#ruhnlidia were the best part

[mystical-blaise]

I'm baaaack

Welp. I finished HOFAS and finally, after letting my feelings and thoughts marinate for a few days, wrote my review and posted on Goodreads, but I'll put my ratings for CC here:

My Crescent City Series Ratings:

House of Earth and Blood: 4----⭐⭐⭐⭐

House of Sky and Breath: 5-----⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

House of Flame and Shadow: 3.5-⭐⭐⭐✨

[vulpes-fennec]

Fanservice for Your Fanfiction (pt. 2)

Summary: Gwyneth Berdara is a full-time student, part-time fanfiction writer. When her best friend (who she may or may not have a crush on), Azriel Shadowsinger, finds out that she writes smutty fanfiction, Gwyn cannot imagine showing her face ever again. (Gwynriel Modern AU one (two?) shot)

ATTENTION: MILD CRESCENT CITY HOSAB SPOILERS! A CC SHIP HAS BEEN REFERENCED IN THIS WORK!

For @gwynrielweeksofficial NSFW day

Read: Part 1 | AO3

In the last 96 hours, whenever Gwyn replayed the way Azriel tenderly cupped her face or how he smiled against her lips, she was sent into a blushing, heart-fluttering mess. Friday night had passed with plenty of cuddling and heavy make-out sessions between attempts to study organic chemistry. Despite how well-acquainted they’d become with each others’ mouths, Azriel kept a disappointingly respectable distance from Gwyn as he walked her home. 

The Ruhnlidia elevator makeout session that Gwyn hammered out in the wee hours of the morning was a subsequent hit. Waking up past noon on Saturday, Gwyn found an interesting comment on the chapter she’d just published.  

AzPizzaz: Great chapter! I enjoyed it a lot, can’t wait for more ;)

Thanks to a packed start of the week, she hadn’t spoken to Azriel since Friday night. Save for the comment he’d left, it had also been radio silence from him. That made Gwyn anxious. Especially when they hadn’t discussed what their “relationship” was now. 

Ugh, maybe he is waiting for me to make the next move? Az told me he liked me…you’d think that would be clear enough! Why are boys so confusing?

Gwyn was tempted to seek advice from Nesta and Emerie. But part of her wanted to keep things under wraps, until she and Azriel had a proper “define-the-relationship” talk. Resolving to take action, Gwyn bought four cupcakes from the gardening club’s bake sale, donned a cute shirt and short skirt, and made her way to the boys’ apartment. Cassian answered the door after the second knock. “Cupcakes?!? For me?” he asked eagerly. 

“No, they’re obviously for Azriel.” Nesta appeared behind her boyfriend, rolling her eyes. “Come on in, Gwyn.”

Gwyn blushed at Nesta’s comment. “I actually bought enough for all of us to have one.” She set the box down on the haphazard kitchen counter and looked around the room. Is Azriel even home? 

Cassian smirked. “Azriel’s in the shower right now. Just got out of practice.” 

“Oh…” Gwyn trailed off. Just a few yards away from her, Azriel was probably lathering his hair with soapy suds, the water running down his body in thin rivulets. Would he be stepping into the hallway with a towel around his waist, steam swirling around him? Cauldron, Gwyn, get a hold of yourself! Don’t think about this stuff in public! Gwyn blinked rapidly. This is becoming a problem. 

Cassian strode over to the bathroom door and knocked loudly. “Az! Can Gwyn chill in your room? Nesta and I are leaving.” he called out. 

“What?” Gwyn’s heart inevitably picked up at the sound of Azriel’s muffled reply over the gushing water. Cassian repeated himself. After a longer pause, Azriel responded with a “yeah, go for it.”

“Wait, where are you going?” Gwyn asked, bewildered. “I thought we were planning our spring break trip tonight?”

“Sorry, Cassian and I have a dinner reservation,” Nesta said, not sounding very apologetic at all. “But I’ll still plan with you when we get back. You’ll be okay chilling here, right?”

“Of course I’ll be okay,” Gwyn replied smoothly, trying to hide the fact that she was internally panicking. Because being alone with Az is anything BUT chill. What if he doesn’t want to talk about us? What if he just wants to be friends with benefits? I don’t think I can handle it if he did…

“Have a nice dinner!” she called out weakly as Nesta and Cassian hustled out.

Settling back on Azriel’s bed brought a fresh wave of cheek-reddening memories. Azriel had lavished little kisses on her freckles here just a few days ago. He had snuggled her tight against his muscled body, hands lazily threading themselves through her hair as they lay in comfortable silence. 

Yep, that’s the pillow I was laying on. Oh, and the corner of the bed frame he pushed me up against. Oh gods….Gwyn squared away those thoughts by opening up her laptop and flicking through the open tabs. Anything to get her mind off Azriel. Flights to the tropical beaches of Adriata. Hotels. Rainforest tours. Bikini shopping. And her Ruhnlidia work-in-progress draft. 

I guess I should work on that, since Nesta isn’t even here to plan and I don’t want to do homework. Her fingers tapped out a few sentences:

Ruhn’s brains were disorientingly thick, as if he’d woken up with a hangover. He must’ve been knocked unconscious. How long had he been out for? When Ruhn’s vision swam back into view, he realized he was tied to a large chair in the middle of a storage room, unable to budge an inch…

“Hey.” Gwyn’s eyes snapped up at the sound of Azriel’s amused voice. Her greeting died in her throat when she saw him casually leaning against the doorframe, wearing only a pair of thick black sweatpants. Not quite a towel, but…oh, fuck. Az is shirtless. 

