#leave a heart/reply/reblog/tags if you're interested in this

[latanyalove]

When You're Injured PT Two

So sorry for posting this so late! Thank you for all of the support in the previous part, which is here! Part 3 is coming soon! WC: 3,513.

Please support me by liking, reblogging and commenting on this! Also please follow for more content!

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Tag list: @metonimia-de-bellota, @veroxbarnes, @plan3t-plut0, @karichu19, @awkwardspontaneity, @drakulana, @twismare, @pascalmode, @bluegalaxygirl, @lavanderdreamve, @jxstmxlly15, @rivui, @norasincubi, @theladyofmanyfandomsofficial, @athena-portgas, @aechmea01, @rossetter and @phsycochan

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As Law worked on his paperwork, he felt the stress building inside him. He had been working on it for hours, and yet he still hadn't made any headway. He was starting to feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the seemingly never-ending pile of documents. He felt like he was wasting his time, and it was only making him more anxious.

Law took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task in front of him. He knew he could do it if he just stayed focused and kept pushing through. He took another deep breath and forced himself to keep going. He knew he could do this, and he was determined to finish the task.

Rubbing his temple, Law heard someone open the door. He looked up to see his navigator standing in the doorway, a concerned look on his face.

"Law, are you alright? You've been in here for hours and I was starting to worry," Bepo said.

Law nodded and tried to smile. "I'm doing alright, I just have a lot of paperwork to finish," he said.

Bepo nodded and stepped into his office. "Do you need help with anything?" he asked.

Law shook his head and smiled. "No, it's okay," he said. "I can handle it. But thank you for offering."

"Oh! Maybe I should bring Y/N to make you feel calm," Bepo said out loud as if it was supposed to be a thought.

Hearing your name made his eyes widen and his heart start to race. He quickly tried to compose himself, not wanting Bepo to know the affect your name had on him.

You were a special case.

Law had taken a rather special interest in you because of your Devil Fruit, the Yume Yume no Mi, the ability to shoot a cosmic ray to make people fall asleep for a desired amount of time or fall asleep so deep that they could die.

You also had the ability to control people's emotions, but only if a flower was present. He had found himself drawn to you and your ability, and you two had become close.

Although he was embarrassed to admit it, he felt calmer just by being around you.

"Have you seen her around recently?" He asked Bepo in an 'uninterested' tone.

Bepo shook his head and replied, "Nope but I saw her with Ikkaku going into the forest. Why do you ask?"

Law felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. He knew that he had no right to be disappointed, but he couldn't help it. He had been hoping to see you to help him with his paperwork, and he had been looking forward to spending time with you.

He quickly brushed away his disappointment, not wanting Bepo to know how he felt. He forced a smile onto his face and said, "I was just wondering. I'm sure I can finish this by myself."

Bepo nodded, not seeming to notice Law's sudden mood change. "Well, if you need anything, just let me know. I'll be around," he said as he was about to leave his office.

"Hey Captain, I heard my name being said," Ikkaku said, looking at Law curiously. "What's going on?"

Ikkaku stepped into the room and saw Law and Bepo, both of them looking surprised to see her.

"Oh nothing-" Law started but Bepo continued, "We were talking about Y/N, wasn't she with you last? I heard you two were headed to the forest."

Ikkaku nodded, confirming Bepo's question. "Yes, we were. We were looking for some materials but we parted ways to cover more ground. Why do you ask?"

"We were just wondering if she was coming soon," Bepo added.

Ikkaku looked shocked as she said, "I thought she already came back since I didn't see her for a while,"

Law glanced towards the window, the sun was slowly sinking behind the horizon, casting a golden hue over the sky and painting the clouds a soft pink. The sky was alight with a mesmerizing array of colors, as the sun's final rays of the day illuminated the sky in a beautiful display.

Strange, he thought to himself, you should be back by now. You usually do a daily report to him before you go to sleep so it can't be that.

He couldn't help but worry, as he knew that the forest was a dangerous place and anything could have happened to you.

He finally decided. "I'm going for a walk," He said in a nonchalant tone. He wanted to check if you were okay. He figured a quick walk to the forest wouldn't hurt anyway.

He thanked Bepo and Ikkaku and left the office, quickly making his way to the forest.

Bepo and Ikkaku watched as Law left the office, both of them with a knowing grin on their faces. They knew he was worried about Y/N and was going to check up on you. They knew him that long to know that.

They watched him leave the submarine and jump onto the island, heading towards the forest.

Ikkaku stated, "Well I think Y/N likes Captain more than he realises." Bepo nodded in agreement, "I hope Captain returns her feelings."

The forest was dark and still, with a creepy atmosphere that even Law could sense. The shadows of the trees seemed to stretch out, creating a menacing atmosphere, and an eerie silence hung in the air. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying a chill that made Law's skin crawl.

He could feel eyes watching him as he made his way through the forest, and he could almost sense the danger that lurked in the darkness. He knew that this forest was full of unknown creatures and secrets, and he was careful to stay alert as he made his way forward.

"Y/N! Y/N, where are you!" Law yelled out as he gripped the sword firmly in his hand.

His voice echoed through the forest, but there was no reply. He kept calling out your name, but all he heard was the rustling of the trees and the chirping of the birds. He finally stopped and took a deep breath, his heart racing as he tried to think of what he should do next.

He was about to turn back when he heard a faint voice calling out his name.

He immediately rushed towards the voice, pushing himself to walk faster and faster as he heard the voice call out again. He could hear the pain in your voice, and it sent a wave of panic through him.

Did something happen to you? Was there anyone still on this island? Were they after you? Why you and not him?

Suddenly, a loud scream pierced through the silence, echoing through the forest and making Law jump in shock. Without thinking, he started to run, his heart pounding in his chest as he raced towards the source of the scream.

He was filled with dread as he ran, fearing the worst. He could feel his heart in his throat as he ran faster and faster, his feet pounding on the ground as he desperately ran towards the scream.

"Don't! Please stop!-"

Anger started to boil in him as he ran, his blood pumping through his veins as he thought of all the possible dangers you could be facing. He wanted to reach you as soon as possible and make sure you were safe.

He pushed himself harder, and soon he could see the clearing ahead. He was so close, and he could only hope that he was in time. . . .

"So what are pirates like you doing here?" you asked.

You had heard rumors about the Heart Pirates docking on your island, so when you saw a ship docked near the shore, you knew it was them. You approached cautiously, not sure what to expect.

Everyone seemed to be on edge, no one daring to approach the pirates or even speak to them. Everyone was aware of their reputation, and the potential danger that they could bring. All eyes were on them, and the atmosphere was tense. Everyone was cautious, not wanting to be seen as a threat.

But you were different. You walked straight towards them with a smile on your face, your steps firm and confident. You knew that if you showed any fear, they would take it as a sign of weakness and attack.

So you kept your head held high and your shoulders back, determined to show them that you were not afraid. You kept your gaze steady as you approached them, your heart racing as you wondered what they would do.

As you got closer, the Captain, Trafalgar D Water Law, looked up at you with caution. He had a stern expression on his face. His eyes narrowed as he looked at you up and down. He was clearly not expecting anyone to approach them, and he was apprehensive about the situation.

Despite his caution, there was a hint of curiosity in his gaze as he looked at you, as if he was trying to figure out who you were and why you were here. He seemed to be assessing the situation, trying to figure out if you were a threat or not.

He remained silent, his eyes never leaving your face as he waited for you to speak.

"So what are pirates like you doing here?" you asked.

He was slightly shocked at the calmness in your voice but still replied, "We're only here to repair our submarine and then we'll be gone."

The villagers, who had been whispering and murmuring to each other before, got louder and more animated after seeing your interaction with the captain. They seemed to be surprised and intrigued by your boldness and even more so by the captain's response.

They exchanged glances, whispers, and nods as they discussed what had just happened.

"By any chance, did you see any ships around-"

"Miss. Y/N! You can't run off like that!" An elderly woman screamed as she pushed her way through the crowd in front of her. "Master wants you back immediately!...."

When the woman saw you talking with Law, she became quiet and her eyes widened in shock. She stopped in her tracks, her mouth hanging open as she stared at the two of you. It was clear that she was completely taken aback by the scene before her.

"Master? Who's Master?" "I heard she's a slave for the Leader, the poor soul," "Look at her clothes, they're filthy,"

Like an unruly flame, rumors ignited and spread throughout the crowd. The certainty that couldn't be denied, even though it was only whispered within gossipy circles.

Law looked at you with a neutral expression, as if the rumours had no effect on him. His eyes were clear and his gaze steady, showing no signs of pity or sympathy.

He seemed to accept the situation as it was, without passing judgement.

Something you haven't seen in a while.

"Y/N L/N! You are to be taken back to your cell!" Royal guards stated loudly as they charged in the same direction.

The crowd parted to make way for the guards, and the woman stepped aside without a word. The guards were armed with guns and were determined to take you away. Law remained still and watched as the guards approached.

He seemed to be deep in thought, his brows furrowed in concentration. He looked up at you and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, you raised your hand up.

"Tell the leader not to follow me, I'm not coming back,"

At first thought, a cosmic ray shot from your hand and everyone except for you and Law had dropped to the ground. The villagers were unconscious, their bodies limp and their breathing shallow.

The Royal Guards had also been affected by the ray and the only sounds that could be heard were the faint whimpers from the villagers and the echoes of the guards' armor clattering on the ground.

Law stood in stunned silence, his eyes wide with shock as his gaze shifted from the unconscious villagers to you.

He had only one thought in his mind. He had to know more about your ability.

"What were you going to ask?"

"If you've seen any other ships around the area, it doesn't matter if it's a pirate ship. I just want to leave here-"

"Then come with me and join my crew."

He didn't know why that memory flashed in his mind. The time he had first met you.

Was it because he knew there was a chance that you could die? Or was it because he felt a deep connection with you in that moment? Or maybe it was something else entirely?

Whatever the reason, the memory of their first meeting stayed with him long after.

He ran faster and faster, his heart pounding as the memory kept playing in his head. He ran until his lungs burned and his legs ached, but he still kept going, as if running away from the memory would make it disappear.

"Sir! Please stop!"

"Looks like you've lost your manners. You only address me as Master," His voice was demanding, with a hint of anger.

"I'm sorry," There seemed to be a pause. "Master. I didn't realize I had lost my manners. It won't happen again."

"Now you are going to come with me and stop this little adventure of yours, you know you're mine,"

"I bought you. I own you. You are my possession. You don't just get to leave me when you want."

As the voices grew, he felt his heart racing with fear. He knew he was going to be confronted with something unpleasant, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew he had to face whatever it was that was waiting for him, so he took a deep breath and prepared himself for what was to come.

He saw a clearing ahead and what he saw made his blood run cold.

There was a man strangling you and you were grabbing his hands, trying to break free. He wanted to run in and save you, but he was frozen in place, unable to do anything.

He watched, helplessly, as the man tightened his grip around your neck, and he felt a rage unlike anything he had ever felt before.

He didn't know why, but the sense of rage and fear that had taken over his body made him forget everything else. He dropped his sword and ran towards them, not caring about the consequences and only focused on saving you. He was determined to do whatever it took to get you away from the man's grip.

Get away from her. Leave her alone. Don't touch her.

He felt a surge of adrenaline as he threw the man to the ground. He was filled with rage, and he could barely contain himself. He punched the man again and again, and the man let out a loud groan.

Law was determined to make sure the man wouldn't hurt you again. He kept punching him until his knuckles were bloody, and he could feel the man's body going limp beneath his fists. He continued to punch him until he felt the man's body go still, though he still wasn't satisfied.

Until suddenly, a sense of calmness filled his body, making him confused. He looked around, not quite sure what had just happened. He could feel his heart rate slowing down, and the anger slowly draining away from his body.

He felt a strange sense of peace and tranquility, as if he had just been released from a spell.

He was so overwhelmed by the sudden change that he didn't know what to do. He looked around and saw the man lying on the ground, unconscious and badly beaten.

There was no one else that could have made him feel like that. Except you.

He quickly turned around to look at you, your hand out towards him.

You used your power on him.

He could see the fear in your eyes, but there was also something else there, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He slowly walked towards you, never taking his eyes off you.

He felt a sudden surge of panic as he watched your hand drop to your side, and he rushed to your side.

He quickly put his ear to your chest, listening for your breathing and heartbeat. When he heard them, he let out a sigh of relief. He slowly placed his hands on either side of your face, gently cupping it in his hands. He looked into your eyes and smiled, relieved that you were still alive.

"Are you okay?" He asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper as he looked into your eyes, searching for any sign of discomfort or pain.

"I- I'm okay," You answered, your voice shaking as you looked into his eyes.

"Are you sure?"

". . . . No,"

"He's not going to touch you again, I promise." Law reassured you, gently brushing a strand of hair away from your face. "No one will ever hurt you again," he said in a soft voice, his eyes never leaving yours.

He reached up and ran his thumb over your cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped your eye.

Even though you nodded at his statement, it did not provide him with any reassurance at all.

"Law?"

"Yes Y/N?"

"I don't think I'm going to make it back," You shakily said, lowering your shirt to reveal a green patch that was spreading across your arms and chest so that Law could see it.

Law's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the spots that had spread across your body. He had no idea what it meant, but he could tell that it wasn't good. He quickly put his hand on your forehead, feeling your temperature.

Too hot for you.

As soon as he noticed you were starting to close your eyes, he immediately stopped you and said, "Hey, hey, stay awake,"

"I'm sorry for troubling you-"

"You're not," Law replied, taking a position where he would be able to carry you while using one hand to grab the sword that he had dropped onto the floor.

It was then that he stood up with you and started to run back, now seeing that there were hundreds of men scattered across the area that lay motionless, having been the victims of your abilities.

