#keep up the good work lark!

[satorusugurugurl]

I Think He Knows: (Chapter Five)

Summary: When your novel takes off and becomes a best seller, doors of opportunities open for you. You can work on the series you have dreamed about all your life. And you’re also given the chance to stay in a tiny cottage in Europe for two years to help with inspiration! Your best friend, Geto Suguru, shatters at the news. How could he tell you how he feels when you leave him? His opportunity appears right before him when you confess that your editor thinks a change of scenery will help with your not-so-steamy romance scenes. They’re lacking a particular spice because you’re a virgin. So, Suguru does what any best friend would do. He offers to teach you how things work. Will you cross that line as friends? Or will you both say goodbye?

Pairing: Geto Suguru x AFAB!Reader

Word Count: 4,197

Warning: Language, fingering, oral sex female receiving, horny reader, fuzzy feelings, pining!

A/N: Srry for the late update!! I struggled a bit with this chapter! But I hope y'all enjoy it!! 😘💚💚

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Six Part Seven Part Eight Part Nine Part Ten Part Eleven

Sharing a bed with Geto was normal for you. He was always so courteous, snuggling when keeping his hands to himself. You always loved that about him. But as you lay in your bed, eyes focused on the morning rays of light peeking in through your blinds, you wished his hand wasn't under your pillow as he snored behind you. His other arm was draped over your body, his hand limply dangling close to your crotch, leaving a warmth tingling between your thighs.

Something was burning in your gut, a desire you’d never felt. You wanted Suguru to touch you and make you feel like he did the night before. To feel his lips on yours, to have his hand in your pajamas. Something had awakened inside you, and you weren't sure what to do with it.

A frantic feral desire urged you to rock back against your best friend. To have him touch you, kiss you, do so many other things to you. But how could you ask him to do that?! He was helping you with your book! Why the fuck were you being so weird? Why was your pulse racing? And why did you feel so wet?

Clutching your pillow, you fought against the urge to grab his hand and lead it between your legs. God, something was wrong with you. Amid your mental breakdown at eight in the morning, Suguru shifted, groaning as he moved his hips closer to you, making a slight moan sound in your throat. That sound, the feeling of your damp shorts, and the heat of Suguru’s body made you realize what was going on.

You were horny.

This yearning, the desire to have him touch you, the need to cum, was driving you insane. You shifted and squirmed, bringing your fist to your mouth and biting down on your knuckles. Of course, the first time you wake up uncomfortably horny is when Suguru is with you! You couldn’t just start rubbing your clit with him holding you or ask him for help. Because he wasn’t teaching you this ‘stuff’ because you were together, it was for research! You’d have to take care of this yourself!

Slowly lifting Suguru’s arm off you, you began inching towards the edge of the bed, but a hand grabbed you by the back of your tank top, pulling you back down. You yelp as his lark arm snakes around your waist, turning you so you are facing him, and god, he was a sight to wake up to in the morning.

Dark hair spilled out over your pillow; his eyes were slightly opened, dark irises searching your face as he licked his lips. He looked so fucking good; it made your wet shorts even wetter as he gently smiled, reaching out to brush back strands of your bed-messy hair. Your lips part before you shakily sigh, giving him your friendliest smile that doesn’t scream, ‘Touch me more!’.

“Good morning.” The tone of your voice is more breathier than you would have liked.

“Mornin’.” His voice is so grave and low that sounding that good this early morning should be illegal! “Where are you running off to?”

“R-running off!” You stutter, nervously laughing as you gently pat his chest. “W-What? Haha—no—no.” His chest vibrates with a low chuckle at your shy tone, and his muscles tense, leaving you wanting to touch him more.

Suguru’s hand rests on your hip, and he can feel you slightly jerk as if you are sensitive to his touch. Did you not want that? Maybe he should have checked before touching you so casually like that. Suguru slides his palm back, letting it dangle behind you instead.

The sudden lack of his touch makes your heart pot as you clear your throat. “Do you want to go get breakfast?” Suguru asks before clearing his throat. “Or do you have to get back to rewrites?” God, breakfast with him sounded so good, but you had so much editing to do. Plus, it didn’t help that you wanted to do nothing more than lie in bed with him and touch each other more.

Is fondling each other on the menu?

Suguru stiffens, and your eyes widen as he stares at you. Did you say that out loud? You open your mouth as he pulls back, covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Oh my god—” he says softly. “Sorry, I probably—”

“I-I didn’t mean it!”

Suguru blinks, cocking an eyebrow, as you sit up. “Huh?” You realize you did not say anything when he just stared at you.

“I-I—”

“I was saying I should probably brush my teeth. What were you thinking about?” The smug tone in his voice has you scurrying away. You weren't sure what you were thinking. Because seeing you so flustered and jumpy had him following you close. A grin on his face as you scrambled out of bed towards the kitchen. “Where are you going? Come back here~!”

“I-I’m gonna make breakfast!”

Something in the way you rushed to the kitchen made Suguru’s heart swell. He flopped back down in bed, grinning happily. Suguru pictured waking up in bed with you, making breakfast, and being domestic. God, he could get used to this.

But if he wanted this to continue, he'd have to come clean and say that he didn't want to be your friend; he wanted to be more than that.

He'd get to that point eventually. For now, this was

good enough for him. Helping you out, in a strange way, was helping him build up the confidence to confess to you. Hopefully, he can do it before you leave for Europe.

Breakfast was terrific, omelets, coffee, and fresh berries. It was you, that was so strange. Suguru watched you closely, taking in how you shifted and kept your eyes on your plate.

“Hey,” he finally couldn't stand the standoffish behavior anymore as you stabbed a strawberry with your fork. “Are you okay?”

Oh, you were okay, aside from the undeniable horny fire and heat burning between your legs. “I’m fine, just tired.” Suguru didn't look at all pleased with your answer.

“Is it about last night?”

“Last night? No, it’s just got a lot going on.” in your shorts. “With the rewrites and plotting.” you took a bite of the juicy berry with a sigh.

“Oh, is there anything I can do to help out?”

If he could make you cum again, yes, he was more than welcome to do that. “No, I think I have enough uhm—” you cleared your throat, motioning between you both, “notes~ to help me with the next few chapters.” In reality, you wanted to do nothing more than stay in bed and have him show you what else he could do, like with his tongue and his coc—.

“Did—did I go too far last night?” You choked on a blueberry, eyes watering as Suguru looked off. You coughed and chugged down some coffee, trying to clear your throat. “Oh, shit? Are you okay?!” He jumped up, heading around the other side of the table, smacking your back as you coughed up the berry.

That was not what you wanted to choke on.

“Fuck—” you wheezed out, clearing your throat, “Oooh fuck.”

Suguru’s hands slid up, gently rubbing your shoulders, making you whine. “You okay?” His thumbs dug into your stiff muscles, kneading the soreness away.

“Mmm~ I'm good now.” you learned back, moaning softly. “A-And ahh~ to answer your question, you didn't go too far last night.”

“Oh, okay, good.” you could feel the relief in his touch as he squeezed your shoulders harder. “So, can I ask why you've been jumpy all morning?”

“No, you may not.”

“You’re no fun.”

You tilted your head back, staring at Suguru as he squeezed and massaged you. “I think you had a lot of fun with me last night.” Both his hands froze.

The tension from the night before began to build as Suguru smirked his hands, leaving the back of the chair and turning it for you to face him. He knelt so you were eye to eye, his bed-messy hair tied up in a bun, but his bangs fell in his face. Why did he have to look so perfect? So fucking glorious? Seeing him like this, cocky and knowing, had you pressing your thighs together.

You might not be able to actively tell him what you want. That was too embarrassing, especially when it was to benefit your book. But opening the door for him to make suggestions for you possibly wasn't something you were opposed to. Getting Suguru worked up might be the best way to get what you want without ruining your friendship.

“If I remember correctly, you had as much fun with me as I did with you.”

“Mmmm, if I remember correctly, you jerked yourself off mostly; I just rested my hand on top of yours.”

He closed the distance between you, his hands resting on top of your bare thighs. “Funny, I remember you pulling my hand off and jerking me off until I came all of your hand.” Your breath came out as heavy as his fingers slid under the edge of your shorts. “Is that why you’re so jumpy? Thinking about last night?” His whole hand slid underneath the edge of your shorts,

“M-Maybe—”

“Mm, soo if I did something like I don’t know—“ his hands slid to the inside of your thighs, “like this.” Suguru forced your legs open, making you gasp. “I wouldn’t see a wet spot on those pretty purple shorts?”

You knew there was a wet spot. You panted heavily, watching as Suguru's eyebrows rose at the sight of your arousal. Those dark eyes trailed up your body before he began massaging your thighs. They moved in slow circles up to where your thigh and hip connected.

“You’re soaked.”

“I am.”

“Thinking about your book?”

No, you weren’t, but he didn’t need to know that. “Yeah, thinking about the next chapter Sugu.” His fingers drew closer to your throbbing, dripping sex.

“Yeah? Need a little more help with research? I’d be happy to help; it’s for your book, after all.” Yeah, your book and nothing more than that. “So tell me, what happens in the next chapter?”

“Ilsan, uhm, licks her. Wanna help me?”

Suguru licks his lips, grabbing your shorts, hooking them under his fingers, revealing your dripping cunt to him. Suguru can’t help but groan, his fingers pulling your shorts off to the side as far as he can to get a good look at your pussy. It’s so wet and twitching with anticipation. He leans in, gently blowing in your sex with a grin as you jump.

“Princess,” he says in a deep, primal voice, “allow me to help you.”

“H-Huh?!” You flush as he tugs you towards the edge of the chair. “S-Sugu!”

“Shhh~ I got you.”

His tongue darted out between his perfect, pretty lips, licking at your folds. The sensation of his tongue running up and down your slick slit, your eyes rolling back. You thought last night with his hand felt good. This was a whole new level. His gentle, slow, and teasing, you cry out in ways you had never done before.

“O-Ohhh shit.” Your head tilts back as Suguru science, his tongue up higher and higher until the tip meets your clit. “Nnngh!!” You screamed much like you had last night, but this time, your whole body jerks forward.

Suguru groans against you, tasting your sweet, sticky essence, his eyebrows furrowing together and pure concentration. He doesn’t want to lose himself in your taste. But fuck is that hard to do. Tasting you, hearing you, being the one pleasuring you, had his dick throbbing in his pants.

He wanted to hear more of you, to make you scream, to taste you when you came on his tongue. So he slid his tongue down, caressing your entrance with a groan before sliding it inside of you. You squeaked, gripping his hair and tugging on the dark strands as he shoved his tongue deep inside of you, his eyes rolling back as he lapped and teased your walls. The sweet tang of your juices flooded his mouth like the most decadent wine. If it weren’t for your taste alone, your sounds would have urged him to continue to lap at you as if you were his last meals

Your fingers gripped the long, dark strands of hair as you felt your eyes fill with tears. The feeling of his tongue was much more intense than you ever imagined. You felt so full as his nose brushed against your clit, rubbing it as he furiously ate your pussy. It felt like you couldn’t breathe as Suguru ate the life out of you.

“S-Suguru!” You cried out, trying to close your legs around his head as the pleasure became almost too intense for you to handle. “S-Sugu! Suguru, p-please I-It’s so intense.”

“Mmmpmh—” he moaned into you as you clamped your thighs around him harder. “Mmm, princess, gotta stop that—trying to help you~.”

“I-It’s r-really intense!” You yelped as his tongue pressed up against your g-spot. “Oooh fuuuck! Su-Suguru!”

“Want me to stop?” His tongue flicked devilishly over your swollen clit. “I can.”

Your legs squeezed harder around his head. “D-Don’t stop! Please, I—” In one swift movement, Suguru yank your shorts down, holding them just above your knees. Your body curves as your ass is being lifted, causing your back to lean awkwardly against the back of your chair. It’s almost like he has you in a forty-five-degree angle. “S-suguru! A-Ahh!” His mouth latches onto your clit, sucking on it gently as he shoves two fingers inside of you, curling them up against your g-spot as he holds your legs up by your shorts.

Fuuuck why was this so hot? Your body felt like it was melting as you grabbed onto the sides of the chair, clinging to it for dear life. The man knew what he was doing, and he did it well. Between his mouth and his tongue, he left you a babbling, heaping mess of twitching limbs.

The low whimpers and the way you jerked against his mouth had Suguru humming around your sensitive clit. He was determined to make you feel so good that no one would compare. So with his eyes focused on your’s he curled his fingers inside of you, rubbing your g-spot as he sucked roughly on your clit. Your pretty eyes went wide, mouth falling agape into an ‘O’ as you focused your attention down.

”S-Suguru—wait a second!” The coil in your abdomen was tightening, like the night before, but it felt different. “Oh wait, wait—“ He pulled away from your twitching bundle of nerves, tilting his head to the side to look at you. “I uhm—I think I’m going to cum—“

”Cool, cum on my face.” He goes to bury his face between your thighs, only for you to pull away just a bit. “It’s okay—I want you to—“

“N-No, that’s not it! I feel different!”

”Different?”

”Yeah, I need to pee—so maybe we should stop.”

After hearing you say something like that, there was no way in hell he was stopping now. “You’re not going to pee; just let it go, princess.” Without so much as an explanation, Suguru’s mouth is back on you, swirling his tongue around your clit like it is the tastiest candy he’s ever eaten.

“S-Sugu!’ His fingers rub your g-spot, massaging the spongy tissue, making your toes curl as your chest heaves. “Fuck, oooh fuck, Suguru, please!” Your legs are shaking as he feels your walls fluttering around his middle and ring finger. “Please, fuck ohhhh fuck please!”

You weren’t entirely sure what you were begging for, but Suguru did. He picked up the speed of his fingers fucking into you as his mouth continued suckling your pretty clit. Toes curled as your eyes rolled back into your head. You had always wondered if getting eaten out was as good as it looked. From the one time you walked in on Suguru in the past, you assumed it was good. But now you were beginning to wonder if it was just getting eaten out that felt so good or if it was Suguru. If you were a betting woman, you would spend all your money on it, being Suguru.

The man was licking and lapping at you like it was his job. Like he was at risk for a promotion, making sure he put all his effort into it. It wasn’t just his technique that got you trembling and crying out; it was his pure enthusiasm that was getting to you. He was enjoying this as much as you were and wasn’t even getting touched.

That in itself was true; Suguru did love eating pussy, but never in his whole sexual experience had he ever gotten this into it. He was swirling his tongue, dipping it down to lap at the ring of slick forming at the base of his fingers. He never thought he would get the chance to be like this with you. And now that he had been given an opportunity to taste you firsthand.

He wasn’t sure he could ever let you go now.

Not when you. were screaming his name, one hand gripping the side of the chair while the other grabbed his bun, yanking it as your legs violently shook in the air above him. You were so close, oh so fucking close, he could taste it. His tongue started working faster, his fingers following their lead, slamming into you until you saw stars. Your back arched off the chair, a silent scream forming in the back of your throat as you inhaled sharply.

The coil in your lower stomach snapped with a release of pressure. Screaming his name as you came as a stream of clear liquid splashed against his face. His cock twitched twice before he felt himself cum; feeling and tasting your release had sent him over the edge. He was so into it that he dropped the hold of your shorts, freeing his hands to grab your hips, pulling you tighter against his mouth, allowing him to drink everything you were giving him in entirely. His mouth worked you through your most intense orgasm (your second one), not stopping until your legs were shaking and your hands were trying to push his head away from your oversensitive sex.

“Haaah—haaaah—“ you wheezed from the chair, your hands resting against Suguru’s head as he finally pulled away. “Oh, fuuuck.”

Your best friend chuckled, nipping gently at your inner thighs before he helped tag your pajamas back up your legs. “Feel good?” He asked as he gently massaged your upper thigh, trying to ground you as you came down from your high.

“Felt so fucking good.” You slowly slid out of the chair, joining him on the ground. “That felt so good.”

“It looked like it did, and hey, looks like you’re a squirter, that’s fun.”

Your cheeks burned as you noticed the mess of droplets on his shirt before covering your face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I could do that.” His hands gently grabbed your wrists, pulling your hands away.

“Don’t apologize for feeling good, I loved seeing you cum like that.”

“That’s good to know, uhm so—“ You pulled your hand away from him, sliding it up to grope his thigh. “Can I help you? Maybe you could tell me how to use my mou—” Suguru’s hand grabbed your wrist again, halting your advances toward his crotch. For a second, you thought maybe he wasn’t interested, but from the flush that spread over his cheeks, you assumed it was something else.

“I uhm—I came already.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, I came while eating you out,” he motioned to the wet spot on the front of his shorts. “But thank you for offering.”

“Oh,” you were slightly disappointed, “Okay, well, uhm.”

Suguru interrupted your lack of words with a happy hum. “Are you free on Friday?” You blinked before nodding.

“I just have a meeting with Utahime to give her the newest chapter, but I’m free after that.”

“Great, how about dinner at my apartment on Friday night? Then, if you’re up to it, we could go over more ‘stuff’ for the book.”

You beamed up at him, nodding your head. “That sounds like a plan! I’ll make dinner.” His hand reached out, caressing your head with a fond smile as he shut his eyes.

Things between you two didn’t change after he returned home. You both were busy, so you didn’t have much time to hang out in the next few days. While you worked on your rewrites, he was busy working on a couple of commissions. But you always found time to text each other, ensuring the other was taking breaks and drinking plenty of water. Things weren’t different at all.

Aside from the fact you found yourself grinning like an idiot at your phone each time he would text or call you. For the first time in the years that you had been friends, you felt your heart race every time he’d text you. Was it the research you both had been doing? Or was it something more?

Even more strange was that you wanted it to be something more. You should have been terrified about a couple of folding sessions ruining your friendship, but you weren’t. What was happening between you and Suguru felt so natural and genuine. Like you both were growing and for the first time in your relationship, you were growing closer together.

That in itself was both terrifying and exciting.

Friday afternoon finally came around, and you were grinning at your phone

Suguru: Tell Utahime you have a date 😩 why does she need to read your rewrites in person?

