#lyra reads hell bent

[thelittleredheadedmusician]

A day late & a dollar short but here’s my book list from this year! Lots of good ones. Plenty of bad ones. I have Strong Opinions on almost everything! So send me an ask about your most loved or loathed & it’ll give me something to look forward to for after work!

(The 5 or so books started but not finished before yesterday were not included, nor were single issue comics of which there were many or audio dramas.)

Books Read 2024

Audio:

Gideon the Ninth - the locked tomb

A court of frost & starlight

A court of silver flames

All systems Red - Murderbot diaries

Artificial condition - murderbot diaries

The lost apothecary

Rogue protocol - murderbot diaries

Exit strategy - murderbot diaries

Network effect - murderbot diaries

Harrow the Ninth - the locked tomb

Nona the ninth - the locked tomb

Fugitive telemetry - murderbot diaries

Ninth house - Alex stern

Hell Bent - Alex stern

Out of character

We could be so good

Practical Magic

Such sharp teeth

System collapse - murderbot diaries

Lord of shadows - the dark artifices

Queen of air and darkness - the dark artifices

Neverwhere (and how the marquis de carabas got his coat back)

If we were villains

The song of Achilles

Chain of gold (and fairytale of London) - the last hours

Storm front - the Dresden files

Chain of iron (and one must always be careful of books) - the last hours

Chain of thorns (and ought but death) - the last hours

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Fool moon - the Dresden files

Grave peril - the Dresden files

Summer knight - the Dresden files

Midnight in the garden of good and evil

Circe

Last call at the local

The ladies of grace adieu & other stories

Factory girls

Flyaway

Death Masks - the Dresden files

Blood rites - the Dresden files

Dead beat - the Dresden files

The end of the world is a cul de sac

The southern book club’s guide to slaying vampires

Proven guilty - the Dresden files

Murder on the orient express

Children of blood and bone

Atalanta

The final girl support group

The cemetery of untold stories

White night - the Dresden files

The atlas six

The atlas paradox (& sacred hospitality short story)

The magician’s nephew - narnia

The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe - narnia

The horse and his boy - narnia

Prince caspian - narnia

The last boyfriends rules for revenge

The voyage of the Dawn treader - narnia

The silver chair - narnia

The last battle - Narnia

You should be so lucky

The atlas complex

Interview with the vampire - vampire chronicles

White cat - curse workers

Red glove - curse workers

Black heart - curse workers

The queer principles of kit Webb

The lost sisters

The perfect crimes of Marian Hayes

Small favor - Dresden files

Turn coat - Dresden files

So this is ever after

The Vampire Lestat - vampire chronicles

Working for Bigfoot - Dresden files

Changes - Dresden files

The Queen of the damned - vampire chronicles

Lyra’s oxford

The tale of the body thief - vampire chronicles

Side jobs - Dresden files

Ghost story - Dresden files

Memnoch the Devil - vampire chronicles

Cold days - Dresden files

The pairing

Shadowed souls - Dresden files

Skin game - Dresden files

Renegades - renegades trilogy

Archenemies - renegades trilogy

Supernova - renegades trilogy

Masters of death

The nightmare before kissmas

Brief cases - Dresden files

The familiar

Physical:

Young Avengers - gillen & mckelvie run

Men at arms

Ghosts of the shadow market

The red scrolls of magic

The lost book of the white

Soul music

Free country a tale of the children’s crusade

Romancing the beat

Mighty nein origins: Beauregard lionett

Mighty nein origins: caduceus clay

The prisoner’s throne

Sex criminals vol 1

Sex criminals vol 2

Sex criminals vol 3

The pairing

Sex criminals vol 4

American vampire vol 1

American vampire vol 2

American vampire vol 3

Sex criminals vol 5

Sex criminals vol 6

American vampire vol 4

American vampire vol 5

Young Avengers - original run

The Saturday night ghost club

Batgirl: Stephanie Brown vol 1

Batgirl: Stephanie Brown vol 2

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: Queen Bee by Amalie Howard

Queen Bee is Machiavellian regency fun full of manners, slander, and a plot for revenge. It's essentially Bridgerton meets Mean Girls, which makes it a light historical romp with a dash of modern sensibility.

This book gives "Ela can't come to the phone right now. Why? Because she's dead" vibes. So, in other words, it's an escapist respite!

Three years after her reputation is tarnished by her former best friend, Poppy (aka London's resident Regina George), Ela comes waltzing into ton with a new name (Lyra) and a fake backstory (she's a rich heiress with no title), hell-bent on retribution. This time, the odds will fall in her favor. This time, she'll land on top. She'll make sure of that. In fact, not only does she have plans to ruin Poppy's life, preventing her from making a good match in the marriage mart, but she also intends to break the heart of the boy who broke her's all those years ago...or so help her!

However, once Keston, the handsome and charming marquess, is within her orbit again, nothing goes according to plan. (Which, pssh--as if I'd want it any other way!)

Although I wished the revenge angle had been leaned into a little more, particularly at the beginning when Ela/Lyra was still smarting from the trauma of her past betrayals, this was an absorbing read. I flew right through it. I loved the diversity of the characters as well as the themes about the power of forgiveness and the representation of true friendship. The romance between Ela and Kes could have had more build-up or oomph, but it was still cute in that coy, you've-been-trampolining-on-my-heart-from-the-start YA way. It felt fitting for them as a pairing well as for the YA genre on the whole.

I liked it. Definitely worth a read. So if you're looking for a story full of scandal and schemes, but also one with a wholesome heart at its center, then this is the historical romance for you!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for my review.

3.5/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

[lyrasky]

Judas Priest【Hell Bent for Leather】和訳解説

Judas Priest【Hell Bent for Leather】和訳解説 Lyraのブログへ #JudasPriest #HellBentForLeather #RobHalford #GlennTipton #DaveHolland #LesBinks #KKDowning #IanHill #ジューダスプリースト #NWBHM #FleetwoodMac #EddieVanHalen #heavymetal #metalgod

アルバムリリースも絶好調なJudas Priest!! 今秋には日本公演も決定。日本にロブ子たちが行くのでファンは、首を長〜くして待っているのでは？ そんなJudas Freaksで、”Metal Mania”な(Robが好きでよく言う言葉)貴方の為に、今日はJudas Priestのライブで良くプレイされて来た大人気曲の1つ【Hell Bent For Leather】を和訳解説しちゃいましょう！ 夜の高速をぶっ飛ばすのに最高な曲よん！ Continue reading Judas Priest【Hell Bent for Leather】和訳解説

[adowryofblood]

Ninth House

Hell Bent

[sesskagarchive]

Do you know any sesskag dubcon/rape fics?

Hello anon, thanks for asking.

We decided to compile a list so here are some recommended fics for Dubcon/rape. Some of these even come with Sequels! Happy Reading!

Admin Wicked/k9plus1

DUBCON LIST:

A Curse of Lust by Squash/Fearless miko:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net,  Rating: MA Summary: A lusty curse leaves the females in Inuyasha's group running for their lives...and towards their destiny! 

A Mere Digression, by elle6778:

Posted on: Dokuga  Rating: M Summary: A digression was what Sesshoumaru called it. ‘It’ being the heated encounters between him and Kagome which took place simply because neither of them could resist. Heed warnings and notes in the first chapter.

A Woman!, by sugar0o:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net , Rating: M Summary: Based somewhat off the idea of Mulan, staring our fav paring Sess/kags, AU, their both demons, because well it makes it easier, and I don’t want to make Sess human, its not right! [lemon w/a plot] this has 2 points, I want to write a lemon to get more comfortable with them, also I want to explore detailing my writing, I will ask that you give serious reviews/critiques, bc I want to learn from this, not just entertain and enthrall. *COMPLETE as of 9/3/9*

Acquisition, Possession, Seduction, by Mistress Sianna: 

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net Rating: M Summary: “Do not think for one moment that you can escape me.” he said slowly, deliberately. \"You Higurashi Kagome, are mine! Only I will decide if you will stay, if you will go, if you will live or if you will die.\"

Alpha, by Lyra/ lyrainthedark:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net Rating: M Summary: Kagome mates Inuyasha...but Inuyasha was reluctant. Why? Pack politics...and his brother, who is Alpha. What that means will take time to learn, if Kagome can only live long enough for the lessons... Finally Complete!

