#unless its absinthe

[captainhowdie]

I love this alternative Randall so much, I'd love to see him again❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

he's so real

[emlos]

.

[nethhiri]

Marooned: Chapter 26

Kid x FemReader x Killer

Warnings: Sexual content, violence lite

...And Find Out

On either side of you was a wall of muscle, effectively trapping you in your seat at a booth in a new bar. Kid had made sure that you wouldn't be getting into mischief here, unless he was a part of it. You had gotten some food into you, though you were still swiping drinks from Kid or Killer's glasses when they were preoccupied talking with someone else. Kid's hand was wandering under the table, torturing you on purpose. This was your punishment for making a fool of him. First it was on your lower back, playing with the edge of your pants, then it was pulling at the strings lacing them up the sides. Your legs were crossed tightly since it was only a matter of time before he got bold. 

"Remind me again what ya wanted?" Kid taunted.

His hand pinned yours to the table when you tried to grab his French fries. "For you to shut up," you grumbled. You jumped when he pinched your thigh.

He faked a pout. "If ya keep hurting my feelings I might not wanna...what was it?" He tapped on his chin, pretending to have forgotten what was now seared into his brain. "Put your ankles behind your-"

You covered his mouth with your own and bit him to make him stop. "Shut up. Shut the fuck up," you said against his lips. Why did you drink fucking absinthe? You could hear Heat and Wire laughing in the background. You harshly whispered into his ear. "If you don't cut it the fuck out, I'm not gonna let you put my ankles behind my ears."

Kid grabbed your chin and bent into your neck to whisper back, "Keep acting like that and I'll tie you up that way so everyone can have a turn." He snickered at your reaction. His metal arm was around you, such that his hand was resting on your thigh and he could feel the temperature change in your body when he said it, heat pooling around your thighs. Kid stopped openly fucking with you, returning to talking about what supplies they needed to stock up on while they were in port.

It was just the upper officers and you at the table, which you were grateful for at the moment since Kid's hand was inching ever closer to nestle itself between your thighs. He was good at acting like nothing at all was going on. You tried your best to mimic that, as hard as it was while his metal finger traced over your clothed slit. Your flushed skin was giving away how you were slowly unraveling. You clenched your knees together trying to trap his hand from continuing to move. His ankle hooked around yours, gradually prying your legs farther apart. Taking a drink of ice water and pressing it to your temple, you were trying not to think about it.

"You ok, Y/N?"

You didn't immediately realize Heat was talking to you. "Oh... yeah I have a headache." And its name is Kid.

"Do you need to go back to the ship?"

You waved him off, shaking your head. You couldn't say anything at the moment, teeth clenched to keep any other unwanted noises from leaving your mouth. There was a low laugh from next to you as Kid saw how hard you were struggling. Since it was his metal hand playing with you, there was an element of coolness wherever the metal touched, and also since it was his metal hand, he could make it do whatever he wanted, including vibrate. That took you by surprise, causing your knee to hit the table when you jerked back. "Sorry, adjusting mmmy legs." 

"Headache has you a little restless, huh?" Killer sympathized. Or at least you thought he was sympathizing until you felt his hand holding your knee in place. He was met with a black look from you. 

You swore you could see a blue glint from within one of the holes in his helmet. There was nothing you could do trapped between the two of them. If you had been in a more private setting, this would be a dream. Even if it was the same scenario without Wire and Heat, that would be better. You hid your face in your hands under the guise of the lights bothering you, which was obviously not the case since the lights were fairly dim to begin with. Both of your legs were pinned apart and Kid had not stopped teasing his fingers across your core. Controlling your breathing was hard, made harder when Kid pressed down at the apex of your cunt with a medium strength vibration running through his fingers. A small moan slipped out, though it could have still been confused for one of discomfort. You shifted slightly to glare at Kid through a crack in your fingers. He was hungrily grinning back at you, pressing the vibrations harder into your core. Your legs quivered. If he kept doing this, you were going to cum right there at the table. The thought made you hotter, yet you still fought it. The fact that Killer was in on it too was really making your mind race. Did that mean you would get both of them when you went back to the ship? The thought made you lose composure, burying your head into the crook of your elbow resting on the table, your other hand falling under the table and grabbing Killer's. Your fingers entwined with his over your knee, nails digging into skin as you got closer to the edge. 

Kid withdrew his hand, stretching. "I'm bored. Let's go somewhere else." 

The orgasm that had been building faded away and left you yearning. You picked your head up and blinked at him with lust-clouded eyes. "Fuck you," you said breathily. 

It almost pained him to stop, you looking up at him with such pleading eyes. "Don't worry, doll. I got somethin to help that headache." 

Next to you, Killer shook his hand out from under yours. "You got a strong grip, darlin." He patted you on the leg. 

It took some time for you to blink back into awareness. So this is how it's gonna be. A long night of teasing seemed to be ahead. You weren't wrong. The next establishment was a little rowdier so no one noticed when Kid took you into a dark corner to make out, sliding his flesh hand between the leather of your pants and your skin, edging you again. The one after that was more of a dance club, where you were bounced between Kid and Killer and their grabbing hands. The third one was a gambling hall, where you patiently sat in Killer's lap, listening to him whisper compliments and dirty thoughts alike and watching Kid play cards. After that, at the insistence of whatever straggling crew remained, it was a whorehouse. 

At this point you were drunk and very horny. You were promised that this would be the last place they stopped before returning to the ship. The men other than Kid and Killer found companions to take upstairs fairly quickly. You had gone to the bathroom and came back to both of them having their laps occupied by women. They were just as drunk and horny as you were, though you were hoping to harness that energy for yourself when you went back to the ship. There was motion in the corner of your eye as a man scooped you off your feet and started carrying you upstairs, thinking you were one of the working women. 

"I think you're mistaken. I'm not for sale." Kid and Killer were still preoccupied as you glanced back. 

"Everyone has a price, little miss." 

You toyed with the man's earring, giggling. "I don't think you can afford me."

"And why's that? I don't look like I have money?" His voice was slightly angry.

"Let's find out." You pointed to the wall next to the staircase, that was decorated with bounty posters. "I should be up there somewhere. Last time I checked, I was close to 90,000."

The man stopped in his tracks and looked at you. "You?! 90,000?" He had started to open a vacant room.

You didn't appreciate his unbelieving tone. "Yeah. 90,000. So unless you're gonna pay me or a fuck from you is worth 90,000. Put me down." He didn't move. "I SAID PUT ME DOWN! ARE YOU DEAF?" Kid was rubbing off on you, in more ways than one. 

The man dropped you on the floor, stepping over you to find another lady. 

Pulling the switchblade out of your boot, you caught his ankle and sliced his Achilles tendon, sending the man tripping down the stairs. You put the knife back in your shoe and pushed yourself up. "Fucking rude." You stepped on his hand as you came down the stairs and returned to your table, noticing that the ladies were no longer there. "Where'd your friends go?"

"Where'd yours go?" Killer shot back, a drunk lilt to his voice.

"I asked first, but if you must know, I stabbed him and tripped him down the stairs." 

Kid laughed loudly and patted his lap. "Atta girl." He grabbed your waist as you took your seat. "Those are just the waitresses, doll." Kid laughed again. "Were ya jealous?" He played with your hair and buried his face in it, inhaling deeply, breath tickling your neck. 

"Fuck no," you laughed. "Why would I be jealous when I know the whole time you would be thinking of me?" You leaned your head back to rest on his shoulder and grinned at him, simultaneously poking Killer with your foot. 

One of the waitresses returned with 3 beers in her hand, a disappointed look in her face when she saw you perched in Kid's lap. 

The three of you drank and chatted while the crew did god knows what upstairs. You wished Killer didn't have to wear a helmet all the time, because you felt a little bad about only making out with Kid. You tossed back the rest of your beer before moving from Kid's lap to Killer's, Kid only whining minimally. Killer's hand sat on your hip, thumb brushing at the skin. You couldn't kiss his face, so your lips found his neck. He didn't stop you. By the time you left, his neck was covered in different shades of red, some from your lips, and some from Kid when he was feeling left out. 

