#roddy writes

[mimikartistry]

WIP Titles Meme

RULES: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

tagged by: @black--blizzard

Buckle the fuck up bc I've got WIPs comin out of every orifice and most of these (if not all) will never be finished and posted lol

Diary of a One-Time Prime (Rodimus-centric)

Too Little, Too Late (Megarod)

Sick of Losing Soulmates (Snippets of Chromedome's past w/ his ex-husbands)

Kaleidoscope (Megarod)

Senator Shockwave's School For Gifted Mecha (Inspired by Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children)

For Now, And For Always (SoundRod)

Afterword (TideAid)

All's Fair In Love and Time Travel (Simpatico)

Throwing Stones (Megarod)

Take It Out On Me (Skids/Quark)

Wildfire (Thunderrod)

Unique In All The Universe (Wrift)

Merformers Driftrod

Hanahaki Wrift

Bad At Love (Drift-centric)

There are also more that I've posted like, one or a few chapters of but have been abandoned lol. And also a bunch of things I have ideas for, but not fleshed out at all lol

get tagged: @heliopauseentertainments @dangerouslyclassyhottub @altraviolet :)

[rynnthefangirl]

The show is honestly setting up Criston’s death scene SO WELL.

His whole character arc is centered around him running away from his shame and dishonor, in ways that destroy and hurt others.

He soiled his white cloak by sleeping with Rhaenyra? Well clearly she is a seductive spider and the bitch must pay.

He bullies and hurts children of the royal family? Well they are bastards born to a spoiled c*nt, clearly they deserve it.

He let Prince Jaehaerys be murdered because he was too busy sleeping with Alicent? Blame Erykk, project his anger onto him, send him on a suicide mission in a desperate attempt to DO something and feel better about his enormous failure.

Criston is constantly breaking oaths, constantly acting with dishonor, constantly putting himself and his emotions first, even at the expense of those he is supposed to defend. His is a completely disgrace to knighthood, and he knows this. He knows it, but he hides from it, lashes out at others, projects, hurts, hates, destroys.

He is going to struggle with his shame the whole series, and eventually will find himself in a situation where he cannot win. The winter wolves force will outmatch his own, it is a battle that they are doomed to lose, and his men are going to be massacred. And Criston, at long last, will step up. He will offer to fight and die on behalf of his men, to take on four enemies by himself in an epic duel worthy of a knight of the Kingsguard. This is his redemption, he may have lived a life without honor, but he can still die with it. He will make his grand declaration, challenging Roddy the Ruin, Criston stands tall as he feels a fierce sense of pride and determination—

Only to be struck down by an arrow, and die without another word. Because that’s not how honor works. You cannot spend your entire life being a selfish monster, and then wipe the slate clean with one grand gesture. Criston will die as he lived- a pathetic failure. There will be no songs sung about him.

[starvonnie]

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: The Transformers (IDW Generation One) Relationship: Megatron/Rodimus | Rodimus Prime Characters: Rodimus | Rodimus Prime, Megatron (Transformers) Additional Tags: Sticky Sexual Interfacing (Transformers), Fucking Machines, Valve Fingering (Transformers), Belly Bulge, Anal Sex, Multiple Orgasms, Love Confessions, Bondage, Anal Fingering, Face-Fucking

Summary: Megatron's gift is finally ready.

Part 23 of When An Unstoppable Force Meets An Immovable Object

Here's a little preview of the fic with art made by my lovely wife @officialrodimus

[breakingdiamondboi]

Rodimus: Heard you've been staring at me... Thunderclash: Oh! I swear it's only respectfully- Rodimus: Make it disrespectful and we'll talk ;) Thunderclash: Y-yes, sir!

[neighboringheart]

woke up with a fever which means more canceled plans bc my body doesn't let me do fucking anything anyway minimegarod (or megarodimags? it's Mags in this scenario) breeding kink shit on the brain

picture it with me Rodimus strapped to a breeding contraption (I know it's got a name but I'm too tired and ill to remember rn) that keeps him comfortably laying on his front legs spread and valve bared but he's also strapped down so he can't escape even if he wanted to but they've been planning this for weeks so he's already dripping

Magnus playing the role of Rodimus' owner soothing him and telling him that he found the perfect stud to breed him until he's round with strong newsparks (which not possible in this scenario but he's saying it for Roddy's sake) and Rodimus whimpering and squirming like he's nervous until he feels huge warm servos land on his hips and a fat spike nudge his valve

Megatron grinds against his folds for a moment and it's the only warning Roddy gets before he's pressing in and spreading his loose walls wide around the plentiful ridges that adorn his shaft

for the sake of extra weird details Megs is also wearing a removable set of fake balls that Rodimus loves for the way they smack against his node with every rough thrust and it only makes the fantasy feel more immersive as though he actually could be bred which just makes him pull harder against his restraints trying to fuck himself against Megatron's fat spike

the final icing on the cake is the way Roddy gets more and more desperate as he feels Megatron's knot slowly inflate and bump against his entrance

