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[madhulikaupadhyay]

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[batmanbeyondrocks]

Denise Chamberlain

Credit: Michelle Dawah@melanin_blog and Inside Edition@InsideEdition

[penkura]

where you belong [1/10]

Summary: As Luffy's big sister, you've viewed it to be your job to see him become King of the Pirates in place of your absent parents, even as you try to find where it is you belong in the world. You never really expected to draw the attention of Trafalgar Law in the process.

Pairing: Trafalgar Law x Fem!reader

Warnings: Discussion of feelings of abandonment, age gap relationship (four years), brief secret relationship, mentions and heavy refences to sex, mentions of alcohol, typical One Piece stuff. Other warnings to be added if needed.

Notes: Hi, it's me again! Another fanfic here for you all! When this goes up, I'll be on my last day of vacation before I fly home, so I hope that you'll enjoy this! I know Straw Hat Reader x Law is popular, and I wanted to write my own, but with the Reader being Luffy's biological older sister. So for this, Reader is three years older than Luffy, 20 at the start and 22 after the timeskip, making Law four years older. I personally like older men, and age gap fics are just delicious reading material for me (within reason, nothing illegal).

Note 2: This is NOT the Law with vitiligo series. That one is actively being planned but will be separate from this one.

“And I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!!”

Luffy standing your tiny dingy boat worries you a little, but you still grin at him and nod.

“Hell yeah you will be!”

“Your turn! What’re you gonna do while we sail??”

Rolling your eyes, you make Luffy sit down while you stand up.

“Easy. I’m gonna chronicle your journey and write the greatest story ever told!”

Your younger brother watches you, tilting his head when you don’t continue. He believes there has to be more you want out of life, and tries to make you say what else is in your plans, what you have on your mind.

“And?”

Taking a breath, you nod. Of course he knew you had more, it’s Luffy, he’s been by your since he was just a few weeks old. Things you’ve said over time, to him and Ace, they’d both known for a long time what you’ve always wanted to find once you went out to sea.

“And find where it is I belong.”

+!+

Your arrival in Sabaody was a trip, in more than one way. You'd been excited to explore the place, hoping you could pawn your younger brother off on Camie, Pappag, and the others so you could have some time on your own to shop the stalls, maybe with Nami and Robin, turn it into a girl’s day. Of course, though, nothing could be so easy when your brother is the captain of the Straw Hats. You all find yourselves at the human auction hall, Nami willing to spend all the money possible to save Camie, but it makes you itchy while being there. You cringe to think about the things that happened in this place, how many people had been sold to Celestial Dragons. Your and Luffy's loss of Sabo due to the actions of one had severely soured your opinions on them.

You scan the crowd in the auction house, scratching at your arms which never seem to calm down while the rest of your crew discusses their plan to save Camie, and you end up locking eyes with another pirate captain there, unknown to you at that moment but somehow familiar.

A furry white, spotted hat, dark hair you can barely see, oddly enough you think his facial hair is attractive, and those yellow eyes that you almost would believe see right through you.

Trafalgar Law simply stares at you, realizing you’re a Straw Hat when he recognizes the rest of your crewmates. After a moment of fidgeting slightly you give him a nervous smile and a wave, which he returns with a nod before turning back to the auction stage as they continue to call bids on people.

Weird girl.

Strange guy.

Although she’s busy watching for Camie to be brought out, Nami still leans into you when you pull on her sleeve and start to whisper. “You see that guy in the white spotted hat?”

“What about him?”

“I think he’s Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates. He’s more attractive than his poster makes him.”

Rolling her eyes, Nami pulls her arm away from you. “I don’t have time for you to be horny about some guy.”

“Wha—Nami!! I’m not! I’m just saying.”

She doesn’t listen to you anymore, focusing back on waiting for Camie and sending you to watch for Luffy, just so you don’t get distracted by the attractive enemy captain and defect to another crew.

You swear you never will, but do as you’re told to watch for your brother. Maybe one day you’ll get to properly meet Law, you’re quite curious about the young man.

+!+

“Another one?! Are you kidding me, Dragon?!”

You’re three years old when you wake up to your grandfather yelling at someone in the middle of the night. Normally Garp is sure to keep things quiet so you, his sweet little princess angel granddaughter, can sleep peacefully. He’d leave early in the morning once your nanny showed up for the day, returning before dinner so he had the evenings with you before you had to be off to bed, to do the day over again the next morning. It’s rare for you to stay up late or wake up early, but the few mornings you’ve woken up before he left were some of Garp’s favorites.

