#hope this was a good introduction into my muse

[razzberriezz]

Fashion Dreamer Tips & Tricks

Some stuff only I found that isn't mentioned or in-game at all or is easily missed as far as I'm aware? I hope it helps some of you guys out :) It is quite image-heavy under the cut, fair warning!!

Colour Matching (Item Creator) Pressing down on the left stick changes the display from mannequin to the item itself, but pressing it again will show whatever item you're creating along with whatever your muse is currently wearing.

So if you've gotten a custom coloured item from someone else, this is great for making items and accessories to match with it! And you don't have to waste 120k points trying to match colours by guesstimation instead like me :'))) Or maybe I'm just dumb because I knew how to zoom in and out, just not the display switching OTL

2. Showroom Configuration (is stupid) This is for the Happy Home Paradise players... Make sure that any mannequins or clothing you display in your showroom is actually accessible, because you cannot walk under ceiling decorations, even if they are lighting. I have no idea why. You also can't change the camera angle, so it'd be best not to put the door/panel decorations all in a row at the front, because then players can't see what you're even displaying (unless it's just like a mannequin in the middle surrounded by lockers... Idk)

Taking the time to plug my showroom again before I swap out the outfits for the fancier stuff I have >o< Find me at a8xv4JW3Am!

3. Muse Advisors There are at least 2 or 3 advisors who are present at the Muse Mirror in each Cocoon in rotation. (e.g. Noz and Iris in HOPE) They can not only suggest colours and unique makeup that you haven't obtained yet* (I've seen a look where your character gets like a Batman/Robin mask lol), but also give you their own! If the one whose look you want isn't there, you just have to quick-travel (press down on the right stick) to another Cocoon and back. Otherwise, you can just keep talking to them and backing out until their option shows up.

Before & After (Iris ver.)!

(*Unfortunately, they won't give you unique eye shines/reflections.)

4. NPCs I've just learnt that the NPCs you start with are most likely random. I've seen others start with NPCs I haven't even seen or heard of! You need to raise their friendship level until you get a special event that says 'Friend Introduction' - and even then, I think the NPC who appears next might be random (unconfirmed). This may make it quite a pain for those who want the unnatural skin colours, since I believe they are only unlockable via NPC friendship rank... So just go into solo mode and spam some outfits :')

5. Camera Angles and Idle Poses This one is a bit useless, but I didn't know about it until now so it's going in. Most of the time, I use the drone camera to take photos, but could never really fit fullbody photos - turns out, you need to angle the camera slightly downwards (have your character looking up) to be able to zoom out enough to fit your Muse's whole body in. If the camera angle is level with your Muse, you will never be able to get a fullbody picture. Who thought this would be a good idea???

Level angle and tilted angle - the level angle is already at the lowest it could go.

Additionally, waiting for a while will let your character have the time to perform some idle animations, some of which (I think) are not present in the poses option, even via NPC friendship rank. The downside is that you'll have to crop out some parts of the UI and the quality will be a little lower - however, that can be fixed using waifu2x (which I tend to use anyways for aesthetic posts lol).

Before & After using waifu2x!

Since the game is so new I thought this might be helpful to some who are also just starting out. If anything here is wrong, please let me know and I'll fix it as soon as possible!

[thatsmzbitchtoyou]

Emerald Hallow Chapter 5

Summary: Steve Rogers wants to move on.  He wants to forget Peggy, and dive into the 21st century.  But this man of the past doesn’t know how to navigate being an Alpha in a modern world of skittish Omegas.  He prides himself on his self control, never wanting to harm or scare them, until something just smells too damn good…and he’s not the only one who notices.  

**plus size reader 

Warnings: abo!dynamics, smutty smut smut, name calling, eventual threesome, voyeurism, rough sex

Previous chapter Next chapter

This was the first time Bucky was going to see Y/N perform at the club.  It was Thanksgiving weekend, the Fall decorations already being put away and the Christmas decor going up seemingly overnight.  Steve and Bucky sat at a small table near the front of the stage off to the right, listening to the band warm up as the bar bustled with people.  Every Saturday night was packed whenever Y/N sang, and Bucky looked around in amazement.

“Wow, she’s really made a name for herself, hasn’t she?” Bucky mused quietly, watching the couples in their vintage outfits get settled at their tables, looking excitedly at the stage.

“You have no idea,” Steve replied, throwing Bucky a cocked eyebrow.

Just then the lights dimmed and the spotlight came on, the band counting themselves in and playing a small introduction.  The drag queen host came out and the audience cheered, making her smile wide as she gave a dramatic bow.  “Good evening everybody!  I’m your host Dirty Peaches, but you can call me Peaches ‘cuz I get nasty,” the crowd “oo-ed.”  “That’s a ‘Yonce' reference for those of you who are uncultured.  Wow, what a turnout!  Y’all been missing somebody?”  The audience cheered again, and a chant started amongst the crowd.

“Emerald Hallow!”

“Emerald Hallow!”

“Okay okay, shit, I know when I’m not wanted,” Peaches said, looking put out.  “Without further ado, please give a warm welcome to the one, the only, Emerald Hallow!”

The crowd cheered louder as Peaches stepped back and the curtain behind her opened to reveal Y/N.  Bucky’s mouth dropped open, his eyes going comically wide as she stepped out and hugged Peaches and greeted her bandmates.  She was dressed in a floor length satin gown.  This one was much more modest than the one Steve had first met her in, with only her arms showing from the elbow down, displaying her tattoos.  The dress was voluminous, hugging around her waist and chest snuggly while the rest flowed around her.  It was a bright, crimson red color, her green hair complimenting it and making her look like a Christmas herald.  Her hair was finger-waved again, the curls cascading down her back with her bangs curled and pinned back.  She wore blood red lipstick that matched the dress and her sharp cat-eye eyeliner again.

“Holy fuck,” Bucky moaned, shifting himself so his erection wasn’t too obvious.  Steve moved as well, his eyebrows hung low as he watched her.

“Hello, my pretties,” Y/N greeted everyone, her voice low and seductive.  The audience whooped and hollered.  “I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, and even if you didn’t, maybe we can have a little fun together tonight,” she winked.  “Lovies?” she gestured to the band, and they counted themselves into an introduction.  “I’m feeling very…sexy lately,” Y/N sighed.  More whoops resounded through the room.  “You feeling sexy?” she smiled.  “Well then…come here big boy.”

The music started, the trumpet playing a slow and dirty melody.  More cheers were heard as couples moved to the small dance floor, the dancing much sexier than Steve had seen last time.  

“You’ve been a bad, bad boy, I’m gonna take my time, so enjoy.”

Y/N’s eyes closed, her hands running down her hips as she swayed to the beat.

“There’s no need to feel no shame, Relax and sip upon my champagne. ‘Cause I wanna give you a little taste Of the sugar below my waist, You nasty boy.”

Her eyes were fixated on Steve as her hands went back up and over her stomach and slightly down the area between her legs but quickly back up to her chest, skimming across her breasts.

“I’ll give you some ooh-la-la Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? I got you breaking into a sweat Got you hot, bothered and wet You nasty boy.”

Her eyes were now on Bucky, raking over his figure.  She reached toward him, her fingers swirling in “come hither” motion then moving her body so her back was facing them, tilting her hips towards him.  Bucky twitched, having to stop himself from moving.

“Oh, baby for all it’s worth I swear I’ll be the first to blow Your…mind! Now if you’re ready, come and get me I’ll give you that hot, sweet, sexy, loving…”

The song continued and Steve and Bucky were both squirming.  She looked too good, sounded too good, mixed with the ambience of the club around them and her scent seeming to pool around them and the audience it was like sweet torture.

“...now you better give me a little taste Put your icing on my cake You nasty boy. Oh no, ooh there I go again I need a spanking, ‘cause I’ve been bad! So let my body do the talkin’ I’ll slip you that hot, sweet, sexy lovin’.”

Y/N started to move more to the beat, throwing her head back and riffing through the bridge, singing phrases like, “Come on sugar!” and whiny “oohs” that made Steve shut his eyes tight and Bucky’s metal arm creak under the pressure of the fist he put it in.  She sang to them, then to others, and at one point as the song started to end she scratched her long nails against her bond mark, making her pheromones burst through the enclosed space.  She was causing the crowd to get more rowdy, the dancing couples nearly undressing and pawing at each other.  She finished on a deep, whiny note and jiggled her body to the final drum.  Steve felt territorial and murderous seeing the effect she had on everyone around her, and felt sorry for Bucky who was seriously struggling in the seat next to him.  

The songs never stopped, one sexy number after another.  By the time her set was ending Bucky was sweating and Steve’s jaw ached from how hard he was biting down.  

“Thank you my pretties!  I’ll see you next week.  Good night, and have fun!” Y/N winked and licked her lower lip.  She bowed deeply then acknowledged her band, then swayed her hips as she disappeared into the curtain behind her.  

Steve turned to Bucky, who was gnawing at his lip and wiping his brow.  “She really does play dirty,” Bucky growled.

“Little tease,” Steve grunted.  He stood quickly.  “Come on.”

“What?  Where are we going?” Bucky asked, quickly standing with him.

Steve walked towards the backstage area.  He went through the curtain, looking around for Y/N.  When she was nowhere to be seen he gestured to one of the techies.  “Where’d Emerald go?”

“Oh, she left already,” she said.  

“Fuck,” Steve grunted.  The techie stared at him.  “Sorry.  Thank you.”  She walked away and he turned to Bucky.  “Her place.”

“She hasn’t moved in with you?” Bucky asked, following Steve out to the car they came in.  

“No, she likes having her own space.  But that’s going to change very soon,” Steve said threateningly.

“Look, punk, I know you’re mad but she has every right to be upset with us.  Tonight was payback, that’s all.  As frustrated and horny as I am, we can’t let our emotions get the better of us,” Bucky reasoned, trying to give off a calming scent in the car as Steve drove too fast to Y/N’s apartment.

Once they parked Steve hopped out and barreled through the front door of her building, Bucky following not far behind.  She was on the first floor so he quickly went to her door that was on a secluded part of the hallway.  He knocked hard on the door.

“Omega, open the door,” Steve commanded, trying to breathe normally.  

