#sorry if the colouring was rushed btw

[lisatheforgiving]

[LISA The Forgiving Chapter 1 Part 10]

Speech Bubbles Used

To pay u guys back for being so patient, I have a bigger update! I would say "we are so back" but in reality we are soooo not askdalksd

Next

Previous

Index

-v- Some important info below if ur interested in what's next -v-

So uh. This is actually as far as my "script" has gone (script as in written dialogue. Ofc i have other stuff planned, and know where this chapter is going.) Basically this means not only do I still have pages to make after this, but I also have to actually write the rest of the dialogue out too :/ I won't be updating again anytime soon because of that, but also because my uni is so demanding it's crazy.. Haven't had time for like any passion projects :(

I also have some news on how updates will happen going forwards. I'm gonna address it in a separate post to explain exactly why I'm changing my update schedule, but good news is you guys won't have to wait months just for 2 page updates anymore! (Because I will be doing massive page drops maybe twice a year. 10-20 pages)

Post about updates more in depth is HERE

If you're wondering about chapter 1 specifically, I intend to finish it up in the next post, or maybe the post after. Not much more to go. It is unlikely this chapter will be finished before the end of 2024 though because I have a lot of stuff to catch up on, and art burnout from uni is killing me... Thank you all for being patient :) I know it's really frustrating waiting months and months for poorly paced dialogue aksdakjls I'm sick of this scene too!!

[mushroominaforest]

can-can u draw human Saint n arti with their humanized designs where Saint does something that makes Arti vaguely flustered. just anything

something like your one drawing of her looking at him with his third eye

I would thoroughly enjoy that :)

Your wish is my command 🫡

[sskk-manifesto]

:/

[angstywaifu]

Hi, how have you been??

I was wondering if your requests are still open? If so, it crosses my mind: what if Garrick had a cousin secretly dating Bodhi, and how would he and Xaden react if they found out about their relationship after Bo goes feral because Garrick's cousin is hurt?

It's just an idea, if your requests aren't open or makes you uncomfortable in any way I apologize and please forget I asked in the first place.

Love your work, btw. Bye 👋 💕

Worst Kept Secret - Bodhi Durran x Reader

A/N: Just like Bodhi not telling Xaden and Garrick, better late than never right? I'm so sorry this took so long to get to. I hope you like it!

Masterlist | Support Me

“We should probably tell them soon.” I tell Bodhi as we make our way to class.

Bodhi’s eyes widen before he shakes his head. “Hell no. Garrick would have my head if he found out about us.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re acting like he’s my brother.”

”He may as well be with how protective he is over you. Have you seen the way he glares at any guy that looks your way for a second too long?”

I sigh. “You’re over reacting, it will be fine. He’s going to have to find out eventually.”

”Yeah, when he’s stationed far away from here when he can’t hunt me down and murder me.” He says before coming to a stop outside his classroom.

It had been six months since Bodhi and I had started seeing each other. Both of us agreeing to keep it a secret at first in case it didn’t go well or we decided to go back to being friends. But six months in it was clear that this was going well, and it was getting harder and harder to cover up sneaking off together. Especially now Bodhi and I were helping with supply runs, meaning our time together was becoming more and more limited.

“No we are telling him before he graduates and gets stationed elsewhere.” I tell him sternly.

Bodhi’s shoulders sag in defeat, before slowly nodding his head. “Fine, but when my body turns up one morning in the middle of the rotunda just know it was because of you.”

I quickly check the hallway to make sure we’re alone before leaning up and kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll remember your noble sacrifice. See you at challenges.”

He chuckles and shakes his head at me as I turn and walk away to my own class.

Bodhi.

I rush into the training room, the familiar sounds of fighting echoing around the room as everyone watches on. My squads flight training had gone over time due to an inccident, so I’d missed the first half of challenges. I push my way through the crowd to the ususal spot I stand in with Y/N, Garrick, Xaden and Imogen. But as I break through the crowd the only one there is Imogen. I scan the mats in the centre of the room, expecting to see them fighting on one of the mats. But none of them are there. Strange.

”Where are the others?” I ask Imogen as I manouver into the gap next to her.

”Healers Quadrant.” She says timidly, as if almost scared to tell me. Which was not normal for her at all.

”Imogen, what’s wrong?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest as I look down at her with narrowed eyes.

She looks up at me and recoils slightly at my stare. “Jeez, it’s scary how much you look like Xaden when you do that.”

”Imogen.” I say more sternly.

“It’s Y/N. She…”

”Imogen I swear to the gods you better tell me what happened.” I demand.

”She got badly hurt in challenges. That new Barlowe kid got paired up with her.”

I feel all the colour drain from my face at her words. Barlow had no care or regard for anyone but himself. He was ruthless, and was already known for killing quite a number of cadets already. As well as sending a long list of cadets to the Healers Quadrant in very bad condition.

I turn and shove my way through the crowd, Imogen calling out to me in an effort to stop me. She was pretty much the only one that knew about Y/N and I. She had covered for us numerous times after stumbling across us one night in an abandoned tower. Clearly it was not as abandoned as we had thought.

As soon as I push through the doors, I sprint over to the bridge connecting us to the rest of the college. But no matter how hard I push myself it feel as if time is slowing down, as if I’m running through mud.

I can’t help but think of the worse. I had seen first hand many times how Jack’s opponents had ended up post challenging him. Most of them unconscious, a lot of them gushing blood from some sort of wound, or…. Dead. No she isn’t dead. Imogen would have said so. But she had called out to me….

The thought has me pushing my legs harder, barrelling towards to door opening that finally looked like it was getting closer and closer. Rounding the corner, I nearly take out a healer who squeals with alarm as I dodge past her.

I push open the doors to the infirmary, Garrick and Xaden’s heads whipping towards me as I rush towards them. “Where is she?” I demand loudly as I stop in front of them, frantically looking around at the beds.

”She’s back there with Nolon.” Xaden tells me, nodding towards the closed door at the back of them room.

I side step him, starting to rush towards the doors before a hand grabs my flight jacket and hauls me backwards. I reel around, shoving Garrick in the chest hard, causing him to stumble back as he releases my jacket.

”What the hell has gotten into you?” He nearly yells at me, the room going silent as the healers look at us with alarm.

I freeze, realising I’m reacting in a way I probably shouldn’t be for someone they think I’m just friends with. Yes she was Garrick’s cousin, but I had only know her coming up to two years now. Garrick should be reacting like I am, which I’m sure on the inside he was.

“Sorry. Imogen just made it sound bad.” I say as I lower my gaze, awkwardly scratching the back of my head in an effort to pass this off.

”What did she say?” Xaden asks.

”That she was up against Barlowe.” I say quietly. Imogen hadn’t actually said it was bad, I had just assumed it was. If I was smart I would have rushed in and asked what happened. Not come barging in here like I was out for blood.

”And?” Garrick asks, his tone almost teasing as if he can see right through me.

“And that was it…” I mumble out, but with the breathy laugh I hear from the two of the I know they’ve heard me clear as day.

“Yes it could be better, but all Barlow managed to do was break her arm.” Xaden tells me, my head snapping up in relief at his words. A broken arm was nothing, happened all the time around here. And easy fix. And explained why she was in the back with Nolan.

”If anything, Barlowe should be the one you’re worried about.” Garrick says with a laugh.

I turn and follow his gaze to where Barlowe lays in one of the beds I’d missed in my scan of the room, clutching a very blood stained cloth to his side as the healers work to mend the wound. On his bedside table lays on of her daggers covered in his blood. I can’t help but smile knowing that she’d gotten him back, and done worse damage to him than he had done to her.

“Definitely not worried about him. He deserves it.” I say as I turn my attention back to them, both of them nodding in agreement.

I think I’ve gotten away with hiding why I reacted the way I did, until Garrick looks me in the eyes and just smirks at me. “So instead of trying to pass off your reaction due to Imogen being vague, you going to man up and tell me you’re dating my cousin?”

I feel like my heart stops as my eyes go wide. Xaden doesn’t even try to hide his laughter at my reaction to Garrick’s words.

”How the hell did you know?” I blurt out with out thinking, mentally slapping myself.

Garrick rolls his eyes. “You really trusted Imogen to keep your secret from us?”

I groan as I hide my head in my hands. “Definitely wasn’t your smartest move cousin.” Xaden says as he pats me on the back.

“Excuse me while I go find a certain pink haired cadet to murder.” I grumble out as I storm out of the infirmary back to the Rider’s Quadrant, Garrick and Xaden’s booming laughs echoing behind me

[yandereend]

Yandere King x gn reader

The meeting

Tw: implied noncon, age gap, king is an delulu

Btw English is not my native language so please keep that in mind

P. 1 ? (let me if I should write more of the king)

The crown sat heavy on your head , it was no easy feat to carry it even outside of your royal duties but your dear husband just loves to see you in it. And he didn’t made your collar match your crown for nothing, right?

So here you are sitting on your king size bed with your king or rather husband reading one of his favorite romance novels. Until he suddenly kisses you on the cheek and asks:

Do you remember when we meet …I see it clear as day my darling.

You remember it, just clearly not as fondly. It was on your first week in the castle, even though you came from a poor family you showed your ambition and determination to everyone in your village until you finally landed that one job interview in the castle. Your days were long and the work was hard but you pushed through sending the money you could spare to your family.

One day while gathering the old clothes from the royal chambers you got your first glance at the king. He was a strong man in his late thirties, you finally understood what everyone was going on about with him. He was clearly the most handsome man you have ever seen muscular, the right bit hairy and not quite as pale as the other royals.

Oh my god …

That moment he shuffled on his bed opening his hazel eyes to look into your (your eye colour) ones as you collected his clothes from the floor. You quickly looked away not realizing how is eyes were pinned on your body the whole time you nervously tried to do your work.