When he looked down at your weak form, he wondered how on earth you had been able to defend yourself against so many people at once.

Please stay awake a little longer.

"Law?" Your lips trembled as your gaze wandered unconsciously across his chest.

"Yes Y/N? I'm right here, just keep talking."

"If I die, I just want you to know that I've liked you for a while now."

In the middle of his steps, he froze in place.

"What?"

All of his coursing thoughts were made into one single question: You liked him?

"I thought I was being too obvious but it seems that even the Surgeon of Death can't even catch on to things like that." You chuckled to yourself yet there was no amusement on your face.

As you glanced up at him, hoping to see if it was a smile or a grin, you were surprised to see that it wasn't either, but rather one of horror.

You knew it. He never did like you.

"Leave me here. More reinforcements are going to come now and they're stronger than ever. I'll keep them back so you can escape-"

"Stop talking."

"But-"

In an instant, a glance had you stop what you were going to say, instead you paid attention to your breathing and not the reaction that he showed to your confession.

Law was everything but calm at this point: you were currently dying of an unknown injury, more reinforcements were coming for you and you just confessed your feelings to him.

You were a big part of his problems, yet he couldn't just let you go.

There's never been a feeling like that for him before.

He would miss you even though he saw you an hour ago. He got into flowers because it was part of your ability. He'd let you stay in his office and he wouldn't mind.

For goodness sake, he ate bread because you asked him to!

Could it be that he was also in love with you?

Feeling your head drop back made him jump slightly, and he quickly moved to cradle you in his arms. He felt a chill run through his body as he realized you was slipping away.

He quickly put his fingers on your neck and felt for a pulse, but it was slow and fading. Fear began to surge through him as he realized that time was of the essence.

He didn't want to admit it but he was losing you. . . .

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[t00thpasteface]

hey sorry i’m sure it’s a little dumb but how did you find a community/make mutuals on here? i swapped from twitter to here last year & haven’t been able to make friends like i did on twitter ;v; sorry if this is all silly but figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. love your art & blog !!!

as i like to say, it's like lifting an anvil: it's very simple, but that doesn't mean it's easy. as someone who's a 12+ year veteran that lurked for a couple years and remade a little while ago, really it all comes down to putting yourself out there!!! don't just sit around twiddling your thumbs and lurking. it's tough to do it without coming off as a pandering tryhard, but honestly as long as you're polite, upbeat, and posting regularly, then you're golden.

if you want a big list of wordy bullet points, here's what i've got, and i think you'll find it's pretty applicable to basically any site/community you want to get involved in:

post a lot. this is number one with a fucking bullet! POST! POST LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. but crucially...

post GOOD STUFF. don't bash yourself in the caption/tags, don't say "sorry this is shit" or whatever, don't self-deprecate, and don't admit to posting low-effort stuff just to hit a quota. imagine it's open mic night and go crazy. this is a good site to use like a journal and a scrapbook, but if you want to actually get some traction, you need to bring something interesting to the table. of course, just being funny and nice goes a very long way.

encourage audience feedback. people LOVE to tell you about themselves and give their opinions. get them responding and make the questions and calls for engagement so interesting or fun they can't help themselves.

tag effectively. use both fandom/content tags for searches, and organizational tags for your visitors' use. the tagging system is tumblr's bread and butter, so make it work for you.

follow a lot of blogs you like. then see who they follow, and add those to the list. build a good circle of engagement and keep your finger on the pulse of the site culture for whatever niche(s) you're in... or want to get in.

reblog a lot and be funny/kind in the tags. generally leaving a lot of comments/replies to post is kind of hit-or-miss, but tags are a good harmless "inside voice" to use that doesn't clutter the post itself and yet still engages with op and people seeing the post

engage with people when they ask for engagement. things like polls, ask games, etc... scratch people's backs and they'll scratch yours. and it's just a nice thing to do regardless :)

panhandling is not always the best route. people will balk if you look desperate or openly beg for engagement, like directly asking people to reblog something or being passive-aggressive about how much engagement you are/aren't getting on something. a genuine joke about it is fun and relatable, but snarky comments just kill the vibe and scare people off.

REMEMBER THERE'S NO ALGORITHM. lurking will not put you or any of the stuff you like out there!! REBLOG POSTS! SEND ASKS! this site will NOT SPOON FEED YOU ANYTHING. like taming a wild stallion, you can make this work for you, but you have to put in the effort first.

some people will think you're annoying, and that's okay. probably not very many, but they'll be loud. this is an unavoidable part of Being Known. you can be the sweetest peach in the world but there'll still be people who just don't like peaches. don't take it to heart, and if you do happen to drop the ball or rub a few people the wrong way, don't let that keep you from trying again :)

i've enjoyed the many friends i've made on this site in the past decade-and-then-some, even though both this site and my blog are both something of a ship of theseus. here's hoping you can make it work for you and your interests, too!

[andordean]

Lost Scenes Thursday! Get to know your favourite authors better. Show five scenes from either abandoned fics where you regret they will never see the light of day, or five scenes from WIPs where you are impatient to see them out there. Long, short, one-liner... it's all good reading. Tag five other authors where you are curious.

@regis-favorite-raven tagged me in this too, and @valandhirwriter had the misfortune of reblogging it, so they're being dragged into the response here too. :D Fair warning: it's a long one. Thanks as always for thinking of me! <3

(1) This fic has no title, and it's my take on the empress ending, with my personal favourite pairing for Ciri as a ruler.

Her first instinct was to burn the letter. 

It wasn’t signed; it didn’t need to be. She had no idea how it even made its way to her--one day she just found a folded piece of fine paper in her saddle bag. The tone of the letter was official, detached. Cold. She didn’t burn it in the end, but she ignored it altogether.

The second letter was a shade softer. She ignored that one too.

The third one was apologetic.

---

The barge left them on a narrow sidewalk surrounded by grey walls, leading towards a single door at the back of a nondescript building.

"Please follow me," her companion said amicably.

Ciri looked around, trying to get her bearings, but the place was utterly indescribable. 

The man stopped before the door and turned to her with the same polite smile. "Before we go in, I am afraid I have to ask you to leave your weapons with me."

Ciri eyed him with suspicion. "Look around, good sir. You've led me to a place with no way out, and now you're asking me to give up my sword?"

"I was led to believe 'no way out' does not apply to you," the man said, stretching out his hand, waiting. 

Ciri frowned. The circumstances were looking less and less like a delicate Witcher matter. She did not like it one bit.

Obediently, she unclipped her sword and handed it to the man; he took it, but did not move even by an inch. Ciri sighed in irritation, fished out the dagger from her shoe and pushed it into the man's outstretched hand.

"There," she snapped. The man bowed–bowed–and without another word opened the door for her.

Behind it was a short corridor leading to a staircase, lit up by torches. Ciri followed the stairs up to the next level; the level of dust suggested they haven't been used in a while. They ended at a small landing and another door. She pushed it open and entered the room.

The man standing by the only window turned around to face her as she walked in. She glanced around the room first–empty, but for a small table with a bottle of wine and glasses on it–then she focused her attention on the man, and her heart sank.

He seemed a few years older than her; his clothes were of excellent quality, but with no visible signs of affiliation or rank. Dark hair in waves down to his shoulders, dark eyes studying her with open curiosity, a perfectly trimmed beard, his lips quirked in a small smirk that seemed like a permanent feature. 

Two things were obvious: he was devilishly handsome—and she was fucked.

"Thank you for coming," he said, and even his damn voice was attractive.

"Did I have a choice? Your Grace?" Ciri retorted and his smile only deepened.

"You always have a choice," Tankred Thyssen, the king of Kovir, Poviss and a few other places, replied smoothly. "You can turn around and leave right now; you have my word you shall not be bothered. But I believe it is in your interest to hear me out."

Ciri crossed her arms on her chest, and waited.

"Very well." The king gestured to the table. "Please, have a seat."

"I'd rather not," Ciri said through clenched teeth.

The only effect it had was to seemingly amuse him further. He sat down, opened the bottle, filled both cups, and offered her one. "If nothing else, this wine is worth your time."

Ciri studied him for another heartbeat before reluctantly taking the seat and accepting the glass. She took a sip for courage and had to admit he was right: it was the most delicate, beautiful red she has ever had.

"What's the occasion?" She pushed. "Is there a witcher contract that's too delicate to be made public?"

"Not quite," he said and her heart sank at the confirmation. "Thank you for dealing with the foglets, by the way. Unsurprisingly, none of the mages were willing to get their hands dirty."

"How—" Ciri shook her head. "No, nevermind."

"The guard at the market's southern gate," Tankred said, unbothered. "His job was to keep an eye on you–and to step in should you need assistance." He gave her a small nod. "Which obviously turned out to be an abundance of caution."

"I'm deeply touched by your care." Ciri took another sip of wine, when a thought hit her. "Wait—the contract—it was your doing, wasn't it? I knew the money was too good."

"The contract wasn't," Tankred said. "The fee, however—I hoped it would catch your eye."

Ciri downed the rest of the wine and put the glass on the table. "I have places to be, so if you could just tell me what this dance is about, I'll be on my way."

He studied her with this smirk of his that had already become infuriating. "Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon; Queen of Cintra, Princess of Brugge and Duchess of Sodden, heiress to Inis Ard Skellig and Inis An Skellig, and suzeraine of Attre and Abb Yarra. I hope I didn't forget anything?"

There it was: all the cards laid neatly on the table, with no lies left to hide behind. Ciri took a careful breath. "You forgot a few things, actually. Queen of Cintra is no more, for Cintra is no more. Cirilla Fiona died five years ago; reasons for her death have not been made public. And you're talking to the Witcher from the school of the Wolf."

"Tell me, then, Witcher," Tankred managed to not make it sound like a mockery—no small feat considering the circumstances, "why are you exchanging correspondence with the emperor of Nilfgaard?"

That came as a surprise. Ciri glared at him for a moment in silence, mulling over her options—which weren't many. Not with him clearly knowing bloody everything. 

With limited alternatives, she settled on the truth. "If you know so much, then surely you know I told him to go and fuck himself."

(2) Most recent WIP - Ghost sequel, Cahir/Ciri

"I did not realise the tincture calls for myrrh powder." 

Cahir nearly jumps at the vampire's voice, and looks down at the contents of the mortar. The resin he's been working on is indeed ground to a fine ash. So much for escaping Regis' scrutiny.

"Sorry." He grimaces. "Got lost in thought."

"This much is obvious." Regis studies him with a slight frown. "Anything of concern?"

Cahir can't decide whether it's a blessing or a curse to have someone as inquisitive as Regis privy to his deepest regrets. 

"Not really.”

"So Ciri doesn’t seem to be in mortal danger?”

"Not as far as I can tell," Cahir says. 

Regis studies him for a heartbeat, but Cahir doesn’t elaborate; there are limits to which he’s willing to embarrass himself, and his last dream definitely falls into that category. After what feels like an age, the vampire nods and moves past him to rummage through a box on the floor, fishing out a glass vial. He takes the mortar from Cahir, transfers the ground resin into a vial and carries it over to a little stove in the far corner; atop it, a bowl sits, surrounded by a metal frame. Regis attaches the vial to the frame, fills the bowl with water and lights the fire in the stove. 

Cahir watches him in silence, waiting. The resin needs an hour or so of steeping in boiling water; he has a distinct feeling Regis isn’t planning to go anywhere in the meantime.

"That reminds me," Regis says offhandedly, his tone confirming Cahir’s worst suspicions. "Whatever happened to that delightful young woman whose grandmother you helped? Mila, was it? I have not seen her around in a while.”

Cahir sighs, resigned. “And you probably won’t.” 

“Shame. I liked her wit.”

The water in the bowl is bubbling happily; Regis readjusts the vial to make sure the resin in it is fully submerged, then leans against the work table facing Cahir and studies him intently. “You do realise clinging to the past is no way to live?”

“It's the past that is clinging to me,” Cahir retorts, his voice a little too sharp. He takes a breath. “And it’s what I deserve.”

“Nonsense,” Regis huffs. “What you deserve is to move on. To be happy.”

“But I am happy.” Cahir makes a sweeping gesture, encompassing the workshop. “What you taught me—helping people—makes life worth living. And I have you and Dettlaff. What else could I want?”

“Companionship. Friendships other than with two aging vampires,” Regis counters. “I hate to see you cutting yourself off from others your own age—your own kind.”

“My kind wants me dead,” Cahir points out. “I’m a wanted fugitive. I can’t—I can’t trust just anyone with the truth. You of all people should know that.”

“It may be time to trust someone with your story.”

Cahir rubs his forehead. It’s not the first discussion they’ve had on the subject. “What we went through… It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t seen what we saw. Someone who’s not—broken.”

“This world has been broken in more ways than one,” Regis says patiently. “It may be time to take a risk and crawl out of your shell. War has scarred this land deeply; you may find that you are not an exception.”

“Maybe one day,” Cahir says dismissively, keen to change the subject. “For now I am content with the friends I have.”

Regis studies him for a moment in silence. “In this case,” he says, and Cahir has an eerie feeling he’s walked into something he may regret, “what would you say to a break?”

“A break?” Cahir repeats.

“There’s a selection of rare manuscripts I have sought for a while. I just received a letter from an antique dealer in Novigrad that he came into possession of one. Besides, some of our supplies are thinning out. And you could do with a break. A change of scenery.”

“You wrote to Dandelion.”

Regis is a picture of innocence. “I may have told him you’d be there before the month is out.”

Cahir shakes his head with a soft laugh. “If you want me out of the house to give Dettlaff a break, you can just say so. No need to interrogate me beforehand.”

