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biapascal · 24 days ago

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Childood Besties.

Request: hi! how are you? if you're taking requests i would love one with paul mescal <3 him and reader were childhood friends and always had feelings, but they stop seeing each other because life, collegue happens (the usual) and when the both are adults the meet again during the holidays and it's so cute, pleasee!!! thanks, have a lovely day <3

Hi love! 🤎🫧 Hope you like this!

Summary: reader name is Millie. Childood best friends. Fluff fluff fluff 🪶

Warnings: loss of a parent.

You met him at the playground. Your hands were covered in dirt and he was playing with toy cars next to you. You didn't even bother to ask him to join you: you were building your fort and didn't want any unwanted visitors.

"It's going to fall" he said. "What?" You tilted your head and he pointed to your construction. "It's going to fall." You found it annoying. "No, it's not" you replied. He smiled softly. "All right then, can my cars come by, they need gas."

"Yes, I have gasoline in there."

🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧🫧

You didn't want to get this tattoo. You hated the idea of the ink taking root in your skin, you would have felt damaged. You spent the night before scrolling through Pinterest looking for inspiration. You chose the seahorse because it reminded you of the days you spent with him at the beach. You didn't even like it that much, but you were tired of searching. Your father died and you felt the need to get a tattoo. You thought it was stupid, but you felt it was the right thing to do. They had just opened a tattoo parlor in your own city. A friend recommended it, and you didn't have the time or inclination to look elsewhere. Gia got a tattoo there: A small gerbil on the collar bone. It was cute, and that was enough for you to understand the skills of the tattoo artist. You arrived with the picture ready to be shown, and seeing Paul was unexpected. The two of you were childhood buddies until eighth grade: he started playing soccer and you didn't care about his hobbies anymore, so you found other friends. You didn't leave him with hatred, but over the years you wondered what your teenage years would have been like around him. You even had an innocent crush on him during seventh grade, but you never told him because you felt he already knew and didn't say anything so as not to break your heart. After high school he disappeared from your sight. You followed him on social media and saw that he got a girlfriend. She was hot and he seemed happy. You weren't jealous, but you couldn't help but wonder what he would be like as a boyfriend.

When you saw him that day, he was single and in great shape. "Mills!" He greeted you. "Damn, I didn't expect to see you” you chuckled. "Yeah, me neither." He was cleaning a table and seemed relaxed and happy to see you. You'd be lying if you said he wasn't a fine man. "How are you??"

Shitty: Your father just died and you got a college degree in marine biology while working at Starbucks. You managed to smile despite the horrible feeling inside you. "Well" you didn't even want to lie. "My father just died..." his eyes widened in shock. "Jez Mills, I'm so sorry” you nodded, used to those words. "I was actually going to get a tattoo for him, it's stupid and clichéd I know..."

“Well, I don't judge. If you feel it's something you want to do to remember him, that's fine.” He said. He was always good at drawing and for years he had to choose between following his soccer career or an artistic path.

The seahorse was perfect.

You smiled. "Thanks, it's really cute" he got up from his seat. "I know I shouldn't ask, but why a seahorse? Did your dad introduce you to marine biology?" you shook your head. "I actually picked a seahorse yesterday” you admitted, blushing a little. He smiled amused. "Really?" you nodded. "I was thinking about my memories with him, and I remembered him teaching me how to swim, and then, you know... I just picked a sea creature". You were about to put on your jacket and leave when he stopped you. From the look on his face, you could tell he wasn't sure what he was going to say, and you felt strange. "Look, I know it's been a while..." he began. "More than a while, we were kids then" you added. "Yeah, but I just got here, my old buddies don't live here anymore, the town has changed. Wouldn't you like to have lunch together, talk a little and get to know our grown-up versions of ourselves together?" It was an interesting way to ask someone out. "Yes" you nodded with a warm feeling in your chest. "Sure. Monday is okay?"

You didn't know if this was a date, but you still had to look nice. During the holidays, the city embraced your Christmas spirit with comfort and cute decorations on the streets. You waited for him outside the pub, and when you saw him, you couldn't help but feel attracted and wished this was a date.

Christmas music was playing in the background, but the atmosphere was gone. Paul must have noticed your discomfort and asked you if you were okay. "Yeah, yeah, it's just” you looked around. "It's loud" he nodded. "We can go somewhere else if you want” you shook your head. "No, I really want a beer” he chuckled. "Okay, okay."

He has always been caring since he was a child. He seemed genuinely interested in how you felt. So when he started asking you about your family, work, and friends, you knew he wanted to know that everything was really okay.

"Yes, Mom got better and now I can say that the awful feeling of grief is slowly becoming less painful, but please, I want to know about your life” he felt uncomfortable and you wrinkled your eyebrows. "Sorry," he blushed. "It's just... I dropped out of college. Soccer was stressing me out and I was looking for a job" there was nothing to be ashamed of. "Hey, you have your own tattoo studio" he took a sip of his beer. "Why are you ashamed?" he sighed. "Well, all my friends went to college, even you..." you rolled your eyes. "Who cares, I have a degree and I work at Starbucks.” You raised your eyebrows. "Nothing against Starbucks, but after all those years of studying, it's not exactly what I wanted."

The lunch was great. It gave you a warm feeling. You felt comfortable around him and now you really wanted to get that tattoo.

When you arrived at the studio, he asked you where you wanted it. You blushed because you weren't sure. "Uh, how about the wrist?" he suggested. You nodded. "Is that a nice spot?" you asked. "Yes, it would look cute on you."

It was painful as hell, and when you got to the end and had the seahorse on your skin, you sighed in relief. He was there the whole time, working carefully and asking you about your pain. You wanted to stay in that chair with him for a little while longer, even if you didn't want to have another pain session. he noticed, and you both blushed. "How was it?" He asked. "Terrible, but the drawing is adorable," he smiled softly. "Glad you liked it."

