#this is long and im happy with it even if its a lot of dialogue

[a-not-so-clean-blog]

Ezio Auditore x gn reader

Reunited with a ghost CH 2. CH 1

Ft. Lots of Rosa and a kiss. 2.2k words

Warnings. Light cursing

Getting to embrace Ezio again was a dream come true, and one I hope to never wake from. I was completely lost in the moment before I remembered what I was doing before. I pull away and look around realizing I had completely lost track of where I was or how I'm supposed to find the guild head. Ezio looks at me with concern as he asks what's wrong.

"I need to deliver this letter." I pat the folded paper in my side pocket.

"To whom?"

"A man named Antonio. This is my final test from them."

"A test?" He slips the letter out of my pocket. I didnt even feel the fabric move. If I didn't watch him take it I never would have known it was gone.

"Yes. I am supposed to deliver the letter to him by nightfall and if I do the guild had said they will teach me how to move like them." I reach for the letter but he holds it out of my range.

"Let us go together then. I know the fastest route and how to avoid the guards!" He cracks a smirk as he waves the paper just out of reach.

I squint at him as he playfully taunts me. Haven't even been reunited an hour and he's already back to the lovable jerk I know. "With you there's always a catch." I eye him wary of his intentions.

"No catch. I just want to make sure you get to deliver this safety." He says with a warm smile. That's a face I could never say no to and he knows it.

"Fine." I relent. I hold my hand out for him to give me the letter back but instead he pockets it and laces our fingers together. Before I have a moment to respond we are already out of the alley and half way down a busy street. His hand was warm, another reminder that he was alive and this wasn't just a dream.

The twists and turns of the streets and canals never once slowing him down as we make our way towards the center of the city. I still haven't quite gotten the layout of the city memorized yet so it was nice to have a guide who actually knows where we were going. What would have taken me all day following bread crumbs left by the guild only took Ezio an hour, and that time even included a stop for lunch.

Ezio reluctantly let's go of my hand as we enter a fenced off area, the cool afternoon air replacing his warm touch on my skin. He knocks on the heavy looking wooden door and voice almost instantly tells us to enter. I follow behind him as we enter, almost hiding in his shadow. A tall man with dark hair immediately notices my presence though.

"I see you have brought a friend Ezio, and who might you be?" He said as he made his way around a large table covered in an equally large map of the city.

"My name is y/n. I am here to deliver a letter to Antonio."

"Well you have come to the right place than.

I look at Ezio, silently asking for the letter back. He quickly glances down at my pocket and back at me. Confused, I reach into my pocket and pull out the letter. Sly bastardo must have slipped it back in when I wasn't looking. I hand over the letter and the man who I am assuming is Antonio brings it to his desk for inspection.

"You have my thanks for delivering the letter so swiftly. Too many of my guild members are being recognized lately, it was safer for us to use someone the guards would not know." He folds the letter and puts it in a drawer. "I know you did not do this for free though. I will have one of my best show you how to move more swiftly." He looks over at some of the guild members in the corner, a woman and 2 men. "Rosa. If you would be so kind?"

The woman stands up and saunters over to us. "Honestly I didn't think you'd be able to do all the tasks. I'm impressed." She looks over at Ezio. "And more than a little surprised to see you escorting them." She looks back at me. "Our little friend here didn't cheat did they?"

"Of course not. I was simply heading the same direction, completely innocent." At least he had gotten better at lying over the years, however Rosa was clearly unconvinced. Thankfully she didn't seem to care too much as she led us outside, back to the fenced in area.

She points to the roof of a neighboring building. "Do you see the flag on that weathervane." I nod. The bright red flag was prominent against the light blue afternoon sky. "How long do you think it would take you to grab it and bring it to me?"

"... probably 3 minutes?" There weren't many ledges to make it easy to climb up. "Maybe 5?"

"Your 3 minutes start now, go."

"Huh?" I turn to look at her and she just waves me off and crosses her arms. I blink before my head catches up to her words. I get a running start at the wall in front of me and I'm just able to grab the ledge and pull myself up. I move as fast as my legs and vertigo will let me as I make my way up to the flag. I'm almost there and I look down at Rosa and Ezio. Both of them watching me closely, analyzing my every movement. I can't tell if I should be comforted or concerned by how sharp their eyes are. Getting down was much faster than the climb up. After grabbing the flag I drop and slide down the tiled roof. Before I fall I grab the ledge and swing for some momentum. Finally I hit the ground with a roll and spring to my feet, with a final sprint I'm standing in front of Rosa, flag in hand. "How did I do?" I ask as I catch my breath.

"Not bad for a novice." She holds up a hand and extends her pointer finger. "First you need to be able to think on your feet faster. You kept trying to plan your movements too far in advance and it slowed you down. That hesitation made you slip more than once even if it was just a little. Finally you let yourself get distracted. You should always be watching where you are going, not watching your audience." Each new point she made was punctuated by another finger. "You are certainly sloppy… but not the worst I've seen. Put in the effort and I should have no issue teaching you." I brighten a little at her words. She'll be tough but there may be a softer side yet.

…I was wrong. She was a harsh teacher and now I am laying on the ground unable to feel my own arms and completely exhausted. Ezio had watched the entire time as I learned to throw myself up onto handholds and literally had the hesitation beaten out of me. Hours of non stop climbing and she finally granted me mercy.

Ezio laughs lightly as he sits next to me, handing me a cup of fresh water. "She's a little rough around the edges but I'll be damned if she's not a good teacher."

"A little rough? I don't know if my poor muscles will recover from this." My whining only seems to amuse him farther.

"Drink, you have not had water in hours and it will help with the pain."

I grunt as I go to sit up but only make it an inch before returning to the cool stone floor. "Can't move. Too tired." Ezio rolls his eyes before taking me by the shoulder and pulling me up until I'm leaning against him.

"There, now drink. You'll feel better." I take the cup from his hand as he supports my weight with his arm slung over my shoulder. I did feel better as soon as the cool liquid hit my throat, and I finished the cup greedily. "Better amore?"

"Better."

"Good. I want to show you something. Are you able to move freely?"

I glare up at him. "Am I able to move freely?" He laughs at my snide remark.

"Please. I promise it will be worth it." The way he looked at me with that smile made my heart skip a beat.

"...fine" I mumble, and his smile grows ear to ear.

"Va bene!" He wastes no time lifting my tired body from the ground and onto my feet. We walk a little ways as I slowly get feeling back in my limbs. Eventually we get to a church like building and stop. I look at him and wonder what he's up to. "I'm sorry bello but you're going to have to climb one last time." He said softly.

I look at him in betrayal and disbelief. "You want me to climb?". I look from him to the building and back to him. Every passing moment I feel my arms grow heavier in dread. "How many times will you break my heart fantasma." He stifled a laugh at my pleading.

"I promise amore, it will be worth it. Will you do it for me?" When he looks at me so gently I know I am defeated. I let out a sigh.

"Lead the way." I gesture towards the building as he smiles.

The climb up was slow going but faster than I would have done before. Even exhausted I can tell I've improved. Ezio stops every few feet to make sure I haven't slipped or have gotten stuck. He offers his hand a few times but now I'm too stubborn to take it. I'll prove I can do it on my own and that I'm skilled enough to stay by his side. The last time I pushed his helping hand away I noticed his eyebrow furrow under his hood. I don't have time to focus on that though while I'm trying not to fall to my doom.

Finally I made it to the top, Ezio already waiting for me. He sits on a ledge and pats the tile beside him and I gladly join.

"I'm glad I was able to make it before my arms gave out." My snide comment earns me a sly smile. I close my eyes as i catch my breath.

"As am I."

"I hope this is worth it, Ezio."

"As do I." If I wasn't so tired maybe I would have caught the hint of nervousness in his voice. He wraps his arm and shoulder cape around me as I lean against him. "Look". I slowly open my eyes and see the sky alight with pinks and orange painted over a blue canvas. A stunning sight shining over the city and reflecting off her many waterways.

"Amazing…" I'm enthralled by the sunset this high over the city. I can't even hear the people on the street from this distance. It's only me, Ezio, and the setting sun.

I am taken from my thoughts when I feel a rough calloused hand gently cup my cheek and turn my head. I'm pulled close as I come nose to nose with my long lost paramore. His sharp eyes searching my face for any sign of doubt before slowly leaning in planting a tender kiss on my lips. The kiss was soft but with a smoldering ember underneath, like trying to hide a desperate flame. It felt like my skin was on fire with excitement and want. My head felt fuzzy and unable to think straight, however the feeling was not unwelcome. When finally we broke the kiss Ezio's eyes were shining brighter than the sun itself, and I'm sure mine were the same.

Long after the sun had set we stayed there, unmoving, simply enjoying the comfort of each other's presence. I look towards the ground below deep in thought. The day had been exhausting both physically and emotionally. I can't help but let a yawn escape my lips.

"I think it's time we find somewhere for you to rest amore. You have had a long day." He offers me his hand and this time I take it. He helps me to my feet and steadies me on my shaky legs.

"I don't think I have the strength to climb down…" I say quietly, guilty of my own weakness.

"Do you trust me?" I nod my head without hesitation and he smiles at me. "Then relax and close your eyes one last time." His voice is low and reassuring. I close my eyes as he wraps both of his strong arms tightly around me, holding me close to his chest. I feel my feet lift off the ground and the wind rush past me. The free fall felt like an eternity yet I still felt safe. The next thing I knew was Ezio underneath me in a cart of hay. He's got a giant smile on his face as he looks up at me. His smile is bigger than I've ever seen and for once I can't tell what he is thinking.

Bastardo. Bastard

Amore. Love

Va bene. Okay/ all right

Bello. Handsome/pretty/nice

[inosukijiro]

𝗚𝗜𝗬𝗨𝗨 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗧

𝙨𝙮𝙣. ━ giyuu decides its time to tell you how he feels.

━ 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨. this is part two. or not, it really doesn’t matter if you read the first part. loved this idea bc i love crochet. currently making a giyuu amigurumi doll atm, so yay me ig

━ 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨. im so sorry for being gone for almost two months. i was burnt out. but i have lots of prompts / plot ideas written down and just have to finish them. also also!! season 4 was crazy, i loved every minute of it but that ending – im so not ready for the final arc. anyways, thank you for the support as usual, luv u besties

━ 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. fluff. use of swear words (not a lot, but they are there). giyuu-centric. modern reader in kny. mentions of crochet and amigurumi. gender-neutral reader. also very poor dialogue probably, i avoid talking irl so yk. 1.9k words.

first part (optional); giyuu has a crush

Giyuu is about to have a stroke. He’s alone in his room late at night. He should be sleeping, but he can't imagine doing so. The moon light is coming through his window and all he can do is stare at the crochet hook in his hand as his fingers remain still. He is hunched, hovering over a ball of yarn in his lap. He can't shake the feeling of inadequacy that heavily weighed on him because he really has no idea what he’s doing.

You had this habit of making him gifts. Cute little amigurumi things and it had become a habit of his waiting when you’ll show up with one just for him. They’re almost always an animal or some sea creature, maybe even a small plant that he has sitting on display in his room somewhere. They are always so adorable and tiny, always fitting in the palm of his hand. It's almost like clockwork at this point, and Giyuu is always so flattered to receive them.

He remembers the little tiny baby sea turtle you have made for him. Its flippers rested against the palms of his cupped hands; its eyes and lids sewed on so perfectly along with the rest of it. It’s so intricate, he almost thought it was real. He remembers bringing it up to his face, staring at it in its tiny face, because for some reason this time he really didn’t know how to act.

He remembers you giggling, quickly explaining that you really didn’t know what to make him this time – lies, you have so many patterns. You just care too much about his opinion and his likes. Honestly, you could make him anything you wanted and he would be happy.

❛ And then I thought, ‘well you are the Water Pillar after all’. And I thought the sea turtle was kinda cute too, so I wanted to make it for you. Now you have a little friend to keep you company on your mission! ❜

Now here he was, with little idea of what he was doing. A frustrated sigh left his lips. He began working the yarn along with the hook – all his movement completely hesitant and fumbling. It would be a lie to say that he had never been skillful with his hands; he is a swordsman after all. However, it was clear that he wasn’t as skillful as you regarding this, and it makes sense. He had never picked up any knitting or crochet hooks until tonight at this ungodly hour.

Sure, he could have just crafted a wooden figurine. It is something he vaguely knows how to do, and seems like a more appealing thought now, plus, he knows that you would love it either way. But all he wanted to do was something special. He wanted to convey his feelings to you through what you love doing the most and give you something that he knows you would like. And for about a moment he wonders if this is a good idea. Then decides that he doesn’t care anymore. This is going to make or break him. He procrastinated this long enough.

Though hours passed and Giyuu is shocked to consider it done. He hoped it was. He glances over at his window and the sun is barely over the horizon. And as much as Giyuu loves you, he can't do this again. No, that is also a lie. He would if you asked. But he couldn’t help but feel disgruntled. He didn’t even know what he made. It is some type of plushie. It has a big body with some stubby legs. Its arms are almost the length of it too, if not longer, making them seem like large floppy paws. Its head; he is unsure if it's too big as it’s the same size as the body, but it’s a bit too late now to do anything about it. He made small ears on the top, and added some type of embroidery to make the eyes – as no buttons seemed to look right to him. There was no nose or mouth either, because Giyuu couldn’t figure out how to add them without making it look worse than it already does.

He frowned at the finished product, before hanging his head. It was done, yes. But to him, he knows that he could have done a much better job. And the pang of disappointment didn’t help. Because surely you deserve something better than this crude attempt at a gift.

However, for some reason Giyuu was oddly excited. Maybe it was the ice cold water he almost drowned himself awake to. But he really didn’t pay it any mind. Maybe he just didn’t care anymore. Maybe he just wanted to get it over with. He was afraid, so very afraid because this was the first time he was outwardly seeking your validation. But he was also anticipating the interaction. Because you were so nice. And he shouldn’t be afraid.

So here he was now, standing in front of you. And suddenly, he can't remember why he was so afraid in the first place. You looked so delightfully happy just like he had hoped. He watched as you took the plush from his hand, your fingers just barely brushing against his. And he felt his palms get clammy again. You were so delicate with it, and honestly, if you had asked Giyuu, perhaps you were a bit too delicate. He didn’t think that it deserved such care. He watched as you brushed your thumb over the soft yarn. Your eyes staring intently at it, and Giyuu couldn’t place the look you were giving.

“Giyuu, it’s adorable!” Your eyes sparked just a little bit when you looked back up at him. The plush is pressed against your chest right now. So softly, almost protectively and Giyuu actually can't believe it. Truly, he is in disbelief. You actually liked it? You really must’ve, because you’re going on about the plush; gushing over it and completely unfazed by any of its imperfections. You asked how he made it and when he had the time. It was nice, until you asked him why. And he got all nervous again.

