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Redemption Round Quarter Finals
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#cringefail loser summit#redemption round#redemption quarter finals#danny phantom#vlad plasmius#vlad masters#omniscient reader#omniscient reader's viewpoint#kim dokja#kdj#orv
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Sophie Deveraux vs. Samantha "Sam" Carter
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Remember: don't vote on "who would win in a fight", but on "who, when given a task that fits her skillset and talents, would do that task better: more comprehensively, faster, with more pizzazz, with less collateral, etc."
Endorsements! "What is she good at?"
Sophie Deveraux, Leverage: Give her the right stage, and she can be anyone. She can change character on a dime; she can read people from just a passport photo, she came to her own funeral - twice! - in the certain knowledge people wouldn't recognize her because she was acting. She oozes style (just not always the same style), and despite her good looks, she isn't just a pretty face - and in Leverage Redemption, well into her forties or even past fifty, she is still perceived to be hot and desirable, a woman in her prime!
Samantha "Sam" Carter, Stargate: #but sam blew up a sun#and punched ba'al#and (as i said up there) got between ronon and teal'c sparring#she beat the crap out of a warlord who saw women as property (we know the ep aged like milk but character building)#she built a particle accelerator!#she wouldn't stop until all her team got home#(ok shipper in me is like 'also cause she loved him' but roll with it)#she went up against her universe's version of a terminator and survived thank you tumblr user @tinknevertalks
#fuck yeah competent women#fyeahcompetentwomen#bracket#quarter finals#sophie deveraux#leverage#leverage redemption#samantha carter#sam carter#stargate#stargate sg 1
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I want to speak about why the second part of the Best-True ending of Dragon Age Veilguard pierced me so deeply. The Flycam screenshots are from Aru/Elf botanist (YT linked at the bottom).
To set the tone, the music established the emotive themes of the scene. It speaks to the Lost Elf theme- however it is forever changed and lighter. This elf that was Lost for so many years is now Found. There is hope in the strings, there is redemption in each note. This also speaks to the specific codex from the lighthouse in Solas’ secret room. Not his office at the top of the building, extravagant, beautiful, overshadowing all others and looking down in godly benevolence - his private quarters on the main floor, where parts of his travel with the Inquisition surround him.
When Lavellan speaks to Solas, she is using a resolute voice, almost chastising him for thinking he has to do this alone. He has her, and she will keep reminding him.
*Edit: Please note she also speaks the common tongue in this instance.
Solas implores her to think of the dangers the journey he is going on will have, his head is down to show the residual shame and his plea for her safety. But also a part of him hopes. The reason all he says is that “there will be danger” is a statement of warning but not fully entreating her to stay. His heart has a pause, he is prioritising her safety and wants her aware of the dangers.
Note, that he also speaks in Elven in response to her, his first language and mother tongue. As a trilingual, one usually reverts to their more natural tongue during a heightened emotional situation - in this case, Solas' warning statement is also a subconcious plea for her to understand him and join him despite the danger. He will never push her further than she wants to go like he was pushed by Mythal.
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This is the shot normally, the downward and side tilt are clear making the imploring effect of his words resonate further. Unlike before where he only looked at her for small spans of time his attention is fully focused since being absolved of his duty. After she responds that she will be with him, forever no matter what, he shifts. This is akin to when making vows “I stay with you in sickness and in death” but they are crossing the boundaries of mortality. This is “I stay with you in any plight, any condition, any reality. I commit my eternity to you”
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Her response is an amalgamation of the following:
1) You are not alone in it emotionally and mentally as I am with you
2) Physically I am with you to endure it with you
3) Our joined manifestations will make it a better place quite literally, so the bleak darkness that could have encroached will not exist when we are together
This is also validated a bit by Trick Weekes QA:
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She then states their love is eternal, and she chooses to walk on any path with him fully and wholly. A love that transcends time, mortal barriers, immortality, the different realms of existence. This combined with their standing pose as if at the altar of a wedding is the final part of her vows. Said in the same hallelujah pattern and in elven as he would speak - she commits to his language (mentally and emotionally) so he best will understand her declaration. (This is confirmed by @northgalis on Twitter).
This, in front of the witnesses who are the allies who helped them unite in their union, Rook and Morrigan whilst overseen by the Veil itself in the position of holiness. His blood is the bond they now share, the new blood magic in a way that ties them to a new fate of their own making. The veil that brought them together in the beginning of the journey they now tread into together.
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Then they confirm their vows with a kiss, she pulls him in first, similarly to their first kiss in the fade and he reciprocates. Solas is weakened, hurting, feeling unworthy of the brightest soul in the universe but she chooses him and he finally submits to his desire and need for her. His duty now to himself, atonement and the woman who chose him with it all in mind.
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Aru’s flycam footage also shows the kiss being deeper and him actively
After the kiss, he SMILES. The ending is now so much less bleak it is tender, it is soft it is comfort, it is peace.
A smiling glance. meeting at a crescendo; a shared moment of understanding;
Screenshot from Daoithe on Tumblr.
He then proceeds to thank Rook, for helping him see when he allowed himself to be so plagued by grief and guilt and not giving up on him as it could have turned to despair, revenge and anger, like all the other endings which I hate because they go against his very nature. The other endings spit in the face of his complexity the story keeps explicitly imploring you to see and have empathy. Solas is a spirit of wisdom, when guilt festers that wisdom manifests in the worst possible ways. And with no one to listen and read between the lines, the fate he is subjected too is far too unkind. But here, he not only is freed of his guilt but also, just as importantly and very implicitly, his fear of dying alone.
If you have played inquisition you will recall there is a moment near the climax of Here Lies the Abyss where Inquisitor and their chosen companions go into the Fade. Solas is easily one of the most fascinating and best companions to take with you as he from the onset has been a “Fade expert” and his lines throughout are intriguing and educational. During the quest you come across graves embodying the different characters biggest fears. And Solas? Dying alone. The god who went against everyone he knew for a better world, whose empathy only continued to hurt him and freed others with hopes to better the world is the most lonely man. And he is terrified and within himself brought low by his loneliness in his commitment to the path he feels he must take. This is why the next part transcends the scene.
After the kiss which confirmed their bond and pact - binding them together with love and empathy, wisdom and curiosity married - he thanks rook and looks back at Lavellan, his Vhenan. And it is a *micro second* shot that completely defeats me. His head held high, the concerned imploring tilt gone as he holds his chin higher in appreciation, respect and awe for the woman who chose him. The love of his life, his eternal companion. The only one to truly fully see him, respect him, and love him wholly. Who has forgiven him and chooses a path which only leads to him. He is honoured to be loved by her, and will work to be the better man he feels she deserves, but also beginning to accept that her love for him is in any form he takes. The one he prizes above all others, chose him, and he will never be alone - and that is everything.
Seeing completely, and being wholly seen.
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This scene literally destroyed me in the best way. I am left hollow with love and adoration for this character and his relationship to his love Lavellan and no other romance will meet the threshold they have created for me. It is not Solavellan hell no longer, they have transcended to Solavellan heaven.
My playthrough video of the second half of the ending sequence.
Here is Arus Flycam YT video for reference:
Arus Flycam Lavellan POV of the True - Best ending
youtube
#Youtube#Solas#Solavellan#dragon age solas#solas dragon age#solas dread wolf#solas x inquisitor#lavellan#solas x female lavellan#Solavellan heaven
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I'D RATHER PRETEND
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CHAPTER NINE
tags: @angryflowerwitch @avvwritesstufff @melpthatsme @rebecca-woso @bueckersg1rl @l0verl4ne @clouded-whispers @dolliest-thena @katemartinlvr @numberonepartyanth3m @glamourdaya @pbbucks @unadulteratedcyclepaper @paiges-1vur thelightknight21 wc: 9.9k notes: with the 1st pick in the 2025 wnba draft, the dallas wings select... the IRP masterlist, lee university! cringe i know but it's the last chapter, let me be happy. i wrote the first half of this chap before the providence game, felt like a witch once the starting lineup dropped, currently manifesting the rest of this chapter ages just as well (my ball knowledge is limited, if the game doesn't make sense just let me be delusional, i dont give a gaf). smut warning, who's surprised. fluffier than chapter 6 methinks. tried to fulfill the nice/gentle P agenda, may have fumbled the bag bc this somehow felt more filfthy? kinda short too idk lmk 😩 not proofread, i'll probably come back later to edit. sorry for yapping (no im not) but i hope you all enjoyed reading irp as much as i enjoyed writing it, thank you for sending in such sweet comments and engaging in the inbox, they were genuinely so motivating and i loved interacting w y'all 🫶 as always i hope we're rocking w this final chapter 🙂↕️
‘The Return of Tess Kennedy’
A little over two years ago, college basketball sensation Tess Kennedy tore her ACL in the Final Four matchup between the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Kennedy, who’d amassed fifteen points close to the end of the third quarter, was a pivotal element to South Carolina’s game – Iowa struggled to lock her down. Kennedy stepped off wrong and collapsed on court. Many knew what had happened long before the news broke. Her recovery was far from easy, but Kennedy did the impossible and recovered just in time for the SEC championship and the March Madness tournament, where she led South Carolina to a redemption win over Iowa with a dominating 30 points. Following the win, Kennedy shared a photo of herself holding the championship trophy, one eye closed in a wink and her lips curled into a smug snarl, and captioned it, “took a year off to cut you bitches some slack, tell a friend to tell a friend tess kennedy’s back.”
Many athletes often need a long period of adjustment after returning from a serious injury. Kennedy, however, played as though that statistic did not apply to her. Kennedy played as though she had something to prove. A loud majority of fans speculated that Kennedy fought so fiercely because her girlfriend, Paige Bueckers, and the UConn Huskies had been eliminated by Iowa in the Final Four match only two days prior to the championship. A smaller few claimed Kennedy holds a grudge against Iowa for her injury – although Kennedy disputed this theory in a presser, linked here.
The simplest truth of the matter is that Kennedy did not play any sort of way for anyone but herself and her team. She proved to herself that she could come back even better from an injury that she thought would uproot her life. She played for her team, who uplifted her during recovery and gave her the tools and the support to show up and show out when the world was watching. Kennedy played the way she did because that’s just what Tess Kennedy does.
During South Carolina’s 2024 Senior Night, Kennedy announced that she would stay at South Carolina for another year of college basketball. She cited her injury as the source of her decision. She explained that there is still more recovery for her to do and that she did not feel comfortable declaring for the draft with only five games post-injury under her belt, especially since she was under a minute restriction during those games. We believe that decision is the best she could have made for herself.
Throughout the 2024-2025 regular season, Kennedy has averaged 26.2 points per game, 4.3 steals per game, 3.7 blocks per game, and 3.2 assists per game. Since her injury, she’s turned into both an offensive and defensive dual threat, leading the South Carolina offense with help from Raven Johnson, MiLaysia Fulwiley, and Te-Hina Paopao. Coach Dawn Staley describes Kennedy as “unguardable” from the perimeter and “unstoppable” from the midrange. Coach Staley also notes that Kennedy’s midrange improvements have pleasantly surprised her as Kennedy was usually a reliable three-point specialist. Coach Staley would not elaborate on where Kennedy’s sudden game adjustments have come from, but one basketball analyst noted that Kennedy’s midrange proficiency looks stunningly like girlfriend Paige Bueckers’s. This is not surprising in the slightest as Kennedy and Bueckers spent the offseason together on a joint “world-tour” that evidently included lots and lots of time in the gym.
The SEC tournament has come and gone with, you guessed it, South Carolina as the winner, having defeated Tennessee and LSU back to back. South Carolina dominated the first five rounds of the NCAA tournament. In the Final Four, they defeated UCLA in a convincing 78-71 victory. For the championship match, they’re against UConn, who is fresh off of a hard-fought Final Four victory against Notre Dame.
This is precisely the clash of the titans that basketball fans have been looking forward to since June of 2023. UConn vs. South Carolina. Bueckers vs. Kennedy. This is a rematch for the 2022 championship game wherein UConn fell short, but many are questioning South Carolina’s ability to go back to back, especially since UConn has seen tremendous growth over the past season. With a healthy Azzi Fudd and a healthy Aubrey Griffin, sharpshooters Ashlynn Shade and Allie Ziebell, energetic KK Arnold and Morgan Cheli, imposing Jana El-Alfy, transfer portal weapon Kaitlyn Chen, do-it-all field general Paige Bueckers, and Sarah Strong – no title, Sarah Strong is that girl – UConn is a fan favorite to win. With the final tipoff only an hour away, we are at the edge of our seats in anticipation. Let us know in the comments below – who are you rooting for?
-Penelope Lancaster, Bleacher Report
APRIL 6, 2025
If there’s one thing that Tess knows is true about Paige Bueckers after over a year of dating, it’s that Paige always keeps her promise.
You and me, same time next year?
Tess watches her warm up only a half court away. She’s stunning, donning a UConn sweatshirt and matching sweatpants, her hair up in her gameday braids that Tess has full intention of ruining later after her girlfriend is crowned an NCAA champion. That thought alone shouldn’t excite her as much as it does, but she can’t help herself. Paige and her team have worked incredibly hard to be here – Tess has gotten to witness that first hand. She also can’t help feeling a little smug because she was right. Kaitlyn Chen, transfer portal weapon. Freshmen Morgan Cheli and Allie Ziebell – they both needed a few games to get comfortable, but once they were hot, they were hot. And finally, Sarah fucking Strong, Paige’s freshman menace that honestly needs to declare right now because college basketball will not be safe with her on the court.
Tess has no intention of rolling over and letting them win – Paige would honestly break up with her, which would ruin the entirety of Tess’s five year plan: get drafted. Win some shit. Dunk on Paige Bueckers. Marry Paige Bueckers. Free agency. Simple and easy. But Tess also knows that UConn will be playing with something to lose, a chip to win, and that they were easily the most challenging match-up they’d faced all year with the exception of the final SEC teams. UConn defeated them at home, even after Tess dropped 20 hard fought points – they honestly just had no answer for Sarah Strong, which is becoming a recurring theme as of late.
“Oh my God, not this shit again,” Raven complains. Tess turns just in time to catch the ball that Raven had definitely aimed at her ass.
“Stop throwing balls at me!” Tess exclaims, chucking the ball back.
“Stop staring at your girlfriend!” Raven retorts. “Like, for real. It’s making me sick. Do you want me throwing up before a natty match?” Tess pauses, tapping her chin dramatically like she has to truly think about it. “I wish you’d declared last year. That way I wouldn’t have had to deal with all of this ‘when will my wife come back from war’ bullshit.”
Tess rolls her eyes. “Where’s Chloe at? I suddenly have an opening in my bridal party.”
“Wait, no!” Raven says quickly, her entire expression shifting. ��You can’t kick me out of the wedding. I didn’t even know I was in it!”
“You weren’t,” Tess states bluntly, which makes Raven huff again. “Kam’s my maid of honor, obviously. Then Aliyah’s coming, Bree, Destanni, Zia. Do you think I can get A’ja there?”
Raven looks her up and down, unimpressed. “No,” she says flatly. “You’ll be marrying a Husky.”
Tess lights up. “Oh my God, I can get Stewie there. That’d be cool, too.”
“How about you pump the brakes and lock the fuck in so your girlfriend doesn’t embarass us?” Raven suggests. “Like, did that ever cross your mind?”
She shrugs sheepishly. “I’m locked in,” she says. “Go do your weird pregame rituals, sacrifice a chicken or something.”
Raven rolls her eyes, stalking away with her ball. Tess watches her try to sweet talk an assistant coach into rebounding for her and she can’t help but smile. She’ll miss Raven when she’s in the league – sure, they’ll keep in contact, but it’s different when you’re no longer a few doors down from everyone. She’ll miss all of her girls. Not Ashlyn, though. The charges may have been dropped but assault and battery and kidnapping? Is nobody the least bit concerned? Tess digresses, though. She’s gonna miss her team, especially annoying ass Raven Johnson who likes throwing shit at people.
Before she returns to her own warmups, Tess looks across the court once more. Paige is already staring at her. They share a soft, private smile – and then Paige is grabbing Sarah by the sleeve of her shirt, causing her shot to sail out of bounds as Paige points at her with a proud smile that clearly says look at my freshman! Sarah looks unbelievably confused at first, but levels Paige with a nasty side eye once she realizes that she’s been dragged in as a ploy to tease Tess. She shrugs out of Paige’s grasp to continue shooting which makes Tess laugh and Paige huff dramatically.
The both of them resume their warmups and before they know it, tip off has come around. Paige, Sarah, Azzi, Jana, and Kaitlyn are starting for UConn, whereas Raven, Chloe, Tess, Sania, and Te-Hina are starting for South Carolina. Both teams set up around Chloe and Jana to receive the opening tip, and once the referee throws the ball into the air, Jana knocks it over to the Huskies. Sarah kicks it out to Paige, who begins directing traffic as she brings the ball up court. Tess, tasked with guarding Azzi, sticks on her like glue, trying to not let her get her hands on the ball. Raven’s defense is suffocating, but Sarah gets open and Paige passes it swiftly to her. As Chloe and Sania fold in on her to prevent the shot, Sarah passes to Jana, who gets the easy layup under the bucket. Sania inbounds to Raven. She’s delayed in bringing the ball up due to Kaitlyn’s defensive pressure, and, much to Tess’s surprise, Paige is guarding her and Azzi is on Te-Hina.
Raven dribbles, directing the other four on the court while trying to keep the ball far away from Kaitlyn, but the congestion becomes too much and she passes it to Te-Hina. Azzi’s defense is relentless, too, and eventually, Te-Hina passes to Sania, who passes to Tess on the wing, and she knows she can’t get crafty. She and Paige spent the entire summer in the gym together. Paige knows her moves as well as she knows her own, which is why she keeps pressing her further and further away from the three point line and Jana angles herself to clog her lane to the bucket. The clock is winding down, so she makes the decision to squeeze past Paige, driving to the bucket, but at the last moment, she passes it behind her back to where she knows Sania is waiting. She shoots and it swishes in.
The first quarter is incredibly close. Every time South Carolina gets a defensive stop, UConn responds with one of their own. A two-point jumper is countered by a layup, Azzi and Tess go three for three. Tess steals the ball on one possession, although Chloe gives it right back as she tries to get smart on a pass. By the first media timeout, Tess has five points, two assists, and a steal, although UConn leads them 14-12. Both teams take the time to sub out and let some of the starters rest. Bree, Ashlyn, MiLaysia, and Joyce come in for Tess, Chloe, Te-Hina, and Sania respectively while KK, Aubrey, Ashlynn, and Ice enter for Kaitlyn, Sarah, Azzi, and Jana.
Once play resumes, Tess almost immediately understands the game plan. Raven guards Paige on UConn’s offensive possessions, but when South Carolina has the ball, Paige guards MiLaysia, a high scoring guard just like Tess. Depending on who is on the floor, KK or Kaitlyn defend Raven or whoever is running point for South Carolina at the time. Raven’s defense is suffocating, but most of all, exhausting – tasking someone else with guarding Raven gives Paige more opportunities to score rather than tire herself out, but her own defensive assignments are focused on shutting down South Carolina’s point producing guards. Tess was held to five points with Paige on her, shooting only two out of her five attempted shots. She wasn’t completely useless, though – she held Azzi to six points, congesting two of the four shots she took.
She sits for the rest of the first quarter. The score is up to 25-20 in UConn’s favor and all of the starters are back on the court for the second quarter. It’s hard fought, too. There’s not a lot of foul calls going either way tonight, but the lead is so slim that Tess doesn’t want to overstep on defense and give away points. At 31-24 in favor of UConn, Paige is subbed out for KK, which means Tess finally gets a bit of a breather on defense. KK is unrelenting, but Paige had played a little closer, a much tighter game as she knew Tess so well as a player. She couldn’t even be mad about that, although she did take advantage of two back-to-back threes, pushing the score to 34-30. UConn still has a slight lead, but Paige gets subbed back in. Tess knows she has to play smarter now and take better shots.
Halfway through the second quarter, Raven gets subbed out for a breather, too, and UConn immediately puts the pressure on Maddy, not used to the intensity that the UConn starters were playing with. Kaitlyn forces a turnover, sailing it high to Paige, who lays it in the basket with ease and winks at Tess as she passes her to get back on defense. In response, Tess calls for the ball and Maddy passes it to her. She doesn’t call for a screen or any sort of help as she steps back, shooting for three directly over Paige’s head. They watch it both fall in seamlessly, much to the crowd’s amusement, and Tess sticks up her fingers in an ‘L’ shape as she backpedals for defense. Paige shakes her head, amused, but at 41-38, the both of them know they need to lock back in.
The two teams trade a few more shots and stops before the end of the quarter, entering half with 47-41, UConn leading. Paige also hit a nasty buzzer beater to welcome in halftime, which sent the UConn bench and the crowd into a frenzy, but Tess doesn’t think that’s something important to note. Paige doesn’t need the ego boost and it wasn’t that cool, anyways. If Tess wanted to, she could have had a better buzzer beater.
In the locker room, Coach Staley emphasizes the need for defensive stops while the team catches their breath. Ball movement and being selective with shooting was also important – as a team, they were shooting 39% and taking far too many contested shots when there were wide open players on the wing. Tess honestly couldn’t be doing much more – she’d racked up 16 points. Joyce and Te-Hina were doing their thing too, but UConn was overwhelming. Their points were far more widespread with Aubrey, Sarah, Azzi, and Paige leading the pack. Ashlynn had two crucial three point shots, KK was critical on defense as she was forcing turnovers and fastbreak points, and Tess has never seen anyone hustle for rebounds like Morgan does. UConn was playing a cohesive game and they were struggling to respond in full.
The second half goes similar to the first, although UConn starts to make a concerted effort to break away. They’re playing with a renewed vigor and while Azzi, Paige, and Ashlynn were crucial in the first half, they start scoring a lot more points in the paint. Sarah, Jana, and Aubrey are particularly explosive and Ice holds her own when she subs in halfway through the third to give Jana a break. Defensively, they’re all restless – they’d played so conservatively in the first half while South Carolina tried to wear them out that their energy is overwhelming and is exhausting South Carolina. By the end of the third, UConn had extended the lead to 67-56. Tess is up to 26 points now, but it’s not doing enough to clear the deficit.
