#tbh i could have probably skipped this one but i have a weakness for writing broken michiru like the trash i am

[itzynabi]

goodnight call

summary: in which a goodnight call takes an unexpected turn

set: early may 2024

word count: 2.4k

warnings: smut [please skip if you are a minor or are uncomfy with explicit content]; swearing

an: didn’t expect to get this done so fast tbh... it’s my first time writing smut so lower expectations everybody. feedback and reblogs are much appreciated 💐

nabi’s masterlist

Nabi sighed, hearing her phone ringing. She had just laid down in bed, ready to go to sleep early, as recommended by her therapist. She turned over, reaching for her phone on the bedside table. A lazy smile spread on her face as she saw the called ID.

“Hi, Biyah,” he greeted, his voice sounding tired.

“Hi, Sannie. How are you?”

He sighed on the other side of the line. “Tired. We had a long day of practice and I only just got home.”

Right. San was busy with preparations for ATEEZ’s upcoming comeback. Since it was at the end of the month, the group was probably practising every day for it. With how intense ATEEZ choreographies were, Nabi could only imagine how tired he was.

“Have you eaten dinner?” She asked, concern evident in her tone.

He let out a weak chuckle. “I did. I had a sandwich in the car, it was really good.” He paused for a second as there was rustling on his side. “What did you eat for dinner?”

“Pasta!” Nabi cheerfully answered. “With chicken and white sauce. The leftovers are probably going to last me awhile.”

“That’s nice.”

Nabi nodded even though he couldn’t see her. She wondered if San had changed into pyjamas or if he was still wearing his day clothes. Judging by how tired he was, he probably just plopped himself onto his bed the second he got home.

(Nabi tried to stop the flutter in her chest at the thought that San called her despite how tired he was.

She failed.)

“How are you?” San asked, returning her first question.

“I’m good,” Nabi answered truthfully. “I was just about to fall asleep when you called.”

“Oh, I’m sor–” He began to apologise.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” she gently interrupted him. “If I didn’t want to answer, I wouldn’t have.”

“Yeah…”

Their conversation stalled there for a while and Nabi closed her eyes as she listened to San’s breathing on the other side of the line. It was a very comforting sound, almost like white noise, and it began to make her sleepy.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” San softly admitted, his voice taking on a raspy edge.

Nabi peeled her eyes open. “Oh, yeah? What were you thinking?”

There was silence on the other end of the line and Nabi could imagine him gathering his thoughts. “I was thinking about how I miss you. How I love you. How you’re so gorgeous. And sexy.”

“‘Sexy?’” Nabi snorted. “I’m the furthest thing from sexy.”

“No, you’re not. You’re… Fuck, you’re making me hard right now,” he muttered.

Nabi’s heart stuttered in her chest, shocked to hear him say that. “What?” Her voice came out breathier than expected, suddenly feeling very awake.

“Your sleepy voice is the sexiest sound in the fucking world,” San said. “It’s so sweet and soft, more than your voice usually is, and it’s so lazy. You sometimes put a lot of breath into your words and it’s… hot.”

Nabi felt her face begin to heat up as her centre began to throb gently. “Shut up,” she breathed out, accidentally proving his point as he let out a groan.

“Do you want me to?” Nabi could hear the grin in his voice.

Nabi swallowed heavily, trying to think of an answer. The change of conversation was sudden, having caught her off guard. She felt embarrassed to hear San say the things he was saying, but she also… liked it. She liked knowing she had an effect on him — as much as the one he had on her. The way she saw it, she could either say yes, she did want him to shut up, and he would, but that probably wouldn’t stop the throbbing in her core. She would probably have to take care of it after they hung up. Her second option was saying no, she didn’t want him to shut up, and he wouldn’t, and the throbbing would get worse until… she didn’t know what would happen. But she wanted to find out.

“Don’t,” she said, voice soft with shyness. “Continue.”

She could practically see his grin get wider as he let out a chuckle.

“Tell me, Biyah, what are you wearing?” San asked.

Nabi blinked her eyes, shocked at the change of topic. She put her unoccupied hand on her stomach, toying with the edge of her shirt. “I… I’m wearing pyjamas.”

“Which ones?” He pressed, his voice going deeper.

“Uh… The pink ones. With the lace on by the neck and the ribbons.”

He hummed in thought. “The flowy one?”

“No, the ti–tight one,” she told him. On the few occasions San had seen her in those pyjamas — whether in person or over FaceTime — she had noticed how he would stare at her. The pyjamas didn’t really leave much to the imagination, especially the shorts, but she liked them because of how cute they were.

“The tight o– Fuck.” He grunted. “The ones with the short shorts? That don’t cover anything when you bend over?”

“Yeah, I… I didn’t know you noticed,” she admitted.

“I notice a lot about you,” he truthfully said, sincerity in his voice. “I notice a lot,” he repeated, his voice back to sounding… sensual. “Those shorts are basically boxers,” he muttered and Nabi had to stifle a laugh in response.

Crossing her right leg over the other, Nabi let out a sigh of relief. She thought she was quiet, but was shocked by San’s groan.

“What are you doing, Biyah?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Are you touching yourself?”

“No,” she rushed to answer, her cheeks warming up.

“Do you want to?”

Not for the first time since the start of the call, Nabi’s breath hitched. “What?”

“Do you want to touch yourself?” Without giving her time to answer, he carried on speaking. “I do.”

“You want to… touch yourself?” She hesitantly asked.

San chuckled, the sound warm and velvety. “Well, that too. But I also want to touch you.”

“Oh,” Nabi breathed out.

“But I can’t do that.”

“Right.”

“So I guess I’ll have to touch myself,” he said, and Nabi felt her head grow fuzzy. “Are you fine with that?”

“Y–Yes. Yeah. I’m fine with that.”

The sound of San shuffling around was enough to send a shiver of anticipation through Nabi, the sigh he let out a few seconds later made her clench down on nothing. The hand that was fiddling with her shirt moved down to play with the bow on the front of her shorts, dangerously close to where she was aching.

“This feels so good,” he said, his voice several octaves lower. A groan followed his statements and Nabi tried her best to not picture San sprawled on his bed, his hand gripping cock. She tried not to picture the expression on his face, tried not to envision the pleasure that would be present there. She tried not to–

“What does it feel like?” She blurted out before she could stop herself.

San cleared his throat. “It feels… phenomenal. There’s a buzz, it’s not too much yet, just right. I could keep doing this for hours. I could–” He gasped. “I wish I was with you. I could do so much more.”

Nabi trailed her hand a little lower, just beneath the bow on her pants. “What would you do if you were here?” What would you do if you were with me?

San chuckled, low and fucking sexy. “I would kiss you. For a while. Maybe I’d pull you onto my lap, maybe I’d make you keep your hands to yourself, either way, you’d be turned on. Then, I would start to tease you. Light touches here and there, soft whispers… just anything to get you riled up. Then, I’d open your legs and admire you. I’d kiss your thighs, your knees, your ankles, then I’d go up. I’d kiss your hips, your waist, just under your boobs, your chest, your throat,” he listed off. Nabi’s breathing got heavier and she was sure he could hear. Her hand drifted down some more, stopping just above the throbbing.

“I’d look you in your eyes and check on you, because I’d want to make sure you were enjoying yourself. Then I’d continue. I’d make my way back down, and by that time, I’m sure there would be a wet patch on your panties and–” He suddenly stopped. “Is there a patch on your panties now, Biyah?”

Nabi took a few seconds to register his question, having to fight through the haze in her brain. “I–I don’t know.”

“Can you check for me, baby?” He sweetly asked.

Nodding her head, her hand made the very incredibly short journey to her core where, sure enough, there was a wet patch. “There is,” she softly admitted, trying her best not to apply pressure. “My shorts are wet.”

“Yeah? How wet?” His voice was tense, as if he was straining himself.

“They’re soaked,” she gasped. The throbbing in her core had gotten worse and she needed reprieve, but she was holding herself back. “What would you do next?”

A pleased chuckle left San’s mouth. “Then I’d take your panties off. And I’d kiss you right there, on your lips. I can’t promise you that I’d go slow, but I’d try. For you, I’d try. I’d keep going until you came. I’d stop to see your face, to see your reaction. Then I’d continue. I’d use my fingers, I’d have you to prepare you for me.”

Nabi let out a soft moan at the implications of San’s words. Her fingers twitched as the last of her restraint wavered. Her and San had never done something like this before, and it was exciting.

“I’m sure you can tell what would come next.”

Nabi let out a slow exhale, swallowing before speaking. “The thought of you inside me makes me wet,” she whispered. “So fucking wet. I want to touch myself.”

“Fuck, Biyah,” he muttered. “Then do it, baby. Touch yourself.”

With the last of her resolve broken, Nabi pressed her fingers against her core through her clothes and let out a drawn-out moan. More wetness flooded her core.

“Does it feel good?” He rasped.

“So good,” she softly cried out. She trailed her fingers up, going under the fabric of her shorts.

“Do you wanna get out your toy?”

Nabi’s breath hitched. “My… What are you talking about?”

“Your vibrator,” San said plainly, as if he were talking about the weather.

Sure enough, Nabi had a vibrator that she stored in her bedside table, covered by a bunch of knick knacks in case anyone was looking through her stuff.

“How… How did you know about it?”

“A few weeks ago, you asked me to look for something before I left. I found it there and I had to fuck my hand when I got home.” His words were accompanied by an occasional hiss. “I don’t think I’ve ever cum so much.”

Nabi could do nothing but moan in response.

“Why don’t you get your vibrator out, baby?”

Slowly, Nabi removed her hand from her panties, letting out a whine at the loss, and fumbled around in the dark for her bedside table. She quickly opened the drawer, feeling for her vibrator. Once she found it, she laid back down and switched it on. A soft buzzing sound filled the quiet of her room. Nabi reached down and placed the vibrator on her centre through her panties, her hips twitching upwards as a moan left her lips.

“That’s it, baby,” San encouraged, his breaths coming out shorter and shorter.

A sudden desperation for a climax hit Nabi hard. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to last long before needing to cum. She expertly shifted her vibrator around so that it was no longer on top of her panties, but instead against her folds. Her moans got louder as she glided the toy across her folds. After some time, she placed the toy snug against her clit, removing her hand and leaving the vibrator there.

“Keep making those sounds,” San urged. “I’m so close.”

Nabi dropped the phone, both of her hands going to her body, touching and squeezing. As the stimulation on her clit began to become too much, she swivelled her hips, chasing more.

“I’m almost there,” she managed to say.

“Yeah? You gonna cum, baby?” He panted. “You gonna be a good girl?”

Nabi let out a particularly loud moan at that — and thanked every deity in existence that the soundproofing in her apartment was top notch — something that San noticed.

“Do you want to be my good girl, Biyah?”

“Y–Yes,” Nabi answered, feeling the knot in her core grow tighter. “I want to b– Ah! I want to be y–your good girl.”

“Then cum, Biyah,” he hissed. “Cum with me. Fuck!” He let out a low, rough grunt as his orgasm hit.

