#please ask me about this au I WILL talk about it in extensive detail

[delu-lusional]

Junko enoshima ft. Ikuzono below the divider :333

[f1crecs]

Fic Rec List - Fernando/Lance

you might enjoy: Canadian Fest, eh - for more Lance content.

If your fic is on this list and you don’t want it to be, please let me know and I will remove it immediately, no questions asked. I have contacted most of the authors on this list, but sometimes people fall through the gaps - just pop me a message🤍

have a pairing you want me to do next? please read the faqs and then head to my inbox.

don’t forget to give the authors featured on this list some love in the form of kudos, bookmarks, and comments!

i won't lie to you, anon... I thought we'd agreed on Strollonso as the pairing name. 🤭 my vote still goes to Lando.

i hope you enjoy these ❗️🤍

nsfw: El Dick Plan by @waddlingpenguin | E | 800 Lawrence and Fernando have a misunderstanding at the dinner table. This fic is hilarious - unashamedly unhinged, just as Strollonso should be, and so unbelievably funny. This was one of the first Lance/Fernando fics I read. I think it rearranged my brain a little bit.

'In fact, Lance literally has his foot so far up Fernando’s pant leg that Stoffel is surprised he’s not choking on Canadian toes each time he opens his mouth to talk to the engineers.'

shatter my life apart (see me for somebody else) by @vicsy | M | 1.4k An exploration of Lance and Fernando's relationship. This is a stunning fic. This author has just the most beautiful writing style - it's like poetry, and flows in the most stunning way. This is as much a love letter to Lance as it is to Strollonso - I really, really loved this one.

'Fernando Alonso is a perpetual wildcard and Lance builds his attitude around this little image, prepared for some sort of psychological warfare but it never happens.'

nsfw: victor's spoil by venerat | E | 1.9k Following Fernando's first pole for Aston Martin, Lance is invited to his room - a Winner's Room AU. The vibes here are suitably unhinged/rancid/possessive. If I were to recommend a fic to help someone get Strollonso, to understand the essence of who they are together, I would recommend this one. I love everything this author writes.

'Imagining Fernando with them makes Lance want to chew through wire. Again: fucked up, truly and extensively. He’s just really fucked up about Fernando.'

nsfw: I make two grand an hour by @kritischetheologie | E | 3.1k Lance meets Fernando for the first time at a sponsor event. I adored this fic. It is so funny and well-characterised and hot. One thing that I really love about this author is their ability to weave in detail - you could read their fics over and over again, and still pick up something new each and every time. It just makes for the richest, most delicious stories that draw you in every last time.

'(Lance had almost just said fuck it and gone into banking when he graduated two years ago, like he’d always known he probably would eventually, ever since the day he showed up at St. Andrews and realized that the entire world economy ran on fake numbers on a half-dozen computer screens, but the whole point of trust funds was supposed to be not having to be boring. Who the fuck else was going to make art? Humanity needed him to be living dramatically, falling in love with a thousand beautiful men whose lips he could immortalize in poetry.)'

nsfw: green light, red wine (and i don't feel fine) by @vicsy | E | 9k (wip) Fernando is a crime boss caught in a long-standing feud with Lawrence Stroll - things get complicated when he meets Lance. This fic is fantastic. The vibes are unmatched. This author has such a beautiful, almost melodic writing style, which I love. Also. This is fucking hot. 10/10.

'There aren’t many opportunities Fernando deliberately missed in his life. He wouldn’t be on top if he did. Right next to him, clad in a tight white t-shirt, sits an opportunity for a power move, the one Fernando would take all the way.'

nsfw: silver platter by @wewentcarracing | E | 9.7k Lance and Fernando grow closer, much to Esteban's dismay. This is delicious. Full of unhinged and intense moments. Every word of this is perfection; something I particularly appreciate about this author is their ability to build tension - you won't be able to put this story down once you've started it. Perfection.

'Lance laughs, off-guard and delighted. Fernando has this way of deciding what's true in his own mind and then forcing it into reality with brute strength alone. He's decided that Lance will make it to the podium this year, and so he will. It feels so, so good to hear coming from another driver—any driver, really, but the fact that it’s Fernando. Two-time WDC. Veteran. It doesn't feel like he's being toyed with; it feels real.'

nsfw: Not Even Jail by @baldrmoon | E | 9.9k (wip) Lance is a rookie detective with a new partner - they've met before. This is such a fantastic start to what I know is going to be an incredible story. The world-building here is fantastic. A world away from F1, but with so many of the dynamics and relationships mirrored in a totally new setting that feels very organic and true-to-life. It's just very well done, and I am excited to see what the author does next!

'Lance was charmed almost despite himself. The guy – Fernando, Lance made a mental correction, – smiled, a bit sideways, narrowing his eyes. Lance immediately felt flustered under his intense stare.'

[lmk-warrior-cats]

"To name the heavens" - LMK AU Prologue

This is an AU created by @your-average-art-dealer combining Lego Monkie Kid and Warrior Cats. This chapter takes place before the main story of LMK WC and details the day LittleCloud (MK) got his warrior name. This is my first ever fic so please keep that in mind while reading!

...

LittlePaw was terrified. It wasn’t hard to tell- from his fidgeting paws to his quick breaths, he was a bundle of nerves from head to tail. This wasn’t without reason, of course, at sunset he would be receiving his warrior name!

Except… he wasn’t a warrior, not even close. Cicada, one of his dads caregivers, had told him stories of the abandoned cities and mystic realms beyond the walls of their Twoleg’s noodle shop. The tales of great protectors, powerful factions, cosmic powers beyond the wildest imaginations, and the noble origins behind a warrior’s name.

Ever since LittlePaw could remember, Cicada has made it clear that he wanted LittlePaw to follow standard naming traditions, ensuring that he would first possess the suffixes “Kit” then “Paw” and finally he would be given an extension to his name worthy of his accomplishments and skill!- when he was ready…

He wasn’t ready. He would never be ready. He would never be worthy. He wasn’t smart, or powerful, or charismatic, or-

“LittlePaw?”

LittlePaw jumped and swiftly turned to look at the owner of the voice. It was PigBelly. Of course, it was. He could always tell when LittlePaw was worried or sick or any state of being that wasn’t his normal ‘laid-back goofball’ self, and today was no exception. 

Pigbelly jumped up onto the stone wall, sitting next to Littlepaw. “You doin’ alright, kit?”

No. “Yup! Why do you ask?” He lied, flashing a big smile at his guardian. He hoped it would be enough to fool him, but PigBelly only looked at him with concern.

“Y’know you can talk to me, right? it’s not a bad thing… to ask for help when you’re nervous—”

“I’m not nervous!” LittlePaw retorted.

PigBelly let out a heavy sigh and continued “I know you’ve built the whole ‘warrior name’ thing up in your head cuz of the way Cicada talks about how ‘important’ it is,” he rolled his eyes “But it doesn’t really matter- it doesn’t!”

LittlePaw looked down at his paws. “Doesn’t it though? Isn’t your warrior name supposed to mean something? To tell others what makes you special? To define who you are—”

“Nobody gets to tell you who you are, LittlePaw. Nobody.  Not other cats, not the universe, and definitely not some name.”

LittlePaw let a small smile creep onto his face, trying to ignore how wet his eyes felt.

PigBelly looked at him and smiled  “And if anyone EVER tries to tell you who you are-” he chuckled a bit “I’ll make sure they won’t be able to say anything ever again!”

“What?! Pigbelly!” LittlePaw laughed.

“I’m just sayin’!” he turned back to the view beyond the wall “You startin’ to feel better?”

LittlePaw blinked away the wetness in his eyes and sniffed “Yeah…” he looked back at the noodle shop behind them and then back down at his paws “Still though… What if I don’t get a name I like? I wouldn’t want to be called something I don’t like forever…”

“Then we’ll call you something you do like, how’s that sound?”

“...”

“That sounds nice…”

“Perfect! Now come on, the ceremony’s about to start.” he jumped off the wall and started toward the noodle shop before turning back to LittlePaw. “Come on, you wouldn’t want to keep the other kits gettin’ their names tonight waiting do ya?”

LittlePaw looked back up beyond the concrete at the sunlit grass and the orange and yellow hues of the clouds that he held so dear to his heart, the heart which was so heavy at this moment in time. He wished the clouds would just wrap around him and lift the weight off of his soul the same way they lifted the sun. He took a deep breath, he didn’t want his father to worry, and so he laughed “No, I guess not!” taking one last look past the wall, he jumped down towards the shop’s back door where PigBelly was waiting for him.

…

The sun was going down when they arrived at the ceremony, and LittlePaw had noted that almost every cat in the city that still followed warrior traditions was there. Most he recognized, but some he did not. PigBelly led him to where two other kits were waiting to get their names and then left to sit with CicadaWing, who had arrived before the other two.

LittlePaw knew that today could change his life forever, for better or for worse, but he knew there was nothing he could do to get out of this, so he decided to strike up a conversation with the other two kits next to him.

“So… what do you guys think your names will be?”

The smaller of the two spoke first. “I think my name will be something epic! Like… like HawkTalon! Or HawkStrike! Or—”

“HawkTalon is NOT a cool name! Besides mine will be SO much better than yours!” The taller of the two said.

“Nuh-uh!”

“Yup!” he continued “It’ll be something majestic! Maybe something like GoldenLeaf! Yeah, that sounds good!

“That name is NOT cooler than my names!” she screeched

“Yes, it is!”

Judging by what LittlePaw heard, he guessed that their names were HawkPaw and GoldenPaw—

Something in the back of his mind interjected- “Not for long though! Just like me…”

He tried to push that thought farther back in his mind as he continued to listen to the two bicker for what felt like an eternity-  until the ceremony leader, whose name he definitely learned and definitely remembered, called the kits to stand before him.

He began by stating how important of a day it was for the three kits in front of him, which made LittlePaw feel sick to his stomach, and then going on to explain the order they would be called upon and given their names. 

HawkPaw was up first. LittlePaw wasn’t really able to hear them very well over his beating heart but he tried to pick up as much as he could:

“HawkPaw, for your bravery, strength, and-” his voice was fading in and out “For your intensity and spirit-” Why was everything blurry? “your title from here until the end of time-” LittlePaw’s head shot up “will be HawkHeart!”

HawkHeart beamed and started to jump up and down, saying her name over and over again like she wouldn’t want to say anything else ever again. She was told to take her place back in line and GoldenPaw was called to step forward next.

LittlePaw started to feel a little better seeing HawkHeart so ecstatic about her name. He thought if HawkHeart got a name she loved so much, why wouldn’t he? He began to get lost in the possibilities about what kind of name he might get when—

“GoldenPool!”

