#ok. i'm going to make a book tag now. ready?

[galaxseacreature]

5 & 25 :]

End of year book-reading ask game

5. What’s a scene you read this year that sticks with you?

Lone Women by Victor LaValle is a horror adjacent/weird west novel, and my favorite chapter isn't about the main plot, it's just a perfectly executed (imho) ghost town story. Adelaide (the main character) travels with a friend to an abandoned town, where the friend is continuing her long search for her father's grave. It's unsettling when they ride into town past some old kilns and find, to their surprise, a few men sitting in the dilapidated saloon. The men follow them to the cemetery with only a few lines of repetitive dialogue "getting warm in here." Unnerved, the women flee before things can break too bad. A line in a later chapter confirms that the whole town was abandoned and mentions some men were killed when they tried to shelter in the kilns and their fire got out of control. Something about LaValle's tone and control of tension just really knocks this chapter out of the park, and I like how it doesn't really resolve and isn't immediately explicit about ghosts.

Honorable mention to A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll, which is only an honorable mention because it's mostly about how much the art rules. There's a full color 2 page spread late in the book that is like, a massive spoiler, but kicks so much ass that it compelled me to buy the book after initially reading it through the library.

25. If you had to give a TEDTalk on a book you read this year, for better or worse, which would it be?

Oh, easily The Dispossessed by Ursula K LeGuin. Somehow I hadn't gotten around to it before, but book club gave me the perfect chance. And there's so much there! I could probably do a talk just on the language use! What does the need for a conlang tell us about the vision of the revolutionaries? Trying to turn the Sapir Whorf hypothesis into a tool? The lingering non-Pravic words and ideas-what might we not be able to change about human society? The shared word for work and play (but distinct from drudgery) in Pravic!!!! Insults and how they differ on Anarres vs Urras.....

......I would have to be forcibly dragged off the stage if given a platform to talk about The Dispossessed, this is a threat :)

[shellbilee]

Hey There Darlin' - Chapter 5

A Glen Powell RPF Series

Apologies for the little hiatus guys. I'm hopeful that I'm back to regular posting, Glen's recent content influx has certainly helped with my inspo! Please comment if you'd like to be tagged! x

Billie

Billie hears a groan of effort and looks back at her phone sitting in the cradle on her dashboard. The metallic sound of dumbbells hitting the floor rings out and suddenly a face fills the screen, familiar brown eyes looking back at her. 

“Alright I’m done with my set now, sorry”.

Billie laughs and shakes her head, looking away from the phone and back at her reflection in her rearview mirror. 

“You’re the one that called me, Brad” Billie counters to her brother, smoothing back the baby hairs near her forehead into her slick ponytail.

Bradley, her brother had facetimed her ten minutes ago, Billie having since pulled into a car park at the address Glen had sent her this morning.

“Yeah, cos’ I feel like we haven’t spoken in ages and I miss my little sis’” Bradley says with a smile before taking a quick sip from his water bottle, “Besides, who else am I gonna speak to at this time? You’re the only one I know that would be awake”.

“Speaking of, why are you doing a workout at----” she pauses, lifting her wrist to check her watch, “Three AM?”. 

Bradley shrugs nonchalantly, as if going to the gym in the early hours of the morning is the most normal thing in the world.

“Just came off a week of night shift. First day sleep routine is always kinda fucked. Couldn’t sleep, so figured I’d come and do a workout rather than wake Jords and the kids”.

“Have you tried reading a book?”.

Bradley pulls a face and Billie can’t help but laugh at it.

“Oh yeah sorry, I forgot you’re allergic to reading” she teases, knowing her fire-fighter brother hated every single second of school and study and she, the book smart one in the family, was the complete opposite.

Bradley rolls his eyes and wipes his face with a sweat towel. “Where are you off to anyway? Gym?”.

Billie looks back at her reflection again - she’s wearing activewear again, this time a pair of tight latte coloured shorts and a white racer back tank whose neckline makes her shoulders look toned.

“I don’t know actually. It’s a date” she says with a soft laugh, looking back down at the facetime call.

Bradley snorts. “A date? Dressed like that?”.

This time it’s Billie’s turn to pull a face.

“He said to wear something I don’t mind sweating in, and to bring a change of clothes”.

Billie swears she can see Bradley’s face morph into older-brother protective mode.

“Don’t mind sweating in? Who is this guy?”.

Billie only smiles. “Just a guy I met at Rufus the other day”.

She stays tight-lipped with the rest of the details - namely, that the guy also happens to be a Hollywood celebrity and is so gorgeous that just looking at him makes her want to melt into a puddle on the floor. Though she and Bradley were close and told each other almost everything, she decided to stay vague about her date. 

Right now, she’s happy being in her exciting first-few-dates bubble. And she isn't ready for it to burst by involving other people. She would tell Bradley later, maybe. 

Bradley starts to ask another question when Billie looks down at her watch, looking back at her phone and interrupting her brother to say she needs to go.

“I’m gonna be late ok? I’ll talk to you later in the week?”

Brad nods, “Yeah yeah, you better. Be safe ok?”

“I always am, Brad. Give my love to Jords and the kids yeah?

“I will. Love you Bil”

“Love you too”.

The call abruptly ends and Billie lets out a deep breath, suddenly aware that her heart is hammering in her chest. She’s nervous, nervous to see Glen again even though she’d seen him less than twenty-four hours ago, though admittedly the last time she’d seen him she’d kissed him without warning.

She can still feel his lips on hers, their plush softness moving against hers in a gentle dance, his scent in her nose, his fingertips on her skin. She’d struggled to think of little else during her bosses housewarming barbecue last night, flashbacks of their kiss invading her every thought as she’d mingled with her work friends.

Billie realizes she’s closed her eyes, opening them a moment later and letting out a breath as she looks out the window at the busy LA street in front of her. She double checks the address on her in-dash car GPS confirming she’s at the right place, before taking a final look at her reflection, grabbing her bag and stepping out of the car.

It’s a sunny Sunday morning in LA, the sunshine instantly blinding as Billie closes her car door behind her, reaching up to shield her eyes and looking at the modern brick building in front of her.

Oh my god. 

It’s the Alo gym.

God, it’s a workout date.

Billie can’t help the breath that escapes her throat then.

Glen really did take her advice about unconventional dates seriously.

Fuck.

Billie sucks in a nervous breath and reaches up to smooth down her hair, making her way towards the entrance and doing her best to ignore the mass of butterflies that have suddenly started flapping wildly in her stomach. She knows it’s nerves, but part of her also knows it’s excitement at the thought of seeing Glen again.

She gulps silently.

Here we go.

--

Glen

Glen’s sitting in the entrance area of the Alo Wellness club, relaxing into one of the sleek, cream coloured lounges. His right leg is bouncing like he needs to go to the bathroom, but he knows it has nothing to do with his bladder.

He looks down at his phone in his hand for what feels like the tenth time in a minute, looking at the numbers above his screensaver of Brisket.

10.02am.

Glen knows he’s nervous, but he doesn’t know why. He’d been on hundreds of dates in the past but for whatever reason this one feels different. 

They’d spent most of yesterday together, talking and laughing for what felt like hours, they’d even kissed yesterday - albeit unconventionally, but still. His stomach is a tangle of nervous thoughts and feelings, and all of a sudden he can’t help but second guess his date idea. 

Billie had said unconventional, but was this taking it too far? Especially so soon?

He’d come up with the idea almost instantly yesterday, calling Keith, his Alo trainer as he’d driven home from his Ikea trip with Billie. Some part of him had decided that a personal training session for the two of them would be a great second date idea, given he and Billie had bonded over their frequent exercise and gym habits.

It ticked all the boxes - it would be an activity she told him she enjoyed, one they both regularly participated in, and it was certainly not a traditional date choice.

It was the kind of activity that he would never even attempt with a lot of girls, let alone on a second date, but with Billie? It seemed like the perfect choice. At least it had when he’d come up with it yesterday.

Glen shakes his head as if he’s arguing with the voice inside his head, ignoring his thoughts and standing firm on his decision. He exhales through pursed lips and flips his phone over in his hand again, looking up when he hears the entrance door open.

In an instant, all of his fears and concerns are gone. 

Billie looks every bit as gorgeous as he remembers, even better if that were possible, his eyes running over her as he watches her ask for directions at the front desk. There’s a smile on his face before he can even think about it, standing up from the lounge just as the receptionist points in his direction.

He feels the breath catch in his throat when Billie’s eyes meet his, and suddenly there’s a smile on her face too - a smile that makes every single muscle in his chest contract.

Glen stays put as she makes her way over to him, unable to help his gaze from following the sway of her hips. She's wearing a pair of light brown coloured shorts and a tight white tank top, both accentuating her fit figure and making her golden skin glow. 

Glen’s fingers tighten around his phone and he fights the urge to bite his fist and audibly groan, suddenly wondering how on earth he's going to get through this date without dying when she looks like that.

“Hey darlin’”.

Billie grins gorgeously. “Hey you”.

Glen steps forward to kiss her cheek just as she does the same, the turn of her head making his lips land dangerously close to her mouth. He sees her cheeks immediately flush as they step apart, and Glen fights the urge to groan out loud again for the second time in thirty seconds. 

Fuck.

If they hadn't been somewhere so public he'd have tipped her chin and pulled her in for a bruising kiss. 

Glen swallows and reaches down to pick up his gym bag, grinning down at Billie.

“So, what do you think?”

Billie tilts her head and smiles, “I see you really were listening when I said unconventional dates”.

Glen laughs. “Told you”.

“So what are we doing?” Billie asks as Glen gestures for her to follow him, heading over to the elevators at the back of the room.

Glen shrugs and presses the ‘up’ button on the wall, looking up when the elevator immediately dings. “You'll find out in a second”.

Billie laughs and flashes a worried smile. “I’m actually kind of terrified”.

He returns her laugh as the doors open and they step into the modern elevator, Glen stepping forward to press the button for level seven. 

“You’ll be fine, I promise”.

The doors close and a moment later they’re going up, Glen struggling to ignore the less than three inches of space between them. That, and the sweet, spicy peach scent of her perfume that’s once again filled his nose, the one that’s plagued his brain since their kiss yesterday, the one that seems to be permanently burnt into his every waking thought for the past twenty-four hours. 

God.

A moment later the elevator dings again and the doors open almost as quickly as they closed, revealing the sprawling, modern black and white gym floor of level seven.

They step out and Glen smiles when he sees Billie look around in awe, spying Keith up ahead standing and talking to Mike, one of the club’s other trainers. Glen nods when Keith sees him, leading Billie over towards him to introduce her.

“Hey man” Keith says, pulling Glen in for a handshake hug in that way that only men do, Glen stepping back and gesturing to Billie.

“Billie, this is my trainer Keith. Keith, this is Billie”.

They shake hands and Billie smiles, Glen momentarily caught up in how beautiful he thinks she is for the tenth time in only ten minutes.

“Glen’s told me a bit about you. You’re a physical therapist?”

“Yep! I work at Evolution Sports Rehab, on Olympic Boulevard?”

Keith nods, “Ah I know the one. I’ve sent some clients there before actually, to see Ross?”

Billie nods enthusiastically, “Yes! He’s my boss. He’s incredible”.

Glen watches Keith and Billie chat, impressed at the way Billie so effortlessly converses with new people. He smiles to himself as he looks down at her. 

No wonder she’s such a good physical therapist.

Glen takes Billie’s bag off her shoulder and puts their bags aside, returning to stand with her and Keith holding two water bottles in his hands.

“So, what fresh torture have you got for us today?”

Keith laughs and Billie looks mildly terrified, Glen putting his arm around Billie and offering a reassuring squeeze.

“You did say you wanted a bit of a challenge” Keith says pointing at Glen, Billie dropping her head back in dismay, “And you did say that Billie was basically an athlete”.

Billie’s head snaps back up and she looks at Glen in alarm, “An athlete? On what planet?”.

Keith drops his head back and laughs, “I’m kidding, I’m kidding” he says holding his hands up in surrender, “But he did say you work out quite a bit, so I’ve put together a team challenge for you both”.

Keith turns to make his way over to the squat rack, motioning for Billie and Glen to follow. As soon as his back is turned, Billie punches Glen’s arm playfully.

“You have definitely talked me up way too much”

Glen grins as he looks down at her, winking mischievously. “No such thing darlin’”.

Billie grins and rolls her eyes adorably, Glen taking her hand and pulling her until they’re both standing in front of Keith again.

“So, we’re going to do a bit of a circuit challenge. It will be a mix of strength and cardio, but you’ll need to work together to get through it” Keith says, pointing at various equipment around the room. “There will be ten stations, and at each one there will be a rep target which you can divide up between you, so you can sub in and out as you need”.

Glen reaches up to stretch his arms above his head, the corner of his mouth tugging into a sly grin as he looks over at Billie’s wide eyes.

