#river raid 2

[dimalink]

River Raid 2 – summer fun

I have open for myself a little three dimensional videogame. At my retro notebook Asus F3S. While I was at the country house. Game was from Reflexive arcade. I think they have made lots of very different arcades. With rather simple graphics. But from other had games are fun.

We have here a three dimensional videogame. Arcade. About aircraft. And you can choose the craft your will flight at. So, you can do a different choice. Control of every aircraft is different. So, you can choose at start your flying craft. And tempo of the game will be also different.

And game idea – it is fly through river. And shoot everything is around! So there here a ships, for example. And helicopters. Everything you need to do – is shoot. For air and surface – rockets are different. You can also move left and right in terms of screen.

It is rather fun game for relax. Or short pause. So, it has different levels. And they are going more hard levels as you have progress through them. Graphics is cool, three dimensional.

Dima Link is making retro videogames, apps, a little of music, write stories, and some retro more.

WEBSITE: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html ITCHIO: https://dimalink.itch.io/ GAMEJOLT: https://gamejolt.com/@DimaLink/games

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[hotchner-edu]

Descend | Aaron Hotchner

Synopsis: You and Jack plan out a surprise birthday party for Aaron, but it's hard to keep secrets while dating a profiler. — part 4 of (1 , 2 , 3 ... can be read as a standalone)

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Younger (Of Age) F!Reader

Warnings: best friend's father trope, fluff, sassy jack hotchner, allusions to smut

Your mind was running three miles a minute as you ramble out an endless list of party supplies and worries. Jack is sitting in the passenger seat as you drive, and you're being very careful as you brake (since Jack had once told you he'd get a concussion one day from your driving).

"Streamers, balloons... oh gosh, I hope that Aaron isn't called away for a case, could you imagine that?... Oh! Do you think we should get a cake from the bakery by 8th street? He liked the cupcakes I got from there... Fuck... his birthday is in two days, why did I wait so long to get supplies!" You speak rapidly, tapping the steering wheel anxiously as Jack queues up some songs.

Your best friend raises his eyebrows in amusement and shakes his head. "You have got to calm down. My dad will like anything you do for him. Hell, you could probably just text him 'Happy Birthday' and he'll be all smiles for the rest of the day."

"This is serious, Jack!" You huff with a small worried frown. "Birthdays are so complicated." A defeated groan falls from your lips.

"Just do what I do for Leah. I get her some flowers and take her to dinner for her birthday." Jack tries to placate you, smiling a bit boyishly as he talks about his girlfriend.

You snort softly and tease him playfully. "In other words... the bare minimum?" You joke and make a right turn into the party supply store parking lot.

"First of all, fuck you." Jack quips back lightheartedly, waiting until you park the car to flick your arm.

Despite Jack's insistence that Aaron wasn't expecting anything huge for his birthday, your best friend allows you to drag him around town as you raid store shelves and make numerous phone calls to local bakeries.

Unfortunately, your mind is a prolific river of anxieties as you are suddenly hit with the realization that you're dating a profiler of all people. When the next morning rolls around, your newest concern was that Aaron would catch on to your plans to throw him a surprise party.

It was nearing seven in the morning, and it was the day before Aaron's birthday. You couldn't sleep too well, the gnawing worries of things going askew tormenting you even as you rested, twisting your stomach into knots.

Feeling a tightening against your stomach, you blush a little as you look down and remember just where you were. You had decided to spend the night at Aaron's house again, and you both had stayed up quite late.

You feel a soft kiss being pressed to the back of your neck. "Are you up, sweetheart?" His gruff morning voice fills your ears as he pulls you even closer to his body.

"Mhm... you're up early too..." You mumble back and run your hand along his arm.

"Felt you twisting and turning." He grumbles back softly as he yawns a litte, shuffling for a moment before returning to his previous movements of kissing down your neck and back.

You smile softly and the butterflies in your stomach flutter as you speak lightly. "Do you have the day off today?"

You were torn. A part of you was hoping he would so that you could spend the day with him, but another part of you hoped he'd be at the office so you could go pick up his cake and his gift.

"I do. How should we spend it, I wonder..." He says almost mischievously, his warm hand laying flat against your stomach and rubbing it before sliding lower.

"Well, unless you want to wake Jack up..." you trail off and smile widely, teasing him back by stopping his hand.

He grunts, dipping his head to kiss and suck on the junction between your neck and shoulder. That was definitely going to leave a hickey. "We can be quiet." He mumbles against your skin.

"Horny old man." You grumble playfully.

Aaron chuckles deeply, voice still a bit rough from sleep as he moves to lean over you. "Yes, yes, now let me love you."

By the time you manage to escape Aaron's sinful temptations and addicting touch, it's closer to nine am. He decides to take a shower as you head down to start making breakfast after brushing your teeth.

When you step into the kitchen, you see Jack rubbing his eyes as he sits at the kitchen island. "For Christmas I want noise cancelling headphones and for you guys to soundproof the bedroom." He muses without even looking up at you, texting on his phone.

You cringe a little and mentally kick yourself. "I'm so sorry..."

Jack waves you off, yawning and stretching his arms above his head. "I'm just pulling your leg, I was able to fall back asleep. Besides, 's not like I haven't put you through the same."

You shiver a little at the memories of waking up to Jack's varying shenanigans in adjacent rooms during trips with your friend group. "I think we should both just gift each other noise cancelling headphones."

"Yeah... well I'm staying over at Leah's tomorrow night, so go crazy." He says, smiling as he gets another text from his girlfriend. "Oh, and speaking of tomorrow, did you need me to help set up for the party?"

You groan at the thought. Ideally, Aaron would be at the office for a couple of hours today so you could go pick up some things, and then be gone until the evening tomorrow so you could set up for the party.

"Still not sure about that... Aaron doesn't have work today, and I'm not sure about tomorrow either." Your tone is low as you start grabbing ingredients from the fridge.

Jack huffs, clearly understanding your dilemma. "I can try and get him out of the house tomorrow if he doesn't have to work. Have a father-son bonding day or something."

You nod and smile. "Yes, please." You smile appreciatively.

"You're on your own today though, Leah wants to get lunch with me." Jack says playfully.

"So your usefulness does have a limit." You quip back with a deadpan look.

Later in the day, you slip away to make a quick phone call after coming up with an idea to get Aaron out of the house.

"This is Dave." You hear the older man's voice ring out.

You clear your throat softly. "Hi Dave. It's me, I need a favor."

"Ah, I was wondering when I'd hear from you." David chuckles. "Is the party still happening tomorrow?" He asks kindly.

"Yes, it is. The rest of the team is still able to make it, right?" You ask softly, keeping your voice hushed as you can hear Aaron shuffling around downstairs.

"Yep, our schedules are cleared for tomorrow. Y'know, Aaron was rushing to finish his paperwork all week, he wanted to get the weekend off to spend it with you and Jack." He says with a teasing lilt in his voice.

You wince a little in guilt and sigh. "Ah... Well, actually... would it be possible for you to call Aaron into the office for like... two hours? I need to go pick up some things for him last minute."

"He's going to bite my head off, kiddo." David muses, sounding resigned to that fact already.

"You have seniority, you'll be okay." You say and chuckle.

You hear the man sigh a little before chuckling fondly. "Alright, I'll think of something."

Exhaling in relief, you thank the man profusely before hanging up.

You slowly retreat from the quiet room, almost walking directly into Aaron's chest as you close the door behind you. "Oh!"

"There you are, honey. What were you doing in the towel closet?" Aaron asks in amusement, curiosity filling his tone. You could see the gears in his head turning as he sees your phone in your hand.

"Phone call." You explain simply, leaning up to kiss him. "Also, Jack heard us this morning." You grumble and playfully smack his chest, trying to change the topic.

Aaron frowns a little at that and rubs your back. "He needs to move out." He says jokingly while maintaining his serious expression.

Chuckling, you pat his chest and shake your head. "Now, now, we both know you'd cry if that were to actually happen."

Luckily, Dave actually manages to come up with some excuse for Aaron to drop by the office not even an hour later. Your boyfriend is grumbling the whole time he gets ready, and you felt guilty seeing his mood drop.

"He said it'd be quick, right? Just in and out." You say softly, kissing him while fixing up his tie.

"Yeah... I'll be back soon, okay?" He reassures you, cupping your cheek and stroking his thumb across your soft skin. He gazes into your eyes before bringing you in for a deeper kiss. "I love you." He whispers against your lips.

"I love you, too." You whisper back with a giddy smile, leaning into him as he runs his hands down your body.

When Aaron finally makes his way out of the house and toward his car, Jack is getting back home from his date at the same time.

Jack looks at him in surprise and smiles a bit as he takes in his father's appearance. "Hey, dad. Going to work?"

Aaron nods and glances back at the house quickly. "Just for a bit. What time should I be out of the house tomorrow?"

Jack pauses and blanches. "Uh... what?"

"So Y/N has time to set up for the surprise party." Aaron answers with a fond grin, chuckling a bit to himself.

"You knew?" Jack deflates a bit and sighs.

"Yeah, I figured it out this morning." Aaron says, remembering the way you were lost in thought all day, with Dave's 'work emergency' call just confirming his suspicions.

Jack nods and smiles a bit in defeat. "Alright... Uhm, you should leave the house at like two tomorrow. Also, can you just pretend to be surprised tomorrow? She's been super stressed these past few days."

Aaron chuckles and nods, patting Jack on the shoulder before walking toward his car, speaking up a bit as he walks. "Don't worry, I was planning on it."

True to his words, and to your absolute cluelessness, Aaron plays up his delighted surprise the next day when his team members surprise him in his living room. Though, it wasn't too difficult considering how you and Jack had transformed the house in the time he was gone.

Seeing your beaming face across the room made going to the office all day worth it. As he thanked everyone for coming, he couldn't help but think about how he'd love to spend the rest of his birthdays with you.

As the night continues, genuine surprise colors his face when you finally give him your birthday gift to him after everyone settles down in the kitchen to eat.

He flips through the booklet you hand him with complete wonderment, looking at the various professional photos you had taken of yourself posed in lingerie. The photos looked like something straight out of a magazine, and your otherworldly beauty had his knees growing weak.

"Happy birthday, honey." You whisper sweetly into his ear, kissing his neck as his mind malfunctions for a moment. "Also... we have the house to ourselves tonight."

His hand moves down to grip your hip, softly groaning into your ear. "Is it too soon to tell everyone to get out of the house?"

You smile and kiss his jaw, pulling away from him and shaking your head. "Now, don't be like that. They're here to celebrate you after all." With that, you disappear into the kitchen as Aaron gazes after you in utter worship.

"Wicked, wicked woman." Aaron mumbles to no one in particular as he forces himself to go put the booklet away to rejoin the party.

He really couldn't wait for his next birthday.

[letstalkaboutshtufff]

Never a Burden Part 2

Neteyam x reader

Pairing: Neteyam x Reader Mate

Warnings: Mentions of injury, mild blood, kinda 18+ at the end.

Previous chapter

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

You waited for what felt like hours for your mate to return.

As soon as he walked through the entrance you shot up on your feet.

He released a sigh when he saw you and raised his arms out to you.

You immediately ran into his embrace hugging him tightly.

Seconds later you were pulling away to look him up and down. Your breath caught seeing his bleeding knuckles.

“Teyam…”

“It is nothing love, don’t be sad” he pulled you close again releasing a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry Neteyam��” you murmured into his chest.

“Shh don’t apologize.” He kissed your head and pulled you to sit down on his lap by the fire.

“Lemme get some salve for your hand-“ you attempted to stand but he pulled you back down with a click of his tongue.

“Leave it, it’s nothing..”

“…Neteyam… what did you do?” Fear was evident in your voice.

“I showed him what happens when someone messes with my family…” his tone was bitter.

Panic was clear as day on your face but Neteyam was quick to dispel your worries, “Don’t worry he’s not dead, as much as I wanted to kill him, I did not.”

“But he won’t be able to join us on raids anytime soon…” he muttered.

“W-wha, what did you do??”

Made his face look like a bowl of purple berries, Broke his arm for touching you, gave him a much worse bruise on his stomach, shoved him in the river and held his head down a little too long…

“Just roughed him a bit don’t worry..”

“But you just said he wouldn’t be able to-“

He shut you up with an abrupt kiss. It was slow and sweet, that is until he bit you.

“Ow what was that for.” You pouted and pulled back.

“For not telling me the moment someone was bothering you.”

“But Teyam-“

“No buts”. His eyes were stern.

“Since when do we hide things from each other hm?” You looked down feeling shame.

“I…I didn’t want to but I didn’t want to burden you with this Neteyam…” he sighed loudly.

“It’s never a burden, you’re never a burden…” he made sure you were looking in his eyes.

They held nothing but the truth. You weren’t a burden.

“Promise you’ll never hide something like this from me again.”

You nodded, “I promise”.

He kissed you again, “good”.

“How is your wound?” He readjusted you to look at your stomach.

“It’s alright, it looks worse than it is..”

You could read the emotions on his face, bearing himself up that he couldn’t protect you.

“Don’t Neteyam, don’t- I’m alright. I promise. It’s nobody’s fault except them.. and thanks to you I don’t think they’ll be bothering me anytime soon…” you kissed his bruised knuckles.

He smiled warmly but then suddenly furrowed his brows, “Wait they? What do you mean “they””.

You blinked up innocently, “didn’t I mention his friends…?”

Neteyam scoffed in exasperation, “No you did not mention his friends!”

“Ok ok calm down, they didn’t do anything just called me some names, Tu’Mey was the only one who hurt me-Ow Neteyam!” You pouted bringing a hand to your freshly flicked forehead.

“What did you just promise woman!”

“I-It it doesn’t count, I forgot about them, I wasn’t hiding it!”

“You-” you interrupted him this time with a kiss.

He let out the millionth sigh of the night.

“What am I going to do with you hm?” He said fondly.

“You’re the one who chose me Neteyam” you grinned.

“Yeah I did…”

“Do you regret it…?”

“Never” he smirked pulling you in for a much deeper kiss than before.

“I think I know how to keep you out of trouble…”

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?” You shivered when he nibbled on your ear.

“I’ll wear you out until you can’t move, you can’t cause trouble if you can’t walk..”

Eywa help you..

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

Short but sweet conclusion! Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading🥰

[heli-writes]

A dragon's heart, part 11.

Pairing: Barbarian!Bakugou Katsuki x female!reader

Summary: The dragonblood tribe is known for being cruel, barbarian warriors that slaughter, loot and rape all places they pass through. They are feared among the villagers and even bigger cities. Having lost most of their women to a plague, they're trying to ensure their tribe's survival by kidnapping women from other places. However, they're not the only monsters in human form out there. When y/n experiences this first hand, she has no choice but to ask for help from no other but the barbarian leader Katsuki Bakugou himself.

Disclaimer: mentions of injuries, mentions of rape and abuse, mentions of breeding, mentions of death

[Please don't read if you are sensible to or triggered by the topics mentioned above.]

Note: Things are about to take a turn, can you guess what's next?

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12

Series Masterlist

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

„Well... that sure was... something.“, Mitsuki says while staring after y/n.

„Tsk, I've told you she's got fire.“, Katsuki tells her smugly.

Part of him understands y/n's anger. Hell, he's angry with his mother too. He can't imagine what it must be like for y/n when people talk over your head. Katsuki knows that y/n isn't stupid. He's sure she figured out that this argument was about her. It's not like his mother tries to hide her disgust about y/n.

Suddenly, the entrance to the tent shifts and Katsuki half-expects y/n to enter the tent again. However, it's Kirishima who pokes his head into the tent. The red-haired man seems to shrink a bit when he spots Mitsuki.

„Uhm, hey chief, hate to interrupt but our scouts have returned from the kingdom. You might want to hear what they have to report.“, Kirishima informs Katsuki.

Katsuki gives him a firm nod and follows him outside. His mother is close behind him. Together they walk to the war tent. It's where the maps are and where the tribe plans its raids and strategic maneuvers. On their way there, they come face to face with multiple injured men. They're taken to the healers. Many of them are unconscious or clutching very bloody wounds.

„What happened?“, Katsuki wants to know but Kirishima only shrugs.

„Don't know any specifics only that the mission must've gone wrong.“, the man tells his leader. Katsuki scoffs. While his men often got injured due to their reckless fighting style, the sight is worrying.

Upon entering the tent, the men inside stiffen and give Katsuki and Mitsuki a sign of respect. Nobody dares to say a word.

„So?“, Katsuki barks, „What happened? Why are my men bleeding to death out there?“

A man in dirty armor stands up. He's not looking too good, actually. Katsuki guesses he's been with the scouts.

„We've been scouting out an area East of the mountains. It was a bit more inland, deeper into Todoroki's territory than usual. It's a rural area far off from any havens or big rivers so we didn't expect to run into any trouble. We were looking for small settlements that we could attack in the next few months.“, the man explained.

„And let me guess, you did run into trouble?“, Katsuki follows up and the man nods.

„Yes, we've just scouted out the area and landed to discuss which settlements would be the best to attack during our next flight when we were ambushed by Todoroki's soldiers. In all honesty, we didn't see them coming. They were hidden from the sight above and even upon landing, our dragons weren't alarmed.“, the man continues.

Katsuki furrows his eyebrows. Their dragons usually can smell prey from miles away. It's strange that none of them sensed the enemy. Moreover, it's quite the same as when y/n and him were ambushed by those bandits. Is this a coincidence? Or is there a connection between the two incidents?

