#serpent kings not invited

[haleyusesherwords]

Hosting the next D20 premier on the commandeered river boat turned casino

Who’s coming?

[jmoonjones]

It's a Nyaxia Night Miracle! On the Eve of Nyaxia Night, a holiday celebration that's perhaps not totally (or in any way at all 😬) canon, Oraya and Raihn make their wishes. 

They don't expect their wishes to be granted - or else the Coriatae bond may have been pursued another way! - but Nyaxia lives for the drama between the Hiaj and Rishan vampires, so she made an exception ✨

The wonderful Crowns and Nyaxia series is by Carissa Broadbent. Who I hope isn't irked by my Vincentric (Vincent Centric) doodles or my unhinged sense of humour 💜

Note: When I was little, we'd burn our letters to Santa in the fireplace (so the ashes are taken to the North Pole, where Santa the polar bear would read them, natch) which inspired their letter burning. 

[dewdropdinosaur]

A Truth Universally Denied - CH. 1

LUCIFER X F. READER Masterlist

When a struggling, reclusive, but wealthy single father calls upon the help of a governess to help tutor his coming-of-age but unruly daughter, one has no choice but to accept the most gracious invitation of employment. Especially if your new employer is the King of Hell. (aka if Hell, but if it was set similar to Victorian Era England, so like circa 1830 to 1900 A.D.)

Chapter One: Midnight at Moringstar Manor

Muddy beaten roads lead off into the distance as the sun sets over the hill, a crescendo of light fading into the aria of night. Y/N’s eyes pass over the landscape, the hooves trotting over cobblestone jostle the image, though do not make it any less beautiful. A bounce here and there adds to the liveliness of her otherwise disastrous journey, traveling from Wrath to Pride. A long time to travel, nearly a month or so. A boat here, a carriage there, another boat for some unknown reason. She had half a mind to give her new employer a strong reprimand for making her travel so far, but, having covered all the travel expenses himself, she could not find any resolve to do so. 

The arduous journey was nearing its end, less than a quarter of an hour till Y/N was to arrive at her new destination. Her home circle of Wrath was a sorry state compared to the extravagance of Pride; golden-lined buildings and large homes lined the street on every corner. Opulent gates and streets, despite the mud, were far beyond what was the norm in her home realm. She knew her new employer was wealthy, though he elected not to mention his exact status, but the farther she was carried into the realm, the more luxurious and secluded the domain became. 

Contextually, it made sense, employed as the new governess, most likely for some wealthy Overlord. Whatever demon child she was to rear and oversee must be spoiled rotten, Y/N concluded. With all this opulence, how could one not be a touch of a brat? Though she decided not to hold this against the child, who probably knew little else. If only she had had this as a child, what good she would have done with the provisions and resources. Though Y/N did concede her nature might have been different under a different upbringing, she determined her base character would have remained the same. Steadfast, intelligent, needing very little; all considerable traits of a lady, she deemed that she possessed. She had been told so, though mostly it came snide. 

Y/N could admit to it; she was plain. Not a woman of extraordinary beauty or wit, she made it up with her loyalty and calmness of character. Reliability and a touch of humor were all one needed to survive in the world that was Hell. It turned out in the end, becoming a sought-after governess and previously even a full-time professor at the local orphanage where she had been raised. A job that was inherently given to her due to past experience, though Y/N believed her hard work had outweighed the personal bias in her hire. 

The carriage came to a halt in front of a large and gold-embellished estate on the very outskirts of Pride, and even Hell itself. The footman kindly opened the door, taking Y/N’s hand as she stepped out onto the nicely cobbled sidewalk. A bit damp from the acid rain a night ago, but nothing her shoes couldn’t handle. Offering a small smile to the footman, she picked up her suitcase and a reticule* before walking up the stairs. Two large lions with serpents around their ankles guarded the sides of the steps, a new and well-upkept marble that glistened with each passing glance. By far, this was the most beautiful and extravagant estate Y/N had ever seen. As she approached the large oaken doors, Y/N rapt softly once or twice to the tune of Shave and a Haircut, or possibly Beethoven’s At a Darktown Cakewalk. They were both so similar, and she doubted anyone in Hell knew the true origin, even the great composer himself, who had a moderately sized mansion in the downtown of Pride. 

A sharp suit and bowtie towered over her as a red demon answered the door with an eerie smile. Deer-like ears flicking in mild annoyance as his neck craned down to view the simpleton that dared disturb his afternoon tea break. They were important private moments after all. The demon’s monocle shone in the dim light of the torches that hung from marble columns, illuminating the otherwise dark and dismal night. It was nearing close to seven in the evening. 

“Oh, hello, sir. My name is Y/N L/N. I was invited to this residence by mail from a Mr.Hartfelt. For the governess position.”

At her words, the deer demon’s smile widened to a degree Y/N did not think possible. Sharp yellow teeth led the way to shimmering eyes full of curiosity. The demon extended his hand, grabbing hers with a firm grasp that she dared not let go of for fear of upsetting what could be her new employer. 

“Oh, Miss L/N. A pleasure to meet you, quite the pleasure. I must say, you are much taller in person than what your previous employer described, but no matter. My name is Alastor Hartfelt, I am the Head of the Household Staff here at the Manor and the one who sent you that letter on behalf of the Master of the House.”

Y/N finally was able to let go of Mister Hartfelts’ hand, a slight sting in her palm from his firm shake. There was no doubt that the Head of Staff seemed to be a jovial man, though appearances were not always what they seemed in Hell. His smile was too wide, his grip too strong, his eyes too full of something she couldn’t quite place. It all made Y/N uneasy, on top of the fact that she was sure she had heard his name before. It would not aid her unease to ask the deer demon, so she let the thought subside for the time being. Picking up her belongings, Alastor led her into the main chamber of the Manor. 

Dimly lit, similar to the outward appearance of the estate, white and golden marble lined every surface. Hints of red roses and banners sprinkled in, though overwise everything looked well-maintained but little used. Y/N had heard her employer was a recluse, keeping to himself on any matter that need not concern his immediate and direct presence. A sorry way to be, she thought, though understandable. From what she gathered, it was a single father and a coming-of-age daughter, the mother most likely dead. Divorce wasn’t unheard of, though unlikely and uncommon in higher society. Noticing the black curtain over a large family portrait, the gleaming eyes of a woman staring back at her, Y/N deduced the wife must indeed have long passed. Queer** for a demon to die a second time, a painful process no doubt, but still queer.

“This is the foyer. We rarely receive guests, but if we did, to your right is the reception room. To your front is our dining room. You must receive your breakfast and dinner there with the Master of the house and the young lady. Around which are our kitchen, two pantries, a store room, a washroom, and a small dressing room for our staff. Not off limits to you, of course, though not your place. To your left in the first room is our library at your full disposal for the education of our young lady, and the drawing room is just above it. Outside of the drawing room, through the door, is the veranda and terrace. Beautiful this time of year, you know. Oh, and yes. The principal staircase is behind the reception room, which leads to the private quarters. The Master’s bedroom, the young lady’s, and of course yours. Each with their own washroom. Along with a balcony and private office for the Master. That is strictly off limits to another but myself, the young lady, and the Master; do you understand?”

With a shy confirmation, Y/N’s eyes darted from room to room as Alastor rapidly read off the list of rooms and places she could wander. It was certainly large; the reception room by itself was as large as four master bedrooms put together. All in a similar style to the construction of the manor, the furniture collected a thin layer of dust. Furthering Y/N’s assumptions of the lack of use. No matter. These rooms would be put to continue the studies of the much-mentioned ‘young lady’ of the house. 

“Yes, I understand, thank you.”

“Wonderful. Now, please, follow me. I think it is time for you to meet—“

As soon as Alastor spoke, a jovial and girlish squeal emitted from some unknown source at the top of the main staircase to their right. Lifting her gaze upward, Y/N was met with the sight of a young girl, no older than twelve, in a beautiful but simple red wool dress with a tailored skirt that swept just below her ankles. The petticoat underneath provided ample bounce as the young girl nearly slid down the oak railing of the staircase, in a near sprint straight towards Y/N. Though shocked at the display, Y/N met the girl with a gentle smile and an outstretched hand. 

“Who do I have the pleasure of acquainting, young lady?”

“My name is Charlie, miss. What might your name be?”

Charlie shook Y/N’s hand vigorously, a grip no less strong than the previous handshake with Alastor but certainly more lively. With a shy and stifled chuckle, Y/N regained her composure and extracted her hand from Charlie’s grasp. Taking a good look, Y/N stood in awe of her features. Beautiful blonde hair, stunning black eyes, and rosy circles painted her otherwise pale skin. A picture-perfect demon. No wonder her employer wanted Charlie to have a governess; she would grow into a fine lady indeed. 

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Moringstar. I am sure Mr. Hartfelt has informed you—“

“Ah, my dear Charlie. Ms. L/N is to be your new governess. So let’s treat her with the respect she deserves.”

A touch miffed that Alastor cut her off, Y/N kept a gentle smile on her face despite the intrusion. Respect, her ass. This man clearly did not know the meaning of the word when it came to women. No matter. Charlie was her main mission here; Alastor could simply be an afterthought. Charlie’s eager grin suddenly faltered, the edges of her once wide grin dropping into a bitter scowl. Her eyes hardened, and without warning, the young girl’s finger pointed directly at Y/N.

“I don’t need a governess,” she announced flatly, chin lifted with practiced defiance, before turning the finger to Alastor, “and I hate for you to codle me.”

And with that, she stormed off, boots tapping sharply against the marble as she ascended the grand staircase two steps at a time. A door slammed moments later, muffled by distance but reverberating all the same.  Blinking slowly, completely baffled by the outburst, Y/N’s mouth lay agape. She had expected maybe the child she was to tutor to be spoiled, but at the very least. Quite docile. This, however, was quite different. Anger was unbecoming, though Y/N was no stranger to its appropriate use in terms of discipline. But unruly children were hard to teach, much less even tolerate. Another spoiled brat in the making, she thought, before tilting her head slowly towards Alastor with a raised brow. Only to find the Head of Staff with that overtly pleasant smile plastered on his face. It hadn't shifted even a fraction.

“My apologies,” he said, folding his long fingers behind his back. “Our young lady can be… passionate. You are her third governess, after all. The first lasted a week. The second, two days. They both cited her temperament as, shall we say, unaccommodating.”

“Unruly, I think you mean.” Y/N corrected softly, mostly to herself.

Alastor nodded once, his eyes flashing with a held-back anger at her correction. Two could play at the game he had started when he interrupted her earlier, she was merely moving a piece back on the board. 

“Indeed. But her unruliness stems from loneliness, not cruelty. The Master of the House is frequently engaged elsewhere. A great many responsibilities rest upon his shoulders. Affairs of state. Public appearances. And, of course, the long shadow of grief.”

There it was. No clarification. No mention of death of the woman in the portrait, only an implied absence so heavily felt it clung to the tapestries and curtains like the dust she noted previously. Y/N sighed, though not unkindly. She adjusted her grip on her suitcase. “I see. Well then, I suppose I’ve my work cut out for me.”

Alastor gestured toward the stairs, bony fingers outstretched in a way that didn’t quite sit right. “Your quarters await. Second floor, first door on the left. Do settle in. Dinner is at eight sharp.”