When you returned to the Victoria Punk, there were scattered pirates passed out all over the deck. Even Mini plopped on deck to sleep, not wanting to walk all the way to your bunk. She wasn't used to late nights. Kid threw you over his shoulder and made a beeline straight for his cabin. You noticed that Killer didn't follow. Kid tossed you on his bed and started tearing his clothes off. 

"Where's Killer?"

Kid gave you a questioning look. "I'm not enough?"

You rolled your eyes. "Don't be stupid. I thought he was into it, that's all." You kicked off your shoes and started to unlace your outfit. 

Kid shrugged. "He's probably tired. Stop worryin bout him when ya have to worry bout me." Kid tugged your pants off, and made quick work of your top. Kid kissed from your hip to your neck, nipping at your ear as he climbed on top of you. 

You had been waiting all night for this. You didn't honestly think he would wait this long, you thought after you initially pissed him off, he would come fuck you in the back alley. He had a hard time waiting you guessed, since he was already grabbing your hips and pulling them up to meet his own as he sunk his cock into you. You let your head fall back on the pillow and groaned. 

Kid grabbed your hair and jerked your head back to look at him. "So ya think ya can tease me and get away with it?" He started slow, watching you move underneath him impatiently. 

"I was counting on not getting away with it," you smirked at him, rolling your hips in time with his. You gasped as he took one of your thighs and brought it back next to you, opening you wider for him and allowing him to get a deeper angle. 

Kid picked up the pace. You were much too coherent for his liking. "If ya wanted it rough, ya can say so." 

"Nnn-not as fun." Still too coherent.

Kid picked up your other thigh and matched it to the first one, pressing both down into the mattress. If you thought you were going to manipulate him like that and get away with it, you were mistaken. He could feel you twitch under him. Kid knew it wouldn't take long to put you on the edge again since he had done it several times during the night. 

Folded in half under Kid, you couldn't move much. You didn't have to with the way he was drilling into your deepest parts. Your thighs were covered in your own juices from being so wet. The knot in your belly got tighter and tighter with every thrust. The only sounds you could make were whines and ragged moans. It wasn't much longer before your thighs were shaking and you were gripping at the sheets. Kid sucked at your breast and moved up your neck to your ear. The sound of his panting was too much. Right as you were about to snap, there was a feeling of emptiness as Kid came across your stomach with a grunt. 

The thought of how mad you were about to be and how much begging you were about to do was enough for Kid. His release felt heavenly, even though he would have preferred to stay buried in your hot, gushy walls. But he couldn't let you cum that easily could he? The glazed over look in your eyes was turning into frustration and then into a glare, so hot it almost made him hard again. 

"Was that fun enough fer ya, doll? I had yer ankles by yer ears. Just like ya asked." 

"Fuck.. you, Kid," you said between pants. You reached your hand down to take care of yourself. You didn't need him. 

He grabbed your hand. "I don't think so." He grabbed your other one, holding them both over your head. "Killer."

Killer came from somewhere in the room. You didn't know where he had been. Was he there the whole time? He was shirtless and his jeans were unzipped, but he was still masked. He had something in his hands, which he put around your wrists. 

"That's not gonna do anything. You know I can..." A panicked look entered your eyes.

Kid laughed. "Oh, Killer was into it. This was his idea." 

Killer attached the manacles to something on the headboard. "Picked up a souvenir from that marine vessel." Killer traced a finger down your center. "Seastone."

Next Chapter

[askganon]

I am exhausted, Lord Ganondorf... I have been dealing with drama for three days in a row, now... I do not understand why I put... everything... into a personal project that wasn't even mine to begin with? I am a lightweight. Do you know any good, fruity drinks that might help me feel a bit less... extremely, ruthlessly insane

Never place more of yourself into any labor that is not your own, unless your sole goal is the pleasure of another and this labor directly effects that.

While I know of no drinks concocted of fruits that would give you mental escape, I have always found Absinthe to be most effective. Just remember its purpose, not its flavor.

[armoredisopod]

Arknights CN Thank You Celebration 2023 PVs

New Operators

Bassline, 5* Guardian Defender

In the meantime, i'll follow your baton.

Lessing, 6* Welfare Dreadnought Guard

The only thing that can restrain a sword is the cowardice of its wielder.

Viviana, 6* Arts Fighter Guard

Viviana Droste, with my candle and my sword, i will grasp victory for you.

Virtuosa, 6* Limited Ritualist Supporter

Whenever i touch the strings, emotions in the air flow to me, through my fingertips, to the sky and earth.

To your heart's content, feel yourselves.

Also added new operators to the voucher shop

Diamante, 5* (unknown new branch) Caster

Caper, 4* (unknown new branch) Sniper

Operator Skins Update

Total of 6 new skins, 5 new additions for the Epoque brand and 1 new addition for the new Iteration Provident brand

Epoque

Meteor's Gwiazdcytron - Login Event skin

Absinthe's Noon Twilight

Ashlock's 卡利斯卡群枪 (Lances of ???)

Bagpipe's Royal Guardswoman

Młynar's W Dali - L2D + Special Voicelines skin

"Fear neither hardship nor darkness"... Hmph. A bygone era not worth remembering. Too much daydreaming.

Iteration Provident

Texas the Omertosa's Wingbreaker - L2D skin

Announced skins reruns

Bloodline of Combat skins of Skadi the Corrupting Heart, Specter the Unchained and Gladiia

Epoque skins of W, Rosa, Pallas, Andreana, Sora, Honeyberry, Rosmontis, Nearl the Radiant Knight and Passenger

~98 other skins as part of Thank You Celebration edition of Rhodes Fashion Review

Operator Modules Update

Lessing and Bassline being part of branches with modules immediately get their modules

DRE-X module base effect increases Lessing's ATK to 115% when attacking blocked enemies

GUA-Y module base effect reduces all damage Bassline takes by 15%

Juggernaut Defender branch gets 1 module type

Nearl the Radiant Knight and Bagpipe gets their second modules

DRE-Y module base effect allows Nearl the Radiant Knight to survive a single fatal blow, healing back to full and gaining +30 ASPD at the cost of -60% Max HP, this effect only activates once per deployment

CHG-Y module base effect increases Bagpipe's ATK to 115% when attacking enemies below 40% HP

Events and Stories

Zwillingstürme im Herbst, a Leithania side story event

Experimental Operation (more widely known as Pinch-Out) will be returning in the form of Contingency Contract Battle Plan #1 Operation Pyrolysis

Operator Archives update for Rosa, Virtuosa, Diamante, Czerny, Santalla, Shalem

Misc Stuff

Eunectes, Flint and Aciddrop added to recruitment

Added the ability to queue auto-deploys (up to 6 times per queue)

Livestream Stuff

Showcased Virtuosa as a 6* Ritualist Supporter with a powerful and versatile kit

First talent inflicts Slow and some amount of Necrosis damage every second to enemies in her range

Second talent increases the amount of Necrosis damage dealt to enemies in her range

Skill 1 stops her from attacking unless she has skill charges but each attack will deal Necrosis damage and she prioritizes enemies not under elemental burst status

Skill 2 increases her ASPD and allows her to attack an additional target and one ally in her range with the highest ATK gains the ability to inflict Necrosis damage

Skill 3 makes her stop attacking, expands her range, increases her ATK and strengthens her second talent, additionally allies with the highest Max HP/ATK/DEF in her range gains increased Max HP/ATK/DEF respectively

Showcased Viviana as a 6* Arts Fighter Guard that specializes in dealing with elite/leader enemies

First talent increases the amount of Arts damage she deals and decreases the amount of Physical and Arts damage she takes, this talent is strengthened when there is an elite/leader enemy within her attack range

Second talent grants her a chance to gain a damage block shield (tanks one melee hit and cannot be stacked) when attacking an elite/leader enemy

Skill 1 makes her next attack deal more damage and hit twice, if the skill is allowed to charge, her next attack has a longer attack range and hits thrice