Magnus will hold his face and pet him gently telling him that he's being so good and that he's gonna be full so soon and then he can rest and be pampered just like the rest of the carriers taking spike whenever he needs it

the knot is roughly shoved into him and he overloads drooling as he feels his valve filled with a thick flood of transfluid

it lights up every node he has and makes him feel weightless his walls stretching to hold it all and when Megatron's hips twitch trying to get just a bit more friction the way it sloshes rips a broken moan from his vocalizer

there's just so much and it feels so good clinging to every inch of the inside of his valve

he's barely cognizant as Magnus carefully wipes over his body waiting for Megatron's knot to deflate but when Megs finally pops it out Roddy's eyes go wide as some of the viscous cum squirts out of his valve sobbing as more tries to dribble out of him

how can he be a good carrier if he can't hold all that he's given what if it doesn't take

but Magnus is swift to scoop up whatever is dripping down his thighs and pressing it back into him easily sliding a plug into place that locks every last drop inside steadily pulsing charge to keep Rodimus calm

and if Magnus decides to commit a taboo and fill up his lovely bitch's aft port with a fat load of transfluid of his own who's to know

Rodimus certainly wouldn't tell anyone even if he could

[scribensmulier]

Such Nights as This

pairing: roddy piper x f!reader

word count: 1759

warnings: mutual masturbation, phone sex, use of sex toys, daddy kink

the title is from the Roman poet Propertius describing his beloved: "while I live I am hers, hers will I be in death. But if she grants till then such nights as this to me, a single year would be a long life's span; and if she gives them often, I would never die: one night like this could make a man a god!"

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

When your phone rang, you didn’t hesitate for a second to answer it, knowing it would be Roddy. “Well, hello there.”

“Hey gorgeous.” His already-raspy voice was hoarse after a lengthy promo that night, and the sound swirled through your body. “How you doing tonight?”

You laid back on the bed to relax while talking. He had only been gone two days, but ever since you had moved in together and had gotten used to always having him around, his absences were all the more frustrating. The two of you caught up on everything that had happened since your last conversation (just last night), your work day and his show a couple hours earlier. 

“Babe, listen,” Roddy began, his voice deepening a touch. “I really miss you, you know that?”

“I know. I miss you a lot too. It won’t be much longer, though. It’s a short trip.”

“Yeah yeah. You know, I actually got my own room this time.”

“Yeah? That’s awesome. You don’t have to deal with anyone throwing pillows at you when you snore!”

“Ha ha, funny. But I can also do what I want. All by myself. As much as I want…”

“Roddy, you slut,” you jokingly chastised him. “With all that freedom I’m surprised you’re wasting your time talking to me.”

He lightly chuckled before continuing. “Listen, I want you to do something for me. It’s not what you think.” You paused, knowing he had more to say. “I mean, it kind of is what you think, but something else first.”

“Just tell me what it is, babe.” You couldn’t help smiling to yourself in anticipation.

“The dresser in our room. Go take a look in the bottom drawer, under the sweaters.”

What the hell did he have planned? Why did he want you to dig through a drawer? You sighed dramatically as you got up. “What am I looking for?”

“You’ll know when you see it. Trust me.” And he was right. Exactly where he had said, under the sweaters, was a small box, about half the size of a shoebox, with your name written on it in his scrawl. 

“Roddy… what is this?”

“Just open it, baby.” 

You did as instructed, and a small chuckle escaped your lips. You hadn’t known what you expected to find in the box, but in hindsight you probably should’ve expected the sex toy that now rested in your hands. “Jesus, Roddy, you got me a vibrator? And hid it from me?”

He scoffed. “Like I don’t know about your other one. This one’s for us.”

“For us? So you want me to use it on you?”

“Eh, let’s think about that some other time. Right now I want you to use it on yourself. I made sure it’s already charged.”

“Right now? Should… should I hang up?”

“Don’t ask silly questions, baby. I want to hear every little whimper you make once you turn that thing on. I’m already rock hard thinkin about it.” 

You let out a shaky breath and blinked quickly to clear your mind. Some tiny part of your brain felt nervous about the idea of using a sex toy while someone else was listening, even if that someone else was the love of your life. But some greater part of your brain smothered that thought, because you really really wanted to do this. “Alright. Do you have a specific plan for me?”

“Hmm… well you definitely should take all your clothes off. Not just your pants; everything.” As he spoke, you did what he instructed, setting the phone on speaker mode so you’d have both hands free. “Make sure you pile up the pillows and get yourself all nice and comfy.”

“What about you? Are you all nice and comfy too?”

“Of course. I’ve had my dick in my hand this whole time, just thinking about you all naked for me. Play with your nipples, pinch them a little. Do that little thing I do that you like so much.”

You knew what he meant, and you closed your eyes to imagine it was Roddy working you over instead of your own hands. As he continued his directions, you found it increasingly difficult to resist grabbing the vibrator, but you knew that the wait would be worth it. Even being in a different city, he had you obeying his every word, completely wrapped around his finger. Exactly the way you liked it.

“Alright, princess, how about you spread those gorgeous thighs for me? Don’t do anything yet, just spread ‘em. Good girl. Now just slide one finger in, and tell me how wet you are.”

“Mmm... so wet.”

“Yeah? Good. Taste yourself for me. Lick yourself off that finger and tell me how you taste.”

You moaned as you followed his command. “Tastes so good, Roddy. I wish you were here to taste it for yourself.”

Through the speaker you heard him sharply inhale. “Fuck, me too. When I get back I’m gonna make up for all this lost time. You got your special new toy ready?”