You quietly slip out of your bed, blanket in your hand as you rub your eyes and go to the door, opening it just enough to see what’s happening. Garp is there with someone in a green cloak, you can’t see the other person’s face, but listen anyway.

“He’s the last one, there won’t be anymore.”

“You said [Y/N] was going to be the only one!”

“Things happened.”

“Obviously something happened, babies don’t appear out of thin air!’

You tilt your head, the man in the cloak catching your eye, which makes you shy away behind your doorway, glancing away before back to him as he looks to Garp again.

“Take care of them.” He goes to leave and is gone before Garp can even stop him.

“Dragon, wait--! That…damn idiot.”

“Grandpa?”

Garp is surprised to hear your voice, turning around once he closes the door, giving you a smile while you start to focus on the bundle he's holding.

“Hey there, princess, what are you doing up?”

“I heard yelling…”

Nodding, Garp apologizes as he picks you up, letting you settle on his free arm. “Sorry about that, angel. Just… an unexpected visitor.”

“Oh…”

Garp sees you staring more at the bundle of blankets in his arm than at him, and he sighs a bit, taking you to the living room and setting you on the couch, before showing you how to position your arms as he sets the now squirming bundle in your arms.

“[Y/N], this is your baby brother. His name is Luffy.”

How unexpected! You’ve never thought about having a sibling, just enjoying your childhood and life with your grandpa, but seeing this tiny little boy in your just as small arms makes you grin while you look at him. Dark black hair and just as dark eyes, scrunched up little face and tiny hands in fists while he starts to fuss and whine.

“Luffy…”

+!+

Luffy…

You hope your prayers aren’t going unheard, that Luffy will return to you safely. Ace’s death has long passed, but you’re more worried about your little brother than anything else right now. You’d both been sent off to Amazon Lily by Kuma, but after they’d all agreed to let you both stay, and Boa Hancock seems to have fallen in love with him, Luffy left you there to go rescue Ace, that was nearly three weeks ago now, you think. You want him back, both of them, but want to see Luffy more than anyone else.

“Luffy’s returned, [Y/N]-san!”

“He has?!”

Marguerite nods and you quickly get up from your seat and run after her to wherever Luffy is. The newspapers kept implying he was dead, you were terrified you’d lost him and Ace that day, no updates from anyone apart from the papers cheering for the Navy’s alleged victory, for the deaths of Ace and Whitebeard. The Amazons, all so kind to let you stay while Luffy went to try and rescue Ace, were unsure of how to help you the last two weeks once Ace’s vivre card burned to nothing in your hands and made you nearly inconsolable.

Despite that, your prayers hadn’t gone unheard.

Once you’re at the beach that Luffy should be at, you notice immediately the big yellow submarine with the word DEATH on it and it freaks you out more than anything. You don’t know who owns it, but when you catch sight of someone you’ve only seen in person once, you worry that he’s done something to Luffy. You don’t say a word, but someone in a jumpsuit (boiler suit you think?) calls out “captain” just in time for him to turn towards you as you shove the older boy to the ground, placing yourself on top of him and your knife to his neck.

Part of you wishes it was poisoned right now, just in case this Trafalgar Law has done something to your brother.

“Where’s Luffy?!”

The knife you have at his neck doesn’t phase Law even a tiny bit, it’s the fact that someone so much shorter and smaller than him was able to catch him off guard and shove him to the ground the way you did. You’re angry for some reason, giving him a nasty glare but look like you’re about to cry on top of it, as he just stares at you, his crewmembers shouting for you to get off their captain before he raises a hand to stop them.

“Who—”

“Tell me, where is my brother?!”

Oh so that’s what’s wrong, that’s who you are. Whether you’re related to Luffy by blood or by ritual cup like Ace was, Law doesn’t know, but he’s sure you want reassurance you haven’t lost two brothers in one day.

“Are you [Y/N]?”

You turn your head to look over your shoulder at Jinbei, still glaring. “Who’s asking?!”

“I was friends with your brother Ace, he told me about you and Luffy while we were in Impel Down.”

“He…did?”

You’ve calmed down so quickly hearing Ace’s name, retracting your knife just slightly, while Jinbei explains things to you. You don’t move off of Law though, listening quietly, fighting the desire to cry more. You’ve done enough of that, you don’t want to anymore today.

Law doesn’t even try to move you off, knowing, like Luffy, you’re emotionally hurting right now. He doesn’t want to risk you slicing his neck either, even as Jinbei finishes telling you everything Ace did, and you still don’t move or look at Law.

“Ace hopes you find what you’re looking for.”