Skill 2 increases her ATK, DEF and Block Count and allows her to hit enemies equal to her block count, additionally each of her attacks has a chance to hit twice and each attack steals a certain amount of ASPD from the hit enemies (stacks up to a limit and lasts until the skill ends or she is retreated)

Skill 3 increases her ATK, DEF, RES, Attack Interval and second talent activation chance, additionally her attacks become double hits and prioritizes elite/leader enemies; upon the second activation of this skill and afterwards, her attack range increases, attacks become triple hits and this skill has an increased duration

Showcased Lessing as a 6* Dreadnought Guard

First talent reduces all incoming Physical and Arts damage from enemies he isn't blocking if he is blocking an enemy

Second talent increases his ATK for a certain amount of time after taking damage (this buff cannot stack)

Skill 1 makes his next attack deal more damage

Skill 2 is an on-deploy skill that strengthens his first talent, increases his ATK and makes his attacks hit twice

Skill 3 makes him immune to status effects (like Stun or Freeze), increases his Max HP and makes him deal more damage to blocked enemies, this skill has a unique property that allows it to be activated even if he is under a debilitating status effect and purge him of the effect at the cost of taking a certain amount of Arts damage upon activation

Showcased the event mechanic, a symphony that plays throughout the stage and grants global buffs to enemies depending on the type (the color of the bar at the top of the screen and the aura at the edges of the stage denotes which type of symphony is active) and some enemies gain specific buffs during their prefered symphonies (indicated by an icon above their heads), there are stations that can be charged to switch the symphony and grant temporary buffs to your operators when activated

Another mechanic where arts turrets will appear on the field and players can deploy a charge point for operators to attack so the turret can fire

Revealed the rebranding of Experimental Operation under the Contingency Contract name, showed some contracts involving stage elements from What the Firelight Casts event and an enemy from Ep12 and showed the reward for the season being a new Flamebringer skin

Teased the next Kjerag event with an animated promotional video of Kjerag's modern tourism industry

German voice dubs for Viviana, Lessing, Ebenholz and Czerny

Russian voice dubs for the USSG girls, Absinthe and Hellagur

Showed a teaser image for a Rim Billiton event involving Amiya and the Doctor

Teased Reclamation Algorithm 2 with a lore video telling the story of the Aslanian Conquest and the King of Kings, followed with a showcase of the QoL improvements done to the gamemode (such as the ability to save and reload a run) and various new additions

Showed a background CG of a location in Yan, a teaser for the next Spring Festival event

Announced Originium Dust rerun and a new Rainbow Six collab event with Fuze as the welfare unit

Showed another teaser trailer for the Ceobe animated mini-series

Announced new art books will be available, Vol. 3 of the Arknights art book and Vol. 1 of the Arknights anime art book

Showed various merch including Terra: A Journey (Arknights world encyclopedia), Nomad City: The Founders (Arknights board game), 4koma physical copy, manhua, figurines and more

Ended the stream with an MV of Ashen by My First Story ft. Amiya, Kal'tsit and W

Retraced Terra lore video covering the history of the world of Terra starting from The First Catastrophe narrated by Kal'tsit

[pathos-p]

they deserve to hang out and relax and chill together !!!!

To elaborate ! @squeak-4657 suggested the idea of them all drinking together once they've gotten more comfortable and all feel confident in each other and themselves , showing them all having that faith and trust in each other / being confident in themselves and each other not to do anything rash when inhibitions are down ,, i liked the idea a lot so wanted to draw it !!

Some HCs I had related to this are:

i thought mind when drunk would drop more of his need to be serious, as well as getting a lot more touchy with his friends, hugging etc due to being touch starved normally but feeling like he shouldn't get more contact. but when drunk he is less self conscious about this and will be more touchy.

Soul I saw as being very talkative when drunk since he seems to like being comedic in MB and I thought it was generally fitting to his character. Dude's trying to be a comedian after a couple whiteclaws loll. it was also suggested he'd go on existential tangents which was a fun idea, depending on his mood could go either way. either way he will not shut up and will be the centre of attention LOL

heart would get kind of quiet and dazed vibes {relaxed just not talkative}. i think like heart has the potential to get aggressive but i think he'd be very chill unless stressed, like he'd be the most relaxed chill dude not saying anything then 0 to 100 if smth got too much on his nerves. but here they're just being nice and they have all got mutual respect and understanding to not do anything that'd cause that 🔥

mind i drew with absinthe as a half joke from a talk we had on the cjfs. soul would drink white claw, i don't have a proper reason but that's just absolutely his vibe. and heart i gave strawberry wine :))

also had hc that normally heart like tucks his wings in a lot to kind of take up less space, feel less like a target, but its more comfortable spreading them out more. so when he's comfortable around them and theyre doing well he has them unfolded

[thefoulbeast]

Pathologic characters as alcoholic drinks

Straight drinks rather than cocktails, though I might be persuaded to aliken them to cocktails as well at some point. Included are all the adult characters about whom I have a good enough gauge on their vibe, so some are left out (sorry Georgiy and Oyun its nothing personal i just don't know you like that).

Aglaya – white wine. Exudes a sombre feminity, and can be quite cold.

Alexander Block – vodka. Straightforward, blunt. He loves the zakuski also – gotta have a pickle with the shots.

Alexander Saburov – cognac. Stern man, stern drink.

Andrey – chacha. A Georgian brandy ranging from 50% to 85% alcohol content. Very potent, it sort of… punches you when you drink it.

Anna – advocaat. It’s a Dutch liqueur made from eggs, sugar and brandy. Very thick, almost sickly sweet, sort of cloying at the back of your throat.

Artemy – Riga black balsam or another kind of balsam. Herbal and rich, warms you up.

Aspity – Campari. Herbal and bitter, rarely drunk straight.

Daniil – bourbon. Classy, straddles the line between sophisticated and simple.

Eva – prosecco. Light, airy, easy on you but easily can take you by surprise. Bubblies aren’t strong alcohol but they can leave a wicked hangover if overindulged.

Katerina – cough syrup (old school). Herbal; the ethanol content bites at the throat strongly, but soon is soothed when the codeine kicks in.

Lara – mulled wine. Warming and cozy with a certain spiciness about it.

Mark – dark spiced rum. Creative and chaotic.

Maria – cranberry liqueur, especially the kind that’s bottled with whole berries in it. Sweet but with a pleasant bitter/sour undertone. Also it’s red.

Peter – absinthe. No comment needed.

Rubin – gin. Strong, herbal (some have an almost overwhelming juniper flavour to it); most people can’t/won’t drink it straight because it’s rather unpleasant unless mixed in a drink.

Vladimir Olgimsky the older – mead. Well known, simple but all the more comfortable and demanded for it.

Vladimir Olgimsky the younger – hard cider. Fresh, fruity, summery.

Victor – whiskey. No comment.

Yulia – calvados. A French brandy made from apples or pears. Despite an overwhelmingly pleasant aroma has a very strong bite.

EDIT:

Oyun - tarasun. An alcoholic beverage drunk by the Buryat people of Siberia. Tarasun is a "highly alcoholic colourless liquid" prepared by distillation and fermentation of a mare's milk. It is described as a form of "milk whisky". (suggested by @qawerian)

Note: these are all my personal opinions about the drinks. if you have a different view, id love to hear it /gen

[top-shelf-tender-moved]

"Get me the stiffest drink you have...now". His hand shook, it was almost time,he'd hadn't seen or answered anything from Val since the ball,and in a few hours he had to show up for work, and any other punishment the other saw fit.

“Stiffest drink I’ve got is a dose of reality,” Husk stated bluntly. “Or if you don’t wanna hear me out, I can just hand you the Absinthe.”

It was difficult to see yet another friend slip into shambles over their ties with Valentino. Husk wished he had the power to decimate the moth, but as things stood, Alastor had his full demonic potential under lock and key unless he deemed its use necessary. The bartender couldn’t stand up to an Overlord, but he could try to be there for his friend in other ways.

[voros-kiralyno]

[ CLAIM ]  for one muse to possessively place their hands on their shoulders or hips. 