“Mmhmm.” You didn’t trust your voice; you were too caught up in the moment to be coherent.

“Good girl. Now you can turn it on, just to the first setting.” A low buzzing sound filled the room. “Nice, baby, that’s it. Go ahead and put it on that pretty pussy. Right around your clit.” 

“Oh fuck.” The words were out before you realized it. For such an average-sized toy, it certainly had some power to it. This is just the first setting? you thought to yourself. 

Roddy’s breathing sounded shaky already. “Don’t cum without me, babe,” you admonished him. 

“Wouldn’t dream of it. I just… you sound so good, my beautiful girl. I can picture you lying there on our bed, all soaking wet for me, playing with your clit and pretending it’s me. I know you look so fucking hot like that, baby.”

His words made you whimper. The vibrator felt great, but nothing felt as right as Roddy. “You still touching yourself?” you asked, suspecting you knew the answer already.

“Had to take a break.” He let out a breathy chuckle. “Hearing my girl had me almost ready to cum all over myself. Keep going - move it around, see how it feels on every part of your pussy, tell me about it.”

One hand was still on your breast, and you kept it there while you slowly traced the vibrator along your folds, pausing to press it to your entrance. The tease of penetration combined with the vibrating silicone drew a deep moan from you as your words failed.

“Oh I like that sound. You put it in a little bit, didn’t you?” You wordlessly agreed. “Good girl. Why don’t you work it in a little more? I bet that vibration feels so good inside you.”

All sorts of salacious utterances spilled from your lips as you slid the toy into your dripping pussy, feeling every sensation that it offered you. “Babe… please…” 

“What do you need, baby? Tell me.” 

Truthfully, you didn’t even know what you were pleading for. “I just need you, baby, I need you to fuck me.” 

“I will soon, as soon as I can. You know that. Can you do something for me?”

“Anything.”

“Click the little button on that toy. Put it up to the next level.”

Although you weren’t thrusting or really moving it at all, the added intensity set you on edge. “Fuck, oh fuck, I’m so… oh my god it feels so good.”

“Good, I like hearing that.” You could tell from his quavering tone that he had taken himself in hand again, softly groaning as he spoke. “Take the vibrator out.”

You nearly froze in surprise. “What? Why?”

“Just do it.” You did. “Here’s what you’re going to do now. You’re going to use it on your clit, drive yourself insane, okay baby? And you’re gonna use your fingers inside to make yourself feel even better. Start with two fingers. Can you do that for me?”

Your own voice trembled as you responded. “Yes, daddy.” 

Fuck. You hadn’t meant to say that. It had slipped out two or three times before, and you knew he was into it, but it still felt like a new and unfamiliar step. 

“Oh fuck, sweetheart. I need to hear you say it again.”

This time you spoke with more confidence. “Yes, daddy.” 

“God, you better be fucking yourself right now, because I’m not gonna make it much longer, hearing that. You doing what I said?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Good girl. Three fingers now, okay? Three fingers for daddy.”

There were no words to describe the moan you uttered when he said that. You quickly obeyed, easily sliding a third finger into your drenched hole. With your free hand, you positioned the vibrator directly on your clit, letting it send shivering currents through your overly sensitive body. 

“You sound so sexy, baby. I’m getting so close.” You noted the changes in his breath, and knew he wasn’t exaggerating. “Get yourself there for me, I want you to cum with me.” 

“I’m… fuck I’m so close. Please.” You were all but panting into the speaker at this point, desperate for release but wanting to time it perfectly with him.

“Good girl. Make yourself cum, baby, cum for me. Cum for daddy.” He was barely able to pronounce the final word, he was so close to the precipice.

Hearing Roddy call himself daddy once more was all you needed. You cried out all manner of unholy things as an intense orgasm slammed into you. “Oh fuck daddy, I’m coming for you, fuck-”

A hoarse groan on the other end of the phone let you know that he too had reached his peak. “That’s it, baby, I’m coming for you too. I’m… fuck yeah… oh my god…”

For the next moment, the only sounds were laborious breathing and weak whimpers as you both rode out the waves of pleasure, thinking only of each other. You blindly reached out for the vibrator you had dropped in the heat of the moment, making sure to switch it off.

“I fucking love you so much, baby,” Roddy breathed into the phone. “I really do.”

“I love you too.” 

He laughed suddenly. “Best purchase ever. It felt good?”

“So fucking good,” you answered honestly, then paused. “I still miss you, though. I wish you were here.”

“Me too, baby. I’ll be back soon, though, yeah? And you can show me all your tricks with your new toy.” 

[tilly-tittle]

The only thing between me cooking up a Transformers Epic AU is the fact I have no idea who would be Rodimus’s equivalent to Penelope and Telemachus :’)

Like every other character I can probably decide as I go but like

Rodimus can’t lack Odysseus’s only motivation in life

Also the amount my brain want to draw will actually kill me so maybe I’ll never start oop

[milk-crater]

i did the random tarot card generator and it came up with the moon and the pairing i was thinking was adam cole and roderick strong ?

Hey Meeks! Apologies for the short fill. Leaned into the description of The Moon being a card about illusion and deception. Hope you like it!

