#this is one cover of ves's that i don't think i'll ever get over

[sleepanonymous]

(We should all know the lyrics to this one 😉)

Again with the one thumbs down 😤 Fuck that person ugh! Also, could you imagine Ves covering this now? Twelve years of growth, schooling, and experience would make this cover fucking epic.

[tetheredfeathers]

Beach scene.

"I do," I say. "I need you." He looks upset, takes a deep breath as if to begin a long argument, and that's no good, no good at all, because he'll start going on about Prim and my mother and everything and I'll just get confused. So before he can talk, I stop his lips with a kiss.

I feel that thing again. The thing I only felt once before. In the cave last year, when I was trying to get Haymitch to send us food. I kissed Peeta about a thousand times during those Games and after. But there was only one kiss that made me feel something stir deep inside. Only one that made me want more. But my head wound started bleeding and he made me lie down. This time, there is nothing but us to interrupt us.

My hands cup either side of his face, his stubble feels rough against my smooth hands. My cold lips envelop his impossibly warm ones, my hands make their way around the nape of his neck, and a sudden desire to pull on his golden curls overtakes me. A certain urgency invades my senses. I lose comprehension of reality and the gravity of the situation we are in.

His hands come around my shoulders to caress me, I think, until he pushes me away. My face surges with embarrassment. In what world would Peeta refuse my kisses? Is he out of his mind?

"Katn-iss, lo-ve, listen," he attempts to speak as I slither my hands down his waist, lifting the hem of his undershirt. "Yo-u're the one w-ho should—"

My heart races as his swollen lips form the word "love." Is he saying this for the audience, or does he really want to call me love? I am his love, aren't I? I think of a world where Peeta would come home from work every day and say, "Love, I'm home." Oh, how I would long for him all day, both our faces lighting up brighter than every star collected as we make our way to each other.

"Don't 'love' me," I spit, fuming at his selflessness. How dare he try to sacrifice himself for me? How dare he think I could survive one day on this earth without him? How dare he not realize how much I need him? My body heaves with anger and passion, lighting an ethereal flame as I engulf his lips once again. I lose all restraint, one hand aggressively tugging at his blonde locks and the other swiftly removing his shirt. I absorb his words with my mouth, sliding my tongue across his upper lip. A breathy sigh escapes from his mouth, sending shooting stars into my head. He finally gives in and unlatches his lips, allowing my tongue to enter. His tongue is no competition for mine; I push him over and explore his mouth with unearthly desire.

In the caressing silence that follows, I find myself on top of him, straddling his lap. I grind my hips against him, breathing out his name as I feel his arousal against my core. His burning chest heaves harder against me as he peppers my neck with kisses, working his way to my ear. Overwhelmed with desire to become one with him, every inch of my body buzzes with electricity. A peculiar place in my body pulsates with energy, only slightly relieved when my hips grind against him. I want every inch of his body enveloping mine, covering me and holding me ever so tightly.

The rough pads of his fingers brush ever so slightly against my breasts, making me arch my back against him. He smirks mischievously against my collarbone, proud of the reaction he is able to elicit just through a slight brush. Oh two can plan the game, Mellark. Just you wait.

I glide my nails over his back, finally resting my hands on his hips, pulling him ardently against that spot that's begging for relief. His hips buck aginst mine as my mouth lays wet, open mouthed kisses all over his golden neck; Our moans chorus through the dead of the night as the breeze envelops our tangled silhouettes.

His stocky build flushes against my soft curves, reminding me of all those nights on the train. Why hadn't I tried this sooner? Why hadn't I realized that he is the only boy I really need? Why hadn't I understood that I physically cannot survive without him?

What if this could be it? What if one day I could take Peeta to the meadow behind my old house with miniature versions of ourselves? A small girl with black hair, blue eyes, and a little boy with blonde hair, grey eyes. Somehow under the hot, pink sky and the gritty sand digging underneath our feet, I imagine a world where my beautiful my boy with the bread could be a father.

The sensation inside me grows warmer and spreads out from my chest, down through my body, out along my arms and legs, to the tips of my being. Instead of satisfying me, the kisses have the opposite effect, of making my need greater. I thought I was something of an expert on hunger, but this is an entirely new kind.

It's the first crack of the lightning storm - the bolt hitting the tree at midnight - that brings us to our senses. It rouses Finnick as well. He sits up with a sharp cry. I see his fingers digging into the sand as he reassures himself that whatever nightmare he inhabited wasn't real.

[kelstey]

friendly neighbourhood spider-man

modern! au, spider-man!mattheo riddle x reader

warnings : none

❃゜・。. ・°゜✼ ゜°・ . 。・゜❃

you rested up in your bed, the light pitter patter of rain pouring up against your window. the sky was a gloomy, dreadful grey. despite the dim - depressing outside, you were fully engrossed in your book.

rainy days were the best, tucked up in bed, shitty, cheap fairy lights hanging by a thread covered your walls, a hot cup of tea and a book.

thankfully - you had the day off of work, and there would ve been no better way to waste your day away than engulfed in a fully fictional world of your own as you read about men that simply would never exist in the real world.

you sipped the fruit tea, realising you maybe went a bit overboard with the honey but it was good - nonetheless. and with the cost of living crisis it's not exactly like you'd waste away a, somewhat, good cup of tea.

you rolled your eyes, setting the book down as you looked out your window. for fucks sake. you let out a huff, opening the window to let the red and blue suited man in.

"mattheo what have i told you about coming to mine? especially in your costume," you shut the window as he climbed into your room.

"lovely to see you too," he sat down on your desk chair.

"fuck! mattheo you're bleeding!" you grabbed his wrist and pulled him up, leading him into the hardly made-for two bathroom. "sit," you told him and he sat up on the counter.

"it's not that bad," he finally took his mask off, a cut visible on his nose. there was splatters of blood all over his face, his forehead covered in a thin layer of sweat yet he still looked amazing.

"not that bad? are you fucking joking me?" you couldn't even look at him - more so focused on trying to gather items to patch him up with.

it wasn't unusual, matthe showing up to your flat unannounced. though you had told him multiple times that it wasn't safe for the spider man to wander into some random flat in the middle of london.

you didn't want any of his stupid enemies trying to hunt you down - gosh, mattheo would go batshit insane if anyone ever laid a hand on you.

despite that - the stupid fucker was at your flat, once again.

"well at least i'm alive.?" he shrugged.

"best believe you won't be alive if you keep getting injured like this," mattheo hissed as you wiped him down with some rubbing alcohol. "do stupid things, get stupid consequences."

mattheo was fighting his smile back - adoring the way you were mad at him yet still were helping him. "i'll be okay," he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

you stood between his legs, arms on either side of him as you looked down. "i really care about you, mattheo. i don't like seeing you hurt," your eyes watered as you made eye contact with him.

as much as it hurt you that he was visibly injured and bleeding - he still looked as good as ever. the cut on his nose was truly something.

"i know, baby. but it's kind of my job, you know? your friendly neighbourhood spider man?" he placed a hand on one of your cheeks as he admired you, using his sweet, gentle eyes on you.

"i fucking hate you, you know that, right?" you looked away as a smile spread across your lips.

"you gotta admit though, it's a flex to call spider man your boyfriend," mattheo chuckled.

"sweetheart i think you forgot the part where only i know you're spider man. and ned - and auntie may."

❃゜・。. ・°゜✼ ゜°・ . 。・゜❃

[furinafocalor]

KazuScara

all of these fics are centered around the ship Kaedehara Kazuha/Scaramouche (Wanderer)

links will be attached to all of them and the names will be underlined.

the ships with a * beside them are my personal favs please go check all of these fics out when you have the time!

*How to Bag an Idol by lynnthewaffle

tfw your highschool ex (who youre TOTALLY over) becomes the most famous idol of all time and you're the #1 top-charted streamer or Love is forged in distance and yearning and music.

10/10 I loved the tension and the heartburn it gave me after I finished reading all four chapters! This fic is around 23k words so I reccomend reading it when you have a couple of hours to spare. I felt like this fic did really well with the whole highschool romance to ex lovers who still have feelings for each other. It's definitely worth reading.

Black Orchids by too_indecisive_to_choose_a_name

KazuScara Week - Day 7 - Flower Shop While making an odd bouquet delivery, Kazuha meets a certain person that makes his cheeks turn peony pink only for that same person to come into his shop a bit later where Kazuha can’t hide his face anymore…

10/10 I swear I was smiling the whole entire time while reading this fic. I still have no idea what Black Orchids mean but oh well. This fic is a one-shot and is only around 3.5k words so please go check it out!