Hands slide over Freya's hips from behind as Nova makes her way behind the bar. It's fine she the Alpha she can do whatever she wants to. Teeth glide over the thin fabric concealing the demon's shoulder.

You can smell the absinth on Nova, and Freya doesn't just serve any absinth to the Alpha. So it's no wonder she's worked up and looking to claim. Nova doesn't have casual sexual relationships with women. Not like she does men, it can only work for her unless she's got some kind of emotional connection with them. Excluding when shes on drugs heavily and a total fuck boi.

So its no surprise really that Nova's looking to claim Freya of all people. The two have been friends for a very long time, and flirty with each other the entire time. It's unclear if they've actually fucked before since both of them just don't answer most of the time. Though Celeste would put her money on yes, because she knows Nova better than anyone, and she can tell by the way Nova looks at the demon that theres something there.

"Mmm you're working too hard." The vampire mused, lips caressing the shell of Freya's ear. "I think you need a break... let the other bartender cover your shift for twenty minutes..."

[pinespittinink]

🍾 find the word 🍾

I was tagged by @awritingcaitlin 🌺💐 my words were loud, blood, run, smirk, and surprise.

Taken from The Great Glavenisean Theater, as usual

🔎 LOUD 🔎

The corridors inside are dimly lit, the naked electrics turned down to amber specks barely illuminating the dark. My breath sounds inordinately loud in my ears as I hurry through the bowels of the theater, all its residing souls tucked away and sleeping. My boots slap the floorboards. For a disoriented, terrified moment, I think the whole building might come down on top of me, that it may buckle and break apart, shattered by my intrusion.

🔎 BLOOD 🔎

I’m shaken by something wildly, staggering across a dreamland street, the City of Spires impossibly high and crystalline above me. I shake again before I can find my feet, tripping over the curb. Blood tints the air, a rich red scent. I inhale a terrified lungful of air.

🔎 RUN 🔎

I glance at the offered synopsis as I run one fidgeting hand against the worn polish of my arm rest, skipping dolphins carved out from the wood. My left foot taps the ground, excitement simmering in me as the rest of the guests pour into the house. By the time the pit orchestra finishes the concerto, the resonance of violins hanging in the air, there is not a seat left unfilled.

🔎 SMIRK 🔎

“Does Ariel ever come to these parties?” I ask, curiosity a small bubble through me, powered by the picture Travis painted of an enigmatic prima donna.

“Sometimes,” Seonghwa replies, his smile lazy and benign.

Christina scoffs, jostling Deirdre’s fawnish figure slumped in her lap. “Whenever they deign to grace us with their presence,” she says. “She shows her face when she feels like it, which isn’t very often at all.”

“Unless Zachary has them tied up,” Travis replies with a smirk.

“They aren’t half the item you think they are,” Seonghwa says easily, batting a hand back at Travis’s face like a man chastising a kitten nosing at a plate.

🔎 SURPRISE 🔎

The room has filled tremendously, packed with bodies, brass and fancy strings in the air. Seonghwa and Travis drag me over to a velvet couch green as absinthe, and I’m grateful as I sink into it, glass still held in one hand, miraculously undisturbed. I can barely summon up the energy to fuel my surprise when Travis starts to kiss against Seonghwa’s neck, pawing and palming over his chest through his shirt. There is a disregard for propriety here that I am grasping in spades. This world has a different language all its own, a people freer and looser than the rest of the city, uncaring as they dance with each other, hands lacing over hips, higher towards ribs and bodices, lower towards the edge of skirts.

🎐🎐I’m tagging: @sentfromwolves @italiangothicwriteblr @inkingfireplace @the-void-writes @legiomiam @bloodlessheirbyjacques @jess-p-edits @magefaery @theskeletonprior @magic-is-something-we-create @kashacreates @agrimedena-drax @florraisons @flowerprose

your words (if you choose to accept lmao) are: after, bruise, ache, gently, and height

[ask-thedepressedkidatthetable]

FACTS ABOUT YOUR MUSE !!

A short collection of basic info of your muse to present them on your blog. REPOST, don't REBLOG.

TAGGED BY: @heartxshaped-bruises TAGGING: @fourcriminals @fangsandmagic @seolinah @tyliocellier @eeliabwrites @godstrayed and anyone else who wants to!

▬ι══════ﺤ Sylwia Wrona

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

I suppose the main one I've encountered is that Sylwia is a "bitch" rather than a shrewd muse of extremes. Something along the lines of expecting a similar reaction to other muns / muses to a given situation and being surprised when Sylwia is unsympathetic to more of the same. Online, all the same trends cycle over time, and society is steadily getting worse . . . She'll feel differently when she sees something different.

AN IMPORTANT HEADCANON

I try to strike a balance in my writing, but keep in mind when your muses are interacting with Sylwia that she had a STRONG addiction to her phone. It's the one habit she absolutely cannot kick, so unless your muse has dragged Sylwia outside and just so happens to be holding onto her phone, the likelihood that she's looking at a screen while talking to you is high! And I promise she's paying attention, and she is engaged! Mostly. She's just . . . also scrolling. And doing upkeep on her forums. And looking up random shit. She'll show you a meme every now and then!

A USELESS HEADCANON

With some possible exceptions in the animated world, Sylwia absolutely despises sitcoms. Humanity it bad enough, must the downtime entertainment be filled with all of its worst aspects? Cruelty, stupidity, empty romantic plots and just most of the characters being annoying! At least with cartoons they don't look real. Even there, small doses is a key phrase.

POTENTIAL TRIGGERS

Depression, suicide, dissociation, self harm, social anxiety, insecurity, manipulation / possessiveness, death, and some neglect growing up. I would also note that while she can be attracted to anyone, her circumstances growing up were rather conservative so she is rather cautious on that front.

SOMETHING YOU ENJOY ABOUT (WRITING) THEM

God, I love writing Sylwia when she's in love. She's so sweet and sentimental and vulnerable in ways she would never credit herself with. I think she'll always blame herself for Dominik, and she'll probably always think that the world wasn't made for love, but that doesn't mean she doesn't hold so much of it in her heart. It's truly a pleasure.

SOMETHING YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW BEFORE WRITING WITH THEM

She's going to tell your muse to leave, time and time again. It's nothing personal most of the time, she just gets overwhelmed with social interaction and deals with it the only way she knows how.

▬ι══════ﺤ Absinthe Moon

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Absinthe can fall in love so to speak. This one surprised me as well. That being said, any such relationships will rely on distance, mutual toxicity, and sex. Marriage and that whole apple pie thing is completely out of the cards, because as soon as it gets serious, Absinthe goes on guard- and the second there's a fight and things get emotional Absinthe will cut your muse out and there will be no return. Haven't found a work-around for that. Absinthe cuts out from all threads and it's . . . something. And for all of Absinthe's academic / professional pursuits, they actually have quite a bit of downtime in their life. Naps, staring at walls, whatever 'nothing' catches their fancy. Humans aren't meant to run at 110% all the time, and moreover, they don't want to.

AN IMPORTANT HEADCANON

While Absinthe is a very violent person personally, with no desire to change that, they are very receptive to pacifism. There's a catch though- Because Absinthe's read it all, Ghandi, King, the Quakers and the Shakers- and if you aren't doing pacifism properly, if you're just using it as an excuse to act like an asshole without getting consequences, then there will be hell to pay. If pacifism is truly your thing though, and you are trying your kindest and hardest in the world, more power to you! (No one will hurt you, not for the short time they're around. It's not their path, but why not chase utopia?)

A USELESS HEADCANON

Probably useless in the sense that I haven't gotten much of a chance to explore this side to them, but the vast amount of time an resources they've put into soaps, beauty products, and sewing! Work is a practical matter and unfortunately, can end out with a very masculine presentation, but I imagine in their daily life they put a huge amount of effort into androgyny. In being very visibly nonbinary and queer! It's a huge part of who they are.

POTENTIAL TRIGGERS

Violence, murder, weapons, crimes, drugs and so on.

