lil something something of where you wear a bodycon (tight fitting) dress to a double date with Phoebe and Link, and Max goes a little wild 🤭

Warning ⚠️: A tiny bit NSFW, cursing, suggestive🩷

Word Count: 636

Today you and Max had a double date with Phoebe and Link. Yet unfortunately you had forgotten to unload your washer last night and put your clothes in the dryer so now all your clothes were wet. Luckily none of them were ruined. You couldn’t go on the date in your pajamas and bonnet so you go looking through your closet and drawers. You found a dress that was a bit too small but it’s all you had and since you only had 15 minutes to be at the date; you hurried up and got ready. After some time you were all done getting ready and took one last look in the mirror and left for the date.

You showed up to Splat Burger with only a minute to spare. You rushed to the front doors and calmed yourself down. You looked around and found where Phoebe and Link were sitting.

“Hey guys!” You greeted them

“Hey girl! How are y-” Your bestie gasped, “oh my god”

“What?! What happened?”

“You look amazing in that dress”

“Really? It was laundry day yesterday, and I forgot to dry my clothes. This was the only think left in my closet,” you said looking around for Max.

"Yeah your skin looks like it's glowing. I have to admit I'm a little jealous. Wish I looked that good in tight clothes, I always end up looking too skinny," Phoebe admitted.

“Babe you beautiful no matter what you wear" Link said rubbing Pheobe's shoulder, "Oh Max is in the restroom. He said he was gonna be right back," Link notified you.

"Oh great, guess I'll just sit down-"

"Hey babe!" A familiar voice spoke up.

You turned to face your devilishly handsome boyfriend.

"Hey yourself" you quipped giving him a peck on the cheek

You sat down in the booth and Max followed suit

"Let's get this double date on a roll," Phoebe exclaimed

The date went well with so much laughter and banter, everyone almost forgot the time until the lights started to flicker. "Splat Burger is closing- GET OUT... NOW"

"Guess that means it's time for this date to end," Link said getting up from the table

The four of you walked outside and said your goodbyes to one another.

"Bye you guys, I had a good time, we'll have to this some other time again! Oh, let me know what time you wanted to head to the library tomorrow so we can study for chemistry," you said giving Phoebe a hug.

"I'm thinking 1pm so that way we can get plenty of studying time," She said pulling away

"Got it, and then after we can get a sweet treat. I'm craving some sugar,"

"Sounds like a plan! Hey Max do you need a ride home? I'm driving Link home first just so you know," she offered.

"Nah, I'm gonna stay and spend a little alone time with my girl," Max responded wrapping his arms around you from behind.

"Why'd I bother asking," She said rolling her eyes, "Come on Link,"

You waved the couple goodbye as you watched the car pull off and drive away. Once the car was out of sight, you felt a pair of hands run up and down your body. They settled on your hips.

"Max" You called out

"Yes, my dear?" He teased

"What are you doing?"

"You look so good in that dress, I can't help myself. I mean your ass is almost ripping the fabric apart, it's so big. You expect me to not feel some type of way when you look this divine," your boyfriend purred out. He sounded as if he was feening for you, craving your taste.

"Okay let's get home so we can do something about this dress," You offered, "Maybe you can actually rip it off me?"

🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤❤️‍🔥🖤

Let me know if you have any requests or prompts I should write💖 Muah 💋

[sciderman]

I swear I have read your big post regarding Peter Parker's neurodivergence and why it is best to avoid labelling him, but he definitely has a weird brain

Can't find it and feel kinda sad about it cuz I deeply related to it

i know exactly which post you're talking about and i can't find it either! i've raked through my archive, and it's just - nowhere to be seen. i think tumblr eated it (it happens.)

really, tumblr's search functionality is so so useless, i don't know what to tell you. there are plenty of keywords i can search to find it that post, but the search functionality actually just does not work!

undiagnosed audhd-addled peter parker, my darling, my light, my life, my everything.

i think peter parker's such an interesting creature to write, because a lot of people will point to a certain behaviour about him and say "this is an autistic thing, right?" but a lot of those behaviours are actually, in my head, tied to certain traumas in peter's life too.

people say "oh, the food thing, peter's a picky eater because he's autistic" and yes, absolutely. but also it's tied to his trauma with his parents.

peter gets overstimulated, and yes, it's an autism thing, but also he was bitten by a radioactive spider and his senses are dialled to 11.

it's a similar case i've found for myself, too – where a lot of friends i have kind of diagnose me because i have autistic traits, but actually - i'm hesitant to claim the label or pursue diagnosis because, actually, i know where these certain behaviours come from, and they come from certain traumas. there are events i can pinpoint in my life and say "yep. that's where this behaviour comes from."

so - i think there's a lot of overlap between trauma and autistic traits. the brain is very complex! i think the reason for that overlap is maybe as simple as the fact that people with autism and people with trauma are both doing the same thing - developing behaviours to protect themselves or soothe themselves. so - i think it's nice to be able to see a character like peter parker, who may or may not be autistic, but recognise behaviours in him and see yourself in him.

people who go undiagnosed for whatever reason - people who are really good at masking - so good, in fact, that they have no idea they might be on the spectrum - everyone and anyone at all can look at peter parker and recognise themselves. because i think we discredit the thought that every single brain does the same thing! develops certain behaviours in order to survive. every brain has that same software - we've just all been faced with different hardships that we need to overcome, and that's were all the differences come in.

autism is a spectrum, i guess - everyone falls into it to some degree. and i think events in your life probably push you along on it. but i don't know, i didn't study brain science. probably what i'm saying is very stupid and uninformed. of course there's brain chemistry involved. but i know people in my life living with autism and certain events in their life have exacerbated certain behaviours or made coping with it a lot more difficult. so maybe trauma is a catalyst.

[alexxness]

Against Us - A Short Fiddauthor FanFic

Another one shot I've just posted on AO3!!

I don't think I've ever seen anyone writing or drawing comics about Fiddleford or Ford suffering from homophobia back in college, which I'm glad btw!! But they were living in the 70s back then, so I wrote this quick one-shot about them comforting each other because of homophobic people in college. (They are dating in this one-shot btw)

Btw, see if you can guess which song Fiddleford was actually listening to in the beginning ;]

Fiddleford was, once again, doing his homework, this time listening to “Pack Your Bags, Mack" on a cassette player he borrowed from Stanford.

He was alone in their room… He wondered where his roommate had gone since Sixer is usually the one arriving first. As soon as that thought came, Ford entered the room in a rush.

“Oh, hey Stanford. I thought you’d never arrive, is everything ok?” he says, while pausing the song.

“Oh yes, I’m fine, it’s nothing important.” the six-fingered responded, tossing his coat to his bed.

“You sure? You came in in a rush, were you… running from someone?--” Fiddleford concerningly wondered.

“I said I’m fine...”