“Nonsense,” Regis scoffs. “Dettlaff enjoys your company. And I enjoy interrogating you.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Cahir says with a fake scorn. “Maybe I do need new friends.”

“Being right is a privilege of age. I’ll arrange for your horse to be ready.”

(3) Bodyguard!AU, Cahir/Ciri. A fully plotted one that I'll probably never actually write.

Agreeing to this was a mistake, Cahir thought as soon as Princess Cirilla marched into the room, her whole posture an eponym of contempt--whether for the arrangement, or for him, Cahir had no way of knowing. 

"Sit down."

"I'd rather not." Her voice was ice cold, but Cahir didn't let that fool him; there was simmering rage just underneath the surface.

The emperor regarded her for a heartbeat, then nodded. "Very well. This man here," he gestured at Cahir, "has been assigned as your personal bodyguard. He will accompany you everywhere from now on until I say otherwise. Am I making myself clear?"

"I don't remember agreeing to this," Cirilla spat.

"I have reasonable grounds to suspect people in my circle are in danger," var Emreis said, his voice softening just a fraction. "I ask you to trust me, and my sources."

"Trust you?" Cirilla's composure was gone in a blink, replaced by such fury that Cahir had to rethink his earlier assessment. Perhaps all that contempt was reserved for the Emperor, after all. "Trust you to do what exactly?"

"To act before I am faced with an impossible choice."

"Impossible choice," Cirilla repeated, venom dropping off every syllable. "Heartwarming. When does this dog of yours start his assignment?"

"Immediately."

(4) Blood Ties sequel that has a solid plot and some 40% written. Regis returns to Cintra as things go to shit, yet again

Absence was what shook him out of the slumber. He didn’t recognise it for what it was; not initially. The pull of the Unseen Elder that came right after–and the animalistic fear that always accompanied his summons–tuned out any subtler sensations. It wasn’t until the Elder’s claws were at his throat that Regis understood what had happened. 

The space in his mind that belonged to Ciri ever since their bond formed, the space that had echoed so brilliantly with her presence, that had shimmered with vivid colours at the edge of his consciousness even during his hibernation–that space was now deadly silent. 

He set off immediately, the Elder’s threats and demands irrelevant in the face of his own dread.

Vampires did not recognise gods, nor had a need for them–yet Regis found himself fervently praying that he wasn’t too late.

---

“You love her,” Tankred said. It wasn’t a question - not with the way the man was holding Ciri’s hand, his lips a pale line, his attention entirely focused on her shallow breathing.

Regis turned to him with a frown, but his expression immediately softened.

“I believe you can answer that yourself, Your Majesty,” he said gently, “if it’s possible to see her for who she is, and not love her.”

Tankred was silent for a heartbeat, bracing himself.

“Who are you?” he asked.

Regis’ eyes narrowed, his face hardening.

“Is it important?”

“Any moment now my children will be here. I nearly lost them once already,” Tankred said with a forced calm. “Yes, it’s important.”

The barber-surgeon looked at him for a long moment in complete silence.

“A monster,” he said eventually, his voice carefully level and cold as ice. “A blood-sucking beast. Have I adequately satisfied Your Majesty's curiosity? Should I remove myself now to ensure the heirs' safety?”

Tankred couldn’t help casting a glance at Ciri, looking for bloodied marks on her neck. Regis grimaced and pointedly took Ciri’s hand, showing him a single needle puncture on her finger, already healed.

Tankred’s mind was rushing. When Ciri had told him about Regis, he hadn't paid much attention to her story. But later, when he had gotten the reports about the man’s role in the uprising, a few details were strange enough to inspire a more in-depth research. He never arrived at any resolution, and most definitely not at the one the man had just offered him, but then again, he wasn’t particularly surprised either.

After all, a close relationship with a vampire was exactly Ciri's style.

“Thank you for your honesty,” he said. 

Regis raised his eyebrows.

“That’s it?” he mocked. “No guards, no garlic, no blessed water to repel evil?”

“When it comes to topics one is unfamiliar with, it's prudent to look to the experts in the field.” Tankred shrugged. “Of the two monster experts I know personally, Geralt calls you a friend, and Ciri's trust in you is boundless. Besides, you may have just saved her life.” Tankred broke off for a moment, and added with a forced smile. “And none of these protective measures would have worked on you anyway, would they?”

(5) One of some three hundred scenes covering the next thirty years of Ciri's rule, a few years after the previous snippet

Damian walked in, and stopped at the door. He had expected to find Ciri alone, but both Tankred and Regis were there, sitting at the table. It was the first time he met both of them since–

Well. Since circumstances changed. Since everything changed.

As if sensing his discomfort, Ciri sent him a warm smile. "It's time you joined our little circle of conspirators."

"Such an unbecoming word," Regis said. "We hardly ever conspire."

"Once a quarter at the most," Tankred added, as he beckoned him closer. "Wine?"

"I'd rather not," Damian said carefully; Tankred smirked and gestured to the chair beside him.

"Now, now," Ciri cut in. "He's still mine."

"You have the vampire, don't be greedy," Tankred shot back, and Damian's confusion grew tenfold.

"The vampire?"

For the first time that Damian knew him, Tankred looked…chagrined. The silence that followed was broken by Regis, clearing his throat.

"Our King means me," he said gently, looking at Damian. 

Damian just stared at him, trying to wrap his mind around this new revelation. He was vaguely aware of Ciri, studying him with an inscrutable expression from across the table. Through his shock, he felt the missing pieces slot into place as the full picture finally unraveled before his eyes.

"That's how you were able to save Ciri," he breathed. "Both then–and now?"

Regis gave him an appreciative smile. "Indeed. My nature does have its uses." 

"You understand, naturally, how this has to remain a secret," Tankred cut in. "And for that, I do apologize, Regis; I was way out of line to reveal it so casually."

Regis noded. "Thank you, but you were also not wrong. The situation does call for the truth, and we all know our General is worthy of the trust put in him."

For the third time Damian felt as if the rug was pulled from under him. "General?" 

"You bloodsucking bastard," Tankred offered pleasantly at the same time. Regis shot him his most serene smile, and Ciri–Ciri burst out laughing.

[the-travelling-witch]

Hello! I'm sending this to my favorite writers to enable you to brag about your own writings! (But don't feel pressured to reply and take your time!) :D

Pick one fic you wrote and would recommend to us readers for each of these genres:

Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Hurt/No Comfort, AU (any AUs!), Selfship (If you selfship!), [Insert a genre you've written but is not in the list].

Have fun, and just a reminder to always be proud of what you created!! You're amazing!! We love you!!! 💗

Extra // Feel free to ramble on why the fic is your favorite, whatever thinking process you have when you wrote it, which part(s) are your favorite, etc!!

ahhhh this is such a cool ask to get, thank you so much!! also your favourite writers? and that includes me of all people??? don’t mind me, someone might be cutting onions in here 🥺🩵

i hope you don’t mind me rambling, i might have gotten a little carried away ^^; (i’ve also not really heeded the one per genre rule, i’m just bad at picking one or the other hshsh)

Fluff

one of each huh? i think we’re already running into a problem on the fluff genre, i don’t really have anything to recommend, i’m afraid; none of them really stand out to me personally (that aren’t aus or so), so i’d much rather talk more about my other works

Hurt / Angst

now to hop into the categories i really like talking about, hurt and angst!! :D out of anything comfort related, i think i like my period comfort scenarios for both obey me and twst. i wrote them to alleviate my own pains in a way, but it’s great to see other people getting comfort from them as well (also to all my folks who told me you felt included by the gn reader instead of a fem reader, i see you and i love you)

with the mushy gushy stuff out of the way, let’s dive into my absolute favourite genre to write ever, angst (no comfort hehe ^^); here’s the problem to not list too many fics but i’ll use my spare from not naming a fluff fic :]

long-time ramble and tag readers will know what to expect; what could’ve been is the first angst fic i really got into and could’ve easily been a series if i had thought about it at the time. while looking back on it, sure there are things i could’ve done better, but it still has a soft spot in my heart and despite the low notes, it’s the fic i got the best feedback on ever (those asks, comments and reblogs are so precious to me, you have no idea)

similarly a million miles away and the loneliest (same premise, different characters) are some of my favourites too. overall, in its entirety, i prefer the former, i think most parts in there came out very well. however, if i had to pick one part out of all eight that i would recommend, it’s xiao’s part from the loneliest, it didn’t gather as much attention as part 1 but my friends left so many amazing comments in my document and i myself love how it came out, which makes it so special to me

Selfships + OCs

while i do selfship, i hardly ever write about it on here (or much in general outside some hcs i pester some moots with); for one, i find it hard to write about, my thoughts seem to leave me the second i try to type them out. i also don’t think many people are interested in the topic anyway and i hate feeling like i’m shouting into a void (i’m trying to keep a lid on how much i babble on dash anyhow, with varying amounts of success ^^;)

i thought i read ocs on the list, so i’ll include them, as well, especially since i have a little more to say than about selfships, considering i post about some of them every now and then. dantalion and his story part have a special place in my heart, not only because he was the first oc i introduced, but also bc his part resonates with me most, i think. while not seen much of yet, i also took a liking to my twst oc cheron, i think he’s fun!! (ofc i like my other obey me ocs too but these two are ranked a little higher hshshs)

AUs

this one… might be obvious. i think we can all see the modern au coming from a mile away (perhaps even from a million miles away haha). it’s kind of the only au i have really going on but, even so, there’s a reason my inbox fills up the second i mention it. though, when i wrote that piercer! xiao fic all that time ago, the au wasn’t even a thing in my mind yet, funny how that works. it’s currently on a bit of a hiatus but it’s certainly not dead ^^;

more excitingly however, and as a treat for the people who’ve read this far into me rambling about my own writing, the aus in my drafts!! i want to work on all of them (and then work on none of them)

the oldest of the three i’m thinking about is my haikyuu isekai au. i’m 10k into the draft (plus like 2k notes) and i still think the premise and plot is super fun (i was thinking/hoping it would end up somewhere between 20k and 25k) buuut the problem is i’m currently stuck on one scene that’s just not turning out fun at all, so i’ve been neglecting it ever since ^^;

second on the list of aus that occupy my mind is my twst pokemon au!! this one is more recent but i’ve been enjoying doing world building for it + the people i’ve let read over my first draft of a intro seem to have liked it too!! i’ll have to give more intense and focused thought to brainstorming the story we’d be follow, but i get excited every time i think about it hehe

and lastly, the most recent thing i worked on, an au for barbarian bakugo and… well i won’t say anything on the identity of the reader yet. it is a little enemies to lovers and i have already planned out part 2 in my head despite not even remotely finishing part 1. it doesn’t help that the book i’m reading rn evolves the same themes and makes me think about it every time i look at it or pick it back up :]

(there’s also an au i might want to write for mermay but idk if i can finish it in time + the bakugo au weighs heavy on my mind rn hshsh)

as a last point, i’m also keeping in mind that i had an event planned!! i haven’t finalised it yet and haven’t given much thought to my own entries but maybe i can get there some day (perhaps towards the end of the year?) ^^

anyway, thank you so much for indulging me and prompting me to talk about my writing, as you can probably tell, i love doing that haha and thank you again for the kind words, it really means the world to me <3

if you have any questions or thoughts on any of these, feel free to ask me!! i’d be happy to talk about any of this :> (though i can’t promise fast replies…)

[hopeswriting]

The Sawada household meets the Hibari household. The Sawada household uses their special technique and successfully escapes.

[1295 words]

*

Someone shakes his shoulder, and Skull looks up to see Fuuta kneeling next to him. He lowers his headphones around his neck.

“Hey, Fuu. Done playing already?”

“Tsuna-nii’s being bullied,” Fuuta says around his lollipop.

“What?” Skull shouts. He sits up, and crawls all over his books to look past the tree he’s been studying under. He flicks his eyes around the park. “Where? Why? By whom?”

“Over there.”

Fuuta points the direction, over to the benches where the parents sit. Tsuna sits on one of them, curled over his ice-cream, his shoulders hunched, his head bowed down. A black-haired kid sits next to him, in his school uniform even if it’s Sunday, his jacket hanging on his shoulders.

Skull winces. “Oh no, who the hell is this guy? A classmate that has it out for him? Why doesn’t he just walk away?”

“Probably because he’ll be killed if he dares to move.”

Skull winces some more. “Yeah, you really just can tell even from all the way here.” The kid sits way too close to Tsuna, looking down at him without moving, and maybe unblinking too. Tsuna isn’t even touching his ice-cream, and Skull wouldn’t be surprised if it was melting in his hands. He crawls back under the tree. “Okay, what should I do? Should I go over and talk to that kid?”

“What about talking to his big brother instead? He’s the one responsible for him after all.”

“I don’t know about that,” Skull says, hurriedly putting his stuff back into his bag. Younger kids than him don’t tend to feel like listening to him, but it’s even worse with the people his age or older. He stands, lifting his bag over one shoulder, and turns off his music. “Stay here.”

“No way,” Fuuta hurries to say, latching onto his arm. Skull raises his eyebrows. “I mean, of course I’m coming,” he says, calmer, smiling sweetly. “Tsuna-nii needs us.”

“Bullshit,” Skull calls out. He drags him with him away from the tree and under the sun anyway, keeping his eyes on Tsuna in case his situation develops for the worse. “What now? The kid or the big brother?”

“The big brother’s closer.” Fuuta nudges him discreetly in the right direction, and Skull shifts around to look.

Bright red catches his eye to the sandbox, where a little girl clad in red’s building sand castles. On the nearest patch of grass sits what he assumes is the big brother of both the kid and the girl—or maybe the twin brother, the resemblance between the two uncanny—, also clad in red, looking about his age.

