#intriguing romance

[readersmagnet]

Pool of Tears (Nights of Alice) by Melissa Rea

Enter a world of fantasy and desire with “Pool of Tears (Nights of Alice)” by Melissa Rea. Join Alice as she meets intriguing men from different times and places. She travels to exotic locales and experiences sensual adventures that she never could have imagined. In this new world, Alice discovers hidden strengths and resilience she never knew she had.

Go on a journey of self-discovery and unravel hidden strengths. Grab a copy at www.melissareaauthor.com.

[catpriciousmarjara]

Every single day I'm grateful for that time I stumbled on the SVSSS headcanon that while Bingqiu is considered highkey confusing and lowkey cringe in the demon realm, Moshang is known as the Power Couple™. They're the demonic love story. The 'It Couple'.

Just generations of demons sighing over the dramatic and bloody love story of the Northern King and his right hand man plus spymaster, yearning for one of their own filled with such glorious violence and betrayal! A classic childhood friends to lovers narrative filled with ups and downs and copious murder and gore! Love at first sight! The story of the loyal spy who rose up the ranks of the brutal Northern Court, culling his competition while providing vital intel to his liege, all the while infiltrating the most powerful cultivation sect in the world and eventually even becoming a Peak Lord! The slow burn of all slow burns! All kinds of spicy complicated power imbalances! Sexy, unexpected age gaps! Years of heavy plot! Decades of passionate courting! The pinnacle of inter-species forbidden romance! The tale of a man who swore eternal loyalty after falling violently in love at the very first meeting, calling a mere Prince His King in his desire and determination to see his beloved's ascension to the throne that was his birthright, and the Demon Prince who was unexpectedly presented with fierce loyalty in a life that had until then been rife with treachery and grabbed it with both hands and never looked back!

...and there's Junshan and the weird human he keeps around. Somewhat interesting if you're into that teacher-student thing I guess. There were very few deaths. Some bland murders. The trial arc and the self destruct thing plus corpse hoarding was interesting but overall very vanilla. Unseasoned. Not even a proper decade of drama. Kinda boring. And Junshan's half human so they're like Walmart version inter-species romance. But whatever the Emperor's into I guess. His dad was kinda weird too but at least his relationship with that human woman had some kick to it. The new generation just doesn't appreciate a long drawn out painful romance tsk tsk...

Like infinitely grateful to whoever first spawned that headcanon. Never fails to make me laugh. Honestly the most hilarious thing I've ever seen in this fandom. Hope your pillow is always cold and you never stub your toe.

[aro-and-ace-stuff]

I'm aro and autistic which means that I will talk about romance as a very strange and confusing social and psychological phenomenon, and ask allo ppl questions like I'm in a field research, in a normal conversation.

[leiatalon]

Ink and Intrigue: Romantasy IF

It's here! It's here! 🎉

The game is out and you can play it now! ❤️‍🔥

Play the demo for free!

Heed magic's call! Find love on a lush tropical island among immortal warrior-mages as you explore ancient mysteries, craft dragon-rune tattoos, and discover your true loyalties. When mystery tempts, how do you answer?

Ink an Intrigue is a standalone Heart’s Choice IF fantasy romance adventure set in the same world as Their Majesties' Pleasure.

Plunge into a world where magic calls the passion in your soul.

Choose your kindred: a powerful dragon, a shapeshifting griffin, or a blue-lightning phoenix.

As you train to become a warrior-mage, do you romance or befriend a sexy tattoo artist, a feisty initiate, a playful sage, or a maverick with an unfulfilled quest?

Ink and Intrigue is an interactive high-heat fantasy novel by Leia Talon, where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—300,000 words and hundreds of choices, without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

As a seasoned spy from the kingdom of Minare, you have been sent as an emissary to the Kitherin warrior-mages of Ra'zai, whose tattoos give them supernatural abilities and whose magical rites bond them to powerful creatures from another world.

But, as soon as you enter Ra'zai, you hear the call of the Kitherin. The magic has chosen you, and now, your fingertips tingle and your heart pounds. An unnamed need grows within, like a thirst that can't be quenched. Magic infuses your very breath.

As your magic expands, so does your heart. Which of your new Kitherin companions calls to you?

TEO: Are you attracted to Teo, the soft-spoken tattoo artist whose muscular body is covered in tattoos and whose eyes blaze with amber fire? When he paints dragon runes onto your skin, do you feel the power of his heart as well as his magic?