“I won’t lie to you ever again,” Adam tells him. And it makes Roddy’s heart swell. Sure, Adam might be treating him like shit in public, paling around with that scumbag MJF, but behind the scenes their bond is as strong as ever.

But Roddy’s jealousy seeing Adam smile at Max, hug him, laugh with him, even if it’s a lie—

No. Because it’s a lie.

Because lying is Adam’s love language.

[witchofthesouls]

Do you know of the Ancient Greek courtesan who was on trial but was pardoned because she flashed the court her breasts and said some Mr hint along the lines of “it would be a crime to destroy these perfect creations.”

You cannot tell me that this doesn’t have LL Giant ! Liaison shenanigans written all over it!

(Thank you, anon, for that joy. Humans be humans, even thousands of years ago. For anyone else's interest, it's Phryne the Thespian. Her beauty was so famed that she is credited to inspire many influential works, such as Praxiteles' Aphrodite of Cnidus and Apelles' Aphrodite Anadyomene. In that trial, she was acquitted when her breasts were exposed. It was argued her great beauty was shaped by the Gods, so it would be blasphemous to kill or imprison their work.)

You're jogging after Ultra Magnus' back. Despite your increased size, that mech is still massive with long legs that ate the ground with each quick step.

He quickly gets you inside the captain's office and immediately locks it down. Rodimus is at his desk, datapads all over the place, even on the floor, and he brightens up at visitors, hands stopping from carving deeper into the desk.

Ultra Magnus' clears his intake in a very pointed manner, chin darting to a specific point in the room.

"Roddy, what the fuck!?"

Over the fish tank, there's a new portrait. Back home, it wouldn't be too risque. Something on the scale of sexy pin-up on a magazine cover in the grocery store, but you've been around Cybertronians long enough that it's considered hedonistic.

It's set inside of a car alt-mode with the obvious Autobot insignia on the steering wheel and sprawled across the front bench seat is the focal point.

From their standards, there's an obscene amount of fabric, a rich Autobot-red, pooling beneath bare legs and caressing the plush leather. The legs are bent and thrown across the dashboard and seat, and sharp high-heels bite into the leather, showcasing pressure and leverage as the other is resting through the wheel. The artist is familiar enough with the concept of nail polish since the same vivid red is painted across toes and fingernails.

The top of the garment is being loosened with one hand pulling it to the side, flashing and teasing with more bare flesh covered with lace, ribbons hanging loose. A gloved hand is about to pull off the tactical mask. A slow, sensual tease of contradiction. Vulnerable and willingly taking off the only protective piece.

Even with the obscured face, it isn't hard to figure out it's you.

You are, quite literally, the only human on board the spaceship, and the fucking subject is a human with your damn heels you used in one of the modeling classes.

"You like?" Rodimus' spoiler bounces excitedly. "Sunstreaker said I'm getting better with movement, and it's my best work yet!"

"There's more," you and Ultra Magnus' words overlap with different tones: curious disbelief and resigned trepidation.

Of course, Rodimus pulls out a datapad from the bottom, the stack wobbling dubiously before settling, and rushes over to show off his progress.

"Rodimus," Ultra Magnus sighs. "this is against the Autobot Code: Article-"

"Wait!" You interrupt, stalling from flipping through more sketches of your poses and his random exercises. "There's rules about that?"

"Yes," the ever-serious Duly Appointed Enforcer spoke.

"Yeah, but Article 369 is about commercialized pieces, Mags." Rodimus crows, pointing at his work with a thumb. "And that beauty is done by my own servos."

You and Ultra Magnus shared a moment that Roddy could look up official doctrines, and the taller mech deeply sighs. "No. It violates the article 343 on the conduct of offices. As well as Article 34 for the violation of improper licensing on artistic production."

You're seeing the loophole that a "scandalous" piece can be placed in a private setting that isn't for public view, but you're not saying anything about that.

[tixdixl]

Timeline Post: René Lamar

This post is going to be an archival hub for me to store all of my fan fics and actually list them in chronological order. I have a habit of not writing things in order, so this is going to help me navigate and midigate that. As such, this post is likely to undergo repeated changes and updates.

Naturally, of course, you are welcome to read my works. Just I do ask not to be super critical without asking first. ^^;

A couple of notes:

1. Please do not repost any of my works!

2. You will find direct references and inclusions of other people's OCs, including @cyanide-latte @elenauaurs @ramshacklerumble @simons-twsted-children . For more information on their OCs, please view their blogs.

3. René's narrative includes issues regarding manipulation/gas lighting, parental abuse, discussions of self image, and trans issues (and all that entails). As needed, content warnings will be provided. Please proceed with caution.

