#i'd run off to war if my wife was looking at me like that as well Corlys

[backjustforberena]

RHAENYS & CORLYS + leaving one another, in "Driftmark" for @youleavethetardisbrakeson

[deliciousangelfestival]

The Imperfect Couple - 15

Character: politician!Bucky x ex-wife!reader

Summary: A separated couple must pretend to be happily married while the husband runs for Vice President, dealing with old issues and political pressures during his election campaign.

Warning: The couple's arguments could be triggering.

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist || If you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee on Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter. Leave a comment and Reblog, please. I'd love to hear your thoughts. ❤️

“Seems like you're declaring war on me,” Bucky said, his voice steady but his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Does it sound like that? Forgive me.��� Steve set the golf club down, a smirk playing on his lips. “What I meant is, we have to be aware of everything. We're this close to winning.”

“I agree.” Bucky replied, his expression calm, though his mind churned with unspoken thoughts.

“This is why I trust you.” Steve clapped him on the shoulder. “Remember, we're playing in the highest league now.”

Steve paused before adding casually, “By the way, my son wants to visit Nate. Is that okay with you?”

“I'll let my wife and Nate know,” Bucky responded, his voice neutral, though he felt a flicker of unease.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

When Bucky got home, he saw you sitting cross-legged on the floor with Nate, working on a puzzle together. You both seemed relaxed, unaware of the weight he carried from the conversation with Steve. He walked over, his movements deliberate, and knelt beside Nate.

“Nate, buddy, can you go to your room for a bit? I need to talk to your aunt,” Bucky said gently, placing a hand on Nate’s shoulder.

Nate, always obedient, nodded. “Okay, Uncle Bucky,” he said before scooping up a few puzzle pieces and heading inside.

Once it was just the two of you, you glanced at Bucky and noticed his exhausted expression. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“What? Did something worse just hit you?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

Bucky took a breath, his jaw tightening. “Did you just involve Ian?” His tone was calm, but his eyes betrayed his frustration.

You widened your eyes, momentarily caught off guard by the question. That single look was enough for him to sigh deeply, running a hand through his hair. “I…” His hands clenched into fists momentarily. He wanted to be angry, knowing full well this would put you on Steve’s radar.

“Just… tell Ian to slow down,” Bucky muttered, clearly uneasy.

“I can’t,” you said softly but firmly. “The way Ian works is far more efficient than anything I could do.”

Bucky rubbed his temples, his frustration mounting. “Then I hope God protects him.”

“Bucky…” you stepped closer, your voice serious. “Be honest with me. Is he in danger?”

Bucky looked down, his hands braced on the counter, his shoulders tense. “Steve just gave me a warning. It won’t matter to him if there’s blood on his hands.”

Your heart dropped. ‘Fuck,’ you thought as panic began to bubble inside. You immediately grabbed your phone and dialed Ian, but there was no answer. Frustration and fear mingled in your chest as you quickly texted him instead: Be careful. Eyes and ears everywhere.

You glanced at Bucky, your stomach twisting. “By the way, the Rogers twins want to come here to play with Nate,” Bucky added as if it were a casual comment, though his voice carried an edge.

“You allowed that?” you asked, the disbelief evident in your tone.

The mention of the twins unsettled you. Your mind flashed back to watching The Shining in secret with Tim, and how the twins in that movie had always given you the creeps. That eerie feeling wasn’t just from the film anymore—it was rooted in real life. You had learned the truth: William and Charles, Steve's sons, had a reputation for bullying other students. The thought of them around Nate made your skin crawl.

Would they be a good influence on Nate? You highly doubted it.

Bucky gave a tired shrug. “I can’t say no to the future president, right?”

You pressed your lips into a thin line, knowing there was little you could do to stop it. But one thing was clear—you would be keeping a very close eye on them when they came to visit.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

The twins arrived at the house, their faces lit up with matching grins, excitement practically radiating off them. Nate, catching sight of them, bolted to the door, his small body bouncing with joy.

"William! Charles!" Nate called out, bouncing on his toes as he welcomed them in. His innocent joy was palpable—he was simply happy to have people he knew coming to play with him.

"Hey, buddy," William said, ruffling Nate’s hair as they walked inside.

After a brief exchange, they settled in front of the game console, and soon, the twins had chosen a violent shooter game. The screen flickered with gunfire and explosions, the sound effects jarring in the otherwise quiet room. Nate, seated between them, initially watched in awe but quickly became uncomfortable.

His tiny hands shot up to cover his eyes, and he flinched with every loud noise, his body tense as he pressed himself into the couch. He covered his ears, trying to block out the unsettling sounds, but he didn’t say a word, not wanting to ruin the moment.

You watched from a distance, trying not to be the nosy adult. You wanted to give them space, but seeing Nate’s frightened reaction twisted something in your gut. Likewise, you couldn’t stand by anymore. Walking over to the boys, you kept your tone polite, but firm.

“Guys,” you said, your voice cutting through the sounds of the game, “is there another game that’s not as scary? Look, Nate’s getting scared.”

William glanced down at Nate, who was huddled close to him. “Oh, why didn’t you say something, buddy?” he said, patting Nate’s shoulder as if that would fix everything.

Charles sighed and turned off the violent game, switching to something more child-friendly. "Here, we’ve got a game for you, Nate." He scrolled through the options and selected a bright, colorful one with cartoon rabbits running a restaurant.

The second the screen changed, Nate’s face lit up. “Wow!” he exclaimed, his fear dissolving as he leaned forward, eager to play. The teenage boys, now seemingly patient, guided him through the simple controls, explaining how to serve food to the cartoon animals. You felt a wave of relief. Maybe—just maybe—the twins weren’t as bad as you had feared.

Later, the boys decided to go swimming. You sat on a poolside chair, keeping a close eye on Nate. He was wearing a floatie around his small frame, happily splashing in the shallow end while William and Charles horsed around further away.

Suddenly, your phone buzzed. It was Ian. "H...ell...o"

You stood up, checking the signal, which was terrible. Frowning, you moved toward the balcony. The pool was indoors, so you stepped outside, hoping for better reception.

“I just got your text,” Ian said when the call finally connected. His voice was rough, but you could hear his smirk through the line. “You know this isn’t going to stop me.”

“I’m serious, Ian,” you replied, leaning against the balcony rail. “Bucky told me directly. You’re in danger.”

A pause, and then Ian’s voice, low and almost teasing, came through. “Hmm… Guess where I am right now?”

You sighed, trying to play along. “London? Since you went home, right?”

“Nope. Paris. And I’ve found something—something lethal enough to kill Steve,” Ian said, his tone dark with implication.

Paris? You froze. Was this related to Hazel? Your heart pounded with a new surge of anxiety. “Ian, don’t—”

But before you could finish, you heard it. A splash—loud, frantic. You turned around, the blood draining from your face. In the water, you saw a small hand desperately reaching out, the floatie floating uselessly nearby. It was Nate.

Panic gripped you like a vice. “Nate!” you screamed, dropping your phone as you sprinted back inside.

Without hesitation, you dove into the pool, your body hitting the cold water like a shock to your system. Your hands reached for him, pulling Nate’s tiny, trembling body to the surface. His arms latched around your neck in a vice grip, coughing and sputtering as you lifted him from the water.

He gasped, burying his face against your shoulder, his small body shaking as he clung to you. “He…he can’t swim!” you snapped at the twins, your voice filled with raw anger.

William and Charles stood there on the edge of the pool, unfazed. “That’s why we were teaching him,” they answered in unison, their tone almost dismissive.

Nate let out a pained cough, his voice weak. “My nose hurts…” he whimpered, rubbing his face against your neck.

Your heart ached at the sight of him, vulnerable and hurt. Anger surged through you like a tidal wave, and you glared at the twins. You remembered that they both just watched while Nate was drowning. Without raising your voice, you pointed to the door, your finger shaking with fury. “Get out. Now.”

The command echoed in the room, sharp and unforgiving. William and Charles flinched, startled by the intensity in your voice. Without a word, they quickly grabbed their things, shooting one last glance at each other before rushing out the door.

You stayed in the pool, holding Nate close, your teeth gritted in anger and your heart still pounding. You knew then—those boys were never going to be allowed near Nate again. Not after this.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

The twins walked into the Roger household, their shoulders slumped, clearly sensing the storm waiting for them. Behind them, Peggy followed with a stern but composed expression. As they stepped further into the room, the tension was palpable—Steve stood there, arms crossed, his face hard as stone. He had heard everything from you, and his sons could feel his fury even before he said a word.

William and Charles instinctively moved closer to Peggy, seeking the safety of her presence as if she could shield them from the inevitable.

Peggy, sensing the mounting tension, stepped forward slightly, her voice calm but firm. “Steve, calm down. I will talk to them.”

Steve let out a frustrated sigh, his clenched jaw releasing only slightly. “I’m not going to yell,” he said through gritted teeth. “But I need to say something.”

He fixed his cold gaze on his sons. “Both of you will be homeschooled from now on.”

The twins’ faces fell in disbelief. “Dad, no!” William blurted, and Charles’ mouth hung open, too stunned to speak.

“I know,” Steve said, his voice quieter now, but there was no softness in it. “I know the main reason for your behavior is because your mother and I have been too busy for you. We never spent time together as a family.” His arms unfolded, and to their surprise, he pulled them into a hug. “So, homeschooling is the best option, isn’t it?” His tone sounded almost tender, but underneath it lay a cold warning.

William and Charles glanced at each other, then back at Peggy, silently pleading for her to intervene. But she didn’t. She stood still, her lips pressed tightly together, offering no rescue.

“Good children don’t question their parents,” Steve said, his voice dropping low. “You just say, ‘Yes, father.’”

The twins swallowed hard, a sinking feeling settling in their chests. “Yes, father,” they muttered in unison, their voices barely above a whisper. It felt as though their every move would now be monitored.

Steve’s lips curled into a smile, but it wasn’t warm—it was the smile of a man in control. “Good. Now, go back to your rooms.”

The boys moved quietly, retreating upstairs, the weight of Steve’s words heavy on their shoulders.

Once they were out of sight, Steve’s smile faded. He turned toward Peggy, his tone biting. “This is why I never wanted to send them to boarding school in the first place. They needed parental guidance, not strict school rules.”

Peggy’s eyes narrowed, a tired look crossing her face. “Don’t start again, Steve. That decision was made by my father.”

Steve’s expression darkened at the mention of her father. His voice dripped with bitterness. “Oh yeah, him. I almost forgot. I’m glad he’s dead.”

Peggy’s face tensed, a flare of anger sparking in her eyes. “When will you stop badmouthing my father?”

Steve’s cold stare met hers. “Never.”

Steve had lived a life bound by duty, his role in the military shaping every part of him. He was a good soldier—respected, disciplined, and obedient. But despite his loyalty, promotions came slowly. His lack of a powerful family background meant he was always overlooked by those with better connections. Essentially, Steve was an orphan—without anyone to vouch for him, he was left behind.

He knew how the system worked. If you didn’t have the right name, the right family, there was always a price to pay. And Steve had paid it, doing the dirty work of his superiors without question, sacrificing his principles just to keep his place. The worst part of it all was that his commanding officer, General Carter, was his father-in-law.

Every step of his career, Steve had been a puppet for the man who held both his professional and personal life in his hands. The weight of it bore down on him every day.

“Good soldiers don’t ask why,” General Carter always said this to him. “They just say, ‘Yes, sir.’”

"Yes, sir." Steve answer it like he's a robot.

At some point, Steve had everything he’d ever thought he wanted—marriage, a steady career, money, and status. On paper, he should have been happy. But he wasn’t. His life felt dull, empty, like the spark had been drained from it.

The day he realized the truth hit him like a punch in the gut. He wasn’t his own man—he was nothing more than a tool for his father-in-law, a puppet dancing to someone else’s tune.

That was the moment he had enough. The frustration, the years of silently obeying, simmered into anger. He wanted to be the one in control. He was tired of taking orders—he wanted to be the one giving them.

