#razzywrites

[i-am-pinkie]

Have y'all figured it out yet? Writers are magic word people and must be encouraged and appreciated! 😊😘

That wonderful feeling when you’re writing, and you look back at what you’ve written so far, and just get so excited because you wrote that! 💖

[rigb0ner]

AND POSTED!!!!!!! ENJOY READING!!!!! 💙🖤

[theklancecollection]

Hello! Do you know of any fics where they discover kinks they didn't know they had? Or any where Keith comes back all buff and whatnot and Lance loses his shit over how much hotter he is. Idk if that makes sense but thanks anyway :)

Here you go Anon.

Kinks:

Watch me - keith-in-shibari (diet_affection)

Word Count: 1, 873

Summary: He picked an unfamiliar word at random, avoiding the ones that made him blush with the knowledge of what they meant.

“Um, voyeurism. I’ve got the voyeurism. Kink. Yeah.”

“Oh. That’s great, then.”

Keith cocked his head, humorous twinkle shifting to a dark gleam.

“Wanna watch me get off?”

Rating: R; explicit sexual content

Good Kitty - razzywrites

Word Count: 2, 101

Summary: Keith learns about Lance's kinks. He uses this knowledge to his advantage.

Rating: R; explicit sexual content

Grizzled Keith:

A Kind of Cosmic Joke - eatdirt

Word Count: 3, 735

Summary: And it's not like it's a big deal. It's decidedly not a big deal. Really it's hardly a deal at all. It's just that, maybe, in the trick of the light, if you squint and turn your head just so, Keith is…

Keith is big.

Rating: R; size kink, heavy petting

Happy Reading!

[stellar-parallax]

Shance Fic Rec List

Note: Some of them contain S6 spoilers. If you’re avoiding spoilers, please check the tags before reading. 

Please be mindful of the ratings and the tags!

Gifts of Rain by needchocolatenow (Mature)

Ocean Eyes by multishiphellqueen (Mature)

Midnight Tradition by strawberrylovely (General)

Tender Love by oya_script4 (Mature)

Strands by kitausu (General)

The Way You Love Me by mysticmajestic (General)

Circle by starbear (panda_hiiro) (General)

No One’s Ever Friends with Science Teachers by lancemccry (Teen)

Can’t Help Falling in Love by angst_tea (Not Rated)

What to get? by LaceyLance (General)

Happy Halloween by Alpine_Snow (General)

For Forever by strawberrylovely (Teen)

honey and seawater by your bed by lacking (General)

The Black Wolf by Sarolonde (Teen)

Anniversary by mysticmajestic (General)

The Luxury of Lacking Confidence by oldmythologies (Teen)

Out the Window by WanderingTiff (Teen)

Ten Minutes Ago by strawberrylovely (General)

A Pocket of Time That We Can Hold by FlymetotheMoon12 (Teen)

Stray Cats by kitausu (General)

Our Night Together by MissMason123 (General)

a truth so loud you can’t ignore by KaijuDork (General)

Worth the Risk by Sarolonde (Explicit)

Kiss Me Like You Missed Me by strawberrylovely (Mature)

What Fills Our Head by supershance (General)

Five Years Time by Macandkieth (Teen)

The Encounter by EternalWinterSleep (Teen)

Doctor, Doctor Please Listen by Queen_OT_Clouds (Mature)

Illicit Love by razzywrites (Teen)

Two dying stars, reborn as one by strawberrylovely (Teen)

The Last Blues by Atalto (Teen)

Dive right in by robotjellyfish (Teen)

[mithrilhearts]

Might be last minute for the month of October, but going to do this to help boost my mood (hopefully)!

What's your favorite story you've written that doesn't gain a lot of attention?

I'm still super proud of my TRSB from 2022, which gets absolutely NO love lol and I should have expected that. Cramming a big story like that into three months, but I'm still happy with how it turned out, and I have TWO sequels planned! -> Between Vices & Virtues

Have you ever upset yourself with your own writing? Why?

I guess that depends on your definition of upset. Emotional? Yes. Like when a fic ends, especially one I've been attached to for so long, it feels like saying goodbye, and that gets upsetting. Or there's the opposite, where you work so hard on a project and see that no one really paid it any attention 😅 but I try not to let that ease into my brain if I can help it (tho lately it's been very hard).

What has been the hardest scene to write for Dragonhearted?

DH my beloved. I think the hardest scene to write for this fic was near the end? Big battle scenes are not my niche, or at least, I don't think they are, it's something I need to work on. Anything overly action loaded seems to make me struggle, but we did it! I miss that fic...

What character for Where The Shadows Lie was your favorite to write?

I really enjoy the concept of the characters regardless - obviously Thorin and Bilbo are my die-hard favorites in any fic, but I especially love getting to write Frerin in this universe. He's such a little shit, and a great source of comedic relief in good spots!

Do you have specific playlists for writing fics?

I DO! I have so many playlists it's unreal. I have respective playlists for Thorin, Bilbo, Bagginshield, and then for my multi-chapter fics, they each have their own playlist (sometimes two, if I have an instrumental set for certain fics). I'm always happy to share these, if anyone is interested, I just really love music, and it helps put me in the right mood for certain fics!

3 Razzle Recs

Dragonhearted (Complete) - Beauty and the Beast AU

Where The Shadows Lie (WIP) - Vampire/Slayer AU

Between Vices & Virtues (Complete) - Modern Royalty AU

Happy Monday, Fellowship! 💜

Here at Fellowship of the Fics, we want to get to know you as authors, just as we want to hear about your stories! Each month we will have five selected questions that we encourage you to answer as a way to help promote yourself!

Simply reblog this post and answer the questions provided. This is about YOU and YOUR creations! We encourage self-bragging as much as possible!

Here are the questions for October 2023!

What's your favorite story you've written that doesn't gain a lot of attention?

Have you ever upset yourself with your own writing? Why?

What has been the hardest scene to write for [choose your fic]?

What character for [choose your fic] was your favorite to write?

Do you have specific playlists for writing fics?

Now, share up to 3 of your fics you’d like to recommend to us and your followers!

[ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender]

Illicit Love

read it on the AO3 at http://archiveofourown.org/works/14170872

by razzywrites

"Love that we cannot have is the one that lasts the longest, hurts the deepest, and feels the strongest."

Words: 2959, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Lance (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron)

Relationships: Lance/Shiro (Voltron), Shance - Relationship

Additional Tags: altean!lance, Galra!Shiro, Forbidden Love, Fluff and Angst, Conflict

read it on the AO3 at http://archiveofourown.org/works/14170872

[mithrilhearts]

↳ NOW ON AO3!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ME TO ME! I wanted to do something a little different for my birthday this year, so in true hobbit fashion, I am gifting this little oneshot to everyone! I had a lot of fun with it, and honestly, I am proud of what I’ve made! It also made me hungry if the banner says anything about it. I hope you all enjoy this little birthday gift from me to you (and me) <3

Bilbo Baggins has two great loves: molding young minds and baking. So it comes as a bit of a shock to him when at his nephew's 7th birthday party a third love is added to the list. A pair of dazzling blue eyes that are constantly looking in his direction. Of course, they could just be looking at Bilbo's cupcakes - they were outstanding if he did say so himself.

Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship(s): Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, Fili, Kili, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Merry Brandybuck, Primula Baggins, Drogo Baggins, Dis

Humming lightly to himself alongside the tunes blasting from a wireless speaker, Bilbo wasn’t sure what prompted his eyes towards the gate leading to his front yard. At first the fond grin that had formed on his lips was similar to the one he wore when greeting his students each day. Then suddenly it wasn’t. While he recognized the two kids marching their way into the yard, it was the fellow they were tugging along with them that had Bilbo rooted to the ground with his mouth agape. Fili and Kili, sons of Dis Durin who had…lost her husband last winter, if Bilbo remembered correctly. This couldn’t be a new man in her life already, could it? Then again, who was he to judge? Swallowing thickly at the implication, Bilbo took another glance towards the exasperated fellow being dragged along through his yard. He looked far too much like Dis now that he was getting a second glance. Perhaps a brother? Or a cousin, perhaps? Whatever it was, Bilbo desperately wanted to know– “Something on your mind, Bilbo?” Prim asked, smacking him square in the chest with a bag of cheese puffs. “It’s not every day you’re standing there looking like someone twisted your tongue into knots.” “I’m–I was just unaware that the Durin boys were invited, it’s a nice surprise.” “Especially the big one there, huh?” Feeling an elbow nudge into his arm, Bilbo was suddenly grateful he had no siblings. This was the type of annoying teasing he could have expected from a brother or sister…but even still, he hadn’t escaped it entirely. “Hardly.”

[mithrilhearts]

😈 and 🤭 for the ask please ❤️

Ahhhh tysm for the ask, my friend!!!

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

I guess I have a couple of times haha, like the cliffhanger in "May Your Forge Burn Bright" in chapter 7 - or the spicy dream sequence in "Dragonhearted" in chapter 8. I'm not out to make people hurt THAT much - but little things like this will suffice!

🤭 Do you have a favorite tag to use when posting your works?

On tumblr I just use #razzywrites, but I am also very fond of tagging my spicy fics with #bangingshield - and I'm SO proud of that. As for AO3, I think my favorite tags are "Thorin is an idiot" and "Bilbo is so done", because that describes them so well lmao

Fanfic writer emoji asks

[i-did-not-mean-to]

graespmj<hz<WEARjmhEAORLMJHBEAROL5JMHBOELAR5JUMHBAEOOL<WESARMHJBOL<ERAHJAOLER5H

I AM SCREAMING!!!!!!!!

Prompt: Seaside Lakeside Based on: New Bagginshield mer au!

I have a mer au sitting on the back burner right now, and every now, and again I get the itch to work on it, flesh it out, visit the universe, and this was a perfect opportunity. Consider this a “teaser” or “plot bunny”. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this and per usual, I don’t know how to limit myself to small drabbles for these events. (3200 words)

I’m not sure how many I’ll finish, but I wanted to participate in a few of these Summer Stories prompts with some of my favorite universes!

Bilbo loved this time of year.

The ice had melted, and while the water was still cold against his scales and skin, there was something undeniably relaxing about it. The Long Lake was confining, but not so much that it felt like an uncomfortable cage. Just a tolerable one. It gave him freedom to roam, and rocks to perch on when he wanted to soak up the sun—which is exactly what he was doing at this instant.

Resting on his stomach, his tailfin lingering in the water with gentle sways, he had his head propped with one hand, watching the lake’s shoreline and glaring. Often he would sit and watch those coming and going, though there usually wasn’t much activity on this side of things, just the occasional platoon of dwarves or men who were passing by, but never for long.

Save for one, that Bilbo didn’t really want to think about today.

Keep reading

[mithrilhearts]

↳ NOW ON AO3!

Happiest of birthdays to @stardryad-random​, who is by every definition of the word, a ⭐STAR⭐

Thorin was still trying to understand Shire customs. Hobbits were incredible creatures and had their own meanings and habits just as dwarves did. For instance, Thorin was well aware that gems and flowers held the same sort of importance. Each having a significant meaning behind them based on color and type that could be used as a language in itself. He’d even grown accustomed to seven meals a day, even if some of those meals often meant just tea for him while Bilbo chowed down on whatever was on his plate.

But there were just some things that Thorin hadn’t quite understood, and hadn’t felt compelled to ask. Assumptions would forever be his enemy, but right now he couldn’t be arsed to be anything other than blissfully unaware of the message he was sending.

A crown of various mushrooms adorned the dwarf’s head as he strolled into the small market square. A basket hooked at his elbow and a look upon his face that just oozed pride as if he were sporting Erebor’s finest of craftsmanship. He was proud of the gift Bilbo had given him earlier this morning, and he simply took it as some loving meaning much like flowers. The way the stems of the mushrooms had been woven together like braids and how each mushroom cap was unblemished, was the sign of a pure craftsman, and Thorin liked to think he had an eye for things like that. Bending metal to your will was one thing, but dealing with fragile materials such as flowers, stems and yes, even mushrooms, seemed to be an even more difficult craft that he could appreciate.

Despite the teasing tone that Bilbo had used with him earlier when Thorin declared he would ‘wear it until each cap was withered beyond recognition’, Thorin absolutely was sticking true to his word. He earned no shortage of stares, and that only made his pride swell even more. Hobbits were incredibly prideful when it came to their plants and gardens, so why wouldn’t each and every one of them stop and stare at such a fine gift?

[theklancecollection]

Can you recommend us some jealous Keith fics?

Here you go Anon.

In which Lance isn't all straight, and Keith gets jealous easily. - bangtansonyeondeath

Word Count: 1, 379

Summary: Jealousy, and Lance being, well, Lance.

Or, Keith finally figures out that Lance isn’t all straight.

Or, Lance is gay for Keith, but Keith doesn’t know it yet.

Rating: G

Jealousy - MilkTeaMiku

Word Count: 1, 600

Summary: Keith was not jealous.

It's just that sometimes, he thought he loved Lance more than Lance loved him, and it frightened him.

Rating: T; implied sexual content

Only For You - razzywrites

Word Count: 3, 348

Summary: Keith intends to make Lance learn his place.

Rating: R; smut, licking, biting, oral sex, orgasm control, hand jobs, edging, masturbation

Happy Reading!

