#its a wild ride but an enjoyable one

[ambulancie]

In honour of regaining motivation to edit my kaebedo wip, I'd like to reccomend my favourite kaebedo fic I have ever read.

It is called Abyss Mage Lake by pussybedo on ao3, and it is criminally underrated.

Read the tags carefully (it contains a few other ships), but seriously, it is such a banger, and features evryone's favourite event-specific npc, susbedo/fakebedo/dorian. I lobe him.

For your reading pleasure:

[courtillyy]

hermitcraft superhero au enjoyers must be having a fucking field day with this session

[tmwcs]

Beauty and the Beast

Finale

Read part one first (if you haven't yet).

Warnings: Heeseung is the beast and does some violating oral acts to reader. Hints of yandere love. This is a fantasy/fairy tale story with a dark twist, do not read this if the thought of an unruly creature conducting smutty acts. I've already said it before--but Fairy Tale series is pretty gross (remember what happened in Red Riding Hood? 😏).

This part is rather short, I wanted to save some ideas and material for the other fairy tales that are in progress. These stories are meant to be short, but fear not, there's a lot more coming. ♥️ Enjoy!

What is this? The pinching…the pulling…the strength of the terrifying grip that bridges me to something fearsome and terrible…what…is…this thing?

A scrabble of words flash on and off in your line of sight as you feel yourself being peeled off the stone rail. Up and over the bend, your body is slowly dragged over the smooth edge of the flat bannister–away from the abyss of the leap of death before you. The hold on your arm wrist was accompanied by an additional grab on the opposite arm–a stronger latch than the initial. The warmth of the creature’s growl coats the back of your neck as you feel it switching out one hold for another as the distance closes in–your back finally meets the coarse fur and a strong humanoid hand reaches up to cup your throat. The snout buries into the back of your head as it grunts sparsely. It pulls you all the way through–back into the darkened room that you have grown to despise within seconds. 

The entire area was a complete mess–evidence of chairs, tapestries, and paintings thrashed to pieces surrounds your bodies as the creature pins you down to the floor. Your chest meets the soft surface of the luxurious velvet green rug. The plush and tufted material creates a pillow top texture that is comfortable enough for one to sleep on, yet the atmosphere takes away the peacefulness for anyone to find comfort for slumber. Your mind goes blank and your body goes limp–everything freezes within and you begin questioning if this was all a wild nightmare. Deep down you knew that fighting would get you nowhere, perhaps that was the reason behind your stagnant posture as you felt the demon tear the backing of your blouse and lift your skirt. Your undergarments are also ripped from skin within one pull. Yet, you still find it meaningless to fight it all. What could you do? With the density of the creature's body partially weighing you down, you were anchored to the ground–any wiggle room would only serve him an advantage of having you accessible at his pleasure. 

There was a delayed effect, but your tears eventually found their way through as they punctured their way through the ducts of your wide eyes. The creature’s tongue initiated it all the moment he swiped it up and down your core. It was long, thick, and entirely too warm for comfort. With long strokes, it coats the entire surface of your clit and plush lips. You sob hysterically and cry out–begging it to stop. As if it took delight in your cries, the creature swoops a strong arm under your pelvis and lifts your lower region from the ground. Your back arches in response while another firm palm is plastered against your upper back, pushing you down. The creature continues with its offense and it doesn't take long for your body to respond in its favor–much to your everlasting shame. The moment it could taste the fruit of his labor, he continued to feast–propelling you to ooze the sweet essence that can only be extracted from that spot. The sensation was too enjoyable for you to admit, but the way the creature massaged the center of your bud and handled the rest of your body delicately under its heavy claws, something about it made you yearn for more. Your moans were proof of that and the monster took that as it’s que to do more. The girth of its tongue was thicker than any throbbing member you’ve seen in the media or read in story books. Which is probably why the moment he inserted it inside, it was no surprise that you gasped. The feeling of penetration wasn’t at all painful–surprisingly. It was smooth, warm, and the lubrication of excess saliva made the whole thing easy for you to take in. The creature refrained from going too deep. Instead, he stops midway, thrusting the smooth muscle in and out at a slow and steady tempo, following your moans as you begin to sing out the guilty pleasures of his momentum. The powerful duality of numbness and tingle overwhelm your entire body, causing it to vibrate rigorously. The creature allowed you minimum movement, which you took advantage of as you propped your upper half on your forearms. You gasp out obscene words, which only brought the creature closer to heat. As if the creature had some sort of humanness to its emotion, you felt the calloused thumb stroke your skin as he continues to give you sensational oral pleasure. Its snout triggers quaking vibrations as it snarls against you. Between the thrusts it takes a moment to glaze the outer surface of your womanhood with tender pelts at the tip. You beg for holy forgiveness amidst the denial–one could not possibly understand the conflicting range of emotions you were feeling at this very moment. 

At the peak of the creature’s assault, the moment finally came when your body caved in. Admitting defeat against your mental pleading, your soul leaves you for a moment out of despair as you feel the immense sense of relief through the sensual release. Flooding the creature's tongue and snout, a blend of something obscene leaks out from your womanhood, only to be cleaned up by its tongue. You cry out a tune of pleasure and regret–a single tear travels down your soft cheek as you feel the orgasm pushing its way through every part of you. 

The force of the feeling made you exhausted. Your breaths were shortened and it was difficult to catch up as your limbs lose strength, causing your chest to fall back to the rug. Your hair is plastered against your face and obscuring your vision, however, it wasn’t enough to block out the immense golden hue that peeked its way through the strands. Was it just your mind playing tricks or was the room getting brighter? 

A sting hits your eyes as the beaming light becomes too strong. Your naked eyes squint shut as a flash warms your entire body and cleanses the room. For a second, even under closed lids, you saw nothing but a white canvas surrounding you. Once the warmth faded, you opened your eyes slowly. The room was back to the normal eyesore and your body reconnects with the familiar cold air. You lay still and scared. Unsure of what the creature had next in mind, however, you were quite certain that death was within reach. You only hope that it would at least be as pleasant as the monster’s recent violating act. Your head lays on the side, displaying your profile to the ceiling. Just as you are about to sob once more, a foreign image of perfection presents itself in front of you. Firmly planting the palm on the rug before your very nose was the smoothness of olive complexion. A masculine forearm graced by a river of veins compliments its strong hand. The view of what seemed to be a man’s presence triggered you to realize that the prickly fur was replaced by soft skin. It was warm and you could detect a musky scent that coated it. You weren't sure how to make sense of it, but without using your eyes to confirm the truth, you already knew that the beast was no longer there with you. 

“It doesn’t take much to tame you, does it?” 

His voice was deep and condescending. You felt the tip of his nose nuzzle against your hair as he smirks. “Good girl.” he whispers. 

You shake, not knowing what was going on. The strange happenings of everything that just occurred had you stale shocked. Once again, you were immoble. 

The stranger chuckles laconically as he carefully flips you on your back. Through the gaps of the thick bunches of hair covering your face, you could barely make out the details. You hear the stretch of his smirk returning when he gently pushes them away, permitting you to inherit a full sight to view. Upon seeing everything in clarity, your hand finds its way to your face as you palmed your gasp. The shock stuns every sense–like fireworks. His face…

“Ah–you recognize me, don’t you?” 

Shaking, you turn your face away. Your movements were knotted by the uneasiness of what it was that you came to realize–-the portrait. When your cheek hits the velvet rug, your eyes felt the sting of shock once more when you viewed the handsome portrait from before. It remained on the wall, unfazed by the chaos that ensued from earlier–though you have a feeling he left it on purpose. Was it to antagonize you? What was this? What happened to the creature? Was everything a game? 

Your mind was pelted with questions that no one else could answer. Sensing your conflicted state, he gently turns your head back to his line of sight, and forces you to look him in the eye. “Don’t think. It will be easier for you.” A demeaning tone that had a sense of tenderness behind it–this man had an effect on you, it was both terrifying and comforting at the same time. 

Uncertain of what was going to happen to you, all you knew was that the dangerous look in his dark eyes eluded hunger. Who knows what will happen after he commits to his next act. Much to his pleasure, you remain peaceful despite the emotional turmoil that raged inside. He presses his entire body against you and slowly reaches to grab hold of your throat. His grab was gentle yet firm. A gentle kiss between your nose tips counteracts the small bite of your lip as he licks the sting away. Even when you felt the firmness of his muscle hardening in between your thighs, you remained compliant–not entirely by choice. It was the shock that had you admit defeat. He didn’t care. So long as you were displaying obedience, that’s all he cared about–all he ever will care about, after all…you broke the spell. That was enough for him to claim you…to love you…to keep you. 

“Darling…I am so happy that I have all of eternity to feast on you–and eternity starts now.”

Taglist: @strxwbloody@nshmrarki@aquariushiiiii@addictedtohobi@nuriicata @lilyuwon

[bacytar]

Pockets full of posies

...IN WHICH— in which you fail to escape your sickeningly obsessed vampire partners.

Match up ᯓ 𑁤 yan. Lestat and Louis x reader

triggers_ predator vrs pray themes, power imbalance, sucking blood, kidnapping, sadistic tendencies

Authors musings: hello everyone, this fic although a poly one is a bit more centered around Lestat. In the future I will be making more Louis content. Anyway this is first time posting a full blown one shot so I really hope you enjoy.

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Lestat knew about your little plan to escape them. Hell, he practically knew even before yourself. It all just made it all the more enjoyable to hunt you down.

He watched as you carefully gripped the edge of the train, tentiful not to make a sound as you pulled yourself in. Nesseling yourself in between two crates you finally feel yourself relax. You rummage through your leather messenger bag till your hands curl around the cool hilt of an aged dagger.

This wasnt your first attempt to escape and you hoped it would be your last. It had taken you ages to regain the minuscule amount of trust you had. You didn't have a set direction where you wanted to go. Just anywhere away from them felt enticing enough.

As the train moved, the cargo rattled beside you. A specter of a smile starting to creep upon your lips.

You had lasted much longer than you had ever had before and for that, Lestat could almost applaud you. If only he wasn't the first to let you in the first place. You wouldn't have heard him if all else wasnt silent. His footfall was quite, a trademark of a seasoned predator.

You tried your best to slow your beating pulse as your blood rushed in your ears. A low chuckle escapes Lestat's lips as he knocks on the wood of the train car.

"Did you scurry off in here my rabbit?"

You carefully extract the aged blade from your bag, ready to strike when the inevitable hits you. Lestat continues to hum as he creeps closer to you.

"Are you perhaps...here." He violently pulls back a crate, its remnants splintering with contact with the wall behind him. "No, not here..." He extracts another crate, which splinters, and its contents sprawled. He laughs, a cruel yet beautiful sound as he creeps toward your hiding spot. You can do nothing as your eyes meet. His gaze is wild and hollow and threatens your spine with a chill.

You remember the blade gripped in your hands and lunge forward but he is far too fast. This only seems to serve to amuse the vampire as he simply plucks the blade from your trembling hands and tosses it aside. You are helpless against his devastating grip as he smiles down at you.

"This was fun, but it's time to go home. Louis is worried sick." You scowl gathering the spit in your mouth and projecting it right at Lestat's face. "No! I won't! You're both horrible. Id-" Lestat cuts you off with a dry yet mocking laugh. "You know ma belle, I was going to let you off easy and just take your disobedience as entertainment. But no, I think you deserve something else."

Lastat's fangs protract as he slowly widens his mouth and lowers it to your neck. You could practically feel his sadistic smile as he sank his fangs into you. Your lips open in a silent scream as blinding pain pulses beneath his bite. You want to fight back but your body is unresponsive. Perfectly still as any good pet should be. It wasn't until the rim of your vision began to darken he parted from your neck.

It was raw and sore. A feeling you never enjoyed, though Lestat seemed to. He panted, enjoyment dripping from his features. "Mhm, I forgot how good you tasted." You had no biting remark back as he carried you bridal style out of the now-stopped train.

The ride back home was awkward and quiet. You tried to stop yourself from glancing at Lesatat because whenever you did your eyes seemed to meet without fail.

"Home" was just how you left it. Wild vines trumped the entrance, and warm light spilled from the windows only illuminated by the darkened sky. You didn't want to be a songbird in a gilded cage made of shadows anymore than you did when you left that evening. But alas you felt your free will diminish as Lestat placed a strong hand at the nape of your neck, guiding you in.

There you found Louis pacing. "Louis guess who I found." Lestat sang, pushing you in front of him. Louis immediately looked up clearly relieved. He didn't approach you immediately, instead slowly stepping toward you as if you were a caged animal that might just run from any swift movement.

Once he reached you he hugged you tight, his grip just as tight as Lestat's. Burying his face into the good side of your neck, he breathed, his breath slightly tickling you. "I was so worried..." He pulled away from you allowing you to see the worry and desperation that marinated in his gaze. If he wasn't crazy you would feel bad for him.

His hand grazes the side of your wounded neck, the leftover blood already caked onto your skin. Louis sucks in a breath, clearly tempted but able to restrain himself. "I-I see you have already had your fill huh." Lestat smiles and presses a kiss to his lips. "Just a quick snack."

Louis kisses your forehead then your cheek. His lips lingered longer than what was deemed comfortable. "You must be so tired after your... exploits," he said the last word as if it were poison. "Why don't we head to bed early." before you are able to answer or even interject Lestat answers for you "That sounds like a wonderful idea!" leaning down to your ear he whispers "We'll just have to bathe you tomorrow."

The three of you migrate up the steps. Both Louis and Lestat help you into your "night" attire before helping themselves, making sure your eyes are on them as they do so. Sinking into Louis's coffin altogether was a tight and suffocating fit, that tempted you to crawl out. You were trapped in a tangle of limbs until the sunset again.

[doormatty3]

Ocean Eyes: Chapter 2 (Orm Marius x Reader)

Masterlist Ao3

Ocean Eyes Masterlink

Summary:

[Orm Marius x Female Reader] [Orm Marius x You]

The ocean has always fascinated you - the ebb and flow of its water, the marine life in the sea and the wild and untamed beauty it exudes. Your attempts to explain this fascination have always fallen short. But when you meet Orm at the seaside one rainy day you find, that he just understands.  You offer to show him around since he is not from the city. And you are intrigued by his rather strange quirks and his regal demeanour.  After all, how could you not? When his eyes mirror the ocean itself, deep and incredibly blue.