Bound by Corruption, by BelovedStranger/ Two Hearts:

Posted On: Dokuga. AO3, FF.net   Rating: M Summary: Inside every individual, darkness dwelled large or small. A young woman, cast under her elder sister’s shadow, was bent on proving her worth. A terrible threat hung over her village, giving Kagome the opportunity she had been waiting for. On a mission to save them all from the hearts of evil men, she journeyed to the Inu no Kami’s temple to beseech divine intervention. Instead, danger befell the headstrong woman. Rather than obtaining help from a merciful god, another stepped in to slaughter her enemies, but for a price. An Inugami did nothing for free. Status: Completed

Detrimental Desires, by Mistress Sianna:

Posted on: Dokuga  Rating: M Summary: The idea was to make Inuyasha kill Kagome. Little did Naraku know, that on the night of the new moon, Inuyasha looses his demonic powers. Instead, Sesshoumaru and Kagome will be forced to succumb to their most detrimental desires.

Fix It, by Smortz:

Posted On: Dokuga. Rating: M Summary:  When Sesshomaru needs Kagome to help him, she takes advantage of the dog demon now in her debt. As they set out on a new journey, will Kagome be able to overcome the problem that arises? Pun Intended.

He Must be Breeding, by ChaoticReverie:

Posted On: Dokuga  Rating: M Summary: Sesshomaru requires the perfect female to bear his heir, and Kagome… well, she doesn’t know how she gets herself into these messes.

Heated Blood by Imani Joain:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net, AO3 Rating: M Summary: Kagome cannot help but try to fix anything she finds broken, even if it is not in her best interest to do so. When she comes across Sesshomaru in dire need of assistance, she cannot deny herself. She only hopes that he won't kill her for it. Rated MA for graphic intimacy. Staus: WIP

House of Ill Repute, by Aurora Antheia Raine:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net, AO3 Rating: M Summary:  "I will never be yours." // "But you will be, miko," he nearly purred, "you will be when this Sesshoumaru is finished with you."

Irresistible Temptation, by DestinysTears:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net     Rating: M Summary: Sesshomaru finds he cannot ignore this inexplicable temptation. (Oneshot)

Just Another Lemon, by Tiegrsi: 

Posted on: Dokuga Rating: M Summary: Sesshomaru has gone into heat, and finds Kagome willing to put up with his antics. Kagome thinks he was unable to find a suitable woman, and came to her as a last resort. Perhaps there are some things Kagome needs to learn

Lair, Lair, by susie: 

Posted On: Dokuga   Rating: M Summary: After nearly being nearly absorbed, Sesshoumaru's Bakusaiga is forged, and we all know the rest of the story... or do we? In a deal with Sunrise to accelerate the events of TFA, part of the infamous manga was left on the cutting room floor. Though the hack job began well before that. For the sake of public decency, and in accordance with Japan's obscenity laws, the spiciest and most controversial scenes from the original manga were banned from ever seeing the light of day. Until now. On the condition of anonymity, a diligent hacker provided via email a copy of the raw version you were never meant to see. This is Inuyasha Nights – The Lost Chapter *Dubcon

Macaria, by mythicamagic:

Posted on: Dokuga, FF.net, AO3 Rating: M Summary: Post-apocalyptic AU. Human women were all but wiped out when the demons took over. What few remain have gone into hiding or concealed their true gender. When Kagome hears news of an orphaned little girl, she'll stop at nothing to protect her from the dangers of the world- including the city of demons and the infamous Killing Perfection. But is he friend or foe? Status: WIP

Not Impervious, by Oroyukae: 

Posted On: Dokuga   Rating: M Summary: He was supposed to be the most powerful demon in existence; one that none could best in any situation, at any time. That was not entirely accurate, it would seem. One error in judgment at the most vulnerable of times, and all that he knows lay in jeopardy. Just what would said being be willing to agree to in the direst of circumstances? {FIN}

Passion, by CiraArana:

Posted On: Spark, Rating: M Summary: Sesshomaru turned to her and gazed back. He did nothing else, just standing there, looking at her... As he kept his eyes on her, his lust for blood and killing faded away, leaving behind another lust. For her. Status: Abandoned

Poison of Erised!, by Vyncent:

Posted On: Dokuga, Rating: M Summary: Tomorrow night, brother moon would be witness to the music that he heard, and felt in his very soul, as he howled his conquest to his blood red face. Tomorrow his hunger would be fed by the blood and flesh that he hungered for, and the world would know of his claim. Status: Abandoned

Poison Within, by Angelic Memories:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net    Rating: MA Summary: *Two-Shot* Due to a nasty bite Kagome is poisoned and fights for her life. Inuyasha can only think of one person who might be able to help her but there’s a problem he didn’t consider.

Secret Possession. By SakuraAngel1:

Posted On: Dokuga Rating: M Summary: Sesshoumaru is forced to put his mating plans into action a lot sooner than expected, and has Kagome kidnapped in order to fulfill it. When Kagome awakens, she finds herself as the new Lady of the Western Lands...with no Lord in sight… Status: Abandoned

Sleeping Beauty, by Catalina:

Posted On: Dokuga Rating: M Summary: Based loosely on the Disney movie, but darker and a bit twisted. Sesshoumaru is betrothed to a little human princess who is delivered a curse by the hanyou Naraku, Kikyo, Miroku, and Kaede agree to raise the child in safety. Smuts in final chapter. Status: Completed

Striking a Deal With the Devil, by Smortz:

Posted On:  Dokuga, FF.net,   Rating: M Summary: Does anything sound funner? Kagome needs help from the new Commissioner. A man that gave 'bad reputation' its standards. However, will Kagome be able to pay the price he demands when a life is on the line? Status: Completed

The Sacrifice, by Catalina:

Posted On: Dokuga   Rating: M Summary: Kagome is lured to a strange village, where she finds herself in an unpleasant situation. She is to be a sacrifice to an as yet unnamed youkai. Semi-non-consensual. Status: Completed

Trapped, Breeder, by sesshou_lover:

Posted on: Dokuga Rating: M Summary: N/A Status: Completed

Virginity of the Soul, by Madison

Posted on: Dokuga, FF.net, AO3 Rating: M Summary: Fresh from a betrayal that shattered her world, she was lured into getting even. Alas, the ones we trust and love aren’t always the ones we should. Semi-PWP. COMPLETE Staus: Complete

The Western Breeding, By Blackthorn:

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net, Rating: M Summary: The end has come. Demons have found that certain humans can breed pure blooded demon pups. Sesshomaru is leading with Kagome running from the demon lord. Once she is at his side can she learn to love her captor for the sake of her unborn pup or find a way out? Status: Abandoned

RAPE LIST:

Blood Stained, by Madison: 

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net, AO3  Rating: M Summary: COMPLETE! A sudden loss of control intertwined their fates. It dragged her through hell and he couldn't have cared less. She tried to escape her fears but the only way to do it was to face him through time and love.

Heat of Exchange, by Catalina: 

Posted On: Dokuga Rating: M Summary: It is that time of year for demon women, but Kagome is experiencing something very strange. Sesshoumaru arrives to help her, against her wishes. Freshly beta'd now.

Hell’s Shadows, by Catalina:

Posted On: Dokuga Rating: MA Summary: Formerly named "Ghost of Death" Sesshoumaru lives in hell requiring human women to increase his own power. Kagome falls into his waiting claws, while all of hell is turned upside down by her.DARK. NON CONSENSUAL.

His Wife, by Aries_heart: 

Posted On: Dokuga, FF.net, AO3,    Rating: MA Summary: "With a kiss on her shaking lips, he would leave for work and once the door was closed she would allow herself to cry once more. And then the cycle will repeat."