4. This is a OC X Canon friendly space! Expect a lot of it! Thank you ^^

Freshman Year

Soulless Artistry

✨️✨️✨️

Sophomore Year

Ankle Biter Brigade

Unless They Prove Themselves

Dinner and a Show

Let the Games Begin

A Proposition for a Hunter

Soulful Artistry

The Poacher and the Swan

Scars and Imperfections

Loose Ends

The Black Swan - CW: mild depictions of transphobia, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse

The Braid

Reconsiderations

Preventative Measures

Choices

An Unexpected Encounter

✨️✨️✨️

Junior Year

✨️✨️✨️

Post-NRC

Get Used to It

Blurred Lines

Repeated Cycles

Hints of Jealousy

13 Hours - TBD

[windy-trickster]

A Mouse in The Snake's Coil

Another night of work as Roddie Lamare moved about the dining area, taking orders and sending them back to the kitchen, grabbing prepared food and bringing them to their respective tables. Night in and night out, this was his routine. This was his work. And honestly? He loved it. He loved finally having SOME semblance of balance and routine to his life, which was one a jumbled mess of job hunting and trying to pay his bills. He had been so nervous applying for the job at this high-class establishment, assuming the worst before even putting his application in. But he needed a job, he needed the money. So, he took the risk and went for it. And it turned out great! Wonderful, even. Now he had a job that paid him good, a boss who was on his side [for most things] and he could finally pay his bills! And have a little cash left over for other things. Tonight had been no different: Customer orders, he pens it down, sends it back and brings the food to them. Rinse and repeat for several hours. The dinner rush passed, and it seemed to slow down, Roddie was cleaning up a couple nearby tables when the little overhead doorbell went off, signaling the arrival of a customer. Roddie looked up and greeted the man like he did with every other customer, a bright smile and cheery tone. This guy was... Definitely different from the regular clientele. He wasn't dressed fancy nor did he give off that typical air of self-importance that all Highbloods did. Dressed casually in a jacket and jeans, heavy boots covered in... Some kind of gunk, the Indigoblood flashed Roddie a friendly smile and greeted him back. The two had a chat as Roddie wrote down his name, taking him to a table and watched the Indigoblood get all situated. Roddie held his pen and pad, smiling as he awaited the order. But was a little surprised when the other didn't order, flashing him another friendly smile before speaking. "🗡So. You're Vic's new server boy, yeah?" Roddie blinked and nodded, being caught off guard by the question. "🗡AH! Knew it. He seems to like hirin' cuties from what I've heard. And I've known him for quite a bit, y'know?" "Oh! You have? Boss never tolD me he haD any frienDs! Well... He Doesn't tell me a lot of things. But I'm very happy he's got someone in his corner!" -> The Indigo let out a booming laugh, leaning back slightly in his chair. "🗡Yeaaaaah. Me and ol' Vic go waaaaay back. Known each other since wrigglerhood. We've grown a little distant, but we're still pretty tight. And y'know... I kinda want to get to know YOU a little more too. Any friend of Vic's is a friend of mine." Roddie felt his cheeks flush a little at the blunt invitation to hang out with someone who looked... So cool! And made Roddie feel so comfortable despite having met this guy for the first time. He rolled the idea around in his head for a moment, feeling the flutterbugs kick up in his stomach. This was excited! How could he say no?! "Uh- Sure! I'D love to! I like makin' frienDs y'know!" -> The Indigo, who introduced himself as Jailyn, grabbed Roddie's hand and shook it. "🗡Great. I'll come by again at some point. We can make plans then, yeah? Now uhhhh. Hit me up with the best you've got here, mkay?" Roddie nodded and hurried off to the kitchen area to get his protentional new friend the best in the house. He was so excited! Too excited to realize the trap he just put himself in.

Vicnet Carbon - @alternias-madness

[rayfishandchips]

this is so anime girl coded but miraculously no out of character for him. Someday I'll have to draw him as a mech anime girl.

Oh Roddy was so alive and young back in mtmte I wish nothing bad ever happens--- (rant in tags)

[runningwolf62]

Interquel Slides, Part 2

No I don't have part 1 written, yes this is almost 3k words. I haven't written about my Warden in Years, WE'RE GOING NO BRAKES YEET

---

It was an assassination attempt that was the final straw.

They'd settled down for a game of cards, a usual pastime for them after dinner. It was a convenient excuse for all of them to be in one place and for no one else to seek them out.

Meaning they could openly discuss plans to get Justice a new body.

Anders clicked his tongue and called Oghrin on a cheat which made the dwarf curse.

Luke tapped his knuckle against Nathaniel's leg under the table three times.  The other's face revealed nothing but a small shake of  his head was enough. He didn't have the cards for Luke.

No one had caught on to their cheating yet, which was the trick. Cards games were fun but played every night with the same people began to bore.

But it put Luke in Nathaniel's space, when he felt the prickle down his spine.

"I agree with Luke, an animal would make a better living host." Anders remarked, "especially since we've agreed that it won't be Ser Pounce."

"Of course it wouldn't be Ser Pounce!" Sigrun looked appalled at Anders, "He gave you that cat he's not going to put Justice in it. Plus, that cat's way too small. We need something bigger."

"That's why I think a bear."

"Of course you'd want a bear, Nathaniel." Luke replied on instinct, trying to locate the source of his unease. Too many people. Six people breathing, but Justice didn't breath. A soft step.

"While yes, the Howe family crest has bears but it would also suit him. And allow him to continue to aid him in combat.”

"See I was thinking dragon bigger."

"If you find one and can bring it to me and Anders to bind, maybe." Velanna stared at her cards, "but Nathaniel has a strong suggestion. The Hinterlands are full of the creatures."

"Are you feeling alright?" Anders asked her absently, "you don't usually agree with Nathaniel."

Any answer was cut off by Luke suddenly pushing Nathaniel, hard, to move both of them out of the space, and out of the path of a dagger that embedded itself in the wall.