You started to date shortly after. The first time he asked you out, he went to Starbucks and you felt embarrassed, but were happy to serve him and say yes. You have met several times. One day you were walking through the park and noticed that the playground had disappeared. "That's sad” he looked at you confused. You pointed to the place where you and him used to spent your childhood together. "The playground...they got rid of it" he looked surprised. "Oh" he started to walk and you followed him. You both tried to remember where the objects of your past were, pretending to see them. You were on the "swing" when he suddenly stopped and stared at you seriously. "Hey, what's going on?" He remained serious for a few seconds and then smiled, giving you a warm feeling in your stomach. "Nothing, just thinking” you scowled. "About what?" He chuckled. "Nothing, it's just... this place reminded me of when you had a crush on me" he admitted. You blushed and looked down. "Oh, so you knew then..." he nodded. "I was waiting for you to tell me" you widened your eyes in surprise. "Too bad you didn't and I was too cowardly to say anything myself". "So you... you had a crush on me?" he chuckled, obviously embarrassed. "Yeah." You both remained silent. "But I don't want to be a coward now, too” your eyes brightened. "Do you have a crush on me?" You asked. He nodded. "Yes, Mills, I like you and I'd like to kiss you if I that’s okay”you took his hand, colder than yours, but when your lips melted together you realized that the warmth was the same.

#paul mescal #paul mescal x reader #paul mescal x y/n #paul mescal fanfic #fluff

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ashensgrotto · 1 year ago

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A Merfolk's Melody (Part 2)

Characters: Yan!Floyd x Reader, Yan!Jade x Reader, Yan!Azul x Reader

Word Count: 13.5k

Intro Floyd Leech (You are Here) Jade Leech Azul Ashengrotto Epilogue

Synopsis: The sea always calls to those who feel lost and alone, wanting to fill the empty part of their soul until they are loved and full… and as such, it’s only fair that the strange creatures that live beneath its depths would want the same as well…

Author’s Note: Another 4-part fanfiction courtesy of @merakiui ‘s headcanon of the reader being stuck in a room/wall (I’m sorry, but I just enjoy your headcanons and they always give me these ideas) -> https://www.tumblr.com/merakiui/722393818829373440/in-addition-to-being-stuck-in-a-locked-room?source=share & https://www.tumblr.com/merakiui/722677892623056896/about-the-stuck-in-a-wall-trope-in-the-oceani?source=share

Here’s how it’s going to work: each character is going to get their own part following the intro. It is going to focus on the Octrio again (bc it’s my current liking, sorry guys). If you want to read a certain character’s part, feel free to jump around and select the one you’re most interested in.

Again, as stated before, this is a work of fiction; I disagree with any and all behaviors that are represented in this story.

*****

Just as the shore was lined by rocky terrain, the same could be said beneath the waves. Rocks and heavy stones climbed up toward the surface like mountains reaching for the sky. Sea grasses waved with the movement of the tide like it was wind while small fish and crabs swam and scuttled along the rocky beds. Coral and sea anemone peered out from dark crevices, the colors of sea green, blue, pinks, and cream stark against the backdrop of black, gray, and dark green. Never before had you ever seen a more beautiful sight as your body dove further away from the shoreline, your eyes intaking every little detail and imprinting it to memory to recall later.

The sea grass tickled your feet as you kicked by them and you touched the rocky walls that housed the creatures of the deep before a school of fish swam by, some of their colorful bodies brushing against you as the feeling of scales and coating left their marks along your body. Other sea creatures like mantis shrimp, seahorses, and the occasional sea turtle or dolphin appeared beside you - as if to welcome you to their little hidden paradise among the waves; some waving in your direction while another would slip under your hands or body, guiding you further and further into the rocky caverns before leaving you to your own explorations.

Every few minutes, you would stop and lift your head above water, gulping in deep breaths as your lungs drank in the air like a drowning man, before you would duck back below the surface. As you ducked beneath the surface for another time, a flash of sea green catches the corner of your eye from a little ways below you. You blinked, turning your head in the direction where you saw the flash, wondering what you had seen. It could have been some sea grass - but it seemed much bigger, maybe a fish? You pop back above the surface, looking around as the waves crash around you, judging your distance from your location to the shoreline.

You were a bit away from the shore by now - but not too far that you couldn’t swim back - making you think that what you saw may or may not have been a shark. However, to your knowledge, you didn’t know of any green sharks that existed in the real world. The stories and tales of the merfolk came flooding back to the forefront of your mind, as well as the story of the old fisherman. You looked down into the water as you felt a set of eyes watching you from beneath the waves as a feeling of unease crept over you; however, that strange tugging sensation you felt on land was now pulling you down - towards the rocky caverns beneath the waves.

Would you dare follow your instincts? They had never been wrong before when it came to this sort of thing. Steeling your nerves, you take a gulp of air and dive beneath the waves - unaware that this was to be your last time above the waves.

Your lungs burned as you held your breath, disappearing into the dark caverns that made up the rocky mountains of the ocean. You let the tug within your body guide you through the dark crevices and through long winding tunnels; following the unknown path blindly. As you traveled, you swore you could hear a clicking noise behind you - often turning to look over your shoulder to see if there was another sea creature you had to meet behind you, but you were unable to make out anything in the darkness of the waters. However, when you did continue onward, a shape that was long and menacing appeared behind you, a wicked grin reflecting off a row of sharp teeth - a pair of heterochromia eyes that glowed in the dark locked on your form as they followed behind you quietly.

At the end of the tunnel, an open area that appeared to be a large cave with a small opening - large enough for you to fit through. The tug had ended here - at a dead end; you floated there for a moment, looking around in the darkness as your hair spread around you, no longer confined to the restraints of the air above. However, your heart nearly stopped when you heard a voice snicker before a familiar and unfamiliar voice called out, “Oh, Shrimpy~!!”

You spun around, creating bubbles as you whirled, as a creature appeared from the darkness behind you in the entrance of the cave. It was hard to see, but you were certain it was the strange green creature you had seen earlier; it had the upper body of a man and the lower half of some sort of frilled fish and close to about seven or eight feet in length, fins peeking out from the sides of his head like ears and on his forearms. Small stripes stretched across his cheeks, shoulders, arms, and waist with two thicker ones on his tail, dipping near his hips and over where a set of thighs may have been had he been human. Hair the color of deep teal floated around him as a longer strand the color of seaweed fell over the right side of his face. His eyes, one brown and one gold, studied you for a moment, brows curling inward.