The Maple Leaf Harbinger by too_indecisive_to_choose_a_name

KazuScara Week 2022 - Day 2 - Role Swap Kazuha, the newest of the Fatui Harbingers finds himself questioning who he really has loyalty to when a certain wanderer takes Inazuma by storm. Kazuha finds himself seeking out said wanderer, only to meet him aboard a boat to find out the two of them really aren’t that different.

8/10 Another amazing fic by this author! I really loved the role swap au for some reason! This one's also a one-shot and shouldn't take too long to read.

Kuni? by too_indecisive_to_choose_a_name

That fucking bitch.   Honestly, Scaramouche wasn’t at all surprised that Childe bailed out on him, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be annoyed at the ginger. Come to think of it, when wasn’t he annoyed with Childe. He could already feel the wrinkles from frustration on his face starting to form as he read the texts on his phone. Childe 1:05 Hey so I kind of wanted to have a single room for myself so…I got one! Now we can both get our own separate rooms! Scaramouche 1:05 You fucking dumbass Childe 1:06 What the fuck is pissing you off now? Scaramouche 1:06 That means that I have to get a random roommate OR Scaramouche moves to college and his roommate is a forgotten childhood friend he’s all too familiar with, but hasn’t seen in years…

9/10 So maybe you should just go read all of this author's works. Listen, you don't understand what this fic has done to me. Just go read it... when you have a weeks worth of time to spare. It isn't complete btw.

my happiness is ours to share by lore_bee

"I"ve never really been one for romance. Although, if I ever do stumble upon the right person... who knows? My days as a wanderer might come to an end." "Paimon just had a great idea! Lumine and I are going back to Sumeru tomorrow. You should come with us Kazuha! Then you can definitely meet you future soulmate I just know it!" "Thank you for the intriguing offer Paimon." "Your welcome! So are you coming with us?" "...I'll think about it."

8/10 Another incomplete work. So far I really enjoy seeing Kazuha's journey with Lumine and Paimon. I think this fic will turn out really good when it's finished!

Cloud Cover by princesscas

Kazuha is the unofficial school matchmaker, and his best friend Scaramouche is the only person he can't seem to succeed in pairing off.

8/10 This fic is so so so cute. I just love it so much. It's a one-shot with around 5k words so please check it out!

It's Called Freefall by dilucae

As days turn to nights, little can quell the emptiness inside Wanderer's heart. Little, but not nothing. And seeing his lover again is certainly up there.

7/10 Short and sad. I did tear up a little. A memorable fic.

That's all I have for now! I'll probably continue updating this post if I find more fics worth mentioning! Follow my blog for updates. I also have posts dedicated to different ships. Check them out if you're interested! Here's a link to my XiaoVen and ChongQiu fic recs!

[lulupen2023]

My very first BellDom Fanfic 1/23

Hello, since I created this cover which I love I decided to post my very first BellDom even here, no matter if no one will read it

Summary:

Do you want to meet a Matthew who sees conspiracy everywhere (oh wait, this is not big news!) and is so fond of his trolley that he treat it like a sort of puppy? Do you want to meet a Dominic in love with… himself (and with Matt, too, of course!)? And do you want to meet a Chris who wants to prove to the world he's the most masculine guy ever… but is unavoidably attracted by every… female hobby? This is what you'll find in this story, among lots of BellDom and… craziness!

Setting: from December 2006 on.. Main Characters: Matt and Dom (poor Chris, always left in the background :( )

About the title , as you can notice, it's taken from the lyrics of 'Time is running out ' . Guess what band sings it? ;)

Disclaimer: the characters belong just and only to themselves. I just 'borrow ' them to play a little bit and make some fun of them, because no matter how much I adore, love, admire them etc, etc, it's just too bloody funny to try to make a parody of them all, 'exaggerating ' some of their attitudes.. And no matter how much Muse are wonderful, unattainable , unique.. etc, etc, I enjoy picturing them this way soooo much! Anyway, they will probably be pretty OOC sometimes , I warned you ! ;)

Plus, this wants to be just and only a fluffy and very, very, VERY surreal and absurd story, so don't take anything seriously, ok?

And, since it became an habit , by then, I don't mind about their real tour dates or places. I doubt that 'this ' American tour exists for real (maybe just as opening act that starts on Spring, but I 'm not sure about that ), anyway, I'll invent it all, ok? ;)

One last thing, very, VERY important : I guarantee that in real life I have nothing, really nothing against their girlfriends (since I wrote this stuff set in 2006-2007 there were their girlfriends, too ), quite the contrary, I ADORE them, they were such two nice pairings ! But in this story their girlfriends are not gonna be adorable at all, both Gaia and Jessica . That's because , since this is a Belldom-verse, it hurts me less if it's two unbearable versions of them who pay the price, instead the (real ) adorable versions, ok? :) So, sorry, a huge , majestic 'SORRY ' to both of the girls! I guess I'll keep repeating that ;)

Ok, let's go:

I: You lost, forfeit

"What lap was that? Number eight?" Dominic wonders, as he blows in his hands, pulling the collar of his coat closer and enjoying the warmth it gives to him.

"No, it was number nine. Now there's only one left for him to run. And I guess its better this way, poor Chris; I think that one more would probably kill him!" Matthew answers, as he stands outside with him, but, contrary to him, he just wears a pile sweater and he seems pretty comfy with that.

After all, Matt is getting accustomed to the place and the climate.

They wait for a couple more minutes, and finally they see from afar the robust figure of a very dead beat Chris as he cuts that imaginary finishing line.

"Ten! I succeeded, although I guess I've never run so much in my whole life!" he gasps, trying to catch his breath as he unbuttons his coat, all that running made him feel pretty hot. And then he bends over, with his hands on his knees and a grimace of pure pain on his face.

"Layabout, all this fuss? for a little running!" Matt makes fun of him.

"What? Maybe you haven't realized yet how big your house is. But I have, since I ran around it... ten times!" he complains.

"A forfeit is a forfeit!" Dominic states.

"Yes. And a little work out didn't ever do any damage!" Matthew adds, exchanging an understanding gaze with the blond.

"But... but... I'm lacking breath here!" the other protests.

"So? It's not as if we have a show to do tonight, is it? And even if we had, since I'm the one who sings, I need breath so much more than you do!" Matthew points out, fully aware that this is a subject that his friend is very touchy about.

"Hey, I'm a singer as well!" his interlocutor snaps.

"To make some chorus and some feeble second voice here and there is not real singing!" the other strikes back, enjoying the moment more and more.

"So, Dom, did you hear Bells? That's what he thinks of me!" Chris grumbles, turning to Dom and acting as if Matt wasn't there.

"Judge yourself lucky. At least he lets you sing..." Dominic sighs

gloomily.

"Listen, it's not my fault if you can't carry a tune! Don't you remember what a disaster 'Blackout' was when you were in the chorus? We had to take you off that to make it work. It's already too much that I let you sing the 'pa ra pa ra ' part whenever we play the cover of 'Can't take my eyes off of you ' , but lucky I always manage to cover you with my guitar!" Matthew replies.

Chris and Dominic look at each other, puzzled and astonished.

"It's so damn true that Christmas atmosphere makes everyone nicer." Dominic comments sarcastically, glaring at Matthew.

"It seems that Christmas time has no effect on him... or rather it's just the opposite one!" Chris adds, glaring at Matthew the same way.

"Maybe. Anyway, Chris, it could be even worse than that, couldn't it? I could have made you swim in my lake, too, after all. And, please, notice: its winter, so it doesn't sound like something pleasant, and certainly it doesn't sound very healthy!" Matt strikes back.

"For the last time, Matt, it IS NOT your lake!" Dominic rolls his eyes, exasperated.

"Well, it's almost as if it was!" the other shrugs.

"Let me remind you that you have to share it with a certain Mr. Clooney!" the blond insists.

"Uff, don't remind me of that unbearable big-headed Mr. Hollywood who has nothing better to do than hanging around with his unattainable yacht with plenty of beautiful girls! I hope he chokes from all the Martini he drinks!" the brunette snaps, annoyed.

"C'mon, Matt, you have a beautiful girl, too!" Chris comforts him, as he wonders why he's doing that, after what Matthew said to him.

"Yes, but he got more than one! Plus, I haven't got an unattainable yacht. Correction: I haven't any kind of yacht!" the other protests.