„And then what? Don't tell me our mighty dragon warriors lost to a few mere human soldiers?“, his mother interrupts his trail of thoughts. The scout suddenly looks really pale.

„Well, there were just too many of them. We have no idea where they suddenly came from. We tried to fight them, but it got clear pretty quickly that they overpowered us in numbers. That's why we retreated.“, the man explains in a squeaky voice.

„Retreated? Since when do we retreat? We fight till death! We are warriors!“, his mother's voice booms to through the tent. All men looked at their feet not daring to meet their former chief's eyes.

„We've lost enough people the last few years. We can't afford to lose further tribe members by being reckless. You made the right call.“, Katsuki tells the men and indirectly puts his mother into her place. His mother scoffs and mutters something about cowards under her breath.

„So, how did the king know we'd send scouts to this place? Do we have a traitor among us?“, Kirishima changes the topic.

„The question is did he know or is he simply strengthening his forces?“, another man chirps in.

Katsuki isn't sure about that. They already noticed that there is a stronger military presence throughout the kingdom. He's sure that his tribe's attacks play a significant role in that. In the past few years they've raided more paces than they usually would. They've grown bolder, more desperate, and moved further inward. It might be that the king mistakes their raids for attempts to see how far they can get, to see if they can weaken the kingdom and overtake parts of their territory. Maybe the king doesn't see that these riots are due to the weakened state of the tribe, to ensure their survival.

Or maybe the king senses an opportunity to end the Dragonblood tribe once and for all. Strategically speaking, it wouldn't be a bad idea. The tribe lost strength and if there would be a fitting time to get rid of them once and for all, it would be now. Katsuki did his best to keep the plague a secret and make the tribe look strong on the outside. However, somehow some information must slipped through the cracks. It might be due to outside contacts like Deku or Uraraka. Katsuki refuses to believe there might be a traitor among them. The last thing they need is a riot.

Katsuki's quiet while his men start yelling and fighting in front of him. His mother nudges him. Waking out of his trance, he notices how his men are almost about to start a fistfight.

„Silence!“, he yells and his men freeze before letting go of each other and straightening their posture. 

„How many did we lose?“, Katsuki asks calmly.

„About 13 and counting. We don't know how many make it through the night.“, the scout tells him.

An eery silence befalls the tent. It's too many lives lost. Not even four children have been born this year to replace them. Plus, these children were born weakly and maybe won't live until adulthood. If this rate continues, the tribe will be gone before the end of the next decade.

„We need to bring in more women.“, Denki says into the silence. 

„Why that? These women only give us weak children! If any at that!“, another warrior comments. Some murmur in agreement. Kirishima looks conflicted and is very careful when he starts speaking.

„Maybe we should consider hiring men from other tribes. If they and their families settle with us, it will improve our situation from a strategic point of view.“, Krishima carefully proposes.

Immediately, men start speaking over each other.

„Bring in outsiders? No way, we can't trust them!“

„These outsiders can't compete with our strength!“

„They will piss themselves just at the sight of our dragons.“

„Silence!“, Katsuki yells once again. The volume comes down again and everybody looks at their leader expectantly.

„We're of dragon blood.“, Katsuki declares, „It's already humiliating that we have to mix our blood with those of commoners. At least that offspring will have some of our ancestors' strength in them.“

„Then what do we do?“, another man asks. Katsuki staightens his posture and lets his eyes wander through the tent.

„We lay low for a while. Scouts will fly in smaller groups. We stay on the outskirts of the Todoroki kingdom. Also, we should scout other kingdoms as well, such as the Yaoyorozu kingdom.“, he declares.

„What about raids?“, a man asks.

„We only hold small raids. Our focus will be bringing in as many females as we can. Leave gold and treasures behind. We only focus on the resources we really need.“, he tells them.

A murmur goes through his men. They don't like holding back. Katsuki understands them. There's no feeling more empowering than letting fire rain on an enemy and taking their treasures. But for now, they will have to focus on more important things.

„Kirishima, send a small scouting party to the Yaoyorozu kingdom. And get me that damn Deku here, goddamnit!“, he orders and pushes himself off the table he was leaning on.

„Now, get the hell out of here!“, he yells at his men. His men rumble and reluctantly leave the tent. Kirishima gives him a worried glance before leaving his friend and his mother alone. When they're alone, Katsuki turns to his mother.

„Do you understand now, Mother? Why I can't wait until one of our own is of age?“, he tells her.

Mitsuki stays silent in response.

~*~*~*~

Y/n's a shadow. She slips in between the tents trying to stay out of sight. Somehow it feels forbidden to seek out another woman. Luckily for her, the warriors of this tribe seem to hold a conference. It makes it easier for her to find her way back to Nadia and it also means that Nadia's husband won't be looming over her and they might just have a minute to talk.

When y/n found her way to Nadia's tent, she stands in front of it inconclusively. She's not sure how to make herself noticeable. It's not like they have a doorbell. Y/n takes a deep breath and decides to carefully enter the place. She pushes the fabric at the entrance away and pokes her head into the tent.

„Nadia?“, she softly calls out to the other woman when she can't see the other woman in the darkness of the tent.

Suddenly, there's rustling and the shuffling of feet. Nadia's face appears in front of y/n and she immediately grabs y/n's arm pulling her into the tent.

„What are you doing? Are you crazy? You can't just walk around in the middle of the day!“, Nadia whispers. Y/n gives her a bewildered look.

„What do you mean? Are you forbidden to go outside?“, she asks the pale woman.

„Aren't you?“, Nadia asks back carefully. 

Y/n thinks about this for a moment. Actually, she's not sure. It's not like she could understand Katsuki even if he told her about a rule like that. Then again Katsuki didn't seem too pissed when he saw her walking around earlier. He didn't even chase after her when she left his tent. Y/n shrugs.

„I don't know.“, she answers the other woman truthfully.

Nadia shakes her head in disbelief.

„You need to be more careful.“, Nadia tells y/n. Y/n furrows her brows.

„Why? What are you afraid of? Does your husband really forbid you to go outside?“, y/n rambles desperate to get some information out of Nadia.

Nadia looks into y/n's eyes for a few seconds silently before stating: „You really don't know anything, do you?“

It sounds accusing as if it's somehow y/n's fault that nobody tells her anything. At least not in a language she doesn't understand. Also, she doesn't think that Katsuki is the explaining type of guy.

„No.“, she tells Nadia calmly, „That's why I'm here. I don't understand what is happening. Please tell me everything you know.“

Nadia sighs deeply and then waves for y/n to sit down at a chair. She makes some tea before joining y/n. The women stay silent for another moment. Y/n is itching to pressure Nadia further. Before y/n can open her mouth, however, Nadia carefully asks:

„Do you know why they've brought you here?“

Y/n looks into her tea cup. It's a difficult question. She assumes that Katsuki brought her here because he liked her. A dreadful feeling starts to form in her stomach. What if that's not all? What if Katsuki has further plans for her?

Nadia takes y/n's silence as the answer.

„They brought you here for breeding.“, Nadia tells her without any emotions in her voice.

„E-excuse me?“, y/n asks taken aback. It's a word she has heard farmers use for cattle but never in the context of human beings.

„Have you seen any women around here? Probably not. It's because they're all dead. They bring us here so that we bear their children.“, Nadia explains.

Y/n stares at the woman. She puts down her tea cup. That... can't be right. No, Katsuki wouldn't do that. Of course, there was some tension between them and she's sure that if she'd let him, Katsuki would fuck the living daylight out of her but... not because of that. Because of... what actually? Love? Y/n almost has to laugh at that ridiculous thought. They've known each other for a couple of days. She's sure Katsuki is fond of her, but it's not love. Yet, a hopeful little voice says in the back of her head. Y/n shakes her head to get the thought out of her head.

„That's ridiculous.“, she tells Nadia. The woman leans back in her seat.

„A normal person might think like that. But these aren't normal people. They're monsters, barbarians who don't care about anything but themselves.“, Nadia answers. She sounds bitter.

„I'm sure Katsuki doesn't think that way“, y/n thinks out loud. Nadia's head whips upward.

„Katsuki? As in Katsuki Bakugou? Don't tell me you'll be married off to him!“, Nadia says in horror.

„I'm not sure about the marrying off part...“, y/n trails off.

„Did he put you into fancy clothes and paint and showed you off?“, Nadia asks. Y/n nods silently.

„Then he takes you. For himself or for one of his men, I don't know. Not that it would matter anyway. They're all the same.“, Nadia states.

Y/n crooks her head.

„Tell me Nadia, what did these people do to you that you think so lowly of them? So far, Katsuki wasn't cruel to me.“, y/n asks carefully. Nadia swallows hard.

„They attacked our village. When they've slaughtered most of the men, they rounded the women up. Some of us were chosen and taken to their camp. The others... I don't know raped or killed or both.“, Nadia says in a shakey voice. Clearly, the memory is hard for her.

„You've been taken here against your will?“, y/n asks even though she should be able to guess the answer.

„You weren't?“, Nadia asks again in disbelief. Y/n shrinks under her gaze. She feels as if she should feel ashamed for going with Katsuki.

„I didn't have much of a choice.“, she decides to reply. Nadia starts looking at her hands.

„Neither did we.“, she continues, „We've been brought back here. The men who chose us presented us to the chief who... I don't know, gave them his blessing or something like that. And then...“

Nadia doesn't finish the sentence. It sounds as if she's choking. Y/n doesn't see any tears glimmering in the dusk of the tent.

„Then what?“, y/n whispers breathlessly. She wants to know, even if it's horrible

„Then, the man who chose me took me back here. Violated and abused me right there on this bed.“, Nadia whispers back and points to the bed on the other side of the tent.

„Ever since then, I'm forced to live here as his wife or something. He continues to hurt me, to... He's not a kind man. I'm scared of him. Of him, of this place, of everything.“, Nadia whispers. 

Now, y/n sees the shimmer of tears on the other woman's face. She's at a loss for words. What can you say to a woman who is a victim to such terrible crimes? Y/n just bows her head and stares onto her own hands.

She's been blind. Blinded by Katsuki. By his strength that saved her. By the security his presence promises. She's heard the stories of the Dragonblood tribe. Was she really stupid enough to believe that they were all lies? She's seen what Katsuki can do to a few grown-ass men. Murder, abduction, and rape are all she connected to this tribe for years. After a few days with Katsuki and y/n lost all common sense. Mostly, she feels ashamed for not questioning this whole thing further. What kind of person just rides off with a strange man and his firebreathing beast? A stupid one.

„I'm really sorry.“, y/n whispers and takes Nadia's hand. Nadia grips her hand tight.

„Don't be. It's better you're prepared for what happens next.“, Nadia tells her.

Y/n doesn't have the courage to tell her that Katsuki isn't like that. Then again, could she say these words with confidence? She starts to realize that she doesn't know Katsuki at all. Maybe he is that kind of person. He seems to allow his men to commit these acts. So he either approves or doesn't care. Either way, it's bad.

„How many others are there? Women they've brought in?“, y/n asks Nadia. Nadia shrugs.

„I barely leave this tent. I'm too afraid and it's too cold out there anyway. The others probably feel the same, so there is no real way of knowing.“, Nadia tells her.

„You can't just rott here!“, y/n exclaims, „We should contact the other women. It's best if we stick together.“

Nadia looks up at her with tired eyes. Her posture is slumped. Y/n thinks that she looks a hundred years old right now even though she's not much older than y/n herself.

„Y/n...“, Nadia starts, „I can't. I'm too afraid and too tired. You don't know what it's like to do this day in and day out. Never knowing in what kind of mood he comes home.“

Nadia looks exhausted. As if she's already given up on everything and anything.

„Nadia, I'm sure we can do something!“, y/n tries to motivate her. 

The pale woman doesn't answer her. She just stares into her tea cup. Everything about her looks dull, y/n thinks.

Suddenly, there's clamoring outside. Voices of men and clashing of metal can be heard. Nadia bolts up.

„You need to go. You can't be here when he comes back!“, Nadia panics and grips y/n's arm. She pulls y/n onto her feet and starts pushing her out of the tent.

„Wait, there's still so much...!“, y/n starts and is interrupted by a sharp hiss by Nadia.

„You need to leave. Now. Or we're both not safe. Don't come looking me for a while. It's too dangerous. I'll find you soon��, Nadia spits out and pushes y/n completely out of the tent.

Y/n stares at the fabric in front of her. The last part sounded like a lie. She's sure Nadia won't try to find her and start something. She's too much in survival mode.

~*~*~*~

It's already dusk when y/n is pushed out of Nadia's tent. Men light torches next to their tents and along the paths around the settlement. Keeping Nadia's words in mind, she tries to avoid the men. Most of them, however, don't pay attention to her or only give her curious looks. No one yells at her or tries to drag her back to Katsuki's tent. It makes her wonder how seriously Nadia's explanations should be taken.

Y/n wanders aimlessly around until the sun has set completely and only the torches illuminate the settlement. Men retreat to their tents and the smell of food lingers in the air. Just then, y/n notices how hungry she is. She only had a small breakfast before the presentation. She was too nervous to get much down. Nevertheless, she doesn't want to return to Katsuki. At least not yet.

Her head is pulsing with information she can't really process. She hoped that visiting Nadia could help her navigate this place somehow, to better understand Katsuki and the others. However, Nadia confused her more than it helped. Her own perception of Katsuki and the tribe is so different than Nadia's. 

Y/n considers trying to find other women. There must be others that speak her language. Nadia said that multiple women from her village were taken. But since most men returned to their homes, y/n doesn't dare to just open a random tent and peek into it. She promises herself to look into it tomorrow.

When her hands and feet grow too cold, y/n decides she must go inside soon. Somehow she's not ready to find Katsuki yet. Sleeping a night separate from him would be best. Close proximity to Katsuki makes her mind and emotions unpredictable. She needs to clear her head and find a focus.

Unfortunately, she doesn't know any place to go. She considers looking for the tall red-haired man but then again it's likely he settled down for the night as well. And there's no way of telling what his tent is. 

So, the only place she does know is the great red's den. Y/n shudders at the thought of having to cross paths with all the other dragons in order to get there. Y/n figures that if they didn't attack her earlier, they probably won't attack her now. She's probably just a fly to them.

The path to the dragons' living space is not as lit as the rest of the settlement. Y/n steals one of the last torches at the outskirts of the settlement. The path is uneven and y/n stumbles over her feet a couple of times. The darkness doesn't bother her. Her people often camped in forests or mountainsides. She's used to hearing strange noises at night or walking in the darkness of the night in order to pee. When she's at the gorge's entrance, she halts for a moment. In contrast to earlier, the place lies in absolute silence. Maybe all the dragons are asleep?, she thinks before taking a deep breath and entering the dragon-occupied territory. 

Luckily, she remembers the path to the great red's den well so she walks at a fast but quiet pace. She keeps her eyes low, focused on the path. It's best not to make any eye contact with a dragon. Especially not one of the scary black ones. Her eyes flicker up when she's close to the den. Y/n lets out a shaky breath in relief. She made it!

Suddenly, a hot stenchy breath hits her shoulders and face. Y/n freezes in her step. Don't look, don't look, she tells herself. Another hot steam hits her face. It's hotter than before and closer. The dragon must be right beside her. How did she not notice a giant lizard crawling up on her. 

Y/n hears the giant creature shuffle closer. Go away, go away, she prays in her mind. A huge, scaley snout shoves her shoulder. The pressure pushes her over and y/n lets out a loud yelp before dropping to the side and letting go of her torch. Instinctively, she tries to shuffle away from the creature that now completely comes into view. It's a green one. Y/n is sure that the beast must have a bilious green shade in broad daylight. A color as poisonous and deathly as the breath y/n is forced to smell. 

The dragon is smaller than the black ones, maybe even than the blue ones. In contrast to those and the great red, it has no horns at the side of its head but a row of sharp spikes from the middle of its head all the way over its spine to its tail that is crowned with two longer, crescent-shaped spikes. Cunning red eyes watch y/n's every move. If y/n wasn't panicking, she probably would've thought that they looked similar to Katsuki's eyes. The pupils of the dragon are formed into fine slits and y/n is sure it is focusing on its prey right now. The prey being her of course. 

The creature snarls at y/n and snaps at her. It's enough to make y/n yell out in fear. However, it's clear that the dragon did not intend to truly catch her in between those sharp teeth of its mouth. It's playing with me, y/n thinks. But not in the cute way that the small ones did earlier. More like a cat playing with a mouse. Making it dance and bleed before snapping it in two. It's cruel and befitting for a dragon, y/n thinks. 

It kind of makes her angry, too. Clearly, this is an intelligent creature. It makes her sick to the stomach thinking about that this is how she's supposed to die. I can't fight it, y/n figures. And I shouldn't provoke it either. My only chance is to make a break for the red one's den. 

Y/n tries not to advert her gaze. If she looks into the direction of the den now, it'd be a dead giveaway. She tries to collect herself, to even her breathing. She closes her eyes for a second and tries to set her intention. When she opens her eyes again, she's met with the burning red ones of the dragon. She gives it a determined stare. I'm not going to back down, I'm not going to die, she recites in her mind over and over again as she slowly stands up keeping her posture bowed and small. She takes one deep breath before starting a sprint in the den's direction.