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that some - if not most - animals, even sea creatures, could be territorial; especially if they had a nest or a grotto nearby. This thing probably had been out hunting for food for its young - meaning very likely that mers were not so different from the sea creatures that had made their homes within the rocky caverns. Based on what you had seen - this was no ordinary merfolk, either; it was a moray mer - and a deadly one at that. Moray eels were known to attack when provoked, but the mers were known to hunt anything that trespassed into their territory - watching from the darkness before striking unexpectedly. You had heard stories about them when you were a child - the locals believing that they typically traveled in pairs, meaning that there was likely a secondary one close by and you had to tread carefully now that one of them had found you.

The two of you stared at each other - you nearly turned blue from holding your breath so long, but not wanting to move in case the moray mer tried anything as well as caught up by his features. In the darkness of the cavern, you could still make out strong, sharp features that border-lined what appeared to be boredom; his mismatched eyes drooping downward to indicate as much. A pointed nose stopped above a thin lips that twisted into a smirk, the hint of sharp teeth protruding from behind them - high cheekbones were lined by twin deep teal markings that stopped just beneath his eyes. You could see the faint ridges along the mer’s neck that fluttered from the movement of the water - the gills that permitted him to breath.

His heterochromia eyes suddenly lit up - glowing brightly as a smile bearing the frightening sharp shark-like teeth spread out before you - his stripes slowly beginning to glow a bright neon teal, “Found ya.’”

The mer dodged at you, frightening you into moving quickly to try and avoid him. You allowed yourself to sink for a moment, trying to swim back the way you came. The mer was quick, stopping you from exiting by cutting off the escape route, eyes glowing in the darkness as his long tail curled above him. You spung and swam in the opposite direction, toward the little hole in the wall that was your only way to escape.

“Shrimpy… Please don’t try to run away from me,” the mer growled as he gave chase - much faster than you, “I don’t like it when my prey tries to run - especially you.”

‘What is this thing’s problem?’ you propelled yourself forward, toward the only other exit, ‘Damn it - I likely crossed into its territory when I wasn’t thinking. I have to get out of here!’

You were close to the hole when a webbed clawed hand grabbed at your leg, pulling you downward and into the mer’s chest.

“Hehe~ I got ya, Shrimpy,” you heard the mer whisper, his cold nose stroking along the outer shell of your ear as his hands rested against your neck, his thumbs pressed against the back of your neck as his nails on his fingers curled against either side of your throat - right were your heartbeat was thumping wildly as his next words sent you thrashing, “You’re mine…”

You balled your fists together and pushed your elbows into the mer behind you, his hands scratching your throat none-too-gently as he released you, grunting from the impact. You pushed yourself up and out of his reach, away from him and towards the hole in the walls. You spread your arms forward, your hands, wrists and arms passing through the entrance with no problems - head, neck and chest following shortly after with little difficulty. You urked then, gasping as a surprising pain shocked through your waist, stomach, and hips as they refused to go forward. You press your hands against the outer side of the wall of the cavern, pushing against the hard rock that digs into your skin as you attempt to free yourself from its hold and the creature that lurked behind you. You could hear him giggling behind you, feel his tail wrap around your ankle like seaweed as his hands came to rest on your hips, nails digging into your clothed skin. You kicked at him to push him away, but his tail wrapped tightly around your legs - keeping them contained.

"Ah, shrimpy, shrimpy," you heard him tut behind you before you felt his thumbs run circles over your clothed hips, "If ya had wanted to mate with me so badly… why didn't ya say so?"

'M-mate?!' You thought, trying to struggle against the mer’s hold.

"Now, calm down - unless ya want me ta be rough with ya?"

You feel the back of your shirt raised before something slimy and smooth run along your back before something coarse follows shortly afterwards, the feeling of cool lips pressing against your exposed flesh makes you shudder. You feel long noble fingers dig into the fabric of your cotton shorts, a ripping sound bringing you back to focus as you attempt to struggle against the mer.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for ya to come to me - it’s been soo long since I last saw ya. But now - here you are, right where ya belong… but, don’t worry,” you hear a giggle behind you as something cups you between your legs - long and sharp claws slowly stroking the sensitive flesh of your clit, “I’ll take good care of ya - just like I promised a long time ago. Ya need to be still though - ya wouldn’t want to make me angry, hm?”

I feel something sharp press against your rear - making you jump in fright as pain and pleasure courses from the likely bite the moray mer has given you.

He giggles, “So cute… so cute when you jump like this…”

You feel his fingers slowly begin to move against your hot spot, moisture from within gathering to kiss the mer’s fingertips as you whimper out loud, trying and failing to get away from his touch as your body arches from the contact. Another stinging sensation comes from the other side of your rear as sharp teeth dig into the flesh, making you cry out as a finger slowly slips into your entrance - swallowing the intruder like a snake with a mouse.

“Mmmm… so sweet and hot,” the mer whispers against your skin, nibbling on your butt for a moment before pressing a kiss to both marks and curling his finger within you as his lips move towards your back, “Precious… my precious shrimpy…”

A second finger is inserted inside you, making your eyes roll into the back of your head as you spread your legs further apart, not completely under the moray’s control as his tail releases you for favor of keeping your legs spread with one hand and his hips as his lips press kisses along your back here and there before his teeth scrapes against your skin, tugging and tear the fabric of your shirt away to get at you. Your hands, still planted on the outer side of the wall, grip the rock as you feel your face fall forward, your chest heaving from the gasps you were inhaling.

- But how could that be?

Before you could ponder it, the mer’s fingers slipped from your entrance - making you feel your clit grasp at nothing as a stroke of pleasant fire burned in your belly, making you whimper in response. However, it’s short lived as the lips of the mer trail back downward as his hands rub against the skin of your thighs, his sharp nails digging into the flesh and drawing blood as they move upward to your hips and stomach - tearing the remainder of your clothing as shreds of your shirt and shorts float to the bottom of the cavern. The mer’s sharp nose runs along the folds of your lips, kissing the sensitive flesh as another set of shivers run along your spine, making gooseflesh pimple along your arms. Before you can register the pleasure, you feel his teeth sink into the sensitive flesh, causing a howl to escape your throat as you arch - your head hitting the rocky outer wall before you wince at the impact. Something long and slippery teases your folds, flicking over the button and making you whimper as a fire begins to burn in your thighs. You try to push away, but your legs are held apart by the mer’s strong hold - your legs infinitely trapped over his biceps as his clawed webbed hands grip your thighs tightly.