Nabi reached her hand up and squeezed her boobs, her other hand reaching down to press the vibrator flush against her folds. Her hips jerked as she came apart, her back arching as a desperate, filthy sob left her lips. Her limbs shook as she wrenched every ounce of pleasure from her body, keeping the vibrator where it was, continuing to stimulate herself as she let out soft whimpers.

“That’s my good girl,” San grunted through the phone that was right by her ear. “I came so fucking hard,” he croaked, sounding breathless.

With shaking hands, Nabi removed the vibrator from her panties, throwing it onto the bed. Through the phone, she heard San pull tissues out of a box. She laid on the phone, body feeling weightless and more tired than when they started.

“How are you, Biyah?” He asked, becoming concerned by the silence on her side.

“I’m… so fucking fine,” she drawled, fighting off a yawn. “Next time we do this, can it be earlier?”

“Next time, huh?” He teased good-naturedly.

“You know what I mean.”

The line went quiet and Nabi took that as her cue to get herself cleaned up, imagining that San was doing the same. Quickly returning to her bed, she made sure to sleep on the side that was dry, making a mental note to put the sheets in the washing. She checked to see if San had hung up and smiled when she saw that she hadn’t.

“How are you, Sannie?”

“I’m way better than before.” He chuckled before his voice grew serious. “I don’t want you to think I called you for that. We were just talking, and I was tired, and–”

“I know you didn’t,” she reassured him. And she really did.

He let out a sigh of relief. “Goodnight, Nabi.”

“I love you, San.”

“I love you too.”

an: the pyjamas are these ones in case anyone was interested. please let me know whether you want to be tagged in explicit scenarios!!

tagging: @cafemilk-tea

©️ kim nabi

[eluxcastar]

hello hello greetings! could i request a vampire reader x harbingers who offers to turn them into a vampire as well (how romantic to offer the concept of *forever* to their lover), its got the whole package of night vision/ immortality/ super strength/ speed/ etc etc but they'd lose the ability to use visions/delusions cause they're technically gonna be "dead" would the harbingers except or decline 👀👀 (excluding pulcinella and pierro)

Harbingers with a Vampire s/o

── ୨୧：harbingers x reader

୨୧﹑synopsis :: just me being absolutely off my head again talking about the harbingers' opinions on vampirehood

୨୧﹑content :: gn reader, vampire reader

୨୧﹑words :: I shit you not this post is 666 words long what in the My Immortal

anon baby you found my weak spot I'm so normal about this subject (it's my special interest) (sorry) ANYWAY this has been chilling in my inbox for ages, so it's time I finally write it. I started it a while ago but then I got busy and didn't post for a month and now I am suddenly two followers away from 400 so hi hello thank you

anyway back to the request I question the visions and delusions part because Qiqi is a Zombie an uses a cryo vision BUT I'M GONNA GLOSS OVER THAT BECAUSE YEs

Let's go lowest to highest in ranking like I usually do and start with Childe who, imo, would accept on the grounds that it is power and he will take anything to become more powerful even at a detriment to his health and physical condition. Though there is a price, he has accepted prices before and assuming that the pay off is good enough the use of a vision or delusion would be obsolete anyway. That, coupled with his love for you as his motivation is more than enough to sway him in your favour as he can see more to gain than lose from spending eternity by your side.

Arlecchino is a tough one because I can totally see it and it's really hot but Idk if she would. I wanna say yes, but I can also see reasons for no. The Vampire Arlecchino energy wins though because tbh I can see her being willing to make that sacrifice for her lover. I don't see her as fully whipped per se but like she's definitely loyal yk, probably pick you over the Tsaritsa and would want to spend an eternity with you at your behest.

Next is Pantalone. Cool vampire vibes. Someone gave me this wonderful headcanon that he is obsessed with his delusion, and I now love it to death so much that I based a character on it. So tbh yeah, there's benefits in this for him. He gets to be with you and have a little more power at a far lesser detriment. Plus like, you can't convince me this man wouldn't be lowkey into it.

Signora, I'm not sure. She has already lived a long time, and she has a lot of natural power already. Her delusion is what balances her, so I honestly think I'd have to say no. I WANNA SAY YES REALLY BAD BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THERE, but I also just don't think so, but like she'll still be with you for a long time.

Sandrone, I honestly don't know either, because I don't know much from the two words she's spoken. If I remember, she doesn't care for other people, though, so she's likely very in love with anyone who managed to break through that and may be willing to make sacrifices for you.

For Scaramouche- well, bro is an artificial human, so tbh, I don't even think he would be affected by that. I'll skip him too.

Next would be Pulcinella, but I was told no Pulcinella, so Capitano (I almost forgot him send help). I like the abyssal creature Capitano headcanon, but even if he was just, a guy. I think the answer is no. HE'S WHIPPED AND WOULD DO ANYTHING BUT NOT THIS 😭 at least not at first, but give it a while and I can see it. It'll take time, though.

Columbina is also tricky because she has such entity vibes, but like also, seraph/vampire pairing would be so hot I can't even deny that. I should write that. Anyway, I feel like she's already immortal, so that doesn't matter, and she is indifferent to the power you offer. It's a matter of it not holding value. She has everything she could get out of it already.

Finally, we come to Dottore. Dottore is into it, don't lie, you know he is; this man is freaky. He'd enjoy the prospect of being a Vampire more than the perks of it, and that's enough to convince him. Besides it's 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓼𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 so he gets to excuse it. He couldn't turn it down even if it was just one of his segments because he's got to know what it's like and all the differences. He collects knowledge.

This was way more chaotic than usual 💀 Idk if I will write more like this but I did enjoy it so maybe, depends if y'all like this or my other styles more. I just like the chilled out casual chaos sometimes so lmk

[mongoose-bite]

fic writer interview @nevermindirah tagged me! Thank you, Happy New Year :3

I'm tagging @thana-topsy @baratrongirl @amazinmango @raindrop-rouge, but only if you want to, no obligation.

How many works do you have on AO3?

83.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

1,369,970

There you go, substantially more than a million words, for the sheer love of it.

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Fuck: My Life Nearly 190k of eruriren porn star AU. Of course it's my top fic.

These Weren't Memories ereri canonverse, written after the first season. It's old, and I don't like all of it, but it's a classic of the ship as I tried to make it work as close to canon as I could.

Neither Tarnished Nor Afraid ereri, and the first true AU I ever wrote. It's a weird police procedural, and I think it's up there just because it's old and has had more time to accumulate kudos to be honest.

The Beneficent Gentleman Finally a non-snk fic. Kingsman, hartwin, and my only epistolary story, loosely based on the novel Daddy Long-Legs, and I'm quite proud of how it turned out.

Flight (When None Pursueth) And we're back to ereri; it was just the biggest ship I ever sailed. This was my serious take on a reincaration AU, and it was not fluffy.

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Usually I do now, but back in the heyday of the SNK fandom I rarely did, cause there were just a lot of them. I responded to long ones or ones that asked a question. I also think the culture has changed on it too; ten years ago it was much less expected for authors to respond to generic 'i liked it!' comments, but as comments have dried up overall, it's become more common.

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

If There is a Cure Skyrim fic. Delphine/Dragonborn, and there is no happy ending.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

95% of all my other fics tbh.

7. Do you write crossovers?

I don't enjoy crossovers. I wrote one tiny Ojisan to Neko/Persona 5 fic that probably would have been funnier as fanart, but I can't draw.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Ooh yeah, back in the day on ff.net in the early 2000's I had a guy get all caps on me cause I paired the PC of a game with an older woman, and a few others that were clearly designed to sap my confidence, presumably because I was writing the wrong ship.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes. Consensual.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not as far as I'm aware.

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yeah a few times. Very flattering. I even had a translator pass on translated comments once.

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes but it's rare. Honestly I've only ever met one person with whom I really clicked as a collaborator. That was a long time ago, and we do very different things now. It's fucking magic if you can find the right person though.

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Ereri is not my current interest, but it really was something special. I sometimes wonder if I'll ever write like it's 2014 again...

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I don't have one. The only fic I never finished I abandoned completely.

15. What are your writing strengths?

Description; I can do a lot with few details.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

Sloppy editing, repetitive phrasing, (a symptom of the former) and the pacing on long serialised fics can get very baggy.

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Keep it to a minimum. If you don't need it, don't use it. It's more trouble than it's worth (I'm wearing my reader's hat for this one; my eye will just skip over it.)

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Morrowind.

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to?

There isn't one. I've missed fandom a lot over the past few years, and if I'd wanted to write something I would have.

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

My Old Friend. It's barely a fic, really. A man goes back to his hometown to bury his abusive uncle and reconnects with the father of his childhood friend, on whom he had a powerful but obviously unrequited crush on as a teenager. I had to string together a bunch of unrelated prompts as part of an event, and it just turned out really well. I'm proud of it.

[just4notherd4ydre4mer]

INTRODUCTION + IMP. RULES & INFO

Usually, I'd make things look pretty. But tbh... Idk how to use tumblr at all. Forgive me. I'm not familiar with a lot of the terms on here :'')

Maybe I'll make this aesthetic later?? Rlly lazy and tumblr is confusing.

My username is subject to change anytime to anything, from somewhat thought out or even just keyboard smash. Bcs I'm beyond indecisive.

Also, I'm not new to writing fanfics and what not... but yknow, let's NOT talk abt the past.

[ BASIC INFO]

Call me whatever u want -- Anything works tbh though.

I'm a minor. That alone sets some basic ground rules ig... right?

Uh... I decided to start using tumblr bcs im bored. Like rlly bored. I'm am %100 going to be either very active or inactive. (short bursts of motivation lol)

What I do? I draw. I wouldn't say that I'm a beginner but I want to start sharing my progress (probably wont tho bcs... tik tok has traumatized me. Let's go with that...) But, here I am :) I also write. Whether it be my own original stories or fanfics.

Requests for both are welcome! (options listed below)

[ KEY ]

◍ - Manga/Manwha/WEBTOON … etc

○ - Anime

◐ - Dramas

▿ - Games

❥ - Current Fixation (always up to date)

[ I will usually only take requests for ❥... but you never know, so ask away! Rules are at the bottom of this post ]

FANDOMS (a-z)

•Attack on Titan ~ ○

•Black Clover ~ ❥ ○

•Blue Lock ~ ❥○

•Free! ~ ○

•Full Metal Alchemist ~ ○

•Golden Kamuy ~ ❥○

•Haikyuu! ~ ○

• Hunter x Hunter ~ ○

•Komi Can't Communicate ~ ◍ ○

•Kuruko’s Basketball ~ ○

•Log Horizon ~ ○

•Magi (+Includes AoS) ~ ○

•My Clueless First Friend ~ ○

•My Hero Academia ~ ○

•My Star! (Oshi No Ko) ~ ○

•Pokemon ~ ❥▿

•Saiki K. ~ ○

•School Babysitters ~ ○

•Seraph of the End ~ ❥ ◍ ○

•Skip & Loafer ~ ❥ ○

•Snow White with the Red Hair ~ ❥ ◍ ○

•Soul Eater ~ ○

•World Trigger ~ ❥ ○

•Weak Hero ~ ❥ ◍ ◐ (I've watched the kdrama... I just dont have access to it anymore).