OR: You impress Orm with the surface world and he impresses you with his Atlantean cock

Wordcount: 5412

The car ride is short and comfortable, the rhythmic hum of the engine accompanying the shared silence between you and Orm.

As the landscape glides past, Orm’s gaze remains fixed on the passing scenery, lost in contemplation. His hand rests firmly on your thigh, and his fingertips trace seemingly random patterns.

Arriving at the burger place near the ocean, you find yourself on a charming pier that extends gracefully over the water. It exudes a quaint and cosy charm, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. You have been here before and hope that Orm will also like it.

You leave the car and notice the bustling atmosphere, a lively mix of people enjoying the seaside ambience. Families, friends, and couples populate the area, creating a vibrant tapestry of seaside enjoyment.

As you lead Orm towards the entrance of the burger place on the pier, you can’t help but notice his gaze wandering, taking in the atmosphere. His eyes seem to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells, curious as if he’s never seen something like that.

A subtle feeling creeps in - that Orm appears somewhat out of place again. There’s something about him, a quality that sets him apart and makes him seem almost otherworldly. You find yourself unable to put your finger on precisely what it is. Still, it lingers in the periphery of your awareness like a gentle whisper of intrigue that tugs at your curiosity.

Perhaps it’s his regal demeanour or how he seems to observe the world with a depth that transcends the ordinary. You scold yourself inwardly to stop thinking about that - it’s probably nothing, only the quirks of a person adapting to unfamiliar surroundings. 

As you reach the entrance of the burger place on the pier, you turn to Orm and ask, “Would you like to sit inside or outside?”

There’s a momentary pause, and he seems to grapple with the options as if the distinction between the two is a puzzle he’s attempting to solve for the first time.

Orm stammers slightly before responding, “Uh, outside, if that’s... if that’s fine with you.” His words carry a hint of uncertainty, as though he’s seeking your approval or guidance in navigating this seemingly simple choice.

“Sure. I like to sit at the water more anyway,” you smile at Orm and then turn to the waitress, “Table for two, please, outside if possible.”

The waitress nods, responding, “Yes, please follow me.”

She leads you through the lively pier and sits you at a charming table by the seaside, offering a nice view of the ocean that stretches before you.

As you and Orm settle into your seats, the waitress hands you the menu. With a polite smile, she inquires, “Any allergies?” 

You shake your head in response and notice Orm appearing momentarily puzzled, as if the question threw him off again. Eventually, he follows suit and shakes his head.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it then. Or do you already know what you want to drink?” the waitress asks, her friendly demeanour adding a pleasant touch to the dining experience.

“I’ll go with a coke,” you tell her with a smile. She nods in acknowledgement before turning her attention to Orm.

“Do you have Guinness?” he asks, his words flowing more fluently this time as if finding comfort in the familiarity of the beverage.

“Yes, sir, we do,” the waitress responds.

“Great, then I’ll take that,” Orm says with a decisive nod.

The waitress acknowledges the order with a nod of her own and then gracefully walks away, leaving you and Orm to view the menu.

You already know what you will be eating: a classic cheeseburger with extra bacon and hand-cut fries, So you cast your gaze to look at the sea, zoning out for a bit and losing yourself in the rhythmic movement of the water.

Orm’s voice interrupts your brief reverie, bringing you back to the present. “So, what’s your fascination with the ocean?” he inquires, his eyes fixed on you with genuine curiosity.

“Hm?” is your thoughtful response, a momentary delay as you process his question and look at him before answering, “I am a marine biologist - so it’s just everything for me.” 

You cast your gaze at the sea again, watching the waves as you continue to speak, “For as long as I can remember, I have had a strong love and appreciation for the ocean - of the life beneath the surface, the ecosystem, the marine creatures.” 

The sea breeze tousles your hair as you express your love for the sea.

“I think most of my fascination is with the unknown and the many misconceptions people have about the ocean and its inhabitants.” The reflection of the sunlight on the water mirrors the spark in your eyes and you pause for a short moment before continuing, “That they think some animals are just inherently evil. But we - as humans- could learn so much from the ocean if we would just listen .” 

You scoff, a touch of frustration colours your voice as you continue, “But they don’t and continue to pollute the waters - kill the life beneath the surface. Destroy ecosystems.” 

Your eyes find Orm’s again; he watches you intently, a glint in his eye that you haven’t seen before. 

”That’s why I do what I do - to help them see. To help preserve life. There is so much that could be done, but many people don’t know how - and it’s my job to educate them.”

“That’s a noble profession, an honourable calling,” Orm remarks, his blue eyes warm and calm like the ocean void of wind, “But don’t you think it is in vain? Do you really think they can learn?” 

“Yes,” your response is immediate and resolute, “No one is inherently evil. But a lot of people lack a sense of direction… And once shown, they adapt and do what they can to better themselves.”

You share a smile with Orm, sensing that he just understands what you mean.

The moment, however, is gently interrupted by the arrival of the waitress, gracefully bearing your drinks.

“Coca-Cola?” she asks, and you raise your hand, replying, “For me.”

She places the drinks in front of you before she speaks again, pen poised over her notepad, “What do you want to eat?”

“A cheeseburger with extra bacon and fries,” you declare, and Orm promptly seconds your choice. The waitress, a warm smile gracing her lips, takes note of your order and retreats.

Orm, with a thoughtful expression, breaks the silence. “You truly believe people can change, then?”

You meet his gaze, the sea breeze playing with your hair. “Absolutely,” you respond. “It’s not about convincing everyone at once. It’s about starting a ripple, making a difference where you can. Education and understanding can be powerful catalysts for change.”

Orm nods, his blue eyes reflecting both curiosity and agreement. “It sounds like you’re on a mission.”

A chuckle escapes you. “Perhaps. But it’s a mission worth undertaking, don’t you think?”

“Oh, definitely,” Orm answers, a smile on his lips as he looks at you intensely, making you blush. He leans back in his chair, his eyes never leaving yours. “What led you to this path?” he asks, his curiosity evident.

You take a sip of your drink, contemplating the question. “I suppose it was a childhood fascination with the sea. The mysteries it holds, the life beneath its surface. As I grew older, I realised the urgency of preserving that beauty, of correcting the misconceptions that threaten it.”

Orm listens attentively, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “It takes a special kind of dedication to devote your life to something so vast and, at times, misunderstood.”

“The ocean has a way of making you feel both small and connected. It’s a journey of discovery, and every day brings something new,” you tell him, a wistful smile gracing your lips. 

You continue to talk, the sun beginning its descent, casting a golden glow over your conversation. The rays seem to elevate Orm’s features, and you can’t help but notice the way his straight nose and defined cheekbones are beautifully illuminated. His blonde hair, still sitting a bit tousled on his head, catches the sunlight and shines in the golden hues. 

His blue eyes look impossibly deep in the light; it feels as if the vastness of the ocean is mirrored in his gaze, and you find yourself captivated by the shifting shades within his irises. You feel like if you concentrate enough, you could watch the sunset in them, and they would mirror the exact way the water looks right now – a harmonious blend of oranges, pinks, violets, and cerulean blues.

The waitress arrives with your much-anticipated meals, placing them on the table. Both of you express gratitude with a simultaneous “Thank you.” 

You pick up your burger, the warmth radiating from it, and take a satisfying bite. As you savour the taste, you glance over at Orm, curious to see his reaction - if he likes the place you have chosen.

Orm approaches his meal with a hint of anticipation, taking a tentative bite from his burger. Watching him eat is mesmerising - he chews slowly and deliberately as he processes the combination of flavours. A drop of sauce finds its way to the corner of his lip, and with an unconscious grace, he catches it with his tongue.

You observe him nodding appreciatively, his brows lifting slightly in a silent gesture of approval. It’s as if he has just discovered a hidden treasure, and the delightful taste seems to resonate with him. Watching him eat makes you feel like he never had a burger because he looks so genuinely fascinated by it. 

He is rather cute right now, and you like how he can be so regal and serious but also so sweet and goofy.

Choosing to shift your focus, you return to your own meal, eating a few fries.

In the corner of your eye, you notice a cockroach making its way across the table. Just as you prepare to intervene, your gaze shifts to Orm, who, in a swift and unexpected move, catches the intruder in his large hand, examining it with a curious expression.

A moment of concern sets in as Orm flexes his fingers, bringing the roach closer to his burger. You fear this might lead to a deadly consequence for the uninvited guest, that Orm may crush it. 

Acting on impulse, you speak up, “Don’t kill it.”

Orm looks at you with a puzzled expression and stills in his motion with the roach still cradled in his hand. You take the opportunity to pluck the roach from his fingers gently. Bowing down, you release it onto the ground, allowing it to run away freely.

You find Orm still looking at you with curious eyes and feeling the warmth of a blush creeping up your cheeks, you mumble, “I don’t like to kill insects, even if they’re annoying.”

He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “Respecting all forms of life, even the tiny ones. That’s commendable.”

“Yes, I mean, some of them at least have a use to the ecosystem, and some you can even eat. Both don’t apply to cockroaches though, sadly,” you elaborate under his intensive gaze.

Orm blinks a few times as if processing your words, and then he inquires, “I heard that cockroaches are something that is eaten.”

You shake your head, offering a slight grin, “Nah. Crickets and stuff, yes, but not cockroaches since they are known to carry and spread diseases.” 

He gives you a tight-lipped grin, the expression not quite reaching his eyes as he takes another bite from his burger.

“Did I say something wrong?” you ask him, a hint of concern in your voice - his reaction worries you.

His response is immediate as he lays down the burger and reaches for your hand, intertwining your fingers. “No. No. Not at all.” His blue eyes reflect sincerity and openness. “I was just caught off guard since I thought differently. But everything is fine.”

You smile, relieved by his reassurance, squeezing his hand slightly. “Thank you, Orm.” 

As you both finish your meals in comfortable silence, the lighting on the pier gradually comes to life, and they begin to flicker one after another, creating a gentle, welcoming ambience.

It casts a subtle radiance on Orm’s features, the regal quality becoming more pronounced as the gentle play of shadows enhances the lines of his face.

Orm’s gaze wanders, absorbing the evolving spectacle of lights around the pier. His eyes, reflecting the warm glow, sweep across the surroundings, capturing the flickering bulbs, the gentle sway of boats, and the distant outlines of structures bathed in the soft radiance of the evening.

A subtle appreciation plays on his features as he takes in the scene, and you find yourself captivated by the way his eyes navigate the transformed pier. 

The waitress returns to your table, a friendly smile on her face as she collects the empty plates. She glances at both of you. “Is there anything else you’d like?”

Your eyes meet Orm’s briefly, and then you turn back to the waitress, “No, thank you. Just the bill, please.”

With a nod, the waitress acknowledges your request, “Alright, I’ll bring that right over.” She takes the empty plates and heads back toward the bustling interior of the restaurant.

The waitress returns with the bill, a small leather folder clasped in her hand. Opening it to reveal the receipt, she glances between you and Orm, asking, “Will you be paying together, or should I split it?”

Before you can respond, Orm steps in, a subtle determination in his voice, “I’ll take care of it.” 

You shoot him a grateful look but quickly add, “Orm, you really don’t have to.”

“I want to,” he insists, his eyes, intense and unwavering, meet yours.

A warmth settles in your chest at his insistence, and you feel a blush creeping onto your cheeks in response to his intensity.

The waitress informs him of the total cost, and Orm reaches into his pocket, pulling out a handful of coins. The currency appears unfamiliar - distinctive, with intricate patterns and unique markings, causing both you and the waitress to exchange curious glances.

Breaking the momentary silence, the waitress gently informs Orm, “Sorry, we only accept dollars here, not foreign currency.”

An almost imperceptible furrow forms on Orm’s brow as he looks down at the money in his hand, and a moment of realisation dawns upon him. You can almost sense his internal struggle, caught between the unfamiliarity of the situation and the desire to settle the bill.

Without saying anything or making a huge deal, you smoothly reach into your wallet, pulling out enough dollars to cover the bill and a generous tip. With a friendly smile, you hand the money to the waitress.

“Have a good evening,” you add warmly, and the waitress reciprocates the sentiment. As she departs, you turn your attention back to Orm, offering an encouraging smile.

Orm’s eyes meet yours, appreciative yet carrying a hint of vulnerability. 

“I’m sorry,” Orm says, a tinge of frustration and embarrassment evident in his voice. “I forgot about that.”

You respond with a reassuring smile, and without a second thought, you reach out, brushing your hand gently over his cheek. When you see the way his eyes widen a bit and he looks at you in wonder, you know that it was the right call.

“Oh, don’t worry, I get it,” you assure him, your fingers tracing the contours of his cheek, noting the texture of his stubble beneath your touch and the warmth he emanates. “You can get the next one,” you suggest, pulling back your hand.

Orm responds with a toothy smile, genuine and warm, the expression reaching all the way to his eyes. 

You both get up and leave the restaurant to stroll along the pier, your hand brushing on Orms as you walk. Part of you would like to just take his hand - you have kissed, after all, but you’re not sure if that’s fine for him.

“So, by being from far away, you meant Europe then?” you inquire, your curiosity getting the better of you as that was the first thing that came to mind. 

Orm nods in agreement, and you decide not to press further, sensing his reluctance to delve into the topic.

The pier gradually becomes less crowded as you and Orm move towards its edge, and the rhythmic sound of the waves beneath grows louder in turn. The lights along the pier continue to illuminate the surroundings, creating a gentle glow that adds to the enchanting atmosphere.

The sky, now mainly adorned in shades of deep blue, cradles the last remnants of daylight along the horizon. A narrow strip of it retains a warm afterglow, casting the tranquil sea in a soft gleam.

You and Orm come to a halt as you reach the end of the pier, overlooking the water.

The sea reflects the transitioning sky, creating a mesmerising dance of colours on its surface. As the daylight wanes, the sea takes on a deep, mysterious navy blue, mirroring the vast expanse above. The rhythmic movements of the waves hold a subtle elegance, their crests catching the remnants of sunlight and transforming them into liquid silver.

The small ripples sparkle in the fading light, creating a celestial reflection that mirrors the ever-changing hues of the sky and the soft lights on the pier.

As you stand at the edge of the sea together, gazing out into the expansive ocean, Orm takes your hand - warm, large, and unexpectedly soft with his long fingers. 

Reflecting on the day, you realise it has been unexpectedly beautiful - it still is. When you first met Orm on the beach, you couldn’t have anticipated this.