She can hear the yelping sound of surprise behind her and the massive stomps of the beast following her. Suddenly, electricity lies in the air. For a moment the air seemed to become cooler. Y/N's heart starts racing. She's felt this before. Right before the great red burned that man into ashes. That's it, y/n thinks while quickly sliding down in a sad attempt to dodge the fire.

However, the flames don't reach her because suddenly the great red is standing right in front of her spewing its own fire. Y/n turns back and sees the fire of the green one meet the red one's in a firestorm. Seeing it side by side, y/n thinks that the green dragon's fire has a hint of blue in it in contrast to the red one's fire which is just a glowing red and orange. The green one cannot keep up with the red one's firepower and retreats. The red one throws an eardrum-busting roar after it. Y/n's hands race up to her ears protecting herself from the sound.

Small fires still smolder on the ground when the red dragon resumes its fighting stance. It turns to y/n and she's sure the look the great red gives her is angry. She's so sure about that since Katsuki has the same wild, untamed look in his eyes when he's angry. The red one snarls at her and retreats into its den. Y/n doesn't wait a single second to follow it inside.

„I'm really sorry for just showing up here, you know“, she rambles, „I don't want to go back to Katsuki and I didn't know where else to go. You see the situation is really complicated and...“

Y/n stops her spewing of words mid-sentence. What even is she doing here? Talking to a dragon? Y/n drops her arms to her sides. Suddenly, she feels exhausted and desperate and just... done. This day has been so frustrating. Y/n stares intensely at the ground.

What am I even doing here?, she thinks. Like literally, what am I doing? Following a total stranger who has a terrifying reputation back to his tribe of brutes and warriors? Walking straight into dragon territory? It's like all my logical thinking has gone out of the window since the moment I met Katsuki.

Y/n feels hot tears pour out of her eyes and down her cheeks. 

This is so stupid. I'm so stupid.

Maybe it's wrong to blame Katsuki for this. Maybe her making bad decisions started when the world started to fall apart. When the sickness took first her mother and then her father. When her brother left. Why didn't she follow him? Maybe she couldn't have joined the military but she would've made a fine nurse. Why on earth did she think she was better off alone?

Her tears hit the ground. She tries not to let out any sobs. Somehow showing weakness in front of the dragon is humiliating. Nonetheless, she can't help but cower to the ground. She remembers the first day with Katsuki. When she was all alone in the woods and the weight of everything that had happened started to crush her down. She feels the same right now. Only like ten times worse. At least back then she could've had the chance to return to the kingdom, find her brother, do something.

Right now, she's stuck. Her actions are so very limited. She can't tell these people what she wants or doesn't want. Also, she's sure that Katsuki and that blonde woman couldn't care less about what y/n wants. Katsuki didn't even ask her if she wanted to come along. He just assumed and put her onto the back of his dragon. He also didn't ask or even attempt to explain to her what happened this morning. When suddenly three strange women stripped her down and dressed her up like a playdoll.

Maybe Nadia's right. These people do not care about her or the other women. Maybe they do only care about producing children. Maybe that's what Katsuki wants. Maybe him liking her is just a plus point. A little extra he gets because he's the big scary leader.

Y/n pulls her hair at the roots. She lets out a choked scream. She's angry and desperate and so, so frustrated. 

Suddenly something nudges her foot. It's one of the little red dragons from earlier. It looks up to her with almost puppy-like eyes and it nestles its head against her leg like a kitten. Y/n lets out a raspy breath she didn't notice she was holding. Furiously, she rubs her eyes.

How silly, she thinks, it's not like crying will help it. She pats the little one's head and suddenly another little one appears on her side. Before she can help it, she's getting tackled again. This time, they're softer than before. Competing for head pats rather than trying to sink their baby teeth into her arms and legs. It's like they are sensing y/n's bad mood and trying to cheer her up.

A giggle rises in y/n's throat and she tries to swallow it down. As she tries to give each of them a head pat, the great red moves over to her and nudges her with its snout as well. Y/n knows better than to touch it without permission. She gives it a small smile however and she believes seeing something like content in its eyes.

Eventually, the little red ones grow tired of tackling y/n and set to rest against the great red. The bigger dragon shifts its wing like it did when y/n and Katsuki looked for shelter under them during the rain. Y/n takes it up on the invitation and slides in between the little ones. She leans against the red's tummy. While the little dragons fall asleep around her and even the great red's breathing starts to slow down, y/n stays wide awake in the darkness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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[Please comment beneath the last update if you'd like to be tagged in future chapters]

[jinxvex]

can we get jinx w a very doting gf :3

♱ gf!jinx x doting (affectionate)!reader ♱

yes!! i love this request! 🖤 oneshot vibes fr!

cw: a bit angsty at first, little snippets of act 1/season 2,SFW & NSFW!!!, smutty drabble at the end, jinx pushes you into a wall once, you're very affectionate (obv), kissing, hugging, dirty talk, tribbing, praise, dom-ish!jinx & sub!reader, etc etc

wc: 1.4K

jinx had nothing; no one.

not after the her attack on piltover.

her unhinged, yet powerful act of rebellion ultimately caused a war between the city of progress and the dangerous underground city of zaun.

and had forced her into hiding…

i mean, what was worse? being caught by the stuck-up, zaunite-hating, piltie goons who murdered her mother and father or being alone?

she often contemplated that question.

she contemplated her future.

was any of it worth it now that her sister wanted nothing to do with her? now that she’s laid her adoptive father to rest in the contaminated murky river? now that she has a bounty on her head?

she wasn’t sure.

she wasn’t sure if anyone even gave a damn about her or whether she lived or died.

“it’s all just… pointless!” she replayed on a loop in her head, the place that has always been too loud and too daunting for her comfort.

jinx was alone.

well, until she met you.

as jinx sneakily roamed the dark and dingy alleyways of zaun in her not-so-discreet disguise, she was met with (almost) complete and utter silence. which casts an eerie feeling of unfamiliarity within her bones.

the lively (although still dangerous) streets of zaun were usually bustling with people. drunks, shimmer addicts, salesmen, crooks, and goons alike typically overcrowd every inch of the sunken city, which used to allow her to go wherever she pleased without anyone noticing her.

since the enforcers started raiding the city and imprisoning the people of zaun, a petty punishment for her own wrongdoings, many zaunites didn’t feel safe. they opted to stay inside, shut themselves out, and draw the blinds closed to prevent them from being taken too.

as jinx continues to walk towards her destination, “home”, a wave of loneliness washes over her, a feeling she so desperately had attempted to rid herself of for years.

she isn’t inclined to speak, though. not out loud to empty space or to the voices. maybe she’d save that for home.

as her head is angled downwards, looking at her dragging feet, she turns another corner in order to make her way back to her humble abode.

and all of a sudden, she bumps into a hard, human-shaped object? as she backs up menacingly after plummeting into something, she slowly brings her head up and is met with the sight of… you.

“a girl?” she exclaims in her head.

“a pretty one.”

“does she live near here?”

“wait! does she know who i am?”

“is she here to kill me? take me away?”

“no. no! i can’t let her.”

“not now…”

“damn it!”

her thoughts overflow with endless possibilities and scenarios that cause her to grip your shoulders and harshly back you up into the hard surface of a cement building without warning.

you gasp loudly, but as you bring your hands up to fight back and protect yourself from whatever is about to come, your moments are suddenly still.

as you look into her pinkish, vibrant eyes, you’re met with fear. you’re met with anger, loneliness, and suffering, which prompt you to freeze. her face is littered with fresh cuts, scrapes, and scars. your heart squeezes in empathy as you look into each other's eyes—jinx not even having the energy to reach for her gun out of concern for herself.

“you’re hurt.” you mutter softly. your caring nature immediately wanting to help her. jinx. and yes, you know of her. that doesn’t matter to you now.

her eyes still gaze into yours, even as she removes her hands from your shoulders.

“yeah, tell me ‘bout it, sweetness.” she laughs almost mockingly, not towards you, but at herself.

“want me to clean that up?” you point your chin up at the wounds on her face.

she blinks at you incredulously before allowing a smirk to grace her features for the first time in what seems like forever.

“damn! take a girl out to dinner first, babe.”

you smile.

… ( mini time skip!! a couple months)

jinx wasn't used to physical and emotional affection. love. let alone romantic gestures. silco looked after her but struggled to give the affection a parent would once he took her in all those years ago.

at first, she was incredibly taken aback by your willingness to help her even though you knew who she was. you knew who she was and still allowed her to lead you back to her workshop to patch her up. after that day, spent cleaning her wounds, you never left.

she was enamored by you.

by your ability to love.

you were moderately affectionate in the beginning, but as the weeks passed, your excessive praise and doting intensified. at first, it was lingering touches on her face after you insisted on "checking" her facial bandages. then it was moving her hair out of her face and caressing the sides of her head when she's in an episode.

once you started coming up behind her as she was working on her gadgets to link your arms around her waist and lay your head on her shoulder, she was hooked on you.

she did initially flinch and curl out of your touch, but as she took in your scent and realized it was you, she relaxed. she accepted you.

...

"just me!" you exclaim happily as you nudge your face into her neck, and she softly gasps when you give her small, gentle pecks.

"hmmph! you're too sweet to me, buttercup! scares me sometimes..." she fluctuates the tone of her voice from happy to unsure and back to happy again.

one thing she is sure of, though, is her love for you.

as you peer up at her from the side of her neck, you tighten your arms around her, "you deserve it. all the hugs, kisses and love!"

you both never felt a need to verbally establish a label on your relationship.

the night you took each other's first kiss, there was a mutual understanding. you were hers, and she was yours.

when she's with you, the voices quiet, and the visions aren't as prevalent anymore. she feels safe. not just because she's in hiding, still successfully dodging piltover, but because you're there.

although that is the case, you still make her crazy for you.

your unconditional affection ignites a fire inside her that loving you could only put out.

...(nsfw incoming!!)

"s-shit, babe! fuck!" her voice echoes throughout the seemingly endless depths of her workshop as she circles her hips and drags her wet cunt against yours.

your moans and little "oh my g-god!'s" adding to the music that is your pussies grinding together to make filthy sloshing noises.

"fuckin' pussy is so so good, bunny! pl-eease!" she begs you, although she's the one above you, her hand pushing one of your legs up to rest on her shoulder and her other hand pressing your leg down onto the couch. her ass is perched on your upper thigh to allow her to buck her hips up into your cunt as close as she possibly can.

"yes! yes! more, baby! you feel so good!" you babble as you lay back, looking up at her through your eyelashes. she's sitting right side up as she continues to hump your cunt with her eyes glued shut in concentration.

she can feel every pulse, every throb of your heat as she chases her high, and it affects her deeply.

"you're perfect, y-you know that?" you question. "fucking perfect. i love you so much!" she almost stills. that "perfect" word causes her heart to beat out her chest. she slows down slightly as she opens her eyes and looks down at you, looking back at her lovingly.

now inspired by your praise, she then speeds up, even faster and rougher than before.

"yeah? yeah? 'm perfect, baby? you loveee me?" she asks you mockingly as she stares into your eyes.

"yes! you feel so good. so perfect! fuckin' love you! need ta' cum! you scream out.

"mhm! thought so. then show me how good you're feelin' and cum all over me." she demands of you. "make a mess on this pussy, toots."

she lets out a "give me that shit, baby" and a "need my sweet girl to cum, so fuckin' nice to this pussy" to urge you on.

"fu-uck! right there! i'm cumming!"

"shit, me too!"

...

as you both come down from your high, she eventually lets your leg down and sits you upright to hug you tightly.

she feels so appreciated, so loved in the moment that she cups your jaw with her shaky hands and kisses you hard.

"i love you, hon. you're so..."

"i love you too, pow."

...

and y'all live happily ever after, and the events of act 3 NEVERRR happen!!! 😜🥳‼️

[teddiesworldd]

could you do a pt2 of the zombie outbreak with ghost, maybe the zombie outbreak ends and they get used to being a normal couple? idk

after the world ends (p2)

this is part two of my ghost apocalypse au, you can read part one here!

a/n: thank you so much for all the love on part 1 and for this request which inspired part 2! i hope it's what you imagined <3 (1k words)

pairing: simon ghost riley x reader

tags/warnings: apocalypse au, fluffy, some descriptions similar to ptsd, starting a family, the ending they deserved ;')

day 154 of the apocalypse, 5 months after the first outbreak, 2 months after the second.

time creeped on slowly as the days melted into weeks, and then months. you’d become quite accustomed to life behind the fence, picking up various skills to make yourself useful in camp. the others had taught you everything you needed to know. you could now fish, hunt, cook - survival was something that came so naturally now, it was like your life before never happened. like it had always been this way. on your trips out of camp with soap, you had noticed shoots of grass and leaves sprouted up through the concrete over time and covered your city in an overwhelming green haze. 

other than the odd trip outside the safety of the fence, your days were calm and laid back. you often spent them laying out by the river with simon, watching the water flow past in the warm spring air. more recently though, you’d looked after the german shepherd you had found with soap in the city, which you had lovingly named riley after your love. there was always plenty to do - things needed fixing up, whether that be the equipment or each other. 

in the evenings, you no longer watched soap and ghost talking from your tent - you sat alongside them at the campfire, simon’s large hand holding yours. you shared stories of your lives before the outbreak, dreaming of what you’d do when the world turned the right way around again - if that would ever happen. and when your conversations died down, simon led you to his bed and you spent the night with your head on his chest, listening to his faint heartbeat to drown out the sounds of the infected who got too close to the fence.

it wasn’t all smooth sailing; some of the others in camp had fallen sick and the nearest pharmacy was completely stripped by other groups, leaving nothing to treat your own wounded campmates. illness spread like wildfire here and all you could do was nurse their wounds and cook hot meals to lift their spirits and provide warmth. a few lost their lives to disease or to the zombies, but most fought on, struggling through the days.

you’ll never forget the moment when you heard about the cure. 

head resting on simon’s shoulder, swaying gently to the faint crackle of the radio. his hands gently gripping to your waist, holding you close like he never wanted to let you go. it was a routine that you both had for a few weeks now, after your first night together in the tent. rocking gently to the music as the sun glowed shades of pink and orange in the late evening. "my girl, i'll marry you when this is over." he'd tell you every time you held each other like this. simon had never felt so enamoured with someone in his whole life. he couldn't wait for the day you shared his last name. it was what kept him going through all this - the thought of living a normal life with you on the other side. soap sat nearby, cleaning up whatever he’d found during the day, cheesing over the action figures he found in the house he raided, watching as you and simon fell utterly in love with each other.

the music cut off and the announcer said that a cure had been developed to treat the infected. and suddenly you remembered everything that you had left behind 5 months ago.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

four years later, you sat out on the porch of your home with a cold drink, watching simon play with your daughter in the backyard. he proposed to you as soon as you heard the radio broadcast and you married shortly after normality returned, falling pregnant and buying a house together. it never really got any easier - cuts turned into scars and memories of your days in camp turned sour, plaguing your dreams. often you’d wake up in a cold sweat, fear running through you like you were still there. but simon never failed to bring you back to earth again, stroking your hair and shushing you to sleep again. soap visited often, riley always jumping up at him madly as he stumbled through the front door. your daughter had grown accustomed to calling him “uncle johnny”, which he loved and it made him well up the first time he heard her say it.

nothing would really be the same again - you had lost most of your friends and family, and the world never quite got back to the way it was before.

but in a way, that was okay. because so much good came from it. 

“mommy, look!” you daughter giggled madly from the bottom of the garden. you snapped out of your thoughts, eyes landing on your 4-year-old daughter who was halfway up the tree at the bottom of the lawn.

“i- i did try to tell ‘er not to,” simon sighed, walking up to you and wrapping an arm around your shoulders, “but you know what she’s like... little adventurer.”

you couldn’t help but laugh. it definitely wasn’t the first time she’d gone up there - she climbed up it like she’d done it a thousand times before.

“reminds me of someone i know.” simon said, looking down at you in your chair, nothing but love in his eyes. he kissed you sweetly, reminding you of the first time your lips touched that night in your tent. 

“i’ll start making dinner, yeah?” he finished, hand gently squeezing your arm before heading into the kitchen. you really did get so lucky the day you crossed paths in the woodland.

“can someone help me down?!” your daughter shouted, riley barking up at her playfully as she clinged tightly to the branches.

“yeah, honey, i’m coming” you replied, placing down your drink and heading down the garden.

˚✧. thank you for reading!

˚✧.please reblog to support me <3

˚✧. dividers by @ saradika-graphics and @ si-eunnis

✎ masterlist

💌 send a request

[redxixi]

~`all ours~` part 1

Part 2

~` pairing: viking!141 x fem!reader

~` summary: you were a simple girl living with your family in a small villiage when the price clan came and raided your villiage so now your their prisoner.

a/n: aight so im back and ready sorry for being gone for so long. so this fic is heavily inspired by @groguspicklejar fic SO GO READ CUZ LORD. Her fics are AMAZING. while i was gone i developed a heavy crush on price from cod and i wanted to write something like this for a while so here we are.