I Don’t Want a Mate, MLMonty: 

Posted On: Dokuga Rating: M Summary: Sesshoumaru goes into heat during mating season and rapes Kagome. Now she's pregnant and wants nothing to do with him. Should Sesshoumaru respect her wishes and leave her unguarded while she carries his heir?  Status: Abandoned 

Kagome’s Trust, by Fire_and_Earth_Sorceress55/Huntress-of-Flames-55:

Posted On: FF.net, AO3   Rating: M Summary: When Kagome is raped by Sesshomaru on the night of the new moon. Kagome goes home to the future as finds out that she is pregnant with pups? PUPS! Now one year later, she decides to go back to the feudal era.

Paper Cranes, by midori Haru: 

Posted On: FF.net  Rating: M Summary: Meeting, attraction, courting, commitment. For most of the world relationships form in the normal fashion from start to culmination. Naturally normal isn't enough for Sesshoumaru. And he wonders why he runs into problems trying to build a relationship from the wrong end.

Principal Life, by Catalina: 

Posted On: Dokuga Rating: M Summary: Kagome is dating the principal's brother, and he finds out about it. What can an untrained miko hope to accomplish when she is so ignorant of youkai mating traditions? Story is dark and now involves non consensual situations, with more to come. Status: Abandoned

Rise Again, by Catalina: 

Posted on: Dokuga   Rating: M Summary: Youkai have become weak and feeble but are attempting to strengthen their population. Sesshoumaru leads them, and discovers the solution to their problem in an unwilling human. VERY non-consensual stuff happens. Frequently.

S t a s i s, by wonderbug: 

Posted On: Dokuga, AO3  Rating: M Summary: Love, he tells her, as he trails a claw along the pathway of her shivering spine, is only a human notion. [VERY dark; drabble-ish CU/AR]

The Breeder, TexanLady: 

Posted On: Dokuga  Rating: M Summary: There is more to Kagome than anyone could ever imagine. After learning of her destiny Sesshoumaru swears to make her his at any cost. Once forced to his side can Kagome teach him to love or learn to love him. Status: Abandoned

[magicianapprenticelyra]

Happy Birthday—It’s A Heist! (1/2)

Asra Alnazar, what trouble did you get into?

The heist happened right on Lyra’s birthday. As with anything with these two, it is never a dull moment.

Midnight has just rolled around when Lyra is pounced by two very familiar weights.

Birthday!

“Happy birthday, my love,” Asra murmurs into her ear, kissing her cheek.

“Asraaaaa...” Lyra mumbles, wiggling to get out from under her partner and his familiar.

Sitting up, she squints in the dimness of the room. The moonlight filtering in through the uneven blinds over the window reveals the small cake in Asra’s hand. There’s a little white candle is stuck into it, illuminating Asra’s and Faust’s faces.

“To your health tomorrow, your birth yesterday, and your death a million years away,” Asra recites, balancing the plate of cake in his hands.

Lyra looks into his pink-violet eyes, heart squeezing.

She remembered the last two birthdays—the one immediately after her resurrection was spent battling a flu so awful Asra thought she was going to die from it—; whenever Asra said that birthday blessing, his voice heavily wavered on ‘death’.

Before, Lyra never questioned why he looked ready to cry at that part. Knowing why now, however, made it all the more poignant.

She blew out the candle, getting twin ‘yay!’s from her dear friends. With a laugh, Lyra pulls over a table so Asra can set down the cake and cut into it.

The cake is vanilla, the filling a mango sort of mousse. Lyra flops back into the bed after taking a bite, earning laughter from Asra and Faust.

It is delectable.

“Gods, it’s heavenly,” Lyra practically moans.

“Should I ask Selasi to make something like this?” he laughs, taking a forkful into his mouth.

“Only if you want to,” Lyra replies, offering Faust some of the mousse. “We still need to get those spices for him.”

“We’ll find them,” Asra reassures, cutting into the cake for another slice. “From the word-of-mouth and Selasi’s directions, we’ll find them.”

Asra grabs the pitcher of tea from the top of the dresser, pouring it into cups for the both of them. It paired well with the cake.

As they clean up, Faust loops around Lyra’s shoulders like a fancy scarf. The little morph is happy to be that way, singing a silly song with her magician and his partner.

Once that task done, Asra pulls Lyra into a dance, still singing softly with her. There’s no fancy footwork here: it’s just a little swaying back and forth over the floor, heads bent enough to touch their foreheads together.

It only stops when Lyra leans forward just a tad, brushing her lips over Asra’s. His hands release hers, arms favoring to encircle his lover’s body to bring her closer, deepening the kiss.

Faust takes her cue to slide down Lyra’s side, plopping onto a pillow on the floor.

“Whoops!” Lyra gasps, apologizing to Faust. “You okay?”

I’m okay! Faust reassures, coiling herself onto the pillow as Asra picks it up, putting her back on the bed.

“There we are; no harm done,” Asra reassures his fretting partner. He kisses Lyra’s cheek, pulling her back to bed.

They settle into it, backs to the wall behind them, arms linked. Lyra leans against Asra, nuzzling him.

“Sleepy?” Asra murmurs, kissing her temple.

“A little...” Lyra yawns. “Thank you for the cake.”

“You’re welcome, my love.”

Lyra giggles, hiding her face behind her free hand.

“What?” Asra teases, gently poking her cheek.

“You’ve been calling me that for the past month...” Lyra murmurs. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.”

Asra reaches over, gently lowering the hand that hides her face. “Should I call you something else then?”

“Nooooo, don’t,” Lyra laughs, un-linking her arm from his. She flops back into the bed, soon joined by her lover.

Asra rests his head on her chest, head tucked under her chin. Lyra pulls up the blanket over the two of them, gently wrapping her arms around her partner.

“Goodnight...” she hums, giving one last kiss to Asra’s forehead before falling asleep.

⁂

The next morning...

Breakfast is a simple platter of food from the inn’s owners. Asra, Lyra and Faust—with a flicker of her tongue—thank them before digging in.

At the moment, Lyra is adding another few dashes of pepper and salt to the bland eggs when the sound of distressed horses catches her ears.

The next thing she knows is that Asra is yanking her away from an oncoming horse-drawn cart smashing into the side of the inn.

“OH NO-”

“AAAAH!”

“ALRIGHT!” Someone from outside declares, drawing a long sword. They flash it around, frightening the inn owners and the other patrons. “IF YOU WANT TO KEEP ALL YOUR FLESH ON YOUR BODY, HAND OVER EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!

“I DON’T CARE IF YOU GOT NOTHING—WE’LL SHAKE YOU UPSIDE-DOWN UNTIL SOMETHING FALLS OUT!”

Asra and Lyra look at each other, eyes wide in alarm.

What are we gonna do? Lyra’s frightened eyes beg of Asra.

He responds by flattening himself even further on the ground, avoiding the robbers’ gazes.

Faust is hidden in his bag, Lyra hoped. Around them, the sound of jewelry, coins, bills being rifled with, and yes, a patron being held by their ankles, upside-down, until a coin fell from their pocket, is what they hear.

Then, a pair of boots clomped over to where they laid upon the floor. Lyra instinctively reached out for Asra, who tightly grips her hand in turn.

“Aww,” the robber sneers, squatting down beside the two of them. “Isn’t this sweet?”

“Hurry it up,” a partner of theirs huffs, grabbing jewelry from a protesting patron.

“Alright, hand me the bag,” the robber commands, tapping the toe of his boot against Lyra’s shoulder.

“No,” Lyra refuses, not looking up.

“I wasn’t asking,” the robber retorts. “Hand me the bag.”

“There’s a snake in there,” Asra responds, glancing up at the robber. “She’s poisonous.”

“What the hell are you doing with a snake in your bag for?” the robber mutters, reaching for the bag anyway.

“We warned you,” Asra murmurs.

The robber hesitates, glancing at the magician’s glowering purple-pink irises. Nevertheless, they grab the strap of the bag, only for Faust to whip herself out of her hiding place, hissing.

“ACK!” they yelp, falling on their ass.

Asra grabs Lyra’s hand, along with his bag. They make a break for it—

Only for Lyra to be caught in bolas by one of the other crooks. She crashes hard onto the dirt, pulling Asra down with her.