„Im sorry for disturbing you your majesty. It’s not going to happen again.“

You rushed out while trying to hide your embarrassment over the whole situation. At least you have something to tell your friends and family on your next visit to your village, you thought.

Oh, if only you knew at that time that family and friends were a thing of the past, Edward was already planning on courting you as his new queen. The man as heartless as he seemed was a romantic since his childhood loosing himself in the fairytales he loved so much. He always hoped to slay a dragon or climb a tower to prove his love, but instead he got handed the first princess his father could thought of.

But killing the queen in the your name would surely prove his love.

And Edward was not a man of empty promises.

Thanks for reading its one of my first works so please have mercy 🙏

[slytherinshua]

DID WE JUST FALL IN LOVE ?

genre. fluff. meet cute. warnings. reader owns fish. profanity. reader's thoughts are in italics. the number in this is completely made up btw i just thought of random numbers ksjdks. not proofread. pairing. leehan x fem!reader. wc. 762. request. requested by @lxvemaze. a/n. i literally wrote this like in 30 min IDK IT JUST CLICKED SKDJKSD. i love leehan. net. @onedoornet

You let out a satisfied sigh as the library doors slid open for you. It had been days since you had placed a request for a fish carebook from your local library, and finally it had come in today. Googling what to do to help your new pet angelfish wasn’t giving you the answers you needed. You were nearly positive that your sweet little baby was getting bullied by your tiger barbs, and weren’t sure what to do. You had already transferred her to a separate smaller tank until you read up on what to do, and you hoped desperately that the library had the fish guide you were looking for.

You scanned the shelves, fingers running across the spines of the manuals in the animal section: aquatic guides. Huffing, you let your eyes draw up to the shelf above, failing to find the care book for injured fish. You should’ve bought a copy when you first became a fish parent, but you hadn’t expected there to be so little answers online for your specific problem. 

With brightened eyes, you spotted the spine of the book you wanted; blue and purple swirling colours on the cover just as you remembered. The Care and Keeping of Angelfish: A Beginner’s Guide. You reached out to grab it, only to collide with someone’s else's hand instead.

“Sorry!” You quickly apologised, retracting your hand bowing your head slightly. Your eyes drew up to the man whose hand you had bumped, now holding the book you needed. Worry flooded your brain— you needed that book. You had already waited days for it. Leaving without it would mean more days blindly giving your angelfish medicine without a proper answer. 

But, as you finally focused on the man’s face, suddenly your fish situation was the last thing on your mind. You blinked, almost as if to see if you were really seeing things correctly. Did you just run into an angel at the library?

“No, I’m sorry— I should’ve seen you reaching for it. Here.” He stumbled over his words, awkwardly handing you the manual. You could barely focus on anything except his face. He was so… beautiful. 

“You’re… really hot…” You whispered. Realising what you had just let out, your cheeks burned and you turned around hurriedly. With the book in your hand and embarrassment pouring down on you like a ton of bricks, you scurried over to the checkout. Scanning your library card and the book, you tried to get out as fast as possible before the man had time to question why you had just said that to him.

You groaned, the screen lagging a bit and not letting you press the ‘DONE’ button. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the flash of colour from the shirt he was wearing. Oh, fuck, he was coming back.

“Wait— you think I’m hot?” He asked, jogging up to the checkout where you were. 

Shit, now the cute guy knows of my existence. You froze, trying to think of an acceptable defense for your earlier words but coming up with absolutely nothing.

“Uh, I— It just slipped out— I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.” You rushed out, gripping the book tighter and wishing you could just sink into the floor. God, why did he have to be cute?

“You like fish? Right?” He cocked his head to the side, eyes focused on the book in your hand. You hesitantly nodded, realising that there was no way you could leave this conversation without seeming even ruder. 

“Yeah, I have some pet fish, actually, so…” You trailed off, pointing to the door, hoping that he would piece together that it was your way of saying you had to leave and go back to your fish.

“101-422-5730.” He interjected. 

“Huh?”

“101-422-5730. My number.” He repeated, “By the way, I don’t think putting your angelfish with tiger barbs was the best decision. They don’t like each other.” 

Your eyes widened. How did he…?

“How did you know that I have tiger barbs?” You blinked, wondering if this was what love felt like. Something about him felt… right. Maybe you didn’t regret your slip up before after all. He didn’t seem bothered by it in the slightest.

He shrugged, “You just seemed like you would.”

You reached for your phone in your back pocket. 101-422-5730… He watched you enter the numbers, finger hovering over the ‘contact name’ section.

“Kim Donghyun.” He supplied, giving you a small smile. Hell, even his smile is cute as fuck.

“Donghyun. I’ll… I’ll call you.”

↳ boynextdoor taglist (bolded could not be tagged): @rizzshimura,, @captivq,, @icyminghao,, @eternalgyu,, @metalchick529,,

@schmocolateschmchip,, @kpoprhia,, @candewlsy,, @weird-bookworm,, @blossominghunnie,,

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@nonononranghaee

[blingblong55]

Bigger than the whole sky- Simon "Ghost" Riley

Photo credits: @ave661

Based on a request:

HI SO I READ YOUR RECENT NO JUDGEMENT AND ITS AWESOME AND INCREDIBLY WHOLESOME BTW BUT PLEASE CAN YOU MAKE IT ANGST??!?!?????? LIKE LIKE HEAR ME OUT. YOU GOT PREGGO WITH ANOTHER BEBE AND A MISCARRIAGE HAPPENS, YOU THINK ITS ALL YOUR FAULT AND IDK FALLS INTO SLIGHT DEPRESSION AND STUFF LIKE THAT IDK I JUST WANT ANGST <333333333 ---- F!Reader, pregnant!reader, husband!simon, TW! Mentions of miscarriage, dad!ghost ---- A/N: I love this idea and major TW!

It was a dream all over again, the excitement to have yet another little one in the place Simon and you call home. You are around three months along. Your soon-to-be oldest child kisses your soft belly. Simon chuckles, "I think we know who the favourite relative will be." A smile appears on you. This is all too perfect.

"Alright lovie, we'll let you go and decorate. You need us, we'll be playing outside," he kisses your forehead. The puppy, kid and Simon all race to the backyard. Giggles and barks follow along and you make your merry way to the nursery.

As Simon is running around the backyard with the kid and the puppy, you feel cramps. The pain is more intense and it's of concern.

As you rush to the bathroom, you feel it. Warm, thick liquid runs down your thighs and to the ground. In a hurry, you call out for Simon, who in a rush, carries your child with him to the room. "Lovie?!" His voice filled with panic and once he saw the blood, his heart nearly stopped. Tears run down your face.

"Oh god lovie," he says with a frown. With strength, he picks you up with his free arm, your child in the other and he rushes to the car.

The way to the emergency room was filled with tears, panic and a lot of reassurance.

Nurses wheel you in, Simon and your child fight to stay with you but the doctors don't let them. A nurse stays with him. She begins to try and get their minds off you for a second and as hard as it seems, it is the only thing she can do.

While this worked with his kid, it didn't for him. "Just, be careful with her, she's pregnant and we need her in our lives." He says between silent tears. "I can reassure you the doctors are doing all they can to help your wife."

Nearly an hour into being under the care of doctors and staff, they let Simon and your kid in.

The room is thick in silence and fear.

"Lovie, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry," you cry. There is shame in you. Guilt and utter disgust for yourself fills you.

"Sorry for what?" He says almost unaware of the situation.

"Mummy?"

"I'm so sorry, Tommy," you cry. How can one tell their son the baby died? How can one accept this piece of their life?

There are things one can't say, things one can't feel and some things will never be.

"Lovie, tell me, what's the matter?"

"…The baby-fetus…i…I miscarried," you confess between mumbles that cover your mouth as tears fall like a waterfall. Your hand goes to the now empty belly. The fetus that would never grow now sits elsewhere as you grieve its death.

At home, the sun sets. Curtains stay open since no one is home. The nursery loses its colour with the sun. All is silent. No one is home, no one will be home for a while more.

In the pale grey room, Simon holds his son in his arms. The small child is asleep in the comfort of his father's arms. Meanwhile, Simon's stare is on you. A frown is now temporary on him. The sight in front of him is of you.

Distraught by the news, you've denied food.

Two nurses come into the room, and in their hands, a teddy named Angel. You look up. "We are so sorry for your loss, we wanted to gift you, your very own angel," the main nurse says. She hands it to you, the weight of it is comforting, you look up and give them a knowing look.

In the darkness of the night, Simon stays awake. You hold the teddy as you sleep.

"I will always love you," he whispers to the teddy and then to his son who still sleeps in his arms. "I love you more," Simon whispers once more as he kisses your forehead.

Light comes back in, the only giggle is of your son who plays with the teddy. You haven't been able to stop the tears.

What would have been? Two little kids running around, the mindless babble. The beautiful sound of a baby giggling is something you won't experience.

You and Simon haven't said much since you told him the news but he never left your side. His hand has been glued to yours for this time and as you look at him, you have this stare that begs for forgiveness. You cup his face and he nods, "I love you too," he says the words he understands you too wanted to say.

Days pass, and you lay in bed. Simon has been home, and not once has he touched his phone. He lives his days giving you all the care and love you need. His son sees him more, the car rides to school are filled with some tune and as he drives back, you find yourself back in the nursery.

The blood was now gone from the floor, all that stayed in the room was the crib and the teddy.

The walk to the room is painful, the sight of the kitchen makes you frown. All the food you craved now disgusts you. The clothes you wore to hide the bump are hidden.

Now, as you lay in bed, you believe this is some sort of punishment. The day is beautiful outside, if only that angel would be here to listen to you as you describe it.

You want to take it all back. The annoyance when your son left his toys everywhere when he was learning how to walk to different places. You want to clean the crayon marks on the wall again, you want the sleepless nights, and the silly little babbles and Simon just nodding and pretending words were said.

