#this guy is like. shadow asher or something

[new-eyes-extra-colors]

oh my god oh my god oh my god oh ny god oh my god

fucked up evil devon maxie????????

[themonstersamongus]

Tag dump pt.1!

[scarscribblesstuff]

Masterlist!

₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊

Bc I'm losing track and my google docs is a mess rn. If you have any requests or anything I'd love to have a go! I can't guarantee I'll answer or fulfil all of them but I'll try my best :3.

Here is my ao3 (also scarscribblesstuff) if that's easier to access! I'm working my way through uploading all my stuff onto there :D

₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊ ₊˚ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ˚₊

Redacted Audio

Cinnamon Buns - Sam & Lovely, where they have a chat post inversion

Good Morning Sunshine - Elliot/Sunshine, where they wake up together

3:29am - Huxley/Freelancer, where Huxley comforts Freelancer they can't sleep

An Evening In - Damien/Freelancer, where Damien comes in from the rain with a surprise

Glitter - Freelancer/Gavin, & Caelum, where they do crafts together

Hi! Welcome to Max's Rustic Pizza - Honey/Guy, where Honey walks Guy home after work

Smile for Me Dear - Lasko/Dear, where Dear visits Lasko in his office after an overwhelming day

3 times Morgan surprises Seer Obscura, and 1 time they surprise him - Morgan/Seer Obscura, where we see snapshots of domestic life together

Shadows and Shades - Elliot/Sunshine, where he comforts them post the events of The Balance

Three Idiots, One Braincell (yet to be found) - Angel, Asher, and, Darlin, where three idiots get stuck on a raft in a lake

When it rains, it pours - where the DAMN crew comforts Freelancer about what Kody did

Take the Time Off - Milo/Sweetheart, where Milo convinces Sweetheart to take the day off sick

Breathe, Sweetheart - Milo/Sweetheart, where early days in their relationship, Milo helps comfort Sweetheart when they get overstimulated in a restaurant

Snow is the best alarm - Aaron/Smartass, where Smartass surprises Aaron with a late night date in the snow

A Short Visit - Warden/Vega (kinda), where Warden visits Vega and they're both feeling a little more vulnerable than usual

Daisy, Daisy - Marcus/Asset, where we see snapshots of the decline and then a snapshot of the consequences

A Moment of Peace - David/Angel, where David takes care of his mate while their joints are sore

Confessions - Aaron/Smartass, where they confess their love for the first time

Just in Case - Treasure, Sam & Darlin, where Treasure finds their way to Sam and Darlin's house after the argument with Porter

Pancakes - David/Angel, where Angel has a surprise for David one morning

He's a Real Party Dog - Asher/Baaabe, where Asher faces the consequences at Baaabe's promotion party

Home is With You - Gavin/Freelancer, where Gavin gets Freelancer to take a break for once

Still Hell, Maybe Not so Bad - Avior/Starlight, where Starlight has a bit of a breakdown and braids Avior's hair.

Like a Dog at Your Door - Hush/Doc, where Hush stops by for a visit after reading something new in the library.

Tales of Redactia: Redacted Audio Fairytale AU

Map - Hand-drawn map of the world I had in mind for this fic :)

Chapter 1 - The Sword in the Stone, Gabe/David's Mother (she is named in the fic but just to make it clear)

[mr-laveau]

Redacted-tober 2023 - Christian - Bridging - Day 19

Tags: Prissy(Christian/Alexis), Christian is Aromantic but doesn't know it, Alexis references Sam a little bit, FUCK canon I decide what the dolls are characterized as Christian cannot remember the last time he bridged with another person. 

That was a lie. He could, actually, it was with Amanda but at the same time, it wasn���t. Wait-no, he never bridged with Amanda.

She wanted to, but halfway through their only ever process of trying, Christian pulled away. Amanda said it was ok and that she understood but he could see the look on her face when it happened, and he could almost feel what she was thinking as her very expression danced on the bare nerves under his skin. She felt hurt. He really didn’t mean to and he did try, but something in him couldn’t reach that last step. Which was in fact, incredibly strange, because he’d bridged with people before. He’d done it with the rest of the security team, even Asher (and he found that guy insufferable sometimes), and that’s what made him confused. Why couldn’t he do that with Amanda? That question played on his mind for so long because it didn’t make sense. He had loved Amanda, he said it all the time, he knew it too, and for fuck’s sake he slept with her. That should've been enough! Yet here he was, broken up with Amanda, now sitting with Alexis Solaire in his arms, princess of the house of Solaire, metaphysically and impossibly watching his own mind racing, after she asks: “Would you ever wanna try bridging some time?” A question of pure curiosity he assumed, nothing actually said with any malicious intention but still leaving Christian stumbling over himself for a bit,trying to figure out a response that wouldn’t bring him right back to that moment with Amanda, anything that would keep her from looking at him just like Amanda so that he didn’t have to be reminded he was a fuck-up no matter what or who he was involved with- “Christian!” He snapped back into focus once more and he was back with Alexis, her straddling him as she held his face in her hands and looked down at him with worried eyes and concern painting her face. “Uh-sorry.” He gathered himself again quickly. “I-” he took a breath in to find his center once more “I lost myself a little bit there.” Alexis isn’t swayed by that, she instead looks Christian over again and then kisses his cheek. “Sorry, if you’re not ready-”

“No, I am!” Christian exclaimed, prompting a new reaction from Alexis as he attempted to salvage his words as quickly as he could. “I just wasn’t expecting you to ask about that and it’s been a while since I thought about doing that with another person, ya know?” Alexis’ expression softens. “Chris, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.” “But I want to-” “Do you?” She interrupts, her words stopping him in his tracks as though she’s pinned him down. 

He doesn’t feel like prey however, he feels like the darkest thing lurking in the shadows that awaits the drop of her guard, ready to turn her into a fresh carcass and kill their relationship in one fell swoop and watch her heart break as it has many times before and be the final nail in her proverbial coffin that puts her last will to love him to rest forever. She again pulls him in like she is gravity drawing him closer like a meteor to her inevitable doom. “Christian. I’ve-” She hesitates. “I’ve learned, after a long time, to listen, and I want to hear you say that you want this.” She holds his hands in her own, gripping close the anchor that will drown her. “I’m…sorry, Alexis” He finally confesses. He’s ready to be laid at the altar of his sins and put to death for the weight of his heart bearing far more on the scale than what feels like the feather of her love for him. “For what?” She asks. He pauses, almost surprised as though she doesn’t know that he’s transgressed against her. “I can’t bridge with you.” He resigns. She is silent and Christian knows she is holding the blade that will cut his last rope leading to heaven. He is ready for her to cast him into the flames. “...do you want to talk about it?” His heart is ready to leap from his chest and find refuge elsewhere, he has no plea that will soften the blow of his revelation nor any lie that could defuse it. He lays himself bare to be persecuted and finally be done with this long song and dance that Alexis has somehow found herself lulled into so that she can finally realize that she was always dancing with a ghost in the silent darkness. “I’ve tried-before and I’ve done it with some of the pack while we were on jobs but…” He sighs, verbalizing what he knows will finally get her to see the truth. “I can’t do it with people I care about. I’ve really tried, Lexi. I have. I want it to work but it just hasn’t worked.” A pause from her stretches into a long quiet.

Then she looks at him with curiosity, like a cat eyeing something new and interesting. “So…you’ve bridged while you were working with your pack?”

Christian is confused but he continues to answer her with a nod. “But romantically…?” Her question hangs on a while longer as Christian pieces together what she’s asking. He knows that she can understand what he’s saying. He can’t feel love for another person. Everyone talks about bridging as some grand connection filled with a love deeper than the ocean for another person but he’s never felt that, it’s always just been like a walk along the beach, watching that ocean and seeing the tide roll back and forth while never getting the hint to dip his feet in. “I can’t do it.” Alexis puts more thought into the information but she doesn’t seem phased. She should. Christian just told her that he can’t love her and as though she in fact wishes to solidify her state of unacknowledgement, she replies “Can I ask you a question?” Okay, so maybe she doesn’t get it. He’ll help clarify.

“Sure.” He says. “Have you considered that maybe it didn’t work cuz you were forcing yourself to do something you couldn’t?” Christian now pauses, his mind now more puzzled than it ever has been before. “What?” “Okay.” Alexis puts a hand to her chin to think. “You’ve bridged on jobs, right?” “Yes.” He nods. “How’d that feel?”

