#this game has disturbing shit in every expansion

[wp100]

so funny how people are like "i want more dark themes in wow" when the final boss of the expansion has screaming burning night elf souls (i assume from the burning of teldrassil) that you have no choice but to kill

i think that's dark imo. Also Alexstrasza's backstory exists. But they want *more* of that, which is... disturbing as fuck (hoo boy remember that quest they added with the time rift patch where you just ... leave? Alexrstrasza to be assaulted and characters made JOKES about it like holy fuck that was bad, and this was at the same time the lawsuit shit was going on too. it was REALLY really bad)

[slytherinslut0]

MATTHEO RIDDLE- Beg For Me

Chapter Seventeen-Info: You and Mattheo have been butting heads for months, since you were assigned as his tutor, and one day during a session full of tense bickering, he has enough.

(This will essentially be a toxic book where we are Theos fucktoy. No love here, very minimal fluff.)

Tags: 18+, DARK THEMES, Sexual Harassment, Asshole!Berkshire, Extreme Depictions of Violence, Blood, SMUT, PIV, Virgin!Reader, Loss of Virginity, Dom!Mattheo, Sub!Reader, Oral Sex, Multiple Orgasm, Dirty Talk, Praise Kink, Degradation Kink.

****FIND THE REST OF THE CHAPTERS HERE.

Emerging from the closet, you and Mattheo shared one more fleetingly charged moment, your eyes locking in a silent exchange laden with unspoken emotions. With a subtle nod, you both returned to your seats, seamlessly slipping back into the roles you had mastered--the poised Ravenclaw and the bad, rebellious Slytherin. The transition was flawless, but beneath the composed exteriors, a storm of emotions raged.

As the game progressed and the night drew on, your eyes locked with Mattheo's from across the circle more times than you could even begin to count--and as the rest of the room remained blissfully unaware, you were acutely attuned to the dance of hidden desires, an intimate connection that thrived in the shadows.

The game of truth or dare continued, growing more wild with each passing round, until most people involved became to tired to continue. In the midst of all of this, Emily and Tom seemed to hit it off, engrossed in their own conversation which seemed to have started before you had even returned from the closet with Mattheo--and as much as the sight was slightly confusing, you were profoundly grateful for the unexpected friendship between them. It undoubtedly relieved the pressure of having to engage with Tom.

As the night wore on, exhaustion settled deep within your bones. Berkshire, thoroughly intoxicated, was gently escorted to his dormitory by Malfoy, his usual disgusting arrogance now replaced by a drunken stumble. Despite the lingering adrenaline from the evening's events, weariness tugged at your limbs, pulling you towards the comfort of your dormitory.

While Emily and Tom remained engrossed in their conversation, you seized the opportunity to excuse yourself quietly. With polite smiles and casual goodnights, you bid farewell to the remaining members of the circle. Each step you took felt heavier than the last, your energy waning with every movement. The echoes of laughter and conversation faded into the distance as you navigated the familiar corridors, the subdued glow of torchlight guiding your way.

Taking a moment to escape the confines of the castle, you stepped into the tranquil courtyard, leaning against the railing and seeking solace under the vast expanse of stars. The night air embraced you, carrying with it a soothing whisper of tranquility. Breathing in deeply, you let the cool breeze wash over you, attempting to shed the lingering tension from your bones after the intense evening you had just endured.

And in the midst of your attempts to find serenity, the peaceful atmosphere shattered like fragile glass, stumbling footsteps making their way toward you. As you glanced over, you watched an inebriated Berkshire stumble his way into the courtyard, bringing himself dangerously close to you, his usual arrogance magnified by the influence of alcohol. His eyes, glazed and unfocused, fixated on you with a disturbing intensity.

"Shit...what do we have here?" he slurred, his words laced with drunken confidence. "A little bird all alone in the night...don't you know it's fuckin' dangerous to be out here all by yourself?"

Your disgust was palpable as you shot him a withering glare. "Save your pathetic lines for someone who cares, Berkshire," you retorted, your voice dripping with disdain. "The only thing dangerous is my dwindling patience at the mere sight of you."

"Why're you such a bitch, huh?" he slurred, his words carrying the stench of alcohol. His proximity was uncomfortably close, his breath hot against your skin. "Must be 'cause you secretly like me, right?"

Your jaw clenched, a mixture of annoyance and disgust bubbling within you. His words were as repugnant as his alcohol-laden breath. The tension you had been trying to relieve was now replaced by a different kind, a sharp pang of frustration at having to deal with his inappropriate behavior.

"I suggest you find your way back to your dorm," you retorted, your voice firm despite the rising irritation. "Your delusions won't make your company any more welcome."

Berkshire's drunken persistence grated on your nerves like nails on a chalkboard, his obnoxious confidence seeming to inflate with every word you uttered. Before you could process it, he closed the distance between you, his movements erratic, invading your personal space. His clammy hand shot up, gripping your jaw with a force that made your teeth clench, forcing your eyes to meet his in a cruel display of dominance.

"Why won't you just admit it, huh?" he slurred, his words punctuated by the reek of alcohol on his breath. His bloodshot eyes bored into yours, his arrogance seemingly impervious to your clear discomfort. "You can't deny the attraction, sweetheart...I see it in the way you look at me when you think no one's watching."

Your patience snapped like a taut rope. Anger flared in your chest, hot and searing. With a swift movement, you pushed his hand away from your face, your voice cutting through the night with icy precision, a steely resolve in your voice that should have been enough to ward off any sane person.

"Let me make this abundantly clear, Berkshire," you said, your tone as sharp as a blade. "There is no secret admiration, no desire, and certainly no fucking attraction. You're nothing more than a nuisance, and I have no patience for your delusions. Now, back the fuck off before you regret testing my tolerance any further."

Despite your unwavering stance, Berkshire's drunken laughter reverberated through the courtyard, a disturbing echo of arrogance undeterred by your resistance. He jeered, taking another step toward you, his movements unsteady but determined. The cold, unforgiving metal of the railing you had been standing in front of pressed into your back as he cornered you, his breath reeking of alcohol and menace.

Panic clawed at your throat, but you refused to show weakness, your eyes meeting his with a defiant glare. "Berkshire, what are you-"

Ignoring your words, he advanced further, backing you up against the railing until there was nowhere left to retreat. Your heart thundered in your chest, the weight of his aggression bearing down on you. And then, in a moment of terror, he grabbed you, his grip surprisingly strong, squeezing tighter than you had ever expected. Your breath caught in your throat as his fingers dug into your arms, pain flaring through your limbs. The situation had escalated far beyond your control, and the realization struck you like a physical blow.

"Let me go," you demanded, your voice strained but resolute, despite the fear tightening your throat. But Berkshire only tightened his grip, his fingers digging into your skin, his drunken gaze wild and unpredictable. "Enzo, fuck, stop..."

"Shut the fuck up," he growled, he breath grazing over your neck as he pressed himself against you. "You're such a fucking-"

Before Berkshire could finish that sentence, a familiar voice--one usually somewhat smooth and composed, cut through the air with a terrifying intensity.

"Berkshire…if you don't get your fucking hands off of her," the threat in his tone was unmistakable, a promise of unspeakable consequences if ignored. "I fucking swear-"

But Berkshire, lost in his drunken rage, remained heedless, his eyes glazed over with a dangerous mixture of anger and entitlement. “Shut up, Riddle…she fucking wants me…”

You caught Mattheo's eyes from over Enzo's shoulder, ones that once held a glimmer of restraint now blazed with an uncontrollable anger that seemed to ignite the air around him. His usual composure shattered, replaced by a raw, primal fury.

In a heartbeat, Mattheo closed the distance between him and Berkshire, his movements fluid and almost supernatural. His hand shot out like a striking serpent, fingers wrapping around Berkshire's throat like an unyielding vice. The grip was tight, a clear message of the danger Berkshire was in.

“I warned you,” he hissed, and with a swift, powerful motion, Mattheo ripped Berkshire off of you, sending him crashing onto the unforgiving stone ground, a stunned gasp escaping his lips upon impact--Mattheo’s throat was shredded with anger as he growled, “I fucking warned you…”

You stood frozen, your lungs burning as you desperately gasped for air, your vision swimming with a heady mix of fear and relief. Mattheo, his eyes ablaze with fury, descended upon Berkshire like a vengeful deity. His arm darted out, fingers clenching Berkshire's collar in one hand while the other transformed into a merciless fist.

“Stay the fuck away from her…you don’t fucking look at her, you don’t even fucking breathe near her…do you fucking understand me?” Mattheo didn’t wait for a response, the first punch landing with a sickening crack, the sound reverberating through the courtyard like a thunderclap. Mattheo jostled Enzo in his grip, practically spitting his words against his face. “No one gets to fucking touch her…no one except me…fucking no one…”

A momentary pause hung in the air, a fleeting heartbeat of stillness, before Mattheo struck again. And again. And again. He was possessed, every punch a release of the pent-up rage that had been simmering beneath the surface, each blow fueled by a primal instinct to protect, to defend, to punish the one who dared to harm you.

Berkshire's face transformed into a grotesque mask of crimson, his features distorted by pain and fear. The courtyard seemed to pulse with the rhythm of Mattheo's anger, the sound of his blows drowned out by the rapid thudding of your heart--and it wasn't until Draco Malfoy, his normally composed demeanor replaced by wide-eyed shock, entered the fray, that Mattheo's onslaught finally came to a halt.

Malfoy, his strength surprising for someone so slender, managed to pull Mattheo off Berkshire, the latter struggling like a wild animal, his rage still burning brightly, his chest heaving with exasperated fury.

"What the fuck happened here?" Theodore dropped to his knees next to his fallen friend, a mixture of concern and disbelief etched on his features as he met your stunned eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I..." you stammered, your voice barely audible, your mind struggling to comprehend the violence that had just unfolded before you. The shock had rendered you speechless, your throat dry and constricted, words caught in the whirlwind of your emotions. "Yes...I'm okay..."

While you attempted to spit out words, Mattheo's heaving form, still seething with raw anger, ripped himself free from Malfoy's hold. With a voice that carried the weight of his fury, he spoke on your behalf, the words sharp and cutting through the air.

"Berkshire thought he could lay his fucking hands on her is what happened," his voice was cold, each word laced with contempt. "After I warned him...I warned him how many fucking times..."

Mattheo's aura, once magnetic and enticing, was now a tempest, an embodiment of wrath that crackled in the air around him. The atmosphere seemed to vibrate with his intensity, as if the very stones beneath your feet could feel his fury. It was a chilling reminder, mostly to you, that beneath the composed facade, there was a force to be reckoned with, a protector who would stop at nothing to shield you from harm--and that thought did inexplicable, disgustingly shameless things to your fucking body.

Draco Malfoy, his usual cool composure momentarily shaken, stepped away from Mattheo, his eyes assessing the situation with a discerning gaze.

"Let's get him to the hospital wing," he suggested to Theodore, his voice cutting through the tension. Nott, too, recognized the need for immediate action, nodding in agreement, before briefly meeting your eyes. "I'm sorry about him...there's no way he hasn't learned his lesson now...fuckin' sorry little prat..."

You nodded in response as the two of them lifted Berkshire, supporting his battered form between them. As they glanced between you and Mattheo, it was as though a silent understanding passed between Draco and Nott. Their glances met, a knowing look shared, acknowledging that there was something more beneath the surface of this situation. They sensed the unspoken connection, the invisible thread that bound you and Mattheo together, but they chose not to pry. Instead, they respected the unspoken boundaries, allowing the complexities of your relationships to remain your own.

Meanwhile, Mattheo turned his attention back to you, his eyes a tumultuous blend of emotions, the storm within him slowly subsiding as he registered the shock lingering in your eyes. With a soft yet determined expression, he stepped closer, his presence becoming a comforting shield against the aftermath of the confrontation that had left both of you shaken.

"Raven, I'm so fucking-" he began, his voice thick with regret and unspoken apologies.

"I'm fine, Mattheo." You cut him off, your heart pounding in your chest, the sight of his breathless, bloodied and dishevelled form doing dangerous things to your cunt--and you knew, more than anything, you just wanted to be alone with him. "Please just take me back to your dorm."

His brows furrowed in confusion, but the desperation in your eyes didn't leave room for questions.

"What-" he started to inquire, but you took a step closer, your neck arching slightly to catch his dark, penetrating gaze.

"Take me back to your dorm," you repeated. "Please."

Upon hearing the raw desperation in your voice, Mattheo nodded, his fingers gently finding yours as he immediately led you down the hall and through the empty corridor to his dorm. The moment he pushed the door open, allowing you to step inside, it felt as though the temperature in the room had increased to a million bloody degrees. The air was thick with unspoken tension, a potent mix of fear, desire, and the undeniable pull that had always existed between you, intensified now by the events of the night.

As you cautiously stepped into his dorm, your eyes were drawn to the familiar sight of the astronomy book lying open on his desk. The memory of the last time you had been in his dorm flashed in your mind--the same book, sitting untouched on his desk, an odd object in the midst of his carefully curated chaos.

"Why do you still have this out?" you questioned, your voice laced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.

The question hung in the air, laden with unspoken implications. Mattheo hesitated, his stormy eyes locking onto yours in a moment of vulnerability.

"Can't a man indulge in the mysteries of the stars whenever he fancies?" he retorted with a smirk, attempting to deflect the gravity of the situation. His voice carried a hint of playfulness, but the tension beneath the surface was palpable. "Or perhaps stargazing is an art reserved solely for beautiful little ravens, hm?"

"Is it because of me?" Your stare bore into him, a mix of curiosity and suspicion flickering in your eyes. “Is it because of me that you have this book?”

He didn't deny it; instead, after a long, silent moment, he simply nodded, almost impenetrably, his gaze never leaving yours. It was a silent admission, a confession that hung heavy in the charged atmosphere of the room. In that moment, the undeniable pull between you became almost tangible, the invisible thread connecting your hearts growing stronger, defying the boundaries you had desperately tried to impose.

You stepped toward him. "Did you miss me, Mattheo..."

Mattheo met your gaze, his expression enigmatic yet stoic, a mask of his usual arrogance and charm slipping back into place. His silence lingered for a moment, the air thick with unspoken tension.

Then, in a voice that held a depth of emotion he was trying to conceal, he replied, "Maybe I did, Raven..."

You moved closer, the air crackling with need as you closed the distance, your heart pounding in your chest. When you finally stood before him, close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body, you dared to reach out, your fingers brushing against his cheek. His skin was warm, and beneath your touch, you could sense the subtle tremor that betrayed the restraint he was exercising. Your breath caught in your throat as you tilted your head, your lips hovering just millimeters from his.

"Don't be shy, Mattheo..." you murmured, teasing him with your fingers as you trailed over his jawline. "Why don't you show me how much you missed me..."

Mattheo's jaw clenched under your touch, his dark eyes smoldering with an intensity that matched the simmering desire between you. You sighed when his hands, strong and possessive, found their way to your hips, pulling you closer with a magnetic force that left you breathless. His restraint wavered, the barrier between temptation and surrender growing thinner by the second.

"Salazar fucking save me..." Mattheo's voice was a raspy whisper, a plea and a challenge rolled into one, his vulnerability veiled behind a facade of arrogance. "Who the hell are you..."

You leaned in, your lips hovering dangerously close to his, your eyes locking onto his with a daring intensity.

"Sorry to break it to you, Riddle," you purred, your voice a seductive melody that echoed in the charged space between you. "But I'm afraid not even your maker could save you now..." a teasing smile tugged at the corners of your lips, your breath mingling with his. "Better start counting your blessings..."

"Blessings, huh?" Mattheo's lips curved into a half-smirk, his voice low and dangerous, sending a shiver down your spine. "I'd much rather count the seconds until I can taste those sweet fucking lips of yours..."

His words sent a jolt of desire through you, your heart pounding in response to his brazen confidence.

"Gods, you really are a changed man, aren't you?" You murmured, fighting your smirk as his fingers tightened their grip on your hips. "You were never one to wait for permission before..."

"Raven," his voice was a low, raspy whisper, the intensity in his eyes burning brighter. "You're really testing my fucking patience here...and you should know I'm not a patient man..."

Your smirk grew, heat flushing your cheeks, your fingers tracing a tantalizing path along the underside of his jawline, now, teasingly slow.

"Maybe I enjoy testing your limits…maybe I want to see how far I can push you..." you muttered, your voice laced with playful defiance. "Or perhaps I just like watching you squirm, Riddle...perhaps I want to hear you beg for me..."

Mattheo's patience snapped like a taut wire, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of exasperation and desire.

"Look at you, huh...all fucking smug..." he growled, his voice edged with playful frustration as he peered down at you. "You've kept that pussy from me for over two fucking weeks and now you want to tease me like this? Did you forget how bloody fast I can make you crumble for me..."

Your defiant facade began to crack under the intensity of his gaze, a shiver running down your spine.

"Gods, maybe I did..." your voice barely above a whisper, the defiance replaced by a flicker of vulnerability. "Maybe I need you to remind me..."

"Shit...there she is...there's my good fucking girl..." he murmured, his tone a mixture of reverence and desire. "...tell me what you want, Raven..."

A sigh of satisfaction slipped past your lips as his hands tightened their grip, his touch searing into your hips as though he was trying to hang on to his last shreds of willpower. With a trembling voice, you met his dark, penetrating eyes, wetting your lips as you let yourself drown in their depths.

"You," you whispered, your voice a husky admission. "I want you."

He exhaled. "Then fucking have me."

In a whirlwind of desire, his lips crashed onto yours, sending your senses into a frenzy. Your eyelids fluttered shut as both of you inhaled sharply through your noses, trying to catch your breath amidst the electrifying kiss. His hands, strong and possessive, tangled in your hair, pulling you closer with an urgency that matched the racing beat of your heart. Your lips parted in a soft groan of surrender, inviting him in, and his tongue slipped between your teeth with a hunger that bordered on desperation.

His lips moved over yours, claiming every inch as though he needed you to survive, and your fingers found solace in the dark waves of his hair, gripping them tightly. Mattheo responded with a primal sound, a low grunt of satisfaction that resonated between your entwined bodies. With a swift motion, he spun you around, his lips never leaving yours, walking you backwards until the backs of your knees met the edge of his bed. The kiss deepened, his mouth exploring yours with a deliberate slowness, his fingers continuing their sensual dance through your hair, pulling you impossibly closer, melting the space between you.

Mattheo's tongue danced a tantalizing dance inside your mouth before he withdrew, leaving a lingering connection between your lips. In that moment, silence enveloped both of you, rendering you nearly motionless, lost in a whirlwind of emotions, unsure of what to say, think, or do. You felt the undeniable hardness of his arousal pressing against your belly, causing a flicker of anticipation to ignite within you. Your hands instinctively moved towards the hem of your shirt, but he halted you with a gaze as hard as stone.

"No," he said, his voice low and commanding. "Let me."

A flush of scarlet painted your cheeks, but you nodded in silent consent, your throat tight with anticipation. His fingers bunched the fabric of your shirt, lifting it up and off of you. As you raised your arms, granting him permission to undress you further, he completed his task with deliberate care. The fabric landed on the floor with a soft rustle, discarded and forgotten, while his eyes roamed over every newly exposed expanse of your skin.

It was a ritual you knew you’d never tired of, the way he looked at your body as if it was a masterpiece, a gift he hadn't been prepared to receive.

