#sso fanfics

[jesterofcringe]

drain you of your love is so amazing!!! i loved it, could you make more of those? like the first time shauna fed of reader, they starting this as friends and becoming something more… idk i just really loved your writing 😭❤️

Stay clear and go away. [I'm bleeding out on the floor.] Vampire!Shauna x Witch!Reader [pt.2]

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───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ☆ TW for blood and mentions of needles ☆ [part one can be found here but these don't have to be read in order] ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

The first time Shauna fed from you was almost completely accidental.

Honestly, it was no fault of Shauna's, you knew she was very inexperienced with being a vampire. You just wish Shauna had been a bit more truthful- the whole ordeal would've been mostly avoidable if she had.

You seriously thought she was making a weird joke when she first approached you about the situation- you had a bit of a reputation coming from a family of witches, and as such you were used to dumb pranks and gags. Not to mention you had never met a real vampire, and never thought you really would.

Until she showed you her fangs.

Despite never having met a vampire, you knew enough about them to give Shauna a basic rundown and advice, emphasizing the importance of how often she needed to feed- you knew it was a rough transition for most new vampires, and you were fully prepared to help her struggle through a bit of a hiccup period while she learned and got used to it. To your surprise, she seemed to get it pretty quickly. At least it seemed that way.

For about a month or so you had been doing what you could to support Shauna as she tried to balance being a regular person while also secretly being a vampire. You supplied her with animal blood and kinda felt awful about it- you heard the stuff tasted nasty but what other solution did you have?

Everything seemed to be going pretty well, and you were happy Shauna had seemed to get the hang of being a vampire so quickly- that was until she was suddenly out of school for a few days. The first day you figured she had just come down with something, but it wasn't until the third day rolled around that you began to get a bad feeling about it... something in the back of your subconscious was screaming. You knew something was wrong.

You decided to skip last period and run to Shauna's house, just to check on her. She had given you permission to swing by on a dime, and it wasn't completely unusual to do so. As such, you figured it wouldn't hurt if you dropped in quickly to make sure she was alright.

A while back she told you where she kept the spare key, and seeing as it was early enough for her parents to not be home you decided to use it before carefully hiding it back in it's spot.

You knew she was home because her car was in the driveway, but that didn't stop it from being eerily silent in the house.

"Shipman?" You called from the doorway, "You home?"

"Up here," Shauna's voice sounded small, which you were sure was because of the fact that she was upstairs but you also detected a slight shakiness in her tone.

You jogged up the stairs and walked to her room, though you found yourself pausing suddenly in front of her door. Your subconscious was screaming again- you had a terrible gut feeling but you pushed it aside figuring it was nothing.

It was super dark in her room. The lights were off and the shades were drawn meaning you could only rely on the light from the hallway to glace around her room as you stepped inside. You could make out her silhouette, shaking and sniffling as if she had been crying.

"Shauna?"

She slowly turned to face you. In a weird way, her eyes almost seemed red, and she stared at you hard enough that you were worried she'd burn a hole through your chest.

Shauna stood up slowly and took a shaky step towards you. She furrowed her eyebrows and you could tell she was focusing on your position as if she was zeroing in on her target.

She locked eyes with you, and when she did you felt a sharp pang of dread shoot through your system. You knew in that very moment what it felt like to be nothing more than the flesh on your bones, nothing more than nutrients for your soon to be killer, nothing more than prey that has nowhere to run. Shauna takes another step forward. You reflectively take another step back.

"Shauna- Wait hang on-"

Before you could get out another word, she shoved you against the wall, closing in on you.

With one hand on the wall next to your head and the other on your chest hovering above your heart as if she was eager to rip it out, Shauna effectively had you trapped between the wall and her body. You tried to squirm and shove her away, which only rewarded you with her leaning forward and nipping at your earlobe in warning. You forced yourself to calm down and stand patiently still as she finally let go and instead turned her attention to your neck. 

Her breath came in slow huffs as she greedily drank in your scent, lips pressed firmly against your skin as she tried to decide whether or not she wanted to tear into it. One of her hands met your jaw, tilting it upwards so she had more room to explore before she finally settled on a spot right against the crook of your neck. She lightly kissed the mark, licking a stripe where she aimed to attack. The contrast between her warm breath and cool fangs caused you to shiver. 

The hand that was on your jaw shifted abruptly so it was now covering your mouth. Before you could question why, the worst pain you had ever experienced shot through your neck.

Whatever you imagined being bitten would feel like, you were dreadfully off. You weren't quite sure why you didn't think it would hurt as much as it did, but as her fangs sunk into you all you could imagine was being stabbed by a needle but a thousand times over. It was easily one of the worst things you had ever felt, and you instinctively wanted to scream to reflect that, but Shauna's hand being over your mouth completely muffled the sound. 

The newfound pain shocked adrenaline into your body, and you were instantly shocked into fight or flight. You tried to thrash, push, squirm, whatever you could to get Shauna away from you, but your struggle seemed to make it worse. For a moment she withdrew from your neck, before biting back down again. Her fangs tore away at your flesh as she dug deeper into your skin as warm tears burned down your cheeks.

Deepening her bite caused an unfathomable amount of carnage to your skin all the while sending shockwave after shockwave of pain through your entire nervous system. She feverishly tore through your skin as if she was searching for something.

Something she wouldn't stop until she had ripped from you.

Something you couldn't give her without turning into a cold corpse in her arms.

You wouldn't be able to hang on for much longer, and you knew that. Shauna either didn't know, or didn't care as she continued to get intoxicated on the taste of the gore leaking from your neck.

You already felt light headed, and the more she gnawed at your skin the more the room seemed to sway. You felt Shauna pull back, and you braced yourself to feel Shauna slice her fangs into your neck and more than likely inflicted the fatal wound that would cause your death.

You squeezed your eyes shut, held your breath, and tried to hold your own as you prepared for Shauna to bite down again, but she never did. She pushed off of you so you were no longer trapped against the wall. She used the back of her hand to wipe the blood off of her mouth, breathing so heavy her body seemed to sway.

Shauna glanced up slowly and you watched as the sharp red glare in her eyes melt away, replaced by the familiar soft brunette you were accustomed to. Her expression painted itself into one of confusion as she glanced between you, herself, and the bloodbath you both were soaked in.

Just like that, the Shauna you knew was back. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the symptoms of anemia from kicking in as you gave into the black spots in the field of your vision. The last words you heard before you passed out were-

"Holy fuck-"

When you eventually woke up, things were just as confusing as they were when you passed out.

The lights were dim making it hard to see, but you could make out just enough to tell you were in your bedroom. You felt a sharp sting in your neck as you turned to look around. Reaching up, you were able to trace your fingers along a bandage on the crook of your neck that wasn't there previously.

As you continued to glance around and try to figure out how you ended up in your room, your eyes landed upon your bedside table. Well, less the table, more the person leaning against the wall beside it.

Shauna nervously fidgeted with the fabric on the hem of her flannel. She repeatedly shifted her weight from being on the back of her feet to her toes. It made it seem as if she was rocking back and forth, and you couldn't figure out if she was stimming or self soothing- probably both.

Upon noticing you were awake she perked up. She opened her mouth as if she was about to say something but couldn't quite gather the words.

You noticed she was tightly gripping a bottle, and as you tried to figure out what it was she held it out so you could read the label. It was a potion- one of your own- supposed to grant good health and regeneration. Honestly when you crafted it you were positive it wasn't going to work.

