#thanks fon!! :D

[goodpointsandbadpoints]

how about 3 and/or 36? :D

hi fon! BOTH. nivannedy be upon ye.

Pairing: Leon/Piers.

3: touching foreheads. (prompts)

36: being pushed against a wall (or a car :P)

-

He cannot deny it now: Piers Nivans wants him just as badly. 

Every moment he had grabbed and read into so deeply it sent him into a tailspin, all piling up in his head until now. Until the moment he’d said goodnight to the receptionist and heard Piers’ footsteps following behind him.

A quick and bright smile, and a brief question, mind if I walk you out? with the little caveat of them having parked in the same parking garage. 

And it’s the final piece in it all. It follows him out the sliding doors, through the little dark tunnels to the garage, into the elevator to stand with them as they say nothing. 

It ghosts up his back, sending shivers over his skin.

When he reaches his car, he stops with his hand on the door handle. He can’t hold in a disbelieving huff—Piers is standing there at the end of the painted stripe on the cement, hands in his pockets. He doesn’t look like he’s heading off towards his own car, like he said he would. 

“Can I help you?” he asks. 

Piers struggles with this question. He stands there, all pent-up and pocketed and almost funny to watch. “Can I ask you something?” 

Leon lets his hand drop from the handle. He mirrors Piers, pushing his hands into his pockets, though he has the luxury of getting to lean against the car. Support. His heart picked up and hasn’t slowed. 

“Do you want to go somewhere?” Piers asks. “Just for burgers or something. Wherever you want to go.” 

With the same intensity he would give any request over a radio, or to his superior behind a desk. It’s funny. Leon can’t keep himself from smiling.

“You asking me out, Nivans?” 

Piers rolls his shoulders. “You know I am.” 

God. The way things just fall freely out of him without any grace-notes. It’s exactly what Leon wants and expects from people all the time, and never gets it.

“Burgers are fine with me,” he says.

He watches something light up in Piers’ eyes. Huh. How’d that happen? Where did that come from? 

Leon sweeps his gaze over Pies, once or twice, and tries to figure out what the catalysts were. He knows his own weaknesses—the blunt and bold honesty wrapped up in so much competence it’s unfair, the brief flashes of camaraderie in the boardroom or on the field, the touch of palm to palm. 

What’s Piers Nivans getting out of this? 

He finds himself turning to lean his back against his car, hips square, never looking away. 

“I’ll meet you there?” he offers.

Piers stares at him. There’s a moment, an unknown debate, and then he looks around the garage. It’s fairly quiet now, the evening rush having past a while ago. 

Then he walks over to Leon to stand in front of him. His gaze is torn, thrown over Leon in so many lines, from his shoes up to his face and places in between. 

When he comes a step closer, Leon instinctively moves one of his feet to hook around the other. 

If he’s wanting what Leon wants, if he’s finally come up to the edge and is asking—

“Do you want this?” Piers asks. He looks at Leon’s mouth. 

“Before dinner?” he asks, going for teasing.

“I can’t wait anymore.” 

The honesty leaps in his chest and brings a shudder all the way down. “Jesus, Piers,” he says, breathlessly. 

A frustrated little expression crosses Piers’ face and he looks around the lot again. “I can’t read your mind,” he says when he turns back to him. 

“Knock yourself out.” I can’t wait either. 

“That’s not a yes,” Piers says with a huff. 

“Yes.” 

Piers makes a light sound, a hah, and grabs Leon’s wrist. “Then, just— come over here.” 

He’s being led around the car, where the back end comes up towards the cement wall, and he realizes it’s a blindspot. 

Then he’s being pushed up against the rear windshield of his car as Piers kisses him. 

There’s guttural breath somewhere, doesn’t know who it is, but he knows he puts his hands on either side of Piers’ face and gets a sigh in response. The first one is light, just a press before Piers breaks it. 

For a moment, he stays a breath away. Their foreheads brush as he looks between Piers’ eyes, at the green-gray light trying to find them in the shadow of the car. 

Yeah, I’ve waited long enough, he thinks, and he tips his head. Piers meets him halfway, and he makes a wondering noise at how both of them decided to open their mouths. 

Impatient and hungry, his hands behind jaw and ears while Piers clings to his belt. They kiss where no one can see them.

(collection on ao3)

[rebornologist]

Hello, may I request you write some dirty talk headcanons for Reborn, Fon, Lal similar to the ones you did for Giotto, Tsuna, and Yamamoto?

Hiii anon! This was a fun prompt to ponder. I present to you.. thots brought to me by Breathe Carolina ♡♡

♡ Dirty Talk w/ Reborn, Fon, & Lal Mirch ✧ warnings: nsf/t content ahead, gnReader, dirty dirty language, some D/s dynamics, ropes mentioned, biting mentioned, I love women

✧ Reborn is so shameless and absolutely filthy with it. He’s such an asshole and cannot go without being a little mean and sometimes even mocking his partners. He is especially playful after the fact and enjoys teasing his partners in the most subtle ways, perhaps using some buzzwords that they would be familiar with in other contexts while in public. When you give him a look for it, he simply blinks and tilts his head in innocent questioning, knowing that you wouldn’t dare lose your cool outwardly. However, he’s fully aware that you’re reeling on the inside, and perhaps feeling heat pool in your nether regions like some kind of pavlovian response... It’s the best.