Under the intensity of his gaze, a cascade of warmth flooded through you, your skin tingling with awareness. His hands skillfully moved behind you, unclasping your bra with practiced ease. He pushed it off your shoulders, the fabric gliding down your arms, his fingers skimming over the surface of your skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

He paused for a moment, his eyes meeting yours in a silent question, before gracefully sinking to his knees in front of you. His warm breath ghosted over your belly, holding your stare as to ask for permission before he hooked his thumbs under the rim of your pants and panties, peeling them down your thighs, revealing your sensitive sex to him--inch by torturous inch.

A shiver rippled through your nerves, sending a thrill down your spine as his molten-gold eyes held yours with hunger that seemed to consume everything in its path. His gaze didn't waver for a single moment, even as he expertly removed your shoes and tossed them aside carelessly.  As he rose, his palms trailed over the contours of every curve, his touch igniting a trail of electric sensations in their wake. He towered over you, a commanding presence that left you breathless, and one of his hands delicately cupped your face, his thumb tracing the outline of your lower lip with a gentle intensity that sent your heart racing.

"Lie back," he murmured.

Your fingers quivered with anticipation as you nodded, succumbing to the electric tension in the air. Slowly, you eased yourself back onto the mattress, adjusting your position so you could lie flat against the soft bedding.

Mattheo prowled around the perimeter of the bed, his intense gaze scorching your skin, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. Each step he took seemed deliberate, his movements exuding a raw, primal energy. After a moment, he paused, his fingers deftly working on the buttons of his bloodied dress-shirt. With a fluid motion, he peeled off the fabric, revealing the chiseled contours of his chest. His pants followed suit, dropping to the floor until he stood before you in just his boxers.

From this angle, the sight of him made your cheeks flush and your breath hitch in your throat. The raw masculinity and confidence he exuded was both breathtaking and overwhelming, leaving you yearning for more as he loomed over the bed, the outline of his throbbing cock straining the fabric of his boxers doing unspeakable things to your body--the sight of it against the background of hard, tense muscle made you clench, and you bit your lip to hide a moan that was sneaking its way out of your mouth.

And even though you knew he noticed, he said nothing, even as his knee dropped into the mattress, even as he shifted, crawling over you, until he hovered above you, looking more fucking angelic than he ever had before, looking like a man filled with devotion, passion and need.

"Mattheo..." fear was mixing with the pull of lust. You'd never seen him like this. "Matty, I--"

"Shh," he said, pushing a strand of hair away from your temple. "Relax for me, princess..."

You drew in a shaky breath, and nodded--and his lips pressed into yours, plush and wet, before he moved, leading a tingling line of kisses down your cheek, to your jawline, to your neck. Leaning in, he caressed your throat with his warm mouth and you gasped, back arcing into him. In response, Mattheo purred, laying layer after layer of soft, wet marks on your sensitive flesh. One large hand slid down your arm while he kissed his way to your breast, nuzzling his cheek into the valley of your chest before drawing a nipple between his lips.

A cry escaped you, your hips bucking into his abdomen. "Oh, Gods..."

"Shh," he said again. "Relax, angel..."

The nickname he called only made you want to writhe more. Your mind internally fucking screaming with need. Taking a deep breath, you nodded anyway.

"My angel," he repeated, planting slow, soft kisses on your stiffening bud. "My fucking sweet little angel..."

He took your nipple into his mouth again, moaning while he suckled it swollen, his hands painting pleasure on your swathes of naked, aching skin. You whimpered, nibbling on your lip to silence any sound, hands slowly slithering their way through his messy, yet beautiful fucking hair. As you tightened your grip on his strands, a groan slipped past his teeth, and he flicked the tip of your peak with his tongue before releasing it, mouth making a hot trail along your navel, his hands massaging up and down the outside of your thighs.

"You're doing so well," he whispered into your stomach. "You're so fucking beautiful..."

"Matty..." you whined, his words creating a storm of bliss in your chest. You didn't know what else to say.

"Keep being good for me..." he kissed his way to the mound of your pussy, holding a rumble in his chest as his lips grazed the top of your slit. "Are you ready?"

Are you ready? He just fucking asked if you were ready. As you gazed at him, his pink lips glistening with saliva, eyes smoldering with desire, the answer became crystal clear.

"Yes," you said. "Yes, I'm ready."

Without further hesitation, Mattheo lowered his head between your legs, your entire body jolting in pleasure   as he licked a broad, flat band up your sex, feeling your fingers twirling in the curls of his hair. His mouth was hot and eager as he showered your folds with deep, heavy kisses, sending shivers of delight throughout your entire being. Mattheo's hands held your thighs in place as he slicked his strong tongue in between your slit, each touch sending waves of pleasure coursing through your core. Your eyes were fixed upon him, unable to look away from the sight of him worshipping your cunt with his mouth.

"You taste incredible," he cooed, leaving soft kisses along the crease of your thighs. "You know that I thought about this little pussy everyday, don't you?"

Your breath hitched. "Y-you did?"

"Mmhm."

He returned to working his tongue along your inner-folds, gathering your juices along the tip, humming while he swallowed--he was deliberate, taking his time to memorize every bit of your pussy, to draw as much cum from your core as he could. You whined, your clit desperate for attention.

"Matty..." you pleaded, "please..."

Mattheo's gaze met yours as he hummed, sealing his lips around your swollen nub. The intensity of the pleasure collided into you, causing a wracking sob to escape your lips as your eyes closed in ecstasy. His  grip tightened on your thighs, tugging you closer to his face. As he sucked on your clit, he gradually built up the pressure, block by block, pushing you towards the peak of orgasm.

Your hips relentlessly rolled into him, urgent moans filling the air as you fell further and further toward overwhelming bliss. "Fuck, Mattheo...Gods..."

His hands left your thighs, exploring your body, gripping and kneading any inch of flesh they could find, until they finally rested on your breasts, thumbs tracing small, gentle circles on your hardened nipples.

"Oh, fuck," you said, "fuck, fuck..."

As the intensity of your pleasure peaked, any words leaving your lips devolved into incoherent wailing. You teetered on the edge, straining against a wall of unrelenting bliss that threatened to overtake you completely. Then, with two hard sucks, Mattheo eased you over, drawing out your climax long and slow against his mouth. Ecstasy consumed you, numbing your skin as your limbs shook and trembled. Every sensation was intensified as he pulled you through wave after wave of pleasure, groaning as your juices coated his lips, your core throbbing and pulsing at his chin.

It felt like an eternity before he finally released you, dragging his tongue up the top of your slit as he panted and gasped for breath alongside you. The aftermath of your intense orgasm left both of you struggling to regain your senses.

Your head rolled along the mattress, lids fluttering open, hands petting at his hair. "Fuck, Mattheo...that was..."

"Shh." He licked his lips, gaze liquefying your center, and returned his focus to your belly, kissing a steady path to your sternum, his hands still stroking at your skin. "I need you to know how much I missed everything...and I mean fucking everything..."

"Oh," was all that left your mouth, teeth pinching your lip when it began to tremble.

"From your perfect fucking tits to your filthy little mouth..." one hand started to palm at your breast, the other still gliding up your side as he inched forward. "From those delicious fucking thighs to that pretty little pussy..." he was at your neck, now, rasping into it, the heat of his body enveloping you. "Every inch of you is fucking perfect...fuck the drugs Raven, you are my insatiable goddamn addiction..."

Every syllable that escaped his lips seemed to caress your very soul, igniting a wildfire of longing within you. His words were like a spell, weaving around your heart and wrapping you in a cocoon of desire. You craved him in a way that transcended the physical, a hunger that went bone-deep. It wasn't just the touch of his skin against yours that you yearned for; it was the merging of your essence, the melding of your souls into an ethereal dance of passion. You wanted to dissolve the boundaries between you, to lose yourselves in a realm crafted solely for your bodies, where every touch and sigh was a symphony of fervor.

And as you met his gaze, there it was, in his eyes--an unnamed emotion that pulsed between you, an unspoken truth that bound you together in a way words could never encapsulate. It was a force beyond reason, an irresistible pull that drew you closer, time after fucking time again.

"You once called me a plague but fuck...you have no fucking idea..." his voice, raw with desire, clawed its way out of his throat. "I haven't even fucked you, Raven...how the fuck have you done this to me?"

Your heart skipped a beat, fingers instinctively curling in his hair. "Do you want to?..."

Mattheo hesitated, as if time itself hung suspended. His eyes searched your face, seeking the truth in your words, and then, he answered, his voice a low rasp,

"Of course I do..." he breathed. "But after what happened tonight-"

"No," you cut him off, your body moving restlessly beneath his. "After what happened tonight, I only want you more...I've never fucking wanted you so fucking badly, Mattheo...it was you who defended me, not Tom, not Zabini, you...it's always been you..."

Mattheo's jaw tensed, his eyes darkening, his chest heaving. "You want me to fuck you..." he said, as though he was trying to make himself believe it. "You want me to take your virginity..."

You nodded, a silent confirmation of your desire, but Mattheo's fingers found their way to your jaw, his touch surprisingly gentle, yet firm. He held your gaze, his eyes searching yours for any hesitation, any uncertainty.

"Say it, Raven," he murmured, his voice low and commanding. "You know I need to hear you say it. Tell me you want me to take your virginity."

Your breath caught in your throat, his proximity overwhelming your senses. With a shaky inhale, you met his intense gaze, your voice coming out as a mere whisper, "I want you to take my virginity, Mattheo."

"Fucking hell..." he breathed, the desire in his tone making your core scream. "You know that means-"

"I'm yours." You cut him off. "Even though all of this could fuck up my entire future, I don't care...I'm yours...I submit my sanity to the disaster that is sneaking around with you, Mattheo...I don't want the safe option, I don't want soft or subtle...I want dangerous, I want messy, I want sins...I fucking want you..."

"Salazar fucking save me..." he breathed after a long moment of staring at you, shifting himself to pull down his boxers, his throbbing cock springing free, smacking against his belly. "You really are a little fucking devil..."

You clenched at the sight of his dick, head glistening with precum, twitching insistently as he shifted, looping an arm under your neck and cradling your head, his face nestling into your neck while his other hand directed the head of his dick against your wet folds, slicking itself along your wetness, your entire body tensing at the foreign sensation.

He was so fucking big...you weren't sure if, "are you even going to fit...you're so fucking-"

"Shh, Raven." Mattheo huffed against your neck, angling back to meet your eyes, that devilish smirk plastered across his lips. "I'll make it fit."

At his words, you clenched again, unable to deny the intoxication of his primal arrogance, his eyes fixed on your face as he angled himself at your core now, the anticipation radiating off of him only fuelling your hunger, sending thrills through every inch of your body.

"Relax," he breathed, eyes boring into yours, the hand behind your head keeping you in place. "And look at me...I want you looking into my fucking eyes as you feel yourself stretching out for me..."

With a nod, you held his stare, and slowly, deliberately, he pushed himself inside of you, inch by inch, letting you gasp and wince while his thick length stretched you open, until he was fully sheathed within your tightness. The sensation was overwhelming, stretching you to your limit, beyond anything you ever thought possible, and Mattheo only seemed to grow harder with each gasp that left your lips. With him completely seated inside of your cunt, you felt him pulsing at the hilt, felt his already urgent need to cum inside of you. But instead of moving right away, he jerked you closer to his chest, his lips softly grazing yours as he brought his hand to cup your jaw.

"Are you okay?" His voice was torn, shredded, nearly unrecognizable.

You nodded, holding his eyes. "I'm okay."

"Shit, Raven..." a deep groan left his chest as he exhaled, pulling out and plunging back in as slowly and carefully as he had the first time. "You're so fucking tight...fuck..."

You mewled--between the passion in your chest and the newfound sensations between your legs, your head was spinning, something was close to bursting. His skin was so hot against you, and you gripped him tighter, another moan leaving your chest, chin shaking beyond your control, the pleasure and pain commingling in your mind as you surrendered to his skilled touch--Mattheo stared at you through it all with gleaming eyes before he smothered your lips with a kiss, burning and short.

"Is this what you wanted?" The low thunder of his voice melted in your ears, and he murmured your name. "Tell me..."

Your fingers dug into his skin, your voice torn between gasps. "Yes, Mattheo..." you mewled. "It's all I've wanted."

He leaned forward, lips feathersoft on yours, kissing you, still easing his cock into you with careful rolls of his hips. The grip at your head soothed your scalp--and you could feel it, could feel yourself blending with his body as he pushed deeper and deeper inside of you, could feel your pulses pounding in pace, could feel the unspoken, intangible harmony coiling in your blood.

"Who else can make you feel like this, hm?" His embrace constricted you, now, stilling you while he rocked deep into you, stuffing you full, his free hand travelling down your belly, grazing over your clit--and you choked, whimpered, limp in his arms. "Tell me who this tight little pussy fucking belongs to..."

The pleasure was overwhelming, earth shattering, entirely all encompassing. Your lids fluttered, your brain spinning. "Oh, Gods...oh my fucking-"

"Look at me, Raven..." he ordered, voice torn. "Look at me or I'll stop."

Reluctantly, you opened your eyes, nails biting into his skin, heart pounding in your throat as you felt your sanity dangerously fucking close to shattering, your entire body encompassed in a pleasure that you've never known, a pleasure that only Mattheo fucking Riddle could give you, one that burns you from the inside out, one that shatters every inch of your resolve, leaving you bare before him.

"Tell me..." he whispered, his fingers twirling your clit. You could tell he was close, too. "Fuck...fucking say it…”

"You," you mewled, lost in the melted chocolate swirls of his irises. "It fucking belongs to you, Mattheo...fuck...only you..."

"Shit..." he groaned your name, sucking at your shoulder, tongue leaving hot lines on your neck. "You love being dirty for me..." his fingers whirled your clit faster. "You love being my nasty little slut, don't you?"

"Yes, yes, Mattheo..." you wailed, body trembling beneath him. "I love it..."

"Fuck--" A feral kiss bruised your lips, his cock splitting you with long thrusts. "That's it..." he muttered your name against your mouth. "Cum--cum for me, let me feel you..."

You shattered. "Gods--Matty! Fuck..."

Euphoria rended you wide, tearing at the seams of your sanity, and you fractured, convulsing with the sheer strength of your climax. Your walls spasmed around his dick, milking him hard, and Mattheo held you, mouth meeting yours as he came, hips hitting you with every rush of rapture as he quickly followed after you, spilling his release inside your cunt. This seemed to last for minutes, the aftershocks of bliss rippling through your bodies at once while you remained there catching breath, still connected.

You were wilted, spent, a collection of skin and cum and sweat, and when Mattheo finally pulled out, he slumped down on the mattress beside you, pulling you back into his chest, nothing but the collective sounds of your exhausted panting filling the air, neither of you willing to move even though you knew you couldn't stay here all night--but your drooping lids didn't care, your body succumbing to slumber without giving you a choice.

And as you drifted off, you couldn’t help but question how a boy who once had been the bane of your fucking existence, had now become the centre of it.

———————-

Find eighteen here->

[ideas-4-stories]

Sfw omegaverse anon -

The "omega bestie" thing was smth Shanks probably told Luffy - ((Shanks sees a tiny unscented little pup all alone and went "Oh it's free real estate" /hj.)) In actuality, Makino raised Luffy for a good deal of time, but he is a rambunctious child, and I think he'd pester Shanks for stories and songs and all sorts of things. Shanks is a softie and so absolutely caved. Luffy learned a lot of the pirate's code from Shanks as a very small child and he treated it like GOSPEL, bc Shanks was, is and always will be his hero. So he definitely also got some very silly stories about Shanks' youth, and Buggy starred in more than a few, but never explicitly by name, it was always "my best friend" or "my packmate" or, on really sentimental evenings, "my baby brother".

When Luffy first met Buggy in Orangetown, the few braincells he has left sparked a connection - blue haired, sweet smelling, silly, greedy, trickster clown man? Blue haired, sweet smelling, silly, greedy, trickster omega packmate of his semi-adopted dad? Yes, that math is mathing. Small world. Anyway, gotta beat this clown. His hands are rated E for Everyone.

So yeah Luffy definitely knows Buggy is an omega, and when Buggy mentions "we served on the same crew", it just clicks. It's not really a big deal to him anyway, it feels stupid to care about that kind of stuff. You could not PAY him to care (but if you want to try, it's best to pay in food).

But yeah, Rayleigh and Crocus just both went "Ah, the kids will be fine" and then the kids went and were very much Not Fine At All. But that's a conversation for a different time.

Their parental instincts only kick in when Buggy gets flirted with or when Shanks gets hit on with complete seriousness for followup. It's both obnoxious and also funny.

Shanks gets a heart flutter, and by nightfall his denden is ringing bc Rayleigh is 🤏 close to swimming out there what is going on, red-?

When Crocodile and Mihawk finally get their shit straight and start the whole Courting Thing, the Dad Squad Of Remaining Rogers are in perfect synchrony detecting a Disturbance In The Sanctity Of Their Children.

Crocus calls Rayleigh. Rayleigh talks to Crocus. Neither have Buggy's number. How did that happen? Damn. If only Rayleigh lived with a woman who has an expansive information network where she can check for Buggy's contact information. If only Buggy was part of a widely known business with contact information for business needs. If only they considered this information and just how many options they DO have at hand.

Instead, they call Shanks - Shanks who is having a meltdown because "Bugs is growing up" and "two Alphas, really?!"

This does NOT bode well.

One prospective courtship is one thing. TWO simultaneous courtships are complicated. Those two Alphas enacting the courtship being former warlords, a mafia boss and the world's greatest swordsman, is something else entirely.

Crocus is sharpening his harpoon, debating his options. Rayleigh is seriously debating free swimming to the New World. Things are about to go DOWN and it's chaos all around.

Meanwhile, on Karai Bari, the Cross Guild Poly has finally hit the Holding Hands Stage, because they're stupid, silly and none of them are actually working with anything resembling game. Buggy blushes every time Mihawk pulls out his chair, he melts whenever Crocodile gets the door for him, and he's absolutely LOSING IT every time they ask him to spar.

Fighting has become their love language somehow and every time Buggy lands a hit of some kind, the others damn near swoon, which makes HIM swoon, and the crew and mercenaries are just watching this like the weirdest slow burn soap opera ever conceived.

Anyway yee I'm sleepy so I'm off, byyyeee~~~~

Shanks definitely did a Roger, looking at Luffy asks around who's child this is and proceeds to pick him up to Benn’s dismay (That is not paid enough to deal with his captain’s bullshit) Good thing Makino raising Luffy for a good bit of time. Luffy pestering Shanks for all sorts of things too, that's so Buggy.

Shanks talking about talking about Buggy without saying his name, I wonder why he won't say Buggy’s name to Luffy. Maybe Shanks didn't want Luffy to go and find his packmate, but that didn't matter when Luffy met Buggy. Good thing Luffy has some braincells after all that training Garp put him through. And the ‘Yes, that math is mathing. Small world. Anyway, gotta beat this clown. His hands are rated E for Everyone’ Yeah that's so Luffy, like damn he don't spare anyone.

