#lilah's adventures

[book--brackets]

Hi everyone, there’s only around 12 hours left to vote in preliminary rounds 1-8 for Best Fantasy Book. If you’ve yet to cast your vote, check out my pinned post for links to all the polls, and here’s a quick update on books at risk of being eliminated (less than 2% of the vote when adjusted for the 'see results' option) in all the polls:

Poll 5: Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Poll 6: Legacy of Orisha by Tomi Adeyemi

Poll 8: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, Fables by Bill Willingham

Poll 9: The Hollows by Kim Harrison

Poll 11: The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist

Poll 13: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams, Starbound by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Poll 14: The Checquy Files by Daniel O'Malley, Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta

Poll 15: The Chronicles of Alice by Christina Henry

Poll 16: Entwined by Heather Dixon Wallwork

Poll 17: The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

Poll 18: Weaveworld by Clive Barker

Poll 19: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Poll 21: Traveler's Gate by Will Wight

Poll 24: Healer Seer by Victoria Hanley

Poll 25: Tales of Alderly by Alan Garner

Poll 27: Guides for Dating Vampires by D. N. Bryn

Poll 28: Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz

Poll 31: Lilah's Adventures by Sherwood Smith

Poll 32: Knights of Liofwende by Garry Kilworth

[haveyoureadthisfantasybook]

vote yes if you have finished the entire book.

vote no if you have not finished the entire book.

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[dogmovesout]

a confrontation featuring tristan tramp, delilah deare, and scamp tramp. location: lilah’s house, a few days after the talk scamp and tramp shared. @ladylilah // @scamperoo

Days had passed since Scamp had shown up at Tristan’s house and resparked the fight inside of the older man that he had forgotten after waking up the morning after the engagement party. Sure, he had hazy memories of arguing with Delilah and seeing his son for the first time in five years - but the exact details of what had happened during either of those encounters were lost. It wasn’t until Scamp was at his door that he remembered that his wife knew about his return and then he continued on and exposed every other thing that she had been telling the kids and hiding from him. Though the boy had given his own versions of explanations for what had happened, the conclusions that Tristan had jumped to on his own were seared into his mind. No actual amount of logic could be used that would convince him this was not somehow Lilah’s fault. Which was how he found himself, drunk as per usual once more on a day off, pulling into the driveway of his ex-wife’s new home. His youngest daughter’s keychain spun in his fingers as he approached and unlocked the front door with ease. It was around the time of day that Delilah was usually already home from work and Tristan knew for a fact Colette was out with friends tonight, so as he entered the home it wasn’t a surprise to find Lilah sitting on the couch with a pile of paperwork surrounding her on the coffee table.

Perhaps if she hadn’t been so engrossed in going over the latest documents sent by child protective services regarding Perdita and her children, Lilah would have heard the front door opening. Or maybe if she weren’t so used to the sound of her children coming and going throughout her home, she would have realized something was wrong. But as it was neither of those things happened and instead it wasn’t until Tristan was standing at the edge of her living room that Lilah finally noticed him. On instinct she was on her feet, taking a step away from the couch and trying to put herself into a more open space where she couldn’t be cornered. Because though he had yet to say a word and a fight had yet to start, she was familiar enough with this situation to know it was coming. Between the look on his face, the way in which he held himself, and the simple fact that he had purposefully snuck in here without giving her any warning - Lilah knew what it all meant. “What are you doing here?” There was no point in asking the question when she already knew the answer - but anything she could do to potentially stall was worth it. Sometimes yelling was all he needed, if she asked enough questions and got him to speak enough of whatever was on his mind… sometimes that could be enough.

“I talked with Scamp the other day,” is how he starts, taking slow steps further into the living room at first - ones that Lilah matches with her own to keep as much distance between them as she could. A better man would see the way in which she behaved like a caged in animal, being hunted down like a piece of prey. A better man would feel guilty for the fact that his mere presence alone had her already on edge. A better man wouldn’t feel so victorious and righteous in this situation. But Tristan Tramp was not that kind of man. “He told me about your little mommy-son dates… And all about his new job, you know, working for Hopper.”  And it was with that reveal that Tristan acted.

Feet moving with far more agility than they likely should have been able to considering the alcohol in his system, Tristan moved across the room in a flash. The last few steps that Lilah had taken to keep distance between themselves had failed her, leaving her too close to the wall, an advantage from him that Tristan was quick to take notice of. Before she could do anything other than tense up and prepare for whatever blow was coming her way, Lilah found her head slamming into the living room wall with a hand wrapped around her neck and the weight of Tristan’s body pressed into hers to keep her in place. She wasn’t even entirely sure what her offense was this time, but the ringing in her ears from the collision with the wall and the pressure on her neck kept her from being able to ask. Not as if Tristan was giving her a moment to get a word in edgewise anyway.

“How long have you been fucking Hopper again? Or did you just never stop?” His face was right in her own, the stench of alcohol reeking from his breath, as he threw out the accusations. The hold he had on her neck tightened and though Lilah’s own hands reached up to try to pull him away it was no use, her nails digging into his forearm did nothing to stop him. “I gave up everything for you - I took your fucking child and raised her as my own. I cleaned up all your fucking mistakes and this is what I get? For you to just throw me aside and run right back to him?”

Scamp should have expected to see his father’s car in the driveway sometime during the week he was staying there, knowing how insane Tristan Tramp could be, and it was then that the promise he’d made to himself was coming true. He told himself he would never hurt his father unless he first had hurt his mother or one of his sisters, and from the moment he could see through the window of Lilah’s front door, Scamp could tell what he’d swore just a few days ago was already being put to the test. His father was smart enough to lock the door behind him, and Scamp fumbled with his key, swinging the door open swiftly the second it unlocked.

There was so much more he wanted to say but before he could, the front door flew open with a bang and his head whipped around to see none other than his son entering the living area. The sight of Scamp has Tristan loosening his hold just enough without realizing it that Lilah finally can get the upper hand and shove him away, taking advantage of his confused state to push at him hard enough that the man actually falls to the ground. Fumbling away herself in the direction of Scamp, one hand comes to hold at her neck while the other attempts to grab at her son to keep him back. “Go,” she croaks out as best she can, though from the flare of rage she can practically feel radiating off of the boy, she doubts he’ll listen. But she has to try - because this right here, the kids seeing what Tristan was really like or getting involved in all of this, was the last thing Lilah had ever wanted.

The sight before Scamp was one he’d only imagined before, had nightmares about, even. Tristan’s grip was on his mother’s neck, and any forgiving thought he ever had about his father left with the first kick to his gut. Scamp had never been entirely above hitting someone when they were already down, especially not when the job was to finish them off. While he thought he heard an order from his mother to leave, all that rung in Scamp’s ears were the insults his father had thrown at him about Lilah the other day. Every ounce of patience he had then and at the party was gone and spent. With Tristan already on the hardwood, Scamp’s job had become relatively easy: he was used to delivering final blows, when men were already past the point of injury that Hopper considered it safe enough to step in. This was hardly the first time Tristan had ever been beaten up in his life and he knew it likely wouldn’t be the last, but having the blows come from his own son made this different. His drive to fight back was lessened, even just the smallest amount, and it was because of that hesitation that Tristan didn’t stand a chance. His opening to try to get up or to get the upper hand again had passed before he could take it, leaving him on the ground with no choice but to take hit after hit.

Tristan’s body had curled in pain after the first kick, but Scamp was far from finished. Instead of simply resorting to a weapon, he fought with his fists, wanting his father to feel every blow that came from his own hands. He pulled Tristan’s head inches off the ground as Scamp gripped his collar, a sight now familiar after the other day, when this had only been a threat. “I warned you,” he reminded him, his voice low enough that he hoped his mother couldn’t hear. “You stupid piece of shit.” He’d already seen enough fear from his father the first time Scamp had held him like this that he didn’t waste a second this time relishing in the sight now. With a hand still grasping his shirt, Scamp used the other to deliver a punch to the jaw, as he’d promised would come. He’d waited years for this, for an excuse to release his anger physically on the man who had caused him the most pain. Doing this for work had never been the same, as no fight had ever come with the level of anger he felt for his father now. At the first sight of blood from  Tristan’s nose, Scamp felt both a sting of guilt and pain from his fist, but he knew his father should consider himself lucky that the blows were coming from his own son, not his boss. Had Hopper found them like this, he would’ve been dead with a bullet through the head already.

With his eyes beginning to glaze over and swell from bruises blossoming, Scamp knew it was time to stop. From the years of getting people to this state, where they’d barely survive as they toed the line of death, Scamp knew his father would be past the point of no return soon. Had his mother not been standing behind him, likely watching in horror, he would’ve kept going until there was no light in Tristan’s eyes ever again, but he couldn’t leave Lilah with blood on her hands, nor did he want to have to tell his sisters that he’d killed their father. When Scamp had threatened him the other day, Tristan had thought nothing of it, and now he was paying the price for underestimating his son. No words came out of him, any argument he may have wanted to make to defend himself were lost between punches. And then the world went blurry until it finally faded as he passed out, his head dropping with a thud on the ground with absolutely no awareness.

As much as Lilah wanted to close her eyes and pretend like none of this was happening right now, she couldn’t. Not when there was a chance that Tristan could get up and turn the anger that had just been directed at her moments before onto their son. Because despite knowing she would easily be overpowered by either or both men, she refused to not at least be ready to jump in if needed. To help prevent anything from happening to Scamp, even if it meant taking the blows herself, as she always has done. But it seemed that wasn’t necessary. And when Tristan’s head hit the floor and it became clear that this fight was over, only then did Lilah step in. “Sammy,” she starts, her throat still feeling raw as she forced the words out. Bruises would likely be forming around her neck already, but the only concern she gave to that was a passing thought of how she would need to break out her turtlenecks again. She didn’t have time to stop and think or take in whatever damage was done to herself, not with her son standing in front of her with markings of his own across his hands. Stepping forward, she doesn’t hesitate in wrapping an arm around his shoulders and moving to guide him away from the unconscious man on the floor. “Come on, I have a first aid kit in my room.”

As he turned back to his mother, Scamp only then noticed the bright red ring around her neck, undoubtedly from his father’s own hands. He’d only stepped out for a few hours for work, knowing that the possibility of this happening was far too likely for him to ignore when he’d left Tristan’s apartment. How he’d gotten inside and what he’d said to Lilah weren’t questions he could ask now, only taking the arm around his shoulder as permission to embrace her entirely. “I’m so sorry,” he managed, careful as he held his mother tightly, as though she were fragile. He should’ve gotten there sooner, or not even left her in the first place, but what mattered now was that Tristan couldn’t hurt her any more, not while he remained unconscious on the floor. Scamp suddenly felt sheepish, the first sign of embarrassment as he peeked at his father over Lilah’s head, like a child who had made a mess for his mother to clean. “Are you okay? Did he do anything else?” he asked, only taking a step back to examine his mother for more injuries. From the ease with which she’d shoved him away, Scamp had the sinking feeling that this wasn’t the first time this had happened between his parents; he’d already had suspicions back from when he was a teenager, but only now had his fears been confirmed. “I’m fine, Mom, I--it’s nothing,” Scamp assured her, it wasn’t like it hadn’t happened before. “We should get you ice.” Before she could protest, Scamp was already in her kitchen, reaching for the freezer.

