#mother of crows ; ic ;

[shixnoxhana]

[The man's wings fluffed up slightly as he wandered into the enchanted woods, pulling his hat down to shield the sun from his eyes as he carefully held onto the scroll tucked under his arm. Stepping into the clearing with the statue of Lady Death at the center, he looked around, lifting his hat a bit.] "Kristin?"

- @the-grxnd-archive

The breeze gently grew as the pressence of death made herself known. Taking control of the statue, her smile was soft as she opened her mouth. Gradually the Statue became more and more human like as she possessed it.

"Phil~! I've been waiting! How long has it been, My love?"

[southernmotherofdragons]

Shireen Baratheon, Val and greyscale - A Song of Ice and Fire - Game of Thrones

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Word Alternatives: Colours

BLACK atramentous, charcoal, coal, crow, darksomeness, denigration, duskiness, ebony, funereal, jet, inkiness, melanism, melanotic, midnight, niello, obsidian, pitch, raven, sable, singe, sloe, smirch, smoke, sombrous, soot, swarthiness, swartness, tar

BLUE aquamarine, azure, berylline, cerulean, cerulescent, cyan, cyanosis, cyanotic, electric blue, ice-blue, indigo, lividity, midnight, navy, Oxford blue, pavonian, pavonine, peacock blue, robin's egg blue, royal blue, sapphire, turquoise, ultramarine

BROWN adust, auburn, beige, biscuit, braise, bay, bronze, brune, brunette, buff, burnt umber, burnt sienna, caramel, castaneous, chestnut, chocolate, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee, drab, dun, embrown, fawn, grege, hazel, henna, infuscation, khaki, mushroom, ochre, paper bag, pumpernickel, raw sienna, raw umber, roan, rubiginous, rufous, russet, rust, scorch, seal, sepia, sorrel, suntan, sunburn, tan, taupe, toast, umber, walnut

GRAY ashiness, canescence, cinereous, cineritious, dullness, ecru, fuscous, glaucescence, greige, grisaille, gunmetal, hoar, iron, lead, mousiness, oyster, pewter, slatiness, smokiness, steel, taupe

GREEN aerugo, aestival, avocado, beryl, chartreuse, chloremia, chlorophyll, chlorosis, chlorotic, emerald, foliaged, glaucescence, grass, greensickness, ivy, jade, loden green, holly, olivaceous, olive, patina, patinate, pea-green, smaragdine, springlike, verdancy, verdantness, verdigris, verdure, vernal, virescence, viridescence, viridity

ORANGE apricot, cantaloupe, carotene, carroty, ochreous, ochroid, pumpkin, saffron, tangerine, terracotta, Titian

PINK carnation, coral, coralline, flesh-pink, incarnadine, peach, primrose, roseate, rosy, salmon

PURPLE amethystine, aubergine, bruise, empurple, fuchsia, lavender, lilac, lividity, magenta, mauve, mulberry, orchid, pansy, plum, puce, purpure, purpureous, raisin, violaceous, violet

RED beet, blowzy, cardinal, carmine, carnation, carnelian, cerise, cherry, copper, crimson, damask, encrimson, erubescence, erythema, erythematous, erythrism, erythroderma, ferruginous, fire, floridity, floridness, flushing, gules, hectic, henna, incarnadine, infrared, laky, lateritious, lobster, lurid, magenta, mantling, maroon, miniate, port, puce, raddle, rose, rosiness, rouge, rubefaction, rubicundity, rubor, rubricity, ruby, ruddiness, rufescence, rufosity, russet, rust, sanguine, scarlet, stammel, vermeil, vermilion, vinaceous

YELLOW aureateness, auric, aurify, banana, begild, bilious, biliousness, cadmium, canary, chartreuse, citreous, citrine, citron, engild, fallowness, flavescent, flaxen, fulvous, gildedness, gilt, goldenness, honey, icteric, icterus, jaundice, lemon, lutescent, luteous, luteolous, mustard, ochroid, old gold, primrose yellow, saffron, sallowness, sandy, straw, sulfur, topaz, xanthism, xanthochroism, xanthoderma

WHITE achromatic, alabaster, albescent, albinic, besnow, blanch, bleach, bone, calcimine, chalk, cream, cretaceous, eggshell, etiolate, ghastly, ivory, lactescent, lily, lime, milk, pearl, sheet, swan, sheep, fleece, flour, foam, marmoreal, niveous, paper, pearl, phantom, silver, snow, driven snow, tallow, teeth, wax, wool

VARIEGATION (diversity of colors) spectrum, rainbow, iris, chameleon, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, ocelot, zebra, barber pole, candy cane, Dalmatian, firedog, peacock, butterfly, mother-of-pearl, nacre, tortoise shell, opal, kaleidoscope, stained glass, serpentine, calico cat, marble, mackerel sky, confetti, crazy quilt, patchwork quilt, shot silk, moire, watered silk, marbled paper, Joseph's coat, harlequin, tapestry; bar code, checkerboard

variegation, multicolor; parti-color; medley or mixture of colors, spectrum, rainbow of colors, riot of color; polychrome, polychromatism; dichromatism, trichromatism; dichroism, trichroism

iridescence, iridization, irisation, opalescence, nacreousness, pearliness, chatoyancy, play of colors or light; light show; moire pattern, tabby; burelé or burelage

spottiness, maculation, freckliness, speckliness, mottledness, mottlement, dappleness, dappledness, stippledness, spottedness, dottedness; fleck, speck, speckle; freckle; spot, dot, polka dot, macula, macule, blotch, splotch, patch, splash; mottle, dapple; brindle; stipple, stippling, pointillism, pointillage

check, checker, checks, checking, checkerboard, chessboard; plaid, tartan; checker-work, variegated pattern, harlequin, colors in patches, crazy-work, patchwork; parquet, parquetry, marquetry, mosaic, tesserae, tessellation; crazy-paving; hound's tooth; inlay, damascene

stripe, striping, candy-stripe, pinstripe; barber pole; streak, streaking; striation, striature, stria; striola, striga; crack, craze, crackle, reticulation; bar, band, belt, list

mottled, motley; pied, piebald, skewbald, pinto; dappled, dapple; calico; marbled; clouded; salt-and-pepper

Source: The Concise Roget's International Thesaurus, Revised & Updated (6th Edition) More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[shixnoxhana]

She merely glanced at the lower god. Her gaze screaming with anger.

"And whom are you saying will get hurt by this so called "chain reaction", Dear?"

Her gaze was unnerving, demanding of respect.

"Neither you nor Prime had any right to touch one marked by she who controls Death."

You wouldn’t dare. You know what this could do. You could cause a Cain reaction that could harm innocent. You don’t want that, do you?

[franzkafkagf]

you're your mother, sweetling; you sunk your teeth, ragged and sharp into my mother, she let you suck her dry. now you sink your teeth into me, and I'll let you suck me dry.

inspired by this post by @15step

Mine / A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin / House of the Dragon / A Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin / A Feast for Crows – George R. R. Martin / A World of Ice and Fire – George R. R. Martin / Fire and Blood – George R. R. Martin

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Some randomly assorted six of crows headcanons/thoughts/theories/idk

(feel free to agree/disagree/add your own to the list)

I think this is a pretty popular one but that Baghra survived the Grisha trilogy and was the blind Grisha amplifier being held captive at the Ice Court

Kaz is everything that Van Eck wanted in his child and that’s why he and Wylan bother him so much more than the other Crows (I have a whole essay on Kaz & Wylan parallels if anyone wants to read it)

Matthias’ mother and/or baby sister were Grisha and he didn’t know, and that they were actually killed by Drüskelle during the skirmish and Brum told him it was Infernis as part of his manipulation (this is not mine originally but I’ve seen it a lot so I don’t know who first said it, sorry)

Cornellus Smeet’s wife is brunette

I don’t necessarily think that Alys’ child is Bajan’s, though I have wondered this in the past and wondered what Wylan’s reaction might be if the kid weren’t actually his sibling, but I do think they were in or prepared for a secret relationship and that he would happily help her raise the baby as though it were his own

Mentioned this is a post recently but I think it’s possible that the reason Wylan has so few memories of his mother but such clear memories of being 8, and even younger, and going on all of the trips abroad with his father (Ice Court, Elling, Novyi Zem, Shu oil fields, etc) is because whenever Marya stood up to Van Eck, either in defense of her herself or Wylan, Van Eck would punish her by separating her from Wylan and Wylan was too young to know that was happening

I think that if Van Eck won and Kuwei went back to the Ice Court after Crooked Kingdom that the Kerch would have formed an alliance with the Fjerdans. I think they would have been able to successfully move through Ravka and I think that the Shu Han would have then declared war against them both. I also think that it’s possible Novyi Zem would ally themselves with the Shu and it would lead to a WW1 scale event. I have my reasons for this and I have a fic on ao3 exploring the idea and following the Crows in the potential aftermath (Our Gods Have Abandoned Us), but I also think it would be a really interesting discussion to get going I would love to hear other thoughts on it as well

[newtonsheffield]

Neddy taking a portrait of his Anthony.

You can’t convince me otherwise 🥹

Oh 😩😩

He’s got his Uncle Benny’s camera and he’s going around the room taking photo after photo.

“Anthony-Daddy!” Neddy called out. “I’m taking pictures!”

Anthony laughed, crouching in front of his son whose entire face was eclipsed by the camera. “Do you want normal Daddy?” He let Neddy take a picture of him smiling, trying not to blink against the flash. “Or do you want Dinosaur Daddy?”

Anthony let out a roar as Neddy took the next picture and scooped his son up. Neddy giggled and kicked his feet against Anthony’s side as his father spun him around the room.

“This has been so good for him.”