Not Rayleigh and Crocus thinking that Buggy and Shanks will be fine. Indeed that is a conversation for a different time. I understand that Crocus would of given the kids a few things they would need in life while Rayleigh probably like I taught shit, you are good. And dips into the night without saying goodbye to grieve his captain and be with Shakky (for some reason that seems like he would do that. Its a headcanon)

THEN not their parental instincts kicking when Buggy gets flirted with or when Shanks gets hit on with complete seriousness for fucking followup. OH NOOOOOOOOOOO, that’s not how parental instincts should be (I mean to be fair, neither were planning on having kids probably, but then Roger metting those two happened, but like… dudes that’s not how it’s supposed to work)-(Indeed it’s obnoxious and also kind of funny if you ignore that’s not parental instincts should work…) Shanks getting scolded by Rayleigh when his heart’s fluttering, I wonder who that person is, anyway Mihawk and Crocodile getting their shit together and start trying to court Buggy (you know he’ll first think that they are threahing him, so it takes sometime)

Started laughing at ‘the Dad Squad Of Remaining Rogers are in perfect synchrony detecting a Disturbance In The Sanctity Of Their Children’ I love that, you know it’s not only Rayleigh and Cronus because most of the veteran Roger Pirates helped raised them too (hc/)

Crocus and Rayleigh not having Buggy’s number is so them… but what if it’s the same number he always had and they think it’s the wrong number now? Have they bothered to check? Or if they had, Buggy had openly said it wasn’t Buggy’s number? There could be so much more drama, but anyway yeah if ony Rayleigh lived with a woman that can find people’s numbers because she got that information network, if only Rayleigh knows where his child’s business is, oh no it’s too sad that they can’t find anything…

THEY CALLED SHANKS! Oh no! That’s the last place to call to find Buggy and to check if he’s alright! That man is fucking drunk, crying, ranting and raving about this! Oh dear! RIP to Crocodile and Mihawk, even the littlest teasing bullying their clown will land them in bad graces if those men see it (dear gods what if they found out they beat the shit of Buggy one day, that’s when shit would it the fan. Buggy’s followers will have a fucking telenovela to watch, they just need to be a safe distance away because holy shit someone might fucking died in the crossfire) Truly things are about to go DOWN and it's chaos all around… “Big News” Morgan would having the time of his fucking life with this.

Meanwhile on Karai Bari Island, where nobody knows about what might happened later down the line! Awwwwwwwwww, they are now in the Hand Holding Stage!!! That’s so cute! It took awhile because of so many things, good thing they worked it out.

Mihawk and Crocodile being gentlemen to Buggy is amazing, and them asking to spar is like BIG invalidation for him. Fighting and bullying each other (affectionately) is definitely one of their love language. Truly is like the weirdest slow burn soap opera ever conceived.

[allthefilmsiveseenforfree]

Dear Evan Hansen

You may have seen some ~online discourse~ about the film Dear Evan Hansen, an adaptation of the 2016 Broadway musical, and you might have wondered what all the hubbub is about. I mean, it’s a feel good story about a senior in high school, Evan Hansen (Ben Platt), who has some pretty severe anxiety and depression. While trying to fulfill an assignment from his therapist to write a letter to himself, his letter gets picked up by another student, Connor (Colton Ryan) - and later that day, Connor kills himself. Connor’s grieving parents and sister Zoe (Amy Adams, Danny Pino, and Kaitlyn Dever) are desperate to learn more from the boy they think was Connor’s best friend - after all, Connor’s suicide note was a letter addressed to “Dear Evan Hansen.” And, as you can imagine, Evan tells them about the unfortunate mistake and sits with them in their grief as they struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives. 

Just kidding! He lies to them, repeatedly, elaborately, expansively for months, constructing an entire false friendship with Connor that never happened, and ingratiating himself into the wealthy nuclear family he never had, in large part because he wants to get into Zoe’s pants! THIS IS THE PROTAGONIST OF THE STORY. Oh, and it’s a musical so there is a lot of singing and crying and singing WHILE crying and sometimes crying and not singing at all. But the #inspiration, you guys. 

Things I liked:

Pretty much everything but the story and Ben Platt’s performance. The supporting cast is stacked, and all of them do a great job at elevating material scraped directly out of a diaper worn by someone who just chewed their way through a copy of the DSM-5. 

A couple of the songs are damn catchy - “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will Be Found” are standouts for a reason - and here’s the thing, Platt sings them well. But as you’ll discover, there’s a lot more to a movie musical than just singing your part. 

Stephen Chbosky, the man behind every deep thought I and a lot of people in my generation had in 2006 after he wrote The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is a pretty good director. I particularly enjoyed the fanvid-type cuts in “Waving Through a Window” in conjunction with the lyrics, and his use of interstitial shots to flashbacks (and sometimes flashforwards!) is a neat little bit of shorthand that I thought was used sparingly enough to be effective. 

Amy Fucking Adams. She’s holding on so hard, so desperately to the idea of who her son could have been, rather than the reality of who he was, and she is full of such deep pain that is masked by an almost endless supply of patience with Evan and relentless positivity. All this made me want was Enchanted 2 even worse than I already did. 

Super into everything Zoe wears - the costuming department did a great job, and now all I want to do is live in mom jeans and baggy sweaters.

Did I Cry? I teared up a couple of times because I’m not a completely heartless bastard and when Amy Adams offered Evan Connor’s college money, my heart broke for the lie Evan had thrust upon her, and Julianne Moore’s song got me good, because she’s just a single mom to Evan who is doing her goddamn best. 

Things I hated more than the time I dropped a frozen gallon container of fruit cocktail on my pinkie toe in my parents’ garage and it turned black and I thought it was gonna fall off:

Ben Platt is 28 years old. He originated the role of Evan Hansen on Broadway, so in many respects it makes sense that he plays the role in the movie, except for the one kinda sorta important thing where he looks like a wizened old crone standing amongst a sea of children doing his best twitching, cringing Hunchback of Notre Dame impression. If you want someone to convincingly play 20 years their junior, hire Paul Rudd. Otherwise, please don’t ask me to believe that this supposed 18-year-old has crow’s feet. 

And that twitching nervous energy is a huge part of the black hole at the center of this film - he’s playing to the cheap seats and walking through the halls of his high school like a wet chihuahua. It’s an excruciating acting choice to watch - he doesn’t just have anxiety, he is on the verge of a nervous breakdown seemingly every second of every day. Like honestly, where is only-mentioned-never-seen Dr. Sherman, because this young man’s meds are NOT WORKING DR. SHERMAN. 

There’s such a lack of self-awareness on behalf of the writing, directing, and performance by Platt. There’s one song, “Sincerely, Me,” that offers the only glimpse of commentary about what Evan is doing, by pointing out the malicious ridiculousness of him writing a series of fake emails as proof of his and Connor’s friendship. 

Also what high schoolers email this much?? I know this was written in probably 2014 or so, but has a bitch never heard of a text? Even a DM? This whole plot is constructed around the premise that high schoolers are just constantly, constantly emailing each other. 

Everything - and I mean EV-ER-Y-THING - about Evan’s relationship with Zoe is so creepy and disturbing that with a soundtrack change, this could easily be a horror movie. He attempts to get her to like him by describing to her all the things her brother noticed about her - oh wait, I’m sorry, all the things HE noticed about her while he was skulking in the shadows following her around for years, watching every move she made, and it ends with him singing repeatedly “I LOVE YOU” because following a girl around and never having a conversation with her or knowing her at all is love, right? This was clearly written by the same people who chose “Every Breath You Take” as their wedding song because Sting is hot and they never actually listened to the damn words. 

And it gets about 10 billion times worse when Zoe goes to Evan’s house alone, takes him up to his room, and sings “I don’t need reasons to want you” and that was the moment I was that person I hate in a movie theater and I pulled out my phone to Google who wrote the music and lyrics to the musical (we were in the back row of the theater no one was behind me THIS WAS AN OUTRAGE EMERGENCY) and of motherfucking course it was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, 2 men who heard about meeting an actual human woman from a friend one time but otherwise are unfamiliar with the concept. 

Lastly, enormous serial killer vibes from Evan sending unlabeled flash drives anonymously through the mail with no note in an attempt to right his wrongs. That’s not catharsis, that’s how the next installment in the Saw franchise starts, with Evan in a Billy the clown doll mask showing up on the screen and asking if you want to play a fucking game. 

Also, I know it’s not possible for the narrative to justify this in a way that could be satisfying based on Evan’s actions, but what is with this thing where single working-class mom Julianne Moore is turning down rich people’s money for Evan to go to college? Like, obviously we can’t have that happen in the movie but in real life, fuck your pride! Take those rich people’s money!

I also know how movies work but nothing annoys me more than a giant group of high schoolers all getting beeps and boops to indicate text notifications all at the same time because I don’t know a single person under the age of 55 who keeps their ringer on. That shit is on vibrate AT MOST, and I feel like that’s a millennial thing. 

The emotional climax of the film is obviously Evan’s WAY TOO LATE confession, but the idea that it’s prompted by Connor’s family suddenly getting a lot of internet hate is, frankly, laughable. If Sandy Hook taught me one thing, it is that no tragedy is immune from trolls who live only to cause other people devastating emotional pain on the internet. That shit starts day 1. Apparently no one involved in this production has ever been on Twitter?

Also it feels like there should have been a dog somewhere in this movie and there was no dog, so points off for that too. 

Perhaps Dear Evan Hansen isn’t nearly as deep as it aspires to be. Perhaps it’s a morality play, a simplistic message of “Don’t lie, kids, lying is bad!” Major studio movies wrap themselves up with a nice bow at the end so everyone can feel good about themselves and leave with a happy ending, but the moronic cruelty on display here makes that feat feel impossible. We’re left with Evan in an orchard, reading Connor’s favorite books and staring into the big blue sky with all the self-actualization he’s earned now as a lil treat. And if Evan Hansen looked like an actual 18-year-old, it would be a lot easier to extend more empathy to him and his not-fully-developed prefrontal cortex, but it’s a little harder with this fully-grown, weathered man who was old enough to remember seeing Liar Liar in theaters. 

Dear Evan Hansen, 

Get some actual help and a haircut and maybe you can grow up enough to have an actual healthy interaction with any other living person, ever.

Sincerely, 

Me

If you liked this review, please consider reblogging or subscribing to my Patreon! For as low as $1, you can access bonus content and movie reviews, or even request that I review any movie of your choice.

[sweetsubharry]

Do you know any Larry fics with relationship during or post the band

yes I do! ^-^ (As a forewarning, under the read more is 47 fics! So this is quite a long post! I just couldn’t narrow them down!) I’ve split them into three sections; x factor, during the band, and ‘hiatus’ :) 

In case no one gets to the bottom of the page I’ll say it again here too! Please make sure to stay safe and read the tags!!

X factor era 

I'd give up forever to touch you by blankiehxrry

just your typical xfactor fic with a bit of a twist

Just Ask Me To by TellMeThisIsNotLove

“You’re telling the truth,” Louis whispers.

“Of course I’m telling the truth!” Harry doesn’t even care that he sounds exasperated.

“Oh my god.” Louis grabs the wall behind him as if looking for support. His body slides down against it until he’s sitting crouched on the floor.

He mumbles something but Harry can’t really figure out what it is. He crouches down, and looks desperately at the breaking boy in front of him.

“You’re telling the truth,” Louis whispers. “You were not supposed to–”

“I was not supposed to do what? Tell me please,” Harry urges, taking Louis’ hands gently in his.

Or the X Factor era canon fic where they learn how to be a couple and that not everyone is going to be on their sides especially those with plain white t-shirts and saccharine smiles.

horizontal like a quarter to three by orphan_account

The worst part is that Louis just wants to get really rough with him. He's wanted it right from the start, and it doesn't make sense, because Harry's always been so gentle and understanding and sweet, and yet all Louis wants to do is fuck him up.

nonstop earthquake dreams of you by lumineres

And there's heat behind it, blazing, plasmatic, like stars crashing together, like an explosion in space, like a supernova, like a black hole--everything else sucked out of existence. There's no bed and there's no pillow and they're not lying down, just floating somewhere, somehow, and there's no room and there's no X Factor house and there's no Niall snuffling or Liam's deep, even breathing and there's no wind or traffic outside and there's no hum of the heating unit and it's all just Louis. All encompassingly Louis.

or, harry falls hard and finds louis already at the bottom

Could you love me anyway by SadaVeniren

Dear Mistress Lorin: I’ve been reading your blog for a couple weeks now and was hoping you’d give me some advice for something that happened with me and my boyfriend. I’m really worried that I hurt him.

aka Harry and Louis begin playing ping pong during the X-Factor Tour. It quickly gets out of hand.

no we're not friends, nor have we ever been by blankiehxrry

louis and harry get frisky in the xfactor house

give you my fever by beautlouis

And he’s wanted it even more since he met Louis, it's driven him insane, he spends 90% of his life turned on because of Louis and he’s had no relief at all. He’ll wake up at night too hot and itchy, with Louis warm and sweet smelling next to him, and unable to do anything but wank unsuccessfully, with no release. “I can try,” Louis says, close enough that Harry’s eyes cross a little trying to look at him. “I want to, I’ve never been with anybody, like, I’ve snogged people, lots of people, but I’ve never—touched anyone.” He clears his throat. “I’d touch you, Hazza.”

Harry’s breathing picks up. “Yes.” He doesn’t think there was a question but he’s a little overwhelmed. “Yes,” he repeats, dizzy.

*x-factor era. harry's never had an orgasm before, louis gives him his first

During the band

Sweet Baby by jishler

“Haz,” he said, “do you like being held down?”

Drawing a shaky breath, Harry finally looked Louis in the eyes. “I think so.”

Nothing You Can Do (But You Can Learn How To Be You In Time) by Teumessian

A Canon Compliant Semi-AU. Louis braids Harry’s hair. There are good times, bad times, fancy houses, supportive bandmates, secret boyfriends, small rebellions, bigger revolutions, some nail varnish, ribbons, cute clothing, and a Pinterest.

make me feel like i am breathing by crybaby

His eyes are already looking a hint distant as Louis gets comfortable on his knees, running a hand up the hairless expanse of Harry's milky thigh. Harry always starts dipping at the sight of his vibrator, bubblegum plastic with flecks of glitter in the pink. His cheeks pink to match the colour and his eyes go wide, his lips chewing.

(Prompt: how about louis fucking harry with a vibrator backstage before they go on?)

take me into your loving arms by blankiehxrry

twas the night of the brit awards

Just Give Me a Reason by Mr_Stylinson

"Why do people hate me?" is a question Harry is more than desperate to figure out the answer to after reading through negative comments on Twitter about his "What Makes You Beautiful" performance on Red or Black. But this new addiction could potentially decide his fate as a part of One Direction unless the other boys are able to convince their youngest member that his value is defined by far more than a bunch of dumb online comments.

The Pedal's Down, My Eyes are Closed by dancingontheceiling

Louis and Harry bang it out in the dressing room after performing "18" and "No Control" for the first time at OTRA Brussels.

i'm missing half of me when we're apart by orphan_account

Louis can just picture what he looks like right now. Curled up on the big bed in their LA house, wrapped up in one of Louis' sweatshirts, crying his heart out, face red and blotchy, eyes sore, fingers twisted in the blankets as his chest tightens up.

Fallingforyou by gayilystrong

Harry's sick on Tour, which leads to naps in Louis' bunk. Louis of course needs to take care of his baby.

vocal rest remedy by tippytoetomlinstyles

Harry is sick and sad and on vocal rest. Louis helps him get over his sadness by cheering him up the only way he knows how.

Push You Over The Edge (So I Can Pull You Back) by orphan_account

It’s after a long two weeks of interviews and non-stop appearances that have got Harry stressed to the limit of yanking his hair out and throwing a fit and crying that Louis shows it to him, walks in the door with a sleek black bag in his left hand and inconspicuous brown one in his right.

It Feels Right When The Pink Matches His Lips by orphan_account

He adores pink, and pretty colors. He likes deciding what color his nails should be and whether or not this lipstick matches his shirt. He likes rummaging through Jade or Leigh's closets to try on the pretty clothes they have or their make-up drawer out of curiosity.

But the media doesn't. They call him awful names, spewing out article after article. So, he stops. He stops wearing pink, stops painting his nails, stops experimenting with make-up, and Louis notices.

[Featuring Harry as the unconfident member of the biggest boy band in the world and Louis as his very supportive boyfriend.]

Every Move You Make by sunniskies

After the debacle at the Brits, Louis decides he needs to keep better track of Harry.

Obligatory Sickfic by WhoopsImASinner

Harry gets off stage after the Live Lounge and is more than a little upset about how sick he is. Louis takes it upon himself to get his boy home and cheer him up.

Do Not Disturb (kiss me beneath the milky twilight) by SadaVeniren

“I was talking with Nick a couple months back and he was saying how our sex life seemed boring and we’d need to keep doing new and interesting things to keep it exciting or else we’d become boring and heterosexual and I defended us of course but then work picked up and we started living off of studio handjobs and missionary position sex in the dark and so I panicked. I googled BDSM and after looking into it I really want to try some of it because I think we’d enjoy it but we just don’t have the time.”

aka Harry doesn't want to become a boring old married couple a year into their relationship and tries to spice up their sex life.

But I'm Only Human (And I Bleed When I Fall Down). by brooklynbis

Harry wasn't an idiot. He wasn't gullible enough to believe that everyone was going to love him, hell, he was expecting for people to not like him. But a few tweets from Twitter really can be enough to trigger a whole bucket load of emotions.

_______________________

AKA Harry has a lot of emotions, management (particularly Simon) are pieces of shit, Louis is an amazing boyfriend as per, and Liam, Niall and Zayn are all very protective over the youngest member of the group.

You Like Playing Games by orphan_account

Louis knows Harry likes to flirt and tease. Louis knows that he doesn’t particularly like when Harry flirts and teases. Louis knows that Harry knows that Louis doesn’t particularly like it.

But what Louis doesn’t quite know is why, despite that, Harry’s decided to grind against 5 Seconds of Summer’s Luke Hemmings during “Teenage Dirtbag” in the last show in Melbourne.

Basically pure smut.

Make Tea, Not War by adventuring, howdoyouwhisk (popsongdelusional)

"Is he the messiest?"

"Yes."

"Does he do the washing up?"

"Never."

"Does he make his bed?"

"Never."

"Hopeless, hopeless flatmate. Would you rather be with one of these guys?"

"Nope!"

Or: Louis attempts to become a better flatmate, much to Harry's dismay.

Are We In The Clear Yet? by highlinson

The thing is, it’s not anything new. He’s gone through it a dozen times, at least. It shouldn’t scare him, still. Should never have scared him in the first place. Yet he’s trembling as he makes his way through the crowds.

You and Me by louisgrindsonharry

Harry and Louis have dabbled in the idea of BDSM but Harry finally wants to take it farther and Louis has to figure out how to take care of his boy.

We'll All Float On Alright by dancingbean

Harry has a really bad day. Louis is there with cuddles and kisses and scented candles.

You live in my heart by styleztomlinson

As soon as they’re done with their set, Louis only has one thing on his mind and that’s to get out of there as soon as possible.

or,

Harry is sick during their performance at the iHeartRadio festival. Afterwards, Louis takes cares of his baby, and dotes on his husband.

Cause If You Let Me, Here's What I'll Do by stylesforstiles

Five times where Harry is Louis' baby

When the Points Add Up by iwillpaintasongforlou

Louis is physically incapable of following the rules, and Management is smart enough to know his weak spot: Harry. One stunt too many leaves Harry exiled to a room by himself all night and Louis rallies the others to devise a plan to get Harry his cuddles tonight no matter what Management says.