“For example, battle ropes. There will be four hundred reps. Billie you could do one hundred, then Glen does a hundred, and repeat until you get to four hundred. Ideally, the goal is to do the entire circuit in under fifty minutes”.

Billie exhales loudly. “Have you done this exact circuit with people before?”

Keith nods. “The record is forty-six minutes”.

Glen bends his left leg behind him, holding his ankle so he’s stretching out his thigh, glancing down at Billie and back to Keith. He scoffs out loud.

“Forty-six minutes? Easy”.

The look of alarm is back on Billie’s face, though this time she’s looking at Glen like he’s insane. 

Glen can’t help but chuckle at her expression.

“What the hell have I gotten myself into?”

He grins down at her, loving the way she smiles back at him. 

“You said unconventional, remember?”

Billie shakes her head. “I think I’m starting to regret saying that”.

Glen laughs, and they both turn back to Keith.

“So, the key is to know your strengths, and what exercises you’re good or not so good at”.

Billie looks up at Glen, tilting her head playfully.  

“Surely there are no exercise that you’re not good at”.

Glen opens his mouth to speak but Keith beats him to it. “Maybe ask that again when we get to the core exercises”.

Glen pulls a face and both Billie and Keith laugh.

“Alright then” Keith announces, clapping his hands together and looking back at Glen and Billie. “We ready?”

---

Forty-five and a half minutes later, Glen and Billie collapse on the floor on their backs, panting and breathless, and covered in sweat.

Glen feels like his chest is going to explode.

He knows it has nothing to do with the workout he’s just done that has his heart rate hammering at marathon race levels, and everything to do with the stunning, sweaty, sexy girl lying panting next to him right now.

Doing that workout with her was like forty-five and a half minutes of foreplay.  He’d never been so simultaneously impressed and turned on in his life. 

Watching Billie move and jump and squat and press had Glen thinking all kinds of things, things he definitely shouldn’t have been thinking while doing a workout in the gym. He couldn’t help but stare as he did his own exercises, frequently losing count of his own reps, his eyes dragging over her back, her legs, her ass. He was totally enamoured by her, by how strong and fucking sexy she looked, even now as she lay on her back, her chest heaving, breathless from the finishing the fifty burpees they were both determined to get done before the timer ticked over to forty-six minutes.

Glen turns to look over at Billie, his eyes running over her face, her lips parted as she sucks in breaths, her cheeks flushed and covered by a glowy sheen of sweat. He swears she’s never looked more sexy than she has in that moment, and all of a sudden he can’t help but imagine what she'd look like after another kind of cardio that has nothing to do with the gym. 

And nothing to do with clothes.

“That” Billie pauses, sucking in a breath and exhaling loudly, “Was not the way I thought my Sunday would go”

“Probably not the way you thought this date was going to go either” Glen retorts, watching as Billie finally turns to look at him beside her.

She grins at him, that same gorgeous, breathtaking grin, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and it takes everything Glen has not to roll over and kiss her right there in the middle of the gym.

“You guys killed it. Broke the record and everything” Keith says suddenly, standing over the two of them and clapping his hands. “Glen, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you work that hard before. But I guess you had some extra motivation this time”

Glen chuckles and Billie laughs, but it sounds strained through their panting breaths.

“And Billie, that was pretty incredible. You smashed it out of the park, awesome stuff”

“Thanks Keith” Billie breathes, still panting, offering a weak thumbs up before dropping her hand back down to the ground dramatically.

Keith laughs. “You’re welcome”.

They talk for a few more minutes before Keith announces that he has to run to see another client, Keith bending down to shake both of their hands before waving and walking out of the gym. 

Billie sits up and leans back on her hands, her legs still outstretched in front of her. Glen is still lying on his back beside her, dabbing his face with his sweat towel.

“Glen, that was fucked”

Glen tips his head back and laughs, dropping the towel back to the floor. “But you killed it”.

“I think it killed me” Billie replies exasperated, dropping head back and looking up at the ceiling, “I am going to be so sore tomorrow”.

Glen chuckles and moves to sit up from the floor, his sweaty skin sticking to the floor beneath him.

“I really need a shower”.

“That makes two of us” Billie laughs, “But I don’t think I can stand up”.

Glen laughs, letting out a groan of effort as he hauls himself upright and stands. He reaches down for Billie’s hand and pulls her up, unable to stop his eyes from flickering to boobs in the tight white tank she’s wearing.

God.

“I also need food” Billie announces, taking a long sip from her water bottle and smoothing back her sweaty hair,  “I’m suddenly starving”.

Glen nods in agreement. 

“I was going to ask if you wanted to grab a bite after this?” he asks, eyes searching her face as he looks down at her, “If you still have the day free of course”.

Billie’s lips part into a smile, and Glen can’t help the way his own smile grows. 

“My day is totally empty”

“Oh really?” Glen inquires, one eyebrow raised, “Does that mean I can steal you for dinner too?”.

Billie laughs, shrugging her shoulders adorably, “If you don’t get sick of me before then, sure”.

Glen shakes his head and reaches out to touch Billie’s arm, flashing her his most charming grin and loving the way she looks back at him in that moment. 

“I’m not sure that's actually possible Billie”.

Billie smiles, and Glen can’t tell if her cheeks flushing is from their workout or from his comment.

They walk over to their bags, Glen bending and handing Billie hers before bending to pick up his own. 

“Did you want to shower here? Or head home and meet up again?”

Billie shakes her head and holds out her hand, “I brought a change of clothes like you said, I’m happy to shower here. But it’s up to you?”

“No no, here’s good” Glen says, dabbing at his face again with his towel, “You should see the bathrooms here. They're pretty fuckin’ amazing”. 

They walk towards the elevator and step in when the doors open, Billie’s perfume filling his nose as she brushes past. Glen presses the button for level 12, the two standing in comfortable silence as the doors close and they move up the building. 

The elevator dings and the doors open up to the reveal the luxury spa, shower and sauna level, Glen letting Billie step out in front of him.

“The female bathrooms are that way” Glen says, reaching up to run a hand through his sweaty hair, “I’ll meet you back out here?”

Billie nods, looking over in the direction of the bathrooms and back up at Glen with a soft smile.

“See you in a bit”.

---

Billie

This shower is better than the one at Billie’s house. No actually, it's the best shower she's ever used. At the gym of all places. 

It's all dark moody tile and black furnishings, the rainfall shower head providing the most amazing water pressure on her already aching muscles. Not to mention the luxury skin care products that are just free to use.

She’s in shower heaven. 

Or she would be, if Glen was in there with her.

Billie tips her head back and lets the warm water cascade over her, unable to think of little else except Glen. 

The way his muscles had rippled beneath his skin as he’d pulled himself up on the chin up bar, the way his biceps had flexed and moved as he’d picked up each dumbbell. Billie had barely been able to concentrate on her own exercises, not when Glen was looking like that, and certainly not when he was looking at her the way he had been. It was like he wanted to devour her - and if they hadn't been in public, she probably would have let him. 

Right there in the middle of the gym floor.

Their workout has left her feeling all wound up in more ways than one, like forty five minutes of insane heated foreplay without a finish line. If she were at home, she’d probably play with herself. 

She thinks about Glen in the shower, thinking about how badly she wants to have him pressed up naked against her, to feel his thick arms around her frame, his lips on her skin. 

Fuck.

What was this man doing to her?

Forty eight hours of knowing the guy and she's already desperate for him.

She wonders idly if he’s thinking about her the same way she is right now, suddenly remembering that he’s probably waiting for her outside and that she should get on with it. She exhales heavily through her nose and rinses the last of the soap suds from her skin, letting herself enjoy the shower for thirty more seconds before she turns off the tap.

Billie steps out of the shower and dries herself with the fluffiest white towel she’s ever used, changing into a pair of light blue mom jeans and a loose white button up shirt. She looks back at her reflection in the giant mirror of the luxury bathroom, tucking the front of her shirt loosely into the waist of her jeans and buttoning it just enough that it teases just a hint of cleavage.

She reapplies her makeup keeping it glowy and natural, using the gym’s very expensive hair dryer and blow waving her hair just enough that it’s tameable. She pulls her hair back into a loose braid leaving out a few face framing pieces, spritzing her favourite peachy perfume onto her neck and wrists. She steps back and looks over her reflection once more, deciding she’s happy with her look, packing up her things and walking out of the bathroom.

Billie does a double take when she walks out to find Glen sitting waiting for her on one of the cream leather lounges near the elevator, looking somehow even more handsome than he had earlier. 

He’s now dressed in a cream henley shirt and brown trousers, a pair of brown leather boots on his feet. His shirt is unbuttoned just enough that she can see the beginnings of his dark chest hair, his hair still damp from the shower and falling messily but somehow still perfectly.

As if he wasn’t handsome enough just looking like that, Billie feels her breath catch when he looks up and sees her, his lips parting in an utterly gorgeous smile.

Billie tries not to notice the way her body feels as his eyes run over every inch of her, following her hips as she walks towards him.

“You look gorgeous”.

Billie smiles. “See, I was just thinking that about you”.

Glen laughs and stands up in front of her, pressing the button for the elevator and holding open the door for her as they walk in. 

“Were you feeling anything particular for lunch?” he says looking down at her, Billie standing close enough to smell his delicious aftershave and fighting the urge to reply with ‘Besides you?’.

“I’m not fussy”.

Glen nods. “Good, I know just the place”.

---

Glen

“Were you really?” Billie asks, shaking her head in exasperation, “No way, I’ve seen that movie a thousand times, I’d have recognised you”

Glen laughs and nods his head, putting his hand on his heart to emphasize that he’s telling the truth,  “I swear I am. I’m in the stock exchange scene”. 

Billie’s brow furrows, like she’s replaying the scene in her head, and Glen chuckles when she reaches into her purse and pulls out her phone. 

“No way. I have to look this up”.

They’d just had lunch - they’d gotten sandwiches at one of Glen’s favourite spots near the Santa Monica beach. It was a little hole in the wall place with an outdoor courtyard type area at the back, and best of all, it wasn’t too well known about. On this sunny Sunday afternoon, it was the perfect choice.

He and Billie are sitting side by side in a wooden booth together, having just finished their food. They’d been there nearly three hours now, the conversation and laughs between them flowing effortlessly. It’s only been two days, and yet somehow Glen feels like he’s known Billie for months. 

They’d been talking about music choices when they exercised, Billie revealing that she actually liked to listen to movie scores when she ran - namely, superhero movie scores, saying that they made her feel motivated and pumped to keep going. That had brought them to talking about The Dark Knight Rises, at which point Glen had laughed and told her that he was actually in that movie.

He keeps his eyes on her face as she types on her phone, looking over her glowy skin and dark lashes, her full lips that make him want to kiss her for hours.

He hears the beginnings of a video play, the familiar menacing voice of Tom Hardy’s Bane character, watching as Billie’s eyes suddenly light up, her mouth dropping open in surprise.

“Oh my God it is you!” she exclaims adorably, looking up at Glen and then back at her screen still in disbelief, “How have I not noticed that before? How old are you there? You look like a baby”.

Glen laughs and takes a sip of his soda bottle, tapping his fingers against the plastic. 

“Twenty-something---, twenty-four, I think?” he says just as he hears Bane smash his character’s head into a computer.

“You know, I actually got a real concussion during that take. Tom got a bit too into his character and instead of just tapping me on the head like he was supposed to, he actually slammed my head down. Had to go see a medic and everything”

Billie’s eyes widen in shock for the second time, a soft laugh of surprise slipping from her lips. “Oh my god, really?”.

He nods and they both laugh, Glen looking over Billie as she shifts in her seat to better face him.

The afternoon sun is warm and Glen has since shed his jacket, his gaze hidden behind his sleek sunglasses. He takes advantage of that fact, savouring every moment of his eyes on Billie’s available skin, the edge of a pale blue bra peeking out from the dip of her shirt from this new angle.

He tries not to notice the way one of her denim covered thighs is now pressed against his, or the way one side of her white shirt has slipped down to expose her golden collarbone. He finds his imagination wondering what her skin would taste like on his tongue, how it would feel beneath his lips if he kissed along it.

Billie lifts her hand to look down at her watch and back up at Glen.

“You need to go?”. 

“No no, just thinking about Nugget”.

“If you want to go home and check on him it’s okay Billie”

“I want to” she says, her voice trailing off into a pause, “But, I also don’t want to leave”.

Glen smiles back at her, his eyes crinkling behind his sunglasses.

“Well, how about this then?” he asks, reaching up to run his fingers through his now dry hair, “You go home and grab Nugget, and then the two of you come to mine a little later for dinner?”

Billie tilts her head as looks at him, the corner of her mouth tugging into a smile, “Oh that is incredibly tempting”.

He grins and leans in towards her, loving the way her gorgeous hazel eyes are looking back at him. 

“Anything I can do to make it even more so?”

Billie ponders for a moment, her eyes still on his, her tongue sliding out to wet her pink lips.