Gwyn had never seen Azriel shirtless, and—sweet Mother help her—he was beautiful. His muscled arms were crossed over sculpted, warm brown pectorals. Which were followed by a toned abdomen that eventually led down, down, down to the low-slung waistline of his sweatpants. Gwyn was vaguely aware of licking her lips, just a little bit. A movement that Azriel had undoubtedly noticed when a reciprocating fire flared in his eyes.  

Gwyn created a little rectangle with her thumbs and index fingers, leaning back so that Azriel fit right in the picture frame. “Actually, take a little step to your left. And put your right arm up against the doorframe.”

Azriel complied with a grin, his extended arm stretching his toned physique. “For research purposes, I need you to give me a smolder, too.” Gwyn blushed when his boyish smile morphed into a smirk, his hazel eyes blinking slowly with a sultry intensity. “Well, well, well. AzPizzaz, you’re a natural at fanservice.”

“Fanservice?” Azriel’s chuckle burst the bubble of anxiety around Gwyn. It was hard to feel awkward around him for long, especially when he made her feel safe and fuzzy inside. 

“Yeah, like doing hot poses or flirty actions that make viewers scream with delight.”

Azriel blinked, as if not quite comprehending what Gwyn meant. “Well, happy to be of service anytime. Mind if I join you on the bed?” 

“Of-of course not, it’s your bed after all.” Gwyn tried to keep her voice light and casual as he clambered onto the bed, his still-damp hair hanging in front of his eyes. Stop thinking about it—nope, I failed already. Gwyn had pictured Azriel crawling to her across the bed on all fours in another context.

To Gwyn’s immense surprise, Azriel situated himself behind her, nestling her between his legs. Strong hands gently massaged her shoulders, relieving some of the very tension she felt leading up to his entrance. He carefully scooped her long coppery hair to one side, and pressed his soft mouth against her neck. Right where her jaw cut just below the ear. Gwyn gasped softly, tipping her head slightly. 

“You okay?” Azriel stiffened, pulling away. 

“Yeah. It feels nice,” Gwyn replied. “I like it.” She leaned back against Azriel’s warm body for emphasis, to reassure him that it was alright. Azriel relaxed, resuming his gentle kisses along her neck. She tried to return to her working document: 

…unable to budge an inch. A flash of upswept blonde hair in the shadows, and then Agent Cervos emerged, stalking towards him like a lioness playing with her food…

Maybe she could arch her neck a little, just to give him more access? Azriel’s hands wrapped almost possessively around her waist. He hugged her close, gently caging her between his muscled arms. 

Concentrate, concentrate. But it was impossible to do so, when Azriel’s callused hands dipped below the hem of her shirt, skating her bare waist in little circles. She shivered. This boy is dangerously good at multitasking. 

…like a lioness playing with her food…

Gwyn lost her train of thought again when Azriel’s warm lips lingered a bit longer than usual. Gwyn tried to keep her breathing casual and steady; surely the thrumming pulse under Azriel’s lips was already a dead giveaway for how her heart raced. 

“I missed you,” Azriel confessed quietly, his breath hot along her collarbone. 

“Me too,” Gwyn practically squeaked as he sucked on her the nape of her neck lightly. Cauldron, did he learn this from reading my fanfiction? Or is this a technique he picked up all on his own?

“What are you up to?” Azriel finally looked up from her shoulder. 

“I’m trying…I’m trying to write a s-scenario.” Gwyn could not speak coherently. The fact that he was reading her writing in real time also made her self-conscious.

“Trying,” Azriel teased, his hands traveling a bit higher and causing her mind to short circuit.

“And you’re not helping,” Gwyn replied hotly. “I want Ruhn straddled while tied up in a chair. But I don’t know what to do next.” 

“How about I pretend to be Ruhn, to speed up the creative process?” Azriel suggested. “If you’re okay with it, obviously. I have a pair of handcuffs.” 

Gwyn turned around to stare at Azriel incredulously. “Is this what Cassian meant when he brought up your kinks?” she gasped. 

“Maybe.” Azriel sheepishly shook his head.

“AzPizzaz, what other kinks do you have?” 

“Let’s save them for another day,” he said quickly. “Today is all about your vision. Also, are you going to call me AzPizzaz from now on?” 

“What’s wrong with AzPizzaz? You’re the one who came up with it yourself.” 

“Nothing. Just making sure you won’t call me that when I’m…helping you out. It might kill the vibe.”

“I have a feeling your ‘help’ is more for your benefit than mine.” Gwyn swatted his arm playfully. “Would you prefer I call you other names, then? Let’s see…babe? Daddy? Az? Sir?” Azriel’s poker face shifted slightly at the last word. Jackpot. Oh, I’m definitely going to use that to my advantage one day, Gwyn vowed.

Azriel rolled his eyes. “If you’re trying to figure out my kinks, you’re not going to have much luck.” Gwyn folded her arms across her chest and pouted slightly. 

“Fine. But your days of keeping your questionable search history private are numbered, Az. Now are you going to get those handcuffs out, or not?” 

Azriel disentangled himself from her and obediently opened the bottom drawer of his dresser. Gwyn craned her neck, trying to see if he had any other interesting things in there. Chains? Whips? Vibrators? Cock rings? Butt plugs?

“Snoop.” Azriel shut the drawer before she could see anything, and grinned as he held up a pair of silver cuffs. 

Gwyn’s jaw dropped open and she laughed. “Gods, you were serious about having handcuffs.” 

Azriel dragged a wooden, straight-backed chair in from the dining table. His ankles were secured to their respective chairlegs with ties, and he allowed Gwyn to loop a longer rope around his torso and the chair’s backing. Azriel’s wrists were cuffed neatly in his lap, the key set down far away on his desk. 