Well… He responds. “You make me such nice things all the time. And I wanted to make you something as well. To show my appreciation.”

Oh! You are a little taken aback by that as a light blush starts to burn on your cheeks. You were definitely feeling the appreciation. You just never really anticipated Giyuu to make you something. Not because you thought he was incapable, or anything like that. You just… liked making things, and if that happened to be for Giyuu more than others you weren’t going to deny it. It made you happy to do so. And you never really expected anything in return. But for him to make you something, the gesture kind of made you feel special. It was so sweet!

“Of course, I’m glad you like it. You… mean a lot to me you know. Um…” He stops because he's a bit flush. He wants to confess so badly and he doesn’t understand; why is it so hard. Just say it. It's like you are waiting for him to – and you are – but you are so completely and utterly patient with him that sometimes he wished you weren’t. “Ngh, don’t look at me like that.”

You giggle softly. You can’t help it. Why is he so cute? “I’m sorry,” You say sincerely, still hugging the plush to your chest. “Please continue.”

His heart is beating out of his rib cage. He feels like he is going to die. He has never expressed his feelings so openly before and as much as he wants to say that he is uncomfortable, he's only half way there and he only needs to get the words out. He's been afraid of rejection for so long that, even deep down knowing the possibility of you loving him exists, he can’t help but worry about it. The words are on his tongue and at some point, he has to come out and say it.

“I… I love you.” Finally. “I’ve loved you for a while now. I just didn’t know how to tell you. You don’t have to say or do anything, I just… I just wanted you to know.”

“You love me?” You had a big, stupid smile on your face, which made the question you had asked seem hopeful to him. If you had been home, you might have thought he was pulling a joke on you, not that he would know to assume that. And you, yourself are having a good time telling the small voice in the back of your head to fuck off because – yes, Giyuu Tomioka just confessed his love for you and you were not going to let the universe take it back.

He nodded, silent. The smallest, timid, smile pulled at his lips as he waited for you to continue. “Giyuu, I love you too. Actually, I..” you stopped before you started tripping over your words and let out a deep breath. Your grasp on the plush tightened, clutching it closer to your body in an attempt to ground yourself. “I… may have been in love with you for a while, too.”

He stares at you for a moment, another dumb look on his face. It's like the gears are turning in his mind. That yes, just like you had, are realizing this is all actually happening. And if he promptly pulls you into the softest, brain melting kiss you've ever had – that's between the two of you.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤᘡ ۫ 𖨂 𓈒 🦑 ۟ ៹ 𓂂

Of course, now it’s later and Giyuu is watching you show off the plush to the rest of the Hashira. You had grabbed his hand in a rush, so excited and happy. He let you tug him along, squeezing his hand so tight; never minding the clamminess. He watched as you shoved the crochet piece in Rengokus face, telling him with pride that Giyuu was the one that made it for you. ‘I see that,’ he says and lets out one of those joyous laughs, almost amused.

You tug him along, going from Hashira to Hashira. Giyuu vividly remembers you shouting at Shinazugawa from across the training grounds about ‘Look at what Giyuu made me! Suck it you fuck face’ before running off and taking him with you again. He remembers in the background the Wind Pillar shouting, something about how it was ‘Ugly as fuck’ and a few other things but Giyuu ignored it.

Others recognized the effort Giyuu put into it, much like Rengoku. He gets a ‘That's kinda flashy’ from Tengen, and surprisingly Shinobu didn’t really poke at him too much, but maybe that was because you were there. Mitsuri squeals about it. She thinks it’s the cutest thing she's ever seen, and Giyuu makes sure not to look at Obanai at all. Otherwise, the man might force Giyuu to teach him. Or force himself in between you and him to teach him, and Giyuu doesn’t know if he can handle that.

The afternoon passed by after that and you both ended up back at his estate, just like always. This time, you were much closer to him than usual, not that Giyuu minded. He watched from over your shoulder as you continued your own little crochet project. He had half a mind to join you, but instead opted to enjoy just being with you; resting his head near yours and wrapping his arms around your waist. Though, somewhere close by the little turtle and the plush were laying together where you had placed them. It was almost like they were watching you, like they were proud of him.

Thank you once again for reading!! ໒꒰ྀི ˃ ∩∩ ˂ ꒱ྀིა

[adyophene]

lucifer x husk is something i never knew i needed and as a multishipper im screaming

literally. king of hell x some alcoholic furry guy

i love them i need to know how they wouldve met, fallen for each other and started dating. and how much thatd piss alastor off

Ooh I am so happy other people are enjoying this pair as much as I am! I've gotten a few asks about my headcanons for them, and I am happy to blab on and on. Fair warning. This is gunna be a long and rambling essay.

I'm gunna put it all under a readmore, just cause I want to insert the art I've done of them so far, since I've been half-heartedly trying to tell a visual story through the doodles.

Okay. On we go!

How they met;

We did see them technically meet in the show, where they shared their singular canon piece of dialogue, which was just Husk saying 'hey'. And then in the finale where we see a literal split second moment of Lucifer holding Husk's arm.

(also seeing the sweet looks huskerdust is giving each other here just makes me feel so delulu for writing this all, but crackships are silly by definition, so lets get back to the lucihusk) For me, what I imagined, is after the Hotel is finished its rebuilding, that is when Husk and Lucifer finally actually meet in a proper manner. I think Lucifer would be trying to make a good impression on all Charlie's friends at this point, endeared to all of them from their actions during the finale. Unfortunately, I think he is also the King of Bad First Impressions.

[Note. I think at this point Lucifer wouldn't even remember Husk's name quite yet. I think he would call him 'Keekee' ( by accident) or 'Dusk' (confidently incorrect) or just be like "Hey!.... Uh... You?" until Charlie or Vaggie finally corrected him. ]

Husk, on the other hand, I feel like maybe wouldn't gel with Lucifer right away. Wouldn't hate him, but also maybe not be enamored with him right away. Same as Lucifer, maybe he would have sweetened on him a bit through the hotel's rebuilding, but I think they'd start out at very neutral feelings. Maybe a vague sense of 'He's okay, but I don't know if we will really get along.'

Despite this, Lucifer is persistent, and he's going to be everyone's (except maybe Al, unless they start getting along by s2) buddy. He'd start hanging around the bar and participate in the redemption exercises.

Now, we know Lucifer struggles with depression, and I think he would be trying real hard to mask anything going on during this time. They defeated Adam! They rebuilt the Hotel! He believes in Charlie's dream, and he's more involved with her life and other people than he has been for years.

His only issue being Husk sees right through it, both because Husk is perceptive, but also because even the King of Hell can't help but have a lonely night or two at the bar where he ends up venting about his divorce and subsequent lingering loneliness.

[snapcube ref aside, )I really do think Husk would start to feel more positively toward Lucifer after Luci would drop the act somewhat. That they could bond over feeling both at their lowest of lows, while also being to admit that things seem to be getting better!

This would be about the point that I imagine Lucifer developing more romantic feelings! Husk would be a bit less prickly, and Luci would just absolutely eat up any and all positive interactions they'd have. I like to picture a lot of little shows of care at the this point, like Husk memorizing what Lucifer likes and even making up 'fun' drinks just to try and cheer the guy up. And Lucifer would fun a fun game in trying to get the grumpy cat to smile, and just, lighting up himself any time he was successful.

And that culminating into the two of them making each other laugh, with Alastor being an easy butt of the jokes, and a good way for Husk, himself, to finally get a chance to vent. I think Lucifer would be one of the only 'safe' options for Husk to do that with, in just so far as Al can't really threaten Lucifer, and Lucifer already sees Al as a bit of a manipulative bastard.

Falling for each other; At this point, Lucifer would start being a bit more caring toward Husk, though with that wonderful, oblivious flair of his. I don't think Lucifer himself would realize he'd have a crush up until he'd start feeling protective or jealous over Husk, and it would really throw him for a loop at first.

Because fake dating is one of my all-time favorite tropes, I have always had a idea for a fanfic (or comic) that I haven't gotten around to yet, based around Lilith coming back, and Lucifer panickily asking Husk to pretend to be his boyfriend, so he can appear well adjusted/completely over her. Of course the whole thing would backfire, as Lilith would see through it (as Lucifer wouldn't be as good of an actor as he'd think), and that Husk would end up kind of feeling hurt by the whole thing.

Husk, who'd go along with the plot with an eyeroll, would find himself seizing up through the whole fake date/encounter. Would find weird, sudden emotions bubbling up and absolutely hating it.

I don't think that man would think about the class difference between him and Lucifer up until someone would say something about it, maybe Lucifer himself trying to rationalize the (at this time still fake) relationship to Lilith. Now, Husk feels uneasy about the whole thing and ends up drinking heavily the whole night so he doesn't have to think about feelings. (Blitz and Stolas who? Ahaha. fuck.) Meanwhile, while the date would be fake, I think Lucifer would really rather like having Husk on his arm and feeling like he'd have a love-life again, while also not really getting why Husk's mood would be getting worse throughout the night. I think they'd still end up on good terms, but both of them would have their feelings in a jumble, and Husk would not like it. (he thinks he's lost the ability to love, after all)

I think somewhere at this point, as they are starting to develop feelings for one another, is when Lucifer finally starts really realizing how tied to Alastor Husk is, and he starts to make it everyone's problem. I do think Al and Lucifer would stay snarky at each other this whole time, but that it'd only get worse, as Al would poke back since he'd find Lu's over reactions funny.

I also think Al would be maybe the last person to realize anything romantic would be brewing between Lucifer and Husk, and he'd just think it'd be a purely platonic thing.

Beyond just bitching about Alastor, Lucifer would really be ramping up his attention towards Husk too. Fully in that 'puppylove/crush' stage, and trying his darndest to make Husk feel good and special. Husk would be resistant to it all, thinking it would just be Lucifer rebounding hard, and not wanting to get wrapped up in Morningstar family drama when he could happily (miserably) keep his head down and just keep drinking the days away.

But then Lucifer would find out about Husk's love of stage magic, and his history as a performer, and it'd be all over for the catman. It would become Luci's new pet project to rope Husk into some joyful self-expression, and after a song and dance number's worth of convincing, Husk would start to come around. I have to post all these images now cause- I drew them with the intention of mimicking a musical number! Husk starting off as a bit resistant before jumping in whole heartedly, and Lucifer overexcitedly dragging him along throughout the music number, hyping him up and just all around being smitten.

And this is where Husk would start really falling. Getting swept up in indulging his favorite, least destructive hobby, and having someone who absolutely loves it to bond with. Especially when it would be over. When they would just settle down and talk, and laugh, and bond over what they love about performing. The spectacle, the audience, the love of the craft. Its about the comradery!!!

@belladonazeppole wrote a wonderful series of fanfics based off these pictures, as well as the songs from 'The Greatest Showman' that really fit the ship! I would be remiss to not mention them here, because Bella and their fics are just wonderful!

How they started dating;

Now. Don't think just cause they both caught feelings for each other, that they'd immediately admit to it. No. I think both of them would drag their heels. I don't think Husk would admit to them at all, without some outside force effecting it. I think he'd stubbornly try to ignore the crush or drink it away, rather than let his heart become vulnerable to anymore damage.

Meanwhile, Lucifer would be struggling between his feelings for Husk and Lilith. (In the actual canon, I do think they might try to rekindle things, depending on what kind of person Lilith turns out to be, but I digress.) Part of him would be so swept up in a giddy kind of excitement, while the other would be set firmly in the camp of 'this is a bad idea, this won't work out, just look at what happened to your last relationship'. It wouldn't stop him from being outwardly more and more affectionate, but it would be weighing on him.

I do think Lucifer would end up being the one who would be thinking; "What am I doing. He'd never like me back." While Husk would be just sitting there (echoing what was said in the ask- sorry I went all wild and wrote this much about the ship dear god)- "I'm just some fucking furry alcoholic, what the fuck would the king of hell see in me??? Am I delusional? What the fuck is going on??" And I feel like this stage would go on for MONTHS and drive everyone else nuts. It would be clear to everyone (except Alastor, who again, would be just this meme

Though that wouldn't stop him from getting a little pissy about it) And then it would all come to a head during something benign, like a board game night. There would be flirting, there would be jealousy, there would be arguing, and then finally, loudly and with a lot of feeling, Lucifer would shout his way through asking Husk out on a date. A real Date. A capital 'D' date out on the town, dressed to the nines and a real good time. The board would be knocked over in the fray, game pieces raining down upon them while Husk would just stare blank faced, trying to process what just happened. An awkward half-minute would pass before he'd finally, trying to play it cool, shrug out a 'sure'.

How much it'd piss Alastor off;

In the aftermath, a radio static would just lowly grate everyone's ears as Alastor would be slowly coming to terms on how just annoying it would be to have his friend (/Unhealthy co-dependent pet friend possession??) romantically involved (ew) with the King of Hell (double ew)??? Then, either it would be something light hearted like 'he keeps trying to break them up but failing cause he hates interacting with romance' or a darker route where 'he keeps trying to manipulate them into breaking up by preying on all their worst insecurities in the relationship'.

And that, my friend, is all I have in mind so far for this delusional crackship au! There is more I could flesh out, of course, like Angel's role as a friend or potential third in the relationship, or what I imagine as Husk becoming like a stepdad to Charlie, but I've typed enough for the whole month. Hope any of that was coherent! I did not bother to edit or proof read it. Just pure stream of consciousness.

[bruhnze]

PLAYING FOR KEEPS

CHAPTER 5 – A great arrangement

Summary: Ona Batlle has had a crush on Lucy Bronze for a little while now… how will it go when she joins Barça? A 10 chapter series.

Warnings: Slow burn, angst, fluff, smut. All the things, but I give this as a complete warning for the whole series. Not every chapter involves all the warnings :).

note: i have about 3 braincels and only one of them knows english, if the dialogue in this thing is not making sense, im sorry :) i couldn't think during proofread so idk if things work or not.

masterlist

October 21, 2023: vs. Granada CF (6-1, home) November 5, 2023: vs. Sevilla FC (8-0, home)

2023 – Spain

The sun had started to dip low in the sky as Lucy and Ona walked side by side. Their dogs, Narla and Coco, walked happily ahead of them on their leashes. It was one of those evenings where everything felt easy. The conversation between them was light, their footsteps in sync, the quiet moments comfortable.

They had been walking like this together after training for weeks now, both settling into a routine that felt natural. But these last days it had been a little bit different then before. Something had happened between them and they hadn’t spoken about it since.

