#preview of multi chapter story

[childlikegoblinqueen]

Preview for Criminal, a SCOMverse multi chapter story.

Art commissioned from @lovemoroporo

“Oh. It’s you.”

Kikimora rattled the chains that hung from her wrists and legs.

Small rings were cuffed around each one of the “fingers” that made up her “hair”. A thick clamp enclosed the fisted “hand” in the back of her head. Each one of her restraints had been fashioned from iron, much like the bars that held her in a cell with dirt floors and a sad little bed that hung from the wall.

[mcufan72]

Hello everyone!

After writer's block and some changes in my life (mostly good ones), I'm finally able to write again. I can't believe that the last lines I wrote for my Loki fics were in July/August 2023. Unbelievable.

Here is my new multi-part fic!

It's a modern AU, I will use MCU characters and facts incorrectly and Loki will be as I want him to be. The Multiverse is open and I do what I want. Those who have read my other stuff know what I mean. So if you don't like it, don't read it. This story will contain morally grey stuff (or not, I don't know. What exactly is morally grey? But nothing too bad happens here or without consent. It's still a love story), fluff, angst and eventually smut…so 18+ only, please!

I also use random names/characters, they have nothing to do with the MCU, they're a product of my fantasy. They are inspired by real-life people and also the plot might be inspired by real-life experiences (not every part of the plot, please keep that in mind). So please don't steal my stuff, use your own experiences and let them inspire you. I also did some research but without a guarantee of completeness and accuracy.

Here is the first chapter of my new fic. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. 💚

Sugar and Cinnamon

Loki x female reader / 18+

Chapter 1

Preview here

Warnings: none so far, contains fluff, angst, and smut (eventually), it's a slow-burn love story.

“I leave."

"Yeah, good. Go home and get some rest. I don't know when I'll be back. Might be late. “

“That's not what I meant.”

“Then explain.”

“I leave the company…and you!”

“It's just a phase, darling. Take a few days off and then everything will be fine again.”

“You really don't get it, do you? It's not a phase.”

“No one screws things up with me! Not even you! ...you have six months.”

3 months later

Damn! Just damn! You were late, like always. You were permanently struggling with keeping places in time and today it wasn't any different. It was pouring rain since you had left your apartment and you were nearly completely drenched from head to toe and of course, you had forgotten your umbrella. The only protection from the rain was the high collar and the hood of your coat. You hurried through the streets of Manhattan, melding into the people who crowded the sidewalks. The city's smells and noises were engulfing you, uncountable different languages and accents were hitting your ears. On every street corner was music, played by street entertainers who tried to grab some money from the people passing by. Car horns were honking, and brakes were squeaking, the sirens of ambulances or police cars drowning out any other sounds. The whole city was buzzing and glowing, a permanent noise filling ears and streets, echoing between amazing skyscrapers. But you loved it, this was your hometown and you have been living here for five years now. You wouldn't stay here forever, surely not, but for now you would stay.

On your way to your appointment this afternoon you accidentally bumped into someone because you held your head down to keep the rain away from your face. “Hey, watch it, girl!” a manly voice scolded you. You apologized with a hasty: “Sorry”, and continued your way unimpressed. Somehow you managed to cruise fluently through the masses of people and cars and reached the building you wanted to go to right in time. You passed the doorman, who gave you a friendly smile, and the security men in their black suits in the reception area, who greeted you with a short nod. They looked much too good for your liking but you couldn't deny your attraction to tall men with broad shoulders in black suits. You had a soft spot for this kind of man. The rainwater that was dripping from your coat was wetting the floor of the entrance hall and with an apologetic shoulder shrug and a heartwarming smile on your face towards the security men, you headed for the lift.

*****************

How much Loki hated the weather today. Fortunately, he had his umbrella with him so he was protected from heaven's water. The pouring rain, the crowded sidewalks and streets, the deafening noise. He was living here in New York for over twelve years now but it seemed to some things he would never get used to. He surely wouldn't stay here forever but for now, he still had to. Normally he wouldn't go out on the streets when it was raining like this. No one would go out voluntarily in such weather. But he got a call from a negotiating partner, who asked him to meet him at a café in the early afternoon to inform him about a few details. And some conversations were better made personally than by phone. The meeting wasn't a long one and his conversation partner Mr.Miller had already left but Loki was still sitting in the café, sipping on his espresso. “Damn it!”, he murmured under his breath, annoyed about what Mr. Miller had asked of him.

Mr. Miller was an extremely old-fashioned, elderly man and he told Loki for his next event, a business dinner, he would like to see him with a female companion. Every other guest would bring their significant others too, there wouldn't be just the dinner, there would also be some dancing afterwards and how sad it would be if he were there alone.

“Please, bring your significant other, too. I don't accept a no!” Mr. Miller insisted.

Loki knew exactly when it was better to not discuss a negotiation partner's wishes and so he agreed. Sometimes you have to make concessions if you want something to be successful. Now a solution had to be found. Loki didn't have any female friend he could take with him on such a date. It must be someone trustworthy, someone who could be silent as a grave, someone who could keep secrets. In the best case, someone who did it professionally. He would never ask any of his former affairs, not to talk about that his last affair was some time ago. He pulled out his mobile phone and did some research. Over the years he'd learned to appreciate his phone as a daily companion. Using apps on your mobile phone made your life easier and finding a solution for nearly every problem was easier with it as well.

Shortly after starting scrolling through several websites, he found it. The solution to his problem ‘how to attend a date with a female companion’: an escort agency. Professionally escorted by a well-educated woman, intelligent, sophisticated and with perfect manners, professionally obliged to keep silent. That was it, the ultimate solution to his problem. Of course, he had to meet the woman he wanted to book for that upcoming event, first. He had to ensure that she was the right one and if she was suitable for such an event. He had no other choice so he gave it a try. He called the agency he had chosen and described what he wanted and what was required in every detail to the polite and friendly lady he was talking to. It sounded like she was smiling on the other end of the phone and it gave him the good feeling of having made the right decision.

“Okay, Sir. I'm pretty sure I already have the right lady for you. Have you heard of the ‘Vivian's Velvet’ nightclub?”

“Yes, I did."

“Fine. Then you'll meet her there at the bar at 8 pm sharp. She'll be waiting there for you.”

“How will I recognise her? I mean…”

“She'll know who you are. Please send me a photo of you and then I can forward the image to her. Please don't get me wrong, Sir but we handle it this way because we want to guarantee our ladies a way out in case they want to refuse a meeting for whatever reason and at any time. Even if they are already at the nightclub. It's for the safety of our ladies. I hope you understand.”

“I do. It's what your ladies deserve and I respect that.”

“I'm glad to hear that, Sir. Thank you for understanding. Would you please give me your name so our lady can address you correctly?”

Loki hesitated for a second. In his business sometimes it was advantageous to use an alias and he would hold on to this tradition here.

“My name is Luke Larsson.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Larsson. If you have any questions or if the lady I've chosen for you is not for your liking, please don't hesitate and let me know. I'll look for a new lady for you then. We aim to satisfy you completely at any time. And please don't forget to send me your photo, Mr. Larsson.”

“I'll send it immediately.”

“Of course, Mr. Larsson and I wish you an enjoyable evening. Thank you for choosing and calling us. Goodbye, Sir.”

“Goodbye, Ma'am and thank you for your excellent service.”

“You're welcome” and with that, the call ended.

He did what was required of him and he sent the agency a photo of himself. To book a lady at an escort agency was an expensive matter but money was no object. He had called the best escort agency in the city and only the best was what he needed.

He paid his bill and left the café. The streets were still crowded, rain was still flooding the streets and slightly ruining his leather shoes and his slacks. On his way back home a hood-wearing person with a lowered head, drenching wet from the rain, bumped into him. Why couldn't people watch their way, he thought angrily.

“Hey, watch it, girl!“ he scolded. He wasn't sure if it was a woman, he just assumed it. He barely heard the apology of the person and he immediately regretted his harsh words. He turned around to apologize as well. But the person who ran into him had almost completely disappeared in the crowd. He could just catch a short glimpse of the shoes the person was wearing. ‘Nice colour’, he thought and disappeared into the crowd himself. In a few hours, he would meet the escort lady who probably would accompany him to his next business dinner.