Steve’s life had been dull for years, a constant routine of military duties, politics, and the weight of expectations. Until the day he met Hazel. She was much younger than him—vibrant, full of life—and he was supposed to give her advice, to help steer her back home. Julius and Caroline had asked him to help their daughter stop running away. But when Steve sat with Hazel and listened to her story, something shifted. Her reasons for running, the pressures she felt—her life mirrored his own struggles. For the first time in years, he felt empathy.

He told her, quietly, “If you ever need someone to talk to, you can find me.”

And from there, things changed. They grew closer, and eventually, more intimate. He knew it was wrong—cheating on his family, betraying his friends—but for the first time, Steve felt alive again. The numbness of his life vanished in her presence, replaced by something that burned, something real. And then came Nate, the baby born out of that connection, out of a love he hadn’t felt in years.

Steve’s thoughts snapped back to the present. His jaw clenched tightly as he faced Peggy. “Did you tell them to hurt Nate?”

Peggy stood her ground, her face a mix of frustration and cold calculation. “No,” she said flatly. “But they’re smart enough to figure out why their father cares so much about that kid, and why he’s always…” She hesitated, her lips curling into a thin smile. “Spending time with his little girlfriend. Maybe they’re just releasing their anger.”

Steve’s fists tightened until his knuckles turned white. “When I get into the White House, you won’t be coming with me.”

Peggy’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t flinch. “And what then?” she said with a mocking tilt to her voice. “You think you’re going to put that girl in my place? Have you forgotten who you are? You were a beggar, crawling to my father for help.”

Steve’s eyes darkened, a dangerous calm settling over him. “And this beggar has crawled his way to victory,” he said slowly, his voice low but filled with menace. “You can act high and mighty because of me. Don’t forget that I can take it all away from you.” He stepped closer, his words laced with venom. “Remember how your family got their business permits? How they were saved from corruption charges and tax evasion? That was because of me.”

Peggy let out a scoff, her eyes filled with disdain. “You think you’re a king now?” She crossed her arms, shaking her head. “I actually pity her, you know. Because one day, she’ll feel exactly what I felt. You’ll never be satisfied, Steve. You’ll never have enough.”

She turned to leave, her hand on the door. Before stepping out, Peggy glanced back at him, her eyes filled with cold certainty. “Never.”

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

You sat beside Nate, your heart heavy as you watched his small chest rise and fall, his face flushed with fever. The doctor had just left, handing you a bottle of medicine. "Make sure he drinks this, and let him rest completely," he’d said before exchanging a few quiet words with Bucky and leaving the apartment.

Nate’s red, feverish face made your heart ache. He had been through so much in just a few hours. You gently wiped a damp cloth over his forehead as Bucky sat beside you, silent and tense.

"Never, ever let Nate be alone with them again," you said, your voice firm.

Bucky nodded, his expression serious. "I agree. And I’m sorry. I never thought they’d pull something like that."

“Don’t underestimate underage kids,” you warned, your voice sharp. “There are so many cases where perpetrators can’t be jailed because they’re underage.”

Bucky’s jaw tightened. "Noted. I won’t forget that."

A brief silence passed, then you asked, “Have you called Hazel?”

“I tried, but I couldn’t reach her. I called her assistant, though.”

You nodded, your mind still spinning. The memory of Nate sinking beneath the water haunted you, but there was something else gnawing at you—you hadn’t finished your conversation with Ian.

Excusing yourself, you left the room and grabbed your phone, your stomach dropping when you noticed the cracked screen from when you’d dropped it before diving into the pool.

You dialed Ian’s number, your fingers trembling as you pressed it to your ear. The first ring echoed, unanswered. Your heart pounded faster. The second ring—nothing. A cold sense of unease crept into your chest. Why wasn’t he answering?

On the third try, the ringing stopped abruptly, and you exhaled in relief. “Hello? Ian?” you asked quickly, your voice tight with worry.

There was a pause on the other end, then a voice you didn’t expect—familiar, but not Ian’s.

“Y/N?”

You froze, confusion flooding your mind. “Hazel? Why are you answering Ian’s phone?” Panic started to rise inside you, the pieces beginning to fall into place. Ian had gone to Paris. He had found something—something connected to Hazel and Steve.

“He… he can’t answer it,” Hazel whispered, her voice breaking.

Your breath caught in your throat, a chill racing down your spine. “Why?” The word came out in a shaky breath.

There was a long silence before Hazel finally spoke, her words hitting you like a sledgehammer.

“Because he’s dead.”

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[just-some-random-blogger]

hello!! i loved your cregan x martell!reader work sm 😭😭 could you plz bless us with another one? i'm so curious about this pairing, was their marriage arranged or a love match? does little rickon exist in this au? what abt the war?

i'd be delighted to read more about them, if you're willing to write, of course :) thank you in advance!! i adore your writing <3

Heat

You take your husband to Dorne for your sister's wedding. He fairs horribly in the heat.

Cregan Stark x Martell!Reader | 600< | cw: fem!reader, wife!reader, dramatic!cregan, fluff, typos, etc.

A/N: HI NONNIE! this was my firs req since i closed em so YAY US (and it took me so long to write it lmao). it's just a lil blurb but i hope you like it! also this is the fic in question.

Tagging: @sloanexx

The Lord of Winterfell was leading the travelling party. We were deep in Dorne; Sunspear was already within view. And although the fearsome wolf of the North was not one you could easily defeat, he was steadily losing to the dessert sun.

"Cregan," I call out from my horse beside him, "you will get sun burnt if you keep your back bare."

The Warden of the North had one by one removed the clothes off his back. His face, chest, and back was flush and irritated in more ways than one as he looked at me, "and if I put a shirt on," his brows furrow, "I will faint because of the heat."

With a groan, I remove the silk shawl off my shoulders and I steer my horse closer to his. I place the the fabric on his burning flesh, immediately making him whimper. He shrug it off, "I'm sweaty."

"Cregan," I glare and grab my shawl before it drops, "you're overheating."

He rides faster.

"Cregan," I follow, "come here."

He gallops off as quickly as possible, running straight towards the gates of Sunspear. I am taken aback by his sudden fleeing. I look over to the rest of the party, all of which were Northerners equally melting in the heat, and decide to gallop into Sunspear as well for their sake.

Upon my arrival, I was greeted by many people, all of which expressed their delight to see me again. I greet them with glee as I dismount. I instruct the servants to attend to the men and give them something to cool off with.

"Sister!"

"Sister," I call back with a smile.

My younger sister, Calliope, embraces me and kisses my cheeks. I return her affection and brush her hair behind her ear, "you have grown more radiant since last I saw you, my love. Your groom is blessed to have you."

She giggles, "as is yours" she looks me up and down, "is this a glow of an expecting mother?"

"If it be the will of the gods," I smile and link arms with her, "Lord Stark has been most ardent in his duties."

We share a laugh.

Calliope leans in and raises a brow, "you should have brought a bit of snow with you, sister. I think your wolf has jumped into garden fountain."

"He what?"

My sister and I run off to the gardens, and sure enough, there laid the hulking man, body barely even submerged into the water.

"Cregan!" I snap, releasing my sister to fish out my husband, "you giant oaf!"

The man slowly sits up. He wipes water away from his face and smiles, "hello, beautiful wife."

"Get out of the fountain."

He spits out water.

"There are many pools in Sunspear where you actually fit," I reach a hand out.

He crawls over and takes my hand, only to pull me closer and kiss me. His dripping hand comes to my cheek. I whimper. He pulls away and smiles, "will you be joining me?"

I press my lips into a line, "get out of the pool, Stark."

The water sloshes as he gets on his knees and climbs out, "yes, Stark."

Water spills and drips onto the floor as Cregan stands next to me. My sister, Calliope, giggles from behind me. The man looks at her as she speaks, "it might do you well to know the nights at Dorne are cooler, my lord."

I make a face and pull my skirt away when it begins to absorb the pooling fountain water. Cregan notices this and grabs me by the waist, pulling me tightly against him.

"Cregan!"

He smirks and kisses my neck. I glare at him and he smirks at my sister, "I should hope so. My lady keeps me warm at night."

[sineala]

I subscribe to the newsletter of an author I like who wrote a book about 9/11 and the War on Terror and the security state in the US and how it led to the election of Trump, and it's all very serious but apparently the author is writing an Iron Man comics series. I don't read the comics, and a lot of what I know about them comes from your fic, so I'm honestly not sure how much fanon vs canon knowledge I have. 😂 But the series sounds like it might be interesting I think? The author talked about it in his newsletter today. (This link should work. Probably.)

https://www.forever-wars.com/iron-man-how-to-blow-up-a-pipeline-succession/

I am actually really excited about this run! I try not to get excited about new Iron Man runs because chances are high that my hopes and dreams will be crushed, and I know that just because someone writes, say, stunningly excellent non-fiction, it is not a guarantee that they will be great at writing fiction at all or superhero comics specifically (cf. Ta-Nehisi Coates on Cap), but judging by everything Spencer Ackerman's been saying in interviews, his run sounds like it's going to explore a lot of interesting themes.

The post you linked links to an AIPT podcast that he was on a few days ago to talk about his new Iron Man run. For those of you who don't listen to podcasts (this is also me), the Iron Man subreddit has what seems like a fairly comprehensive summary of the interview, and I am really looking forward to the run. Issue #1 apparently hits stores on October 23.

But I will tell you why I am actually now really excited about this run. It's not relevant to anything about the comic itself. I am nonetheless very excited.

Last month, after he was announced as the new Iron Man writer, in order to hype up his run, he posted an offer on his blog: if you add the run to your pull list, and you email him proof that you're pulling his run and include a snail-mail address, he will mail you some cool Iron Man stickers.

I eventually got around to doing this last week. I was assuming he didn't actually pay attention to any of these emails so I dashed off a couple sentences about how I was looking forward to his take on Tony because he'd posted a photo of the Iron Man comics he was reading for research and several of them were among my favorites. And then I went off to get bagels.

By the time I had come back with bagels, twenty minutes later, he'd written me a very nice reply substantively engaging with the content of my extremely off-the-cuff message -- geez, if I'd known he was going to be actually reading them I would have put a lot more thought into it, you know? It was very kind and I was not expecting it.

He spelled my first name wrong in the reply, despite it being in the email header and also the name I had signed the email with.

This happens to me a lot. I have a first name that is very common in a lot of languages, but none of those languages are English. I'd say there's a 50-50 chance that a native English speaker will spell or pronounce my name wrong. This is unfortunate, because I live in the US and mostly interact with native English speakers. (My wife @lysimache immediately knew how to pronounce my name. I mean, it wasn't why I married her or anything, but I feel like it was a big plus on a personal level.)

If I have to give my name for something, I will reflexively spell it. The second-to-last time I voted, they'd switched voter lookup to you giving them your name rather than you giving your street address, which was a surprise that filled me with dread. My wife was in line ahead of me and she was completely finished voting by the time the poll workers had finished correctly spelling my name. (The last time I voted, I just handed them my ID, which is not required in my state, but I really wanted this to go faster.) I went to the doctor last week, and when they called my name in the waiting room, they said it wrong. I corrected them. They said it differently wrong a couple minutes later. I corrected them again. They said it wrong again. At that point I gave up.

(If I could think of a name I liked better that I was absolutely sure that most people could spell and pronounce, I would change my name. I still have not found one.)

So, you know, I'm used to it. It happens. Frequently. I was not at all surprised that he spelled it wrong.

He then emailed me again to apologize for spelling my name wrong. Like, immediately. One minute later. He said he was sorry and he knew a lot of people with a similar name.

Dude. Nobody does that. Nobody actually apologizes. Especially not in an email to a rando like me. He did not need to do that. At all. I was not expecting him to do that. He did that. I was honestly touched. No one bothers to do that. But he did.

I got my stickers in the mail yesterday.

