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fandomtrumpshate · 2 years ago

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By the Numbers update!!

With just over a day left to sign up as a creator for Fandom Trumps Hate 2023, here's a quick roundup of all of the numbers:

We have 705 offers by 527 creators (I've had to update this three times while writing this post!). Of those, 97 are offering to work in ANY fandom! The rest have signed up offering fanworks in 273 fandoms, including 177 write-in fandoms! (To compare that with roughly the same time last year, as we approached 24 hours left to sign up for FTH2022 we had 680 offers from 525 creators in 257 fandoms including 153 write-ins … meaning we have 23 more offers in 16 more fandoms by the same number of creators for 2023 … SO FAR.)

A look at the offers, broken down by type (with last year's numbers in italics for comparison purposes) -

458 Written fanwork (fic, fan poetry, etc) (457) 107 Fan art (103) 63 Fan labor (beta services, translation, Brit-picking, etc) (70) 59 Podfic (39) 13 Other Digital Fanwork (7) 5 Video (4)

Nearly 65% of creators are opting to let their bidders choose which org to support with their donation. The orgs most often chosen by those who wish to direct donations to a particular nonprofit remain the Transgender Legal and Education Defense Fund, any/all abortion fund, Rainbow Railroad, and the Navajo Water Project. The orgs selected least often are The Appeal, Razom, and Violence Policy Center.

In our listed fandoms Good Omens has increased its lead and its lock on the top spot. MCU caught up with Sherlock and Teen Wolf for a brief 3-way tie for 4th place behind HP and K-pop, but has since gained an additional signup to claim that spot, leaving Sherlock and Teen Wolf tied for fifth ahead of Star Wars, Stranger things, SVSSS, The Untamed, and The Sandman.

A handful of signups could still shake things up here, or over in the unlisted fandoms, where the Young Royals lead has been cut in half … see the full list of all 177 write-in fandoms under the cut. Sign up to create fanworks to push your fandom up in the rankings! Reblog FTH posts so your fandom friends can do the same! Sign ups are open until Sunday Feb 19 at 11:59 PM Pacific.

8 Young Royals 7 Malevolent (Podcast) 5 The Queen's Thief 4 911 Lone Star 4 Homestuck 4 Overwatch 4 Red White & Royal Blue 4 The Owl House 3 Alex Rider 3 Attack on Titan 3 Between Us 3 Chainsaw Man 3 Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency 3 Disney's Descendants 3 Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (The Husky & His White Cat Shizun) 3 Justified 3 Lout of the Count's Family / Trash of the Count's Family 3 Love in the Air 3 Miraculous Ladybug 3 Not Me 3 Pokemon 3 The Legend of Zelda 3 Top Gun Movies 3 Witch Hat Atelier 3 X-men 2 Aphmau MyStreet 2 Bungou Stray Dogs 2 Carmen Sandiego 2 Danganronpa 2 Destiny 2 2 Digimon 2 Escaflowne 2 Gravity Falls 2 Hollow Knight 2 Howl's Moving Castle 2 Kingsman 2 NU: Carnival 2 Professional Wrestling 2 Scholomance 2 Stargate: Atlantis 2 Stephen King's IT 2 Suits 2 Supergirl 2 The Song of Achilles 2 Twilight 2 Video Blogging RPF 2 Warrior Nun (TV Show) 2 What We Do in the Shadows 2 YuYu Hakusho 1 A Series of Unfortunate Events 1 A Voice from Darkness (Podcast) 1 Ace Attorney 1 Alex Stern series - Leigh Bardugo 1 All The Wrong Questions 1 Animorphs 1 Be Kind My Neighbor 1 Bioshock 1&2 (only) 1 Blood of Youth 1 Blue Exorcist 1 Blue Lock 1 Bug Fables 1 Cabin Pressure 1 Call the Midwife 1 Cats the Musical 1 Cherry Magic 1 Citizen Sleeper 1 Cobra Kai 1 Coco Pixar 1 Cosmere (Brandon Sanderson) 1 Crossover Chaos AU (multifandom crossover AU) 1 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 1 Dead by Daylight 1 Dead Poets Society 1 Derry Girls 1 Dice Punks (podcast) 1 Divergent (Movies) 1 DMBJ/Grave Robber's Chronicles 1 Downton Abbey 1 Dr. STONE (anime/manga) 1 Dragon Ball Z 1 Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey 1 Dungeons and Daddies 1 Eerie Indiana 1 Elder Scrolls 1 Emma - Jane Austen 1 Fire Country 1 Firefly 1 For All Mankind 1 Glee 1 Grace and Frankie 1 Greys Anatomy 1 Grimm 1 Guardian/Zhen Hun 1 Gundam 1 Half-Life 1 Hello From The Hallowoods 1 Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni / Higurashi When They Cry 1 Hit the floor 1 House of the Dragon 1 Hudson & Rex 1 IDOLiSH7 1 Ikemen Vampire 1 Imperial Radch Series - Ann Leckie 1 Infinity Train 1 Jane Austen (any novel any pairing) 1 Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse 1 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure 1 Jurassic Park 1 King of Scars Duology 1 Les Misérables 1 Los Simuladores 1 Love Between Fairy and Devil 1 Madre Solo Hay Dos 1 Miss Scarlet and The Duke 1 Mob Psycho 100 1 Monochrome Factor 1 Motorcity 1 Obey Me! 1 One Last Stop 1 Outlast 1 Paper Girls (TV) 1 Parasol Protectorate 1 Peacemaker 1 Persuasion - Jane Austen 1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 1 Psych 1 Qi Ye 1 Ranger's Apprentice 1 Ranma 1/2 1 RPF 1 Sable 1 Sanders Sides 1 Scooby Doo 1 Shadow and Bone 1 Shameless (US) 1 Sidemen 1 Silicon Valley (TV) 1 Skins (UK) 1 Tamora Pierce works 1 Tangled the Series 1 Ted Lasso 1 Teen Titans (Animated Series) 1 Temple of the White Rat series by T. Kingfisher 1 The Ancient Magus Bride 1 The Boys 1 The Daevabad Trilogy 1 The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes 1 The Diviners (Libba Bray) 1 The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison 1 The King: Eternal Monarch 1 The L Word: Generation Q 1 The Legend of Drizzt 1 The Lion Hunters Series - Elizabeth Wein 1 The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) 1 The Man From UNCLE (TV) 1 The Princess Weiyoung (Jinxiu Weiyang) 1 The Tarot Sequence - K.D. Edwards 1 The Terror (TV 2018) 1 The Vampire Diaries (TV) 1 The Wilds (TV 2020) 1 This Way Up 1 Tortall - Tamora Pierce 1 Tower of God 1 Transformers 1 True Blood (TV) 1 Until We Meet Again 1 UuultraC 1 Valorant 1 Velvet Goldmine (1998) 1 Vikings (TV) 1 Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold 1 Warframe 1 White Collar 1 Whiteley Foster's Mansong 1 Xena: Warrior Princess 1 Yellowjackets (TV) 1 Yu-Gi-Oh!