There's a Hole In My Soul, Can You Fill It? by stylesforstiles

Sometimes Harry is so tired. Louis always wants to fix it.

Susceptible to Getting Hurt by page394

"I've always wanted to be one of those people who didn't really care that much about what people thought about them... But I just don't think I am." - Harry

Just What The Doctor Ordered by everyroad

A short little thing about a sick Harry who really just needs his Louis.

Baby, I'm perfect for you by nancy01

Harry broke down in tears. Like loud, ugly, fat tears that made his shoulders shake and his hands come up to hide his face. He made Louis worry, he made Louis scared, he made Louis angry and worst of all now Louis' going to be disappointed in him and think he's being childish and pathetic. well done, have you made yourself proud?. now even louis isn't going to like you, you've pushed him away to.

Louis sighed."Sweetheart, come here." He called with wide opening arms.

Harry doesn't think he's ever moved faster in his entire life. Louis arms wrap around Harry's shoulders, pulling him in close, as Harry buries his neck into Louis' shoulder to try and source maximum comfort.

Or

Paps become to much for Haz, cue protective boyfriend Louis

Never Let You Fall by iwillpaintasongforlou

Harry slips on stage and gets a minor concussion, and Louis insists that he spend the night in the hospital just in case. He then turns into a protective baby lion because that is his Harry and he'll be damned if anything happens to him on Louis' watch. Harry rolls his eyes a lot but doesn't really mind.

Breathe by dontlietomehoney

Harry has an asthma attack and Louis is scared to death. What follows after though, scares both boys, pulling them apart and bringing them together.

Your Reason To Be by KellanCougar

The X Factor was only the start. With their management willing to do anything for headlines, including manipulation that could threaten Harry's very life, Louis fears he will lose everything he loves and be powerless to stop it.

And We Linger On by stylesforstiles

Harry is pouting. Louis takes care of him

don't let nobody touch it (unless that somebody's me) by stylescantstop

written for this prompt:

"louis knows Harry gets handsy when he's drunk, but that doesn't stop him from showing harry who he belongs to."

or the one where harry dances with other men and a jealous louis reminds him he's the only one who can make him come completely apart.

that boy's got my heart in a silver cage by orphan_account

The whole thing is addictive somehow, and not just because of the way that it makes Louis feel, like Harry is his and he'll do anything he says—but because of the way Harry reacts to it, even in public, twisting in his seat and tripping over his words and once even briefly hiding his face in Louis's shoulder because he's so flustered, causing the girls in the audience to squeal and shout.

if we got nothing, we got us by tumsa

Harry is Louis' baby and he's sick as well.

Okay by JustAnotherShadow503

Harry is frustrated.

It's been almost two years since he and Louis got back together, and nothing has changed. Well, they have changed, and their situation has gotten a lot better, but their sex life? Vanilla. Completely and utterly vanilla.

Harry really thought that after Louis' dirty talk when they got back together, they would get into some kinkier shit, but nope. Louis still makes love to him and calls him sweet names, and that's nice, Harry absolutely loves it, but sometimes, he gets this itch that making love can't scratch.

Or, the one where Harry and Louis try to start a dom/sub BDSM relationship, and nothing goes according to plan.

Gentle Sin by userkant

Harry gasps. He gasps at what must be a sudden pain, or maybe at his sudden orgasm that has him tightening around Louis, forcing Louis’ own release, or maybe all of these things are connected.

Or, Louis discovers a few things about Harry.

A fic about kink exploration and pleasure-pain featuring baby boyfriends, tenderness, and gentle dom Louis.

I'll Look After You by stylesforstiles, TrynaGetStylinson

Harry's had enough with the mobs. He just needs someone to tell him it will all be ok.

Let Me Be Good For You by onlyhuman

His distress over the bun is nothing compared to the thrill Louis feels shoot up his spine at the outfit Harry’s donned. He’s changed into leather jeans that cling to his legs, hugging his thighs snugly. On top of it, a floaty, black sheer shirt is contouring his frame, doing absolutely nothing to hide his puffy nipples or the endless array of tattoos scattered across his torso. It’s Louis’ favourite outfit in the entire world.

Or, Niall's only birthday wish is to go clubbing with his boys in Vegas. Harry ruins it all by wearing that god forsaken black sheer shirt.

leave you drowning until you reach for my hand by orphan_account

If Louis told him to do something that he really didn't want to do, it would be different, but Louis's never done that, never asked anything of Harry that he couldn't handle. Except—except maybe this; to obey him without praise, reward, approval, or even mere acknowledgement.

Beneath the Suits by someonethatsfunny

Harry and Louis had a bit of a ritual when it came to award shows. And that ritual didn’t lend itself very well to after parties or being around other people in general. Nope. They were much better off alone where they could have their own private celebration. So what happened after the AMAs then when Niall and Liam head to an after party and Harry and Louis were nowhere to be found? Well, obviously we can't be sure, but it was probably something along the lines of ....

During ‘hiatus’

Mon Petit by coffinofachimera

Harry wears the 'Mon Petit' sweater while Louis records them on their private plane.

Things Are Pretty Good From Here by ItIsWhatItIs9194, Teddy1008

Harry's just released "Sign of the Times," and of course, Louis can't help but want to let his sub know how proud he is of him with more than just words.

They basically fuck.

head head heart by turnyourankle

After Dunkirk has wrapped filming, Harry struggles with his inability to reach subspace. He tries taking the matter in his own hands before Louis intervenes with a plan of his own.

Model's Own by Domeaspreadsheet

Harry hadn’t wanted him to see the Another Man shoot until it dropped, wanted it to be a surprise. He’d already come home with his hair chopped off, how many surprises could there be?

Louis pulls up Harry’s instagram, the notifications for three posts coming through right after the other. Harry was off at a spin class, and here Louis sits, staring at Harry’s face, the three covers forming a neat line, all so different, yet all so very Harry. He zooms in on one, knows he must be seeing it wrong, but no. Harry is wearing a collar. On the cover of a fucking magazine.

Beside Me Like a Silhouette by Domeaspreadsheet

“Quite the ruckus from someone who thought they were coming home to a sleeping household,” Louis says on an exhale of smoke.

Oh. Harry has been set up.

“Well, maybe if I hadn’t thought you were bailing on me I would have tried harder to be quiet,” he huffs.

Louis levels his gaze at him. “Is that so?”

Harry nods.

“Very well. You have fifteen minutes to shower and put in the plug I left on the bathroom counter. No need to dress afterward. When you come back, kneel next to the chair on my right. You may go.”

redder than the devil by mercutionotromeo

It's half past 9, and all Harry wants is for Louis to touch him. Preferably after a good spanking.

If you combine a lazy Saturday afternoon with a distracting, pouty Harry, you'll end up with Louis spanking his baby over his knee in the middle of a paused FIFA match.

i'll be your sunflower by scagnetism

“What do you think’s gonna stop us now?” Harry says cheekily, laughter in his voice as he looks up at Louis. “Something’s gotta get in our way like always, doesn’t it?”

“Ha,” Louis grins, kissing his cheek and holding open the door for him as they make their way toward the car. “Nothing’s gonna interrupt us this time. ‘S gonna be perfect, just like Pumpkin.”

Or, a few interruptions aren't going to stop Harry from having a perfect pregnancy and having the family he and Louis have always dreamed of.

Take Me for a Spin by QuickedWeen

The night of the Pride of Britain Awards 2016. Louis goes to the ceremony and out to the club afterwards, but what is Harry up to?

Baby, Honey by lovelarry10

Harry's been talking about sex and babies on stage too much for Louis' liking, so he decides to give him what he wants...

Or the one with the aftermath of Harry's Detroit concert...

Half Fragment by coffinofachimera

Louis and Harry share a night together through the phone.

As always I hope you enjoy these! Make sure you read the tags and stay safe lovelies ❤

[vegetacide]

Cloak and Dagger

Cloak and Dagger

Chapter 2: Nothing Ventured

Vegetable Notes: I spewed out another chapter.  Thanks for @gumnut-logic for letting me chew on her ear some- she rocks!  

Soundtrack for this chapter - Thornley, Tea Party,  Jeff Martin and Never Ending White Lights. 

Previous chapter can be found here

Enjoy!

8-8-8

Pulling the door closed, Kayo turned and ran smack into a familiar blue, twill weave. Scott grunted at the sudden impact, his hands coming to brace her at the near miss with the floor  “Kay,  whoa!”  

Righting herself,  Kayo took a step back.  “Sorry, about that. I…”  

“No, it was my fault.”

“Let’s agree to disagree then.”  

Putting some distance between them Kayo watched as Scott forced himself into a casual posture,  hands  into his pant pockets, shoulders down and seemingly relaxed.  To anyone else the pose would look just what it was expected to look like.  To her, it screamed the opposite. The fine lines of tension around his eyes and the muscles working along his strong jaw as he clenched and unclenched his jaw told her another story completely.

Rocking back on his heels,  his eyes strayed from her to the door and back again as if he was expecting someone else to come through the thing.

“He’s already up and about.”  She took mercy on him, knowing he was struggling with his need to mother-hen.  Pulling her loose hair up and off her neck she quickly twirled it into a bun and fasten it into place with the a black hair band that was every present at her wrist.  

Scott watched her well practiced movements a moment and she registered exactly when her words sunk in.  Virgil was by no means a morning person. It was barely past 7 am and the man  was renowned for his love of sleep.    

“Oh…”  Kayo blinked, not the reaction she had expected. Scott was off his game this morning but by the looks of him, he hadn’t faired much better than Virgil had last night. She’d seen the same look on Virgil’s face this morning as he had stumbled about in the pre-dawn light - as graceless as ever before his coffee fix.

She could read the brothers like a book and Scott was no different.  For all his military training and commanding attitude the worry for his sibling was obvious.   “He mumbled something about running diagnostics, post flight checks and cataloguing inventory losses but you know what he is like before caffeine.”

“Damn…” An expletive from Scott this early in the day didn’t bode well. “The call out was a bad one and the mission debrief didn’t go so well.”

“I assumed it hadn’t,” She’d observed quite a bit since she’d returned, “Considering everyone has either run for the mainland, ghosted the island like it might explode, turned into uber professionals  or has just up and disappeared.

“Disappeared…?”

“When did you see Brain’s last?”  She countered, not expecting a reply and carried on as if she hadn’t been interrupted. Brow raised,  her green stare scanning with little remorse over Scott. “Oh, and you and Virgil look like shit.”

“Gee, thanks”  Kayo shrugged with nonchalance.

“I call it like I see it”

“Love you too”  There, an uptick close to a smile flashing into existence. It was the reaction she was looking for from the straight backed, slightly too contained shell he was putting on.  She could work with this now.

Stepping away from the entry to Virgil’s sanctum sanctorum, Kayo put a hand on Scott’s shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze in support.  “Go talk to him.  I’ll be in the coms room when your ready.”    

8-8-8

Scott stepped out of the elevator onto the catwalk overlooking Two and sighed at the music that greeted his ears. Rock blasted with the heavy beat of drums through the massive space.  Ricocheting down off the ceiling and reverberating in the grating beneath his feet.  

Dropping his head, he rubbed at his stiff neck.  Audible proof that things were in the shitter with Virgil via Thornley, circa 2002.  His brother’s music choice was usually a good barometer to his mood and Scott was about to walk in on it.  

“Have fun with that.” Scott, looked over at Gordon as he limped up the stairs..  

“Thanks.”  

“He’s in a real mood today if he’s broken out the oldies. You may be taking your life in your own hands if you go in there. “

“Noted, “  Scott looked down to the open blast door some 200 ft down that separated the main hanger from the module storage bay and subsequently where Virgil could be found in his workshop.  

“I’m off,” Gordon turned, looking with appreciation and longing at his craft floating in its aquatic launch.  “I promised Alan I would call him and distract him from the boredom of shopping with Grandma.”

“No physio this morning?”  Scott asked with a look of concern as his brother rolled and re-rolled his left shoulder

“Nah,  taking a break today.”  Gordon looked abashed at this and failed to meet Scott’s eyes.  “I may or may not have over done it yesterday...a bit…”

Scott look skyward and prayed for strength, this family was going to make him fully grey in no time. “And you’re worried about me going down there?”  He pointed down below and snorted. “If Virgil or for that matter, Lady P finds out you know what will happen, right?”  

The shudder that went through Gordon said he was well aware of it. “Please don’t.  The images I have in my head about what Kayo is going to do to me is disturbing enough. Don’t add to it.”

“Kayo knows?”

“Busted me last night.”

“Sucks to be you.” Scott winced in sympathy

“No shit”

Shaking his head,  Scott ruffled the fish’s hair as he passed by.  The scowl that was returned for his efforts ignored as he set off down the stairs.  

“If you don’t make it back,  I’ll make sure to ask John to erase your browser history.  Can’t have Grandma finding out about your disturbing extracurriculars and your hamster fetish…”  Scott stopped in his tracks at that but Gordon was already safely stowed away in the lift on his way back up to the main house.  

“Brat..”

Hands tucked in his pockets, Scott strolled across the hanger and made his way around the massive supports of Two.  The great, hulking beast was up on her struts. One of her nesting modules parked below on the heavy tracks built specifically for trundling the huge cargo crates across the expanse of chemical resistant substrate topped flooring.  

Stepping across the embedded components of the pod conveyor system and through the reinforced bay door into the orderly storage area beyond, Scott marveled at the deceptiveness of the place their home was built around.  To say the hanger was big was one thing but add in the hidden 1300 foot length of the storage area and the place was massive.

The area, though only the width of about  500 ft at its widest, housed all of the modules,  pods,  grappling lines, fire suppression gear  and spare parts needed for the large, green ‘bird.  All of it stored away in specific, tidy, very well maintained numbered bays and lockers.  

It was a running gag between the Brothers that if you moved anything a millimeter in any one direction that Virgil would know instantly and without thought; like some OCD zombie, move said item back into its rightful space.  Gordon had even tried it a few times for shits and giggles with varying degrees of success.  

The aquanaut had learned quickly not to do this though when he found himself locked in his owner bathroom, covered in biodegradable glitter and spray cheese… how and when Virgil had rigged the shower, was anyone’s guess..  Gordon though hadn’t tried to ‘adjusted’ the placement of anything down in storage since.  Never mess with an engineer.  

To this day, Scott knew that Gordon was still finding flecks of glitter stuck to his person or in random other places. Scott was pretty sure though that Virgil was the culprit there with those instances, placing little, glimmering pieces here and there around the island where he knew his younger sibling would find it.  A little subconscious reminder for good measure.

Mentally slapping himself with a silent curse Scott closed his eyes.  He was procrastinating.  Letting his mind wonder about as his body did so he didn’t have to confront the disagreement from the night before.  This was the epitome of going  against the grain of his character.

Sucking it up, he peered around module 2.  The door to the crate was down, the light from within casting shadows on the alcove that clever mechanic had claimed as his space.

Virgil was sitting at one of the work stations. The chair was tipped back on its hind legs, his steel toed clad feet up on the utility bench, teetering the wooden chair back and forth.  In his lap, Scott could make out the pale blue glow of a computer interface his brother was flicking through. Adjusting levels and tweaking air intake ratios with the expertise of a conducted with an orchestra.   The music,  though not something Scott considered enjoyable, played through the large concussion fire suppression system and from this distance the interference caused by the echo of the hanger was negligible.  The module padding and design itself helping to insulate the reverb caused by the massive speakers.  

Max was wheeling about in the limited confines of the module, seeming to dance along with the music. Mechanized arms pin wheeling around as if he was directing the course of the notes.

“Max,  switch tracks please.”   Polite as ever,  even to an automaton.  The song quickly flipped over to another tune and the melody shifted to something with a bit more pep.  “Ugh.. next”

“I think this would be classified as a misappropriation of resources.”  His brother barely glanced up at that,  dark brows dropping down as some readings flashed across the interface that he didn’t like.  

“The sound system I originally installed in here is distorting the lower octaves at higher volume. The sub woofer needs to be upgraded.”  An off hand remark, “So I improvised.. Dual purpose, I can check the frequency output at the same time."

Scott plucked the display from his brother’s lap, looking over the present data on thrust to air intake ratios.  “Multitasking I see”  

“Passes the time. ”

They sat in relative silence for a while,  neither one willing to break the stalemate they seemed to have found themselves in. As one song ended and another started up, Scott bit the bullet.  

“How are the ribs?”

“Sore”

Scott  looked his brother over,  he’d pulled his overall down and looped the arms around his waist, the thin muscle shirt underneath dampened with sweat in a few places but relatively clean.  “Adhesive bindings?” Scott questioned as he noticed the medical tape under the thin material up his left side.

Virgil shrugged, “The discomfort is more manageable this way.”  At Scott’s sigh he quickly added,  “Not tight enough to restrict respiration. I know what I’m doing, so leave it alone, Scott”  

“OK, OK,”  Scott put his hands up in surrender. His brother did not want to be coddled.  Scott resisted the urge to say more on it.  Last thing they needed with Gordon being out of action still was Virgil being bed ridden with a chest infection.

Virgil dropped his feet to the floor, the heavy soles thunking on the raised metal sheeting that covered this section of the work space. Grimacing he got up and straightened his spine by sheer will power alone against the obvious physical ache. Once accomplished he stalked over to a tool chest “What do you want, Scott?”

“Nothing, just checking in.”  

A roughly opened drawer was equally thrust closed again.  Small blister pack of pills in hand,  Vigil broke the seal on two of the tablets and dry swallowed the lot.  “Bullshit.”

Anger simmering, Scott resisted raising to the bait and took a calming breath.  Maybe coming down here wasn’t such a wise idea.

‘Fine,  I came  to apologize for yesterday. I was out of line and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you or the useless forestry service supervisors.”  

“Apology accepted, now if you will excuse me..”

“Come on, V. You were almost killed yesterday.  I was and still am worried about you.”

“I’m fine, Scott.”  Virgil tossed the blister pack on the bench and grabbed a socket wrench. “Ribs will heal, this is nothing. I have had worse.”

“I’m not talking about your ribs and you know it.” Facing off with his brother when he was in this sort of head space was never a good plan.  

Virgil was known as the calm and collected one in the house and due to such was usually the sounding board the others went to when needed. But under the calm surface and rock steady nature was a man that felt deeply, more so than any of them could ascertain.  And Scott as close as he was to his stalwart sibling, could see that the impact of yesterday was sending ripples out ever widening circles of self doubt and blame.  

Scott counted on his brother and he wanted to provide that same support back. Their almost preternatural bond forged by a tragic, shared history had solidified them into what they were today and Scott would do whatever he could to protect it.

“I said ‘I’m fine.’ ”  The slight hitch said otherside as the wrench was slammed down on the work  surface.”  Head down between tight shoulder,  arms braced.  “Just leave it, Scott.”

The pleading in Virgil’s voice had Scott backing off.   “It wasn’t your fault, Virgil.”  

“Scott,  please..”  

Coming up behind the second eldest Scott placed a hand on the back of his neck, “OK, I hear you 5 by 5, little brother.” And gave the tight muscles a reassuring squeeze, instincts screaming at him. He knew though that pushing would get him nowhere.  

“When your ready to talk, come find me.”

8-8-8

Kayo hit the volume controls on the holo-vid and crossed her arms as the Kat Cavanaugh's sat up primly with the introduction to her segment.  