You clench your jaw a bit at first, before smiling sadly and nodding, thanking Jinbei for the information before Law speaks up.

“If you get off me, I can take you to Straw Hat-ya.” 

You blink, finally looking back to Law, and you feel your face burn with a blush when you realize your position and scramble to get off him, apologizing the whole way while he shakes his head. Once he’s on his feet, Law let’s you onto the Polar Tang and leads you down the hallway to the infirmary, updating you on Luffy’s condition the best he can with the knowledge he has.

“If he pulls through this, the most you’ll have to worry about is his mental health.”

“Mm.” You nod, grabbing Law’s arm as he stops to open a door, making him look back at you. “I apologize for shoving you down.”

“I’ve been through worse,” Law shrugs, you could tell just from looking at him, though he does smirk a bit at you, “Never had a girl push me down and hold a poisoned knife to my neck before though.”

“It wasn’t poisoned,” you almost shout, but keep your voice down to not wake Luffy, “…this time…”

He almost laughs, but when you see Luffy finally, you’re instantly but his side, taking his hand and trying to keep yourself from crying seeing him in such a state. He’d been injured badly before, but never like this, never this close to death.

“Luffy…oh Luffy, I’m here, Lu,” you brush his bangs away from his face before kissing his forehead, “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there, I should’ve come with you…”

Law doesn’t bother you for the next several minutes, stepping out so you have some privacy while you make sure Luffy is all right, your quiet prayers that he wakes soon and heals quickly don’t go unheard by the surgeon of death, who thinks back to his own sister and the prayers he’d once prayed for her health as a child.

As an older sibling, he gets it. While he still doesn’t know yet if you’re related by blood or sworn siblings, he does see how much you care for Luffy, and for your sake he hopes your captain wakes sooner rather than later.

+!+

You spend the next two weeks in and out of the Polar Tang, checking on Luffy and praying over him to wake soon, Law being the one to take you in and lead you back out most of the time, even though you’ve memorized the path already. The next time you leave Luffy to continue recovering, the friends you and Luffy have made from Amazon Lily have shown up in the time you’ve been with him, bringing food and drinks for you all. As you walk over to where he’s seated, Law offers you a drink that you reject with a shake of your head, sitting on the other side of the tree and bringing your knees up to your chest, hiding your face in them.

“Any signs he’s waking up?”

Shaking your head, you sigh and lean back, looking at the people around to distract yourself from worrying over Luffy.

“That your crew?”

“Yep. All twenty of them.”

You smile a bit, watching the Heart Pirates goof off while some have their meal and share drinks. It almost reminds you of the Straw Hats and makes your heart ache from missing them deeply.

“You have a nice group there.”

“They can be a handful.”

It makes you laugh a bit, nodding before you decide to stop wallowing and get back up, standing beside Law where he stays seated.

“Think you should hold this for now.”

Law tosses Luffy’s straw hat to you, and you grit your teeth a bit while you stare at it. You had wondered where it was, seeing it wasn’t around when you were with Luffy. You hold nothing but the highest regards for Shanks, he'd been an inspiration for you and Luffy when you were children, he helped end the war and helped Law save Luffy, but how you wish he’d shown up sooner. Maybe he could’ve helped Ace too.

“Thank you, for holding this.”

“Seems important to him, he’s not Straw Hat-ya without it.”

Smiling a bit, you nod. “He’s certainly not.”

“How do you—”

“I’m his big sister. I was three when our dad dropped him off with me and grandpa. We’ve been together almost every day since.”

“I see.”

You’re not entirely sure you trust Law, despite his saving Luffy, but you’re willing to give him a shot. At least let him know a bit about your history with Ace too, since he'd been there when you hadn’t been. Where Luffy asked you not to go.

“We met Ace and another boy when I was ten, and become sworn siblings with them soon after. The other boy died a few months later,” you grip the straw hat a bit tighter, but loosen your hold after being stabbed in the hand by sharp bits of straw, “a Celestial Dragon did it, we’ve not been fans of them since, so Luffy punching that one in Sabaody felt like some payback.”

“That makes sense.”

After a few minutes of silence, you finally realize something and turn to Law, sticking your hand out for him.

“Never introduced myself. Monkey D. [Y/N]. I don’t really use my last name though.”

Law takes your hand after a moment, nodding. “Trafalgar Law.”

“Thank you for saving my baby brother.”

“Don’t thank me until he wakes up.”

As if almost on cue, the door comes flying off the Polar Tang and you both whip your heads over, Law running ahead of you as you follow, and Luffy’s the next thing to almost fly out of the ship.

“Luffy!!”