“...like…it was just us, working.” “Right, and the last time you tried, what were you feeling?” Christian revisits the memory to recollect every feeling of the moment he broke Amanda’s heart but he condenses it all into one sentence.

“Like…I couldn’t feel that spark, I know that spark is supposed to be there.” “Have you felt that spark when you bridged on a job?” “No.” “Alright.” She pauses and squints her eyes as she figures out what to say next. “Have you considered that you’re aro?” Oh. WAIT-

[autisticempathydaemon]

Hey hi hello!!! How are you today?

I was wondering if I could get a match up?

What song are you fixated on at the moment? What lyric or verse, and why?

I can't stop listening to Brand New City by Mitski since last week. I just really like the emotion in her voice. I also really associate myself with the line "if I gave on being pretty I wouldn't know how to be alive". So that's that.

What is your Enneagram type?

7w8, used to be a 9w1.

Do you love gargantuan Youtube video essays, and if so, which is your favorite and why?

I dooo! I really like enjoy video essays about linguistics and mental illnesses as well

Tell me about your childhood imaginary friend.

I never really had an imaginary friend. I mean, I remember being annoyed at my shadow for copying everything I do, but I don't think that counts.

I actually didn't have any friend untill I went to school. I was always okay playing by my self.

Though I do remember making little scenarios in my head while playing on the playground; one of them being me as Harley Quinn trapped in jail while Joker saves me (I was obsessed with Harley Quinn as a kid, okay..)

What is your go-to way to fall asleep?

Rambling asmr.

If you had to change your name, what would it be, and why? (In tandem, if you have changed your name, why did you pick that one?)

I'd like to pick a name that sounds nice in most languages, since mine doesn't.

Maybe something like Eleanora with Nora as a nickname.

What is your favorite of Redacted’s audios, and why?

I can't pick one so I'll say "holiday decorating with your boyfriend but he's a chaotic mess" and "listening in on your crush's thoughts". These are the audios that really made me smile like an idiot. They don't really have anything to do with the plot yet they're still my favourite.

What Redacted boy holds no appeal to you, and why? Like, not the one you hate but the one who you don’t get the hype for. (I won’t judge, I promise.)

Hot take but...David. It's just...idk man, I usually like the tsundere type put sometimes I feel like David is too rude. I enjoyed his first audio but the rest...idk man. I like angel a lot tho. I myself a lot in them, but David is definitely not the type I'd go for. I'd probably feel really annoying and unloved with a guy like him 🤷‍♀️

Tell me about that one book/movie/tv show you know all the words to.

"The spy next door". I watched it waaaaaay too many times as a kid and I sometimes still do.

Which Redacted boy are you platonically attracted to? Like- forget dating, which dude do you want to be your best friend?

Asher!!! He seems like so much fun dude. He also reminds me a lot of my friend.

Do you have a go-to thing you ramble about when you’re tired, and if so, what is it? (For example, my boyfriend knows I’m ready to sleep when I start talking about space.)

I start rambling about 'what if' scenarios. Like what if I was born a year later? What if brother hadn't been born? What if that one time at the cafe I didn't order my usual drink?

Stuff like that.

Tell me your go-to gas station and drink combo.

Idk I can't drive...😔

Chocolate and banana milkshake is my go to drink tho.

Tell me about your favorite playlist at the moment. 

All my saved songs mashed up...

What’s your guilty pleasure media, and why?

Harry Potter fanfiction.... hear me out okay... I know it sounds...bad.. But damnit some of the fics are just too good.

Other info:

Idk if this is important or not but my mbti is ENTP-T and I'm also very short (5'1). Do what you must with that information...

Thank you!!

The combination of your personality traits gives me the impression of an extroverted, strong-willed person; they’re giving Smartass, you know? This combined with your preference towards tsunderes makes me think you’d be a good match with Aaron.

I can get what you mean about David being “too rude”; in contrast, Aaron’s certain brand of tsundere reads more playful? Like, he grasped early on when the attitude isn’t serving him or when to tone it down which is why I like him better for you. Also, the fact that your chosen name would be Eleanora and his brother’s name is Elliott, the fact that both his most loved people in the world could be called “El” is just really cute. That’s kismet a little bit.

Your life with Aaron would be such a dream (though that’s any life with Aaron, I will admit.) I can clearly imagine him making you your favorite milkshake every Saturday morning to start your weekend right (even though I can see him personally hating it /lh something about his vibe tells me he hates chocolate and banana together but not as much as he loves you). I can see him asking you about the fanfic you’re reading- not because he cares about Harry Potter (he doesn’t particularly) but because he likes to hear you talk about it. Also, your not being able to drive is fun because he’s an excellent driver, and don’t we all dream just a little bit of having to be a passenger prince(ss)? /lh

Song:

I just don't wanna miss you tonight/ And I don't want the world to see me/ 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand/ When everything's made to be broken/ I just want you to know who I am

One, that last line is very tsundere-core, that sentiment of “I don’t need the world to know or see me as long as I have you”. Two, this song is such a classic, and it matches the alt, rock, grunge vibe that Aaron gives me. I think he likes this song and genre a lot.

Runner-ups:

In addition to giving me Smartass vibes, your personality types also remind me of a more extroverted Damien; because of this, Huxley would be a cute runner-up for you. To do a total one-eighty, your mention of considering What If’s means I just have to give you Echo as a runner-up okay heaR ME OUT-

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[tangentsimmer]

Movin' Up (& Out)!

Deep breaths. Everything is fine.

Ari felt like a child heading into the principal's office as she stood in front of the doors of "Dinky Beats Studios." What has probably only been a moment felt like hours as Ari stared at the door, unable to go in. She was met with a lot of confused and frustrated looks from other sims walking around her to go in and out of the building.

"Um, honey..." It was Ari's mom's nervous chuckle that pulled her from her trance. Junie placed a hand gently on her daughter's arm. "I don't want to push too much, but I don't think we can keep standing in front of the doors like this. We're kind of in the way."

Ari gulped and took one last deep breath. "Right," she said while exhaling, throwing an internal Hail Mary to gather as much confidence as she could. She's been here before, but never to meet the CEO of the label one-on-one like this. In fact, Ari's never met the CEO of the label. She's only really worked with Krishna Anand, a music producer that produces for the label. Communication between her and the label was never this vague. Even Krishna was communicating less with Ari. Ari really did feel like she was headed towards detention, only this "detention" affected her livelihood and dreams. But, with one push, Ari was through the other side of the door, greeted by a receptionist.

"Welcome to Dinky Beats Studios! My name's Clarissa -- how can I help you?" She was wearing a light blue sweater with purple puffy pigtails. A headset was attached to her ear. She didn't even look up as she greeted Ari, but continued to type away on the computer.

"Hi, um, I'm Ari Ito. I'm-"

Clarissa's head snapped up and her fingers froze on her keyboard. "OH MY GOSH OF COURSE!" Clarissa's sudden exclamation startled Ari, and Clarissa quickly composed herself, and stood up. "I'm so sorry. I'm a huge fan and I didn't even recognize you and we've been expecting you, and Mr. Pine is-"

"Right here." The elevator doors were closing behind a short man with blonde hair and a five-o' clock shadow. He was wearing a denim button down shirt with khakis. "I'll take it from here, Clarissa. Thank you. And next time, please look up from what you're doing to greet our clients." Clarissa looked embarrassed and sat back down in her chair. The blonde-haired man walked up to Ari, extending a hand. "Ari. It's so nice to finally meet you. I'm Asher Pine, CEO of this here record label. Welcome!"

Ari's gaze shifted between Clarissa and Asher as she grasped Asher's hand firmly and shook, much to Asher's approval. "It's nice to finally meet you, thanks for having me. This is my mother, Junie." Asher and Junie exchanged handshakes and quick "hi's" as Junie wore a tight smile. There was something about him to her that seemed off.

"I'm sure you're probably anxious to know why I personally requested you at the studios this morning."

"Anxious is an understatement," Ari laughed nervously, and Asher joined in.