I have redacted the portion of the note that has my name in it, but he absolutely spelled my name correctly.

Mr. Ackerman, sir, I hope your comic sells a million copies.

[fandomnerd9602]

Arranged

Princess!Wanda Maximoff x Male Reader

Thanks to @aloneodi for the prompt!

Wanda hated this arrangement. Marriage between her family, House Maximoff and it's closest neighbor House (L/N). It was a disaster in her mind.

Not only would she have to marry a man she just met but what she had heard about the crown prince of the house was even worse. Rumors had circulated that the crown prince was a womanizer, a prince who would chase all the maids and young women of the land.

"I refuse!" she stated before her father King Erik.

"I beg your pardon?" the monarch asked in response.

"I refuse to be married to some man who will not respect me. A man who would only see me as another notch in his bedpost." Wanda stated defiantly. "Mother raised me to be better than that! I refuse to be the prince's wife!"

"Our nation is on the brink of war with House Stark" the king argued, "in case of attack, we need allies and House (L/N) is our only option."

"What about Pietro?"

"He's pledged to take the throne, along with his betrothed Lady Crystal. Will you at least meet your betrothed?"

Wanda huffed, there wasn't much a choice. She simply nodded. Quickly, she went to her room and changed into some civilian attire.

"Please tell me you're not planning on running away" Natasha, her protector, waltzes in.

"I need some fresh air and some new paints. will my guard care to join me?" Wanda asks her oldest friend.

"I'd be beheaded if I said no" Natasha smirks as she quickly takes off her armor and slips on a cloak.

Wanda loved to see her kingdom, but the only way to remain safe was to go in disguise. Her favorite stop was the painter's shop. New colors and variations for her artwork, it was like being able to create new worlds with the stroke of a paintbrush.

She and Natasha stepped into the shop to find a new customer talking with the owner, purchasing a vial of scarlet red paint. Wanda ran to the back of the store to find the same color. But lo and behold, it was gone.

"Thank you so much" the new customer called out.

"Wait!" Wanda called out as she ran back to the front, "I need that color!"

"Scarlet?" the customer looked at her curiously. "you paint?"

"Yes. What is it unusual for a woman to love to paint?"

"Not in my mind." he smiles before handing it to her, "I was going to paint some roses but I think violets are better in bloom this season"

"Thank you" Wanda fishes for some coins, "allow me to pay you what-"

"Think nothing of it" the customer smiles, "I have all I could need. Pleasure meeting you miss-"

"Wanda" she found herself blushing. Natasha raised an eyebrow, finally someone to get straight to her heart.

"I'm Y/N" the customer smiles, "or at least that's what father calls me when he's not angry"

"And what do you do?"

"A-Apprentice mostly" Y/N shyly replied. "Still learning. But I play the lute and write poetry"

"I love to paint and writing song lyrics" Wanda lets out a chuckle. "I hope to see you again, Y/N"

"As I hope to see you as well, miss Wanda" Y/N replies before offering a bow and heading out.

Natasha lets out a little laugh, "you should've seen your face, Wanda. Your corset looked ready to drop"

"Shut your mouth" Wanda blushed as she walked back to the castle.

She walked into the throne room to see her father talking with a cloaked figure. The two were sharing a little laugh.

"I must've misunderstood the letter" King Erik laughs, "so no marriage required"

"Your majesty" a similar voice answers back, "my family is built on the Knight's Code. Despite what my brother's womanizing actions may say. I would rather have friends than a forced marriage"

Wanda approached the two, trying to be as quiet as a mouse. The king turned to her, "darling you must meet Prince Y/N"

"Y/N?" Wanda looked to the hooded figure who pulled down his hood revealing the friendly customer from before. The two young royals found themselves gasping.

Y/N couldn't wipe off the smile forming on his face.

"But-! How?"

"Your majesty" Y/N bows before her, "It appears our next meeting was sooner than we would think."

"Were you tricking me?" Wanda eyed the prince.

"Never ma'am." Y/N explained, 'I like to visit potential allies as a servant, i can get more places as such."

"So you're the one I am to marry?"

"I-If that is your wish" Y/N blushes

"You're not a womanizer"

"That's my older brother" Y/N huffs, "My mom raised me better than that."

"You're not an apprentice" Wanda giggled.

"I am actually. An apprentice monarch" Y/N laughs, "and I am still learning."

"Perhaps you could show me some of your poems," Wanda offered the young prince.

Y/N holds out his elbow to her, "only if you'll show me your paintings."

Wanda found herself blushing again. She looked to her guard who gave her the thumbs up.

The two young royals walked off arm in arm. Maybe there would be a marriage some day, for Wanda and Y/N. But for now, their kingdoms were safe and a blossoming love could take the time to fully bloom.

THE END.

[enigmatist17]

So I had a bit of a different plan for this, but the ending of Earthspark S3 really got me upset, so I've altered it a little bit :')

---

The ferry that went to Griffin Rock rarely did private ventures, but today was a different story. Chief Burns had set out early in the morning after loading a massive trailer, the ferry captain and his crew that definitely included those who were supposed to be off excited at the thought of who they were going to pick up. A family of four were waiting at a dock that was mostly out of sight of the rest of the port, two kids running around chasing what looked like a drone while their parents looked on in amusement.

"Wait, is that the Lieutenant Malto?" One of the older ferry hands gasped, and the Chief looked up from his book with a smile.

"It is, and I'd appreciate it if you fellas kept your questions for a later date."

"Of course Chief, no worries." A younger woman piped up, whispering with her coworkers as they docked and the Chief headed down the ramp. The semi-truck silenced whatever conversation was going on when it transformed into a massive bot, one far bigger than the bots back on the island, kneeling down to shake Chief Burns' hand. The drone the children had been chasing around transformed to land beside the older man, making him jump as the small transformer grinned up at him. They couldn't hear the conversation the bot was having with the Griffon Rock police chief, but soon, the massive bot walked over to the trailer that had been attached to them to open the doors, revealing even more bots that were unfamiliar.

A lot of them were tiny.

The sound of approaching fighter jets startled the relaxed air a few minutes later, and the crew on the ferry flinched when three seekers adorned with a faded Decepticon logo transformed and landed a few feet away from the group. One of the female seekers had landed closer to the family, smiling when some of the smaller mechs came over to greet her, wings hiking up in concern at the sight of the chief hovering a hand over his taser. She kept the two other seekers behind her as she began to speak with Charlie, the other female seeker staring at the unfamiliar human while her male companion just stared at the ferry with an unfocused gaze. The small purple mech had tried to approach him with a friendly smile, the gesture faltering when he flinched, hiding behind his companion with a slightly distressed ring of chirps and clicks no one understood. The chief seemed to relax a little after his chat, still not entirely pleased by the new arrivals, but clearly making plans for them to join the family if the massive bots placating gestures with his hands were any indication. While they spoke, the family of four had decided to approach the ferry, the two kids running ahead with the flying drone and a bot that turned into a motorcycle with a sidecar, laughing and talking with each other until they caught sight of the various ferry hands watching them in amusement.

"Kids, don't run ahead like that!" The husband of the family chided, waving with a smile. "Sorry about them, they're just so excited for this trip."

"It's all good, we've got some time before we head back out, so the little 'uns are welcome ta run about." Captain Shaw chuckled as he headed toward them. "Captain Shaw, at yer service."

"Alex Malto, this is my lovely wife Dottie, and our children Robby, Mo, Twitch, and Thrash. My other kids should be joining soon, they're waiting on Bumblebee and Wheeljack." Arthur shook both of their hands before tipping his hat to Dorothy in mutual respect.

"You did a lot durin' the War, you've my respect."

"Likewise, Chief Burns told me you did a lot of search and rescue out at sea." The former soldier nodded, whistling when Thrash was too close to the edge. "Thrash Malto, what did I say about being that close?"

"Sorry mom! Mo and I thought we saw a dolphin." The small mech pouted as he stepped back, much to the amusement of those around them. "Will we have to travel to the island in the trailer the whole time?"

"No, only until we pass the major shippin' lanes youngin." The captain shook his head, turning to eye the seekers. "Not sure about them, though; my ferry is only so big..."

"They'll be flying Cap, no worries." Chief hummed as he trailed up the ferry, flanked by the three other smaller bots, two others the size of the rescue bots bringing up the rear while holding the Malto family's luggage. While he still wasn't overly excited about the extra newcomers, Charlie made a few calls as the extensive Malto family got situated for the journey to Griffin Rock, the younger bots clearly annoyed with needing to be in the trailer the chief had loaded up, even if it was only going to be for a short time. Bumblebee cut down the chaos with a simple raise of his optic ridge and a firm point at the trailer, the kids grumbling but hurrying inside when the ferry sounded its horn.

"Have a great time, Malto's! Make sure to take plenty of pictures." Optimus waved before the doors closed, the prime reading over to hand Dot a small box he'd pulled from his subspace. "From Megatron, he wanted it to be a surprise."

"Tell him thanks, and we'll check in later." Dot shook her head with amusement as Optimus stepped back to transform, honking before heading back to the work that awaited him in Witwicky. It wasn't long before the ferry had pushed off and headed for its home of Griffin Rock, Mo and Robby chatting away with a transformed Bumblebee as Alex and Dot stood at the ship's bow, taking some time to themselves. Once the captain decided they had moved far enough from prying eyes, he leaned out of his cabin and whistled to Charlie, Bumblebee and Wheeljack transforming as the Chief let the smaller bots out and onto the deck.

"Now kids, I know you're all excited for the journey to Griffin Rock, but I don't want to see any running or transforming until we're docked, is that clear?"

"Yes Chief Burns!" The five coursed before spreading out to bask in the sun, Charlie grinning to himself as Thrash and Jawbreaker argued over the best spot to watch for dolphins. Nightshade had perched themself on the top of the pilothouse to scan the horizon, seeming quite content to spend most of the journey alone while their siblings ran around or pestered each other. Bumblebee was herding the kids with looks or the occasional point, Wheeljack just sitting to the side amused as he tinkered with something, Dot giving him an intense look when he mumbled something about explosives.

The chaos reminded Charlie of his own kids, and he wondered how hectic the next few weeks would be.

"Mom, Dad! I see the island!" Hashtag was the first to squeal in excitement, the speck growing ever closer, drawing the other kids' attention.

"We should be there in no time, speaking of which..." Charlie pulled up his phone and dialed someone, rolling his eyes at whoever was on the other end before hanging up. "Hashtag, sweetie, Nova Storm says to time how long it takes her to arrive."

"Already waiting!" The purple bot grinned, bouncing excitedly as she waited for an honest to god Decepticon to show up.

What a world.

It barely took five minutes before there was the shrill sound of jets heading their way, Skywarp transforming and zapping to end up on the back end of the ferry with a grin. Starscream seemed content with slowing to match the speed of the ferry, Nova Storm doing barrel rolls and small maneuvers to the cheers of the kids.

"What do you think, kid? Who won?" Skywarp grinned as Hashtag hurried over with a grin, a small screen appearing over her palm.

"Nova Storm won by milliseconds, you were close." The terran snickered, Skywarp leaning closer to look at the times with a soft laugh, though they went quiet when Charlie approached the duo with a small wave. "Hi Mr. Burns!"

"Chief works just fine, sweetheart," The older man chuckled, eyeing Skywarp with a slight frown. "Skywarp, right?"

"Yep tin- Chief." The seeker's face scrunched up momentarily before she shrugged, eyeing him with a trill. "You don't like us being here."

"I can't say I do, but I'm a big fan of giving people a chance to prove themselves...Decepticons included. Make no mistake, however, I will be watching, and as long as we all play nice, then I have no issue with you all taking your own break." The massive jet stared at him before grinning, reaching out to gently poke his chest.

"Between you and me? Screamer needs this bad, Storm and I have done a lot, but with Megatron always showing up, we lose whatever ground with him we make. Fragging irritating." Her playful tone had turned serious as Charlie crossed his arms. "As long as we don't end up trapped in a cage, you'll have no problem."

