#the book's reach is small compared to others in their collection

[britishchick09]

@cestlefantome has the rewrite!!! :D

[sunseed-fandump]

Every good circus needs a Big Top! And this here is the tent used by the Liar's Circus! But don't be fooled by its small size, the interior is guaranteed to blow any circus fan away! All forms of entertainment can be found within!

Nobody can put a price tag on FUN! So everything is free for the taking! Just step through the door!

Eat, drink, be merry! Let your emotions fly as high as the trapeze!

All that energy will soon be put to better use...

More information about the individual areas under the cut!

ARENA

This is the central area where most performances are given. From clowning around to acrobatic feats that boggle the mind, it's all done here! All paths around the circus lead back to this area, so it is also typically considered "the crossroads" of the circus.

The path to the Arena from the entrance runs through a gauntlet of concessions and gift stands. So many wonderful treats on display almost makes it feel like a dream.

Zoo

All manner of strange creatures are kept within the cages. Summoned from the great beyond lie beasts twisted by shadows and kissed by the forbidden reaches. Lions? Tigers? Bears? Those are nothing compared to what lurks behind the steel bars...

Games Square

Up for a challenge? The Games Square is the perfect place to show off one's skills. Tests of strength, dexterity, and intelligence can be found here. And don't worry about losing, everyone is sure to walk away with a wonderful prize! Just.. Be careful not to get lost in the hall of mirrors.

Playground

This area is for those who crave some good old-fashioned fun. The map really doesn't do it justice. A beautiful carousel spins all day long, filling the air with joyous music. Slides, swings, and various other pieces of equipment offer plenty of ways to play, play, play! So run around! Scream and shout! Let out all that pent-up energy!

Theater

Beautiful tear-jerking performances and awe-inspiring tales are spun on this stage. There's never a shortage of stories! All of them were written by the world's finest playwright, poet, director, actor, clown-- Huh? Who is he? Our beloved Ringmaster of course!

Staff Area

This is where Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie stay. Each performer gets their own tent, filled with all the basic comforts a hard-working cookie needs. Of course, they're tailored to the individual interests of each child as well. Wizard has a cozy little tower filled with books. Strawberry has all sorts of games to keep her occupied. As for Gingerbrave, he's got toys, crayons, and even a whole trampoline in there! The kids are certainly comfortable.

Ok, that's all cool but what's ACTUALLY going on in there?

The answer to that is simple, this plane exists to gather energy for Shadow Milk Cookie. Magic is tied to emotion. So the more excited the guests feel, the more life energy Shadow Milk collects from them. Everything here is perfectly harmless (to guests), as the point is to only illicit strong emotions of thrill, excitement, and joy.

Guests are free to come and go as they please, but when they do leave, everyone feels especially drained.

And if the circus faces a tough crowd? Well, fear is also a viably strong emotion to gather energy from.

The only Cookies in the tent who Shadow Milk Cookie does not collect energy from is the kids. As they need their strength to perform and complete whatever tasks are given to them.

Cookies who are labeled as "Intruders" will have a horde of phantoms, animals, and puppets come down on them from all sides, and that's not even counting how Shadow Milk can control everything and anything inside. So it's best not to pick a fight unless one is prepared...

[lilghostiequinni]

Started with a Nudge

Main Masterlist Lando Masterlist

Pairing: short!female reader x Lando Norris

Warnings: Fluffy,

Summary: Just cute moments between you and your boyfriend.

Requested: NO / yes

2022

The first thing your boyfriend noticed about you was your height, maybe because you couldn't reach the self you needed at the store, which he only went to because he, well, he just wanted out of his apartment.

The next thing he noticed was the oversized McLaren sweater you had on; it amused him, not because of you wearing the sweater, but the fact that, of course, he just had to run into a fan, a cute one.

What Lando wasn't expecting was that when he asked if you needed help because you kept struggling, was that you didn't recognize him.

The "Who are you?" you gave him when he handed you your item.

When he said Lando, you just smiled and waved with a thank you before walking away.

Lando was absolutely stunned. You didn't know him, but you had McLaren F1 merch.

The next time he saw you was at this restaurant in England. You were out with some friends and your brothers.

You were sat in a seat that faced the door, and when Lando looked and saw he gave a nod, and you gave a small wave in return.

Your brother turned and saw Lando and demanded how you knew Lando Norris, his favorite F1 driver, and you told your brother, and he was just shocked that you didn't know Lando because of him.

You just rolled your eyes at your brother and excused yourself.

You had gone to the bathroom, and when you were leaving, you ran into the chest of a person, of Lando, when you looked up and saw his face after almost falling over.

You just chuckled nervously and thanked him for catching you.

You also told him that your brother knew who he was and said to her that she was stupid for not knowing who Lando Norris was.

Lando chuckled and said that it was okay because, as you explained, you had other things to do than watch a 2-hour race.

Six months later, you and Lando developed a friendship, and in the next two weeks after that, you were both pushed to admit your feelings for the other.

When Lando asked you to be his girlfriend, it was in a place he showed you that had become your spot together, and to you, it was more than magical.

Lando, too, but he was mostly nervous at first until you said you would be his girlfriend.

2023

Your first race was in the 2023 season. It was the first time you met all the drivers, who now continuously teased Lando because of how he was compared to how you were.

He was eccentric, and you were shy.

He liked going out and partying; you prefer a book and staying in.

You clicked with his new teammate, Oscar, and both of you were calmer and more collected than Lando.

The relatively poor start to the season had your boyfriend a little down, but he never cared when he had you with him.

2024

For his first win in Miami, he only wanted to celebrate with you and not go out if you didn't want to. You knew he wanted to go, but he wanted you more.

So, you told him to go out and have fun. You had a surprise that needed him gone for a while.

You really didn't, but you pulled something meaningful together while he was out.

At the end of the night, you were called by Max on Lando's phone, who handed the phone to the Uber driver to make sure Lando got back to the hotel.

With each race after that, Lando knew he could win but didn't. He became more harsh on himself, but you were there to cheer him up every time.

In Austria, you weren't able to get to Lando before he had to do media, but when you did find him you told him to wait to talk to Max until the next day when the anger was relatively settled.

You were there at Silverstone.

You were there to force him into dinner with his parents even though he didn't want to.

You made sure he knew you were there for him to lean on, even though you were shorter than him.

You were there to hold him when he needed it rather than wanted it.

Every moment you just let him know you were there with him, no matter what went wrong in his career.

Tags: @poppyflower-22 @samantha-chicago @barcelonaloverf1life @tallrock35 @ellen3101 @llando4norris @hellothere9597

If you want to be removed from a tag list, let me know so I don't keep tagging you. If you are striked through, I don't know if you want to be tagged, but just let me know if you want me to continue or stop

[hannie-dul-set]

HOME FOR THE BITCHLESS [1].

SYNOPSIS. wherein your friend offers a room for you to crash in while your dorm is being renovated, but fails to mention that your new housemates don’t know how to talk to women (oh, and they also have an ongoing bet about you, too).

PAIRINGS. choi soobin, choi beomgyu, lee heeseung, park jongseong, sim jaeyun, park sunghoon x female! reader. GENRE. housemates! au, rom-com, sitcom, reverse harem time baby. WARNINGS. swearing, a house fire, mentions of sex, like the chapter title says there is too much underwear in this, an awful amount of embarrassing men WORD COUNT. 2.2k.

TAGLIST. @cerealdreamwriter @tyongff-ff @dinonuguaegi

NOTE. i have nothing to say except i hope you enjoy this shitshow as much as i enjoyed writing it. please check the link in the masterlist if you're curious about the layout of the house. feedback much appreciated i love u.

MASTERLIST | NEXT >

CHAPTER 1 — this is too much underwear for a first meeting.

YOU WISH YOU CAN TAKE BACK ALL YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT DORM LIFE. Sure, the disgusting, communal bathrooms scrape a year off of your lifespan every time you have to take a piss, and the abhorrently thin walls make you want to rip your ears out every time your neighbors have mind blowing sex, but hey— all of that is better than not having a roof above your head. Even if that roof is two years behind maintenance. 

But it’s all too late. You should’ve appreciated having a bed to sleep in before life pried it out from you in the form of a swirling inferno.

When the semester came to a close, your dormmates thought it would be a fantastic idea to throw an end-of-year party. The problem is, that party ended up in flames. Literally. The last person you saw entering the kitchen was Choi Yeonjun until something exploded and before you know it, there’s a stampede, and you’re choking on black fumes, and there’s suddenly a lightshow happening right before your very eyes with the dorm building you’ve been living in for the past year serving as the sparkler.

Holy shit, your dorm is burning down.

It’s a good thing that the fire was stopped before it could reach your room. You don’t know what you’d do if all your notes and textbooks burnt down along with half of the building into debris. Even prior to the fire, a lot of the facilities were janky and needed to be renovated, so you had to pack your bags and find somewhere else to stay for the next two months while the place went through repairs.

“Great,” you huff, filling your two carriers with the bare minimum you have collected in your unit. “This is just fucking great.” 

However, just when you’re falling into the brink of homelessness, a friend from your book club graciously offers you a room in his house as a saving grace from your misfortune.

“It’s a small bedroom compared to the rest, but you only have to share a bathroom with one other person! There’s also a laundry room and a living area on the same floor. It’s a big place, so it doesn’t feel stuffy at all even with six, seven people.”

You have no reason to decline Jake’s offer, especially when it’ll be just a temporary arrangement anyway. “Are you sure? You said you have housemates, right? Are they fine with living with another person on such short notice?”

“Yeah, they said it’s cool,” he assures, helping you load your luggage into the taxi. “I’ve been wanting to fill up the last bedroom anyway. The house is just too big even with our current living setup. The more the merrier.”

You’ve always known that Jake Shim was fucking rich. Not because he bragged or flaunted his wealth or anything— but because he’d drop the most privileged, tone-deaf shit at the most inappropriate times and no one can get pissed because he looks oh so innocent while saying them. You had once complained about stuffing yourself with too much meat during a club dinner and that one more bite will have you nauseous. He replied with, “oh yeah, I once ate wagyu steak for a good week in Japan and I got sick of it, too!” and you physically felt your economic status erode at that very moment.

He and you will never be the same. And that fact is made suffocatingly evident right now, as the vehicle slowly pulls into a fancy neighborhood and stops right before the fence of an unreasonably gigantic yard with an unreasonably gigantic house. You do feel a little poor when he shows off the pool and the two garages, but at the same time, beggars can’t be choosers.

Also, it’s a really nice fucking house.