"Well, right this way, let's go to my office to talk, we have a lot to discuss!" Ari and Junie followed Asher to the elevator to his office. Ari took in the photos on the walls of different celebrities of current and past that worked with "Dinky Beats." Ari couldn't help but feel inspired and honored. She's walking the same halls they've walked. She's one of them! "I hope the trip here was okay?"

"Oh, it was fine, but, Mr. Pine-"

"Please, call me Asher." By this point, they had made it to Asher's executive office, and he held the door open for them. "And please, help yourselves to refreshments and snacks and join me at the table."

"Oh, thanks, but, Asher?" Ari grabbed a bottle of water. "I'm confused, honestly. Am I heading into bad news? Because I know I haven't released-"

"Bad news?? Why do you think we have bad news?" Asher plopped into his chair and spun around until he was facing Ari. "Did someone say something to you?"

"Well, no," Ari took a seat across from Asher, and Junie found a seat beside her. "It's just that you guys are constantly pushing me to release music and content and do shows and meetups and I haven't been putting out anymore music in the meantime. But I am working on music. I actually have an EP ready to release right now. I brought it and I want to show you."

Asher sat up in his seat, his eyes not leaving Ari's face. "Ari, I-"

"No, please just hear me out, Mr.-er, Asher. I am dedicated. I've worked so hard to get here. This is all I've ever wanted and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be under this label. I have, for you, right now, 4 songs for an EP ready for release. Let me show you, Asher, because I am good. I will bring this label so much money. And I will have so much fun doing it. Just...if you're considering dropping me, don't. It will be a mistake."

Ari exhaled sharply, awaiting Asher's response. Junie gave Ari a supportive hand squeeze. A slow smile started to form on Asher's face.

"Ari. We aren't dropping you. We want you to tour."

Junie's gasp filled the room as she covered her mouth and looked wide-eyed at her daughter. Ari was frozen, her expression still the same.

We want you to tour.

"You mean, like a real tour?" Junie asked, squeezing Ari's hand to gather her attention. "Like concert venues and stadiums and props and sets and rehearsals and traveling and sound checks?" Junie's eyes got wider with each description, and Ari closed her eyes, a small smile forming on her face. All of her worries seemed so silly now. Akira was right. She was right.

"Exactly that," Asher chuckled, intertwining his fingers. His gaze went back to Ari. "Ari, I'm sure you're aware of Hunter Huntsley, right?"

Ari opened her eyes and nodded, taking a few swigs of her water before speaking. "Y-yes! Hunter Hunstley, pop star, I love him! I follow him on everything. He's incredible." And Dinky Beats' biggest money maker. "W-why do you ask?"

Asher's smile widened. "Well, he's announcing his tour this week, called "The Heartbreaker Tour," and he's searching for the perfect opening act. I told you him about you, and how you've been with the label for some time now and that you have some serious potential. You just need some...help promoting your work. And get this: he said he already knew about you! He loves your voice, and he's a big fan of your single." Ari's heart skipped a few beats. 'The Hunter Huntsley!' She thought. 'A fan of my music!'

"He wants to meet with you and discuss going on tour with him as his opening act," Asher continued, "but we need an answer quickly Ari; we already have venues booked."

"Wait, hold on," Ari couldn't wrap her head around what was being said to her. A tour? With Hunter Huntsley?! "You want me to tour. With Hunter Huntsley?"

"Yes. The first leg of the tour is here in San Myshuno, and we plan to book dates in San Sequoia, Copperdale, Willow Creek, Windenburg, and Sulani in the future. Of course, that means we need you to relocate to San Myshuno in the meantime. We can set you up with first and last's months rent on an apartment here in the district, and we all need to meet to sign some contracts and talk logistics." Asher clapped his hands together in delight. "And I'm so happy to hear that you have an EP ready to go! Perfect timing. Let's get to a booth with Krishna and get this EP released tonight!"

"Tonight?!" Ari's shock was fading off and excitement began to creep in. "I'm releasing an EP and announcing myself as Hunter Huntsley's opening act tonight?!" Ari couldn't help the squeal that escaped her as she and her mother hugged. "Yes, 100% I will do this! Thank you so much! Oh my gosh, mom!" Ari turned to her mom and gave her another big hug. "I did it!"

"I knew you could!" Junie's eyes twinkled with pride and a little bit of tears. "How soon does she need to be back here?"

"Well it's Monday today, so let's head to the booth to work on getting your EP released by midnight. On Friday, I would like you to be back here to meet the whole production crew--Hunter's touring team. They're going to be your team too. We meet, talk logistics, sign contracts, shake hands, take pictures, and set schedules, and we're hitting the ground running by next Monday."

Ari's jaw dropped involuntarily. Move away from Oasis Springs? In four days?? And be touring in a week???

"This tour is starting out at 8 weeks," Asher continued, "but Hunter always tours well, so we could be extending the tour through the year towards fall or even winter. Definitely through the rest of this spring and summer. This will probably the biggest project of your career thus far, and I need you to be all in. This won't be easy; this job will demand you of your time and sometimes your sanity. But it comes with so many benefits and rewards if you see it through. Can you commit to this? Because it's Hunter's call if you do decide to go on tour with him. If he wants you out -- at any point -- then you're out, no questions asked. And that won't look good for you."

"I won't disappoint you, I promise. I've been waiting for this my whole life, I'm ready." Ari didn't feel intimidated by Asher's words. As an artist, she knew what she had to offer. But it did feel as if Ari was about to agree to step into this brand new, grand life, and that was intimidating.

"Great, that's what I like to hear. Well, this is a day of celebration! I'll let Hunter know. And I'm glad you'll have songs to sing as opening act; I was honestly worried you were going to have to open with a bunch of cover songs." Asher snorted as he stood up and adjusted his shirt, extending his hand to Ari again. "Congratulations, Ari. This is going to be big for our careers."

[rottmntliberation]

omg do any of you guys like neon genesis evangelion?

personally, i love it. i find myself really relating to the main character, shinji. i think asher would also relate to shinji. shinji is just so me coded. the fear of being left behind and abandoned really speaks to me. i also feel like that all the time. i feel like i'm not good enough for anyone to like me. shinji's uncomforted with social situations is also something I relate to. im a loner. i dont fit in. just like shinji. my emotions are just consistently through the roof and i have a really hard time controlling them. i always listen to music to drown out the world around me. i guess i really am shinji.

Okay Anon, clearly you have submitted this feeble ask to get under my usually very thick and impenetrable skin, but I feel as if it wouldn't do the visual masterpiece Neon Genesis Evangelion justice if I DIDN'T answer your entirely ludicrous and abhorrent dig at my personal problems. First and foremost, how DARE you use MY life and traumatic experiences to compare yourself to a character you most likely have nothing in common with. Did you fail to save your friends and the people you care about? Are you isolated from everyone around you, feeling like you're barely drifting along and that at a moment's notice you'll slip up and lose everything you've worked to gain? No. You don't. You have no idea what it means to be Shinji and you never will. Your generalized anxiety most likely has no impact on the world around you, so why don't you run along and take your daily 20mg of citalopram before you joke about the things I've been through and very deeply feel. Second of all, no, I don't relate to him, and I find it insulting that you'd compare me to such a tormented character. He can't "bag a baddie", I HAVE a baddie (Tyler has said this himself), we are nothing alike. If anything, if I were to relate to or "kin" any fictional character, I'd prefer to remain in the realms of Donatello or perhaps Shadow the Hedgehog, but I still think kinning is new age zoomer bullshit (no offense Tyler I love you so much), so no, I will not kin. Thank you for your oh so intellectual ask, you will now be blocked.

~ Asher

[gaystuffgarbage]

Okay, now I have the idea in my little dumb head that Asher and Connor almost got in trouble one day just walking around town.

My brain spun one funny-nightmarish story that I won't hold back from telling you.

One day, close to evening, Connor suggested to Asher that they go for a walk along the streets and eat at some cheap café (or vice versa, Asher suggested to Connor... it doesn't matter).

They're strolling quietly along a deserted street, but suddenly an armed guy in an obviously drunken state rum out of the alley just ahead of them. And you could tell he was pissed off. He started firing (machine gun lol?) left and right, and since there weren't many people on the street, the shells were flying in waves. The guys didn't even have time to realize anything. Saved them (thanks to my brain damned) my sona, Proto. Like a true hero in a cheap movie, he blocked the guys with his body. BUT. There is one thing to consider in this situation. PROTO HAS THE STRENGTH OF A BEAST. And taking down a man with a gun with a few holes in his body wasn't a big problem for him.