You kicked your feet under the booth. He was so cute when he was impatient. With a quick bite of your lip, you quickly shot him back a messages

You: because she’s my agent. And strange, you never said my coming over was a date. 😏

Suguru: We’re eating food, drinking wine, and are going to snuggle. It’s a date with your best friend, as always. 🙄

You were about to ask what he would say if you wanted it to be a ‘date date’ when Utahime slammed the papers you handed her down. You winced quickly, putting your phone away. Her eyes were glued on the pages before she smiled wide, leaning back in the booth.

“This is some of your best work yet. It felt so real! Your writing has improved!”

It was funny how a little experience could go a long way! “Thank you. I had some help.” You glance back down at your phone.

“Oh my god, I’m so excited to see what you have planned for Oaklynn and Ilsan next! Can you get me the next couple of chapters in two weeks?”

“You got it!”

Utahime straightened the papers, sliding them into a binder before getting up. “Keep up the good work, sweetie; this will be big!” You followed her, fixing your bag. “Seriously, whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”

“Oh, I plan it, by the way. About the cottage, could you maybe do me a huge favor and ask the owners if it would be possible for me to stay a month? Uhm, I don’t need to stay the full two years.”

Utahime eyes you, fixing her baseball cap before chuckling as she flags down her Uber. “I’ll see what I can do for you.” She approached the back door and opened it. “They must be special.” Cocking a brow at your agent, you blink several times as she gets in the back.

“What do you mean?”

“Whoever had you grinning at your phone like a teenage girl. They must be special if they’ve become your muse. I’ll see you later!”

Utahime was right; Suguru was important to you. He always had been, and he always would be. He had been selfless enough to offer to help you when you needed it most, seemingly leading to a more profound relationship between you.

That prospect of what might come to be had you happily skipping back to your apartment building to the third floor. Tonight might be the best night to tell him how you had been feeling and how you wanted this best-friend date to be more of an actual date. The unknown was terrifying and exciting as butterflies swarmed in your stomach as you knocked on his door. As the door creaked open, you adjusted the brown bags full of groceries for your dinner.

“Oh,” a woman’s voice scoffed, “it’s just you.”

Your stomach dipped as Manami Suda leaned against the doorframe, looking down at you as if you were garbage. You usually liked a lot of people and rarely had issues with anyone. Manami Suda was the one person you couldn’t stand in the world, but you had to put up with her because she was Suguru’s agent.

Forever Tag List:

@darkstarlight82 @pandoness @nealeart @simp-plague @sugurubabe @chilichopsticks

Tag List (TO BE ADDED AGE MUST BE IN BIO)

@lemonintrovert01 @spankmydepression @renttheannihilator @witchbybirth @missmuffinr @lialia3945 @theobsidianempress @aquasan29 @toffeebrat @aussiemeerkat @chimichangagirl @zoroisminty @spankmydepression @em-aizawa @gojosimp26 @moonlightazriel

[gabessquishytum]

As summer is ending.

https://www.californiabeaches.com/california-sandcastle-contests-and-festivals/ | https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240424-the-triumphant-return-of-us-sandcastle-championships -- Sandcastle competitions!! (the winner in the BBC article won with a sculture called "Sweet Dreams Are Made of These"!)

🪣🏖

Dream now travels around the world to compete at sandcastle contests. He started doing it as a lark when his inspiration was at a low point and he wanted a new direction for his sculpture. The prize money isn't even a lot really, and many of the people who enter are just doing it for fun (like Hob Gadling and his son, Robyn).

Dream should be more focused on his sand sculture, but he keeps getting distracted by Hob and Robyn; Dream met them at last year's contest - they were grieving, but trying to get out more and do fun things together.

This year they looked better and Hob even waved at Dream when he saw him. Dream might have a crush on the little family.

This is perhaps the most adorable meet-cute of all time, and also feels so nostalgic to me bc I used to love seeing sand sculptures as a little kid 🥺

Listen, Hob and Robyn's sand sculptures are not very good. This year they are making a "speedboat" which is mostly just a hole with sand piled up around it and spade stuck in it as a gear stick. You could accuse Hob of not taking it seriously but he is taking it seriously, he's just a) not very good at sand sculptures and b) being assisted by a very enthusiastic 10 year old. It's a little embarrassing when he sees Dream working a few feet away, making a beautiful gargoyle from sand which looks like it could step right out of a fairytale book.

But Dream is so nice about the speed boat - he politely asks Robyn if he can sit in it, and Robyn makes appropriate speed boat noises while Dream sits in the hole and looks genuinely quite delighted. He even lets Robyn help him finish up the gargoyle (which stresses Hob out because he does not want to witness his beloved son accidentally knocking the sculpture to the ground - thankfully that doesn't happen).

Hob makes an executive decision and invites the gorgeous man to join him and Robyn for an ice cream. It may be his one chance to gaze at Dream in his little black sand speckled shorts, and Hob is determined to make the most of it. He'd reach out and hold Dream’s hand even, if he didn't think it would be confusing for Robyn.

He never could have guessed that Dream feels exactly the same way, and that seeing Hob lick ice cream off his fingers is driving him absolutely wild! Nor could he guess that next year, all three of them will create a terrible, wonderful, enormous sand sculpture together... and that Dream will kiss him when they win first prize!

[delinquentbookworm]

I just realized, if Henry doesn't get killed by something, he's going to live a really long time. Like, stupidly long.

He's a druid and at 18th Level he gets access to the class feature Timeless Body, meaning that for every 10 years that pass, his body only ages one year.

He was mid-thirties when Odyssey took place, it's like two and a half decades later and biologically, he's only now in his late thirties, maybe forty at a push. He probably looks more like Lark and Sparrow's brother than their dad.

Also I fully believe that Henry wouldn't think it was magical in nature, he would be totally convinced it was due to lifestyle choices.

Glenn - Henry, look, here's a picture of us from twenty years ago. And here's a picture of you I took earlier today. Side by side, look, you look exactly the same.

Henry - Well, would you look at that? Gee, it looks like wearing all that sunscreen is really paying off!

Ron - Okay but you're sixty and your hair isn't even thinning.

Henry - Huh, I guess you're right. That's probably the all natural shampoo that Mercedes makes - she puts rosemary oil in it, she thinks it smells nice, but it's also supposed to be good for hair follicles. I guess it's working?

Darryl - Henry, everyone else your age has creaky knees and back problems and groans when they get up out of a chair!

Henry - Ah, yes, but you're forgetting I do yoga every day, so, that keeps me limber.

[johnwickb1tsch]

The Bastard’s Mistress ~ A Don John x Servant!Fem!Reader Fic

So I caught the don John brain rot this weekend…very contagious, 10/10 recommend. This might be @scarlettspectra ’s fault, from all her beautiful gifs she’s been posting!😆 I didn’t go full Shakespearean here but had some fun with the syntax. I apologize in advance. Reader is properly deferential for the time, but she’s got a little spunk.��� 

Warnings: the line between dubcon and noncon here is VERRRY thin. I don’t even know. So if that bothers you do NOT read this! What else. Period correct misogyny and degradation. Corruption. I’m so bad at itemizing these things. Please take care. If u have squiks i probs wouldn’t read this…

You are a chambermaid in His Excellency don Alejandro’s hacienda. It gives you a certain distance from things, as you come and go, doing your best to keep the country house clean and stay out of sight. But don Alejandro’s bastard, the fire-eyed boy with such a burning contempt for the world, has always seen you. 

When you were young children, don John would play with you all, the offspring of the servants who were too young to work. Not because he enjoyed your company, but because he delighted in ordering you all about. Luckily in those days he ignored you as often as he tormented you. 

Then there was a time, when the two of you hovered on the precipice between childhood and adult responsibilities, that you had almost been friends. Or at least, not enemies. He, the bitter outsider with the privileges of a full blooded son, but none of the standing. You, unmoored in your fatherlessness, the fever having taken your sire when you were just a babe. 

Don John goaded you into shirking your chores one day to go play in the hills. He’d only taunted you a little, as you played your silly games, which mostly consisted of him manipulating you, ordering you to do this and that, always testing just how far he could go before being met with rebellion. It was still better than working your hands raw in the laundry. “We should run away,” he’d said in that devil-may-care way brash young boys have, so sure the world is destined to fold for them. You, however, had begged to go home, for all it won you. Upon returning your mother absolutely tanned your backside, and you never associated with Don John in such a familiar way again.

You saw him around the grounds, of course, as you scurried from one backbreaking chore to the next, and as he went through the motions of learning how to become a gentleman. Amidst his riding lessons he would wink at you from astride his fine black horse, but the cruel turn of his mouth never failed to halt you in returning it, even if your heart quickened in your chest.

That did not mean you didn’t think of him later though, on your lumpy cot of straw, as urges began to awaken in your body that was well on its way to becoming a woman’s. You saw his face at night, so achingly handsome you could hardly contain your longing. It felt like madness, and so you shoved it down in the deepest dungeon of your heart, as far as it could go. 

It was not helpful, or good, the times when young don John passed you in the halls, and you felt that he would like to just eat you up. He would tug at your apron strings with a smirk before striding on to whatever lark he plotted for the day. The unholy feelings just a look from that man called up in you had you reaching for your rosary–and late at night, when all others lay asleep, between your legs.

You’d felt a certain relief when he went off to war with don Pedro. Even though your heart ached for the inevitable change, a part of you hoped he would never return.

As it turns out, your hopes were not to be realized. He has returned to his father’s country house, on the tails of some scandal in Messina. His temper is even fouler than you remember. His scowl, crueler. He has met with some disappointment, out in the world. You hope he will not take it out on you blameless servants.

Perhaps that is too much to ask of the upper caste.

You feel his eyes upon you again, as in the old days, but different. There is a weight in his gaze that makes you uncomfortable in your own skin, as though it no longer fits upon your own bones. It makes you ache for something no pious unmarried girl should yearn for, something you cannot name, only feel in the darkest hours of night when you lay awake on your mattress of straw, your sinful fingers exploring the bud of flesh between your legs.

You decide don John carries the flames of Hell in his burning dark eyes.

You dream of him, as though he has possessed your flesh in your sleeping hours.

He corners you one day, as you are changing the linens in one of the many airy rooms of the hacienda. You eye him warily, as he shuts the door, his large and forbidding form blocking your exit. His dark eyes upon you are black as night.

“What a flower you have blossomed into, y/n,” he muses, stepping slowly into the room with the measured calculation of a predator stalking prey. “No longer the knees and elbows girl I remember.”

“You…have also changed, my lord,” you offer cautiously. No longer the awkward, rail thin youth, his shoulders have the breadth of a man who rides a charger and wields a sword. You have tried not to notice.

“How so?” he fishes, canting his head with a smirk.

Your face feels as though you have caught on fire. “You are…taller,” you offer, winning a cruel little chuckle.

“Oh? I do like the sound of that. What else?” Another step closer, his booted heel clicking on the floor, and you are veritably boxed in between the walls and the oversized bed.

“My lord?” you stall, mortified.

“Did you miss me, y/n?”

This question also takes you aback, and perhaps that is why you answer honestly.

“Sometimes.”

“Well. That is more than any of my relations here will bother to claim,” he answers bitterly. In that moment you still see a boy just striving, yearning for his father’s recognition. Perhaps it was ridiculous, but you always felt bad for him, in a way.

“Did you hear the happy news? Don Pedro has taken a wife, and opts to dwell in Messina,” snarls don John with a mocking brightness.

“How…fortunate for him.”

The man before you makes a sound that suggests he barely restrained himself from spitting upon the floor in his half brother’s name.

“Indeed.” He takes one more step, and you know you are done for, your heart in your chest. There will be no escaping now. “What of you, fair y/n? Assumed the yoke of marriage yet?” The disdain in his words hangs bitter in the air.

You are tempted to lie, but know no good should come of it. “No, my lord,” you answer, your voice barely louder than a whisper.

“How fortunate for you.” 

Perhaps in your fear, you forget yourself. “John, please–”

He moves to strike, and you are but a rabbit in the jaws of a wolf, quick but not quick enough to evade him. His arm is like a band of iron about your waist, lifting you off the floor in his fury. He slams you down–albeit upon the feather mattress–a luxury you’ve never experienced for yourself, your back accustomed to scratchy tick straw.

“Insouciant wench! How familiar you are, to address me so.” He sounds so cruelly delighted by it, wedging his lean body like a knife between your legs, his narrow hips locked against yours. When you attempt to sit up he easily pins you down, his large hand spanning two of your wrists with ease, his other pressed lightly over your throat. You can hardly hear, hardly think, over the sound of your heartbeat thundering in your ears. He can surely feel it in your pulse, fluttering against his fingers. You are filled with fear–and the sharp ache of desire, God save you.

“Please, my lord…”

He makes a low sound in his throat, his lips tracing your jaw. “Please what, pretty maid? I have a mind to make a meal of you.”

“Please…don’t hurt me.”

“Hurt you? That is up to you, my dear. I will have you. Sweetly, or by force, tis your choice.” Your heart lodges in your throat. Your mother warned you about this, time and again. Men are dogs and gentlemen the worst of them. Never let them catch you alone.

And in your darkest heart of hearts, you know that a part of you hoped don John might do just that.

He kisses the corner of your mouth, surprisingly gently for such a villain, but you attempt to turn away. It only wins his annoyance, his large hand turning your face back to him. Before he can press his mouth to yours you say, “You merely seek to make sport of me in your boredom here. It is not right.”

He laughs at that. “Sport, I shall make,” he muses, hiking your skirts above your thighs. “Let us test the truth of your righteous outrage?” Boldly his fingers climb the trail of your leg, to the apex where he finds the damning evidence of your treacherous loins. “My lovely girl, so wet for such a reluctant quarry.” His long fingers dip inside your weeping center, and the sound you make does not resemble protest at all. He smirks down at you like the very devil. “And a virgin my little rabbit is not.”

Javi the stableboy took care of that for you, in a quick and disappointing tumble in the hay. His touch…had felt nothing like this, if truth you tell.

Ashamed, and burning, you look away. Tears trail out of your eyes, and a part of you wishes it shall just be over soon. He frowns at the shining tracks of water upon your cheeks, a menacing scowl that makes your eyes screw shut tight.

“Do not seek to engage my sympathy or my better nature, for you know I have none,” he growls above the dip of your throat, his lips searing as a brand upon your chest. 

“That wasn’t always true,” you dare, winning naught but a growl from this ravenous beast of a man above you.

“You are the only one who thinks so.” For the barest moment you see a flash of vulnerability in his eyes–the ghost of the memory of the boy he once was, there and gone like ripples in a pool. It is as though this second of softness spurs him on in his deed, as though he must shove it aside to enjoy his sordid pleasure.

Clever fingers tear at the laces of your stays; you are freed to breathe, but you are bared to his hungry gaze as he tugs down your shift for his delectation. “Such lovely fruits, just ripe for picking,” he muses, cupping your breast in his hand, suckling upon a nipple.

You never knew how such a thing could make your insides clench, your sinning cunt tightening in its aching emptiness. Your hips move against his of their own accord, your legs wrapping about him as you mindlessly seek some relief from this madness. He withdraws with a dramatic pop, laughing at your body’s treachery.

“You are a fiend.”

“Pray, tell me,” he taunts you.

“I hate you.”

“Is that any way to speak to your master?”

He is enjoying this far too much.

“You forget your place, don John, as ever.” 

That is when he slaps you. Not hard, nay, your own mother has hit you harder, but it certainly gets your attention. “I will rule here someday, y/n. Have a care with that tongue. I can think of better uses for it.” His piercing eyes fix upon your lips, a moment before he falls upon you, kissing you as though he means to devour you. You tense, thinking to bite him for being so cruel, so conniving, for just using you for no other reason other than he can.

He plays a very dirty trick on you, though.

That dexterous hand slips under your skirts again, swiping up your slick before circling that small nub of flesh that causes you such great tumult and shame. You moan into his mouth, and you feel him smile wickedly against you.

This man is the very devil, you are sure of it.

“Now who is ready to forget?” he taunts you, rubbing you in slow circles that drive you mad, make you writhe for the unbearable tightness coiling between your legs.

You can only manage a small cry, words escaping you. You’ve never felt anything like this, not at your own hands, and certainly not with Javi the stableboy.

“Please,” is all you can manage, and you’re not even entirely sure you know what you’re begging for.

“I like to hear you beg so sweetly.” He reaches to free himself from his breeches, his swollen tip hovering at your entrance. “So beg, wench, what favour is it you ask of me?”

You should entreat him to leave you be–you should beg for his mercy. But the delicious weight of him atop you, this dastardly man whose touch is such sweet sin–you are not sure you wish for him to leave you be. Your whole life has been such a march of drudgery. Even just the possibility of feeling something that is not pain or exhaustion makes you willfully forget every lesson your mother ever taught you, every fiery sermon the Padre ever flung down from his pulpit. Tis easy to renounce the Devil, until temptation has you in its clutches.

“I know not what to ask for,” you answer cautiously, and that at least is true.

Don John smirks down at you, a wicked gleam in his dark eyes. 

“Ask for my cock, you stupid girl, and if your quim pleases me perhaps I may be moved to share in the spoils.”

“Yes.” You strain your hips towards him, craving that satisfying, stretching burn of a man’s first thrust. That, atleast, you know something about.

“Yes, what?” he taunts you, delighting in your torment as he holds himself just out of reach.

“Yes, my lord,” you whimper, hating yourself as much as him in that moment. “May I have your cock?”

His smile widens in his devilish delight, almost showing teeth. “Remember that you asked for it.” But he taunts you no further, his thick head penetrating your weeping hole, the fullness of him stealing the very breath from your lungs. He groans once fully inside you, burying his face in your neck. 

“I’ve always known you would have the sweetest little cunt in the sierra,” he growls against your skin, and he begins to thrust.

If there is one thing you have always known about don John, it is that he loves to hear himself talk.

“You are mine, little maid,” he goes on, filling you so deeply you fear he must be in your belly. You are not sure you like it, and you only whimper in answer, straining for a better angle against him, seeking that certain friction that made you see stars.

“Say it,” he demands, understanding what you seek very well. You whine, turning your eyes to the ceiling. You know you are a mere peasant, and you know you do not own anything, much less yourself. Yet some small defiance rises in you, for his demanding tone.