A pair of the goons descend upon them, pulling them apart. Asra successfully thrashes out of one of their grips, getting into a scuffle.

The magician’s about to send a whirling sphere of water into their face when one of the attacker’s partners hoists Lyra by her entangled ankles, dangling her right over a previously hidden knife in their shoe.

“Stop the magic, kid,” they drawl. “I wouldn’t want to cut up this pretty friend of yours now.”

“Come quietly, and we’ll let you live,” they add, the light glinting off of the boot-knife. “On top of that, you two turtledoves will be a part of our next hit. Otherwise-”

They tap the side of their boot’s sole against Lyra’s cheek, making her flinch.

Asra lowers his hands, and soon he’s tied up, placed in a cart—Lyra being thrown in beside him—and pulled away.

⁂

Later...

To say the least, the band of robbers treated them well... well enough. Sitting on their knees, the pairs’ hands are bound behind their backs, ankles lashed with rope.

Both Asra and Lyra are interrogated about their magical abilities. Asra admits his propensity in water magic, while Lyra wasn’t so sure how to describe her own.

When threatened with a knife again, she says it was “A bit of this and a bit of that.”

“That versatile?”

“I dunno—what do you want from me!?” Lyra screams at them, everyone shushing her to be quiet.

Despite being miles from any town, they weren’t going to take any risks.

“Easy, Miss,” the one that held her upside down earlier says calmly. “We just want to see whether or not you and your friend can help us in our next endeavor.”

Asra and Lyra look at one another, the latter more worried.

“We’re not asking you to kill anyone!” they add, squatting down to be eye level with them. “If it makes you any more comfortable, my name is Kip.”

Asra introduces himself as Amar, and Lyra as Liên. As she says the name, a strange tugging sensation arises at the back of her head. Asra seems surprised for an instant before returning to a neutral disposition.

Kip and the others turn away from the pair, talking in low voices. As they do, Lyra scoots herself closer to Asra, swallowing thickly.

“Did... did we ever talk about using that name before?” she murmurs, making sure only he could hear.

“Mm, not that I recall,” Asra replies, gently nuzzling her. “You pulled it out of your own mind.”

“...why does it feel so wrong?” she whispers, unsettled.

Before Asra can reply, Kip and the others turn to them once more.

“Alrighty,” Kip says, tapping his boot against the dirt. “We’re bringing the two of you in on our next job. For now though, get some rest. We’ll be moving come twilight.”

That decided, the band of robbers moved them out of the ropes and into some shackles. They’re tethered to a nearby tree, but the comfort came with the fact Asra, Lyra, and Faust—slithering out of her magician’s bag, stashed in another tent—could huddle together, maintaining some kind of comforting contact.

As she leaned back against Asra’s front, her mind swam with the name she uttered earlier.

Liên, Liên, Liên... did she know someone with that name? It sounded so foreign, and yet... it rolled off her tongue so easily.

She continues to play with that name in her head, eventually falling asleep.

Liên, Liên, Liên...

Part II: TBA

A/N: And that is Part I! Thank you guys so much for reading, and for wishing Lyra and I a Happy Birthday today/within the past week. I greatly appreciate all of you, and wish you a good rest of your day!

[silveryinkystar]

Over the Hills and Far Away

Rating: Teen (for descriptions of violence)

Summary:  In the middle of the night, the Tartars ambushed the gyptian camp, and another child was taken. The fight of Bolvangar starts here.

A/N: Title taken from The Amber Spyglass, based on this post. SPOILERS for Episode 5

Warnings: Description of violence (immediately above and under the cut, for a single paragraph). 

Read on Ao3

It had all happened in the dark. The gyptians had retreated into their tents after young Billy Costa’s funeral, exhausted from the travel and the day’s emotions. Lyra, unsure of what to do without intruding into the Costas’ grief, hovered outside in front of the pyre for all of five seconds before Lee offered to share his tent with her.

Lee couldn’t exactly blame the kid. While she’d been the one to return Billy to his family, she probably felt out of place in their sorrow, as much as he did. She may have known them for longer than the three days Lee had joined their procession, and the Costas may love her, but she understood the need to offer them privacy. It was probably for the best that Lee, as a non-gyptian adult, to be able to offer her comfort without being brushed off (however unintentionally) by a grieving gyptian family.

And so, the Tartars came in the middle of the night. Lee woke up to startled shouts and the assembly of gyptians outside his tent. He shot upright, with Hester alert beside him for any sign of danger. He looked over to Lyra’s side and frowned – it was empty, but he supposed she must have gone outside to see what was happening. Pulling on his furs hastily, he stumbled out of the tent flap, narrowly missing an arrow aimed at him.

He cursed and ran into the fray, even as a roar told him that Iorek was also fighting. A group of men with wolf-dæmons had attacked the camp. Just as one pulled back his arm with the string of his bow, Lee lunged at him, shoving him to the ground with all his weight. The man let go of the arrow, which whizzed past Lee and lodged itself in the neck of one of his fellow attackers. Lee wasted no time, knocking him out with a single blow. An arrow – this time from the gyptians – found its mark in the Tartar. His wolf-dæmon disappeared in a wisp of golden light.

Lee got to his feet, pulling up the fallen man’s bow and quiver. He’d never tried archery before, but he’d left his weapons in the tent.

“Lee, behind you!”

Lee abandoned his efforts in getting an arrow out of the quiver and spun around, lashing out with the bow. With some level of luck, the string caught around the man’s neck. Lee pulled back sharply, and the string snapped free, effectively slicing his neck. Blood splattered across the snow as the man fell, pooling around him. Lee swore once more and put the man out of his misery before looking around.

It hadn’t taken long for the conflict to end, surprisingly. Lee wondered how exactly a small group of unprepared gyptians had managed to defeat a group of Tartars from the Sibirsk regiment, but-

Wait.

Lee ran for his tent, pulling out his flashlight from his kit-bag and lighting it. He swept it across the tent once.

“Has anyone seen Lyra?”

A few of the gyptians shook their heads, and dread trickled down Lee’s spine like ice. A few more anbaric lamps joined the bright beam from his flashlight, illuminating the area enough for him to see everyone. “Lyra!” he called. No response.

He spotted the gyptian king and shouted to get his attention. “Lord Faa, have you seen Lyra?”

Some of the desperation he felt must have reflected in his expression, for John Faa laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder for a moment before suggesting that he ask Ma Costa. Her response was that of concern, since she hadn’t seen Lyra since the funeral. In a community of gyptians who treasured children (landlopers and all), she had had no reason to think that Lyra would be in any sort of danger.

Lee decided not to trouble her any longer and searched the entire camp for the girl. Twice. Hester kept up with him, occasionally stopping to ask some of the dæmons whether they’d seen her, each time with a no. By the time Lee returned to the clearing, he was incredibly out of breath and (not that he would admit it) terrified for Lyra.

John Faa didn’t wait for his announcement that he couldn’t find the kid, and promptly shouted for the camp to get ready at once. Iorek padded up silently, just behind Lee, who skidded to a halt and bent over double as he tried to regain his breath.

Struggling to get the question out, Lee asked Iorek whether he’d seen Lyra anywhere, which also produced an answer in negative.

The king once more moved to assure him that they would hasten to Bolvangar to find Lyra, but Lee couldn’t hear him over the sound of his heart pounding and ears ringing. He’d had one job, to protect the kid who’d been sleeping a foot away from him in his tent. How had he managed to miss her getting kidnapped? He breathed slowly and deliberately for a minute, tuning out everything else, and when he was sure he wouldn’t panic, straightened.

“Lord Faa, I know we’ve been making steady progress for Bolvangar, but we just found out exactly what they’re doing up there to them kids. I don’t want her to be there longer than she has to be, not one second.”

Lord Faa nodded. Lee heard the soft padding of feet behind him.

“What’s going on?” Ma Costa asked softly.

“Lyra’s missing,” Lee said. “I’ve been ‘round the camp twice now, no sign of her.”

“You think she was taken by the Tartars.” It wasn’t a question.

“M’lady, that’s the only explanation that makes sense. Where else is she going to run off to in the middle of the North? There’s nothing around here for miles, she can’t have gone alone.”