"Sorry I... snagged if off your shelf. I gave it to you while you were out."

By all means, you should've been in agonizing pain after being attacked like that. Weirdly, you were mostly fine. There was still an aching burn around your neck, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you anticipated it would've been if your wound hadn't been treated properly.

You had to hand it to Shauna, she did a pretty good job of bringing you back to life after damn near killing you.

"How do you feel?"

"Cold."

Despite how well Shauna cared for you, the effects of losing so much blood in such a short amount of time still wore through. You were freezing and still felt somewhat nauseous. The lights were too much even if they were on the lowest setting. You covered your eyes with the palm of your hand as you sighed and leaned back into your bedframe.

"I figured since you were a witch you'd have something I could use to nurse you back to health so I-"

"I don't know if I'm more mad about the fact that you stole my charms or about the fact that you almost fucking killed me."

"...I'm sorry I really am-"

"Sorry?? I almost went into fucking cardiac arrest! Because of you!"

"I didn't ask you to come! This is kinda your fault!"

"Because I was worried about you? And wanted to help you?" You scoffed, "This is your fault for lying to me!"

"I never lied! You never asked if I was taking the animal blood or not-"

"Yeah well you weren't exactly telling the truth about that either."

It wasn't her fault, you knew that. You tried to convince yourself not to be mad but it was incredibly difficult considering how you had just barely dodged death. Shauna saved you, but she was also nearly your murderer. You couldn't help but to chew her out.

And still, you forced yourself to take a deep breath and calm down. You had to be rational about this, even if you were still ticked off.

"It's a rite of passage, I just didn't know I'd be your first meal..."

Shauna took to staring at the ground so she wouldn't have to look at you. Out of your peripheral vision you could see just enough to tell there was a nasty mark from where she had drained your blood, and you noticed how her eyes flicked down to look at the mark as you had been talking.

"Be honest, how do I taste?"

She looked up suddenly, and you could almost detect a smile threatening to form, "Bad."

"Oh get real." You said with an overdramatic eyeroll, "You were drooling at the sight of me. I must've tasted pretty good."

"Was I really?"

You nodded slowly, "Don't try to lie to yourself and pretend you aren't a vampire, that's kinda how we ended up in this mess."

Shauna frowned and went back to fidgeting with the hem of her shirt and rocking back and forth. You could tell this conversation was making her uncomfortable, but it wasn't something you could go without talking about.

"You can admit you like the taste of human blood. If you're not honest with yourself about that then you're gonna keep accidentally attacking people."

"No it... tastes awful." She balled her fist and grit her teeth as she said it, almost as if it caused her physical pain to lie.

"If I'm still alive you probably didn't even drink your fill, did you?"

"I... had enough."

"But you're still hungry aren't you?"

She didn't have to say it out loud, you both knew the truth that she was still hungry. Except you knew she wouldn't be able to satisfy that hunger without admitting that she was no longer human, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to face that truth for quite a while.

The situation improved none as time went on. To give her credit, Shauna really did try to balance being a vampire with being a regular person. The two of you tried absolutely everything to make her vampire cravings feel more normal, but it never worked. One way or another Shauna always found a way to make an excuse about not consuming blood as she was supposed to, and more than once it had resulted in the craving becoming more than she could handle until she would eventually get herself in trouble trying to satisfy the urge and inevitably drag you down with her.

Well, she didn't drag you down with her. You kind of did that yourself. You did your best to protect her as she tried to get the hang of being a vampire. It wasn't easy, you knew you bit off more than you could chew, but you refused to give up on her. It drove Shauna crazy how much you cared about her.

Truly, she couldn't stand it. She thought you were a great person, and hated the idea of you getting hurt by her own hands. She did all she could to push you away and convince you that she was a monster beyond saving, but you always made your way back.

"Why do you care so much about what happens to me?"

"Because I love you, damnit!"

You cringed as soon as the words left your mouth. It was something straight out of a lame coming of age movie for middle schoolers, but it was true. You loved Shauna. You had for a long time.

"Why?"

To be honest, you were wondering that yourself. You knew she isn't the monster she had convinced herself she was. You knew she could be dangerous- you had experienced it first hand- but you didn't care. You knew you could help her. You just wished she would let you.

"I don't know, but I love you for who you are. Not who you were or whatever you've convinced yourself you've become. I love you for you."

It was corny as hell, but it seemed to work. Shauna still didn't believe you, but you wanted to prove yourself.

You convinced Shauna to feed from you.

It took a lot to persuade her considering the first time she fed from you. She was absolutely terrified of hurting you, but you were gradually able to convince her that if she fed before the craving kicked in she'd be completely in control of herself. If she waited too long then things might get a little messy. Again.

"Your heart is beating really fast."

"Is it really?" Of course your heart was racing. Here you were, sitting on Shauna's lap, about to give your blood to her. You had everything prepared- a bandage, some water and sugar, and a towel to prevent too much of a mess- and yet you were still nervous as hell. You honestly just wanted to help, and didn't know why you were getting so antsy, but you thought you had been masking it pretty well. Apparently not, you now realized as you sighed, "How can you tell?"

"I can hear it." 

Your immediate assumption was that your heart was beating so dreadfully hard that it was audible, but you forgot that being a vampire granted Shauna enhanced senses. Or maybe you were really that anxious.

"We don't have to do this if you don't want to-"

"-No no, I'm fine." You quickly interjected, "I don't know why I'm freaking out, I know you won't hurt me."

Shauna shrugged, "It'll probably hurt a little bit if I'm being completely honest."

"That's not helping."

The both of you were sitting on Shauna's bed, but from where you were you could perfectly see the doorway. More importantly, you could see the wall where you had nearly bled out a few months prior. Even though it was cleaned pretty well and covered with a poster, you still felt like you could see the stain. You had been staring at it, wondering if things would be like they were last time. Despite your anxieties, you were determined not to back down. You just... couldn't help but to wonder.

"Alright, let's try something different."

Without warning, Shauna suddenly pushed you back so you were no longer on her lap but instead lying flat on your back. Before you had a chance to sit up, she maneuvered herself so she was completely on top of you- her knees next to your thighs and her forearms on either side of your head 

You hoped you weren't blushing as much as you thought you were.

"Woah- take me out to dinner first." You said dumbly, trying to relieve the tension.

"I would if you weren't on the menu."

Hot damn.

Slowly, she raised one hand and hovered it above the center of your chest, "Is it ok if I put my hand here?"

"Yeah that's fine," Honestly, your heartrate almost quickened as she lowered her hand and firmly planted it on your chest, "Are you feeling for my heartbeat?"

"Mhm, still pretty high. Try slowing your breathing."

Though difficult considering your current position, you did as you were told. You tried to breath as slowly as you could, taking your time inhaling, momentarily holding your breath, before dragging out your exhaling. 

"Perfect, just like that."

You continued like that, inhaling through your nose, exhaling through your mouth. Shauna slowly nodded as you did, and you could progressively feel your heartbeat slowing. She began to shift, nuzzling into the crook of your neck as she lowered the rest of her body to be completely on top of your own. You could feel the way she picked her mark as she peppered small kisses along the part of your skin she settled on.

You shivered as she ran her fangs along your neck. The whole process was too similar to last time, but you tried not to think about that as you kept breathing.