“Fuck off, Alpha,” Y/N called back through the door.  

“Don’t think I won’t break down this door,” Steve threatened, his scent getting stronger.

Y/N opened the door just a fraction, glaring up at him.  “What’s wrong, Steve?  Feeling a little…frustrated?” her eyes narrowed and she looked down at his groin where his cock was straining against his pants.

Steve carefully but forcefully pushed the door open, making her step back.  Bucky watched carefully, staying a step back but entering and closing the door behind him.  Steve groaned at her outfit, a night teddie that matched the red gown she wore earlier.  Her hair was tied up now, but the red lipstick was still on.  “What do you think you were doing up there tonight, huh, Emerald?” he growled.  “You just love being a fucking tease, don’t you?  You sent Buck into an early rut.”

“What?  I…” Bucky started to disagree but then felt a deep tug in his groin and slightly doubled over.  “Shit.”

“I smelled it on him the moment you stepped out from the curtain,” Steve said, not once looking away from her.  “I’m sorry we didn’t include you this morning.  We should have talked about all of that before, but we didn’t, and we overstepped what is obviously a boundary for you.  It was something that we needed to get over the initial hurdle in our relationship together.  But for you to go up there, and nearly send everyone in that room into heat or rut, is inexcusable.”

Y/N’s gaze never wavered.  She was not sorry, and from what he could tell, she was far from done.  “It’s hard to not get what you want.  The frustration feels stifling, doesn’t it?” She slowly approached him, getting close only to swerve around him and head towards Bucky.  She walked up to Bucky, who was grimacing in pain, and pulled his head down into a passionate kiss.  His hands gripped her face and held her close to him, moving his face down and scenting her neck hungrily.  She pushed him back into the couch he was standing next to, making him sit, then pulling his clothes off one at a time, glancing at Steve periodically.  “Overwhelming,” she muttered once she got Bucky fully naked.  She turned and sat on his lap, leaning back against him.  As she sat Steve saw she wasn’t wearing any underwear, Bucky’s cock slipping between her lower lips as she gyrated on him.  Bucky’s hands immediately went to her breasts, pulling them out of the teddie and kneading them in his large hands.  He was lost to his rut, not noticing or caring that Steve was there watching.  His lips licked and sucked at her neck, making his scent and hers mix in heady perfume that made Steve’s mouth water.  “How unfair,” Y/N said through gritted teeth.

Steve’s eyes blinked rapidly and his hand started moving towards his belt.  “Don’t you dare,” Y/N growled.  “You don’t get to join. It’s my turn with Bucky now.”  She reached down and started flicking her clit, her hips jerking and making Bucky whine behind her.  His hips started moving faster, his cock peeking through her legs repeatedly.  “You don’t get to touch yourself,” she instructed Steve.  He grunted and sank to his knees.  “I want Bucky’s knot.  Do you think he’ll breed me before you, Alpha?” She suddenly stiffened and came hard, a gush of her slick coating Bucky’s cock and her legs.  

Bucky moaned and tried to aim his hips to get his cock up into her.  He slipped his flesh arm down between her legs and dipped a finger inside her, his teeth biting gently into her shoulder.  “Should he mark me, Alpha?” Y/N asked Steve, her hips shaking as Bucky’s finger moved faster in and out of her, then adding another finger.  “Then you’ll both be my mates.  How does that sound, Stevie baby?”

“So good, fuck Mama,” Steve groaned, his hands shaking as he restrained from touching himself.

“Mama?  Huh…I like it,” Y/N laughed lightly.  She moved off of Bucky’s lap, making Bucky whimper at the loss of her, but she moved him over so she could lay down on the couch, and he quickly moved to hover over her.  She spread her legs wide, inviting Bucky to settle in between as he stroked his throbbing cock and ran the tip through her lower lips, getting himself wet with her slick.  He slowly started to push into her, pulling a long keen from her.  “He feels so good, Steve.  No wonder you couldn’t wait for me this morning.”

“Mama please,” Steve begged, crawling towards the two of them.  “I can’t take this, please, love.”

Bucky pushed fully into her and she arched her back, focusing back on him.  Y/N ran her hands up and along Bucky’s stomach, chest, shoulders, neck and into his hair.  She gripped the hair at the nape of his neck and pulled, making Bucky’s head wrench back and a loud growl rumble from his chest.  “Look Bucky, look how horny our Stevie is,” she moaned.  Bucky’s eyes finally found Steve’s and he growled again, trying to stake a claim.  Steve growled back in warning.  “You’re both so fucking hot, God,” Y/N shivered then pulled Bucky’s face back to her, focusing him back to the task at hand.  He quickly lowered himself over her chest, licking, sucking and nipping at her breasts as his thrusts picked up.  Steve felt small again, tears starting to prick at the sides of his eyes as the pleasure in his body had nowhere to go.

Y/N sensed his change and looked over at him and reached a hand out.  “Give me your cock, Alpha.”

Steve moved so fast he nearly tripped himself.  He pulled his belt and pants and underwear off, standing next to Y/N and Bucky.  She took his large cock in her small hand and started pumping him steadily.  She lifted her head to lick him and he stepped closer to help her reach.  She licked him from tip to base, lathering him in her spit.  Bucky looked up from her breasts and watched her suck on Steve.  He whimpered at the sight.  Y/N opened her mouth wide and tilted her head back.  Steve understood and positioned himself above her head and slid his cock into her mouth and then deep down into her throat.  She slightly gagged but breathed through her nose steadily to take him in all the way.  Steve fucked her throat as Bucky fucked her pussy.  The whole thing was so erotic that he knew he was going to bust any second.

Bucky started moving even faster as he licked her throat where the outline of Steve’s cock was moving.  As his thrusts became even more frenzied he started nuzzling the opposite side from where Steve had bit and claimed her, his teeth scraping against her gland.  “Claim her, Buck,” Steve grunted as he felt his balls tighten.  “Then she’ll be ours.”

Bucky inhaled her again, then just as his hips snapped harshly and his knot inflated fully he locked himself to her and bit down on her neck, filling her pussy up with his seed.  Y/N shrieked as her own orgasm washed over her, the vibration in her throat setting Steve off into cumming and he gasped and shivered, spilling himself down into her throat where she swallowed him greedily.  As they all breathed heavily Steve started to pull himself out slowly, making sure not to hurt Y/N as her throat relaxed.  She wetly coughed once he retreated and Bucky kissed her, tasting Steve on her tongue and moaning again.  He pulled away from the kiss and lifted his head to lick Steve’s cock, giving his tip a small suck then laying his head back into the crook of Y/N’s neck, his bite mark leaving her skin red and sore, which he licked heavily to soothe.  

“Mine,” Bucky whispered as he kissed his mark.  “Ours.”

“So good, Omega,” Steve praised her, making her smile lazily up at him.  He leaned down and kissed her.  “Please tell me the war is over.”

“You wish,” Y/N smirked.

[starlit1daydream]

Introduction to my Classpecting Ideas

This felt like a good idea for something to put out before I put my Knight & Page analysis out there, since I plan on making this a 6 part series. (Potentially 7 if demand for a Lord/Muse addendum is high enough).

So, I'll be laying out my most important philosophies on the subject here for future reference.

Classpecting is...

Point A. Classpecting is malleable.

There is not one rigid, set definition for any Class pair, or any Aspect pairing. The freedom of the author is that they may assign any symbolism to a concept that they may like.

What I mean by this is that people often seem to think that manifestations of an Aspect within Homestuck's narrative paint that object or idea as a concept inherently tied to that Aspect.

Example: Pumpkins & Void. You would not believe the amount of people in the early fandom who swore by the idea that pumpkins were inherently just Void constructs because of their role in Homestuck's narrative.

No? Pumpkins symbolise Void in Homestuck itself and Homestuck itself only only due to a running gag inherent to Homestuck itself.

Anything, with enough narrative basis and existing thematic ties, can serve to symbolise an Aspect. Furthermore, two different authors may have different ideas of what Aspect something represents.

Some authors may see alcohol, for example, as a Void-bound concept owing to its obfuscation of fair judgement. Some may see it as a Light-bound concept owing to the idea of 'in vino veritas' and the tendency of drunkenness to induce truthful confessions. Some may see it as a Life-bound concept owing to its associations with hedonism and impulsive behaviour.

With enough narrative consistence, anything is possible. Homestuck's narrative is not as rigid of a point of reference as some people would swear by it being. This is deeply important.

Point B. Classpecting is not the whole of a character.

I can't exactly phrase this in a satisfactory manner, but... a Classpect is not a personality type in of itself. An individual being a Prince of Heart does not instantly make them Dirk Strider. It merely means that their core value is identity & selfhood, and they interact with it by destroying it. It is that simple!

I see, time and time again, Classpecting blogs acting as if a Classpect is indicative of a character's whole personality and giving guides as to the exact behaviours & quirks a character with that Classpect should have.

I am imploring you to explore wider possibilities when it comes to this. Even if it means sharing a title with a canon character! It doesn't mean you have to just rewrite that canon character because that's not how Classpecting works.

I've seen fanventure characters share titles with canon characters. (Sovereignstuck's Annomi Errata & Dynama Zarrow sharing titles with Dirk & Porrim respectively, and Porrim herself is also a player in that narrative, mind you!)

I've seen fanventure characters share titles with eachother. (Vast Error's Dismas Mersiv is a Rogue of Mind. One of my fantrolls is also a Rogue of Mind!)

In every instance, they are fundamentally different people. I cannot put it any simpler than this.

Point C. Classpecting is always applicable.

That is the perfection of the Classpecting system. You can give a title to any character, from anything ever made. It's not even that difficult if you're half-decent at media analysis!

Quite literally all you need to do is ask yourself two questions.

"What's this character's core value?" and "How do they interact with that?" Do that, and you've got yourself a Classpect.

That's the beauty of it! It's obviously not going to be as airtight as a story that has the Classpecting system baked directly into the narrative, but it's still going to work out!

Hell, do it to yourself! Do it to your friends! The world's your oyster. You can do anything you want, forever, for the rest of time. I'm a Seer of Life! My best friend is a Page of Blood! My mother is a Witch of Hope! Go wild.

