#on cloud 9 for new ink

[matrixsss]

NEW INK TOMORROW SO EXCITED

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Why Writers Don't Finish Writing Their Stories, and How to Fix It

Hello fellow writers and storytellers,

The journey of writing a story is an exhilarating adventure, but it's not without its share of obstacles. Many of us have embarked on a creative endeavor, only to find ourselves mired in the struggle to finish what we started. In this blog post, I'll unravel the common reasons why writers don't finish their stories and explore practical strategies to overcome these hurdles and reignite the flame of creativity.

The Perils of Unfinished Stories

As writers, we often find ourselves in the throes of unfinished tales, grappling with the intricate web of characters, plots, and themes. There are several reasons why the ink dries up and the story remains untold. Let's shine a light on the familiar adversaries that stand between us and the triumphant completion of our narratives:

1. Lack of Planning:

Some of us brazenly dive into our stories without a clear roadmap, resulting in uncertainty about the direction of the plot and the fate of our characters. The lack of a solid plan can lead us astray, leaving our stories wandering in the wilderness of aimlessness.

2. Self-Doubt and Perfectionism:

Ah, the relentless whispers of self-doubt and the siren call of perfectionism! These twin adversaries can cast a shadow over our creative vision, compelling us to endlessly revise and perfect the early chapters, trapping us in a whirlpool of perpetual edits.

3. Time Management:

Balancing the demands of daily life with the ardor of writing can be akin to walking a tightrope. The struggle to find consistent time for our craft often leaves our stories languishing in prolonged periods of inactivity, longing for the touch of our pen.

4. Writer's Block:

The mighty barrier that even the most intrepid writers encounter. Writer's block can be an insurmountable mountain, leaving us stranded in the valleys of creative drought, unable to breathe life into new ideas and narratives.

5. Lack of Motivation:

The flame that once burned brightly can flicker and wane over time, leaving us adrift in the murky waters of disillusionment. The initial excitement for our stories diminishes, making it arduous to stay committed to the crafting process.

6. Fear of Failure or Success:

The twin specters that haunt many writers' dreams. The apprehension of rejection and the unsettling prospect of life-altering success can tether us to the shores of hesitation, preventing us from reaching the shores of completion.

7. Criticism and Feedback Anxiety:

The looming dread of judgment casts a long shadow over our creative endeavors. The mere thought of receiving criticism or feedback, whether from peers or potential readers, can cast a cloud over our storytelling pursuits.

8. Plotting Challenges:

Crafting a cohesive and engaging plot is akin to navigating a labyrinth without a map. Faced with hurdles in connecting story elements, we may find ourselves lost in a maze of plot holes and unresolved threads.

9. Character Development Struggles:

Breathing life into multi-dimensional, relatable characters is a complex art. The intricate process of character development can become a quagmire, ensnaring us in the challenge of creating personas that drive the story forward. (Part one of Character Development Series)

10. Life Events and Distractions:

Unexpected events in our personal lives can cast ripples on our writing routines, interrupting the flow of our creativity and causing a loss of momentum.

Rallying Against the Odds: Strategies for Success

Now that we've confronted the adversaries that threaten to stall our storytelling odysseys, let's arm ourselves with strategies to conquer these barriers and reignite the flames of our creativity.

Embrace the Power of Planning:

A clear roadmap illuminates the path ahead. Arm yourself with outlines, character sketches, and plot maps to pave the way for your story's journey.

Vanquish Self-Doubt with Action:

Silence the voices of doubt with the power of progress. Embrace the imperfect beauty of your early drafts, knowing that every word brings you closer to the finish line.

Mastering the Art of Time:

Carve out sacred writing time in your schedule. Whether it’s ten minutes or two hours, every moment dedicated to your craft is a step forward.

Conquering Writer's Block:

Embrace the freedom of imperfection. Write, even if the words feel like scattered puzzle pieces. The act of writing can unravel the most stubborn knots of writer's block.

Reigniting the Flame of Motivation:

Seek inspiration in the wonders of the world. Reconnect with the heart of your story, rediscovering the passion that set your creative spirit ablaze.

Reshaping Fear into Fuel:

Embrace the uncertainty as an integral part of the creative journey. Embrace the lessons within rejection and prepare for the winds of change that success may bring.

Navigating the Realm of Criticism:

Embrace feedback as a catalyst for growth. Constructive criticism is a powerful ally, shaping your story into a work of art that resonates with readers.

Weaving the Threads of Plot:

Connect the dots with fresh eyes. Step back and survey the tapestry of your plot, seeking innovative solutions to bridge the gaps and untangle the knots.

Breathing Life into Characters:

Engage with your characters as if they were old friends. Dive into their depths, unraveling their quirks, fears, and dreams, and watch as they breathe life into your story.

Navigating Life's Tempests:

Embrace the ebb and flow of life. Every pause in your writing journey is a chance to gather new experiences and perspectives, enriching your storytelling tapestry.

The Ever-Resting Pen: Harnessing the Power Within

Fellow writers, the journey of completing a story is filled with peaks and valleys, each offering us the opportunity to sharpen our resolve and unleash our creative potential. As we stand at the crossroads, staring at the canvas of unfinished tales, let's rally against the odds, armed with the power of purpose, passion, and perseverance.

Let the ink flow once more, breathing life into tales left untold, and watch as your stories triumphantly reach their long-awaited conclusion. You possess the power to conquer the adversaries that stand in your way, and within you lies the essence of untold narratives waiting to unfurl onto the page.

Here's to the journey that lies ahead, the stories waiting to be written, and the unyielding spirit of creativity that thrives within each of us.

Warm regards and unwavering encouragement, Ren T.

[piecesintoplaces]

As a thank you for so many new followers, here's a brand new edition of my editing resources masterposts ✨ (you can find the previous editions here). Make sure you like or reblog the posts below if they’re from other blogs to support their creators! A friendly reminder that some of these are free for personal use only, so be sure to read the information attached to each resource to verify how they can be used.

Textures & Things:

Collage Kits from @cruellesummer that I find myself using basically every single day

Taylor Swift Wax Seals from @breakbleheavens that I also use literally every day

Rookie Magazine Collage Kits (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Scribble Textures & Cross-Outs (1, 2, 3)

GIF Overlays (1, 2, 3)

Film Grain & Noise Textures (1, 2, 3)

Paper Textures (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

PNG Overlays (Paper, Flowers, Clouds, Stickers, Lips, Vintage Paper, Misc. Symbols)

Halftone, Scan Line, & VHS Noise Textures (1, 2, 3, 4)

VHS Tape Textures by @cellphonehippie

Misc. Texture Packs (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Photoshop Effects (Halftone Text Effect, Chrome Effect, Glitch Effect, Ink Edge Effect, Photo Morph Effect)

Fonts:

Badass Fonts (free fonts designed by womxn 🤍)

Open Foundry Fonts

Free Faces

Uncut Free Typefaces

Some Google Fonts I Like: Instrument Serif, DM Sans, EB Garamond, Forum, Pirata One, Imbue, Amarante

Some Adobe Fonts I Like: New Spirit, Ambroise, Filmotype Yukon, Typeka, Big Caslon CC (TTPD Font!)

Some Pangram Pangram Fonts I Like: Editorial Old, Neue World Collection, Eiko, PP Playground

Fonts In The Wild (font-finding resource)

Tutorials & Resources:

Comprehensive Rotoscoping Tutorial (Photoshop + After Effects, great for beginners!) by @antoniosvivaldi

Rotoscoping & Masking Tutorial (After Effects) by @usergif

Texture Tutorial for GIFs by @antoniosvivaldi

Color Control PSD by @evansyhelp (to enhance, isolate, or lighten specific colors)

Cardigan Music Video PSD by @felicitysmoak

Picspam Tutorial by @kvtnisseverdeen

Moving GIF Overlay Tutorial by @rhaenyratargaryns

GIF Overlay Tutorial (+ downloadable overlays!) by @idsb

Icon & Header Tutorial by @breakbleheavens

GIF Blending Tutorial by @jakeperalta

Split GIF Tutorial by @mithrandirl

Guide to Coloring Yellow-Tinted Shots by @ajusnice

Slow Motion After Effects Tutorial (useful for GIFs!)

Gradient Map Tutorial by me!

Misc:

How to Make Your Own Textures by @sweettasteofbitter

How to Report Tumblr Reposts of Your Work by @fatenumberfor

Tips for Accessible Typography

[episims]

Foxfire ROS

After playing Foxfire for 9 rounds I've started to feel like I could use something to nudge me out of my routines a bit! For the next round, I'm going to try how adding random scenarios to the mix feels like 😁

I didn't find any existing scenario lists to be exactly what I wanted: more gameplay prompts that leave room for interpretation, and not so many strict rules or tasks or forced drama (my sims create enough of that as it is lol).

So I cherry-picked some scenarios that I liked, edited others, and created many new ones. A shout-out to @kayleigh-83 for this list that was a great starting point!

Night out: Visit a community lot after dark.

Bring your own basket: Visit a park with family or friends.

Movie marathon: Invite friends over for movies and snacks, or go on a movie binge by yourself.

Family matters: Invite over a relative or someone you share a similar bond with.

Fits like a glove: Wear a new accessory.

Games night: Set up a board game or fire up a console for an evening. PC owners can throw a lan party.

Burn off steam: Devote a day to exercising in any form.

Playing hooky: A child or teen skips one school day.

Online friends: Spend an evening chatting over the internet.

Fence-mending: Talk to a walkby you don't know or have a low relationship with.

Fertile ground: Get a new plant to your garden or other outdoor area.

Pulling strings: Use influence to your advantage.

Tired of cooking: Order delivery for a meal.

Peculiar flavor: The sim with the least cooking points takes the cooking turn.

Sprucing up: Choose a room or space and give it a facelift.

Touch base: Call the friend you currently have the lowest relationship score with.

Dine out: Eat at a restaurant.

New hobby: Try out a hobby you haven't explored before.

Broken record: Talk about your favorite hobby to every sim you encounter during one day.

Slumber party: Invite friends for a sleepover.

Power outage: Turn off all the lights except for candles and only make uncooked meals for a day.

Cloud over a head: Argue with every sim you encounter during one day.

Old gang: Meet up with the friends you have known for the longest.

Turn up the heat: Woohoo in public.

New ink: Get a tattoo.

Fresh air: Spend a day outdoors.

Homebody: Spend a day indoors.

Got the moves: Visit a community lot to hit the dance floor or turn on a stereo at home and dance until you run out of energy.

Make the bed: Change sheets for all beds on the lot.

Health concerns: Visit or call over a doctor.

All things are transient: Sell three objects.

Odd bottle: Consume a potion from your inventory.

Dig it: Spend a day treasure hunting.

Capture it: Take a picture and hang it on the wall.

Running on fumes: Have a cup of coffee once every few hours.

Reaching enlightenment: Meditate for a day.

Sugar rush: Prepare only desserts for a day.

Clocking extra time: Spend an evening on a computer either blogging, writing, or giving financial advice.

Dressed to the nines: Go on a date in formalwear.

Pretty lights: The outdoor areas of the lot are filled with fireflies for the round.

School assignment: A child or teen collects bugs for the round.