Kate startled away from staring at them, her heart feeling as though it was clenched in Anthony’s fist. She turned towards Anthony’s mother, taking the other woman in.

His mother sighed, “I know that you shouldn’t use children to grow necessarily, the burden shouldn’t be on them. But he’s been so closed off since his father died. I think Neddy’s just been the push he needed.”

Kate swallowed, “Was he like this before? When we met he was… different. Not bad different, just quieter. Sadder maybe.”

Violet gave Kate a sad smile, watching Anthony out Neddy on his shoulders. “He was just like this before his father died. Now he’s back and it’s… beautiful. And Neddy is just such a beautiful boy.”

Kate nodded, “He’s been… honestly I can’t imagine telling someone you had their baby years ago goes any better. Anthony’s a great guy. He’s supportive to coparent with, he’s a good Dad and Neddy loves him. I’m thankful for him.”

“We’re all thankful for you.” Violet squeezed her hand as Anthony jogged, over, Neddy laughing from his shoulders camera held at the ready.

“Take a picture of Amma, Neddy. Then we’ll be able to see how a giant would look at her.”

“Amma!” Neddy crowed, his chin resting on the top of Anthony’s head. ��I’m big like my Anthony!”

“Mmm,” Kate hummed, “Must have been the ice cream I saw Daddy give you earlier.”

Anthony looked a little guilty, “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I didn’t have ice cream.” Neddy tutted, “It was just a tiny scoop. Daddy said it didn’t count because it was little like me.”

“But you’re big now.” Kate pointed out chuckling. “You just told me.”

She had Neddy there. She could tell from his pout. “Still doesn’t count!”

[piecesofacrow]

Hannah walked out of the bedroom with a few blankets and sheets, smiling at Anny. She set the blankets down and started to smooth out the area, making her a place to rest. Israel glanced over at Anny as she seemed confused by sheets. They really gave her nothing in that prison huh.

"Sheets. You know, to keep you warm." He told her, heading into his room and grabbing one of his pillows, walking back out with it. "We've got a heavier blanket laid out on the floor for you to rest on." He said as Hannah pulled a couple sheets away, patting the blanket.

"Sorry we couldn't give you a full bed. We really only have the one and it's kinda taken. I hope this will do for you." Hannah told her, adjusting the pillow that Israel put down for her.

She remained silent, taking in the information he gave her. She held onto him throughout the ride, not seeming to understand the possible implication. "Night... it feels different. Not bad, but different." She hummed, before blinking upon the request of sheets once they arrived.

"Sheets...?"

[shixnoxhana]

Mom, I think I’m gay.

- @tommyinnit3

"Oh... Uhm- Dear, I love you regardless you know that right?"

[absolutebl]

Meet You At the Blossom - Watch Along

Maybe a trash watch? We will find out.

But first what do we know about this show?

Well, I can't for the life of me remember the title. The article placement it too weird so it will henceforth be called Blossom okay?

Here's what I learned from @renafire

Duck daddy!!!!! I bring news! China didn't kill the gays! Meet You at the Blossom is an HEA! Golden retriever XiaoBao x ice prince Huaien (who gets the shit stabbed out of him an awful lot for being a ML). A side CP of dumb, pretty bodyguard x eccentric doctor. The background plot was basically a bunch of middle age men fighting about the ML's long dead mother. Needles! So many needles! (It was practically a sickfic tbh) Flapping sleeves! Flowing hair! Poison! Politics! A villain weirdly into kites! Prisoners in chains you can easily slip your hand through! Dimples! Loyal bodyguards becoming family! It's not the best thing ever, but it ends happily! There was even a line about "true love has nothing to do with gender" which I feel like is a big deal for something associated with China?

This convinced me to watch, so I thought I'd just post it verbatim to convince you, too.

So I'd refused to watch Blossom because I assumed the leads would die or at least be torn asunder at the end, and that there would be no kisses.

So this Watch Along is going to be me eating crow.

China pretty much always does censored BL (when they do it at all) since 2017 or so. You can watch something like My E-Sports Genius Brother for the style of "happy but censored BL" that I've grown to expect from China. (Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.)

They didn't used to do this! Time once was that China was this chaotic minefield of tasty mess meets terrible tropes (like kidnapping, stepbrothers, rape, whipping boy, and dub con). I had a weird love for it at the time because it was the Wild Wild World of BL beck then and I didn't know to expect better.

I come from 90s Yaoi. Remember?

Ah the bad old days. (You can read a history of CBL here. Not updated in ages.)

Where was I?

So, what I knew about Blossom was that it was a Wuxia BL and that it was made with Thailand, or for Thailand, or something to do with Thailand (there is Thai script on the promo material) and that it wasn't being distributed inside Mainland China. (I still worry about the actors but that's kinda a natural state for me and BL outside of Japan.)

Outside of China Blossom got wide distribution showing up everywhere iQIYI (China based), Viki (Japan based), Gaga (Taiwan based) WeTV (US Based) and YouTube (Thai Channel Artop Media is serving it).

It also looks like Heavenly is involved and they are Korea based. So like, everyone had their mitts on this thing. We live in crazy times.

Okay so, here are my 20 expectations:

Pony tails with a ribbon or two

Lots of questionable older tropes, especially dub-con & kidnapping (the herb that makes you horny maybe?)

Flowing filmy robes wafting everywhere

EXTREMELY PRETTY men, costumes, make up, setting... well, everything

No consent whatsoever

Pokey pokey, but not with the right kind of swords (a naked blade will be grabbed by a naked hand, sadly also not in the preferred way)

A bodyguard hotter than he has any right to be, wearing black

Floaty fighty fighty, including but not limited to: skid backwards through puffs of dust, a leap to land + one knee down + holding sword + head bowed, a twirly protect baby from baddies

A boat in a lotus pond

Poison, probably green, glittery if I'm lucky

Circular architecture

A big fuck off fan

Puppy-cat pairing

They wander through bamboo, sit down at the edge of a lake, probubly on a log

Wound tending, of course, because there will be lots of wounds

Someone pushed onto a platform bed (also kneeling in front of it)

A jail with straw in it

Older men with sparse beards detracting from the romance

Fruit or some other food being thrown

Some serious SLEEVE action.

Li Le as Zong Zheng Huai En

Probably the reserved unhinged one. Has sword, will prod.

He has a solid track record of shows under his belt. So to speak. One wonders how they persuaded him to do BL. He sure is pretty tho.

Wang Yun Kai as Jin Xiao Bao

The son of the wealthiest man in the Jiangnan region, probably the cheerful cute one.

He's an entirely green actor.

Most of the cast is from mainland China, with the exception of Achi Sukonlaphat Sribubpha, who is Thai (obvs) and under Artop Media.

Nancy Chen is directing

She is a Taiwanese director and screenwriter, who directed HIStory 4 and HIStory 5 (neither all that great) and was behind very queer friendly Pappy & Daddy.

I wouldn't call her a stellar director. I would say I've been reserving judgement, but if you pin me down I'd call her Taiwan's New.

Pitch

Xiao Bao (cute) falls in love with icy, white-robed stunner Huai En due to an unexpected meeting. Discovers she is actually a boy (and a baddie). Hijinx ensue.

Adapted from the novel Hua Kai You Shi Tui Mi Wu Sheng 花开有时, 颓靡无声 by Shui Qian Cheng 水千丞

Co-production with China and Taiwan. But the country of origin is listed as Thailand.

12 Episodes, 40 min each (or so) for a total fresh content run time of 8 hours.

Aired: Jul 11, 2024 - Aug 15, 2024 on iQiyi, Viki, WeTV, Gaga

Shall we get started?

I had a surfeit of options since Viki, Gaga, and iQIYI all had Blossom. I like Viki's interface best, want to support Gaga the most, but in this case, I opted for iQIYI because... screen shots. So it's all your fault.

EPISODE 1: Nicknames, pretty men, dimples, twirly, stabby, floof!

I don't like the intro music, it's too slow and tinkly, but classic for the genre I suppose. Still I'm fast forwarding through all the falling cherry blossoms.

All right. Now it's about time for... YES...

Emperor Infodump

Chancellor of Extraneous Explanations

As You Know Bo

Sorry sorry. The puns must flow.

The deets: layabout emperor = chaos & suffering. New emp = strong & popular but his baby bro wants to rule. New emp exiles bro to obscurity. New emp = good ruler. Order established through patriarchal dominance. Children laughing in the street. Got it.

I will not be remembering names, FYI.

We open on kid in trouble over a kite killed(?) by baddie.

Enter pretty spangled skippy puppy McDimples. I shall call him Dimples. Dimples = spoiled rich kid having trouble finding a wife - presumably because they all know he gay.

Enter hottie evil cut-glass cheekbones McPoutypants. Haven't decided what I shall call him. It'll come to me.

Extremely pretty men. CHECK.

Ooo, a big hat on horse back!

Of course, how could I not have had that trope on my checklist? My bad.

And a bunch of assassins slow-dropping out of trees like lazy fruit. I forgot that, too.

I gotta say, fairy prince or high elf is not a bad moniker for twirly-sword cheekbones supreme.

Floaty fighty fighty! CHECK

Oh, I thought they'd go in for crossdressing at the very least but I guess they went for Dimples is an idiot instead. Interesting choice. I see we also have the "baby is a clumsy bunny" trope all set to deploy. Carry on.

Grab the sword and skid through the dirt. CHECK!

And a fainting!

Pony tail with ribbons. CHECK

Dimples might be a bit too much of a prat and an idiot for me.

[Have begun watching at 1.25 speed. Don't fault me.]

I always find the orange/yellow eye makeup that Cdramas put on characters of questionable morality fascinating. Why those colors specifically? And why eye makeup specifically?