Post formatting

For my Classpecting posts, I'll aim to give two related definitions for every Class.

Definition A is the narrative function, what the Class says about the person and how they interact with their Aspect as an abstract concept.

Definition B is the practical function, what the Class says about their role in the session and how they interact with their Aspect as a SBURB construct.

Therefore, we get an idea of both the abstract, personal definition of a Classpect, and the functional, game application of a Classpect.

I'll also aim to give about two or three examples for each individual title about how you could write a character with them, since there are always going to be multiple directions you can take with a Classpect.

Conclusion

tl;dr - what I'm trying to say is this. Classpecting is malleable, easily applicable & capable of saying any number of things, and my posts will aim to give two concise definitions of both narrative and practical function for every title.

I'll get the Knight:Page analysis done either today or tomorrow, and the rest of the Class posts will be staggered releases in order of poll results. Thus, the order is going to be:

Knights & Pages, Deficiency and Exploitation.

Mages & Seers, Experience and Comprehension.

Witches & Heirs, Adherence and Manipulation.

Princes & Bards, Instability and Destruction.

Thieves & Rogues, Inundation and Redistribution.

Maids & Sylphs, Maintenance and Generation.

And, potentially...

7. Lords & Muses, Absolution and Dominion.

And then, subsequently, the order for the Aspect posts, which I've decided based on relevance to the canon, roughly speaking anyways...

Space & Time, Genesis and Terminus.

Breath & Blood, Fluidity and Stability.

Light & Void, Potential and Simplicity.

Heart & Mind, Instinct and Dialectics.

Life & Doom, Progress and Stagnation.

Hope & Rage, Conviction and Iconoclasm.

I look forward to the next post. Until then, take care.

[lightdancingwords]

Crossroads of the Heart - Part Two of ?

Pairings: CJ Braxton x Y/N Female reader

Series Summary: Y/N is a psychology major assigned to shadow CJ at The Stand, unaware he's the one who basically saved her life four years before. CJ is unaware that she's the one who left a notable impact on him over the phone four years ago. As they navigate the work at The Stand, they develop a spark that demands revelation and connection.

Word Count: 2,164

Tags/Warnings: none really, though depression and alcoholism is mentioned.

A/N: Comments, Likes, Reblogs, Kind feedback are always highly appreciated. Please let me know if you want to be added to the tag list! Evidently my muse won't shut up, so here we go! A new story in a new setting! I hope you all enjoy!

Dividers: credit to @saradika-graphics

Chapter Two: Introduction Part Deux

The Stand had the comforting hum of a place where lives were being quietly rebuilt. CJ stood at the front desk, scanning a list of volunteer and paid staff schedules and jotting notes in the margins. His sharp eyes took in the space around him—the posters on the walls, the bookshelf stacked with self-help guides, and the donation jar that always seemed to fill up faster than he expected. Every detail mattered to him. They were proof of how far this place had come.

The door opened with a gentle creak, and CJ instinctively looked up. A young woman stepped in, clutching a notebook against her chest. Her soft features and calm demeanor caught his attention immediately, though it was the way her eyes lingered on the room—taking in every detail like it mattered—that made him straighten.

“Hi,” she said, her voice smooth and warm, like the first notes of a melody. “I’m Y/N. I’m here to start my practicum.”

CJ set down his pen and stepped forward, offering a hand. “Nice to meet you, Y/N. Welcome to The Stand. I’m CJ, the manager.”

She shook his hand with surprising firmness, though her gentle smile softened the gesture. “Thank you. It’s a privilege to be here. I’ve wanted to work with The Stand for a long time.”

Her words made CJ pause. He searched her face for a hint of familiarity, wondering if their paths had crossed before, but nothing clicked. “That’s good to hear,” he said, his curiosity piqued. “What drew you to us?”

Y/N hesitated, her fingers brushing against the edge of her notebook. “I’ve always believed in what you’re doing here,” she said carefully. “The idea that a single conversation could change someone’s life... it’s powerful. I wanted to be part of that.”

CJ nodded, his expression softening. He could see the sincerity in her eyes, the kind that couldn’t be faked. “That’s exactly what we try to do here,” he said. “It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.”

“It must be,” she said, her voice laced with quiet admiration. “You’ve built something incredible.”

CJ chuckled, leaning against the counter. “It’s not just me. This place has been around for years. I just took the reins a while back and tried not to screw it up too much.”

She tilted her head, curious. “How did you end up here? I mean, running the place?”

The question hit a familiar nerve, one CJ had learned to navigate over the years. He looked down briefly, then met her gaze. “Honestly? I was a mess as a teenager. Alcoholism, depression... you name it. I hit rock bottom more times than I care to admit. The Stand was where I turned things around. I started as a volunteer, and it gave me a sense of purpose I didn’t think I’d ever find. When the opportunity came to manage it, I knew I couldn’t pass it up.”

Y/N’s expression softened, her eyes filled with an understanding that made CJ feel unexpectedly seen. “That’s... inspiring,” she said. ���Not many people turn their lives around like that, let alone use their experience to help others.”

“It’s not always as noble as it sounds,” CJ admitted with a wry smile. “Some days it’s just about making it to the next one. But yeah, I guess I wanted to be the person I needed back then.”

“That’s a pretty noble goal to me,” Y/N said softly, the corners of her lips curling up in a smile.

CJ cleared his throat, feeling the weight of her gaze. “Well, enough about me. Let me show you around. You’ll get to know the team and see how we do things here.”

“I’d like that,” Y/N replied, her notebook now hanging loosely at her side as she followed him deeper into the space.

As they walked, Y/N asked thoughtful questions, her curiosity evident. “Do you ever wonder about the people you’ve helped? What happened to them?”

“All the time,” CJ admitted. “We don’t always get closure. Sometimes you just have to trust that you made a difference, even if you never see the results.” He thought back to one phone call four years ago that left such an impression, he had never forgotten it. He still had that poem, framed at his desk.

“I think you do,” she said, her voice steady. “Make a difference, I mean.”

He glanced at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

They reached the lounge, where a few staff members were gathered, laughing over a shared joke. CJ gestured to the room. “This is where the magic happens. Well, most of it, anyway. The team’s great—you’ll fit right in.”

Y/N looked around, taking in the warmth of the space. “I hope so. I’m ready to learn.”

CJ nodded, watching her with a growing sense of respect. There was something about her presence that felt... significant. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he knew one thing: she was here for a reason. And whatever that reason was, he had a feeling it mattered more than either of them realized yet.

CJ led Y/N into the lounge, the hum of conversation and the clatter of coffee mugs greeting them. A handful of staff members sat around the mismatched furniture, a casual but lively energy filling the room. The group’s laughter paused as CJ cleared his throat.

“Alright, everyone,” CJ started, his voice carrying the easy authority of someone both respected and liked. “We’ve got a new practicum student joining us. Meet Y/N.”

The staff turned their attention to her, their faces warm and welcoming. Y/N offered a shy wave, clutching her notebook a little tighter.

“Hi, everyone. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, her voice gentle but clear.

CJ gestured toward a young man sprawled on the couch with a laptop balanced precariously on his knees. “That’s Miles. He’s one of our longest-serving staffers and our resident tech wizard. If anything breaks around here, he’s the one who makes sure it’s working again—usually after some colorful cursing.”

Miles grinned, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “What CJ means is, I’m the guy who holds this place together when he’s not looking. Welcome aboard, Y/N. Need any tech tips, I’m your guy.”

“Thanks, Miles,” Y/N replied, her smile widening.

Next, CJ nodded toward a woman in her late twenties, her dark curls pulled into a loose bun, a mug of tea in her hands. “This is Priya. She’s our counseling lead and one of the sharpest minds I’ve ever worked with. She runs the training sessions and keeps us all in line.”

Priya raised her mug in greeting, her eyes sparkling with kindness. “Welcome, Y/N. If you have any questions—or need to vent after a tough shift—I’m always around.”

Y/N nodded, her grip on her notebook relaxing slightly. “I’ll definitely take you up on that.”

“And over there,” CJ said, motioning toward a young woman seated cross-legged on the floor, a clipboard resting on her lap, “is Gabby. She’s newish, like you, but she’s already making waves.”

Gabby looked up, her ponytail swinging as she smiled brightly. “Only the good kind of waves, though. Nice to meet you, Y/N! You’ll love it here, I promise.”

“I can tell,” Y/N replied, her tone warm.

CJ let the group settle back into their conversation before turning back to Y/N. “They’ll all be part of your training in one way or another. You’ll shadow a few shifts with Priya and Gabby first to get a feel for how the calls are handled, then we’ll ease you into taking calls yourself. No pressure, though.”

Y/N nodded, her expression a mix of excitement and nerves. “Got it. I’m ready to learn.”

“Good,” CJ said, his voice softening. “We’re glad to have you here.”

He gestured toward an empty chair near the corner of the lounge. “For now, grab a seat and get to know everyone. I’ll grab the training manual and meet you back here in a bit.”

As CJ walked away, Y/N settled into the chair, feeling the hum of camaraderie around her. Miles leaned over from his spot on the couch, lowering his voice conspiratorially.

“So, what’s in the notebook?” he asked with a playful grin. “Secret plans to overthrow CJ? Because if so, count me in.”

Y/N laughed, opening the notebook slightly to show pages filled with poems, notes, and inspirational quotes. “Nothing quite that dramatic. Just ideas and notes. I like keeping my thoughts organized.”

Gabby leaned over to peek as well. “Ooh, you write? That’s so cool! Maybe you can help come up with motivational posters to put around the place. We could use some new stuff!”

Y/N smiled, her nerves melting as the group pulled her into their easy rhythm. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

From the doorway, CJ watched for a moment, his hands in his pockets. Seeing Y/N laugh with the team filled him with a quiet satisfaction. He didn’t know what her full story was, but he had a feeling she’d bring something special to The Stand. And maybe, just maybe, she’d find something she was looking for here too.

After a moment, CJ returned to the lounge, a binder tucked under his arm and a clipboard in hand. He paused in the doorway, watching Y/N laugh at something Gabby had said. It was a good sign—she was settling in already.