There wasn’t a moment of hesitation before Lilah’s arms fully wrapped around her son when he turned to her embrace. One hand reaching up to stroke gently at his hair, a motion so familiar even after all these years, while the other held onto him tightly as if she were afraid he would try to go back and continue this fight. “Oh honey, you have nothing to be sorry for,” she’s quick to correct him, frowning herself as her own guilt begins to grow. He shouldn’t be the one trying to comfort her, that wasn’t how this worked - she was his mother and she was supposed to protect him from moments like this. To keep him away from the ugly truth of who his father was deep down. None of this was supposed to happen in front of him and he certainly wasn’t supposed to be the one apologizing for anything. “I’m okay, really, dear. It was nothing.” Though she knows it was in fact not nothing and that Scamp wasn’t going to believe her for a second, not after having actually witnessed the violence this time around, Lilah wasn’t ready to just admit everything to him. No, the brave front had to stay on. It wouldn’t be fair or right for her to do anything else. Which is why she continued to protest, even when in a flash Scamp was out of her arms and moving towards her kitchen. “No, no - Sammy, I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me.” Following behind him, Lilah grabs his arm gently as he starts to dig around in the freezer for something to help with her neck. It was a sweet gesture and if it had been anyone other than any of her kids trying to help her, she likely would have allowed it. But this wasn’t the way things worked. She was supposed to look after him, not the other way around. “That wasn’t nothing. This,” she pauses to reach down and take his hand in her own to get a better look at whatever damage there may be. “Isn’t nothing.”

As he pulled an ice pack out of his mother’s freezer, Scamp jerked his own hand away from hers, not a single thought of his on how his fist might be doing while Lilah had wounds around her neck. “Mom, it’s nothing,” he insisted, keeping himself in motion as he avoided her stopping his unwanted help. He’d gotten remarkably good at treating wounds from his time doing it for his coworkers, and knew that the cuts on his hands would be gone within a day or two. His mother’s scars, though, would take more time and care. “Here, you need to put this on,” he instructed, handing her the ice pack, “but keep this under it,” Scamp added, taking a towel off the kitchen counter. He knew his mother wasn’t the kind to accept help from many people, especially not her children, but she was in far worse shape than he was now. She was the one who had nearly been choked to death had he not shown up when he did. “We don’t need to talk about it now, but … we should, eventually.” Scamp knew it would take more than just this suggestion to get his mother to talk about how this had happened, why his father had thought it was acceptable to get so physical with her in the first place, but he couldn’t just pretend like he hadn’t seen this happen. “For now, we need to get him on the porch, and lock the door.” He was turning to the mode that his time working for Hopper had prepared for, seamlessly shifting his focus from his mother to taking care of business. “He’ll be fine. He’s just going to look like shit for a few days, but nothing’s broken, and he’ll recover.” Not that Scamp cared, but he was sure his mother would, as it seemed that she couldn’t stop caring about a man who deserved none of her sympathy.

“It’s not nothing, Sam. None of what just happened was nothing,” she argues, the closest she’s going to get any time soon to admitting that she herself was not okay either. And despite the way everything in her screamed that he shouldn’t have to be doing this, that Scamp shouldn’t feel the need to be helping take care of her right now, Lilah takes the wrapped ice pack and gently presses it against her neck. There’s an instinctive flinch and a small involuntary hiss that leaves her lips at the feeling of any pressure being placed upon the wound, but that’s the only giveaway she is going to show at just how badly Tristan had hurt her. It takes a moment for her to adjust to the feeling of the ice on her neck, slow breaths coming out of her before she ever so slightly shakes her head in disagreement with him. She wasn’t going to vocalize her argument that she wasn’t going to talk to him about this, not wanting to give him any room to potentially decide that the conversation needed to happen now. Instead she turned to look back at Tristan’s unconscious form on the floor and thought over every option they had for what to do with him. “No, the neighbors will question it. And your sister comes home in a few hours, he can’t still be here when she does. I can call one of his friends to come get him.”

As much as he wanted his father to lay outside in the cold, embarrassed when someone undoubtedly came by to find him on the porch, Scamp had to at least respect this one of his mother’s wishes. She had always been worried about what their neighbors had thought of their family when he was younger, and she was right about Colette, though Scamp also thought it might be good for her to see their father like this, after all. “Fine,” he agreed, and while Lilah settled with the ice he’d given her, Scamp went back to Tristan, who still had yet to wake up. He hooked his fists under his father’s arms to drag him across the floor, at least leaning him against the stairs for now. Blood still dripped down his face, and he was certain his eyes would be swollen shut for at least a day or two. Scmp looked back toward his mother and slid his phone out of his pocket, dialing a number he hadn’t needed to use before. “Is this Oogie? It’s Scamp--Samuel Tramp. My dad needs your help.”

[c1tyhaunts]

AN OLD ASK PROMPT - @tempesttragedy Laura: "i… should probably thank you for that."

"Oh, you probably should; but luckily for you, charity typically comes with the whole inquisitor package. It's simply expected, at this point. Ain't that great?"

Of course, Lilah meant her words in jest and not in complete ire of her newfound accolade. It'd be rude to take out her frustration on a new recruit who simply wanted to help the Inquisition's mission.

Lilah surveys the fallen debris, keeping note of how much of a deathtrap Skyhold was now in its current state. She'll make a note to notify Josephine of the damages, but luckily, no one was harmed—

Oh right, the recruit.

Lilah paints a smile fast on her face, removing any remnants of her annoyance. Swiftly, the Inquisitor's image shines through, where she has to remind herself she's the people's hero. Of course.

"Pardon my frankness, but were you from Denerim? Your accent doesn't scream 'Free Marcher' to me; you from Ferelden?"

[mika-no-sekai-blog]

Pairing: Eris Vanserra x reader

Summary: Y/N is from Hewn city, expecting to get married to one of the horrible lords there. When a marriage proposal from new High Lord of Autumn himself is delivered, her father is more than happy to sell his daughter. And so Y/N is sent to Autumn Court.

She heard the horrific rumors about her husband-to-be, saw him several times in Hewn city and she doesn't expect him to be any different from males she grew up with.

But what if he isn't so bad as they say?

Status: completed

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

Part IX

Part X

Part XI

Part XII

Part XIII

Dividers in this series by @tsunami-of-tears

Taglist: @nocasdatsgay @lalaluch @b0xerdancer @lilah-asteria @talesofadragon @marvelbros-oneshots @acourtofbatboydreams @li0nh34rt @darling006 @coldmermaidhologram @of-outerspace @mybestfriendmademe @melsunshine @rcarbo1 @babypeapoddd @kitsunetori @mollygetssherlockcoffee @littlefantasylover @adventure-awaits13 @elleclairez

Let me know if I forgot someone

[scorpioriesling]

Invisible String - Part 4

･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *

Pairing(s): Eris x reader

Warning(s): angst & suggestion. Please be advised; future parts might not be suitable for all audiences. Proceed with caution.

Summary: You'd taken the nanny position for the royal family over a year ago, not expecting what would come of it or how close you'd grow to the child you cared for. Things became tough for Eris when his wife left him and his daughter, and he found it increasingly harder to raise Riley himself. He soon realizes, you've provided a lot more than the typical job description duties for his daughter... and maybe for him, too.

SR’s Note: I added in the advisory so that younger / uncomfortable readers won't begin the series without knowing or expecting potential risks in content to come. For those who enjoy or look forward to content as such -- get excited! Nonetheless, I hope readers will enjoy this series that came to me in a dream one night. (; Much love to all.

Tags: @mellowmusings @talesofadragon @rcarbo1 @mandziaaa @lilah-asteria @a-frog-with-a-laptop @kitsunetori @dannul @velarisdusk @lamarmotta @paintedbyshadows @i-know-i-can @adventure-awaits13 (inbox me or comment if you'd like to be added!)

･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *

You'd awoken early the next morning, the light purple and pink hues of early light drifting through the windows when you'd slowly opened your eyes. Though it was very early, a girlish grin crept its way across your lips as you took in the room around you -- the bookcases along the far wall, the unlit hearth at the foot of the massive bed. It didn't matter that there was no fire crackling inside it; the source of heat in the room laid right next to you, his arms wound around you as though you'd make a break for it at any moment.

You sighed, your fingers wriggling free from his muscular grasp and threading through his strawberry locks. He groaned softly in his sleep, his nose nuzzling deeper into the crook of your neck while you softly ran your hands through the tendrils. They were, indeed, as silky as you'd imagined.

Allowing yourself a little while longer to enjoy the time you had tangled up between Eris' silky maroon sheets with him, your eyes began to drift shut again. He shifted beside you, his fingers pressing into the exposed skin of your back where your top had ridden up a bit. Your eyes drifted over the curves of his arms, every ripple of muscle growing clearer in the growing daylight as the minutes ticked on. His shoulders were so relaxed as he slept, but held you close to him just the same.

When your gaze drifted lower, catching on his bandaged midsection, your mind wandered to last night. Gods, you'd been horrified when you saw him at first, truly fearing the worst and that there would be nothing you could do to help him. But when you did, and he leaned on you, really opening himself to you...

Your cheeks warm at the thought, remembering the feeling of his lips pressed against yours mere hours ago. How you'd wished for something like it for so long, and it'd finally happened-

Eris stirrs beside you, seeming to have been awoken from his sleep. You're sure you had been silent, you hadn't said anything aloud to wake him; nonetheless, his fingers were sliding over the curve of your waist as he brought the back of his hand to his eyes, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from them.

"Mmm... g'morning," he rasped, his eyes blinking open and adjusting to the room around him. You tried to ignore the thoughts swimming in your mind, as it was much too early and they were much too inapropriate to be having so early in the morning. However, the tone and roughness of his voice only encouraged the discomfort between your thighs.

"Good morning," you said as pleasantly as possible. He offered a small smile when his eyes fully focused on you, and he leaned back onto his pillow once more, wrapping his arm around you in full. Your breath caught in your throat when he shuffled closer, his arms fully engulfing you as he turned you on your back, his head laying right beneath your breasts.

He inhaled deeply, and you tried to remember to breathe. He'd surely be able to tell what kind of thoughts you were having if he kept this kind of thing up.

"You smell s'good," he said, his voice muffled as he pressed his face deeper into your soft pajama top. You chuckled, his nose tickling you a bit.

"Thank you," you whispered, your fingers trailing lightly over his bare shoulders that lay atop you. You lay there for just a while longer before you began to see a few rays of sunlight stream across the floor.

You hadn't noticed Eris fell back asleep, so you shake him gently before he raises his head to peer up at you with a lazy grin.