We arrive home. It fancy. Daddy doesn't want an unknown lady for his baby (silly daddy, ladies are for ladies, boys are for boys).

Everyone acknowledging that elf prince is, in fact, The Prettiest is very pleasing to me.

Meanwhile, there is some kind of list/stuff/thingy and Prince Shen wants it and is a bad guy, maybe? I can't remember names from the beginning so I have no idea what's going on with the plot but also, it is only going to get more convoluted. Plus the weekend is coming so I'll eventually be drinking and watching this. Plot is for people who don't like BL. And don't have six bottles of sake in their fridge.

Snicker.

Where was I?

Oh yes. Judiciously NOT following the plot.

Dimples and his 2 enablers seem to share about 1/3 of a braincell between them. But they're sincere about it.

Engage secret identity trope and the expected cross dressing.

Ooo Shen is The Prettiest's uncle? Damn it I'm trying to follow the plot again. Must not get sucked into plot. This is a Cdrama therein lies madness. Ah, Prettiest is the son of the emperor's exiled younger bro? Got it.

Twirly protect baby from baddies! CHECK

And that's episode 1 in the bag. In the sheath?

My thoughts so far:

This couldn't be more exactly what I expected if it tried. I mean it is trying. And it's succeeding in being a Wuxia BL. So. Yay! Performing to the packaging. I appreciate that in a show.

I'm looking forward to more.

(On the advice of one of my spies I've switched to watching on YT when I can, YT and Gaga are supposed to have the better subs than iQIYI and Viki. That said I found iQIYI's serviceable.)

EPISODE 2: Checking a bunch of stuff off my list in rapid succession

Poisoning?

No. Sex herb? CHECK

Discovery that she is in fact he?

Dominance Tussle? Dub con? Rape? Already? CHECK

Well that came fast (presumably so did he).

There’s a lot happening all at once at the beginning of just ep 2. 

It’s an ACCOUNT BOOK that’s causing all this fuss? Hilarious. 

Enter the anticipated hottie (bodyguard? spy?) in all black wearing a hedgehog. CHECK

(I didn’t expect the hedgehog, I have to admit.)

Oh is the single brain cell society is trying to grow additional brain cells? That's not gonna work.

Cheekbones is still the prettiest.

Oh HELLO stern grabby Daddy not-older brother of yummy. We likey.

Who do you belong to?

Why do you have The Biggest Sleeves?

Do I take that as a sign of gayness?

Please? 

Ooo looks like I’m right. 

Also this is very silly.

And "I never said she was a woman."

It’s just so funny.

OH NO!

Stern prince bro is leaving already?

I only had Grabby McDaddy for a very short length of time. I already miss him. 

Meanwhile, Dimples apparently has no compunction about being in love with a man, we blew through a bisexual identity crisis while I wasn't looking, and now we exist inside the gay=okay bubble? I did not expect The Bubble(tm) to show up in a Wuxia, but I guess this is a BL universe and we all just float around in it… 

Cheekbones is a bit of an asshole. Quite apart from the, ya know, bit of rapey rape thing.

I also did not have absolutely terrible VO dubbing on my bingo card. I forgot about that one in Cdramas.

EPISODE 3: Distracted by the pretty

Some kind of dark past for dimples and his little (not blood ) sister. 

Sniff test, the greatest trope of 2024 apparently. Nice to see the execution of a modern trope in a vintage style BL.

Aa ha! Kneeling next to a platform bed. CHECK

And more poisoning and drugs.

Wound tending. CHECK

Aweeeee Dimples is worried about Cheekbones! How cute.

Also, the ice queen appears to be melting.

Ooo. More sexitimes? Consensual this time. Okay. I guess Taiwan did get its nuts all over this show. (Honestly, that was a mistype but I'm keeping it in.)

The bit with all the bodyguards was great.

And my love for Mr. All-Black Clued-in Hottie persists.

We are now in the “does he like me back?” phase of the high school narrative. We are also in the "do I like him at all?" part of the narrative. Suddenly, this is an angsty YA. 

Ice queen has melted and is now turning into jelly. (Can you tell I’m very pleased with myself and this metaphor?) 

And now, Dimples is sick?

Boy, is this fast moving! I have to say, that is something I did not expect at all. Usually Cdramas are much slower than this.

I do love how shameless D imples is. It’s kind of delightful. He’s definitely in his bisexual awakening slut phase.

Cheekbones is also a doctor, apparently. Useful man. 

In other news: I would really like to add a full length crossover wafting robe into my wardrobe. I have no idea why I feel compelled by such a thing.

EPISODE 4: Gay sleeves AT last

Not a lot happened in this episode. Mostly flirting. More backstory and plot that doesn’t really matter. Presumably this intended to be character motivation?

We do not need him to be motivated we need him to be pretty. Understand the brief please.

Why no more floaty floaty sleeves?

Oooo, because sleeves in gay! CHECK

I did like the scene of the blood being cleaned up after the assassination attempt(?). It’s kind of nice to see that depicted for a change. I always worry about all that blood on that nice stone work.

Oh the handholding it was very cute.

Ice queen has melted and now turned entirely to jelly. Very very jelly.

Dimples is so stupid proud of his tall deadly wife. It's flipping adorable in a very goofy way.

I guess Cheekbones has come around and now Dimples has officially been claimed, multiple times and in multiple ways. He can't change his mind or anything now. Trouble is afoot...

asleeve?

ahead...

ahem.

I'll stop now.

EPISODE 5 - It is a Thing I guess?

OMG Cheekbones just loves his stilly bint of a bf. It’s absolutely absurd. The ultimate puppy/cat pairing.

I love it that he’s just casually walking around with a knife sticking out of his back and only cares that baby may have gotten a splinter in his finger.

Now we are in the vows portion of the early romance. I am assuming betrayal is coming soon? 

Grabby McDaddy! I missed you! Here to perform the part of Basil Exposition I see? No grabby for me? Sad. Unfortunately, if you aren’t flirting with a man I’m going to be fast forwarding. Although your sleeves are very nice.

Uh oh, Dimples is in trouble. 

Okay that was that. No screen caps, I lazy.

EPISODE 6 - DOOOMMMM

Oh lovely. More rape. I guess Dimples went looking for that response? Is that the implication? Does Dimples have a rape kink? What is with this show? 

No brothels for a baby I guess.

It’s not gay... it’s poison? 

It’s not bisexuality... it’s the slut herb? 

The single brain cell club is now the wailing fates. 

I guess cutting off a man’s hand out of jealousy is no biggie? Well this is a BL. Jealousy is the #1 excuse!

Fighty floaty blood spatter death! This time on wooden planks. Those are impossible to get clean. 

Meanwhile, there’s a lot of backstory and stuff I don’t care about, and probably can’t follow even if I did care about it.

I don’t like the Emperor at all. But then I don’t think I meant to. I am a little shocked that there aren’t more men with sparse beards distracting from the romance. But I guess this is a BL, they go for youth even in wuxia.

EPISODE 7 - You know what they say about a man with big sleeves?

Oh, Daddy McGrabby is back and he's a good guy (?)! He’s also in love with Dimples. 

Oh no!

What is this sensation I feel being thrust upon me?

Is that…? Is that second lead syndrome?  I think it is.

Oh well, it was fated the moment I saw the length of his... sleeves in episode 2.

Meanwhile?

Dimples gets tortured by acupuncture. 

Poisonings are always so elegant and classy in Cdramas.

Blah blah captured rescued captured rescued again sort of. Cheekbones is now seriously imperiled. We swap one for the other in Grave Danger (TM).

Enter the Divine Doctor character! Who (Dr) I have been told reliably by previous witnesses is A Favorite. I do love this particular archetype (quirky healer wise beyond his years - sometimes actual immortal. ) I am prepared to be delighted.  

EPISODE 8 - Divine Doctor is Emperor of the Gays

The divine doctor and 1/3 brain cell is not a pairing I thought was going to happen. Frankly it doesn't seem like the writers thought about it much either.

But it did make me laugh out loud.

It’s fantastic. I love them. I love this for me. I love a secondary couple for this show. Carry-on.

I LOVE THE DOCTOR SO MUCH. 

Everyone was absolutely correct. He is the best character. He is my favorite. He is openly gay and a troublemaker and absolute queen. And I adore him forever. No notes.

King Emperor behavior!

The evil crown prince has a crush on Daddy McGrabby. With good reason, he does have the biggest sleeves.

(I have a crush on Daddy McGrabby.) And he clearly likes brats, so I think the crown prince is in with a chance, actually.

(Not me, sadly. Despite the rumors I am not a brat. I make no case for this.)

EPISODE 9 - The Plot Thickens like Shampoo

Oh, Cheekbones is the new crown prince? We have a whole Snape situation going on here?

And finally Cheekbone knows what is happened to his poor little tortured Dimples. (oof that acting tho. before you say "what acting" i KNOW.)

In all honesty, I’m quite engaged by the drama of the show at this point and kind of losing my snark because of it. Don't get mad at me.

It’s not a bad show. I mean it’s a melodramatic soap opera, but that’s to be expected. It's so soapy it's like one of those extra foamy soap dispenser soaps.

To be entirely fair most gay men of my acquaintances have very similar relationship trajectories. Minus some of the casual murder (aside from character assassinations of course). 

EPISODE 10 - Oh Noes All Round

Not enough of my beloved divine doctor emperor of the gays. But you can’t have everything. 

Oh noes, my babies are fighting. 

But he brought you a big thistle! Don't fight!

Oh they get to kind of make up, or something. It’s sweet. Puppy Dimples accidentally caught himself a psychopath. To be fair tho, all cats are psychopaths at heart.

Oh noes Daddy McGrabby is planning on killing Cheekbones. No Daddy. Not the Cheekbones!