“Look at you.. so, beautifully, fucked out.. and drunk on my cock,” “Shhh… squirmy little one, sounds like you want them tighter, huh? No? Pleaseeee noo sir— you sound sooo pathetic,” he pouts, tilting his head as he mocks your tone sadistically. “Fine, but you’re going to thank me for this.” “They shoot well. I’ve shown them the ropes before,” he gestured towards you with a tilt of his head, explaining to your colleague that he’s at least taught you some firearm basics. He reads the lack of reaction on their face before his gaze shifts ever so quickly to you, making eye contact for a split second. You swear you may have imagined the lascivious tilt in the corners of his lips.

✧ Fon is full of flowery words and idioms you’ve never heard of. He’s a poet through and through and doesn’t ever waste a single word when he speaks. Sometimes he’s too quiet and you begin to wonder what’s on his mind. It could be everything and it could be nothing at all, honestly. However, he lets his thoughts be known when you’re making love, of course. There’s probably no better description for it.

“Don’t look away now,” he coos, calloused but gentle hands slipping over the sensitive flesh of your neck to cup your jaw and turn your gaze back to meet his. “Open up for me, my dove..” Everything he says in moments like these are barely above a whisper. Words meant only for your ears, or to be felt as ticklish vibrations against the nape of your neck, the curve of your waist, the plush of your thighs.. or what sits between them. “Absolutely breathtaking,” a wide grin grows on his handsome features, his long hair falling loose over his broad shoulders and sticking slightly to his moist skin. His chest heaves once, twice.. slower this third time, and he exhales a soft giggle with the next breath. You can’t help but notice how his radiant smile reaches his eyes, and he blinks at you a few times, expression almost frozen in this joyful afterglow. You tell him that you want to go again. “Oh, my love.. you know I have no qualms about taking all that you are willing to give me… come here,”

✧ Lal Mirch ashgdsjkhdfsdjf she can dish it but she can’t take it. She generally likes being in charge in the bedroom and takes very good care of her partners, but when you can convince her to let go of control for once, she gives you the most beautiful low groans and eventually melts into a whimpery mess. Another thing: she avoids name-calling because she doesn't like associating her partners with those words in any context, but will drop a few slightly degradation-tinted praises here and there.

“You like that? Oh, of course you do, filthy little thing,” she mumbles, clicking her tongue as you squirm under her searing gaze. Her long lashes fan over her flushed cheeks as a small smirk grows on her gorgeous features. Her calloused fingers ghost over the sensitive flesh inside your thigh, and you whine as she firmly grabs at the meat of your thigh. “Ah ah, no squirming, or I’ll stop,” she warns. And you heed that warning, knowing just how much she sticks to her word.

Subby Lal is such an achievement to unlock pleaseeee tuck her hair behind her ears and call her your woman, one and only, love of your life, gorgeous goddess, yeahhh….

“Wh-what-?!” Her lips, swollen from kissing you, press together firmly into a pout at the sound of your praises, and her face is beet red. She rolls her hips once again, pressing her wetness into your thigh. You chuckle and coo at her, letting another sweet praise fall from your lips. She grumbles in embarrassment and grips the hair at the nape of your neck, tugging softly for you to expose your throat to her. “Shut up..” she bites down and you yelp. You were in for a looong power struggle tonight.

[fonulyn]

Fon!! I feel like a cat trying to get into a room by sticking its paw under the door. *swipe swipe*

you have been a very inspirational person, even though we are just online mutuals, and even though we have not been mutuals for very long. Seeing your enthusiasm for things makes me want to do the same! And your ao3 collection omg, it makes me want to keep writing and writing so that someday I can have a story for almost every day of the year. (You’re almost to 300??)

I hope we can both grow out of our negative self talk little by little. I hope that’s not too forward of me to say…

it is a pleasure to be mutuals who are obsessed (a normal amount for sure) with Piers Nivans 🫡 🩵

ajskdfn that is such an adorable mental image you immediately made me smile :D

also you're too kind 🥺💖 but thank you!! i'm struggling to see anything I do as inspirational haha but I am happy that the enthusiasm is spreading!! I really should focus more on the things I love and less on the negative downward spirals that I've kinda gotten stuck in for a while. (also lol yeah I have almost 300 fics on ao3 but there are dozens of old ones on lj too so :'D idk how many there is overall. too many? :'D)

ANYWAY. it's not too forward at all, I can cosign that 💖 I wish more positivity for us all!

also also Piers lovers unite!!!! we will once rule the world!!

[thebrandywine]

(not sure if they've been asked butttt) for the unpublished fic asks how about 4 (any fic of your choosing), 10 (something you're excited for!) and 13?

hi fon!!!!!!