“Okay… If you say so.” the Western boy responded, focusing on his homework once again.

Ford sighs. Fiddleford knew something was up, but Sixer didn’t want to bother his roommate with the same conversation over and over… Besides, just because Fiddleford is his boyfriend now, doesn’t mean he has to protect him all the time, Ford can defend himself.

“You know that guy in our, huh–” Stanford pauses.

Fiddleford turned his chair to listen to his partner.

“What guy?” he asked.

“That annoying guy from our chemistry class?” Sixer takes off his glasses to rub his eyes.

“Wait, wait… Are you talking about Roderick? Roderick Thompson?” Fiddleford assumes.

“Yeah, that guy,” Ford responds while wearing his glasses again.

“Oh gee, what happened?” the Western boy concerningly asked, as if it wasn’t the first time he had heard about this guy.

“The usual shit. I was just coming in a worry because I just COULDN’T. TAKE IT. Ugh, I wish I could just– Hit him, but I know I’m no better if I do so.” Ford looks at his fingers.

“Good that you have that common sense. But ‘ya know, some limits should be drawn sometimes, and I think Roderick has passed that limit for a long time.”

“What are you suggesting me to do?”

“I ain’t suggesting ‘ya anything. I mean, I go there and–”

“No, Fiddleford. I don’t need you to go there and defend me, I can do it myself.”

“I know, but– I don’t want ‘ya to go through this alone, besides… Roderick does kinda pick on me too.”

“What?”

“Yeah… I apologize I never told you.”

“Oh no, it’s ok. I completely understand you.” Ford paused “But… Hey, I know I ain’t no example, but you know you can tell me anything, right?” he seats next to Fiddleford.

“Yes, I know. And I appreciate that you are here for me, I’ll always be here for ‘ya too.” Fiddleford holds his partner’s hands.

“Of course.”

They silently looked at each other’s eyes, almost like they had a heart-shaped reflection inside.

“So like… What type of things did Roderick do to you…? If you don’t mind me asking.” Ford wondered.

“Well, the usual shit. Calls me a nerd, a weirdo, a freak…” Fiddleford paused, looking away “He called me ‘queer’ as an insult.”

“Oh.” the six-fingered has no words.

“Yeah. I just never told anyone about this, because I’m afraid my grandma may find out, and lemme tell ‘ya, she’s not kind to people like us, Stanford!” Fiddleford exclaimed with tears in his eyes.

“Oh, Fiddleford. I’m– I’m so sorry.” Ford softly hugged his partner.

“I love my grandma, but if she found out I’m with you, she’s– She’d go crazy.”

“I know. My parents ain’t no different, especially because of my religion.” Stanford responds while laying his head on Fiddleford’s shoulder.

Fiddleford sighs and lays on Ford’s head. “Why do our families have to be against us?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure in the future things will be greater for us though, but for now, I think we just have to live with this…”

[spacerockfloater]

House of the Dragon, Season 2, Episode 1: Discussion

Overall, I did not like the episode at all.

First of all, am I crazy or was the whole scene at Winterfell and the Wall purely fanservice so that HOTD can gain the sympathy of old fans? I mean, it lasted like, 2 minutes, and added nothing to the plot. Cregan’s speech was amusing though.

Daemon didn’t let a single moment go to waste before he started acting like a king. Typical and at least consistent with his character.

Sigh. Preparing myself for the backlash I’m going to receive for this. I did not like the way Rhaenyra’s and Jace’s emotions were portrayed. Where was the shock? The agony? The horror? The pain? Too much silent grief for someone who just found out that their son/ brother was murdered. Hell, Rhaena showed more emotion than both of them combined and we saw her face for merely a second.

Good for my girl Alicent for finally getting some I guess, but the Alicole sex scenes were weak as fuck. No passion, no chemistry. It was robotic as shit. All that subtle tension between them during the first season led to nothing. Rushed as fuck and not at all what they made us think it would be. Provided absolutely zero context. Boring as hell, too. Thank fuck that it was leaked because it would have been a jumpscare. Nothing could have prepared me for it, it came out of nowhere.

Alicent standing her ground against Otto was surprisingly very good. I loved seeing her take the lead. And it was touching to see her light a candle for Luc, too.

Aegon II was very entraining. Refreshing to see him try to be a good king, actually care for his subjects and love his son. Distracts you from the fact that he’s still a stupid unseasoned teenager. Looking forward to some more character development on his part.

Now, what the actual fuck could Aemond ever possibly have to be angry about? Didn’t he just have his revenge? Who is he so pissed at?

Daemon and his murder cloak are the strongest ship in HOTD, which they should rename to “House of Misunderstandings” at this point.

I nearly pissed myself when Cheese’s super secret hidden path through the castle, that only he as a specialist knows, was crossing the fucking throne room on their tippy toes. Did they sneak back outside to meet Daemon the same way while leaving a bloody trail behind them? Are the writers actually insane? Who gave that shit the green light? Why does the door to Aemond’s room open by a lever? Is he Batman? Where the actual fuck was literally everyone? The guards? The servants? The ladies of honour? How was the fucking queen all alone?

And lastly, speaking of the queen… Oh my God. This was the most anticlimactic scene in the whole episode. I nearly fell asleep. I don’t know what’s Helaena’s deal, like is she neurodivergent? Is she just not fazed by anything because she has already seen everything play out in her head before it actually happens? It’s never explained and it makes it so infuriating that she looks just… concerned. Not traumatized or shocked, just perplexed and worried, lol. She pointed to her son faster than lightning. Did she just want all of it end as fast as possible? No idea. All the tragedy of the situation was removed. Luc’s death was much more impactful and shook the audience. This seemed so underwhelming and stale. And then Helaena quietly goes to her mother’s room, walks past her riding Criston like this happens to her every Tuesday, sits down, refers to her own son as “the boy��, and looks slightly distraught. Dian Doesn’t even shed a single tear. Nothing like the mourning woman gone mad by grief we saw in the trailer, though maybe we just have to wait I suppose. Like, lol okay. This was not giving like y’all promised it would. The only grotesque thing about it was listening to them sawing Jaehaerys’ head off.

The episode felt rushed as fuck and has severely reduced my interest in hating or loving any of the characters. There’d better be some top notch acting next Sunday or I’m dropping the show.

All opinions are welcome, just please be civil to one another!

[tatumslollipop]

Such a strange girl | yandere!bonnie harper x gn!reader

A/N Note: I hope this is okay and i'm sorry I took so long I always forgot about it 😭 also this was requested by @gh4stfaces

Bonnie P.O.V

Eversince I became pretty I've been having boys throwin themselves down their knees to have me but one person has caught my eye they are not like anyone I don't know how to explain it. They are like a goddess. Their name is y/n and they just moved here and what a coincidence not they are in all my classes. I just have to have them and there is no one gettin in my way even if it means I have to use a little magic. But now I need to focus on gettin to school.