[i-did-not-mean-to]

🫣🫣🫣

Omg 😵😵😵

I am screaming. Crying. Throwing up (and, for once, I actually liked my dinner. Rip).

That was perfect. That was beautiful. That was incredible. 🫠🫠🫠

I am a puddle of laughter (she looks mad, the old meddler says, then promptly disappears 😒)...

I am NOT fierce, but Gods, how I wish I was...

Oh, I cannot thank you enough for this 😭😭😭my beloved Ori, my sweet boy, I'd bonk him harder lol leaving his darling...tssss...

I cannot even express how this makes me feel. I am literally crying with emotion. This means so much to me, knowing that you usually don't do this...

🥲🥲🥲

I am so touched.

Alright folks! I know I'm not really doing much for the AU-Gust event for FOTFICs, but when given the opportunity to finally write something for my beloved @i-did-not-mean-to, I simply HAD to! It's definitely not my usual sort of writing, but I had fun with it.

I hope you enjoy it, my friend!!

Characters: Ori x OC, Nori

Prompt: Poorly timed confessions + "Sorry I took so long"

Words: 1624

The mountain had been won, and restoration over the winter had been anything but dull, so for these quiet moments, Ori often found himself near the back of any gathering of dwarrow, even during meals if he could help it. Thankfully, ever since Bilbo had come into the company, some of the more hobbity ways of life had merged their way into the lives of the dwarrow. Perhaps that was more Thorin’s doing than anything, to help keep his new interest feeling at home, but it did give the others a fair chance at properly taking care of themselves.

At least when supplies and provisions were not something they had to scavenge for.

Sitting tucked away at the farthest end of one of the large stone tables of the feasting hall, Ori had a blank journal spread in front of him, food casually to the side, and a look of pure thought across his features. A bead sat stationary within the gutter of those blank pages he had yet to decorate with ink. The bead was immaculate, just as it was important. It was a reminder of the things he had left behind prior to this quest of Thorin’s that had now come to a close.

There were so few things that had made it all the way from Ered Luin to Erebor, and this was one of them. A small, but hardy thing, much like the dwarrowdam who had gifted it to him. Plucking the bead and rolling it between his fingers, a fond curve pulled at the corner’s of Ori’s lips, examining the design of that which was most special to him. He wondered how Lílja was doing these days. Was she still the studious dam he remembered? Or too busy breaking the hearts of many a dwarrow with an axe in hand?

Or perhaps breaking them literally.

It often made the scholarly dwarf wonder what she had seen in him, for she had been a force to be reckoned with. Smart, lovely, and fierce. Sighing to himself as he rolled that bead around once more, Ori’s lips dropped, his eyes falling closed and remembering a time that felt like so long ago…and yet, wasn’t that long ago at all.

The night before leaving Ered Luin, after many months of shy glances and careful gestures, Ori had been ready to pour his heart out. At first, he had thought of simply writing something and leaving it behind for Lílja, such as a letter or a poem, something to truly get his thoughts down, but in the end, he’d opted for verbally stumbling his way through a proper confession of his admiration. 

Much to his surprise, while formerly forehead to forehead with the lovely dam he missed, Ori’s feelings had been reciprocated with the bead that was currently being rolled between his fingers.

A clap against the back of his shoulder sent the dwarf nearly jumping out of his skin.

“Thinking about your beaut, again, little brother?” Nori teased, fully thrilled to have caught Ori off guard as the younger dwarf fumbled with that bead, clutching it to his chest. “You could always write to her, you know.”

“The ravens have been working hard to deliver far more important things from our king to his sister, I would hate to overwork them…” Ori sighed, not bothering to shrug the arm that was suddenly slung over his arm as he relaxed, his eyes falling upon the bead in his palm once more. “I do miss her though.”

“Anyone with eyes can see that. Even Bilbo’s caught on!” Nori teased, reaching a hand over and playfully tweaking Ori's cheek, and finally getting a swat in his direction. “I have faith that you’ll get to see your dwarrowdam sooner rather than later.”

“Much as I would love that, I can’t help but believe that Lílja will be upset with me for leaving her like I did,” Ori lamented with a roll of his eyes before they settled on the king and consort-to-be that looked so dopey and enamored, reminding him of the doe eyes he’d been teased about making at Lí. “Did we look like that?”

“Even more sickeningly sappy, I promise.”

Trust in Nori to be honest, anyway. Ori took the words with grace though as he felt a smile pull at his lips, offering a grateful nod towards his older brother. “Perhaps I’ll have to come up with something more romantic if she ever speaks to me again after that poorly timed confession. Perhaps a bead of my own? Or a poem…”

“Or one of the thousands of sketches you’ve done of her since we left. I’m sure she’d keel over just knowing she’s not left your mind since we hit the road.” Squeezing Ori a bit in that shoulder-slung grip. “She’s a fine dam, you know.”

“She is!” Ori’s voice rose an octave, agreeing excitedly and quickly. “She’s fierce, and smart, and her beard…” The longing sigh could have blown the entire mountain away if it had just a little bit more force.

Hearing the quick scraping of boots against stone, Ori perked up to notice Thorin racing beyond his table, Bilbo at his heels and mentioning something about the first caravans from Ered Luin. Sharing a glance with Nori, Ori was quickly on his own feet as other dwarrow were also trickling their way to the main gate to welcome the first of those from the Blue Mountains. “You don’t think…?”

“Let’s go get your dam,” Nori urged, pushing Ori along.

Waiting anxiously, Ori bounced from foot to foot, a bead still clasped in his hand while a journal was long forgotten back in the feasting hall. His eyes were constantly moving, recognizing most faces, but none stuck out to him as important as the one he wanted to see. While watching Thorin embrace his sister, and how she eagerly was greeting Bilbo, it only produced a small smirk of amusement, but his attention continuously moved from dwarf to dwarf. 

Whatever small surge of hope had flooded Ori’s chest began to wither away, right up until the point where he heard his name ringing loudly like a gong, It felt like the world had slowed as a particular dwarrowdam emerged from the caravan crowd with a very unimpressed look to her face as her eyes met his. It felt like being caught in the grip of trolls, that gaze, and Ori almost wished he’d stayed behind with his journal and his memories.

“She looks mad,” Nori whispered from behind in his ear, keeping the younger dwarf from tucking tail.

“Thank you for pointing that out,” Ori hissed, already aware of that fact as the dam in question was stomping his way. Furious as she looked, the warmth that bubbled about in his heart couldn’t be helped. She looked just as lovely as he remembered. The way her beard moved as she did, and the little glimpses of those heavily pierced ears, and the tattoos! He’d take an angry Lílja any day, over no Lílja at all.

“Best of luck, little brother,” Nori teased before retreating back a few steps, eager to watch from afar as the dark haired dam got within reach. All he hoped was that Ori didn’t stumble over his words again.