4. Is there anything in the fic you're unsure about including?

hmmm this is a good question. in the chreon d&d au i wrote a spicy little sex scene that's vaguely dubcon since chris is, y'know, actively a werewolf with a buncha teeth and can't exactly speak english to ask for (or understand the concept of) consents, but i *am* going to leave it in. #monsterfucking. honestly i got that one weird comment a while back calling piers' behavior in one of my fics 'predatory and rapey' (we've talked about this-- sorry to bring it up again lol), so my level of concern about reception for most thing has lowered considering that i wasn't even worried about that one to start! if people get upset or don't wanna read it, that's completely up to them and i won't be offended.

10. If unpublished, can you show a sneak peek of what you've written?

THIS ONE WAS SO HARD. I'M GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST TEASE RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE TWO BACK-TO-BACK CHAPTERS IN THE SEQUEL TO BROKEN MACHINE THAT I AM SO FUCKING AMPED FOR. okay i legitimately couldnt decide so have two

Piers turns a corner with Wilson at his back and Bell is suddenly just there, appearing out of the dark like a ghost when their lights fall on her, a familiar pet monster in front of her like an honor guard. She squints slightly against their lights and goes still, a data pad tucked under her arm and a weak flashlight clipped to the collar of her blouse, and her body language just barely tightens up. “You,” Piers says venomously. He can’t help it, can’t be Captain Nivans and doesn’t want to be. This woman— this fucking bitch—

and

There’s an oxygen mask over his face, Leon breathing haltingly as his mouth hangs open. His eyelids won’t shift. He can’t move, held in place between two warm bodies so carefully it’s like he’s made of glass, like he’s breakable. Someone is humming Billie Holiday, soft and shaky. Someone else has their face pressed to Leon’s hair, a cold thumb stroking over the knuckles of his right hand.

13. Is there any unwritten/unpublished fics you haven't mentioned you're gonna do?

yeah i have a few!! the biggest one on my mind right now is the gladiator au (thanks to silver) where Leon is Simmons' champion in the ring. but oh no, he and chris have known each other for so long and chris JUST learned that leon fights against his will?? what will happen??????

[silvercap]

❄️ 🐚 🥤 :D

❄️-> Dream theme/plot of a fic and who would write it best?

God, that's a hard question. Dream plot is just the perfect balance of whump and lovey soothing comfort, Leon absolutely gets his shit ROCKED being dragged around by his arms or something, all injured and clinging to consciousness until someone comes to rescue himmmm 🥰🥰 lots of caretaking that doesn't cut away in the middle of it all.

I've always liked @tirsynni's hurt/comfort stuff a lot (@'ing you sorry asjdjds), but like. anyone could write it, I'm not picky. Fon, Mav, Knife etc. Whump is whump 🤭

🐚-> do you like surprises?

Yeah!! I'm kind of impatient but I do haha

🥤-> Recommend an author or fic that you love

Oh god, there are so many.

@thebrandywine's dualities, [forsaken], [beginning to end: act ii] <3

@tirsynni's here comes the sun, letting go, as you wish

@fonulyn's live for today and for tomorrow

@leonisdumbasallhell's things we should have left buried, and the Claire and Leon re2 one

Those are all I can remember off the top of my head but there are more from all of them!!

Thanks for the ask 🥰

[copperbadge]

HEY SAM! Finally bout all three Askaz-Shidvalakia books (pretty sure that's right, feeling very much like Eddie now) and I'm 3 and half chapters in (counting the prologue as a chapter). I don't think I see much mention of him in general questions, but do you have ideas about Chef Simon/expand on him more later on in Fete, or do you have a side story/mini fic planned for him? I don't know what it is, but I really like him (along with the mains, of course. Bouncing between Eddie and Alanna as my fav right now, but Jerry just appeared so who knows).

I honestly wanted to wait to get all three once you announced LATT just so I'd have all three at once, plus I knew I would need the literary mental boost as winter kept coming, and I planned to get them around Christmas then I forgot then like--just a few weeks ago I remembered they existed again and bought them before I forgot again. Just like I hoped it is perking me up a bit as I'm going through a bit of right now, so I'm happy I waited. So far I'm really loving it, thank you so much.

HEY YA :D You got close with Askazer-Shivadlakia! :D It's the spirit that counts. It's not like it's going to be mistaken for somewhere else, anyway :D

Why did I name this country an eight-syllable name? Why would I do that to myself? Mysteries. In any case I'm glad you're enjoying them :D I think you might be a Jerry fan in the end!

Simon doesn't show up a lot in the books following Fete, although I try to work him in there when I can. He does have his own book coming eventually, probably after Royals/Ramblers, although possibly a bit further out, depends on what catches fire for me. The idea is that the book will be partly traditional narrative and partly essays from his recipe website, which show him to be...I wouldn't call it an unreliable narrator, but perhaps a not entirely truthful one :D

Simon's book is currently called The Chicken Salad War, and is about him discovering a rival in a chef who has moved to Fons-Askaz and is drawing a lot of attention for their cooking. He ends up having to plan a food festival with said rival chef, during which time of course they fall for each other. The food festival culminates with a competition to see who makes the best chicken salad, although I won't spoil who wins.

