#let alone LEAD ONE

[thinkinpoink]

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[kathaynesart]

A sketch of Replica Leo immediately after his EPF Interview in this scene, but before being reunited with his brothers here. I hope to dive more into the fallout of such a defining moment in Leo's young life and how it would go on to affect him once I get my Patreon up. In the meantime. Enjoy the little angsty sneak peek.

[morganaseren]

Snippet Sunday

Tagged by: @blackjackkent Sorry this took so long!

Tagging: @illusivesoul, @writer86, @noeldressari, @this-is-something-idk-what, and @jellydishes No pressure if you don't want to participate of course!

Pairing: Leliana/Niamh Cousland

Rating: Teen

AU: We'll Lose Their Grip in Waters Dark

Note: Brief NSFW content will be under the cut.

-----

Niamh had always been a light sleeper.

Strictly regimented days within the Circle had long conditioned her to the... unique displeasure one would receive from the Templars were she and her fellow mages ever caught sleeping too deeply past the dawn. Granted, the surface beneath her was far warmer than the cold, coarse sheets she had grown used to. Her brows furrowed at that before she forced away the thick veil of slumber surrounding her.

She woke slowly to find herself in a soft bed curled up against Leliana’s side. The other woman's arm had cradled itself around Niamh's back sometime in the middle of the night while a hand rested itself against her hip—not with the sense of entitlement or possessiveness she had known of the Templars who desired her time and more than a little of her attention. Rather, Leliana's touch always brought thoughts of comfort and a silent reassurance.

Of course, as a mage, Niamh was more than capable of protecting herself, and Leliana had always made it abundantly clear that she had a wealthy respect and acknowledgement of her abilities. In Orlais, however, and beneath the Chantry's seat of power no less, it was better to err on the side of caution than risk displaying her magic too forwardly even were it in defense of herself. Thus, it wasn't uncommon for Leliana to step in on her behalf, and there were few who would dare test their mettle against Divine Justinia's Left Hand—the formidable shadow behind the Sunburst Throne.

And Niamh supposed it was futile of her to deny the burst of thrill she felt in those moments when she saw Leliana so fully in her element. Even beneath the dark cowl of her uniform, there was little hiding the malevolent danger lurking within the depths of those glacial blue eyes if met under the right provocation.

The other woman was a dagger's edge enrobed in silk.

Shifting her thighs together, Niamh looked up slowly to see her lover was still asleep, cheek resting against the pillows as her chest rose and fell in even intervals. Somewhat disappointed, and perhaps reluctant to greet the day herself, Niamh soon laid her head back down. With a seeming abundance of time on her hands, however, her mind set itself to wandering. As such, she found her fingers idly exploring the gentle lines of Leliana's stomach—testament to the physical work required to maintain herself in her profession.

Although not a warrior like the Seeker or the abundance of guards the Divine kept within her company, Leliana's skill with both bow and blade afforded her a strength that couldn't be underestimated. Such qualities combined with her overall agility led her to being able to outmaneuver far larger and physically-imposing opponents. That was reflected well in the collection of muscles in the woman's otherwise lithe frame.

"Good morning, Mon Amour."

Niamh looked up with a jolt to see sleepy blue eyes regarding her with an equally drowsy smile.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I... yes," Niamh managed to squeak out with some measure of embarrassment and more than a little bit of guilt for having woken her lover, but Leliana merely seemed pleased to have her in her arms.

"Très bien." Leliana's smile slowly transitioned into a very satisfied smirk then, causing Niamh's mind to momentarily draw blank at the sight. "I would not have let you rest so soon last night had I known I'd leave you so wanting come morning..."

Niamh could feel the way her face began to immediately flush with heat at her lover's amorous words, and her blush only intensified as she recalled last night's activities.

-----

She remembered the way her hands had braced themselves atop Leliana's shoulders while the other woman reclined herself against the piles of pillows at the headboard. Bare as they both were, it was difficult not to feel the warmth of Leliana's body so close to her own. However, Niamh also recalled the feeling of supple leather along Leliana's hips as her knees brushed against them while attempting to seat herself fully down into her lover's lap.

It was a somewhat trying exercise if only for the fact that it was new for them together.

As charismatic as Leliana was, Niamh was certain she'd had her fair share of partners prior to meeting her along with the experience to go along with such encounters, especially in a place so hedonistic as Val Royeaux.