"I think the most you'll have to worry about is Doc Green talking your ears off." The police chief shook his head good-naturedly, glancing over when Nova Storm partially transformed to scoop Jawbreaker up and onto her cockpit, the bot cheering as he was taken close to the water to examine something. "Huh..."

"Looks like fun." Skywarp hummed, vanishing with a buzzing noise to scoop a surprised Thrash into her arms, transporting them a few feet as she transformed to let the young bot balance on top of one of her wings with a whoop.

"They're really nice when you get to know them, I promise," Hashtag whispered with a strained smile. "I wish Starscream was a bit more...aware, but we're working on it."

"What happened to him? I've heard tale of Starscream, but not since the War ended." The older man frowned, Hashtag shaking her helm with a sigh. Said seeker had not made a peep since her initial greeting back on the mainland, and the lack of whistling from his jet engines was almost unnerving if the older man was honest.

"He was possessed by the Quintessons to try and turn their biggest enemy into a weapon, but it all went wrong." Hashtag sighed, hugging her legs to her chest. "The power and the mind control broke his mind, and he got stuck when we put Terratronus in stasis for...a while. I didn't want to leave him there, but it all happened so fast it just, we didn't have the time."

"How long was he stuck?" Charlie gently pat her leg plating, eyeing Starscream as he started to veer off course, only to move back into position when Nova Storm whistled to him in a soft tone.

"Um, about a year. I tried to visit, but it wasn't until Prowl crash-landed that we could get into the zone, and even then, he was still stuck until we were able to wake Terratronus to defeat the Quintessons. It's...the solitary after everything that happened, I think, made things worse, b-but I'm hoping some fresh air with no Megatron around might help!" Hashtag brightened, clearly hoping for the best.

"That was a great idea, sweetie, Griffin Rock has done a lot to help people." Charlie eyed the former second-in-command with a sympathetic expression, making a mental note to get more of the story from the older bots and adults once they were all settled, pausing after a moment to text an old friend.

"Land ho!" Nightshade pointed to the rapidly approaching landmass with a smile, their siblings letting out an excited cheer as Jawbreaker and Thrash were returned to the ferry. Dot and Alex wrangled the kids to settle down while the ferry captain guided his ship toward the docking area. It looked like nearly half the town had shown up in anticipation, the Terrans nearly vibrating with excitement as they waited for the ferry to fully dock and tie up. Dot and Alex get off first with Charlie, the crowd quieting when he holds up his hands.

"Everyone, I know you're excited to meet our newcomers, but I don't want to see any crowding! Dorothy and Alex Malto are our guests, as are their kids and the other bots who have joined them, so I expect that everyone will give them space to enjoy their vacation. Before anyone asks yes, there are a few extra bots I hadn't planned for, but the message also applies to them. Now, why don't we all take a step back while the kids come on down, I'm sure they're done being cooped up. Dorothy, Alex, kids, I'd like to introduce you to the citizens of Griffin Rock, as well as our resident rescue bots Blades, Heatwave, Chase, and Boulder." Charlie motioned to the bots who stood to the side of the large crowd as he introduced them,

"Yay!" Thrash and Hashtag were the first ones off the ship, Nightshade jumping off their perch to land not far from them as Jawbreaker and Twitch brought up the rear. The next half hour consisted of the younger bots either greeting townsfolk or getting cooed over by Blades, until Chase and Charlie eventually dispersed the group to allow the family to gather their things from the ferry and set out for the cabins Charlie had arranged for them. Heatwave had gone off with Boulder to check on the seekers, who had landed further down the beach to avoid too many eyes on them as Nova Storm and Skywarp spoke about where they would stay while on the island. Starscream had wandered away from the two to study some crabs along the beach, the former air commander apparently too invested to notice the two bots several feet away.

"They're fascinating creatures, aren't they?" Boulder decided on a friendly approach, servos up as he approached the seeker. The former Decepticon glanced over at the voice, narrowing his optics for a moment before shrugging, disregarding the first responder as he looked back at the small crustaceans.

"What are you doing?" Boulder and Heatwave looked over at Skywarp's hiss, a look of surprise crossing her face plate at the logo she hadn't seen in a long time. "Whoa, I didn't think rescue bots were still around."

"We are," Heatwave growled, crossing his arms. "What's his deal anyway? I've read about Starscream, but I was expecting someone a bit more..."

"Put together?" Boulder supplemented with an awkward smile.

"Be very careful what you say next." The second seeker stepped forward with a glare, not intimidated by Heatwave in the least. "You have no idea what we've gone through on this Pit forsaken planet."

"We have no intention of upsetting any of you, just getting a lay of the land." Boulder smiled, putting a servo on Heatwave's shoulder. "It won't help if we start arguing."

"Why do we need to care about the land?" Nova Storm asked in confusion, wings slowly lowering at the lack of deception she could feel when Boulder extended his EMF field.

"It's a human expression." Heatwave shook his helm, his own field extending just enough to prove he was willing to play nice. "I'm going to be honest, I don't like the fact you're here, but if the Chief is alright with it, then so am I. Test my patience, however, and I don't care what promises were made; I will make sure you will have regretted stepping foot on Griffin Rock."

"...fair enough, rescue bot, I can respect that." Skywarp nodded, her own wings relaxing from their defensive posture.

"Um, I hate to butt in, but where did Starscream go?" Four sets of optics darted over to look where the last seeker had been, only to find the beach completely empty.

Scrap!

[accidental-king]

BURYING THE NOT QUITE DEAD: A DISCO ELYSIUM FANFIC

My take on the events after the game featuring a multi-fic HarryKim slowburn. I'm also just a sucker for case fics. This is just a snippet from Chapter 1 but I actually have several chapters written. I'll be posting them on AO3 eventually but I'd like to run it by some beta readers first. Feel free to DM me if you're interested!

SHIVERS - As the sun begins to lower over Jamrock, the dome of an old silk mill shines like brass in the golden light. It's not difficult to see a time in which masses of workers filed in and out of its entrances, and the motor lorries lined up along its western wing to collect their wares. Miles upon miles of lustrous textiles to be shipped across oceans and isolas to glide across the skin and furnishings of those few who can afford it. The Revacholiere will never be one of those people. 

The long and blocky building projects off of either side of the dome like a russet brick ladybird, splitting its chitinous hide and stretching its wings between half-demolished tenements and modern high rises alike. Its masonry tells tales of a time before the deathblow. A time when even the utilitarian still showed a thread of residual vanity in the form of granite steps, sharp stone arches, and molded concrete cornerstones. Original varve clay brick, brown like dried autumn leaves, sit in contrast to newer, coppery replacements, highlighting the scars of war and neglect in cracks, blotches and even an entire end of one wing. Always visible like a reality you can't unsee. 

ESPRIT DE CORPS - It has been a Police Precinct longer now than it was ever a Silk Mill but its old purpose still lingers in the bones of its columns, trusses, and long abandoned smoke stacks.

INLAND EMPIRE - It’s all that you have left.

What’s to the North?

What’s to the South?

What’s to the East?

What’s to the West?

What’s inside this building?

Shudder and blink

YOU - What’s to the North?

SHIVERS - A peninsula. A district left abandoned by its surrounding infrastructure. Bombed out ruins and mountains of shipping crates slowly turning red. The harbor has been locked up tight since shots rang out in the square. Blood and heavy fuel oil paint an old mosaic red and hang in the air like a fog that dares to challenge the sunlight. Motor lorries still sit abandoned in the circle, where you left them. A bookstore is no better now than your last visit, and a hostel is now empty of guests minus a few lucky souls who now grieve their lost brothers in the Union booth.

INLAND EMPIRE - It was your home for the past week.

CONCEPTUALIZATION - It is your birthplace. Born of a drug and drink deluge, on a floor covered in a lifetime of mistakes. 

YOU - And beyond that?

SHIVERS - An islet of crumbling concrete and steel. The wind whistles through water reeds and swathes of tiny white petals that push through the last spring snow. Ashes of a fire long gone out blow out into the sea to be swallowed like the memories of the cause that built it. Its only resident is gone now, taken away for medical treatment and for a prison sentence that will see him to his final days.

What’s to the North?

What’s to the South?

What’s to the East?

What’s to the West?

What’s inside this building?

Shudder and blink

YOU - What’s to the south?

SHIVERS - An apartment building. Mostly stone, though partially the ivy and wisteria that have done their part to claim it in an attempt to reach the heavens. They are a part of one another now; inseparable without either coming to ruin. Inside, a marriage has been strengthened thanks to an unusual discovery made by an unusual officer of the RCM. Husband and wife embrace as they look over the colorful image between them.

YOU - And beyond that?

SHIVERS - A wind whips down the long stretch of Boogie Street that barely contains the buildings and crowds on either side. Neon signs illuminate dark windows that are rattled by the music within. Lively chatter fills the air both inside and out. A young woman walks out with her lover in hand. She presses close to his side to fight against the chill of the spring air as her dark brunette curls whip about her face. The man flashes a charismatic smile and he pulls her in closer to lead her away to a shiny white lacquer motor carriage parked just off the main street. They each know something the other does not.

What’s to the North?

What’s to the south?

What’s to the East?

What’s to the West?

What’s inside this building?

Shudder and blink

YOU - What’s to the east?

SHIVERS - Seemingly endless blocks of brutalist apartment buildings that tower over the residences that survived the revolution 43 years ago. The whole district lies in a millennium old riverbed, leaving it forever in shadow of Jamrock to its west, the GRIH to its north, Grand Couron to its east. Grand Couron and the Old South district maintain their borders with two of La Delta’s canals. 

INLAND EMPIRE - A mark of constant probability. Everyone of Revachol West is just one bad couple of weeks away from moving to the Eminent Domain or the Burnt Out Quarter.

SHIVERS - Across the water, a woman in a satin robe sits with her elderly dog, surrounded by shining white marble as she peers out her 11th story window. The glass leaves the evening in an emerald tint. She would have the Eminent Domain wiped from the face of the Earth if it meant sparing her view. The canal and a financial cushion are all that separates her from the proles.

And beyond that?

SHIVERS - La rivière Espérance and Revachol East

What’s to the North?

What’s to the South?

What’s to the East?

What’s to the West?

What’s inside this building?

Shudder and blink

YOU - What’s to the West?

SHIVERS - A home you will never see again. Trees and underbrush devoured the old hospital and surrounding buildings of the Pox long before you even had a chance to remember it. Stray vagrants find their way through the bombed out ruins, shuffling past abandoned wire bed frames and rusted carts of broken tare. There is nothing left to be found here but a little bit of shelter from the wind. But the Valley of Dogs lurks nearby and most know never to stay unless they’re entirely out of options. This place will likely never be safe again.

What’s to the North?

What’s to the South?

What’s to the East?

What’s to the West?

What’s in this building?

Shudder and blink

YOU - What’s in this building?

SHIVERS - As day begins to fade and the lights begin to slowly begin to blink on across the city, multi-story factory windows will slowly transition from the concealing darkness to exposing illumination of what is no longer the East Insulindic Textiles Company. The loading docs have now become the motor pool for the 41st Precinct of the Revachol Citizens Militia. An old Coupris 40 whirs past a vehicle of a similar model and one of a decidedly newer model as it turns into the garage for the evening. Both MCs it passed do not belong to the 41st.

Inside the building proper, a stern looking man in a well tailored uniform walks toward the elevator at a brisk pace. His left breast is heavily decorated in medals and ribbons. One from the Suzerain, three from the Commune, most from the Moralist International. He bears the weight of the whole city on his shoulders but he carries it with an air of pride and authority. He’s heard tell of some strange happenings and without seeing it for himself, he’s not sure he believes it. 

Across the precinct, in the East wing, tucked into the far end of the first floor an eclectic group of men sit inside a dimly lit Lazareth. Three surround one in a way not too dissimilar from how the interviewee had been earlier in the day.

What’s to the North?