She turned a sharp gaze to him. “Mr. Scoresby, how fast can you get your balloon up?”

The question, so unexpected when he’d thought she’d accuse him of carelessness, was enough to throw him off. “I – I suppose that would depend on how soon I can find a vent. After that, an hour will do.”

John Faa stepped back and barked an order for some of the older gyptians who’d campaigned in the area to look for some vents that lay along their route. “These are our fastest runners,” he assured Lee. “They will return with the location soon enough.”

“Good,” Ma Costa said brusquely, which snapped Lee back into action. He wondered whether her demeanour was a front or whether it was a genuine reaction to finding a task that sounded achievable that would actually help them reach Bolvangar soon.

“Once they do, Mr. Scoresby, I want you to fill your balloon up with gas and fly ahead of us. If you do reach Bolvangar before the rest of us, which is likely, then tear the place down if you must and find Lyra. We shall take care of the other children when we catch up.”

The dæmon of the witch they’d consulted with flew over to them. “I shall fly ahead as well.” Nobody objected to this.

Lee nodded and sprinted up to his balloon, checking on the mechanism and strapping everything firmly to the sled. “Iorek!” he shouted. “I could use you up here.”

The old bear growled and loped over to him. “We all will find the girl,” he promised.

“I know.” For a moment, Lee allowed himself to give voice to his rising distress that he’d managed to keep under wraps. “You saw that poor kid, Iorek. You know as well as the rest of us what those – those monsters do to the children they take. What if we’re too late? What if-”

“We won’t be late,” Iorek said gruffly. “Or have you forgotten how to fly?”

“I’m being serious, the Station is obviously going to be well-protected! Hell, if I ain’t careful, they’ll probably shoot down the balloon before we get a chance to find Lyra.”

Iorek only growled in reply. Lee bit back a few more choice words of frustration and sighed. Hester nudged his foot slightly, ears twitching and lying flat against her back.

“Then we have to leave now, Lee,” she said softly.

“Yeah,” he said in a slightly choked voice. He cleared his throat and tried to force some jovialness into his voice. “C’mon, Iorek. It’s you, me and Hester. Just like the old times.”

Iorek grunted but mercifully didn’t grace them with a dry comment as he otherwise might have. Lee realised that he was wringing his hat and immediately put it back on, catching Ma Costa’s look. He nodded at her in thanks as she stood, backlit by the sunrise and the gyptians in action.

She nodded back, and Lee found that he could read the subtext in the set of her jaw perfectly, for it was a perfect reflection of his own determination, his worry and fear and hope that they would get her back.

It was time.

[sazandorable]

Descriptions Of Lord Asriel That I Cannot Fucking Handle

(spoilers, btw)

So. Surprisingly probably no one ever, it turns out i just Can Not Handle Lord Asriel. I feel personally victimized by Lord Asriel and everything it means about me. I remembered liking him a lot but I never realized how this fucking man apparently shaped my tastes for all male characters and father figures ever. (DISCLAIMER THO: YEAH OK I DO HAVE MY OWN DADDY ISSUES BUT HE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM MY DAD AND UNRELATED TO THEM. Shocking, yes.)

On first rereading attempt I excruciatingly managed to get through the first chapter and finally just stopped there and screamed in a pillow and stepped away to collect myself, and it took me over 6 months to even consider going back to it.

Which I’m doing now, but that means I still had to reread that first chapter again.

And yeah. Y e a h.

Have a collection of my suffering through the first 3 chapters of the first damn book

"Good evening, Wren,” said Lord Asriel. Lyras always heard that harsh voice with a mixture of pleasure and apprehension.

This is the third thing said about Lord Asriel ever and is also where I first lost it back in October and I’m STILL absolutely losing it, WHAT A SENTENCE.

Gods, Lord Asriel explains everything about me and my tastes in character kdfljdkgjldjgfljglfdgjfg DAMN IT.

jesus, every ten lines i need to take a break and calm down

The Butler looked uncomfortable. Guests entered the Retiring Room at the Master’s invitation only, and Lord Asriel knew that;

THIS FUCKER WHO JUST LIKES TO DO WHAT HE WANTS AND MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT IT

Lyra’s uncle moved across to the fire and stretched his arms high above his head, yawning like a lion. He was wearing travelling clothes. Lyra was reminded, as she always was when she saw him again, of how much he frightened her.

that lion simile is totes uncalled for

(Stelmaria:) “You should rest.”

He stretched out in one of the armchairs, so that Lyra could no longer see his face.

“Yes, yes. I should also change my clothes. There’s probably some ancient etiquette that allows them to fine me a dozen bottles for coming in here dressed improperly. I should sleep for three days. The fact remains that —”

He’s snarky and funny and he makes you want to bundle him up under five blankets and he’s still intimidating I hate him so much

“There are only three dozen bottles left of the ‘98.”

“All good things pass away.”

HE SAYS THIS SHIT ABOUT A FUCKING BOTTLE OF WINE (and still intends to drink it)

Then Lord Asriel stood up and turned away from the fire. She saw him fully, and marvelled at the contrast he made with the plump Butler, the stooped and languid Scholars. Lord Asriel was a tall man with powerful shoulders, a fierce dark face, and eyes that seemed to flash and glitter with savage laughter. It was a face to be dominated by, or to fight: never a face to patronize or pity. All his movements were large and perfectly balanced, like those of a wild animal, and when he appeared in a room like this, he seemed a wild animal held in a cage too small for it.

*burrows face in book*

*slowly rolls over and crawls on floor to a cliff from which to throw self off*

Too much. Way too much. What the fuck.

(also please note there has been absolutely zero physical description such as hair or eye color, and yet this is the most eloquent and striking description of any character so far)

He seized her wrist and twisted hard.

“Lyra! What the hell are you doing?”

“Let go of me and I’ll tell you!”

“I’ll break your arm first. How dare you come in here?”

“I’ve just saved your life!”

They were still for a moment, the girl twisted in pain but grimacing to prevent herself from crying out louder, the man bent over her frowning like thunder.

b y e

what the fuck is that last simile oh my god Pullman PLEASE stop making Asriel sound like legit pagan god

There was a knock on the door.

“That’ll be the Porter,” said Lord Asriel. “Back in the wardrobe. If I hear the slightest noise I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

She darted back there at once, and no sooner had she pulled the door shut than Lord Asriel called, “Come in.”

I can’t quite put into words what it is exactly that tickles me so much about the fact that Asriel calls out so fast without giving Lyra any spare time to hide properly, but it does. (He’s a ruthless ass, basically.)

And then I won’t copy that but he basically tells Lyra that he won’t help her but still deliberately makes sure she can see what he’s going to show everyone, he keeps telling her to stay out of this but also decides to show her, knowing full well that she’ll be interested. And of course he enrolls her to be his spy. The amount of misplaced and unexpressed fatherly pride he has to be feeling right now. We get absolutely no hint of it in the text, but. He’s so mad and unkind with her but what he must be FEELING right now, seeing Lyra suddenly wildly jumping out of a wardrobe out of nowhere saving his life like a proper little spying little shit. Like father like daughter lakdklskflanfklsdnf GET OUT ASRIEL AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

As soon as the door closed, Lord Asriel looked across the room directly at the wardrobe, and Lyra felt the force of his glance almost as if it had physical form, as if it were an arrow or a spear. Then he looked away and spoke softly to his dæmon.

ex c u se me. things that are uncalled for, 2: this

She came to sit calmly at his side, alert and elegant and dangerous, her green eyes surveying the room before turning, like his black ones, to the door from the Hall as the handle turned. Lyra couldn’t see the door, but she heard an intake of breath as the first man came in.

“Master,” said Lord Asriel. “Yes, I’m back. Do bring in your guests; I’ve got something very interesting to show you.”

HE’S SO DRAMATIC

WHAT A FUCKING DRAMA QUEEN

WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF SET-UP HE JUST SAT ThERE WaiTING WIth his COFFEE

STOP HIM

THIS IS An ADuLT MAN AND HE JUST DOES THAT FOR SHITS AND GIGGLES

And this was just chapter one.