***************

With a ping, the lift's door opened on the 25th floor where the agency had its office. The word REA was written in large, finely curved golden letters on the big white, opaque glass door, right above the golden door knob. REA was the acronym for Rhea's Escort Agency and you had to ring a doorbell to get in. The interior was simple but very elegant, bright and inviting at the same time. Smooth jazz music played in the background and created a comfortable atmosphere. A large white leather couch was invitingly positioned close to the floor-to-ceiling windows, framed by exotic green plants and a coffee table. Behind the front desk sat Rhea, the owner of the agency, on the phone, talking to one of the other escorts. She beckoned you with her hand getting over to her. After you approached her desk, she opened her mouth with a soundless dismay when she saw you in your dripping wet state. You could just smile at her with a shoulder shrug. You took off your drenched coat and hung it on the coat rack. Shortly after, she ended the call and rounded her desk to hug you.

“Jeez, girl…look at you. What happened , dear? Did you take a swim and forgot your towel?”

“Kind of.” you answered and laughed.

“Sit down, lovely. You must be freezing. I'll get you a towel and a hot drink. Some Tea?”

“Yes, I'd fancy a cuppa“, you said with a sigh of relief and you were glad to drink something warm now and to dry the front part of your hair with a towel.

“Here, darling “, Rhea said when she came back from the restroom and kitchenette which were both located at the back of the office, invisible to clients.

“That's much needed now, thanks, Rhea. You're my saviour.“ you answered with a thankful smile and took a sip of your tea before you began to dry your hair. You immediately felt much better. Rhea sat down again in her chair opposite you and opened the appointment calendar on her laptop.

“I'm glad that you made it to the office, y/n. The weather is really horrible today but I needed to see you personally.”

“Did something happen? Did a client complain? “ you asked concernedly. You hoped not, you needed this job and you always gave your best.

“No no, don't worry, darling. Everything is fine and that's what I wanted to tell you. Every client you have escorted so far has been happy and satisfied. You're booked up for this week except for the weekend, as you wished. So based on your successful dating and our clients’ satisfaction, I can offer you a higher hourly rate.”

“Oh, really? Oh thank you so much, Rhea, that really means a lot to me. I need every dollar I can earn.” You meant it, it was the undeniable truth.

“I know, dear and you know you could increase your income further by being booked for the weekends as well.” Rhea reminded you.

“Yeah, I know but I need the weekends for personal matters. Those are important too, I'm sorry.”

“Don't be sorry. Your personal matters are surely important and I know it's none of my business. But please let me know whenever I can do something for you, okay?” she said softly.

“No one can help me, I'm afraid. But thank you for your kind offer, I appreciate it,” you replied, well aware regardless of how much you'd work, even if you worked 24/7 you still wouldn't earn enough money to solve your problems. But you had to try and that was what kept you going.

“Okay…so…are you spontaneous, dear?” Rhea asked you while looking for her work mobile phone on her desk.

“Ahmm…yes”, you answered hesitantly.

“Good, because I got a request 30 minutes ago and already made an appointment …and based on the requirements of our potential new client I think you perfectly fit him.”

“Okay, where will I meet him and when?”

“At 8 pm sharp at ‘Vivian's Velvet’. Walker will drive you like always. It is more a casual meeting with our client to get to know each other so please dress appropriately but not too chic. Classy will do…a black cocktail dress would be fine.”

“Yeah, no problem. How does he look like and what's his name?”

“Waaaiiit…ah now…sent you a photo “, Rhea explained and a second later your phone vibrated with an incoming message.

“He's eye candy, a jackpot, a real cherry on top, the icing on the cake…and his voice…he could read the phone book to me. But the most important thing, he sounded nice. Maybe a bit arrogant but nice.” Rhea gushed.

“A jackpot you say? Let me see…” and with these words on your lips, you opened the file. You nearly dropped your phone. Black mid-length curly hair, a beautiful blade of a nose, a chiselled jaw, prominent cheekbones and a mouth you just wanted to kiss. But the most impressive were his piercing blue eyes which seemed to look deep into your soul.

“Wow” was the only thing you were able to say.

“I told you” Rhea laughed, fully getting your reaction towards the beauty of this man. “His name is Luke Larsson. I'm sure you won't miss him.”

“Absolutely not. How could someone miss this handsome man? Luke Larsson…is he Norwegian? “

“I don't know…his accent sounded more British. So you're willing to meet him? “

“Oh yes, I'm looking forward to it. I'll be at ‘Vivian's' at 7.30 pm so I can wait for him there.��� you confirmed.

“Fine, dear. He booked you for two hours. When I get the drinks bill from the bar, your hourly rate and your share of the drinks will be transferred to your bank account…as usual. Enjoy the evening, dear. And tell me how it went, okay?” Rhea asked you.

“Of course, I'll let you know.”

After this enjoyable talk, you headed back home quickly. You had less than two hours left to get prepared for the meeting with Mr. Luke Larsson.

In less than 20 minutes Walker would arrive at your apartment to drive you to ‘Vivian's Velvet ‘. Walker was your chauffeur and was responsible for driving you safely to a dating location and back home again afterwards. In case you would spend intimate hours with a client, he would wait in front of the hotel. For your safety and to drive you home after the intimate encounter. Walker was 56 years old, a rock of a man with a buzz cut and a beard. He was an imposing figure, always dressed in a formal suit. But he had a heart of gold and you always felt safe when he was around. Knowing he was always close by when you had an appointment with a man, made you feel even safer. You knew he had a soft spot for you and he would always be there for you, no matter what. Somehow you were like a daughter to him but if you were his daughter he would never allow you to work as an escort.

You were almost ready. You were wearing a simple but elegant black, midi cocktail dress with sleeves in black lace and black high heels. With your hair parted in the middle and pulled back into a sleek tight bun, which sat deep in your neck, you created an illusion of long straight hair. You grabbed your purse from the wardrobe and after a final inspection of your appearance in your large mirror, you left your apartment.

“Good evening, y/n. You look wonderful tonight “. Walker was waiting for you in front of your house and opened the door of the black limousine with tinted windows for you and you let yourself slide into the backseat of the car.

“Thank you, Walker and good evening.“ you replied with a smile on your lips.

Walker closed the door, entered the driver's seat and drove you to ‘Vivian's Velvet’. It was one of the most exclusive and most expensive nightclubs in Manhattan with a luxurious interior in black and purple.

It was close to 8 pm and you were waiting for your date. You were excited about how he would be if he really looked that good and if you would fit his expectations. You ordered a glass of champagne to calm down your nerves a little bit but it would be your only drink tonight. As always, because you must remain in control of your senses. It was a golden rule. The men you dated were supposed to drink alcohol, lots of it, not you. It brought additional money to the hourly rate of an escort. The more they drank the more you got. The only thing that brought the most additional money was having sex with them. But it wasn't a must and you weren't interested, not in the slightest. But the day might come when you had no other choice and maybe one day you would feel a carnal desire again that needed to be satisfied. But you wouldn't do it with everyone. It had to be a special man with a special aura and he must give you kind of a feeling that you were safe with him.

A few minutes later, at 8 pm sharp, you felt someone standing behind and then next to you. A hint of a delicious scent hit your nostrils and a sizzling energy filled the air, making your skin tingle.

***********

When Loki entered the nightclub, there were already four women sitting at the bar, their backs turned towards him. Two of them were in the company of a man, two were sitting there alone so one of them was supposed to be his date, he assumed. Because he didn't know what the woman he had booked looked like, he went over to the bar and ordered a drink, the most expensive Scottish whisky the club had to offer. Next to him to his right side sat a woman on a stool, dressed in an elegant black cocktail dress and black high heels, her hair in a tight hair bun. For now, she ignored him and he wasn't sure if she was his date or not. She looked stunning as far as he could see it. He didn't want to stare at her. But he hoped she was the woman he had an appointment with. She was very lovely to look at. In the corner of his eyes, he saw her sipping at her glass of champagne.

“Good evening, Mr.Larsson. Nice to meet you,” you addressed him with a calm, velvety voice and smiled at him.

“Good evening, Miss… I'm sorry but I don't know your name yet,” he answered softly but dryly.

“How would you like to call me, Mr. Larsson?” You asked him mischievously, a smile curving your lips.