It’s three stories tall, with a covered deck and a substantial amount of outdoor lounging areas. Floor to ceiling windows give you a glimpse of the modern interior of the foyer and spacious living room. You’re a little afraid of getting used to such luxury that you might never want to come back to your old, dingy dorm room— but with every blessing comes a curse.

Jake did mention that you will be living with six other people including him. What he did not mention is that those ‘other people’ would all be men.

Imagine your shock when you’re greeted by a whole ass man in nothing but neon green boxers and shades the moment you slip through the sliding doors of testosterone hell.

Very. You’re very shocked. 

“Hey, man,” Jake greets the almost naked individual who is also holding a bowl of cereal in the middle of the afternoon, presumably having just walked out of the kitchen. “What’s with the glasses?” That’s not the biggest issue here. You can see the outline of his fucking penis.

“Oh,” he reacts. “It was just so bright when I got out of the room.”

Jake nods. “That makes sense.” No it does not.

“I think it just got even brighter.”

You can’t tell, but you assume he’s squinting at you underneath his shades. You believe you might also need a pair because there’s definitely a contender in being the brightest thing in the room, so you try your best to not be distracted by the neon of his undies as Jake introduces you to him. “And this is Park Jongseong— or Jay, as he prefers to be called.”

“Call me whatever you like,” Jay smiles at you and reaches out his non-cereal hand for a handshake. He seems chill enough. Maybe he’s just a very laid back person who doesn’t care about general appearances. You can work with that.

“Nice to meet you.” You shake on it. “Aren’t you cold, by the way?”

When he retrieves his hand, he combs his fingers through his hair, ruffling the strands. “My friends often say that I am pretty cool.”

“No, I mean cold,” you clarify. “That does look like a statement, but I’m worried you might get sick.”

You’re starting to get an inkling that you have misjudged Jay. It takes him a few seconds to understand what you were referring to, until a breeze passes by from the open entrance and suddenly, he looks down. “Oh,” he flatly says. “Of fuck.” And the innocent bowls cereal crashes and spills into the ground as Jay disappears into the hallway to your right.

You and Jake stare at the milk minutely seeping into the wooden floor. “I was gonna ask him to help you with your luggage but—” Where Jay disappears, a new person emerges (fully clothed this time, thankfully). “Oh! Hyung, come help.”

He has his neck turned back as he walks up to the both of you. You can hear the sound of footsteps scrambling from where the newcomer is looking at. “What happened to Jay?”

“I don’t know, but let me introduce you to our new housemate!”

“Hi there.” You give him a smile.

Jake tells you his name is Choi Beomgyu, and Choi Beomgyu doesn’t exactly look like he’s keen on accepting your handshake. Instead, all he does is stare you down with his arms crossed, eyes scaling your entire height like he’s doing a motherfucking evaluation. You’re trying your damn best to maintain a pleasant expression. You almost break when he quits his rude staring and turns over to Jake. “So, you need me to help carry her things?” The bastard isn’t even talking directly to you. Your pride can’t take this hit.

“No, it’s alright. I can take care of these myself. Thanks!” Jake flinches when you snatch your second carrier from his hands. “Third floor, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Got it.” 

Yes, you might have shoved past Beomgyu on purpose, but that’s not the point. You leave the two behind to take care of Jay’s fallen cereal as you struggle to lug your luggage up the staircase. You manage to bring them all the way to the second floor landing before your arms give in and you let the two cases settle on the floor with a huff. When you pause to take a breather, you catch a familiar face walking down the stairs from above. You recognize him from Jake’s instagram stories. You’re sure his name is Lee Heeseung. “Oh! Let me help!” he quickly exclaims after noticing the situation, hurrying down the steps. “You’re the new addition to our residence, right?”

“Yes, I am, and it’s totally fine! You don’t have to—”

Big mistake. You should’ve just let him help, but you’re a little prideful so you reach out for the carrier he took, and when your fingers brush against the back of his hand, the man suddenly drops the fucking case and retracts his entire arm. You stare, wide-eyed, as Heeseung stumbles back to the ground next to your carrier that happened to crack open in the fray and is now spilling out all your clothes like guts and blood. Behind Heeseung, the door creaks open. “Is everything oka— oh my god, is that a b-bra—”

Well. It is, in fact, a bra, and its color seems to match the flushed face of the poor, unsuspecting individual that just opened the door out of concern for his friend. You make eye contact with him once before he retreats into his room with a loud slam! Heeseung is still on the floor and he’s now profusely apologetic.

“Shit, I’m so sorry, this is all my fault, please let me help—” The issue dawns on him belatedly, right when it’s already too late and he has your undergarment in his hands in the midst of trying to undo his mistake. “I don’t think I should help.”

“Good call.” You kneel down, politely prying your blood red bra from Heeseung as you proceed to gather the rest of your clothes back into the carrier.

“I should cut my hands off.”

Oh no. “Hey, it was an accident. It’s fine—” When you try to reach a hand out to give him a completely innocent, completely harmless pat on the shoulder for assurance, he flinches back again. Now your arm is awkwardly hanging mid-air and you’re both looking at each other with shared looks of alarm. The exchange (or lack thereof) reminds you of a forgotten memory— a memory from your childhood. Snacktime all throughout elementary school, to be specific, when all the boys would fucking run away from you and your girl friends for having cooties.

This moment is oddly reminiscent of that and you don’t want to acknowledge it.

“What happened? I heard a crash, is everything alright?”

By the time Jake arrives, you have already managed to clear up the crime scene. With a grunt, you get back up and prepare yourself for another round of heavy lugging. “Can you tell me where my room is? I think you should stay here and make sure your friend is okay.”

“It’s...the first door through the hallway, next to Sunghoon’s. Hyung, are you good?”

You have no idea who the fuck Sunghoon is, but you nod in acknowledgement anyway. “Who’s the person living in that room?” 

“Soobin hyung,” Jake answers, helping a dazed Heeseung back to his feet. “Why?”

“You should go check on him, too.”

With that, you leave another mess in your wake as you climb up the flight of stairs to the third floor. You can’t wait to rest. You really want to lie down. But when you walk past the hallway, entering into the floor’s unreasonably cozy living area, you’re met with a fucking fork in the road.

There’s one door right across the hallway, but when you open it, it’s not a bedroom, but a laundry room. So you make a sharp right to the archway opening up to three doors on each of the walls. Jake should have been more specific with what he meant by the first door. You don’t want to take a risk and walk into something you’d fucking regret.

Fortunately, someone emerges from the door on your right and reveals what looks to be a bathroom. You assume he’s Sunghoon, and Sunghoon nearly doubles over when he turns around and meets eyes with you. His expression stiffens, and you’re both just standing there for a good moment and looking at each other without saying anything.

You press your lips into a smile. Holy shit, he’s intimidating. Why the fuck isn’t he saying anyting?

“Hi. I’m—”

“S—shit—”

Suddenly, he’s gone. He’s disappeared into the room in the center after struggling to open the door for a bit. You’re left dumbfounded, but at least now you know where your room is.

You slot the key Jake gave you and twist open the doorknob. The empty room greets you with a body slam of fatigue, and before you know it, you’re sinking face down into the bed and you have no energy left in your fingertips. Admittedly, you have questioned yourself multiple times upon first entering the house whether you made the right decision, whether it’d be better to find an apartment, or maybe you should just crash at your parent’s place for the time being.

But this bed is more comfy than any hotel suite you’ve ever been to, and your bank account isn’t suffering from an enormous dent. Six disastrous men is nothing when you’re able to call a place your home. You can already envision where you’ll be placing your new bookshelf. They’d have to pry your new house key from your cold, dead hands if they want you out of here.

HOME FOR THE BITCHLESS. © hannie-dul-set, 2023.

[theodorecanaryhood]

Love is a dangerous place

Jason Todd x Male! Geek reader

Warning: swearing, drinking, violence, unprotected sex

Danil Kulakov as Jason Todd

The streets of Gotham were filled with water as the street lights and signs bounced off the water, the rain hammered so hard as it ricocheted across.

Red Hood glared at his enemies with his mask drenched with rain, his guns in his hands. Fully loaded and ready for battle.

‘You motherfucker’ a thug screamed as he ran to Red Hood, the two crashed through the shop window.

Red Hood spun around, tripping the thug over as another man ran up behind, Red Hood pulled the second man down, roundhouse kicking him in the face.

The two men battled with all their strength, but in the end, Red Hood won while fighting with his enhanced strength from the pits and his brute rage.

‘Catch’ Red Hood joked as he shot both men in the arm, knee and then the heads.

Red Hood nonchalantly walked out from the busted windows, walking down the street to his motorbike.

Jason sighed heavily as he stripped off from his gear, welcoming the hot shower with his hand resting on the wall.

The shower head rained all over Jason’s bruised body. Causing him some discomfort as he lathered himself in soap.

The sun was shining down and throwing some heat, Jason’s sunglasses covered his piercing blue eyes. His leather jacket sat comfortably on him.

It had been such a long time that Jason had been able to get some reading done, all he wanted to do was sit in his favourite chair, a hot cup of tea, a good book and maybe a nap.

The vanishing eyes caught Jason’s attention, it was the last on the shelf. Jason reached for it as another hand did at the same time.

‘Sorry’ you said shyly as you saw a tower of a man standing next to you.

Jason’s grip on the book loosened as he got lost in your eyes, the y/e/c eyes he’d never seen up close.

‘It’s no problem, I’ve had my eyes on this book for a while’ Jason said, a small smile curving his lips.

‘Three seconds?’ You questioned as Jason chuckled.

‘No, not in this store, in general’ Jason followed on, both of your hands still placed firmly on the book.

‘Well it’s adding to my collection, the vanishing eyes is the last one’ you said as firm as you could.

You couldn’t deny the fact that your small frame would’ve not been taken seriously, not compared to…

‘Who are you?’ You asked as the man raised an eyebrow at you.

‘Jason, Jason Todd’

‘Well, Jason Todd, how about I buy this?’ You asked as Jason laughed.

You noticed the warmth of his hand as you registered it was still gripping of his skin as well as the spine of the book.

‘No, how about I read it, when I’m finished with it we can meet up over a coffee and discuss it?’ Jason proposed as you didn’t know what else to say.

You blushed as Jason smiled, looking deep into your eyes. His blue eyes pierced right through you.

‘Very dominating’ you kind of joked as Jason shrugged, tilting his head to the side.

‘Deal?’ Jason asked as he snatched the book from the shelf and your grip.

