#since I haven't written new stuff in ages RIP

[funkyhanji]

In Our Flesh, In Our Blood [English | BNHA]

Fandom: Boku no Hero Academia (@Horikoshi Kohei) Character(s): Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Mitsuki Pairing(s): Bakudeku/KatsuDeku/IzuKatsu Rating: E Word count: 3,578 CWs: Fantasy, Omega Verse, Non-Traditional Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Omega Bakugou Katsuki, Alpha Midoriya Izuku, Age Difference, Dubious Consent, Master/Slave, Master/Pet, Pet Play, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Vaginal Sex, Knotting, Barebacking, Begging, Top Bakugou Katsuki, Bottom Bakugou Katsuki, Power Bottom Bakugou Katsuki, Dominant Bakugou Katsuki, Submissive Midoriya Izuku, some internalized issues about being an Omega, Scent Kink, Shota, intersex omega, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat

Summary: - Estrus is such an annoying biological phenomena for Katsuki. He wishes he could do without it, though he knows it's part of being a healthy Omega. He doesn't mind sex, on the contrary; what he despises is the frankly ridiculous amount of slick he produces and how hot he gets. Oh, and the Alpha which are sent to his room during his monthly cycle. -

Sweat runs down Katsuki's body, collecting in every dip and crease; small pools of mouth-watering sweetness glistening on his alabaster skin. It's brought forth by the fire crackling inside the twin marble hearths, strategically placed at opposite sides of the spacious room — their warmth vital in keeping the still-present winter chill from crawling in past the thick stone walls —, as well as by his current physical state.

«… Fuck...»

The expletive leaves him in a hoarse exhale, one of many he's said in the past few hours, or days, really. Estrus is such an annoying biological phenomena for Katsuki. He wishes he could do without it, though he knows it's part of being a healthy Omega. He doesn't mind sex, on the contrary; what he despises is the frankly ridiculous amount of slick he produces and how hot he gets. Oh, and the Alpha which are sent to his room during his monthly cycle.

Month after month, since his first Heat at the age of twelve, he's visited by Alpha males or females or something in between. They would approach him in his own private space during a delicate time, hoping to help him through it or trying to force themselves on him. All of them candidates chosen by Katsuki's parents — the King and Queen —, who are adamant he gives the throne an heir before he's given the crown. Of pure royal blood or not didn't seem to matter.

Katsuki rejected all of them.

He would rather deal with his Estrus on his own, than give up control over his own body to some entitled Alpha who thinks they can mate and claim him.

«Shit… nnh…!»

That's exactly why he's presently drenched in sweat and slick, kneeling on his luxurious bed of soaked linens and furs, as he slowly gyrates his hips on a custom-made fake cock. It's the second wave of need of the day, on the third day of his new cycle. The remains of a late breakfast are forgotten on the round table nearest to the heath next to the bedroom's door, the servants wisely postponing its retrieval for their own sake. This is the point of his Estrus in which he begins to get impatient, explosive, territorial; the point in which it's dangerous to barge in his room uninvited or unannounced. Everyone in the castle knows, some have heeded the warnings while some have learned first-hand, the hard way.

«Ah…!»

Katsuki runs his hands through his hair — wild, spiky, ash-blond —, pulling on it, humming in approval at the tiny sparks of pleasure feeding off his craving. His hands sliding down his neck; he circles the protrusions there, his scent glands hot to the touch and pumping out oil which mixes with his sweat. Digging his nails in them makes him moan, makes his cock throb and his cunt tighten up around the toy he's fucking himself onto. It feels great. It doesn't matter if Katsuki's friends keep telling him how an Alpha biting a main gland is guaranteed to be the best orgasmic experience for an Omega in Heat.

It's the height of bliss.

He knows that. He's also aware of how such an act involves claiming, however temporary, and Katsuki is not about that.

«KATSUKI! What the fuck you think you're doing?!»

The richly-carved double doors dividing his inner bedroom from the anteroom slam open, the heavy wood cracking against the stone wall with a thunderous noise.

Appearing in the threshold is none other than Bakugou Mitsuki, the Queen and Katsuki's mother — one of the only two people who would dare barge in on him at this time; the other being his father the King —. Her bright red, fur-lined cloak whisks about her back in her brisk walk and abrupt halt. Her long, blonde hair inelegantly sticks out of what had been an artfully-made braid. Her crimson eyes are incandescent coals of fury.

«What d'ya think 'm doin', hah?» Katsuki responds brazenly, unaffected by the sudden presence as well as the accusation. He sounds barely winded despite being at the height of his Estrus.

His mother is also uncaring of his state, too used to see him naked, flushed and dripping. She snarls his way, plump lips pulling back to show her teeth. «Why was your pet outside your quarters?!» she demands. «And in this state! He's in Rut!»

She yanks on a chain with a sharp tug of her wrist, hauling a lump of dead-weight forward to crumple on the floor at her feet. The heap of shivering flesh is whimpering, barely able to lift his head from the polished stone to fix glassy green eyes at Katsuki.

«M-Master...» he whines, scrambling to kneel and bow, his forehead touching the floor. «I-I-I'm s-sorry…! Please—» he chokes on a sob but doesn't try to continue talking.

«You have some nerve, Deku...» Katsuki says, not bothering to stop his ministrations nor outright acknowledge his mother. «You know you deserved it.» His own crimson eyes flash dangerously, fixed on the shivering form asking for forgiveness.

His thighs and hips continue to work him over his toy tirelessly, teasing himself, bringing himself closer and closer to orgasm. He changes angle, just a tiny bit, enough for his inner sweet spot to feel some much needed friction. His hands don't still either, rather they roam his toned body, damp with sweat and smelling of delicious caramel. He gives a couple of lazy strokes to his flushed cock, the precum joining the mess of fluids pooling in the furs under him. He moans out a curse, unrestrained.

Deku flinches, noisily inhales his scent, which permeates every corner of the room, shudders.

Katsuki smirks, cruel.

The Queen clicks her tongue, irritated. «Whatever, I don't care what you do with him, but don't leave him out unchecked,» she says turning on her heel. «And don't waste a Rut, you're an Omega, Katsuki, you need an heir.»

«No, you need one, old hag.» Katsuki barks out a laugh when Mitsuki pauses mid step at the remark, but doesn't deny the statement before stalking off in a flurry of rich fabrics and bitterness.

His mother gone, he's left alone with Deku.

The 'pet' is a slave boy eight winters younger than him; the Queen had bought him for Katsuki after his last… mishap — if the severing of an unwanted, knot-ready cock via very sharp teeth and the consequent death of such cock-owner can be called a mishap — with a previous royal-born Alpha. It wasn't a reward, more of a last-ditch effort in trying to make him bear a child to continue the Bakugou line.

( «If you refuse to submit and mate with anyone of our choosing, then fine,» Mitsuki had said, an aura of tired anger about her as she sat on her throne. «Take this slave and train him to your liking.» )

Katsuki now stares at Deku. The slave's still curled up on the floor and careful not to lift his eyes, though all his other senses are clearly attuned to Katsuki's cycle. There's an obvious flush spreading along his upper body and beads of sweat catching the flickering light from the hearth closest to him. The boy's huffing is loud, no doubt he's breathing in Katsuki's pheromones through parted lips; his sniveling is equally as loud but Katsuki quite likes the sound of it. The looks of it.

«Look at me, Deku,» Katsuki orders. He stills his hips, groaning at the satisfying feeling of being full at his own conditions even if it meant enduring the annoyance of his Estrus on his own.

Deku's watery eyes snap up, dilated pupils growing to further eat away at verdant green as he's given permission to bask in the sight of his Master's nudity and enticing appearance. «M… Master...» he whines.

Katsuki smirks, pride and ego singing in his veins at the venerated look. Yes, you know your place. You're mine. «Did you learn your lesson, you filthy mutt?» He growls, so unlike a common Omega. «Next time you try to fuck me, I'll wring your neck.»

Deku cowers back and Katsuki thinks if the tail stuck up his ass was real, it'd be curved between his legs in fear — the image alone sends a thrill along Katsuki's spine nonetheless —. The boy nods, words lost in his dread of further reproach. Despite it, he's still abundantly erect; his cock an angry red verging on purple, precum leaking down the length the same as Deku's tears do down his freckled, blushing face.

How cute, Katsuki purrs at such a delicious picture; his pussy and cock both delight in it. He unconsciously grinds down on the fake knotted length; it's doused in his juices and just this side of not quite enough, not when he has his own — trained, however at times misbehaving — living, breathing plaything standing at the ready a few steps away.

«Come here, mongrel,» Katsuki says. One hand abandoning the teasing of a puffy, dark pink nipple to beckon Deku forward.

Deku crawls forward on all fours. His youthful cock hanging between his legs, heavy and oozing and restricted by a handcrafted dark-green leather band engraved by magic symbols sealed around it. The boy chokes on a sob as it sways with each movement. He halts, limbs shaking, hips lowering to brush the lush carpet in search of quick, momentary relief.

He freezes when Katsuki snarls in a warning to cut it out.

Katsuki bets it hurts, after two days of being denied the bliss of cumming, during a Rut and in the vicinity of an Omega in Heat above all. He licks his lips, more turned on by the minute, his burnt-sugar scent thickening until it overpowers Deku's peppermint-musk one. He looks down upon the Alpha boy's pathetic figure. The slave has crossed the distance; he's now kneeling next to the large bed and wordlessly handing Katsuki the chain connected to the collar around his throat.