"I would've met you in five months…" you say to the wall. You needed something, just a second with that baby. One smile, or even for it to hear you say you love them beyond the world.

You'd give anything to have done anything right. The once colourful room now feels like it's covered in blue.

As you lay in bed, that's when you wish you'd just di- "Lovie?" Simon was back from dropping Tommy off at school. When he doesn't hear your response, he walks to you, wrapping his arms around you and then picking you up, bringing you to his lap as he lays back, your head on his chest. "Let it out, it's okay, I'm here," he whispers.

Sobs escape your lips. You cry, and in between the tears, you keep asking why.

You're not enough, are you? Losing this feels like it.

"Simon-" "Don't go there, it isn't your fault, you did everything right and maybe it just wasn't time for us to have another one but don't you dare speak about yourself like that." His voice is soft but there is some commanding tone behind it all.

Some time passes, and Simon has been home this whole time. He grieves with you, and you with him.

You finally come to terms with this and on some beautiful day, your son organises a picnic in the backyard. A blanket laid upon the grass, tea, snacks, lots of laughter and much talk greets you. For the first time since the miscarriage, you feel it, that funny feeling when all is well and your heart slowly heals.

"I love you," Your son happily says. "To the moon and back," Simon and you say back at the same time.

A/N: Tagged all those on the list...so sorry for not making a "comment to be tagged"...surprise comeback????

Tags: @goldenmclaren @ghostslillady @moonsua1 @rvivienner @Krinoid24 @iruzias @idklols @saoirse06 @vampsquerade @juneonhoth @tiredmetalenthusiast @jinxxangel13 @enarien @simonssweetgirl @luvecarson @willowaftxn83-87 @coralwitchdreamland @nobodys-coffee @strawberrychita @sae1kie @queen-ilmaree @pbcartii @llelannie @macnches2 @bbyfimmie @avidreadee123 @talooolaaloolla @skelletonwitch @bittermajesties @honestlyhiswife @ikohniik @who-can-appease-me @ghostwifeyy @konigssultwithghost @kaoyamamegami @beansproutmafia @soapybutt17 @asianbutnotjapanese @a-goose-with-a-knife @foxface013 @anonxasian @thegreyjoyed @marshiely

[marysdigdiaries101]

VINYLS

summary : it was margot's turn to pick where to go for date night, and she had the perfect idea of what you'd like.

warning/s : margot robbie x fem! reader, brief smut, mostly fluff, some angst, top! margot, bottom! reader, profanities, not proofread.

word count : ya'll alr know i didn't check

authors note : this was requested here. margot is so goddamn angelic i can't. i'm so so sorry, the ending is really rushed, i can make a part two if you lot want one ! but anyway enjoyy ! ౨ৎ

+ btw men dni

navigation | ౨ৎ

scrolling through your instagram feed, you shoved another handful of popcorn into your mouth. you had been sat on this same kitchen island stool for two hours and thirty three minutes. yes you were counting.

today was date night and you were so excited to see what margot had planned for the evening, well, for the first hour you were. now you were bored out of your mind. and really uncomfortable too.

picking at the seams of your floral dress, you eyed the dripping tap, willing your girlfriend to come down the stairs soon. maybe if you just ignored margot’s ringing phone in your hand two hours ago, you wouldn’t be here right now. she had texted you that the director called her into a major meeting that she just had to attend.

“I’ll only be a minute!” she called out as she shut the door to your shared bedroom. inhaling deeply, you hopped off the kitchen stool. taking off your leather trench coat and hanging it on the pole at the bottom of the stairs, you made your way to your bedroom where margot’s sweet voice chatted away in a hushed voice. you had decided to take matters into your own hands.

you opened the door slowly as you pressed your index finger to your lips, indicating margot to not take notice of your entrance. taking off your black doc martens, you smirked as you caught the blonde eyeing you down.

once your first task was done, you gently straddled your girlfriend, taking her free hand and guiding it to unzip your dress.

as you crawled off margot, you shimmied the dress off making sure to really emphasise your boobs.

margot drew her eyes away as she found herself stuttering on the phone. clearing her throat, she focused on the floor, forcing herself to stop gaping at you.

climbing into your girlfriend’s lap you started your ministrations on her neck, holding the blonde’s free hand in yours, making sure she doesn’t push you away. disguising her first moan with a load cough, margot glared down at you as the moans became more frequent.

working your way down to her breasts you groped and bit them through her cream coloured silk button down. taking a shaky breath, margot informed her director that she needed a second and would call her back immediately. after quick goodbyes, she ended the call as she pushed your hands away from her body.

“what the hell do you think you’re fucking doing?” , she questioned you, smoothing out her creased top. “oh don’t act like you’re so goddamn innocent, you kept me waiting for so long downstairs; any longer and i might’ve started decaying!” you grumbled as you glared at her.

“so you come up here and start seducing me? and may i add, while i was on a very important work phone call. what are you, three?” she grunted. grimacing as you looked at her expression, you almost regretted your actions. but two whole hours of your life had been wasted waiting for her to be done with this stupid thing and she promised you, she promised you this night was going to be amazing. and so far she was failing miserably.

picking your clothes up, you got dressed in silence, refusing to make eye contact with your girlfriend. putting your shoes on finally, you made your way out the bedroom door, not uttering a word.

thirty minutes later, margot came downstairs, an apologetic expression painted over her distinct features. "i'm so sorry baby. i knew that tonight was our night and i still let work take over. i should've told her it wasn't a good time, but i didn't. so i want to make it up to you. this whole weekend it's just me and you. i got my director to clear my calendar. i'm all yours." the blonde said, her tone filled with remorse.

you could make her really work for it, really punish her for making you wait. but not with those glistening ocean blue eyes silently begging you.

"fine." , was your short response as you hopped off the sofa, smoothing out your dress. "where are we going?" you asked, being extremely blunt on purpose.

"we're going vinyl shopping, i know how much you love them and-" cutting off her sentence midway, you jumped into her arms, any former conflict diminished. ? "baby that's so sweet! i love you, i love you, mphh", you giggled smothering margot in pecks all over her face.

grinning, margot eyed your face blissfully. "i'm happy you're happy." she sighed as she enveloped you in her arms, squeezing you tightly.

"i love you." she confessed into your neck, her arms wrapped around your waists. you were in for a night to remember.

[spellboundspook]

Deltarune Yellow ramble Soul drain/Dalv themed Dark world

I originally posted this all on twitter last night but I decided to share it here too this will get very ramblely btw

I think dalv would very quickly warm up to the idea of dark worlds tbh I think he'd accidentally open one be scared shitless for a bit before beginning to enjoy it on Pacifist (and maybe deluding himself into thinking it's real just a bit)

The dark world itself would be pretty obviously a Halloween and or gothic inspired kinda thing (I also like the corn yaoi based idea that Dalv and Starlo are roommates so maybe a bit of cowboy in there too)

I really like the idea of Antagonist Pops too like he's not the main Antagonist but he convinces Dalv to stay here with him their best friends after all doesn't dalv just wanna stay and play with his best friend forever? =)

(I also imagine a dark world pop's being very childish real whiny and off-putting to everyone but Dalv)

I'm am fucking exploding over @/daydreamdeputy idea of a blue corn ballerina for the secret boss of the chapter (I am going feral)

I also have no idea the kinda story it would have but I love the Snowgrave based idea @/Hotlinedreams had for this were Dalv drains the life from the enemies and he also leaves any lightners a shell of their former self (cough cough Starlo cough cough)

OK now for the ramble about the main Blood Drain route

Now Dalv and Clover would team but around the same point in the chapter Kris and Noelle did and Dalv is a lot less willing to bite people then Noelle is to freeze people.

He refuses to use the attack the first few times not wanting to hurt anyone but after Clover a few times like 3 he uses it.

At first once it's done Dalv is horrified he just kill an innocent "Monster" (Dalv at this point probably thinks its all a dream like noelle did)

But after a few moments he's hit with a rush a power and euphonia from "Getting Stronger" it leaves him feeling hungry both physically and mentally.

As the route continues Dalv is much more happy to just use the attack on anything that moves his mind is clouded by a euphonia driven haze he's not exactly thinking for himself he's just letting clover tell him whatever as long as he can feel that power again.

His dark world magic item is a gothic style choker (mainly cos its the closets think to his mouth that I think he would wear)

I'm not sure what the second one would be but the last would be like the Thorn ring pain for power the pain and extended time from bitting something makes his mind a bit more clear for the starlo battle.

Star the entire time is trying to talk both you and Dalv down still playing "hero" not 100% realising the gravity of the situation.

But you eventually make dalv use his snowgrave version (Soul Drain) on Star and Stars colours become dull as he slumps to the floor unconscious.

Dalv picks him up telling clover that "He's gonna take a rest" before walking off and staying in his room in wherever the Antagonist lives (Idk about them tbh)

He lays down with Starlo and Pops telling himself that it's all just a bad dream as he falls asleep =)

(Sorry if that one is a bit out of character I so super sleepy when I wrote it)

Lastly we have some pixel art designs for Star, Dalv and Cornerinna

[dr-spectre]

Hey Spectre, got a simple question for ya this time. Did you like either of the story book Sonic games?(I think that's what they were called. I'm talking about 7 Rings and The Black Knight)

Ah.... Sonic and the Secret Rings, and Sonic and the Black Knight huh. THOSE games hmm?

Well, i feel like these two games share the same positives and negatives. Both have really great narratives, presentation, music, art style, etc. But the gameplay is just.... Uh... Not the best the series can offer you know? To say it lightly....

Secret Ring's story is kinda crazy because it's actually about the toxic relationship between Shahra who is the guide of the game, and the villain Erazor Djin (yes that's his name). A Sonic the Hedgehog story actually being about an abusive relationship between two genies and Sonic helps Shahra overcome her troubles and eventually defeat Erazor Djin is crazy to me. I'm not joking around btw. And it's actually done very well and in a subtle way too...