As they neared Lucy’s place, Lucy glanced over at her. “You want to come inside? Have a drink before heading back to yours?”

Ona hesitated for a moment. Where they finally going to talk about the tension that followed them after what had happened the other night? “Yeah, sure,” she said with a small smile. “Sounds good.”

They walked inside, a cozy home greeting them in contrast to the chilly wind blowing outside.

Narla and Coco curled up on the couch, happy to rest after the walk.

Lucy headed to the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing water to pour two glasses.

She handed a glass to Ona and sat down beside her on the sofa, the space between them almost nonexistent as she settled in close.

“Thanks,” Ona murmured before taking a sip.

Her gaze flickered toward Lucy, feeling the shift in the air between them. There had been simmering a lot of tension beneath the surface that neither of them had really addressed.

They sat in silence for a while, sipping their waters.

It was Lucy who eventually broke the silence. She set her glass down on the coffee table and turned slightly toward Ona, her expression thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking a little bit,” she began, her voice measured, “about us.”

Ona blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation, but she didn’t shy away. “About us?” she echoed, her heart picking up its pace. Us, that sounded like… something she wanted.

Lucy leaned back slightly, resting her arm along the back of the couch. “I mean, the whole… thing we have going on.” She smiled softly, a bit unsure. “We’ve crossed a few lines, haven’t we?”

Ona’s gaze dropped for a moment, her fingers nervously tapping the side of her glass. She knew exactly what Lucy was referring to. They’d kissed, ‘fooled around’—as Lucy had casually put it that night. But instead of resolving some feeling for Ona the tension between them had only grown thicker with each encounter.

It lingered in the air between them, waiting for one of them to acknowledge it. Like how everything would go quiet when their hands accidentally brushed. Or how Ona would ‘fix’ Lucy’s shirt just to have an excuse to be close. The way Lucy would challenge her during one-on-ones in training, pressing herself against Ona for just a few seconds too long.

There was something undeniable pulling them toward each other. For Lucy, it might have been a recent realization, but for Ona, it was the same feelings she’d always had. Only now, they were growing stronger, getting more and more impossible to ignore.

“Yeah,” Ona admitted, her voice quieter now. “I guess we have.” She mentally cringed, what did she mean ‘I guess we have’, ofcourse they had.

Lucy let the words hang in the air for a moment, her eyes on Ona’s. “I just think it’s kind of obvious,” she continued, her tone light but serious.

Ona’s eyebrows shot up. Shit, was she so readable, had Lucy figured it out? A blush crept on her cheeks.

Lucy smiled, “Obvious, that we’re both into each other.” She continued, making clear what she meant. ‘’To me it feels like we just have some sort of chemistry or something, I don’t know.’’

Ona’s pulse quickened at the admission, but she found herself nodding. “Yeah, I think so too,” she said, her lips curving into a small smile. Breathing out a breath she had apparently been holding. ‘’That’s probably why that happened the other night, right?’’ She said, she didn’t know what she was saying, she just opened her mouth and words fell out.

‘’Yeah, I think we both saw it coming.’’ Lucy exhaled, her eyes softening. “And I really like hanging around with you. And I’m not saying this has to be complicated or anything. I just… I like what we’ve got going on.”

Ona bit her lip, feeling the same pull she had felt every time they were close; after training, during their car rides, the quiet moments in the locker room. If she could do anything she wished right now, without any consequences, she’d kiss Lucy right here right now, confessing she wanted Lucy to be her girlfriend.

But Lucy wasn’t asking for something serious. Maybe that suited them. She didn’t want complications either. Maybe the easiest option would be just this, whatever this was. Just, something easy, something between friends.

“So,” Ona said, her voice steady now, “are you saying we should… keep it simple?” She did not really know how to word this. Was Lucy suggesting what she thought she was.. or was she wishful thinking.

Lucy’s lips curved into a teasing smile. “Simple. Fun. Whatever you want to call it.”

Ona chuckled softly, setting her glass down on the table. “I like simple.”

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, an unspoken understanding settling between them. Their gazes flickered to each other's lips, then back to their eyes, the tension between them palpable.

Then, as if the tension finally broke, Lucy leaned in, closing the last inch between them. Her hand brushed the side of Ona’s neck, gentle yet sure, before her lips met Ona’s in a kiss that was slow and deliberate.

Ona responded without hesitation, her hand gliding up to cradle Lucy’s jaw as the kiss deepened, drawing them both deeper into the moment. The familiarity between them was intoxicating. Lucy’s touch playful yet confident, while Ona’s pulse raced beneath her skin as she melted into her.

Lucy pulled away slightly, her breath warm against Ona’s lips. Her gaze searched Ona’s face, her voice low and careful. "Was that alright?" she murmured, giving Ona the space to back out if she wanted to.

There wasn’t one ounce of hesitation in Ona’s body. She nodded, her pulse quickening, eyes dark with desire. "Yeah," she whispered, her fingers slipping beneath the hem of Lucy’s shirt, feeling the heat of her skin. "More than alright."

Lucy let out a soft laugh, leaning in to kiss her again, deeper this time. The tension which had been simmering for weeks, finally broke. They didn’t rush. Each kiss was deliberate, slow, as though they were savoring every second.

Ona’s mind raced as her body responded to the familiar touch, the heat, the way Lucy’s hands moved over her skin with an ease that felt both thrilling and comforting.

But as their kisses grew more heated, more urgent, and Lucy shifted Ona onto her lap, something nagged at the back of Ona’s mind. Thoughts she couldn’t ignore, even in the midst of it all. Was this going to stay simple? Could she really keep it that way?

As if sensing Ona’s hesitation, Lucy pulled back slightly, her breath coming in soft, uneven puffs. Her hands rested on Ona’s hips, her fingers lightly brushing her sides. "We can stop whenever you want," she said, her voice gentle but serious, eyes searching Ona’s for any sign of doubt.

Ona shook her head, the answer immediate, though her mind was still swirling with unspoken thoughts. "I don’t want to stop," she whispered, her fingers tangling in Lucy’s hair, tugging gently.

That was all the encouragement Lucy needed. She stood up, lifting Ona with effortless strength, their lips connecting again as she carried her toward the bedroom.

A soft laugh escaped both of them as they tumbled onto the bed, it was a mess of limbs and breathless kisses.

For a moment, the only thing that mattered to Ona was the feeling of Lucy’s body pressed against hers.

As Lucy’s hands found their way to her skin again, she felt a small pause. "Ona…" Lucy’s voice was softer now, almost hesitant. "About this. About us."

Ona’s heart skipped a beat. There it was again. Us. That word that held so much weight, so much meaning. "Yeah?" she asked, her voice quieter now, though her body already ached for Lucy’s touch again.

Lucy shifted, lying beside Ona now, her arm draped over her waist. ‘’Maybe we should set our expectations straight first?’’  

Ona nodded, ‘’ofcourse.’’

Lucy took Ona’s hand in hers, fidgeting with her fingers. "I like this, what we’re doing. But we need to talk about what it is. Set some rules, you know?" She smiled, though there was a seriousness in her eyes.

Ona’s chest tightened. Rules. Boundaries. They hadn’t  talked about it yet, but it probably was wise to do so. "Yeah," Ona agreed, her fingers tracing absent patterns on Lucy’s arm. "What kind of rules?"

Lucy looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well… for one, no one in the team can know," she said. "We’re roomies. It’s not like we’re a couple or anything, but if anyone found out, it could get messy. You know?"

Ona nodded, feeling a sting of pain in her heart at the words ‘not a couple.’ But she pushed it down, reminding herself that she didn’t want anything complicated either. "Yeah, that makes sense," she said. "We should definitely keep it to ourselves."

Lucy’s fingers went to gently stroke Ona’s side as she continued. "And maybe… nothing should happen in the hotel rooms, either. You know, since we’re close to the team there and all. It’s.. uh.. how did they say it.. a breach in professionalism."

Ona’s heart gave a slight tug at the thought of not being able to have these moments during away trips, but she knew Lucy was right. "Right," she murmured. "Sorry that happened the other night, then."

‘’No, no.’’ Lucy smiled, taking Ona’s hand and bringing it to her mouth for a tender kiss, ‘’I do not regret that at all, it made us realize there was something going on, it just happened. I meant like, going forward we should probably not do it during work hours.’’ Lucy chuckled.

Ona chuckled back, ‘’yeah, okay.’’

Her mind wandered for a moment, imagining the whispered conversations and sidelong glances they’d share while pretending nothing was going on. Could they really keep that up? What if their teammates, who already joked about how close they were, figured things out?

Lucy’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. "And… no strings," she said, her eyes meeting Ona’s. "I don’t want things to get complicated, like for you as well, mainly for you."

Ona’s stomach clenched slightly, though she forced a smile. "Right," she agreed, even though her chest felt tight. "No expectations."

But even as the words left her mouth, she wondered if she could really stick to that. It was easy to say no strings, no complications, but every time Lucy smiled at her, every time their bodies were a little too close, Ona felt something more. Something deeper.

She pushed the thoughts aside as Lucy kissed her again, her lips warm and familiar. It was enough to let it be simple. To let them have this without asking for more. Lucy just didn’t feel the same pull as her, and that was fine. She should just be happy and enjoy what they did have.

As their kisses deepened once more, Ona allowed herself to get lost in it. Lucy was all she had to think about, she would consider all the other feelings tomorrow again.

The rest of the night was spent exploring each other, giving in to the attraction that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long.

..

As the morning sun began to filter through the curtains, Ona awoke in Lucy’s arms, their legs tangled beneath the sheets. The room was quiet, the soft sounds of their breathing the only noise between them. Ona felt no awkwardness, no tension. Just a quiet sense of satisfaction and the warmth of familiarity. If this was ‘simple’ like Lucy had said, she could absolutely live with their arrangement.

Ona shifted slightly, pressing a few light kisses to Lucy’s bare chest. “Good morning,” she murmured with a soft smile, feeling at ease in a way she hadn’t expected. Waking up in Lucy’s bed felt amazing.

Lucy stirred beneath her, her body stretching lazily. She let out a low hum, her arm tightening slightly around Ona’s waist. “Mmm, morning,” she muttered, her voice thick with sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting Ona’s with a relaxed smile.

They lay there in silence for a few moments, basking in the comfort of the morning. But the unspoken question hung in the air: what now?

Ona broke the silence first, her voice soft but steady. “So… last night,” she began, tracing small patterns on Lucy’s skin. “That was… fun.”

Lucy chuckled, her hand sliding up to brush Ona’s hair back. “Yeah,” she agreed with a lazy smile. “Although I liked what you said yesterday maybe a bit more.” She mimicked Ona: ‘’fun.’’

Ona buried her face against Lucy’s chest, recalling how she had been worshipping Lucy’s name as she was brought to her fourth, uh maybe even fifth orgasm that night.

Lucy chuckled smugly, ‘’I take it that I have exceeded the expectations I drew?’’

‘’Yeah.’’ Ona replied shamefully, still hiding her face. ‘’You could say that.’’

‘’You were not too bad yourself either.’’ Lucy chuckled, poking Ona in her side playfully.

Ona squirmed, calling out until Lucy, who seemingly found it very funny, finally stopped.

There was a beat of quiet before Ona shifted slightly, propping herself up on one elbow so she could look at Lucy properly. “So, um… what does this mean for us?” She tried, curious what Lucy would say.

Lucy’s gaze softened. She had been expecting this question, there was no hesitation in her answer. “I think we’re good the way we are, like we said yesterday” she said simply, her fingers grazing Ona’s arm. “We’re friends, right? We’re probably best off not complicating that.”

Ona nodded, understanding exactly what Lucy meant. “Yeah, so we are friends that find eachother attractive?” She said casually as her heart fluttered inside her chest. 

Lucy’s smile widened slightly, her eyes warm as they locked on Ona’s. “Yeah, like, friends with benefits? Or how do they call it again?” The words rolled off her tongue so easily, her tone light and clear.

Ona let out a soft laugh, nodding as she leaned back against the pillows. “Friends with benefits, yeah” she repeated, the term settling comfortably between them. “Cool.” She said, maybe more to convince herself then to confirm she was in on the arrangement.

Lucy chuckled, pulling Ona back down into her arms, her fingers brushing against Ona’s back lightly. “Yup, no nonsense, no pressure.”

Ona smiled, feeling a weight lift from her chest. This felt right… sort of.. at least it was an arrangement that allowed them to stay close without complicating things. “Mhm,” she hummed in agreement.

There was a comfortable pause, the morning sunlight casting a soft glow across the room. Lucy pressed a kiss to the top of Ona’s head, her hand trailing slowly along her spine. “Alright then,” she said, seeming deep in thought, ‘’I think we should probably not be shy about discussing our boundaries and things, hm? Talk about stuff when we need to..’’

Ona nodded, laying on her side, pressed against Lucy’s warm body.

‘’and then..’’ Lucy smirked, wiggling her eyebrows.

‘’Mhm,’’ Ona grinned as she leaned in and pressed Lucy on her back, ‘’and then’’ she repeated teasingly, diving in Lucy’s neck, placing some kisses, ‘’then, we can have a lot of fun’’.

‘’Hhm’’. Lucy’s head fell back against her pillow. She groaned as Ona’s tongue trailed the skin on her neck.

Ona’s lips moved lower, trailing along Lucy’s collarbone with the same teasing intent from the night before.

Lucy smiled sleepily, her eyes half-closed, her voice warm but teasing. “Already? We just woke up.”

Ona grinned, her face half-hidden in Lucy’s neck. “Is that a no?”

Lucy laughed softly, shaking her head. “Not saying no, but... we literally just did this last night.”

Ona shifted slightly, her hand moving to rest on Lucy’s side. “I can’t help it,” she murmured, half-playful, half-serious. “You said friends with benefits, right?” She said challenging. She just couldn’t get enough of this woman, last night had been… Let’s just say Lucy wasn’t kidding when she said sleeping with her was good.

“Yeah, I did,” Lucy replied, her smile widening. She tilted her head to look at Ona with a raised eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you’d need a ‘friend with benefits’ this bad, though. You’ve got a lot of... urges to work through, huh?”

Ona’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she laughed, leaning back to let their eyes meet. “Maybe,” she admitted, her grin turning more mischievous. “I guess.”

‘’Yeah clearly,’’ Lucy’s laughter shifted into a soft groan as Ona’s fingers began tracing slow, teasing patterns over her skin again. ‘’I can see this arrangement is going to get a lot of use,'’ Lucy murmured, her tone caught between amusement and renewed desire.

Ona leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Lucy’s lips, her voice soft but teasing. “So… no complaints?”

Lucy chuckled, shaking her head. “Nuh-uh. None at all. I just didn’t expect you’d be so...”