“Okay, ready?” Gwyn asked, feeling all at once excited and nervous. She perched on the far end of the bed, watching Azriel test the security of the ties. It was surreal, seeing her friend—her crush—in a position like this.  

“Whenever you’re ready,” Azriel answered gamely. Gwyn took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes, she was ready. Azriel met her gaze with a steady stare of his own, and jerked his hands and shoulders for dramatic flair. 

“I suggest you stop struggling before you tip over the chair. I doubt you can do much with your hands tied,” Gwyn observed lightly, though she eyed Azriel’s hands with interest.

“Come a little closer, agent, and I’ll show you just what I’m capable of,” he retorted. Okay, now we’re getting somewhere, Gwyn smirked. Here we go. Azriel’s eyes trailed up her long legs as she approached. “And take off your underwear while you’re at it,” he added, something lean and ravenous awakening in his eyes. 

“I-I didn’t—” Gwyn broke character, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Az literally offered to “help” out with the smut scenes, Gwyn told herself, so he definitely wants this just as me. He won’t judge me, right? Azriel currently appeared cool and collected, whereas Gwyn felt like a fumbling adolescent. “I didn’t shave.” 

“I don’t think Ruhn cares very much about that.” Azriel raised an eyebrow, then lowered his voice. “I know I sure as hell don’t.” 

Gwyn nodded mutely and slipped her underwear down her legs, careful to keep Azriel from seeing anything under her skirt. She grimaced slightly at the plain white granny briefs on the ground, but quickly realized they didn’t matter. Azriel’s eyes had zeroed in on her panties as if they were a delectable piece of lingerie. 

“Gods, what a treat,” Azriel groaned. “Today must be my lucky day.” 

Gwyn took a slow turn around the chair Azriel was bound to, making sure she swayed her hips a little. She was tantalizingly close, so close that if Azriel’s hands were not cuffed in his lap, he probably could have run his hands up her inner thigh or squeezed her ass. He certainly looked tortured, as his chest rose and fell more sharply and as he tracked her stride with the expression of a hungry man.

“Ready for a confession, are we?” she crooned.

“Just come here already,” Azriel growled.

“I suppose I can indulge you a little before you start begging for mercy.” Gwyn gave him a smug smile as she straddled the chair, spreading her legs across Azriel’s stretched thighs. There was a slight strain in her thighs as she hovered over his black sweatpants. He jerked his cuffed hands forward, as if trying to lift her skirt hem, but Gwyn grabbed his wrist before he could. 

“Oh no,” she said. “Only good boys get to touch.” Gwyn pushed his hands up so that they were positioned flat against his abs. The position was slightly awkward, so Gwyn made a silent note of that. “I have a few questions for you, agent.”

“Give me all you’ve got, then,” Azriel smirked. “Why don’t you have a seat on my lap first? You seem a little tired, pretty dove.” 

Gwyn complied, feeling the cool air tingle her bare skin as she settled on Azriel’s spread thighs. She could have stayed in character and asked Azriel questions pertaining to her story, see how he would improvise. But instead, she asked, “How long have you liked me?” 

Pleasant surprise flared in Azriel’s eyes. “Since the last week of school our freshman year,” he responded. “How long have you—”

“Ah, ah, ah,” Gwyn placed a finger on his lips. “I’m the one who gets to ask questions around here.” She winked when Azriel rolled his eyes. “Now. What do you like about me?”  

“Everything.”

Now it was Gwyn’s turn to roll her eyes. “I’m going to need a better answer than that.”

“Fine. You always try to see the brighter side, even in your lowest moments. You are generous, you are hard-working…you make me laugh and you make me feel complete.” 

“How sentimental of you,” Gwyn said coolly, trying to keep herself from smiling like a lovesick fool. “Anything else you’d like to add?” 

Azriel’s hazel eyes flicked up and down her seated position. “I like that you’re sitting on my lap, wearing nothing under that little skirt. And I’m sure I’ll like the noises you make by the time this…interrogation is over.”

“What an indecent thing to say,” Gwyn scoffed, though her blood heated at his words. “I should gag your vulgar mouth until you decide to stop misbehaving.” 

“I think not. Otherwise, how else would you be able to properly kiss me?”

“Who says I want to kiss you?” Gwyn demanded hotly. 

“I think the fact that you blush whenever I look at you is a dead giveaway. And the way you’ve been clenching your thighs around me…who’s really in control of this cross-examination, hmm?” Azriel’s voice was laced with arrogance, though his eyes were fixed on her lips. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I could make you come from my words alone—”

“Shut up,” Gwyn snapped, knowing he was spot on with those observations. “I’m in control, Shadowsinger.” With that, she kissed him hungrily before he could say anything else. 

While one hand kept his handcuffed wrists in place, the other was behind his neck, greedily preventing him from pulling away. Gwyn sighed softly with content as his tongue delved into her mouth. Azriel was right about one thing: kissing him through a gag would not have been as nice. His teeth lightly bit down on her bottom lip between labored breaths. 

“Look at me,” Gwyn ordered, her voice sounding foreign to her ears as she threaded her hands through Azriel’s damp locks and tugged them backwards. His swollen lips, red-tinged cheeks, and slightly glazed over eyes had Gwyn’s stomach fluttering. “Good boy.”

Gwyn released his wrists so that she could tug his head back and trace the strong column of his throat. She shifted slightly in his lap, rubbing her pussy against his hardened erection. And it was Azriel who had to stifle his gasp this time. He tried to thrust his hips upwards, but the limited freedom of movement had him groaning in frustration as Gwyn canted her hips again.     