You feel him hum against you with every stroke, drinking you in like a dying man as his tongue slips into your main entrance - tasting your essence as it drips from your body like honey from a beehive - as his nose nuzzles the other entrance below you. When he does pull away, you have only a moment to pant before three long sharp fingers are pushed within your body roughly, forcing another whimper to escape your lips as they are pulled back before thrusting inward.

“Ah, shrimpy… you’re ready.”

The fingers leave you as you feel them grip your hips, his own pushing your thighs apart as something long and thick makes its home at your entrance. You shake your head, internally pleading for the creature to stop - to let you go.

The chuckle that echoes across your backside makes you freeze for a moment, “Now, why in the world would I want ta do that?”

One hand strokes along your spine as a comforting gesture, the voice of the mer ringing in your ears as if he was right beside you, “Shrimpy - ya made a promise ta me a long time ago, however I think ya have forgotten about it. Jade always said humans are so whimsical, so I can see where and how he would see that. The good thing in all of this, though, is the bond that we made once upon a time - when I was just a little moray fry and you were just a lonely little girl in a cabin by the sea. You came back… came back for me, and now - now I can have you utterly and completely, just like ya promised.”

You gasped as something thick, long, and ridged slipped within you. You could feel it intrude all the way to your core as strong arms released your legs in favor of wrapping around your wasit, your body being pulled backwards to all the mer to rest his forehead against your back as bubbles and soft hot breath caressed your skin. He pulled out for a moment before thrusting back in, keeping you tightly to his body as he grunted and moaned against you - the tightness a welcoming comfort. You gritted your teeth as wave after wave of fiery hot pleasure began to seep into the skin of your belly and thighs, making your toes curl and tingle with each of the mer’s thrusts as your hips connected.

“Shrimpy… shrimpy,” the mer kissed at your shoulder blades before he pulled you further into him, his head coming to prop itself beatween your shoulder and your neck, “Ah, shrimpy… so tight - just wanna lay ya, fill ya with my eggs…”

You moan softly as a particular hard thrust forces you to squeeze him tighter, which pushes the mer forward harder and faster as his hands dig deeper into your skin - the claws holding you in place but drawing blood from within. You whimper as your walls tighten around him further squeezing him hard as you gasp - feeling the peak shortly arriving.

“F-F-Floyd…”

A name that was once long forgotten echoes in the cavern - the moray stopping for only a moment, his eyes wide at the sound of his name from your lips before that familiar wicked smirk spreads across his features.

“That’s right, (Y/N)... say my name…”

***

Several hours have passed as Floyd has curled his body around you like a large feathered boa, keeping you confined as you lay asleep in a bed of seaweed and grass. His fingers stroke through the loose wild strands of your hair, leaning forward every so often to press kisses to your face and neck - leaving little bites along your cheeks and throat to mark you as his.

He had lost track of how many times he had gone to the surface world to find you nearly six years ago - watching from the rocky shore as he waited for you to return. With each passing day, a piece of him had begun to shatter - breaking into a thousand more tiny pieces with each failed find. It got to the point where he thought he had been abandoned - even though his brother had attempted to convince him otherwise.

It was only about four weeks ago that something within him cried out - forcing him to jump up and stay alert in the shared cavern he had with his twin. He and Jade had gone to Azul about it - Floyd had been spooked quite a bit from the feeling of a pull in his chest like someone was wrenching his heart in two. The octomer explained that such symptoms were because of a bond that were shared between destined souls - ones that made pacts together during their childhood and would eventually bare fruit when the time had come. It only happened every so often, the octomer had explained, and it needed to be taken care of properly - otherwise the bond could sever and one of the two souls could die. Floyd had taken this as a sign to renew his searches for you in the world above.

It was only about three weeks later when he saw you from his hiding spot behind the rocks - amazed and in awe of how much you’d grown and filled out - no longer the shrimpy little girl he had teased when he had been a fry.

He began the preparations then, making a home in the caverns near the surface so he coils always be near to you and vice versa. He gathered pretty shells and sea flowers - made your shared bed and tugged large rocks that would make a perfect home for you. He began thinking about children then - knowing that the time would come soon when he would want to have fry of his own; fry that was made from the love you shared with him. The thoughts, and being in warmer waters for prolonged periods of time, eventually forced Floyd into his heat - his heterochromia eyes now locked on you completely.

All that was needed then was… a little push.

Floyd curled himself closer to you, fingers tracing the gills that now lined either side of your neck where he had scratched you - a temporary remedy that would last until he could strike up a deal with Azul for a potion that would turn you into one of them - before his hand moved further down to press against your belly that was now bulging with his seed. His eggs would stay within you - incubating within your body until the time to lay them came; he imagined watching over the clutch with you, seeing your soon-to-be fry slowly developing within them as his fingers would graze over the outer shells. Of course, all of your fry would have to leave this place once they hatched - taken by the sea to develop and grow before returning to you.

He secretly hoped all of them would come back. Floyd returned his gaze to fixate on your features, his nose running along your cheekbone before pressing a kiss on it, “Sleep well… my precious shrimpy.”

#twisted wonderland #floyd leech #twst floyd #floyd leech x reader #yandere floyd leech #yandere floyd x reader #twst n/sfw #n/sfw

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britpop-band-shite · 3 months ago

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CURRENT EVENT

Best britpop person, matchups will be randomised, fairly self explanatory. Submit musicians not bands (ie submit Damon Albarn not Blur). Feel free to judge based off whatever you like. Other poll submissions still open

HOW POLL SUBMISSIONS WORK

literally just send an ask and I’ll make it! You can do a poll on artists, songs, or albums. I am widening the scope of genres, while this blog is focused on britpop I don’t mind if other 90s bands or adjacent artists crop up.