"Thank you, Albany." Kat nodded in gratitude, her voice confident. Cavanaugh had upped her game since her rescue out by the Gran Roca Ranch.  Her show having gained much popularity with her first hand account. The world at large was crazed for any information on the clandestine organization and she had quickly shot up in the reporting ranks.

So much so that the international community at large was now listening.  With an added co-anchor, Albany Crenshaw the sphere of her world had changed from basic rag gossip to world wide events. Set changes,  advertising, content and even personal appearance had been buffed to a high sheen. Success in every angle.

Her once,  rather laid back appearance giving way to a well groomed, professionalism.   A slick bob set off the features of her face adding a maturity that the barrettes of the past had lacked. Dressed up in a wool jacket and a fine print, split-neck blouse she radiated respectability all topped off with a dusting of make-up in neutral tones.  Nothing out of place, everything poised and polished.   A far cry from her previous casualness.

Angling herself just right in the studio lighting, her lips turned up in a competent smile. “Good evening, I'm Kat Cavanaugh. Tensions in Kazakhstan are on the rise tonight amidst continued civil unrest as protests and riots break out across the country."

Since October’s Military back coup by Socialist party leader, Mikhalev Lukyan Grigorievich there has been an outcry to the world nations for his removal.  

Grigorievich, who took control from interim leaders after the sudden death of President Alexandra Danilovna, seized power in an overnight raid in the country’s capital of Nur-Sultan.”

In recent years the country has fallen on civil and economic hardships with the depletion of its hydrocarbon production and the forced closure of the counties mineral mines due to civil rights violations. International amnesty groups have reported that this along with the abysmal work conditions and the country’s strict policies against assembly are major contributors to the continued upheaval.

Additionally,  unsubstantiated reports of clashes between the Kazakh Renewal and Reformation Coalition and military personnel has lead to a media blackout in Almaty. Rumours supplied by asylum seekers at the Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan borders speak of an increased Military presence within the city limits and a steep escalation of violence.  

The GDF and the World Union has been surprisingly quiet on the topic. Issuing only that the area has been declared a ‘No Fly’ zone and that all non-Kazakhstan citizens should avoid the area or head to the nearest embassy for evacuation.”

Several notes of interest followed relating to food shortages and power interruptions but the gist of the news coverage was that the region was in complete chaos and it was not likely to end amicably any time soon.  The big question,  Kayo pondered as she adjusted the volume to a near whisper with Scotts arrival, was the GDF going to do anything about the situation?  Could they even do anything about it without crossing into territory that could divide the world at large.  And if so, did they even have a right to?   She found the lack of an easy and clean cut response disturbing.  

International incidents were avoided these days with great effort but something told her in this case something was going to have to give to bring this conflict to a head.  It was either that or watch a country with a population of some 23 million people either starve to death or completely self destruct.   The stability in that part of the world would be shattered in the power vacuum.

Nodding her head towards the moving 3D holographic image above the table, Kayo uncrossed her arms and walked over to the desk where Scott had just parked with a grunt. “This is going to get messy before it gets any better.”  

He made a vocal note of assent and took a sip of the coffee he’d brought in.  Smelt like Virgil’s Sumatran blend she noticed offhandedly.  “Looks like it,  been playing on repeat all morning.  With the GDF evacuation in effect more and more information is leaking out across the borders.  I am expecting the GDF will make a formal request of us eventually but as of yet, they have been quiet on that front”

“Formal request?” Kayo cocked a brow,  “You think they are going to bar us access to the area if there is a call?”  

Scott shrugged, setting his cup down on the report ridden desk. “I have no idea,  Aunt Val hasn’t said anything yet but she’s been a bit tied up.”  He waved his hand towards the holo cast, encompassing  everything going on in that area of the world.  

“For the time being we will just have to play it by ear.”  Rubbing at his eyes,  he changed his focus and glanced at the time. “Lady P is supposed to be calling in shortly, if you don’t mind the wait.”  

Kayo shook her head and leaned against the end of the desk.  The morning sun was starting to heat things up again outside, and it was threatening to be a record setting high.

“How is he?”  Came the inevitable question.

Kayo glanced back over her shoulder, assessing.  It was unsettling for the brothers to be at odds.  “You went and saw him,  what do you think?”

“Fuck.”

“That sounds accurate.” Last night had been rough and Kayo wasn’t known for sugar coating.  One of the reasons her and Scott worked well together for the most part.  He appreciated her blunt and direct nature. Softening as she saw the matched set to the bags under Virgil’s eyes on Scotts face she tact on, “Give him time. He need to process things on his own. You know as well as I do that forcing things with him before he is ready isn’t a viable options.  He’ll be fine given enough space and when he is ready he will come to you.”  

“Ya, I guess you’re right.  I’m just …”  His words were cut off as a signal from their London agent come through. Mouthing an apology to Kayo, Scott opened the channel.  “Lady Penelope,  right on time.”

“Scott, darling.  You look dreadful.”  

Lips drawing into his trademark Scott Tracy one-sided smirk, he tilted his head to the side. “Good to see you too.”

8-8-8

Head still down, Virgil stayed silent at his brother’s parting words.  The gently supportive squeeze a physical reminder that no matter what there was someone there for him if and when he wanted it.  

After a moment he gave his head a shake. Enough of this crap.  Time to get back to work.   He had system analyses running on Two that needed to be monitored and an intake manifold for the rear, right VTOL had to be tweaked as the mixture ratio was off somehow - he suspected carbon deposits from back washing exhaust through a main intake to be the cause but he couldn’t be sure without removing the cowling and several other components. Hours of work ahead.  

This could of course all be done automatically but Virgil like to be hands on with maintenance,  tweaking and adjusting where needed to get the most of of his craft.  He knew his ‘bird intimately,having crawling over and under every part of it.   He enjoyed losing himself in the work,  seeing what he accomplished at the end of the day like rebuilding an engine,  overhauling a control panel or relay.  It was good,  honest work that left him feeling satisfied.

Yes, there were some days that things didn’t work out as planned.  Some frustration caused by an answer eluding him,  the challenge presented keeping him up sometime well into the early hours.  But when the solution finally presented itself, the sense of achievement was phenomenal.

And finally,  there was the pod drive sprockets.  

He needed to know how he’d missed the damage.  Their procedures dictated that visual scans be conducted after every mission so that any broken or damaged parts could either be repaired or outright replaced.   In addition to that,  during the decontamination and cleansing process, scanners in the washer bays would look for possible stress points. Virgil had looked over all of those scans personally as he did every time and he hadn’t seen anything.

He’d looked over the scans again this morning and still there was nothing there. So what had he missed?  He’d thought that maybe complacency had come to the fore.  Having done the process so many times, human errors could easily account for it but one thing Virgil prided himself on was his attention to detail. It’s what made him a good engineer.  

Looking at the interface, he let his brain zone out with the hopes that the answer would jump out at him.  If the procedure wasn’t the issue,  maybe there was another angle he wasn’t seeing.  

They could micro-scan the metallurgy, test for stress points and density but they had too much equipment for that. It would take weeks of fine tooth comb’ing it to go over all of it,  There had to be another option available to them.

Turning, he took in all that was parked, stored and at the ready for whenever they got a call out again.  Clean, orderly and poised for use at the drop of a hat.   Geared up to be shunted into modules with a couple flicks of a finger and off into the air in a matter of minutes but what the hell was he missing..

A thought came to mind that had Virgil toggling his coms.  “Hey, Brains?”  

“Virgil, w-what can I do for you?”  The genus’s 3D holographic image suspended above the receiver built into work desk flared to life.   Brains was the other side of the hanger by One but it was just easier to call then haul his ass all the way over there and back.  

“The wash-bay scanners been calibrated lately?”

Framed glasses slipped down a narrow nose as the relevant information was pulled up. “Uh,  three w-weeks ago.  Why?  Is th-there something wrong with them?”

“Just a hunch.  Can you run it again and do a system analysis?”  

“That will t-take some time. I have the bulk of the island servers dedicated t-to the zero-x build.”

Virgil dragged a hand down his face.  He didn’t have any other options right now.  “Do what you have to and let me know if anything comes up.”

Brains’ image nodded. “R.A.D”

Virgil only rolled his eyes a little as he closed down the connection.  

TBC

NEXT CHAPTER

[delmorii]

Just finished the bridge between ARR and HW so here's yet another list of parting thoughts before starting Heavensward:

* note: it took me WEEKS to get through this so I honestly dont remember everything but ill do my best

* note 2: putting under cut because i apparntly have a LOT of thoughts about this arc

-yugiri girl how do you breathe in that mask

-alphinaud your man-voice still bothers me

-still a glorified errand boy

-I am legit mad I cant hug tataru at every available moment of playing

-pretty sure f'lahminn or whatever her name is will betray us. Legit dont trust the bitch who heard her daughter she hasnt seen in 7ish years is alive and well and decides to send the WoL to get her perfume

-aymeric's voice is CONCERNINGLY hot

-even so this part was way too fucking long for an in-between of expansions but I think someone told me they weren't sure if they'd continue the game? idk either way this quest series was way too fucking long.

-that said, ending had me sobbing for a solid 30 minutes but before i dive into that fresh hell:

-def foresaw moenbryda dying, but was N O T prepared for hearing Urianger close to tears. Oh my god. Oh my god urianger I want to hug you so bad

-nabriales has the most obnoxious voice ever holy fuck can we please kill him

-oh sweet lol

-estenien is suddenly just super fucking chill and focused? Is no one surprised he said theres a second azure dragoon why is that being skimmed over. AYMERIC. AYMERIC PAY ATTENTION ESTENIEN JUST FUCKING SAID THERE WAS A SECOND AZURE DRAGOON AND YOU DIDNT EVEN NOTICE

-midgardsormr legit saying he wouldn't harm a dragoon? whose literal one job is to kill dragons. Also homeboy why u telling me exactly when the dragons' assault on ishgard is starting, you are seriously bad at this. Shut ur tiny little mouth

-pretty sure Yuyuhase is gunna betray us too, motherfucker just dismisses reliable intel that there were more weapons? Bitch

-Riol or Rion, whatever his name is with the eyepatch and heavy accent, he's hot, I like him

-alright onto those motherfuckin cutscenes: NANAMO OH MY GODDDDDD. OH MY GOD WHY DID THEY SHOW  HER PANIC AND FEAR SO WELL. OH MY GOD. NANAMO OH MY GOD SWEET GIRL

-teledji can smd what a cuntasaurus rex oh my god

-yep theres the yuyuhase betrayal, called it

-literally when teledji mocked nanamo's death I whispered “murder him raubahn” and MY MAN DELIVERED LMFAO MOTHERFUCKER CUT HIM CLEAN IN HALF IN FRONT OF A CROWD WHAT A BADASS

-DID NOT FORESEE ILBERD BETRAYAL OH MY GOD RAUBAHN FUCK HIM UPPPPPPPP. Also the creepyass shot of ilberd's grin was disturbing, really well done

-RAUBAHN WAS DONE DIRTY

-FUCK THEM UP THANCREDDDD. I love him when they play on his scoundrel tendencies but then he just FUCKS PEOPLE UP I LOVE IT

-kinda wish I felt more toward yda and papalymo, they're adorable but idk. Def felt pangs when minfillia extended a hand to them tho, ouch

-FUUUUUUUCK NOOO NOT THANCRED AND Y'SHTOLA TOO

-UUUUUUUUUUGH FUCK THIS GAME

-and.... minfillia? Does this mean im no longer an errand boy

-THANK FUCK ALPHINAUD SURVIVED

-PIPIN INSTANT NEW FAVOURITE. They made a lalafell badass?????? I love him instantly oh my god

-and homeboy from the start of the game saving us, niiiiice

-CID IS ALIVE AND SAFE THANK FUCK

-SO IS URIANGER THANK FUCK SECONDED

-AND TATARU

-am I really having to listen to a fucking 16 year old whine about hid life choices. Like yeah I get it but alphinaud get your fucking shit together we got our work cut out for us

-also I guess haurchefant is neat but ive had to listen to people gush about him for a long time so I was kind of already over him before I even met him, but we'll see if HW changes my mind. I know what happens but knowing what happened to nanamo in advance did NOT prepare me for the cutscene with her oh my goddddd

-URIANGER????? URIANGER NO WHY ARE YOU WITH ASCIANS PLS SQUEENIX I CANT HANDLE IF HE BETRAYS US TOO

[ckcker]

Fell in Love with an Incel

Guy playing video game on his phone drops his phone on the floor, it makes four tight noises.  He says nothing and picks it up.  Eight minutes later he drops it again and picks it up, saying nothing again.  An amazing sequence of moves.  I say nothing as well and the day fills up and passes.  I want to move like a cockatiel tears apart a spool of yarn used to make a baby blanket.  The day sails by and passes, I laugh at least three times out loud.  A giant mirror falls off the wall and onto an older man at a venerated fifty+ year old upscale restaurant.  He is taken to the hospital I learn from a bystander, which I consider successful news, when you hear news directly from someone who observed something and without cameras.  The day passes and the wind is more frequent the next day.  I feel the sudden irrational fear that I will have to eat extremely greasy and nausea-inducing frozen mozzarella sticks.

One desires a revelation in its full maturity and turbo-waxed sanctity, desires the universal close up that shows them — no longer rendering their obsession with doubt onto every other eye that passes — in the act of realizing something with simplicity.  Yes, the desire for the heavy boundaries of clarity, simplicity, the close-up, very coherent and viewable.  Imagine on a screen: rectangle-filling face, alone, eyebrows pulled slightly back, glance all juiced up but still, as if, eyes focused horngrily on dust, nostrils communicating time signature in their expansion and retraction, mouth half-open and lower lip turned out with the throb of a restrained cowlick.  It is the face of someone really, really, really realizing something.

Consider the way you experience a massive traumatic event -- it is never old news, it feels like lost news. A co-dependent incomprehension that truly lasts, ack. “Lifelong” you sometimes think and when I think this, I speak in the voice of a window shattering back together.  For instance a window shattering back together is a sequence you might see in a movie montage in which time rewinds to the moment before a character has made a specific decision that they later discovered themselves losing to.  Life is short, life is good, such amputations are so crucial, and “enjoy it while it lasts” is another example. Bottomless chyrons of a larger revelation, a revelation that just might need to flirt with life-deactivating trauma to really come to life.  

“Lonely at night” is a vulgar summary, more accurate to say that I am alone and it is night.  Because I have so much: the waving branch of the tree outside, constantly interrupting and redirecting the light from the streets along different inches of my bedroom wall, the exhilarating yelp of the disturbed Pom next door, the fruit flies wandering over the drying remains of spilt grapefruit juice and gin, the oven clock flashing in its excitement, the lack of drapes on the windows.  The two bare bulb lamps on the floor on either side of the apartment and the sleeping pad on the floor, in between. It is with this love that I exit the house to try and find someone to touch me.  And on my front door I find a taped note on yellow legal paper that reads, “Please close your curtains & blinds when you’re naked. Thanks.”  The feeling of 300 drag queens laughing in a circle around a Great Dane unable to stop slipping on a wax floor surrounded by 100 teenagers having panic attacks engulfs my body.  The result is a brief burst of freedom. I work my way towards the bar. The solution to moods has always been a mystery to me.

No attitude worse than dream logic, it didn’t all happen for mysterious reasons and now I’m walking past an elderly couple sitting in the summer evening sun of the sidewalk with their cat next to them, unleashed.  Be watchful of that cat — anything abandoned on a city sidewalk can become a condo.  I don’t tell them this but continue walking, and as I approach a group of men bringing to mind overuse of the word “jocular,” blocking the sidewalk and engaged in unpredictable movements and air boxing, I think, what other proof do you need that climate change is real.  I maneuver around them with the grace of an early AI dog, though some sort of dream logic tells me that I may never evolve past this interim bot and into the polish of the uncanny valley.  Though the depiction of future almost always emphasizes technology in its perceived ideal aesthetic — interiors of all white, chrome or silver, pervasive LED cleanliness, slip-on clothes and “breathwear” shoes without strings, hovering semi-transparent interfaces with apex geometrical precision — it is likely my future will explore a more interesting color: bench-being-avoided-in-a-park-because-it-is-the-only-one-the-birds-want-to-shit-on (slate mahogany/rusted charcoal black/fog white/splash of army green).  I ask Mother Earth, 'please gently press the green back into my face so I may puke.'  And in this organic review of my stomach, throat and head, this exfoliating consecration that summons and cashes unspilt waste, teach me nothing more than how to redesign my system of disgust so that it cleans itself out daily, I'd rather not have the responsibility.  

[amethystina]

Cougar/Jensen for 6 &22!

Alrighty then! Let’s see what I can come up with ;)

THE TROPES:6. Bookshop AU22. Space AU

Again, below the cut because I don’t want to swamp your dashes with my over-excited writing. Someone seriously needs to stop me.

Jake’s gig at the bookshop is pretty nice, all things considered, be it a career path he had never quite expected. He’s always been more fond of technology than books, but the money is surprisingly good and it’s not like he’s got anything better to do after deciding not to continue his career within the Army. He got the job as store manager at the small, obscure second-hand bookshop through a series of unlikely events involving kind, elderly neighbours, their children, and a fair share of luck.

Overall, Jake likes it. The books in the store are so old and weird that the only patrons are either obscenely rich collectors or obscenely eccentric enthusiasts.

Jake gets along better with the latter than the former, unsurprisingly, but that might just be because of his experience of growing up in a poor neighbourhood and the innate dislike he has for rich people.

Either way, he enjoys his job. He gets to spend most of his time playing games on his phone or reading through the insane amount of weird books in stock, which has taught him even more useless knowledge than his Googling. It’s a cushy job that allows him to spend the majority of his time as he likes, and most of his evenings with Jess and Beth. All in all, Jake is quite comfortable with his life.

That changes, however, when a stranger steps into the shop.

That in itself is pretty unusual since most of the patrons are regulars aside from the occasional hipster who wanders in looking for first editions of some book they love. And, to make matters worse, Jake can tell straight away that this is not a man he should take lightly.

Jake can’t put his finger on what it is about the man that unsettles him, but he seems off, somehow. Perhaps it’s the fact that his clothes have a weird cut, or maybe it’s the smooth, almost predatory way he moves. He’s clearly a fighter of some sort — Jake knows that walk from his years in the Army — which doesn’t calm him at all.

He tells himself it must be his imagination when the stranger’s eyes seem to flash gold for the briefest of seconds.

The man’s eyes are brown. A beautiful, dark, rich brown for sure, but brown, not gold.

To Jake’s infinite surprise, the man doesn’t seem to be there to rob the store. Instead, he smiles politely and asks for a book. It’s one they have — one of the old sci-fi novels about a prophecy and magic and lost princesses and whatnot. It is, admittedly, one of Jake’s favourites because of how utterly fantastic it is, and he’s very excited to find another person who is interested in it — be it someone who might also be a serial killer.

Jake fetches the book, talking all the while, but stop short when he notices the way the stranger is looking at him. There’s too much intensity in his dark gaze, as if he’s cataloging every inch of Jake with disturbing interest.

Jake is understandably uncomfortable and hands over the book, careful not to let their hands brush as he does so. The stranger looks down at the book, clearly amused, but says nothing more before he pays and leaves. Jake isn’t sure what that was about, but he knows for a fact that he doesn’t like it. He pushes it from his mind, however, writing it down as yet another weird customer and continues with his day.

Except, on his way home after closing up the shop, he sees the man again.