“I don't think I am in the position to give you a name.”

“You're very polite and well-mannered, aren't you?”

You had difficulties maintaining your facade. He looked extremely good in that photo but in reality, this man was beyond beautiful. Inky black hair you wanted to rake your fingers through, broad shoulders, lean muscles, slender waist and endless long legs. All of this gorgeousness was wrapped in an exquisite black suit and a crisp white shirt, the top three buttons undone. You could see a hint of his chest hair which peaked out of the V of his shirt. You felt your mouth watering. He was devastatingly sexy. Now that he was reassured that you were his date he moved a little closer to you. His smell was enchanting. An indescribable mixture of fresh cotton, sandalwood, orange blossom and something spicy you weren't able to specify.

The way he leaned against the bar, his big veiny hand with long, perfectly manicured fingers holding the whisky tumbler, his other hand in his trouser pocket, had something indecent about it. You wanted to rip his shirt open and watch the buttons scatter down to the floor. You should better stop salivating over him and begin entertaining him. That was your job and he was the client you had to convince of you because you wanted him to book your service. You had to focus on your job.

“What kind of escort service do you need from me? How can I be of help?”, you asked him kindly.

He took a sip of his whisky and you of your champagne before he gave you an answer, making eye contact with you and holding your gaze. It made you inwardly shiver.

“I need a companion who escorts me regularly to functions. I'm not interested in flirting with you. I need someone I can have an actual conversation with. Nothing annoys me more than some people and their boring talk. It also should be someone who is discreet and can keep secrets. Someone who doesn't want more afterwards,” he explained, his voice dark and raspy.

“Even if you would want more afterwards I won't give it to you. I'm an escort, not a luxury call girl. I just offer you simple accompaniment, nothing more and nothing less,” you stated kindly but firmly. Good-looking or not, you would never give him the chance to get between your legs.

“I'm well aware of that, Miss”, he replied dryly. “You're an escort lady and this is what I want and what I need. And don't worry, I don't believe in love or anything related to it!”

Loki took a sip of his whisky, his gaze still fixed on you. How pretty you were. Your big bright eyes, your cute nose and your rosy lips were just perfect. Your body was perfectly hugged by your black cocktail dress and your legs with those beautiful high heels at your feet were tempting and he suddenly thought about how good it must feel if they were wrapped around his waist. Loki quickly pushed that thought aside. He wasn't here to live out his lust with you. Also, his past was dark and blood-drenched. And you definitely deserved a better man than him. Regardless of his indecent thoughts, he liked your attitude and your behaviour. A little bit of sassiness, a lot of passion and somewhere hidden deep inside of you, vulnerability and a kind of sadness. Now that he has gotten to know you he wondered how and why you had ended up in the escort agency. You didn't seem to belong there.

“Me neither, Mr. Larsson! I'm glad we see it the same way. I've sworn off men entirely. I'm not interested in a love affair with you.”

“Well, I guess we got a deal, then.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Larsson, we got a deal”.

You smiled at him and you took another sip of your champagne. He gave you clearly and precisely all the information you needed to know so you could get an idea of the business dinner he wanted you to escort him to and you agreed with the conditions. Time flew by so quickly and before you even knew it your appointment with him was over.

“So we'll meet next week? “ Loki asked you.

“Of course, Mr Larsson. Call the agency and make the appointment. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad that I could satisfy you and I'm pleased that I meet your expectations “. You smiled brightly at him. You were still captivated by his incredible aura.

“The pleasure is all mine. But there's one last thing…” You looked quizzically at him.

“I still don't know your name. What should I call you? “

“Sugar. You can call me Sugar.”

🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃

Taglist: (please let me know if you want to be added or removed)

@lokisprettygirl @fictive-sl0th @stupidthoughtsinwriting @fandxmslxt69 @chantsdemarins @justjoanne242 @lovingchoices14 @huntress-artemiss @smolvenger @lokixryss @anukulee @wheredafandomat

[violetasteracademic]

A Court of Twisted Fate: Multi Chapter Elriel Fic

Summary:

After nearly losing both her sisters once again, Elain Archeron decides to take the growth of her powers into her own hands. Things may not be going as she would have hoped, but when the Crown is stolen, it is finally time for Elain to serve her court and show her family what she can do. The search for the Crown winds up being a job for the seer and the shadowsinger, the male she has fallen for but barely spoken to after an unrequited wish for a kiss. Azriel has been careful to stay away from Elain, trying his best to follow his High Lord's orders. But as they are forced to work together to protect their court, his resolve begins fading more quickly than he can manage. As they search for the Crown, they become trapped in a castle of treachery, vengeance, and twisted fates. If they cannot find their way out of it, they risk becoming lost there forever, or killed. And if they can't keep their hands off each other, they might finally have to face the mountain of obstacles standing in their way at the home that awaits them.

Warnings: Eventual smut and spice

Chapter One Preview: 2,006 words

Elain

Elain Archeron gritted her teeth as silken shafts of sunlight broke through the heavy veil of twilight. She could not tell if it was morning mist or sweat that clung to her lashes as she panted, suddenly overwhelmed with urgency as the light warmed her skin.

No one questioned her on the mornings she departed the river house hours before dawn, claiming she had to start on her work earlier and earlier as the roster of Velaris citizens whose gardens she tended to grew longer and longer.

It was all true enough. She had grown close to her ever-increasing number of gardening clients. Many would often stop to chat and let her know how the blooms were faring as she strode arm in arm with her sisters, Nyx cradled on one of their hips, through the streets of Velaris. This made her story quite believable and easily accounted for.

What she lied about was exactly when she started her workday. And what she was doing in the early hours of the morning. So early the blooms still slept soundly, not yet ready to stretch awake in the sun and be tended to.

Once the first light broke across the horizon every morning, anxiety gnawed at the edges of her mind. She was always a little bit terrified that someone might decide to come check on the townhouse garden one morning and find her there, eyes closed and waving her hands along the ground like a madwoman.

Focus, Elain, she chided herself. Focus.

She listened. She watched. She felt.

The worm she narrowed her sight on came closer and closer to the surface, and Elain readied her small garden shovel.

Velarian earthworms were fully regenerative. She knew that getting it wrong, that being off in her timing and accidentally slicing the poor creature in half would not kill it. But still, it poked little holes in her heart to do such harm. That, and it was another sign of her failure.

Elain’s vision had always worked in peculiar, specific ways. One being that it worked at a distance. Whether it be the distance of time or location, Elain had never been able to see what was right under her nose. Another was that she was not able to control what visions came to her. She had no say in what she saw and when. She could often easily find information when asked but… everything else came in fits and starts, with no rhyme or reason to it.

There were so many things she should have been able to prevent since gaining her sight.

Her father’s death. Briallyn infiltrating the Blood Rite, nearly killing Cassian and Nesta. Nyx, Feyre, and Rhys and their brush with death. Azriel…

No. She would not think about Azriel. There were far greater risks that she needed to be able to detect other than her own bruised heart. She had survived such a thing before, and she would survive it again.

The safety of her court and her family was what mattered most.

So many threats… she wondered if they would ever stop.

And so, she practiced with the earthworms. She tried to cast her sight into the ground and watched as they wriggled their way up.

Time continued to be the issue. If she tracked a worm, and dug her shovel to find nothing there, she had no way of knowing if it was because that worm had not even been born yet and was hundreds of years into the future, or if it was a smaller, slighter miscalculation. For all she knew, she wasn’t seeing anything with her power at all. She may have spent every morning staring at the ground, imagining worms that were merely a product of her desperate mind and in no way an indication of her power.

There was no one to teach her. No one to help her. No other seers that could offer guidance or help her understand.

The answers she had found in the library at the House of Wind yielded disappointing results. Seers where historically kept in the employ of kings and queens and High Lords, treated as oracles. Kept hidden from the world and doomed to a life of predicting the future for anyone who dared ask. Seers, it seemed, lived solely for others. The stories and legends never once seemed to focus on the life of the seers beyond their servitude.

Did they have wants and wishes? Did they dream? Did they… fall in love?

Or had they lived nothing more than a shell of a life? A ghost, a vessel. Watching so many lives and futures unfold over and over again in their minds until they entirely lost sight of the fact that they once were someone. That they, too, had a heart that beat.