Y/N P.O.V

"Oh fuck" I say when I look at the clock it's 8am school starts at 8am I quickly get myself ready, get my stuff and run to school. "This cannot be happening on my first day" I say to myself while running into the school and making it to my first class history with mister johnson. I knock at the door and see a gorgeous girl open the door and it feels like I've seen her before but I can't quiet place her. My mood falls when I hear Mr Johnson saying: " Look who decided to join us finally please take a seat beside bonnie. The next time you run late you are getting detention you hear me?" "Yes sir" I say and then sit beside the girl that opened me the door named Bonnie. She smiles at me and I smile back. When the lesson finally ended which felt like forever I try talking to her but at my luck some guy starts talking to her first. But at her expression I could tell she wasn't very happy about it and quickly pushed him away and started talking to me. "Hi Y/N i'm Bonnie as you already know... Well Mr Johnson assigned me to give you a tour around the school so we miss chemistry with miss brown which atleast for me isn't such a shame." at the last remark we both giggled and then she showed me around the school. While we walked around the school ground we talked for a bit I found out that she had a friendgroup of 4 people Nancy,Sarah,Rochelle and her of course and that she loves nature. She even invited me to sit with her friends at lunch and since I know no one else here of course I said yes.

Bonnie P.O.V

This is it I finally talked to them after weeks of only briefly seeing her moving here with her family. Now really wanted to wait for them to get to know me and us making a connection that way but I just can't wait because what if some guy just starts talking to them and they go out I can't let that happen of course I need to protect whats rightfully mine. I mean they would understand right? Maybe not but I know what's good for them and i'm gonna push them just a little. So i'm gonna practice a love spell on them. But she doesn`t need to know that. Well I took a few streaks of their hair off their shirt while in class and secured it. So I did the spell and also made a sort of love fragrance that I read about the smell makes the person never wanting to leave ur side and thats exactly what Y/N needs. So lets see how it goes.

Y/N P.O.V

I cant stop thinking about her.. about Bonnie. Shes like a goddess I just love her so much. God how can I even say that I dont even know her but something inside me tells me shes the right person for me that we are gonna be together forever for eternity. Nothing really nothing is gonna keep me away from her. She`s such a strange girl. God I really need to sleep now.

Bonnie P.O.V

It worked. It REALLY worked. They are head over heels for me. I cant even get them off of me not like I want to either. Its perfect they`re perfect. This is perfect. And they are all mine and if someone gets in the way there might be another missing person poster up on the board. Thats just what a good girlfriend does right?

[localcanadiancreature62]

Wax'Pimm dump

O'Pimm,a guy who's so obsessed with killing Bill to the point that it's ridiculous + Thurburt,a guy who just wants him to stop and finally see how much he loves him. Close enough,welcome back Fiddauthor (they're so Fiddauthor coded that it's not even funnyyy).

Their heights~ @chaseerr0rcode

Oh i found the old draft i had of their relationship back then when i first got obsessed with them. I still managed to put some parts of the old vers in the news vers lolll.

Waxstaff and O'Pimm dynamic:

They are friends. They fuck sometimes. They are the only rational people in a group full of unhinged psychopaths (Abigale,Jessamine,Horace. The mfs who said "punch,shoot,remove" their own brains). They GET each other 'cause of having similar backstories and issues. They make each other question their sexuality. They're like Fidds and Ford but more toxic and repressed and more doomed. (less rambly/vague version tomorrow).

Bonus - I think they probably end up together in a nice little farm in the middle of nowhere without any onlookers or pesky fellows trying to break them apart with their homophobic and conservative backwards views plus the fact that they're STILL considered the hated laughingstocks of america even after everything,but that only happens like WAYYYY after they deal with the Horrors™ (grappling with their general issues plus their trauma regarding Bill. they have a lot of shit to work through before entering a healthy relationship ngl. but since i will go insane if things go too slowly,this process will be described in like a whole wall of text and then not elaborated on further soon afterwards).

Also old "reasons why they have chemistry" reference i made for myself

O'Pimm and Waxstaff similarities (that i done made up lmaoo):

Daddy issues

Only sane men of the Anti Cipherites Desperately want to make a name for themselves after spending their lives ridiculed and shamed for being the "runt" of their families

Repressed gay

Terrible inferiority complex

Disgraced rich people cuz of their terrible dads indirectly causing their failure (i mean being a steel factory owner's son has gotta have some merit right?)

Cowardice (Thurbert believes himself to be a coward for hiding under the protection of the Three Idiots™ [Jessamine,Abigale,and Horace] instead of facing Bill head on like a man while O'Pimm believes himself to be a coward for not accepting Bill's offer as he would still have his wife if he did)

[vestaclinicpod]

Audio Drama Sunday - 19th May ✨

I have had my heart ripped out through my ears this week by certain shows *cough* Small Victories *cough* but here’s everything I listened to! 

👻 @tellnotalespod (S2E10) these ghosties may be incorporeal but the chemistry between them sure isn’t!! I loved hearing Leo find a role that they feel fits them but found myself burying my head in my hands again as they continue to be manipulated by Frank. I love that it’s been written so that there’s definitely something suspicious going on but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is exactly. It’s so much more like real life than if Frank was just obviously rotten and if (when) he reveals himself to be a rat bastard, I hope it helps people examine their own relationships with people who might be manipulating them! 

🌲 @hellofromthehallowoods (152) Clem 😭 I hate that even as a listener I compare her to Riot but her sense of humour in the face of being pretty much ripped to shreds is SO much like Riot 😩 

And, oh. Oh, Raj. Maybe he hasn’t made a covenant with Syrensyr …. maybe the real eldritch power was grief all along. This killed me. 

I’m hoping at some point (either in the canon or as a bonus) we get to hear the Nikignik/Marolmar conversation in its entirety from start to finish. I love getting snippets but I also want to hear it in full!! 

🧳 Travelling Light @monstrousproductions (22) ooooh I do love a spooky tale and would happily listen to an entire series set in the world of this story! 

🏛 @the-mistholme-museum (TRANQUIL) What a lovely ending to an astounding show. It’s so comforting to know that, at the end of everything, there will still be stories 🥺💙

🖥️ The Magnus Protocol (16) Poor Alice ☹️ I really enjoyed the multimedia additions in this episode, it made it so much more entertaining to listen to!! 

🍎 @notquitedeadpod (XXXVIII) Oh lord. Maybe Casper isn’t the angel we assumed him to be 😩 I literally didn’t trust Neige at all when he was first introduced but, god, I am so soft for him now. If it turns out that he’s the one manipulating Alfie I’m going to lose it. What on earth are they going to do with Casper now?? 