~` warnings: being chased, violence, dark shi. !CAUTION! these fics will contain dark stuff in them so if it is not for you do not read it pls. If you do read it and get offended by it it is not my problem cuz it says dark shi so yeah.

like any other morning you went to the nearby river for some water and berries. everything was peaceful, the winds were blowing a soft breeze, the birds were singing and the clouds looked like pillows you could sleep on when suddenly you heard loud yelling from your home. you ran back to see what had happend only to be met with the sight of fire. everything was burning and everyone was yelling. you rushed to your hut only to find it destroyed and then you saw them.

they were like animals slaughtering and destroying everything in sight. you ran as fast as you could and hid in the woods behind a gigantic tree. you waited, listenend and tried to proccess what just happend. the people who treated you like family and gave you food were killed brutally, the children who were just playing a couple hours ago now dead too. but you only saw 4 men. could 4 men really kill a whole villiage?

you waited for a while until you couldnt hear any screams anymore and carefully came out of your hiding spot. you slowly aproached the villiage and saw the 4 men and with them where a few surviors tied up. the 4 men where talking amongst themselves so you decided to sneak past them. you carefully and quietly snuck past one of em and heard one of em talking.

"there was no point coming here. the only thing these people had were crops and some silver other than that they had basically nothing"

the one that said this was a dark skinned man with an axe resting on his back and the masked one awnsered.

"exactly they had crops and we don't kyle. if we want to survive this winter we needed more food."

you carefully listened in on theire confersation while sneakily trying to flee when just then you stepped on a branch making a loud crack sound. the 2 men who were talking turned theire heads to your derection.

"what was that"

slowly you could heard them aproaching the bush you hid behind. you were shaking from fear and you could hear your heart beating in your chest. without thinking you ran.

"fuck GET HER"

you heard one of em say. filled with adreneline you ran as fast as you could. you ran past the tied up survivors and just when you thought you could make it out of there one of the men suddenly appeared in front of you making you collide against his chest causing you to fall on your butt.

"well well well what do we have here."

you looked up at him. he had short black hair with a mutton chop beard and was build like a greek god with countless tattoos on his chest.

"did you really think you could run from us las?"

you started to crawl backwards with fear while he slowly aproached you. you could feel the tears coming out of your eyes so with your last strenght you stood up and ran the opposite derection only to see the other men in your way. both of your ways to escape were blocked by these monsters. you felt you heart beating almost out of your chest and tears were streaming down your face.

"p-please don't i-i just wanna go please"

you pleaded to them sobbing.

"aww sweetie its okay we wont hurt c'ha"

the one with a dark brown mowhawk said sarcastically while grinning. before you could do anything you were grabbed from the back by the masked man. you tried to squirm out of his grasp but his hold on you was rock solid.

"shhh its okay we aren't bad people....well we are but we will take good care of you okay"

the man with a mohawk then put a cloth with some sort of substance on your nose. you tried to resisit by shaking your head but he pulled your hair back and shoved the cloth onto your nose. slowly you could feel yourself slipping away and everything slowly became blury.

"shhh sleep now we have plans for ya bonnie"

So this will be part 1 in a multiple part series so feel free to send suggestions and ideas cuz i need em.

[mmso-notlikethat]

gonna send you three and can pick or do all three 👀😊

bucktommy + pompt

1. “I’m not the right person for you.” “You’re doing a bad job of convincing me of that.”

2. “Don’t look at me like that.” “How am I looking at you?” “Like you love me.”

3. “If I had asked, would you have stayed?” “You didn’t ask. So we’ll never know.”

Hi Lorri 😶‍🌫️ hehe sorry for being late but yay i wrote something finally, hope you like it 🙈 1 & 3 (mostly 3) - also i added the 2nd part specifically because i didn't want to leave it without the comfort 😗

The bar was alive with chatter and laughter, a typical Friday night. Buck sat with the 118 at one end of the long table, his smile forced as he pretended to focus on the conversation. But his eyes kept drifting—toward the other end of the bar, where Tommy sat with his own team.

Tommy looked good. Too good. His laughter carried easily over the chatter, his sharp jawline catching the low light as he leaned back in his chair. But Buck could see the cracks—the way Tommy’s fingers tightened around his beer when their eyes met briefly, the forced casualness in how he avoided Buck entirely.

Next to Buck, Lucas—his date—laughed at something Eddie said, leaning in slightly. Buck gave a polite smile but barely heard the joke. His focus was locked on Tommy, watching as he ordered a round for his team, catching the waiter afterward and motioning discreetly for water to be brought to Buck’s table.

Tommy was always good at that—caring quietly, invisibly, like he didn’t want anyone to notice. But Buck noticed. He always noticed.

As the night went on, the two groups merged, and the conversation flowed easily. Tommy laughed and joked with Chimney and Hen, even throwing in a few teasing remarks at Eddie. But he didn’t look at Buck—didn’t even glance his way.

Buck, meanwhile, tried to keep his attention on Lucas. He laughed politely at Lucas’s anecdotes, nodding along as his date animatedly recounted a story about a disastrous camping trip. Lucas leaned in closer as he talked, his hand brushing against Buck’s arm in a way that Buck assumed was meant to be reassuring or flirtatious.

“You’d have loved it,” Lucas said, grinning. “I’m talking tents flying into rivers, raccoons raiding our food stash, the works. Honestly, I don’t know how I made it out of there with my sanity intact.”

Buck chuckled, though it felt hollow even to him. “Sounds like a wild trip.”

“Oh, it was,” Lucas replied, his eyes lighting up. “Next time I go, I’m making sure the tent pegs actually stay in the ground. Maybe you can come along—show me how it’s done.”

Buck hesitated, the suggestion catching him off guard. “Uh, yeah. Maybe.”

Lucas’s hand lingered on Buck’s forearm, his thumb brushing against his sleeve. Buck shifted slightly, glancing toward Tommy out of habit, only to catch the faintest flicker of a reaction. Tommy’s laugh faltered mid-conversation, his head turning just enough to glance at them. His jaw tightened for a brief moment before he quickly redirected his focus back to Eddie, throwing out a teasing remark about his car troubles.

Lucas didn’t seem to notice the reluctance in Buck’s voice and pressed on. He leaned in even closer, his knee brushing Buck’s under the table. “So, tell me, do you guys get a lot of downtime between calls? Or is it, like, constant chaos?”

“Depends on the day,” Buck said, his tone distracted as his eyes drifted again—back to Tommy, who was laughing at something Chimney had said. The sound was too loud, too carefree to be real, and the sight of it made Buck’s chest tighten.

“Buck?” Lucas’s voice pulled him back, and Buck blinked, realizing Lucas was watching him expectantly.

“Sorry,” Buck said quickly. “What was that?”

Lucas smiled, though there was a flicker of something—disappointment?—in his expression. “I was just asking if you’ve ever had a close call at work. Like, something that really scared you.”

“Oh,” Buck said, his mind scrambling to focus. “Uh, yeah. A few times, I guess.”

Lucas tilted his head, curiosity piqued. “Want to share? Or is it all firefighter code or something?”

Before Buck could answer, Tommy’s voice cut through the conversation, drawing the group’s attention back to him as he and Lucy recounted a story about a particularly challenging rescue. Buck’s eyes darted to him again, catching the way Tommy gestured animatedly, his laugh carrying across the table. But still—he didn’t look at Buck. Not once.

“Buck?” Lucas prompted, his voice softer now, his smile still warm but a little strained.

Buck forced himself to turn back to Lucas, offering a weak smile in return. “Sorry. Long day.”

“Right,” Lucas said, his smile faltering for the first time. “Of course.”

Despite Lucas’s effort to maintain the connection, Buck’s focus kept slipping—always back to Tommy. Always noticing the way Tommy avoided looking at him, no matter how hard Buck wished he would.

It wasn’t until Tommy stood, grabbing his jacket, that Buck moved. He waited just a beat before excusing himself from the table, ignoring Lucas’s questioning look as he followed Tommy outside into the cool night air.

“Tommy,” Buck called, his voice cutting through the quiet.

Tommy stopped but didn’t turn around immediately. He stood there for a moment, his shoulders tense, before slowly facing Buck. “You should go back inside,” Tommy said, his voice even. “Your date’s waiting.”

Buck shook his head, stepping closer. “I don’t care about that right now.”

Tommy raised an eyebrow, his expression sharpening. “That’s not fair to him.”

Buck’s jaw tightened. “Well, you shouldn’t talk about fair.”

Tommy flinched slightly, his mask cracking just enough for Buck to see the guilt beneath it. His fingers twitched at his sides, flexing like he was fighting the urge to run a hand through his hair or shove them deeper into his jacket pockets. Instead, he leaned back against the brick wall, his shoulders stiff. “What do you want, Buck?” he asked, his voice calm, way too calm.

“I want to talk”

“We’re talking”

“No we’re not! You’re avoiding me,” Buck shot back, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “You’ve been avoiding me all night.”

Tommy’s lips twitched into a faint, humorless smile. “You’re imagining things.”

“No, I’m not,” Buck said firmly. “You’ve been dodging me for months, Tommy. And now, here you are, acting like you’re fine when you’re clearly not.”

Tommy’s expression hardened slightly. “What do you want me to say, Buck? That seeing you with someone else hurts? That I want to punch the guy every time he leans too close to you? Fine. It hurts. But that doesn’t change anything.”

“Why not?” Buck demanded. “Why does it have to be like this?”

Tommy hesitated, his jaw tightening as his gaze dropped to the ground. “Because I’m not the right person for you... he might be”

“Oh you’re doing a terrible job of convincing me of that,” Buck said, stepping closer. “You care, Tommy. You don’t want to admit it, but you do.”

Tommy’s head snapped up, his eyes flashing with something raw. “That doesn’t mean anything, Buck.”

“Doesn’t it?” Buck countered. “You remembered I forget to drink water when I’m out, you always forced me to do so. You told the waiter without anyone noticing. And don’t even try to deny it because I know you, Tommy. You’re still looking out for me.”

Tommy let out a shaky breath, his hands finally leaving his pockets to rub at his face. “Looking out for you doesn’t mean I’m good for you.”

“That’s bullshit,” Buck said sharply. “also you don’t get to decide what’s good for me.”

Tommy shook his head, his voice cracking. “You don’t get it. I’m trying to protect you. From me. From everything I can’t be.”

“I don’t need protection, Tommy,” Buck said, stepping closer. “I needed you.”

Tommy’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, it looked like he might break. His hands trembled slightly before he clenched them into fists, his jaw tightening as he forced the emotion away.

“If I had asked, would you have stayed that night?” Buck asked suddenly, his voice trembling.

Tommy froze, his shoulders sagging slightly. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost resigned. “You didn’t ask. So we’ll never know Evan.”

The words hung between them, heavy and unyielding. Buck opened his mouth to respond, but the door behind him swung open, and Lucas’s voice called out, “Buck? Everything okay?”

Tommy immediately straightened, the rawness in his expression vanishing behind a carefully neutral mask. “See you around, Buck.”

“Tommy—wait—” Buck started, but Tommy was already walking away, his steps hurried as he disappeared into the shadows.

Buck stood there, his heart pounding as Lucas approached, concern etched on his face. But Buck barely registered him, his mind spinning with all the things he should have said but didn’t.

All Buck could hear was Tommy’s voice, quiet and distant in his mind: “You didn’t ask. So we’ll never know.”

Because this time, he hadn’t asked either.

***

It was early evening when Tommy heard the sharp knock at his door. The sound was insistent, relentless, as if whoever stood on the other side wouldn’t leave until the door opened. Tommy sighed, setting down his coffee mug and heading to the door. When he opened it, the sight that greeted him made his chest tighten.

“Ev—Buck! What are you doing here?” Tommy’s voice betrayed his surprise, though he tried to keep it steady.

“We need to talk.”

Tommy exhaled, his hand tightening slightly on the doorframe. “I have a shift, Buck.”

Buck’s jaw clenched as he stared at Tommy, then, without waiting for an invitation, he pushed past him into the house. Tommy stumbled back slightly, too stunned to stop him.

“Be late, or don’t go. I don’t care. We’re talking,” Buck said, his voice sharp, almost daring Tommy to argue.

Tommy closed the door, rubbing a hand over his face. “Really, Buc—”

“I swear to God, Tommy,” Buck interrupted, his glare cutting through the air between them. “If you call me Buck one more time, I’m burning this whole house down.”

For a moment, the room was silent except for Buck’s heavy breathing. Then Tommy let out a soft, almost reluctant chuckle. “Okay, Evan,” he said, his tone lighter now, though his eyes still held a trace of weariness.

Buck crossed his arms, his stance unyielding. “Good. Now sit.”

Tommy raised an eyebrow but complied, sitting down on the edge of his worn couch. He leaned forward, as he looked up at Buck. “What’s so important that you had to barge in here and threaten arson?”

“You,” Buck said simply, his voice steady, though his hands fidgeted slightly at his sides. “Us.” Then he quickly added, as if to not give tommy any excuses “Also, Lucas isn’t good for me. He… talks too much.”

Tommy blinked, then let out a startled laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, I kind of figured that.”

Tommy exhaled, his shoulders sagging “Evan…”

“No,” Buck said firmly, cutting him off. “You don’t get to brush this off. Not this time.”

For a moment, Buck thought he might walk away, but then Tommy raised his eyes, his expression torn.

Buck took a step closer, his voice barely above a whisper now. “I’m asking you, Tommy… will you let me stay?”

Tommy froze, his lips parting slightly as the words hit him. His eyes flickered with something unguarded—recognition, maybe, or regret—and for a moment, Buck thought he might shut down again. But then Tommy’s shoulders relaxed, and the faintest trace of a smile pulled at his lips.

“Okay,” Tommy said softly. He glanced down briefly, exhaling as though the weight he carried had shifted, then looked back at Buck with something that might have been hope. “Please... stay, Evan.”

[genericpuff]

What happened to Thetis? I’m struggling to remember.

She was married off by Zeus to Peleus. We never see him, but we do see Achilles in S3, who is a toddler for some reason, despite the fact that Odysseus was seen in like Ep 2 when Poseidon yelled at him (so presumably the Trojan War has already happened and Odysseus is... dead ig??? idk he got invited to the Panathenea at the start of the comic and he's definitely killed Polyphemus before the events in LO even began soooo 🤷‍♀️)

Anyways, Minthe's ditched her for good, Thetis dunks Achilles in the River Styx (and he literally doesn't play any other role in the story besides that one gag), then Thetis' final role in the story is manipulating Leuce into attempting to seduce Hades in the hopes it'll get Leuce turned into a plant by Persephone. That doesn't work, Persephone instead raids Leuce's apartment with barn animals, and the last we see of both Thetis and Leuce in the ENTIRE SERIES is when Leuce tells Thetis that the texts between her and Hades were all fake and Leuce was just trying to "manifest" a relationship with him.

sigh yeah. That's it, that's all there is. I wish I was joking.

[lizzieisright]

Moon peppers (1)

were!Abby x witch!reader

Summary: Abby runs away from her (former) pack and into your forest. You're not happy with your new (woods?)mate.

Tags: fantasy au, sloppy worldbuilding (fuck it we ball), fem!reader, alpha!abby, witch!reader (so not an omega), sentient forest, stubborn idiots in love who annoy each other.

A/N: This is basically God of War 2 x Witcher fics (i didn't watch it) x Tolkien x some of my original worldbuilding for my own stories x kinda omeraverse. I have no idea where this is going, but I'm having fun.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Abby runs. Her speed is fueled by adrenaline and fear. She is hurt and her fur is so red from blood that it's impossible to see her sandy coat at all. Abby is not sure she will survive even if she somehow escapes Isaac and his dogs: she is getting dizzy and tired. 

The Moon shines on her and Abby tries to see any path she can follow and shake Isaac off, but Abby knows the smell of her blood is so prominent nothing will hide her. 

If Abby was in human form she'd have probably given up by now, but she is a wolf now and her instincts push her forward, push her into survival, no matter what it will take. So Abby keeps running through the fields, hearing Isaac’s wolves from every direction as if they're circling her. Abby speeds up, not feeling her wounds, and follows the Moon. 

The Moon shines on the dark tall forest: it looks intimidating. Any other time Abby would avoid this forest because she is not insane, she can feel this forest is not just woods. This forest is alive and will swallow her if she goes inside, but between her former pack trying to tear her apart and slowly getting killed by the forest, Abby chooses the forest. 

She can't be sure it will kill her anyway: nature is odd and has a mind of its own. But her packmates will kill her, there's no doubt.

And all for what? For her standing up for her friends who refused to kill innocent people so their pack would have more resources? Isaac really didn't like hearing his killings and raids are nothing more than cruelty and despotism than any kind of holy war on humans who hate werewolves and want them dead. 

(Humans rarely care as long as you stay human around them and don't go on a rampage.)

So Isaac wanted to make an example out of them. Abby held off while others escaped - she is the strongest in the pack and can take a few wolves at once in the fight - but then she had to escape as well. 

And now she is getting closer to the edge of the woods and her heart is trembling from anxiety. She has no idea what will happen when she crosses the line, but if her pack follows her, the forest won't be kind to them either. 

So Abby takes a deep breath and runs into the forest. 

Inside the forest Abby hears nothing. Well, she hears rustling and can feel the wind, but there is no sign of the outside world. Her ears can't pick up on the footsteps of her pack that were deafening when she ran. No smell of them either, no heartbeats, nothing. As if they just disappeared. It's uncanny and Abby is scared, but nothing comes at her. 

Abby cautiously goes on a trail in front of her - she is not questioning this, this forest is weird - and her tiredness catches up with her. Her paws are barely moving but she pushes herself forward anyway, trusting this place to guide her since it didn't go hostile immediately. Abby looks back just to be sure and yes, the trail is still there, the forest isn't tricking her. 