What’s to the South?

What’s to the East?

What’s to the West?

What’s in this building?

Shudder and blink

YOU - A violent shudder passes down your spine and you find yourself suddenly aware that you have been staring off into the ether for about 3 minutes. You are one with your body once more.

PRECINCT 41 - The Lazareth Office of Dr. Nix Gottlieb is small despite the size of the precinct that it maintains. Cabinets and shelves line just about every surface in some manner or capacity. And each and every surface was crammed packed with medical supplies, specimens, and piles upon piles of folders and textbooks. There isn’t much space to move, let alone work. The center of the room is dominated by a surgical table that is currently sporting a flimsy pad that serves as a cushion for your injured ass.

INLAND EMPIRE - This is the closest thing to private healthcare you’ve seen in years.

PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - Your bullet riddled leg has already been looked over. You’d managed to pull your stitches and partially reopen the injury during your little jaunt about Martinaise and the islet.

PAIN THRESHOLD - You wish you’d been unconscious like the first time you got sewn up. Gottlieb is quick and efficient but he’s merciless in the empathy department. In other words, you cried. And your leg still hurts like a bitch.

EMPATHY - Kim radiated pride and relief behind his subdued expression when the doctor had complimented his work.

ESPRIT DE CORPS - [legendary: failure] He’s just glad it wasn’t worse.

NIX GOTTLIEB - The doctor is a bespeckled elderly man, dressed in civilian clothes, a dark, woven turtle neck covered by a brown blazer that stopped fitting him in the shoulders about 10 years ago. His forehead and brow are permanently creased by stress and a deep look of concentration. His brow deepens when you shake yourself out of the thought. “Welcome back, Detective.”

RHETORIC - That was sarcasm. He doesn’t care.

PERCEPTION [smell] - On his breath, mingled with the scent of Tioumoutiri cigarettes, you catch a whiff of peppermint schnapps.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY - If we play our cards right, maybe he’ll share a belt.

VOLITION - We’ve been clean this week. Don’t fuck this up now.

NIX GOTTLIEB - He scratches at his wispy white hair and beard as he speaks over his shoulder at two other men. “And how long would you say these episodes tend to last?”

KIM KITSURAGI - Your partner of the last seven days looks between you and the blue notebook in his hands, occasionally flipping through its pages. He still stands in his field attire; Orange nylon bomber jacket zipped up to his collar, white crew shirt hidden beneath it, brown aviation mechanic pants tucked neatly into his black boots, and his brown leather driving gloves. 

KIM KITSURAGI - He thumbs over a couple of pages before answering, “Anywhere between a few seconds to several minutes. This… is one of his longer episodes.”

CONCEPTUALIZATION - Wait! Has he been taking notes on you?

LOGIC - [medium: Failure] Of course not. We’ve already established that this is his method of working through his thoughts. This is likely a method of recall for him.

TRANT HEIDELSTAM - A lean blonde man in a tailored suit looks over you from where he stands, with fascination glittering in his hazel eyes. You saw a similar light when you spoke with him in front of the defunct Feld R&D when he spoke of their pre-revolution efforts. He was also one of the only ones in the fishing village who stood up for you against your partners onslaught of insults.

ESPRIT DE CORPS - This man is a special consultant taken onto the Major Crimes Unit in C-Wing. His well-traveled knowledge and personable demeanor has lent itself invaluably to the task force.

AUTHORITY - /Your/ task force.

INLAND EMPIRE - Not anymore. You’ll be lucky if they’ll even let you back into the field as a patrol officer, given the circumstances.

TRANT HEIDELSTAM - “And what do you experience during these… lapses, Harry?”

HALF LIGHT - Don’t. This is a trap.

[RHETORIC - challenging] Explain the skill set

+1 Kim is here -1 Butcher doctor -1 This sounds insane

[VOLITION: legendary] “The city speaks to me sometimes.”

+1 Revelation in the church +1 She loves you -1 This sounds insane

[DRAMA - godly] Convince them your thoughts are normal (lie)

-1 Kim is here -1 Butcher doctor -1 You’re already insane

“A real shit show of internal monologue that drowns out the world around me.” [continue]

Really? Anything else?

YOU - Really? Anything else?

CONCEPTUALIZATION - Nope.

[RHETORIC - challenging] Explain the skill set

RHETORIC [challenging - Failure] What spills forth is a vomited spew of half finished sentences, aborted gestures, and some words you’re pretty sure you’re misusing. You throw in some apologies and self-depreciation for good measure like a dog half-heartedly trying to bury its own shit.

NIX GOTTLIEB - “Try again. But in Vacholian this time.” His arms cross and his fingers drum impatiently on his bicep.

[RHETORIC - challenging] Explain the skill set

[VOLITION - legendary] “The city speaks to me sometimes.”

+1 Revelation in the church +1 She loves you -3 This sounds insane

[DRAMA - godly] Convince them your thoughts are normal (lie)

-1 Kim is here -1 Butcher doctor -3 You’re already insane

“A real shit show of internal monologue that drowns out the world around me.” [continue]

Really? Anything else?

YOU - “Just a real shit show of an internal monologue that drowns out the world around me.”

KIM KITSURAGI - “It’s inconvenient at times, but he often comes through with concepts and ideas I never would have considered. Unorthodox as it may be, it was invaluable to the investigation.”

DRAMA - [Medium: Success] He means it, sire.

EMPATHY - He’s concerned about your well being, but he also doesn’t want to see you misrepresented in the eyes of these men.

+1 Morale

[chenswire]

overdue Episode 11 post

basically the chenswire part of my stupidly long twitter thread covering ep 11 with more delusional thoughts and I ended up TLing their last scene in CN I guess (scroll to bottom) i wish i had the energy to make 1morbillion gifs but i do not so.. Excerpts from my 200 image screenshot folder it is

So the ep starts off with a super pensive Swire which was very cute when will my wife return from the war energy

And then she breaks out into a super un-ladylike run whaddahell!!!! this sequence was sooo well drawn wtf. handsome

(Something here about how people were joking this part is summer chen because they call chummer 水陈 'water chen')

I like how relaxed the atmosphere was like this definitely isn't the first time something like this has happened, well I mean after all they are Professional Co-workers who do not fight 24/7 (they get into an argument immediately after)

When they break eye contact to turn towards Hoshiguma they basically don't meet each other's gazes again as they take turns to glare at each other its insane... Also Swire saying she should take over and Chen needs treatment... Chen you understand what that means right...

Another detail I love is how at the start they already show her battered jacket/clothes for us gamers to point at the screen and then later who those who don't know/didn't notice we have a whole close up of chen reacting to it...man.jpg And swire leaving right away once she knows chen is fine (and one of her good points. lol. lmao) you guys are sure so quick

Link to CN version of the PUUK GAI LUNG in Paci Plaza I love how she's like 'Chen you stay right there' at the end like she's going to idk fly over ASAP to whack her (as opposed to just 'hey, chen!')

Here's a clip of the last scene with CN dub because not only do we get 'ah chen' it just hits so different...

Hi~ Still there, Miss Ah Chen? Ah? What d'you mean by ah, huh? Aren't you a Dai Siu Ze too? Enough of that, don't you have something to tell me? What happened at Paci Plaza… I'll make sure to sort it all out and file for damages later.

Had a feeling they would go with the JP loc's 'aren't you an ojou too' since you know, anime, but keeping the 'ah chen' and that 阿什么阿 response the unparalleled casualness

You… Remember the Cha Chaan Teng at Sheung Wan? Trying to change the subject? The one near the LGD HQ, right? I used to stop by there on my patrols sometimes. Let me treat you to something there next time. Hmm~ If we go there… I want a steak tomato and egg burger! Wait, no! Like hell I'd want you to treat me to a meal!

the longer pause after 'you...' like she was considering something else before she decided to go with her 茶餐厅 MENTION!!!!! gives this a whole different flavour... chen outright offering the meal instead of swire guessing??? THE WARM SMILE CLOSE UP i feel like im intruding on something

Then send your bill to Chief Wei. I'm hanging up. Wait, don't hang up just yet! I heard you ran straight out of Rhodes Island in the end. What are you planning? Weren't you looking for their help? Ugh, stay down! Take a nap over there! You sure sound busy. Guess I should hang up. Tch… I'm not done speaking with you yet. Was leaving the little bunny (and the others) over there weighing on your mind? Well, whatever. (We'll just do this) Just let me help you clean up the mess over here.

It just sounds so much more casual in CN than the JP dub (which is excellent ofc) >let me do it for you instead of 'ill do it' (head in hands)

the opposite lighting and angle and chen looking away vs swire looking straight #KINO

Don't talk like you understand me very well, Miss S. Enough!!! How many times have I told you not to call me that!! Got it, got it.

You don't seem to get it, so I'll be nice today and explain it to you. Life is extremely precious. You're always risking your life chasing what's right in front of you. Stop doing that. Got that? Your advice… I'll take it.

That exasperated 'Enough!!!' i (turns into a plane and flies away) and the last line... it as 'thanks for the advice' which technically isn't wrong but you know the nuance of uh. kind of, almost, somewhat, accepting a... confession... (of her concern ofc) also CN chen lets swire finish speaking instead of interrupting which hehe... like i said..the flavour hits different. also that subtle movement as chen like eases in more and more between those lines aaaghhhhhhhhhh

their earlier argument was so explosive and quick, but now their banter is so tender and slow like bruh. what. even the act of chen putting down her sword to sit down in a comfortable position (loved that she sat like that One leg sitters rise up!!!) was so ??? the normally yolo speedrunner chen being so leisurely like damn. ok. ok. From 'you think you can order me around' to basically agreeing to an order (Londinium cannon vine boom) I thought Chen being this warm was more or less a delusion that I inferred through in game as subtext (since in game her expression then is usually like her default rbf face...) and seeing it here as 'text' in the show is like 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 holy shit can't believe i got FED after four years incidentally i've been obsessed with a certain CN writer's fics lately because the way they write chen like a sad wet dog while showing warmth is crazyyy maybe i will blog about it next time because i was legit taking notes lmao

[crownedtargaryen]

Robb x Reader Oneshot

A/N: I will admit this is for my dearest friend @valeskafics but also for me, I gotta indulge in Robb too fr… also I’m listening to Whatta Man - Salt En’ Papa, En Vogue while writing this… also maybe captain save a hoe…

ALL NOTES ARE APPRECIATED (SHARES, LIKES, COMMENTS)

NSFW 18+

CW: possessive Robb WOOF, semi public sex, he literally spits in ur mouth, breeding or something lol tehe 🤭

Pronouns: She/Her

spacer from @firefly-graphics

I never saw Robb Stark, my husband, as the jealous type. He was always focused on his wars and battles, his honor, and such. I found no interest in those desires, all I wished was he found a desire for me. We hadn't made love yet, and he had refused a bedding ceremony in want for it to come naturally. I know he loves me or at least loved me once. I felt alone, he worked hard on everything but when it came to us it felt halfway.

I stare blankly out the window of our carriage, sighing heavily. I feel Robb's eyes on me and I turn, a smile coming to him as he holds eye contact with me.

"Something ailing you, My Love?" He asks sweetly, making me frown slightly. I watch his brows furrow, scooting closer to me. "What's wrong?" I feel his hand stroke over my hair, scanning me for a solution to my problems.

"I feel lonesome," I murmur, feeling his figure stiffen. "I feel you don't love me, Robb." I look at him, my gaze softening with sadness. He's apologetic, I can feel it. He cups my face and sighs softly, admiring my features.

"I wish I'd known sooner," he says, swallowing hard and exhaling heavily. "I love you, more than anything in this world. You're the best gift the gods have given me, and I am forever grateful for it." He places his forehead on mine, leaning in to kiss me but is stopped by the carriage slowing to a still. I grumble in unison with my lover, and we both grin like idiots. Quickly, I shuffle to my feet.

"Race you!" I scramble out as I rush through the door and up the stairs of King's Landing. I hear him swear at me playfully and run after me.