“Love, you’re making a mess on me,” Azriel murmured, sounding dazed after several moments of deep kisses. 

“Sorry.” Gwyn blushed, breaking character and standing up. A damp patch pooled where their bodies had met. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d been grinding against his cock, which was now visibly straining underneath the black sweats. Cauldron boil and fry me, she marveled, oh his dick is big. 

“No, please…keep doing it.” He gave her a knowing look, and then adjusted his wrists so that they were positioned between his legs. “But on my hands instead.” 

When Gwyn shyly sat down again, Azriel wasted no time flicking his middle and index fingers through her slick folds. He whistled quietly at how wet he found her, making her squirm in his lap. Gwyn inhaled a shaky breath as his fingers stroked her slowly and luxuriously, dipping deeper and deeper with each pass. 

Azriel kept his eyes trained on her face, carefully watching her for any signs of discomfort as he slowly inserted both fingers into her pussy. “How are you doing?” he asked quietly. 

“Perfect,” Gwyn gasped out as he pulled his fingers out and dipped them in again. There had been some tightness at first, mostly due to nervousness, but the soft attentiveness in Azriel’s eyes made her feel safe. “You can go faster, if you want, Az.”

The multitude of sensations that followed made Gwyn’s head spin. The cold metal of the handcuffs was a delightful sensation against her skin, and they jangled slightly whenever she bucked her hips forward to meet Azriel’s thrusts. The scars on his fingers were even noticeable along her walls, something she had never considered, and Gwyn bit back a wail when he tapped a sensitive spot deep within her. 

“I want to taste you so bad,” Azriel groaned. Soft sweatpants chafed the skin of her inner thighs, sending shivers racing up her legs.

“Well I’m not letting you out of those handcuffs, agent,” Gwyn panted out, still bouncing on his fingers. “Not until I finish with you.” 

“Please,” Azriel whimpered. “At least take your shirt off for me.” Gwyn shook her head vigorously. “Please, Gwyn.”

His whine was enough to convince Gwyn. She swept her soft tee off, and even took off her bra, for added measure. She should have gone slowly, could have done a little strip tease in front of Azriel to cause more anguish. But his expression, one of a man who had practically died and gone to heaven, was priceless. 

“So beautiful, Gwyn,” he groaned. “You’re prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.” Gwyn blushed. Azriel’s bound hands boosted her higher, eliciting a startled sound from Gwyn when his face was promptly buried in her chest. 

“Oh gods,” she cried out when his mouth closed over her breast, tongue swirling over her nipple, she cried out. Plenty of one-night stands had executed the same moves before, but it was different with Azriel. Despite her straddling him, he was definitely in control now.

Gwyn had to place her hands on Azriel’s shoulders to steady herself as Azriel continued to finger her deftly. Azriel’s thumb was in the perfect position to rub her clit while she trembled on his hand. Multitasking…yep, this boy is a menace with his multitasking.  

“Do you like that, pretty girl?” he rasped, voice muffled between her breasts. Azriel’s strong nose tickled her sternum, his breath hot and his tongue wet. The slick sounds grew louder and louder.

“Yes!” Gwyn panted as he sucked on the underside of her breast in between thrusts. She ground herself against his hand and shoved up against his face, not caring if she was suffocating Azriel. 

All lines of thought had been chased away by the growing pressure in her abdomen. Gwyn threw her head back in pleasure, chasing the high that was somewhere between the attention Azriel’s mouth provided and the rhythm of his fingers going in and out, in and out of her pussy. 

“Does my pretty captor want my mission intel? Or does she want to come?” The deep rumble of Azriel’s voice vibrated down her body. In her head, Gwyn knew that Lidia would choose the intel. Lidia would get the intel, hop off Ruhn, and then play with herself while making him watch. But Gwyn knew sure as hell what her answer would be. 

“I want to come, sir. Please, Azriel. I’ll let you out of those handcuffs, if you make me come. Please, sir,” Gwyn found herself saying. 

“Fuck,” Azriel choked out as his hips involuntarily thrust upward. The abrupt motion, coupled with his teeth scraping the sensitive side of her breast, resulted in Gwyn clenching down on his fingers. She sagged bonelessly down Azriel’s lap, moaning softly into his neck as his thumb rubbed her clit to prolong her release.

“Cauldron.” Gwyn found her voice again after several moments. She glanced at the floor length mirror on the wall: her short skirt hitched up and showing off the curve of her ass, her breasts littered with small love bites. Azriel’s muscled chest, his freshly tousled hair, his expression of smug satisfaction. “We look kind of hot.” 

Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. “You always look hot, Gwyn.” Realizing his hand must be sore, Gwyn reluctantly extracted herself from them, to find the keys. But before she could unlock the cuffs, Azriel brought both hands to his face and tasted the two fingers that were previously inside her. He released his fingers with a pop, swiping his tongue along his bottom lip. “You taste great, too.” Gwyn blushed, her fingers fumbling with the locks. 

“By the way, how the hell did you know I liked to be called ‘sir’?” Azriel asked indignantly once Gwyn released him. He reached over and gave her ass an affectionate squeeze before she could dart away. 

Gwyn laughed. “I can read you like a book, you know.” Azriel made a disgruntled noise when she slipped her bra, underwear, and shirt back on. “It’s cold, Az!” 

Azriel scowled adorably. “You know I could keep you warm if we just cuddled for a bit longer.” 

“You know I’m not one to turn down cuddles.” Gwyn walked over to where Azriel now stood, and rubbed his wrists gently to soothe any abrasions from the cuffs. A quiet intimacy befell them. 