The cheek kiss from Cheekbones was so romantic. Normally I’m not a huge fan of this particular smooch, but under these circumstances it was very good.

EPISODE 11 - So Many Gay Emperors no one cares about the actual emperor

I wish I could shut somebody up by a simple double tap to the collarbone. It’s like the wuxia version of a block feature on tumblr.

Meanwhile, the part where 2/3 of a brain cell are comparing how hot their respective fierce gay emperors are to each other is truly hilarious. I actually clapped.

This is so ridiculous.

Epic eye roll from the remaining 1/3 of a brain cell. And I have to say I’m on his side in this matter.

Oh noes Daddy McGrabby is not, in fact, on the side of twrew lurve after all.

How sad. 

EPISODE 12 - The Bisexual In the Bathtub & other nursery rhymes of my youth

I love this silly bint of a bisexual in the bath between two fierce gay dudes who are about to give their life force to keep him alive.

Someone definitely once drew this as Lord of the Rings fanart 20 years ago.

I guess our single brain cell has been torn asunder. And Daddy McGrabby never did get his man.

Next series?

Bing him back to me.

With EVEN BIGGER SLEEVES!

IN CONCLUSION

All cards on the table?

This was undeniably a wuxia and most definitely a BL.

Evil stunning princely Cheekbones meets and falls in love with the bisexual Disaster dimples of his dreams. There’s a lot of floaty fighting, tangled plot, and overworked emotions. From start to finish it was exactly as it claimed to be, including more than the expected amount of sexual claiming.

I’m not wild about the wuxia genre, but I will tell you what I do like:

Very pretty men in flowing robes + eye makeup + hair ribbons wafting about stabbing and kissing each other plus ridiculous soap opera machinations. I also like cheekbones and dimples. AND I love a stupid gay sleeve, okay? There was also truly epic levels of stink-eye, and that too is to be lauded.

This show left me grinning like crazy. Was it great? Not really, but it was a great experience and I enjoyed it immensely.

I’m so glad you all persuaded me to watch it in the end.

Thank you! 

I should probably give it an 9/10 because I had such a good time watching it. But I’m not going to, because it isn’t a 9/10 drama. It had a lot of flaws chewing at that pretty (boom mic riddled) scenery, not to mention all the rapey rape.

It’s a solid 8/10

(source)

[dcvina-claires]

matthias’ “the water hears and understands. the ice does not forgive” thing is especially interesting when you realize that water is a motif for the worst thing to ever happen to the crows. on a surface level point of view, it seems like the water has never once heard or understood any of them. it tried to kill kaz and wylan. it did kill jesper’s mother. it brought inej to the menagerie. it stranded nina and matthias… overall there’s no proof that the water held sympathy for any of them. but then, if you dig deeper into it, you actually start to realize that it’s the only thing that DID hold sympathy for them. the water saw kaz and wylan, two boys betrayed by their father figures and dying in the canal, and let them live. they shouldn’t have been able to survive that, but the water told them to keep fighting and they found their way to shore with a strength that wasn’t there before. the water killed jesper’s mother, yes, but it also brought jesper to ketterdam, the place where he would meet the most important people to him, including the love of his life. going to ketterdam made him rich in the end. water brought inej to the menagerie but it also became her weapon. the water understood that it hurt inej and let her use it to seek her revenge. finally, if the water hadn’t stranded nina and matthias, nina would’ve died in a country that hated her and matthias would’ve passed the point of redemption. instead, nina and matthias both learned how to love and even though matthias dies at the end, he does so surrounded by his loved ones. he does so because the water understood that it was his time, that he was at peace with it. and when he once again finds himself on the ice, he discovers that against all odds, it has forgiven him, too

[shixnoxhana]

Her smile was so gentle as she gently brushed the hair out of Tommy's face.

"Hello my little Magpie, it's nice to see you again. How have you been... All things considered?"

It had been a while that she summoned her adoptive (or not adoptive, your choice on this) son into her realm, gently twirling his hair as she waited for his sleeping mind to wake up in her domain... Just waiting for him to fall asleep in the overworld, he'll be able to wake up there, but not physically be there. No... Only his soul can enter this realm. Sleep is close to death, so it is easy for her to make more connections this way.

She quietly hummed as she waited for him to fall asleep, to wake up in her domain... She just wanted to talk to him and make sure he's been ok.

[Tommy awakened in mumza’s realm “what the…” he mumbled to himself as he sat up. He looked around and saw mumza, he relaxed a bit]

Oh…hi

[itgirlgyu]

WHAT'S YOUR BIRTH TIME?

txt!ot5. ︵you ask them for their birth time.

장르 : fluffy / humor. gen!r. w☆rnings: basically the entire thing. wordc𝐨unt—1338..

YEONJUN.

his eyes glaze over like the pupils of a crow in front of the shiniest object the bird has ever laid its beady little eyes on—the brightness of it almost blinding you.

it would be an understatement to say that he was cooperative with you, considering how he fast he fished his phone out of his pocket and immediately dialled up his mother's number in front of you and parroting the question you had asked of him to his mother, following a few minutes of intense listening as you tried to figure out the time by the expression on his pretty face.

“6 pm? you guessed hopefully, only to welcome a vehement shaking of his head.

yeonjun corrected your assumption.

“oh and apparently the doctor who delivered me was beaten to a pulp because his infidelity was caught by his wife and his boyfriend right outside the operation theatre.” he added nonchalantly, as though that would somehow align the stars a bit differently affecting his chart.

the entire evening you two spend looking over his chart to the best of your abilities—he was a bit too much into it if you were being honest—and having a great time with the love of your life—not for long though. after the course of your relationship had run its course, you find out that he was dating an actual astrologer now.

SOOBIN.

“my birth time? what are you going to do with it?”

the look beneath his glasses is innocent, unalarmed—until it is not. suddenly as though the realisation had finally finished processing and made a ding! noise notifying him that he was being asked about his personal information; one which he wasn't even aware of.

“just,” you drawl, wary of his judgement that would follow the real reason behind it, “can't a person be curious?”

“of someone's personal information?”

he is right of course, but you'd be damned if you let that stop you.

“i just wanted to check your chart.” you chose honesty. perhaps it was soobin's good nature or the fact he is a sagittarius sun, but the figurative ominous lighting casting upon the two of you had begun to wane gradually and finally you could see the light behind his dimpled cheeks.

“oh you should have said so!” soobin giggled, sipping on his iced americano,” i don’ know that silly.”

you can't tell if he's lying to you or he really doesn't know.

“wait I think my mother said the sun was casting a rose gold glow when she was crowning, does that help?”

BEOMGYU.

you want to check whether we're soulmates or what?”

“whaaaaaaa—” you interrupt yourself by pressing the now damp tissue on your face trying to make it seem as though you're only gently dabbing away the bit of precipitation on your face that appears like dew on the grass blades during the effervescent winter morning whilst in reality it was more like swiping away a tsunami that your pores had decided to spit out at the thought being found out about your real intentions.

you really were trying to figure out whether he was compatible with you or not.

to be honest, this was the last attempt to give this relationship a chance. the few weeks you had begun to hang out with beomgyu with the intention of dating, he had been doing everything possible to confuse the hell out of you. at one point you wanted nothing to do with him, perhaps even change your phone number and cut off the friend that tried to set you two up whilst the other times you wanted nothing more than to be with the man—driving you to believe in superstitions such as this.

“nope!” you lied, swiping away the astrology website you had pulled up on your phone underneath the table without appearing suspicious.

“okay ill tell you,” he leaned into the table, showing off the dimple on his cheek trying to tempt you, “the time when i just popped out apparently a lightning has struck that hospital, but especially the theatre where I was being birthed in, hitting the digital clock on the wheel forever making it stuck to the time when i was born.”

the moment he finished narrating his story a distant rumble could be heard as dark clouds begun to swoop on above the two in the outdoor cafe, a nun’s veil was trampled on by a fumbling toddler causing her to fall whilst a kid was incessantly wailing on the table to the right of you two.

“it was 4:44 am.”

at least you both turned out to be 65% compatible.

TAEHYUN.

“you believe in that?”

rather than a judgmental tinge in his tone as you had expected, it was the concern that surprised you. gleaming round eyes brimming with apprehension in a way that suggested he was ready to escort you to a mental hospital in a wheelchair depending on your answer.

“It's not more so about believing totally, “ you tried to play it off cool but his arresting gaze was making it a tad bit hard to do a roundabout with your intentions, “ it's more about fun and some things are sometimes accurate based on your belief, and the methods of checking charts.”

“so would you tell me now?” you pressed on. the cat was out of the bag anyway, he either way had started to question your sanity and you might as well be judged with his birth time in your hand than without.

“fine ill give it to you, but you have to show me how accurate it is when it is mostly proven to be pseudo science. “

and so you did, pulling up his vedic chart you two spent the night away traumatising him with certain specific things about him from mole on the special place to the destination it would lead him to from your limited knowing about interpreting the chart but the reception wasn't as bad. taehyun hadn't turned and given you the look that assured you that the relationship was over yet.

but you could have never expected what was about to come: a few months after the relationship had ended naturally, you could never even imagine you'd see him on a twitter live debate with a famous astrologer about how much truth there is in chart reading and how much is it just basic behavioural tendencies.

HUENING KAI.

he blinks once; and then twice with his polite smile glued to his lips as he processes the question you had just asked him. it was the first time someone had inquired about such a mundane yet invasive question about his life; asking if he had all of his 32 teeth intact was a more common topic in his books than someone asking for his birth time, which he in fact was not aware of.

“i don't know, “ he chuckled awkwardly, hoping you'd let go of the topic naturally.