Still, Niamh had worried she was taking too long.

As such, there were instances where she wanted to hurry the pace, but Leliana was nothing if not observant. She'd stop Niamh every time with a firm grip on her waist—keeping her in place—if she felt she was pushing herself too hard or too fast. While there was no disguising the clear desire in her lover's eyes, Leliana was content to let Niamh take her time and adjust to the size of the length inside her. The latter was certainly made easier with each murmured praise that spilled from Leliana's lips.

Thus, with each slow rocking motion, Niamh had achieved her goal, and she couldn't help but tip her head back with a low moan when she had finally taken all of Leliana. Her mind filled with hazy pleasure, and Leliana's words were a gratifying buzz in her ears as calloused hands ran themselves slowly up and down her sides. Almost unconsciously, she tried to rise herself up again to recapture that initial jolt of pleasure, but Leliana easily kept her seated atop her lap. Niamh was putty in her hands as she was drawn forward into a kiss.

"Slowly, Mon Ciel Étoilée," she purred against her lips. "We have all night after all..."

-----

"I hope you weren't waiting too long for me to wake." Leliana raised her head enough to press a long kiss to the crown of her head.

"No, no," Niamh assured, gently clearing her throat as if the sole action would be enough to rid her of more pleasantly-distracting memories. "I only woke up a few minutes ago myself."

"Wonderful. Well then. Shall we get ready for the day, or..." Her gaze then drifted down to Niamh's lips, and from such a close distance, she could see how the bright blue sapphire of Leliana's eyes darkened with sudden, building interest. "May I interest you in anything else while we're here?"

Niamh racked her mind for their itinerary of the day, and she was able to recall a piece of parchment on Leliana's desk that had been encoded with the necessary details—a brief, precise language that Leliana had taught her with implicit trust. "I... don't believe we're needed until much later?"

He lover's grin widened then, and Niamh felt the press of a hand against her hip. While it was a minor struggle with the sheets still twined around them, Leliana had soon expertly rolled her beneath her, reversing their position while looming over her with a wicked smile of promise that sent her heart racing.

"Then allow me the pleasure of spoiling you for the remainder of the morning..."

[icantalk710]

Wish the party loyalist "stop making Harris look bad bc Trump" people would realize that a) denying reality is exactly what the right does and b) it is on the candidate to win votes by not being a genocide enabling sellout moderate getting endorsed by the fucking Cheneys for her hawkishness on foreign policy while promising little for people at home, not on the voter disillusioned by said issues that the candidate could rectify

[juanabaloo]

HC for Faith in 3x14 Bad Girls: i don't have any real quibbles with Faith's spiral / reaction to accidentally killing Finch the Mayor's aide. i think it is logical. but i think it adds a delicious layer (JUICY ANGST) to her reaction if it reminds her of a previous death.

pre Sunnydale back in Boston maybe she doesn't know her own strength, esp if she recently got her powers. maybe she accidentally kills some guy she just means to shove, bc Slayer strength and all that. like she meant for him to take a step back and instead he goes back like 20 feet and gets accidentally impaled. later she figures it out (maybe Diana helps, maybe not) - and she says "i didn't know."

or perhaps it's a truly similar situation, Diana (her watcher) is keeping an eye as she patrols but these vamps come out of a club into the alley and there's vamps and regular people running around and she accidentally stakes a human.

Diana assures her it was just an accident and calms down a very upset Faith. Diana disposes of the body, telling Faith after how she did it. they talk about it at length afterwards, back in the safety of Diana's place (where Faith is living). says all the same stuff Giles does about how this has happened before. "how many people do you think a Slayer saves? it is terrible and regrettable but sometimes there are casualties" etc.

"you should not pretend it didn't happen but you cannot think about it while you are out on patrol. you have to move past it Faith. a moment's hesitation is all a vampire needs to kill you. you have to stay focused, this is your work, it is not meant to be carefree fun."