/this could get REAL long so I didn’t include a lot… If you’re interested in one that isn’t listed, feel free to ask if I’ve watched/read it :) /

P.S: I’ve seen lots of the more popular/mainstream animes (movies too) but just didn’t list them.

EDIT: I've decided to link my finished animes.

[ GROUND RULES ]

No NSFW (obviously)

Constructive Criticism? Lovely. Mocking or being blatantly mean? Please don't. I'll be honest, I'm sensitive LOL.

If you want to request, please leave it under the respective post that I make for what is listed. (if there isn't a linked post for that, put it here and I'll make one <3)

Don't be concerned if I disappear. I'm literally making this out of whatever motivation I have left of the week. A spur of the moment thing is going on :'D

---

Again, I have absolutely NO idea what im doin... im bored, it's summer rn. Speaking of which, if I do ever actually post and follow up with whatever requests may or may not come my way -- the moment the school year starts again, either I'll be spam posting my brainrotting ideas or I will just never be seen again :)

[simbic]

...yeah once I got too deep in I just kinda forgot about the sims lol

Im going to write a very strongly worded letter to FromSoftware about Malenia

and Mohg.

Because FUCK MOHG

Out of the two of them, he was hands down the fucking WORST, but at least when I get shadow of the erdtree he'll already be out of the fuckin WAY

Stuff below, skip if you don't care lol:

To get through Malenia:

Lightest armor I had plus a talisman to increase equip load

Talismans: crits, greater attack power at low health, incantation potency

Reduvia

Golden Order Seal

White Mask

Swarm of Flies

Golden Vow

Lord's Heal

Black Knife Assassin Tiche's ashes (upgraded obvs)

Tiche IS KEY because Malenia STEALS HEALTH WHEN SHE HITS YOU (ffs), and she hits you a LOT if you can't roll away fast enough.

The skill on Tiche's blade is Blade of Death. It reduces base health by a percentage, and then does continuous damage over time, so this helps counteract the health steal. This, plus hemorrhage added up a LOT so once I landed on that combination, I then had to figure out how to deal with that god awful attack Malenia does.

The Waterfowl Dance made me so Goddamn angry, but once I could light roll, I could dodge that attack and take zero damage. When she's poised in the air preparing to perform that attack, be ready to roll back four times and the first two flurries will miss you. Roll forward and then away and the last flurry will also miss you. Dodging her regular attacks was pretty straight forward.

I also went with Reduvia because one of my friends suggested it for Mohg, and I don't do well with close combat (it's not my preferred style tbh). I have the rivers of blood katana and Eleonora's pole blade, but they didn't hit right for me. Reduvia throws out a blood arc and it was pretty effective.

Honestly, a lot of my deaths happened because I took my eyes off Malenia for like half a second. She's fast, you have to time everything, though Tiche admittedly throws off Malenia's patterns, so she might only perform the Waterfowl Dance once, or it gets interrupted.

it's just so much trial and error to get through some of these bosses oh my God. Maybe this will help someone who is stuck on either of these bosses.

As for Mohg, it was the worst, but

Banished Knight Engvall

Mohg's Shackles

Reduvia

Swarm of Flies

White Mask

Hoslow's Armor

Golden Vow

Erdtree Blessing

Lord's Heal

Purifying Crystal Tear in a mixed physick

Probably not everything, I may have had stars of ruin also, but i can't remember. Someone told me to just roll with bleed for Mohg, and i'm like, that makes NO SENSE, so I go to the wiki and wtf, he's weak to bleed damage. Like wtf, you're the LoRd Of BlOoD

do better

After that things admittedly were a bit easier. The purifying crystal tear basically neuters Mohg's three ring curse bs. He'll still perform it, and he'll still gain health, but you won't take any damage from it. If you don't have the tear, drink a flask between the second and third nihil, though it's just easier to have the tear.

Mohg's Shackles pins him down briefly so you can wail on him, but it doesn't work in the second phase. Which...HE FLIES IN THE SECOND PHASE. WOULDN'T THAT MAKE MORE--

you know what, nevermind. God, FromSoft. ugh

Golden Vow for damage and defense buff, Swarm of Flies for bleed, Reduvia for bleed. Banished Knight Engvall because he's tanky, does standard tank damage, and he can stay alive for the entire battle.

I'm finding the Mimic Tear to be a bit overrated. It was perfect in like selia where I was having issues with the vanishing sorcerers, but I've found in boss battles, they focus the Mimic Tear too much and it dies too quickly.

Frustrating as this game is, I am actually enjoying it a lot. This is my first souls like, and the trial and error, figuring out patterns and timing etc is always weirdly rewarding for me. I also really like piecing together the lore through the item descriptions and youtube etc, it gives a lot of depth to the game and I like having an explanation for why I'm doing the seemingly random thing I'm doing.

That said, I get hyper fixated on one thing when my mental health is fighting with me, and tbh it could be worse

Anyway i'm done ranting, because frankly, every time I think I've seen the worst thing in Elden Ring, it proves me wrong

[crowns-of-violets-and-roses]

Hugo Awards best novel ranking

Did not Read: Starter Villain

I was never a huge Scalzi fan and much of his recent work doesn't even seem to be attempting to be anything substantial and from what I've seen even people who like his recent stuff were cool on this. All that combined made this an easy skip.

5 Witch King (review)

I didn't enjoy reading this one and my opinion hasn't changed since finishing it. I kind of feel like this was testing the waters for a series and failed to do much interesting instead of just setting things up. Probably on the borderline of no award tbh.

4 Translation State (review)

Starts strong and gradually peters out. Outside of our protagonists most background characters feel like caricatures and the world often feels simplistic. It's still a good book and I've softened a little on it since writing the linked post.

3 The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (review)

A brilliantly realized historical setting of the 12th Century in the Indian Ocean with some magic added in. Given the attention to historical detail the characters all feel disappointingly modern though they're fun enough archetypes with Raksh and Amina herself standing out.

2 The Saint of Bright Doors (review)

Excellent book that I probably lacked the background to fully appreciate. I read some discussion after suggesting some of it was addressing Sri Lankan politics which I'll admit I didn't catch. While I could identify some of the Buddhist parallels I could only really notice them not tell what the book was doing with them.

Thoroughly enjoyed it - a unique world, enjoyable prose, interesting characters - and I'd be happy to see it win. I even considered flipping it with my first place choice.

1 Some Desperate Glory (review)

This is I expect the one that's going to stick in my head the longest. Kyr is a protagonist of all time (I am rotating her in my mind as I write this). Avi, Cleo, Magnus and Yiso are all great and so many of them have interesting relationships with Kyr and each other. Someone needs to make a hit adaptation so I can read bad fanfic about them (I'd prefer good fic obviously but beggars can't be choosers).

It deals with some interesting ideas that it addresses with wildly varying quality. The last section is the weakest and even though the ending doesn't stick the landing most of the rest of the book is great enough to make up for it.

There's a big gap between my top two and everything else and smaller but still substantial gaps from Amina al-Sirafi to Translation State and Translation State to Witch King.

Overall a decently strong set of finalists. I think any year Amina al-Sirafi was at the bottom of my list would be an exceptionally strong year and any year it was at number one would be a weak one so it being at the halfway point means it's an average year right?

[azumasoroshi]

shizaya fights are cool

forever thinking about how fun shizuo and izaya's chase scenes are because they're always based on the environment <333 like fighting in a giant empty arena has always been meh to me i LOVE when fights incorporate the setting like the train/construction zone fights in shang-chi and any of gray's fights from weak hero and stuff like that

and the nature of shizaya's fights is literally them using every object in ikebukuro to try to kill each other with (including trucks) so of course there's a TON of environment interaction and even if it's not practical at all (shizuo probably could have killed izaya a million times over if he just punched him instead of...pressing his forehead against his???? or throwing the truck at him instead of backwards????) it's SO fun to watch

if i ever learn to animate properly id really wanna make another one of their chase scenes because explosions and fire laser beams are cool but vaulting off of sign posts stuck in the sides of buildings is even cooler

OR write about it in fanfiction, tbh shizaya fics skip over the fights too much or just have them running and cut to them being exhausted like MAN show your work give me the good shit or ill write it myself (that sounds like SO much more fun compared to writing 'he slashed the other's clothes with his sword, missing by a hare's breadth and scowling as the other rushed forward to compensate for his wavering balance" or something. maybe i tried too hard on that one but IDK I DONT LIKE WRITING FIGHT SCENES

they're generally really hard to not get repetitive for me but there'd be so much less repetition in a shizaya fight becase you're always moving and you can always throw new stuff into the equation so it's not just the same old movements over and over. and you can change locations too like what if they're fighting in an aquarium?? fucking uh oh dude

or like. them "trading weapons" would be fun, where shizuo starts throwing the knives he's acquired from izaya over the years/the ones he catches in his teeth and izaya like. im not sure what he would do but maybe shizuo launches a bunch of things at some ceiling panelling and they get stuck in it and izaya cuts them down and all the stuff falls on shizuo like stalectites and he has to run to get out from under it. that kind of stuff

i cant focus on anything else rn because i just watched this for like the seventh time this week and just hhHHHHH (it's mirrored but apparently it's from an ova so you can probably watch the whole unmirrored episode somewhere)

i love how ovas are usually for fanservice stuff and durarara fans' fanservice is full shizaya fight. they knew what we wanted and by god they delivered

[time-to-write-and-suffer]

Hi! I agree with a lot of your criticism towards twc3, biggest issues imo being 1. increasingly weaker writing for the characters 2. weak plot. I'm curious: if you could prioritize fixing only one (for example: great plot with increased/meaningful branching but relationship writing stays as in book 3) what would you pick/believe would serve the series best going forward?

The focus has always been on the romance, and that's what I would prioritize if forced to make the choice, and it's one that would please the most fans as nobody's here for the plot. However, I don't believe that the choice is necessary, and that both can be improved simultaneously without sacrificing the other. Simply put, it needs to be scaled down, and it needs to be more focused. I would prefer shorter books, with tighter plots, fewer but more meaningful variations, and less wordy and more purposeful writing.

I know that M!shka has the whole thing vaguely planned out, given that we knew it'd be seven books from the start, but whatever her outlining process is, it's just not visible on the page. I'm honestly starting to think she said seven because it sounded cool, and not because she actually had anything to fill each book with. 3 reads like it's a bunch of random Patreon drabbles slapped together and barely connected by time skips.

Most of the issues -- the cheap and OOC romance interactions, the vague plot, the dropped subplots -- could be solved by just removing a lot of the unecessary fluff and by focusing in on one thing and tying everything else back to it. And I'm not saying that it needs to be plot progression and action all the time, not at all, but there needs to be a throughline that connects what's on the page to the overall story, that justifies the words put in front of the reader. I just don't see that focus and that artistic vision here. It's a bunch of bullshit that doesn't stick together.