Bracing himself as Lílja stormed her way over, Ori forced a smile to his lips, shy as it was. “Hi Lí,” he barely stammered at least, his fingers locking together as he half expected for an axe to land in his skull, or a fist to clock his jaw.

“Hi? That’s all you have to say?” Lílja huffed as she took those last few steps and her arms moved, though not in the way anyone expected considering her stomping display across the stone. Instead, her hands moved to cup the sides of Ori’s face gently. “I’m sorry I took so long…” she murmured. 

Reaching up to clasp around Lílja’s wrists, one hand awkwardly while hanging onto a bead, Ori felt his heart flutter, practically soaring to the heavens as his grin widened. “What do you mean? I’m the one who left—”

“And to say you were simply leaving for the Shire!” Lí snorted, “but…I’m sorry I took so long in getting here so that I could tell you to never do that again. Or at least take me with you! Our foolhardy king could have likely used a bit of sense among his company!”

Ori couldn’t help but laugh, flashing a glance over towards Thorin, Bilbo, and Lady Dis. “We had a bit of unexpected sense join our company, but I’m certain having you along would have spared us many headaches.”

“The Hobbit, over there?”

“Our burglar,” Ori winced as he watched Dis’ skull crash into Bilbo’s, and Thorin practically fell over in worry at the gesture.  “And the future Consort Under the Mountain, should he survive Thorin’s sister. You will love him just as we do,” 

“I can’t wait to meet him then, but until then, tell me all about this quest, for I have missed you dearly.” Lílja was quick to bonk her forehead far gentler against Ori’s before latching onto his arm, ready to be escorted deeper into the mountain and get a full retelling of the Quest for Erebor, now that seeing the victory had calmed her once worried heart.

“Of course, amrâlimê. I have a whole journal to show you!”

Typical Ori, and the truth of it was, seeing him alive and well had calmed her, not Erebor, not the king’s success, but Ori, and she wasn’t planning on letting him out of her grasp anytime soon—come dragonfire or high water.

[mithrilhearts]

How did you come up with the titles to your fics?

Painfully? But no really, half of the time they come up to my really quickly, and others it is such a painstakingly long process. I need to absorb media, be it songs or look at games, anything that might trigger a particular phrase or series of words that comes together for a title. I hate titles.

Describe your writing process.

My writing process has evolved over the past two years. I am now firmly in a place I think that works best for me, so yay! First and foremost, I pick a fic or two that I am going to focus that month (but allow myself some wiggle room to work on others if my brain wants me to), but from there, I have my outline, which I do...twice. I have messy bullets, and then flesh those bullets out into actual chapter breaks. It's become the easiest way for me to get through a story a little more seamlessly. After the outline, I just write! Once a chapter is complete, I will go back and edit/revise and prepare for posting, for whenever it's time to update a fic. I have been doing really well in posting updates every other week, and I'd love to keep it that way. I'd like to make more of a schedule of WHEN things will get posted. In the future, perhaps. This is just a condensed version of my writing process. Outline > write > edit > post. BOOM.

What qualities/personality traits do you feel like you capture well in your characters?

I think for me, capturing the softness of the characters, as well as their humor, tends to be the most fun and what pops out to me when rereading. The way these things mesh together with other characters also seems to go well.

What about "When Darkness Shines Brightest" stands out from others with the same trope?

So I'm zeroing in on the "hades/persephone" trope here, and I think what makes mine different, is that it's not just solely focused on that. There are other elements involved, and we see Thorin "kidnap" Bilbo as a means for AID, not out of love or desire for him, but because he believes Bilbo can save his people, and his realm. It's an interesting twist, methinks!

What part of the writing process do you most enjoy (brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc.)?

I'm really enjoying the outline/brainstorming process lately, especially when the brainworms are in high supply. It's really fun to see how the stories evolve between outline (phase 1) and outline (phase 2). But other than that, I think the actual writing is also my favorite.

Three Razzle Recs…

Where The Shadows Lie

May Your Forge Burn Bright

Bookbinder//Songwriter

HAPPY MONDAY, FELLOWSHIP! 💜

Here at Fellowship of the Fics, we want to get to know you as authors, just as we want to hear about your stories! Each month we will have five selected questions that we encourage you to answer as a way to help promote yourself!

Simply reblog this post and answer the questions provided. This is about YOU and YOUR creations! We encourage self-bragging as much as possible!

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS FOR JUNE 2023!

How did you come up with the titles to your fics?

Describe your writing process.

What qualities/personality traits do you feel like you capture well in your characters?

What about [choose your fic] stands out from others with the same trope?

What part of the writing process do you most enjoy (brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc.)?

NOW, SHARE UP TO 3 OF YOUR FICS YOU’D LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO US AND YOUR FOLLOWERS!

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Daaaaamn that was so cute and touching and I'm so in love with cat Thorin ❤️❤️

I am but a humble little anon with a small request for you because I liked the prompt…👀

“…you actually expect me to believe that you’re still alive…because of a cat?”

Alright, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this prompt as soon as it fell in my inbox. I went a little overboard...and did not stick to my "these are going to be less than 1k a piece!" but that's okay.

Have some words from the AU verse of "Where The Shadows Lie"

“Oh! She’s a nightmare!” Bilbo growled as he paced back and forth while practically tearing his hair out by the roots. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when she gets here. All because she wants to borrow a few place settings, which I know I’ll never get back, but no doubt she’ll criticize the way I’m running the place, and not to mention–”

“Bilbo,” Thorin abruptly interrupted from his perch on the check in desk while watching his significant other look as if he were about to go toe to toe with some regular monsters. The kind that lived under his bed, rather than in them like Thorin did. “Relax.”

“You don’t understand, Thorin. My cousin Lobelia could be the solution to all of your problems! Send her after this Azog fellow, let her tear him apart with her snotty attitude and–” a set of hands were suddenly at Bilbo’s cheeks, partially squishing them, but primarily caressing. Curse vampires and their speedy movements. If it was Thorin’s intent to get him to be quiet, this vampire was in for some bad news. “She’s a Sackville-Baggins!” Bilbo blubbered through his squished face as his brows furrowed.

“And you’re a Baggins, but also a Took. If I know anything about either, you’ll be just fine,” the vampire murmured close before releasing his hands from Bilbo’s face, landing them on his shoulders instead. “What can I do to help?” And as Bilbo opened his mouth, Thorin’s head instantly shook in disapproval. “I am not biting her.” To which the human’s face wilted like that of a child being denied their desires.

“Realistically? Can you take the others out for a little bit? Much as I adore your company…I don’t know how confident I feel in letting those like Frerin and Nori loose around Lobelia, right now.”

A thick brow arched high and Thorin’s head tilted. “Not embarrassed by us, are you?” Specifically, him.