«Good puppy.» Katsuki is magnanimous enough to praise him. He takes the chain and gives it a firm tug, smirking when Deku yelps and tumbles forward. «Say, Deku, are you sure you learned the lesson, mh?» He asks, a cutting edge to his voice; a threat hiding behind his smile.

Deku whimpers, but faces him head on. «Y-yes Mas-Master… I'm sorry, I, I won't d-do it again… please-» his big green eyes stare up at Katsuki, his hands fisting the furs to keep them from visibly trembling- «forgive me! P-please let me hel— l-let me be of use to you, Master!»

Katsuki raises an eyebrow at the choice of words. Smart boy, he thinks, keeping a careful handle on his mask of indifference. «We'll see about that.»

Katsuki raises on his hunches, the hand not holding Deku's leash gingerly slips the leather toy out of his dripping cunt. He sits down among the wet furs. He sighs at the emptiness and his walls clench on nothing, but it's fine, he can wait awhile; the thought of playing with his pet will entertain him until he couldn't wait anymore. He dangles the fake cock in Deku's face. Katsuki openly laughs at him when he flushes a darker pink, his eyes going hazy and his tongue lolling out like a actual dog at the strong smell of Katsuki's slick, his Estrus pheromones.

«Yeah, ya like that, huh Deku?» Katsuki mocks him. He distends one leg toward Deku, sensually curling the heel of his foot behind the slave's nape; he draws him close to his throbbing groin. «My scent.»

The prize any notable Alpha in this corner of the continent dreams of having for themselves.

He is of royal standing. Young, unblemished, fertile, primed to be bred.

Yet this pitiful and somewhat plain-looking boy is one of the three people who's ever been allowed so close to his womb. One of the three people whose seed has ever been welcomed in the innermost part of Katsuki's body. Katsuki rejoys in knowing that; in the wonderful sense of retribution.

«Yes...» Deku mewls, neck straining to get closer to Katsuki's wet center. Mouth parted, tongue out, huffing against the tantalizing plump folds. «Master's… scent…! Omega.»

Katsuki hums, a shiver running up his nerves as he feels the breath fan over him. He pulls on the chain linked to Deku's collar — a lovely piece of work, really. Top quality leather of a beautiful dark green, to match the boy's cock band, and white; four decorated silver hoops and a ring at the front where the chain is latched; small rubies studded all around —, taking the boy by surprise when his nose ends up smacking against the base of Katsuki's cock and his mouth right against his swollen clit.

Deku moans, wanton and overwhelmed by the closeness to the bitter-sweet smell of his owner.

«Suck,  ya dirty mutt.» Katsuki's order hardly leaves his mouth before Deku's following through with it.

The boy's tongue is on him in an instant, swiping at his pussy from bottom to top, licking up his juices and visibly shuddering in pleasure at the taste — the first he's had in weeks —. He pauses for only a moment to savor it, then he gets to work in earnest. Deku's lips and tongue trace his folds, sucking on them and lightly brushing them with his teeth, so well trained on what his Master likes.

«Fuck! Yeah, Deku!» Katsuki rewards him with a loud groan, head thrown back.

He yanks on the chain still in his hand, legs spreading more as he pushes his hips forward to smother the Alpha slave with his cunt. Deku whines into him, lips enveloping Katsuki's sensitive clit; he flicks it, grinds the tip of his tongue to it just right to make Katsuki's legs twitch and come to wrap around his neck. He feels small hands rest low on his thighs, thumbs gently caressing and kneading his skin, smearing his slick and inching closer to its source.

«Damn— ah!— it…! Yeah, yeah there!» Katsuki moans. Deku's mouth moves lower, tongue slipping inside Katsuki's sopping wet pussy, folds pulled apart with aide from his fingers. «Shit!»

Deku responds in kind, keening in hunger, vibrations from his sounds sending jolts of pleasure up Katsuki's spine. His nether regions both throbbing, yearning in need for more. The fever from his Estrus has reached mind-numbing heights; a part of his brain wants him to beg to be filled, so bad tears build up in the corners of his crimson eyes. He growls, pushing back the weak Omega voice in him and tensing.

«Off,» Katsuki rasps Deku's way, rage turning his voice to gravel. The boy doesn't seem to hear him through his Rut-addled mind and it serves to anger him further. «I said OFF!»

Katsuki snarls, wrenching Deku away from his groin and hauling him on the bed with a powerful tug, uncaring of the boy's pained cry. He settles over the back of Deku's legs and pulls on the chain, the slave's flushed upper body lifts from the slick-soaked furs.

«So… sor… ry, Mas-Master…!» Deku wheezes, scrambling to use his arms to ease the pressure on his windpipe. «I-I'm s-sorry! Please!»

Katsuki's panting hard, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he stares wildly at the Alpha below him. Yes, that's how it should be, he thinks, a sharp grin slashing across his mouth, menacing and cruel. «Present,» he orders.

«I— w-what…?»

«You want me to snap your pathetic neck, slave?»

Deku gasps, shaking and trying to twist around to look at Katsuki. «No, no! Please, I'm sorry!»

«Then Present-» Katsuki pulls on the leash, the collar tightening- «Alpha.» There's clear mocking in his tone as he weaves his free hand into the soft, green fur of the plug stuffed in Deku's ass.

The boy's momentary silence is interrupted by his struggle to breathe. «Y… yes, Master...» he says at last, knowing he doesn't really have another choice.

Katsuki relents his hold and raises on his knees to allow Deku to move into position. He keeps his stare fixed on his personal pet; he privately admires the sensual curve of Deku's spine, his chest down and face buried amidst the bedding smelling of Omega in Heat, his ass in the air with his fake tail quivering and hanging between his legs.

Katsuki licks his lips, pleased at the sight.

He takes the plug out of the boy's hole, humming at how puffy and used it looks already, ready to be pounded by an Omega's cock. Katsuki curls his hand around his own rock hard one, strokes himself slow, dips down to his gushing cunt to gather liberal amounts of slick with which he lubricates the length.

«Say it,» he growls low, cock teasingly circling Deku's asshole and smearing fluids over it.

Deku sniffles into the furs. «Mas… Master, pl-please… fu-fuck me…!»

«Again.»

«Please, Mast-Master! Please, please fuck me!» Deku pleads, voice nasal and muffled.

«Mmh, that's better. There's my baby bitch,» Katsuki laughs.

He doesn't give Deku a chance to utter anything else. Katsuki's rearing his hips back and mounting the boy immediately after; he slams into Deku's hole with no care about tenderness or preparation, only the wetness from his slick and precum and the stretch provided by the plug prevent either of their flesh to tear and bleed. Deku screams anyway, fists clutching the bed but staying put nonetheless — as per his training —. Katsuki's cock rams in and out of the Alpha slave's hole in harsh snapping of hips and nails digging into scarred skin. He hovers over Deku's arched body; his strong scent of burned sugar overshadows the peppermint-musk, his weight keeps Deku firmly into position.

Katsuki mutters degrading insults and mocking sweet nothings into Deku's blushing ears, voice gravelly and rough.

«How d'ya like it… being fucked by an Omega, huh?» he says, teeth skimming Deku's nape just below the collar. «I'll breed ya— nggh!— why don't ya give me pups mh? You're my dog after all…!»

«Please! Aaah!» Deku mewls and cries. «No I— I can't, I— gghaah!— Mas-Master…! Please!» Tries to shake his head, to say he can't be impregnated since he's an Alpha, yet he rocks back onto Katsuki's length with as much vigor and need as Katsuki while he fucks into him.

«Gonna... fill you up Deku! Fuck, fuck—» Katsuki straightens up to grip Deku's sides in a vice, hips smacking loud and wet at a quicker pace, getting closer to release. «Fuuuck! Nnngh!!» His cock throbs as he empties inside the boy's ass; his pussy clenches on nothing.

Deku weeps and moans into the bedding, his whole body wrecked with tremors. Katsuki knows how desperate he must be, how miserable. He pulls out of the boy after regaining his breath — no knot to worry about, after all —, toying with the cum oozing out of Deku's hole, pushing in back in with his fingers. He grins darkly, locating the Alpha's sweet spot and tormenting it with the pads of his fore- and middle fingers.

He laughs when Deku wails.

Shifting on the bed, Katsuki gets off of the boy to kick him on his back and sit on his trembling thighs. He looks down at the slobbering, messy, flushed face; eyes puffy, teary and red-rimmed; scarred hands grasping at his decorated collar. He looks down at the dangerously engorged cock, he raises an eyebrow at the dark color.

«D'you wanna cum, Deku? Mmh?» he taunts. «I know it hurts… doesn't it?»

Deku nods furiously, so wrung out he can't even form proper words. «… -ease! I beg… y-you Mas'er…! Pl… se… plea… se!»

Katsuki pretends to consider it, shuffling forward until he's rubbing his obscenely dripping pussy over Deku's cock, teasing his clit and his hole with the leaking tip. The Alpha below him screams a broken sob, his hips futilely thrusting upward.

«Please! Ple...ase…! Oh, I— I'm begging, ple-please!! Master…! Lemme c-cum!! Pleasepleaseplease!!»

«You beg so nicely, Deku,» Katsuki praises at last, a light caress over the boy's bitten-raw lips and warm, freckled cheek.