"Do you wanna give me a heads up before you-"

Before you could finish your sentence, Shauna pierced your neck with her fangs. Just like before you felt a stab, sudden and sharp, and you wanted to instinctively cry out in pain. Except this time you could, as Shauna wasn't completely focused on keeping you still and silent.

You yelped as Shauna withdrew her fangs. She muttered a quiet apology before she licked a stripe from where you were now bleeding.

It was all too familiar to the last time Shauna fed off you, and yet it was so drastically different. She used her body weight to keep you down like before, but in a way her weight on top of you was somewhat calming and helped you stay relaxed. Instead of focusing on digging into your flesh, She licked and kissed at the wound soothing the burning ache while simultaneously lapping up the blood leaking from your skin. 

You whimpered and winced, trying and failing at keeping your cool. She mumbled quiet apologies against your skin, pausing to withdrawal and affirm you were doing great.

Just as quickly as it started, it was over.

Shauna gave the wound one final kiss before she sat up, wiping the blood from her mouth with the palm of her hand while simultaneously reaching for the bandage. You propped yourself up on your elbows, one hand instinctively reaching up to trace along the mark she had left. Shauna quickly slapped your hand away as she carefully tried to place the bandage over the spot on your neck.

"Stop that- hold still."

"I just want to feel it-"

"You're going to get blood on my bed, give me a second."

She pressed the bandage down and you accidentally whined.

"Are you ok?"

"Oh yeah," You nodded, "I'm fine."

Although you were completely fine, you noticed Shauna was staring off into the distance as if she were contemplating something.

"Are... you ok?"

She shook her head slowly, "It's just weird."

"What's weird?"

"Your blood. It tasted sweet."

Confused, you tilted your head to the side, "I think that's normal. Being a vampire should alter your taste-"

"Last time it tasted metallic." To conceal a smirk, you forced yourself to frown. You were no good at hiding your expression and Shauna seemed to catch it anyways, "What?"

"It's nothing."

"Obviously it's something."

"I just can't believe you don't know-"

"-Don't know what?"

You stifled a laugh to the best of your ability, "It means your becoming acquired to my taste."

Shauna's face fell, "Are you serious?"

You nodded slowly and Shauna groaned, "You don't wanna get hooked on my blood?"

"No!"

"That's too damn bad, Shipman," You said with a cheeky grin, "You're stuck with me."

[stable-gremlin]

So uh since Halloween is coming up and I’m gonna do prompt month…

Jorvik zombie apocalypse anyone?

[sagapinehill]

First Visit At The Secret Stone Circle

Hey guys,

I created this painting of my oc Saga the other day, I hope you'd like it ☺️

Also I wrote a short story about her arriving at the Circle with Sabine, you can read it here if you might be interested. :)

[paigeswiftsea]

hi guys i decided to stop being a pussy and upload my writing for riders of fallen dawn (:

content warning: graphic depictions of violence and death, cursing, angsty??

wc: 2.9k

"Fuck," Blaire cursed under her breath, smacking the side of her head as her hearing aid sputtered again. The static crackled briefly before fading into silence, signaling its inevitable end. She had known for days that it was going to give out soon—she’d pushed it far beyond its limits. But out here, every piece of equipment was a lifeline, and she couldn’t afford to let it go. Not yet.

Sitting up from her resting spot beneath the twisted remains of an old oak tree, she wiped the dirt off her jacket, though she knew it was a pointless gesture. Filth was a constant companion now. It clung to her clothes, her skin, and her soul. There was no time for showers—there hadn’t been for months. The luxury of a bath was a risk she couldn’t take. The lakes and rivers weren’t safe, and the ocean wasn’t an option either. People had become scavengers. Even a moment of distraction, like bathing, could mean losing her supplies or worse—losing her life.

Blaire winced as she stretched her stiff limbs, groaning softly as her muscles protested. She’d been holed up in the same spot for five days now, far longer than she usually stayed anywhere. It was time to move again. The urge to keep moving, to stay ahead of the dangers that lurked in every shadow, gnawed at her. She couldn’t risk getting too comfortable. Comfort was a thing of the past.

Glancing at the horizon, she noted how the light was fading into the dull gray of dusk. The days in Jorvik seemed shorter now, time bleeding together in a haze of survival. She grabbed her backpack, its weight reassuring as she slung it over her shoulder. The familiar clink of supplies inside was a small comfort in an otherwise chaotic world.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Blaire had always envisioned her life at the stables, her days filled with the familiar rhythm of caring for the horses, of teaching new riders, of sunsets over the peaceful Moorland hills. But when the infection hit, everything had crumbled faster than she could have imagined.

She hadn’t planned to be alone, but that’s how it had turned out. Cities and towns had fallen within days, the infected spreading like wildfire, tearing through everything and everyone. When the chaos reached Jorvik, Blaire had fled Moorland Stables. Populated places became death traps, and her instincts had told her to run—to survive.

While most had flocked to Fort Pinta, now fortified into an actual stronghold, Blaire made a different choice. She hadn’t wanted to depend on anyone else, and in a world where survival meant looking out for yourself first, she couldn’t afford the weight of someone else’s life. So, she’d taken Storm, her loyal horse, and left behind the only semblance of home she’d ever known.

Storm had saved her life more times than she could count. His agility, his speed—they were her only real advantages out here. Together, they moved across the ever-dangerous landscape of Jorvik, always on the lookout for supplies and avoiding the growing hordes of infected that wandered through the hills and forests. And, of course, they avoided other survivors. Blaire had learned quickly that people were often more dangerous than the undead.

The world was a wasteland now, and every day was a fight to stay alive. Her hearing aid’s battery was nearly dead, and without it, the world would fall into a muffled, distorted quiet—dangerous in a place where sound could mean the difference between life and death. She needed to find another one, but that wasn’t exactly easy. She let out a long sigh, brushing her hand over her short-cropped hair, now darker after months without maintenance. Its natural curls were starting to come back, unruly and wild, but manageable enough to keep tied up out of her face.

Her wrist throbbed slightly as she adjusted the wrap she wore for support. She’d injured it months ago in a bad fall, and the endless travel, harsh weather, and constant physical strain had never allowed it to heal properly. The bandage was as much a mental reassurance as it was physical, reminding her to take things slow when her body screamed at her to stop altogether.

Glancing down, Blaire checked the dagger she kept tucked into her boot, one of the few weapons she had left. It wasn’t much, but it had been with her through countless close encounters—human and infected alike. Her cargo pants were full, as always, packed with whatever she could scavenge: food, tools, medical supplies. Whatever she couldn’t fit in her bag went in the pockets, her hands often brushing against the comforting bulk of the knife as she moved.

The forest around her was silent now, the distant moans of the infected barely audible on the wind. It wasn’t safe here anymore. It never really had been, but the stillness around her told her it was time to go. She clicked her tongue, a soft signal, and soon Storm appeared through the trees, his dark coat blending with the shadows of the encroaching night.

"Another night on the move, boy," she murmured, patting his neck as she grabbed the reins. His breath huffed in response, a cloud of warmth in the cool evening air.

Blaire knew this life couldn’t go on forever. Supplies were running low, and each day brought new dangers. But for now, it was just her and Storm against the world. She gave one last glance at the desolate landscape behind her before nudging him forward, their footsteps lost in the thick silence of the forest.

Survival was all she had left, and she'd keep moving until there was nothing left to fight for.