KAI: Or to Kai, whose dark hair contrasts with brilliant blue eyes: his mastery as a warrior is unmatched, but his quest to overturn a corrupt regime has earned him the opposition of the Kitherin Council.

RAE: Perhaps you prefer Rae, a feisty fellow initiate, with her dark skin and wicked smile. Rae's determination is legendary—she has failed the trials before, but never stops trying—and her boisterous spirit is unbreakable.

THEA: Or maybe Thea is the one for you, with her sea-green eyes and copper hair. Elegant and serene, dedicated guardian of the temple—but if you earn her trust, she will show you her playful side, and sing the songs of her Fae ancestors.

What does the call of the Kitherin mean for your duty to the crown? Will you confess the clandestine role you've played for your king, or keep your secrets and leave your past behind? What information will you send back? Will you use your position to build alliances with the Kitherin Council and other nations, or will you use your spy skills of blackmail and poison to get what you want?

Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bi, and/or asexual.

Romance a passionate artist, a serene sage, a feisty initiate, or a determined warrior.

Choose high-heat or sweet options, or avoid sex scenes entirely.

Form a psychic bond with a magical creature: choose a dragon, a griffin, or a phoenix.

Learn how to craft dragon-rune tattoos, and infuse your art with powerful magic.

Explore a lush island paradise crowned with ancient temples, peaceful healing gardens, a hidden library, and sun-swept beaches with the perfect waves for surfing.

Indulge in magic elixirs and delectable food as you revel under the full moon.

Dive through portals to strengthen your ties with your bonded creature, and explore other worlds!

When magic calls, where will your heart find its home?

Play the demo of Ink and Intrigue and try the first three chapters free to see if the adventure sucks you in!

Big shout out to everyone who has given feedback on the WIP demo and during beta testing. Thank you so much for your suggestions and for sharing in the excitement for this game!

I can't believe Ink and Intrigue is 300k words! It's actually upwards of 375k words including repeated text (much of which still has to be edited for different situations). I meant to write it much shorter, but I accidentally wrote a whole extra chapter during beta testing and added to all the paths.

There are so many gems to uncover in this game!

If you have any asks, hit me up! I'll do my best to answer. Just please be patient as sometimes I forget to check socials for days at a time. 🤣 After working for a year straight on this game I'm taking a breather. I'll rest, you play. Let me know what you think!

Play the first three chapters for free!

Ink and Intrigue is published by Heart's Choice, the romance division of Choice of Games. Game art by Adrien Valdes.

[crow-caller]

started playing fallen london cause of your blog and i absolutely love it! Thank u :)

Excellent!!! If I have any power, let it be used to get people to play fallen london and its related games (sunless seas, sunless skies = Survival exploration, mask of the rose = visual novel)

[antigonesghosts]

What I loved about Cinderella's Castle is it is so entirely about Ella. We know starkid can handle a show with tons and tons of characters but I found it quite refreshing for it to be so wholly her story? I think it was a lovely choice for this show and man Bryce did such a perfect job of it, she is truly such a star

[epiphainie]

this might be recency bias but i think the two most romantic scenes in 911 were tommy showing up to the hospital in his turnouts after fighting a wildfire the entire day and him and buck clashing in a kiss and bobby shutting down an entire highway for athena and not budging from his place till she landed that plane

[slasher-fucker-and-sucker]

In Focus

Bruce Wayne’s annual gala was an event that drew Gotham’s elite from every corner of the city. Journalists and photographers buzzed around, eager to capture the essence of the night. Among them was you, a journalist with a knack for photography. You arrived early, your camera slung over your shoulder, and set to work, quietly focusing on capturing the perfect shots before the chaos of the evening began.

As you moved around the grand hall, adjusting your lens and snapping photos, you remained oblivious to the figure watching you from the shadows. Jason Todd, attending one of his adoptive father’s galas for the first time in years, found himself inexplicably drawn to your quiet dedication. While the rest of the press bustled noisily, you seemed almost serene, absorbed in your craft.

He approached you, curiosity piqued. “You’re here early,” he remarked, his voice a low rumble.

Startled, you looked up from your camera. “Oh, hi. Yeah, I like to get shots of the place before it fills up. Easier to capture the details.”

Jason nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “I can see that. You’ve got a good eye.”