Luke twisted out of the chair onto his feet in one smooth move as Nathaniel fell out of the chair, using his moment to recover by grabbing his bow and rolling to aim in the direction the dagger had come.

"The Crows send their regards," an accented voice, a tauntingly familiar lilt, informed Luke.

The problem for them, and the several others melting out of shadows, was that this was a group of Wardens used to working together, including in the confinement of the deep roads.

Velanna and Anders alone were a pair of destructive forces, but the poor bastard that had spoken had been so focused on Luke he'd gotten an arrow to the eye for his delivery. Luke shot forward, offering his arm to Nathaniel who grabbed it, to be hauled up. 

Sigrun was, of course, already in the middle of it, as was Oghrin. Luke left Nathaniel to guard Velanna and Anders' backs while he launched forward. He was trained by a Crow himself after all.

It was over in a matter of minutes, every movement and strike precise and made with the knowledge at least two others had their back. Their steps only faltered when Nathaniel jumped, a knife sinking into his shoulder as Luke dove under his arm to drive his dagger in the Crow in turn. Immediately they all fought with twice as much ferocity, one of their own bleeding making them fall on the Crows like they were Darkspawn.

Four was not nearly enough to be a challenge for them.

"Well." Anders looked around and grimaced. Luke shared the sentiment, this would be a mess to clean up.

"Your cards fell out of your sleeves." Sigrun pointed to the pile next to where he'd been sitting, "you're good though, I didn't notice you palming them."

Anders looked down the floor where a pile of cards had spilled across the floor before he stepped over them to Nathaniel. “Let me see it.”

"Cousland we've got a gift for ya." Oghrin's gruff voice made them all turn to the other door where he strolled in, followed by Justice, who carried one of the assassins off the floor by the throat. "Found this one trying to slip off."

Luke flicked the blood off one of his daggers, as the Crow, clearly a Crow, attempted to claw loose. The problem was Justice's flesh was long dead and they recoiled, as best they could, at the feeling of it beneath their nails. Justice didn’t even flinch as he brought them over to Luke.

"Third time is not the charm, it seems." Luke eyed the Crow tiredly, "I thought the contract on me would've closed with Loghain's death."

The Crow sneered at him, and Luke's lips curled into a grin, "oh. This isn't about me." He stepped forward, to place the dagger at the man's throat, "is Zevran still alive."

"Wouldn't you like to know." A glob of spit landed on his cheek, "that he would turn against the Crows for-"

Luke's dagger sank into the flesh of his throat, before he pulled it back. "Thank you Justice." Now he wiped off his cheek and stepped back.

Justice released the gurgling man to fall to the floor, a corpse by the time he hit the ground. The spirit stared at him, head slightly tilted, learning how to express confusion.

"Was that just?"

Luke looked down at the corpse at their feet, and thought of how easily it could have been Zevran. Of how he, and the others, had likely been bought at a young age and molded into weapons. And he thought of what it had taken Zevran to realize the truth of the life they led, and what it had cost him to turn away.

"He would have been a danger to us again later." Luke replied firmly, but not unkindly. "Crows don't break their contracts."

Except for once. But Zevran was an exception.

Nathaniel grimaced as he looked around, before looking at Luke. "You won't get to ask him any questions that way. If he had information..."

Luke shook his head and wiped his dagger off with a cloth before sheathing it, "Crows torture their trainees as part of training. He would never have given us anything, even if I was the type to condone torture."

Nathaniel blanched, and everyone stared at Luke for several moments. It was not unknown to the group who Zevran was, and who he had been. The weight of the statement, factually delivered, hung in the air.

Luke looked back evenly, "anything more isn't my place to say."

"Well. Shit." Anders laughed awkwardly, "uh, well Justice, if you need a new body for now, you're spoiled for choice."

The spirit shifted at the mention of his name and looked to the one at Luke's feet. "Perhaps."

That broke the spell of Luke’s declaration, and they began to move to sort the room, dragging corpses to the side, to remove fully in a moment, unless Justice wished to claim one. Luke kicked a piece of ice to the corner with them, while Sigrun retrieved Nathaniel’s arrow. Nathaniel and Justice lifted one of the corpses to set in the pile.

Luke nodded and looked over his Wardens. “Velanna, Justice. Take Anders as well, and check the Keep. Find if there are any of them remaining, and if anyone is injured, Anders do what you can.”

Anders nodded, Luke privately reflected to himself that the Templars and Circle had lost a talented mage by not knowing how to handle him. “Nathaniel, Sigrun, you two check the perimeter of the Keep. Be cautious, but the Crows are likely after only myself.”

Sigrun gave him a look before she spoke, “I don’t know how to tell you this boss, but that’s not something we like either.”

Luke huffed fondly as the others chimed in their agreement, raising his eyes to meet Velanna’s gaze. After a moment she looked away but still nodded all the same.

“I appreciate it, but I won’t be unarmed, or alone. Oghrin, help me get these out back.”

Behind his bushy red beard, Oghrin’s eyes bore into him. “What are you planning to do with them?”

Luke looked down at them, pursing his lips. “I suppose add digging several graves to my to-do list.”