#fth 2023 #fanworks charity auction #by the numbers #signups are open #closing soon!#signal boost!

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dearmarigold · 2 years ago

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Every time I see John being described as Hastur's heart I can feel something moving in the 'Howl's Moving Castle Malevolent AU' part of my brain

less to none eldritch horrors but hey, you got a case to solve of who started the war and why tha fuck it is still going on, while getting tricked into being the delivery man for a part of something otherworldly!

i can feel the potential but to harness it it is still beyond me

#malevolent #malevolent podcast #malevolent hmc au #figuring this out while procrastinating #i have so many little ideas #now to connect it into some narrative so at least i can pretend i know what im doing #also kayne with long hair??#It started with sleep deprived note containing: 'John = Calcifer'#kiy is the witch of the Waste #that got a part of their power stuffed into a book #my art

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disdoorted-crows · 2 years ago

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shoutout to movies I watch that make me want to write so many aus (howls moving castle x malevolent // cloudy with a chance of meatballs x camp here and there)

#malevolent podcast #camp here and there

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thebiasrekkers · 5 years ago

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Infinitatem Venatus

The Infinity Game

Rating: PG-13 // SFW

Genre: AngelsandDemons! AU | angst | romance | drama

Pairing: OT7 x [Reader/Layla/Saoirse]

Warnings: Strong Language, extreme angst, violence, Jin is Lucifer. Jin is the Devil. [just making sure that’s out there], religious undertones [things have been embellished/changed to fit the nature of the story]

Word Count: 4.3K

A/N: Firstly - there are bold and italicized phrases scattered throughout. That is meant to represent Hoseok speaking to [reader] as these moments are happening throughout the day! Second, shout out to @aroseforyoongi for requesting a drabble for the 100 follower special. If it weren’t for that drabble? I probably wouldn’t have mustered the courage to even pull this AU to Tumblr. And @moccahobi cause Hobi is a bad ass. Issa lot. Thanks to Admin E for the beta-panache! And to Admin L who wanted a saucier Devil Jin. Enjoy!

© thebiasrekkers ( Admin T). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

There was a line drawn in the sand.

Pain.

“Moloch, did you really think I’d let you have her?” Hoseok’s voice was a deep; raspy growl. A sound that you weren’t used to hearing. Not your Hobi. He couldn’t possibly sound like this. He wasn’t capable of such vehemence, right? But it was him. It was Hoseok hovering above you. His eyes blazing a fiery gold as his hands clenched and unclenched at his side. The air stirring with each flap of the large white wings protruding from his back.

The demon across from him smirked, tapping a finger against a bloodied lip. “If I knew she was the key to getting you to play with me, I’d have attempted to grab her sooner.” The sulfurous stench of the underworld was thick in the air, and it made you nauseous. Moloch’s blood-red gaze landed on you, causing you to back up just a hair more.

You didn’t care that your hands were shredded. A trickle of blood from your ears left you disoriented from the previous explosion. Hoseok snapped his fingers rapidly in front of Moloch. “Eyes here, asshole. I’m going to tell you one more fucking time, Moloch. If you risk the game, if you test me any further...I will kill you,” he hissed between clenched teeth.

Moloch looked taken aback by the words coming out of Hoseok's mouth. After a moment, he scoffed at the malevolence oozing from the archangel. “You love her.” The demon said, puzzled as a muscle ticked near Hoseok’s jaw. He looked down at you; just as bewildered at Hobi’s behavior. “I’ll be damned! You fucking love her!” Moloch pointed and howled his amusement, a devious glint sparkling in his crimson eyes. “She probably doesn’t know, does she ..Hobi?” The demon’s tone was smug.

Hoseok swallowed thickly, turning his gaze to you. “Moloch...leave before I make a scene.” Moloch held up his hands in mock defeat.

“Fine, Hoseok. Have it your way...” The large black wings spread as the demon hovered. “...you may love her, but her soul is still up for grabs. So you better let her know what’s at stake, Hoseok. The game is still afoot.” Moloch narrowed his eyes before shooting skyward with what seemed to be a mere quiver of his wings.

A game set in motion before the advent of humanity.

The scent of sulfur finally seemed to disappear as Hoseok descended. He had his back to you for a few tense, silent, moments. The wings disappeared as he turned to face you. He looked like himself, the deep brown of his eyes sad at the state of you.

“Oh, baby...” He moved toward you and you moved back. He flinched as if he was gut-punched. “Listen, I would never hurt you. You know that, right?” He held his hands up as he approached you slowly. Your eyes were wide and full of unshed tears.

“What are you, Hobi?” The first tears slid down your bruised cheek. He gasped kneeling down to wrap you up in the warmth of a honey-cinnamon scented embrace. “Why is this happening?!”

You clung to him. The only thing that you knew was safe. The only place you felt like home. You sobbed into his chest as he stroked your hair. Hoseok placed an arm under your legs, hefting you up against his chest. “Hey, hey, calm down. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

You nodded softly, sniffling into his shoulder. He turned to see the devastation from such a minor confrontation. You didn’t notice the pressure of his fingers digging into your skin.

They can’t hurt you anymore. Because he wouldn’t let them.