Reading book 1 compared to 2 and 3 is so wack, because at the end of book 1, there were so many interesting and exciting possibilities. It felt as though there were many different and equally worthwhile plots that could be explored in the next books. And then you read book 2 and go "Oh ok? So I ... I guess the romances will progress in the next one? That's neat. And there might be some even bigger bad on the horizon?" Then you read book 3 and what do you feel? I felt nothing, aside from anger maybe. Because all you get is like, a half-assed climax and then a cheap teaser. Does it feel like the story is going somewhere? Like there are infinite possibilities to explore? Like we're building up to something? No, not really. That's what's lacking, a vision, a vector that guides your thoughts forward based on the movement of the previous books. Book 3 sorta meanders about and then falls face-down on the ground.

For book 4, I would probably, once again, stop trying to one-up myself with bigger and badder plots and have a smaller mystery happen, something more character-focused and maybe relevant to the detective personally, and give each LI a distinct subplot that ties into the main mystery. Because you decided your LI in book 1, it also opens up the opportunity to make the mystery tailored to the LI. That way, both the main plot and the detective being an actual detective feels interesting and hooks you in, while also providing plenty of romance opportunities and character development.

I also think that having 7 books, combined with having the PC be a detective, and the thing being set in a small town ... Idk, it was the perfect setup for having semi-independent, smaller mystery stories, all connecting together by the romances and characters, and slowly building up to something bigger by leaving crumbs in each book. Just a lot of missed opportunities, tbh. People who say "omg it's just a small cute romance game!! Stop trying to make it more than it is!" but I'm not? I'm all about making it SMALLER and MORE romance-focused! It's when it stretches and tries to do bigger things and overreaches that you start seeing how thin the fabric is.

Obviously it's easy to sit here and think you could do better, and honestly I don't know if I could or if my fixes would actually improve anything, but if given her resources, I'd damn sure try to lol.

[transboysokka]

20 Questions for fic writers!

this is from @ozais-lobotomist and i tag any writer who sees this post lolol

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

ive deleted a fuckton and pretty much started my account over in july lol but right now there are 20 things on there

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

101,151. Since mid-July. omg wtf.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

SO MANY in the past, but my ao3 right now just has for atla and theres one les mis oneshot thats YEARS old that i cant bring myself to delete lol

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

wow ive never checked let me see 1. Zuko Amongst the Dragons 2. Zuko and Sokka Get Engaged in the Most Zukka Way Possible 3. Hidden Pain, Shared Love 4. Scratchy 5. Mother whoa tbh im v surprised by this list

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

YES i try to say thank u to everyone!!!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

omg i cant CHOOSE uhhh its gonna have to be One Last Time

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

i dont have a lot of those? lol but its probs gotta be the sequel to One Last Time, The End of All Things

8. Do you get hate on fics?

omg no i could not imagine

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

hehehehe nah not really, im not the best at it. i write other fucked up shit instead. we love us some torture porn

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

nah, not really my style tbh

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

no that would be wild (bad)

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

no that would be wild (good) ive thought about translating some of my own fics but i just dont know if the demand would be very high to be worth it???

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

not in a long long long time but i'm interested! other zukka writers hmu (though I'm pretty picky about who I write with. It's not personal, just a style thing)

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

My all-time favorite ship to WRITE is probably Zukka. It's really fun and comes real naturally to me

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Probably my Divorced Zukka The Last Five Years AU. I couldn't get it off to that strong of a start, the reception wasn't great, and there's a lot of boring stuff I'd have to get through before I got to the Good Stuff, so that motivation is just dead.

16. What are your writing strengths?

tbh just Being In Character. That's what I get the most compliments on. also grammar and spelling, that kind of thing.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I skip over description and setting scenes as much as I possibly can, and it's not necessarily that I Can't as much as I Don't Care To... I get away with it because it's fanfiction but I'd like to... start trying a bit harder at it

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic?

I guess if I had reason to? If it fit with the flow/plot of the fic, there was good reason to do it, and it was in one of the only two other languages I speak... I don't see there being a reason for that in this fandom though lol

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Star Wars, about 15 years ago lol

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

all of my children have a special place in my heart. I love Zuko Amongst the Dragons and One Last Time. Also bad idea right? was just super fun and is a bit underrated if u ask me lol

[sapphic-story]

45, 49, 56 for Hero

THANK YOUUUU THIS WAS SO FUN

Put them all into one so that you wouldn’t get pinged three times!

Hero

45. What’s something unimportant / frivolous that they hate passionately?

Dark mode. Hero HATES any tech application in dark mode. If someone shows her a phone with an application in dark mode she will automatically set to changing it to light mode before even looking at anything else.

49. Would they eat something they find gross to be polite?

It depends! Hero is a bit of a food snob, so she’s pretty critical of meals that she thinks could be better. At the same time, though, she grew up with Southern Hospitality and not eating someone’s food is a Slight there so it kind of depends on how much she respects that person and if it was homemade or not (and how homemade it is—“from the box” is very different to “from scratch” to her). If someone, like, store bought something she thought was gross, she’d easily skip. However, if someone put their Heart and Soul into the food, she will try to politely eat it…with the most backhanded compliments possible.

She’s not an exotic eater though; if someone rolled up with escargot she’s skipping out no matter what lol

56. If they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?

Her parents, though she already knows she’s not going to get that. :p In terms of who she Does get comfort from, the answer would be her dog in most circumstances. But now that she’s away from home…I don’t know if she has an answer! (She’s suffering.)

Xeno

35. What is the smallest, morally questionable choice they’ve made?

Wrote “SEE ME AFTER CLASS” on a student’s assignment (she’s a TA) and when they came she just tried to recruit them into the astronomy club that she’s the president of.

40. How do they respond to a loose handshake? What goes through their head?

She probably wouldn’t even notice LOL she seems like the type to have an over enthusiastic, very firm handshake while speaking over a mile a minute about whatever may be enthusing her at the time. If she did notice, she’d probably just make a little comment like “weak grip, huh?” And immediately move on.

43. What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?

This is a really good question lol I need to do some research to answer this tbh bc I recently decided that Xeno is an international student from Namibia, Africa (very inspired by a coworker from the same place)

The easiest one off the cuff though is just like. General language. It’s much more likely that others misunderstand her because of her accent, but there’s also times where she’s like “what. What are you trying to refer to right now.” She always believes that her own pronunciation is correct and will 100% make fun of American pronunciations that she thinks is dumb.

“Bella”

(I did actually get around to naming her, it’s “DT” or “Daphne Taylor”, but now I want to add that in somewhere LOL. Middle name? Daphne Bella Taylor? I can see it)

11. If someone was impersonating them, what would friends / family ask or do to tell the difference?

Ask about her crush of the week. Nobody could ever keep up with that other than her. (Including the friends and family asking…let’s hope they’d pick right)

35. What is the smallest, morally questionable choice they’ve made?

She keeps several things in her purse solely to drop in front of guys so that they pick it up for her and she can talk to them. The different choices are based on what she thinks will impress guys.

58. How many hobbies have they attempted to have over their lifetime? Is there a common theme?

A LOT. She’s the type of person that buys a bunch of things to get really into a hobby, loses interest in a few days, and never return. They’re primarily things that would be aesthetically pleasing, like letter writing, art, and journal keeping. I think she also likes hobbies primarily based on identifying things, such as birdwatching or looking into local flora.

[rainbowe-set]

100 questions, to help doe {eye/he/it} figure eyeself out. w soul {it/red} answering as well coz why not. except we keep changing the 100 questions

name

doe.. | soul/shrimp

2. age

20 | 20 but body is {ADULT}

3. we're not sharing our city xdd

4. What do most people not know about you?

i'm, kind of a girl? and a boy? but also neither? my gender is love i think.. | idfk, just like blue /sys did, i like digging out chunks in minecraft. repetitive task go brrr

5. What do most people know you for?

i don't think anyone knows me, apart from amaris and others of his system? but i guess that would be for the game i'm a fictive from. | hell if i know?? for being the soul i guess

6. Hobbies

talking with amaris.. if that counts.. oh! drawing, right. | listenin to music

7. What are your passions?

art? love? | maybe minecraft speedruns. or music, music is more like it

8. What do you search for in a significant other?

that they love me? i don't know.. that seems like enough | probably being less socially anxious than me. need me a "excuse me he asked for no pickles" kinda person /hj

change of plans i chose different questions those ones were too hard

   1) Put your {playlist} on shuffle. Give me the first 6 songs that pop up.

Chonny Jash - Grew On Me | i dont have a separate playlist but from blue's playlist, I Am... All of Me by Crush 40    2) If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

amaris.. | amaris as well    3) Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, give me line 17.

from fnaf into the pit, 'his dad sped away, probably glad to get rid of him."    4) What do you think about most?

probably amaris.. is that weird? | weirdo here! not weird. :thumbsup: .as for me uhhh maybe music    5) What does your latest text message from someone else say?

"gniiight 💜"    6) Do you sleep with or without clothes on?

clothes on, i suppose? i don't like changing clothes much | clothes on, somewhat same reason    7) skip    8) Girls…. (finish the sentence); Boys…. (finish the sentence)

girls are awesome, boys are awesome? | girls go to ccollege to get more knowledge.... boys go to jupiter to get more stupider... /ref    9) Ever had a poem or song written about you?

no? i wonder if i can write poems. as in, am i good at it? i should try some time | i meeean, technically the soul eclectic? lol ik tht doesnt count but its funny    10) When is the last time you played the air guitar?

what does that even mean? | that was before i even existed i think    11) Do you have any strange phobias?

don't know about "strange", but.. heights? and being abandoned, you know.. being hated.. | slight social phobia xdd    12) skip    13) skip    14) If you are outside, what are you most likely doing?

going out on a walk. that sounds nice, we should go on a walk sometime | absolutely not /lh uhh for me i guess shopping? but never on my own {w parents}    15) Do you prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?

ooh, that's tough. um... both? if that makes sense.. as in, being able to watch myself? because i like myself? | <-autospec momence. uhh for me i think behind th camera    16) Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band?

chonny jash? he's not a band, but.. | lemon demoonnnnn    17) skip    18) skip    19) skip    20) What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength?

love. both of those. | my fuckinnn self esteem issues tbh. and, resilience, is that th word? idk man    21) Who is your celebrity crush?

ooh. chonny jash? | backrooms    22) skip    23) skip    24) Do you have a collection of anything?

i mean, if it counts, collection of art of us amaris has done | blue's rock collection is somewhere in the wardrobe    25) Do you prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online?

ah, neither? or, actually, both. talking online but not with video | both r bad but talkin on the phne is bettr    26) Are you happy with the person you’ve become?

if the people i love are happy with me, then i am. | no lmaoooo    27) What’s a sound you hate; sound you love?

hm, maybe chalk on board sound. and voices of loved ones | chalk on board from me as well chief. or sound of the body's voice. sound i love, uhhh idk silence?    28) skip    29) Do you believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

yes? but not aliens.. | one of the alters in here is literally a ghost lmao {well ghostkin but it counts}. uhh idc abt aliens    30) skip    31) Smell the air. What do you smell?

sweat? | cold wind    32) What’s the worst place you have ever been to?

i haven't been to many places.. | school. i didnt even exist yet but school    33) skip    34) skip    35) To you, what is the meaning of life?

love? | none lollll    36) skip    37) skip    38) What’s the weather like right now?

cold. | cold windy    39) skip    40) skip    41) skip    42) skip    43) Do you have any nicknames?

i mean, john doe is a nickname i guess.. | soil or smtn i dunno    44) skip    45) skip    46) skip    47) Do you have any obsessions right now?

amaris? does he count.. is it weird? | minecraft speedrunning perhaps    48) What’s your ?

? | ??    49) skip    50) Do you believe in magic?

i suppose i do | sure man fuck me up    51) skip    52) skip    53) Do you save money or spend it?

i would save it, i think | save    54) What’s the last thing you purchased?

| rainbow huggy wuggy? tht happened b4 either of us existed but idk what else we've bought    55) Love or lust?

love.. | love    56) In a relationship?

yes.. | yea    57) skip    58) skip    59) Where were you yesterday?

at home, i think? | do not fuckin remember lolll    60) Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

hello kitty clip ons | anime girl figure    61) skip    62) What’s your favorite animal?

ooh, uh, probably cats. | birds. crows. uhh sure cats i mean i like dogs too so idk    63) skip    64) skip    66) skip    67) What were you doing last night at 12 AM?

sleeping? i think..    68) What do you think is Satan’s last name?

what? | i dont think satans last name is what.. (that's not what i-) ahem. uhh redfield    70) skip    71) skip    72) skip    73) You can only have one of these things: trust or love.

love.. | trust    74) What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?

maybe my type by saint motel | aint nothing like a funky beat perhaps    75) skip    76) skip    77) How can I win your heart?

just love me. that is enough. | like my things or smtn    78) skip    79) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?

coming back from the void | <- headspace void. uhh joining pcjs perhaps. it wasnt me who did it but still    80) skip    81) What would you want to be written on your tombstone?

loverboy. | wtf kinda question is that...    82) skip    83) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: heart.

amaris.. | acou /sys and amaris    84) What is a saying you say a lot?

"is that weird" maybe.. | awesomesauce    85) What’s the last song you listened to?

| currently listening to Moe Shop - You Look So Good    86) Basic question: what’s your favorite color/colors?

black and red | red and gray.    87) What is your current desktop picture?

| p3 protagonist. we should probably change it... hm    88) If you could press a button and make anyone in the world instantaneously explode, who would it be?

(REDACTED) | myself /hj    89) skip    91) skip    92) You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?

amaris telling me he likes me.. | when i first appeared. tht blurry feeling is weird but kind of pleasnt    93) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

i mean, if i erase our trauma (that i don't even remember), i probably wouldn't exist anymore, would i? | vyral's trauma    94) skip    95) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

meeting amaris.. | amaris as well    96) skip    97)skip    98) skip    99) skip    100) skip

[knowlessman]

okay, so they got bakugo un-sasuke'd, but it's worth noting that the sasuke counter is at 2 and we're only halfway through the show (at time of writing)(also as far as I know the show that it's named for never went past 1). anyway, bnha s3e11-13 -- (well, assuming the sasuke counter counts when he got caught by the slime monster even though that time it wasn't because the villains wanted to turn him evil and have their leader use him as their next vessel)(…no wait I think Tomura is sposed to be the next vessel. beh. anyhow…)

Ra's Al Ghul giving me Bleach vibes, first glance anyway

"you didn't rescue me, I rescued me through you!" whatever

"tomura is your mentor's grandson!" …is he gonna say "search your feelings" next?

tbh, wouldn't have been too surprised if All for One was able to manipulate Endeavor somehow, but idk. maybe the flat-out-evil-but-not-designated-as-villains characters in this are just smarter than I'd like them to be. : /

shame Spirit Bomb doesn't seem to be a thing, huh

"izuku midoriya! he's the one you passed it onto, isn't he!" o_o well. him knowing that is uh, is pretty bad, innit?

…the end? -- "the ringleader, they're leading him into the Maiden right now!" -- The -- WHAT

all might, pointing at camera: "next, it's your turn." the Mic, from his couch probably: "yeah, all might, show those reporters who's boss!"

keeps not skipping the OP gonna miss this one when it goes, probably : /

"she put her child into foster care so she could keep heroing" …I've heard Vegeta described as the second-worst father in DBZ before, but… I don't know anything, this shit's realer than anything I can speak about by a long shot

lol, iida still has that damn mustache on

speak of the 'geeta. : |

"you didn't smash yourself up this time! I'm so proud of you" he didn't do - I mean it was his plan, yes, he didn't not do anything, but he didn't use his power at all. I think he's sposed to have found a way to use his powers without smashing himself up? but problems never seem to show up that require powers without requiring him to spend his body -- speaking of which, HAY MELISSA, ABOUT THOSE GAUNTLETS…? -- used to watch inuyasha; got past where the first movie apparently was; some guy from it showed up; was like "who the hell is this guy?"

(eyecatch) cannot ever get over how ridiculous best jeanist looks

who the hell is Brian the Sun? looks it up facepalms …well played

I would never have expected either of bakugo's parents to be ned flanders in a zillion years, but I guess this answers something. : / jesus christ, though. and I guess they're presenting his mom as more or less just fine? and not even a little bit comparable to endeavor? calling bakugo weak, of all things, and talking about him "being praised for nothing?"

is midoriya's mom the only parent in this show who gives a shit about - okay nvm that's doing a disservice to jiro's parents and I guess probably todoroki's mom. just, after seeing endeavor and seeing bakugo's parents and I guess maybe jiro's (who maybe are just fine with it for convenience since she's not a main character - actually hang on, are we gonna see how this plays out with uraraka's as well? kinda think maybe we should, she hasn't been getting much screentime) -- …point being, momdoriya is the only parent so far who seems the slightest bit protective at all. …maybe that says something about how this setting's society is, with the Symbol of Peace and all? idfk

…gonna be honest, I'm failing to see where the logic is with "we're gonna have the students stay at dorms at the school now" in the first place. amazed that that apology seems to have convinced momdoriya tbph

…so, is Bakuswole actually not related to bakugo at all?

'XD "shit, I'm not incognito in this form anymore"

(bakugo just. I guess. mugged kaminari? somehow? he got him to use his ult? how even. bakugo doesn't have. …what?)

"it's like a mansion!" I thought your parents owned a construction company, uraraka. do they actually just work at one?

room… presentation… um, sure, just invade everybody's privacy th - oh jesus christ don't make us see mineta's room -- 'XD laserguts's room looks like a webkinz room. …or animal crossing ig -- …well, the good news is, we don't have to see mineta's room -- "kaminari's is so gaudy!" you mean it's the only one so far that actually looks remotely like a dorm -- mineta you're not allowed to make cogent arguments, stop making us remember you're in this show -- huh. the choji of this show cooks. he gets to have two character traits. good for him.

…is asui supposed to be autistic rep? "I can't help but say everything that comes to mind?" …idk.

anyway, cutting off here for tonight

[onstoryladders]

The thing with the Max situation is that if they bring her back in the 1st or 2nd episode, it kills that emotional intensity of Max falling into a coma. Because S5 will start with jumping right into the action, and one of the most important things will be, ofc, focusing on saving Max. However... if they bring her back in just 2 episodes... don't you think it's kind of underwhelming? It makes you question what was the point of her falling into a coma if she was just gonna brought back a few days later, because, you know, S5 starts with action right away so there isn't any large time skip. So, I really don't expect them to save Max a few days later of her falling into a coma tbh.

I also do think her staying in a coma for 2 years is too much. I would understand a few weeks or months, I mean, if we were to speak from a purely medical perspective, a coma lasts about a few weeks but this isn't a normal coma. Still, 2 years of staying in a coma is way too much tbh. I guess something bad can happen and that's why they have that time skip but like... does that mean they will be able to bring Max back or not, that's the question.

See that's where I'm stuck. I don't think they will be able to bring her back in just 2 episodes because I think it's jarring from a writing standpoint. But I also think her staying in a coma for 2 years doesn't make sense. That's why I think maybe we are getting the time skip thing wrong here, maybe it's at the end of the show or something instead of being in the middle of the show.

You make some valid points. They wrote themselves in a bit of a corner with this one, although I still think it can make sense? Let's see.

To me, even if Max wakes up after a few days, it doesn't lessen the impact of her situation. She's still bedridden, her bones broken, her eyes blind, and she still went through hell and back. Her coma wasn't even directly caused by Vecna, but was a consequence of El trying to save her, and once she wakes up and realizes she's stuck? She can't see, she can't move...

Also you can think of the coma as midway ground? If the theories are right and she's been absorbed by Vecna or whatever, her being stuck somewhere in his Mind Lair could be useful once she's brought back again. Maybe she can discover something important there. Or maybe her being stuck there is useful for other characters – like-- what if Will uses his connection to Vecna to search for her there?

But yeah, it does feel a bit weak... but at least she could be back 😭 #priorities

I think that Max staying in a coma would be (from a writing standpoint) more important for El's character than anything, almost like what Will's disappearance meant for Mike in season one. El will be plagued by guilt and probably won't be able to think about nothing except to save her, and that will be the driving force behind her arc.

The thing about this is that we still don't know enough about what Max being in a coma means (supernatural world wise), and every scenario we come up with has its pros and cons.

As for the timeskip, I don't know, because I thought they needed it because of the ages of the characters and the actors being too different?

[fatmclassic]

On to how big how blue how beautiful now. I enjoy most of this album,it's more grounded lyric wise than before but still has the biblical and myrh metaphors throughout. She was trying to channel male artists her whole career and she comes closest on this album. The addition a brass section was a dream come true for me, I watched the original teaser over and over for that finish. I like the angrier tone in some songs here. It was also developed with a desire to move on from the ceremonial/lungs sound and it accomplishes that.