Chapter 2, just a paragraph later:

“Master,” said Lord Asriel. “I came too late to disturb your dinner, so I made myself at home in here. Hello, Sb-Rector. Glad to see you looking so well. Excuse my rough appearance; I’ve only just landed. Yes, Master, the Tokay’s gone. I think you’re standing in it. The Porter knocked it off the table, but it was my fault. Hello, Chaplain. I read your latest paper with great interest...”

He moved away with the Chaplain, leaving Lyra with a clear view of the Master’s face. [...] Lord Asriel was already dominating the room, and although he was careful to be courteous to the Master in the Master’s own territory, it was clear where the power lay.

how does anyone ever handle Lord Asriel in-universe. Also please note how he blithely and pointedly lies to the face of the man who just tried to murder him. This asshole I just

Then he just goes on being as dramatic as possible and pointedly and dramatically ignoring people and showing off a mutilated human head to a bunch of old men with no warning, presumably also just for the shock factor and shits and giggles again.

(Lyra’s narration also mentions quite a few times that she wishes she could see it and wants to hear more about scalping and i also love this child so much)

Lyra looked again at her uncle, who was watching the Scholars with a glitter of sardonic amusement, and saying nothing.

Asriel: *just stands there saying and doing nothing*

Me: *points at him* fuck you

She woke up with a start when someone shook her shoulder.

“Quiet,” said her uncle. The wardrobe door was open, and he was crouched there against the light. “They’ve all gone, but there are still some servants around. Go to your bedroom now, and take care that you say nothing about this.”

“Did they vote to give you the money?” she said sleepily.

“Yes.”

“What’s Dust?” she said, struggling to stand up after having been cramped for so long.

“Nothing to do with you.”

“It is to do with me,” she said. “If you wanted me to be a spy in the wardrobe you ought to tell me what I’m spying about. Can I see the man’s head?”

Pantalaimon’s whiter ermine-fur bristled: she felt it tickling her neck. Lord Asriel laughed shortly.

“Don’t be disgusting,” he said; [...]

He says this but he laughed. Like father like daughter fuck me I bet he’s just so conflictedly delighted that she grew up this way and they got to have this little spying family bonding.

“[...] Do as you’re told and go to bed.”

“But where are you going?”

“Back to the North. I’m leaving in ten minutes.”

“Can I come?”

He stopped what he was doing, and looked at her as if for the first time. His dæmon turned her great green leopard-eyes on her too, and under the concentrated gaze of both of them, Lyras blushed. But she gazed back fiercely.

“Your place is here,” said her uncle finally.

once again Lyra’s direct and completely spontaneous request for Exciting and Adventurer things, but also urgh, urgh, urgh, that gaze, and how Asriel needs a minute to tell her no. He thought about it. He pictured it. And then he said no but she put that thought in his head and he didn’t say no immediately and uhrgikdfhgjfdhjghfkghkdg.

“[...] Do are you’re told and go to bed, and if you’re a good girl I’ll bring you back a walrus tusk with some Eskimo (sic) carving on it. Don’t argue any more or I shall be angry.”

And his dæmon growled with a deep savage rumble that made Lyra suddenly aware of what it would be like to have teeth meeting in her throat.

Lyra compressed her lips and frowned hard at her uncle. He was pumping the air from the vacuum flask, and took no notice; it was as if he’d already forgotten her.

WHAT A GOOD NICE DAD

and this is the end of that but we get a flashback in chapter 3 of Asriel’s visits:

[...] and he called her to stand in front of him and tell him what she’d learned since his last visit. And she would mutter whatever she could dredge up about geometry or Arabic or history or anbarology, and he would sit back with one ankle resting on the other knee and watch her inscrutably until her words failed.

i was just about to yell “WAIT THE THING ABOUT ASRIEL IS JUST BIG DICK ENERGY” but no it’s not just that, it’s definitely also a lot of gratuitous being a bastard.

and then he leads her on with questions about her dirty nails just to make her lie then reveals he saw her playing on the roof, but then instead of chewing her out about it he’s just 

watching her sardonically.

And then he listens to her talking about what parts of the roofs are or aren’t accessible and encourages her to explore the undergrounds.

“I’m surprised you haven’t found that out.”

(fuck you!)

then he gives her pocket money (in gold) and asks her if she respects the Scholars and Stelmaria laughs when Lyra answers ‘yes’ and Lyra blushes.

relatable.

ok that’s it thanks for coming to my TED about how much i love and hate Lord Asriel his terrible parenting and his fucking incredible ideas of family bonding

[skittea]

I always wondered how the pokemon protags felt after the whole game

Like everyone acts all hunky dory after all the shit went down. Maybe a few mentions of what transpired, but nobody really acknowledges it. And the protag is just a kid after all, even the BW/B2W2/Xy protags who are all 15-17, they’re still babies in reality.

Red/Leaf, they fight off the mafia. Great right, but it’s still the mafia. And red runs off to the mountains for 3 years if that’s anything to go by. Dick head jones is the least of their worries.

Kriss/Gold/Lyra are the same as the Kanto kids. Maybe slightly better off since Neo Rocket wasn’t as powerful. But I 10/11 year olds would be a bit messed up after seeing a bunch of slowpokes being kinda sort slaughtered. But still better off. Dealing with the mafia sucks for everybody is all. And there’s the whole thing where Giovanni maybe maybe not threw himself off a waterfall and died? 

I think the Hoenn kids are better off out of all the regions. Then again they did see the beginning of the end of the world. And in ORAS they have a 12yr old deal with the morality of destroying another world to save your own. Then launch you into space at mach 20 on rayquza. In a diving suit? Not to mention Zinnia busting into you’re home and beating you up for you’re brand spanking new chaos emeralds mega stones.

Then there’s Sinnoh. Team Galactic isn’t fun, they want to rip apart reality. I dunno about you, but 11 year olds have no reason having existential crisis. But then everyone expects this literal 5th grader to save the world for them. Rowan and Cynthia push you to do this, that’s real fucked. And I guess being in the distortion world doesn’t do well for the adolescent mind.

In BW I know the protags are 15/16, 14 is pushing it but sure. A bit more mature, but still young. I’ll say the same for the B2W2 protags. But really, that’s no age for anybody to be thrown into a battle of truth/ideals and the morality of society as it has been since the dawn of human/pokemon kind. Not to mention N who has his ninjas jump out of who knows where and drag you around. The gym leaders help, so you aren’t alone this time. But it’s all up to a fucking high schooler!

Okay so I just wanted to write about the Kalos protags, cause I’m baised. These protags are canonically 16+, but are you really going to have this still devloping child save the region/world (Wiping out a whole country will fuck up the whole damn world and you know it). Also, Team Flare really likes holding people hostage/kidnapping people? I don’t know how many hostage situations you have to diffuse to mess you up, but I’d say not a lot. And fuck man, you came 7 seconds shy of seeing the world as you know it get eradicated! You’re mom, new friends, every human and pokemon you met along the way dead! Then you barely make it out of the underground lair when Lysnadre shoots f his death ray anyways. And depending on the version, in X he’s immortal and maybe escaped his rock tomb? In Y he, might still be immortal I dunno. But also basically killed himself? I never played Y so I dunno if there’s any any dialogue differences at that point.

Then you and your pals get a Ribbon, for being the Hero of Kalos? Like fuck, they’re being treated like war heroes. I know citizens can get ribbons to, but if you go face to face with a domestic terrorist hell bent on genocide of just about every living thing. I’m guessing this ribbons is a bit more than being an the best damn normal person in the country.

I suppose for SM/USUM Selene and Elios have it the best overall. Alola had a cherry tone, and even the serious parts didn’t feel too down. Although dex entries were far more serious, so I guess we’re finally acknowledging that there are armed 5th graders on the loose. But dealing with a street gang, no matter how goofy is pretty jarring for a 11 year old. And if they’re from Kanto, depending on how much time passed between B2W2/XY and SM/USUM, they could have lived through Team Rocket and Neo Rocket. Then there’s Aether, you’d think they’re the good guys. But no, betrayal. I don’t think an 11 year old could handle something on such a level so well. Despite their blank expressionless face. Then there’s the whole alternate dimension stuff, that’s really cool as a kid. But also a bit existential crisis-ish?