“Well, for starters, keep smiling at me like that” Billie says, leaning her elbow on the table between them and resting her cheek on her hand, “Do you have any idea how handsome you are? Like, it's almost unfair how attractive you are”.

Glen chuckles softly, the sound rumbling in his throat.

“I’ve been thinking that same thought about you since the moment I met you at Rufus, Billie”.

“Oh really? You think I’m handsome?” Billie teases, a laugh bubbling up in her throat.

Glen only grins, reaching up to brush a loose hair from her face, swearing he sees her suck in a silent breath.

“Actually you know what” Billie breathes, her voice almost a whisper, “I think there is something you can do to tempt me more so”.

Glen raises a curious eyebrow, acutely aware of how close his face now is to hers.

“What’s that darlin?”

Billie exhales quietly, her perfect lips stretching into a soft, sexy smile.

“Kiss me”.

Glen needs no instruction after that.

He tilts Billie’s chin with his finger and angles her face to his, closing his eyes and pressing his lips to hers.

---

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[w2soneshots]

Guernsey -W2S

words: 0.8k+

warnings: none.

summary: you meet Harry’s parents for the first time.

notes: I finally wrote something I like and it wasn’t a request🫢. I hope you enjoy lovelys🫶🏼.

Liked by wroetoshaw and 501,348 others

y/username: umm hey😉

Tagged: @faithloisak @eatsides

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faithloisak: beautiful beautiful girl

-> y/username: 💋💋

y/nfanpage21: the last pic!!🤭

eatsides: supportive queen🍗❤️

user15327094: OMFG IS THAT W2S??

user89130243: herb what r u doin here

Me and Harry have been together for almost five months now. We met through instagram, he followed me, liked my posts, then finally sent me a message. Since then we've been inseparable, texting every day and it feels like I practically live in his apartment since he doesn't want me to leave, saying “no… don’t go, just one more night?” Along with his best puppy dog eyes. I get along great with Harry's friends, especially Tobi since he was so welcoming. After meeting Faith at Tobi's birthday party we became quite close and have had many great conversations. I feel as though I can always go to her if I need someone to speak to or if I just need some advice.

Today Harry's talking me to Guernsey to meet his family for the first time. We woke up early and threw on a comfy outfit then headed to the airport. When we arrived we went through security and waited around for a little while before actually getting onto the plane. After just over an hour we were landing in Guernsey.

y/username just posted a new story!

"Oh my god, this place is fucking beautiful." I stared out the plane window in awe of the island. Harry chuckled at my giddiness. I'm so excited to meet his family, unfortunately Rosie is at uni and Josh is on holiday so ill have to wait a little longer to meet them but ill get to see his parents. He's met mine multiple times but our schedules have never been clear enough to spend a weekend here, so when we got the chance we immediately booked the flights.

Once we'd collected our bags and were making our way out of the airport we spotted Harry's dad stood leaning against his car. I took a deep breath. "You have nothing to worry about. They're gonna love you." Harry whispered into my ear. I looked up at him "ok let's go."

"Hello, nice to finally meet you. I'm Harry's dad but you can call me Adrian." He spoke in a very cheery voice. My nerves instantly calmed. "Hi, I'm y/n." I introduced myself. "Yes I know. Harry don't stop talking about you." He chuckled. I looked over to Harry, his face was bright red and he'd gotten all embarrassed. "Does he now?" I teased him. Adrian laughed once again "well we better get going, Sue is desperate to meet you."

When we arrived outside of Harry's home my jaw dropped, it's practically a mansion. We hopped out of the car, Adrian and Harry grabbed our bags and I headed inside to introduce myself to his mum. Harry told me that the door was unlocked so I pressed down the handle and pushed it open. I was immediately bombarded by Herb, who seemed very excited to see me. I'd spent quite a lot of time with the dog since Harry had brought him with him back to London a few times.

"Hello! Come on in." Harry's mum Sue pulled me into a hug. I smiled "It's so nice to meet you." She walked me through into the kitchen "Are you hungry? I just made lunch." My eyes lit up "I'm starving and that smells amazing!" She smiled "great." Harry burst into the room seconds later and came to stand next to me. "You hungry Harry?" His mum asked. Harry nodded. "Alright, food will be ready in ten. Why don't you to go and get settled in." Harry gave me a quick toor of the house then showed me to his room. "See I told you they'd love you."

After lunch Harry wanted to take me on a walk to show me one of his favourite places on the island. So we put on our coats and shoes then he put a harness on Herb. "Come on let's go, Herbert!" Harry shouted and seconds later Herb came running towards us. I opened the door. "So where are we going?" I asked as we walked down the street. "My favourite beach." He replied.

"Wow, I can't believe you grew up somewhere like this." I admired the waves as Herb played in the sand. "I didn't appreciate it enough when I lived here, but now that I don't come here as often I realised how much I miss it," Harry said without breaking eye contact with the view. I placed my head on his shoulder and let out a breath. "I love you." "I love you too Haz."

y/username

Liked by faithloisak and 702,539 others

y/username: weekend in paradise💗

Tagged: @wroetoshaw

-comments-

taliamar: pink is your colour🌸

-> y/username: 🤗

wroetoshaw: ❤️🐶

y/nfanpage21: omg there so cute together!

user80163294: she actually posted harry🙊

user28945110: she met the fam they're definitely serious

[starberry-cupcake]

Hello, I haven't had time to read as much as I would want but I'm here with an update regardless, because if I don't keep these constant, I'm gonna forget things and this, so far, seems like a book in which I don't wanna forget things.

previously, in harrowbean the ninth:

this happened

currently, after "parodos" and ch. 1:

so I'm making up a timeline in my head with the information at hand

which is never straightforward

that'd be too easy, here in tlt we like to be kept on our toes

we like to be punched in the gut when we least expect it

so get ready for bad math

this would probably make our good friend palmolive atreides weep

I'm sorry palomilve's force ghost, I'm doing my best

SO

the first entry was the night of the emperor being terminated

the "parodos" bit (we'll get to that) is 14 months before the emperor is snuffed out

ch. 1 is nine months before the emperor kicks the bucket

I believe act 1 is going to be happening around that time, since ch. 2 seems to be following without another indication

because of what happens in "parodos" aka flashback, aka prologue 2: elecric bogaloo, we can attempt to estimate when the events of gideon happened

harrowbean tells ortus in the flashback that he's gonna train with aiglamene for 12 weeks

let's assume that's kind of the amount of time gideon trained, plus the time it took harrow to plot how to girlsplain, gatekeep and gaslight gideon into it

the only one girlbossing here is camilla, I don't make the rules

so, if gideon and harrow were ready to leave the ninth somewhere around 2-3 months after the flashback, it'd be circa 11 months before the events in the prologue

and ch. 1 starts 9 months before the events in the prologue

so gideon might have happened somewhere around 11-10 months before the prologue

I can't tell how long they were in canaan house (it felt like 12 years and 5 minutes at the same time) but I think about a month is mostly right, given that once bodies start dropping, things are all happening together

all of this is relative, since time in space is ????

but I need to do this for my own peace of mind

if you give me time measurements I'm gonna measure, ok?

I need to organize things

I know I will end up making a graphic at some point I just know it

this is what I get for calling palmolive a turbonerd

ANYWAY, MOVING ON

or, moving back, since we're in prologue 2: electric bogaloo aka flashback time

here we have ortus (the one we knew, not the one we will get to know, according to the characters list) telling harrow he doesn't wanna go to the field trip

this is ortus

if you're wondering why I don't nickname ortus, I'll repeat myself but "orto" means "ass" where I'm from, so that's enough to remember him by

harrow is like "I know you're underqualified but we're understaffed, so it is what it is"

the important part is that harrowbean says she sees the barbie in the freezer walking about

like a ghost or whatnot

she refers to her as "the body" and I assume that's barbie in the ice cube because someone reblogged my recap where I mentioned her and tagged

ever since then I've been wondering why she was referred to as The Body and now I'm gonna assume this is it

so harrow tells ortus he needs to hide the fact that she's mentally unstable

[non funny side note: masking is unbearable and it's awful we live in a social and cultural environment where we feel pressured to do it, especially when you're an adult having to fulfill expectations of supposedly "age-specific" activities and responsibilities, it's exhausting and I cried about that in therapy a mere week ago so, hitting hard, this bit

don't let people make you feel "less than" because the way in which you navigate the world and your experiences is different from what's expected in some theoretical socially constructed category

and fuck everyone who, in order to put people down in arguments online, ever make fun of those who aren't mentally, economically or socially as independent as what the category of an adult is supposed to be to them

argue with concepts, argue with opinions and facts, don't tear people down in the name of "moral upper hand" by telling people they're losers for needing help

side note done]

so, harrow entered the whole canaan thing not only carrying the weight of her house, her family and her entire people

she also came into it believing she's not mentally sound and seeing The Body walking around unnoticed by other people

whether or not her visions are mentally unsettled or something that actually happens because she opened the tomb, just the whole situation of her birth is enough to make anyone collapse, so we got you, harrowbean

we're here for you

and all that without mentioning what it'd be like seeing your girlfriend cavalier impale herself in front of you

I'm taking liberties with the 'girlfriend' bit but idk

so, next we know, 5 months have passed from that and harrowcita is struggling in her new environment of the clown emperor's ship

she is made to carry gideon's sword and she can't

she can't seem to know what to do or to communicate with said knowledge and she's throwing up a lot

WHICH IS GREAT!!!!!

I mean, it's not great that she's suffering

but it's GREAT because if she can't communicate with gideon's slurped soul, maybe it means gideon's soul has not been slurped AT ALL

more fuel for my wishful thinking of gideon's soul returning to her and getting regenerated and saved and being alive

I also like very much this situation in which harrow sees the sword as personified and they hate each other without gideon

it's like prim's cat in the hunger games with katniss

but with an inanimate object

I'm really liking that dynamic

is like they both miss her and can't relate to each other

ALSO barbie body ice cube is still there

just chillin' and being silently supportive, I think

not sure what her deal is but what if she's not the bad one here? because this emperor kind of sucks tbh

not in a 'he's evil' way but in a 'idk if he know what he's doing' way

I don't know about this guy tbh

so we're leaving off with harrow being mentally and physically struggling, ghost barbie roamin' the rooms, voices of people organizing stock and gideon in my head like this, walking in limbo to get back to us

also, another day without camilla

I thought I wasn't gonna have much to say and this is so long, I'm so sorry...

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 | Part 11

It's time to go.

Tags/Warnings: Game Designer!Jungkook, Brat Tamer!Jungkook, kinda himbo!Jungkook, Non Idol AU, established relationship, some Angst, he's trying ok[Tags will be different for every part!]

Length: 1k Words

There is no taglist for this fic.

Callob with @euphoricfilter ! 💜

-> Masterlist

♥━━━━━━━━━━•.♡.•━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

He’s checking your bags again. He’s done that twice now, and he knows that he’s going to need you to look through them at least once yourself because he just doesn’t trust himself to not forget anything.

But it’s getting a bit.. Urgent.

He really doesn’t want to text you like the lost dog he is right now to tell you to come home right now- but he kind of has to, if you’re not back in the next half an hour or so. Your flights are booked and he’s sure that you’ll have to at least go pee before leaving because he remembers that last time you both took a plane somewhere, you’d complained the entire time saying that the toilets in an airplane terrified you too much to use them.

You deserve to spend time with the girls, and he knows it’s his own fault for telling you so short notice about the trip. But right now, he needs to make a decision.

Your phone rings twice before you pick up, busy mall heard as background noise while his name falls from your lips much clearer for him to hear. "Hey- I.. I know it's only been like, what.. three hours? But uhm, I kind of have a flight booked for us that's leaving in two and-"

"Jungkook fuck, I'm so sorry!" You gasp out, clearly surprised over the time as well. "I didn't even tell them yet.." you say a bit quieter now, and he falls quiet for a moment before he sits on the edge of the bed between the bags.

He should just cancel it at this point. It's his own fault for not thinking clearly anyways, and it's obvious that you're not fond of telling the girls you're not going to accompany them on their weekend trip. He shouldn't take that away from you, and now anything he says could be guilt-tripping you into canceling just because he planned something instead. He wants you to have fun too- this is all for you, after all.

"Jungkook?" You ask, and he laughs a bit uneasy.

"Ah no it's fine, just.. don't come back too late, okay? Or come back late, I don't know.. but let me drive you home then, okay? Or I'll worry-" He rants, getting emotional again as he swallows hard.

Fuck. The stress he's put himself through really took a toll on him to make him so mentally weak right now.

"No, I'll tell them. You've worked top hard for this." You deny, before you speak again. "I'll come home asap. Can you pack my bag already?" You wonder, and he bites his lip. "Jungkook. I really wanna go on this trip with you, promise. I just got lost in time." You urge, well aware that he must be contemplating right now to be so quiet. "Okay?"

"...I already packed our things. Just.. wanted to have you look through it to make sure I didn't forget anything." Comes his voice through the speaker of your phone.