Azriel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and affectionately kissed her forehead. “I actually…I actually wanted to ask you something,” he started hesitantly. “Would you like to go on a date? With me? I know we are moving pretty fast. And you don’t have to give me your answer now, but—”

“Yes, Az.” Gwyn smiled at his runaway blabbering. “I’d love to go on a date with you.” Visible relief stretched across his face. “On one condition,” Gwyn added. “What we just did was super hot. I loved it. And I’m down to experiment with new stuff for my smutty writing. But unless I say otherwise, I want you to be yourself. Just you.” 

“Really? Because I’ve got a lot of different ways to provide fanservice for your fanfiction—”

“I’m serious, Az! No fictional man could ever compare to you, okay? You don’t need to change who you are for me.”

“Alright, alright. I promise to be myself.” Azriel hugged Gwyn close. 

“Does that include your kinks?” Gwyn turned her teal eyes up at him hopefully.

“Gwyneth!”

Tags (those who have asked/requested pt. 2 on my original post): @octobers-veryown, @damedechance, @shadowriel, @almosttenaciousmoon, @nymphhazel5

[bookofmirth]

Could I just dare to say that Bryathalar became a little not interesting? I'm glad that the CC books don't focus on romantic relationships, have a dual POV and we get to see other relationships develope. I actually quite loved Bryathalar in the first book because that's where they met and their relationship didn't start all sweet. I liked how it developed, how it turned into a friendship and I loved their friendship. I liked that we got to see them fall in love on page. But because we have seen it all in CC1, I didn't really care about that ship anymore in the second book. I still love their banter and that they’re a team, it's just that there wasn't such angst and tension between them. It was basically them bantering, sexy times here and there and solving political problems and secrets. Only in the end of hosab did Bryathalar catch my attention, because chances are that Hunt won't remember Bryce and their times together. With Bryce now in Prythian and Hunt being a slave again and maybe not remembering Bryce, I'm dying to know how it will turn out and them falling in love again is something I'm kinda interested in seeing it.

The reason why I didn't mind Bryathalar in hosab that much was because the focus wasn't on them 24/7. I'm glad that we got to see more of Ithan and him finding a new family. I just loved the friendship between Ruhn, Dec and Flynn. Ruhnlidia?? PERFECTION. Lidia/ agent daybright herself? ALSO PERFECTION. I liked the quite friendship between Hunt and Baxian. Ruhn and Bryce's siblings bond. Also... other ships such as Ariadne and Flynn? Ithan and that wolf? Yeah. There were parts that didn't sit right with me such as Tharion's POV and Danika's secrets again and more, but the good parts overshadow the bad ones for me.

I think that is why I won't be able to ship El/riel. Like ever. It's just because they basically have no tension, they've always been nice and polite to each other and now they’re sexual attracted. I'm just not interest in ships where the couple is already interested in each other. Worst of all is when they don't even banter, or hold a conversation for at least 2 minutes. El/riel bores me. I can't read a book of just them alone, where they only have secret sex until they finally confess their love for each other. I love Gwynriel and the whole "glowing chest" "a thing of secret lovely beauty" because I tressure fluff scenes and meaningful friendships than sexual attraction. I'm interested In Gwynriel because I would like to see them slowly becoming friends, then more than friends without Azriel realizing. I would like to see Azriel not knowing what this glowing thing in his chest is and I want to see the "Oh sh*t" moments when he slowly sees her in a different light.

But Elucien is the most interesting couple and they are the best. They have a whole lot of tension, so much potential for an angsty, slowburn love story. I'm very interested in how Elucien would start, keep the story going and then end it. They have the big potential that Nessian didn't even have.

I'm just not a fan of Love stories where the couple is already interested in one another, That's why I never had a moment of shipping Chaol with Nesryn, or Alina with Mal (I don't ship Darklina). Maybe sometimes there is an exception, but that's not always the case.

Personally, quinlar/brythalar isn't very interesting because I don't like Bryce XD. She is so deeply, deeply unsympathetic to anything he feels of experiences. But I get your thinking! I think I'll have to reread at some point just to refresh my memory before acotar 4.5 I mean CC3 comes out. I do totally agree with you that the narrative being split up so we follow other characters besides Bryce and Hunt was really helpful in keeping my interest, personally.

Totally agree that Ruhn and Lidia are amazing! They stole the show for me. Whenever I reread, it will be for them and them only.

tbh, I think that Az's character is way too interesting - and I say this grudgingly, as someone who isn't his biggest fan - to languish in a relationship that's so... sedate. It would be so one note. They've had two years to explore whatever they wanted to explore, and it was... that??? Really? No thanks.

Elucien tension is so freaking good right now. I am SO CURIOUS what they are thinking, how they are feeling. They are both so fucking polite and I want them to get MAD and say what is on their minds!!! I can't wait until they do.

[vulpes-fennec]

Fanservice for Your Fanfiction 🧪

Summary: Gwyneth Berdara is a full-time student, part-time fanfiction writer. When her best friend (who she may or may not have a crush on), Azriel Shadowsinger, finds out that she writes smutty fanfiction, Gwyn cannot imagine showing her face ever again. (Gwynriel Modern AU one (two?) shot)

ATTENTION: MILD CRESCENT CITY HOSAB SPOILERS! A CC SHIP HAS BEEN REFERENCED IN THIS WORK!

Read: AO3

Azriel Shadowsinger’s tanned biceps and calves rippled in his black uniform as he leapt, blocking the volleyball hurtling towards the back of the court. The stone cold intensity of his expression was enough to send a delicious shiver down Gwyneth Berdara’s spine.

Write that down, write that down! Gwyn opened her notes app, jotting down a quick description of Azriel. The open chemistry textbook in her lap was completely forgotten as her friend scored consecutive points on the floor. 