Elain heard so many heartbeats. How long until she could no longer determine the cadence of her own among the chorus?

And while she could not confirm it in her research, there didn’t appear to be any indication seers predicted or tried to affect their own future. They simply answered what they were asked. Elain had found that to be true of her own power so far. When Feyre asked her to look for the Suriel, or when Azriel asked deeper questions about Vassa and Koschei, she was able to find the information they asked for without any prior knowledge of how to do so. It was intuitive to find what others needed.

And yet she had questions of her own that needed answers.

She wanted to protect everyone she had ever loved from harm. She wanted a life of her own. A choice in where her life would lead.

And somehow, when she tried to guide herself in the solitude of this garden, she always drew up empty.

She stared at the ground. She tried to feel the worm move as she touched the earth.

Please, she begged silently. Please work today.

She dug her shovel deep into the earth, her eyes pinched closed.

She crumbled the soil in her hand, her lungs stilled in her chest.

Elain slowly peeled her eyes open, her heart hammering and thudding.

Please.

The soil broke down into smaller and smaller sediment, until it all fell from her hands.

Empty.

She bit back a sob as tears began to prick her eyes.

Elain gripped her small shovel and began digging furiously in the soil, desperate for any sign she was close. That she was getting somewhere.

“Please,” she cried aloud this time. Her cheeks heated as she tried to swallow her anguish. She tossed the shovel aside, digging with her bare hands into the earth. She dug and dug until her fingers grew raw and aching. She could not stop the torrent of tears that had broken free from her eyes.

Empty. All of the dirt- completely empty.

She pressed her lips into the crook of her elbow to muffle a heart-piercing scream.

Her hair suddenly began to lift from her face and shoulders, blown this way and that as a cedar and night chilled mist scented wind rushed in. She stiffened, quickly reaching to brush the wet tears from her face. But she halted just in time, realizing her hands and dress sleeves were so thoroughly coated with mud and soil that trying to clear the wet trails staining her cheeks would only serve to make matters worse.

Elain tried to slow her breathing as Azriel appeared before her, eyes boring into her own.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. She was too shocked to see him.

She had to stop herself from falling into that old habit of trying to read him. To see and feel all the words he kept hidden behind that stone cold demeanor. The thoughts tried to rush forward and flood her mind regardless of her attempt to squash them. The slight dilation of his pupils. The tightening of his jaw. A quick, near imperceptible flare of his cobalt siphons.

She shoved the thoughts away. Tried to bury them in the earth beneath her hands, then straightened her back and lifted her chin indignantly.

“What are you doing here?” She couldn’t stop her eyes from drifting to his mouth as his lips pursed.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied coolly.

An ice-cold chill sluiced through her stomach, and her skin paled. She wasn’t ready to tell anyone about the work she had been doing in an attempt to master her powers.

She could have sworn a flicker of guilt flashed across Azriel’s eyes before he said, “I’m here for you.”

The words washed over Elain and the tips of her ears nearly caught fire. Her heart thrashed against her ribcage so violently she was certain Azriel could hear it.

Breathe, she commanded herself. Breathe.

She hadn’t been alone with Azriel in months. Her breath halted as he stepped closer, his eyes darting across her face and down to her hands. To the holes she was digging before she broke apart.

I’m here for you. Was he…

“You are needed at the river house immediately,” he clarified.

“Oh.” The icy water sloshing around Elain’s stomach turned solid, and she dipped her head to hide her mortified flush.

He wasn’t here for her. Not in the way she had hoped. Not in the way she needed.

He was here to retrieve her. That was all.

Foolish. Foolish. Foolish.

“Alright,” she said, brushing the muddy soil caking her hands on her skirts.

Azriel extended a scarred hand to help her up, and she briefly considered not taking it. The last time their skin touched she had nearly gone out of her mind with desire. She had pushed him. Like a woman possessed, she wanted… she needed him to keep touching her. And he…

Well, he hadn’t wanted to.

And he stayed far away from her ever since.

She stared and stared at his hand. Despite her deep embarrassment and shame over how terribly she had wrecked her friendship with Azriel, she could not wave him away.

She knew what it meant to him. She knew how it hurt him when others turned away from his hands. She would not let her own insecurities damage him. She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders, and placed her palm in his.

For a moment, there was a warm familiar spark that had Elain’s skin briefly humming. But Azriel tensed, tightening his grip on her so tightly that she winced and pulled away.

“Sorry,” he murmured, not meeting her gaze. He briefly rubbed his neck, unable to hide a slight grimace.

“It’s fine,” she replied, rubbing her palm and trying not to show her utter devastation. “I can get up on my own. I…” her voice caught in her throat. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me.”

She began to push herself off the ground, dusting her dress as well as she could as she moved.

“Elain, that isn’t…”

“It’s fine,” she said again as she waved her hand. “Just give me a moment to clean up.”

Azriel nodded tightly. Elain tried not to let her heart sink right into the ground as she began to smooth over the unsightly holes in the ground with the toe of her slipper. Anxiety sank its claws into her mind as Azriel stood stiff muscled behind her.

She hated herself for making him so on edge.

Although she had clearly misinterpreted the meaning of it, she knew that what she and Azriel had shared together was special. The peace and comfort they used to find in each other… that was not imagined. It was real. And maybe… maybe with time they could have it again someday. As friends.

Once she stopped loving him.

Once he could stand being alone without fear she would try to cross another line.

Time. It just needed time. Her garden, her powers, her friendship with Azriel… time would improve it all.

Click here to read the rest of chapter one on AO3!

[artbyremi]

The Golden Child's Taste of Teenage Rebellion Preview

I've started working on a new multi-chap story.

Aprilnardo, Minor Angst, and Family Feels.

I'll be posting the first chapter on AO3 really soon so here's a little preview if your interested. The whole thing is outlined just gotta write.

It's the boys' first spring break since they started school and Leo has put together a list of all the things he and his brothers are going to do together. Too bad his brothers already made plans. Now Leo is stuck spending spring break with their Dad, preparing to open his new dojo.

What a fun spring break he has ahead of him. That is, until April comes to him with a new lead.

School wasn’t what Leo had been expecting. 

To be fair, he wasn’t really sure what he was expecting in the first place. TV and the internet made high school seem so exciting. There was always some kind of hot tea or relationship drama or mean teachers. 

But in actuality, school involved a lot of sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher lecture for about forty minutes. Then the bell would ring and then you’d move to another classroom to do the same thing all over again. 

There wasn’t really any gossip that Leo was involved in and he liked most of his teachers. Sure, a few of them were pretty strict but never outright mean. His math teacher didn’t seem to be the biggest fan of mutants joining society but he never really took it out on Leo. A few weird looks or unnecessary comments every so often but mostly he just ignored Leo. 

Overall school was pretty mundane. It was a good kind of mundane. The kind of mundane all the boys had longed for. They loved being able to complain about homework and having to wake up early to be on time to class. They loved nagging their dad with permission slips and last minute trips to the store for school project supplies. 

High School had added a specific structure to their lives that they hadn’t had before and Leo loved it. He loved getting bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches with his brothers from the same corner market on their way to school. He loved arriving early so he could catch some extra study time while he sat in the cafeteria with April. He loved bringing home his A-B report card to his dad, even if it wasn’t as perfect as Donnie’s straight A report card. Which totally wasn’t fair because he studied way more than he ever saw Donnie study. 

Sure, his brother’s may have nicknamed him a Teacher’s Pet but they were the same idiots who called him the Golden Child, or a Daddy’s Boy (Not true) so really, he had expected nothing less of them. Besides, he could tell they were all enjoying this new found structure in their own ways. 

Raph could finally get out all his energy in wrestling and Leo remembered him mentioning something about hockey try-outs. Mikey had way more people he could socialize with and he was a rising star on the school’s improv team. Donnie had found a group of friends that shared his love of anime and computers, plus according to Sai, the STEM club’s grad student volunteer, Donnie was showing great promise for a future in computer science or engineering. 

While Leo hadn't exactly found a new group of friends or any promising career prospects, he did find something else. 

A pair of familiar arms wrapped around Leo’s neck and a quick kiss was pressed to his cheek. Leo looked over his shoulder at April, a soft smile, spreading across his face. “Happy seven months,” she whispered. 