The leader’s voice cut through his thoughts, causing him to jump. LittlePaw looked up to see GoldenPool looking quite happy with his new name (or at least looking decently smug about it) and he stepped back to take his place back in line with the others.

LittlePaw’s newfound excitement was starting to dissolve his worry as he was called up to receive his name.

The leader looked at LittlePaw with an unreadable expression and began:

“LittlePaw, from the moment I or anyone else in attendance is concerned, you have made it very clear to us exactly who you are since the very beginning-”

LittlePaw looked up at him with a smile, which quickly turned to a look of horror at the disdain written all over the leader’s face.

“You, LittlePaw, are scatterbrained-”

The light faded

“Implusive-”

The wind stopped

“And dimwitted.”

The clouds were gone

“Because of this, your new name-”

The sun was falling

“From now until the end of time-”

Nothing remained

“Will be LittleCloud.”

...

And that's the prologue! hope you enjoyed it, or at least felt irreparable damage to your soul afterward!

Any questions related to the AU or this specific work can be sent to the Askbox (which is always open!) so please don't hesitate to send something over there!

Also if you're wondering how the name LittleCloud relates to being dumb and impulsive, I was referencing when people say your "head is in the clouds" or "your mind is cloudy" just those general things :)

[nottoxicfr]

So…

*steeples fingers*

FFXIII Rosegarden. I must know the inspiration aside from FFXIII being AMAZING (and my childhood) and also RWBY for the same reasons.

Scratch that, I must know everything. This is a crossover I never knew I needed.

I’m sorry this took so long! Seriously, my bad. If you have any questions, please tell me. I promise I won't take three months to answer this time

This will be long.

For inspiration, the short story is that I have a lot of Final Fantasy-RWBY AUs, for basically all the Final Fantasy games I think of regularly (7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and even in the scope of Final Fantasy 13, I have a 13-1 and a 13-2 and a 13-3LR AU. I also have a KH AU I've been working on.

This'll just be the Final Fantasy 13-1 AU, though I’ll link the other story details when I post them.

Just to run through a few things, just to set a baseline of how the world works. This is a Remnant where the world increasingly reveals elements from Final Fantasy 13, rather than a true crossover.

For example, the l’Cie and the Fal’Cie are the same idea in concept. The l’Cie are branded servants of the Fal’Cie, mechanical deities serving the Gods themselves. However, in this story, the l’Cie are a fairy tale to even Ozma, which means he only has a strange idea of what they actually are. Only l’Cie really knows what being a l’Cie entails.

A l’Cie is:

Someone who has been branded with a tattoo by a Fal’Cie, essentially the sign that they’ve been given a quest and a vision (a Focus) of what they have to accomplish

The tattoo slowly grows, setting a time limit for their quest. As it grows, the l’Cie also gains the ability to harness magic

However, if they fail to accomplish their task in time, they will be transformed into a monster, a Ci’eth

Someone who is branded naturally attracts Grimm to them, which makes traveling more difficult

Oscar is aged up here a bit, just a year younger than Ruby, and this takes place during a pseudo-Beacon Arc time period.

Oscar is the first l’Cie of the story. His brand is on his neck, under his bandage wraps. His Focus, his quest, is to awaken the slumbering Fal’Cie hidden around Remnant. They were put to sleep when the Brothers left Remnant and, for some reason, they’ve judged it time for them to awaken.

Outside of being a L’cie, he’s just a regular guy at this point and that makes it hard for him to get where he needs to go. For this reason, he hires Ruby to help him get to Forever Fall Forest, which is where he thinks the Fal’Cie he needs to awaken is.

The first arc takes place in Vale, where Oscar’s tremendous bad luck causes a trip that should only take a few hours take several days, which pushes him up the edge of his time limit. Naturally, this puts him in a bad mood, which makes him and Ruby have some friction between them. The situation is somewhat smoothed over when Oscar shows Ruby some magic and he vaguely explains that he needs to get to Forever Fall soon or he’ll die a miserable death.

Ruby distracts him for a little while by talking to him about her Team and asking him about his life. He worked on a farm for most of his life, his aunt died recently, and he’s always wanted to see the world. They fight several packs of Grimm as they hike and Ruby contemplates calling in reinforcements because, for some reason, Oscar insists he’s on a time limit.

They arrive in Beacon where they meet up with WBY and Team JNPR briefly, only to hop on a wagon heading to Forever Fall. Oscar is, at this point, seemingly kind of sketchy. To be fair to him, he’s basically dying.

The arc resolves when Oscar and Ruby plummet down into a sinkhole and find the sleep Fal’Cie of Forever Fall, Behemoth, who brands Ruby simply for being nearby. Now, aside from being paid, Ruby has been dragged into this race to awaken the Fal’Cie, much to the frustration of Oscar. He doesn’t feel comfortable with that, but there’s not a lot he can do but beg an uncaring Fal’Cie to unbrand her.

On the upside, Oscar is given an extension of his time limit and a new vision. He needs to go to the floating city in the sky (Atlas) next, which is where he needs to find the twin Fal’Cie sleeping there.

Ruby is branded as the second l’Cie. She has a brand at her collarbone, hidden under her shirt. Her Focus is to awaken the slumbering Fal’Cie as well, although she also catches further glimpses into the future that put an emphasis on encroaching darkness.

This starts the second arc, Atlas, or the journey to Atlas.

It kicks off when Ruby essentially runs away without telling anyone, under the assumption that once Oscar and her finish their quest, she’ll come back and explain everything. It’s not a very good plan, but she’s understandably occupied by everything that’s going on with her life right now. Ruby and Oscar try and fail to rent a car because they’re both underage. Following this, Ruby tries to buy them tickets directly to Atlas, which doesn’t work because travel to Atlas has suddenly jammed up. Instead, they have to take an indirect route from Anima (the Mistal continent) to Mantle, which takes a few more days but that’s fine.

Yang is, understandably, incredibly distressed that her sister seems to have given up her dreams of being a Huntress to chase after a boy she met three days ago. She reports this to Qrow, who tells Ozpin, who tries to get an understanding of what happened. Yang tells Ozpin about the weird stuff that she heard Oscar and Ruby talking about before, which entails something about Fal’Cie and l’Cie and the Kingdom of Atlas. 

She suspects Ruby has joined a cult and is, again, incredibly distressed.

As stated before, the words l’Cie and fal’Cie are like myths to Ozma. They’re messengers of the Gods and assistants to their angels and, most importantly, they’re almost synonymous with great change. Not good or bad, just big changes in the world. This rings alarm bells in Ozpin’s mind, though not to the point of overreaction.

Ozpin asks Yang to take Team WBY and go after her sister, just to make sure she’s alright and to try and bring her and Oscar back. Ozpin wants to speak with both of them over this supposed l’Cie business. Qrow says he’ll do some scouting ahead to search for them, hopefully, to wrap this whole thing up quickly. He’s not too fond of the idea that some kid swept Ruby away from Beacon.

Ozpin informs his inner circle about all of this, just to keep them updated. It seems like Ruby and Oscar are headed to Anima and then to Atlas, they’re talking about l’Cie stuff which is crazy because, etc…etc… He wants Leonardo to investigate Oscar Pine, he wants Ironwood to try and bring them both in and most importantly, Ozpin just wants to talk.

The lack of details makes Ironwood have a bit of an overreaction. The l’Cie are agents of change in the world and, with the Vital Festival on the horizon, it seems more likely to him that these “l’Cie” are probably going to cause a negative effect. He mobilizes some of his elite forces to capture Ruby and Oscar, as well as putting out wanted posters on Scrolls that these two people are wanted for questioning. It’s a bit of an overreaction, but in his mind, it’s better to be cautious when it comes to mysterious things that haven’t been heard of since Ozma was a child.

Leonardo reports this to Salem soon after, having defected to her not that long ago. Just as troubled by this reappearance of a fairy tale from her childhood as Oz was, she tells Cinder to go find them. She can kill one of them, but she needs the other one to question about what’s going on.

To summarize:

Yang, Blake, and Weiss are chasing after Ruby and Oscar from Vale. Qrow is also looking for them as a bird.

Ironwood told Winter and some of her troops to go to Mistral and cut them off. He also made wanted posters for them.

Salem told Cinder to go find Oscar, who told Roman to spread the word and find them.

Meanwhile, Ruby and Oscar’s air ferry to the port crash lands because, apparently, l’Cie magic disagrees with technology. They have no idea they’re being chased until Ruby sees a wanted poster on her Scroll, detailing that Oscar is a potential terrorist and Ruby is either an accomplice or a hostage. This causes Ruby to freak out and summon her Eidolon, essentially a summoned spirit meant to assist a l’Cie in the quest. She and Oscar have to subdue it before it attacks the people on the crashed ferry, because a freshly summoned Eidolon is naturally berserk.

Her Eidolon is Carbuncle, which basically takes the form of a giant wolf-cat when it is going berserk and is much smaller after being tamed. It has the ability to produce elemental dust from a gemstone in its forehead and is, generally, more of a support Eidolon.

They have to run now because Carbuncle managed to destroy a hefty part of the ferry while it was attacking them, which upgrades them from potential terrorists to probable terrorists, even if it’s only on accident.

This is as far as I’ve written properly because I’ve also been writing a dozen other things. As I said before, I have a lot of Final Fantasy AUs. However, I do have vague details on how things progress from there.

Ruby and Oscar run into Yang, Blake, and Weiss just as they arrive in the port town where they have to board a boat. They end up getting into a fight, Ruby verbally and Oscar physically, because of the miscommunications involved. It’s hard to explain being a l’Cie to someone who doesn’t have the context of apparently sleeping Gods under Remnant. For the most part, Oscar’s part of the fighting ends up being running away and casting magic, which baffles all three of the Huntresses (because of genuine magic) and ends up casting a Thunder (Thundara) spell too close to Blake. This knocks her out.

They board the boat, just barely managing to escape from Ruby’s teammates and there’s a climactic moment where Yang has to watch the boat depart without being able to chase after them. WBY makes plans to keep up the pursuit as soon as they can, with Qrow flying ahead to Mistral.

When Ruby and Oscar get to Mistral, where they’ll board another ferry to go to the north and then get on a boat, there’s a scene that plays out similarly to when Snow rescues Lighting and Hope in FF13.

Winter corners Ruby and Oscar in a plaza with her troops, putting handcuffs on Ruby, only for Yang to show up on a motorcycle and rescue both of them. Blake and Weiss provide supporting fire and they all escape to the rooftops to get away. This puts Mistral on high alert, which shuts down the air ferry, complicating matters significantly. Still, Ruby and Oscar are grateful they weren’t captured. At this point, Ruby’s brand is halfway developed.