As Blaire made her way through the dense woods of Firgrove Mountains, her steps were cautious, her eyes darting around the rugged terrain for signs of life—or death. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or the creak of ancient branches. Her hearing aid sputtered in and out, frustrating her more than usual. She slapped it once, hoping the jolt would keep it alive for a few more days.

"Damn it," she cursed under her breath. She knew the hearing aid wouldn’t last much longer, and with everything else she had to worry about, this was one more thing that weighed on her.

The ache in her limbs reminded her that she had been on the move for days now. Her legs felt like lead, and every muscle screamed for rest. When she spotted the entrance to a cave nestled between the jagged cliffs of Firgrove, a sense of relief washed over her. A cave would at least offer shelter from the biting cold and a place to regroup. As she approached, she unsheathed the dagger from her boot—one of the few weapons she had left that could truly help her.

Inside, the cave was dark, but that didn’t bother her much. Blaire’s night vision had become almost second nature after months of surviving in the wild. She moved cautiously, pressing her back against the wall and straining to hear beyond the static of her dying hearing aid.

Suddenly, a sound—low and guttural—echoed through the cave. Blaire froze, her heart racing. The infected. She knew that noise well. Before she could react, something lunged at her from the shadows. A decaying hand grabbed at her vest, tearing fabric as she stumbled backward.

The infected man—no, creature—was in stage 3, fully turned. Its once-human eyes were now glassy, and its skin clung tightly to its bones. Blaire slashed at it with her dagger, but the zombie barely flinched. It was fast for something that was supposed to be dead.

Thinking quickly, she ducked to avoid its grasp, slicing at the creature’s head as she rolled across the floor of the cave. It snarled, but the attack wasn’t enough to stop it. Blaire scrambled to her feet and kicked hard, sending the infected stumbling backward into the cave wall. She took the opportunity to plunge her dagger into its skull. The sickening sound of cracking bone echoed through the cavern as the zombie collapsed, finally still.

Panting heavily, Blaire wiped the blood from her blade on her cargos. Her hands trembled as she caught her breath, the rush of adrenaline slowly fading.

She knew this cave wouldn’t be safe anymore. The noise would have attracted others. Gathering her supplies, Blaire packed quickly, her mind racing. She had heard about the virus—the cursed plague born from the ancient magic of Jorvik. It consumed magic first, but in its absence, it would devour anything that moved. If she lingered, more would come, and they wouldn’t all be slow.

She mounted Storm, the horse stamping the ground, sensing her unease. With a soft pat on Storm's neck, she whispered, "Let’s get out of here."

The world had turned into a hellish landscape, and the cursed infected roamed the land like predators, waiting for the next meal. Blaire had seen the stages of infection, watched as friends were consumed by the virus.

With Storm beneath her and her supplies secure, Blaire urged the horse onward. She knew she had to keep moving, away from the cave, away from the infected. Surviving wasn’t about winning; it was about staying one step ahead of death.

As they moved through the mountains, she couldn’t help but glance behind her, knowing that the apocalypse had brought more than just ruin—it had brought something much worse. Something she might never escape.

Blaire and Storm pressed forward through the dense forest of the Firgrove Mountains, the air thick with tension. The path ahead was uneven and scattered with debris, but Storm’s hooves were steady, navigating the rocky terrain with a grace that only a Soul Steed could possess. Blaire’s mind raced, her thoughts flickering between survival strategies and the terrifying reality of what was chasing her.

The infected had evolved—becoming faster, more aggressive. She couldn’t stay in one place for long without risking an encounter like the one she’d just escaped. Every second counted. She had to find a safe route out of the mountains, or at least somewhere defensible where she could figure out her next move.

As they reached a small clearing, Blaire pulled Storm to a stop. She needed to think, to reassess her options. The horizon was painted with the fading colors of sunset, casting an ominous glow over the landscape. The mountains, once majestic, now felt like a prison of rock and shadow. She couldn’t help but wonder how long she could keep this up—how long before she, too, succumbed to the curse that had ravaged the land.

Suddenly, a distant scream echoed through the valley.

Blaire tensed, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her dagger. She scanned the area, listening intently, but all she could hear was the faint static from her malfunctioning hearing aid. She adjusted it, hoping to catch any signs of movement, but the device sputtered and failed once again. Frustrated, she yanked it out, tossing it aside. She could no longer afford to rely on broken technology.

The scream had come from somewhere further ahead—maybe even down the mountain path. Was it another survivor? Or worse, someone who was already in the early stages of infection? Either way, Blaire felt a pull to investigate. If someone was still alive, they could have information or supplies, and in a world as broken as this, any help was worth the risk.

She guided Storm slowly toward the direction of the scream, every muscle in her body on high alert. As they descended, the terrain became steeper, the trees closing in like a wall of twisted limbs. Blaire’s instincts screamed at her to turn back, but something pushed her onward.

After several tense minutes, they emerged from the thick woods to find a narrow gorge. At the bottom of the gorge, the remnants of what had once been a small caravan lay scattered—wagons overturned, supplies strewn across the ground, and no sign of life. Blaire dismounted, her breath catching in her throat as she approached the wreckage. Her hand tightened around her dagger.

As she knelt beside one of the wagons, examining the broken supplies, she noticed fresh blood smeared across the ground. The realization hit her hard: the scream she’d heard was likely the final moments of someone’s life.

Suddenly, a noise—a faint shuffle of movement from behind one of the overturned carts. Blaire sprang to her feet, dagger in hand, as a figure staggered into view. It was a young woman, covered in dirt and blood, her eyes wild with fear. Blaire immediately recognized the telltale signs: purple veins creeping up the woman’s neck, the shallow breaths, the glossy sheen of sweat. Stage 1.

“No… stay back!” the woman cried, stumbling over her own feet as she tried to flee, her voice weak and broken.

Blaire approached cautiously, lowering her dagger slightly but keeping her distance. “You’re infected,” she said softly. It wasn’t a question. She could see it—how the curse had already begun its work. The woman’s bite wound was on her arm, the flesh already blackened around the edges. She was past saving.

“I— I don’t want to die like this,” the woman whispered, tears streaming down her face. “Please… you have to end it before it’s too late.”

Blaire’s chest tightened. She had seen this before, too many times. The fear in the woman’s eyes, the desperation to escape the inevitable. She wanted to refuse, to say no, but she knew what would happen if she left the woman to turn.

Without a word, Blaire nodded, her jaw clenched as she steeled herself. She stepped forward, lifting her dagger. The woman closed her eyes, trembling as she waited for the end. Blaire’s heart pounded in her ears, her pulse quickening as she took one last breath and brought the blade down.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Blaire wiped her blade on her sleeve, her hands shaking as she stepped away from the body. There was no time to dwell on it—no time to let the weight of her actions sink in. She had to keep moving. The infected would smell the blood soon, and they would come.

Mounting Storm once again, Blaire turned away from the gorge, the darkness closing in around her. She pushed onward, riding faster now, her mind reeling from what she’d just done. It never got easier—taking a life, even to save someone from a fate worse than death.

Mounting Storm once again, Blaire turned away from the gorge, the darkness closing in around her. She pushed onward, urging Storm to pick up speed, her mind spinning with the weight of what she’d just done. Taking a life, even in mercy, never got easier. Yet it was part of the harsh reality she now faced daily.

