#friendly reminder i love angst and whump

[pipwasreal]

Day 22: downtime + clothed sex

Characters: Esther Finch, Charles Rowland, Edwin Payne (mentioned)

Content warnings: captivity, collaring, iron burns, non-consensual sexual touching, manipulation, clothed sex, frottage, forced orgasm

Unexpectedly, kind of a follow up to Day 20...

HEED THE WARNINGS

Esther's been busy. Building and testing her shiny new machine, exploding a butcher shop, snatching those pesky ghosts. Oh, their faces just before they got sucked into her spirit trap... priceless.

It was funny watching them tumble out of it when she got them home too, all glowy and crumpled and strange. Paper puppets with their strings cut.

Limp and weightless, they're a cinch to reposition exactly as she wants.

She lays the uptight one down on the energy extractor, surveys the tableau, then tugs his silly little bowtie off. It disappears when she drops it, which is convenient, so she tugs off his jacket and sweater vest and shirt too. There, much better.

Esther remembers men who wore undershirts like that, and broadfall breeches that were oh so easy for a dick to slip out of... right into some younger, prettier girl. The kid is easier to hate this way.

She straps him down and locks him in, supressing the urge to mess up his neat coiffure. There'll be plenty of time for that later, if the mood takes her.

Next, she drops the smiley one on the kitchen floor and locks the collar around his throat. He'll be close enough to his little friend that he'll be able to hear everything, but not close enough to do anything.

She takes his jacket off, considers stripping him further as payback for his Peeping Tom routine the other night... but this is nice. He's kinda pretty, for a dead boy. Not as useful as the other one, obviously, but pretty. And he owes her.

She can tell he's about to stir. On a whim, she squats down over him. Let him have an eyeful before she leaves him alone for a while...

It's quite a while before Esther returns her attention to Charles. She's honestly delighted at how well the tortured one is bearing the machine. Edward, or whatever his name is, is pretty impressive, with his cute little stoic act... she wonders how long it'll last.

As delicious as the power squeezed out of him is, it's a lot of work. She deserves a break, she decides, and a treat. Un petit plaisir, as the French say.

Ignoring Charles' desperate pleas and threats, which start up as soon as she enters the kitchen, Esther simply walks right up and sits on his lap, straddling those long legs of his. It's nice to take a load off.

He looks stunned for a second, then angrier than ever, jaw clenched tight. At least it's shut him up.

His poor iron-burnt fingertips twitch at his sides like he wants to push her away, but he doesn't move. Maybe he's afraid of jostling the collar again, or of what she might do if he really pisses her off.

Esther smiles luxuriously. She doesn't care much for boys, but there's a certain appeal when they look at her all scared and horny despite themselves, trying to cover it up with anger and bravado.

She spreads her knees a little wider, sees his eyes flick down to the slit in her skirt, the fishnets underneath. She grinds down on him, just a quick dip and circle of her hips, then another, harder.

He gasps, looking up at her all wide-eyed and confused, which is just precious.

"Oh come on," she says. "You've been inside me before, haven't you? Without my permission, I might add. Kinda fuckin' rude, don't you think?"

She leans in and he flinches back, then hisses as the collar digs in. She puts her lips to his ear.

"And did you think I wouldn't recognise you from my mirror the other night?" She says, dark and low. "Don't pretend you don't want this."

She rocks her hips back and forth a bit until.. oop, there it is. His trapped dick hard against her thigh.

When she leans back, pressed against him but no longer moving her hips, he ruts, once, against her. Then he bites his lip, balls his hands into fists, and forces himself still.

Esther sighs deeply.

"Or would you prefer I went back to playing with your little friend?"

Oh, he is devastated. So many emotions at war on that pretty face. But not for long.

"Fuck me," he blurts out. "Please." And he sounds so miserable, so defeated, that she almost does.

"Oh honey, no. We're just taking the edge off. Maybe later though."

She goes back to grinding on him, punishingly hard. Her panties are soaked but there's friction from the fishnets, and she feels him tremble under her.

She presses his face to her chest and, despite the sizzle of iron against his throat, he comes with a choked sob. And that has her coming too, harder than she has in ages.

"Good boy," she pants.

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 9/17/2024

come take this very very friendly little man out of my bathroom! he is fiv+ and we are in houston tx! i am willing to drive a couple hours for the right home! he is a good boy he's just orange! more details here!

listening

emily jeffri's DENY off my spotify recommended weekly playlist: i can only describe it as "throbbing". immediately attention grabbing lyrics:

What kind of lover does your mother want? I'll do whatever, oh but you could not

very distinctly indie electronica. this would be the song in a cyberpunk/80s hacker movie where the chase takes you through an goth/alt fashion show where the models are actively giving blood as they walk or something.

i love the spotify daily mix for me and my bestie bc there's a guaranteed four bluey songs on it and it's a nice jumpscare. i know my mental health is taking a turn for the worse when a lot of mother mother starts popping up, i know my bestie's is taking a turn for the worse when a lot of girl in red starts popping up. suicide-watch-level sapphic angst singer-songwriter, generally. except for this song! extremely fun! didn't even recognize it as her! DOING IT AGAIN BABY is a more traditional selling-you-a-dodge-charger car commercial song and it's such a startling departure from her usual work that i wonder if it was a commercial commission? hard to immediately find out tho

I'm on a new level Something's got me feelin' like I could be inflammable And I might be I'm gonna light it up Nothing's gonna stop me if I say this is what I want

-

reading

i read twilight (yes that one) at the behest of my bestie and bc my mental health could not have gotten any worse in that moment. it has led to some uncomfortable realizations about my high school experience i will save for a therapist. i am mostly putting it here to remind myself that i read this book this year.

^ this is some silly goofy nonsense. not that i think people shouldn't be recognized at their retirement, but what happened to giving people nice watches instead of a thousand dollars in plaques

Saying that, the records did reveal something actually interesting: although the individual contract I sent a request related to was for a few thousand dollars, an attached blank purchase agreement (BPA) says that “the government estimates, but does not guarantee, that the volume of purchases through this BPA will be $360,000.00 over the term of the BPA.” So, a lot more than a few thousand bucks.

-

watching

Hang 'Em High (1968, dir. Post). certainly not clint's sluttiest role but really up there. i do wish he kept the fucked-out little rasp for the whole movie :(

When an innocent man barely survives a lynching, he returns as a lawman determined to bring the vigilantes to justice.

it has a typical bizarre shoehorned romance that (i think) deeply undercuts the theme it wants to explore, but there is no on-screen rape. the bar is on the FLOOR with westerns and yet i DNF so so so many.

hell of a whump film. literally everything happens to jed cooper. i will trumpet this again from the rooftops: that character needs cbt both ways.

-

playing

HIGHWATER, a 2022 adventure/turn based strategy thing from Rogue Games, courtesy of Netflix Games, whose game library is a fucking nightmare to navigate on mobile.

i loooove a water-based postapoc. the boat does in fact handle very poorly and like a horrible inflatable raft on mobile, which is both charming and frustrating.

i do not love a turn-based combat. despite the vibes off the charts, including a very well integrated "pirate radio" station as the game's soundtrack, i am not patient enough to muddle through complex turn-based combat. i'm sure someone had fun fighting off six guys and two bears (who aggro anyone and can one-hit anyone) and then a further three guys who show up for backup but i gave it the good old college try over two days and wasn't able to swing it. it would be nice to have either a difficulty setting or some way to spectate the ideal fight, but alas. a lot of fun environmental stuff in the fights you can use to your advantage, like the bears and these trees you can flatten your opponents with in a much earlier fight. there's a fun mix of different characters with different abilities and different weapons you pick up and keep during fights. i have no specific beef with this game's choice to make this the way you move through the game, it's just not my preferred genre.

a lot of book and newspaper collectibles in this one that i feel of several minds about. it feels less like environmental storytelling through newspapers and just the devs telling me their opinion when they provide little book summaries like this. also i wish The Industry as a whole was more thoughtful about using the word "insurgent".

not a game for me, i have once again confirmed that i cannot tolerate a turn-based combat no matter how much seafaring postapoc you drench it in :(

-

making

got a Phantom Menace era curtain panel for $4 at the thrift, and i was convinced it was fabric someone had made into a curtain panel until i got home and discovered it was an officially licensed product with bafflingly generous seams.

it's about two-ish yards of a 50/50 cotton/poly blend, which i feel like i haven't seen in a while? i think the current fashion leans more 70/30 or 100 poly for curtains i've purchased. after i finish unpicking the seams and pinking it, i am going to throw it in the wash again with some vinegar and see if that softens it up any, or if it makes the transition between the wear lines on the seams and the body of the fabric any nicer.

thinking about what kind of dress to make that 1) shows off this extremely large scale pattern 2) does not look like i am wearing a paper bag, and 3) does not look like the late aughts craft trend of sewing a twin flat Star Wars sheet to a tube top and calling that a dress, bc that's how hard up we were for feminine merch. much to consider. maybe it Will be a maxi skirt with pockets and i can wear one of my seventy black tees on top?

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for...

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1. Hello (＾▽＾) I would really like to read some good WWX focused fics! so please can you share any that you think are underappreciated?

when the sun goes out by travelingneuritis (E, 176k, WangXian, Modern Cultivation, tech cultivation, Necromancy, Angst with a Happy Ending, insecurity around adoption, Dad!WWX, dad!lwj, Grief/Mourning, Mistaken Identity, Mood Whiplash, Body Swap, sex tears!, Falling In Love, Consensual Somnophilia, apocalypse (localized), Smut, unrealistic sexual stamina, Flashbacks, Time Skips, Illustrations) Kindof a modern-au retelling, flavors of cyberpunk?? Like, reminds me a lot of William Gibson. But incredible story & gorgeous illustrations.

The Tiger has Destroyed his Cage by updatebug (G, 54k, WangXian, Shapeshifters, Fix-it fic, Animal Pelts, Tiger WWX, Found Family, adopted family, Yungmeng Siblings, Canon appropriate angst and violence, Gratuitous OCs)

The Best I Can by Zephyr (ZephyrAndTheSilverfish) (T, 26k, LJY & WWX, wangxian, WWX talking to his donkey, Canon Divergence, Light Angst, Drama, Recovery, Coming of Age, Secret Identity Fail, Friendship, Rogue Cultivator LWJ, Road Trips, POV Multiple, Happy Ending)

Something Yet to Learn by Glitterbombshell (T, 16k, WangXian, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff)

Say More by lettered (E, 95k, WangXian, WangYu, Modern AU, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, non-graphic drug use, non-graphic withdrawal, Drug Addiction, one suicidal thought, negative thought, wwx struggles with Mandarin and feeling connected to Chinese culture, Compulsory Heterosexuality, wwx kisses a girl, Sexuality Crisis, Gay Panic, incorrect definition of omnisexuality, Open Relationships, Masochistic Fantasies, non-graphic sadomascochistic realities, humiliation fantasies, Submission Fantasies, some D/s realities, one condomless blowjob, suggestions of some unhealthy co-dependence, Possessive Behavior, Slight Consensual Non-Consent, Frottage, the open relationship is not wangxian, since people keep asking)

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2. I’m in the mood for some good omega!xian fics with LWJ being protective of him 😻

The early bird gets the worm, the early fox gets the bird. But the dragon wakes the earliest of them all by sekhmetpaws (E, 52k, WangXian, Foxxian, Dragonji, A/B/O Dynamics, Royalty, Prince LWJ, dragon LWJ, fox WWX, Arranged Marriage, but not really, Mistaken Identity, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ)

Coincidence is Another Man's Fate by TriviasFolly (M, 164k, wangxian, rape/non-con, modern, ABO, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Sexual Harassment, Implied/Referenced Sexual Harassment, WangXian play the long game, UNTIL THEY DON'T, Getting Together, fated pairs, Eventual Attempted Sexual Assult and Recovery, Office au, Mpreg)

Disruptions 🔒 by mondengel (M, 3k, wangxian, ABO, Mating Cycles/In Heat)

kiss it better by azuresummer (E, 16k, wangxian, modern, ABO, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Dom/sub, Dom/sub Undertones, Dominant LWJ, Submissive WWX, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Panic Attacks, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Hurt/Comfort, First Time, Getting Together, Crossdressing, Virginity Kink, Size Kink, Size Difference, Light Bondage, Knotting, Creampie, Breeding Kink, wangxian Have a Breeding Kink, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Mating, Mating Bites, Possessive LWJ, Protective LWJ)

Instincts by Dixielis (M, 5k, wangxian, ABO, underage, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, Hurt/Comfort, WWX Whump, not YZY friendly, LWJ is So Whipped, First Time, Marriage, Nesting, Supportive LXC, Good Parent LQR, Soft wangxian, Implied/Referenced Abuse)

Insert Coin Now for Extra Life by TriviasFolly (E, 201k, wangxian, modern, ABO, Intersex Omegas, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, Marriage contract au, Twitch Streamer WWX, fluff and smut, caring for other while sick, Possessive LWJ, Rare Male Omegas, Pack Dynamics, Sugar Baby vibes, Eventual Smut, Brief mention of lwj/others)

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3. do you know some stories where Wei Wuxian is either adopted before the Jiang found him, either is the object of a custody battle because a lot of sects see how badly he's treated by the lady jiang? (Not the Wen because except the siblings that we love, not a lot would give Wei Xuxian the love that he deserves and he would be even more used by the chief)

Become Tomorrow by ShanaStoryteller (Not rated, 39k, wangxian, BSSR/LY, Alternate Universe, a story full of tragic pining gays, and one chaotic gremlin, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, WWX is BSSR's disciple) WWX is adopted by BSSR

A Matter of Time series by mrcformoso (E, 70 k, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, POV LWJ, POV JC, Dark LWJ, Manipulation, Grooming, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Consensual Underage Sex, Except problematic please read warning in first chapter, Blood and Violence, Insane LWJ, Manic LWJ, Conditioning, WWX is a Lán, Minor Character Death, Confused JC, Golden Core Reveal, Good Friend NHS, WWX Isn’t Adopted by the Jiāngs, Abusive Jiāng Family, Jiāng Family Bashing, Jiāng Family Critical, POV NHS, Dark NHS, Anal Sex, Marathon Sex, Dual Cultivation, Qīnghéng-jūn Lives, LWJ Has a Big Dick, WWX Self-Lubricates, Plot Twists, Porn With Plot, Scheming NHS, Manipulative NHS, BAMF LWJ, BAMF WWX) WWX is adopted before the Jiang find him, but mind the tags as LWJ has time-travelled so is technically an adult

🧡 Stunted, Starving Juvenility by TomatenMark (E, 712k, WangXian, WIP, Fix-it of sorts, Talisman master WWX, Not JFM Friendly, Study Arc, Getting together, Fluff and Angst, Engagement) The Lans push for a betrothal between WWX & LWJ after seeing WWX's talent with talismans & the betrothal negotiations are absolutely a custody battle

Different Sect Wei Wuxian AUs 🔒 series by Reverie (cl410) (M/T, 105k, LXC/NMJ, wangxian, JYL/JZX, MM/WQ, SL/XXC, Canon Divergence)

there is a comp for wwx being adopted by other

every world, every universe by glitteringmoonlight (T, 4k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, WWX is in Tingshan He, WWX Isn't Adopted by the Jiāngs, Fix-It of Sorts, Genius WWX)

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4. itmf some sssvs and mdzs crossovers. even though they were completely different from one another, i really enjoyed "if wishes were donkeys" and "death comes first" and i have read all the ones you linked on your mxtx crossover masterlist. i just think there is so much potential between the characters from both novels + if it could be wwx-centric i would prefer, wangxian too, obviously.