I'm still working on who this rival chef will be; I haven't pinned down much, not even gender, though I'm leaning male. It's fun coming up with a story for Simon -- he's been with the family for a long time and known Gregory and the others basically their whole lives, so he has a lot to talk about. :D

I had advertised my services as an elite personal chef through exclusive channels, and had a number of offers, but the Shivadh king's offer swayed me because of what he told me when we met: that he had only a passing interest in gourmet food, and that he was hiring the best chef he could find not as a status symbol or from personal desire, but as a gift for his wife on the occasion of their fifteenth wedding anniversary. I was deeply charmed by the idea of such a gesture, especially explained in the king's excellent if Swiss-accented French, and pleased that he was also willing to hire my brother Hugo to serve as palace sommelier, a position which had previously gone unfilled. 

King Michaelis and his wife Queen Miranda had a little boy of four, and the family had recently suffered a tragedy which meant they were also sometime-caretakers of a young girl, their son's cousin. I knew I had chosen my new job correctly when, on arriving in the kitchen for the first time, two solemn little children were waiting to greet me in prattling French, with strong Provencal accents gleaned from their mothers, who were of the Askazer side of the country, which borders on that region.  

[juudaimes-true-form]

In case you don't get other asks sent in, I really wanna see your anyways to all those for the KHR Ask Game! 💕✨

hi!! Thanks for stopping by! I was holding onto this until I was sure there weren’t going to be any new asks!!

🔥What would be your Flame type? Personally, I’ve always resonated with Storm.

🌈Who's your favourite Arcobaleno? I hold a special place for Skull (it’s lowkey his fault I found this show 😭) but I don’t have a fav! I like them all pretty equally!

💘This character could step on you and you would thank them Lussaria 🥰

⚰️Your go to way of getting rid of a body answered [here]

📕Which languages would you learn to become one step closer to Varia Quality? 1) Igbo <- I can hear it but not anything else 2) Korean <- I know like the basic basics of its grammar 3) Italian <- obviously 4) Japanese <- obvvies 5) Spanish <- rn I know enough to stumble through a simple conversation 6) Yoruba <- West African languages are fun 🤷‍♀️

🍽️You got into a Food Fight Vongola Style! What type of food are you going to throw at people? Bonus question: Who are you aiming at? Okra soup. It’s sticky and will absolutely ruin whoever it lands on >:D I’d be throwing it at Verde because his white coat needs to look less pristine. Will I eventually regret this? Yes. Right now? No, it’s most hilarious thing I’ve ever done.

🗡️Your weapon of choice in a life and death battle? A ring blade disguised as a hula hoop. It’s an idea I’ve been toying with, but basically, there'd be a mechanism to reveal the metal part as an outer ring and a retraction mechanism to make it regular hula hoop!

i think it could be pretty versatile. 👍

🏫Congrats! You were named heir of some rando Mafia Family! Who would you want as a tutor to prepare yourself for the new job? Fon! He’s patient and calculating, I’m sure I could learn a thing or two from him without as much trouble as any of the others would give me 👍

🎶You're on a roadtrip with the Varia. Who would you trust with the music selection for the entire trip?

also lussaria. he has music i'd like, probably.

😺*BAM* You've been Checkerfaced and are now an Acrobaleno. What's your animal companion?

SQUIRREL! the ones with red fur. like this vv (below)

[somacruising]

A White Future, Volume 2 Episode: Ion, Sync, & Florian Translation Part 7

Prev | Next

Last episode, Anise got shaken down by Arietta in the hallway. This chapter is going to be focused on Arietta going to her meeting with Van, as well as Sync having a flashback to Van offering him a place in the God-Generals.

* * *

As soon as she opened the door to Van's office at the Oracle Knight Headquarters, Arietta felt a strong gaze stabbing into her. So much so that it felt like it really hurt.

On the other side of the huge one-piece desk stood Commandant Van, and his second-in-command, Legretta, was right beside him. In addition, there were four men seated on a couch in the middle of the room by the window, all of whom were staring at little Arrietta.

“Where have you been? I hate tardiness,” Van asked in a subdued voice. That was enough to make the air tense.

“I-I’m sorry, Commandant… I was just with Anise.”

“Anise?” Van's eyebrows rose.

“Anise Tatlin will be with the Fon Master starting today. You don't have to go to the Fon Master’s side anymore.”

”…I know.” Arietta turned red and shrank down.

“Well, then. That is the way of things. Starting now, I am pleased to welcome you as one of the Six God-Generals. While we all already know each other, we’ve gathered here today for this special occasion.”

Van looked at Largo the Black Lion, Asch the Bloody, and Dist the Rose in turn, and when none of them opened their mouths, he looked at Sync.

“I already met you the other day at the church.” Sync paused briefly, then smiled nastily and spoke clearly so everyone could hear. “You know, when you were crying for Ion. Guess you didn't get to see him after all, since he dismissed you.”

Arietta swallowed hard, but bit her lip and said nothing.

“But, I’m glad for you. Ion’s recovered from that illness.”

While Arietta had no idea what Sync’s words actually meant, Dist, who was sitting comfortably in his easy chair, grinned cynically.