Still hovering over Deku's length, he reaches backward, fingers brushing the magic-infused lock of the leather band at the base. He channels a tiny amount of power into it at the same time as he lowers himself onto Deku's cock.

A load of cum is immediately released inside Katsuki along with an animalistic howl, Deku's eyes rolling back into his skull.

Katsuki moans, undeterred by the feeling of cum escaping. He bounces and grinds on Deku's length, still rock hard and shooting rope after rope of seed inside him. The young Alpha's knot is swollen, taunting Katsuki's rim; as always, some part of him refuses to let it in, to let it seal them together.

«Shit! Shit, fu-fuck…!» he curses, too hot, too turned on and too far along in his cycle for this bullshit. «Aah, damn it!»

Katsuki scrambles to yank Deku up to a sitting position using the chain. He pops the collar open, letting it fall between their bodies; his eyes fall to the claiming bites on Deku's glands. Mark. Mark him again. He's yours. He sinks down fully on the knot at the same time as his teeth pierce Deku's right gland, tasting blood and smelling a fresh wave of peppermint-musk.

They both groan and whine, finally locked together as one after days of mutual torture. The unbearable fever inside Katsuki quells, even as his cunt is pumped full of cum.

Katsuki thinks he wouldn't even mind if he got pregnant this time.

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for...

Aug 31st

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1. Just wondering if there is a fic out there where jwy wakes up during the core transfer to realise what is going on and refuses the surgery?

There are quite a few No Core Transfer fics but has anyone read or written something like this? Would love for Jwy to know how much he is loved without wwx ripping himself apart for it

Please and thank you 💝💝💝 @theladypeartree

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2. Hello, thank you for this opportunity! Does anyone know of any fics where the characters look or act unusually young for their age due to cultivation/golden core strength? Like, they are treated as children longer because they have an overall longer life expectancy? Or fics which explore how cultivation affects the life expectancies of cultivators in general? Thank you so much!

🔒the inconstancy of moths by spookykingdomstarlight (T, 9k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Reincarnation, Moth Spirit WWX, Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending, Pining)

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3. the world needs more canon compliant/divergent sub/bottom lwj. please provide with your favorites, thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

A Narrow Bridge by FrameofMind, Jo Lasalle (Jo_Lasalle) (E, 700k, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, Getting Together, First Time, Pining while fucking, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Angst with a Happy Ending, CQL Verse, almost everybody lives/almost nobody dies, epistolary-ish, canon-ish side pairings, radishes) I can't recall for sure as it's been a while since I read it, but I think this fic has LWJ bottoming

🔒Blessed is The New Moon by Anonymous (E, 9k, WangXian, Bad Sex, Good Sex, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Porn with Feelings) Nie Huaisang gifts the boys some lube as a joke which leads to a revelation. A fair amount of angst for the premise but HEA.

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4. Currently desperately craving some really really long wangxian! Over 100k please, canon dynamics preferred, and the bit that's hardest to filter for: no extensive positive inclusion of Jiang Cheng. I'm more open to cr!era stuff with him as a secondary character but adult JC particularly I would like mostly off-screen. @strinak

Just go forward like you mean it by tawaen (M, 101k, WangXian, WWX & WN &WQ, WWX & JYL, NHS & WWX, Canon Divergence, WWx does not attend the Wen indoctrination, WWX saves Lotus Pier, Inventor WWX, No Golden Core Transfer, Sect Leader JYL, JC Has No Golden Core, Bad Parents JFM & YZY, Not JC Friendly, but he gets a happier ending than canon so don’t look here for bashing)

Dispersing Clouds by dreamingofcake (E, 283k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Genius WWX, Inventor WWX, Not Jiang Family Friendly, Abusive YZY, Canonical Child Abuse, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, Eventual Sex, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm (Background Character), Background Character Deaths, child deaths, Canon JC, Good Uncle LQR, Accidental Baby Acquisition, Cultivation Sect Politics, Homophobia, Heteronormativity, Feelings Realization, WWX is Not Oblivious)

🧡 Stunted, Starving Juvenility by TomatenMark (E, 859k, WangXian, WIP, Fix-it of sorts, Talisman master WWX, Not JFM Friendly, Study Arc, Getting together, Fluff and Angst, Engagement) Not sure if this one hits the 'no positive JC portrayal' criteria. He's in the early chapters as it starts during CRSA & he does get whacked with a clue-by-four a couple of times so he's sliiiightly less entitled, but he's still a cranky jerk & after the guest disciples leave he barely appears (I also haven't read the last 3 chapters, set during SSC, so no idea on his portrayal in those)

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5. hello! for the next ITMF, fics where WWX adopts XY and shows him what kindness is? Kind of like those YillingWei AUs where XY becomes WWX's disciple (please rec some lesser known ones if you know of any, I feel like I've read all of the popular ones already), thank you!!

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6. I'm in a mood for some good Apocalypse AUs. I like happy endings but since it's apocalypses it might not be feasible so perhaps no brutal endings, if you know what I mean? Like make me cry my eyes out but not from despair/unhopefulness? Also please no Non-Con/Rape, at least not with main pair and not explicit 🙏

The Edge of Night by Hobbsy3 (M, 277k, WangXian, XuanLi, Modern AU, Zombie Apocalypse, Yúnmèng Siblings Dynamics, Accidental Baby Acquisition During a Zombie Apocalypse, Junior Quartet, (except they’re all babies), Angst with a Happy Ending, Minor Character Death, Hurt/Comfort, Blood and Gore, Ensemble Cast, Worst Zombie Fighting Team Ever, Found Family) Amazing Zombie AU

Darkness Before the Dawn by Selenay (E, 64k, wangxian, Zombie Apocalypse, Modern With Magic, Necromancer WWX, Reunions, toddler A-Yuan, There Was Only One Bed, There are zombies but not graphically horrific zombies, Angst with a Happy Ending, Find a home in the middle of an apocalpyse)

when the sun goes out by travelingneuritis (E, 176k, WangXian, Modern Cultivation, tech cultivation, Necromancy, Angst with a Happy Ending, insecurity around adoption, Dad!WWX, dad!lwj, Grief/Mourning, Mistaken Identity, Mood Whiplash, Body Swap, sex tears!, Falling In Love, Consensual Somnophilia, apocalypse (localized), Smut, unrealistic sexual stamina, Flashbacks, Time Skips, Illustrations) this fic jumps around in time so only part of it is During the Apocalypse, but highly recommend this fic

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7. Wangxian fluff. Pls😭😭😭just them married fluff.😭😭😭😭km traumatized. Pls. Just loads of happiness @honestlyewww

A Lifetime of It (Please, and Thank You) by misscam (M, 5k, WangXian, Wedding, a mix of series and novel, Humor, Fluff, Angst, some naughtiness, Switching)

coop d'état by wolfsan11 (G, 4k, WangXian, Fluff and Humor, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Established Relationship, Post-Canon, Chickens, WWX-centric, Post-Canon Modao Zushi Novel, Married WangXian, therapy chickens)

Dear Hanguang-Jun by cavaleira (M, 8k, WangXian, background ZhuiLing, Fluff, Established Relationship, Humor, Post-Canon)

Where the Lonely Ones Go by CSHfic, VSfic (T, 23k, WangXian, Accidental Baby Acquisition, Case Fic, Night Hunts, Fluff, Established Relationship, Mystery, Married Life, Domestic Fluff, Haunting, Kid Fic, Post-Canon, gratuitous use of empathy)

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8. Thank you for this amazing blog!! I am actually ITMF fics where LWJ initially misunderstands WWX and is pretty rude/cruel/hurtful to him which contributes to WWX whump(essentially him being super hurt yet still trying to act as if everything is okay or so). I have read a couple of fics with this trope but I don’t know how to find more so it would really great if you could recommend some fics along these lines. Thank you!!!

Couldn't Scream Couldn't Shout by mermorgie (T, 42k, WangXian, LXC & WWX, LXC & LWJ, LQR & WWX, JZX & WWX, WWX & NHS, LWJ & NHS, WIP, Not for JC stans, Muteness, Sign Language, references to selective mutism, Homophobic JC, canon JC characteristics, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Anxiety Attacks, Pining, LWJ is a Panicked Gay, Supportive Sibling LXC, JZX Tries, LQR Tries, Protective JZX, Scheming NHS, Bisexual JZX, LWJ is Bad at Communicating, WWX Has ADHD, Autistic LWJ, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Jiang Family Bashing)

🔒 Warming up (to him) by barisan (T, 9k, LQR & WWX, WangXian, Hypothermia, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Temporary Character Death, Medical Inaccuracies, YZY Abuses WWX, JFM Bashing, pre-wangxian, Good Uncle LQR, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort)

Concord by Deastar (T, 41k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, Gusu Lan Sect Rules, Depression, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending)

the earthquake in the room by phnelt (E, 39k, WangXian, College/University, Modern: No Powers, Canada, Getting Together, Mentions of lwj/others, background NieLan, background QingMian, inter-faculty romance, strangers to lovers to frenemies to lovers, mostly book characterisation, Background XuanLi)

For you by 10thNoNamePerson (T, 16k, WangXian, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, Canon Divergence, No War AU, Teen Wangxian, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Jealous WWX, Soft WangXian, No Sunshot Campaign) they both misunderstand each other but it's lowk Lan Wangji’s fault 😭