"Sometimes you can't get what you want... "Chris starts, but Matt

doesn't seem to even listen to him, absorbed as he is in his absurd machinations.

"Phew, I should have asked the whole staff if, after making the video of ˜Starlight ˜, I could keep that ship.. as a souvenir!" he thinks out loud, caressing his chin.

"Yeah, yeah, Matt, they would surely let you keep that. After all, I kept the rocket launcher, it seems an equal request to me!" Dominic comments with his previous sarcasm.

"What about coming inside? I'd rather not get pneumonia..." Chris changes topic and then he turns towards Matthew.

"Although I guess there's a certain someone who wouldn't care so much, since I'm kinda replaceable!" he adds, pretty insulted.

Matt's only answer is to burst out laughing.

"Oh, c'mon, big guy! After all these years together, are you not able yet to realize when I'm just kidding?" he pats his shoulder friendlily, as they walk towards the house entrance.

Dom gets closer, looking at him hopefully.

"Were you just kidding, even about me?" he dares to ask.

"Gee, Dom , no. I was extremely serious with you. I'm sorry, my friend, but you're a hopeless case. You have to accept that you can't sing!" Matt informs him, patting his shoulder, too, but unlike before, those pats are just to comfort him.

They come back in the big dining room of the house, sitting again around the table, as Dominic doesn't waste any time by shuffling the cards for a new poker hand.

The three guys are enjoying a more than deserved break, after the end of the European tour, to recharge the batteries before starting the American one.

And as the break coincides with the Christmas Holidays, Matthew decided to invite them all to his villa, at Como, with all their sweethearts, too, of course.

Their women had dedicated that afternoon to the most frantic shopping, maybe also in order to find the last minute gifts, and Como certainly doesn't lack stores.

So, the guys have taken advantage of that to enjoy themselves with a nice game of poker , but to change rules a little bit and turn it into something more careless and somehow also more childish , instead of using money, they decided to pay their debts by forfeit. And the winner gets to choose the forfeit.

So in the first poker hand Matthew won and poor Chris had to pay the consequences!

"My revenge will be implacable!" Chris swears as he picks up his cards.

" You'd better give it up. You know, the Goddess of Fortune doesn't like you very much." Matthew teases him, as he picks up his.

"She could change her mind, perhaps.. " the other strikes back, and then a concentrated silence falls.

Chris can't almost believe it when he discovers even the fifth card. Maybe, in his hand, in that messy way, those cards don't seem to make much sense, but it's enough to display them in the right order and.. hell yeah they make sense! A lot of sense.

Anyway, he doesn't make his friends figure out anything.

Dominic is not happy with his cards, so wisely he decides to fold.

Instead, between Matthew and Chris the challenge is still open, as they both try to fool each other with their gazes.

He's just bluffing, I know he is doing... he can't have a better poker hand than mine! Matt thinks, deciding that it's time to 'call '.

"I dare you to overcome this!" he teases him with overconfidence and boldness, showing a Full House, made by three Aces and two Queens.

Chris pretends to be fearful, and then he bursts out laughing.

"I do dare to overcome that!" he exclaims, showing with a winning grin a Royal Flush, nonetheless.

It seems that the only ace Matt missed to have a 4-of-a-kind helped damage him in the worst way ever.

"You lost: forfeit! " Chris declares, with an evil laugh , as he searches for the best revenge ever.

"You must.. Uhmm.. you must.. " he mumbles, until he's enlightened by a sudden idea that is a bit hazardous , but diabolically brilliant. "You must kiss Dom!"

"WHAT?" is the answer he gets from the other two, in unison, as they both are more than puzzled and shocked.

"You heard me right!" Chris confirms.

"Hey, it's Bells who has to do forfeit. Why are you involving me, too?" Dominic protests.

"I'm involving you, because it was you who suggested him to make me run around this bloody villa!" Chris points out.

"But it's him who accepted it!" the blond protests.

"I don't care, you're gonna pay hard for that, both of you!" the other threats them.

"Well, it's not such a revenge for me. I mean, c'mon, it's only a kiss, nothing big, I'm gonna please you right now.. " Matthew comments, approaching to Dom who glares at him with the biggest diffidence ever, almost tempted to back off.

The hell with 'I'm gonna please you right now ' ! What is he going to do? NO way I...

Something stops the blond 's thoughts. It's Matt who, with a catlike leap, has managed to catch him and then he hugs him, giving him.. just a noisy kiss on his cheek.

"It's done. Now we can resume playing!" the brunette states, trying to come back to the table, but Chris prevents him from doing that, standing in front of him.

"Where do you think you are going? Don't even try, Bells, you know better than me what kind of kiss I expect from you two!" Chris warns him, with a tone you can't show any remonstration to.

"Oh, c'mon, Chris, forget it! I mean.. do you want to punish us? Ok, find another way.. I don't know.. make us swear we won't drink a single glass or wine for a whole month .. " Matthew suggests, but immediately after Dom and he stare at each other in deep disbelief. "Oh, bugger what I've just said! Let's just fucking kiss and get that over with!" he decides, but also the blond seems resolute as well.

They begin getting closer to each other, but, although it takes them only a few seconds, it seems to last for hours.

-C'mon, Matt , it could be worse... at least you're not kissing the unbearable Clooney!- the guy comforts himself, as he gets closer and closer, closing his eyes.

-C'mon, Dom, you've been through something worse, just like when Matt threw his guitar on your head, at the end of a show . No, on second thought, it was better than this.. or maybe not?- the other thinks, closing his eyes as his friend does.

And when their mouths finally meet, after an initial wavering, something unexpected switches on.

The blond makes his hands run through Matt's hair, the same hair that had turned almost every colour, year after year. And Dom must admit to himself that there was never a colour that he thought didn't suited him. Not even a very absurd, weird blond he had kept for a while.

Because Matthew and eccentricity go hand in hand.

His style is eccentric, sometimes his attitude is eccentric, the kiss they are sharing is eccentric, the fact that it is not over yet is eccentric, and mostly what Matt is doing to him is eccentric.

Yes, because the brunette is caressing his face slowly, with both of his hands, almost as if he wanted to memorize his features, as if he was about to create the most wonderful symphony in the world and to do that he desperately needed every of those notes.

And as their kiss starts turning into something more passionate, it takes just a few seconds for them both to give out something that almost seems to be a moan.

"Ok, it's enough, guys!" Chris stops them.

Matt and Dom feel as if they've just waken up from a dream, brought harshly back to reality.

They stare at each other, puzzled and shocked, trying to read in each other's gaze what they felt, but they fear to find that out at the same time.

"And to think that.. it was supposed to be a forfeit!" Chris comments, stunned.

"And it was for real. It's just that.. I was thinking about Gaia!" Matthew justifies.

"Right. And I was thinking about Jessica!" Dominic justifies.

Maybe, Chris is even more confused than them, because he keeps wondering in his mind why, after seeing them, he has the odd sensation that his jeans turned a little bit tighter, out of the blue.

-Of course, it's just because I was thinking about Kelly..- he tries to convince himself.

A deep, awkward silence falls and lasts for several minutes.

It's Matthew the one who breaks that, saying something that mirrors all the three guys' thoughts.

"We should better resume playing with money, shouldn't we? "

TBC

[bloededhoine]

world building cause twn doesn't pt. 1: the northern realms

okay i'm making this because 1 witcher netflix is the most convoluted and confusing thing i've ever seen and does literally no world building and 2 special interest make autism brain go brr.

basic info

this is gonna be a multi part series about the witcher universe but this is all about the northern realms!

ciri's timeline in twn encompasses the entirety of the first northern war, beginning with the attack on cintra and ending with the battle at sodden

this is just covering the human portions of the north. i'll talk about vergen, brokilon, and dol blathanna later

colour code cause i fucking love colour codes - already happened/introduced, probably s2, important background info, stuff that might be in the prequel, extras

general

so the entire witcher takes place on the continent

it's divided into multiple kingdoms, vassal states, and territories

now borders change a lot but this is the general idea before the first northern war (started 1263 with the invasion of cintra but we'll get more into that later)

also important to note that the show ends in 1264 with geralt meeting ciri in sodden

i'm sorry, i don't have quite enough spoons for an image discription for that map, but if someone wants to take over i'll link it here!

maps not mine, reddit link here

the continent is mainly divided between south and north, with nilfgaard and its dependencies and vassal states (including toussaint, mettina, vicovaro, nazair) in the south and the northern realms (redania, temeria, kaedwen, aedirn, lyria and rivia, cidaris, kovir and poviss, and creyden) in the north

aedirn

this is where yennefer is from! more specifically, it's capital vengerberg. as of twn, its king is virfuril. he's briefly name dropped in blood of elves and assassins of kings, you might remember him dancing with yennefer in the ball.