“No! No, I just…don’t know what she knows, you know?”

“I know.” Sighing, Thorin stepped away and locked his arms across his chest, a tell-tale sign when irritation was starting to itch at the back of his brain. “I promise you, my company will be far from this place when your dear cousin pays a visit. Less stress for you, and…perhaps a bit of fun for them.”

“Thank you. The last thing I need is for Lobelia to start squawking rumors to every relative, near or far.” Regardless of the family tree obviously separating into two, it wasn’t as if the Sackville-Bagginses never spoke to the Tooks. This was to protect Thorin and his brood–alongside some of Bilbo’s sanity. Stepping closer and rising on his toes to press a kiss to his vampire’s lips, it truly felt like kissing a stone wall. “Don’t be like that. I promise, it’s nothing against you, she just worries me is all.”

“Alright, if you say so.” 

Nothing was going to move the irritable mountain that was Thorin Oakenshield, and Bilbo had to accept that. He’d win Thorin’s favor later if possible, but for now, it was time to prepare for some family visiting, as no doubt Lobelia would be bringing her husband and her son along with her. More eyes for scrutiny, and more witnesses to Bilbo’s embarrassment.

….

Thorin had kept to his word and ushered the company out of the bed and breakfast for who knows what. Perhaps he’d simply used the ‘leader’ voice he was known for having and shooed everyone off, but Bilbo was grateful regardless. Part of him was still worried that his fanged beau was annoyed or under the impression that they couldn’t behave, but it was something to focus on later. For now, Bilbo had been keeping himself busy with vacuuming, dusting, and just looking busy.

Until that knock came, and Lobelia strode in with her husband and son at her heels.

“Good evening, Cousin!” Lobelia practically snorted with her nose to the sky, making an observation already of how the lobby was looking. “It’s getting a little dusty in here, isn’t it? Have you been slacking?”

“I’m literally cleaning right–” Sighing, Bilbo gave up on that attempt before he’d ever finished the sentence. “You wanted some plates and silverware for your dinner party, yeah?”

“Why are we rushing things? I hardly get to see you, and we don’t live that far away. Let’s catch up. Go put on some tea, if you’d be so kind.”

Being bossed around in his own house had Bilbo practically vibrating with annoyance, but he forced a grin on his lips and nodded. “Of course. I have scones too.” Day old, but Lobelia didn’t need to know that. “Right this way–Hello, Otho! Lotho! It’s good to see you again.” While neither had much to say aside from faint hellos, Bilbo was actually disappointed. It meant Lobelia would be doing all the talking, but what else was new?

Leading the way through the lobby, the little sitting room to the side, and into the kitchen, Bilbo just babbled about what he’d been up to–which were all lies, of course. From having guests come and go, to taking up new hobbies such as crochet (to explain some of the yarn that had been left out by Ori in the sitting room), it was…something. That is, until Bilbo came to a dead stop to stare at his kitchen counter that housed a plate of day-old scones and a large black and grey cat draped on the ledge just waiting for him.

“No wonder it’s so dusty and dirty! What even is that large…beast…?” Lobelia scrunched her nose, reaching out a hand to halt Lotho from charging forward, who seemed more excited to see a big cat in Bilbo’s house than the scones. “Don’t touch that, it probably has rabies. You did get this thing it’s shots, didn’t you, Bilbo?”

Bilbo, who was red in the cheeks and without a word on his tongue, simply stared at the large cat who lounged with a tail flicking lazily. Those bright blue eyes staring back at him and looking more annoyed than anything. “I…he’s just a cat, Lobelia, he isn’t going to infect you.”

“I bet there’s hair all over the scones–”

A loud objection of a meow came from Thorin, raising his head and narrowing his eyes on the woman with tight curls and an absurdly colored dress on her frame.

“Don’t look at me,” Lobelia snorted, waving her hand dismissively. “Shoo, feline. Honestly, Bilbo, I know you’re lonely, but a cat of that size will maul you in your sleep.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Bilbo muttered with a small grin pulling at the corners of his lips before clearing his throat. “He…saved me, really. His company is great, and I don’t know where I’d be without it.” Both Thorin’s and his actual company. To say they showed up at the right time in Bilbo’s life would be an understatement. Things had been looking dull and drab, and then some vampires fell through his door. “He gives me a reason to wake up in the morning.” A dark admission if ever there was one, but it was honest, and it gained Thorin’s attention.

“You actually expect me to believe that you’re still alive…because of a cat?”

 “Yes. Now we can move on from Acorn Majesty, don’t mind him, he won’t do anything to you, so long as you don’t do anything to him. So, I’d stop insulting him if I were you.”

“Oh, please. All I have to do is change the pitch of my tone, and he won’t know any differently.” Putting on a brave face, Lobelia strode forward, standing right next to the counter and reaching a hand out. Her lips curl into the sweetest grin as she began to scratch at the top of Thorin’s head and behind one ear. “You don’t know anything I’m saying, do you? A ridiculous thing, but that seems suitable for he who is your master–”

Thorin hissed and nipped at the hand close to him, his fur bristling and claws extending to be more threatening, which got the reaction he wanted. Lobelia stepped back, cradled her hand that had barely been grazed–no blood was drawn–and just looked bewildered. Another loud hiss escaped Thorin.

Bilbo tsked his lips, practically tutting Lobelia like one might do to an ill-behaved child. “I told you so. He’s very smart, and he hates yellow.” Which just so happened to be the color of Lobelia’s dress. “The dishes, then? Or did you still want some cat-hair-covered scones and tea?”

“I don’t think I want either! Not if this thing has been around them!”

“I let Acorn eat off of those plates all the time, he’s a very high maintenance cat, you know,” Bilbo snickered as he watched Thorin’s legs stretch and his paws extend as if reaching for him. Scrubbing a hand beneath Thorin’s chin and picking him up like the oversized baby he was being, all Bilbo could do was find some amusement in this turn of events. If all it took was a grumpy cat to ward Lobelia off, maybe he should have mentioned it before! Don’t mind the cat when you get here–it could have saved them a lot of trouble.

“Thank you for your…generosity, but I think I’ll pass on borrowing any of your stuff. Otho, Lotho, we’re leaving–”

“But mom, I want to pet the cat–” A firm hand landed on Lotho’s arm to pull him away.

“He’ll bite, we’re leaving. Next time Bilbo, we’ll catch up at my place. Just wait for an invitation…for you, only. No cats allowed.”

Bilbo highly doubted he’d be getting an invitation anytime soon, and that was alright with him as he grinned, waved, and felt a feline’s head nuzzle under his chin, purring loudly like a laugh as the door to the bed and breakfast opened and slammed closed.

“So much for your promise, Thorin,” Bilbo sighed, but he wasn’t mad, not in the slightest! Relinquishing his hold on that ridiculously large feline in his arms as Thorin wiggled about, Bilbo grabbed a scone and simply leaned back against the counter.