The problem was dealing with the bleeding wounds from the mess. All my boy could do was crawl off into a corner somewhere and try to do something about it.

But guys, instead of running away after the shootout with the other bystanders, decided to visit Proto in his corner. And after they realized that the poor boy wasn't going to make it on his own, they just? picked him up? in their arms? like a little kitten? and dragged? him? home? to Connor?

And Proto was fine with that move. Shadow threw a tantrum, like your mom yelling at you for bringing a lousy kitten in off the street. But in the end, he agreed because "that kid saved our lives, have some compassion."

And Proto lived with everyone else, like a regular family member, or family friend.

...

My brain sometimes does some surprisingly cute and crazy things, sorry...

O

[meredoubt]

As much as I want to keep messing around with Morgue Ingellvar (the brain was acting up today, so I got up to blearily recruiting Lucanis in fits lmao), I think i'm gonna focus on Dirge/Dust de Riva. I gotta finish the game lmao! And i actively miss playing him! Like enough that if I want to make other choices/romances, I may stick with him. That's my stupid pathetic guy. Baldur's Gate 3 gave ME a tadpole, as it turned out.

Plus, I have all these little snippets I want to write about Emmrich helping him transition into working with the Mournwatch, his prickly relationship with Neve and Lucanis helping with that. The YEARNING he feels for Lace (and Emmrich, i really do still think there's something there). Him grappling with the Crows, and how they've changed in some ways, but he's old enough to remember, and the way he almost resents the younger recruits for being recruits. For getting to be...freedom fighters. The way he deals with Solas, because for him, deities never really entered into it. Big names are always just words (he has thoughts on the ways the Crows obfuscate and distance themselves with like...contract. target. Regards.) HIM RECONNECTING WITH ASHER THROUGH THE SHADOW DRAGONS. I have a whole homoerotic duel for the two of them planned out in the Hall of Valor!!! Fuck!! Let two men press their foreheads together on the field of battle. Not in love, anymore, but in acknowledgement that they could have been. LET MY ASSASSIN INTRODUCE DAVRIN TO HIS PIRATE BF

[veil0fshadows]

Asher Voss had always been the kind of guy you’d trust with your homework or spare change. He was the golden boy with a GPA that turned heads, his teachers lauding him as the next big thing. He walked the halls of Eastbridge College with an easy smile and an aura of promise. But that world slowly caved in around him, collapsing under the weight of his decisions.

It happened like this: after acing a particularly difficult calculus exam, he met a few friends at a bar off-campus. What was supposed to be a celebration transformed into a spiral of poor choices. One shot of tequila turned into five; one line of banter morphed into reckless liaisons with some not-so-nice characters. Asher began to hang around a group that thrived on chaos and danger. Initially, it felt exhilarating—his life felt electrified, as if he had suddenly crossed into a realm where rules ceased to exist. But thrill faded when the debts piled up too high and the dangers became all too real.

Asher found himself cornered in a narrow alley one fateful evening, the atmosphere heavy with anxiety and dread. The clamoring of footsteps echoed behind him, and he could feel the threat in their voices—their impatient demands for money he didn’t have. Cards were already stacked against him; the thrill of rebellion had morphed into a nightmare. Just as they closed in, ready to dispense their “justice,” a figure emerged from the shadows.

Noah “Shade” Young, a name whispered among students and feared in certain circles, stepped into the light with a swagger that only painted his arrogance further. He was cocky, exuding confidence like it was cologne. It was no longer about saving one kid from danger; it was a statement. His dark eyes flickered with disdain as he sized up the situation, and in moments that felt frozen in time, the assailants were put in their place, with Noah’s voice slicing through the night’s tension like glass.

“You got a problem with my friend?” A challenging grin plastered on his face. It took mere moments for the intimidating aggressors to reconsider their choices, retreating into the dark corners from whence they came, casting Asher a glance filled with both disdain and disbelief.

And just that quickly, Asher’s life was forever altered. Noah took him under his wing, and with that came an initiation into a world that had seemed both distant and tantalizing. Asher liked to tell himself he was lucky; he was grateful that fateful night had led him to Noah. But deep down, there was an echoing regret that lingered with every task he undertook for his new boss.

Noah was everything Asher wasn’t—brazen, charismatic, and unapologetic. Together, they formed a bond that was equal parts admiration and a growing sense of obligation. Noah operated on instinct, often veering into murky territories for quick fix solutions, and Asher found himself scrambling in the shadows to make everything happen seamlessly. His tasks evolved from something as trivial as covering up a spat, to cleaning up the messes Noah left behind without a second thought. He found himself in places he’d never envisioned—dangerous confrontations, discarded warehouses, and late night meetings with individuals far scarier than the crowd that had once cornered him.

But it wasn’t just about protecting himself anymore; it was about shielding Noah too. Asher often joked internally that he’d rather take a bullet for the arrogant figure than see him get hurt. His loyalty ran deep, almost too deep, feeding into the fantasy that stood before them—a brotherhood forged amidst chaos and peril.

Noah’s flair lingered like smoke in the air; he never backed down, and neither did Asher, despite the ever growing fears churning in his gut. Each job reinforced his role, binding him closer to the thrill and danger swirling around them. “Shade” became a prized title and a shadow behind each of Noah’s flamboyant moves, masking Asher’s own rising concerns regarding the life they were leading.

But there was something about their reckless ventures that fueled Asher’s once—studious nature. As he traveled deeper into the uncharted territory, shadows began to dance in the periphery—reminders of the future he’d wanted, one filled with classrooms and textbooks instead of poor choices and shady deals. It was a duality he struggled with: being Noah’s right–hand man, driven to succeed in a world he loathed yet couldn’t seem to escape.

The cocoon of loyalty wrapped around him, making it harder to breathe but easier to convince himself he still belonged. Asher could weave through dirtier work while keep a straight face, glimmers if the good student peeking through his wolfish grin. After all, at the end of the day, he was still the golden boy—but now, he wore a darker cloak. He had chosen this life, and despite the chaos, there was no turning back. Or perhaps there would be. But when faced with choosing between his past and Noah’s present, his heart fused somewhere between loyalty and longing.

[crystalanis]

Moonlight revenge part 2

"So do you have a girlfriend?"

The swarm of girls around me have been investigating me nonstop. I must say i do like the attention.

"I don't know? Do look like i would have a girlfriend?"

"You look like you'd have two."

"You look like you'd have a dozen"

I was about to answer when a girl plopped on my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. "You look like you could use one more" she was quite pretty. Good bod, tam skin, flowy black hair in a tight ponytail. The small mole on her chin completed her looks.

The girl noticing asher checking her out says "I'm Sabrina. Sabrina White."

"Well hello there sabrina white. I'm Asher" ans i take her hand and kiss it softly on the back "it is an honour to make your acquaintance my lady"

This releases several squeels out of the crowd and a slight blush on Sabrina's face. I do love the effect i have on women. I see her lips parting to say something but a not-so-endearing voice stops her short.

"Class is about to start ladies."

It is the prefect. With his announcement the crowd scatters and my dear sabrina leaves me, not without giving me a wink, and sits back in her seat.

I was not pleased by the power this party pooper holds.

"Logan was it?"

"It's Lucas, mister newson"

"Right right. Lucas." I slowly get off my seat "i dont like the way you order my fiends around. LUCAS"

I stepped closer to him. My tall build slightly towering over his. Making him engulfed in my shadow.

"Being bellow other people is look that befalls you. Let me guess, the principal's guard dog are you?"

"I am simply keeping the class in order. A subject you might not be quite familiar with, are you Asher?"

"And who might you be to keep yours truly in 'order' ?"

"I am the prefect in this school. I outrank all 3rd years. Even the transferred ones"

"Did you just threaten me, harry potter?"

At this point his round glasses were getting fogged by my breath. This boy didn't even flinch.

That somehow pissed me off even more.

I grab him by the collar and lift his little feet off the ground "threatening me wont fly so easily"

He grabbed me with both hands "neither does threatening me pretty boy"

" Aw you think I'm pretty? And here i thought you didn't like me"

"You thought correct"

Before the fight could continue, and i was ready to punch this brown eyed bitch in the face, the doors of the class slammed open.