There was only us in the beginning. Everything was fine. Or so we thought.

“You don’t understand what you’re saying?!” A shrill voice seemed to rattle the glass around them. A set of fierce green eyes seemed to blaze in fury. Saoirse was vibrating as she stared down someone she once thought to be her friend. “You cannot mean that. Please tell me you’re joking?” Her gaze softened slightly, a hand reaching out to the immovable object before her.

“I-I can’t, Saorise. And I am very serious about this.” Soft, gentle, and too pure for this world. Layla, eyes full of unshed tears, stood in on the other side of the line. “I love Him, Saoirse. Even with what He is - I still love him.”

Saoirse felt her heart race again. It wasn’t supposed to be like this; at least that’s what had been explained to her. They were special - the Acquisitae. They were beings that carried the weight of many lives. Souls that existed rolled into one existence through time. Past lives? Deja vu? All of it flickered, bits of memory seeping into the consciousness of the current owner’s life.

There were few of them left undecided. Some refusing to be a pawn for either side; some choosing a particular side for one reason or another. But, in the rare instance, if a side was chosen, it was mainly because of hate or love.

In the scheme of things, there was nothing wrong with that. But, Saorise couldn’t fathom anyone in their right mind falling in love with Lucifer. He wanted to destroy the already tedious balance, splatter the land in chaos and strife - just because he could. “Layla, you cannot save Him. He is beyond it!”

“No one is beyond saving, Saoirse. You of all people should know that.” Layla’s demeanor cooled as the other woman flinched. “For all that you’ve done, you still were granted forgiveness for choosing to stand with the Caelestis. You made your choice. I’ve made mine.” She crossed her arms, posture straightening. “I believe I can make a difference in my own way. So until this thing comes to a head, This is goodbye. I’m with Tenebrarum. Period.”

But someone wanted more. He wanted more. None of us could understand it.

Saoirse’s mouth fell slightly agape as Layla dropped that finality. It wasn’t just about their friendship, mostly. It was about the fate of all of existence. They were in the final days and they needed to be together.

They should have been together.

The sound of cellphone ringing interrupted the heavy silence. Layla answered immediately. “Yes, Sir?”

The smoothe dulcet poison of Jin’s voice echoed into the open space. “Come to me, Layla.”

Saoirse couldn’t deny the prickles sliding against her skin at the sound of his voice. But she had enough willpower to deny the sensation.

“I’m on my way.” Layla hung up the phone, aware of the sway Jin could have on others. She turned one last glance to her friend. “Stay away from Tenebrarum - and me.” She pushed past Saoirse as a muscle clenched in her jaw.

The scent of sulfur lingered faintly in the air, causing Saoirse to wrinkle her nose. She left the building, yanking her cellphone out of her pocket. The phone seemed to barely get a full ring before a worried voice answered on the other end.

“Saoirse?” A sudden warmth filled with the scent of earth after a cleansing rain rushed over her.

“Jimin. She’s gone.” Her voice sounded weaker than she’d intended.

There was a long sigh. “Ah, love. I’m so sorry. You tried. Come home, okay? I’ll let the others know.” She could feel his disappointment on the other line.

“She thinks she loves him.” Her fingers tangled in the fiery red-gold strands of her hair. “She thinks she can help him.”

His way of thinking had always been different. But...we never thought that he would...

“It’s a part of his charm, love. It’s unfortunate, the spell that she’s under. But such is the price of those who choose him.” Jimin respected her desire to rescue her friend. He wanted her to try, because it would make the coming days easier had she come along. And now? “I don’t want you on that side of town too much longer. Please come home?”

“Yeah.” Saoirse nodded while turning to The Shard. It was one of the tallest buildings in London - home to Tenebrarum Acq. Ltd., the current residence of CEO Kim Seokjin. Only a handful knew the truth.

Hell was empty. Empty because the devils were all here.

Somewhere in the In-Between…

“Check.”

A Knight moved to capture a King. There was still a way. There was always a way out.

The opposing side chuckled while moving to a King-side castle. The King was protected with the Rook blocking the way.

They both sighed softly. “How long have we been at this?” Taehyung’s deep baritone echoed in the mystical space.

“Does it matter?” Jungkook smirked, retreating his Knight. He could swoop in to take the Rook, sure. But, losing his Knight to the King? Even he appreciated the role of smaller pieces on the game board. “Are you weary, Michael?” Jungkook crooned with his fingers clasped against his knee. “Maybe you should reconsider my offer?” He leaned forward so that the magma-lined ring flared in the depths of his dark brown eyes.

Taehyung’s nose wrinkled at the slight sulfuric odor. “Perhaps it is you that should reconsider, Samael.” The Angel was steadfast and unmoving in his conviction. “Come back to us. This is pointless.” Taehyung’s brow furrowed as he tried to reason with someone he once called Brother.

“Is it?” Jungkook’s eyes were ablaze. “We are pieces, Michael! We are nothing but showy pieces and for what?” He hissed. “To keep a world in order that thrives in disorder? LOOK AT THEM!” His hand waved to disturb the cloudy aura around them. The world flickered below.

Poverty.

Destruction.

War.

Greed.

We never thought he would Fall.

Taehyung stared at all the things that gave Jin power, establishing his reign in the mortal realm. A tear slid down his cheek without warning. Jungkook sighed, reaching forward to brush the sparkling drop away. “Hark, a tear for those who destroy themselves.” There was a fizzle against his skin - a reminder of the choice he made when he fell from Grace.

Taehyung grabbed that hand before it moved too far away. “Please. I don’t want to fight you.” Jungkook stared at the slender fingers wrapped around his wrist.

“It’s too late, Taehyung. What will be, will be.” He pulled away, leaving Taehyung’s hand hovering. “And when the time comes? I’ll make you change your mind.” Jungkook stood up, stuffing his hands into the pockets of pressed black slacks. That fiery ring flared in the center of his eyes as he walked away,his form disappearing into the thick hanging mist.

Taehyung watched the path for a few minutes before lowering his hand. His eyes wandered to the board locked in a stalemate. A deep inhale had his nostrils flaring before he slammed his fist against the board.