“can't you ask your mother?”

kai was not ready for you to bring up his mother so soon into the conversation—considering it was just your first date with him. although a side of him did enjoy how passionate you were about your belief and whether that related to the percentage of seriousness she was looking forward to with him. it almost made his heart skip a beat.

kai excused himself to the washroom to satiate his frenzied heart and finally asked google what it meant when a person really badly wanted to know your birth time. the array of results that turned up had kai sitting on the seat of his toilet in shock and scrolling for minutes—just long enough to kill any suspicions of him causing stomach issues. frankly what turned up had kai rattled to the core.

he had only one conclusion to this whole fiasco: to run the fuck away.

although he paid the bill before he slipped away from the front gate after he realised he was a bit too big to slip away from the washroom window.

﹙ 𓇼⃝ ∗ ﹚this is a manifestation post like pls drop your birth time like kai did.

© ITGiRLGYU⠀⠀. feedbacks and reblogs are appreciated! TAGLiST @ox1-lovesick @jisungsdaydreamer @wonioml @1921choi @forever-in-the-sky2 @beoms-sugar @gyuletters

[moutainrusing]

illness

987 words, @wolfstarmicrofic

Poking Sirius’s forehead was his mother’s wand. Running the length of Sirius’s body was his father’s wand. Tradition of the Black heir turning sixteen: make sure he had no disabilities. No setbacks, disadvantages, handicaps.

With stern frowns, they analysed the results. Then, “Get out.” They faced each other in shock, having said that simultaneously. He has both?

“What?” Sirius croaked.

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Orion bellowed.

Walburga shoved Orion, caterwauling, “GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, YOU CRETIN!”

“NO SON OF MINE, YOU CRIPPLE!” Orion screamed.

“HE’S NOT MINE, EITHER!” Walburga roared. (Now she was yelling more at Orion than Sirius…?)

His parents’ faces had twisted, fury curling their lips, passion blotching their cheeks red, anxiety shaking their hands, regret furrowing their brows, sadness freezing their voices, sharpening them to ice. They blamed themselves for his disabilities. Their genes, their problem. Upset he turned out this way, riddled with issues. Bitter, because how could life do this to them? If word got out, eyes would turn to them. This is your invalid? Makes sense.

Sirius nodded slowly, eyes prickling. He didn’t want to be disabled. The first thing people saw about him: the fact that he was incapable, helpless, hopeless. They would judge him while pretending they weren’t. There was always stigma around it. He was weak, dumb, weird. “I— I’ll go. But… what’s wrong with me?” He looked at his parents pleadingly. Fix me.

“Mental illness and physical,” Walburga scoffed.

Orion snarled, “Won’t live past thirty, wretch.”

“Unstable in both mind and muscle. They’ll all give up on you, as they should. Immobile, paralysed.” Walburga laughed shrilly, “Get out.”

“While you can still walk,” Orion sneered.

Sirius nodded silently, a sob choked up in his throat. When he shut the door, he heard his parents break. He followed suit, in tears on the street.

- - -

“I DON’T GIVE A SHIT THAT YOU’RE A WEREWOLF, REMUS. I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU!” Sirius took a deep breath. “You,” he jabbed Remus’s chest. “Being. A. Werewolf. Doesn’t. Matter.”

“But it does.” Remus shoved Sirius’s hand away pitifully. “I’ll hinder your life. You can find love with someone worthy, live a beautiful life until you’re grey and old—”

“I’LL NEVER BE GREY AND OLD!” Sirius yelled, not catching the words before they left his mouth. His eyes widened.

“What?” Remus stammered.

Sirius laughed harshly. “I’ll probably die before you. In fact, I’m the one who’ll hinder you.” He bowed dramatically, “I’m sick.” He jabbed his chest, “I can already feel it. Y’know how you call me clumsy?” Sirius smirked depravedly. “Well, that’s my muscles spasming. Ain’t working properly. They’re giving up on me like my parents did. Like you’re doing. And I’m crazy?” Sirius cackled, “That’s my brain. Fucking disabled.”

“Sirius,” Remus whispered.

Sirius pointed frantically, “See?! Already scared of me!”

“No, Sirius,” Remus shook his head softly. “Whatever is going on is not a problem. Nothing’s wrong with you. You’re human.”

“Yeah, right, say that to yourself,” Sirius scoffed.

Remus sighed, “It’s different—”

“Is it though?” Sirius glared. “I’m gonna die early ‘cause of something I can’t control, something people still blame and judge me for. Their discrimination is more pointless than I am.”

“You’re not pointless,” Remus argued.

“And you?” Sirius returned, eyebrow raised.

“I’m not…” Remus winced, finishing pathetically, “Pointless.”

“Ha!” Sirius crowed victoriously. “You don’t believe it! How am I supposed to believe that being disabled isn’t a curse when you act like that?! When everyone acts like that?! You coo and reassure someone else it’s okay, but when it’s you?!”

“I…” Remus was at a loss for words.

Fine. Sirius had way too much for both of them. “Why do you add on to the discrimination already there?”

Remus shook his head helplessly.

Sirius prodded, “Why can’t people let us be? Everyone’s gonna die, so let us be happy. When I first found out, I hated myself. But then I realised that even with disabilities, I am still myself. I’m still brave, smart, whatever. I never stopped. And my parents’ve always been wrong. Of course they were wrong about disabilities, too. I dunno what’s gonna happen to me, but then, does anyone? You could get caught in an accident any day! We could die any day! You’re a werewolf, but you never stopped being Remus. You never stopped being thoughtful, beautiful, lovely, mine. My friend,” Sirius clarified, smiling gently.

Loud again, “But we should be more if we both want that. Let us want! Take all the love you get, because so many people will deny you the best life you deserve. So what if it doesn’t last? If it’s not always happy? Let yourself live.”

Remus was crying. While Sirius could still move his fingers, he brushed the tears away.

- - -

Sirius did make it to thirty. Wheelchair-bound, unable to move a muscle nor talk, brain functioning perfectly, heart beating a love song for Remus.

He could move a few muscles. His thumb: up and down, up and down as he pressed the button of a Muggle invention to form words on this screen.

He could write books on anything, all the knowledge of OWLs and NEWTs and beyond firmly stuck in the crevices of his brain.

Remus pulled a chair up next to him, having also made it to thirty: grey-haired, smiling, walking with a cane, tired, living, bones aching, thinking, dreaming, being.

Scanning over Sirius’s document, Remus’s eyes lit up, and he turned to Sirius with a grin. “You’re the smartest person I know.”

Sirius couldn’t say anything except stare at Remus in awe. But that was okay, because Remus had enough words for both of them.

Remus leaned towards Sirius, giving him enough time to roll away if necessary, before slotting their lips together. “You’re amazing. I love you,” Remus mumbled. Sirius put all his effort, energy, love towards smiling into the kiss. Nothing happened, but he knew Remus could feel it anyway.

[call-sign-shark]

Pairing: The Darkling x Heartrender!You || The Darkling x HeartrenderOC!Reader

Summary: His obsession with you growing bigger, General Kirigan decides to take you under his wing despite Baghra's warnings. As his desire deepens, his control starts to slip and leaves you at the edge of something dangerous and inescapable.

Words: 6K

TW: Unhealthy relationship, heavy pinning, obsession, possessive behavior, mention of prostitution and child assault, sexual innuendo, hurt/comfort, don't forget that it's a slow burn.

Part VI - Until Nothing is Left

Previous || Masterlist || Next

“You shouldn’t train her,” Baghra said sharply. Her voice, cutting like splintered ice, was as unforgiving as the cold wind that howled through her hut. Even though the sun was still high in the winter sky outside, its apracity couldn’t reach down there. 

She leaned forward, her grip tightening on her cane until her knuckles whitened, while she carefully surveyed Aleksander. They had avoided this unpleasant conversation for days, but, ultimately, she knew she had to face her son if she wanted to stop chaos from erupting.

“She needs discipline, not your indulgence. And you…” Her piercing eagle eyes narrowed like the edge of a dagger, “You’re not thinking clearly.” 

The Black General’s expression remained perfectly composed, his unyielding figure standing tall in the dimly lit room. Yet, despite his poise, the way his shadows writhed at his combat boots betrayed the boiling tension coursing through him. 

“Giving her private lessons is pure foolishness and you know it.” She added, visibly displeased by his irritating, though expected, silence. 

“She needs guidance only I can provide,” He countered smoothly. His soft tone was laced with terrifying finality, a quiet power that made Baghra grit her teeth.

By the Saints, this was going to be a tedious talk, she thought.

“Guidance?” She repeated, her lips twisting into a grimace,  “The way you behave with her has nothing to do with guidance. Let me ask you something… Since when does the General sit in on training hmm? Whisper reassurances and offer sweet embraces? Spare time to linger over every mistake and correction?”

The heavy silence between them thickened. Aleksander’s obsidian eyes glimmered under the flickering flames that were lightening the hut as he observed his mother’s nervous movements. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It is my duty as General to train the soldiers under my command, simple as that.” He simply remarked, hoping it would be enough to discourage her from talking about the matter further. A little frown had settled on his forehead, a tell-tale sign that his patience was already reaching its limits.

“I’ve noticed everything, boy!” She continued, her voice rising like the roar of a furious lioness at her son’s attempt at denying, “She's not just another soldier to you, isn’t she?” The old Grisha went straight to the point, too worried to beat around the bush, “You’re not training her for this army, the King or even your precious cause. You’re training her for you.”

The General’s jaw tightened at her insufferable accusation. He should have known that she wouldn't let him get away with it. Not before baring her teeth and trying to mingle.

“You misunderstand me.” He corrected. 