- @yillings

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5. Itmf fics where wwx initially rejects lwj, thinks he's too boring, etc... main thing is, lwj is in love with him initially, wwx isn't and cruel, slightly callous abt it etc. As time passes, lwj comes to accept this and stops trying, but then wwx starts falling for him and the tables- flip! Cue wwx realising his mistake and doing everything to make it right. Arranged marriage aus are natural fits for this, but not necessary. Would love lwj not taking wwx's advances seriously and being slightly oblivious abt it. If nsfw, bottom!lwj preferred. Thanks 😊 @jawla-mukhi

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6. Hiii! I'll make it quick and short. I'm in the mood for a fic where lwj is wwx's disciple(preferably not modern). Thanks! @dizzydandelionsandhyperhydrillas

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7. Hello Mod L/K/C (I hope I have that right!) Do you have any recs for just fluffy WangXian? Thanks in advance if possible @nebuluscharlie

The Art of Communication by mrcformoso (G, 4k, wangxian, modern, College/University, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Meet-Cute, Engineering Student WWX, Music Student LWJ, Swimmer WWX, Martial Artist LWJ, POV Outsider, POV WWX, POV LWJ, Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurts, When your individual communication issues complement each other, Communication Issues, But Wanxian Makes it Work, LWJ has limited words, WWX has too many words, Falling In Love, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Love Languages, Requited Love, Podfic Available)

Dazzle Like a Diamond by Tsukimiko_san (T, 4k, wangxian, Dragon LWJ, Crow WWX, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, No Angst, ok maybe a tiny sprinkle of angst but like, usual LWJ thinking WWX is just teasing him, it doesn't last long, Getting Together, they are both so whipped, Boys Kissing, Courting Rituals)

Honesty is the Best Policy (But it Scares the Living Hell Out of Me) by Elpie (Horribibble) (T, 2k, wangxian, Soulmates, Truth, Fluff, Humor, Comfort No Hurt, Twin Jades of Lán Feels, Twin Prides of Yúnmèng Feels)

Wei Wuxian’s Home for Lost Creatures by Stratisphyre (G, 22k, wangxian, LSZ & WWX & LWJ, modern w magic, Fusion, Fluff, Single Dad LWJ, Near Drowning, injured animals, First Meetings, Falling In Love)

A Study in Fluff by WeaverOfTheNight (T, 29k, wangxian, Modern with Magic, Everyone Lives AU, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, literal plot bunnies, Getting Together, A-Yuan is the best boy, POV Alternating)

i know who i want to take me home by ScarlettStorm (E, 16k, wangxian, modern, bartender WWX, drunk LWJ, caretaking, meet-cute, fluff, comedy, smut, minor angst, major shenanigans)

Love Cats series by so_shhy (T, 14k, wangxian, modern, Meet-Cute, Fluff, WWX is wet and adorable in a tree, With a Cat, LWJ had no chance, Don't Try This At Home, First Dates, Falling in Love)

Step right up! by failedcharismacheck (T, 7k, wangxian, Modern, High School, Teen Romance, Fluff, First Kiss, Getting Together, Awkward Flirting, new friends to boyfriends, LWJ plays animal crossing, Spanish Translation Available)

Bunny Tales series by sunnific (T, 7k, wangxian, modern, Meet-Cute, Rabbits, wangxian meet in a pet supply store, Fluff, Falling In Love, light humour, First Kiss)

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8. ITMF wwx being in an abusive relationship and someone notices. Preferably jiang Cheng or lan Wangji, but anyone else does too!

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9. Hi beautiful people 💜

I’m in a mood for some wangxian on the beach ‘cause where I live it’s already snow ❄️

Can be just wangxian or WX+ juniors or everyone, also can be any AU

Thank you for your work 💜💜💜 @shirikitsunenice

ocean swell by daltoneering (E, 11k, WangXian, Modern AU, Established Relationship, lifestyle kink, 24/7 D/s, dom lwj, Sub wwx, Holidays, Beach Sex, BDSM, Blowjobs, Prostate Milking, Brat WWX) wangxian are on a beach holiday

down by the water by astrolesbian (E, 60k, WangXian, Modern AU, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Surfer LWJ, Surfer WWX, complicated family relationships, mention of drowning, but no actual drowning is described, fluff and smut and angst, Reconciliation) I love this fic to bits!

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10. Hello! 💓💓 For the next ITMF, do you know any fics A) where there's a connection between Wen and Lan? Like for example, Madam Lan being Wen, WRH and LQR pairing, or them having a child, and the like.

B) Modern setting without power, healthy relationship with everyone: no jiang bashing, no lan bashing, no bad parents etc.

10B)

The Art of Communication by mrcformoso (G, 4k, wangxian, modern, College/University, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Meet-Cute, Engineering Student WWX, Music Student LWJ, Swimmer WWX, Martial Artist LWJ, POV Outsider, POV WWX, POV LWJ, Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurts, When your individual communication issues complement each other, Communication Issues, But Wanxian Makes it Work, LWJ has limited words, WWX has too many words, Falling In Love, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Love Languages, Requited Love, Podfic Available) link in #7

Just Ask Me To Stay by mrcformoso (M, 30k, wangxian, modern, Former JZN/WWX, Dancer WWX, Musician LWJ, Roommates, Best Friends, Friends to Lovers, Break Up, Post-Break Up, Recovery, Family, Realizing Your Best Friend is the Love of Your Life, WWX Has Self-Esteem Issues, And LWJ is not having it, Sex as Self Worth Reaffirmation, Fluff, Light Angst, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Oral Sex, LWJ Has a Big Dick, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Size Queen WWX, Belly Bulge, Porn With Plot, WWX Has Friends, LWJ Has Friends, Hurt/Comfort, Romantic Comedy, Cute, Feel-good)

🧡 Faire thee well by Scrippio (T, 77k, WangXian, ChengQing, XuanLi, 3Zun, Modern AU, Renaissance Faire, Mutual Pining, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Slow Burn)

~*~

11. Hello! 'I'm in the Mood For' character watch/react fanfics and can you guys recommend some that doesn't exclude Wei Ying? Like he is in there reacting too and not outside? Other than that, I don't mind! Thanks in advance :]

Song of Joy and Regrets by HelloKitten (Not Rated, 134k, wangxian, hualian, WIP, TGCF, Angst, Self-Harm, Child Abuse, characters watching their series, Time Travel Fix-it)

The Characters of MDZS Watching the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by emma_screams (M, 153k, WIP, WangXian, Humor, Fluff, Angst, Drama, Characters watching their series)

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12. For itmf, does anyone have any recs for JGY-friendly time travel fic? It doesn't have to focus on him, just, something that doesn't make him an irredeemable villain before he even has a chance to do anything (because time travel). Thanks!

Here Again (Spirits Rise, Unbroken) by TheDefenestrator (T, 74k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Time Travel Fix-It, Slow Burn, Happy Ending) Unfinished & possibly abandoned fic but a really interesting one. WWX travels back in time from right after his resurrection, with LXC's help -- and LXC requests that WWX fix things for JGY too. It's mostly focused on Lotus Pier but how WWX address the request and how WWX-JGY relationship develops is IMO one of the highlights of the fic

Shards of Hope by Dreaming_Days (T, 80k, JGY/LXC, wangxian, Time Travel Fix-It, Redemption, Character Study, WIP) This one is jgy time travel, and it IS jgy centric. Highly recommend!

~*~

13. Are there any fics where Hanguang jun feels guilty over not being there for wei Ying in his first life while he is married to wei Ying or other characters blaming him for it while he is married to wei Ying

Smoke and Mirrors by mrcformoso (T, 5k, wangxian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Post-Canon, WWX Has Chronic Pain, WWX Has Issues, WWX has Phantom Pain, WWX was Malnourished, Sad LWJ, POV WWX, WWX is always cold, Chronic Pain, Phantom pain, migraines, Malounirshment, Suicidal WWX, Suicidal Thoughts, Implied/Referenced Suicide, mirror therapy, Minor Original Character(s), Good Friend NHS, Protective LWJ, Regretful LWJ, Crying, Happy Ending, Hopeful Ending, WWX's body is normal but he still feels as if it isnt, Made up Nie Clan lore)

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14. Good day!!! Is there any fic where wwx turned his back on the cultivation world? like he doesnt give a fck about them, any similarities will do. Thank youuu!

Lay my body down by tawaen (M, 48k, WWX & WQ, WWX & WN, wangxian, WWX & JYL, canon divergence, time travel, rogue cultivator WWX, no golden core transfer, not cultivation world friendly, not JC friendly, OCs) WWX lets the cultivation world think he's dead after the fall of LP

Home isn’t Where the Heart is. by Hauntcats (Not Rated, 7k, WangXian) WWX nopes tf out after being resurrected

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15. Hello!! Any fanfic with assumed cheating? (No actual cheating happens, and wangxian doesn't break up)

The Guests of Cloud Recesses by cafecliche (T, 10k, wangxian, Post-Canon, brief horror imagery, Grief/Mourning, parsing out your trauma and also your in-laws: now with ghosts, Fluff, Light Angst, Case Fic, Podfic Available) How about one where someone else assumes LWJ is cheating on WWX b/c they don't recognize him in MXY's body?

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16. Hellooo! I’ve been reading a lot of modern au fanfics, that I can barely read anything else, but I can’t find any good long Moder AUs anymore. I really don’t care what it’s about, but happy ending and something like “A garden to call ours” or “How Wei Ying went from Oblivious to…” These kind of fanfics hold my heart. I don’t really care if it’s too short or long, just something with plot and fluff :))

Just Ask Me To Stay by mrcformoso (M, 30k, wangxian, modern, Former JZN/WWX, Dancer WWX, Musician LWJ, Roommates, Best Friends, Friends to Lovers, Break Up, Post-Break Up, Recovery, Family, Realizing Your Best Friend is the Love of Your Life, WWX Has Self-Esteem Issues, And LWJ is not having it, Sex as Self Worth Reaffirmation, Fluff, Light Angst, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Oral Sex, LWJ Has a Big Dick, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Size Queen WWX, Belly Bulge, Porn With Plot, WWX Has Friends, LWJ Has Friends, Hurt/Comfort, Romantic Comedy, Cute, Feel-good) link in #10B

In the Arms of an Angel by Wrenwolf (M, 120k, WIP, WangXian, Modern AU, Time Travel, Soulmates, Stripper/Exotic Dancer, Exotic Dancer WWX, Exotic Dancer NHS, Time Traveler LWJ, Angst, Humour, Brotherly Bonds, Soulmates through many lives, Only Lan Zhan remembers, Past Life Regression, Explicit Sex, WY and NHS are Found Family, Eventual HEA, Bisexual WWX, Non-Binary NHS, Reincarnation, Transmigration) WIP updates are irregular but damn that's a good story

Beneath Your Skin by Wrenwolf (E, 147k, WangXian, NieLan, Modern AU, Tattoos, Small Town, Idiots in Love, Mutual Pining, Fluff and Humor, Angst and Humor, Sexual Humor, Bad Humor, Slapstick, Brotherly Love, explicit sex eventually, Two POVs, A touch of kink, Panic Attacks, Anxiety Disorder, Found Family, Rabbit-babies) same author, complete work, literaly owns my heart

Say More by lettered (E, 95k, WangXian, WangYu, Modern AU, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, non-graphic drug use, non-graphic withdrawal, Drug Addiction, one suicidal thought, negative thought, wwx struggles with Mandarin and feeling connected to Chinese culture, Compulsory Heterosexuality, wwx kisses a girl, Sexuality Crisis, Gay Panic, incorrect definition of omnisexuality, Open Relationships, Masochistic Fantasies, non-graphic sadomascochistic realities, humiliation fantasies, Submission Fantasies, some D/s realities, one condomless blowjob, suggestions of some unhealthy co-dependence, Possessive Behavior, Slight Consensual Non-Consent, Frottage, the open relationship is not wangxian, since people keep asking)(link in #1) good long modern fanfic

Keep You Safe by airinshaw (E, 26k, Female WangXian, Modern AU, Rule 63, Kissing Cunnilingus, sgwy, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Pregnancy)

Like a Game of Chess by countingcr0ws (T, 36k, WangXian, Modern AU, Modern: No Powers, Strangers to Lovers, Travel, Mutual Pining, Flirting, Romance, Love Poems, Social Media, Sexual Humor, Banter, Red String of Fate, Footnotes)

some things go forward by everythingispoetry (T, 73k, WangXian, Modern AU, Hospitals, Teenage Drama, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Happy Ending)

together, we’re just enough by lulu_kitty (E, 134k, WangXian, Modern AU, Bartender LWJ, single dad wwx, Kid fic (sort of), Excessive Fluff, Yearning, barely there plot, neurodivergent wangxian, canonical parental issues, lwj in jewelry, accidental sugar gege wwx, fluff and eventual smut, Bottom LWJ, Service Top WWX, Bisexual WWX, Rich WWX, a-yuan is a wei but still also a wen, wwx is a-yuan’s biological baba, Older WWX, Younger LWJ, Slow-ish burn, Light Dom/sub)

Come Around and Stay by trippednfell (M, 160k, WangXian, NieLan, Modern AU, Slow Burn, Kid Fic, Found Family, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, PTSD, Blood and Injury, Dissociation, So much trauma, Angst with a Happy Ending, Musicals, POV Alternating, Baking, Yunmeng reconciliation (eventually), Friend Zoning, Literal Sleeping Together, Hurt/Comfort, Panic Attacks)