Y/N’s room was a palace unto itself. The door creaked open into a wash of pale gold and muted ivory. Helllight still clung to the window panes, filtered through gauzy drapes that softened the harshness of Pride’s eternal glow. The walls were lined with creamy marble veined in delicate rose quartz, catching the light like blush against porcelain. Carved oak wainscoting****, dark and polished to a mirror sheen, framed the lower half of the room, and a massive four-poster bed canopied in burgundy and trimmed in gilded thread stood proudly against the far wall like a throne. A medium-sized vanity sat beneath a beveled mirror, its surface adorned with tiny golden apples. A plush chair with what seemed to also be a rosy color was tucked neatly beneath it. Across from it, a writing desk made of blackened walnut waited expectantly, its drawers empty. A modest armoire loomed in the corner, flanked by a standing coat rack carved into the shape of a weeping willow.

She had never seen anything so stunning in her entire life or undead life. Y/N set her suitcase on the bed, unlocking the latches with a deft flick before opening the contents of it to the world. It looked pitiful inside there compared to the opulence of her room. She opened it quietly, revealing only a handful of neatly folded and muted colored dresses, a few underthings, and a stack of well-worn books tied together with a strip of muslin*** ribbon. She had always traveled light, both by necessity and as a result of her lower status, but standing in such opulence, the emptiness of her possessions struck her like a note in a hollow room. Still, she unpacked with the diligence of habit, placing her books on the desk one by one as though they might take root there.

Y/N paused at the edge of the bed, her hand lingering on the spine of the last book she had unpacked. Her fingers traced the familiar groove worn into the leather from years of use, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere, up the grand staircase and behind the slammed door. Charlie had been all angel one moment and demon the next, a jarring shift that echoed in Y/N’s mind like a bell struck out of rhythm. What had seemed like the perfect picture of a well-mannered young lady had shattered instantly under the weight of... what, exactly? Pride? Pain? A desperate need to be seen? Whatever the cause, it rang bitter, and louder than the polite introductions and practiced smiles could ever hope to mask.

Charlie would certainly be a challenge; that much was clear. But Y/N did not shrink from challenges. She hadn’t when she’d taught a room full of orphaned demon children who preferred knives to books, nor when she'd mediated screaming matches between demons twice her size. Yet this felt different. More delicate, somehow. The child’s anger wasn’t just petulance, it was armor. And armor meant someone had taught her, through action or absence, that she needed to protect herself. Y/N knew that sentiment well. Shutting out the cruel expanse of the world in order to find some semblance of self. A dreadful existence, though one that was usually born of necessity. 

Still, the thought of trying to reach her, of slipping past that sharp tongue and harder stare, left Y/N feeling small. Smaller than she’d felt in years. She was a governess, not a miracle worker. And for all her stubbornness and wit and calm, she couldn't help but wonder if she was simply one more doomed name in a long line of governesses Charlie would discard like tissue paper in the rain. The thought scraped something raw and quietly bruised in her chest. She would not be discarded. Not this time.

Then there was the matter of the Master himself. Still unseen and unknown, a man who hid from the world he was supposed to be guiding his daughter in. Y/N hadn’t so much as heard his voice. Was he kind? Cruel? Indifferent? His absence left a hollow she couldn’t quite account for, an unfinished shape in the house’s strange equation. She had received a personal letter, very few instructions, and not even the formality of a welcome. Everything had come through that ever-smiling, ever-watching creature Alastor. What kind of father hid behind a closed door while his daughter withered in plain sight? What kind of man hired a governess without so much as an interview? Y/N stared at her reflection in the vanity mirror, watching the flicker of torchlight dance along her tired eyes. Maybe he was grieving. Maybe he was overwhelmed. Or maybe he simply didn’t care. 

She pushed that thought away with a firm inhale. That would serve no one, least of all Charlie. Still, as the estate groaned gently under the settling weight of evening, Y/N could not help the feeling that she had stepped into something deeper than educational discipline. Things were festering behind those red-velvet curtains. Things that perhaps no lesson plan could solve. She would need more than patience and textbooks. She would need insight, caution, and most of all, time. 

The clock tolled six-thirty in the evening, and Y/N grabbed a simple blue gown, with a cream petticoat to accompany. It was high time she should become acquainted with the Master of the House. 

An hour later, she found herself outside a different door, this one small, white, and adorned with tiny hand-painted apples and golden vines. She knocked once, gently. No answer. “Miss Charlie?” she called softly. “May I come in?”

Silence. Then a faint shuffling. Permission enough. Charlie sat on the floor beside her bed, her chin tucked into her knees, arms wrapped tightly around them. She did not look up.

“I brought something,” Y/N said, kneeling to her level. With a flick of her fingers, a small shimmer of light bloomed between them. Not all demons could produce magic in great quantities, but even small gestures were feasible with the right amount of training. In her palm, a single daisy appeared, its petals a soft pink. Nothing extravagant. But the simplicity made it special. Charlie peeked upward, eyes widening just slightly.

“That’s real,” she said.

Y/N nodded. “Yes, it is quite real.”

The girl stared for a long moment before inching forward, reaching out to pluck the daisy from Y/N’s hand. A soft, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her mouth.

“You can teach me that?” she asked.

“I can teach you many things,” Y/N replied. “But yes. That too.”

Charlie scooted beside her on the rug. “The others just yelled a lot.”

“I prefer not to yell,” Y/N said. “Too exhausting.”

Charlie gave a quiet laugh. “I think I like you.”

That was, Y/N thought, the highest praise she’d received in quite some time.

At precisely eight o’clock, Y/N followed Charlie to the dining room. It was a cavernous chamber, its ceilings arched like a cathedral’s and adorned with stained-glass inlays that flickered with internal fire. A long oak table stretched across the room, set with golden plates and goblets carved from onyx. Two chairs sat at either end, and a third halfway down, clearly prepared for her. And at the head of the table, sitting with one leg crossed elegantly over the other, was a figure unlike any she had imagined. The Master of the House. Y/N stopped mid-step.

He was smaller than she had expected. Slight of build, and pale as alabaster. His short golden hair was neatly styled, his cheeks unnaturally flushed like painted porcelain, similar to his daughter. Yellow eyes with slitted pupils stared at her over steepled fingers, his expression unreadable and vaguely amused. A top hat rested behind him, coiled with a snake that blinked lazily in her direction. The apple on the brim gleamed red in the candlelight, matching the one atop his polished scepter.

He looked like something out of a children’s fantasy book. A ringmaster in a carnival of fire and ruin.

Charlie ran up and gave the mysterious man a chaste embrace to the side, before settling down in her proper spot at his right. With a snap of his fingers, the third chair that was once halfway down and its place setting moved almost immediately to the man’s left. 

“Miss L/N,” he said, voice smooth as syrup and just as thick. “How delightful to finally make your acquaintance.”

Y/N opened her mouth. Closed it. And then offered a deep curtsy. “The pleasure is mine.”

The man smiled, gesturing with a hand for her to take her place at the table. 

“My name is Lucifer Moringstar, the Master of this House.” FOOTNOTES --------------------------------------------------------------

*Reticule = small Victorian-style draw-string purse

**Queer = in this context, it means strange and is not regarding the wonderful LGBT community. 

***Muslin = lightweight and plain cotton cloth or ribbon

****Wainscoting = wooden paneling that lines the lower part of the walls of a room.

[enyalios-shrine]

𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 101

Hi! I’m Raven (or Ray), and I’ve been an Ares devotee for almost five years now. You want to start worshiping him? Great! Despite what today’s media makes of him - which I will talk about a lot in this post - , he’s actually a very caring, gentle and (dare I say) beginner-friendly deity! In general, a great choice! (Also, this is inspired by another post I saw but forgot to save - so, credits for the idea goes to that person) So, let's get started.

WHO IS ARES? - MODERN MISCONCEPTIONS

Since I’m assuming you already know the broad strokes of who he is (Greek god of war, bloodshed, violent and so forth), this section will be about some of the misconceptions most people have of Him. If you’ve ever consumed any Greek mythology-related media, I’m sure you’ve seen the following caricature: beefy, misogynistic, violent, stupid jerk, rude and always looking for a fight. While, yes, He IS violent (He's the god of war, afterall), that's far from all He has to offer.

Did you know Ares is actually historically a major feminist? That’s probably the first thing to get demystified about Him when you talk to an Ares devotee or worshiper, so I’m not really saying ground-breaking news here, but since a fair amount of people don’t know about it, I thought it was a fair mention. So, let’s get into the actual myths and proofs for this claim:

Ares was the father of and supported the Amazons in battle, a group of female-only warriors and hunters.

He’s one of the only male deities in Greek mythology to not have sexually harassed or raped someone. Yes, even other deities viewed as “nice” such as Apollo and Hermes have done so (I don’t mean any disrespect for those deities here - I’m also an Apollo devotee).

Ares was held in trial for the murder of Halirrhotius, a son of Poseidon, after he raped one of Ares’ daughters, Alkippe. He was acquited of murder by the gods. Remember, back in ancient Greece, women didn’t have ANY rights - raping one was not considered a crime or even frowned upon as far as I'm aware.

One of His epithets is “Ares Gynaikothoina", which means "feasted by women". During a war between the Tegeans and the Spartans, the women of Tegea defended the city from a invasion led by the Spartan king Charilaus. After arming themselves, they defeated the Spartans following an ambush. Among the prisoners was the Spartan king himself. In commemoration, they would hold a feast in honor of Ares, to which only women were invited.

All in all, Ares is protective, just, and encouraging of His children as well as worshipers and devotees. He’s not the piece of shit jock most people think of when you mention His name. Please stop doing my man this dishonor, He deserves so much better.

BASIC INFO

His Roman counterpart is Mars. He’s the son of Zeus and Hera, and his consourt is Aphrodite (even though they’re not officially married). His divine children are Phobos and Deimos (twin daimones/personified spirits of panic and terror, respectively), Harmonia (goddess of harmony and concord), Antero (erote/god of requited love) and Eros (erote/god of carnal love), all which he had with Aphrodite, as well as Drakon of Thebes (a giant serpent), which he apparently had by himself.

As for hero children; Cycnus (a bloody-thirsty men who was murdered by Herakles), Diomedes of Thrace (who had man-eating horses for some reason), Thrax (who founded Thrace), Oenomaus (Greek king of Pisa), and the Amazons (female warriors and hunters as mentioned above).

His symbols and associations are: spears, swords, helmets, armour, dogs, chariots, shields, The Chariot & The Emperor tarot cards, etc.

FESTIVALS AND DAYS

Tuesdays are holy to Ares and are ruled by the planet Mars (again, his Roman counterpart), which means they’re associated with action, energy, strength, and courage, as well as the color red.

As for festivals, He was typically honored with special rites in times of war or just before battles. There were also two annual festivals: one in the town of Geronthrae in ancient Laconia, celebrated only by men, and one in Tagea in Arcadia, celebrated only by women, where His "feasted by women" epithet came from. There's hardly any info on exact dates (from the Attic calendar or not) or info about any other festivals.

SACRED ANIMALS

Serpents

Dogs

Vultures

Woodpecker

Barn owls

Eagle owls

SACRED PLANTS

There’s no plant, flower or tree traditionally associated with Ares, unfortunately, so I’m gonna give a list of my UPG’s. Now, I’m not a witch, so I don’t know about the magical properties of the plants I’m about to list (if you’re a witch and were looking for something like that, my bad). However, I am a florist and have a special interest in floriography, so I assign them to Him based on vibe, meaning, etc.