Stealing the show: Perform with an instrument or a microphone, freestyle for tips, or breakdance in public.

Devil on a shoulder: Prank every sim you encounter during one day.

Turning the page: Negative relationship effects are reduced for 48 hours and any existing fury states are cleared (get the 'forgiving' vacation benefit).

Meeting deadlines: Job performance is increased for 48 hours (get the 'industrious' vacation benefit).

Hot stuff: The attractiveness is increased for 48 hours (get the 'je ne sais quoi' vacation benefit).

On the ball: Skill, talent badge, and homework rates are increased for 48 hours (get the 'refreshed' vacation benefit).

Scatterbrained: Skill, talent badge, and homework rates are decreased for 48 hours (get the 'jetlagged' vacation penalty).

Bonfire night: Light up a bonfire with family or with friends.

Explosive entertainment: Throw a party with fireworks.

By example: Share hobby tips or instruct someone in a hobby, or find a sim who can share tips or instruct you in one.

Score points: Visit a community lot to play arcade games, poker, don't wake the llama, mahjong, or myshuno.

Self-care: Skilling is forbidden for a day. Instead, practice recovering activities like taking bubble baths, enjoying hot tubs or hot springs, getting massages, relaxing in saunas, or sunbathing.

Feeling chipper: Compliment every sim you encounter during one day.

I'll probably add these whenever I come up with new ones. Scenario ideas are welcome!

[giggly-squiggily]

Inked (Big Windup)

Heyo! Guess who's back with Big Windup Content! :D I had this little ol' thing sitting in my WIP for weeks before realizing I should finish it up and post it lols, and here I am to do so! I hope y'all like it! :D

CW: Swearing

Cloud 9 (Taglist Peeps):

@cupcake-spice13 @intheticklecloset (I know you're not on the Taglist but BAM! Baseball tickles >:D)

Summary: Tajima after writing a massive "1" on Mihashi's back decides he should do it for Abe too. The other disagrees, leading to a rather giggly compromise.

“Hold still! Lemme write it!”

“No way! I told you I don’t need it!”

Tajima was back at it again, a black marker in hand as he tried once more to mark Abe. He figured the clean up hitter had let it go after a while, but nope- he was ever insistent on drawing a massive number “2” on his back!

“Why are you resisting so much? It’ll make Mihashi feel good!” Tajima was halfway to his target, eyes dancing as he flinched each way Abe tried to escape. “Don’t you want to be in a team with him?”

“I’m already in a team with him- I don’t need a number to prove it!” An opening had appeared! Abe made a dash for it-

“GOTCHA!” Tajima cried, leaping at him and sending them both flailing into the field. “Now hold still!”

“Tajima, I already told you, I don’t need a number!”

“Come on- think of Mihashi!”

“It’ll never come out!”

“It's an erasable marker! It’s good for clothes!”

“Tajima!”

“Oh okay- if you’re really against it.” Abe heard the marker being recapped, a small sigh of relief escaping his lips.

“Can I at least draw a “2” on you with my finger then? No ink, I promise.” Tajima asked, a clear puppy eyed pout in his voice. Abe closed his eyes as he pressed his face into the field.

“Give me the marker.” It appeared before him. Alongside a second one. Abe turned a bit to raise a brow.

“You always need a backup.” Tajima shrugged with a sheepish laugh. The catcher rolled his eyes before flopping forward again.

“Fine. But JUST with your finger. My mom will be pissed if I come home with sharpie ink all over my uniform.”

“I told you, it was erasable! I only use a sharpie for Mihashi.” Tajima giggled as he got comfortable, sitting up and positioning his finger. “Ready?”

“Sure-” Abe got out before immediately wincing, startled by the tingling sensation of Tajima’s finger running down his spine. “Mm! T-Tajima, lighten up!”

“Does it hurt?” The cleanup hitter asked, doing so. To Abe’s dismay, it only made it worse.

“N-No it ti-ihihihiihckles!” The catcher yelped before dissolving into laughter, fists curling against the grassy field as he kicked out a leg, trying his best not to throw the other off. Maybe all that time spent with Mihashi made him more accepting to tickles? “Tahahajima, huuhuhurry uhuhuhup!”

“No way..” Tajima gaped down at him with wide eyes. Then he grinned. “Did I just discover a new tickle spot on the Abe Takaya? How lucky am I?”

“Doohohohn’t say my nahahame like thahahhat! Gehahaha, if yohoohu’re dohohone, get ohoh-EEHEHEH!” The catcher arched even more when Tajima switched from tracing to scratching, dancing one finger up and down the invisible “2” he drew on his friend’s back. “Doohohohn’t doohohohoho thahahhahat, yohohoohu ahahhahhahass!”

“What? I gotta fill it in! Can’t go around having a outline- no one will be able to distinguish it from a number or a pe-”

“Iihihihihihit’s nohohohohohot ehehehehheven viihihihihihisblehhehehe! Whahahhat doohohohoes it mahahahhatter if ihihihihit’s fiihihihilled in? Nohoohoh ohohohone’s gohoohhohonna knoohohohow!”

“I will! And I’ll always be haunted by my unfinished work! Be still- my canvas; the artist is at work!” Tajima doubled his scratching, increasing Abe’s giggle fits and yelps of laughter tenfold. “Now that the actual number is done, let’s add some color!”

“TAHAHHAJIIHIHMA!” The catcher all but shrieked when his ribs were suddenly grabbed, fingers pressing in at both sides. “WHAHAHAT HAHAHPPEHEHED TO THE NUUHUHUMBER?”

“Relax, I’m getting my pens! They’re somewhere in here…” Tajima continued to “search” for his pens within Abe’s ribcage, narrowing in on the terrible spots along his upper and lower sets just to keep him laughing. “Man, I really need to organize this space better. They’re all over the place in there! Abe, you gotta stop moving so much; the pens keep rolling away!”

“STHAHAHP FUHUUHUCKING TIIHIHIHCKLING MEHEHEH THEHEHEHEHEN!” Abe cried, thrashing like a fish out of water as his worst spots were drilled into. Above him, Tajima giggled like a child, delighted.

“Oo, you’re saying bad words! Bad Abe! Hehehe!” Finally, Tajima pulled his hands back, returning to his spine as he finished putting the last few touches onto his “design”. The tickles died down to a comforting amount, leaving Abe coughing through giggles as he caught his breath. “There we go..and done!”

The catcher let out a huff of air as Tajima climbed off, far too tired to get up and chase him. Around him chatter continued, the boys laughing over the sight or carrying on with whatever conversation they were having prior. Footsteps shuffled into view soon, coming to stand before him.

“A-Abe..I erm, brought you this..”

Something cold and paperlike touched his hand. Abe all but shot up at the water, taking and downing it in one greedy gulp. “You’re a lifesaver, Mihashi.”

The pitcher squeaked with shy pride, cheeks warming as he smiled at his hands. “I’m glad…and erm- I’m sorry about Tajima..I didn’t think he’d try to erm, you know…”

Ah. Abe resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he looked at the markers left abandoned in the grass.

If ONE uniform was kinda stained, maybe his mom wouldn’t be too mad…

“Go get Tajima.” He sighed in resignation, making Mihashi squeak in surprise. “Tell him to use an erasable one, cause if we can’t get it out, I’m kicking his ass.”

“Oh..Oh! Oh, erm- okay!” The pitcher nodded, practically vibrating with joy as he ran to get said clean up hitter. Shaking his head, Abe fell back onto his stomach in the warm grass, accepting his fate.

If it made Mihashi do his best, then let him be inked.

Thanks for reading!

[cru5h-cascades]

(play this in the background while reading this post plz it'll enhance your reading experience I think)

Wow... 2 years flew by fast, huh? To think that just two years ago we finally got hands on the 3rd funny cephalopod activities game after a year plus of waiting...

I remember watching the S3 direct live 2 years ago. Boy did I go crazy when they showed off the splatana wiper for the first time (I really wanted swords in Splatoon and then they finally became real!) and laughed my ass off when they showed off the Big Shot. And then there were the few days or weeks of dodging spoilers left and right because people ended up getting the game early.

And then I finally got to play the game myself. And I loved it. And would play it every day after school.

And soon enough Side Order got announced. Boy did that teaser send chills up my spine. Y'all if I had a nickel for every time Nintendo made a freaky teaser for a game that had a bunch of cryptic imagery and was accompanied by music box music that really got me asking wtf I'd have two nickels, which isn't much but it's weird that it happened twice AND WITH GAMES THAT I LIKE BTW (people following know damn well what that other trailer I'm talking about...). And then I'd spend the next few months posting about datamine whenever they came out. And then last September (a year ago at this point if I remember correctly)...

THEY GOT ANNOUNCED TO BE IN SIDE ORDER. TO SAY I WAS EXCITED WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I WAS ON CLOUD 9 FOR THE ENTIRE DAY.

A few months later Side Order came out. I played the first 10 levels the same night I finally got access to the DLC and was searching everywhere online for the music that played in Marina's boss fight shortly afterwards. Man... to think that was just a few months ago...

And then July rolls in. I was vibing to the Death of Slim Shady and my blog was filled to the BRIM with posts about Emio the Smiling Man 'cause I just wanted to figure out what tf is up with that funny bag man. One morning I woke up to my phone blowing up with Tumblr notifications. I check out Tumblr and somehow my random ass final fest concept PREDICTED THE FUTURE MONTHS IN ADVANCE. I post about my amazement about predicting the grandfest theme and resume posting about Emio shortly afterwards.

And then that brings us to now. Waiting for the grandfest results.

It was an honor splatting with you guys. I've been a Splatoon fan ever since I saw an ad for the 1st game on TV. This game means a lot to me and this splatfest was a lot of fun. To think this might be the last new splatfest theme for a while (I say last new theme and not splatfest in general since there's some stuff in the game's code pointing to the possibility of rerun splatfests)...

I can't wait for what the Splatoon devs have in store for us next. Next year marks 10 YEARS of Splatoon. We're definitely going to be getting some new Splatoon stuff next year. A milestone like that can't be ignored.

Anyways, I hope you guys liked my rambling about the silly cephalopod game (with a side of bag man and Eminem). Stay fresh, off the hook, and keep dripping ink you guys!

[katyawriteswhump]

the power of love part 8 (steddie, stobin, steve whump fic)

Steve has a habit of surviving near death experiences then getting sick for no reason. And Eddie and those fatal bat bites? After an impossible feat of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from Steve, he’s mysteriously fixed. So, Eddie’s back to being banished, this time with Steve and Robin in tow. Eddie’s healing, but Steve isn’t… and life gets even more confusing, when Eddie develops feelings for Steve, which aren’t entirely unrequited.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12

(also on AO3 here where it's still in need of love, if anybody is feeling kind *sobs* ;))

Chapter Eight

Eddie POV continued

“You kissed? And now you can’t wake him?” Robin perches beside Steve on the bunk then rounds on Eddie—genuinely baring her teeth. “I shouldn’t leave you alone with him. It’s like you’re cursing him or something.”

“Woah! Are you accusing me of satanist shit now?” Eddie stops pacing the floorboards, claws his hair.

“Steve? Steve! Oh God, please!” She gently pats him, sinks her face into a hand. “Sorry, Eddie. It’s just… totally unexplainable.” She looks up sharply. “That’s exactly what we should be looking for, right?”