In the doorway stood a girl. Long brown messy hair all over her, her stance out of breath and her eyes locked on ... Lucas? Wasn't this the same girl i saw from the car?

"Book girl?"

"Alex!"

'how do you know her' left our lips at almost the same time. Before we could continue our stare off she said

"The teacher is coming"

As she said those words the teacher enters the room but not before we let go of eachother and each sit at our tables.

"Class will now commence" the old fart said.

How on earth does this bastard know every single one of these girls? And how does he have this much power over them?

I don't like this lucas bastard at all.

The rest of the class meant fuck all to me. Was it history or algebra I'm not sure. I just know that the crowd around me had faded into a shadow of girls following me down the hallway. This bitch had scared them off.

I was pissed. First my dad, then the rude headmistress and now this lucas guy thinks he can just boss me around.

I saw him enter the library.

If i know anything i know that the library has a lot of places to hook up. I bet i can find him red handed in the act.

I entered the library. The smell musty and old. Up to the fucking dome was books.eatger bound and old looking full of ladders and balconies. I almost felt dizzy looking up at them. I almost forgot why i even was there.

I stepped closer and i heard a dangerous sound. Then everything for a moment went black.

.............................................................

Alex pov

The bell rang and i sprang from my seat next to the door out the classroom in record speed. I found myself back in the library in no time.

I need the second volume of the book i was reading. I started looking at the second level and right up the entryway was the fantasy book section. F . F. F. Forest moonlight i found it! In big golden letters on the top shelf lay the book i needed.

I climbed the ladder and was about to reach it when the old steps gave way. I wiggled and try to steady myself to no luck. My tries loosened the ladder from the railings and i fell backwards, the ladder getting stuck on the second floor railings leaving me mid air praying for my life.

I fell down. Not on something hard, but rather a cussion. Of ... Meat?

I looked down and saw the person that broke my landing, face planted on the carpet.

"Oh my lord!" I quickly got up and helped the poor guy on his feet. He wore a black dress shirt instead of the school blazer. "Are... Are you the transfer student? I'm I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to---"

"Well if it isn't Alex." He said in a still daised voice "are you alright my dear?"

"I.. y-yes" i was taken aback. "How do you know my name"

"Well the way your boyfriend exclaimed it was hard to forget" he said as he rubbed his head. "My my, you're even prettier up close"

I blushed and looked around. I'll be dead meat if one of those girls saw that. "I - i- he's not--"

I heard their voices outside. I went white.

"I'm asher by the way" he said as he extended his hand to help me up.

"I'm... Alexandra" i said. I took his hand to not be rude. He grabbed it and pulled me up dragging me behind him to a dark corner, quickly coving my mouth. I was scared shitless until i saw his eyes were not on me but on the door.

I wanted to say something but he just whispered "shhhhh" softly in my ear as he held me from behind.

The girls burst in, sabrina in the lead.

He grabbed me by my waist pulling me further into him and into the dark corner. It made my breath hitch in the dark and still with anticipation. Fuck. I am way too touch deprived to be doing shit like this.

I heard a small chuckle in my ear, and went cold. No. Did he... Notice?

The next few moments proved it to me. His arm let go of my waist but his icy fingers lingered. Drawing a trace on my body that made me shiver.

"Sensitive are we?" He chuckled in my ear. I tried to break free but he held me tight. He let go of my mouth and grabbed my throat. "I suppose you know why you shouldn't make a sound"

Some girls passed us just then. We could see them from behind the books. Luckily no one noticed us.

I was about to take a deep breath when i felt his hands roaming freely on my body. I went rigid. This is bad. Like really bad. Worse than getting assaulted in the library was getting turned on by it.

His hands were on my higher abdomen and i leaned away from him, unknowingly leaning further into him.

"Oh?" I quickly stood up straight "being forward i see"

"N-no I wasn't"

His hand reached down "no need to be shy"

"I am not" i said as i snatched his hand away

He turned me around pinning me against the wall. When i thought he had other motives i saw him looking at the girls searching

After some searching some left and some took the stairs up the higher shelves.

After some time he lets go of me

"He is not my boyfriend" i say in a soft voice. Dear lord. I might die of shame. He is so close to me and pressing me against the wall. His hands around my wrists and his smell all over me.

"I that so?" He says with a smirk. His eyes are icy. The coldest blue i had ever layed eyes on. I almost forgot how to speak. How on earth can a person be so beautiful? It almost didn't seem real.

He pulled my wrists above my head "how about some sugar for saving your ass?"

"It wasn't my fault they--" my words were broken by a kiss. It was deep and messy and so godforsaken good. It must've been years since i last was touched. Let alone kissed.

Before i knew it i melted into his kiss. One of his hands grabbed my by the waist pulling me in. My knees gave way and as i was about to stumble to the ground like a bunch of old rags, he caught me with his knee.

With his knee between mine. I gasped against the kissed, my eyes wide from the sensation that just ran through me. I tried to wiggle free but just ended up grinding against his leg.

I went absolutely weak. And red. I was a mess. I was melting right in this boy's arms.

He stopped the neverending kiss to take a look at me "jesus your like a sex god girl calm do- " h stopped short looking at my face. I think i saw the slightest hint of blush in his eyes.

He came back for another kiss. This time his hand reached up further and he started unbottoning My blouse

"No, no wait" i said trying to pull away again.

"How could i possibly after you giving me that look? Look at yourself. You're practically begging for it."

His smirk. His god damn smirk.

He let go of my hands and Grabbed me by the chest, fondling my breasts. He lifted his knee making me float by the crutch and gasp uncontrollably. I grabbed his trousers to not fall of and shuddered

He mockingly chuckled "babe, dud you just cum?"

I looked at him with a rage i didn't know i still had in me

I almost intuitively stepped out of the dark and away from him. "I--"

"What is going on here?" I turned around. It was Lucas.

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[kaijennex]

Hunter Jules is a tired millennial who has yet to find any happiness in his life—the true kind of happiness that you find with another person that makes all the bad shit worth it.

He always wanted something more than the mundane. He wasn’t asking for dragons, demons and time travel, but finding a nice, preferably hot, guy and settling down wouldn’t be so bad.

But after meeting Ace, a guy who could shift from man into dragon, he realized that the simple life wasn’t in the cards for him.

Hunter has a secret—a secret that he doesn’t know. There are forces in the world trying to play him like a pawn on a chessboard, and if he doesn’t act fast, everyone he loves will die.

If he fails, he will be the one to deliver the killing blow.

💙🖤

Cold Fire and Silver Magic are a new mmmm fantasy romance. There is focus on the two couples as they work through their relationships, and later on they realize that they all need each other.

There are two books in the first part that are already out and free to read on Kindle Unlimited!

The sequel is already well on its way to release.

You will find:

✔️ friends to lovers

✔️slow burn

✔️enemies to lovers

✔️ found family

✔️ lots of spice

✔️ dark themes

✔️ good guy turned bad guy

✔️ HEA

This is a paranormal series with warlocks, angels and demons, plus more. Each book is dense and long (over 700 pages!) and full of spice. I list triggers at the beginning, so don’t forget to read them. Enjoy!

Free on Kindle Unlimited!

Cold Fire (The Whispers of Shadows Book 1) https://a.co/d/ek32sWq

🤍💜

Hunter was born to destroy the world—but he can’t get the dragon shifter with silver eyes out of his head.

Ace doesn’t think he is worthy of love—but he was born with a mark on his soul that will prove him wrong.

Asher believes that he is an apathetic monster—but his greatest downfall will always be that he cares too much.

Zane thinks that he is weak and useless—but he has no idea that he has the strength to save them all.

[angstfactory]

"You'd think so, but it's actually pretty rare I see any of you work magic," he reflected. "Real magic, anyway." Fitzroy had been to plenty of magic shows, which were just humans mimicking whatever they saw and only a shadow of what could truly be achieved. "I haven't seen even the boring, mundane things too often." He shrugged. Why the people of Raven's Peak liked to play as if they were regular, everyday folk without anything special to them, Fitzroy didn't know. Of course he would be impressed-- he'd never be able to do it himself.