Once Upon a Place by zeldasayre (E, 80k, WangXian, House restoration, Falling In Love, Misunderstandings, Enemies to Lovers, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Bisexual WWX, Trans Male WWX, Gay LWJ, JYL & LWJ Friendship, Modern AU, Set somewhere in America, Tattoo Artist WWX, Librarian LWJ, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn, Domestic)

got your way with me by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 51k, wangxian, modern, Friends With Benefits, Fuckbuddies, in which brain cells are barely used, WWX is always the last to know, wangxian/others very briefly, otherwise it's OTP all the way, LWJ FUCKS)

Falling to the Rhythm by Selenay (E, 128k, WangXian, Modern: No Powers, Dance, Strictly Come Dancing Fusion, Ballroom Dancing, Dancer!WWX, Violinist LWJ, Pining While Dancing, Oblivious WWX, Gratuitous Costume Descriptions, Gratuitous dancing descriptions, Slow Burn)

you’ve ruined my life (by not being mine) 🔒 by cicer (E, 132k, WangXian, Modern AU, Developing Relationship, Idiots in Love, Awkward Flirting, teenage romance, Shameless WWX, slowburn, Demisexuality, references to lqr’s a+ parenting, references to jfm’s a+ parenting, but we’re gonna get a happy ending ANYWAY, references to yzy’s a+ parenting, Background NMJ/LXC, hints of nmj/lxc/jgy, bottom LWJ in chapter 15)

~*~

17. Hello! Are there any fics where Wang Lingjiao is an actual person and not a cliché? She has one chapter in Meyari 's excellent Moments of Revelation, but that made me wonder about her more @chalinokat

Unfridging MDZS Women Bingo 2023 Chapter 2 by liverbiver9 (T, 13k, JGY/QS, Canon Divergence, YZY neutral/complicated, Sunshot Campaign, Found Family, hyperspecific worldbuilding, Rogue Cultivator WWX, WLJ Redemption, Genderqueer Character, Nonbinary Character, Xuánwǔ of Slaughter Cave, WC Being an Asshole, QS Deserves Better, QS Lives, Alternative forms of cultivation, Grief, Revenge) one of the chapters centers around wlj, and there are more recs in the comments of the fic!

Ad Oblivione by Baph, HikariNoHimeWriter (M, 70k, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, Temporary Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, POV Multiple, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Identity Reveal, Golden Core Reveal, Cultivation World Critical, Not JC Friendly, Abusive YZY, Angst with a Happy Ending) Not sure this counts as it's a small part of the fic & WLJ herself is barely in it, but WWX is accompanied by a ghost who is revealed to be WLJ's mother & gives hints at the character's backstory.

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[ao3userwalkingonfirex]

Blog FAQ

What fandoms do you write? 

Exclusively bandom rpf, specifically All Time Low. It’s always going to be Jack Barakat/Alex Gaskarth (Jalex) slash, sometimes paired with Zack Merrick/Rian Dawson (Zian). Sometimes, I include the boys with others for narrative reasons, but Jalex is it for me. Lol. 

What genres do you write?

ANGST. Not so much death, but I like soap opera-levels of drama and pining. If it doesn’t include emotional pain and suffering, I don’t want it. I love a happy ending after a long whump, but that’s not always how my stuff goes. Open-ended endings are my favorite. I have written fluff a few times, but it’s just not my favorite. A lot of my fics are smutty, but I haven’t written kink before, and typically the smut is necessary for narrative purposes. Friendly reminder that this blog and my fics are NOT intended for minors and I strongly discourage minors from engaging with my content. 

What can I expect to see on this blog? 

Hopefully, writing asks, updates, musings, reblogs, and memes. I also like to wax poetic complain about writing in general, so there might be a few of those. Respectfully, this isn’t the place to discuss drama and tea about All Time Low, but you are more than welcome to send that over to my main blog. I’m also hoping to get some writing challenges here. 

Can I send requests? 

Not right now, sorry. I’m trying to finish a novel-length work that I’ve been writing and developing since before 2019 and I can’t really have any distractions until that’s done. Maybe some day. 

Do you have any formal training? 

I was an English and Creative Writing double major in college and I also have a Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a focus in English and Creative Writing. Some of my original fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have been published, but I don’t know that this is the place to share them. Lol. 

Where can I read your fics? 

AO3: walkingonfirex Mibba: walkingonfirex (inactive) Wattpad: walkingonfirex  I have other, older fics on some other sites, but they’re not about All Time Low, so I don’t see any reason to link them. Besides, a lot of those older fics are also still on my AO3 and Wattpad. If you’re curious, message me and I might tell you, but they’re pretty niche fandoms, so I can’t see why anyone would be interested. They’re also not hard to find lol. 

How can I support you?

Literally, just the fact that people read my silly little stories at all means the fucking world to me. However, kudos and comments are the absolute best way! I get overjoyed every time I get an ao3 notification in my email. That’s all I really need. Buuuut if you really want to do something more, you can buy me a ko-fi!

Thank you times one million to @ao3usermelancholyhues for letting me use her blog as inspiration!! Please follow her and read her stuff.

[tenpintsof-sundrop]

I only just recently read Burn The Witch and i loved it so much. It’s wild to me (but also not really) that people paid the most attention to the smut chapter than anything else when to me, my favourite thing about that series was the gritty, darker parts of it.

That is something that personally I love so much about your writing, I love it when it gets gruesome and hard to read because it draws me in even more. Since I’m a huge angst/whump reader might give me a bias but it goes without saying that you are really fucking good at writing fics with horror/angst elements.

It baffles me when people get butt hurt about how a fic ends or how a characters acts in a fic because like- if you don’t like it then just…don’t read it? Go find another fic and just leave it at that? Better yet, just go back to reading or watching the source material… People’s urge to just tear down other people for the select reason being that they don’t like it is so insane to me. Is it hurting anyone? Nope, okay then move on with your day. It’s as simple as that!!

this message literally makes me so happy omg.

I love writing angst and whump and horror so much. I love it. it is something I love writing even more that smut (and the reason most of my fics are smut is because I enjoy writing it) - but I find that I am almost afraid to write it, because I am afraid of my fics being too dark and too depressing. like the things I want to write are like those 'top ten most disturbing horror movies' - those movies that people watch just for shock value that they have to turn off half way through

I love writing visceral, descriptive horror. I love writing gut wrenching angst. but I am always afraid of going too far with it (even if I put warnings on it).

also friendly reminder that my requests for TWD are open (idk if you watch the show and you're familiar with the characters? I don't remember if you have mentioned that before) - but this would be a great opportunity for you to request something really angsty and whumpy for that fandom (especially because TWD is such a great backdrop for writing angst).

writing Burn The Witch was one of the most eye-opening experiences I had as an artist, because writing the scenes of emotional angst and physical torture were some of the most fun I had, and a time where I stretched my legs creatively where I had been static for a long time (writing simple smut fics in a kind of routine?) - and it really reawakened me as an artist. it made me realize that I can write stories beyond simple smut (and you can see that in so many stories I have written since then) - but I was disheartening for me to post that story and see people only pay attention to the smut chapter when the parts I was post brought of was every single chapter after it.

anyway - thank you so so much for this message. it really means a lot to me. and this will probably inspire me to pay more attention to my angsty ideas in the future <3

[fangirlshrewt97]

Geralt Whump Week Day 2 Submission

TITLE: Scars From A Lioness

SHIPS: Geralt of Rivia / Jaskier|Dandelion

PROMPT DAY: Potions

MEDIUM (Netflix, Books, Games, Hexer): Netflix

WARNINGS: NA

SUMMARY:   Ciri was up with the sun, bouncing with excitement for the day. Finally, after weeks of begging, Geralt had said she could learn how to make a Witcher potion. A.K.A: Ciri learns how to make potions, there is family bonding, and Geralt gets hurt but its ok, he gets better. Ciri feels awful though.

WORD COUNT: 5737 words

AUTHOR’S NOTES:  Additional tags include  Prompt: Potions, Whump, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, Family Bonding, Kaer Morhen, Cirilla is adopted by all the Witchers, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort, Soft, Soft Witchers, Established Relationship, Established Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier | Dandelion, I wanted to write a fic where we get to see Cirilla learning stuff from the witchers, This fic is really cute I promise, more fluff than whump, And so much softness

AUTHOR: Fangirlshrewt97

CHARACTERS: Geralt of Rivia, Cirilla Fiona Elen Rhiannon, Jaskier, Lambert, Eskel, Vesemir

LINK TO AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25035172

                                                      /////

Ciri was up with the sun, bouncing with excitement for the day. Finally, after weeks of begging, Geralt had said she could learn how to make a Witcher potion. If Jaskier had been with them, Ciri was sure she could have gotten the Witcher to cave in sooner, but the bard had had a request to play at the Kaedwanian court, and having allies would only help them. Nilfgaard was still looking for her, which meant it had been nearing a year since she had arrived at Kaer Morhen and not left. She didn’t mind, she liked the castle, the ruins were a little scary but they also reminded her of Grandfather Eist’s bedtime stories of heroes and monsters. And if she behaved really well, Vesemir would tell her a story of one of his hunts that rivaled any of her grandfather’s stories.

Uncle Eskel and Lambert had also been helpful, teaching her all about fighting with a sword and hand-to-hand, though she thought they did that more as an excuse to tackle each other to the ground than to teach her anything. Ciri didn’t mind, it was fun to watch men the size of small mountains fling each other into walls like rag dolls and then get up and walk around as if that hadn’t just happened. They were never rough with her, but they also didn’t go easy, each day ended with more muscles aching than she knew she had. But the one thing that all four had been adamantly reluctant to budge on was Witcher potions. Or potions in general.

“It is too dangerous for you, Princess.” Uncle Eskel had explained.

“Those things could kill you Ciri, or give you a scar like knucklehead over there, and while his face might have been bad before the accident, yours is too pretty to risk damaging.” Lambert had advised before running out of the hall being chased by Eskel.

“Witcher potions are poisonous to humans Cirilla, and for many, the smoke alone is deadly. It is too great a risk.” Vesemir had stated with a finality to the discussion.

And of course, there was Geralt’s very eloquent “No.”

Ciri sighed. So many weeks of badgering, begging, and, even bartering for more chores had resulted in the reluctant agreement that all four Witchers would be in the room with her when she brewed the potion, Vesemir instructing and the other three as bodyguards to get her out of there is something started to go wrong. And that she would first start with human-friendly potions to understand the basics of brewing. Three Witchers seemed excessive for said job but they wouldn’t be dissuaded.

Ciri took off her clothes, using the nearby cloth to dip into the basin of water in her room and ran it across her body, wiping off the nightly sweat. All four had mentioned that potions were brewed beneath the keep, and it could get really hot in there, so it was better to soak in the hot springs after. Washing herself thoroughly, Ciri put on an old shirt of Uncle Lambert’s and the pants Uncle Eskel had sewn for her. She was plaiting her hair in a simple braid as she made her way down to the breakfast hall, finishing it right as she arrived.

The others were already there, Uncle Eskel and Grandfather Vesemir finishing with toasting the bread as Geralt and Lambert were eating. Skipping down to the area where they were sitting, she pressed a kiss to Geralt’s cheek before burrowing herself into Uncle Eskel’s side, an arm around his waist to steady herself.

“Morning cub, excited for the lesson are we?” Eskel said, amusement making his eyes twinkle. Ciri giggled and nodded her head.

“Well then Eskel, you better give the girl her food so we may all head down together. Don’t you think, cub?” Vesemir winked as he presented her a small bowl filled with dried fruits. Making a happy noise, Ciri took the offerings and gave her pseudo-grandfather a hug before going and settling next to Lambert. The youngest wolf just opened his arm so she could press herself into his side before starting to munch on her breakfast. All of them had learned early on the lion cub loved to cuddle, and while it had taken a bit to get used to so much physical affection, they had learned to treasure it.

Ciri was focused on her food and so completely missed the fond looks all four wolves sent her way.

Having spent decades being rejected and treated as beasts, here was this girl who through Destiny had found herself tied to a Witcher, and decided to embrace them all as her family. She had all of them wrapped around her little finger, ready to draw steel or silver at the slightest hint of sadness from the child. She had been afraid when she had arrived at the keep near the beginning of winter, escorted between Geralt and Jaskier. But it had only taken one extremely inappropriate joke from Lambert that all the others yelled at him for, for Ciri to giggle and relax. After that, it had been pathetically simple to see that these men were not the monsters everyone was convinced they were.

Eskel and Vesemir finished with the food and brought the rest of it to the table, Eskel sitting next to Geralt while Vesemir settled at the head of the table. The small family enjoyed the breakfast in silence, basking in the simple instance of each other’s company.

“Careful pup, you look ready to fall into your plate.” Geralt said as he gently nudged her leg with his. Ciri shook her head, a strand of hair coming loose.

“’M not.” Ciri said, punctuating it with a contradictory yawn.

Eskel and Vesemir smiled, whereas Lambert laughed.

“Sure about that menace?”

Ciri elbowed him in his side, turning her nose up in the perfect imitation of the obnoxious princess she had played so many times in court when dealing with insufferable nobles.

This got the other three to chuckle, and when Ciri peeked one eye open from where she had them closed, she saw even Geralt had a smile on his face, making her own grin grow.

“Vesemir she is abusing me.” Lambert complained, deadpan.

Eskel snorted. “That isn’t her abusing you. Her abusing you is her managing to throw a Witcher four times her age and size straight into the pile of hay for the horses. In one day.”

As they all laughed at Lambert’s indignation, Ciri settled contently into her food, joining in to the teasing. Uncle Lambert was so very easy to tease. And Ciri always had at least one person to back her up in case he turned on her.

Finishing up breakfast and cleaning up was a quick job between the five of them, and soon they were all headed to the potion making room. When they entered, they let Ciri go in first, giving her time to explore the space she hadn’t been allowed in before as they each settled into their seats.

The room was larger than she expected, twice the size of her bedroom, but with a low roof that Geralt and Eskel nearly brushed against. There were small windows running all along the walls, which when she looked closer realized functioned as vents to make sure the smoke did not fill the room. But since they had yet to start brewing, the room was cold, and she wrapped her arms around her self.