Jake is far too cautious not to notice someone following him and he is both unnerved and pissed at the man’s audacity. Before Jake has time to confront him, however, he is attacked by… well, Jake isn’t entirely sure.

They don’t look like anything he’s ever seen — black, insect-like things, except they’re the size of dogs and have far too many teeth for Jake’s liking. It’s like something out of a horror movie and the only thing that saves him from an early death are his reflexes, honed from years of training.

Well, that and the creepy stranger.

The man is suddenly there, cutting through the nightmare creatures with something that looks suspiciously like a lightsaber yet not at all, and Jake gives up on trying to follow the situation. He doesn’t even struggle when the man grabs his hand and drags him off down a narrow street, clearly intent on getting them away from whatever they’re now running from. As far as Jake’s concerned, he’ll take a creepy stranger over certain death.

It takes a while, but they eventually manage to shake the creatures. Before Jake has time to ask what the FUCK is going on and why THE HELL this stranger suddenly does have golden eyes after all — slitted like a cat’s and distractingly bright — the man mumbles a soft, “Sorry,” followed by a jolt of electricity that makes everything go black.

Jake wakes up in a foreign bed and has no idea where he is, but the man who apparently had the nerve to taze him is sitting calmly on a chair at the opposite side of the room, arms crossed over his chest and eyes keen. For a split second, Jake debates grabbing the weird-looking clock on the bedside table and throwing it at the man, but then his gaze happens to land on the window.

There are stars outside. Only stars. Just a wide expanse of stars, stretching out into what Jake knows is almost literal infinity.

“I have been kidnapped by aliens,” is what he blurts out, rather than the angry accusations he had intended.

The stranger tips his head as if to say “fair enough” but says nothing else. Jake has no idea what to do with that. He has no idea what to do with ANYTHING in his current surroundings. He’s in a room that is grey and bland and there’s soft humming of engines in the background and some kind of control panel on the wall and he is undeniably on a spaceship of some kind. And the man in front of him is some kind of alien because those eyes are not natural and Jake has to be dreaming.

Except he knows he’s not.

When he asks why he’s there — what the stranger wants from him — he’s told it’s for his protection. That makes no sense at all to Jake because he lives a dull, uneventful life since he left the Army and he certainly hasn’t done anything that warrants getting kidnapped by aliens.

When he keeps pushing, he gets an eye-roll for his troubles and the stranger reaches into his pocket and tosses something across the room. The book the stranger bought from the store lands in Jake’s lap and he looks down at it in confusion.

“It’s all real,” the stranger says, as if that’s enough of an explanation.

It isn’t.

When Jake points this out, the man sighs and tells him to read the book. Jake tells him that he already has — it’s one of his favourites. The man smiles at this, as if he finds that funny, but Jake doesn’t.

The book is about a rich, beautiful planet on the other side of the galaxy on which a civil war breaks out when the king is betrayed and assassinated. His five sons all battle for the throne, almost tearing their planet apart in the process, and they end up plotting and murdering each other as the story goes along. There are twists and turns and, eventually, the youngest brother is the only one who remains standing. But only after it has been revealed that he was the one who murdered their father, corrupted by the old, forbidden magic that runs through their planet.

Out of all the other children of the king, only the daughter survives. The princess flees from her planet in desperation and fear of her brother’s wrath, but the story ends with the prophecy of her return — how she will come back and take the throne from her brother and cleanse their planet of the foul magic once and for all.

Jake has always been disappointed that there’s wasn’t a sequel somewhere, where the princess does all the things the prophecy says that she will. Jake has looked far and wide, but there are no records of it anywhere and, since the book was written at the end of the last century, Jake knows the author isn’t likely to take requests, what with being dead and all.

“It’s all real,” the man repeats, nodding towards the book. “The lost princess. The prophecy.”

As much as Jake likes that thought, he’s still not pleased.

“And what does that have to do with me?” he asks.

Liking the story is hardly enough grounds to get kidnapped. He receives a flat look in return, followed by a shake of the man’s head.

“It is time,” he says, which isn’t foreboding at all. “For her return.”

Jake gets frustrated. “Again, what does that have to do with me?”

And then comes the words that completely rearranges Jake’s grasp on the world, himself, and the galaxy as a whole.

“Everything, Your Highness,” the man says. “Everything.”

I really need to stop here or else I’ll end up writing the whole thing and I don’t have time. But yeah! JAKE IS A SPACE PRINCESS! Because I say so.

So, like, the actual story would be about reclaiming the planet and falling in love with Cougar and all that lovely shit. Because I can’t think of short space AUs?

ANYWAY. I hope you enjoyed that ;)

[ikesenlemonadestandstories]

Born In A Storm

Hey there Fam Bam, so this would be Part 2 to the ‘Retrograde Spell’ series find the Prologue Here. For links to all my other Ikesen stories check out my Master List.

As luck would have it I was feeling a bit creative and there wasn’t anything to do at work (like literally nothing..I got paid to write this today) so I just got to sit and pluck along at this. I figured out the main squeeze, so I hope you all enjoy :) It’s mostly under the cut...cuz I definitely got carried away. 

[YN]

“That wasn’t so bad” you said blinking at your sister.

“Not so bad…? You’re just saying that because there was only one grunt to fight…” Kanna looked at you arching an eyebrow.

“And? He was a really big dude!!”

She pinched the bridge of her nose 

“If one ‘really big dude’ is that much of a problem maybe we should reconsider who my partner is. Besides you almost sent him straight through a wall...I know you’re strong but could we watch how much damage we cause. I really don’t like dealing with your messes” she sighed

You felt your feathers ruffle immediately, but you knew better than to get in a verbal argument with your sister. You would never win. So you puffed up your cheeks and crossed your arms. “Whatever. At least they were still able to release that new phone...”

You were walking towards the rendezvous point, Honnoji, when your brother Yuuto came over the communication system. “Do you guys seriously have to bicker…when they told me I’d help keep the peace I didn’t realize it was going to be between you two.”

You shared a laugh and your sister turned off her armor stowing it in her necklace as she broke through the tree cover. You were about to do the same when you saw a young man standing in front of the monument you were about to use, scribbling frantically in a notebook. “Hang on a second Yuuto...there’s somebody there.”

Kanna stood next to him hoping that by standing there he may get bored of the crowd and walk somewhere else. Instead he paused making conversation “Good afternoon. Are you history enthusiasts?”

Letting her take the lead you remained silent in the background. “You could say that.”

“Ah well then you must check out the the far side of the temple grounds. I would hurry over before they close.”

Speaking into your piece “Does it feel like he’s trying to shoo you away?”

She simply nodded. The only acknowledgment you received for your question.

*Ching~* 

The warning signal on you choker discreetly went off glowing a dull purple.

“Uh guys, we have a problem.” Yuuto was back on the line.

Kanna froze.

“Someone is trying to kill off Uesugi Kenshin, Takeda Shingen, and Oda Nobunaga in the 27th dimension, you know, the one where they’re not supposed to die...”

Your brother hadn’t even sent coordinates when the sky opened above the monument and in a flash of gray twisting smoke you sister was disappearing. You ran for the portal without thinking. The last thing you heard was your brother screaming at you.

“No! (YN)! I didn’t open that gate!”

…

[Yukimura]

Sasuke and Kanna had to be the weirdest people I had ever met. Four years ago they basically fell from the sky on the outskirts of our camp. Shingen was obviously taken with Kanna’s looks but he wouldn’t take no for an answer, after she almost skewered Kenshin, he was way too excited to bring her on board.

The woman was insane, she was great with a sword, she had been training with Kenshin to keep him occupied, and she was the only person I knew who could out mouth Shingen in every word game he tried to play. She was the main topic of discussion between Sasuke and I, and while a large majority of her was a mystery, I’m certain neither Kenshin or Shingen would be alive right now without whatever odd voodoo she and Sasuke had worked.

“Why are we here again?” I asked

“Well Yuki, when our top strangest requests we make leave for Honnoji we do as she says. Or would you rather we left you at home?” Shingen sneered

“No...I’m safer with her than you idiots anyway…” that made her laugh. She had looked so serious all day. Those ruby red eyes laser focused on...something.

I remember when they arrived Sasuke had mentioned something about multiple universes and how he came from one, she another, and both were totally different from the one we were in now. That she was trying to preserve this one but her sister had gone missing, and every bit of that sounded insane until moments like this, moments when you see her poised to strike, blade half sheathed in armor that definitely wasn’t there before. Wait. What the hell. Where did that even come from? Before I could voice my questions the sky broke open a ways off, conveniently, in the direction we were headed. She turned.

“Sasuke, stay here. Nobody move. I’ll be back soon...something's...come up...Or...down rather”

The sound of a bell could be heard, something like a wind chime on a summer afternoon. She looked panicked then in no time at all she was gone. I had a bad feeling about this. Looking at Sasuke all he could manage was

“She lied...her armor is totally like that…”

“Sasuke...that’s the vaguest thing you’ve ever said...and that’s saying something.”

…

[YN]

It was gray, then black, in no time at all there was a crash and you were falling. Holy shit you’re falling!! You landed hard in the dirt. A clear indent where you had landed, thank god for your armor and its ability to absorb and displace kinetic energy...otherwise you’d be toast a million times over. Standing you pressed you hand to the communication system around your neck.

“OK so I’m through, I think I’m in Japan, and it looks like where I just came from...but less...modern.”

You brother came screaming into the system “(YN)! Is that you?”

“Um yea..? Who else would it be?” Voicing your confusion.

“What do you mean who else...what happened...you’ve been MIA for four years.”

“What!?” You practically roared

“You followed me into the QA’s wormhole. It was a trap, they knew we’d be there and they planned to separate us and finish us off individually. I was spit out to the correct coordinates, we couldn’t pick up your tracker after that and all communication ceased.” A voice you recognized as Kanna’s was on the line now.

“Shit...four years? Really? It’s like I blinked and here I am.”

You heard her voice echo behind you as it played in your ear. Turning you found yourself face to face your mirror image...a twin.

“I can see that…you haven’t aged a day.” She looked at me with hard yet familiar red eyes. “Show me your mark. Yuuto do a scan.”

“Not a problem,” deactivating your armor to expose the beautiful tattoo covering the expanse of your back. “But I want to see yours too, especially since you look nothing like I remember.”

“Maybe.” You received a hard stare and a long silence then your brother reported back.

“If she has the marking it’s (YN)” your brother had just confirmed your existence. Sheathing her sword she ran to you.

“(YN)” she whispered your name stopping just shy of your now drawn blade.

“Markings...now” she blinked at your response “if I’ve really been in there for four years that means my sister I have no real idea what my sister looks like right now... and while it's clear you're acting like her how can i be sure this isn't another trap? Prove you’re her.”

She was your spitting image the only visible difference now was her bright cardinal colored eyes, and a tattoo mirroring your own markings; It was definitely Kanna “So are we technically twins now?” you asked to anyone listening.

Yuuto laughed and Kanna just smiled at you “Technically no...but also yes? The longer this goes on the more I find I don’t like to think about how the universe works…”

You had both re-equipped and were preparing your next move when you heard the bang.

“QA’s on the move Honnoji temple is on fire!” Yuuto gave directions.

…

[Mitsunari]

There was a crack of thunder and before I knew it the acrid smell of smoke filled the air. Hideyoshi looked disturbed and as if out of nowhere we were surrounded by ghastly looking men. Every one of them pale and disfigured, swords drawn they came at us. Masamune went for the first kill of the night, sword slicing straight through the man's midsection, which shouldn’t have been possible thanks to his massive build but here we were. Actually. What is going on. Realizing the attacker Masamune should have just halved was still on his feet I observed that not a single one of them had been injured by our blades.

“Great...now how do we get to Nobunaga?” Hideyoshi grumbled.

“Any ideas in that brain of your Mitsunari?” Masamune screamed over the chaos

We had been fighting non-stop for a good while and I finally found an opening, giving the signal to Hideyoshi I charged off in the direction of the burning temple. Eventually he would follow leaving Masamune and his men to clean up the mess here, but for now I was to get to Nobunaga as fast as possible.

Arriving at the temple two silhouettes could be seen escaping the burning building hand in hand. The larger of the two was clearly Nobunaga-sama but who was that leading him. I watched for a moment before urging my horse forward, as I got closer it looked as if they were arguing.

“A wonderful name.” Nobunaga grinned down at what i could suss out was a female.

Hearing my approach she turned in my direction, she was breathtaking. Though she was wearing a scorched pink kimono, her skin shined like the moon while her eyes danced amber the color of the embers flying off the fire behind us.

My concentration was broken by Nobunaga’s questioning my being there. I informed him that Hideyoshi had gotten wind of this assasination attempt and we had left Azuchi to investigate. Unfortunately these findings weren’t unfounded and he would be following soon behind me.

“I am just happy you are unharmed. Might I inquire who this is?” I pointed to the young woman who seemed to jolt when attention was brought back to her. She visibly ruffled when he commanded her to present herself, she fired back a spirited response and sensing a fight I stepped in to calm the situation.

Her clothing had been destroyed saving our lord so I offered to take her back to our camp to get her something fresh to wear. It’s the least we could do to reward her bravery since she was so bent on not getting one.

She cleaned up well. Her slick black hair now loose around her waist, shined in the moonlight adding to her luminescent features. While we were trying to figure out where she came from Lord Mitsuhide strode into the camp. Odd I wasn’t aware he was supposed to be in the area. He fell into a steady conversation with Nobunaga but I stayed watching Karasu-san, since arriving in the camp her eyes had been working constantly looking for a way out. It was clear she was uncomfortable.

As if he could sense Mitsuhide’s presence Hideyoshi strode into the tent. Immediately firing question after question in every direction. He was bristling at Mitsuhide’s vague responses, and while I couldn’t deny they were suspicious the young lady spoke up against Hideyoshi’s accusation that it had been Mitsuhide who had attempted to take our lord's life.

“It wasn’t him. I caught a glimpse of the man in the room and his robes were completely different. Besides he smells like soba...if it had been him you’d still smell the fire on him.”

“Quiet you, we’ll settle things later.” Hideyoshi spit out

“Excuse me.” In a rush she stood eyes burning like they had been earlier.

“Why should we trust some unknown woman who conveniently places herself in a position right next to our lord...and one with a sword no less?” Hideyoshi’s tone was dripping with venom, and for once it was being used on someone other than Mitsuhide.

As soon as his thoughts were out in the open a new fire roared in her gaze. I was sensing a conflict but before it could escalate Nobunaga sent us all outside the tent. There was an odd silence before Mitsuhide spoke up.

“I’m surprised you left our lord in there with an armed woman...she is threatening.”

His voice dripping with a familiar sarcasm meant to egg on Hideyoshi’s temper, before anyone could say anything more her voice rang out from inside the tent.

“Absolutely not! What is wrong with you? Like I said before...I have to go!”

Before anyone could stop her she was bolting out of the camp toward the forest, disappearing into the night. Nobunaga came out of the tent laughing, a look of glee in his expression.

“Quite the spirit. Mitsuhide, take a horse and go find her. Bring her back with you to Azuchi I would like to speak with her again.”

“Bring who back?” Masamune rode up looking frustrated.

“Ah perfect timing Masamune, go with Mitsuhide and find the woman who saved me. You should be able to get details about her from him.” He gestured to Mitsuhide. “I doubt she got very far on foot.”

…

[YN]

Heaven help you, what was wrong with that man! If you had known saving him would have resulted in that mess you would have ditched him at the entrance immediately….gods. Kanna was currently embroiled in a battle near the cliff a bit further south of the temple, taking care of a few loose stings around honnoji, and here I was listening to grown men bicker...I really needed to get out of here, not just for her but for them. One more word of obvious disrespect and I may take an arm or two. Is that really how you treat a commanding officer. The only one with any shred of respect was the man name Mitsunari.

You should have known he was up to something when Nobunaga had shooed everyone from the tent before coiling an arm around your waist. Oh hell no. 

“I would like to reward you. How would you like to rule the world at my side.” without a second thought I pushed away from his grip, grabbing my sword as I responded making for the exit.

“Absolutely not! What is wrong with you? Like I said before...I have to go!” I made haste to Kanna.

When I arrived she had the last of the abominations in a stalemate. She had her two swords locked against the one striking down at her. Crouching to get the best push you could, you burst through the trees in her direction, drawing your blade as you ran.

“SWITCH!” you called out.

She knew what to do. Ducking down she dropped back letting the monster’s weapons come down around her, leaving me an opening so I could drive my blade through its chest. It vanished in a swirl of black and purple smoke leaving no trace of its existence.

“What the hell took you so long? All you had to do was get Nobunaga out of that temple...are you really that out of shape?”

“Um...I’m offended...I’ve only been out of it for like twenty minutes...and no it’s clear you needed me for that last kill. If you must know, he is surrounded by the most ridiculously doting group of men I’ve ever encountered. Like they give Dad’s retainers a run for their money.”

Her eye twitched and a choked laugh escaped remembering your father's vassals...just before you brother came on the com again. “I’m telling him you said that.”

As you formulated your response you sister froze, eyes locking with something in the trees beyond.

“Sasuke come out.” she sighed when the man we had seen standing in front of the temple the day all hell broke loose removed his cover. “Didn’t I tell you to stay with the others?”

“You did. But the others were worried, especially after we were ambushed. They sent me to find you.” he looked me over “Am I to assume you found your sister?”

What was going on here. Why was he here...and why wasn’t he freaking out?

“(YN),” Yuuto broke in. “I’ll explain it all to you when you ride back to Azuchi, for now company is coming and we need you to go with them.”

“Why just me?”

Kanna turned to you. “We’re sort of with the Uesugi-Takeda forces already. It wouldn’t be a good idea to go with you. I’ll keep in touch.”

Suiting up she grabbed Sasuke, as they were making their way to the nearby treetops you heard him ask. “I didn’t think the two of you were twins.”

To which she replied, “We weren’t, but it appears space time had different ideas.”  and they disappeared as the sound of rapid hoof-beats approached.

…

[Mitsunari]

Mitsuhide had sent word that they found Karasu-san and they were on their way back with her. Hideyoshi, Ieyasu, and I  were waiting to greet them at the castle gates and to nobody’s surprise they barreled in on Masamune’s horse, though she looked completely un-phased. Odd, most people don’t enjoy riding with him...although the look on her face isn’t exactly telling of excitement. Her eyes were still the captivating amber I remembered from the other night but the energy in them seemed to hum much lower.

“Ieyasu check the lass out for me would ya? Her sword was drawn when we found her in the forest and she’s got a few scratches here and there.” Masamune leapt from his horse offering her a hand that she promptly refused. Dismounting swiftly on her own.

“Ieyasu can look at her later, Nobunaga requests her presence in the main hall.” Hideyoshi wasted no time giving out orders.

“I just came to see what type of woman was capable of such grand feats...not to give medical attention.” Ieyasu replied sharply, through anyone that knows him, would understand he doesn’t say what he means.

She bristled, eyes darkening to a burnt orange, pupils dilating as if she was sizing him up. “I never asked for help anyway...what are you so sour for?” focusing her attention on me “You’re Ishida-san right? What does he want me for.” she completely ignored Hideyoshi and I felt electricity spark in the air between the two. Giving me orders to take her to the main hall I heard Mitsuhide and Masamune choke behind us. I hope they are alright, it’s a good thing Ieyasu is with them.