"Oh, right," Fitz nodded. So, bit younger than himself. Made sense then, why they hadn't exactly paled around so much one-on-one. Not that he couldn't find common interests with anyone younger, they weren't even that far apart, it was just naturally... sometimes people circled around those they would get paired up with, usually those your own age. "Aw," he smiled some, "so you're a softy." That was endearing, to see that Asher cared about Banks. Brothers or not, not all family cared about each other the way they should. "Ah-- no." Fitzroy combed some hair back from his face and shrugged. "Unless you count 'heir' as a profession, I live a privileged life." He was only saying the obvious. While he wasn't necessarily ashamed of his trust fund baby status, the Brit knew that there were others out there not impressed or happy with folks like him. Because it wasn't anything he earned (or, they'd assume, appreciated), he merely lucked into the family lottery.

Whatever was going on upstairs, he would take Asher's word for it that things were fine. Kai's life was Kai's life, far as Fitz knew, he'd never been the man's keeper.

"Demisexual," the human repeated, a bit confused, as he wasn't very familiar with the term. "But you can love someone?" Fitzroy adjusted his arm, so he might grab his phone and check into the term itself right then and there. "And you can be attracted?" His gaze shifted up briefly as he questioned frankly, "Aroused?" The curiosity got the better of him, despite knowing it probably wasn't appropriate to pry so much. "Of course, you don't have to answer that," he murmured politely, reading through the definition of 'demisexual' on the phone. "So.. basically.. looks and intimacy don't necessarily matter to you? It's about the connection," he assumed. That's how Google made it sound, anyway. "Interesting." Fitzroy pocketed his phone. This was the first time someone had labeled themselves like that to him. "It's remarkable," he mused, "all the ways we can label ourselves." He still offered the other man a faint look of uncertainty. "How do you know you're demiseuxal, if you've never been in love?" Truly, he just wanted to understand the way Asher had come to this. "I think there are people who have no interest in this whatsoever.. if you've never been in love, maybe it's because you don't care for it?"

His parents would be ashamed, that he was over here prying into this poor guy's life. But, Fitzroy figured since Asher offered the information unprompted, then surely he wouldn't mind a few questions on it? He'd stop prying, if the other asked him to.

At least Asher hadn't seemed too broken up over the Celine thing. "You'll probably recognize it, mate-- one all over the radio right now." Normally, he might have done with something a bit older or even 80s, because those were classics he rather enjoyed. But lately, this one Fitzroy had connected with. Certain bits of it, anyway. And he only planned to go over the parts that did. The rest of it was about some girl and well, none of that mattered. Clearing his throat, he focused down at the chords and started up, though his version was a bit slower, "Ooooh oh," just to drop in on the parts of it that resonated for him most, "please.. don't.. take.. I found my mind, I'm feelin' sane, it's been a while but I'm finding my faith.." His accent fell away some with the strength of voice Fitzroy possessed, which he sounded confident in. "If everything's good and it's going great, why do I sit and wait 'til it's gone? Oh I'll tell ya I know I've got enough, I've got peace and I've got love, but I'm up at night thinkin' I just might lose it all.." Here the strums suddenly got louder, as did his voice, the more he got into it. "Please -- stay -- I want you, I need you, oh god, dont -- take -- these beautiful things that I've got," Fitz put in a couple of those ooh'ohs here, the crescendo lessening to a softer sound as he finished the last please -- stay -- I want you, I need you, oh god. A few more chords that eventually died off, his fingers coming to lay across them to cut the down suddenly.

Fitz shrugged, actually feeling his face a bit hot all of a sudden even though he forced himself to meet Asher's eye like that wasn't a thing. There was always some kind of nerves when playing in front of anyone. Adrenaline. "It's a neat song."

Asher flashed Fitzroy a grin. "I’m happy to captivate an audience. It’s the showmanship in my blood," he said with a playful twinkle in his eye. Unlike his family, Asher enjoyed being a bit of a show-off. Bianca kept her magic low-key, Ivan was more into his arcade games, and Banks never liked to talk about his gift. But Asher embraced his magic fully, using it as often as he could—maybe even a bit too much. He figured that if he had it, he might as well use it. Especially in situations like this, where he could put on a little performance. "I’m surprised you’re impressed after all these summers," he continued. "My little instrument show was the highlight? That’s just because no one around here has any imagination anymore. Magic is supposed to be fun, but everyone just uses it for boring, mundane things." He wished people would get more creative with their magic instead of just using it to cook or mend things.

"Twenty-five," Asher announced proudly. He was the youngest in their group of friends, not by much, but it seemed like everyone still saw him as Banks' little brother, even though they were only a year or two older than him. He didn’t mind it too much. He genuinely loved his friends and had always been used to hanging out with an older crowd, especially since he had skipped two grades in school. "My full-time gig is producing tracks for indie bands. I do some for my brother’s band, but I don’t charge them as much as I should. He really ought to be thanking me," he joked, laughing lightly. "Do you work, Fitz?"

Asher glanced up at the ceiling with a nonchalant shrug. "Who knows?" He had a pretty good idea, considering Emily had gone upstairs about an hour before Fitzroy showed up, and neither Kai nor Emily had made an appearance since. His imagination went wild, but he kept those thoughts to himself. He looked back at Fitzroy with a reassuring smile. "I’m sure it’s fine, though."

Asher swung his legs back and forth as he listened to Fitzroy talk about the importance of the smaller things rather than grand gestures. It made him think about his parents, who had a quiet but loving marriage. He nodded as Fitzroy spoke, agreeing with the sentiment. Asher had always thought that relationships were about the little things—like going out to get someone coffee at any time of day. When Fitzroy started questioning him about his statement of never being in love, Asher shrugged. "It’s harder for me than for most people," he admitted. "Sure, I’ve cared for people. I’ve had crushes, but only on a handful of people. I don’t feel any attraction or anything toward someone until I have an emotional bond with them. I’m demisexual. It’s only happened a handful of times in my life, so no, I’ve never been in love, but I’ve liked people enough."

Asher knew he was pushing his luck by suggesting Celine Dion, so he wasn’t too surprised when Fitzroy admitted he didn’t know how to play it. He figured that was the end of that, and Fitzroy wouldn’t play anything. But when Fitzroy offered to play something else instead, Asher’s face lit up with excitement. "Oh, absolutely! I’d love to hear it. What song are you thinking?"

[avasghost]

EVERY SUN THAT EVER DIED UPDATE #4

DISCLAIMER: this is my original work and plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated.

you can find update # 1: here, update # 2: here, and update # 3: here.

it seems to be a running tradition that i'll post a writing update and then disappear for four months. and here we are again! it's been so long since my last update that i've written almost 30k words since then, and it takes me an unnaturally long time to write that much usually. i've actually written so much that it definitely won't all fit in this update, so i'm going to split the content over two or three updates (which i literally said i would do last time and it still took this long so don't rely on me for that hehehe) i also havent posted an update in so long that literally no one posts writing updates anymore.

there's not much to say about the process of writing this because i can hardly remember since it was so long ago oops! also be warned this is a very very long update. without further ado, excerpts and taglist are below the cut!

CHAPTER 11: BEACH HOUSE

Asher and Ezra arrive at the beach house they're renting for the summer and this chapter is just very wholesome in general. lets ignore the fact that they somehow had the money to rent a house even though they're both broke. in this house we don't care about logic if it ruins the aesthetic <3

The kitchen is washed in a pale lemon light, shadows leafing across the cedarwood table and countertops. A massive window spans the dining room wall, and the chiffon curtains billow like ghosts in the light breeze.

From the open window, Asher can see everything. The slope of sand dotted with picnic blankets, young couples cupped in sunlight and old couples under wide poplars that stipple the sand with shadows. Driftwood jots the shoreline, and children tiptoe across the wood like gymnasts. The leftover ashes from a campfire are half-buried by the sand, rustled by the light breeze. The ocean is a haze of bodies, tide lapping against the shore and sucking at sandcastles and forgotten plastic shovels left in the sand. It’s breathing, that’s what he always thinks when he sees the ocean. Everything seems to breathe – the poplar with the scalloped leaves that fritz against the window, the wind that rustles them, the rain that waters them. It’s all alive and it’s all dangerous if it wants to be. A briny wind rustles his hair and blisters his cheeks with cold.

here's asher waking up from sleeping on the couch the first morning:

Asher glances at the clock strung above the stove. 10:37. He stands up and walks around the silent living room, passing in and out of the mirages of sunlight glimmering through various windows. He sees a tendril of smoke and notices Ezra standing outside, but doesn’t go and join him. Instead, he continues wandering through the shifting morning light. The light pine floorboards creak under his socked footsteps. This place is peaceful. The sound of laughter carries from the beachside, the slow sloshing of the tide against the sand. A man’s shout. A child crying. More laughter, raucous. All the chaos seems so far away.