"I think we need to get out of bed," you suggest, and he shakes his head slowly, his fingers curling around the fabric of your night shirt.

"It's so early," he whines, and you smirk at his response.

"Yes, but I need to be awake when Riley wakes up," you explain, and he lets out a long sigh, his head drooping. When he lifts his chin to peer at you once more, you give him a knowing look, and he groans, his hands revealing themselves once more from their hold around you.

"Fineee," he complains, rolling off of you and out of bed. Your heart droops a little; if the circumstances were different, you'd let him hold you in bed all day if that's what he wanted. It's surely what you wanted.

Nonetheless, you slid your legs out of those silky-smooth sheets, and headed for the door after him.

✧･ﾟ: *

"Daddy!"

You hear her surprised shout from your spot in the kitchen as you pull out the waffle iron, the cord in your chest tying itself tight around your heart.

"My darling girl," you hear her father say, followed by her excited squeal as he has surely plucked her from bed and is dancing around your room with her by now. As the iron heats up, you feel your chest warming in time with it as you remember how upset the girl had been the past week without her father. It killed you to see her so distraught — but now that Eris was back home, you would find a sense of peace knowing Riley’s usual joy had returned.

In minutes, her little footsteps bounded into the kitchen, a wonky-looking bun atop her head. You had to surpress a chuckle as you poured the waffle mix onto the iron and closed it.

“Y/N! Y/N!” She chanted excitedly. “Did you see? Daddy’s home!” She jumped up and down, her fist clenching around a fistful of your shorts fabric.

“I did indeed!” You responded, grinning down at her. She glanced over her shoulder, ensuring he was not in the room yet before motioning for you to bend down. You did as such, and she leaned in so close her tiny lips pressed against your ear.

“I don’t think he learned how to do buns very good yet though,” she whispers, pulling away and pointing to the floppy loop atop her head. You chuckle, and she grins, her hands covering her mouth.

“You fix it maybe?” She asks. You nod, looking over her shoulder and raising your eyebrows as the familiar head of red hair emerges from the hallway. She dares a glance, gasping and looking to you in a giggle fit again.

“Now what are you two ladies giggling about so early in the morning?” Eris teases, and Riley shoots you a wide-eyed look. You stand, grinning at him.

“Hmm… well, it was a girls-only conversation,” you say nonchalantly, and he raises his eyebrows in amusement. Riley plants her little hands on her hips, stepping close to you in defiance.

“Yes, daddy. Is a secret, ok?” She says. He nods, looking between the two of you with a small smile on his face. You meet his gaze, and he gives you a tiny wink.

“Ahhh, I see I see.”

Just then, the timer for the first waffle goes off. Riley jumps, twirling in circles between the two of you.

“Waffles! Waffles!” She says excitedly. “Y/N, you make mine with the chips?” She asks. Eris raises a confused eyebrow, and you grin as you carefully peel her fresh waffle off the iron and plate it.

“Of course, dear — full of chocolate chips, just like you like it.” She squeals, skipping to her spot at the dining table. Eris moves toward the cupboards, taking out syrups and jams and grabbing a few utensils. You’re mid-pouring the next one onto the iron when his warm touch across your lower back halts your movements.

“I can take this one in,” he says, leaning in close. His jawline brushes your cheek, and you turn ever so slightly to peer at him. His wicked grin nearly sends you over the edge, the feeling of his hand on your waist and his lips so close to yours sends any care for the bubbling batter out the window.

You all but simply nod before he does just that, taking Riley’s breakfast into her. You can’t help but stare after him, watching as he strides into the dining room with such grace — everything about him, everything he does seems just so perfect. But, you have to remember not to let yourself get in too deep; he is still your boss, and part of the royal family of this court.

You take a deep breath, releasing it in a long sigh. It’s only then that you smell the roasty, earthy scent in the air — looking down, you realize you’ve burnt your waffle.

✧･ﾟ: *

Things are looking up for you in the Forest House over the next few months. Sure, Eris still had to occasionally tend to court duties and such, but nothing that would take him away for more than a day or two at a time.

You’d developed somewhat of a routine with him, a new one that involved putting Riley into her bed each night and slipping into your pajamas, only to sneak into his when you knew she was asleep.

It seemed like Eris enjoyed having you keep him company while the two of you slept; after all, it’s not like anything had gone past the lingering touches, occasional kisses when you were in the privacy of his bedroom, and maybe a few sidelong glances that you hadn’t noticed before.

But.

There was always. A “but”.

“It shouldn’t be long this time, maybe three days? Four?” He said in his haste, gathering miscellaneous things around his room and shoving them into his pack. You chewed on the inside of your cheek, the feeling of his prolonged absence already gnawing at your gut.

“Eris, I thought you said you wouldn’t have to go again like that-“

“I know, I know,” he sighs, buttoning his pouch and pulling his worn leather boots from under the bed. He sits on the edge of the mattress, yanking them on and tying the laces tight. When he’s done fussing over the shoestrings, he places his feet flat on the floor, bracing his hands on the edge of the bed to stand.

He stops short as you take a silent step in front of him, your two bare feet planted between his. His eyes slowly drag up your form from the tips of your baby-blue painted nails, over the exposed skin of your long legs…

You can practically see the flames in his eyes as he reaches the hem of your matching pale blue nightgown.

His fingers gently reach for you, tracing over the smoothness of your thighs until his palms are bracing the backs of them. Your breath catches as he pulls you a step closer between his spread legs, your knees touching the egde of his maroon sheets. His eyes continue their ascent, until his gaze meets yours, only lingering on your lips for a moment.

He looks at you as though this is the first time he’s seen you all night.

“Y/N, I really… don’t want to leave. You know this.” He says, his tone near pleading. You can feel the emotions swelling inside of you, and all you can let out is a small nod. He sighs, his fingertips delicately tracing up and down your legs.

“It’s just what I have to do, if I could choose…” he huffs, fumbling for words. You take the opportunity as his gaze shifts to the side to bend your right knee, shifting your weight to press it into the mattress beside where he’s sat. He catches on quickly, his hands grasping your waist to help you as you lift your other leg to sit it on the bed too.

“It’s definitely not something I want to do. That’s what I’m trying to say.” He breathes, his hands sliding under the hem of your nightgown in exploration as he cups your bum sat atop him. Your eyes search his, only for a moment, before you lean in close to press a light kiss to his jawline.

“What do you want to do?” You ask. You know the question is loaded, and he is making to leave — but you hope that maybe, just maybe you could persuade him to stay.

His right hand reaches for your cheek as you draw back, the look of raw hunger in his eyes giving you hope that maybe your plan would work. Selfish, yes, as his duties protect the entire court — but you didn’t care. Not right now.

“Eris-“

He smashes your lips together, kissing you harshly as his fingers thread through your hair. Your quiet gasp is quickly replaced with the need for more. Your hands grip his strong shoulders as his other hand slides up your waist, carefully and almost cautiously pausing before fully running over the swell of your breast.

His fingers play with your already sensitive nipple, and you groan as his hand moves back toward its original spot beneath your rear. He squeezes the fleshy skin roughly and you moan into the kiss, only making him pull away breathlessly.

“Y/N… if you keep moving like that on top of me… this won’t end like either of us want it to,” he growls. You glance down at the rumpled fabric of your nightie — the trousers beneath stretched against his hardening length. Your face flushes, a small giggle coming out before he pulls your mouth to his once more.

“Maybe… I want… more…” you breathe out between kisses. Eris leans back on one of his elbows, his hand cupping your jaw as he traces a finger over your cheekbone. He gazes up at you in adoration— and before he says a word, you already feel your heart clenching.

“Love… I want more, yes. But… not like this. Not… now.” His lips turn down as your face falls, his thumb moving to trace over the outline of your lips. Your hands slide down his chest, his other hand moving to take your fingers in his as he lays flat on his back atop the bedsheets. He looks up at you, at your upset face wishing for that beautiful smile he loves to come back to it.

“Come here,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper as he pulls you close to his chest. You lie atop him, his hands stroking over your shoulders and playing with your long strands of hair. He breathes deep, reveling in your scent before he has to be without it for a few days.

“I really don’t want you to go,” you say, your voice muffled against his chest. He continues softly playing with your hair, the soft touches eventually lulling you to sleep against his warm embrace.

“I don’t want to leave you either, doll.”

✧･ﾟ: *

“… and this one is a Maple leaf,” you explain, extending the perfectly crisp leaf to the little girl nest to you. She takes it carefully, examining its sun-kissed exterior.

“How do you know it’s a Maple one?” She asks, turning it over in her tiny hands.

“Well, because it comes from a Maple tree, dear.” You explain, and point toward the few trees among the grove with similar leaves. “See? The leaves all look the same.” She looks up only briefly, before inspecting the leaf in her hand again.

“Y/N, how did you know about leafs?” She asks, and you chuckle.

“When I was a little girl,” you begin, continuing on your walk through the gardens. She’s quick to follow, slowing every so often when she finds something new to inquire about. “I had a very good teacher. She taught me many things — leaves, trees, all kinds of things.” You shrug. The little one nods, and you can practically see the gears rotating in her head.

“I have a teacher?” She asks, looking up to you with her round eyes of burnished gold. You suck your bottom lip between your teeth, not sure where to steer the conversation. Eris was clear about wanting to keep Riley rather sheltered, considering the way he’d been raised. Hell, he barely let her off the grounds — the conversation of enrolling her in school had never actually come up. She was indeed almost five…

“Uh… no, I-“ You fumble. Riley raises an eyebrow, still waiting for an answer.

“I mean, you ask me things, right? And, I can show you what you need to know,” you say carefully. She thinks for a beat, then smiles a little.

“You’re my teacher?” She asks. You shrug.

“Sure, sweetheart. I’d be anything you asked me to be.”

She beams, twirling around so the skirt of her play-pretend princess dress fans out. She trots forward a bit, and you fall behind, your mind wandering.

It would be in her best interest to attend school, you thought. She needed social interaction with others her own age, and someone who could properly teach her-

“Y/N! Teacher! Teacher!” She giggles, skipping over to you with a new flower in her hand. “What is this one?” She asks, giddy with excitement. You peer down at her, trying to figure out what type of flora she’d presented you with but you simply could not produce its name.

“Hmm,” you hum, your lips twisting to the side. “I’m not sure I’ve seen that one before, Riles.” She holds the flower to you, and you take it from her little hand.

“You hold please,” she asks. “We need to save it. Bring it when we both go to school.” She grins, spinning on her heel before trotting off again.

Great. Now that the idea was in her head, you knew what needed to be done.

✧･ﾟ: *

It’d been four days since he left for his duties. Four days in bed alone. Four days alone in his house, spending time with a daughter you could only wish to call your own.

You knew it was selfish, feeling pitiful this way — he was out there defending the entire court, for Cauldron’s sakes. The least you could do was stop moping around, and continue to provide the best care for Riley while he was away.