All of the starters are back on the floor at the beginning of the fourth for one last push, and for a while, it works. South Carolina holds out UConn and they go on a 9-0 scoring run, evening the score to 67-65 with three minutes left. Paige hits a long three, increasing the lead to five points, Azzi forces Te-Hina to turn the ball over and she sprints for the basket, although she passes behind her to Sarah for the finish, and Tess is a little too strong on her three point jumper and it bounces off the rim directly into Kaitlyn’s hands. She scores, pushing the score to 74-65. One minute, thirty seconds left.
The last bit of the game is frantic. Tess and South Carolina try to get the lead back, but UConn is unrelenting, pushing against them on every possession. Jana scores. Sania scores. Kaitlyn shoots, but Raven blocks it. Chloe scores on the fastbreak, and with twenty seconds left, the game is up to 78-69 with UConn steady in the lead. There’s no coming back from this gap and UConn has the ball. Tess thinks Paige just plans on dribbling it out, but as the clock winds down, five…four…three…two… she shoots from the perimeter, the shot clock expiring, and the last three, the nail on the head, swishes in cleanly as the crowd erupts. UConn had just won the 2025 national championship, and all Tess feels is overwhelming relief.
Confetti pours down, covering every inch of the court as all of the Huskies swarm and pile on one another. Paige’s smile is bright, beaming, and Tess swears she can see the tears streaming from afar. Then, they lock eyes, Paige in the middle of a bunch of jostling, and she has the decency to look a little sad for her, but honestly, Tess doesn’t care. She grins at her girlfriend, making a heart with her hands. The relief is palpable on Paige’s expression but Tess knows she needs the time to celebrate with her teammates, so she turns away, patting her own teammates on the back and murmuring her own congratulations.
Sania and Joyce were explosive in the paint. A vast majority of their points had come from them and Tess, but it just wasn’t enough to beat the deficit. Tess would find the stat sheet later, but she racked up 31 points – 61 in two back to back championship games wasn’t too shabby, and honestly, the 31 points feels more like an accomplishment than the win. She’s a competitor, she lives to win and loathes losing, but tonight doesn’t feel like a loss at all, despite what the box score will say. Looking back at everything she’s accomplished, she’s satisfied where she is. She’s grown as a player, as a person. She went from almost being the cause of her end in her junior year to dragging herself out of the deep end, committing to rehab, and winning the natty on the redemption match. This year, she molded herself into a better basketball player, cementing herself in the Gamecock record books – and while she doesn’t have a natty win this year, she’s not mad about it. It’s difficult to describe but at a certain point, the win just doesn’t matter anymore. It’s the journey, growing with your team, and everything you did leading up to it.
Last year, she said she has everything she’s ever wanted, and that much is still true. She has her rings, she has an excellent collegiate career, she has records that will be damn near impossible to beat until the next Tess Kennedy is recruited to South Carolina. She has the best friends in the world, the best girlfriend in the world, her knee is healed, she’s healed, and in less than two weeks, she’ll be drafted to play professionally wherever the wind takes her. The past two years have been the best and the worst time of her life but never will she ever wish that anything occurred differently. It’s all led her to this – her wins, her losses, to Paige. It’s more than she could have ever wished for.
She showers, zones out during the presser until the questions are directed at her, which she answers robotically, uncaring. When she’s out, she locates Paige in the tunnel, who scoops her up with such unadulterated glee and excitement that Tess giggles like a fucking schoolgirl. Paige is fresh, clean, and fuck it, she’s hers, and sue her if she sounds like a broken record, but she just loves her. “Congrats, baby,” Tess says into her neck, feeling Paige squeeze her around the middle before she lowers her to the ground.
“Thank you,” Paige murmurs as she presses a soft, unhurried kiss to Tess’s lips. “Promise you didn’t sell on purpose?”
Tess scoffs, shoving her away with a hand to her chest as Paige laughs, a sound that’s infectious and far too annoyingly charming. “Paige Madison. I dropped 31 on your ass and you think I sold?”
“Locked you down,” Paige says.
“Maybe romantically but not in basketball,” Tess corrects. Paige’s face brightens and Tess can’t help but lean in to kiss her again. “Congrats though, for real.” Paige’s eyes blink open, tilting her head down slightly to gaze at Tess, her expression full of lingering excitement, love, and unequivocal happiness. “You worked so hard for this. I’m proud of you, you know? 28 points, too? Who you showin’ out for?”
Paige laughs at Tess’s impression of her. “For you, always.” Tess can’t help but soften, grinning in that stupid way Paige always elicits. “We’re goin’ out,” she says. “The team, I mean. Some bar Aubrey found. You wanna come with us? You don’t gotta do nothing you don’t wanna and they’re all keepin’ it lowkey, nothin’ crazy–”
“Paige,” Tess interrupts, watching an adorable flush appear on Paige’s cheeks. “Don’t worry about me. Celebrate with your team, okay?”
“I’m always gonna worry about you,” Paige says, a little indignant. “You’re my girl. S’my job. But I want you there if you wanna be there.”
“You’re amazing, and I love you.”
Paige sighs. “Where’s the ‘but?’”
Tess rolls her eyes. “But you need to spend time with your team. Alone, without your unbelievably sexy girlfriend distracting you. You’re gonna miss them once you’re drafted. I need to chill tonight, so I’m gonna play UNO with my girls and stack +4s on Chloe to get her back for missing a layup that would have made our score look a little less pathetic.” Tess kisses the pout off of Paige’s lips. “I could convince Bree to room with Raven tonight?” she suggests intentionally.
“Okay!” Paige agrees quickly, her voice cracking, squeezing Tess’s hips once more, causing her to laugh lightly. Paige presses her lips to Tess’s forehead, the shorter of the two feeling the curve of her smirk. “I’ll see you later. Don’t fall asleep. I love you.”
Tess huffs, which makes Paige grin. She loves being on Tess’s nerves more than anything else. “I love you, too. Have fun and don’t drink anything KK gives you.”
Paige only shakes her head, their noses brushing slightly. “Not drinking. Wanna remember tonight.” Heat rises to Tess’s cheeks as she’s suddenly aware of what the night holds for them, but Paige just smiles at her, releasing her hips and squeezing her hand one last time before she disappears inside the media room for the presser. Tess exhales, shaking her head like an etch-a-sketch to fix her train of thought before she gathers herself and makes her way out to the team bus.
She slides into the seat next to Bree, placing her bag on the floor. “You’re rooming with Raven tonight,” Tess says to her.
Bree stares at her long and hard before her expression hardens. “You’re a fucking freak,” she gripes. “But you’re buying me breakfast tomorrow morning.” In lieu of a response, Tess pulls her wallet out of her pocket and hands over a $20 bill. Bree wrinkles her nose, her face going through the five stages of grief. Tess can’t even bring herself to feel ashamed as Bree takes the money. “God,” she whispers. “Freaks.”
Tess only smiles.
After a couple hours of music and various games, Tess says her final goodbyes to her teammates before she heads back to her room at the end of the hall. Paige had texted her only moments before that she was on her way back to the hotel, which she took as her cue to go. Her teammates gave her knowing looks, but Tess couldn’t find it in herself to be any sort of embarrassed.
Bree had cleared out most of her stuff before they all gathered in Raven’s room for games, but Tess just makes the conscious effort to clean up a little. She knew Paige wouldn’t care. Whether or not Bree’s bed was made would be the last thing on Paige’s mind if Tess had anything to say about it. Despite that, she just wanted it to look nicer for her. Paige had just won a championship, damn it, and she deserves something a little more fitting of that.
Tess isn’t nervous, but she’s almost giddy with anticipation and excitement. The last time she and Paige saw each other was when they played each other in February. They were unable to synchronize their schedules for spring break, so Tess is reasonably going through girlfriend withdrawals. She just wants to be close to Paige – nothing inherently sexual about it, but she misses their intimacy now that they’re always hundreds of miles apart. It will be the same situation when they get drafted – Tess watched the lottery despite everyone’s recommendations not to, but they’ll have a little bit more money and freedom to make the distance work once they’re in the league. But the league is the last thing she wants to worry about right now.
She checks herself one last time in the mirror, satisfied, but she pulls off her South Carolina hoodie, shivering a little at the chill in the room, and rummages through her suitcase until she finds the white jersey tucked underneath the rest of her clothes. A large 5 is emblazoned on the front and the back, the Big East logo on the collar, just a size too big for her – she’d stolen it directly from Paige’s bag when they played each other in February and they hung out after the game, but she supposes her lie was just convincing enough because Paige genuinely thought she left it in the locker room. She pulls the hoodie over her head, not bothering to tuck it into her sleep shorts, and gives herself one last look before smiling.
A knock at the door draws her attention. Finding her resolve, she walks over and opens it, coming face to face with Paige, whose cheeks are slightly flushed from the Tampa heat. “Hey – oh.” Paige stops in her tracks immediately, her eyes wide as she takes in Tess’s attire. Her jaw hangs open slightly as she leans against the door.
Tess laughs, reaching for Paige’s hands and pulling her inside. Paige lets herself be dragged, but she remembers where they are and closes the door, setting the lock without looking away from Tess. “You like?” Tess asks, tugging on the hem of the jersey to showcase Paige’s number. She smiles at Paige, a little smug but also a little breathless. Paige isn’t sure where to look – her face, her jersey, her legs, long and lithe and bare with the exception of a pair of shorts that would otherwise be indecent. “Figured I’d try something new.”
“Do I like?” Paige repeats, sounding a little incredulous. Her voice is rough and Tess shivers, feeling the heat pool low in her belly as Paige rests her hands on her hips, her fingertips brushing the swell of her ass. She pulls Tess into her until there’s barely an inch of space in between them – Tess can feel Paige breathing against her, her breath minty and fresh, her cologne so prominent and heady in the air that Tess’s head spins. “Like doesn’t even begin to cover it,” she murmurs, her lips dragging across the line of Tess’s jaw. Tess tilts her head back, giving Paige more access as she sighs softly. Paige’s fingers bunch in the fabric of her jersey as she noses her way down her neck, pressing wet kisses to her skin. A groan builds low in the back of her throat as she pulls away, her eyes blown wide and slightly out of breath. “D’you have any idea what this does to me?”
Tess chuckles, letting Paige lead her towards the bed, trusting her to not let her fall over. “I think I’m starting to understand,” she says. Paige smiles at her, softening the heat of the moment. Tess can’t help the grin that covers her face as she pulls Paige on top of her, sliding her zip up UConn jacket off of her shoulders. Paige situates herself in the gap created by Tess’s outstretched legs, leaning down to finally press their lips together. Their kiss is tender, lingering, and slow; Paige is deliberate in the way her hand slips under Tess’s jersey, her fingers brushing against her skin, and Tess sighs against her. They part and the expression on Paige’s face is so soft, blissed out like she has everything she’s ever wanted right in front of her. That thought alone fills Tess with an overwhelming amount of love and appreciation that she can’t help her starstruck smile. “You played really well today,” she whispers, working her fingers against Paige’s hair tie as she loosens her braids.
Paige hums, her eyes closing when Tess’s fingers drag across her scalp. “Says you,” she retorts, her head dropping to Tess’s shoulder. Her lips find her neck again, nipping gently and soothing the bite with a pass of her tongue. “31 fuckin’ points?” Paige emphasizes her words with an emphatic groan, her hands pushing up Tess’s jersey and her fingertips just barely breaching under her bra strap. “You tryna go to Dallas?”
Tess laughs, tangling her fingers through Paige’s hair as the blonde hides her smile against her neck. “Nah. That’s all you. I’m very happy going number two.”
Paige scoffs. “Yeah, ‘cause you get Cam and Rickea.”
Tess smiles knowingly, rolling her eyes. “Your hand is literally under my shirt and you wanna talk about other people right now?” Paige glances down, her brows raising and her eyes lingering on just how far the jersey is bunched up, miles upon miles of Tess’s tanned skin on display.
“Take this shit off,” she says, hands reaching for the hem of the jersey. Tess raises her arms compliantly and Paige pulls it over her head, throwing it to the side before leaning down and connecting their lips again. Tess relaxes immediately, circling her arms around Paige’s neck, drawing her in closer and closer until the space between them is negligible. Paige’s hands are warm against her bare skin. One leaves her chest to cup her jaw, her lips slowing, controlling the pace. Every motion is purposeful, deep and lingering, until Paige pulls back just enough that her nose brushes against Tess’s. “Wanna take my time with you.”
“You won,” Tess reminds her, fighting through the burn on her cheeks as Paige presses open-mouthed kisses to her neck, her jaw. “Tonight’s for you.”
“Yeah,” Paige agrees, her mind clearly elsewhere as she pulls her shirt over her head. Tess’s mouth dries instantly, her gaze unashamed as she takes in Paige’s toned figure, the definition of her abs despite the softness of her stomach. She’s equal parts sinew and grace, beautiful beyond any human measurement – Tess would never be able to put Paige’s beauty into words. She transcends language and meaning and Tess is so irrevocably in love that it should scare her; her feelings are overwhelming in the best way possible and Paige doesn’t even know the extent of it.
“Paige,” Tess tries again, her hands reaching up to push Paige’s hair out of her face.
She shakes her head, her hand returning to Tess’s jaw as she kisses her again, taking the very breath from her lungs and relishing in the sigh that she pulls from her throat. Her hand slips lower, her thumb brushing the apple of her throat while her index finger rests on her pulse point, feeling the spike in her heart rate. “Wanna take care of you,” Paige murmurs, the plea evident in her expression when she pulls away. “Want this to last, wanna feel you. Please?” She dips lower, her lips pressing against her skin, and Tess doesn’t have any choice but to let Paige have her way. She nods, her hands finding purchase on Paige’s shoulder blades as Paige descends further, her lips leaving marks over her clavicles.
Paige undresses the both of them with a deliberate slowness. Her hands roam like she’s trying to commit every inch of Tess’s body to memory, her eyes wide in wonder. Paige stares at her like it’s the first time all over again and it makes Tess shiver, feeling warmth all over. They spent the entire offseason together, late nights in hotel rooms much like this one as they travelled. They’re far from the first time, but the fact that Paige still handles her with the utmost care, respect, and devotion only makes her needier.
When they’re both bare, the first press of Paige’s skin against her own is electrifying. She draws Paige in again, connecting their lips, relishing in the soft, unhurried push and pull as Paige’s hands roam. They’re firm around her hips, her thumbs brushing the area where her thighs meet her pelvis. Then they’re trailing up, brushing against her navel, gripping her love handles and the parts of her stomach where she’s more skin than muscle. Further up, Paige’s hands splay out across the lower end of her ribcage. The amount of skin that her hands cover makes Tess ache, but Paige keeps wandering, her hands cupping her breasts, thumbs tweaking her nipples. Tess sighs at the contact and Paige immediately takes advantage of the way her jaw drops, deepening their kiss as Tess holds on to her shoulders for stability.
She can feel the flex of Paige’s muscle, see the way her shoulder blades jut out slightly – it shouldn’t excite her, but it does. She’s firm, solid, soft, and human, a paradox and a myriad of different feelings. Tess can’t help but be attracted to every single thing she does and every single thing she is. God took his time creating Paige, that much Tess was sure of; the fact that Paige is hers, for better, for worse, forever, makes her feel like she needs to be far more thankful than she already is.
Paige pulls back. Tess nearly whines at the loss of contact until she takes in the blown out and messy look on Paige’s face. Her lips are swollen, spit-slick, covered in the lingering smear of Tess’s lip gloss. “Okay?” she asks, her voice rough. The check-in is just a reminder of how much Paige loves her. It never fails to make her heart beat out of her chest.
Tess nods, her hands coming up to smooth out the baby hairs at the back of Paige’s neck, damp with sweat. “Keep going,” she requests, closing her eyes when she feels Paige kiss her cheek, her jaw, the spot under her ear that makes her shiver.
“Wanna try something with you,” she murmurs, squeezing her around the hips, and Tess blinks her eyes open to stare at her. A new, shy sort of flush creeps up her neck and Tess gives her a reassuring kiss.
“Anything,” she says, her voice soft, albeit a little breathless. “You know I trust you.”
Paige glances up, searching her eyes for any hint of falsehood. When she finds none, she leans in, kissing Tess one last time before pulling back. “Tell me to stop and I will,” she says. Tess nods again, waiting with a bated breath as Paige pulls back completely, much to her chagrin, but her hands find her knees, spreading her legs wider, slotting her own legs under and over Tess’s thighs like puzzle pieces, and – Oh. They haven’t even made full contact but her entire body burns. Paige is just as red, her chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. “Okay?” she asks again, her words sounding a little choked.
Tess nods rapidly, not trusting herself to speak, but her words spill out anyway. “Please,” she says, looping her arms around her neck again. Paige nods, too, her breath a little shaky, but she connects their lips, swallowing the greedy sound that Tess makes when their cores finally align. Her fingers dig into Paige’s shoulders, eliciting a groan from the blonde as she rolls her hips experimentally. Paige is warm against her, slick against her skin, and the brush of her clit against her own nearly makes her soul leave her body.
Her head tilts back, overcome with euphoria and pleasure, and Paige takes advantage immediately. Her lips are on her neck before she has the chance to react, sucking dark, purple marks on her skin, soothing the sting with her tongue. Tess pushes her hips into Paige’s, causing her rhythm to falter and a whine to fall from her lips. Tess really likes that sound, when Paige succumbs to the feelings and lets her hear it. “Fuck,” Paige whimpers. “That’s it.”
That sends a wave of heat directly to Tess’s core. She ruts up again, relishing in Paige’s exhaled moan, the way her elbows shake as she tries to hold herself up. Each and every roll of her hips adds to the tightening band in her stomach, threatening to snap as her pleasure builds – but it feels like she’s reached a plateau. She pushes against her a little faster, trying to chase the high, which forces more of those sounds to tumble from Paige’s mouth. The feel of her skin against hers, sticky with sweat, is intoxicating in the best way possible; the roll of her hips sets her nerves on fire; and when she glances down, her eyes honing in on where their bodies connect, Tess grips her shoulders a little tighter as she cries out, her nails leaving marks in their wake. “Paige,” she gasps, feeling Paige’s nose brush against her collarbone, licking the salt off of her skin. “Talk, please.”
“Yeah?” she asks, her voice a little broken and high-pitched as she holds out, trying to make Tess reach her peak first. The sound of her so wrecked, so destroyed makes Tess tremble beneath her. “Wanted you to – fuck, wanted you to come with me earlier,” she babbles. Tess barely registers that she means the bar. “Wanted to show you off. Tell everyone you’re mine. Wanted to kiss you in front of everyone, take you back here – fuck, Tess, right there – take you back here and show you how much I want you.”
“Keep going, please,” she begs. Tears of pleasure bead at her waterline. The brush of their cunts and the whine in Paige’s voice makes her dizzy with desire.
Paige sighs, the sound getting trapped in her throat as her lips find her ear, her ruts becoming a little more desperate. And when Tess’s hips jump up again, seeking out that pleasure, Paige’s breath catches. She leans her head against Tess’s shoulder, her body tense with the effort of trying to stay composed. “God, there you go,” she murmurs, her breath fanning against the shell of her ear. “Take it, baby, whatever you need – gonna give it to you, I promise.”
Tess whimpers, her grip tightening as she rolls her hips against Paige’s, her pleasure building and nearing the peak as she confesses, “Paige, I’m gonna–”
“That’s it,” Paige whimpers, meeting Tess’s hips with more purpose, more intensity, guiding her closer and closer. When Paige keens into her ear, her voice cracking, “Fuck, I love you – so perfect for me,” Tess falls apart completely, clutching onto Paige as her orgasm washes over her. Paige is right behind her; Tess can feel her release, her body shuddering against her own. They rock together as they ease through the aftershocks, drawing back when the sensitivity becomes too much.
Carefully, Paige extracts herself from Tess, the both of them exhaling when they disconnect. Paige rolls onto the bed next to her, her head finding home on Tess’s chest as she slings an arm across her stomach. Neither of them say anything for a while, sitting in a satisfied silence as they try to catch their breaths. It’s Tess who finally breaks the quiet when she says, “I think you ruined me.”
That makes Paige laugh, still breathless. She cocks her head, meeting Tess’s eyes. Gingerly, she wipes away the tears on her cheeks, smooths out the hair at the crown of her head. “Good,” she murmurs, leaning up to press a sweet kiss to Tess’s lips, a stark contrast from the moment prior. “Gotta trap you so you stay with me forever.”
Tess snorts, brushing her nails against Paige’s jaw and cheek gently. “Trust me, you don’t have to worry about that.” Paige hums, her fingertips tracing patterns against her ribcage as their breathing finally evens out. A few moments pass. “Are you sleeping?” Tess asks, a little shy.
“Yes,” Paige deadpans, but she turns her head again, smiling up at Tess. Her expression is soft, relaxed, blissed out. “What’s up?”
Tess can’t help the smile that breaks out across her face. “I love you,” she says simply.
Paige’s entire demeanor brightens. She tightens her grip around Tess’s middle, drawing in closer and pressing her lips to her chest, directly over her heart. “I love you, too.”
Tess tangles her fingers in Paige’s hair, smoothing out the flyaway strands near her temple. Paige smiles against her, her face tranquil, happy. In a little over a week from now, they’ll be in Brooklyn together for the 2025 draft. They’ll be selected to play in the professional league, which is everything they’ve dreamed of and more, although their dreams have expanded to include each other. Tess has everything she’s ever wanted in life – an outstanding college career, a promising future, Paige, and she can’t wait for the rest of their lives together.
APRIL 14, 2025
Tess can’t believe this is her life right now.
She, her parents, and Bree and Raven are sitting at a table in the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the selected venue for the 2025 WNBA Draft. The energy in the atmosphere is electric – there’s muted chatter, excited hopefuls trying not to freak out about which team will be selecting them. Tess is a mixture of anticipation and nerves. She’s been the predicted number two draft pick for months now, only second to Paige, which she can’t even be upset by. She has a pretty good idea of where she’s going, but she can’t help being worried about dropping in the rankings – the 2025 draft class is full of young talent. She wouldn’t mind Chicago. Playing with Kam again would be amazing, and Washington isn’t bad, either. She is really interested in the Liberty, mostly because they made such a good impression on her during rehab and that’s not something she would ever forget. Unfortunately, the Liberty decided to do the worst possible thing ever and win a championship, which means they’re nowhere close to getting Tess unless they want to trade up and Tess highly doubts they’d be willing to part with their entire roster just for her.