They all talk things over and, although WBY don’t necessarily believe everything they’re saying, they decide to help them get to Atlas. Yang also frets over Ruby’s tattoo-brand, which feels relaxingly normal to the group.

While all of that is going on, Cinder begins to make moves towards Atlas, planning to take advantage of the chaos the l’Cie are causing to damage Atlas and capture them. Salem is contemplating what to do about the awakening Fal’Cie, who is purging the overpopulation of Grimm in the world.

Oscar summons his Eidolon, Pegasus, which can turn into a motorbike with wings.

Ruby falls off of Atlas, but is saved by Oscar in a Bullhead.

When they get to Atlas and awaken one of the Fal’Cie there, WBY gets branded as l’Cie. It’s kind of like a spreading curse, and eventually, it will reach JNPR too. That comes later on though.

One of the Fal’Cie is located under Mantle, Vulcan, and the other one is located on the under side of the island of Atlas, Venus. WBY is entirely branded by Vulcan, and Winter and Penny are branded by Venus (though this isn’t something RWBYO is aware of).

There’s only one more Fal’Cie to awaken after this, which is located in Vacuo.

-Oscar awakened the Mistral one

Ruby and Oscar awakened the Vale one

Ruby, Oscar, Yang, Blake, and Weiss awaken Vulcan, which awakens Venus

The last one is in Vacuo. JNPR and Oscar will end up awakening it by falling into a ravine (Woo!)

The final stage of the story reveals that the Fal’Cie want to harvest the collected souls of Humanity so they can use that power to evolve into a God themselves and follow after their creators. They despise Humanity and resent having to serve the inferior creations of the Brothers. Everyone takes a stance on what to do about that, though the main characters decide to fight that. This goes against their final vision, which tells them they are meant to assist in harvesting the souls of Humanity. This is called Humanity's Fall!

Pyrrha does get stabbed in the process and possibly dies, which relates to the RWBY x Final Fantasy 13-2 AU. I love interconnecting these things.

I love talking. If you have any questions or ideas about anything, please ask. Please. Again, my bad. It's been a rough few months.

[elliemarchetti]

The Queen of the Quills - Jily Edition (part 2)

Posting on Tumblr too because this fic's sister is already there.

Reading The Queen of the Quills - Blackinnon Edition will not be mandatory to understand the developments of James and Lily's story, but some details could be shared, therefore, for anyone wishing to fully enjoy the experience, I will leave a small index.

Blackinnon Edition - Chapter 1

Blackinnon Edition - Chapter 2

Jily Edition - Chapter 1

Blackinnon Edition - Chapter 3

This was @athenasparrow's gift for @jilymicrofics ' Exchange 2024, but if you like it and are willingly to reblog, it would be super appreciated since stories like this require quite some time and effort🥰

Plot: James Potter, London's most evasive bachelor, an impertinent libertine, has decided to get married. He has also already chosen his wife, the debutante Lily Evans, a self-confident young woman who has not the slightest intention of being seduced by such a man. A Bridgerton inspired Regency AU.

Words: 1842

Warnings: angst because of Fleamont Potter's death. If you feel uncomfortable with the topic I suggest to skip the whole fic since it's kind of central to the story. If you want a more lighthearted Jily Recency AU, or any other kind of Marauders Era content, DM me or drop and ask with a prompt from this list or a brand new idea.

The topic of rakes had, of course, been previously and extensively discussed, but this author has come to the conclusion that there are rakes (lower-case) and Rakes (upper-case). James Potter is part of the latter, a danger for women of every age and upbringing. He doesn’t flaunt his exploits because he doesn’t need to – women and men alike will whisper about them in his stead – and he knows who he is and what he has done, further recounting only a redundant afterthought. He doesn’t behave like an idiot for the simple reason he isn’t one and he has little patience for the foibles of society. If that doesn’t describe Mr. Potter, surely this season’s most eligible bachelor, to perfection, this author shall retire her quill immediately. The Queen of the Quills, May 3, 1813

“Please don’t tell me she’s writing about him again,” Lily Evans said to the room at large.

Her sister Petunia, older by almost four years, looked up from behind the single-sheet newspaper to ask her how she could tell. The answer was quite easy: she was giggling like a madwoman, shaking the blue damask sofa on which they both sat. It happened often, just as the Queen of the Quills often wrote about reprehensible rogues.

“Mom, Lily is in a snit because the columnist is talking about that rakish wizard again,” Petunia lamented, and Elizabeth Evans glanced up from her embroidery, pushing her spectacles farther up the bridge of her nose, a sign she was ready to take part in the conversation.

“Mr. Potter?” she asked, and Petunia nodded, but the question itself was merely rhetorical, for she always had something to say about him. Lily remembered how he was at Hogwarts, although he was several years older. Her peers all found him handsome, funny, charming, and talented, but to her he was just a well disguised bully, although no one knew of her opinion apart from Severus.

“He sure is an interesting character,” conceded their mother, without adding her usual as is Lily. Before finding Petunia crying desperately in her room at the lack of compliments on her appearance, she would’ve done it.

With her red hair and startlingly green eyes, Lily had already been named the Incomparable of 1813, sparkling the blood supremacists’ rage. Petunia, on the other hand, with her plain brown hair and pale eyes, was usually referred to as the Incomparable’s Muggle sister. Lily supposed there were worse monikers, like Muggle spinster, which was a great deal closer to the truth than any of them cared to admit.

At nearly twenty-three, Petunia was a bit long on the tooth to be enjoying her first season in London, but there hadn’t really been any other choice: the Evans hadn’t been wealthy even when Lily’s father had been alive, and since he’d passed on five years earlier, they’d been forced to economize even further, minding every penny and watching every Knut. With their straitened finances, the Evans could manage the funds for only one trip: renting a house and hiring the bare minimum of servants for the season was expensive, so the girls were forced to make their debuts in the same year, after Lily graduated from Hogwarts, only in different marriage marts. To be honest, Lily hadn’t even wanted a season. She’d never learned to simper and mince and walk delicately, all things other girls seemed to know how to do even in the cradle. Surprisingly, Petunia was a part of the lot, while Lily always stood with her shoulders straight and tall, couldn’t sit still if her life depended upon it, and walked as if she were in a race – and why not? She always wondered. If one was going somewhere, what could possibly be the point in not getting there quickly? As for her current season in London, she didn’t even like the city very much. She was having a good enough time, and she’d met quite a few nice people, but a London season seemed a horrible waste of money to a girl who would’ve been perfectly content to remain in the country and find some sensible man to marry there. Sadly, her mother had been adamant, so there she was, sitting in a somewhat faded drawing room in a rented house in a section of London that was almost fashionable, ready to snatch a newspaper from her sister’s grip.

“Lily!” Petunia squealed, her eyes bugging out at the tiny triangle of newsprint that remained between her right thumb and forefinger. “I wasn’t done yet!”

“You’ve been reading it forever,” Lily said with a cheeky grin. “Besides, I want to see what she has to say about Mr. Potter today.”

Petunia’s eyes, which were usually compared to peaceful Scottish lochs, glinted devilishly.

“You seem awfully interested in this wizard,” she mocked. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”

Lily sighed, resigned to the idea that this would be their topic of conversation for the entire morning, unaware that the same thing was happening at a gentlemen’s club in Diagon Alley.

James Potter leaned back in his leather chair, regarded his first scotch of the day with a thoughtful expression as he swirled it about, and then announced he was thinking about getting married. Sirius Black, who had recently returned to London and was indulging in a habit his strict family always detested – tipping his chair drunkenly on the back two legs – fell over. Remus Lupin started to choke, but luckily for him, Sirius regained his seat with enough time to smack him soundly on the back, sending a green olive sailing across the table. It narrowly missed James’s ear, but he let the indignity pass without a comment. He was all too aware that his sudden declaration had come as a bit of a surprise. Well, perhaps more than a bit.

James didn’t fit the image of a man who had settling down on his mind. He’d spent the last decade as the worst sort of rake, taking pleasure where he may, for he was painfully conscious that life was short and meant to be enjoyed. Oh, he had a certain code of honour. He never dallied with well-bred young women, anyone who might have a right to demand marriage strictly off-limits, but as for the others – the widows and actresses who knew what they wanted and what they were getting into – he’d enjoyed their company and enjoyed it well. Since the day he left Hogwarts and headed to London, he’d not been without a mistress or two, but it was now a thing of the past. As he grew closer to twenty-five, he’d realized that he was spending more and more time tending to his heritage and family and less and less in his old pursuit of decadence and pleasure, a thing he surprisingly liked. He still kept a mistress, but never more than one at a time, and he discovered he no longer felt the need to enter every broom race society had to offer or stay late at parties just to win that last hand of cards. His reputation, of course, stayed with him, but he didn’t mind that. There were certain benefits to being England’s most reprehensible rake, first of all being universally feared, but now it was time for marriage and an heir to pass his name to. He did feel a rather sharp twinge of regret – and perhaps a touch of guilt as well – over the fact it was unlikely he’d live to see his progeny well into adulthood, but what could he do? He was the only Potter alive; he had a dynastic responsibility to be fruitful and multiply. Besides, he took some comfort in knowing he’d leave some able and caring friends behind, gentlemen who’d see to it that his son was brought up with the love and honour every Potter deserved. Furthermore, Marlene would coddle the boy, and his mother might spoil him… James actually smiled a bit as he thought of his large and often boisterous found family. His heir wouldn’t need a father to be well loved.

James downed another sip of scotch and straightened his shoulders, pushing such unpleasant ruminations from his mind. He needed to focus on the matter at hand, namely the pursuit of a wife. Being a discerning and somewhat organized man, he’d made a mental list of requirements for the position.

First, she ought to be reasonably attractive. She needn’t be a raving beauty, although that would be nice, but if he was going to have to bed her, he figured a bit of attraction ought to make the job more pleasant.

Second, she couldn’t be stupid. This, James mused, might be the most difficult of his requirements to fill, for he wasn’t universally impressed by the mental prowess of London debutantes. The last time he’d made the mistake of engaging a young chit fresh out of Hogwarts in conversation, she’d been unable to discuss anything other than food (she had a plate of strawberries in her hand at the time) and the weather, and she hadn’t even gotten that right.

Third – and this was the most important – she couldn’t be anyone with whom he might actually fall in love, under no circumstances would this rule be broken. He wasn’t a complete cynic; he knew that true love existed, anyone who’d ever been in the same room as his parents knew it, but love was a complication he wished to avoid. He had no desire for his life to be visited by that particular miracle, and since James was used to getting what he wanted he had no doubt he would find an attractive, intelligent woman to trap in an affectionate but loveless marriage.