Amaryllis (Means “Pride”)

Basil (Means “Hate”)

Water hemlock (Means “Death”)

Snapdragon (Means “Presumption”, but I think he just likes the way it looks)

Poppy (Means “Eternal sleep”, but has a long history with wars, being the first kind of flora to start growing in abandoned battlefields that were previously considered infertile)

Nettle (Means “Cruelty”)

Magnolia (Means “Dignity”)

Yarrow (Means “Cure for a broken heart”, and is said to have been used by Achilles to heal his men on the battlefield, which is why the scientific name is “Achillea”)

Ginger (Associated with “Heat”)

Pepper, spices, etc (idk he just gives the vibes)

OFFERINGS & DEVOTIONAL ACTS

Honestly, the only slander Ares should be getting is that He likes edgy teenage boy things. That being said, here's some ideas/suggestions, first for devotional acts and then offerings:

Workout or do any kind of physical activity

Take care of your mental and physical health

Stand up for yourseld and what you believe in

Learn about past wars, battles, and riots

Do things that make you feel badass/brave/empowered

Go to a protest

Work on managing your anger (especially for my fellow BPD havers)

Pet a dog

Honor His children and Aphrodite

For offerings; any kind of meat, especially red

Anything sharp (cool knives or daggers, broken glass, etc)

Bones!!

Halloween decor (I personally have those fake plastic snakes, spiders, and a skull on His altar)

Black coffee, the stronger the better

Any alcohol, but especially whiskey

Anything spicy

WHY WORSHIP ARES? - A PERSONAL RANT

Living in an extremely physically abusive household, I had to know and be acostumed to violence from a very young age. That violence left with many things - BPD and C-PTSD, to name a few - but mostly importantly, it left me only being able to feel one thing: anger.

I was angry at everything. Angry at the world for allowing me to have to live through such a horrible situation, angry at my mom for not standing up for me, angry at my abuser, even angry at myself for not ever trying to fight back or protect myself (though now I realize that was completely out of the question. I was only 8, what could I have done against a man in his 30's that was three times my size?).

That anger didn't go away after I got away from my abuser. If anything, it grew worse. I'd yell, break everything around me, say horrible things to the people I loved - I was a totally different person. I could barely recognize myself. I was an empty shell, filled with absolutely nothing else than the purest form of resentment and wrath, things that had been brewing inside of me since I was a child. I never had the choice to become anything else.

Ares understands violence. He's the god of it. He knows when it's justifiable and when it's not, when it serves a purpose and when it's out of pure malice. He helped me realize that instead of trying to fight against my anger out of the shame it made me feel, I had to embrace it - become one with it. It's a part of me, at the end of the day. I just had to figure out how to control it instead of letting it control me.

He embraced me when I was too disgusted with this ugly side of me to even look in a mirror. I was scared of myself - he wasn't. He's seen worse. I never had someone accept me and all my flaws before, god or otherwise.

That's why it's so upsetting to see the modern depictions so many people have of him. Someone so understanding and loving being defined by the worst parts of Himself, just like I used to do with myself in the past.

Ares is the god of war, war is not the god of Ares.

[talonabraxas]

"I wish I could give you a taste of the burning fire of love. There is a fire blazing inside of me. If I cry about it, or if I don’t, the fire is at work, night and day. People make clothing to cover their intellect, but the heart of a lover is a shroud, inflamed in golden hues of love." - Rumi

Khamael - Archangel of Mars Talon Abraxas

Samael is the Archangel of Mars – prince of the fifth heaven, lord of war and pestilence, and angel of death and destruction. He is the Sathan (Adversary) who visited wrath upon Job, slew the firstborn in Egypt, and (as the Guardian Angel of Easu) wrestled with Jacob. As the Sathan he accuses men of their wrongdoings in the Divine Court. Samael should not be confused with the modern Christian concept of Lucifer or the Devil. Samael is not the source of all evil, nor did he ever wage war upon the Throne of God.

He was, however, cast down to Earth when he refused to bow to Adam as the Image of God. (He had previously sworn to never bow to anything less than God Himself.) Once here, he took Lilith as his wife and has acted as the Divine Accuser, Enforcer and Angel of Death ever since. While he is still very much in the employ of God, he persecutes and seduces mankind when he is ordered to do so.

(Some sources equate Samael with Shemyaza, the leader of the fallen Watchers from the Book of Enoch. This is likely due to both Samael and Shemyaza being punished for disobedience, yet each retaining their positions as celestial angels. However the angels share no other characteristics, and this similarity does not prove the two angels are one and the same.)

The ancient Gnostics elevated him to the position of Demiurgos (the Creator) and interpreted his name to mean “Blind God.” They also called him Ialdabaoth and Saklas. His form was described as a lion-headed serpent. He and his angels (called archons) had created the world as a prison where they could feed upon mankind’s suffering. Later forms of Gnosticism, however, did not equate Ialdabaoth with Samael.

Samael was at one point regarded as the Patron Angel of Rome – and it is likely in this aspect that we see him (as the Dragon with Seven Heads) engaging in single combat against Michael (the Patron Angel of Israel) in the Revelation of St. John.

More recent tradition has given him the name Khamael (Camael, Camuel, etc) – the result of mistranslating a Hebrew Samekh (S) as a Kaph (Kh). In this form he is regarded primarily as the Angel of War and Divine Severity.

Invitation to Samael

I invoke thee, Samael! Holy Archangel of the Martial sphere! I call upon thee within thy realm of Severity and Fear!

Samael, Powerful, Bloody, Sword-bearer, Bold, Untamed, Terrestrial Fire, against whom none can defend himself, thou who destroys the strong and powerful, Lord of fiery heat – and of the planet of blood!

Samael, who art the Adversary, accusing men of their wrongdoing. Fearsome warrior and divine enforcer! You who inflicted Job with sorrow, who slew the firstborn of Egypt, and wrestled with Jacob. It is you who bears the wrath of God unto the Earth! You who overthrow nations and cast kings down from their thrones!

O Samael, we have called upon you [here list the reasons you have called him in the past, if any, and the positive results that came from those workings]. For all of this we thank you!

Come thou forth and partake of these offerings, which we have prepared in thy honour and to the glory of Elohim Gibor. May you find them pleasing and empowering. I ask that you offer your blessings to my home and family, and bear our offerings and prayers of thanksgiving to the Divine Court. We petition thee for strength and protection in all of our undertakings, for defense of our home, and that the light of thy wisdom should guide and keep us at all times. In the name of Elohim Gibor. Amen.

[persphones-hallow]

From my knowledge and what the scripts I have had implied that Hades is not the actual name of hades, nor anyone knows his true name

Greek Name

Ἁιδης, Αιδης Αιδωνευς

Transliteration

Haidês

Latin Spelling

Hades, Hades, Aidoneus

Roman Name

Pluto, Dis

Transliteration

Haidês, Hadês

Aidês, Aidôneus

Translation

Unseen one

Associated names / deities

Lord of the riches, the giver of wealth, the god who makes invisible, the allembracer, all-receiver, The Roman poets use the names Dis, Orcus, and Tartarus as synonymous with Pluton, for the god of the lower world, the darkness of night, infernal Zeus, the abode of the shades, over which he rules, king of the shades, Orcus, lord of the dead men, aides, the king, The Warden of the Larvae (Shades), infernal Jovel, the judge of the dead, lord of the underworld, Aidoneus, Zeus Katachthonios, the unseen one, his knowledge (eidenai) of all noble things”, Awides, “the one who presides over meeting up”, Áïdos (Ἄϊδος), Áïdi (Ἄϊδ��, dat.), and Áïda (Ἄϊδα, acc.),*Áïs (*Ἄϊς), the ruler of many, the gloomy, the rich one, Clymenus (“notorious”), Polydegmon (“who receives many”), and perhaps Eubuleus (“good counsel” or “well-intentioned”), all of them euphemisms for a name that was unsafe to pronounce, which evolved into epithets. Hesperos Theos” (“God of Death and Darkness”), Erebus, the hidden wealth of the earth, Serapis, he’s also the guardian of hero’s souls

Family

Lord Kronos

Lady Rhea

OFFSPRING

THE ERINYES, Zagreus, Melinoe, Makaria

Brothers:

Lord Zeus and lord Poseidon

Sisters:

Queen Hestia, Queen Hera, and lady Demeter

Wife:

Lady Persephone

Consorts

Lady Minthe (nymph)

Associated items, deities, and creatures

Pomegranates, rich meats, pomegranate seeds, Cerberus, Thanatos, Persephone, Zeus, keys, black dogs, money, spirits, the fury’s, chariots, helmet of invisibility, sheep, black animals, wine, scepter, cornucopia, rooster, As Plouton, he was regarded in a more positive light. He holds a cornucopia, representing the gifts he bestows upon people as well as fertility, which he becomes connected to. Snakes, horses, cattle’s, serpents, cypress trees, mint, narcissus flowers, and white poplars,

Extra:

For chthonic deities, liquid offerings are usually poured out onto the ground or down the drain and food offerings are usually buried or thrown away.

Saying Haides’ name had a superstition where it’d invite death quicker in your home hence why he was worshipped outside

Some Epithets: Aïdes or Aïdoneus (The Unseen One, The Invisible), Plouton (the Wealth-Giver), Polydegmon (The Hospitable), Euboueus (Wise in Counsel) and Klymenos (the Renowned)

Sources: Ancient sources for Hades include Apollodorus, Cicero, Hesiod, Homer, Hyginus, Ovid, Pausanias, Statius, and Strabo.

[stygiansun-totaleclipse]

(https://www.tumblr.com/stygiansun-totaleclipse/782633319030554624/horses-head-by-josh-pyke-is-super-mc-and?source=share) hey... U wouldn't mind dropping that Playlist right into our grubby little hands.. Right >:3

I’ve been meaning to make one to post for funsies but this ask gave me the push to actually do it! so here you go >:3 💜

And bc the brain rot is real…um 😰 there’s a lot. Anyway I organized it under the cut👇

MC:

All I Think About Now by Pixies

Familia (ft. Bantu) by Nicki Minaj and Anuel AA, from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

The Dead Come Talking by Roe Kapara

Goodbye by Ramsey, from the series Arcane League of Legends 

Wrecked by Imagine Dragons

You’re Not Welcome by Naethan Apollo

Kieran:

Help I’m Alive by Metric

All Comes Crashing by Metric

rats in my walls by ratbag 

Transcendence by Lindsey Stirling

A Tear in Space (Airlock) by Glass Animals

Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) by Fergie

Viva la Vida by Coldplay

Soldier, Poet, King by The Oh Hellos

With God On Our Side by K’naan

Alone on a Hill by Silversun Pickups

If I Were You by Nothing But Thieves

Nihm:

The Cave by Mumford and Sons

FEAST by bludnymph

Where is My Mind? by Pixies

Here Comes Your Man by Pixies

Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap

Runaway by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

It’s Alright by Mother Mother

Kill of the Night by Gin Wingmore

exit girl by ratbag

Sleep Will Darken it by R. Missing

Creature Comfort by Arcade Fire

Special Different by Lambrini Girls (with Alektis)

Boys Will be Bugs by cavetown (with Alektis)

Lilith/Lucien:

I’m Only Joking by KONGOS

Wasteland by Royal & the Serpent, from the series Arcane League of Legends

Tales of Dominica by Lil Nas X

Hysteric by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

Jenny by Studio Killers

Shove It ft. Spank Rock by Santigold (ft Aurynn, pov they tell you to fuck off)

Identity by grandson

Worms by Ashnikko

Thrust by Ashnikko

Halloweenie by Ashnikko

Red by MOTHICA (also Nihm)