Moving from the windows, Ciri next went through the largest wall of the room, which had deep shelves carved into it, pulling out bottles of ingredients lining the walls. Some had fresh labels, the ones that were commonly used. For others, the labels were faded and the bottles covered in what seemed like a decade’s worth of dust. She was able to identify most of the herbs, remembered helping Vesemir sort them and place them into these very bottles. The last bottle she grabbed was murky, and when she rubbed at some of the grime, she nearly dropped it in shock when she saw an eyeball floating in there. The bottle escaped her grasp, her sharp gasp alerting the Witchers. Geralt was behind her in an instant, catching the bottle in his hand, his other a solid weight on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, they’re from deer.”

“I don’t know whether to be relieved for that answer or horrified you thought I thought you were using human eyeballs.” Ciri said, injecting as much bravado into her words as possible.

Geralt replaced the bottle in its original place and led her to the benches. Eskel and Lambert were on the side benches, and Ciri saw that Vesemir had set out two stations in the center tables. Geralt guided her to her station and then sat next to her. At her questioning glance, he just shook his head. Shrugging, Ciri looked to Vesemir. The eldest Witcher smiled at her and set about explaining the different equipment in front of her, as well as the ingredients he had set out in front of her.

The day passed like that, Vesemir talking her through the compositions of some of the basic potions all Witchers always needed to have in stock, Lambert and Eskel piping in with practical observations from how they made potions on the road. Geralt took her through the potions of cutting up the ingredients and measuring them, and the five of them ended the day satisfied, a fresh batch of Swallow made between them.

The small group was happy with their day, and chatted as they made their way to the hot springs. Since Ciri, and sometimes Yennefer, had taken residence at Kaer Morhen, the wolves had put up a make shift cover of sorts to grant them some privacy.

Ciri personally loved the hot springs. She had never had anything like this in Cintra, and it still felt like magic to her. The warm waters felt like they unknotted muscles she didn’t realize she had knots in, and it was absolutely divine after a sword training session. She hummed happily as she sunk into the waters, leaning against the edge of the pool as she allowed her body to half float.

“Lion cub, wash up quickly, I don’t want to have to rescue a raisin from the spring.” Geralt called from the other side of the curtain. The other wolves were also being uncharacteristically quiet. But then again she could only recall one other instance when all of them had entered the spring at the same time.

“Ok Geralt!” Ciri replied before getting up and reaching for the soap, scrubbing herself down quickly. Another submersion and Ciri shook out her hair from her braid, washing it quickly. Picking up the towel someone had laid out for her, she wrapped it around herself and walked to the small box she had kept in here to store clothes for moments like this. Removing a pair of soft pants and an old shirt of Geralt’s they had modified for her size, Ciri dried herself and changed into the clothes.

The rest of the day passed quickly, a big lunch and a small break where Vesemir took her to the library and gave her lessons of maths and geography. Geralt came to collect her after two hours and the two made their way to the courtyard where Eskel and Lambert were waiting for her. The four of them practiced for an hour, then Ciri was allowed to just sit back and watch as the wolves sparred with each other, no holds barred. She always liked seeing them fight with their full abilities, it was a nice reminder of just who was guarding her. Dinner was a rambunctious affair as always, and all too soon it was time for bed. Ciri barely removed her pants and laid in bed before she was out like a light, satisfaction coursing through her.

///

The week passed in a similar manner, with a quick breakfast, a potions lesson with all the wolves, covering a mix of human and Witcher potions, training sessions with swords and hand to hand combat, and ending with a lovely dinner Geralt and Ciri prepared for the others.

That morning, Ciri woke up feeling jittery again, but she couldn’t remember why until she got to the dining hall and saw a familiar emerald-colored doublet.

“Jaskier!” she cried out, running towards the bard who stood up and caught her, swinging her around as she shrieked with glee.

“Ciri! Apple of my eye, lion cub of my heart, how are you doing?” Jaskier asked as he guided them both to sit at the bench.

“Jask, I’ve learned so much! Uncle Lambert showed me this cool trick where I kick off the wall and use that to kick at someone’s head with the other leg, and Uncle Eskel showed me a way to build a trap that will make sure that whatever gets stuck in it can only be released when I open it, and Grandfather Vesemir has been teaching me potions!”

Jaskier’s eye had been steadily twitching throughout the tirade, a mental laundry list of all the things he needed to scold the Witchers for considering appropriate to teach a child, but the potions thing gave him pause. Geralt had long refused to teach him the most basic Witcher potions, positing that it was too dangerous. Then again, there was no safer place to try out a potion than under the watchful eyes of four Witchers.

The lecture Jaskier was preparing was already lasting over half an hour in his mind though.

///

As promised, Ciri convinced the others to let Jaskier sit in on the potions lesson, with Jaskier sitting behind Eskel. The Wolves reluctantly agreed but then proceeded to unanimously boot him out of the room after one hour where his scent kept spiking with so much anxiety every time Ciri used her knife to cut an ingredient. It was setting all the Witchers on edge and so they collectively pushed Jaskier out of the room and slammed the door in his face claiming “You are more likely to cause an accident than she is.” Jaskier had huffed but let them be, retreating to his room, resigned to hearing about what his adopted daughter had learned from her daily recap.

///

Another week passed in a similar manner, and Ciri got used to the routine, the potions lessons becoming her favorite. But still, there was a war going on outside the mountains the Keep was hidden in, and Winter had been thankfully mild this year relatively speaking, so the pass down the mountain had reopened much earlier than usual. Lambert had also noticed a pair of griffins mating nearby, which could pose a problem if they decided to nest, so Vesemir had split them up.

He instructed Lambert to go deal with the griffins while he and Eskel ventured to the nearest town to restock their food stores. Jaskier had argued that Geralt should accompany Lambert on the hunt, but all four Witchers had been adamant of not leaving them alone in the keep.

The next day, the three Witchers departed early in the morning, hoping to return by night fall the next day, or the following day’s morning at the latest. Ciri, Jaskier, and Geralt bid them farewell, the two humans huddled in extra blankets and cloaks that nevertheless did nothing to stop the blast of cold wind that seemed to cut right through the fabric and settled in their bones. Geralt had herded them to bed, allowing them a few extra hours of rest, and a relaxing day to laze about the keep. After weeks of rigorous labour and lessons and chores, both Ciri and Jaskier had promptly returned to bed and slept until Geralt woke them up for lunch.

They passed the day in a similar manner, with Jaskier playing a new song he had been composing while Geralt taught Ciri how to play Gwent.

"Geralt can we have another potions lesson tomorrow?” Ciri asked as they packed the deck away.

“It will only take the others a day to get back cub, have patience.”

“But you all have been telling me I’ve been doing a really good job. Come on, a simple one. You will still be there with me. Please?” Ciri asked, deploying her puppy eyes.

“Oof, low blow Princess.” she heard Jaskier mutter from where he was sitting on the furs in front of the fire.

Geralt’s face was twisted the way it always was when he was conflicted, so Ciri gave it one last push. “Please Ger?” she whined. With a pout.

Hook, line, and sinker. The Witcher folded like a hut made of paper. “Fine, but a simple one. And you listen to me. Every word.”

Ciri nodded her head so hard Jaskier feared it would come rolling off. She grinned bright enough to rival the fire he was sitting in front of and leaped from her seat to hug Geralt tightly around his neck while singing a chorus of ‘Thank you’s. She merrily skipped out of the room. Jaskier was nice enough to wait for her to be out of earshot before he mentioned how pathetically easily it was for a thirteen year old girl to defeat the White Wolf.

Geralt gave him a look that conveyed all the curse words he wanted to say. Jaskier laughed.

///

Geralt was nervous, but he could never let it show. It was just a simple potion, what could go wrong?

///

The potions room felt larger with just Geralt and Ciri in it, the absence of the others obvious and heavy in the air. Shaking off the slight unease, Geralt prepped his and Ciri’s stations as he had seen Vesemir do so.

The lesson started and everything was going well.

And it continued to go well.

They successfully brewed the potion.

Ciri was not the only one who felt as if she had accomplished something after the lesson.

///

Geralt brought up the following day’s lesson on his own, to Ciri’s delight. Jaskier shook his head at the two of them, but let them be.

“Can we try a new potion today Geralt?”

“No.”

“Please.”

“Ciri. I am still not sure if it is ok for us to be doing potions on our own anyways. Let’s stick with what you already know?”

“But we’ve been doing the same potions for weeks. Just one new potion? Please?” Ciri asked, employing her best pout and puppy eyes.

Geralt growled. One of these days he would build an immunity to them. Today was not that day.

“Fine. But you-”

“-listen to your every word and letter. I know, thank you Geralt, you are the best!” Ciri said as she cheered, pressing a kiss to Geralt’s cheek before skipping to her room.

“Fuck.”

“You are woefully defenseless against her.”

“Fuck off bard.”

Jaskier continued to laugh at his torment. What else was new.

///

It had been going well. Ciri had behaved just as she promised, she had diligently listened to his every instruction and done only that. He wasn’t sure if he had gone wrong in his teaching, or if he hadn’t checked the ingredients properly, but he heard a crackling sound. One that didn’t belong. His body reacted before his mind could think it through, and he pushed Ciri to the ground, covering her with his body as the potion started to fizzle and shoot boiling hot droplets all over the room. Having forgone his armor when he wasn’t doing sword training, his tunic was quickly destroyed by the potion, which burned itself into his skin.

Geralt clenched his teeth as more and more of the potion exploded from the table, landing on his skin and causing a sensation of being branded. Below him Ciri was distressed, trying to push him off, screaming his name, and when he didn’t budge, Jaskier’s.

Geralt couldn’t tell how much time had passed before the fizzling finally stopped, but he came to when multiple moments passed by with no new burned patches of skin appeared. The room was filled with the overwhelming scent of fear and burned skin, and underneath it, a faint smell of sulphur and charcoal clung heavy in the air. He stayed crouched over Ciri.

“lt! Geralt! Please, Geralt!” Ciri’s cries finally penetrated through his haze, and he looked down to meet tear-filled blue eyes, and a blotched face. Ciri’s voice was hoarse, as if she had been screaming for some time.

“Ci-ri?” Geralt grunted before collapsing onto his side so as to not crush her.

“Geralt? Geralt! Wake up, wake up, wake up, Geralt, please!” Ciri screamed, panic racing through her veins as a primal fear gripped her. She could feel her power swirling like a storm inside her, begging to be let out, the lump in her throat their only obstacle.

“lt? Ciri? Oh Melitele, what?” suddenly two strong arms came around her, lifting her. She screamed and clawed at the grip, but they held true.

She finally quietened when she saw Vesemir enter her field of vision, passing her to crouch by Geralt. “Cub, it’s me, stop fighting, it’s just me.” Ciri went limp once she realized she was being held in Uncle Eskel’s arms.

///

Geralt recalled collapsing, hearing Vesemir and Eskel and Jaskier come in, hearing Ciri screaming out for him. But the world was underwater, or maybe he was, but suddenly Vesemir was right there and he waved his hand in front of him, and all he knew was sleep.

///

“Damn it, Jaskier get it here!” Vesemir called out as Geralt succumbed to his Axii. The bard rushed in, a look of fear clearly painted on his face.

“Can you carry Ciri?”

Jaskier nodded.

“Eskel give him the pup, we need to get Geralt up to the infirmary.”

“Yes Vesemir” Eskel said, passing on the girl to Jaskier, who took her in a bridal carry, and stood aside to let Eskel and Vesemir lift Geralt and carried him out. He followed as far as the infirmary before Vesemir shot him a pointed glare. He nodded and took Ciri back to her room. Once she was in bed, he let some of the panic he felt come in.

Fuck, he had been in the dining area, working in a new song when Eskel and Vesemir had arrived. They had been discussing their purchases when both Witchers stiffened simultaneously and took off out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time.

He had only heard Ciri’s screams when he reached the floor where the potions room was. It made him want to vomit. Or tear off his skin.

And Geralt, fuck, Geralt had been steaming, literal tendrils of smoke rising from him. His Witcher had too much tolerance to ever express his pain, but his gaze had been unfocused, and in some ways that scared him the most. Geralt rarely succumbed to pain so easily.

///

Geralt woke up to even more burning. He jerked, trying to get away from it, only to realize he had been shackled to the slab he was lying on. A strong pair of arms landed on his shoulders, holding his down.

“-alt, relax, you are alright. It’s us, come on.” Eskel’s urgent voice broke through the fog.

The sound of his brother was enough to calm Geralt, and the man collapsed on the slab. Vesemir appeared in his field of vision when he opened his eyes. “We will discuss what has happened when you are more coherent. Right now I am going to place a burn salve, let me know if it helps our worsens the pain.”

Geralt nodded, clenching his jaw to brace for the pain.

Vesemir’s touch made him jerk, but the eldest Witcher had an iron grip on his thigh. The salve to the burn on his ankle was mercifully cooling, and Geralt hissed in relief. “Itsss niceeeeee.”

“Hmmm.” Vesemir said as he internally sighed in relief. He had Eskel shift to hold different parts of Geralt as he applied the salve.

The worst of the burns had been to Geralt’s back, his arms and ankles receiving some long but superficial burns, where the acid had hit the skin but slid off. They turned him on his back, wincing in sympathy as they saw burn marks all over his back starting from just below his neck to the edge of his pants’ waistband.

Geralt fell asleep at some point while they were rubbing the salve, so they left him sleeping, wrapping bandages across the worst of the burns. Most wouldn’t scar, although a couple in his back had been severe, the flesh wrinkling and black.

Vesemir hummed. “Scars from a lioness. These are scars he can be proud of.”

Time to get the bard.

///

Lambert had returned to a seemingly empty keep, and when he went searching, he heard humming from the cub’s room, so he followed Jaskier’s voice.

Inside, Jaskier was listlessly strumming his lute. Ciri was sleeping, which worried Lambert, it was the middle of the day, why was she asleep. When Jaskier turned to see him, the worry only increased ten fold at the sight of a hunted look in his eyes.

“What’s wrong Jaskier?”

///

When next Ciri woke up, she groaned as her head gave a painful throb.

“At last, the sleeping lioness wakes up.” Uncle Lambert declared as he peered over her, face looming.

“Uncle Lambert?”

“One and only pup. Can you sit up?”

Ciri nodded, so Lambert place this hands beneath her armpits and helped her up until she was sitting up against the headboard. Her headboard. She was in her room, in her bed.

“What happened?” and then as memories fluttered in, “Where’s Geralt?”

The panic was immediate and overpowering, making her scramble to get out of bed, stopped only by Lambert using all his power to keep her there. “Slow down, pup, Geralt will be fine. He is being taken care of. As for what happened, that’s what we are all wondering. Care to explain?”