Skull catches his eye, and realizes at once Big Brother has already been watching them. He blinks, gives it another moment, but no, they’re really the ones being looked at. Big Brother even smiles.

Skull turns back around as casually as he can, and starts walking.

“Why was he watching us?”

“Was he?” Fuuta asks innocently, the way he does when he’s lying through his teeth.

“You little shit, what did you do?” Skull wraps his arm around his shoulders, and squeezes him against his side in a headlock, while still walking. “Confess.”

“Nothing!” Fuuta defends, then removes his lollipop from his mouth to better speak. “I was just playing with his little sister, but then he wouldn’t stop looking at me like that!”

“You mean you’re being bullied too? Or more like, this was never about Tsuna, was it?” Skull pinches his cheek. “You terrible little brother.”

Fuuta swats his hand away. “I’m the youngest, I’m the first priority! Besides, you can do both, Skull-nii!”

“Are you kidding me? I can’t do either, did you look at them?” They look back above their shoulder, then immediately look ahead again. “Oh my God.”

“He’s following us,” Fuuta says, worry in his voice.

“Yeah, I could see that.” Skull loosens his grip, and firmly holds on Fuuta’s shoulder instead. He makes them both pick up their pace. “What about his little sister, is he just going to leave her like that?”

Fuuta glances over his shoulder again. “She’s following us too.”

“Of course she is,” Skull grits through his teeth. He picks up his pace again, making a beeline for Tsuna with wide, quick steps, Fuuta jogging next to him to keep up with him. The kid next to Tsuna looks up, zeroes in on them, and Skull sharply switches their course, Fuuta stumbling against him. “Oh my God.”

“What about—”

“I’m thinking, okay?” Skull cuts him off. He glances over at the bench, briefly catching Tsuna’s eye, who’s now looking up too. They’re still walking towards the bench, but they’re going to walk right past it at this rate, and won’t be close enough as they do to give Tsuna the opportunity to escape.

“Skull-nii—” Fuuta says, looking over his shoulder.

“Stop looking,” Skull chides him, but then looks back too. The little sister sits on Big Brother’s shoulder so that he can keep up with their fast pace, and his gaze tells Skull he’ll follow them to the ends of earth. He looks back ahead. “Oh my God, why do these kinds of stuff always happen to us?” he whines.

Tsuna gives him desperate looks, sitting at the edge of the bench, but the kid’s still watching them. Whatever, he’s just a kid, Skull got this, totally. He just has to get his shit together.

He takes a deep breath, then switches side with Fuuta, discreetly taking his lollipop while he’s hidden behind his back, and hides it in his grip. He takes Fuuta’s hand, and adjusts his bag over both his shoulders.

“Keep up.”

“Eh?”

Skull takes off running at full speed. He makes straight for Tsuna, who watches them come wide-eyed, while the kid seems unfazed, if intently focused on them.

“Watch out!” Skull screams, and throws the lollipop at him.

He dodges, giving Tsuna’s room, and—bless his soul—Tsuna wastes no time jumping to his feet, shoving his ice-cream against the kid’s chest, then runs to them.

“What took you so long?” he shouts.

“You’re welcome!” Skull shouts back. He grabs his hand once he’s close enough, then runs for the exit, dragging his brothers behind him.

Tsuna shrieks. “They’re following us!”

“Stop looking and run!” Skull says, even as he looks back again, but only to make sure Fuuta’s keeping up.

He is, more or less, too distracted laughing to put much of an effort.

Skull lets go of their hands when they come by their bikes, and holds his steady while Tsuna helps Fuuta up on the handlebar. He runs again then, steering his bike alongside him.

“Hiee, Skull-nii—!”

Skull laughs. “Just jump, no time!”

They’re out of the park running on the sidewalk when Tsuna jumps on the backseat, almost falling back, the bike losing balance if not for Skull holding onto it, Fuuta dangerously swaying on the handlebar.

Him and Skull burst out laughing.

“Not funny!” Tsuna screams, but there’s laughter in his voice too. “They’re still following us!”

Skull looks back, a bit disbelieving, but lo and behold they are still running after them, for all intent and purposes looking confident in their ability to catch up to them, even if they’re on a bike.

To catch up to Skull on a bike, while they’re on foot?

Skull flashes them a grin. They can always try.

He runs next to his bike a moment more, then jumps on the seat, shifts to face forwards while swinging his legs, and rests his feet on the spinning pedals at the same time. “Hold on tight, guys!” he screams, standing, and only puts in the work pedaling after making sure they are, Fuuta cheering loudly for him.

“Hey, what about my bike?” Tsuna asks.

“You’re welcome,” Skull only says, and Fuuta laughs.

*

Just testing the waters for my Tenth Gen & Arco siblings AU. It’d start like this lol, and if enough of you are interested to see more, I’d be happy to write more! So, let me know if you are?

[everyhowlmarksthedead]

big brother to the rescue.

BEN MILLER

TRIPLE FRONTIER. ┃ USEFUL LINKS.

❝ request by @meteora-fc: hello hello! hope you're doing well :) i was thinking about a ben miller fic where when they're in the bar towards the beginning the reader is there with her friends and the boys push benny to talk to her bc he's getting distracted from conversation by her across the place. thanks a ton 💖

❝ words: about 1.6k.

❝ a / n: if you'd like to read a second part, lemme know! don’t forget to comment and reblog if you liked it, i’d really appreciate it!

“C’mon, little brother. She’s been looking at you the whole night”. Will says palming his back, after catching him distracted for the third time.

“Go, before I do”. Frankie challenges him with a petty smile, knowing it’s going to be enough to force the boxer to take the step.

Taking a deep, deep breath, finding in that gesture the encouragement he needs, Benny goes straight to you, waiting for the bartender to serve you another beer.

At first, you don’t notice his presence, until the unknown guy stops by your side leaning too over the bar. You two cross your gazes, sharing a soft smile that makes your knees tremble. The blonde looks really good, but for some reason, you have the feeling that he could be an idiot, so when he throws at you one of those horrible pickup lines, you can’t help but roll your eyes.

“I’m gonna give you advice. Don’t hit a girl like that”. You just reply with a chuckle, referring to his words.

“I’m more into hitting men”.

For a second, where you were about to leave with your drink, you squint at him having a sip and trying to understand the meaning of his affirmation.

“I box, professionally”.

“Oh…” You nod your chin, puckering your lips, showing him that this fact doesn’t impress him at all. “Congrats. Good luck in your next fight”.

Not giving him the chance to continue the talk, you come back to your table under the attentive looks of your friends, who are laughing at the poor guy and the gesture on his face. His brothers, on the other hand, have slapped their faces whilst shaking their heads disappointed. As soon as Benny joins him, Santi slaps the back of his neck, causing him to choke in his beer.

“There must be something wrong with my eyes, ’cause I can’t take them off you? Really, Benny? Really?”

The guys are laughing when Pope repeats his sentence, as Will puts an arm over his shoulders. “You’re lucky to have me… Big brother to the rescue”.

Anna nudges you, making you turn on your stool to watch a second guy walking towards you, very secure of himself. The only thing you wanted tonight was to have fun with your friends and seems it’s not going to be an option. Crossing a leg over the other and nailing an elbow on the table, resting your chin on your palm, you force a smirk when he offers you a kind smile.

“Good nights, ladies, sorry to interrupt. William, a pleasure”.

The man holds your free hand without asking for it to stretch it. Firmly. Like only a soldier would do —as your father does. He turns for a second to his friends, laying his oceanic and hypnotic eyes on you with a charming and funny grimace on his face.

“Sorry ‘bout my brother, you know... too many punches”. He has captivated your friends, who are gasping for him and the honeyed tone he’s using, covered by a raspy voice. “He has watched you looking at him and he was nervous, but he’s not a bad guy. Just a little asshole. But he’s worth it, believe me”.

“Okay”. You reply slowly, raising an eyebrow earning your attention little by little.

“He has begged me to not come, but I think you’re too smart to not have a date with him”.

“Your brother was right, you didn’t have to come. And you’re wrong, more or less. I’m very smart, but having a date with him doesn’t seem a very intelligent idea”.

“Got it. But he’ll be waiting for you at seven in Kaleo’s, tomorrow night”. A negative it’s not an option to the soldier, showing you his perfect white teeth in a huge smile clapping his hands before leaving. “Good night, ladies. Have a good time”.

Since last night, you've been debating with your friends if you should go to the date just to prove both men were wrong. Lucy would call you crying if you text her in case the guy is another idiot.

The first test is to see if he'd wait for you, arriving thirty minutes later than the hour William told you. Your heart can't help but race a little when you find the blonde boxer sitting on the hood of a black Mustang, in front of the restaurant. Wearing a white t-shirt and black jeans, he has both legs crossed and his hands laced over his lap. Head bowed down and a sigh escaping his lips as he checks the clock on his wrist. Poor guy, he's thinking you are not going to come.

You send a picture of him to the chat group where your friends are asking you if he's still there and, in less than a second, you receive a bunch of heart emojis from all of them. Keeping your phone in a pocket, as you tuck in your hands too, you begin to walk towards him. Step by step. Taking your time with a soft smirk curving your lips as you come closer and closer. Watching him texting someone too, you roll your eyes, imagining it's to some random chick to hang out with, due you have stood him up. Until you're almost leaning above his shoulder and you see he's texting his brother —who is very interested in knowing if you're there or not. You melt as he replies: “amma wait another thirty minutes, maybe there's traffic”.

“You can say to your brother I'm here”. You whisper into his ear, taking him by surprise and causing the boxer to jump off from the hood.

“Oh, fuck. You scared the shit outta m— Where you readin' my phone?”

“Nah, I've some witch in me”. You lie terrible, feeling goosebumps on your arms when his gesture changes suddenly.

A grin like a Cheshire cat decorates his face, offering you his phone as he pressed the small microphone in the bottom right corner.

“Hey, big brother, I came. I hope you weren't wrong”.

“I'm Ben, by the way”. He introduces himself as keeping his phone in a pocket, to offer you his right hand.

“(Y/N)”. You stretch it then, feeling a little nervous at his touch.

“So, this is the plan. We have a beer, and if you think I'm a freak, you can run away before dinner. No questions, no explanations. You just… leave”.

God, that's really sweet. He's nervous too and you can see in his blue eyes how scared he is if you really decide to disappear.

“Deal”. You accept, tilting your head to the restaurant.

A couple of minutes later Ben is sitting in front of you and the first thing that captivates your attention is the fact that he doesn't put his phone on the table. Living in the technology era, everybody keeps an eye on their devices. Constantly. But he's not like everybody. He wants to talk. Know about you. What you do in your free time, what you do for a living, what unveils you at night… And you talk for hours.

Ben tells you what pushed him to be in the army, why he decided to dedicate his life to boxing and he also jokes about how you could fix him up after his fighting. Something like a plan of the future. Together. As friends —as he points out to not make you feel uncomfortable, thinking that he is forcing you to have a relationship. You also discover that your taste in music and movies are very similar, just like your hobbies. And that makes you think about the fact that William will tell you “I wasn't wrong”.

The boxer gladly takes you home, not stopping your chat even when one of the two of you doesn't know what to say, Benny has shown you in some way he enjoys too much the sound of your voice though —how it goes a little higher when you're excited about something, how your throat vibrates when you laugh. And he's falling in love with the disgusted tic that wrinkles your nose when you don't like something, in a funny gesture.

You would die for staying together a little more, but you have obligations to attend tomorrow and your friends haven't ceased sending your texts asking you how it's going. As Ben stops his car next to your house, you sigh not knowing what to do —if just say bye, thank you, ask for his number, kiss him? Yes, you'd like to kiss him right now, but what does it say about you? Should you wait until the second date?

“Got a fight tomorrow night if you're free”. His proposition pushes you back to reality, turning at him on your seat while resting a shoulder against it. “You can invite your friends, mine will be there”.

“Your brother too?” You ask giggling, noticing the change on his grimace to somewhat underwhelmed because of your interest.

“Yeah, he will come”. Ben mumbles pressing his lips after nodding briefly.

“Ugh… Is he the kind of person who has fun saying I told you?”

Ben's gesture suddenly changes again. The shine in his blue deep eyes reappears and you provoke him a strong laugh when you furrow your nose like he literally adores.

“You've had a good night then?”

“Yes”. You don't hesitate to respond, leaning towards him to press your lips on his cheek with a loud kiss.

“See? He told you”. Ben can't help but make fun of you, earning a soft punch to his shoulder that makes him laugh one more time. “It's in the Holou gym, at seven”.

“Okay, I'll not forget it”. You reply, taking your phone and setting an alarm an hour before starting to have time to get ready. “Good night, Ben”.

“Good night, (Y/N)”.

GENERAL TAG LIST: @mayans-sauce @peoniarose @destynelseclipsa @band-psycho @myakai13 @petlaufeyson @-im-fantastic- @horsesandwolvesaremyanimals @rocketqueen @rosieposie0624 @ellyseveronica @jessprins13 @diaryofkali @ravenmoore14 @starrynite7114 @kenbechillin @miahelen @monkeyluver4546 @sheeshgivemeabreak @jadesamhart @rawrlittlepanda-95 @megapeacelovemusic-blog @katsav17 @skits90s @wildsould1221

TRIPLE FRONTIER: @phoenixhalliwell @goldielocks2004 @pedritomando @spideysimpossiblegirl @im-an-adult-ish @chibsytelford

[penwieldingdreamer]

Dante's Prayer - A Peaky Blinders Story

It's been a while since I wrote anything regarding the fandoms I used to be active, but thanks to @fortheloveoffanfic I found another one that picked my interest. This is the first part of my Peaky Blinders story, let me know what you think. Like, reblog, comment if you want and let me know if you'd like to be tagged.