The cutscenes too look phenomenal and hold up very well cause you know, it's just artwork and it looks DAMNNNN GOOD! The ost is just MMMMMM!!!! Look it up if you get the chance, it has a lot of vocal tracks and they are very catchy. Same with Black Knight.

However the gameplay.... oh man... Now look, i played this on the wii and didn't use a regular controller on dolphin. And let me tell ya, by the time the game was done, i was so happy it was over....

Sonic doesn't stop running and you control him by tilting the wii remote... Everything is shaking and tilting and sometimes it just does NOT work! The level design somewhat accommodates for it and you know what, sometimes the game can be.... fun... It's kind of a guilty pleasure for me but that doesn't mean it's a good game gameplay wise, hell naw. It sucks.

The final boss WILL hurt your arms and give you a damn good workout lmao. Also, you have to UNLOCK BETTER CONTROLS VIA AN RPG LEVELLING UP SYSTEM! WHY!?!? WHY DO I GOTTA UNLOCK BETTER TURNING AND EQUIP IT?!?!? If i have to slog through hours upon hours of grinding just to get better controls then I'm sorry, that's a bad game in my eyes tbh. I don't care if it "gets good after 20 hours." You can fuck off with that shit.

However Black Knight on the other hand, that's a pretty good game and i can say that with confidence. The story of Black Knight is even more crazy and surprisingly mature. It's about this clash of ideologies as Sonic believes that everything comes to an end, but it's about living life to the fullest in the time we have, to run head first to our problems and solve them before we die. To have fun and enjoy life before it's over. And the villain is scared of death and wants a world that lasts forever, so that flowers may never wither and that the kingdom the game takes place in won't come to ruin. Sonic can be seen as the bad guy of the story in a certain lens as if he wins, the kingdom WILL die. He even says himself "i don't mind playing the bad guy every once in a while." LIKE THAT IS SOOOOOO FUCKING RAWWW!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

Sure the story rushed and short but... oh my god the story and fan service is truly amazing idc. It marked the end of an era, the end of the "dark age" of Sonic, before we got games like Colours, Generations, Lost World, Forces, Boom that took such a drastic turn in tone and got rid of the 4Kids cast of voice actors. This was the final time Sonic felt like it truly gave a shit about it's story and was made by people who cared and had something to say.... Well... until Frontiers of course.

Sonic's characterisation is some of the best it has ever been in both games. He's snarky, confident, energetic and cheeky, but he's also gentle, kind and loving. It's so well done.... literally the final line he says "Every world has it's end. I know that's kind of sad but... That's why we gotta live life in the fullest in the time we have. At least, that's what i figure." breaks me into tears every time i hear it... I'm not joking.

Black Knight also has moments where it plays certain themes from previous games when certain characters show up and that shit makes me grin ear to ear and laugh in autistic excitement i tell ya. Hearing It Doesn't Matter before Sonic takes on the final boss is so. DAMN. GOOD!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only other time i can recall getting giddy and excited over a Sonic game is... Frontiers? The first titan boss made me scream. I was screaming and in pure happiness. And the final boss from update 3.... Made me cry dude... But that's a topic for another day. i can go on and on about this blue rat....

Yeah Black Knight is a good game... but.... the gameplay is uh... just okay? It's not bad but it's not great either. I think what really kills the gameplay is that there isn't enough platforming in the levels and a lot of the sword moves kill Sonic's speed which makes the sword combat feel so sluggish and ughhhhh.

Also a big issue between both games that they have a mission system and not standard acts and it kills replayablity for me. If the games got remastered today and had 3 acts and a boss in each area it would be 10x better I'm telling you.

Anyways, yeah, the storybook games are awesome... aside from gameplay. I recommend only playing Black Knight and configuring it on dolphin to tie motion swings to button presses. And putting the pointer controls on the r stick as well.

Don't play Secret Rings unless you are a diehard Sonic fan and are curious to see the game.

[hongjoongscafe]

can I do a request for lowkey mean dom Seokjin with some really intense overstimulation/orgasms (or orgasm denial if that’s better?) bc it’s been a while but then he cracks into the softest, most indulgent sex bc angel really just wants to be as close to him as possible. Y/N is always a little weird to read so can you use cute nicknames? (angel/sweetheart/etc)

I hope you like it!😊 BTW, plz do keep in mind that I am writing these to improve smut writing. So if you think that something could have been done better, do suggest me!💓💓

Stay

Bitch hours

Pairing: seokjinxreader

Warning: overstimulation, dom!seokjin, rough talking, teasing, unprotected sex, cumming inside, cock warming.

...

The two-month-long business trip kept Seokjin away from his sweetheart. Every day they talked to each other over video call but it could not fulfil his desire to touch you.

He has developed a habit of always touching you over time while living together. His touches were gentle and sometimes panty-dropping. He was very well aware of his actions and loves to get reactions out of you in every way possible.

And to be honest, you were a sucker for his hands on you, too.

Today, after so long, he landed back in his town and reached home. His mind was running widely. The image he received from you right after he landed.

You, his girl, were in the skimpiest of the lingerie. Your breasts were teasing him through that tiny cloth, pussy almost slipping out between your wide-open legs.

He was getting hard thinking about all the ways he could put both of their bodies to use. The passion of lust was running through his veins. Oh! He could barely handle himself. Even his assistant was sceptical of him being too silent suddenly.

When you heard the doorbell ring, you rushed towards the door knowing well that Jin was at the door.

“Hi—” your words were cut short by his mouth on yours, feverishly kissing your lips. His tongue entered your mouth when you moaned a little.

He picked you up and took you to your shared bedroom. He threw you on it and opened the robe you were wearing. The lingerie was a pretty maroon colour. It looked so sexy on your body.

Eyes you, he smirked, “the audacity to fucking tease me,” he said while opening the buttons of his dress shirt. “Sending me that picture knowing well how much I wanna get my hands on you? Shouldn't you be punished? Hm? For being a bad, bad girl?”

He moved closer to the foot of the bed and pulled you by your ankles. His hands opened your thighs and held them in place. A dark wet patch over the tiny thong was visible. “Your greedy cunt is already ready for me.”

“Don't tease me,” you whined.

Jin looked at you with a raised brow, “and you teasing me is okay?”

Before you could say something, he ripped your sorry excuse of the thong. You gasped. He stretched your legs further up and blew on your wet, glistening pussy. “Mmh,” you whined.

Jin chuckled deeply and licked your cunt. His lips found your clit and immediately started sucking it harshly. His teeth nibbled at it slowly. Your legs threatened to close but his metal grip was enough to keep them in their place.

He sucked sharply and released your clit with a pop and tongued your wet hole. He pushed his long tongue into your hole and fucked it like no end.

You were moaning like a broken tape and repeating his name over and over again. “Yeah, baby, that's right. Moan my name louder. Let everyone know who is making your good-for-nothing cunt feel so good,” his voice sent a vibration in your pussy, making it clench around nothing.

“Jinnie, more!” you clutched his hair and pushed his face deeper into your pussy. You grinded your hips against his tongue. Along with yours, his moans were getting louder.

After a little more, your thighs closed around his face, almost suffocating him, and you came undone on his tongue.

You were catching your breath after the intense orgasm but he didn't let you. Flipping you on your stomach, he stood behind you and quickly got rid of his pants and boxers.

Pumping his thick and long cock. He pushed it into you. He was painfully hard and needed the immediate warmth of your cunt.

Your wetness made it easier for him to slip in his whole length. He groaned and pulled his cock out until only his head was inside. His hands found a perfect grip on your hips and thrusted his cock back in with a force.

Your whole body jerked on his cock as he started picking up pace. The sound of skin slapping and your wetness turned you on even more, making you leak on his cock.

“Yeah, sweetheart, baby, that's it. Take me in like a bitch you are.” he was pushing you back on his cock making you moan and lose your balance. Your face was on the mattress.

Jin grabbed your arms and pulled them behind your back and fucked you good. Your cunt was swallowing his cock. “You got so kicking tight in these two months. Look at your pussy sucking me in. How greedy could it be?” he snaked his hand around and found your clit. Roughly rubbing your clit with his fingers.

“Jin!” you moaned. “I'm cumming!” It was too much to handle. His cock was hitting your cum spot and his hand on your clit was enough to empty your mind.

“Cum on my cock, love. Fuck, squeeze my cock good. Make it wetter,” he moaned.

With the last thrusts, you came on his cock with a moan of his name. He could feel your velvet walls trembling around him. He could feel your cum leaking on his cock.

Jin pulled out and turned you on your back and got on the bed with you. He kissed your lips with his plush and bitten lips.

“Miss you,” you whispered against his lips and kissed him. “Missed all of this and our time together.”

He balanced his body on his elbows and pushed his cock back in your cunt. You whined, your pussy was still recovering from the orgasm. But you didn't make him stop.

“Baby, I missed you so fucking much,” his thrusts were slow and much more intimate. You almost felt like you were invading something. “Gonna take you with me everywhere I go,” he sighed.

“Please,” you agreed. Your hands slid on his back and caressed it. His eyes were filled with love and passion unlike before those that were filled with only lust.

“Angel, you are so damn fine,” his lips traced your neck. “Can't stay away for long.”

“Want you more,” your back arched.

“Yeah?” he littered your collarbone with kisses. Decorating your skin with hickies. “What do you want?”

“You!” you moaned when he angled his hips perfectly and hit your favourite spot. It ignited something in you and made you cum without any warning.

“Fuck,” he groaned. His deep voice sent shivers down your spine. He placed his hands on the bed and hovered over you and thrusted more through your high.

“Hmm, fuck, too much– nngh,” you groaned.

“Cum one more time, baby,” his breath hitched and cock twitched inside you when you rubbed your clit and clenched around him. “Cum with me.”