🌞 Small Victories by @wgc-productions (2.05-2.07) oh my GOD!! Marisol!!! I can’t even believe what has happened in my ears. CHRIST. I think what hurts the most is that it actually took zero effort for her to find the oxy in the end - she was REALLY stopping herself 😭 she could have taken it at any time and didn’t. Sometimes it’s hard to believe this show has been written and acted, the writing and performances are so spot on that it feels like real life!

^ So I wrote this and then finished off the rest of the season and OH MY GOD!!!!!!! Shit, man. I completely didn’t even realise who ‘The Host’ was until she apologised to him at the start of the last episode 😭 don’t do this to me, I’m too fragile 😭 ugh, it’s all just too much. I need season three right now. 

Please, everyone go listen to Small Victories!! And if you're having a generous audio drama Sunday, Stories from Ylemore by @itmeblog is crowdfunding and you should support them!!

[bomberqueen17]

the far side of the world

i've made it via audiobook to book 10 of Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey / Stephen Maturin series and I initially read these books so long ago that time and again I'm like oh i definitely didn't read this one i don't remember it at all and then I stumble across something that I'm like ... oh, no i definitely read this one so like. well. i just can't tell. But i really do think I'd read these before, and I just was too young to fully understand some of the bits.

I'm making myself not look up spoilers for things so I can be surprised by them as they happen. But some of the things are just. Well. Anyway. I'll cut, so as not to discuss spoilers with anyone else who wanted not to be spoiled.

I was sort of sad, for this book, because Pullings had been promoted and thus wouldn't be in the ship anymore, more's the pity, but oh joy, he has come along as a volunteer! Won't Mowett, who is now first lieutenant after his departure, be jealous or feel slighted, Stephen asked, and Jack says why, anyone else would, but those two get along so well and have already worked it out between them, there will be no trouble among them. Stephen muses that they are polyandrous husbands, to be sure, married to the ship, and Jack needs the word defined and then is sort of gently skeeved-out at the entire notion of polyandry, despite his own imperfect command of monogamy.

This finally drove me to look at AO3 to see if there were any fanfiction specifically of this pairing, because I would completely read Mowett/Pullings/HMS Surprise, treated with any kind of gravity (and crack would also suit). Alas I found none, and distressingly little Pullings/Mowett either. In my mind I have dubbed them the Tubular Husbands, as Mowett is initially described as a "perfectly tubular young man" (I think the description is meant to hint that he is still slender with youth and has not really filled out into full adulthood yet, as I believe he is meant to be a teenager in that first book), and later Pullings is also described as somewhat tubular in form, I think in a musing by one of our principal characters that he has recently filled out and thus is no longer quite so caterpillar-like. Anyway I think Tubular Husbands is a perfect ship name for them and if I were in a fic-writing way at all currently, and not so taken up with my various ongoing shit, I would totally write it. High, excellent potential there.

But I digress. Well, not really, that's about all I had to talk about.

It's hard to quote snippets from an audiobook but the other night I was enamored enough of this passage to transcribe it. Stephen is speaking of Jack's wife, Sophie, who is a dear friend of Stephen's, he and she never having had the slightest romantic chemistry but understanding one another perfectly on a human level for many years.

"I desire you will not top it the Othello, brother, for shame? Stuff on you. If any man so far forgot himself as to make a licentious suggestion to Sophie, she would not understand him for a week. And then she would instantly lay him dead with your double-barreled fowling piece."

Everyone in these books is slightly autistic, to be sure.

Simon Vance is a great narrator, but any accent he does that is not English is just awful. His American accents are painful, and for an Italian woman he did the same bad French accent he does for every Frenchman. it is a shame, otherwise I do like his performance a great deal. Well, on 1.25x speed, otherwise the pauses for effect drag on too much. I do not need a languid cadence for a thirteen-hour piece, thanks much. But it's a delightful performance on 1.25x speed and I am enjoying it greatly, I just wish he had listened to like one Italian person speaking English before doing all the bits with Laura Fielding. Do you really think an Italian would pronounce it Lauxhra with that guttural French R? Meestehr Matuxhrîn! Non, I seenk not.

Anyhow I'm as far as the pacific ocean in book ten don't tell me what happens but do tell me your headcanons about the tubular husbands and just how dedicated they are to this undersized but sweet-sailing frigate.

[lutiaslayton]

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

ＰＡＲＴ　１９

〚ＦＩＲＳＴ〛〚ＰＲＥＶ〛〚ＮＥＸＴ〛

Disclaimer: This is a fan-translation for the Japan-exclusive novellisation of the movie Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. The original novel was written by Aya Matsui under the supervision of Akihiro Hino, and belongs to Level-5.

This translation only aims to be a pleasant read for non-Japanese fans, nothing more: I made a few deliberate changes while translating in order to get the writing style closer to what is usually found in English fanfictions, as the Japanese storytelling can sometimes be different than what we are used to.

── London・Present

＊ Reunion

After Janice’s voice faded away, I remained pensive for a while.

Three years ago.

The moment I met her, I was left in awe.

She was a beautiful woman, much older than me…

But at that time, was it Melina that left such a big impression on me?

Or was it Janice…?

This is one of the puzzles that I have yet to solve.

This had been my first adventure with the professor, and it was a very special one for me.

‘Mr Future Gentleman’

I thought I had just heard her voice again.

“Look, Luke.”

The professor’s voice brought me back to myself. He had two tickets to the ‘Eternal Kingdom’ opera in hand.

It really was just like that time from three years ago.

Though of course, the name of the venue on the ticket was not the ‘Crown Petone’ this time.

Mr Whistler’s face came to my mind.

According to Inspector Grosky, he sometimes plays the piano in prison, bringing tears to the eyes of his fellow inmates.

I heard through the grapevine that Captain O’Donnell and Mr Marco Brock have hit it off since the incident, and often travel together.

Amelia is currently studying abroad at a foreign university.

The letter I received the other day said that she was still very grateful that the professor and I had attended her grandfather’s funeral.

Nina sometimes comes to visit us here, at Gressenheller. She has a very good memory and studies very hard, and I think she might be admitted to college before me…

But I won’t lose to her. Look out for the Future Gentleman and puzzle master, Nina!

Oh, that’s right, Mr Starbuck and Mrs Raidley had their wedding just the other day. The gossip magazines made it a really big deal.

And I’m currently reading Annie Dretche’s latest mystery. I’m so excited, I can’t stop reading it!

Annie once told me that she has been writing mysteries much faster than before for the sake of Mr Bargland. That way, he would have something to read while he spends his spare time at the hospital…

And then…

There was a knock at the door. Who could it be? Perhaps a client for some new exciting mystery to solve.

The professor and I got up from our chairs at the same time and headed for the entrance.

But as soon as I opened the door, my heart skipped a beat.

“Janice…”

I was dazzled by her smile. It looked just like the one I had seen three years ago…

　⇚　　　　　　　↛

And this completes the fan-translation of the official Eternal Diva novel, everyone! Man, this sure was something. A lot of work, a lot of tears and sweat, a lot of good surprises. Who knows what the future has in store for us now!