You have never met someone who shares the same profound love for the sea, but with him, it is a connection that flows effortlessly like a smooth, unhurried river.

Orm’s voice, quiet yet resonant, breaks the stillness. “Thank you,” he says, his eyes fixed on the ever-moving sea. 

You turn to face him, your own expression reflecting curiosity. “For what?” you inquire, uncertain about the reason for his gratitude.

“For the day,” he responds, his gaze still tethered to the horizon. The soft glow of twilight illuminates his features, allowing you to trace the contours of his side profile with your eyes.

A genuine smile graces your lips as you squeeze his hand in acknowledgement, unsure of how to respond.

The comfortable silence wraps around you, lingering for a moment before you gather the courage to break it. 

“It doesn’t have to be over yet, you know,” you say, the words escaping your lips with a hint of nervous excitement.

Orm turns his head swiftly to face you, raising one eyebrow in curiosity. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” you continue, feeling a bit breathless, “I think you’d like the aquarium I own.”

Your heart beats a bit faster because, oh god, you just invited Orm over to your place - handsome and a tad strange Orm, with the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen.

A warm smile graces Orm’s features as he nods in agreement. “Lead the way.”

______

Street lanterns and the soft glow of stars guide the way as you drive over the coastal road to your house. 

As you approach, the one-story building comes into view, overlooking the ocean below, with stairs leading down to a dock, a garage for water vessels and the beach. Even in the dark, it is apparent that it is made from dark wood that harmonises with the natural surroundings. 

“Well, here we are,” you say to Orm and turn off the engine after you park your car.

Both of you step out, and you watch as Orm takes in the details of your house.

“This is really nice,” he says, looking at you, a fondness in his blue eyes.

“Thank you,” you reply, smiling. “Wait until you see the inside.”

With that, you lead the way to the door, unlocking it to welcome both of you inside. Turning on the lights, you close the door behind Orm before taking off your shoes.

You notice a brief moment of confusion on Orm’s face, his brows furrowed as if he’s perplexed by the act of removing shoes indoors. Nonetheless, he follows your example, mirroring your actions with a subtle curiosity.

You love your house, as it’s a reflection of who you are. The walls are adorned with various pictures and paintings, capturing scenic views and wildlife scenes. A massive windowfront facing the sea with garden furniture outside offers a serene spot for looking at the ocean. For rainy days, you have a cosy sofa perfectly positioned to enjoy the view.

Orm’s eyes wander around your home, curiosity evident in his gaze. They trace over the pictures, examining the various trinkets and charms that give your house its character. His gaze eventually settles on the highlight of your home - a huge aquarium that spans an entire wall.

When you built it, you decided upon those dimensions to allow for a diverse and thriving marine ecosystem.

As the overhead lights cast a gentle glow, the aquarium reveals a spectrum of colours and movements. Coral formations, in various shapes and hues, provide shelter for a multitude of fish. Small, darting figures in every shade imaginable navigate the intricate structure, their scales catching the light and creating a dazzling dance of colours. Seahorses, graceful and delicate, cling to the swaying fronds of seaweed.

The water, crystal clear and carefully maintained, magnifies the beauty of the inhabitants within. Anemones sway in the gentle current, and schools of fish move in unison, creating an ever-shifting symphony of aquatic life. It’s a tranquil yet lively spectacle that brings the wonders of the ocean directly into your home.

As Orm moves closer to the aquarium, his eyes fixate on the intricate details of the underwater world. The gentle hum of the water filter provides a soothing backdrop to the vibrant display. His gaze traces the contours of coral formations, follows the movements of fish, and lingers on the seahorses.

You watch as he leans in a bit as if drawn into the underwater realm. The overhead lights cast a subtle glow on his features. For a moment, the regal air about him softens, and you see a genuine sense of wonder in his eyes. 

“Wow,” he says, his voice hushed in awe, “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

You can’t help but smile as you respond, “I’m glad you like it.”

As you both stand there, watching the aquarium, you notice that the soft glow from it reflects in Orm’s eyes, creating a harmonious blend of colours.

“It’s like having a piece of the ocean at home,” you add, happy to share this with someone who appreciates it as much as you. 

Orm slowly turns away from the mesmerising aquarium, his eyes still reflecting the underwater spectacle.

With a gentle yet firm touch, Orm reaches out, his hand cupping your cheek. The warmth of his touch sends a shiver down your spine, and you feel a magnetic pull drawing you closer. His blue eyes lock onto yours, searching for something in the depths of your gaze, and you swallow dryly.

Closing the distance, he leans in, and his kiss is soft and deliberate. Responding instinctively, your hands find their place on his strong shoulders, fingers tracing the contours of his well-defined muscles.

He hums pleased and deepens it, wrapping his arms around you to pull you closer into his thick frame. You taste hints of the cheeseburger he enjoyed, the lingering notes of the beer he had, and something uniquely him that defies easy description but is absolutely delicious. 

The warmth of Orm’s embrace envelops you, and his hands, initially gentle, now hold you with a firm and possessive grip. There’s an undeniable urgency in the way he pulls you closer as if trying to bridge any remaining distance. 

He begins to trail a series of kisses down your neck, each touch leaving a lingering warmth in its wake. As he reaches the junction between your neck and shoulder, he pauses, sinking his teeth into your skin with a sharp intensity. A quiet hiss escapes your lips, and your grip on his shoulders tightens in response. Orm soothes the sensation with the caress of his tongue before resuming the journey upward, placing gentle kisses along the column of your throat and inhaling your scent.

“Orm,” you whisper, your fingers tangling in his hair, gently guiding his head back up to meet your lips in another kiss. In the quiet intimacy of the moment, you can’t help but register how soft his hair feels beneath your touch.

Orm’s hands explore your body with heightened intensity, each touch sending a wave of heat through the fabric of your clothes. 

When he pulls back, his breath comes out in heavy, rhythmic waves. His hair is already tousled from your fingers running through it, and his eyes, fiery blue, reflect the intensity of the moment, while his lips bear the deliciously pinkened evidence of your shared kisses. 

Breaking the silence, Orm speaks with a low and surprisingly severe voice, “Do you want to take this somewhere else?” His gaze shifts to the aquarium, and his expression suggests a genuine concern. “I’d rather not have spectators.”

A surprised chuckle escapes you as you realise Orm might actually be serious about the fish in the aquarium. You raise an eyebrow, playfully questioning, “Spectators, really?”

Orm nods with a solemn expression and a faint smirk, adding, “They’re judging eyes.”

You can’t help but burst into laughter again, shaking your head. “Okay, let’s get somewhere private, then.” You guide him towards the bedroom, wondering if the fish truly appreciate the unexpected concern for their modesty.

The fleeting thoughts quickly dissipate as Orm is on you again, his lips finding yours in a deep and fervent kiss before he buries his face in your neck, leaving wet kisses that send shivers down your spine.

Pressing against him, you feel the heat radiating from his body and the firmness of his muscles as well as his hard cock. You grind your hips harder on his groin, desperate for some friction and more of the electric spark that every touch from Orm seems to give you.

You physically feel him groan into your skin, a deep, feral sound that reverberates through his chest.

Suddenly, you feel frenzied to get him out of his clothes, to see him naked, to touch his skin. So you tuck on his shirt, pulling it upwards. 

Orm, getting the hint, separates from you and takes it off, letting it fall to the floor. 

Before you have time to appreciate his naked upper body, he lets his hands wander under the hem of your shirt to pull it off you, too - which you let him do without resistance.

Then, with a sudden and assertive move, Orm grabs you by the shoulders, guiding you towards the bed. The motion catches you off guard; the change in him is so quick that you don’t have time to react. 

Orm’s mouth descends upon yours again, a cascade of passionate kisses and teasing nips at your lips as he bites down on your bottom lip before running his tongue over it.

As the back of your knees meets the edge of the bed, he pushes you down, and you find yourself lying on your back.

Finally, you have time to appreciate his form. 

As Orm stands before you, the soft glow of the room’s dim light dances over the planes of his body, creating a mesmerising interplay of shadows and highlights. 

Orm’s hair is tousled, a delightful disarray from your previous encounters and frames his face in a way that adds a hint of wildness to his regal appearance. The light dances on the strands, highlighting the varied shades of blonde.

His eyes, an intensely deep shade of blue, seem to capture the ambient light like the ocean capturing the moon’s glow. The fire within those eyes hasn’t diminished; if anything, it has intensified, turning them into pools of desire and unrestrained passion.

His physique, chiselled with remarkable precision, seems almost otherworldly in its perfection.

The defined lines of his muscles catch your attention, each one sculpted to perfection as if carven by a Greek master aeons ago. The play of shadows accentuates the curves of his arms, the contours of his chest, and the lines of his abdomen. Every movement he makes is a testament to the vigour and elegance that defines him.

Your eyes trace the contours of Orm’s arms. The sight of his substantial biceps commands your focus, the muscles rippling with strength and power. Your gaze follows the prominent vein that courses along the expanse of his arm, tracing its path down to his forearms.

The play of light and shadow accentuates every curve and crevice, revealing a level of physicality that borders on the divine. 

The forearms subtly flex with each miniature movement, a testament to the latent strength within. Your gaze lingers on his hands, large and commanding, the fingers thick and long. There’s a certain elegance in the way those hands move, a grace that contradicts their sheer size and power.

Moving lower, your attention shifts to his defined chest that expands with each breath. You marvel at the expansive breadth of his pectoral muscles. The perfect symmetry of his six-pack draws your gaze, each abdominal muscle pronounced and sculpted. 

Your focus descends even lower, and you see the way his cock is straining against the fabric of his pants, the bulge prominent. You swallow and involuntarily lick your lips in anticipation. 

Desperate to feel his skin, you reach out to touch Orm’s chest.

His muscles are firm and warm beneath your touch as you trace idle patterns. 

You’d have expected him to touch you now and let his fingers wander over your bare skin, but he seems to have frozen. So you look up to meet his eyes - instead of that fiery passion, they now carry a hint of uncertainty.  

Orm’s gaze wanders between you and the surroundings as if grappling with elusive thoughts that demand his attention. The intensity that coloured his actions moments ago wavers, leaving behind a quiet vulnerability that puzzles you. 

You furrow your brows. What happened to that intense, headstrong man who felt like an unwavering current? 

His hair frames his face, and the blue of his eyes, though still vibrant, now mirrors a spectrum of emotions. There’s a depth to his expression, a silent turmoil beneath the surface, a vortex consuming him, pulling him under.

As you study Orm’s features, you sense the weight of something unsaid, and you feel it radiating off him in waves.

Your fingertips gently brush against Orm’s cheek as you reach out in a tender gesture. “Are you okay?” you inquire softly, searching his eyes for any sign of what might be troubling him.

His response is delayed, a moment of hesitation that lingers in the air. Sensing his reluctance to share, you decide to act on a more intuitive level. You reach out and pull him towards you so he also rests on the bed, cradled in your embrace.

“I’m here,” you murmur, the words whispered against his ear as you hold him close. 

Orm shudders against you, his breath grazing your bare skin. It’s evident that he wrestles with unspoken thoughts, the words lingering on the tip of his tongue.

So you decide to lift the weight on his shoulders, and you offer a simple directive, “Let’s just sleep for now. No need to worry about anything.”

As he nestles into your embrace - finally returning it - the tension dissipates from his body, replaced by the comforting rhythm of your shared warmth. 

Your fingers continue their soothing patterns on his back, a gentle effort to anchor him and not let him be adrift in the sea of his thoughts until you both fall asleep. 

The last coherent thought lingering in your mind is that you wouldn’t mind having more moments like this with him - moments that make you feel safe, whole, and strangely content. Only when you feel the soft warmth of his smile against your neck, followed by a tender kiss, you realise that you’ve spoken out loud.

[moronkombat]

Not sure if u do nsfw alphabet requests but if u do could u do it for havik :3

YES I LOVE NSFW ALPHABETS

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Once the rather long activities have concluded do not except hugs and cuddles. What you will find are eyes that stare at you as if the body he sees is a pure work of art. To him, it is. The cuts on your body, the blood the drips and drips...he will not wipe it away. He wants to watch it fester further. He may lick your wounds but that merely so he can taste the crimson shaded iron upon your body

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

His favorite part on his partner is their back. A wonderful blank canvas to tear into and to decorate. Hails will hook into your skin and pull and pull down until his fingers are coated sticky with iron. In terms of his body, it is his chest have you seen how big his tits are wtf

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

The essence of his partner is the greatest of delicacies and Havik is a filthy eater. Finishing inside, to him, can be such a waste of fun. Much rather would he cum on your face so that he may shove it in your mouth and smear it upon your skin. It is joyous to feel that slick trail of white pearls between his fingers and draw such pretty pictures down the length of your stomach. It is barbaric how much enjoyment he gets with playing with the results of your union. Perhaps, it even his favorite toy

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He is the type to fondle his partner when they are asleep and he does in it a way that is subtle as to not rise his partner from their dreams

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Havik knowns his way around the bedroom and then some. He is well versed, well practiced and very eager to display this for his partner. Pain is his language and pleasure his literacy. He creates a world for his partner where both exist, they simply cannot survive without the other and he is a master at this creation

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Positions often change during sex but he finds himself favoring the positions where his partner's back is exposed. That where he bites and tears the most but he also enjoys when his partner rides his lap while tongues perform their lecherous tango

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Havik is as crazed as a rabid hound. There is no stoicism to be found. Only will there be a wild hunt of a predator who seeks to completely destroy its prey

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

To say the carpet match the drapes would be rather inaccurate. Havik keeps himself groomed. Could it be because he enjoys the razor burns? Most definitely

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Havik considers himself an expert at romance for the mere reason of how he perceives intimacy. From his eyes, the blood and pain are the most romantic gift he can give to his partner. Romance is to share pain and create pain within one and other. Why provide each other flowery gifts when he can give his partner the agonizing rush of raptor?

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Masturbation is a frequent pass time for someone like Havik. His thoughts ruminate over you, drown in the memories of your last time together. How can he deny himself a reminder?