“Alright, everyone,” CJ called out, stepping further into the room. “I need to steal Y/N for a bit.”

Y/N glanced up, gathering her notebook as she rose. She followed CJ back to the front desk, where he spread out a schedule and the training manual.

“So,” CJ began, tapping the clipboard with his pen, “here’s what your first week will look like. Tomorrow, you’ll start by sitting in with me during calls. You’ll listen, take notes, and get a feel for how we handle things. After that, we’ll pair you with Gabby or Priya for a couple of shadow shifts before easing you into taking calls yourself.”

Y/N nodded, her eyes scanning the schedule. “That sounds great. I like the idea of easing into it.”

“Good,” CJ said, giving her a small smile. “We don’t throw anyone into the deep end here. Everyone starts where you’re starting. It’s important to understand the flow and build confidence first.”

He flipped through the training manual, showing her the sections on call protocol and common scenarios. “This will be your homework for tonight. Don’t stress about memorizing everything, though. We’ll go over the key parts during training. After all, the manual is just a tool, not something we follow precisely. Every call will be different.”

Y/N flipped through the binder, her expression focused. “Thanks. I’ll make sure I’m ready.”

CJ set the clipboard down, leaning against the counter. “One more thing. Tomorrow, when you’re sitting in, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Even if it’s during a call, jot them down. We’ll go through everything after.”

“Got it,” she said, tucking the training manual under her arm. “I’ll be ready.”

CJ watched her for a moment, sensing her quiet determination. “You’re going to do fine here, Y/N. It’s normal to feel nervous, but I can already tell you’re the kind of person who’s going to make a real impact.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she smiled. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

He straightened, glancing at the clock on the wall. “Alright, I’ll let you go for now. Get settled, look over the manual, and I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here,” she said, her voice steady.

As she walked toward the door, CJ called after her, “Oh, and bring that notebook. You’ll want to keep it handy.”

She laughed softly, lifting the notebook in a mock salute before stepping out into the evening.

CJ watched the door swing shut behind her, a faint smile lingering on his face. He couldn’t quite explain it, but he had a feeling about Y/N. Tomorrow would be just the beginning, and he was curious to see how she’d grow into the role—and how her presence might shift the dynamic of The Stand in ways they couldn’t yet predict.

He sat back down, glanced at the poem he framed on his desk. The newspaper color yellowed from exposure to the light, but it was still readable. He’d made copies, even a digital copy, so he’d never lose it one way or another. He never forgot that call, never forgot the girl. He often thought of her, wondered if she was okay. If she was thriving.

He hoped, one day, she’d call again, if only to give them an update.

CJ fingered the frame, let out a sigh, and went back to work. The helpline couldn’t handle itself, after all.

Tag List: If you want to be added to CJ's stories, please let me know here or on my Tag List!

Like my CJ stories? Check out my Beau Arlen story and my Dean Winchester story!

[thoughtfullyrainynightmare]

Hiii :) I hope ur doing lovely! I have a request if that’s okay- it’s been over three years since I’ve sent a tumblr request so I hope I’m doing this right butttt,,,,

Fuegoleon with a Black Bulls dragonrider s/o? Pretty much all rest is up to you but I’ve had this idea in my brain for a while, a very strong independent dragonrider, who catches our dear Fue’s eye? Bonus points if she’s good friends with Mereo ? :o

Hey! I'm a tired, and uni is consuming me but aside of that I'm good :3 I hope you're too! And thanks for your patience!! I do hope you like this little ficlet

Pairing: Fuegoleon x f!reader Genre: General Fanfic type: Oneshot Length: ~0,7k Contains: A dragonrider reader, she is friends with Mereo, baffled Fuegoleon, an introductory fic

For a good while Fuegoleon assumed himself to be the only one in the kingdom with anything dragon seeming in his possession. Because dragons were a myth. Something that, perhaps, might have been real creatures that existed back in the day, but had now been reduced into creatures that only existed in stories. Why that was the case, he wasn’t sure. Nor did he particularly spend his time wondering about it, as it made no difference for daily life.

For the purposes that seemed relevant for Clover, he was the only one that could control a dragon, though only a spirit.

However, there was a day when Yami asked to have a meeting with him. On a day that was like any other. To which he agreed, because Yami didn’t request audiences for nothing. And as he waited for Yami to merely appear in the Crimson Lion Kings’ base via a portal, he was baffled to hear an alarm being sounded.

Because there was a large creature with claws and razor sharp teeth that wasn’t Salamander approaching the base.

It had been you, dropping Yami in, because Finral had been sent onto a mission.

And while it wasn’t exactly a first introduction, it did pique his interest; his curiosity. Because... who on earth was the person who controlled a dragon? A creature of fire and ashes from a time he thought was in the past.

So, once he came to seek you at the base, he bore a face that was filled with wonder. A raised eyebrow and questions he wasn’t quite sure if he could ask. But he did. In the most polite manner he knew how.

Which, quite honestly, made sense. After all, since he controlled the Elemental Spirit of Fire, it wasn’t uncalled for, for him to bear an interest for dragons.

“Would you like to meet him?” You asked with faint amusement in your tone. “But perhaps don’t start a fight like your sister did,” you added with a laugh, which caught him off guard.

Because he wasn’t aware that you had already had run-ins with Mereoleona. Not that she would necessarily mention such things.

“You know my sister?” He asked, even more bewildered.

“I do,” you chuckled. “We spend quite a lot of time around Yultim, so we ran into Mereo, who was very intrigued. Wanted to have a brawl,” you mused.

To which he blinked, and shrugged.

Pinched the bridge of his nose.

Because yeah... that sounded like Mereoleona-aneue.

“You never answered my question,” you noted after a moment of silence.

His eyes turned to you. A stern, attentive gaze. Eyes of fire and sheer power of will.

Which closed in a slow blink and a chuckle.

“I suppose I didn’t,” he agreed with amusement. “Yes, I would be delighted to meet him,” he admitted.

So you nodded and led him to the backyard of the base, where your beloved dragon companion was happily napping. Until you approached, which made him open his eyes, and look at the two of you. But mostly towards Fuegoleon.

Salamander appeared as well.

And as.... as you watched the man and the spirit approach your companion, there was a strange feeling. An inkling feeling of a kind. That this man, who was approaching your dragon, with his hand before him.

The man who was allowed to pet your dragon, by your dragon, might become something more. A friend at least. Because... there weren’t too many like you in the world. Nor were there particularly many like him, those that commanded an elemental spirit, around either. So... perhaps you could connect over it. Perhaps you might find something in common.

There was a look.

From him.

To you.

A look that you couldn’t quite decipher. But it wasn’t a look you minded. It was something of a mix of gratitude, awe, curiosity and... dare you guess affection? Or perhaps just understanding. Only time would tell.

[starlightvivi]

HOW IT STARTED

König x Reader

________________________________________

Note: this story contains romantic themes and fluffiness

A/N: bruh this is my first time writing a story please do mention how is it, I mentioned whatever I feel like in Note, 😭 and English is not my first language, but I had the urge to write 😭, and do tell me if I try something new or write more parts of it and hope you guys like it ✌️ and stay safe guys

—————————

It all began when you joined Kortac base, assigned to work there. Known for your thoughtfulness, compassion, and kindness, everyone admired you, including the Colonel who found you both proficient and charismatic. Despite meeting everyone in the base, an encounter with the Colonel remained elusive, creating an air of curiosity about the man who is a tall, massive figure behind the mask he wore.

The Colonel had silently admired your warmth since your arrival. Admiring from a distance, he yearned to initiate a conversation but found anxiety to be a formidable adversary. Each attempt felt like a delicate dance between desire and hesitation. In the bustling cafeteria, he finally thought to talk to you.

"Umm, hi there. Is this seat taken?"

The Colonel, surprised, nodded, inviting you to join him.

He had been quietly captivated by your warmth since your arrival. Admiring you from afar, he longed for conversation, but anxiety proved formidable. he finally found the courage.

"Not at all, have a seat. I hope the cafeteria chaos isn't too overwhelming for a newcomer like yourself."

"It's a bit lively, but I'm getting used to it. Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, Sergeant. It's nice to have some company. I find these moments in the midst of chaos quite refreshing," he finally found some courage and replied.

"It's y/n," she said with a beaming smile on her face, relieved by his welcoming demeanor.

He nodded.

She gazed at him with eyes akin to big, lustrous blackberries, a radiant smile illuminating her face as she patiently awaited his introduction.

He stared for a moment and responded, "König."

"I see, King, huh!" She replied with a warm smile.

He responded with a nod, his gaze momentarily finding refuge on the tabletop. A shy warmth colored his cheeks, a subtle crimson betraying unspoken emotions beneath the surface.

"I noticed you seemed deep in thought. Everything alright, sir?"

He lifted his head, and his eyes, a mesmerizing fusion of cerulean blue and emerald green, held a captivating depth. Long, graceful lashes framed these kaleidoscopic orbs, casting delicate shadows that accentuated the enchanting hues, making his gaze an ethereal spectacle, and she felt she could get lost in them forever.

"Oh, just lost in my own musings. It happens more often than I care to admit. How are you finding your first days here?"

"It's been a mix of excitement and nerves, sir. But everyone's been friendly, especially considering the ranks," you replied as you got back to reality.

"Glad to hear that. It's a good team here. Anything specific on your mind, or just taking in the cafeteria spectacle?"

"Well, sir, besides navigating the military maze, I was also wondering if a seasoned officer like yourself has any tips on how to make the best impression." She said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

König, catching her playful tone, chuckled.

"Ah, making impressions. A classic challenge. Just be yourself, Sergeant. Authenticity goes a long way."

Y/n leaned in with a smirk. "But what if being myself includes a touch of charm and a killer smile?"

König, caught off guard, blushed slightly.

"Well, in that case, I suppose you'll be making quite an impression, won't you?"

Their banter continued, infused with playful teasing, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and laughter. The cafeteria chaos faded into the background as they enjoyed each other's company.

And that's how the story began.

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hi Hazel! Could I get a Protection Ritual for Albedo with frankincense, angelite, sandalwood and jasmine, please?