“Hey, Van,” said Asch, the Special Division Commander, who was leaning against the windowsill. He clicked his tongue impatiently and slammed the open window shut. “I'm done here. I don't have time for this.”

“Yes, you can go,” Van replied.

At Van's words, Largo got up from the sofa. The two quickly left the office.

“My, my, those two are so cold, aren’t they?” Dist grinned at Arrieta, his voice theatrical in tone. “I'm rooting for you, Arrietta. May your precious Isle of Feres be restored as soon as possible.”

“…T-Thank you,” Arietta replied.

“Now, if you'll excuse me. Sync, please open the window.”

“What?” Sync turned his head when his name was suddenly called.

“That blazing idiot closed it. Now, get on with it!” Dist ordered him.

Sync frowned, but walked over and opened the window. Without a word of thanks, Dist’s chair floated up and flew him out the window.

“What a slavedriver,” Sync muttered.

“Don’t say that,” Van chuckled at Sync, giving him a wry smile. “If I hadn't brought that man here, you wouldn't be here either.”

Arietta tilted her head, having overheard that, and turned to Sync, “Is that true? Did Dist recommend you to the God-Generals?”

“Don’t,” Sync immediately snarled, “It’s none of your business.”

Legretta suddenly spoke up, turning to Van, “Sir, it’s time to go.”

“Mm. You all may go, now.” Van said, then left the room with Legretta.

A silence fell between the two that remained. Before long, Arietta spoke up in a soft voice. “…Um, did I say something bad?”

“No,” Sync said, but he turned his head away. “Don’t worry about the other people here. The Six God-Generals have an agreement not to pry into each other's business. That includes your business with Ion…”

At the mention of the Fon Master’s name, Arietta’s expression turned pained. Sync continued talking.

“Anyway, it’s a good thing you’ve joined the God-Generals. Congratulations.”

‘Totally, congratulations. You don’t even realize that you’ve been tricked.’ Sync smiled thinly. ‘Everyone here is just being used by Van at his convenience…of course, I’m no different.’

Sync recalled the moment Van had asked him to join forces with him.

* * *

“Both of us hate the Score—in that, you and I are the same.”

“What!?”

“I think you and I are on the same page on that matter.”

“What do you mean?" Sync asked, surprised.

“Do you remember Hod?” Van questioned him back.

“Hod…” Sync thought back, “You mean the island of Hod? You taught me about it…it was destroyed because of the Score, right?”

Van nodded. “That’s right. Let me tell you something special. I used to live on that destroyed island of Hod.”

Sync’s eyes widened.

“I was only eleven years old at the time…it’s a wonder I was able to survive.” Van lowered his voice as if he was telling Sync an important secret, his eyes growing wide.

“I used to have a home; one that I still yearn for. I had many good friends there. Even if there was a war, everything I cared about is gone simply because it was according to the Score. So, I despise the Score as well."

Sync continued to listen to Van without speaking.

“But what's the point of living a life of hate until the day you die? If I could change the world just by hating it, I wouldn't suffer like this. I'm going to bury the Score, and every Seventh Fonon that composes it."

After saying all that, Van’s eyes bore into Sync’s.

“Will you fight with me? I believe that replicas are the only hope for a world without the Score.”

* * *

‘How did I reply, again?’ Sync smiled wryly as he thought back. ‘“I don’t care.” And then I told him I agreed—’

Sync had no other choice but to agree, being both picked up and kept alive by Van. Van knew that, and so he’d made his offer.

Van was like a magnet. Largo and Dist had also been drawn into his powerful grip due to their inextricable feelings.

“Um…”

The reserved voice of Arietta brought Sync back to reality.

“I’m going to leave now,” Arietta said.

Sync deliberately stayed silent and Arietta eventually ran off.

[lucientelrunya]

10 characters 10 fandoms 10 tags

10 characters you love

I got tagged by the wonderful @forerussake thank you <3! I love tag games :D

Now I have to think looooong and hard about who to choose... And I am so indecisive ^^°°° But I don't have to rank them, do I?

Zhang Rishan - DMBJ

2. Shen Wei - Guardian

(shamelessly stealing your pic XD)

3. Billy Hargrove - Stranger Things

4. Wen Ning - The Untamed

5. Qiling - L.O.R.D. Critical World

6. Basch fon Ronsenburg - Final Fantasy XII

7. Vincent Valentine - Final Fantasy VII

8. Sailor Star Healer / Yaten Kou - Sailor Moon

9. Ratonhnhaké:ton/Connor Kenway - Assassin's Creed III

10. Buffy Summers - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I really don't think I have ten people I can tag... @daydreamorama @nope4ever @thesporkidentity @gaiahenshin @squarebosk @elletromil aaaand that's it ^^°°° If anyone else wants to play, please do and tag me, I'm very curious!