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Havik is a walking kink. Violence and gore consume him and he wishes for it to consume his partner as well. Biting, as simple as it may seem, is his favorite

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

The bedroom, or rather his bedroom because it has all he needs to make the sex rather...entertaining. He also enjoys the carnal embrace when surrounded by the viscera he's created

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Injuries and the pain of himself and others. To feel a blade cut his skin, to hear the scream as he rips open the chest of an oppressor, there no better erotic elixir

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Anything that is considered too vanilla or soft. He is not interested in the conventional love making where there are kisses and whispered nothing. No, that is far too dull for him

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Enjoys both but really prefers to give. He enjoys using his tongue on his partner. The sounds he forces from your throat having him laughing against your heat. As much as it is a delight to see his partner's mouth stuffed full, he cannot hear the sounds of you as clearly as when he is wielding his tongue to a place most defenseless

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Fast and rough. Havik is a frenzy and a torrid storm that slows for nothing. He gets so lost in the moment of raptor that his body simply cannot control itself

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Havik enjoys taking his time with his partner. While his pace is fast, the entire performance is tantalizingly drawn out. Do not be fooled, however, he knows how to enjoy a shorter moment. When he is experiencing that call to the euphoria, he does not resist it and so quickies can become rather regular

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

If there aren't risks or experimentations happening then something is wrong. Havik craves the thrill of the what ifs. He wants to get as close to the edge as he possibly can and he will

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

When having sex with Havik, expect it to bee quite the time consuming fun. He can last until the sun rises again having his fun with his partner

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Toys are a favorite of Havik to bring into the bedroom. He owns a variety that is as vast as the sky and he will put them to good use

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He is the biggest tease during oral. To hear you mewl and ache while his tongue laps at you like a cat with milk riles him up. It not only his tongue that teases but his words. Those he utilizes frequently

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Loud and blaring. He would never hide the sounds you bring from him. He begs for more. He speaks to you such wicked things that have your mind warping and twisting

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Havik is an obsessive lover down to his very core. Love is unknown to him only the twisted desires of having someone and never letting them go

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Large, thick and uncut. Veins run along it and curve in patterns that sensitive to trace. He is a shower, not a grower but is rather indifferent to the size he carries between his legs. His partner is most definitely not indifferent

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Exceptionally high. He seeks out sex frequently with his partner

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Does not fall asleep after sex. He wants to drink the sight of what both you and him have created

[sideblogdotjpeg]

feeling like. ep 60 was such a fantastic arc finale battle ep. and auugh. like so many things. LIKE .

the slow build up of tension over the ep felt really good and perfect, as it escalates from alexandrite being silly and goofy to. gargantuan cyberflesh horror. and how the dice were UNCANNILY perfect for it all. like. the nat 1 vs nat 20 roll for the town and suddenly the entire mood shifts and the stakes are so much realer, and personal. followed up by the nat 20 for the town! followed up by TWO callie crits and her dealing 130 DAMAGE like each turn!!!! like!!!!! AUGH... the. just the beats of it all was soo good and.

tying to that .. the character moments for this ep were so good !!! every character got their moment to shine in the battle. already discussed callie absolutely whomping fucking ass, but of course the smaller moments as well. offering to go and defend calders town. seeing the faewild sky and "i think i needed to leave to become worthy of it" - like and as the culmination of callies arc. from someone who was so scared and running away to. staying, standing, fighting, protecting. AND ITS GOOD.

then of course theres calder. i mean also the . ARC. of the only thing he wanted was not to be overprotected. wanting to be useful - like his brothers, people who had strength and value in the eyes of their people, big enough to defend their town. and he has come all the way here. he changes the tides of the battlefield in the town - and he does it with the attachments of his friends and the love of his family. and like... god. really crystalising his ethos in a way that is foiled so well against gowan. gowan who was too proud to ask for help. vs "i cant do it without you" "but damn does it feel good when your friends have your back" ... !!!! AYYEARGH. like. hes becoming the protector of his home! but maybe now, his home is so much bigger than the ice knife, and hes not fighting alone .... YOU KNOW.

AND SOL!!!!! sol to my knowledge only deals 30 damage this battle but. as a resident sol enjoyer i !!! am VERY MUCH CLAPPING AND CHEERING!! at the deeply supportive role he took on for this fight. like hes the first to get the ice knife away from alexandrite, he gives callie an extra smite, silvery barbs.... ! like the short rest realisation of how different the battle wouldve gone without that silvery barbs is .... ! SO ITS GOOD. and at the end that he was the one to get the final blow on alexandrite and it was for swag is ...

and! that part was obviously a joke! as is the entire "keep em guessing haha alexandrite cant predict what were doing!!!" thing. HOWEVER. relistening to the ezry arc, and their first interaction w alexandrite as we now know her ... i just. REALLY feel like this is the spiritual successor to "were duck team and were messy and were friends and we do everything together and we absolutely suck shit all day long and all night baby". theyre so fucking stupid is the thing. and theyre messy and stupid and constantly saying things that are weird and make no sense and completely and utterly baffling .... and thats DUCK TEAM!!! (theres also a point here where im overreading somewhat. but the part about Keepin em Guessin... one could POSSIBLY argue it interacts in a MAYBE DEEPLY INTERESTIGN WAY with . the idea of the calculated certainty of the AI, the calm and cold prediction of the diviners, and the wild freedom of the peregrines. idk!!! maybe!!! maybe you cld even say that what lies at the heart of duck team is their messiness and outofplaceness and love and care and refusal of the tragedy!!! even!! maybe!! but YEAH. lol random XD ! keep em guessin!)

also the thing that made me write all this which is like. ! the final victory lap scene is just. so wonderfully cathartic, esp with how tense this entire arc has been. its just. fuck yeah we won and all our friends and family are here and safe and riding on mammoths!!! i mean. FUCKING ALBINS BACK!!!! GREGORS HERE AND KICKIN ASS!!! THE MA GOBLIN BRIGADE!!! A WIN. and ... that bit of callie just sitting on the roof playing a guitar as she stares into the fae wild sky is ... its good.. its good..

and all that is maybe. half the reasons why ep 60 is so good. i didnt even get around to talking about the fucking EMILY AXFORD SONG WHICH IVE BEEN PLAYING NONSTOP ALL DAY SO. yeah. so i like this ep i guess

[graciereadshannigram]

Do have any recs for alternative ending fics to Digestivo? NSFW is fine and something longer is preferable but honestly anything is cool!

oh boy, do i!! hopefully you like some of these :) Time Waits for No One – 104k, E, Hannibal runs to Cuba instead of surrendering and stays there until he sees Will and Molly's wedding announcement. This was a unexpectedly light (ish, for hannigram lol) read and it was really enjoyable!

A place you can never go – 84k, E, time travel fic where as Hannibal turns himself into the FBI, he makes a wish and suddenly finds himself a year and a half in the past. This is one of my all time favorite fics and I think everybody should read it!!!

Tender – 6k, E, non-standard omegaverse fic that, true to its name, is incredibly tender and just very sweet.

Sing, Sweet Cicada – 130k, E, this one picks up after Hannibal gets Will away from Muskrat Farm, but prior to the breakup and explores an alternate becoming (author's words). Check out the tags, I would gently recommend that the author change "Minor Original Character(s)" tag to "Major Original Character(s)" and maybe add a couple additional relationship tags, BUT hannigram is at the center and is endgame always. Regardless, it was a wild ride.

[luimagines]

Can you do one with an easily flustered reader? Like finding out reader has a crush but keeps trying to play it off?

I think the dynamic was chosen for me. XD

I'll do my best.

Masterlist

Part one will include Warrior, Twilight and Wild!

Content under the cut!

Warrior

“Gooood morning, Gorgeous.” Warrior slid up next to you, putting his arm by your head as he leaned into your personal space. “What’s the plan for today, Sweetheart? Romantic walk through the forest? A boat ride for two on the lake? Dinner under the star light?”

You had to bite your lip to keep yourself from giving away into borderline hysterical giggles. He did this every day seemingly. The attention was nice... if a bit more than you could handle from time to time.

Granted, you were incredibly worse with the interaction in the beginning. You were rendered speechless and incoherent for the next three hours. At least he didn’t stop, so it gave you some measure of tolerance to his unending flattery. 

You shook you head and avoided eye contact. “We can do only one of those things.”

Warrior grins and shrugs. “Options make everything a bit more entertaining though.”

“We’re walking through a forest anyway.” You snort, trying to keep yourself from looking at him. “How is that going to be in anyway romantic?” 

Warrior scoops up your hand before you can stop him and rises it to gently place a kiss to your knuckles. “Don’t underestimate me.”

You find yourself freezing under his very intense stare. You can vaguely register that he’s smirking from your reaction but you’re too focused on the way your vision zero-ed in on the spot where his lip met your skin.

It was softer than you would have imagined.

Of course Warrior notices this. “I can make anything romantic if I wanted to. And I’m feeling good today. So why not?”

He drops your hand but doesn’t let go of it. You cough and look away again. You can feel the way your cheeks burn and don’t want to add any fuel to the flames. You cough again, squeezing his hand a bit. “And what would the others say then?”

“Nothing.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I mean it.” Warrior grins, pulling you away from the spot and swinging your hands together as you go. “I have it all planned out! You walk with me, Time and Wind take the point. Legend and Hyrule stay right behind them. Twilight and Wild stay with Sky and Four near the middle.”

You smile to yourself even as your voice loses its strength. “And where does that put us?”

“In the back.” Warrior says confidently. “Where no one can see us and I have all your reactions to myself.”

You squeak against your will and pull your hand out of his to cover your face. “Mean. Mean. Mean! Not fair. You’re such a jerk. No way!”

Warrior laughs openly and freely, reaching for you hand again. “You’re cute.”

“I am not.” You whine and swipe at him with your free hand.

Warrior’s enjoyment does not seem to cease and he dodges your other hand easily enough. He catches it before you can pull it back entirely. He brings both of your hands closer and kisses them both once more, smiling as he pulls away. Warrior lets his expression soften. “Please?”

Your own words get stuck in your throat and you stomp your foot quietly in frustration. Why must he be so stupidly charming at time? You can feel yourself crumbling under his gaze.

The day just started. Why he do this? Shouldn’t you be used to this by now?

You cough and nod. “...Fine.”

“Perfect!” Warrior brightens up considerably. “Let’s go have breakfast.”

He begins to led you off, still holding onto your hand but you don’t think you have the strength to even try to pull it away, let alone say anything about it. The others though? They’ll say something. You’re sure of it.

Twilight

You tried to lift something heavy off of Epona but it was giving you more trouble than it was worth. You grunted and pulled again with little to change what so ever. 

“Let me help you there, Darlin’.” Twilight slides up to you , getting close enough where you can feel his chest pressed up to your side as he reaches over and lifts the bag off of his loyal steed without so much as a break in his stride. 

He holds it out to you with a charming smile. “There you do.”

You cough and nod, taking it from him without making eye contact. “...Thank you.”

Twilight smiles wider. “You’re very welcome. Is there anything else you need? I can help with that too?”

“No.” You squeak and shake your head. You can still feel his phantom heat from his close proximity and you’re intent on making a quick get away.

“Hey.” Twilight smirks and presses the back of his hand to your forehead. “Are you ok? You look a bit red. You’re warm too.”

Twilight pressed the back of his hand to your cheek now, letting it rest on one side before moving to the other. His hands are guiding you to face him and there’s little you can do stop it.

“I’m fine, thank you for asking.” You throw yourself back violently and frantically try to look at anything other than him. You want to come up with an excuse to leave but there’s little words left in your mouth.

Twilight doesn’t reach for you again thankfully, even if his easy going smile doesn’t drop. He reaches up and instead brushes his bangs away from his face in an upwards arc. You follow the movement with your eyes and Twilight knows you’re watching him.

He smirks and pats Epona on the side before he takes a step closer to you. “Can I ask you something?”

Dread drops into your stomach like lead. “...Yeah?”

“The Vet says that there’s a town not too far from here and the Champion says that we’ll needing more supplied sooner rather than later. I was thinking about doing a supply run. Do you want to come with me?” Twilight tilts his head and rests against Epona. “If we ride, then we can get there and back faster and maybe even before nightfall.”

You want to. You really, really, want to.

But you now yourself and you’re more likely to put your foot in your mouth than to impress the Hero of Twilight by any means.

“Sure.” You find yourself saying anyway, to your horror. But it’s to Twilight’s delight.

The young man grins. “Perfect! You don’t mind riding horse back, right?”

You shake your head, gripping the bag in front of you like a life line.

Twilight grins wider and doesn’t hesitate to hop onto the horse next to him. “Alright. Let’s go now!”

“Now?”

Twilight falters a little. “Unless you have something. I can wait.”

You shake your head and drop the bag next to the other’s stuff. You can do this. Maybe.

You move and stand next to the animal. “How do I-”

Twilight leans down and reaches his hand out. You take it after a moment’s deliberation before you’re effortlessly lifted and placed in front of Twilight. He reaches around you and gets close like the moment prior to take the reigns.

He grins and speaks right by the shell of your ear. “This ok?”

You can’t fight your blush any more and nod, hiding your hands behind your ear. “Yeah, this is fine!”

You ignore your voice crack.

Twilight laughs and begins to steer his horse so that he can pass the group and tell them where he’s going. “Good! We’ll be back soon. This won’t take long.”

“Yay.”

Wild

You were minding your own business, reading the book you managed to snag before you ran through the portal with wild abandon. It was one of your favorites. You never got tired of reading it. 

You were so engrossed in the pages that you nearly jumped out of your skin when something heavy landed on your thigh.

You calmly moved the book away to look at what plopped into your lap. 

Wild groaned loudly. “They’re giving me a headache. Just five minutes, I swear.”

“Um...” You could already feel yourself begin to blush. Feeling a little put off from reading anymore, you kept your finger between the pages to hold your spot as your poked Wild on the cheek. “...Champion... what are you doing?”

“Taking a nap... if I can. Otherwise, I’m just resting my eyes.” He responds easily. “Why do you ask?”

“Well that’s fine and all but... why on me?” You cough and poke his shoulder, trying to see if he’d roll off you. He doesn’t so much as move an inch.

Wild looks up and tilts his head so that he can look you in the face. He grins your way with a sort of boyish charm that makes your insides feel like butterflies. “Because you’re comfortable. And you’d let me.”

“Maybe.” You poke him harder, this time by his neck.

He makes a funny choking sound and flinches to close the spot where you press. You both freeze.

You can feel yourself slowly over coming your shyness as a mischievous streak was ignited. “..Link?” You say the name and lean over. “Are you ticklish?”