Frankincense (confidence), Angelite (gentleness, healing), Sandalwood (ceremony), Jasmin (love, sensuality) Albdeo x gn reader | Protection Ritual warning: fluff fluff fluff

The two of you walked across the stone bridge, beneath the stars that twinkled brightly above. The voices of Mond rose up behind you as you took each other's hands and let this moment melt into the fabric of the world.

"I told you people would show up," you hummed, head resting on his shoulder as you gazed at the people rushing by beyond the stone archway. Laughter and joy spilled through like rushing water.

"It would seem that I severely underestimated," Albedo said, his thumb running across the back of your hand.

"People love you."

"As they do you."

"Okay, they love us both. I'll admit to that." You turned your head and rested your chin on his shoulder, gazed into the face of the man who held so much of your heart.

It was impossible to think that almost two years ago you were being introduced to him. That the quiet, Chief Alchemist who spent most of his time in seclusion or providing a watchful, kind observation of his students would have found any interest in you.

You could remember that day like it was yesterday. Your bumbling introduction as a new member of the investigation team, your arms filled with every possible book, reference, or notebook you thought might be relevant on your first day. The awkward handshake with the composed alchemist, and the fixation of your gaze when he walked away.

If it weren't for you, you weren't sure the two of you'd be standing here right now.

Albedo cared for you, deeply, you knew this, but he seemed to struggle to show it. At first, you weren't even sure if his attentive support was any more than a good mentor guiding a rising pupil but in those quiet nights when the two of you worked alone, you began to read the gaze of his eyes, began to sense the feelings in the way he guided you through the research.

To others, it looked like work. Diligent, focused work, but to the two of you it was like a dance. Intricate, delicate, sensual. So you took the chance, the risk, and all the hypotheses you held in your heart proved perfectly true.

Albedo turned to you and shared in your smile. "Hi," you hummed.

"Hello," he said, his fingers running over your brow.

Anticipation, energy, and nerves bubbled in your stomach. The words you had been waiting to say tickled your tongue, formed in your mind but found difficulties on your lips.

It shouldn't.

This night was yours.

It was his.

You pressed your lips to his shoulder and hoped the action would force what lay beyond through. When you looked at him again, the words fell from your tongue like drops of sweet honey.

"Hello, Husband."

Albdeo's smile grew with unfettered joy as he cupped your face and whispered his love against your cheeks, your nose, softly in the corner of your eyes, and finally, delicately, against your beaming lips.

"Hello, my darling, my love, my life," he confessed while the church bells chimed in the final hours of your wedding day.

Thaumaturgy Anthology (October 11-13, 2024)

This event is based on spells and rituals. Inspiration does not equal understanding; liberties have been taken. All content is owned by Witch Hazels Musings, theft of these images and stories will result in immediate action.

[woahiwrite]

hello!! i saw you were taking requests and wanted to send one!! i’ve been binge reading your headcanons too!! you’re such a good writer 🫶🏼

i was wondering if you could do kenshi with a princess! reader please 😵✨💗 thank you and i hope you have a good one!

Kenshi x Princess!Reader

Warnings: Descriptions of blood, not very graphic, no actual injuries to reader or any of the kast. Reader is female and described as just shorter than Kenshi. For the purpose of the story the tournament spans over a few months, I'd say 4 to 6, just for it to not feel like Kenshi and Reader fell for eachother in like 3 weeks[I don't know how long the tournament is but that is how it felt in the game]. Open ending

Thank you for enjoying my writing, you have a good one as well! For story reasons I decided to come up with another realm for the reader to be princess of, also because this ask gave me so much muse I came up with a bunch of lore too so I apologize if this isn't quite what you had in mind😭. I might make this into something more if enough people want it and I find myself with enough motivation to do so. I quite enjoyed this ask and I think it shows.

• As Princess of Warrealm, you were no stranger to kombat

• There was once a time when your realm had been prosperous, teeming with life, a true paradise

• Though that was before your birth, before your parents' birth, something you only read about in the history books

• Knowing you would be in danger if raised in your home realm, your parents sent you to Outworld, to be raised as Sindel's ward until you were old enough to join your family and hopefully break the millennium long state of war that plagued your realm

• First, you must learn how Sindel ruled and learn how to fight, training under Li Mei and one of the royal guard from your own realm

• As you came of age, you spent more time in Warrealm, participating in battles when permitted, and trying to come up with strategies to hopefully get a breakthrough

• This, is when Kenshi saw you for the first time

• Sindel had just finished her introduction of the tournament, her lips just parting as she went to welcome forth Liu Kang

• When suddenly, her eyes drifted over, and she seemed to still

▪︎ "Woah, who is that?"

• Hearing Johnny's question, Kenshi turned to follow his gaze, and he immediately found himself intrigued, though also concerned

• Strutting forward, bloodied spear in hand, you made your way towards the throne, your skin dripping, and clothes soaked, with crimson

• Sindel watched you approach, ignoring the worried glances from Kitana and Mileena as you knelt before the steps

▪︎ "Empress, I am sorry for this interruption."

▪︎ "Do not worry yourself, I have been awaiting your return, you are unharmed?"

▪︎ "Yes, Empress."

• Sindel seemed to visibly relax, and she nodded her head with a small smile

▪︎ "Good, go clean yourself up, the tournament will begin soon."

• You stood, turning swiftly, before walking out of the throne room without so much as a glance spared to anyone else

• Bloodied footsteps trailed behind you, leaving Kenshi to wonder if it may stain the pristine white floors, and if so, why Sindel didn't seem mad you did so

• He did not see you again until the banquet that night

• You were seated beside him, looking amused at the disgusted side glances he sent towards Kung Lao and the slightly worried ones he gave to his own plate

▪︎ "The food of Outworld is not much too different than that served in Earthrealm, it will not harm you."

• Kenshi looked at you in shock, and then quickly shook his head

▪︎ "That isn't it at all, Princess."

• It was your turn to be shocked

▪︎ "Pardon?"

▪︎ "Oh, are you not one? I had assumed because of how close you had seemed with the royal family."

▪︎ "I am, just..not from Outworld. A story for a later date, perhaps. My story won't provide much entertainment to your dinner."

▪︎ "I'm not that hungry."

• You gave him an apprehensive look, before nodding your head

• You explained to him the history of your Realm, unsure as to if he would know it or not

• That Warrealm was once called Idyllrealm, and that it was once a place unlike any other

• Some from Chaosrealm had came and formed their own battalions, hellbent on taking down the royal family so that Idyllrealm could be a true paradise, another realm gloriously free like their own

• The war seemed never-ending, as people became corrupt by Chaosrealm ideals

•  Idyllrealm received little aid even with their good relations with Outworld

• As time went on, Idyllrealm was better termed as Warrealm, for the battles that waged on constantly

▪︎ "So, Outworld is like a safe haven for you?"

▪︎ "Precisely."

• Kenshi was further intrigued by you then, there was just so much to learn from you

• To learn about you

• He could relate with you on wanting to free your people from corruption, and if he wasn't so focused on saving his Clan, he would've offered his aid to you right then and there

• Though, he didn't know how much of a help he would be without any abilities to aid in such warfare with people who seemed to come out of fantasy stories

• But to say it was love at first sight would be incorrect

• It was more admiration

• Though that admiration didn't take very long to turn into love

• You had found Kenshi attractive, not just for his looks, but his personality and his goal that was so similar to yours

• You didn't really realize, but the both of you quickly became good friends

• Even despite the Earthrealmers taking victory after victory in the tournament, you felt no ill will towards them

• If anything, you almost rooted for them to win

• Outworld did not need any battle, and you knew General Shao did enjoy the thrill of bloodshed, he had even aided in a few battles in Warrealm

• So if Earthrealm won, the realms would stay in peace, and it would allow you to keep your mind set

• After all, if Outworld fell into war, you would almost feel obligated to fight alongside them

• Most of your life was spent there, after all

• Though to take your minds off those thoughts, you always could talk with Kenshi

• He told you about life in Earthrealm, and you told him about life in Outworld

• You'd often share drinks together, sometimes alone, sometimes with the company of the other Earthrealmers

• They all liked to hear your stories

• (You ignored the flirtatious comments by the one who went by Johnny Cage)

• It was all good and fun

• You made friends with the Earthrealmers, and even sparred with them whenever you all wanted to

• Of course, you hid this knowledge from Sindel, Mileena, and Kitana

�� You didn't know if they would accept any sort of relations with those of Earthrealm outside of the tournament

• Even ones as innocent as friendship

• Though you knew you wanted more than that with the swordsman

• As time continued to pass, and the tournament grew closer to its end, you found yourself growing dreary

• Kenshi felt the same

• It showed in one of your nights basking in the moonlight, drinks in hand, staring out over the city

▪︎ "Raiden fights General Shao and Princess Mileena in a few days."

▪︎ "Are you worried for him?"

▪︎ "Not quite, I think he'll be fine. He is the champion for a reason."

▪︎ "Then why do you sound so somber?"

▪︎ "I'll miss the view here in Outworld, it's quite..beautiful."

• Glancing over at him, you found Kenshi to already be looking at you

▪︎ "Outworld is home to many of my fondest memories. I find myself making new ones a lot more, recently. Some fonder than others."

• Stepping closer to you, Kenshi slightly leaned against the railing as he looked down at you, the distant explosions from fireworks reflecting in his gaze

▪︎ "What are your favorite ones?"

▪︎ "How about I show you?"

• Feeling his hand come up to cup the side of your face, your hand gripped the side of his suit jacket, keeping him close as your lips pressed together

• The kiss was more passionate than you had expected, your heart thudding in your chest as you stepped even closer to him

• When you pulled apart, you were both left breathless

• Tongue briefly darting out to lick your lips, you smiled up at him as he did down to you

▪︎ "There, my most loved memory yet."

▪︎ "I'm glad I made the list, though I hope I won't have to become a memory."

• You huffed, pulling back from him but dragging your hand down until you held his hand in yours

▪︎ "Hopefully not."