“No,” Baghra shot back, her gaze piercing to his very core, boring into the cursed soul of her son, “ You misunderstand yourself. I’ve seen how she’s carved out a place in your shadows. And I see how your entire being responds to her whenever she’s around.” She stopped, hesitating, before she finally pointed out, “She makes you feel, Aleksander.” 

The tall darkness stiffened, his lips pressing into a thin line as he shot the grey-haired woman a deathly glare, “You assume much, old woman.” His tone was now into mocking and caustic. “Far too much for someone who almost got an innocent Etheralki killed” An insolent smirk crept on his lips at the mean jab, making charming crows feet appear at the corner of his eyes. To be fair, he couldn’t care less about Tanya’s fate. His last sentence was only aimed at hurting — at undermining the wise witch’s confidence.

Her wooden cane struck the floor with a resounding crack in a vivid manifestation of her frustration, “I assume nothing!” She snapped. His remark seemed to have hit a nerve, “You’ve always been cautious, controlled. Deathly cold. But not with her because you’re drawn to her — helplessly so. You’ve been since the very beginning. And you’ve made it pretty much obvious to all the Little Palace with your recent shenanigans!”

“Enough.” A slow, measured breath escaped Aleksander’s seductive lips though his dark eyes glinted with warning, as if challenging her to keep going with that very sensitive topic. After a short while, he finally stepped closer to his mother, his voice dropping to a menacing drawl, “All this fuss…” He started, a brief predatory smirk flashing on his face, as if he had remembered something fun, before it vanished, “Did you really summon my presence just to bother me with your mundane nonsenses?” He raised an eyebrow, pausing for an instant to decipher the old Grisha’s micro expressions — then he noticed it. Noticed the way her lower lip trembled slightly. 

Baghra was scared. 

“No, there is something else, mother… Tell me, what makes you so afraid?” 

Afraid… Baghra inhaled deeply through her nostrils, fighting the need to punch him right across the face for his arrogance, “Boy, I’m going to be honest with you.“ She started, rather opting for a metaphorical slap, “ I‘ve seen what happens when someone weaves their way too deeply into your heart.” She almost whispered for she feared the monster in him would wake up if she dared mention it too loud.

“And what happens?” He sneered with his teeth bared like a panther ready to bite, bitter sarcasm dripping from his every word, “I beg you to enlighten me then.”

“You burn for them, Aleksander. And it doesn’t stop until everything else is consumed —  turned to ashes. Or rather, to shadow.” Her statement sounded like a Death knell when she purposely referred to the Fold he created out of rage and profound sorrow that woeful night he lost Luda. A memory he had spent the last centuries trying to bury in the back of his mind.

Luda…

For the first time since the beginning of this painful exchange, the Black General’s perfect composure wavered. His void-like eyes flicked away briefly before snapping back to hers, more determined than ever, “Listen, this is no business of yours, dear mother,” his tone, tinged with a possessive growl, was so icy that the wise Grisha felt her blood freeze in her veins, “Shall I remind you that no matter your little assumptions and petty remarks, Heaven is under my command and protection. How I handle the situation is not yours to judge.”

“Protection,” Baghra echoed, her voice softening surprisingly in a pity-conveying tone. “Is that what you call it?” She remained silent for a fraction of a second, studying him with an almost mournful intensity. Centuries had passed and still, the fortress he had built around his feelings hadn’t been strong enough to keep the white-haired wildling out. 

At this thought, she finally dared to voice the prophecy she had foreseen the first time she had met the little seraphic Sankta, “You won’t let her go, will you? You’ll twist her so tightly into your life that she’ll no longer know where she ends and you begin.” Her statement sounded dark. Grim. Tragic. She could see it already —his possessiveness pulsing in the air. His growing affection and obsession tangled so tightly it was impossible to unravel one from the other. And it frightened her more than she wanted to admit. “Whatever is happening between the two of you should come to a halt before it’s too late.”

Aleksander’s frustration simmered beneath his calm facade, his heart pounding furiously in his chest as Baghra’s words echoed in the ancient room. How could she not see it, he wondered. Of course the girl wasn’t just another pawn or soldier — she was meant to stand at his side, her brilliance and exceptional nature amplified under his guidance. Weren’t they bound by destiny, after all? The way her icy fire matched his shadow and how very existence made him feel more alive than he had never felt were unmistakable proof of that.

And yet, the old woman dismissed it all as folly. She remained stubbornly blind to the ineluctable, and it was driving him crazy. Almost as crazy as her attempt to keep them away. 

That old hag…, he thought. What was he supposed to do? Give up on his little Heartrender as she was asking him to do? 

Never.

The mere idea of anyone else claiming her and shaping her future was intolerable. An affront to the very fibers of his being. Your heart was his to take, no one else. “Why, mother, do you fail to see that it is by my side that she thrives?”

“Does she?” The eagled eyes Grisha retorted, her question tinged with palpable sorrow. Despite her glaring stare, her iris shone with despair, as if she was silently pleading him to use his common sense, “You may think so now, but what will happen when she learns who you are? Aleksander Morozova. The Darkling. The Starless Saint.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Darkness seemed to grow in the room, defying the candlelight for they manifested his inner turmoil. When Aleksander finally spoke, his voice was no louder than a whisper but still carried a combination of defiance and frightening determination, “When she learns who I am, she will see the truth — that everything I’ve done, I’ve done for people like her. She will understand the loneliness of eternity and then, what it means to stand beside me, what we could become together. And if she fears me, so be it. Fear will be temporary, and won’t outweigh the pull that binds us. She belongs with me, and I will make her see it.” 

Baghra’s heart skipped painfully. Closing her eyelids briefly, her shoulders shagged under the weight of her own despair, “You will break her, Aleksander.” She said quietly, disapproving, “Or she will break you.” 

“You think I’d hurt her?” The tall darkness’ voice snapped, a flicker of indignation breaking his usually calm tone.. 

Baghra didn’t falter despite her son’s growing anger. She knew she was sticking her fingers in an open wound, “Not intentionally.  But love, real love — it’s a curse. And she doesn’t need that.. What she needs is to be kept away from you.”

“No, what she needs is someone to protect her” Aleksander replied, “Someone who helps her rise from the mud people had dragged her through her whole life.”  Surprisingly, his fury quietened around the end of his tirade, replaced by something softer that displayed a hint of vulnerability. Underneath the manipulation and the schemes, he seemed to truly cared for her, “Someone to hold her…” He whispered, not knowing if he was voicing her needs or his own wishes anymore. The Black General shook his head and raised a gloved hand to his face to pinch the bridge of his nose, as though fighting off a headache,  “I will not fail her, no matter what you think.”

“What you feel, Aleksander, will consume you. It’s already happening. You’re not in control anymore.”

“I am in control,” He corrected her with a growl before waving her comment off, growing tired of this pointless fight, “Don’t mistake my care for weakness.”

Baghra finally gave up. Leaning closer to her beloved son, she rested a frail hand on his shoulder and pressed over it in a tender, motherly gesture, “You don’t see it, do you? She’s already in your heart, boy. And if you lose her…” She seemed to hesitate, her voice cracking despite all the willpower she gathered to not show any weakness before him, “There will be nothing left of you.” 

Nothing left of Ravka.

He remained silent, his pitch-black eyes fixed on her. Gently, Aleksander finally responded to her affection and covered her hand with his, large and warm despite the leather that covered his skin. That sole gesture sent a wave of hope that washed over the old Grisha’s heart. Maybe she had managed to reason with him? “Please. Just think about what could happen, what other abomination you could create if you end up losing her...” She added.

“Mother,” He softly called, glancing down at her frail hand on his shoulder before his obsidian eyes returned to hers, burning with indomitability. Suddenly, his form seemed to swell in an unnatural oppressive presence, the air around him turning as suffocating as if breathing through smoke, “Rest assured I’ll ensure I never lose her,” He said, each word a blade slicing through Baghra’s brief hope. Despite her advice and pleas, Aleksander stood to his ground firmly and refused to change his mind. He was too far gone to be brought back to reason.

Terrified, she looked up to meet his eyes to find a bit of humanity but she was met with nothing but cold determination, “Whatever it takes, whatever I must do, she will stay. I don’t care if the world burns or bends — I will make it if I need to. I will not let her go.” He concluded. His long fingers tightened briefly around his mother before he stepped back, the old witch’s hand sliding along his arm as he broke the physical contact.

Baghra’s heart sank as she glimpsed something primal and unrelenting in the dark ink pool of her son’s gaze. This wasn’t just Aleksander speaking, it was the darkness she had always feared in him, unchained and resolute.

“Then you’ll learn,” She said with utter sadness, “One way or another, you’ll learn. But I fear it will be too late.”

Too late to save her.

To save him.

To undo the ruins her son and his Sankta would leave behind.

You used to be a child of the night.

Whenever Tante Heleen would turn the lights of the Menagerie off, notifying the girls of the end of their shift, a pleasant sensation of lightness would always invade you. No more dancing in cages, no more disgusting and lubricious clients to entertain, it were just you and the comforting embrace of the night, which sometimes managed to make you forget about your aching skin after having scrubbed it too roughly during your bath in a vain attempt to erase the smell of strangers’  cheap aftershave that clung stubbornly to your body. Nevertheless, you had started to dread sleeping time in the Little Palace. Though the days were draining and overstimulating, they had at least the merit of keeping your mind busy. But whenever you came back to your room, the Palace’s unnerving quiet as your sole companion, your thoughts buzzed like a hive of furious hornets. Doubts, fear, flashbacks from your traumatic past, all of it seemed to lash out at you. Yet, these weren’t the worst. No. What really plagued your mind was General Kirigan. Each time you’d close your eyes, images of him and your many encounters played on repeat in your head like a maddening broken record.