After all, it was the job you were still being paid to do here.

None of that stopped you from wandering into his chambers that night, past the silent wooden door and flicking on the small fae light inside. When he left, you retired to your own bed; but after three nights, you found yourself craving the scent of him, wishing for the feel of his silky sheets again. You knew in your heart it was simply him you craved most — but with the blurry, messed up lines of your relationship, you weren’t sure you were ready to admit to yourself what you were feeling.

Riley was out like a light that evening, the long walk in the gardens really tired her out. Thank the Cauldron, as the fire burning in your chest lulled you further and further into Eris’ room after you tucked her in. A featherlight touch to the top of the crimson duvet; images of him sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands holding you just days beforehand racing through your mind. Gods, how his mouth felt upon yours as his fingers roamed and touched you-

You shook your head, trying to clear the mind fog you were slipping into. The unlit hearth stared back at you from the wall, almost ironic how it sat so similar to the lack of fire, the passion,the sheer heat you’d felt when Eris wasn’t around.

In the corner, you suddenly noticed a small closet door. A small spark of intrigue lit within you, guiding you toward the handle of tarnished gold on the front of it. It was skinny, more of a coat closet in the corner of the room than that of Eris’ master one across the way. Nevertheless, you turned the handle and pulled.

Your breath caught in your throat as the door swung open. Hanging inside were gowns of high value; some intricate, some simple. Regardless, they were very clearly designed for that of a High Fae. A royal.

They were most certainly Selene’s.

You reached a shaky hand out, your nimble fingers skimming the expensive fabric of the first one. Intricate swirls of blue and navy adorned the heavy fabric, and in the dim light you could see glitter dusting the upper half.

You pushed it to the side.

Thumbing through, there were only about four or five gowns in the alcove, however with each discovery, the bile in your throat threatened to make an appearance. Why would he keep all of these? His wife left him and his daughter simply because they were not chosen by the Cauldron to be together. What kind of a person does that? Leaves their baby? Their husband?

Your fingers clench around the fabric of a dark red gown, your face growing hotter. Why would he keep mementos from this woman who abandoned him and their child? You thrust it aside, your eyes landing on, quite literally, the most beautiful gown you’d seen yet. Of course he’d keep this. He probably thought of her in it, and how lovely she looked.

The anger inside began to recede, like the waves of the tide from the shore. Pain crept in like the flames of the hearth, the fire in your chest this time not encouraging, but incinerating.

He was still in love with her. Your breathing started to become heavy the longer you gazed at the deep green velvet gown. He had to be. That was the only explanation. Why else would he keep these? You hadn’t realized the angry tears welling in your eyes until they’d began to fall, silently rolling down your cheeks. The release did nothing to cool your warmed skin; it felt as though molten lava were streaming down the sides of an active volcano.

“Y/N?”

His voice was so cool and calm behind you, it almost felt as though you’d imagined it. He wasn’t over her. He’d never be. You don’t just get over someone you share a child with-

“Y/N.”

It was bolder this time. You were forced out of the terrible headspace you’d gone to, whirling around to face none other than the man occupying most of your headspace these days. His eyes studied you with such confusion, taking in the scene before him and fixating on your fingers white-knuckle gripping the door handle.

You open your mouth, your words barely coming out in a broken whisper. “Eris what are you doing back-“

“Why are you going through those.” He says it more as a demand, his concerned face now appearing more aggravated than you’d like. He crosses the room in only a few strides, his hand splaying against the door and pushing it shut. You release the handle, taking a step back as he lets out a sharp sigh, his hand pressing against the doorframe.

“And I said I’d be back in four days, didn’t I?” He doesn’t even look up from where his head hangs. You stare wide-eyed from behind him as he eventually pushes off from the closet. His dark expression is casted toward the floor, his lips pressed into a tight line.

“I… Eris I can explain-“

“It’s late. And I’d like to go to bed.” He says, his jaw tightening. Your heart seizes at his words, and you begin to panic, wondering what you could do to make this right. How to explain, and how to go back in time and undo it all. Unsee what you’d seen.

“Eris…” You whisper. His eyes flick up to yours, and he draws in a breath before looking down again.

“Alone.”

Your bottom lip begins to tremble involuntarily, every wall in your mind seeming to shatter around you. Your heart follows suit, bursting into a million fractures before finally erupting into flames — you may as well have tossed it into the incinerator, allowing the fragments to turn to ash.

You’re tearing out of his room before you allow him to make you feel worse than you already do. Crossing the threshold of your bedroom, you throw yourself into bed, finally releasing your strangled cries into the pillows beneath you. You scream and scream and scream — every emotion, every seed of anger, every feeling pouring out of you into that bed until your throat is raw and your eyes are swollen.

It’s hours before you are finally crying yourself to sleep, no warmth left in your blankets. It feels like the wake up call the Mother had been waiting to give you, you’d decided.

You’d go to bed remembering your place. Remembering that you worked for Eris, a High Fae with a daughter that you were to provide daily care for and nothing else.

Not his lover. Not his wife. And certainly, not anyone who’d wear such gowns he’d keep in his closet like that.

You just weren’t her. Not even close.

✧･ﾟ: *

[queerliblib]

Happy Sapphic September! Here are some sapphic ebooks that, at the time of making this video, are all available to be checked out right now! You better be quick, though! 

Books featured: Sunburn, by Chloe Michelle Howarth Dead Girls Walking, by Sami Ellis The Adventures of Isabel, by Candas Jane Dorsey The Queer Girl is Going to Be Okay, by Dale Walls Just Friends, by Ana Oncina Cold Girls, by Maxine Rae The Secret Summer Promise, by Keah Brown Yuri Espoir, Volume 1, by Mai Naoi The Stars of Mount Quixx, by S.M. Beiko Girl Haven, Lilah Sturges

[thatacotargirl]

The Daughter of Day (2)

Welcome back to The Daughter of Day, a series exploring a new Court and a triad, because why not!

I hope you enjoy chapter 2 🌟

This story is set after A Court of Silver Flames.

My inbox remains open for oneshot/imagine requests.

Taglist: @fightmedraco @lilah-asteria @acourtofsmutandstarlight

A Reader x Feysand Fanfiction

Reader's POV

It had been over a week since my father had sent a request to Rhysand asking to host me as a visitor in Velaris, and we still hadn't received a reply. I knew it might take a while, with Rhysand being a High Lord and no doubt as busy as my father was most days, but I couldn't help the heavy feeling in my heart that I might be refused and I'd have to carry on living in Day. It wasn't that I disliked my home court - it had beauty to rival even the most glowing stars in the sky - but it was suffocating being trapped in the palace. Every morning I woke with no plans other than to walk the castle walls, hiding from the palace guards who would no doubt scoop me up and take me back to the safe confines of my bedroom if they found me. Every night, I'd fall asleep hoping my dreams would whisk me away to adventure, fun, freedom. Then, I'd wake up, and I'd do it all again.

Rhysand's POV

Rhys sat in his office sifting through endless piles of paperwork with a sigh. Azriel sat to his left, writing furiously into a notebook, his tongue sticking out slightly with concentration. Rhys chuckled inwardly, and rose from the desk, pacing around the office with his pen tapping against his thigh. He was feeling restless and couldn't quite put a pin on why. He was more than satisfied with his life as it was - he had a beautiful mate, a perfect son, a loving family, war had been won, and life was rebuilding. He had defied all odds and had come out stronger, despite the trauma that lingered below the surface. But, in spite of that, he felt like a part of him was missing. Like he had completed the puzzle that was him, his life, but there was one piece that he had overlooked and left the puzzle incomplete.

Shaking his head, he grabbed a handful of letters from the desk and began slotting through them, tossing the occasional one into the trashcan by his desk. Suddenly, one gold envelope caught his eye. He placed the pile back on the desk to hold the envelope with both hands, feeling the power of its author within. That heat, that sun, that all glowing all consuming power could belong to one High Lord, and one High Lord only - Helion. Rhys carefully opened the letter and reviewed its contents.

Dearest Rhysand, It was a pleasure to be hosted by yourself and your wonderful family this week; and the Day Court remains a staunch ally to you and your Court. I write on matters unrelated to alliance. My daughter, y/n, is finding herself lost amongst Day Court. I admit that I may have 'coddled' her, as one might say, but I did so for fear of her life and safety, and out of love. However, she now wishes to experience a world outside of my shining walls. Would you be so gracious as to allow y/n to visit Velaris for a period of time? I ask this as your ally, and friend, as I trust that y/n will be safe with you in your City of Starlight. Yours truly, Helion.

Rhysand was surprised at the request. Helion had kept his daughter hidden in the confines of the Day Court palace for 25 years, and was now allowing her to not only leave the palace, but leave the Court entirely? He shook his head, almost inclined to deny the request. He could not be responsible for y/n's safety, even if Velaris had the lowest crime rate of all Prythian. If something were to happen to y/n within his court, it could result in war and bloodshed. He took up his pen to write his reply, denying the request, but felt himself hesitate.

Rhys knew better than many what it felt like to be trapped. To feel as though your life wasn't your own to live because you were being held against your will, not able to spread your wings and explore, live, enjoy what this world had to offer. He sat as his hands touched the paper and he found his fingers moving on their own accord.

Dear Helion, The Night Court would be delighted to host y/n. She may stay at our River House for as long as she wishes. Please do send word of when we can expect her arrival and we will ensure that a room is prepared. Regards, Rhysand.

Reader's POV

With a sigh, you put away the book that was resting on your lap and head towards your bedroom. The book was a romance, one you had read so many times over that you were sure you could re-write it verbatim, where the protagonist pursues revenge against those who wronged him to win back his one true love. Whilst romance books were your guilty pleasure, a part of you would always feel sad that perhaps you might not get to experience romance like those you read. Although, maybe nobody did, and that's why the books were so popular - everyone pined to be desired in a way that could only be conveyed on the pages of a story, and not in real life.

As you rounded the corridor and headed towards your bedroom door, you were intercepted.

"Y/n, my darling! I have news from the Night Court".

Your head shot up to meet your father's eyes, your own no doubt full of hope.

"Rhysand has offered for you to stay at the River House in Velaris".

You felt your heart jump with joy and excitement. It was finally happening.

"When can I go?", you asked eagerly, already mentally packing your bags with your favourite dresses and shoes.

"Whenever you wish, my sunshine. I will gladly take you myself".

After giving your father a quick hug, you ran full pelt into your bedroom and grabbed a bag from the back of your closet. After packing a small bag of personal items, you gazed around the drawers and closets at your clothes and halted. The beautiful golden sundresses, flowing skirts and cropped t'shirts were perfect for Day Court, but you were almost certain that you might freeze in the Night Court, not to mention that you would stick out like a sore thumb. Feeling a presence enter your bedroom, you turn to see your father make his way to the edge of your bed.

"I will provide Rhysand with a stipend to cover the expenses of you living with them, and some extra to get yourself some more appropriate clothing", he winked. You smiled at him, grateful that your father somehow always knew what you were thinking without you needing to say it. You walk over to him and reach out to take his hand.