You’re about to run to him before Law grabs hold of your arm, pulling you to himself and holding you still, even while you thrash around and listen to Luffy call for Ace. It breaks your heart to see him so upset, and you just want to console him, have him do the same for you, while you both continue to grieve for Ace. But Law won’t let you go to him, fear or concern your brother might hurt you while he fights through pain and raging emotions, before he disappears into the forest.

“Luffy, come back!!”

You barely register Jinbei asking what’ll happen if Luffy continues to flail and run off like that, before Law speaks and your heart almost drops to your stomach at the thought.

“If he continues to move around like that he could reopen his wound and bleed out. He’ll die.”

Quickly you turn around and Law isn’t at all shocked to see the tears welling up in your eyes as you grip his shirt, still holding Luffy’s straw hat.

“Don’t let that happen!! Please!! He’s all I have! Luffy is my whole world, I can’t lose him!!”

Unsure of what to do, especially once you lay your head on his chest while you cry, Law hesitantly wraps his arms around you and watches Jinbei go off to Luffy. Maybe he’ll be able to calm your brother down before he really hurts or kills himself.

You’ve both been through a lot the last few weeks, losing Luffy would break you more than losing Ace did to him.

+!+

“I’m sorry I got snot on your shirt.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’ll wash.”

You glance away and keep your eyes averted while Law changes shirts, having taken you onto the Polar Tang while Jinbei attempts to calm Luffy down. He didn’t fully mean to bring you into his room, but he never let go of your wrist while he led through the ship, making you sit down to hopefully calm you down. You do catch sight of his tattoos, wanting to say something but you don’t want to sound like a creep or a pervert at the same time.

“Why don’t you use your last name?”

Law surprises you once he’s changed shirts, this one almost the same as the yellow one he’d been wearing, but now a dark blue with a furry, feathery collar that you really want to pet, it looks soft. But again, you don’t want to seem like a creep.

For a moment you’re quiet, before you cross your arms and lean against the wall, shrugging.

“Why should I use the name of someone who abandoned me? I only have one memory of my father, and it was when he dropped off Luffy.”

“Your grandfather is Garp, isn’t he?”

“I love my grandpa like he’s my dad…but I don’t want to use my last name.”

Law nods a bit, seeming to understand. You felt abandoned, and wanted nothing to do with your biological father, instead viewing Garp in that light, which makes sense.

He'd viewed Corazon in the same light at one point.

“Your mother?”

“I know nothing about her. It’s like…” You start to bury your head in your knees again, almost digging your nails into your arms, “Like I don’t know who I am half the time…”

He gets that too, the same feelings after Flevance, after losing Corazon and leaving the Don Quixote family, leaving Doflamingo behind. Many times of looking in the mirror and asking “who the hell am I”.

Law is about to respond, before one of his crewmembers yells for you both that Luffy and Jinbei have returned to the beach, and you’re out the door so fast he isn’t able to believe it. He follows you out, not all surprised to see you and Luffy hugging each other tightly once he exits his ship.

Your bond with Luffy would be on full display the next few days, Law truthfully does wonder if he and Lammy would’ve been the same.

+!+

“I met some people who are friends with our dad.”

“You what?”

Luffy nods, giving you this information during dinner one evening, while you stare at him with such a blank look that Law thinks you’ve completely shut down. You didn’t say too much about your dad while you relayed some of your childhood to him earlier that day, apart from your perceived abandonment, but the look you have isn’t a very happy one.

“They’re were some cool people! They helped me escape that prison and…tried to help me save Ace.”

“So they were revolutionaries.”

“Yeah, they…they said they didn’t even know we existed.” Luffy scrunches up his face a bit while you frown, then pat his head.

“I’m not surprised, Lu.”

Luffy makes a face now, one that’s almost disgusted but annoyed but upset maybe. Law swears he isn’t trying to eavesdrop, you two are sitting too close to him anyway, you’re practically pressed up against his side. You both appear to have problems with your father, after the little bit you’ve told him and how you confessed to feeling abandoned by your parents. He wonders briefly is Luffy feels the same, even as your younger brother leans against you, pushing you fully into Law’s arm and making you glance up at him apologetically. He doesn’t move, once again doesn’t push you off, instead shifting his arm enough for you to be comfortable.

When Luffy falls asleep, you finally speak again.

“Luffy met our dad once, in Loguetown”

“Oh yeah?”

“Neither of us knew until grandpa told us…he didn’t even stop to say anything to me…”

“…I’m sorry.”