I turn to look at him, not paying attention as I run into someone, stumbling backward, an arm grabbing around my waist. My gaze snaps to a handsome man, with brown scruffy hair and a button nose. His eyes are blown wide with shock, his rough dirtied tan skin absorbing the light around us. I feel my face grow hot as he chuckles.

"Woah there pretty lady, wouldn't want ya' fallin' down these steps," the stranger teases. I push him away and smile gratefully, slightly awkward.

"I appreciate the help, I could've-" I start, being interrupted by a stern hand on my shoulder. Before I can react, I'm tugged back and Robb is in front of me with a blade to the man's throat. They stare at each other, neither afraid of the other.

"Keep your hands off my wife," Robb growls under his breath, almost animalistic. I go to reassure him but he pushes closer to the man. "She's mine, you dare even look at her I'll splatter your blood all over these stairs." I can feel him snapping at him, the action scaring me.

"You've got a pretty thing with ya', but why you throwin' a fit over someone doin' somethin' you shoulda been helping her with," he snaps back my heart racing. I feel Robb's anger grow and flourish into pure rage and jealousy. I grab him as he goes to slit his throat, the blade missing by an inch. Robb turns around and glares at me, but sees my worried face and sighs.

"Let's go. Now." My husband grabs my hand, returns his sword to his holster, and storms up the stairs, glaring at anyone who looks at me.

After being passive-aggressively settled into a room by those in power, Robb grabs me and shoves me onto the bed, walking over and towering over my body.

“You keep your eyes on me,” he demands, glaring down at me. I stare at him, completely wide eye. He seems to start becoming breathless and feverish with a growing blush on his cheeks. "You're mine. All mine. If I have to put a baby in that pretty belly of yours to make sure you remember that, I will." I was shocked, but I loved it. Despite his harsh manner, he still looked to me for consent, and I nodded slowly. He took the gesture quickly, grabbing my dress and tearing it off of me without shame. I hear the fabric rip as my body is aggressively revealed to my husband.

I hear his breath hitch as he stares at my chest, mesmerized. He reaches a semi-shaky hand to my breasts and squeezes one. He stares at me as if I'm his prey, eyes wild with lust. Slowly, he uncovers my lower region and sighs longingly when my cunt is revealed to him. I thought he might just lose himself there, so much love mixed with lust corrupting his gaze. Before I can react, he's on his knees in front of me, mouth on my cunt as he moans against my folds, tongue trailing my clit as if he's done this countless times. I whimper, thighs clenching his face, my hypersensitive body being overwhelmed by the sensation.

I hear his clothing shuffle and then clatter onto the floor, swiftly grabbing at my thighs and groaning in pleasure. He looks up at me, his desiring gaze driving me closer to my edge. With a pop, he moves off my now swollen clit, pushing one finger after the next inside and moving up to my face. I look up at him pitifully, my mouth open and whimpers escaping me as my thighs twitch with needy shuffles.

Robb smiles, grabbing my jaw with his free hand, and spitting in my mouth. "Swallow it," he demands, and I do as he says weakly, trembling beneath him. "Such a good girl for me... You want my cubs inside that body of yours so bad, don't you." His hand moves from my jaw and down to my stomach. I feel his pointer and index trail the middle of my stomach as I squirm under him. "I want to hear you beg for it, (Y/N). Beg."

Part of me feels weirdly humiliated, but I do it nonetheless. I've wanted his cock for ages, I'm not giving this up now. "Please, Please Robb," I start, panting weakly beneath him and he hastens the pace of his fingers, making my back arch. "I need you, fuck me, Robb. Please, I'll do anything." He seems satisfied by my statement, flipping me over onto a doggy-style position.

I expect him to rush to fuck me, but instead, he grabs me with haste and smacks my thigh with a newfound roughness. I quiver, yelping as he lets out a satisfied growl. "Letting all those men look at you. You love the attention, don't you, Princess," he smacks my ass once more, tingling pain in my skin. I grip the sheets, shaking slightly. "I'm going to let the whole kingdom know what's mine." Quickly he grabs me, turning me to face him as he commands me to wrap my legs around him. I do so, watching as he takes me to an open balcony in our bedroom, something he had specifically requested for our chambers. Now I knew why. We looked over the city of people, some spotting us on the balcony in such a ludicrous act, but it'd take a lot of focus to realize what was happening and who it was. He leans me against the railing after ensuring it's sturdy, pushing inside me without warning. He stills, waiting for me to grow comfortable, then pushing in and out of my cunt, slow at first.

Robb buries his head into my shoulder, biting the nape of my neck and growling under his breath, quickening his pace. I moan, shamelessly. Surely the people who saw us knew now, the loud noises that escape me echo through the air as I tug his hair. He loves it. I pull his head to my lips, kissing him passionately as he squeezes my thighs, slipping his hand down and abusing my clit.

"Robb... We might get in trouble," I pant out, moaning pitifully against his lips. I feel him grin like an idiot, replying after a giddy few seconds.

"Good," he whispers, pulling my hair back and making me moan toward the gods. May they forgive me for this action, but it feels so good. "Let them know who's my breeding slut, my sweet Princess. No one can touch you, no one can make you feel this good." He moves his kisses and bites down my chest, speaking into my skin with a deepened tone.

His thrusts become sloppy, and his words send me over the edge. I scream his name, definitely catching the eyes of the citizens below as I shake and hold onto his hair. The tug mixed with the noises is enough for him and he groans my name for all the gods to hear, stilling inside of me and making a mess of my cunt.

He holds my head close, stroking my hair with soft groans and pants. He whispers a phrase that makes me melt. "I love you. I love you so much." He kisses the side of my head, pulling out slowly and carrying me to the door where the guards stand, peeking out.

"Fetch a servant to run a bath," He demands, closing the door and dressing me in his tunic, dressing in loose clothes. I look at him lovingly, a glowing grin on his face. He looks at me, his eyes full of love. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" He whispers, kissing my forehead. I shake my head no, his muscles relaxing as he scoops me up and takes me to the bath. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Robb sat comfortably in the warm water as I cuddle up to his chest on his lap, running my fingertips over his muscles gently. He's washing me off, a rag running over my skin with such care.

"Robb?" I whine, looking up at him. He looks at me and wraps his arms around my figure, tilting his head like a curious dog. "Are you sure you love me?" I felt fearful asking, but I knew he'd be honest toward me. He does not hesitate for a moment, immediately answering.

"I love you more than anyone or anything in this life, as I had said before. I'll say it a million times again until you believe me. You're my blessed wife, I will never let any harm come to you or our marriage. I swear it, by the old gods and the new." He looks serious, his expression unwavering. I pause, surprised by his effortless affection, he didn't even have to think about it. I hug him tight, resting my head over his heart. It's a slow and relaxed rhythm, his hand rubbing over my bare back. "I'd lay my body upon my blade before I let you hurt. Do you hear me? No one will dare touch you, not while I'm standing." He lifts my head, staring into my eyes. I stare back, my heart racing with love.

"I hear you. I'll never let anyone hurt you either. I cannot do much, but I wish to try. With everything I have," I move up, kissing him lovingly. He returns with haste, gripping my sides and groaning softly. Slowly, he pulls back, much earlier than I'd like.

"You'd better quit being so perfect or I'll be fucking you again," he teases, making me flush and gently hit him on the side. His laugh warms my soul. "Hey! What happened to wishing me no harm?"

"Think of it as a repayment for my ass," I whisper, Robb grinning ear to ear. "Now let's finish up, I wish to rest."

[terresdebrume]

More fic covers | More fic recs

I mentioned I made fic cover in a recent post and it reminded me that I'd meant to make one for SJTrinity's Band of Brothers fic: Under Thunder and Rain which is THE Webgott fic, as far as I'm concerned. I've reread it something like five time in the past three months, it's ridiculous. You should read it to.

More about my thought process under the cut, with some spoilers.

So, the entire fic is amazing, of course, but the scene that keeps standing up in my mind is the one in chapter 4, where David is about to sail away on the Tusitala and Joe tries to convince him not to. I love this scene, the vulnerability in both of them, the fact that they find each other, the fact that Joe doesn't realize that it's him David was looking for in the sea. (I know David compares himself to the Shark from the Frisco chapter, but to me his fight to catch said shark is also an excellent parallel of the way he constantly has to reel Joe in and then give him some slack before he breaks the line in his struggle.)

All this to say: I had to have the Tusitala on the cover, if only because if this boat could talk it would be able to tell the tale of how Joe and David finally stop struggling and come together for good. The rain, of course, is a reference to the title and the poem David writes Joe in chapter 5, but I still wanted a bright blue sky as the background because I feel like the vivid and peaceful color are a good contrast to the way they struggle to find their way to one another (and also it reminds me of Episode 10 of BOB, where the color is back in the world and it feels like everything should be alright, but Easy is still losing men and none of them is free of the weight of the war.

The title and author name being on pieces of paper is, of course, a nod to Joe's box full of David's letters and notes, which is also featured against the title card. I wanted watercolor of a bag of groceries for the upper left corner, to further reference that first note and the fact that we don't know how significant it is until the end of the story, because Joe keeps all his cards fucking close to the chest, even if he also betrays himself in his struggle.

(Full disclosure, on my latest rereads the bits that caught my brain were

the time David asks Joe if his future wife does have a smile to die for and Joe says "yeah, it's a great smile. Drives me nuts." While running a finger over David's lips

"He wouldn't add or take away a single thing, and the people who read that book would know how fucking lucky he had been, how he had fought against it and gotten it anyways, this symphony of a life.")

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any graphic on Canva that fit the style of the rest of the cover, so I got a pastry instead. I picked the croissant because, while not extremely sweet for a delicatessen, it's very buttery, and, well: "Copious amounts of sugar and butter clearly loosened him in a way even sex couldn't achieve, because when David came and stood beside him by the stove, Joe threw an arm around his shoulder and bumped their heads together, then playfully tried to wrestle him off his feet." which I feel is also a delightfully deep insight into Joe in general.

And last but not least: the transparent text is the last note David writes Joe in the fic, standing in as the last page of Joe's unwritten book of them.

[syoddeye]

for @mellowtheoristpainter. answering here because price brain go brrr

notes: this is only about reboot!price. i'm not super knowledgeable about the military. this is 100% my opinion. would love to hear other's thoughts. and, some of this is conjecture because we just don't know enough about price.

this recent post of mine is an intro on my thoughts re:price: posty post. cap price is my favorite cod man and a complicated character. he's an insidious motherfucker.

i think to expand upon it, i want to talk about price and gaz specifically.

in the post you're referring to, i also use the tag #he's all business all about the mission. 'old comrades' in mw 2019 is a good illustration that shows how far price is willing to go to accomplish a mission. he'll use whatever means he has to to achieve it and in that case, it's the butcher's wife and child - 'truth serum'. price even makes a comment (i don't have the transcript in front of me) that boils down to "the butcher has no problem hurting children" - a callback to the embassy mission, where early on, we see a child run from the butcher and is presumably shot and killed (the death is hidden by smoke iirc). now i don't think price had intentions to kill the butcher's family, but something tells me it's not the first time he's used the 'truth serum' tactic.

i won't get into the full gloves off speech in mw 2019, but i AM looking forward to seeing how it continues in the franchise. see here for a scrap of what i'd like to see in future games: posty post

also, tats (@stuffireadandenjoy) added great commentary to that post about the embassy line.

when we first meet price in the reboot, it's at piccadilly, where he throws a man with a bomb locked to his chest over a railing to save the lives of other hostages. ngl when i play, i feel awful, but i still rationalize it. not getting into a philosophical debate on morality here, but the scene's upsetting. it's supposed to be upsetting. the entire franchise is upsetting.