After about five more thrusts and some harsh circles on your clit, you both came together. He filled you up with his cum to the brim, to the point that it started to leak while he was still around.

Jin tried to pull himself out but stopped him by wrapping your arms around him and holding him in place. His face was in your neck, sniffing your scent up.

“Stay…” you sighed, feeling content after having him close to you after so long. You twitched in his hold. Being overstimulated, your pussy was too sensitive. His littlest of movements were too much for now. In the end, he did make you cum four times.

“Wasn't gonna leave, sweetheart,” he kissed your lips a few times and then drifted off to take a nap with you already snoring lightly.

.....

[yourboyfriendsbodyguard]

Hey just wondering when your gonna update the All of your colours? The fanfic you made. It’s my favourite fanfic out of all the ones I have read and it’s really well done. Don’t wanna rush or pressure you just wanna know what’s gonna happen.

Love your content btw:))

Hi Anon!

Sorry for the intense delay with the fanfic, I've been hit with the Author's curse. I'll explain more in the next chapter, WHICH I AM WRITING. It's just longer than expected and editing it is hell right now. If you don't believe me! I have PROOF!!!

The fic is being written right now! Long sleepless nights thanks to my insomnia have allowed me to go back to writing! So rest assured, the fic is going to be continued.

Hopefully I can finish editing and upload it soon.

wish me luck...

[foreststranger]

JING YUAN - Trailblazer Gets Paid

ꜱᴛᴀʀʀɪɴɢ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

↳ 『honkai: star rail』jing yuan & child gn!reader (adoptive parent/child familial dynamic) ft. yanqing as a younger (?) brother

ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

↳ based on a request i’ve gotten (read it here) in case you couldn’t tell, i did not “get it done tomorrow.” anyway i was unsure of the motive behind reader running away so I’m hoping my idea was what you were looking for, anon 👍 ALSO SORRY FOR ALTERING IT A BIT IDK HOW TO WRITE TIME SKIPS AND STUFF SO

𑁍 ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 2.0k

ɴᴏᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

↳ SORRY THIS TOOK LONGER THAN EXPECTED I’VE BEEN REVAMPING HOW I DO TEXTS IN MY FICS WHILE TRYING TO WRITE THIS AND IT’S BEEN TAKING SO LONG THE PROCESS IS IMPOSSIBLY TEDIOUS GGGGHHHH anyway my first request yay i usually write romantic pairings so this is a step out my comfort zone but i hope i could do this idea justice. i love doing requests and i wish i had more lol (cough cough). sorry if this is messy btw ANYWAY this fic lowkey had me sobbing jing yuan would literally be the best dad ever (to my children cough cough) ALSO HAPPY MONTHIVERSARY TO MY ACCOUNT WOOOOO ALSO ALSO, AGAIN, THIS IS VERY UNPOLISHED AND I’M POSTING THIS AT 4AM SO SORRY IF STUFF IS WHACK AT THE END

An heir. A successor. Some would kill for the power of controlling an army, for the power of an entire ship of the Hexafleet.

Yet, you were running away from home for that reason. Though he’d never said it, you could tell that Jing Yuan wanted you to take on his responsibility when he eventually couldn’t.

And were you ready for that? No. Absolutely not. To have the weight of the Luofu on your shoulders, to carry the burden of being General… You were never going to be ready.

You hear your phone’s notification going off maybe ten times before it goes quiet. Yanqing must have finally read your texts.

You don’t bother responding to his messages, continuing down the street while trying to ignore the dinging and buzzing from your bag. Even at night, the Luofu does not rest. The sky is a flurry of blinding colours, leading your way to… somewhere. Streetlights still glow brighter than ever, and many people rush by you — seemingly coming from nowhere.

You’re running away. You’re actually running away.

It’s not like Jing Yuan is a horrible father. In fact, quite the opposite. You love him, and you’re sure he loves you dearly as well. It makes you feel bad for leaving but… you can’t handle how disappointed he’ll be if you tell him that you’re not ready for your responsibilities. You could never be the General of the Cloud Knights. Not with thousands of years of training and the best teachers that the Xianzhou had to offer. The sword, the battlefield… they are not what calls to you. Truth be told, you stopped attending sword lessons about a month ago. Yanqing still sparred with you on occasion but he could tell you weren’t as sharp as you used to be. Though, now was not the time to think of the past. You had to think of the future.

Where are you going to stay?

A thought crossed your mind. You reach for your phone again, setting down your bag as you pull up your messages with the Nameless. Specifically, a friend of the Luofu. Surely they’d be willing to help you out.

You lean against the wall, a sigh of relief escaping you. Until you spot a group of Cloud Knights in the distance. They’re definitely searching for you, talking to every passerby they can see. Yanqing must’ve told Jing Yuan already… You duck into an alleyway, crouching down and hiding yourself behind a couple boxes. Hopefully, the Trailblazer will find you before those soldiers do. Though, you’ll be found soon by the Cloud Knights if your phone doesn’t stop going off. You try to ignore the many messages flooding in from Jing Yuan. The notifications keep popping up on your screen as you go to your settings. You have to keep swiping them away because they’re blocking your view.

It’s a flurry of texts. You lightly skim over a few others he sent. Many along the lines of ‘I’m worried about you’ and apologies for not always being there for you. They make you feel a little guilty for leaving so suddenly, but not guilty enough to talk to him. He wouldn’t understand.

Jing Yuan sends another. You read it carefully, your eyes lingering on each word. ‘Stay safe. I love you.’

“Sorry, dad…” your voice is a little shaky as you mutter under your breath. You can’t imagine how worried he is right now. You tap on your messages, contemplating on whether or not to respond. Instead, you open your chats with the Trailblazer.

Just then, your phone dies. Perfect. You’ve lost your only means of communication. And you’ve just remembered that you didn’t bring your phone charger. Maybe you aren’t cut out for running away…

Slowly, a familiar silver haired friend approaches your hiding spot, trying as discreetly as they can to move the boxes away.

“Trailblazer!” You whisper-yell. They offer you their hand, and you take it with a sigh of relief.

“Finally… What took you so long? We have to hurry before I’m caught.”

“Mhm.”

“Are they still close by? The Cloud Knights.”

“Mhm.”

“Then come on! I need to get on the Express!”

“Mhm.”

“…How do we get there, Trailblazer?” You look up into their eyes, begging for an answer that isn’t ‘mhm.’ And as you wish, you’re granted one.

“Up, I guess.” They finally say.

“That’s not very helpful.”

“I dunno. Usually people just… appear on the Express. I’ll ask Himeko to help.” They pull out their phone, supposedly texting Himeko.

“Er… We can just take a ship off the Luofu.”

“Okay. Let’s go!” Trailblazer — with their phone still in hand — pulls you along towards the closest port. Your almost thrown off balance, leaning on them for support as they grip your sleeve.

“Wait! I’m gonna be spotted if-“ You cut yourself off with a groan. “Nevermind.”

The ride out of the Luofu is uneventful, though a little awkward. The Trailblazer remains on their phone the entire time while you avoid looking at them.

“Well… welcome to the Astral Express, [name].”

“Is this it?” You’re a little disappointed in how… empty and unwelcoming it feels.

“Obviously not. This is just the lounge,” they pause. “So, do you want a tour or…?”

“I think I’ll be fine.” You turn to one of the windows, looking out at the Xianzhou Luofu.

“How long are you staying? I’m guessing Pom Pom would want to know,” the Trailblazer says, approaching you. In response, you shrug.

“We’ll see.”

“Are you… going to join the us? The Nameless.”

“I don’t know, really.” The Trailblazer goes quiet for a moment.

“…I can tell that Jing Yuan didn’t agree to let you come here. You’re running away, aren’t you?”

“Did the Cloud Knights tell you that?”

“It was just a guess… You can’t stay here for long. None of us are babysitters, [name].” The Trailblazer crosses their arms, shifting their legs as they speak.

“I don’t need one. The only thing I need is a place to stay; that’s it. Until I figure something out.”

“Alright then…” they sigh. “It’s getting pretty late. There’s a room to the right of Dan Heng’s that you can sleep in.” The Trailblazer turns to leave while you continue staring out the window. You find yourself thinking about Jing Yuan and how much you miss him already. Was leaving the Luofu — and leaving your family — really the best course of action?

You head to your room. The eerie quietness of your walk there unsettles you. It makes you yearn for home. There is no noise audible apart from the irritating train ambience. There is no ‘good night’ from your father as you lay down in bed. There is no one to tuck you in as you stare at the ceiling, awaiting sleep. There is nowhere that could be as lonely as this place, away from your father and brother. And away from a life you abandoned. And yet, there is no way you could ever go back. You shut your eyelids tight, hoping that when you wake up, everything will fix itself. That when you wake up, you’ll be a happy kid, living a happy childhood. But even just imagining that is hard on this uncomfortable mattress.

The sound of banging on the door wakes you up.

“[name]! It’s time to get up! Conductor Pom-Pom made breakfast for you!” Someone from outside your room intones. You recognized the sing-song voice as March 7th’s. With a groan, you rise from the bed and shuffle over, managing to turn the doorknob after a bit of a struggle.

“Mmh… Good morning…” Your voice is groggy as you rub your eyes.

“Oh. The Trailblazer told me you were young but I didn’t think you were a…” She doesn’t continue, instead looking down at you with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. “Let’s go eat,” she says, changing the topic.

“In a bit. Just… just give me a few minutes.”

“Whenever you’re ready, [name]. I guess we’ll wait for you.” March shrugs.

After a minute of rustling through your bag, you exit the bathroom, realizing that you forgot to bring toiletries. It seems like you forgot many essentials.

“[name]! You’re here!” March 7th waves you over to a table covered in many carefully crafted dishes. To her right is a serious looking black haired man, staring longingly out the window. To her left, a woman you vaguely remember as Himeko. Across from the three of them is the Trailblazer. You decide to take a seat beside the latter, since they’re really the only one of the Nameless you’re acquainted with. It feels a little… awkward being around the others.