"Thank you, for everything", you say, as he pulls you in for a hug.

"Anything for you, my sunshine".

A moment passes and you find yourself wallowed by feelings of guilt. Guilt for wanting to leave the haven that he built for you. Guilt for wanting to explore without him. You were his only child, his pride and joy, and here you were wanting to leave the nest - and leave him behind in it. Sensing your change in emotions, Helion pulls back from the hug to stare sincerely at your face.

"You make me proud everyday, y/n. You have grown into a beautiful, wise, and kind young woman and I am so proud that you are my daughter. I want you to live the life you've always dreamed of, even if that means it isn't here with me. And, no matter what, I will always be here for you when you decide to return".

You can feel the tears falling steadily down your face as you silently sob. Even though this is what you wanted more than anything else in the world, it didn't make it hurt any less.

"Come, let's go now". Helion offers you his hand and you gladly accept it, picking up the one bag that you had decided to bring with you. With one last look at your bedroom, you offer your father a silent nod, and close your eyes as you feel his power surround you both and winnow you away from the Day Court. Away from home.

You arrive with a thump at the steps of the River House you had visited a few weeks prior, and Helion reached up to knock on the giant door. Waiting, you turn to eye to streets around you, watching the citizens of Velaris go about their days chatting happily and laughing. It was dusk by the time you had arrived, and people were bustling their way down towards the main town in search of food and entertainment for the evening.

The door opened and you turned back to see Feyre, High Lady of the Night Court, standing before you. Her sister, Elain, stood at her side. Both women were smiling.

"Y/n! Welcome back to Velaris! Come in, come in", Feyre gestures to the house, moving out of the doorframe. You move to enter, but stop when you realise your father isn't following.

"This is where I leave you, sunshine. But know I am always here if you need me, and I will come and visit you in a few weeks to see how you are getting on". You can see through the smile on his face right to the sadness in his eyes.

You feel the tears pricking your own eyes but you desperately fight them back, not wanting to cry in front of Feyre and Elain. You lunge forward into your father's arms and hold him, squeezing as tightly as you possibly can, before giving him a salute and walking into the River House. You didn't trust your words not to give away the tears or beg for him to take you back to the comforts of Day; but it seems that nothing slipped past Feyre, as she reached out to pull you into a hug of her own, Elain quietly closing the door behind you.

"I know how hard it can be to make that first step to independence, y/n, you don't have to fight your emotions for our sakes", she offered, stroking your hair and letting your cry quietly on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so happy to be here, it's just harder than I expected".

You felt a hand rub your back and turned to see Elain, a sincere and kind smile on her face. You offered her a watery smile back.

"Come, let's get you cleaned up and then we can have dinner?" she asked, peeling you away from Feyre and guiding you up the stairs. You could hear commotion behind the various doors of the River House but Elain quickly led you to a door at the end of the hall. She opened it and you gasped, surprised to see that the room inside was decorated in the finest Day Court gold you had seen. You turned to Elain as she smiled.

"We figured it would be hard, leaving home for the first time, so we wanted to do something to help you settle. Helion sent us some furniture from your home and we added the rest, I hope it's ok?".

You nodded, completely speechless. Elain walked past you into the adjoining bathroom and began running you a bath as you emptied the contents of your bag. You placed the items around the room; the make-up on the vanity table, the books on your bedside, and the soft yellow blanket you'd had since you were a baby across the end of your new bed. You carried your few toiletries to the bathroom as Elain closed off the water, the smell of jasmine and honey wafting through the air.

"I hope you don't mind, I used my own bath oils as we didn't know what scent you'd like, but we have plans to go into Velaris tomorrow to buy you everything you need".

"We?", you asked.

"You, me, Feyre, and Mor!", she exclaimed excitedly. Her warming and happy energy made you want to smile.

"That sounds wonderful", you grinned back at her, "I haven't met Mor yet, she wasn't able to make the meeting when I was here last".

"You'll meet her tonight, she's coming to dinner. She's Rhys' cousin and lives not too far from here. She's also convinced everyone to go to Rita's tonight, but you don't have to join if you'd prefer to get some rest and settle in here".

"Rita's?"

"It's kind of like a club, Feyre and Mor love to go and dance, and Cassian usually causes some mayhem there. I don't often go but Feyre asked me to this time, she even went out of her way to get Amren to babysit Nyx instead of me!" Elain chuckled to herself. "I think it might be in case you wanted to come, they have a habit of drinking themselves into a bit of a stupor and might be a bit overwhelming to handle on your own".

"Nyx?", you asked, trying to remember the names of everyone you had heard of in the Night Court.

"Feyre and Rhysand's son", she paused, seeing the surprise on your face. "You know, maybe you should join us tonight if you're feeling up to it, you have quite a lot to catch up on!"

You couldn't help but return Elain's smile. Perhaps this would be a good way to get to know everyone and break the ice. "Sure, I'd like to join".

"Great! I'll let Feyre know and have her find some options for you to wear tonight. Speaking of, I'll go and find you some things to wear for dinner too - back in a moment" she smiled, and left the bathroom.

You undressed and climbed into the bath, big enough to fit at least another 4 of you in it, and sank down into the water, letting yourself soak away the emotions of the day. You couldn't help the smile that adorned your face, in spite of your lingering guilt and sadness at leaving your court behind. You had received such a warm welcome in Velaris and-

You heard a crash outside the landing, someone shouting and swearing, and a whole host of laughter as something transpired down the hall from your bedroom. You recognised the echo of Feyre's laugh and Elain's giggles, as a male - Cassian, perhaps? - swore like a sailor. You could pick out a few words; paint, prank, and glue.

You laughed and sank deeper into the water, regrouping your mind. It had been a busy enough day as it was, and it looked like it was only going to get busier still.

[motherofdragonflies]

The Elevator Game: A Choose Your Own Adventure Fic

Written by: @motherofdragonflies / bexgowen

Art by: @xfancyfranart

Rating: Explicit

Word count: 95,000

Tags/Warnings: Major Character Death, Choose Your Own Adventure Style, Psychological Horror, Canon Divergent, Post 15x03, Case Fic

Summary: 

The game is simple.

Get in an elevator, alone, and follow the rules. If you follow them correctly, the elevator will rise and when the doors open, they will open onto a world that is not your own.

When his brother goes missing after investigating the death of a teenage girl in a hotel in St. Louis, Dean Winchester is dismayed to discover it involved an internet legend called “the Elevator Game”.

He’s even more dismayed when Castiel—who walked away weeks ago and hasn’t been returning Dean’s calls—shows up, also looking for Sam.

Dean doesn’t want to work with Castiel, and Castiel doesn’t seem thrilled about working with him, either. Can they put their differences aside when  they discover that Sam disappeared after playing the Elevator Game? Will Dean and Castiel play the elevator game and travel to the Other World themselves? Will they find Sam before it's too late? 

The choice, dear reader, is yours. You are in control of the story.

But choose wisely, for once you play the Elevator Game, things may never be the same again.

Excerpt:

“Where did Ali hear about the game?” Sam’s voice asked. 

“She, uh, she loved scary stuff. Horror movies, urban legends, that kinda thing. I think she found it on reddit, in one of those scary story subreddits? I don’t know, I don’t…I don’t like that kind of thing. But, um, she was always talking about wanting to try it but you need a tall building and we’d never been anywhere anyway tall enough until…”

“Until that night. Did you tell the police?”

Lilah scoffed. “I told them. They didn’t believe me.”

“Lilah…what do you think happened?”

“I... I think…I think it worked.”

The audio file ended, and Dean sorted through the rest of the papers from the envelope Lilah had given him. The first page was a print out from a true crime subreddit: Dean recognised it as one that Sam checked constantly. His brother had highlighted a post on the page, one consisting of a single line that was posted four days after Alison and the others had disappeared:

Ali Bleaker played the elevator game.

Frowning, Dean turned to the next page and found that it was an article from a website called “The Ghost In My Machine”, titled “The Most Dangerous Games: The Elevator Game Revisited.”

Dean snorted at the title but read on:

"Some people know it as ‘Elevator To Another World’. For others, it’s the ‘Elevator to Hell’... But no matter the name, this peculiar…game, I suppose—although there’s nothing playful about it—it always said to have the same outcome, as long as you follow its rules to a T: By riding an elevator alone, visiting a handful of floors in a particular order as you go, you can transport yourself to another world entirely."

Dean stared at the words on the page.

Another world.

“Jesus, Sam, tell me you didn’t.”

Once upon a time, Dean might have dismissed the claim of ‘another world’ as something out of a science fiction story. But having visited several other worlds, Dean knew that alternate realities, multiverses—whatever you wanted to call them— were real. He doubted that something as simple as riding an elevator could take you to another world, but the idea wasn’t as far-fetched as he once would have believed it to be.

Snatching up his computer, Dean quickly pulled up the phone tracking site that he’d bookmarked and searched for the location of Sam’s phone. 

He was not at all surprised when the map showed Sam’s phone was at The Millennium Hotel, where Alison Bleaker had died.

Going up at @deancashorrorfest this October!

[littlest-w01f]

All Taglists

Since I've posted the new schedule, I thought I'd post the taglists too to make sure everyone knows which taglist they are/ if they want to be added/removed from any of them and I'll make the edits right here (also adding a little synopsis for all the series so you know what they are about)

If you want to be added please comment which taglist you wish to be added to.

General - @lilah-asteria @paleidiot @dee-writes-smut @adalia-jaycee @anarchiii @alwayshave-faith @velarisnightsky444 @minnieoo @mellowmusings @daughterofthemoons-stuff

MAIN SERIES TAGLIST:

Flames and Darkness - @anuttellaa @tuggboatfishin @inloveallthetime

Synopsis: Rheana, Rhysand's adventurous younger sister has always yearned for a mate since she was a young faeling, she found herself with a mating bond that leads her to Eris Vanserra, someone her family has despised for as long as time.

Blooming Flowers - @theskyisbrighthere @mybestfriendmademe @yeonalie @raisam

Synopsis: The Princess of Spring, Evelyn and Rhysand, the Heir of Night were promised in marriage to each other by their fathers to fix court relations, but things took a turn for the worse as they refused to marry.

Meeting in Grey - @sleepylunarwolf @sarawritestories @sheblogs

Synopsis: Born in Hewn City, Novali has felt first-hand how cruel her people can be to anything good, while in the Court of Dreams, Nyx has heard nothing but the worst of the residents of Hewn City, as the Heir grows to the age of maturity his family make their first visit to the Court of Nightmares in a 100 years.

Mini-series:

Little Family (Cassian) - @littlelunatica @journalofthedamned @acourtofbatboydreams

Synopsis: While visiting his best friend Feyre in her art studio, Cassian meets the mother of one of the children there, their bond snapping almost instantaneously.