"Okay, nice, I'll do that when I'm home!" You chirp, unbeknownst to him already waving a cab towards you. Expensive, yeah- but the fastest way home nonetheless. "Hey kook?" You ask, and he hums a reply. "I love you." You say, and he relaxes at that, unable to prevent himself from smiling.

"I love you too."

While you're on your way home he checks his own bag one last time, present for you safely tucked away between his clothes and toiletries, before he zips it all shut, ready to go. He remembers the first trip you've ever been on together, years back- a cheap summer vacation your father had partially funded, where you had your first fight. It was horrible, nasty, really- but you'd overcome it, and in a way, you came home from that trip stronger than ever. In fact, you finally moved into this shared apartment together after that- one of the best decisions ever made, in his humble opinion.

You're hurrying through the front door, barely kicking off your shoes as you dash into the bedroom where your bag is still open and ready to be inspected. You kiss him hello on the cheek once before you search through it, breath slowly calming down a bit as you raise an eyebrow at the choice of underwear he'd packed. "What?" Is his sheepish answer. "They look great on you."

"Kook we both know you're just gonna rip them!" You whine, already dreading the rough actions the poor lace will have to endure if you do take them with you.

"Not if you can get rid of them fast enough." He wiggles his brows suggestively, while you roll your eyes. "Come on, last time you said it was hot when I ripped your-"

"Okay yeah, fine!" You complain, throwing them back into the bag before zipping it up. "Do you know where my passport is?" You wonder, and he smiles, holding both of yours up. "Damn, you really are prepared. Who are you and what have you done to my boyfriend?" You frown, crossing your arms while he leans forward to peck your lips.

"I'm still me." He purrs, before he takes the chance to slap your butt. "Now go pee, or you'll have to use the scary plane toilet!" He teases.

"They ARE scary!" You whine. "Imagine if you flushed and it sucked out your balls or something! I can't believe you're terrified of microwaves but not of something potentially snatching your jewels-!" You rant in complaint while rushing into the bathroom to do just as he said, well aware that he's right. It's just that you at least need to prove some sort of point here, so his ego doesn't inflate too much.

And as you both rush into the car to make your way to the airport, it's clear that he's both excited, and nervous. About what, you're not sure, but you also don't question it much further.

Because Jungkook's surprises tend to be those things you can't really foresee anyways, no matter how hard you try.

And you wonder what he's got hidden in his sleeve this time.

[edieblakee]

Ten People I'd Like to Get to Know Better

@thusspoketrish my fellow LIB trash twin

oh my god what an honour that you tagged me!! 😭🥹 we are now sacredly bonded for life

& thank you for your answers!

__________________

Last song: Drunk, by Semantics (Aussie alt -rock band) I expect no one to have heard this

Favourite colours: that deep, deep rich forest green, or British racing green? how the heck do we name colours--like who decides this.. but also, i love to wear all earthy colours - deep reds, brown, burnt orange, mustard (although wtf is mustard coloured in the earth? maybe clay. Or damp sand if you squint?

Last book: currently reading Maurice by E.M. Forster.. and by currently reading i mean i'm 5 pages in & have spent the last two months doing other things

Last fic: i listened to @sweatersinthesummer podfic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59185825?show_comments=true&view_full_work=false

for, what I thought - by baffling haze

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1953717

Last movie: maybe Scott Pilgrim vs The World. tho do feature length documentaries count? i've been true crime-ing it UP the last few weeks

Last TV show: speaking of true crime.. or maybe true crime adjacent.. investigative documentaries?? what are terms pls.

whatever the one is where the WWE guy is being all exposed or whatever; i'm half way through that

Sweet, spicy or savoury: i was basically born with chocolate in my mouth

Relationship status: independent. (yess me GET IT GIRL woo!) but also, single. pls send me a ready-to-go partner by post. Or that magic dough they used in old school Sabrina where they built their own love interest. 80kg of that should do

Last thing I googled: ok so ignoring the fact i had to google things for this questionnaire (insert me googling the word "green")

it was "bkue tongue lozard blep" (or, perhaps better known as: blue tongue lizard blep)

Current obsession: probably the drarry server. i'm way too into reading everyone's unhinged and fantastic conversations and i want to marry every last person in there

Looking forward to: finishing my fic. and my podfic. and the art for Kam (that's 12 years late for her bday). and dinner--the making of--because then i'll be eating it & fuck i'm hungry

______________________

ok okay now ZERO presh

consider this just a big huggy squeeze if you don't wanna do this. but I'd love to read ya answers if you felt like sharing

@kamaela @its-the-allure @phoenixortheflame @pl0tty @kk1smet @faiell @fastbrother @itsphantasmagoria @winnhoe @cailynwrites @sweatersinthesummer @pato-roldnart @tripably @ree-dee-art @valushk4

im breaking the 10 rule i don't even care i wanna tag everyone ok, everyone. but it will take too long to tag my whole tumblr list so if you're reading this, THIS is your tag okay

yes YOU especially! i'm tagging you

[elcor-thespian]

What's your Rooks favourite place to be? Like either in the lighthouse or adventuring. Do they throw everything to the side to go to Arlathan Forrest any chance they get? Do they prefer the music room to the library?

Ok when I tell you that I am generally so touched somebody asked me a question in response to my most recent post. I have been on this site for 10+ years and no one really ever interacts with me. And this is such a great question! Please answer it too and tag me so I can read it!

Answering below because this is going to be long

My canon Rook is Nephele Mercer, and my first thought in response to this was the the market in Traviso. Nephele had a pretty horrific childhood, and once she ran away from home she's been sort of building the bridge out in front of her to make ends meet. Even with the Shadow Dragons she never really felt safe or like she could relax. She is also fascinated by luxury because she's never had anything nice.

It's hard to explain but some combination of the purple lanterns and the warm night air makes her feel like she can finally slow down. It feels homey in a way she doesn't know how to describe. The first time she saw it when they were rushing past with Teia all she wanted to do was stay behind and look around. And the second she got to go back she visited every single stall and talked to everyone she could. Probably also bought more than she could afford.

And fast forward to her being the wife of the First Talon, she absolutely refuses any discounts anyone tries to give her. She pays people what they're worth, and then some.

Now I also have 6 other OCs that while they aren't the protagonist of the game, they are all also present a the Lighthouse and are associates of Varrics. They also all have bird code names because I think I'm cute.

Nasreen "Raven" Aldwir: I actually think that Nasreen's bedroom is the music room. She likes to be alone, and she likes small dark quiet places, so it's a great place for her to hide out in. She also is a musician (a huge inspiration for her character was the elven instrument that you can have in Rook's bedroom). At the beginning of the game she would borrow stacks of books from Emmrich and hide out in her room for hours, occasionally going back to ask questions. Eventually she got more comfortable staying in Emmrich's office and reading on the couch.

Aleksei "Magpie" Laidir: This boy must be near to water at all times. He grew up on an island and now he's a sailor. But literally any body of water will do. Lake in Arlathan, beaches of Rivain, canals of Treviso. He's like a duck.

Konstantin "Wren" Ingellvar: I don't know that Konstantin has ever felt comfortable anywhere, bless him. He probably feels most comfortable in the halls of the Necropolis because at least he understands the rules there, and he can spend a lot of time alone without questions. His life's goal is to not to be noticed, but he's a 7'2" Qunari built like a brick shit house. I think after a few weeks his favorite place to be is the library, because that's where the most people who are happy to see him are likely to be (I'm sobbing. I love him)

Paloma "Dove": Paloma is also a Shadow Dragon (There's 6 backgrounds but 7 romances, so someone's got to be the bonus Jonas). Paloma and Elspeth (below) are the two I've played the least so I don't have them as fleshed out. I think she likes to be around people, but struggles to talk to them. Paloma is an escaped Sarebaas, and she's still not used to talking or other people expecting her to say something. She likes people watching, either in the Shadow Dragon hide out, at bars, marketplaces, or at the docks. She feels very protective of Minrathous, the place that took her in when she needed a place to go, so part of her people watching is being ready to shut shit down if she sees trouble starting.

Elspeth "Crow" de Riva: My first instinct is to say "wherever Harding is", because she is Lace's self elected body guard, but that feels too easy. She's definitely a city kid, and growing up as a Crow means she's a night owl. I actually think she spends a lot of time at home. Or wherever Viago is so that she can annoy him. I wonder what it says about them that I can best describe them in their relationship to other people?

Brenna "Kestral" Thorne: For a long time Brenna would have considered anywhere with a high concentration of Wardens to be her favorite place. Being a Warden means she is constantly shuffled around, so she doesn't get attached to places easily. 6 months after the events of the game, she gets permission to go watch over the griffons in Arlathan, essentially on mental health leave. She ends every day watching the sunset with the griffons on the hillside where she and Davrin had their picnic.

So yeah this was really fun! Would love to answer some more if anyone is interested.

[kyndredravenstories]

Eyes of Infinity: Delirium Chapter 6

Hello, I have been posting my work on AO3 and recently decided to venture here to Tumblr. Please note: This story is 18+. No minors. Please read tags carefully. Link to AO3 below but I will also be posting the chapters here.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53564641/chapters/148721101#workskin

Pairing: Sylus/Female MC with some elements of Xavier/Female MC

Genre: Romance, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Angst, Adventure, Smut, Porn with Big Plot and Big Feelings

Content Warning (For the entire fic): Explicit sexual content, spoilers and alterations to existing lore and cards/memories/tender moments/secret times, size kink, size difference, vaginal sex, cunnilingus, anal sex, fingering, all kinds of fingering, elements of consensual somno, dom!Sylus, jealousy, possessive!Sylus, Mephisto stalking, typical game violence, battle and combat

Summary: To love him meant stepping over the threshold and crossing into darkness. To be with him meant accepting the lure of the shadows. And to protect him from betrayal meant sacrifice. I knew not how, only that I would not let time sever our paths ever again.

Previous Chapters: Ch 1 / Ch 2 / Ch 3 / Ch 4 / Ch 5

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I wake up ravenous.

My first instinct is to find food. Immediately. It feels like my stomach is rubbing up against my spine. I'm thirsty, too. Parched like I've been in a desert for weeks. As I move to get up, I realize I'm lying on a soft mattress covered in black silk sheets. They swish softly with each of my motions. I wince as I get up. My body throbs with each stretch of my muscles, and my head is pounding like a drum. I reach up in response to the pain, discovering that my shoulder, arm, and part of my head are covered in gauze and bandages. I vaguely remember the battle at the Mythe; my memory is still hazy. But, I do recall waking up in Sylus's arms and drifting off as I lay in the bath.

I look around. This place isn't the same one I fell asleep in. In fact, I do recognize this bed and the beautifully carved headboard. My cheeks grow hot. This is Sylus's home. And his bed. He must have taken me here after what happened. I should probably be worried. After all, I'm in the N109, in the home of its proverbial king. Yet, I'm more curious than afraid.

A pair of soft black slippers is waiting for me at the side of the bed. Someone dressed me in a warm sweatshirt and pants. The sleeves are much too long, and I have to fold up the pants so I don't trip over them. I spot a full length mirror some distance away and pad to it. As I examine my reflection, my cheeks grow even hotter. I swear that lately all I wear are Sylus's clothes. The thought is so intimate that I don't know what to do with myself. For now, I file it away for later introspection.

A shuffling sound in the corner catches my attention.

"Mephisto," I call out, spotting the large crow snoozing on his golden perch by Sylus's study. He blinks open one eye and makes a grumbling noise, going back to sleep soon after.

I make a circle around the room, taking in the décor, shelves of books, records, and ornaments. Sylus has incredible taste. Either that, or he hires a private decorator. Either way, I'm impressed. I'm also curious to learn more about the rest of this house. As I approach the doorway with double doors, Mephisto caws and flutters over to perch on my uninjured shoulder.

Behind me, a familiar ring tone jingles a pleasant melody. I turn around and see a phone lying on Sylus's desk. Walking over to it, I see words flashing on the caller ID:

Pick up

Curious, I take the call, pressing the phone to my ear.

"Good morning," a soft baritone greets.

"Sylus? How did you know I was awake?" On my shoulder, Mephisto caws. "Oh, I see."

"How are you feeling?"

I straighten my shoulders subconsciously. "Some pain, but OK. I'm hungry."

He chuckles, and I clutch at the hem of my sweatshirt.

I suddenly want to see him.

Badly.

"There's food ready for you. Take your pick."

"Where?"

"Why don't you explore a bit?"

"You want a Hunter to roam around your house?"

"Why? Are you going to get me in trouble?" I can practically hear him smirking. "Sounds like a fun game."

I make an exasperated noise. "Right. I forgot you're almighty and have nothing to fear."

"Sounds like you're figuring it out," he says, ignoring my sarcasm. We chat for several minutes like this, and I'm shocked at how much I enjoy just talking with Sylus and poking fun at each other. I check the phone for the time, surprised to see that it's 4:00 AM.

"It's so early," I frown. "I'm never up this early."

"Go eat," he reminds me.