“Perhaps I shall, if you make it so.” 

You wait for him to strike you again, but to your surprise he smirks with a sort of dark delight, only turning your gaze back to his with a rough hand upon your jaw. “There is the saucy wench I remember of our youth. Do you remember how you used to defy me?”

You don’t very much, recalling that he usually always emerged the master and victor of your games.

“No, my lord.”

“You do not recall striking me with a stick, in defense of a hapless bird?”

You blink, finding it rather unfair of this man to expect you to command the capacity to think in this situation. But then you do recall. You had all been small children. The boys sought amusement in throwing rocks at an injured sparrow. You had taken exception to it. 

Don John had sworn he would tell his father and have you executed.

You’d cried for days, but the sword never fell.

You’d nearly forgotten all about it, perhaps willfully burying the memory out of shame and fear. Mostly fear.

The bastard had deserved it.

He never forgot a slight, it seems.

“I always told myself I would have my revenge for that,” he tells you with a smirk, pressing his thumb into your mouth. You try to shrink away, but he has you like a fish on a hook. “Suck,” he commands you. You do not understand why those jetty black eyes boring into yours, paired with that unyielding tone, makes your needy cunt clench around him, only that it is extremely satisfying to see his eyes flutter closed, even if just for a moment.

You do as you’re told.

He uses your own saliva against you, reaching between your legs with that spit-wet thumb to touch you again. 

You forget everything else, but the carnal heaven that is his clever fingers with his manhood inside you. The sounds the two of you make are barely human, as you strain and writhe against each other, chasing your release from this hell. Those full lips made for sin devour you–his mouth on your breasts makes you see God, a searing pleasure crashing through you in a spine-cracking rush. How can something that feels so wonderful be so forbidden? Only then does don John truly let himself go, the sound of flesh striking flesh filling the room as he takes you with all his pent up fury. It is not long before he roars his release, filling you with ropes of his hot seed, his powerful body trembling in its tangle of limbs with yours.  

For just a moment you wished would last, his fingers lace with yours rather than pin you, his head heavy on your chest as he catches his breath. Yet when he lifts his gaze to you, his eyes gleam with their usual malevolence. 

“You will come to my chambers tonight,” he orders you. “For I am not finished with you yet by half.”

When your mouth opens–indeed to give protest–he silences you with a hard but heart-melting kiss, his long fingers tangled unforgivingly in your now loosened hair. 

“Do as I say, servant girl. Though if you don’t, I may enjoy making you.” That proud mouth ticks as he seems to imagine it, that fire igniting once more in his mesmerizing eyes. The thought simultaneously makes your blood run cold–and a thrill of desire run raucous down your spine.  

This man is the very devil. You are as sure of it now, as you know when the household goes to sleep, you will find your way back to his merciless embrace.

[cloudedmoonofficial]

Dustclaw and Vinestripe

Parents of Larkwing and Aspenbreeze

Dustclaw - Oak Colony Keeper

Parents: Maplebark and Ashbranch

Sibling: Frondsway

Dustclaw is Frondsway’s brother and mate to Vinestripe. Dustclaw is gruff, but good-natured; he tends to be more confrontational and on edge around those outside of Oak Colony. Patrolling around the borders spikes Dustclaw’s anxiety, and he’d rather not risk running into who he considers strangers. 

Dustclaw was pretty harsh on Frondsway when Tornleg had his accident, and agreed with Brakenfoot that justice should be served. His sister shouldn’t be able to neglect those in her colony who were depending on her because she didn’t plan ahead. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Frondsway and Dustclaw don’t share friendly banter and a bird together as often as they used to.

Dustclaw knows a lot about fibers such as grasses, vines and saplings; he is a master den builder and often organizes repairs after storms and damage, teaching weaving techniques. He take a lot of pride in his work and that extends to his kittens: Larkwing and Aspenbreeze. He looks forward to raising a second litter with the love of his life, Vinestripe, if she is up for it

Vinestripe - Oak Colony Envoy

Parents: Stormclaw and Stagcharge

Currently training Frost

Vinestripe is the daughter of Stormclaw and Stagcharge, but has more of a sense of humor than her serious natured parents. She has a bit of a devil-may-care attitude and loves a good brawl, but her tongue is often sharper than her claws. She loves to fling insults, but is also quick to forgive. She settled down with Dustclaw because she views him as the most practical tom of her prospective mates, though she’ll never forget the relationship she had with a rogue tom at a younger age…Ah, youth. 

As a mother, Vinestripe wasn’t too controlling of Aspen and Lark’s behavior, allowing them to wander and make mistakes. She is truly more of a solitary cat, but Colony life is what she knows and prefers.

Vinestripe is quite a bit more radical in her political ideals, maybe a trait that was carried over from her late mother, and tends to roll her eyes at Captain Elmtail whenever he makes lukewarm decisions about things. What the Colony needs, in her opinion, is a bold and decisive leader, willing to throw their weight around! She mostly keeps it to herself though, and is more content to busy herself with hunting. 

Art by Snap

[carpenoctxrn]

Promise (Yandere!Ominis x fem!reader) Part 3

Requested by Anon!

Disclaimer: Mature adulting stuff.

AN: Ominis is not possessive in this as much because everything is going "as planned", like little lark Ominis was crazzzzy possesive. So really he is sweet more than anything because he is getting everything he wants. Like he has no need to be possesive when she so willingly is letting him take her.

Also I want to get married at a vineyard now and own one too.

Masterlist

It had been three weeks since she had given herself to Ominis.

Three weeks after they had lost their virginity together, their bodies entwined in the moon illuminated room, in secret, where no one else could touch them, see them, ruin them.

And for the past three weeks, she had been filled full of him every single night.

Her body still ached from the last time, his grip on her hips, the way he pushed deeper, deeper, deeper, whispering how she was his, how he would never let her go.

She had loved every second of it.

But now, as she struggled to zip up her skirt, her stomach twisting with a growing sense of dread, she felt something else entirely.

Am I swelling with a child?

The thought made her breath hitch.

No. No, I can’t be.

Her parents had been strict, enforcing ridiculous rules about courtship “No dating until after Hogwarts.”

And yet, here she was. Possibly pregnant. With only a month left until graduation.

Her fingers trembled as she adjusted her uniform, hiding the half-zipped skirt beneath her vest before rushing out of the dorm, her mind spiraling.

She needed to get to the Great Hall. She needed to think.

But she never made it there.

A hand shot out, grabbing her wrist, yanking her into the shadows of a secluded hallway.

Her breath hitched; until she felt him.

Ominis.

“Good morning, love.” His voice was velvet, smooth and possessive, before his lips descended upon hers in a searing, all-consuming kiss.

Her thoughts blurred.

She melted into him instantly, just like she always did.

And Ominis smirked.

She was pliable in his hands— putty, soft and eager, bending to his touch without a second thought.

But so was he.

Just the clack of her shoes across the stone floors was enough to set him on edge, to make his body crave her all over again.

She was his.

His to love. His to keep.

His to ruin.

“Good morning, Omi.” She greeted, voice hazy from his kiss.

He pulled her in again, deeper, his fingers curling around her waist, claiming, holding, keeping.

And that was when he felt it.

The way she tensed beneath his touch.

She pulled back, and Ominis' smirk faded.

Something was wrong.

His grip on her waist tightened. “What’s wrong?”

She swallowed, eyes darting away. She looked nervous. Afraid. Like she was hiding something from him.

And Ominis hated that.

“Omi… I think—I think I’m pregnant.”

She whispered it, as if saying it too loudly would make it real.

His heart stilled.

Then—a slow, creeping smile spread across his lips.

It worked.

His plan had worked.

She was now with his child. His seed had taken root, claiming her from the inside out, binding her to him forever.

Soon, she would be plump with his heir, her body growing round and soft, all for him, all because of him.

Ominis exhaled a shuddering breath, pure ecstasy rushing through his veins as he crushed her against him, capturing her lips in a kiss filled with triumph, devotion, hunger.

“Don’t worry, love.” He whispered against her mouth, his tone soothing, reassuring, final. “I’ll take care of you both. I promise.”

But she didn’t kiss him back.

She stiffened in his arms.

And then her voice broke.

“But I don’t want a baby.”

Ominis felt his heart shatter.

His breath caught. His grip tightened.

“Why not?” His voice was low, barely above a whisper, but there was something dangerous in it.

A pause. A long, painful silence.

Then the words that nearly destroyed him.

“I love you, Ominis.” Her voice was soft, filled with emotion, and for a moment— just a moment— his heart swelled.

But then she kept speaking.

“And I want to experience the world with you before we settle down.” She sniffled, her hands gripping his robes. “You don’t want to be associated with your family, and I don’t either. If we have a child now, we’ll be forced to depend on others, to be tied down before we’ve even had a chance to live.”

Ominis stared at her, something dark and possessive slithering through his chest.

She didn’t understand.

She didn’t see what he saw.

She spoke as if freedom was something they needed.

But they already had freedom.

They had each other.

Still, he forced himself to think. She’s not saying she doesn’t love me. She just… doesn’t want it yet.

He took a slow, measured breath, choosing his words carefully.

“You don’t have to worry about money, love.” His voice was smooth, reassuring. “I made investments years ago. I have more than enough to provide for you— for us— without ever needing to rely on anyone.”

Her lips parted in surprise, and he let his fingers brush against her cheek, soft and gentle.

“That being said,” he continued, tilting her chin up, “this is your body. I will never force something upon you that doesn’t make you happy.”

His words were sweet, but his tone was possessive, laced with something darker, more dangerous; as if he was branding her with them, ensuring that she understood how deep his love ran.

She made her decision that day.

They went to Nurse Blaney; a kind woman who had helped many girls in this predicament before. She had been gentle, understanding, offering them a small vial of potion and explaining the aftercare in a voice soft with warmth.

“You don’t have to take it.” She reassured them. “Even now, with it in your hands, you are allowed to change your mind.”

And she almost didn’t.

Back in the Room of Requirement, she stared at the vial, her hands shaking.

She was about to drink it.

And then the tears welled in her eyes.

Her fingers trembled.

Her throat tightened.

Ominis' heart stopped.

“Love?” His voice was careful, scared. He pulled her into his arms, his hands firm on her waist, anchoring her to him. “Talk to me.”

She choked on a sob, gripping his robes. “I—I want them.”

A pause. A single, shuddering breath.

“I love them.”

She hiccupped, clutching him tighter. “And the thought of losing them; it scares me. Its unbearable”

Ominis exhaled, his lips pressing into her hair, his hold unbreakable.

And for the first time that day he smiled.

—---

The two of them had agreed to keep the pregnancy a secret— at least from their families.

Their friends, however, knew immediately.

The girls had been beyond ecstatic, squealing over the news, while the boys had clapped Ominis on the back, teasing him about becoming a “family man.”

But beyond the teasing, there was something undeniably different about him now.

Ominis had always carried himself with quiet intensity, but now? Now, there was an undeniable sense of purpose in the way he held her, the way he moved, the way he whispered against her skin every night, "You're mine. Always."

By the time graduation arrived, her stomach had begun to round ever so slightly, though not enough for anyone outside their close circle to notice. She wasn’t yet feeling the full symptoms of pregnancy— her breasts were a little fuller, a little more sensitive, but nothing drastic.

Her family, strict as they were, had grown fond of Ominis.

They knew his status, knew he was a gentleman, and had no reason to doubt him. If only they knew the depraved things he had done to their daughter, they wouldn’t be patting his back so proudly.

And then, of course, there were the Gaunts.

They arrived at the ceremony, cold and composed, but when introduced to the infamous Hero of Hogwarts, their greedy expressions flickered with something close to approval.

Power. Beauty. Status.

That’s all they saw when they looked at her.

Not the girl who had saved their son from becoming like them, not the girl who had made Ominis smile for the first time in his life, not the girl he had worshipped body and soul every night.

Just power.

And yet, Ominis didn’t care.

Because they didn’t matter. Only she did.

After the ceremony, once the Gaunts had left without fanfare, Ominis approached her father, his expression steady, his grip on her hand firm.

“Sir, I’d like to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

Her father had known this was coming.

She had written letters about Ominis for years, talked endlessly about him during the holidays, and would smugly refer to herself as ‘the future Mrs. Ominis Gaunt’ just to tease her father, who loathed the idea of his little girl growing up.

Even her mother had joined in on the joke, always responding, "No dating until after Hogwarts."

But now, here they were.

And her father, after a long moment of deliberation, let out a deep sigh before nodding. "She loves you. That much is obvious. And you're a good man. You have my blessing."

Ominis let out a breath, relief flooding him.

Not that he had needed permission.

Because even if the answer had been no, nothing would have stopped him from keeping her forever.

Later that evening, as the sun cast golden hues across the castle, Ominis led them to a secluded overlook, a breathtaking spot where they could see the castle, the lake, and the rolling mountains in the distance.

Her family stood behind them, admiring the view, but Ominis wasn’t looking at the horizon.

He was looking at her.

And then he reached into his pocket.

Her breath hitched as he knelt before her, pulling out a ring that he had chosen months ago.

His fingers trembled slightly as he held it up, but his voice, his devotion, his love, was unwavering.

“You are the love of my life.”

The words were soft, gentle, but they carried the weight of everything he was.

“Not because of your beauty, not because of your power but because you know me better than I know myself. Because every day with you, I learn something new about who I am, about who I want to be. You are my reason for everything, my guiding light.

And I want to spend the rest of my life learning more about you, about us, about the family I know we will build together.”

His breath shook slightly, but his grip on her hand was firm, reverent, unyielding.

“Marry me.”

Her vision blurred with tears, her throat tightening as overwhelming love, devotion, and sheer emotion swallowed her whole.

She barely managed to choke out a soft, tearful “yes” before dropping to her knees and throwing herself into his arms.

Her family cheered, her mother wiping away happy tears while her siblings laughed and teased her for crying so much.

But it wasn’t just the proposal.

It was everything.

Her hormones, yes but more than that, it was Ominis.

The man she loved.

The man she had given herself to.

The man who would burn the world to the ground if it meant keeping her safe.

And now, he was hers. Forever.

Fireworks erupted in the night sky, a little favor he asked Sebastian who happily obliged and delivered.

—--

The wedding happened within a month.

Her family had hesitated, worried that she was rushing into it. But every time they questioned her, she would simply say,

“I courted him for two years. I refuse to be his fiancée when I could just be his wife.”

And that was that.

They knew their daughter, tenacious, brilliant, headstrong. And they knew Ominis, devoted, loyal, utterly besotted with her.

So, despite their reservations, they gave their blessing.

The Gaunts, however, were not invited.

Ominis had finally confessed everything— his unstable home life, the cruelty he had endured, the cold, loveless existence he had been raised in.

And her parents, with their warm hearts and unwavering protectiveness, had taken him in as their own.

For the first time in his life, Ominis felt something he had never known before.

A place to belong. A family that cared. A love that didn’t come with conditions.

And with that, the final tether binding him to the Gaunts snapped.

He was hers now. Entirely. Forever.

—

Then came finding their home.

A quaint little mansion, nestled just minutes away from Godric’s Hollow, with land sprawling around them in lush, green abundance. Vineyards stretched in one direction, fertile soil in another, ready for her to plant anything her heart desired.

Their home was perfect.

High-arched windows that bathed the rooms in golden sunlight. A kitchen lined with white marble, polished and pristine. A library for Ominis, lined with towering bookshelves, seamlessly doubling as a study for her. And most importantly; space.

Space for their growing family.

—-

The ceremony was set in their own backyard, just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Tables and chairs were arranged neatly, all in white, the air thick with the scent of roses and honeysuckle. Flowers in blush pink and deep green adorned every surface, soft candlelight flickering around them.

And then— Ominis.

He stood at the altar, his tuxedo expertly tailored.

Charcoal grey. Silver embroidery. A crisp white shirt beneath, his vest black with intricate silver threads woven through the fabric.

He was breathtaking.

His groomsmen, Sebastian, Garreth, and Amit stood beside him, all dressed in black tuxedos, but Ominis stood apart. He was stunning, regal, ethereal.

And yet, even in all his refinement, he had eyes only for her.

His bride. His wife.

And when she appeared, walking down the aisle, arm-in-arm with her parents, Ominis nearly forgot how to breathe.

—-

She was a vision.

Her wedding dress clung beautifully to her form, the white fabric glowing in the soft twilight.

Intricate pearls were sewn into the bodice, shimmering with each graceful step she took. The corset-like design held her firm, and though she had worried about it being too tight around her three-month baby bump, Natty had reassured her, "It won’t harm the baby, I promise."

So she had worn it.

And now, as she walked towards Ominis, the delicate lace-trimmed veil trailing behind her, the soft parting of her breasts exposed by the gentle dip of her gown, her bare shoulders kissed by the glow of candlelight—

Ominis was undone.

His chest tightened.

His fingers trembled at his sides.

His bride, his wife, his love, was carrying his child as she walked toward him.

She was his.

And soon, she would be his in every way imaginable.

—

The vows were spoken.

Her voice was steady, full of promise, devotion, and love.

Ominis’ voice, however, was thick with emotion.

How could it not be?

He was marrying the woman who had saved him. The woman who had tamed his demons, softened his heart, and ruined him for anyone else.

She was his breath, his mind, his soul, his body.

And when the minister said, "You may now kiss the bride," Ominis did not hesitate.

His hands slid to her waist, pulling her flush against him as he captured her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss.

It was a kiss meant for show— loving, tender, drawn out just enough to make the crowd swoon.

But beneath it?

Beneath it was something else entirely.

Beneath it was hunger, longing, the kind of desperate devotion only he could feel for her.

Because tonight— finally— she would be his again.

—

As they walked down the aisle, hand in hand, a shower of petals rained down upon them, their guests cheering, the sun fully setting just as expected.

Candles floated around the courtyard, their soft glow illuminating the evening, courtesy of Professor Weasley’s magic.

And through it all, Ominis held onto her.

He held onto her like a man possessed.

Because in every way that mattered, he was.