[really this works either way, the "don't know my own strength" version or the "vamps and people running around" version. bc Diana can help her process and learn from both.]

and Diana's reaction - calm and reasonable and supportive - really shakes Faith. she is NOT used to this. Diana did not assume the worst of her, didn't ignore her mistake but also assumed Faith would be better next time. Diana trusts her, doesn't limit her patrolling at all, and Faith gloms onto Diana even harder than before. (until ofc Diana dies, when Faith couldn't save her from Kakistos)

and then she and Buffy are in the groove and it's so much fun and then Bad Girls Finch happens and it immediately guts Faith. it reminds her of how alone she is, bc Diana is not there to help her, even just talking to her. it reminds her what a failure she is bc this is now THE SECOND time it happened. that she should have learned from before and she did not. it reminds her how she will never be as good of a Slayer as Buffy, bc ofc Faith doesn't know about how Buffy killed humans* before bc the show pretends it never happened and oh yeah CEO of repression Buffy never talks about it.

( * ) for the fact checkers: i believe the list is Ted (before she knew he was a robot), the zookeeper in The Pack, the coach in Go Fish, the germans in Homecoming, and a Knight of Byzantium. sure some of these are more passive and all IMO deserved but Ted is the biggest one for me.

Faith still blames herself for Diana dying bc she couldn't stop Kakistos. AND NOW it doesn't even matter that her and Buffy killed Kakistos and she "avenged" Diana (her words, not Diana's). bc the best things that Faith learned from Diana don't matter anymore. they aren't true anymore. Diana believed in Faith, believed Faith could become a better Slayer, that Faith could learn from her mistakes. Faith let Diana down (again) when she accidentally kills Finch. Faith now believes Diana was wrong to believe in her, and Faith loses all faith in herself. (sorry there really isn't a better word)

[a-bit-of-cest]

I just think they're neat. :}

[wellthatschaotic]

neurotypicals are so frustrating,, i keep forgetting that "can you do x" means "go do x"

[vaguehotels]

had the most braindead repetitive conversation/argument with my parents. buzz cuts are too masculine but if you dye a design on it it become effeminate which is bad because then you look weak and if youre weak then society falls apart (all societies ever that have fallen apart for any reason are actually because of feminine men) and we start sacrificing babies. and also all mental illness is invented because only 4 people had anxiety in the 90s and covid was made up so that we would all become gay and trans and then the government can control us better and be joe biden's little sex slaves. and also i need to keep my hair long because my father finds it attractive. what

[narcissusneverknewme]

I am not immune to the same fallacies and failures of judgement my fellow men are subject to. I am superior to them because I am More right than they are though

[24-guy]

I love queer cinema.

[rosykims]

like out of all the many, many traumas ive given elspeth my favorite has gotta be the deep roads lol. and specifically the way she never really got OUT of them. yeah so maybe her body did but not HER. shes still down there with ruck and helspith every time she closes her eyes. and during future expeditions when she goes down into the deep roads for real, it doesnt feel like some horrible nightmare it feels like REALITY and its the surface and love and warmth and alistair thats nothing more than a pleasant dream. one shes always going to wake up from. bc even in her happiest moments she's never not aware of the darkspawn digging up towards her just a few miles under her feet. and never not feeling the eyes of the deep roads looking at her, gleefully waiting for her, and knowing its not going anywhere

[wearenotasfarwest]

If Comet really does go to the West End next year, I need Mia Kobayashi and Rachel Clare Chan to play Natasha and Sonya more than I need to breathe tbh

[s0fter-sin]

shepherd saying, “war isn’t about friends, it’s about enemies” when friendship is the main reason the 141 find all the missiles and take down hassan just scratches a lovely itch

laswell is able to find out hassan’s in mexico and working with the cartel bc of her friendship with price and gaz, who are already in amsterdam. they’re able to get the jump on him and find out about him shipping the missiles over the atlantic bc of her friendship with alejandro. price and gaz are able to fly to al mazrah in time to intercept aq bc of price’s friendship with nik and they’re able to get laswell back bc of their friendship with farah. soap makes it through las almas and eventually kills hassan in chicago bc he successfully befriended ghost, who stayed behind at his own risk and kept giving him advice he wasn’t required to give

the real treasure was literally the friendships they made along the way

[quietlyblooms]

the color schemes in a.tsv are so pretty but also so smart and they scratch my brain just right every time i watch this movie :' )))

[thetimelordbatgirl]

I love how each season of Young Justice, the characters just fucking lie to each other somehow, and each season its uncovered, the characters obviously get consequences and bad reactions for their lies...and each season, the characters lie to each other again anyway, not learning at all from the prior season. And by love, I fucking hate this and wonder how the fuck the character's don't have true issues to the max with each other.

[canidaedreams64]

no context doodle