Leo leaned his head against her, “Happy seven months to you too.”

[bad-and-drawn-that-way]

Electric Love - Ao3 Preview

Want early chapters? Read on Ao3!

Chapter 1: Not What I Expected

Notes: Support me by reading on Ao3! Kudos and comments help motivate me to see multi-chapter fics through to the end! I'll be posting announcements for the updates here, but if you want to read this story, you'll have to do it over there!

Some shit in this will probably be really OOC, but it's fanfiction so who cares? Enjoy!

---

“Hypothetically, I may or may not have discovered how to counter your hypnosis,” you hum as Vox’s eye twitched. “Hypothetically, I could sell that information or simply just post it to the Eternal forums. I’m sure everyone would love to know how not to get sucked into your marketing schemes.”

"You want to make a deal," Vox realized, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly, and dead pixels flickered to life under his lip.

This just got so much more interesting for him.

Link to the full chapter

[sapphicscholar]

Hey there! With everyone posting their post-s3 Hacks fics now, I figured I'd shake things up a little with this multi-chapter X-Files AU! You don't need to have any knowledge of the original show (though there are Easter eggs dropped in for those who do) - this is more my playing in the world of the show but telling my own story than of trying to recreate the plot of TXF beat by beat.

Updates every Sunday unless the tag starts quieting down in a few weeks, in which case I'll probably bump to 2x/week updates :)

Chapter Preview:

Ava glances down at the slip of paper in her hands again. “B10.” The letters are scribbled in blue pen. The fuckers hadn’t even bothered to type up her new assignment on real letterhead or anything.

In the elevator, Ava’s finger hovers over the button for the basement level for a long moment before she jabs at G. If they’re not even going to pretend like this assignment is anything other than the death knell of a once-promising career, she doesn’t owe them a full 9-5 workday either. Besides, she’s pretty sure that the cute barista who works the morning shifts at Dolcezza was giving off flirty vibes last week, and she could really use the pick me up after the week she’s had. Not that she’s more than a day into it. Fuck.

Still, a good matcha latte is enough to fix most days a little bit, and even though Sam hadn’t been working, Ava decides it was the right decision. She almost isn’t resentful as she stabs at B and feels the elevator trundle down to the rarely used basement level of the Hoover Building.

Even though she’s pretty sure the janitorial staff hits all the floors, the air down here feels dusty. Like, call a doctor and order an inhaler levels of dusty. She sniffles a little as she peers down the hallway until she finds office 10, which she thinks might actually be the only office down here. With a grunt of effort and a bump of her hip, she manages to shove open the heavy door without having to put down her latte or her phone or the Post-it. She’s busy enough celebrating her small victory that she barely notices the other body in the room until a loud, “Excuse you,” startles Ava enough to have her latte slipping from her hand and crashing to the floor.

“Fuck!” Ava yells, watching as eight dollars spills across the carpeted floor—and, oh god, carpet? No wonder it smells like the 70s down here.

“Are you just gonna watch that? Pick it up!”

Ava jumps into action, grabbing her mostly empty cup from the ground and tossing it into the trash. It’s only then that she properly notices the woman who’s been yelling at her. She’s dressed impeccably in black suit pants, heels, and a satiny blouse thing, and Ava wonders how the hell she got lost and ended up down here instead of wherever she belongs. Ava’s bet is on legal. Maybe HR… A shame. She’s pretty hot, but probably way too into rule following and chain of command shit to be fun.

[emma-m-black]

Soul Mate Magic - Chapter One

Rupert Giles x OC (FanFiction) - MATURE 18+

A new magical transfer comes to Sunnydale High, and ends up discovering a magical connection with our favorite Watcher.

OC is 19+ (Not a Minor), Age Gap, Slow Burn-ish (with a little preview thrown in there during the Bandy Candy Episode).

This will be a multi chapter story I don't know how spicy it will get yet, but I'll rate it Mature just to be safe.

Author Master List

Chapter One

It was the first day of classes—well, the first day of classes for Rose, that was. For everyone else, it was already about two months into the school year. But she was here now, and that was all that mattered. As she stood at the edge of the school grounds, her backpack hanging casually from one shoulder; she tilted her head slightly to take in the sight before her. The sprawling brick building loomed, its tall windows glinting under the soft morning sun. A subtle smile crept across her lips, barely noticeable, but there. Her long, and deeply coloured red hair lifted in the gentle breeze, catching the light as it danced in the air like fiery waves.

“Rose Murphy?” a voice called out from somewhere nearby, piercing the stillness around her. It was still early enough that the grounds remained devoid of students, their usual chatter and laughter absent from the air.

Rose turned, her green eyes narrowing as they scanned the scene for the source of the voice. After a moment, she spotted a girl with similarly red hair, though lighter and softer, waving cheerfully as she skipped toward her. “You must be Rose! It’s so nice to meet you!”

“Hi,” Rose responded cautiously, giving the girl a quick once-over. She was dressed in a fuzzy pink sweater and flared bellbottoms with stripes that stood out boldly against the muted tones of the schoolyard. The ensemble was a sharp contrast to Rose’s fitted blue jeans and cream-colored camisole, which peeked from beneath her worn, dark brown leather jacket. “How did you know who I am?”

“Oh, yeah. Guess that is kind of creepy, huh?” The girl grinned without a hint of awkwardness. “I’m Willow, your official tour guide for the day! I’m supposed to show you around, help you get your books, and make sure you’re up to speed. No getting lost on my watch!”

Rose arched an eyebrow, unconvinced. “That still doesn’t explain how you knew who I was.”

Willow’s giggle was light, and she waved it off casually. “You look way too cool to be from around here. Plus, I’ve never seen you before, so I took an educated guess.”

Rose exhaled a soft sigh before her lips curled into a reluctant smile. “Well, nice to meet you, Willow. And yes, I’m Rose.”

“You’re going to love Sunnydale! How about we start with my favorite spot?”

Rose chuckled under her breath. “It’s going to be the library, isn’t it?”

Willow’s face lit up as she clapped her hands together. “Yeah! How did you guess?”

“Just a hunch. You seem like you’re... um...” Rose hesitated, trying to find the right label.

Willow grinned wider. “A nerd?”

Rose pressed her lips together, then nodded slightly. “I mean, yeah... I’m a nerd too, so no judgment. I love books!”

Willow laughed again, brushing it off with ease. “Could’ve fooled me. I’m sure Cordelia will try to eat you alive.”

Rose blinked. “Eat me?”

“Well, not literally,” Willow said, waving her hand in dismissal as she motioned for Rose to follow. “She’s the popular one, and you look like you belong in her crowd, not hanging with little ol’ me. But she’s not that bad. A bit vain, maybe, but she’s even helped with...” Willow trailed off, eyes darting nervously. “Well, never mind. You’ll see. Anyway, if you love books, you’ll love Giles!”

Rose’s curiosity piqued as they stepped into the bustling halls of the school. “Who’s Giles?”

Willow’s eyes brightened. “He’s the librarian! He has this amazing collection of occul... umm... books.”

Rose stopped mid-stride, her right hand twitching slightly at her side. “Were you going to say ‘occult’?”

Willow’s voice jumped an octave, her words suddenly rushing out. “Yeah, but, you know, only if you’re into that kind of thing? It’s just a fun, academic interest for some of us. Totally harmless. Not real. Nope, not real at all.”

Rose’s fingers flexed as an odd sensation crawled up her spine. “No, totally not real,” she muttered before she curled her fingers into a tight fist as they approached two large, wooden doors under a sign that read LIBRARY. The heavy, magic-laden air prickled at Rose’s senses the moment she crossed the threshold. The magical energy here was thick, almost suffocating. Her Aunt’s warning echoed in her mind—Sunnydale was saturated with supernatural forces. It would make her spells easier to cast, but also more dangerous for her if she was caught.

“Giles!” Willow called out, leaning casually against the large reception desk.

A smooth British voice responded from somewhere deeper in the room. “Willow?”

“I’ve got a new student with me! We need books!” Willow replied cheerfully.

A moment later, a head popped out from behind a doorframe near the desk. An older man with salt-and-pepper hair and wire-framed glasses appeared, his face warm yet slightly distracted. “Ah, excellent!” He stepped out fully, his gaze immediately settling on Rose.