...Hm? What's that? Another novel? Let's see...We've seen a lot of blue lately, perhaps a change of colour would do us all some good. How about green? Green sounds nice, right?

Yup. Illusory Forest it is, baby. See y'all next week for a brand new adventure, and one that most of you never have gotten to experience before at that 👀

Oh, also, I'm just going to say before we let Ambrosia go back to its eternal sleep: this thing has followed me up until the very end of my PhD. I defended my thesis, like. TODAY. Just A FEW HOURS AGO.

At the exact time this post is coming out, I am likely going to still be stuck at the lab managing the mini-quiches for the party or something of the like, hahaha. So... yeah, I guess I'm a doctor now? In theoretical chemistry, that is. Yay? Yeah, let's go with yay :D

(and I hope that future me won't happen to be told a random "actually no ur work sucks you failed lol" on that very day and the party prevents me from editing this post in order to bring the bad news, that'd be awkward lmao)

[ifhymona]

٭* Not Too Late *٭

Chapter 2 | chino moreno x reader

Chapter 1 ~ Chapter 3 | AO3: @romantic_daydream

1.1k words

it’s been around a month ever since i started working with the deftones. not much has happened this past month, just them teaching me the ropes. although i didn’t have a lot of experience, they were very patient with me and helped me get the hang of booking venues and making advertisements for them and etc. they were right about the chemistry between us. i feel like i could really be myself around them as if we have known each other our whole lives.

their album adrenaline has been making good money lately so my pay is pretty good so far. the only con is chino. he’s been a dick to me since day one. and it’s only because of high school drama.

yup, you heard it. high school drama. me and chino had first met in middle school. i was a 7th grader and he was an 8th grader. he started hanging out with my older brother and he would come over almost all the time. since he was always with my brother, i started hanging out with them and got closer with him too.

there were always some type of feelings i had towards chino but nothing major. sometimes, it was just the two of us hanging out without my brother. we would have fun with each other and he knew that. slowly after time went by, my feelings for him started to grow even heavier. that was until my sophomore year. he started dating a very insufferable girl named cassandra but he just saw what he wanted to see in her.

i knew something was wrong with her. i didn’t know what but she just seemed off. it might sound like i was jealous but never doubt a girl’s intuition. keep in mind, this was chino’s first girlfriend. he was head over heels for her. but i could tell she didn’t feel the same. i never seen them have a full on conversation with each other and she never looked like she was enjoying herself around him. it was the worst seeing that since chino was my best friend and he meant a lot to me. he deserved to be with somebody who treated him as an equal. the day i tried to tell chino, it didn’t go well.

i was over at his house playing the nintendo with him. it was the perfect time to bring it up.

“camillo, i’m gonna say something that might come off the wrong way but it’s because i care.”

“okay? i doubt anything will make me mad at you.” he chuckled.

“i don’t think you should go out with cassandra anymore.”

he paused the game and he turned to me with the biggest stink face ever. “what did you say?”

“i know that you love her camillo but i can just tell she’s not into you. i know that’s fucked up to say but-“

he started yelling at me. “what do you know about cassandra? you two aren’t close!”

“yeah but it’s not hard to see camillo. i just don’t want you getting hurt.”

he got up from the floor. “if you were my friend, you would support me no matter what i do with my life! don’t be mad at me because i’m finally getting some action! it’s not my fault that nobody likes you! don’t try and backstab me because I have what you want!”

“oh yeah? what is that camillo?” i shouted at him.

“i’m not a nobody!”

i could feel the tears coming up to my eyes. i will never forget those words. that was what my parents told me at my most vulnerable and he knew how much they affected me.

i ran out of his house before i could start fully crying. i couldn’t let him see me grow weak.

a week later, he found her cheating with a college dude.

so not only had he lost his so called “girlfriend”, he lost one of his best friends too and i hoped that would’ve sat with him. but unfortunately it didn’t. because he still held that grudge against me. although we had stopped talking in general, i could still feel a coldness he held towards me. i couldn’t have given a single shit though. if thats how he wanted to treat his best friend then fine.

shocking for him to still be a dick to me all these years later though. even though all i did was try and be a friend. whatever. the past is the past.

so although things were going great with the rest of the band, chino still refuses to talk to me. i was tired of feeling like the villain when he knows that i did absolutely nothing wrong. so i decided to talk to him.

it was band practice. they said they wanted me there for every practice in case something went wrong and they needed an errand girl. so i was pretty much spending most of my time with them now.

“alright guys let’s take 5.” chino told the rest of the band. as everybody scattered, i tapped chino’s shoulder.

“chino, can we talk?” he looked at me. “outside?” he rolled his eyes but nodded. we both went outside into the parking lot behind the building. i looked around to make sure no one was near.

“what’s your problem with me?” i asked.

“excuse me?”

“you heard me. i said what is your problem with me?” i stared at him.

“my problem? my problem is that you’re a backstabber.”

“oh my god are you still running along with that? i just tried to warn you!”

“no not that! despite even after you heard she cheated on me, you had never called! never came over and never asked how i was doing!”

i stared at him in disbelief. “are you actually fucking kidding me right now? please tell me you’re joking?” i mentally prepared my self for what i was about to say. “camillo you were my best friend. you’re only mad at me because i was right! i’m not your mommy, i didn’t and still don’t owe you anything! are you forgetting about the fact that you held my insecurities against me?! reminding me that i’m a nobody! you think i didn’t know that already?” he looked down. “i tried to be your best friend camillo! but you didn’t even try to be mine! you disrespected me like it wasn’t even your first time! you never not once cared about my opinion! did you even notice that i was on the verge of crying when you told me those things?” he didn’t respond. “did you!?”

“no.” he mumbled, looking down at his shoes. i stared at him. i could feel the tears coming up so i calmed myself down before i continued.

“you are the most selfish person i know and i want nothing to do with you.” i said trying to hurt him. “if you don’t want me around, then i quit.” he looked up at me in disbelief. but before he could say anything, i walked away.

a/n: i hope you guys like this chapter ! please leave a like, if you did ! that would be much appreciated. chapter three will be out in a few days ! :) love of love <3

[the-smut-analyst]

Fantasy Rom-Coms

The genre I never knew I needed. Until I found it.

Short 'n' sweet book rec post today (because I know I've been doing a lot of deep-dive analyses of late). I deserve a break. You deserve a break. So let's do it.

Here's my top three fantasy rom-com series at the moment!

Pick them up if you enjoy a bit of smutty fantasy and are in the mood to laugh.

1. Anything by Kimberly Lemming

I do not know if my tits were built for murder. I don't even think they were built with my back in mind.