Smashing it, and the table, in two.

The balance has always tipped more one way than the other.

It was a stupid comparison, after all. Life being a chess game. Because while you could sacrifice plastic pieces, it was something far riskier to sacrifice pieces of flesh and blood.

Even heavier a price should this game be lost.

All the things you know about the Final Days are absolutely true.

Winter receded, leaving all the auction houses hungry to get into their season. Famous artists settled their wares, antique rarities were whispered among certain circles and the buys were ready to redecorate. The competition was fierce between all the art brokers. But none more fierce than the lasting feud between two of the oldest brokerages.

Caelestis Wares and Tenebrarum Acq. Ltd.

It was always a spectacle when the two vied for valuable pieces.

A lucrative one.

There were members of each auction house that were known to cause a scene. Imagine the hint of blood lust in the air when those two members were in attendance. The auction was abuzz because they were in attendance at the same time.

“Did you see them?” An overly-jeweled socialite purred to her circle of friends. A flutter of fans attempted to dry beads of sweat pooling atop their skin. “I don’t think I plan to do anything but watch.” Her eyes were wide and lust-blown.

The group of women swallowed thickly as their eyes hit the left side corner of the room. Kim Namjoon was one of the most seasoned brokers at Tenebrarum. He wore a suit of gray tweed that tucked and cut against his form. A lighter turtle neck stretched against a broad chest. A pair of glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. The silvery blonde of his hair was smoothed at the sides, settling against the collar of his jacket. His arms crossed, causing the fabric to stretch against the push of his biceps. A smirk lifted the corner of his lips as he spoke.

All the things you hear about the Supernatural? They’re real too.

They couldn’t hear what was being said, but they knew who it was being said to. One of the women let a small whine slip as they ogled his conversation partner.

Min Yoongi.

Yoongi stood a hair shorter than Namjoon. Even so, he still gave off an air of unmistakable authority. He wasn’t just the head broker of Caelestis Wares. He was the current CEO. There were a few rare pieces that both houses had their eyes on.

The whole room buzzed over which item it could be, let alone the monetary bloodbath that would ensue for either to acquire it. The prospect was more exciting than anything they would bid on later.

“Gabriel, it’s been a while since you’ve left the roost.” Namjoon tilted his gaze to Yoongi. “It warms my heart to see you using those old legs of yours.” There was that magma-lined flare in the depths of his eyes. “Things really are getting tight if you’ve come out.”

There was a weary sigh from Yoongi as he fingered the button on the black jacket he wore. A white button-down worn underneath, paired with pressed slacks. The clinking of rings against his fingers were audible as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “You still have a big mouth, Mammon.” A side-long glance was given to the taller demon. Yoongi scoffed. “And you’re still expensive.”

Namjoon’s brow rose as he looked over his outfit. “Come now, Gabriel. You should know that these things are about status and expense. I must look the part, after all.” He placed a gentle hand over his heart - at least where his heart should be. “It’s all about playing the game, no?”

Nothing is safe from the Apocalypse. Everybody is choosing a side or being bribed into making a choice.

There was no mirth to be found in Yoongi’s narrowed gaze. “Namjoon, there’s going to come a day...” A muscle ticked near his jaw as he bit back his words.

“Oh, I’m aware, Yoongi. If I have my way...” He pushed off the wall to lean a hair closer to Yoongi. “...it will be pretty soon.” He patted Yoongi on the shoulder as he side-stepped away. “Good luck today.”

Yoongi watched Namjoon strut into the circle of women that had been staring them down. He rolled his eyes as one woman looked ready to melt to the floor. The vibration of his phone gave him a reason to step out of the room.

His brow furrowed as he saw Jimin’s name flash on the caller ID. He picked up and didn’t get a chance to greet the younger. “We lost her, Gabriel.” The sadness was palpable in his voice. “Saoirse tried to convince her, and she said she loved him. She doesn’t understand--”

Yoongi pinched the bridge of his nose, cutting him off with a heavy sigh. “Breathe, Uriel.” There was a shuddering sound that slid into a soft sniffle. “We knew there was a chance for failure. We’ll figure it out, Jimin. Alright?” There was a sound of words that wanted to be spoken, but ultimately were held back.

“I’m sorry, Yoongi.” The remorse in Jimin’s tone only grated on his nerves. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. No one but his own.

“It’s ok, Jimin. Take care of Saoirse. We’ll regroup tonight.” A tone sounded to notify guests the auction was starting. “Look, I’ll be a little late tonight. Get everyone caught up and I’ll get there when I can.”

The tone sounded again. “Who is it, Yoongi?”

He gritted his teeth as a long silence followed. He considered whether he needed to answer. “It’s Namjoon.”

There was a hiss on the other end. “Shouldn’t we-”

“NO!” He flinched at the volume of his own voice. “No. I’ll be fine. Do as I asked. I’ll keep in touch.”

“As you wish. Good luck.”

The call disconnected.

It’s just that some of you are worth far more than you realize.

Yoongi rolled his head back against the throb in his skull. “Stubborn woman. So, g’damned stubborn.”

He stared at Layla’s contact fighting the urge to call her. The third tone sounded forcing him to let it go - for now. He walked into the auction space, his eyes landing on an 18th-century suspension lamp. It was rumored to be used by a pious man who made a deal to lend his soul to the benefit of Heaven. Remnants of his blood mixed in the oil kept demons at bay. A powerful relic that needed to not be in the hands of Tenebrarum.

He sat on the opposite side of the room from Namjoon. The auctioneer’s smile grew as he realized what was about to happen. They wheeled the suspension lamp to the front. “The first item up for bid, ladies and gentlemen, is an 18th-century suspension lamp from Italy. We’ll start the bidding at one hundred thousand dollars.”

Namjoon and Yoongi raised their paddles at the same time.

So what are we? What are the Acquisitae?

Layla arrived at the top floor exhaling softly before tapping softly on the large double doors of its current CEO.

“Enter,” came the smooth, buttery, poisonous silk of Kim Seokjin’s voice.

She pushed inside to catch him leaning, lazily, against the massive blackwood desk. The perfect petal pink of his lips tilted upward.