Rose couldn’t look away. This man, Rupert Giles, practically oozed magic. Even without her Aunt’s gift for seeing auras, Rose could feel it. The tingle of raw power hung around him like static in the air. She could almost taste the sharp edge of dark spells lurking just beneath his composed exterior.

“Rose, this is Rupert Giles. Giles, meet Rose.”

“That’s odd. I received a note about a new student, but I don’t believe the name was Rose...” Giles adjusted his glasses, his eyes narrowing as they scanned her closely.

“My given name is actually Guinevere, but I never use it. I go by my middle name, Rose.”

Giles murmured something under his breath—Windos sēbros—his sharp gaze cutting into her as if searching for something hidden beneath the surface. Rose met his eyes, wondering if he could sense what she did—magic, pulsing like a heartbeat.

“What?” Willow asked, glancing between them, completely oblivious to the intensity of their exchange.

“The White Phantom,” Rose whispered, feeling the weight of Giles’s gaze press into her. There was a moment where the air between them seemed to shimmer, thick with unspoken understanding.

Willow blinked, oblivious to the tension. “Oh! Like Arthurian stuff! My brain immediately goes to you know the sword in the stone, not um Phantoms. So, your name is Guinevere? Like the Guinevere?”

Giles gave a small, distracted nod, but his attention remained fixed on Rose. His voice softened, turning speculative. “The White Phantom, a figure from Welsh folklore. It was a magical being of great power.”

Rose shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his words, her right hand twitching once more at her side, a tell-tale sign that the magic inside her was stirring. She wasn’t sure what Giles could sense, but she could feel the way the atmosphere around them was charged. He knew something. And from the look in his eyes, he was trying to figure out just how much.

“Neat!” Willow exclaimed, still smiling brightly, unaware of the brewing storm of magic around her. “I always thought Guinevere was just a queen, but folklore makes her way cooler. Magic and mystery? Totally beats royalty.” She chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

Giles blinked, seemingly pulling himself back to the present. “Yes, well. Books. You’re here for books.” He cleared his throat, visibly shaking off the strangeness of the encounter. “Willow, I assume you have Rose’s schedule?”

“Sure thing!” Willow handed over a slip of paper that had been stuffed into her pocket. Giles smoothed it out and began reading through it.

As he did, his eyebrows raised slightly. “Quite the ambitious course load. It seems you and Willow will be seeing a lot of each other, judging by the overlap in your schedules.” His gaze flicked back to Rose. “Quite the academic, I see?”

Rose offered a slight smile. “I guess you could say that.”

Willow nudged her playfully. “She’s part of the club! It’s not very glamorous, but there are lots of late nights and over-caffeinated study sessions.”

Giles’s eyes lingered on Rose for another moment, as if he was still trying to unravel some hidden mystery about her, but then he sighed and nodded. “Right, well, let’s get you your books.”

As Giles disappeared into the shelves with Willow, Rose was left standing alone at the counter, her fingers idly tracing the surface of the old, worn wood. The library smelled of aged paper, dust, and something else—something faintly metallic, like the scent of a spell that had been cast long ago and lingered in the air, forgotten by everyone but those who could sense it.

She could hear hushed voices coming from deeper within the stacks. Willow’s tone was light, as usual, but Giles’s voice had taken on a more serious edge. Curious, Rose instinctively raised her hand to her ear and began to trace the familiar rune—one she had learned as a child when she wanted to eavesdrop on her parents. Her finger moved quickly, drawing the symbol with practiced ease. A warm sensation bloomed just behind her ear, and suddenly the quiet murmur of their conversation became clearer.

“She seems normal to me, Giles. No horns, no pointy teeth,” Willow was saying, her tone teasing but reassuring.

“I’m not so sure,” Giles muttered. “There’s something... familiar about her. Something I can’t quite place.”

Willow laughed softly. “I’ve only been with her for like ten minutes, Giles. I didn’t exactly start our conversation with, ‘Hi, are you a demonic creature here to kill us all, or just really into AP math?’ She seems pretty normal to me.”

Giles was silent for a beat. “Perhaps. But there’s a reason I feel like I’ve seen her—or someone like her—before.”

“Well, if she starts going all yellow-eyed and blood-sucky, I promise you’ll be the first to know,” Willow joked, though her words were met with a contemplative hum from Giles.

Rose let her hand drop, wiping the rune from her skin and cutting off the conversation. Her heart beat a little faster in her chest. Giles’s suspicions were more than just casual curiosity. He knew there was something off about her. He just didn’t know what yet. She would have to be careful.

A few minutes later, Willow and Giles reappeared, their arms stacked high with books. Rose had busied herself thumbing through a book on ancient Sumerian languages, though her mind was elsewhere.

“Well, I think we’ve got everything,” Giles said, though his voice carried a hint of reluctance. His expression was tight, as though he wasn’t entirely satisfied with leaving things where they were.

“Sorry!” Willow chirped, hiding behind a mountain of books. “I might’ve grabbed a few extras.”

Giles began signing out each book, his movements quick and precise. As he pushed the last one across the counter toward her, Rose reached to take it. The moment her hand came close to his, a sharp arc of electricity crackled between their fingers, lighting up the small gap between them with a visible spark. Rose jerked her hand back, shaking it as the sensation of numbness shot up her arm.

“Ow.”

Giles’s eyes widened slightly as he stared down at his own hand. “I—I’m terribly sorry, Rose. Must have been some static from the stacks. Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” Rose replied, flexing her fingers. The feeling was already returning, but the jolt had been more than just static. She could feel the lingering buzz of magic still in the air between them. “Just lost feeling for a second there.”

Giles’s gaze flicked to Willow, then back to Rose, his expression unreadable. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Rose. The library is always open if you need anything. And do let me know if there’s anything... unusual you require.”

Rose forced a smile, though the underlying tension between them was hard to ignore. “Thanks, Mr. Giles. I think I will be hiding in here quite often enough.”

Willow helped her gather the books, and soon the two of them were heading back down the quiet halls of Sunnydale High. As they walked, the distant hum of students echoed faintly through the halls, but Rose’s mind was elsewhere, buzzing with thoughts of Giles, the spark, and the strange magic that seemed to hang over him like a dark cloud.

Read Chapter Two

[redvexillum]

🚩 You will not be tagged on previews and sneak peeks 'cuz I don't like spamming your activity box

🚩 The Smexy Fawners and the Fluffy Fawners will be one shot exclusive (unless the multi-part/chapter stories are pure snu-snu or fluff)

🚩You can join both the Smexy Fawners and Fluffy Fawners if you are not interested in multi-part/chapter stories that are not pure fluff or snu-snu

🚩Please make sure you check your settings so you can be tagged by other people!

🚩 Once you join. You may never leave... jks.

For the fawners that only want pure snu-snu (read: NSFW) and nothing else 🔞

@jeannyjaykaydeh @zxiiehda14u @pumppkinlynn @red-son-irl @reddisteddie @darling-dovey

For the fawners that only want pure fluffy-wuffy goodness (read: SFW) and nothing else ✨️

@reddisteddie @darling-dovey @aliyaharnold01

For the fawners that like all my Alastor x Reader stories and would like snu-snu and fluffy-wuffy & everything in between. You will be tagged on all my one shots and multi-part/chapter stories! 💝

@todash-darkness @im-so-tired52 @eris-norwega @pentergeist @sirens-and-moonflowers @l3rittany @alastor-simp @yui-onnero @florist-of-the-valley @ustulia @briethekitsune @mistressnya @nyx91 @xalygatorx @glitterypeachy @kittycatkandies @kewpikayo @alastorthirsty

[rhaenella]

You & Me - Rhys Montrose x Reader - Masterlist

Summary: What happens when reader assassin is tasked with killing the possible future mayor of London; Rhys Montrose. Politician by day, Eat the Rich Killer by night. But he isn’t the only person wearing different masks. 