Look you can go to the direct parallel world to get and extra Cosmog. But it’s no different from you’re world. Hau’s there training the ex-skull grunts? Lillie is gone? Aether is there, Gladion is in charge? It’s all you’re friends but also not at all! Also why is there another Cosmog? There’s either two Cosmogs in this realm and no change, or this timeline is all wonked up? Maybe Lusamine never existed? Maybe the crisis never even happened? I don’t know, a damn 11 year old sure won’t.

Anyways I’m don! If you read that through, thank you. These are raw thoughts and I didn’t really plan on being a coherent human here. 

[thebrownkniz]

Lyra M. Starling

4:30a.m.

The back fire of an old N-6 woke me from a deep slumber. It's fumes seeped through the open screen above my bed creating a pink, swirling haze. Holding my breath, I rushed to the living quarters. Personal cruisers weren't allowed to fly at that altitude within the Compound for this very reason. I leapt onto the grand, bay window that sat facing the Intell. Through it's frost bitten panes, I could still make it out.

"3 - AF0"

Outlining the I.D. number in the condensation, I let out a deep breath warming the glass making the information more visible. 

"There."

Even with the neon water droplets dancing down the window panes, I followed the perp's tail lights towards the city limits and out of sight. Stretching out from my position, I fidgeted around looking for my notebook. I always leave it on the coffee table but somehow ended up under the couch, across the room from me.

"Three, dash, A, eff, zero." I thumbed through the pages, perching on the arm of the couch. 

"Mhm, must be new." I scribble down the I.D. number and small description.

3-AF0

Red Body

Single Seat

Double Tail Engine

Tail Wing

Back Fire

The simulation wasn't scheduled to begin for a couple hours. Jumping back from the window, to the back of the couch, swinging on the doorframe of my sleeping quarters, I silently landed on my bed.

I couldn't tell you what I had been dreaming when the engine woke me earlier. My heart had been pounding and all the hairs on my body were on edge. Usually I have vivid dreams but this, this one was different. It felt...different.

I laid there for a moment lost in past memories, when suddenly a sense of dread filled the air. I couldn't pinpoint the scent at first but left a bitter taste in my mouth. It reminded me of a childhood full of rough housing and scraped knees.

Trying to snap out of it, I could hear quickened footsteps rounding the corner to the alleyway. Harsh breathing echoed off the empty building beside ours through my still opened screen. I poked my head up for only a spilt second but I knew it was him, "Mifune."

His brassy, iron door slammed shut my under my feet, rattling the floor. Mifune was the older gentleman that lived on the bottom floor of our building under mine. He was an average height and build, for a mammal, with sun kissed skin and brown hair that he slicked back behind either ear. A rugged and dirty beast yet always sporting clean cut facial hair.

I could hear the steamy water rushing through the chilled pipes down to his floor. Mifune comes and goes for extended periods of time, but without a doubt, no matter what, he always takes a shower the moment he arrives home. If the water doesn't start within minutes of someone entering the room, then I know it's an unwanted guest.

"Mifune, you sons of ah bitch!"

A large male threw a bolder at Mifune's window, missing.

 "I'm gonna fuckin' kills ya if you don't have my credits!" Throwing another patch of gravel and missing yet again. 

"You hear me, boy?!" The silver-tongued male in the purple suit howls has he bites down on his gar letting out a cloud of smoke from every hole in his face.

His goons bang on the door once more before entering. Their boss threw his gar on the ground and returned to his escourt cruiser parked in the alleyway, where he waited until they were fished ransacking Mifune's place. At this point, I can't imagine Mufune owning anything of value with how many times it's been broken into like this.

I don't understand how this behavior is allowed within the Compound and to someone in the program. I cut my own thoughts off, Mifune wasn't really apart of the program, he merely lives in our building. No one seems to notice him expect for me. I mean, not that I'm noticing him; he tends to keep to himself and I'm just home, often. I'm pretty sure that Miles told me he was born on Earth and would have to be hundreds of years old in Earth's rotation and has lived here for just as long.

Tap, Tap, Tap.

Three small taps came from the other room breaking my train of thought. I wasn't sure I had heard them at first then I heard them again but a touch louder. 

"Knock, Knock, Knock!"

I peeked around the corner from the doorway. I could see the light from under my door flicker as someone stood anxiously.

"I know you're home," he growled softly as I pressed my hands against the door, quietly peeking through the peek hole.

"Hey!" He banged on the door once more making all the hair on my body stand perfectly at attention.

I slowly unlocked the bolt and hopped back to the couch as he busted open the door slamming it closed quickly behind him. Without looking at me, he rushed to the bay window.

"Close your curtains. Here, help me close the curtains." He danced around the room tracking filthy water behind him when he suddenly snapped back me catching me a little off guard.

"Hush." He growled with his golden eyes cutting through the darkness.

"I didn't- I haven't said anything."

It didn't take but a moment for the yellow, flickering light to fill my apartment with caution. My body slid down the wall keeping my eyes locked on Mifune as he lowered his body to the floor just under the window. Even in the yellow daze, I knew water wasn't the only thing dripping off him.

"Are they, after you?" I asked calmly.

His eyes shot a glare at me,

"Sh- Wait. What?" He crawled toward me like a sweet puppy, "Hey," he whispered, "I know how this looks. This is my blood; you have nothing to worry about. I promise, I ju-"

We could hear the marching of people outside the door going up the stairs past mine and Jaydee's loft to the attic room; maybe six or seven beings, at least.

"You can come out now or we will enter the facility." A male's voice announced.

"Psst. Who lives in the attic?" Mifune was now sitting next to me eyes locked on the ceiling. I looked away from the ceiling back at his face, I had never been this close to him before. He may be an old soul but not necessarily an old man. 

"I have lived here since I came here," you could hear the busting sound of the wooden doorframe as they marred in the door; "no one lives up there."

"Uh, clearly someone does," Mifune smirked crawling back towards the window. I could hear people outside my door once more, then Jaydee's voice coming from just outside his place. "Hey, what's going on out here?" I pressed my face against the door with my eye locked at the peak hole.

"Sir, this is a personal matter and I will have to ask you to please go back into your living quarters." It was the same man that spoke from before.

"Raiding our building at five in the morning and busting down a door to no one's room is a personal matter?" Jaydee's glowing white hair set ablaze into a fiery red.

"Jaydee, don't." I rushed to him through the crowd of people, "Don't make things harder on you than it has to be."

It wasn't until I reached him did I notice who the crowd of people actually were. Multiple Peacemakers, a few Angels and a pair of Halos.

What was going on here? Peacemakers do not come to the Compound.

The only person that had spoken this whole time was a Peacemaker dressed all in white with a yellow band around his left bicep. When he turned to walk away, they all made their way through the front gate and back to their cruisers. It wasn't until then did I wonder where the hell Miles was during all this. He was always missing the "action" around here.

"Hey, are you okay? What happ-"

"I'm fine." Jaydee snapped starting up to the attic room, hair still a blaze.

"H-have you seen Miles?" I yelled up the twisted stairwell.

"Nope, haven't seen that Rat since day before yesterday."

With his front door wide open, I grabbed his staff from just inside the doorway. He's room felt- I got a feeling something was wrong and raced up the staircase to the attic room where Jaydee was still standing in the doorway.

"Jay?"

It was a dark and gloomy room, covered in a thick untouched sheet of dust. A long table ran along each of the four walls with one small tipped over stool in the middle. At the far end of the room near the floor, was a small window covered by an old piece of sheet.

There was no way someone was living up here.

"What the hell?" Jay murmured under his breathe behind me. "I can't get a reading for the room, someone has completely cleared it. Peacemakers can't even do that fully, you know?" He ran his hand over the table, leaving a trail in the dust, picking some up and moving it between his fingertips while pondering the situation at hand.

"Maybe the Peacemakers got clearance, somehow."

"Lyra, Lyra, Lyra. Don't make me laugh, honey."