We were gathered in our mini war counsel, just the six who knew Karasu-san was in the castle and herself. She looked less than pleased and there was no amount of planning I could have done to prevent the uproar that occurred.

“You will stay here as my lucky-charm.” Nobunaga stated, with unwavering eyes she responded.

“With all due respect, no. I kindly refuse.”

“How dare you go against Lord Nobunaga.”

“Sit down Hideyoshi,” he commanded of him. “You will remain here as a princess of the Oda, feel free to fill your time with whatever girly things your heart desires.”

Her hand twitched, not a single eye missed the threat in her movements. 

“I said no. How dare you think you can reduce the head military commander of the Karasu Clan to the title of a mere princess. Sit around and do ‘girly things.’ What absolute rubbish.” She was standing in front a Hideyoshi who had placed himself between him and our lord, hand now on the hilt of his sword. I was stuck on her words, she definitely carried herself like a commanding officer.

“I think we’ve taken this a little too far,” Masamune had jumped up behind Hideyoshi and placed a firm hand on his arm “Lass calm down a little. We have no idea who you are...besides you’d be so much easier on the eyes if your expression was a little softer like it had been earlier.”

A thunderstorm was raging behind her eyes, they were dark, clouded and full of malice but all too magnificent for me to feel anything but intrigued. I should have been trying to plan how to de-escalate this situation but I couldn’t tear my eyes from here.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m not the slightest bit interested in being easy on the eyes. I want you to flinch, and think twice before you reach out with a hand to bruise or use your calloused words to maim. I hope to be a constant reminder to you,” she paused sweeping her gaze locking with everyone in the main hall “that not everything and everyone is yours for the taking.” before storming out.

I jumped to my feet “I’ll follow her and make sure she gets to her room safely.” to which Nobunaga nodded, a bemused smile gracing his face.

Tagging @little-mini-me-world. Here it is!! 

[nick-nocturne]

You mention this "2017 effect" in your post about American Horror Story, can you elaborate on what that means or is it just a quick way of saying "Most stuff this year has sucked or been mediorce"?

Alright, so if you haven’t already been the character in a horror or disaster movie who’s put together the pieces and had a disturbing revelation like I and my friends have, then it’s time for me to play the guidance/exposition character role.

2017 is the Year of the Impossible

Everything we previously deemed impossible or just too ridiculous or horrible to happen can and will occur.

The spirit animal of this year is the Joker from The Dark Knight. All events are on the call of the wild card and nothing is safe.

- Really Obvious Thing Everyone Knows is the First Item I’m Not Going to Name We Deal With Seeing Every Week

- Solar Eclipse

- Chris Cornell Death

- Chester Bennington Death

- DCU makes Wonder Woman and it’s actually AWESOME; it’s better than Man of Steel, Batman vs. Superman, and basically just saved that extended film universe franchise before it could crash itself into a wall.

- Not only did we just get the first great Spider-Man movie since the Sam Raimi films, it’s canonically and actively in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring tons of Iron Man, influence from MCU events before it, and even Captain America cameos... and it’s still a Sony Pictures film

- In the same breath, Sony Pictures releases the Emoji Movie, ensuring that even while being on top of the mountain, they’ll do their best to bring it crashing down on humanity. Emoji Movie - a movie that is unironically about emojis and features tons of advertising for mobile games and apps with actual names up for sale and userbase expansion. Sir Patrick Stewart plays a literal piece of shit.

- Bethesda has big show at E3, farts onstage, offers almost nothing

- Every Single Thing We’ve Seen on the News, Especially During Last Month in a Southern State

- Hurricane Harvey decimates Houston, Texas

- Hurricane Irma appears barely a week later, shatters Caribbean, aiming to obliterate Florida

- Hurricane Jose joins the party

- Taylor Swift fully embraces her dark side

- Shocking personal things that have happened to me and my friend (actor for Mikey in Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared review) in very short time spans

- American Horror Story goes Full Moron, Ryan Murphy pukes up every bit of political commentary in his guts within just the premiere

- For once, I have no faith or excitement for American Horror Story

- Twin Peaks: The Return and everything inside it

- I personally met and hung out with @nyxfears for a week in his town

- It will not be the only personal encounter with a YouTube friend/collaborator this year, and the next one is going to shock (and delight) everyone and be entirely unexpected

And I know I’m missing a bunch of stuff, but some of it is news that gives away my location a bit too much, and there’s just so much insanity that I can’t get it all off the top of my head. Feel free to reblog and add your own points I’ve forgotten, everyone.

But basically: THIS IS THE IMPOSSIBLE YEAR. Use the energy, manipulate it in your favor to achieve insane things you thought you could never see happen. Reality is temporarily broken, the teacher is out of the classroom. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

[sanabakkoushisanangel]

Heeey. Sorry if I disturb you by something or anything but could you maybe list some good shows? (It's not a must that LGBT couples are included) thanks a lot ❤️❤️💫

Hi, Anon! 

You’re not disturbing!

So I’m the type of person that watches a pretty random variety of shows so I’m not sure what your taste leans toward exactly. 

If you have any suggestions, make a comment or drop me a message with the show and why you like it! And if you want, make a suggestion on how to make this list better!

** Is for shows other people suggest to me. I’ll comment if I’ve heard of it or seen any of it. 

*I’ll try to put if it’s LGBT friendly. And also I want to put down if it’s diverse or not and a note if you suggest a show is diverse…I’m looking for either the main character that is a POC or more than 1-2 minor characters that show up often enough to make a difference to the plot. Don’t tell me a show is diverse if it’s 3 black characters are just window-dressing…👀

***UPDATE*** (8/11/2019)*** SO I'm finally getting around to updating this list. As always let me know if y'all have any suggestions! This thing is getting insanely long! I might try to make it a link on my page (which is in serious need of renovation lol). Oh Lord, I still have so many shows I didn't add. I might have a problem...

Enjoy!!

Derry Girls: Man I hope you all get to see my recommendation for this show!!! It's truly a gem! I can't say it's diverse but it's also based off a small town in Northern Ireland so not really faulting them. Very LGBT friendly!! Spot the tiny rainbow pins our main 5 wear in the entirety of the second season!! It's like the cutest, most wholesome unspoken way of showing support! I literally watched the second season, went back to rewatch the first season and then rewatched the second season again. They're so loveable!

Four Weddings and a Funeral: I surprisingly haven't watched the 1994 film that was one of the best movies of the 90s apparently. But Mindi Kaling is producing its remake that's now a TV show on Hulu. Features a much more diverse cast (TWO main characts being Black, the main love interest being Muslim, actually portraying Muslim character seamlessly without making it campy or oversimplified!). There's a lack of LGBT characters (Tony 1 and Tony 2 don't really count since that feels slightly degrading to me...). I'm hoping they'll get better at that in future episodes!

Dark: A German TV show that's like a mystery time travel thriller. Not really diverse? It does feature a deaf supporting character and some minor supporting characters are LGBT but other than that...It IS a good story that's really interesting and gripping to watch.  

3%: A sci-fi post-apocalyptic story based in Brazil that's Hunger Games ish in that young people fight for their right to live in the ideal land of plenty. But because it's a show, you get to explore the ethical aspect of it a little more. I have a beef with how this show treats its PoC character to be honest. But it does have a lot of PoC characters and there's I think an LGBT plotline in a later season. But, I feel like the first season may have been its peak. Definitely still a good show and y'all might enjoy the later seasons more than me. 

Patriot Act: Not really a story obviously but I have to plug this show because for once I'm seeing a nonproblematic Indian Muslim man (side-eyeing Kumal and Aziz) that's actually doing great episodes highlighting a lot of important issues that we're totally not getting informed about that we should really be paying attention to more.  

Kim's Convenience: A Canadian sitcom based on a Korean family's convenience story. Really cute wholesome show with a great cast that really tries to be diverse and thoughtful and respectful of its PoC. I don't think they have an LGBT main character but it's friendly to it!

-Shadowhunters: I love this trash show. It’s actually not all that great but it’s got some absolute gems of characters you end up watching it for anyway. I def recommend but S1 was watched with a ton of skip Clary/Jace scenes for me. This is LGBT friendly and diverse.  

-Eastsiders: One of my Netflix finds. So super LGBTQ friendly because it revolves around a gay couple. The revolving door of characters includes many people at different spectrums of sexuality. It’s unapologetic and fun to watch. Our main couple is self-labeled slutty mcsluttersons but they’re committed to each other. The diversity of race is meh but it does have the Constance Wu from Fresh off the Boat in it and she’s lovely. 

-Riverdale: I tried man, I used to read Archie comics when I was younger but um, this show…I think it’s supposed to be ironically pretentious? It just falls flat for me tbh. It’s popular though so you can check a couple of episodes out to see if it’s your thing. There’s an openly gay character in this that should get more story than he does. Also, kind of LGBT baits too at times so not sure if I trust them completely. 

-Narcos: One of my recent shows. Very very intense show. Just really well done. It’s male-centric in that most of its main characters are male and its portrayal of women isn’t varied or flattering or significant in any way so that definitely sucks. But I don’t watch all my shows through that lens. For a show about Pablo Escobar and the drug wars it’s a really gripping watch. Beware of heavy subtitles because it’s set in Columbia. 

-The Expanse: My sci-fi pick. I love this show. It’s a gorgeous, diverse, rich story, funny without trying too hard. I just get sucked into every character. It had one older married gay couple that was really minor characters but I don’t recall any current mains that are. But It’s an inclusive show so I don’t think it’s particularly averse to the idea. Based on books I haven’t read yet! 

-Veep: This is like a completely meant-to-be-offensive comedy show with the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus. While I wasn’t in love with the last 2 seasons, the first 4 are amazing. No clear-cut character you root for in particular but it’s so close to politics you can’t help but laugh/cry. Watch it for the absolutely unapologetic legendary burns. Also, has a lesbian couple in it although it’s offensive comedy so prepare for that.

-Archer: Also another meant-to-be-offensive show that’s hilarious but so terrible and inappropriate. I don’t usually like that kind of comedy but I binge-watched this when I was sick and got hooked. 

-Vikings: I love this show. If you like Game of Thrones, you’ll like this one only it’s got less nudity and more idgaf fight scenes. It’s got brilliant characters, beautiful battle scenes, really interesting storylines, and just good snarky humor. Watch it! Also, they’re not shy about same-sex couples even if they don’t explicitly say it. 

-Mr. Robot: Really good show, very different and…I actually don’t know how to describe it? The main has mental health issues. It’s a sociopolitical commentary type show. It’s about hacking and network security and corporation conglomerates in control of our everything and the fight against it. Also from @cherryrebel : Mr robot has a shit ton of diversity in both race and LGBT, the lead is mixed race but the actor is Egyptian, Tyrell is bisexual, Gideon is gay, Angela, Elliot, and Darlene are implied being lgbt+, I think I’m forgetting about someone but watch that show, it’s the shit 

-Legion: A superhero show that’s so incredibly NOT like the other superhero shows. You'll find yourself in a serious mind trip thinking you’re the one that’s crazy. But it’s really really good. Go watch. 

-Mozart in the Jungle: About a bunch of musicians and a crazy conductor you absolutely love. It’s really good. LGBT friendly! And diverse-ish.

-Luther: One of the best crime shows in my opinion. Idris Elba just does things and you will want to watch him do it. Anything he does is beautiful and brilliant. But the show actually IS brilliant and amazing and go watch!! 

-This is Us: one of those, where-the-hell-did-you-come-from?? shows. Really heartfelt stories that make you laugh, cry, and go aww a million times. 

-Killjoys: Another sci-fi show I love. It’s got diversity and great characters and great action and story. It's a complicated plot though and if you skip episodes you're really going to struggle with the story. But if you don't care, it's still fun to watch ladies being brilliant and kicking ass. Also LGBT friendly and diverse!!

-True Detective: Crime detective show. It’s great, very gritty and serious but good stories and character-driven. I actually really enjoyed the third season despite my reservations of this show. Definitely needed subtitles! Also, I got major unspoken LGBT vibes from the characters (3rd season) here but I feel like they didn't go the distance with it. 

-Humans: Sci-fi show about android robots that are part of normal life- they look human and are basically live in maids. Only five of these have consciousness. Really good UK show. Diverse AND LGBT friendly!

-Broadchurch: Another good UK crime show. David Tennant and Olivia Colman are brilliant and bicker in the most endearing way! And Jodie Whitaker is so amazing! Slow and gripping and bingeworthy. @iamacolor mentioned a lesbian character in this one too. Wouldn't say it's LGBT friendly but there is diversity in the characters. 

-The Americans: Russian sleeper spies in America that lead normal lives, have American children, and are like totally Russians carrying out secret missions. It's fantastical and exaggerated and sometimes I side-eye it like really?? But it's a fun casual watch. Not really diverse or LGBT friendly even if there might be some peppering in there. 

-The Get Down: Great show that was recently canceled :( has about 1 season out. I’m not sure how to describe it and do proper justice. It’s lovely though with amazing characters. Also, LGBT friendly and clearly diverse!

-Stranger Things: Great show sci-fi mystery thriller type show. Diverse cast, wholesome even with a dark and violent plot. LGBT friendly but it's got a list of problems in my opinion. But still a fun watch.

-Dear White People: Black college students from all kinds of backgrounds dropping truth bombs all around and being amazing. Go watch. It's definitely a smart show with a lot of humor. It’s balanced with amazing depth to its characters. LGBT friendly! *so while it's definitely diverse in that the entire main cast except one is Black- I do find it weird that in an ivy league college there aren't many Asian students? Like it seems like they tried to fix that in the third season but it could definitely stand to do more in terms of its recurring supporting characters*

-Brooklyn Nine-Nine: an Amazing funny cop show that manages to be winsome, hilarious, endearing, quirky, diverse, balanced, and just amazing all around. Very LGBT friendly and diverse! It's a consistent show. 

-Fresh Off the Boat: An Asian family comedy show that’s endearing and hilarious. (Also check out Jane the Virgin for crazy telenovela-esque antics that are hilarious and cute). 

-Orphan Black: Sci-fi show about clones. A really amazing show, LGBT friendly. Great story AMAZING characters…most of which is played by one woman. Diverse and LGBT friendly.

-Preacher: Great show based on the graphic novel…uhh not sure how to describe it but it’s good. Reth Negga is in it!! 

Also adding Sense8 for its LGBT and diversity. Good show but I’ve heard something about the directors/producers being racist? Not sure so I’m recommending with caution because the show itself esp s2 where the nonwhite characters got a better fleshed out plot is good. But since I don’t know what the producers/directors have done, I’m giving a heads up for someone else to fill me in.

Poldark: I just started this one 2 days ago. 2 episodes in I’m really enjoying it. It’s from PBS’s Masterpiece series. Aiden Turner as a Cornishman is delicious. So far I adore his wife and immensely enjoying yet another period show.  

Grantchester: Adding this to the list after I discovered it on my prime account. I’m only one season in and I love Sydney Chambers and his gruff buddy cop Geordie? This isn’t a show that is going to have you sitting on the edge of your seat. It’s totally a procedural type of show. But it’s characters are likable, its story feels comfortable, and honestly, if it’s a shitty day for you and you just want something that’s easy? This is it. @iamacolor  :)

Entourage: So I binged 8 seasons and a movie in a week so let’s just say I fell into this gaping manhole…So it has one very prominently gay character on this show that gets a fair amount of screentime and a plot considering he’s a side character. He’s a fairly loveable character you really enjoy watching develop and grow. However, I should warn people that this show has really colorful language that is quite frankly really sexist and homophobic. For those of you that don’t know, it’s essentially a show about a popular actor from Queens that makes it big in Hollywood and brings along his 2 best friends and older brother to live with him and share in his wealth. If you can get past the language and inherent sexism, it’s actually a decent show about 4 guys with an extremely tight unbreakable, ride or die friendship. Lots of cameos by famous actors and directors, etc. I admit I might have a thing for Kevin Connolly and Adrian Grenier…

Jane the Virgin: Okay firstly, I LOVE this show. I wasn’t caught up because I had too much on my plate but like this show is so tongue in cheek and has great Latino rep! Including a character that speaks like 98% in Spanish so it’s great. AND they have LGBT rep so there you go. Enjoy and thank me later!

Superstore: Almost disappointed no one reminded me to recommend this show?? It’s basically centered around a store much like Walmart where you have a colorful cast of employees. It’s funny, it’s cute, it’s very socially aware. A disabled character (of color!), a gay character, and a smattering of all sorts. PLUS America Ferrera whom I adore!

The Good Place: Great show, great diversity, really funny. I binged it aaaallllll. Seriously go watch this show!! 

Cable Girls: Netflix Original from Spain. Do yourself a favor, watch it in Spanish with subtitles. The dubs feel so off. So the music choices for this show are the biggest con. Like it’s modern English songs in a show set in the 20s. Whoever chooses the music really doesn’t read the tone of the scene because it always throws me off. BUT, it’s a show about women gaining their independence through working as operators. You don’t have a diverse cast (so another con) but it’s LGBT friendly. There’s an exploration of sexuality minus the harmful abuse of it. It’s got its own set of flaws for sure but there’s a lot of potentials for it to be a good watch. 

Atypical: Autistic boy on the cusp of adulthood that’s navigating how to grow into it and live as normally as possible despite his limitations. Diverse characters, funny stories, and most importantly, endearing af. I think it handles the touchy topic wonderfully and allows people in this show to both be good people and also make mistakes both big and small. What I really enjoyed about this show is that it feels unafraid to let it’s characters just be. It doesn’t fall into tropes and it just has really well-written characters. Can’t wait for Season 3. Also, def don’t want to spoil but LGBT friendly.  

Lovesick: If nothing else, watch this show for Antonia Thomas. I’m lowkey in love with her so I will watch anything she’s in. But it’s one of those shows that might not be for everyone. It’s about three great friends where two have been in love with each other at different parts of their lives and keep missing each other’s feelings. It plays via flashbacks quite a bit so your story isn’t quite linear but it doesn’t make it difficult to watch. I personally loved it but I’m biased because well Antonia Thomas…

Santa Clara Diet: So I confess I dropped this show mid first episode when I first watched it. Its pilot was so strange and bonkers I was just so incredibly confused. I think the projectile vomiting just turned me off. But boredom is a great motivator and I came back to it later. And man, I am so so so glad I did. It’s just such a lovely show. I love every character to bits. LGBT friendly for sure. It’s so incredibly far-fetched so you just go with it and enjoy the ride. 

On my Block: Four friends transitionally into high school and navigating changing dynamics in their lifelong relationships while also dealing with real life, high school, gangs, and growing up. It’s a good watch. Really hoping for a second season. 

Sisters: Aussie show about a woman caring for her ailing elderly father who finds out he used his own sperm in his fertility clinic in order to help parents struggling. Now she has new half-siblings all over the country and gets to navigate dealing with that shitshow. This is a good show. Flawed people being selfish, good people getting the short end of the stick, people being real, things getting ugly. It gets interesting and awkward but it’s a good watch.    LGBT friendly.

Homecoming: Really gripping show about soldiers that return stateside wanting to return to society, join a program to help them do so, turns out things aren’t as they seem. Check it out on Amazon Prime. Diverse…umm one of the main supporting characters is black?