Lemming is an auto-buy author for me. This woman is bloody hilarious. The humour is farcical and somewhat absurdist, which is my absolute favourite style. I grew up with the likes of Monty Python, The Mighty Boosh, and The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson - so Lemming's work is right up my alley.

Her character Alexis, the dirty-talking sword (yes, you read that correctly) is, in my mind, nothing short of comedic genius.

"Oh my god, chip my steal, you're so annoying," Alexis snapped. "Maybe if you fixed your attitude and took a bath once in a while, women would talk to you. You smell like old cheese and a mother's regret."

I know some reviewers have been thrown off my the modern vernacular in Lemming's work, due to its medieval-like fantasy setting. However, I think that is exactly what makes these books so good (and refreshing).

The love interests speak a bit more "ye oldy", while the female protagonists speak like we do. The result is something akin to what might happen if a modern romance reader were dropped into a smutty fantasy world. It's brilliant. For example:

"Every scratch," he whispered, his tone gentle and comforting. "Every bruise, I will pay back in fire and blood." I blinked. "Um... that is so sweet but so unnecessary."

I'd recommend reading Lemming's work in publication order, which is as follows (links included):

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon

Mistlefoe (novella - available with KU)

That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf

Two Scoops of Hellfire (novella - standalone - available with KU)

A Bump in Boohail (novella - available with KU)

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human

2. Alphas of Nasila series by V.K. Ludwig

“If you ever see me running in heels, then you better run, too,” she says with a scoff. “What am I supposed to run away from, anyway?” “Me!” “Why? You got a chase kink or something?”

The best way I can think to describe this series is that it is Omegaverse satire. The pairings are alien males and human females, and the smut / romance includes all your fairly standard A/B/O tropes - with the exception of non-con. The consent is refreshingly solid here.

Book one of this series, Heat for Hire, was actually my entry into the Omegaverse. If you're unfamiliar with the genre, then this is a good place to start because the protagonist, Elli, is unfamiliar with how alpha/omega pairings work. So all the... ahem... knotting, heat cycles, etc. are explained via her first experience of them.

My skin prickles at the memory of Rhen’s growl. But only until I remember that I rubbed myself to orgasm on a civil servant.

However, book two, Knot for Nest is by far the best of the series, in my opinion. The chemistry between the two protagonists, Lucy and Tjor, is brilliant - and it's just a genuinely hilarious read. Lucy is a snarky, independent omega who absolutely knows how to play the big, bad alphas to her advantage.

Book three, Purr for Purchase, is a lot higher angst (and less comedic) than its predecessors. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but that's just because I'm not a huge fan of pregnancy in romance.

If you've tried the Omegaverse before but not enjoyed it because of the power imbalances or dub/non-con, then I'd still recommend this series. The Omega / Alpha dynamic is very much reserved for the bedroom and does not reflect how the couple interacts outside of it. This is particularly true of Lucy and Tjor. She might enjoy being "dominated" during sex, but she genuinely holds all the power in the relationship.

“Big, bad alpha, all calm and well-behaved between my thighs.”

The characters in each Alphas of Nasila book are interconnected and the events chronological. However, you do not necessarily have to read these books in order. If you're sceptical of the Omegaverse in general, start with book two. All these novels are available with KU.

3. Claws & Cubicles Series by Kate Prior

Some people really haven’t adjusted to life under the Dark Reign of Terror yet. Some things are different, but honestly it’s all cosmetic. Things aren’t that different from when we had a normal, living CEO.

This series is like The Office, but with monsters (and smut). The dry, relatable humour of a boring corporate job - but with non-human co-workers like orcs, the undead, etc - is genius.

The comedy definitely leans into that classic British deadpan / understatement style. Think IT Crowd, Faulty Towers, and After Life. I think anyone who's ever worked in an office will definitely be smirking and chuckling their way through this series.

“You could have just called me in. I’ve got skin.” I wonder if that last remark is rude or something. After all, he doesn’t really have skin, to my knowledge. I hope I don’t have to take an undead sensitivity training class now.

Book one, Live Laugh Lich, gets pretty kinky (the MMC has three... er... yes). The smut here isn't going to be for everyone. But I liked the humour so much that I didn't really mind if the intimate scenes weren't my cup of tea.

However book two, The Orc From the Office, holds a much broader appeal, I think. I adored this installment. I'd recommend pushing through and reading this, even if you had mixed feelings on book one. The orc MMC is a socially awkward cinnamon roll and I love him.

I wonder distantly if my health insurance covers being eviscerated by Orc cock.

Book three, The Gargoyle from General Management, left me a bit wanting in terms of the character development. However, the setting of everyone being away together on a company retreat was comedy gold.

All of the Claws & Cubicles books are available on KU.

That's all! I hope you enjoy the smutty rom-com fantasy recs!

This post includes affiliate links to help me create content. No pressure to use them! But if you do, I'll be very grateful :)

[thehollowstarsaga]

Hollow Star Saga Book Four Predictions

okay so since i've finished agasv it's time for my predictions for the next book:

the CeLeTheo polycule

so i remember Ashley mentioned that there's possibility for a polyam and the moment i heard that i was just immediately like, 'oh, they're definitely talking about Theo, Celadon and Lethe right?'

like i'm not the only one who thought Celedon and Theo had insane levels of chemistry in both agasv AND acafl???

and Celedon and Lethe are already super cute and canon by the end of agasv too??

I'd honestly love it if Lethe and Theo end up being into each other too like the dynamic sounds super fun.

anyway that's the prediction Celedon x Theo x Lethe is canon next book (i'm gonna look like such an idiot if i'm wrong)

2. dragon Theo???

now i'm not too sure about this one but maybe (just maybe) Theo's a dragon?

i remember i made this prediction all the way back when adahs was released and there was that random paragraph in the beginning on how people can be dragons without realizing it. i was like 'okay, so one of the characters we care about has to be a dragon right??'

by process of elimination i reached the conclusion that Theo was the dragon out of all of them.

i remember when we found out that his grand aunt is a dragon i freaked out like i was so proud of myself for reaching that conclusion cause there's a high chance that he inherited those traits.

buuuuuuuuuuuut i'm not too sure whether that's actually going to be explored or bought up or even be true in the next book so this is a very tentative theory.

3. if Riadne dies, then who's killing her?

okay so i'm not too confident about this because i don't actually know if Riadne will die in book 4, at least in the traditional sense. but if it does happen the potential candidates are;

Theo: NO LISTEN I'M NOT BEING BIASED ACTUALLY FR HEAR ME OUT; Theo wants to rule over seelie summer, and if i'm not mistaken you need to defeat the existing head in order to do that so... maybe? admittedly its not very likely though cause there aren't enough emotional stakes. unless Riadne just murders his parents or smth in the first half lmao. i'll say 5% chance

Arlo: since we're talking about murdering parental figures... yeah. i'd say there's like a 10% chance that it's Arlo who kills Riadne maybe?