“For Merlin’s beard, James, what has you frowning so? Not that olive. I saw it clearly and it didn’t even touch you,” Sirius said to break him out of his reverie, and James blinked a few times before responding with a vague nothing.

He hadn’t of course, shared his thoughts with anyone else, even his best friend. It wasn’t the sort of thing one wanted to advertise, and furthermore, no one else could understand the depth of the bond he’d felt with his father. Fleamont had been everything to him; he’d always aspired to be as great a man as he was, but to think he might be more seemed conceited in the extreme.

“Spit it out,” Sirius insisted. “I won’t offer a Knut for your thoughts since I know they can’t possibly be worth that much, but what are you thinking about’”

“Who is considered the Incomparable of this season?” he asked, suddenly sitting up, determined to force his attention on the serious business of choosing a bride.

“Lily Evans,�� replied Remus, who was much more informed since he already had a wife. “Red hair, green eyes, she’s a Muggleborn but she’s been way above the average in Potions and Transfiguration at Hogwarts.”

“Good,” James said, letting his glass of scotch hit the table with a thunk. “Then I’ll marry her.”

[quinloki]

Commission Info

Commissions are CLOSED - Go here to see if there are open slots, and read below to see what I will and won't do and for how much.

Things I’ll do:

Erotica | Romance | Adventure | Action | Kinks of all Kinds | Yandere | Angst | Fluff | OCs | Furries | Hypnosis | Age play | non-con | dub-con | Monsters | AUs | etc.

Things I won’t do:

Write real people | underage smut

You can ask if you aren’t certain, the worst I’ll say is no. No judgement.

Writing Prices:

All word counts are nebulous, I won’t stop a 500 word fic at word 500, and a 1,500 word fic might be 1,360 words. These are just guidelines for charge purposes.

-:- 500 words (Drabble) – 10$ -:- Short and sweet, these include 1-3 characters max, and minimal setup. Good for first or final moments, or something with an open ending. Here there be head canons, I don’t often write this short.

-:- 1,000 words (Short One-Shot) – 20$ -:- Shorter, and maybe a little sweeter. Still solid for 1-3 characters, maybe 4 if it’s a single scene. Little more detail, little more action. A good number of Kinktober 2023 items hovered around here.

-:- 2,000-3,000 words (Longer One-Shot)  – 30$ -:- The average of most of my one shots, honestly. Plenty of room for some set up, a little world building, best kept to 1-2 characters, but if you’re not worried about the set up, you can certainly go closer to 4. Elevator Music falls into this category.

-:- 5,000+ (Longest One-Shot) - 40$ -:- Here there be dragons. My one-shots don’t normally break 5k as it is, but I got about 8k on one before I turned it into a multi-chapter story. But if you’re talking a lot of set up, or the inclusion of several characters, it’s not hard to hit this level of words. There’s room in this bad boy for several tropes and a lot of sex. >.> (this will never break 10k words) At almost 4k words, Magic Trick is the closest.

Multiple Chapters requests are done case by case. Estimates are going to be 30$ a chapter, since that’s the average length of most of my chapters for what I write, with a minimum of 90$.

Multiple chapter requests will not be done any faster than one chapter a month, and may take longer based on life circumstances.

Art Prices (Process and CYA stuff below!)

Prices listed are in order of inked, flat colors, shading & details:

Inked/Greyscale = 40$ // 60$ for 2 Colored = 60$ // 90$ for 2

SFW and NSFW are the same. Additional people are allowed, hit me up for custom quotes.

I'll draw anything EXCEPT: seriously DETAILED gore, kids in nsfw situations, and real people (without their explicit consent). I love OCs, D&D characters, couples, self-inserts, etc.

Please see this collage to see some of the stuff I've done in the past, and check out my side blog @quin-draws-smooching to see the sketches I've been doing lately.

How will the process go?

You tell me what you want! \o/ By filling out this form!

2. I tell you if I accept! ~ Some negotiation can occur here regarding parameters, length and cost.

3. I’ll give you the price, and you decide if you can afford it. ~ Currently I’m only accepting Ko-Fi for payments.

Legal CYA stuff.

I won’t start on a piece until I’m paid, and have 30 calendar days to deliver from the time I’m paid.

Note: You can pre-pay monthly for something. Once the item(s) are paid in full, I'll begin the 30 day clock.

If I can’t make the initial deadline we can talk about either an extension or I can refund you, and we can try again later.

Within 15 days of the time I’m paid you can request a cancellation and refund, but beyond that no refunds are issued unless I initiate it. You agree to this as part of the commission contract, I’m not going to fight about it. However, if the piece is done prior to the cancellation request, then no refund will be issued. (I’m just saying this to avoid giving someone a finished piece 3 days later and having them request a refund on day 14.)

Once the piece is done, small, editorial adjustments can be requested, but anything more than that *may* result in additional charges before the piece is released. I’m pretty flexible though, so don’t panic.

Understand that any story will have variables even within a given set of parameters, and what I write might not be 100% what you expected, but you’re paying for my time, and if you ask for a full re-write of something I won’t be bullied into doing that for free.

I highly recommend you read at least some of my works before commissioning me to get a feel for my vibe and style. If you don't like reading on Tumblr, I'm currently on Ao3 and Wattpad under the same user name of Quinloki.

Abuse of these terms, or scam-like behavior, will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Just don't be an ass, I don't want to deal with it.

-:- Table of Consent -:-

[findyourrp]

「🎐 ; 🕊️ & possible 🍪」 23, she/him, AFAB.

About me: I mirror the length & detail of my partners!

Looking for: MxM discord rp for the following fandoms! Romance, smut, and happy ending is a must! (However toxic that may look like to our OCs) 🤭 AMAB anatomy (I'm uncomf rping PiV Sex).

Listed = characters I'd like to rp against

Bolded = who I'm hoping to play

I'm esp interested in writing a sub/bottom chara against a sadistic dom top!

— Haikyuu!! / Haikyu / HQ ; Hinata Shouyo —

Nishinoya Yuu

Tenma Udai

Akaashi Keiji

— Tokyo Revengers / TokRev ; Hanagaki Takemichi —

Matsuno Chifuyu

Tachibana Naoto

Hanma Shuuji

Sano Manjirou (Mikey)

Mitsuya Takashi

Sano Shinichirou

— Blue Lock / BLLK ; Isagi Youichi —

Bachira Meguru

Nagi Seishirou

Itoshi Rin

Chigiri Hyouma

— SK8 ; Reki Kyan —

Chinen Miya

Kikuchi Tadashi

Sakurayashiki Kaoru (Cherry Blossom)

Shindo Ainosuke (Adam)

— Idolish7 / i7 / Ainana ; Nanase Riku —

Kujo Tenn

Sunohara Momose (Momo)

Orikasa Yukito (Yuki)

Kujo Takamasa

Oogami Banri

Ousaka Sougo

Open to: AU, canon-compliant, dead dove. We can more than likely include your deepest darkest wants!

Kinks of focus: Sadomasochism, 🍪, lots of dirty talk, dubcon, and forced orgasm.

I'd prefer to play a more inexperienced chara at this time. However! I can deeply assure you that my muses will always talk and react extensively so that you have plenty to work with during smut. This goes for both enthusiastic AND unenthusiastic reactions. Heads up for obscene dialogue when they get into it! I'm expecting lots of dirty talk from both sides!

Please: be a long term 20+ high-energy partner who I can joke and be friends with, unashamedly enthusiastic about our rp ship (via spamming hcs & memes & other media), not afraid of being too much, decisively contribute ideas to plotting, comfortable & confident enough to strongly communicate your rp needs and wants, listen attentively to what I have to say/ask during plotting, available for back-n-forth rping (NOT rapid fire) some days!

⚠️ If you lose interest while plotting, tell me so I know to look elsewhere. Respect my time and I'll respect yours! Thank you!

.

[kissekii]

𝗞 𝗜 𝗦 𝗘 𝗞 𝗜 奇跡 — miracles. shigemo haruta's innate technique aptly named. when a miracle ( chance / luck event ) is witnessed, the occurrence is erased from shigemo's memory, however the luck is gained by shigemo who accumulates these fortuitous turns as displayed by the six maximum markings on his face. a fortunate event has to occur for a fortunate event to land in his favour, often life saving.

hello ! howdy ! this is an independent roleplay blog dedicated to shigemo haruta from jutjutsu kaisen. i know he's not a particularly . . . well-received character, so we'll see how this goes! haruta is an antagonist; his purpose is to be a little shit creating chaos or being pulled into chaos.

— themes include : death, murder, gore, violence, jujutsu politics, shenanigans. this is a pro villain blog. you write what you want to write; i am not here to police anyone. this is fiction ! ✧ you can also find me at @drippingheart ; my main and most active blog.

𝟎𝟎 details on haruta. ✧ 𝟎𝟏 promo. ✧ 𝟎𝟐 visuals. ✧ 𝟎𝟑 memes.

✧   𝟎𝟏   I run a mutuals only blog. If I follow you, I want to WRITE with you. I don’t collect followers and like to keep a tidy blog of people who interact with me. Since you’re reading this, that means you care enough to do so. I won’t bite your head off; please feel free to send memes or hit me up for a thread idea. I often clean up my follow list through soft blocks.

✧  𝟎𝟐   Quality and quantity fuel my motivation! I truly enjoy world building, scene progression, and character development. I am more willing to wing things and write shorter, more chill threads here as opposed to my main blog. Haruta is silly in between the madness and violence, so quirky threads are welcomed as much as extensive plotting.

✧   𝟎𝟑  This is an 18+ blog as I am nearing my thirties. I don’t foresee posting NSFW images, but I write heavily graphic scenes thus don’t feel comfortable writing with minors. Any suggestive aesthetics or sinday memes will be tagged as after dark ..  I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and I don’t want to make any of my followers uncomfortable.

✧  𝟎𝟒  I don’t have any triggers and don’t tag any triggers. Threads are generally rated M, but I can go PG-13 depending on who I am writing with. I do not shy away from violent and graphic scenes fyi; I really enjoy writing them actually! I encourage you to message me if you would like to write out something extremely graphic. Violence aside, smut may make an appearance. It is not the goal of my writing. If there's chemistry in the thread and between the writers, well ... who am I to say no though this is Haruta we're talking about so it won't likely happen.