‘Seems I don’t have a choice, seeing as you’re already holding it’ you replied as Jason winked.

It was a deal as Jason meant what he said, he took your number and made an effort to text you an update on the book every so often.

The day he finished it he texted you to say it was all yours, the two of you met up for a coffee and Jason ended the meet up by handing you the book.

You weren’t too sure if Jason was intending on the two of you going out again, I mean, was it a date? Or just a deal with a stranger?

Your glasses sat in your face as you stuffed your face deep into the pages, the thriller book was as good as Jason said.

A ping from your phone distracted you as you saw Jason had asked if you were enjoying it, you replied almost straight away to say yes. Then Jason answered your question, a question in the back of your head.

‘You want to meet up again and talk about other books we’ve read? Amongst other things’ Jason texted, a flush of heat overcame your body.

Jason was a specimen in your eyes, he was tall, charming and liked to read too. There was a mystery behind his eyes, but you of course didn’t want to miss out. Agreeing to a date.

Your glasses were wiped against the material of your shirt, you noticed a small smudge that kept bugging you.

‘Hey’ Jason’s voice caught your attention, you turned around to see him.

‘H,hey’ you stumbled as Jason made you nervous.

He chuckled as he leant down a little and kissed your cheek, taking your hand as he lead you into the restaurant.

Dinner with him was great and Jason had a great sense of humour, he seemed like a big kid in some ways and was quite a klutz.

You admired the way Jason’s face lit up when he was talking about something he’s passionate about, you admired how gentle he was when taking your hand in his. Jason just admired the fact that you were taking an interest in him.

Jason had experiences with men not taking him serious, a big, rough and ready dude like him, geeking out over a book or a comic.

‘So, end of the first date mystery, are we going to see each other again?’ Jason asked, as he stood you at your front door.

‘Hell yes’ you laughed, Jason smiled as he looked into your eyes.

Jason leant down as he took your face in his, greeting your lips with a kiss. A kiss that set off fireworks in your body.

It was a kiss that made you smile till you fell asleep, a kiss that was etched in your memory. You wanted more, so much more of Jason.

Lying in your empty bed thinking about him, and only him.

It was a hard night to get through when you were hard in your pants, thinking of the day you get to have Jason naked with you.

Your mind was distracted as you saw in front of, a situation you wouldn’t be able to control. Jason held your hand tight as the group of men came toward you.

‘Fuck you queers looking at?’ A man in the group said.

You heard Jason let a breath out as a man went to swing a fist at you, Jason grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it until he heard a crack.

The man let out a scream of pain as another man ran towards Jason.

‘Jay, behind you’ you shouted as the man grabbed ahold of Jason.

Jason threw his head back and connected to the man’s nose, Jason was let go of as he turned to face the man, who was holding his bloody nose.

‘Keep your hands to yourself’ Jason growled as he punched the man in the face.

Turning to face the other me, Jason raised his eyebrows. The other men grabbed their things and ran off.

‘Thought so’ Jason smiled as he turned to face you.

‘Christ’ you huffed as Jason took your hand in his.

‘You ok baby?’ He asked you sweetly, you nodded. Grabbing Jason’s face as you kissed him. You popping onto your tiptoe.

It was a rush to get into Jason’s apartment as you slid his leather jacket off his shoulders, Jason continued kissing you deeply as he felt heat rushing to his groin.

Leaving a trail of discarded clothes everywhere, the levels of passion rose for sure. Jason had you with him in his bed within minutes.

It was hours of pleasure that you welcomed, making a strong effort to be as vocal as possible.

‘Y/n’ Jason panted as he pounded hard into you, he lost himself while buried deep inside you.

It was the first time the two of you had sex and it was mind blowing, Jason was generous and gentle. Yet you vocalised you wanted it rough and violent.

You wanted Jason to slap you, choke you, you in return leaving scratches over his shoulders and back.

‘Fuck, I’m coming’ you panted as you spilled over the bedsheets.

Jason gripped with his strength as he ran a hand down your spine, the other gripping onto your hip. Jason deep inside as he felt himself about to hit that special part.

‘Fuck, fuck’ Jason called out as he emptied his sperm inside your prostate.

‘Oh my God’ you gasped as you felt it rush inside you.

You weren’t the type to let a guy finish inside, or even let him get inside without a condom. But you wanted Jason now, and all you wanted was to feel every inch of him.

‘Shit, I need a drink’ Jason said as he gave your ass a slap.

Pulling out and grabbing his underwear, sliding it up as you hunted for your glasses, watching as Jason walked away.

It was a great time to relax as Jason poured you both some drinks, the two of you were talking and talking till the sun went down. Words slurring out as the bottle became empty.

‘Well, looks like we’re out’ Jason said as he shook the bottle upside down.

‘Damn, what to do now’ you chuckled as Jason reached over the table and held your hand.

‘Let’s fuck again’ Jason suggested as you rushed off your feet to go to the bedroom with Jason, again.

It was a night to remember as the sun rose and replaced the night. Jason wanted to stay where you were for the day. Not getting enough of your skin on his.

It was welcomed by you, you wanted nothing more than to stay there. Falling deeper in love as the minutes passed by.

[flowerbetweenfangs]

Bring the Storm

M! Djinn (specifically a Jann)/ F! Reader

(Originally posted on A03)

Djinn are known as genies here in the west. A jann was a specific kind of djinn who took on the form of a storm and, strangely enough, a white camel. They were one of the few who weren't actively malicious to humans. In fact, they gave them knowledge.

I didn't seen a lot of rep and thought I'd try it out.

(From the Monster's POV)

Old torches that had rotted long ago sputtered to life, illuminating your path as you entered the cave’s mouth. 

You took one and used it to light the way. Hands ran over worn-away walls, eyes flicking across ancient pictures and carvings. A tattered map was your only guide as you attempted to navigate the tunnels. 

I figured you would try to enter the treasure room, but instead, you moved toward the library. 

An ancient door creaked open with the softest touch. You found a place for your torch and began to look through the shelves. Feverish fingers pushed between books, your breathing labored as you tried to find the right ones. 

As I crept closer, I could catch the scent of you. The way your hand rested at the curve of your neck, your eyes crinkling as you tried to read the spines of tomes long forgotten. Hear the sound of them being moved from the shelves and to a table. I flitted just out of sight, stirring the pages and papers. 

You were so entranced by the collection, I don’t think you would have noticed anything short of them bursting into flames. 

Once you’d gathered enough, I dared venture closer. I thought your attention would be elsewhere. 

Instead, you whirled around to face me. 

The grin across your face would have lit up even the darkest of rooms. So genuine… So… Overjoyed. 

We stared at one another, studying the other’s form. Slowly, you reached up to touch me. When your fingers brushed against my chest, I was a puff of smoke, my form apparating to a darker part of the library. 

Your eyes lit up, and you then began to follow me, questions running from your mouth like a broken dam. No fear. Only curiosity.  

Not about what I was, that you seemed to have already figured out. A Djinn was a rare sight. Jann even more so. I expected, fear, revulsion, begging me not to end your life. 

Instead, you asked my name. 

I told you it, reluctantly. You repeated it and smiled. 

Then, came the inquiries about the library. What ancient knowledge lined the shelves? Could I translate things written in forgotten languages? Was I present for certain events? Did I know famous figures in your history? 

You counted off on your fingers, comparing conflicting reports, and which side you found had more merit. The questions soon started again. 

They came too fast for me to properly answer, so I put a small cloud to your lips. 

Your eyes still glowed, not wanting to waste the opportunity. Lips moved against me, letting warm breath roll over my twisting form. But you remained silent if eager. My eyes drifted to the contact, and I slowly retracted. 

I informed you that I would answer three questions, in exchange for something of equal value. 

That gave you pause. 

What could a creature like me, entombed with treasures and tomes that no human could use in their entire lifetime, possibly consider a fair price to pay? You looked ready to give up your very soul for a chance to peruse the shelves. 

You nodded, now much more cautious with your curiosity. You retreated back to the books, determined to find what you could on your own. A breeze rolled over your shoulder as I, too, read along. 

If you noticed, you were too polite to say. Although you did shift so the tome could be seen from behind. 

Hours passed, pen scratching over the paper as you translated ancient words. You called for me. I never left your side, but still made a show of appearing at it. 

You told of a beast that terrorized your village, and that there seemed to be no way to defeat it. It had dried your wells and withered your crops, leaving everyone at its mercy. 

It would hold off its attacks and replenish the resources with the sacrifice of one unmarried woman a month. There was no doubt they were being sent to their death… Or worse. 

But it was better to knowingly sacrifice one than risk the entire village, the elders had rationalized. 

The ancient texts showed nothing and I could tell your task was urgent. 

Preparing, you pulled out a journal, pen hovering over the paper. The tip of your tongue pressed down in sync with the pen, the blot of ink starting to bleed. 

I reminded you of the price. Nothing in life ever came free, after all. 

The fire in your eyes remained, and I was sure even the worst storm couldn’t extinguish it. 

So, I took the pen and papers from you and set them down on the table. 

You seemed concerned, almost frightened, but you had a resolve. The line between bravery and stupidity grew thinner as I circled around you. Books flew off shelves, pages flipping to show ancient beasts. Scrolls unrolled and encircled you. Powerful winds threw your body around, threatening to slam you into the shelves.

Fists balled, you shouted at the growing storm to name its price. 

The dark clouds forming began to show images. 

The water returned after a stone was removed from each pathway, a task that could easily take twelve people. 

The crops flourished when a minion of the beast was killed, while it was small, it proved to be fast and nimble, scampering out of sight. 

And finally, the fall of the creature at the hands of a much larger shadow. In its place, a new being stood over the village as a protector. 

Three questions. Three answers. One price. 

“There are people to move the rocks blocking the water. People to kill the creature in the fields. But who will bind the new protector of the village?” 

The storm cleared, and I appeared in front of you. My touch was a light breeze as I cupped your face, brushing over your lip. You took me into your mouth, the tip of that tantalizing tongue tracing, sending a chill through my form. 

Who would have thought such a tongue would have more than a talent for words? 

Your eyes shimmered with the one thing you desired more than knowledge. Power? Or something more… Primal? But you had found your answers, and you were willing to pay the price. 

Clothes and inhibitions slipped away, and you stood before me, naked as the day you were born. Years of living in the desert had never left me feeling so heated.  

I could feel myself forming, tailoring myself to your every desire. Down to the last eyelash. Of course, it wasn’t perfect. Nothing ever is. I was still mostly fog, but enough to get the job done. The small taste we’d shared was only the beginning. 