“Do you need something, Sir?” A brow arched as she closed the door behind her.

A long finger crooked in her direction, beckoning her to come closer to him. “I need you, Layla.” She stepped closer as his finger tucked under the point of her chin. “I need you to stay away from Calestis Wares.” The other hand slid into the niche of her waist, pulling her against his taller frame. Her lashes fluttered shut as a breath slid quietly from between her lips. “You’ve made your choice, haven’t you?” His lips hovered over the apple of her cheeks.

“Yes, Jin.” She had long gone nose blind to the scent of sulfur that surrounded the infernals. Being around Jin, in the beginning, caused her eyes to water. He gave off the strongest scent and she pushed through. Forced herself to endure, and now? “I told them I’ve chosen my path willingly. You don’t have to worry.”

You are precious. You are the key to saving all of existence.

Jin smirked as she tilted her head, exposing the tender flesh of her neck. His breath was like a handheld blow dryer focused in one spot too long. She flinched, and endured, as he purposely caused her discomfort. The fiery-red ring flared in his gaze and he managed to keep his irritation at bay. He watched as her skin reddened from exposure to the heat. “You really have chosen me, haven’t you?” The smile was lazy as he released her.

Layla’s fingers clenched into the fabric of her pencil skirt. The closer one stood to Jin, the more prone to loss of control. She gave another heavy swallow as she nodded rapidly. “Y-Yes, Jin.”

“I knew you were smart, Layla.” He clasped his hands together against his leg. Her eyes widened at the black nails and silver rings adorning his fingers. “Maybe you can help them be smart too, hm?” Layla looked up, confused. Seokjin smiled and he seemed too radiant. Her gaze lowered to the floor as he continued. “Why don’t you invite your friend, Saoirse?” A brow arched as her gaze whipped upward.

“Excuse me?” A breathless sound pushed from between her lips.

“Saoirse isn’t so saintly, we know this. I mean she used to…” Layla cleared her throat before Seokjin finished his sentence. He smirked at her sentimentalism. “...you know what she used to do, Layla. Doesn’t it make you curious why they even let her stay? All the sins that have permeated her whole life. I wouldn’t judge her. I feel like she could be who she really is here.” Liar. Snake-oil salesman. Seducer. It was all true. Jin was all of these things and his good looks were the nail in the convincing coffin that he backed many people into.

“I won’t do that, Jin.” Layla swayed on her heels before shaking her head. “I agreed to work for you. I have my own agenda and it doesn’t involve sharing.” She spoke through clenched teeth.

“Oh ho! Is that jealousy I smell?” He pushed off the desk with a flare of nostrils. “I like this scent on you. Maybe I’ll pull her in myself?” He loomed over her with hellfire blazing in his eyes. “Because last I checked, I was the one in charge.”

Layla’s posture straightened with no signs of backing down. “I know you’re in charge. I remember who you are, Lucifer, The Morning Star,” she spat, “and if you think I’ll let you hurt her, you do not know me very well.”

You are the key to saving us.

Seokjin clenched his hand at his side as she smirked up at him. “Go ahead. If that’s the best you can do to assert your will.” The red in his eyes turned an abyssal black that swallowed the whites of his eyes. “You realize it now, don’t you?” Her head nodded as he remained quiet. “It’s different when we submit of our own free will.” She smiled, magnificent, triumphant that her theory had proven correct. “We are on equal footing, Seokjin.”

Her phone buzzed. She retrieved it from her pocket with a soft sigh. “Your two o’clock is early. You should do something about your temper.” She turned on her heel and left his office. Letting the air hiss from her lungs as she practically jogged toward the elevator.

Seokjin stared at the door in utter silence. Others came to him with very little need to flex his powers of persuasion. But when Layla came to him from Caelestis, he was eager to get his talons into Yoongi’s most prized possession. Now he realized something he hadn’t before - and now he wanted to corrupt her even more.

His blood was running hot at the thought of the next Spring Gala. A plume of smoke slithered through his nostrils as he chuckled. He turned to check his reflection in the mirror. If you thought about some of the most favored songs in all of history that were named after a woman, you’d tend to wonder what sway that person had on the songwriter, right?

Seokjin chuckled, as he hummed that old Eric Clapton classic. “Laayyyla, you got me on my knees - Layla.” He adjusted his tie in the mirror, a full bright smile spreading across his face. “I’m begging darlin’ please, Layla…”

He whistled as he settled into the leather wingback behind his desk. “...darlin’ won’t you ease my worried mind?” The door clicked as Layla entered again and he clasped his fingers on his desk.

“Mr. Kim, your two o’clock is here.”

You listened to Hoseok explain what was at stake. He spoke of the real world and the creatures that existed just in the shadows. He brought all your nightmares to life and then said that some were fighting on your side.

Jimin and Saoirse showed up almost an hour after you. Luckily, you had a shower, a drink, and Hobi fretting over you for every breath you took.

Saoirse kept eyeing a bottle of whiskey, an internal struggle visible in the shaking of her eyes. She opted to stay next to you, especially after retelling her meeting with Layla earlier. The two of you watched Jimin and Hoseok in the kitchen, deep in quiet conversation.

“Does she know?” Jimin asked, pouring a cup of coffee. Hoseok stared off into space before Jimin spoke again. “Raguel. Does. She. Know?” A muscle ticked in his jaw as Hobi nodded, his shoulders sagging. “What happened?”

Hoseok let a trembling hand settle over his eyes. “Moloch.” Jimin’s wide-eyed gaze turned to him.

“Wait. Moloch came for her?” Jimin managed to keep his voice down.

Hoseok nodded, the exhaustion apparent as he leaned against the counter. “We leveled half a neighborhood, Jimin. He was dead set on leaving with her in any condition.” They slid a glance over to the ladies hugging on the couch. Jimin noted the purple-yellow bruises on your shoulder and a bandaged ankle.

The kettle was placed back on the stove before turning to Hoseok. “Yoongi is at the auction with Namjoon. Layla willingly gave herself up to Seokjin.” A bitter smile formed as he leaned next to Hoseok. “Things went from bad to worse, yeah?”