[vangbelsing]

Emmrich X Rook: First Meeting Prompt for DADreams

So this was made VERY quickly and it's so rushed because I wanted to get it out before the night is over soooooo it's not gonna be good🫠 Please forgive the pacing, it's so bad LOL but I was running out of time😭 I may even revisit this at a later date because this doesn't really get Alinas character across that well... Also the ending is pure projection because I am sleepy and cannot force myself to make this better. ANYWAY here's wonderwall

She had met him with a gaze one might expect from a pampered noble woman who had just lain eyes on a sack of grain, or a King looking at the common man who lived with means far more humble: utter indifference. She spared no thought nor consideration in her appraisal of the necromancer. A quick summation of his physical attributes was all she had done, and even that was hardly committed to memory.

His eyes met hers then, as if suddenly aware of the unimpressed stare that had been leveled at him. She anticipated the furrowing of brows, the downward turn of his lips into a look of displeasure or familiar scrutiny. Or perhaps even for him to simply turn his eyes elsewhere, disregarding her with the same indifference she had afforded him.

What she had not expected, however, was the swift quirk of his lips into a welcoming - perhaps even charming - smile. A gesture easily forced, though she noted the way his smile seemed to reach his eyes with all the warmth and decency to which she was so unaccustomed.

Few words had been spoken then, as necessity demanded swift action. At least, few beyond that which accompanied a sudden and... colorful introduction; mere formalities and what could have been described as a review of qualifications. Alina noted the way Neve had practically rolled her eyes at her for all but making Emmrich recite a resume while they had been under threat of attack.

Now that they were back at the Lighthouse and with no pressing concerns, as they had finished the debriefing, she assumed everyone would go about their individual business. Her hope was that she would make proper use of that feather bed after having done enough training and preparation for todays excursion to make even a veteran caffeinated lunatic wince.

Yet, no sooner than she had undressed from her armor into more comfortable raiment was there a knock at her door. And there he was, not even changed from the attire she had met him in, all smiles and proper conduct. She couldn't help the way her eyes blinked at him, the surprise in her gaze likely just as apparent as the raven hair that cascaded down her shoulders like waves of liquid midnight across a starless ocean of sky.

"My apologies, I hadn't realized you had already made yourself comfortable." Emmrich said with a soft and apologetic chuckle.

"Right." She replied, obviously taken somewhat aback by the necromancers arrival, "Did you need?"

The man lifted a hand, dismissive of the suggestion. "Oh, gracious no, I should hardly think to allow myself such impropriety as to impose so brazenly upon a new acquaintance. It's simply..." he paused, his slender fingers reaching to perch at his chin, his expression momentarily pensive, "ours was an introduction made swiftly, and with so little geniality. I would like to correct that."

Her head tilted to the side, a sliver of her black hair falling loosely in her eye. She appraised him warily, gauging his intent as if searching for something. He seemed to notice her perusal of features and smiled, the gesture catching Alina off-guard.

"I...see. You're fairly friendly, for one of your profession." She mused, resting a hand at her hip.

He waved an ornamental hand, seeming somewhat amused by her assertion. "One might argue those in my line of work may benefit from a little friendliness. The dead rarely respond well to hostility."

Her lip quirked upward, the ghost of a giggle escaping her throat. "When framed like that, I can hardly disagree."

She held her out then for him take, her pale skin now bare as opposed to the black leather that had adorned her body earlier. The armor that covered her was now replaced with a scarlet chemise, the satin fabric hanging over her shoulders loosely.

He mirrored her gesture, taking her hand gently, almost carefully in his own, the jewelry he wore jingling at the movement as it reached her skin, the contact of cool metal causing a slight shiver to climb her back. Her hand was far smaller than his, she noticed then, her eyes peering at the way her hand seemed practically engulfed in his hold.

His other hand, balled into a fist, shot up to stifle the sound he made as he cleared his throat, his face then taking a pleasant smile. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Emmrich Volkarin, very much pleased to make your acquaintance."

"My name is Alina, and the pleasure is mine, mister Volkarin."

"Please," he said, taking her hand in both of his now, "there's no need for that. Emmrich will suffice."

He then broke the contact, releasing her hands with just as much tenderness as when he had taken them, the shifting of his body causing his chains and bangles to clang and clink once again.

"And now that we have met more properly, I believe I should allow you to return to your rest. Today has been quite the trial, after all."

Alina nodded, "True enough. It was... eventful, to say the least."

"Quite." Emmrich replied softly, the mirth on his features betraying the calm of his voice. "And as such, I should bid you good evening. Though I hope we will have more opportunities to speak with one another in the future."

She gave him a small smile, courteous and slightly mischievous, "I'm sure there will be plenty of time to mingle whenever we aren't occupied with the occasional beheading of Venatori and the like."

"One hopes. I haven't properly introduced you to Manfred, after all... But, that shall have to wait." He gave a quick bow of his head, "Goodnight, Alina."

"Goodnight." She returned his gesture, if perhaps somewhat awkwardly.

At that, he had turned on his heel, hands clasped together as he made his way back down the staircase that led to Alinas quarters. She watched him walk briefly, observing the way he moved and noting the posture with which he carried himself before finally shutting her door.

She wasn't fully convinced that he warranted special attention, but perhaps she had been hasty to dismiss him so readily. Or, perhaps not. Time would tell, and for tonight, as far as she cared, the only thing that mattered to her was the feeling of her body sinking into her bed. Everything else could wait.

[momhwaissues]

Losing My Religion

《Chapter one》

Pairing: Deranged Hongjoong x Too-Good-For-This-World Seonghwa

《 Summary 》

In which photography major Hongjoong worships the ground education major Seonghwa walks on, to the point of obsession; all goes well until Hongjoong crosses the point of no return... And Seonghwa wakes up in an unfamiliar bedroom

《 Chapter Warnings 》

kidnapping, mentions of violence, obsessive behavior, religious themes.

《 A/N 》

Proofreading and fixing this chapter took longer than I thought, but alas; this was a thread on Twitter that I decided to cross-post here and on AO3. Comments are always welcomed! Hope this little introduction sets the tone for what's to come.

THIS CHAPTER IS PART OF 18+ CONTENT, MINORS DNI

♱⋆ִ࣪𖤐♱𖤐⋆ִ࣪♱

Hongjoong wouldn't be caught dead admitting being wrong, but right now he had a feeling he may have fucked up. He stared at the man laying on his bed, features peaceful as sleep protected him from reality. He may have fucked up indeed. But Hongjoong knew that everything he did what was necessary, that things escalated quickly, and he needed to fix it somehow. Bringing the other to his apartment would probably buy him some time; not even his friends knew where he lived, let alone those vultures from campus

Seonghwa shifted in his sleep, only to feel a tug on his leg restricting his movements; he furrowed his brows, and a barely audible whine escaped his lips. Hongjoong could only stand there, staring, taking in every single detail of his skin, every movement of his body. Oh, how divine he looked like that.

He had no idea how many hours had passed, legs and back aching from standing still for so long, shivering from the night air. Startled by a particularly cold breeze, he realized how careless he had been, tucking Seonghwa in on his bed with nothing but his clothes and a thin sheet. He must be freezing there without a blanket!

Taking one from the wardrobe behind him, he inched closer to the bed, covering Seonghwa up as delicately as possible. Still leaning forward, towering above the older, he’s caught by surprise by the man starting to wake up.

His mind went a mile per second looking for ways to explain what exactly had happened, to justify the whole situation; it wasn’t his fault if that despicable man decided to invade Seonghwa’s room, his sanctuary. His Star was pure, divine; he held a light of his own, radiating warmth and managing to bring graces to the life of those around him. He wasn't supposed to be tainted by the mundane, corrupted by filthy hands and thoughts.

All Hongjoong could do was stare back as Seonghwa’s eyes started to focus, confusion painting his features at the foreign bed he found himself on. This wasn't his room? Or his date's room? At least he supposed it wasn’t, as the decor didn't match the man he went to the bar with. Has he had too much to drink? Had someone spiked his drink? He couldn't remember much of the date, memories blurring after he had met up with the man. But he could still feel the texture of his clothes on his body, so maybe nothing dangerous had happened.

Hongjoong waited patiently. Not that he had a choice, he could barely breathe standing so close to the man he'd trust his faith and soul to without a second thought. He wasn't worthy of being in his presence, but still there he was, in front of him, on his bed.

Seonghwa was his muse, his faith, his personal belief; for years he had watched him from afar, witnessing his miracles and graces. He was benevolent, never turning his back to those who needed him, even those who didn't know they did. And Hongjoong was his faithful sheep, never straying away, witnessing his every good deed, immortalizing them, praying at his images for his unconditional love.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't realize that the weather had dropped so much, I should have gotten you a blanket earlier" Seonghwa stared at him, still confused but at least less scared than he was before "It's okay, I'm not cold... but where am I?"

He tried to sit back against the headboard, and once again felt a tug on his leg; Had he injured his ankle somehow? "And I apologize, I can't remember much... what happened?"

The slight slurring on his voice made Hongjoong’s heart skip a beat; he looked even softer like this, washing away his worries. Seonghwa was ever calm, ever patient waiting for Hongjoong to answer. "I saw you at the bar a few hours ago, but I had a feeling you weren't safe; that person with you, he wanted to harm you! And I couldn't let it happen.” he felt anger bubbling again inside him at the mere memory of Seonghwa taking the man’s glass, looking completely out of it a while later. “The only place I could bring you safely was my apartment." Hongjoong lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.

His round eyes went wide at Hongjoong’s words, mixed feelings swirling inside his head. He had been fooled, once again. No person he ever got close seemed to care about him or his feelings; they either ghosted him, or got inexplicably wary around him, acting cold and avoidant. It didn't matter how much he offered to others, it never seemed to be good enough.

Tears started slowly streaming down his face, heart aching, and the sight twisted something inside Hongjoong’s own chest that he couldn’t quite name yet. The world didn't deserve Seonghwa. They would only play with his feelings and hurt him, despite his good nature. Only Hongjoong knew how glorious he really was.

Only Hongjoong deserved him.

"Hey, don't cry, it's all good now;” Hongjoong tried to look as reassuring as he could. “you're safe now, and won't ever have to see that bastard again." He was resolute in making sure of it; Seonghwa nodded back at him, drying his tears with the back of his hands. His eyes were still glistening, but he felt calmer, safer.