Bodyguard: Richard Madden from GoT plays a completely different role in this show about a bodyguard that finds himself part of a bigger conspiracy plot that forces him to face his own demons. Overall the story is good. Intense, gripping, intriguing in all the right places. But the ending has you rolling your eyes at how cliche they made it out to be. My biggest gripe being romanticizing characters that really don’t deserve it without highlighting their problematic behavior. It sweeps a lot of questions under the rug and concludes what would have been a highly conflicting plot with some really shoddy tropey shortcuts. Still it’s definitely a bingeworthy show. Diversity is for shit though all things considered. 

Recommendations by Other Blogs:

-**Shameless: Based on the UK show I believe. Has an openly gay character in a really complicated loveline that’s one of the major draws of this show. Very good show but definitely not for everyone. Expect LOTS of cursing, nudity, etc. But it’s hilarious, weirdly heartwarming, really fun to watch. Adding based on an anon suggestion- I haven’t watched the seasons in full but I love popping in to catch up. LGBT friendly and also somewhat diverse. 

-**Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: I have not watched this show myself but @blueberrysenpaii suggested this and said: Should add CEG. There’s a veeeery proud bi guy! So LGBT friendly! Someone tell me if it’s diverse?

-**Stitchers: Another show I haven’t watched but it’s been recommended a few times so it’s probably worth a watch. LGBT friendly! Someone tell me if it’s diverse? From Anon: There is a lesbian couple (Camanda) and they’re happy and healthy. It’s a great interesting storyline, it’s funny, super loveable characters, there’s some mystery and suspense in every episode, I love it so much, and it’s so underrated

**Black Sails: Have not watched this show either. LGBT friendly and diverse cast! But here’s @foolbrite ’s recommendation: black sails!! its an AMAZING  story plus there is such good lgbt rep in that show

**One Day At a Time: So I have watched a couple episodes of this. It’s so cute! Diverse and LGBT friendly! But here’s the recommendation from @jcarizma : One Day At a Time is really good. Has an LGBT main character and most of the characters are Hispanic as well and the show actually talks about topics that are importantes and it still manages to be hilarious. It’s on Netflix. and also @onyourleftbooob : one day at a time is INCREDIBLE and i loved how they dealt with their lgbt character

**Black Mirror: San Junipero: Again never watched this show but I have seen gifs of this episode?story arc? Diverse and LGBT friendly! Anywho another rec from @onyourleftbooob : black mirror’s san junipero is great  *Update: I did watch this myself so I can definitely say it was really nice!*

**How to Get Away With Murder: I actually was a little reluctant to recommend this show. Mainly because *spoiler* one of my favorite main characters got killed off in a way and point in the story where it was pure shock value and I’m forever upset. *end spoiler* I personally dropped the show at that point. However, it was great until that point and it does have an great LGBT rep and just as important a very diverse cast! Also recommended by @onyourleftbooob  

**The Bold Type: I have not yet seen this show personally but I have seen lots of mentions of it on my dash and it seems like it’s really good. Good diverse and LGBT friendly show! @im-the-trashqueen-of-my-fandoms recommends this: One of the 3 leads is black and discovers that she’s not really straight when she starts developing feelings for a lesbian Muslim photographer :)

So I think I got most of the ones I really enjoy. Not including like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones because those are hugely popular. I hope you enjoy! If I think of more, I’ll add them here.  

[kuipernebula]

Some One Piece FFXIV Au Thoughts:

The guild is called the Straw Hats, with the nametag <X>

Nami’s a midlander, and a White Mage because it includes weather in it and there’s a staff involved. Her natural ability to predict and understand the weather in particular is why she was chosen to study proper White Magic in the first place. (I.e. The Weatheria arc? Just Nami training with the Padjals) Also really into glamouring her gear.

Luffy’s also a midlander. He’s also a Monk because of course he is. Still obsessed with being a pirate. His training with haki is him learning proper Monk techniques on top of his pugilist techniques. He keeps trying to get Dragoons to teach him their jumping techniques and none of them do. (Note: Could be a paladin because “designated leader” and all.)

Zoro’s a Samurai, and either au ra or highlander. While I’d love to give him multiple swords as would best fit him, I didn’t break the mold on Nami’s class, either, so one sword it is. He’s considered learning the arts of the ninja, though, because more swords obviously means more power. (He never does.)

Sanji is a wildwood elezen, and probably also a Pugilist/Monk but there’s a strong argument for Dancer should it ever come out. Heavily invested in Culinarian and only learned the other crafting classes to cross-class stuff to it. Is a pain to raid with because he refuses to attack female characters but he still needed to clear Shiva and Garuda.

Usopp is a midlander, and a special-case Archer, kinda like how the archons are special case versions of classes. He’s also pretty heavily invested in Alchemy, but no one appreciates it like he wants them to. Makes a lot of boasts about how he manages to kill things despite being a class instead of a job. (No one cares.)

Chopper is a lalafell. (While making him a reindeer still would be cute, honestly he works best as a lalafell.) I’m just going to go ahead and skip expansions to whenever Chemist comes out because holy shit there is no better class for Chopper? Even more heavily invested in Alchemy than Usopp.

Franky is a sea wolf roegadyn Machinist. Also a master of every craft in the game, but has his specializations are in Carpentry, Blacksmithing, and Armorsmithing. Also, his decision to wear nothing but a pair of speedos and a vest is completely normal among male roe’s in the game already. Why isn’t he in the game already.

Robin’s a duskwight elezen. She’s also a Scholar or a Summoner, having inherited the history of Nym or the Allagan Empire through her life. (I honestly can’t decide which is better for her because they’re both perfect.) She’s filled out her sightseeing log and sometimes goes through dungeons just to experience them again.

Brook’s hard to place honestly, only because by all accounts he SHOULD be a Bard, but his fighting style is literally just a ghost-themed Red Mage. So either he’s a special case Bard using a Rapier (which breaks upon any examination of the game system tbh) or he just becomes a ranged fighter. (I don’t like either solution...) Anyway he died recently enough that the aether disturbance of the Calamity brought him back, but he’s retained his cognizance unlike 99.9999% of undead so he pals around with the Straw Hat guild. Could also just be a Dark Knight...

Jinbe is probably a sea wolf roegadyn, unless we want to go really weird and make him a smarter-than-average Sahagin. If the former, he’s a monk hailing from the Domans, giving him a different fighting style than Luffy. If the latter, he’s a “pugilist”-type Sahagin with water-themed moves and such. (Note: This custom Sahagin class could be a tank Monk variant for the purposes of class balance)

Carrot is a seeker of the sun miqo’te. Breaking my previously-establish fist-fighter plan, she’s actually a special-case Rogue who channels elements through her daggers. Is way better than she should be for being a class instead of a job. Despite her relative power level, she’s really new to life outside her clan (the C clan?)

Vivi should be a midlander, but the royal family of Ul’dah are lalafell and it’s honestly the best place to put her? Unless we make her thavnairian royalty, instead. Not sure on what her combat class is, but the way she fights with strings and distraction makes me say either special-case Rogue or special-case Paladin. Either way Carue is her trusty Chocobo who is max level and scares the rest of the party because no one cares about combat chocobo until Carue one-shots a FATE boss. (As guilds are legal and such, she’s able to be a member, but considers herself a “provisional” member because she’s usually tending to royal duties.)

[inaquietworld]

Campaign Log: 1

This isn’t neccessarily for my tumblr followers, but I don’t mind if anyone reads it. It’s an overview of my D&D world and a recap of the first few sessions of the game I run, mostly for my players’ benefits to help them keep track of all the places they’ve seen and people they’ve met. (Note: Yes, it’s obviously a modified version of a fairly well known old module, placed within the context of my world :P)

Players: Gnice, Talia, Ai’styl, Vyedra DMPC: Lydia NPC: Everybody else

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Prelude

           The world had been spoiled upon by its 7 Gods: Wealth, Lore, Magi, Pride, Sylin, Chaos, and War. Even when the Gods had fights, as the halfling lands were decimated and the Gods punished the dragons for their hubris; still life was relaxed for most races at the table. That is, until the Gods disappeared about 100 years ago.

          The continent upon which the Acades Empire took its first steps has seen the rise and conglomeration of many peoples: the humans to the east, the elves to the west, and the river elves to the south. The God of War’s civilizations – the burly minotaurs and the ruthless orcs -- had always surrounded Acades to both the north and south, creating a string of tension throughout Acades history.

          When the four great wizard families of nobility – Cathadious, Datthius, Myrlin, and Ilvendorr – had united, there came a unified power able to drive back the orcs, minotaurs, and competing forces. The River Elves to the south suffered a large defeat in this time, leaving southern Acades barren and the human-elf alliance to the north the last remaining power of Acades.

          The cultures of the elves and humans might be different, but Acades was able to maintain harmony for quite some time. The great city of Halven was created as a symbolic gesture that rose to international fame as a blended multicultural endeavor. The humans brought order, infrastructure to their city planning; while the elves reminded them how to venerate nature, with beautiful architecture that was furled in greenery and rich artistry. It was a lasting symbol of harmony until about 15 years ago, when the city mysteriously collapsed with almost no survivors and no recollection of what had happened.

          And with that, Acades feels the aches of division and mistrust once again. Through Pai’vall and the elven Hold of Datthius, demands for more troops from the capital are met with silence as its forces are stretched thin; and whispers that the human-heavy capital has abandoned them. In the capital Halstaad, the House and Hold of Myrlin is stretching their own soldiers thin from Orc assaults to the North. In the Hold of Ilvendorr, their capital Halven is gone and the people ache for true leadership in the face of a silent noble family. Meanwhile, the hold of Cathadious and their bishop both struggle to cling to power as their largely religious influence is waning as the church’s power crumbles.  

          As all of this unfolds, even weirder forces are about to emerge from the earth to steer fate astray…

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 Session 1

          The scene starts with Gnice Ta’meetcha the gnome and Talia the halfling in a travelling caravan. Gnice, yearning to see the gnomeish homelands he never knew, had travelled all the way from his birthplace, the Dwarven Kingdom Faldheim, to find himself here in Acades. Talia, who had shuffled around Acades her whole life, was on the way to Welmarsh to rendezvous with the Ruby Dragon, the new thieves’ guild in town who had begun to drive out the local thieves’ band the Jackdaws.

          The caravan is ambushed by Troglodytes, leery lizard people of the marsh, who had attempted to take the cart driver old man Jacoby. After this, Gnice and Talia realize that something is amidst around these parts. The only clue they have at this point is a pendant from the trog, a silver twin-leaf symbol.

          The first inn they find in the small nestled village of Welmarsh is the Golden Grain Inn, which seems quiet and as if every eye is watching the fledgling adventurers buy a room. The church priestess Misha takes notice of the adventurers as they enter the church of Sylin and asks them what they need. Upon being asked about her necklace, which is an exact match to the troglodyte’s pendant, she explains that it’s an old symbol of Sylin.

          Talia receives a message from the old thieves’ guild the Jackdaws, holding knowledge of [character backstory points here] that they’ll never tell her after her betrayal. Talia attempts to feel out the Jackdaw’s work for hire partner, a dwarf chandler known as the Manufacturer, but she fails to find common ground with him to gain his favor.

           Attempts to talk with the general store keep and to meet the Baron lead to dead ends. The Slithering Serpent Inn owner Ollwin Crawloon and his wife Belba are markedly friendlier – and their inn livelier – than the GGI. At the Golden Grain Inn Talia gets a work referral that leads her to a farmer’s widow and her three sons, all with glazed eyes who invite Talia in for tea before attempting to take her down. Talia uses the fallen old woman as cover to hold her own against three, before slipping and gashing her head against their coffee table (this left a small permanent scar). As she falls out of consciousness, local folk hero and Goliath Paladin Shevarr Stoneshield bursts in, and saves Talia’s life. Using a zone of truth, Shevarr gains trust in Talia.

           Meanwhile at the GGI, Gnice stumbles upon a screaming girl attacked by two large men. She bashes one over the head with a lute, and Gnice knocks down the other. Introducing herself as Lydia the travelling bard, the two sneak out the window, now suspicious of the inn’s intentions.

           Talia, Shevarr, Gnice, and Lydia meet up. Talia (eventually) realizes that Lydia is the travelling bard he heard about from cart-driver Jacoby.  Shevarr hears of the Golden Grain Inn’s attacks and runs off, ready to draw her sword first and ask questions later. The remaining trio move their inn stays to the Sleeping Serpent Inn, where they hear of a wizard who has made camp in the forest. On their way to meet this wizard, they stumble across a minotaur in the middle of the forest, and ready themselves for battle.

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Session 2

           As the battle with the minotaur ensues, the elven ranger Ai’styl (a man raised by the treants and fairies of the forest) wanders into the fray. Upon realizing the minotaur is brandishing the ripped off arm of a fellow treant, Ai’styl enters a silent rage and joins the party’s fight. He heard of the disturbances happening around the forest, but now it becomes personal.

           After the fight, the minotaur’s familiar, a snarling weasel, is thrown at Lydia who to her own surprise calms the snarling thing into submission.  They find a note left on the minotaur that says “due west, ~4.5 miles. Dark magic infiltrating town, more intel needed” but the party is unsure what to make of this.

           Finding their way to the forest, they meet a slightly unkempt mage by the name of Ramnus Thackeray (Ramne for short), and his crow familiar Crux. They find out he’s been studying alchemic using local components, and he divulges some clues to troglodyte culture and their old snake goddess Dishna. From there the group heads north to the marshes where the troglodytes were said to live.

           Upon making their way to the marsh, the party finds themselves witness to a battle, as kobolds and goblins fight over the abandoned troglodyte settlement and the food and goodies left behind. The party decides to take full advantage of this and finishes off the weakened forces and raid the rest of the huts for all their trinkets. Amongst this, Gnice finds the identification documents to a Delgarr Kragfinger, an old friend of his who was one of the dwarves that accompanied him down to Acades, on their way to the bishop of Cathadious. They also find the identification documents to a halfling named Garret, the surname torn.

           With few leads, the party regroups in town. They meet the stable hand who worries that Welmarsh’s autumn festivals -- which revolve around horse related sports and Welmarsh’s renown horse market -- won’t be as busy with the mysterious disappearances that have been plaguing the village. A member of the guard by the name of Henry had gone missing the prior night, but Brida, the sharp-tongued elf guard, assumes Henry acted stupidly, “as he usually does, the dumb-shit.”

           Out of ideas, the group heads towards the limestone quarry to the southeast of town. Along their way, they collectively get lost and end up in a wolves’ den. After finishing off the snarling foes, Gnice overhears the cries of wolf pups further in the den; and the guilt already weighing on the greenhorn adventurer, Gnice and Ai’styl take the two pups and continue towards their destination.

           The party finds the entrance to a dungeon along the side of the limestone deposits, obscured by the overgrowth of the forest. The door has a riddle on it that leaves the group scratching their heads, but they decide to camp out to wait for any signs of activity. Sure enough, night falls and they spot Troglodytes enter and leave -- not through the trick door in front but a secret door above it. The group creates a diversion to the ones guarding the door and stealthily climb inside.

           As the party sneaks through the dungeon, they strike down more troglodytes and sift through every room they come across, finding keys in various places – hidden under a bed, guarded by a chained harpy, etc – until they have four; at which point they use the four keys to open the door to the rest of the dungeon, revealing an expansive underground lake beyond the doorway.

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Session 3        

             Suddenly, the ceiling above breaks and from the hilltop above falls Vyedra, a darkly flushed druid river elf from the collapsed elven realm to the south. Curious and always free spirited, she shrugs and decides to join the party in solving this mystery.                     The party finds a common room and some bedrooms where some humans and elves have been staying, all these men bearing the same glazed peculiar eyes that they have been seeing over and over. After a small conversation a struggle ensues. The party strikes down a man in vagrant clothes, a man whose jacket bears the emblem to the Ruby Dragons, and a man donned in guard’s armor.  

          Moving on, the group finds a magical token which summons a boat they use to traverse the gator-infested waters. Along their way, Gnice starts to feel woozy, and the group witnesses a glow erupt from his body temporarily. If things were confusing before they’re definitely weird now. Talia finds an old and torn cryptic note which mentions gems scattered beneath the ocean.

           They continue room to room until they hear quiet sobbing and dragged feet in the muddy dungeon floors, which leads them to a prisoner and unexpected reunion – Shevarr. The goliath paladin is chained and shrugged over, defeatedly; her body is stained with blood, and most noticeably her left arm has been completely hacked off.  She struggles to retell the group that she was defeated in the Golden Grain Inn, knocked out and brought down here, where she resisted the snake monster’s charming gaze. Ai’styl and Vyedra realize this snake monster that everyone has been talking about must be a Naga, which matches the details of Shevarr’s story.

           The group bandages up Shevarr’s arms and picks the lock to her shackles.  Shaken and unsure of her own ability, Shevarr slowly grabs her broadsword from muddy floor and walks with the group to the final room, an open cavern with a shrine to Disha the Spirit Naga, as the Naga meditates from within a glowing ethereal swirl of light.

           With a distraction and a giant spider corpse for cover, a battle begins. The troglodyte followers engage in combat, and their chained harpy uses her own gaze to lure Ai’styl into danger. As things look worse off for Dishna, she hisses and with a spark of light pushes the ground below her up and away from the party. Vyedra’s wolf companion is knocked off the top of this plateau and is bloodied up. Gnice and Shevarr flank a troglodyte, Talia keeps her cover and fires a ranged assault; and Vyedra and Ai’styl front the attack. Lydia is ensnared by the Naga’s gaze and uncontrollably throws herself in front of Dishna.

           Dishna’s power almost reaching its apex, she walls herself off from the party. Ai’styl, Gnice, and Vyedra struggle to climb over the wall as an entranced Lydia and Gnice’s summoned hippogriff fight on the other side. When they finally reach the top, Ai’styl takes aim and fires an arrow of incredulous precision and power through the Naga’s gaping mouth and down her throat, killing her in one staggering blow.

           The group searches the fallen foes and takes various prizes from the dungeon: a mysterious staff, a glowing white ethereal orb from the Naga’s chest, and a blue potion from one of the slain humans.

           With that mystery presumably solved, the party considers what to do next. Shevarr trudges off, mumbling about ‘fixing things’ and ‘atoning for her failure.’ Ramne helps Talia identify the properties of the potion and informs the party that he will be staying in Hilloft and travelling to the fallen city of Halven to help identify some recovered arcane texts; unable to describe the magic within the white orb, Ramne suggests they travel to the west towards Pai’vall, where he apprenticed under his old master, a wizard who may know more than he does. Ollwin shrugs and laughs when the party returns to his inn, since their party seemingly grows every time they do.

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 Epilogue

           The party has about four days left on the rooms they bought in the inn, so they wait out the remainder of that time to gather themselves and garner supplies, among other things. In this time, they hear a few points of interest from the gossiping drunkards visiting the inn:             The missing guard Henry was found dead. A farmer’s widow was found dead and the city is looking for someone to buy the old farmhouse to try to move past any negative attention to Welmarsh quickly. The Golden Grain Inn has closed for renovations. The priestess of the local church has left to go on a short pilgrimage to Cathadious, where a child of the church has been supposedly performing miracles. The capital Halstaad is apparently looking for adventurers and mercenaries to start a monster hunting battalion. Minotaurs have been spotted near Pai’vall, transforming their discontent into an uproarious ultimatum to the capital for more aid. Ramne stops by the inn to bid goodbye to Ollwin and the group before he leaves for Hilloft.

           Lydia looks around the tavern before meekly saying “so, what is everyone doing now?”