[stateofsport211]

ITF M25 Netanya (Jun 19) D F: Daniel Cukierman/Edan Leshem [1] def. Trey Hilderbrand/Noah Schachter [2] 6-3, 6-3 Match Recap

Daniel Cukierman/Edan Leshem's point at 2-1* 30-30 to 30-40, 1st set (📸 ITF Media)

Dropping just one set en route to the finals against third seeds Thomas Fancutt/Kris van Wyk yesterday, first seeds Daniel Cukierman/Edan Leshem took on second seeds Trey Hilderbrand/Noah Schechter, who defeated Jordan Hasson/Fons van Sambeek 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals, who did not drop a set at all. However, Cukierman/Leshem went aggressive from the start, and kept it solid at the end of the day.

Cukierman/Leshem started making their chances from way early in the match, but they materialized it in the fourth game despite some hiccups, thanks to their reflexes at the net (3-1). They kept their game intact until they successfully served for the first set 6-3, even if they had a chance to convert the set point on the deciding point the game before.

Daniel Cukierman/Edan Leshem's point to 2-2* 0-15 (top) and match point conversion to 6-3 (bottom), 2nd set (📸 📽 ITF Media)

Cukierman/Leshem started their second set well by almost always creating chances from some net exchanges, in which some ended up being shot winners while trying to keep Trey/Noah's balance off. One of which came from the fifth game, where Cukierman/Leshem won the point at the expense of Trey/Noah's failed smash as a start. However, they broke thanks to Cukierman's backhand in capitalizing on Trey/Noah's double fault for the break point creation (4-3). After holding their service games, Leshem immediately took advantage of their match point, converting it with a working lob (6-3) to secure their championship.

This secured Cukierman/Leshem's second doubles title together this year after the ITF M25 Sunderland won in early February, and fifth title together in general. If they play next week, this means they are trying to extend the winning streak, as well as their number of titles together. A (home) force to be reckoned with.

[goodpointsandbadpoints]

28? :3

hi fon!! 🩵 I'm gonna be honest: this totally inspired me to finish writing a one-shot I had been working on for a few weeks :D. So this is just a small snippet of a 2k one-shot that I will be putting up on AO3 next week.

Pairing: Piers & Jill. Warnings for: unconsciousness.

28: pulling someone in by the waist. (prompts)

-

When he finally sees her, his stomach drops. He picks up his pace, hands fumbling at his rig. He strains his eyes wider to see her face.

Pale, blank, staring up into the shaft towards where they had once been. 

He should let everyone know, he should tap that button and say the magic words, found her, and he should keep his channel open. 

“Hey, Jill, you with me?”

He comes down to where she hangs. She’s tipped back in her seat harness where her torso has gone slack. Her arms drape down with gravity, like the heat gun dropped and swinging from its tether below her. The momentum sways her body. 

His vision has tunneled. He blinks through it, strapping his light in place, trying to see what went wrong. When he grabs her rig to pull her in by her waist, she swings close without reacting. 

Someone is speaking—him, he thinks, going on autopilot. “Rise and shine, Valentine.” And he pats her cheek. There’s something in her bloodstream now, dark and purple and alarmingly obvious in her neck and lips. Her eyes are open and unblinking. 

Goddammit. He finally calls in. “Foster, put Airey on.” 

Immediately, the captain: “Piers—”

“Put Airey on! I need medical.” 

There’s an agonizing silence. He makes the most of it, all he can do. Pulling off his glove, he pushes his fingers against her neck to find her pulse. His fingers feel numb.

(...coming soon to ao3.)

[feluka]

[fonulyn]

fon's 2023 in fic

so in order to distract myself from yet another fic flopping miserably i'm gonna do the compilation of all the flops from the entire year! :'D

a big big thank you to those of you who said nice words about my stuff, who left comments on the fics, and who helped me finish surprisingly many works this year. i am truly grateful for every single lovely comment i got! 💖 that is what kept me going, what made things feel worthwhile, and what helped me through many a dark moment.

i do still have works in progress but at the same time this sort of feels like a goodbye. idk. we'll see. but I can't keep pouring from an empty chalice and the fandom clearly does not want to help me fill it so we're at an impasse :'D it feels increasingly much that exiting stage left is the right move, as much as i don't want to and as much as it hurts to let go. but I digress.

on a more positive note, I can, hand to heart, say that I am extremely pleased with pretty much everything i wrote this year :D it's got to count for something, right!

ANYHOO I posted 217k words this year, and it includes:

21 Piers/Leon

5 Krauser/Leon

3 main Piers/Leon and heavily featured past Krauser/Leon

2 OT3

1 Chris/Leon

1 Tyrants/Leon

1 Jake/Piers

1 Marcus/Dom (Gears of War)

fic links and short summaries under the cut.

Piers/Leon

good to be prepared | E | 9k | Leon gets stuck in a snow storm when his car breaks down, and a handsome stranger saves him from the roadside. It ends up in a fun night together but that's only the very beginning for them.