—

Their first dance as husband and wife was nothing short of enchanting. Beneath the full moon’s soft glow, they moved in perfect harmony, their steps slow and deliberate, as if savoring every second. The makeshift pillars, once simple wooden boxes, had been transfigured into elegant structures adorned with ivy, framing their dance beneath the night sky. The air smelled of blooming flowers and ripened grapes from the vineyard, a reminder of the life they were building together.

Ominis had never known such pure joy. He could feel her love radiating through every touch, every whispered breath between them. But what truly made his heart ache with emotion was the gentle bump pressing between them; the life they had created together. His grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly, a silent vow that he would protect them both with everything he had.

Their foreheads touched as she blinked back tears of happiness, her lips curling into a smile. "I'm officially Mrs. Gaunt," she sniffled softly.

"And I'm officially your husband," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

She let out a soft laugh, her fingers brushing the nape of his neck. "But I was yours, and you were mine, from the moment I bumped into you leaving the Undercroft."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "And I knew you were mine the day I realized I couldn't stand the way other boys said your name."

She chuckled, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You glared at every single one of them, Omi."

"I wasn’t glaring," he protested, though even he knew it was a lie.

She only laughed again, shaking her head. He could listen to that sound forever.

His hand settled protectively over her stomach as he whispered, "I love you both more than anything in this world."

"And we love you too," she murmured, resting her hand over his.

Under the moonlit sky, with music swirling around them and their love wrapped in the warm embrace of the night, Ominis knew— this was his forever. And he would never let it go.

—

The embers of the bonfire crackled softly, casting golden light over the circle of friends gathered around it. The air carried the scent of burning wood, mingling with the distant sweetness of the vineyard. Laughter and conversation flowed as easily as the dark liquor Amit kept sneaking sips of, their voices hushed yet lively in the late-night calm.

Ominis sat comfortably on a transfigured loveseat, his wife nestled against him, her soft, loose dress doing little to hide the way her body molded perfectly into his. The warmth of her pressed against his side made it nearly impossible to focus on anything else. He breathed in deeply, trying to steady himself, but every time she threw her head back in laughter — especially when Imelda mimicked Headmaster Black’s pompous drawl — he felt himself slipping. Her delicate fingers gripped his thigh as she lost herself in amusement, her hair falling into her face, nose crinkling in that way that always undid him.

Ominis tightened his hold around her. Before her, he never had a reason to wake up in the morning beyond obligation. Now, he had purpose. He had her.

“So, do you want to know the baby’s gender?” Natty asked curiously, snuggling closer to Amit.

His wife’s parents had left an hour ago, having spent the past month at their estate, meaning the topic could be spoken about freely; something she loved.

“I think I do,” she murmured, cradling the small bump as she gazed down at it.

“I want to crochet as many little clothes as I can before they pop out,” she added with a giddy smile, excitement lighting up her face.

“And what about you, Ominis?” Amit asked, taking a slow swig of the dark liquor Ominis had introduced him to.

“I prefer whatever my wife prefers,” Ominis replied smoothly, as if the answer had always been written in the stars.

A chorus of teasing sounds erupted from their friends.

“You’ve gone soft, Gaunt,” Gareth chuckled, shoving another handful of chicken dippers into his mouth.

“More like being married has turned him into a doting husband,” Anne quipped, her words laced with knowing amusement towards Gareth as if for him to catch a hint.

“You’re not marrying my sister until you become something, Weasley,” Sebastian warned, his voice holding an edge of seriousness.

Laughter erupted, but Anne turned red in protest. “I am not marrying him!” she shrieked.

“Well, you’re not marrying anyone else besides Gareth either,” Sebastian shot back with an air of finality.

Everyone knew the truth that Anne and Gareth were inevitable. The moment Gareth had pummeled a sixth-year back in their fourth year for making an offhanded comment about Anne needing to “grow into her looks,” Sebastian had known. And so had the rest of their friends. The only ones oblivious were the two idiots themselves.

“So, who’s next to marry in our group?” Ominis’ wife asked coyly, stirring the pot with a mischievous smile.

“Maybe it’ll be Sebastian,” Ominis said with a smirk, finding humor in how the most hopeless romantic among them was the only one still single.

“And who, exactly, would I marry?” Sebastian asked, brow furrowed.

“Mrs. Hecate, of course,” Imelda deadpanned, laughing as Poppy nudged her with an elbow.

Their friends erupted into laughter, the old memory resurfacing. Sebastian groaned, rubbing his face as if to erase the embarrassment. He had once found a photo of a breathtaking young woman in the Restricted Section, believing it to be a former student. For months, he had been determined to find her—only to discover, to his absolute horror, that the photo was of Professor Hecate in her prime. When the picture had fallen out of his bag in the middle of class, she had simply stared at him, expression unreadable, before asking why he had it.

That day, the entire group had been sent to detention—for their uncontrollable laughter. It was the only time Sebastian had ever dreaded serving it.

“Hey, leave my good friend Sebastian alone,” Amit slurred, waving his drink dramatically. “I know what it’s like to have your heart broken.”

“Why would you say that, Amit?” Natty asked, suddenly curious.

“Well—I—it was—uh—” Amit stammered, his ears turning red as Imelda let out exaggerated “oohs,” sensing trouble.

But Ominis barely heard them now. His attention was fixed on the woman beside him. Her head had begun to droop slightly, exhaustion finally catching up with her after the long day. Her eyes fluttered shut for brief moments before she blinked herself awake again.

“Would you like to turn in for the night, love?” he asked, his voice softer now, pulling her just a little closer.

“Mhm…” She hummed, her body melting into his touch. “It’s as if I forgot I had a long day, and now my lack of sleep has crept up on me.” She yawned delicately, rubbing her eyes.

“Let’s go, Mrs. Gaunt,” Ominis said smoothly, smirking as she giggled at the sound of it.

“Goodnight! Make sure you all sleep inside the house and not out here,” she called out drowsily. “Birky will clean up outside in the morning.”

A chorus of whispers and giggles erupted behind them as they made their way toward the house — no doubt their friends making jokes about their need to consummate their marriage.

But just as they reached the threshold, Ominis suddenly stopped.

“What is it?” she asked, turning to face him, suddenly hyper-aware of the way the night had fallen into silence.

Instead of answering, he pulled her close, capturing her lips in a lingering kiss. It was one of the hundreds he had stolen from her that day, but this one was different. This one was filled with quiet hunger, with promise. His hands roamed over her figure in a slow, reverent touch before he pulled back just enough to maneuver her into his arms, lifting her effortlessly in a bridal carry.

A soft giggle escaped her lips, arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.

“I intend to make good on my promise, love,” he murmured against her ear.

Her breath hitched, all traces of sleep vanishing in an instant. He knew exactly what he was doing—how easily he could undo her.

And with that, Ominis carried his wife inside, the rest of the world fading away as their night truly began.

-----

Anyways this is part 3 to yandere Ominis. fourth part would be them consumating their marriage cause duh. Probably more breeding Ominis because lets be honest here, the man is feral.

Masterlist

Talk to me for funsies you guys, I love yapping!

pssst.... first divider by @anitalenia and second divider by @pommecita. the plain banner is by me....

[jasontoddweek2025]

Feature Post

Congratulations to everyone who did Jason Todd Week 2025! (We will also have a summer event, so look out for that!)

Here we have a list of works (fanart and fanfic) by some of the awesome creators who participated in this event. Levels of detail vary by what was submitted to the feedback form. Please check the tags for warnings!

Without further ado...

Lycanwing (@star-wars-lycanwing-bat, Star_Wars_Lycanwing_Bat on AO3) - Series

Road to Murder - On his way to murder the Joker, Jason questions his life's choices. (Drive)

Olive Branches - After a long day, all Jason wants is to go back to his apartment, but a little bird tries to get him to join in on family movie night. (Chronic Pain)

Monster - A half dragon kills Joker and reveals himself to Bruce. (Monster)

Isn't It Lovely, All Alone? - Jason is buried alive and he dies but the pit keeps bringing him back. (Grave, Buried Alive, Immortal Jason Todd)

Hello, Welcome Home - The aftermath of day 5 AKA The family cuddle pile. (Family)

Feline Therapy - Jason rescues a cat but what he doesn't know is that the cat is Tim. (Enemy to Caretaker)

Another Version of Me - Jason get triggered and Dick helps his brother realise that he is loved. (Return)

Birdie (@birdiedoesdc, a_alene on AO3) - Series

N.J.S.A. 39:3-10 - Drive

do you still wake up reaching for an empty space? - Chronic Pain

buried, banging at your door - Monster, League of Assassins

i'm gonna kill you if you don't beat me to it - Immortal Jason Todd

this live, throbbing age that brawls - Jason is a Literature Nerd

mechanically up all night, though - Red Hood and the Outlaws

i'd save a life if i thought it belonged to you - Lifeline

whenicarusflies (@whenicarusflies, whenicarusflies on AO3) - Series

We walked as tall as the skyline - Drive, Time Travel, The Batmobile Tires

when i take a breath I drown - Fear Toxin

How can I then return in happy plight? - League of Assassins

always and forever the last day alive - Grave, Buried Alive, Immortal Jason Todd

Family Problems - Family, No Capes AU

could you give me something for the pain - Enemy to Caretaker, Lifeline

you can't wake up, this is not a dream - Return, Outsider POV, Crime Alley

Chaos (Fic)/Lito (Art) (@freedom-of-speech333, Freedom_of_speech333 on AO3) - Series

The Loss of Tires (The Return of Hope) - The Batmobile Tires

Laughter Follows Me Back To Life - Joker

The Ghost of Who I Was/The Most of Who You Loved - Supernatural AU

I'm Still Here - Immortal Jason Todd

I'm Only Here For The Books - Jason is a Literature Nerd

You’re My Brother, After All - Enemy to Caretaker

The Life, Death, and Second Life of Jason Todd - Outsider POV

basalting (@basalting) - Series

late night drive - Drive

a good fuckin' day - Joker

cuckoo's egg - Supernatural AU

rest your weary heart - Grave

buy one, get one 50% off! - Family

don't think nothin' of it - Red Hood and the Outlaws - Implied Roy/Kori/Jason

it takes a village - Outsider POV, Crime Alley

Stormz (@stormz369) - Masterlist

Day 1 - Flashbacks to Jason's early years with Batman + Reader finding out he was killed. (Batmobile Tires) - x Reader

Day 2 - Reader helps Jason deal with a PTSD nightmare. (Joker) - x Reader

Day 3 - A civilian kid is afraid of Red Hood & Jason processes his feelings about it. (Monster) - x Reader

Day 4 - Jason + Reader at his grave. (Grave) - x Reader

Day 5 - Damian designs scar cover up tattoos for Jason (Family, Jason is a Literature Nerd) - x Reader

Lark Alliance (@snowberriesromanoff, lyricalark on AO3)

Day 7: come in she said i'll give you shelter from the storm - Jason Todd, the Narrows, and something like faith. A character study of Jason's pre-Robin years and the people who help him survive. (Crime Alley) - Selina Kyle/Holly Robinson

nursal1060 (@nursal1060writes, nursal1060 on AO3)

Day 2: The Pain Fades When We're Together - Chronic Pain - JayTim

salem (@worlds-okayest-fag, salemisntdead on AO3) - Series

Carry on my wayward son, there will be peace when you are done - Basically jason gets kidnapped by dick (not that he knows its dick lol). (Drive)

don’t need advice for my pain (it's making me more insecure) - Jason has a not fun night and wont ask for help. (Chronic Pain)

jason todd and the no good terrible very bad day - Supernatural AU

A minute from home (but so far from it) - Jason stuck in a time loop digging himself out of his grave over and over again. (Grave, Immortal Jason Todd)

ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind (except tim) - Jason, Tim and Dick on a Batburger run for a family movie night, Dick and Jason argue about Disney movies and they accidentally leave Tim behind. (Family, No Capes AU)

And though I am crying and bleeding and barely breathing (youre killing me) - Absolute angst piece about Jason having a mental breakdown in his bathroom bc trauma. (Scars)

i don't believe in luck (against the sun we're the enemy) - Sentient Gotham AU where Jason is Gotham's chosen knight. (Outsider POV)

FaalThien (@faalthien, Faal on AO3)

Day 1 - Time Travel

Day 2 - Joker - JayDick

-

Day 4 - Immortal Jason

Day 5 - Monster, Jason is a Literature Nerd

Day 6 - Scars

Day 7 - Return

[arahir]

sorry for getting deep but how do you make your life stop feeling meaningless and stuck on the routine and never doing anything memorable and feeling like time and youth is slipping through your fingers and-

i wish i had any easy answers for you! bear with me because this is long.

i think this is truly, the hardest thing any of us will have to contend with: life has no inherent purpose. you're a collection of cells given sentience for a period of time. this can be horrific, or beautiful, and our ways of dealing with this are myriad. some people find god. some people find a more private spirituality. some people throw themselves into work, into art, into family and friends, into some form of legacy, into hedonism. most of us do all of that to various degrees.

this is what i will say: it got better for me after i hit 30. it got better for me when i got good friends and started putting my effort into them. it got better for me when i started indulging hobbies and larks, taking time to seek out and appreciate art in whatever form and making time to make my own, a nice see-saw of creation and appreciation. it got better for me when i accepted that i can be a scientist and an atheist and still find something spiritual and magical and deeply meaningful in the world around me. there's no one answer.

i find it both forgiving and encouraging: there's no inherent purpose, so you really can't mess up in deciding what yours will be. there's no inherent purpose, so any purpose you give your life is more than there was before, and to that end, you can only win. if you do anything to make the world or your life even marginally better by whatever metric you set (and i trust that all of us here are the sort of people who believe good can exist), you've done it. and better, you can keep doing more of it.

so: making time for others, showing appreciation, showing gratitude. call someone and tell them you love them. write a letter. send something to a friend, even a dm. make a date to see someone you haven't in a while. make small talk. study some art, make some art. go somewhere new, even if it's walking down a new street. play a new video game, read a new book, read a fic, watch an episode of a new show. set a tiny, miniscule goal and complete it.

i can say that doing anything will help more than worrying about not having done enough. it's never too late to start doing something, even doing a tiny bit a day of anything is enough, and you can't get it wrong as long as you're trying. and above all, as always, be nice to yourself. it can feel like you've done something wrong to end up where you are, but every decision you ever made in your life, you made for a reason that made sense at that moment and that's not nothing. wherever you are now, you have choices about how you move forward. you can fall back, fuck up, waste a day. it's all going to be fine. find something that brings meaning to your life and pursue it. sometimes that's yucking it up on tumblr, and sometimes it's reading poetry, or going for a hike, or writing a novel, or doing something good for someone or for society. and sometimes it's eating fried noodles. it doesn't matter as long as you're moving forward <333

[augustinewrites]

“hey,” you murmur, shaking alhaitham’s shoulder. “you need to get up soon so we can–”

“i only run if i’m being chased.”  

you frown as he turns away from you. “but studies show that morning jogs–”

“i am well aware of what the studies say, and i am electing to ignore their findings.”

“well, i’m a doctor, and i’m telling you that running is good for you. it increases mental focus and productivity–” 

your gaze turns hopeful when he finally lifts his head from the pillow, uttering the words, “against medical advice.” 

“haitham,” you pout. “what’s the point of me finally staying the night if we can’t do fun things together in the morning?” 

“if running was what you had in mind, then this is going to be the first and last time you stay over.” 

you grumble something mean under your breath. alhaitham grumbles back, an i love you too, followed by a let me sleep, woman. it’s the weekend.

“fine,” you huff, crossing your arms over your chest. “then i’ll just go over to cyno’s place and see if he wants to join me. he’s probably a much better jogging partner than you anyway. he’s so fast that he once helped the traveler escape from the heart of a crumbling pyramid.”

you let that bit of information turn over in his mind, leaving the bedroom and grinning triumphantly when you hear him curse, the bed creaking as he gets up. 

satisfied, you turn into the bathroom–

–to find someone already in there, about to help themselves to the geothermal mud mask you’d gotten from inazuma. your shocked gaze meets his and—

you both scream. 

“who are you?” you question, grabbing a copy of sapiens, which would be an effective weapon if you intended to bore him to death. “what are you doing here?”

“me?” he asks incredulously. “i unfortunately live here, so who are you and what are you doing here?” 

“oh, good. you two have met.” 

you both whirl around to face him, hands on your hips. “haitham, who is this?”

the stranger makes an offended noise. “alhaitham, do be sure that your escort keeps the details of our living arrangement to themselves.” 

“escort?” you gasp, alhaitham plucking the book from your hand before you can throw it at this strange man. “i am a doctor!” 

the stranger looks you up and down. “so…alhaitham didn’t pay you to sleep with him?”

you each size the other up equally scrutinizing squints, the acting grand sage pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing tiredly. “this is my roommate, kaveh.”

wait, you’ve heard that name before. gossip about akademiya alumni spread like wildfire in sumeru. you snap your fingers, pointing at him. “oh! i know you. you’re that architect who went broke funding his own project.”

“not broke, per se,” he sniffs, turning away from you rather indignantly. i am temporarily prudent.”

you look to your boyfriend, who shakes his head slightly and mouths, don’t ask.

then he tells kaveh your name, that you work at the bimarstan, and that you’re seeing each other. 

anyone else would have simply take he’d said at face value, because the scribe didn’t dance around points or over-complicate his explanations. he wasn’t exactly one to joke, either. 

but the broke architect immediately doubles over, laughing so hard that his face is the shade of a zaytun peach. “now there’s a lark! you with a— with a—”

“a significant other? yes.”

his laughter quickly dies as alhaitham winds a possessive arm around your waist, looking between the two before meeting the scribe’s unflinchingly flat gaze. you watch as his prior amusement dropped from his face, only to be replaced by disbelief. 

kaveh drew a breath and pressed his hands together. “when you say those words, what do you mean by them? 

alhaitham expression was inscrutable as always, but the corners of his lips were curved upwards the slightest bit. “i could not have oversimplified it more. if you require more detail, perhaps we could discuss it over coffee at puspa cafe?”

“only if you’re paying,” he answered testily, to which the scribe rolls his eyes. 