Papers flew in the air as we slammed into the nearest bookshelf, our lips meeting. Your very breath became my own. Legs wrapped around my waist, hands tangling in smoke that became solid at your touch. 

Your thighs and calves slipped down me, before I wrapped my newly formed hands around them and I ground my hips. A moan passed your lips, the sound vibrating through me. In it, I could see a brief flash into your mind, the carnal need that you had long suppressed.

Then, I ran my hands up your body, following every slight curve and angle, before seizing your wrists and holding them above your head. They lifted you up the shelf, becoming manacles and leaving your legs dangling. I wrapped them around my shoulders. 

My newly formed mouth mingled with your lower lips. The conversation between us was rather one-sided, but I don’t think you minded listening to what I had to say. 

My tongue plunged in, drawing a sigh or moan out of you with each lick. Despite how quiet you attempted to be, each noise was an explosion in my ears. It showed me a flash of memory, a piece of your being. So much to learn... 

Fingers formed and became more refined as they continued to explore, going deeper than my tongue ever could. And what wonderful sounds they drew from you. 

What great scholar doesn’t make sure that his findings are thorough and sound? Checks all his sources, and makes sure to cite them. My hands and mouth hungrily researched, making sure to take note of every sigh and whimper that they drew from you. 

You shook, breath hitched, sweat glistening on your skin in the torchlight. Like a sacrifice to be made, but to a different beast than expected. Fog caressed your flesh and you cried out, calling my name, citing the source of your pleasure over and over again. 

What a good little student. 

When I felt that my mouth and fingers had done enough work, I slowly released you.  Sliding down safely into my arms, your legs wrapped around my waist. Far more securely this time. 

I held you close, fingers tangling in your hair. Burying my still-forming face into your neck, I inhaled your scent. Warmth mingled, the thundering of your heart signaling your own storm building.  

And I wanted to be caught up in it. 

Our lips crashed together again, your nails raking down my back. When we parted, your teeth clamped down on my neck and shoulder. You refused to let up as if you were afraid I would cease to be solid if you allowed me a moment’s respite. 

What a wonderful sensation it was. Feeling the heat of your breath, the rumbling in your throat as the primal side of you teased, seeing the hunter’s glint in your eyes. 

Hips ground into mine, a new bit of research needing to be done. 

Your back pressed to the shelf, arms and legs entangled around me. It was a sight that I wouldn’t forget. I leaned in, covering your mouth with mine. You eagerly plunged your tongue in, exploring just as I had. 

My hips rolled, and I could feel you tighten around me. A perfectly formed addition, sliding so easily inside you. Not one to rush into things, I teased. Sliding in just enough to make you writhe, trying to slide down onto me, before pulling back again. You clutched me even tighter, eyes clouding over with ecstasy. The impatience was returning, but you wanted it to last. 

I gradually let more go in, and you rewarded me with moans and sighs. Each sound stoked something inside me, and I could feel myself start to give in. 

My tongue probed as I thrust, allowing myself to finally drown in the sensation of you. 

You took me all the way inside, a catching breath coming to your lips. The new sound drew my attention, for I feared that I had harmed you. Instead, your fingers laced at the nape of my neck. You had come this far, and you were prepared to ride out the storm. 

 With that, our forms became one, fog and skin twisting and entangling with one another. The sweat and condensation covered both of us, making us slick, forcing one to cling tighter to the other. 

As I continued to thrust, your moans turned to screams of pleasure. You held onto me so tight that I feared I wouldn’t be able to move. But I pressed you firmly against the shelf, determined.  

Each time you took me in, I could feel the bond growing, tying us closer and closer together. Until it felt like a millstone around my neck. The tantalizing answers to questions unasked, just out of my reach. 

You had turned the tables on me. But rather than demanding a price, you held the answers just out of reach. 

We slipped from the shelf. I caught us, your body levitating inches from the ground. I began to thrust in earnest, bringing you into the air, forcing you to cling even tighter to me. Once more, you brought me to the brink, tantalizing me with the answers. 

I felt it slip by, fingers brushing before it was yanked away. I unraveled, spilling all I had inside you. I don’t know how much of it you were able to take or comprehend, but I could feel the change start within you. So much power and knowledge dumped inside a mortal, it was a miracle you survived. 

Thankfully, I was able to stay solid enough to guide you to the floor rather than drop you. 

As you laid on the ground, I formed a protective cloud around you. Unneeded, probably, but to let you know I was there. Your labored breathing filled my ears, and I craved the physical form again. An amorphous hand grabbed yours. And as you slipped into slumber, you clutched it tight. 

The next morning, once you’d dressed, we exited the mouth of the cave. 

The fire in our eyes was back, this time making your eyes glow in the darkness of the night. More determined than ever to bring the storm back to the village. 

[magic-is-something-we-create]

Writeblr Re(rere)intro that's a year late!

Hi! I'm Pax, and I write Big Books that keep getting darker and darker in subject matter 🎉🎉

Basics about me:

he/him or they/them, Mid 20s

Favorite genres: Fantasy, SciFi, Horror, Mystery

Favorite authors: N. K. Jemisin, Tamsyn Muir, Brandon Sanderson, Pierce Brown, Samantha Shannon

Other things I do: Digital art (including commissions!), Twitch streams (usually art or writing sprints, occasionally video games), digital art assets and fonts (PWYW on Ko-Fi!)

Basics about my WIPs:

THE MILLENNIUM SAGA

High fantasy/Steampunk epic, 8 books planned. Book one: Firebreathers (160k words; ~700 pages) Book two: Echoseers (148k words; ~600 pages) Book three: Goddess-Touched (15k as of posting; 3rd attempt at drafting) First person, Multi POV What starts as a simple rebellion against their local Citylord becomes a flight - and fight - for their lives, as Ember Timber, their family, and their newfound friends are forced to flee overseas from the vengeful general who will stop at nothing to earn her Eternal King's favor, and will in fact relish hunting her own son and grandchildren for sport. But along the way, the crew learns that the Eternal King's immortality was not granted in return for his success as the Chosen One long ago, as they have always been told - and the sacrifice for such a thing is not only paid dearly in blood, but on its way to being repeated.

WHISPERS

Dark fantasy Noir. Currently with beta readers. 172k words; ~750 pages. First person, Dual POV. Set in the same world as Millennium Saga, ~5 years after the series concludes. Marika Swiftfoot owes her life to the Shadow of Fowden, the sorceress leader of a terroristic crime syndicate based in the north pole. When the man she once loved finally comes to collect on that life debt ten years later, she plans to kill him the moment it's safe. Too soon, after all, and everyone else she's ever loved will join him beyond the Veil. But hate isn't the only feeling that lingers between them, and when they're offered another way out of their debts, the lives of a few innocents looks like a bargain compared to the life of cruelty ahead of them. Lorelei has been hunting the Shadow for twenty years, and looking for the sister who disappeared for thirty. And here, names are legacies: she wants to earn Hopebringer before her legs give out for good, to erase the stain her father's name has left with Vowbreaker. And for that, she sees one way forward: she must never break her vows, no matter how small. The Shadow must die, and the Whispers with her. Her sister must be found, even if all that's left to find is a story. She must find answers for every case she takes on, even if she doesn't know so much as the name of the man who's gone missing.

THE LOST

Space opera webcomic. First scene fully illustrated; will release once the first chapter is complete, a week after Patrons receive the final scene. In the far reaches of space, the term "Media Empire" is quite literal; the Watchers have extended their influence throughout their galaxy filament with the help of their beloved Coliseum, and the Champion therein. After all, having a shapeshifter capable of replicating anything leads to some gruesome, spectacular fights, made all the more heartrending when they are the last of their kind, trapped in the ship molded from their kin's corpse. But while the Watchers have total control over what happens in the pit, they cannot predict the audience. And they certainly cannot predict the malfunctioning psychic implant of an assassin in the front row, and the loss of both opponents and a long-time prisoner of war to the escape.

I also post art of all of these semi-regularly, including in-progress stuff, as well as excerpts and rambling braindumps!! I'm also a huge worldbuilding nerd, so if you ever want to learn more about the worlds I'm writing, don't be afraid to ask!! I love talking about them :D

Boosts are appreciated <3 tell me about your own WIPs in the tags/replies/wherever!! I love learning about what people are working on!

[songbirdsanctuary]

Hidden Scars

You can read this on Ao3!

Warnings: Self-Harm, Suicidal Thoughts

Word count: 1,381

Grian flew over to the spawn area, his wings cutting through the crisp morning air as the sun cast long shadows across the landscape. Xisuma had called a meeting, and everyone was expected to be there. As Grian landed, he saw the other Hermits gathering, their faces curious but concerned, Xisuma normally gave a weeks heads up about meetings. Xisuma stood in the center, holding a small, leather-bound book.

"Thank you all for coming," Xisuma began, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "I've found something troubling, and I need your help."

He held up the book for everyone to see. It was worn, its cover scuffed, and it looked like it had been read many times. "This is a diary, I think." Xisuma explained. "There's no name on it, and I don't know who wrote it, but based on what I've read, I believe the author might be suicidal."

A hush fell over the group. The Hermits exchanged worried glances, but Grian kept his eyes fixed on the ground. His heart pounded in his chest, and his hands trembled at his sides. That was his book. He had written those desperate words in moments of crushing despair. The thought of anyone reading his innermost thoughts, his darkest fears, made him feel exposed and vulnerable. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he struggled to hold them back.

Ren, standing nearby, noticed Grian's distress. "Grian, are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Grian didn't respond. He stared blankly at the ground, his vision blurring as tears filled his eyes. Ren's concern deepened, and he took a step closer. "Grian, talk to me," he urged softly, but there was still no response.

Determined to reach his friend, Ren gently touched Grian's wrist. Grian flinched violently, a sharp gasp escaping his lips. The sudden movement drew everyone's attention, and Xisuma's eyes narrowed in concern.

"Grian, is something wrong?" Xisuma asked, his voice calm but insistent.

Grian's reaction had caught the attention of the other Hermits as well. They looked on, worry etched on their faces. Ren's eyes widened in alarm as he noticed a faint stain of red on Grian's wrist. He gently turned Grian's arm over, revealing the fresh cuts that lined his wrist.

"Grian, what have you done?" Ren whispered, his voice breaking.

Grian pulled his arm back, cradling it protectively against his chest. He couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They flowed freely down his cheeks as he shook his head, unable to find the words to explain the depth of his pain.

Grian panicked. His breath came in shallow gasps, and without a word, he spread his wings and took off, flying as fast as he could away from the group. He couldn't face them. Not now. Not ever.