“The unexplainable?” Robin nods. “I should be dead. Steve should be bright and breezy—”

“—and it’s not anything to do with the Upside Down.”

Eddie hums uneasily. Should he share the new theory he’s got brewing? “I dunno. It blows to be a cynic, but—"

“Come on, Eddie! There are so many other possible explanations. If the Upside Down is real, who knows what else is? You’re a maestro of the D and D underworld—work with me here.”

They bounce ideas off each other, including that Steve might’ve succumbed to bad beer. Neither of them buy that one.

“Maybe Steve has some sort of regenerative power,” she says, “like Doctor Who. And you’re leeching it out of him, or something.”

Eddie hoots: “It’s my fault again?”

“No! Look, I sometimes get kinda papa grizzly where Steve is concerned, which is odd, because otherwise, I have almost zero protective instinct. We can’t deny the pattern, though—last time you two got mouth to mouth, he performed miracles and then went downhill fast. This time, uh…”

“I slurped the life out of him again?” Eddie sinks down on the opposite bunk. He thinks back to the kiss, which had been so mind-blowingly awesome. Until it wasn’t. Time to test his number one sucks-balls-squared theory of the day.

He slowly peels his shirt—or, rather, Steve’s now extremely grubby t-shirt—off over his head.

“Ew! Save it for the boys, Munson.”

He runs his palm across his midriff, glances over his shoulder, then hurries closer to the window for better light. Holy shit. “I was still covered in scars yesterday. Even earlier today, there was too much pink among the ink. Now there’s diddly-squat.”

 “So, Steve is still healing you?”

Eddie scrunches the shirt and hurls it across the room. “Yeah, and at this rate, my payback’s gonna kill him! We’ve been so fixated on Steve—what if I’m somehow a font of crappy juju? The big bad wolf the whole world believes I am, after all.”

“No.” Robin strokes Steve’s arm. Eddie’s dying to be close to him, too. Shit, he doesn’t dare! “It’s the water. It gives him some kind of power, and he’s passing it on to you. I mean, it doesn’t explain everything, but…”

Eddie retrieves his shirt, grabs her lifeline and clings to it. “It’s as good an explanation as any.”

“Ooooh!” She turns super-excited. “Perhaps there are fairies in Lover’s Lake? Water nymphs? Or aliens landed there! I’m still mightily suspicious about those clouds and the choppers, because—”

“This is getting absurd, Robin.” She sneers at him, shrugs anyhow. “Look, if we buy the lake theory, what can we do about it? It’s not like we can drag him there. We left the car practically in the next county, and he’s too sick.”

“I could fetch water and bring it back here?”

“Given my recent form, I think it’s best for you to stay with him. Eddie the Banished will don his armour and head once more into the breach.”

“Shakespeare? You listened in English Lit?”

Eddie puffs out his chest, conjuring a bravado he so doesn’t feel. “Still gonna be my year, Buckley.”

His armour is chiefly the shelter of the forest, during several hours of tedious trek. He cycles the last part of his journey, pulling his bandana over his face. When he makes radio contact with Dustin, however, his journey feels more than worth it.

Eddie arranges a meet with the Wheelers at Skull Rock. At least, he believes he does. Dustin communicates in one of his more baffling codes. Eddie is blown away, therefore, when he spots his fave lil’ dude approaching their liaison spot. Dustin defiantly wears his Hellfire Club t-shirt, despite everything.

Dustin throws down his crutches. Eddie rushes forward and flings his arms around him.

“Eddie! You son-of-a-bitch! You scared me so much!”

“Yeeeah, I was pretty scared myself.” Eddie hugs him tight, squeezes his eyes tighter. Tears leak anyhow. “But I’m alive and…” He pulls back, drinks up the sight of Dustin, who sniffs and rubs his red face. “God, it’s good to see you.”

Somebody clears their throat. Eddie jumps a good two inches in the air.

“Hey.” Nancy Wheeler stands a few yards off, offering a sheepish wave, which Eddie returns.

It’s not really surprising she’s there. Someone had to give Dustin a ride, and help him limp through the woods. Sitting beneath the rock, the three of them discuss possible explanations for wtf is going on with Steve.

“Okay, let me get my head around this,” she says. “You think Steve derives some sort of regenerative power from Lover’s Lake? And he’s sick? Right now?” She frets her lip. “I should go to him.”

“Uuuuuh, no need. We’re coping all right.” Eddie almost laughs out loud at how badly he doesn’t want her anywhere near Steve. He’d never in his wildest dreams have believed he would go toe-to-toe as a love rival with Nancy Wheeler.

She shakes her head. “There’s gotta be a connection with the Upside Down. This is bad. Really bad.”

“Not necessarily,” says Dustin. “I like Eddie’s hypothesis. There’s no logical reason why all the supernatural shit in this town, let alone this world, is evil.”

“It was Robin’s hypothesis,” admits Eddie.

“Whatever,” says Dustin. “If a bad alternate dimension can bleed into ours, maybe a good dimension can too.”

“I suppose,” said Nancy. Eddie nearly agrees with her, but can’t quite be that gracious. “Either way, if that lake fixes Steve somehow, we need to act quick.”

Nancy heads off to collect lake water. Once she’s gone, Eddie feels able to share his other Steve-related issue: “Didn’t want to divulge this in front of Wheeler, but… Uh, Steve and I got mouth-to-mouth again.”

“You had to perform CPR on him? I had no idea you knew—”

“There’s other reasons that lips meet.” Eddie puckers his lips and crosses his eyes, totally silly. 

Dustin stares at him, his mouth hanging open. “Oh!”

“Yeah. Theeeeen… he basically passed out.”

“Whut?”

“Look, don’t ask me to explain it! I mean, I like him. I really like him. Equally implausible, I think he likes me, but…” Aargh! His feelings for Steve are more tortuous than pleasurable right now. What’s more, the distance between them makes armouring his heart a teeny-weeny bit easier. 

“But?” Dustin bobs up and down on his butt.

“If I’m making him sicker, I should make myself scarce. I still wonder if I’m the bad apple here. Flayed… or whatever. It would neatly continue the sordid tale that is my life. Plus, if Hopper’s back, I bet he can get Steve off the hook for aiding and abetting, or whatever. Steve can go home, get the help he needs.”

“Hopper’s got his own problems, dude.” Dustin scratches his head beneath his baseball cap, kinda nervy. “There’s this army colonel in town, O’Sullivan, who’s pretty much Vecna levels of evil. He knows about Brenner and Hawkins Lab, and… Long story, cut short. He’s out to kill Eleven.”

“You gotta be shitting me!”

“That was my line when I found out. Hopper and El are hiding out, waiting for a safe opportunity to get outta Dodge. The band of the banished gets bigger every day.”

“Well, this exile should return to being a solo act. Steve and I absolutely would not work in the real world.”

“Huh?” Dustin wrinkles his nose. “You’re different—that’s what makes it fun. Even Suzie and I don’t like all the same music, for example. She’s got a real downer on Debbie Gibson.”

“Then maybe I should date Suzie,” mumbles Eddie, avoiding Dustin’s scrutiny. “In reality, Steve and I are from different planets. I’ve seen his house—his folks are loaded.”

“You can’t hold Steve’s parents against him. They’re literally never there for him. His Dad travels tons, and they stopped taking him with him when he was, like, eleven, because…” Dustin’s jaw drops again.

“Because what?” prompts Eddie. 

“Steve stopped travelling with his parents because he started getting sick every time.”

“So, he got travel sick. So do tons of kids. So what?”

“I honestly don’t know! But it supports your theories concerning his proximity to the lake. Sort of.” Dustin whacks his cap against the rock. “Jesus-mother-effing-son-of-a-bitch! I am literally dying to return to a world where I can trust the laws of science.”

Steve POV

1979

Getting himself up in the morning, getting himself to the school bus-stop alone—that only sucked.

It was the emptiness of the night that freaked him out.

Steve stayed up too late, of course he did. He was nearly twelve years old, with nobody to tell him what to do. He ate sweets and watched grown-up television, which got boring pretty fast. When he finally plucked up the courage to go to bed, he’d huddle under the covers, muffling his ears. It never drowned out that horrible, screaming quiet.

Who knew silence could be so loud?

He missed his mom, and it hurt, too. Knowing she chose to leave him behind. 

He’d hated travelling, because in the last year, he’d always got ill. Like, not just travel sick, but fevers and chills and headaches and stomach cramps, always “ruining” his father’s trips. 

Inevitably, his dad decreed that he must stay behind, and the first couple of times, his mom stayed home with him. Then she’d told him his father needed her more. What did that even mean? Steve really, really needed her, simply to be there. Somewhere in the house.

She wasn’t. 

The hours would stretch on, while he was too scared to close his eyes, until…

The monsters barged out of the closet, rioting through his nightmares. Then THEY arrived, with their smooth, smiling face and whirlpool eyes. That wordlessly singing voice, trickling through the waters, reassuring him everything would be all right…

In the morning, shuffling to the bus-stop, he remembered them. Clearer than the monsters, even. Oh man, he could be so childish and unhip sometimes.

“Steve? Steve! Please wake up! You’ve been asleep for hours.”

A groan escapes him, and then: “Momma?” Somehow, he knows it’s not her. “Dad?”

He opens his eyes. 

Oh shit. 

No, that’s not where his life is now. He’s sure as hell not eleven-years-old! Robin looks faintly amused, and also like she wants to thump him: “Gonna give you a pass on that this once, Steve, then go bleach my brain.”

Part 9

...

tags: @estrellami-1 @kal-ology (thank you, thank you, thank you!) If anybody else would like to be tagged on this fic or any of my writing, please let me know :) Reblogs, comments and likes also very much appreciated :) Thank you for reading so far :)

(also part of my steve whump fic series on AO3)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 10 Part 11

[bigwishes]

I was in the library of the great dijnn when i stumbled upon a purple tome. It flips open and the pages turn until a number 9 appears to head the next chapter.

Another fan of the mystic transformations of the purple book, well lucky for you chapter nine happens to be a very special chapter.

You open up to chapter nine and the pages are drenched with water, the inky pictures of storm clouds turn murky and the water begins to evaporate from the pages, the ink and water travels up into the air and forms a storm cloud above you, looking up at the inky black mass you had no time to strike when lightning suddenly strike you.

You find yourself standing naked your body brimming with electricity. You flex your new massive muscles and hear the sound of thunder as your bicep contract to their peak, you run your fingers through your hair and it feels like its made of wind. You begin to laugh thinking you have been transformed into some kind of god.

Suddenly a small golden antique perfume bottle springs out of the pages of the book. Curious you strut over to investigate, poking at it with your finger the cap flicks open. Your finger that tapped the cap open starts breaking apart into a grey cloud and it gets sucked into the bottle, you try to pull away but your whole hand and arm begins to break away and get sucked in. You turned to run but before your first step your entire body broke apart into a thundering storm cloud and got sucked into the bottle, the cap sealed shut, trapping you within.

You thought you had become a god, but in reality you had become a Djinn, destined to spend eternity bound inside a bottle.