Lady Bloodshed (Cassian) - @inloveallthetime @anuttellaa

Synopsis: During Winter Solstice, Cassian's mate resurfaces, in the form of an assassin on a mission to end his life.

Light and Shadow (Azriel) - N/A

Synopsis: Azriel finally gets to spend time with the female who Helion always had around him, the one his shadows always reach for.

Fire and Ice (Eris) - @st4r-girl-official

Synopsis: In an attempt at combining power, the Heir of Autumn is arranged to wed the Princess of Winter.

Sunlight (Helion) - @anuttellaa @a-frog-with-a-laptop @lalaluch

Synopsis: Helion asks Rhysand for help when he needs more staff for his libraries, Rhysand recommends someone close to him who wishes to try to leave the House of Winds library.

Siren song (Tarquin) - @slut4acotar

Synopsis: Hearing an enchanting song, Tarquin goes to the depths of the ocean hypnotised, only to be saved by someone he had been raised to beware of.

Jester (Rhysand) - N/A

Synopsis: After becoming High Lord, Rhysand finds himself in The Middle, he catches a Jester's eye who wants his blood and power.

Papillon (Eris) - @rcarbo1 @st4r-girl-official

Synopsis: Eris meets a mythical lesser fairy in the woods, who comes back to see her again.

Lover (Thesan) - N/A

Synopsis: The middle sister of the Vanserras forms an infatuation with Thesan, the High Lord of Dawn

Summer Seas (Feyre) - N/A

Synopsis: For helping the water wraith during Tithe, her younger sister saves Feyre from Spring after her panic.

In the Shadows (Azriel) - N/A

Synopsis: Azriel is used to staying in the shadows, but something about a popular dancer in Dawn makes him want to be seen.

Sample Size (Vanserra brothers) - N/A

Synopsis: A family friend of the Vanserras wants to see just how far the fire in their blood goes, the brothers are far too competitive to deny her test, wanting to come out on top.

Enchanting (Eris) - N/A

Synopsis: After a betrayal by Rhysand, a witch moved back to the autumn woods, not thinking she would cross any paths with the High Lord of Autumn after years of solitude.

Character Taglists:

Rhysand - @yeonalie

Cassian - @yeonalie

Azriel - @fxckmiup @annamariereads16 @saltedcoffeescotch @satorusemepls @fieldofdaisiies

Eris - @fxckmiup @slut4acotar @secret-third-thing @shadowsingers-mate @fieldofdaisiies @st4r-girl-official

Lucien - N/A

Helion - N/A

Tarquin - N/A

Kallias - N/A

Thesan - N/A

Tamlin - N/A

Feyre - N/A

Nesta - N/A

Elain - N/A

Mor - N/A

[book--brackets]

Troll Trilogy by Katherine Langrish (2004-2007)

A secret kingdom of trolls, and their legendary gold, lies in the mysterious shadows of Troll Fell. It is to this eerie and dangerous place that Peer must go after his father's sudden death, to live with his greedy uncles, Baldur and Grim, at their mill. When Peer discovers his uncles' plan to sell children to the trolls, he has to bury his fears and set out to stop them somehow. In a world filled with magic and mystery, Peer has only his bravery, his wits, and two new allies -- a daring girl looking for adventure and a mischievous house spirit looking for a good meal. Their story will become part of the legends and lore that fill this extraordinary land by the sea.

The People by Zenna Henderson (1961-1966)

These are the People.

Marooned on this planet by the crash of their interstellar vehicle in the distant past, The People are never free of a sense of strangeness in this world and a yearning for the home they have half-forgotten.

These are the chronicles of their arrival on this world, their estrangement from it, and their ultimate acceptance of their poignant exile.

The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fisher (2018-2020)

Orphan Seren Rhys is on her way to a new life at the remote country mansion of Plas-y Fran when she is given a package by a stranger late at night in an empty train station. The package contains a crotchety, mechanical talking crow, which Seren reluctantly brings to her new home. But when she gets there, the happy Christmas she had hoped for turns out to be an illusion--the young son of the house, Tomos, has been missing for almost a year, rumored to have been taken by the fairies. With the Crow's reluctant help and a little winter magic, Seren sets off on a perilous journey to bring Tomos home. An enthralling story of family and belonging set in frost-bound Victorian Wales.

Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Allyse Near (2013)

There's a dead girl in a birdcage in the woods. That's not unusual. Isola Wilde sees a lot of things other people don't. But when the girl appears at Isola's window, her every word a threat, Isola needs help.

Her real-life friends – Grape, James and new boy Edgar – make her forget for a while. And her brother-princes – the mermaids, faeries and magical creatures seemingly lifted from the pages of the French fairytales Isola idolises – will protect her with all the fierce love they possess.

It may not be enough.

Isola needs to uncover the truth behind the dead girl's demise and appease her enraged spirit, before the ghost steals Isola's last breath.

The New Moon's Arms by Nalo Hopkinson (2007)

Calamity, born Chastity, has renamed herself in a way she feels is most fitting. She's a 50-something grandmother whose mother disappeared when she was a teenager and whose father has just passed away as she begins menopause. With this physical change of life comes a return of a special power for finding lost things, something she hasn't been able to do since childhood. A little tingling in the hands then a massive hotflash, and suddenly objects, even whole buildings, lost to her since childhood begin showing up around Calamity. One of the lost things Calamity recovers is a small boy who washes up on the shore outside her house after a rainstorm. She takes this bruised but cheerful 3-year-old under her wing and grows attached to him, a process that awakens all the old memories, frustrations and mysteries around her own mother and father. She'll learn that this young boy's family is the most unusual group she's ever encountered--and they want their son back.

Finisterre by C. J. Cherryh (1995-1996)

Stranded on a distant planet that abounds with fertile farmland, human colonists appear to be in paradise. But all the native animals communicate by telepathy, projecting images that drive humans mad. Only Nighthorses stand between civilization and madness. When a flare of human emotion spreads to all the horses, chaos erupts.

Three Kings by Freydis Moon (2022)

Ethan Shaw—lighthouse keeper and local witch—lives a charmed life in his chilly, coastal hometown. Blessed with a flourishing garden and a stable livelihood, Ethan can’t complain. But when his husband, Captain Peter Vásquez, brings home a wounded leopard seal after an impromptu storm, Ethan is faced with a curious situation: caring for a lost selkie named Nico Locke.

As Ethan struggles with the possibility of being infertile, insecurities surrounding his marriage, and a newly formed magical bond with a hostile, handsome selkie, his comfortable life begins to fracture. But could breakage lead to something better?

With autumn at their heels and winter on the horizon, Ethan, Peter, and Nico test the boundaries of a new relationship, shared intimacy, and the chance at a future together.

Silver Sequence by Cliff McNish (2003-2005)

Six children leave home and are drawn to Coldharbour - an eerie wasteland of wind, rats, gulls and rubbish. Each of them has a unique gift, but they must learn to use their skills fast. Drawing ever closer in a maelstrom of fury is the Roar, something vast and dreadful that wants to destroy them.

Lilah's Adventures by Sherwood Smith (2012)

When twelve-year-old Lady Lilah decides to disguise herself and sneak out of the palace one night, she has more of an adventure than she expected--for she learns very quickly that the country is on the edge of revolution. When she sneaks back in, she learns something even more surprising: her older brother Peitar is one of the forces behind it all. The revolution happens before all of his plans are in place, and brings unexpected chaos and violence. Lilah and her friends, leaving their old lives behind, are determined to help however they can. But what can four kids do? Become spies, of course!

The Merlin Spiral by Robert Treskillard (2013-2014)

When a meteorite crashes near a small village in fifth-century Britain, it brings with it a mysterious black stone that bewitches anyone who comes in contact with its glow--a power the druids hope to use to destroy King Uthur's kingdom, as well as the new Christian faith. The only person who seems immune is a young, shy, half-blind swordsmith's son named Merlin.

As his family, village, and even the young Arthur, are placed in danger, Merlin must face his fears and his blindness to take hold of the role God ordained for him. But when he is surrounded by adversaries, armed only by a sword he's named Excalibur, how will he save the girl he cherishes and rid Britain of this deadly evil ... without losing his life?

[dinoraye]

Happy (very belated) birthday to my Supreme Fluff, @upandoutcomic !! I’m so lucky to have had you in my life since like, 2016 💖 2016?? Craziness.

Julia is so funny and cool and sweet and I feel so #blessed to be friends with her 😭 We’ve gone on so many adventures together and grown up a lot in our 8-ish years of friendship. Julia’s just so talented and awesome, I always can’t wait to see what she’s gunna do next 💖

I know times have been awful for the past while, but we got each other and we’re going to make it through! I love you Julie chan!!

These are her characters Lilah and Kit 🐱 Those cats are fun to draw!

[dogmovesout]

a dance in the moonlight featuring @ladylilah location: northwest-finnegan engagement party

The shadows were where he had known he’d hide out for the majority of this party - they were a common place for Tristan to slink around nowadays, a skill he had learned from all his years working first at the junkyard and then for Oogie. Under the cover of darkness, it was easy to be overlooked and unseen while having a perfect view of the rest of everything going on around him. Not that there was much that he cared about at this particular event. No, there was only one reason he was here and she had already entered the scene a few hours ago, though Tristan didn’t follow her into the action like he actually wanted. Instead he kept his spot in one of the hallways, sitting in a chair with a hat pulled down to hide most of his face as he appeared to just be texting and paying no mind to the happenings around him. It was the perfect place to set up for the night - the open bathrooms being just down the way, meaning everyone had to pass right by his spot to enter. Little did he care about any of them, though, it was only one familiar voice asking a passing worker where the restrooms were that had him ready to move into action.

He let her pass, just once on her way to the ladies room, and as soon as he heard the sound of the door closing he was out of his seat in a snap. Moving to stand behind where the door would swing open, only a few moments passed before the object of his attention exited and Tristan took an easy step forward to crowd himself right into her space, the gun that he had tucked in his jacket pressed firmly into her back before she had a chance to move. It was instantaneous, the tension that filled Lilah’s entire body and the way her breath all but stopped at the feeling of the pressure on her back and the hand grabbing onto her arm. She didn’t have a chance to speak, not that she even knew what she would say, before Tristan instructed that they walk and began guiding her backwards out a side door that led to a courtyard.

It was as if the outside air smacked Lilah right in the face as she finally came back to her senses. She didn’t dare move a muscle once her ex-husband had stopped them, staring straight ahead and knowing this might be the moment where she died. Everything in her wanted to scream, to kick and fight, and do whatever she had to to get as far the fuck away from this as she could – but that wasn’t an option. Not when she knew Tristan would simply pull the trigger on her the moment she acted in any way he deemed wrong. Or at least, that’s what she assumed - which was exactly what he had been counting on.