After riding for what felt like hours, Blaire and Storm came upon a small clearing, sparsely dotted with twisted, darkened trees. The area seemed deserted, its silence an eerie comfort. After scouting the perimeter and deciding it was safe enough, Blaire dismounted, carefully removing the gear from Storm’s back. She gave him a gentle pat, whispering soothing words as he began to graze on the sparse patches of grass. At least he could find some semblance of peace, even if it was temporary.

Blaire debated starting a fire, but there wasn’t much food left in her pack—just a few stale pieces of bread and a canteen that was barely a quarter full. The risk of attracting the infected outweighed the small comfort of warmth. Instead, she settled on a different plan. She needed sleep, even if only a few hours, but couldn’t afford to be defenseless on the ground.

With practiced efficiency, she climbed up one of the thicker trees, using the low branches to haul herself up to a sturdy limb. The branch was wide enough to sit on, and she pulled a length of rope from her bag, tying herself securely against the trunk. She let out a weary sigh as she adjusted her position, leaning back against the rough bark. Her muscles ached, and exhaustion pressed heavily on her.

From her perch, Blaire had a decent view of the clearing and a bit of the surrounding forest, allowing her to watch for any movement below. She scanned the shadows, her eyes sharp for any hint of the undead. But tonight, it seemed, she was alone. A rare blessing.

She wrapped her arms around herself, pulling her jacket tighter as the chill of the night set in. Her thoughts drifted as she let her eyes close briefly, her mind flickering back to what life was like before the curse took over. Memories of bustling days at Moorland Stables, the laughter of friends, and the gentle warmth of sunrise were ghosts now, haunting her with what she’d lost.

Sleep claimed her in short, restless intervals, broken by every rustle of the wind or snap of a branch. The peace she craved was elusive, chased away by the lingering fear of an attack. She knew better than to expect real rest, but up there in the tree, with Storm grazing below and the stars faintly visible through the gaps in the leaves, she allowed herself a sliver of hope—a hope that, somewhere out there, a cure might exist or that someday, this nightmare might end.

Until then, she would continue her lonely journey through the apocalypse, fighting each day to survive. And with her loyal horse by her side, maybe she’d find a reason to believe that life, despite the horrors around her, was still worth clinging to.

[dark-rider-pr]

Riders of Fallen Dawn: Day 176

(introduction to the world)

AO3 link here

Rating: T Words: 1,325 Warnings: minor amount of sweaaring

Sabine reflects on how she got into the position she was in now, in a community, helping to keep so many people alive. I'm posting the introduction chapter here but if you;d like all chapters from the Halloween prompt month also on here let me know!

The coughing was probably the worst part of being in the apocalypse. 

Sabine’s lungs were failing, not because of the virus she had yet to contract nor is it because of the nuclear winter that was to roll in from Europe, but because of asthma. Fucking asthma. 

The End of Days was supposed to be done by them, the Dark Riders. They were meant to destroy the world, their true forms free to dance in the ruins of cities, breathing in air that was tainted with Garnok’s magic. Now? Now, Sabine could barely breathe normal magic-less air as her lungs spasmed. 

She shook the inhaler for ten seconds, or close enough because who really counts that when you’re having a fit, and on an inhale, pressed the can down. Inhaling the steroids helped open the organs back up and, whilst she could do without the shakes afterwards, the coughing stopped.

Her body, her mortal shell, was dying and there probably weren't enough people left in the world for her or her siblings to do another reincarnation cycle. 

The virus, called Aideen’s Curse (or Jorvik Rabies by the rest of the world), targeted magic users. As such, the druids at the start of the ordeal targeted the Dark Riders, blaming them for the virus when in fact…it might have been their precious Soul Riders. 

It’s merely hearsay at this point but the correlation between the Soul Riders and the Reincarnate disappearing whilst patient zero, Evergray, returned back to Valedale Village. Garnok would just pollute the world, turning it into a chaos realm that might also be viewed as a zombie apocalypse but this? No, this wasn’t Garnok. Or Sands. Or Darko before he was lost to Pandoria. Or even the Dark Riders themselves. 

The backbone of Dark Core wouldn’t shoot themselves in the foot by making a virus that forced you to suppress your magic. 

Sabine tried to stand up but her legs quickly wobbled and she fell back down on the bed. She was weak and weakness meant death in their world.

To starve a fire, you must deprive it of oxygen. That was what her body was doing to her in vengeance for denying her magical existence. But if the Dark Riders wanted to find the Soul Riders, the Light Ceremony Book and then free both Erissa and Garnok…it’s just what they’ll have to live with. 

Wind rattled the repurposed shipping container she was living in at the Valley Community, the cut out windows shaking from the force of the blizzard. Insulation foam had been sprayed on the inside and wood had been applied to give some sort of protection from the cold. There was a cheap electronic heater near her bed to provide some warmth but all Sabine really wanted was to let her magic out. She missed the way the fire raged inside, how alive she felt. 

Though Khaan was her silent steed, the Dark Rider knew he missed the fire as well. He was a little slower than their usual breakneck pace but thankfully, he wasn’t lame. Nor was Acerbus and Mortifa for that matter. The self imposed curse that the Dark Riders had put on themselves had avoided their horses and for all the magic left in the world, they thanked it.

Sabine curled up on her side, pulling the blankets and duvet back over her body as she watched the storm, thinking and mulling over what she knew. 

Could she risk just a little bit of flame?

No, unless she wanted to become a beacon for the Hollow Wood horde to try and break into the Hidden Valley. Not even Katja, someone that came from the Valley, part of its magical ecosystem in a way, wanted to risk it.

Magic users, especially strong ones, if bitten, would turn into “horde leaders”. They would guide the mindless infected, letting them feed off their magic until there was nothing left, allowing for a new leader to step up and take the role of zombie martyr. The only horde leader to not be eaten by its own compatriots was Evergray but he was a special case: the only stage 6. Well, technically, he was in a league of his own.

There was a knock at the door before it was pulled open against the wind, two figures stepping in and stomping their shoes to get rid of snow before pulling down their scarves around their faces. Sabine didn’t need to see their faces to know it’s her siblings. 

“Hey,” she croaked out, coughing a couple of times as she sat up. 

“Dr. Eiren said she could hear you coughing from a mile away,” Jay teased, putting their GED jacked up on a coat rack on the wall. “Wanted to check on you herself but a riding party came back looking rough.”

Sabine sat up, tossing her hair out of her face in concern. 

“Was anyone bitten?” 

“That’s what she’s checking for right now,” Katja said as undid her braid, running her hair through her fingers. “Shift over, it’s cold.” 

“No wonder you keep coughing so bad,” tacked on Jay, shuddering.

Sabine shifted so her back was pressed up against the wall, her knees tucked to her chest as she held back another coughing fit. Both Jay and Katja had stripped their snow covered outer layers and squeezed to sit beside their sister, tugging blankets over their laps and shoulders. 

The funny thing about the end of the world was how close people had gotten. It had always been the Dark Riders against the world but there were always jabs, sharp eyes and claws waiting to find and manipulate weaknesses. If Sabine had become as sick as she was now a year ago, Katja and Jay would be jostling to become top General. But now, with all three battling chronic illnesses, they had become…well…siblings again. Sure, there was still the rough housing but they had one another’s backs. It was just like when they were children, before Garnok, their Ascension and subsequent exile. 

It did mean that the sting of Erissa’s disappearance had worsened. 

The trio sat in silence, watching the blizzard continue until there was a beep and a voice coming through Sabine’s walkie-talkie. 