SOMETHING YOU ENJOY ABOUT (WRITING) THEM

I absolutely adore writing their intellectual side. They're extremely intellectual, experienced, and in this stage of their life, the narrative demands success. It's fun to pit against others and a huge learning curve personally depending on where the thread is going!

SOMETHING YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW BEFORE WRITING WITH THEM

Absinthe is one of my favorites around here, but the build-up and appeal takes a long time to come through. They're a rather guarded character who operates under a general code of, 'Don't talk to anyone' to avoid trouble. So even if their character doesn't appeal to you in the moment, please, stick around. Wait for the day when it all clicks! because that's been my experience before and I happen to think it's worth the wait!

[silverfactory]

i said i would do these character-development questions for jack fairy, and i did 🫢

1. what is the character’s go-to drink order? a botanical cocktail, usually with gin or absinthe. sazerac, aviation, dirty martini, etc.

2. what is their grooming routine? extensive! most of their beauty routines aren’t unusual for their era — they use cold cream as a cleanser, and have an array of biba, lancôme, and chanel cosmetics — but they go the extra mile doing shit like pushing back their cuticles and taking primrose supplements. they color their hair with henna every two weeks, since it’s naturally a light, warm cinnamon-brown. facial hair is a dysphoria trigger for them, so they shave first thing every morning, often before any overnight guests see them. they also religiously shave or wax basically all of their body hair (not typical for the ‘70s), though this is something they start to relax post-glam when they’re in a steady relationship. grooming straddles a line between being deeply affirming for them and fraught with expectations of perfection.

3. what was their most expensive purchase/where does their disposable income go? jack has a mix of cheap and extravagantly expensive things. they aren’t used to having as much money as they do now, so they still mostly live frugally, but in moments of stress they’ve been known to make some…less frugal purchases. they once bought an original salvador dali watercolor because they were fighting with malcolm. their black patent leather duster is a £2,000 custom piece from ossie clark. (also in general they love to spoil malcolm… he’ll say he’s cold and jack will be back in 10 minutes with a new fur coat.)

4. do they have any scars or tattoos? not exactly a scar, but one of their canine teeth is broken from a punch to the jaw (it has a porcelain crown). they also have miscellaneous knicks from childhood beatings, though you wouldn’t know unless you were looking for them.

5. what was the last time they cried, and under what circumstances? jack learned very young that things are better for them when they don’t cry, or at least don’t show it. they’re a bottler of emotions for sure. they get vivid, disorienting trauma dreams though and will sometimes cry when they wake up. this was how malcolm first saw them in tears.

6. are they an oldest, middle, youngest, or only child? they’re an only child, which was slightly unusual in an irish catholic household in the 1940s. their mother was in poor health and was never able to carry another baby to term.

7. describe the shoes they’re wearing. heeled chelsea boots in black patent leather, a little scuffed and dirty from walking around berlin.

8. describe the place where they sleep. jack’s bedroom has always felt like one of the few spaces that’s entirely their own, where as a queer person they aren’t going to be told to exist differently, and they treasure that. it feels very personal — soft and dark, with satin pillows and velvet drapes and deep green art nouveau wallpaper with a pattern of water lilies. smells like cigarettes and musky, herbal perfume. they have a bunch of dried bouquets and candles and a huge gilt-frame mirror they found on the street. their siamese cat maila is usually there too.

9. what is their favorite holiday? halloween. jack is here for any celebration of the weird and liminal. they grew up hearing that it’s the time when the veil between our world and the fairy world is the thinnest, and magic is at its peak.

10. what objects do they always carry around with them? for most of their life, the green brooch was basically a part of them. they still unconsciously reach for it sometimes. other than that… a pocket notebook for lyrics. medications, both legal (aspirin, tums) and less legal (acid, amphetamines), in an antique pillbox. lipstick. a comb. a mother-of-pearl compact mirror. small knife in case of harassment. cigarettes and a lighter. crystals and plain old rocks.

[yamatossideboob]

ONE PIECE 1127 Spoilers!

This week's plummets from great heights:

Yamato's sure doing a lot of eating, but he's a growing boy so i'll allow it, chow down beautiful.

Big tree named Yggdrasil, yeah Oda's gonna go hard on the Norse mythology here fuck yes

"We must report to the Sun God" now, I'm assuming they don't mean our Luffy, and I'm gonna wager this 'Sun God' is some sort of Joyboy imposter that will exposed in short order. Maybe Elbaf will involve Luffy coming into his destiny in the eyes of the world? Maybe not lol.

Nami's Elbaf fit is typical Oda but also very cute. I love her hair, fur cloak and thigh strap, chef kiss imo

She is relieved to hear friend

MENACING HEDGIE WANTS TO BATTLE

Usopp voice - oh no, I'm so small. I hope no one gobbles me up.

sorry 😔

ykw I'm glad Zeus came with us after Wano. good to see ya buddy

Usopp's Elbaf fit is MWAH MWAH TRÉS BIEN!! I fucking love the Asterix vibe of his clothes, and the facial hair is TREMENDOUS (bit of a Mihawkish moustache going on there, I likey)

Actually just how quickly can Usopp beard up, was that an absinthe bender or what lmao

"Hallucinations can't hurt me" Gets fucking Giga Impacted by giant mitten

I am really, really, really hoping the space dedicated to Usopp this chapter means we're getting some overdue focus on him this arc. The Brave Warrior of the Sea That Was Promised..... don't let us down Oda

oh hey nice monster trio callback

ofc Luffy gets the big horned helmet. LOVE., nuff said

so as I see here and as people are pointing out, there's some very blatant "errors" here on this last double page, and between this, the absinthe malarkey and the false lion, I think we can assume this arc will feature illusions and such quite heavily, which apparently feature in Norse myth, especially with the infamous Loki. Like I reckon that, yes Luffy's weapon changing from sword to axe on the same double page spread is very deliberate, and a hint at what's to come lads. It's been a minute since I've been acquainted with Nordic tales but I'm excited!

And unless Viz is posting illusions of its own, we have another chapter next week? Until next Sunday I'll assume that actually is an error lmao, let's not let Oda push himself please.

Anyway, til next time, whenever that is! 💪✖️

[tsotc]

your and your boyfriend's ocs are all interesting, i'm looking forward to when the carrd is done. amnuai and absinthe are cute together! could you tell me more about anurak and petrichor's dynamic? does amnuai have a "i'm saddled with unnecessary feelings" moment(as you mentioned ce is like edgeworth.)? and i'm curious about udomwit's dynamics with petrichor, estmund, and anurak. how does udomwit handle anurak and jerome's.. differences?

Anurak is actually one of Petrichor's more regular clients and as such their relationship is like "I'm your therapist but by god I want to hit you with a car" and "I want to strangle you for failing to use Lady Halone's name in place of your 'god'". Anurak doesn't live at Façade save for when he's having a psychotic girl moment and the church isn't letting it stay with them for Psychotic Girl Reasons. Petrichor is a very reasonable person but oh my god you're fucking insane what's wrong with you.

I don't think that Amnuai has had that moment purely because Absinthe doesn't have a brain for the most part. Ce is ungodly unaware of cer own emotions but incredibly in tune with other people's, including absinthe, so doesn't find it hard to dance around cer feelings for him in a way that still allows for his affections and cer caring. There's a chance that ce's been like that to Petrichor before (they get along well and are mostly sane and normal, unlike Literally Everyone Else) but it manifested like "Would that I could live in a world without Absinthe. I find it difficult to lay my heart to rest when he's around." "Im going to call you a slur are you okay with that" (SAID JOKINGLY).

UDOMWIT. MY GUMBLY FUCKING MEOW.

Despite being one of the most eccentric people there (minus anurak, who believes halone speaks through him etc. etc) she's fully convinced that she's destined to be a background character in everyone else's stories and acts as theatrical and as memorable as possible to try and cement her place in other people's legacies, if only for a night. She and Petrichor are playing gay chicken in the sense that wit won't allow herself to burden someone like him with her love and petrichor is solving peoples problems to avoid dealing with his own (he and amnuai tend to bond over this). She loves him though and it's clear for everyone to see. Udomwit calls everyone "love" and "dear" but it shows up a lot more with petri than anyone else, she loves through food and asks him to taste test her menus and desserts a lot, the act of sharing a business together is one of love as well.