--

The shovel sank through the soil easily enough, and time as a Warden kept Luke’s muscles from complaining too much, as he dug out something slightly above a shallow grave, in the light of the rising moons.

Oghrin made no move to help, and Luke didn’t ask him to. He could, after all this time, still imagine how his friends would react.

Lelianna and Wynne offering prayers, while Alistair and Zevran climbed down here to dig with him, for once neither with a quip. Sten would offer a remark about their enemies, but he would likely aid them.

Leaving Shale and Oghrin to watch.

The sound of boots hitting the ground made Luke look up, but he already knew. Nathaniel set to work at the other side, while Sigrun and Velanna approached slowly. Sigrun gestured to a spot beside where he dug, and they set to work, Sigrun with enthusiasm, Velanna much less so.

Justice took the spot on their other side, and began to dig as well.

Anders took a spot near the corpses, watching them. “I’m… I’m not going to be much help with the digging, but if any of you start to tire, just ask.”

The moons were high and Anders had cast restorative magic on everyone by the time they finished. Luke stood over the graves, now filled, ready to shovel all that dirt back over the bodies of people who had attempted to kill him, under the watchful gazes of those who’d helped them dig their graves.

He tried hard, not to think of a pit outside of Highever, filled with the bodies of his family and Nan and Ser Gilmore and everyone he’d known every day of his life.

Nathaniel looked like he was trying hard not to think of an estate in Denerim, with secret tunnels to dungeons, with hallways Luke had stalked down, and where the Couslands had their vengeance. Of Luke’s blades coming down on his father.

Neither of them were succeeding.

Luke took a breath, still staring at the graves, trying not to remember the last time he saw his parents, and spoke.

“I owe you all an explanation, and I suppose that’s as much an eulogy as they will get.” He looked down at the bodies, “I know they tried to kill me, and it feels foolish to bury them, but they were Crows. They were more than likely made into the killers that came after me, and came for me because they were protecting the only home they’ve ever known. That their home is cruel, and twisted is not their fault. That was why they had to die, because they couldn’t see that but…” Luke shrugged his shoulders slightly, “they were children once, with a knife shoved in their hands far too soon.”

Nathaniel stepped up beside him, “they weren’t your Crow.” It was said to reassure, to aussage guilt. Luke leaned just slightly, to bump their shoulders, like he used to do around campfires with Alistair.

“In another life they could have been. May the Maker grant them the peace they didn’t have.” Luke looked at the piles of dirt and the others, “if you would help me finish this, I’d appreciate it.”

No one said a word, but a wave of magic passed over them, and shovels sank into the dirt once more.

---

They stumbled towards the Keep’s bathes, Justice would wash separately due to his condition, but all of them were too tired for any kind of fuss.

“How’s your shoulder?” Luke asked, Nathaniel bumped into him with it in response. When no answer seemed forthcoming, Anders spoke.

He never did seem to like silence.

“I healed him before, it shouldn’t even be sore, and if it is, well, he knows where I sleep. I’ll probably wake up to him looming over me.”

Luke shook his head, while Sigrun laughed softly, none of them eager to be too loud.

“Come off it, I’d let you sleep.”

“It would ruin his stoic act.” Oghrin needled him, while they all started to find their second wind.

Luke bumped into Nathaniel again, and slowed to a halt. “You need to stop jumping between Couslands and danger. We can handle ourselves.”

Nathaniel scoffed slightly but halted so he could look at Luke. “It’s my job, as your Warden-Constable, to watch your back.” He softened, and added, “and my honor, as your friend, to be trusted to.”

Luke stepped up to him, before pulling Nathaniel into a hug. The other startled at the sudden embrace, before he raised his arms to return it.

“I know.” Luke promised him, “and you’ve earned both. But if anything happens to you, who’s going to look after them?” He pulled back, to gesture to the others.

Nathaniel tilted his head, giving Luke a strange look, while Sigrun asked the question he seemed to be thinking.

“Where will you be?”

Luke turned to the others, “Antiva, it seems.” He stepped back, so he could look at them all, “Zevran’s been gone this long trying to take down the Crows. If they are coming after me, he must be succeeding enough to anger them. This was either retribution, or an attempt to lure him out of hiding. Either way, they will continue to come, so I would rather go to them, and him.”

Velanna frowned, her mouth puckering and face growing harsh in the faint light from the windows. “Could it be retribution after he died? I don’t doubt your faith in him, but that one we had didn’t answer your question.”

Luke sucked in a breath through his teeth at the thought, before he shook his head. “I know he could die over there, that he could already be dead. But he wasn’t when that one left Antiva at least.”

“What makes you so certain?” Justice asked, Luke looked to the spirit, holding his strange gaze.

“If he was dead they would’ve used that against me. He’s alive, and being a pain.” Luke smiled fondly, “and I want to find him, and if I can, help him come home.”

“Then go.” Anders spoke up, with a teasing grin, “I, for one, want to meet him. See if he’s as charming as you made him out to be.”

Velanna inclined her head and added, “it would be nice to have another elf around, even if he is unfamiliar with our ways.”

Oghrin grunted, “you haven’t heard the two of them.”

Luke turned to give him a dirty look while Oghrin grunted again, and scratched his belly, “but he’s not bad. And you’re happier around him. Ancestors knows why.”