Hoseok’s eyes were on you this whole time. “I’m not giving up on her, Jimin.” They both looked over to the two trying to find reasons to smile. You held Saoirse through a sob as she fought not to sink into her old habits.

“I’m not giving up either, Hobi.” Jimin placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. They picked up steaming mugs of coffee to join the two in the living room. Hoseok sighed deeply, trying to feign a smile for you. “And now, I’ll tell you who We are.”

#bangtanscenery #bangtanscenerycollab #btswriterscollective #hyunglinenetwork #bangtanarmynet #bts ot7 x reader #bts ot7 fanfiction #angels and demons au #heaven and hell au #biasrekkers #bts ot7 x oc #bts fanfiction #thebiasrekkers

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yourdeepestfathoms · 5 years ago

Text

if not by blood, then siblings by bloodshed (part one)

this is the exact definition of “Well that escalated quickly!”

Also: Kitty is 11, Joan is 14. So this very well could take the cake for darkest Tiny Kat AU!

TW: Blood and gore, violence, animal violence, death, vomit, maggots

——————-

Blood Makes Noises

Lady Jane said Kitty was a strange child. That she...had gifts. That was why she wasn’t allowed to play with the other children and had to do weird training all the time. Personally, Joan thought it was odd, but she didn’t think much of it. She kind of wished she was Jane’s ward, too, but those were fantasies she kept to herself- or used to comfort herself at night.

Being a maid wasn’t all that bad. Sure, it was, again, nothing in comparison to being Lady Jane Seymour’s personal ward, but there were some perks. Like...not being homeless! Having a room in the castle was a good one. Maybe the only perk. Cleaning wasn’t all that fun. But Joan did enjoy stable work, believe it or not.

That’s where this tale starts, actually.

In a stable with very spooked horses.

Joan didn’t know what was bothering them. All the royal horses were uneasy and disturbed in their stalls, neighing and shifting anxiously.

“What are you gawking at?“ Joan asked, rubbing a grey mare’s neck. “There’s nothing...here...” When she went to survey the stable again, she noticed something. A large hole in the corner. Out of it, a thick, black mass bubbled into the open air. It’s churning over itself, like it's struggling with something within.

Joan stepped back, horrified. The horses shriek. Several of them kick down their stall doors and flee the stable right as the normal stablehand enters. He’s drunk and very angry with the animals getting out.

“Joan!” He yelled, “What the fuck did you do!”

“T-Terrance!” Joan squeaked, “There’s something here!”

“No! There isn’t! Because, if you haven’t noticed, the horses are fucking gone!!” Terrance stomped over,.

Stomped over just a few steps too far.

A tendril of inky blackness snaps forward and whips around his leg. He stumbles, howling in pain.

Joan is screaming before she can even realize it. She goes to Terrance’s aid by grabbing his hand and attempts to pull him free. It helps some, but the tentacle is still crushing his leg in its grip. She hears the sizzle of burning flesh, and Terrance arms heaves a great sob. Her strength falters when she hears a horrible tearing sound.

Terrance shrieks as the flesh on his arm rips slowly, like the bursting of seams. First the skin goes, then the muscles and tendon, and, finally, the bone. Tendrils wrap around his wrists, then his legs and throat. He's dragged into the black, writhing mass as his arm gave way, flinging Joan onto her back, and there's nothing she can do to help. His screams continue for several seconds before dying out.

Joan sits up shakily, but freezes when she sees the bloody severed arm she still has in her grasp. Stricken by terror, she stares at it, trembling.

The bulbous black mass shifts audibly, crunching the bones of its prey in its bulging girth. It retreats slowly into the hole, which catches Joan’s attention and gives her a chance to escape.

She runs out in near tears, her stomach twisted in horror. Her mind keeps replaying the sight and she’s about to sprint to the castle in search of the queen when the foliage to the sides of the stable rustles, and out step half a dozen men and women. Each is armed, each looks at Joan threateningly, and each is clad entirely in black.

She doubts they are there to help or comfort her after the horror she witnessed.

One of the black-clad men carries an ash bow in one hand. He steps forward, expression malevolent.

“One lone child,“ He said, “Tell me, girl, where is the queen?”

Joan’s muscles clench, her eyes widen even further, and she feels a bead of cold sweat trickle down her back.

The black-clad archer, clearly the leader here, pulls another arrow from his quiver and nocks it to his bowstring.

“Hand over the coin you’ve, girl, slowly. Then tell us where Lady Jane Seymour is. No sudden movements, or this next arrow goes through your heart.”

Joan remains still, her mouth half open in shock. She can tell the man is getting impatient the longer she doesn’t reply, so he motions for his followers to advance into the city while he and one other stayed back to off the useless girl.

“Pathetic little thing, aren’t you?” The archer said, “You probably don’t have anything good on you, anyway.”

Joan’s heart was two seconds away from bursting at the flint tip of an arrow when a deep rumbling came from the stable. The archer falters and he and his companion look towards the wooden doors, weapons ready. Joan feels lightheaded as the noises get louder and louder and...

All at once, they stop and a dog trots out of the barn. It’s a little thin and scruffy, but a plain dog nonetheless. The paid of raiders blink and then laugh loudly.

“A dog got you spooked, Brutus!” The second man said to the archer, chortling.

“Me? You should have seen your face!” The archer, Brutus, apparently, snorted. “Now...where were we?”

The weapon was back on Joan, but she couldn’t seem to focus on the face that she was about to be killed. Where did that dog come from? It hadn’t been in there when...

Suddenly, the hound is upon the second raider. It leaps at him before he even really knew it was coming and knocked him to the ground, its powerful jaws snapping at his throat. The archer whirled around and screamed a very startled, “HOLY SHIT!” at the bloodbath the dog was creating.

The second raider is dead quickly and the archer realizes he was next. He tried to defend himself, but the dog bites into his thigh and he’s on the ground. His leather armor proves to be worthless against the hound’s jaws as its torn off and his flesh is exposed to open air.