Celadon: 25% chance it'll be Celadon simply for the emotional stakes... and murdering parental figures. but actually if we're talking about someone who needs to stab their mom in order to get over their mommy issues...

Vehan: him having some kind of arc in which he's vaguely unhinged would go so hard. sadly, however, it probably won't happen. he's still most likely to kill Riadne at 50% chance, because the angst would be so good.

others: this is just me covering up my tracks in case my top guesses are wrong so that i don't look like a total idiot. Lethe, Nausicaa and Aurelian take up the remaining 10%. although i seriously doubt it'll be any of them. if it is though, Lethe's most likely to and Aurelian's least likely to.

honestly the more i think about it Riadne probably won't be killed by someone else. either she'll manage to get herself killed in her quest for power or she won't die at all. it doesn't feel like all the loose ends would be tied up if she did (watch as she dies at the hands of someone i didn't mention on this list.)

5. Vehan does some insane shit

this actually isn't me pushing my let Vehan go batshit crazy agenda. i mean insane as in he's going to have a major battle or show off some huge feat of power.

extra points if it happens in front of Riadne.

i think the best case scenario is a Riadne vs Vehan fight scene.

6. Who's the big bad?

see this is more of a discussion than a prediction cause i know Riadne's our main antagonist but i feel like there might be an overarching one as well.

easiest answer to this is Cosmin, and honestly, yeah it probably is him. however, Luck seems like they have a good head on them and that they might stop him from doing anything that would harm Arlo, so i actually think that maybe, just maybe it's someone else.

Fate, maybe? i'm not sure, but it seems we don't like them.

it could be another one of the titans but i'm not too sure they'd introduce a completely new major antagonist by the fourth book.

7. Theo has a bigger role.

there's no evidence no nothing i'm just manifesting stfu

[mrsfrecklesmarauders]

Lily was never the type of person to snog someone at a party. Not because she found it disgusting. God, sometimes when she saw a couple kiss, she wanted to do the same. When her friends told her stories about their snogging adventures with boys, she wished she had one too. But when a bloke tried to flirt with her she got uncomfortable and ran.

Lily had no one she actually fancied. Well... She did, didn't she? Didn't she fancy Luke? She had agreed to go with him at the party after all. Then why was she hiding from him?

Lily had panicked when Luke came closer as they danced with clear intentions, and she mumbled something about being thirsty. And hell she was cursed when she found none other than James Potter eating the face of some poor girl by the drinks.

Lily was uncomfortable at first, but then she felt furious. Why did Lily had so much struggle to kiss Luke when Potter had no problem on putting his tongue down someone's throat when he had a date with another girl just months ago?

Lily wished it would be easy for her. At least to have some experience like the rest of her teenager friends.

Lily found herself staring when the girl finally unglued her face from James' with a giggle. And Lily realized it was Rebecca Johnson from fifth year.

Lily felt like an intruder and decided to look away.

"I need to step into the loo for a bit, Jamie..." Rebecca said with a smile "And then I am all yours again"

James faked a smile "Great..."

Rebecca giggled again.

"Great...I'll be waiting for you!"  sounded sarcastic.

"Don't go anywhere..." Rebecca chanted

"I won't!" James chanted back.

As Rebecca turned and she and James noticed Lily's presence, Lily couldn't avoid blushing.

"Oh hi, Lily" Rebecca said.

James seemed embarrassed rubbing his neck.

"Rebecca..." Lily chuckled "I was... I was serving myself a drink..." she pointed to the table and proceeded to do so.

"Okay..." Rebecca shrugged "Be right back Jamie..."

"I'll be waiting, Becky..."

Becky? It was so disgusting. Lily found herself rolling her eyes.

Lily could feel James' presence as she served herself some water. She wished he could just go. She would leave but she was hiding from Luke... And Severus... Dammit.

"Evans..."

"Potter..."

There was silence. Lily thought James had finally left when he added:

"Sirius... Aahm... Has been pairing me up with a lot of girls..."

James was now by her side, trying to explain himself.

"Yeah I can see that..." Lily nodded "What happened to Danielle?"

James made a face "She hated me after I stood her up"

Lily smiled "Don't blame me! You were the one that wanted my help"

"My fault" James raised his hands.

"So now Rebecca?"

James shrugged.

"Oh Potter..." Lily rolled her eyes "Don't tell me you are following Black's steps and using girls to toss them aside when you are done with them"

James raised an eyebrow.

"Sirius does that?"

"I see the way he has been looking at Marly..." Lily warned, pointing with her finger.

"There's chemistry there..." James murmured "And don't you think I am going to let your friend hurt her!" Lily ignored him, now poking his chest "And Rebecca is not my favorite person but she doesn't deserve to be used either!"

"Ouch!" James protested "Who said I was going to use Rebecca?"

"You were going to ran away while she was in the loo, weren't you?" Lily raised an eyebrow. James bit his lip in response.

"I knew it! Just after snogging her face the whole bloody night!"

"She kisses fine but God!" James rolled his eyes "She doesn't stop! Look my lips are swollen...."

Lily tutted.

Who was she kidding? Lily wished she could snog Luke the whole night... Although with a better ending. Because they actually fancied each other. And they would go to a date after that. Then become a couple... Or just for bloody fun like normal teenagers did. Just because Luke was hot! Wasn't he?

"I see what is happening here, Evans" James added.

"What?" Lily asked miserably.

James smirked "You are jealous!..."

Lily rolled her eyes. Not this again.

"You are jealous of Rebecca, aren't you?"

"As if, Potter! As if.!"

James laughed.

"I don't give a shit who you snog" she added "As long as it is not me..." she made a gagging noise "Or one of my friends"

"Whatever you say, Evans"

"I am going to go back with my date..."

"Luke Gardener?"

"Mmhm..."

"Nice..."

Through the door, she could see Luke coming that way. He just stopped to greet some of his friends. And Lily panicked.

"Oh shit!"

James looked at her.

"What happened?"

Lily hid behind the counter quickly.

"I am not here!" Lily whispered "You haven't see me..."

"But..."

"Oh hey Potter"

Luke had told Lily that he didn't particularly like James Potter. They were very opposite in fact. So Luke didn't sound happy to see him.

Lily thought for a second James was going to give her away. But he didn't. He tried to act casual.

"Luuuke! Ma mate!" he even patted his shoulder "How's it going?"

Too much James... Too much....

"Having a good time?"

"Yeah cool party" Luke said. It sounded fake "I was just looking for Lily. Have you seen her?"

"Lily? Lily who?"

Lily was to kill Potter.

"Lily Evans..." Luke said as if it was obvious "She said she was coming for a drink ages ago"

"Oh mate... I haven't seen her..." James said "Not at all... Not all night.... I don't even remember how she looks like"

Lily couldn't avoid kicking James' leg.