but that's not the only interesting thing about that mission to me. gaz tries and fails to open the locked suicide vest. price makes the decision for gaz. gaz, even though there's only ~5 secs left on the timer, insists he can get it. price doesn't just outrank him - he's older and more experienced. price shoves gaz away, pitches the guy over the balcony, thus saving the rest of the hostages. again we can see where this was a good decision despite it being an awful one. it establishes john price as a character that can 'rise above' to make the hard choices.

gaz is a great character, hands down, love the man. (also a war criminal. anyway.) but i think he's especially interesting in these interactions with price. we see this young sergeant, fairly early career (compared to price), who is frustrated by the limitations and red tape of his job. joins price when price validates his anger post-piccadilly. gaz was probably like "fucking finally someone higher up who gets it". the way price looks at him in that scene too -- the man is listening. observing. he sees someone he can bring under his wing and help shape him. there is a reason he recruits gaz for tf 141. i think price sees gaz as a protege/successor.

ok this is getting long so here's an unceremonious wrap-up: in conclusion, price has had to make fucked up choices in pursuit of The Mission™. some he doesn't want to make (see: mwiii, i blame shepherd for EVERYTHING) and some he seems to have no problems making (piccadilly, using 'truth serum'). he learned at some point in his career he can take the gloves off and get dirty because what matters is mission success. the end justifies the means.

i haven't even touched on the military propaganda of it all, either. but smarter and hotter people than i have done that on this site.

unfortunately, i am still riddled with a disease called priceaholicism.

if you read this far and don't hate me, thank you! 🫶

[memekais]

epic the musical sentence starters. the troy saga. feel free to change pronouns as needed!

the horse and the infant

ten years of war they killed us slowly but now we'll be the ones who slay.

your families wonder where you've been.

do what i say and you'll see them again.

find that inner strength now, use that well of pride.

ask yourself inside - what do you live for?

what do you try for? what do you wish for? what do you fight for?

i fight for us, i fight for us...

a vision of what is to come, can not be outrun, can only be dealt with right here and now.

say no more, i know that I'm ready.

what sort of imminent threat does he pose that I can not avoid?

if you don't end him now you'll have no one left to save.

i'd rather bleed for ya, down on my knees for ya - i'm begging, please!

please don't make me do this, don't make me do this!

the blood on your hands is something you won't lose, all you choose is whose.

just a man

i look into your eyes and I think back to the son of mine. you're as old as he was when i left for war.

will these actions haunt my days? is the price i pay endless pain?

close your eyes and spare yourself the view.

how could I hurt you?

i'm just a man who's trying to go home even after all the years away from what i've known.

i'm just a man who's fighting for his life.

deep down i would trade the world to see my son and wife.

but when does a comet become a meteor? when does a candle become a blaze?

when does a man become a monster?

when does a ripple become a tidal wave? when does the reason become the blame?

forgive me... i'm just a man.

full speed ahead

the problem's not the distance, it's what lies in between.

[name]'s waiting for me so full speed ahead!

we've run out of supplies to eat.

curse the war, our food store's depleted.

six hundred men, six hundred reasons to take what we can so captain, what's the plan?

watch where the birds fly, they will lead us to land. there we'll hunt for food, my second in command.

look! there in the distance, i see an island!

i see a light that faintly glows. maybe they're people lighting a fire. maybe they'll share some food, who knows?

something feels off here. i see fire but there's no smoke.

i say we strike first, we don't have time to waste so let's raid the place!

we should try to find a way no one ends up dead!

give me til sunrise, and if we don't return then six hundred men can make this whole place burn!

open arms

i can tell you're getting nervous so do yourself a service and try to relax, my friend.

think of all that we have been through. we'll survive what we get into.

i know that you're tired of the war and bloodshed.

tell me, is this how we're supposed to live?

why should we take when we could give?

you could show a person that you trust them when you stop and lower your guard.

here we have a chance for some adjustment... give it a try, it's not that hard.

this life is amazing when you greet it with open arms.

whatever we face, we'll be fine if we're leading from the heart.

no matter the place, we can light up the world. here's how to start: greet the world with open arms.

stay back, i'm warning you.

if we don't get back safely, my men will turn this place into blazes.

it took me a while to notice what kind of fruit they eat. it's a lotus, it controls your mind and never lets you free. that's what we'd get with open arms.

i'd like to show my friend that kindness is brave.

i see in your face, there is so much guilt inside your heart.

you can relax, my friend.

warrior of the mind

have you forgotten the lessons i taught you?

have you forgotten to turn off your heart? this is not you.

i see you changing from how I've designed you.

have you forgotten your purpose? let me remind you.

my life has one mission, create the greatest warrior.

maybe one day he'll follow me and we'll make a greater tomorrow, then they'll see.

i know he'll change the world 'cause he is a warrior of the mind.

maybe one day i'll reach him and we can build his skills as i teach him.

if there's a problem, he'll have the answer.

show yourself, i know you're watching me. show yourself. i can see you...

haha! i was lying and you fell for my bluff! hahahaha!

well done, enlighten me, what's your name?

nah, don't be modest - i know you're a goddess!

badass in the arena! unmatched, witty and queen of the best strategies we've seen!

if you're looking for a mentor, i'll make sure your time's well spent.

sounds like a plan! goddess and man, bestest of friends!

i know we'll change the world 'cause we are the warriors of the mind!

i still intend to make sure you don't fall behind. don't forget that you're a warrior of a very special kind.

[another-fire-emblem-sideblog]

In case I delete my damn Twitter (I really should), I want to preserve the only tweets I ever made that I liked. Which, unfortunately, was rating every Fire Emblem Final Boss on their fuckability (remixed).

I'm sorry.

(Note: I confess that I am not a monsterfucker, yes yes leave your angry comments below, and I will be ranking every boss on their most anthropomorphized form to even the playing field)

(Edited on 2/17/2024)

MEDEUS (FE1/FE3/FE11/FE12)

Oh boy here comes the most generic villain ready to offer me the most generic sex possible. How could I ever contain my excitement

VERDICT: Look tumblr likes to make evil sex with your evil spouse look de facto exciting but even the spark can go out of villain sex. If he's a boring villain in the streets he'll be a boring villain in the sheets.

DUMA (FE2, FE15)

Man I am so glad that the remake gave Duma a human form and I don't have to be talking about ~~Duma's wiggles~~

VERDICT: I will confess to not being particularly attracted to him, but.... Not to spoil anything but he's going to be one of the better picks on this list.

JULIUS (FE4)

He is a child.

VERDICT: He is a child.

VELD (FE5)

Oh boy, you KNOW he fucks with the same enthusiasm of a disgruntled middle manager fitting in a quickie between reruns of Home Improvement with a wife that he's a decade past loving.

VERDICT: I mean there are worse choices on this list but love yourself.

IDUNN (FE6)

Even putting her somewhat... neotenous features aside, the whole free will removal kinda makes the idea of sex with her pretty unethical at best.

VERDICT: And even if we ignore all that she got one rounded by Roy. Total turn off.

FIRE DRAGON (FE7)

There is no anthropomorphized form. It's just a dragon.

VERDICT: I have concerns about size differentials here.

LYON (as possessed by FORMORTIIS) (FE8)

Ok, ok, I acknowledge this one is kind of a stretch as those two are separate entities and the Formortiis you fight is NOT in the shell of Lyon but like. Give me a break. I know you horny fuckers want Formortiis to become intimate with your intestines. I'm terribly sorry this stupid post isn't for you.

VERDICT: Let's be real. Unless you're Eirika or Ephraim (or willing to put on some cosplay) he won't be bringing his A-game. If you are, though... oooh. Boy. The emotion would run high. There would be crying. I'll leave it up to you as to whether this is a plus or minus.

ASHNARD (FE9)

Unlike some other options on this list, it is at least 100% proven that he has had sex, if only as a means to an end. I honestly doubt whether he would fuck for any other reason to be honest

VERDICT: If, for some reason, being used as a genetic experiment isn't a turn off, he's absolutely going to ask if he can turn a family member of yours into a mindless war beast, probably immediately after the sex. If for some reason this still isn't a turn off, uhhhhh I hope y'all are happy together.

ASHERA (FE10)

While I could imagine most of the other characters in this list being open to the idea of sex, I really couldn't see Ashera being DTF. But...

VERDICT: She's hot in a scary Drakengard way, so I'd say it's worth at least shooting your shot. She'd probably turn you to stone, but that's the risk you take for love.

ROBIN (As possessed by GRIMA) (FE13)

Fell Robin is a great example of the effects of evil on human attractiveness. On their own, Robin is human tofu. They are a perfect 5/10. Being possessed raises their score to at least 6/10.

VERDICT: 6/10 is better than average. Why not.

TAKUMI (FE14)

As far as I know, he doesn't have an official age, but I see this character and I think "that's baby"

VERDICT: All I want to do is give him butterscotch candies and ask him how he's doing in school.

GARON (FE14)

Like Ashnard, at least you can say he definitely fucked. Quite a bit, considering the excess of children he has (discounting his propensity for picking them up off the streets) So, uh, he's got one thing going for him?

VERDICT: He has this expression the entire time.

The

Entire

Time.

ANANKOS (FE14)

man who fucking cares

NEMESIS (FE16)

He's the only final boss in Three Houses that doesn't turn into a big ol' monster so he's got that going for him (or against him, depending on your point of view.) Unfortunately, he is, however, a zombie, which I would rate as worse.

VERDICT: One certainly can't say he's slacking on the gym routine but... zombie. Does he smell? Ew.

EDELGARD (FE16)

It's everyone favorite problematic waifu! What is there to say about her that hasn't been said before.

VERDICT: No, I mean really. Uh... if you like her I said she was stinky and if you hate her Edelgard come step on me uwu. Everyone can be mad at me. It's fun for the whole family.

RHEA (FE16)

Rhea is a scary, scary woman and fucking her would ruin your life

VERDICT: Rhea can totally get it.

EDIT: As of this writing (2/17/2024) I have beaten Fire Emblem Engage, and have edited this section accordingly.

SOMBRON (FE17)

Like Garon, Sombron canonically fucks. A LOT. This does not mean he's necessarily any good at it, mind, but he's got to at least... know... stuff, right? He was able to turn the yaoification beam on Hyacinth so he's clearly not completely lacking in sexual appeal. He will NOT wear a condom tho, although who on this list would?

VERDICT: I feel like you'd need to have some very specific fetishes for this to be a good idea, but if you do... have fun?

As for Heroes, I will confess that I only played Heroes very briefly; I don't know shit about the story and will have to rely on the wiki. So if I get some stuff wrong, apologies that I didn't play a shitty gacha. I was too busy... uhhhh having sex with your mom (NOTE TO SELF DELETE LATER)

BRUNO (Heroes, Book 1)

This bitch loses shirts like a Yakuza character. His abs have more screentime than his face. He pops on screen and Yusuke Kozaki manifests behind you and whispers in your ear "don't you just HUNGER for his dick????"

VERDICT: Oh come on.

SURTR (Heroes, Book 2)

Uh... he was pretty good on my team for the brief moment that I played. Uh... shit let's consult the wiki

VERDICT: ...oh. He's not very nice at all. Yeah don't fuck him.

HEL (Heroes, Book 3)

Ok. Look. Listen. Ok. Ok. Look. Ok. Ok. Listen. Ok. Listen. Listen. Listen. Ok. Look. Ok. Look. Listen. Listen. Look.

VERDICT: ...

...

...yeah...

FREYJA (Heroes, Book 4)

Ok, she's cute, but... I don't know. I just don't vibe with her design. It screams "designed for lonely dudes" and I'm a lonely GAL thank you.

VERDICT: Bring back the goth milfs.

EITRI (Heroes, Book 5)

NO.

VERDICT: NO.

EMBLA (Heroes Book 6 oh my god how many fucking books are there)

Oooh, she looks deranged! I like that; I'm a big supporter for women's wrongs.

VERDICT: ...Admittedly, she has more "wet drowned rat" appeal than sex appeal.

Book 7 isn't actually done yet (I think) as of time of this writing so I'm DONE. NO MORE.