Tess can’t keep her eyes off of Paige. It’s slowly becoming a recurring theme as of late, much to the chagrin of everyone around her, but she can’t help it. She sits only a table away, surrounded by Bob, Amy, Drew, Lauren, and Ryan. The happiness is evident on her face, her hair done up in a ponytail with two loose strands framing her face, and her make-up natural. The real nail on the coffin is the tailored suit she’s wearing. It’s a dark purple in color, nearly black; several buttons on the blazer are undone to reveal the sharp lines of her clavicle and the dark shades of her undershirt. A chain glimmers around her neck, rings adorning her fingers, including the rose thumb ring Tess had gifted her for their first Christmas, before they knew they loved each other. Tess is honestly too much of an overachiever – she picked the finest person in the world to be her girlfriend and now the repercussions of that are coming back to bite her in the ass.
Her stylist – well, Paige’s stylist, Brittany Hampton is the goat – did her big one, too. Brittany has her decked out in a rich, dark, glossy, blue satin dress. Much like Paige’s suit, the shade is dark enough that it almost appears black, but the blue hue sticks out, complementing her complexion perfectly. Her heels match (and most importantly, they’re tall enough that she and Paige are finally eye level). Her jewelry is minimalist, donning her signature bracelet and their charms, along with a gorgeous necklace Paige had bought her for their second Christmas together – the first as an official couple. The both of them look good, probably too good, and Tess is preparing herself to cut someone if they stare at Paige for too long.
Her family and friends try to make small talk to distract her from the looming draft, but her heart isn’t in the conversation. Her mind runs a mile a minute; she’s thinking about all of the iterations of the mock draft – honestly, she should have listened to Paige when she told her not to watch the draft lottery or get too invested in the draft talk, anyhow. She’s thinking about Paige, how she looks so gorgeous at her table; she’s thinking about how Paige’s dreams are coming true right before her and that chokes her up a little bit. Paige was a little kid once, just like her, dribbling a ball that was nearly as big as she was – now she’s here, the predicted number one pick and it just feels like everything’s coming into fruition. They’ve both worked incredibly hard for this, all of the trials and tribulations and injuries and miscommunication – they’re here, together, and Tess couldn’t dream of anything better than that.
Finally, the beginning of the draft rolls around as the WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, steps up to the podium for opening remarks. Tess motions to wipe her sweaty hands on her dress, but Bree’s gripping her wrists and pushing a small handcloth into her waiting palms. Bree knows her so well and Tess gives her a silent nod of thanks, a small smile. She doesn’t think she’s quite made her peace with the fact she’s leaving her girls behind after today. Training camps and final roster deliberations and the preseason all await, but Bree’s rubbing her shoulder and murmuring, “Soak it in, babe, we’re so proud of you,” and she thinks that maybe she’s on the right track.
Cathy leaves the podium to await the official first pick. Tess glances at Paige again, who is clearly dissociated as she tries to not look at the cameras that are obviously pointing at her. Then, she glances over, her eyes finding Tess’s. Her entire demeanor shifts and a bright smile spreads across her face. It’s scrunchy, somehow both soft and mischievous, but Tess knows her well enough by now to understand that smile is reserved for her only. KK called it her “Tess smile” which was a little ridiculous, but when Tess returns her grin, the love clear as day in her expression, she knows that KK’s observation had a little merit.
Cathy returns with the pick in hand. The entire room falls silent, waiting with a bated breath as the older woman leans into the microphone. “With the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Dallas Wings select…Paige Bueckers, University of Connecticut.”
The room breaks into applause immediately as the tears spring to Tess’s eyes, overcome with emotion and appreciation for her girlfriend. Paige stands, embracing her parents, her siblings, and then she’s stepping towards Tess’s table, her expression so grateful and a little awestruck. Tess reminds herself that they’re in front of thousands of people, in front of prominent WNBA players and coaches as she molds herself into Paige’s arms, keeping it classy as Paige squeezes her tightly around her waist. “God, I’m so proud of you,” Tess murmurs, feeling Paige’s shoulders shake a little bit with her emotions. “I love you. Go get your jersey.”
Paige huffs out a laugh, releasing Tess as she wipes at her waterline. “I love you. See you soon,” she says, winking at her, which makes Tess chuckle, taking a seat and watching Paige make her way to the stage. Tess pulls out her phone, taking photo after photo as Paige poses with the commissioner and the Wings jersey.
Holly Rowe talks her through a couple of interview questions, her responses making the crowd aww or applaud, and soon enough, she’s returning to her table, embracing her family once more and smiling gently at Tess. Cathy returns to the podium after allowing the allotted time for the next selection.
“With the second pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Los Angeles Sparks select…Tess Kennedy, University of South Carolina.”
Tess doesn’t register it at first until her family and friends are cheering, their applause loud, and Tess finally snaps back into reality as she stands with an elated, shocked laugh. She pulls Raven and Bree into her arms, her teammates whispering their congratulations before her parents pull her into bone-crushing embraces. And finally, she makes her way to Paige’s table – she was polite for Paige’s pick, but this is different now; it’s hers and after what she’s been through, she can’t find it in herself to care much for what’s proper. She throws herself into Paige’s arms, squeezing tight enough that anyone else would have complained, but Paige holds onto her with the same intensity as she murmurs, “So proud of you, baby. You and me, huh?”
Tess laughs, the sound tearful. “You and me,” she affirms, releasing her girlfriend, and she makes her way up to the podium where Cathy holds out the yellow and purple jersey to her. She takes it, her fingers trembling a little.
When she makes it down, the reporter waiting for her isn’t Holly Rowe. She’s blonde, radiant, and shorter than Tess, but Tess gets the strangest feeling like she knows her. She glances down at the lanyard around her neck, the media pass reading P. LANCASTER. Tess grins. “Tess, you were just selected number two overall for the 2025 WNBA Draft. Can you tell me what was going through your mind leading up to the pick?”
“Um, ‘don’t throw up,’” she answers honestly. Her candor makes the crowd laugh. She chuckles, feeling some of the pressure ease off of her as she gives a proper answer, the usual ‘I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a kid,’ and ‘I’m so grateful to be here and this is an honor that I don’t take lightly.’
The reporter talks her through a few more questions, such as how excited she is to be working with the Sparks. Between Cameron and Rickea, Tess feels like she’s in good hands, and knowing that Lynne Roberts, the new head coach, is a huge fan of three-point shooting, she feels like there’s a lot she can bring to the team. The reporter asks a fluff question about getting used to the Los Angeles heat, to which Tess jokingly responds with, “Well, I hear Dallas is hotter.” That makes a small smile appear on the reporter’s face.
“Speaking of Dallas,” she segues, which makes a knowing smile spread across Tess’s face. “Your girlfriend, Paige Bueckers, was just drafted there. The two of you met twice in national championships in college – can we expect some exciting match-ups between the two of you in the W?”
“Of course,” Tess says coyly. “We’re 1-1 on championship wins right now. I’m looking to add a couple more of those to my resume, and if that means beating my girlfriend? Even better.”
Penelope Lancaster thanks her for her time as the crowd applauds once more. Tess makes her way back to her table, smiling smugly at Paige, who rolls her eyes, but the love in her expression is hard to hide. The rest of the draft passes in a blur, as does the afterparty they’re both invited to afterwards. It’s well past midnight when they leave the club, their hair a mess from dancing and Paige’s blazer settled over Tess’s shoulders to stave off the late night chill. Paige already has an Uber called to take them back to Tess’s parents’ house and she pulls Tess into her side as they wait outside.
There’s something so magical about the night, about the energy in the atmosphere. The bass from the music reverberates and Paige sings along to whatever rap song is playing from inside, her body warm against Tess’s, and she finds that she suddenly can’t take it anymore. The overwhelming emotion in her chest, ready to burst at the seams, the sheer happiness and hope and gratitude that seeps from every pore in her body. She wraps both of her arms around Paige’s waist, resting her head over her chest, listening to the steady beat of her heart. Paige quiets down, a little confused, but she melts into their embrace until there’s no air left between them.
Tess doesn’t know how to put it into words – she doesn’t think she ever will. She’s so in love, even after a year together officially. There was a point in her life where she didn’t think she’d be here. She didn’t think she would be able to heal, that she would be able to play basketball again, that she would be drafted to pursue her dream professionally. She never thought romance was in the cards for her, that she would ever find someone like Paige – that she would find Paige herself; she never thought she would be in love or that someone would be in love with her, too. It’s surreal, encompassing, and call her cheesy or down bad or whatever, but she can’t wait to live life with Paige.
“You okay?” Paige asks softly, her fingers trailing up and down Tess’s back soothingly.
“I’m perfect,” Tess responds, smiling against Paige’s skin. “I just love you.”
Paige’s hand leaves her back, but it’s not long before she’s cupping Tess’s cheek and drawing her closer to her until their lips touch. It’s soft, unhurried, a promise. It’s just as electric as the first time, as warm, as perfect. Paige breaks away long enough to whisper “I love you, too,” and then she’s sweeping back in, kissing Tess with the vow of forever. When she first met Paige, almost two years ago, she’d told her that home was a feeling. Right here, wrapped up in Paige’s arms, kissing her under the streetlight as they get ready to walk into what is the beginning of their life together, Tess knows in her heart that she’s finally made it home.
‘Happily Ever Draft-er’
In April of 2025, the Dallas Wings and the Los Angeles Sparks drafted Paige Bueckers and Tess Kennedy first and second overall. Every basketball fan knew that Bueckers and Kennedy were sure bets for the top two picks. If there was one thing that the WNBA season could promise us, it was the match-ups between Bueckers and Kennedy – they certainly came around more often than they did when Bueckers and Kennedy were in college. They sold out arenas with many fans vying to see their clash, and they did not disappoint. Each game was intense, hard fought until the very last second.
In their rookie year, Bueckers and Kennedy helped lead their teams to the playoffs, although they both fell short – the Wings lost 2-0 to the Aces, while the Sparks lost 2-1 to the Liberty. In their second year, the Wings forged ahead to the semi-finals where they lost 3-2 to the Fever whereas the Sparks were defeated by the Sun 2-0 in the first round. Their third year was the complete opposite – the Wings lost to the Valkyries 2-1 in the first round, although the Sparks lost 3-1 to the Lynx in the semi-finals.
Their fourth year, the last of their rookie contracts, was long anticipated. In the first round of the playoffs, the Wings defeated the Storm in a clean 2-0 sweep. Similarly, the Sparks sent the Dream packing 2-0. Then, in the semi-finals, the Wings plowed through the Lynx 3-2 while the Sparks dominated the Fever 3-1. The finals match that everyone had been waiting for – the Wings versus the Sparks was underway. This would be the first year that the WNBA implemented a 7 game series.
The WNBA finals were back and forth. The Sparks took home the first win, the Wings took home the second and the third, although the Sparks bounced back with the fourth and the fifth. The Wings beat the Sparks on their sixth game in an overtime thriller, tying the series 3-3 and forcing a game seven. Bueckers and Kennedy were electric on the court, averaging 30 points in the postseason, but ultimately, the Sparks won the WNBA championship.
When approached for a comment, Kennedy stated, “Well, Paige won Rookie of the Year, so I think it’s fitting that I get a ring first.” Bueckers, who was standing next to her, rolled her eyes, but she seemed smug, as though she had another trick up her sleeve. Kennedy continued, “We’re free agents, so who knows who’s winning the chip after this.”
Bueckers did, in fact, have another trick up her sleeve as it was announced early in the offseason that she and Kennedy had gotten engaged in Italy, close to Kennedy’s hometown. Bueckers shared their engagement photos on her Instagram, captioning it, “Her favorite ring of them all 💍”. Shortly after, Bueckers and Kennedy shared their free agency picks – they’d both landed with the Golden State Valkyries alongside 2026 Rookie of the Year Azzi Fudd.
We’re eagerly awaiting the tipoff for the 2029 WNBA season. Bueckers and Kennedy have been rivals for nine years, falling in love despite it all. Finally, for the first time ever, we get to witness the union of the titans rather than their clash. We get to witness a team where Bueckers and Kennedy combine their strengths, and all we have to say is good luck to the rest of the league. The Golden State Valkyries will be a name that we will be hearing for a very long time, especially now that Paige Bueckers and Tess Kennedy have settled down in the Bay and have made San Francisco their home.
-Penelope Lancaster, Bleacher Report
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I beg of u pls more slowburn luci... I'm starved... No one writes him as well as you💔 I'll give you my kidneys 💔
THIS ONES FOR YOU BB
Did it Hurt? Lucifer x Reader
enjoy some quick fluff >:)
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Lucifer always had a habit of losing his temper. It wasn't often, usually when a specific document was giving him a hard time or when he would return from any meeting that took place at Heaven's Embassy. Or, with the relocation of his quarters, whenever a certain radio demon would push his buttons just a bit too much. You've seen it enough times to know when to leave him be and when to step in, but you hated to admit how familiar you became with him in this state.
It was a lot of work keeping up with the hotel after its renovation, and Lucifer did everything in his power to keep the hotel running behind the scenes, so Charlie could focus on her new residents. Being his assistant for so many years, even following him to work at the hotel, you were absolutely delighted to see him so passionate to work, obviously motivated by his rekindled relationship with his daughter. But with the whole redemption premise, it meant a lot more contact with Heaven, and that drained his battery more than anything you've seen.
You hated to compare, but it almost reminded you of his depressive episodes after Lillith disappeared. He walked the halls in a daze, putting on the brightest smile only around the other hotel staff, but you knew him too well to be fooled by his lovely grin.
Throw some drinks into the mix? You'd witness a truly gruesome sight.
It was almost evening when Lucifer realized he actually had caught up to his work and had the chance to enjoy his night. His first thought, no matter how much he'd deny it, was to find you. It was always easier to enjoy his rest and relaxation when you were around. Something about you just left that affect on him. It'd drive him crazy if he thought about it too long.
You found yourself in the newly renovated lobby, still decorated with a bar that exentuated both Lucifer's and Alastor's aesethetic. It was one of the few things they had compromised on.
Lucifer insisted you stop work for the night, but you only agreed after thoroughly skimming over his documents to see if there was anything that would keep him up too long. After finally being swayed, you give him a quick pat on his arm and wished him a good night, assuming he would take the oppurtunity to sleep through his newfound free time.
With a satisifed sigh, you slammed your empty cup on the bar's counter, shouting for another. There was a loud roar of cheers coming from everyone around you as Husk refilled your glass. You lost count after the first hour or so, your head beginning to spin before you could consider the consequences. Soft Jazz music was playing from a small radio, hidden from view, and the entire hotel staff was bustling and chatting as if it wasn't nearly midnight on an average night in Hell.
You had heard something particularly ridiculous from Angel that sent you into a laughing fit. Nearly falling from your barstool, you felt a sturdy hand brace the small of your back. Startled by the sensation, you whip your head around a little too quickly, leaving you dizzy and blinking before focusing in on Alastor keeping you upright.
"Careful, my dear! I enjoy the festivities as much as the next depraved sinner, but we can't have the king's secretary hurting themselves now, can we?" His words seemed rude, but he managed to say them with a charm that prevented you from truly questioning it. It didn't stop you from mumbling under your breath, "i'm not his secretary.. asshole deer demon - " You managed to say it quiet enough that he didn't react, but you did catch his ear twitching and turning torwards you for a second. You quickly resumed some random conversation with Charlie or Vaggie, you couldn't remember its contents if you were asked about it today, but it was better than dealing with the repercussions of insulting the radio demon.
It went back to being chummy and pleasant for a moment before you saw Charlie peering past your shoulder, an excited gasp escaping her lips.
"Dad! Come drink with us!" Charlie leaned back from her barstool, Vaggie bracing her drunken sweetheart from falling flat on her face. You quickly turn, dizzying yourself again, before seeing Lucifer making a hasty decent down the stairs. His hair was freshly quaffed, and he wore a clean white dress shirt, that smelled of a sweet cologne when he walked past you. He had that twinkle in his eyes that would appear whenever he was in Charlie's presence. You loved seeing his eyes that way. They'd shine no matter how heavy the bags under them were.
"Of course, kiddo! Your old man's got the night off if you'd believe it! Pour me a.. uh... something strong!" He puffed his chest out proudly, happy to spend some much needed time around demons in a casual setting. He propped himself against the counter between you and Charlie. When you finally caught up to his words, your eyes widened slightly, giving him a gentle tap on his shoulder. Lucifer turned to look at you, and you caught him speechless for a moment. Your cheeks were red and hot, your eyes dazed and a bit watery from laughing too hard, but still reading concerned for some reason. He's seen you in loungewear before, but you were barely put together in this state. Your hair was sprawled across your shoulders, a few strands blocking your eyes. You wore sweatpants that loosely hung from your waist, revealing your middrift that was visible from underneath your cropped t-shirt that bagged off your shoulders. After snapping back to reality, Lucifer let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding in.
"Yes, yes, dear, here I am. Hope you've been having fun - but not too much! Fun.. Aha... what-what is it, what do you need..?" He stumbled over his words, attempting to be charming but failing miserably. A staticky chuckle responded to his words before you could get out what you wanted to say. "Poetry, your highness. True poetry~" Lucifer hated to look away from you but did so anyway to send a red eyed glare to Alastor, who sat across the bar. He scoffed before scooping his freshly poured drink into his clawed hand and taking a quick swig, slamming it back down. He coughed for a moment, hitting his chest with a balled up fist before sending Husk a teary-eyed thumbs up. "Smooth.. Another..!" He squeaked out. You resorted to taking a soft grip on his forearm after he got too distracted to hear you out before.
"Sir, be careful! We both know you can't hold your liquor.. just - be careful." You spoke in a hushed tone, far closer to his ear than you intended to be, but personal space became foggy in your drunken state. He shivered, feeling your breath against the side of his face, then quickly turned his head up to hide the red creeping across his cheeks. Clearing his throat and picking up his refilled glass, he let out a pompous laugh.
"Thanks for worrying about me, but i'm fine! I'm the king of Hell! I can handle my.. whiskey?" He turned to Husk with a confused look on his face, only to get a confirmation on his drink. He sent a charasmatic smirk in your direction after getting a thumbs up from the bartender. You couldn't help but giggle, covering your mouth to not embarrass him or yourself. He always eased your nerves like this.
What a dork.
You smiled to yourself for a moment before feeling a hand brush the hair that laid across your eyeline out of the way and tucking it away behind your ear. You looked up, fluttering your eyelashes as your eyes focused in on the figure. You turned red seeing Alastor brushing his claws across your hair to keep it away from your face. Without proper judgement, you cringed at the suddenly intimate interaction and jolted away from his clawed hands.
"Now, now, I'm only trying to help! You look an absolute mess, darling." You shrunk at Alastor's words. He still spoke charmingly, but it was clear he had a few drinks as well. You let out a nervous chuckle, running your hands through your own hair and crossing your arms over your exposed middrift.
Lucifer's seen you stick up for yourself before. You were as passionate as he was in that sense. So seeing you almost curled up into a ball at Alastor's words, that were spoken closer to your face than he'd ever want to see, made him growl. "Keep your distant, buddy, maybe you should call it night. If you know what's good for you, that is." Lucifer's confidence only grew with the alcohol finally hitting him. He laid his arm across your shoulder, slightly leaning you away from the demon that towered over the two of you. Alastor found a weakspot and knew exactly what to do with it.
The chatting went on for another hour or two. After Lucifer was calmed down by Charlie and yourself, you all managed to have a decent time until demons started heading back to their rooms one by one. Lucifer was going on a rant about some bullshit documents that Heaven sent and how he'll have to set an appointment to go to the embassy soon, while you propped your head on your hand and only half listened. It wasn't because you were disinterested, you were just coming off your high. You still weren't sober enough to warn Lucifer that he probably had one drink too many, but that was a problem for later.
"Why not send your little servant to deal with Heaven, hmm? I've seem them dealing with plenty of your problems, i'm sure another burden won't hurt, wouldn't you agree?" A wave of radio static washed over your body as you felt large hands fully encase your shoulders. Alastor's claws were cold against your skin, your shoulders exposed by the drooping of the oversized shirt you wore. When he was drunk, his little quips seemed much more personal.
You let out a sarcastic laugh, carefully pulling your torso away from his grip." Ha ha ha. I'm fine, Alastor. I can handle myself, even against Heaven. If i have to, I could totally deal with an angel!" You bragged, maybe the confidence of alcohol made you respond, maybe something else.
"How about you? Think you can handle an angel, Al?" Lucifer added to your words, his arms across his chest. Alastor's eye twitched, his clawed fingers digging into his dress shirt where he was nearly killed this past extermination. The static in the air crackled louder for a moment, before Alastor spun you around to face him. His hands were planted firmly on either side of the chair, caging you in uncomfortably.
"Oh rest assured, sweetheart, I'm fully capable. If you ever need.. protection.. on one of your little errands, do let me know, hm? Maybe you'll need a gentleman to accompany - " He slowly moved in closer to you, until your could barely hold yourself up, your breath hitching as you lost the strength to handle his exessive teasing. Lucifer ripped on of Alastor's hands away, before pulling you from your seat and holding onto your arms to brace you from the quick movement.
"Back the fuck off, bitch." Lucifer's eyes were glowing a familiar red, his teeth snarling at Alastor, who was standing with a playful glint in his eyes.
"Oh dear, did I make a mistake? Is someone a bit protective? Best not lose this one, your higness!"
Damn, that's cruel, you thought, wincing at his words.
You hadn't even confessed any feelings, not that they were clear to you. You considered being in some sort of romantic relationship with Lucifer as your still not entirely sober mind wandered from the frightening moment.
Before you could realize, you were tossed to the side, stumbling onto the carpetted floor with a light thud. Your vision returned to see a fully demonized Lucifer, gripping Alastor's collar as he yelled out some profanities, puffs of flames leaving his mouth as he spoke. You were completely shocked to see how Alastor stood there with a grin on his face. Like he was enjoying it. You quickly stood to your feet, the adrenaline coursing through your veins being more than enojgh to sober you up.
"Sir! Stop!" You reached out and grabbed Lucifer's sleeve, only to be nudged off a bit forcefully. He definitely wasn't using his full strength to keep you away. This was one of the moments you would step out, Lucifer was always impossible to calm down in this state and the alcohol surely made it worse. He lifted his flame engulfed fist, ready to drive it directly into Alastor's shit eating grin.