He snatched his staff, "Hey." Only it was too late, he was already gone.

Teleporting must be an extremely useful gift to own. When we met he told me that he has always been able to do this since he was a young being. I mean, you could be right in the middle of having a full blown conversation with the guy then, poof! That's Jaydee Ryvers for ya.

I stood there for a moment examining the room when I noticed that the stool was now sitting upright. Thinking that was odd my gut feeling returned as I rushed out of the open doorway. I took a deep breath and turned around half excepting something to have been chasing me.

The dull attic light reflected off something under the table that caught my attention. I hadn't noticed it before either. It looked as if it were a small nut or bolt-like item. I power walked over and bent down to grab it when the metal door slammed against the broken frame causing my body to jolt, smashing my head against the bottom of the table, and dropping the item.

"Shit."

The item had left a small trail in the dust where it rolled away to. I stood with haste looking around the room when I noticed only my footsteps where left in the dust, "Odd." I put the item in my pocket and walked to the entryway. Peering back into room one last time, even my footsteps were now gone.

I peeked into Jay's open room on my way down to my floor, but then heard him and Miles talking downstairs. I slammed my opened door heavily behind me and plopped down on the couch, the simulation had finally started up.

Maybe I should call in that plate now. I reached into my pocket, pulling out the item. Holding it up to the light, I noticed a small flash of coding on the inner lip. I had that horrible feeling something bad was about to happen again but the feeling didn't keep me from drifting off to sleep; with the warming light beaming on my face, I didn't even stand a chance.

[a-case-of-neverland]

The Storm is Here, Part Two

Fast forward to the present, and Ash downed another shot. “They really think they’re something else,” He said with a yawn.

“Don’t drink all the damn stuff, you idiot.” Newt snapped, snatching the glass. “I want some too.”

Sienna tapped her fingers on the table. “So what do we do? Give them the money?” “Of course not. It’s Captain’s fault for trusting me.” Ash rolled his eyes. “I still can’t believe he actually believed me.”

Persephone applied a fresh layer of red lipstick to her lips with her knife as a mirror. “Do I look alright?”

“You look lovely, Kryp. Why? Fittin’ to dress up?” Sienna laughed.

Ash snorted as he stood up and picked up the bottle, putting it in the fridge as Persephone replied, “If I’m gonna raise hell, I wanna look pretty.”

“Do we even know where their base is?” Newt asked, leaning forward in his chair.

“Somewhere by the water,” Lyra replied, “I think they hole up in the lighthouse they claimed a while back.”

Ash let out a long sigh through his nose and stood up, going over to the map on the wall. “Lighthouse, hm?” He muttered as he stuck a bright red tack in the spot. “I think we should have that. I like it.”

“What’re you thinking?” Newt gave Ash a crooked smile and put an arm around him, studying the map.

“The car’s still in the garage, yeah?” Ash asked.

Newt nodded, stretching. “Where else would it be?”

Ash went and sat down at their table again, putting his chin in his hands as he studied the map in thought. He could potentially have a plan.

A series of four knocks pounded on their front door, like someone slammed their fist each time. Persephone stood up, swinging her mirror-knife into her pocket and skipping to the door and peering through the peep hole. “Ooo! Radon’s here.” She called, as she flung open the door and shoved a knife to his throat. “Whaddya want?”

The green haired boy ducked under the knife and sauntered around her, stretching. Newt scoffed when he walked in. He’d never liked Radon. Neon had always rolled her eyes and said it was because the two were so much alike.

“I’m a little confused, Helium.” Radon said, his eyes sweeping the room and picking up a knife from the counter and tossing up and down. “You said that none of my people would be affected by your little.. Heist, do you call it?”

“I did,” Ash nodded, picking up a knife of his own and twirling it in his hand. “Why?”

Radon reached in his leather jacket and pulled out a polaroid. On it, was a boy with his face blurred out, blood slicking his shoulder, the side of his head. Blonde hair was the only visible feature, stained crimson.

“Exhibit A.” Radon’s voice was calm, flat, but Ash had spent his entire life reading people. Rigidness. Anger. Barely contained, boiling underneath Radon’s calm surface. He wondered what this person truly meant to the green haired criminal.

“Exhibit B,” Radon continued, pulling out another polaroid. On this one, it was nothing more than a girl laying on her back, her bra hook undone to show the full potency of a huge scrape going up her back. Ash stared, blinking. One could never be too cautious with Radon, never knew when he was telling you the whole truth, or the truth at all. Was now the case?

Ash pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket and slid them on, lifting the photos from Radon’s hands with his fingertips and passing them to Lyra without even looking.

“Authenticity check.” He explained to Radon with a shrug. “I’m sure you don’t mind, do you?”

Radon met Ash’s gaze, staring directly at him as he crossed his arms. “Not at all.”

A loud sigh came from the curly headed figure as they looked up. Bent over their workstation, they brushed some powder off the table. “He’s not making this up, Helium. They’re real pictures.”

“What do you have to say for yourselves?” Radon asked, one of his eyes beginning to twitch. Helium took a deep breath. He knew if they didn’t defuse this green headed criminal, and quickly, there would be hell to pay. Radon didn’t look like much, but he could topple their base  single handedly if he truly felt like it.

Krypton walked over and put her skinny arm around Radon’s shoulder. “Hey now, you’re so tense over this. Let’s get you a drink, and then we’ll sort out what happened. Sound good?”

“Did you do this or not?” Radon spoke again, his hands turning into fists at his sides. He refused to even incline his head towards Persephone.

Helium stretched his wrists. “No, actually. What satisfaction would the Gases get out of destroying relations with your side of Ichor?”

“Then who did this?” Radon asked, cracking the knuckles underneath his leather gloves. “They’ve got hell to pay and I will make sure they do.”

“Start from the beginning, would you, dude?” Newt broke in, sitting backwards on a chair. “You haven’t exactly told us what happened, besides your people gettin’ hurt because of one of our Heists.”

Radon took in a deep breath through his nose, sitting down across from Helium and Newt. “I went out for some business the day you and the Pyrates had your little Heist. When I got back, after you guys were done, two of my people said they’d been attacked by someone in a hooded cloak with your marker on it. So naturally.. I came here.”

“Our marker?” Newt asked, raising a brow, glancing around.

Wren frowned from his place polishing his sniper on the floor and said, “It wasn’t me, I know that much. I only shoot, not well, scratch up backs.”

Lyra looked over to Radon. “Can I see that second photo again?” They asked. Their voice was unreadable, but Helium had an idea of what they were doing. Lyra was smart. If anyone could figure this out, it was them.

Radon passed over the photo wordlessly and began to pace before whirling on Persephone. “Did you do it?” He demanded of her. She didn’t even look up, only buffed a nail.

“Gods, no. I don’t do that whole bloody attack thing. The only red I handle is my lipstick.”

Helium stood up suddenly, speaking up, stepping between Radon and Krypton. “Radon, it wasn’t a Gas. Gases don’t attack with scratches. We shoot.”

“Then who was it?”

Lyra raised a hand. “The second wound appears to have been dealt with a hook. Oddly enough, Quartermaster of the Pyrates has a hook he sometimes wears to operations. It’s good for taking out a knee or an eye.”

“I don’t understand, why would the Pyrates attack wearing our clothes?” Persephone asked.

Radon had stood up and now was headed towards the door. “Radon?” Sienna called.

He didn’t even stop, slamming the door on the way out.

“Well, shit.” Newt muttered. “Ladies, gentlemen, and Argon, I do believe we have a storm brewing.”

“The storm’s already here,” Helium spoke up. “It’s just starting to sprinkle.”

[adowryofblood]

I just finished Hell Bent and if Leigh Bardugo makes me wait for over three years again I'm going to die

[adowryofblood]

It's been three very long years but I'm finally about to read Hell Bent!!! Here's to getting Darlington back!

[adowryofblood]

VAMPIRES???

[adowryofblood]

Somehow I doubt that...

[adowryofblood]

Well this tag didn't age well

It's been three very long years but I'm finally about to read Hell Bent!!! Here's to getting Darlington back!