“Great,” the Dark Rider huffed. 

“I’ll get it. I’m closer,” Katja cut in, sliding off the bed to grab the device and toss it. 

Sabine caught it with one hand, pressing the necessary button. 

“What? Over.” 

The crackled voice of Justin echoed through the container and Jay rolled their eyes. Out of all the people in the community, Justin was one of the most irritating, mind numbing mortals they had to interact with…

Saying that though, his brief stint on the team meant he actually knew how to work with them.

“Loretta said she saw Ydris out by the manor. Lucid and alive. Sands wants you to head out once the blizzard is done. Over.”

“Yeah, and I’d like a fresh set of acrylics but that’s not gonna happen. We just finished a ride two days ago. Over.”

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I don’t like it either. Over and out.” 

Katja tactfully took the walkie talkie out of Sabine’s hand before she threw it, putting it gently on the floor. 

“Didn’t you say you wanted to try and find him,” Jay asked, playing with the dead ends of their hair. 

“Preferably on his own, miles away from a horde. He’s…he…” Sabine groaned, her hands clawing at the air in frustration. “We’re out here killing ourselves to not become a target and yet, he struts about like there isn’t some magical zombie virus.” 

The silver haired rider tutted. 

“Shame we don’t have magic…I still want to make that traitor whimper.”

“Mm, ditto. Every time he calls me ‘little dove’ I have the intense urge to stab him. Repeatedly.” Jay gave a harsh chuckle. “On the brighter side, he’s not a horde leader.” 

[candlemouse]

Meeting the Parents

Alex Cloudmill/Maya Dew

Ao3 Link <- Consider leaving comments/kudos here!

Butterflies brawled in Alex’s stomach, and she wiped her hands on her pants again. For like the fifth time in the past ten minutes.

No, it wasn’t Garnok rising or Sabine or Katja or—

“They’re going to love you, Alex.” Maya smiled and interlocked her fingers with Alex. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Alex shifted in the dining booth and nodded with false bravado. “I’m not nervous.”

“You don’t have to lie,” Maya said. “It’s okay to be nervous.”

Their booth in the Coffe Pot Café overlooked the Dundull bay and in the early morning, Alex could watch the fishermen set up their sails for the day.

“Okay,” Alex said. She smiled at Maya. Her warmth was so infectious, and Alex never wanted to be without it. “I’m nervous. But not as nervous as I was a few minutes ago.”

“Good,” Maya said. “Now, imagine how I felt when I had to meet the Mayor of one of the biggest and busiest cities in Jorvik because he was my girlfriend’s brother!”

It still made Alex giddy when she heard Maya call her her girlfriend. It was a novelty, okay? And even if it became habitual, Alex didn’t think her happiness at that name would fade, anyway.

“Technically, Mayor Peanut is Fort Pinta’s mayor. You just met his assistant.” Alex brought their entwined hands up and kissed Maya’s. “Besides, James is all bark and no bite.”

“To you! He immediately started quizzing me on every detail of my stay in Fort Pinta until he found another opportunity to make money.”

“He is nothing if not dedicated.”

“I think that runs in the family.”

Alex laughed.

“Maya!”

Alex straightened. Maya’s parents had arrived. They shared Maya’s green eyes, but not her red hair. As they exchanged hugs and hellos, Alex stood to the side glancing anywhere but at the family. She wasn’t used to such overt familial affection, and the brawling butterflies in her stomach had graduated to a full on fight ring.

“Ma, Pa.” Maya took Alex’s hand and smiled at her. “This is Alex.”

Alex inclined her head with an awkward smile. “Nice to meet you both.”

“Us too!” Mrs. Dew beamed.

They all sat down in the booth and continued their conversation.

“Your mother was so excited, I don’t think she spoke a single word about anything else the whole bus ride,” Mr. Dew complained.

“Well, Maya had told me so much about you, Alex, that it was hard to wait!” Her mother began to scan the menu. “Though, you must forgive me, but it’s slipped my mind what you do for a living.”

“Oh, well, I’m in druidic training at the moment,” Alex replied. She was sure it was not what her girlfriend’s parents wanted to hear—that she was joining a secretive religious sect, but there wasn’t much truth Alex was able to tell Maya’s parents. So, she was trying not to lie when she could. If everyone knew about the true danger and magic of the world…maybe it would be better. But, alas, Fripp would have her head. Not that he doesn’t already have a million reasons to be mad at her, anyway. “But, I help my brother out at Fort Pinta sometimes, too.”

“Druidic training?” Mr. Dew asked. “That’s…”

“Remember our blacksmith back in the day, honey? He was a druid.” Mrs. Dew pointed out.

“Alex is great at it, too, guys,” Maya said. “She’s even on this task force that helps out across Jorvik.”

“Oh! Didn’t you say you had picnics with…oh, what was their name? One of Alex’s colleagues.” Mrs. Dew said.

“Yeah, we have picnics with one of my, um, co-workers in the Forgotten Fields,” Alex said.

“That’s so darling,” Mrs. Dew said. “Do you like it in Jarlaheim?”

“Oh, Jarlaheim’s a beautiful city, but I don’t actually live there,” Alex said.

“Oh, I must have heard Maya wrong, then,” Mrs. Dew said. “Where do you live?”

“I have a house in Valedale, but I do often stay with Maya in the Harvest Counties. It’s easier that way.” Alex fiddled with the napkin in her lap. “Plus, I have a good friend in Jarlaheim that will let me crash if need be.”

“Oh good, good,” Mrs. Dew said.

The waitress came to take their drink orders and then was off.

“This Dundull weather is beautiful, isn’t it, Ma?”

“Oh, yes. I love the sea breeze,” Mrs. Dew said. She folded her napkin in her lap. “Alex, do you like Fort Pinta, Jarlaheim, or Valedale best?”

“There’s great things about all of Jorvik, of course. But, I do really like living in Jarlaheim. It reminds me of home. The music scene is really great.”

“What kind of music are you into?”

“Hip-hop. Some rock. What about you?”

“Ooh, I like Jazz,” Mrs. Dew said. “The blues.”

“She plays it non-stop,” Mr. Dew added. “Where did you say your hometown was?”

“Jorvik City.”

“We live there now! Which part?” Mrs. Dew asked.

“Governor’s Fall. I really did love it, but at some point, my family just couldn’t afford to live there anymore,” Alex said. It was bittersweet but Alex was glad for the memories she made there.

“You both will have to visit us next time in Jorvik City,” Mrs. Dew said.

“Ma, I don’t like the city. I can’t bring Elli with me.” Maya pouted. It was funny. Maya was completely at ease, as she should be with her parents, but Alex felt like she was currently acting the most professional and polite she ever has.

“I’m sure your horse will be okay for a few days alone.”

“No, she won’t.”

The conversation devolved into a light-hearted argument about Elli being able to handle some alone time that was interrupted by their waiter taking their drink orders. The dinner continued in a similar banter, and the tension that Alex had held slowly dissipated.

By the time they were exchanging goodbyes, Alex really felt close to them.

Once they were gone, Alex and Maya started walking to the Dundull stable.

“They really like you a lot, you know,” Maya said. She squeezed Alex’s hand.

Alex knew she had issues with parental figures. It was an obvious consequence of her childhood that manifested in both avoidance and over-attachment to her older mentors. Especially with Elizabeth gone, Alex felt like she had to re-confront all her mental struggles all over again.