You had tried everything: reading, singing to yourself — Hell, even hurting you! But no matter how hard you had tried to trick yourself, your thoughts always came back to him. Him and his stupidly hypnotizing eyes. The softness of his lips brushing your long ivory mane. The sensation of his shadows exploring your shivering body. 

Him and the rapture of being held safely in his strong arms you missed every minute of your life ever since you left Baghra’s hut.

Tired of tossing in bed for hours and fighting against a brain too restless to surrender to sleep, you decided to escape your thoughts by slipping out of your bedroom after putting on a short and light white satin nightgown. Admittedly, the garment was far too light for the freezing temperatures of Ravka but you had never feared the cold. Quite the contrary, the sensation of it tended to be incredibly soothing. According to Fedyor’s silly jokes, it was because you were made of Arctic ice — at least that was what he supposed to. That was how you ended up wandering aimlessly in the vast halls of the little Palace, bathed in moonlight and shadow. Your footsteps were light against the marble floors, inaudible as if you were a ghost haunting the place. As you explored the gargantuan corridors, your eyes were soon caught by the warm light of a fireplace and cozy little lamps coming from a wide opened wooden door. Curious, you peeped through it, wondering who could be still awake that late.

You hadn’t expected to find General Kirigan. 

Or, rather, you had completely obliterated that his quarters were on the same floor as yours.

An odd sensation gripped you at the sight of him in what seemed to be his map room, leaning over a sprawling array of papers and plans probably linked with some obscur martial strategies he was elaborating. The faint glow of the lantern near him cast his sharp features in stark relief and enlightened every alluring trait of his face. For once, he looked… almost human. Fascinated, you tilted your head on the side and kept observing him discreetly. The tension in his brow, the way his fingers pressed into the table’s edge and his eyes roamed on a scribbled map — he exuded a barely perceptible vulnerability that he rarely allowed anyone to see. Such an enchanting scene must have been hypnotizing you, for you had entered the room without realizing it, as though your body had walked in by itself, eager to rejoin the one who made it feel alive.

In the stillness, a shift in the air alerted him. Kirigan had noticed your presence almost instantly. A subtle current, familiar and electric, brushed against his senses and snatched him from his work. The truth was he didn’t need to look up to know you were near. It was as if your presence whispered through his very being, an invisible tether drawing his focus from the maps to something infinitely more compelling. The General paused, his hands still firmly pressing into the table. The rhythm of your quiet breaths, the hesitation in your steps — he felt them more than he heard them. In a reflex he couldn’t control, a faint smile, unbidden and entirely forbidden to his usual countenance, ghosted across his lips for a minute. How was it that, no matter the hour or  the weight of his burdens, you could systematically unsettle and overwhelm him with nothing more than your nearness?

The tall darkness finally lifted his gaze, his pitch-black eyes undeniably softening for a fleeting moment as he turned toward the doorway where you stood, hesitant, not knowing full well what you were doing here, but still irresistibly radiant in the dim light. And in that far too revealing nightgown.

“Let me guess, you couldn’t sleep.” He said, his voice smooth and confident, as if your restless wandering was as inevitable as the pull you had on him.

However, the remnant of his conversation with Baghra came to haunt him back as he relished your attractive doll-like figure. His faint smile began to falter, the corners of his lips tightening when the weight of his mother’s words echoed in his mind. His smirk and playful gaze finally vanished, swept away by the little gust of wind that blew in the room through one slightly open window. The memory of her warning clawed its way back, her voice etched with despair as she said “What you feel, Aleksander, will consume you. It’s already happening. You’re not in control anymore”. Kirigan’s onyx gaze shifted, momentarily distant. A storm of doubt flickered behind his dark eyes before he steeled himself once more, his features hardening just like he had learn to do for hundreds of years.

“You shouldn’t be here,” He stated, his tone firmer.

Despite the dismissal, your wild nature resisted the order, even though uncertainty prickled at the edge of your confidence. You hesitated for a brief instant, caught between the magnetism of his presence and the sudden coldness of his warning. But your insolent and fearless spirit had always burned brighter than your caution. If curiosity truly killed the cat, you’d have been buried for a long time.

“Why not? Are you afraid I might see something I shouldn’t?” You teased. A spark of both rebellion and amusement flickered in the Arctic desert of your eyes. Several sleepless nights had made you even bolder than you already were. Plus, you were sick of letting your confusing feelings for him turn you into a vulnerable little thing — the opposite of your predatory nature.

Surprisingly enough, the Black General seemed to soften briefly, though his composure remained unbroken. Drawn to the audacity in your eyes, the way you seemed to challenge him without any display of fear amused him more than it should have. Saints knew he didn’t want you to leave, not really, for you were a disruption he couldn’t resist. Unsettling and intoxicating in equal measure. Always full of surprises too.

“It’s not wise,” he finally said, his words measured, “to seek such proximity with your General.”

“So why does my General keep me so close?” You didn’t hesitate, possessed by your fierce spirit a bit too much, “Shall I remind you that you are the one who assigned me the bedroom closest to yours?”

Kirigan blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sharpness of your retort. Okay, he definitely didn’t see that coming. His lips parted slightly, searching for a response, but your words lingered in the space between you. Hadn’t he been your superior, you’d have probably found his reaction utterly comical. But right now, you didn’t feel like laughing. No, you felt the need for him to reply — which was something he was incapable of. In fact, the way you had said “my General”, with such ownership, such defiance, had sent a warm ache through his body, cracking the armor he’d spent centuries crafting. He cleared his throat, thought his voice betrayed the faintest waver as he replied.

“Listen, not only should you rest but I also have a lot of work awaiting me...”

“What about you? Do you ever rest, General?” You added, more gently. Admittedly, the question was a bit ironic considering  you were the one wandering in the hallways at night instead of sleeping. His lips curved faintly in response, though it wasn’t quite a smile.

“I find my peace where I can. Perhaps… in moments like this.”

Silence floated over the room after his quiet confession, heavy with a melancholy you didn’t expect. You studied him for a moment longer, catching the faint shadow of exhaustion in his expression. It seemed like he wasn’t simply tired — but he carried the world on his shoulders and you could feel it in every carefully composed line of his face. You didn’t know anything about the burden he carried, but you could tell that it must be straining.

“I understand but take care, General.” You replied softly, your siren-like voice barely above a whisper. The title felt heavy now, clearly too formal for the intimacy of the moment, but you didn’t dare say more, afraid it would pass off as insubordination or lack of respect for someone with a much higher rank than yours. Someone who, additionally, saved your life. His black eyes snapped to you, unreadable but intense, not knowing if your worries for him were a bit too… Familiar to his liking, “Well, I won’t disturb you further. Please try to enjoy this moment of peace.” Your voice was no more than a sweet murmur. You offered him a last little smile, less bratty this time, before turning to the door with hesitant steps and proceeding to leave the room reluctantly. Your hand reached for the handle, fingers brushing the cool metal. 

“Heaven.” 

His voice stopped you before you could step out, cutting through the silence. Your name on his lips, melting on his tongue, wasn’t a command — it was a tether. Laced with something raw, the way he had called you was a quiet plea that made your breath catch. Slowly, you turned back to face him, your heart thudding in your tight ribcage as the dark pools of ink in his eyes spilled onto your frozen iris and dragged you down to drown you in them.

“Stay.”  He asked suddenly.

You froze, his single word reverberating through the quiet room first and through every one of your bones then. Did you hear well? Unsure whether to obey or question,  you hesitated an instant before slowly heading back to him, surprise mingled with both curiosity and something deeper you couldn’t yet name. As you approached, Aleksander straightened behind the map table, his dark beady iris watching you with the same intensity that always burnt in his eyes whenever he focused on you. The round table remained between you as a barrier for you feared losing control and stepping over the line if you remained too close to him. Still, it did little to diminish the irresistible attraction between you and him. 

“Training has been difficult,” He stated, breaking the silence again, “Baghra is relentless, I know.”

Your shoulders stiffened slightly at his words, a flicker of exhaustion passing over your broken doll face before you swallowed, forcing your expression to retrieve its neutrality. However, your fingers couldn’t help but fidget a little bit, betraying your weariness. You knew that lying to him would be pointless: he had seen that training had taken its toll on you, both physically and emotionally. Not only seen but actually intervened. His steady presence had been your anchor during the panic attack that almost led you to kill Tanya, but the shame of showing your vulnerability was still pretty much vivid.

“Yeah, but she’s…Effective, I guess,” Your lips twitched a little, “I’m afraid she doesn’t trust me nor my power anymore. I’ve seen the change in her following that incident with Tanya.”

Aleksander tilted his head, “It’s not mistrust. It’s fear. Even she has never seen power like yours. I wouldn’t pay attention to her too much if I were you.”

“Hm.” You nodded, but the frown on your seraphic face betrayed your concern. 

“You spoke of peace earlier,” He began, “But tell me… have you ever known it?”

The question made your throat tighten as you tried to keep the memories of your past, wild and brutal, away from your mind. You had wanted to wave the topic off but the way his charcoal eyes locked onto yours, exuding a sudden tenderness, disarmed you. You allowed yourself to let your guard down for a brief instant.

“I don’t think so,” you sighed, your voice trembling slightly but enough for him to notice, “Not as long as I can remember.” 

Kirigan studied you for a short while, the expression on his face surprisingly understanding and patient, “That’s why you’ve built walls,” he said, “Walls you shouldn’t have needed to build”. 

His words tensed you, the truth in them hitting too close to home for you to keep your composure. Though gentle, his affirming tone didn’t soften the unease that was curling in your chest, such was the case each time someone else tried to mention what you had been through. With that whole year on the run came that self-preservative reflex to pretend that nothing had ever happened – it made it more bearable. Your fingers dug into the table, searching for stability, as he moved closer to you. He had grown sick of the distance that kept you apart.