[I.D: picture of white man with a light brown beard and moustache. he is wearing a gold shirt and a gold crown. he is smiling slightly and has blue eyes. end I.D.]

that's him right there. for some extra trivia he's the 15th king of aedirn, his son is demavend III and his grandson is stennis

aedirn is mainly manufacturing. in the north (upper aedirn), dwarves control the continent's best mines. the south produces more finished goods like textiles, weapons, and dyes

for some notable aedirnians we have yennefer, saskia/saesenthessis (borch three jackdaws/villentretenmirth's daughter), letho, aplegatt, and seltkirk

aedirnian cities include vengerberg, gulet, and hagge

next up - redania!

as of the first northern war, redania's king was vizimir II. i don't think we saw him in twn, but i could be wrong. redania is known for having the best intelligence network on the continent, along with control of the best farmland

redania is a super important kingdom, and we've already met quite a few important redanians and will probably meet a lot more.

dandelion/jaskier, chireadan, shani, philippa eilhart, sigi dijkstra are all redanian

redanian cities - novigrad, oxenfurt (home of oxenfurt academy, dandelion's alma mater), tretogor (the capital), blaviken, and rinde

for temeria!

we briefly visited temeria in the episode with the striga (adda the white). as of the first northern war, the king is foltest. he lives in the capital vizima (controlled by nilfgaard in wild hunt). that's him right there

[I.D: photo of an older, overweight white man. he is wearing gold armour and a gold crown. he has a grey beard and is scowling. end I.D]

temeria (especially foltest) is notoriously xenophobic and racist. but, it is one of the best places for sorceresses as its home to thanedd isle and aretuza.

temeria controls the mahakaman mountains, and therefore some of the most prosperous mines in the continent. these mines, along with highly developed agricultural and trade systems, make temeria mad rich

a lot of my favourites are temerian we have keira metz, vernon roche, thaler, *barf* triss merigold, codringher and fenn, jan natalis, and ves

temeria has a lot of important cities like gors velen, vizima (also spelled wyzim or wyzima), and maribor. there's also some territories/provinces like brugge, ellander, maribor, sodden, and velen

kaedwen

kaedwen is in the far north west, and is where the witcher fortress of kaer morhen is located. kaedwen is always feuding with aedirn over control of the pontar valley, a profitable area on the kaedweni-aedirnian border. as of the first northern war, kaedwen is ruled by king henselt, who might have been name dropped once or twice in twn i dont really remember.

kaedwen is very cold, a large portion of it is the blue, kestrel, and fiery mountains. it's also home to ban aard, which is basically the aretuza for boys and where stregobor taught istredd

the only really notable kaedwenis are sabrina glevissig (that's her in twn) and cregennan of lod

[I.D: photo of a young white woman with blonde hair tied back. she is wearing a low cut blue dress and has a blank expression. end I.D]

some kaedweni cities are ban aard, ard carraigh, lod, and ban gleán

kaedwen, temeria, aedirn, and redania make up the four kingdoms, a group of human-majority states that nilfgaard really likes attacking. the northern wars are pretty much all nilfgaard vs the northern kingdoms, since most smaller realms are usually absorbed into either the north or south, but that doesn't mean they're not important!

cintra

twn gave us a solid introduction to cintra, which as you know was ruled by queen calanthe. her suicide after the nilfgaardian invasion was basically the first major casualty of the first northern war. cintra then became a nilfgaardian dependency, ruled by emperor emhyr var emreis

notable cintrians - princesses cirilla fiona elen rhiannon and pavetta fiona elen, angoulême, and the house of attre

cintra isn't very big, but does have the provence attre and cities like erlenwald and cintra (the capital)

cidaris

ruled by king ethain, one of the many people calanthe betrothed to ciri and then was like lol nevermind. also includes the province bremervoord, which is ruled by duke agloval and supported by the harvesting and trade of pearls

notable cidarians - dorregary, valdo marx, and vilgefortz (thats him there)

[ID: photo of a young south-asian man with black slicked back hair and a moustache. he is wearing medieval armour and i can't quite tell what his expression is. end ID]

cidarian cities include vole, roggeveen, and cidaris (the capital)

hengfors league

a group of 4 city states (caingorn, malleore, barefield, and cinfrid) that are ruled by king niedamir from the capital hengfors

notable residents include queen hedwig, boholt and the reavers, and deidre ademeyn

from what i've found all the city states have a capital of the same name

lyria and rivia

these are a little complicated, but basically lyria and rivia are the two main kingdoms of the confederation of realms in the dol angra valley. as of twn, queen meve of lyria and king reginald of rivia are married, therefore uniting the two realms

in the summer, the capital is lyria and in the winter it's rivia. lyria is also primarily agricultural while rivia is more industrial

queen meve is really the only important one here

kovir and poviss

kingdom in the far north that is responsible for the most exporting of minerals on the continent. as of the first northern war it is ruled by esterad thyssen

notable residents include stregobor, renfri, sheala de tancarville, coën, and istredd

important cities - creyden, tancarville, lan exeter, aedd gynvael, and thwyth

skellige

skellige is different from the other northern kingdoms in a few ways. one, it's not really a kingdom but a collection of 7 clans each led by a specific jarl. a clan is based on kinship, and the jarl rules them. what's confusing here is that there's also a jarl of skellige, who is in charge of the entire archipelago's armed forces. the king or queen of skellige is chosen by all of the jarls to help unify the clans against nilfgaard

skellige is also the only island kingdom. its an archipelago to the west of cintra, but is almost always allied to the north

the clans are brokvar, an craite, dimun, drummond, heymaey, tordarroch, and tuirseach, and they generally each occupy a specific island

the main islands are ard skellig (an craite and drummond), an skellig (tuirseach), faroe (dimun), hindarsfjall (heymaey), spikeroog (brokvar), and undvik (tordarroch)

some skelligers - crach an craite, eist tuirseach (that's him there), mousesack/ermion, draig bon-dhu, cerys and hjalmar an craite, and birna bran

[ID: photo of a middle-aged white man with dark brown hair and light stubble. he is wearing a gold doublet and has some sweat on his forehead. he appears slightly drunk. end ID]

tldr: as of the first northern war, the main northern kingdoms are virfuril's aedirn, vizimir's redania, foltest's temeria, and henselt's kaedwen

thank you so much for reading this! i'm definitely gonna make more parts and will link them here when i do!

[maximoff56]

I'll do anything for you

Summary: You see marriage as pointless and cringey and when Tom agrees with you on your opinion you think nothing of it. Until one day you hear Tom talking over the phone with Harry.

Warnings: angst, fluff, mentions of family issues, insecurities, guilt.

Word count: 1k+

Tom heard you scoff from across the room, he was sitting on his laptop reading over the script his manager had sent him while you were on your phone, scrolling through Instagram.

"You alright love?" Toms voice caught your attention and you looked up from your phone. Your cousin was getting married and they kept making such a big deal out if it, so much that it was just getting irritating at this point.

"Yea, all good" you dismissed him and went back to scrolling on your phone. Your answer was not bought by Tom and a pillow was thrown at you "you are a child Thomas" You giggled and threw the pillow back at him.

"What is wrong y/n?" His voice was a bit more stern, you sighed not wanting to share the reason. Every time you brought up your opinions on marriage you were judged and out down for them, told thing like 'you're to young to know' or 'you havnt found the right person'

"My cousin is getting married, and I just don't see the appeal. They are actually like she won a Nobel prize or some shit" your eyes were set on the ground so you missed the fall of Toms face. "I personally have never seen myself getting married, it just uh doesn't feel right I guess" when you looked back up at Tom hesitantly he had covered his hurt well and he just nodded along with your statement.

"I agree completely, marriage is quite stupid, a peice of paper doesn't define your relationship" a smile crept over your face when he said that, no one you had ever dated ever agreed with you on marriage and you wrre glad you and Tom had been on the same page.

"You have no idea how relieved that made me Tommy" you jumped from where you were sitting and walked over to him, plopping down next to him on the couch "I love you, and I don't need a stupid peice of paper to prove that" you grinned and pulled him into a kiss.