“Nope.” Wild sits up like a shoot and pokes your side for good measure. ”I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

You yelp and drop your book in the process, jumping to protect the spot that he poked as well. Wild catches the movement and you can feel a bit of dread pool in your stomach. You flush and scramble to stand. “You saw nothing.”

“Perhaps.” He smirks. “But I certainly heard that.”

“Don’t you dare!” You takes a step back, watching him for the moment he jumps.

“Why?” He grins. “It’s fun!”

“For you!” 

“Of course. I get to hear you laugh.” He says casually. 

You whine and use your book to cover your face. “Don’t say that so easily! Cheater!”

“And I get to see your smile too.” Wild steps closer now that you’re no longer looking at him. “It’s very nice to see.”

“Shut- shush!” You step back on impulse, only lowering the book down by a hair breadth to look around it. You panic when you see that he’s gotten closer. “Wild! Wild, no!”

You try to dash away but he follows suit quickly, catching you by the arm before you can get too far.

You hit him with your book.

“Ow!” Wild pouts. “Meanie. Can’t I say that I think you’re pretty without having to deal with consequences?”

You hit him again. “No.”

“Shame.” Wild grins and pokes your sensitive side with his free hand. “I can still do this though.”

“Nononononononononono!!!!” You try to fight it but your giggles make you weak. Within second you’re overtaken by the Champion, who proves victorious in your impromptu tickle fight. 

Wild never did get his nap but in his book, he can live with that if he can get to spend some time with you anyway.

Part 2

[horseimagebarn]

hello friends welcome to the horseimagebarn weekly interaction recap where i respond to all the asks reblogs comments etc i received in the previous week every single friday

however as some of you may have noticed i have done you all a disservice in that i missed last weeks recap due to life reasons that i will not specify but i will tell you i have been listening to weezer more than normal which i believe is ample insight into my life at the moment

i beg your pardon in this slight as i take my duty as the horseimagebarn curator very seriously and i know i have dropped the ball a bit recently by decreasing my posting frequency and missing out on last weeks recap i sincerely apologize and it will not happen again

to atone i shall include posts from the past two weeks in this weekly recap so that you may see all i have had to say

i do not know who you are idespisehorses or why you have such hate in your heart but i hope you know you greatly soured my 9 11 and every day after

she horse on my image til i barn

horse masseuse thats awesome i am glad your mom enjoys my posts and i wish you and her both very well however i have found my niche as it were on tumblr and i enjoy the folk here very much and i dont think i would get on as well with the facebook crowd and i am not doing this for fame or community though the community here is very nice and enjoyable and a welcome benefit i do this out of love for the craft however i do look at horses on facebook from time to time

thank you for your praise my friend you see i always found image descriptions to accurately convey the physicality of the image only and never the emotions or aura of the image so i felt that for something debatably non vital like horse images i might try to employ a more abstract and possibly more spiritually accurate manner of writing image descriptions

never do i feel more satisfaction and joy than i do when i find out the names of the horses in the horseimagebarn this account does excellent work

it is no worries some horse images are not for everyone

yes my friend i tag my horses based on ten key emotions though i am planning on adding more when i have the time to go through and resort my posts as i want people to be able to use the tags to find a horse image that reflects whatever emotion they are seeking perfectly if you have any suggestions for new tags please let me know

please spare me for my sins against car tumblr i fear i will never recover from this

yes this is true and i have read that a horse if old enough may die due to a lack of teeth if it grinds them down enough in its life

you can always look at horses on google sweatybeard the horses can sense negativity

my homie has spotted me in the wild hello homie

congratulations sylvia42

my friends you touch me deeply with your messages and i appreciate your patience greatly it heartens me to know so many people enjoy my efforts i have never risen to such heights as i have on this blog and i appreciate you all so much

i am happy for you my friend i deeply wish to go on a trail ride one day with a horse but i live in a tourist town so it is approximately one million dollars to do such and i am trapped within the throes of capitalism i am glad no horses were harmed on your trip and i am pleased to know you had a wonderful time

shoutout isaac

[spenglersglasses]

🎙️Now I know you're asking yourself, 2 chapters in one day? ❤️‍🔥

Well yup that's right... don't get used to it. I just got on a stride and could literally not control myself...

⚠️ FLASH WARNING⚠️

Anyways once again a few disclaimers/reminders before we begin!

While I know it is canon that Alastor is asexual, in this fic he has a rare sexual attraction that develops for a certain someone in particular and is NOT aromatic. If this is something that bothers you or if you are not a fan of the Alastor/Charlie ship (Charlastor/RadioBelle) then this is not one for you my fellow smut enjoyers.

If you aren't bothered then be prepared, this will be a wild ride!

Also, when Alastor has moments of "glitching" or that infamous radio cracking to his voice, his speech will look like this (Ĝ͎͍͓͌͠l̡̟̩͍̐̐̕͞ì͓̞̗̜̇̿͝ẗ̼c̬̮̹̔̒́h͚͇́̓ ̙͕̮̣̎͑͛̚s̟͇̽͞p̫͉͆̈e̡͇͉͐̑̊e̻͞c͙͇̆̏h̺̗̭̙̑̓̄͝), I will be making a note of what is being said, so those who have a harder time can understand it, but I thought it was an awesome effect lol.

*Special shoutout to @animatedglittergraphics-n-more for the GLITCH dividers!

Now without further ado!

D̢͙̯̦̙͎̎̽̇̔̾͊̿̚͜͟A̜̱̫̭̽̌̔̄R̫̬͊̈̊͜Ļ̮̗̲̤͎̙̅͒̿͒̿͊͡Í̱̮͑́͢͜͠N͔̗̘͈̲̤̳̉̅̉̀͗̔͠͝ͅG̢̻̱͐́̆͜͠

(Hazbin Hotel)

When Alastor made a deal with Charlie Morningstar, he knew it was a chance for him to ascend the ranks. Now that it's been weeks since the events of the extermination battle, Alastor decides it's time to collect…what he didn't expect was to slowly fall for the Princess of Hell. But hey, a deal's, a deal.

Chapter 3: Put Your Head on My Shoulder

Also available HERE on AO3. Haven't started yet? Beginning HERE on AO3!

Eventually will be NSFW below the cut!!

- FLASHBACK (7 Years ago) - 

The winds snapped around him like lashes from a whip. Kissing and slicing into his skin, leaving marks of blood in their wake. A pattern of scars that would speak volumes. The great radio demon had managed to escape. Coming too close to meeting his end at the hands of that filthy screen-faced fuck. 

Alastor was seething with rage. His powers had all but dwindled down to nothing, leaving the once power overlord defenseless. Thankful that he had at least been able to take his own pound of flesh from the head of the Vees, before fleeing for his life. Now, past the outskirts of Pentagram City, he found himself. Deep beyond the inner rings of Hell. Cast out into the bowels of which even Lucifer himself had long since abandoned. 

“This can’t be happening.” he groaned, struggling just to continue on. Gradually his movements became slower. Like walking in quicksand, he struggled with every step until he was all but crawling along the ground. The sounds of screaming and radio signals crackling in his ears. And for the first time, Alastor felt truly helpless. It was then, in his most desperate hour, he heard HER voice again.   

“Oh, poor sweet Alastor… what brings thee to my garden?” she asked, waiting for his response as she remained still hidden in the shadows. 

No. Not now, Alastor pleaded inside, feeling the presence growing closer. Unable to leave, she manifested before him. Enormous and horrid, her mouth opening up to reveal her slithering tongue. Splicing itself into tentacles and covered in glowing eyes. Sprouting like sores on its spines as she came closer and closer.  

The sight of her alone could destroy even the most robust of sinners. Like a mutation, colored in shades of black, red, and white she continued evolving—changing. Finally becoming fully formed as she reached Alastor. The radio demon, forcing himself to look up at her. The entity, now appearing as a rather normal looking woman. 

Dark black hair, fading into crimson red, was long and luscious. Her beautiful face, partially obscured beneath a wide-brim black hat. She was imposing to look at. Her Long, red overcoat flowing in the hellish winds. Endless chains coming from the depths of her coats. Emerging from its checkered pattern of black and white, spreading out into the abyss and traveling to Alastor.   

“My favorite pet… Seems we have run into a bit of trouble. Tsk tsk.” she taunted. Alastor’s smile flickering into a snarl for a moment before he spoke.

“Roo! Fancy seeing you here. I—” he struggled, coughing up blood as his radio wave effect crackled in and out. His chest still aching from his wounds and his powers holding on for dear life before he finally collapsed onto the ground. The shadows and spirits he commanded, spinning around him with nowhere to go. Roo smiled, squatting down beside him. Taking Alastor’s chin in her hands and raising his gaze up to meet her. 

“Poor Alastor, letting the TV bother you again I see. You know I can’t have that… after all who else would bring me such delicious souls if not for you.” she hummed, her otherworldly tongue coming out to swirl over his cheek. Alastor knew she wouldn’t let him off that easily. They had made a pact when Alastor first arrived in Hell. The newly deceased sinner, confused and bloodied from his fall into the pit when he saw Roo had been waiting. 

Somehow, she knew he was coming. Standing by in the darkness, watching for him—ready to offer the once proud New Orleans radio host, turned serial killer, an opportunity he would never be able to refuse. Her wicked hand, held out to him, tendering him the chance to become Hell’s greatest overlord. To continue his work started on the Earthly plane. 

All Alastor had to do was agree that every soul who had fallen short of his debts, she’d be allowed on them. Alastor would have full control of the rest, using them, and his newly given powers, to ascend the ranks. To the ambitious and blood lusting Alastor it was a deal that was too good to be true. They shook on it, Alastor and Roo now bound until his death. Alastor, learning quickly that his deal would eventually lead to his death.  

While the stipulations of their agreement had worked for a time, Roo quickly grew greedy. Trying to convince Alastor to go beyond the terms of their deal. Sending her souls when no breach of their contract was made. The sounds of overlords filling his radio waves as he slaughtered them, over and over again, began haunting the rings of Hell. So much so that the mere mention of his name incited fear in their souls. 

HIs last attempt to feast on an overlord was Vox. The demon who had only nearly managed to escape, but not without first taking his swing at the radio demon. Now Alastor was hanging on by a thread. Looking into Roo’s soulless eyes and wondering if this was truly the end or if in exchange for more time, an even more binding deal would be necessary. 

After all, Roo was in fact the root of all Evil. Feeling as though she were equal, but opposite to God than Lucifer himself. A position she clutched tightly enough to bleed.

“I was so close.” Alastor stammered. His voice, weak and pathetic. It was a rare sight to see. If she were being honest, it tickled Roo to see him that way. She still needed him, however and their deal together was still very much not done. There was still more to gain from him, and Roo was never satisfied.  

Alastor suddenly felt like he could expand his lungs. A cold rush flowing through him and the pain, beginning to disappear and he had begun healing. His loyal shadow and souls, pulling themselves back inside him. The greenlight of his power radiating brightly once more. He felt refreshed—alive. 

“See now. All better.” Roo said smugly. Watching as Alastor rose up from the ground, ready to slaughter anyone who stood in his way. “Remember Alastor, you owe me.” she smiled. Winking at the radio demon. Before he could speak, he found himself somehow back in Pentagram City. 

A bit dazed and confused, he strolled down the streets just as he did before. Ready to rumble once again with Vox, after some careful planning, when he noticed that another extermination had already begun. Alastor, wondering to himself why it was happening again soon. Wasn’t only a few days ago that the angels descended to Hell, he asked himself. Sauntering over to Cannibal Town, where he managed to find a calendar hanging on the wall at Rosie’s favorite butcher shop.

When his eyes met with the date, his dials began spinning. Horns growing larger from his head in his panic. Making ungodly sounds that glitched and screeched loud enough to affect everyone traveling around him. Somehow, in the short time he felt he was with Roo, 7 years had passed.   

- Present Day -

Charlie didn��t know why, but she found herself frantically running towards Alastor’s radio tower. Crying hard, the tears spilling with every step. Angry at Vaggie for her betrayal, but even more angry at herself, knowing that she was responsible. That she had in fact betrayed their relationship long before Vaggie’s indiscretion. 

Slowly things had been driving a distance between them. Vaggie’s issues with the hotel, the revelation she was an angel—part of the extermination team to boot, and this thing with Alastor that Charlie couldn’t shake. All of it had been slowly pulling them apart and Charlie did nothing to stop it. Now here she was, running to the man who had stolen her affections. 

Charlie’s heart was raw and bleeding. Her emotions had never been so overwhelming. When she finally reached the door, she began banging, hard and loud, until it swung open. Alastor, spinning around in his chair to see Charlie looking more distressed than ever before. A sight that had unexpectedly made him feel a flicker of worry and concern.  

“Charlie! My dear, just in time for our little announcement.” Alastor beamed, rising up from the chair before coming to greet her. Charlie took one look at Alastor, standing there with what she hoped was a genuinely happy smile and hoping it was for her, when she rushed towards him.

“Alastor.” she cried, quickly burying her face into his shoulder. Alastor was taken back, finding himself unable to let go of her. Wrapping his arms around her as the princess sobbed against his coat. The sound of her cries, making him feel an unexpected pity—even sympathy for her.

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” he asked, the words feeling odd as they fell from his lips. However odd it seemed; he still meant them. Charlie, looking up at him. Her eyes, full of sadness and pain. 

“Vaggie… she… I… we…” Charlie cried, feeling Alastor unexpectedly pulling her in even closer. Both Alastor and Charlie, unable to deny feeling one another’s heartbeats. Their rhythm, matching each other’s intensity. Wondering to themselves, if the other was feeling it too. 

“Shhh…” he said, patting the top over her head, “...it doesn't matter anymore.” he assured her. Charlie felt a smile tugging on her face just as Alastor pulled her off by the shoulders. Looking her dead in the eye. “Now my dear bride-to-be… I suggest we keep the details of our nuptials between us. Heaven knows what kind of madness that might cause for your family. You know should it be revealed that you had just… owed me one.” Alastor chuckled.  

He was right. The situation was bad enough without having everyone in Hell knowing all the gorey details. Charlie nodded her head in response. Alastor smiled, taking a hold of his microphone cane and tapping it against his hand until he found his preferred frequency. 

“We have a new journey to attend to.” Alastor assured her. Sending her a wink.

“Al… what are you?” Charlie began, Alastor placing a finger to her lips. The sound of his laughter ringing out all over Pentagram City. 