[persepoliste]

a studyblr introduction

hi everyone!

this feels weird to write, since i have been using tumblr on and off for the past 9 years. i spent most of middle school very active in the harry potter fandom, then briefly had a studyblr in high school. i have been steadily using this new blog since the beginning of this summer, so i thought i would briefly introduce myself!

name: ava—not my actual name, but that has always been my alias on this platform, and i find it quite pretty

pronouns: she/her

program of study: master's in sociology (1st year). planning to pursue a phd afterwards, so i will probably stick around a while

languages spoken: english & french, some spanish

academic interests: urban segregation, environmental justice, class inequalities

non-academic interests: film photography, true crime, trivia games

i am looking for other studyblrs, especially gradblrs, to follow and learn from. i mainly use tumblr to look for study guides, tips on how to navigate grad school, and notion templates, but i am planning on using it to post pictures of my progress, too—i think it will help me stay motivated, and do away with some of the inescapable anxiety of grad school.

i love the studyblr community so far—it has been so helpful, the vibes are very ✨nurturing✨. i look forward to engaging with you all over the next few years.

some studyblrs i have especially been enjoying so far are: @socstudies @ink-stained-clouds @owlchimedes @penandpaper-love, but i look forward to discovering many more!

don't hesitate to talk!

ava

[nahoney22]

Sweet Alanah! Congratulations on the new milestone of 3000!!!! You deserve it and here is to many, many more to follow. I always love your stories and you know I would never let an opportunity slide by where I can do a prompt request.

Soooo how about a fluffy smutty one with .....Hardcase and the prompts: " i never knew that i could want someone so badly. " and ❛ you feel like home to me. ❜

F Reader ofcourse ( yes it is always highly selfindulgient ofcourse hehe ).

Prompt List Celebration 3000 Followers

Hardcase X F!Reader

word count: 580

NSFW

Prompts:

“I never knew I could want someone so badly.”

“You feel like home to me.”

warnings: NSFW, 18+ only. Cunnilingus (reader receiving), fluff, established relationship.

Authors note: loving you always, thanks for the support @ladykatakuri . Enjoy 😊

There's nothing quite like waking up to the warm and comforting presence of your loved one back home from duty, especially on a lazy morning in bed. As you bask in the cozy comfort of each other's company, Hardcase begins to leave a trail of delicate kisses along your exposed collarbones, down your body, and over your naval, finally stopping at your hipbone.

"If I'm not mistaken," Hardcase says, looking up at you with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "I seem to have missed out on dessert last night."

You can't help but let out a playful giggle, prodding him with your foot. "You're such a tease, Hardcase," you reply with a grin.

"Me? A tease?" Hardcase says, planting a sweet kiss on your thigh. "I think it was you who was doing the teasing last night, wearing that gorgeous dress for our dinner date." He reminisces about the special outfit you wore just for him, creating a romantic yet lusting atmosphere.

“Oh you mean that dark red one? Your favorite?” You smirk, acting coy.

“You already know it, sweet cheeks.” Again, he kisses your thigh but this time on the inner side causing you to let out a little squeak in pleasure. “I never knew that I could want someone so badly.”

His words make you blush profusely.

He chuckles against you, hands caressing over your hips and waist but stopping when his fingers reach the hem of your night shorts. And being the tease that he was with your consent, he begins to pull them down with his teeth.

“You’re crazy, Hardcase.” You hummed in amusement, eyes sparkling in delight as he slings your shorts over his shoulder so they drape, wagging his brows at you mischievously.

“And you love it.”

You smile, heart content although beating rather rapidly right now. “Absolutely I do o-oh!” Your words veer off, head and back arching back as Hardcase began to place open mouth kisses to your pussy, tongue delving against your folds.

Your fingers tangle in the warm sheets of your bed, Hardcase fully spreading your legs as his tongue thrusts forward inside your soaked pussy. “Tastes s’ good.” He mumbled against you, vibrations raking your body.

“Like your dessert, handsome?” You say with a lazy laugh, always so relaxed to have a laugh with your boyfriend during the most intimate moments, your hand coming down to hold the back of his head, fingers tracing over his blue ink.

“Fucking love it.” He grumbles in hunger, hands gripping onto your thighs and pulling you closer if it was even possible. The pleasure is overwhelming, but you love it – it’s welcomed, unlike the stress that’s recently snowballed into both of your lives.

But he’s here and between your legs. How perfect.

He continues eating you out, gentle and sweet yet also rough enough to make you feel like you’re on a cloud 9. His tongue laps up your juices like no tomorrow, the wet appendage so warm against your throbbing cunt.

“Mesh’la?” He pulls away, licking his lips and you look down with him in a daze.

“Yes cutie?” You mumble, stroking his cheek.

“Do I ever tell you that you feel like home to me?”

Your heart soars and the sob that leaves you is one of pure pleasure as he didn’t even wait for your reply as he dived straight back into your pussy, sucking on your clit vigorously that your legs begin to shake, toes curl and his name falls from your lips.

tags: @nunanuggets @andyoufollowyourheart @littlefeatherr @kaitou2417 @eyecandyeoz @captxin-rex @cwarssimp @jesseeka a @ashotofspotchka @oohyesplease @megafrost4 @theroguesully @equalityforcats @mustluvecho @misogirl828 @ladykatakuri i @jambolska-grozdova @chxpsi @arctrooper69 @padawancat97 @rain-on-kamino @either-madness-or-brilliance @staycalmandhugaclone @ko-neko-san @echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @tech-aficionado @grizabellasolo @whore4rex @therealnekomari @autumnleaves1991-blog @tech-depression-inventory @brynhildrmimi @greaser-wolf @lucyysthings @tinyreadersmur @agenteliix @myinnerwonderlandmind @rintheemolion @kaminocasey @hotpinkplastoid

Masterlist

Prompt List -REQUESTS CLOSED.

[riaarivic]

HATE 3: ...Ready for it? (M) I MYG x F!reader

🌙 Pairings YoongixReader

🌙 Genres Mafia!AU, Smut, Angst, Action, Thriller, Enemies to lovers

🌙 Rating 18+ minors DNI

🌙 Summary  You were an INTERPOL Agent assigned to infiltrate the depths of the most powerful Gang in South Korea: The Seven Moons. Your objective: to impersonate the daughter of one of their leaders and destroy the operation from within. That is, if they don't discover you first.

And Traitors won’t have the mercy of a quick death

🌙 Warnings For this chapter: mentions of death, drugs and vioence, foul language, drug use, yoongi is a tease and I'm putting it as a warning

🌙 Chapter wordcount 5.3k (yikes)

🌙 Series Index

1  2 3 4  5 6 7 8 9 10 11

🌙 HATE 3: ...Ready for it? 🌙

"Knew he was a killer first time that i saw him"

Confidential file Department of Organized and Emerging Crime Case N-7902-E Codename: Black Swan

Agent Name: Y/N Park

Assigned name for Mission: Lee Nari

Nari? as in Lilly in Korean?

You couldn't help but find it odd that the boss chose your own Korean name for this mission. You rarely used it, and only your grandmother ever called you that.

But, odd was about to become your middle name.

You skimmed through the files scattered on the desk, noticing some of them were thinner than a toothpick.

That was a bad sign.

Thin files meant limited information, and that meant you were being sent into a foreign country with minimal knowledge. You didn't like the idea of walking into the unknown, especially considering that the only thing you had from Korea was your father's last name and the last time you saw him alive you were a six-year-old.

You definitely needed to talk to her grandmother more often.

You were an expert in infiltration and counterintelligence, but to be honest Your personality was not what you would expect from a young high class korean lady. 

For that, you would need a lot of practice before leaving.

A Chaebol daughter wouldn't know the difference between an AK-47 and a FAMAS, much less how to take it apart and put it together in a few seconds. Right?

Or how to disarm a man with one hand, a bullet in the shoulder in the middle of a…

Focus Y/N

You close your eyes for a second and open the first file and the picture of a man with a scar on his left eye greeted you, and you sighed.

It was going to be a long night and you didn’t have enough information to start this case.

🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

Incheon Airport, South Korea.

October 10, 9:19 AM

The brisk autumn air nipped at your skin as you made your way into the international departure hall. You weren't sure if it was the weather or the adrenaline of embarking on a new mission that sent shivers down your spine. After all, you'd spent the past few days prepping to slip into the role of a pampered, elegant heiress, something that felt as unnatural as stilettos in a gunfight.

You also spent the last few days trying not to poison your partner Emmet, for every time he made fun of how much you hated this new undercover identity.

And don't even get you started on those fake nails; they were more of a hindrance than a help when it came to handling firearms or knocking some sense into people.

But it was not impossible to do.

Scanning the crowd, you looked for the person meant to meet you in the parking lot. In the middle of a crowd, a burly middle-aged man stood out in his ill-fitting suit. He had the demeanor of a gangster but the face of a teddy bear. Your eyes scanning him, looking for the Clan's tattoo – a crescent moon veiled by clouds.

Any member of the Seven Moons had to wear it in a visible place, a sort of gangster business card. This man had it inked at the base of his neck.

The man approached you with large steps smiling all the time, who knew a gangster could pass as a Golden Retriever Boyfriend  “Welcome Miss Lee, your father is waiting for you in the car” he bowed and took your luggage to take you towards the Mercedes that was parked right outside the door.

As you slid into the car, you were greeted by the smiling face of Lee Kikyung, the man who'd sold out his boss to save his own skin. And now, you had to call him "Dad."

Ugh.

"How was your trip, dear Nari? I hope you were comfortable on the flight," he asked, wearing a fake smile. You cringed at the sound of your childhood nickname, but you had to start getting used to it.

"It was good, um... Dad," you replied with a slight accent. "I hope you work on that pronunciation, precious. We wouldn't want them catching on so soon," he replied, a mischievous grin exposing a gold tooth. He was so close you could see the clan's mark on his neck, peeking out from under his expensive shirt.

What a piece of work.

"We need to head straight to the Kim Building. I don't know if your informants filled you in."

No, they didn't, you thought, but you let him continue.

"Last night, there was a lot of commotion among the Sons. All seven were down at the docks, and that's a rare sight. Looks like a big fish has entered the river. Two birds with one stone, huh? I bet you're up for a promotion after this, sweetheart." You had to resist the urge to throat-punch him, the way he was looking at you.

This guy didn't shut up the entire drive to the Kim Building. He barely took a breath between his rapid words, as if he wanted to unload everything at once and be done with you.

Classic snitch. From his body language, it was clear that beneath the old asshole’s facade, his trembling hand betrayed his nervousness. Old Lee, dressing like a character straight out of "The Godfather," might fool others, but to you, he was a washed-up criminal trying to hang on to his last vestiges of glory. How he'd climbed the ranks to lead one of the world's largest Criminal Clans was a mystery to you.

But something he said piqued your interest. The Seven Moons rarely gathered in one place, primarily for security reasons. "It's likely that all the children will be there at the meeting today," he revealed.

That really caught your attention and you turned to look at him "The Devil has summoned us all to his office. So, if I were you, I'd touch up that makeup a bit. It seems you're in luck today, sweetheart. You'll be meeting The Seven Moons."

For you, luck had nothing to do with it. Your plan had been to discreetly gather information before exposing yourself in such a way.

It was a change of plans, but not an entirely bleak one. In fact, things might not be as bad as they first seemed.