PREVIOUS TOURNEY WINNERS AND INFO BELOW

1st: Blur

2nd: Manic Street Preachers

3rd: Suede

❌ELIMINATED ARTISTS❌

the artist they lost too will be in brackets

Teenage Fanclub (Round 1: Echobelly)

Rialto (Round 1: S*M*A*S*H)

Space (Round 1: Stereophonics)

Gorkys Zygotic Mynci (Round 1: Shampoo)

Ocean Colour Scene (Round 1: Placebo)

Reef (Round 1: Elastica)

Cecil (Round 1: Gene)

Silver Sun (Round 1: Skunk Ananise)

Bis (Round 1: Blur)

Nilon Bombers (Round 1: Powder)

Pimlico (Round 1: Northern Uproar)

60ft Dolls (Round 1: Gay Dad)

The Verve (Round 1: The Stone Roses)

Thurman (Round 1: Ash)

Oasis (Round 1: Pulp)

These Animal Men (Round 1: Salad)

The Lightning Seeds (Round 1: Ride)

Me Me Me (Round 1: Jocasta)

Mansun (Round 1: Super Furry Animals)

Heavy Stereo (Round 1: The Divine Comedy)

Bennet (Round 1: Republica)

Cast (Round 1: McAlmont & Butler)

Hefner (Round 1: The Pointy Birds)

Kula Shaker (Round 1: Manic Street Preachers)

Geneva (Round 1: Marion)

David Devant & His Spirit Wife (Round 1: The Boo Radleys)

Kenickie (Round 1: Lush)

The Seahorses (Round 1: The Bluetones)

Longpigs (Round 1: James)

Denim (Round 1: Catatonia)

Feeder (Round 1: Suede)

Saint Etienne (Round 1: The Charlatans)

Speedy (Round 1: Whiteout)

The Supernaturals (Round 1: The La’s)

Dodgy (Round 1: Sleeper)

Cornershop (Round 1: Supergrass)

Kinky Machine (Round 1: Menswe@r)

Hurricane #1 (Round 1: Shed Seven)

Babybird (Round 1: Paul Weller)

Delicatessen (Round 1: Daisy Chainsaw)

The Auteurs (Round 1: Strangelove)

Embrace (Round 1: Black Grape)

Theaudience (Round 1: Travis)

My Life Story (Round 1: The Beautiful South)

Babylon Zoo (Round 1: Edwyn Collins)

Young Offenders (Round 1: The Flamingoes)

Gene (Round 2: Ash)

The Bluetones (Round 2: The Divine Comedy)

Northern Uproar (Round 2: Strangelove)

Daisy Chainsaw (Round 2: Pulp)

Marion (Round 2: Echobelly)

Black Grape (Round 2: Blur)

Edwyn Collins (Round 2: Manic Street Preachers)

Skunk Ananise (Round 2: The Stone Roses)

The Boo Radleys (Round 2: Republica)

Salad (Round 2: The Beautiful South)

Gay Dad (Round 2: Sleeper)

The Pointy Birds (Round 2: The Flamingoes)

S*M*A*S*H (Round 2: James)

The Charlatans (Round 2: Super Furry Animals)

Menswe@r (Round 2: Elastica)

Jocasta (Round 2: Suede)

Shampoo (Round 2: Placebo)

Travis (Round 2: McAlmont & Butler)

Ride (Round 2: Catatonia)

Shed Seven (Round 2: Paul Weller)

Supergrass (Round 2: Lush)

Whiteout (Round 2: Stereophonics)

James (Round 3: Elastica)

Pulp (Round 3: Placebo)

Paul Weller (Round 3: Lush)

McAlmont & Butler (Round 3: Ash)

Echobelly (Round 3: Suede)

Republica (Round 3: Blur)

Catatonia (Round 3: Manic Street Preachers)

The Beautiful South (Round 3: Sleeper)

Strangelove (Round 3: Stereophonics)

The Divine Comedy (Round 3: Super Furry Animals)

The Flamingoes (Round 3: The Stone Roses)

Ash (Round 4: Placebo/Super Furry Animals)

The Stone Roses (Round 4: Manic Street Preachers)

Stereophonics (Round 4: Blur)

Sleeper (Round 4: Lush)

Elastica (Round 4: Suede)

Placebo (Round 5: Suede)

Lush (Round 5: Blur)

Super Furry Animals (Round 5: Manic Street Preachers)

#Britpop #cool cymru #90s britpop #Blur #oasis #90s music #british music #welsh music #english music #suede #pulp #manic street preachers #tournament #band #band tournament #grebo #Teen c pop #New wave of new wave

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littlestfallenangel · 1 year ago

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Neuvillette: The moment I see Deus Auri, Narukami, or Barbatos, I shall cast my judgment upon them.

Venti: As you should, especially that blockhead Morax.

Zhongli: I believe that it is Barbatos that is most deserving of your wrath, oh Dragon Sovereign of Water. After all, he claims to stand for freedom, while imprisoning a piece of your compatriot within himself.

Ei: Sovereign, you may be able to use pretense to avoid your confrontation with these two, but surely you can't pretend that I am not the Narukami you seek to judge.

Neuvillette: True, but you are also Kusanali's chaperone for this trip, so you have a stay of execution.

Ei: And what of Buer?

Venti: And where is Buer?

Nahida: *suddenly bursts out of the lake nearby, giggling and riding a seahorse, before diving back in*

Neuvillette: ... She's clearly busy at the moment.

#genshin impact #neuvillette #zhongli #venti #raiden shogun #nahida

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the-darkness-does-not-bargain · 3 months ago

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Act I, Scene I: The Wedding

The wedding of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laena Velaryon was a grand affair, of course. The ceremony was held in the Sept, with sunlight streaming through the fine glass windows, and the benches were crowded with highborn attendees from all across the continent. Hoary old Rickon Stark was there with his son Cregan, sitting two rows behind Jason Lannister and his young wife. The widowed Lady Leonette Tyrell sat beside Alicent’s own family, and all of them were kept away from the representative of House Martell, who had come as a peace ambassador following the war in the Stepstones. Everyone was talking amongst themselves, and the Sept’s high ceilings created a reverberating echo that only quieted when the High Septon called for the ceremony to begin. Alicent could hardly think in the noise, but the proceeding silence was just as jarring.