Clandestine by Vana

BEG! by Vana

DISGUSTING! by Vana

Fire Meet Gasoline by Sia

ALIVE by Sia

BLEED BUT NEVER DIE by Ecca Vandal

Alibi ft. Pabllo Vittar and Yseult by Sevdaliza

LIGHTS OUT by bludnymph

Hit and Run by Lolo

Samira:

Speed the Collapse by Metric

Snakes by PVRIS & MIYAVI, from the series Arcane League of Legends

In a Spiral by Phantogram

Mister Impossible by Phantogram (with Aurynn)

Attaway by Phantogram

Year of the Snake by Arcade Fire

What Was I Made For by Billie Eilish

Ode To My Family by The Cranberries 

Bluebird by Miranda Lambert

Spinning by GROUPLOVE

Right Back to It by Waxahatchee

WEEDKILLER by Ashnikko

Filthy Rich Nepo Baby by Lambrini Girls

Twenty Seven by Layto

Supermarket by Wetleg

Aurynn:

California Girls by Katy Perry

Super Freaky Girl by Nicki Minaj

Bed Chem by Sabrina Carpenter

ALIVE AGAIN by Lights

Nothing Left to Say by Imagine Dragons

Little Poor Me by Layto

Sail by AWOLNATION

Ashes of Eden by Breaking Benjamin

I Need a Win by Unlike Pluto

Panic Attacks in Paradise by Ashnikko

Chokehold Cherry Python by Ashnikko

Itchin’ on a Photograph by GROUPLOVE

The Line by Twenty One Pilots, from the series Arcane League of Legends

Telepolartears by R. Missing

Invitation ft. Kodie Shane by Ashnikko

Nihm, Lilith/Lucien, and Aurynn (together):

Keep Some Faith ft. Andrea Storm Kaden by JT Music

Cut the Cord by Shinedown

Paint the Town Blue by Ashnikko, from the series Arcane League of Legends

Let Go by Beau Young Prince, from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

10 x 10 by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

You Make Me Sick by Ashnikko

Cheerleader by Ashnikkko

Worst in Me by Unlike Pluto

Luca/Family:

Welcome to Your Life by GROUPLOVE (Parim and Aurora welcoming their baby sibs to the world :3 ❤️)

Empty Nest by Silversun Pickups (gives me Luca and MC as kids with MCs siblings vibes)

Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Aurora)

Future Starts Slow by The Kills (sibs)

Somewhere Only We Know by Keane (Parim)

Everybody’s Changing by Keane (Parim)

White Wolf:

Big Bad Wolf by In This Moment

Hellhound ft. Jazmin Bean by DeathbyRomy

Wolves at the Door by Bad Seed Rising

Fate:

Anima Nera by lacunacoil

World Eater by Ashnikko

Halloweenie V: The Moss King by Ashnikko

Misc:

Small Bill$ by Regina Spektor (gives me dark theme song vibes)

Anon Submissions:

Horses Head by Josh Pyke (submitted for: MC, Farah, and Nour)

Casual by Chappell Roan (submitted for: AurynnxMC)

Never Love an Anchor by The Crane Wives (submitted for: Farah and MC)

I Know Those Eyes/This Man is Dead by Thomas Borchert, from The Count of Monte Cristo (submitted for: L?)

We Become We, from Journey to Bethlehem (submitted for: KieranxMC)

Wasted Summers by juju (submitted for: music video, MC and Farah)

Eu Sem Você by Lilian (submitted for: Luca and MC)

[tiny-librarian]

When most people think of the Death of Cleopatra, they think of  something like the above pictures. Cleopatra lying on a couch, or standing there clutching a snake to her exposed breast. Or, as in some of the above cases, with the fabled serpent biting directly on to her nipple. She is almost always nude or nearly so, practically inviting everyone to gaze on her body as she lies there in her death throes. She is frequently delicately pulling her gown down to give the viewer a perfect view of her breasts. Often her equally unclothed handmaidens are falling over her in their own death throes, or gesturing dramatically to better showcase their nudity. There are also usually several other people portrayed there as well, staring down at the nude, or nearly so, Queen’s corpse.

It has been, and will likely continue to be, a popular theme in art to depict her that way. It used to be a titillating thing, an excuse to paint a beautiful nude/semi nude woman. She’s been immortalized as such in sculpture, paintings, wax figures, and everything in between.

This image of her though, is a myth. Pure and simple.

Stacy Schiff, the author of “Cleopatra: A Life” describes her death like so:

Cleopatra lay on a golden couch, probably an Egyptian-style bed with lion paws for legs and lion heads at its corners. Majestically and meticulously arrayed in “her most beautiful apparel,” she gripped in her hands the crook and flail. She was perfectly composed and completely dead, Iras very nearly so at her feet. Lurching and heavy-headed, almost unable to stand, Charmion was clumsily attempting to make right the diadem around Cleopatra’s forehead. Angrily one of Octavian’s men exploded: “A fine deed this, Charmion!” She had just the energy to offer a parting shot. With a tartness that would have made her mistress proud, she managed, ”It is indeed most fine, and befitting the descendant of so many kings,” before collapsing in a heap, at her queen’s side. Charmion’s was an epitaph no one could dispute. (Nor could it be improved upon. Shakespeare used it verbatim.)

Cleopatra went to her death as she’d lived her entire adult life, as the Queen of Egypt. She had her royal robes and ornaments on, and was thus fully dressed. She knew full well Octavian and his men were going to burst in on her, were going to find her and her ladies there dead. There is no chance she was going to be lying there undressed when a room-full of strange men were going to be looking at her. Cleopatra made sure she went first, so that her ladies could arrange her so nothing inappropriate would be seen. As far as we know, the only ones there at the time of her death were her and her two handmaidens, as they had barricaded themselves inside her mausoleum.

It’s likely all the nudity also stems from propaganda spread by Octavian both during her life and after her death, painting her as a whore and a seductress. Of course she would be naked she was the decadent Eastern Queen who seduced men with her witchcraft! It’s just one of the many, and increasingly ridiculous, misconceptions that’s been spread about her since her death and one that people should realize was certainly not true. The snake is now widely regarded by most scholars as a myth as well, since it’s far more likely she took some kind of poison to end her life instead.

[galusandmalus]

aye lissstteeen if we wanna talk about the perseus fuckups, where my boy absolutely fucked up, the best source is him dropping a bunch of medusas blood on libya causing a gazillion magical snakes to show up. some are famous and important, from Lucan, Pharsalia we got "Yet that earth, In nothing fertile, void of fruitful yield, Drank in the poison of Medusa's blood, Dripping in dreadful dews upon the soil" - my two favorites are the basilisk (who has similar abilities to medusa) "With sibilant terror all the subject swam, Baneful ere darts his poison, Basilisk In sands deserted king"

of course in antiquety its a cool snake and not a bird BUT THERES NO ART so here you go. medival shit upon yee and my FAVORITE is the "Dread Amphisbaena with his double head"

i dunno why the middle ages mf gave it wings tho, there's like zero ancient art of it despite it existing in texts in 500 bc. wait I think it got wings cuz nonnus says some shit about a eagle grabbing one and says like "upright between the serpent's heads, high-shining with fourfold nozzle of the four wings" so it kinda sounds like both have wings tho I dunno if that's the intent. i can see how the mistake is made and besides wings are cooler. i fucking loved winged monsters

Amphisbaena is the kid who doesn't get invited to hang out with Pegasus and Chyseor. basilisks being related to medusa seems obvious in hindsight.

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fiction Free-for-All Book Bracket Tournament: Round 3

Book summaries below:

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants—as long as she isn’t herself. Because Muslim girls aren’t lesbians. Nishat doesn’t want to hide who she is, but she also doesn’t want to lose her relationship with her family. And her life only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life.

Flávia is beautiful and charismatic and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat choose to do henna, even though Flávia is appropriating Nishat’s culture. Amidst sabotage and school stress, their lives get more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush on Flávia, and realizes there might be more to her than she realized.

Contemporary, romance, coming of age, young adult

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

Avra Helvaçi, former field agent of the Araşti Ministry of Intelligence, has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world―and the only place to flee with a secret that big is the open sea.

To find a buyer with deep enough pockets, Avra must ask for help from his on-again, off-again ex, the pirate Captain Teveri az-Ḥaffār. They are far from happy to see him, but together, they hatch a plan: take the information to the isolated pirate republic of the Isles of Lost Souls, fence it, profit. The only things in their way? A calculating new Araşti ambassador to the Isles of Lost Souls who’s got his eyes on Avra’s every move; Brother Julian, a beautiful, mysterious new member of the crew with secrets of his own and a frankly inconvenient vow of celibacy; the fact that they’re sailing straight into sea serpent breeding season and almost certain doom.

But if they can find a way to survive and sell the secret on the black market, they’ll all be as wealthy as kings―and, more important, they’ll be legends.

Fantasy, humor, adventure, secondary world, queernorm, adult

[justaaveragereader]

10.12 || Basilisk Yeosang

Pairing: Yeosang x Reader

Word Count: 1.1K

Warnings: Dom!Yeo, Clit Play, Mentions Of Marking, Sub!Reader, Auralism, BlindFolded, Lotsssss Of Dirty Talk, Fingering, Orgasm Control, If I’m Missing Something..🫣Let Me Know!

Kinktober Masterlist

“Just listen to me closely, my dear.” His deep voice bounced off of every wall in the cool stone room, you could hear the movement of his long body amongst the tiles to the floor. Here you were, blindfolded, legs cocked open with your hand rubbing slow circles around your clit. Biting your lip you let out a small whimper. You loved to play this game with Yeosang, his deep voice was the first thing you noticed about him. Wandering into the forbidden cave upon a dare, you heard the stories about a man whose beauty was unlike any other, it was said that he was the serpent king, and one look into his eyes, instantaneous death. Wanting to see if these rumors were true you decided to wander the cave of these tales. You found Yeosang, the serpent king, while he was godly he was nothing that they ever spoke about. He was like, caring, he had a voice so deep and inviting, with each breath he took you could tell his words came from his chest.

You came back to the cave, over, and over, growing on the cold snake skinned man, when he stepped slightly out the cave the iridescent scales shined. He had warned you the first time you stumbled across him that if you made eye contact with him you’d die instantly, opting to keep you safe he made you a blindfold. Not wanting to even take the risk of his dreadful curse taking you away from him. As you spent more time blindfolded, your sense of hearing improved, picking up on each syllable he spoke, his small lisp, the true deep tone of his voice, how with every word that made a ‘S’ sound his snake tongue dragged out the letter, he made you feel things with his voice that no one could achieve with their hands.

“Continue touching yourself for me.” He groaned out, voice thick with want and need. Yet he didn’t dare to move, he had so much self control some days it irked you to no end. Your fingers lightly played with your clit, wanting him to fill your cunt. You knew no matter how much you touched yourself it would never amount to how Yeosang made you feel.

“Fuck…you are absolutely gorgeous. You should see how good you look right now. All spread out for me. Fuck…you are going to look so fucking amazing cumming on me.” His deep voice made your head fill with butterflies, his voice so strong it could make you cum alone.

“Yeo please…” you whimpered out, wanting to hear more of his deep voice in your ears. You hear his body shift slightly, a sudden cool breeze brushes against your body. You feel his cool scaled skin brush against your back. His cool hands come up to grip your knees, spreading you more open.

“Want to know what I’m going to do to you?” His deep breath whispered in your ear, his long, forked tongue flickering out against your ear. Your body shivers, you nod your head, wanting him to proceed.