“I thought there were five of you,” you say, recalling a fifth member of the Express Crew.

“Welt didn’t want to join us. He was busy making… preparations,” the Trailblazer answers. You look down at your plate to be greeted with your favourite meal. Your… favourite meal. What an odd coincidence that Pom-Pom decided to make a dish that happened to be your favourite. Jing Yuan had introduced it to you back when he had only just adopted you. The fragrance emitting from the plate is staggeringly nostalgic. You almost burst into tears being near this thing. It looks identical to how he’d used to make it. Hesitantly, you bring a spoonful to your mouth. The flavours that you taste are painfully reminiscent of home. They sting your tongue with memories of your father.

“…The… conductor made this?” You ask, struggling to understand. The Trailblazer gives a curt nod, their attention hyper-focused on you. You try to blink away the tears in your eyes but you’re sure they’re visible by now.

“[name]? Yesterday, I was on my phone…” They pause dramatically. “Can you guess who I was texting?” Then, it hits you.

“…Jing Yuan.”

“And can you guess who made breakfast for you?”

“Where is he?” You breathe out, clearly exhausted as you stand from the table, setting down your utensils.

The Trailblazer leads you down the hall, away from your breakfast and the others and back to your room.

“He’s in here?” You hesitate to open the door.

“I guess I’ll leave you to it, [name].” They speed off without another word to you. It takes you a couple minutes to work up the courage, but you eventually grab a solid hold on the doorknob and push it open. He’s sitting on the bed, staring at his phone. But his attention snaps to you as soon as you open the door.

“[name]. I’m… glad we finally have a chance to talk. I trust you have been doing well here?” You don’t point out how you’ve been on the Express for less than a day, still too nervous to talk. “What‘s wrong, [name]?” Jing Yuan asks. And finally, you answer.

“I… don’t want to take your place as the General.” Your speech is slow and stretched out as you try to convey your thoughts and feelings. “It seems like… too much for me. I’ve never been good at all that… stuff, and you know that.” He sighs as you talk, sadness in his eyes.

“Is that why you ran away? Why didn’t you tell me?” Jing Yuan stands up and approaches you. “I never asked you to become my successor, did I, [name]?” His hand rests on your shoulder in an attempt to reassure you.

“I was scared that you’d be… disappointed in me.”

“Do you really think so low of me?”

“…Sorry.”

“I do not care what you wish to become in the future, [name]. You’ll still always be my kid. I did not intend for you to take on my position. You’re too young to govern the Luofu. No offence.” He leans in, pinching your cheek with his other hand. “You’d be quite capable, [name].” You look away as he lets go, a little embarrassed.

“Thanks, dad…?”

“Have we sorted this out then? You know that I’ll always love you, yes?”

“Mhm. Yeah.” You hold your arms out to him, and Jing Yuan pulls you into a tight embrace.

“I’m happy to be your father, [name]… Don’t do this again, okay? You can talk to me about anything. Don’t run away anymore. You really worried me…”

“Right. Sorry, dad.”

“Come on then. Let’s go home.”

ask before translating, taking inspo from (not copy), reposting, etc. my work. remember to credit me and if you’re taking inspo from it, please @ me as I’d like to see what you do with my ideas!

[burstsofenergy]

Hello people :D This is the very first time I participate in a fandom event! (I am excited and a bit nervous tbh). This is my contribution to @narutorarepairweek's event!

This is btw also my very first fanfic for the Naruto fandom. So feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you again @narutorarepairweek for hosting this event! I am really glad to have found it and I really loved all the prompts :D

Camaraderie

(Aburame Shino/Hyuuga Hinata)

Her chest heaved under the heavy breaths she was taking. She was sure that everyone around her was aware of her panting breaths. She tried to calm herself, get her breathing under control.

Hide her weakness.

Something warm pressed against her left leg. She glanced down, bracing herself in the back of her mind for another surprise attack.

“Akamaru!” Surprise coloured her voice.

The large ninja dog gave her an answering bark and got closer to her when she crouched down, welcoming her hands in his fur.

“W-what are you doing here? Are you okay?” Hands were moving through white fur, checking for wounds, eyes mustered the dog thoroughly.

“How on earth are you able to keep your fur spotless? Really? You must have some secret you are hiding from me.” She chuckled when she couldn’t feel nor see anything out of order. The white fur of her canine companion shining in the sun that peeked out from the clouds above them.

Akamaru gave her another approving bark, sitting down to give her more access to shower him with attention.

“Figures that you sneaked away from boring briefings to get your daily fill of petting from Hinata!”

“Huh?” A loud voice disrupted the relative silence that had spread around the camp around her.

When she looked up, Kiba was jogging in their direction, a bright grin on his face. She felt something loosen in her chest, as if someone released a tight rope that had been tied around it. Kiba’s left cheek sported a smudge of dirt and his black jacket was covered in dust and his trousers were covered with little flecks of dirt and dried blood, but his gait was as purposeful and secure as ever and judging from the power with which he waved his arm over his head, his upper body was also unscathed.

“You sneaked away from a briefing?” She repeated towards the dog who had moved to show her his belly, basically begging her to rub it.

“Jup, he left me completely alone too! You are some kind of comrade!”

Another hand joined hers, giving the whining animal a pat on the head.

“But really, can’t say I wouldn’t have tried the same.”

“Kiba!” Hinata chided her former team member.

“I know, I know, meetings and briefings are important! Just saying that sometimes I can understand the impulse to just – you know – sneak away.”

A heavy sigh escaped him at that, his eyes getting a far-away look.

“To go back to the village. Running around the forest, lying in the grass under the warm sun. Just forgetting everything else.”

“Kiba-“ Hinata whispered, her hand moving forwards, covering Kiba’s hand.

“Ah! Sorry! Don’t let me drag you down with my sentimental musings!” The young man rushed to say while rubbing his neck in embarrassment. A forced laugh followed his statement.

“No. Your feelings are important, and I am glad that you chose to share them with me!” Hinata’s hair flew around her with the force of her head shaking. Her eyes settling on the young shinobi in front of her, his hand now clasped between hers.

Kiba cleared his throat, before he laid his free hand on top of their clasped ones.

“Uhm, thank you. Really, thank you. Hinata-. I really, I mean I really can’t even imagine being here without you! Like, I know I can’t really complain with my sister and my mother also being in my division!” His eyes wandered off until they landed on the white mutt between them.

“And Akamaru, really. I mean, I probably would be dead already if not for Akamaru- “His voice faded, his eyes closing.

“But” he continued, his eyes open and staring directly into Hinata’s, “I am also really grateful for your continued presence and your continued friendship, Hinata!” He said and squeezed their clasped hands.

“Kiba- “

“Yeah, I know! I am not usually one for all this emotional blabla but, you know, with all that is happening every day,” He shrugged helplessly, “you never know if you get another chance, you know? And really, somethings are better said out loud at least once, right?” He gave her a very obviously forced smile.

Hinata opened her mouth to return the heartfelt words when they were suddenly interrupted.

“Ah, nobody told me we were having a heart-to-heart today.”

Hinata whirled around – her hair once again flying around and nearly hitting Kiba in the face.

“Shino!” She whispered in shock and surprise.

“Well, can’t do that if you are nowhere to be found, can I?” Kiba countered with a smug grin on his face.

Akamaru moved to greet Shino, lying down in front of him with a playful bark.

Shino gave the white ninken a rather unimpressed look, making Hinata chuckle slightly. She once again rubbed Akamaru’s belly showering him with compliments.

“I can’t really help it, Akamaru just has a way with words.” Hinata said teasingly giving Shino a happy smile.

“Aw, com’ on, Shino! As if you can resist Akamaru’s patented puppy eyes!” Kiba was now standing next to Shino and gave him a clap on his shoulder.

As if on cue, Akamaru sat up and focused all his channelled cuteness on the usually stoic shinobi.

“Argh!”

Kiba’s laughter, joined by Hinata’s light giggles echoed through the camp when Shino kneeled down to curl his fingers behind Akamaru’s ears. The triumphant look in Akamaru’s eyes seemed to make even Shino smile as the Aburame was sporting a slight smile.

“So?” Kiba started after some moments had passed.

“So, what?” Shino answered, his attention still on Akamaru.

“Where were you? Like I said, I was looking for you and you were nowhere to be found!” Kiba sighed annoyance written clear on his face.

“Ah, I had a mission.”

“And?”

“And what?”

Kiba groaned in frustration, throwing his hands in the air.

“And what kind of mission?”

“A secret mission.”

Hinata watched the exchange with a fond smile on her face, laughing quietly at Kiba’s growing frustration and Shino’s slight smirk that he hid from him.

“Shino don’t tease poor Kiba like that! You know that he is just worried about you missing. As am I.” She added the last part and gave his hand a small squeeze.

“Poor Kiba?!?” Kiba repeated questioningly.

“I was asked to join a small group of sensor shinobis to check the perimeter once again. The division leader got notice that one of Naruto’s doppelgangers is on his way to us. From what I understand, they should help identify clones made out of White Zetsu.”

“That makes sense, I think. I mean if not even Hinata or Neji can identify them, well…”

“Yes, I also think that it has something to do with the nine-tail.”

“Hm, maybe he is able to sense it because of his training with the toads? I mean back when he was fighting Pain, he was also able to channel nature chakra if I remember correctly.”

Shino and Kiba were watching Hinata now. She was looking down, her eyes following her hand as she caressed Akamaru.

“Do you, I mean, do you think you will be okay?” Kiba had lowered his voice and kneeled next to Shino, aware of the people around them.

Shino and Kiba shared a concerned look before they both focused on Hinata once again.

“With Naruto coming here.” Shino added when Hinata remained silent. Kiba gave him an irritated look and rolled his eyes.