"Lucifer!" You finally shouted. He paused, slowly releasing Alastor's shirt and stepping away. He scoffed and didn't even snap his fingers, yet a portal appeared behind him. You could see from the outside that it led to his office.
"You're not worth the trouble anyway, fucker." A final puff of fire left his lips as he stepped through his portal that instantly vanished. It left you alone with Alastor in the lobby, the collar of his shirt and a few of his hairs lightly cinched.
"What the fuck is your problem?? Stay away from me! And him? Leave him alone! Damnit, he doesn't deserve this..!" You huffed, making your way up the stairs. Alastor stood alone, his stature still unphased. His eyes shook and he finally let out a shakey breath once you were out of view.
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You recognized where to find him and quickly made your way up to his tower. Sure, it stung that he would just leave you after causing such a scene, but that still didn't stop you from worrying about him.
You opened the office door slowly, peaking in to see an empty office. You stepped in and scanned the area, no sign of the king of Hell. You noticed a soft flicker of light coming from the window and went towards that direction. The large windows of the office opened up, one in particular leading to a small balcony that displayed the Pride Ring as a bustling landscape of city lights.
You let out a soft breath, taking in the view before finally seeing Lucifer sitting on the railing, his hands holding him up. The flickering that led you towards him was the flame that sat at the crown of his head, his demon form still intact. You knew it took him awhile to calm down, but you rarely got the chance to see his powerful features this close. His tail was hung over the railing, swaying like how a cats' would. His wings were fully sprawled out, only moving with his breath and his horns, a vivid red at the tips, tore through his scalp, breaking up the purity of his white flesh. The flame that sat between them was much smaller than before and his eyes were still red, but you could see his yellow irises looking down at the city. His shirt had torn from the back, you assumed with how fast the situation at the bar escalated he didnt properly consider the physical damage he'd cause. In this vision of raw power, just the sight of the back of his neck and shoulder blades peaking from his torn shirt was what made your blush.
He turned his eyes towards you, then looked back to the city, adjusting his wings so you could have some space to stand near him. At least he was welcoming you in. You carefully stepped over the ledge, bracing yourself on the railing as you got a full view of the city. The wind left a much needed cool touch to your face, making you let out a soft sigh. You propped yourself up on your elbows, bending at the hips slightly.
"You know, considering how terrible the people are down there, the city really is beautiful. From a distance." You spoke softly, testing the waters; seeing if he simply needed a distraction from the outburst." Actually, it looks pretty similar to a city on Earth. Not as busy and a lot less bloodshed, but still similar. I've never been, but this is pretty close to the pictures i've seen." You described. Sometimes the mention of Earth was good for him to hear too, so you gave that a shot as well.
"They used to be white. Sometimes in the sunlight, you could even see some gold flecks in there." He finally spoke, his voice hoarse. He stretched out his wings slightly, motioning that those were what he was referring to. You twisted around to fully face his wing that had outstretched in your direction. "They were really beautiful."
"I'n sure they were, sir. Do you like flying? I saw you doing it when you were fighting Adam, you seemed really fast." You spoke softly, deciding not to argue the fact that they were still beautiful in this state. He didn't need to debate right now. "May I?" You let your hand hover just above his feathers, the wind occasionally blowing them into your touch. He nodded, even if he was exhuasted, he still seemed anxious at the idea. You carefully trailed your fingers in the direction of the feathers, now a blood red. They were still unbelievably soft and they essentailly leaned into your touch, as you traced the spine of each feather mindlessly.
Clearing his throat and letting himself calm down from the touch, he did his best to respond." I-I used to. In Eden, I would.. mm... I had to patrol and catalog Adam and - well... any progress or changes.." he stammered out his words, occasionally stopping to let out a quiet hum." I just don't see the point anymore. Plus, it's probably not the safest bet." He let his head fall back for a moment, his wings slowly but surely pulling you towards him.
"What about your tail? And.. your horns? Those only appeared after you.. erm... after you arrived in Hell, right?" You moved on to the lower wing that was closest to you. There were some loose feathers that were sticking in all sorts of direction, so you carefully wiggled those out and continued to comb through the large span of feathers, running your nails along the very top with slight pressure. "Hng.. right, yeah. Those are newer." Was the only response he managed to get out.
"The horns.. did it hurt?" You were almost scared to ask, the idea of horns sprouting through your head and breaking your skin on multiple occasions made you shiver.
You continued to groom his wings as he responded. "T-The first time, yeah. But now, not so much. Or maybe i'm just.. I'm just used to it.. Mmh!" He winced mid sentence, his wings curling in with a jolt. You felt his tail rope itself around your wrist and hold it in place. "Oookay! That was n-nice.. thank you, but- yeahh.. Ahha.. that's enough of that." He chuckled nervously, and you looked over at him after not doing so for awhile. His face was flushed red and his chest was heaving. You couldnt tell if he was hurting or.. "Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to.. Sorry..." you weren't exactly sure what you were apolgizing for, but considering the possiblities made you turn red.
"Nono, it's fine. It was nice, I promise." He managed to compose himself, but left his tail around your arm loosly. "But, uh, yeah! Yup! Horns are new, Tails' new. The fire's definitely an interesting choice, can't get rid of that even if i tried. And trust me, I tried." He went on, leaning back on the railing and letting his wings tuck in, but still left them in view. You let your head fall to your shoulder, cocking your eyebrow. "Get rid of it? Why? Doesn't it go away on its own?"
"After awhile yeah. But here I am, in a situation where I definitely don't need to use any of this shit - I-I don't know what it's for other than intimidation, but I still can't get it to go away on command. After all this time.. The vodka probably doesn't help either." He huffed, clearly frustrated at his physical appearance. You had taken to fiddling with the tip of his tail as he spoke. You did it much more softly, and it didn't seem as sensitive, so he didn't comment on it. But he still had a red hue across his cheeks and his tail twitched every now and then at certain touches.
You let out a quiet giggle, "It was Whiskey, but yeah i'm sure that didn't help either." You clarified in a teasing sense, then fell comfortably into a silence for a moment. You could just barely hear cars honking, gunshots and music when neither of you spoke.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, it definitely does the job. You left Alastor shaking in his boots back there." You said with a smile, turning your head to meet his eyes. They were still mostly red, but you could see them softening just at the sight of you.
"Good! He deserves it. Sweetheart, if that prick ever does anything - "
"Don't worry, he won't. You know he only picks on me to get under your skin." You walked your fingers up his arm before seeing his fist clench at the sensation.
"I-I suppose.. I- Uhm... What are you doing..?" He started to sound nervous, but didnt pull away from you. You stopped what you were doing, realizing one hand was sitting on his thigh and the other was making its way up his arm. You yelped and pulled your hands back, placing them on your cheeks just to gauge the heat immiting from your skin.
"I-I don't know! Sorry! M-maybe i'm still drunk..! Yeah, that has to be it.." you stammered, a blushing mess. The sound of his soft chuckle was quick to ease your nerves." Maybe.. it's curiousity... Do you- not to sound weird, say no if i'm wrong - but.. you can- ahh.. touch my horns, too.. if you want - " He wasn't trying to be crude, you could tell he really just wanted to calm you down. Or maybe he just wanted to be touched. You nod your head slowly, keeping your eyes locked on his.
He shifts his positioning to face you, and leans his head down a bit. Taking each of your hands into his own, which were a bit shaky , he pulls them up to meet his intimidatingly tall horns. You basically shut your eyes in anticipation, only opening them back up when you get a good feel. They were smooth, like the surface of a violin, but they felt heavy. You wondered if they felt heavy to him. You carefully menuvered your hands around the fire that was nearly the size of a matches flame at this point, sliding up to the tips. They were ridiculously sharp. It made you more anxious than anything else, they couldve pricked your finger if you werent being careful enough.
"Remind me to remind you how sharp these are. You'll poke someones eye out if you're not careful. Unless that's what you're aiming for, then go for it." You tried speaking to him as you did this to break the intimate silence of the moment.
He let out a nervous laugh. From his view, he could see most of your stomach, more visible than before due to your reach. You actually felt a particularly heavy breath reach your middrift, making you tense up for a moment. Still, lucifer was careful to keep still after the comment on his sharp horns.
You made your way down to where they met his temples, hesitating for a moment before feeling the skin that was stretched over the bone-like features. It felt like scarred flesh. Your felt your heart drop in your chest at the sensation. When he said it hurt the first time.. the horns must've physically ripped through his skin. Without thinking, your hands trailed down to cup his cheeks, making him lift up his head with a questionable expression." So? Did you get your fill?" He asked, a stupid smirk dancing across his face. You scoffed, taking the moment to look into his red eyes. They almost hid the tiredness of his usual colors.
You noticed his eyelids begin to droop and before you knew it, your lips had brushed together in a tender kiss. You pulled him in closer, your hands still planted on his cheeks. He wrapped his arms around your waist and lifted you up to sit on the railings beside him, never breaking contact during the process. He was careful with you, even as you parted your lips to invite a heavier kiss, he held his shut. You pulled away for a moment, moving your hand to his lower lip and just lightly brushing your thumb across it. His breath became heavy at the delicate touch, his grip around your waist falling onto your hips. You left your thumb on his lip and took the opportunity to slide your tongue slowly into his mouth. He yelped, his eyes suddenly shot open at the boldness of your actions. His suddenly limp hands, almost clawing at your hips. His forked tongue eventually made his way into your mouth, still with caution. You felt the fork in his tongue and smiled into his lips, enjoying this new discovery a little too much. He melted into your touch and followed your movements, barely having the strength to keep his head up on his own. You reveled in the moment, before feeling a sharp prick on the tip of your tongue. You pulled away, giving you both a much needed break to breathe.
You run your tongue across the top of your mouth, the smallest taste of blood hitting you."Oh! Fangs!" You quickly exclaimed, the realization hitting you before you could form a real sentence. He stared at you almost dumbfounded, not sure how to respond.
Once you had both composed yourself enough, you noticed that all of his demonics features had retreated, leaving just his wings sprawled out. He let out a satsified hum as you looked into regularly colored yellow and red eyes. You ran your hair through his hair, that had become messy from the horns, and pulled him into another kiss. Lingering for just a moment, you pulled back and smiled, letting your eyes dart across all he features." You're beautiful, Lucifer~" you hummed, your thumb caressing his cheek. You almost couldn't tell, but he did his best to keep any tears from welling in his eyes.
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I wanna work on my multi-part series after all my exams as a heads to you lovely lil people
#no kidneys required#hazbin#hazbin hotel smut#hazbin hotel#lucifer hazbin#lucifer hazbin hotel#lucifer magne#hazbin hotel fandom#lucifer morningstar#hazbin fanfiction#hazbin hotel fanfiction#hazbin hotel fanfic#hazbin fanfic#hazbin hotel fluff#lucifer x you#lucifer x reader
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Salvation for the damned
Priest!Sanji x fem!Reader smut
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/ca1421892084df88f97edd5c6659deb4/f3942c40844648f5-2c/s540x810/66154cb2ed5bd76c9f085130218e9019ea149812.jpg)
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Minors, do not interact!!!
Author's note: This is my first smut, go easy on me. I'm not used to actually posting what I write. Ever since I saw @hunnismokah 's fanart of Sanji as a priest I haven't had a WINK of sleep. She has unleashed something feral into the world.
Warning: if you're uncomfortable with themes of religion, I'll advise you to scroll away.
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"What is troubling you, my child?"
Sanji fancied himself a man of God. From a young age, he knew his role in life was to serve The All Mighty and help lost souls find the right path again.
He gave an Oath, and swore his body, mind and soul to The Lord, in promise to never stray from the path of light. And Sanji was a man of his word. Hence why he was sure you were sent by the Judge Of All, to test his strength and devotion.
Oh, you were the most angelic being he had ever laid eyes upon. Or at least so he thought, because, in truth, he saw you as a temptation crafted by The Devil specifically to torture him. And as much as he prayed and kneeled before God, begging for expiation, you wouldn't leave. As hard as he cried out to the heavens for a chance to atone, his screams were never heard.
You would always creep into his dreams, where he was most vulnerable, and force him into sin. You were a foul succubus, the daughter of Satan, and you have come to ensure his fall.
------------------------------------------------------
"Father, I must atone for these terrible sins I've committed against the Holy One."
He hadn't expected you to turn up so late, looking deeply troubled near the Church's entrance. He let you in without a second thought, and as soon as you reached the altar, you dropped down to your knees, your hands clasped together, looking up at him in desperation.
His face softened and he smiled ever so slightly. He was glad you finally decided to turn yourself over to The Light. Sanji lifted his hand over your head and spoke with firmness in his voice.
"Speak now child, lay yourself bare before The Lord and share your troubles. Pray that He may forgive you."
He felt closest to God during confessions. It was as if The All Mighty spoke through him, accepting the wrongs of those before him into his heart and engulfing them in pure holy light.
"I've been plagued by impure thoughts, Father. The sin of Lust and Desire has claimed me and shackled me in its repulsive hold and I have become its slave."
Through the silence, a shaky breath was all that could be heard. Sanji felt his body shudder and pool in a cold sweat, a chill running down his spine. His knees were so weak he thought he might keel over any moment now, had he not been holding Saint Patrick's Cross so tightly in his other hand.
Taking a deep breath in through his nose, Sanji composed himself. Right now, he had to help this poor woman redeem herself before The Lord.
"Very good, my child. The first step to redemption is seeking out the forgiveness of God. Stand."
You did as you were told immediately, without asking a single question. Good. The expectant look in your eyes could melt the resolve of the most cold-hearted man, had you only wished to do so.
"For your heinous crimes, you shall face punishment, and you shall suffer, and you shall be freed. Now, are you ready to carry out God's task?"
Oh, that spark in your eyes. He could almost feel the devotion radiate off your body into zaps of energy. Almost. "I am ready, Father. I swear that I will do whatever it is The Lord asks of me."
Before you even finished speaking, he had already turned around and instructed you to follow him.
------------------------------------------------------
Not before long, you found yourself in his private quarters. Just as you were about to question why, he called out to you, and you answered. Sanji was sat at the edge of his bed, looking up at you with a gentle smile adorning his face.
"Kneel, child."
You sank back to your knees, reaching out with your hands and hesitantly placing them atop his own, all while looking at him. He extended his hand to you and gently cupped your face, stroking your cheek with his thumb.
Breath caught in your throat, you dared not utter a word, lest all kinds of sinful thoughts escape through, in-between your teeth.
"Do you know what you must do?" You could feel his thumb brush across your plush lips and pull the bottom one down.
"Yes, Father."
Sanji felt your hands drag up his thighs and settle on the zipper of his pants. He held back a groan at the feeling of your hands on him, inhaling sharply once you pulled his cock out and sat up on your knees to press a featherlight kiss to the tip.
You licked your lips and pressed one more kiss to it before wrapping them around the head, sucking lightly. He let out a gasp and shut his eyes, basking in the way your perfect lips wrapped so well around the head of his dick. Sanji felt you pull away and opened his eyes only to see you spit on his cock and wrap a hand around to stroke him. Your palm so soft and gentle, your pace slow and sensual, easing him into the feeling of your skin pressed to his. He was trying so hard not to let out soft moans of pleasure as you touched him, your skin igniting a spark in him that ate away at his soul deliciously so.
He could feel sin seep through his skin and into his heart, pulling him away from all that he deemed right, enticing him to beg for more. But he couldn't allow it, couldn't allow to lose himself to such carnal desires.
His resolve, however, faltered the second you took him into your mouth again. Enveloping his cock in its warmth and continuing to stroke whatever you failed to fit with your hand. Sanji let out a whine, and pressed his palm to the back of your head, keeping you in place. You had long since closed your eyes, basking in the feeling of him filling up your mouth, making you imagine what it would feel like for him to bury himself deep inside you and claim you as his.
Oh, you've dreamed of him for so long. You knew it was wrong to want a man of God, selfish, to wish he'd devote himself to you instead. You'd stay awake at night, desperately pumping your fingers to feel even the slightest relief, but your body knew what it wanted. And it wanted it badly.
Whatever you did, you couldn't satisfy your hunger for the man, and tonight, after hopelessly trying to chaise you high for hours and failing miserably, you decided enough was enough. You had to have him.
Snapping back into the present, you moved your tongue against him, hearing him let out yet another sinful cry, tears threatening to spill over his eyes. You could feel yourself clenching around nothing. Sanji tugged on your hair, and a moan escaped your throat, making him mewl in ecstasy.
He could feel a knot begin to form, like a balloon ready to burst, so he pushed you away, panting.
You looked up at him, confused. Had he not enjoyed himself? Did he perhaps change his mind? Maybe he finally realised how wretched you were.
"Come, sit." You wasted no time in hastily removing your bottoms and straddling his lap. Sanji placed both his hands on your hips, pressing gentle kisses to your neck and collarbone. A sigh left his lips when he felt your fingers swiftly undoing his ponytail and running your fingers through his long, golden locks of hair.
You aligned yourself up with his cock and sank, taking him in inch by delicious inch, filling yourself. Once you finally fit him all inside, a breath of relief left you.
He was still pressed closely to your chest, holding you tightly and squeezing your hips as if you'd disappear should he let go. And his grip became tighter once you started moving. Sanji felt like he'd lose his mind by how tight, wet and warm your walls were, pulsating and squeezing around him and greedily sucking him in.
"Father...please." Your voice was so weak as if the wind was knocked out of you, leaving you gasping and craving for more. He groaned and tried to meet your hips with his, thrusting up into your cunt in chase of the pleasure engulfing him whole.
"Fuck, you feel so good my sweet." He was quickly losing himself in you. Breathing in your scent and feeling it fill up his lungs, it was almost as if his mind was spiralling into insanity.
"Call me by my name...Let me hear you say it." You could barely register what he was asking of you, too drunk on the feeling of the man you've been craving for so long finally giving you what you've been wanting.
"Sanji, please don't stop." A shameless whine interrupted you. You couldn't form coherent thoughts anymore. All you could think about was him and how good he was making you feel.
He just kissed your forehead and began fucking into you harder, hitting that special spot deep inside you every time. He knew you were close by the way you tightened so much around him, it was evident.
"I know darling, 'm close too. Fuck- Been dreaming about this pussy for months. Been dreaming of filling it up to the brim with my cum. Is that what you want love? For me to paint your insides white?"
All you could do was throw your head back and moan like an animal in heat, desperately moving your hips to chase that high.
"Use your words, sweetness. Tell me you want it." He didn't falter in his movements, keeping up the brutal pace and abusing your cunt, set on hearing you.
You locked your eyes with his, barely able to keep them open. "Want your cum Sanji, please give it to me. Want you to fill me up." He groaned, hearing you barely get out the words, too focused on the pleasure he was giving you.
"Since you asked so nicely, you better take it all." You could feel your eyes roll to the back of your head as you tipped over the edge, his words alone making you lose your mind. You moaned out his name again and again, like a prayer and he felt that knot finally snap.
With a final thrust of his hips, Sanji came, spilling deep inside you, painting your walls white. You felt your insides warm up as you milked him of every last drop until he was spent.
With both of you panting, he gripped your face with one hand to make you face him again and asked. "What do you say now?"
"Thank you, Father."
#18+ mdni#priest sanji#priest sanji x reader#priest kink#x reader#one piece x reader#one piece sanji#one piece sanji x reader#sanji x reader#sanji x you#black leg sanji#sanji smut#sanji x reader smut#letting the voices win#awooga#deranged melody hours#idk what im doin lol#what is this
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lucifer x fem!reader
she’s Adam’s ex girlfriend who left him and fell in love with lucifer. adam is trying to “rehabilitate” so he can get back into heaven. but since he’s in the hotel he’s forced to see his ex and Mr.Steal Yo Girl thrice being all lovey dovey together.
like occasionally she might sit on Lucifer’s lap while at the bar. Holding hands while walking around.
worst part for Adam.. his bedroom being closed to wear Lucifer’s tower is when the hotel is rebuilt. adam is trying to sleep and suddenly he hears, moaning.
It’s lucifer and y/n going at it.
And y/n says to lucifer: “and adam calls himself dickmaster”
“when that title belongs to you.”
Ex-quisite encounters (Lucifer x Adams Ex! Reader)
AHHHHAHAHAHAHAAA
Foaming at the mouth at this idea, I need it now
I nickednamed Lucifer’s tower “the big apple”
Warnings: implied smut, PDA, like 2 paragraphs of straight smut, Adam, jealous Adam, Mentions of Adams and reader relationship, doggy style, Adam, Themes from third times the charm, Adam again
⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧ ⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧ ⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧
No ones POV:
After that faintful day in the Garden Of Eden, Y/N were soon casted out and sent to hell but it wasn’t unwanted, they were with Lucifer in hell, Adam was PISSED about losing another wife to Lucifer.
Y/N and Lucifer have been together for almost 6 years and it was perfect, until the extermination, this year, it was different. Charie and Sinners were fighting back against the attack, this extermination led to the 2nd death of Adam and Y/N and Lucifer moving into the hotel, things couldn’t be more perfect for everyone…till a certain someone appeared on the hotels doors step.
Took everyone a second to recognize him but when everyone heard his voice, they knew. It was the one and only Adam, coming here for “redemption” Charlie have a bleeding heart she took him happily to everyone dismay. But Lucifer saw this as an opportunity to have some fun..
Lucifer’s mission after that was to make Adam as jealous as possible. After Adams arrived at the hotel Lucifer was with you all the time and each time the two were seen my Adam, Lucifer made sure he was touching you. Two of this favorite moments being when the couple were sitting at the bar with a few of the other residents, Y/N was sitting on his lap every the conversation and drinks only for Adam just so happened to walk in. Lucifer’s second favorite time being when him and Y/N were in the couch cuddling, it was almost like Adam always walk in a the perfect time “oh god get a fucking room!” He nearly screamed rubbing the bridge of his host. Lucifer chuckled, placing a kiss on the crook of your neck,clearly amused.
…needless to say Adam was jealous of the two.
Adams room was a 2 door down from Lucifer’s and Y/N’s shared living quarters. So he always was seeing you guys which wasn’t pleasant for him. One night while Adam was attempting to sleep, he heard talking and small thuds.