Ona smirked raising her eyebrow. “So, what?’’

‘’I don’t know… relentless?’’.

‘’Guess you didn’t know me as well as you thought.”

Lucy’s hand slid up to cup the back of Ona’s neck, pulling her in closer. “Guess not,” she murmured before kissing her again, the tension between them building once more.

…

The past days Ona had felt a subtle shift in her and Lucy’s dynamic. They hadn’t slept together again since that morning, but the closeness between them had only grown.

No walk with the dogs was ever done alone anymore; they’d made a point of syncing their routines.

Their carpooling to training had become more than just a convenience, they waited for eachother if their schedules weren’t linking up perfectly. Those little things were part of a routine that Ona found herself looking forward to more and more.

But it wasn’t just the usual drives and practices that had changed. Their recovery sessions had changed too. Normally, Ona preferred stretches and physio after the cooling down, while Lucy was all about the ice baths. Somehow, they had started doing both their things together. It became their inside joke: the ultimate thorough recovery session. Joking that they would never have an injury again.

The ice baths weren’t so bad when Lucy was there, laughing with her. And she had been able to make Lucy laugh during stretching as Ona had made a, very quiet, teasing remark about how flexible Lucy was.

Still, despite all the time they’d spent together, Ona couldn’t stop thinking about that morning in Lucy’s bed. It had been five days, and she was starting to feel the ache again. She missed the intimacy they’d shared, and with every lingering look or accidental touch, it became harder to ignore.

Ona wasn’t sure how to address it. They’d agreed to have open communication, but for her it felt a little weird to just straight up ask for the ‘benefits’. She felt like maybe Lucy wasn’t feeling the same urgency.

Finally, last night, after an evening spent overthinking it, she texted Lucy.

@Ona Batlle: Hey, wanna have dinner at mine tomorrow evening?

She stared at the screen for a few moments, her thumb hovering over the send button before she pressed it. A few minutes passed, and her phone buzzed with Lucy’s reply.

@Lucy Bronze: Yeah, sounds good

@Lucy Bronze: Looking forward to it 😊

Ona smiled at her phone, her heart racing with anticipation. Dinner at her place was just a casual encounter, a normal evening with a friend, but she couldn’t deny the flutter of excitement that came with it. Maybe because there was a good chance they would ‘cross the line’ again.

…

The next afternoon, Ona was quickly tidying up her apartment, a little more nervous than she wanted to admit. She told herself it was just dinner with a friend—friends who happened to sleep together sometimes. That’s all. Still, she found herself refreshing her bedsheets and cleaning her bathroom.

She was arranging the pillows on the couch for the third time when she heard a knock at the door.

Her heart did a small flip. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter of excitement, and opened the door to find Lucy standing there.

"Hey," Lucy greeted her with a warm smile. "Ready for the walk?"

Lucy’s dog was with her ex, but they had agreed to walk together any ways, this time just with Coco.

Ona smiled back, opening the door wider to let her in. "Yeah, just let me grab Coco, and we’ll head out."

As they walked through the quiet streets, their conversation flowed as easily as ever. But underneath the playful banter and casual talk, Ona felt the familiar tension building. She wondered if Lucy could feel it too. Like every time their hands brushed, Ona’s pulse quickened. She wandered if Lucy felt that too, it didn’t seem like it. Lucy looked totally cool, but then again, Ona looked cool from the outside too. She put a lot of effort to stay casual at all times.

When they returned to Ona’s apartment after the walk, the sun had just begun to set, casting a warm glow through the windows. Lucy kicked off her shoes, taking Coco’s leash of and putting it aside as Ona went and busied herself in the kitchen, starting on dinner.

"Need any help?" Lucy asked.

"Nah, I got it," Ona replied, her voice a little lighter than she felt. She could feel Lucy’s presence behind her, and it was taking all her focus to keep her hands steady as she chopped vegetables.

"So, what’s on the menu tonight?" Lucy asked, leaning casually against the counter, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Ona glanced up with a grin, trying to hide the slight tension in her movements. "Nothing too fancy, just pasta. Simple," she added, hoping Lucy didn’t catch the underlying weight of that word.

Lucy chuckled, a knowing smile on her lips. "Simple. Simple’s good."

They ate dinner with the same ease they’d always had, talking about training, the team, the usual stuff. But even as they laughed, Ona could feel something else lingering between them, the air felt thick. Her mind kept drifting back to the couple encounter they had had up to this moment, to the way Lucy’s touch had made her pulse race, and to the promise of more.

After dinner, they settled on the couch, Coco curled up nearby. The atmosphere between felt more and more charged. Ona could feel her heartbeat pick up as she caught Lucy’s gaze.

She didn’t know how to bring it up, didn’t know how to ask for more.

With a soft exhale, she shifted closer to Lucy on the sofa, her fingers brushing lightly against Lucy’s arm. "So..." she began, her voice steady but her heart racing.

Lucy chuckled, ‘’Ona.’’ She said softly, taking her hand.

Hearing her name she looked at Lucy.

Ona exhaled softly, feeling her heart race as Lucy took her hand. The warmth of her touch was grounding, but the nervous energy buzzing inside her didn’t quite fade.

Lucy’s voice was soft, a little bit teasing. "You don’t have to be so nervous." she chuckled.

Ona swallowed, her gaze meeting Lucy’s. She tried to find the right words, her fingers lightly gripping Lucy’s hand. "I’ve been thinking about... you know."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Lucy’s lips, her expression warm but mischievous. "Yeah?" she murmured, her thumb brushing over Ona’s knuckles. "I thought you might."

Ona’s breath hitched at Lucy’s easy agreement, her pulse quickening. "Yeah. I’ve been… wanting to."

Lucy chuckled, her hand moving up to cup the side of Ona’s face, her fingers brushing her cheek. "Me too," she admitted, her voice soft but sure. She leaned in closer, her lips hovering just above Ona’s. "It´s cute you made me a dinner for it, though."

With that, Lucy closed the gap, her lips pressing against Ona’s in a kiss that was slow, deliberate, and filled with the familiar heat that had been building between them. Ona responded instantly, her hands sliding up to tangle in Lucy’s hair as their kiss deepened, the tension between them breaking like a dam.

Lucy’s hands wandered, sending shivers down Ona’s spine. They shifted on the couch, their bodies pressing together as the kiss grew more heated. Ona’s fingers trailed down Lucy’s back, pulling her closer, the feel of her skin under her hands intoxicating.

Before long, Lucy’s hands found the hem of Ona’s shirt, lifting it up and over her head in one smooth motion. Ona did the same, tugging at Lucy’s clothes with desperate urgency. The couch beneath them creaked as they shifted again, Lucy’s lips moving to Ona’s neck, kissing a slow trail that made Ona gasp.

Ona breathed heavy, her body filled with anticipation.

Lucy’s smirked, her hands moving to unfasten Ona’s jeans.

They didn’t need to rush, but neither of them wanted to stop. Neither of them could stop, they wanted eachother. They wanted eachother now.

Their kisses grew more fervent as they stripped the last of their clothes away. The feeling of Lucy’s skin against hers, the way Lucy touched her with both tenderness and hunger, made Ona’s head spin.

Ona’s breath came in shallow gasps as Lucy’s lips left a searing trail down her neck, moving lower with purpose. Her touch, hot and confident, sent waves of heat through Ona’s body. As Lucy unfastened Ona’s jeans, her eyes flicked up with a mischievous smile, Ona’s pulse quickened in response.

Lucy tugged Ona’s jeans down, her underwear coming down with it, leaving her completely exposed, and for a moment, the anticipation hung thick in the air. Ona’s heart raced as she watched Lucy’s gaze darken with desire, her hands gliding over Ona’s thighs with a slow, teasing touch.

“Been thinking about this,” Lucy murmured, her voice low and filled with barely contained need.

Ona bit her lip, her body aching for Lucy’s touch. She had no words, only a burning desire that matched the heat in Lucy’s eyes. And then Lucy’s lips were on her skin again, kissing a slow, torturous path lower and lower. Her breath hitched as Lucy’s mouth hovered at her center, her eyes flicking up to meet Ona’s one more time, a playful glint in them.

Lucy didn’t hold back. Her mouth found Ona, her tongue pressing firmly against her, and Ona gasped, her hands clutching the couch cushions as her body arched involuntarily. Lucy’s touch was both gentle and insistent, but it was the hunger behind every movement that made Ona’s head spin.

She could feel Lucy’s eagerness, the way her lips and tongue worked with an intensity that left her breathless. There was no hesitation, no teasing, just something that Ona could only describe as hungry desire, as if Lucy had been waiting for this just as much as Ona had. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who’d been dying for this, Ona thought, her body trembling beneath Lucy’s touch.

Lucy’s hands gripped Ona’s hips, pulling her closer as her tongue moved faster, more deliberate. Ona’s breathing turned ragged, her fingers tangling in Lucy’s hair as she tried to ground herself, the pleasure building in waves, higher and higher with every stroke. Lucy was relentless, her mouth working with a single goal in mind, the heat of her breath sending sparks of electricity through Ona’s body.

Ona’s mind went blank, consumed by the sensation. All she could feel was Lucy; her mouth, her hands, the way her tongue moved with perfect precision. The tension in her body coiled tighter, the pleasure too intense to contain.

“Lucy,” Ona gasped, her voice barely a whisper as the heat inside her built to a breaking point. She was close. So close, her body was trembling uncontrollably. Lucy’s response was a soft hum against her, the vibration sending a fresh wave of pleasure through her.

Not longer then a few moments later everything inside Ona snapped.

The pleasure burst through her in an overwhelming rush, her body arching off the couch as she came undone beneath Lucy’s eager touch. Her hands tightened in Lucy’s hair, her breath coming in ragged gasps as the world around her faded away, leaving her sensing only the white-hot bliss of release.

Lucy didn’t stop until Ona’s body had fully relaxed, riding out the last tremors of pleasure. Only then did she pull back slightly, pressing a few soft kisses to Ona’s thighs before resting her head against her, her breath warm against her skin.

Ona laid there spend on the couch, her body still buzzing, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her heart pounded in her ears, her fingers slowly loosened their grip on Lucy’s hair.

…

Both totally spend they laid on their backs on the mattress, their feet were laying at the part where their heads where supposed to be and their heads at the feet’s end.

It had been a couple of hours since they had finished dinner. They had been laying like this the last 15 minutes. Both of them were wading in their own euphoria.

One thing was for sure, they definitely had chemistry. Their sex was unmatched. Ona could only speak for herself of course, but she had never had anyone she clicked with so well, physically.

Lucy rolled on top of her, burying her face in the crook of Ona’s neck. She didn’t say anything, she just laid there.

Was she taking in her scent? The thought pulled Ona right back to reality.

Ona smiled, ‘’what are you doing?’’ She giggled.

Lucy groaned, ‘’mmm we have to shower, but I don’t want too.’’

‘’Yeah we should definitely shower.’’ Ona chuckled. ‘’But we can wait a little bit.’’

‘’Mhm, but we’ve got a game tomorrow.’’

‘’How late is it anyways?’’ Ona asked, not able to move due to the weight on top of her.

..

They stood under the warm water of the shower.

Lucy stood behind Ona, her arms wrapped around her waist, her lips pressing light kisses along the curve of Ona’s shoulder.

"I should probably go home," Lucy murmured after a moment, her voice low and regretful. "Get some sleep in my own bed."

Ona nodded, though a pang of disappointment twisted in her chest. "Yeah, of course." She didn’t want to seem clingy or too attached, but she couldn’t help feeling a little sad at the idea of Lucy leaving.

"This was fun, though," Lucy continued, her fingers tracing gentle circles on Ona’s stomach. "Really fun."

"Yeah, it was," Ona agreed softly, her mind already racing with the new memories they made this night.

Lucy pressed one last kiss to the back of Ona’s neck before turning off the shower and stepping out. As they dried off and got dressed, Ona felt the weight of something unspoken between them again.

She didn’t want Lucy to go, but she wasn’t sure if she could say that without making things more complicated.

Before leaving, Lucy turned to her with a playful smile. "You know, if you ever want to… do this again," she smiled, "you can just say so.’’ She thought about it for a second. ‘’Like… I don’t know, say like 'I’d like to do something simple'?"

Ona chuckled, a smile pulling at her lips. "Something simple?"

"Yeah, not that the thing we do is simple, but it would be like our little code," Lucy said, chuckling. "I don’t know, maybe I am being silly, I meant to say, like, just let me know and I’ll be here."

Ona smiled back, though there was a slight ache in her chest as Lucy got ready to leave.

..

Later, Ona was in her bed alone, her body still humming from the evening. She smelt the detergent of the sheets she had replaced, for the second time this day. She had debated leaving the other once on, having Lucy’s smell, but they were ruined.

She should have been happy. She was happy, really. This was what she’d wanted. Sleeping with Lucy. Yet, as she stared at the empty space beside her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

She thought back to the night at the beginning of this week. The night she’d spent in Lucy’s arms and the quiet comfort of waking up beside her. It had felt different then, more connected.

Now, lying in her own bed, Ona couldn’t help but feel a little hollow. A little alone.

She sighed softly, pulling the covers up to her chin, trying to ignore the loneliness settling in her chest. She could handle this. It was simple. She just had to keep reminding herself of that.

---

masterlist

[ugotcooneycrossed]

everything i said is correct

14 for gesture or whatever its called idk

34 for the words

a/n: this is for lucy babes! i also changed the dialogue a bit but its still basically the same

Pressing tiny kisses against your lover's shoulder while they're bent over a desk, trying to focus even though your touch is distracting them.

"I love how your pulse races for me..."

lucy coming to barcelona is the highlight of your year- instead of being hundreds of kilometres away, she's mere centimetres away from you, fast asleep in your bed, drinking her morning coffee right across from you in the mornings before you both leave for training.

you hear her messing around with clàudia in training and trying to convince ale to speak in english.

you're so happy to finally have her with you.

-

you've been at barcelona for two years now- which means you've been learning spainish for a lot longer than lucy- you do not hold back on bragging about it.

and while you love her dedication to learn the language, and keep up with you and the others (mostly catch up to you so she can beat you- you know) you want her attention now.

finally together after so, so long and she's taking the time to study.

what a nerd.

you roll over in bed to watch her at the desk, coughing once, twice, three times before lucy speaks up.

"drink some water honey."

you frown, sighing loudly- again, once, twice, three times, this time you go ignored.

huffing you get up and walk to her- hovering over her hunched over form- you start to trail kisses along her neck, and face. eventually holding onto her cheeks to press your lips together.

when you pull away lucy raises her eyebrows at you.