“First tell me where Geralt is.”

“You’re not in a position to negotiate pup.”

Ciri slumped back. Unconsciously, she started to chew on her bottom lip. “I asked Geralt to teach me a new potion today.”

Lambert sighed, rubbing his face with one hand as the other came to weave into one of hers. “Pup, I can’t believe you’re making me be an adult right now. There is a reason we told you we’d only teach you potions when we were all together.”

Ciri started crying, first a few tears, and then the sobs, and then her whole body trembling like it was trying to shake itself apart.

Lambert freaked out for a minute before pulling Ciri to him, and holding her as she clutched him too tightly.

Her sobs had slowed down to hiccuping sniffles when the door to the bedroom opened again, letting in a weary Jaskier who seemed to wear every year of his life for once. He tried to put on a smile at the sight of Ciri awake, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Darling! You are awake.”

“Jask…” was as far as Ciri got before she started blubbering again. Jaskier indicated for Lambert to switch places with him, and smoothly brought Ciri into his embrace, soothing her with practiced ease. The youngest Witcher slipped out of the room when Jaskier started to hum an old Cintran lullaby.

///

Ciri was clutching Jaskier’s doublet, walking behind him, body a coil of anxiety so strong, even Jaskier could smell it.

They stopped before Geralt’s bedroom, with Jaskier turning and going to his knees so he could look Ciri in the eyes.

“Darling, I promise you Geralt is not angry with you alright. But if you keep being so scared you will scare him too. Now you don’t want that right?”

Ciri shook her head. Jaskier smiled, rubbing his thumb against her cheek until she giggled once. Chuckling, he pressed a kiss to her other cheek before standing up. Holding out his hand for her to take, Jaskier knocked on the door. Eskel opened the door, amusement coloring his face.

“My good Witcher, Princess Cirilla and I are here to visit our most beloved White Wolf, if you would so graciously grant us admission.”

“Hmm, I don’t know, the wolf is feeling hungry, and I’m afraid peacocks don’t agree with him.”

Jaskier squawked, making Ciri giggle at their antics. When Uncle Eskel shifted to play more into his role of ‘sentry’, Ciri saw Geralt laying on the bed, looking even more entertained by their actions.

He caught her looking though, and a playful smirk appeared on his otherwise tired appearance, and he beckoned her with one finger.

Smiling softly, Ciri slipped from Jaskier’s grasp and went to Geralt’s side. Lambert and Vesemir were sitting on either side of the Witcher, and Lambert helped her up to sit by Geralt’s side. As soon as she was within touching distance she flung herself at Geralt, hugging him tightly and burying her face into his neck. Geralt hummed, the vibrations alleviating any lingering anxiety Ciri had had.

“My pup, are you alright?”

Ciri sniffled. She pulled back and wiped her eyes as tears gathered there. When she spoke, there was a wobble in her voice. “I’m sorry.”

Geralt brushed a few strands of her hair back. “For what?”

“For hurting you.”

Geralt huffed. “Ciri, look at me, it is going to take more than a single errant potion to hurt me.”

“But you are covered in bandages!” And that was true, Geralt’s entire chest and back, and most of his arms were wrapped in white linen bandages.

“That is mostly due to Jaskier being an overprotective mother hen. I actually only need about half of these according to Eskel and Vesemir.”

“Hey! Not fair.” Jaskier said as he approached them, an utterly fake offended out on his face as he sat by Geralt’s unoccupied side.

Ignoring him, Geralt looked back at his daughter. “I promise I am all right.”

“I gave you new scars.”

“I’ll wear these ones with pride.”

When Ciri looked at him confused, Geralt gave her a wolfish grin. “I earned these protecting my child.”

Ciri blushed before nestling into Geralt’s side.

“Now little pup, I have something I want to say too.” Came Vesemir’s voice, making Ciri wince. Slowly, she pushed away from Geralt and sat straight, looked at her pseudo-grandfather from down turned eyes.

The old Witcher was standing next to Jaskier, one hand on his hip. “I hope you learned your lesson on why we didn’t want to teach you potions alone?”

Ciri nodded her head as hard as she could. “I am so so so sorry Vesemir. Please don’t blame Geralt, it was my fault. I only suggested we continue-” She stopped when Vesemir held up his hand.

“Child, while it was unwise of you both to continue to do these lessons alone, I fear I am also to blame for this incident.”

At that Ciri exchanged a bewildered look with Geralt before both looked at him.

“What are you talking about Vesemir?” Geralt asked.

Vesemir sighed. The potion, you grabbed the mountain ash for it right?”

Ciri nodded. “Yes! Geralt told me which one, and I found the bottle labelled mountain ash.”

Vesemir grimaced before schooling his features. “And I assume you did not to think to check the bottle Geralt?”

Geralt shook his head. “It was labeled with your handwriting. It was kind of faded, but it definitely said mountain ash.”

“And there in lies my mistake. I apologize to both of you. We actually ran out of mountain ash last season, and I kept meaning to get more to restock our supply. The particular bottle that Ciri grabbed did not contain ash at all, I simply made the error of putting it in the wrong bottle.”

“What was in it then?”

“Black-powder. It was used mainly by the School of the Crane. Apparently when used in the correct mix it can be used as an explosive.”

“I’ve never heard of such a powder before.” Jaskier spoke.

“It is not common in our lands, though I think you can find it in Zerrikania and further East.”

The group descended into a moment of quiet.

“I don’t want to do any more potions.”

Geralt sighed. He wasn’t surprised by her new fear.

Eskel tried to argue with her, “Ciri, you cannot let one accident turn you away from them completely. There are many potions we can teach that are usable to humans as well.”

But Ciri shook her head, her mind made up.

Geralt indicated for his brothers to quiet, and tugged at Ciri. “Cub look at me.” He waited until her gaze was focused on him, “I know you were scared when the accident happened, but as Vesemir just explained, it was only an accident that was entirely not your fault. I should have gone over your ingredients too, so I am to blame as well. What do you say once I recovered, we resume the lessons, this time with all five of us?”

Ciri chewed on her lip as she thought before giving a tentative nod.

Geralt smiled at her. “That’s my pup.”

Ciri grinned back and burrowed herself into his side, throwing her arm around Geralt’s waist.

“I am not leaving your side until you get better.”

“Impractical, but I will be alright by tomorrow, so I suppose I can allow such a concession.” Geralt teased her.

“How come Vesemir never gave me concessions when I got hurt?” Lambert wondered aloud.

“Because when you got yourself hurt, it was absolutely your own damn fault.” Vesemir replied.

Everyone laughed, the comment serving to break any remaining tension.

The small family settled comfortably around the room and spent the night talking. Lambert took great joy sharing an embellished story regarding his griffin hunt, with the other three Witchers mercilessly calling him out on his exaggerations. Jaskier added fuel to all their arguments, egging them on. And Ciri?

Well Ciri laughed until her stomach hurt, happy once again at her Geralt’s side. And as she listened to Lambert argue that the griffin truly had a head the size of Lambert’s whole body, she settled into a deep sleep at her father’s side, a wide smile colouring her face.

[strawberry-skies-xx]

a million reasons to let you go

C H A P T E R   T E N

word count: 2701

tags:  eventual hiccup/astrid, slow burn, fluff, angst, happy ending, feral hiccup, hiccup whump, bamf hiccup, protective astrid, protective hiccup, interrogation, aftermath of torture, implied/referenced torture, hurt/comfort, stoick’s a+ parenting, stoick’s bad parenting, hiccstrid fluff, hiccup and toothless friendship

main masterlist | story on ao3 | next chapter >>

Sunlight shines through to the cove three days later when Astrid walks into it, sitting on a rock nearby and opening Fishlegs’ second edition of the Book of Dragons in an attempt to banish the sound of Hiccup’s dragon-call echoing from the prison, filled with so much vivid, animalistic pain and grief that it hadn’t stopped plaguing her since that night, echoing in her dreams and all her thoughts. She starts reading it, shoving down the guilt and fear and pain and replacing it with the memories of when she first met Hiccup, a month and a half ago. Talking to him, being saved by him, being brought back to Berk. His crooked half-smile, the way he and Toothless moved so fluidly together, when he told her Toothless’s name.

She flips through the pages, scanning all of Hiccup’s neat annotations. Most of them are feeding habits, things the dragons love, and there isn’t much he adds about how to hurt them. Typical, she thinks, as she flips past the Night Fury page.

And then she finds more words there, an entire page that isn’t officially titled, but is scribbled with notes.

None of the food is eaten, she reads, pausing to focus on the notes.

Toothless led me to the island. There’s some sort of call the Queen gives out to lure the dragons in.

Toothless seemed to be unable to resist the call.

There were lost Viking ships all around, broken into splinters from where they’d crashed. Toothless was able to sense the sea stacks where I couldn’t.

Astrid frowns, rereading the notes.

There’s some sort of call the Queen gives out-

She inhales sharply, realization dawning on her. Hiccup found the nest. The Nest. The one her tribe has been searching for for centuries.

She glances back down at the page, skimming the notes once more for any other clues. The Nest can only be found by a dragon, she gets that, but there’s something else that seems off.

None of the food is eaten.

They drop the food down a hole, and if a dragon doesn’t provide enough, they get eaten themselves.

Astrid looks up, flipping the book closed in her hands, mind racing. This- this could solve all their problems. If they defeated their Queen, then the dragons wouldn’t need to steal food. Berk wouldn’t have to fight them - Stoick could see that dragons weren’t evil, and could let Hiccup and Toothless go. The war between Berk and dragons could end. For good.

She stands up, a new determination in her step. If she tells Stoick, all they need to do is find a way to kill the Queen and then Hiccup and Toothless will be free. Stoick has no reason to keep them - the only grudge he has against them is that Hiccup is friends with a dragon, and he doesn’t know whether there’s more of them, if they’re friend or foe. And Astrid knows Stoick doesn’t want to kill him, otherwise he would have and this mess would never have existed in the first place.

Astrid grins and starts her run back to Berk.

“Chief!”

Astrid skids to a stop in front of Stoick, who turns and looks down at her with confusion and irritation on his face.

“Astrid? What are ye doin’ here?”

She looks up at him, eyes wide and Fishlegs’ Book of Dragons held in her hands. “I found a way to stop the dragons. We don’t have to fight them anymore, Chief, we can end the war!”

Stoick’s eyes widen now, and he turns to face her full-on, all his attention focused on her. It’s a little intimidating, especially with the stakes and consequences of what she’s suggesting, but she has to keep going. “Explain,” he says.

She takes a breath. “You know the dragon-boy locked in the prison, right?”

Stoick’s face darkens at the reminder of his failure to figure out anything about Hiccup, and he nods.

“He got Fishlegs’ Book of Dragons, and he made notes in it. One of the pages talks about the nest,” Astrid continues. “The Nest. The one we’ve been searching for for centuries.”

She can’t help the grin that spreads across her face as she continues almost breathlessly. “Only a dragon can find it, and the Queen controls them all. She’s the one sending all of the dragons on raids. They don’t eat any of it! They bring it all back to her, and if they don’t bring enough, then they get eaten themselves.”

Stoick catches on, a sort of awed joy entering his voice as he finishes her thoughts. “If we kill the Queen, then the raids will stop.”

Astrid nods, her grin widening. “Yeah.”

Stoick looks up, projecting his voice and catching the undivided attention of every Viking in the vicinity. “Ready the ships! We’re going to the Dragon’s Nest!”

Hiccup looks up from where he’s curled in his cell when he hears the prison door open, and there are two pairs of footsteps. One stops only a few steps in rather than going to the end where he is, and another pair is familiar, walking towards his cell. He uncurls, rising to a crouch, watching the shadows elongate in front of his cell, until Stoick appears, his eyes dark as he glares at him. Hiccup glares right back, green eyes fiery with defiance and stubbornness.

“You’re so friendly with dragons,” Stoick growls. “Now you’re going to help me kill one.”

Hiccup’s eyes widen as Stoick unlocks the cell, but he’s not close enough to run out before he closes the door, or save Toothless while he’s at it. He’s stuck in the corner as Stoick stalks forward, but he growls steadily and gives a low hiss when Stoick gets a foot away from him.

“Come with me, dragon-boy,” Stoick rumbles, an unmistakable threat in the way he moves and talks that makes Hiccup’s entire body tense, poised like a cornered animal - which is exactly what he is.

Hiccup lashes out at Stoick when he reaches out, pulling a thin leather cord by his wrist and releasing the sharp claws from the leather pad on the back of his hand. Stoick gasps in surprise as the points cut shallowly along his arm, before he yanks it back and his glare grows darker and more threatening.

Hiccup pulls the other cord, releasing the other claws and balling his hands into fists, letting the sharp claws curl over his fingers and crouching defensively, his glare matching Stoick’s.

Of all the things Stoick has done to him, and made him do, he will not kill a dragon. That is something unthinkable, something so wrong that Hiccup hasn’t imagined himself doing it for eleven years, even when he was pinned against a rock with a Night Fury’s jaws roaring in his face and thought he would die right then and there.

He will not kill a dragon.

Stoick growls in frustration, his hand reaching for his axe on his back and unsheathing it, hefting it in one hand and looking down at Hiccup.

Hiccup’s eyes widen at the threat - this he cannot beat. His claws won’t work against an axe, and neither will his blade if he had it. There is no way for Hiccup to defeat Stoick like this, unarmed and defenseless except for eight small pretend-claws.

Stoick raises the axe. Hiccup shrieks fear like a dragon, ducking and covering his head, curling into a protective ball, heart racing and eyes closed.

The blow never comes, but instead Hiccup slowly looks out from underneath his hood to see Stoick watching him, sadness reading in all his body signals and in his eyes. The axe is embedded in the ground next to him.

Hiccup tilts his head at the sudden change, but only for a second. Stoick wipes the expression off his face, his body shifting to that of threat, and moves fast enough to catch Hiccup by surprise, taking his arm and pulling him upright.

Hiccup yelps and struggles, kicking and fighting enough to get annoyed grunts of effort out of Stoick before his arms are pulled behind his back and he feels rope tie around them, in a complex knot that’s tight around his wrists and unreachable by his claws.

Stoick doesn’t say anything, only puts his hands on Hiccup’s shoulders and roughly steers him out of the cell and towards the doors of the prison. Hiccup doesn’t see Toothless in the cell by the door, and a cold fear settles into his stomach, more permanent than any other time he’s been scared here before.