After about another 30 minutes of those noise he finally sat up to find the source of the noise. When he finally regained full consciousness and focused on the noise the started to make out a few more details things. Those weren’t thuds of things falling, they were a constant noise of something hitting the wall. “The fuck..” Adam said to himself. Soon he got up out of bed and moved over the wall where to noise was coming from.
Adam pressed his ear to the wall, trying to hear. Now that he was closer the could hear the more clearly. He recognized one of them, it was Y/N’s then soon he heard Lucifer’s. Adam eyes widen, pissed. “YOU GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!” He said in a scream which no one heard. Then the could hear more clearly what they said.
Y/N’s POV
“Fuck!!” I moaned out. My face was pressed against the mattress. Lucifer, had my face down and ass up (🎶that’s the way I like to fuck🎶), his nails dug into my hips and the thrust hard and fast into me. “That’s it..” Lucifer said between thrust “so fucking close..” I heard him say before he came heard into him, filling me up.
After the euphoric feeling went away he clasped onto him, he kept his arms around me as he rolled to his side, Spooning me.
Through breathy pants, trying to regain my breath. I open my hooded eyes and smile be speaking “and Adam calls himself dickmaster..” i said as I gave his hand a squeeze “when that title belongs to you…”
Tag list
@kazurami14 @netheris @musicb33nsstuff @rainycloud858 @yaimlight @erissco @aarkhamkknight @pooplyface1423 @purplethree @dog55teeth
#x reader#hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel x reader#hazbin hotel x you#hazbin hotel lucifer#lucifer morningstar x reader#lucifer morningstar x you#lucifer morningstar#fanfic#hazbin hotel smut
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I remember reading someone say that they hope Seviathan ISN’T a jerk and if/when he comes to the hotel, he actually wants to help Charlie in her mission of redemption…then ends up with a crush on Vaggie, lol.
Mate, how funny would that be? 😂😂😂 You’re here to genuinely help your ex, then end up falling for her girlfriend. While it isn’t socially acceptable or appropriate, I think it’s cute. I guess Vags has that sort of affect on people.
oh man, if we go the absolute CHAD route for Sevi WHILE imagining him getting a crush on Vaggie... like, dude meets scary lady, doesn't notice how scary his EX gets over him staring at HER girlfriend, and maybe it's time for Sev to have some personal epiphanies?
Seviathan: "Knock knock? Yo Charles-a-lot! This really your hotel?"
Angel Dust: "Oh heyyy, look what the undead boy band dragged in..."
Husk: (snorts)
Charlie: "Sev? SEV! Holy shit what are you doing here!?"
Angel Dust: "Wait a sec, Sev? As in-"
Husk: "Oh shit."
Angel Dust: "Ex boyfriend on the hotel premises oh this is gonna get INTERESTIN'. Bet on how quick he gets maimed?"
Husk: "Fuck no. She'd kill us too."
Angel Dust: "Sigh... S'pose so. Spoil sport spear bitch..."
Seviathan: "I heard about your thing! Figured you could use a hand with the whole... uh... Sinner pet project obsession."
Charlie: "But Isn't there a game on right now-"
Seviathan: "Nah, everything's blocked out by replays of your little slap fight with heaven. Which I totally could've helped with too, if you'd given me a heads up first."
Charlie: "I did call? I said goodbye in case I died and-"
Seviathan: "Didn't hear it. You know I don't check voice mail. Everyone's always blowing up my inbox trying to to hit me up."
Angel Dust: "Oh my fucking gay."
Husk: "Would you hit that?"
Angel Dust: "If I did ya'd have to shoot me afterwards."
Seviathan: "Anyway, that's how I found out you'd actually went ahead and tried this thing out for real! And made a real mess of it. You totally cut off the final quarter of the best game of the year with all that live coverage."
Charlie: "Sorry, sorry- we REALLY didn't have say in the timing on that-"
Husk: "No shit."
Seviathan: "Eh. The team's played like shit anyway ever since I left."
Charlie: "Didn't you get kicked off for hogging the ball-"
Angel Dust: "Shocker."
Husk: "Never would have fucking guessed."
Seviathan: "Not dropping the ball isn't the same as hogging it and I never drop the ball on anything. You sure have though!"
Charlie: "I have? Where? Or er with what??"
Seviathan: "This hotel lobby for a start. Where's the billiards table!"
Charlie: "Ohhh. We don't have one."
Seviathan: "Why the hell not???"
Charlie: "No one's asked?"
Seviathan: "Well what the fuck does everyone here DO all day long? You've got actual people staying here, right? You're not still playing pretend hostess to stuffed animals and stuff?"
Angel Dust: "I kinda hope Vaggisaurus kills him."
Husk: "Don't get your hopes up. You know she's whipped and Charlie's a fucking sweetheart."
Angel Dust: "A bestie can dream..."
Charlie: "No I am NOT playing pretend hostess, thanks for mentioning it by the way, in public, in front of my friends- and yes we DO have guests at the hotel! Some of them here of their own free will even!"
Husk: "Not it."
Angel Dust: "Bullshit."
Charlie: "They have lots of fun activity time too! Even when we're not doing talk circles!"
Seviathan: "Uh huh."
Charlie: "Yes! Mostly we all like watching TV- well almost all of us- or listening to the radio to pass the time, or hanging out chatting, or reading-"
Seviathan: "So they're pussies."
Husk: "Hey."
Angel Dust: "Down, pussycat~"
Husk: (HISS)
Charlie: "They are NOT-"
Angel Dust: "Speakin' of pussy...."
Seviathan: "Yeah we're talking about you, what about it? Anyway."
Seviathan: (puts hand on charlie's arm)
Angel Dust: "Here it comes-"
Seviathan: "I've been thinking about us lately, and-" (spear thuds next to his head) "-SHIT!!! HOLY SHIT?!?!"
Husk: "Damn. She missed."
Angel Dust: "Just an openin' shot, Mr. Whiskers." (rubs all four hands together) "Oh this is gonna be goooood~"
Charlie: "Vaggie!" (BEAMING) "I thought we talked about this?"
Vaggie: (swoops down) "He's not a gust yet, babe, so I can greet him spear first if I want to."
Charlie: "Sev's my ex boyfriend though!"
Vaggie: "I know."
Vaggie: (yanks spear out of wall and holds it under his throat) "What the fuck are you doing here."
Seviathan: "I, uhh- is, is that angelic steel..?"
Charlie: (laughing) "Vaggieeee. You're scaring him~"
Angel Dust: "An' turnin' her on."
Husk: (elbows him)
Vaggie: "We said hotel security would be my thing until the threat of random asshole angel attacks went down, remember hun? This is my day job."
Charlie: "I never said I was complaining! Juuuust commentating!"
Vaggie: "Alright then."
Vaggie: (backs Seviathan against wall with her spear)
Vaggie: "Talk. Now."
Seviathan: (swallows hard) "I'm swinging by to help Charlie with the hotel thing-"
Vaggie: "Why."
Seviathan: "She used to be my girl, a guy's got a responsibility-"
Vaggie: "Did she ask you to."
Seviathan: "No? She, she doesn't have to-"
Vaggie: "Did you ask her if you could help."
Seviathan: "It's no trouble, I don't mind a little extra work-"
Vaggie: "Are you here to ask for a room in our hotel."
Seviathan: "In this place? Fuck no, you should see the digs I have, I've got a-"
Vaggie: "So you're trespassing."
Angel Dust: "Ohhh!"
Seviathan: "I'm wha-"
Husk: "Fucking screwed."
Vaggie: "You came here just to swan all over her hard work and stroke your own ego, is what I'm hearing."
Seviathan: "Hey girl, I'm here to he-ULP-!"
Vaggie: "Shut up." (over shoulder) "Charlie?"
Charlie: "Mm....wellllll... Since he's already here, as long he really does help, I'm fine with it. He's harmless. He'd just... um..."
Husk: "A fuckhead."
Angel Dust: "Don't take my fav word in vain, baby."
Charlie: "He's my ex for a reason."
Husk: "Fuck you."
Angel Dust: "Much better."
Vaggie: "He's your ex for an annoying reason, or for being an actual jerk who's earned getting kicked out on his ass for once in his life kinda reason, sweetie?"
Nifty: (popping up from floorboards) "Is he a BAAAAD BOYYYY~?"
Seviathan: "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAt-"
Vaggie: "What part of shut up there's a spear at your throat don't you get."
Seviathan: (jaw clicks shut)
Charlie: "Nope! He's not a boy boy! Just annoying! Mostly."
Nifty: "DAMN IT."
Angel Dust: "How's the huntin' goin' today, Nif?"
Nifty: (pouts) "The last baby bug got away... I hadn't even finished ripping it's little legs off while the mother bug watched it squirm..." (slinks back under floor)
Everyone else: "....."
Charlie: "... so! (claps hands)
Charlie: "Sev, if you really wanna help out that's fine, we're still finishing up the last touches on the new hotel if you feel like doing a little paint work and furniture moving!"
Seviathan: "....."
Charlie: "Sev?"
Seviathan: "..."
Angel Dust: "Think we broke him."
Husk: "I think it's the fucking spear pressed up against his fucking windpipe."
Charlie: "Oh! Whoops. Vaggie, please?"
Vaggie: ".... fiiiine."
Vaggie: (steps back) (wipes spear on nearby curtains) "Answer her."
Seviathan: (staring) "What's your name?"
Vaggie: "Hotel manager. Answer her."
Seviathan: "Charlie-" (still staring at vaggie) "-I would LOVE to help set up your pet sinner terrarium thing!"
Vaggie: "Our WHAT."
Husk & Angel Dust: "Hey!"
Charlie: "It's a hotel, Sev."
Seviathan: "Uh huh yeah sure, that thing!"
Vaggie: (lifts spear)
Charlie: (gently pushes gf spear back down) "Oh I'm going to regret this... ok. Let's, get you some gloves and stuff."
Seviathan: "Alright!" (holds hand up to vaggie) "Give me some skin!"
Vaggie: "...." (lifts spear again)
Charlie: "Excuse us Sev just ONE moment!"
Charlie: (pulls gf safe distance away)
Charlie: "Vaggie..? You okay?"
Vaggie: "Fine."
Charlie: "You're eye's, um. Twitching." (tenderly brushes fringe away from gf's eye) "Are you okay with this? He doesn't have to stay."
Vaggie: "No. It's fine." (sighs) "I want to be okay with it."
Charlie: "It's okay if you're not!"
Vaggie: "I will be, sweetie. Just give me a minute." (leans up for kiss) "But. I need to go do a Niffty and stab something. Really hard. Right now. And if I stay here one minute more, it's gonna be him."
Charlie: "Okay." (giggles) "Have fun stabbing things that aren't my ex?"
Vaggie: "I'll try to."
Seviathan: "Oh hey I'm awesome at stabbing! And the thrusting!"
Angel Dust: "PLEASE stick around, toots."
Husk: (mumbling) "Please fucking stick him."
Seviathan: "Long hard things are totally my thing, I could give you a few pointers on handling them no problem!"
Vaggie: "No."
Seviathan: "Oh come on, how about a hands on demonstration-"
Vaggie: (at charlie) "Keep him away from the kitchen knifes. He looks like he'd stab himself showing off and make a mess."
Charlie: "Heheh~ I'll try to."
Vaggie: "Good luck with that babe." (smooches her) (flies off to go stab)
Seviathan: "...."
Seviathan: "She single?"
Charlie: "She- NO? She is not??"
Angel Dust: (whisper hissing) "Is he blind? Didn't they just kiss???"
Seviathan: "We'll she's gonna be single soon, but not for long."
Husk: "He's dead."
Demon Charlie: "Her girlfriend is ME, Seviathan."
Seviathan: "Girlfriend? So she's-"
Demon Charlie: "VERY VERY GAY and TAKEN, YES."
Seviathan: "Wait, with you? Seriously??"
Demon Charlie: "Yes. Me. For s e v e r a l. Happy. Years."
Husk: (lifts bottle) "Cheers motherfuckers."
Seviathan: "Ohhh, so all that making out with you she did, it wasn't just her flirting with m-"
Angel Dust: "Holy. Fuck."
Demon Charlie: "SHE WASN't FLIRTING WITH YOU! SHE LOVES ME- SHE WANTS TO KILL YOU!!!"
Seviathan: "I'd let her, to be honest. She's hot."
Husk: "Let her?"
Angel Dust: "Dude."
Husk: "The fuck does he mean, let her? He wouldn't have a fucking choice-"
Demon Charlie: "On second thought maybe you SHOULD'NT help out with the hotel, actually!"
Demon Charlie: (grabbing him by scruff of the neck and marching towards door) "It was VERY nice of you to drop by, PLEASE go have a good rest of your life, you'll probably have a LONGER one if you live it away from here!"
Seviathan: "Aww Charlie, getting nervous over having competition?"
Husk: (spits out drink)
Demon Charlie: "You are SOOOOOO not competition! You might end up being another hotel fatality though!"
Angel Dust: "Bet on which of 'em kills him first?"
Husk: "Shut up I'm trying to listen."
Seviathan: "I just think a woman like that should have her pick from the best hell can offer!"
Demon Charlie: "I'm the princess of hell???"
Seviathan: "Sure, but you hardly ever act like it."
Demon Charlie: "I...! She, she doesn't mind me being like me. She-"
Seviathan: "What, a commanding woman like that is fine with a spineless partner? No offence. But come on."
Angel Dust: "Alright, now I'm gonna kill him."
Husk: "Let her do it herself."
Angel Dust: "Hmph!"
Seviathan: "She's never asked you to try being more of an actual princess sometimes?"
Demon Charlie: "No, she... Not like, not like that..."
Seviathan: "Not like that, huh?"
Demon Charlie: "No." (yanks open door) "And our relationship has NOTHING to do with you."
Seviathan: (grabbing doorframe) "But you know it could."
Demon Charlie: "NO IT WON'T. COULDN'T! WILL NOT, EVER!!!!"
Seviathan: "So why're you throwing me out of your silly hotel thing, then?"
Demon Charlie: "....."
Seviathan: "Scaaaared...?"
Demon Charlie: (drops him) (shuts door) "I trust her."
Seviathan: "Said like no one who ever got dumped so their girl could be with me."
Demon Charlie: "I trust her not to ACTUALLY kill you, I mean."
Seviathan: "Fuck I hope she tries... Maybe I'll let her pin me again."
Husk: (SNORTS) "'Let her'..."
Angel Dust: "He's gonna earn a fucking Darwin award at this rate."
Seviathan: (dusting ash off himself) "Kinda impressed you got all demon-ed so fast for this though. That's new!"
Charlie: "I've told you, it only happens when I'm PISSED. OFF."
Angel Dust: "YEAH DOLLFACE GET HIS ASS!"
Seviathan: "I know but like, it used to take a lot to get you all riled up. I hardly ever got to see you like this in bed even. Maybe if it'd been easier we'd still be a thing?"
Charlie: "You know I realllly really doubt it since I dumped YOU."
Husk: "HA!"
Angel Dust: "WOOOOO! BURRRRRN!"
Charlie: "And I dumped you partly BECAUSE you kept trying to 'rile me up' so you could try having sexy scary demon sex with me!"
Angel Dust: "OHHHHH!!!!"
Charlie: "Not that you ever even DID!"
Husk: "Fuck yes."
Charlie: "Because I always had waaaaay more fun sleeping on the COUCH!"
Husk & Angel Dust: (high five)
Seviathan: "...."
Seviathan: "So that's a no to having a threesome with us once I'm dating your soon to be ex girlfriend, huh?"
Demon Charlie: "SEV-"
Charlie: (deep breath)
Charlie: "... why do you even think you like her, Seviathan? You don't know her. She doesn't like you. You don't even know her name."
Seviathan: "She's hot."
Charlie: "Can We Try To Be More Specific, Please."
Seviathan: "I don't know? It was cute how she tried bullying me against a wall like that. All snapping orders like she was some kinda drill sergeant, or like a hot coach lady, treating me like some kinda bug crawling by her shoe- Who doesn't think that's hot?"
Charlie: "...."
Charlie: "Ohhhh."
Angel Dust: "Oh FUCK!"
Husk: (laughing) "The motherfucking alpha man-"
Angel Dust: "He's a fucking sub!!!!"
Seviathan: "What, like the sandwich? Shit. Are my pants fitting too tight again-"
Charlie: "Angel Dust."
Angel Dust: "Yesssss oh fearless leader...?
Charlie: (covers eyes) (turns) (escapes)
Charlie: "He's all yours."
Seviathan: "Whoa wait, where're you going-"
Charlie: "I'm gonna go surprise MY longtime girlfriend with kisses!"
Seviathan: "Hold on don't leave me with these two! Charlie!?"
Charlie: (already gone)
Seviathan: "For fuck's sake then I'm outta here too! I didn't come here to hang out with lame guys-"
Angel Dust: "Oh my little baby boy."
Angel Dust: (grins) (leans in) ".....how's the idea of a woman standin' over you with a whip make ya feel?"
Seviathan: "Good?"
Angel Dust: "Mm-hmm. An' if ya was wearing a collar?"
Seviathan: "..." (takes off hat) (holds it over crotch)
Husk: "Great. Another horrible memory to drown away with booze." (swigs)
Angel Dust: (draping arm around seviathan) "C'mon, let's find ya a dom who WON'T for real rail you with her spear~"
Seviathan: "Oh whoa."
Husk: "Oh fucking save me booze..." (down in one)
Niffty: (sobbing under floorboards)
Husk: "What the fuck? What's wrong with you?"
Niffty: "Th-the bad boys..." (sniffling) "... why are so many of them turning out LAME? Even the king of HELL asked me if I was OKAY when he stepped out his door in his ducky slippers and found me lying in front of it like a rug! WHAT IS WRONG WITH BAD MEN THESE DAYS!?"
Husk: "...."
Husk: "Here."
Husk: (hands down drink)
Niffty: (hands popping out to grabby grabby) "IT'S SO SAAAAAD HUSK!" (snatches) (gulps) (gulps) (faint thump and snoring)
Husk: "I can't fucking believe I risked my fucking life for this place."
Husk: (smiles anyway)
#hazbin hotel#charlie morningstar#vaggie#chaggie#angel dust hazbin hotel#husk hazbin hotel#niffty hazbin hotel#incorrect quotes#silly nonsese#somehow charlie's ex survives to live another day
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Things were going really well for Jason, lately. He was talking to Kara often, sharing more about himself and getting to learn more about her. He could talk literature with her from dusk til dawn, finally having someone he could debate Brontë with. Talking to her was fun; she was intelligent, sassy enough to roast him when he left an opening, and unafraid to call him out on his bullshit. She made snarky comments that left him giggling. The Red Hood, giggling. Having a friend who knew him both in and out of the hood and saw more to him than the crime lord or the dead robin was so refreshing.
The Outlaws were his family, and he loved them, knew he was loved in return, but Kara was... different.
They shared a love for reading, which was a new thing for Jason, never having anybody to really talk to about his favourite hobby, and they gravitated towards the same types of books, meaning they managed to hold many discussions about different topics, with her loving to play devil's advocate whenever he was too passionate about a certain point or interpretation. Silence wasn't uncommon when they got together in person, with them just reading in each other's company or eating something too unhealthy for a regular person. It was calming, silencing the part of him that always raged at the injustice of the universe.
Their friendship really lifted his spirits, and it was noticeable to the Outlaws. Usually, when Jason decided to run missions with them, it's right after a fight with the bats about his methods. Just because he gave up on them being a family doesn't mean that the blatant distrust and rejection don't hurt.
But that hasn't been the case, lately. He contacted them just to hang out, wheras he usually had to be invited, his low self esteem making him unable to think they would ever agree to an invite from him, no matter how much they assured him. He was less aggressive in fights, the usually brutal Red Hood relying more on ranged combat than close quarters. No less deadly, mind you, but he started keeping his distance more, instead of ditching his guns in favour of his kris or bare hands. He didn't purposefully let himself get injured anymore and stopped drinking alcohol, instead partaking in healthier coping mechanisms. He laughed more, was more open with his feelings, more expressive of his love to them.
He looked his age.
Kara was a good thing. But you can't have too much good without the bad knocking, coming over to take its toll.
It's this cosmic trade-off that has Jason on a roof with all of the bat's brood. They've been trying to reconnect with him lately, seeing his lessening aggression and lack of killing as a sign of reform. Wanting to 'support' him as he 'takes the final steps towards redemption.' Preachy fuckers. Where was this when he actually wanted them? When he desperately NEEDED their support? They wanted to join in half a mile off the finish line so they'd be able to pat themselves on the back, claiming that they helped him all along.
That's not going to happen. Jason won't ALLOW it to happen.
"Come on Little Wing! We want you to come home! You've always been welcome but we never see you! Agent A misses you, and he wants all of his family together. You never know what comes next in life, tomorrow isn't guaranteed. If something happens, you'll regret not spending more time with him"
Manipulative bastard. But damn is he good. Appealing to what he thinks is a weak spot to get him to comply, framing it as though he was always welcome when he knows for a FACT he wasn't. Putting all of the expectations on him, so they wouldn't have to do anything. Guiting him into shunning them away, as if they hadn't done the same.
Jason is ashamed to say that it would've worked, years ago. Back when he thought of Alfred as his grandfather. When he desperately hoped for a place at the table, sitting next to his father, teasing his siblings.
It's not a couple of years ago, though. Priorities shift, and dirty laundry comes out. Words spoken that shattered any iota of love Jason held for the old man, a plaque cementing him as a permanent outsider.
"He's not a house plant, locked away in the manor with no way out. He could've visited me any time he wanted"
It shocked Dick, a little, getting rebuffed like that. He thought Alfred was the smoking gun. He didn't plan much, assuming that mentioning the old butler would have Jason coming back into the fold.
"It doesn't matter, Hood," came the gravelly voice of his former father. "We're trying to compromise with you here"
"Compromise on what, exactly?"
"Reports show a heavy decrease in your usage of lethal methods" Red Robin's voice piped up. "You've been less aggressive lately, and we think that you're finally getting better."
"Ok? I still don't understand"
"Given that you're improving," Batman replied, the clenching of his jaw giving away his growing frustration, " we would like you to come to family dinner this Sunday, provided that you stop killing"
"Yeah, I'm not interested. You'll bring me to the manor, frame it as a family reunion, then pick fights and argue with me until you decide to throw me into arkham or whatever. I've got better plans"
"It's not like that!" shouted Nightwing, frustrated that Hood wasn't seeing reason. They're trying to help him here, get him back on the right path. Doesn't he see their generosity? They're forgiving him for being a murderer, he should be happy for getting such a chance.