“Salutations my fellow sinners. Today is a special day indeed. I know you have all been waiting oh so—patiently for the new broadcast. So without too much more suspense… I thought we might open things with a bang or should I say a bell. Wedding bells.”

The broadcast was sent out all over. Heard by everyone within the city—every sinner, demon, overlord, imp, and hellhound. All of them Wondering what the fuck the radio demon was going on about. Their answer came fast when before they knew it, Alastor asked Charlie to join him on the mic. Their ears piqued as they waited with bated breath.

“...It’s about time I settled down. Asking my beautiful, darling Charlotte Morningstar for her hand… so whaddya say Charlie, will you marry me?” Alastor asked her. The broadcast, finding its way to Lucifer who was halfway across the city in his palace. Spitting out his food when he heard what Alastor had to say. The king of Hell swatting a stack of rubber ducks across the room. Feeling like his skin was crawling at the news. Immediately searching for his phone to call Charlie. Thinking that he’d be well on his way to stopping this soon.

Back at the tower Charlie began fidgeting with her hands. “Um… uh….” she mumbled. Stalling for time while she battled herself inside. The will of her heart and mind at odds. 

She knew what she had to do, this bit was all just for show. Neither one of them wanted the rest of Hell to know the truth. The stench of it wouldn’t be good on either of them. Charlie swallowed back her reservations and looked over to Alastor. “Yes. I will marry you.”

The town was in an uproar. The conversation on everyone’s lips was only about the enigmatic couple. “Oh, I had no idea they were an item.” said one of the sinners who had stopped on the street beside a hellhound in the Pride ring. Another in the Lust ring, mentioning that they were actually perfect for one another if everyone thought about it. There was no escaping it now, everyone would know now. 

In Cannibal Town, an engagement celebration had begun. The crowd, cheering at the news of their delightful princess and Alastor getting ready to tie the knot. Rose, however, was sitting quietly on her veranda. Munching on a few lady fingers, when the broadcast caught her attention. “Hmm… Alastor, just what are you up to?” she asked herself. 

The news had even reached the depths of V Tower. Vox was sitting in his office, feet propped up as he casually watched 666 News while going over some plans. Suddenly anchor Katie Killjoy came on the screen. His attention was captured. 

“Thanks for nothing Tom, and now for more amusing news… Seems everyone’s favorite radio demon overlord and the princess of Hell are set to tie the knot. While no details have been disclosed at this time. You can be sure we will keep you up to date on their upcoming nuptials.” she reported, a glimmer of sarcasm and resentment present in her tone.

The screens around him began shorting out. Glitching and pixelating, covering them completely from left to right. Vox began digging his fingers into the control console. How? Why? 

“Alastor and fucking Charlotte Morningstar?!” he raged, instantly coming to the conclusion that Alastor was making a power play. “That motherfucker!” Vox said, ripping one of the screens off the wall. Tossing it out into the hall just as Velvette had been walking towards him. Cautiously peeking her head in the door frame, noticing Vox’s bad mood. Velvette, relishing a chance to worsen it further. 

“Hmm… What's up your ass now?” she asked. Vox practically heaving, desperately wanting to taste Alastor’s blood. 

“That noisy little fuck has managed to convince Lucifer’s daughter to marry him.” he growled. Velvette, cocking an eyebrow at him before laughing her head off. 

“Jealous?” she asked him, a big smirk on her face. Vox was ready to tear her throat out but tried his best to compose himself. 

“Don’t be ridiculous.” he growled. 

“Let him have her. Why the fuck should we care?” Velvette asked, refusing to let the news ruffle any of her feathers. Vox clearly wasn’t going to be satisfied with that answer. Angry that Alastor had managed to come up with yet another way to gain power. Thinking to himself that there was no way the princess and him were actually in love. 

“Because it gives him more control, you idiot.” Vox began, knowing he had to do something to put a stop to it. “Wonder how things will blow over once they are exposed for the frauds they are. Maybe that outdated, crackling son of bitch will be held accountable.” Vox mused. 

“Just what do you have in mind?” Velvette asked him. The TV screens, all beginning to flash with images of Alastor and Charlie. Then images that appeared like they were from cameras surveilling the city. The system, bouncing from image to image, trying to locate the two of them. Vox, laughing maniacally before answering.

“You will see. Everyone will see.” 

Charlie left the radio tower with unexpected butterflies in her belly. Her head, still however, screaming at her to run. Struggling with herself and the right thing to do. Just as the broadcast had ended, as if On cue, came the call from her father. Lucifer, insisting she get her “royal ass” down to the palace before he’d find a way to shut down the hotel. She knew he would be angry, how could he not, but not this angry. 

Alastor and her father were oil and water. There was no way he was going to accept this marriage without a fight. Charlie, deciding to do her best to convince him. Gathering up her courage and putting on a brave face. Hoping that between the hotel and her father’s house, she could come up with a believable enough excuse for him to let it go. A tall order indeed. Just as she stepped outside, she immediately bumped into someone. 

The impact, sending them down to the ground. Charlie panicked, reaching out her hand for them to take. Feeling stupid for having not seen them when she noticed the hint of wings beneath the person’s silver cloak—It was Emily. 

“Emily! Oh, shit I’m sorry. What are you doing here?” Charlie asked, hoisting the angel up from the ground and helping to brush her off. 

“Charlie, it’s so good to see you again! I was coming to talk to you about something, but gosh I just overheard some of your… um… people… saying that you are getting married?!” the angel smiled, her eyes shining with anticipation and excitement. 

“Oh ah… yeah that's right. Alastor and I. Who knew.” Charlie laughed nervously. Emily jumped at her, arms quickly flying around Charlie’s shoulders as Emily squeezed her tightly in a hug. 

“Oh gosh, that is such wonderful news and oh man I am so sorry to bug you while you are planning… but I need to speak with you.” she continued, her face turning a bit more serious than before. 

“What's wrong? Has heaven decided that—” Charlie began before Emily cut her off. The smile on her face, now practically sparkling.

“Your friend, Sir Pentious… he is with us in Heaven! He has been absolved Charlie, you did it!” she explained. This time Charlie grabbed hold of Emily. 

“What?! Are you sure?!” she asked, almost shaking the poor angel in her excitement. Rejoicing and crying as the smile on her face grew wide enough to rival even Alastor’s.

“It’s true he arrived a while ago. He’s proof that the sinners can be redeemed!” Emily grinned. 

“How? I mean I know how. Fucking Hell we did it!” Charlie cheered, the excitement sending her head spinning. She felt the need to sit down for a moment. “Wait Emily… How come you are just now telling me? It’s been months now… I have been waiting for another letter and nothing…” Charlie asked.

“Oh Charlie, that's why I had to come see you in person. Someone has been intercepting our letters. I don't know who, but I have it on good authority it’s one of Adam’s crew. Don't you worry though, I plan on getting to the bottom of it.” Emily assured her. “I have to go now before anyone gets suspicious, but keep your head up girl, you got this!.” 

“Thank you.” Charlie said as Emily disappeared into thin air. The news was powerful, just what Charlie needed to feel better about everything that had happened between Vaggie and Alastor. While she wished she had time to go wake everyone up and scream their success from the rooftop, there was still the matter of attending to her Father. The boss of Hell was waiting impatiently for his daughter’s arrival. Charlie would do well not to keep him waiting. 

By mid-afternoon Angel and Husk had managed to stumble out of bed. Husk, going straight back to minding the bar as Angel slumped over the sofa in the parlor. The night had proven to be quite enjoyable, the two of them finally consummating their affections, that up until now Husk had been loath to admit. The former cat overlord, softening up to the porn star with a big heart after all.

Angel began flipping through the TV channels. Sending Niffty off to grab him a bite to eat and occasionally making lewd comments at Husk, when he caught a repeat of Katie Killjoy’s segment. Angel’s mouth dropped to the floor. Dumbstruck with the words he had just heard from outta the old cunt’s mouth. 

They had missed Alastor’s special broadcast. Too hungover, and blissfully snoozing, after a night of unbridled passion to have listened. “Well fuck me.. You hearin’ this shit whiskers?” Angel asked, jolting up off from his spot and over to the bar. 

“I told you not to call me that… Already up my ass after one night.” Husk huffed under his breath, a slight smile peeking out from beneath his annoyance. 

“I believe you were up my ass schnookums, but seriously we got a problem. Charlie and Smiles are getting hitched. That’s gotta be a joke right?” Angel asked, cringing at the thought. 

“Charlie’s in love with Alastor.” Niffty chimed in, handing Angel over his sandwich and climbing up to sit on the bar. Husk insincerely smiled,  pushing her gently off the side of the bar. Niffty scurrying off somewhere they didn’t care to know. 

“My money is on Charlie getting herself into some deep shit.” Husk commented. “He’s no good. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

“What are we gonna do?” Angel asked, Husk letting out a sigh. Resigning himself to having to help figure things out once again. 

“Let’s go talk to her.” he suggested, ready to round the bar and head upstairs. Taking Angel with him to Charlie’s room, when Niffty shot out in front of him. Halting them two of them mid-stride. 

“Charlie is out! Left this morning after the broadcast.” she informed them. Husk, face palming hard as he tried to quickly formulate a plan. 

”Nift, you keep watch over the hotel. Me and…Pookie are gonna go find our Princess.” Husk said. Niffty, nodding in response. With that Husk and Angel left to find her. Unbeknownst to them, Alastor had been lurking in the shadows. Over hearing their little conversation and beginning to wonder himself where Charlie had run off too. 

Deciding that he should be keeping a closer eye on her just in case. Having the budding need to protect her, when suddenly a thought hit him. If Charlie was out and the news about their wedding was going around like wildfire, surely someone who wanted to get at him might take the opportunity to use her against him. Instantly the radio demon fled from the hotel, determined to try and find Charlie before anyone else.   

Charlie was strolling down the center of Pentagram City, ready to have a one on one with her dad. Hoping to convince him that she and Alastor were a real couple. Knowing all too well that things were far from the fantasy romance she had spun in the deep recesses of her mind. As she walked, the residents of the city stopped to talk with her. 

Well wishes and congratulations, coming from all around. Her people, seeming to be truly happy for her. If only she could be happy too. It wasn’t very long into her journey, when she reached the road that would lead her to her father’s.  Unexpectedly finding herself face to face with Vox as she turned the corner. The one overlord she knew Alastor absolutely detested above all others. 

While she had hoped to avoid him, it was too late. He had caught sight of her, yelling her name from across the street. Bringing with him a flood of press from 666 News and other outlets. Cameras and reporters coming out of the woodwork to surround them. Charlie, wondering if Vox had planned this, knowing that it most likely had. Nothing would make him happier than finding a way to get to Alastor. 

“Charlie! Ms. Morningstar! I hear congratulations are in order. What are you doing all this way without your… handsome beau?” Vox asked, practically choking on the words.  

“I ah… well…” Charlie tried to answer, tapping her pointer fingers together. Overwhelmed with all the flashing lights and cameras in her face. Vox was never happier, grinning as he saw how flustered and upset she had become. It was only a matter of time before he’d get the truth out of her.

“Tell us Charlie… is it true that you and Alastor have been making it all up?” one reporter asked. Charlie’s eyebrows raised and her teeth clenched as she wanted to scream back at them. 

“There have been reports that the marriage is a sham, can you comment?” another reporter asked. 

“No that's not… I…” she said, trying to think of something to say. Something that had more weight than just telling them it was real, that it wasn’t just for show. Words that maybe could even convince her it was true. 

“Please… come on you guys. Of course Charlie and Alastor aren’t faking their romance.” Vox said, his face and demeanor suggesting otherwise. It was about that time that Lucifer had come looking for his daughter. Every television had his little princess plastered on every channel. She was in trouble and he knew it. 

By the time he reached her, so had Angel and Husk. All three of them, unable to get to her from behind the hordes of press that had encircled her and Vox. It was clear that this had all been a set up. Lucifer, Husk, and Angel, Watching poor Charlie becoming more and more panicked as the press berated her and there was nothing they could do. 

Lucifer had had enough, pushing through the crowd. Only getting about half way to Charlie when out of nowhere Alastor materialized beside her. His tentacles and horns on full display. The crowd that had been keeping her captive, backing off in terror before the radio demon came back into his usual form. Standing beside Charlie as he took her hand in his. 

Instantly Charlie felt breathless. Was Alastor actually holding her hand? What other choice did they have if they were going to keep up the facade. The small gesture was enough to send her heart pounding once again. Alastor speaking to address Vox and the rest of the crowd. 

“Oh Vox, Y̲͐Ŏ͈̮͡U̅ͅ ̡̜͘͠A̧̩̻̻̓͌̏̓̚͟N͉͓͂̋N͕̚O̢̘̬̬̎̑̐͡Y͍̼͒͗͊͜I̹̾N̗̰̝̪̩̈́͑̓͊̕G͖̰̐̉ ̜͉͇͕̊̊̇̾̏͢L̗̜̩͈̱̒̏̚͡͞Ȋ̳Ť͓̱̼̑̆T̙̣̮͈͔́̂̑͛̀Ḷ͎͑́E ̢͉̎̃F̢̦̰͉͉̀̾̇̌͠Ȗ̺C̨͕͋͘͟͡K͚͖͙̅̾̒̅͟. You have been such a poor reporter. Maybe staying in your tower is more suitable for your talents.” he snapped, sending a devilish grin Vox’s way. The overlord, wanting so badly to punch Alastor’s smug face. He knew this might be the only chance he may get to screw him over. It was now or never. 

“Well Alastor, if the two of you are so IN LOVE… why don’t you prove it?” Vox hissed. Both Alastor and Charlie, frightened by being called out on their bluff. They had to do something to prove it, but what? Her father and friends, all watching, waiting—wondering what they would do next. 

Just as Vox was beginning to feel that he had accomplished his goal, Charlie grabbed hold of Alastor’s coat. Pulling him close to her and pressing her lips to his. The crowd audibly gasped as their lips met. Alastor, too, was in shock. Finding it hard not to close his eyes to the feel of Charlie’s mouth on his. 

Was Charlie enjoying this? Was he? Alastor wasn’t sure, but he met her half way—and more. Dipping her before the crowd. His willing tongue, sliding into her mouth with ease. Dancing along with hers in the most sincere kiss Charlie had ever felt before. The princess’s eyes, opening a moment in surprise before closing them once again. Both of them lost in the moment. 