Summary:

When the dark wood fell before me And all the paths were overgrown, When the priests of pride say there is no other way I tilled the sorrows of stone.

I did not believe because I could not see Though you came to me in the night, When the dawn seemed forever lost You showed me your love in the light of the stars

- Dante's Prayer by Loreena McKennitt -

Warnings: Mentions of war, mentions of sex, period-typical sexism, canon-typical violence

Words: 1410

Prologue

Outside of Birmingham, 1923

Breathless pants were the only sounds echoing in the silence of the small cottage.

"I missed ya so fookin' much." he mumbled against her back as they tried to catch their breaths and Arthur pulled the sheets over their naked bodies.

Niamh smiled at the sensation of his beard lightly scratching her skin, committing it to memory before he'd leave her again. "It's not my fault, you've been avoiding me."

"I know, I'm sorry." he sighed, running his fingers along the skin of her shoulder and neck. "I'm going to marry Linda."

Swallowing the lump that formed in her throat, the redhead blinked away the tears that were gathering in her eyes, thankful for facing away from the eldest Shelby brother. "I believe this means goodbye then?"

"It doesn't have to be goodbye." Arthur breathed, his lips languidly moving along her spine. "We ain't serious."

Turning her head towards him, Niamh shook her head. "We can't continue this, it was good while it lasted."

"Why not?" he asked, leaning onto his elbow to watch her closely. He had known her since before the war, occasionally having had a tryst under the bridge by the Cut and when he had been drafted he spent three days until his leaving with her, promising to return as the same man that he left but he couldn't keep that promise, just like he never could promise her his heart.

"I'm scared, Arthur." she finally said after a while, her voice vibrating in the quiet air.

Brushing his hair out of his face, he moved his hand closer to her face, his roughened fingers stroking along the column of her throat. "What are you scared of?"

Biting her lip, Niamh put her smaller hand on his own. "Of falling for you, like I'm trying to avoid ever since you have gotten back. You're marrying her and if we continue, you'll only break my heart." Her eyes turned red from the unshed tears she kept at bay the entire time.

"I never promised ye love." Arthur replied gruffly, sitting up on the bed. "I best be going, or else you'd be throwing your heart at me feet."

Pulling the sheets up to her neck, Niamh wordlessly watched him get dressed, feeling the sting of heartbreak in her chest when there had been no love on both ends. Once he had haphazardly thrown on his pants and dress shirt, leaving the vest and suspenders off, Arthur turned one last time, burning the image of his favorite redhead into his mind's eye. Never would he forget the faces she made when he had given her the ecstasy she longed for, knowing he'd not be able to see the same expressions with his soon-to-be-wife.

One last time she watched him nod in goodbye, knowing his head couldn't be turned. The eldest Shelby would have only committed, if - and that was a very big IF - she had been with his child, but Niamh knew how to avoid it as well as he did. Nights in the war could be very cold and lonely so the army had handed out precautions for the soldiers to enjoy their time between the fights. Arthur had told her often enough how his dreams of family and romance had been snuffed out by the brutality of the war, that he would avoid the subject as best as he could, yet here he left her stranded in her cottage by the lake they used to swim in as teenagers, to have a wife and family, probably children along the way.

Arthur climbed inside Tommy's car, taking a deep breath before he screamed out the despair and grief that had been eating away at him ever since he returned from France. Niamh had been a distraction and Linda had given him the hope to get his dreams back, so why did he feel the same sense of loss he had felt when their father had betrayed him and left them again? The noose around his neck was back, tighter than before.

"FUCK!" He hit the steering wheel with such force, that it rattled the whole construction. Arthur needed to let go, he would marry Linda in three weeks and start a new part of his life with her.

“I, Arthur, take thee, Linda, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

“I, Linda, take thee, Arthur, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”

The eldest Shelby brother gently took her hand and slipped the golden band onto her left ring finger, repeating after the priest. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Linda smiled up at him, her eyes so full of love and shining with happiness that he couldn't help but get infected by her. Returning her smile, Arthur leaned in and gently laid his lips on hers. His brothers cheered, albeit forcing themselves to be happy for him and his new wife. She had brought faith back into his life and would help him achieve his dreams of family and fortune.

When he looked up, at the end of the aisle Arthur thought he saw a flash of red before it disappeared again.

Had she come to witness his wedding? Maybe trying to stop it all together?

But no, he had told her goodbye, told her she wasn't the one for him because unlike Linda, Niamh hadn't changed his way. Hadn't made him see the light in this darkness again. At least that was, what he was trying to tell himself, because buried deep down in the pit of his heart there was a small fire burning for the redhead, that would never be put out, no matter how much water he'd use to kill the flames.

"Come on brother, let's celebrate your union." John called, pulling both Linda and him into a tight hug before he joined his wife Esme and their children on the way to the Garrison where Tommy had prepared the reception. At first Linda had protested, having wanted a proper banquet but she was soon overruled when Arthur told her it was easier that way. She'd have to learn that arguing with his brother or even Aunt Polly was never a good way to live in the Shalby family, it would be more peaceful to just concede and try to be happy about it.

"Come on now, luv, let's get some refreshments before we consummate our wedding and really make it official, ey." the eldest Shelby grinned at his wife, leaning down to swiftly brush her lips with his own, before he grabbed her waist and pulled her along to the pub.

Niamh had been planning to avoid the ceremony, knowing that only heartache would follow but she needed to be there to hear his vows and see his actions. Only then could she try to forget Arthur Shalby and move on, just like he did. No thought had been spared for her when he had repeated the words, giving his ring to her and promising a new life.

During the wedding she had wanted to stop them so many times, but when the final words of their vows had been spoken, she knew it was too late. He now was a married man and she, just a girl, a woman he used to know before he found Linda and her faith.

Taking a deep breath, the redhead hastily brushed a stray tear away and grabbed her bag, leaving the church as fast as possible, yet one pair of eyes followed her, always watchful for the happenings around them, knowing fully well that she hadn't just been there by mistake and trying to piece together what the real reason had been behind her short visit in the house of the Lord.

[darter-blue]

just saw you reblogged the sam to bucky texts saying you're all for a stucky fic with sam eagerly befriending bucky and i have to say i'm so glad someone thinks this would make such a fun fic too. thanks for validating my silly headcanon.

Hello hello Bri!!

I did see that, I loved your tags ❤

So... I wrote a little something, but it's probably not what you were expecting. It wasn't what I had set out to write, but well... this is what took over so...

I hope you like it?

(Special thanks to @oh-i-swear-writes for the 'keep me on read' line)

Sam and Bucky - text saga:

Bucky feels his phone vibrate in his pocket and rolls his eyes.

And then it vibrates again. 

And again.

And again.

He thinks about taking it out of his pocket and throwing it on the ground. And stomping it under his boot. And then punching it with his left hand, just to be sure… (these little flip phones are fucking built to last, Bucky is strangely proud of his tough little phone).

But then he wouldn’t have a phone for Steve to call him on. And lately those calls from Steve are all that’s keeping Bucky going.

He shouldn’t say that. He certainly should never let his therapist hear that. But it feels true. Steve is happy, Steve is safe. Steve is taking time that he needs, to hide away from the world, and Bucky needs to respect that right now.

And he’s there for Bucky, when he needs him. 

He’s just not here here. Not quite as close in proximity as Bucky would like him to be. Out here in the world, where Bucky needs to stop hiding. Where he needs to make amends. To reintegrate. To become a person again. 

To get another fucking message on his phone.

He does pull it out of his pocket, finally. Holds it up as if its very existence is offensive to him, and then flips it open. Just to be sure. To be sure that it isn’t Steve who’s texting him.

It isn’t.

It’s Sam.

He has fourteen unread messages from Samuel T Wilson.

‘For fucks sake,’ he says under his breath. Then squeezes the phone a little too tight in his right hand. Tight enough to hear a crack. And then he stops. He doesn’t really want to break it. He slowly releases it and checks to make sure its still working, the screen is still intact - it is - And then he stares at the unopened messages for a minute. Wondering if he can will them away with the power of his mind.

Alas no. Hydra had not, in their wisdom, imparted him with any powers of telekinesis. Just plain old strength and speed. And healing. And then fried him full of volts and sent him out to kill kill kill…

No. He’s not thinking about that now. 

He does, reluctantly, press his finger to the button to open his texts.

Its a fucking onslaught...

Samuel T Wilson: Hey Buck, just wondering if you’re free for dinner. My sister Sarah’s a great cook… just saying.

Samuel T Wilson: Hey Buck, so dinner is still on offer, never too late to reply.

Samuel T Wilson: Okay, so - and only because its all already gone - it is now too late to reply. But its a standing invite okay? Dinner at Sarah’s every Sunday.

Samuel T Wilson: I forgot to say, you can just show up, you don't even have to reply.

Samuel T Wilson: Or maybe, I mean… okay. So I was just wondering - is it too much? With the whole family? I get that that could be too much.

Samuel T Wilson: we could grab a beer 

Samuel T Wilson: or watch the game

Samuel T Wilson: whichever game - I don’t know whether sport is your thing.

Samuel T Wilson: Or we could talk

Samuel T Wilson: Or not talk

Samuel T Wilson: Not talking is fine. Totally fine.

Samuel T Wilson: you have that stoic, stone cold badass thing happening, I get it.

Samuel T Wilson: Listen, its okay, you can leave me on read. I wont push im just… the offer is there okay?

Samuel T Wilson: Oh did I tell you this new kid, Torres, says people think Steve is on the moon? You believe that?

‘Ha!’ Bucky lets out a huff of laughter at the last text. ‘Really?’

He wonders if its true, that people really think that. Then he looks back over the preceding thirteen messages again and shakes his head.

How he managed to get on Sam’s good side he’ll never know. He barely knows him. Which is entirely by his own design, he knows that.

Steve may have asked Sam to keep an eye on Bucky while he’s hiding away in wherever he's trekked to this week… but Sam has better things to do than babysit Bucky’s grumpy ass.

He’s too good a man, too full of light and love for his family for Bucky to let him get too close. For Bucky’s special brand of toxicity to seep into his life and eat at it from the inside out…

Sam is too good a man to be wasting his time on Bucky…

It wouldn't be a waste of Bucky's time though, to get to know Sam. To let Sam in. 

Sam is the kind of good man that Bucky could learn from. The kind of man that Steve would trust his shield to. The kind of man that could help Bucky see all the ways this world might be able to use him again. Give him somewhere to fit. 

As a friend. A colleague. 

As family. 

He's thinking about that. Not about what Sam deserves,  but what Bucky deserves. How much more he might deserve if he were to be more like Sam - more open and affable and genuine - when the phone rings. 

And he's distracted enough that he answers it without thinking.

'Hello?'

'Buck!'

'Bucky,' Bucky says, instinctively, because only Steve gets to call him Buck.

'Bucky,' Sam corrects himself, 'You picked up!'

'I did.' Bucky doesn't have the heart to tell him it was an accident. 

'You ah… free tonight?'

It's funny actually, that Sam, who is always so charming and charismatic, suddenly sounds so nervous. 

It touches something in Bucky, that such a little thing, spending time with someone as useless and broken as Bucky, might be worth something to a man like Sam. Enough for him to be nervous about it. 

'Yeah, I'm free.'

'Really?' Sam says, his voice pitched high and happy, 'Well that's… I mean, are you maybe interested in catching up?' he asks. 'With me?' He adds quickly.

'Sure, we could watch the game.'

'Which game?'

'I don't know, I don't what games there are.'

'Oh, well there's basketball tonight? Wizards are playing the hornet's,' Sam says, growing less hesitant, voice deepening into something richer.

'Wizards aren't real.'

'It's the team name, Bucky, Washington Wizards.'

'Oh right, any good?' Bucky asks, at this point just to keep him talking. Sam has the kind of voice that settles something in Bucky, something deep in his chest. It's the kind of voice that can sooth. Heal.

Its a good voice.

'Friend, you haven't seen a real shooting guard until you've seen Bradley Beal.'

'Well then I guess I'll have to check it out.'

'Want me to come to you? Bring some beers?'

Bucky looks around his apartment. At the total lack of furniture. Or food. Or anything resembling a home. 

'How bout I come to you?'

And Sam can no doubt hear the edge in Buckys voice, but he doesn't mention it. 'Sure. Easy.'

'I can bring sushi,' Bucky offers.

There's a pause, and Bucky is ready to take it back, apologise. Maybe sushi is a terrible idea. 

'Soft shell crab?' Sam asks, and Bucky laughs.

'It's my favourite.'

'Well alright! Games at seven.'

'See you then, and hey,' 

'Yeah?'

'Thanks, Sam.'

'Uh huh. Just bring me my crab and I'll be happy.'

Bucky hears the connection cut out and can't help but smile. Sushi and basketball. Might not be so horrible.

He closes his phone and then flips it back open to call Steve. 

Its very important that he a) makes him jealous about the soft shell crab sushi and b) makes him jealous that he's missing out on spending time with Sam. 

It might even be enough to lure him back out of hiding. Give Bucky a reason to buy some furniture. 

Maybe this will be a win win for Bucky. And Maybe…

Maybe he deserves that. 

[randomfandomimagine]

Hi, I hope you're doing well! Could I request a John Bender prompt with #23“You’re a nerd!” #43“You can wear my jacket” and #67“You’re blushing” where the reader is known for being the school's nerd but she's unexpectedly good friends with Bender (also because they're both made fun of by the preps)? In the scenario, the reader is also in detention because she tackled someone who was bullying her and Vernon reprimanded her. I don't know if I've been too specific, but thank you in advance!✨💙

Thanks for requesting! Yes, you were a little too specific, for future reference remember that prompts are only requested with the dialogue sentences so I can come up with whatever with little context. Anyhow, here it is and I hope you like it!