He blinks at the bright light as Stoick leads him out and down towards Berk’s dock. Hiccup looks around, at the mass of humans carrying weapons and other machinery to the docks, and feels himself shrink away from them. All his instincts are screaming at him to run, to get away from so many people, especially Vikings, that for only a moment, he forgets it’s his father and tormenter behind him and he cringes back, pressing into Stoick’s stomach.

Stoick doesn’t stop, almost pushing Hiccup forward, and Hiccup’s body tenses, heart rate picking up as they weave through the crowd.

A Viking bumps into his shoulder and Hiccup lets out an involuntary whimper, quiet and half-bitten off. The stress of the past two weeks is pressing down on him now; being injured and unconscious in Berk’s healer’s house, and then being trapped in the prisons and interrogated, along with the pain of Astrid’s betrayal, and then being separated from Toothless, even if only for three days, while still interrogated. And now this, being forced into a throng of Vikings bigger than him and stronger than him and being unarmed and incapacitated during it, with no idea of where Toothless is.

Hiccup sees the boat, sees Stoick’s path towards it, and his fear increases. His breaths come short with the sudden weight of where he is, of where he will be - stranded with Vikings on a boat in the middle of the ocean, without Toothless, for as many hours as they want to keep him there. No escape, and it’s all too easy for them to simply throw him overboard and let him drown. Then they’d have Toothless, they’d have his other half and he’d be alone in the world, without Hiccup, and it’s wrong, it’s lonely and bad and wrong.

His eyes dart panicked around the docks, meeting the curious gazes of Vikings as he passes by, and shrinking away from them, flinching whenever a Viking passes too close.

Then there’s a shriek, a familiar shriek of heart that means Hiccup, and all other thoughts flee his mind as Hiccup’s head snaps up, gaze flicking frantically around the docks for a flash of obsidian scales.

Toothless, Hiccup whistles, except it really means self to other dragons, but Hiccup and Toothless don’t care. They’ve long since accepted that each other’s names sometimes come out as heart and love and self, because they’re each other’s self as much as they are their own, and the same with their hearts and souls.

Hiccup spots Toothless, strapped and muzzled and still growling and shrieking heart and self at Hiccup through the leather, and he growls himself, kicking back against Stoick and renewing his fight, whistling his own calls for Toothless all the while.

Stoick grunts and moves his hands down Hiccup’s arms, tightening his fingers there and giving a low growl when Hiccup turns his head, green eyes filled with vehement fire as he keeps struggling as hard as physically possible. The Vikings around him, already curious, are now openly staring, glancing between the dragon and the boy fighting to be near each other.

Hiccup smiles darkly as Toothless tosses his head and knocks a Viking down to slide across the docks and into the water, while his tail swings back and forth, smacking into any Viking that gets close to it. Stoick grunts again with the effort of holding Hiccup in place and not letting go as he twists and kicks, and then his fingers slip.

It’s the slightest movement, but Hiccup feels it like he feels every human touch like a brand on his skin, and he wrenches himself hard, away from Stoick, whose hands slip and let go. Toothless, he whistles as he runs, hands still bound, and gets an answering chirp as he stops by him.

Toothless nuzzles his head into Hiccup, both of them letting out a low purr at being with the other again, but only for a moment. Toothless growls at a Viking coming up behind Hiccup, and Hiccup turns, pressing his back to Toothless and giving his own growl at the advancing crowd of Vikings.

Stoick’s voice rises from the back of them, catching the attention of dragon, boy, and all the Vikings. “Let him be,” he says, walking forward through the crowd. He meets Hiccup and Toothless’s matching glares with a look that isn’t his own glare, but rather just sadness and a slight tinge of annoyance.

“I’ll take care of him,” Stoick says, dismissing the Vikings, and he stalks forward towards the dragon and boy. Hiccup glares up at him, fiery and defiant, but Stoick only takes the chain Toothless’s wooden cart is attached to and pulls it, wheeling it down the docks. “Come on, dragon.”

Hiccup follows - he has no other choice, outnumbered and outmatched as he is. That’s a bad thing, this is not at all what Hiccup and Toothless are supposed to be, trapped and defenseless, but they’re together again, and that’s better than they were before. They can take on anything as long as they’re together.

Toothless’s platform is hooked onto a chain and lifted, and Hiccup yelps no-mine at the threat and climbs onto the platform, locking his legs around Toothless’s leg and hanging on as the platform rises. Toothless turns and pushes his hood back to nuzzle into Hiccup’s hair with a purr, an answering one coming from Hiccup as he presses back.

The platform sways and Hiccup yelps as he leans outwards, caught only by Toothless’s teeth in the collar of his shirt. He looks back at Toothless, then down at the gradually fading ground, and whimpers softly, moving further towards Toothless until he’s nearly bent beneath his front and tightening his legs around his paw.

The platform lands on the ship, rocking it, and Toothless hisses at the Vikings who chain down the wood, giving looks at Hiccup as he hides in the shadow of Toothless that range from curious to disdainful.

Hiccup glares at them all, shoving down the fear and ignoring his racing heart. He sees Stoick step on the ship just as it starts moving, and both Hiccup and Toothless glare at him as he walks past them and leans in, gaze dark and his voice a hiss.

“Take us home, devil.”

Astrid watches the two in front of her, the Night Fury muzzled and chained and the boy curled around his front paw, and she wonders what she’s done. Of all the things she meant to happen by going out to kill the nest’s Queen, this was not it. Hiccup and Toothless were supposed to be safe back on Berk - imprisoned and separated, but safe. They were supposed to be let go after this, not brought on the boat with them. Astrid doesn’t know what she’ll do if they drown because the ship is set on fire and they can’t escape.

She doesn’t want to reveal herself to them, yet. She has no idea if the dragon can smell her, but it will be riskier if they know she’s here than if they think she isn’t. Astrid can’t risk the Vikings finding out about her relationship with them.

So she stays at the back of the ship, strangely calm despite the fact that this is it. The thing Vikings have been waiting and searching for for centuries, the thing that may be the freedom for Hiccup and Toothless, the event that will change Berk forever.

Astrid straightens her spine, watches the horizon, and leans with the ship as it turns into the dense, cold fog of Helheim’s Gate.

next chapter >>

[inevitably-johnlocked]

HI JUST UR FRIENDLY REMINDER: U DA BEST! Do you know of any fics where John and Sherlock take their relationship suuuuuper slow? Like just kissing for ages not much intimacy until later in their relationship after lots of talking, consent, etc? Thanks!!!

HI NONNY!!

THANK YOU! You’re too kind!!

You are SO in luck, because I bloody love Slow Burn fics! I’ve done lists in the past and I have a few new ones I can add to it! :D Hope you enjoy these ones!

SLOW BURN / DEV. REL. / FALLING IN LOVE Pt. 3

See also:

Love Confessions / Slow Burn / Dev. Rel. (Fluff Version)

Falling In Love / Slow Burn / Dev. Rel. || [MOBILE POST] (April 2019)

The General Idea by agirlsname (T, 3,022 w., 1 Ch. || Retirement, Promise of Forever / Proposal, POV John, First Kiss, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Soft Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Crying / Emotional Sherlock, Love Confessions, 20 Years of Pining) – After twenty years of friendship, John is used to Sherlock acting weirdly. But the news Sherlock finally brings himself to deliver change the carefully built dynamics between them, and John realises it’s time to act.

You fit me, Sherlock Holmes by orphan_account (G, 10,077 w., 1 Ch. || It’s An Experiment, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn, Fluff and Angst, Idiots in Love, Mutual Pining, Questionable Science) – An unfortunate series of events leads to John accepting being a part of Sherlock’s study in physical intimacy. As the days pass by, John realizes he might be in for more than he bargained for. He doesn’t entirely mind.

London Gods by a_different_equation (E, 11,092 w., 5 Ch. || American Gods Fusion || Magical Realism, Sex Magic, True Love, PTSD John, First Kiss/Time, Marathon Sex, Sensuality, Genie Sherlock, Human John, Internalize Homophobia, Star-Crossed Lovers, Soul Mates) – Sherlock Holmes is a jinn who does not grant wishes. However, when Dr. John H. Watson, recently returned from the war in Afghanistan, gets into his cab by “accident”, it might not even need magic to grant both men their deepest wish: love.

A Silver Sixpence by _doodle (NC-17, 16,400 w., 2 Ch. || LJ Fic || For a Case / Case Fic, Fake Relationship, Humour, Romance, Marriage Proposal, Awkward Idiots, Cuddling, Touching, Kissing, Love Confessions, Bed Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fake Until It’s Not, Schmoop and Fluff, Bottomlock) – “John, we need to get married. It’s for a case, not any romantic notions on my part pertaining to our partnership,” Sherlock said, with brutal honesty, and without even looking up.

You’re On the Air by prettysailorsoldier (M, 20,616 w., 1 Ch. || Unilock, Matchmaking, Radio, Christmas, Christmas Fluff, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Sherlock POV, Pining Sherlock, Flirting, Bisexual John) – The Consulting Detective and The Woman dominate the airwaves of their university radio station, doling out advice on everything from meeting the parents to sexual positions. When their ratings start to dip before the holidays, however, manager Mike thinks it’s time for some fresh blood, and who better to fill in the gaps than rugby captain–and notorious flirt–John Watson? Part 1 of 25 Days of Johnlock

The Winter Garden by Callie4180 (T, 31,213 w., 13 Ch. || Post-S4, Retirement, Christmas, Slow Burn, Grown-Up Rosie, Parenthood, Rosie’s Cat, Angst with Happy Ending, Holidays, Beekeeping, Magical Realism, Sherlock POV, Sherlock’s Violin, Future Fic, Sussex, Honey, Magical Healing Honey, Love Confessions, Sherlock’s Scar, First Kiss, Touching) – As Sherlock nears the end of his career, he’s given the gift of a cottage in Sussex. The honey from the beehives out back is amazing.Almost…magical.

The Whore of Babylon Was a Perfectly Nice Girl by out_there (E, 32,897 w., 1 Ch. || Past Drug Use, Blowjobs, Toplock, Mentions of Switching, Rough Sex, Background Cases, Sherlock’s Past, Sherlock’s Sexual History, Experienced Sherlock, Past One Night Stands, Fingering, Cuddling, Possessive Sherlock, Paris Holiday, Bed Sharing, Naked Lie-Ins, Bathing Together, Confessions, Worried Sherlock, Laying in Bed All Day, Meddling Mycroft, Naked Lazy Day) – Sherlock walks into a room and takes all the space right out of it. He does the same inside John’s head.

carrying up his morning tea by darcylindbergh (E, 34,504 w., 5 Ch. || Post S3, Minor Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Wakes/Funerals, Estranged John, Pining Sherlock, Depression/Insecurity, Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Chronic Pain/Injury, Reconciliation, Awkwardness, Loneliness, Scars, Angst With Happy Ending) – His fingers tremble as he dials and he can’t force them steady. Familiar number, even though he hasn’t used it in two years. He isn’t even sure he should be calling it now, but she’d asked. She’d made him promise.

we have never seen a greater day than this by Lediona (T, 36,420 w., 7 Ch. || A Royal Night Out AU || WWII / VE Day, Prince Sherlock, Soldier John, Alternating POV, First Kiss, Bittersweet Ending, Homophobia, Dancing) – Peace. At long last. It’s VE Day and Prince William desires to join the celebrations. It is a night of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.

Only To Be With You by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (M, 40,768 w., 4 Ch. || Black Mirror / Future AU || Character Death, Future Technology, Sickness/Cancer/Illness, Heavy Angst with Happy Ending, First Person POV John, Pining John, Heart-Wrenching Angst) – I tell myself that next time I’ll come near this same place again. Wait around for the mysterious stranger in his coat to dash past me, hot on the heels of a new criminal in black. I think this all the way back to my Exit, planning where I’ll wait and what I’ll say when I see him. Scheming on how to get his name. It’s only once I reach the Exit Point door that I realize two hours and forty-five minutes have passed, and I realize that this won’t be the last time I Visit. It won’t be the last time at all.

Guidelines by WithLoweredVoices (M, 43,018 w., 15 Ch. || Winglock || Angels, Fantasy, Angst, BAMF! John, War, Jealous Sherlock, Possessive Sherlock, Jealous John, Falling in Various Ways) – The Good Soldier, one of the oldest and strongest of the fallen, is offered a bargain: to live as John Watson and to Guide a fledgling archangel so that he will stay on the path of good. Of course, Sherlock Holmes has different ideas about his destiny. Fantasy AU. Warnings for violence, occasional gore, and a whole load of hurt and angst.

Hell Sent, Heaven Bound by ConsultingHound (M, 64,381 w, 16 Ch. || Angels / Demons AU ||  Fallen Angel Sherlock / Angel Cop John, Alternate First Meeting, Slow Burn, Case Fic, John & Lestrade are Friends Before Sherlock, BAMF John, Mind Palace John, Friends to Lovers, John in Denial, Sherlock Picks Out John’s Clothing, Clubbing / Dancing, Mildly Jealous John, Awkwardness, Kidnapping, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Sacrifice, Worried / Anxious Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Immortal to Mortal) – Ex-War healer and current angelic guard John Watson is not having the best day. He overslept, he’s underpaid, and now there’s someone tagging the Council’s building walls. However things may be about to get interesting: there’s an unusual stranger hanging around (the definition of tall, dark, and handsome), a literal underground cult is brewing, and rumblings are coming from hell. Can he keep his neighbourhood safe, how and why is he being connected to all this, and who the hell is Sherlock Holmes?

Being John Watson-ish by elwinglyre (E, 69,902 w., 17 Ch. || Bodysnatcher AU || Author John, Cranky Sherlock, Angst, Sexual Tension, First Kiss / Time, Falling in Love, BAMF John, Past Soldier John, Feelings, Inside Someone’s Brain, Shy Sherlock, Sherlock Loves John, POV Sherlock, Switchlock, Slow Burn, Internal Dialogue, Mental Turmoil) – When consulting detective Sherlock Holmes steps on one toe too many at a crime scene, he’s consigned to a desk job in an archaic office on the seventh-and-a-half floor of the New Scotland Yard. It’s in this bleak office that Sherlock discovers a portal into the mind of renowned author John Watson. Grander than his mind palace, this new wonderland affords Sherlock new vistas of experimentation. To learn more about the mystery behind the portal, Sherlock seeks out and befriends Watson. But then it all goes wrong when others find the secret portal door—including the man whose brain he visits.