"do you mind? im in the middle of this?"

she questions you and you raise your eyebrows back.

"you want me to go away?"

lucy nods, smiling still.

"then why is your pulse racing? must be just for me babe."

[youredreamingofroo]

LOVE TRAIN INBOUND !! 🚂💨💨

This is inspired by @acuar-io !! Thank you for doing this and THANK YOU FOR THE TAG!! (even tho it didnt tag me properly 🤧)

Tumblr is silly and while I will tag ppl, I know not everyone will be properly tagged, so if u see this, skim thru the list for your name ESPECIALLY if your my mutual ! 🫶

To start off, I just wanna say that Fae (acuar-io) has some absolutely STUNNING sims, it's hard to exactly word it, but their sims are SUPER recognizable, and their saves (Snow flower, Cozy save, etc) are SO nicely edited, so aesthetically pleasing to the eyes 🫶😩

@oshinsimblr is the reason why I started storytelling (even before my simblr time) and why I try and find a story-related reason on why my sims/characters do certain things, her videos are also SO comforting and i love her lovesick series!!! and of course, @minimooberry the whole inspo for this simblr and why I render in blender!

@mattodore and @cinamun are AMAZING simblrs if u want rich storytelling and/or well-thought out characters, River has inspired me to really tear into my characters and give them more personality, and cina just genuinely makes such realistic characters and the tea is ALWAYS hot and simblr aside, she has very good takes >:P

@groovetrys and @circusjuney have been around on my blog and as my mutuals for a LONG time and they really are some of my biggest hype people, lori has an AMAZING legacy going on with her sim, Melody, and u should DEF check it out, and june makes the most amazing clown sims 🥹 theyre always so pretty and STUNNINGGGG

-> To add onto the above category, id also consider @miralure as one of my biggest hype ppl!!! Although they havent been around as long as june and lori, they always hype me up and it makes me stupid happy 😭 they make REALLY good lookbooks and i love their sim style SMMMM

if u dont know about @rebouks what are you DOING with your simblr-life, bc becca has some of the most human-feeling story/dialogue, i always get a stupid sappy smile on my face when i read her story posts

@jarakio has an AMAZING story called Girls with Guns and its prolly my fav story that ive read on simblr, the dialogue? amazing, the poses? amazing, the vibes? AMAZING, i'm ALWAYS hooked in whenever i see GwG pop up on my dash

@stellarfalls just HAD to be on this list are u kidding me????? Bree has a PHENOMENAL save called Valley, even tho there's no dialogue, each image and gif speaks more than words could, she's inspired me to kick up the quality of my posts and also start making gifs, I also consider her to be one of my biggest hype ppl, she always be coming in with the best compliments 🥹🫶

@torissims !!! She makes BEAUTIFUL posts, her blog is very yellow and orange and i LOVE IT, she pulls a lot of inspo from Studio Ghibli and even tho ive never seen any SG Movies, I can just see and feel the inspo, shes def underrated af 🥹

@amburgundy has BEAUTIFUL builds, and they dont just do TS4, they also make builds in other sims games!! (u did a phenomenal job with Madi's legacy house amber 🤝) I LOVE the clutter and they always looks so cozy 😭

@flovoid is another one of my hypemen LMFAOOO bro you and your tags literally make me so happy, i LOVE reading them. Flo makes AMAZING SIMS, and you should check out literally ALL of their sims, especially their sims Roo and Norman from Majima Land (first post under my Roo tag is me reacting to one of their posts with Roo and Norman, funniest introduction to a blog ever), Also their sim, Draco Almond??? He's got me tucking my hair behind my ear... 🫦🫦

@elderwisp has some of the most immaculate editing ive ever seen, the lighting, the vibes, the dialogue, the poses, the expressions, i be eating those posts up like im fine dining 😩😩

@changingplumbob is so chill, I love how much passion she has for her rotations, and her love for cats?? Perfect mutual to have, I also literally LOVE reading her behind the scenes posts, they're literally so funny 😭😭

@tricoufamily and @dejasenti99 make absolutely phenomenal renders, like if theres any renders on simblr that im gonna recognize immediately, its these two's renders, they're genuinely more HQ than my fucking eyes 😭😭

-> Also Nat (Missatan) makes incredibly HQ renders as well, these three are like... my biggest blender render inspos...

@buttertrait @missatan @virtualfolk @pearlean @claudtrait all have BEAUTIFUL sim styles, butter's is very unique, i know they arent really a sims 4 blog anymore but i ALWAYS recognize butter's sims when i see them on my dash and I genuinely love their sim style sm. Nat (Missatan) has SUCH a gorgeous sim style, you've heard of them hips dont lie, well her sims' lips dont lie 😩🫦 Virt (Virtualfolk) and Sam's (pearlean) sim styles are SO animated (if that makes sense), they're like eye-candy. Den (claudtrait), like Nat, has a sim style with the most luscious lips and poutiest faces ive ever seen and are just SOO pleasing to look at, like i just feel blessed in the eyes when i see their sims

@yukikocloud 's Apricot save and storytelling is incredibly reminiscent of Bree's posts, and I just LOVE looking at and reading her story posts, this post in particular just absolutely captivated me, I was drawn in and just get so giddy seeing the Apricot save pop up on my dash 🥹

@alientown @venriliz @nefarrilou @druidberries @machinegrl make STUNNINGGGGG occult (or cyber/robotic in Baja/Machinegrl's instance) sims. Nef always makes beautiful sims for their Cryptid "series", im just in AWE when i see their cryptids... Ven and Ana (alientown) both always make absolutely gorgeous alien sims and they also just have very unique/beautiful sim styles 😍 Baja's cyber girlies are just >>>>>>>>>>>>> I love her whole dystopian/cyber theme, its literally so good and so cool, and her Deadstars series? SO good. Alexis' (druidberries) elowen is so pretty, and her sim style, especially with occults, is just MWAH chefs kiss, literal eye candy

@swallowprettybird is just one of the sweetest people on simblr, I love reading what she has to say about mine and others' posts, and she makes amazingggg posts, I loved that one national geographic inspired post with the zebra, it was so well done

@softle0 makes some absolutely stunning builds, they always look so lived in, so cozy and I would ABSOLUTELY live in pretty much every single build they make

and honorable mentions to @droolski @felysline @pamsimmerstories @swiftviolets @weirdosalike @mushbop @calicosimgirl @shadowtrait and @seriallovertrait because I feel like they're all SO underrated, they're all passionate about their own stuff and I just love seeing their posts, and if you're seeing this, FOLLOW THEM 🫵🫵

Thank you Fae (acuar-io) once again for starting this train up, I love seeing stuff like this and it's so sweet to see what everyone has to say about one another, I may have spent 1 or 2 hours doing this, but it was INCREDIBLY well spent to be able to admire and appreciate all these people, them and every other simblr person, whether i follow them or not, deserve every last drop of love and appreciation genuinely

[momo-shut-the-fuck-up]

So i ve done the main story in infinity nikki and im gonna stop playin now, before i squeeze the game dry of content and have nothing (new) to do on release.

Time for a lil review/thoughts post

I m not gonna review every single mechanic in the game, simply things that stood out to me or that i wanna talk about. I also wont add more images, i kinda want ppl to see the world for themselves... i ll share more when the game comes out tho.

There s a lot of text under this. Tldr, i like the game i think it's a solid, enjoyable experience with a good gameplay loop, the story isn't for me, and i'll keep playin of course. And u should try it too if ur device wont blow itself up tryin to run it.

Dress up

The bread and butter of Nikki games... it's good as usual. Game doesn't shy away from long skirts or coat tails or complicated ballgowns just cuz nikki can run and jump and dash now and i'm very happy bout that. There's some clipping issues once in a while, but it's nothing major and the clothes we do have in the game are lovely. There s an evolution system for some of the sets, which makes em a diff color.... usually they can evolve once, but i saw Three extra evolutions for one of the UR sets and that scares me. Bcs to evolve them u have to craft the suit again. So u have to pull 4 copies of a suit to max it out..

Combat

Game's definitely succeeding in its quest for being cozy. There's no real stakes, combat isn't difficult in the slightest but i do welcome it- super simple but it's pretty fun regardless. The boss fights were surprisingly creative and fun for what they are, it's just unfortunate that you have to do them more than once or twice (crafting mats)- but they do change what the boss does so it's different depending on what mat u are farming for... and u can claim double or triple or however much stamina u got-le of the mat after u complete it once. So that s rly nice.

Exploration

I actually think it's really really good. Again this isn't a difficult or complicated game, not yet i guess... but with the major goal being "get new clothes" and "take pretty pictures maybe", the open world feels actively engaging to participate in. There's collectibles everywhere, little challenges you can do that are diverse but quick, styling battles, collecting everythin from animals fur to bugs to fish, and allll of this brings u closer to that never ending goal of woo more clothes.

However even if a challenge doesnt give you a blueprint, it's still just. Really Nice to exist in this world. It's very whimsical, as expected of Lilith, and the world has a combination of realism and cartoon artstyle that is just soso appealing to me. It's genuinely how i would've imagined miraland to look in 3d. Shame it's not the same miraland we know..

Story

Hmm... silly is one word i could use for it. Cute also. The story isn't doin anythin bad per se, and i did start skippin dialogue near the end w the pieceys because i want to keep at least Some part of the story for the game's release... but i get the gist of it, and it s just not my thing.

It feels like a story made for children, and it definitely would get a G rating. Easy and simple to follow, there's moments of tension or sadness sure but with the antagonist bein a literal babie lookin cutey fairy with a grown man's voice, or the creatures that i'm interacting with are a bunch of. Fuckin weird lookin big eyed balls of fabric that look closer to plushies than somethin Alive... it's all so silly and dramatic sometimes i can t help but cringe.

Part of it is a me problem, if u just open ur heart and free urself from the cringe the story is fine. It's just a little too kiddy for me and i so desperately hope it won't stay like this forever. My prayers might be answered though, there's a whole war beyond the borders and we have refugees around... shit's lookin bad for Umbrosa.

Other things i noticed that i liked:

The effect on nikki's skin when it's raining, she actually has water dripping down her face... its so cool

Momo capes are actually kinda neat ngl. Especially cuz the fucker follows u around everywhere, at least i can bedazzle him

Npc models look really good im a fan. They do suffer from "everyone is very beautiful" syndrome, which makes some of the npc villains look/sound ridiculous, but they have kid-teen-adult-elderly versions of models (i never see teen models in these games! Its cool!) And some body variation. The grandmas look so lovely i cry

The dark skin tone is really dark, and it looks quite nice and natural.

The lighting engine in this game is just rly good in general. God bless UE5

The edges of the map where there s forest, which u obv cant go thru, the forest is made to be darker, thicker.... i m a huge fan of this idk y. It's not just *invisible wall in front of an open field* nopee cant go there lets explore that area later tee hee. And it looks good to boot.

Camera function is p robust, has more options for changin brightness/saturation/contrast etc which i feel Shining Nikki lacks.

Some of the creature designs are so good man i looove themm <3.... the pieces are awful tho. Ok creature design is a hit and miss sometimes but the stray hatty? Peak. All the weirdy fashionable animals? Peak.

Bein able to quick switch thru ur saved sets while in the overworld is real neat

Oke that was it. Bye

[platoapproved]

I read ur lesmand porn with plot and its lovely!! So lovely, the most in character thing i could ever hope for and also painful and hot and amazing :) However! I did not read the book and did magnus really…? Like i had NO idea that rape was a part of lestat’s turning bc its just not talked abt ig? Anyway im shocked and horrified. But you wrote about it beautifully, so that was fun

FIRST OF ALL, thank you so so so much anon, I'm very glad you enjoyed the fic! 😭 It makes me so happy knowing that people are getting something out of it 💚.

I'm going to answer your question under a read-more. It got pretty long... also, is this not a thing people are talking about? I have no idea, I'm just in my little fandom corner. But if anyone hasn't read the books and wants to know more - I'll get into it. Content warning for discussion of sexual assault and some upsetting book passages:

SO. It's surprisingly tricky to answer this but I'm going to do my best. Bear in mind I've only read like half of the books...

The surface-level simplest answer is no. In The Vampire Lestat, Magnus does not rape Lestat. In the books, vampires do not become aroused or have sex - like as a rule, biologically, they just can't. (Now, there is nuance here as well, because vampires DO still have sex in the books, it just involves them performing sex acts on humans with their mouths/hands/etc). This is a big change they've made in the show.

That being said, turning someone into a vampire non-consensually IS compared to rape throughout the series. Like not just in the case of Magnus and Lestat but elsewhere, too. Here are a couple examples of this from Prince Lestat (which I HAVEN'T EVEN READ YET I just looked these up because I knew Lestat's turning was discussed) talking about Lestat's turning:

Important to remember also that Prince Lestat was published in 2014 whereas The Vampire Lestat came out in 1985. It's nearly a 30 year gap; the first few books in the series are way way way less explicit and direct especially when it comes to sex.

So, there is that aspect of things. But most of all the language used in the passage around Lestat's turning is just... I obviously cannot speak for most readers but of the people I've spoken to and seen discussing it, it's fairly obvious the whole thing is written as a metaphor for rape. Like I feel like this is not an uncommon reading at all. Hey any other book readers who made it this far back me up on this.

A few passages in support of this. These are going to be wildly out of order but since I did a kind of re-telling of this scene in my fic, this is Lestat talking to Nicki about his turning:

Can't resist including a classic 'Nicki what the FUCK' moment.

As for the scenes with Magnus themselves! A lot of the stuff in my fic is just... straight up dialogue or actions of Magnus' lifted right out of the book.

-

I feel like that's enough to give you a sense of the general tone of the scene. There's other aspects that are imho meant to evoke sexual assault: Magnus puts Lestat on a bed and climbs on top of him to turn him, Lestat tries to fight him off, he tries (and fails) to resist the physical pleasure reaction humans feel when vampires drink from them, etc. I'd include more quotes but honestly at some point I'd just be copy-pasting the whole thing.

So... my answer is yes and no. I have no idea how they are going to handle all this in the show. Like it's a really pivotal moment for The Vampire Lestat and for Lestat as a character. I will honestly be shocked if in the show they don't change the metaphorical rape into a non-metaphorical one. Certainly it seems to me that the way Sam Reid has handled the acting any time Magnus comes up (Claudia asking questions, Armand mentioning him while Lestat is on stage, the tower scene in the season 2 finale, etc.) to me reads like they're going to take it that way.