John Bender x Gender Neutral Reader

_

From the moment you sat down on your chair, you caught someone’s attention.  The others didn’t pay much mind to you, but a certain pair of brown eyes were settled on you with curiosity.

“Hey” Bender called you, and you tensed up in anticipation. You had heard about him and you weren’t sure you were interested in what he had to say. “What’s your name?” 

“Y/N” You tiredly replied, glancing at Claire and Andy sitting not far from you. “Don’t you know me, I’m the school’s nerd” 

The pair exchanged looks of rapport and laughed under their breaths. You couldn’t tell if they did it because they found it amusing that you were a nerd or that they thought it was funny that you earned up to it like that.

“Like Mr. Nestle over here?” Bender pointed a thumb at Brian, who watched the exchange like everyone else was now. “Are you two buddies?” 

“In a way” You nodded your head towards Brian, who was in fact your friend.

“We go to chess club together” The aforementioned mumbled, a bit bashful by Bender’s voice.

“You are a nerd!” The latter exclaimed in response to that statement. You only shrugged, unbothered by his teasing. You had stopped caring about other’s opinions a long time ago.

Seeing that you didn’t fall in his trap, Bender grinned a little. He then sighed dramatically, as if it broke his heart that you weren’t immediately jumping to defend yourself.

“So...” He made a pause in which he cooly flipped his long hair to the side. “What are you in for, sweets?”

“I did something that’s none of your business” You coldly said, earning a smirk from him.

“Y/N tackled a bully” Brian answered for you, which earned him a glare.

“Good for you” The girl at the back said, who you hadn’t noticed until then.

“So you’re not afraid of bullies...” Bender ignored everyone else, standing up and walking to where you calmly sat on the desk. “You’re not afraid of me either?”

“No” You honestly said, curiously watching him as he approached. “You’re kind of cool”

That made him smirk even more than before. Leaning closer to you, he put his hand on the back of your chair. You didn’t know him very well, since you had only bumped into him a few times or heard a few things about him. Still, you knew he was about to say something to tease you.

“Why are you shaking then?” There was a mix between smugness and flirtatiousness in his voice as he lowered down to be at eye level with you.

“Because I’m cold, dumbass” You solely replied, smirking yourself when you heard a few snickers from the others.

“You can wear my jacket then” Bender didn’t break eye contact as he took his jean jacket off and put it over your shoulders, leaving him in his red plaid shirt.

“Will you cut it out?” Claire asked from her place at the other table. 

Bender separated himself from you a little, but otherwise didn’t move. He poked your cheek and you swatted him away, still smirking at each other.

“You’re blushing” He commented, which didn’t really bother you.

“It happens” Was your carefree response. It made him laugh.

“Know what, Y/N?” He finally put some distance between you, straightening up completely and patting your back. “I like you too”

Tag list: @call-me-harley-quinn / @fortheloveofbenyandtom / @dancingwith-thesunflowers / @felicityofbakerstreet / @floydtab // If you want to be added or taken off the tag list for these fandoms or characters, send me an ask!! // Reblogs and comments are appreciated!

[thefabelmans2022]

@servingcunt tagged me in this cute lil ask game, tysm bestie this was so fun!!!!!

why did you choose your url?

inspired by my idol, katerina stratford from the seminal classic film 10 Things I Hate About You

any side-blogs? if you have them, name them and why you have them

i have @incorrectamericanvandalquotes which is an incorrect american vandal quotes blog which i have not updated in a very long time, and i have one that i made for an assignment last year that just has a few reblogs and a piece of writing about wuthering heights so if you're at all interested in reading my ramblings about wuthering heights and the idea of the tumblr feral woman and female emotional repression lmk and i'll tell you the url bc honestly i think it was pretty good.

how long have you been on tumblr?

since like march or april 2013, so like a month or two before my 14th birthday. i've had the same blog the whole time. please don't look at it.

do you have a queue tag?

i literally JUST figured out how to queue stuff AJSHABDHS, so no. i do queue stuff sometimes but only bc sometimes i don't want people to know i'm online but i still wanna reblog stuff

why did you start your blog in the first place?

i'd been lurking for like. years. so i just finally decided to actually make an account because using tumblr on a browser without an account (which is what i was doing) is nightmarish.

why did you choose your icon/pfp?

i'm obsessed with wanda maximoff duh. also i had picked my header and i wanted something red/pink to match it and i found this one and she's wearing red and has the most amazing energy that i wanted people to feel when they saw my posts.

why did you choose your header?

i'm obsessed with ivy by taylor swift. best song of all time i fear

what’s your post with the most notes?

oh god it's probably this awful fucking reblog bait i made when i was like 17 testing if there was a correlation between hogwarts house and whether someone is a boogara or a shaniac. it's terrible bc 1. that was pretty cringe of me ngl 2. it very clearly says 'in the tags' but people still reblog it and don't put their answers in the tags they only put it in the reblog they reply or they just reblog it and leave the tags blank and i'm like bestie the instructions were very clear.

how many people do you follow?

too many. 1237 to be more specific.

have you ever made a shitpost?

darling, with me every post is a shitpost

how often do you use tumblr?

i would say too much but can you really spend too much in your own home? like i'm always here but of course i am i live here.

did you have a fight/argument with a blog once? who won?

yes ♥️ they did not admit defeat but they stopped arguing in the reblogs and switched to the replies so i think it's clear who won (me)

how do you feel about ‘you need to reblog this post’?

don't tell me what to do.

do you like tag games?

i ADORE them!! i love being thought of and i love talking about myself ♥️

which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous? 

i think all of my mutuals are cool and intimidating and if i actually answered this question it would be incredibly embarassing for me but let's just say yes i do consider some of them tumblr famous and i love that for them im so proud ♥️ also am obviously obsessed with emily referring to herself as "Kafkaesque" bc it's so true. all those urls is the TRUE metamorphosis.

do you have a crush on a mutual?

i'm in love with all of you let's kiss 😘

last song i listened to

i hoped beyond hope that it wouldn't be a taylor swift song but alas i checked spotify and it's king of my heart by taylor swift. i truly do listen to music that isn't taylor swift but you would never know that from looking at my tumblr.

my phone bg and lockscreen

i'll just put a screenshot. my lockscreen is the same as my bg, it's a picture of my wife 💖 also blocked out my location not doxxing myself today ♥️

tagging

@quinnmorgendorffer @gobbluthlesbian @gobbluthbisexual @bethecowgirl @grasslandgirl @distortedfractals @bettymp3 @dilfmaverick and anyone else who wants to do it <3

[lady-snavely]

Sands of Time: Part One

Chance Encounters

Pairing: Kuroo Tetsuro x Fem!OC

Warnings: mentions of death, swearing, mutual pining, all the fluff

A/N: reblogs are super appreciated and, if anyone’s interested, I’ll start a tag list

In the innocent years of childhood, Jade first met him. It wasn't a long meeting, only an hour or two, in fact. She had been playing on her own in a nearby forest when she felt the desire to wander. Her wings glittered as she hopped from sun pocket to sun pocket. Her laughter, loud and jovial, filled her ears until the sounds of a boy crying had caught her attention and she quieted. It was the curiosity of a child that sent her straying that much further from her family home.

Not too far from where she'd been playing, Jade found the boy. From what she could tell he had tripped and skinned his knee. She watched him curiously from behind a tree for a few heartbeats before that curiosity pulled her further. Her father's warning of Humans was the farthest thing from her mind as she approached the boy.

The boy had dried his tears quickly when he first saw her before staring, mouth agape. "Are you real?" He'd managed to whisper, awestruck.

A smile danced on her lips and her nose crinkled when she giggled. "Are you?" Jade had countered easily.

The boy frowned and stood, his injured knee forgotten as his own curiosity blossomed. "But you have wings and your ears are pointy and you're flying!"

It was then that her father's warning of Humans rushed back to her. But he was little and, according to Jade's oldest sister, Human children made up all sorts of stories that their parents brushed off as make believe. "Wanna see a magick trick?" Jade asked in reply, settling her bare feet gently in the grass. The boy nodded his head eagerly. "Close your eyes and count to ten," she instructed.

When he did she concentrated. It wasn't a painful transformation, only slightly uncomfortable as her Faerie wings shrank back into her shoulder blades and she grew an inch or two in height. Her ears rounded out and became more proportional. Jade's transformation to her Humanoid form completed just as a resounding "TEN!" echoed around her.

"How did you do that!" The boy hurried around Jade in wonder. He poked at her back and picked at her hair trying and failing to find where everything was hidden. "Where did they go?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you." Human's most commonly greet with a handshake, her mother had told her once so she stuck her hand out. "Call me Jade. Like the stone."

The boy took Jade's hand with only slight hesitation. "Kuroo Tetsuro but my friends just call me Tetsu-chan."

"Tetsu-chan." Jade smiled. She wasn't sure what to think, what with his name sounding like honey in her ears and her heart leaping like wildfire in her chest.

For being children they were surprisingly content with sitting in the woods and talking. Sure they played some too but they mostly talked. Jade told Tetsu-chan all sorts of stuff about her people that he believed were just stories but were real. She told him about the time her oldest sister, Nyra, tried to run away with a wood nymph only to be brought back after a couple of days by the nymph's mother. She told him about the time when she was littler when her parents first found out she possessed the ability to wield weather magick like her mother. Tetsu-chan had clung to every word, mesmerized by the idea of Fae and what they could do.

When Tetsuro's father burst through the trees Jade had been so frightened that her concentration faltered and she shifted back to her Fae form. Instinct alone had her fleeing.

"Tetsuro, you were supposed to be fetching water." The voice boomed through the trees, anger and disappointment evident by the man's stance alone.

"I made a new friend, Papa! She's – " Tetsuro's smile disappeared when he didn't see her "-Jade?"

Almost half a mile away Jade was alighting on solid ground again. Her ears, once again pointy, twitched at the sound of her name, still heard clearly despite the distance. How badly she wanted to go back to him; to at least say goodbye to Tetsu-chan; to see his smile once more. Her chest ached in unfamiliar longing.

Jade's father had not taken her meeting with the Human boy well. The Human always pays the price he had explained when he had come back home with blood on his hands.

It would be the first time Jade cried over the loss of Human life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Half a century passed before they crossed paths again. Still considered a preteen by Faerie folk, Jade had yet to leave her family. She was doing the washing in the stream not too far from their new home when she heard a brother and sister approaching on the opposite bank. Her transformation from Fae to Humanoid form took but a few seconds.

Though they were loud as they jumped into the stream she thought little of them as she hung the washing to dry. It wasn't the first time someone had come along to swim in the stream, it wasn't horribly deep and it was partially shaded to boot. The pair ignored her as she planted herself under a tree to read and wait for the sun to work its magick.

"Tetsuro, leave her alone!" A scolding voice disrupted Jade's reading some time later.

Tetsuro. Now, that was a name she hadn't heard in quite a long time. Curiously, she peered around the trunk of the tree. Though he was trying to hide in the brambles nearby Jade spotted him quickly. "Hello, Tetsu-chan," she greeted with a wave.

He stood to his full height, approaching Jade with a frown. "Do we know each other?" He wondered.

"Oh, forgive me, I overheard your sister, I presume-" Jade gestured to the girl still in the stream "-call for you just a moment ago. I'm Jade."

"Like the gem." Tetsuro smiled.

Jade masked her shock with a laugh. "Like the gem," she repeated. The smile and remark were just the same as they had been then too.

"Your washing is going to take a while to dry, why don't you join us?" Tetsuro suggested.

"Thank you but I just started a new book." She held her book up for emphasis, grimacing in apology.

Tetsuro sat against the tree just out of eyesight. "I don't know how to read," he admitted quietly, embarrassed.

"Maybe I could teach you." The suggestion was out of her mouth before intuition told her to stay quiet.

"Is it a good story?"

Jade grinned down at the pages she'd reread a handful of times now. "I think it is," she decided to say.

Tetsuro inched closer, his shoulder brushing Jade's as he peered at the book in her lap. "Just looks like a bunch of scribbles."

Jade ran an affectionate hand over the open page before nodding. "In a way they are but they have meaning and put together the way they are they make up the story." She glanced sidelong at him. "Would you like me to read it to you?"

After some time Jade stopped reading to check on the washing. Tetsuro was disappointed when she told him she would be heading home now that it was done. However he had gone back to swim with the promise to come back in a few days. Though his presence had shook her, somewhere in Jade's heart she was thrilled at seeing him again. Unfortunately she didn't see him again while they lived in that cottage and so said nothing to her parents of her run in with the strangely familiar boy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When she heard the name again, it was from a weeping mother cradling a small bundle in her arms. The plague that had swept through the country had taken him as an infant.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Centuries passed, yet with the passing of time she never forgot about the boy with the scraped knee, the boy by the stream and the baby taken too soon. How could she when that longing she first felt when she ran from his father all those years ago was ever present when he wasn't.

In the new life she created for herself, she was a healer in the castle of the king. He was a tyrannical man, feared by his people and family alike. The queen stood in stark contrast to her husband. Loved by anyone she came in contact with and Jade was no exception. Queen Hana was polite and remembered names; remembered the little things. She often visited Jade, turning to her for comfort both as healer and friend.

On one such occasion, she had entered Jade's chambers in tears. She was with child. At first Jade had been elated by the news until the queen was pleading for something, anything that would take care of the baby.

Normally Jade didn't bat an eye when someone came to her requesting the simple solution. Yet for some reason there was a desperation, not unlike the queen's, that drove her to argue the logic. They deliberated for the better part of an hour before the queen had used her status to demand what she desired.