Joan watches in horror as the dog began ripping chunks from the man’s genitals. Its teeth first catch on the testicles and tear them off so easily, scarfing them down before biting onto the penis and removing a large mass of flesh. The member soon only dangled from a few strips of skin and muscles before even that is gone.

Finally, once the archer’s pelvis became a mess of bright red and pink, Joan thinks to run.

She sprints down the street, noticing whorls of smoke rising up from several parts of the city. She can hear screaming of women and children, and that just urges her forward faster.

Joan tore open a back door to the castle and scrambled inside. Her lungs were burning, but she just kept on running, desperate to get to Lady Jane Seymour’s chambers.

However, that plan was halted when she was suddenly grabbed.

Joan let out a muffled scream as her mouth was covered and she was dragged into a small side room in the kitchen. She sobbed and shook her head, desperately trying to get away, but the grip was strong.

“Hush, little one, you’re okay.”

Joan froze. She knew that voice...

She snapped her head up and saw the queen herself holding her. At her side, Kitty was clinging to her dress. They both looked very nervous.

“L-Lady Jane,” Joan whimpered. She all but collapsed into the queen’s arms, crying in horror. “I-it- L-Lady Jane, it was so- I saw-”

“Shh, shh,” Jane kneels down beside her, cradling her protectively against her chest. She strokes the weeping child’s hair soothingly. “You’re okay... It’s going to be okay.”

Joan shook her head while sucking in a shaky breath.

“Y-you don’t-”

“Shh,” Jane hushed her again, “I know you’re scared, darling, but I need you to be strong. At least until we get out of the city. Then I’ll hold you and you can tell me what happened. Can you do that for me?”

Joan really didn’t want to go back outside after what she had seen, but something told her Jane already knew. She sniffled and nodded.

“Good girl.” Jane smiled.

She helped Joan to her feet and took one of her hands. The other was holding Kitty’s, who was silent through Joan’s partial breakdown. Both children exchange worried looks.

“Come, little ones,” Jane whispered, “And stay quiet. Don’t make a noise.”

Getting out of the castle was a painstakingly slow and tense affair. Raiders were stalking through the hallways, but outside was much worse.

The sky was clouded with smoke. The streets were filled with screaming. The smell of burning flesh wafted throughout the entire city.

“Shh,” Jane murmured when Kitty whimpered at the scent. She took her hand away from Joan to cover Kitty’s eyes, making the older girl have to cling to her sleeve as they moved carefully. “It’s almost over, my love...”

They were in the garden. Joan always loved the garden. She knew Kitty loved the garden, too. She sometimes saw the younger girl picking flowers and making them into crowns, which she would give to Jane. But now the beautiful greenery has turned into a labyrinth of golden blazes. The thick walls of grey smoke were suffocating to walk through and flames licked desperately at any bare flesh. One of the three would occasionally hiss softly as they were burned.

“Here we are,” They stopped at a large crack in the garden wall, which led out of the city. She gently nudged Kitty towards it. “Go on.”

“Wh-what about you?” Kitty asked.

“I’ll meet you on the other side,” Jane told her. “Go. Go through. Hide once you get out, alright?”

Kitty hesitated, hugged Jane, then slid through the crack.

Jane stared at the space where her ward used to be for a moment, then turned to Joan. She sets both hands on the girl’s shoulders.

“Listen to me, Joan,” She said, her voice hardening. “You need to protect Katherine, alright? Don’t let anything happen to her.”

“Wh-what? What about-”

“Go to Catherine of Aragon. She’ll help you.” Jane went on.

“Lady Jane-”

“Please do this for me, Joan. You two need to protect each other. There are things you don’t k-”

Joan couldn’t even muster up the will to scream as blood squirted onto her face. She watched in horror, tears spilling from her eyes once again as Jane gagged on the arrow lodged through her throat. She caught the queen’s body, nearly falling over from the sudden weight, and felt the tip of the arrow poke into her shoulder, shoving it back further in Jane’s neck. A second arrow comes flying and nails Jane in the back, causing her to make a garbled choking noise and foam bright red at the mouth.

It gets all over Joan.

Finally, the scream bubbles to Joan’s throat. In a sudden rush of fear, she shoves Jane’s body off, which she immediately regrets.

“I’m so sorry,” Joan wept. She almost crumples to her knees beside the queen, but a watery gag and spill of blood keeps her upright. She thinks Jane is trying to tell her something, and she has a guess what it is.

“I’m sorry.”

Joan whispers that one more time before slipping through the crack in the wall and leaving Jane to choke and bleed.

Kitty is waiting on the other side in a bush. She perks up and scampers over to Joan, only to have her hand grabbed roughly.

“J-Joan?” The younger girl stammered.

“Let’s go!” Joan said, “Run!”

“What? What about my mummy? Jane? We can’t leave her!”

Joan felt more tears slip down her cheeks. She doesn’t stop running.

“She’ll meet us there!”

“Where?” Kitty cried.

“Just run!!”

Kitty continues to babble for a few seconds before shutting up. She’s practically being dragged by Joan, who is running much too fast for her to keep up with. Still, she does her best, and the two don’t stop their sprint. They keep running as fast as they can, even as the leaves and roots and brush of the forest blend into an unending sea of greens and browns and ominous shadows.

From somewhere behind them, the howl of a hound rings out.

————

Joan had thought she was overwhelmed when the raid broke out. But as scared as she was, she knew she would be okay; because Lady Jane was there, holding out a hand to her. Lady Jane had always protected her. Lady Jane always looked after her, and made her feel better. Even if she was busy more often, she would help her. Joan knew she would catch her.

And then that arrow pierced through her throat and Lady Jane was dead.

Joan can still taste her blood in her mouth. She had thrown up when she and Kitty finally stopped running. If Kitty saw the red splattered across her face she didn’t question it.

They had ran for when felt like hours. At one point, they were chased by troops of raiders, but lost them in the woods. For now, they were safe.

Or, as safe as two now-orphans could be.

Kitty occasionally asked where they were going and where Jane was, but she got the message to stay quiet when Joan didn’t answer her. The two trudged on after Joan vomited- at least now they were walking.