But now you'd have to improvise. The sooner you could get one of them in your pocket for the information you needed, the sooner you'd be headed home, and all these criminals would be where they belonged—

Jail.

🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

BH Group Headquarters, Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea.

'The Office' Lee Kikyung mentioned you were going was a towering 77-story office complex that served as a front for the legal businesses funding the clan's extravagant lifestyle.

As you entered, the luxurious reception area greeted you with its tall glass windows and elegant chandeliers, making you shudder to think about the costs of building all of this. The floor, adorned with expensive black marble featuring gold veins was framed with the clan's symbol, unmistakably declaring this territory as belonging to Kim DoHan.

It felt like stepping into the gates of hell.

Accompanied by a team of about 15 suited bodyguards with menacing tattoos, you and your 'father' took the elevator to the top floor; It seemed to you that it was too much security for a friendly board meeting.

This meant that Lee's two hour TED Talk on "how to get away with snitching" was true: something was moving on the streets of Seoul.

As the doors opened to the conference room, you were struck by the absence of concrete walls, replaced entirely by windows offering a breathaking view of the city. In the center of the room stood an opulent table crafted from Japanese cherry wood. Several people were already sitting around it, in an order that did not seem improvised at all.

You sat down right next to Mr. Lee taking your time to examine everyone there. Most of the presents seemed to be different executives from the Kim companies, for the first time today you did not feel completely surrounded by gangsters.

However, the feeling did not last long.

The elevator doors slid open, and six tall figures strode into the meeting room. Instantly, everyone seated at the table rose to bow and pay their respects.

These were the young leaders of the clan, dressed in dark suits and moving with an eerie synchrony, as if they hailed from another world. In person, their presence was even more striking. Even the act of walking into a meeting room seemed to be precisely choreographed, every step filled with purpose.

You recognized their faces from the files, matching names to positions within the clan:

Kim Namjoon, the biological son and right-hand man, also the CEO of BH Group.

Kim Seokjin, the Clan's negotiator and financial administrator.

Jung Hoseok, the Clan's Support, essentially the go-to guy for various criminal needs.

Kim Taehyung, the Clan's Collector, responsible for ensuring debts were paid in either money or blood.

Park Jimin, the Clan's intelligence expert and overseer of the clan's nightlife businesses.

Jeon Jungkook, the youngest of the clan with no formal role, but per Mr. Lee's extensive criminal monologue, he was responsible for training new recruits in combat and held a special place in Kim DoHan's heart.

Yet, you noticed there was one missing, only six were present.

Where was the seventh?

Your question found an answer when the doors opened once more.

"Welcome, Sir!" The entire room chorused in unison. You managed to mimic the bow, though somewhat awkwardly. There was an amused snort from the Young leaders's side of the table, but it was hard to pinpoint the source.

When you looked up, you locked eyes with the Clan's second in command. His gaze held a mocking curiosity, almost taunting.

Kim Namjoon looked at you as if you weren't a trained agent but a bumbling, spoiled child, just another chaebol. You rolled your eyes right back at him. There was something in his expression that seemed vaguely familiar, but you couldn't quite place it.

"My Sons, my family. Good afternoon, and thank you for gathering at such short notice," the Clan leader's deep voice resonated through the room. "Lee, I'm delighted to see that you've brought a special guest today."

Chills coursed down your spine. No matter how experienced you were with criminals, there was an undeniable air of menace surrounding that man. An instinctual warning to put as much distance between yourself and him as humanly possible, as quickly as possible.

“Of course, my leader. I couldn't be more pleased by the return of my daughter” Mr. Lee replied with a wicked smile “After all, it was time to introduce my heiress” upon hearing that word, Kim's children looked at her, some with curiosity and others with complete indifference.

The Clan's head let out a light chuckle in agreement with the second-in-command before gesturing for everyone to take their seats.

And that's when you noticed him.

The man with the distinctive scar over his eye.

His real name was conspicuously absent from INTERPOL's classified files. In fact, there was nothing substantial about him—just a blurry image of his face.

And oh God. It didn’t do him justice.

Everything about him screamed danger.

He was the Clan's Strenght Leader, handling all the not-so-legal affairs.

Kim Namjoon ran the legitimate businesses, handled the money, and rubbed shoulders with CEOs and politicians.

The Shadow, as he was known, was Seoul's underworld Prince.

Standing silently behind the Clan's Head, he was like a deadly predator, waiting for the order to strike. Unlike the rest who sported expensive executive suits, his casual and nonchalant style made him stand out in the room. You know how, in nature, the most vibrant and beautiful colors often serve as a warning for poison? That analogy perfectly described him. The seventh moon's striking appearance nearly made you forget that he was the underworld lord of his clan, a cold-blooded assassin at the Devil's command.

Hi was Kim DoHan's dark general.

And probably the most dangerous man in that room.

Suga wore a black mask covering most of his face, but you could still glimpse the beginning of a scar that traveled from his left eyebrow down to his eye.

And those eyes.

He kept his gaze locked onto you, scrutinizing you, just as you had observed his brothers earlier. He watched your every move, as if he had already found a reason to be wary.

You couldn't help but feel uncomfortable under his gaze and for the first time in a long time, you looked away from someone. It felt like if you kept staring at him, all your secrets would unravel.

That was a level of danger you couldn't afford.

"You must be wondering why I summoned you from your busy schedules for this meeting," the Clan leader's voice broke the silence. "It is no secret that I'm preparing one of my sons to ascend as the clan's leader. And soon, by tradition, we must continue our family's legacy by uniting bloodlines. The prevalence of the clan above all else is the only thing that matters. Nothing else. "

Not a single person in the room dared to so much as breathing too loud. The palpable respect – or rather, terror – held everyone's tongue.

He took a solemn pause before continuing, "That's why I've decided my heir will marry the Lee family heiress. The Lees were one of our greatest allies, joining our clan twenty years ago. I had promised my dear brother Kikyung that one day, one of his own would wed one of mine. Kikyung, my brother-in-arms, you've been my right hand all these years before Namjoon came of age. This is my reward for your loyalty."

What the fuck did this man just say? 

Marriage?

You couldn't hide your complete shock. There was no way that your so-called "father" and informant didn't deliberately omit this crucial detail from his UN General Assembly-worthy speech on organized crime as you were driving to the Headquarters.

The director had to know as well.

Which led to the unsettling thought: what else were they not telling you?

You weren't the only one caught off guard. The other children of the clan's leader couldn't contain their own bewilderment. Some squirmed in their seats, while others exchanged uneasy glances.

This had to be some twisted joke.

Even the seventh moon, for a microsecond, showed a speck of curiosity in his cold eyes.

"Since the hand of the Lee heiress has been promised, I have formally decided that she will reside in our private estate until my successor's name is confirmed," the clan leader declared. "I want all my children under my roof, without exception. And let me make it perfectly clear: none of you shall dare disrespect young-lady Nari. In the name of the code, Am I understood?"

"Yes, Leader," the Seven Moons responded in unison.

Wait, the name of his heir hadn't been decided yet?

You temporarily set aside Kim DoHan's implications about his children. None of those fools would dare touch you – unless they fancied losing a limb – all in the name of your code.

But given the intelligence you'd gathered about these individuals, Kim Namjoon was on a one-way ticket to becoming the Clan's leader. The overseas studies, the visits to criminal acquaintances in Russia, Japan and China, vacations with corrupt government officials and their entourage...

What did that say about Kim DoHan's faith in his own bloodline?

The Hallmark movie plot of giving all his adopted sons a chance at leadership was, without a doubt, suspicious.

However, some pieces were starting to click into place. Lee was betraying them to save his true daughter. If she married the clan's heir, there'd be no escaping the consequences when everything came crashing down.

Yet, your supposed father-dearest had delivered you on a silver platter to the Seven Moons.

It was a complete game-changer.

Old Mr. Lee wasn't scared of jail.

He was frightened for his own flesh and blood to be embroiled in a sinking ship. How he had managed to keep his daughter's true identity hidden for so long was a mystery. Did the all-powerful Kim DoHan truly not know his right-hand heiress's name until now?

There were too many loose ends, something was truly wrong.

Both men rose to shake hands, their exchange echoing with, "My clan is my family. My own flesh and blood."

"It will be an honor to welcome you into my family, young Nari," the old leader continued, his eyes locking onto yours. For some reason, your real father's affectionate nickname sounded downright chilling coming from the clan leader's lips.

It wasn't jail that terrified him, old Mr. Lee. It was  dooming his own blood to get involved with a ship that was about to sink. But how had he managed to hide his daughter's identity for all this time? Did the powerful Kim DoHan really not know the name of his right hand heiress until today?

Too many loose ends, and something was definitelly wrong.

Both men rose to shake hands “Family is my blood. My clan is my family” they told each other

“It will be an honor to welcome you into my family, young Nari” continued the old leader, drawing your attention and looking into your eyes. For some reason, the cute nickname your father had given you sounded terrifying in that person's mouth.

You offered a small bow in response, and when you straightened, the Seventh Moon was gazing directly at you.

There was something in his stare you couldn't quite define, but it was clear you didn't like how it made you feel.

You had never been intimidated by anyone before, yet you now teetered on the edge of a panic attack because of a pretty boy watching you.

A pretty boy who was a killer.

He couldn't possibly suspect anything about you, right? you wondered.

"Now, Mr. Choi," the clan leader signaled the man who had brought you there, "why don't you take this little flower to our residence, while the adults discuss other important matters?"

What the hell did this old man just call you?

Before leaving, you caught a reflection of his eyes in the glass door.

Ever vigilant.

Fine, Suga, I'll give you a reason to keep an eye on me. you thought

Perhaps this marriage scheme could work to your advantage.

Your mission was to infiltrate, and what better way than living within the Seven Moons' den.

Meanwhile, at the back of your mind, the myriad of loose ends left you with a lingering sense of unease.

Too many missing pieces...

And something was about to go so.

fucking.

wrong. 

🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

Kim Dohan’s manssion, Outskirts of Seoul

hours later

Sleep was out of the question tonight...

You had spent the entire afternoon and well into the night scouring for any scrap of information about the Seven Moons headquarters. Leaving your room, you crept through the dark corridors, making no sound.

Counting each step from your room to the next door leading to the exit was mentally logged. You noted the bulletproof glass in the windows and assumed that they had around 30 armed men guarding the house at any given moment. The Clan's den was an opulent display of excess; these criminals thrived on ostentation.

But that was a priviledge you could have when you controlled an entire nation, you could do as you pleased.

Who the hell thought of putting a lake in the middle of a house? You continued moving through the mansion crossing the internal gardens.

One thing remained undeniably true: the mansion of the most powerful criminal clan in Asia was an impenetrable fortress, nestled atop a hill, far from the bustling city of Seoul.

It had only one entrance and one exit, and its labyrinthine architecture made it all too easy to get lost within its confines. It was guarded around the clock by clansmen, armed to the teeth, with an arsenal hidden within its walls. It seemed like hey had their very own army.

Surviving an escape was highly unlikely...

at least not without help from someone on the inside.

As you made your way to the kitchen, your mind raced like an overloaded computer, with music playing from unknown open tabs.