“of course. if the matter of payment were up to you, we’d just be thieves.”

kaveh sent him a rude gesture— one completely unbefitting of someone so respected within the akademiya.

then alhaitham returned it. 

the blonde turns on his heel to leave with a huff, stomping through the house and slamming the door behind him. alhaitham moves quickly, locking it behind him.

“are we not going to join him?” you ask, watching curiously as your boyfriend saunters back toward the bedroom, a satisfied look on his face.

“nope. he left his keys here. so if you want to do something fun,” he nods his head toward the bedroom. “now would be the time. cyno and kaveh can wait.”

and, well, you can’t say no to that, can you?

[queer-book-character-tournament]

We've run enough of these tournaments that it's probably past time to make a compiled post

Previous winners of the queer book character tournament:

Eric "Bitty" Bittle from Check, Please by Ngozi Ukazu

Wei Wuxian fromMo Dao Zu Shi/Grand Master of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Andrew Minyard and Neil Josten from All for The Game by Nora Sakavic

Previous winners of the queer book ship tournament:

Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji from Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grand Master of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir (and a second time in 2025)

Also since I'll be pinning this post:

i do want to remind everyone to be respectful in these polls. even if you don’t personally like one of the books listed, or your favorite is losing, someone else still submitted that book because they like it and you’re being rude to them and everyone else who enjoys that book when you’re complaining about it.

propaganda is always welcome and encouraged. i consider these tournaments to be book recommendations first and a tournament second, so i love propaganda and try to reblog as much of it as i can. but propaganda should be about why your book/ship/character is good, not why the other one is bad. that kind of behavior will get people blocked, which is really not something i want to have to do so lets all have fun instead

How the game works:

These tournaments are submission based. I post a form, leave it open for a few days, sort through the answers, and then post a list I half jokingly call quality control for you guys: the viewers at home.

The quality control is because I can’t reasonably have read every book these submissions come from. So I post a list for you guys to let me know any mistakes: characters/ships that don’t meet the requirements, repeats on the list, misspellings (I copy paste from the submissions, so if they’re misspelled and I don’t know the character I’m not going to know to fix it), or anything like that. Quality control is open until the polls actually go up, at which point tumblr doesn’t let polls be edited.

Matchups are randomly generated. This is to keep things fair.

Round one is groups of four and lasts a week to let everyone have a chance to realize the tournament has started and promote their favs.

After that rounds are 1v1 and last for three days (if the number is odd there will be one three way poll).

The final round will last one week.

List of participants in past tournaments starting with most recent (if anyone wants to use this as a reading list):

Queer Book Ship Tournamnet 2024:

Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard - All For The Game by Nora Sakavic

Nicky Hemmick/Erik Klose - All For The Game by Nora Sakavic

Jean Moreau/Jeremy Knox - The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic 

Catalina Alvarez/Laila Dermott - The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic 

Daniel Molloy/Armand - The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice

Silas Bell/Daphne Luckenbill - The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

Jacqueline "Jack" Wolcott/Alexis Chopper - Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire

Simon Torquill/Patrick Lorden/Dianda Lorden - October Daye series by Seanan McGuire

Linus Baker/Arthur Parnassus - The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Kelly Bennett/Robbie Fontaine - Green Creek series by T J Klune

Yadriel Vélez Flores/Julian Diaz - Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas 

Lark/Rosethorn - Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce

Shallan Davar/Adolin Kholin - The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

Jude/Pixie - Stake Sauce Arc 1: The Secret Ingredient is Love (No, Really) by RoAnna Sylver 

Jude/Jasper/Felix - Stake Sauce Acr 2: Everybody's Missing (Somebody) by RoAnna Sylver

Cliopher Mdang/Fitzroy Angursell - Hands of the Emperor/At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard

Terec of Lund/Conju an Vilius - The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard

Baru Cormorant/Tain Hu - The Traitor Baru Cormorant/The Masquerade by Seth Dickinson

Humaira Khan/Ishita Dey - Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

Ronan Lynch/Adam Parrish - The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Carmen Farooq-Lane/Liliana - The Dreamer Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater

Alistair Lowe/Gavin Grieves - All of Us Villains/All of Our Demise by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman

Tatianna/Clarissa - Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Wylan van Eyck/Jesper Fahey - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Nina Zenik/Matthias Hevlar - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Nina Zenik/Hanne Brum - King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Bellsona Steelcrest/Eris Shindanai - Gearbreaker series by Zoe Hana Mikuta

Jace Boucher/Aaron Slaughter - House of Slaughter by James Tynion IV

Ballister Blackheart/Ambrosius Goldenloin - Nimona by N.D. Stevenson 

Norma/Badyah - Deadendia by Hamish Steele

Barney/Logan/Asmodeus - Deadendia by Hamish Steele

Red/Blue - This is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

Addam Saint Nicholas/Rune Saint John - The Tarot Sequence by K. D. Edwards

Eadaz uq-Nāra/Sabran Berethnet - The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Oberyn Martel/Ellaria Sand - Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Leo Merritt/Tristan Drake - The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan

Stevie/Nora - Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick 

Wu Zetian/Li Shimin/Gao Yizhi - Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Laura/Carmilla - Carmilla by J Sheridan Le Fanu

Susan Arkshaw/Merlin St. Jacques - The Left Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

Beth Cassidy/Addy Hanlon - Dare Me by Megan Abbott

Alec Campion/Richard St Vier - Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Salim/The Jinn - American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Audrey Wells/Harper Harper/Merritt Eamons - Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M Danforth

Blythe Melbourne/Delaney Keating - Black Iris by Leah Raeder & Elliot Wake

Güzel/Marthe Gaultier - The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett

Tyrannus Basilton (“Baz”) Grimm-Pitch/Simon Snow - Carry On Series by Rainbow Rowell

Agatha Wellbelove/Niamh Brody - Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Will Kempen/James St Clair - Dark Rise series by C.S. Pacat

Damianos (“Damen”) of Akielos/Laurent of Vere - Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Tara Boone/Penny - All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters

Rosemary Harper/Sissix Seshkethet - The Wayfarers: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Ariadne O'Neill/Elena Quesada-Cruz/Chikondi Daka/Jack Vo - To Be Taught if Fortunate by Becky Chambers 

Robin of Berecrofts/Katelijne Sersanders - House of Niccolò by Dorothy Dunnett

Oliver Marks/James Farrow - If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

Dorian/Zachary Ezra Rawlins - The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern 

Rhy Maresh/Alucard Emery - Shades of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Addie LaRue/Luc - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Magnus Chase/Alex Fierro - Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan

Walt Stone/Anubis/Sadie Kane - The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Nico di Angelo/Will Solace - The Camp Halfblood Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Cassandra Igarashi/Laura Wilson - The Wicked+the Divine by Kieron Gillen

Jade/Moon/Chime - Books of the Raksura by Martha Wells

Celia St James/Evelyn Hugo - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac - The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice 

Sue Trinder/Maude Lilly - Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Delilah Green/Claire Sutherland - Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

Shara Wheeler/Chloe Green - I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

August Landry/Jane Su - One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Alex Claremont Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor - Red White and Royal Blue by Casey Mcquiston

Alex Price/Eli Rodriguez - Like Real People Do by E.L. Massey

Whisper/Prince Julien Sandry - Prince and Assassin by Tavia Lark

Patrick Roman/Damien Bordeaux - All Hail The Underdogs by E.L. Massey

Lewis/Jason Lu - Proficiency Bonus by Charlie Novak

Andrew Blur/Sam Halse - Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo 

Seregil í Korit Solun Meringil Bôkthersa/Alec í Amasa of Kerry - Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling

Jude St Francis/Willem Ragnarsson - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Lula Talisola/Zeen Mrala - Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older

Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood - The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Luke Sunborn/Elliot Schafer - In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Magnus Marston/Avicenna - Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Celie/Shug Avery - The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Dev Deshpande/Charlie Winshaw - The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

Nathan Byrn/Gabriel Boutin - Half Bad by Sally Green

Sidney Ellwood/Henry Gaunt - In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Maurice Hall/Alec Scudder - Maurice by E.M. Forster 

Tommy Flowers/David Pearson - Flower of Iowa by Lance Ringel

Will Darling/Kim Secretan - The Will Darling Adventures by K.J. Charles 

Henry de Lyon/Ian mac Maíl Coluim - The Scottish Boy by Alex de Campi

Ambrose Cusk/Kodiac Celius - The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Thomas McNulty/John Cole - Days Without End (and A Thousand Moons) by Sebastian Barry

Sideways Pike/Jing Gao - The Scapegracers by HA Clarke

Zhu Yuanzhang/Ma Xiuying - The Radiant Emperor by Shelley Parker-Chan

Esen Temur/General Ouyang - The Radiant Emperor by Shelley Parker-Chan

Val Palafox/Cade McKenna - Venom and Vow by Anna-Marie & Elliott McLemore

Viv/Tandri - Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Sigyn/Loki - The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector

Viola Carroll/Justin de Vere - A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

Sam Becker/Jonathan Forest - 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

Luc O'Donnell/Oliver Blackwood - Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Valentine Layton/Bonaventure "Bonny" Tarleton - Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall

Bastián Silvano/Lore Garcia - Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore

Syenite/Alabaster/Innon - The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

Tennalhin Halkana/Surit Yeni - Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell

Kiem Tegnar/Jainan nav Adessari - Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Nick Nelson/Charlie Spring - Heartstopper by Alice Oseman 

Darcy Olsson/Tara Jones - Heartstopper by Alice Oseman 

Elle Argent/Tao Xu - Heartstopper by Alice Oseman 

Wei Wuxian/Lan Wanji - Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation/ Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Xie Lian/Hua Cheng - Tian Guan Ci Fu / Heaven Official's Blessing by by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Dorian/Milo - Three Meant To Be by M.N. Bennet

August Mulvaney/Lucas Blackwell - Psycho by Onley James

Mackenzie (“Mac”) Shepard/Archer Mulvaney - Lunatic by Onley James

Hawk Sunday/Jack Wyatt - Cherry Picked by May Archer

Mitch Greyson/Alex Dean - On the Ice by Amy Aislin

Lucifer/Michael - Angels before Man by Rafael Nicolas

Robin Blyth/Edwin Courcey - A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Maud Blyth/Violet Debenham - A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

Jack Alston/Alan Ross - A Power Unbound by Freya Marske

Everen/Arcady - Dragonfall by L.R. Lam

Sally-Anne/Sez - Beanstalk by E Jade Lomax

Gene Forrester/Phineas - A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Ayla/Crier - Crier's War by Nina Varela 

Vivienne (“Vivi”) Duarte/Heather - The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Nathaniel Bainbridge/Sea Hawk - Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews

Arden Canamorra/Mil/Mattin - A Suitable Consort (For the King and His Husband) by R. Cooper

Daisy Wells/Amina El Maghrabi - Death Sets Sail by Robin Stevens

Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan - Guardian (Zhen Hun) by Priest

Aristotle (“Ari”) Mendoza/Dante Quintana - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Max Owen/Sean Moore - Magical Boy by The Kao

Henry Montague (Monty)/Percy Newton - The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Milo/Xander - How Not To Date A Dragon by Lana Kole

Blair/Richard - Bite Me! -You Know I Like It by Fae Quin

Nick Russo/Andy Fleming - We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian 

Paige Mahoney/Arcturus Mesarthim - The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon 

Kadou of House Mahisti/Evemer Hoşkadem- A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

Mark Blackthorn/Cristina Mendoza-Rosales/Kieran - The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare

Rae Taylor/Claire Francois - I'm in Love with the Villainess by Inori

Paul Fleischer/Julian Fromme - These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

Patroclus/Achilles - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Zach Glasser/Eugenio Morales - Unwritten Rules by KD Casey

Charlie Braxton/Reid Giordano - Fire Season by KD Casey

Christine Braxton/Stephanie - Fire Season by KD Casey

Jake Fischer/Alex Angelides - Diamond Ring by KD Casey

Relius/Teleus - The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner

Arek/Matt - So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Eric (“Bitty”) Bittle/Jack Zimmermann - Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

Thom Morgan/Clay Parker - Love, Hate, & Clickbait by Liz Bowery

Harry Fields/Harry Lee - When Harry Met Harry by Sydney Smyth

Jamshid e-Pramukh/Muntadhir al Qahtani - The Daevabad Trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty

Ben De Backer/Nathan Allan - I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

Queer book Character Tournament 2024: 

Rune Saint-John- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Quinn Saint Nicholas- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Layne Dawncreek- The Hourglass Throne by KD Edwards

Silas Bell- The Spirit Bares it's Teeth by Andrew Joseph White 

Daphne Luckenbill- The Spirit Bares it's Teeth  by Andrew Joseph White 

Benjamin/Benji Woodside- Hell Followed with us by Andrew Joseph White 

Sideways Pike- The Spacegracers by HA Clarke

Tayend of Tremmelin- Magician’s Guild series (The Novice, The High Lord) by Trudi Canavan

Gideon Nav- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Ianthe Tridenarius, Ianthe the First- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Harrowhark Nonagesimus- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Dekka- Gone series by Michael Grant

Therem Harth rem ir Estraven- The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Seregil í Korit Solun Meringil Bôkthersa- Luck in the shadows/the nightrunner series by Lynn Fleweling

Victor Vale- Vicious by VE Schwab

Alucard Emery- Shades of Magic series by VE Schwab

Rhy Maresh- Shades of Magic series by VE Schwab

Elliot Schafer- In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Sebastian Black- The Sacred Sins of Father Black by St John Starling

Father Victor Ardelian- What Manner of Man by St John Starling

Wenren È- Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know by Cyan Wings

Zhu Chongba- She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Ouyang- She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Giovanni- Giovanni's room by James Baldwin

David- Giovanni's room by James Baldwin

Danny Tozer- Dreadnought by April Daniels

Magnus Bane- The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Alec Lightwood- The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Thomas Lightwood- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Alastair Carstairs- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Alex Fierro-Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan

Nico di Angelo- The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan

Frances Janvier- Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

Nick Nelson- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Charlie Spring- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Tori Spring- Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Gwen (Princess Gwendoline)- Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Jack Alston/Lord Hawthorn- The Last Binding Trilogy by Freya Marske

Maud Blyth- The Last Binding Trilogy by Freya Marske

Robin Blyth- A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske

Silariathas “Silas”- Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Nathaniel Thorn- Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Ballister Blackheart- Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

Ambrosius Goldenloin- Nimona by N.D. Stevenson 

Neil Josten- All for the game by Nora Sakavic

Andrew Minyard- All for the game by Nora Sakavic

Nicky Hemick- All for the game by Nora Sakavic

Xie Lian- Heaven Official's Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx 

San Lang/ Hua Cheng- Heaven Official's Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx 

Luo Binghe- The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Shen Qingqiu- The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Lan Wangji/ Lan Zhan/ Han Guang Jun- Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Wei WuXian/ Wei Ying/ Yiling Patriarch- Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Kelly Bennett- Heartsong by TJ Klune

Linus Baker- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Arthur Parnassus- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Laurent- Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Damianos (Damen)- Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Will Kempen- Dark Rise Series by C.S. Pacat

Sarcean- Dark Rise Series by C.S. Pacat

James St. Clair- Dark Rise Series by C.S. Pacat

Ronan Lynch- The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Adam Parrish- The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Loki- Loki- Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Theo Bell- Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Daniela- We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Carmen- We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Seonid Traighan Sedai- Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Siuan Sanche Sedai- Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Shallan Davar- The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson

Jasnah Kholin- The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson 

Jesper Fahey- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Wylan van Eck- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Nina Zenik- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Evelyn Hugo- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Moiraine Damodred Sedai- The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan 

Yan Wushi- 千秋 /Thousand Autumns/Qian Qu by Meng Xi Shi

Shen Qiao- 千秋/Qian Qiu/Thousand Autumn by Meng Xi Shi

Alex Claremont-Diaz- Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor- Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Biyu "Jane" Su- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

August Landry- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Jolene Whitaker- Stars Still Fall by Jules Kelley

Jude St. Francis- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Francis Abernathy- The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Ishita Dey- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

Carmilla Karnstein- Carmilla by J Sheridan le Fanu

Murderbot- The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Shuos Jedao- Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee

Achilles- Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

Patroclus- Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

Yin Hanjiang- Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know by Cyan Wings

Daja Kisubo- The Circle of Magic series, The Circle Opens series, The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce

Simon Torquill- October Daye Series by Seanan McGuire

Kade Bronson- Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire

Jack Wolcott- Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire

Sundew- Wings of Fire by Tui T Sutherland

Zanja Na'Tarwein- The Elemental Logic Series by Laurie J. Marks

Karis G'deon- The Elemental Logic series by Laurie J. Marks

Thaniel Steepleton- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley

Raff Barden- One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

Penn de Foucart- One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

Alec Campion- Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Richard St Vier- Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Nico Ferrer De Varona- The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Parisa Kamali- The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Sam Black Crow- American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Salim- American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Hunter- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Islington- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Tsukiko- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Zachary Ezra Rawlins- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Dorian- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Katrina- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Katherine- The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner

Geraldine- Christabel by Samuel Coleridge 

Priya- The Jasmine Throne/The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Malini- The Jasmine Throne/The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Henry Gaunt- In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Sidney Ellwood - In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Benji Ovich- Beartown by Frederik Backman

Renly Baratheon- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Loras Tyrell- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Oberyn Martell- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Ellaria Sand- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Ead Duryan- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Thara Celehar- The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

Iäna Pel-Thenhior- The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

Vanyel Ashkevron- The Last Herald-Mage Series (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Price, Magic's Promise) by Mercedes Lackey

Galen- Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher 

Doctor Piper- Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher 

Eliot Waugh- The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Simon Spier- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Bram Greenfield- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Leah Burke- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Abby Suso- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Jay Gatsby- Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie Mclemore

Harold Hutchins- Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Eric "Bitty" Bittle- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu 

Jack Zimmermann- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu 

Ollie O'Meara- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

Pacer Wicks- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

Maurice Hall- Maurice by E.M. Forster 

Alec Scudder- Maurice by E.M. Forster 

Clive Durham- Maurice by E.M. Forster 

Cal Stephanides- Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Therese Belivet- Carol or The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith 