"Oh? then what's it like? Because we haven't spoken outside of the masks since I came back, and suddenly I've ALWAYS been allowed back? Every time we talk in the masks, you threaten me with jail or exile"
"Yes, because you're a murderer. We don't have the right to be judge-"
"Jury and executioner. Yeah, spare me the bullshit, I've heard it a million times. I'm not a bat, I don't have to adhere to your code, or whatever"
"Dammit, Hood, we're trying here!" Bellowed the Batman, coming to his wit's end with his son's dismissal of the lives he's taken, of the opportunity to truly reform. "If you really want to get better, if you want to be a lart of this family again -"
"I don't"
This causes Bruce to stop talking and all the bats and birds to look at him in shock, staring at him as if he would reveal himself as a clone or a shapeshifter. It simply didn't compute
"What?"
"I don't want to be a part of your family."
"You must be misunderstanding," came Red Robin's diplomatic voice, clearly disbelieving that Jason would ever reject them, voice almost frantic. "We're offering you a chance to rejoin the family"
"I understand perfectly. I'm just not interested in being family with all of you. I don't know you, I don't WANT to know you, and I've moved on"
"What do you mean you moved on!" shouted Dick, incredulous.
"I mean, I moved on. I gave up on you years ago. I found myself a family, a real family, people who love me for who I am, and I'm happy with them, far happier than I ever was with you. I'm not going to jeopardise my own happiness by clinging onto the ties to a life I'd rather forget"
The bats were stunned, not having expected this, and Jason left the rooftop, feeling lighter than he has in years, debating with himself on whether or not he and Kara should get ice cream later.
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Please vote based on the picture AND the description!
Attention! The winner of this poll will become the winner of Team Red and represent the team in the quarter-finals!
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A'den [Hasran Tales @the-tiny-dragons-library]
An imposing daktlyc who stands more than 7'2" high (total height: 219.71cm), Doctor A'den initially joined the Paradisio Project to both observe the humans' fleet and to indulge his curiosity as to their presence on Hasra. However, there's more to him than meets the eye, and as he grows closer to his human coworker, the tiny but determined Rebecca Brown, he soon realizes that his bloody past and the planet's own dark history won't remain hidden for long...
Béla Balogh [Pushing Irises: A Grim Fandango Tale @littlebluebarista]
Dead, petulant, painter of flowers, and most assuredly not named Bella, this thin husk of a man was offered a robe and scythe as a slow and agonizing means to eventual redemption after he died. But when redemption never comes, is he willing to set aside his work as a Grim Reaper and risk it all traversing a brutal and unforgiving underworld to finally see heaven? Will heaven even accept him if he does? Only he can find that answer, all the while painting purple peonies as he hopes he isn't shot with one.
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Redemption Round Quarter Finals
Ianthe art by @starcanist.
There are no more submissions for Ianthe.
About Leonardo
he sleeps in old timey pajamas, nightcap and all! scrooge lookin fella. at one point he and his brothers form a band and hes so god awful at the guitar that the show makes /hundreds/ of robots off themselves to stop hearing it! despite showing he can dress nice in an episode about fashion his "human" disguise continues to include a basketball jersey and backwards baseball cap
#cringefail loser summit#redemption round#redemption quarter finals#tournament poll#the locked tomb#the locked tomb trilogy#ianthe tridentarius#ianthe tlt#rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles#rottmnt#tmnt#hamato leonardo#leo tmnt#rottmnt leo
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The Weeping Monk x Fem!Reader : Forged Of Fire Chapter 16
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Story Summary: Raised under the tiranny of your own family, and forced to steal to earn your keep, you struggle to survive. Born from a Fey mother, and a Manblood father who wanted only sons, you are forced to hide your Fey side. When you are ordered to steal from Father Carden by your half-brother, Cassian, your life spirals out of control and you find yourself at the mercy of the Weeping Monk. The life you knew changes drastically when Cassian betrays you in the cruelest of ways. A trade is made, a promise is broken, and a debt must be paid.
Chapter Title: Invidia
Notes: /
Warnings: Angst. Hurt. Trauma bonding. Intrafamily violence. Depression. Self-harm. Suicidal thoughts. Violence. Torture. Gore. Pining. Trauma. Self-Flagellation. Manipulation. Strong Language. Blood. Misogyny. PTSD. Spicy and smut parts. Slight redemption arc. Lima/Stockholm syndrom-ish. Childhood trauma.
Other warnings: Jealousy. Forced Marriage. Forbidden Love. Romance. Slow-burn Found Familly-ish. Comfort. Fluff. !SMUT and SPICE!
Word count of this fic: +250K
Chapter: 16/47
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The next morning, the Monk had kept his promise. You found yourself in the sparing room of the monastery again. This time he was fully focused on training you, the sword had not been out of your hands once in at least an hour. You learned to parry all sorts of attacks, it was hard to remember it all but he had said that when practiced enough it would become a habit to react in the right way eventually.
“Push harder.” he instructed.
He was adamant to teach you how to block and push away another sword with your own in case someone would try to overpower you that way.
“I am!” You were trying your best.
Still, his encouragement made you put in just a pinch more effort and it was finally enough to push him and the sword back and away.
“Better.” He grabbed the sleeve of your shirt and steered you to stand differently. “Now try to ward off my attack.” He turned to you. “Ready?”
“I think so.” You straightened your back a little, allowing yourself to be more confident in the answer, “Yes.”
The Monk moved slower than his normal speed, aiming to strike your right side. You blocked the sword just as he had taught you, then took a chance to counter the attack. Your sword moved down and then in an upwards motion. He stumbled back, not expecting the counteraction. For a second you worried he would be angry, that worry disintegrated when you saw the smile on his lips.
“Not bad.” he remarked.
Quite good for a beginner if he were honest.
You grinned at him. “I nearly got you to the floor.”
His wit was as sharp as his sword. “I would tell you that you are wrong, but I have heard that only a foolish husband would say those words to his wife.”
You pointed the sword at him, circling him playfully with it. “I prefer an honest husband who does not believe everything people tell him about marriage.”
He raised his sword, letting it glide blade against blade with your own as he followed your movements.
“Do you keep a journal then, to write down all the advice you receive on having a wife?” you cheekily asked. “If so, I would love to read it. I wonder what sort of advice the paladins would give, considering none of you are to even touch a woman.”
He turned his sword and moved it so it was near the front of your throat, it made you stop circling him. Then he moved the tip of it against your cheek and made you turn your face his way.
“I need no advice.” he said, smirk dancing on his lips. “Even if our marriage would be a true one.”
Your own smirk grew. “I doubt that.”
A scoff fell from him, then he gestured to the sword. “Enough distractions. Let us see how well you have paid attention.” The Monk twirled his sword in anticipation. “If you can ward this off, you can defend yourself against a quarter of the men here.”
That sure sounded as if he considered some of the paladins to be bad with a sword. With a tilt of his head, he let you know that he was going to attack. You nodded in return. He used a normal pace and crossed swords with you meant to disarm. Your hold on the sword was firm. He pulled back and struck your sword hard from the left. Instead of losing your grip on the sword, you moved it down and to the left. He had to lean back to avoid the blade, it still caught and cut through an inch of his surcoat at his abdomen. It startled him and even yourself. He had been right about practicing enough until it became like instinct to react a certain way. When he came closer and reached for your arm, you thought he was going to take the sword from you after that, instead his hand curled around your arm and brought you closer to him.
“Very good.” A proud smile had formed on his lips. His eyes scanned the features of your face. “Your confidence has grown since the first time I saw you. How does it feel?”
It was true, you could feel yourself grow stronger mentally day by day. The broken self-esteem was slowly repairing itself and in no small measure the Monk was responsible for it. When Cassian and Aldith wanted you to stay the weak and scared girl, the Monk gave you the support to grow into the person you wanted to be. That was all you ever needed, some support to get you on your way, and you found it in a person you never thought would offer it. The Weeping Monk was considered a monster by many, and to realize that you had lived your whole life with people who were so terribly cruel compared to him… it was surreal.
“Y/n?” The Monk saw the distant look in your eyes.
You tossed the sword aside and wrapped your arms around his waist, locking your hands together behind his back to seal yourself to him. “I never want to go back to who I was before you.”
He went rigid and said not a word.
You knew he upheld the vow and did not take it personal that he was not reacting. “I feel like I am finding myself. I feel better.”
For the first time, you weren’t going through all the suffering and trouble alone. Someone cared enough to help, even when it came at a terrible risk. You let go of him and took a step back, he looked so stunned by the embrace. The sound of footsteps approached the room and he took a step back from you. The door opened and some paladins walked into the room.
“Father has asked for you, Sir. It is urgent.” The eldest said in a hurry.
The Monk gave a nod, then commanded, “I shall go to him at once. Bring her back to my room.”
“Yes, Brother.” They said in unison.
~~~♡~~~♡~~~◇~~~♡~~~♡~~~
The hours passed dreadfully slow as you sat on the bed in the Monk’s room. Staying a whole day alone in a room was terribly boring. Thankfully you still had your mother’s journal to read. From what you had read, you could tell that even she had her doubts about how Cassian’s mother had died.
~“He told me he loved me, then told me he would have his men hunt me down if I tried to leave him. I have spend many days trapped inside this place I am supposed to call ‘home’. I have started to forget what my Asher markings look like. He loved me only if I fitted his vision, and when he learned I was Fey he played my heart like a harp until he had me trapped, since then I was forced to forsake my nature. I should have known… I should have known why my markings refuse to show when he kisses me, the Fey in me knew what sort of man he was but I was blinded to the signs by the love I once felt. Every day I find more lies than truth about him and how he became wealthy enough to be a Lord. I no longer believe his former wife died in childbirth as he claimed she has. Had she tried to run?”~
Aldith had always been good at misleading people and hiding his true nature unlike Cassian. Few knew what sort of person he really was, the healer of Ravenwick was one of them as she had seen the injuries on your body that he had caused over the years. It must have been terrible for Iridessa to learn what sort of man he really was, she must have felt so scared and trapped. With a heavy sigh, you closed the journal. The light from the two lanterns in the room created a rather peaceful atmosphere, you were glad to have them because it would be terribly dark in the evening without them. You leaned over to the one that stood on the bedside table, watching the flames sway a little. Immediately the soft whispers of the Hidden made their presence known, as if they approved of the attention you gave to the flames.
The sound of the door unlocking made you swing your feet off of the bed. The Monk stepped inside, holding your jacket in his hand. Right away you could tell that something was wrong. There were small dark stains on his clothes and you needed no light to tell that it was blood.
He sounded so exhausted, “There is a small leather strap on the inside of your jacket now, to store the dagger.”
You got up and walked over to him, thanking him for returning the jacket. “Thank you.”
The Monk walked past, not even looking at you as he headed straight for the bed.
“I-” you tried to speak.
His tone was much colder than you had anticipated. “Not now.”
He took seat on the bed, burying his face in his hands, elbows resting on his knees.
He had failed to capture the Green Knight. Even the Manblood, who had been seen with the sword Father was looking for and who had attacked the paladins, had escaped from his grasp. The Wolf-Blood Witch had come to their rescue and caused a slaughter on the field of the mill he had trapped the Knight and Manblood in. Many of his Red Brothers had been slaughtered in the mist of ashes that the witch had caused. Father had let his disappointment be known again.
~“The blood of your Brothers seeps into the soil, how many more must perish before you bring me the Witch?”~
Failure after failure, he had to submit to Father’s wrath without objection. A slap hurt him far less than hearing his failures be cited to him again and again, regardless of his previous victories. And as they had carried the bodies from the tainted grass, he knew Father did not care for those past victories, only for the ones he was expected to achieve. Time was running out, Father was losing his faith in him, and he felt like nothing he did was good enough.
Your feet were moving towards him as if by their own volition, you got closer to him and hesitated for just a moment before sitting down next to him. His face emerged from the covers of his hands instantly upon sensing it. He looked at you, at your knees and hands, but his eyes never lifted high enough to see your face.
Slowly you reached for his hands, taking one of them and moving it closer to you. You held it in your hands and let them rest on your knee.
“You can’t…” his voice was not higher than a whisper.
He shouldn’t…
Yours matched it, “I can’t?”
He caught himself craving the sweet nature you were showing him now. But it was too close to being an infringement on the vow he had taken.
You could feel how tense he was, his hand was loosely in yours, letting you be the one in control of this small physical connection. “Does the Church not allow a wife to comfort her husband?”
He kept very, very quiet. Fixing his eyes on the way your index finger was grazing over his own.
He had never been so nervous in his life. Wanting to flee, only to return here to this moment again and again. The feeling in his chest both frightening and exhilarating. His mind clouding and clearing all at the same time. He had leaned in, head tilting just to inhale the warmth of your scent that radiated off of your neck. So welcoming and familiar, a vague memory of his past that was present on your skin. So calming to his mind.
You did not move a muscle, having grown to understand just how hard the heightened senses of the Ash Folk were to ignore. For him it was instinct, having never ignored this part of his nature.
His breath went over your neck. “I do not deserve your compassion.”
“I can decide that for myself.” you gave a small smile.
He leaned back and put his hand on your knee after hesitating twice. You wondered if you minded, part of you didn’t, part of you did. Would you fall out of favor if you moved his hand away? He must have felt your conflict, he turned his hand palm up. Slowly you placed your hand in his and he was quick to collect it in both of his. Absentmindedly he brushed them over your hand and let his fingers graze over your own. It was such a small thing, but the gesture was a clear sign that he was reaching out for comfort. By letting it happen, you could see a side to the Monk that you had not seen before. That quiet serenity he could achieve by something that small…
“I am worried about you.” you quietly said. “You look more tired every time I see you. What happened today?”
He weighed his words. “I was ordered to find and capture one of the Church’s most dangerous enemies.”
“And something went wrong?” you nodded to the state his attire was in.
It was as if he had not noticed the blood splatters until you pointed it out to him. He saw the dark markings on his clothes now too. “The Wolf-Blood Witch came to his rescue. She created a mist from ashes that came over the field we were on, the paladins began attacking each other as if this mist influenced them to do it. It was a slaughter until the mist cleared.” His eyes were distant while he recalled the event. “I failed. Again. Again…”
He felt a wave of nausea hit him and forced himself to stand.
The Monk paced the room restlessly. “I had him” He scoffed bitterly. “I had him trapped. And he escaped still.”
You began to understand what was causing him such distress. “Father Carden is angry…” It was a statement, because it was so clear that this was what was causing him to react like this.
He stopped pacing and looked at you from over his shoulder, for just the smallest moment you could have sworn you saw fear in those blue eyes. “Pope Abel demanded for the Witch to be captured, if we do not succeed Father will be penalized. And if Father falls out of grace with the Holy Father, Father will cast his wrath down upon us all.”
You stood up as well and crossed the distance to reach the him. “And most of that wrath will come down on you, that’s what will happen isn’t it?”
His stomach was twisting inside of him. “I expect it to. I am failing him. It is my duty to serve him, I would be dead without him!”
It was shocking to hear how much they manipulated him into becoming exactly what they needed. “Do you truly believe that it is your duty to serve him because he spared you from his own barbaric violence? Does he expect you to be grateful for not killing you when you were just an innocent child?!?”
“You do not understand.” He shook his head and turned away.
Trying to make him see your view felt impossible, but you weren’t going to stop trying. “How can anyone possibly understand such madness? I do not understand, because it doesn’t make sense. It’s wrong.”
He refused to face you and it only made you more determined to get through to him.
You walked around him, stopping right in front of him. “And I didn’t understand until now what that haunted look in your eyes means. But I do now. It’s fear.”
His eyes locked on yours, and you knew you were treading on thin and breaking ice.
You didn’t care if it would break, you wanted it to break, for it to shatter and all the truth to be revealed. “You may love him, but you fear him too. He holds the sword above your head and the blade will come down on you if it comes down on him. Once the Fey are gone from the land, do you really think he’d spare either of us? No. We will not be of use anymore. He controls you, you’re nothing more than a weapon to him, and when you are not useful anymore he will discard you. And you are afraid for that day to come. Such impressive talent for battle, yet such weakness for the one you were taught to call ‘Father’.”
The Monk hated to hear it, his jaw was set, his body tense. You stood your ground. Some of your confidence faltered when he stepped closer, much closer. And when you broke eye contact and forced yourself to look away, his fingers caught your chin and made you look at him again.
His tone was low, but there was a hint of something different laced in it. “If you were one of my Brothers, I would send you to the scourge for the way you just spoke to me.”
You glared at him for it. “And I’d tell you to go to hell.”
The dark look in his eyes changed upon hearing your response, his gaze lowered. He let go of you and stepped away so fast that it had you moving back a step too. The Monk was half-turned away from you, avoiding all eye-contact.
You shook your head, crossing your arms over your chest to contain the anxiousness rattling through your chest. “I won’t take it back. I won’t keep ignoring what I see happening. Hate me for it all you want, but I won’t lie like the paladins would. They are afraid of you, that would stop anyone from telling you the truth, but it won’t stop me.”
The stubborn mule tried to change the subject. “Do you still wish to bathe?”
You called him out on it. “I know you’re trying to change this conversation.”
He send you a look. “Is that a ‘no’?”
A glare was send his way. “You… of course I still want to bathe!”
He was calming down, still sounding quite tired. “Then might I suggest that you take the opportunity to do it here? Because tomorrow we return to camp and I believe you will prefer bathing here over bathing in a river.”
You grumbled something under your breath, which he wisely ignored.
“Come.” he said, and approached you. You held up your hands, presenting your wrists. The Monk shook his head. “No. I believe binding them will not be necessary tonight.”
That was strange. “Why not?”
“Father shared some wine with some of the elders this evening, he is vast asleep.” He was matter-of-factually.
Your eyes widened. “He’s drunk?”
The corner of his mouth tugged up. “He’s… corrupted by the wine for the night.”
You snorted a laugh.
The Monk walked towards you and took hold of your arm. “Let us go.”
“And Father Carden approved of this?” It sounded too good to be true.
Father had allowed for you to bathe, but nothing was said about doing it in the monastery. Washing in a river was the more likely option. He had not been very specific to Father about the details. It would spare him of some of the scolding over this.
He swallowed and looked away. “Yes.”
A sigh passed your lips, that had been an obvious lie. The Monk walked with you out of the room. Some paladins that were still awake and guarding the place passed by, they began to whisper to each other. The rumors had not died out at all. Again the Monk ignored these blatant signs of rumors being born, until they whispered just a little too loud in volume for it not to be audible.
~“With the Fey whore-”~
Something in you snapped. You absolutely despised the insult more than any other. The Monk had clearly not expected you to pull away from him because his hold on your arm was loose, and neither had he expected that you would steal the short sword from at his hip. The Monk had let his guard down around you. You had gotten close to the paladins, closer than you ever thought you would manage to get.
Rage carried your voice, “You filthy bast-”
The insult died in your throat when the Monk caught you by the arm. And when you tried to struggle free he pinned you against the wall by the arm, his free hand over yours as it forced the sword loose.
It took him effort to keep you against the bricks, you were getting stronger. Regular meals and being spared from constant beatings had done you well.
“Let go of me!” you seethed at him.
He was close, so close that his chest touched your own, he didn’t seem frightened in the slightest. On the contrary, his eyes were filled with intrigue, it was a look that made you stop trying to fight him.
He leaned in close, whispering, “Be quiet.”
It could have easily come across as an order, but the velvety undertone in his voice was the reason why you fell silent. Your eyes spat fire at him and at the paladins who had clearly not expected you to react like that.
The younger paladin of the duo spoke, “Brother! She-”
“Quiet!” The Monk barked the order at them, not letting go of you even a little. “Go to your quarters. Speak not a word of this, consider yourselves fortunate that I do not send you to the scourge for your slanderous talk about me, as I do hear it.”
The older paladin got pale, the paladins bowed their heads in submission and after uttering some barely audible apologies they hurried away. The Monk sheathed the short sword, barely taking his eyes off of you. You were quite sure that if you had been wearing your jacket with the dagger, he would have taken it away from you, luckily you had left it in the room.
He opened his mouth to speak. “This-”
The fury burned in you. “They consider me your ‘Fey whore’. Not your wife, not your captive, your whore.”
The hard look in his eyes vanished and the hold he had on your arm changed. “Many here lack manners and respect. Do no take the insult to heart, we both know the truth. They do not understand the peculiar situation we find ourselves in. I believe some are struck with envy.”
“Envy?” you frowned.
He explained why he believed it to be the case, “I am the only one permitted, and granted, a wife. I command them, I can command them to respect me, but I cannot command them to appreciate the person that I am. I do not command their souls.”
Your brow arched high. “You think some of them are spreading these rumors because they don’t like you?”
“It takes only a few rotten apples to spoil the rest.” he said. “Do not worry, I will find the rotten ones.”
It shouldn’t have bothered you so much, for them to believe in their own lies they had made up, but the insult had nested under your skin like a sore wound. And under your skin were more wounds and scars than on it, every hit and every insult carved into your soul.
“Do I still get to bathe, or did I ruin my chance?” You didn’t look at him whilst you asked, suddenly very aware of how close he still was to you, this didn’t help to avoid rumors at all.
Those weeping eyes skimmed over you. “You still get to bathe. Do not take my weapons from me again.” Finally, he pulled you away from the wall. “I could not have saved you from the repercussions if you had harmed them. May I ask that you do not do that again?”
You detected the pinch of worry in his voice. “I’ll try not to.”
He looked at you from the corner of his eyes.
That stubborn look and pout of yours should not have amused him. But it did. It was probably the best answer he could expect after that spurge of rage.
The Monk began to walk with you again. “Good.”
~~~♡~~~♡~~~◇~~~♡~~~♡~~~
The Monk brought you to a room that was designated to bathe. In the midst of the room a fire was burning in a large fire pit. Above it was a simple construction made of iron that ran horizontally over the fire, it had hooks attached to it meant for buckets of water to be warmed. A large circular wooden tub stood in the corner atop a thick metal construction.
He saw you take in the room and went over to the wooden tub to explain how it worked. “We use hot coal under the metal here to keep the water warm longer.” He was pointing at some openings in the metal parts.