Ezra comes inside. The sunlight filters through the screen door, prisms through the glass and casts a kaleidoscope of shadows on every surface. It lights up the dust that fuzzes the air, it lights up the cigarette pinched between Ezra’s fingers. Ezra stands in silence and watches Asher, sunlight cratering his features and making him appear glossy and disjointed. Asher picks a bright green pear out of the fruit bowl on the table and takes a bite.

“We should go out there later,” says Ezra. “It’s nice. Save unpacking for tomorrow. We could have a fire or something.”

the chapter ends when Asher and Ezra sit on the beach at night and make a fire and then they both fall asleep :) guys this scene is so wholesome it is painful (also i realized its kind of illegal to make fires on the beach but once again, vibes over logic. we have to pick our priorities here)

Ezra fiddles with his lighter and it takes three tries before a flume of light appears at the end of the match and he hovers it over the driftwood. Before long, the fire flickers dully, and then grows to the size of a campfire. Its shadow ambers on the sand, and Asher huddles on his blanket, as close to the fire as possible to be cupped in a nova of warmth. Ezra sits close, half on his blanket and half on Asher’s. Sunset drips over the water. Ezra doesn’t smoke like Asher expects him to, but stares into the fire, eyes still flickering. It seems like they’ve been flickering all day. His mouth hangs open slightly, like he’s in a trance. Asher places a hand on his shoulder and he blinks and looks away.

(TW: arson, death) also this is the scene where ezra tells asher about his pyromania and that when he was 16 he burned down his childhood home and his sister died in the fire, which is why he's been able to restrain his urges to set things on fire since then. also is it just me or is arson extremely aesthetic for no reason

Sparks settle in the light of his eyes and for a moment Asher almost thinks he can see the memories behind his eyes, the burning building, the screams of his sister, her pallid, scorched face after her body was found. Asher wonders if they found her body or if it was burned beyond recognition. He wonders if her remnants were buried or pre-cremated and if Ezra could ever bear to look at her face again. If he can even bear to imagine it.

near the end of the chapter, aka some night fire imagery to satisfy the weird verb obsession we all seem to share for some reason

The fire crackles loudly and sparks drizzle through the dark sky. The waning moon gilds white against the blackness, wispy clouds fleecing it in half. Glimmering shadows drift around them like smoke, settling on Asher and Ezra’s bodies and dappling the sand in ovals of pale light.

CHAPTER 12: FALSE ADVICE

working title. aha a parker chapter. i think the problem with parker's chapters is that they're usually kind of meandering, and i have yet to give her a more interesting, substantial plotline. this chapter follows her having lunch with gabriel, a man who offers to help her adjust to the city after leaving the cult, but she ends up leaving because he's kind of an asshole. aka a pointless chapter feat. parker's first time riding in a car! not many excerpts from this chapter but i like this one from the end:

Parker lets the glass door chink shut behind her and bows her head against the rain. It’s just a drizzle now, but feels like a drizzle of glass, slashing against the back of her head and clinging to her hair. Moonlight slices the street into fragments, and she hops over the potholes that riddle the sidewalk, occasionally stepping in one and soaking her shoe. She should have thought of this, should have brought an umbrella, but the day was so warm and prospects so bright that it didn’t cross her mind. In this city, bright prospects always fade before the end of the day. In this city, she always needs an umbrella. In this city. In this city. The city’s name slips her mind and she doesn’t try to remember it.

STILLNESS

a parker vignette where she remembers her friend from the cult, alice, who she misses. she's happy that she isn't there anymore, but sad about how the city is kind of just as bad just in a different way. basically the usual angsty parker thoughts.

CHAPTER 13: GARDEN HANDS

ezra goes back to the apartment to get the rest of their stuff and asher makes a new friend who ends up helping him with the garden behind the house which is really overgrown! her name is nathalie (who some people might remember from the wip intro but probably not) and she is the most wholesome character ever and i love nice people

garden description (yeah i wrote this in november that's how behind i am in writing updates sue me <3)

The garden is lush and overgrown, marigolds bobbing in the back, daisies and dandelions taking up most of the front. Tiki torches tilt in the soil, half buried and sputtering dimly. A weeping willow shades half the garden, which Asher assumes is the reason for its wilting. Dewy sunlight sifts through the branches. A maple tips above Asher’s head, helicopter seeds pinwheeling onto his shoulders and sticking in his hair.

more garden things

Nathalie teaches Asher to clench his hand around the base of the weed, twist it back and forth slightly, ease it out of the soil by the roots. Soon, his fingernails are flecked with mud and his fingers greened with foliage. Nathalie works beside him, chatting about things he doesn’t care about but tries to – the way the wind twists against their backs, the rich smell of the mud, a white butterfly that settles like a ghost on the edge of a maple leaf. After a while, he begins to see what she sees, he sees why she loves it here—the colours, the textures, the shapes and flavours and scents—he wonders how he lived for a month in a stuffy apartment without knowing there were places like this in the city. That it’s not all bad. That there are pockets of life and solitude hidden even in the most artificial, overwhelming places.

ezra's return that evening:

Nathalie leaves around three o’clock, and hours later Ezra returns blued in twilight. His car sputters to a stop on the sandy driveway, and he climbs out. Fireflies glitter around him, in the treetops, flickering in front of the windows. They sail across the sky like shooting stars.

THE WORLD WILL END

ah yes my one of my favourite vignettes in the entire book. im going to put the entire thing even though it's really long because honestly i think it kind of slaps

Light is all you see for miles. Light glisters off the rear-view mirrors of cars, light pinpricks the sky every night, light sheds fluorescent from TV screens and colours in your eyes. Light is all you know. You think of the world as a repeating of itself, as a sphere of light and shadow, as something that crawls with life and even the darkness is made of light here, even the darkness is blinding and binding and burning. You think of the world as a place swarming with insects, polluters; flooded with objects and spirits and everything in between. You don’t know if it should be called chaos or calmness, to know that this is how it is and this is how it will always be. Light is all you see for miles. Light radiates from your own irises and makes the landscape bounce and sway. Don’t be fooled by the illusion. Nothing is changing. You don’t know why but you take comfort in the fact that even this planet won’t last forever, one day it will implode or burst into flame or plummet into a black hole, one day the lights will blink out and strand everything in silence.  You don’t know how to explain that you want it to be over so you don’t have to think anymore, so you can forget the past and not worry about the future. You want to see what happens after you die, if it’s like they said it is or something better or something worse or nothing at all. You want to see the sun burn out, you want to feel it’s fire coil from the sky and melt you into ash. You want to exit in a way that won’t make you look helpless. You want to witness the end of everything in a way that you would witness the death of an old enemy. You want the sun to sputter out and you want to feel it when it does. You wonder how many times this has happened before – is this the first world to eat itself, is this the first sun to die? Is this the trial run or the fifth round? Is any of this really unfamiliar? Is any of this worth repeating? Is any of this worth saving? Light is all you see for miles and you think that if it was dark at least you’d be able to sleep.

CHAPTER 14: UNTITLED

yet another untitled chapter how on brand. its also another kind of pointless parker chapter which is unfinished because i got bored!!

a sunset:

Afternoon decays into evening, light spanning the horizon and shadows staining the apartment floor.

i seriously cant stop writing weather/light/shadow descriptions. it's becoming a problem. whenever im stuck i just change the weather in the scene which works great except now ested is set in a city where the weather changes every five minutes. send help.

there aren't any other excerpts for this one because it needs a lot of editing and will probably be very different when im done with it.

NYCTOPHOBIA

another phobia definition. an extreme fear of the dark.