The Adventure of the Silver Scars by tangledblue (NR [M], 142,458 w., 41 Ch. || S3 Fix-It, Post-HLV/ Post-TAB / Canon Compliant, Case Fic, No Baby, Angst, Humour, UST, Slow Burn, Angry John, Reconciliation, Not Nice Mary / Leaving Mary, Dependent Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Caretaker John, Fist Fights, It’s An Experiment, Virgin Sherlock, Dancing, Drugging, John Whump, Pet Names, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Scars) – It’s been thirteen months since Mary shot Sherlock and John finds he’s still pissed off about it. Sherlock had thought everything was settled: John and Mary, domestic bliss. But when John turns up at Baker Street with suitcases, the world’s only consulting detective might not be prepared for the consequences. A new case. Some old scores to settle. Certain danger. Concertos, waltzes, and whisky.

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court.

[writing-the-end]

Dead End

You can’t stop my End puns. 

So... finally met my death. This was really fun, I’ll admit. I’m someone who really likes angst and even whump, and seeing Avon in quite harrowing situations just made my day. I would get demised a million times over to see all the creative ways you people take out Avon. Even when this is over if anyone ever feels the desire to get dark, Avon is open for it!

Well, that’s the end of the Ender enders huh? Till death do us part? Unless... Well, meeting her demise was only a release from worry! We’re just getting started. 

Exnoh belongs to @plcklesontheseafloor

Warning: death, violence, undead characters, demise things (please let me know if there’s anything else i need to tag)

“Wake up, Avon.” The voice is as cold as the air around him, as cold as his skin and the stone his buddy rests upon. “It’s time to get up.” 

The stone crypt echoes Exnoh’s footsteps, shoes brushing the smooth andesite beneath her feet. Most of the other graves are already empty within the mausoleum. Not because their inhabitants are alive- because their cold, grey corpses have left their peaceful slumber in lieu of dragging others in. Dirt overturned, stone slabs moved. Searching for the few remaining hearts still alive and beating.

Someone like Avon. Exnoh sighs, looking at the other half of his tiny team. The Ender enders lasted longer than most large teams, so maybe there was a benefit to being small. 

Avon’s wings are tucked neatly beneath her, just barely fitting on the stone slab. The feathery blonde hair has turned light grey, purple cloak the color of bedrock. The only color in the entire crypt was a small bouquet of lilacs, held in Avon’s folded hands. At least whoever demised her had the decency to lay her to rest.

Exnoh leans over, tall form looming over her teammate. “Avon?” 

Avon bolts upright, forehead cracking off Exnoh. The two yelp, Exnoh stumbling back while Avon falls off her tomb. Wings askew, Avon winces and opens her eyes. 

She’s in the deadquarters. Avon grasps at her chest, feeling for a heartbeat. Last she remembers, it was beating a mile a minute as she faced the hordes of demised. Now, it’s still and cold. All of her is cold. She tugs her cloak around her body, but it does nothing to ward away the chill. 

“I thought we agreed not to turn on each other. We’re partners, buddy cops!” Exnoh teases, rubbing her forehead where the two crashed into each other. If only it would bruise, just a little bit of color. 

“I died.” Avon whispers, still in disbelief. Getting used to the feeling of death. Her wings flutter, helping her stand up on shaky legs. 

“So it would seem.” Exnoh chuckles, leaning against the stone pillar beside Avon. “So...what did you in?” Exnoh still hears the buzzing noise of bees, the scent of pollen escaping through her mask. But he can’t remember the feeling of the stings. 

“I...ah, I remember annoying laughter.” Avon pieces together what she remembers. Groans. “Vex. They were vex, the little bastards.” 

Exnoh pulls on his grey hair, watching the thick curls twirl around his once purple fingers. “Bees and vex. Quite the end for the Ender enders.” A mischievious grin creases beneath Exnoh’s mask, narrowing her eyes into a devilish glint. ”At least, the end of life. Our fun just started.” 

Avon matches Exnoh’s expression, hand reaching out. In the distance, metal glances off stone and dirt, until her trident is back in Avon’s hand. Blue metal brushing against cool skin. “Can’t kill me any more than I already am. All they did was free us from restraint.” 

“The team united even in death.” Exnoh laughs, snapping the collar of her coat up. She feels something burst in his chest, the first feeling he’s had since death. The desire to cause trouble, to make mayhem, thrumming against Exnoh’s love for pranking. “Let’s get out there and remind people why they don’t mess with the end.” 

Avon laughs, following Exnoh out of the deadquarters. Being dead may suck, but at least she had a friendly face on the other side. 

If only she hadn’t cracked her head on it the moment she woke up. 

[ro-sso]

Something I wrote at 00:40am

you dont really need to be an SSO fan to enjoy it but some of it might not make sense?

Ok so I couldn't sleep until I wrote this down. It's horrible but ya know also I'm kinda happy with how it turned out? also i forgot what Shadow Seekers were (black shadow blobs) so they’re called Shadow Creatures

Warnings: could be considered whump. Angst. Loneliness and rage. Extreme (negative) emotions

POV: Elizabeth Sunbeam (1st person I think)

Explanation: Elizabeth Sunbeam hasn't died, she's floating in pandoria (yes I refuse to believe she is truly dead)

I fall. I float but fall steady rise and fall of a heartbeat.

Darko is dead, his lifeless body falls with debris as I float, barely alive. I can see the platform Alex is on. I am not dead I want to scream. But I cannot talk or I will fall.

+++

I do not know how long it has been. I have floated around, slowly falling, building up energy-at least enough to get through.

+++

A portal. Who is riding? I have not seen any life or anything like this. I let myself fall down and down. Faster and faster. Quickly I go down. They are leaving Pandoria and I am by that portal. I land.

Screams and memories flash through my eyes as I fall queasily through the portal. I gasp for air I did not know I needed.

Log date 001

I am peeling back mushroom layers and carving my thoughts on them. I wish I could tell everyone how much I miss them.

Log date 002

I am frozen but alive. The shadow creatures are friendly until provoked. I do not know how to escape

Log date 008

I have explored for hours? Has it been hours? Years? Months?

All my memories fade and are replaced by ones of people I never knew.

Log date 009

A shadow creature is human. The a form of human. They are not mortal and go by Hope. They are a friend.

Log date 011

I have talked to Hope about escaping. They said I should not try.

Log date 084

I do not know days. My eyes are tainted purple and my skin cracks. I glow with pandoric radiance.

Log date 085

Peace has joined Hope. She is pure and reminds me of home.

What is home?

Nightmares continue

Log date 099

Love has come. He is arrogant but a sucker for Earth stories.

Log date 108

Maybe I will never escape

Log date 109

Hope built up enough energy to do a small portal between this area of Pandoria.

Log date 110

I walk through. I am queasy. Screams and memories. Lost hope and no love.

When I go through the returning portal I find myself gasping for air I didn't know existed

Log date 112

Pandorians never sleep.

I will get out

Log date 115

I.am.

Log date 120

I.can.

Log date 121

I will.

Log date 125.

I focus all memories. Everything happy to create this. I am one with Pandoria and Sun. I am my own soul rider. I will escape.

Debris and rocks fly through as voices torment me to go back. I do not listen.

I should have.

+++

Loud. Too loud. Dark. Too dark. I scream. I don't open my eyes. Body aches and cracks glow brighter and stronger. I scream longer. I scream louder. Black ink falls from my mouth and my eyes. It glows purple.

”Pandoria really broke you.”

I do not care who takes me. End this pain.

Am I human?

+++

Darkcore. It is all too cold. Too cold. I see a face? Are they human?

Tears fall with no end. I cannot stop this. I should go back but cannot.

Pandoric energy glows with warmth.

I punch the walls and break. I am free.

I walk. I walk on water and go. I go for longer than I need. I do not give up, my pink footsteps leaving a mark behind. I will not let Garnok in.

+++

Soft. Crunchy. Hard. Ichy. Sand? I am washed upon shore, somehow alive. I do not move. I cannot move. Hoofbeats match my heart.

Racing.

Do I have a heart?

+++

Soft mane. Galaxy fur. I am safe. I do not open my eyes. Am I human?

I will not let Garnok in.

+++

”how-”

”shhhh. Rest. You're overworked dear.” calming. Soothing. Nightmares crash in and you let out a scream. The final crash of the symphony. I will not let Garnok in.

+++

”year?” I ask.

”2019”

”date?”

”24th April”

It hasn't been long. I must get going. Cannot stay still. I open my eyes. Dim but seeable.

”Anne? Lisa? Alex? Linda?”

”You know them?” the voice replies. Where are they?

”taught them. Who you?”

”Holly. We're in South Hoof by the way. Madison found you and-”

”too much. Need friend. Alex. Anne.”

”Anne Von Blyssen? You think-”

”she’d come here?” anne. Human. Tears are no longer black. They are human. ”Anne... Bring the others...l...”

”DON’T YOU DARE DIE ON US AGAIN!”

Alex. ”loud.”

”shes picky about sound and light turned it up too high and she started to scream and black tears came from her mouth, please don’t upset her”

”we won't, rest assured”

Linda.

”you sure?”

Lisa.

”All harmoies. Where is fifth?”

[pipwasreal]

Day 10: lantern + fealty kink

Characters: Charles Rowland, Edwin Payne

Content warnings: dying, bullying, violence

Everything hurts, but at least he's stopped shivering, Charles thinks. Maybe he's over the worst of it.

Still bloody cold though. It must be only a few hours until dawn... he just has to stay quiet and hidden a little longer and then he can sneak down to the San and ask Matron for some aspirin.

He hopes the Pakistani boy's alright. He thinks he remembers seeing him scramble away, but he sort of lost track after someone hauled him up by the hair and punched him in the side of the head. Was that before or after the kick in the ribs? His thoughts are slippery, hard to hold onto.

Better Charles than him, anyway. He can take a beating, can't he? He's good at that, at least.

He sniffles. His hand shakes as he rubs his cold nose and brushes away a stray tear. It's alright to have a little cry, he thinks, there's nobody around.

But that's not quite true, because there is a warm light moving steadily toward him.

He must have drifted off, where was he? Oh yes. Edwin's reading to him. An old detective comic. He's even doing the voices.

Charles has never met anyone like Edwin before. He's met plenty of posh boys, smart boys, boys who are fun to be around, even a few kind boys. But Edwin is... fucking fascinating, if he's honest.

It's a pity he's dead. Charles would have liked to spend more time with him. But he's probably got important ghost business to be getting on with.

The light and his company made the night pass a lot quicker, distracting Charles from his pain and misery.

Charles looks down at his bare arms in the pale light that filters through the dusty attic window. He doesn't feel cold anymore, that's a relief. He can't really feel anything, actually, not even the pain.

He turns around to thank Edwin, but instead catches sight of... himself, grey and unmoving, cocooned in his cold, damp clothes and that dusty old blanket.

And then there's a blue light and a choice to make.

Well, that's that, then, Charles thinks, more clear and sure than he's been all night. Protect Edwin, the boy who died like him, the boy who escaped Hell and then was kind to him.

He grabs the old lantern and follows Edwin. It's the easiest decision he's ever made.

[misscrazyfangirl321]

Fanfic Author Appreciation

I was going to do something really fancy and special, like a review-fest or something. But then, real life happened, and I'm exhausted from work. So instead, I'm just going to give a shout-out to a few of my favorite fic writers!

(Disclaimer: This list is by no means complete, and if I didn't mention you, please know that it's because I'm tired, not because I don't appreciate you,)

@incendiaglacies - (Legends of Tomorrow)

Has written more than 90% of the fics for a single ship, writes incredibly interesting plots, is also a sweet, lovely human being. (Plus, it's her birthday!) Has basically every Rip Hunter/Gideon fic or AU that you could ever imagine, and nails characterization and concepts every time.

@heytheredeann - (Timeless)

Also writes for many other fandoms, but makes this list for writing beautiful, feelsy, lovely Garcy stories that somehow always fit exactly what I want to read. Characterization is always lovely, and has a nice selection of angst, heart-wrenching angst, hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending... And, occasionally, a bit of fluff.

@fanaticfangirl2602 - (Marvel)

Mostly writes about Peter Parker and his family, (which obviously includes Tony Stark,) has amazingly feelsy stories and concepts that just reach out and grab your heart. Also has a killer sense of humor, and a brilliant way with words. Somehow takes you from laughing to crying to laughing to shouting in ten seconds flat. (Plus, she's an amazing person.)

@agentmarymargaretskitz - (DCTV, Timeless)

Somehow has several fandoms in common with me, and writes amazing fic for every last one. Will explore rarepairs, crackships, crossover ships, and insane ships, all without a second's hesitation, and writes brilliantly for any of them. Warning: Will sometimes write unbearable angst that makes you want to hug her and scream at the same time. Is also incredibly nice and friendly.

@only-freakin-sunflowers - (Timeless)

Usually writes Lyatt, which doesn't tend to be my bag anymore, but does it so amazingly that I love it anyway. Has actually written one of the only fanfictions to make me cry actual tears. Also writes beautiful Riya fics, and we all know there's a shortage of those in the fandom. Is really sweet and funny, and comes up with great AUs.

@incorrectdeceptionquotes - (Deception)

Is somehow single-handedly holding up the Deception fandom, and reminding us of why we should still be mad that lovely show was cancelled. Writes tons of fic, and it's absolutely lovely. Posts incredibly frequently, and somehow never seems to get frustrated with how small the fandom is, just happily writes fics for those of us who are here.

@taleasoldastime-andspace - (Timeless, DCTV)

Has written a ton of amazing things, and things for fandoms I'm not in that I'm sure are amazing anyway, but makes this list especially for her brilliant Garcy "The Mummy" AU that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions like you can't even imagine. It has you laughing and crying all at once, and it features lovely background friendships and dynamics.

@suaimhneas-peace - (MacGyver)

I haven't been in the MacGyver fandom in ages, but I still sometimes have the urge to go back and read this amazing person's whump and hurt/comfort stories. Gave a beautiful backstory to the Jack/Mac friendship that I absolutely adore.

I know there are more that I'm forgetting, but again, I'm exhausted. So, just a few shout-outs!

[redwinterroses]

List Of Fics I've Read in the Past Week Or So That Have Absolutely Hooked My Brain

Monsters Splitting Hairs by Silverskye13: a fantasy AU where Ren, Doc, and Gem all live on a farm outside of town, a mysterious Baron rules from an anonymous distance, Scar and Cub are terrifyingly Vex, and the echoes of a war no one will really tell newcomer-Ren about leave everything rather tense and everyone terrified of monsters... and Ren is one of those monsters. AMAZING fantasy setting, lots of original world exploration, Etho is a mysterious-but-friendly silent neighbor in the woods, Gem is absolutely on point and Doc has an entire herd of goats that are his pride and joy. I am in love with this fic you have no idea.