He kissed back with a smile, he kept his true thoughts about marriage to himself not wanting to make you feel bad. In reality Tom had always planned on a big wedding, he was going to use his grandmothers ring what his mother promised to let him use, he was a sap for really cute weddings and just having the labels of husband and wife, he just loved the thought. Although it seemed thaf it wouldn't ve happening considering your firm beliefs on it.

"I love you too darling" Tom whispered when you pulled away from the kiss, you squealed lightly and kissed his cheek before jumping off the couch and saying something about doing some cleaning but Tom wasn't really listening.

"Fuck" Tom ran his hands down his face and let his head fall back against the couch. Silently cursing himself not telling you is true feelings.

◼

It had been about four days since you and Tom had talked about the whole marriage thing, he was acting a bit off but you pushed it aside, that was until you figured out why.

You had woken up and Tom had already been awake and he was sitting on the couch, phone in hand. You were going to go surprise but you stopped when you heard him talk.

"I know Harry, it's just. I've already dug myself into a hole, how am I just supposed to tell her. I just feel like I've done something wrong but I don't knw" Tom sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"Look Tom, she loves you everyone can see it. So what if she doesn't want to get married, does it mean that much to you" you couldn't hear what Harry had said but Tom sure could.

"I know she loves me Harry but I've always pictured this whole big thing when I get married, and now she thinks I hate it just as much as she does, she called it pointless Harry, I don't know how to tell her" you felt awful as you turned away and walked back to your bedroom that you shared with Tom.

You flung yourself down on the bed and ran your hands up snd down your face. You should have noticed that Tom was lying about his opinions on marriage, you guys have been together for three years, you were just so blind sighted that you didn't notice.

"Darlin, oh hey I didn't know you were awake yet" Tom walked into the bedroom, he wore a smile on his face, one you couldn't bring yourself to match "Whats going on, why are you grumpy" he pouted and sat next you while you stayed laying down. "Babe" Tom grabbed one of your hand and interlaced your fingers with his "Talk to me"

"Why didn't you just tell me?" You sat up and Tom gave you some space to get comfortable before he answered.

"What are you on about" he looked confused, he genuinely didn't know what you were on about. There hadn't been much that he hadn't told you of then the marri-

"You love the idea if getting married" you sighed and looked over at your boyfriend who's face dropped as her kept his eye locked on your hand that was in his.

Tom took a deep breath "You just, you seemed to hate it so much. I didn't want to start a fight or anything, we don't need to get married it's just something I always thought I was gonna do"

"Tom, I hate the idea if marriage because my family was torn apart because my parents stayed in an unhappy marriage, same thing with my uncle, they were a great couple but then they got married and that all just went away. I don't want that to happen, I really am sorry that I hate the idea so much. If it's a deal breaker I totally understand" Tom knew you had problems with family and he sympathized with you on that but he just couldn't wrap his head around why you blamed marriage but he knew he didn't want to lose you and if that ment not getting married, he would survive.

"Its not a deal breaker darling, I promise. It's just something I need to adjust to, you know. I would never pressure you into something you wouldn't want to do. I love you" he captured your lips in his and you kissed back immediately.

◼

It had been about 3 months since Tom had agreed to not get married, you knew it was hurting him deep down but he was pushing it away for your sake and that just make you feel worse.

So now you were sitting at your kitchen table awaiting Tom from returning from two months away for filming. Usually you were excited about him coming home but you were nervous, you had dicided that if getting married would make Tom happy, you'd do it. It wasn't that big if a deal, right?

You didn't have time to think about it anymore when when door to your house swung open "Y/n! Hey I'm ho-" he was cut off when you flung yourself at him, wrapping your arms around his neck. Tessa too has also came running from her place of the couch.

"Welk hello to you to darling" he chuckled, his bags long forgotten as he wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you closer to him if that was even possible.

"Marry me" you blurted out when you pulled your face away from the crook of his neck. His eyes widened in pure shock but you had a shit eating grin in your face.

"But uh y-you said it was pointless" Tom couldn't help the smile that played on his lip though, he seriously hoped you were being genuine about this because be didn't want you to feel pressured.

"Yea Tommy I know, but I mean so much to you to have a wedding and though I find it cheesy and sappy. It makes you happy, and when you're happy I'm happy. So what do you say?" You knew that you'd have to figure out a way for you both to enjoy the wedding but right now the look on Toms face was all you needed.

"Yes of course I'll marry you" pulling you into another kiss, you giggled when he tried pulling you closer to him, "Thank you" he whispered against your lips here he pulled away "you don't have to do this for me you know"

"I'll do anything for you"

[screamxqueenx94]

Hey ! Could I request a Teen Wolf ship please? Bi and ace, she/her. I'm an INFP, my enneagram is 4w3, and I'm a Pisces sun & moon and Sagittarius rising - I'm also a Hufflepuff ! Although when I was younger I was definitely such a Slytherin, I've changed and grew as a person over the years - although not quite physically ! I'm 4'11, and I have straight, chest length, deep plum coloured hair with layers, blue eyes, and far too many freckles. According to friends, upon first appearance I seem quite aloof, but once a conversation is struck, I just don't know how to shut up. I'm very bubbly and sociable, but I also get overwhelmed by spending too much time with other people (it could be due to me being an introvert, or the anxiety, or the ADHD - I'm not entirely sure which, if any, is responsible) and need to distance myself from people quite often to recharge my social battery. Wine aunt friend with terrible dad jokes. I'm currently studying Arts & Humanities, and I hope to become a journalist upon graduation, but if that doesn't work out I'd love to be a drama teacher. I wish I was more spontaneous and outgoing, but I'm such a homebody - my hobbies include reading, writing, and playing an unhealthy amount of the sims. In high school, I was head of the journalism club, as well as editor of our yearbook - I was also involved in debate. I've also been involved in theatre my whole life outside of school. My style is a little bit all over the place - I love to dress smart, but sometimes that means glam to lectures and other times that means like dressing like somebody's grandfather to a fancy meal. This also goes for music, too, and I'll listen to most genres and most decades (except classical, put some of that on and I'll be out like a light !).

Random fun fact speed run time ! I'm from the UK (Liverpool !) and my accent is annoyingly strong. I suffer with sensory issues and can't eat certain foods or touch certain fabrics (like cheese, or scratchy wool). I had my ears pierced but they closed up - I won't get them redone because the gun got caught on my ears last time (thick lobes, apparently) and I'm scared of needles. Which is also why I'd never get a tattoo, but when I was younger all I ever wanted was to be covered in tattoos and have a bunch of piercings, but that wasn't to be. I ramble a LOT (clearly !). I've never been in a relationship before. I like pubs but clubs are a no-go, I've got really bad crowd anxiety. My favourite scent is actually this off brand body spray I got in a Boots christmas set (bergamot, cedarwood and amber) and I wear it all the time.

I'm sorry, that was a lot of information ! Thank you so much 💛

Hi love! You're fine, I didn't mind cuz I ramble sometimes too lol! Okay, so immediately once I started reading this, I knew exactly who I was shipping you with. Might shock you, but stay with me okay? Lol (I also thought Kira, but this one seemed to fit a little more in my opinion)

I ship you with Scott McCall

You seem like a sweetheart, so why not pair with another known sweetheart?

Scott is kinda aloof too, but your guys' conversations can get so deep and last for hours

It gets to the point where you two know everything about each other

Maybe even a little more than what Stiles knows

I personally think Scott is a mix of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and Hufflepuffs get along with just about anyone so you two would definitely be like two peas in a bod

With Scott being the second shortest guy in the pack (apart from Liam) you being 4'11" will make him feel so tall and boost his confidence a little bit

Because we know he's not always confident in himself (and that's okay)

Now with being ace; Scott is a horny boy, let's just be honest

However, he also drinks his respect women juice on a daily and would never do anything that would make you uncomfortable and wouldn't ever make you feel like you had to do anything

He respects you and what you feel

He could find other nonsexual ways to be intimate with you very well

And as for being bi as well; doesn't bother him in the slightest

He's fully supportive

He probably put a sticker saying "I got a bi 'wife'" on his motorcycle along with an LGBT alley sticker lol

Your eyes and freckles are probably his most favorite things about your physical self

He loves to count your freckles while you two are counting, which will more than likely lead into a tickle fight

He usually wins, but will give you sweet little kisses after

He also thinks your hair is totally badass

He thinks it gives you an edge and refers to you as a badass as well

When you start feeling overwhelmed socially, he's quick to remove you from the social situation without it being awkward and gets you home

And if you were to tell him that that included him, he'd completely understand and probably go hang out with Stiles or even Deaton