“Thanks,” you replied, trying to hide your surprise at the unexpected compliment. “Are you a guest here?”

He chuckled. “Something like that. Name’s Jason.”

You introduced yourself, feeling an odd sense of calm in his presence. “Nice to meet you, Jason. I’m a photographer and journalist. Mostly here to cover the event for the Gotham Gazette.”

He leaned against a nearby pillar, watching as you adjusted your camera settings. “Do you always get so absorbed in your work?”

You shrugged, focusing the lens. “I guess so. It’s easy to get lost in the moment, trying to capture the perfect shot.”

“I can respect that,” he said, his eyes lingering on you. “It’s rare to find someone who’s that passionate about what they do.”

His words struck a chord, and you glanced at him, curiosity evident in your eyes. “What about you? What are you passionate about?”

A shadow flickered across his face, but he quickly masked it with a grin. “Let’s just say I’m passionate about making sure people are safe.”

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his cryptic response. Before you could probe further, the first guests began to trickle in, signaling the start of the gala. You turned back to your camera, snapping photos of the arriving attendees.

Throughout the evening, you caught glimpses of Jason, always on the periphery, watching the crowd with a careful eye. There was something about him that piqued your interest, a mystery that you couldn’t quite unravel.

As the night wore on, you found yourself drawn back to him. During a lull in the festivities, you approached him, your camera dangling from your neck. “So, Mr. Mysterious, why do I get the feeling there’s more to you than meets the eye?”

He smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Maybe because there is. But some things are better discovered slowly.”

You laughed softly. “I suppose I’ll have to keep an eye on you, then.”

“I’d like that,” he replied, his tone sincere. “Maybe we can figure each other out.”

As the gala continued, you felt a connection growing between you and Jason. Amidst the glamour and chaos of the night, you found a kindred spirit, someone who understood the passion that drove you. And as you captured the evening through your lens, you knew that this was just the beginning of something special.

[benevolenterrancy]

Can I ask what was your first impression of TGCF and if it turned out wrong or right?

My first impression of TGCF was "this goof continuously ascends to -- and gets kicked out of -- heaven, this is going to be clown town isn't it?"

And honestly I stand by that one, I think I was completely correct**

(**barring the fact that this goof will then go on to experience ever conceivable horror known to man but honestly I mostly expected it after MDZS)

[pomefioredove]

rook and romance is a fascinating duality to me, and with every new tidbit of information we get on him the more tempted I am to hc him aromantic because. I get it.

on one hand we have rook the poet, connoisseur of the beautiful, constantly singing praises to every pretty thing he sees (and he can find beauty in anything, really).

...and then on the other hand we have rook the hunter, the watcher, the analyst, who finds more contentment in studying people than being intimate with them, who keeps himself at a safe distance, even from his objects of admiration. he's very guarded, very private to the point of being unreadable, of making even his closest friends feel unsettled.

there's a line on his jp suitor suit card (God help me if I could find the post again...) where he says he's not particularly interested in romantically committing himself to anyone just yet. tsk tsk...

there's just... so much about him that's misread as romantic when it blatantly is not. rook is obsessive. he chases his interests because he wants to understand them from every angle, it's his whole thing with being a hunter. he keeps himself at a distance, at an advantage. to me, that's not quite love. it's... study. I get it because I do the same thing, in a way.

(not that he's heartless, of course. rook clearly values his friendships a lot. he's a highly emotional and caring and good person, and he follows his heart).

his passions are intense enough to be mischaracterized as romance, whereas I think rook falling in love with someone (really falling in love with someone) would be such a quiet and soft and slow process. it would be a soulmate situation, with someone he sees as tangible, someone real and present, who he doesn't have to put on a shelf in order to keep himself at a distance. someone who he can be comfortable and a little more open with. someone he can touch, you know? someone who grounds him a little more. the obsession is there but it's distinctly different.

cannot get it out of my head. maybe it's just the character analysis aro in me but there's something there

[awsteb]

pics found on imnotokay.net - 13/∞

[readersmagnet]

Conjuring Casanova by Melissa Rea

In “Conjuring Casanova” by Rotha J. Dawkins, ER physician Elizabeth Hillman travels to Venice and meets the legendary Giacomo Casanova. Through their passionate affair, Lizzy learns valuable lessons about love and life. Discover the allure of this captivating tale of romance and self-discovery.