“The pitch black hair tousled across his forehead was quickly pushed back, allowing his hazel eyes to track the University of Rhodes team. They narrowed as he sized up his opponents, waiting to intercept their next move.”

Notification bubbles popped up on her screen. 

Nesta: When are you going to post another fanfic update?!?

Emerie: I’m waiting to see what Ruhn and Lidia are going to do next in the trapped elevator ;) 

Gwyn sighed at the texts from her best friends. She had an ongoing Crescent City fanfiction featuring Ruhnlidia, but her writer’s block had been an impenetrable wall. Her lists of meet-cutes, sex scenes, and romance tropes were exhausted. The lackluster sex from her date with Isaac Hale, a graduate student she’d met on a dating app last week, was uninspiring. 

She’d always been an avid reader. When Gwyn was sexually harassed at a frat party her freshman year, she’d spoken to a counselor and her girl friends. And Az, who had thrown a punch at the guy harassing her that fateful night. But reading romance novels was her safe space, for no fictional man could ever physically hurt her. When Gwyn progressed to reading smut, and then writing fanfiction, she felt like she was reclaiming her interest in sex. But she needed real experience, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to try with Az. She didn’t want to ruin the banter-filled friendship they already had.    

Even though Gwyn harbored a massive crush on Azriel, she always felt icky about a) having sexual fantasies about him, and b) employing said daydreams in her fanfictions. Azriel would probably run away screaming if he even found out she liked him. Which was why she’d been casually dating a string of guys the last year, trying to get over her crush. It’s hard not to fantasize about him when he’s so handsome, though, she sighed, eyeing him from the bleachers. Especially when I have writer’s block and the Azriel-inspired fics are always the most popular. 

The University of Velaris’s volleyball team had won. As soon as he could, Azriel broke away from his team’s huddle and lithely jogged up the bleachers towards Gwyn. “Hey,” he said, offering her an easy smile that made her heart sing. “Thanks for coming to the game.” Sweat glistened on his cheeks and shoulders, but she didn’t mind.  

“Hey,” she grinned back. “Sorry I couldn’t get here earlier. My shift at the library ran late.”

He shrugged, muscles fluidly flexing under his uniform again. Gwyn averted her eyes to avoid ogling. “It’s okay. You’ve shown up to more of my games than anyone else in the friend group.” 

Gwyn chuckled. “You know I’m your biggest supporter, Az.” If only he knew.

“I appreciate it.” Azriel offered her another smile, and then glanced down at her textbook. “How’s that going? We’ve got a quiz coming up next week.”

“I finished the problem set,” she said casually. “You want to study together for the quiz tomorrow?” 

Azriel’s eyebrows lifted slightly before he replied, “For sure. Cassian and Nesta are visiting Feyre, so you can study at my place, if you want.” 

Azriel was frustratingly smart. Like, barely-study-and-still-get-good-grades kind of smart. Gwyn wished she could say the same for herself. She had no idea what behooved him to ask her to study together for their statistics class in freshman year, but they became study buddies for every class they shared since. Gwyn treasured the moments they spent together over the years, passing time quietly reading, discussing schoolwork, and generally getting to know each other better. 

“Sounds good! Go take a shower before dinner so I don’t have to smell your sweaty armpits.” 

Azriel’s laugh as he walked away warmed her heart. “You must’ve mixed me up with all the hooligans from Rhodes, Berdara. I smell great,” he called over his shoulder. Gwyn merely rolled her eyes and texted her friends back. 

Gwyn: It’ll be up by Friday! Can’t wait for you guys to read the spicy scene! 

***Later that night***

Gwyn was sat at one of the cafes near the school campus, eating dinner with her friends. Azriel chowed down cooked greens across from her, freshly showered and looking stoically handsome. Going out to eat was a Thursday night tradition that their friend group held sacred, especially once their schedules diverged after freshman year.

“So, Gwyn,” Cassian started once there was a lull in the conversation. “What inspires you to write these smutty stories?” 

Gwyn froze, her fork of pasta halfway to her mouth. “W-what?” 

Nesta shot her a guilty look. “Cassian and I were watching a Youtube video on my phone when you sent that text,” she said apologetically. “He wanted to read your fanfiction, so I showed him your profile.”  

“Yep. Teal underscore Valkyrie? Nice username,” Cassian nodded approvingly. “The Valkyries were pretty cool women in Norse mythology.” Blood thundered in Gwyn’s ears and she could literally feel her pale face turning a furious shade of red. Azriel’s hazel gaze across the table was boring into her, she just knew it. She could feel it. 

I should have never started writing fanfiction…this is a huge mistake. “Oh gods,” she wailed into her hands, “no one was supposed to know about this.” Cassian had innocently yanked away the sense of security Gwyn’s online anonymity had given her. Her deepest, darkest desires and hopeless romantic fantasies were out in the open, like they’d burst from Pandora’s box. 

“Hey, hey, hey,” Cassian said defensively. “I thought it was really good! It gave me and Nesta some ideas to try in bed!” Azriel, who was sitting next to him, choked. 

“Oh gods, oh gods,’ Gwyn muttered. This was her worst nightmare. It was one thing for Nesta and Emerie to know that she wrote smut, but if the rest of her friends found out that she was “teal_valkyrie” online, she would have to transfer schools. And if Az ever read her works…she may as well kiss any chance of him liking her back goodbye.

“Why are you so embarrassed?” Azriel asked, having recovered. 