He loves your dad jokes, even the really bad ones

He says "they're only funny when you tell them" and he genuinely means that

As for the wine aunt friend of your group, that's fine cuz he's the mom friend so he's got this

You sit back and relax and he'll make sure things go smoothly

He's your biggest supporter of your dreams

He also knows that no matter what you put your mind to, you'll get it done due to your 4w3 ennegram (I had to research it lol)

There's no shame in being a homebody

And he tells you that

But he'll occasionally be spontaneous and take you on a random adventure to just to add a little excitement to life

Like taking a ride on his bike along the coast on a Tuesday

Or to like band at a pub on a Thursday

Or anything random that would definitely be fun and just out of nowhere

I think Scott would probably try to tell you how unhealthy the amount of time you play the Sims is, but he won't force you to stop

"at least take a break to stretch your body and drink some water" he'd insist

Because he cares lol

He'd also be super interested in what you're reading or writing and could listen to you talk about it for hours

I also fully believe he'd love your accent; like wholeheartedly believe that

He loves your style because he never knows what to expect

He almost makes it into game

"Hmmm, what is y/n gonna show up in today?" Is what he calls it

Not that he actually cares, because he always thinks you're beautiful

But it's a fun guessing game lol

I feel like he's very eclectic with music too

Both of you listening to the most random music on your playlists together and sharing music the other may not have heard

He loves it and hopes you do too

He does his best to accommodate to your sensory issues

It does make it hard to surprise you with gifts or cook for you sometimes, but I'm the end, he knows well enough what bothers you and what doesn't and when you love it, he's such a proud pup

If you chose to get your ears repierced, he'd take you to get them professionally done, and would hold your hand and talk to you the whole time because he knows and understands that you're scared of needles

If you decided not to, he'd make sure to find some cool clip on or magnetic earrings so you can still have the luxury of earrings without all the pain of piercing them

Same with the tattoos, if you wanted them, he'd go with you, hold your hand and keep you distracted from the needles

And if decided not to, no problem!

He might order you some cool fake tats online for you when you're thinking about it and just wanna test it out first or if you just feel like having one for the day lol

Either way, this little bean is super supportive and understanding

He doesn't mind your rambling

He'd listen to it all day if he could lol

He'd feel honored to be your first relationship

He's not the most patient at times, but he is understanding and really wants you be happy in this relationship

Because lowkey, he also is kinda hoping it's your last 💍*hint hint

Whatever is your favorite scent to wear, he wouldn't care where he had to go to find it, or how much it cost, he'd make sure you had it

Also, he'd love to take a trip to your hometown with you and can show him all your favorite spots and all the cool things that you really enjoy there

He'd love them because you do and is all about keeping you happy

He'd even move there if that's what you wanted

That's all I got! Thank you so much for sending it in babes! Sorry it took me so long, life's been busy, but I'm hoping to be able to do more of these! I really hope you liked it!

[lk-ramblings]

Coming Home

Dicle and Barış

Menajerimi Ara

(This scene picks up from Dicle going to meet Barış in Episode 30.)

* * *

And I'd give up forever to touch you

Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now

-Iris

Goo Goo Dolls

*     *     *

He watched his younger self on the tiny television, eyes full of hope- a far cry from his current state- and looked around. Everything about the house seemed like a museum; from the TV, to the peeling paint, to the sheet covered sofas like relics. Preserved to keep his worst memories intact.

He wondered why they even kept this house in this condition when none of them were living here.

But then he remembered he didn't know how long he could afford his current house, when the path ahead seemed so bleak. So many houses, no home. Younger Barış chose that moment to remind him of all his shattered dreams, " ......lastly, I congratulate myself. I'm sure there are good days ahead of me!'

The piercing ring of the doorbell interrupted the video; someone had clearly glued their finger to the ringer.

His temper, which always seemed to be bubbling under the surface these days, spiked and he welcomed the anger.

'Can't even be miserable in peace, NE VAR YA?' he shouted, going downstairs.

He opened the door, fully intending to give the idiot a piece of his mind- and couldn't believe his eyes.

He was hallucinating again. He had to be. She couldn't be here. Dicle-

'Sen bana bu nasıl yaparsın.....'

The sting of the slap barely registered. But she wasn't done yet. He'd never seen her in a temper like this.

'How could you just disappear like this? I've been losing my mind with worry! I thought something happened to you. How many days have I been looking for you? How many days have I been dying with worry?!'

His heart strummed an aching beat; he was elated, shocked, humbled, ashamed.

'Do you even have ANY idea what kind of state I was in? Bir şey soylesene! Ya cevap versene Barış!' She kept questioning him and he felt guiltier with every passing second. Just bore the onslaught of her fury.

'Do you even know what I'm dealing with? What I'm going through? And yet I'm not leaving everything and running away. I'm not leaving my loved ones alone.'

He didn't know what to say, couldn't grasp at words much less sentences.

"Is this how we're going to continue? Weren't we going to fight together? Weren't you going to be next to me?" Her voice turned beseeching, revealing the extent of her hurt, and he couldn't bear it any longer.

So he kissed her.

Gently, so gently, with a tenderness he could not find the words for, for the all the apologies he wanted to say.  Her breath caught in surprise and she opened her mouth hesitantly.

His pulled softly at her lips- so sweet- taking one last taste. Even this had been enough to quieten the chaos in his head.

Dicle watched a tear fall unbidden down his cheek, as he waited for her reaction. She could still feel the ghost of his kiss, containing a wealth of things unsaid. You’re important to me. I missed you. I'm sorry.

So she decided to answer back. She kissed him again, not gentle like him, but devouring him, the pent up longing finally finding a release. I missed you too. I'm here now. Let me in, let us be together.

Barış felt the sharpness of her teeth on his lips and he knew he was not alone. He groaned into her mouth. His body ignited. This. This was finally something he knew how to do right. How to love the planes of her perfectly, countless nights spent imagining it.

He opened her jacket, his hands roaming all over, he couldn't get enough of touching her, never. Tried to get off his clothes without breaking away from her lips, his lifeline. He'd backed her against the wall.

Dicle arched into him, eliciting a hiss. Standing was no longer enough.

Never breaking the kiss, he picked her up and laid her smoothly on the bed. She remembered the night where they had fooled around, but this was so much more. Frantic with need, they both made quick work of her shirt.

He opened the clasp of her bra and kissed her; the cold of the house, and the warmth from his body heightening the sensations. She didn't want to let go of him. His hair was disheveled, his beard longer than she'd ever seen. He was so beautiful, it made her ache. Just before he pulled away, she licked at the sheen of sweat beginning to shine in the hollow of his collarbone.

He watched her, his eyes hazy, roving over every curve. She looked magnificent. All lithe limbs and creamy skin dusted with constellations of freckles; each of which he wanted to count with a kiss. And her hair.

Falling over him, unbound, when she moved forward. Reaching for him as if in a trance, he saw her eyes reflecting his own desire.

Suddenly embarrassed, she put her hands over her face and whispered, "What if I do it wrong?"

He removed her hands and gently touched his forehead to hers. "There is no wrong here. This is just you and me."

'Sadece Barıs ve Dicle."

That was all the encouragement she needed to claim his mouth again. He tasted of a slight tang and something she just knew as 'Barış'. His mouth was wet, soft, delicious. The moment he stopped, even to take a breath, or lavish attention anywhere else, she tugged him back.

He caressed her lightly, gently, where he knew she was ticklish. Devouring the softness and warmth of her body against his.

She felt untethered, the feeling both consuming and bewildering. They moved together, grinding, the friction promising a lovely high.

'Barış....' Even the dance of their tongues wasn't enough to sate her desire, instead stoking it higher. She grabbed at his shoulders, trying to get closer, trying to deepen the kiss even more, touching him everywhere. 'Barış...I need close...I want to be in you.'

He made a rough sound of amusment and spoke against her lips. ' I think you're stealing my lines, sweetheart.'

Dicle laughed on a sigh and then moaned as he kissed her thigh softly, first one then the other. The graze of his days old stubble  was driving her insane. She made up her mind to ask him to keep it like this always, as he kept moving higher and higher making her writhe with need.

She had no idea exactly where he was; she could feel him everywhere. His breath in her hair, whispering endearments, his warmth surrounding her, one hand at her head, the other engulfing her waist.

'Dicle. Dicle. You're so soft. It's fucking ridiculous.'

'Everywhere I touch, you just fit me. So well. so fucking well.  I've imagined it so many times, sevigilim.....'