✧   𝟎𝟓  I do moderate edits and formatting. Formatting isn’t a deal breaker with me honestly. I prefer length over pretty aesthetics. I do ask that you cut posts; I won’t be following if you don’t cut your posts or fail to tag your posts — all of your posts especially your ooc ones.

✧  𝟎𝟔  When it comes to asks/memes, I treat them as independent little snippets. Sort of like insights with some or no background information. Sometimes I write them intentionally vague because it's what comes to me at the moment. I do not treat ask responses as starters, however you are more than welcome to continue a response of mine if you like it enough!

✧  𝟎𝟕 Crossovers are loooooved to other animes/mangas, video games, to shows and movies. Do not be afraid to reach out with crossover ideas. I am also very much interested in AU threads especially involving Haruta's past and into the culling events.

✧  𝟎𝟖   I am a manga reader who reads the chapters as they come out. Any spoiler related things will be tagged as jjk spoilers .

[ddarker-dreams]

🤔 or 🧐 I forgot which emoji it was lmao

🥺, 😈, and 🤯

[ask game]

🧐 Do you spend much time researching for your stories?

oh god absolutely yes. i love to learn so it never feels like a hassle though!! i typically break my writing research down into two categories: character and setting. character research consists of me combing through dialogue, reading through their history multiple times, and figuring out what their core principles are. i want the character to still be consistent and recognizable even if they're being placed in scenarios they normally wouldn't be in canon. i'll also look at the creator's interviews where they share their thoughts on the character if there are any out there.

then there's setting research, which i consider equally important. when you're writing fanfiction (unless it's an AU, but even those tend to retain qualities from the canon universe), the world itself is a 'character' too imo. it has rules to follow and an establish history. getting things wrong can break the reader's immersion. getting things right though makes your story seem all the more grounded. i remember simply losing my mind when i was like, 13, because i read an attack on titan fanfic where the author had the characters using oil lamps as their light source. i went feral over the detail and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

paying extra attention to the time period and culture creates this very pleasing cohesive effect. i also think it's crucial to do extensive research if you're about to write for a culture you're not familiar with, otherwise a disconnect can form. i have East Coast American Brain™ and i try to stop it from oozing into my writing whenever possible. like no. no one in genshin impact is gonna say "the whole nine yards", stop it brain. >:(

😈 Has there been a point in a story where you did something just to be playfully mean to your readers?

honestly everything yandere i write is probably playfully mean HKGKMEGR although i do try to find a balance. i want the powerlessness that comes from yandere stories to be frustrating, yes, but like. sexily frustrating. is that a term? it is now. for example, the yan might be saying something condescending, but there's this underlying flirtatious nature to it that makes you feel frustrated yet flustered. even if the situation itself is hopeless, i let the MC retain some power through their ability to converse/make choices. the MC can also get into the yandere's head, play along, act purposefully aggravating, etc etc... this give and take is what i find the most interesting. so my goal is to be a little playfully mean, but like, in a way that makes you twirl your hair and giggle.

🤯 What's a genre you struggle with as a writer (ex. romance, action, etc.)?

ACTION!!! it's action. man. i can write a full story where two characters talk about a rock, but make me do an action scene and i'll crumble. i'm so bad at it. it looks so cool in my head, so dynamic, then i go to write it down and it's like. the dude goes to punch. you dodge. you kick. dude dodges. zzzzz. zzzzzz. how long do i make the sequence? what clever tricks should be used to gain an upper hand? i don't know. i have no clever tricks. i know i need to practice it to get better but it's physically painful for me. please let me make them talk about a rock instead. i'll do better at that.

🥺 is answered here !!

[ashtonisvibing]

🌠heyo, welcome to the trash heap!🌠

[plain text: heyo, welcome to the trash heap!]

wowie, you've managed to find my lil corner of this hellscape, incredible! might i offer you some sweets and hot chocolate?🍰☕️

artfight

sheezy

toyhouse

bluesky

pronouns

ao3

the magic in parenthood chapter list

the normalcy au masterlist

🌠side blogs and tags🌠

[pt: side blogs and tags]

@ashtonisreblogging - reblogging blog, don't gotta follow (the juicy stuff is here :}c)

#ashton is talking - tag i use for my personal posts that i make

#ashton is answering - tag for when i respond to asks sent in

#ashton is gaming - tag specifically for when i talk about video games

#ashton is drawing - tag for my drawings

#ashton is writing - tag for my writings

🌠who am i?🌠

[pt: who am i?]

the name's ashton, howdy! just your friendly neighborhood guy(tm) that somehow got the autism (and maybe ADHD on top of it). my pronouns generally are he/it and i only use masculine terms (dude, mr., handsome, etc.).

🌠what do?🌠

[pt: what do?]

i post my random thoughts, my drawings, and my writings! i primarily draw/write stuff for the jse/markiplier egos, sometimes dabble a little in sanders sides. i also will eventually get around to posting my ocs... of which i have far too many-

i also like to get asks, all kinds'a asks are welcome (except nsfw asks directed specifically at me, for i'm asexual). please ask me about my fanon egos especially i am looking at you with my autistic eyes to get you to do so

🌠drawing/writing requests🌠

i take requests for art! no charge (since i literally can't take money right now lol, maybe in the future), if it's something i'm interested in i'll happily make something for it! just got a couple'a rule for taking requests, you know how it is.

just about any amount of spice is cool for fics, but i'll only do suggestive drawings (underwear, kissing in suggestive places, stuff like that)

considering my style, cartoon gore is totally cool, just nothing too intense or spooky. i'm just a silly lil guy :}

no incest, pedophilic, zooiphilic, or real person shipping requests (not really an anti, just stating boundaries)

an extension to that, no hate art. i hope knowing me makes this pretty obvious lol

be as descriptive as you want! genuinely! the more descriptions the better!! i don't care if it's an entire paragraph detailing what you want, i'll do my best to give it!

i'll probably add more stuff later if i think of anything else, but just as a last note i reserve the right to deny any requests if i'm not comfortable with it. but i hope with these rules laid out i won't have to do that :}

obviously, please be respectful when waiting for a request to be done! i am one guy who's probably got a LOT of executive dysfunction in him. trust me, if you're agonizing over the wait time, i'm agonizing x100. just gotta have a bit of patience with me please.

media i'll make art for (subject to be changed):

markiplier egos (writing, drawing)

jacksepticeye egos (writing, drawing)

hermitcraft (drawing)

life series (drawing)

sanders sides (writing, drawing)

hollow knight (drawing)

cult of the lamb (drawing)

undertale/deltarune (drawing)

🌠what like?🌠

[pt: what like?]

i have many various interests! some are special interests (SpIns), while some are just things i like. and it's 90% video games because i am a huge gaymer. anything listed in pretty red are my SpIns, so like- you can talk about them with me if you'd like👉👈

hollow knight

undertale

deltarune

animal crossing: new horizons

space

celeste (the video game)

stardew valley

minecraft

night in the woods

cult of the lamb

the owl house

markiplier/jacksepticeye egos (i also like mark's videos in general, but unfortunately i've fallen out of watching sean's)

sanders sides

the legend of zelda: tears of the kingdom

pokemon

hermitcraft

life series

slay the princess

🌠sign off🌠

[pt: sign off]

welp, that should be about it! hopefully i didn't forget anything because that wouldn't be fun :'D

welcome to my trash pit and i hope you enjoy your time here!

[caparrucia]

17 and/or 18 for the writing ask meme, please?

Under a cut, because spoilers for the Regis/Aulea/Titus fic and a LONG ramble about the puppyverse.

17. Talk to me about the minutiae of your current WIP. Tell me about the lore, the history, the detail, the things that won’t make it in the text.

Right now I'm wrapping up a +20K one-shot revolving around the formation of the Regis/Aulea/Titus triad in the puppyverse, which is like. The conclusion of a solid ~20 years of pining and slowburning from Titus and Regis and a closer look at who Aulea is, as a character.

This is a story that I, regretfully, knew I had to cut out from the main story of the puppyverse. For those who don't know, the puppyverse is my fanfic equivalent of "hold my beer and watch me" story that's 100% self-indulgent and written primarily for my own amusement. It's a collection of disparate AU prompts floating around the XV fandom over the years and my sincerest attempts at writing them all at once coherently.

It's also fundamentally a story about people figuring out their own definition of humanity and personhood. Through love, yes, in some cases, not not necessarily romantically or sexually. The story revolves around the five main "inhuman" co-protagonists, with the main plot broken up in two clear arcs: Arc 1 introduces the setting and the first few AU premises, which sort of stack on each other. It's primarily driven by the CorNyx (non)relationship (it's complicated) and takes advantage of the fact both of them are outsiders in their own way: Cor has extensive knowledge of the past and the things that have caused the current state of the world, having played a (very traumatic) role in the events that precipitate the setting: ie, Mors yeeting the Scourge and the Astrals into the shadow realm. Nyx is a foreigner who views everything and everyone with a layer of cynicism that only really gets challenged by Cor's shameless sincerity about everything. There's other POVs in the story, particularly to setup things that neither Cor nor Nyx would have been privy to, but arc 1 is mostly about THEM and the war and what they've become, throughout the course of it. Act 2 is when the plot itself picks up and things start actively changing, as a result of all the setups from act 1 and the backstory. The dominos are in place and now we get to tip them off and watch the pretty patterns they make, so to speak.

So as much as I love the Regis/Aulea/Titus story and their character development and the nuances of their interactions, it very clearly did not fit within the framework of the main fic. I've written tidbits here and there, about them, to scratch the itch, but I genuinely love this ship. They're a fantastic power triad and I really wanted to tell their stories, so I decided I was going to, for my birthday. Which I missed, but it doesn't matter, it's getting done now.

This is a story about politically savvy adults who are also stubborn and set in their ways, forced into a situation that forces them to be sincere about their feelings. And boy, they have A LOT of feelings. It's a get-together story where things are simultaneously too fast and too easy and too hard and too slow. They're keenly aware of the consequences of their actions and the weight of their decisions and the fact the world doesn't really CARE about them, as individuals.