Hours passed. Joan ran out of tears a long time ago. Kitty was trying to keep her optimism up. Sometimes she would see a rabbit or a fox and point it out, hoping to lighten the mood. Sometimes Joan cracked a smile, sometimes Joan would tug her forward, sometimes Joan snapped at her, sometimes Joan just ignored her. Kitty gave up, eventually.

They were now miles away from their home. Kitty was limping. Joan was so thirsty. They were both very hungry.

Hunting was tradition in an English Aristocrat- or that’s what the guards and nobles said. Even the lowest of peasants found thrill in wielding a weapon and hunting game. Joan and Kitty, however, never enjoyed bloodsports- that’s one thing they could agree on. Joan never fired a bow with shivering, trembling limbs, and she never thought she had to, but then she and Kitty stumbled upon the rotting corpse of a hunter in the grass.

There was a bear trap clamped tightly on the left ankle. A bow is slung around the torso. Maggots fester on the head and chest. Joan tells Kitty to look away. Kitty doesn’t disobey. She goes to collect firewood.

Joan mutters apologies as she kneels beside the body. A trail of maggots squish loudly beneath her knees. She does her best to ignore it.

The stench of the corpse is overpowering. The feel of maggots wriggling over her hands is worse.

Joan has to stick her fingers in the maggots mass to untangle the bow. They’re slimy little creatures and squirm wildly when touched, clearly angry. A few wiggle up her digits, tickling the soft flesh, and Joan shakes her hand wildly, sending the worms flying. She works faster, but that just makes the squelching noises louder and louder until-

Joan rips the bow off the rotting corpse and vomits for the second time that day.

Kitty is waiting at a nearby clearing with a pile of sticks. Joan praises her wearily.

“Joan?” Kitty speaks up for the first time in hours. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Joan mumbled. The front of her tunic is drenched in vomit, old and fresh. “Just...tired.”

“Okay.” Kitty said softly.

Joan kneels beside the sticks and then stared at them, as if she were hoping they would light if she gave them a stern enough look. Then, the took the bow, a stick, and began a technique she once read about in a book.

It was called the “bow drill” apparently. By using a bow to grind a stick against a piece of wood, enough friction would be created to start a fire. On paper, it sounded like a simple way to help in a survival situation, but actually doing it was a lot more problematic.

Joan was crouched on the ground, drilling a stick down on another piece of wood for half an hour, and all she really succeeded in was tearing strips off of her hands. Fresh blisters stung and glowed angry pink in the open air. Splinters pokes at the raw flesh, deepening Joan’s agony, but she kept trying. She feared she and Kitty would freeze during the night if she didn’t.

After nearly an hour, there were enough ashes to dump into a pile of dry moss and grass to blow on, eventually starting a small fire that grew larger and larger. Joan actually sobbed out of relief. Kitty hugged her arm happily.

It was sad, they both thought, that they thought this was the best thing to ever happen to them.

Joan told Kitty to tend to the fire while she went out to get dinner. She regretted it almost immediately, as the darkness of the forest seemed to close around her. For a moment, she swore she thought she saw a writhing black mass of human limbs in one of the shadows...

The buck had heard her coming, and Joan cursed herself. She already didn’t want to kill an innocent animal, but it fleeing was just making this even worse. She began to fear getting lost if she went any further.

The buck ran out of sight, and Joan tried to chase after it on her sore, tired legs. She pushed harshly through the brambles and bushes. She knew she wouldn't find it on the other side. She'd given it so much warning with her clumsy noise it could be anywhere by now.

Joan turned around and began retracing she steps. She stopped, however, when she saw another deer nearby.

Joan drew her salvaged bow, staring down a trembling arrow, praying that her hands would be steady enough to keep her from starving to death. Despair set in as she released the arrow. She was clawing for one more hellish day in this nightmare that had became her life in a span of mere hours.

The deer never knew what hit her. And it was a her. Joan was able to discern that as she crouched down next to the body and brought her next arrow closer. The arrowhead was small but sharp, and she began slicing the fur away, wondering if she could make some gloves, or sleeves, or something to hold back the wind and rain that would soon come with fall.

A smaller noise squealed from her left, and she snatched up her bow. The new animal was...young. It was a deer, barely two months old, and Joan knew instantly that she had just orphaned the little one.

(Just like the raiders had orphaned her and Kitty.)

It was terrified of her, but unable to leave the mother's body...

The helpless creature squealed again, and Joan knew it was doomed. More so than she was. She at least had learned the protection of silence. The baby's squealing would call down every carnivore or person in the area.

Joan notched another arrow into her bow...and put it right between the little creature's eyes.

Her lack of hesitation scared her.

(Someone told her this wasn’t going to be the only blood she will spill.)

She had thrown away more than a few of the promises she had made to herself just a few hours ago. She had promised that she wouldn't participate in hunting. She had promised herself she wouldn't give way to despair. She had promised herself she wouldn't be cruel to anything or anyone that was helpless. But now she didn't care. If someone she loved had come by with a piece of bread, she would have caved their head in with a rock to get a bite of it.

Savage. She felt savage.

Joan dragged the deers back to the camp. Kitty squeaked and looked away from the poor creature’s bodies and Joan didn’t blame her.

Gutting was a painful process. Joan might have thrown up if she had anything left in her system.

She cooks slabs of meat in the fire as best as she can. Majority of the food goes to Kitty. Joan was too nauseous to eat, anyway.

“Joan?”

When they’re about to lay down and try to rest, Kitty’s voice speaks up.

“Yes?” Joan tiredly responds.

“When are we going to see mummy again?”

Like that, the memories come rushing back. Joan had been desperately trying to repress them, but her efforts were in vain. The corpse, the creature, the raiders, the dog, Lady Jane- it all hit her like a brick and, suddenly, she’s keeled over in Kitty’s lap, weeping noiselessly. Her body was unable to produce tears anymore, but, from the growing wetness on the back of her neck, she knows Kitty still can.

The younger girl wraps her arms around Joan and Joan grasps tightly to one of her hands. She feels Kitty sobbing into her hair. Joan cries along with her until the noises turn to a full death-rattle of two orphaned children weeping in the night.

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