So she kept her mouth shut, let him go on and on about how much he missed her and how he loved her and he was going to do everything to win her back, how he was going to change. She stood there and let him press his face into her neck, let him wallow and have his little pity party as he pulled her close against him. It was everything she’d heard before, time and time again during their marriage, but normally there was a full conversation between them. Normally she actually spoke up, acknowledged his words in some kind of way. Normally there wasn’t a gun digging into her back as she used every ounce of strength she had to not break down. A few tears fell past her defenses, rolling down her face but going unnoticed by the man holding on to her.

It was a moment that only lasted at most three minutes, but felt like a lifetime to them both. How it might have escalated, neither would know - for as soon the door opened to a worker coming out to inform them that this section of the property was off limits tonight, Tristan jerked up and looked over towards the man, giving Lilah the chance to quickly step out of his grasp. Walking as quickly as she could back into the mansion, a mumbled apology offered to the employee on the way, she darted back into the fray of the party and prayed that all of the people around her would keep her safe for the rest of the night.

[storyofmychoices]

If you follow your heart just right, it will get you to New York City.

Art by the loveliest irdeinfierno (IG)

[Trystan Thorne x Lilah Rose Masterlist]

Drabble below the cut

Follow Your Heart (to New York)

Pairing: M!Trystan Thorne x Lilah Rose (F!MC) Book: Crimes of Passion (post book 2) Word Count: <;300 Rating/Warning: General (none, all the fluff) Prompts: @choicesoctober (ship-romantic, finally in the open!); @choicesficwriterscreations (art and fic of the week); @choicesprompts ~flufftober

Synopsis: Trystan and Lilah share a quiet moment in the city that never sleeps.

Beneath the warm, soft glow of the string lights, which dotted the rooftop bar like tiny stars, Trystan and Lilah sat side by side, fingers intertwined, gazing at the Empire State Building lit up behind them. Dozens of tourists flocked to the garden's edge, taking photos with the iconic building in the background. It shimmered like a crown jewel against the city's canvas; and yet, there was only one thing either of them had any interest in admiring tonight, and it wasn't the city's historic architecture or dazzling views. 

Trystan brushed the back of his hand gently across her cheek, cradling her face as he admired his favorite view. "It took us long enough to get here."

"There's this saying—" Lilah began. Her face tipped down, but Trystan lifted her gaze back to him. Her lips pulled up in the corners. "If you follow your heart just right—" her voice was soft, as the city that never sleeps sang with life around them, "—it will get you to New York City."

Trystan's eyes glimmered beneath the lighting, his warm gaze a reminder of everything they had endured that had brought them to this moment. "And here we are... my heart guided me here, to you, and all the adventures that await us—on the job...and off."

As the night deepened, the pair drew closer together, their bodies fitting like two pieces of a puzzle. After all they'd been through, the excitement of the city below became a distant murmur. This quiet moment—just the two of them—was their greatest adventure yet.

[oldworldwidgets]

while the city sleeps

ive been thinking about delilah a lot lately (shocking, i know) so when my friends were discussing what their ocs’ companion quests would be like, i decided to write one for her!! for story purposes, the player character here is a male sole survivor named nate. this quest must be completed before delilah can be recruited

2.7k-ish words

you can read this as a make-your-own adventure/quest or just as a story :3

To begin this quest, Nate must enter the Third Rail bar in Goodneighbor between 10pm – 4am. Delilah will be behind the bar, tending to the drifters seated there. When Nate initiates dialogue with Delilah, she will ask if he’d like anything to drink. He answers however he chooses, then asks if she’s heard any gossip or has any work for him, since bartenders have a reputation for knowing these things. Lilah does, of course, and will send him to run a few errands for various Goodneighbor residents. Once he has successfully completely a few of these errands and shown that he can be trusted, Lilah will give him a job that is personal to her.

Her husband, a man named Marowski, had been acting strangely. He’d been keeping things from her, going out at night or coming home late, and just generally acting seedy. Then, a few days before, he hadn’t returned home at all. She requests Nate’s help to uncover whatever shady business is taking place in Goodneighbor and find Marowski. If Nate agrees, Delilah will stress that she is very worried about Morowski and just wants him to stay out of trouble. “Please,” she will beg quietly, “bring him home safe.”

Nate must then question the residents of Goodneighbor, noir detective style. If he leads the conversation by asking about Marowski or his whereabouts, the residents will clam up and give no further information. If he leads by asking about shady business in Goodneighbor, the residents will give a response such as, “Ha! Which one?” Nate can continue asking about shady operations in the town until the residents mention “Marowski’s chem operation,” but they will once again clam up if Nate continues to pursue this line of questioning. One resident will direct Nate to Irma at the Memory Den, who will direct him to Daisy at Daisy’s Discounts, who will direct him to Fred Allen at the Hotel Rexford. For a price (and a guarantee that Delilah will not learn who gave Nate this information), Fred will inform him that Marowski was not only involved in Goodneighbor’s largest underground chem operation, he was in charge of it. The kingpin. Hell, he owned half of Goodneighbor, including the Rexford itself. However, Fred will also inform Nate that Marowski has not been seen in a few days and the door to his office is locked from the inside. Fred will point Nate toward the office and, if Nate successfully picks the lock, he will find Marowski’s body on the floor.

When Nate returns to Delilah, he must choose to tell her one of four things. From 1-4, each option is a more difficult speech check:

The truth: he uncovered the chem operation that Marowski was leading. The pressure of the organization became too much, and Nate found him dead in his office.

He uncovered the chem operation, and Marowski was involved. He was a grunt chem peddler, and he is dead. (yellow)

He uncovered the chem operation, but it seemed separate from Marowski’s disappearance. Perhaps he just ran away?

He did not find anything, but he wishes her well in trying to find her husband. Perhaps he just ran away?

Delilah is very perceptive. Unbeknownst to Nate, each option carries negative affinity weight. Even if he passes the speech check(s), he will lose affinity proportionate to each option’s amount of untruth. 1, as it is the truth, will not affect affinity. If he fails the speech check, the lost affinity will double.

If Nate passes the speech check for 3 or 4, Delilah will accept this answer and thank him for trying. She will then become unrecruitable.

If Nate passes the speech check for 2 or tells the truth, she will thank him thoroughly before giving him the next piece of the quest. If he fails any speech check, she will frown and scoff at him, inform him that she does not believe him, then give him the next piece of the quest.

Delilah will beg Nate to find out what happened to Marowski. If she was not told that he is dead, she will ask Nate to find him. If she is told about his death, she will ask Nate to find out who killed him. She will be crying when she asks this, and Nate can accept or decline. If he accepts, Delilah will give him an unmarked, unplayable holotape that she believes may help. She will tell Nate that Marowski kept it in his sock drawer, and she found it when she was looking for clues as to where he might have gone.

Nate must return to the Rexford and examine the body. He will find that Marowski was shot in the head, and that there is a 10mm on the floor of his office near his right hand. If Nate successfully hacks the terminal on Marowski’s desk, he will find terminal entries with logs of his chem operations, lists of his active runners and Triggermen, and a journal. If he reads the journal entry, he will find five entries locked behind a password. The entries can be unlocked by loading the unmarked holotape into the terminal.

The sixth, most recent entry is a suicide note. The pressure of the chem operation, alongside the ring’s copious amounts of debt that will never be repaid by their customers, was too much for Marowski to juggle. Suicide was the only way he could keep Delilah safe. He wanted to keep her away from his debt and out of the dark corners of his chem operation. The note ends with an apology and an expression of love to Delilah. This discovery prompts Nate to return to Delilah (optional) with this answer if he is satisfied with it.

The other entries, however, contain more information for Nate to uncover if he so chooses. The fifth entry is corrupt and will not open. The fourth details how Marowski’s tentative deal with Bobby No-Nose to get them out of debt had gone awry, and he had been fending off her goons for the week-or-so before his death. He stressed that it was of utmost importance that he stay away from the Third Rail to keep them away from Delilah, who did not deserve to be put in danger because of his bad decisions. The third covers Marowski’s excitement about Delilah. He had been in love with her since he set eyes on her in the Third Rail, and now, she’d fallen in love with him, too. They had just moved in together at the Rexford, which was going to make it harder to keep her out of the line of fire, but it was worth it.

The second entry is corrupt and will not open. The first entry logs Marowski’s concern about his dwindling Triggermen numbers. He started noticing that he would send his men out on runs to acquire or deliver chems, but they would not return. His pool of runners was getting shallower and shallower, yet he had not noticed more people fiending for his chems. Everyone in Goodneighbor seemed perfectly drugged up and satisfied, which struck him as strange – who were they getting their fix from if not from his men? This was not good for his numbers.

After reading these entries, Nate will have three quest goals:

(Optional) Return to Delilah

(Optional) Speak to Bobby No-Nose

Find out what happened to Marowski

Return to Delilah

If Nate returns to Delilah and informs her that Marowski did, in fact, kill himself and present her with his suicide note, she will become inconsolable. “I didn’t want to believe you,” she will cry, “but you’re right.” She will tell Nate all of the red flags/shady things Marowski did that now makes her believe that he was involved with the drug ring. She will thank Nate for his help, give him 500 caps, and send him on his way. Delilah will then become unrecruitable. 

Speak to Bobby No-Nose

Nate may continue to investigate based on Marowski’s entry re: fending off Bobby’s goons after a deal gone wrong. When he speaks to her about it, she will tell him about Marowski’s debt he owed to her and his evasiveness in paying it back. They made a deal about it once, but it went awry when one of Bobby’s men got too bold. Marowski continued to refuse to pay until his death. Still, Bobby maintains her and her men’s innocence. Yes, they were heckling him, but for his money; the dead don’t pay debts. If Nate asks Bobby where he can find another lead, she will flippantly tell him that if he wants information on Marowski, he should speak to Marowski’s men instead of hers.

Nate must then interrogate three Triggermen about their boss. The first will say that he knows nothing and inform Nate that he should stop sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. The second will be “shocked” that Marowski is dead and ask Nate what happened, as if he wasn’t there to get information in the first place. The third will accuse Hancock, the mayor of Goodneighbor.

When Nate questions Hancock about Marowski, Hancock gets gruff and defensive. It’s clear that the mayor did not have a high opinion of the man, likely because Marowski’s power over the Goodneighbor residents threatened his own. He will be avoidant about answering Nate’s questions unless Nate mentions that he’s doing a favor for Delilah, in which case Hancock will be forthcoming with any information Nate needs to “help that poor thing.” With a sly smile, Hancock will tell Nate to “check with the Rexford’s front desk when Clair ain’t around,” whatever that means. The information is discoverable with or without this clue.

After speaking with Hancock, Nate will have four quest goals:

(Optional) Return to Delilah [will trigger same interaction as above]

(Optional) Investigate the Hotel Rexford

(Optional) Accuse the suspect

Find out what happened to Marowski

Investigate the Hotel Rexford

Regardless of what time of day Nate returns to the Rexford, Clair will be stationed at the front desk. Nate must ask her about Marowski, and she will not leave the front desk until he does. She is avoidant and tells Nate that she knows little about Marowski at all – only that he owns the hotel and pays her to run its operations. After this conversation, Nate can return to the Rexford between the hours of 10pm – 4am to find the front desk unmanned. He must hack into the terminal at the desk, where he will discover that every entry on Marowski’s terminal was not an entry but rather an email. The contents of Clair’s terminal are identical to those of Marowski’s, aside from logging her own replies. It also successfully saved copies of Marowski’s fifth and second “journal entries” – which had been private communications rather than journal entries all along – that had been corrupted on his own terminal.