[miramilocamimira]

Come With Me

Part of the for @z-eusie

Zeus looks around, checking on his family as they argue about what to do. They all were carrying bruises, cuts, and wounds from Typhon. He sees ichor dried onto their skin.

Thunder roars, momentarily stopping his family’s discussion. His body feels like it’s burning, his mind clouded by the feeling. Things were supposed to be better. There wasn't supposed to be more. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE.

Zeus closes his eyes and breathes. He has to calm himself. It wouldn't do for him to give in to his rage and grow careless. Slowly, the thunder quiets down to dull rumble and he opens his eyes again.

The other gods were talking about fleeing. About leaving Olympus and defending their own domains or hiding from the attack. It's hard to blame them.

The storm giant was far stronger than even he thought.

The council starts screaming at each other, growing louder and louder. It's fairly easy to hear the growing terror and hysteria in their voices. And it’s not fair. It isn’t fair. It’s not.

They don't want to be here. And they shouldn't. He doesn't even- he can't… They should- “Go.”

There’s silence and Zeus realizes this is the first time he's spoken since they'd convened. He feels their stares and the weight behind what he'd said hits him. He told them to run.

But is it not right? Gaia has sent Typhon after him. Not them. They were only caught up in this mess because they had sided with him. He glances around and sees hints of relief. The idea that they would not have to take to the field again…

It has to be the right decision.

“Go,” He speaks again, “I will not stop you.” And he won't. He'll be too busy to even consider finding them soon enough. His family starts speaking again. This time, it's to decide where to go.

Some speak of Egypt. Others wonder if going across the seas would bring them safety. He finds himself memorizing what they look like, the mannerisms, and the like as he waits.

Hera and Poseidon are speaking off to the side and he watches as her body relaxes, a soft smile coming to her face as their brother no doubt agrees to let her come to the sea. Today, her hair is golden and tied back in a simple plait. Her eyes are silver and shiny like the stars at night.

As always, she is the most beautiful and radiant being he’d ever laid eyes upon.

Zeus watches as they all start leaving. And soon enough, it was just Hera, Poseidon, and himself. His brother nods to Hera before disappearing and he hears her come up to him.

“Poseidon has offered me protection. I'd be back with our uncle and aunt.” Oceanus and Tethys lived very, very deep inside the sea. It is a good idea and should provide adequate protection.

“That’s good.”

“I noticed you didn't speak with anyone. Do you have somewhere else in mind?” She asks and he can feel worry coming off her.

“Something like that.” He says. He knows she hates it when he responds like this. Hera’s left eye twitches as it always does when she’s annoyed.

“I see. Are you heading north then?” He shakes his head. “I do not wish to play games with you, Zeus. Just tell me.”

“Love, it isn't that I wish to play games. I just think that it's obvious where I'm going.” Her eyebrows furrow and her lips make a line. It doesn't take long for realization to hit and for her to grow concerned.

“You’re not leaving? But Typhon will- you're going to fight him!” She screams at him and he stands up. “Call the others back if you think we can win than they should-!”

“NO!” He bellows. “It is safer for them and you, if you all are out of my way.” She had stepped back when he yelled and he felt guilty.

“You… you are scared.” His wife states.

“He’ll destroy everything if he is left to his own devices. Someone has to stop him from killing off mankind.”

“It doesn’t have to be you.” The thunder’s howl is deafening.

“And who else can, Hera? They were barely standing. Our family was in pain. Our siblings and children exhausted, reliving the horrors of war. We had just barely settled into peace after the giants!” He turns away and he can hear the bolt crackle as he gets worked up.

“THEN WE’LL FIGURE IT OUT!” She shrieks back. “We can talk with Poseidon, we can do something, anything, that isn't this!” He knows if he turns back to face her, he’ll see her tears and lose his resolve. And he can't.

He stiffens as she leans on him, strands of her hair tickling the back of his neck.

“Come with me. Please. I'm sure Poseidon will let you hide with us.”

“Someone needs to fight Typhon.” Her hands hit his back and he can feel anger rolling off her in waves.

“Fine.” She hisses. “But don't expect us to risk our lives to save you from your own stupidity when you finally realize you're in too deep.” The weight is removed and she takes off. All that's left is him. His cheeks are wet like he's stood out in the rain.

“Gods, love, how could I not know?” Zeus whispers to the empty thrones. He wipes his face and grasps his bolt.

He has no other option. He has to win. Typhon cannot be allowed to harm his loved ones anymore.

[lewinblue]

Sunny my love I was gonna send this in earlier but I didn't want it to be so sudden (lol). I promised I'd send in more Salem's Lot headcannons and here they are.

-Mark Petrie and his gang of neighborhood goonies love to run wild all over the lot. They're literally the goonies and will refer to themselves as such and so won't their teachers. One of their antics that made you especially proud was when they tee-peed Richie Bodden's house after he was picking on a new kid at school. Ben gave Mark $20 for his allowance that week because Richie and his two hoodlum buddies broke the living room window with a rock (Parkins let the stupid bully absolutely HAVE IT when he walked out the door that morning).

-Which then led to the little goonies inciting the great neighborhood rock war two weeks after school started. Mark came home with his glasses broken but the rest of the coven didn't bat an eyelash.

-Mike Ryerson's wife, Lucy, is from Tennessee and oh the duality of this woman. On the one hand she is definitely a well brought up southern girl but she is not afraid to stake a bloodsucker when the need arises. Her grandma was the head of a coven that consisted mainly of Irish, Black, Cherokee and Muskogee-Creek members in its early days and they all passed their knowledge down to Lucy.

-Hank Peters and Royal Snow are the MASTERS at booby traps. These two idjits will hide in the trees while Nolly Gardiner lures whatever creature is bound for it into the trap and it never fails.

-You guys always get the super advanced copies of Ben's books and you and the whole house cannot stop reading them for the life of you. He loves to write about you guys, but especially you and him.

-You and Ben once went to the drive-in on date night to go and see a reshowing of Young Frankenstein and you were both making out so hard that you ended up recreating Madeline Kahn's operatic orgasm not once, but twice (the other was at home on a super chilly night). Mrs. Curless was being extra nosey when everyone was on the porch for breakfast the next day and Randy suddenly blurted out that "Daddy made mommy sing last night!". Father Callahan spit his coffee out right over the porch rail and it went all over Mrs. Curless who immediately turned and walked away.

-You guys have snuck off so many times especially on a hunt and come back covered in hickeys. Ben's always guilty of having hickeys on his chest and when he couldn't button his shirt back up quick enough everybody just rolled their eyes and laughed.

-He especially loves it when he's writing and you come over to kiss his cheek but your hand dips into his button down to play with his tit. He always has to choke back a moan when your fingertips gently brush against his nip because he has no idea who's gonna walk through the door.

-You guys adopted a stray cat that Father Callahan had been feeding for about a week. He was a black cat with a little white mark on the top of his head and Randy named him "Oreo." Turns out Oreo also had a mate and lo and behold, when you guys woke up, there was a litter of kittens in their basket.

-Oreo loves to curl himself in Ben's lap when he writes but Ben gets a little freaked out when Oreo starts making biscuits on his thighs because the cat is super close to his junk. You laughed when you heard him yell "Darlin! The cat's dangerously close to my schwantz again!"

There’s a chill in the air and I’m counting down the days for the movie to be released. It’s like I’m running a marathon and these headcannons are Gatorade to keep me going.

I’m now picturing everyone having a little boo club with ben’s books and he doesn’t know and walking in on it one day. He looks surprised and a little embarrassed but no one has any shame

[philcoulsonismyhero]

Man, I'd missed DnD. My flatmate got a group together and we had our fourth session tonight and it feels like we're really properly getting into the swing of it and it's So much fun.

My character, Benjamin Larkwright, is a war wizard who was a magically-trained soldier as a young man and then a watchman for about a decade before quitting to take up his magic again and become an adventurer, and playing a mystery adventure as an ex-cop who keeps forgetting about his magic and solving problems like a detective is Really fun. I'm getting to mess around with all the crime drama tropes that I love while Also being a wizard, it's Great.

A couple of stand-out moments from this last session included getting to do the Hot Fuzz fence jumping thing, where the loxodon paladin just walked through the garden wall and Benjamin, on principle, vaulted a bit of still-intact wall aaand managed to roll an 8, land badly on his bad ankle and nearly faceplant in the street. The other wizard who, despite being a nerd and unathletic, is also 17 and limber managed to get over the wall with no trouble and got waved off from helping him up with a cranky "I've got a bad ankle, it's fine, I'm old, leave me alone." (He's like 45ish.)

We'd also earlier been to talk to the local sheriff about the epidemic of missing people we'd been hired to investigate (by his sister, it turned out, who thought he wasn't doing enough about it), and I got to play Benjamin going from marching in all judgemental and dragging this guy's curtains open in the face of his dreadful hangover and pointedly shifting the bottles off his desk to put down the list of missings we got from his sister, to leaving with a gentle word about hangover cures and all his missing person files and a promise to deal with whatever hold the villain has over him that he couldn't tell us about but had clearly caused an extended breakdown and is preventing him from investigating properly himself. (Kidnapped wife and son, we later worked out, who are among the people going missing around this Highly Suspicious Casino that appeared in town six months ago.)

The best moment, though was when I finally got to catch the other wizard out on the gems she stole from a bag in the mail car when we were searching the train to the town for Weird Shit. She'd managed to do it while the rest of the party were all out on the platform tidying up the mess from our fight with a gargoyle that had also been sent in the post via the train, so none of us had any reason to even suspect she'd nicked them. But then we were investigating a weird magical effect outside the temple we were in, and Abigail goes and pulls out these gems right in front of Benjamin's nose to see if they react to the magical field. He recognises them from before, asks her where she got them from, and she lies to his face that they were something she inherited from his wizard grandfather. So, two sessions after the theft, I finally get to insight check her, with my +5 insight vs her +0 deception, and I roll a 21. Which, upon realising that there's nothing she can roll to beat that, causes me, out of character, delighted, to exclaim "ha! Get insighted, crime child!"

Which was apparently the highlight of the session to the DM and everyone else and got me an inspiration as the culmination of a bunch of good ex-policeman roleplaying, which was delightful. (Got a good grade in DnD, which is both normal to want and possible to achieve.) The player of the other wizard now desperately wants me to draw a very pleased-with-himself Benjamin looming over a cowering Abigail pointing and exclaiming "Get insighted, Crime Child!", he was that amused by it, and honestly I might later when I'm less busy.

In-universe, Benjamin just gave her The Look, though, and said "alright, I'll believe you", with them both knowing Full Well that he doesn't. It was then followed up by him dashing (so Detect Magic didn't run out) over to the temple down the street to check if the magic field effect was also unable to penetrate the inside of that temple, and passing Abigail who tried to follow him on the way back, much slower on her "weak nerd legs" and pestering her into jogging the whole way back again while Benjamin made it very clear without outright saying that the jogging was her penance for the petty crime. (He's not a watchman anymore and he's not her dad so he's just going to mess with the kid in the hope that it makes her think twice the next time she gets the urge to be sticky-fingered with potentially dangerous magical items. And also for his own amusement, tbh.)

It was all very funny, I'm having a great time being the (metaphorical, he's aroace) straight guy to the rest of the party's hijinks and also occasionally indulging in my own. We ended the session thoroughly convinced that all roads lead to the Suspect Casino, having tugged on every investigative thread to Benjamin's satisfaction (and everyone else's), and he snapped his suspiciously-police-looking notebook shut and said "On that, Droozh, we are in complete agreement." to the loxodon paladin's declaration that he thinks now is Definitely the time to march into the casino and demand to know what the hell is going on. And yes, Droozh has wanted to do that since we arrived in town and the place seemed a bit sus from the whole 'got sent a gargoyle in the post' thing, but now we can march in and start cracking skulls in an Informed and Well Considered manner, having a better idea of what we're up against.

I love DnD, I've missed it.