“I’m going to lay you on your stomach, and arch your back. Then I’m going to slide right into your pussy.”

Your hand pauses on your clit, Yeosang grabs your hand, pushing it right against your hole, making you insert your pointer and middle finger, he pushes your own fingers slowly into yourself, letting out a small gasp, you place your feet upright on the stone floor.

“I’m going to wait before I move. I want you to feel how hard my cock is, I want you to feel every vein pulse around your warm wet walls. Then I’m going to start moving slowly in and out of you, making sure to brush that spot that makes you see stars. Just thinking about it is making my dick hard, fuck, I love the way you feel when I slide into you for the first time, I want that feeling over and over again.” His cool breath constantly hits your jawline as he speaks, and leaves small kisses along your neck. The gruff in his tone added onto the deep meaning being each word.

“Just because I love to see your pretty ass arched, I’m going to go hard in your pussy. You know I love when it makes those wet noises for me.” He moves your fingers in and out of you faster, matching the pace you assume he’s going to use on you. His vocals are so captivating, it could draw anyone in like a moth to the flame, with your sight taken away it enhanced every single feeling.

“Then I’m going to leave bite marks all over your neck, while I’m thrusting in and out of you. I wanna mark your pretty skin for everyone to see. I know how much you love my teeth on your skin, I want everyone to know I’m the one fucking you.” With each word his chest vibrates, the timber tone floods your brain. Your fingers continue to pump in and out of you, soaking down to your wrist, along with wetting Yeosangs hand as well, guiding you in and out of your own cunt like he was the puppet master, and you were just his cock hungry puppet. Your vision being taken away made things so much better, you heard the deep breath with every word he spoke, you heard the way your arousal squelched with each finger thrust, you heard how his breath would quicken when your fingers pulled out before diving back in. You once yearned to see this man, yet the feeling of being blind to what would happen fueled more desires in you then you could imagine. He tugs slightly on the back of the blindfold, your head laying flat against his cool, sculpted chest.

“I’m going to take you anyway I want, because I know you love when I’m in control.” His thumb presses against your clit, with the movements of your own fingers pumping into you, and the pressure on your clit, mixed with his deep voice in your ear, your brain can only focus on the feeling of your pussy and his deep voice bringing you over the edge. Just as you are on the brink of seeing the light behind the blind fold he grabs your wrist stopping you from your movements. His thumb is still rubbing slow circles around your clit. Not only did you love his voice, you also desired the grunts he let out after each sentence he spoke to you.

“Then while I’m fucking you, I’m going to have you ask for permission to cum.” His heavy voice whispers into your ear, dragging out the letter S in permission. Grabbing the blind fold once again, turning your head to the side, you know his eyes are directly on yours, yet the blind fold halts any mishaps that could happen with his eye contact.

“As much as you love my voice, I love yours, I love yours so much I want to hear you beg for it.”

Taglist: @abby-grace @petsuccube @maximofftrash @tunaasan @seonghwasslytherin @pearltinyy @bubblegumbird @araknoid @mingtina @oreoqueen @dani-is-tired @8tinytings @sunwoosbaby @acetruepunk @alliecoady98 @s-unflowxr @rxnexxi @mixling-blog @staytinyinmybpack @starryskiesthings @horanghaezone @realviviboss @mikaelless @scuzmunkie

GIF and Divider @justaaveragereader

DO NOT DO REPOST.

[aziraphales-library]

hellooo,

before i get into this i just wanted to thoroughly thank you guys for the help i’ve gotten from you in the past, one time quite recently! i really really appreciate it! you are true angels on earth and deserve the world 🌎🩵

now i just had a thought and i thought i’d ask, are there any fics out there where crowley and aziraphale potentially have a run in with any of the 4 horsemen throughout history? (i feel like i maybe read one or two like this back in the day, i think they were perhaps death and pestilence in those works) i’m not necessarily looking for those specific fics, they’re probably in my bookmarks somewhere. but i just was rewatching episode 2 where war comes in and it said about how she’s been killing time “for so long” and i thought that might be interesting to see a & c coming across them sometimes and how they interact with each other. i’ll take future fics, but i think i’m more looking for past/historical settings

thank youuuu! and feel free to take your time, i’m in no rush.

love you, byeeeeee

Hiiii! Here are some fics where Aziraphale and/or Crowley meet one or more of the four horsemen through the ages. Mind the tags on some of these!..

Oilslick Feathers by sylveondreams (G)

After an unexpected encounter with Pollution, Crowley finds himself with wings soaked in oil and panic building in his chest.

How To Arrange A Meeting by Winds_of_Inspiration10 (T)

Aziraphale has come to Egypt to set forth the next step in the Great Plan - arrange a meeting between Joseph and the Pharaoh. That might be a bit difficult when Crawly informs him that the former has fallen from Potiphar's favor and is now in prison. How will these hereditary enemies get out of this one?

The Great Mortality by The_Jade_Goblin (T)

It's 1347 and the Black Death is stalking the better half of Europe, and Aziraphale is ready to be swept up in his despair. Waves of human populace are being wiped out in the blink of an eye, cities left empty and villages lie barren. There's no end in sight, no stopping this Biblical Plague from destroy humanity. But Crowley isn't willing to give up just yet. Or Aziraphale and Crowley are determined to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, to help during the Black Plague, even if God Herself can't be bothered. And Aziraphale learns a little more about his demon companion at the same time.

Behold A White Horse by Aubergion (M)

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. —  Revelation 6:1–2, King James Version The white horse has had many riders in the last six thousand years.

The Feathered Serpent by WaneMoose (T)

1521- Aziraphale has been working as an interpreter for the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in his mission to bring Mexico under the heel of Spanish colonialism and the Roman Catholic Church. When they arrive in the wondrous city of Tenochtitlán, the angel is shocked to discover that Cortés and his invading army have been invited to stay. Even more disconcerting is that invitation was the suggestion of a demon posing as the Aztec high priest for the god Quetzalcóatl, the winged serpent. Naively believing peaceful coexistence is a possibility, Aziraphale and Crowley bear witness to the Toxcatl massacre and the Fall of Tenochtitlán.

The Angel of Dunkirk by imnotokaywiththerunning (M)

Springtime 1940: Hitler's army has started its march across Europe and Aziraphale is worried. Another war so soon after the last was almost unbearable. He and Crowley have decided to stay well out of it, but a visit from the Archangel Gabriel sends Aziraphale headfirst into a war he never wanted to see.

- Mod D

[redtsundere-writes]

mma fighter!sukuna ryomen x fem coach!reader

Epilogue.

Beginning. ← Previous |

Summary: Sukuna is a world champion with anger issues. It's believed by many that he is untrainable. Yeah, you can't train him, but you can dominate him. Contents: Fighting. Female reader being dom. Jinx AU (the BL, not the character from lol) Yuuji, Choso and Sukuna are brothers. Some characters are out of character. Warnings: Cursed words. Word Count: 4855 words. Author's Note: Finally! After almost three weeks and several mental breakdowns. Here it is! Is not a masterpiece, but it is what is it. Thank you so much for supporting Jinx! I hope you guys enjoyed the ride as much as I did!

“Here we are,” I said to Ui Ui excitedly as we both looked at the giant sign that read "Team Black. MMA Gym." 

A smile formed on my face as I returned to my former work place. Memories fluttered around me like nostalgic butterflies. All the moments that I shared with the king of the ring until I actually met the real Sukuna Ryomen. I took Ui Ui's hand to follow me to the access elevator. Mei Mei followed us with her phone glued to her hands. Nobara looked like me when I first entered the place, excited but nervous. Geto, on the other hand, looked indifferent to the situation. 

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest with every floor we reached. Since returning from Las Vegas, Sukuna and I had not seen each other. I was too busy training, meanwhile Sukuna started his physical therapy to treat his injured shoulder. Unlike when I was with that idiot Choso, we talked every day on the phone and were always in touch. So much so that Geto constantly nagged me for using the phone too much. 

The elevator doors opened, welcoming us to the most important gym in Tokyo. The gym looked the same as I remembered it, but I felt completely different. I still remembered when I first walked in. I was alone with my pink bag, booty shorts and an oversized hoodie. Now, I had my pink bag, short shorts and my gorgeous outfit. Unlike the baggy sweatshirt I used to wear all the time, I was now wearing the official Medusa Serpent jacket. A green windbreaker with scales print with a snake modeling the back. 

The further we went into the place, the more I looked for Sukuna among the sea of familiar faces. All the gym members were gathered around the ring to admire the exhibition training fights that would be held today. Nobara and I had been invited along with other well-known fighters to participate in a mixed training with friendly sparring, striking practice and more. Nanami finally replied to the thousands of emails I sent him at the time. 

“There he is, the king of the ring!” Ui Ui exclaimed when he saw Sukuna in front of the office, chatting pleasantly with Toji. 

Now that I didn't feel guilty for taking a good look at him... God, this man is going to kill me with how attractive he is. His hair was a little longer, so now some hair was falling sensually over his forehead. He traded in his compression shirt for a loose-fitting white sleeveless shirt that he could easily take off and put on. He was wearing shorts that allowed me to see the curve of his thighs. For a guy who had completely given up the gym rat lifestyle and was wearing a sling, he still looked divine. Something few can achieve. I didn't want to go near him anymore because I was so nervous just looking at him.  

He noticed my presence in his domain. I could no longer back down. He smiled at me, flashing me his adorable pearly smile perfect for ads. I felt a crush shoot through my heart all at once. He had never smiled at me like that before. It was intentional and warm. He wanted to make it very clear to me that he was happy I had come. I waved shyly at him from my place. Nobara looked at me disappointed in my behavior, I looked pathetic. 

“Go say hello to your boyfriend," she whispered to me before pulling me towards him. 

Ui Ui and I yelped at the same time. As I kept holding his hand, I ended up pulling him with me. We awkwardly approached the two intimidating former UFC champions. For being retired, they still had that dangerous aura surrounding them. 

“The king of the ring and Fushiguro! I'm a super fan!” UiUi exclaimed excitedly. 

“How are you, little guy?” Toji greeted the boy, standing at his height. “Do you want a photo, kid?” He asked with a smile. Ui Ui obviously accepted with excitement and called his big sister to take the picture. 

“One of your students?” Sukuna asked me while hugging my waist with his healthy arm. 

“Yes, he is the best in his class,”I answered with a smile. 

“Is he your favorite?” He asked me, arching his eyebrow. 

“Don't be silly,” I joked. “Everyone knows you're still my favorite student.” 

He pulled me closer to his body to kiss my cheek tenderly, his nose brushed against my ear causing a shiver to run down my back. He was so close to me that I felt like I could fade away at any moment, but I had to remain calm first and foremost. After all, I had a heavy day of training ahead of me. I could already feel my cheeks flushing.

“Yuck! Get a room," Yuuji jokingly complained as he approached us alongside Megumi. 

Since Sukuna retired from the UFC due to medical complications, he took Yuuji's position as his coach so that he would now be the new face of Team Black. Yuuji was very excited because in a month he will have his first official fight... against Megumi. Weighing about the same, they would both be fighting in the same division. I was glad that both of their first fights in front of thousands of spectators would be against someone they trusted. Maybe too much trust, since they were holding hands.

 “Shut up, Yuuji. You think I haven't seen you taking nudes in the locker room?” Sukuna scolded him before hitting him on the head. 

“I was just joking!” Yuuji complained while Megumi was redder than a tomato. I think I know who the pictures were for. 