“I kept my promise,” Thorin huffed as soon as he was back in his more human form, dusting off the front of his vest. “I said my company would be far from this place, I never said anything about myself.”

Pausing, Bilbo fixed his significant fanged annoyed with a look and shrugged. He’d give Thorin this one, but next time he’d learn to read between the lines, or ask for specifics.

“What was that about having a reason to wake up in the morning–”

“Let’s not talk about it.”

“I want to know.”

“You want to know? Okay. Before you came around this place felt like a tomb–” holding up his hand and frowning, Bilbo was not in the mood for any vampire jokes at the moment either, not that Thorin was one to crack them often. “–my parents are gone, this place gets little to no traffic, and I start finding myself up to my eyeballs in debt just to keep this place running, and shit seemed hopeless no matter what I tried. I was ready to sell and move on, or worse, but then you guys showed up and gave me a near heart attack, but…things changed.”

Bilbo found himself with a purpose, and while the financial situation of his life hadn’t really turned around, what the company had paid did ward off the bank for a little bit. Then of course there was Thorin, someone who Bilbo’s heart had grown very attached to. Someone he wanted to help out of a mess, just as the vampire was unknowingly helping him out of his own. 

“Things aren’t as lonely, Thorin, and that saved me.” Bilbo’s eyes had dropped, his lips forming a distinct pout as he shifted uncomfortably under Thorin’s gaze. 

Just as before, a set of hands pressed to the sides of his face, but with far less squishing and desire to silence him. If anything, Bilbo noted just how gentle the touch was as a kiss pressed to his forehead.

“Just as you saved me, then,” Thorin murmured against Bilbo’s warmer skin. “Loneliness is the worst kind of enemy, even when surrounded by a great deal of people. But I make this promise, I will not abandon you to that, you hear me?” 

And as Bilbo lifted his head, catching sight of that soft expression Thorin wore, no longer feeling or looking like some variation of a brick wall, Bilbo couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath, latching onto the vampire and nestling under his chin, just as the feline version of Thorin had done to him moments before. “Nor will I abandon you. That’d be bad work of me as your bodyguard–”

“Bilbo,” Thorin warned, a loving type of exasperation in his voice.

“Thank you for sticking around. At least now I have a weapon against Lobelia, and I get to keep my mother’s best china.”

Snorting, Thorin stroked a hand against Bilbo’s back. “Happy to help ward off your enemies, and protect your mother’s dinnerware.” Another kiss was pressed to Bilbo, this time atop his head and into his curly mop of hair.

“My hero.” And in more ways than one, that was for sure.

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Wooooo spicy and hilarious! ❤️

I loved this ❤️

“Is this a fight or would you two like some privacy?” Would please me very much if you did this one. 👀

I had a LOT of fun with this one, okay?? I knew exactly what I wanted to do as soon as you sent this to me, yay!! Yet again, I can't stick to the "less than 1000 words" thing for these, but that's okay. I am enjoying these drabbles so much!!!

Have some words from the AU verse of "Where The Shadows Lie"

Things around the bed and breakfast had been relatively normal–or as normal as they could be when a vampire slayer, bodyguard, and all around nerd shared their home with a brood of eccentric vampires. Things had turned around and tensions had lessened regarding the royal predicament on hand, and everyone was happier for it.

Especially Thorin, and who could blame him?

But with normalcy settling in and comfort becoming very common, that didn’t mean the royal issue of the vampiric hierarchy could be forgotten. It was only a matter of time before Azog gained the balls to send someone their way, and if he was going to keep his company in one area, relying on the protection of old legends and a very much alive Took, then that slayer needed to know what he was up against.

“Again,” Thorin demanded sternly, his eyes dark and full of threat as they remained locked on Bilbo across the room from him. The poor fella looked winded, but there was determination in his eyes as well, and that was something Thorin respected, just as he found it incredibly attractive.

With emotion playing no part in these little lessons–unlike that time Bilbo had nearly taken out Thorin with a stake before being pounded into a wall–it seemed the vampire slayer was a little less than coordinated while under the spotlight. It was annoying to Bilbo, and each time he made a lunge for his target and ended up on his ass, his snarl grew in intensity. As did Thorin’s lessons.

But, he tried! God, how he tried!

Charging towards Thorin and trying to get a single hand on him, failure was quickly staring Bilbo in the face as he was on his back in a matter of seconds, Thorin leaning over him with a hand pressed against his chest to keep him down. “Nugh! Just fire me already!” Bilbo whined in annoyance as he pouted and laid around like a useless wet noodle.

“Fire you?” Thorin’s brow arched high as his lips formed a straight line. “I don’t think that’s necessary. You’re just thinking too much about it. You’re a ‘heat of the moment’ sort of fighter, that’s true, but I’d be a fool to not teach out the basics in self-defense.” It’s what kept them going at this despite Bilbo’s continuous objections. “You’ll get it.” Leaning down and preparing to press a kiss to Bilbo’s forehead, a new idea began to take root in Thorin’s own mind. Replacing the look of comfort and adoration to something less enthusiastic and more snarly, Thorin gripped at Bilbo’s shirt to hoist him back up a bit roughly. “Or else we’ll leave, and I’ll find someone who can do the job.”

“What?!” Bilbo squeaked, trying to find his balance as he was suddenly in an upright position.

“It would be cruel to subject you to my world if you can’t even defend yourself, and as a king, I must think of both my protection, and my partner’s. A weakness has no place here.” A look of strain crossed the vampire’s face as a forced curve of his lips was present. “It’s not that I would want to part ways, but I can’t afford to worry about you–”

“Let’s go again!” Bilbo growled, wiggling out of Thorin’s grip and bouncing on his feet once more. “I can protect myself, you don’t have to worry about me”

“Prove it.”

A small voice in the back of Bilbo’s brain knew, and warned him, that this was nothing more than Thorin jerking his chain, trying to get a rise out of him. But if poking a teeny-tiny emotional button (which said a lot), was what it took to learn something today? Then so be it. The fact that Bilbo was truly and utterly bothered at the idea of Thorin leaving both in general, and as a partner due to his lack of ability, spoke volumes. To say that Bilbo was thoroughly attached and invested in this man would be an understatement, and now he was going to prove his worth.

If he could wildly slay a few vampires at that nightclub not too long ago, surely he could land Thorin on his ass? Besides, something about that sounded more fun than it should with Thorin  sporting some smug little grin on his face right about now.

With a frown settling onto his lips, and concentration hardening in his eyes, Bilbo waited a few seconds before lunging, but his balance and moves weren’t as careless as before. He had something needling him with Thorin’s words, and the vampire’s confidence, and now that there was something to prove, his body knew how to act. The adrenaline that soared through Bilbo’s veins was unlike anything he was used to. He’d never been an avid sports participant, but he had to wonder if the feeling was similar to being on the field. This was a game he could not lose. 