Alastor was wondering what had come over him. Never before had he felt this way with anyone, but when they kissed, it was undeniable. Something was happening to him. On the inside, Charlie too was overwhelmed, pretending that he felt for her what she felt for him. The crowd began cheering around them as the kiss was broadcasted across all the rings of Hell. Vox pissed off more than ever before as the two of them seemed to have foiled his plans once again.  

Roo laughed, the radio waves having just reached her. The news of Alastor’s engagement to the princess of Hell was now on her radar. Roo, knowing that she would now more than ever, need to keep a close eye on Alastor. “Oh Alastor, just what are you up to?” 

Notes:

Y̲͐Ŏ͈̮͡U̅ͅ ̡̜͘͠A̧̩̻̻̓͌̏̓̚͟N͉͓͂̋N͕̚O̢̘̬̬̎̑̐͡Y͍̼͒͗͊͜I̹̾N̗̰̝̪̩̈́͑̓͊̕G͖̰̐̉ ̜͉͇͕̊̊̇̾̏͢L̗̜̩͈̱̒̏̚͡͞Ȋ̳Ť͓̱̼̑̆T̙̣̮͈͔́̂̑͛̀Ḷ͎͑́E ̢͉̎̃F̢̦̰͉͉̀̾̇̌͠Ȗ̺C̨͕͋͘͟͡K͚͖͙̅̾̒̅͟- You annoying little fuck.

[thequietkid-moonie]

Honestly, lately I like Reverse 1999 story better then HSR. I still like HSR, but I'm so tired of the sus characters turning up to be misunderstood. The previous quest (that I watch playtrough, since I don't have time to play), is kind of mid to me. Yet, with Reverse 1999 I felt like I was riding on the wild roller coaster.

Not only that but Reverse 1999 characters designs are way more creative, and doesn't feel copy and paste. And unlike *cough* Genshin *cough* Bluepoch does respects characters culture by giving them the skin colour that represents their nationality.

Of course this my personal opinion. Which storytelling do you prefer?

Uhuhuhu my lord! You have awaken and internally debate inside of me! I been thinking about this almost all day! And this post is goint to be loooong so be ready

Okay so, I can't choose between Reverse 1999 and Honkai Star Rail, I love both way too much and I feel like both does go in diferent ways

I think that one of the biggest diferences between the storytelling is that hoyoverse in general is incredibly good at creating interesting and captivating stories but doesn't really have idea of how to tell them, wich lead then to sin of pretentious and profound while in Reverse 1999 takes time to tell you the story, it introduces you and immerses you in its world in a pretty natural way and treats you like Vertin herself, letting you know the important things as the story goes on (with some exceptions just to make the suspense grow)

I feel like the story of r1999 is much more mature and goes for a more solid rute, like it really focus on the world and conflicts have created and everything goes around that same conflict, one way or another (you can even see it in the chapter of Vertin's past, everything has to be with the storm! Even the debate about Vertin's actions is indirectly related to the storm), except for the stories of the events, those stories can be quite slow at times since but still always has something to contribute to the lore

Also, one of the biggest diferences that i personally see is that Bluepoch thinks a lot on the player and tries to make the experience as enjoyable as posible while Hoyoverse things more on money rather than the player

I absolutely love HSR story, I played the penacony story as it was being released and I was on the edge to know what was going to happen but I do admit that the whole story was a "I do can tell you the details, but I dont want 😼", there was so much interesting characters that were just a waste, it feels like everything it's halfway through because they tries to be misterious and the conclusion is quite rushed and somewhat poorly done, but aside from that the rest of the story is pretty decent

Also, one of the biggest diferences is the text, I think HSR doesn't have an awful amount of text as Genshin but still there are things that just they are left over at times. I think Reverse 1999 gives npc a better treatment than HSR and specially Genshin, in r1999 the npcs mainly purpose is to naturaly tell you about the place you are, to teach you in what context you are and let you get inmerse in the story and makes it pretty well! It feels quite natural and it doesn't become tiring with an awful amount of inecesary text (like in Genshin), besides the story doesn't treat you like an idiot and explain something over and over again

Also, the desings I also things are incredibly creative but r1999 has the advantage of being of diferent historical periods and the same story tells you that arcanist aren't always human so that open a good oportunity to get creative! Still, I think Bluepoch is incredibly creative

Im not going to talk about Genshin natlan characters, I still think that Genshin developers worry more about money than the player so if making white characters is what make then win more good for them I guess 🤷🏻

While HSR characters are an interesting case, they either come up with incredibly interesting and unique desing or go back to the woman with the outfit with the chinese like base desing

[adobe-outdesign]

Have you reviewed Arcanine yet? I know you've done the hisuian form, but how about the regular form?

(Hisuian forms over here and here)

For the record, I do prefer the Hisuian forms for both of these guys. I feel like those forms added a bit more flavor to the line, with the theme being much more obvious and having additional details like Hisuian Growlithe's little bangs. I still like the originals, but the regionals added a lot to this line.

Anyway, that said, OG Growlithe is cute. It's mostly just a canine creature that is very loosely based off of a shisa (lion dog), but beyond that the stripes and wild fur always gave this line a bit of a distinct visual identity despite the relatively subtle theme. The orange color is pleasant and is complimented with additional cream fur, and the black stripes pop nicely.

That said, there are some weird visual quirks going on here—namely, the front paws. Seriously, what on earth is going on there?? It's so weird when it has proper back paws and Arcanine has all four paws as well. The ears are also a bit of a weird shape, something that the Hisuian version fixes.

Arcanine is the more distinct of the two, boasting a giant size (who doesn't want to ride a giant fire-breathing dog, really now), an even wilder mane, and more stripes. I like how it looks pretty strong and almost regal, befitting of the shisa concept. The extra spiky mane is also something rarely seen in modern Pokemon, which prefer smooth, easy-to-model shapes for fur instead.

Visually, I think Arcanine also smooths out some of the weirdness of Growlithe, such as the ear shape and the front paws. The way the head fur connects together to form a giant mane looks more natural than Growlithe's singular head tuft, and extra stripes are always a good thing.

My only visual complaint here is that the stripe patterning starts to feel erratic. The stripes on the legs have a triangular downward motion, while the stripes on the haunches are straight and have a forward motion... and then the stripes in the middle have a triangular shape but a backwards motion. It reduces the flow of the design and feels rather random, compared to picking one shape and direction for the markings and sticking with it. (Hisuian Arcanine does not fix this, but the markings are less noticeable due to the shape of its mane.) Otherwise, I do like it for what it is.

Site note: Arcanine's beta version was known as "wing", because the tufts on its legs were originally shaped like wings. This is why its Japanese name is Windie, why the Pokedex mentions it being able to run really fast, and why Hisuian Arcanine has the wing shape present in its front fur. It was mildly interesting, but it didn't really feel like it connected to Arcanine being a fire-type shisa in any meaningful way. Also, it didn't seem to have stripes in this version, which were a much-needed addition that help break the body up a bit.

Arcanine was also intended to be a legendary Pokemon at this point in development. It does kind of give off that vibe, but it probably makes more sense as just a cool normal Pokemon instead.

Anyway, not the most conceptual Pokemon out there, but still memorable enough and enjoyable in their own right even if the regionals are a little bit more thought out.

[yoitsjay]

Wilder West

Pairings: Ghost x Gn! Reader

Summary: you left your old life behind, you had a new purpose... but your past would come up eventually.

Warnings: cannon typical violence, wild west shiz. No specified gender, can be male or fem

Word count: 2388

Render credit: @ave661

1870, what a time to be living, where women were fighting for the right to live and vote and men were off running wild on horses, robbing folk who deserved it or who didn't. You were a lawman in a small town on the border of California and Nevada, practically the only form of law the small town you were in had. Everyone came and went, and of course the locals stayed and made your life either miserable or enjoyable, it all depended on the day really.

At the moment, your deputy in training was watching over the office and town while you were on a small patrol on the perimeter. Lately, there has been talk of robberies on the roads leading out of the town, and you suspected they would be heading in your town to rob folk and shops. It was all local and there wasn't a bank in the town, you'd have to travel to the nearest city which was several days away, There wasn't even a trolley station to store money in. You honestly had no idea why these outlaws would wish to rob your town.

However as you make your way back to the town you hear two gunshots from the middle of the town, followed by shouts of the locals and then shouts from strangers. Your eyes widened and you kicked the side of your horse and got him into motion, galloping back into town as you showed up behind several outlaws who now held your people at gunpoint. Your horse reared up on his hind legs as you pulled your revolver from its holster, pointing it at the back of the supposed leader's head. "I suggest you get the fuck out of my town." You drawled out, the sound of your gun loading filling the dust filled air. The outlaw slowly turned to you with his hands raised, and you quickly noticed that he was wearing a red skull half mask, with a bandana hiding the rest of his face underneath. He wore a vest and a cowboy hat with several teeth sewn into the fabric. Though his appearance was intimidating, he did not scare you.

"I will repeat myself. Get out of my town." You ordered, hearing the chuckles of the other outlaws. You gripped your weapon tighter, your eyes flickering around as you took in your surroundings, and the fact that two outlaws had snuck behind you, and had you surrounded. The leader spoke up, tipping his hat to you. "I think we found our pretty bounty boys." He drew out, however his accent was strange, it wasn't american. It was british. You scoffed, however as you looked to the sheriff's office you saw your young deputy get dragged out by the scruff of his neck. Once again your eyes went wide, and in your moment of vulnerability the leader shot forward, grabbing your arm as he tugged you down off your horse. The stupid beast ran away of course, not before kicking one of the outlaws to the ground. "stupid horse!" You shouted, struggling against the large man as he hogtied you on the ground. You huffed and you turned to lay on your back, staring up at the skull faced man with narrowed eyes.

"You will be comin' with us Sheriff Y/n… or should I say Bluebird? fastest draw from Louisiana to Montana? you should've known you'd be found one day." The man explained, grabbing you and hauling you over his shoulder before he placed you on the back of his horse. you grunted, staying silent as you stared at the ground. It had been years since you put down that name, you did not kill anymore, you didn't rob innocent people. You thought you had flipped your life around but… Your past caught up to you.

"Come on boys. Let's take this pretty thing back to camp, leave the rest, we got what we came for." The skull faced man announced, pulling himself up onto his horse before riding off. You grunted at the sudden jolting. shifting your body slightly as you tried to grab onto something to hold you more still as the man rode out of the town with his fellow outlaws behind him. "So who are you then? some outlaw wannabe?" You asked him, closing your eyes so you didn't get dust in them. The man chuckled, however he didn't answer you. The sun glared down on the back of your head, making you sweat more than you had before. "I turned my life around, I did good and I am good. I bet you can't say that about yourself." You sneered. You felt the man's horse slow to a walk, and then his hand in your hair as he yanked your head up so you looked at him and into his eyes through the mask.

"Shut up. Just stay quiet and once we get to camp you can talk all you want. We ain't bringing you in friend." He stated, however, that made you all the more confused, what did he mean by he and his ruffians were not turning you into the law? you were sure you had a massive bounty on your head, they could get a pretty damn big paycheck if they handed you in… maybe they were lying to you.

regardless his words shut you up and he continued riding, knowing well you were trying to figure out what he had meant. After a few more hours on the road, he pulled into a little forest clearing by a lake, it was cooler here, because there was more shade, and it was definitely relieving. however before you could bask in any more of the coolness, you were lifted off the back of the horse and dropped on the ground by a tree. you were untied for the most part except for one hand being tied to the tree so you couldn't go anywhere. The outlaws talked amongst each other before a different one approached you. This man had his face revealed, but he had a mohawk and a red cloth tied around his neck, he wore a white button up that was unbuttoned slightly down the collar with a dark brown vest over. he sat down in front of you and you both just stared each other down for a few minutes until you noticed a smile grow on his face.

"I've read newspapers about you, Blue Bird, only two years ago you were robbin and killin' west of arkansas. Now you're a lawman of a small town in Cali. How fast things change hm?" He questioned, however you simply narrowed your eyes. "get to the point mohawk, what do you want?" you asked him, watching as the scotsman stood up, gesturing for the others to come forward. Skull face approached and he handed you a bounty poster, but it didn't have your face on it. No it was an old friend of yours that you had long abandoned… "König?" You let out a shaky breath as you stared at the poster before looking up at the men around you. "You know him then?" a new voice spoke up, and you turned your head, staring at a dark skinned man with shorter hair, also wearing a button up but with no vest. You nodded your head.

"I do… König and I were an item, an unstoppable team, with him and his lackeys…" You trailed off, handing the bounty poster back to skull face. "What do you want with him?" You asked, balling your hands into fists as memories resurfaced in your mind. "We want you to join us and help us track him down. We know your skills as an excellent tracker, and on top of that you could be the person who knows where he was last… and as for König, he is an excellent hunter, big bounty, and an even bigger ego to match… we think he could be useful for a much bigger picture."

All of this was explained by another new voice, he had a beard and a cowboy hat resting atop his head, however it was different from skull face's hat, more fitting to his clothing style as well. a sigh left your lips as you stared down at the ground for a moment, eyebrows furrowing in thought before a conclusion finally came up in your mind.

You looked up at the men, shifting your hips in a more comfortable position. You nodded your head, running a hand through your hair. "I'll help, as long as you promise that he won't be harmed." You stated, and the better dressed man nodded before he cut the rope around your wrist. "What are your names?" you questioned, looking around at all of them. They were all much taller than you, not to say you were short or anything, you were average height, they were all just giants.

Mohawk stepped forward first with a big smile, and began gesturing around to the men in camp. "Im John, or Soap, our leader is Price, and that's Kyle but we call him Gaz, and then this big guy is Ghost. Just Ghost.." Soap was introduced, and you shook his hand firmly before shaking Price and then Gaz' hand. You stared at Ghost, narrowing your eyes as you stared at him before shaking his hand. He gripped your hand tight for a moment, even as you tried to pull away he didn't let go until he was ready, giving your hand one last squeeze before dropping your hand. Ghost then tipped his hat to you, leaving in silence. a huff left your lips and as the men scattered around to busy themselves you wiped the dirt off your pants. If you were back in the outlaw gig, you might as well look the part.