It's also a story I stubbornly chose to write from Titus' POV. Because Titus is disabled and he's good at masking, and because he's mostly seen from the outside, people don't really get the weight of Titus being disabled, to what extent and what it means, for himself and his relationships. This is a Titus that isn't a traitor for the very simple reason that Mors removed the reason he would have had to be a traitor: there was no scourge to destroy his home and leave him bitter and furious at the kingdom that did nothing to protect his people. He's still a bitter, snarky, snarly shit whose primary running gag is serving as Regis' moral measuring stick and threaten treason if Regis proves to be inept as a ruler. But Regis is not a bad ruler. He is in fact a very competent ruler that Titus personally admires (and more, but he's not an idiot, he refuses to acknowledge any of those feelings because they would be inappropriate, and Regis is not emotionally available for any of that, so what's the point, cough, cough, this is why they've been dancing around each other for over a decade). Titus is crippled when he's poisoned, and this is mentioned in passing in the main story: the reality of it is far more significant than what the many unreliable narrators of the puppyverse might notice. Titus is poisoned and only saved because Cor intervenes, but while they manage to save his life, the poison has left him with chronic, degenerative nerve damage. He goes from a General that fights in the frontlines, carrying out Regis' defensive war with the Empire in the open, to not being able to stand unassisted more than half an hour, maybe an hour and a half with a cane. And because Titus has compartmentalized what happened to him as being part of the war, he sees what happened to him as being on the same level to what happens to soldiers that get crippled in action. He's not bitter about it! (He is absolutely bitter and frustrated about it.) He's so busy not being bitter about it that he doesn't really bring attention to the fact Regis lost his fucking mind about it.

See, one of the most sobering moments in the puppyverse is the purge that Clarus Amicitia leads in the wake of discovering it was Regis' cousin who was sabotaging the war efforts because she'd bartered with the Empire to let them put her son in charge once Regis was out of the picture. It's a very gut-wrenching moment, because it shatters the idea that "Lucians = Good" that the story had been peddling until then, and kinda shifts it more towards "War=Bad", which is a recurrent theme. But the incident is very colored by Cor's traumatic response to it, and the fact Ignis is caught up on it and being treated as a traitor for his associations with his mentor, Regis' cousin.

Here's the thing that none of these characters mention, in the corresponding chapter of the puppyverse: The reason Clarus did this? The reason they figured out it was Sylvia who'd betrayed them? The reason Clarus freaked out and ordered wholesale slaughter of people?

Clarus was trying to swiftly resolve the issue to try and keep Regis from going on a murderous rampage, because Regis was very much pissed when he found out Titus had been poisoned. See, Clarus is the one person who knows: a), how fucking ridiculously magically powerful Regis is, and b), how very FUCKED the entire continent would be, if Regis decided to go on a murderous rampage. How do you even begin to stop someone who commands that amount of magic? You don't, really. You can only appeal to his better nature. To his reason. The purge is Clarus hoping he can keep Regis from going full on rage monster by assuring him that while, yes, Titus got caught in the crossfire, it has been taken care of. Thoroughly. No loose ends left for Regis to gnaw on like that. Because yes, Clarus is a competent Shield and a good friend, he is 100% aware that Regis is despondently in love with Titus and refusing to act on it, because he's also, at the time, mourning for his wife. (Remember, until Aulea crashlands the party, as far as Regis and Clarus knew, she was dead. And Regis has been mourning accordingly ever since.) Regis lost his shit so badly at Titus being poisoned, that he ordered Titus to be treated in the Royal Quarters, by his own royal medic team. He also might have threatened to kill them all if Titus didn't survive it. It's not a subtle thing, is my point.

But it's also not the kind of thing Cor or Nyx or the kids would know about or notice, because the people involved are politically savvy enough to keep their feelings to themselves.

And yes, Interregnum brings up the fact the triad got together, but it didn't really go into the details, again focusing on the outside perspective (Noctis: He's fucking my parents.) and the consequences that ripple off from it, without directly acknowledging the inner workings of that relationship.

And it's a fucking fun relationship. Fullstop. They're silly and principled and fucking insane, in their own way, but they balance each other out so well! Like cogs falling into place. I'm excited to show it to you, guys.

18. Choose a passage from your writing. Tell me about the backstory of this moment. How you came up with it, how it changed from start to end. Spicy addition: Questioner provides the passage.

From the one-shot in question:

“Is that how you say hello?” Titus asked dryly, darkly amused by the way Regis’ face flushed with equal amounts rage and embarrassment.

“Knocking, Titus, have you heard of it?” Regis said, and then shattered Titus’ smirk in one swipe: “You have to know better than to sneak on someone under constant death threats. You’re not this stupid.”

“What death threats?” Titus asked, eyes narrowed, and reached out a hand to hold Regis’ throat so he could tilt his head up and force him to look at him in the eye.

That was a thing he’d just so very recently discovered: Regis lost his ability to lie convincingly, if forced to hold eye contact like that. It did a number on his ability to enunciate words with more than three syllables, too, but Titus was okay with getting the small words version of this.

“Two fifths of my court and a solid three fourths of all known foreign governments right now,” Regis replied, trying for blithe but barely scratching the surface of morose instead. He scoffed, but didn’t pull away from Titus’ hold. “You know better than most how many would rejoice if I dropped dead tomorrow. You used to threaten to join them twice a day if I annoyed you enough.”

Titus considered tightening his grip until he heard cartilage snap under his fingers and instead tugged Regis forward so he could kiss him. Was that wise? There, in the Citadel? In plain view of at least one camera? Probably not. But he felt like it, and given the fact Regis immediately kissed back, hands reaching out to claw at Titus’ clothes, it wasn’t unwanted. Untoward.

“I came to give you good news,” Titus said, not quite pulling away, basking in that moment when they were breathing the same air. “Now all I want is to discipline your Saboteur Corp.”

“Would I still have a Saboteur Corp. after you’re done?” Regis asked, and grinned when Titus bit him for the cheek of it. “Tell me the good news, I could use them today.”

This is a very interesting moment, because there's a gap in Titus' narrative. He's a very meandering narrator. He goes on tangents, thinks about details, puts them in context. He's well read and he's got a flair for the poetic. He's got a ton of very eloquent tangents and even more witticisms to deliver. He's devastatingly well spoken, and utterly ruthless about it. And yet, between them "getting together" as it where, and then dealing with the fallout of it, there's a distinct gap in Titus' POV. He laughs at himself and mocks his own sentimentality, he's very mean-spirited to himself, in places, but he doesn't SHOW us, his thought process about this relationship. About letting himself fall head first into a sort of relationship that's not just (definitely) sexual - they've had sex a few times by now - but also... romantic? Emotional? It's hard to pin it down.

There's just... this very sharp change, before and after, in the level of physicality that he allows himself, with them. It goes unexplored and that in itself highlights it. Or at least that's the intent. Clarus makes a comment, in a scene prior to this, but after Titus falls in bed with them, that amounts to mocking Titus for fucking a dragon and not realizing the implications of it. That Regis and Aulea have staked a claim on him, and Titus is a fool if he thinks he can make them forsake that easily.

The thing is, Titus has staked a claim of his own, but because he's the narrator and he's a very unreliable narrator, like all narrators in the puppyverse, he doesn't see fit to examine that claim in depth. It's a fun scene, both for what they discuss and what it means for their relationship, but also... because it represents the new status quo. The fact that Titus isn't going to dance around this and be cautious about it. He likes to pretend he's the sensible one, but he's the one fucking the literal fucking ruling royalty. So who's the sensible one, really?

(None of them. The answer is none of them. It's great.)

[heromaker-if]

A mix of the original and modern AU here ~

So let’s just imagine both the modern AU cast and the game cast meet each other, like big family visit each other house.

What would be your canon MC, Frey and the ROs in the game universe reaction when they first travel by plane in the modern world?

Wow hello! Sorry for not answering this earlier! But thank you for sending this. Anyways, this is such a jump. I feel like they'd all be pretty confused with the modern world, fascinated and terrified too. Travelling by plane is already terrifying to me, I can't imagine it's that much better for those who don't even know what a plane is.

MC would probably be the most level-headed but also the most terrified. At least, canon MC. This can change depending on how you play MC, but canon MC is the most mature one of the group. They would be the ones making sure everyone is sat properly and not bothering anyone. They put up a brave face, even though all they want to do is pass out.

Frey would be running around the plane. They have no idea how they're just IN THE SKY RIGHT NOW, but they love it. Probably the one that would stress MC out the most, especially when they start bothering everyone else on the plane. They ask a lot of questions and have no worries over the dangers of this situation.

Pachypoda would somehow manage to know more about planes than most humans. They wouldn't set foot on the plane without doing some research, and then they would talk extensively about random plane facts and details to the staff of the plane, at least until they get invited into the cockpit and probably eventually pilot the plane for a little bit. Which would make them very happy.

Astro/a would sleep the whole ride. At first, they're excited and chatting away about the wonders of this new world, but then they just get bored and fall asleep. They wouldn't wake up for anything either, they're quite a heavy sleeper. They might feel a bit disappointed that they slept the whole way when they wake up and have already landed.

Secret LI1 is absolutely mortified. They hate being in the sky. Please get them down. They'd be holding onto the seat, eyes closed, and cursing under their breath. Would probably get very aggressive and snap at anyone that approaches them, they just get like that when they are panicked. No idea how you got them on the plane...

Secret LI2 would be very polite and somewhat calm. Yes, it is a bit scary, but they trust how professional the staff is. They also ask a lot of questions but eventually try to enjoy the trip. They're a picture of delight, very kind despite the unknown experience. I'm sure they'd sigh in relief when they land .

[ghostsbaby]

pairing - ghost x babygirl!reader blurbs and hc’s PART 1

word count - smol. 520

warnings - mix of things. talk about sex, jealousy, possessiveness and daddy kink

a/n - THIS IS ALSO AU DON’T COME AT ME. please i’m sensitive. i’ll be posting some more blurbs/hc’s in the future but for now enjoy just a lil something! have some ghost and his babygirl! 🖤 probably some written mistakes in here but i’m lazy to check and this is for fun. hope you like!

-

jealous before. jealous AND possessive as FUCK now. i’ll have to get into the extensive smutty details if y’all want part 2 🥵

like i’ve said a few times already, that mans lap is the only seat you’re allowed to sit on. besides his face. he fucjing loves when you sit on his face

“but i can sit in my own seat.”

“no. not safe, baby. safe with daddy.”

pats his lap and the rest of the squad just fucking look at both of you in disbelief.

simon?! baby talking?!

he’s also just obsessed with the way you softly grind in his lap every time and his dick gets insanely hard. he likes you seated on his cock

and he knows you used to do it on purpose around the guys, but now it’s just natural. there’s been more than one occasion where he’s came in his pants because you wouldn’t stop being a tease 😭

the first time he did get a lil angry for being slightly embarrassed that he snarled and threw you over his lap and spanked you in front of them 🫣 oh my l

WELCOME TO POUND TOWN. WE FUCKING LOVED IT BESTIE

but you were VERY quickly whisked away and not seen for a whole week after because soap made a comment on the colour of your panties 🤪

“you know what i keep thinking about? the colour pink.”