Old Kim couldn't possibly not know his right-hand daughter's name...

Why had he offered you as a marriage reward? What was your -The daughter of Lee Kikyun- value to the clan?

How come Kim DoHan hadn't chosen his successor?

After minutes of aimless wandering, you finally found the tall double doors leading to the kitchen. Inside, luxurious countertops and shelves held utensils fit for a Michelin-star restaurant.

If this house wasn't so ridiculously big it would be easier to drink water. Where are the glasses? in Busan?

If you had to run away from this house it would probably be better to hide in the kitchen, no one would find you.

Have you left the safety on the Glock?

Who the hell is smoking weed?

The pungent smell momentarily distracted you. You'd been so focused on finding a glass that you hadn't noticed someone else was in the room. A slim figure lingered in the shadows of the window, barely revealed by the moonlight.

But you didn't need to see the full face to recognize him...

The Seventh Moon.

"Do you smoke?" the black-haired man asked from across the room, his voice so deep it was almost a growl, sending shivers down your spine.

"I don't do drugs, thanks," you replied with a flat, disinterested tone, or at least you tried to. "But could you point me to where the glasses are... please?"

The man chuckled and moved closer, rounding the kitchen island until he stood just inches from you. He gazed at you for a moment, then reached behind your head for a glass. His face inches from yours

You felt trapped, exposed.

For a moment, you forgot you were also a trained soldier on a mission. This man had you feeling like a blushing schoolgirl from a corny drama, much like the ones your grandmother watched.

You're not going to be intimidated, are you?

For the first time, you got a good look at his face, the scar running down his eye, his round nose, the way his jaw moved as he frowned, and his almost pouty lips.

That man was beautiful.

You could even smell him, beyond the scent of what he was smoking, you could pick up the musk of his cologne. The open collar of his shirt revealed tattoos peeking out and the muscles in his neck...

"You like what you see, little flower?" he teased, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his lips, before handing you the glass and taking a drag of his joint. "But I must inform you, anyone who sees my face without being a full clan member... ends up dead." He exhaled a plume of smoke in your direction.

Chills coursed through your body. You weren't entirely sure whether you were more aroused or irritated.

"Technically. I'm now part of your clan. You heard your father, I'm going to marry one of you," you replied, shaking your head, trying to maintain your cool.

Suga found your bratty attitude funny. "Wouldn't you like that, huh?" He got a little closer to your face to look directly into your eyes “Technically, yes you are part of the Clan. But until you take the oath and mark your pretty skin with our mark. You are not one of us, little flower” he replied, putting away a lock of hair that had fallen into your eyes.

"I think SUGA, our Leader's orders were quite explicit. Stop toying with our guest, and if you're going to smoke that shit, do it outside my house." Namjoon's authoritative voice cut through, catching both of you off guard. You seized the opportunity to slip away from Suga's grip.

Suga raised his hands in a mock surrender and looked at his second in command. "I was just offering our new friend a glass of water, Joonie. It'd be rude not to show a bit of our clan's hospitality, wouldn't it, little flower?" He winked at you.

"Nothing was happening. I couldn't find the glasses, and I was thirsty," you replied, failing to hide the compromising position you'd been in with the Clan's Shadow. "And don't call me that, that's not my name."

"Nari, lily, little flower. They're all the same," he responded, making a playful smile and leaving you momentarily flustered.

Perfect, let them think you're a complete idiot. Amazing job.

“Leave her alone, now. Suga” Namjoon spoke again with a voice of authority “Excuse him, he is not used to behaving like a human, much less having manners with a lady” He referred as his own brother like he was not a human being standing next to them 

Does this Namjoon guy have a prince charming complex or what?

"Oh, please, your majesty! I'll go finish my joint in peace elsewhere. Oh, and Namjoon, you should respect your elders. I'm still your hyung, and this isn't your house... yet," the black-haired man stated with a note of warning, bowing to you before leaving and flipping off the other man.

Namjoon sighed. "I'm sorry, really. He has no control. Did you want a glass of water?" He took the glass from your hands, opened the fridge, and began to pour you some. “I know it will be difficult for you to adapt to the rules of this house, but if you need something you can ask one of the employees. They are always here to serve you” 

"I didn't want to bother anyone, it's late," your reply was short a tittle more sour than you intended it to be.

"And you shouldn't worry. You now belong to this house, and it's the staff's job to take care of you. But, I'm glad we ran into eachother tonight. I wanted to speak with you before tomorrow's meeting..." Namjoon paused and scratched his neck, as if deciding the best way to approach the subject.

"Tomorrow, you'll be formally introduced to the clan. From that day on, you'll need to make the rounds with each one of us," he explained. "My father wants you to be thoroughly acquainted with every aspect of our operations. Even if I disagree with certain aspects, my father trusts yours. And I trust my Leader."

Namjoon's kind expression shifted to a stern one, his gaze intensifying. "Miss Lee, I don't know you well, and neither do any of my brothers. However, in this clan, we take loyalty very seriously. As of tomorrow, you may witness or hear things that must remain within these walls. It might be overwhelming at first, but you have no other options. And things might be unconfortable until you take the oath. But until then, you must still act in accordance with the code, or face the consequences. Is that clear?"

With his eloquent speech and steady tone, the Second in Command had just issued a subtle threat.

Well, not so subtle...

"First, Mr. Kim, there's no need to be so formal when talking to me. After all, in a few months, I'll be marrying the heir of this clan. That makes me your future sister-in-law... or wife," you stated, raising your chin with a haughty air. Namjoon remained silent, allowing you to continue.

"Second, I understand that we have to take our parents' word for the success of this alliance," feeling your blood rise to your ears, you knew you were playing a dangerous game "But I want to remind you that I am also a daughter of this clan. Blood and weapons don't intimidate me. In any case, both of us should show respect to our elders. After all, our fates rest in their hands." Taking a small step closer, he didn't budge.

But you could never guess how you were making the young leader feel. As much as he hated that you tried to hurt his pride like that, the Second in command saw for the first time in someone, an equal, a true opponent at that.

He was also undeniably intrigued by you.

"I may not know you yet, but I'm living in your house, I mean, your father's house. And I expect a modicum of consideration."  You pretended to be offended because that was the role you had to play, a spoiled, conceited heiress to the mafia.

“I have offended you. Excuse me if my words sounded like something else... “

“Okay, I understand you Namjoon, can I call you by your name? We have the same age” you interrupted him in the middle of his sentence.

“Yes, of course, can I call you Nari?” Namjoon loved the sound of his name on your lips. Of course, you could call him whatever you wanted.

“Great, thank you very much for the water and for helping me before. Good night”  With a bow, You shot out of the kitchen.

“Good Night. And Nari?” he waited for you to look at him “It is really nice to see you again. You look different now, prettier. I hope you rest well, you're going to need it tomorrow” he winked at you and your blood froze in your veins. 

Kim Namjoon had met Mr. Lee's daughter before? Why hadn't Mr. Lee mentioned anything about it?

Your heart pounded in your ears.

It had been too much.

The gaps on this mission were becoming too much.

You needed to get your act together, no more games. You were already deep within the lion's den, and time was running out.

You had never failed a mission before, and this wouldn't be the first time...

No matter how appealing the Clan's Shadow was or what he made you feel.

As much as the threat of the Second in command had actually terrified you.

Without mentioning the fact that he knew Lee’s daughter.

You had to keep going; there was no turning back now.

And you would bring this clan to its knees... that was a promise.

"Baby let the games begin... are you ready for it?"

🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

Hi! Hello?? 👻

How are you??? I've been supper busy with work and responsible adult duties and all that. So, it took more than I wanted to upload. BUT! this chapter is actually the longest yet, as a treat for my lack of updates. If you want to be on this fics Tag list, leave a comment below or send me an ask!!

Thank you SO SO MUCH for reading this series 🥹, there's so much to come and I am exited to show you all. Anyway it's 3AM where I Am so I guess I'll go to sleep.

Hope you guys have a great weekend

Love Ria 💗

[fellow-fandom-fruitifier]

(Red songs are ones I feel fit the best, some song are more vibes than anything.)

So I went through every single song I’ve ever downloaded (It’s A LOT, like, it’s a playlist over 30 hours long.) and grabbed all the ones I maladaptive daydream Wukong and/or Macaque to. So, without further ado, I present:

💞✨An Overly Long Wukong/Macaque “Playlist”✨💞

People Eater and Misery Meat by Sodikken

Sober by FIDLAR (makes me think of a v angsty shadowpeach fic from SWK’s POV)

Rät by Penelope Scott

Scrawny by Wallows

Nowhere To Run by Stegosaurus Rex

I’m Gonna Win by Rob Cantor

Poor George by James Supercave

Candle Queen by GHOST

Copycat by VocaCircus

Bury A Friend by Billie Eilish

Can’t Be Erased by Coda

Ghosts by Jacob Tillberg

Maniac by Conan Gray

Snowcone by Rei Ami

OH NO! and Are You Satisfied by Marina & The Diamonds

Good Enough by Atsuover

Two Birds by Regina Spektor

Bird Song by Florence + The Machine

Suki Suki Daisuki by Jun Togawa

Saint Bernard by Lincoln

I Can’t Decide by Scissor Sisters

Ghosting, Wrecking Ball, Hayloft (+ Hayloft II), Arms Tonite (YES IK WHAT ITS ACTUALLY ABT SHUP UP😭), and Problems by Mother Mother

Everybody Loves Me by OneRepublic

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes

Violent by Carolesdaughter

Troublemaker by Olly Murs

Sweet Tooth and Devil Town by Cavetown

Bust Your Kneecaps by Pomplamoose

Cupid’s Chokehold by Gym Class Heroes

Cloud 9 by Beach Bunny

I Can’t Fix You by The Living Tombstone

Hot N Cold by Katy Perry

Applause by Lady Gaga

She Wants Me Dead by Cazette

Backstabber by Kesha

Hell’s Comin’ With Me by Poor Mans Poison

Paparazzi Murder Party by Vain

‘Cause I’m A Liar by Mcki Robyns-P

Choke by IDKHBTFM

Everything Stays by Adventure Time

I / Me / Myself by Will Wood (Idk y, it just feels so wholesome shadowpeach-y 2 me)

Worst Case Scenario and Goodbye MR A by The Hoosiers

Anything You Want by JAWNY

Stalkers Tango by Autoheart (listen… listen man… just think abt it)

Bad Day by Darwin Deez

Fuck You by Lily Allen (bitter exes💀)

True Love FT. Lily Allen by P!nk

Feels by Calvin Harris

Change The Formality by Infected Mushroom

I Just Threw Out The Love Of My Dreams by Weezer

Villain by Stella Jang

Washing Machine Heart by Mitski

Ghost Busters (bcz I think it’s fun E, just imagine SWK & others like ‘who ya gonna call’ & 6EM is the ghost)

Pride X New Magic (I MEAN C’MON “Loves gonna get you killed, but prides gonna be the death of you.” IDBSIXGSINSEIH, the edit audio ever)

Sucker By Jonas Brothers

Bloody Nose and Kitchen Fork by Jack Conte (this song has the vibes that just scream the past tragedy part of their relationship 2 me, idk how 2 explain it)

Passing Through by Kaden MacKay

Karma by AJR

One Way Or Another by Blondie

These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra

Bad Idea! by Girl In Red

Brutal by Olivia Rodrigo

Them Changes by Thundercat (same reason as the Jack Conte songs tbh, but it’s more the present tragedy part)

C’est toi qu’elle préfère by Alice et Moi

Break My Heart by Dua Lipa

Jesus On The Telephone by Machinery Of The Human Heart

Too Close and Michelle by Sir Chloe

Another Believer by Rufus Wainwright

Dancin Closer To The Edge by JOHNNH GOTH

Julie VS. Robot Julie by Arthur

She Wolf by Shakira

I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire by The Ink Spots

Plug Me In by Lil Soda Boi

Run, Rabbit, Run! by Flanagan & Allen

Youth by Daughter

Stay Calm by BonBun Films

Exorcism FT. Cyber Diva by Creep-P

Step On Me by The Cardigans

Girl Anachronism by The Dresden Dolls

I’m Not The Only One by Sam Smith (it’s prolly just me tbh)

Shit by Bo Burnham

NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER by Odetari (THE VIBES N SHIT, THE GIRLS R FIGHTIIIING)

[lady-potato-ninja]

Hello friend! I just came back after a little hibernation, as is my wont haha, and I was really curious about the beautiful formation; the behind the scenes process of your Inktober! Please give us the juicy details about which one is your favorite, what particular child was unruly and difficult, what food did you have before you did X piece? The public must know! (Feel free to add in random observations which I haven't addressed that you'd love to talk about <3)

ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

Welcome back ! 🙈 Thank you for Taking interest in my inktober process 🙂‍↕️☺️!