Jade had stood and gone to her supply shelves in silent reluctance. In the back corner of one of the shelves, hidden among healing plants and medicines, was the concoction she took in her hands.

"Remember, just two drops in your goblet each night for a week should you decide it's truly what you want." Jade passed the queen the jar with a pained smile. "If not, you saw where the jar goes. I won't say a word either way."

In the end the queen had given birth to a boy. Her fear of how her husband would have the child raised had brought her back to Jade's chambers just a few weeks after the birth.

"I've made a terrible mistake," the queen hunched over her sleeping child. Tears spilled from her eyes. "I should've used the medicine you gave me."

As much as it pained her, Jade moved silently to her shelves just as she had all those months ago. "It should only take a drop or two on your finger and letting him suckle it to help put him to sleep." When the queen frowned Jade nodded and placed the jar in her friends hand, squeezing just enough to let Hana know she was with her before whispering, "It will be painless, like falling into a deep sleep."

The queen was quiet for a few heartbeats before nodding. "You never asked about his name, you know."

It was Jade's turn to frown. The hair on the back of her neck rose with the sudden slice of worry that coursed in her veins. "Why would I ask about the prince's name? Is he not named after his father?"

"He doesn't have my husband's name." The queen smiled triumphantly though tears still glistened in her eyes. "Not officially anyway. He carries my family name and we named him after my grandfather."

Head swimming with questions Jade had fled the castle that night. She knew the queen's lineage but needed answers all the same. How and why was this Human coming into her life for moments and days at a time? Why did the death of a Human make her chest ache so?

The news swept the kingdom, reaching her two days later. Prince Tetsuro was dead.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A millennia of research yielded no definitive answers for Jade but there was no denying Kuroo Tetsuro was in a reincarnation cycle. In most instances it was a quarter century or so before he was brought back to the world. Sometimes it was longer than that before he and Jade crossed paths again. Even fewer instances allowed them more than a day or two of interaction.

In every case he was Human. In every case but the first Jade hid the truest parts of herself. She beat around the bush about her family and where she was from. She was sure that, one of these times, he would remember something, anything, from his past lives. There was no telling what would happen if he did or what he would remember.

Nyra didn't understand the infatuation surrounding the Human boy or the sudden interest in reincarnation. She'd made herself clear on that after Jade had reluctantly come to the family home after one of the longer stretches she'd had with Kuroo.

She was glad when they ran into each other again that she still passed for being in her early twenties. He'd courted her and after some time asked for her hand. The ceremony had been small and intimate. Then, after spending his early twenties with her by his side he had gone to war only to come back in a box. As much as the loss had hurt, Jade hadn't been surprised. It was the only reason she'd insisted she hadn't wanted kids.

Still she had spent the better part of three days holed up in the local library, a building standing four stories tall and spanning almost half a city block, waist deep in books. Nyra had been tasked with dragging her sleep deprived sister back to the family home where she laid into her about how reckless she was being over some stupid Human.

They didn't speak to each other for the better part of a century.

M.List | Next

[bobasheebaby]

The Sit Down

Pairing: Bastien x Liza; Liam x Raven

Written for @kinda-iconic @choicesjulychallenge Choices July Challenge

Word count: 1,482

Warnings: angst

Summary: With the history between Liam Rhys and Bastien Lykel is there any hope of them moving forward and being a family for Hope?

A/N: @darley1101 requested Forgiveness for Liam and Hope as well as Family for Bas, Liza, Olivia, Hope, Liam, and Raven. Both are a tall order for this crew, I’m laying the framework trying to get them there. Neither prompt is used in the obvious manner. She also requested "Admit that you're wrong!" from Mobster Bastien ages ago and I’m finally coming through. Prompt will be bolded. Thanks @sirbeepsalot for being my sounding board and putting up with me. Again we are ahead of where we are in the story, I’m sorry. This takes place after Tattered Tears my other July Challenge fic.

Series warnings: Mobster AU, there will be violence, and death. Possible NSFW to come. Possibly dark and deals with pregnancy loss. If you ask to be tagged you acknowledge you are at least 18 years of age.

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist.

Disclaimer: I own my OC’s, the rest I’m simply borrowing from PB for a bit.

“Can you please tell me why we are entertaining this fool?” Olivia asked, the thin heel of her stiletto clicking against the hardwood as she tapped her foot.

“Olivia!” Liza warned, voice strong and unwavering, while inside she was shaking. The last thing she wanted to do was to speak to the person who brought them so much pain, nearly broke her completely, yet she needed to hold firm, be strong.

Olivia flinched at the use of her full first name, Liza always called her Liv, she knew she’d pushed a button, yet she pressed on. “What? He tried to kill you!”

“I know that!”

“He killed your baby!”

Liza’s hand instantly flew to the now red raised scar on her round abdomen. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment as her fingers traced the scar through her shirt. “I know! Believe me I know!”

“He hasn’t ever once said he was sorry, or showed an ounce of remorse!”

“I know that Olivia!” Her voice broke, coming out almost a sob.

“Then why the hell are we entertaining him?!”

“Hope!” Tears welled in her eyes. “Because even if he never apologizes to me or Bas for what he took from us, Hope deserves to have her brother in her life.” She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block all the pain she felt. “I know he hasn’t been exactly welcoming to her, but he asked to speak to us, maybe between what I said to him and what Hope did he’s finally coming around, I don’t know.” She shook her head. “But I do know that even if looking at him makes my heart ache knowing he will never take responsibility for what he took from me that I need to try to put my own feelings aside for her because she’s as much my daughter as you and Sage.” She gently grazed her round bump. “I’d do anything for any of you.”

“Liza…”

She looked down. “Don’t. I know you didn’t mean it. I need to go finish getting ready I’ll be right out.” She wiped the stray tears from her cheeks. I can do this. It’s for Hope.

*

Bastien squeezed Liza’s hand, he knew she wanted to be anywhere but at this table in that moment. Her hand shook in is, he wasn’t sure if it was from the sadness or the anger she was trying to repress, either way he found himself in awe of the way she could look the man who caused them so much pain in the eye.

Olivia shifted on Liza’s other side, her emerald eyes burning a hole straight through Liam. “Well?”

“Well what?” Liam questioned, his tone flat, clearly unaffected by Olivia’s biting tongue.

“Well, you asked us here, what the hell do you want?” Olivia spat the words like venom.

“I did.” Liam straightened in his seat, clasping his hands in front of him. “I don’t see why all that is necessary.” He nodded behind Bastien where a few of his men stood at attention.

Olivia laughed. “After what you tried to do to Liza the last time she was pregnant did you really expect anything less?”

Liam’s jaw tensed. “I don’t understand what you’re doing here Olivia, this matter doesn’t involve you.”

Liza placed her hand on Olivia’s shoulder, keeping her from jumping across the table and strangling him. Olivia glanced at Liza, nodding at her, assuring her with the gesture that she would remain seated. “Hope.” She leaned so she could see her around Liza as Bastien. “She’s my sister.”

“I don’t understand how you came to that conclusion.” Liam said with a laugh, Raven elbowing him in the ribs.

Liza squeezed Olivia’s tense shoulder. “You do realize Bastien raised her, correct?”

“I still don’t see how that makes them siblings.” Liam replied flatly.

“Bastien adopted her when she was twelve. They are sisters by adoption and in this sense it’s a hell of a lot more related than you are to her.” Liza seethed, only calming when Bastien tightened his grip on her hand. “Now can you please tell us why the hell you wanted to speak to us?!”

“Fine.” Liam replied, his tone devoid of warmth. “I see exchanging pleasantries is too much to ask.”

“Oh that’s rich coming from you Liam! When was the last time anything other than hate or an insult escaped your mouth?” Olivia rebutted, her voice tinged with laughter.

Liam cleared his throat, his narrowed gaze falling on Bastien. “Do you always let them do all the talking?”

Bastien shifted slightly in his seat. “I’m simply listening. Listening to what it is you do and don’t say. You could learn to listen more.”

“And what exactly has been said of importance?”

“You’re nervous, though you think you hide it. You want something but are afraid to ask, so you deflect and insult us instead. So Liam, please tell us why we are here.”

Liam shifted uncomfortably in his chair, the first outward appearance of his discomfort. Raven glanced at Liam, seeing his jaw twitch, and his hesitation to speak. She placed a comforting hand on his forearm. “We had been given some interesting information…”

“Oh this is rich.” Olivia laughed. “He tries to kill Liza, treats Hope with disdain, and blames Bas for his mother, and yet he’s here asking for help.”

Bastien arched his brow. “So what exactly did you hear, and how am I supposed to help?”

“Madeline told us Liam had an older brother.” Raven replied.

“Wait, I thought Madeline was handled.” Hope stated, her face was etched with confusion.

“She was. Basically he’s done all he can on his own and now he expects Bastien to help.” Olivia said with a shake of her head.

“I guess that’s one way to put it.” Liam replied. “The truth is Bastien is the only person that might know anything without anything to gain in sharing the information.”

“Why the hell should we help you?!” Liza spat, her anger coursing through her veins.

“Liza...” Bastien squeezed her hand.”

“No! Olivia is right! He’s never even shown an ounce of remorse for any of his wrongdoings yet he has the audacity to ask you for your help.” Tears welled in her eyes, her body vibrating with anger.

Bastien glanced at each of the women seated with him. “I’ll help, on two conditions.”

“Bas…” Liza exclaimed in shock, unable to understand how he would be willing to help the man who caused them so much pain with zero remorse.

“Admit you were wrong.”

“Excuse me?” Liam replied.

“Admit you were wrong. Apologize to myself and Liza for trying to take her life and what you took from us. Apologize to Hope for shutting her out simply based on who her father was, and admit that you were wrong in blaming me for your mother’s death.”

“Is that all?” Liam grimaced, the urge to leave with his pride intact fighting to win. “Fine. I’m sorry I put the hit on Liza. I apologize Hope for pushing you away.” He but down, teeth grinding together as his jaw clenched. “I was wrong to blame you Bastien for my mother’s death. Will you help now?”

Bastien smirked. “That was one condition, I had two. My second is to back it up with your actions. Prove the words you say have meaning by actually talking to Hope and letting her in.” He glanced at Hope. “That is if she wants to give you a chance.”

Hope nodded. “He’s the only one who has any knowledge of my mom as a mom. You and Olivia have helped me learn about her, but still that’s only part of the picture.” She paused glancing down at her hands. “If he’s sincere, I would be willing to give him a chance to earn my forgiveness.”

Liam scoffed.

“You wanted my help, this is what I require to do so. I have some connections as does Liza, that could prove useful.”

“I doubt she has any connections that could help.”

Liza grinned. “Liam, perhaps if you’d been more diligent before you placed your hit you would have realized how bad it would have been for you had you been successful. I’m sure you’ve heard of my ex, Perceval Hunter, current head of the Hunter family out of Seattle.”

Liam swallowed as his face blanched.

“I grew up in that family, Perceval and I are still friends, and Bastien wouldn’t have been your only worry had you killed me.”

Liam sat in stunned silence. Vilegence then vengeance. His father’s words ringing in his head.

Bastien rose to his feet. “His name was Leo. If you want more than that, then you will earn Hope’s forgiveness as well as mine and Liza’s.” He pulled Liza to her feet. “For now we are done. I wouldn’t take your time. My kindness has an expiration date.”

Feedback fuels me, please like, comment reblog or send an ask. Feel free to scream, I promise I can take it.

Masterlist can be found in my bio.

Taglist will be reblogged.

[everyhowlmarksthedead]

Don't nah to me.

NESTOR OCETEVA. ┃ MAYANS MC.

❝ request by @yourwonkywriter: Hi, Aurora, beautiful piece of art, my friend, my love, marry me and god bless your parents. Could I please request number 6 of the Random prompts list with Nestor (if that one isn’t taken, yet? Thank you💖✨

❝ request by @the-radical-venus: Hey!! I love the new prompts it was so hard to decide on one I'm so excited! Idk how I'm going to be able to wait until January, Ive been waiting everyday for each of your November prompts to come out so I've kinda sold you my soul at this point haha “Wanna like— I mean, if you're not busy… We could get lunch, maybe? Or even just a coffee, if you don't have a lot of time?” For nestor oceteva? Preferably him saying that line?

❝ prompts: “Nah”. “Don’t ‘nah’ to me”. / “Wanna like— I mean, if you’re not busy… We could get lunch, maybe? Or even just a coffee, if you don’t have a lot of time?”

❝ words: about 800.

Gif credits to my lovely @sonsofeorl.

Stretching your arms over your head and uttering a soft pleased grunt when you feel your back gnashing, you continue your path to the kitchen. It's almost lunchtime, but you came last night too late from San Diego and you need a coffee urgently. It has been the first time in two months that you've been able to sleep for more than six hours, after finishing the period of exams at college. And it feels so good to sleep in your bed. Almost colliding with your big brother, as he steps out from the kitchen, he leaves a rushed kiss on your forehead before disappearing through the living room straight to his office. It's good to be back at home.

“Buenos días”. You yawn covering your mouth with a hand, once Nestor turns around.

“Buenos días”. He replies, noticing the fleeting shine in his dark eyes.

Puckering your lips squinting towards him, you grab a mug from the cupboard about to giggle somewhat ashamed. There's something in his smile that could kill you in a sight, making you feel a little nervous.

“Good sleep?”

“Yeah”. Nodding your chin, you pour some coffee to your delight, not waiting to take a sip from your cup.

You can't help but keep your eyes on his at all times, intrigued, figuring out what's going on inside his mind. Licking your top lip, you shake your head expecting some more words from him. Maybe, something about his thoughts right now. But Nestor is just staring at you, silent, like a freak.

“It's creepy what you're doing”. You whisper wrinkling your nose.