Wit has known Estmund for a very, very long time. He's actually the one who taught her more refined cooking stuff when she came to Coerthas for the first time (up until then she was mostly just a homecook and that hasn't really changed). This Was A While Ago. 18 summers or so? Udomwit is like 38 and Estmund is like 52 but nobody believes how long they've been friends bc one larps as a vampire and the other Goos His Face everyday with Plant Goop to keep looking 25. Hyur curse. Whenever Estmund comes to visit he brings a sodoku or crossword book and they do it together. The two of them tend to bounce resippies off of each other a lot and its nice when they cook together because everyone goes home with like 3 full plates of food because god these two don't know how to cook small portions when they get excited about food.

She. Does not handle Anurak well. She's bad with conflict because oh she just wants to keep everyone happy and well fed and safe but isn't incapable of putting her foot down when things get dire, even if it really does break her heart a little to do so.

Anurak keeps its head down at the bar unless Jerome is there mostly under threat of Amnuai Is Going To Beat You To Death. They get on rather well, don't get me wrong, but only whilst Anurak is having a normal one and when things stir up with Jerome she isn't usually the first to jump in to stop it. This isn't out of lack of responsibility or anything, just that she's a Little Scary when she's angry or being authorative and Petrichor is better at de-escalation wrt those two. Anurak. is like a cornered animal 9 times out of ten, Udomwit is a calming presence for the most part and let's him get the stress from being Catholic out a little bit when Petrichor isn't around.

[tastesoftamriel]

What have the Tamrielic races got in terms of candy? I know the Khajiit have moon sugar brittle and the Nords got their honey sweets, but what else is there?

There are so many sweets in Tamriel it'll make your teeth hurt, and I'm lucky enough to have tried loads of them! These are some of my favourite treats...

Redguards

I adore going to Hammerfell sweetshops, which are packed to the rafters with fresh candies and pastries dripping in honey. The Redguards enjoy sweet cakes flavoured with exotic spices like cardamom and nutmeg, along with syrups of rose, coconut, and salty caramel soaking right through them. My favourite, however, is deep-fried sugar swirls, which are made from thick coconut sugar syrup that's fried in hot oil, fresh from the cauldron!

Bretons

The Bretons are known for their boozy filled candies, which are quite inventive and pack some punch (literally)! Aside from the famous brandy-filled chocolates, High Rock is home to some of Tamriel's best patisseries. From airy butter tarts filled with brandy jam, to jaw-dropping tiered fruit cakes with absinthe-filled fizzy lemon sweets, you'll be in heaven if you're a fan of desserts!

Argonians

The Argonians don't have much of a sweet tooth, but they do love tropical fruits and a curious nectar from a native Murkmire plant, scuttlebloom. Papaya and watermelon "cakes" are layered fruit wrapped into little rice paper parcels which are then soaked in scuttlebloom nectar and served slightly chilled. Another favourite is steamed sago pudding, served either hot or cold, with chopped yams, preserved palm fruit, barley pearls, and fresh fruits. Refreshingly different and totally moreish.

Khajiit

Now where do I even begin with the Khajiit? From pastries and biscuits to boiled sweets and airy spun moon sugar, sugar-tooth has a double meaning the second you cross the border to Elsweyr. My personal favourite are caramel tarts, which are a sweet biscuit shell filled with caramel pudding, topped with moon sugar, and blasted with a lick of fire (often spells) to grill the top to crackling perfection. And of course, you can try my Moon Sugar Brittle and Senchal Baklava for a taste of Southern Elsweyr too!

Bosmer

In addition to chewing or smoking sweetgnats, Green Pact followers have mastered to an art the creation of naturally sweetened animal meats and milks through generations of selective breeding and a staunch diet of moon sugar cane and fruits. Sugar mammoths are a smaller breed of timber mammoth that fall under the criteria, and their milk is pleasantly sweet and easy to caramelise. It makes it the perfect base for creamy desserts, and the meat of the sugar mammoth is prized for its sweet but meaty flavour. A typical Bosmer dessert would be a baked egg pudding topped with a flame-grilled scuttlecream meringue, which is perfectly sweet and balanced!

Nords

You're right about Nords having a slight addiction to honey, which is the basis of our sugar, though we also grow sugar beets to a smaller degree. Aside from Honey Nut Treats and taffy, we're also famous for our honey-based hard boiled sweets, which are delicious plain or flavoured with berries, juniper, and other herbs. Think of a little ball of mead, unless you dislike mead. I should probably have tried to sell this a little harder, but I do enjoy both mead and boiled honey sweets.

Dunmer

Traditional desserts from Vvardenfell are a bit confusing to mainland Tamrielic tastes, and are often sweet saltrice-based soups flavoured with ingredients like comberry, ginger and ash yams, served with glutinous saltrice dumplings stuffed with roasted gold kanet seeds or sweet ash yam paste. Cakes are common as an afternoon snack, and range from simple marshmerrow sponges to intricate scuttlecream chocolate sculptures.

Orsimer

Orcs aren't huge fans of desserts or candy in general (bad for the tusks), but there are a fair few stronghold staples that are understandably praiseworthy. My favourite is echatere cream cheese torte, which is made from a divinely light cheese creme that has the distinctive grassy scent of echatere milk, set deep in a buttery biscuit crust. It isn't overwhelmingly sweet and is perfect plain, though some variations also include berry compote, vanilla, and even ingredients like citrus and lemongrass among the Wood Orcs of Valenwood.

Altmer

Dessert isn't great for the Altmer figure, but you'll need to exercise serious control when you see the patisseries of Summerset! The High Elves are less prone to munching on sweets, preferring dried fruit such as blood orange peels, pomegranate "raisins", and candied ginger. In fact, candied ginger is the star of a famous Alinor cupcake, which is a little confection of vanilla sponge soaked in lemon syrup and orange blossom liqueur, filled with a fragrant ginger marzipan, and topped with a soft orange crème and candied ginger pieces.

Imperials

The Imperials are famous for their simple yet perfectly balanced cakes and pastries, which feature natural flavours from ingredients imported from around Tamriel. Everything from saffron from Taneth to almonds from Elsweyr can be found at the Imperial City markets, and there are cakes and candies galore you can sample. In terms of a classic Cyrodiilic dessert, I adore a good coffee liqueur cake, made from layers of coffee pudding and creamy rum jelly on a crisp coffee biscuit crust. It's best served cold, with a strong shot of espresso to wash it down!

[therenlover]

Heartsick (A James Patrick March/Reader Oneshot)

Synopsis: When you fall ill, James is given a forceful awakening about how he’s been neglecting your needs and what he must do to prevent harm from befalling you again

Tags: Fluff, Sickfic, Cuddling, Marriage Proposal

Rating: 16+

Warnings: Language, Potentially Triggering Mentions of the Reader Being Ill for a Long Time/Almost Dying of an Unnamed Illness, Planning Your Own Death

Word Count: 3700~

This was crossposted to my AO3 under the same title!

---------------

James Patrick March considered himself a fairly patient man. He had to be, in his line of work. Some things didn’t deserve his patience, like lazy workers or angry hotel guests, but when it came to things that did matter, he was willing to go to extremes. Murder, for example, deserved his patience. Once upon a time, the Countess did too. Yes, patience was a rare virtue Mr. March had possessed all his life.

When it came to you, though, he found his patience running short.

You had been a revelation all your own when you first walked through the doors of the Hotel Cortez with not even a suitcase to your name, radiating purity with every shallow breath. James had been excited to find you in some dark corner of the hotel and rip the life from your body. That is until you found his little nook at the Blue Parrot Lounge and seduced him with your charming personality and sweet smile. From that moment on the Countess didn’t matter anymore. The whole world was just him, you, and all of the deliciously naughty ways he wanted to debauch you.