Thorin was someone he could not lose. If not for the sake of his sanity, then for the sake of his overly attached heart.

…

“Again!”

The sound of Thorin’s shout practically echoed through the walls, as had the sound of glass shattering and continuous thuds against either the wall or the floor, and naturally, the sound made Frerin pause. 

Now, Frerin wasn’t ignorant to his brother and Bilbo’s…physical lifestyle, to say otherwise would be a bold faced lie. Thuds and shouts weren’t uncommon, but this sounded decidedly different, or that little human with the twitchy nose was wilder than Frerin expected. It made a spark of curiosity take root in his brain as he sauntered towards the doorway and gave the knob a firm twist as one loud thud made him almost flinch.

It wasn’t that he wanted to walk in on Bilbo and Thorin doing the nasty, but that curiosity had gotten the better of him, especially when it didn’t exactly sound like a rough love making moment. Though as he stared at the floor, part of him had to wonder otherwise. There they were, both fully clothed and entirely focused on one another with gritted teeth and intense stares.

Bilbo was seated atop Thorin at his chest, his crotch practically in Thorin’s face as the other’s hands were pinned to the ground awkwardly over his head. The funny part was how Bilbo’s gritted expression turned into a smirk of confidence.

At least, until Frerin cleared his throat and arched a brow. “Is this a fight, or would you two like some privacy?”

“Aha! A witness!” Bilbo cheered, still keeping every ounce of his strength against Thorin’s hands while trying to ignore the blush beginning to slowly bloom across his cheeks. “I’m getting the hang of this self-defense thing.”

“Or Thorin just likes your dick in his face,” Frerin shrugged nonchalantly as his brother’s head turned and shot a sharp glare that could likely cut through butter. “What? Just stating facts! But it’s nice to see you both are still in one piece.”

“Why did you walk in if you had any inkling we might be doing something else?” Thorin snarled in annoyance, only to watch Frerin’s grin widen like that of a cheshire cat.

”Pro-tip, leave a sock on the door, or lock it, if you plan to take these little lessons in a spicy direction. Then critters like me won’t come wandering in–”

“Get out!”

Frerin zipped out as quickly as he had wandered in–so, slowly–leaving Thorin to growl and Bilbo to snicker at the display. “Siblings,” Thorin huffed before turning his attention back up towards he who had proven himself time and time again, and today was no exception. “You’ve done well, though,” Thorin’s words were less stone-like, and his expression had softened a fraction as Bilbo’s eyes met his.

“Your little mind tricks seemed to help. It gave me something to fight for rather than just swinging at you aimlessly…though that does hold some appeal with the way you gave the idea of casting me aside,” Bilbo feigned distress as his eyes rolled, but his hands had never once moved to release Thorin from his pinned state. There was too much pride in holding him here by the hands. “I wouldn’t let you leave, even if you tried.”

“Mm, if this hold you have me in is just a taste of what I could expect from you, I wouldn’t expect any less,” Thorin snorted, his hands twisting a bit to maneuver the grip Bilbo had him in, lacing their hands together for something a little more loving. “But I have no reason to leave, and never did. Though, keeping you safe is of great importance to me.” 

“Well, as you can see, I think I am perfectly capable of handling myself, especially when I have something to lose,” Bilbo hummed his words, his eyes dropping a bit and his grip lessening. Was it silly to admit such things? Perhaps, but at least they were honest. “Did you want to keep practicing?”

A small squeeze of Bilbo’s hands brought those hazel eyes back to him, and Thorin’s blues sparkled with a touch of mischief. “I think that’s enough practice for today, but I will say, where we are now has me incredibly inspired,” Thorin chuckled, grinning widely as he squeezed Bilbo’s hands again. “I quite like being beneath you, and at your mercy.” 

“My mercy, huh? If that isn’t a stroke against my ego then I don’t know what else would be.”

“Lock the door and I’ll do more than stroke that ego of yours,” the vampire purred, tilting his chin upward and towards the door, but not daring to keep his eyes off Bilbo. “Unless you’d rather–”

“Nope!” Bilbo was up and moving to the door, nearly as quick as the one vampire in the room! Just like his fighting lessons, there was something that made the effort worth it, and he was beyond content in calling it a day on the sparring, and seeing just how fun it was to take the seat of power–right on Thorin’s chest with their hands laced. “Continue.” And while matching Thorin’s grin, Bilbo was more keen on these little lessons of theirs if they all came with a proper reward at the end.

[i-did-not-mean-to]

I went back to reread the plot bunny.

Hmmmm, you've cheated us out of the middle part...and Thorin's reaction and the knowledge whether Bilbo got anything from the bottom of the river...and and and...

🤨🤨🤨

Either way, I love this AU (as I do all your AUS) and I would dearly love more of it. It's so good and romantic 🥺🥺🥺

I loved that Bilbo confessed the reason so bravely and I would love to see that scene from Thorin's POV. I'll remember this for the next time FOTFICS does a "pov change" challenge or so...

Beautiful as always ❤️

Hi! First of all I love your writing 💖 I got curious about the trope wheel, and I got Soulmate AU and Scars! Quite a lucky spun in my opinion! Hope it inspires you if you are in the mood for writing 💖

Hello hello!! First and foremost, thank you so much for your kind words, and of course for spinning the wheel!! :) I'm sorry this took so long, January decided to be a really mean month, but I'm slowly crawling out of my funk.

Anyway, I knew when I saw this message that I had to dive back into one of my plot bunnies that is actually a soulmate au! Whether this scene makes the final cut of the fic, or gets an overhaul, or whatever, who knows. But I wanted to convey the soulmate part, while dealing with literal scars. I hope this will suffice for your trope wheel spin!!

→ Heartstones (plot bunny)

To say that Bilbo felt guilty would be an understatement. How foolish he had been to drift too deep into the water all to check out a glistening stone at the bottom? He felt for these dwarves, and while he didn’t quite understand the whole ‘heartstone’ explanation, he understood enough. It was similar to his own plight of being an unclaimed bachelor of Hobbiton. His need to help Thorin find some mystical gem knew no bounds, and it almost caused him to drown.

Luckily, that wasn’t the case.

Laying on the grass and looking no better than a drowned rat, Bilbo was sure his face was soon to catch on fire with how red it was. Staring upward towards a water-logged dwarf who had fished him out of the water as soon as he’d sunk beneath the surface, Bilbo wasn’t sure what it was he could say. A simple ‘thank you’ wouldn’t suffice. Instead of something remotely intelligent leaving his mouth, the bubbling gurgles of a “why did you do that?” spewed from Bilbo’s mouth as he tried to hack up water that had rudely infiltrated his lungs.