You stepped closer and saw that there was already water in it. Clean water.
He continued. “This water is cold, but it will balance itself with the hot water from the fire. Linen to dry yourself can be found over there…” he gestured to a set of large
wooden chests. “I took the liberty to place the clothes I was able to acquire from the abbey atop of it. Choose what you wish to have. Or take it all if you so desire.”
You turned to him. “You got me clothes?”
He rubbed his neck. “I had asked the Sister who came here to aid you when you were sick. These arrived here two days ago. It are the clothes of those who’ve arrived at the abbey, they are given the habit to wear instead.”
Your curiosity got the best of you and you went over to the clothes. There was a variety of items. A bunch of different shirts, a jacket and a bodice, trousers and even a dress. You tried to put together an outfit you liked.
The Monk watched you quietly from a small distance. There was a small spark of joy in your eyes now. And he could not bring himself to ask you to hurry anymore.
Your choice fell on the off-white shirt, paired with the reddish-brown bodice, and the dark trousers there were nearly black.
He cleared his throat. “I will help you fill the bath.”
“Yes, thank you.” You absentmindedly said while holding the bodice up against you to see if it would fit.
The Monk wrapped a rag around his hand and began to take the buckets down from the hooks where they hanged over the fire, being resistant to fire did not mean that he couldn’t burn himself on something hot. That mark on the back of his head was proof of that. You put the clothes, and some linen to dry yourself off after the bath, closer to the wooden tub. Steam rose up in the air as he poured the water in.
“Feel it?” He gestured to the water.
You carefully dipped one finger in, then the rest of them. “It’s perfect.”
He put the bucket down, then went to get some of the coals and poured them out in the metal construction. “This will keep it warm.”
The Monk stepped back, his fingers tapping restless on the pommel of his sword until his hand wrapped around it. You realized he wasn’t sure on how to act or what else to do now.
“Are you staying to watch?” you jested about it. “Or… ?”
Some of your grin faltered when seeing the look on his face, you had seen that same look in someone else’s before. The look disappeared when he shook his head and send his gaze to the floor. You were lost for words for a moment. Was it possible that…?no…
A dangerous plan to test a theory formed in your head, but you wanted to know whether you were imagining it or not.
He cleared his throat and took a step in the direction of the door. “I will be outside the door. Knock when you need anything.”
You called out to him, “Lancelot?”
He stopped right away and saw you approach him. He stilled completely when you placed a hand on his chest. When he didn’t step away or stop you, you closed your hand and clutched some of the fabric of his surcoat inside of it.
You let your voice be as sweet as honey. “Thank you for going through this effort for me. I know it can’t have been simple to ask Father Carden for a reward for me.”
The rhythm of his breathing had changed, he was looking at the way your fingers were curled into his surcoat and swallowed thickly. You could read it from him so easily now, it seemed that he also struggled with living by the vow at times. It could be used to your advantage, but the thought of manipulating someone just didn’t sit well with you, especially not him.
You let go of his surcoat and smoothed the fabric out a little. “I will not take too long so you can get your rest after this, you need it. And considering you have been courteous to me, I will abstain from murdering paladins tonight.”
His head tilted. “Tonight?”
You couldn’t fight the cheeky smirk you had.
“Very well.” he said, and circled you once slowly, then headed to the door. “Do not drown yourself.”
“I’ll be fine.” You rolled your eyes.
The Monk gave a nod and left the room, closing the door behind him. You went towards the bath and let your fingers weave through the water a few times, it felt so comfortably warm. It didn’t take long to undress and seat yourself into the tub. Stretching your legs fully in it was impossible, but the feeling of the warm water embracing your body made up for the small discomfort. With a clean rag you began to cleanse your skin in the water. The coals under the metal that held the tub gave off a heat that you could feel beneath you, it indeed kept the water on a good temperature. Now that you had the chance, you washed your hair and it took some rinses before you were satisfied with it. Once you were done, you sat and enjoyed the warmth just a little longer before getting out of the water and drying off. Trying on the fresh clothes got you oddly excited, you were used to wearing worn down clothes but these still looked so good. The bodice was your favorite part, it added a layer of warmth on you that a shirt and jacket alone could not provide. It would take a while to lace it up, the way of closing it was different than the ones you were used to, you had never closed one like this before and still needed to figure out how to. So you left it open, grabbed the other fresh clothes you liked, and went ahead and knocked on the door.
The Monk opened the door very slowly, it still stopped at a creak. “Yes?”
“I’m done.” you said, and took the initiative to open the door further.
He motioned for you to walk out of the room and you did, he took you by the arm. “Ready to return to my quarter?”
You nodded. “I left my other clothes in there, is that alright?”
“Yes. Do you want them to be washed and returned to you?” he asked.
That was an offer you wouldn’t decline. “That would be good. Can I keep these clothes too?”
He saw you gesture to the clothes you were carrying. “They are yours to have.”
Your skin was still a little damp and your Fey scent had never been so strong before. It was so easy to pick up on it now.
The Monk walked you back to his room, it appeared that most of the monastery was in their rooms as well except for those guarding it. He stepped into the room with you and closed the door behind him. You placed your newly acquired clothing unto the chest at the foot of his bed.
“I love this -” you gestured at the bodice you wore, “but I will have to learn how to close it properly. It looks so different than the ones I usually wear.”
He stepped closer and before you could even say a word he took the leather strings of the bodice in his fingers. “It is not hard. The method is the same as a vambrace I believe. Look.”
You watched as he tested out his theory, starting at the bottom of the bodice and slowly working the leather strings upwards, it proved correct. He let you take the strings from his fingers to try for yourself.
“I never thought a monk would teach me how to close a bodice.” you chuckled at how odd it was.
He saw the humorous side to it as well, making the lighthearted comment, “As I never thought I would teach a woman to do so.”
A drop of water was running down from your forehead and over the side of your face, you reached up to wipe it away but the Monk was quicker and wiped it away with his thumb. You had stopped halfway the bodice at the gesture.
“If you do not mind, I would like to seek my rest now.” He stepped away from you and took off his cloak. “We return to camp tomorrow. I am not certain how your living arrangements will be then but I would believe it to be the same as it is now.”
“We’ll share a tent again?” you asked.
“If we do, I will arrange for another cot, ” he dressed down to his undershirt, “and the bedding you have requested.”
You gave up on the bodice for the night and crawled into bed. “How about that sword?”
“I saw what you would do with one.” he smirked your way.
You looked away, considering yourself lucky that he held no grudge against you for trying to attack his red brothers.
The Monk sank down to the ground, in the same spot he had chosen last night. “A dagger will be enough for now.”
“For now.” You bit your lip after saying it.
He leaned his head back against the side of the bed, letting out a sigh. Still, you could see the small smile on his lips. “Good night.”
“Good night.” you mumbled back and laid your head down on the bed, the pillow you handed over to him which he gratefully accepted.
He moved a little and emitted a groan.
You peeked through half-closed eyes at him, “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” he lied.
Considering he had been in battle today, it was possible that he had been wounded in some way. Or maybe his muscles were just sore. “Do you need the bed?”
He refused. “It is yours.”
You sighed, a tad bothered by how he was pushing his own health aside whilst he was so exhausted already. “If you are so insistent on letting me sleep on the bed, we could share it. Just put a cloak between us and you’re safe from sin.”
You didn’t care that it was forward or even strange to suggest it, the Monk had never tried to take advantage when he was alone with you, you saw no reason to believe he would. It wasn’t in his nature, and he was too fearful of sinning and disappointing Father Carden.
When no answer came, you said, “Or spend your last night here on the floor again…”
He was quietly considering the offer. His body did feel sore from the push of the Green Knight that had send him falling to the hard ground and knocked him unconscious for a moment. Still, this would be considered an infringement on the vow. If Father would hear of it…
You had a growing suspicion why he might be troubled over it. “I wouldn’t tell them. Just as you don’t speak of all my antics to Father Carden either.”
His voice was so quiet, “I do not think this is wise…”
You rolled over to face the wall. “Think on it then. The offer stands.”
Silence dropped into the room after you had spoken. You closed your eyes, relaxing into the bed. Just as you began to slip into sleep, you heard the Monk stand up from the ground. A moment later he was lightly touching your back with his hand. You blinked up at him, then realized he was moving the sheet towards you, freeing space for himself on the bed whilst letting you remain in your cocoon. You made it easier for him by scooting closer to the wall and making room for him. You paid no mind when he sat down behind you on the bed, the cocoon of linen around you was far too comfortable to leave. The bed dipped a little as he laid down.
The sheet formed the barrier that was needed, it was quite endearing to see how you had nested into it. And the bed was warmed, a welcome sensation to his sore muscles.
You closed your eyes again, longing for sleep.
The Monk was looking up at the ceiling, voicing a whisper, “Is this alright?”
You hummed approvingly, too tempted by sleep to talk.
His mind was put at ease a little more, he allowed himself to try and relax, bringing his hand behind his head to rest on it. He did not think he could fall asleep like this, but he did and it happened ridiculously easy.
Taglist:
@ourlazydetectivekitten @the-great-adventures-of-me @linkpk88 @fxrchxldws @elenaoftheturks @slytherlight @beananacake @crystallizedtime @moonlightaura03 @angrygardendeer @have-aheart @5am-cigarette @arcanenature @thewinterskywalker @notyourwildestdream @coloursforyourportrait @koressecretidentity @nike90 @n1ghtlux @rachlovesactors @luckyzipperscissorsbat @morena-doing-stuff @the-fangirl-diaries @gipsydanger17 @heavenly1927 @phantasmalbeiing @labyrinthonmymind @asarcastic-thiamstan @rainyv-skies @stclairesplace @katjusja @isla-bell-blog @beebeerockknot @sahvlren @lancedoncrimsonwings @weird123abc @elizabeth-holland24 @kissingandromeda
Please let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist of this story. Using this old list from the previous fic.
#weeping monk#cursed netflix#weeping monk x reader#lancelot x reader#weeping monk x you#the weeping monk#cursed lancelot#lancelot#the weeping monk x reader#cursed weeping monk
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ONYX STORM REVIEW🐉🖤
SPOILERS AHEAD
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
it's long, I'm sorry
Let me preface this by saying that I don't remember every single detail from FW and IF, so if I make some mistakes and/or wrong assumptions, please bear with me
Now onto the review
Personally, i enjoyed it much MUCH more than IF (which is not saying a lot since IF was a really crappy book in my opinion), starting from the fact that we've finally got over the whole drama/V+X having the same conversation over and over and over again + the miscommunication trope which made me want to gauge my eyes out. so no more of that thank god.
Instead there was much more adventure and exploring the world outside of the Continent, which was pretty cool. All the details of all the isles and all the trials and tribulations were enjoyable and fun (RIP Trager)
I have to be honest, I find Xaden and Violet a bit cringe sometimes (and I think this since FW), but I also understand that that it's the way she wrote them to result a bit cringey sometimes.
Talking about Violet, I also don't really like this "she is the most powerful/the answer to all our problems/god complex" they have going on for her. I honestly don't know why, maybe because it doesn't really suit her character (?) like it feels a bit forced. it's not the trope in general because I didn't have this problem with Aelin, and she is the epitome of all the characteristics mentioned above.
Them as a couple are good, is unmistakable but they do not move me as other couples have since they've gotten together.
What I really liked were the secondary character sprucing up the story.
The "quest squad" was a really great ensemble and fun to read (also already calling it now, something will happen between Mira and Drake, like I can feel it in my bones - she is hurt, he is there, you know how this works).
I also liked Cat, now that she is no longer segregated to being the jealous ex-girlfriend; I liked that there were some "awkward moments" here and there, as it should when you're travelling with your boyfriend ex girlfriend in close quarters for 3 weeks, but her character evolved since IF which I appreciate because I genuinely enjoy reading her scenes.
I also enjoyed reading Dain scenes (I know, who would have thought) because I feel like he's doing the work to redeem himself: he's there, he's available, he betrays his father for Violet without complaints, so he's definitely on the road of full redemption and I'm sure we'll see a lot more of him in the next book (also he and Sloane either end up together, or he dies for her, I'm pretty sure is going to be one of the two).
About all the others, Sawyer and Jesinia are the sweetest, Aaric is my man (and can see the future!!!! hello advantage) and I love the foursome Vi, Rhi, Ridoc and Sawyer together (although gotta say Ridoc has quickly risen amongst the ranks of my favourites during quest squad time), and I love Garrick, I don't think I need to elaborate. Also Andarna is a cutie pie that needs to be protected at all costs, and I would give my left kidney to have the chance to read about the conversations between Tairn and Sgaeyl.
Regarding major plot points, like Violet being consecrated to Dunne when she was a baby, etc. felt pretty obvious since the beginning, same as Theophanie being a high priestess because of the silver hair and tattoo on her forehead; so because of that no scene made me go "oh wow I did not see that coming". Even Xaden turning venin; it was supposed to happen, we all knew that it was going to happen (she has 2 more books to write, it was impossible to imagine otherwise) this entire book was a very slow countdown to the inevitable and Violet (failed) attempts to accept it. Honestly the only scene that made me tear up was Quinn's death.
Regarding what happens next, feels a bit obvious from the finale, but I may be wrong. I think that clearly Xaden and Violet got married so that she is the Duchess of Tyrrindor, has the control on the army and a seat in the Senarium. Obviously something else happened that Violet asked Imogen to make her forget and I'm pretty sure the next book will be about that and Violet trying to find Xaden (even though he told her not to), probably also using her second signet, which is how it think they will communicate.
I'm also really glad that we finally found out Violet's second signet because it was getting tiring (also down with one secret, right into the next with this one).
All in all, it was a nice book and I had fun. it had its up and downs but it was a good read (certainly better than IF) which means I will continue with the next book when it comes out.
Final vote ★★★★/5
Edit: after giving it more thoughts and re-reading the last chapter (a mess) my final vote has been decreased by half a star -> ★★★.5/5
#onyx storm#onyx storm spoilers#spoilers#fourth wing#iron flame#violet sorrengail#xaden riorson#violet and xaden#tairneanach#andarna#book review#tqtreview#books#literature#reading#fantasy#xadenviolet#the empyrean
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chapter one — mercedes amg
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summary — contract signed, license accepted and off we go — it should have been that easy but the transition wasn’t. and now all hopes were resting on her. she truly hopes she won’t disappoint.
song — dead man walking [ brent faiyaz ]
warnings — none ( however if there is something that should have been, pls tell me )
word counts — 3.1k
cia’s quick rambles — so sorry for the long wait, so many things were happening and i completely forgot it with all the exams also coming up. however I got ahead of myself and finished the first two chapters. hope i have part three finished by next week. enjoy, this is just the beginning 🫶🏾
( masterlist / navigation / previous / next )
— august 2023
𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌
princessaaliyah
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liked by evamueller, mercedesamgf1 and 8.927 others
princessaaliyah first day of work, wish me luck
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username so she’s the girl toto appointed as new chief technical engineer? ⤷ username i really wanna know why her ⤷ username she doesn’t exactly seem like the normal appointment
username am i the only one surprised, how quick people found her account ⤷ username same, like they are actually scaring me
mercedesamgf1 welcome on board aaliyah, we’re already looking forward to our time together ⤷ princessaaliyah me too, thanks admin
username so happy to see more and more diversity here ⤷ username definitely, f1 is going to fall off so hard when lewis retires
username she is so pretty and sweet
evamueller already miss you so much, it’s so boring here ⤷ princessaaliyah now you know how i felt when you did a month in greece ⤷ evamueller taking the family jet now to come see you ⤷ princessaaliyah letting you know now that i’m broke and can’t bail you out this time ⤷ evamueller 😕
username i already love her ⤷username fr she seems to funny and sarcastic
susiewolff excited to meet you aaliyah, always nice to see a new female face ⤷ princessaaliyah thx susie, i’ve also heard so much about you ⤷ princessaaliyah think i’m hyperventilating
username predicting it now, she’s gonna build a rocket ship
username i really hope she’s gonna be the female adrian newey and have lewis win his eighth ⤷ username never with the way mercedes has been for the past two seasons
username there’s something promising about her
username am i the only one who finds it weird that she just appeared in the middle of the season ⤷ username it’s called silly season for a reason
f1 welcome to the sport aaliyah princessaaliyah liked this comment
username but why is there nothing about her? like her wikipedia page is almost blank, as if it’s been created yesterday ⤷ username maybe because she likes her privacy like normal people? ⤷ username apparently she’s still a student ⤷ username how do u know? ⤷ username my cousin used to go to the same university, she also has a phd in physics and a bachelor in engineering already ⤷ username and she’s only 26
username this is gonna be a funny second part of the season
username just begging that she can finally give lewis his eighth ⤷ username and george his second win
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄
to say she was amazed was an understatement. standing in front of the official mercedes amg quarters had her star struck. even though it wasn’t her actual dream workplace, the place reeked of excellence. and it felt good to be part of that.
just as expected it was raining in england which had her stepping out with an umbrella in her hand as she walked towards the modern complex. it was seven o’clock in the morning and the building's modern, metallic facade gleamed under the morning sun which had her breath hitch. it was beautiful and yet terrifying.
she was doing this for him, she reminded herself. this was all for him— a gesture toward redemption, a way to ease the guilt that gnawed at her in the quiet of the night.
aaliyah smiled when she saw toto personally waiting for her at the entrance in a black team rain jacket. it fit his darth toto vibe perfectly.
and how did she know about that? well, one good thing in her life was being an overachiever. she did not go anywhere unprepared and it was the same for her new job. between getting the offer and actually signing the work contract, she had done a full research into the world of f1 and all the lore that came with it.
and how did she know about that? simple: overachievers like her never went anywhere unprepared. she had a knack for digging into the details, and when the job offer came, she didn't waste a second. between getting the call and signing the contract, she plunged into the world of F1, reading herself into all the lore that came with it.
she could call herself a brocedes expert now.
“i’m happy to see that you made it.” he greeted her and the two walked inside. they passed teams of engineers and technicians moving with a synchronized efficiency that spoke volumes about their skill and dedication.
the hum of activity, the whir of robotic arms, and the occasional rev of an engine being tested filled the air with an electric energy. he would have loved this, she thought and a small smile appeared on her face.
this was her world, her area where she would excel. she had promised him that much and even though she was way out of her comfort zone, this was where everything came together and that created a new kind of comfort. the perfect mix of engineering and luxury cars.
“this is bigger than i expected,” she mumbled, still feeling starstruck as they continued. many walls were decorated by massive tvs and pictures displaying the latest amg models in action, zooming through picturesque landscapes and roaring down racetracks.
toto laughed. “well, the best for the best right?”
“so what’s the plan for today? it’s seven thirty now and the only thing we’ve been doing is walk.”
“well the next race is soon so today, you’re going to see the car in its full glory for the first time. lewis and george should be arriving here soon so they can tell you a bit more about it.”
of course, the two mercedes drivers she would meet for the first time today. she had read about them, instantly taking a liking to lewis. and she had found george to be very likable from what she had seen and heard of him. but meeting them in real life was always something else.
it was crazy for her when she thought back that two months ago, she had just been aaliyah prince. engineering student at munich university. and now she could add the title of chef technical engineer to her resumé. her life had gone from zero to 180 in the span of a month and there was no going back.
everything was already official, she had gotten her badge, she had signed her contract and the official f1 account had publicly announced the change. she was all in now.
after a quick tour of the factory that had been specially arranged for her, she and toto entered a huge gallery where all of the previous race cars had been stored. she stopped in front of the famous w11, cautiously touching its rear wing while her heart started beating quicker.
“impressive, huh?”
she turned around and found toto smirking at her.
“it’s definitely something. i think this was the most perfect car in f1 history, it did give lewis his seventh championship.”
there was something spark-like in toto’s eyes. “nice to know that you did your homework. and with you, i’m sure we’re going to get his eighth.”
she opened her mouth, wanting to say something before closing it again. she didn’t want it to sound wrong but she had to know. she needed assurance that her secret and past stayed hidden and buried six feet underground.
“didn’t they ask questions? why you suddenly chose to recruit a twenty-something student from university?”
“i’m the boss, i get to do everything.”
“i just mean, people will want to know where i am from, look me up. and that’s what scares me.”
“aaliyah, if this is about what I think it is — i’m the only person that knows about it and should know about it,” he began and closed the door to make sure no one could overhear them. “ we both talked about it, i handled it, don’t worry.”
“i just don’t want anything to come out,” said aaliyah, her voice much quieter. “and with me being a public person now—”
“you don’t want anyone to know that you have an iq of 171 and are a certified genius.”
she snorted sarcastically. “175 and believe me, my brain has been more of a curse than a gift to me.”
toto softly put a hand on her shoulder. “and i’m here for you now. i may be your boss but i’m also your friend. so if anything, and i really mean anything,” he emphasized, both knowing what they were referring to, “comes up, you tell me. call, or even come to my hotel room. there’s always a solution.”
the tour neared the end and toto led her to a special section with lots of computers and graphics. there were sketches and designs with specific attention to detail that amazed her in one way. aaliyah could feel a deep sense of admiration for the talent and dedication of her new colleagues.
and in the middle, in all its black beauty and glory stood two w14, one with a certain green-yellowish embroidering while the other had a blue one. she felt more than fascinated with them — this could become an obsession for her. staring at the car in front of her should have made her back out, maybe even run for the hills if the reports that she had read about mercedes and their w14 were true.
but instead it sent her brain into overdrive.
in her head she was already going over all the things she could experiment, of course under regulation of the other mechanics. this was the car she had to turn into a rocket ship and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t excited.
maybe that's why she sometimes viewed her brain as a curse. it was a relentless force, endlessly questioning and analyzing, never quiet. it burdened her with insights and thoughts that felt overwhelming, leaving her longing for peace she rarely found.
she edged closer to the car, her fingers brushing against its surface, the sensation almost dreamlike. the touch brought back memories of those old sundays, when life felt simpler. she recalled sitting with her father on the couch, watching the races when the cable worked, and how he loved to point out the drivers to little aaliyah, who only understood the allure of the cars.
it made her miss her dad so much.
the car itself was at first sight a masterpiece of combining aerodynamics and engineering with the law of physics. she could practically feel all the effort and research that had gone into developing it. her finger graciously traced the carbon fiber bodywork along, the coolness of the material sending a shiver down her spine.
her thoughts darted ahead, a whirlwind of possibilities for the car's transformation. she could already pinpoint some areas ready for modifications, envisioning tweaks and upgrades that might unlock new speeds, each idea a wave crashing against the limits of her own imagination.
aaliyah found herself so mesmerized by the car, she did not notice the two other persons enter the room. lewis and george were clearly surprised when instead of the expected elderly man, they found a young black woman standing in front of them, completely lost in her thoughts as she played with the car. they were clearly curious because except for her name, they didn’t know anything about her.