~*~

9. Hi! I’m itmf fics where it’s assumed that lan yuan is wei wuxian or lan wangji’s child or both. Thanks

Wei Wuxian, God of Fertility by tired (T, 19k, WangXian, Family Feels, Crack Treated Seriously, Crack, the juniors get REAL drunk, Gossip, POV Multiple, surprisingly not an mpreg fic, Kissing, Self-Esteem Issues, Discussion of Porn and Sex, Post-Canon, SOFT SOFT SOFT, married wangxian, Fluff and Humor, PSA: touching forehead ribbons gets you pregnant)

Lan Yuan's War by BurningTea (G, 196k, LSZ & LWJ, LWJ & LXC, WangXian, LWJ & WQ, WIP, Time Travel, Dad LWJ, Sunshot Campaign, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Eventual Happy Ending, Rumours, Lots of rumours about LWJ, several people worry about LWJ, CQL Verse, Mental Health Issues, LWJ is very much not okay, Time travel has consequences, Sick LWJ) if the requester doesn't mind WIPs.

sing to the clouds in summer by stiltonbasket (G, 28k, JC & WWX, JC & JL, wangxian, JL & LSZ & LJY & OYZZ, 13k words of JC figuring out that LSZ is his nephew, ft. LXC and NHS the overprotective uncles, and LWJ giving JC death glares, Family Secrets, Reconciliation, Sad JC, Uncle-Nephew Relationship, Eventual Happy Ending, [Podfic] sing to the clouds in summer by read_by_Sophie (Sophie))

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10. Hello! I just finished reading "The Blame Game" and am itmf for any wangxian fics where someone who isn't Lan Zhan or Wei Wuxian time travels and fixes canon. Thank you!

Time, Time, Time by skeletonofaplant (G, 44k, wangxian, JYL/JZX, LSZ & WWX, JYL & JL & JZX, LJY & LSZ, Time Travel Fix-It, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Identity Porn, Identity Reveal, Angst, Fluff, Junior Quartet Dynamics, Time Travelling Junior Ensemble, Junior Ensemble Shenanigans, Humor) The Juniors time travel (though it ends with the fixing canon merely implied as something that will happen)

Resilience. by Vrishchika (T, 7k, wangxian, time travel, not JC friendly, golden core transfer fix-it) JC time travels in this one, though it's less about him fixing things & more trying to make things how he thinks they should've gone & failing

💖 With Surgical Precision by metisket (T, 20k, WQ & WN, WQ & WWX, WangXian, Time Travel, Families of Choice, sibling bonding through murder) WQ time travel

Back To The River (So Learn To Swim) by kalany (M, 83k, CSSR/JFM/WCZ/YZY, JYL/JZX, WangXian, Fix-it fic, self-reincarnation, going back to try again, autotransmigration, time travel adjacent, Pregnancy, access to appropriate obstetrics care, Childbirth, lots of childbirth, there are so many children, Unplanned Pregnancy, but they are very much wanted, but it's discussed to make sure, Polyamory, Polygamy, survival sex, unwanted pregnancy ending in termination, abortion as victory, this fic has an agenda and it is access to reproductive health care, on-page death of a child, Murder of a Child, But he deserves it, it's XY if that matters, WRH doing WRH things, JGS doing JGS things, calling JGS a rapist, which he is and we're going to use that word in this fic, non-explicit discussion of sexual assault, Sexual Coercion, brief glimpse of sexual assault, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Sexism, most of the people in this fic are coded non-neurotypical, asexual JC, bisexual JFM, bisexual YZY, Bisexual CSSR, bisexual WCZ, falling in love when you don't expect it, does it count as found family when it's your husband​, Sect Heir JYL) is YZY time travel where she fixes everything (or most things) featuring sect heir JYL and eventual YZY/JFM/CSR/WCZ polycule

Never Again by Hauntcats (T, 67k, WWX & WN & WQ, JC & WWX, wangxian, graphic depictions of violence, major character death, Canon Divergence, Angst, Golden Core Transfer Fix-It, Time Travel Fix-It, Not JC Friendly, Dark, BAMF WWX, mentions of abuse, Not Everyone Dies au, XY doesn’t have a happy ending) Another WQ time travel one

Lessons relearned by Iamnotawriter (T, 44k, WangXian, LQR & WWX, Not Madam Yu Friendly, Time Travel Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Inventor WWX, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, No Golden Core Transfer, YZY Bashing) LQR time travel

And They Lived Happily Ever After… by Morgana_avalon (G, 51k, WangXian, Zhuiling, Time Travel Fix-It, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Canon Universe, Canon Related, set before the ambush happens at Qiongqi Path, Canon Divergence, Bunnies, Good brother JC, Good JZX, CQL Verse)

Lynchpin by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 103k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Fix-It)

❤️ nevermore, nevermore by agloeian (T, 120k, lan sizhui & everyone, wangxian, canon divergence, time travel fix-it, hurt/comfort, fluff, angst w/ happy ending)

Sail Away Sweet Sister by sami (M, 73k, WangXian, YZY/CSSR/MDM Lan, MingLi, Time Travel, EXTREME Canon Divergence, Wide Focus Narrative, Some People Live/Not Everyone Dies, Most Named/Canon Characters Live, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Families of Choice, Parenthood, this work contains a major tonal shift, Fluff, Angst, Underage Sex, not particularly explicit, but not at all ambiguous, PTSD, Only a tiny bit, Unforeseeable consequences, The butterfly effect, Slightly Dark JYL, Asexual Characters, but that’s not really the focus, Canon-Typical Violence)

🔒💖 The blame game by apathyinreverie (T, 13k, wangxian, LXC & LWJ, LSZ & WWX, WWX & WQ, LXC & WWX, canon divergence, time travel fix-it, possessive LWJ, oblivious WWX, fluff, siblings, romance, golden core reveal, golden core fix-it)

Moments of Revelation by meyari (T, 133k, ChengSang, WangXian, XiYao, Canon Divergence, Temporary Character Death, Time Travel Fix-It, Self-Sacrifice, Torture, Chronic Pain, Chronic anxiety, Grief/Mourning, PTSD, Chronic Mental Health Issues, Families of Choice, Original Supporting characters, Unreliable Narrator(s), Demonic Possession) Jiang Cheng goes back to when he lost his core and fixes everything. The author Meyari also has various other character time travel fixes in other fics, Meng Yao and Su She and I think others, but those are even more divergent

Back in time by Liebing23 (T, 32k, WangXian, Time Travel, Alternate Timelines, Fix-It of Sorts, Angst, Family Feels, Good Kid LSZ, LSZ Needs a Hug, Sad JL, JL Needs a Hug) the juniors time travel and fix some stuff!

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11. hi! I love this blog, I've found so many great fics and hidden gems just from scrolling through past ITMF posts! For the next ITMF, are there any fics similar to a paper friend by soft_wanning? just any fics where wwx is lost as a paperman and lwj helps him find his way back to lotus pier and that's how they meet

stray cat strut by ScarlettStorm (E, 54k, WangXian, No War AU, the world's least mysterious casefic, Comedy, Shenanigans, Slow Burn, a disgusting amount of magically necessary forehead smooches, switch rights) Wwx is cat, not paper man, but I found the vibes to be very similar and suuuper cute

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12.

Hi, I’m in the Mood for a Fic in which abusers get severe consequences or the system/traditions are challenged (with great success). If possible, some of the following scenarios:

Wei Wuxian has enough of getting whipped for no valid reason and starts standing up for himself (not just verbally, and especially NOT just talking back while still accepting punishment) but by attacking back or some other form of brutal revenge. 

a modern AU where jiang yanli and/or jiang cheng cut off contact with their parents for their treatment, anything where they put themselves and their brother above their abusive parents

Lan Zhan does not accept his punishment and kills(or at least successfully fights off) any elder that attempts to whip him. 

Lan Zhan or Lan Xichen destroys the wall of rules and makes the sect more friendly for all

someone invents democracy and various sect leaders are voted out - can be crack or serious

anyone going against “that’s how it’s always been” / “that’s how it’s supposed to be” and winning against all opposition, I’m ok with the character being OOC/more powerful than makes sense, 

basically anything where bad people are punished for being bad even if it doesn’t make sense because of their social standing

I will be grateful for any recs, thank you :) @hushtalks

The Wrong Man by Remma3760 (Not Rated, 125k, WangXian, Sect Leader LWJ, Evil JGS, Canon Divergence, Golden Core Reveal) LWJ becomes sect leader & uses his new power to reform the sect's rules & approach to discipline, & the plot is basically The Bad Characters Get Punished

Work of Heart by Witch_Nova221 (T, 17k, WangXian, Romance, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, soft romance, Artist WWX, Musician LWJ, College/University, Modern, Roommates, Friends to Lovers, Family Drama, Emotional Manipulation, Financial Issues, Bad Parent YZY) The Jiangs lose business deals because of their abuse of Wei Wuxian

🔒 Step by step by apathyinreverie (T, 12k, WangXian, Modern AU, JFM and YZY Bashing, not particularly Jiang family friendly, Guilt, Fluff, past angst, Flashbacks, Protective LWJ, Soft WWX, adorable a-yuan, Friendship, Family, Getting Together, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Domestic Fluff) The Jiangs lose business deals because of their abuse of Wei Wuxian