“you’re dead.”

ghost says while already jumping across the table to pound his face in like the jealous boyfriend he is. if he could, you’d have a ring bigger than the moon on your finger right now but you’re not even actually officially dating yet 🙊

well you are. he’s just never asked you. he didn’t have to because he never leaves your side and you never ask him to so he just assumes

soap had a black eye the next time you saw him and when asked about it, told you he got in a fight with a ghost. there were no more questions

fucks you constantly. in the morning, after the morning. afternoon and after the afternoon. oh, don’t forget the evening because he’s fucking you before then, during and after. DOES THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE?

soap, gaz, price are all obviously fucking jealous they have to listen to the two of you fuck like rabbits every night. BUT WHO WOULD BE COMPLAINING HONEST. they get to listen to you! all jack off to the sound of your moans imagining it was them instead.

oh my god if only ghost knew they did that 😳 you would really never see daylight again. so they better shut up and CLEAN THE FUCK UP

you think he even lets them speak to you?? NO. you’re always attached to him or he’s hiding you in his room. hates you being friendly to other guys if you don’t have to be.

“i’m allowed to talk to other guys. all he did was say hi.”

“what? fuck no. you don’t know what they’re thinking. you can’t trust them.”

daddy knows best.

DADDY KNOWS BEST

-

a/n - hey cutie 🥰

[georgiapeach30513]

„Curtis and Ransom have actually had extensive conversations about his time with Kitten. No major details, but Ransom did thank him.” Ohhhhhhh Thank God i did re-read all the DA AU and find that, now you need to give us some explanation Young Lady 😏😏😏😏

I’m assuming you mean the first man to man, serious conversation with Curtis. Playfully Ransom has asked for details since him and Kitten got together. Curtis knows all that she went through after Andy. Curtis played one of the biggest parts of her life, and he’s continued to remain a part of her life. They’re both very fond of each other. Curtis is protective of Kitten for the rest of her life. She was his last little before he found his and Ari’s Little Princess.

🖤🖤🖤🖤

Switch Energy

Summary:  Ransom needs to talk to Curtis...finally

Pairings:  Ransom X Curtis

Rating:  mildly explicit

Warnings: mentions of Kitten’s abuse, D/s dynamics, mentions of Anders, 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 1.4K

Desperate Lives AU Masterlist

Desperate Love Masterlist

Ransom’s eyes randomly roam over Curtis’ as he holds onto his daughter. If Curtis didn’t appear to be completely entranced by both Ari and their Little Princess, he might be pissed off that he had the audacity to be here. Every time that the two of you see each other, it’s like an understanding, and Ransom clocks it each time.

He holds tight to his son as Blade chews on the giraffe he just had to have. And then Ransom catches it, a slight lingering of Curtis’ hand on your belly, while he whispers something into your ear. While his husband and wife don’t seem to notice or at least care, Ransom does. “Curtis, you mind helping me with something outside for a moment,” you hand off his smallest of children, Arleigh back to Curtis, and go check on your oldest children.

Curtis follows Ransom outside, when he just sits at a table. “It’s a bit cold out here,” Curtis says, unsure if he’s talking about the weather or the looks Ransom had been giving him this whole trip.

“There’s an outdoor heater right there. Do you think I would bring my son out here?”

Curtis walks over, sitting down, but he can’t stop watching Blade who babbles to his little daughter. “You think they will ever become friends when they’re older?”

“What’s the deal with you and my wife?” Curtis only shrugs, continuing to watch both Blade and Arleigh. “Did you not get enough?”

“It’s not like that.”

“It’s obvious the two of you had sex, and with what I’m gathering, you are a Dom.”

“Does that bother you?” Ransom opens his mouth but closes it quickly. “I couldn’t give your wife this life,” he gestures around the estate, before looking only at Ransom. “And I never wanted it with her.”

“You wanted it with Ari?” he gives him a nod. “Even then?” again Curtis nods. “So the girl is just…?”

“I love them both.”

“Man, that’s fucked up. You were…doing whatever with my wife…”

“She wasn’t your wife then, and I came to you and asked if you were dating. You said no, and didn’t elaborate on if you wanted her. She needed me,” Ransom scoffs, rolling his eyes.

Blade wiggles a bit before he sets the little boy on the ground and he walks over to Curtis, talking a few words to Arleigh, but it’s mostly jibberish. “You didn’t see her.”

“I couldn’t,” Ransom ashamedly answers, staring at Curtis’ boots. “Just from a few sessions, I heard how bad Andy was, I knew. I fucking knew, and I didn’t do anything. I saw it, a bruise. Made a comment and she gave me a lame excuse of how she’s clumsy.”

“She had nightmares. She screamed in the middle of the night and thought he was coming to take the girls.”

“Stop.”

“There were times that she fell asleep standing up in their room because she was afraid he was coming back. She was so eager to please, but so scared. Everything was about someone else’s needs instead of her own.”

“Stop!” Ransom shouts, causing Blade to look at his dad with a pout. He walks back over to him, and when Ransom picks him up, he clings to his neck.

“She needed you, but you weren’t ready. That’s why I stepped in.”

“Daddy cying? Why?” Blade leans back, giving his dad a once over before kissing his nose, “Good daddy,” before leaning back on him. His hand patting at his back.

“You’re having another boy?” Ransom is solemn, paying more attention to the baby in his arms than Curtis. “I knew I was getting into trouble with her. A woman with kids, and one that wanted more kids. You’re giving her that, and it was always you she wanted it with.”

“You bought her a dog.”

Curtis looks into the house, seeing you, his wife and the remaining four children in the floor playing with each other, Axel never far from you. “You don’t think she needs him?”

“She still has nightmares sometimes. That dog sleeps on her side of the bed. Still wakes up to check on our kids, and he follows her around the house.”

“Mine does, too. She’s a mom. That’s what they do. Worry.”

“Why her?” Curtis tilts his head in confusion. “Do you talk to any of your other…things?”

“Submissives?” Ransom gives a solid nod. “No, none were like her. Each is different. None I had to k-i-l-l an ex either. None that waited so long to truly submit to me,” Ransom growls, moving his head to look up at you. Watching as you pet around your little bump.

“So it was sex? Just sex?”

“Not at all,” Ransom slowly takes a deep breath, allowing Blade to shimmy back out of his arms. “Is it just sex between you and her?”

“I love her. You didn’t.”

“You’re in love with her. I love her. She’s amazing, and you know that. She has fought and clawed her way to have the life she always dreamed about, and with you. A man who was a junkie, and scared of his own feelings. But you got clean to be a provider that she deserved. You opened up to be the man that would let her in. You’re amazing.”

“So you had sex with her?”

“I’m not sure how you want me to answer that,” Ransom stares blankly at Curtis, who gives a chuckle. “It wasn’t like it was the first night. I built up that trust with her. Slept in the bed without touching her, until she touched me first. She loves and craves touch. And you were working through your own stuff, and couldn’t be there for her.”

“The biggest mistake of my life.”

“I wouldn’t have wanted you to see her like that,” Ransom’s eyes stay on you. On your daughters, or on Blade. His eyes filling with tears that he refuses to let fall.

“I don’t know why she’s so special to me. We have this bond, that we can’t break. I love her and I’m proud of her. Both of you needed each other, but needed to believe in yourselves first.”

“What did you whisper in her ear?”

“I told her to name Anders after me instead of Jake. Just to piss you off,” Ransom actually chuckles at him. “I actually told her, she’s making a beautiful family. And she looks even more beautiful because she’s happy. Ransom, we may never be best friends, you may always hate me and view me as her ex, but I’m not an ex. I put in the work to show her good men exist. I showed her she can trust men again. I gave her a voice. I gave her that power to tell people no, or what she wanted. For years, it was always about what someone else wanted. And now look at you two. No doubt, you’ll have more babies. It looks good on you. I knew it that night.”

“Which one?” Ransom asks looking over him confused.

“I picked you two up in the cruiser, took you to her apartment when she got answers from Andy. You cared about her so much, but didn’t know what to do. You were scared, pissed, confused, but you loved her.”

“Were you her Dom?”

“I was her teacher,” Curtis holds tight to Arleigh as he begins to stand, getting a bit of a pout from Blade.

“Okay,” Ransom starts, leaning over to pick up his son who keeps repeating Bun. “But were you her Dom?”

“That’s private. Ask your wife.”

“Do you have any tips? I saw that on her wrists. Can I borrow some handcuffs? That’s what it was, huh? What did she call you? She calls me Captain, so am I a Dom?”

“You’re a switch,” Ransom walks faster to step in front of Curtis.

“What?”

“A switch, sweet boy,” he answers playfully slapping Ransom’s cheek.

“Only my Kitten calls me…oh! A switch. Hmm, I didn’t know that was a thing. She has this power over me because she’s got great tits.”

“Tit, tit, tit, tit. Mama! Tit!”

You glare between Ransom and Curtis, wondering just what they were talking about with your sweet boy around. “Hugh Ransom Drysdale, he repeats things now.”

“Mama, baby!” Blade makes grabby hands towards you, and when you hold him close he pats at your belly, the one he always rests on. “Baby, CC. My baby.”

“Mama’s baby is going to be in trouble tonight,” you say to Ransom and Curtis as you turn on your heels.

“Switch energy, huh?”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Only Kitten gets to call me that,” he tells Curtis before chasing after you.

Masterlist

[becausethathappens]

Lol I’m the anon who has sent increasingly devoted love letters to you and your writing via anon for the past year (more then that? Idk). I think I once compared your writing to a sailors wife out at sea (embarrassing) and I am also the one who asked for the jurisdiction sequel (and many other more embarrassing anons that I’m happy I don’t remember in detail). But just… you’re so cool & so kind & so talented. I wish I could talk to you off anon (I mean I actually could, we are even mutuals) but I know I would fall in love with you immediately. I already have as much as you can without ever having a real conversation. This is all just to say you’re so great. I hope you’re incandescently happy for all of your life. Please don’t feel the need to post this, I just wanted to tell you.

I refuse to let this one go as long unanswered as the last (LOL what is that 3 months instead of 12? I'm a nightmare!) because this is so very kind and incredibly flattering. I will happily continue writing these two lovesick idiots as long as there's other people out there who enjoy them and like my work (and by extension, me).

I have a couple other asks about the AU (whether from you or from others, my inspiration remains plenty fed) that prompted this, so I'll add other snippets going forward as I can manage, but I wanted to post a follow-up specifically in thanks to you for being such a unbelievable support to me through a really rough time. I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you for this, genuinely. My temperament is such that I can really only deflect how much it means to me by offering words in response, but based on the themes of my writing, hopefully that speaks itself to how much I treasure it because I really do. 😭

[dragon-kazansky]

Dangerous | Helmut Zemo

AU! Race car driver Zemo 😎

Gender neutral reader

Collage by @realremyd

[Masterlist]

[Previous chapter] - [Next chapter]

Part 12

It was always when it mattered the most that trains decided to run slower than usual. This was the only way for you get to him, but trains had been delayed. You were full of nervous energy and didn't know what else to do other than shift around awkwardly.