Ship to wreck as an opener. On an album where she wasn't allowed to write about water. Ok. Well the verse about killer whales and sharks is cool. But it's a fairly weak opener by her standards. A safe, Fleetwood Mac kind of track. But the chorus is weak, ship to wreck over and over isn't exactly catchy. The music video is neat though, a glimpse into her house. 5/10

What kind of man is a much better track. It's introduces the rock aspect and the brass. The distorted vocals at the start are new for her and it works well with the sinister choir. This reminds me of old pre lungs Florence, angry with guitars. It does have the weakest lyric sadly 'dont let me dangle at a cruel angle' still makes me cringe. The video for this is a bit uncomfortable with the dungeon section. There's an acoustic version somewhere with the harp where she seethes during this song and it's worth seeking out 9/10

Title track now and gonna be honest, most of this song is a bit bland to me. Iirc I think it has something to do with Felix baumgartner doing that space jump but can't be sure. It is the first song to name a real life location,. marking a change in her writing. The ending though is fucking sublime, a real career standout. Tbh, I usually just skip to the end when this comes up. 7/10

Queen of peace is an old style Florence song with a new brass section. It's a story telling kind of song, lots of drums, back to the fantasy imagery. One of my favourites on this album. I quite liked the video on a Scottish island, as I was living in Scotland at the time. A dramatic tale and it was great live too. 10/10

VS&S is her first properly stripped back song, for the most part. I know a lot of people love this. I do like it, but I prefer the other quieter songs on this album. Some very delicate vocals, that grow stronger as it goes on. 6/10

Delilah kind of sounds like it could fit on lungs imo. Drums, biblical references, stomps and clapping. It's a very primal song, driving by percussion and vocals. I love the fast pace of it. I guesz this might be connected to her love of dance inspired by Pina Bausch she discovered while recording this. 7/10

Long and lost is my favourite of the slower tracks here. I really like the choir in the background. Tbh I think it could have done fine with just the choir. She restrains herself a lot more on this track, but it kind of get overlooked on favour of Vs&s. 7/10

I used to fucking hate caught. I've been pretty mean about it. I found it goofy. I like it a bit more now, probably because I've listened to more artists that inspired it. But it's overshadowed by better songs on this album, and it's does sound a bit generic. Biblical references here again. Not as bad as I remember, but still nothing special. Her vocals are quite sweet here, but the music isn't interesting. And it could be shorter 5/10

Third eye and it's handclaps, thumping drums and an upbeat vibe, I see this as another dog days, hbhbhb style. It's catchy though, and the brass saves this from being generic. And I really love that scene in the video where Rob comes in. The lyrics are quite personal, about her newfound sobriety and calmer lifestyle 8/10

Then heart beat from cosmic love returns in this much more laid back at Jude. I think this was Anne's after a storm that happened at the time of recording. See, she can do restraint everybody. Another song about moving on from chaos. This song flows along at a nice steady pace, never swelling onto that typical Florence finish. 6/10

This album was inspired by a lot of 60s and 70s acts and Mother seems like the most obvious tribute to that. The album version doesn't so mux for me but the live version has the brass that improves it so much. But going purely by the album it's a 6/10

Hiding is a song that seems to be a fan favourite and I tbh I'm a little lost as to why that is. It's ok, the harp is more prominent here and I know people where missing that on this album. Lyrics are ok, nothing groundbreaking. I don't dislike it,but never quite got the hype for this one and I still don't. It's doesn't fit with the album so I can see why it's a deluxe extra. 5/10

Make up your mind has Florence as an executioner. Unique concept. Water references again. And the harp is back too. I like it a bit more than hiding,but it's just ok. 6/10

Which witch. The cast off from that scrapped album so many want. Doesn't fit here at all, more at home on ceremonials or lungs but I'm glad we have it, and it feels fairly complete for a demo. The drama here reminds me more of breath of life than anything else. Again, a song some people say is self parody, but I love it. If Florence doesn't write orchestral songs about witches who will?9/10.

Pure feeling, a pleasant song. A bit Fleetwood Mac lite. The harp is back here. Shame it's a stupid exclusive for some American shop 🙄. I don't like it as much as I remember though. A bit bland 6/10

Conductor is another exclusive. Another meta song. I don't like the piano in this song, no real reason, I just don't like it. Not too bothered this is exclusive honestly 4/10.

I am very fucking bothered about as far as I can get being exclusive however, a vinyl b-side to this day, what the fuck. It's another restrained song, but it's done so well. Far more grounded and realistic lyrics here. It's just cool and one of my top fatm songs. 10/10.

Stand by me. Florence covers this with a harp accompanying. Pretty much it. I don't like this song, never did and still don't. 1/10.

Too much is never enough. A dramatic song for a video game. It's pretty good, if a bit too long and I rarely return to it 6/10

I will be is more of an atmosphere building track than a song in it's own right. Not played the game but it's quite nice. 7/10

I love you all the time. A charity single that doesn't change much. It's fine. 5/10

Wish that you where here is a other one people seem to love but again I don't share that sentiment. It's good, but doesn't grab my attention. Could have been shorter 5/10

So I still really love this album.Though I still don't really get the oddysey music video's and I doubt I ever will. It showed that she could do restraint and grounded lyrical imagery if she felt like it. The biblical imagery is still present though.Her soul/rock inspirations are more clear here.

[awashsquid]

Continuation of The Death of the Moon, all of which is here, for your reading pleasure.  If you enjoyed this chapter or this series, consider buying me a coffee!

--

Rei had been introduced to luxury as a young child; her father being such a prominent political figure had meant that he had flown in prestigious circles, sometimes tugging her along for the ride, a purebred to be poked and prodded and fawned over.  The excessive décor was something she always had an eye to appreciate, but as she had gotten older, she found that the lavishness of it all just felt excessive and left her frustrated with the amount of wasteful spending people would do to fill their own greedy desires.  It was around the time that she was able to articulate this opinion, as well as several other choice thoughts, that her father lost interest in showing her off at fancy affairs.  

Still, the grandeur of the lobby was not lost on her, and she fought the urge to crane her head upwards to examine the gold-leafed crown molding high on the ceilings, lest she gawk like a simpleton.  True to Michiru’s word, the doorman and elevator attendant were most gracious to Rei, ushering her up to the penthouse floor with a level of attentiveness that made her slightly uncomfortable.  She kept debating silently if she was supposed to tip the elevator attendant—on one hand, surely rich people had money to tip; on the other hand, palming cash to him seemed a bit gauche.  Before she had made up her mind, the elevator stopped and its door opened, revealing a lovely glass elevator right across the hall.

“The penthouse suite has its own elevator, of course,” he intoned smoothly as he crossed the hall and slid his keycard in one smooth motion.

“Of course,” Rei muttered, some disdain evident that the attendant was trained to ignore, and she entered the elevator alone, rising a single floor in a great glass box that made little rainbows dance every time the light caught it.  The doors slid open with a light ding onto a parlor decorated in tasteful luxury, clean and bright, but generic enough that it would cater to a wide variety of tastes. (Well, so long as those tastes were extremely excessive, Rei thought, removing her shoes before stepping into what she suspected was a real white fur rug.)

“Michiru?” her voice seemed swallowed by the vast space, a hotel suite bigger than some people’s entire houses, the soft fineries muffling her query.  She called out the name again as she padded forward, the rug sinking delightfully under her feet.  There was a full-sized kitchen to her left and a large living area to the right, complete with a fireplace and large mirror overtop that she realized was a cleverly hidden television set.  There was a hallway leading off of both sides, so she shrugged and tried the one off the kitchen first.  

This hallway led to a full bath, a bar room that could easily seat twenty, stocked with fine liquors and wines, and a fully-equipped office, computer light blinking slowly at her. “Not helpful,” she muttered, turning heel and marching across the penthouse.  One small and empty bedroom greeted her, and she groaned in frustration before noticing a rather ornate door in the hall.  Figuring that would be the Master Suite, she knocked; when she received no response, she entered brusquely.

The room was illuminated with an excess of natural light, one entire wall taken up by floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a private hot tub and a stunning view of the city. But more urgently, Michiru was laying on the king-sized bed, dressed in a silk slip and unmoving.

“Michiru?” Rei darted to her side and flipped her dead weight over, her thoughts immediately running to the worst.  Thankfully, she was breathing and didn’t seem to be hurt.  Her eyes blearily opened, and she gave a small, wobbly grin.

“Rei!  So wonderful to see you.  Might I interest you in a drink?”  Michiru moved to sit up and quickly found it useless, so she allowed herself to sink back onto the bed instead.  “I’m afraid I’m going to be a poor hostess; you’ll have to fetch your own.” Her right arm loosely flopped towards a large bar cart, several bottles of wine and wineglasses sitting upon it.

Rei rolled her eyes but crossed to it all the same, not one to turn down a good, free drink, especially when her night was about to be this difficult.  “Geez, Michiru, you really went at it,” she whispered, turning over two empty bottles in her hands.  There was another opened and only perhaps a quarter drunk, so Rei poured herself a glass and crossed to sit facing the bed.

“I am compelled to tell you that you’re drinking a very fine vintage red—”

“Yes, Michiru, I know you’re rich—”

“—but you poured it into a white wine glass.”  Her smirk was the same even when she was drunk, and Rei blushed at the callout.

“Well what does it matter anyway?”  She took a sip and swallowed it hard, trying to tamp down her frustration.

Michiru giggled a little, a hand rising to cover her mouth.  “I confess I’ve never researched.  Something about the bouquet, I think.”

She must be absolutely blasted if she’s admitting she doesn’t know something fancy, Rei thought, eyebrows raised well into her bangs as she took another sip, this one more measured.  “I assume you’re upset.”  Her eyes glanced pointedly at the thoroughly indulged wine cart as proof of her statement.

“Nonsense, this is merely my typical Thursday appointment,” Michiru breezily replied, the smallest slur evident in her otherwise impeccable diction.

Rei exhaled in a short burst, caught between finding the situation funny and heartrending.  “It’s Friday.”

Michiru blinked at her, eyes wide, a hint of bags evident below them upon close inspection.  “Is that so?”  She seemed genuinely baffled as she plucked her watch off the nightstand and confirmed the date.  “Goodness, how easy it is to lose track of time!  They say ‘time flies when you’re having fun,’ but I think it perhaps can speed by just as quickly when the opposite is occurring.  What do you think, Rei?” she asked, their eyes meeting, Michiru’s eyes flashing back to their usual sharpness, deep waters capable of swallowing a person whole.

She snorted in response. “If you want time advice, that’s Setsuna’s bag, not mine.”  Rei swallowed another drink of wine, and the flavor turned sour in her mouth as she realized that it wasn’t Setsuna’s domain any more, all of that having been lost.  Her black hair rippled around her as she shook her head hard, clearing away lingering thoughts, imagining them falling away to leave only a blank slate, her mind an etch-a-sketch in an earthquake.

“You didn’t tell me to come over to talk about time, Michiru.”  Rei sat down her empty glass on the nightstand next to a twin of Michiru’s, a swallow remaining, her lipstick still slightly visible on the rim. “You want to talk about Haruka.”

Michiru didn’t wince but her eyes crinkled shut tightly as she turned her face away, and that was as close to a flinch as she had ever allowed anyone to see.  “There’s not much to say.”  Rei remained silent and unmoving, fighting all of her usual instincts in an effort to draw out further elaboration.  She was rewarded when after a minute Michiru continued, her face still turned towards the windows, eyes gazing outside unseeingly.  “The universe conspired to give me the most beautiful, the most precious gift, in her.  She is—” a steady inhale, to calm her shaking voice “—the best thing I have ever possessed. And I—”  Michiru cleared her throat, and Rei pretended not to notice her eyes going glassy.

“I have this terrible habit, you see.  I feel I cannot touch something so pure, so lovely, without sullying it.  I cannot paint happiness; I cannot play joyful etudes. I am, I think, meant for the deep waters after all, where no one can reach me.  But she did, and what did I do?  Rather than letting her float back to the sunlight, I drug her down, and I drowned her.”  There were tears falling from her eyes one at a time, streaking slowly down her cheeks, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand.  “I only hope I haven’t ruined her completely.”

Next time Minako mentions Haruka’s dramatics, I should bring this up, Rei mused, knowing somehow that she never would, that she would allow this soft part of her friend to remain hidden, tucked away as she had always been.  She couldn’t stop her eyes rolling, though, nor stem her response.  “I think you’re overdoing the sea metaphors a little.” Her tone was gently chiding, the way she used to talk to Usagi when she needed a pick-me-up, and her heart panged as she remembered she would never get to do that to her again.