Her heart is still beating crazy, but she feels safe from the chase and doesn't try to run anymore. The trail leads her to the river which shines strangely - or that what Abby thinks until she sees this is just the Moon reflecting in the water. Abby lies on the shore and laps at the water until her thirst goes away - she doesn't turn into a human, too weak and too scared: the wolf is stronger and heals faster. She feels so tired, she lost so much blood it scares her, she feels like she is very close to death now, but somehow Abby finds some strength to quickly bathe in the river and clean her injuries. 

She is also hungry, but she just can't. Abby sniffs around and catches some damp smell that feels like the inside of the cave and she follows it. There's indeed a den, probably used by a bear before, but the scent of it is so weak it's not coming back. So Abby curls around herself and falls asleep, trying not to think about not waking up ever again. 

The woodpecker starts knocking on the trees and you try to ignore it, but then the sun shines through your window and this is it, no sleep for you. You huff half-heartedly, but you don't mind forest's games. Sometimes they're grumpy and you wake up in a damp hot fog that clots your lungs, so the annoying woodpecker is not bad at all. 

The morning is beautiful: it's quiet, sunny and warm, even though the summer is ending. Probably this is why the woods are in a sweet mood - they're already mourning, which means they're celebrating the beginning of something new. 

This is the last day of the full moon and you plan on collecting some of the flowers that bloom only under the moonlight. It's not your favourite activity, since it's so dark and this forest is living its own life - they don't really care if there is a witch or not and if this witch is alive or not, you're just a passing in their lifetime. 

Useful passing though - you know the woods like you because you keep them clean and healthy when they can't; you keep the passing people from hurting them and the villagers from exploiting them. 

You've lived in the village for a few years before moving here - the call of the forest was too strong, and the times when you'd come to harvest some of the ingredients they wouldn't let you out. At first you thought they were mad at you - but then they saved your ass multiple times from animals (or, in one particular case, a werebear who really wanted to rip your throat out). So you went there for a few nights one time and lied in the bog, trying to connect with them - and they did, and told you they want you to be here. So you stayed, knowing better than arguing with a sentient forest.

The villagers were not super happy about losing their witch to the forest, but you visit them almost every other day, healing people and getting food in return, or clothes or anything which is available to your patients. They rarely come to you - they're wary of the woods, since some people got lost there and some only returned after a week, almost driven mad. The forest is not some kind of god or deity, their mood changes with wind, and by the end of the day, they really don’t care who gets hurt, unless they’re in the mood to save you. Or if they’re in the mood to kill you, then there’s no escape.

You get ready for the day, putting your salves and tinctures in your basket to head out to the village - there's always someone who is hurt and who needs some kind of help. Plus, sometimes it's nice to just be around people - and around your people, since this village is not entirely human. There's a dwarf and an elf who live close by - you have no idea why they're here, especially since the elf comes from an important old family, she is not just a peasant. But you don't ask questions, and they don't ask you questions about your past. 

You leave the forest at noon and walk to the village, enjoying the weather and the sun that warms you. Children see you and run towards you, putting their curious noses into your basket, so you spare some flower milk for them, since this is what they're looking for. They ramble about anyone who needs help and lead you to the houses. It's not a busy day, but you get stuck with an old lady whose back is hurting her. 

“Wow.” You sigh when you feel the knots in her muscles. “What were you doing yesterday? Carrying rocks?”

“My grandson came to play. We ran around a bit, he jumped everywhere, such a naughty darling!” Mari laughs. “I felt like I was a young lass again.”

You chuckle at this and press at her muscles, releasing tension. Mari squeals and twitches in pain, but she is a tough lady, so you keep massaging her with a bit of magic to make her feel better. 

You like lazy days - lazy days mean everyone is okay and you won't have to stand at another funeral: your magic is not some kind of miraculous cure, not for humans, anyway. It doesn't connect with them the way it connects with non-humans, so your help is still limited. 

You go around, giving people some tinctures for the upcoming cold season - children are especially vulnerable during autumn, so you want to prevent their illnesses as best as you can. 

The sun is slowly starting to set when you make it to Vi and Caitlyn’s house: it's on the edge of the village and it's odd. You don't know why, but looking at the clash of elven grace and dwarven coarseness makes you feel funny. It doesn't belong together, but then it does, and you always giggle when you visit them. 

They're an odd pair as well: Caitlyn opens the door, elegant and tall, and hugs you.

“Oh, darling, I hope your day was easy on your heart.” Caitlyn speaks as if she only knows poetry, while...

“Well she doesn't look like shit today.” The short, buff Vi comes into your view and you laugh. 

They don't belong together, but they do, and you can't help the flutter of your heart when you see Caitlyn caress Vi’s head gently, tracing her tattoos with her pretty fingers while Vi flexes her big biceps.  

Caitlyn makes tea for you while Vi takes her special tincture (read: magic booze) from your basket. 

“Best one yet, witch.” Vi smirks and sits next to you and Caitlyn. “Make me a few of them and I'll make you something nice.”

“Deal.” You do need a new dagger, and Vi is an amazing smith. 

It's been a while since you visited them, so you spend the whole evening in their house, catching up, listening to Caitlyn's complaints - which they never sound like, because she is the most graceful person you know - and sharing your own struggles. Vi for the most part works in her workshop, but now and then she'd come and give you her thoughts as well. 

You leave their house when the Moon is full and bright in the sky, and you make your way back to the forest. 

They don't greet you this time, but you don't mind - the mood of the woods is not your business. You cast a spell that will lead you to the moon peppers and follow it carefully: you can see pretty well in the dark, but you don't want to fall with a full basket of elven treats and dwarven booze, and your new tunic from Mari. 

Moon peppers - and they're not, in fact, peppers, they're flowers that look like peppers - are on the other end of the forest, and it takes you some time to finally get there, but you can't help your pleased gasp when you see them. The flowers shine in the moonlight, fully fluorescent - they're beautiful. You look up to the Moon and nod to her for her wonderful work.

You crunch in front of the bush and take your knife out, cutting the beautiful blooms - not only do they look nice, but moon peppers save the moon magic in them forever, and you can use them in truly powerful potions that can help with serious illnesses. 

You cut almost all of the blooms when you hear rustling behind the bush, and you look curiously: usually it would be a hedgehog going on his way. 

Then the bush gets separated in half and you freeze in terror. 

You blink at the wolf. 

The wolf blinks back. 

You scramble to your feet, take your basket and start moving away slowly, not sure of the wolf's intentions. The eyes of the wolf are golden - it's a were - and it snarls at you, baring the sharp teeth. 

Oh fuck no, you think as you swallow. Not fucking again.

The wolf growls and you don't need another cue, you run for your life - you don't know how lucid this werewolf is and you don't want to wait to find out; you have scars from the last encounter with a were and you're not eager to repeat it. 

The wolf chases you, low growling is loud in your ears, but you know these woods and you pray they won't play you now as you run to your hut. Your lungs are on fire, but you only need to make it to the protective circle that the wolf won't be able to cross. The basket is clinking and you somehow make a spell to save the contents when you hear the wolf getting closer.

“Fuck off!” You yell, annoyed and terrified. “Leave me alone, wolf!”

The wolf just growls again and you hear it right behind you, so you send a pulse of magic to trip the wolf. It hurts, why the fuck does it hurt? You don't know and don't care right now, just running as fast as you can. You won't be able to take a werewolf in a fight - haven't been able for quite some time now - but you can slow it down. You hop over the branches like a trained horse, looking ahead and making shortcuts whenever you can, because your home is a long way from the moon peppers and your stamina is nothing compared to the stamina of a werewolf. The wolf however struggles to catch up, and you’re grateful - is it forest helping you or the wolf being stupid doesn’t matter.

You see the hut and speed up, crossing the line of your circle and immediately falling down on the ground, coughing out your own lungs. It takes a few seconds for the wolf to get to you, and it pounces - and even if you know it won't cross the circle, it's terrifying. You close your face instinctively and shriek in fear, but of course, nothing happens: the wolf smacks into the invisible wall and falls down. You use this moment to get up and run to your house, closing the door and casting a few spells just to be sure there's no weak spot in your shields. You walk to the window on your shaking legs, all covered in mud, and you look out. The wolf is circling your shields, growling and scraping the walls with its gigantic paws. It sees you and gets more aggressive, so you move away from the window and sit on the floor. 

You're still panting, and even your shields don't make you feel better - last time the werebear broke them and maimed you until the forest actually intervened and dragged the bear away from you. It was nasty and took so long to heal, but the scarring was minimum - most of the injuries healed without a trace. 

You calm down, your breathing is getting normal again, and you look at your basket with a bunch of moon peppers in it. 

The wolf will not get away with it, you decide. You'll show it who is the boss here.

[heykaya]

Degrees of Lewdity Screenshots

See also: Degrees of Lewdity - Text Based Masterpost

💛: Appears more than once on the list.

❗️: Contains World Lore

——————————— ~* Love Interests *~ ———————————

🌻 Alex the Farmhand 🤠

Drunk Alex Dialogue

Alex Somnophilia scene

Alex reacts to a Remy related tattoo

Breaking down to Alex

💵 Avery the Businessperson 🥂

💛 Avery vs Robin

💛 Whitney vs Avery

Meeting Avery (Park, Street Harassment)

Rejecting High Rage Avery

Avery's Date - Game Night: Intro

❗️Avery's Date - Game Night: Avery Wins/Remy's Masked Party

Avery's Date - Game Night: Bailey Wins

Avery's Date - Game Night: Leighton Wins

❗️ Avery's Date - Game Night: Quinn Wins

Avery's Date - Fine Dining

Avery's Date - Ballroom Show Off

Avery's Date - Hotel Room

Dismissing Avery

🌲 Eden the Hunter 🪵

Meeting Eden through Bailey

Recaptured by Eden - Low Love, No Permission (Forest)

Recaptured by Eden - Town Stalking Event

Recaptured by Eden - Town (Low Love)

Recaptured by Eden - Town (High Love)

Eden locks you in a cage

Making Breakfast for Eden

Bathtime with Eden

Eden Re-Collars You

Eden hunts you in the forest (virgin PC)

Eden comforts high trauma PC

Eden saves you from the Underground Farm

Eden saves you from the Asylum - Bomb Method

Eden saves you from the Asylum - Towel Method

Eden saves you from a non-con encounter in the forest

Going on a date in town

Scamming Eden

👁 Kylar the Loner 🦠

💛 Sydney and Kylar kiss

Meeting Kylar (Bullied at school, Bumping into him)

Kylar sniffs your bedsheets

Kylar sees you streaking in the park

🧸 Robin the Orphan 👶

💛 Avery vs Robin

Meeting Robin (Shopping Centre, Lemonade Stand, School Canteen, Orphanage)

Rescuing Robin from the Docks

Bailey's Punishment (PC & Robin) - Intro

Bailey's Punishment (PC & Robin) - Punishment 1: Dinner Party

Bailey's Punishment (PC & Robin) - Punishment 2: Eden & The Landfill ⟡ Part 1 ⟡ Part 2 ⟡

Bailey's Punishment (PC & Robin) - Punishment 3: Remy's Farm & The Pillory ⟡ Part 1 ⟡ Part 2 ⟡ Part 3 ⟡ Part 4 ⟡

Bailey's Punishment (PC & Robin) - Punishment 4: The Underground Brothel

Robin's Trauma

Robin finds the player at the Brothel

⛪️ Sydney the Faithful/the Fallen 👅

💛 Sydney and Kylar kiss

Meeting Sydney (School Library, Passing Out, Attending Mass)

Leighton's Spanking

Swimsuit Shopping

Defends you from a Perverted Monk

❗️Temple Advancement - PC becomes an initiate ⟡ Part 1 ⟡ Part 2 ⟡ Part 3 ⟡

Sydney comforts high trauma PC

Passing out in the school library

Pure Path: Rite of Promise

Pure Path: Rite of Promise - Broken Promise/Cheating on Sydney

Sydney and Doctor Harper

Sydney gets bullied in school

🖕 Whitney the Bully 👄

💛 Whitney vs Avery

Dismissing Whitney + seeing him in the Underground Brothel

Sending Whitney to the Pillory

——————————— ~* NPCs *~ ———————————

Bailey the Caretaker

Annoying Bailey

Bailey's Payments when you live at the temple

Bailey at the Park

Doren the English Teacher

Doren's Concern (unlocking Doren's flat)

Jordan the Monk/Priest

Watching Jordan Shower

Jordan gives you oral (Fallen Angel Transformation)

Mason the Swimming Teacher

Unlocking Mason's Pond

Hanging out with Mason

Everybody swims nude in school

Locker Raid + Mason's Shame (stealing underwear & getting dirty with Mason)

Mason Removes Winter's Chastity Belt

Leighton the Headteacher

Blackmailing Leighton

Being Blackmailed by Leighton

Sending Leighton to the Pillory

Mickey the Hacker

Meeting Mickey (Police Infiltration Quest, Negative Fame)

Remy the Farmer

Returning to the Underground Farm after escaping

River the Maths Teacher

Unlocking the soup kitchen

Maths Competition

Masturbating in class to make River faint

River's Soup Kitchen scenes

Meeting River (School, Soup Kitchen)

Winter the History Teacher

Meeting Winter (School, Museum)

Masturbating in Class - Winter's Chastity Belt

Wooden Horse Demonstration

Ducking Stool Demonstration

Wren the Smuggler

Meeting Wren (Docks, Remy's Estate, Prison)

Wren cums first

screenshots are free to repost on other websites/to use in your own content. no permission or credit needed :)

(If any links are broken please let me know.)

[mapsontheweb]

Map of the Burgundian Migrations

The Burgundians were an East Germanic people, who originated from the island of Bornholm. Based on Archeology, they were related to the Bergio, a Germanic tribe from scania. Probably already in the First century BCE, the Burgundi would settle in Pomerania. With the arrival and slow migration of the Goths towards Oium/Scythia, the Burgundians would be divided into 2 groups - One Group went with the Goths to the Scythian Lands, forming the tribe of the Urugundi, which would become known for it's military skills after continious raids against the Romans under the Goths and Huns, and the Second Group staying in Poland and going southwest, probably in alliance with the Vandals in particular the Silingi.

The Burgundians would then slowly make their way to the Main river by the late 3rd Century and with them joined a group of Varisci, a small suebic tribe which inhabited northern Bavaria at the time. These Burgundians were accompanied by a group of Silingi, and the two would attempt to raid the Roman Empire, but were crushed in an unmentioned Battle and a large part would be resettled to Britannia Prima and Britannia Caesarienis. Together with the Silingi, Quadi, Hasdingi, Buri, Warini, Alans and a couple of Gepids, the Burgundians would cross the Rhine in 406 AD, but unlike the other tribes, would settle in the Lands located on the Middle Rhine and would, for a short time, occupy cities like Strassbourg, Speyer and Worms. They were then granted the status foederati and their Lands were limited to the City of Worms. However, not according to the plans of the Romans, the Burgundians would raid Upper Gallia Belgica. Aétius, fed up with this, called in Hun Mercenaries, which destroyed the Kingdom of the Burgundians on the Rhine and killed almost the entirety of the Burgundian Population.

Afterwards, they would be settled into Sapaudia, located in modern day western Switzerland and north-eastern France, in the year 443. They would form an important part of the Roman foederati, fighting in the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, and would form an alliance with the Visigoths. In 456, the Burgundians would reform their Kingdom, and expand their Influence along the entire Rhone river. In 500 AD, the Kingdom would experience a brutal civil war, which would enlargen Frankish influence across the Kingdom. In 534 The last King of the Burgundians, Godomar II, would be defeated by Frankish King Childebert I and Chlothar I at the Battle of Autun, and their Kingdom would be integrated within the Empire of the Franks. Luckily for the Burgundians, their name would live on in Bornholm until the 11th Century, and the Name of Burgundy would be kept until today. The Burgundians were rapidly assimilated into Gallo Roman Society.

By: Rodnoverkind'/ Polbst Kortiz

[ibuttermybagle]

Things in the third episode (Gems - cause I'm a gem enjoyer first and human second) of season 10 that continue to declared it as one of my favorite seasons:

• Jumping from a tower the height of a mountain "good thing I widened the river huh?"

• "Whatcha doing there?" - "Just going through my chests" Tango changing his chest sign to say they're Gems chests, followed by Gem calling him a pushover with both giggling

• Gem pointing Grian out for still fishing, especially after spending 2½ hours on stream with him doing the same

• "With a bit of help from a friend-" zooms in on Grian standing in the distance unmoving

• Intense planning to kill the guardian with tnt, only for it to be one more hit to kill. Going for the others and Grian going "wait there's more than one?" Followed by Gems "Griannnn"

• "There's a pillager outpost" - "I wonder if they have allays" - "No, this is how it happens Gem. We're gonna be lost in the wilderness."

• "Fish stop!" - "Grian!" Immediately pulls out fishing rod as well and fishes too. They have a problem your honour.

• Tango and Gem geeking out over the Guardian sound on the noteblock

• "No more distractions" immediately getting distracted again. Multiple times. And starting a raid.

• Ethos offended little "you punched me! You always punch me!" And Gems "You act surprised, like you never met me before."