You clutched your phone in your hand as you waited on the platform. You hadn't heard from Zemo after his last text. That had been yesterday. This was the earliest you could leave, a whole day later.

You just needed to be with him. You needed to hold him, kiss him. You needed him.

You missed him.

You had just been overwhelmed. How were you suppose to react when information like that pops up? You suppose it could have gone a lot worse.

You'll make it up to him. You promised.

The sound you wanted to hear appears. You smile as you look up. The train was approaching the station.

You: I'm coming. Wait for me.

Zemo was sitting in the hanger. What was left of his car was sitting in front of him. He stared at it. Sam and Bucky were doing thorough checks. They needed to find out what went wrong. They had checked the car multiple times before the race, but it obviously wasn't enough. Something had happened.

His phone pings in his pocket. He pulls it pit and smiles at your message.

Zemo: I'm waiting

He keeps his phone in his lap as he looks back up at the car again. He felt very lucky to be sitting there. Even luckier once you get here.

"How could someone tamper with the car? We were with it right up until Zemo took it to the line," Sam said, standing over the charred mess.

Bucky had been deep inside the car, noting every little detail he could see.

"Obviously we missed something. Do you remembering exactly what you were doing up until that point?" Bucky looked up at him.

"We got there, I did the usual checks after Zemo left our side. I waited with the car until Sarah came. You showed up not longer after. All three of us were standing with the car. No one else cane over to our side. Zemo came out, he sat down, I went to get something to drink, leaving you with it." Sam thought hard about his movements.

"Yeah, Sarah and I talked, but the car was always in view. Zemo didn't move from that chair at all."

"Yeah, non of you had moved when I came back."

Zemo leans forward in his chair.

"The only time we are not with the car is at night," he looks at them both. "The hanger isn't exactly hard to get into. We can't lock the door, remember."

The huge hanger door was never locked. It was broken, but very few people knew that Zemo used this as his workshop.

"But, we did the checks."

"Unless it was something slight. Something we wouldn't notice until too late. Pietro did his checks that day. I very much doubt he would have taken the risk if he was aware something was wrong with his car."

Sam and Bucky look at each other.

"Are you suggesting Stark did something?"

"By extension."

"By extension?" James furrowed his brow.

"Any idea what that woman was doing beforehand? Did you see her at the race?"

"Yeah, draping herself all over Stark, why?"

"Are you aware that he and Miss Potts are together?" Zemo asks, lips curled into a slight smile.

"Well, I knew she liked him. Though I have no idea why," Sam said.

"They're lovers."

"How do you know?"

Zemo smirks.

"I went to Stark's house that night Y/N left. Miss Potts was there."

"You never mentioned that before." Bucky eyed him suspiciously.

"He didn't want me to know. However, her perfume caught my attention, and the shoes by the door most definitely did not belong to the wicked woman. The lipstick on Stark's chin, which I'm sure he didn't realise, was the same shade I had seen Pepper Potts wear. Behind closed doors he indulges in his true desires. For the cameras, he has a publicity relationship."

"So, you're a detective now?"

Zemo grinned, opening his hand a bit as he shrugged.

"I just have a keen eye sometimes."

"You scare me." Sam pointed a finger at him.

Zemo chuckled and stood up.

"I would say it's a safe bet that Stark had that woman do something for him. Perhaps under blackmail or just with his persuasion, after all, I am the bad guy in his eyes. Ruin my career, ruin my life, ruin everything I hold dear. He wanted me out of the picture."

"He really went to a lot of trouble."

"He did."

His phone pinged again. He picks it up and smiles again.

You: I'm on the train. I miss you.

He types quickly.

Zemo: I miss you too. I'll be there when you arrive.

He puts his phone away and stands up. He walks over to where Sam and Bucky are standing and sighs.

"Take one more look. I don't think it's going to matter either way. I have nothing to pin on Stark, whether we know it's his fault or not. I have a date to prepare for." He smiles.

The boys look at him, realising what he was implying. Sam grins and Bucky just looks relieved.

Zemo leaves them with the car.

His first stop is to go home, change into something more suitable, and then pick a car to come pick you up in. Things are going to turn out OK. This time, he is sure of it.

There is still plenty of time before your train gets in. He heads up and takes a shower. He smiles to himself the entire time. You'll be here with again soon.

He has no intention of letting you go this time.

He dresses smart for you. Purple shirt, neatly pressed trousers, shiny shoes that probably cost the same as some of his cars. Not forgetting his fur collared coat.

He looks at himself in the mirror. Another smile. A cheeky one.

He heads out.

He walks with his head held high, a slight spring in his step, as he heads to the garage. He knows which car he wants to drive. He is going to pick you up in style.

A purple convertible. Just his style.

He arrives at the station with minutes to spare. He climbs out of the car and heads onto the station. He wants to be there when get off the train.

The train is right on time.

His heart is beating rapidly. You're nearly here.

The train comes to a stop. The doors open. People flood out. He stand and he waits, eyes scanning the crowds. Then, nothing else matters. You're there. You step off the train, you turn, and you smile.

His arms are open. You run past everyone else and leap into his embrace. He is quick to cradle you to him, burying his nose in the crook of your neck and just feeling you against him. You're crying. He's crying!

You're here.

He's alive.

Everything feels right again. You pull back and waste no time. You kiss him. He holds you close and kisses you back, just as fiercely.

You stop, placing your hands on either side of his face and look at him.

"I was so scared."

He smiles softly at you.

"As was I."

"I thought...I thought you were dead."

"I'm here. I'm alive."

You feel him under your hands. He's warm. You caress his cheek with your thumb softly.

"I'm staying," you tell him.

"Good. I'm not letting you go."

You kiss him again. The platform had cleared since, but the pair of you didn't care. You just wanted to be there with him for as long as you could.

Eventually though, you pulled away.

"Take me home?"

"Home?"

"Your home. I want to spend time with you. I have a lot to make up for."

Zemo smiles and takes your hand, both of you leaving the station together. You lean into him, needing to be close to him.

There was so much to talk about.

You can't help the laugh the tumbles out when you see the car. It's so very him. You look at him, laughing yourself silly. He laughs too, in love with the sound of yours.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just... this car is perfect for you."

He grins as he walks around to your side of the car, holding the door open for you. You smile and walks over, climbing in. He closes the door and leans down. He kisses you through the open window.

You would love to sit there a day doing that, but there are things that need to be done. You chuckle as he pulls away and walks around, getting into his side. He steals one more kiss before he drives.

Your hand finds comfort in his. You needed reassurance this wasn't some wild dream. He holds your hand securely, seemingly needing the same reassurance.

You have to ask him things now, you needed to know.

"Tell me what happened."

He glances at you.

"My car malfunctioned. I could not make it around the bend. It was a full on collision, but unlike six years ago, I surveyed the crash. Having trained myself for the worst when it comes to racing Stark, I have practised over and over again on getting out of that car. It took me just a moment to get out. The second I was, an ambulance arrived on the scene and they pushed me into the back to look me over. I was completely fine."

You look at him, eyes big and sad, heart hammering away.

"I should have been there."

"No! You did the right thing not coming."

"You must have hated me when you saw I wasn't there," your voice wavered.

"No. I could never hate you. I can only love you until the day I die," he grins at you.

"Helmut."

He smiles the brightest smile you have ever seen on his face. He loves it when you say his name.

"There are things I want to ask when we get to the house."

"Alright. I think it's time we sort out what we're going to do."

He keeps a hold of your hand the entire trip to his house. He opens the door for you, helps you out, and then wraps his arm around you as he leads you to the door. He unlocks it with ease and pushes the door open. You both step inside.

Coats are removed, door is locked again, tea is brewing. Only then do you both sit down, tea cups in hand, and talk.

"I want to stay, Helmut."

"Please do."

"You'll let me move in with you just like that?" You ask, chuckling softly.

"Yes. If I have to go another day without you, I will lose my mind, quite literally."

You chuckle.

"I was so stupid not to believe you."

"You were scared, my love. I can't blame you. For a moment, you thought someone had died by my hand. You had every reason to run off like that."

"I heard you at my door that night."

"I know. I heard you on the other side," he smiles softly. "I knew you were listening. That's all I could have asked for in the end."

"Still, I feel horrible. I should have come to the race."

"No. That incident would have happened regardless. It was much better you were not there to see it in person."

You put your tea down and shuffled closer to him. He put his cup down so he could embrace you as you leaned against him. He kissed the top of your head and held you to his chest.

"I'm never leaving again. You're stuck with me now. I, uh, may have also done some research."

"Regarding what?"

"Being a manager. If you'll still have me."

He grins.

"Of course I'll still have you."

You look up at him, once again smiling like an idiot. He kisses your forehead softly. The pair of you sit there, clinging to one another.

When evening rolls in, you have both caught up with one another, discussed your role as his manager, and he told you about his car. It was only after that he told you about what he thought had happened.

"You think Tony had her mess with your car?"

"I do. I have no proof, but that's all I have."

You sigh softly.

"So, what's the plan from here?"

"We get me a new car. I'll improve it to the best of my abilities and I'll race in that final."

"You're still going to race this season?" You look up at him, eyes soft, but still full of concern.

"Yes. There's only one more to go, and I now have you back. Let's see this through to the end," he grins.

"Let's show Tony Stark what happens when you mess with us."

Zemo chuckled and pulled you in for another kiss.

One more race of the season. Zemo was determined to come out on top. This was going to the race that mattered the most.

@ajeff855 @moonstuffsteve @sky-writes-stuff @lieutenantn @lostghostgirl94 @friday18eo @yaskna @my-blood-is-maple-syrup @gingerwriter97 @lunamooney2406 @wilder-fangirl @nectav @whovianayesha @thesuitkovian @cathrin2405 @deathtothepatriarchy @belle82devart @dxrksxul06 @killeromanoff @alex-the-nb @latenightartist-author @hb8301 @goddessofmischief03 @xxidontwikeitxx @themeanestlittlewitch @scuttle-buttle @fillechatoyante @lucky-luck-lucky @zemosimp420 @avengersofmischief @stardancerluv @breadsquash @the-chaotic-cow @wandalorian @pinkcutiepiee @awesomesauce-abbie @zemo-is-my-muse