The head of security chuckles, resting his waist against the counter as he keeps his hands inside the pockets of his dark pants, slightly showing a pair of colored suspenders over the black shirt perfectly ironing. Nestor rubs the back of his head for a moment, before hiding his hand again. You know what it means. You know him ever since and, even if sometimes he's very quiet, you've learned to read his gestures throughout the years. He's nervous. His fingers are shaking. His palms are sweating. All from a second ago, when you've walked in.

“Wanna like— I mean, if you’re not busy… We could get lunch, maybe? Or even just a coffee, if you don’t have a lot of time?”

For you, it's so cute the way he has to clean his throat pretending everything is going normal, that you feel your cheeks and the tip of your ears burning. Kissing your teeth, you look at the way Miguel has taken a minute before, considering if it'd be correct to date his best friend, the only man he trusts in. Nestor has liked you ever since, but you aren't sure if you should hear your heart or the last brain cell alive in your head.

“Like a date?” You raise an eyebrow interested in his reply, and because of that, you can see how he gulps a little jumpy.

“A da— date? Nah… Nah, nah, nah”. He's lying.

Standing up and taking the last sip from his mug, he leaves it inside the sink about to abort the mission and run away. The expression on him lets you know he has fucked up at the moment you haven't said yes, simply.

“Don't nah to me, Nestor”. You laugh inevitable at the grimace of horror, not finding any escape route when your brother appears again accompanied by Álvarez.

“You okay? Looks like you've seen a ghost, brother”. The older makes fun of him, watching how he loosens the neck of his shirt by undoing a button.

“Yeah, everything go— good”.

“What's your plan for today?” Your brother questions whilst grabbing a small bottle of water from the fridge, sounding very interested.

“I'm goin' on a date with Nestor”.

Oh, the pettiness. Silence filling the kitchen. Your brother lands his eyes on his best friend; confused, perplexed. Miguel must be thinking it's one of your jokes or something like that until he notices the sweat on Nestor's forehead. Marcus laughs breaks the tension installed around you, shaking his head as if it was the funniest thing he has heard in his life. The counselor has to abandon the place, almost choking on his own saliva, flooding the house with his laughter.

Miguel just sips water, moving his head from you to Nestor, like when he watches a tennis game.

“Qué desagradable”. He babbles, imagining stuff he doesn't have to imagine. “New nightmares unblocked… I don't want to know… a thing about it”.

Waving his free hand, your brother disappears again not adding another word to his sentence. Nestor is close to a heart attack, trying to say something in his defense. But he has collapsed.

“I'm free for lunch”.

“Uh?” He utters placing his attention back on you.

“Lunch. I'm free”. You repeat, conscious he hasn't heard you.

“Ok— okay. I, uh… I'll wait for you to… get ready”.

If you’ve liked it, lemme know in a comment, I’d really appreciate it. Reblogs are welcome too, so more people can enjoy it! ✨

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[shift-shaping]

I'm very sleepy, so apologies if you're not taking prompts.... But the female Solas post keeps popping up on my dash.... If you're up to it, would you perhaps write a bit with her perhaps meeting/flirting with someone of your choosing? (Bonus points if it's some weird version of the world where they know of the original Solas lol)

Glimpses: Lady Solas

@dadrunkwriting

Rating: G

Genre: Romance

Pairing: Female Solas x Lavellan because I guess we’re doing this now

Ellian had never been so obsessed with another woman before. 

Sure, there were dalliances in her clan, pretty girls she enjoyed time with just as much as the handsome boys, but no one that caught her eye like Solas. She was statuesque and stunning, with long legs and toned arms. Her eyes reminded Ellian of a cat’s, gleaming and wise and mischievous, but her demeanor was always calm and controlled. 

She was brilliant, too. Solas had something to say about everything Elvhen, and seemingly endless stores of information about the Fade. It was all absolutely fascinating, and Ellian hung on to her every word. Of course, all of that was made dangerously easier by her deep, painfully sexy voice. Ellian swore she could hear it in her dreams, or whenever she allowed her mind to wander. 

After spending enough time trying not to fawn over Solas in the field, Ellian finally decided to seek her out in Haven. There she was, barefoot but comfortable, hands held behind her back as she observed the Breach high overhead. As Ellian approached her Solas smiled very slightly, almost imperceptibly. “The Chosen of Andraste,” she cooed, with a curious expression that made Ellian’s heart drop. “A blessed hero sent to save us all.”

“Ah, yeah. I guess I’m riding in on a shining steed.”

“Mmm… I might have suggested a griffon, but sadly they’re extinct.” The thought made Solas purse her lips and shake her head. “Joking aside, posturing is necessary.” There was a slight lilt to her voice, an accent Ellian couldn’t place. It had a hint of her own voice, the Dalish tongue, but not quite. It was more refined, somehow, more tempered. 

Solas turned and Ellian followed. She saw how the taller elf’s brows knit together as she looked up at the Breach. “I’ve journeyed deep into the Fade in ancient ruins and battlefields to see the dreams of lost civilizations.” Ellian followed Solas’s gaze, looking up at the torn sky. “I’ve watched as hosts of spirits clashed to re-enact the bloody past in ancient wars both famous and forgotten.” Though she kept her tone light, Ellian couldn’t help but detect a note of somberness in it. Beautiful as it sounded, fascinating as she was sure such journeys were, there had to be difficulties as well. “Every great war has its heroes,” Solas said, eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at Ellian again. “I’m just curious what kind you’ll be.”

Ellian stiffened and tried to find words, but it was hard to think when such a gorgeous person was looking at her. “I… I’ve never of someone going so far into the Fade… that’s amazing.”

“Thank you, it’s not a common field of study, for obvious reasons.” She paused, smiling slightly, and held her arms behind her back again. “You are a mage, are you not? Tell me, what do you see when you dream?”

“I see…” She considered the question, not wanting to sound dumb or inexperienced. “Whatever is around me, usually. I can wander through the recent past of an area, speak to some of our ancestral spirits… things like that.

“Ah. Fascinating. Can you shape what you see there, in your dreams?”

“Not exactly, no… I can call things to me, sometimes, but only if they want to come.”

Solas nodded, looking away from her for a moment. “Dreaming is not as flashy as throwing fire or lightning, but the thrill of finding remnants of a thousand-year-old dream?” Her eyes flashed with interest, and Ellian was entranced by the wonder in her eyes. “I would not trade it for anything.” Solas paused suddenly and looked away, glancing out over Haven. “I will stay then. At least until the Breach is closed.”

Ellian blinked. “Was that in doubt?”

“I am apostate mage, surrounded by Chantry forces and unlike you,” she eyed Ellian’s hand. “I do not have a ‘divine mark’ protecting me. Cassandra has been accommodating, but… you understand my caution.”

“You came here to help, Solas,” Ellian replied, an edge to her voice even she wasn’t expecting. “I won’t let them use that against you.”

Solas was quiet for a moment, studying the Herald. When she spoke again, her voice was low and hushed, with a depth that made Ellian shiver with excitement. “And how would you stop them?”

“However I had to.” And Ellian knew it was true.

Now it was Solas’s turn to be surprised, her dark brows raising. “Thank you.” It was obvious she wasn’t expecting that kind of devotion, and knowing she’d caught the other woman off guard made Ellian smile slightly. “For now,” Solas started again, smirking. “Let us hope either the mages or the templars have the power to seal the Breach.” 

“You sound disbelieving.”

“I do not have much cause to feel otherwise,” Solas said dryly. “Closing the Breach must remain our primary goal, but… I would hope we might also learn what means were used to create it. Any artifact of such power is dangerous. The destruction of the conclave proves that clearly.”

“I agree. We should recover it, if only to keep it out of the wrong hands.” 

Solas nodded, frowning again. “Leliana’s people have scoured the area near the blast and found nothing. Whatever the artifact was, it is no longer there.” She sighed. “My apologies, Herald. Did you need me for anything?”

“No, I just- I was curious. Am curious. About you.”

“Me? I cannot imagine why…” The sarcasm caught Ellian by surprise, and she let out a short laugh before quickly covering her mouth. “Is there a reason?”

“Do I… need one?”

“You must understand, I take great caution here, and I value my privacy. The future of this Inquisition is unclear, and I… cannot risk putting myself in further danger.”

“I mean, you don’t have to tell me, of course, I just meant… it’s not official business, Solas.”

“I am sorry,” she said, heaving a sigh. “There is so much… fear in the air. What would you know of me?”

The question somehow made Ellian’s excited state even worse. “Why study the Fade? What made you want to do that?”

“I grew up in a small village to the north. There was little to interest a young woman, especially one gifted with magic. But as I slept, spirits of the Fade showed me glimpses of wonders I had never imagined.” There was a note of sorrow now, and she paused before going on. “I treasured my dreams. Being awake, out of the Fade, became troublesome.”

“The spirits must have tried to tempt you.”

She shrugged. “No more than a brightly-colored fruit is deliberately tempting you to eat it. I learned how to defend myself from more aggressive spirits and how to interact safely with the rest. I learned how to control my reams with full consciousness… there was so much I wanted to explore. But eventually i was unable to find new areas in the Fade.”

“Why?”

“Two reasons. First, the Fade reflects the world around it. Unless I traveled, I would never find anything new. Second, the Fade reflects and is limited by our own imaginations. To find interesting areas,” she looked at Ellian again, eyes narrowing slightly, and the expression made her feel much warmer than the cold mountain air ought to allow. “One must be interesting.”

“That is… interesting.”

Solas smirked and looked away from her again, making Ellian curse her nerves. “I am glad you think so. In truth, I have enjoyed experiencing more of life to find more of the Fade.”

“How so?”

“As a mage, you train your will to control magic and withstand possession. Your… indomitable focus is an enjoyable side benefit.” The phrasing gave Ellian pause, and she raised an eyebrow as Solas went on. “You have chosen a path whose steps you do not dislike because it leads you to a destination you enjoy. As have I.”

“…indomitable focus?”

Solas smirked and shrugged, her tone casual. “Presumably. I have yet to see it dominated. I imagine the sight would be… fascinating.”

Ellian blushed vividly and laughed, looking away. “Well, uh… yes. I- perhaps.” Solas tilted her chin up, expression measured but mischievous. This was only making Ellian’s situation worse. “I… have not seen yours dominated either.”

Solas raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you are not paying close enough attention. Many things have dominated my focus here. Just none that are so obvious to you.”

“What… what do you mean?”

She shrugged again, maddeningly. “If you watch carefully, you may see. Now then, Herald,” she looked over Ellian’s shoulder, and the smaller elf turned to see Cassandra walking towards her. “It appears you are needed elsewhere.” She winked and turned to leave. “Another time then, Ellian.”

“Right, yes…” She watched as Solas left, unable to tear her eyes from the woman’s backside. “Another time.”

if you enjoyed this fic, please hit the reblog button on this post. comments are cool but not necessary -you can leave no tags, a keysmash, or even just 'nice' if you'd like! thanks for your support -arden

[randomfandomimagine]

gagsydb well butter my potato I'm sorry😅 If you're interested in the reader insert rn why don't we change up TP and instead make the fem!Reader and Link from the same world and Cloud as a companion. Its a love triangle but at the finale Cloud has to go back to his dimension. Prompts 13 ; 30👀 If you have a problem with it plz plz tell. I can totally do something else for you😫💞

‘Butter my potato’ 😂 Don’t worry, this is good! It’s just so much easier for me to write with reader insert. Since Link doesn’t usually speak in the games, it’s really hard for me to picture him with dialogue, so I gave both sentences to reader and the responses to Cloud 😋

Cloud Strife & Link x Gender Neutral Reader

-

I had a terrible certainty, one that broke my heart. I had known Link for a long time, too long not to develop certain feelings for him. We had grown up together, faced dangers together, saved each other’s lifes countless times. We had gone through so much and my heart had spoken. Cloud on the other hand, had barged into our lives without meaning, he just appeared one day, quite literally. He was always talking about going back to where he belonged, to his home. And even if I had grown incredibly fond of him, it wasn’t the same. Then... why couldn’t I let him go once he finally could?

“Stay with me, please” I clung on to his arm, successfully making him stop his walking. “Don’t go”

Cloud sighed, looking at me over his shoulder. I still didn’t let go of him, even as I felt Link’s piercing gaze burning in my nape. 

“Who do you love?” Cloud suddenly asked me, seeming quite serious.

“I...” Looking from one to the other, I hesitated to answer. Even if I knew the truth, even if they did too. It was obvious.

“Just say it, Y/N” Cloud muttered, now resigned to the inevitable.

“I love you both...” I averted my gaze, slowly letting go of him. “Just in different ways”

“You’ve made your choice” He replied with a sigh. “This isn’t my place anyway”

“But...” I stupidly mumbled, not really knowing what else to say.

I took a step forward, but Link’s arms tenderly wrapped around me to stop me. Cloud was already at the portal, the one that we had worked so hard to find. The one that would return him to his dimension and bring him home. Away from us. Away from me. Maybe forever.

“It’s okay” He nodded his head, and he didn’t seem angry or hurt. Just accepting even if a little sad. “I get it, you two go way back”

“At least...” I whispered, daring to carefully lock eyes with him. “Be careful out there”

“Always am” Cloud simply replied, then moving his gaze until it fell over Link. “Take care of Y/N”

Link’s hands squeezed me gently, and I knew that was his way of promising it to Cloud. That he could leave knowing we both would be safe, protecting each other like we always had.

Cloud stopped before the portal, throwing us a last glance before walking through it. Immediately, I felt a void in my chest caused by his absence. We had known each other for such little time, but he would always have a place in my heart.

Link hugged me tight, filling that emptiness with the warmth of his embrace.

-

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