“You deserve more than fear. More than the scars others have left on you.”  He moved with a grace that was both bewitching and imposing, each step as smooth as a wild cat stalking someone out of curiosity rather than aggression. The more he approached, the more his presence filled the room, but there was no threat in it – only a careful, calculated patience.

“Don’t say such things,” Your breath hitched when he faced you, “You don’t even know me.” 

His proximity, while authoritative, was irresistibly reassuring.

“I know enough,” He replied with a mix of firmness and tenderness, “Enough to know that you’ve endured things no one should have. Things that are hard to heal…”

“You don’t understand.” You cut him off a bit more abruptly than you had wished, but unspoken truths felt like nails scratching against your bones, “What I’ve been through… It’s not something you can fix.” The raw vulnerability in your voice made his chest tighten, his defenses crumbling in an instant. Your agony wasn’t loud or defiant – it was quiet, fractured, unyielding. It seeped into him, who felt revolted by the fact this damn world had tortured you cruelly. Not something you can fix. At that instant, Aleksander didn’t want to be a general or a saint, just a man desperate to shoulder even a fraction of your suffering. 

As your woeful words hung in the air, Kirigan’s hand moved slowly, as if wary to startle you. A tremor of surprise crossed through your being when his fingers brushed the back of your hand lightly, a feather’s touch that carried unconditional care. He didn’t do more though, allowing you the space to pull away from his touch if you wanted while hoping you wouldn’t.

“Then show me,”  He said quietly.

Your gaze snapped back to him, surprised and confused, “I’m sorry?”

“Let me in,” His fingers gently came to intertwine with yours, and you instinctively accepted it. The fire that spread through you at the skin to skin contact melted all the ice that protected your heart, its flames licking your insecurities and its warmth offering you the haven you had always yearned for, “Let me carry some of the weight you bear alone.” His pitch-black iris darted to you, pleading.

“I…” You began, feeling yourself faltering. Your mind screamed to retreat but something in Aleksander’s presence and touch drew you in. “I was a slave in a brothel.” You finally began to speak, the words that left your plump lips spilling out like broken glass, “The place’s called the Menagerie because we are just animals for them. As for the woman who runs it, she is the most wicked creature you can imagine – far more wicked than any tales they make about the Black Heretic or other cursed creatures.”  

He clenched his jaw at the mention of the Black Heretic but didn't pay attention to it more than necessary. The violence of your account had hit him too violently, like a punch in the guts, for him to focus on such triviality. Obviously, Aleksander had been trying to imagine what had turned you into what you were now since you’d met, but never had he thought about that twisted possibility of you being sold like a whore. The fire of anger burnt in the back of his melanotic eyes.

“I was a fucking kid.” You swallowed, with your fleshy lower lip trembling and the angel-like traits of your face distorting with hatred, “A kid who happened to grow into a beast Tante Heleen kept chained and drugged when it fought too much during rapes.” You rolled your eyes and let out a sad, caustic laugh that sounded more like a sigh than anything else, “A beautiful, dangerous, and desirable White Tiger.”  You imitated Tante Heleen’s sickly sweet voice, “Tss..” Finally, you looked at Kirigan again, whose grip had tightened around your hand, “Do you still think one can heal after that, General?”  

When you finished, silence hung heavy between you. Despite the destructive rage that stormed within him, Aleksander had listened without interrupting, but his shadows had curled protectively around your feet.

“You are not her possession anymore.”  The general’s unreadable expression wavered in that instant, as if the very fabric of his being had been torn. It had been a while since he had felt such repulsion and fury, even after witnessing the unfair treatment of Grisha for centuries — as sad as it sounded, he had grown used to it. But your story had awakened that old feeling of injustice that had driven him to protect his kin. His features, usually etched in perfect control, betrayed the brutal impact your words had on him. It was a flicker, a crack in the walls he had so carefully constructed, and for a heartbeat, his cold control slipped. “You never were her possession.” He gritted his teeth, a muscle twitching beneath the skin of his neck.

 To your greatest surprise, his eyes held no disgust. What was plaguing him was pain, and that pain was deep, jagged. More than anything, it was the realization of how fragile your innocence had been, how the world had stolen it from you long before he ever had the chance to protect you.

“It’s not what my indenture says.” You replied, drained.

His shock wore off at the information you gave him, “I see.” Kirigan simply commented, overcoming this brief moment of weakness and retrieving his usual control. The gears of his mind were already working to scheme something.

Then his hand rose, hesitating for a very short while before it cupped your face. Surprised by his unexpectedly tender touch, you blinked while observing him. “You’re not alone anymore, Heaven.” His thumb grazed your cheek so softly that your body relaxed at the enamored press of his skin against your frozen flesh.

“General?” You asked in a whisper, every attempt at saying more caught in your throat when he leaned over to bring his face closer. So close your noses almost touched and that the faint, intoxicating brush of his breath melted with your own. Kirigan’s lips parted as if he might speak, but no words came. Instead, his onyx eyes fell to your full lips, lingering there for a moment too long – he felt his restraint, his self-control, taunt like a bowstring ready to snap. With his hand still on your cheek, his thumb drew an achingly slow line down your jaw.

“I will handle it.”

“What will you handle?” You leaned more against the warm and wide palm of his hand, gently rubbing your cheeks like a cat asking for more petting. The way your fruity lips grazed against his thumb and laid a little kiss on it crystallized his decision.

“Your indenture. Consider this problem solved.” The world suddenly vanished around you, replaced by a rippling but oh-so-dizzying tension. Despite the firm resolve in his eyes, The Black General’s caresses remained loving as he traced your features. He relished every detail such as your long white lashes, the barely noticeable scar at the right corner of your mouth, or the overwhelming way your breaths seemed to mirror his own, like a quiet echo fading as they mixed with his. Damn her, he thought: the urge to close the distance between your mouths was maddening and threatened to annihilate his self-control with every heartbeat.

He was craving you, craving your touch, craving your mouth...

But clarity struck him like a blade. 

The tall darkness stepped back abruptly, breaking the spell you had cast on him. The separation had been so painful he felt the ache physically,  “You should go back to your room now.” He urged in a clear order. And just like that, both the conversation and the intoxicating bliss of the moment came to an end. Kirigan instructed you to leave with a little movement of the hand then disappeared into his private quarters before taking the risk of losing himself entirely.

Before he breaks that little, single thread that still kept him from making you his, right here right now on the table, until your legs shake and all the Palace hears you chanting his name. 

☾ Please consider interacting if you want the story to continue. It is what motivates writers to write the next chapters.

☾ Taglist: @lunawants , @emtaz-art, @lightinbug, @kmc1989, @thepassionatereader @mystic-mara @m-riaa @kallista-diune @meadows5 @kasagia @watersquirtpewpewboomm @the-sweet-psycho @sarahsobsession @elizabethblood9

[favorite-music-tourney]

All songs have been chosen for the 90s music tourney

Lithium by Nirvana

Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill

Ironic by Alanis Morrisette

She don't use Jelly by Flaming Lips

Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

What's Up by 4 non blondes

Peaches by Presidents of the United States

Criminal by Fiona Apple

Bitch by Meredith Brooks

Good Riddance (Time of your Life) by Green Day

… Baby One More Time by Britney Spears

Sober by TOOL

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something

Wonderwall by Oasis

Love Fool by The Cardigans

baby got back by sir mix-a-lot

whatta man by salt n peppa

No Scrubs by TLC

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants

Losing my Religion by REM

Fem in a Black Leather Jacket by Pansy Division

No Rain by Blind Melon

Friday I'm in Love by The Cure

Mr. Jones by Counting Crows

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

Zombie by Cranberries

Smooth By Santana Ft. Rob Thomas

One Week by Barenaked Ladies

Semi Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind

Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer

All Star by Smash Mouth

Buddy Holly by Weezer

My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

Genie in a Bottle By Christina Aguilera

Barbie Girl by Aqua

Spice up your life by Spice Girls

Steal My Sunshine By Len

Cannonball by the Breeders

Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve

What is Love By haddaway

Follow you down by Gin Blossom

Freedom by George Michael

Nothing Compares to You by Sinead o Connor

Around the World by Daft Punk

Laid by James

Possum Kingdom by Toadies

Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger

Only Happy When it Rains by Garbage

Bullet with Butterfly Wings by Smashing Pumpkins

Sunny Came Home by Shawn Colvin

Pepper by Butthole Surfers

Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham

Tim I wish you were born a girl by of Montreal

Voodoo by Godsmack

Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega

Livin La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin

Just a Girl by No Doubt

Closer by Nine Inch Nails

California Live by Tupac

I will Always Love you by Whitney Houston

Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman

Good Day by Ice Cube

Gin and Juice by Snoop Dogg

Dragula by Rob Zombie

My Name is by Eminem

You Get What You Give by New Radicals

No Diggity by Blackstreet

Loser by Beck

pretty fly (for a white guy) by the offspring

What's my Age Again by Blink-182

I want it that way by the Backstreet Boys

Intergalactic By the Beastie Boys

Two Princes by Spin Doctor

Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine

Girls and Boys by Blur

Where is my mind by the Pixies

Closing Time by Semisonic

Creep by Radiohead

Say My Name by Destiny's Child

Jump Around by House of Pain

Check the Rhime by A Tribe Called Quest

November Rain by Guns n Roses

The Distance by CAKE

Every You, Every Me by Placebo

The Sign by Ace of Base

Vogue by Madonna

Don't Let Go (Love) by En Vogue

Mm Bop by Hansen

Believe By Cher

Mo Money, Mo Problems by Notorious BIG

Gold Soundz by Pavement

The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliot

Common People by Pulp

Doll Parts by Hole

Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio