#thank you! I'm delighted to hear you like them! and the art!

[canisalbus]

heya, queer person from america here and just wanted to say that i absolutely adore machete and vasco so much and your art style and basically everything about your page. genuienly keep on scrolling through the tabs for machete and vasco to see anything i missed (btw have you thought of making like a specific tag for just art of them? i know you already have one for stuff pertaining to just them but it would be lit to just have an art tag of them!) . anyways to close out this message. i love the gay dogs because i too am gay but sadly not a dog.

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[paulyenvol6]

Sweet Pleas

This is based on a request I received but I accidentally deleted it, I'm so sorryyy. I was lucky though because I wrote down the main points before and wrote something about it which I'm very excited to share. So to the person that sent the request: this is for you and thank you so much for your request. And to everyone else: Please send me all of your requests, I want to write want you want to hear and read your ideas :)

Here's a little summary of what the person requested: - Daemon x dornish/essosi wife with a good and stable relationship - degrading, mean, dom Daemon - denied orgasms, choking, marking, praising - aftercare and fluff

Contains: detailed smut, fingering, oral (m receiving), p in v, unprotected sex, choking, marking, biting, bruising, slapping, degrading, praising, denied orgasms, size kink, slight pain kink, dom & mean Daemon, submissive reader, aftercare, fluff, loving Daemon in the end

Wordcount: ~4.65k

Masterlist

"My sweet lady wife.", Daemon whispered against your ear and you felt heat rising in your cheeks. You giggled as he wrapped his arms around your waist and kissed next to your ear.

"You really expected me to make it through the night with you looking like that?"

You smiled which he couldn't see and caressed his back. In truth it had been your intention for him to desire you and touch you after the feast in celebration of the King's name day but you hadn't expected him to be so eager that he couldn't wait until it was over.

You had worn a revealing pink dress that looked amazing on your brown skin and as Daemon painfullly had to experience, your husband hadn't been the only one to notice your beauty. Lords and knights had their gaze a little to long on you for the Rogue Prince's liking so he had taken you up to your chambers for two reasons. Not only because he couldn't wait to lay his hands on you but so he could hide you from the other men's eyes. And you didn't complain but felt light and happy as your husband took hold of your hips and dug his fingers into your skin.

'Daemon, Daemon, Daemon' was the only thought in your head. It was always like this. He took control of every thought of yours and left you feeling consumed by him.

It wasn't like your marriage had always been that good. You were 26 now and had married the Rogue Prince 7 years ago when he was 24. It had been a political arrangement and far away from a love match because the crown had been at war with Dorne for a long time and to seal the new peace treaty, your father had given your hand to the King's brother who had happened to be a widower.

In the beginning the capital had been strange and odd, Daemon was foreign to you but over the time the two of you had started to develop a special bond and began to love each other. You had learned together, made experiences and now you couldn't imagine living without him. He understood you in ways no one had ever been capable of and… you just matched. He had shown you what pleasure meant and had taught you the arts of intimacy between man and wife. And now you were inseperable and each day that he wasn't by your side felt like there was a shadow hanging over it.

"My sweet girl.", he now whispered as his hands wandered up to caress the swell of your breasts, just very light and careful and you reached out to press him closer to you which he commented with a scoff.

"So needy.", he complained and shook his head. "I think someone forgot their manners." You moaned dissatisfied and Daemon grabbed your wrists with his left hand and held them in front of your body.

"Just be a good girl for me and take what I give you." You looked up to him with big eyes and he couldn't help himself but lean down to kiss you. You simply looked too delightful and delicate with your big brown doll eyes. Your husband decided to change your position and so simply picked you up and gently laid you down on the bed. As you were getting comfortable on your back Daemon slowly took off his shirt and he made sure to keep eye contact the entire time.

"Such a filthy little whore.", he growled as he approached you, sat down next to you on the bed and leaned down to kiss your already swollen lips.

"You just enjoy it too much, don't you? Seeing all those lord's eyes on you." His voice sounded husky and dark and it made your cunt clench around nothing. "I asked you a question.", he snapped and grabbed your chin.

"Y-Yes I enjoy it." Daemon smirked evily and suddenly, still sitting next to your lying figure, reached down and slipped his right hand under your gown and cupped your sex. You were surprised and instinctively closed your legs around his hand which he commented with a scoff. Meanwhile his left hand caressed your bare shoulder and also slightly pressed you in the sheets as if he knew that he would need to have his hand there once he started pleasuring you and you would move around on the bed. Daemon gently moved his hand on your cunt so you received just a little friction but you needed so much more so you squirmed and spread your legs further.

"Please. Daemon, do something." If you had expected him to give in you really didn't know your husband because he just smirked smugly and ran his finger through your slit.

"So fucking wet already.", he mumbled. "You really are a greedy little slut. Just need to pin you down on your back and you're dripping. Pitiful."

Your eyes fluttered and you really felt as if you were in paradise because this kind of Daemon was the one you needed. Obviously you hadn't known about your tastes when you had married him but with him you had explored what brought you pleasure and learned that you never felt more comfortable and desired than when he degraded you. Talked to you as if you were nothing but a common whore to please him. That mixture of degrading and praising made you melt.

Daemon, who had felt how turned on you already were, finally connected his thumb with your little pearl and circled it painfully slow. You whimpered and shivered and squirmed underneath his hand in an attempt to get more friction but of course he wouldn't have this so his hand on your shoulder pressed you down with more force and he watched you with flashing eyes.

"Stop moving so much. Little whores like you take what they're given. Cause that's what you are after all. A little whore to do with however I wish. A set of holes, each tighter and warmer than the other. We shall see which I'll use today."

It was insane what his words did to you and of course Daemon knew it as well so he used them to turn you into a muddle. Your eyes threatened to close when his thumb rubbed your pearl faster and his left hand grabbed your chin at once.

"No. Look at me, little one."

Your eyelids felt heavy and yet you obeyed him. You were beyond overwhelmed with his touch on your cunt and his voice that said these filthy things that made your heart beat faster. When he thrusted two fingers deep inside your hole you widened your eyes and your mouth formed an 'O'. As he was still sitting next to you on the edge of the bed he was in the perfect position to watch each of your reactions to his touch and words which brought him great delight. The way your eyes fluttered and how you bit your lip now and then… Your little sighs were music to his ears but when you couldn't help but close your eyes in pleasure a little later he let out a disappointed exhalation and slapped your cunt all of a sudden.

"Ahh.", you let out and twitched.

"I told you. Look at me." He yanked your thick brown hair back to expose your neck to him and lowered his face so it was close to your skin. You knew what would happen now and when he started to suck on your tanned skin you anxiously buried your hands in his hair. You didn't exactly love when he marked you with bites and bruises. Not because you didn't like the pain, no, in fact you loved it. But you feared that people would see it and felt ashamed of the thought so Daemon didn't do it very often. But tonight he seemingly wanted to do it, perhaps even to punish you and you were way too deep in your subspace to stop him. Everything you cared about was being good for him. Please him. So you patiently laid still as his mouth bit and sucked at your skin but only twitched now and then when his teeth pulled at your neck.

Daemon's hand hadn't left your cunt though and you felt yourself getting closer and closer to the edge. His two fingers filling your hole additionally to his dance on your pearl were overwhelming and made you see stars. So soon you felt your high approach and you clenched around his fingers which your husband took as a sign to stop and you let out a cry.

"No, Daemon please." You pulled at his hair and tried to make him lift his head so you could look at him but he denied you and just slapped your cunt in response.

"Shut up.", he mumbled against your hurting skin. "You'll get to release when I tell you to. And I'm not yet satisfied." You desperately whined and shifted which made Daemon softly slap you again but this time on your thigh.

"Stay still. I'll only be harder on you if you can't behave."

Then, after a few more moments he raised his head to proudly watch his work on your neck. You were bleeding a little at two spots and few bruises were already visible on your brown skin which made his heart flutter with possessiveness.

"I want all of these lords to see this. See that you're mine and that this fucking body is mine… Seven hells, you really are the prettiest little girl I've ever fucked."

His finger started to toy with your cunt again and you stopped sulking and sighed loudly. In the meantime his left hand connected with your chest through the fabric of your gown that you still wore and he took your nipples between his fingers.

"Will you look at this…", he growled and you could only watch his lustful gaze in awe. "Perfect fucking tits. Perfect skin and a perfect little cunt."

"Daemon.", you whimpered and his eyes wandered back to your face.

"What?", he scoffed disparagingly and pushed you into the bed more forcefully as you restlessly moved underneath his hand.

"Please I-I want to come."

He laughed out. "I don't care what you want. I just need you to spread your legs and look pretty for me."

You were not content with his answer but didn't have a choice but to unpaitenly wait for his next movements. His two fingers were shoved back inside of you and it didn't take long until you were close to the edge again. But just when you were about to cross it and already felt relieved because you thought he would allow you to reach your high now he stopped again and tears welled in the corner of your eyes.

"N-No.", you cried out. "Yes.", he merely spoke and suddenly manhandeled you on your stomach. "Stop complaining now or I'll find myself a willing whore and leave you here."

Of course you knew that he would never do something like that and yet you shut your mouth. You turned your head to rest it on your side so you could look at him but Daemon grabbed a fistful of your hair and pressed your face into the pillow which you commented with a moan.

"Spread your legs.", he breathed and slipped his hand between your thighs once more and soon his fingers danced on your pearl. You were a mess and couldn't control neither your mind nor your body. Your legs were shaking, your cunt soaking his hand and your mind couldn't think of anything except your husband's hands and how to make him let you come. Pleading and begging, you thought was your best chance.

"Please Daemon. I swear I'll be good, but please let me come.", you moaned when he granted you a little more space and you were able to move your head slightly.

But Daemon really seemed to be mean today and just pressed your head back into the pillow. "Gods, aren't you a desperate little brat. Can't even be patient for a little moment."

You cried out at a particulary well aimed thrust with his fingers that reached a spot deep inside of you.

"Mhmm… Poor girl.", he furthermore said. "Such a pretty poor girl. What a shame you're not in control here."

You whimpered in distress and tried to free yourself from his grip in your hair but you didn't stand a chance and could only get on with it as he denied your orgasm for the third time tonight and did all of it so smugly. You remained still and determined not to give your husband the satisfaction of your pleas so after he had ruined your high Daemon turned you on your back again. His body sitting next to your lying one probably only intensified feeling vulnerable and small next to him because he towered over you. Then his finger toyed with your pearl again which made you gasp for air, his other hand wandered to your mouth and without a warning he shoved two fingers inside of it. You moaned and twirled your tongue around it.

"Good girl.", he growled which made your walls clench. "So obedient and tamed. Just a wild little dornish Princess who needs to be told what to do. That's what you like, mhm?"

You moaned as a reply and sucked on his fingers that laid heavily on your tongue and made you now and then gag. You did all of it instinctively as your mind felt fucked out though he hadn't even freed his cock yet. But that turned out to change soon because after fucking your mouth with his hands for a while and enjoying watching your face tense in pleasure when his finger pressed into your little pearl, he stopped all of it all of a sudden and left you panicky as he stood up to pull down his pants.

"Get on your knees." Your mind felt fuzzy but you had been able to comprehend his words and so you got off the bed to kneel in front of him. His cock stood hard and looked so pretty against his abdomen that it made you open your mouth greedily. But before shoving his cock inside your mouth Daemon walked to the nightstand which made you frown feeling confused. You couldn't see what it was he was doing but once he was standing in front of you again Daemon lowered himself down to you and started to tie up your hair in a braid, mayhaps so he could take hold of your head better.

When he was done he straightened up again and Daemon smirked and felt his heart burning with desire for you. You, his little wife on your knees for him with these big eyes staring up to him. He wished he could save this image in his head for the rest of his life. You still had your dress on and though you had been living in King's Landing for a while now you remained loyal to your house's traditional dressing and wore a characteristic dornish gown. You truly looked like a dornish Princess with your jewelery and your dark features and Daemon's head spinned.

He wrapped his hand around his thick cock and circled your mouth with its tip which made you reach out to touch his cock greedily but he refused you. Daemon just pushed your hand away and moved closer to you.

"Open.", he demanded and looked at your mouth. Of course you obeyed him and let his cock slip inside of your mouth. Daemon seemingly didn't care about letting you adjust slowly because he hit the back of your throat which you commented with a gag. You tried to get away from him and squirmed but his hand had grabbed your hair and forced you to stay in place.

"Ugh uhm.", he made. "Stay still, sweet girl. Just stay still and let me fuck this filthly little mouth of yours.", he hissed and you tried your best to breathe calmly. Daemon breathed heavily as he started to thrust into your mouth as a steady pace. He didn't grant you a second to let you do as you liked but immediately took control over your head to merely use you for his liking.

"You're doing so… good for me, little one." His hand had grabbed your hair and he held you still while hitting the back of your throat over and over again. You struggled every once in a while and coughed but your aim was to hear him praise you so you did whatever he told you. And it worked. You twirled your tongue around his tip which made him exhale loudly and his eyes were connected with your kneeling figure.

"Fuck, just like that. Good girl." You pressed your thighs together and could feel the familiar pulsating spot in your core. After all you hadn't come yet and sucking your husband off only contributed to your lust.

After a while saliva, precum and some tears were rolling down your face and everything about it was messy. Neither of you cared though and Daemon only entered your mouth at a faster pace. Your hands had grabbed his thighs for support and he hummed in pleasure as he felt your tongue circling his tip.

"Yeah. That's what you're good for, mhm? Having your dirty mouth fucked instead of speaking up. That's where you're the prettiest as well." He watched you smugly and your big eyes looked up to him.

"Gods be good.", he growled. "Never had such a willing thing on her knees for me. I'll make sure to reward you, pretty girl."

His thrusts became more sloppy and forceful which was a sign for you that he would orgasm soon but he stopped and pulled your head away from his cock.

"I wanna save my seed for your tight cunt. You're gonna swallow it another time.", he hissed and dragged you up by your hair.

Once you stood in front of him he pushed you onto the bed and didn't waste any time to crawl on top of you. You whimpered, feeling so much lust and desire for him that the tiniest of his movements made your insides burn. Daemon forcefully spreaded your legs so he could lay between them and you were happy to obey. Then he wrapped his hand around his cock and ran its tip through your slit stopping at your pearl.

"You want it?", he mumbled against your cheek.

"Mhmm.", you made with your hands buried in his hair.

"I didn't hear you."

"Yes. Please Daemon." But he still didn't give in and instead drew circles around your little nub.

"I'm not sure if you can take it, little one.", he mumbled.

"Yes I can. Please. I can take it.", you panicky cried out though deep down you should know that he wouldn't stop now.

"Don't want to tear you apart, sweet princess.", Daemon whispered and you squeezed his hand that was rested on your waist.

"Please. I want it." Your husband smirked widely because your begging got right to his head. Then he finally thrusted into you mayhaps because he was too eager himself and you both sighed loudly. His thick cock stretched your walls so well and you just loved feeling full.

"Yes.", you whined and your eyes rolled back.

"Feel me deep in your belly, mhm?", he hissed, overwhelmed with pleasure himself. "Feel me hard against your walls? Yes… that's it."

Daemon had immediately started to fuck you at a steady pace and his hips snapped against yours. You let out little sighs and whines and then felt his hand wandering up your body until he wrapped it around your neck and put pressure on it. You breathed croakily and your eyes met his as he held you tightly. You felt your hole flutter because you loved it so much when he choked you and Daemon knew it. So his hand pressed you in the feather bed and simultaneously used it as support to fuck you deep and hard. The mixture drove you to madness and you were a mess underneath him. He always made sure to loosen his grip around your throat now and then so some air could fill your lungs but he didn't show any sign of letting go of you. He restricted your breathing in a way that made you melt in his arms and in Daemon's eyes you could see pure lust.

"Pathetic.", he growled as he squeezed your neck tighter. "All I need to do is stuff your holes and wrap my hand around your throat and I have you whining for me. But you're not supposed to like this. Being hurt. You're just a little slut who gets off on the pain." You moaned and opened your mouth to gasp for air.

"But you're my little slut.", he growled against your cheek. "And now everyone can see that when they look at your neck. You're mine to do with as I like. Whenever I like. A dumb little brat who happens to have a nice tight cunt. So fucking pretty.", he purred and kissed your jawline.

Then he slightly loosened his grip again and you inhaled deeply. Daemon's hand that previously had been around your throat wandered down between where your bodies were connected to rub at your pearl. While you tried to collect yourself you felt him circle the nub that was so swollen and eager for release by now that you squeezed your eyes and whimpered.

"I wanna hear you, princess. Go on, I wanna hear your sweet little pleas." You moved along with his hips and now and then quietly moaned your husband's name. When you reached out to grab the sides of his face though he took hold of your wrists with his hand that wasn't occupied between your legs and pinned them down above your head on the bed. You felt so exposed and vulnerable but it was exactly what you needed and it felt so good. The only thing that you craved at the moment was to finally reach your high after he had denied your orgasm so many times so you begged him through your eyes as both of you were driven closer to the edge with each of his thrusts.

"Please. Please let me come.", you said and it sounded almost inaudible. Daemon sensed that he had fucked you deep into submission and you were nothing but a whining mess by now and suddenly he felt the need to take care of his needy wife rather than degrading you even further so he leaned down to kiss you gently.

"Don't worry, love. You were so amazing for me. I'll let you come. I'll let you soak my cock with your juices." You felt yourself getting teary eyes from feeling so small and now you just wanted Daemon to be close to you so you squirmed as he still had your wrists pinned above your head and your husband understood and actually let go of you.

"It's alright.", he purred. "Relax and let go."

And you did. With one last tight circle around your pearl you felt your insides tense and this warm overwhelming feeling spread all throughout your body. It was an amazing high and you had your eyes widened as pleasure washed over you. His name left your lips over and over again and then Daemon released as well. His seed filled your cunt and he thrusted deep inside of you to make sure it wouldn't drip out. He moaned and closed his eyes and collapsed on top of you.

You both panted heavily trying to recover from the exhausion and then after a while he rolled off you. You immediately reached out to him though and Daemon knew that you needed him close to you now so he pulled you to his bare chest.

"Shhh.", he whispered feeling you breathe fastly against him and soothingly ran a hand over your back and side. "Did so good for me, little girl… ", he said his voice nothing more than a whisper. He held you like this for a while so the both of you could collect yourselves but then he lightly patted your hip.

"I need to get you cleaned, love." You hummed in dissatisfaction wanting nothing more than to fall asleep now next to him.

"I'm sorry, but it's important. Come on, love." Slowly and with a deep frown you lifted yourself and looked at Daemon who had his eyebrows raised. "It's not gonna take long and afterwards I'll cuddle you to sleep, I promise."

You couldn't help but smile with big eyes and he pulled you towards him and guided you off the bed. There was a pot filled with warm water that Daemon had asked the servants to prepare for him every night because there weren't many nights when you were able to take your hands off each other and your husband didn't have the desire to ask a servant to bring water to clean yourselves with every evening so he had ordered them to prepare in advance. It wasn't burning hot anymore but it wouldn't be umcomfortable so Daemon guided you to sit on a chair while he dipped a warm cotton cloth in the water.

"Spread your legs, love.", he whispered and his voice made your head dizzy. You obeyed and he brought the cloth between your legs to clean your cunt. You twitched a little because you were sore and swolled so your husband ran his other hand over your thigh to calm you. Then, when he was finished Daemon removed it from between your legs and took care of himself. He cleaned his cock and after he had put the towels on a shelf so the servants could take them in the morrow Daemon turned to you again and had a soft smile on his face which made your heart flutter. His arms wrapped around your back and he carefully picked you up from the chair. He walked the two of you back to the bed and gently laid you down on your side while crawling to lay on his'.

The rogue prince kept his promise and reached out to pull you to him and you croached against him. You felt so safe like this with his arms holding you and his body covering and protecting you from everything else. His nose was pressed into your dark hair and his hands caressed your still burning skin.

"My sweet girl.", he whispered well aware that it was what you needed after a night like this. He had degraded you, talked down to you and now he made sure to treat you with affection and love.

"You're my sunshine, never forget this alright?" You nodded against him and he gently put his hand to your cheek to turn your head so you were looking at him.

"I love you, darling. You're everything to me." Your mouth was drawn to a smile and Daemon leaned down to kiss you.

"I'll always protect you and make sure you're safe and happy."

"I love you too, Daemon.", you whispered quietly and rested your cheek on his strong chest again. You closed your eyes filled with content and happiness. You loved him and you loved his tender and caring side just as much as his rough and dominant one. This was exactly the perfect mixture because while he fucked you you liked him to be mean and commanding but afterwards…. You melted in his arms and loved hearing his sweet words whispered in your ear. Only for you to hear.

"Sleep, love. You need to rest now and I promise you that I'll hold you all night and all nights to come."

[llamagoddessofficial]

I'm on my knees for any more crumbs with prison AU therapist Mc and Sans 🙏 the more equal(?) dynamic is just so good And to the anon that brought it up—I love you

I'll do you one better. Here's some crumbs for ALL of them

Since she's not a nurse, this Mc doesn't have a very strong stomach. Stories of Skull's crimes sometimes make her physically ill.

Generally, Sans and Mc's 'sessions' can be quite pleasant. They talk about current events, how things are going. It's only once she starts trying to explore his feelings that he starts toying with her.

... Red teases her a lot. She tries not to react to it, it's unprofessional, but he can always tell when he's flustering her. He gets this infuriating smug grin.

Since Red is a high risk prisoner, he has to have one hand cuffed to a table during therapy. He often complains that he wishes he could be cuffed alone in a room with her in different circumstances. What Mc doesn't realise is that, considering his strength, the cuffs are basically for decoration- Red just pretends he can't break out of them so she feels more comfortable alone in a room with a massive skeleton monster who openly displays interest in her.

Sans doesn't require cuffs in his sessions. And the only time he was cuffed, he snapped them 'accidentally' to make a point. It just makes it all the more nervewracking for Mc.

Skull doesn't know she's his therapist. He thinks she just really cares about him. That's why she keeps coming back to see him, right?

Red isn't the only flirt. Sans is a lot more forward in this AU, considering she knows the truth about his nature. Granted, Sans being 'clear' about something is still incredibly cryptic, but he enjoys the shock in her eyes whenever he calmly flirts with her.

Red's flirting is warm, sincere, and never crosses the line... it leaves her flushed and (though she'd never admit it) flattered. Sans' flirting is nervewracking. It makes her feel like she's a mouse, and Sans is a cat playfully batting at her, capable of clawing her to death at any moment.

Skull gains bits and pieces of speech back a lot faster with her. Unfortunately, that means he's learning how to terrify the guards. It used to be that Skull would just scream or snarl, but now he likes to say broken ominous sentences to guards he doesn't like to see them shit their pants.

He's also figured out that, when he's really upset and angry, if he screams her name enough someone will send her. It's not a great lesson to learn... but it's better than him deciding to attack people.

Whenever Mc tries to get Skull to do therapeutic art with her, he just draws the same thing over and over. The art is scribbly thanks to his tremor, but it always looks like three people; a tall skeleton, a shorter skeleton, and a human. He draws them in various positions- standing together, sitting around a table, sitting on a couch. She suspects one skeleton is him and the human could be her, but she doesn't know who the tall skeleton is.

(It's him, her, and Papyrus. His family)

Sans, for all his power and control, gets ratty and jealous when she treats other people. The first time he hears her laugh is when she realises that was why he's being moody.

She'd never seen him so delighted before.

Sans likes when she dodges his conversational traps. He'll try to lure her into talking about herself, revealing information to him, but she won't fall for it and always turns it back on him. There's not much he's been able to glean from her. It's always so fun, to play with someone who knows what they're doing.

Again, she'll never admit it. But Mc is fascinated by Sans. Most serial killers are delusional and kinda pathetic, but Sans is as if all the stereotypes of the 'genius mastermind serial killer' were true. She gets to be up close and personal, see how he works; she gets to watch his mask rise and fall in real time.

Of course, he knows she's fascinated. He uses it to keep her coming back. He's fascinated with her, too~

[tobiasdrake]

Hi! Absolutely adore your DBZ analyses, thank you so much - just spent a delightful time reading them all. I was wondering, since you've commented on Chi-Chi and Goku's marriage, what do you have to say about Vegeta and Bulma's relationship? (I've always been entranced by it - mostly because as with all his romances, Toriyama had the wisdom not to show any of it onscreen. But I'd love to know your thoughts about it.)

Bulma and Vegeta are a match made in Hell, and they deserve each other. (Which is to say yes, I love this ship.)

Hooking Bulma up with Vegeta was a hell of a narrative swerve. Generally speaking, stories rarely do this; They rarely let characters break up once they're already invested in a romance, unless it's supposed to be like a love triangle thing.

And Bulma? Bulma was invested. At least, to a degree.

This was the birth of the original Bulma romance that ran through about half of the manga. Two teens interesting in the opposite sex suddenly realize the availability of the other and a relationship is born.

Toriyama says he's bad at writing romance but to be honest, this has always hit me as more believable than your typical drawn-out five-seasons-of-pining Will They/Won't They affair. I'm a girl. You're a boy. Wanna go out and see what clicks?

And these two... these two do not click. We only really see their relationship from Bulma's perspective but it's clear that these two are miserable together.

The manga sorta takes Bulma's side, in that we never really get to hear Yamcha's opinion about their relationship one way or another. When he's around, all he wants to do is talk shop about martial arts. Since Toriyama doesn't like to write romance, we simply don't see much of it from them. What little we do hear about it comes from Bulma complaining about how miserable she is.

Bulma is pretty much always pissed off whenever the relationship is in focus at all.

Anime filler tends to take Yamcha's side instead, portraying him as a put-upon victim of Bulma's jealousy and abuse. A nice guy who doesn't deserve the way she treats him.

It's not hard to buy into this interpretation of their relationship since, as noted, we rarely get anything from Yamcha with regard to his relationship to women or Bulma specifically but we know Bulma's a lot. It's easy to accept Bulma as the "bad guy" of this relationship because. Like. Remember that time she enslaved a sentient being? Good times.

Though one particular moment from Yamcha later on kinda stands out as a bit of a retroactive Yikes.

Yeah. Uh. Threatening violence against a woman for rejecting his bro is a bit of a Yikes. Is this who we were supposed to see Yamcha as all this time? Because, if so, it might have helped to let him opine about the relationship more. Just saiyan.

According to Toriyama in interview, Yamcha and Bulma ultimately broke up because she caught Yamcha cheating on her. I guess that's what him being "popular with girls" was supposed to mean: Once he got over his gynophobia and found confidence with the opposite sex, Yamcha became a player.

But that doesn't necessarily come across from the statement, "Bulma can't stand that Yamcha's popular with girls." A lot of fans took that to mean girls just like him for no reason, and Bulma's unreasonably jealous about it. The anime took that position too.

Note that the "Yamcha is popular with girls" thing isn't helped by the fact that we never see it on-panel because he's only ever talking shop when he's around. But we do see a wandering eye from Bulma often enough.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying the aesthetic appeal of another party even when you're in a monogamous relationship, but it doesn't really present the "Other party is a womanizer and cheater" case when you're the only one ever seen doing this.

So it feels like there's a lot about Yamcha and Bulma's relationship that never made it to print yet influenced later decisions. Those decisions ended up being controversial because the foundation for those decisions was never laid. Here, Toriyama's disdain for writing romance worked against him.

But ultimately, regardless of whose side you take, it doesn't really matter. It doesn't matter who the "bad guy" is. A healthy relationship does not have a "bad guy" in it.

Whether or not Yamcha cheated, whether or not Bulma's just an unreasonably jealous hell-beast, it doesn't actually matter. What matters is that once you reach the point where you're taking sides over which party is the most obnoxious asshole and I hate you and I wish we never met... this relationship is not working for anybody.

It doesn't matter who the bad guy is. It doesn't matter who deserves the blame for this relationship being a toxic shithole. That there is blame to throw around in the first place is the problem. Every relationship has its ups and downs but if one party is constantly miserable for years and has possibly been looking for an escape hatch since year 1, that's not a little tiff.

What matters is that these two are not working out. Any time we see their relationship in focus, they are miserable together. The anime tried to do some patchwork on that with audience reception by giving them some cute moments as well, but because those moments aren't canon the pair remained miserable.

And then this happened.

Despite everything, I think we all assumed that Bulma and Yamcha were going to work it out. Fictional relationships are often portrayed as tumultuous. To a writer, nothing says true love like being constantly miserable and despising every waking moment you spend with your awful, nagging ball-and-chain of a spouse. That's just. Like. What the straights think romance is. It's weird.

I think we all thought that was going to be the deal here too. And then Trunks came along and said, "Nope, actually, they finally severed the cord."

Again, Toriyama says he's bad at writing romance but holy shit, the toxic and miserable relationship actually ended. The two characters involved who only got together out of loneliness and desperation later found they were incompatible with each other. That's so real. Much moreso than a lot of fictional romances.

Instead, we got the absolute crack ship that is Vegeta and Bulma. What a wild-ass revelation for Trunks to drop.

Like. Until the end of the Namek arc, this was the only time these two characters even met.

She also saw Vegeta for like two seconds here.

That was it. That was their entire history together until Goku defeated Frieza while Kaio sent everyone to Earth. But that's when everything changed for Vegeta.

Stranded on Earth with no ship, no affiliations, no ability to leave the planet and nowhere to go or be and no obligations to anyone but himself, Vegeta's circumstances were wildly different than they'd ever been before. He had become one of the Namekian refugees.

And Bulma was offering refuge.

Hard to resist, indeed. That moment is absolutely hilarious in retrospect. Bulma rolled a Nat 20 on that charisma check. It's pretty clear who the instigator of this relationship was.

Like. It needs to be stated that at this point, the only thing Bulma knew about Vegeta was that he tried to kill them all multiple times, and also he's kinda hot. But. Like.

It's Bulma. Anyone who doesn't expect this from her by now either hasn't been paying attention or started watching the English dub of the anime when they did Z first.

So, naturally, Vegeta is a kind and loving man and became a phenomenal husband and fa--

Wait. No. I got my notes mixed up. It says here Vegeta's a rotten dirty bastard. Like. Chronically. He has Supreme Dickshit Syndrome. It's genetic.

Most of Bulma and Vegeta's developing relationship happens offscreen. From what snippets we get, Vegeta has a tendency to vanish during the day, but he still lives at Capsule Corp so Bulma sees him around.

By the end of the three-year timeskip, it's official. Or semi-official. Yamcha and Bulma broke up at some point during that timeskip and Bulma's given birth to Trunks.

As for Vegeta, he's evidently moved out of Capsule Corp and into his own place.

I guess he's still keeping contact with Bulma since she knows what his intentions are. Not to mention he found his tranquility during these three years, though it's somewhat ambiguous as to what exactly brought that peace to his heart.

But the relationship is off to a rocky start nonetheless. Clearly something went down between Vegeta and Bulma that drove Vegeta out of Capsule Corp. To. Uh. Somewhere.

I like to imagine Vegeta living in some shitty West City apartment he rents off a stipend Bulma's sending him that he refuses to openly acknowledge. Like, room 101 is a down-on-his-luck tax accountant, room 102 is a couple with a kid trying to make ends meet off two retail workers' salaries, and then room 103 is Vegeta, Prince of All Saiyans. Sometimes he goes to community events and pretends he isn't having fun.

No lie, I would absolutely watch that as a sitcom.

As for Vegeta himself, he's still a rotten dirty bastard.

Worth noting that Vegeta's saying this as a Super Saiyan which means he's drunk on the form's enhanced aggression. But. Still. Vegeta is an absolute monster being dragged kicking and screaming into a pleasant life that he'll one day resent himself for enjoying. This is his arc moving forward.

It's not so much a redemption arc as it is a domestication arc. The uniquely evil even by Saiyan standards Vegeta is gradually being changed by his new terrestrial life. He doesn't want to own up to how much he enjoys it here. Seven years later, he's still desperate to avoid owning up to it.

He doesn't want to be happy here. He doesn't want a loving wife and a son who looks up to him and the most lavish home wealth can afford him and easy, comfortable days spent with friends and loved ones by his side. He doesn't want a happy ending.

But it's like Bulma warned him: Dragon Ball's queen bee is hard to resist.

Welcome back to Capsule Corp, Vegeta. We hardly even noticed you were gone. Honestly, Future Trunks deserves a lot of the credit for this; Watching him die at the Cell Games was what flipped the switch in Vegeta's head that he wants the family he and Bulma have spawned together.

Sure is a good thing we have Dragon Balls because this is a hell of a time to suddenly decide you love your son. But we see the consequences of that seven years later, since Vegeta moved back into Capsule Corp from... I don't know, wherever he went. They're gonna miss him at the next community poolside summer BBQ event for all tenants.

Part of what makes Vegeta and Bulma work, I think, is that they're on the same page about one crucial point. For Bulma, there is one person who will always take precedent in her life above all others. Romance comes and romance goes, but this is the relationship that matters most to her.

Especially when it comes to martial arts and fighting. Bulma doesn't know a lot about the subject, but she knows that Son Goku is her #1. She has no reservations about saying that to her lover's face either.

When fists start flying, Bulma knows who she's rooting for. If Goku's involved, then it's not her guy. That's. Just. Something that anyone who wants to be with her has to be willing to understand. The single most important relationship in Bulma's life will always be her friendship with Goku.

And the thing about Vegeta is... He kind of agrees? Like. See above, re: I wanted Babidi to destroy my feelings for Bulma so that I could become the warrior that can fight with you, Kakarot.

As much as Goku will always be Bulma's #1, he'll also always be Vegeta's #1. He even gets included into Vegeta's fond farewell to the family he loves.

Goku is basically the platonic third in a two-person polycule. This is the second marriage that this poor ace plays a vital role in despite having no real interest in romance whatsoever.

Bulma is selfish, spiteful, petty, and vain. At one point, DBS: Broly directly compares her to Frieza; A comparison that manages to be unbelievably unflattering to both participants.

They're the same picture. A revelation that would probably be horrifying to both.

And Vegeta. Especially Vegeta. But. Like. She warned you she was irresistible. You didn't take her seriously and now look where you are. Married to the She-Frieza. Maybe you should think about your life choices.

This is just. So much fun. As I said at the outset, Bulma and Vegeta are a match made in Hell who make it work because they're both similar brands of awful.

As for Yamcha, it's a little known fact but Yamcha rebounded and moved on with his life. He stops having much story relevancy after he leaves Capsule Corporation so we see very little of his private life from there. After retiring from martial arts and splitting up with Bulma, Yamcha's left without any story hooks to keep him involved.

But there was this interesting moment, when he realized they had a Shenron wish to spare.

After Krillin comes up with something better to use the wish on, he takes it back and claims it was a joke.

This is, surprisingly, a point of contention in the fandom as some of Yamcha's fans prefer the idea that he died miserable and alone after Bulma ruined his life by leaving him. This takeback gets pointed to as proof that he made up his girlfriend entirely. However, in context, it's clear that a) he's trying to brush off his earlier attempt at making a petty wish and b) the thing he's transparently pretending was a joke is the necklace wish, not the existence of his new girlfriend.

Like Bulma, Yamcha moved on with his life after the break up of their miserable relationship. And that was the final word that was ever uttered on Yamcha's romantic prospects, because this was the last time he was ever meaningfully involved with anything at all.

[e-vay]

Looking back at your aurora and sage besties comic (its one of my favorites, only being beaten by were amy and sonic being a Simp) and I've got to ask, HOW DID YOU DO SAGES GLITCHING SO FRANKEN WELL??? IT LOOKS AMAZING AND I PERSONALLY LOVE HOW THOSE GLITCHS TURN RED WHENEVER SHES ON NEFARIOUS TIMING ARVDGDBABA

YOU ARE MY FAVORITE SONIC ARTIST.

...just wanted to say and ask.

You are so kind, thank you! I'm so happy you like them!

I do a lot of experimenting in Procreate until I find a technique I like. To achieve Sage's glitch, especially if she's doing something a little more wicked so her "red" side is showing, I'll start by drawing her in her blue version and her red version:

I'll select random rectangles from the red version and mask them/cut them out, so she's mostly blue but some red is showing:

I'll duplicate this layer and keep a copy of the "clean version" and apply effects to the duplicate. In Procreate, I'll use the "Glitch" effect and use the “Artifact” setting and mess with it until it achieves a result I like:

This may take several passes.

I duplicate the layers again, because again I always want to be able to go back if I don't like it. Then I'll play around with "chromatic aberration" under the “displacement” setting. She only needs a little for a subtle glitch effect, but if she's meant to look more menacing then I can go hardcore with it:

Then, I'll turn that original "clean" layer back on and I mask out the effect layer so only parts of it are coming through. When computers glitch, normally most of the image stays in tact and only some parts are scattered/messy so that's why I only have the effect in some areas.

I might even slide bits of those rectangles to the left or right. It's just a matter of playing with it until I like how it looks.

I hope that explanation was easy enough to follow along!

Again, thank you so much! I'm really really happy you enjoy my art and stories 🥰 (and I'm delighted to hear you're a fan of Were!AmyXSimp!Sonic hehehe)

[asegunda]

The Three Candles

Pairings: Luke Castellan & Thalia Grace & Annabeth Chase x Platonic! GN! Not Clearsighted Mortal! Reader

Summary: They always come back (But not ALL of them).

Warnings: Spoilers to all the 1st Collection: Percy Jackson and the Olympyans. Too much fluff! (Lol) and talks about death!

Notes: This is the Part 2 of my other work, "A Delightful Enconter", and thank you all for your love!

1.

The first time they came back it's still the three of them, some months later...it's late at night and you hear a knock on the door, still in your pajama you go see who it is. You yawn as you open the door.

Your eyes wide as you see who is there.

"Hello again Y/N." Luke says, he looks tired like he is trying not to cry.

"Do you three need a one night lace again, hmm?" You ask smiling as you let them enter.

"Bingo." Thalia says as she starts taking her things out of her bag.

"Y/N!" Annabeth runs to you and hugs you. "I have read 'Ulisses'!"

You smile. "Really? Did you like it?"

"Yes! I'm going to be a hero like him!" She tells you, her eyes shining.

"That's great dear." You smile to her again and go to Luke.

"Do you need help with the sofa?" You ask.

"Yes please. This just don't switch to the bed." He says still trying.

You help him and with that the bed is ready.

"Do you want to talk about it? I see that you are sad." As he looks at you you say. "I'm sorry if I'm being rude, I just want you to be okay."

He smiles. "Thank you, really..." He sighs. "It's just family problems." You nod wanting for him to continue.

"I visited my... mom today and my...dad was there." He tells you looking at the ground.

"I guess it didn't end well?" He nods.

"You know, family isn't just about blood, and what you have with Thalia and Annabeth is just as special as everything in the world." You smile at him and he hugs you.

"Thank you." He whispers in the hug.

"No problem honey." You say.

After the hug you go to Thalia to help her with a injury she had in the leg.

"Thank you." She smiles at you and you smile back.

They go to sleep and the very next morning they're not there..like last time.

You smile to yourself.

2.

The second time they came it's in the day, which you though 'weird'.

It starts with a knock in the door and as you open you see two people with orange shirts that say 'Camp Half-Blood' or some thing like that.

But you don't see the third head, they look at you with a sad look.

"Hey kids." You smile at them and they have the energy to smile back. "Where is Thalia?" You ask, and they froze up in place.

Luke is the first to talk. "She..." He looks at Annabeth trying to think of an excuse. "She is at the new summer camp we are at...she is sick so she didn't feel like coming." He sighs as he finishes.

"Oh, wait a second." You go to the kitchen and bring back a box and give it to Luke.

"For Thalia. I hope she feels better with these, and Annabeth.." You take a book from your shelf. "This one is for you." Annabeth reads the title 'The Renaissance era: Art and Architecture'.

"I saw that you love this greek kind of stuff, so.." You smile to her. "Thank you Y/N."

They leave after a group hug.

At the camp Luke opens the box, it's filled with sweets and cake. He cries as he thinks of Thalia, he and Annabeth eat the sweets together.

3.

The third time they came it was not 'they' just her, Annabeth.

As you open the door you smile as you see her, but you shiver as you don't see any sight of the others.

"Where are Luke and Thalia, dear?" You ask and she starts crying in your arms.

You take her inside and caress her hair.

"Oh, honey...what happened?" You whisper to her.

She sobs but between the sobs she tells you everything. That demigods and gods exist, that Thalia is a three now and that Luke is a traitor piece of crap, her words not yours.

You cry as you hear what happened to the two. You take two candles and light it. "For Thalia." You light one. "For Luke..I know he has a good heart, I'm sure he will come back to reason." You light the second candle.

For some hours you just hug Annabeth, she sleeps in your house and in the morning she is not there.

'Some things never change.' You think sadly. You see a note:

'I really liked the book, maybe I will be a architeth."

You smile and look at the candles.

4.

The forth time they come back is 'they' again, as you open the door you see Thalia and Annabeth, you run to Thalia's arms and hug her and cry.

She hugs you back smiling.

You take Annabeth to the hug too.

They come inside and they explain everything. How Thalia isn't a tree again, the situation with Luke, again.

As you hear all of it you look at the candles and Annabeth smiles at you.

Thalia tells you that she is now a Hunter of Artemis.

You congratulate her and give her the box with the same sweets you 'gave' her years ago.

She smiles and you three eat it at your house, talking and laughing, trying not to think about Luke.

"And Annatbeth has a crush." Thalia tells you.

"I have not a crush for Percy!" She yells blushing at Thalia.

You smile teasingly. "But no one said Percy dear." And she blushes even more.

Thalia laughs at her face and you smile to yourself.

They go away at the day this time, and when tehy are not there anymore you put one more candle.

"For Annabeth." You light the first. "For Thalia." You light the second. "And for Luke. Who I still believe has a beautiful heart." You light the third.

5.

The fifth time they come back it's the same as the last one. But with two new heads.

You hug Annabeth and Thalia, and has you hug the last you whisper to her: "So who are the other two?" She smiles and explains that they are Grover and Percy.

They both shake your hand and the four enter in your house. You take a lemonade out of the fridg eand give each a cup.

"So...what about Luke?" You ask and they all look both happy and sad.

"He was a hero." Percy says.

"...was?" You feel you eyes water with tears.

"..yeah, Y/N. He..died as a hero. You were right he really did the right thing." Annabeth says and Thalia hugs you. And the second she hugs you Annabeth comes for the hug too.

After some minutes you calm down.

All of you start talking about other things, how thay won the war. And...well Grover spoils a thing for you.

"Well, Y/N, me and huh...Percy...are.." She takes Percy hand and you already know what it is.

"They are dating." Grover says happy." Finnaly!!"

"Grover!" The other three yell at him.

"Congratulations dear." You say to Annabeth. "Well...Congratulations to all of you." You smile to them.

You pass the afternoon talking, they lunch at your house and when the night aproaches they get up and start leaving.

You hug Thalia and Annabeth again.

"It was nice meeting you, Grover, Percy." You wink at them and they shake your hands.

They go away and you light the candles again, you think it is a sign of Good Luck.

[hornkerling]

(The gorgeous art was a commission from leylses, who does not seem to to have an active tumblr any more - if you know where they now live please let me know for proper attribution! )

I have papers to mark, but also the upcoming game has my brain in a vice and I found myself going through my old tags to see where and how I'd left everybody, so I'm bringing back a few of the stories that meant the most to me, inspired by @thievinghippo. I have resisted the urge to re-write this beyond fixing a few of the more egregious fragments and parenthetical asides (damn, I loved a parenthetical, didn't it?). So it is here mostly in all of its old age and earnestness.

Look after each other

Isabela is the love Hawke expects. She is the one shaped to old childhood hopes and the words of all Liadan’s favourite songs, and the world turns to lurching delight and fumbling hope as the two circle each other and stare and glare and smile. Liadan grows wilder and Isabela more centred as they each, in their own way, say: let me in. Let me touch you. Let me love you, at least a little bit. And then just a breath more.  

Isabela draws her. Delights her. Lust tangles up between them, the pirate’s hands at her throat, lip caught between her teeth in concentration.

(“I have you, sweet thing. There you are.”)

***

Fenris is different. They rarely look at each other directly. They are too busy, heads bent over books or maps, her words caught between his teeth as she teaches him the silly memory songs that made words stick in her mind.

(“I’m sorry, Fenris,” she tells him, when they have three months of lessons behind them. She is delighted at his progress. It’s better than hers. Better than anything she’s ever seen. She’ll ruin it.

“I forgot how bad I was at this,” she says. “I never learnt well. Just ask Carver. We were both appallingly stupid at this. I—”

“—You,” he says, looking up from his work, hair sticking up from where his hands have tangled, “Are a better teacher than you think.”

Fenris is always surprised when he smiles, the warmth in his face flickering as he realises it’s there.

Liadan is never tired of it. She is never prepared for the answering tug his smiles always call up in her.

They look at each other sidelong, and one of them always looks away first, but there no pattern.

***

Together, all three fight well. Liadan is used to Isabela’s ruthlessness, has learned to use her magic in arcs that the pirate can exploit with a kick or a cry or twin, shining blades. She has learned to spot rare gaps in Fenris’s guard, and let that same magic be as blunt and brutal as the sword in her friend’s hand.

Force magic is ugly stuff that no one expects from the reedy singer with poor eyesight and freckles up her arms. She uses that surprise and feels Isabela’s pride and appreciation. She loves fighting from the back mostly because it means she can watch the others come back to her, Isabela kicking at bottles and pebbles and Fenris grimacing as lyrium fades back into his skin.

(“I don’t want to hurt you,” she’s said more than once. “If the magic is—”

“—It’s yours.” A shrug.

He does not look at her and Hawke wants to force it. Wants to hunker down and tilt his chin up and see. A part of her knows she could use her height for this, her self, to demand understanding, but when she feels that, she also hears Isabela’s voice in her head, and their oldest and sorest and most familiar fight twists up her guts.

“People aren’t problems, Hawke. Sometimes? Just back. Off.”

She holds back, jaw clenched.)

***

When Leandra dies, when every second breath tastes like bile, and my mother is dead repeats as the bass beneath her heartbeat, they are there. Isabela first, kissing the corner of her mouth, warm and scarf askew and never still. She looks at Liadan in all her tired hopelessness and does not turn away, but her eyes are half pleading, half embarrassed.

“I’m not good with this,” Isabela says, and Liadan doesn’t have the words to say I know or thank you. She just lets her head rest on Isabela’s chest, lets herself shake. Laughs a little at the other woman’s small huff of relief that they’ve gone bodied and wordless in the dark.

Fenris is a small knock and heavy step, and Isabela shifts to make room.

(“Are you any better at saying sorry than I am?”

“I…Is anyone?”)

Hawke lets them talk over her. She lets herself feel warm and hopeless and lost and loved and nothing, while Isabela eases her into her lap and Fenris lets one mercifully un-gauntleted hand rest on her hair.

***

She and Fenris do not want each other. Not the same way. They’ve never quite said it—never tugged at the difference between their easy company and the shiver-hope-want of Isabela’s lips on her throat, Fenris’s hands at Isabela’s hips.

They never say, You are my best friend.  I love you, and I love that you love who I love. Isn’t it gorgeous? Let’s keep being gorgeous. There is no need. Their voices blend, and in time he reads to her, her clumsy teaching turned beautiful as he shares verse and ghost story and Varric’s latest worlds.

Isabela soars over them both, and catches them both in their laughter. 

***

Liadan wonders if she can ever find words all the world’s different sorts of need. 

She watches them together. Delights at the catch in her breath, the little, happy flip inside at the sight of Isabela’s scarred, clever fingers twining with Fenris’s over a table at the Hanged Man.

In songs, Hawke knows, she’d be jealous.

She reaches out. Covers their hands with hers.

There should be new songs.

***

“You don’t even like men,” Carver says, wide-eyed and credulous as his ten-year-old self even as he looms over her in Templar armour. 

“Well observed.” 

“But–”

“–It’s none of your business, little brother.” Liadan smiles at him, rueful and soft. “I know I say that too much, but in this? It’s true.”

Leaving him at the Gallows, her staff a heavy, anxious weight across her back, Liadan worries that she must grow used to the question. 

She wonders if, given time, it’ll be easier or harder to squash the urge to punch people in the face. 

She chuckles. Easier, she hopes. If not, she’ll need to learn better aim. 

***

Liadan is a better sailor than she expects. She’d assumed she’d be terrible. 

(“You always assume that, sweet.” 

“Hush.”)

Grief does not drift away in the small boat’s wake, Kirkwall’s ashes still clinging to her skin, but it feels like it might. Finding balance is beautiful. She loves the creaks and cries and the strange gurgling noises that sneak into her daily thoughts, the music in her head. She loves the loosening of Isabela’s shoulders. Her strong, heavy body gone light in the rigging as she throws familiar words around in desperately strange ways. Tacking and tying and mainsailing and boarding stars or ports. 

Liadan relishes the slow feeling of her world changing, splitting, and making sense. 

***

Fenris’s skin burns and darkens. Her own only burns. They both catch themselves staring at the blisters on each other’s hands, and they exchange stories of stars as Isabela steers them toward Minrathous.

“Did you think you’d go back?” she asks.  

“Not like this,” he says. “It is–I do not know if it–”

“We’ll help,” Liadan says, hating her own earnestness even as Fenris presses a kiss to her cheek, just above the bone.   “You know that, I hope?”

She catches him smiling–more a crinkle about the eyes than anything else. 

“You did always say I’d never need to ask you to hunt slavers.” 

“You’re teasing me.” 

“Yes, Hawke.” Fenris murmurs. There is wonder in it. 

***

Minrathous almost becomes a home. Isabela grumbles–port taxes are brutal, and harder than most to evade. But there is something astonishing in the decaying finery all about them. Liadan’s songs turn learn new stresses that come in groups of six and sevens and full of unexpected tonal fractions. Isabela finds her a stringed instrument that fits across the lap, and Liadan is lost for hours trying to match interval to thought. 

(“I didn’t even steal it, Fenris.” Muttered delight in the corner of a small, dockside room, the sunlight turned thick through bright orange curtains.  

“You sound very proud.”

Liadan looks up as they kiss. She lets them get their breath back before she tells them to hush.) 

***

They are not always together, of course. Isabela is growing in boats and restlessness. A day in the market for Fenris becomes two weeks in Qarinus, Isabela and Liadan squinting in amazement at his bold, sparse handwriting when he lets them know he is following traces of Varania that pricked at him with hope he is not sure he can bear. 

Liadan writes more than songs. Varric’s answers grow thicker and more frequent, paper piling up whenever she has a fixed address, 

(“If I knew what dreaming felt like,” Varric writes, “It might be something like this. The red lyrium’s still here. Still other damn places, and it’s not going away, Hawke. I think the years are turning strange on us. Don’t know what that means.”)

***

Merrill visits. She moves through Minrathous with her energies coiled tight, movements too quick and eyes too large. “It’s lovely to see you all,” she says, while Liadan plays the treasured dulcimer and Fenris avoids her gaze and Isabela, face softer than they’ve seen in years, slips an arm about her waist.

“All of you,” she repeats. “Even you, Fenris.” 

Fenris catches Merrill’s tiny smirk. It distorts in the wine bottle he has brought out for the peculiar table. Merrill holds her glass. It splashes, thick and near-enough-to-blood that he should, he thinks, be appalled. But he’s chuckling, and when he does raise his head to see those ridiculous eyes on his, they’re warm with surprised approval.  

The next day, Merrill asks Isabela a favour. 

“Can you teach me how to spit?” 

“I’m sorry, kitten?” 

“Please,” Merrill says. “Pirates are good at that sort of thing, aren’t they?”

Isabela laughs and complies, Liadan watching with wide eyes at the serious discussions of aim and phlegm and head-tilt. 

“You’re disgusting.” 

“You love me, Hawke.” 

“Always true.” 

“You’re so sweet,” Merrill says, and Isabela’s laugh turns from raucous to soft. 

“You are,” Merrill says. “Also, you’re staring a little.” 

“I’ve missed you, kitten,” Isabela says. 

Liadan watches them. Catches the faint flush growing on Merrill’s face. Knows that swallow of Isabela’s. The small shifts of muscle that say the other woman is trying very hard, just this once, not to touch. 

She stands, walking between them to kiss the corner of Merrill’s mouth, smiling as the elf turns her head and lets it slip.

“That’s two of us, you know,” Liadan says. She feels bold and open and scalded as her bravery turns into a blush. “If you like.” 

“Sometimes,” Isabela mumbles as Fenris sighs with affectionate exasperation and picks up a book, shaking his head at them, “I really like my life.” 

***

Fenris catches Merrill later, small body tense as she stands at the base of the grand imperial library, looking up at the columns and statues of magisters-past. 

He wants to pull her back. The urge surprises him, sharp and worried as the pricking on his skin from too many eyes in this public place, the skin too tight over his cheeks at his wrists. 

He stares as she spits at the feet an archon. She watches her efforts drip down one enormous, silverite boot, and then turns away. 

He catches up to her. They are silent as the crowd opens and swallows them, his shadow careful over hers as she wipes the back of her mouth with a shaking hand.   

“I’m not as sweet as they think,” she says, after a while. 

“I know.” 

“I think you do,” Merrill’s smile is lopsided. “I’m glad I came, of course. It’s been so good to see everyone; it would have been even without–” her blush flares up. Fenris watches as the blood seems to sink back into her skin, markings stark. 

“Even without all of that,” she says. “But Tevinter. I hadn’t thought. Not really. Seeing all this knowledge. All this old power, and most of it’s nearly dead, but my people died first. For that mural, maybe. Or that statue. It’s all–”

“–Merrill–”

“–pointless.” 

She stops to breathe, glaring at the city-shadows, and Fenris isn’t sure who is more surprised when he pulls her into a rough embrace. 

“I do not understand,” he says. “Not fully. But nothing you do is pointless, and there are many reasons for rage.” 

Merrill looks at him. He does not flinch when she cups his cheek. They are of a height, her eyes dark and locked with his. 

It breaks when she smiles. Her eyes close. He catches small, bright teeth and a half-laughed breath. 

“You love them very much, don’t you?” 

Fenris squirms, 

“Yes.” 

“Good,” Merrill says, stepping back. Her hair has grown in the years since Kirkwall. “You’re all very nice together.” 

***

“I have to go back,” Hawke says, in the end.

The rift light tinges everything. Their skin and their teeth; the street and the oily water of the port. Even Isabela’s jewellery picks up a layer of corpse green, and Fenris tastes magic at the back of his throat. 

“Yes,” Isabela says. 

“No,” says Fenris. 

They glare at each other, and Liadan holds back a sob. 

“It’s her choice, sweet thing,” Isabela says, tugging gently on Fenris’s hair. “She’s a big girl.”

“Varric needs my help,” she says. “And if it is–”

“I cut off the magister’s head,” Fenris says. “I pulled out his heart and cut off his head. We all checked–”

“–Twice,“ Isabela sighs. 

“And if Corypheus is still alive,” Liadan says, “Then I’m the one who’s fought him. Feels only right to do it again.” 

“You,” Fenris mutters, words thick, “Are a fool about this.”  

Liadan sighs. “Please,” she says. “Look after each other.” 

“No,” Isabela says. 

“Yes,” says Fenris.

The three hold hands as they look toward the end of the world. 

[ice-cream-writes-stuff]

■□▪︎ Colorful Creations vs. Destructive Justice▪︎■□

{Yandere Miguel O'hara/Reader}

《Miguel O'hara with a Error!Reader or Ink!Reader?》

《{Error! Sans: Created by @/LoverofPiggies (aka CrayonQueen | Ink! Sans: Created by @/Comyet}》

-

Error! Sans: Originally a version of Geno of After Genocide, he fell into a dimension between Universes and became glitched beyond repair. He now dedicates his life to cleanse the Multiverse of Anomalies, even if it means destroying all of the AUs and Out!

"നⅰဌՍᕦ⎜!!!" Your voice screeches out. Your glitched form appears in his office, scarring newcomers when seeing you, along with hearing...

Descending down with your strings, your glitching form scares and unnerved one of the younger Spider-Man, also known to you as one the "Anomalies".

You laugh at the thought, finding it funny that the whole "spider-society" singled only one of its members.

They all were Anomalies. All of them.

"Meirda.." Miguel softly cusses when seeing you. "(Y/N).." He starts off, but you interrupt with one of your strings takes hold of "Anomalie 42".

You were pissed, knowing the truce you and Miguel held was close to shambles.

You let 42 go after your close look. Eyeing Miguel as you huff, your strings cradling you as you watch him explain.

-

Ink Sans: Ink Sans is a Sans who exists outside of timelines to help aid artists in the creations of new AUs. He is capable of drawing anything and bringing it to life (outside of already deceased people).

"Miguel~!" You appear from one of your ink portals, excitedly jumping towards him. Before noticing the other "spiders," you light up!

Cheery and kind, you go over to the "spideys", shaking their hands and eyeing their costumes and color palates.

Then noticing "Anomalie 42", bouncing over to the young spider, happily questioning him and talking about the adventure you saw of his.

Miguel scoffed as tells you to stop.

"Sorry!" You said, before patting the young teens head ad Miguel ruffly pulls you away.

You were delighted to meet Miles.

Knowing he could change the timeline so easily!

Yet...

-

[I'm such a undertale nerd, gawd, but I knew this had to be done! Art, comments, reblogs are appreciated! If you like this idea and wanna use it, tag me! I'd love to see it! This was for FUN, Maybe I'll right more of this! Let me know! Thanks for reading!]

[t00thpasteface]

i very deeply respect your mashposting and even though im not as enthusiastic about hawkahy as you are i think the content you make for them us delightful and some of the best mashposting on this godforsaken website. that being said, i wanted to know ur takes on the hawkeye & trapper dynamic, and the hawkeye & bj dynamic. Not in a shippy way, just in the World of Hawkahy what role do trapper and bj play in their relationships with hawkeye :3 this because i love that one comic u did where hawkeye is spunchbop and bj is Patrick its one of my fave pieces of mash fanart lol

(⁠๑˘❥⁠⁠ ˘๑⁠) first off, THANK YOU!! i'm soooo crazy about hawkahy and i really enjoy contributing to my fellow shippers, but i'm glad my art can also still appeal to people who are less interested the ship itself.

second, VERY fun question!! i wish i had definitive answers for yall, but you know me... i love to go "well idk it could go either way" ^_^;; really, it depends on what kind of tone and theme i'm looking for. i don't really write heavier stuff (because i have so much fun writing funny fic) so that kind of narrows my options, but there's a lot of potential i'd love to explore— or see someone else explore, if they're so inclined!

TRAP:

generally the trapper reading i typically default to is that he and hawkeye have a pretty casual FWB thing going on. trapper considers hawkeye a very close friend and hooks up with him at an intersection of bicuriosity and deep platonic affection, but hawkeye catches baddddd feelings and ends up genuinely heartbroken to find out their thing was lopsided. in this case, hawkahy would happen only after trapper leaves— mulcahy has a tough time trying to get noticed before that point :( but at the same time, i don't think mulcahy would pounce at the first opportunity, because i don't think an immediate rebound would be good for hawkeye nor mulcahy... but it could happen for dramaaaaa...

another version of the hawkeye-trapper rapport that i love playing with in my fics is trapper being generally very supportive but nonetheless slightly grossed out. i think there's a lotttt of comedy potential with hawkeye thinking it's okay to fuck a priest but NOT a married woman, and meanwhile trapper is pro-infidelity but anti-priestfucking (for whatever reason), and they squabble and tease each other about it the whole time.

it's also funny to think about is trapper trying to figure out whether mulcahy now gets the "one of the bros" back-slapping beer-chugging dude treatment, or if instead he's now slotted into the "go easy on 'em trap" category that protects hawkeye's ladyfriends from hearing trapper's bawdiest jokes and comments when hawkeye brings them along as a plus-one to the swamp.

trapper seems like he's pretty likely to sniff out that hawkeye and mulcahy are seeing each other even if they try their damnedest to keep it secret. i like to think hawkeye trusts trapper enough that he would go ahead and divulge it it up front pretty soon after it's official. trapper could probably even pick up hawkeye's crush beforehand... maybe even before hawkeye knows about it!

i don't see trapper as being too jealous of hawkeye spending a lot of time with mulcahy, even if it means hawkeye is now exclusive and not sleeping with trapper anymore. if anything i think he'd be pretty stoked that he's got one less guy to compete with for the nurses' attention. pretty sweet deal as far as he's concerned.

i do think there'd be some tricky navigating between how hawkeye acts with trapper and the STARK difference with how he acts around mulcahy, which you can see clear as day in the s1 finale, where hawkeye gets soooo soft and careful while talking to mulcahy. i don't think either one is disingenuous; i think hawkeye contains multitudes. hawkeye's not the type to fake sincerity. and to that end, i really don't think hawkahy should hinge on hawkeye totally giving up all the cruder parts of his personality (especially since mulcahy is really no saint either), so it could be pretty interesting to see that manifest in whether/how he's still maintaining a close friendship with trapper now that he's been seeing mulcahy regularly and trying to make a good impression.

BEEJ:

the direction bj goes in depends on whether hawkahy are already an item before he gets there. he does form that almost instantaneous trauma-bond with hawkeye on his first day, but i think if hawkeye admitted "yeah by the way the chaplain is my boyfriend" as soon it seemed safe, bj would be able to take it in stride as another weird little quirk of the mash he has to get used to. he's too hung up on dealing with all the gore to worry about who's banging who.

by contrast, i think he could potentially get pretty upset/jealous if hawkeye and mulcahy paired up a little while later. i can see him feeling really betrayed, like, "what do you normally do when i'm gone?" "wait for you to get back!!"

if bj still doesn't feel like he's really enmeshed himself into the unit— which i think on some level, he never wants to, because he's banking on dropping everything like a hot potato the second he can— then i can totally picture him just feeling completely lost and isolated when hawkeye is suddenly forgoing their boys-nite boozathons in favor of getting some priest pipe. like, at least trapper could always go find his own cuddle buddy to pass the time and had nurses lining up to volunteer; bj has basically nobody and doesn't seem inclined nor equipped to fix that. hawkeye is his liason to the rest of the camp, and bj isn't so great with people without having hawkeye there to help as both teleprompter and safety net.

basically i think bj wants to keep hawkeye within a very specific arm's-length radius— not too close, but not too far either, and hawkeye having so much private time with someone else could really get under his skin.

you could also have bj think the priestfucking is gross/bad on sheer principle like trapper did, even without the jealousy angle, and it'd probably hold a little more water coming from bj than trapper. however, it'd be funny if he's insisting it's definitely not a jealousy thing and he's being fully objective about it, but you can totally tell he's just jealous. x)

i admit i kinda love seeing bj get tormented, because he's got such obvious buttons to press and yet sternly insists that they don't even exist, similar to houlihan and frank. like, you can't just set that up and not expect me to rub my hands together and SLAM those buttons as hard as i can. ergo, bj getting jealous about hawkahy is supremely funny to me. i'm not too proud to admit that!

[revalition]

OCT 22 - HAND/EYE COORDINATION Ready? Aim and fire.

I like this guy a lot but his portrait leaves tooo much to the imagination. he's so hard to design. I'm not sure if this is what we'll stick with but you can pry his forehead wrinkles out of my cold dead hands :)

quotes under the cut!

this one has been sitting in my screenshots doc for ages. it's *so* funny to me, this guy has his priorities in order!

this one is awful! I can't even tell if he's upset at you or at himself :(

*you're* so sorry?? cmon man, take some responsibility! this definitely pushes the context of the butterfingers comment into the 'likely directed at you' category

H/E coordination reining in the idiots!! this restores the endurance damage from PT's screaming (though the volition damage from HL is not recovered)

good job H/E!!!! my strong guy.

I'm constantly delighted that H/E is usually pretty normal and then comes up with something completely unhinged! Him and electrochemistry are bad decision friends! also 'some of us have been wondering' like it's not just him. this guy.

them! themmm! (points excitedly)

Active H/E fails! since they're all delightful

he's so deadpan about this very embarrassing situation

he's so stupid... (though I was also thinking it when I had to shave my wispy T-beard the other day 💀 shaving is scary okay)

guys my irl hand/eye coordination is at like, 0 I think. got a negative modifier on there from something 😔

it's important to mention that if Logic makes that comment it adds a negative modifier to the check lmao [-1 Totally overthinking it] thanks man

actually important check? he has nothing to say

something stupid like petanque? sigh. stupid guy. you just knew it was gonna be bad when knowing that the game is petanque *increases* the difficulty. My first playthrough I had H/E coordination of 1 and by some miracle managed to pass this check... and was NOT impressed. But don't worry, my Harry failed every single other H/E coordination red check in the whole game.

speaking of!

this fucking guy. he's not even upset. If you miss with the gun you get to take a second shot (if you have the second bullet) !

anyway I think that's it for the H/E Coord fails?

hehe yes darling be condescending

why is it that H/E coordination is one of the last skills I want to give a gun to??

H/E using 'us' ? cause he's not referring to the other skills, Ency is all over that. And of course it's an artillery system and that's why H/E cares about it haha

look at them all working together to piece together your gun!!! <3

dying here. this is if you somehow manage to get your gun back, and you're not: boring cop, apocalypse cop, superstar cop, sorry cop, art cop, fascist, moralist, communist, ultraliberal, a boiadeiro, or a remote viewer

his comments for all the different personalities are delightful! I don't think I can include them all but here are some great ones

he'll go along with anything!!

this guy. cmon H/E you gotta be better than that...

don't mind me, gently placing H/E coord into the bad decision skills pile...

why is it always that *you* were wrong?? but YES don't listen to your hands they have awful ideas

that's a great idea honey, but maybe not the right timing??

maybe he's a little delusional sometimes but we adore him nonetheless

I've hit the screenshot limit but shoving this one in here too

HAND/EYE COORDINATION - If you want to try again, then you need to have the prybar in your *hand*, detective.

yes yes sassy skills my beloveds

he has the fewest passive checks out of all the skills (and no passive fails either!) at 115. but the dialogue he *does* have is delightful! love this guy, even though I didn't hear from him a whole lot in either of my playthroughs.

[zylophie]

🍡 . 鳥居 — your secret admirer ft k.kazuha & xiao

✿ — ♬ ⌨️ᶻᶻᶻ : yue is typing... ✉!

✿ — ↻ SYNOPSIS : Love is like the breeze itself, you can't see it but the heart know it and its gentle whisper tell a different tale...

✿ — ♯ GENRE : fluff, gn reader

✿ — ↠ NOTE : pyon-yahoo, zee! I know we never really get to talk at all before this but I'm happy to be your secret admirer for this event so I really hope that I live up to your expectations for your favorite characters!

✿ — ♪ REMINDER : reblogs & likes are appreciated, in doing so will motivate us to continue delivering stories to you, thank you for all of your supports ~ !

✿ — ♭ ⁿᵒʷ ᶜᵃˡˡⁱⁿ��... : @mccnstruck

✿ — ► ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : the art of you featuring kaedehara kazuha and xiao...

🍡 . 鳥居 — kaedehara kazuha

∞ You were an artist originally from sumeru who travel to different nations, looking for some inspirations to complete your travel illustrations journal in hope of sharing your experience with those who can't afford travelling fees.

∞ You weren't really interested in becoming a scholar but instead your passion lies in the world of arts so the moment you were able to become independent, you immediately went off to Liyue which was just so happened to be next to where Sumeru is.

∞ Ever since you were a child, you heard stories of other nations and their cultures so you were really interested in learning more about them and recording it all in your journal.

∞ But when you decide to set foot in an unknown territory, you honestly didn't expect to find love for the first time ...

The bustling city of Liyue was filled with vibrant colours and historical buildings as the laughter and chattering of its residents crowded the streets.

You could see all the buildings and the small stalls are decorated with paper lanterns, and their designs vary from dragons, maple leaves and many more. Your eyes caught the sight of various beautiful flowers decorated some of the residents' hair.

I have never seen those flowers before...I wonder if they are this nation's flowers?

You hummed softly, taking notes of recording it later in your journal once you get to your room but for now, that sweet, sweet tempting aroma of the foods from the stalls is leading you astray...

"(name), no...you have a job to do, you are not here to sightsee-" You paused mid sentence when one of the stall owners brought out the foods, deliciously fresh and hot. It looks so appetizing.

Okay, maybe one bite won't hurt...

.

.

.

"Mmm~ it's so good!!"

Your cheeks flushed in delight, taking another bite of the grilled tiger fish under the big tree as you quietly watched children and adults walking around the streets, enjoying the festival as much as possible.

After having a chat with the store owner about the cultures and their history, he was nice enough to give you some of his grilled tiger fish for free, probably because of the warm and lively atmosphere.

Whatever the reason is...but free food!

As you were enjoying the moment, you suddenly felt the gentle breeze on your face. There was a very light, almost quiet rustling of leaves but soon, the breeze suddenly picked up and you could hear a strong whistling sound of the wind.

"Ah, not my hat?!" You cried, eyes widened in surprise as you immediately stood up and set off to catch it. The (colour) hat flew gently with the wind as its dance to the song of the wind.

But to you, it's just seems like it was mocking you-

"Please, please, please don't go over the bridge...!"

Just as you fear. It went over the bridge and your face almost dropped.

...if it wasn't for a young man swiftly catching it and for a moment, time seems to hold still as the young man floats in mid air slowly landing on the ground as if he was dancing with the wind itself.

It was breathtaking.

"I think I just witnessed something magical..." You pinched your cheeks and soon enough, it stings like heck!

IT'S NOT A DREAM?

The young man turned to you with a kind smile, handing out your hat "I believe this one is yours?"

Oh god. His voice.

"A-Ah, yes! Thank you for getting it for me" You couldn't help but cringe at yourself when your voice just cracked, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"Excuse me for a moment please" The young man suddenly came closer to you and reached out to your head.

You flinched when the feels of his fingertips gently brushed against your hair before pulling something out and presenting it to you.

"There was a maple leaf stuck in your hair" He let out a chuckle when your eyes widened and stared at him in shock.

"I-uh wha...?"

Oh gosh, is that why some of the passers-by were giggling at?!

"You seem surprised so it wasn't for decoration?"

"Y-Yeah... actually it's my first time here so I'm not very familiar with its culture yet..."

You shyly avoid making eye contact with him, heart thumping loudly and body temperature slowly raising. You could have sworn that the kind stranger would hear it.

"Would you like to take a stroll with me?" He asked in a kind tone, his gaze softened as some of his locks brushed against his face due to the wind picking itself up again "I could tell you anything of what I know about Liyue Harbor if you would like?"

"Are you sure? I would love to!" You happily accepted his offer, totally not just because you want to get to know him more... it's for your work definitely!

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself..." You cut yourself off before awkwardly scratching your cheek "I am (last name) (name)...it's nice to meet you"

"I am Kaedehara Kazuha, I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance"

...and that was the start of your journey with the young samurai.

🍡 . 鳥居 — xiao

㊊ Ever since you were a child, you heard many stories of other nations from your parents' experience as adventurers before settling down in Sumeru and it's because of them, you've become more curious of the world outside of your homeland.

㊊ Especially the tales of the Rex Lapis and the Adeptus who fought alongside him during the war, you were most curious about the remaining sole survivor of the yakshas.

㊊ You were raised in a loving household so you couldn't imagine how that person felt after losing their family so tragically like that... you want to learn more about their history and how their efforts become one of the many reasons why Liyue Harbor is still standing to this day.

㊊ So once you were older enough to join the adventure guild, you immediately set off to Liyue Harbor for a mission to collect specific herbs that you can only find in the mountains of Liyue where danger lurk in the dark...

The solitary mountains loomed in the distance, the land of geo dwarfing the endless sea of greenery and yellow trees that surrounded the mountaintops.

At dusk, the mountains were silhouettes, shrouded in the dark hues of the night sky but as the sun began to rest, the stars painted the dark sky with their brilliant lights and soon, the moon rose higher as if it was guiding its little ones to shine brightly upon the world.

It was truly a sight to behold.

"This scenery might be good for a painting..." You couldn't keep the big grin off your face as you quickly make your way towards your next destination, hoping to find a safe place to camp for the night.

But something caught your eyes as you were walking up the path between the mountains, it was a small purple flower with strong vitality, its downward-blooming buds really remind you of something...

Wait.

You quickly went to grab your notebook, patting around the inside of your pocket before pulling it out and flipped it open to a list of plants for the mission.

"Hmm... it fits the description" You hummed, taking notes of the flower characteristics before quickly making a sketch of it to go along with and once you were done, you put it away for further studies later on.

You adjusted your grip on your bag before walking up to where the flower is and begins to climb the cliff. You didn't look down, carefully makes your way up the mountain and soon enough, you were close enough to grab the plant "Alright that one down-"

"Ya!"

You snapped your head towards the source of the noise only to see a bunch of Hilichurls and two of them were aiming their arrows right at where you were...

WHERE THE HECK DID THEY COME FROM?

You cursed under your breath at the disadvantageous situation you found yourself in, puzzled but you didn't get to think any further when a sharp and intense outburst, an agony of excruciating pain hits your left shoulder.

You gasped, gritting your teeths as your left hand loosen its grip out of shock and a highly unpleasant, intense physical sensation in the area where the arrow successfully pierced through the skin.

Its burns.

You were barely holding onto the cliff, your line of sight blurred as tears gathered at the corner of your eyes.

"Ika ya! Ika ya! Upano yaya ika!"

"Upa sada!!"

They were screaming at you in their own language, whatever it is...from you could tell from their noises that they were mad about something but why towards you...?

I didn't see any hilichurl camp nearby when I was making my way up here...

I could only remember encountering a few hilichurls because a few adventurers were cornered.

...Ah.

"Ika ya-!"

A violent gust of wind cut the creatures off and the sound of a spear piercing through as the screams of the hilichurls echoed throughout the earthly walls and the next moment.... it's dead silence.

You snapped your eyes open for the world, only to see a beautiful pair of strong golden eyes staring right back at you.

It was a young man with hair as dark as the night sky and teal undertones, he was clearly out of breath and was stiff as a wooden broad but he never took his eyes off you.

...there was something about him that made you feel uneasy, that look in his bewitching golden eyes...

As if he was looking at something... precious.

Why does he look so familiar though...?

"H-Have we met before?" You blurted out, completely mesmerized by this otherworldly beauty in front of you.

"..." He didn't respond, cautiously putting you down onto the ground and his lips trembling slightly, suppressing his emotions in check as he examined your face up close.

His hand cupped your face, his thumb wiping the blood off your cheek gently "...You should be more cautious of your surroundings next time"

His tone was harsh but it's like your heart knew that it wasn't intended to come out like that.

The young man had his back towards you and just as he was about to disappear along with the wind, you cried out "Wait...!"

He paused, slightly glancing over his shoulder to you but you could hardly see his face from where you were "...What is it?"

"I want to know... just who..." You looked up with pleasing eyes, struggling to breathe. You didn't understand why you were acting the way you are now but you knew that if you don't it now, you might regret it later on...

"Xiao"

You stared at him, surprised when he turned to look at you with a facial expression that raised even more questions; the looks of his eyes were soft...as if he was at peace from all of the burdens that shackled him to this world.

"As long as you're in Liyue, Call by my name and I'll be right there when you need me"

...and then he vanished to thin air, leaving you staring at the empty space…

[alkalinefrog]

Hello! I just wanted to drop in and say how much i love the art and work you do! They're absolutely amazing and SO GOOD. I binge-read the Golden Light and The Lights of Avalon recently too and man!! it's AMAZING!

The characterization? The world-building? the tension and the back and forth between shenanigans and angst? the dynamics between the bards and the knights and Jack and Hiccup?? IMMACULATE!

Thank you so much for sharing it! You're such a talented writer and artist and it's been such a delight to read and see the work you've done!! I'm looking forward to what comes next and hope you take care until then!! <3<3<3<3

AWWW THANK YOU FOR DROPPING BY, THIS MADE MY DAY FR!!! Whaddya mean knights plural, there's just Astrid and her four parasite squires LMAO. I'm so glad you enjoyed the fics though, even with the outdated clunky writing in them 🥹 it's so gratifying to hear you like the characterization especially! The chapter where the bards and squires all met had me going insane there were so many characters to juggle in the scenes 💀 it just keeps getting worse from here when you start pulling in characters from Arthurian legends, crine. It's been hard finding time to squeeze in fic writing between that and my job lately, but TLOA's always on my mind! Funny thing is working on the world-building for TLOA sent me so far down the Arthuriana rabbit hole that now I'm just making a whole original project based on Arthurian legend too LMAO. I'll probably start posting art for the project in another couple months when my schedule frees up some more. As for TLOA I'm still stoked for the story and all the big plot points I wanna build to, so hopefully I can write some more soon as well! Thank you so much for sending me such a sweet ask, and I hope you have a lovely rest of your week!! 🥹❤️❤️❤️

[mehiwilldoitlater]

The atmosphere was as tense as a violin chord, thick and heavy as a blanket.

Yae eyes darted from Ei figure, calmly sipping tea from her cup, enjoying from time to time some small bite of the mochis on her plate, to you, clearly upset by something by the glares that you threw to the Shogun, who was obviously ignoring your attiotude.

Usually the afternoon at the Shogun residence, where the three of you shared some good chatting, news, and gossip from the towns, was a moment of pure relaxation and nothingless. It was the moment when the Raiden Shogun, the Head Maiden of the Narukami Shrine, and the Creator weren't such mighty and important figures, but just three friends who loved to spend some quality time together.

At least that was the case for the other days, since now there are some problems between you and the Shogun.

"Oh my, I wonder. You both are so chattering today. I'm guessing that whatever happened between you two must have been quite an event."

Before speaking, Ei's eyes sparked toward her friend. Did she really need to bring that up?!

"Me and Y/N had a discussion a few hours ago."

"We argued-"

You corrected, noticing Ei eyes rising toward you in the same glare.

"About some matters that aren't supposed to be on their minds right now."

"Um, um, and...what are those matters, to be precise?"

"I asked her to teach me how to fight."

The ceramic Ei cup clattered with the small plate in her hand. Why do you have to be so stubborn? She loved that thing about you, but, seriously, on those occasions, it was impossible! Yae hears, on the other hand, pointed up, showing her her full interest in the matter. Her eyes were full of a small glimmer.

"Oh really? And...why so?"

"Why not?!"

"Because you don't need to! I can protect you just like this!"

Finally, Ei decided to get out of her small, composed shell. She raised her voice, shocking you for a momet, and Yae, not so used from the Shogun to shout.

"I don't want to be protected! I want to be able to do it myself!"

"This world is merciless; one wrong step and-"

"I've been hurt and hunted by the nations, Ei; I'm far more aware of how this world works! I want to protect our people too!"

The two of you keep on having that argument in front of the fox lady.

She found the entire ordeal quite cute. She knew that, at some point , this was supposed to happen. You wanted so much to prove yourself, while Ei tried with all the strength of her being to reject the thought of losing her Creator. It was meant to happen that the two of you would crash at some point; it was later than she believed, but better than never, no?

Posing her cup, she started to adjust the front of her kimono.

"Umm...well, it seems like she won't help you, dear Y/N. Forget asking her to help you master the art of polearming."

Finally, thought there was some sense in that discussion! It was strange to hear Yae finally siding  with-

"So, instead, why don't try to master another weapon? Sarah would love to get the chance to teach you the bow—or the Kamisato sibling? I can sense it; the art of the sword would elevate your status."

Your face glowed (literally) for happiness, while Ei looked at the scene with confusion and so much disdain.

"Do you mean it?!"

"Of course! Maybe you can master all of them! Why don't we pay them a visit later?"

"AAAAAW! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!"

You launched towards her, hugging her closely. She giggled a little, caressing your head in delight.

"I'm going to change! I'm going to need some proper gear...FIGHTING CLOTHING!"

You disappeared from the room, leaving the room again in the same silence. Ei keeps throwing light from her eyes towards the fox.

"....DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT?"

"They want to protect their and your people, Ei, and they don't want to be scared anymore... You should acknowledge that..."

[royal-wren]

hi!! would you be open to sharing some of your experiences with worshipping the kharites? how have they impacted your life? i'm interested but there's so little information surrounding them. thank you so much :D

Ah hell yeah! I'll jump on any chance to talk about them!

I love the elder Kharites so much, sure I honor ALL of them but the first three are the ones directly in my life, and the third to have a statue on my altar. My main go-to with them is every art that has to do with writing, those that really eat up poetry and storytelling in all forms. They're givers of joy, grace, beauty, and eloquence, and the ones I lean on most for my own writing more than anyone else in company with two that they're in the retinue (staunch companions) of Hermes and Aphrodite. I feel like I might be the odd one out on my tendency to lean on them with H and A over the Mousai and Apollon, but it's just what feels most right for me. I can't dream of it being the latter when in my mind the five in question embody what grips and makes writing special while also being patrons of the arts.

To put it into perspective and why I went from honoring, to actively worshipping and now being their devotee and crediting them with every piece I make:

Bacchylides, Fragment 10 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) : "Truly the skilled man [poet or artisan] prospers in golden hope, whether he has won honour from the Kharites (Charites, Graces)."

Pindar, Nemean Ode 4. 6 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) : "If that man with the Kharites' (Charites', Graces') favour haply bring forth the heart's deep mood to live upon the tongue."

Pindar, Olympian Ode 14. 1 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) : "Whose haunts are by Kephissos' (Cephisus') river, you queens beloved of poets' song, ruling Orkhomenos (Orchomenus), that sunlit city and land of lovely steeds, watch and ward of the ancient Minyan race, hear now my prayer, you Kharites (Charites, Graces) three. For in your gift are all our mortal joys, and every sweet thing, be it wisdom, beauty, or glory, that makes rich the soul of man. Nor even can the immortal gods order at their behest the dance and festals, lacking the Kharites' aid"

From their theoi page: "The character and nature of the Charites are sufficiently expressed by the names they bear: they were conceived as the goddesses who gave festive joy and enhanced the enjoyments of life by refinement and gentleness. Gracefulness and beauty in social intercourse are therefore attributed to them. (Horat. Carm. iii. 21, 22; Pind. Ol. xiv. 7, &c.) They are mostly described as being in the service or attendance of other divinities, as real joy exists only in circles where the individual gives up his own self and makes it his main object to afford pleasure to others. The less beauty is ambitious to rule, the greater is its victory; and the less homage it demands, the more freely is it paid. These seen to be the ideas embodied in the Charites. They lend their grace and beauty to everything that delights and elevates gods and men. This notion was probably the cause of Charis being called the wife of Hephaestus, the divine artist. The most perfect works of art are thus called the works of the Charites, and the greatest artists are their favourites. The gentleness and gracefulness which they impart to man's ordinary pleasures are expressed by their moderating the exciting influence of wine (Hor. Carm. iii. 19. 15; Pind. Ol. xiii. 18), and by their accompanying Aphrodite and Eros. (Hom. Od. viii. 364, xviii. 194; Paus. vi. 24. § 5.) They also assist Hermes and Peitho to give grace to eloquence and persuasion (Hesiod. Op. 63), and wisdom itself receives its charms from them. Poetry, however, is the art which is especially favoured by them, whence they are called erasimolpoi or philêsimolpoi. For the same reason they are the friends of the Muses, with whom they live together in Olympus. (Hes. Theog. 64; Eurip. Herc. fur. 673; Theocrit. xvi. in fin.) Poets are inspired by the Muses, but the application of their songs to the embellishment of life and the festivals of the gods are the work of the Charites."

It certainly doesn't help that so many of the gods I focus on and are most important to my personal worship directly have them in their retinue or are their companions in the sense like the Mousai and the Horai where it's more an equal footing kind of thing versus what it's like with Hermes, Aphrodite, Apollon, Athene, Artemis, Dionysos, Hera, Hekate, and while it isn't noted anywhere, I can't see it in any other way than Hestia's inclusion as one of the trio leaders of festivities with Hermes and Dionysos and the Kharites embodying mirth, cheer/excitement, and festivities.

The best way to devote yourself to them and my go-to when I'm down and don't have the energy or focus and willpower to do much more is to do something for myself that will bring joy, comfort, and elation in their name. Hedonism and doing your hobbies go a long way with them.

Further reading:

The Graces in Ancient Greek Mythology

The Graces by Louis de Jaucourt

The three Graces, or the allegory of the gift published by Denis Vidal (also here if the other link dies)

Pausanias tries to visualize the three ‘Graces’ of Orkhomenos in Boeotia by Gregory Nagy

The Three Graces: Cosmic Harmony in Scève's Délie by Joan A. Buhlmann

The Three Graces: Composition and Meaning in a Roman Context by Jane Francis

[scarlettgauthor]

His Sacred Incantations NOW IN AUDIOBOOK FORM!

(Y'all I basically had to fistfight Adobe Premiere in an alley to get that preview made, please clap.)

Yes, Tumblr! It's happening! It has happened! The His Sacred Incantations audiobook is finally available, and you're hearing about it now! Fifteen hours of femdom fantasy adventure coming straight to your earholes! Bondage! Pegging! A really cool fight with a necromancer! At least one dragon! This story has everything, and now you can listen to it!

I am so, so delighted that Martin Martinez was willing to come back for the second book to complete Lucían and Glory's story. When I'm reviewing the audiobooks I no longer hear a narrator doing a voice, I just hear Lucían and Glory's voices, which is an incredible testament to Martin's performance. He had a fantastic time reading this (which I know for a fact because he reached out to me to say these were his favorite books he's never narrated) and that comes across in the audio. 

Some narrators might be intimidated by a book that's 25% sex scene by volume (I did the math once) but not Martin! He put his whole ass and libido into reading the kink scenes, and then Antoine Bandele of AB Book Services took his raw reading and added musical stings and special effects that really elevate the entire auditory experience. It's truly everything I could possibly have wanted from an audiobook.

Also! In celebration of the book being available, I'm putting the His Secret Illuminations audiobook on sale on my website for 50% off! Grab both at a savings, and settle in for thirty whole hours of Martin's wonderful voice and my wild story.

Where can I buy it?

Right now? Just on my website! It's been submitted to Audible and also for wider distribution through Author's Republic, but those take time to percolate through the system and my website is almost immediate! 

As with the His Secret Illuminations audiobook, I had to break it into five parts in order to get around the file size limit. Everything I sell through my website is DRM free, and I get the entire cover price instead of only 25-50%. It's the best way to directly support me, and once you have it, you own the files and no one can take them away from you.

More retailers will be coming soon, but as Patrons you get the direct link and the first announcement!

How can I help out?

Spread the word about the audio book! Y'all have the sneak peek, but I'll be sharing this on social media in the next couple of days. Like, reskeet, reblog, reshare, leave good reviews of the audio book where appropriate--all of that is a huge help to me, someone who is her own marketing department. Also, as mentioned in a previous update, I just left my day job, so writing is now my only income. Word of mouth has been my most valuable tool, so I want to thank every one of you who has ever recommended my books to a friend! You're helping keep weird art alive!

Grab the recording, and settle in for a horny weekend, Patrons!

[lostgracestories]

Thank you for feeding my Morgott obsession with your wonderful works <3 You wrote about a jealous Morgott, but what about the opposite? His beloved getting jealous of people around him because he's so handsome and special, who wouldn't want him, and when Morgott finds out he's like "????? WHY WOULD THOU BE JEALOUS, I-"

UGH omg I love the FUEL you guys give me to be an absolute degenerate for my omen twins <333 Anyways! I gotcha! Here's a silly little writing, I don't think it really qualifies as head canons but I hope you enjoy nonetheless <333

wc: 436 tw: jealousy (if ur not into it, don't read <3)

Deliciously Jealous

The first time you experienced that familiar boiling feeling in your chest was during an event Morgott was holding to hear the concerns of the nobles of Leyndell, pertaining to his rule. You had never been a jealous person... but something about watching that noble woman lightly hold Morgott's hand and curtsy to him out of respect had you seething. You wanted nothing more than to rip her hands off of your beloved.

That night, Morgott noticed how you clung to him, practically stuck in his side like a thorn. He had asked if you were alright and you gave him an uncharacteristically gleeful smile... "I am delightful!!" "...Art thou... certain?" "Of course!"

Finally, after that ridiculous event was over, you had swiftly pulled Morgott away. Well... coaxed him was more accurate. The man was built like a damn wall, no amount of you pulling would move him if he did not wish to move.

The moment the two of you were alone, finally, you immediately gripped his hands in yours and kissed over them a couple times. It was an effort to remove the touch of that filthy noble woman... how dare she touch your king?

Morgott flinched at first, surprised and equally concerned at the sudden affection. When he pulled his hands away, gently, he placed them against your cheeks, studying your face in confusion "Thou art acting odd, beloved. Hath something happened?" he watched as you stuck your lip out into a pout "You have been touched by another woman, I dislike it" It was safe to say Morgott looked shell shocked at your proclamation. He pulled himself together quickly and rubbed his rough fingers over your cheeks in soothing motions "Thou knowest I hath only room for thee in mine heart, thy worries are misplaced"

Morgott can't remember exactly what you said when you both reached your bedroom, but it was enough to draw a bashful look to his face as he pushed you into your room "Thou art- too much" he had grumbled and you just giggled "I'm too much? I just told you that I don't want another woman so much as gazing upon my omen king. Not over your gorgeous horns, or your delicate hair, or-" Morgott shut the door in your face, speaking through it as he cut you off "Prithee, beloved, get thy rest. Thou art going to be mine demise..."

Safe to say... you loved him. Every little piece of him. And he just could not wrap his head around how everything that people had hidden him away for was something you looked upon so endearingly...