“It's good to see you. Congratulations on your new relationship.” I greeted them both with a hug. 

Everyone thought they were already dating from some time, but apparently we were all wrong. Sukuna told me in great detail how they had become an official couple recently. They went to Yuta's championship celebration party. They both had too many drinks, danced the night away and had a great time. When they returned home, Megumi took advantage of the super honesty that alcohol gives you to confess to Yuuji how he had felt the last few months with him and that he loved him more than anyone else in the world. A feeling that was reciprocated. Sukuna told me everything as if he was telling me the plot of a romance novel. At that moment I realized why Yuuji was such a gossip, because he had an older brother who was the same or worse than him. 

“You should come here more often. I need you to get him off my back once in a while,” Yuuji whispered to me with a chuckle. 

“If he was already horrible as an athlete, now imagine him as a coach," Megumi whispered to me seriously. 

“And just for that, 50 push-ups. Now!” Sukuna ordered, annoyed. They both sighed in annoyance and dropped to the floor. I laughed at them as I watched them serve their punishment. “What are you laughing at? You too.” Sukuna ordered me. 

“What?! Why?!” I protested.

“Because I'm in charge. To the floor.” He ordered me with a devilish smirk. He was taking revenge for all the exercises I had forced him to do when I used to be his coach. I sighed in annoyance, but I dropped next to Megumi to fulfill my undeserved punishment. 

“Don't be like that with my athlete.” Geto approached Sukuna to greet him. “Can't you see she was excited to see you?” He joked. 

“I do it for her sake,” he said seriously. 

Yuuji had improved a lot since the last time I saw him. No longer training passively to keep up with his older brother, he was now training as if he was the king of the ring. He was focused, hitting the pads Nobara presented to him without much thought. His feet were constantly moving towards her, but she wasn't backing down easily. She wasn't about to let some random guy make her look bad in front of her team. Nobara always had that fierce spark that made her feel stronger. The surrounding crowd watched the training with keen interest, while Gojo and Geto supervised their athletes. 

“You have trained her well," Gojo said to me, impressed. 

“What can I say? I am an excellent teacher,” I joked to which we both laughed.

Then it was my turn to step into the ring with Megumi. Toji asked me to fight against him to give him a taste of fighting a world-class champion, to which I immediately agreed. It had been a long time since I had seen Megumi fight, so I was very interested to see his progress. I adjusted my bra and shorts to be as comfortable as possible for the fight. Despite being surrounded by people, I could feel Sukuna's gaze on my back. 

“Be gentle with the boy,” Sukuna joked from outside the ring. 

“Don't worry, I'll leave him in one piece," I continued the joke before putting on my dental protector. 

Gojo announced the start of the fight and I patiently approached my opponent to clash gloves. After all, this was a friendly fight, so I didn't have to humiliate him right away. Megumi tried to hit me with a couple of punches, but I dodged them by moving my torso and digging my feet in to avoid backing up. I tried to hit him in the same way, but he also dodged me nimbly. Some of his quick punches connected with my shoulder and arms. He had improved his technique a lot. His eyes were analyzing me completely to try to deduce my next move. He was beginning to look like his father. Megumi swung his arm to the left to hit me, but he made the mistake of opening wide. He still had a lot to learn. I ducked to dodge the blow and propelled myself to submit him against the ground by the chest. When we fell to the floor, a howl of excitement emanated from the other fighters. 

I could hear Megumi moaning as he tried to escape from my strong grip. As this was a training session, his father was just watching us with his arms crossed from the side of the ring as if he was just another spectator. I pushed Megumi by putting all my weight on him with the help of my legs to anchor him to the ground. I gave him just enough room to roll over, giving him the false sense that he could escape if he broke free for a second. He tried to escape under my arm, covering his head with his elbow, so I wouldn't hit him at that moment of vulnerability. Once he was in the perfect position, I clamped him in a headlock while my legs choked him through the stomach. 

Gojo was watching us closely to see the moment Megumi decided to let go. I lowered my pelvis to his back to force him flat on the floor. Megumi covered his face as I hit him from the sides. The audience was clapping and cheering for Megumi to do something, but there was nothing left to do. I had this in the bag, and he knew it perfectly. It didn't take long for him to tap my arm three times for me to let go immediately. 

“Good fight,” I said as I stood up tiredly. Megumi smiled at me as he rested like a starfish. Toji stepped into the ring to correct everything he had done wrong in our match. 

“I expected nothing less from you,” Nobara said proudly as she greeted me outside the ring. 

“I agree,” Sukuna ruffled my hair with a proud smile. I couldn't help but smile at the sweet compliments. 

At lunchtime, we decided to take a break and go to an Italian restaurant near the gym to celebrate that we were all reunited. We sat at a table with seats that were spread out so that we were all close together, while the coaches and managers sat at the table behind us. Yuuji, Megumi and Nobara were sitting across from Sukuna and me. Sukuna had been nagging all the way that he wanted to eat alone with me like on a date, but I ignored him. I wanted to eat with everyone. 

“I always hated math. I didn't learn to count properly until I was eight,” Yuuji told Nobara with a smile on his face as if he were proud. 

“Oh, come on. Until you were eight? What are you, a dumbass?” Nobara scoffed, trying to contain his laughter. 

“Hey! My mom says I'm special,” Yuuji pouted. Sukuna and I laughed at his brother's nonsense. 

“Math isn't that complicated. You just have to apply it to something you know,” Megumi said with the intention of helping him. “For example, if you have 10 brownies, and you give me 5, how many do you have left?”

“Zero,” Yuuji answered confidently. Nobara and I couldn't help but let out a loud laugh while Megumi and Sukuna felt sorry for the pink-haired man. 

“You didn't even try,” Megumi rolled his eyes while his silly boyfriend hugged him by the shoulders.  

“It's because I would give them all to you, because I love you,” Yuuji said before planting a kiss on his lips while Megumi blushed. 

“Aww,” I sighed with tenderness. 

“You guys disgust me,” Sukuna muttered before rolling his eyes. 

“What right do you have to say that?!” Yuuji exclaimed in amusement. 

“I agree with the lovey-dovey,” Nobara said amused as she looked at me and Sukuna with sinful eyes before high-fiving Yuuji. These three were a dangerous combination. 

Before long a waitress arrived to wait on us. I knew she was doing her job, but I didn't like the way she looked at my boyfriend. When she handed us the menus, she smiled even more when she handed one to Sukuna and asked him if he was famous. I couldn't help but feel jealous. 

“I'll have the caesar salad without the dressing with extra chicken and a glass of water,” I asked with a fake smile so no one would notice my jealousy. Besides, I knew our coaches were watching us from their table to make sure we were following our strict diets to the tea. 

“I want the same thing,” Megumi followed me. 

“I want a cheeseburger with a chocolate shake.” Yuuji smiled, challenging Sukuna directly. His coach didn't hesitate to give him a slap with his free hand. “Oh, I'm kidding! I want the same thing,” He complained, handing the menu to the waitress while rubbing his bruise. 

“And for you?” The waitress asked as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Bitch. 

“The double cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake,” he said with a smile from ear to ear, taking revenge on Yuuji for his little joke. 

What he didn't expect was that we were all shocked to hear his order. Even Nanami and Gojo, who were at the other table, peeked over to see him in disbelief. Sukuna Ryomen ordering something other than chicken, rice or protein? Make a wish!

“What?” Sukuna asked reluctantly. 

“You asked for a cheeseburger…" I replied in shock. 

“...with double meat..." Megumi followed me. 

“...and a chocolate milkshake,” Yuuji finished, blinking several times. Making sure he wasn't dreaming. 

“A man can't order a damn hamburger!?” Sukuna asked, offended by everyone's reaction. 

“But you are Mr. Chicken and white rice!” I exclaimed in surprise. 

“You haven't eaten junk food since you were 17!” Yuuji exclaimed in surprise. 

“It's no big deal…” Sukuna mumbled in annoyance.

“I still remember the birthday where your mother replaced the chocolate cake with a tray of sashimi in the shape of a cake,” Megumi commented as if he was having war flashbacks.

“Did she really do that?” Nobara wondered in surprise. 

“Yes, all our cousins were very disappointed,” Yuuji shook his head. 

“Well, I'm not the world champion anymore, so it doesn't matter…” Sukuna mumbled in annoyance. 

Silence pervaded the table at the sad statement. He understood how he felt completely. His career had collapsed in front of his eyes and he had only himself to blame for what had happened. Ever since he recovered from his surgery and began treating his shoulder regularly with Shoko, he had been very depressed. Despite the happiness of finally being together, he knew that his glory days would never return. I was also sad that I would never get to see him in the ring in all his glory, but at least I was grateful for all the times I got to see him live. I laid my head on his healthy shoulder and patted him on the back a couple of times to comfort him. He was like an angel who had just lost his wings.

“But you will always be a legend,” I encouraged him with a smile. 

“You're an inspiration to me and everyone else who follows you,” Megumi added. 

“Right! God screwed up your shoulder because he knew you'd be too powerful if you kept going,” Yuuji tried to cheer him up. 

“Thank you, guys,” Sukuna mused, blushing slightly at the sweet words. He looked so cute, I couldn't help but want to give him a sweet kiss on the cheek. 

The rest of the meal was spent laughing and catching everyone up on what had happened over the past few months. I was happy to see Sukuna eating something he really wanted and not having to restrict himself because of his career. Yuuji, being his usual gossipy self, told me that Choso got away from everyone for his own good and took a trip around the world for self-discovery, plus he started going to therapy to get over the trauma that Yuki left in him. I was actually glad that he was doing better. I hope that in the future we can get along and put it all behind us. 

Lunchtime had come to an end, and we went back to training. This time I was paired with Yuuji to give him a basic floor fighting lesson like I used to teach Sukuna. It brought back so many memories of all the things he put me through for wanting to antagonize me. All the arguments, fights, and insults now gifted me with nostalgia. How all that gradually transformed into respect and finally love. Unlike Sukuna, Yuuji listened to me and did everything I asked him to do. It took him a little more practice to do the exercises he wasn't used to, but I could tell he was putting his all into it. 

The afternoon went by faster than I would have preferred and the day's practice came to an end. After a quick shower and resting my muscles while eating an energy bar, it was time to head home. Nobara and I bowed to Toji and Gojo for training us this time. I hugged Megumi and Yuuji tightly, letting them know that I would miss them a lot, but that we would see each other again soon. 

“Thank you for training me, coach," I bowed respectfully to Sukuna. 

“You know perfectly well that I didn't do anything," Sukuna replied, ignoring my gesture of respect. 

“I still wanted to do it," I smiled before hugging him. He reciprocated and kissed my head tenderly. 

“Why don't you stay at my place tonight?” He whispered so I could only hear him. 

“What? Really?” I asked excitedly. 

“Why are you so surprised? You used to live with me.” Sukuna looked at me funny. 

“It was different back then, we were just roommates because you forced me,” I explained. “Now we are boyfriend and girlfriend. It's different.” 

Sukuna laughed and kissed me on the lips as I smiled stupidly at how happy I was to be back in the place where my luxurious home used to be. After telling Geto and Nobara not to wait for me for morning training, I followed Sukuna to his car. I offered to drive so he could relax his shoulder for the ride. 