That's when I realize that I don't want to hang up the phone. I curl my finger around a lock of my hair nervously, feeling about as ridiculous as a high schooler talking to her first crush. I push away that thought.

"Sylus," I start, not really knowing what to say.

"I'll be back soon," comes his low soft promise. "Be a good girl and wait for me."

We hang up the call, and I stare at the phone for some time. I poke through the settings, frustrated when I see that I can only make outgoing calls to Sylus's number. My thoughts shift to Xavier. I hope he can wait just a little longer for me to reach out.

I begin exploring the house. It's much larger than I remember. With the ever present darkness, it's impossible to tell the time of day. It's like being trapped in a separate dimension. I go through several rooms, impressed by the walls and floors covered in exquisite black marble. When I make it to one particular set of doors, two shadowy figures jump out of nowhere to block my path. I stumble back, relieved when I recognize the strange masks and dark armor.

"Luke, Kieran," I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Oops. Did we scare you?" Luke asks, tilting his head.

"Can't go in here," Kieran says, folding his arms across his chest.

"Sylus didn't give me any restrictions," I protest jokingly. "But, honestly, I'm just looking for food."

As they guide me to the dining room, we share a few words. To my surprise, the twins are rather easy to talk to.

"Luke," I pause in my steps. One of the twins turns to look at me. "Were you alright? The LUMINIS didn't hurt you, did it?"

He taps the side of his face then steps closer to me. "Lady, you're kind of messed up in the head, huh?"

I blink up at him. "What do you mean?"

He makes an exaggerated hum, like he's thinking hard. "I'm not your buddy. I'm your warden. That question...It's kind of like a prisoner worrying about his jailer, isn't it?"

I'm still confused. "Prisoner?"

Suddenly Kieran laughs, clapping his hands together. "Aw, look. She doesn't know. Poor thing."

Luke shrugs. "She'll know soon enough."

"What are you two talking about?" I ask with a frown.

"Boss-man doesn't have guests," Kieran says. "If you're here, you're just a prisoner."

"Or a toy," Luke adds, holding up a finger. "Till the Boss gets bored. Then I guess he'll find something else to play with."

I wad a piece of my sweatshirt in my fist, really not knowing what to think of their discussion. I'm a prisoner? That doesn't seem right. Didn't Sylus bring me here to keep me safe while I heal? Am I really so naïve that I've completely misread his intentions? He hadn't tried to keep me anywhere against my will since the first time we met. I helped him when he needed me, as we agreed. In return, he helped me look for more information about the Aether Cores and those who may have killed my family.

Is it really that simple, though?

And how much did that one night of passion weigh against all these assumptions?

Since when was I so comfortable around Sylus?

Oh my god. Where has my mind been all this time?

I shiver, like someone dumped a bucket of cold water over my head. I look around again, and suddenly the beautiful black marble and gold-trimmed walls feel like a gilded cage rather than a home.

"Uh-oh," Kieran chimes. "Looks like we might have hurt her feelings."

"Just managing expectations," Luke waves his hands.

"I gotta say," Kieran continues, "you fight pretty good. Your aim needs work though."

"...aim?" I ask, my voice strained.

Kieran does a little twirl as he sidesteps around Luke to stand in front of me. He leans in, and I'm momentarily disoriented by his raven mask's red eyes. "You can't be stupid enough to think that shooting someone in the arm or in the foot will stop 'em from getting up and shooting you in the head, yeah?"

"She's not a killer, Kieran," Luke says.

"That's the problem, isn't it?" Kieran shrugs.

On my shoulder, Mephisto stirs and gives an angry squawk. He flutters his wings then settles down. While I'm trying to process all this, my stomach growls loudly.

"Let's get some chow," Kieran says. "Come on, Lady."

We walk to the dining room, and when I see the extravagant feast set up on the large table at the center, I momentarily forget my angst. All kinds of dishes greet my ravenous gaze. Roasted chicken with some kind of glaze, fish and seafood, several kind of soup, fruits that look fresher than any I've ever seen, and a side table with cheesecakes and yogurt parfaits. I lick my lips, my eyes gravitating towards the chicken and fruit.

I don't hesitate to dig in. Grabbing a plate - or two - I scoop up a little bit of everything to try. There's no disappointment on my end. Everything tastes like it came from a five star cookery. There's a pitcher with some kind of divinely flavored water; I down several glasses. I save the oranges - my favorite - for last. Breathing in their fragrance, I begin to peel a few, already anticipating how delicious they'll be.

Luke and Kieran grab some samples for themselves as well, chattering about topics I don't understand. I tune them out, but I am impressed at how in sync they are. Everything from their movements to the way they finish and start each other's sentences speaks volumes of how close they are. I've never seen them fight, but I imagine that they are quite a formidable force. They'd have to be, to serve Sylus as closely as they do. Unfortunately, it also means they likely know their Boss much better than I can hope to.

Their previous words sting as I munch on a few slices of oranges. I'm so entranced by the food that I hardly notice when the sound of footsteps begins to echo behind me. I glance up and see that Luke and Kieran have disappeared. With a ruffle of his wings, Mephisto takes flight from my shoulder to the back of the room.

I whirl around to see Sylus smirking as he looms in the doorway; Mephisto happily settles on his shoulder. Sylus is so tall that the top of his head almost touches the casing. Right away, his sheer presence winds up the coil of tension in my body. I don't know whether it's because I've Resonated with him so much, but it seems that lately I can always feel him when he's this close. That or I just need to break down and admit that the man is intimidating no matter what setting he's in.

He's wearing a black button up shirt and dark dress jeans that hug his hips and muscular thighs. A dark red jacket is draped over his shoulders, flowing behind him like a warrior's banner. The gun holster at his hip is empty, and his pointed black dress shoes look like they've got some dust on them. One hand rests in his pocket while the other strokes at his chin, his crimson eyes vivid and fierce. He's covered in red spatters and stains, but I can't see any wounds.

It's not my blood - his voice echoes in my mind from yesterday. Hollow and cold.

And yet, I'm not afraid.

"Sylus," I can't help the way my voice softens when I say his name. "You're back. Are you...hurt?"

He huffs and brushes his thumb against his cheek. Like a flickering illusion, all the blood turns into dust and evaporates in a crimson flash from his clothes and skin. My heart drums in my chest, and I don't understand the rush of emotions clamoring for attention within. Excitement? Intimidation? Yearning? Do I want to run? If so, do I want to run away from him or towards him?

He keeps staring at me until I want to squirm, but I will myself to keep my back straight. I've told him over and over I'm not a small animal that needs protection, and I don't want to renege on that assertion.

"Um," I swallow thickly as he takes a step towards me. I look towards the dining table, unable to maintain his predatory gaze. "This food is delicious."

Another step.

He raises his hand and snaps his fingers.

And then he's gone.

Mephisto flies to his golden perch in the corner of the room.

One second.

Two.

In a whoosh of blazing Evol and ruby mist, Sylus appears right behind me. Long arms emerge from the shadows to wrap around my waist. Even as I start to turn around, I'm pulled backwards against the length of him, his body heat encasing me like a stygian cloak. Long fingers caress my neck and guide me to move my head so that soft sensual lips can press against the pulse at my throat.

He smells like earthy smoke, fading ash, and the untamed wind. He smells like battle. I imagine him flying through the night on his motorcycle - powerful, free, untouchable. I wonder what dangers he faced last night and how he overcame them. I wonder if I'll always worry about him like this. There's really no need. I can't imagine there would ever be a situation he can't handle.

I lean into him. I really can't help myself. This man constantly throws me off kilter, and I have no hope of regaining my balance. All I can do is let him lead while I follow. Otherwise, I'll be so lost that I won't ever find my way. He makes me forget about the natural boundaries of the world I know; makes me unafraid at the prospect of stepping into the eclipse as long as I am by his side.

"Looks like you've made yourself right at home in the lion's den," he teases. His lips curve into a smile against my skin. I whimper when his palms snake up my sides and reach around to cup my breasts.

"...was hungry..." I breathe, closing my eyes against a rush of pleasure.

"I'm rather hungry myself," he purrs. "It's been a long night, and you look delicious." He traces my arm all the way from my shoulder to my wrist, sending bolts of electricity buzzing over my skin. Bringing my hand to his lips, he breathes in.

"You smell delicious too. Like oranges and spice..." Slowly, deliberately, his mouth wraps around my index finger.

"Mmn...Sylus..." I almost want to tell him to wait, to stop, that this is too much for me. But, his eyes bore into me, silencing my protests. I struggle to keep breathing. I know where this is going, but I'm still worried for him.

I bite my lip as he lifts me up just enough to rub my backside against his hips. The hardness there is a testament to the fact that he is very far from tired. His fingers mold into my belly, teasing me with controlled pressure in just the right spots while his tongue traces the sensitive grooves between the fingers on my hand.

"You just got back. Shouldn't you...mnn...rest?"

"Is that what you want me to do?" His tone is dangerous, like subdued thunder.

He pulls back from my hand, and I take a few breaths to recover. It's too late, though. The fire's been lit, and if I don't take it to conclusion I am going to be disappointed.

"Well?" he asks again.

I shake my head. "No..."

"Then," he presses his lips to my left ear and lets out a long hot breath. It tickles, but it also feels incredible. "What does my little kitten want?"

"Please...touch there..."

"Which part?" he asks, pressing himself into me while massaging my body. His tongue traces the shell of my ear, his mouth culminating its journey with a soft bite to my neck. I moan, unable to answer.

"Here?" He licks the spot he just bit, soothing the sting.

"Yes," I whine. "There..."

"And here?"

His hand slides past the waistband of my shorts, fingers inching slowly lower and lower. When he presses against my apex, I gasp and jerk away. My shoulder is starting to hurt, but I don't want Sylus to stop. The way he's grinding me against him is working me into a frenzy, and when his finger slips between my folds I can't help but dig my nails into his forearm. I pull my trembling fingers back, not wanting to hurt him.

"Harder," he growls. "Show me how good it feels."

A few strokes and I'm ready to do anything he tells me to. I move my hips against his hand, throwing my head back. "Nnn...ah....Sylus..." My whimpers turn needy as his finger slips inside me. He starts pumping it in and out, and my knees go weak. His sinewy arms keep me from falling, holding me so close that I can hear his every breath. I claw him harder like he asks, breaking skin and drawing blood.

"More...faster..." I beg him.

"As you wish." Another finger joins the first, stretching me open until I see stars. He increases his pace, curling, bending, reaching for something inside. Suddenly, I'm scared. The pleasure is building too fast. There's a pressure in my belly I can't understand. I gasp, trying to run from the feeling.

"Wait...no...too much..."

"First I'm too gentle, and now I'm too rough," he purrs. "You should make up your mind."

"Too much," I cry out. "Wait...Sylus..."

He chuckles. "No," he kisses the nape of my neck. "I don't think I will."

He keeps driving his fingers into my depths until he snags something inside. I jerk and shudder, and he knows he's found what he's been seeking. He focuses on it, then, despite me begging for his mercy. Again and again, he hits that spot inside me. I go numb one second; the next, everything feels too sharp and intense. I can't catch my breath. Harder and harder I claw at his arms, his clothes, his hand. My climax is like a riptide. My vision goes black as my whole body convulses in ecstasy. I scream out his name, and hot sticky fluids coat my shorts and Sylus's hand. I sag in his arms with a whimper, trembling all over. Without missing a beat, he lifts me into his powerful embrace.

Grabbing the collar of his shirt, I yank him down into a fiery kiss. Our tongues slip and slide together, and I lament how in control he is. Until, with a growl, he snaps. Leans down so my body is tilted, driving his tongue into my mouth until I can't take a breath. At last, when I start to see spots, he pulls back. My lips are throbbing, swollen, and sore. I'm dizzy with need, so aroused that I can hardly bear the ache between my legs. Resting my head against his chest, I wince as I try to find a position where my shoulder doesn't hurt.

"What is it?" he asks, all mirth suddenly gone from his voice. "Are you in pain?"

I find his eyes, still breathing raggedly, still trembling. I wonder if I am imagining the concern in his gaze. "I'm alright. Sylus, please don't stop."

I need more of him - his lips, his tongue, his fingers, and everything past that. I stare at his rugged features, mesmerized, then reach up to cup his face with both of my hands. He closes his eyes, leaning into my palm. This man. This beast. As I hold him, I can't fathom how I'm doing so. Embracing him is like holding a living flame. Too close and I'll get burned. Yet, I can't stop. Can't let go.

I cry out in surprise when he lifts me farther up his body, until I'm almost draped over his shoulder. It takes the friction away from my injuries, and our faces are nearly touching. Just like before in the hotel, gravity pulls us together until our foreheads press against one another. I forget all my doubts and fears when I spiral down into the wine of his eyes.

"Come, I'll take you to bed."

My fingers thread into his hair. I have no pride left. No dignity.

"Please," I implore. "Please, don't stop."