'cause you know the love we have is always gonna be | T | 6.7k | Finally they get to say "I do" to each other.

bad exes and a better future | T | 2.9k | Leon's very jealous ex does not know when to quit, and refuses to believe Leon wants nothing to do with him. So, logically, Leon kisses Piers to prove a point. Thankfully Piers is all in.

i crave therefore i am | E | 7k | Piers has been half in love with Leon for what feels like forever, but there's nothing he can do about it when Leon is in a long term relationship. ...Except he's not.

as long as you'll have me | T | 5.2k | Leon gets infected on a mission, then has to suffer through treatment for an infection. Thankfully Piers is there to help, in more ways than one.

you're a dream | E | 23k | Piers Nivans is eleven years old when he starts dreaming of death and monsters. It takes him well over a decade to find his soulmate, and even then, it's not all easy.

that heaven in your eyes | E | 2.7k | They finally get the honeymoon they deserve.

light in the darkest place | M | 3.6k (WIP) | Leon and Piers grew up together, and when at twenty-one they both got a job at the RPD they thought it was a giant stroke of luck. They had no idea their first day was going to be one hell of a long day.

a shadow of devotion | M | 6.9k | There's a new superhero in town, and Piers ends up being more closely acquainted with him than he ever expected. He's not complaining, tho.

before i even knew your name | M | 6.6k | Leon gets an accidental text sent into the wrong number and it ends up changing his life for the better. Soon he's flirting via texts with this stranger, and before he even notices he's grown feelings.

a dinner to remember | E | 4.4k | Leon wears a nice dress to welcome Piers home.

too much is all that I can feel | T | 4.2k | Leon gets hurt, again, and while he’s concussed and loopy from bloodloss he tries his best to flirt with Piers.

memories beneath the dust of years | T | 1.2k | Piers relives the worst time of his life in a dream, and Leon is there to support him through it.

in the end it's you and I | T | 3.5k | The sound of metal crushing was the worst. It screeched in Leon’s ears even when the car had stopped completely, finally meeting a big enough tree trunk down the hill. He's alone, injured, and unable to leave his car. Might this be the end?

time to finally breathe again | T | 3.4k | Leon tries to bury his feelings but then gets buried underground. Thankfully Piers is there to help. On both counts.

those nights | M | 5k | Leon and his difficult relationship with sleep throughout the years.

life is a chance to try | T | 5.2k |  Piers and Leon have been parents for mere months, and it’s become obvious their daughter isn’t entirely an ordinary human.

everything I've kept inside me | T | 5.5k | The one with severe injuries, some reminiscing, and finally sort of a retirement. Oh, and a blowjob pillow.

at the shore of the unknown | M | 26k | The world ends, but Piers and Leon find each other.

a merry little christmas (make the yuletide gay) | T | 5.7k | Piers and Leon and their first holidays as a married couple in their own home, of course with a visit from those closest to them.

right from the start | E | 19k | Leon gets some unexpected backup on his rogue mission in the Eastern Slav Republic. And it doesn't end there. (Much to his delight.)

Krauser/Leon

question all my doubts | E | 10k | Leon gets back home from Spain only to find none other than Jack fucking Krauser bleeding onto his living room floor. And no matter how many times Leon tries to walk away from Krauser he always ends up back to him.

(it might've been love but) it's over now | T | 1.4k | Krauser is dead and had no next of kin, so Leon goes through his scarce apartment to sort through the meager belongings left behind, while also sorting through his own mess of emotions.

(no one ever died from) wanting too much | M | 1.4k | Krauser gets injured but he can only focus on the dirty thoughts he has about Leon, while Leon tends to those injuries.

my tragedy and my desire | M | 2k |  Leon struggles through the mission to rescue the president's daughter, constantly feeling like he’s being stalked. He has no idea how right he is about that. And how bad things will end for him.

my religion my certain death my salvation my sacrilege | E | 2k | Krauser keeps Leon as his sex-slave. (sequel to my tragedy and my desire)

Piers/Leon with heavily featured Krauser or Krauser/Leon

all the tears and the fears and the lies and the cries of the past | E | 16k | Krauser kidnaps Leon on Wesker’s orders to use as bait. Piers heads out to save him, together with Chris and Jill. Things get really messy.

tear me open (and make me whole again) | M | 7.6k | Piers disappears, and soon after Leon starts receiving videos from an unknown email address. It's bad enough that Krauser is back, but watching him torture Piers to get back at Leon might just be the worst thing Leon has ever been through in his life.

haunt you like it's part of you | E | 3.7k | Krauser brands Leon as his own, ruining him for all others. For a while it seems he's won, but eventually Leon gets the happy ending he deserves.

OT3 (Chris/Leon/Piers)

never without you | T | 1.6k | Leon is tired, so tired, but Piers and Chris will not let him give up.

wish you were here | T | 2k | (pre-OT3) Chris is pathetically pining after Leon, doesn't even let himself examine his feelings for Piers, and then on top of it all he gets kidnapped.

Chris/Leon

whatever comes our way | T | 1.1k | Leon almost drowns and Chris panics.

Tyrants/Leon

buried so deep within | E | 3.6k | Leon finds out there's two tyrants. The tyrants find out that Leon can be used for all sorts of fun things.

Jake/Piers

pull me closer to life | T | 3.8k | Jake and Sherry save Piers when he thinks he’s left behind to die at the underwater facility. Then somehow, Jake never leaves.

Marcus/Dom (largely featured past Maria/Dom)

no battle like that of life | E | 3.7k | After losing damn near everything, Dom learns to live again. Marcus helps.