Rhaenyra cut a dashing figure in her wedding attire. Her cloak was a masterpiece of midnight black velvet with an army of red dragons flying upon it. The three-headed sigil of House Targaryen was embroidered in the center, encrusted in a mine’s worth of rubies. Blackfyre hung from her belt, a gift from her father. It was customary for alphas to wear a sword during their wedding ceremony, but carrying the Conqueror’s sword was an especially pointed statement. Here is my heir, your future queen, Viserys was saying. Look upon her and bend the knee.

Laena was stunningly gorgeous in her own right. Her dress was vibrant, shimmering, and blue as the Summer Sea. Pale seahorses danced along her skirts, and her arms, fingers, and neck were swamped in silver jewelry. She was perfectly put together, but Alicent knew she had been up early that morning, having her skin perfumed and her curls tamed. She’d yawned incessantly all through the breakfast feast, to the gentle chastisement of her mother.

Alicent was in no position to judge, as she’d spent the morning dealing with her own problems. Three months in, the hardships of pregnancy were already weighing heavily on her. Her breasts were sore and sensitive, requiring frequent massage, and all her gowns were being resized to accommodate her growing belly. The dress she wore today had been mercifully altered, but even so, she prayed the ceremony would end swiftly so she could change out of it.

“You look lovely,” Rhaenyra had mumbled when they waited for the wheelhouse. Her cheeks had flushed when she delivered the awkward compliment, but it warmed Alicent to hear.

At the altar, however, the princess only had eyes for her bride. Don’t her cheeks hurt? Alicent thought, watching Rhaenyra’s face split into the biggest smile she’d ever seen. It barely budged when she recited her vows, and remained in place even after the ceremony as their carriage rode through the streets of King’s Landing. There was even an echo of it on Viserys’s face, one of the few times Alicent could discern a resemblance between them.

The wedding festivities were many and grandiose, and the following feast was entirely too lavish. Over 70 dishes were served alongside 50 desserts, and wine and mead flowed faster than water, splashing into cups with such vigor that it made her ill. The curse of morning sickness had passed a week prior, but Alicent still found her constitution sensitive. She nursed a single cup of wine through the entire evening, and avoided the punch after she saw a lord of the Fingers pour something into it from a hip flask. Even when her husband called for toast after toast, she kept her lips dry and her head clear.

The bride and groom were not concerned about such things. Though neither drank heavily, their inebriation was apparent when they laughed and stumbled onto the dance floor for their first turn as newlyweds. It was heartwarming to watch. Or it would be, if Alicent’s heart was a kind or magnanimous thing. As it was, the sight just made her dour. She refused all offers to dance, citing tiredness from the baby, and sulked at the high table while the celebration passed around her. Viserys was her only company. His health had improved a great deal in recent weeks, but he was still easily fatigued, so he too refrained from joining the throng.

“A few more weeks, and I’ll be good as new,” he assured her. “Mellos insists I still limit myself to our daily walks, but I mean to host a grand hunt once he gives his approval.”

“A hunt would be exciting, my love, but you must be careful.” If her response was hollow, she hoped he didn’t notice. He’d been sweeter to her, of late. The babe had won his attention back for now, and he’d spared no expense in the past three months meeting Alicent’s every wish. He could be a kind man, when he thought to be. Yet his expensive presents were paltry compared to the single gift given by his daughter.

Rhaenyra had shown up at her door a day after the Grand Maester confirmed her pregnancy. “I heard the news.” Her cheeks had been pink; from exertion or shyness, Alicent couldn’t say. “C-congratulations, my Queen.”

Alicent’s lips had trembled when she tried to smile. “Thank you, Princess. The King and I are very happy, and your well wishes mean a lot to both of us.”

“I’d like to do more than simply offer well wishes,” Rhaenyra had pushed, stepping closer to her. “If you’ll allow it, I want to give you a promise.”

“A promise?”

“For the babe,” the princess nodded. “Syrax will soon lay a clutch of eggs. When the child is born, I will bring one for their crib.”

Alicent had been startled out of her inner turmoil by this information. “You would put a dragon egg in the crib of ou- of a baby?”

Rhaenyra had grinned so proudly at her. “It’s tradition. All Targaryen children have a dragon’s egg placed in their crib. Father would do it, but he doesn’t venture into the Dragonpit anymore. So I will.”

She’d said it with such conviction, and such eagerness too. She was excited about the babe. Alicent could hardly believe it. At best, she hoped Rhaenyra would be kind to her “sibling”, if not close, but even her most far-fetched fantasies hadn’t considered this to be a possibility.

She was happy for their child. She already considered them a true Targaryen. She was going to give them a dragon’s egg.

I love you. The words had sprung to her tongue with force enough to dislodge teeth, and she barely bit them down in time. Rhaenyra had rambled on about something to do with the Dragon Keepers, but Alicent had been too stunned to pay attention to it. She only recovered when the princess bid her a cheery farewell and marched away.

Ever since then, the illuminated histories and brand new horse that Viserys bestowed upon her meant next to nothing.

“The bedding!” Someone shouted from the crowd, quickly followed by dozens of raucous, cheering voices. “Bedding! Bedding! Bedding!”

Alicent’s teeth dug into her cheek as Rhaenyra and Laena, still laughing, were shuffled to opposite sides of the hall. Laena was swarmed by loud, obnoxious alphas while pretty, preening omegas danced circles around Rhaenyra.

“You could join them,” her husband suggested, to which Alicent quietly balked.

She could join them, yes. No one would look twice at a mated omega joining the bedding ceremony of her alpha friend. But she couldn’t bring herself to. Unlike those silly creatures fluttering about her, Alicent knew Rhaenyra’s body intimately. She knew how it felt, its curves and contours. Her touch would be too familiar, and even if no one could possibly notice, Alicent couldn’t shake the paranoia.