“Why did I do that?” Thorin wheezed, sitting back and shaking a bit like a dog might after playing around in puddles. “Why did you do that?” It was obvious by Bilbo’s flailing that the hobbit had no idea how to swim, which had made him sink that much faster. So the question remained. What had possessed Bilbo to wade deeper into the river and drop to his knees of all things? It was foolish, just as it was careless, and Thorin hadn’t been prepared to just…drop into the water to spare Bilbo the misery that was drowning. But he’d done it. He had to.

“I thought I saw something.”

“And risked your life–” Thorin winced, and his hand instantly went to his shoulder. There was a tear in the fabric that ran deep, and as he pulled his hand away, there was the light staining of red against his palm. 

This made Bilbo pop up a lot faster than he should have, and instantly the world spun in protest. “You’re hurt,” he observed, moving his way around Thorin who sat on the ground looking pouty and uncomfortable. “Let me see.” The tear through Thorin’s coat was enough to tell Bilbo all he needed to know. Sometime in that rescue mission of Thorin’s, he must have caught his shoulder against some sharper rocks or branches that held little mercy regardless of one’s good intentions. As if Bilbo hadn’t felt guilty enough…

“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Thorin insisted sternly, easing away from Bilbo’s touch to negate any further pain, but the hobbit wasn’t having any of that as he firmly tugged Thorin back into place.

“I most certainly will worry about this. You got this because of me, and now I’m taking care of it, regardless of your stubborn pride. Now hang on.”

Bilbo was shuffling from his spot where he’d been examining the tear in Thorin’s coat, and ultimately his shoulder, and was moving for a hilariously large bag that he had brought with them when leaving Bag End. “A good hobbit always prepares for any adventure, no matter how big or small,” he pointed out proudly while digging through the various items he thought necessary for today’s excursion.

Trotting to the water to carefully dampen a cloth and then work his way back to a dumbfounded dwarf, Bilbo made a wild gesture with his hand towards Thorin’s…everything. “Off with that coat.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t tend to your wounds with that on, now off with it.” The tone was bossy as if one were dealing with a gaggle of ill-behaved fauntlings, and much to Bilbo’s delight, Thorin complied. He was a bit grumbly about it, but the dwarf was moving and shedding his thick layer of leather and furs, only for a pesky tunic to be in the way. “And that too. We’ll need to take care of this properly back home with medicine and what not–”

“I thought good hobbits were prepared?” Thorin snorted in mild annoyance, but also amusement.

The sigh that left Bilbo’s left could have contended with the wind with how heavy it was. At least Thorin was trying to crack a joke in the face of his obvious discomfort. Or that’s what Bilbo chose to believe anyway. “Anyway…” Hazel eyes rolled, but came to a grinding halt as Thorin was struggling to get his tunic over his head with how poorly his shoulder felt, spurring Bilbo into action yet again. With the tunic removed and Thorin pulling his hair out of the way, the two fell into silence.

The sight that Bilbo was met with was enough to cause him to pause, and not because there were a few intricate designs decorating Thorin’s back and nape, but from the damage his foolishness had caused his dwarven guest.

A few moments ticked by, and as Thorin remained seated on the ground with Bilbo staring at his back, it was as if the dwarf could feel that gaze burning into his skin more than any scar ever could. “Is there a problem?”

Bilbo’s ears wilted, as he tentatively rubbed his fingertips at the reddened skin around that scar, careful not to touch the actual wound itself. His cheeks burned with a fierce blush, and now that he was staring at the injury, how was he supposed to tell Thorin the truth? How was he supposed to tell the dwarf that what had nearly ended him was on his behalf? Something in his chest had practically possessed him to act, and yet there was no solid explanation as to why. “I did it for you,” Bilbo mumbled, hoping desperately that Thorin’s ears were too water-logged to hear him, or pay him much mind.

“I beg your pardon?” Thorin had started to turn, peering over his shoulder at Bilbo’s reddened face and look of dismay with uncertainty of his own.

“You asked why I had so stupidly ended up dunked in the water, and now I’m telling you! I did it for you.” By this point Bilbo was pressing that damp cloth to Thorin’s shoulder to occupy his hands, as well as stunt the bleeding as the dwarf seemed a tad tense beneath Bilbo’s touch.

“For me?”

“Yes! Because ever since you and Frerin arrived to Bag End, you’ve been this pitiful and miserable thing, wallowing on and on about heartstones and heartcrafts and not having a purpose, well guess what, you’re not the only one!” Bilbo griped, his eyes blazing and a courage in his chest that felt like it was being blown away just by the look of shock that Thorin sported. “I know what it’s like to feel miserable. To be unwanted and not find that which you seek most, and I thought for a second that maybe if I found the stone you were looking for…”

Maybe it would help both of them. Thorin’s heart could be full of hope in knowing that he did belong somewhere, and Bilbo could take the warmth in his own heart to know that he’d helped someone claw their way out of such self-depreciation by finding a simple soul-calling rock.

Silence fell between the two of them once more as Bilbo tended to the scar that lined part of Thorin’s shoulder. It was unlike both of them to be without words, and for a time Bilbo had assumed his outburst had simply scared the dwarf into his silence.

“I don’t mean to pry, or to assume you feel the same as I do, but this feeling of judgment that everyone passes my way for not finding my heartbloom…I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” Bilbo quietly explained as he dabbed that cloth before pulling it away to place some bandages against Thorin’s skin. “Make no mistake, I am content on my own, but a part of me wonders if there’s anyone out there for me. Someone who makes me feel…” and as Bilbo continued to press his hands to Thorin’s skin, a bubbling warmth began to bloom in his chest, just like it had when first meeting the dwarf, though it wasn’t a small tingle of a feeling.

It bloomed like a vast field of wildflowers, and that feeling cut him off abruptly.

His head felt like it was in a fog, still drowning beneath the water’s surface as that feeling in his chest intensified. It was alarming, but warm and comforting, and Bilbo wasn’t sure how to explain it. He mentally had to curse the world at this cruel trick that was plaguing him. Was it a joke that he was suddenly feeling so warm and cozy in his heart now of all times with a dwarf seeking his own soulmate of all creatures? Or was it merely a trick of the mind?

“Thank you, Bilbo.”

It was Thorin’s low voice that pulled the hobbit from his delight, as well as his agony and urged him to finish up. “It’s my pleasure, Thorin. I just want to see you happy.” Was this what dwarves felt when they found their heartstone? Bilbo had to wonder, but part of him didn’t want to know.

“I assure you, Bilbo, I am happy.”

And oh how those words and that warm tone moved Bilbo more than they should, but it was best to focus on finishing patching up Thorin before Frerin and the rest of the dwarven gang came looking.