[monsterbroth]

🌼🕹? I love you!!!!

THANK YOU I LOVE YOU HI

🌼 -Fave flower

Rafflesia is super cool!!! I don’t know a lot about plants generally so there’s probably a lot of cool ones I don’t know about, I got a book about native plants in my area though today I really want to learn more about the subject. The dusky coral pea is pretty funky it looks like a tongue

🕹 -Video game you are currently playing

I have no idea, I’m not putting a lot of hours into anything in particular currently, I guess maybe monster hunter rise? Im playing that most frequently like about a hunt a day, I’m not up to sunbreak yet I’m still trying to beat the allmother. I want to play more of rain world but I haven’t touched that in a bit. Iron lung is rotating in my brain but I haven’t played it again yet. There’s a lot I’m interested in that’s coming out or I have but haven’t touched in a bit like I need to finish bugsnax still, so I guess I’m kind of between things right now! Unless you want to count solitaire which I am playing a worrying amount of, like so much,

[lingthusiasm]

Lingthusiasm fifth anniversary: new website, and help share the show

We’re turning five! November is our anniversary episode of Lingthusiasm and we’re celebrating with our annual tradition of asking you to introduce the show to people who would be totally into a linguistics podcast, if only they knew it existed! 

We always see a jump in the stats thanks to your anniversary recommendations: thank you! We also love being recommended as guests on your (other) favourite podcasts. Every podcast is in a language, and we love chatting about the link between linguistics and your other favourite topics (food? fiction? chemistry? put us to the test!).

What’s Lingthusiasm like?

Ever find yourself distracted from what someone is saying by wondering about how they say it? Lingthusiasm is a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics as a way of understanding the world around us.

From languages around the world to our favourite linguistics memes, Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne bring you into a lively half hour conversation on the third Thursday of every month about the hidden linguistic patterns that you didn't realize you were already making.

"Lauren and Gretchen know their stuff, have an easy rapport, and are skilled at pitching linguistic concepts to a general audience." —Sentence First

“Joyously nerdy.” —BuzzFeed

"I checked out Lingthusiasm by playing a random episode and it was funny and fascinating and educational AND it had a shout out to Dinosaur Comics!" —Ryan North

Which episode should I start with? 

You can start listening to Lingthusiasm anywhere! See what grabs your attention from this list of episodes that came out this year:

Who you are in high school, linguistically speaking – Interview with Shivonne Gates

How translators approach a text

Climbing the sonority mountain from A to P

Small talk, big deal

Writing is a technology

Listen to the imperatives episode!

How linguists figure out the grammar of a language

R and R-like sounds – Rhoticity

Not NOT a negation episode

Making machines learn Fon and other African languages - Interview with Masakhane

A Fun-Filled Fricative Field Trip

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Theory of Mind

That’s the kind of episode it’s - clitics

Corpus linguistics and consent - Interview with Kat Gupta

Cool things about scales and implicature

New website

To celebrate the show turning five, we’ve built a brand new website to help make it easier for prospective listeners to learn more about Lingthusiasm and for current listeners to find our longstanding resources, including links to all the episodes, transcripts and bonus episodes, as well as links of cross-overs to other shows, an FAQ and the list of episodes by topic.

As part of the new website, we have new Lingthusiasm-themed icon art! We particularly love the new ‘about’ icon :D

Want to travel back through time with us to previous anniversary posts? 

Fourth anniversary post

Third anniversary post

Second anniversary post

First anniversary post

[copperbadge]

Most online stories I read are either fanfiction or too porny to share in my brickspace book circles but the Shivadhverse was a rare exception, so it's enjoyed throughout my small town now! Many of us plan on buying the omnibus once it comes out, so if you ever worry that initial sales seem low, it could just be us waiting to buy everything at once! I'm so excited for their future stories! I could never tire of such lighthearted fun! Thank you for sharing your delightful work with us!

Oh man, the venn diagram of "stuff I read" and "stuff I can share with my family" is almost two completely separate circles, you're not wrong :D I'm lucky most of my brickspace friends are deeply nerdy so while they may not always read stuff I recommend (just from pure difference of taste) they at least don't raise their eyebrows at it too much :D

But I'm so glad I could write something that's fun enough to read but also gentle enough to share around! Please tell folks I'll be happy they're reading the books whenever they read them. :)

Initial sales are actually looking pretty good! Combining sales for both books, I've already passed the first month's sales for Six Harvests. I'm always just pleased people enjoy the stories, so I never put much stock in numbers, but it's fun to check in occasionally. And the royalties are going in a savings account for a trip to Europe next year that I may or may not be planning for my forty-fifth birthday, so two books about Askazer-Shivadlakia may truly be funding a trip there!

(The plan currently is London-Paris-Nice-Rome and then home, with side trips to Betws-y-Coed and Porto San Ludovico, aka Betwys Beddau and Fons-Askaz. I'm going to try to squeeze in Brussels and Madrid if I can manage it, to see the Horrible Zebra Horse and Guernica. All theoretical for now but fun to dream.)