"Ouch!"

"Are you alright?" Luke asked.

"Oh yeah I got cramps"

"Okay..."

Lily saw Luke's legs moving towards her but James stopped him in time.

"Hey! What are you doing?" and even yelling a little.

"Serving myself a drink?"

"Oh!" James exclaimed "Let me do that for you... In charge of the drinks tonight..." James tusked, laughing a little "What do you want?"

"Vodka and juice?"

"Cool... Cool cool..."

Lily waited until James served the drink with slow agony. But then Luke spoke.

"Can I ask you something, Potter?"

"Aha..."

"You used to ask Lily out, right?" Luke started "I mean I remember she rejected you many times... Like many many times... And even humiliated you"

"Point taken, Gardener"

Lily closed her eyes. She never wanted to humiliate James.

"Is there something wrong with her?" Luke asked carefully "I mean I really really fancy her... And sometimes I feel like she is interested" he sighed "But other times it is like she is disgusted by me or something..."

Lily felt bad. She really liked Luke. What was wrong with her? Why was she hiding? She should be dancing and enjoying her time with Luke.

"I haven't been able to kiss her...She doesn't let me." Luke added rather embarrassed "And I really want to..." he took a deep breath "God, I don't know..."

It wasn't like no boy had been interested in Lily. Well, sometimes it felt like that. But it wasn't... Josh (who turned out to be a dick), and Severus... And Potter... And now Luke... It was Lily who was the problem. She couldn't fancy any of them. What did she want? Who did she want? The freaking prince charming? He didn't exist.

"Sounds like you have to be patient, mate" James said after a while. He sounded sincere and understanding with Luke "Lily had never been interested in me..." he sighed. Lily sighed embarrassed "But she is interested in you. I am sure of that... But with matters of the heart, Lily needs time. She is a romantic, you know? It takes a bit more to be able to kiss her"

"Yeah you are probably right" Luke didn't sound convinced though. At least Potter had tried. Lily was grateful.

"I'll see if I can find her around..."

"Alright mate..."

Lily heard Luke leave and she tried to fight the tears for coming. She was so pathetic and so stupid.

Now James took a seat next to her on the floor and Lily felt so embarrassed.

"Please don't... Potter" Lily swallowed her tears.

"I wasn't going to say anything" James smiled.

"Oh but I know what you are thinking!"

"Do you?".

"You think: Oh Lily is a fool, because why won't she want the incredible Luke Gardener? What is wrong with her?.... Well you are right" Lily was crying now pathetic "I should just out there and dance with Luke, my date, and have a good time, and snog his face like you've been doing with Rebecca and get frizzy with him. And touch his crotch and let him touch my boobs..."

"Wow..."

"And perhaps I should just let him take me to a room and... and... And fuck me!"

James laughed "Oh... Evans..."

Lily sniffed "I don't know why I can just do that... At least the kissing part..." Lily added when she saw James' amused expression.

"Luke is perfect. And handsome. A gentleman"

James raised his eyebrows.

"I should want to be with him and kiss him... And feel good when he pulles me closer while we dance... But here I am, hiding like a fool!"

Lily let out a few sobs. And wiped away her tears. James was still looking at her.

"Can I ask you something, Evans?" he said carefully.

Lily nodded unsure.

"Do you want to kiss Luke because you actually want to... Or because you think it is what you are supposed to do? That this is what you are supposed to want?"

Lily sniffed.

"Probably the second..."

James nodded.

"I think Luke is attractive!" Lily added "And nice"

James smiled "That is not the same as fancying, Evans"

"Do you fancy Rebecca?"

James shook his head slowly "She is kind of hot, though"

Lily laughed which made James smile.

"Then why can you kiss her and I cannot kiss Luke... Just because he is hot? Just for fun?"

Why couldn't Lily just be a normal teenager like the rest?

"Snogging someone just because is not that amazing..." James said "I mean it is fun for a while..." he smirked "But eventually you are thinking that she is not actually the one you want... And that you wish she was her but she would never be"

Lily was aware of James' crush towards her. It was more like an obsession really. But she still got uncomfortable when James said things like that. She wished he didn't flirt with her. She wished he didn't feel that way because she didn't know if she could reciprocate. She couldn't fancy anyone like that, apparently.

"At least you get to kiss people and enjoy yourself" Lily smiled.

James shrugged "It is not a competition, Lily" wow, he used her name "Have I told you at what age Mr. Fleamont had his first kiss?"

"Your father?"

James nodded.

"He was twenty four"

"Really?" Lily asked. James nodded "Was it your mum?"

"No, his first wife" James answered "He is not embarrassed about it, you know? He might've not have 'experiences' as a teen... But what he lived with the two women in his life: Laura and my mum, was amazing and worth it.... Doesn't make him less cool... And it will come a time in our lives, Lily. When no one is going to care how much people we have snogged"

James was right.

"It really sucks to be a teen, right?" Lily smiled shyly. James shrugged "You actually made me feel a lot better, Potter"

"Well, I am glad, Evans" James smirked as he put his glasses up.

"I have had my first kiss though" Lily giggled.

"Oh... Okay..." James teased.

"I've kissed two boys, one time each and that is it... And both kisses were horrible"

"What a whore, Evans"

Lily laughed, hitting James' arm. Which made him laugh as well.

"It's okay..." James added "Maybe you will meet a boy one day and he is going to make you feel incredible. And you will like him so much and he will like you too, that kissing him will be worth the wait"

"That really sounds beautiful" Lily smiled.

"Why snog silly people at parties if you can have that?"

Lily felt so much better now. It was as if a big burden was taken off her shoulders. She didn't want to kiss Luke. Probably she didn't fancy him at all. But she would probably would have to talk to him about it. And she could actually find her prince charming later.

"Thank you for talking to me, Potter"

James nodded with a smile.

"And thank you for not saying that the bloke I would fancy is you" Lily giggled to let him know it was a joke.

"Oh no, of course!" James rubbed his hair "But who knows? What if it's me and you don't know that yet?"

Lily laughed pushing James gently.

"Very funny, Potter"

James smiled "You're welcome"

"Jamie!!" A yell interrupted them and they both jumped. Rebecca was back.

She didn't look happy to see James and Lily sitting together on the floor.

"I've been looking for you. I thought you were gone!"

"Becky!" James adopted his goofy self again as he stood up. "I was just..."

"What were you guys doing?"

"Lily was drunk crying..." James lied.

"Oh babe..."

"But... She feels better now right?"

Lily smiled slightly because James Potter was an idiot. But an idiot she might like.

"Yeah I feel better"

"Good! Let's go dancing, Becky!" James dragged her out of there before she had time to kiss him again.

Lily sighed as they left. She should probably get up from the wet floor, and talk to Luke. And then just enjoy the night dancing with her friends. Without worrying about kissing anyone for now.