• Etho wanting Gems Sniffer egg head, doing a whole thing about it. "You could have just asked" - "You could have said no" - "I don't say no to you often"

• THE LIGHTHOUSE AND THE FLYING FISH GOD DAMN IT LOOKS AMAZING

Other episodes

[marshmellin]

Star and Stone, Ch. 9 | Wherever the Need is Greatest

The chamber fell into a tense silence, the implication hanging heavy in the air: if the armies had been defeated, then Gil-galad and Elrond were dead. Many elves were dead.  Because the combined armies of the Eldar would. not. yield. They would not leave any field they engaged on alive unless they left victorious. And Sauron was not known for taking captives. On the rare occasions he did, he was not known for treating those captives— Oh, Finduilas—  I would rather he died before—  She slammed the lid shut on that thought swiftly, as one might angrily slam a door behind them as they sprinted through it. 

F FOR FIX IT: Explicit for rare smut (tagged 🔥) between consenting partners. All other content is Mature for language and canon-typical descriptions of angst/violence. Gil-galad x female OC Sindarin elf, Gil-galad lives, I'll tell you that right now because we are Fix-it Fuckin' Felix over here. Occurs between the Fall of Ost-in-Edhel in Eregion and the Battle of the Last Alliance. Contains references to other Tolkien lore and the Silmarillion with author notes for full explanations.

Repeat: Happily Ever After; everything is beautiful and nothing hurts. I try to be as canon-compliant as possible except for the whole 'keeping Gil-galad alive part.' No beta, we die like Mirdania. If you enjoy this, check out ✨The Director's Cut✨ masterlist with quick links to all my TROP/LOTR content and AO3 profile.

✨ Star and Stone: Chapter List

Ch. 1 of 12: Between the Mountains and the Sea

Ch. 2: Mirrored

Ch. 3: Fair and Free

Ch. 4: Countless Stars

Ch. 5: Silver Shield

Ch. 6: Preparations

Ch. 7: Where the Shadows Are 🔥 [Explicit scene]

Ch. 8: Long Ago He Rode Away

Ch. 9: Wherever the Need is Greatest

NEW -> -> Ch. 10: Where He Dwelleth, None Can Say

//

The midday sun filtered weakly through the thick clouds hanging over Lindon, casting a dim gray light across the courtyard where Elaniel stood, speaking with a group of stonemasons about the ongoing repairs to the northern barracks. Despite the chill in the air, her cloak lay folded over a bench, leaving her arms free to gesture as she pointed to various parts of the blueprint. The cold didn’t bother her, but the constant weight of this work did.

She had not sketched in months. 

“Make sure the stone for the foundations is reinforced,” she said, turning to the foreman nearest her, Herwen, a Sindarin woman with many years of experience. “These barrack foundations are old...”

“Yes, Master Mason Elaniel,” Herwen replied. “I think we should consider connecting the barracks with one of the outer wall routes, as well. If orcs are close enough to breach the training grounds, we’re in a bad way”. 

Another foreman spoke in agreement. “Additional egress points for the barracks might buy troops time to muster and protect the watchtower routes.”

She turned to pull more papers off the closest makeshift table. Halion was very good at documenting his resources. “How much additional hardwood–”

A guard sprinted into the worksite, and his armor clinked as he stopped before her. “Master Elaniel,” he said, his voice strained. “Urgent news from the watchtowers.”

Elaniel stiffened, her heart dropping into her stomach. 

“There’s been an orc raid. The sentries report a small group slaughtered livestock and scattered the villagers in the outlying area near Harlond. They set fire to two of the grain stores before soldiers pursued them across the river.”

“The villagers,” she questioned shakily.

“No loss reported among the villagers, though a few soldiers were injured in the skirmish. One orc had a short bow. The watchtower held, but Commander Tirionien requests reinforcements immediately – she fears they have scattered to the forests. She can not confirm the full band was dispatched and would increase rounds.”

“The Commander will have whatever she needs. Call the council,” Elaniel said, dismissing the guard who bowed and ran out. Elaniel turned back to the masons, whose eyes betrayed one fact: every time these masons spoke of evacuations and orc attacks and egress points – it was theoretically. 

Valar, may it remain that way for them. 

“Master Herwen, speak to Chief Mason Halion for agreement regarding the hardwood and any other materials you need. If you both agree on a list of supplies, you will also have whatever you need. Connect the egress routes to the wall in two places each. Not symmetrically,” she added as an afterthought.  

Without waiting for a reply, she strode away from the barracks and toward the council chamber.

–

The council was already bustling when Elaniel entered. Alenya stood near the map table, her red hair tied back into a practical braid, her expression sharp and focused. Lord Ristarion, clad in fine silks that seemed ill-suited for a meeting of such gravity, leaned casually against one of the marble columns, his eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression.

“Master Elaniel,” Alenya greeted, nodding briskly. “I’ve heard the report. The soldiers at the tower did well, but the villagers are shaken. I agree with Commander Tirionien’s request for reinforcements and I am willing to commit a section of Lidon’s guards to the watchtower with your leave. I do not believe Mithlond can spare the soldiers right now and would prefer to move from the better-defended cities.”

“Thank you, Commander Alenya, wise counsel. I agree. Everyone sit, sit,” she waved a hand absently. “What else, Alenya?”

The council members took their seats, and Alenya unfurled a map of the northern territories. “This is the area of the raid near the  southernmost watchtower, just east of Harlond,” Alenya said, pointing to a cluster of symbols marking the tower and surrounding villages. “The orcs came from the hills to the northeast, slaughtered and stole a handful of livestock, and burned a grain store or two before retreating.”

Elaniel leaned forward, her grey eyes narrowed. “That’s a bold move for a raiding party this close to Lindon’s soldiers. Why?” “It is,” Alenya agreed. “But boldness isn't a strategy. They didn’t come with a plan to conquer; they came to scavenge, steal food, and light some fires. I wish this were not so, but had they wanted to harm the villagers, they would have succeeded. At least to an extent. Commander Tirionien and I agree this is a likely straggling band, unlikely to be under Sauron’s control but simply looking for, forgive me, fresh meat. Their actions do not demonstrate forethought.”

“Or,” Ristarion interjected smoothly, “it could mean something far graver. Perhaps…oh, it does pain me to speak of it, Master Elaniel. But perhaps our forces have been defeated, and this raid is the first sign of an insurgence? If our leaders have fallen, we must consider all possible drastic ends.”

The chamber fell into a tense silence, the implication hanging heavy in the air: if the armies had been defeated, then Gil-galad and Elrond were dead. Many elves were dead. 

Because the combined armies of the Eldar would. not. yield. They would not leave any field they engaged on alive unless they left victorious. Sauron was not known for taking captives. On the rare occasions he did, he was not known for treating those captives—

Oh, Finduilas—  I would rather he died before— 

She slammed the lid shut on that thought swiftly, as one might angrily slam a door behind them as they sprinted through it. 

Elaniel gazed across the council, all of whom seemed tense. Some of whom seemed to wonder if Ristarion’s concerns were right. 

“No,” Elaniel said simply, her tone ice. ”Regarding the watchtower—“

“I commend your decisiveness, my lady,” Ristarion interjected again, his tone dripping with insincerity. “But I must press my recommendation that we consider what may be taking place on the battlefield.”

BattlefieldBATTLEfieldbattleFI— 

She slammed the lid on that thought, too. 

“Lord Ristarion, I can assure you and everyone in this council that your High King is alive.”

That hurt to say out loud. But our fëa are connected – he is alive. I can fee him.

“Perhaps, Master Elaniel. Though, if our king has fallen, I wonder about the best course of action—”

“Tínen!” She shot to her feet, rage flashing across her face. The room blotted out, her gaze pinned to Ristarion’s face. 

One more word – one more sound – and she would claw the bastard’s heart out barehanded.

Insinuating Gil-galad was dead three times.

The force of holding back the scream, the bite of the words she desperately wanted to say, made her throat hurt. Elaniel stopped herself. 

Be proud, Varda, Oh Lady of the Stars! 

Because Elaniel stopped herself.  

From adding: if my husband is dead then his council is disbanded. Flee or pick up a weapon and haul your ass to Amon Sûl to ask his body if he’d like to appoint you again. 

I care not how you die, but you will not get blood on my floors while you do it, heconna. 

Far too far. Indefensible. And she would not say “husband” or “dead” out loud right now. 

Another lid slammed shut. 

The lockbox in her heart was growing large, full of boxes of fear like nesting dolls as she kept. 

slamming. 

lids. 

shut. 

What does he get from this? He is trying to hurt me – push me. Push me to what? I have nothing to give him. He is here there is no–

Why is he here? He has his own halls where he is the leader of the fifteen-some elves in his backwater “realm” because relocating the fifty feet to the Greenwood was too much effort. Ah, a great loss for the Elvenking’s halls, I’m sure….

She furrowed her brow. Something in the back of her head told her she was skimming too fast, that she missed something. 

Why didn’t Gil-galad remove Ristation after speaking with Oropher? Or before he left for Amon Sûl?

But especially after Oropher. Oropher was rightly angry and Gil-galad didn’t…Something clicked in her head. Did he…he made sure they were represented on the council. 

He made sure that all elven realms were represented on the council.  

Elaniel felt for the soft warmth of Gil-galad mind, shimmering at the edge of hers. She found the golden thread that connected him to her, the one wrapped tightly around her heart, still tugging between them. They were not yet able to hold a long conversation across distances. But their mental connection, the ósanwe, that began to tie them from the moment they met still bound them. She knew she could – at the very least – poke at him and he would feel her. 

So she pushed her feelings toward that warm, solid gold thread. That shimmering curtain in her mind.

Oh, morconínya, you are in such trouble when you return to me.  

She was positive her face looked as red as an apple as her focus snapped back to the present. 

The room around was still frozen – as if her command for silence had locked the mouths of every being in the council. Many eyes stared at her – but Alenya’s grey eyes glittering like dark moonstones from the corner caught her attention most. Her red hair gleamed under the soft lights and so did the point of her spear. Because she was twisting the haft in her hand, moving it side to side. A fighter’s movements. 

I’ve never asked her, but aren’t most redheads related to Fëanor?

Lid slam. 

New tactic.

Elaniel kept her voice light and as, well, bright as she could. Merry. “I would not burden you any longer by summoning you to my council. I understand if you must see to your own realm, Lord Ristarion.”

Ristarion’s smile somehow grew more greasy, joy at this game on his face. Well, what he thought was a game. “You cannot dismiss me, Master Elaniel. I am an Elven lord appointed to this council by the High King.” 

Mmm. And just where is High King Ereinion Gil-galad, Son of Orodreth, I wonder? Mm. Interesting, It seems he is not here. And I am. 

Elaniel searched in her mind, this time for something Elrond would say – yes, Elrond, he is the most sensible option right now. She decided to wield a new weapon. It felt unsure in her grip, like holding the handle of a blade the wrong way, but…Elrond’s voice echoed in her head. 

That’s not the only name I go by. 

She kept the largest smile on her face she could muster -– though she knew if he tested her much longer, the muscles in her cheeks would wear out. “And as I so often find myself, I am in awe of my husband’s wisdom.” – Ereinion. I am not – “As High Queen, I join all of Lindon in honoring your dedication in preparing us for this long and perilous war. We would not keep you from your home any longer. Return in good health, my lord. Anar caluva tielyanna.” 

The sun shall shine upon your path — may it take you far the fuck away from me. 

Ristarion didn’t move, but his chin jutted in defiance. “I see no need to leave.” 

No, Elrond would not say that. She mentally discarded another option. Nor would he say that. In fact, I would be shocked if he knew that word. Well. Perhaps in a medical context…

Another breath. “So you say, Lord Ristarion. Yet…” she frowned. “I feel compelled to note that the longer you remain in Lindon, the more you risk no longer having a realm to return to.” 

Elaniel let that linger for a moment. Just a pause. Just so he caught the undertone. 

She couldn’t take his realm — wouldn’t, the paperwork and politicking alone just to be in a forsaken trade triangle between Oropher and Amdír in the middle of nowhere? There is a reason I do not live among my kin in the Sindarin realms, thank you.

And regardless, the title of High Anything of the Anything did not give her the right to take a realm. Nothing did. 

But. 

She anticipated Ristarion was not confident in that fact. 

And his eyes betrayed that she was right. 

Elaniel pressed on, her tone one of a concerned friend. “As you say, the orc menace looms and requires bold action. I can think of none bolder, and I fear for the safety of your people, Lord Ristarion. Your place is with them. I cannot in good conscience keep you here, parted from them.”

The silence was thick. Elaniel continued to use the time productively, sending wave after wave after wave of sullen sass towards the thread that bound her to Gil-galad. 

Your ability to sway me with your handsome face and puppy dog eyes doesn’t work when you’re so far away from me. Never should have agreed to be regent of anything. I do not want to be the regent of a vegetable garden right now, much less this realm.

Oooooh, morconinya, you are going to get it when you come home to me. I swear… 

The edges of his mind shimmered back against hers, a playful tug from that golden thread wound around her heart. He seemed amused. She thought she heard the ghost of a chuckle. 

He did not…

She frowned into the ongoing silence, her eyes meeting no one, and her hand rested on the hilt of her sword – casually, she thought. Truly. In retrospect, her arm was tired and the hilt was there and attached to her belt. Ruling seemed to involve a lot of standing in one spot. She was not a woman who often stood still. 

With an odd smile, Ristarion mimicked the motion, still silent as well, his eyes challenging hers. 

She barely noticed. For this fight, she would stay silent until the remaking of the world but she would not repeat herself. In the meantime: Another thing, Erienion—

The thought was interrupted as Elaniel heard three soft clanks in unison behind her. Swords thumbed out of their scabbards, ready to be drawn quickly. Not drawn. But not not drawn.

The guards. 

She felt herself freeze in concern, eyes flying wide in shock, and she did not care that Ristarion saw it. He had also thumbed his sword from its scabbard – first or in response to the guards, she couldn’t tell. 

Elaniel turned her head over her shoulder, her neck stiff and her face perfectly smooth except for her frown, and gave the three guards flanking the room behind her an exaggerated shake of her head, her eyes wide. She dropped her hand from the hilt of her sword and held her hand out, palm down.

No.

The guards did not move at all in response to her gesture or the look on her face, and their thumbs stayed on their blades. In fact, the tall one in the middle met her eyes with the cold, uninterested gaze of a man who would save her life with or without her approval because that was his job, damn it to hell, and Valar help her if she got in his way while he did his job.

Elaniel sighed and felt the headache settling behind her eyes. She turned to look at Ristarion and flashed a large smile yet again. She’d rather break the silence than have any of those swords drawn. 

“When do you depart from Lindon, my Lord? Perhaps we have time to raise a glass in thanks before you take your leave. Or must you…depart swiftly?”

Ristarion bowed low, though the gesture was more mocking than respectful, and moved his hand from the hilt of his sword. He spun on his heel and left without another word.

And then, the soft shink of swords being sheathed. 

Thank the Valar. 

Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply through her nose. Once. Twice. 

Finally, she looked around the room. The room seemed to have taken a similar deep and shaky breath. But the tension was still thick. 

Alenya met her eyes and nodded. Halion continued to be obnoxiously gleeful at any time Ristarion was put in his place and had snorted twice. 

Halion, rein it in until the bar tonight. Laugh in your cups, not in council.  

Elaniel composed her face quickly, though she knew it was still red. “I wish to be very plain that the guards do not unsheathe their swords to all who disagree with me.” 

Laughter flitted through the room, easing the tension. Elaniel exhaled slowly, her hands gripping the edge of the table. She dropped that — still awkward to wield — weapon of her title and became Elaniel once more. A woman who had smoothed over a thousand hot-headed fights between masons and builders on worksites. Much more transparent.

“I believe Lord Ristarion’s….departure was not a shock to any of us, and so I hesitate to spend our time together discussing it. I am available after the council is dismissed and will hear all anyone wishes to share. But before then,” she turned to Alenya. “Are there any other thoughts to share regarding this recommendation regarding increased soldier complements?”

Alenya’s eyes glittered again. Her tone transformed from her best friend, ready to throw fists for her, into one of a warrior with decades of experience advising a fellow leader. 

“I have several recommendations. I am eager to hear your feedback, as are the other city commanders. If you look here, High Queen…”

When Alenya said it, the title didn’t sound so strange. 

Elaniel smiled at that. And then she felt Gil-galad tugging on that thread in her chest in response. It wasn’t clear words, but she understood it nonetheless. 

I told you you’d grow to like that title. 

//

The day was peaceful. The weather, beautiful. Elaniel sat at a table under the shade of a broad aspen in the courtyard, the sunlight playing through its golden leaves as she and Alenya went over the reallocation of guards. It was mundane work, a task meant for quiet days.

“Move them to the southern watchpost,” Alenya suggested, tapping a finger on the map spread before them as she popped an almond into her mouth. Her red hair glinted in the sunlight as she leaned forward, her expression unusually focused. “They’ve been underused there for three weeks. They need to move their limbs. And we’ll need more presence near the harbor and Círdan.”

Elaniel muttered under her breath. “We’ll need at least three clear pathways to the Grey Havens. Four would be better, but that’s optimistic given the state of the southern crossings.”

Across the table, Alenya popped another almond into her mouth, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “Optimistic?” she teased. “That’s the nicest way I’ve ever heard you describe complete bullshit. Mithlond is barely large enough for four pathways, much less evacuation routes.”

Elaniel shot her friend a look, her lips twitching upward despite herself. “Careful, Alenya. Sarcasm is my domain, and I won’t tolerate competition.”