“That’s what happens when you’re in love, so I’m told.” Nathaniel replied, to which Oghrin shrugged and grumbled.

Luke ignored him, as Sigrun stepped up. “Go get him, I want to meet him before I die.”

“No dying before I come back with him.” Luke looked to Nathaniel again, “I’m sorry to dump everything here on you…”

“You’re not.” Nathaniel assured him, “Luke, I will take this if it means you get to go find him. And I will give it back when you return.”

Luke nodded jerkily and took a deep breath, to steady himself. “I’m not leaving immediately, we’ll get things taken care of here and we’ll go.”

“You should write your brother.” Anders leaned on his staff, “let him know you’re leaving. If Crows are like the Templars, they’ll be going through your mail, it’ll let them know to leave us alone. Since I think that’s part of why you want to go?”

Luke nodded, “good thinking Anders.”

“Do you go through our mail?”

“No, Sigrun. I don’t want to read what Oghrin writes.”

Velanna scoffed, “that would imply it’s legible.”

The laughter tumbled out before it turned to a spill, all of them tired, but tied together, Luke’s chest hurt, and for a moment he already missed them.

“Don’t cause problems for Nate. If you need to change Justice’s body while I’m gone just tell me when I get back.” Luke took a deep breath, “and you all better be here when I get back. I mean that, Sigrun.”

“We will,” Anders promised, with a grin, “I’ll even be good.”

“You’re never good, Mage,” Nathaniel teased, with a fond smile, “that’s why we like you. You’re welcome to your little excursions, where you claim you’re leaving the Wardens or whatever. Just be back before Luke is.”

Sigrun sighed heavily and gave Luke a put upon look, “I’ll reschedule my Calling. Because I do want to meet this elf of yours.”

Justice raised his head, “I will help to guide them, as best I can.”

Luke looked at Velanna. “I know this doesn’t feel fair. And, for whatever it’s worth, I am sorry.”

“I know.” Velanna looked away from him, frowning before she met his gaze again, “and I know why. So go, and don’t waste your time with him with guilt.”

“I won’t.” Luke promised, “and thank you. All of you. I can’t wait to introduce you all to him.”

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

travelogue: Flooded Caves, Crestwood

“You aren’t stuck, are you?” Dorian asks. 

The cave smells foul, damp and like death. Wooden ramps form a path down through a sinkhole and have not rotted away - not fully, not yet - the security they offer is, at best, dubious. As Ena found, not but a few moments ago, when she stepped towards the edge to squint into the darkness and the slats beneath her feet began to buckle. Rather than attempt to recover back onto the ramp, she simply leaped forward, aiming for the smooth, slippery stone forming the walls and edge of the sinkhole.

Really, it was an impressive jump, without a running start; more impressive that she hadn’t immediately slid off of the ledge she landed on.

Though said ledge remains barely wide enough for her to stand on, rounded, and about twelve feet below the proper path through the cave, where the ramp has deposited Dorian, Solas, and Cole.

“Maybe,” Ena says, running her hands across the stone above her head - wet, and smooth, and domed, and absolutely unsuitable for climbing. “I can probably find a better spot–”

She inches along the ledge and very slowly, very delicately, climbs up onto the next bit of stone that bumps out from the walls. It moves her further away from the ramp, but gives her a slightly higher vantage point. Not nearly enough to make it back to a secure position, and not even enough to boost her up onto the next ledge - another rounded bulge of stone whose only-vaguely flat top is even with the top of her head. 

“Do not try to make that jump,” Solas says.

Ena shuffles backwards, but her face is set, and they all know it: she is going to try to make that jump.

“Be careful,” Cole calls, an echo of how often Ena tells him, and everyone else, to be careful, when they’re scrambling up stones and steep embankments and she makes her way up with the ease of a mountain goat and then points out better paths for everyone who follows her.

Ena leaps, and throws her arms out along the stone, and tries to keep hold and pull the rest of her body up–

–and she insteads slides back and plummets into the darkness. Dorian casts a barrier - from the corner of his eyes he sees Solas do the same - and he has no idea whether either of them land. Ena’s scream cuts off quick, with a wet thump and a horrid crack that Dorian can only pray wasn’t her back or her neck. “Are you alive?” he calls.

“Yeah,” Ena calls back, and she sounds - well, unhurt enough to sound particularly put-out about this whole situation.

“She’s embarrassed,” Cole says.

“She’d better be,” Dorian says. “That was embarrassing.”

Solas snorts.

A glowing hot coal of red and orange cuts apart the darkness.

The only magic Ena has is in her left hand, and it glows green.

“It’s angry,” Cole says. “It’s angry and she’s hurting. We should help, fast. She always takes the quickest way down. We should do the same.”

Solas casts another barrier. 

“She owes us for this one,” Dorian says, and the three of them step off the edge.

[breakingdiamondboi]

Thunderclash: Your unending confidence is inspiring to everyone and your spark is a supernova for those fortunate to witness its flare! Rodimus, my dearest Prime, you are my light within this dark universe! Rodimus: ...I don't know if I should be flattered or disgusted.

[retrorevelations]

For Throwback Thursday, here's a piece I did on one of my favorite actors of all time, and someone FAR more people need to recognize and appreciate, the singular Roddy McDowall. A fantastic actor, with an amazing voice, there was no one else like him.