EZRA

so. this is a recent development but i decided that i'm going to sprinkle in occasional ezra chapters, which are narrated in first person from ezra's pov! this was a random idea that popped in my brain and i ran with it and i think its one of the best decisions ive made. also now this book has parts in third person, second person and first person, which is more complicated than it was supposed to be but it makes sense for the project so im going with it. im going to sprinkle in more ezra chapters earlier in the book but this is the first one i've written! its interesting writing from his pov because he's probably my favourite character i've ever created.

I don’t know how long the power will be out but the darkness is intoxicating. The way it lingers in the air, presses against my eyes, is infinitely close and infinitely far away. Everything blends together, every noise is indistinguishable, distant, jarring. I sit down in the faded blue armchair by the fireplace, which is dead. It would be the best source of light, but I avoid lighting fires as much as I can help it.

not the greatest excerpt but i like some things about it so yeah.

CHAPTER 15: PARALLELS

finally, the moment we've all been waiting for. asher and ezra are in a park and they meet parker! asher and parker recognize each other from the cult obviously and its extremely awkward :) love that for them :)

ezra and asher leaving the house early in the morning:

They shuffle out the door into the pink flush of dawn. The ocean glitters and sloshes quietly against the sand, tide expanding and receding. The sand is pale and studded with forgotten things—plastic shovels, crushed bottles of sunscreen, lost coins rusting in the sun. Ezra and Asher climb into Ezra’s car and Ezra plugs the keys into the ignition.

parker and asher talk and exchange phone numbers and then leave.

her voice sifts through her teeth, almost too quiet to distinguish from the noise of the wind and the birds and the pockets of speech and laughter that firework all around them. Familiarities crop up in places Asher wasn’t expecting to remember – the dimples in her cheeks when she smiles, the way one eye moves slightly slower than the other, the nervous twitch of her left arm. Things he never thought he gathered about her that still slipped in somehow.

and that's all for now! if you read through this entire update i love you and im sorry it was an entire fucking novel length all on its own.

taglist (i just have one for all my wips -- ask to be added/removed!): @flip-phones @chewingthescenery @ghostsofmemories @dallonm @wildswrites @nodeadnarrators @annlillyjose @shaonharryandpannisim @letsgetsquiggly @strangerays @mel-writes-with-her-dragons @teaandtypewriters @kahaaniyaa @coffeeandcalligraphy @47crayons @writing-is-a-martial-art @familiarvillain @bookdragonfanish @childhoodlovers @zoya-writes @pepperdee @oceancold @unorganisedbookshelf @musingsbycaitlin @sunstone-iolite @femmeniism @raywritesstories @rodentwrites @cheerfulmelancholies @therearefrogseverywhere

until next time,

-- rowen

[on-dragons-wings]

While I'm at it, I'll make a post with info abt my other ocs so you guys are in the know.

First on our list is Ryun. Xaos' eternal rival. He was made to be opposite in all ways to Xaos. Xaos wears all black? Ryun wears a pristine and pure white. Xaos is a commoner born to nothing, Ryun is part of the noble class, a knight admired and adored by the commonfolk, in some verses he's even got some chosen one flavoring. And while Xaos' heart is good and full of compassion, Ryun's is anything but. Xaos is honest, wears his heart on his sleeve but Ryun? Well, he hides behind the mask of veneer of a noble presence to mask a very evil man. He is selfish, vain, petty, manipulative, and so much more. If Xaos is the hero, Ryun must also be the villain. However despite being a total snake, Ryun is far from a coward. He has earned his place in the knighthood. A powerful warrior never afraid to back down from a fight. He is confident, because he can back up his abilities. And this skill only validates something he once told Xaos, a statement neither will ever forget. "I was born with greatness in my veins, as opposed to the filth in your's." If you wanted an answer for why Xaos hated the nobility so much, this was your answer. However Ryun is not always the villain, sometimes a bigger threat enters the room, and he must fight side by side with his worst enemy. But not out of duty as knight, not out of wanting to protect people, not even out of self preservation. But simply and solely because he will not be outclassed. If there are villains in the room he has to be the biggest one. Even if no one but him knows it.

Next is a name you've heard a couple times due to the various Xaos verse backstories. Meet Asher. His once best friend now turned enemy. And that's what he is, Ryun may be a rival sometimes and an enemy others all Asher can ever be is an enemy. For who do you hate more than the brother who betrayed your trust? Asher and Xaos emerged from the same shadows but took different lessons. Xaos learned that the downtrodden, the forgotten, and the disenfranchised need to be there for one another because they are all each other has. Asher though? He learned might makes right, that those who have power make all the rules and the only way to change things is to gain power at any means necessary. No matter who has to die for him to get it. Of course, he's not aiming to make change. Not really, that's a lie he tells people. No, no. Asher's goal is feeling safe. If he's strong, no one can ever hurt him. That power is nothing more than a security blanket. He will scar his body, he will slaughter entire towns, betray his best friend just to have his security blanket.

But I don't write exclusively villains, here's a more positive force in Xaos' life! Kyra! Kyra is Xaos' protege, and she looks up to him in all ways. She isn't blind to the flaws mind you, but an honest man who tells it how it is and fights tooth and nail to make the world better? That outweighs any flaws. Xaos has always been known as a champion of the disenfranchised, and that was why he helped Kyra. He saw this poor homeless girl struggling to get by and just... Helped her. And that spoke to Kyra. She was the forgotten. People like her don't get saved. Xaos made her see hope again, a hope she now embodies. Like her mentor before her, Kyra isn't afraid to tell it how it is. She's a punk rock girl, and beating around the bush isn't punk. But she has a lot more tact than Xaos. She knows when to let cooler heads prevail, but also knows when the quickest solution is a well timed punch to the jaw.

[spooksgrove]

— wow, i haven’t seen ISABEL VELEZ in ages!  SHE/HER looks just like AUBREY PLAZA now.  did you hear the rumor: SHE’S BEEN FUNNELING CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO SOMEONE CLOSE TO HER ILLEGALLY  it’ll probably come to light at the reunion!  

             unless you were in her inner circle in high school  ,,  you probably didn’t even remember isabel velez when she popped up on national news channels a decade later.  known to the public as an ambitious,  passionate,  outspoken woman who shot to national fame as one of the youngest us senators in history,  isabel was nothing of the sort as a teen. 

           in shady grove,  isabel was the youngest daughter of the mr. and mrs. velez.  she was always outshined by her two older siblings,  and she liked things that way.  she always felt out of place in class, at school, strolling the mall ... she never joined clubs, organizations, and mostly kept to herself.  something in her just didn’t fit.  you could find her lurking in the shadows of parties smoking a joint, eating in the parking lot with her fellow stoners at lunch, and doodling in the back of class until the bell rang.  she went to prom date-less and hooked up with a guy who didn’t even remember her name the next morning.  by the time high school ended,  she was ready to get the hell out of shady grove for good. 

           isabel attended college in new york city where she reinvented herself.  determined not to fall to the wayside again,  she made sure to be the center of attention in most rooms she walked into.  the insecurities covering her during her youth faded away,  and she gained national fame as the face of a students protest that held nyc at bay for a week.  from there,  she ran for office and eventually got elected to the us senate.  

          it’s surprising she is subjecting herself to the horrors of her high school years again,  and most people will probably be surprised to see she accepted the invite for the trip.  she hasn’t really kept in touch,  not that anyone cared.  will she shrink back into her former self or prove that she’s changed ?  even isabel herself doesn’t know,  and that haunts her much more than the ghosts lurking in her cabin bedroom. 

wanted connections !!  1000% open to other ideas, but here are some i think would be great:

someone close she is funneling campaign funds to because they’re down on their luck ?? or someone she is stealing the campaign funds with to do lavish stuff like vacations lmao

blackmailing her abt her secret  ( erica ) 

a former bff in high school she ditched when she reinvented herself

her first love/ex who actually made her feel seen before her glow up ( rachel ) 

someone bullied her in hs ??

old smoking buds from hs  ( jasper ) 

someone she had a crush on in hs who didn’t know  ( jack ) 

the guy she hooked up with at prom who might not even remember her lmao ( asher )

someone she had a fling with while in college in new york  ( laurent )

someone she’s been hooking up with for years bc shes too busy for a real relationship currently, any gender

hs enemies to adult besties ... to complicated reunion frenemies ( juliet )

omg idk anything angsty or fun