Fall in love with this captivating tale of romance and self-discovery. Grab a copy at www.melissareaauthor.com.

[bumblingbabooshka]

I think Sarek and Amanda Grayson both lowkey seeing their children as little experiments in different ways is undeniably bad parenting BUT .... I mean you talk about matching each other's freak .... Like imagine for a second Sarek is like "I am going to show that Humans are just as good as Vulcans by molding this Human child and my half Human son into the perfect Vulcans - This will show that despite what society thinks of as their genetic inferiority, they're just as good as any Vulcan." and Amanda's response to that is to think "Sarek is wrong...Michael's humanity MUST be preserved...so that I can show her all the love and affection I can't show Spock and maybe through their sibling bond all my unspoken and unexpressed love can trickle down to him through her." What are you both DOOOOING!?? You guys are NUTS like PLEASE just TALK to each other and compromise about how you're going to raise your children!! [Love the drama though] So I'm imagining in my head that Sarek is severely pressuring both Spock and Michael to act as perfect Vulcans their entire lives with him or else they're failures not only in his eyes but in all of society's (because he's an ambassador and raising these children is tied irrevocably with his work as such) WHILE Amanda is secretly trying to funnel her humanity and love for Spock through Michael and as such failure to receive, express, or internalize that love is failing not only your mother but also the entire Human race. Damned if you do damned if you don't! Who do you want to disappoint more, kids?

In 'Point of Light' Amanda says that she gave Michael all of the love, joy, and affection which she wasn't "permitted" (we must question the use of the word - what stopped her from directly giving Spock this love? I'm not saying there wasn't pressure for her not to, I'm saying the word 'permitted' absolves her of any personal choice or failing in a way that's interesting to me) to give Spock and though this is on the surface level sweet and probably meant to be interpreted that way, I submit that it must be kind of fucked up to hear that your foster mother was maybe only so kind and caring to you because she felt she wasn't allowed to act that way towards her "real" son. Michael Burnham as a tool for both her parents, however unintentional, is very interesting and I'm not sure it's something canon considers (haven't watched the show, I just like imagining things). The feeling that you have to be grateful to these people for not only being your parents but being YOUR parents. For taking you in and giving you a beautiful life - you have to pay them back, you have to make them especially proud of YOU. Because they didn't HAVE to, did they? Because you're not their "real" child. In the end, it's always Spock - isn't it? The love your mother gives you is Spock's love and if only one child can enter the Vulcan Science Academy then it has to be Spock. You're the appetizer your father serves before the REAL main course and your mother's stuffed doll which represents the thing she REALLY wants to hold and you know they genuinely care about you. That's the worst part. Because you know they care and they didn't mean to hurt you and the voice in the back of your head keeps telling you that any hurt they've dealt you pales in comparison to the debt you owe them and they love you, they love you, they love you, they love you, they love you [repeat as often as need be: remember the debt]

[justanotherrcblog]

❤️‍🔥 I am LOVING this story

[leiatalon]

The amount of future story threads I wove into Ink and Intrigue is immense. I wonder if people will pick up on them. 😎

This story is the culmination of years of worldbuilding, with a cast of passionate, powerful characters. This game invites you to find love, do some spying, and become a warrior-mage.

Magic tattoos

Full moon parties

Portals to other worlds

Missions of protection and destruction

Soulful intimacy and legendary love

Have you played it yet?

Play the demo of Ink and Intrigue for free!

This art by Adrien Valdes is so good! 🔥

[bilbao-song]

secret rocker santa participants needed!! (11/22/24)

probably the last list like this for the year buuut without further ado: currently we are most in need of fans of following musicians and bands (or even just people with a passing interest in them):

⁃ KISS ⁃ wings ⁃ kate bush ⁃ bob dylan (slightly and for very specific reasons lmao) ⁃ bee gees ⁃ iron maiden

everyone is welcome (the only requirement is that you’re a fan of some kind of music from roughly the 50s-90s) and there’s plenty of time left!! these are just the ones that so far seem like they’ll be the hardest to match, which means more fans signing up would be very helpful :^) if you or your followers fit this criteria, please consider reblogging this post!

remember, sign-ups are open through november 28th and anonymous messaging begins december 1st :-)

➜ more information about secret rocker santa ➜ F.A.Q. page ➜ sign up here! (or here if you’d prefer to stay on tumblr)