Her restraint was also due to jealousy. She was not so craven as to deny it. To participate in the bedding ceremony would be to prepare Rhaenyra for someone else, and she would rather die than do that. So she simply glared as careless, lustful hands stripped away the princess’s clothes. Soon, Rhaenyra and her entourage were out of sight, and the revelry continued in her absence. Alicent stayed at the high table, and asked the nearest servant to refill her cup.

#house of the dragon #hotd #my writing #alicent hightower #rhaenyra targaryen #rhaenicent #this is the very first snapshot scene of the first installment #i think there will be 3 in total

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ladystarksneedle · 1 year ago

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I want you more than I need to

Laena's pov

A/N: Based on the events of episode 5 of House of the Dragon, with a bit of canon divergence. All phrases in italics are meant to be spoken in High Valyrian.

Summary: A dragon in red catches the eye of the seahorse of Driftmark.

Word count: 2.4k

She looks at him drumming his fingers restlessly across the table, a smirk adorning his face. His gaze has been trained on Rhaenyra since the moment he's arrived, unmoving and relentless. She'd seen her shy away, blush and return a few, only to abruptly turn to greet yet another lord or lady conveying their regards. She thinks she's rather splendid at dancing, for someone who's never been interested in the art, circling around her betrothed, much like their dragons, now resting in the pit together. On the outside, to everyone else, they make a good match, if not for each of their covert pursuits, though with the glances Ser Joffrey seems to be throwing Laenor's way, their dalliance is hard to miss by an observant spectator. She cannot say the same for Rhaenyra. There have been rumors of an affair, of her virtue being tainted, but she hadn't given them much thought. If the act had indeed taken place and she now had a paramour, she was good at hiding it and had donned the role of the blushing bride quite well. Perhaps King's Landing did have a way with their mummers.

The dragon in front of her stirred as he caught her staring, his eyes narrowing in suspicion and a glint of appreciation. She bit her lip in response, refusing to cower under his gaze.

"I am as much a match for you, as you are for me", she thought, stroking the rim of her chalice. He cocked his head in delight, seemingly toying with her boldness before his attention was drawn to the crescendo of drums signaling the end of the dance below. He clapped reluctantly as her own family erupted in thunderous applause.

"We stand here today to witness the union of two great houses, the last symbols of the might of Old Valyria. May the sky and the sea meet in harmony and rule as one for a thousand years to come."

It was a good speech given by the King and from what she knew about the man, hardly one written by his own hand. His newest companion sat brooding at his side, observing the gathering with a pointed yet sullen look. Most called him slow and more of a brute, but appearances were deceiving, more often than not. Her father had long coveted the chains he wore, for as far as she could remember, ambition and pride being as much of their blood as the salt was of the seas. He'd only turned his attention to newer horizons when presented with a sweeter opportunity, his own blood on the throne. She'd been chosen years ago for the task, meticulously groomed to perfection.

"You shall be the new Queen, Laena and our blood shall rule the seven kingdoms. You shall bring much glory to our house daughter, the likes it has never seen before."

She however had been rejected soon after, all her tutoring in vain. She'd lamented for a while, burdened by the incompetence thrust upon her young shoulders only to find solace amongst a new companion. She'd finally brought glory to their house again, just not in the way her father may have wanted.

That was Laenor's mantle to carry now and judging by the look of it, not a smooth one. She watched him embrace his companion and whisper delightedly in his ear while his bride danced obliviously with other eager lords. The royal couple, though amicable, were somehow already poles apart. Father shot them a reproachful look, whispering angrily with Mother who tried to placate him yet again.

Her attention was soon drawn back to the red dragon infront of her who had finally decided to strike. He moved smoothly through the crowds whether to join in on the festivities or wreak his own havoc she did not know, except that her blood surged to follow him.

Daemon Targaryen was an enigma to her. The Rogue Prince, rider of Caraxes, lord Fleabottom, he went by many monikers, each thrilling and foreboding alike. He was much like his mount at the moment, slithering through the crowds, alert and ready.

"Has anyone ever told you, you're nearly as pretty as your brother?"he remarked finally regarding her.

"You flatter me, my prince, you're not so bad yourself," she replied, moving gracefully around him. "A Targaryen prince, a dashing dragon rider, it seems you are every young maiden's dream"

"Only those you don't know me yet"

"Perhaps we may remedy that" she whispered, twirling around him.

He smirked in response as he took her in fully, his eyes slowly raking over her.

"Perhaps indeed, my lady"

As the dance continued she let herself be pulled in the direction of the current, enjoying their little game of chase. She'd catch his eye over the crowd of heads, gazing at him slightly longer than was appropriate only to be graced by his infamous smirk, etched onto his face as he moved skillfully from one lady to another. Her attention however was soon caught by another flash of silver, materialising infront of her.

"Cousin, did I tell you how lovely you look today"

"I am afraid not, Daeron" she replied distractedly.

"Allow me to remedy that," he remarked quickly pulling her in for a dance "It seems you are in need of a much more attentive partner"

"Do not start"

"There is nothing to, Laena, just consider it a friendly reminder of your position"

"I would hardly call it friendly then"

"The Sealord and his support is important to us. I'm sure you needn't be reminded."

"And yet he's neither here nor is my intended. I'm afraid I don't understand the harm in enjoying myself at my own brother's wedding festivities"

"Stay away from him, cousin. He brings nothing but harm"

"You are too quick to judge"

"And you are naive enough not to. I've fought with him and lived near him for years to know enough. Consider this as me looking out for you, yet again."

"I do not need saving, cousin"

"I never said you did. But even dragons need warnings. You need a horn of danger blown in your direction, for you're far to oblivious to know otherwise."

"Perhaps it is not obliviosness you as you, yourself, mistake it. Perhaps it is courage"

"Then you are a fool and a fool's courage is naught but waste."

She recoiled in response, as their circling came to an end.

"Heed my warning little seahorse, I only mean the best for you," he shot back bowing as he took his leave.