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Violence, murder, immoral sociopathic behaviour, mentions of alcoholism, drug abuse and neglect, (eventual) smut

Total word count (so far): 102k

A/N: Multi part Rhys Montrose x Female Reader fic. FYI, this fic will incorporate the use of Y/N. I have decided to also post this fic on AO3 (same username as on my Tumblr) and to change the x Reader to an Original Female Character over there using a fictitious name. That will be the only difference. So, if the use of Y/N isn’t your thing, go ahead and look the fic up on AO3 :)

Below you'll find the links to all the parts that have thus far been uploaded. I will try my best to upload a new chapter each week. Every part is also accompanied with a 'soundtrack', these are all listed below as well. Finally, a little preview of what's to come... I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoy writing it! There aren't a lot of Rhys x Reader fics out there, so I hope I can bring some extra flavour to the table.

Ps don't forget to watch the trailer/edit I made for the fic! x

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23

Soundtracks: 00. Feeling Good – Nina Simone 01. Royals – Lorde  02. Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene – Hozier  03. (I Just) Died in Your Arms – Hidden Citizens  04. Secrets And Lies – Ruelle  05. No Good – KALEO  06. …Ready For It? – Taylor Swift 07. Meet Me In the Woods – Lord Huron 08. The River – Daisy Jones & The Six 09. The Silence – Manchester Orchestra 10. Power – Isak Danielson 11. wicked game – Jessie Villa 12. Beautiful Crime – Tamer 13. Toxic – 2WEI 14. Cherry – Lana Del Rey 15. In the Air Tonight – Natalie Taylor 16. Whole Lotta Love (Dermot O’Leary) – Hozier 17. Lavender Haze – Taylor Swift 18. Don’t You Know – Jaymes Young 19. One For My Baby – Frank Sinatra 20. Run Baby Run – The Rigs 21. Sinnerman – Nina Simone 22. And so It Begins – Klergy  23. Darkness In Your Heart – Cowbell

Preview

Song: Feeling Good – Nina Simone

The sound of the heavy door opening as it noisily scraped the floor made you look in his direction. 

Rhys entered slightly out of breath, looking positively dishevelled as he ran a hand through his unruly curls.

“What happened to you? Killed another person?” You couldn’t help but teasingly joke, taking in his state as your eyes roamed freely over his physique. 

Rhys had put his hands on his hips, taking some deep breaths to slow down his heart rate. When he looked up at you, head tilted to the side, he shot you his charming smile that feigned innocence.

No way.

You stared at him. 

No way the man was truly��this brazen.

He started to move closer to you, his eyes mischievous as they betrayed his wicked actions. You marvelled a little at how quickly you were getting better at reading him. Perhaps you recognised the murderous tendencies from the mirror. 

[gracieheartspedro]

The Grudge

(A PREVIEW)

pairing: javier pena x fem!reader

description: after years of schooling, you're finally living out your dreams by working for the CIA in their crime division. they have started some research into the minds of serial killers and crime lords. lucky for you, your mother is the us ambassador of Colombia, a country riddled with crime and drug lords. she gives you clearance to go along with some DEA agents and get some of your research done. thing is, the assigned DEA agent is your college ex-boyfriend Javier Pena. new and old feelings rise and cause tension between you two, which complicates your research and, well, your life in general.

author's note: hello everyone!!! i'm finally fulfilling my civic duty and writing javi p (; i'm so excited to bring this multi-part series to you guys! each chapter is inspired by a song from olivia rodrigo's album "guts" but the main song that inspired this story was "the grudge". that being said, it's going to be an angsty one!

release day for part 1 is set for next saturday, november 11th!

I will have a sneak peek coming out by wednesday! hopefully! lmfao.

see you guys there!

[yung-notorious]

LEAVE A TRAP ON THE NET, ONLY REASON YOU REACHED OUT ‘CAUSE ALL YOUR FRIENDS THINK IM SO PRETTY! — ♡

— never lose me (read here on a03) multi-chapter, word count: 108K, ongoing. "oh girl...they're definitely talking about you in a group chat." — feat. satoru gojo

not ready to commit? preview here (minor spoilers) 4 & 7

extras: master post 📓 cast wardrobe 🛍️ instagram stories 📱 playlists 🎵

+18 MDI. TAGS & WARNINGS. baddie!reader x college!gojo, alternative universe - college/university, smoking & drinking, situationships, drama, gojo slides into your DMs, everyone is messy, typical college bullsh*t, rare pairings, reader/shoko/utahime BFF shenanigans, slightly OOC, whole lotta f*cking, instagram page stalking, Highkey p*ssy 4 homework, non-consensual audio recording (not gojo)

collage made by me, all media sources from Pinterest photo credits to original! 💕

[childlikegoblinqueen]

Preview of first Post Scomverse Multi Chapter Story:

I have a lot of Bittersweet Symphony done, but that's the 90's Human AU with @threegoblinart. I'll wait for her for that one.

Here's a quick preview of the first post Scomverse multi chapter fic.

If you haven't finished Sweet Child O' Mine there's some spoilers.

The working title has changed to Criminal (like the Fiona Apple Song)

“Oh hey!” He stopped a teenage clerk pushing a card of wart enhancing scream. The kid turned quickly and gave a little yelp, his eyes widening as recognition made its way through to his brain.

Hunter and Willow sighed while the familiar awkward silence hung in the air, broken abruptly by gurgling baby sounds.

“Ahzaboo papaa dadaWuhboo?”

The clerk shook his head. Willow frowned as his eyes turned from Hunter to the baby to her and back to Hunter.

“Oh hello, errrr, random customer.” The boy’s voice cracked. “What can I help you with today?”

“We’re looking for cards for a Baby’s Fangs Teething Ceremony?” Hunter gestured to the racks of cards on the wall.

“Mmmm.” the clerk hummed. He sucked in a breath. “Yeah, there should be a small selection right next to the ‘Happy Anniversary of Not Getting  Killed by the Draining Spell’ cards…”

“Ah.” Hunter scratched the back of his neck, “Yeah, well we’ll just show ourselves over there … and then to the self checkout counter.” 

[archiveikemen]

"Villain's Night" Story Event: Announcement

Event Run Date:

09.10.2023 (16:00) — 20.10.2023 (22:59)

*All timings are in JST

Routes Available:

Ellis Twilight, William Rex, Jude Jazza

Event Introduction:

For the first time in 20 years, on this special halloween night, the curses are on a rise. The villains, more evil than ever, beckon you into the dark night.

"Come, little robin. Let me show you the most dangerous and enjoyable night."

Behold, the most dangerous and thrilling night in Ikemen Villains!

Event Details

Special Event System

Upon clearing both ends, the whole event story (chapters 1 & 2, bitter end, premium end) will be saved into your collection and you can re-read them whenever you like.

Love Point Milestone Reward

Accumulate ≥ 95,000 Love Points to obtain the story of all 9 members of Crown!

Ranking Rewards

Ending Clear Rewards

♚ Early Full Premium Clear — Eyes

♚ Early All Endings Clear — Hair

♚ Full Premium Clear — Dress

♚ All Endings Clear — Avatar Room Background

Limited Time Story + Items Set Sale

Halloween themed sets including a short story, voiced lines, and items will be on sale! Each of the 9 members of Crown will have their own sets.

Event Participation Rewards

Players who join the event within 24 hours will receive:

♚ Multi Gacha Ticket x1

♚ Lipstick (+500 Love Points) x1

Double Time

Double time will start immediately after the event starts. Please refer to the in-game event page for the full double time schedule.

Fairytale Writer Challenge

Clear all missions in the event's mission board to receive Diamonds x100!

Route Previews

Ellis Twilight

Bitter END

"... Say it. Say that you'll stay by my side and never leave me."

Premium END

"Even though you're unhappy... I still don't want to stop. Can we go on?"

William Rex

Bitter END

"... Come, little robin. Accept my desires with your body."

Premium END

"... I have a good idea. Shall I hold you to such extreme levels that you'll hate it?"

Jude Jazza

Bitter END

"Won't you let me play with you however I please? That'd be helpful."

Premium END

"Not only did you not run away, you're even obeying me so politely — You must really be into this sort of thing."

[therealgchu]

WiP Wednesday - Anamnesis

previewing something i started working on. not very far with it, and as i outline it, it'll likely be a limited, multi-chapter story called The Pilot.

tagging the coemancer crew, and anyone else that wants to share their WIP. doesn't have to be fanfic, can be any art.

my Anamnesis short stories are here on ao3.

my other stuff is also on ao3.

just a peek

“Come on, Sam,” the six year old boy’s mother called from the ramp. “Let’s get going.”  The tow-headed boy, with a stuffed ashta in his left arm, and a model NASA Saturn V rocket in his right hand, raced up the ramp.