Meet you at a different place by tawaen (M, 57k, WQ & WN, WN & MXY & WQ, WQ & WWX & WN, Eventual WangXian, Ghost General WN, Ghost WQ, Canon Divergence, WQ comes back to haunt the cultivation world, Bad idea to kill the one person who didn’t kill anyone, Cultivation World Critical, Not JC Friendly, Wen Remnants Deserve Better, Sīsī Deserves Better, MXY Deserves Better, POV WQ) Wen Qing's ghost gets revenge against those that wronged her family & Wei Wuxian

A Life Without Regrets by naqaashi (M, 146k, WangXian, JFM & WWX, JC & WWX, WRH & WWX, LXC & LWJ, LQR & LWJ, LWJ & NHS, Canon Divergence, Time Travel Fix-It, Angst and Humor, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Crack Treated Seriously, musical cultivation, Slow Burn, Pining, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Murder Husbands, PTSD, BAMF WWX, Demonic Cultivation, POV WWX, Cultivation Sect Politics, Worldbuilding, No Yīn Iron, Genius WWX, Inventor WWX, Artist WWX, Musician WWX, Night Hunts, Fate & Destiny, Bad Parent JFM & YZY, Golden Core, Cultivation Theory, Sentient Burial Mounds, Father-Son Relationship, Dysfunctional Family, Grief/Mourning, Parent-Child Relationship, Angry WWX, Pining WWX, WWX is Not Okay, No Golden Core Transfer, BAMF LWJ, Pining LWJ, POV LWJ, Angry LWJ, One-Braincell Wangxian, Love Confessions, Idiots in Love, WIP) is a time travel fic where Lan Wangji destroys the wall of disciplines and he & Wei Wuxian change the world for the better.

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13. Hello! I was wondering if you have any good recs with protective/overprotective Lan Zhan who will be dammed if he lets anything happen to Wei Ying ever again?

Also I just wanted to say you’re incredible and I genuinely appreciate all the work you do for us poor Wangxian fans!

🔒 Revenge is a Side Dish Best Served With Tea by merakily (G, 7k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Canon Compliant, Protective LWJ, Petty LWJ, Fluff and Humor)

💖 Nice work if you can get it by deliciousblizzardshark (M, 11k, wangxian, protective LWJ, genius LWJ, post-canon, fluff & humor, getting together, chief cultivator LWJ)

I Have Arranged to Tie You to Me by xxxMiaHikarixxx (G, 82k, WIP, WangXian, Lan protective team, Time Travel, Past, LWJ oriented, Arranged Marriage, Boys In Love, Soulmates, Fix-It, Jiang siblings, not jiang parents friendly, Soft LWJ, Protective LWJ, Genius WWX)

🔒 As good as by apathyinreverie (T, 6k, WangXian, LQR & WWX, Fix-It, Canon Divergence, not a good uncle LQR story, but also not not?, Golden Core Reveal, Kind Of, Golden Core Fix-It, Also kind of, Addiction, Manipulation, not between wangxian, just...War politics, Sunshot Campaign, Not As Dark As The Tags Make It Sound, Possessive LWJ, Protective LWJ, Tired WWX, Genius WWX, Dual Cultivation, LQR is too old for teenage drama, Developing Relationship)

my rivers tilt towards you by perfectlyrose (T, 26k, WangXian, Canon, Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Fairy Tale Elements, dragonji, mentions of, Madam Yu’s A+ Parenting, First Meetings, Romance, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort)

🔒 Heart of hearts series by apathyinreverie (M, 40k, WangXian, Dark LWJ(Ish), Amnesia, WWX gets to be Not Okay after the BM, Hurt WWX, Recovery, Caring, Protective LWJ, Possessive LWJ, some definite manipulation but not everything is as it seems, not nearly as dark as the tags make it sound, Canon Divergence, Golden Core Reveal, Golden Core Transfer Fix-It Kind Of, Domestic WangXian, Fluff, WWX Goes to Gusu, Possessive WWX, WWX happily atticwifing away, Sunshot Campaign, BAMF WWX, BAMF LWJ, ridiculously self-indulgent, Not Cultivation World Friendly)

~*~

14, Hi! I read "By the emperor's decree - sweetlolixo" and am itmf fics where people have the mindset "wangji is a serious child, always has been" "Lan wangji doesn't smile or have fun" and all variations where most everyone even Lan zhan's family are sorta intimidated and kept at arm's length by his blank face and then they see him with Wei Wuxian and get the surprise of their lifetime cuz then he's smiling, joking, not punishing for rule breaking seriously, being just as shameless and working to fluster Wei wuxian more as well as proud to show off all the marks he leaves on his husband. It could be any AU!

By Heart by Meseem (T, 28k, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, Amnesia, Memory Loss, Canon Divergence, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Angst with a Happy Ending, amnesiac time-traveler lwj, POV LWJ) iirc in one chapter Lan Xichen is surprised by Lan Wangji admitting that he likes Wei Wuxian, and overall a bunch of people get surprised by how much he let's him get away with

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15. Itmf a fic where wwx is abandoned after the battle of nightless city against wen ruohan, causing major canon divergence. Maybe the public turns against him, maybe his death is faked (by himself or others - he did pass out in public and was vulnerable to others for a time), maybe someone tries to 'remove a potential threat before he can become one' after that display of power, maybe he runs away, or is lost on the battlefield w/ disfiguring wounds and amnesia, etc. tldrwarwonbutwwxnogohomewothers

🔒this house is loved by ribena (T, 15k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, WWX lives, Memory Loss, Cottagecore, Developing Relationship, slight angst, introspective and a little rambly, Happy Ending, Feelings)

❤️ The Third Young Master of the Qishan Wen by KouriArashi (T, 139k, wangxian, xiyao, chengqing, romance, angst w/ happy ending, hurt/comfort, politics, revenge, families of choice, pining) This fic is already very canon-divergent (it's an AU where wwx is adopted by the Dafan Wen) but it has pretty much the plot point requested

~*~

16. Hello

I'm in the mood for a WangXian fic that's set in the genre of Dark Academia. I've been reading Grimoire by WithLoweredVoices recently, and really enjoyed it. Do you know of any similar fics? @shenmiao98

Marks of weakness, marks of woe by Song_of_Storms (E, 48k, WangXian, WIP, College/University, Modern with Magic, Dark Academia, Rivals to Lovers, Dark LWJ, Slow Burn, Eventual Smut, Murder Mystery, Minor Character Death, Familiars, Fencing, Nonbinary NHS, Poison, Aftermath of Poisoning, Tagged Explicit For Later Chapters, LWJ's canonical inability to distinguish between immediate hatred and immediate attraction, furthering the LWJ/JZX/MM friendship agenda, Heavy Angst, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Intrusive Thoughts) If the requester of 16 doesn't mind a WIP

~*~

17. I read fic Turn Left by kianspo, where Lan Zhan was kidnapped from Gusu sect and grew up outside of it (on the streets and then with Xiao Xingchen on Baoshan Sanren mountain). I’m in the Mood for a Fic with similar topic, where Lan Zhan grew up outside of Gusu Lan, be it in different sect or as rogue cultivator (without Gusu Lan sect rules). I would like to find more fics with this particular trope (not modern au). The plot after it (family reunion, wangxian) doesn't matter as much. Thank you.

no step had trodden black by Stratisphyre (T, 32k, wangxian, LQR & WWX, JYL/JZX, canon divergence, madam lan lives, past rape, golden core reveal, hurt/Comfort, referenced to attempted suicide & suicidal thoughts, canon-typical violence) Lan Wangji grew up as a rogue cultivator with his mom

The Dreams of Youth by sami (E, 86k, wangxian, time travel, fix-it, family, not lan sect friendly, canon typical violence & gore, childhood friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, mothers who live, some people live/not everyone dies) If the requester doesn't mind a time travel story, four-year-old Lan Wangji leaves the Lan sect with his mother

Xiao XingChen's travelling sect Series by The Silverfish (ZephyrAndTheSilverfish) (T, 43k, WangXian, SongXiao, Time Travel, Children, rogue cultivators, Not Canon Compliant, Hurt/Comfort, small town, Murder Mystery, Parental XXC, Cultivation Conference, Bad Parenting, World Travel, Monsters, Bugs & Insects, Sailors, Sea Monsters, Pirate Treasure, Ocean, Flirting, Bad Flirting) Another time-travel one, in which LWJ is raise (well "raised", he has adult memories and maturity) by Xiao Xingchen

Sail Away Sweet Sister by sami (M, 73k, WangXian, YZY/CSSR/MDM Lan, MingLi, Time Travel, EXTREME Canon Divergence, Wide Focus Narrative, Some People Live/Not Everyone Dies, Most Named/Canon Characters Live, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Families of Choice, Parenthood, this work contains a major tonal shift, Fluff, Angst, Underage Sex, not particularly explicit, but not at all ambiguous, PTSD, Only a tiny bit, Unforeseeable consequences, The butterfly effect, Slightly Dark JYL, Asexual Characters, but that’s not really the focus, Canon-Typical Violence) (link in #10) Also Sami's got another time-travel one where LWJ grows up in the Jiang Sect (ljw is not the time-traveler in this one)

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If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[zombiigrll]

Could you make a fic for Carl where he’s kind of yandere-like? You can get creative with it, but just something creepy like that. It’s okay if not! 💛

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BLOODY VALENTINE. ⋆｡°✩ yandere!carl grimes x reader .ᐟ WORD COUNT .ᐟ ⭑ 1.5K ꩜ .ᐟ WARNINGS ⭑ use of y/n, gore mention, blood, murder, 'yandere-like' carl (i hate using the word yandere but i don't know what else could be used T_T), crying, vomit, takes place in alexandria .ᐟ SUMMARY .ᐟ ⭑ it was pretty obvious you and carl had liked each other for a while. but after you started getting close with ron, carl started to change. ꩜ .ᐟ A/N .ᐟ ⭑ thank you so much for the request anon! i've never really written something like this before so i hope its to your liking <3 also this ofc isn't in character for carl, so i know some of the writing isn't gonna seem like him n stuff :p

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────────────────────────────────────── you had known carl since the prison. michonne found you on a run and took you in. and ever since then, you and carl would always hangout together. you were practically inseperable.