Finally, finally he slid in. Skin to skin. The heat of it was exquisite. He bit her throat softly, trailing kisses down her neck. He tangled his fingers with hers and wondered how they they arrived at this moment, desire burning away the blazing anger from earlier.

But then she moved her hips in a needy motion, and he had no capacity for thought anymore. The pressure of her moving against him spurred him into a heavier, faster rhythm.

This. There was this.

Love and desire swirled together in a heady mixture as they fell together, her hair surrounding them, their bodies moving in sync, chasing the release.

*     *     *

'I didn't plan on that.'

'Hmm-mm. Me either.'

They lay cuddling together and Dicle finally voiced the question that had been at the back of her mind.

'So you've been going everywhere with protection at all times, in case the opportunity presents itself?' she teased him.

'Ah-what can I say- old habits die hard. I've always kept a spare wallet in my car.'

'What?' she sat up suddenly.

'What? What is it?' he followed her up aswell, trying to keep up with the sudden change in her tone.

'So you always keep one- or rather several- in your wallet incase you get together with some- I thought-'

'You thought?' he urged her on softly.

'I thought you were always ready because- I mean ever since we- I was talking about us earlier when I asked.' she muttered, her voice getting increasingly smaller.

Finally understanding dawned, and Barış tried to find the right words. To reassure her. To voice the depth of feeling that only she inspired. He could not fathom how she could think that this was just another one night stand for him.

'Dicle...Bak, I....'

He tried again.

''Abi and I learned to keep our cash and essentials on us if we ever needed to run from our father's rage. And then.....after his death, and getting a few small acting jobs, it was a lifestyle I fell into. Theatre parties. Chasing pleasure mindlessly if I could. Only a few times though.....' he hastened to add.

Dicle could see the faintest blush in the light filtering in from the hallway.

'I wasn't famous then, so, there weren't- but.....' he muttered and then sighed. "It just became routine for me to be careful."

She smiled at him after a beat, "And I'm glad for your care otherwise where would be right now?"

He relaxed at her words and caught a lock of her hair, running it through his fingers. Marvelling at the ease between them. Even in the dim light, she glowed.

"But you should know,' he spoke haltingly, hoping the words would come to him as he looked into her clear gaze, 'that my feelings for you.....my passion now....is like comparing an ocean to a drop. A sun to a lamp."

His words sank into her, igniting some primal part of her. She threw herself at him in a hug that took him by surprise. Barış caught her instinctively, a mass of tangled hair and long limbs.

Possession torched her throat, and she kissed him fiercely, instinctively, whispering in between kisses.

'Sadece bana bak.' The faintest touch of her lips on his eyelids. 'Bana gül.' Returning to his lips again. 'Bana dokun.' She kissed each of his cheeks in turn, the tiny dimples under the matted beard.

'Benim ol.'

He had been smiling into her kiss, but she felt him tense under her hands immediately, his shoulders stiff with tension. She drew back to look in his eyes, asking softly, "N'oldu?"

'Hiç,' he avoided her eyes, approximating a smile and tried to capture her lips again.

She gave him a kiss but asked again, caressing his face,' Barış, what is it?'

'Is it what I said? I know it wasn't original... but you...I see you in every thing I read and love so I just.....' she knew she was babbling at this point.

He laughed lightly. 'No, I love everything you say,' he followed the slope of her cheek to her lips.

'It just reminded me....I remember them- a version of them- from my childhood. In a far different tone and with a different intention.'

She just massaged his neck lightly, waiting if he wanted to share.

He took a deep breath and recited in a flat voice, " I often heard my father saying them to my mother. Whenever he would come back drunk, hearing whatever mahalle gossip there was, twisting it in his mind."

'This was my room.' He looked around, with a cursory glance, trying not to let the walls resurrect the past around him. He was grateful for the dark so he could pretend he was just sitting in a room somewhere with Dicle, just telling her these things, not living them.

' Abi and I moved here so- well I already told you. Closer to the door than the upstairs one. I would hear him shouting these things, doubting her, before going to sleep it off.'

Neither of them spoke. He could feel her hand in his hair, lightly stroking.

'Anne used to join us here aswell sometimes," he shrugged.

He looked so vulnerable in that instant as he looked at her and recounted his past with troubled eyes. She would have given anything to go back and soothe that smaller, younger Barış; protect him.

But there was only the present. And this Barıs, who remained soft despite life being hard to him. And she only had her words and her heart to give him.

Dicle took his hand. 'I'm so sorry,' she began softly.

'Memories are like that.” She pressed a kiss to his palm. “An endless reminder of the past. Forming and festering on their own. Sneaking up on you, when you’re least prepared for it.”

'But we can make new ones; better happier ones right now. Deliberately. In this same place.'

'So in the future, when you turn back, you go looking for them as a treasure rather than an insidious whisper you fear. Tamam mı?"

She hugged him, trying to absorb his worries. Hearing the beat of his heart next to her ear, knowing that he was warm and whole and next to her was enough.

'Dicle.....'

'Mhmm?'

'Just.....thankyou. Thankyou." He hugged her back, sighing, content to stay in her arms forever.

'Burada, what were you saying earlier? More poetry from Sabiha?"

She smiled, seeing his melancholy melt away slowly. 'Oh, no no, that was Madonna in a Fur Coat....."

'Hmm, looks like I have to read it aswell now after Shakespeare,' he said, closing the distance between them. His lips hovered over hers, and they smiled.

She knew they were both remembering the night she went over, hinting about Sinan and Serap. When they were testing and teasing each other.

But now, when she drew closer, it wasn't a game. He kissed her.

This time it wasn't hot and hungry. It was slow and sexy and sensual. He pulled her closer and closer by her waist until she was lying on top of him. Loving the warmth of her body against his, as their mouths fell together easily again.

*     *     *

After what felt like hours, she drew back. He lounged lazily next to her.

'What is it?" he asked, trailing a finger lighty down her shoulder, connecting the freckles. He gave her the mischevious look she loved so much, 'Are you tired?'

'No it's just....I'm thirsty,' she said, feeling unaccountably shy all of a sudden.

Barış laughed and sat up. 'Ah pardon. Where are my manners, not treating my guest properly."

'Oh, I wouldn't say that,' she had missed this, just talking to him, so much. ''I feel quite well treated, Barış Bey."

"Oh, öyle mı?"

"Evet. Although my nose hurts.'

He grinned at her, "I'll get some water from the kitchen.....there's nothing much else," he added embarrased.

'There's nothing else I need, sevgilim."

Giving him a quick kiss of reassurance, Dicle put on his shirt from the floor and made her way to the kitchen, wishing she could live in this moment forever.

There was nowhere else she would rather be.

*     *     *

[rose-director]

Blooming Roses, part 2

Content warnings/themes:

Masks

Medical situations

Neural connection/linkings

Hypnotic imagery

Corporate setting

Cyberpunk

Description:

As the next step in the hiring process, 3B90 is presented with a more permanent reciever system for network integration.

~2,200 words

Story:

3B90 > [Okay, and this won't hurt at all?] Trepidation and concern pour generously through your connection, mirroring the way they've been saturating your thoughts.

2CE5 > [No, there's no reason to worry. You'll be under some pretty strong anesthetics, though you'll be pretty disoriented in recovery.] A flash of comfort rides with this message, wrapping around your mind like a warm hug.

You're sitting in the waiting room segment of the Rose Cybernetics Augmentation Lab, an entire subset of the building devoted to fabricating, modifying, and installing cybernetic modifications and enhancements. Though the lab extends several floors down into the basement, the room you find yourself in is just below the massive building's main entrance. Relative to the area it services, the space itself is fairly small. Its walls are lined with more conventional chairs, complemented by several other more vexing pieces of... furniture? Your thoughts wander back to that first visit, and you still aren't quite sure what qualifies as furniture versus art.

2CE5 > [The furniture itself _is_ art! It gives pleasant visual patterns and all of that, _and_ it's ergonomic for the standard and non-standard body shapes of everyone who uses it!]

You need to stop broadcasting your thoughts when they drift like that.

2CE5 > [Aww, but 3B... it's cuuuute!]

The screen adorning your face lights up brighter in a begrudging grin. Sure, it's fun to get teased over your thoughts every once and a while, but you could do with a bit more privacy. 2C always makes it so easy to just share everything, but you find that as you reminisce on the events of yesterday, you've successfully put a stopper on the outpouring of thoughts from your mind into the LinkNet. For the interview, you'd booked an overnight hotel, and though the commute back had been pleasant, you'd felt deflated as you stepped back inside. The warmth of connection, that feeling of presence from the interview felt almost like a high, one you crashed from the moment your faceplate came off.