He stopped and looked at the landing module in wonder. This was going to be his first trip off world, and they were going in his dad’s ship. He’d been in ships before, but those were just for flying around Cheyenne, nothing big. But his dad’s ship had a grav drive! It could fly to other planets!

A lot of the other kids in school had been off-planet; either they were born somewhere else, or they had family they’d visit on another planet or moon. Sam was born in Akila, and all of his family lived on Cheyenne, so they never went anywhere.

They were flying to New Atlantis! Almost no kids at school had been to New Atlantis. They’d only been to the dinky moons like Codos. New Atlantis was on Jemison, over twenty-four light years away! He actually had no idea how long a light year was, though he did know it measured distance, NOT time. His mom told him that. Mom was a scientist, a planetary geologist. She came to school and talked to his first grade class about what she did. She looked at rocks to tell how planets were made. Sam liked going rock collecting with his mom. But Dad kinda got annoyed with them bringing back the rocks into the house. Then Mom would give Dad a smile, and he wouldn’t be annoyed anymore.

Mom had a big meeting to go to. A “conference” was the word he heard. He had to look that up in the brand new dictionary Mom gave him when school started. She said since he was a big boy, starting first grade, he’d need it. He spent all night with a flashlight under the covers reading it. He learned a lot of new words. Then he his dad got mad at him for being up too late.

[goodomensafterdark]

The Nephilim Loophole

A multi-chapter Smut War threesomes extravaganza by sub user Aetole.

CW/TW: Mentions of sex acts, BDSM, kink, explicit sexual descriptions, adult language.

Preview of "Chapter 1: Negotiation":

“So… in essence, this says that angels and demons can f–-fornicate, but they have to do it … through a human.” Crowley swirls his glass of wine as he lounges in his favorite chair.

“If you want to be crude about it, yes.” Aziraphale puts the finishing touches on his journal entry, then closes the book. “It could be dangerous engaging in the type of … fornication arrangement that could lead to offspring. There are rumors that participating in that particular configuration will be smited… smote… smitten. So it would be valuable to know of other… configurations that are available that wouldn’t be noticed or enforced. Regardless, they need to be willing and interested.”

“That’s not what you wrote, but sure.”

Aziraphale looks over his glasses at Crowley disapprovingly. “That’s what I am saying. Willing and interested.” The angel’s sharp emphasis made the demon’s eyebrows rise. “We can’t change what some did in the past, sadly. But we are responsible for what we choose to do.”

“Right. Fair enough.”

“So…”

“So?”

“Well… I was thinking…”

Crowley sips his wine, letting Aziraphale squirm through his words. Normally, he would help him finish, but today he’s enjoying letting the angel suffer a bit of embarrassment as he has to consummate the thought by himself.

Aziraphale darts his eyes around, trying to buy time for Crowley to jump in any second now… When he doesn’t, Aziraphale clears his throat and adjusts his glasses. “I was thinking… that it may be time to expand our social circle a bit. For research.”

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it? Let’s go shopping, angel.”

Read the full story at AO3.

[xoxoladyaz]

Steddie Bigbang #177: Infernally Yours is HERE!

Finally, after months of work I am SO HAPPY to start publishing my contribution to @steddiebang, a post-Season 3 AU in which Hopper doesn't go to Russia, the Byers family stays in Hawkins, and Steve Harrington finally agrees to play DnD with Hellfire. Chapters 1 and 2 are up today, chapters 3 and 4 will go up on the 9th, and the last two chapters (and the epilogue) will be posted on the 16th.

Here's the link to the story on Ao3 and a preview below :) I can't wait to see what you all think!

Listen. Steve Harrington knew that he had some sins to pay for, okay? He was kind of a stuck-up shit for most of high school and while he didn’t go out of his way to, like, ruin anybody’s day – cough, cough, Tommy Hagan – he also didn’t really reach out to anyone who needed help either. He’d led on a lot of girls before Nance, too, and if judging by the fact that the only girls he dated these days wanted a good time and not a long time, well, he had some work to do on the whole “relationship” and “finding everlasting love” front. But he’s done the work to be better! Granted, a lot of the work consisted of him getting beaten up and/or tortured by other people while protecting a group of unthankful little shitheads, but it’s still progress. And, not to brag, but he got Robin Buckley as a best friend out of the whole thing, so really, Steve Harrington’s not doing so bad on the whole “redemption” thing, thank you.

So why, why does the universe continue to torment him?

“ – and that’s when Lorcan Fairwood used Horde Breaker to fire into the pack of gnolls, dealing five points of damage to Kazar, the gnoll pack leader, and then Eddie said - ”

“Dingus,” Robin hissed, knocking her elbow into Steve’s and dislodging him from his thoughts. “Get Dingus Junior to knock-it-off with this dork talk before I knock him into the recent returns.”

Groaning, Steve rubbed his palms against his dry eyes and braced for impact. “We got it, Henderson, Munson’s the best thing to ever happen to Dorks and Demons - ”

“ – Dungeons and Dragons, Steve, I know that you know that’s what it’s called - ”

“ – and as much as I like hanging out with you, dude, these multi-hour play-by-plays aren’t convincing me that this nerd shit is, like, fun or whatever,” he finished with a sigh. Robin shot him an exasperated but grateful look and then slid her newest stack of freshly rewound returns his way.

“Shelving time, doinkus.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Steve rolled his eyes and reached for the stack.

Dustin snorted and kicked at the front of his desk, which, the attitude on this kid, seriously. “Guess Eddie was right.” 

Steve froze. What the hell does that mean?

“What the hell does that mean?”

Dustin snorted again before spinning to face Steve, his hands falling to his hips. “Eddie said says that jocks only care about other jocks. And jock stuff.”

“Hey, okay, first of all, there’s only one of us that’s actually saved your life multiple times and it’s not Eddie Munson, so jot that down,” Steve snapped, dropping the tapes back onto the counter (and ignoring Robin’s yelp as they tumbled everywhere). “And second, just because we don’t have the same interests doesn’t mean I don’t care about you, man. That’s a shit thing to say.”

Henderson folded inward, his eyes dropping towards the ground and voice losing its normal intensity. “Sorry, Steve.”

“And third – look, Henderson,” Steve sighed at Dustin’s drooping. (Look, he was a little shithead with the biggest ego in every room, but he was Steve’s little shithead and he hated to see him upset – even when it was his own fault.) “Maybe it isn’t like, totally boring in the moment or whatever, but getting a two-hour play by play after your game every Saturday isn’t doing a whole lot to convince me, man.”

“Well,” Dustin perked up slightly and cleared his throat, “we’re always looking for new members - ”

“Nope, no way.”

“Steve,” Henderson’s whining was out in full force now, “it would be so much fun! You wouldn’t even have to do that much work; I could help you get started and - ”

“No.”

“ – seriously, I can make you a character sheet so fast, and our party could really use another fighter anyways - ”

“No, Henderson!”

“ – besides, we haven’t gotten to hang out with you as much now that school started, and you know that Will’s having a hard time because everyone keeps calling him ‘Zombie Boy’ and he would be so excited to have you playing with us - ”

Shit, he’s pulling out the Zombie Boy card. Shit, shit, shit.

“Henderson - ”

“ – and, you know, I totally believe you and everything but Mike is pretty convinced that you’re still an asshole, especially with everything Eddie’s said, and this could be your chance to prove him wrong!” Dustin finished emphatically, his chest puffing with exertion.

Steve shot an exasperated look over the top of the Horror section towards Robin, who was pouting in mock-agreement with Dustin.

Traitor.

Sighing, Steve shoved Friday the 13th onto the shelf and dropped his gaze towards Dustin. “One game.”

Dustin let out a loud whoop, hopping in place and punching wildly at the air. “YES!”

“Just one game, Henderson, that’s it.”

“I’LL TAKE IT!” Letting out an even louder victory cry, Dustin raced for the door. “I’m going to get working on your character sheet right now – Wednesday, 3:30 in the drama room,” Dustin said, whirling around to point at Steve. “You’ll be there?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be there.”

“YES! Don’t worry Steve, you won’t regret this!” Dustin beamed and then he was out the door, disappearing into the October sun.