We arrived at the penthouse and I sighed at how much I had missed this place. The beautiful furniture, the air conditioning and the beautiful paintings hanging on the walls. Once I took off my shoes and left my gym bag at the entrance, I walked across the hallway to the gigantic window that had a wonderful view of the rest of the city. My sight was stretched to the limit to see every luminous detail with attention. A strong arm wrapped around my shoulders to hug my back to a large protective chest. Sukuna rested his jaw on my head to observe the view with me. He closed his eyes to enjoy that we were together and that nothing would ever separate us. 

After sharing a nice dinner that we ordered out because neither of us felt like cooking, Sukuna lent me one of his T-shirts and boxers so I could sleep comfortably. Then I helped him change so he wouldn't move his injured shoulder too much. He let out a few groans of pain, but he managed.

Sukuna put on a random movie on Netflix before revealing his true intentions. He pulled me to him to kiss me softly. His hand ran down my body until it reached my flushed cheek. I caressed his chest, careful not to hurt him. The desire and need was felt with every move we made. Only Sukuna could transport me to places full of pleasure and lust. He worked magic with her lips and tickling fingers. Despite having only one hand free, she still worked miracles. 

“I missed you so much,” Sukuna whispered against my lips as he caressed my waist with his thumb. 

“I missed you so much too,” I reciprocated with a smile. 

“I was thinking...” Sukuna moved a little away from me to look me directly in the eyes. “Why don't you move to Team Black? You already know the guys, we can support you in everything you need, and we'll spend more time together,” he explained. 

It was a tempting offer, but I knew I could not afford to accept it. I would know that I would have no problem bringing Geto to Tokyo, but Nobara has his family in Nagoya, Mei Mei has to worry about Ui Ui, and it would mean that I would stop teaching my classes. It would be a big sacrifice for everyone just because I want to be closer to my boyfriend. 

“I can't do it, Sukuna. My life and everyone's life is in Nagoya,” I explained as I turned away from him to get serious. “It would be very selfish of me to make a change like that,” I commented as I watched a bit of the movie that had been put on the screen. 

“What about us?” Sukuna asked me. 

“I know it's hard, but we can plan to see each other more often,” I explained before kissing his cheek to leave a trail to his neck. 

“I guess.” Sukuna was not very happy with my answer. He moved a little away from me to watch the movie. 

“Are you upset?” I asked with a pout. 

“No, no…” Sukuna said, but he regretted pretending. “A little. Don't worry, I'll get over it,” he said, downplaying the matter. 

“Are you sure?” I said. At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head with a brilliant idea. “Because I know how I can make you very happy,” I smiled mischievously at him before crawling under the covers. 

“What the fuck are you going to do?” Sukuna asked me amused. I reached up to his crotch to stroke his cock, which went hard at my touch. “Hey!” He exclaimed in surprise. 

I pulled down the elastic of his pants amidst naughty giggles to pull out the old friend I had yet to greet. I kissed the tip for good luck and popped it into my mouth without giving him any warning. I felt his body tighten with each suck. My mouth was filling with saliva, so it didn't take long for his cock to start sloshing. I tucked my lips over my teeth to avoid hurting him. 

“Shit, I missed that too,” I heard him moan as I pushed my head back to guide the intensity. 

Even though it tasted like nothing, it was so satisfying to hear Sukuna's stifled moans. My tongue fiddled with his glans delicately. Sukuna pulled the blanket off me to get a better look at me. He grabbed my hair to choke me on his cock several times. My eyes watered from the depth he reached. 

I spit on his cock before sitting on his lap to remove my shirt in front of him. His smile widened as soon as he saw my tits bounce from the movement. He pulled me to him to suck on one of my nipples. I moaned his name as I stroked his back. I wiggled my hips against him from the excitement. I was starting to get wet with all the attention he was giving me. 

“You look so good in my clothes," he growled, lowering his hand to the elastic of my underwear. “But you'd look better without them,” he purred before leaving me completely exposed in front of him. 

“Tonight I'm going to please you,” I purred before kissing his neck. 

“I expect no less.”

I smiled a mischievous smile before I turned around and positioned myself on top of him. I moved my hips to rub my pussy against his hard shaft. Sukuna grabbed my ass to keep me as close to him as possible. I positioned myself on top of him and shoved it in all at once. God, I missed having him inside me so much. My body melts around him. How I wish I could melt next to him so we could always be together. I started riding his cock hard. I hadn't seen him for two months. I missed him too much. 

Sukuna spanked me to make my ass bounce faster on his monstrosity. My ass clap against his skin sticky with sweat. I leaned back against the bed to get him in deeper. Once I touched the indicated spot, I moved in circles to gently rub myself against the tip. Sukuna threw her head back and groaned in pleasure. 

Sukuna pulled me by the waist with a jerk to press me against his chest. Even though he had stopped working out, he was still stronger than me. He kissed my neck as he spread my legs to stand between them. He reached up to my vagina to rub my clit eagerly. I moaned from deep in my throat at the tickling. He was rubbing me with no mercy for my poor intimacy. 

“'Kuna…” I whimpered at the over stimulation. 

“Use your words, my love," he whispered with a mischievous grin. 

“Put it all in me,” I ordered with my eyes closed. 

“As you wish.” 

Sukuna sucked his fingers full of my goo to take me firmly by the waist. He slammed his cock into me, to which we both moaned in unison. He began to hammer his cock against me until he reached deep inside my soul. His balls bounced with every thrust he put into me. I forced myself to keep my legs spread wide so he could drill me all the way in. My moans, his grunts, and the squeaks of the bed blended together to create a sexual symphony that only turned me on more. I didn't want this to end. 

“I can’t take it anymore,” I squealed with saliva escaping from the corner of my lips. 

“I'm almost done, my love," he growled as he gave me to go. 

His hand traveled to my clit to stimulate me even more than I already was. His powerful cock, his magic fingers and his lips kissing my naked body. I felt like I was in paradise itself. I was so happy I couldn't hold it in any longer. I grabbed his arm tightly until I squirted. I moaned in satisfaction as I felt his hot cum invade my body. Sukuna grunted in satisfaction before lying back on the bed without letting go of my embrace. Our sweaty bodies melted into a sticky embrace as our tired sighs intertwined. 

“You drive me crazy, you know that?” Sukuna whispered to me before pulling his cock out of me and placing me gently next to him. 

“Don't blame me,” I joked. “You were already crazy before you met me.” Sukuna laughed and kissed my forehead. 

“In that case, you're driving me nuts," he teased. We both laughed as we hugged each other. I closed my eyes as I melted into his body. This is where I wanted to be. Sweaty, tired and always next to him. 

Tag list: @maskedpacific @thepurpleempath @mazzd4 @charlie-xo @s0uldarling @sunako-0120 @berranurates @00frenchfries00 @crownedgemini @alialucille @azuremyst99 @dorck26 @esposadomd

Masterlist.

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We have eight books on our radar this week! Which ones will you be checking out?

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim Sweet July Books

Once every generation, the Major Gods hold a Celestial Banquet, inviting chefs from all over the Continent to prepare mouthwatering fantastical feasts. The winner is awarded the fabled Peaches of Immortality, along with a lifetime of fame and fortune. The losers perish per the whims of the fickle gods.

Hot-headed noodle chef Cai enters the competition with dreams of owning her own restaurant and supporting her impoverished Peninsula town. Along with the drunken Minor God Kama, her childhood crush-turned-friend Bo, and dreamy noble Seon, Cai must now compete against the Continent’s finest culinary masters in trials that range from hunting and serving up mystical sea serpents to preparing a magical omurice from the eggs of the legendary Jian bird.

Battling impossible odds and inconvenient feelings for both Bo and Seon, Cai is determined to prepare a feast fit for the gods―even if she loses her life. Set in a spectacular world inspired by Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore, Celestial Banquet is an ode to food, home, and family, wrapped in an epic and thrilling adventure.

Dan in Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Rey Terciero and Claudia Aguirre Penguin Workshop

Despite a life on the road with his free-spirited mother, fifteen-year-old Dan Stewart-Álvarez has always wanted to settle down. He just didn’t think it’d be like this: with his mother abandoning him in rural Tennessee with two strangers—his gentle grandmother and conservative, rough-around-the-edges grandfather. Here, he is forced to adjust to working the farm, entering high school, and hardest yet—reckoning with his queerness in a severe Southern Baptist community.

But even as Dan grows closer to his mawmaw, befriends fellow outsiders at school, and tries to make a new life for himself in Green Gables, he has to discover whether he can contend with intolerance and adapt to change without losing himself in the process.

From award-winning author Rey Terciero and Eisner Award nominee and illustrator Claudia Aguirre comes a new retelling of Anne of Green Gables about unconventional families, queer identity, and finding the meaning of home in the most unlikely of places.

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim Knopf Books for Young Readers

Truyan Saigas didn’t choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father’s disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King’s inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .

The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston Inhabit Media

A teenage girl walks home in a burgeoning blizzard, happy to have an unexpected snow day. Ignoring an Elder’s warning about the terror the blizzard holds, she finds herself alone in her home with an unseen presence stalking and tormenting her. What does it want? And will she survive?

I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan HarperCollins

Summer Ali has been making a name for herself in the music industry for years, slowly but surely climbing the charts—but the world doesn’t know her stage parents are the ones who molded her entire public persona. Finally eighteen, Summer breaks free of their control and focuses on creating her own path.

Upon running into writer’s block, Summer grows eager to take any opportunity to shake things up—even if it means agreeing to a PR stunt with child-actor-turned-playboy, Jules Moradi, famous for his tabloid escapades.

At first, Jules keeps his distance, maintaining professional boundaries. But as time passes, his walls come down, and Summer uncovers who he is beyond his reputation, and it’s someone more like her than she ever realized. As the lines blur between fake and real, Summer begins questioning who she is and what she wants—and if her dreams are worth sacrificing her heart.

Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang Scholastic

Leah Zhang has just ruined her cousin's wedding. She didn't mean to wish the bride a depressing marriage and poor health, but she's forgotten most of her Mandarin. Her parents stage an intervention: Leah will be sent on a travel program across China's most beautiful cities. To them, it’s the perfect opportunity for Leah to get back to her roots. To Leah, it’s simply a much-needed escape.

But before Leah can even begin to enjoy the luxurious hotels, stunning scenery, and mouth-watering cuisine, she finds that also on the trip is cynical, sarcastic Cyrus Sui, who’s somehow only gotten more annoyingly handsome since the day he told a lie that ruined her life.

While Leah might be tempted to shove him off the peak of the Yellow Mountain when nobody’s looking, she can’t get rid of him just yet. After all, she might never get another chance to get revenge.

Yet the deeper they wander into China’s provinces, the deeper Leah finds herself falling in love ― with the boy she once thought she despised, the home she never thought she’d call her own, and the parts of herself she thought were already lost.

Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Sixteen-year-old Jaelyn Coleman lives for Saturdays at WestSide Roll, the iconic neighborhood roller rink. On these magical nights, Jae can lose herself in the music of DJ Sunny, the smell of nachos from the concession, and the crowd of some of her favorite people—old heads, dance crews, and other regulars like herself. Here, Jae and other Black teens can fully be themselves.

One Saturday, as Jae skates away her worries, she crashes into the cutest boy she’s ever seen. Trey’s dimples, rich brown skin, and warm smile make it impossible for her to be mad at him though. Best of all, he can’t stop finding excuses to be around her. A nice change for once, in contrast with her best friend’s cold distance of late or her estranged father creeping back into her life.

Just as Jae thinks her summer might change for the better, devastating news hits: Westside Roll is shutting down. The gentrification rapidly taking over her predominantly Black Indianapolis neighborhood, filling it with luxury apartments and fancy boutiques, has come for her safe-haven. And this is just one trouble Jae can’t skate away from.