...that was until you guys arrived at alexandria and you met a boy named ron.

you and carl met him together when his mother and rick decided it'd be nice if the two of you made friends with people your guys' age. "you guys have video games?!" you immediately took interest to the moving characters on the television in front of ron and the boy named mikey.

"yeah, you want a turn?" ron asked, moving the controller toward you.

"yes, please!" you beamed, reaching to grab the controller from his hand when your finger grazed his, making you flinch a bit in embarrassment. "oh, sorry."

carl instantly noticed this interaction and walked over, ripping the controller out of your hand.

you frowned. "hey-"

"we're leaving." carl looked at you, then back at ron angrily.

"uh, why?" ron raised an eyebrow, squinting at carl.

carl scoffed, throwing the controller back to ron and aggressively grabbing your hand in his, practically dragging you out of the house.

"dude, what the fuck?" you shoved carl away from you once the two of you got outside.

"i don't like him. he's weird." carl blankly said, staring down at you as if your reaction was unnatural.

"he didn't even do anything! all he did was give me a controller, what's so weird about that?"

"he just met you and he's already trying to make moves-"

"no, carl. he wasn't. he was being nice." you rolled your eyes and crossed your arms together. "if anyone is being weird, it's you. what's wrong with you right now?"

carl looks at the ground and laughs before bringing up a hand to the side of your face. "nothing is 'wrong' with me. i'm fine."

"obviously not. you've never acted like this before." you shoved his hand away, shaking your head.

carl looks at you, upset, but at the same time, furious. "whatever." he walks away, shoulder-checking you as he passes.

you look back at him, confused. carl was the sweetest boy you've ever met. he's always been there for you through everything, so what is the matter with him right now?

you brushed the thoughts away and walked back into rons house, trying to clear your mind from whatever the hell is happening with carl right now.

...

the two of you hadn't spoken to each other in a while. you've been spending your time becoming acquainted to the people of alexandria, and he'd been off doing whatever.

you haven't really seen him at all, except for when you'd go home. he'd be on his porch, shaking his leg with his arms crossed. every. single. day.

he was scaring you, and you weren't confident enough to ask him what's wrong. especially not after the way he shut you down last time.

you were sure it was just him going through puberty. you never knew how boys developed, so you assumed all boys acted like how carl was acting. jealous and insecure.

you didn't even like ron, not like that. he was dating enid, and you liked carl, even if he was being weird. you just wanted to make new friends.

but today felt awful. you woke up with a sick, eerie feeling laying in your stomach. something felt wrong, but you didn't know why. you put your clothes and shoes on and stepped outside, and alexandria was silent.

"...hello?" you called out loudly. no answer.

you looked around your surroundings and noticed that some cars were missing, which you assumed was due to rick and a few others going out on a run together.

'maybe ron is here?' you thought as your gaze went towards his house. you started walking closer to the dimly lit building. as you stepped onto the porch, you rung the doorbell twice. "hello? is anyone home?" you asked through the door.

you heard a voice from the other side. "shit." a raspy, distressed voice spoke.

"are you okay?" you knocked on the door loudly as that sound.

silence.

"i'm coming in." you quickly opened the door, a disgusting stench filling your nose. "what the hell..?"

you looked around and the living room and it looked normal for the most part, despite some oddly moved furniture and some glass on the ground. but that smell. it was nauseating.

"who's there?" you asked, looking around at your surroundings as you stepped closer to the hallway, which was also closer to the strong stench. "i know someone's in here, just answer-"

you froze as you looked ahead through the doorframe and into ron's room.

there was blood everywhere. and a figure facing away from you wearing a very familiar sheriffs hat.

"oh, my god." you gagged, covering your mouth with your hand as your eyes widened at the scene.

a clinging sound was heard, a bloody knife falling to the ground. right besides ron and mikeys bodies.

you were about to pass out. you brought up your arm to hold onto the doorframe for support.

"...what did you do?"

the boy didn't respond. instead, he turned to face you. there was blood stained all along his face and body, and his eyes looked dark. he stepped closer to you, which made you step away in fear.

"i'm not going to hurt you." he softly spoke, reaching out a bloody hand in your direction.

your eyebrows furrowed in fear as you looked him straight in the eye. "are you kidding me..?"

carl brought his bloodstained hand up to your cheek, resulting in the fresh blood spreading along your face and a shiver rolling down your spine.

"i love you."

as he spoke, your faces were inches apart, the smell of iron filling up through your nose. your eyes widened further and you shook your head away from his hand. "you.. you killed ron, you killed mikey, and... now you're saying you love me in a room splattered in their blood?" you laughed fearfully.

he stayed silent, taking in your terrified expression.

"you told me you'd always keep me safe. you'd always make sure i would never feel afraid again." you reminded him, stepping further back. "you failed. miserably."

"y/n-"

"don't." you cut him off. your eyes focused back to the bodies, and you fully processed everything. your body jerked up and you threw up right by your feet. "..holy shit."

"i just.." carl shook his head. "i didn't want to lose you. i didn't want you to leave me."

"so you fucking murdered ron and mikey?!" you yelled, wiping your mouth off with your sleeve. "do you hear yourself?"

carl stayed silent, staring down at the ground with clenched fists.

"i liked you, carl. only you." your voice softened as tears began glazing over your eyes. "there wasn't any competition. it was only you."

carl looked over at you, wide eyed and confused, more guilty than before. "..what?"

"you didn't have to.. to kill people to show you love me." you pointed behind him, reminding him of what he did.

he was speechless. guilty as ever. he was shaking frantically. tears flooded his eyes as he brought a hand up to his face, which only resulted in more blood spreading across his already bloodstained face.

you laid your head on the wall, recollecting your self. carl just stood by the doorframe spacing out.

"...what do we do now?" he finally spoke, his voice wobbly and quiet.

"i don't know!" you snapped again, raising your hands over your head. "it's your mess."

"please, y/n." he begged, running a hand through his hair. "what can i do to fix this?"

"i..." you trailed off, staring at the whole scene again. "shit, carl."

you walked into the bathroom at your side and threw a towel and bucket of water out to him. "clean it up." you said before turning around to walk out of the house.

"wait." he called out.

"what?"

"are you going to tell anyone.. what i did?" his voice sounded scary, but terrified.

"not if you don't get caught." you sighed. "forge a note, hide their bodies, whatever. i'm not apart of this anymore."

carl nodded somberly. "i'm sorry."

you left the house.

...

things weren't normal at all after that day. i mean, why would they be? carl hid what happened the best he could, actually taking your advice to forge a note. you kept your word and stayed silent. jessie was a mess after that day, unsure why her boy and his best friend 'left alexandria.'

you didn't know how to feel about carl anymore. he loved you still, as far as you could tell, but you couldn't understand your feelings for him.

you knew you still loved him despite everything. but you felt as if you couldn't forgive him for taking away the first friend your age you'd made, and taking jessies son away from her.

he was basically just some sort of bloody valentine to you.

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[quartzhearted]

pegasus moon, year xx.

[ FIRST CORRESPONDENCE W. KINGDOM OF BRODIA. ]

To my beloved,

I want to start this letter off by simply saying: I love you.

I haven't said that in a long time, apparently. I'm sorry it's taken me so much time to get around to it, but I'll admit: I've been afraid. I've learned a lot about the circumstances surrounding what happened to me and what happened to Elyos afterward; I was a fool, and it cost my life and the lives of thousands more. I feel as though I've stolen someone else's second shot at life.

But I'm here, much as I feel like I shouldn't be. I've met up with both Alcryst and Diamant; they reacted about as well as you'd expect. Which was pretty badly. But I think I've smoothed it over well enough with them. And wouldn't you believe it, I've got a job at the fancy new school they're attending. I'm an axe, sword, and authority instructor---Dragons, if you saw the amount of tests I have to grade every other week, you'd cry. I know I almost have.

When this letter reaches the mailroom, I'll be surprised if the staff don't think it's a bunch of hooey and rip the letter open to read it. If that's the case, then, well. Hi there, folks.Sorry, off-topic.

I'm sure the boys have written to you about the school, so I won't waste paper explaining things you already know. There was a ball here recently, and I got to meet up with a lot of people I'd never seen before. Let me tell you, they've got some real cases at this school; don't think I've ever laughed so hard in one night. Except maybe on our honeymoon after that new kid waiter shot the champagne cork right in my eye. Dragons, the look on his face. Poor thing.