His eyes are my world, so I can't see his expression. But, I see the corners of those eyes crinkle in amusement.

"I didn't say I would stop. I'm just taking you to bed." He doesn't warn me this time. His Evol wraps around us, pulsing and flowing through me. The world spins, blurring into a watercolor painting. My body moves without my direction. I gasp at the feeling of a rapid rise and drop.

And then my back is cradled among silk sheets. One second I'm alone among a shower of falling black feathers, and the next Sylus appears from thin air, fitting against me as perfectly as one half of a whole. We kiss, and he's gentle this time. His hands continue what they started in the dining room. He positions himself between my legs and starts kissing downwards from my neck to my chest.

"Tell me," he murmurs with his head buried in my breasts. "Were you waiting anxiously for my return?"

My ears burn, and I shake my head.

"Tell the truth now." He draws my nipple into his mouth, and I pull at his hair.

"I wasn't," I insist, my thighs hugging his hips, pulling him against me. My shorts disappear in short order, his hand coming back to wring more cries of pleasure from me as he teases my clit.

"But, you want me now. Listen to your sweet little mewls, kitten. Your body is begging for me." Leaning over me, he pushes my legs up against my chest and thrusts his fingers even deeper inside me. I'm mortified. He can see everything from this angle, and my shyness momentarily overtakes my awareness. I try to hide my face with my hands, but he gently pulls them down.

"Don't hide your face from me," he commands. "Not ever."

I cry out in bliss as his fingers curl inside me. He starts up an erratic rhythm, and my head swims. As though from a distance, I hear my voice - moaning, whining, sobbing.

"Ah...wait...not so deep..."

He doesn't let me come even though I approach the edge several times. My eyes water with tears as pleasure and frustration washes over me.

"S-Sylus," I cry out. "Please...please..."

His tongue spirals into my belly button, and I buck my hips.

"Please let me come," I plead.

"So? Were you waiting for me or not?"

"I was!" I sob. "I...was..."

He hums in approval. "You're cute when you're honest."

His fingers stop moving. He pulls back and unbuttons his shirt. In the low light of the bedroom, his red eyes gleam with satisfaction. Shucking off his shirt and jacket, he leans over me. I lick my lips, my eyes devouring his athletic form, my arousal building and reaching a fever pitch. He frees his erection from his pants, and my mouth goes dry again. Without further conversation, he pushes my legs up even higher and slips inside me. I clutch at the bed sheets as I experience an earth-shattering orgasm.

It's not the last time. Sylus sets a steady rigorous pace, and I let myself float in a sea of new and incredible sensations. He takes me over and over until I'm a sweaty, shivering, and drooling mess, hitting me so deep inside that I can hardly breathe. My voice is hoarse, and I can't feel my fingers or my toes.

"No...Sylus...please," I whimper as he pulls me into his lap and slides to the edge of the bed. "I can't...I can't anymore-ah!" I throw my head back as he spears into me.

"We're not stopping yet," he says, his voice strained and breathy. "Not when you're squeezing me this hard." His hands settle on my hips, fingers digging into the flesh of my butt cheeks. I feel like I might faint when he starts to move, bouncing me up and down on his engorged cock until I come again and again. With a low growl of satisfaction, he reaches his own peak, filling my womb with his cum.

When I fall forward, he helps me wrap my arms around his shoulders. We sit like that for a while, regaining our bearings, sharing breaths and kisses. I love feeling him inside me; being joined with him. His hands stroke my hair and my back. I nuzzle into his neck, taking in his scent, memorizing it. Without pulling out of me, he leans back on the bed, letting me rest comfortably against him.

I steal a peek at his face. He fingers a lock of my hair, his expression thoughtful. When enough time passes, I gather my courage to speak.

"Sylus..."

"Hmm?"

"What are we doing? What is this?"

He doesn't answer, and I put my head back down against his chest. Maybe he doesn't know either. Putting a name to this is too complicated, after all.

"Ellara," he murmurs my name.

"Yes?"

"Things are about to escalate with Noxis."

I try to sit up, but Sylus holds me in place.

"You mean with LUMINIS?"

He pauses. "You're going to be hunted."

"I'm not afraid of them."

Another awkward silence as Sylus continues stroking my back.

"See that your courage doesn't turn into recklessness. I don't want a repeat of yesterday."

I nod.

"I've arranged for your knight to pick you up tomorrow at midnight."

Startled, I manage to sit so I can see his face. "Knight?"

He smirks. "The one you call your partner," he clarifies. "The one with the collar around his neck."

"Xavier?" My eyes go wide. "You called him?"

His fingers stroke my cheek. "If he's going to be of any use to you, I'm going to need to break that collar. Tomorrow, I'll do so."

I settle down against him when he pulls me forward, too exhausted to process everything he's saying. As he pets my hair, I start to drift off.

"Sylus, what am I to you?" I mumble, already half asleep. "Am I just a phase? A diversion?" 

He huffs. "Another incredible misunderstanding. Should I correct it this time?" 

My eyes close, his warmth too cozy and comforting for me to resist. "Mmm hmm..." 

"I'll tell you when you can hold a proper conversation," he chuckles, pulling a silk sheet over both of us. "The safest place for you is here, Ellara. But, I will not cage you. Do as you will for now. One day, you will choose to stand by my side."

[harlowarchives]

𝟏. uncle 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊! ❝

❪ 𝐡𝐢 boo's i literally dreamt about this a few nights ago so i wanted to share it with you & make it a little more fun. i love you guys so much so i HOPE you enjoy bye 7̲ ⁺ ☽ ᵎ

Tomorrow is your older sister's anniversary so she called in a favor from you and Jack asking if the two of you could babysit for her while she & her husband were away for the week & of course, you accepted because of how well-behaved and sweet your nieces were but now all you had to do was convince Jack to tag along.

Strolling into the bedroom Jack sat at his desk humming an unfamiliar melody writing in his book after every note he hummed he’d write another word, you stared in admiration before he noticed your presence “Hey baby.” he said his eyes meeting yours the two of you smiled while you walked towards him, gently you trailed kisses down his neck & wrapped your arms around him “Jack… okay hear me out before anything! My older sister’s-”

“Going on vacation with her husband & we're sitting, I know.” He stood up walking to the closet which was filled with girls' toys “Nemo helped.” He added with a grin on his face as you ran towards him pulling him into your tight embrace.

ⁱ 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 day.

You & Jack had finally arrived at your sister's house when two little girls zoomed toward the two of you “AUNTIE Y/N!” the girls squealed the smaller one with her arms around your legs & the larger one her hands around your waist “You guys have gotten so big, please stop growing for Tee-tee ok?” you said as the smaller one giggled.

“We can't do that Tee-tee.” The younger one said chuckling as you tickled her small body “Ok, ok. Well, I want you two to meet my boyfriend.” You smiled “Jack, this is Adalia.” You said pointing at the older sister as she stood behind you waving, “And, this is Aaliya.” you added pointing at the younger sister and lifting her off her feet and into your arms. “Hi, girls,” Jack said smiling at them.

“Do you guys like toys?” he asked as their eyes lit up eagerly nodding their heads. “Well, I happen to have some just for y'all.” He said popping the trunk and pulling out what looked like 100 toys “Whoa…” the girls said in unison as you & Jack laughed.

The girls grabbed the bags & ran into the house while you and Jack followed, you looked over at him & placed a kiss on his cheek and his face turned bright red. The girls sat in the family room playing with their toys all smiles of course, “Jack, I'm about to shower can you keep an eye on the girls please?” you said slowly standing up & walking away as he rolled his eyes. “Hey Jack, can you play with us? We don't have anyone to be Daddy Pig.” Adalia said as Jack stood up & sat down next to the girls “I'd love to.” He said smiling “Ok, so now Daddy Pig is going to eat a lot of food, and his tummy will hurt bad, Ok, Jack?” Aaliya questioned as Jack nodded.

“Can he eat Peppa?” Jack said furrowing his brows stroking his chin, “No Jack! That's silly.” Aaliya said giggling. “Ok, then can he eat the table?” Jack asked again making Adalia laugh. “No!” The girls said in unison “Why not?” Jack said frowning making a fake cry “No! Jack don't cry.” The girls said hugging him while giggling “Guys I think I have an idea.” Jack said sitting down the toy “I think I should eat… YOU TWO!” He roared chasing the girls and tickling them making eating noises. You stood in the bedroom eavesdropping & smiling at the distant giggles and squeals.

After you got out of the shower everyone proceeded to wash up & get ready for dinner but the best part of this dinner was that Jack was cooking it. You & the girls sat at the dinner table watching him rush around the kitchen and burn mostly everything, Adalia turned to you to ask “Tee-tee is your boyfriend Santa Claus?” you heard Jack stop dead in his tracks awaiting your response “Uhm, No. But he is very similar, he's very giving & he has a cute beard.” You replied giggling as he eavesdropped from the kitchen grinning. “Alright kiddos, food’s ready!” he said walking towards the table flashing a smile at you then passing out plates “Thank you, Jack.” You & the girls said in unison.

“You're very welcome girls.” He said with a smile. “Pleh!” Adalia said shaking her head “Jack this is nasty!” Aaliya added “It can't be bad girls stop-” you said before putting the hard pasta in your mouth trying to mask the disgust “Wow guys thanks a lot!”

“You can't be good at everything Jack,” Adalia said shaking her head as you laughed picking up his phone to order a pizza.

After dinner, the girls were in the bathroom brushing their teeth when Aaliya ran towards you & Jack who were cuddled on the couch. “Jack, is this your video?” Aaliya giggled showing You & Jack the Luv Is Dro video. As you just peered at Jack, shrugging your shoulders “No, that's my evil twin Jackman.” He added “How about you guys go back to Peppa?” he said pulling the iPad from her hand and playing an episode of Peppa Pig as two watched her small figure scurry away.

You & Jack had just finished reading three bedtime stories and setting up a movie & now the two of you were on your way to the guest room. You lay on the bed and turned on the tv as Jack laid beside you “Your nieces are nuts Y/N.” He said bursting out into laughter “Jesus they are just like me and Monaé, Lord.” You said shaking your head as he pulled the cover over the two of you “J, is that rain?” you asked “I think it is” he said looking as rain dripped down the window pain “Oh I'm going to bed then.” You were only going to sleep because when the rain came Adalia followed she was terrified of it because the thunder scared her you assumed nothing had changed and were you right you heard the bedroom door open indicating that Adalia had woken up after the lighting had struck.

You quickly tucked your head only the covers as small feet pitter-pattered into the room, “Jack? Tee-tee?” Adalia called out “Yea kiddo. You alright?” Jack questioned “Ah!” she squeaked running towards Jack in the bed after hearing the thunder. “Adalia, it's ok I'm right here.” He smiled as she tucked her body under his. “Can I call you Uncle… Jack?” Adalia says as he body shook “Sure can.” He whispered trying to mask his excitement listening to her small cries “Uncle Jack! The rain.” Adalia whined.

Jack began to run his hand over her soft coils. “Adalia, it's ok I'm right here.” he smiled “It's okay Uncle Jack’s here.” He added. As she began to rest.

ⁱ 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 day.

Today was the last day you & Jack would spend with the girls because their father's mom was going to sit for the rest of the week, “Morning Guys!” you smiled walking into the living room “Mornin' Babe.” Jack smiled not even bothering to look at you “What are you guys watchin-”

“SHH!” Jack & the girls yelled their eyes glued to the tv as they began laughing at Peppa Pig, a grown-ass man was laughing at Peppa Pig. You butted out & walked to the kitchen to start on breakfast & shrugged before hearing “Auntie can you make the pancakes like in Peppa?” Aaliya said looking over at the counter where you stood. “I can try Li.” You smiled.

“Uncle Jack can we watch your video?” Adalia asked “Sure.” He replied placing her on his lap “Ok here’s one.” He said adjusting in his seat the music played as you sung to every word humming while flipping pancakes the girls got up and started dancing as Jack pulled out his phone recording to post on instagram & caption “For the kids.”

The girls finished breakfast & were giving Jack a makeover while you packed up your belongings. You looked out the window and saw their grandmother in the driveway walking towards the front door, “Guys! Grammy’s here.” You called.

“GRAMMY!” The girls yelled running downstairs to hug the tall woman “Hi girls!” as they crashed into her “Did you have fun with Y/N & Jack?” Their grandmother asked waving up at you as you waved back. “Jack time to go!” You called as he walked out covered in glitter “Babe-“ you said with a look of concern “No. It’s my Glitter skincare routine.” He said glaring at me we grabbed our bags & walked down the stairs.

Walking towards your driver two voices yelled “Bye Uncle J! Love you” The girls smiled wrapping their arms around him “Wow no Bye Tee-tee?” you said pretending to frown then crossing your arms “No! we love you too Auntie Y/N!” Aaliya said smiling “Not more then Uncle Jack though.” Adalia muttered as Jack smiled “That’s my girl.” Lifting Adalia into his arms and stepping in the car waving bye. “Make sure you follow ur glitter regimen Uncle J!” Adalia shouted as Jack rolled his window down “Will do Kiddo!” He smiled.