It's actually the first year I did my inktober digitally and I really liked it! I used to think it would be cheating since there's technically no ink in digital art but now I don't really give a fuck ? Inktober is such a difficult challenge anyway so why add to it with a medium I always get frustrated with? I really enjoyed the switch and I'll most likely do the same thing next year ;9

It's also the first year that I tumbnailed all of my drawings in advance which made inktober much more enjoyable because I didn't have to fumble for ideas whilst inktober was already happening!

I think my favorite drawing was the one with the big fish; it's so silly really but in a mobile game I was playing there was kind of a monster fish (more one the side of a pufferfish really) and it really inspired me 🤣 plus I really enjoy seeing artist whose main focus in art is food? I feel like there's so much knowledge I could find in their art like how they draw the tiniest details in the simplest ways while making it look so tasty 🤤.

My unruly child as you said was definitely the cloud study 😩😩 it was nice to do it but so difficult!! I did just watch an art livestream by Marco Bucci on colors and studies and I 'm already changing the way I'll do studies from now on... If you haven't seen his videos, I strongly recommend it: he is very good at making concepts more palatable while keeping his lessons short and fun! Definitely One of the best I've seen this far!!

I know I had a food theme this inktober but I didn't really do much new recipes in October :000 ! I wish I had drawn Luo Binghe and Mobei Jun eating ramen as well but sadly I didn't think about it 😩! Recently tho I've been trying new things in the kitchen but mostly new prepping methods? I'm craving kimchi tho I haven't had some in weeks 😭( I almost got some at Costco but there weren't any :'/)

If I had to give any tips for going through inktober it would be to use your down time wisely. Whenever you feel tired or unable to work on finishing pieces you should start thumbnailing for others. Also from the Bucci video, turns out maybe using a tinier canva could actually prove to be useful in preserving a lower stroke count and thus a better efficiency! Last, draw what you want and stop whenever you want; I've never finished inktober but I always enjoyed it and what it did for my art progress but I know if I had pushed myself to finish it I would have faced a gigantic art block !

I hope December will be kind and festive for you!❄️🧤

[acertainmoshke]

Writing Share Tag

Thanks for the tag @fractured-shield (here)!!

I was rather proud of this bit from CitS chapter 2, since I think it shows off various aspects of Ko'a's personality (remember they're still 9 here):

Ko'a could see the shining cover even from the doorway, standing out against dull gray stones and faded carpets. They were across the room, picking it up, almost before they'd made the decision to. The dust flew off in a cloud when they ran a hand over the cover. Up close they would see that the shining red silk was embroidered with a flock of golden birds. When they opened it, they were surprised to see the soft edges of writing ink rather than the crisper ones left by printing. It must be an old book, Ko'a thought, from before printers. But no. The writing wasn't neat, loopy, and careful. It was sloping and cramped. True handwriting. They realized it must be a journal even as they held it up to the light to read. The first entry was dated 320. The year the war began. The handwriting wasn't easy to read, and Ko'a struggled in places, but they understood enough: it was about an ordinary life. A youth a few years older than them, their new betrothal, their stonemason apprenticeship, their visits with friends. They only mentioned the war once in the first month, and they seemed certain it would be only a quick border skirmish. The youth didn't write their own name in the book, but Ko'a could feel them standing like a ghost next to them. They would be 100 now, surely dead anyway. But Ko'a was reminded of the ghost stories Sunka's friends shared about this part of town. Had they died at only 15, fleeing Engian mages? Had they escaped and moved across town, only to become a soldier at 20 and died in battle like Ko'a's grandparents? They felt suddenly cold and shivery. "Boo!" Without warning, something was in the room and flying at them, sending Ko'a shrieking out the door. The book hit the floor behind them. And then Aru'a was stumbling out behind them, laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. "You really thought I was a ghost!" "Don't DO that!" Anger roared in Ko'a's ears and they scrambled up off the street to shove Aru'a to the ground instead. "We're supposed to be playing hide and seek!" Aru'a rubbed his bruised elbow but didn't stop laughing. "Yeah, well, you were taking forever. And you were right there." "You're a horrible friend!" Ko'a's eyes burned, but they were too big to cry in front of other children, so they turned down the street to storm off. Aru'a, of course, easily caught up to them. Ko'a-" "GO AWAY!" they screamed in his face. He didn't try to follow them again. Ko'a expected to cry as soon as they were safely behind the next house, but once they were alone in the quiet again their rage drained away and they decided they may as well go back to playing.

I'll tag @amielbjacobs @leytaylorjohnson @annothersummerofsleep and, of course, anyone else who wants to play!

[giggly-squiggily]

squiggily i love you you're the bestest pal forever and my requests are always open for you 🩷

requesssst... i NEED lee!eizen, it's not even funny anymore 😭 it's such a standard scenario but how about eizen has just been ranked as number one (idk how old he would've been, just at some point pre canon 💀) and he starts overworking himself because he gets a little paranoid over losing the top spot which concerns shion who then decides to get eizen to chill out a bit, no matter what (and maybe genji if you want to add him but feel free to leave him out if two characters is easier ^^)

again THANK YOU for inviting me, you're amazing and ily

Rey you are an absolute blessing! This was so freaking fun to write AHH! I love me some Lee!Eizen; it's not something I usually write but after this he's definitely up there as characters I need to write more of! :D I hope you like it, friend!

Cloud 9 (Taglist Peeps):

@cupcake-spice13 @rachi-roo @thatbigbisexual29 (thought of you while writing this hehe)

It took many years, endless hard work, and a lifetime’s amount of patience, but he was here. Top of the Asaemon, he took a vow to continue to work his predecessors left behind and carry on the good name of the Yamada Clan.

Even if that meant working twice- no, three times as hard as they have before. He would not let this decision be in vain.

“There he goes again, throwing himself into his work..” Genji sighed with a shake of his head, folding his large arms across his chest with a small tsk. “I respect the dedication, but even the best samurai take breaks.”

“I agree. Though you know how Eizen is.” Shion recalled, folding his own hands into the sleeves with a furrowed brow. “When he sets his mind to something, there’s no stopping him.”

“Sounds like someone I know.” Shion didn’t need eyes to know the older man was smirking. He didn’t need them when he smacked him lightly either.

“Hush.” Shion scolded him gently, unable to deny it. They’ve always been hard workesr, even when they were first starting out in the clan., However- he eventually outgrew his habit of overdoing it- something Eizen still seemed to struggle with. Shion could count the amount of times he and Jikka dragged him home after he trained so hard he couldn’t use his legs any longer- a matter the redhead made them swear to secrecy.

Genji hummed, turning to leave while Shion was lost in thought. “I’ll leave him to you? If you need me, I can assist.”

“There’s no need. I’ll see to him.” Shion smiled, grinning when he heard Genji groan on his way out.