Xisuma watched him go, a frown creasing his brow. "I think we know who this belongs to now, but does anyone have anything with Grian's handwriting?" he asked the group.

Gem stepped forward, holding a small note. "He gave me this last week," she said softly, handing it to Xisuma.

Xisuma compared the handwriting in the note to the writing in the diary. Xisuma's face paled as he looked up at the other Hermits. "This book was written by Grian."

A collective gasp echoed through the group. The Hermits looked at each other, worry etched into their faces. The realization that their friend had been struggling so profoundly weighed heavily on their hearts.

Ren didn't hesitate. He turned and ran in the direction Grian had flown, with Docm following close behind. They navigated the familiar terrain, their minds racing with worry and determination.

As the two disappeared into the distance, Mumbo, who had been standing off to the side, took a deep breath and stepped forward, his face filled with guilt and sadness. "Xisuma," he began, his voice trembling slightly, "I... I knew that Grian was struggling with suicidal thoughts."

Xisuma's eyes widened in surprise. "You knew?"

Mumbo nodded, his gaze dropping to the ground. "He confided in me a few times when he was feeling really low. I tried to comfort him, to help him through those really bad thoughts. But I didn't realize how deep his pain went. I thought... I thought he was getting better."

Xisuma placed a reassuring hand on Mumbo's shoulder. "It's not your fault, Mumbo. You did what you could. The important thing now is to support Grian and help him heal."

Ren and Docm finally found Grian huddled in front of the rift, his body shaking with silent sobs. Ren approached him cautiously, his heart breaking at the sight of his friend in such pain. "Grian," he said gently, kneeling beside him. "It's okay. We're here for you."

Docm stood a few paces back, giving them space but ready to offer support. He wasn’t good at physical contact, but his concern was evident. "You're not alone, Grian," he added, his deep voice filled with sincerity.

Grian didn't respond. He stared blankly at the ground, tears streaming down his face. "I... I'm sorry," he choked out. "I didn't know how to tell anyone. I didn't want to burden you all."

Ren placed a reassuring hand on Grian's shoulder. "You're not a burden, Grian. We care about you. We want to help."

Grian's resolve began to crumble, and he allowed himself to lean on Ren, feeling a small measure of comfort in his friend's presence. "I just... I don't know how to keep going sometimes," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Docm stepped closer, his expression softening. "We can get through this together," he said. "One step at a time."

Grian tried to ignore their comforting words, his mind clouded with fear and shame. Docm, sensing Grian's resistance, took a decisive step forward and carefully picked Grian up. Grian flinched at the sudden contact but didn't resist. Docm noticed that Grian was much lighter than he should be. As he held him, Docm realized just how skinny Grian was. Shocked, he wondered how he hadn't noticed sooner, but then remembered Grian's oversized red jumper that had hidden his frail frame.

Holding Grian securely, Docm spoke softly, "You don't have to be scared, Grian. We're here to help you."

Grian's voice was shaky as he confessed, "I'm scared they'll read my diary and see how much I've struggled."

Docm shook his head gently. "Xisuma won't let anyone read it without your permission. He'll keep it safe, I promise."

Grian felt a small measure of comfort from Docm's words, though the fear still lingered. Docm carried Grian over to his nest-like bed, settling him down gently. He lay beside Grian, holding him close, providing a physical barrier against the world that seemed so overwhelming.

Ren joined them, lying next to Grian, his presence a silent promise of support and friendship. The three of them lay there, wrapped in a protective cocoon of camaraderie.

Grian eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep, still in Docm's arms. It felt odd to be cuddled by Docm, someone he had often been wary of. Ren remained close, providing warmth and reassurance.

When Grian woke up, he was still nestled in Docm's embrace. The oddity of the situation struck him, as he had never expected to find comfort in Docm's arms. Ren was still cuddled next to them, his steady breathing a soothing rhythm. Grian looked around and saw Xisuma and Mumbo standing a few feet away, their faces etched with concern. They must have come while he was asleep.

Grian glanced down at his wrists and saw they were bandaged. The sight brought back a flood of emotions, and he started to tremble, tears welling up in his eyes. Docm held him closer, his voice a soft whisper meant only for Grian, and maybe Ren.

"Go back to sleep," Docm murmured. "You're tired. We'll be here when you wake up."

Grian felt the warmth and security of their embrace. The weight of his fears and anxieties didn't seem as heavy with his friends around him. He closed his eyes, letting the gentle murmur of their voices and the warmth of their presence lull him back to sleep. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope and a sense of belonging.

[blondie-bluue]

Constellation

Sqaure: “Lay with me?”

Pairings:TechxReader

Warnings: NONE! 

Notes: Ok this is the first thing ive written in awhile and it was all done late at night. Fair warning!  My first entry to the @clonexreaderbingo and my first clone fic.  ENJOY!

AO3

You and the boys are wandering around the market of the most recent planet you've stopped on.  Everyone paired off, wandering from stall to stall collecting supplies you are low on.  Wrecker immediately draggin Echo off to the food stalls, Hunter and Crosshair looking over the weapons at another.  This left Tech to find a few pieces needed to fix the ship after your latest mission and you to restock the ever dwindling med supplies.  

You're still not sure how you got swept up in all this.  Sure, you're good at patching them up and handing them the correct tools when they are fixing things. You can even aim your blaster well enough now that Crosshair mostly keeps his comments to himself.  However you ended up here, it's still better than scraping together what you could to survive on your homeworld.  At least with them you can sleep soundly and not stress about where your next meal is coming from. That meal, more often than not, is a ration bar, but that's still a veritable feast compared to the meager meals you could pull together before.

After loading up on med supplies your eyes begin to wander around the market. Keeping an eye on the others while you listen to Tech barter with a droid over a part he needs.  As he is finishing up with  his transaction you notice a book seller a few stalls down, much to your delight.  While you always love to pick up a new fiction novel to waste the hours in hyper space with, what you really love is information books.  Medical tomes, Engineering manuals, fauna and flora of the many planets you visit.  Could you find all this information on the holonet?  Probably, but the smell and feel of the pages is one of your guilty pleasures.  You justify the space they take up in your footlocker by virtue of them being reference materials.  

You drift over to the stall and start poking through the Medical texts, Tech following behind to start poking through the engineering manuals.  Not finding anything worth taking home, your eyes wander to the right, to a small marking on the next shelf.  MYTHOLOGY.  You've always had a fascination with the lore of the many planets.  Stories passed down from generation to generation.  Fanciful explanations of why things were the way they were.  The Sun god flying across the sky, towing the sun behind his chariot.  Always, there is a god of war to make sacrifices to, ensuring a swift defeat of one's enemies.  One book in particular catches your eye.  A book of stars and their stories.  You take it off the shelf and open to a random page.  As you read the tale of the small warrior who takes on a mighty giant Tech comes up behind you, his chest almost touching your back as he leans over your shoulder.

“A book of local legends? Fascinating.”  He remarks. He's so close that his breath brushes your neck, causing you to shiver slightly.  You clear your throat and turn your head to look at him. Taking in his profile as he reaches around you to adjust his goggles.  His arm bushing yours.  As he reads the fable.  You stay stock still, not daring to move for fear of encouraging him to move away from you.  It is no surprise that you've had a crush on this man for the last few months. You just could never bring yourself to tell him, so instead you cherish the moment like this, where you can feel his warmth so close to yours.  

It only takes a moment for him to finish reading,  when he does, he straightens up and steps back, he holds his hand out for the book so he can add it to the small pile he has in his arms and wanders off to pay for them before you head off to meet up with the others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they arrived on the planet Tech had found a nice spot to land the marauder.  Just on the  outskirts of town, close enough to be convenient but far enough to stay out of trouble.  They had set down on the edge of a field of waist high flowers of varying shades of purple and pink.  That's where you lay now.  After making your way back to the ship with your purchases and real, actual food for dinner you grabbed a blanket, lightstick and your new book to find a comfy place to spread out. 

You decide to spread your blanket out in the field not too far from the ship. The slight breeze rustled through the leaves of the flowers, making them gently sway as you devoured the stories and waited for the sun to set, the light scent of the flora surrounding you and the soft sounds of the guys by the ship floating in the air.   Once the sky dimmed and the stars began to wink to life you began to piece together the constellations.  Trying to tie the stories you had just read with the clusters of dots above.  After some time you hear footsteps making their way through the stalks toward your hiding place.  A few moments later a face pops over the wall of petals above you.

“Ah, there you are”  Tech says, he notices the book lying across your abdomen “oh! I see you are already studying the local fables. I was hoping to dive into that once i finished with the needed repairs”

“Perfect timing then,” you smile up at him, “I'm not that far in.  We can read some together, some of the corresponding constellations are even visible tonight. Come LIE WITH ME?” Waving in the general vicinity of the blanket you scoot towards the edge to make room for him. After only a moment of thought he makes his way into the small clearing you have made and lowers himself to the ground.

You turn your head to take him in. He has one knee bent, the other splayed to the side.  One arm tucked behind his head, the other resting on his stomach.  Once settled he lets out a small sigh as he looks at the smattering of stars above him.  A small smile makes its way across your lips.  It's so rare you get to see the guys relaxed like this.  So often there are plans to be made, repairs to be dealt with, rations to be procured. Not to mention the amount of time they spend trying not to be injured while being shot at.  You are glad that he could have this moment even if it's only for a short time.

 Picking up your book you move a little closer so that he can see the book better. Together you turn the pages and take in the stories of the planet. Stories passed down from generation to generation, telling of warriors and monsters and greater beings that controlled the weather.  It became a small competition to see who could pick out the correct cluster of stars making up the mystical beings first. 

Time passed without notice until your body let out a small shiver.  The tepid breeze of earlier had become quite chilly as the evening went on.  

“You're cold” Tech states, while simultaneously wrapping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you into his body.  Surprised you settle your head onto his shoulder and turn your body into his, settling your hand on his chest.  He rubs his hand up and down your arm, creating friction to warm you up.  

You look up to see him also looking at you, eyes locking.  Hidden in your own little world for the moment you could almost imagine you were the only two on the planet.  With this feeling making you bold, you lean up to press your lips to his.  After a moment you pull away, eyes wide, realizing what you have just done.  Fear streaks through you, have you just kriffed up your friendship by showing your hidden feelings? Before you can go into a complete emotional spiral Techs hand rests lightly on your cheek as he lowers his to kiss you again.  This time with more intensity.  You melt into it,  mind quieting, hand wandering from his chest to his waist.