Debut author Arriel Vinson’s lyrical and contemplative story of young Black love and coming of age in Indianapolis ushers in an exciting new voice in YA literature.

Your Final Moments by Jay Coles Scholastic

Hakeem goes to Narcotics Anonymous meetings to keep his addictions in check. But when his best friend Miles kills himself, Hakeem finds the days harder and harder to get through. He loved Miles -- maybe even loved loved him -- and he's haunted by the fact that there might have been something he could have done to ease his friend's pain. He meets a girl named Eliza in his NA meetings, and she is there for him when something truly out-there happens... Hakeem calls Miles's old phone number. And Miles not only calls back from beyond the grave, but has news to share: He didn’t kill himself. He was murdered.

Finding out the truth about Miles might end up helping Hakeem find his way to his own truth... and further strength to stay alive himself. But as his relationship with Eliza grows, other cracks begin to show... and holding his world together may be even harder than he thought it would be.

[farsight-the-char]

++ ALAMUT ++

Art by Artem Demura

"They call him Shaykh-al-Hashishim. He is their Elder, and upon his command all of the men of the mountain come out or go in ... they are believers of the word of their elder and everyone everywhere fears them, because they even kill kings."

Alamut, the unconquered, also known as Eagle's Nest, is the chief stronghold of the Nizari Isma'ili sect, who still hold sway over their ancient lands near Baḥr Khazar, the body of water the Franks call the Caspian Sea as it has for over 800 years. This mountain fortress houses the dreaded Order of Assassins. No deadlier killers walk this world, raised from childhood in the lethal and esoteric arts that bend time and space in service of their mystic and lethal craft.

Many learned scholars of the Iron Sultanate’s ulema claim that Alamut was left outside of the Great Iron Wall as a mark of Allah’s disfavour for their heretical views on religion. The mystics of the Assassins sneer at this suggestion, and maintain that the Ever-Preserving knew his children at Alamut would need no such protection. Their own bravery would suffice.

Though largely closed to outsiders, there are times when the Old Man of the Mountain requires the services of outsiders or wishes to seek counsel from a sage of great wisdom in person. Such individuals awaken to find summons placed by their bedside delivered by unseen hands as they slumber. Summoned to the Capital of Daylam (as the Assassins call Alamut), few dare to refuse such an invitation. At the mouth of the valley, they are met by servants of the Order who blindfold them to ensure they cannot learn the hidden paths to the Home of the Eagles.

Such visitors tell of heavenly gardens, libraries that rival those of the House of Wisdom, and laboratories where philosophers, scientists, theologians, and sages of the Dervish Ismaili order debate a multitude of matters. Very few will speak of their audience with the Master of the Knives himself, the Old Man of the Mountain, for fear of insulting their dread host. Of those brave enough to reveal details of their encounter, some describe being greeted by a youth full of vigour, an athlete and warrior at the prime of his life wearing a shining white cloak. Others however describe an ancient man with a long silver beard, stern and whip-lean, dressed in black khilat adorned with tiraz in the colour of blood. Whether a result of a clever disguise or the mystic arts of the Ḥashshāshīyīn, no two descriptions of the countenance of the Lord of Alamut match each other. All accounts agree on one detail. A simple ring, bearing a seal engraved with the symbol of the holy king whom the Franks call Solomon the Wise, rests upon a chain around the neck of the Lord of Alamut. Rumours abound that this is the first and true seal given by Allah to the mighty king, Sulaimān ibn Dāwūd, giving him the power to command spirits such as shayati and djinn. It is speculated it is the power of the Seal that has kept Alamut safe all these years despite Hell’s forces holding the land surrounding Alamut and its hinterlands.

Whatever the truth of the matter, no Warband of the Court of the Seven-Headed Serpent has ever approached the citadel of Alamut. Beelzebub’s unclean Order of the Fly recoils from the Assassins’ hinterlands, and no outbreak of the Black Grail has ever been reported within their domain. It seems that Hell’s otherworldly powers are held at bay by some kind of protection capable of countering their Goetic magic.

Thus the mission to conquer Alamut has fallen upon the mortal followers of Jahannam. Abaddon, the great Prince of Wrath has promised a reward of eternal youth to any Heretic Warlord who captures the Eagle’s Nest. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the forces of the Heretic Legions, all who have attempted to take the fortress thus far have failed. Many attempts to invade are thwarted in their earliest moments as great Heretic lords die in their tents to Assassin’s daggers, or through poison in their meals. Others disappear without a trace, their painstakingly built alliances falling apart like chaff in the wind.

Scarcely a decade passes without Alamut being assaulted, for there is no lack of ambitious Heretic Warlords. But the Forces of Shaytan that have laid siege to its onyx walls have discovered that the fortress is all but invincible. The Alamut valley, known as the Shirkuh, is bordered to the East by the Alamkuh mountain range, The Throne of Solomon, and its entrance is a narrow one, shielded by cliffs and guarded by mystic standing stones. For much of the year, the raging waters of the river, Alamut, make this entrance inaccessible.

Flanked by the Iron Wall to the east and west, any forces approaching come under a barrage of long-range artillery from its garrison, who gleefully exact a heavy toll on any would-be invaders. In the skies above, the airspace is protected and patrolled by the Sultan’s flying ships of war, making aerial assaults impossible. Though no official document or declaration exists, the strategists of New Antioch widely believe that the Sultanate’s indirect protection of the Alamut is granted in exchange for the services of the Assassins.

Alamut’s natural and military defences are not its only safeguard. Heretic long-range artillery finds its shells striking the surrounding mountains, never the fortress itself, no matter how carefully the distances are measured or what dark prayers are offered to patron demons. Assault forces lose their way, even when guided by infernal compasses and maps. Time itself flows in strange fashion here, and invaders find that each step robs their youth and vitality, causing them to succumb to the infirmity of old age long before reaching the walls of Alamut. Their spent and withered bodies fall to join other unsuccessful invaders scattered across the lands of the Assassins as their souls succumb to their doom in flames. Even to behold the fortress is a trial, its stones vanishing against the sky, eluding the eye and confounding the mind.

Those who have tried to assault Alamut and have lived to tell the tale recall a powerful aura of forbidding menace surrounding the Home of the Eagles. Even the most devout and bloodthirsty Heretic general sworn to serve the Serpent Head of Wrath may think twice before challenging the Assassins.

And so Alamut endures, unconquered and unbowed.

[throughtrialbyfire]

𝐖𝐈𝐏 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 ♥

hello, i hope everyones having a good wednesday!! my brain, for some unknown reason, believes it to be late fall right now. maybe i'm just craving that chill in the air AHAH

thank you to the fantastic @skyrim-forever and @umbracirrus for tagging me this week!! <33333

tagging the amazing @thequeenofthewinter @oblivions-dawn @orfeoarte @changelingsandothernonsense

@viss-and-pinegar @saltymaplesyrup @archangelsunited @dirty-bosmer @totally-not-deacon !! as always, there's no pressure, but i'd love to see what you're working on. <3333

this is a section from the very rough draft of chapter 39 of Cycle of the Serpent. the trio are becoming intrigued about varnius junius' plea, and have decided to do something about it.

Falk Firebeard, the steward to Jarl Elisif, had been here a great many years. He said so as he talked to the trio, his voice inviting, with the faintest hint of surprise that they were back. At first he must have assumed they were here to petition for the Burning of King Olaf, a sigh heaving down his lungs and his hands rubbing at his face. When Emeros explained the real reason they were here today, he visibly appeared to relax, and made a comment about the man that the Bosmer had mentioned being jumpy at the best of times. "I'll be honest with you, I was planning to let that go," he admitted in a half-hush, apparently unneeded, as the court made it clear the prior day that they did share his opinion. "If it were anything, I'm certain that Sybille's scrying would have picked up on it." The court wizard, seated near the Jarl, gave Wyndrelis a curious look, her eyes practically luminous under her dark hood. He swallowed an uncomfortable lump in his throat. He didn't enjoy the way she scrutinized him, or his friends. Her eyes, a particular shade of citrine which looked to be peering right into him and down to the veins beneath his skin, set the mild panic to rise, sensation a slow crawl up his back of something very off about the woman. "Yes, but what if there's something the scrying hasn't picked up on? I'm no stranger to magic," Wyndrelis managed out, "if there is something going on, wouldn't it be better to investigate?"

The man rubbed his face, hands fidgeting with one another idly. His glances to Elisif, her housecarl, and other figures in the court landed him with approving nods, and Falk again spoke up. "There have been reports of... weird happenings near Wolfskull Cave. Travelers disappearing, odd lights. I suspect wild animals or perhaps bandits." "Travelers disappearing?" Emeros repeated, his eyes wide as the words left him half-breathless. "And you didn't think that this was worth an investigation?" "Again, I thought it might be wild animals and bandits," Falk justified, enunciating the statement. "We all did. They've taken advantage with the war going on, all this uncertainty, no one is truly safe. But I digress, if you really think it's worth looking into, then I will make sure that you three are repaid for your work." A housecarl nearest Falk scoffed into a drink, prompting the court wizard to scowl. "Is there something funny, Erikur?" "No, no, not at all." The man rolled his eyes as he sipped from his goblet, a sort of wine from the smell of it. "I just find it a bit interesting that we're sending three strangers to investigate Haafingar's matters. This should be the work of someone from our own Hold, not these elves who had to get a military pardon when they first arrived here." Phoebe, over at her desk, winced. She looked to Erikur, a sharp, probably dangerous gaze on anyone else that merely served to make her appear like a mouse scolding a wolf. "Besides, our coffers are emptier by the day. What can we even reward three would-be bandit-slayers when they inevitably return without having spilt so much as skeever blood?"

"Erikur," the hulking figure on the other side of the throne snapped, "that's enough." Erikur shrugged, and took another long drink from his goblet. Elisif looked over the trio, her face worn into a dreary resignation. "Then what do you propose? We've already sent a detachment to Dragon Bridge, and Sybille's scrying has shown nothing, yet, I must admit that the idea of leaving this uninvestigated makes me uneasy." Erikur's focus darted around the room. "We should send a handful of our own soldiers. Perhaps discuss it with General Tullius? See if he will offer some help." The room descended into murmurs of agreement, the idea clearly tantalizing to the court. Wyndrelis frowned. He looked to Emeros and Athenath, both equally unsatisfied with this resolution. "I will send word to Captain Aldis, and ask if he's any new recruits he might test by sending them that way. Phoebe, draft a letter to the Captain, and deliver it as soon as possible," Elisif commanded, tension leaving her as she watched the pale-haired girl scratch something down into a new roll of paper. Athenath spluttered, "but what if it's something- I don't know, important?" "Then our soldiers will have it taken care of, instead of recent strangers dirtying their hands." Erikurs cavalier reply left the Altmer again struggling for words, Emeros placing a gentle palm on his shoulder. Wyndrelis shrunk back, his steps taking him to the stairs. A few mutters from the Bosmer, and Athenath was moving to the stairwell, face scrunched in a look of intense frustration with the dismissal. As the trio left the Blue Palace, the sneer never quite fell from Athenath's face, and Wyndrelis swallowed down the urge to ask of it, or to pry into why Erikurs words prodded so harshly into them as to leave their features twisted, until the Altmer ran a hand down their face and features relaxed, like he'd wiped it all away and resigned to the outcome. This wasn't ideal, but when was anything the trio had been through in the past few weeks?