She was glad to have Maya by her side, and a small part of her hoped that one day, just maybe, she could call Maya’s parents her own.

Ao3 Link <- Consider leaving comments/kudos here!

[moonlight-tmd]

Hello And Welcome To This Disaster! My name is Moonlight and I'll be your host for this blog.

Here is some things you should know about me: (this post will be updated as time goes on)

My AO3 account where you'll find good quality ship fanfics.

If you're interested, I have cheap commissions open. Most of the comms are posted on my Instagram but if it's ship art that I like I might post it on this blog too.

For other personal content, visit my Youtube Channel or Twitch. It ain't much but it's honest work. <3

Here's what you can find on this blog:

Private Corner. The stuff that's not really related to anything specific. > Arts I posted on the blog over time. (#moon derg art) > Random posts I found cool or me ranting. (#moon derg rambles) > Stuff other folks did for me. (#special repost)

Transformers Animated content. (haven't watched the show but I'm writing anyway) The tags #tfa shenanigans and #tfa headcanons on this blog are all about things that have happened in my version of TFA. (!) All of headcanons for my works are here. Please read the linked posts in that post, it's very important. My comfort character is Bumblebee so there's a lot of content about this fella here. (#tfa bumblebee) All NSFW posts are under the tag #naughty tag! All fanfics that I wrote are under the tag #tfa fanfic!

Shipping, the romantic kind. My current ships are: > BlitzBee (TFA) (OTP) > ProwlBee (TFA) > ShockBee (TFA)

TFA AUs. Posts related to any of the AUs are tagged #tfa au. The appropriate tags are written next to the AU name: > Dadimus Prime AU - Optimus as Bee's dad (#dadimus prime au) > Cyberbeast AU - mythical creatures hidden in plain sight. (#cyberbeast au) > Warframe!Bumblebee AU (#warframe!bumblebee au) > Part-Insecticon!Bumblebee AU (#part-insecticon!bumblebee au) > Cons Are Good AU (#cons are good au) > Crack AU - which is every crack headcanon thrown in one jar (#crack au) > Civil!Blitzwing AU (#civil!blitzwing au) > AU where Bee dies and Prowl get depressed until Bee is resurrected by Blackarachnia (no actual name)(#revival!prowlbee) > God-Sparkling AU - aka Unicron and Primus as Bee's parents (#god-sparkling au) > Electro Bee AU - basically Bee being able to manipulate electricity like Blitzwing does with Ice/Fire. (#electro bee au) > Sparkeater!Bumblebee AU - disease that turns anybot into a Sparkeater over time. Bee is one of few that has it and survived. (#sparkeater!bumblebee au) > Celestial!Bee AU - basically Bee is one of many lesser gods that have been forgotten by mortals. (#celestial!bee au) Ships: Mainly or Only BlitzBee / ProwlBee / ShockBee / Open to any ship/not assigned

Game section. Posts about games I play: > Star Stable Online (#sso , #ssoblr) > The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (#skyrim)

Thank you for reading. All of the tags mentioned are below. (this post will be updated as more things come into the blog)

[shiroselia]

Guess who completely missed I've been posting on Ao3 for over a year now, so to celebrate that almost two weeks later, behold! Self-promo!

I know, I know, but I suppose since I've been going for a year(???) now I might as well give a little Summary on what the hell I've been doing over on the Ao3, and also have a bit of fun with it in the process.

So, who the hell am I? I'm Manda Shiroselia EquestrianEquivalent, and apparently I'm an Ao3 publisher now. Sentence I never thought I'd say, but here we are!

What do I write? Well, primarily I write for Fire Emblem, Honkai Star Rail, and Star Stable Online. More precisely, I'm a character dynamics connossieur, which means I'm mostly writing character interaction and/or ship-focused fics because that's what I find the most fun! I generally average about 3-5k on my oneshots, but there are shorter (and longer) ones, so if length is something you're particularly picky about, you'll have variety in there, promise.

My personal favourite choices of the Fire Emblem variety are, coincidentally, my two most recent Fire Emblem fics! Soft Pegasus Feathers, and Dream of Me.

Good stuff, fun times, huge self-reccs of mine.

In terms of HSR, well, I've written. a lot of those, but I'm particularly, well, well-known might be a stretch, but those of you who subscribe to JingFu might recognize me for my most popular fic, Better Luck Next Time, or for my newest piece of insanity, KONTORSRENOVERING.

Better Luck Next Time is probably the best introduction to my writing style you will ever find, especially since it's kind of responsible for me finding my style, and it's also incredibly funny, if I do say so myself.

KONTORSRENOVERING is a great introduction to my particular niche, which I like to describe as "It could've been a fanart, but I'm glad it's a fic." If you read it you'll know exactly what i mean by that! Both of them are fics I hold very near and dear, so obviously I recommend each of them in particular.

And as for what I write for SSO? Well. I don't know if you have ever sorted that tag by word count, but if you have, you might have come across a certain little fic called A Quintessential Jorvegian Summer Vacation.

Which is, well, a lot of things. It's the entire reason I started publishing on Ao3 to begin with, my life's work pretty much, arguably my magnum opus really, and the entire reason my friends both discovered and has since never let me live down how fucking nuts I am.

It is the most taxing out of all my works, since, you know, check that chapter count:word count and you'll understand. I'm currently in the middle of reposting the last 4 chapters, because yes I've rewritten every single one of the first 24 chapters and counting, and once that is done, I'm going to rewrite the entire fic. Which is really just a first draft into a second draft, but considering how much I've changed as a writer throughout the 10 months I wrote this behemoth of a fic (first draft clocked in at 280k words so you can imagine how much effort this fucker took), it needs some maintainance.

With that being said, even if you don't know what the fuck a Star Stable Online is, I genuinely suggest you check this out anyways, because I legitimately think it works really well as just a standalone horse adventure magic fantasy. And a tragedy. Apparently. Supposedly. According to my friends who know too much about this fic.

It's going to take a fuck ass while to publish this entire thing, and I talk about it all the time on this blog, but there is so much love put into this fic, and I'm not abandoning it ever, it will be published, mark my word.

So that's essentially a "quick" summary of what the fuck I'm doing over there at the Ao3s. This mentioned like half of the roster, so there are a few more things over there if you're curious. And there's more to come, like a lot more to come.

For example, I'm currently working on two longer HSR fics, one starring Himeko and Pom-Pom, and the other starring Jiaoqiu featuring Bailu and Lingsha. I've also gotten way too into Zenless Zone Zero, and I'm definitely going to write a few fics for that, so far every one of them featuring Nicole. Other than that I have a lot of silly Fire Emblem ideas lying about (most of them related to Awakening, which means more Chromia in particular), and I'm no stranger to just throwing out a fic for the hell of it, so you might even be surprised!

And with that, Manda out, and happy late Ao3 anniversary to me <3

[lxstfathier]

Hiii everyone!! i’ve finally decided to open up my fic commissions! 💗 so if you are interested in this, please come with me so i can give you more info…

For a bit of context: ok, this year has been particularly hard for me. My mom was diagnosed with renal insufficiency, she requires a lot of meds, hemodialysis, and a kidney transplant as soon as possible. So as you may know, that’s not cheap, so i want to contribute with something. And also i need some personal things for myself. That’s why i need the money, if i didn’t i swear that i would be doing this for free 😔 so guys, if you can give me a hand with this, i’m gonna be eternally grateful 💗

Fic requirements: i’m down to write almost anything!! smut, fluff, angst, whatever you want, i’m not picky. And here is the list of the characters that i write for, along with the few topics that i avoid, please check it out before commissioning.