⁺ 🏷️ 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒 ⁱ : @lexxtooshiesty4bae @iknowdatsrightbih @iheartharlow @livsters @honeyharlows @killatravtramp @jackmanduh

⁺ 🏷️ 𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐒 ⁱ : things i did & didn’t put in the book!

“Tee-tee is your boyfriend Santa Claus?”

“Can I call you Uncle Jack?” Adalia says at the dinner table “Sure can.” He replies trying to mask his excitement.

You & Jack take the kids for frozen yogurt.

“What are you thinking about?” Jack asked as you watched the girls “They are just like me & their mom.” You said.

“Ah!” she squeaked running towards Jack in the bed hearing the thunder.

“Uncle Jack! The rain.” Adalia whined as he ran his hand over her soft coils. “Adalia, it's ok I'm right here.” he smiled “It's okay Uncle Jack’s here.”

“Bye Uncle J! Love you” The girls smiled wrapping their arms around him “Wow no Bye Tee-tee?” you said pretending to frown then crossing your arms “No! we love you too Auntie Y/N!” Aaliya said smiling “Not more then Uncle Jack though.” Adalia muttered as Jack smiled “That’s my girl.” Lifting Adalia into his arms and stepping in the car waving.

“Go to bed guys!” You commanded as they ran away with their Ipads.

You & Jack take the kids to the deli. ( 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦! )

Jack tries his best to make dinner & Aaliya says:

“Jack you can't be good at everything.”

Jack puts the girl on his shoulder.

Jack admits his love for Peppa Pig.

“Jack, is this your video?” Aaliya giggled showing You & Jack the Luv Is Dro video.

[nothingenoughao3]

Hi!

I´ve been planning on making a hard cover Reanimator fanfic book for a while and i would like to know if i could include Dreams in the Necromancer House after its finished! It would be just one book (not selling it) and i´ll give the proper credits both on the summary and the beggining of the story. Im also thinking about doing an illustration of each chapter and putting there, so there´s that too. If it ends up really happening i plan on posting the progress on my tumblr!

We can talk a bit more about it if you have any regards about the crediting stuff or anything like it, but its ok if you dont like the idea too!

Hope you have a good day!

Hi @camelosuspeito! I am going to reply to you in particular, but my opening is going to be generic in case anybody else has a similar question. You've kind of triggered an unskippable cutscene, so I'll let you know that the answer is yes ahead of time. I hope that's okay, and that you're having a good night/whatever your local time is!

Generally speaking, I can only support fan binding of my works if they are offered free of charge, or are personal copies not for sale.

My reasons for not supporting fan binding for pay for my works in particular are simple. I offer all of my fanfiction free of charge. That does not mean that they are free of labor. I've been writing fic since I was sixteen; I'm now in my forties. I've put roughly two decades of practice into creating fanworks. This doesn't touch upon the original works I've produced in that same timeframe, nor having to learn basic HTML to create websites back in the day to host fanworks at a time when they were regularly banned from mainstream platforms, etc.

Despite all that, I am giving my writing for free. To me, the point of transformative fanwork is creating, developing, and maintaining the fandom, in joy and in suffering. I could charge people a fee to access my Re-Animator essays on some other site. That would be the smart move and my bills would sure appreciate getting paid. I don't do that because I am also poor and I feel it would be unethical to put a paywall between impoverished fans and transformative works. I'll probably create a tip jar here one of these days, but that's all it would be--a tip jar for people who appreciate what I do.

Accordingly, I see people charging over a hundred euros for binding fanfic, and I get a bad taste in my mouth. As far as I can tell, nobody on Etsy is getting their own fanfic bound, nor are folks offering fan bindings of their own works. They are taking the labor of a third party and making money off it, and it's really not clear whether any of the fanwriters whose works are being sold even know whether or not it's happening or consented to it.

It reminds me of how in the mid-2010s, somebody went through my AO3 profile and uploaded a bunch of my Star Trek and Twin Peaks fics as ebooks for sale. That troubled me. If they sold one of my fics, that's only five dollars--but it's pretty much pure profit for them, and so very worthwhile. It sucks offering something for free and having people take advantage of that in the name of their own profit.

And again, this is all just about me and how I feel about my work. Other folks can and will feel differently and that's okay! I'm not passing judgement.

Soooooo, all of that being said, you're not doing that. You are asking to do a fan binding of "Dreams in the Necromancer House" for you, and as you've described it here, that's fine with me! If you still like it after it's finished and you want to have a personal copy of it, go nuts with that! I think crediting me as the author on the cover or author's page would be more than enough, given that it would just be yours.

I think seeing your process for producing it would be very interesting, and so would the illustrations! Feel free to tag me as much as you like when you're ready to get going.

[fictionalhubbydreamer]

Ok first of all i thank everyone supporting my books so thanks really. Heres my first oneshot I once did.

[Its terrible writing as it was my first ever writing☠️]

First crush

-Fluff and more fluff!

~•~

It was a typical Friday night, or it was supposed to be. Aprils close friend Y/N was coming over. Raph and Leo were in another argument, however it ended before she arrived.

Y/N: Hey guys I'm here-...um why's the atmosphere so tense here?

Don: Nothing new really. Just another Raph and Leo argument.

Y/N: Well if you say so.

Raph had walked away been pulled away by Mikey. Donnie had gone with them to make sure that Raph cools down.

Leo: Ok look I will be honest here, do you like someone by any chance?

Y/N: Yeah I do...Why?

Leo: Well I guess I'm happy for you.

Leo walked off looking rather dejected as he heard this, leaving Y/N confused.

In reality he had known a guy on the surface had been flirting with her. He just didn't want to feel like he's getting in the way of her happiness.

He just didnt know how to tell her he has had a secret crush on her since getting to know her. The day April brought her over everyone saw a change in their leader. Even now he's not himself since hearing she does like someone.

A bit later Y/N decided to go talk to Leo. Since of course she didnt know yet, however she had to tell him her feelings. She was just nervous was all.

*she knocked on his door*

Leo:Its open.

She went inside to see him on his front laying on his bed looking rather down. Closing the door again she went to lay next to him on her front too. She lays a hand on his arm smoothing over it now earning a rather confused look for a moment from Leo.

Y/N: Look i wanted to come talk with you, in fact i had something on my mind. I just didn't know how to put it into words. So heres the thing......I like you.

Leo looks at her now rather stuck for words: I-I like you too. Have always.

Y/N: I also heard from Don about you keeping an eye out for me, Its ok though. That guy was a real jerk in the end. So I'm glad i rather have you.

Leo then rolled onto his back pulling her onto his plastron and drapes both arms over her back.

She lays her head on his plastron now ready to have a quiet cuddle and have a nap. It was a hectic day for her after all. He runs his fingers through her hair a few times and after she fell asleep he then texted Raph:" You owe me 50 bucks. She was crushing on me".

Raph: Ugh...Fuck. Fine you win this time.

Leo fell asleep now cuddling his crush smiling since he's overjoyed to be her first crush too.

@leosgirl82

@sharpwindow

Tag any you feel like as I have very few mutuals.

[emptymanuscript]

Take 3... or 30, or, you know, whatever...

Ok.

Time to buckle down. Unfuck all this. Winter is over. The Sun has returned. Life begins again. So I try again. Start over.

Picking a due date. June 1st. That's easy to remember. That's 53 days. That's time enough to do what NEEDS doing. Without too much time to sabotage myself.

I had a good conversation yesterday with Editor Prime ;) and she helped me coalesce my thinking much better.

I am, not just in specific, but in general as a plotted-course of work, trying to do too much. And in that issue I am trying to do two incompatible things simultaneously with Knights of Day, and therefore doing neither well enough to work.

I am trying to BOTH:

Turn the zero draft Knights of Day into a book series that is readable and comprehensible to a wider audience.

AND

Turn Knights of Day into a kind of magnum opus epic so the wider audience loves it the way we love it.

What she pointed out was that the entire reason to make Knights of Day in the first place is that it was epic. It just took its time instead of me trying to shoehorn EVERYTHING in right away and dial every element up to eleven. So I'm not gussying it up so much as building something different on its bones that is LIKE Knights of Day but actually something new.

That resonates with me. Yeah, that has been a repeated issue. Of me trying to make it "Good." And, of course, it doesn't really work. My drafts come out with great writing but the story is... off. Meanwhile Only A Mother comes out nearly ready to go on the first draft. So it's quite specifically something I'm doing wrong in Knights of Day.

It also triggers the thought that I actually don't like the "Good" stuff that people classify as "great epics" very much. As much of a Heresy as it is to say it, Lord of the Rings, while cool, is really not my favorite story. Even within its own universe, I like The Hobbit and The Silmarillion better. But honestly, I like "lighter" stuff. When I started Knights of Day, I was a Potter Head. My favorite series was Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter. My favorite series right now is the October Daye series. My delightful find last year was The Mother of Learning (Try Again). At this point most of my novel intake is "beach read" thrillers.

And what's the advice I give to other writers constantly? Hmmm?

Write what you read!

Which, for me, isn't grand tomes competing for epic trilogy space. It's small books you read in a few days and say, that was fun! about them. And now there's plenty of time to read umpteen more because the series I tend to love are huge. Not in terms of individual books but there are lots of the relatively small books. Churned out shockingly fast.

So... if someone else came to me with my problem, my advice would be: you're writing the wrong thing. Go write what you love, not what you think you should be writing. Because that's just shoulding on yourself. You'll be miserable AND you won't write it as well as someone who does love it will. It's a recipe for disaster.

So why don't I do that for myself?

Anxiety. Fear. Low Self Esteem. Codependency. All the usual stuff.

That's the other advantage of a short time scale like 53 days. If I screw it up and it doesn't work, that's not that much time to have wasted.

Keep it simple. Keep it short. And it might even take less time than that.

And if I screw it up again, I think I am officially giving myself permission to quit. Knights of Day has been going since the tail end of 2005. I don't actually want to spend my entire life on Knights of Day. If I can't make it work under the KISS method, then I think I am not capable of doing better than I already did, maybe someone else can do it, but I should let it go with intent and purpose and move on.

So, yeah, watch for the new tag, same as all the old tags: The Teddy Bear Hustle.

[noirfos]

Episode 6 wahoo, I am ready for extreme pain rivalling and exceeding the end of OFMD

Battery operated candles! He learned fire safety, good job Mr. Fell

Aziraphale knows so much about human history and books and humanity, but he still understands so little about them

Bees

Crowley what is that walk 🤣

YES MAGGIE girlboss them

Oh no she invited them oh no Maggie oh no

Poor Eric

ANGEL CROWLEY HISTORY ANGST HEHEHEHUHUE "Throne or a dominion, or above"

Let's goooo magic heaven telephone circle!

That's the opposite of the Lil Nas X Call me by your Name video

He said "Nah"

Ohhh Crowley's snake tattoo in gold, gorgeous

Surely she's down to like 10 demons now after they all got discorporated?

The fire extinguishers stock 🤣 part of me is remembering the library of Alexandria comic and also 4dango's Haikaveh angst but I will just pretend those thoughts do not exist

"Jolly well hurry up about it" where's that gun you have a license for when you need it?

What if holy water fire extinguishers

This institutional problem bit is a metaphor for something but my after work brain cells are not enough to figure it out

The Metatron... The Master... I see you BBC

They're so surprised he has a desk lol

So Gabriel's plan was actually pretty decent then, he just didn't tag in the people who were part of it. And I'm still hanging onto Beelzebub having similar sentiments of dissatisfaction with the wishing for positive words of affirmation in hell

The Metatron went "ok good luck with Gabriel, his disappearance is your problem not mine"

IS HE UNLEASHING HIS TRUE FORM

Oh my god it's a ringlight frisbee

Rip Eric again

Crowley just falls into a leadership position, natural girlboss ✨ meanwhile his husband starts a war but we can ignore that

The way his smirk turns on hehehe

So everyone's an idiot then

I like how Nina and Maggie are just chilling in the background

The fly is bigger on the inside? Or is he going to eat it like All Might's hair

Eyyy Beel face explanation! Also Gabriel x Beelzebub canon we love to see it

So Beelzebub said they liked the song and then Gabe inexplicably made it play forever then?

Ah no it was intentional ;) He miracled the jukebox to play their song

When the fly showed up in the first episode I KNEW it would have an important role. I got faked out with Beel showing up in Crowley's car though.

"Silly silly angel" bro??? Have you been hanging out with Crowley too much

So all the leadership are traitors LMAO, also Crowley and Zira in the back watching their bosses do what they forbid them from doing all this time.

"I found something that mattered more to me than choosing sides" INEFFABLE HUSBANDS DID IT FIRST

Crowley's proud little smile watching Aziraphale handle the host of heaven and hell like kindergarteners :)

Oh my god Beelzbriel are so cringe, I love it

Ohhhh so Shax took Crowley's flat, that makes sense why she has all his mail now hahahaha

LOL is that The Metatron in the coffee line?