Anyway wow fuck this is so many words sorry. I'm sure there are other people who have been book fans longer than me who could speak much more eloquently on this but I've done my best to answer. 😔

[malwaredykes]

ma'am give us the catherine boone lore, please i beg of you

well *smiles shyly*

in case its not clear she is Boone the companion in fallout new vegas but after realizing some important things about herself

which is something that started out as just me having this sort of loose “wouldnt it be interesting” idea but then @fallout-lou-begas and i spent days digging into how well this actually fits boone's narrative. boone being an egg i mean. starting from simple things that dont Necessarily have to mean anything but definitely add up, like boone going by last name only, or being the least talkative companion by far (do you not like the sound of your own voice, boone?), all the way to like. the general Long-Unaddressed Dysphoria Hopelessness, the sense of having no future and no autonomy and no power to change anything. there's a lot to go through here but there's just this constant vibe of being a lost cause, of feeling like things can only happen to you as you move through life detached and disconnected and numb, and of not having the words to express any of that, not knowing how much of that can even be put into words or given any meaning or solution, because something is always missing, something big.

so. i think leigh suddenly appearing in boone's life had one hell of an impact. still took boone a long time to understand why and that it was okay for her to “want to be like leigh” and so on. but yeah, ive mentioned before how it adds a whole new layer to the fact that boone just followed this strange woman into the wasteland and became so ride or die for her. and how she felt that she and leigh had been destined to meet. in fact boones dialogue thats like “maybe its you i shouldve been expecting all along”, “i knew i was supposed to follow you the day we met” just kind of hits harder this way Im Not Gonna Lie. like, yeah, narratively in the game its suppose to be about boone's guilt, but... theres this overarching mindset that boone has... similarly to how boone's not liking to talk definitely reads as a neurodivergence thing, but also.... could be more than one reason.. there are Usually complex/multiple causes behind such character-defining idiosyncrasies yknow

i might write/draw something about the moment boone starts to piece things together and Realizes and tells leigh. and even though boone had been shaking like a leaf about the prospect of telling her, leigh is of course very very happy to help her and support her. shes happy she gets to be there for boone and get to know her even better than she already did.

as for the name, honestly catherine just kind of came up. like it just came up and immediately sounded right. she can go by cat and thats very very cute.

overall catherine is like… well shes just very lovable. shes definitely a LOT happier, she actually smiles and laughs, and feels a lot more grounded and present. and hrt makes her look very soft. and she grows her hair out to where its this like, fluffy mullet situation. and leigh falls for her because she already liked boone a whole lot, they were besties/worsties who had seen each other at their lowest and were very comfortable with each other, and seeing cat be this content and radiant and cute… she was Defenseless. Oh, This Lovely Woman Has Been Right In Front Of Me This Whole Time. shes crazy. cat youre gonna get sooooo kissed.

so. yeah. it IS ocXcanon with extra steps. and i love it. i love you cat boone. theres so much to her and so much i could say and so many layers to her new hopes and dreams after so many years of dreary soldier-conditioning dissociated i-am-made-for-a-purpose loneliness. but i wanna convey it properly thru art and writing i think.

[littlecrittereli]

It's been a long time since I watched Wild Kratts but I didn't even know he had a fandom, I'm so happy, and your story made my dream come true, I would love to create a story like you, but I'm not very good at writing stories What tips would you give to a beginner <3

I don't consider myself a super great author to be honest, I'm much more confident in my illustrations! But as someone who is completely self taught: here are some tips I use when I write my stories! (these may not apply to everyone, but they do help me) Outlines

If I'm writing a plot-based story I make an outline of all the major plot points I want to make and separate them into chapters. I reference this outline when I'm writing a chapter and it helps me meet all my "goals" for that particular chapter! Of course you can be flexible with this. Say one of your plot points dragged out a little too long and you want to save something for the next chapter, you can adjust your outline as you go! Sometimes your idea will change as you write it, and that's okay! revise your outline accordingly. For me, it's handy so I don't end up spiralling completely off the path I intended and lose the conclusion I wanted to have. Here's an example of the outline for my Reprogrammed AU. (Only chapters 1-5 to prevent spoilers for unreleased chapters)

as you can see, it doesn't have to be super formal. This is literally just in my notes app. As long as you can understand and follow your ideas, that's all that matters.

Get a Beta Reader!

I do not actually have a beta reader currently, but sending your writings to someone to proofread is one of the best ways to get genuine feedback. Try to find someone who is also pretty educated on proper grammar. I learned more about proper formatting from a fanfiction beta reader than I did in school im so fr. At the very least, make sure this person is comfortable with giving you constructive criticism. If something reads a little awkward or if a plot point doesn't make much sense/could be solved with an easier method, it's a lot easier for someone to point out when they didn't write the piece.

Study fanfictions/books you enjoy

Honestly... just reading a lot has made me a better writer. You will begin to notice the way authors describe certain feelings or environments, and that can give you insight on how to go about writing your own ideas. If I find an author I really like, I will try to dissect WHY I like them so much. Is it their accurate characterization? Do they describe emotions well? Are their plots engaging? Is their dialogue interesting? Find out what makes their writing so interesting so you can incorporate those traits into your own story. This goes for the way they format their writing as well. For example, I've found I prefer when chapters are around 1k-5k words. Really short chapters can make the story seem choppy when the reader has to constantly click to the next page, it kinda breaks the immersion of the story. Instead I try to use chapter breaks as interesting pausing points for suspense. I love it when authors leave their chapter on a slightly unfinished note. So I'm curious for the next chapter, but also I feel fulfilled with what I've read so far. And I've discovered this by analyzing the stories I enjoy!

And the most important advice I can give.... PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!!

Writing is similar to drawing in the sense that in order to learn, you must DO it. You have to make the shitty stuff before you find out how to make it better! It's honestly just part of the creative process. I still have some short stories I wrote back when I was a preteen and ITS BAD LOL but I needed to go through that in order to learn and grow and be more confident in my storytelling capabilities. And just like illustrations, everyone starts at a different place and everyone's process is different. SO BE PATIENT AND DON'T GIVE UP! Write that story! Even if it's bad, who cares?! You wrote something! And next time, you will write something even better!

[vryivs]

fanfic writer interview

thank you @tiesanjiaoshenanigans

How many works do you have on AO3? 52

What's your total AO3 word count? 571, 768

Your top 5 stories by kudos/likes:

Tangerine, Macaron (seongjoong)

the dirt that you're made of (yanqing)

恋の予感 (the longest path to us) (seongjoong)

If I Can Leave One Memory (sansang)

the stars are here (seongjoong)

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? yes!! i usually go through my comments right before i upload a new fic or chapter, just because that's easiest

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending? god um ok. one sec. it's definitely 白镜 - White Mirror. tragic lesbians... most of what i write has a happy or at least ambiguous ending but this one follows canon so it's a tragedy instead

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending? oh man! tbh it's probably 恋の予感 (the longest path to us) again. although nearly everything i write ends happy

Do you write crossovers? not rlly... they just don't appeal to me that much so I've never written them. i dont read them either

Have you ever received hate on a fic? nope! considering how long ive been writing it honestly kind of surprises me--its not even like i write particularly safe stuff either. i figure that maybe its because so much of my work is so personal that a people tend to maintain good etiquette and dont talk shit directly to me

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? yes. the cinematic kind lol. last time i wrote something explicit was fine, but i much prefer writing smut in a more literary style? not sure if that makes sense. the writing equivalent of close shots and fancy camera angles and lens flare, although that doesnt mean that i cant be crass when i want

Have you ever had a fic stolen? i dont think so, but its not like i check

Have you ever had a fic translated? nop! someday i want to get good enough to translate my own hsr work into chinese just bc so much of what i write is influenced by reading and learning about chinese culture and linguistic quirks, but that wont be any time soon

Have you ever co-written a fic before? yes!! several actually. lonely 'til you hold me was a collab with a pinch hitter for the event it was for. then i also wrote on my old account Accursed Spawn with @shineoftherainbow which to this day i am obsessed with

What's your all-time favorite ship? oh man... i am fickle and my tastes change by the week, but i think i will always have a soft spot for einsla, even if i dont write them much

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will? never say never but probably the seongjoong royalty au. i had it planned and everything but then people started discoursing around eden and the planned ending i wrote was potentially too topical, so i waited and then i lost steam.

What are your writing strengths? flow i think? ive always been pretty good at keeping things moving at a good pace. i edit myself a lot (and practice editing on some actual published books too!) so its become second nature to chop and change and move things around.

What are your writing weaknesses? actually writing. just kidding. probably that when i get stuck on something i tend to focus only on the fact that im stuck and cannot continue until i have unstuck myself

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? depends on what is meant my this! if it's about honorifics in dialogue (eg, hyung, -chan, dajie etc) i support it, since a lot don't translate well to english. Same with terms of endearment like -ito and -ie. if it's whole dialogue, it really depends. am i supposed to be able to understand the dialogue? is it something that could've been written just as well with 'he says, in [language]', does the author understand what they're writing, is it a text based or verbal conversation? does the pov character understand what's being said? (personally the best way to have dialogue in other languages is if the pov character isn't supposed to understand it. but always be aware that a native speaker of that language may still read the fic)

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to? kiamei! i love my lesbian mothers.

What's your favorite fic you've written?

白镜 - White Mirror. lets go lesbians! i really enjoyed writing in this style

tagging: @shineoftherainbow @himbodevotee @nicenightmare13 @morifiinwe @marichild @linhuine

[the-s1lly-corner]

Starlight, Starshine; an impenetrable disguise

its finally happening! i came up with a name for this little fanfic/one shot series/whatever this is going to be! obligatory title is ripped from a steam powered giraffe song (go listen to starlight starshine, its literally sun+moon x reader core im begging you) anyways! Starlight, Starshine is going to be a collection of self indulgent writings between our favorite animatronic and reader! from multiple different aus, though it will mostly center around 2! one au thats "everything is fine nothing bad happens please i just want them ALL to be happy" and the other is a silly dumb idea of "what if reader who used to work at the pizzaplex takes eclipse home and repairs them and ect ect happens"! todays little fic is based off of that! im so sorry about the long authors note, i really need to make it a habit to shorten these but yk obligatory admin is not used to writing fics and theyre still trying to find their style in terms of writing so ! most of these one shots also arent going to be in order, due to the nature of this being a collection of writings for at least 2 aus so for the most part theres no need to read them all to understand a greater story!

Summary: Months after the reader brings Eclipse to their home and repairs them, sun and moon must get accustomed to their new environment. however sun has some plans...

Extra notes: this one is primarily sun centered, reader has a dog, author is attempting at comedy, not proof read we die like men so expect a few grammar mistakes and spelling errors, a lot of this one shot also contains more context and exposition (???) to the "Taken Home" au referenced above, author is not confident in their writing skills and hasnt written a full fledged fic in a year or two, author also isnt used to writing proper dialogue so take that as you will, reader is GN/typically wont be given pronouns due to authors general writing style/POV, he/they pronouns for sun and moon they /them for eclipse, really this is just an experimental piece with a vague idea i had last night, nothing too special more so an exercise to get me back into writing, author is still trying to figure out how to write personalities so these are very likely to be OOC

The first word that came to your mind when describing Sun was "odd". He looked odd, he acted odd, he had odd rituals that he carried out in your home. However it wasn't a bad kind of odd.

It'd been a few months since you took the former daycare attendant to your home, and repaired them. You had already grown close to the pair long before the closure of the pizzaplex, being an extra set of hands in the daycare. You didnt even know they were still active within the building when you decided to explore the remains; already taken on the form of Eclipse, who at the time of your discovery was trying in vain to clean the wreckage. Of course repairing them wasn't easy given you had limited experience in... basically rebuilding an animatronic; but against all odds you made it work! You let them take the guest bedroom, not that either of them used it; they would much rather spend their time hovering around you.

It took a lot of getting used to, for everyone involved, but you were all adjusting quite nicely!

Mostly...

You see, Sun didnt like being cooped up.. your home being considerably smaller than the daycare he was so used to. Leading to todays horrible plan.

"Sunflower," You said through lightly clenched teeth as you watched the sun themed animatronic tug on an oversized hat. He really couldn't be doing this... this wasnt going to work, no one is this dumb to fall for this plan!

The plan in question? Well, Sun thinks it would be a good idea to wander about outside in a "disguise" of sorts; said disguise consisting of the aforementioned hat, sunglasses, a face mask, and a entirely new outfit. Obviously, it looked at convincing as it sounded.

Sun hummed and spun on his feel to look at you, already putting your dog on a leash. "Yeeees starshine?" He asked as he scratched your dog between the ears. "This isnt a good idea," You mumbled as you watched him make his way to the door. "Nonsense! There's hardly anyone out, it'll only be a quick walk around the park!" Sun cheered.

The second word that comes to your mind when you think to describe Sun, is "stubborn", as when he made his mind up on something you can almost guarantee that he would follow through with the plan. So now, you were following behind him, keeping your eyes peeled for anyone who could see him. If he weren't so tall, or if he could tuck his rays in, or didn't emit a mechanical creak with every step he made then perhaps, the plan may have just worked... perhaps.. maybe..

No, it wouldn't, you can see his metal neck from where you were standing.

"Remember, only one lap," You reminded him as you succumbed to his will, much to his delight as his pace picked up just ever so slightly.

To his credit, he was right about not many people being out and about, mostly in part due to the fact it was still early in the morning. Just light enough to keep Sun in control, but just early enough for most to still be sleeping or still getting ready for work. However, the park wasn't empty, mostly it was early morning joggers; who thankfully didn't pay much mind to the two of you outside of giving a half wave as they passed.

There were even a few parents around with their small children walking with them; be it they were walking them to school or simply taking them to take in the early morning air... Sun's body seemed to perk up at the sight of the children, loudly greeting them with a good morning; leaving both them and the parents slightly bewildered at his high energy.

There were others, who had decided to also take their dog out for an early walk. The people once again weren't an issue, as they seemed to miraculously fall for Sun's disguise from a distance.

Their dogs weren't fooled, though. Multiple dogs began to bark and growl as they passed by. "Oh I'm so sorry, I don't know what's gotten into him!" was said a few times throughout the walk. Again, the owners somehow didnt seem to notice the fact Sun was an animatronic, mostly due to having to restrain their dog from lunging forward at him.

The closest call, however, came from Sun excitedly taking up an offer for someone to pet their dog. For you see, Sun didnt think far enough ahead to cover his hands, thus leaving his hands in clear sight. Add in the fact that the dog bit Sun as he leaned forward to pet them.

Of course, the man noticed, and before he could say a word or question, you blurted out that it was a prosthetic hand. Though, you're not sure that the man bought it, as he was now craning his neck up to look up at Sun's round, flat face.

He slinked off. Whether it be he didn't have the energy to deal with it, or he simply just didnt care, or somehow believed you, he left.