“you must be aaliyah,” said lewis in a warm tone and she turned around, nearly jumping because of the two new presences in the room.
great, she had already ruined her first impression and and it was lewis hamilton standing in front of her.
thank god she couldn’t spot a blush or else her face would have matched a ferrari car. “yes, that’s me, aaliyah. the new chief technical engineer. and for the record, in my head this went way better.”
they all laughed.
george took a step forward and held out his hand. “george russell, a pleasure to work with you from now on.”
damn, he’s tall. was height a requirement to work here?
lewis snorted. “believe me, i asked myself the same thing.
again, thank the lord her skin was too dark to blush. “i didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
she suddenly felt small, smaller than she already was in company of the three men. lewis hamilton was beautiful, ethereal even — his iconic dreadlocks were neatly styled in a typical bun, he had beige trousers matched with the black team merch on and his fingers were adorned with all types of rings. but it was his smile that made him probably the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
in other words, lewis reminded her of him.
then there was george, whose tall frame and youthful energy were equally compelling and kind of attractive. she knew they would get along well, his smile was warm and genuine as they shook hands. it really did feel as if she could find her place here.
“i’ll start again and just say, it’s an honor to be here. i can’t wait to work with you,” said aaliyah, smiling.
“it’s great to meet you too, aaliyah,” george said, his handshake firm. “toto didn’t tell us much but looking forward to working with you.”
“it’s always great to see another female face working in this environment,” added lewis, a warm smile on his face. “and your hair looks amazing by the way. i love the afro.”
was she about to cry because the lewis hamilton complimented her hair? never. but was she about to have an allergic reaction because of that? perhaps.
she passed a hand through her hair, untangling a few curls. “thank you, lewis. i appreciate the compliment.”
“always here if you need one, sweetheart,” he winked at her which had her laugh.
they continued their small get-to-know-each-other as they discussed various aspects of the car and how the last races had gone for each of them. some of them were good, others horrible and manageable. the two drivers told her where they thought was the most to work on and the challenges they encountered concerning the speed.
but as hopeful as they sounded, aaliyah knew she had to set limits to their dreams before she gave them too much and they would fall flat down on their arses.
“boys, let me just say something,” her tone became a bit more serious, “from what i heard about the rules concerning changes, certain can give you penalties. the current setup is good, i already see some things i can change but i can’t do much for now because i need to see it in action.”
lewis nodded. “you’ll travel with us for the next races, won’t you? or will you work from the factory?”
“i think both, like i said, i need to see the car in action. so the next race, i’ll be there,” she explained. “also, i need to note that there may be several areas i believe that need significant changes from the reports i’ve been able to read. and not only will this take time but there’s a high likelihood we might need to take some grid penalties for those changed. i just want to make sure you’re both on board with this before we go any further with this.”
they exchanged a glance, both drivers listening thoroughly to what she had to say. they were already struggling and in a hard battle with the ferraris concerning the second place in the constructor’s championship. but on second thought, a few grid places lower were definitely manageable if it meant fighting at the top again.
lewis was the first to nod again, this time towards her. “we’ll handle a few grid places. at this point, it’s anything to give those red bulls in front a fight and show them they’re not invincible,” he said firmly, determination clear in his tone. “we’ve been struggling with this car for a while now, the bumping may be gone but it’s still so slow. if you believe these changes will help us get back to the front, then we’re with you.”
“yeah, i absolutely agree. not going to lie, it’s been horrible driving this thing as it is. we trust your expertise, aaliyah. and if you think we need to take a step back to move forward, then that’s what we’ll do.”
aaliyah clapped her hands together. “that’s brilliant to hear. i promise i’ll do my best to give those red bulls a fight and make sure we come back as the famous silver arrows.”
she knew she could fix it—find the mistake and redo the equation. and if not for herself, then for him. there was no question in her mind; she was determined. she had never backed down from a challenge before.
#max verstappen x black oc#max verstappen series#max verstappen x oc#max verstappen instagram au#cialovessirlewis#lewis hamilton#max verstappen x reader#max verstappen fanfic#max verstappen#mercedes amg petronas#formula one#f1 x female reader#max verstappen x black! oc#max verstappen x black! reader
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SFW Tropes Masterlist
For writers - or for those who'd like to request a fic from me and need help generating ideas. Click here for the NSFW masterlist. Guidelines for requests can be found here.
Angst and Hurt/Comfort
Post-Battle Care: Tending to wounds (physical or emotional) after a fight.
Nightmares and Consolation: A character seeks solace after a distressing dream.
Bottled-Up Emotions: A character finally breaks down after holding everything in.
Survivor’s Guilt: Reflecting on losses and grappling with responsibility.
Grief and Healing: Finding a path forward after devastating loss.
Action and Adventure
Escape Mission: Characters must break out of an enemy stronghold or evade capture.
Treasure Hunt: Seeking an ancient artifact or holocron with unexpected challenges.
Undercover Operation: Posing as someone else in a high-stakes situation.
Hostage Negotiation: Characters navigating delicate situations to avoid disaster.
Defusing the Bomb: A tense countdown to prevent disaster.
AU (Alternative Universe)
Role Reversal: Characters swap roles (e.g., Jedi becomes a bounty hunter).
What If: Explore pivotal moments with a different outcome (e.g., “What if Order 66 failed?”).
Canon Divergence: A single decision alters the course of the story (e.g., “What if Qui-Gon survived?”).
Time Travel: A character is sent back (or forward) in time to change events or gain new perspective.
Relationships and Dynamics
Found Family: A group of unlikely individuals grows into a close-knit family.
Enemies to Allies (or Lovers): Tension and grudging respect turn into trust or affection.
Mentor and Protégé: A seasoned character trains or guides a younger one.
Unspoken Feelings: Moments of lingering glances and unsaid words.
Sibling-Like Dynamic: Bickering like siblings but with deep care.
Adoptive Parent: An older character becomes a mentor or caretaker.
Healing Together: A group works through shared trauma as a unit.
Mystery and Intrigue
Murder Investigation: Characters work to uncover the truth behind a crime.
Hidden Identity: A character conceals their true role or past.
Lost History: Unearthing forgotten lore or secrets tied to the Force.
Double Agent: Navigating the tension of working both sides.
Emotional Exploration
Forgiveness Arc: Characters work toward forgiving themselves or others.
Past Lives: Exploring flashbacks or reincarnation themes.
Letters and Holorecordings: Communicating through written or recorded messages.
Lighthearted and Whimsical
Mundane Adventures: Characters tackle everyday challenges (e.g., cooking, fixing a droid).
Unexpected Babysitting: Caring for a child or youngling in humorous or heartwarming ways.
Festival or Celebration: Participating in a holiday or local tradition.
Animal Companion: Bonding with a creature, whether friendly or ferocious.
Whump, Survival, and Isolation
Crash Landing: Stranded on a remote planet and working together to survive.
Quarantine: Stuck in close quarters due to illness or contamination.
Lost and Found: A character presumed dead is discovered alive.
Weather Woes: Trapped in extreme conditions like sandstorms or blizzards.
Injured and Alone: A character survives despite grave injuries.
Captured by the Enemy: Psychological and physical struggles in captivity.
Lost in the Void: Stranded in space with dwindling supplies.
Dark Themes and Morality
Fall from Grace: A character descends into darkness or betrayal.
Redemption Arc: A path to atonement after a character’s mistakes.
Doppelgängers: Facing a duplicate or altered version of oneself.
Mind Games: Dealing with manipulation, brainwashing, or visions.
Rivalry to Respect: Enemies slowly come to admire each other, even if it is never made obvious.
Hidden Humanity: An evil character reveals an unexpected vulnerable side.
Villain Wins: A world where the antagonist succeeds
Jedi and Force Mysticism
Force Visions: Cryptic glimpses of the past, future, or alternate timelines.
Lost Holocrons: Discovering ancient Force teachings with unexpected consequences.
Gray Jedi Exploration: Balancing Light and Dark sides of the Force.
Force-Bonded Pairs: Two characters linked by an unexplainable Force connection.
Romantic Tropes
Fake Relationship: Pretending to be together for a mission or disguise.
Forbidden Love: Romance defying rules (e.g., Jedi Code).
Slow Burn: Long build-up to a romantic confession.
Accidental Confession: A slip of the tongue reveals feelings.
Mutual Pining: Both characters believe their feelings aren’t reciprocated.
Culture and Worldbuilding
Exploring Traditions: Delving into unique customs of a planet or species.
Language Barriers: Characters navigate miscommunication.
Rebuilding After Tragedy: A community recovers from devastation.
Artifact of Power: A relic tied to ancient Force-users that affects the story.
Undercover or Espionage
Royal Disguise: Pretending to be someone of lower rank.
Spy Among Us: A mole within a group creates tension.
Assassin’s Target: The assassin and their target form an uneasy alliance. Or things don't go as smoothly as planned.
Deep Cover: A character fully immerses themselves in enemy territory.
Legacy and Destiny
Reluctant Heir: Inheriting an unwanted responsibility.
Prophecy Fulfillment: Fulfilling a foretold destiny with unexpected twists.
Living in the Shadow: Struggling with the expectations tied to being a legendary figure.
Defying Fate: Challenging a preordained path.
Time and Memory
Amnesia: A character forgets their identity and rediscovers themselves.
Alternate Timelines: Characters glimpse or visit different timelines.
Time Loop: Reliving the same moment until a lesson is learned.
Memory Sharing: Using the Force or technology to experience someone else’s past.
Humor and Lighthearted Tropes
Miscommunication Comedy: A small misunderstanding snowballs into chaos.
Droid Antics: A droid takes center stage with humorous behavior.
Overwhelmed Jedi: A Jedi struggles with mundane tasks.
Space Road Trip: A long journey full of banter and mishaps.
Crossover or Genre Mashups
Horror Elements: Haunted ships, Sith ghosts, or terrifying creatures.
Political Thriller: Intrigue within the Senate or Rebellion leadership.
Western Style: Lone bounty hunters and shootouts.
Heist Story: A team plans and executes a complex theft.
Personal Journeys
Identity Crisis: A clone, droid, or Force-sensitive questions their place.
Self-Exile: A character retreats from society and finds company.
Reunion Story: A long-lost character is reunited with friends or family.
Breaking the Code: A Jedi defies their teachings.
Battle and Combat
Last Stand: Characters make a desperate final stand.
Truce on the Battlefield: Enemies must work together.
Training Montage: A character hones their skills under a mentor.
Reluctant Fighter: A pacifist is forced into action.
Miscellaneous
Holovid Star: A character accidentally becomes famous.
Unlikely Hero: An everyday character rises to the occasion.
Force Ghost Encounters: Guidance or conflict from beyond the grave.
Lost Artifact: Recovering an item of immense value.
Clone Troopers
Identity and Brotherhood
Individuality vs. Unity: A clone struggles with being one among many.
Nicknames and Call Signs: The personal stories behind a clone's name.
Brother’s Keeper: A clone sacrifices everything to protect their brothers.
Clone-Centric POV: The galaxy through the eyes of a clone.
Post-Order 66
After the Fall: A clone wrestles with guilt over Order 66.
Defying the Programming: A clone resists the inhibitor chip’s control.
Living on the Run: A clone deserter avoids detection.
Reunion with the Jedi: An unexpected meeting with a Jedi they thought dead.
Training and Battle Bonds
Rookie Struggles: A young clone's first mission.
Veteran’s Wisdom: An experienced clone mentors a new recruit.
Unlikely Alliance: A clone teams up with an enemy.
One Last Mission: A retired clone is called back for a critical task.
Clone-Specific Dynamics
Armor Customization: The personal meaning behind a clone’s armor.
Dealing with Loss: Coping with the death of a brother.
Echoes of Kamino: Reflecting on their training and origins.
Enhanced Abilities: A clone with unique genetic traits.
AU and Alternate Scenarios
Rebel Clones: Exploring a timeline where clones joined the Rebellion.
Post-War Integration: How clones navigate a galaxy that no longer needs them.
Clone Defector: A clone switches sides to fight for the Separatists.
Found Family: A lone clone builds a new "family."
Sith and Dark-Siders
Rise to Power
Apprentice’s Betrayal: A Sith apprentice rises against their master.
Seduction to the Dark Side: A Jedi succumbs to the Dark Side’s temptations.
Master Manipulator: A Sith orchestrates events from the shadows.
Artifact of Power: A dark relic amplifies a Sith’s abilities.
Conflict with the Light
Pull to the Light: A Sith struggles with feelings of compassion or guilt.
Jedi-Sith Bond: A Force bond forces uneasy cooperation.
Redeeming the Sith: Can a Sith truly abandon their path?
Forbidden Alliance: A Sith and Jedi work together despite their differences.
Dark-Side Mysticism
Sith Spirits: Encountering the ghost of an ancient Sith Lord.
Dark-Side Nexus: Exploring places saturated with the Dark Side.
Bloodlines of Power: A Sith discovers their lineage ties to a legendary figure.
The Holocron’s Secrets: A Sith Holocron offers knowledge at a cost.
Sith Philosophy
Rule of Two: A Sith duo’s balance of power and betrayal.
Power at a Price: A Sith sacrifices something personal for ultimate power.
Survival of the Fittest: Infighting among Sith apprentices.
Eternal Struggle: A Sith sees their existence as a battle for dominance.
Redemption or Corruption
A Sith’s Redemption: A Sith struggles to redeem themselves.
Corruption of the Pure: A Sith manipulates someone to embrace the Dark Side.
Turncoat Apprentice: A Sith apprentice secretly undermines their master.
Moral Ambiguity: A Sith challenges the notions of good and evil.
Unique Sith Abilities
Force Alchemy: Experiments to create monstrous creatures.
Illusions of Terror: Using the Force to project terrifying visions.
Lightning’s Wrath: Devastating Force lightning.
Blood Rituals: Ancient Sith rites to enhance power.
AU and Alternate Scenarios
Sith as Heroes: A Sith defends their people or fights a greater evil.
Jedi-Sith Swap: A Sith raised as a Jedi or vice versa.
Light-Side Sith: A Sith rejects the darkness but embraces the teachings.
What If: A timeline where the Sith rule the galaxy.
The Force
The Force Playing Matchmaker: Despite all reason and seeming logic, the Force wants two people together. It won't stop meddling until Its vision becomes a reality.
Spiritual Connection
Force Bond: Two characters share an unexplainable, deep connection that allows them to sense each other’s emotions, thoughts, or presence across great distances.
Shared Visions: Characters experience a Force vision together, revealing shared destinies or hidden truths.
Guided by the Force: A Jedi or Force-sensitive character interprets the Force as encouraging their relationship.
Opposites Drawn Together: The light and dark sides of the Force pull two characters toward each other, creating tension and mutual growth.
Meditation Partners: Two characters bond over meditative practices, learning to sync their energies and emotions.
Conflict and Struggles
The Burden of Knowledge: One character hides a devastating vision or premonition involving the other, creating tension in their bond.
Teaching the Force: A Force-sensitive character mentors someone who is new to their powers, deepening their connection through shared learning.
Moral Differences: Clashing interpretations of the Force (e.g., strict adherence to the Jedi Code versus emotional connection) challenge their relationship.
Force-Driven Jealousy: A character senses their partner’s lingering emotions toward someone else, creating conflict.
Healing and Support
Force Healing: A character saves their partner by channeling the Force to heal their injuries, creating an emotional and physical bond.
Force Meditation Therapy: Helping a partner process grief, guilt, or trauma through shared meditation and emotional support.
Force Awareness: A Jedi or Force-sensitive partner instinctively knows when their loved one is in distress, no matter the distance.
Strength in the Force: Two Force-users amplify each other’s abilities when they are together, creating a sense of unity and trust.
*verging nsfw Force Tropes
Intense Focus: The Force allows one character to focus solely on their partner’s well-being, whether during battle or in intimate encounters.
Dangerous Proximity: When trapped together or forced to rely on the Force for survival, their bond deepens emotionally and physically.
The Will of the Force: A relationship forms or is tested because they feel their union is destined—or forbidden—by the Force.
The Dark Side's Pull: One character’s struggle with the Dark Side adds tension, as the other seeks to save them from being consumed.
Shared Visions of the Future: Intimacy is driven by a mutual vision of a life together—one they believe the Force has promised them.
Apologies for any similarities – I tried to keep it nuanced.
#star wars fanfiction#star wars writer#star wars fandom#star wars fanon#star wars canon#star wars legends#star wars#the clone wars#the bad batch#star wars prequels#star wars original trilogy#star wars phantom menace#star wars revenge of the sith#clone troopers#codywan#obimaul#anidala#jangobi#clone shipping#quiobi#obikin#riyo chuchi#ahsoka tano#asajj ventress#fennec shand#cad bane#etc etc etc#darth maul#x reader is also an option#tropes
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404 - Title Not Found (Pt 3) WIP
Part 2 - Tumblr
Ao3
Summary: Jason learns just a bit more about the guy who feels familiar while doing laundry.
Danny sees Laundry Guy at the gala and wants to avoid him because it’s not everyday people from Crime Alley go to Wayne galas but amazing Fenton luck strikes.
AN PLEASE READ FIRST: As always this is crack, this is a whole crack fic; and I play fast and loose with DC&DP cannon. Ignore any out of character writing(mainly Vald and Bruce). Also this is a WIP, this is strictly a work in progress and not the final product. I just wanted to post something while working on this fic and other stuff and this won the vote.
Final things before the actual fic:
Kinda/slow Vald redemption aka still an asshole but one you can deal with
Danny - Quarter Guy
Jason - Laundry Guy
———————
Jason immediately knew that the other wasn’t from Gotham. No one just offered anything without an immediate confirmation that they would get something in return. At least that’s how it was in Crime Alley. He and the other held small talk while they were doing their laundry.
“You just offer quarters to people?” He said sarcastically only to have an actual answer in return. “Only the cute people.” The other said with a somewhat joking tone and wink.
“Uh huh. What’s ya name? I didn’t catch it.” Jason wouldn’t directly admit but this guy had peaked his interest even more.
“Well, I didn’t throw it.” The guy answered with a smile that felt sarcastic with just a bit of wanting chaos.
The topic changed to other things. He learned that Quarter Guy had moved to Crime Alley awhile back, he didn’t give a clear reason why; “Just thought it’d be a good change of pace.”
He also learned that Quarter Guy was going to some kind of event with his godfather; saying that even though he agreed to go, he could still complain. And god did he complain but nothing sounded too bad. “He’s just a fruitloop, I wouldn’t doubt him trying to use me to get secrets from the other people.”
Jason didn’t share any too personal information; besides it just being out of sceret identity and such but it would also feel weird to. Jason did complain about how he was more or less forced into agreeing to go to the Wayne gala, only not sharing that it was a gala or that it was a Wayne event.
“Maybe we end up at the same event.” Quarter Guy, who still didn’t tell Jason his name, joked. His laundry had been done before his own. Quarter Guy left with a smile that only made him want to figure out why he felt familiarly even more. Jason was more curious about this guy than before but decided to hold off on figuring out more about it.
—
It was just meant as a joke. Danny really did mean as a joke but just his fucking luck(or honestly he was expecting CW to be the cause in some way), he was now looking at the guy he gave quarters to a day or two pior. He was standing next to the snack table, avoiding Vald so he didn’t have to worry about talking to other rich people he didn’t trust. The snacks didn’t look good in any sense of the word, why did he expect rich people to know what good snacks look and taste like.
He was thinking about texting Sam to complain, knowing that she would say I told you so but he noticed the guy from his apartment building was there. It took a second to recgionze him since he seemed more put together and dressed nicer, but it was him. Danny wouldn’t have questioned it too much if the guy wasn’t standing next to Bruce Wayne but he was. Danny didn’t need to know any more rich people in his life but life(or probably CW) had other plans.
He noticed that the guy hadn’t seemed to see him yet. Danny moved away from the snack table, going opposite from Wayne and the Laundry Guy; mainly focusing on staying hidden but a voice called him. “Daniel!” It wasn’t loud, at least it wasn’t to humans. It had just enough of a hint of ghost speak to have Danny turn to look. Of course when he had his back turned, Vald had to go and speak to Bruce Wayne. The amazing Fenton luck stuck again.“Come over, I’ve hardly seen you since we’ve arrived.”
Danny held back a sigh and eye roll as he went over to Vald and Wayne; which also meant Laundry Guy. He had felt Wayne’s eyes on him as he went over, Laundry Guy hadn’t seemed to notice or frankly care enough to look. He looked at Bruce. He knew of “Brucie” Wayne and had wondered if it was just a persona like when Vald used to pretend to be niceish to his dad. He side eyed Laundry Guy, who didn’t look at him at all.
“You didn’t tell me you had a so-“ Bruce started with a hint of curiosity. Danny was quick to cut him off. “He didn’t because I’m not.” That’s what finally got Laundry Guy’s attention, he looked at Danny for a second and Danny already knew that he recognized him. “Daniel, that was rude.” Vald looked at him before going back to Bruce. “I apologize for him but he is right. He’s my godson.” Vald said, leaving it to Danny to introduce himself.
“Yes, I do apologize for cutting you off like that.” Danny started. He used the tone he would use with some of the ghost nobles. It was a bit forced but relatively kind. He’d hate to admit and never would out loud but he learned it from Vald. “It’s alright, I understand how words hold meaning.” He noticed how it sounded more real(?) than “Brucie” usually did.
He just nodded before continuing, “Okay. I’ll introduce myself before Vald tries to.” Danny made his tone sound just a bit joking. He felt Laundry Guy’s full attention on him. He smiled, a little fake and a little smug. “I’m Danny Fenton and as Vald said, I am his godson.”
#fanfic#crack fic#red hood#jason todd#ghost king danny#danny phantom#dead on main#dp x dc#dpxdc#hot mess fic#fanfic wip#current wip#as always i tried my best#404 - Title Not Found
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