Carol Aird- Carol or The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith 

Baz Pitch- Carry On Series by Rainbow Rowell

Tennalhin (Tennal) Halkana- Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell

Evander (Andy) Mills- Lavendar House by Lev Ac Rosen

Kaiiestron (Kai) l, Prince of the Fourth House of the Underearth- Witch King by Martha Wells

Max Owen- Magical Boy by The Kao

Remy Pendergast- Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

Ben De Backer- I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

Nathan Allan- I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

Genevieve Lefoux- The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger

Maddie Morrow- Havenfall by Sara Holland

Catherine St. Day- The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

Lucy Muchelney- The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

Fetter- The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

Leonie Jackman- Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

Red- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone 

Blue- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone 

Rose- Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Li Shimin- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Cliopher Mdang- The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard

Lily Hu- Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Patrick O’Hara- The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Ambrose Cusk- The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Kodiak Celius- The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Queer Book Character Tournament 2 2023: 

Georgia Warr- Loveless by Alice Oseman

Pip Quintana- Loveless by Alice Oseman

Rooney Bach- Loveless by Alice Oseman

Jimmy Kaga-Ricci- I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman

Lister Bird- I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman

Daniel Jun- Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

Elle Argent- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Darcy Olsson- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Matthew Fairchild- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Thomas Lightwood- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Anna Lightwood- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Kit Herondale- The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Mark Blackthorn- The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Ari Bridgestock- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Lily Chen- The Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

Cristina Mendoza-Rosales- The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Aline Penhallow- The Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

Kieran Kingson- The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Diana Wrayburn- The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Ty Blackthorn- The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Helen Blackthorn- The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Raphael Santiago- The Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

Cameron Post- The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth

Marit Dzmare- A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Three Seagrass- A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Murderbot- The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Neek (NYC)- The Great Cities Duology by NK Jemisin

Bronca- The Great Cities Duology by NK Jemisin

Nijiri- The Killing Moon by NK Jemisin

Nicky Hemmick- All For The Game by Nora Sakavic 

Erik Klose- All For The Game by Nora Sakavic

Csorwe- The Unspoken Name by AK Larkwood

Gyre Price- The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

Aster- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Hanne Brum- King of Scars duology by Leigh Bardugo

Kuwei Yul-Bo- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Tolya Yul-Bataar- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Chih- The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo

Blue- This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar

Red- This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar

Xie Lian- Heaven’s Official Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Hua Cheng- Heaven’s Official Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Wei Wuxian- Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Lan Wangji- Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Mo Xuanyu- Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Shen Qingqiu- Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Luo Binghe- Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Shang Qinghua- Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Mobei-Jun- Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Oliver Marks- If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

Alexander Vass- If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

Colin Hyland- If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

James Farrow- If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

Rune Saint John- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Addam Saint Nicholas- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Layne Dawncreek- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Ciaran- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Zurah Saint Joseph- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Quinn Saint Nicholas- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Celia Lang- These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Marshall Seo- These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Rosalind Lang- Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Ben De Backer- I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

Nathan Allen- I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

Smith Parker- I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

Rory Heron- I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

Chloe Green- I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor- Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

August Landry- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Relius- The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Piper McLean- Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Reyna Avilla Ramirez-Arellano- Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan 

Piper- Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher 

Eadaz uq Nara- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Rath- Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr

Jordan Hennessy (the original)- The Dreamer Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater

Carmen Farooq-Lane- The Dreamer Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater

Victor Vale- Vicious by VE Schwab

Rhy Maresh- A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab

Percy Newton- The Montague Siblings by Mackenzi Lee

Felicity Montague- The Montague Siblings by Mackenzi Lee

Fatma el-Sha’arawi- A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Wyatt Croft- The Witch King by HE Edgmond

Elliot Schafer- In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Lucifer- Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolás

Jamshid e-Pramukh- The Daevabad Trilogy/The City of Brass by Shannon Chakraborty

Kiem Tegnar- Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Jainan Nav Adessari- Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Tennalhin "Tennal" Halkana- Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell

Little Ash- When The Angels Left The Old Country by Sacha Lamb

Uriel- When The Angels Left The Old Country by Sacha Lamb

Ophelia- To Be Or Not To Be by Ryan North

Qiyan Agula- Jing Wei Qing Shang by Please Don't Laugh

Chester Sibley- Holly and Oak by R. Cooper

Vanya Schmidt- Little Thieves by Margaret Owen 

Chu Wanning- The Husky And His White Cat Shizun by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat

Gu Mang- Remnants of Filth by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat

Benji- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Francis Abernathy- The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Theo Decker- The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Boris Pavlokovsky- The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Dedicate Rosethorn- Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce

Vanyel Ashkevron- The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey

Richard St Vier- Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner 

Alec Campion- Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner 

Katherine Talbert- The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner

Seonid Traighan- The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

Algarin Pendaloan- The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

Zhao Yunlan- Guardian / Zhen Hun by Priest

Shen Wei- Guardian / Zhen Hun by Priest

Zhou Zishu- Faraway Wanderers / Tian Ya Ke by Priest

Wen Kexing- Faraway Wanderers / Tian Ya Ke by Priest

Jing Beiyuan- Lord Seventh / Qi Ye by Priest

Wu Xi- Lord Seventh / Qi Ye by Priest

Daisy Wells- Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

Wu Zetian- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Li Shimin- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Gao Yizhi- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Raff Barden- One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

Penn de Foucart- One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

Lestat de Lioncourt- The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Louis de Pointe du Lac- The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Nicolas de Lenfent- The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Harry Cameron- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Celia St. James- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Dorian- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Zachary Ezra Rawlins- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Katrina "Kat" Hawkins- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Tsukiko- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Countess Carmilla Karnstein- Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

Mac Coyle- Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan

K.J. Brandman- Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan

Kade Bronson- Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire

Jack Wolcott- Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire

Nancy Whitman- Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire

Skulldeath- Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson  

Lucifer- Murder Mysteries by Neil Gaiman 

Kantam Sy- The High Republic: Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older

Yana Ro- The High Republic: Path of Deceit/ Path of Vengeance by Tessa Gratton, Justina Ireland, and Cavan Scott

Matty Cathley- Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott

Chellwinark Frethylrin (Fret)- Battle Scars by Sam Maggs

Nightsister Merrin- Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs

Kor Plouth- Path of Deceit by Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton

Ty Yorrick- The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott 

Theron Shan- Annihilation by Drew Karpyshyn 

Lula Talisola- The High Republic: Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older

Zeen Mrala- The High Republic: Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older

Alys “Crash” Ongwa- The High Republic: Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older

Vernestra Rwoh- The High Republic: A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland

Jordanna Sparkburn- Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland

Sylvestri Yarrow- Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland

Vi Moradi- Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S Dawson

Kitrep Soh- The High Republic: The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott

Marda Ro- The High Republic: Path of Deceit by Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton

Sky Graf- Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton

Cohmac Vitus- High Republic by Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, and Daniel José Older

Saya Keem- The High Republic by Daniel José Older

Chase Wilsorr- From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back by C.B. Lee

Jordan Smythe- From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back by C.B. Lee

Nathaniel J. Northland- Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites by Joy Demorra

Vlad Blutstein- Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites by Joy Demorra

Lady Ursula- Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites by Joy Demorra

Valkyr "Kyr" Marston- Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Magnus "Mags" Marston- Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Avicenna "Avi"- Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Phèdre nó Delaunay- Kushiel's Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey

Daniel da Silva- Think of England by KJ Charles

Celie- The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Marian Hayes- The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

Evred "Sponge" Montrei-vayir- Inda (series) by Sherwood Smith

Winter Ihernglass- Shadow Campaigns (series) by Django Wexler

Anastacia Alcroft LeBlanc- The Rosewood Chronicles by Connie Glynn

Binah Fae- The Rosewood Chronicles by Connie Glynn

Gordo Livingstone- Green Creek Series by TJ Klune

Oxnard Mattheson- Green Creek Series by TJ Klune

Robbie Fontaine - Green Creek Series by TJ Klune

Gavin Livingstone- Green Creek Series by TJ Klune 

Mark Bennett- Green Creek Series by TJ Klune 

Joe Bennett- Green Creek Series by TJ Klune 

Kelly Bennett- Green Creek Series by TJ Klune 

Carter Bennett- Green Creek Series by TJ Klune 

Wallace Price- Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Hugo Freeman- Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Ettian Nassun- Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie

Gal Ump Ember- Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie 

Scholar Christopher Wolfe- The Great Library Series by Rachel Caine

Captain Niccolo Santi- The Great Library Series by Rachel Caine

Corin Cadence- Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe

Sheridan "Deni" Theas- Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe

Zhu Chongba- She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Mar León de la Rosa- The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa

Danny Tozer- Dreadnought by April Daniels 

Aristotle Mendoza-Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Vivienne “Vivi” Duarte- The Cruel Prince/Folk of the Air by Holly Black

Benjamin “Ben” Evans- The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Bram Greenfeld- Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertelli

Humaira Khan- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

Ishita Dey- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

Max Owen- Magical Boy by The Kao

Elouise “Lou” Parker- Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

Ari Helix- Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

Queer Book Ship Tournament 2023: 

Ronan Lynch/Adam Parrish- The Raven Cycle 

Carmen Farooq-Lane/Jordan Hennessy (original)- The Dreamer Trilogy

Rune Saint John/Addam Saint Nicholas-The Tarot Sequence

Nina Zenik/Hanne Brum- King of Scars

Nadia Zhabin/Tamar Kir-Bataar- Ruin and Rising/King of Scars

Jesper Fahey/Wylan Van Eck- Six of Crows 

Simon Snow/Baz Pitch- Carry On

Agatha Wellbelove/Niamh Brody- Any Way the Wind Blows

Eadaz uq-Nāra/Sabran Berethnet- The Priory of the Orange Tree

Alec Lightwood x Magnus Bane- The Shadowhunter Chronicles 

Cristina Mendoza Rosales/Mark Blackthorn/Kieran Kingson- The Shadowhunter Chronicles 

Thomas Lightwood/Alastair Carstairs- The Shadowhunter Chronicles 

Helen Blackthorn/Aline Penhallow- The Shadowhunter Chronicles 

Anna Lightwood/Ari Bridgestock- The Shadowhunter Chronicles 

Captain Niccoli Santi/Scholar Christopher Wolfe- The Great Library 

Ambrose Cusk/Kodiak Celius- The Darkness Outside Us

Henry "Monty" Montague/Percy Newton- The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue(The Montague Siblings)

Alistair Lowe/Gavin Grieve- All of Us Villains

Nico di Angelo/Will Solace- Percy Jackson Series 

Magnus Chase/Alex Fierro- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Oxnard Mattheson/Joe Bennet- Wolfsong

Gordo Livingstone/Mark Bennet- Green Creek Series 

Robbie Fontaine/Kelly Bennet- Green Creek Series 

Timberwolf(Gavin Livingstone)/Carter Bennet- Green Creek Series

Linus Baker/Arthur Parnassus- The House in the Cerulean Sea

Nick Bell/Seth Gray- The Extraordinaries

Wallace Price/Hugo Freeman- Under the Whispering Door

Constanta/Alexi/Magdelena- A Dowry of Blood

Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard- All For The Game

Nicky Hemmick/Erik Klose- All For The Game

Rhy Maresh/Alucard Emery- A Darker Shade of Magic 

Addie LaRue/Sam- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Addie LaRue/Henry Strauss- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Crier/Ayla- Crier’s War

Will Battle/Chester Sibley- Holly and Oak

Kiem Tegnar/Jainan nav Adessari- Winter's Orbit

Tennal Halkana/Surit Yeni- Ocean's Echo

Robin Blyth/Edwin Courcey- A Marvelous Light

Maud Blyth/Violet Debenham- A Restless Truth

Priya/Malini- The Jasmine Throne

Ancel/Berenger- Pet

Lesto Arseni/Shemal- The Pirate of Fathoms Deep

Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus- The Locked Tomb

John Gaius/Augustine the First/Mercymorn the First- The Locked Tomb

Kadou Mahisti/Evemer Hoskadem- A Taste of Gold and Iron

Alyce/Aurora- Malice

Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji- Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grand Master of Demonic Cultivation 

Xie Lian/Hua Cheng- Heaven Official's Blessing/Tian Guan Ci Fu

Shen Qingqiu/Luo Binghe- The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/ Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong

Shang Qinghua/Mobei-Jun- The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/ Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong

Sam Haversford(Sam of Wilds)/Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart- The Lightning Struck Heart

Wu Zetian/ Li Shimin/Gao Yizhi- Iron Widow

Wyatt Croft/Emyr North- The Witch King

Marshall Seo/Benedikt Montagov- These Violent Delights

Elliot Schafer/Luke Sunborn- In Other Lands

Moiraine Damodred/Siuan Sanche- Wheel of Time

Jessica Tran/Abby Jones- Not Your Sidekick

Miles Singer/Tristan Hunter- Witchmark (Kingston Cycle)

August Landry/Jane Su- One Last Stop

Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor- Red, White, and Royal Blue

Chloe Green/Shara Wheeler- I Kissed Shara Wheeler

Jack Zimmermann/Eric "Bitty" Bittle- Check, Please! 

Richard St Vier/Alec Campion- Swordspoint 

Saraquael/Carasel- Murder Mysteries 

Aristotle Mendoza/Dante Quintana- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe

Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring- Heartstopper

Tara Jones/Darcy Olsson- Heartstopper

Jimmy Kaga-Ricci/Lister Bird- I Was Born For This

Pip Quintana/Rooney Bach- Loveless

Aled Last/Daniel Jun- Radio Silence

Zhou ZiShu/Wen KeXing- Tian Ye Ke (Faraway Wanderers)

Cassandra Igarashi/Laura Wilson- The Wicked + The Divine

Baal/Inanna- The Wicked + the Divine

Hunter/Serpentine- Neverwhere

Tim Te Maro/Elliott Parker- Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues

Oliver Marks/James Farrow- If We Were Villains

Alexander Vass/Colin Hyland- If We Were Villains

Zachary Ezra Rawlins/Dorian- The Starless Sea

Evelyn Hugo/Celia St James- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Thaniel Steepleton/Keita Mori- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

Joe Tournier/Missouri Kite- The Kingdoms

Nasir Alexander "Nax" Hall/Rion William Kwesi Turner- The Disasters

Laura Hollis/Carmilla Karnstein- Carmilla

Zhu Chongba/Ma Xiuying- She Who Became The Sun

Luc O'Donnell/Oliver Blackwood- Boyfriend Material

Mahit Dzmare/Three Seagrass- A Desolation Called Peace

Aaron Slaughter/Jace Boucher- House of Slaughter

KJ Brandman/Mac Coyle- Paper Girls

Red/Blue- This Is How You Lose The Time War

Rosemary Harper/Sissix Seshkethet- The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

Maurice Hall/Alec Scudder- Maurice

Zachary Ying / Simon Li- Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor

Simon Spier/Bram Greengrass- Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda

Imogen Scott/Tessa Minsky- Imogen Obviously

Leah Burke/Abby Suso- Leah on the Offbeat

Maya/Claire- Far From the Tree

Susan Smith/Becky- The War that Saved My Life

Tanner Scott/Sebastian Brother- Autoboyography

Erland Fournier /Gunnar Fuglestad- The Reckless Kind

Eli Rodriguez/Alex Price- Like Real People Do

Linnéa Wallin/Vanessa Dahl- The Circle (The Engelsfors Trilogy)

Balthamos/Baruch- His Dark Materials

Salim/The Jinn- American Gods

Jack Wolcott/Alexis Chopper- Wayward Children Series

Damianos (Damen)/Laurent- Captive Prince

Jack/August- The Wicker King

Yadriel Vélez Flores/Julian Diaz- Cemetery Boys

Henry Silver/Tobias Finch- Silver in the Wood

Uriel/Ashmedai "Little Ash"- When the Angels Left the Old Country

Vanja Schmidt/Emeric Conrad- Little Thieves

Cooper Dayton/Oliver Park- A Wolf at the Door

Sundew/Willow- Wings of Fire/The Poison Jungle

Scarlett Clark/Mina Pierce- They Never Learn

Remy Pendergast/Xiaodong Song/Zidan Malekh- Silver Under Nightfall

Teodora di Sangro/Cielo- The Brilliant Death/The Storm of Life

Ruben Montez/Zach Knight- If This Gets Out

Charlie Winshaw/Dev Deshpande- The Charm Offensive

Shizuka Satomi/Lan Tran- Light from Uncommon Stars

Lily Hu/Kathleen "Kath" Miller- Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Miri/Leah- Our Wives Under the Sea

Ryann Bird/Alexandria Macallough- The Weight of the Stars

Aurelia “Lia”/Xania Bayonn- Queen of Coin and Whispers

Ben/Severin- The Darkest Part of the Forest

Rebecca Laughlin/Theadora Calligaris- The Inheritance Games

Shadi/Zoya- The Bone Witch

Daniela “Dani” Vargas/Carmen Santos- We Set the Dark on Fire

Arlo Jarsdel/Nausicaä Kraken- A Dark and Hollow Star (Hollow Star Saga)

Vehan Lysterne/Aurelian Bessel- Hollow Star Saga

Patroclus and Achilles- The Song of Achilles

Nova Huang/Tam Lang- Mooncakes

Humaira Khan/Ishita Dey- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Charlotte Thompson/Sutton Spencer- Those Who Wait

Tavra/Onica- The Dark Crystal

Ettian Nassun/Gal Ump Ember- Bonds of Brass/Bloodright Trilogy

Baru Cormorant/Tain Hu- The Traitor Baru Cormorant

Zhao Yunlan/Shen Wei- Guardian/Zhen Hun

Ben de Backer/Nathan Allen- I Wish You All The Best

Ash/Kaisa- Ash

Annie Kenyon/Liza Winthrop- Annie on my Mind

Esbar Uq-Nãra/Tunuva Melim- A Day Of Fallen Night

Noziken Pa Dumai/Kuposa Pa Nikeya- A Day Of Fallen Night

Mateo Torres/Rufus Emeterio- They Both Die at the End

Mara/Charlie- Girl Made of Stars

Nora Flood/Robin Vote- Nightwood

Avicenna "Avi"/Magnus Marston- Some Desperate Glory

Valery Kolkhanov/Konstantin Shenkov- The Half Life of Valery K

Delilah Green/Claire Sutherland- Delilah Green Doesn’t Care

Cas Leung/Swift Kent- The Abyss Surrounds Us/The Edge of Abyss

Julian Fromme/Paul Fleischer- These Violent Delights

Vivienne (Vivi) Duarte/Heather- The Cruel Prince/Folk of the Air 

Tiernan/ Hyacinth- The Stolen Heir

Lottie Pumpkin/Ellie Wolf- The Rosewood Chronicles

April May/Maya- An Absolutely Remarkable Thing/A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor

Theo Decker/Boris Pavlikovsky- The Goldfinch

Scottie Zajac/Irene Abraham- She Drives Me Crazy

William Loxley/John Thorncress- The Faerie Hounds of York

Queer Book Character Tournament the first 2023: 

Yamilet Flores-The Lesbianas Guide to Catholic School 

Aristotle Mendoz-Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe 

Dante Quintana-Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Alex Claremont-Diaz- Red White and Royal Blue 

Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor- Red White and Royal Blue

Rafael Luna- Red White and Royal Blue

Adam Parrish- The Raven Cycle

Ronan Lynch- The Raven Cycle

Jordan Hennessy (the original) - The Raven Cycle/The Dreamer Trilogy

Jordan Hennessy (the dream) - The Raven Cycle/The Dreamer Trilogy

Carmen Farooq-Lane- The Dreamer Trilogy

Wylan Van Eck- Six of Crows

Jesper Fahey- Six of Crows

Nina Zenik- Six of Crows/King of Scars

Neil Josten- All For The Game

Andrew Minyard- All For The Game

Nicky Hemmick- All For The Game 

Gideon Nav- The Locked Tomb

Pyrrha Dve- The Locked Tomb

Judith Deuteros- The Locked Tomb

Harrowhark Nonagesimus- The Locked Tomb

Ianthe Tridentarius- The Locked Tomb

Augustine the First- The Locked Tomb

Nona- The Locked Tomb

Yadriel Vélez Flores- Cemetery Boys

Achilles- Song of Achilles

Practroclus- Song of Achilles

Lucien O'Donnell- Boyfriend Material 

Evelyn Hugo- The SevenHusbands of Evelyn Hugo

Celia St. James- The SevenHusbands of Evelyn Hugo

Harry Cameron- The SevenHusbands of Evelyn Hugo

Simon Snow- Carry On

Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch (Baz Pitch)- Carry On 

Libby Rhodes- The Atlas Six

Tristan Caine- The Atlas Six

Parisa Kamali- The Atlas Six

Reina Mori- The Atlas Six

Callum Nova- The Atlas Six

Nico de Varona- The Atlas Six

Gideon Drake- The Atlas Six

Julian Diaz- Cemetery Boys

Flaca Gonzales- Cemetery Boys 

Oliver Marks- If We Were Villains

James Farrow- If We Were Villains

Alexander Vass- If We Were Villains

Nico di Angelo- Percy Jackson & The Olympians

Will Solace- Percy Jackson & The Olympians

Alex Fierro- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Reyna Avilla Ramirez-Arellano- Heroes of Olympus

Piper McLean- Heroes of Olympus/Trials of Apollo

Apollo- Trials of Apollo

Sophia Grimmins- Cinderella is Dead

Constance- Cinderella is Dead 

Zachary Ezra Rawlins- The Starless Sea

Dorian- The Starless Sea

Georgia Warr- Loveless

Elliot Schaefer- In Other Lands

Rune Saint John- The Tarot Sequence

Ciaran- The Tarot Sequence

Layne Dawncreek - The Tarot Sequence

Max Saint John- The Tarot Sequence

Eric Bittle- Check, Please!

Jack Zimmermann- Check, Please!

Avi Cantor- Avi Cantor Has Six Months to Live

Wyatt Croft- The Witch King

Clover Martinez- The Last 8

August Landry- One Last Stop

Jane Su- One Last Stop

Wes- One Last Stop 

Victor Vale- Vicious

Jonathan Bane- Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case

Donovan Havili- Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case

Nathaniel Thorn- Sorcery of Thorns

Katrien Quillworthy- Sorcery of Thorns

Devon Murphy- The Rowan Harbor Cycle series

Fletcher Lane- The Rowan Harbor Cycle series

Josh- Ghostly Guardians series

Connor- Ghostly Guardians series

Skye- Ghostly Guardians series

Teag Logan- Deadly Curiosities series

Simon Kincaide- Badlands series

Shaesarenna Nightvn- The Necromancer's Light

Blue Billings- Black & Blue series

Kane Montgomery- Reverie

Gideon Holiday- The Geek Who Saved Christmas

Nyah (Shattergirl)- Shattered

Aiden Carlisle- Conflict of Interest

Nick Nelson- Heartstopper

Charlie Spring- Heartstopper

Tori Spring- Solitaire, Hearstopper

Tara Jones- Heartstopper

Darcy Olsson- Heartstopper 

Elle Argent- Heartstopper 

Aled Last- Heartstopper 

Patrick- My heart is a little wild thing

Jackson- The Boy from the Mish

Miri- Our wives under the sea

Leah- Our wives under the sea

Charlie Winshaw- Charm offensive 

Sezly Ruedotter- Leagues and Legends

Sally-Anne- Leagues and Legends

Leaf Fenn- Leagues and Legends

Red Uyeda- Leagues and Legends

Nita Sanchez- Market of Monsters

Kovit Sangwaraporn- Market of Monsters

Alec Lightwood - The mortal instruments series/ the eldest curses trilogy 

Mark Blackthorn - The Dark Artifices, The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Magnus Bane- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Kieran Kingson- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Ari Bridgestock- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Lily Chen- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Cristina Mendoza-Rosales- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Ty Blackthorn- The Shadowhunter Chronicles/The Dark Artifices

Julian Blackthorn- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Helen Blackthorn- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Raphael Santiago- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Aline Penhallow- The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Kit Herondale- Queen of Air and Darkness/Shadowhunters Chronicles

Diana Wrayburn- The Dark Artifices/The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Arati Bridgestock- The Last Hours/The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Anna Lightwood- The Last Hours/ The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Alastair Carstairs- The Last Hours (series) Chain of Gold, The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Kiem Tegnar- Winter's Orbit

Jainan nav Adessari- Winter's Orbit

Felicity Montague- The Montague Siblings

Percy Newton- The Montague Siblings

Robin Blessing- A Little Blessing

Chass- The Fallen King's Penitent Soldier

Murderbot- All Systems Red

Edwin Courcey- A Marvelous Light

Robin Blyth- A Marvelous Light

Cliopher Mdang- The Hands of the Emperor 

Seregil- Luck in the Shadows

Alucard Emery- A Darker Shade of Magic

Rhy Maresh- A Darker Shade of Magic

Kathleen/Celia Lang- These Violent Delights

Teo, son of Quetzal- The Sunbearer Trials

Maud Blyth- A Restless Truth

Ben De Backer- I Wish You All the Best

Luke Sunborn- In Other Lands

Viv- Legends & Lattes

Hinata- The Night Circus

Tsukiko- The Night Circus

Seregil í Korit- The Nightrunner Series

Louis de Pointe du Lac- Interview with the Vampire

Robin Goodfellow- Nightlife

Griffin- Trick of the Light

Jamie Crawford- Demon's Lexicon

Lesto Arseni- The Pirate of Fathoms Deep

Jeremy De Lainey- The Boy Who Steals Houses

Simon Spier- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Leah Burke- Leah on the Offbeat

Kavya Joshi- Beauty and the Besharam

Ophelia Rojas- Ophelia After All

Humaira Khan- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Ishita Dey- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Zhu Chongba- She Who Became The Sun

Nishat- The Henna Wars

Danny Cheng- Picture Us In The Light

Frances Janvier- Radio Silence

Daniel Jun- Radio Silence

Jessamyn Teoh- Black Water Sister

Griffin Jennings- History Is All You Left Me

Felix Love- Felix Ever After

Laney Keating- Black Iris

Chester Sibley- Holly and Oak

Nicodemus- Ravenous

Wei Wuxian- Mo Dao Zu Shi

Lan Wangji- Mo Dao Zu Shi

Muntadhir al Qahtani- The Daevabad Trilogy

Smith Parker- I Kissed Shara Wheeler

Chloe Green- I Kissed Shara Wheeler  

Shara Wheeler- I kissed Shara wheeler

Rory Heron- I kissed Shara Wheeler

Vanyel -Last Herald Mage Trilogy

Baru Cormorant - The Traitor Baru Cormorant, The Monster Baru Cormorant, and The Tyrant Baru Cormorant

Vanyel -Last Herald Mage Trilogy

Paul Fleischer- These Violent Delights

Metias Iparis- Legend

Suzette- Little and Lion

Nancy Whitman- Wayward Children

Kade Bronson- Wayward Children

Jack Wolcott- Wayward Children

Eadaz Uq Nara - The Priory of the Orange Tree

Sabran Berethnet- The Priory of the Orange Tree 

Valkyrie Cain-  Skulduggery Pleasant

Daisy Wells- Murder Most Unladylike

Daja Kisubo- The Circle of Magic Quartet/ Cold Fire/The Will of the Empress

Rosethorn- Circle of Magic/ Street Magic/ Will of the Empress/ Melting Stones

Marshall Seo- These Violent Delights

Sadie- Sadie

Eliza (Liza) Winthrop- Annie On My Mind

Annie Kenyon- Annie On My Mind

Isabelle Stevenson- Annie On My Mind

Katherine Widmer- Annie On My Mind

Seán MacIntyre- The Heart's Invisible Furies

Jack Smoot - The Heart's Invisisble Furies

Bastiaan Van den Bergh- The Heart's Invisisble Furies

Cyril Avery- The Heart's Invisible Furies

Linus Baker- The House in the Cerulean Sea

Connor Major- Surrender Your Sons

Laurent- Captive Prince

Damen (Damianos)- Captive Prince

Hua Cheng- Tian Guan Ci Fu/ Heaven's Official Blessing

Danny Tozer- Dreadnought

[faerunsbest]

Okay I have stumbled upon the two people living together trope but they are not in a romantic relationship but there is TENSION! And I read one with Zevlor and now I thirst for more!!!

Zevlor would be the perfect housemate to fall in love with. And I know for a fact he would keep that place so clean ❤️

Aww I can picture it!

Tav has a place in the gate and the open hand is overfull, so he overs to leave the temple and make room for more people. And tav happens to be there when he does.

"Oh I've got a little extra space. You can stay with me! "

Tav ignores the way he blusters about not wanting to be a burden. They drag him along to the less showy parts of town where the unlock an apadoor before elbowing it open

"Sorry it's a little sticky and I haven't had a chance to fix it."

The apartment is no more than four separate space, the wood floor damaged from furniture being dragged about. Shabby but warm, he looked around to see wads of paper crammed into cracks in the walls. The fireplace grubby from constant use. The loving room is its kitchen, off to the side is a small room with a washing tub and toilet. Oh good they have plumbing. Another door leads to a sparce room with a near nude bed. Off to the other side was a very small space like an office. Inside the space was a thin sofa with a guest. A very large brown cat sunning in the spaces window.

"One rule here, we do what mama tells us to!"

Tav thumbs over to the cat who looks at them for a moment.

The following day, tav almost tumbled into the place, they looked at the door confused. Zevlor fixed it.

Zevlor stands by the fireplace dusting off his hands on a rag.

" I wasn't able to find work yet, so I thought I'd do a few repairs."

"Oh wow, did you clean the fireplace??"

"Yes it should work much better now."

"You mean I can cook in there again?!"

"I hope it's helpful."

The following day, tav comes home happy as a lark when the door opens without a shove. When they look zevlor is sitting on a polished floor in front if the rumbling fireplace, looking a bit miffed.

"No luck today either huh?"

"Afraid not. I will not be a burden-"

"Don't worry about it besides I got us something!"

Tav raises a market bag of grocery and a new pot.

Another day and winter is beginning to creep in slowly. Zevlor searches all over town, so many people are still rebuilding and can't afford to hire new people. All the same he goes about doing whatever odd jobs he can find before coming back and fixing up something in the apartment. Today, however, when he comes home, he finds a box on his little sofa bed.

When he opens it up, it's new boots and a scarf. He can't help the big smile as he trues them on, especially please with the scarf. A silly thing he doesn't need at all, but a sweet gift.

A little more passes, and zev finds himself again sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace with tav laughing about nothing really. They sit a little closer these days, while soup bubbles in the fireplace. He blinks in surprise when he feels tav lay their head on his shoulder.

[bikercbr6]

Fuck me, it’s good to outta the house now. Caught Chav, didn’t I and had to stay in for a week. Sod that, mind, I felt better after a couple of days so came into town. Don’t really care now if I’m so-say contagious, do I? What do them fucking experts know, anyway? Nah, this new smoking lark will keep the bugs away anyway. Funny how easy it was to start. Wish I’d done it years ago, actual. Feels so right. Just finish this one, and I’ll pop over there. Yeah, JDs. Knew it was popular, but have you seen them queues these days? One in, one out for fucks sake. Takes so fucking long. Now they give out numbers. I’m 96. Or 69. 69 sounds better, yeah? Think it’s a lower number. There’d better be some trackies I like left, mate, or I’m gonna kick off good and proppa. And some decent sneax my size. Then I won’t need these on me feet, will I? Might leave them in dad’s bedroom, just for a laff. Wot you reckon? Hang on, just got to text work and let them know I ain’t going in. Not ever. Bloody boring it was anyway, sitting in that office wiv all that paperwork. Sod that from now on. You ok? Look a bit flushed, dontcha. Tell you what, you finish off this fag. We’ll go sit over there, and a few puffs will perk you up. Yeah, go on. I’ll just light up another one. Don’t need no excuse now, bro. We’ll keep an eye on that queue together. I’ll blag you in on my ticket. We can save time by sharing the changing room too. By the look of you now I think you’ve caught Chav yourself…

[aziraphales-library]

Hi there! I was looking for some fics where it details Aziraphale adjusting to being in Heaven again as the Supreme Archangel, possibly some angst about missing Crowley?

Thank you!

Hey. We have a #supreme archangel aziraphale tag, so do check that out. Here are more to add...

Face it alone by Angelica_Tree (G)

Aziraphale has every intention of changing Heaven for the better, but how do you change a large organization where everything is apparently working as intended? And who would’ve thought his new position would include so much paperwork? But Aziraphale soon discovers that his problems with staying afloat are nothing compared to what is heading his way; a power struggle between the Almighty’s Voice and Her Son. Aziraphale has to choose sides. Quickly. And without Crowley by his side.

In my blood like earthly wine by nightbloomingcereus (T)

Someone’s making mischief in Heaven of a decidedly Earthly nature. Aziraphale, as Supreme Archangel and Heaven’s resident Earth expert, is expected to deal with it. Which ought to be fine, really, only it keeps dredging up inconvenient memories of his time on Earth, and of a certain mischievous demon.

Good Omens: Revelations by Andimyon (M)

After returning to Heaven, newly appointed supreme archangel Aziraphale has to face new and terrible challenges, which he can't solve alone.Will he be able to pay the price to save the world? Can he get help in time, or do the wounds he caused run too deep? Once again, everyone's fate is in their hands...

Part II: Is It Raining In Heaven? by beardo (T)

It was the lark, the herald of the morn, no nightingale... I must be gone and live, or stay and die. (Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene 5) The new Supreme Archangel is Struggling. He can't stop the Second Coming, the archangels barely take him seriously, and a fog of blissful joy, only controllable by incessant, stone-cold fury, seems set to make his own mind betray him. Aziraphale has never been the one with the plan, but now, he needs to prevent the next apocalypse and keep Crowley safe on Earth, all while that reckless serpent insists on meddling in Heaven's affairs. (At least the new Christ is a good kid, and the Pope has nice tea.)

No Light, No Light by PolarisVega (T)

Aziraphale left his life on Earth behind to take the job as the new Supreme Archangel of Heaven. Delighted to be welcomed back and to have finally earned the respect of Heaven, Aziraphale is doing as much Good as he can from the inside. But when Heaven's plans for the second coming of the Apocalypse are revealed. The consequences of his choices, past and present, are greater than he ever imagined. Can’t wait for season 3? Me neither! This is my version of what could be. Please enjoy! The story is now complete.

Time Marches Forward by Bellisima_writes (M)

Our story follows Aziraphale as he toils alone in Heaven to thwart the Second Coming while Crowley, back on Earth, encounters a powerful and frightened 15-year-old Adam Young in desperate need of guidance. One of the infinite possibilities for how the Good Omens story can end. With some twists, and some angst, and lots of character development.

- Mod D

[gabessquishytum]

Naked Chef Hob

Hob has a cooking show that started on YouTube where he cooks in the nude with just an apron on -- depending on what he was cooking the apron was either around just his waist or a full apron (splat-ery things are going to splat!).

Every time he bakes, with just his (small) apron around his modesty, and gets flour or sugar streaks on his chest he goes viral. (The gifset from the episode where he frosted a cake & pink frosting got smeared near his nipple for the last 20 minutes of the show gets reblogged constantly.)

Hob is actually a very good chef and he started the YouTube thing when he lost a bet - it's not his fault the interwebs like to catalog his tattoos and his manbun broke the internet that one time. 😎 Despite his viral fame, he still cooks at his small restaurant.

The youtube thing was never supposed to be anything other that a forfeit, a lark. Well now, HFGTV wants Hob to take his "show" to tv. Being naked on YouTube is different than being naked on a channel that used to host Alton Brown,,,,and now hosts Dream d'Endless.

Hob doesn’t know if he can be in the studio, where Dream talks very seriously about fresh ingredients and food history, with nothing more than a branded apron covering his bits.

Of course, the pilot is a hit; of course, after his 2nd taping when Dream accidentally (on purpose) swung by to watch him work,,,,he kept. stopping. by. to watch Hob cook (hopefully, sexily) covered in the sauce of the day. Only problem, Dream never stays long enough for Hob to talk to him - it was all just smolder-y eyes. Hob is really glad the aprons are thick or he would be cooking on pornhub.