Thankfully, that last interaction happened as you and Sun were beginning to loop back to where you started. Before Sun could begin to beg for a second round around the park, you started to walk him home; hand in hand.

"Oh that was so so fun! Starshine we gotta do this more often, everyone was so nice, " Sun chirped as you approached your front door. In his excitement he had begun to skip in long strides, forcing you to speed up your walk to a light jog.

"Yeah, again... maybe we can go earlier in the morning? You know we cant risk anything, I mean, if I get caught with you I could probably get sent to," You trailed off as Sun suddenly shoved something into your hands.

A handful of flowers that he had pulled up from the ground, he must have grabbed them while on the walk. How did you not notice? Were you that nervous of being found out by others?

A third word to describe Sun would be sweet. Even through his oddity and stubbornness, he still thought of you. Always so considerate.

Now that you think about it, you realize this may be the first time Sun has touched a real living flower.

You frowned, slightly. It made sense, he wasnt permitted to step foot outside of the pizzaplex, and its not like many people were giving him bouquets of fresh flowers. Usually if they did it'd be the obviously fake plastic ones. Sure, sometimes the kids would give him paper flowers.

"Can we go again tomorrow?" Sun asked as he watched you fumble around with the cluster of flowers... some were weeds, but.. its the thought that counts.

"Of course, Sunflower," You said before you could let yourself think logically.

Well, there was no taking it back, now. How could you, when Sun quickly stamped his heels in excitement as he dashed inside your home.

Perhaps you'll pick some flowers for him tomorrow, too.

yeah idk about this one yall LMAO, i genuinely didnt know where i was going with this one nor did i know how to end it, if that wasnt obvious SOBS im so not used to writing actual stories, im so used to short scenarios and headcannons... gotta fix that anyways i still have a few more ideas i want to write, but! thats it for the first one shot for Starlight, Starshine !

[pyrriax]

your centurion anatomy sounds really cool :0! can you describe more in detail about them?

in your screenshot it stated they have a crystalline star in their hearts, does this have something to do with the seraphim? also by "tainted by gold" does that mean centurion blood or do seraphim also have gold blood? what are the different colors of centurion blood and are they all some matter of metallic? how do centurions connect to their seraphim?

you can also talk about seraphim anatomy if you want :3 (im also very curious about why they went extinct but im guessing thats spoilers)

also who are the other centurions and seraphim aside from clown and branzy? do they have some kind of hierarchal system? how do seraphim give their souls to creations since im assuming its literal? and what is the exact purpose of soul-sharing?

no need to answer all or any of these ofc just curious :3

Hello hello yes of course! I'm happy to elaborate more on them ^_^ I'll be pulling pieces from my notes, some screenshots of writing I've done relating to it, and just going into some Details.

(Fair warning this is going to be a LOT of words and a lot of this is subject to change, this project and world is a work in progress and I've been shifting things around as I start actually writing things!)

Preface (A quick rundown of the World itself)

Divided into two parts, the main one I'll be focusing on is The Vesper, Vesper is the name of the main Seraph city, and is also used to refer to the floating islands which are the main home of the Seraphs.

The other part of the world, The Fray, is the actual planet. This is the ground, and was once a lush place, but is currently... Not so much. Once upon a time, it had a handful of different names, but now it's nothing more than ruin.

So, Seraph anatomy (What the hell even is a Seraph?)

Seraphs are an organic bipedal species which are humanoid in nature but tend toward being less human in appearance; though one of the main differences is their many (varying number) of wings, along with having anywhere from two to four eyes. Though, all of these things variy from Seraph to Seraph! In general, they're a bit bird-ish, and though the main two that I'll be talking about look relatively similar, Seraphs have a wide variety of colors and patterns, along with the fact they're known to dye feathers the same as people dye their hair!

(Note: this is an older sketch, before I'd really fleshed out the exact origin of Seraphs. The halo isn't a standard thing, but this does somewhat convey general anatomy! This is a Seraph which is basically showing off what it is, and taking a less strictly humanoid appearance, though it remains bipedal. As well, this is a four-winged example, although its ears are feathered, which can give the appearance of an additional set of wings, depending on the Seraph!)

Generally speaking, Seraphim anatomy isn't too out of the ordinary, although one thing to note is their speech is much more adapted toward chirping and trilling for vocalizations, and most of what I write for the dialogue is more... A transcript of the conversation, than the literal things being said (since I'm already in deep with a worldbuilding project and I don't need to add a conlang on top of that, lol). Well, that's all bar the star in the room, but we'll circle around to that in the next section!

Long before they were known as the Seraphim, Seraphs were a flying creature, and have retained a few key aspects of that, specifically the wings themselves, and a lighter skeleton. This does lead to the high potential of bones breaking, and general injuries, but there are things that circumvent that from being such an issue, which is tied to magic in the world itself.

also by "tainted by gold" does that mean centurion blood or do seraphim also have gold blood?

That line is referring to Seraphim blood! Seraphs have a varied blood color, but the most common one is gold/brass-like, which is usually vibrant but when dried it's much more weathered looking (taking on a greenish hue).

Seraphs are one of two sentient species in their world, and are revered as Gods both for their appearance, and for their abilities. Although, this doesn't mean that they are peaceful, and they often will partake in bloody fights, often to perceived death. Though, these are frowned upon, it isn't outright disallowed, for reasons I'll be getting into! (I swear I'm not dragging this out on purpose I just want to explain what the fuck a Centurion is before we get into magic)

Okay, so what is a Centurion, then? (Centurion Anatomy)

Centurions are primarily humanoid in appearance, but an important distinction to make is that Centurions are not organic. In place of faces, Centurions have masks, which are typically undecorated, left blank to ensure they aren't viewed as expressive or of having emotions. There are few exceptions to this. As well, they typically will have all of their body completely covered, for similar reasons. It's established already in the screenshot you mentioned that Centurions are constructs, and generally speaking, they are made for temporary usage, rather than anything long term. This comes with the nature of their primary purpose, but let's put a pin in that for now.

Despite their status as constructs, they are given pieces which function much like their organs, which primarily exist to be like a siphon for energy and the magic which fuels them. Over time, these pieces wear down, and they will cease to function properly after their designated time is up. This time can be extended, if these pieces are replaced or maintained, but this is something that they cannot do themselves. It was a limitation put into place by their creators to keep them from self-perpetuating and as well to keep them from outliving their usefulness.

These organs appear like they've been made of wood, metal, and wool. This isn't exactly the case, as much of what makes them up is organic material, specifically that of grown stars. (There's worldbuilding and flora explanation I'm not going to drag this out with, but if you're curious I can talk about it more ^_^)

Centurions are nothing more than machines. Or, at least, that's how they were supposed to be, but this isn't how it always remains.

what are the different colors of centurion blood and are they all some matter of metallic?

Centurions have blood much more like humans, though not always. Being variably red or gold, depending on their function. While they are constructs and don't have so much of a need for a circulatory system, this is a bit more... Cosmetic. Centurions with gold blood are more often than not the ones that are made for jobs within Seraphim cities, though this doesn't mean that they always remain there. Although, in rare cases, Centurions may be made without any blood, and instead their organs will be made to replace the few functions it does have.

But, focusing on if all of their blood is metallic, it isn't always the case. Centurions are much more varied, and even from one to another major pieces of anatomy can be wildly different. So, it isn't a far stretch to say there's quite possibly a handful of Centurions with non-metallic blood out there.

Centurion Origins & Purpose (With a little sprinkling of magic!)

So, if you hadn't already guessed it, Centurions were created by the Seraphim! At the beginning, Centurions were made to fill in odd jobs, taking care of things which were necessary and being generally a stand in for workers as the Seraphs progressed. They were modeled after the other sentient species, which are functionally humans but not quite. This was something which caused a fair bit of outrage from them, but the Seraphs didn't exactly care.

Eventually, though, the Centurions took on a much different, and much more... Important role. They took the place of Seraphs in slaughter, in petty squabbles or fights which would've otherwise been an inconvenience. This turned into Centurions no longer being made for small jobs, and instead they were being made as machines of war. They were mindless and soulless soldiers, following orders without a doubt or question.

Although, some Centurions are different from the others: they have a soul, one of the stars. These are the main leaders, and they are the ones which remain for the longest. (This is what Clown is, which is the reason he is the way he is!)

Centurions made for fighting are the only remaining residents of the Fray, and have been the reason for its destruction, after the fall of the Seraphs.

Stars, Magic, all those little things (An some creature details)

Magic in Seraphim is an innate thing, something that everything in the world possesses, but uses in different ways. Some creatures use it for shapeshifting to quickly adapt, others will use it to hunt, meanwhile a handful of species will consume it rather than hunting or scavenging. Although, creatures which consume magic are known to be short lived, and reproduce a lot like how puffball mushrooms do. It's a little horrifying when all of the sudden there are sharp spores flying everywhere, but it's the reason most avoid the main pools of the magic. Seraphs are a species which primarily consume magic, but, unlike the much more nudibranch-esque creatures which are prone to exploding due to the magic they consume, Seraphs have harnessed it for their own purposes.

The Vesper are floating islands which are suspended above vast lakes (which are almost oceanic) and have been held there by the Seraphim. As a means of storing the excess energy they've taken in, they developed a way to use it to continue to suspend the Vesper. These stores could last for several thousand years, assuming they're properly maintained.

But, onto the burning question of the night: what are those stars?

in your screenshot it stated they have a crystalline star in their hearts, does this have something to do with the seraphim?

The star is a key part of the Seraph's anatomy, and is the place where magic tends to remain within their bodies. This is a piece of their heart, the place where their soul resides, and is also their tie to this Godhood they have. Much of the reason they're revered as gods it due to the fact that if the star remains in place, and remains unbroken, it can make them... Somewhat immortal. It greatly heightens their ability to heal, a little like a regeneration potion, if you think about it.

Seraphs are notoriously hard to kill for this reason, given the fact that if given enough time, they're known to be able to sort of regenerate limbs. Not perfectly, and not without several years of time and a high risk of infection, but it's possible. And that's because of the stars. They're almost entities in and of themselves, keeping the Seraphs alive to not die themselves. Although, these stars can survive in other bodies, most notably being placed into Centurions.

So how do you kill the supposedly unkillable, then? What could cause such a mass-dying if they can regenerate?

The easiest and most straightforward way to kill a Seraph is to rip out their star. Although, that involves incapacitating them to some degree (usually via fatally wounding them, as that's generally the most accepted method. This is why it's so greatly frowned upon, as that leaves the Seraph who's been wounded to most likely be killed.) It's recognizable for its shape, which is the origin of its name (for a more visual reference, they're a little like konpeitō, but with a spikier appearance), and though they have varying tones, they're more often than not a pearlescent white. At least, that's when they've been cleaned of blood.

Without their star, the Seraph will die. Even if they we're fatally wounded prior, they will only survive a handful of months at most.

So, this mass dying. While I won't go into all of the details, since that definitely spoils some things, but magic is a finite resource, but even more, Seraphim stars became... Valuable as a weapon. Without the proper maintenance and constant in and out flow of magic, they'll accumulate energy, storing more and more until finally they just explode. Much like the nudibranchs, an excess of this magical energy leads to explosive properties.

This also means that Seraph corpses are dangerous if the stars haven't been removed, which is why in the carnage, there aren't many bodies left to lie and rot. The few Centurions remaining in places like the Vesper cleaned the place of these bodies, and some even took the stars for themselves.

So what do the stars have to do with souls?

In an earlier draft of a concept, I detailed a Seraph getting decapitated and surviving due to its star. The stars are a place where the Seraph's memory, personage, and in the most fantastical sense, their soul, is stored. This Seraph lives, and while it never quite has the same senses as it did before, it is still fundamentally the same person, as its star wasn't harmed in the process.

So; for a Seraph to give a Centurion its soul, that is an act like giving up itself to that Centurion. The Seraph will not exist in the same sense, and as shown with Clown and Branzy, even that will diminish over time.

Although, there is one thing I've avoided mentioning: the humans. Our outliers, as one of the least magically inclined species, they've tried to get ahold of this magic, as well as attempting to use the Seraph's stars for their own. This lead to a few people who've remained, but aren't quite human anymore.

how do seraphim give their souls to creations since im assuming its literal? and what is the exact purpose of soul-sharing?

Seraphim can take out their own star, an act which is painful but to be done for another is a little bit of a profession of love. To give their star to a Centurion, under regular circumstances, it is a way of prolonging the life of their soul. The star is "consumed", a thing which is looked down upon by Centurions, as it's viewed as becoming one with those who've condemned them to their hellish lives.

There are two things that can come of a Seraph's soul being placed into a Centurion, and they go as follows, with few exceptions:

The Centurion is Soulless / a Husk: The soul will continue to live on, but they will start again. It removes all but a few traces of the Seraph's memories, and they will learn to live as they now are. [Example: Ro, who we'll learn more about in the next section]

The Centurion has a Soul / Star (Even if it is one that was grown / artificial): The pre-existing soul will be slowly consumed by the Seraph's, a process which results in one or both of the stars shattering. This can only happen is the Centurion has agreed to it, and it is a thing which became more common as more Seraphs died. [Example: Clown, whose visions of shattering stars are that of his own, and not Branzy's]

Last but not least, an incomplete list of character I've given story to for this AU

Starting with our Seraphim:

Branzy is the most notable as he's the only Seraph who remains a Seraph for his entire existence, even after giving his soul to Clown. Although he's used his magic for shapeshifting purposes, appearing much more akin to the Centurions, as he's been enthralled by them since he was young. Roshambo, although I'll be elaborating more on him in the Centurion section for a few reasons. He was one of the first Seraphs to give his soul to a Centurion, and it had some... Interesting effects.

Onto the Centurions:

Clown is the obvious one, being one of the most perfect example of what makes a Centurion, and being one of the "leaders", his star (his soul) is artificial, one of the ones which was grown, and thus, he's a bit different from Seraph-souled (or, star-eating) Centurions. [Appears a lot like his typical canon appearance, as he was one of the few Centurions who were directly associated with a Seraph, and despite the fact of his origin, he doesn't have the blank mask which is typical of these Centurions. His mask is also carved into a shape which is much more like a horned owl, a little heart-ish; this doesn't affect him.] Zam, a lovely odd case who shows up long after the fall of the Seraphs, but before the Vesper as a whole collapses, who becomes one of the residents of the Vesper's grand library [At least at his introduction, Zam is much like the typical soldier Centurion, dressed in a way which is very impersonal. This changes as he spends time in the library, and by the time of the fall, he's adopted a palette of darker amber hues and white, along with the occasional gold or brass accent. While his mask remained generic for a long time, he eventually allowed Ro to help with adorning it, ending up with a smile and some filigree which matches Ro's own mask.] Roshambo is the last on this list as of currently; although he's fully convinced he isn't a Centurion at all, having been around the other residents of the library since his creation and not knowing himself to be any different from them [Previously being one of the few Centurions who was designated to a space where he would be viewed, Ro is dressed in a way which is almost painfully fancy for him. Unlike the typical blank white, the base color of Ro's mask is an iridescent black, adorned with lavender stripes and laurel patterns. His appearance is a little less decided, compared to the others.]