“It’s because now you all know I write smut in my free time!” Gwyn cried, refusing to look up. “You’ll all think I have weird sexual fantasies, or that I am a shit writer—” 

“Well I know Azriel can’t say anything about your sexual fantasies, because he probably has more questionable kinks,” Cassian laughed. Gwyn looked up to see Azriel shooting Cassian a deadly glare to shut the fuck up. Azriel has KINKS?!? Gwyn turned a deeper shade of red. In her imagination, Azriel gamely went along with her kinks. It never occurred to her that he would have certain preferences, even though she knew damn well he’d been on plenty of dates with other girls. And probably had plenty of sex with said girls. I’m not jealous, definitely not jealous, she told herself. 

“Gwyn actually has a lot of traffic and engagement on her fanfics,” Emerie added, trying to shift the conversation away from the smut. “She’s one of the more popular authors for the Ruhn and Lidia ship.” 

“Yeah, I’m just trying to practice my writing,” Gwyn muttered. “The whole trying to become a published author thing, remember?”

Azriel looked surprised. “I didn’t know you wanted to be an author.” His hazel eyes regarded her curiously. 

“Right, because I’m a biology major.”

“Well…yes. But you’ve never brought it up to me. You should’ve, though.” Gwyn met his golden brown eyes, which possessed no trace of judgment or negativity. Azriel held her teal stare, as if trying to convey something deeper. 

“You can be supportive by giving Gwyn’s fanfics some more clicks,” Nesta suggested cheerily, breaking the strange tension that had settled between Azriel and Gwyn.  

“Oh gods, please no,” groaned Gwyn. Azriel smirked, a gesture that made her feel like a fizzy champagne bubble. 

He leaned over to steal a meatball from her plate. “If you ever need inspiration, Berdara, I’m happy to help,” he said in a strangely husky tone before popping the meatball into his mouth. Gwyn reeled from shock: Azriel had teased her plenty during their friendship, but he had never said anything quite so suggestive.

Emerie let out a loud giggle and Nesta smacked Azriel in the arm for his crude comment. He’s bluffing with me, Gwyn thought. He just wants to see me flustered like everybody else. So she tilted her head at Azriel, meeting his smirking hazel eyes. “Thanks! I think I’ll take you up on that someday, Shadowsinger!” she chirped with extra cheeriness. Gwyn gave him a victorious grin as his eyes widened and his face grew flustered, reaching over to snag a broccoli from his plate.  

***The next day***

Alright Gwyneth, Gwyn resolved to herself as she trekked over to Azriel and Cassian’s apartment the following evening. Gwyn had debated whether she should dress cute, but opted to wear a baggy sweater and comfortable pants instead. You’re going to study hard, and not get distracted by Azriel. You’re going to divert all fanfiction-related conversation back to organic chemistry. You can do this. We’ve had plenty of normal, boring study sessions before. 

If you ever need inspiration, Berdara, I’m happy to help. She’d fretted all day over Azriel’s suggestive comment from the day before, replaying it in her head a million times. Did I make things awkward by going along with it? There’s no way Az has time to read my fanfiction. He hasn’t texted me to cancel, so he was probably joking about it. Hopefully he doesn’t realize I like him…The door swung open shortly after her first knock, as if he’d been waiting for her to arrive. “Hi!” she exclaimed, a tad too brightly. 

Azriel smiled back. “Hey. Thanks for being down to study with me.” Gwyn bit back the urge to correct him, that she was the one who had proposed studying together. They walked down the hall to Azriel’s room, which Gwyn had studied in countless times before.

“Oh my gosh, is that chocolate?” she squealed. There were several bars of her favorite chocolates on a plate. “How’d you know I loved these chocolates?” 

“I just found them in our cupboard,” he said casually, fidgeting with his hands. “We need some snacks to get us through o-chem.” 

The two students settled across from each other, with Gwyn sitting on Azriel’s comfy bed and Azriel sitting at his desk. Gwyn helped herself to some of the chocolates, the sweet milky taste helping her destress. 

Gwyn could not resist stealing glances at Azriel between review questions, appreciating how his soft black t-shirt stretched over his broad shoulders. How the warm light made his tan skin glow. How he would occasionally run a scarred hand through his black hair, mussing it in a criminally sexy way.

“So…I read your fanfiction.” Azriel’s voice broke their studying mode after just ten minutes. Like he’d been dying to bring it up to her.

“Oh gods, not the fanfiction again,” she cried. Gwyn curled into a ball, grabbing a pillow to cover her face. She couldn’t bear to look at him, knowing he’d read her cheesy, clumsy smut. If you ever need inspiration, Berdara, I’m happy to help. HELP ME?!? WITH WHAT?!? 

“Gwyn? Gwyn!” Azriel was instantly at her side, his scarred hand gently brushing over her arm. “Please…hear me out. I know you are shy about it. I get it. But I really did enjoy reading them.” The bed sagged slightly as he settled in front of her. 

“They’re embarrassing,” Gwyn’s voice was muffled behind the pillow. “And you’re only saying that because you’re my friend.” 

“That’s not true,” Azriel protested. “Hey. You know that I’ve given you proper critiques in the past. I don’t think you’re weird for writing smut. I think you are an amazing writer.” 

Gwyn peeked at him from behind the pillow, her teal eyes round as saucers. Azriel’s mouth quirked. “And I think you look absolutely adorable like this.” 

Gwyn froze. “What?” she asked, dumbfounded. 

Azriel’s hazel eyes widened. “What?” 

“Did…did you just say…?” Her heart was running fast as a racehorse. 

Azriel’s mouth gaped slightly when he realized what he’d just said. “Did I say that out loud? Fuck.” He grabbed the pillow from Gwyn to cover his own face. “Give me the pillow, Gwyneth.”  