Not now.  She forced down her grief, pushing it deep within her gut, and continued speaking.  “You didn’t ruin her.  She’s a grown-ass woman, Michiru, not some fancy couch.  She’ll get over it.”  Rei realized that she was being a bit too brusque for Michiru in such a delicate state, and she shifted her tone to something softer.  “I mean, yeah, this hurt her.  But I think she could forgive you.”  Michiru turned her face back towards Rei, a sardonic disbelief coloring her features.  “It’ll take a while, if she does, but I think there’s a good chance.”

“I doubt it,” Michiru whispered, reaching for her wine glass, only for Rei to lightly slap the back of her hand.  She raised her eyes, her mouth open in a most uncouth fashion, as she gaped at her friend.

“Oh hush, I barely touched you.  And you’re cut off the wine for right now, you’ve had enough.”  She crossed her arms and gave her best stern look.  Normally she knew Michiru would laugh in her face and say she would do as she pleased, but instead she assented that she probably had drank enough and retracted her hand.

“This whole thing is a fucking mess, and I won’t tell you it’s not,” Rei stated flatly.  “But Haruka loves you a ludicrous amount, and if anyone could forgive you for cheating, it would be her.  I can’t See for shit any more, and I know you can’t either, but honestly, I think the chances are fairly good that you end up back together.”

Michiru absently rubbed the spot where her wedding ring used to be, unconsciously fiddling with the empty space as she responded, “I do so hope you’re right.”

[flying-nightwing]

Throne of Blood (3/3)

Hello there! Last part of Throne of Blood, I hope you appreciated this little serie! I loved t write it tbh, it was a nice change from the usual DC stuff I write. If you want a bonus chapter, let me know! I thought about doing either a prequel for when they invaded the castle, or some headcanons if y’all have some.

Ps: I realised I kinda made Bruce to be the bad guy here, oops. Sorry about that, but to my defence, family drama was something I built toward from the beginning 😅 Full disclosure, I have nothing against Bruce and Damian pls don’t come at me

Masterlist in bio / pinned!

Pairing: King!Jason x reader x Roy

Word count: 4414

Warnings: same as the last parts (cautious nsfw) + family drama lmao

"--and the might of the casc… cascade could never compare to the ce… cerul… cerulean of her eyes. She was his hope, the only thing he cherished, none of his posse...ssions could ever be worth as much as a minute with her"

You paused to breathe as you reached a paragraph break. You could feel Roy's relaxed stare on you, a small smile ever present on his lips. His hand was absentmindedly rubbing your knees that were lying over his thigh, while his other arm was snugly wrapped around your waist. The quiet crackling of the fireplace indicated the need to add a log, but neither of you wanted to move from your nestled position. Eventually one would have to, though, before the room grew cold. 

"I like it when you read to me" Roy hummed, almost like he hadn't meant to say it out loud. But if you knew one thing about him, it's that he carried very little shame when it came to love. He would never intend to hide his thoughts when they came, and you admired that about him. Still, you couldn't help but look down in embarrassment. 

Him and Jason had taught you to read some months after you joined them, when he passed you a map to find a town's name and you had to tell him you couldn't. Ever since, you worked often on your reading skills, leafing through whatever seemed interesting from Jason's library. But you weren't a natural, far from it. 

"I can't even pronounce all the words correctly" You mumbled. "It must be hard to follow sometimes"

He gently pushed your chin up so he could look into your eyes again. It didn't matter for one second for him that you didn't have the diction of an erudit or the flow of a poet. All he wanted was to hear your voice and watch your eyebrows knit in concentration when you butted on a difficult word. He liked the little things so much better than the finished product.

"I think it sounds perfect"

The corner of your lips rose slightly at his praise as your heart skipped a few beats. Even after all the time you spent together, he always managed to find the right word to make you love him even more, if it was possible. His constant and unconditional support was your crutch, the thing you could rely on no matter what happened, the safe space in which you would never feel judged for what you couldn't do. 

"You know" He began again when he noticed you had trouble believing what he said. You wanted to believe him, but deep inside he knew it was harder for you, and he understood all too well the feeling of not being enough. "I couldn't read either before I was taken in by my warden"

You tilted your head to the side, frowning slightly. You had never known. 

"Took me years to get average at it. And you should have seen my writing-- Hell, you should see it now, it's catastrophic" 

You couldn't help but giggle along as he laughed. It was contagious.

"It's the same with Jason--No wait, the brat actually taught himself how to read somehow" He blinked slowly, like he was still surprised by it. You weren't really, you knew Jason was even smarter than you were aware of. Than anyone was aware of. "But his writing was terrible until he got a proper tutor, that I know of for a fact"

"But his writing is so…" You trailed off, trying to find the right word. "Exquisite"

"Now who's pulling out the big words, uh?"

"Shut up" You laughed, lightly hitting his chest with the book. “Don’t mock me”

“I’m not!” He argued, giving you wide, innocent eyes. He looked too cute for his own sake. “I swear I’m not. You’re just adorable when you get all flustered”

“We better start gearing up now” You evaded the subject, clearing your throat. “Jason will be expecting us--”

“Just one more chapter” He interrupted softly, caressing your waist. “Please?”

You held his stare for a moment before you were convinced, and you nodded, a sheepish smile on your face. You opened the book to the page you had marked and found the paragraph you had stopped to. 

“As he was sitting by the window, he couldn’t help but think about the ar-arrival of the spring, only a few weeks away if nature de...cided to be kind--”

“My Lord, my Lady” 

You paused your reading and looked up. This time, it was Roy who looked the most annoyed of the two of you. 

“It’s time”

You sighed and nodded, putting down the book on the table. Roy was clearly disappointed, but he helped you nevertheless get back on your feet, being careful not to pull on your bandages too much. You were healing well for your condition, you could now walk around and sit down without much help. Still, Roy and Jason didn’t like the idea of leaving you on your own for too long, just in case someone tried to come for you. You definitely couldn’t wield your axes just yet, so it made you an easy target even if you weren’t bed ridden anymore. 

You walked out of the chamber beside Roy, him following your slower pace without complaint. You reached the other end of the hallways and entered another room with chests and racks, where your equipment was kept. You began putting on your suit, the one you had made when you rode beside the Red Hood, well before he was king. It was all black with a red pointed arch on the chest that imitated Jason’s sigil, which was outlined with a single silver following your collarbone. It rose up the back of your neck and was reinforced to protect your vitals. 

“Could you help me pull it up, please?”

Roy nodded as he finished to lace his arm braces, stepping right behind you. He picked the stiff fabric and gently tugged it over your shoulder, brushing his fingers against your skin along the way. He was even more careful with your injured shoulder, making sure it wasn’t bent in any way to fit through the suit. He and Jason had advised against you wearing it, but you were stubborn and refused to show weakness in front of the enemy. Besides, it looked great on you. Roy then buttoned up the suit on your back and up your neck before giving you a kiss on the temple. 

“Close your eyes, I’ve got a little something for you” He whispered in your eyes, and despite your initial confusion, you did as you were told and shut your eyes. You felt something being passed over your head and gently rest on your shoulders, then straps being adjusted on your sides. “You can open the now”

You did as he said and looked down as he gently directed you to the mirror on your left. He had placed a beautiful piece of equipment that paired well with the colors of your suit, lightweight and practical, that covered your shoulders front and back. You usually went without, but it was appropriate considering another arrow in the back would do you no good right now. And since you most probably wouldn’t be using your axes anyway, you could do without your full shoulder movements range. 

“Where did you get this?” You asked as you trailed your finger on the skillfully crafted metal. There was no doubt it had been made for you by how it fit with both your body and suit. It must have cost a fortune.

“The blacksmith in town, the one living near the gates of the castle” He began. “His son was killed by the guild of thieves that lived uptown, the ones we wiped off right after the undertaking. He wanted to thank us somehow, and when he learned about what happened to you, he made this as a present”

“It’s… Very beautiful” You breathed out. “I’ll have to thank him later on. This must have taken so much time to make”

“But you deserve it” He said as he placed a light kiss on your jaw. “You deserve the best. And the best suits you”

“Thank you” You nodded, taking his hand. The leather of his archery glove was rough against your skin, but it had also become a comfort born from the endless days you spent training and hunting on the road. It was tied to some of your best memories with him, and it still amazed you how a simple touch could bring it all back vividly like that. “Come on, Jason must be waiting for us”

You went down to the court, where Jason was talking with the commander and some generals. Upon hearing your footsteps, he perked up and turned around, taking you specifically in. He smiled and nodded, heading for the three black steeds, groomed and in full armor, in the hands of the stable hands. You followed him and grabbed the reins of your mount, carefully climbing on its back and sitting in the saddle.

“Are we ready?” Jason asked.

“Of course” Roy replied first, then both of their eyes set on you.

“Let’s do this” You nodded firmly.

With a kick of your heels, you took off the court and onto the bridge, in the direction of the Wayne Kingdom.

---

“Soooooo…” Roy trailed off. “Do you think he stood us up or..?”

You looked away from the horizon and to Roy, who was slouched over the pommel of the saddle while his horse was trying to dig for grass through the snow. “Maybe he’s trying to ambush us”

“I don’t think so” Jason mumbled, his eyes still set northwest. His back was straight with a hand resting on his hips, the other holding the reins tight. His horse was attentive, chewing on its bit in anticipation. “It wouldn’t be like him, not while we’re on this hill anyway” 

You nodded as your fingers flexed around the reins, a bit bored and definitely not impressed by the opposite party being late to their own meeting. There was barely any wind over the field, and the thick cover of the cloud didn’t let the sun rays through. Still, smoke came out of the horses’ nostrils with every breath they let out. 

“There they come”

You glanced forward again at Jason’s warning, seeing a small party of riders coming your way. They didn’t seem to be in a hurry, walking rather than trying to reach you at a trot. The closer they came, the better you could point out characteristics for each rider. The one at the front was wearing all black with a cape that fell over the pale gray horse he was riding. It was almost white, but the dark skin around its eyes and nose proved differently. The second rider was on a smaller chestnut horse, and was a child. You blinked a few times, but his youthful features were obvious. The two other riders some paces behind were an escort, soldiers with steel armors and banners from their kingdom. 

After a long waiting for them to actually be at hearing range, they finally stopped a few meters ahead and assessed your party. Jason was visibly tense, but his blue eyes gave nothing out on how he was feeling about seeing his father in front of him after all this time. They stared at each other for long minutes before the piercing glance of Bruce Wayne set on you. You clenched your jaw, not backing down, until his eyes finally left you. 

“Your… Friend seems to have healed quite well” The older king spoke first.

“Don’t act like you give a fuck” Jason sneered. “You were the one who made this coward attack on her happen in the first place”

“Watch your mouth, runt” The child on the side almost barked. “You’re speaking to a legitimate King, unlike you”

“And who the fuck might this goblin be?” Roy said before he could stop himself. While the child looked appalled, Roy was still very relaxed on his horse. He might have been the only one to be, even if you did want to laugh at the outburst.