He could hear the laugh in his tone. It was nice to know his jokes landed.

~~~

Eizen laid his aching head in ink stained hands, letting out a low sigh that rattled his bones. He was so, so tired. Between working with new students and old, extensive recordings he needed to read and sign off, and the self-imposed training regime he set for himself, he was rather exhausted. All he wanted to do was have a cup of tea, visit the nearby shrine, and stare out into the sun rising horizon. Maybe he’d invite Jikka and Shion; just like they used to when they were kids.

Something warm and fragrant pulled him from his thoughts. A cup of tea, manifested. He blinked in surprise before following the hand it was attached to, eyes landing on the familiar face. “Thank you, Shion. This is much appreciated.”

“Of course. I even seeked out your preferred blend.” Shion folded his arms as Eizen took a sip, brows furrowing. “Eizen, when was the last time you took a break?”

Silence. The sipping stopped, as did Eizen. The redhead dared another peek, finding Shion frowning. “Don’t lie to me, either. I can see it on the tip of your tongue.”

“Ever a joker.” Eizen shook his head as he turned to face Shion properly. “I can’t stop right now, Shion. There’s so much to do; if I fall behind even a bit-”

“You’ll come back. Like you always do.” Shion’s gentle but firm words cut him off as he took a seat across from him. “You're a hard worker, Eizen. Even before you became the highest ranked. It’s something I’ve admired about you for a long time.”

“You're kind.” Eizen nodded, wincing some. He’s sat through enough of Shion’s lectures to know where this was going.

“But you concern me- especially now. You’ll find yourself knocking on death’s door if you keep this up.” He tilted his head low, brows low for added seriousness. “And I’d rather my dear friends not die before me.”

Eizen had nothing to say to that, for he knew all his answers wouldn’t be ones Shion wanted to hear. He stared down at the warm tea in his mug, finding the distorted reflexion unsettling. He looked tired- and perhaps thinner? He wasn’t missing meals- though they have been getting smaller and quicker than before…

He looked back up at Shion, the words stuck in his throat at that deadly serious face. A part of him wanted to give in. Put aside scrolls and swords and breathe. Shion wouldn’t look so sad then.

But…

“I’m sorry.” He bowed his head, unable to face his deep frown. He felt like a child in the face of his master. How shameful.

“No, I should apologize.” What? Eizen looked up-

Then he was blinded.

“Shion!” He yelped when the other man attacked, knocking his tea out of the way and wrestling him to the ground. His foot kicked the table over, sending scrolls and ink everywhere. “Shion, this is ridiculous!”

“Yes- I suppose it’s a rather childish sight.” Shion was smiling again, grabbing at Eizen’s wrists as he positioned himself across his lap. “But when it comes to a hurricane, one must go for the eye of the storm.”

“That last one wasn’t even a blind joke!” The redhead grunted, tugging at his entrapment. Shion was strong as ever, much to his annoyance. “Let me up, we’re both too old for this.”

“Age is irrelevant here.”

“You’re acting like a child!”

“You’re acting rather stubborn. Who’s the child here?” Shion’s grin made Eizen blush and advert his gaze. “Since you’re too blind to see the error of your ways, I’ll just have to show you the path.”

“Don’t you da-Are!” Eizen gritted his teeth at the touch to his ribs, fingers sharp and precise. Just a small, little poke; yet it felt as if he was swarmed by bees. Tickly bees. “Shion!”

“Yes?” The blind man asked, poking him again. The redhead grunted, his body rebelling against him. “You sound tense. What’s wrong?”

“You know what’s-ermph!” Eizen shuddered all over when Shion used both his hands, twisting his index fingers into both sides of his waist. “St-Stohop that! Cea-ase this behavior imediahahahtly!”

“Ah, finally starting to see the light.” Shion smiled, feeling Eizen grab loosely at his wrist, shaking with suppressed giggles. “There’s no point trying to fight it. Just let go.” He added additional fingers, kneading along Eizen’s waist. “Give in to the first breath of laughter.”

Eizen would have punched him if he weren’t fighting for his life. Teeth gritted so hard he was sure he was bleeding, he tugged at his entrapped wrists with all the power of an Asaemon. Unfortunately for him, Shion’s earlier words came to haunt him. He was far too tired to pull away. “Shion, you damn ba-Gahahhahaa!”

“Oh?” Shion asked, fingers prodding along his ribs in a deviously familiar gesture. “Was that a laugh?”

“Shuhuhuhush! Stohohohop thihihis iihihiemehehehdiately!” His struggles grew, but Eizen still had no real strength to break free. Laughter bubbled up and over his lips, filling the once quiet room with its light sound. “Shihiihihihon!”

The blind man laughed alongside him, dancing his hand from one side to the other as Eizen squirmed. He eventually kept his hands on the center set of his ribs, the spot provided a slightly higher octave of laughter. “Seems you're still as ticklish as you were when we were young. Good to know.”

“Dohohohoohn’t you dahhahahre brihihihng that uuhuhuhp! Gehahahahah, you sohohoohn of a- Aheahhahahahahha!” Eizen managed to wiggle a hand free, swinging it at Shion’s arm as if it’d do anything. Taking this as a good sign, Shion released both wrists before attacking the dreaded spot on each side of his torso. That got him bad. “Gehahhahahahaha nohohohohohohohoohoho!”

“Hmhmhm, is it truly that bad? You haven’t changed one bit. Say, are you still ticklish here?” Shion dived his hands upward and into Eizen’s armpits just to see what would happen.

“GHHAHAH! ZZZFT!”

“Did you just snort?” Shion was utterly shocked. Eizen looked just as startled, briefly pausing his laughter at the silly sound.

“Shion- Shion don’t you dare-GHEHAHAHAH! EHAHAHH ZZZFT! ZZZPT GHEHAHAHHA!” He flailed backwards when those dastardly fingers attacked again, staying right within the sensitive spots beneath his arms. More giggles and snorts mixed with shouts and swears; Eizen was grateful he lived far enough from the clan’s main manor. The idea of his students even HEARING him in such a state was enough to make his face burn. “WOHOHOHOULD YOHOOHOHU KNOHOHOOCK THIIHIHS OHOOHOHOFF?”

“Are you going to stop overworking yourself?” Shion asked, brow raised. “Or at the very least, are you going to take more breaks?”

“YEHHEHES, YEHHEHHS! ZZZPHT GEHAHHA I PROHHOMISE!”

“Do you swear?”

“I SWEAHHAHAHR, I SWEHHAHAHAR!”

“..Do you like my puns?”

“SHIHIHION!” With a devious giggle, the blind man pulled back- sitting on his knees while Eizen gasped for air. Free from his clutches, the redhead twisted to his side, coughing roughly through the remaining snorts and giggles. Shion’s hand on his back was welcomed- if not a bit reluctantly. “Yohohour a dehehvil!”

“And you’re stubborn. But we make it work.” Shion patted him a few times before bringing back the tea, listening for Eizen’s sips. After he felt the cup return to him, he leaned back and nodded. “Feel better?”

“Heh..heheh..depends on what you mehehan..” Eizen forced himself to face him, pushing a hand through his fringe. “If you mean physically- I feel exhausted. I was already rather tired before, but then you showed up and took the last ounce of strength I had.” He glared, softening at Shion’s quirked lips. “Ah…I’ve made your point.”

“I’m glad you see things my way.” Shion chuckled. Eizen rolled his good eye with a good natured laugh.

“Fine. You win- I do feel better mentally. My head was starting to hurt from all that paperwork. I guess…I should take a rest now and again.” He looked out at his scattered scrolls, some smudged with ink and others crumbled in places. His brow furrowed. There was still so much…

“We’ll help you. I’m not much for paperwork, but I can take some of the training days off your hands. Jikka can help with this.” Shion gestured to the scrolls. “It’d be good for him to have something to do. He’s dangerous with time on his hands.”

When Eizen still seemed hesitant, Shion patted his wrist. “You do realize that just because you're our highest ranked doesn’t mean the weight of it all falls to you alone, yes? We’re all here for you. You don’t need to do everything by yourself to prove your rank is deserved.”

The redhead sucked in a sharp breath, Shion’s words hitting straight to the matter. He...really was doing that, wasn’t he? Whether he realized it or not. How shameful.

Yet, despite the effect his words had, Shion was kind. He always was, really. Eizen put a hand on top of his, nodding to the other man. “You’re right. I apologize for my behavior. I’ll take better care of myself and rely on you all more.”

Shion nodded, satisfied. “Good. Now- tomorrow is a day off. We’re going to the shrines.”

“It is?” Eizen hadn’t heard anything of the sort.

“For us, yes. Genji will be training the students. We’re going to visit that shrine nearby.” Shion held his chin, a pun loaded. “I’ve got quite the eye for such architecture.”

Eizen swatted at him gently, shaking his head. He was laughing though.

Thanks for reading!

[laurelsofhighever]

Fandom: Dragon Age: Origins Characters/pairings: Alistair x Cousland Chapter: 12/? Rating: M Warnings: Canon-typical violence Fic Summary: The story of the Fifth Blight, in a world where Alistair was raised to royalty instead of joining the Grey Wardens.

Read on AO3!

Haring, 9:30 Dragon

The paper crinkled under the twist of anxious fingers, the words of the letter contorting as the linen fibres split just enough to crack the strokes of oak-gall ink. Alistair paced. The messenger had presented the royal missive with a silent bow, its urgency betrayed by the fact that it was done in the relative privacy of a corridor and not at the spectacle of breakfast, where the custom was to deliver any letters accumulated from the day before so that all the nobility of Starkhaven might better pry into one another’s business. Conscious of Princess Meghan’s particular love of gossip, Alistair had come to the deserted upper courtyard without even stopping at his rooms to retrieve his cloak, but agitation stirred his blood too high to find the mild Marcher weather cold.

A Blight. A full muster of the Bannorn underway. A personal request from Cailan to come home.

Water poured into a carved basin from the mouth of a bronze lion set into the white marble wall. Emerald vines scrambled up the pillars of the arcade to proffer clusters of scented, dawn-yellow flowers, their colour blanched against the deep blues of the glazed tile floor. When he turned, he caught the brown flash of a sparrow darting into the low hedge under the lemon tree.

“He says the Warden-Commander himself requested an audience,” he worried. “He says the darkspawn are massing in the Wilds.”

Across from him, his companion stared down at the floor, his chin resting grave against his knuckles and his stern brow knotted over tired blue eyes. Nathaniel Howe had always been serious, quiet growing up in the shadow of his father, and seven years spent as the squire of a Marcher lord had done little to temper that early melancholy. Still, wintering as he was while the Grand Tourney gained enough energy for the new season, he was the closest thing to a friend to be found in Starkhaven’s labyrinthine palace, his judgement sound and his manners a comforting reminder of home.

“I should be going with you,” he said. “It’s my duty as much as yours to defend Ferelden.”

“Ser Rudolphe won’t spare you,” Alistair replied. Although the knight could be generous in his way, he also enjoyed the comforts that could only be provided by a bevy of squires. “If he even believes it to be a true Blight. Teyrn Loghain is kicking up a fuss, apparently.”

Nate’s mouth twisted in a grim parody of a smile. “No doubt this is all some Orlesian plot.”

“Something like that.”

Silence fell heavily over them once more. In truth, nothing much could be said; the war stories they had grown up hearing by the fireside told of great battles against enemies that valour and sound strategy could defeat, not a horde of darkspawn that would come wave on wave and kill for the senseless pleasure of blood, like ants, driven by instinct to swallow everything in their path.

“Will you go by Highever?” Nate asked after a moment.

An image cut into Alistair’s mind of Castle Cousland burning, the orchards at its feet withered black with disease. “I… no. Denerim’s closer from Wycombe.”

“You can’t avoid her forever.”

Instead of answering, Alistair chose to watch the sparrow hunting for insects through the leaves, fluffing its dull feathers against the cold as a cloud passed over the sun and pressed its darkness into the already shaded courtyard. He did not need to answer. The truth had come spilling out in the bottle of Satinalia brandy they had shared the previous year, and now Nate knew every detail of how he had betrayed Rosslyn’s trust, then skulked away like a thieving dog. She had probably grown beyond him anyway, won accolades and admirers far better than –

“I know you’re still in love with her,” Nate said when nothing else filled the silence.

“What –?” he spluttered. “Still – I’m not –”

“It’s been obvious since you were fifteen.”

With a sigh, he gave in and slumped on the bench next to his friend, wistful for a few moments before when the conversation had been about darkspawn. “Not to her.”

He still recalled the day Fergus and Oriana had publicly announced their betrothal. Hiding in the gallery to avoid the adults who had all come to wish her brother well, they had stolen a carafe of deep Antivan red and giggled their way through the speeches, their own small rebellion against those who fawned over Rosslyn like a plaything and pretended the king’s unacknowledged bastard did not exist at all. She had been dressed in layers of samite that rippled in shades like winter fog, like her eyes, with enamelled brooches in the shape of laurel leaves to hold the tumbling night of her hair at bay like storm lanterns on the prow of a ship. That had been the first night he wondered what it would be like to loose the pins and let the silk of it fall through his fingers.

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” he continued, shaking off the memory. “When I go back, I’ll be fighting, and she’ll hate it but there’s no way her father will let her join him on the field. When it’s over…” He sighed. “Maybe. When it’s over.”

His mind turned to the others he had left behind, to Thea and her family in the alienage, the denizens of Redcliffe, and in between every farm and hold that would be swept away if the king could not turn the horde. He doubted a single child in Thedas had grown up without hearing stories of the Blights, or the unimaginable scale of destruction the darkspawn left in their wake. They were dark tales for dark winter nights – to think they might soon become a reality for everyone he gad ever known…

Trying for a smile, he turned to Nate and folded the letter away into a pocket. “You never know, maybe your father will call you back, too, and we can all take to the field together.”

“Perhaps I’ll write to him first, and see if I can glean anything before you finish packing.”

“Hey! I’m not that disorganised.”

“Of course not, Your Highness,” his friend replied in a placid voice. “And I’m off to join the Grey Wardens.”