In entry #5, Marowski informs Clair that he has found a way to pay off their debts and get them out of the red: logging each time the hotel lodged a patron who was suspected of being a synth, then sending that log to Bunker Hill weekly. To pay off their debts, Marowski was acting as an Institute informant.

In entry #2, Marowski informs Clair that he has solved the mystery of where their Triggermen are disappearing to. The Third Rail seemed to have found itself a new bartender – Delilah, the woman called herself – who was not happy with the way Marowski’s men were treating her. Over a drink at Delilah’s bar, Marowski offered her a deal: if she stopped killing his men, he would cut her in on the deal. She could deal his chems under the table at her bar and keep a portion of the profits if she let up. She countered: she would stop killing her men if, and only if, they stopped treating her like a piece of meat. That was her only requirement. Marowski agreed in earnest, and the pair shook on it. Then, Delilah requested that he make her second in command in his drug trade anyhow. This took Marowski by surprise, but Delilah explained: she knew that Marowski dealt his chems indiscriminately (ie, to children if they simply asked), which is a detail that would derail his entire operation if let slip to Hancock. She knew about his debt, too, and she was convinced she could get him out of it. She would pose no threat to him, either, if he slipped her into the operation under the guise of her being his newest arm candy. She could accompany him everywhere, attached to him at the hip, and no one would be the wiser. For Marowski, this plan was almost all pros and no cons. At the sacrifice of a few caps per sale, he would get out of debt, keep his secret from the mayor, and tote around a beautiful woman like a gold watch. He accepted.    

After reading the emails, Nate will have one quest goal:

Accuse the suspect

Nate can formally accuse any one suspect he speaks to over the course of his investigation.

Accusing Delilah

If Nate chooses to return to the Third Rail, Whitechapel Charlie will be tending the bar no matter the time of day. Nate must ask Charlie where Delilah is, then buy a beer before Charlie will give him the answer. He tells Nate that Delilah is at her and Marowski’s suite at the Rexford, surely mourning. When Nate returns to the Rexford, he must pick the locked front door to enter. The lobby – and the entire hotel – is empty aside from one dainty figure sitting cross-legged on the front desk. “Sure took you long enough, sugar,” she will say sweetly, twirling her hair and trapping him in dialogue.

This will positively affect his affinity with Delilah, similar to “Delilah loved that.”

Accusing Bobby No-Nose, Triggermen, or Clair

The suspect will become hostile. Before Nate can pull his gun, the suspect will pull him back into dialogue and act disproportionately afraid. “No, I’m sorry, I swear it wasn’t me,” etc etc. Nate is not given an opportunity to respond. Instead, he is trapped in dialogue with the person now standing behind him: Delilah. The NPC he was accusing will run through the door behind her while she speaks. “I really thought you'd catch on quicker, big guy,” she will tell Nate.

This will put Nate at Delilah’s lowest recruitable affinity.

Accusing Hancock

The mayor will nearly laugh in Nate’s face, and when Nate pulls his gun, Hancock will just shrug. “Do what you gotta do,” he will say, “but I’m telling you, you got the wrong guy. Ain’t that right, sister?” Nate is not given an opportunity to respond. Instead, he is trapped in dialogue with the person now standing behind him: Delilah. Hancock will waltz out the door behind her while she speaks, ghosting his hand up her arm and shoulder as he squeezes past her. “I really thought you'd catch on quicker, big guy,” she will tell Nate.

This will put Nate at a low affinity with Delilah and lower his affinity with Hancock.

Regardless of who Nate accuses, Delilah will then explain her involvement in Marowski’s drug ring. She was killing any Triggermen who tried to get in her pants; the extra caps and chems was just a bonus at first. Once she got a whiff of power, she couldn’t leave it behind. After she worked her way in with Marowski, she eventually became more in charge than he was. He eventually became little more than just the face of the operation. She was perfectly happy with this setup, considering it kept her powerful yet still in the shadows (and allowed her to skim caps and chems as she pleased). Unfortunately, Marowski got involved in shit that was too shady for her (informing for the Institute) and she had to end that quickly and quietly. She wrote the suicide note and killed Marowski in a way that looked like the gunshot was self-inflicted, then inherited the ring. She is the kingpin. She had been the entire time. This whole mission was nothing but a wild goose chase.

If Nate asks why she would send him following such an entangled web when she was pulling the strings the whole time, she will shrug tell him that she wanted to make sure he knew what he was getting into with her.

Delilah is now recruitable.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, November 16

WILLOW: It is nice. He's great. We have a lot of fun. But I want smoochies! BUFFY: Have you dropped any hints? WILLOW: I've dropped anvils.

~~BtVS 2x15 “Phases”~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Haunting Echoes (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by veronyxk84

Secrets (Drusilla/Lilah, not rated) by Nymue

I Am (Buffy, not rated) by Nymue

[Russian language] Баффи Саммерс выходит замуж (Buffy/Angel, T) by B_E_S

Vengeance (Buffy/Angel, E) by Belladamon29

Tell Me (Buffy/Angel, E) by evesock

Midnight streak (Angel/Cordelia, Buffy/Spike, T) by Bl4ckHunter

"Are You Trying To Get Yourself Killed!" (Giles/Jenny, M) by Alexistiel

wolves of my want (Cordelia/Faith, T) by mistyheartrbs

Saturday 9:13 pm (Buffy/Giles, M) by Sdhuskerfan

[Chaptered Fiction]

Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 349 (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xover, T) by madimpossibledreamer

The Ripperverse AU, Chapters 1-3/6 (Giles, ensemble, E) by AvicusKing

In the Company of Witches and Slayers:, Chapter 172/200 (Willow/Tara, E) by VladimirHarkonnen (TheLightdancer)

[Ukrainian language] Forward to Time Past//Вперед у час минулий, Chapter 65/67 (Buffy/Spike, E) translation by Uraniya

BtVS : Judgement Day, Chapter 6/? (Buffy, Terminator xover, not rated) by AntonioCC

Out of Time: 1942, Chapter 60/? (Buffy/Tom Riddle, Harry Potter xover, M) by Aynn_Ward

Bring Me To Life : A Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel Crossover Event, Chapter 72/? (Buffy/Angel, not rated) by Jean_theGuardian

Okay Dad, Chapter 3/6 (Ensemble, T) by Work

The Yellowstone: A Safe Harbor, Chapter 12/? (Ensemble, Yellowstone xover, G) by Buffyworldbuilder

Painting Flowers, Chapter 7/? (Buffy/Angel, T) by crowncitydreams

Ghosts of Sunnydale, Chapter 2/? (Buffy/Spike, T) by VThinksOn

Soul Mate Magic, Chapter 18/20 (Giles/OC, M) by Emma_M_Black

Indecent Proposal, Chapter 10 (Buffy/William/Xander, M) by thetherealman

Bring Me To Life, Chapter 77 (Buffy/Angel, T) by Jean-theGuardian

Double date, Chapter 11 (Buffy/Giles, M) by Rippertish

Incarnate, Chapter 22 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Sigyn

Little Light, Chapter 17 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Melme1325

A Man in Shadow, Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, 13+) by Zab Jade

Christmas at the Folly, Story 1: Room 3 (Buffy/Spike, 13+) by myrabeth

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: faith/drusilla commission (worksafe) by loopnoid

Gifset: Every Tara look: S5E06 Family (worksafe) by lovebvffys

Artwork: [Doodle of Spike] (swear words, worksafe) by yarboyandy

Crafts: Bored now [cross-stitch pattern] (worksafe) by batstitchnerdycrossstitch

Artwork: [Drawing of Spike] (worksafe) by isevery0nehereverystoned

Artwork: Collage # 236 (Buffy, worksafe) by thedecadentraven

Gifset: If anything could fall at all, it’s the world That falls away from me (Buffy, S1-S5 finale parallels, worksafe) by theveryunlikelywonderland

Gifset: (im)perfect for you… (Buffy/Spike, worksafe) by clarkgriffon

Cosplay: Ready to start casting spells? (Vamp Willow cosplay, worksafe) by lauren-delorean

Gifset: Lifter Puller by Atmosphere (Buffy/Angel, worksafe) by andremichaux

Costume: Willow Cosplay - Lauren DeLorean (worksafe) by lauren_delorean

Demon design: From the Archives: Ubervamp (Turok-Han) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7 (worksafe) by Christopher Burdett

[Reviews & Recaps]

Angel - Episode 5.11 – Damage by rock-and-compass

PODCAST: S4. Ep15. Orpheus Ft. Prophecy Girls Podcast by Investigating Angel

[In Search Of]

ISO: Original Buffy DVD sets still in production? requested by Bright_Wolverine_490

[Community Announcements]

Revamped IWRY Marathon 2024 — week two masterpost by iwillrememberyoumarathon

12 Days of Calendilesmas: Asks open from now till 25th November! by hal-1500

Secret Santa: Sign Up Thread by nightshade

[Fandom Discussions]

BtVS - Redemption Through Violation by itsnotmymind

Cordelia Chase [ask game] by moistvonlipwig

[POLL] Pick your favorite of Wesley’s two main ships by ohrupie

HOW ID REWRITE ANGEL: THE SERIES by xaeyrnofnbe

[POLL] BTVS Fans: Pop Quiz hot shot! by juanabaloo

Wait so Angel (sadly) is the shadow of her father in the form of her romantic brooding hero by magpie-trove

Angel should have fallen in love with Giles. by thequeenofsastiel

[POLL] Choose your favorite of these mostly comedic, self-contained (non-arc–I refuse to call them “filler” :)) BtVS episodes! by ohrupie

sooooo many thoughts on buffy constantly telling spike to leave her alone when she’s clearly enjoying his company by lesbianmarrow

Tara was a true friend buffy deserved by Jamieo1111

Does Angel The Series have superior fight scenes to Buffy? by LouvrePigeon

Buffy is insane by No_Introduction_4136

Buffy resurrection question by

I love Primeval as a season finale simply because… by _theoneandonlyyyy

Which old horror movie franchises do you think inspired Buffy and Angel the most? by PlaneAutomatic4965

The fandom's changing reaction to Willow... by stillhavehope99

I don’t care want anyone says, Giles is a trusted adult. by Familiar_Recover8112

What's something you choose to ignore in the Buffyverse? by PristineSituation498

what's the worst Buffy remake you could imagine by alb5357

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: The Top 10 Buffy The Vampire Slayer Secondary Characters Ranked From Least To Most Powerful by Looper.com

PUBLICATION: The 15 Best Willow and Tara Episodes in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ranked by CBR.com

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