James had insisted on moving you into your own suite on the seventh floor that very night, just a few short hallways away from his own, and given every luxury he could offer. He was nothing if not a gentleman. It just wouldn’t be right to move the one he intended to court directly into his bedroom, especially while he was still married to his previous wide. Despite the distance, things between the two of you went swimmingly. Even the murder, which James initially worried could drive you apart, was now a delightful shared activity when you chose to grace him with your presence during a kill.

That’s where the problems started.

Mr. March was a man stuck in his own time. That’s why, after 5 splendid years with you at his side, you still weren’t moved into room 78. This also meant your suite was a place he wouldn’t enter unless he was invited. Sure, you had a healthy sex life, but the Countess still had the March family engagement ring tucked away somewhere. He wouldn’t move you into his quarters or impose himself on yours until the two of you were at the very least engaged. The plans for his and the Countess’ divorce were moving, albeit slowly, when you stopped opening the door for James.

The first day he thought perhaps you were simply elsewhere, but after a week of nothing, he began to get angry. It was one thing to deny him your company, but to ignore him while he made a fool of himself banging on your door? That was a punishable offense in the March family playbook. So, he decided if you wanted to play hard to get, he would too. In his mind, James could practically envision you rushing back into his arms once you got over whatever was souring your mood. It wouldn’t be long until the whole nasty affair was behind the both of you once and for all, right?

Wrong.

A month since he last dined with you, James sat at his table in the Blue Parrot lounge alone nursing the remains of his 4th glass of scotch.

Liz was slow to walk out from her place behind the bar. “You want another?” she asked, holding out a crystal decanter, “or should I fish out the absinthe fountain a little early this year,”

“No, no I do believe I’ve had quite enough. Besides, it’s not as if I can actually get drunk anymore,” he huffed. Whether it was the drinks or his growing rage, Mr. March found his collar feeling a bit tighter. He reached up to pull at his cravat but paused when thinking about the ghastly wound it hid. In the end, he let his hand return to its place on his glass.

“Suit yourself,” Liz quickly returned the decanter to its place and began polishing glasses.

Somewhere in the distance, Iris picked up a phone and began to take an order for room service. James had an epiphany.

“Liz!” he shouted, getting her attention, “has Y/N been ordering much room service lately?”

Liz shrugged. “Only once a day for the past month. Why do you ask?”

“I find myself in a bit of a predicament. You see, Y/N began ignoring me about a month ago. I’ve been giving her a taste of her own medicine for quite some time now, and yet she has made no attempts to seek me out. Do you think, perhaps, there could be something wrong?”

The energy in the room began to still.

“Wait, Y/N hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what?”

The dirty glasses were abandoned as Liz let out a humorless laugh.

“Damn you, woman!” James rose with a shout, slamming his glass down on the table, “what is she hiding!?”

“She’s sick,”

James’ heart would have stopped if it were still beating. He sat down again, bewildered. “What?”

“She’s sick. Fever, puking, tremors; the whole shebang,” As she spoke, Liz came back to the table and sat down on the plush booth across from him.

“But it’s been a month! Influenza shouldn’t last that long…”

“Well, it’s definitely not the flu, I can tell you that. Last time I brought down her dinner she nearly choked on her toast. She was so weak that I had to sit there feeding her soup because she couldn’t lift up the spoon long enough to feed herself,”

It was as if James’ whole world had come collapsing down on him all at once. Mortified, he let his head drop into his hands. “Why didn’t she inform me? Am I that pathetic a lover that she would rather suffer in silence than tell me she was ill?”

“Well, to her credit, you don’t exactly look like the most comforting type. When did she move in again?”

“Almost five years ago, it’ll be the anniversary of her first entering the Cortez on the 20th,”

“And how many times in the past five years have you, I don’t know, cuddled with Y/N,”

“You insolent-”

Liz lifted her arms, offering up a white flag. “I’m just asking a question,”

James opened his mouth to offer up a rebuttal but found he had no way to defend himself.

It was true that his relationship with Y/N tended to fluctuate between chaste and lecherous at the drop of a hat. Once they had made love, it was the only habit for him to leave her in bed and return to whatever was keeping him busy at the moment. Post-coital intimacy was simply something he had never experienced or needed. Unfortunately, seeing that the only time he spent with Y/N outside of their trysts were formal meetings or dinners, there had been no time for gentility or softness between just the two of them. If ghosts could blanch, he would have.

Noticing his sudden shift in mood, Liz rose, backing off. “Now, usually I like to stay out of your business, but because your little relationship makes Y/N happy I’ll give you some advice. Go down to the kitchen, have Ms. Evers heat some broth, and give Y/N her dinner personally, maybe even give her some extra attention as a little treat. That should fix the bulk of your issues. Got it?”

He was never one to take orders, but surprisingly James nodded. He stood quickly, smoothing his suit. “Thank you for your advice, Ms. Taylor, but I must depart. My paramour needs me,”

She nodded. “Any time,” James began to hurry down the stairs, but suddenly Liz shouted. “Wait a second,”

James paused. “Yes?”

“Only the living get sick, Mr. March. Maybe, after five years, it’s time for Y/N to extend her stay at the Cortez... permanently. Just something to think about,”

He gave her a sharp nod before disappearing down the stairs to the kitchen. 15 minutes later he was waiting outside your door with a rolling cart in hard. He had already been stalling there for 5 minutes when he finally, with a deep, steadying breath, unlocked the door.

The room was dark and silent, almost like a tomb.

Your voice rang out like a bell as James pushed the cart forward. “Iris?” you called weakly, “is that you?”

“No, darling,” he responded, closing the door behind him. Slowly, he bent down at turned on a small lamp. “You won’t need Iris to bring you your dinner any longer,”

“James,” You whispered, half reverent and half shocked.

He was far too taken aback by the severity of your condition to form an immediate response.

You were curled up in bed, folded in on yourself as you wheezed for breath. As Liz had mentioned your body was weak and wracked with near-constant tremors while you tried your best to prop yourself up on the headboard. James had to abandon the cart with your dinner on it in favor of rushing over and helping you sit up. As he took in your gaunt face, his heart broke.

Your soft voice snapped him from his thoughts.

“Am I dead?”

James shook his head. “No my love, not yet,”

Tears began to spill from your eyes. “I thought you’d left me, James. I thought I was going to have to rot in this awful, dark room for eternity, that maybe ‘cause I died while I was sick my ghost was too damn weak to get up,” As you spoke, you tried to grip the back of his suit, but found you were far too weak to actually hold the fabric. Your inability to even do the simplest of tasks only made you cry harder.

Mr. March was quick to pull out his handkerchief and wipe your eyes. “Oh, my dearest, that couldn’t be farther from the truth, but none of that matters now. I cannot apologize enough for my abhorrent behavior as of late,”

“Will you stay?” your words were laced with desperation, “just for a little bit?”

“Of course, my dearest. I think you’ll find it very difficult to get rid of me from now on. Besides, I couldn’t leave my beloved paramour without doing what it is that I set out to do,”

“Which is?”

James stood and quickly returned with the room service cart. As he removed the silver tray-topper, you found he had brought you a bowl of soup, a small plate of crackers, and a tall glass of ice water.

“I intend to make sure you are well-fed and taken care of,”

“James, you don’t-” you tried to argue, but he cut you off.

“Nonsense! There is, unfortunately, no way to sugar coat this, but I will try my best,” he whispered as he sat on the edge of the bed beside you, “I have neglected you, darling, not just for the past month when I found my pride and ego keeping me away from you, but also for the past five years. I ignored your needs out of a false sense of propriety by bending to rules that are long dead and considered inconsequential. For that, I fear I may never forgive myself. Things will be different from now on, though. I hope to win back your heart properly now that I have realized the severity of my mistakes. Would you…” he paused, gulping, “would you be willing to humor me?”

You offered him a soft smile. “Oh, my beloved Mr. March, there’s no need. My heart has always been yours,”

Your words soothed him, and he offered you one of his debonair grins, the kind where his little mustache scrunched before his lips parted that never failed to sweep you off your feet.