Was…is…is Azriel embarrassed? Did he just call me adorable? Gwyn’s brain was short-circuiting. “Az,” she said cautiously. “Az,” she repeated when he turned away. “What did you mean by that?” 

Azriel took a deep breath as he lowered the pillow. “Fuck. Gods, this is—” he laughed nervously, “this is not how I wanted you to find out.” His normally tanned face was scarlet, right to the tips of his ears. He couldn’t even look her in the eye.

“Find out about what.” Gwyn’s heart was hammering hard. Deep down, she knew what he meant. But it seemed too good to be true, and she needed to hear him confirm it with his own lips. “Az, look at me.”

“That I like you, Gwyn.” Azriel’s fists clenched around the pillow, his face anxious. “Fuck…I just ruined our friendship,” he groaned. “I know you don’t feel the same way, so can we please pretend I never said this? That was really weird. I’m sorry. I’m—”

“Azriel, stop,” Gwyn grabbed his scarred hands. “You’re one of my best friends, and—” Gwyn swallowed, trying to work up the nerve to confess. “To be honest…I l-like you, too.” 

Azriel’s hazel eyes blinked. “I’m dreaming,” he replied, stunned.  

“You’re not dreaming,” Gwyn said firmly, squeezing his hand. Azriel was rendered mute for several long moments. This is getting awkward. “Cauldron, I finally confess after years of crushing on you and all you can say in response is that you’re dreaming?!?”

Azriel shook his head, turning away from Gwyn in disbelief. “Azriel!” Gwyn shrieked. “This isn’t funny!” Gwyn impulsively leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. “See? Not dreaming!” 

“Not dreaming,” he finally said, sounding dazed. He glanced at her, the expression on his face shifting into mischief. “Do it properly, Berdara.” 

“Do what?” Again, Gwyn knew precisely what he meant, but her confession and the kiss had zapped all the courage from her. Thinking about Azriel’s warm cheek and faint stubble beneath her lips made her feel shy. Azriel made the move to confess, I made the move to kiss him on the cheek. We’re even. 

“Kiss me properly, damn it!” 

Gwyn folded her arms across her chest, mock pouting. “No! You’re not getting these lips unless you do it yourself.” There, she thought smugly. 

To her surprise, Azriel crept closer. “Is that a challenge, Berdara?” he murmured, face inches away from hers. His hand hesitantly tucked a strand of coppery-brown hair behind her ear, tracing down her jaw to tilt Gwyn’s head up. Despite his earlier boldness, Azriel’s hazel eyes flicked back and forth, from her mouth to her eyes. He’s nervous, Gwyn realized. He’s fucking nervous about this. 

He was giving her a chance to pull back, to reject him. But she wouldn’t reject him. Her heart had belonged to Azriel ever since she saw him during freshman year move-in day. And her affections for him had only grown over the years of mutual support and challenges. Gwyn reassuringly brushed her thumb across his hand—the last bit of encouragement Azriel needed.  

He was gentle, so gentle that Gwyn wanted to cry. Who knew that her friend, who always teased her, who was intense like a thunderstorm, could be so sweet? Azriel’s mouth was so warm and soft that Gwyn instantly realized she would never, ever tire of kissing him. 

“How’s that?” he asked nervously after he pulled away. 

Gwyn smiled at him shyly, seeing her reflection in his glassy hazel eyes. “It was perfect, Az,” she whispered back. She leaned in this time, kissing him with slightly more pressure. He responded with the same energy, deepening the kiss by carefully running his tongue across her bottom lip. They traded kisses so soft and slow, Gwyn could feel Azriel’s hand trembling as they brushed her cheek and hair. Or maybe she was the one who was shaking from the adrenaline of finally—finally—kissing her favorite person in the world. 

“I can’t believe Azriel Shadowsinger, volleyball star and bioengineering hotshot, likes me,” Gwyn giggled when they broke off. Azriel had sat down next to her, their backs against the headboard. He looped his arm through her’s, gently tracing the blue veins in her arm with his fingers.  

“I can’t believe Gwyn Berdara, a-k-a teal underscore Valkyrie, famed fanfiction writer, likes me back.” Azriel’s face was soft as he gave her another tender kiss on the forehead, inducing a series of flutters in Gwyn’s gut. 

“Does it weird you out that I use you as inspiration for my fluff fanfics?” Gwyn asked. 

Azriel blushed. “Inspiration? Fluff fanfics? I’m feeling honored.” He untangled his arms to lean back, his hands clasped behind his head and biceps flexing deliciously. He glanced at Gwyn, who was nervously chewing her lip. “Just the fluff fanfics?” he teased.

Now it was Gwyn’s turn to blush. “Oh shut it,” she said, swatting his arm. “Why do you think I went on all those casual dates? I was using my experiences from those to build my smut fanfics.” 

Azriel’s eyes darkened. Jealousy, Gwyn realized. The thought sent a thrill through her. “I meant what I said, you know. About helping you if you ever feel a bit uninspired,” he said quietly. “You don’t need to go out with strangers anymore. But only when you feel ready.” 

Gwyn melted at not only the possessiveness in his tone, but also the care he took to make sure he wasn’t controlling her. Just because they’d confessed to each other didn’t mean they were officially boyfriend-girlfriend. Part of Gwyn wanted to take it slow and sweet, having just found out that Azriel reciprocated her feelings. But the other part of her hungered for more, having waited so long to feel the warmth of his lips, the solid body touching hers. “Hmm…well I have been suffering from writer's block lately. What if I want some inspiration now?” she asked, voice sugary sweet. Azriel’s eyes widened briefly, before narrowing into his signature smirk as he leaned in.

Read: Part 2