“What we meant to ask is, do you need us to do anything? Because if so, just say the word!” Kiba said slowly watching Hinata closely.

“Really, you wouldn’t believe the range of tactics and skills in our arsenal! We are your guys!” Kiba tried when Hinata was still not answering.

They shared another alarmed look when they heard a sniff from Hinata. She moved her arm in front of her face, drying tears that had run down her cheeks, before she lifted her face.

“H-Hinata?

“A-are you okay?”

Kiba asked very carefully, his eyes moving around her face.

“Yes, I am perfectly fine, thank you both for caring.” She answered, a bright smile etched onto her face.

“You sure?” Kiba questioned with a disbelieving frown on his face.

“Yes. You see, I have realized something recently.” She said and grabbed both of their hand in each of her own.

“While I will probably never stop admiring Naruto, I think that I am finally ready to face the reality, so to say.”

“Which is?” Kiba asked as if he was afraid of the answer.

“Naruto Uzumaki is not reciprocating my feelings. And it looks as if he never will.”

“Uhm…”

“You don’t seem too sad about this.”

“Shino!” Kiba used his free hand to hit himself on the forehead.

“No, it’s okay Kiba. Shino is right with his observation. I am also a bit surprised about my lack of…”

“Devastation?” Kiba offered.

“Yes, that might be the fitting word. After my confession during the fight with Pain, well… I mean, I basically told Naruto that I loved him and he…

“He never approached me afterwards. He never tried to have a conversation about it. He simply continued as usual.

“And at first, I tried to rationalize it. That Naruto is a bit slow when it comes to stuff like that, that he is incredibly busy with all the new fame that he is now enjoying but… Well,”

She squeezed their hands.

“You two were also busy. Still-“

A loud Gong echoed through the whole camp interrupting their conversation and startling them back into the reality.

Akamaru and Kiba were the first on their feet – and paws. Akamaru barked and looked to Kiba as if looking for confirmation.

“Yes, I smell it too, buddy.” Kiba said and turned to the rest of Team 8.

“I think that Naruto will not arrive in time, unfortunately.”

A whistling sound caught their attention and the group looked towards the back of the camp.

“Kiba! Akamaru! Chop, chop!”

Kiba’s mother, Tsume Inazuka, still had her fingers to her lips when her commandeering voice echoed through the camp making the two young clan members snap to attention.

After giving his mother a nod, Kiba turned around to his team members once again.

“Looks like I am now also part of a secret mission.” He teased his chest puffed out in exaggerated pride.

“Good Luck!” Hinata said and her hand once again squeezed Kiba’s before she leaned forward and slung her arms around Akamaru giving him a big hug.

“Take care.” Shino said in his usual monotone manner.

~*~

Active combat situations are characterised by their dynamic and unpredictable nature. Even for strategic masterminds like Shikamaru or his father, it is difficult to maintain an overview. Depending on the position of the observer, the fighting can be perceived as one inter-linked action – or countless small fights. For the person on the ground, it is nearly impossible to focus on the grand scheme of things, as their attention is forced on the fight that is right in front of them – the attacker that is throwing their kunai right at them. Even though Hinata profits very much from her kekkei genkai, she simply lacks the strategic mastermind and intellectual prowess that her cousin Neji is showcasing again and again in this war. Thanks to Neji’s analytical capabilities, he can give precise orders and is able to quickly react when the enemy tries to distract or trap them, making him a valuable member of every team he is put in.

These thoughts run through Hinata’s mind when she watches how her cousin deflects attacks with an ease that reminds her of swatting away an annoying fly. Especially when put next to his former team members, Neji’s skills come to fruition. With practiced ease he gives orders – sometimes only a mere sign to the enemy is enough – and his former team members know exactly what they have to do.

“Hinata! Behind you!”

She swirls around, her eyes glowing with her activated Byakuugan. 

A shinobi that was about to pierce her back reverted back to a White Zetsu and lies on the floor, sliced in two, Akamaru chewing nearly leisurely on the lower half of the mysterious creature.

“Are you alright?!”

Hands are suddenly grasping her shoulders, shaking her body slightly. Wide eyes stare at her face, panic etched into the face of her long-time friend.

“Yes, thanks to you.” She says and Kiba’s panic fades as quickly as it came.

“Phew! You really got me there, Hinata. Really, phew!”

Kiba bent over and rested his hands on his knees catching his breath. Hinata, her kekkei genkai still activated, reached for a kunai and sliced the white clone that had come up behind Kiba in two.

“Yo, Kiba!”

Hinata and Kiba lifted their heads in surprise and saw an orange flash moving towards their location.

Before Kiba could react, a glowing Naruto landed directly in front of them.

“Naruto!” Hinata exclaimed before she could stop herself.

“You never shy away from a dramatic entrance, do you?” Kiba laughed mustering the bright flames that seemed to engulf their friend.

~*~

With Naruto’s help it was easy to identify the clones and they quickly decimating the imposters and pushed the attackers further from the camp. Hinata was glad to see Naruto, even though it was only a doppelganger. It meant that the original Naruto was alive somewhere and had enough chakra and stamina to produce all these copies of himself. She had long wondered how she might feel when she is once again face to face with her long-time crush. But now the only feeling in her chest is relief. She made the right decision when she decided to let go of her feelings for Naruto. Looking back, she could kick herself for all the time she spent yearning for the blonde young man. Her feelings had shielded her from the reality and made her look at it through rose-coloured glasses. The reality looked differently. While Naruto had played a crucial role in her childhood – his support during the Chuunin exams a shining example of that – she never had his undivided attention. Not like Sakura, for example – or Sasuke.

And this carried on until now. Naruto was fighting literally next to her, but he was not even really acknowledging her. It wasn’t as if he was actively avoiding her as if he were embarrassed or unsure how to act. No, he simply treated her like everyone else. And while she was glad that Naruto didn’t avoid her, she knew now that she will never be a top priority for him. And she finally gathered her courage to draw a line. She was finally ready to demand more than just the bare minimum of human decency. Naruto only looked at her when it was easy for him, but he never really moved out of his way for her. And she was happy for him. Happy that he was finally reaching his true potential and gained the recognition and admiration he had always yearned for. But she was also happy for herself, that she had the strength to let go of her fanciful dream of him choosing her.

It made her see the world clearer. Lifting a huge weight from her shoulders and helped her focus more on herself and the people in her life that were really there for her. Like Kiba and Shino, for example.

~*~

The pursuit of the scattered groups of remaining clones drew her further and further from the camp, deeper into the surrounding forest.

The sun was slipping behind the mountains and the blue of the sky above turned darker with each passing moment. Her eyes hurt from the continued use of her kekkei genkai, still she forced her way through the trees, watching closely for clues of any traps or surprise attacks. Her kunai flew through the air and hit one of the clones in the leg slowing him down, she pushed forward and with a well-placed punch the clone was quickly decimated.

Suddenly she was surrounded by White Zetsu clones. They seemed to grew all around her, pushing her into the defence. She was able to defend herself and deflect all their attacks, but she was forced to flee nevertheless, deeper into the forest. She doesn’t know how long the clones were after her, she had lost all sense of time what felt like ages ago. The temperature around her dropped with every meter she ventured deeper into the forest. She run as long as her legs were able to carry her. When even the last rays of sunshine left the world around her, she stopped and checked her surroundings. Only when she was sure that nobody and nothing was after her, she let herself relax.

But the relief was short-lived because now that her body was not pumping adrenaline through her veins, she became aware of her dire situation. She was alone in an unknown forest. It was dark and the sky was too cloudy to use the stars as orientation. And even if she were able to navigate her way back to the camp, she had overused the Byakuugan which meant that she was not only suffering from a terrible headache but also that her vision was restricted. Even without the Byakuugan, her eyes were not working properly.

Remembering how the White Zetsu clones grew out of any plant, she gathered her last strength and was able to find a stone cave that offered her some shelter. She didn’t dare to make a fire, so she simply huddled close to the wall and hugged her knees to her chest. She was lucky that she had the mind to stash some protein bars into her pockets in the morning. She also had to thank Neji for refilling her water bottle. She tried to look at the positive side – she had something to eat and drink. And if she remembered correctly, the temperature shouldn’t drop too low so she also wouldn’t freeze to death. All in all, she had most of the basic needs covered.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel panic rising in her chest. Every time she gave in and closed her aching eyes, her ears seemed to pick up any sounds of the forest and she ripped her eyes open in panic, scanning the entrance of the cave. A small voice in the back of her mind was reminding her that the reason why shinobi usually formed teams and avoided solo missions is because of situations like these. Warmth spread through her when she noted that this voice sounded very much like Neji. She could practically picture the disappointed frown that he would wear when he notices that she was not back in the camp by nightfall. The worry that he would try to hide from the others. Guilt washed over her, and she felt something squeezing her chest. As if her heart was squeezed by an invisible hand. She tried to distract herself, tried to convince herself that Neji was clever, he would know that she was probably stuck in the forest and would return the next day. She tried to force herself to believe that Neji would not think that something happened to her. She tried to resonate with herself that Kiba and Akamaru would be able to smell if she was hurt, that they would know that she was simply too exhausted to make it back safe. They would surely know that she was fine and would not worry too much about her. And even if Kiba would worry about her, Shino would surely step in and calm him down. Yes, she could always count on Shino’s rational mind. He would surely know that she was simply too exhausted, really, he would probably be disappointed if she didn’t try to rest and recover before trying to find a way back to the camp.