When you finally part, you can't help but smile.  You open your mouth to say….something.  Your brain still is not quite working when you hear someone tromping through the foliage.  A second later Wrecker comes barreling through the leaves

“There you two are!”  oblivious to the state of things he smiles down at the two of you “Hunter told me to come make sure nothing happened to you two” 

“Ah yes, We shall pack up right now as it is quite late.  You can head back to the ship and let Hunter know that we will be along shortly”  Tech says as you both sit up disentangling yourselves from each other and begin to gather your things. You think you see Wrecker wink at him as he turns to leave.  

Items collected, you both stand to head back to the ship, but before you do Tech steps in front of you and reaches for your hand, toying with your fingers

“You caught me by surprise.  I did not think you were interested in me like that.”  He refuses to meet your eyes, instead, looking at your joined hands.  “But, um, i very much liked it…if you would like to…continue….another time”  FInally, he lifts his gaze to meet yours, to see a large smile on your face

“Yeah, tech” you say, a dopey smile spreading across your face “I would very much like that as well”

[watchers-oaths]

2 or 13 for the Rook story time asks!

This has been sitting in my inbox for over a week whlie I've been dealing with some real life stuff (first week of the semester has already been kicking my ass lmao), but I've been so so excited to write it now that I'm back on Tumblr! I've had the idea of Silas showing Emmrich his apartment for some time, and so I absolutely jumped on prompt 13! I've also really needed to practice writing setting, so this was IMMENSELY helpful– so much so that it absolutely ran away from me, and got wayyy too long lmao

For context, since I haven't directly posted about him before, the Rook in question here is Silas Mercar, a Shadow Dragon mage!

___

To call Silas's home in Minrathous an apartment is generous– It's one room, divided by nothing more than a small counter and the mental categories he's given his furniture. It's clear that Tarquin has been keeping it clean the few times he's borrowed it while he was gone; the general clutter of the place has been reduced to its usual, artful level of maximalist mess.

If anything, it's almost cozier than he remembers. His kitchen is barebones, nothing more than an oven, an icebox, and a small counter as soon as they step through the door. Rugs he'd... borrowed from the Shadow Dragons' outposts over the years soften the hardened edges of the room beyond it, cushioning the floor underneath a plush armchair and small coffee table that have both absolutely seen better days. Books (that he'd mentioned to Emmrich in passing a few times; his own smaller liberated collection) are crammed into a handmade shelf at the armchair's side that reaches up to the ceiling and overflows out onto the table and the floor.

A too-small staircase against the other wall leads up to the loft, big enough to hold only his mattress that's often piled high with most of the blankets and pillows that would usually go in his closet; Whether Tarquin left the bed that way or not is yet to be seen, but Silas secretly hopes he did. That bed is damn comfortable when it's cushioned well enough, and he'd like to curl up in there with Emmrich after the ordeal they've gone through.

Tapestries he'd put up over the windows filter the light to a softer purple hue over the room, coloring the various decorations and knick-knacks that line the walls. His own embroidered pieces are most present, hung around the room depicting the various stray cats and more eye-catching plants scattered around Minrathous.

The floorboards creak in the same way they always have as he tugs off his boots in favor of the now threadbare slippers kept by the door, resolutely refusing to look back to gauge any sort of reaction from the older necromancer behind him. Bringing Emmrich to his apartment had been something Silas swore he would never do; the man is so refined, so proper, that the image of him in the apartment that saw so much of the elf's formative years felt wrong– even if he knows, logically, that Emmrich had most likely lived in the same type of home as a boy. Still, he's held that deep seated fear that it would taint his view of Silas somehow, to see anything more than the man standing in front of him.

It's a part of him, though– Like the Shadows, like his scars, like the way he takes over the Lighthouse's kitchen at 3 in the morning when he's too restless to sleep, and he can't keep it locked away anymore.

"Well, this is it." For all that he's just done, for all the weight that the world has just laid on his shoulders, Silas feels... Seen, in this moment, and he can't exactly discern how it makes him feel. The comfort of being home seeps into his pores, attempting to relax him despite the nerves exacerbating the pounding of his heart. "It's not much, as long as you're not too claustrophobic, and it'll get the job done. Nothing compared to your apartments in the Necropolis, but–"

"Darling," Emmrich cuts him off, and Silas finally faces his fears as he turns around. The older man's hand comes up to stroke his cheek– his smile is soft, fond, and he seems about as relaxed as Silas has ever seen him. "This is wonderful."

[enixamyram]

The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes Spoiler Review

So, I just got back and it's time to share my thoughts! So here goes! Spoilers, so be warned because I am going to be comparing a lot to the books and talking about specific film moments.

In general it was okay... But yeah, if I'm honest I was a little disappointed.

So, let's get the bad out of the way and end on a positive.

Firstly, it was far too rushed. They tried to squeeze in far too much in such a small amount of time. While the books were able to slowly show his feelings for Lucy Gray growing over time spent with her, the films made it almost instantaneous and every scene seemed to overlap the one before so it was very jumbled and bouncing from one moment to the next. Even just the first scene of him seeing her is all wrong.

In the books, he is not impressed until he sees her stand out. But even then, he's careful at keeping himself composed, even becoming self conscious when he accidentally whispers out loud for fear that someone noticed. It's a key part of his character to be very controlled with his image. In the film, when Lucy Gray is slapped by the mayor, he jumps up out of his seat and is making a spectacle of himself by standing for seemingly no reason because he has no attachment to her yet. So right off the bat, it feels like the film immediately doesn't understand his character at all.

There were also so many moments where it seemed like they were screwing over other characters for the sake of making Snow look better. For example, Jessup's death. In the book, Lysistrata willingly decides to send all the water to stop Jessup from killing Lucy Gray because she is a kind hearted character who knows he would want Lucy Gray to win and because she is taking responsibility for her tribute. In the films, they have Snow beg/demand she do it for him, thus taking away from her entirely to add to him in a very unnecessary way.

Another example being Clemensia. In the film, they have her push and force her way into the assignment rather than being selected to help by the class - thus making her seem like a bitch and Snow the poor guy just trying to do as his told. They then have her lie, not just about helping doing the assignment but have her try and take full credit for it entirely while he weakly protests behind her. Again, another way to make her seem so much worse than she is in the book for no other sake than to make Snow look better. And they also make her pointlessly stupid. In the books, Snow collects a piece of paper from the snakes and Clemensia is in the middle of reaching in (having seen him do it without harm) when Gaul explains the snakes purpose. She then tried to snatch her hand back out again but the snakes attack before she could. In the film, she is told before she even attempts what will happen, yet still does it? She's then not seen or mentioned for the rest of the film at all which, while I understand for film reasons, still seems a narrative mess.

Another instance I didn't see the point of was having Lucy Gray poison some water and have Dill accidentally drink it instead of Coral or one of the others. All it did was put an innocent death on Lucy Gray that never led to anything storywise, and the film even kind of make fun of the idea that she died naturally... Which feels like a dig at the book where she does, in fact, die of tuberculosis. I know it's not really a dig (at least I hope it's not...) but that's how it feels when they mock the idea.

They also do not do a good job of showing us his thoughts. My brother hasn't read the books yet. And he felt that the ending threw him off completely. That Snow's sudden shift into hunting Lucy Gray made no sense and came out of nowhere. And he's right because the film did not accurately show him as the controlling, manipulative and posessive person that the books did. Even the end itself feels completely off. In the films it makes it seem like Snow is still wanting to run away with Lucy Gray at the end, even after finding the guns. In the books, he clearly has a change of heart once he knows he doesn't have to fear persecution. Yet the films almost make it seem like Lucy Gray is the one who ruins it for them, like she's the one who runs away and he only hunts her because of that. Maybe that's just my own interpretation and not what they intended, but either way, they could have done a lot better with showing his thought process in that moment and maybe it might have made more sense for people who didn't already know what was happening.

In general, I really think my fears were realized. I think they did not accurately show Snow as the villain, that they did not accurately show his "love" for Lucy Gray was very twisted from early on. Which, unfortunately, led for a really messy finale where he seems to almost switch from kind hearted struggling boy to cold blooded murdering villain.

And I'd also like to add, it isn't just Snow I don't think they wrote very well. I actually really like the character of Dean Highbottom in the books. However, the bizarre (and unnecessary) choice to show them telling the students they will be mentors just before the reaping led to some very inconsistent lines from the Dean. I remember hearing the line in the trailer: "you're goal is to make spectators, not survivors" and hating it. It seemed to go against the entire point of him, which was a very unwilling creator of the games who tried to drug himself into oblivious so as not to face what his little idea caused these victims. But the way they have him act in that first scene really does feel like a different character to the man we see him be at the end.

There were many scenes cut, as expected. Some understandable, some questionale, some I really was disappointed over. Some changes feel so random and pointless (why change Jessup from getting bit by a rat in the zoo to getting bit by a bat on the train???) but there were some bits I did like.

Now let's praise it a bit.

The scene where the bombs explode in the arena was breath taking! Everything about it, especially the way it was filmed, was so masterfully done. As was the finale scene between Snow and Highbottom was really well performed and one of my favorite scenes in the films and books. Any time it did a direct quote or scene from the book itself, I got very excited and was really into it because it really was done well!

Also, as much as I say they did a poor job with the characters writing, I want to be clear, that has nothing to do with the actors. All the actors were brilliant in their individual roles. Each of them was the perfect choice for the character they were playing and I think with a better script and maybe more screen time, they each could have been as amazing as the original cast from the previous films.

There were also some little changes I did enjoy. I liked Lucy Gray getting caught out in the open a bit more and thus adding a bit more action for her. I also liked the final line from Coral in the film, about she couldn't die after killing so many. I think it was a nice little shine about how she wasn't an evil killing machine, she just wanted to survive. Just like the others, she didn't kill because she liked killing but rather, because she didn't want to die. And you can judge her for it, but I also think it makes her somewhat more sympathetic.

Overall, I didn't hate hate it... But I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. I know why it was made into a single film, but the truth is, I really think it would have benefitted from being another trilogy or even a short TV series. Maybe then they would have had time to build Lucy Gray and Snow's relationship and show us more of his darker side naturally as he progressed, as well as give other characters a chance to shine like they do in the book.

They can't all be winners, however. I still think the book is amazing and I will have to get this one on DVD... But it's really mostly just kind of okay in the end.

[brendathedoodler]

The day 3 prompt is fighting me so I’m sending them a little out of order. Have day 4 of my out of season Whumptober!