Your faceplate.

It's funny how everything seems to make so much more sense than it did yesterday morning. When you got back to that hotel room, you couldn't seem to help but yearn for the feeling of cold glass pressed against your face again, the paradoxical feeling of being seen and hidden all at once. Thinking about the way that data flowed through your mind, uploads and downloads streaming with the simple ease of breathing, you spent the night restless. You missed it all dearly, and you missed 2C, too. It's weird, you think, missing someone so desperately when you'd barely even met, but the whole situation is weird. In the stretch of less than an hour, you'd felt almost as though her soul had become pressed against yours, and in a way that seems almost accurate. The presence of her mind with yours was one of the most enrapturing moments you'd ever shared with another person. This morning, checking out of your hotel was the easiest departure you'd made in your entire life.

Your personal items, wardrobe, and computer were all accounted for when you stepped back through the doors of the Rose Cybernetics Center. At the desk, a new face - or, well, faceplate? - waited cheerily to greet you. They introduced themself as 13A3, and asked you to follow them to your on-campus housing. This benefit, one that didn't actually subtract from the pay Rose Cybernetics had offered, was quite, frankly the reason you'd chosen to pursue employment here specifically. Other firms had been hiring fairly aggressively, but even if the salary wasn't quite as sweet here, you'd always been a fan of the self-contained arcology life, especially if it was already paid for. An elevator had brought you to a floor above the block of office space from your last visit, into the area which seemed to be clearly intended for residential use. When they reached your apartment's door, 13A1 made the equivalent of a smile - the flowers that covered their display blossomed further - and ushered you inside.

Your apartment was a studio; an open kitchenette next to the door, a bathroom in the far corner, and a section of the far wall that seemed to suggest its utility as desk space. Even if it was a fairly small apartment, it was still the largest space you'd ever had to yourself, and you savored it a moment before noticing the furniture. Aside from the lack of a desk, the entire room was full of your things, set exactly as you were planning to have them when you got around to unpacking. 13 giggled and explained that you'd shared your plans for the room last time you were connected to the network. You shrugged, picking up a box from where it had been placed on your bed. It was black and unassuming just like the last one, but a note had been written in silver marker along the top.

You get to actually keep this one! Enjoy~

2CE5

You broke out in a broad smile and eagerly pressed the contents of the box against your face. The receiver pressed against your neck, and the tug of its electromagnets pulled at your mind with sudden familiarity. Far from that first violent experience, this connection was nothing more than a gentle fall into warm, relaxing water. Data flowed up and down from you again, and before you had time to think you felt 2C's mind pressing into yours. In a quick flurry of communication, she explained that you were cleared to get fitted for a permanent receiver, something far better suited for long-term network synchronization. You still feel excitement at that thought; remaining synchronized for as long as you wish, always able to return to that closeness that you'd never even realized you yearned for until you finally had it. A quick trip back down the elevator and a goodbye to 13A3 later, and you were waiting anxiously for the integration process to be ready.

Returning to the events around you, you relax into the presence of 2C's mind next to yours.

3B90 > [Sure, it's cute, but I need at least _some_ privacy!] You transmit your current emotional state, somewhere between teasing and flirty - quickly seeming to be the default around 2C - alongside that thought.

2CE5 > [That's true, that's true.] The feeling of her thoughts is just as intoxicating as ever, and you can't help but melt into the sensation of her pleasant warmth. 3B90 > [So, you mentioned that after I get my new receiver I'll be able to share my mind like this with _everyone?_]

2CE5 > [Yeah, pretty much! It sounds intimidating, but the best way to do it is mesh in slowly.] Her connection wordlessly relays the process by which new connections are established; both sides of the link engage in a three-way SYN/ACK handshake, a fancy way to say that each participant agrees to establish a link with the other. [It's best to synchronize with folks you've already said hi to, at least. Ease into it, you're probably not ready for more than a couple at a time just yet.] She was right; if you were being honest with yourself, you're barely able to handle the one you share with 2C! [Yeah, I can be a bit of a handful,] she sends, smugness dripping from her link.

3B90 > [Look, it's a lot is all...] Your thoughts branch and fork in too many ways to concisely share before merging once again. [It's amazing, but it's... a lot.]

The two of you fall silent, letting understanding wash between yourselves. Even in the last hour, it's been a refreshing experience getting to share such idle comforts between each other like this. It's amazing, knowing that even with her halfway across the building from you, it feels as though you're sitting right by her side. Over the last few hours, it's finally dawned on you that 2C being appointed as your supervisor doesn't really make much sense. As your mind follows that path further along, you come upon another realization.

3B90 > [I'm not distracting you from work, right?] You flash a breath of concern into your words.

2CE5 > [No, don't worry about that! When you're as used to the network as I am, you learn to multitask. Actually, I'm having five different conversations right now!]

You feel a mixture of trepidation and delight at the thought. Sharing a mind like this is more delightful than anything you've experienced before, but it's so much to take in. You're sure it'll come with time, and 2C seems to agree, but the worry lingers. After another moment of silence, a tech whose display shows a gently swaying forest enters the waiting room and - by your best estimation - makes eye (faceplate?) contact with you. A notification pings in your visor, a request to engage with a new communication stream. 2C gently urges you to accept the request, and fades away to make room for a new consciousness on a new endpoint. The feelings, sensations, and overall feel of self that you get from the technician are so different! Your mind recoils from the feeling for a moment, surprised at the unexpected change. You know that everyone thinks differently, but seeing this first hand as new and unexpected patterns swirl through you feels no less surprising. After the momentary shock, you realize that the tech had said something that you completely missed. Apologetic explanatory feelings flow up through your connection, quickly met by a response.

F211 > [Hey, it's alright. The second connection's always a lot to deal with, especially when you have to disconnect from someone you were comfortable with before.] The technician wordlessly introduces himself, and informs you that he'll be integrating your new receiver systems. You're already familiar with the procedure, but he shares its details with you once more, asking for your verbal consent. It feels strange to use your mouth to talk, even after just a day, but you acquiesce. Your voice is weak and breaking, stating that you agree to and fully understand the details of the modification. You'd forgotten how hard it was to get words out in the way you wanted, and that frustration flows back through you for a moment before it's caught by a wave of reassurance from F211. [That's exactly what I needed, thank you. You're good on 'paperwork', so follow me and we can get started! I know you've been waiting long enough.] A strong breeze blows through the trees of his display, and you think it seems to coincide with a good-natured smile. His initial sensation was so different, but after a moment of acclimation, you like the feeling of his mind almost as much as you enjoy 2C's. It might be the imagery adorning his faceplate, but the feel of him is sharp like the smell of pacific-northwestern pine, sharing that tree's unassuming, gentle strength. He feels surprisingly safe, which, you suppose, is good for someone performing delicate and precise modifications to the composition of your brain.

Your new friend leads you out from the lobby, and down a hallway adorned with sterile white tiling as well as the occasional splash of color painted in polygonal designs along the wall. You broadcast your curiosity over the patterns, feeling F211's response satiate your wonder. The art is intentionally added to ensure that the area's sterile environment remains unique and interesting. Whether it accomplishes this goal, it certainly appears visually interesting. F211 laughs at this thought loudly between your connection, but shows no outward indication of amusement. You're still going to have to get used to how uncanny that is. He guides you to a room at the end of this hallway. Large and circular, this room is ringed by various lights and other mechanical instruments draping from the ceiling, directly above what looks like a reclining chair. The technician invites you to take a seat, and as you do, the chair slowly conforms itself to your shape until it feels as though it was made for you.

F211 > [Everything's set, are you ready to go?]

3B90 > [Ready as I could ever be.] Actually sitting here, your anxiety begins to build. You want this, and it's part of the next step to your work here, but all the same those machines above you look a bit more intimidating than you would like. F211 recognizes your heartrate picking up, and wordlessly asks if it would help to have a hand on your shoulder. You return a wave of gratitude and a flash of green along your screen, and his touch saps away a good deal more of that worry than you expected it to. He sends feelings of reassurance, gently letting you relax. Before you recognize what's happening, he's already counting down from ten, and you feel your voice reflexively mirror the countdown's progress. With each number, you sink lower, deeper, as everything fades into... empty, perfect nothing. Far away, a gas fills your faceplate, letting that nothing surround you until you drift into unconsciousness.