“Now where were we!” he exclaimed.

“Dinner,” you responded.

“Ah, yes! Soup!” He was quick to get a spoonful of the warm broth and bring it to your lips. “You needn’t worry, my sweetling, I watched Ms. Evers prepare this herself. Nothing but the best for you,”

It was easy to accept the spoon into your mouth. Something inside of you knew that James would be taking care of you from now on.

The rest of dinner passed in relative silence, but you didn’t mind, far too tired to take part in any meaningful conversation. Instead, you simply enjoyed the attention. James had never been shy about his affection, but that affection always tended to come in the form of gifts or sex instead of close, intimate touch. It hadn’t bothered you enough to tell him. You always just assumed he didn’t enjoy that kind of love. Now that you’d had a taste, though, of his gentle yet constant affection, you knew you could never get enough.

Too soon the bowl was empty.

James stood, returning to the door with the cart as you relaxed and rolled onto your side. “When will you be back?”

He chuckled, opening the door. “Did you think you could be rid of me so soon, darling?” The cart was quickly pushed out into the hallway as James turned back towards you.

Your face flushed. “I just assumed…”

“Assumptions, assumptions,” he tutted, “It hurts that you have such little faith in me, but I admit I haven’t given you much reason to. As I said, things will be different now,” James perched himself on the edge of the bed with a smile as he untied his shoes and slipped them off.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking off my shoes, darling, so I can join you in bed,”

Your heart skipped a beat. You had been imagining the first time James would actually stay in your bed to cuddle since the beginning of your relationship, but it had been years since you had given any thought to that silly fantasy. Could it really be happening?

Apparently, your surprise was evident on your face because Mr. March paused once both his shoes were settled neatly on the floor. “Is something wrong, my dearest?”

“Nothing, darling, nothing at all,” you were quick to explain, “we’ve just never done this before,”

James smirked like a predator who had just found his prey. “Such an innocent gesture from such a naughty little minx. I don’t recall you being so… flustered the night we met when I took you up to my suite and-”

“James!”

“Alright! Alright, my love, no more vulgarity from me until you’re fully healed and back on your feet. Well, hypothetically on your feet,” he emphasized his words with a dirty wink. Then he crawled into bed beside you as if he belonged there, scootching over until he was resting pressed against your side. You slotted into place, with your face resting in his neck and your leg thrown haphazardly across his hips as if you were made to fit his body. Holding James was like coming home.

You let out a soft, pleased sound at just how good it felt to be held.

James took this as positive feedback. As he settled in, he began running his fingers through your bedhead, combing through the loosest of the knots. Sensing something strange, he paused to put his hand on your forehead. It was uncomfortably hot. “You’re still feverish. Do you need anything? A cold compress? A wet washcloth? Some water?”

It was funny to hear him fussing over you, but it also warmed the deepest parts of your heart.

You made a negative huff against his neck. “No! You’d better not move. Your skin feels too good. It’s nice… cold. The only thing I could possibly want right now is for you to dim the lights and take your damn shirt off so you can cool more of me off,”

“I would, darling, believe me, but there’s just the small issue of the wound on my neck,”

“James,” you glared up at him, “I have literally ripped a dying man’s dick off in front of you. We have dinner with Jeffery Dahmer on your birthday every year, where I have to eat my salad as he zombifies whatever poor sap wandered into Sally’s clutches across the table. Hell, just a few months ago we fucked in that bathtub filled with some businessman’s blood. Your neck is just another part of you, James, it doesn’t bother me. Shirt. Off.”

“Have I ever told you that I adore when you take charge?”

You grinned as he undid his cravat and the top few buttons of his dress shirt. “Once or twice,” The thrill only lasted a moment, though, because before he finished unbuttoning his shirt he pulled away from your arms and got off the bed. A high-pitched whine escaped from your lips. “I thought you said you were staying?”

“I may be a ghost, dear heart, but my clothes can’t just disappear,” Always one for the dramatics, he shed his shirt and suit jacket to the floor with gusto. The sight of his bare torso made your heart beat faster. You had to remind yourself that you were sick and it would probably kill you to go for even a gentle round with Mr. March. Ah, but what a way to die…

James dimmed the lamp before returning, undoing his pants, and stripping down to his boxers. “Is this better for you darling?”

You nodded and reached your trembling arms out to your lover. “Much. Now come back to bed. You have five years’ worth of cuddling to make up for Mr. March, and I don’t intend on letting you wheedle your way out of even a second of it,”

He gave you a gentle smile as he found his way beneath the covers again. “I wouldn’t dream of it,”

Your face quickly found its way back into the crook of James’ neck. It was inhumanly cool, easing the constant burn of your fever and soothing your sore skin. The slit across his throat truly didn’t bother you. As you said, it was just another part of him for you to love, nothing more than a cosmetic imperfection.

Nuzzling closer, you took a deep inhale of his intoxicating scent. Perhaps it was the cologne he wore at the time of his death or even just what he naturally smelled like, but his pulse point radiated notes of sage and bergamot. God, how you loved him.

The pair of you were quiet for a moment with only the sound of your ragged breathing breaking through the air, but something urged you to speak your mind.

“You know, James, when you walked into my room tonight I assumed you were here to kill me,”

He chuckled. “I can’t say I didn’t think about it, my pearl,”

“Of course you did…” you went silent for a moment, “I wouldn’t have minded. This sickness is hell. I’m wasting away by the day and the pain never stops. I don’t mind dying, not when it means I get to spend the rest of time here in the hotel with you, but I don’t want to go out like somebody normal. My death needs to be special… I want to be the crowning glory of your murders, the most fantastic piece of art you’ve ever created,”

Pressing a chaste kiss to the top of your hair, James sighed. “Perhaps it’s selfish of me, but the moment I thought of you, wasting away in the darkness and succumbing to some common germ, I knew I couldn’t kill you. Not yet. I refuse to have my bride accompany me through eternity bearing a constant reminder of my failure,”

Your breath hitched. “Bride?”

Slowly, his hand made its way to your throat. There was no threat in it, he wasn’t using even an ounce of pressure. It was more of a gentle reminder of his presence; a physical conduit of his passion.

“Yes, bride. I don’t mind if you can only become Mrs. March posthumously, though I would prefer to wed you alive and enjoy your last moments of warmth in the throes of carnal delight on our wedding bed, it all depends on where your illness takes you next. Until then I will be glued to your side. No more harm will come to you. I shall nurse you back to health with my own hand so that you glow with life long after your death. Yes, Y/N, your death will come, but not until I have done my best to atone for my mistakes in your life,”

“Was that a proposal?” You gazed up at James with wide, misty eyes.

He huffed out a laugh. “I suppose it was, and a poor one at that! To think I stalled for years in the hopes of finding the perfect moment to present you with my mother’s ring only to pop the question in bed with no ring in sight. I do hope you’ll say yes. I’d be rather crushed if you rejected me after all this time,”

You nodded, small tears escaping as you pressed your face into his soft skin. “Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot. I would’ve married you if you were the poorest man in the world and proposed with a ring-pop,”

“Then it’s settled. You shall be my wife as soon as you are well enough for me to fuck you again! I quite hate that Will Drake, but I believe he’s our best, quickest option if we wish to get you a dress commissioned. I have a few ideas drawn up already waiting in my office… perhaps I should call Ms. Evers and have her take them to him,”

“Shhhh,” you smiled into his neck, pressing a kiss to his collarbone, “we can figure out the details later. For right now, though, your fiancée is sick and she needs some TLC. What are you gonna do about it, Mr. March,”

He growled. “Well, I suppose ravishing you is off the table. Hmmm... what to do to my darling girl to make her feel better?” With a gentle nudge, he tilted your head up and pressed a sweet kiss to your lips.

“That’s a start,”

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a/n: I hope you liked it! I’m really leaning towards writing a second part of this where the reader actually dies, so let me know if you’re interested. Also, my requests are open if you want to see any of Evan’s other characters! 

Please don’t post my work to other sites, thank you <3