NAKED CHEF!!!! This is so good.

The show is a hit, which is great! Except that people keep recognising Hob in public now. It's great for the restaurant, they're booked out every night. But not so great when Hob is just trying to go grocery shopping, and gets accosted by fans. His YouTube show was never THIS big. He actually has a small breakdown about the whole situation in the studio bathroom (dressed only in his apron and sneakers because he may cook naked but he always wears shoes, he is NOT going to drop a knife on his foot AGAIN).

Anyway. Bathroom breakdown. Naturally, Dream comes in and sees him naked AND snotty. It's a nightmare.

But Dream is... very very nice. He wipes Hob’s face for him, and wraps his arm around his shoulder. He comforts Hob with the knowledge that the novelty will soon wear off, and people will stop bothering him. Dream solemnly says that anyway, people only notice Hob because he's so sexy. He could always try being less sexy?

Hob finally laughs and leans against Dream because this is his one opportunity and he's not going to miss it. Dream starts rubbing little circles into the small of Hob’s back, and it's like the dam finally breaks.

Hob just about makes it through making his Malaysian curry (artfully splattered in his chest hair, as always) and when they wrap up for the day, Dream is still there. Waiting, this time. He diligently swipes the curry off Hob’s chest with his finger, and his eyes are even more smoldery up close.

It's probably inevitable. But Hob still can't quite believe it. Dream sucks him off in the bathroom where he was just crying!! He ducks underneath Hob’s apron and stays there until he's done, and Hob just knows that the apron will smell of sex and Dream forever now. He might have to take it home with him, actually.

Or maybe he'll just take Dream home instead. It's his night off, and he can always get a table for two at the restaurant. He won't be naked, but it only seems fair to finally give Dream something to unwrap!

[raccoonfallsharder]

I just found out Rockets VA can sing (really good actually) do you have any headcanons based on that?

mmmmm. sorry for the delay, i got distracted by rocket prompt week and also by thinking about rocket crooning in your ear.

he’s always humming, you know? (this is not a headcanon — it’s in the movies.) he’s often humming while he works. and that scene on berhert? where he’s sort of purring along with the music while plotting severe injury to the incoming ravagers? i…

sorry. focusing.

im sure the first few times you hear him mumbling lyrics under his breath, you damn near need to excuse yourself. you know you can’t call attention to it — in a best-case scenario, he'll stop singing entirely. you say nothing, and your silence is rewarded: rocket's mumbling a tune — so low your toes curl in your boots — almost whenever the two of you are working quietly on some project or another. most of the time, he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. the rest of the time, he thinks you can’t hear him.

once, while the entire crew was dicking around in the common room and rocket started humming under his breath, pete had commented on it. you'd shot him a murderous look but it had been too late: rocket’s ears had gone flat and his tail had tucked between his ankles and his eyes had swiveled around the room. he'd been shifting and snapping out harsh words so frantically that you were sure he was scarlet under his fur. you’d had to go a miserable dozen cycles before you’d stumbled across him lilting low to himself again in the engine room one night.

fuckin pete. you still haven’t forgiven that guy.

but things get easier — at least between you and rocket — after that. there's a day when rocket looks up and realizes that you can hear him — maybe you're swaying slightly to the sound of his voice, or lightly tapping the soft pads of your fingertips like raindrops on your knee. he stumbles to a fumbling halt. you don’t say anything, though: you just pass him an encouraging half-smile before returning to whatever you were doing. you’ll hang out with him regardless of whether you get to lull yourself to the sound of his deep, pretty voice or not, you figure.

it happens again — and then again. and eventually, rocket stops stopping. he sees you walk into the otherwise-empty common area while he’s clanging away on some new cannon, or you slide into the seat next to him while he’s piloting the bowie alone — and he tosses you a little smirk and keeps going, keeps humming those bars or rumbling those words up over his ribs and out the corners of his mouth.

you’re not the first person he’s sung to, of course.

there’s a reason groot loves music. when he was just a sprout, rocket would carefully place groot's small pot right next to where he lay his own head, and he’d croon a lullaby from star-lord’s library of songs. this was how the little flora colossus first learned to fall asleep — and how he woke up — every rotation for the first dozen cycles of his life. even when groot got a little bigger and could leave his pot and run around chasing orloni, he’d still drift off sprawled on rocket’s shoulder or across the top of his head: dozing to the sound of his father clinking away on aero-rigs while humming some melody or another.

even before that — i think rocket probably sung to groot the elder, too, at least once or twice. maybe the first time rocket had seen the big guy lose his limbs, before he'd learned that they would grow back. rocket had promised tibius lark that he’d look out for the flora colossus, and now here's groot — mutilated and in pain. rocket had tried to soothe the groaning, moaning groot to sleep, wracked by guilt before eventually realizing the big idiot was just a giant frickin’ crybaby with limbs that would essentially regenerate.

still, rocket hadn’t minded singing to his friend too much after that.

maybe even earlier, too. maybe there had been a time, after explaining music to his cagemates but before telling them about flying machines. maybe he’d hummed for batch 89 too.

they would’ve thought his childish voice was the most comforting, lovely thing they’d ever heard, i think. sometimes, as you might guess, the members of batch 89 would have nightmares or be in too much pain to close their eyes and rest, and when those nights happened, rocket would have hummed them back to sleep, all low and slow and sweet.

floor would have begged for songs every chance she got. teefs would have marveled at how beautiful rocket had sounded, and lylla — lylla would have told him, very solemnly, that he had a gift.

rocket doesn't think about that very often — tries not to think about those days at all, if he's being honest — but eventually, as you know, his past comes out. it's long after he’s gotten comfortable with you, of course — and raised his son, and saved half the universe, and purchased the skull of a god, and freed himself from the high evolutionary for the last time, and become a captain, but now—

now, he remembers lylla's words.

the star children descend from the arête and different households try to take them in, but it only takes one or two failed sleep-shifts across all of knowhere before it becomes apparent that none of the kids can rest. the children have nightmares — of course they do — and they’re used to sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder with each other in cages, on hard floors. they're used to whispering stories and comforts to each other, listening gratefully to the quiet words of their siblings, small hands gripping small hands in the darkness.

it takes a while to figure out, but eventually arrangements are made — at least until the kids can adjust. spaces are shifted so the children can nest together, and it helps — mostly. drax tries telling stories. cosmo recommends warm milk. howard suggests a quarter-shot of ginsky for each kid (you promptly put the kibosh on that one). nebula comes one night to tell the kids in great detail how she’ll destroy anyone who dares to harm them. you’re so happy mantis went on her journey to find herself but sometimes, when you see how exhausted and hollow-eyed the kids are in the morning, you just wish she were back so she could help them sleep.

and then suddenly it's a few cycles later, and you realize you haven’t heard any more concerns about the kids’ night terrors. you look around and realize they’re bright-eyed again, cheeks glowing, chattering at breakfast. curious as to what ended up working — if it was the indigarran lavender satchets sent by one of kraglin’s ex-wives or it it was the broker boring them with the droning details of the histories of various artifacts he’d once had in his shop on Xandar — you come visiting one night on tip-toe, just to check in.

rocket’s there — curled up on an old armchair someone had brought in for the neverending parade of storytellers and caregivers. his voice rolls over the sleepy children, and their eyelashes droop while he lingers on some notes and skips up and down others. the sound of it curls around them — and you. his voice nestles into the shadows, practically plucking up the edges of the blankets and tucking the kids in all on its own.

you watch as, handful after handful, they drift: eased deeply into dreaming by the power and protection of the captain’s voice, all on its own.

[arzen9]

Can I Be Good? Chapter 1: Welcome to the Crimson Palace - Lark

pairing: Astarion/f!Tav | Astarion/f!OC 18+ MDNI word count: 2k tags/warnings: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Not Canon Compliant, Vampire Ascendant Astarion, Redemption, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Mystery, Romance, Drama, Angst, Fluff, Smut, Original Female Character summary: Centuries of pain, a ritual, (not) hunger, (not) desire, a lost soul, a search, a yearning, bodies, bodies... And a heart that changes everything.

Finally I am putting the modern AU story I've had in my head for a while out there, I hope it will be as enjoyable to read as it is to write it! I am VERY excited for this story to unravel. I will be updating the tags as the plot progresses.

I will TRY to update on a weekly basis, BUT life can happen!

If you're reading this, I LOVE you<3

I will be making a playlist to go with this story, so keep an eye out for that also!

“They call him…” Wyll pauses for dramatic effect, and downs his shot of tequila. “The Lord of the Night.”

Lark and Lae’zel blink in unison before falling into a fit of giggles. Lark even snorts. 

“Fucking unreal,” she says while she pours another round for all of them. 

“But you are desperate for a job, yes?” Lae’zel asks.

“That I am,” Lark responds and sinks further down the couch. 

“It’s just a stupid rumor,” Wyll tries. “You know people of Baldur’s Gate love to gossip.” 

“We’ll see if it’s a rumor or not, I guess,” she says and reaches for her shot glass. “My interview’s next week.” 

“We need to spice up, as you say, our hang out places,” Lae’zel suddenly interjects. “We always meet in one of our apartments. If we got out more, we would know if this boss of yours was really the lord of the night or not.”

“He’s not my boss yet,” Lark says, squinting her eyes as the tequila makes its way down her throat. “You’re right though.”

Wyll jumps in his seat. “I have an idea.”

The two women eye him in the low light of the room. 

“Why don’t we go see this Crimson Palace for ourselves? A test drive, so to speak.”

“I like it,” Lae’zel says flatly. Lark agrees. 

Because why not? They have never tried going to the most popular nightclub of Baldur’s Gate— owned by one mysterious figure, only seen by those who subscribe to magazines that compile lists for the city’s best dressed, richest, most luxuriously-living— Lark’s potential future boss, Astarion Ancunín. She has done some research online on him, but there doesn’t seem to be much information beyond his physical appearance— a man that looks like he was hand-sculpted by the Gods themselves. Lark had shown some of the pictures she saw online to her friends, garnering mixed reactions.

“Whoa,” Wyll had said, “He does look rich alright. A bit pale, perhaps.”

“He looks breakable,” was Lae’zel’s contribution to the conversation.

And that was that. 

Lark’s job search had been an ongoing process for the past seven months— ever since she graduated with her master’s in poetry. She had known it would be difficult to find a job with a creative degree, but not to this extent. Doing odd jobs at odd hours could only take one so far in life.

So when she saw a listing on a board online for a personal assistant to the owner of the Crimson Palace, she jumped on it; the pay was way too generous for what seemed to be nothing more than a simple assistantship. The job description said the position was temporary with the potential for something more (whatever that meant); there was a winter masquerade party coming up and the big boss needed some help (the listing of course didn’t say big boss, but Lark found it funny to call this sculpture of a man big boss).

  What she wasn’t expecting was to be called in for an interview literally five minutes after submitting her application. It was a woman she talked on the phone to, with a peculiar name— Shadowheart. Lark still wonders if it is some kind of stage name.

They take the subway to the Crimson Palace, all three of them already a little tipsy— clearly not finding anything wrong with going to Lark��s potential workplace to get shitfaced one week before her interview. She doesn’t dwell on it— if she gets rejected, she gets rejected. Nothing new. 

“Helm’s cock,” Wyll exclaims, earning a raised brow from Lae’zel and a squint from Lark, when they get out of the subway train and see the club in the distance. “It is a palace. You know, this place has some history to it. Rumor has it, it was owned by a cruel vampire once.”

“Definitely looks the part,” Lark sneers. “What’s it with you and rumors tonight?”

Lae’zel starts walking ahead of them. “I assumed we are here to drink, not indulge in history lessons,” she says. Wyll and Lark giggle but follow her regardless.

If the Crimson Palace looked grand from the outside, it’s even more so when they enter it: a huge dance floor greets them, the bar lining the left wall. The ceiling is so high that looking up makes Lark’s head turn. On what she assumes to be one of the upper floors, she can see a small balcony, big enough for maybe two people to stand together at once. It is a dizzying place— the tequila they’ve already had combined with the loud, booming music doesn’t help. But they’re here. For an excursion. 

Wyll turns back around to look at the bodyguard that ushered them in with an unusually friendly grin. “She’s beautiful,” he says, voice flat with a sprinkle of awe, as if he’s merely stating a fact. 

“Indeed,” Lae’zel says, making Lark laugh. The red tiefling woman is beautiful, to be fair. Even in the dark atmosphere of the club she looks like a flame, smile warm, eyes like honey. 

Lark decides that this is not Shadowheart. 

Lae’zel is not normally one to dance, but Lark pulls her to the middle of the dance floor anyway. Wyll makes his way to the bar to get drinks, and Lark finds a sappy feeling ruminating in her chest— their friendship has gone beyond asking. They just do, nowadays. 

“Perhaps Wyll’s rumor is true,” Lae’zel screams in her ear. “This palace certainly seems fit to hold vampires.”

“Better watch out for papercuts, then,” Lark jests but her friend doesn’t seem to hear. It matters not. 

They’re having fun. She might get her job next week. Everything is finally looking up.

That line of thought makes her actually look up, just as Wyll arrives with their drinks. Maybe it’s instinct, maybe it’s the flash of something silver in the darkness. All Lark knows is that, on the balcony she saw mere moments ago; there is now a man standing. Observing. A king overseeing the execution he ordered. 

Perhaps Wyll’s rumors are getting to Lark’s head, a little bit.

From the balcony, his gaze falls on her; a hawk zeroing in on its prey. The pictures online don’t do him justice, Lark thinks. Even from this distance, he is breathtaking. 

Quite literally, as she has to look away to remember how to breathe. She feels a weird rise of panic bubbling in her chest and frantically looks around to see Lae’zel take a sip from her drink. But Wyll is looking straight at her. 

“…Alright?” Lark can see his mouth move more than just one word, but this is all she catches. She gives him a quick nod before tearing through the crowd— everything suddenly feels too much. She is feeling too much. 

Washing her face will calm her down. If only she knew where the restrooms were. 

Lark just follows whatever space she can create among the drunken crowd, which isn’t much. For what feels like an eternity, she can’t even see where she’s going. 

Until she finds herself free from the smell and noise of everyone around her, off of the dance floor. There are no signs around; only an open arch that leads to a dark hallway, barricaded by thick, velvet ropes hanging from three carefully placed posts. Something tells her that this may not be the way to the restroom— but even in the middle of a panic attack she feels the pull of curiosity lead her down this poorly lit path. 

At the end of the marble-floor corridor she sees a flight of stairs; her feet carry her forward while her heart keeps beating in her ears. She hasn’t had an attack like this in a while. Taking a deep, labored breath, she reminds herself that there is no danger— she is out having fun with her friends. There is no one to take that away from her. Not anymore, at least.

Lark tries to take steady steps ascending the stairs. It is way too dark to be quick. When she reaches the top, she’s faced with another corridor, more marble flooring. Doors line both sides. The closest one to her is slightly ajar, a dim but visible light shining through. 

“West wing ass place,” she mumbles to herself, but carries on. Before entering the room, she looks around. It is eerily quiet here considering the dance floor is just below. Silence spell, perhaps? Closing her eyes, she tries to detect the familiar hum of magic. Nothing. That does give her an idea, though— she doesn’t know why she does it, but before she can dwell on it the word leaves her lips: “Evanesco.”

Now she can snoop around comfortably. The hope of washing her face has all but vanished, replaced with a relentless curiosity eating at her. The vision of the man standing on the balcony seeps again in her mind.

So that is Astarion Ancunín. 

The room she’s found herself in seems to be some sort of storage space— walls lined with shelves upon shelves of books, files and other serious-business looking things. They don’t catch her interest much. She can now see the source of that dim light seeping into the corridor, however— a singular candle stick placed on one of the shelves, as if someone just placed it there. Is this the Crimson Palace’s way of saving on electricity?

Lark peers at the particular shelf, which seems to contain meticulously organized folders, marked with names in alphabetical order. She reaches out and touches one of them— marked Raphael.  Pulling the folder out and peeking inside, she realizes that they’re letters. The first one out of the bunch is dated—

“A little early for your interview, are you not?”

Lark gasps, all sound coming back around her as if her ears had been clogged for days. The sound of music coming from downstairs. People laughing, talking. She loses concentration on the invisibility spell, and as she scrambles to turn around, the folder drops on the floor with a thud.

In front of her is the man she has now seen more than just a handful of times— a bunch in photos and then up on the balcony. Seeing him up close is… different. Everything about his appearance reflects purpose and deliberation, from the curls of his silver hair to the dangerous upwards angle of his lips. He’s wearing black from head to toe and for a second, forgetting what is actually happening, Lark thinks she’s never seen someone so perfect before.

“How did you—”

He gathers his arms behind him and looks down at Lark, crimson eyes in search of something she cannot fathom.

But then it hits her— the hum, the pull.

He’s trying to read her mind. 

Lark feels bad for him, only if for a second. He doesn’t know who she is.

She expertly blocks his spell, darkened eyes waiting for the disappointment on his face. It doesn’t appear.

“I believe you have lost your way,” he says with another plastic smile. He seems to be keeping his lips tightly closed on purpose. “Shall I escort you out?”

“I was just looking for the restroom.”

They look at each other, both knowing fully well that this is a lie. He doesn’t push.

“You might come to regret sneaking around like this if I decide to count this as our first official meeting.” 

There is danger in his eyes, but it doesn’t quite reach the amused tug of his mouth. Lark backs away from him, then steps to the side. His gaze follows her every move. 

“I’m sorry,” she mumbles. It’s a miracle she can find her voice in this moment. The intensity of those garnet eyes is not something magazine cover photos can capture. 

As she leaves the room, almost running, Lark keeps her head down. That panic in her chest is back— or— is it excitement?

The last thing Astarion Ancunín tells her before she is once again lost among the crowds is full of expectations, his voice silkier than whatever can be found in Cormyr.

“I look forward to seeing you next week, Miss Promise.”

taglist: @nerdalmighty @preciouslittlebhaalbae @aristenfromwarsaw

If you would like to be added to my taglist, please send me a message or reply here!<3