She was sure that her teammates would meet her half way tomorrow, using their skills to track her down and help her finding her way back. She had to smile imagining Kiba running around impatient and loud, demanding Neji letting him go and track her down right now. The smile developed into a chuckle when she thought about Shino’s reaction. Because while Kiba was always the most outspoken among them, Shino was probably the most determined. Which would probably surprise many, but not Hinata. She knew how much her quiet friend was trying, how much effort he put into everything he did. Whatever Shino did, he did it with all his being. Whatever decision he made; he stood behind it no matter what. Really, once he makes up his mind, nobody will convince him otherwise. Warmth spread through her thinking about the rare moments Shino had let her look behind his stoic mask. Moments when she saw the genuine care in his eyes, moments when she heard affection and warmth in his voice. While Kiba was easily distracted, Shino’s attention seemed unwavering. He seemed to always know when she was sad, appearing next to her with something sweet in his hand, sitting down next to her, offering a shoulder to lean onto. Really it was Shino’s determined care for her that made her realize that there was more to being friends, that while her feelings for Naruto were strong, they could not hide the lack of attention Naruto was giving her.

Reminded of the feeling of Shino sitting next to her, their shoulders touching, she was feeling especially cold. She yearned for the steady warmth of Shino next to her. She longed for the slight buzzing sounds that seemed to surround him when they weren’t on a mission. A sound she now always associated with warmth and safety. Safety – something she desperately lacked right now, as her eyes were burning with exhaustion, begging for them to be closed. But the fear and apprehension continued to make it impossible for her to rest or even really consider closing her eyes. Additionally, the forest around her seemed to come awake, animals moving around, rustling leaves and stepping on branches. Panic seized her heart as she realized that she was helpless right now. Her stamina was exhausted, and she only had a few kunai left in her pouch.

She pressed her face into her knees, trying her best not to cry. Despair and fear coursed through her, making her feel even more miserable. And incapable. After all, she was a kunoichi, she should have no problem with situations like these. She should be strong and resilient. Stressful situations like these shouldn’t bring her to her knees like that. After all, she is the only one to blame for her situation as well. A skilled kunoichi wouldn’t even be in a situation like that, Hinata thought, and a sob filled her chest. She refused to let it out, refused to capitulate fully, refused to give in to the overwhelming fear that washed over her. Still, here, alone, in this cave, in the middle of an unknown forest, she could admit to herself that she never missed Shino’s presence as much as now. A tear slipped down her cheek, leaving a hot trail behind.

Her head snapped up when she heard movement close to the entrance of the cave. She reached behind her to draw a kunai and forced herself to her feet, trying her best to be as silent as possible. Fear and panic spread through her, making it difficult to breath. She tightened her grip on the kunai and tried to force her attention through the dizzying headache and the burning of her eyes. She suddenly noticed several bugs flying close to her face, the buzzing sound triggering a familiar feeling in her heart. She lowered her kunai a bit, watching the bugs closely, trying to remember if she could identify them somehow.

“Hinata.”

Her head snapped to the direction of the voice.

“Shino.” Her voice sounded very breathless, even to herself.

“You came.”

She uttered, her bright eyes wide in shock. She felt her knees buckle and was mentally preparing herself for the hard ground. But she never felt it, she was suddenly engulfed in a familiar warmth.

“You called.”

[cloudninetonine]

So I know you’ve been getting a lot of feedback from your recent players aid chapter (WHICH WAS AMAZING BTW KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK)

But I just needed to rant a bit about Four beloved Four because no one talks about him a lot or discusses his games and how that would be for Player and him.

I recently was fortunate enough to be able to play four swords adventures with my brother, for some who don’t know or don’t remember four swords adventures is a game you could play with others if you had the right console or you could play by yourself. Me n my brother played together and it was super fun.

Now the main thing that’s been bugging me in my head and such is, if player was able to play fsa with friends or family does that mean Four was able to hear 4 people? Considering every player was given one out of the four colors to play with, so how does that work for him?

And for when Four does remember that player is the guide and such would be remember the people player played with? Or would it just be player themself. THIS HAS BEEN BUGGING ME SINCE I FINISHED FSA.

Sorry if this seems messy in any way I rushed this out cause I needed answers and I wanted to know your input as well.

Okay so, the Protags experience the Guide on the first walkthroughs of their games. So, if Player was to play Four Sword Heroes single Player style then even split the boys would still hear Player!

Now, for the multiplayer I'm not entirely sure but here are my three current ideas!

Player all of them would have the Guide. Now, they all would have the memories of the Guide when they were all together (as normal Four) but once splitting the Guide would jump between all the boys as they played. In this idea it does create the notion that Player probably had to play Four Sword Heroes 4 different times (probably for different experiences as the characters but I have not played so I am not entirely sure!) but then every single one of them would have their Guide! It wouldn't be the first walkthrough of the game but it would be the first walkthrough with the character!

Only one of them has the Guide, whoever Player is playing and once again the others would only know of the Guide because of them fusing

Because all the colours are the same person it does not matter and they are all connected and share the Guide

I know it's not a direct answer but I do hope this helped!

[mizumiii]

A perfect plan - I

Table of contents - Next part

Balthazar x Fem!Tav

Good evening! Here is my part in Balthazar's growing fandom! It's not much, as usual, it's mainly self-indulging but I hope you would find something to like about it ! :)

Btw I made a mistake on my last post, it's not a reader pov sorry ^^ Also I'm just enjoying myself so Balth is maybe OCC, and it's probably not coherent with the main plot of the video game, but I don't care \o/.

A strange shadow left the Moonrise tower without a soul to notice it. It merged easily in the darkness outside as if it were a part of the curse, except for the little light dangling in front of it. Soon enough, it stopped in front of a big inn where the shadows seemed to be unable to enter. 

"Who's there?" Only a diffuse glimmer could be seen through the darkness. 

Jean was standing guard in front of the bridge leading to the Last Light Inn when he noticed this strange phenomenon growing closer to the Harpers QG. 

“Don’t come closer!” He shouted, his hand rushing to his sword.

“My, my, such a rash reaction toward a perfect stranger”, a honeyed voice reprimanded. 

“You don’t get to tell me how to react”, Jean shouted back while unsheathing his weapon. 

“Your stupidity could lead you to doom without you even knowing it”, the honey was hardly hiding the growing annoyance.

“As if someone as suspicious as you could be our last hope! How did you get this lamp? Why do you hide your face? What’s your name? There’s too much unknown to let me risk the safety of my companions!”

“Why are we blocked here?” A loud and bossy voice shouted from behind the stranger.

Jean was startled by the sudden apparition of the group of four coming from the dark lands; dressed with heavy armour and blood everywhere, their serious faces and brave demeanour could spell only one company! 

“Karlach, stop that, you’re going to make the poor boy die from a heart attack”, jocked a tiefling with red skin and nice horns to another one with the same complexion but far more muscles and centimetres. 

As the group easily let her pass through, it was obvious that she was the leader. The stranger did not let her out of his glare as he was studying her. 

“So what’s the hassle?” She asked Jean before casting her two-colour eyes on him. “Who’s this guy?”

She did not seem to be wary of him, as she was confident in her strength, but he could feel that her friendly talk could easily switch to a more violent answer depending on how well he could sell his speech. 

“I’m a merchant”, he introduced himself, “the name is Bal.”

“A merchant, here? I’m more used to seeing dead ones than breathing ones”, she pointed doubtfully. 

“I’m no ordinary merchant”, he boasted with a rictus, “and a genius like me knows that people are ready to give more when cornered .”

“He's got a point there”, a slender young woman with dark hair nodded. 

“Hm, I know Shadowheart. I hope your merchandise is really interesting then.”

“Your small intelligence could not even comprehend half of it”, he stroked back.

“Haha! Well, I’ll take you at your word and will see what you have as soon as I have gotten rid of that blood”, she laughed. “Jean, let him through. If he tries anything funny, I will kill him myself.”

“Jaheira will not be happy with this.”

“I’ll talk to her later”, the tiefling shrugged while walking past them with her companions. “We need all the help we can get. She knows it as well as me.”

Bal did not stop to look at her with a satisfied grin on his face. 

☠️

“Damn that felt good”, the tiefling sang happily after drinking a whole tankard of alcohol in one go. 

“Impressive”, Karlach praised you in front of your two other companions with amused smiles. 

Everyone had taken a nice shower, and cleaned the blood away from their clothes and armour; they felt as relaxed as possible in this ominous land. 

The people around were chatting almost lightly, even if the danger was never far. But at least for a couple of hours, they would be able to drink and eat as if they could not die in the next second.

“You're special, someone is still there”, Halsin pointed with his drink and a playful smirk. 

The leader scoffed at hearing his choice of words, but he was true. The strange merchant was indeed sitting in a corner of the Inn's main room. His hood covered half his face, while his cloak hardly concealed his large frame. It was odd, if he was a merchant he should have been loudly selling his goods. Still, he had caught her interest, and after grabbing a refill and another tankard, she joined him at his table.

“So how's business going?” She taunted him. 

“Since I can still smell blood on you, I will say better than your shower”, he countered with a sneer. 

Still, he accepted the drink she was handing him, and they both drank. 

“I did not catch your name.”

“It's Tav.”

“So want to see what I have in store Tav?” He offered, using her name at the same time she answered.

She blinked, storing the strange occurrence in her memory before smiling at him with enthusiasm. Her enthusiasm quickly turned into deep concentration as she discovered trinkets full of powerful magic, rare books with knowledge beyond hers, and even some pieces of equipment that could easily change a fight in her favour. She discussed with him all that caught her eye, sharing drinks without moderation to the point where the both of them were talking without any restriction. 

“Next time I’ll bring you a book about the druids, you’ll see how they are just a group of powerless hippies”, Bal ended their battle of arguments as the moon had risen a long time over the horizon. 

“Yes do that, maybe I’ll reconsider my opinion then”, Tav playfully scoffed. 

The man nodded while managing to still look smug, and satisfied before taking his leave for good. Meanwhile, Tav stared at him as he disappeared from her view. He was a really strange man, despite having met a lot of different and odd people since the beginning of her journey, that one was rushing to the top without much effort. However, it was far from discouraging her, as she had already understood that victory was often coming from an unexpected direction, so she was ready to try anything.

Next