Day 4 prompt: Hidden injury / Waking up disoriented / Can’t pass out

Warnings: none

Wild’s memories were something he so often joked about. He wasn’t very secretive compared to some of the others. Four spoke very little on the serious aspects of his adventure, only giving enough context for the others to know what he meant when he said he was 116. Legend kept certain secrets and seemed to hint at others, almost as if he wanted to live up to the name Cryptid.

Wild could be like an open book at times. He talked about how he’d woken up in the woods, and fondly recalled his days crawling around in the mud with little more than a sword spirit and a bird to guide him. He talked about home, and how he’d fallen in love with the small floating islands that made up Skyloft all over again.

The first time a memory from a time before had hit him, he’d already been traveling with the others. Watching their friend become entirely unresponsive had been nothing short of terrifying, and even after they discovered what was going on, it never got easier to watch.

Twilight was currently curled against Wild’s side, waiting patiently for him to wake up from the memory he was lost in. The others had gone ahead, though not far, and Twilight kept a close look for anything that might approach. As much as everyone else joked about him being a guard dog, Twilight found that his alternate form came with plenty of perks.

His sensitive ears immediately picked up when Wild’s breathing shifted from the uniform rise and fall, as subtle as the change was. He took a deep breath, blinked a rapidly a few times, shifted his position, and finally turned his head to look at Twilight.

Twilight perked up, nudging Wild’s shoulder with his nose, though that didn’t get much of a response from him. Wild’s face was blank, a faraway look still on it despite the fact that he was moving around. It wasn’t until Twilight began to paw at him that Wild showed any other sign he was emerging from the memory.

“Seriously?” Wild asked, letting out a small sigh. He seemed annoyed, though Twilight couldn’t fathom why. The past few times it had happened, he’d always been relieved to have someone there! Why was this any different?

Looking closer, Wild didn’t seem fully awake at the moment. Was it some sort of in between state? That was the only thing Twilight could think of, though he didn’t know what to do about it. Play along? Try to wake him up?

Wild rubbed his face, and Twilight stood up and nosed his cheek, finally seeming to get his attention.

“You always do this. Why do you always make a scene? It reflects badly on me, you know that,” Wild chided.

That all but confirmed Twilight’s suspicion that he was still caught in a memory, but even then his reprimanding tone made him pull his ears back. It was strange to be on this side of it; usually it was him telling Wild not to do whatever crazy thing he’d set his mind to, though never like this.

Finally Wild reached out, gently stroking his head. “I can’t stay mad at you,” he mumbled, after all you-“ he stopped talking suddenly, staring off at some distant point beyond the trees. Before Twilight could do anything in response, Wild jolted his hand away, almost as if it had startled him.

“Soul!?” he exclaimed, and Twilight immediately perked up. Had he snapped out of it? “What? I was just-“ Wild paused, and Twilight waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts. “I was just on Skyloft. Wasn’t I? I was… Gustlift knocked someone over again. I had to help with her garden for it. Why didn’t…” he trailed off once more, lips pulled into a thin line.

Twilight chose that moment to switch back to his Hylian form. He sheathed his sword and sat down right at his side. “Wanna talk about it?” Twilight asked, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Wild didn’t respond right away, instead just staring at the ground as if it would give him any answers. “It feels like it’s still happening.”

“What does?”

“The memory! It- It doesn’t feel like it ended, but it had to. I mean, you’re here,” Wild said, looking Twilight over, almost as if checking that he was real.

Twilight pulled him in closer, letting Wild’s head rest on his shoulder. “Yup, this is happening right now,” he assured him. “Seemed like you didn’t fully snap out of it at first. You were talking to me.”

“I was?”

“Wanna tell me what that was all about?”

Wild considered it for a moment, then shrugged. “It’s fuzzy.”

“You say that every time.”

A faint smile tugged at Wild’s lips. “Yeah. I guess so,” he agreed, pushing himself up to his feet. “It was a funny one this time. I think everyone else would get a kick out of it.”

Twilight was relived it was a pleasant memory, especially since the last two hadn’t been. He got up, taking the hand Wild offered. “I’m sure they’ll enjoy it.”

[karoiseka]

💕 kissing somewhere other than lips!

Alrighty, this took a while, but I think I got it all done! ^_^

Have some ARR Karo with Than!

The small windowless room deep in the bowels of the Waking Sands hadn’t been the most luxurious accommodations, however, the room had been home now for many a moon, and Karo was of mixed feelings as she packed.  There wasn’t much in the four stone walls–her small bed, a dresser, and a shelf to place personal belongings.  Alike to most of the rooms in the hall, it was more of a barrack’s area, yet it was private, and cozy, and her’s.  There hadn’t been any questions asked, nor any preferential treatment, just a tiny card placed in a plaque next to the door the day she agreed to join the Scions.

The shelf had remained fairly barren, a few books having been collected or gifted, and a few small trinkets that she had held onto.  Those items had started to pile up a bit as she had traveled Eorzea, helping those along the way, not able to say no to those in need.  Her most prized possessions were the six little bits of crystal, kept in a small pouch close to her skin.  Knowing where they came from now, and the bond they helped to create and keep with Hydaelyn, they never left her side.  

Her limited clothing all fit into a medium sized satchel that was already packed at the base of the bed, while the books were tucked into two crates stacked next to the door.  Scowling, she realized another crate was going to be needed for the nicknacks and memorabilia.  Luckily, the main social area had become the central hub for those type of materials, and where everyone was supposed to put their packed crates to be shipped to Mor Dhona en masse.  Carefully affixing her mark to one of the crates of books, Karo sighed and headed down to the main hall with it.

Most of the Scions had already left for their new home, or were out on assignments already across the realm.  As a result, the halls were silent, echoing hollowly as she took one step after another through the long corridors.  Through the set of heavy double-doors, past the solar, and one more pair to go, she could feel her arms getting heavy from the weight of the books.  It was a different sort of weight–a good one–compared to pulling her bow, yet, she was still grateful to reach the end of the path, carefully placing the box with the rest in the pile to be shipped out.

Turning to rummage through the rest of the packing supplies piled up against the wall, Karo swallowed the scream that threatened to burst forth from her lips.  There, not two fulms from her, was Thancred.  He was casually leaned up against the pile of boxes, and had not been in view when she had entered the room.  She knew he was good at infiltration, but when used against her, it was more obvious that she still didn’t know her comrade as well as she would like.

“By the Gods, Thancred, warn me next time!”  Karo had sunk to the floor, adrenaline and relief flowing through her.  It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, it was her left-over skittishness from returning after Titan to find her home torn to shreds–this very room a grave.  The hurt in his eyes could not be hidden fast enough though.  A bottle dangled from his fingers–over half gone from the looks of it.  Shit.  He was still recovering from Lahabrea, and when everyone, including those he knew and trusted the most gave him a second glance, well. 

“I didn’t think anyone else was down here and awake at this hour, it’s been so quiet,”  the words poured out, trying to salvage something of the situation as she looked up at him from the floor.  His expression had softened just the tiniest bit–trying to believe her.  Karo still didn’t know his feelings about everything that had happened–it seemed Thancred had been trying to avoid her ever since they had returned from that fateful night.  He had been hiding from most everyone she realized belatedly, trying to project her true feelings –not those that he had created for her.

“‘Tis my fault for scaring you, t’was not my intention,” taking an extra step forward, he held out a hand to help her back to her feet.  The polite smile on his face didn’t reach his haunted eyes, but he had put the bottle down quickly on a box behind him, giving her his entire attention.  Taking his hand, she realized it was the first time they had touched since she had bodily thrown his unconscious body over Maggie, frantic in her rush to save them both.  Effortlessly he helped pull her to her feet, and with a flourish bent over her hand like a courtier.

“Please accept my sincerest apology for frightening you,” his lips brushed her knuckle as he never broke eye contact.  “My Lady.”  Finally the impish smile returned as Karo could feel her face start to burn.  How could he say such things with a straight face?  Yet–the feather touch of her Echo ensured her that he was speaking from the heart, and not just mischief.

“It–it was of no concern,” damn her stuttering.  So much for being a fabled Warrior of Legend, if one gallant gesture was enough to set her heart to pounding and face aflame.  Squeezing his hand gently in return, she did her best to try and keep eye contact..

“Pray, excuse me, I need to finish packing,” the move was tomorrow officially after all, and she had come down here to get another crate.  The smile was immediately gone from his eyes, even if it was still politely on his lips as he released her hand.

“Of course,” he had stepped to the side to give her an easier path back to the main part of the room with a small bow.  She couldn’t leave it like this though.  As she stepped by, she paused, mere ilms away.

“I am truly busy tonight, but I’d like it if we could spend some time together once we make it to Revenant’s Toll,”  the stress lines eased from his eyes as she placed a hand on his arm, smiling up at him.  “We haven’t had time to talk in a long while, and I’d enjoy that.”  

“As would I,” nodding once more, Karo bolted for the main area to grab what she needed.  Looking over her shoulder, Thancred was still in the same spot, watching over her, and unreadable expression upon his face.  She prayed he believed her, even as she tossed another smile to him before scurrying back to her room, unsure of her own emotions at this point. 

[melindawiley24]

What are best betting strategies in 12bet for beginners ?          

If you are looking for online sports betting, you will find various articles on the basics, line reading and betting. You can also find some sites for advanced betting strategies and systems. However, there are sites that can help you from beginners to advanced techniques.

This site aims to fill that void. You will learn 11 simple sports betting strategies that anyone can use. Each of them is an important step in the development of the whole system, which will ultimately lead to profitable results.

1 - Start with small bets

Ordering books takes time. Of course, some players pick up a winning strategy faster than others, but even the best players learn. You can only bet on a limited number of sports, so don't make the mistake of betting on every event as you learn to win.

I started my sports betting career with a $22 bet. Most bets are only between $5 and $11. Today I would bet up to $11. I played part-time for about 20 years with varying degrees of success until I had enough.

I have used many different strategies over the years to help solve this problem but have yet to make any money from them. I lowered the price. The biggest thing I did was place most of my bets on individuals rather than bookies and bookies.

This eliminates labor costs and is a good low-stakes strategy. It takes only half an hour to set up at no charge. This strategy gets harder when you start aiming higher because you can't find people willing to lift and limit you.

When you start betting on sports, you decide how much you want for your investment. Remove it and use it only for sports betting. Divide that amount by 100 and don't bet more than that amount until you know how to improve your results.

You can make mistakes and using a small amount of money won't cost you much. This method also allows you to make a series of bets before you run out of money. The longer you stay in the game, the more likely you are to find a winning system.