Crowley knows where everything in the bookshop goes and is putting it all back 😌

So Nina calls Maggie "Angel" now too, eh?

Muriel my baby I will protect you with all my heart

NO THEY'RE GONNA GET OFMDed

It's even worse they're gonna get Destieled aren't they

But Aziraphale wasn't THERE when any of the heaven people showed their true colours!!! Crowley sees heaven and hell for what they are but Aziraphale still believes in inherent good 😭

NOOO CROWLEY IS GOING TO GET CASTIELED DON'T DO THIS TO ME

Can I also just say, David Tennant's acting holy shit, the super subtle facial changes, the shaking throat, my GOD

All he's wanted was to go off together with his angel all this time!!!! AHHHH

the fuck do you mean NOTHING LASTS FOREVER? YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS AZIRAPHALE COME ON

the put the glasses back on FUCK

You don't get it Aziraphale, you don't Understand 😭 He needs you too!! But it has to be on both your terms not just yours,,, meet him where he stands! It's been so long surely you know him better than this

NO NIGHTINGALES

oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god

yeah I saw the kiss I'm not ok

the fuck do you mean I FORGIVE YOU???!!! This hurts more than destiel and blackbonnet

LMAO Muriel in the window watching all this go down

what was he going to say before The Metatron walked out, was he going to change his mind??? What did he want to take with him, PLEASE

THE SECOND COMING? I've read the bible I'm raised religious I know what the fuck that means, Aziraphale PLEASE tell me you've read enough books to know what that means and that it's NOT GOOD for your little life and your husband and your book shop 😭

Oh ok his face fell. there is still time. change your mind, goddammit don't ignore Crowley he is looking at you disapprovingly for a reason, USE YOUR HEAD! please.

Crowley bared his heart just to get betrayed right after, this is his superhell

The Bentley with her sense of humour, girlie why are you playing Nightingale in Berkeley Square now of all times

THE SAD VIOLIN CREDITS DON'T DO THIS TO ME

Why did he smile at the end, what does it all mean,,, Amazon better pay their employees I need season 3

[eggs-can-draw]

You picked

NIGHTTIME ROUTIN!!!!!!

This is a very lose interpretation but I would love love to hear your thoughs

So I think bed time routine starts at around 8:00

They eat at maybe 7:30 so that kyoko and byakuya have enough time to get home and shuichi Star dinner before they do so they eat right when they get home

After dinner I think that two parents go off to like shower and change into sleeping clothes and basicly do the big part of there routine while the other parent stays behind to help shuichi

They when shuichi only have like teeth brushing hair brushing and like washing his face the parent that was helping him goes to do bulk of their routine and once that parents done they come back to the room to all tuck in shuichi and read him a story of his choosing and he is like in bed and asleep by 9:00

Then I think they go back to their room and do whatever they didn’t do, watch tv, read, or just talk about their days

ok first off this got me thinking "Ok Kirigiri and Togami probably ride to and from work together to save gas n stuff especially since they both work in the city" and now I'm at "Wait does Togami even have his license DOES HE EVEN KNOW HOW TO DRIVE" cause like he's probably always had a chauffeur n stuff and yeah it's something I can see him wanting but before and after the heir ceremony I can see it as something his dad would see as more of a waste of his time and not allow? so that's some food for thought. Also I could see Naegi usually being the one to get Shuichi ready for bed but it's also a job that Kirigiri or Togami will tag in for depending on the day. Also a rotation on who's actually reading to him and they read different books each time. so like, Naegi reads some classic kids book, kirigiri works through a mystery novel (think like Nancy drew, Geronimo stilton that type beat, in the morning they talk about how they think it'll end over breakfast) and with Togami they work through a pretty long book like think The Hobbit (Kirigiri and Naegi are also passed out once he's done lmao) Once he's eepin sleepin I could see them also using that time to make sure they've got everything ready for the week and like if Naegi has a work trip coming up this is the time he uses to pack for it all last minute yknow. If they have nothin going on then they talk about their days n life n Shuichi n connect yknow? I could see them watching scary movies n bad romcoms too lol ALSO! Altered schedule for when Naegi is on work trips since he picks up Shuichi from school n stuff (Since Shuichi gets out of school before the other two parents get back from work) Points at Shuichi ASC KID when he was tiny it was After School Care but when he's older he'll get picked up at a friend's house (Like Kaito or smth not all the way back at Jabberwock lmao dw) and from there they get dinner on the way back (Ramen or smth) if they arent feeling that Naegi might make some Tupperwares of food before hand that they can just microwave ("You guys can use a microwave right?" "Yeah totally we got this" Kirigiri said, reheating her bowl of mac and cheese with the metal spoon still in the bowl) Same song and dance but with them FaceTiming Naegi at eepy sleepy time, they still relax after he's down and I could see them playing Clue or smth I unno I think they'd enjoy that lmao

[rarepairnation]

3, 23, 24, 25, 27 and 30? 💕

hi hi ria!! blessings of rain be upon ye...

3. how you feel about your current wip

i am RATTLING the bars of the cage in my brain!!! by that i mean the faramir goes to rivendell au is possibly my favourite best thing ive ever written i am just stuck in the mudpit of the current conversation and i would like to. not be there. but i really do love working on it it feels like gradually assembling a structure around a framework and when i step back and really look at it its just. jrr tolkien and i are having A Conversation. you know? like yes!! i AM transforming the work!! i AM deciding whether he would fucking say that and i do think i am right at least 92% of the time!! ive had the concept of the au in my head for probably 3-4 years at least and i feel like. well i was never really going to feel Ready to write it. and yet i am grabbing it in my hands and doing it anyway and it IS making me a much better writer and i can Feel it. yeah i love it.

and umbar fic/situationship au is just me pushing the bounds of do it weird/do it horny/do it self-indulgent and it is. SO MUCH FUN. i think there has always been a little block in my head stopping me from doing that i mean like everything i write is kind of like. this is specifically created to cater to me. but the panopticon in my head is a crazy thing. but step by step we are defeating it. this is like the next step up from just so long as this thing's loaded which was kind of my first time pushing those bounds and. i mean there are a lot of things about that one that i think i could improve now (this is my REAL answer to that "would you rewrite anything" question from the other ask meme) but it definitely got me here. never underestimate the power of a rarepair to make you WEIRD. (<- abby rarepairnationcore sentences...)

23. pick three keywords that describe your writing

what is this a job application? LOL just kidding but i do suck at these. um. atmospheric. character-driven (yes this is two words but it is true). interrogative (i am IN THERE with. either the original text. or the minds of the characters. shakes u like a snow globe WHAT is going on in your head).

24. how do you recharge when you're not feeling creative?

im really bad at this. like actually spectacularly abysmal. i mostly sit around feeling sorry for myself for three to nine months. until i eventually buck up the motivation and executive function to actually (re)consume a piece of media and more often than not it will seize me by the throat and lead me out of the pit. yeah this does usually work best with things ive seen before that will awaken a dormant fixation.

25. besides writing, what are your other hobbies?

going to the grocery store. doing my dishes. LOL ok when i am Not Writing A Novel-Length Fic i knit. one day i will start doing it again i want to make. the extensive sweater vest collection of my dreams. but i already have this repetitive stress injury because i type for eight hours at work and then come home and type for four more and i think if i started knitting again on top of that i would immediately crumble to dust. and um. is that it? that can't be it. i do calligraphy sometimes. WAIT LOL I BIND BOOKS. -> @hexagonspress

27. your favourite part of the writing process

omg ok i'm not sure if this is like my Top Number One Favourite but ive recently started really enjoying drafting out ao3 tags and start/end notes it's really fun to work out what things i want people to notice that i might wanna talk about in the end notes and compressing everything down into tags (to varying extents) is also just a neat way to think about like. what was i trying to capture/convey with the fic. e.g. whether i wanna be really wordy with it and get it all out in there or just have the reader go in pretty much blind.

30. share a fic you're especially proud of

maybe i'll never shut up about TO THE VERY DEAR MEMORY OF [ ] but like...you guys. i love it so much. it's so so experimental because the place in my mind that is wrapped around yancy becket is so....complicated and full of grief and fundamentally altering to my brain chemistry and i can only capture it through the world's craziest extended metaphors but i kind of feel like i pulled it off. it is like truly the tip of the iceberg of a LOT of stuff that is really fundamental to honestly a lot of my? lotr work? i mean the way i think about water metaphors...the fundamental dead brother complex baked into my writer's brain...it's all pacific rim in there. this fic marinated in my head for THREE YEARS. that is the longest from inception to completion that any of my (published) work has existed (unpublished is a whole different story. there's a longfic that i created at the beginning of my freshman year of college and has stuck around into postgrad. i mean. girl). i wrote the poem that each first line of every section is extracted from in my parents' house during covid lockdown. and then it just had to sit and develop and develop until the yancy becket death anniversary this year yanked it forcibly out of my head and into a fully-formed format.

fic writer's asks

[jtl-fics]

Thank you for tagging meeeee!!!!!!!!!

ANSWERS BELOW THE CUT

1. What is your favourite character in the Foxes?

It's Neil

2. And favorite in the series aside from this one?

I know this may shock people but it is Andrew.

3. Drop your beloved head-canons about both!

I think Andrew and Neil could 100% become 'that couple' like could become like Dan and Matt but like in a feral way. Like Neil has permission to just go after people who bother Andrew and Andrew got Neil relatively unobtrusive anklet that TRACKS his location because it makes both of them feel better.

4. Fic(s) you are always happy to recommend or fic tropes you will always read.

The Destination Was Always Forever - By TheseSmallDelights I credit this fic and it's author with me getting into the FANDOM. Like I was reading / enjoying AFTG but I wasn't engaging in the Fandom at all until I started talking to them. As for tropes IT IS TIME SHENANIGANS.

5. Which of the books is your Favourite

The King's Men. I just....I love the TENSION. Like Neil always knew he had a timer on his life but now there's........ A TIMER. There's something about him learning to like be a real living human person with human connections and feelings but only when he thinks he has limited time.

6. Opinions on AFTG Audiobook release?

Never listened so I have no opinion.

7. If you write/draw/create AFTG stuff, what is your favourite work of yours?

Ok look I love Fluent Freshman and I really love how much fun has with Smith and the friend's I have gained from writing that but the fic I am currently most proud of is: It's Just You and Me, Just Us, and Y(our) Friend Kevin It has one of my favorite jokes I have literally ever written in it and I made myself cry writing it. Yes this is shameless self-promo but like it's the thing I'm most proud of.

8. Favourite event/plot point in the books.

Andrew and Neil After Baltimore. CALL ME A SIMPLE IDIOT BUT LIKE THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN ANDREW BEING SO OBVIOUSLY RUINED BY NEIL. HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE. IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE A PROBLEM IF THE DEAL WAS IN EFFECT. YET THERE ARE MARKS ON KEVIN'S NECK, HE'S DRAGGING WYMACK LIKE A SACK, AND HE'S READY TO KILL ANYONE WHO GETS TOO CLOSE TO NEIL. I just. I love it. I love it SO much.

9. Least favourite part of canon (can include Extra content)

Kevin gets married to Thea. (Squicks me)

10. If you could have sent Nora an ask and get an answer, what would you ask about?

When the fuck is Jean Moreau's birthday also what birthday is on Neil's driver's license. ANSWER ME.

11. If you could make an idea of your choice canon to AFTG, what would it be?

Andrew, once he gets used to Neil being in his bed / sleeping in the same bed as Neil is 100% a clinger in his sleep. Like Andrew is like a Neil seeking missile when he is asleep. If he falls asleep somewhere and Neil is nearby the man will roll like a chef boyardee can to his man.

12. Feel free to share some random hot takes if you like.

I'm good currently <3

I'm taggin @thesesmalldelights, @emry-stars-art, @snazzy-jas-z-is-a-fan-of, @angry-kid-with-no-money, and @ittyybittybaker

AFTG Fandom ask game !

by Cavan bc I need to interrogate my friends feel free to reply in replies or reblog! feel free to reply even if I haven't tagged you probably unsure if I can call you a friend but I'll be happy to read your replies!

What is your favourite character in the Foxes?

And favourite in the series aside form this one?

Drop your beloved head-canons about both!

Fic(s) you are always happy to recommend or fic tropes you will always read.

Which of the books is your favourite

Opinions on AFTG audiobook release?

If you write/draw/create aftg stuff, what is your favourite work of yours?

Favourite event/plot point in the books

Least favourite part of canon (can include Extra content)

If you could sent Nora an ask and get answer, what would you ask about?

If you could make an idea of your choice canon to aftg, what would it be?

Feel free to share some random hot takes if you like @noomyart @jtl-fics @dogintheboiler @thefoxesraven @poze-laceen @leedee013 @dianblch @yes-i-exist-shutup also shout out to ppl who have different names on all their socials so in consequence I think you are 3 different people!