You walked up to Soap and you tapped him on the shoulder. "Soap, will you take me to my cabin outside of town? my gear is stored there and i'd like to get it." You requested, and he nodded with a grin. "Sure i'll take ya friend! just- don't do nothin' stupid alright? I'm not afraid to put a bullet in your head." He stated, and you nodded with a nervous expression. "I don't plan on stabbing you in the back." You explained as you followed him to his horse which was tethered up to one of the trees.

The trip to your little cabin didn't take that long, and in no time you had your sheriff's clothes off and you were back into the clothes that held so much history for you. Once you were dressed you had just one final touch, and as you exited the cabin where soap was waiting you slowly raised your arm, and you placed your signature hat down on your head, a light smile gracing your lips as you walked over to him. "I ain't no killer no more, but i sure am back in business." You told him, before putting your fingers up to your mouth, whistling loudly. It took a few minutes but you eventually heard the sound of galloping approaching closer and closer, and out of the tall brush emerged your horse. "You stupid boy" You scolded as you walked up to the fine steed, patting his broad neck before getting up onto the saddle, making yourself comfortable as you turned to Soap. "Ready? let's head back to camp." you requested, and with that you and soap rode- more like raced back to camp, and luckily enough for you, you had memorized the way out and you beat soap in the camp, skidding to a stop as he entered the clearing with a defeated look on his face.

Your boisterous laugh carried out through the camp as you tethered up your horse with soap, making your way to everyone else gathered around the campfire in the center of camp. the skull faced man- Ghost, piped up upon your return. "You seem like you two had fun… nice clothes sheriff." He pointed out, nodding his head to you in a quick motion before lifting his mask down just enough to take a sip of tea, pulling the mask up right after. A hum left your lips and you found a seat beside him and Soap, immediately being handed a cup of coffee by Price, you thanked him immediately, taking a sip as you stared in the fire.

"so, the last time I heard from König was about a year ago maybe? He sent me a letter after we parted ways, and he told me he would be heading up to Montana for some work. He also used to stay in a hovel in Oregon. I doubt he is still there hence the letter, but he could have left some clues behind to tell us where exactly he is." You explained, sipping your cup of coffee once more, Price hummed in agreement, liking the idea you proposed.

"Alright then, we leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning." He stated, standing up and leaving the fore which left no room for argument. The sun was already setting, and because of the trees blocking the sun it was significantly darker in camp, but lamps were strewn about as well as the light from the campfire. Ghost then stood up, gesturing for you to follow him. And follow him as you make your way to a large tent. He opened the flap for you, and you went inside first with him close behind. On the ground there were two bedrolls, one was a bit cluttered with items and trinkets while the other was completely empty. "You'll be sharing a tent with me. So I can keep an eye on you, understand?" He asked and you nodded, setting your hat down on the top of the bedroll. "Understood Ghost." You answered, turning around only to see that he had disappeared. a huff left your lips, however you wasted no time to get comfortable in your bedroll, you were tired and it had been a long and hot day.

So with your head resting upon your arms you let your eyes flutter closed and you fell asleep. And by the next morning you knew the hunt for König would begin.

[the-writing-trash-panda]

An unedited snippet of a new Ninjago fic I’m working on. The title is Fractured Bonds.

Skylor sat in the passenger seat of the red sports car, her hair tousled by the wind. Closing her eyes, she finally was able to relax. Running a noodle restaurant was exhausting. Feeling Kai place a hand on her thigh she smiled moving her hand to hold his.

“Fare warning, because Nya’s pregnant my mom might pester you about having kids,” Kai laughed as he thought about how excentric his mother could get.

Skylor squeezed Kai’s hand reassuringly, a laugh escaping her lips, “I’ll be sure to prepare for that.” Honestly, she didn’t care if Maya asked about kids, any conversation with her mother-in-law was an enjoyable one for Skylor, not to mention that she had found out she was actually pregnant and was waiting until they made it to the Smith’s residences in Ignacia to tell anyone.

As the couple pulled into the small rice-farming village the sun had begun its descent behind the horizon. Pulling up to the blacksmith shop Skylor saw that Nya and Maya were already waiting outside.

Nya, with a noticeable baby bump, waved excitedly as Skylor and Kai parked the car. Maya, Kai's mother, beamed at them, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Skylor! Kai!" Nya called out, her voice filled with warmth. "So glad you could make it!"

Skylor and Kai stepped out of the car, the warm evening breeze gently playing with Skylor's hair once again. Kai put an arm around Skylor, and they walked towards Nya and Maya.

“Hey guys, it’s been a while. How’s everything at the restaurant?” Jay asked as he and Ray walked outside. Noticing his wife’s struggle to stand up Jay offered Nya a hand while Kai and Skylor embraced Maya.

“I mean other than the occasional shitty customer things have been going great,” Kai answered, walking over and giving Jay a fist bump. “What about you? CTO of Borg Industries, that’s pretty big.”

Jay grinned, reciprocating the fist bump. "Yeah, it's been a wild ride. But nothing beats the excitement of starting a family," he said, looking down at Nya, who had successfully stood up with his help.

Nya chuckled, placing a hand on her baby bump. "It's a whole new adventure for sure. I can't wait for our little ninja to join the team."

“Well why don’t you guys come on in, the soba is ready,” Ray said, ushering the rest of the Smith family inside.

As the family ate and laughed, Skylor couldn’t help but place a hand on her abdomen. Looking up when Maya addressed her, “So Skylor, have you and Kai given any more thought to having kids?”

Chuckling a bit, Skylor answered, “Funny you should mention that. We’re actually expecting.”

Maya's eyes widened with joy as she heard Skylor's announcement. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in delight. "Oh, Skylor! That's wonderful news! Kai, did you know about this?"

Kai grinned, shaking his head in amusement. “No, I’m assuming she wanted to tell everyone at the same time.”

Maya squealed with excitement, pulling Skylor into a tight hug. "I'm going to be a grandmother! This is amazing news! See Ray, I told you having the whole family get together for the holidays would be a good idea."

Ray chuckled, looking at Maya with a twinkle in his eye. "You always have a way of making things special, dear. Jay, you said your parents would be coming in tomorrow, correct?” Jay nodded, swallowing the dumpling he had shoved into his mouth so that he could talk.

"Yes, they're starting their drive tonight. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to hear the news," Jay replied, a big smile on his face.

Nya, still glowing with the excitement of impending motherhood, added, "It's going to be a full house for the holidays. I can't wait!"

Skylor smiled to herself as the warmth of the Smith house enveloped her. She couldn’t ask for a better family. Did she miss her dad, sure. But she would forever be grateful that Kai and the others helped her escape from the living hell that was Chen’s Island.

The evening continued with laughter, shared stories, and the comforting aroma of delicious food filling the Smith house. Skylor felt a deep sense of contentment as she sat among the people she now considered her family. The news of her pregnancy added an extra layer of joy to the gathering, and she couldn't have been happier to share the moment with Kai, Nya, and the rest of the Smiths.

As the night unfolded, the group gathered in the living room. Maya, beaming with pride, couldn't resist sharing anecdotes about Kai's childhood, much to his playful embarrassment. Skylor and Kai exchanged knowing glances, grateful for the warmth and love surrounding them.

In the midst of the festivities, the realization struck her: she had found a home, not just a place to live, but a family that welcomed her with open arms. The Smiths had become her anchors, providing love and support that she had never experienced before.

As the night wound down, Skylor and Kai found a quiet moment together. They stood on the porch, looking at the starry sky above the rice fields. The tranquility of the night mirrored the peace Skylor felt in her heart. Kai wrapped his arms around her, and together, they marveled at the journey that had brought them to this point.

As they gazed at the stars, Skylor whispered, "I'm grateful for everything, Kai. For you, for them," gesturing towards the lively house behind them.

Kai kissed her forehead, his voice soft, "And I'm grateful for you, Skylor. We've come a long way, haven't we?"

They stood there, hand in hand, embracing the moment and looking forward to the new chapter that awaited them. The future held uncertainties, but with the love of family and each other, Skylor and Kai felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Unbeknownst to them a storm was brewing in the distant horizon, clouds gathering in ominous formations. Yet, in that serene moment on the porch, Skylor and Kai remained blissfully unaware of the approaching tempest.

The next morning, before the sun had even finished its ascension, the quiet atmosphere was disrupted by the roar of an engine and the bright Christmas lights strung around the car.

“Hey mum and dad. How was your drive?” Jay asked groggily as he walked out to greet his parents.

“Oh, you know, same as always. Your father got us lost and one of the headlights went out but we made it,” Edna replied, stepping out of The Jalopy and embracing her son.

“Good morning Mr. And Mrs. Walker, glad you could make it,” Nya grinned, slowly walking over to the Walkers.

“Oh, Nya dear! You should be resting, not worrying about us,” Edna said, trying to push the water ninja back inside.

“I’m fine, really. I'm just excited to have everyone together for the holidays," Nya reassured, gently resisting Edna's attempt to usher her back inside.

“Well you two got here just in time, I just finished the coffee,” Ray said as he helped Ed lug the bags inside.

The day was full of festivities, the woman making cookies and decorating the house while the men went out to cut down a tree.

The evening culminated in a grand feast, where the extended family gathered around a table adorned with dishes that represented a fusion of cultures. The air was filled with gratitude, stories, and the clinking of glasses.

“Well the first day of the family gathering was a success!” Jay announced, his cheerful smile faltering when there was a panicked knock at the door.

“I’ll go get it,” Maya offered, pushing her chair away from the table and walking away to the entrance of the house.

Opening the door she let out a small gasp. In front of her stood an old friend. Her blonde hair was disheveled and her blue eyes were looking around frantically as if she was being followed.

Maya's expression shifted from surprise to concern as she recognized the distressed figure at the door. Without hesitation, she ushered her old friend inside, closing the door behind her.

“Ray, could you come here for a minute,” Maya called to her as she sat the other woman on the couch.

Walking into the living room Ray’s smile fell when he saw the other person, “Libber, what are you doing here? Didn’t you leave to Cancester Isles with the intention of never returning?”

Libber looked up at Ray, her eyes filled with a mix of desperation and regret. "Ray, I didn't plan on coming back, but things have changed. I need your help. It's about Chen and a threat that could affect everyone."

Ray's expression hardened, and he exchanged a serious glance with Maya. The festive atmosphere of the family gathering hung in the air, momentarily disrupted by the unexpected arrival and the weight of unresolved history.

“Hey, is everything okay in here,” Kai asked as the others walked in.

“Not exactly, but before I explain I believe introductions are in order.” The room was blanketed with a tense atmosphere, “Everyone this is Libber and Libber the only one you don’t know is Skylor.” Maya said, gesturing to the redhead.

Libber nodded at the introductions, her eyes scanning the faces in the room and quickly dropping when she saw Jay.

Jay, sensing the tension, spoke up, "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Libber. What brings you to Ignacia?"

Libber took a deep breath, her eyes avoiding Jay's gaze. "I never thought I'd return, but I discovered something that poses a threat to everyone here. It's about Chen returning, the possibility of Nerola still being alive and a dangerous plot. I need your help.”

Skylor’s heart started racing at the mention of her parents and the possibility of them no longer being dead.

[mediaevalmusereads]

Powers of Darkness: the Lost Version of Dracula. By Bram Stoker and Valdimar Ásmundsson (trans. Hans Corneel de Roos). Overlook Duckworth, 2016.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Genre: horror, 19th/20th century literature

Series: N/A

Summary: Powers of Darkness is an incredible literary discovery: In 1900, Icelandic publisher and writer Valdimar Ásmundsson set out to translate Bram Stoker’s world-famous 1897 novel Dracula. Called Makt Myrkranna (literally, “Powers of Darkness”), this Icelandic edition included an original preface written by Stoker himself. Makt Myrkranna was published in Iceland in 1901 but remained undiscovered outside of the country until 1986, when Dracula scholarship was astonished by the discovery of Stoker’s preface to the book. However, no one looked beyond the preface and deeper into Ásmundsson’s story.

In 2014, literary researcher Hans de Roos dove into the full text of Makt Myrkranna, only to discover that Ásmundsson hadn’t merely translated Dracula but had penned an entirely new version of the story, with all new characters and a totally re-worked plot. The resulting narrative is one that is shorter, punchier, more erotic, and perhaps even more suspenseful than Stoker’s Dracula. Incredibly, Makt Myrkranna has never been translated or even read outside of Iceland until now.

Powers of Darkness presents the first ever translation into English of Stoker and Ásmundsson’s Makt Myrkranna. With marginal annotations by de Roos providing readers with fascinating historical, cultural, and literary context; a foreword by Dacre Stoker, Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew and bestselling author; and an afterword by Dracula scholar John Edgar Browning, Powers of Darkness will amaze and entertain legions of fans of Gothic literature, horror, and vampire fiction.

***Full review below.***

Content Warnings: blood, racism

Because this book is a late 19th/early 20th century work of literature, I'm going to structure my review a little different from normal.

I first became aware that there was an "Icelandic version" of Dracula a few years ago. Hearing that it contained a different plot, different characters, and various allusions to Norse-Icelandic folklore, I was excited to read it and compare it to Stoker's novel. And boy, did this story take me on a wild ride.

I won't spoil the plot for anyone who wishes to discover how different (or similar) it is to Dracula, so instead, I'll focus on the edition by de Roos.

Overall, I found this edition to be fairly accessible for a casual reader yet it involved enough supplementary materials to satisfy someone with a more academic interest in the work. de Roos's introduction clearly laid out the relationship between Dracula and Powers of Darkness, and I found the diagrams of the castle to be very helpful. As for the text itself, I don't read a lot of Icelandic, so I can't speak to the quality of the translation, but I appreciated the notes in which de Roos explains his choices.

I also really loved the page layouts in this volume. I love a book with big, beautiful margins that leave enough space for me to make my own annotations, and I appreciated that the "footnotes" weren't at the bottom of the page, but just to the right or left to the text so I didn't have to move my eyes very far. Granted, this layout did mean that there was a lot of wasted space, so this edition will probably best serve those who will be writing directly on the page.

Overall, I award this book 4 stars because it was a wacky reading experience, made all the more engaging by de Roos's introduction and informational annotations. The only thing preventing me from giving it a full 5 stars is my subjective enjoyment of the text itself; I found part 2 to be rather awkward, and the descriptions of the "ape-like" people reeked of 19th century racism (though de Roos points this out). Still, if you're interested in Dracula and its legacy, you'd do well to pick up this book, though if you're doing serious scholarship, you should probably find an Icelandic language version too.