Venom In Your Blood by paranoid_pug: Grian and Xisuma head off-world for a bit to do a bit of shopping and are followed home by an unsavory character who proceeds to attack the hermits in the one place they should be safe... and threatens to make them a danger to the ones they love. Short version: vampire!Mumbo and what came of it. AMAZING concepts of server/worlds, game mechanics, and how streaming+chat would work in a Minecraft-but-real universe. Also Mumbo angst is always a soft spot for me. Highly rec.

the Still The Echoes Give Us Light series by doctortrekkie: what prompted this post in the first place (the other two just still had tabs open on my desktop so they got linked first lol) -- a Grian-centric series with a LOT of Pearl and Mumbo content tracing Grian's journey from Evo to the Watchers to on the run to Hermitcraft. Tons of fantastic worldbuilding that I'm just accepting as canon at this point, angst but tastefully done, characters actually feel like themselves, and it's a LOT of content so I have been feasting. I dread the moment that I get to the end of currently updated fic and have to wait for more.

Shells in the Foam by Cedarwhisp21: if you'd told me I could get so invested in a hermit!Tommy fic I would have laughed at you. But. Somehow? I did. Partly because it's just very well written, tbh. Set in Hermitcraft s7, Tommy flees Dream and somehow falls through the worlds and crash-lands in Hermit territories. Queue the inevitable "incredibly traumatized kid gets taken in by kind hermits" but the characters are largely written in such a developed way that it manages to steer clear of most of the cliche-ness of the trope. Reminded me a bit of The Red Sun Never Sets in how repetitively psychological-whump-y it got sometimes, but overall I really enjoyed this fic. I'm hoping the author posts the final chapter soon. Oh yeah, also MCC and Evo are canon to this and there's some really cool stuff with avians and player code and... at this point you should realize that Red is an absolute sucker for worldbuilding stuff in fics.

Red Thread by ShadeSwift99: and with that last comment you will not be surprised that my biggest "look at the shiny!" comment for this fic is worldbuilding. Basically, what if Mumbo was a demon, and only Xisuma knew. But Grian... found out. And was a leeeeeeetle bit wrong in his assumptions, thinking that Mumbo was a demon hunter, like False. And when Grian tells False about this... False realizes that she's somehow missed a horrific monster living right under her nose for years -- and what did he do to the real Mumbo. Think Illuminae Files for the structure of this one, lots of internal memos and glimpses into server logs and redacted research papers and such interspersed with the more narrative chapters. SO GOOD and I am eagerly awaiting the next update because I Have Questions.

Y'all know I'm a big fan of the Kaleidoscope series by Exposition_Fairy, and there are two new(ish, I'm slightly behind the times) fics in that AU that are soooo good: screaming at the sun you throw into by lunarblazes: Grian's trying to figure out exactly how "becoming a god" works in the aftermath of the Green God's defeat, and things are not going well. Doc (god of order) notices and misunderstands what's happening -- and he and Ren try to stop Grian. Permanently. Explains the in-universe lead-up to 100 Hours Hardcore. stretching the truth out of shape, by BananasofThorns: the in-universe origins of Horse Head Farms, featuring my all-time-favorite interpretations of retired-sea-god xBCrafted and "immortal magician and who knows what else" Hypnotized, who don't... technically remember how they met. It's been a while, okay? Like. A few millennia or months at least.

autoclave by Bunflower and wolfythewitch: what? more dsmp? in my hermitcraft blog? it's more likely than you think. This one is Treasure Planet meets Scott Westerfield's Leviathan where Tommy is a street racer, Wilbur is the governor's (Kristin's) son and Techno is her bodyguard, and Philza is dead because his mad scientist self got their floating city to fly and then caused an explosion that killed a bunch of people. He was exiled to the terrifying surface world for his crimes... but before he could be forced to leave, he vanished, and his shattered glider was seen smashed to kindling on the surface below. But. Of course. That's hardly a story, is it -- what is a story is Wilbur chasing a shadowy figure through the underbelly of the floating city, Techno trying to prove his friend's innocence even after his death, and Tommy trying to hold on to the reputation of "best racer" in the city. I almost hesitate to rec this one because it's been a month since the last upload, and I'm just REALLY hoping that it won't get dropped, but Bunflower and wolfythewitch are both amazing writers so I'm trusting and crossing my fingers.

all my soul within me burning by Cloverponyz: this fic takes a bunch of things I love (winged!Philza, watcher!Grian, expansive worldbuilding, and AU canon) and smashes them into one -- what if Phil was a watcher? What if Grian helped him escape for reasons that may or may not be altruistic? What if the Watchers were like, this massive and complex society that I'm definitely not brainrotting over because that is SO much more interesting to me than "a few lone creeps scuttling about the edges of reality"? This one currently only has one chapter, but it also just started, so now's probably a good time to get in on it and subscribe.

Okay -- that's enough for now, I think. XD Friendly reminder to kudos and comment if you read any of these or else I'll haunt your microwave and your food will never heat evenly again. Enjoy!

I need to make a list of the fics I've read in the past week or so that have absolutely hooked my brain.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey! I love the "for a case" fics! I was just wondering if you had any new ones?

Hi Nonny!!

I ACTUALLY DO have new stuff to add to this list! 

For anyone interested, here are past similar posts:

For a Case Trope

Meeting the Family With a Fake Relationship

Married For a Case / Fake Husbands

Here we go! Apologies if I’m overlapping; I’m trying to remember where I left off, LOL.

FAKE RELATIONSHIP / FOR A CASE (PT 2.)

Ex by Itsallfine (T, 1,248 w. || Love Confessions, Coming Out, Exes, First Kiss) – One night, in the midst of their post-case high and on the cusp of something more, John and Sherlock run into John’s ex. His ex-boyfriend.

Christmas at Holmes Cottage by johnlockedstarkid (G, 4,295 w. || Christmas, Fake Relationship, Love Confessions, Holmes Family, Pining, Kisses, Fluff, Allusions to Mystrade) – Sherlock doesn’t want to have to deal with his mother’s wishes for him to find a partner when he goes to visit them for Christmas, so asks John to pose as his boyfriend. Little does he know he’s not the only one who wishes that the relationship could be real.

On Hiatus: Rotterdam (T, 4K+ w. || Friendship, Drama, Couple For A Case, Post-TRF, John Joins Sherlock, No Slash) – “Used them after uni a bit. Purely for research purposes, of course,“ Sherlock said tiredly, head lolling against John’s shoulder.” Sherlock goes on a mission alone, or: Two blokes in a luxury hotel in the Netherlands. Non-linear timeline. Set during the Hiatus.

The Honeymoon Suite by Salambo06 (E, 5,827 w. || Fake Relationship, Fake Marriage, Frottage, First Kiss, Cuddling/Snuggling/Sleepy Cuddles, Bed Sharing, Holidays / Hotels, Case Fic) – “You’ll see,” the receptionist smiles, handing John the key to their room, “This honeymoon suite is quite spectacular. Our hotel has won many awards, most of them for these rooms.” John nods, licking his lips and playing with the key in his hand. We’ll probably be leaving first thing in the morning, he wants to tell her. As soon as Sherlock proves who robbed the previous couple who booked a room here, we’re out of here and stopping this happily married charade. “Thank you,” he says instead.

The space between by Salambo06 (E, 6,830 w. || PWP, Friends to Lovers, Masturbation, Virgin Sherlock, First Time, Miscommunications, Bottom Sherlock, Mutual Pining, Sexual Fantasy) – “It’s for a case,” Sherlock says as soon as John looks down at his computer. John remains silent for a long moment, eyes moving from the screen to Sherlock, before saying, “You don’t have to explain.” His voice is low, too low, and Sherlock looks at the computer, putting the video on pause. “Lestrade asked me-, no, forced me to find out who’s threatening a famous porn star, and the suspect is among his co-stars, so I only need to watch out for any signs from his partners, anything that might show they’re the one sending those threats and I can move to something else.” “Right.”

Full Disclosure by Itsallfine (E, 7,032 w. || Bars & Pubs, Fake Relationship, First Kiss / Time, Love Confessions, John’s Army Mates, Three Continents Watson, Semi-Public Sex) – John’s army mates get together for the first time post-discharge and invite John “Three Continents” Watson to join them. If John shows up alone, he knows he’ll be the object of non-stop ridicule all night. Sherlock plays along. John tests the waters.

that thing you like by misspamela (E, 7,165 w. || Holmes Family, Fake Relationship, Friends to Lovers) – “Happy Christmas, etc. etc.” Sherlock and John go to the Holmes’ for Christmas, and everyone thinks they’re together.

Down with this Ship by FrostedFlame (PinkOrchid) (M, 10,862 w. || For a Case, Gay Bar, Coming Out, Slow Burn) – Sherlock drags John undercover to a gay bar - for a case, of course - looking forward to seeing John flustered by their surroundings (since you know, he’s NOT GAY). John decides that he has hidden both his orientation and his feelings for his daft flatmate for far too long. He is done hiding, time to be honest with his bloody best friend in the world. He just hopes it won’t change anything between them. And then it does.

Twelfth Night by yourdykeinshiningarmor (E, 15,139 w. || Fake Relationship, Christmas, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, Angst & Fluff, BJ’s, Anal) – John is invited to his aunt’s Twelfth Night ball. Sherlock offers to attend with him as a friendly face among strangers, but John’s family force him to address his true feelings for Sherlock.

Till Death Do Us Part by prettysailorsoldier (M, 15,390 w. || Fake Relationship, Case Fic, Friends to Lovers, Fake Marriage, Christmas, Fluff) – When Sherlock links a recent spree of murder-suicides to a psychologist who specializes in marriage counseling, there’s really only one thing to do: Go undercover as a couple in hopes of drawing the killer out. Faking a relationship seems easy enough, but things take a turn when their real issues start to creep into the sessions, and, all the while, a killer is watching, waiting in the shadows for their chance to strike.

Couples Retreat by Madam_Fandom (E, 18,717 w. || Fake Relationship, Undercover Couple, Case Fic, Angst, Kidnapping, Fake Marriage, Cross Dressing) – Couples are turning up missing at a very high class couples retreat; and the only way to get to the bottom of it is for John and Sherlock to go under cover as a couple. {{Haven’t read this yet, so read at your discretion}}

Just a Kiss by emmagrant01 (E, 19,695w. || Case Fic, 5+1, For a Case) – Five times John and Sherlock kissed because of a case and one time they kissed for real. (Chapter 7 is the one you want :D)

Ghost Stories by SwissMiss (M, 22,256 w. || Pining, Holmes Family, Christmas, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Bed Sharing, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, First Time) – Sherlock’s parents think he and John are a couple. They might be onto something.

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a “normal” family. It’s easy enough to pretend when all you’re doing is dropping the act.

Sherlock Holmes & The Mysterious Ex by Gatergirl79 (M, 27,942 w. || Family, Romance, Holmes Family) – Sherlock and John are forced to spend Christmas with Sherlock’s family. An unsettling idea especially when John will have to play ‘Boyfriend’ thanks to Mycroft. But why exactly does Sherlock want to avoid a family party?

“finally kiss the bloody idiot” by Salambo06 (E, 29,812 w. || Mutual Pining, Declarations of Love, First Kiss / Time, Angst, Misunderstandings, Fantasies, POV John) – Inspired by a fic idea on tumblr : “John and Sherlock know the Yard has a pool going for when they’re finally going to get together. It’s been running forever, and it’s worth thousands of pounds. It’s all fun and games, hahaha, until they find out Lestrade is in dire financial straits (dog needs emergency surgery, he’s putting his kid through gymnastics training, I don’t know, something), and they decide to fake a relationship to win the pool for him. Sherlock figures out the day and way that Lestrade thinks it’s going to happen, and they act it out. It’s all for a good cause, fake relationship style, until it’s not.” Part 1 of The Pool

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice, Escort Service) – Clara’s American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she’s also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she’s placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

A Promise Made to Be Broken by PlantsAreNeat (E, 37,018 w. || Fake Relationship, Pining, Slow Burn, RST, Eventual Relationship, POV Sherlock) – A young John makes an ‘if we’re still single at 40, we’ll get together’ pledge to a woman who ends up all wrong for him. She keeps reminding him of the promise, and won’t let go of it. John asks Sherlock to pose as his boyfriend at a family wedding, so as to dash her hopes permanently. Sherlock, who has at last acknowledged his feelings for John, reluctantly agrees despite knowing how painful it will be to ‘have’ John, but not keep him.

The Case of the Vanishing Pants by SwissMiss (E, 44,025 w. || Five and Ones, Friends to Lovers, Case Fic, Homophobia, UST, Post-TRF) – Five times John and Sherlock lost their pants in the course of a case. (Chapter 4)

John Watson’s Twelve Days of Christmas by earlgreytea68 (M, 53,464 w. || Christmas, Holmes Family, Fake Relationship, Alternate First Meeting, Falling in Love, Fluff and Angst, Hardcore Pining) – It’s the holiday season. John Watson needs money. Sherlock Holmes needs something else.

Wars We Fought, Things We’re Not by blueink3 (M, 55,204 w. || Parentlock, Fluff & Angst, Kidnapping, Whump, Post-TAB, UST, Slow Burn, Couple for a Case) –  Five months after John’s world has fallen apart, Mycroft sends the consulting detective and his doctor on a case that neither is prepared for.

Bridging the Ravine by SilentAuror (E, 58,887 w. || Post S4, Couple For a Case, Bed-Sharing, First Times, Confessions, Awkwardness, Sex Trafficking) – Sherlock and John go undercover at Ravine Valley, a therapy centre for same-sex male couples in an investigation into a possible human trafficking ring. As they pose as a couple and fake their way through the therapy sessions for the sake of the case, it quickly becomes difficult to avoid discussing their very real issues. Set roughly six nine months after series 4.

A Cure For Boredom by emmagrant01 (E, 81,665 w. || Dirty Talk, Threesomes, Light Dom/Sub, Sex Club, Experiments, Anal, Mildly Dubious Consent) – They’d never talked about sex in the year they’d known each other. Well, that wasn’t quite correct: Sherlock had never said a word about sex; John had bemoaned his personal dearth of it on many occasions.