A lot of stuff happened at that ball, and talking about all of it will probably make my hand cramp like a beast. So I'll put it in a bullet point list:

Got punched (it was consensual)

Met a kid probably Alcryst's age who was as decorated as a winter festival tree

Was given pomegranate seeds by a little girl who I think was part chipmunk(??)

Had my first drink with Alcryst

Watched the prince of Solm start a spaghetti war

Spooked Alcryst's retainer Lapis (I still feel real bad about this one but I made it up to her later)

And there's other stuff that I'm probably forgetting. My memory's never been good at keeping anything that doesn't involve hitting swords together or my family, but you know that.

After the ball ended, I decided to take up dancing. It was pretty popular with the other attendees; I think the first class I went to had so many people there were folks waiting outside the door. I know we're already classically trained, so I didn't need to go take a class, but I sort of just wanted to go meet other people. It was hard as hell, too---the instructor was no joke. I'm pretty sure I fell over at least ten times and shook the room each time.

There's a special outfit they made for the dancers around here. It's supposed to help with movement and all that. I've had a peek at it and boy, it sure is something. They said they'll make one custom for me, but since I'm bigger than their usual clients it'll take a bit longer for them to have it out for me. I think the kids will be horrified when they see their father in this thing, so I'm quite honestly doing it so I can see their faces. They need to confront their fears if they want to do well in battle; this may or may not include seeing their father wearing skimpy outfits and busting a move with a frightful amount of leg.

Dragons, I miss you so much. I miss being able to sit with you and talk about nothing for hours. I miss laying with you in bed and having those little competitions on who will fall asleep first (if the running tally's still correct, then I'm up three nights). I miss just being with you. But I can't come back to Brodia right now, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to. I can't throw the country into whatever disaster my being alive will cause. She's in Diamant's hands now, and I intend to let it stay that way.

I'm proud of Alcryst and Diamant. They've been through so much as I'm sure you have, and yet they're here, working on themselves and meeting new people. They're such strong kids. Seeing their eyes fill with all sorts of horrible emotions when they first saw me shook me something serious. I'm such a terrible father for what I've made them do.

One day, I want to see you again. I want to feel your hand in mine. I want to kiss your cheek, and I want to hug you, and I want to hold you until eons pass, the world explodes, and we're the only two people floating around in whatever debris is left. ( aside from the kids, they'll be there too. they can float with us. ) Life doesn't feel right without you, and while I'm thankful every day to the Dragons above that you survived the hell that took Elyos, I'm about ready to curse them out for the circumstances that keep me from running back to Brodia and kissing you until my mouth goes numb.

Maybe we can meet up at a halfway point.

Enclosed in this letter are images taken with the monastery's new-fangled instant portrait-capturing device, invented by one of the alumni. I'm not sure how they managed it, but it lets you capture portraits in about three-or-so seconds, and they're as perfect as if you hired an artist to do them. Boy, that would have been nice when Alcryst and Diamant were squirts.

This may not be all the proof you'll need to believe me, but I want to try anyways. It breaks my heart knowing I'm here, you're there, and I can't do anything to change it. I just hope you're safe, at least.

I'm on patrol duty tonight, so I have to go scan the halls for misbehaving students and whatever idiots decide to raid a heavily-weaponized military academy. It's not great work, but I at least get to chat with some people I don't normally see in the daytime. Night owls and all that. This monastery really is something; I think you'd like it here.

I'll write to you again soon. I want these to become regular so that I don't fall out of contact or keep you in the dark anymore. There's a lot I need to work through and a lot I still need to understand, but I at least want you to know what happens to me when it does. As my wife, you deserve that much.

I love you, my darling. You'll hear from me again soon. Please be well.

Signed,

Morion, Professor of Axe, Sword, and Authority at the Officers Academy

[armentas]

WIP Questionnaire

Thanks so much to @orphanheirs for tagging me; this looks so fun and I loved your answers. I'll be responding for my main WIP, Haven!

What's the first part of your WIP that you created?

Easily my characters. Heather has existed since I was 12 years old, and Beau and Erin have more or less existed since I was 6! I would just daydream about them getting into random situations to pass the time, really. I'd tried putting them in badly written middle school fantasy stories before realizing that coming of age was the most natural thing for them.

If your story was a TV show, what would the theme song/intro be?

Oh, I have a whole playlist for songs I'd want to be used! I honestly haven't decided on an intro song, but I definitely know the theme song and end credits song. I'd consider the theme to be Last Chance by CHPTRS, both the vibe and the lyrics are just too perfect. "This could be my last chance" is pretty much the whole thing behind Haven, AND the line of "hold me in the grip of your arms" becoming more and more desperate because of how much Heather misses her brother and wants to cherish this miracle of being with him again... I would be lying if I said that hadn't made me cry a few times. Though the lyrics are more depressing than I'd want for the end credits, for that category, I would still easily choose i have no sense of what home is by ativansocial. It feels like a childhood hug on a warm, dark summer night where things aren't okay, but they will be, which is exactly how I'd want the end to feel.

What are your favorite characters that you made? Why?

Oh, can I answer for multiples WIPs? Because Heather is definitely one, but I could easily go on about Celio and Charity too lol. For Heather, the top thing is she's just a really raw person who's easy to relate to, to the point it may even be uncomfortable for the reader sometimes. I think a good example of me trying to utilize this would be an excerpt I wrote where she's reliving the time she was 13ish, Beau was still in the hospital for his car accident, and no one was letting her go see him yet. There's a paragraph or two describing how she's jealous of him for his accident, thinking how she wishes she'd end up in the hospital so people would get her flowers, too. This is the kind of thing where we know it's not great to feel that way, but most of us have probably experienced something similar. We want our own traumas to be louder so they're "heard", and we may especially lack that understanding of other people's issues as children. And that's a big part of Heather's journey: gaining understanding. She doesn't always think or do or say good things, but you get what place she's coming from.

I've decided since that was a big paragraph, I won't get into my other characters, but anyone's free to lmk and I'll drop some info!

What other pieces of media do you think your fanbase would share?

My first thought is Omori since that was a big inspiration when this project was still new. This is also an obscure movie, but if anyone's watched the movie As You Are, I think they'd like both Haven and my other story, The Day You Left. Honestly, I don't consume enough media to say in too much detail. If you like your heart being ripped out, you'll probably like Haven.

What has been your biggest struggle with your WIP?

The plotting!! I always know character arcs first and then weave a plot around where I want people heading, but I've been out of inspo lately, I guess? Or just lazy about brainstorming. That's most likely. I know the most major story beat of Beau's accident but that's practically it, though there's probably potential behind giving Heather some extra new childhood experiences, and being decisive on stuff (aka trauma) for Erin. Not too much is going on with Erin at this moment.

Are there any animals in your story? Talk about them!

Unfortunately not! For some reason, despite being a mega animal lover irl, I've rarely been good at giving my characters pets. If they aren't directly relevant to plot or theme, I usually end up forgetting about them over and over until I decide to just scrap them. It wouldn't work for Heather and Beau anyways; I know for sure Heather's probably tried to bring an animal home, and Beau would've told her it's too much responsibility.

How do your characters travel/get around?

Heather does have her learner's permit, but she doesn't get that much use out of it before she's sent to her child self's body and can't reach the pedals lol. One of her big hobbies is rollerskating, so she mainly relies on that to get around during the story's events. Meanwhile, for Beau, he avoids driving himself anywhere since his accident, so he usually hitches a ride from Erin or someone else.

What part of your WIP are you working on right now?

That's a good question, actually. Kind of just anything and everything, but like I said for the other question, extra plot beats and fleshing out Erin are my main priorities. I know who Erin is, but I only have vague ideas of why she is the way she is. I also get really indecisive with how I want her to be influencing the story exactly (sometimes she's a Heather antagonist, sometimes she's a helper, sometimes she's both), so nailing down core stuff for her would also automatically nail down her role and make that easier.

What aspects (tropes, maybe?) do you think will draw your audience in?

Coming of age is usually pretty grounded in reality and maintains a fairly casual/upbeat vibe even when some not-so-great events happen (at least in my experience with it), so I think people will be curious about the more intense subject matter, how I personally answer difficult questions, and the surreal twist on the genre. I use the word surreal a lot because I wouldn't personally call Heather suddenly waking up in the past "fantasy"'? The narrative isn't about explaining how it works in the first place, it's just supposed to be...weird lol. I also always lean a lot on complex character development, so I'm hoping that, from the blurb, people will think "there should be interesting characters in a story like this" and read it for that.

What are your hopes for your WIP?

My biggest goal is to make it a fully operational interactive fiction game! The reader would be playing as Heather, putting both her and Beau's fates in their hands for that extra stress. The game could even include some art, too, but I'd have to see what feels right once I actually got started.

I could probably write more on that last paragraph but my sleep meds are kicking in lol! Tagging: @themboty @sidhewrites @lavender-laney @nrivanwrites and everyone that's interested!

[anamelessfool]

I'm ANamelessFool. 👋

I have more new followers! Hi! Nice to meet you thanks for reading my stuff 😊 About Me:

Age: 35 Bi/Pan

Everytown, USA

I'm married. We have been together for a VERY long time.

I went to art school for Animation. I've worked as a story supervisor and stop-motion propmaker. I am not in the industry but I am happy where I am.

I'm an Occultist and Art History Nerd. I collect Crystal Skulls.

I'm a LARPer, Tabletop Gamer, Doll Customizer, Tarot Enthusiast and Medieval Reenactor. Although not all at once.