“Oh, forgive me, O my High Queen regent, Lady of Lindon, Defender of —” Alenya said. beginning a mock half-bow. 

Elaniel slapped the table softly, a smile on her face. “Ah-ah!”  

Alenya gave one more impish bow before her expression turned serious as her eyes returned to the map. “Well, if you have four paths, that means you have four rendezvous points. How many ships does Círdan have?”

“Not enough.”

Before Alenya could respond, all tranquility in the courtyard shattered. Their heads shot up in near-unison. 

The clatter of hooves echoed sharply against the stone, followed by the creak of wagon wheels and the hurried shouts of riders. A group of ten, maybe twelve. Elaniel stood, her chest tightening as her gaze locked on a group of riders charging into the courtyard.

At the head of the group was Elrond, his dark hair falling into his eyes as though he had not had a haircut in months. His armor glinted dully in the sunlight, covered in dirt and grime. 

His expression was sharp and commanding, his usual warmth buried under urgency, urgency, urgency. Behind him, a cart rumbled, its wheels rattling over the cobblestones. Alenya was already halfway to the cart, her grey eyes wide. “What in—”

“Elrond!” Elaniel called out, pointedly not moving to the cart. She did not know what was in that cart. 

The Valar themselves could not make her move toward that cart until she knew what – who – was in it. 

“Fetch healers,” Elrond shouted towards the group of guards in the courtyard. Elrond had not dismounted yet, and he cantered his horse around the circle back to Elaniel. 

He reined in his horse to turn toward her, his face grim. “Arminas,” he said quickly, his voice tight but clear, his chin jutting up to point at the cart. “He was wounded and the poison...it's not known to us. We stabilized him and I have done what I can, but he requires immediate help. More skilled care than I can provide.”

The unspoken fear: Elrond had quite a bit of skill when it came to healing. Few outstripped him. 

At his words, Alenya froze, her breath catching audibly. Her normally sharp demeanor softened and for a moment, it looked as though she would give in to the fear Elaniel knew she felt. But Alenya didn’t. Instead, she straightened her shoulders, though her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“Now,” Elrond barked out again, impatient as the guards seemed to be waiting for some other order. Two sprang into action, climbing onto the wagon and gently lifting Arminas. His dark skin was grey-blue, his breathing shallow, and his chest was tightly wrapped in bloodied bandages. Elaniel’s stomach clenched at the sight.

“Carefully,” she urged, her voice softer than Elrond’s, though no less commanding. The guards obeyed, their movements efficient but careful not to jostle him as they carried Arminas toward the healing house directly adjacent to the courtyard. Alenya lingered near the cart, torn between following and staying.

“Alenya,” Elaniel said, her tone gentle but firm. She dipped her head to catch Alenya’s grey eyes. Alenya hesitated, her lips parting as though to protest, but the fear in her eyes had won. “Alenya.” Her mouth had closed again, but it seemed as though Alenya was looking through Elaniel to nothing. Elaniel had seen that look before. On the faces of elves who fled Eregion alone when they should have had a partner next to them —

“Soldier! MOVE it!” Elaniel snapped harshly and loudly in a tone that did not belong to her.  

Alenya shook to near-attention, the words jolting her back to her training days without sleep, as Elaniel had hoped it would. Whatever dark corner she had gone to, she was now back from it. Alenya nodded stiffly, eyes focusing before she followed the guards down to the healers. She didn’t look back at Elaniel. 

Elaniel would guess Alenya still had not seen her and would not realize Elaniel had spoken to her. At least she was headed toward healers…

Elaniel turned back to Elrond, gesturing for him to dismount as she grabbed at the bridle for him. “You need food and rest surely?” Her eyes flicked over his armor. “And a bath.”

That last part was not a question. 

Elrond swung down from his horse with practiced ease. He offered a small, sensible laugh, though his face remained serious. “Food, yes. Rest and bath must wait, I’m afraid. I need to speak with you urgently, High Queen.”

Fear gripped her and the blood drained from her face. “Is Gil-”

He cut her off with a slash of his hand. “Gil-galad is fine.”

The tightness in Elaniel’s chest loosened at his words, though the sight of Elrond’s weary face still sent off frantic alarm bells in her mind. 

Also, Elrond, please start with that. 

“Thank you,” she whispered softly. “So what do you need?”

Elrond’s expression softened for the briefest of moments. “I’d prefer to speak privately,” he said, his tone quieter now.

If he doesn’t feel he can say it in the courtyard…

Together, they left the bustling courtyard behind, the noise fading as they stepped into the cool, quiet halls of Lindon’s inner chambers. The study awaited, but Elaniel’s thoughts lingered on Arminas – he had looked so fragile as the guards lifted him. Nothing like the strong soldier she had seen fight with such fluid movements. 

Elaniel ushered Elrond toward the study and he followed her, his presence so much different in these halls now than before. His armor was streaked with dirt. His winged shoulder guards caught the sunlight through the window and gleamed faintly despite the grime – she knew Gil-galad had them forged as a gift when Elrond became his Herald. Gil-galad had whispered to her that he hoped the intricately-carved feathers would remind Elrond of his mother, to keep her memory with him any time he had to dress for war. To remind him that her wings might protect him again.

Elrond’s face was drawn, his hair disheveled, but his stride was steady as he entered the room. “High Queen Elaniel,” he said, inclining his head in respect. His voice carried the formal cadence he so often used, though the weariness beneath it was unmistakable. “Forgive my appearance,” he added, as if she had somehow spoken to him and walked him from the courtyard to the study with her eyes closed. 

Elaniel shushed him, motioning for him to sit at the table near the window. “I would rather hear your news now than wait.”

Before he could answer, she smoothly opened the door and peeked her head out, asking the guard to quickly bring warm food. Within moments, she was carrying back a tray laden with fresh bread, cheese, and a hearty stew. Elrond hesitated, but Elaniel raised an eyebrow and pushed the tray closer.

“Perhaps after we–”

“Elrond. Your High Queen has a question for you. Have you had anything more than lembas to eat in the past, mmm, three days?” 

He made a half-hearted shrugging gesture. “High Que–”

“How about the last six days?” 

That was how far a ride to Amon Sûl should take. Elrond peeked up through his lashes, a faint blush on his cheeks – a little brother properly chastised – as she dipped her head to meet his eyes.

“So eat the damn stew, Elrond.”

He chuckled softly, his gratitude clear as he pulled the tray closer and began to eat. Though he was clearly trying to maintain some semblance of decorum, hunger overcame him, and he tore into the bread and stew with haste.

“Forgive my table manners,” he said between bites, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand. “I fear they’ve grown less refined since I left.”

“They’re still better than Halion’s and he hasn’t gone anywhere,” Elaniel replied with a gentle smile, earning a half-laugh from Elrond. “So, we’ve established that Arminas is….” she hesitated. “Arminas is wounded and you brought him here to heal. But that alone is not enough for you to come this far. What brings you to Lindon?”

Elrond swallowed a mouthful of stew and set the spoon down, his demeanor shifting to one of purpose. “Resources, High Queen. Gil-galad and Elendil will not march on Barad dûr until the weather improves, and more warriors from Men and the dwarven kingdoms are joining us regularly. I can live on lembas for six days – the mortal armies can not, and our supplies are dwindling faster than we anticipated. Lindon’s granaries hold enough for the winter and more, and I acknowledge it would be a risk to move those stores to our supply lines. Still, I must ask it of you.”

Elaniel leaned back in her chair. “Two granaries were burned in Harlond about two weeks ago. I’m unsure how stable Lindon’s stores are.”

“I understand,” Elrond said plainly. “And I know you likely lean toward caution, and rightly so. I would counsel the same. But this may be the risk worth taking. Armies march on their stomachs – the consequences of losing soldiers for the siege will be far graver than a lean winter here in Lindon.”

Elaniel’s gaze flicked to the map on the wall over Elrond’s head, her mind racing through the logistic issues. Moving grain sounded simple but… “And what of Greenwood?” she asked. “Last I heard, Oropher’s people were dealing with orc activity and their storehouses are being burned, too?”

Elrond nodded, his face darkening. “Their situation is worsening. Oropher has requested a small contingent of additional guards to help secure his borders – I had intended to speak to Alenya on this point. His people are losing what little food they have to these attacks. If nothing changes...I fear they will not be able to stay with the Alliance.”

Elaniel exhaled slowly, her fingers drumming against the table. She had to ask. “If we send the supplies to Amon Sûl and grain and guards to Greenwood, what will that leave Lindon with?”

“Enough,” Elrond replied, shrugging his shoulders. “I wish I had a more clean answer, High Queen, but…” 

Elaniel sighed. The path forward was already clear. No one was going to starve when she had full storehouses. “And we’re positive the palantirí can’t, I don’t know, make crops grow in winter? We’ve checked? I truly would hate to have navigated all the Eldar in Middle Earth through this stress because we did not check, Elrond.”

An undignified snort at that. “No. Oropher would have stolen all seven if he could.” Elrond’s eyes softened and he muttered, almost to himself: “To feed his people, yes, I think he would.”

Elaniel bit her lip at that. And all the more honor to him for it. 

“Lindon and Greenwood will feast or famine together. You have grain and guards for Oropher and additional grain for Amon Sûl. We’ll need to discuss the numbers specifically within the council. I do not know our grain store numbers offhand, nor how many I can commit.” 

I do and I can, but I’d like someone else to confirm it.

“Of course,” Elrond said, inclining his head. “Thank you, High Queen.” 

Elaniel smiled softly. This young elf had carved out a special place in her heart over the decades. “After you eat, and for the love of the Valar sleep, we will discuss it in council. Tomorrow.” 

Elrond’s lips parted but Elaniel cocked an eyebrow at him. He copied the motion, though weariness was etched on his face. “I find I can attend council now, High Queen.” 

“I never doubted that, Lord Elrond. However, I find my council is not in session now,” she replied smoothly, picking a piece of lint off her sleeve. 

Elrond’s mouth snapped shut. He was the one who had taught her that move. 

Her eyes softened and she stood, resting a hand lightly on his arm. “I would tell you I am the most impatient person you will meet in your long life, and yet, you have already met Gil-galad.” She paused as Elrond took a deep breath. “And even Gil-galad knows I can not move full granaries across regions overnight. Starting now does not move this faster. Bathe. Sleep. We will finalize at first light and you have whatever you need, Elrond, I promise you that. We will do this together. After you rest.”

Elrond stood as well, his movements slower than usual as fatigue weighed on him. “Yes, H–”

“Elaniel,” she interrupted firmly. “You’re flaking dried orc blood on my carpet, Elrond. In the study of the man you pushed to pursue and marry me. You will not renege on the first-name basis of our relationship, just because of a career change; I won’t allow it.”

He chuckled sleepily, his eyelids heavy. The stew and bread was clearly sinking into his brain, and he was inching closer to sleep with each breath. “Perhaps I’ll have a counterargument in the morning, Elaniel.” 

“Well, you let me know what you decide, Lord of Imladris,” she muttered, guiding Elrond to the door. She handed him over to the guards, who took him to the guest wing and an open bed. He was so tired he looked drunk as he walked away. Now that the rush of urgent energy had left him and he had been fed, his legs moved as though they were leaden.

Elaniel smiled with affection and warmth. She’d bet quite a bit of money that those guards were going to have to carry him before he reached that cot. 

//

The letters she had written to Gil-galad over the past weeks had been filled with reports, updates, and assurances, reports on Arminas’ health – he was going to recover, and Alenya asked him to be betrothed, so Gil-galad owed her a small wager. He lost the bet, since he thought Arminas would break first. She also knew Gil-galad would argue that the outcome of the bet was null because Arminas was unconscious the first time Alenya asked, but it was worth a shot.

Tonight, as she picked up a quill and a fresh piece of parchment, something different tugged at her. She wanted to make Gil-galad smile. She wanted him to remember something…warm. Like her memories of him. 

Her fingers tightened around the quill as she began to write, the familiar scratch of ink on parchment breaking the silence. The words came slowly at first, then flowed more easily. She began teasing him as if he were sitting next to her, trying to focus on his own work, while she played one of her absolute favorite games: (lovingly) bother the leader.

High Ereinion King Galad-gil of the Noldor, Flame of Hair and Eye, Scion of Kings, Wielder of Aeglos, Defender of Eregion, Bearer of Vilya, Ellon who blatantly cheats at card games:

Hail, O High King of the Noldor! Hail, O Tar-Eldalié! O Hail and likely sleet and rain by mid-Coirë season, if the weather keeps up. 

All is well in Lindon. I write to reassure you that your people thrive. As for matters of council, you will be pleased to learn I dismissed Ristarion permanently per our last...”conversation.” The council stood with me. Your guards offered to assassinate him and I’d say it was a joke but I can not be sure it was. 

Perhaps you could arrange a gift for me next summer solstice, morconínya? Perhaps not laughing in amusement in the back of my mind as I discover how frustrating your job is? I have never been overfond of jewelry and it would save you the time finding a dwarven smith to craft me something better. 

Consider it, at least. I’m certainly considering what my life would be like if I had married a smith or a sculptor. 

May it take many moon cycles for your companions to learn how often you cheat at cards by hiding extra nótyalië in your voluminous sleeves. Perhaps the tighter fit of the armor keeps you honest, yet I doubt it and do not have much hope anything will stop you from cheating at cards in Middle Earth or in Arda. Mm. Maybe Fëanor can give you run for it when we fail for Valinor, 

From your loving High Queen, ostensibly by marriage and not a Queen regnant and not planning to be one for one second longer. So please return. Immediately. This crown digs into my head. 

Faithfully yours & etc,

Elaniel  

— And you know very well that is by far not the whole of what I plan to write to you today,  órenya

With the above official report out of the way and not much else to say, I’ll instead tell you how much I think of you. How often. Warm memories. And there is much I wish to remind you of tonight. Of how much I love you. And miss you.

Just this morning I was thinking of the balcony off the west tower at the palace. Have you forgotten? I know you are incapable of forgetting, but let us pretend for a moment you have. I will remind you. You blatantly lied to me claimed the stars had never been brighter that night and we should watch together. 

And just like the first time and hundreds of times after, you pulled me close, wrapping me in your warmth in those heavy layers of damn velvet that I both love and hate. We stayed there for hours, the wind tangling your hair as we stared at the stars. Your hair always smells like rosemary and cedar. And I must confess, morconinya, that while I have always enjoyed watching the stars... I love the light in your eyes when you watch the sky more than any starlight I have ever seen. 

Now I feel the memory of those nights spent together whenever I step onto our balcony. I take your cloak with me, the brown one with gold leaves?, because it’s the warmest. And because it still smells of you. 

Oh, and, now I wish to remind you of a much different type of warmth. Do you remember that time about a year ago when we were in the wine cellar? I walked by today and saw the scratch in the door. Someone has painted over it, but I can still see where it was. It was the night after the long council meeting about the cost of hardwood for carts, the one where you barely hid your boredom. 

You insisted we should personally fetch the ‘finest bottle of wine to celebrate never talking about hardwood again,’ and you kicked at the cellar door to get it open because we had already had wine to celebrate your ridiculous hardwood decree and we were not very skilled at working doorknobs by that point. But when we finally opened this “glorious First Age Bottle,” you took one sip and declared it tasted like moss. 

And then you told me to try it to confirm. What was I to do with that – just confirm it was disgusting? Then you said honey mead was always better anyway. 

But you kissed me, and you tasted like raspberries and faintly like that terrible wine and I do not think we left that cellar for at least three hours.

When I remember that night, when I think about you and that floor and all that damn velvet and your hands. Ereinion, your hands…

Other times, I let myself revisit that one night we spent in your council hall. You remember the night I speak of. I convinced you to stay seated on your throne in the dead of night? I’m bold in many ways but I won’t commit that night to writing. But. I know you remember. And I’d like you to remember it again tonight for me. 

I miss you. In every way. I feel a hollowed out place in my heart where you belong. Come back to me. - E “

Elaniel sat back in her chair, the glow of the hearth casting soft shadows across the room. The study felt emptier without him, too large. Too empty despite being so full of books and maps and scrolls and a thousand things that reminded her of him. 

At last, with a sigh, she rose from the chair and placed the letter in a small tube, sealed with Gil-galad’s signet ring that she wore on a chain around her neck, to be handed to the courier in the morning. 

At least the Enemy will have a hearty laugh at my expense if they intercept it. 

Lingering for a moment, she stared at the door as if she could will him to walk through it. She scrunched her face, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment and counted to five — something she had not done since she was a youngling — making a wish that he would magically appear. 

But when she opened her eyes, the room remained still, and the night stretched on.  

And Gil-galad was still gone.

She returned to the bedchamber and climbed beneath the soft linen sheets. The scent of cedar and rosemary lingered faintly on the pillow he used, though she feared it might be her imagination clinging to the memory of him.

The bed was large and cool. It felt wrong. Especially tonight. Now that Gil-galad had left her and would be gone for so long, she could not remember why they had not simply shared a bed — shared a life, a soul— every day from the very day they met. The wasted time gnawed at her. Sleep came to her slowly, but when it did, it was as though the Valar had granted her a gift:

Her dreams were beautiful…

A gift. 

Just this once. 

—

The first thing Elaniel noticed was the feeling of soft grass beneath her feet. She opened her eyes to find herself standing in a meadow under a sky awash with stars. Moonglow all around her. Unnaturally beautiful. 