Prices (usd): thots 5$ ✨ drabble 6$ ✨ headcanons 10$ ✨ full fic 15$ ✨

Thots: 200 to 400 words. Usually with a time wait of 3 days.

Drabble: 400 to 600 words. Usually with a time wait of 1 week.

Headcanons: 1k to 1.5k words. Usually with a time wait of 1 or 2 weeks.

Full fic: 2k to 4k words. Usually with a time wait of 3 weeks or 1 month.

Please be patient with me, i like to work slowly so it can be the best quality, but you can message me at anytime to ask for a progress update or a little sneak peek.

Also, i always write for x reader, but if you want me to write it with an oc, please let me know <3

Payment method: for the moment i just use PayPal :)))

How to commission: just send me a message!! that way you can share your idea with me and discuss the details, then i’ll give you my paypal link, and once the payment is done, i will start working on your piece of writing, so easy!!

Side notes:

✧˖° I have the right to deny a commission if it has any of the topics that bother me.

✧˖° You can’t claim the fic as yours.

✧˖° The time waits may increase if i get a lot of commissions to work on.

✧˖° If you are under 18, i will not write smut for you.

✧˖° Sometimes it may take me a couple of hours to answer your message, but that’s bc i’m busy, im not ignoring you and i’ll answer as soon as i have free time :)

That’s all for now. Thank you so much to all those who decide to commission, it means a lot to me 🥺💗 and to those who can’t buy something, it’s fine, you can help me just by sharing this. And don’t worry!! i’m still gonna work on some free content for y’all!! love you guys!!! 💖✨

[zitawinterpaw]

So... Chapter 1 of Tornado Warnings is officially posted!

This was my first time writing anything regarding SSO, so I'm both scared and excited? It's heavily inspired by Winx Club, so it does differ from canon at parts, but not entirely

[jorvikpov]

Time is standing still.

You aren’t sure whether your eyes are open or closed. You do not know why the grass seems to have moved to beneath the palms of your hands. You cannot tell what time of day it is. All you know is the presence of your horse anchoring you to the earth, the bone-chilling horror of having almost lost control of yourself, and the hope that you succeeded.

In the hours leading up to the ritual at the Sunset Islands, you were repeatedly warned that it could bring you to your very limit. You were under no circumstances to keep going if you began to feel like the magic was too much for you to bear, consequences be damned. You do not say it—you never do—but had you ever heeded this advice, you would have stopped using magic long ago. You are a dam of flesh and blood between your powers and the world, and whenever you tap into them for more than a moment, you feel like that dam is about to burst. You know that this is not what the Druids warn you about. The strain they speak of is not from holding together the dam, but from trying desperately to push every last bit of one’s magic through its few small cracks. You doubt that you could ever drain yourself in that way—the powers that course through your blood feel endless, as though it’s not a lake behind the dam, but an ancient, neverending river—and truth be told, the dam feels closer to fragile than to unbreakable. You do not want to know what would happen if you were to let it burst. You aren’t sure you would live to know the answer.

All things considered, perhaps the Druids’ warnings are not unreasonable. Still, you cannot live by them. You would be next to nothing if you did.

They have changed the way they talk about you, as of late. Between every word of every sentence spoken on the long ride from Valedale to southern Epona they hid secrets and cryptic messages clearly not meant for you. You understood them anyway, of course, and between the brief conversations you and the Moon Rider shared the occasional, silent look, almost as if to confirm that you had both heard and understood the same things.

You cannot live by the Druids’ constant warnings, because you would be next to nothing if you did, and you are not meant to be nothing. You are meant to be what she who you should not know of never became. You are meant to be the fifth to lead the way, as she could not. You are meant to stay true to your task, as she failed to. You cannot live by the Druids’ warnings, because you must succeed at any cost, and yet so much of what they lay on you rings false these days. It is no easy task to believe in their emphasis on you as one of a kind when the feeling that you are little more than a replacement of the girl who should’ve completed your mission two decades ago lies heavy on your shoulders through every second of every day.

In the end, you hardly experienced the ritual, as tends to be the case in situations where magic is involved. Every second of the process was spent desperately trying to control yourself, and when it is over, you spend minutes that feel like hours leaned against your horse, head still spinning from the forces that made your body their home only minutes ago.

You are beginning to think that something deep within you substantially sets you apart from the other four.

You are beginning to think that Catherine was wrong.

You are beginning to think that your fate is not an offer you can decline.

I am sorry, your horse whispers to you, and softly nudges your shoulder. It helps, if only a little bit.

You come back to the world when you realise that somebody is talking to you. The realisation that the sentences are filled with anger hits you before the words making them up do, and it almost makes you retreat into your head again. You force yourself to stay and take in the moment.

It boils down to this: you succeeded in bringing Fripp back, and now he is angry.

He is angry that you have involved a witch in the Druids’ business. He is angry that the Sun Rider is missing. He is angry that the Lightning Rider has gone after her. (You could have sworn that she was here mere minutes ago. Did she slip away during the ritual? Right after?) He is angry that you did not go after her together, and much, much earlier. You should have done so while there was still time and hope to stop her foolish decision. You should have realised what she was considering the second she asked where the foal had come from. For the short time before Linda intervenes, it is as if none of you have done so much as one thing right while you were left to your own devices.

By then, you are just aware enough of the world around you to share a cautious look with Linda, and it confirms what you already knew: you must keep finding your own answers. None will be given to you.

You lock away what little hope you had of perhaps, once Fripp came back, finally having somebody to ask about why the dam feels like it is about to burst, and then you throw away the key.

It will be fine. It has to be. You have made it this far on your own, after all. Going just a little further will not be the end of you.

[dustymisgestaltsso]

Dusty was winded. He was laid sprawled on his left side. There was gravel in his mouth; he could tell by the taste something was wrong with it. The grains, despite being warm to the touch, sucked heat and sensation from his jaw. He hurried to spit out as much as he could. His eyes were caked shut with wetness and he brought the side of his right hand to wipe his eyes and mouth. Upon opening an eye, he was met with a Pandorian horizon. The sun had been replaced with a moon that shone an ethereal, off-white pink through the haze of pink and violet that coated everything in this place. He shoved himself onto his back and looked upwards around him; from what he could tell, he had fallen from the island where Anne had been imprisoned. He could see the glow of the crystal she was held in creeping over the edge of the cliff above him.

Finally churning out some fanfic! This is a work that starts out with Dusty trapped in pandoria after the Darko race you encounter after the first visit to Prison Island. He's stranded and injured and has to find his way out, and from there it'll be his journey of healing and readjustment.

[stable-gremlin]

A03 is down…let us share stories like our ancestors

[sagapinehill]

Shout out to that person who writes the fanfic Illicit Affairs. That story is a masterpiece👌🧡

[paigeswiftsea]

guys what kind of flowers would sabine give someone? like to show a kind of hidden message of love

I wanna say roses but i feel like that's too cliche you know? like it doesn't scream sabine but I don't know what does

I yalls thoughts on this

[dark-rider-pr]

Day 177: Swift

The first section to @feliciawolfpaw 's October Prompts! The Dark Riders have assembled a crew to go talk to Ydris...are you there with them or are you somewhere else?