After that, Hongjoong managed to convince Seonghwa to sleep some more, saying he still looked a little out of it and promising he'd bring him something to eat as soon as he woke up again. Closing the bedroom door, he felt like he could finally breathe; everything worked out so easily in the end.

Grabbing a set of keys and a black face mask, he left the apartment, going down the stairs towards the building's boiling room; He had unfinished business to take care of.

♱⋆ִ࣪𖤐♱𖤐⋆ִ࣪♱

The place always irked him; too loud, humid and dark, as if straight out of a horror movie. But worse than the room, was the man unconscious on the floor. Being completely honest, Hongjoong had no idea how he managed to bring him there. It had happened before, being so enraged that his body acted on its own accord. He probably dragged the man through the service entry at the parking lot, the possibility of getting caught never crossing his mind. The lack of security on the building helped a lot in times like this. And if the guy ended up with a concussion or two, he couldn't care less.

It wasn't the first time he had to teach someone a lesson, to make them repent from trying to taint Seonghwa’s purity, and he knew it wouldn't be the last. More than anything he wished it could be, that others could come to their senses and see Seonghwa as the magnificent being that he was. The absurdity of their blindness instigated too much all at once: the protectiveness, the rage, the jealousy.

And once again the hour passed on a blur. The stranger was tied to a pipe, dangerously unconscious; he sported several bruises and burn marks through his broad back and naked torso. Not even fire would be enough to purify the man from his sinful intentions, but at least for now he had repented from his misstep.

He untied the sinner and pondered what to do next. Exiting through the same route he got in, he left the barely alive body on an alleyway several blocks from the building, a known spot for burglars and other criminals to reign free. Another perk of living on the least privileged side of the city.

With that nuisance taken care of, he took the time to get himself cleaned and to prepare something for Seonghwa to eat. He may not be the best cook, but his mother's special dish was one he was very proud of learning; his Star deserved something worthy of his appetite.

Seonghwa woke up to the rich smell of broth and the sound of the door opening. He still felt dizzy, but considerably less than earlier; he could now recognize the short man in front of him, someone he had seen many times around campus but never got the name of.

"Oh, did I make you wait for too long? I'm sorry, I had to fix some things before coming back. " Hongjoong almost looked wary, but he presumed it was simply worry for his well-being. The food looked delicious, and Seonghwa couldn't remember when was the last time he ate. He couldn't remember much at all. "Don't worry, I just woke up. I'm feeling a lot better too, only hungry." Hongjoong relaxed as Seonghwa seemed less scared than before, almost glad to see him again.

He was waiting for him, and that alone made everything worth it.

After eating, Hongjoong was persistent about him drinking at least the glass of water he brought. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was, throat burning and tongue dry. Now that most of his needs were satiated, Seonghwa felt light and floating, the horrible experience mainly forgotten for now. He could feel Hongjoong’s heavy gaze on him, waiting for something, or maybe to say something.

"I don't think you remember me, we used to go to the same school before college, the same classroom as well" He looked shy and hopeful, although odds were the man in front of him didn't; how could his Star remember him, know about his existence? He was an observer, a sideliner, a nobody.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure…" and he could feel a little bit of his heart breaking "Kim, right? Your last name, I mean."

The soft light from the table lamp reflected on Seonghwa’s golden skin, and there hasn't been a moment before that had looked more divine than now; Not when alone at the park during sunset, nor when peaceful asleep, illuminated by the full moon. Right now he looked holy, an angel from above so benevolent to the point of remembering his name.

"Yes! It's me!” He could barely contain the pure joy he felt. “I mean, sorry, I'm Hongjoong. Kim Hongjoong. " The way he stuttered may have made him embarrassed, but it was worth the melodious giggle that left Seonghwa’s lips. He once again looked peaceful, almost dozing off again, "Thank you, Kim Hongjoong, for taking care of me;” the movement of his eyelids slowly coming to a halt with each blink. “I'm really grateful you were there. My guardian angel."

As the world faded to black again and reality and dreams blended together, Seonghwa barely acknowledged the painful tug on his ankle as he tried to get more comfortable, or the distant voice whispering back to him "I've always been there my angel.”

Hongjoong couldn’t hold back the urge to finally feel him, a chaste kiss on his forehead.

“And I forever will be.”

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

OK, I had a fleeting thought about the TTPD announcement then lost it and now I think I remember what it was, so bear with me.

Disclaimer: I don’t actually think this is what the intro is alluding to! I think the poem is a direct reference to the actual songs on the TTPD! Or at least its themes. But, it’s stuck in my head and you all know I love to write about her albums so here we are.

The introduction to the album has us all gagged, right? The opening salvo of what is going to be a gut punch of a tale:

For some reason last night, my brain likened these lines to the relationship’s corresponding albums.

And so I enter into evidence

The thesis statement: She’s looking back on her own words, a reflection of her lived experience, what she shared and what she didn’t. She is submitting the case files for consideration:

My tarnished coat of arms

Reputation: an album about the how the world turned against her, but she found a love that felt safe and warm amidst the storm. Her very identity was put into question and she had to relearn what mattered to her. Yet, as we’ve since gleaned, that growth also seemed to be part of what ultimately doomed the relationship, and caused immeasurable heartbreak in the process.

My muses, acquired like bruises

Lover: His presence and their love inspired some of her most vulnerable love songs, where she put her own anxieties, fears and hopes in the spotlight, opening herself up to a degree that reached new heights in her music and her life. But those same vulnerabilities also left her open to greater hurt, especially if those same things may have been used as a flashpoint for conflict.

*To be clear: I think there actual muses she’s referring to on the album are multiple; I kind of get the feeling that it’s going to be about her body of work, that it may not just be about an individual or individuals but a whole host of “muses” that have inspired and hurt her, but… That doesn’t fit into this post lol.

My talismans and charms

Folklore and Evermore: Using the “magic” of fiction or esoteric stories to process feelings she may have been experiencing, or to deal with difficult situations she felt like she couldn’t share, did not want to, or maybe did not realize were as severe as she now knows they were in hindsight.

(Talismans and charms both being objects believed to hold magical properties to protect against evil/bring good fortune)

In other words, using the two pandemic albums to stave off difficult choices/realizations, escaping into this alternate reality (the cabin in the woods, as it were). Putting a magic spell over them for a time to “protect” them from the world turning upside down, perhaps by the way she pulled him into her world for a little bit too. But also as it turns out protecting herself from what might have been happening in front of her in the fallout. Using her music as a lifeline for herself, but also in some ways for them. Because the music is always going to be the way forward.

The tick, tick, tick of love bombs

Midnights: A survey of difficult sleepless nights throughout her life, and the aftermath of the things that kept her up at night. As we’ve all talked about, it feels pretty likely that the reason these ideas felt so salient to her was because she was processing similar feelings about her current relationship. It may have felt like there was a metaphorical clock ticking about the fate of the relationship, counting down to a now-inevitable explosion.

(Also interesting: all the clock imagery in the Midnights artwork and promotion.)

The wordplay of the bomb-ticking with love-bombing is both genius and distressing and may be its own post once TTPD is released because the implications are… uncomfortable to say the least. It’s very, “now you’re running down the hallway, you know what they all say, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” There’s the clock running to the end of the relationship, but it could also be a reference to coming to expect a profuse display of love after every conflict or instance of hurt, implying a cycle of dysfunction, whether in the past or present.

My veins of pitch black ink

The Tortured Poets Department: It’s not just an allusion to being metaphorically dead, blood turning dark once the heart has stopped beating (like the end of the relationship); her heart has gone cold. It’s more pointedly a reference to the words spilling out of her, the way writing is a lifeline. (Which she has said herself many times, but specifically about the promotion of TTPD on tour.) The songs on this album are swirling through her veins, and this bloodletting is a lifesaving act for her.

All’s fair in love and poetry

It’s the summation of the files she’s produced as evidence. She’s laying bare the good, the bad and the ugly throughout these chapters, and with the submission of TTPD, the final one, the jury can reach its final conclusion. (As will the relationship.)

The Chairman of the Tortured Poets Department has defended her thesis in six parts; it’s up to the board to do the rest.

(Can you tell I’m obsessed with this poem and I can’t wait to see how it ties in to the actual album?)

[determunition]

heyyy, it's still technically the holiday season! hope that all who celebrate had a merry christmas yesterday ^^

have a collection of illustrations and sketches, some new and some old, based off of @naturallydark's iconic retyrement au fic have a holly jolly cardmas! i will shill for this thing nonstop, it's not canon to OLD_FOLKS HOME (in fact it's kind of an AU of an AU) but it's wonderfully written; the characterization is on point for everyone and it's good holiday fluff! if you're finding yourself craving more retyrement au while you're waiting for me to upload the next OFH chapter this fic is the most delicious of meals

the first illustration here is a scene from chapter 10, one of my favorites in the fic, and the second is from chapter 7, another one of my faves (i might have quite a few of those lmao); and the lil sketchdumps at the bottom are my little musings upon reading the first couple chapters! i think wiz's introduction is probably one of the funniest in the fic haha, and the fic descriptions are on point in this fic so i had a lot of fun visualizing what characters were wearing

[bakerstreethound]

Ace's 2025 New Years Introduction

Hello everyone, and welcome to 2025! I thought I would make this post both an update and an introduction about me and this blog, combined with some of my musings. The start of 2025 brings me to my 8th year of knowing Sherlock and my 7th year of writing about him. It’s crazy to think this because honestly since 2020, everything has jumbled together and it has been difficult to remember anything, alas. Sherlock and my fictionals have made it with me through it all, and truthfully, they have saved me more times than I could count. 

I would like to say 2024 went without its struggles, but between moving for graduate school, landing a part-time gig, taking summer classes, finishing a semester early and graduating in early December, it has been a lot. That, plus finishing up my last week of my part-time gig and frantically trying to apply for full time positions has been overwhelming and a pain. 

I wish I could have written more and dedicated the time to Sherlock and the usual and new muses I have acquired (ie. Arcane characters, Sandman characters, and four new OCs), but it was rougher than expected and my energy stores drained. I am grateful for all the support along the way and it warms me to think of all the new people entering into the Sherlock fandom. Fandom is so wonderful and I have enjoyed the people who have joined me in my corner that I affectionately refer to as “the alleyway.” All the comments, reblogs, and overall community have made it worthwhile. 