And last but not least, our... Humans?:

Mapicc is the closest to a normal human of those given one of the Seraph-souls in order to grant him the almost-immortality, this has lead to him having several inhuman traits, including the appearance of seasonally shed feathers, which he's more annoyed by than anything. Spoke is about the furthest from human someone can get while still being so, and this is because of the fact of the star he was given. He was given one of the artificial stars, as a part of a test. He's only become more... Bizarre as time goes on, body twisting and morphing as the magic doesn't know where to go, and he can't fully contain or control it.

The roster is pretty small, since I've been focusing on two different eras, and these two sets don't interact much. Clown and Branzy exist long before the extinction of Seraphs, but Branzy's giving up of his heart does mark the true beginning of the end. Roshambo, Mapicc, and Spoke (later as well including Zam) are the last living beings on the Vesper after the fall of the Seraphs, and are there until the day the sun doesn't set, and the Vesper itself falls from the sky.

... So that's the world of Seraphim, from relative start to end, with much of the fluff, character centric pieces and a bit of the more out-there magical elements cut out to save my damn hands because this is almost 3k words 👍 There are things I'm not sure will remain canon, more proper worldbuilding and flora / fauna exploration I need to work on, and some things I most definitely missed, but hopefully this answers some questions and raises others! there is a lot more to explore post-fall but i have to leave a couple of mysteries, as a treat.

[fandomfluffandfuck]

i havent seen the inside of your ask box for ages so let me just say i finished money magic and WOAH. leave some talent for the rest of us damn. also. im going to add ‘financial domination’ to my mental list of kinks and im doing it with a sly smirk on my face because id never heard of it before this fic and i certainly will be looking for more in the future.

i genuinely think im into it only because you write it so. fucking. well. i love this community youve built where so many people can discover new kinks through your writing and it makes me so happy being able to find out new things about myself from a piece of art like this. i just love fandom sometimes.

plus i think of your blog as a haven bc i can come here anytime i want and its like someone took all the things i love about fandom and put it through your brain then onto here. a true blessing.

ok onto the fic itself, i have a few things to say:

1) i will never get over the way you build up to the climax of the fic. like, from the beginning, its always so obvious that something big is going to happen and i just can never wait until the next update to find out. i dont think ive ever skim read one of your paragraphs because every word pulls me in a makes me want moreee.

2) the way you use imagery in your work is actually something i think should be studied because you do it SO WELL. an example from chapter one that i cant stop thinking about;

His mind whirls. He’s back to spinning out of control. It feels as though his head might come off his shoulders, twisted and twisted and twisted around, thinning his neck, and becoming too unsteady.

like hello???? i can picture every tiny little detail of this moment and its insane how you can just do that.

3) the chemistry between your characters never feels forced or awkward. ive noticed that you dont use dialogue too much when writing smut and i love that because it lets the reader really visualise whats going on. but when you do its absolutely perfect. the way you kept the power dynamics going steadily throughout and even when they were talking on the balcony, it just made me realise how much you really care about what you write and it made reading so much more enjoyable.

theres literally like a million other things i could say but im not gna ramble here. instead, take some snippets that i especially enjoyed that i will think about for a long, long time:

A shiver wracks Steve’s body, accompanied by a rough exhale that fills his bedroom—a confession of how much he’s enjoying this by its very nature.

-

Steve shivers so hard it might as well be a convulsion. Good. The way his words leave no room for argument, for thought, for anything but all this electric embarrassment to fill his veins and circulate throughout his body, polluting him tip to tail. Jesus. He commands all of Steve without being there. It’s heady. He can feel himself being pulled in like a sailor, lonely after months at sea, to a siren.

-

A moan comes tumbling out of his mouth, humiliated to the point that he feels dizzy. He couldn’t stand and walk straight if he tried, he’d stumble and fall onto his knees. He wants to stumble and fall and have Bucky push his heavy hands into his hair, he wants to feel the cold metal of his rings and the blunt sharpness of his fingernails against his scalp as he grabs and pulls and twists, making sure Steve feels his place.

-

Steve imagines this is what being a pinata feels like, struck hard enough that it's twirling around its point of suspension, unable to know what’s up or down, left or right, just focused on each hit and when the next one is going to come, then, ah!, all of the sudden spilling its bounty.

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i could put the whole fic here but you know. that’d be too long. ill just have to hope what ive said here is enough.

bottom line is that im OBSESSED and i will be taking the pleasure of rereading this fic as soon as i can. thank you so much for sharing!!! lots of love 💗

"Money Magic"

YOU ARE SO SWEET, ARCHIE!

Thank you, lovely <3

I'm so glad to hear that you finished that fic, and, more importantly, that you enjoyed the read so much! You're too kind. Haha, I'm hitting you again with the kink discovery. I think if I can't find a job (a scarily real threat, lmao), I can make a job of that alone 💀💀 I, too, though, am going to be looking for more of it! I haven't found anything else with fin domming in stucky fics, but I would love to!

I'm honored that it's even a possibility that you'd just be into it because of the way I write it <3 Me too!! I love the absolute filth I can write and people not batting an eye, aside from horny reactions that I enjoy very much. Thank you. Plus, even better, so many people have come into my inbox to say depraved, kinky shit. Like. YES. Discover more kinks from me, tell me more about your kinks, and let's explore it all. Not you calling my porn writing art

(Like, absolutely, porn is art. Art inspires emotion, and horny is a valid emotion. I wholeheartedly believe that and would very readily call lots of other writers erotica art, but hearing that about my own? Wtf. Shits wild)

And calling my blog a haven?! Staaawp. You're too cute and nice, I can't take it

1) Ah! I'm so glad to hear that 'cause I plan out my fics EXTENSIVELY, lmao, and I try very hard to up myself consistently within my longer, chaptered fics.

2) You are so fucking sweet I am gonna scream. Oh my god!! I love how you pulled quotes from my text! What the hell??? That's so nice!

3) Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I feel like I use a lot of dialog 💀💀 That's probably because I think so hard about my dialog, though, lol. I do care, definitely. I care too much sometimes 😅 but, yeah, I try to always think, okay, but would the character actually ever say or behave like that? Both this AU character, but also the canon character because the AU is, of course, a canon extension/expansion.

Aww, I don't have words (which is saying something for me, haha)! Again, though, I love, love, love that you included snippets that stuck out to you!

YOU'RE SO SWEET!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH WONDERFUL COMMENTS ALONG THE WAY!

[jovenshires]

You’ve probably been asked this before but what’s like your fanfic writing process?? Like how do you end up writing your fanfictions?

i actually haven't but i'd be happy to talk about it!! i'm actually writing fic right now, so here's what i've done in the past like. hour. im gonna put it under the cut bc its EXTREMELY long but if you ever wanted 'katie's guide to fic writing,' here it is!

i'm pretty easily distracted, so i've gotta make sure i'm in like. The Right Conditions. that means phone face down or away if i can (rn i've got to be on call in case my boss needs smth but you get the gist) bc i WILL just open tiktok or play a mobile game. even just now writing this answer i have picked up my phone and opened pinterest. i cannot be stopped so i try to stay off it and put it down when i catch myself!!

more and more often i cant even listen to music while i write - partly bc i tend to read my work aloud to myself to make sure it sounds right and partly bc my brain will be like "you know this song omg the words are in your brain" or "you should go look at what song this is bc you kinda like it". cannot trust myself even with sound. if i AM listening to music while i write, it's either the specific playlist for that fic, playlists with the right vibes (ex: rivals-to-lovers for iwks), OR anime openings bc. less likely to get distracted when it's not in english tbh.

(huge on all of the senses so i also usually have a candle lit. im super sensitive to smells so if there's an unpleasant smell somewhere around me i will be unable to focus <3)

all that being said about distractions, i think it's important to take breaks - dont just FORCE yourself to write. that's why i'm huge on setting goals for myself - deadlines, word count goals, timed breaks. like "okay im gonna sprint write for 10 minutes and then after that ill watch some of this danny gonzalez video" or "i'll write until 3:30 and then i should go take a break and read a book." im not always faithful to my goals but i try my best!!

as for the actual writing itself, i typically just go for it. i can usually see an image in my mind and i try my best to write that out/describe it as best i can. and then if it sounds wrong i just reword it again and again until i've got it. this is kind of where my reading aloud bit comes in - if it sounds right when you say it out loud, that generally means it sounds right in the text.

sometimes i'll just have a certain scene or just scraps of dialogue and i'll write that out and be like "okay how did they get here." i never embraced writing out of order until recently, but now that i have. no going back tbh i highly recommend it. rwylm and iwks especially had scenes WAY later down the line that i wrote first. just write what comes naturally and go from there.

occasionally i do outlines, but not super often, and when i do they're vague as hell. i think a lot of my iwks outline was just "game" and then "another game but tommy is there this time." i think outlines that go too in-depth kind of take away from the freedom of writing so. if it's for you then slay but its usually not for me

i try not to worry too hard about. the style/grammar/little things as i go. of course im guilty of this and i'll stop and edit my own works along the way sometimes but i've found it's best if you keep writing and then go back later!!

sometimes when i'm writing a new smosh cast member i'll go back and watch videos/compilations of them just to reorient my brain. i've done this a lot with chanse recently!! but i also think. it really isn't that deep too NSDKFNKNK like these are fictionalized versions of fictionalized selves and so on and so forth so don't worry about 'voice' too much im trying to kick that habit myself

EDIT: oh i've talked about this before but. as for ideas/where my fic ideas come from?? i truly try to grab from my every day life. oh i went to the grocery store today? what if smosh member a and smosh member b went to the grocery store. i watched a horror movie and you know who else could do that. otherwise i pull from music/movies/tv shows/other media and be like 'this but for smosh.' i really just be pulling from my life and repackaging it thats all. start small (haircut fic) and work your way up (homoerotic soccer epic)!

and i think that's it?? i'd like to think im pretty chill about the whole thing. (read: i am not chill in any way at all but im trying my best.) anyway, it's something i'm always happy to talk about - thank you for asking!!

[gaybd1]

This is a big ask so don't feel like you have to, but would you be interested in pitching some summaries of the fics you have up on Ao3? I know there are summaries up there, but I like the casual way you have with words and you say fuck a lot and I dunno yeah

omg this is so funny bc i know the exact way with words you're talking about and of course im not gonna pass up a chance to promote my own work hehe YOU GOT IT!

i have 20 atla fics so I'm going to recommend them in order of... least to most kudos??? to try to trick people into reading more of my stuff? lol idk

I'm 99% sure all of these are Zukka fics...

The Last Five Years - ok actually this is a bad place to start bc i don't think im gonna finish it. it just really didn't take off but um its a The Last Five Years AU with really fucking sad Divorced Zukka

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Cry - this is i think my newest one, it has trans zukka and it's a bit angsty with a fake death but i also think it's kind of fun. it's the idea trans people have of ''who's going to care if my family puts the wrong name on my gravestone?" but there IS a happy ending

A Problem Halved is a Problem Shared - im gonna be honest i dont fucking remember writing this one lol but it says dialogue-only and it WILL be angsty bc it is about zuko and sokka dealing with different issues they have

One Last Time (and its sequel The End of All Things) - Actually OLT is definitely one of my faves I ever wrote. It's my canon-compliant take on um... *cough* Sokka's death, referenced in Korra. It's SO angsty but it has one of the most visceral scenes I've ever written and I DID cry writing this. TEoAT is the happy ending Divorced Zukka deserved with bonus Iroh but you WILL cry reading that too. BUT i cant fucking recommend these ones enough!!!!

If I fade away (the awful things we do to make the head go quiet) - VERY dead dove. trans zuko needs to pay a MASSIVE price to get home to the Fire Nation after Ba Sing Se, and it's not his choice at all. I love this but READ WITH CAUTION

In Which Sokka is Supportive Ally Boyfriend Goals - I am dead serious i like dont remember this one at all but i know it has trans zuko!

Nourishing the Flame Within - not the best written tbhtbh BUT it does have two very important Zukos in it that I hold to be universally true: trans zuko and eating disorder zuko

bad idea right? - okay this is DEF one of my faves lol its about divorced zukka but they just cant stop messing things up and sleeping with each other even though theyre not together anymore lolol

Keeping it in the Family - lmao OKAY SO this is the ONE version of zukka that im like 'ok all u z*tara folks, maybe zuko WAS with her and it obvs didnt work' and then he hooks up with sokka instead and its GREAT but oops now we have Family Drama

Scars of Trust - bro im not gonna like i barely remember writing this one but i remember I LOVE IT and it's about sokka who has been dating zuko a while but he finally learns that zuko is trans? its great

Playing the Long Game - eh, i don't love it, but I'd say it's worth a read. it was my first longer fic in the fandom. it DOES have a great Zukki evolution though if you're into that, and a nice mystery!! Also some whump and angst bc of course

Keeping Score - I liked this one! It's just little snippets of times Sokka has survived assassination attempts, because we always hear about it happening to Zuko, but Sokka gets them too. Angst obviously

It Was Cruel and It Was Wrong - wow, a dead dove fic, yes. It's basically like "If I'm Joo Lee and you're Joo Lee, then who's flying the bison?" Yeah so Sokka and Zuko are both brainwashed by the Dai Lee and Suffering but be careful because this gets DARK

Mother - Izumi has two dads but she feels bad she doesn't have a mom. But guess what, her dads don't have moms either!! She's very happy to find that out! Wow Izumi, way to have some sympathy.

Impact - It's about Zuko taking a longer time to recover from an assassination attempt than he'd want, and Sokka being loving and patient with him! I wrote this when I had a bad concussion for like three weeks and so it's pretty like. Medically accurate lol

Scratchy - Short and sweet. I don't remember this one much but I know that it is fluffy and involves turtle ducks!

Hidden Pain, Shared Love - Another short and fluffy one. It's about the first time Zuko sees that Sokka has problems with his leg sometimes?

Zuko and Sokka Get Engaged in the Most Zukka Way Possible - okay i actually really love this one because it's on brand and cute and also i made it fucking angsty because oF COURSE

Zuko Amongst the Dragons - yes so what if zuko was raised by dragons and met the gaang but he was super feral? and what if shenanigans ensued? AND what if sokka and zuko fell in love anyway????