“I am the blood son, the true heir to the throne” He replied with all his might, except it didn’t quite have the desired effect, since he was on a pony, for one. “You peasant will respect me, or--”

“Damian, please” Bruce interrupted firmly. “Now is not the time to settle this”

“But--”

“Why am I not surprised that you fathered a brat?” Jason leaned forward, feeling taunting for a moment. “Which one of your concubines had enough bad luck to get pregnant? Selina? Or was it Richard’s lover, whatever was her name? Or maybe Talia, oh memorable Talia--”

“Don’t speak of my mother that way” Damian pulled his sword out. 

“So Talia it is” He smirked. 

“We are here to negotiate peace, not fuel a war” Bruce replied sternly. “I can do much worse than an arrow in the shoulder of a loved one, you know it. So be careful what you’re advancing about my family”

“Then keep your son on a tighter leash” Jason said, his face returning to a serious expression. “I still haven’t made my mind about keeping peace, don’t give me reasons to leave this meeting before we can discuss it”

“I should be telling you this” He squinted his eyes slightly. “You have thrown over a stable ally of this kingdom and stole the crown, then taken prisoner the King of Blüdhaven without giving a follow up on his state. You are in no place to threaten a war, yet here you are”

Jason waited a few seconds, not letting his stare waver. Then, he sighed and whistled. The plains were silent, until the faint sound of hooves cantering on the crisp snow grew closer to your position. Soon enough, you were passed on your left by another rider, slowly walking around you and toward Bruce’s party. Dick had a neutral expression as he turned around, stopping at Bruce’s side.

“Here” Jason waved his hand dismissively. “Your golden son, unharmed albeit slightly vexed”

“You should still pay for a crime like this” Bruce said.

“It’s fine” Dick tried to appease the tensions. “I do not wish to further this conflict, I have done enough already as it is”

“Why didn’t you fight back, Richard?” Damian asked in a judging and accusatory tone. “This is a disgrace to our family, and a display of weakness--”

“I was trying to avoid a much worse escalation of this conflict by owning a diplomatic mistake I made in the first place” He bit back. “What would you even know of politics, spoiled child?”

Roy laughed, and the sound only seemed to anger Damian more. You were in the middle of a family conflict, and unlike him, you didn’t know this side of the family well. You didn’t really know how to act, so you observed what would go down rather than actively participate. 

“I find the ginger man’s insolence unwelcomed in this matter” Damian said, trying to wash down the humiliation his brother had just handed to him. “He’s got nothing to do with it, and he’s got no title. He shouldn’t even be speaking”

“He speaks because I say he can” Jason defended Roy in a heartbeat, his tone strong and authoritative. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve got a crown and you don’t, which puts me above you in status and therefore my wishes outweigh yours”

Your eyebrow rose slowly as your eyes met Roy’s, who had an equally stunned expression. Jason had never used his status against anyone like that. It even seemed to take Damian by surprise, which was, with what you had learned about him in the last minutes, a hard feat to accomplish. If you were honest with yourself, while you loved Jason as a humble king, you were curious about the other side of him, even if he would show it in private.

“Your crown was stolen” Bruce reassessed. “The Kingdoms surrounding yours have decided this gesture would not stand. I wished a peaceful surrender from you, but it doesn’t seem like I will convince you to do so. You have three days to abdicate, until the next full moon, or your kingdom will be taken back by force”

“You think this is wise?” You finally spoke up on instinct, and all eyes turned to you, looking at you with surprise. You weren’t about to let those threats stand, especially not from Bruce. “Ever since King Jason came into power, he wiped out a guild that stole from families and murdered good people. Our kingdom is the safest for miles around, so much we get waves of new settlers even in winter. He lowered taxes on the population so much that most towns in the country have become flourishing trade posts in the span of a year, and instead taxed the nobility and cut on useless balls and dinners. Nobody starved last winter, and nobody is starving this one. Do you think the word didn’t get out to the other countries around? People are starting to want this for themselves too, and you think putting them through a devastating war will make things better? It will only make them resent you, those who didn’t already. We have people in every castle you know of who are ready to turn against you the second they get wind of aggression--”

“Bullshit” Damian called.

“Are you ready to take the risk?” You raised an eyebrow at him, before returning your glance to Bruce, who betrayed no emotion. “You will lose this war if you start it. You should consider your people before you send them to slaughter”

Silence fell over the hill for a moment.

“... What she said” Roy grinned, breaking the silence.

Bruce looked at Jason for a reaction, or most likely, some sort of opposition to what you had just said. Instead, he only readjusted his reins and straightened his back. “You heard right,” He said, not wavering. “You have three days, until the next moon, to annulate the warrants and back down. Think about your people, Bruce. Make the right decision”

With that mocking reprise of his father’s previous words, he turned his horse around and left him dumbfounded. With one last glance to their party, you followed Jason, trotting, then cantering away and back into your borders. Once you passed your soldiers’ road control, you slowed down to a walk.

“Huh” Roy exhaled as he leaned forward to glance at you over Jason’s horse between you two. “I didn’t know we had spies in other kingdoms”

“Now that I think about it,” Jason blinked a few times, his brows slightly furrowed. “Neither did I”

You shrugged. “Maybe we have them. That would be neat” 

You saw confusion, then astonishment flash in their eyes like their reactions were synchronized.

“Wait, did you just--”

“Did you fucking lie to Bruce in his face?” Roy cut off, almost yelling. Then, he laughed. “In his face?”

“By the time he realizes, no, if he even realizes I bluffed, we’ll have a solid plan to ward him off, no matter what he does” You explained. “We win”

“How did you manage to convince him?” Jason had an innocent incomprehension written all over his features, like a child in front of a magic trick. He was adorable. “You had me convinced”

“Oh, boys” You grinned. “You think women survive this long in the world without becoming excellent liars? How do you think I managed to infiltrate the staff for a week before we invaded the castle?”

“By… Um” Roy trailed off. “Cleaning well?”

You laughed. “People had questions, my dear. I had to build myself a credible life to feed them, so I wasn’t thrown out of the castle instantly. Lying to the enemy is a skill I learned to cultivate a long time ago”

“You’re awesome, you know that?” He sighed, a loopy smile on his face. Jason still had a starstruck expression on his face, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Wouldn’t hurt to hear it again, I must admit” You teased back, jutting your chin up. “But there is one thing that would be better… Last one in the bedroom owes the first one a shoulder massage”

You didn’t wait for them to register your words before kicking your horse to a gallop, no doubt closely followed by them.

---

The dancing light of the candles of the chandelier left a soft glow on your naked skin, moving around and spreading warmth as it crawled up and down your body. You were sitting upright as hands moved gently on your shoulders, careful to avoid the sensitive area of your still healing wound. In your laps was Jason’s head, your hands threading slowly in his black hair as his eyes were shut close. He wasn’t sleeping, his breathing made his chest rise too fast for him to be. But he was relaxed, his neck muscles were untensed on your legs and there were no harsh lines on his face. 

You looked behind you when Roy’s hand stopped massaging, pulling your hair to the side and kissing the back of your neck. 

“You really gotta get a faster horse” Your lips curved upwards. “You’re always losing these races”

“I think my horse’s speed is just fine” He whispered back. “Besides, you are both right where I want you to be”

Jason smirked. “Losing is always suddenly part of someone’s plan when they never win”

“Laugh all you want” He sighed, dramatically laying down on his side beside you, then leaning forward close to Jason’s ear. “We all know I end up winning anyway when you beg my name like a prayer, My King”

You could feel the shiver travel up his spine on your laps, as well as the sudden shift in the tension in his muscles. You played along and let your hand slightly pull his hair, which surprised a moan out of him. His eyes opened wide, the blue of his irises being quickly consummated by the black of his pupils. Then, his glance set on Roy, something hard to read beside the promising spark in it.

“Are you sure you’re ready for a, what, fourth go at it today?” He raised an eyebrow as his hand brushed his cheek. “I didn’t think you jaw recovered from earlier”

You laughed airily as Roy grinned mischievously. “Maybe you can take that voice when you put that brat child in its place” You suggested as you trailed up your hand up Jason’s bare chest. “I’m sure he would be happy to get back on his knees if you did”

Roy groaned at the suggestion, already imagining the whole scene behind his fluttering eyelids. However, Jason didn’t quite follow up on his reaction. “Don’t tempt me with…” He trailed off, then noticed the mood change. “Hey, is there something wrong?”

Jason blinked, then shook his head and gave a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. “I’m fine” He muttered, leaning forward to place a soft kiss on Roy’s lips. 

“No, something’s bothering you” He insisted gently. “What is it, Jay?”

Jason sighed, shaking his head. “It’s nothing” He replied, looking up to the ceiling. “Don’t worry about it”

“It’s clearly not nothing” You said as your hands threaded softly in his hair. “What’s eating at you?”

A silence followed your words. It was like Jason was searching for the right words, like he wanted to say it so bad but something else was holding him back. You were patient, however, and you didn’t mind that he took his time to tell you. You knew he would talk when he’s ready.

“It’s what Bruce said” Roy beat him to it, speaking barely over a whisper. “Isn’t it?”

You looked in between the two men, noticing how Jason did not deny Roy’s words. It was like they were having a silent conversation for a few seconds, before Roy put a comforting hand on his shoulder. 

“It’s how he didn’t see him as part of his family anymore” Roy spoke up, addressing you this time. “How Bruce didn’t seem to have any regret about replacing him in any way possible”

“Even after all this time” Jason gulped. “He won’t even stop reminding me he didn't care”

“Oh, my love” You reached for his hand and grabbed it, intertwining your fingers with his and giving it a squeeze. “He doesn’t deserve you beating yourself up about him like that. You’re worth so much more than anything he could even give you”

“She’s right,” Roy nodded. “We’re your family now, not him. Not him ever again. And I promise you we’ll never betray you that way, we’ll never set you aside. You’re our lover, you’re our King, you’re the most important person for us, and we would do anything for you”

You could see the crystal gleam of tears pooling in his eyes before he blinked them away, resisting the urge to break down. Jason had not often known true affection until he met Roy, then you. He felt like he didn’t deserve either of you, and sometimes he wondered why exactly you decided everyday to stay by his side. But you did stay, you did support him and guided him when he needed it. He wouldn’t have been anywhere near where he was right now without you. 

“You’re both so good to me” He whispered, adoration clear in his voice as he glanced at you, then Roy. “What would I do without you?”

“You’d be wonderful either way” You smiled as you slipped beside him, careful not to pull on your bandages. Soon enough, Roy joined him on the other side, snuggling into him. “You’d miss on major cuddling, however”

His chest rose in a silent chuckle as he pulled you and Roy just a little bit closer. “Give yourselves more credit, I’d crash and burn without you both by my side”

“Let’s not bother with what ifs, yeah?” Roy replied, his lips curved upward as he kissed his shoulder. “It only matters that you’re here with us today, and that you are a damn good King. The rest doesn’t matter”

“The rest doesn’t matter” Jason repeated in a mutter, nodding lightly. “Only you. Only us”