Some updates I have are that I am slowly migrating a lot of my work over to my Bakerstreethound A03 account, as I find it an easier way to publish my work and keep it organized. I will still be utilizing Tumblr for some stories, but I am hoping to dedicate more time to upload and backlog stories to my A03 so I do not lose them to the Tumblr void. That being said, I have not remembered a lot of my taglists, so I will not have a tag list going forward, just adding a few of my mutuals in reblogs to see if it will be of any interest to them. 

I am overwhelmed with the love many of you have shown with my iteration of Strawberry Sherlock, my soft, more humanized version of Sherlock. I am thrilled others are still discovering him and adoring him (as he deserves). I could not have made it without all you lovely people and I thank you for your support and kindness. May we strive to do the best we can and I hope 2025 will be a good one. I know I am reserved and not the best conversation starter, but my inbox is almost always open (though I do not usually take many story requests anymore), but feel free to stop by and say hello! 

Thank you for sticking around with me and my beloved fictionals and husband, Sherlock. If you made it this far to the end of the post, I thank you for your time. Here’s to the unknown. 

[gallamy]

Hi!

I would like to start off my crediting the ✨AMAZING✨ user @leathercircuits for drawing this portrait of me. She really did me RIGHTTTTTT. 💅

I decided to make this introduction post because I be recently gotten some new followers and wanted to give a little info about myself!

I’ve had this account for like 5-6 years but only recently started actually using it/posting when the Tik Tok ban was announced because I was like “damn gotta find a new app.”

This is mainly a Matrix account but I’ll mix in other things because why not.

Anyway, here’s some facts about me:

Age: 24

Gender: Female, she/her, AFAB

Myers-Briggs: ENTJ

Enneagram: 3w4

Occupation: Law student, probably going into litigation but we’ll see

Nationality: American 🦅🇺🇸 but I was born in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 (no Borat jokes pleaseeee, I BEG)

Favorite movies: The Matrix (duh), Interstellar, Fight Club, Stars Wars (original 3, not the other shit), Good Will Hunting, and Princess Mononoke.

Favorite Bands: Muse, Oasis, Dave Matthews Band, Mr. Kitty, Ghostemane, PHAROAH, Grimes, and Imogen Heap. Love love love industrial metal and progressive rock.

Hobbies: Playing guitar and singing (self-taught), reading philosophy and political theory, listening to political and movie podcasts, and PARTYINGGGGG (big fan of clubs, especially EDM clubs)

Favorite Actors: Hugo Weaving (that’s my DUDEEEEEE, such a sweetheart), Mads Mikkelsen, and David Tennant.

Miscellaneous: I have a wonderful boyfriend who I’ve been dating for almost 2 years (he’s a sweetie), I LOVEEEEEEE enemies-to-lovers, and I enjoy going to the gym (though law school takes up so much of my time.) I feel like I’m sort of a tomboy, but I enjoy doing my makeup and dressing up because look good, feel good, ya know. My academics are really important to me, and I’ve usually done quite well in school but DAMN law school was so humbling because suddenly I was in a room with some of the smartest people in the U.S.

Hope you enjoyed reading!

[adainesjacket]

happy DADWC! for your Solas/M!Trevelyan rivalmance: mean smirk- teeth bared grimace- scowl.

thanks @saladruiner! @dadrunkwriting

solas/m!trevelyan (unhealthy rivalmance, solas is abusive), 769 words, sexual tension/angst. cw for manipulation and implied abuse. also featuring cole and dorian, for some reason.

"Now, Cole, about introductions." Dorian is perched on the sideboard of the spacious room the men of the Inquisition have been given to prepare for tomorrow's ball, examining Cole with a sort of hopeless affection. "When someone asks you for your name-"

"It's Cole," Cole says, unecessarily.

Dorian pinches the bridge of his nose. "Yes, I know, but that's not how people talk here. You need to say something impressive."

"Leave off, Dorian," Seong says, smiling. "He's plenty impressive on his own."

"What do you say?" Cole asks, blinking up at Dorian earnestly. "When you introduce yourself?"

Dorian puffs up like a peacock, and sweeps a magnanimous bow. "Altus Dorian Pavus, recently of Minrathous, at your service."

Cole sighs, head hanging low. "That's so many words. 'Dorian' is the only one that matters."

"I think that was rather sweet," Dorian says after a moment. "Oh, dear. They're going to eat you alive."

"Dorian," Seong says again, warning, before Solas can say something cutting and protective. "Cole, you're just fine as you are. If you want other names, we can make something up. Just don't ask Sera for suggestions." He crosses to the bed where Cole is sitting, cross-legged, like a young man at a sleepover, and slings an arm around his shoulders - partly because he wants to, and partly to remind Solas that Cole is his own person who can form bonds with whoever he likes.

He's not sure why he even brought Solas on this journey, come to think of it. He certainly hadn't planned to. Since they arrived at Halamshiral - no, since Seong had encouraged Cole not to take the amulet - Solas had been surly and possessive, less prone to hiding his true feelings than usual. He sees it now, when he looks up to catch Solas's eye and is met with a scowl in return. He's ashamed at the heat that flares up in his belly at the sight of someone who despises him so.

"I think I'd like a surname," Cole muses. "Just for the night. I like how people use them like flags."

"Well, you can borrow mine," Seong says brightly, breaking Solas's scorching stare. "There are so many of us scattered across the South, no-one will notice an extra."

"Cole Trevelyan," Dorian pronounces. "A good a name as any. Now we just need to work on your outfit."

Cole laughs, and doesn't protest when Dorian drags him to the antechamber with the hastily-unpacked wardrobe and full-length mirror. Neither of them see the way Solas straightens up from the shadows and catches Seong's waist in a vice-like grip.

Seong doesn't give him the satisfaction of flinching. "Problem?" He asks coolly, not turning around.

"Yes, as a matter of fact." Hot breath on his ear. "It is the height of arrogance to dress up a spirit of compassion like a doll and claim it as a brother."

"Cole is human too," Seong reminds him. "And unlike you, he actually likes me. Why shouldn't he belong to a family, if he wants to?"

"Yes, Inquisitor," Solas drawls, putting a condescending emphasis on the title. "Why shouldn't everything belong to you?"

"Don't you ever get tired of twisting my words?" Seong demands, breaking the hold on his waist. He turns around, hands on his hips. He hates that Solas has several inches on him. "I don't know why I brought you with us."

"Perhaps because you know you need a lesson in humility," Solas counters. "I will give you one tonight."

Seong risks a look back over his shoulder to where Cole and Dorian are distracted by an affectionate argument, and hopes the movement conceals the shiver that runs through him as Solas's voice darkens and becomes as rough as his insults. "And if I say no?" He asks, defiant in the face of the inevitable.

Solas allows himself the luxury of a mean, hungry smirk, before he arranges his face back into its usual cool mask. "You won't," he says. He runs an elegant finger over the day-old cut on Seong's lower lip. "You never do."

Seong tells himself he will. Throughout dinner, througout the late preparations for tomorrow's ball, he tells himself - and his companions - that he will retire early and rest. He even makes it as far as his own room before the weakness sets in.

Josephine fusses over his split lip and dark undereyes in the morning. Solas smiles kindly at him as he passes a teacup across the table, and tells him he should get more sleep. The tea does not wash the taste of lyrium and copper out of his mouth.

[adventuretale-comic]

INTRODUCTION: ADVENTURETALE

Basic guide information, social networks, etc.

---------

---------

Adventuretale is an AU Undertale created by me (Arany) being a compilation of most of the Aus; whether popular, forgotten, and more. along with the lore of Derek, a SansOC who travels through these multi-UTverses in search of his own with Sirius; a SansAU by Nightmare who also seeks to return to his home.

The main idea of this story is simply to illustrate the journey of these two protagonists going through chapters talking about the aus, with its characteristics, drawing theories, knowing other OCs and above all... The integration of the creators, that YOU are part of this story too. This, is the diary of an adventure.

Welcome to Adventure-Tale.

TW: The story will have strong themes and violence. It won't be graphic on various topics, but it's good to mention it.

The multiverse that deals mainly with travel between Ink's sketch bubble, Error's void, Nightmare's mansion, among others. There are no set rules in these places, they are travel or stay routes.

World-building.

The most diverse thing about this world is how the multiverse was organized after so much active time with trips and new lines and universes.

Being a completely individual and original world, it has that freedom. The same thing happens with Deltarune, except that it does have access to creations and travelers because it is an "Au" or alternate version of the original. But it is not appealed for misinformation among the creations.

There's not much to explain beyond what is known. Each and every one, from the oldest to the current, is an individual world surrounding the original Undertale. Unlike other stories in the fandom, the original CANNOT be entered by creations, keepers, travelers, or creators (except THAT dog, yk). However, the desire to be similar or equal to the muse of the multiverses; the original game, is highly desired and mentioned.

Author's note: Believe me, everyone can enter, but nobody does it because they think it has the same rules as Undertale.

We have a lot worlds, each with its own orders and rules:

Omega Line.

Doodles Sphere.

Tintworld (Create-Tale)

Multiverse (+ Nightmare's AU)

Coming soon with exclusive publications!

Social media

----------------

Mainly the other accounts, outside of Tumblr, are accounts where I will upload general art or the au, of my characters, other Aus, ships, etc. Both X, bluesky and Tiktok are non-canon places of interaction (until otherwise stated).

TUMBLR. here!

Here you get information exclusively from the AU, there will be the principal comic and mini comics, Q&A, concept art about everything, etc. All the important and basic information will be here.

X (Twitter) / Bluesky / Tiktok / Instagram

random stuff, comms, hcs, interactions, etc!

Author's Note

✨

--------------------

— Arany. ⭐

This AU is mostly an appreciation for both the UT Ocs and the UT Aus that have persisted to this day. That from the curious vision of the protagonist —Derek— that beauty is considered from his sketches to his final project. Your projects are worth it. YOU, AS A CREATOR, ARE WORTH IT.

I hope you like it. 🩷