The heavens stretched endlessly, as if Varda had added more light tonight. The constellations seemed brighter than she had ever seen against the dark velvet of the sky.

This is a dream. 

“Elaniel.”

Her heart leapt at the sound of his voice. She turned, and there he was – Gil-galad, dressed in a simple blue tunic and – even in dreams, Ereinion? – a dark velvet cape that rippled gently in the breeze. His hair was half back, braided as he always wore it while…well, while he was gone.

“You’re here,” she whispered dumbly – he knew he was here, Elaniel. “How?”

“I am,” he replied, stepping closer, pulling her to his chest. “And I do not know, but I treasure it regardless.” Gil-galad tilted her head up and kissed her deeply – slowly – like a man who had all night. “I am happy to be so close to you. I’ve sensed you’ve been quite frustrated, lately, ilmarënín,” he murmured after a moment, resting his chin atop her head.

“Ah, so you do hear me when I yell at you? I will be sure to take advantage of that.”

His chest rumbled with a low chuckle. “I should not have admitted it. I heard nothing." A pause, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And I never feel joy when I sense you at the edges of my mind, whether you’re yelling at me or dreaming of carving a child's toy.” His voice was low, soft —  bittersweet. “I never search for you in my dreams,” he ended, draping his cloak over her shoulders around them both.

She couldn’t help but smile at the familiar gesture. “Especially romantic now that you’ve become a husband, I see.”

“Selfish,” he corrected solemnly. “You are warmer this way,” he said with a smile in his voice, his breath tickling her ear. 

She replied in singsong: “That’s not what I mea—ant,” earning another low laugh.

Long moments passed in comfortable silence, the two of them simply being together beneath the vast canopy of stars – as they always had. “I miss you, too,” Elaniel finally whispered in reply to his unspoken statement. He gently squeezed his arms around her. 

They stood there, wrapped in yards of velvet. Yes, over time I have become a changed woman, the velvet has had its perks. His arms wrapped securely around her, holding her close, as if he feared she might disappear. She feared it too. 

Her head leaned back against his shoulder. “Which one is Anarríma, again? I can never find it.” 

She already knew. He knew she knew. She’d known her whole life. Just as she had known where Wilwarin was all those years ago. 

Gil-galad smiled down at her, brown eyes crinkling as she snuggled against him. “If you follow this star here, you see? Over, to the left….”

“Mmhmm,” she hummed in reply, her eyes fluttering closed.

—

Elaniel woke with the first rays of dawn spilling across the bed, clutching his pillow in her arms. At first, she thought it would hurt as she woke without him – she was wary, ready to slam down another lid in her mind – but her heart felt lighter than it had in months. She felt warm. The bed next to her felt warm. She inhaled deeply, taking her first real deep breath in months. He was safe. She could feel him. She saw him.

The stars would shine again tonight, and she would watch them. 

And she knew he would do the same.

////

Author’s note: 

At some point, you grey-rock a narcissist. Get it, girl! Queen regnant, indeed. As it is, this is where we truly say goodbye to him. He is, in fact, fucking back off to Gladden Fields or wherever. Namarië, heconna, na-mar-i-ë, baybay.

I imagine Ristarion’s realm being, quite literally, not on the map. Potentially between Lórian (Amdír’s house) and Greenwood/Mirkwood (Home of Oropher, Thranduil’s daddy and the elf who, in my head, must be the genetic cause of all that flair and raw, weird, captivating sexual energy. Maybe it's just the Lee Pace of it all, idk, I'm here for it). I mentally put Ristarion near Gladden Fields because eff that place and eff him too. He would be technically closer to Imladris/Rivendell than the Silvan/Sindar realms, and he would make a trade triangle from Elvenking’s Halls to Lórien with Amdír. It *also* puts him in a precarious place politically if any of those leaders or the Dwarves of Moria get twitchy for a new outpost at the connection to a main river to keep their soldiers, you know, nearby, just in case….

If I went back to re-shape earlier chapters (and I may yet, once I’m done!) I would pepper in a little more information on Ristarion’s motivations and political positioning *within* the context of the three main players here, instead of focusing only on him as wheedling *among* the three with no clear motivator -- the map makes it a little easier to see how he is literally *caught* between Elrond, Arondír and Oropher, not to mention Moria, and that it may make a less skilled leader want to default to stirring the pot to make sure no one focuses on how easy it would be to take his realm. However, the way I change POV for each chapter makes this harder. A scene between Elrond and Gil-galad to puzzle out his motivations would be helpful-- even if Ereinion, the handsome bastard, still keeps the man on his council. True “author notes" for me to take away! 

I use http://lotrproject.com/ maps to try to keep my what’s and where’s all aligned. I am sure I have failed in aesthetically pleasing ways -- the estimate for how long it would take Elrond to get from Amon Sûl to Lindon is absolutely made up, in part because Lindon is a region and not a city. The TROP hasn't shown us this (I think likely due to a simple IP rights issue), but Eregion is a region and the city we actually see destroyed is Ost-in-Edhil, as I call it in other chapters. But we do not know which city in Lindon Gil-galad ruled from, tbh, so I have three issues here: 1) I suck at maps 2) I don't know how long it takes to move an inch on the map. 2) I can't figure out where I am moving people to and from on the map because Gil-galad was an elven-king of whom the harpers sadly did not write down the name of his damn city despite being declared the High King of the Elves of the West.

As you can imagine, this is all very stressful.

I also have tried to make my troop movements and watchtower locations make sense but maps are hard, and while Tolkien was a good map writer he was an English major. I was an English major. (“That’s right. An English major. I spent $120,000 for someone to tell me to go read Jane Austen, and then I didn’t….to accept a degree in a language I. already. spoke.”)

Very sad. Anyway.

Anarríma is another constellation mentioned in Tolkien’s lore, though we are unsure which of our constellations  – if any – it represents. 

The dream sequence is the ósanwe connection between them growing. And you know what? I truly do think a little sprinkle of love from Varda because our main characters are making explicitly self-sacrificial and transparent choices. She’s a romantic, too.

//

✨ Star and Stone: Chapter List

Ch. 1 of 12: Between the Mountains and the Sea

Ch. 2: Mirrored

Ch. 3: Fair and Free

Ch. 4: Countless Stars

Ch. 5: Silver Shield

Ch. 6: Preparations

Ch. 7: Where the Shadows Are 🔥 [Explicit scene]

Ch. 8: Long Ago He Rode Away

Ch. 9: Wherever the Need is Greatest

NEW -> -> Ch. 10: Where He Dwelleth, None Can Say

If you enjoy this, check out ✨The Director's Cut✨ masterlist with quick links to all my TROP/LOTR content and AO3 profile.

[will80sbyers]

Do you still have the list of movies that inspired ST4? I had a picture of it but I lost it and I haven't been able to find it since. Please and thank you in advance.

Yep!

Long post warning lol

300

2001: A Space Odyssey

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

12 Monkeys

28 Days Later

13th Warrior

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Altered States

Amelie

American Sniper

Analyze This

Annihilation

Aristocats

Armageddon

Assassins Creed

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Arrival

Almost Famous

Batman Begins

Batman V. Superman

Basket Case

Battle at Big Rock

Beauty and the Beast

Beetlejuice

Behind Enemy Lines

Beverly Hills Cop

Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey

Billy Madison

Black Cauldron

Black Swan

Boondock Saints

Borat

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Burn After Reading

Broken Arrow

Blade Runner

C.H.U.D

Con Air

Cast Away

Congo

Constantine

Children of Men

Cabin in the Woods

Crank

Casablanca

Carrie

Crimson Tide

Clueless

Dukes of Hazzard

Don’t Breathe

Death to Smoochy

Doom

Dark Knight

Dogma

Deep Blue Sea

Dreamcatcher

Drop Dead Fred

Die Hard

Die Hard 2

Die Hard 3

Don’s Plum

Dances with Wolves

Dumb and Dumber

Edward Scissorhands

Enter the Void

Ex Machina

Event Horizon

Emma (2020)

Forrest Gump

Fargo

Fisher King

Full Metal Jacket

Ferris Bueller

Fallen

Fugitive

Ghost

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Ghostbusters

Good Fellas

Girl Interrupted

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Get Out

Good Will Hunting

Hackers

High Fidelity

Hellraiser 1

Hellraiser 2

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hidden

High School Musical

Hurt Locker

Heat

Hunger Games

Highlander

Hell or High Water

Home Alone

I am Legend

It’s a Wonderful Life

In Cold Blood

Inception

I am a Fugitive from Chain Gang

Inside Out

Island of Doctor Moreau

It Follows

Interview with a Vampire

Inner Space

Into the Spiderverse

Independence Day

Jupiter Ascending

John Carter of Mars

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

James Bond (All Movies)

Julie

Karate Kid

Knives Out

Kingsmen

Little Miss Sunshine

Labyrinth

Long Kiss Goodnight

Lost Boys

Leon: The Professional

Let the Right One In

Little Women (1994)

Mad Max: Fury Road

Magnolia

Men in Black

Mimic

Matrix

Misery

My Cousin Vinny

Mystic River

Minority Report

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Neverending Story

Never Been Kissed

No Country for Old Men

Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

North by Northwest

Open Water

Orange County

Oceans 8

Oceans 11

Oceans 12

One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ordinary People

Paddington 2

Platoon

Pulp Fiction

Papillon

Pan’s Labyrinth

Pineapple Express

Peter Pan

Princess Bride

Paradise Lost

Primal Fear

Prisoners

Peter Jackson’s King Kong

Reservoir Dogs

Ravenous

Rushmore

Road Warrior

Rogue One

Reality Bites

Raider of the Lost Ark

Red Dragon

Robocop

Shooter

Sky High

Swingers

Sword in the Stone

Step Up 2

Spy Kids

Saving Private Ryan

Shape of Water

Swept Away

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Superbad

Society

Swordfish

Stoker

Splice

Silence of the Lambs

Source Code

Sicario

Se7en

Starship Troopers

Scrooged

Splash

Silver Bullet

Speed

The Visit

The Italian Job

The Mask of Zorro

True Lies

The Blair Witch Project

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Tangled

The Craft

The Guest

The Devil’s Advocate

The Graduate

The Prestige

The Rock

Titanic

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Fly

Tombstone

The Mummy

The Guardian

The Goofy Movie

The Peanut Butter Solution

Toy Story 4

The Ring

The Crazies

The Mist

The Revenant

The Perfect Storm

The Shining

Terminator 2

The Truman Show

Temple of Doom

The Cell

To Kill a Mockingbird

Timeline

The Good Son

The Orphan

The Birdcage

The Green Mile

The Raid

The Cider House Rules

The Lighthouse

The Book of Henry

The A-Team

The Crow

The Terminal

Thor Ragnarok

Twister

The Descent

The Birds

Total Recall

The Natural

The Fifth Element

True Romance

Terminator: Dark Fate

The Hobbit Trilogy

Unforgiven

Unbreakable

Unleashed

Very Bad Things

Wayne’s World

What Women Want

War Dogs

Wedding Crashers

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

Welcome to the Dollhouse

Welcome to Marwen

Wet Hot American Summer

What Lies Beneath

What Dreams May Come

War Games

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Weird Science

Willow

Wizard of Oz

Wanted

Young Sherlock Holmes

You’ve Got Mail

Zodiac

Zoolander

[tigreblvnc]

BLUE LOCK — HUNGER GAMES EDITION

Disclaimer: I had the idea after reading the MBTI Hunger Games simulation from @oiblackestsheep. Thanks to you! I generated this edition for Blue Lock with BrantSteele.net.

Enjoy your reading!

The Bloodbath:

As the tributes stand on their podiums, the horn sounds.

Oliver runs away from the Cornucopia.

Aryu runs away from the Cornucopia.

Gagamaru snatches a pair of sais.

Otoya runs away from the Cornucopia.

Sendo stays at the cornucopia for resources.

Hiori runs away from the Cornucopia.

Kaiser finds a bag full of explosives.

Kunigami runs away from the Cornucopia.

Rin runs away from the Cornucopia.

Sae scares Nagi away from the cornucopia.

Isagi runs away from the Cornucopia.

Bachira runs away from the Cornucopia.

Yukimiya, Niko, Shidou, and Chigiri share everything they gathered before running.

Reo runs away from the Cornucopia.

Barou finds a canteen full of water.

Charles runs away from the Cornucopia.

Karasu gathers as much food as he can.

Ness runs away from the Cornucopia.

Kurona runs away from the Cornucopia.

Zantetsu runs away from the Cornucopia.

Day 1.

Shidou pushes Sae off a cliff during a knife fight.

Kurona constructs a shack.

Gagamaru, Chigiri, Reo, and Yukimiya hunt for other tributes.

Rin searches for a water source.

Bachira camouflauges himself in the bushes.

Aryu discovers a river.

Ness catches Kunigami off guard and kills him.

Niko fishes.

Barou defeats Oliver in a fight, but spares his life.

Zantetsu runs away from Karasu.

Hiori diverts Kaiser's attention and runs away.

Isagi overhears Sendo and Otoya talking in the distance.

Nagi sprains his ankle while running away from Charles.

2 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Dead: Sae (district 3), Kunigami (district 9).

Night 1.

Isagi and Aryu talk about the tributes still alive.

Ness tends to Shidou's wounds.

Barou and Nagi tell stories about themselves to each other.

Otoya tends to Rin's wounds.

Kaiser and Zantetsu huddle for warmth.

Niko bashes Oliver's head in with a mace.

Hiori dies from an infection.

Kurona, Charles, and Karasu discuss the games and what might happen in the morning.

Reo begs for Gagamaru to kill him. He refuses, keeping Reo alive.

Chigiri questions his sanity.

Sendo and Yukimiya hold hands.

Bachira receives an explosive from an unknown sponsor.

Day 2.

Rin and Yukimiya work together for the day.

Karasu hunts for other tributes.

Aryu stabs Ness in the back with a trident.

Zantetsu ambushes Bachira and kills him.

Otoya and Niko hunt for other tributes.

Kaiser decapitates Sendo with a sword.

Charles explores the arena.

Kurona steals from Chigiri while he isn't looking.

Isagi makes a slingshot.

Gagamaru defeats Nagi in a fight, but spares his life.

Barou accidently detonates a land mine while trying to arm it.

Reo convinces Shidou to not kill him, only to kill him instead.

7 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Dead: Oliver (district 6), Hiori (district 4), Ness (district 1), Bachira (district 12), Sendo (district 6), Barou (district 5), Shidou (district 8).

Night 2.

Otoya quietly hums.

Yukimiya quietly hums.

Niko questions his sanity.

Kaiser, Charles, and Reo unsuccessfully ambush Isagi, Gagamaru, and Aryu, who kill them instead.

Kurona defeats Chigiri in a fight, but spares his life.

Zantetsu tries to sing himself to sleep.

Nagi and Karasu talk about the tributes still alive.

Rin climbs a tree to rest.

Day 3.

Zantetsu tries to spear fish with a trident.

Nagi steals from Yukimiya while he isn't looking.

Karasu receives clean water from an unknown sponsor.

Aryu discovers a river.

Gagamaru, Rin, Chigiri, and Otoya raid Niko's camp while he is hunting.

Kurona and Isagi work together for the day.

3 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Dead: Kaiser (district 1), Charles (district 8), Reo (district 2).

Night 3.

Isagi taints Karasu's food, killing him.

Gagamaru and Rin run into each other and decide to truce for the night.

Yukimiya and Kurona talk about the tributes still alive.

Niko thinks about winning.

Chigiri, Nagi, Aryu, and Otoya tell each other ghost stories to lighten the mood.

Zantetsu dies from thirst.

Day 4.

Isagi constructs a shack.

Chigiri receives a hatchet from an unknown sponsor.

Aryu receives clean water from an unknown sponsor.

Gagamaru stabs Yukimiya in the back with a trident.

Niko cannot handle the circumstances and commits suicide.

Otoya, Kurona, Nagi, and Rin hunt for other tributes.

4 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Dead: Karasu (district 4), Zantetsu (district 7), Yukimiya (district 10), Niko (district 10).

Night 4.

Isagi receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Nagi loses sight of where he is.

Otoya, Chigiri, and Gagamaru get into a fight. Gagamaru triumphantly kills them both.

Kurona tends to his wounds.

Rin and Aryu huddle for warmth.

The feast:

The cornucopia is replenished with food, supplies, weapons, and memoirs from the tributes' families.

Rin decides not to go to The Feast.

Kurona takes a staff leaning against the cornucopia.

Nagi strangles Isagi after engaging in a fist fight.

Gagamaru decides not to go to The Feast.

Aryu dies from an infection.

Day 5.

Rin fishes.

Kurona runs away from Nagi.

Gagamaru explores the arena.

4 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Dead: Otoya (district 5), Chigiri (district 9), Isagi (district 12), Aryu (district 7).

Night 5.

Rin destroys Nagi's supplies while he is asleep.

Gagamaru attempts to start a fire, but is unsuccessful.

Kurona dies from hypothermia.

Day 6.

Rin discovers a river.

Nagi receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Gagamaru is pricked by thorns while picking berries.

Arena event:

Carnivorous squirrels start attacking the tributes.

The squirrels separate and kill Gagamaru and Rin.

3 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Dead: Kurona (district 11), Gagamaru (district 11), Rin (district 3).

The winner:

The winner is Nagi from District 2!

Results:

© TIGREBLVNC 2024 | BLUE LOCK — HUNGER GAMES EDITION.