She watched his head disappear, perplexed as he approached another one of their many cousins to dance. Somewhere in the commotion she'd lost sight of him. It was not hard to spot a head full of silver but the crowd suddenly seemed to obscure everything in its path. She had never minded these parts of the dance, the haphazardness in between, before the next ones commenced, but the mass around her felt ominous and stifling. Something was wrong. A cold sweat broke out at the nape of her neck, as she craned her head to look up at the dias. Her father and uncle sat perched and engrossed in conversation, only her mother looked aghast, ashen like she'd seen a ghost. Before she could move towards her, a shrill scream broke through the chatter nearby. It all happened too fast. The screaming, crying and shoving. Masses of people being thrown together, some to the floor, some at each other. It seemed as if a drunken brawl had erupted with the Great hall transformed into a bawdy tavern. Her instincts soon caught up with her, as she pushed through the throng of people trying to find Laenor. Where was he? She had a feeling something was amiss, which she soon saw with her own eyes. Laenor was thrown to the floor a few feet ahead, almost at the center of the brawl, his nose covered in blood. She screamed his name frantically as she tried to push through, only to be hauled back by a pair of strong arms instead.

"It is no use cousin, run up instead."

"Laenor!"

"I shall get to him. Go! As fast as you can, run to the dias."

"I cannot leave him!"

"This is not the time to be stubborn, Laena. Our uncle shall have my head if I don't get you up there" he said, lifting her up and pushing her backwards. "Go"

Her feet moved back, of their own accord, stumbling to get away or near she did not know. An elbow came crashing towards her head, bumping it severely in the process. The dias seemed like a good idea at the moment but too far away to reach with the crowd closing in.

"Open the gates! Open the gates!"

"Guards to the front"

She heard the clamoring of armor as the screams increased forcing her towards the pillars. Leaning against one as she caught her breath, she managed to make her way to the side of the hall, near the gallery of guests as she felt for the unevenness of a familiar knob. It was still there, she heaved in relief as she pushed against the wall which gave way to a dim passage. If it was any other situation, she'd have laughed at herself for thinking so in the first place. The secret passages of the Keep had remained in place since the time of Maegor the cruel, partly because no one knew how many there were and how to precisely find them and mostly because he himself had made sure of it. She'd never been more thankful to his cruelty than before. As she made her way through the dim corridor opening into one of the lesser hallways she breathed a sigh of relief, contemplating her next move. Should she run back to the hall? Did Daeron manage to get to Laenor? Was he alright?

A soft rumble behind her alerted her instead. She wasn't alone.

"You should not be out here."

"Neither should you" she whispered, hugging herself. "What happened there?"

"A drunken brawl by the likes of it. You needn't worry yourself."

"That hardly seems like a mere brawl to me. Laenor has been injured, I must go to him"

"You'll not make it past the gates. There's guards everywhere with the crowd in shambles. It would be folly to attempt otherwise" he responded tersely. "Didn't you just manage to find your way to safety, admirably so. It'd be a shame to let it go to waste "

"I cannot leave him"

"And yet you have", he said finally turning towards her.

He seemed to regard her fully now, bathed under the moonlight as he walked closer to where she stood halfway between the danger behind and the one that lay ahead.

"Where did you go", she whispered as he drew near.

"To tie up loose ends"

"Was it to your satisfaction?"

He grunted in dissent as he tucked an errant lock of curls behind her ear.

"Why are you here, Daemon?"

"It is my niece's wedding. Can a man not join in on his family's festivities"

"Only if he isn't you"

"You seem to know a lot about me, for someone who hardly claims to, my lady"

"Perhaps I am merely observant"

"And tell me, what have these observations of yours led to? What is it you think you now know"

"You came back for her, didn't you? You haven't stopped staring at her since you've arrived, perhaps thinking you'd win her back, escape on dragonback across the sea. It is too late though, isn't it, which comes as a shock, for how can the Rogue Prince be denied"

He clenched his teeth in disapproval, closing the distance between them, eyebrows arched in distaste, before smirking at her discomfort over their sudden proximity.

"I did not know I was being so closely observed. " he whispered, leaning in. "Do you know what I think, I think you are far too perceptive to be involved in matters like these. Do not play a game you cannot win."

"You call me perceptive, yet you contradict yourself all the same. I do not say this to mock you, just as plainly as I see and I wouldn't dare go against you, not that I wouldn't win, I only fear you may not like it when I do," she responded, moving away as his eyes widened momentarily.

"You like playing with fire, don't you"

"As all dragons do"

"I can see what she sees in you, Vhagar"

"Much like her previous rider then?" She retorted cheekily

"Much and more it may seem" he responded softly. She found his softness enticing with an edge to it, exciting her further.

"Was I right then? Did you plan to take her to Dragonstone?"

"No" he retorted turning his head away.

"You plan to leave instead, like you always do" she whispered in realization.

He merely regarded her in silence, cocking his head in observation.

"And how long will this self imposed exile last for? I thought dragons don't run from danger"

"Yet we seek out solitude, I would assume you'd know that well too, with your mount"

"Much too well"

"It hardly comes as a surprise then"

"It does. I had assumed you were better than this."

"You assume far too much for not having known me at all, brave one"

"Then allow me the chance to do so."

She felt her heart thrumming wildly in her chest as she approached him, hands extended in a gesture meant to calm.

"Give me a chance to do so" she whispered as she drew closer.

He looked at her curiously, eyes clouded with a myriad of emotions

"You do not know what you ask"

"Perhaps I do. Perhaps I don't. Perhaps this is me staking my claim"

"I do not share Laena."

"I am well aware, my prince."

He merely smirked in response "Then you know where I'm headed, or is your bravery lost to the sea"

She looked at him with suspicion contemplating what she wanted. Somewhere in the distance the screams had abated. She could still hear the crowds and their lively chatter as they moved away. Laenor would be married soon, if not by the week's end and she'd be forced into her own bubble by the end of the moon, shipped across the narrow sea to a fate not of her own choosing.

"Well?" he asked, extending his hand, which she took just as quickly, her own burning in delight.

"Lead the way"

Taglist: @witheredoffherwitch @arcielee @chompchompluke @barbieaemond

#house of the dragon #hotd imagine #zae's fics #laena fics #lady laena #laena velaryon #daemon x laena #laena imagine #laena x daemon

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