I have written stories since I was 10, my first story ever was an HP Rip-Off! That won a newspaper contest! But I haven't been writing serious narrative works for ten years until recently.

I was an essential worker in 2020 and onward. My soul was crushed into a fine powder. Ghost saved my life. I'm completely serious about that.

My Fic List

My Asks are always open! I love talking shop and Headcanons.

Here's a fun ask game I posted recently

Here's the Picrew if you want to do one for yourself

[blackbackedjackal]

hey, im new to vulture culture and have been thinking about getting into tanning! i’ve been following you and a couple other people on here for a while but it’s hard to find reliable information. my dog is getting up there in age and i don’t think i’ll be able to tan him on my own, but i’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about some people. like they’re popular but maybe their work isn’t very consistent. there’s this guy flayote that seems to have really good reviews, but i wanted to see if anyone i trust has ever heard of him. is there anyone in here you would say i should stay away from?

Tanning is really fun! It can be expensive to get into compared to other methods of animal processing, but it's very much worth the hard work and gives you a very deep respect for the animals! I'm working on a very detailed tanning guide specifically written for new and advanced tanners that covers everything I've learned. It can be very intimidating to get into when you're first trying to gather info, and even as I type away at my outlines I always feel like I'm forgetting some tips and tricks that would be good to share lol

I haven't heard any like bad-bad reviews since the celestialvintage drama several years ago. Tbh, I'm always surprised to see other tanners in the community! Flayote is the only dedicated tanner I know of who also takes commissions and has great reviews. I've haven't gotten anything from him as of yet but both of my best friends have gotten stuff from him and they were super happy with the hides! Again, I don't know of any other tanners off the top of my head who also take commissions. Most of the ones I know are taxidermists who do in-house work and don't offer any or many commission slots.

I will say that tanning is a very difficult process and even experienced people aren't always consistent. Many things can go wrong with the process, and with pets it can be even more stressful to make them as perfect as possible for the client. That being said, you want to look at people who do have overall positive reviews and have a tanning success rate of at least 85% or more. Again, shit happens. Sometimes the clients aren’t 100% satisfied, sometimes the postal service screws you over and you have to tan severely damaged raw skins, sometimes the animal just falls apart, and sometimes the tanner makes mistakes with chemical balances, accidentally rips holes in the hides, didn’t salt or drying the skins properly etc. A lot more can go the wrong way with tanning then can go the right way. My advice is to check their social media page and see if they post good pictures of the leather side of the animals they’ve tanned, and also check to see if they’re had experience tanning many different species. Someone who can tan rabbits well may not be equipped to tan something greasy or thick skinned like ranched foxes or domestic dogs. And tbh, check to see if the tanner talks about their tanning mistakes as well. Honesty is the best policy you can have when taking tanning commissions (hell that applies to any commissions). I tell my clients every, single, detail about how the animal is doing through the entire process, especially with the pets. However, because of the anxiety I feel when tanning animals that aren't mine and knowing something could go wrong or the client may just not be satisfied with my work, I stick to tanning things for myself and close friends and pets upon request.

Hope that answers your questions anon! If anyone wants to drop a link to their tanning work feel free to do so in the replies/reblogs :>

[bettabluetown]

~A Memory Away ~

(since I don't feel like making a new ao3 account, I'm just gonna post this stuff here. Oh btw, I tried something a little different with the perspective since I haven't written in forever. Another side note, the reader is non-binary.)

[tw: mentions of suicide]

Ch.1

With every breath, pain followed. Blood spilled into the soft blanket of snow beneath torn boots. Vision blurry, nose bleeding, fingernails encrusted with red and speckled with dirt.

The crash.

Dry, drawn out heaves echoed into the breeze. Air kissing every open wound-- their right leg ripped and mangled making it unrecognizable. Snow buried into a fingerless, burgundy oozing hand as it grasped at the ground. Every blink becoming more and more unbearable as the hole where an eye used to be started to fester and burn.

The man.

Ice cloaked stones pressed into aching feet. Sensitive, bruised skin flinching with each tickle of scarce grass. Another bated breath. Another slow, painful movement. Steady.

The journal.

Control. Breathe. Blades of dead grass had brushed under each and every tear. The closest thing to comfort being the chilly touch of wind caressing exposed flesh. They closed their eyes; death was on the horizon, they were ready to give up. They felt trapped, wanting to let go but the fear of what came after made them hold on.

A house appeared just a few inches away. Its door torn off the hinges and buried in dirt. They approached cautiously, stumbling inside and slamming against the interior. Old wooden, abandoned walls propped them up, the fingerless hand hugging the violently ripped apart muscle and tissue that was once their leg. They were lost, far from home, no memory of why or how they ended up in such a place. Dying. All that barely scratched the front of their brain were recent events. The car crash. The man and his chains. The journal.

Agony and anger ran through their veins, knuckles paling, palms bleeding from too much pressure. They gritted their teeth, banging the wall in defeat with a clenched fist. No one wants to die...Not like this anyways.

Soft, warm, tear drained lids slowly closed. The cold had never felt so welcoming like it did in that moment. Giving up wasn't so...bad, if the pain went away then maybe...something clicked in the distance. Loud static echoed in the withering house they sat in. The sound of a radio buzz and a cleared throat snapped their (working) left eye open.

It felt like a fever dream. Some kind of strange saw scenario that they just so happened to get stuck in the middle of. Something began to rumble through; a thunderous, exhausted, showy voice crackling out of the speaker.

"You're tough kid, I'll give you that." The audio stuttered, the sound peaking every so often. The voice that grated pass the radio sounded tired and pained, a forced theatrical tone painted over it.

"You know, I thought you were as good as dead when mega bitch got her hands on you." The voice, it was clearly a man's; It was rough and sounded like it hadn't been used in ages. They suddenly grew worried, the realization that someone or something was watching their every step. "Wh-who..-" They groaned out, the words coming out more painfully than they expected, deciding it'd be better to cut the question short. The decrepit floorboards had creaked with each movement; wood groaned as they assiduously dragged their body to the other side.

Their bloody fingers collided with the desk, smacking the surface as they tried to reach for the radio.

Everything hurt, each bone cracked and shifted; blood had flowed like a river in a storm. A harsh wind hit the decaying house, their body cringed from the chill, a whimper escaping ice cold lips.

"I'm feeling generous, pipsqueak." it sounded like he talked with a grin, like this whole situation was just a normal event for the week; "Make it towards the woods just past that little village you're in and follow the trees with yellow paint. Quite simple isn't it?" Exhaustion and panic grew in the pit of their stomach from those words. The sick game that the man was trying to play illustrated a terrible outcome.

"I- how can I tr-trust you?" An amused chuckle ensued, a pleased response followed. "Well I'll leave that to you, trust is a gamble after all." His smile could be heard with each word that passed him. "Remember, follow the trees with yellow paint..there should be a little surprise waiting for you there." The radio crackled, static cutting abruptly, the sound of his entertained chortle faded with the noise. The silence waded in like the snow outside.

Small clouds of warm breath pushed through purpled, frozen lips; teeth grinding against one another. It took one step--one movement and then the motor could start. Sliding up the wall, they whimpered and held down the anguished groans that were desperate to break free from the confines of their throat. Blood spilled down their chin, dull teeth Nibbled in concentration, the soft flesh of their mouth breaking. Just One step. Another.

Their ankle screamed with each step, the bone Grinding aloud. Snow covered their exposed toes, one hand gripping onto the splintered door frame that welcomed the outside.

Despite the lack of an eye, they could just about make out where the forest stood. A low, dead tired sigh escaped them. The journey was long and to be realistic, they most likely wouldn't survive the trip-- sheer luck and willpower would be the only things that keep them alive. So with a sharp inhale, they began to walk. They weren't even sure if the whole idea was smart, but death was knocking at their door and they decided in that moment that they weren't quite ready to open it.

←–––→

The woods held an untamed darkness. They stood just outside of it, the entrance luring them in with the hushed sounds only the trees could make. Yellow paint smeared on the nearest tree being the only indicator that someone had braved the forest before them. Wind whispered through the dead branches, crows cawed in the distance, and echoed low growls dripping from starved predators waiting for their prey.

Blood smacked the ground. It spilled from every wound they could see. They panted, clouds of breath painting the air. Everything was slowly becoming harder and harder to see. Through half lidded eyes, they could barely make out the next yellow mark, their good hand gripping whatever tree that stood nearby.

The enticing idea of giving up slowed the journey. They entertained the thought the whole way there; thinking that whatever waited for them at the end of the paint trail, might just be as bad as falling to their knees and letting death's cold digits steal away the final breath. It was a serious thought, a question that would be left unanswered, for a soft orange light reflected off the snow. The sun was beginning to set and, like luck being the wonderful bastard it is, a cabin appeared in the distance. A can of yellow paint resting just outside of the little home.

Upon reaching the small cabin, it looked pretty old, made sturdy with care by most likely whomever lived inside. They knocked, cautious. They awaited a trap or rather hoped it was just a hallucination. If it was real, then meeting the homeowner might not be for the best. Although, once bloody knuckles rapped against the aged door, it opened without much hesitance-- it was as if a force pushed the door open for them. There was no turning back, no doubt would cloud their mind anymore. With careful breaths and a final glance back to the forest, they stepped in, the aged cabin door slamming shut as soon as they entered.