2 - Focus on a small area

I'll talk about betting on your favorite teams in another chapter, but one mistake sports bettors make when betting on big games is often betting on things they know very little about.

You have a better chance of picking a winner if you focus

instead of betting everything. Focus on one sport instead of betting on NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA games.

By focusing on a small area, you can gain knowledge that will help you pick winners. To be a successful bettor, you need to know as much as possible about the teams and players you are betting on. If you can collect and analyze more data from people than just posting series, you've reached a point where you can earn a solid income.

Specialization is the way to start. I understand that one of the reasons you want to bet on sports is to make the games more interesting, but to make the game more interesting you have to decide if you are willing to pay to lose the bet. increase your chances of success.

3 - Money line bet

Most sporting events have at least two different lines. One of the rules is to bet against the spread. A spread bet has points where one team wins a point and the other team gives a point.

Another common type of betting line is the money line. With a money line bet, you pick the team to win the match to win the bet. For money line bets, the winning amount is usually different from spread bets.

Compared to spread bets, they usually pay 11-10 or 110-100 when betting on either side of the match. Money betting in 12bet is something else. The extra money you need to bet what you can win on the spread is called a draw and that's how the bookies make their money.

There is also a screen for money line bets, but it is harder to see as the lines are laid out differently. Here is an example of a money bet limit and how it works.

This game has Nebraska at Penn State. The team with the plus sign, in this case Nebraska, is the underdog. +150 means if you bet $100 on Nebraska and they win the game, you get $100 back and win $150.

The favorite, in this case Penn State, has a negative number. This number means you need to bet enough to win $100. So you need to bet $170 to win $100 at Penn State.

When you start betting on sports, the difference can be used to pick the winner. Bookmakers are good at placing lines close to the final score, so it's hard to know which team will win by a margin.

But it's much easier to pick the team to beat. As the example shows, it is more expensive to buy a favorite, but it is still easier to pick a winner.

You can also look for underdogs that have a high chance of winning. If you can win more than you risk, you don't need to pick multiple winners to make a profit.

4 - Understand local bias

In all sports, the home team wins more than the visitors. The exact percentages vary by sport and season, but you'll see it in all sports. Most people know this from watching games, but few understand the public's attitude towards sports betting. You need to understand what home bias is and how it can affect your sports betting results.

Since the home team wins more often than the away team, many bettors give too much credit to the home team when determining the best bet. This is called local bias. While you should consider the home team's chances of winning, you can't count on them sitting at home too much when trying to pick the best team to bet on.

5 - Online shopping is profitable

If you only have one choice when betting on a sporting event, you need to decide which side of the bet is more likely to win. But if you have more options where to bet, you can compare the tips offered in different places.

Today you can bet with local bookies, multi-city bookies and hundreds of online bookies. You can use 12bet to earn more money over time.

You rate the games equally, but once you figure out which team should win, you can look at different bookies to get the best line. This applies to both spread betting and money limits.

[brokendreamscreation-moved]

@originemesis xxx)

"You're so doneso~" With a wicked grin, he considers the sullied state of the angel he's pinned in their impromptu wrestling match, muddied water dripping from the peak of his chin and between the stunned blue of the other's eyes. Aside from the yellowing of a white garb steeped in pond water, and the reflection of the man's golden hued gaze boasting victory over his rather small opponent, the color of the earth itself is all that remains- caked on hunched shoulders and his face. It seemed inexplicably part of him in a way that even if he should wash it off, a man from the dust of the ground he would stay. And if the wet slap of defeat delivered via a sleeve flipped onto the other's face didn't drive that point through to his rambunctious company, a playful thump to the halo might. "Easy? Is that why you're enjoying yourself down there, bruh?" Adam snorts, half tempted to start stuffing more handfuls of mud down the front of the angelic garb when he's suddenly thrown off balance in a whirlwind of feather flung mud. Back hitting the puddle with squelching thud, he blinks- bewildered by the sudden upheaval and change in scenery featuring what a waterlogged seraphim looks like from below.

Stabilizing the vex of rapidly flipped vertigo, he gives the hips straddling him a squeeze- flushed cheeks puffed outward in place of feathers. "That's soooo cheating- I demand a rematch! I-" The complaint fizzles with a groan and a toss of his head where it splashed in the shallow side of of the puddle- man down. Taking a few melodramatic moments to collect his wits, he starts to sit up, but goes little more than an inch into the hands fanned out on his chest. "I...uh." Gulp. His grip falters just enough to slide down the wet fabric clung at Lucid's hips like a second skin, fingers digging in to the soft back of a thigh. It's an odd texture- the fabric... especially soaked through. And it's even more odd to feel the excess of robe clinging to and around the insides of his legs. "So- your robey thing? It's kinda..." Trapped in his crotch? "...there??" Well, the angel would figure it out soon since something on the growing end of hard is currently pitching a tent under said fabric. Was it really almost that time? He'd been out playing in the mud too long.

Lucid tosses his head back, giving a vibrant crow of laugher, his pride swelling with triumph. Oh silly human~ Just because he is on the shorter side of Heaven did not mean the seraphim has a weaker physic, at least not to a mere man. His smirk drops to concern however when Adam makes the most peculiar noise to have ever graced the angels ears. Brows knitted, Lucid’s cocky attitude fizzles out, his focus now totally on what may be wrong with his companion.

The feeling of large hands sliding across the thighs of his attire is a strange one, the movement wringing some of the dirtied water out of his garment and trickling back to the mud puddle beneath them. In comparison to the cold dampness and mud, Adam’s hands felt warm, the heat pleasant through the angelic fabric. His own hands remained pressed to the First Man’s chest, feeling the increased beat of his heart and rise and fall of steady breathes.

And, feeling something else.

For a moment, Lucid wonders if he is being goosed by some critter that had the mishap of getting between their mud wrestling antics. Or perhaps a stick or stone, jostled loose from the earths wet muddy prison and now reaching back for the skies above. Only one way to find out. The blue seraphim sits back, gathering the soaked folds of his robe to pull up. Lucid’s brows rise in astonishment at the sight. Not that he has not seen the first member, but shocked by the hardened form it has taken.

“OH! That is quite unexpected. You are feeling the need to mate, yes?” The seraphim has ready books on human anatomy, knowledge of God’s creations and how they effectively carry out their purpose: to populate the Earth. However no textbook or scroll can ever compare to the real thing in-person. Carefully, Lucid pulls back his robe so not to let it continue to drape cold and uncomfortably upon Adam’s manhood, his own angelic anatomy still concealed from view.

The angel moves his eyes from the sight back to the man’s face, giving a slight tilt of his head. His blue hues were that of genuine intrigue. “I have never actually seen one in its erect state before. Is it safe to assume my actions engaged in the auto response of…arousal? Yes, I believe that’s the word.” Lucid moves a hand to rest just inside Adam’s thigh, smoothing a thumb over the slick, muddied skin. In a quieter, gentle voice, he makes a request.

“…May I touch it?”

[jander-sunstar]

Jander’s Expanded Guide to Vampires: the Elven Strain

One could write a book on the whole of the Vampire condition. In fact, one has! Our friend Doctor Van Richten spent quite a lot of time researching his Guide to Vampires (and I count myself an uncredited source, for some of it), and the result is as reliable as any bestiary ever was. 

But, comprehensive as the Guide is, the good doctor focuses primarily on the Human strain of Vampirism. This is understandable, seeing as that’s the most common strain available - I myself am of the human variety, despite being a sun elf in origin. I am a rare example, though, as multiple other strains exist in these lands, and each one tends to favor a particular race.

Thus I will begin by describing what I consider to be true Elven Vampires, and compare them with the more standard human variety with which you might already be familiar.

Hunter’s Rating: 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇

The stereotype that elves are all, what was it, tree-hugging granola freaks (thanks, Soth), is perhaps an unkind one, but not strictly inaccurate. So, of course, when these misty lands decided to craft a Vampire to specifically target elves, they did so by turning nearly every aspect of our natures on its head. Elven Vampires inhabit the same forests that their living brethren adore, but slowly corrupt the landscape by their very presence. They share a cruel attunement with forest animals, and can summon and command swarms of small mammals, or birds of prey, or, of course, wolves. Many of the spell-like abilities an Elven Vampire possesses mimic druid spells, in how they shape and control plant life, and a hunter must always be wary of having their environment turned against them in this way.

Other considerations for the aspiring hunter include the naturally frightening affect these creatures have, beyond that of ordinary undead, and their terrible Black Thumb curse. This is the one point of commonality I share with Vampires of my own race; no living plant can bear my touch, and withers dead on contact. This is the cause of no small grief in myself and my similarly afflicted kin, and it even extends to one of the most powerful abilities a true Elven Vampire possesses, which is an innate ability to treewalk. Through this skill, an Elven Vampire might simply walk into an appropriately sized plant, and appear walking out of another plant of the same type elsewhere in the world. This action instantly kills both plants involved, and cannot be used to cross Domain borders, but good luck pinning one of the bastards in place when they can just vanish into the nearest tree.

Rather than feeding on blood and physical health, as human-derived Vampires do, Elven Vampires typically feed on charisma itself. This manifests as disfiguring marks and scars resulting from contact with the creature - although one must wonder if this isn’t a case of poor data collection, given that physical attractiveness is but one aspect of one’s charismatic charm, and victims of Vampire attacks really have enough to worry about already without knee-jerk ableism dropped on their heads as well.

And on top of everything else, a true Elven Vampire diverges from one’s expectations by being diurnal. Really! Diurnal! I’ve been struck with their Black Thumb curse, for the crime of having too good a time gardening, but they get to keep the sun!? Unreasonable! Inconceivable! I want to speak to a manager!

Ahem. Excuse me. The strange fact of the matter is, true Elven Vampires physically cannot tolerate either the open night sky, nor the presence of earth over their heads. They are restricted to daylight hours, and abhor underground spaces. It is as though the rules are utterly reversed for them -- which makes hunting them as a human-derived Vampire a chore and a half, let me tell you.

If you seek to destroy such a creature, know that the typical trifecta of repellants (mirrors, holy symbols, and garlic) will do you no good. Instead, reach for fresh flower petals to create a line on the ground that the Elven Vampire cannot cross, and season your stakes in the fire until they become as charcoal. Once paralyzed by staking, sever the head and burn it in a fire built of flowers and flowering plants for at least twenty four hours. A lengthy process, but an aromatic one, and the reward you will reap is the freedom from undead tyranny - at least, for now.