You shrug, watching Luffy. It still stung to know that, to know that Dragon didn’t even seek you out when he must’ve known you were on Luffy’s crew, that you’d never leave him to do this alone. When Garp told you he’d been in Loguetown that day, it felt like a knife in your heart that you didn’t even get to see or speak to your father.

Law, while he watches you start to drift off to sleep yourself, thinks about his own dad and Corazon at the same time. He had two fathers in the end, who both cared about and loved him deeply, both wanting to protect him as long as they could. He had his mother and Lammy too, you had Luffy and Garp, but it wasn’t enough for you, and it makes sense. To not have that connection with the people who gave you life, Law can’t even imagine how difficult that must be.

He ignores the slight snickers and comments from his crew when they see you leaned against him, even has he slightly tilts his head towards yours, not going all the way to lay his against your own. Even when Shachi makes a small comment about ‘love’ being in the air at Amazon Lily, Law doesn’t open his eyes to respond or even Shambles his friend away.

You won’t see each other again for a long time after this, most likely, so he’s willing to give you some comfort and allow his crew to see him a little softer than normal.

+!+

“Bye, thanks for your help, Traffy!”

Law tries not to grimace at the nickname Luffy’s given him over the last few days, nodding to you both as his crew also shouts goodbyes and wave to you both, you personally sad to see them leave. You’d spent so much time getting to know them while taking care of Luffy, that it felt like you were losing friends again. You’d probably see them one day, maybe as friends but maybe as foes, yet, you’d like to see more of Law and learn about him like he had you.

Luffy notices your face, the sad look it has, then looks back to the Heart Pirates as they start to disappear below deck. You’ve already chosen to stay on Amazon Lily the next two years and learn from the women there how to fight, but even watching you the last couple days, he could see your heart wasn’t in it. You more so loved using your knives and making poisons, he remembers the one he and Ace mistakenly drank thinking it was lavender tea from Makino. You weren’t an archer or a swordswoman, you much prefer close combat and paralyzing your enemies. Your work during Enies Lobby earned you your $25 million berri bounty, the Navy having trouble recreating antidotes from the one you’d left with a knocked out marine, they knew you’d be trouble one day.

With all that in mind, Luffy sneaks up behind you, wrapping his arms around you in what you first believe to be a hug, before he lifts you up and you look at him. He’s got a grin that concerns you greatly as the color drains from your face.

“Luffy.”

He giggles a bit, nodding at you to brace yourself.

“Luffy, don’t you dare.”

“Have fun with Traffy for two years!!!”

He doesn’t give you anymore room to argue, flinging you towards the Polar Tang, making you yell for Law to pay attention, and he barely does in time to catch you, knocking both of you to the ground, several Heart Pirates making sure both of you are all right and that Law didn’t hit his head on anything.

You’re up and holding onto the railing, yelling at Luffy, “You’re an idiot!!!”

He pretends he can’t hear you, waving widely and shouting another goodbye, but to you this time.

Once Law is sitting up, realizing what the hell has happened, he sighs a bit while you look back to him.

“I’m sorry, Trafalgar. You can turn back and I’ll beat some sense into him!”

One of his crewmembers, you’re pretty sure it’s Shachi, leans down to ask him, “Should we? Kinda seems like Straw Hat wants us to take her along.”

He sighs, taking his hat off and running his hand through his hair, shaking his head.

“You can stay.”

“…huh?”

You tilt your head in confusion, Law doesn’t think it’s cute at all no matter what that weird feeling in his chest is, while he stands up and nods at you.

“The Amazons might get angry if we return without permission, so we’ll just…take you along…and then bring you to Sabaody.”

Blinking several times, you’re still confused while some of his crew laugh, Penguin coming up to pat you on the back.

“You’re a temporary Heart Pirate! We’ll take care of you!”

Nodding, Law turns to go below deck.

“Say your goodbye, we’ll be going under shortly.”

While the rest of them follow after their captain, you turn back and see Luffy still waving at you, which makes you sigh and shake your head. You do smile though, you had wanted to continue getting to know Law and his crew, this was a perfect opportunity, and maybe he could help you with creating effective antidotes for your poisons.

“Luffy! Love you, see you in two years!”

“Okay!!!!”

Once you go below deck, Penguin being the one to wait for you in order to close the door properly, he starts to show you around a bit, the rest of the crew happy to see you’re staying with them for now, while Law keeps a slight distance unless he’s asked about something. You looking around and being so impressed by the submarine caused another weird feeling in his chest, and he fights to ignore it, especially when you thank him for letting you stay with a smile, which he waves off with an “It’s nothing”.

It's going to be an interesting two years.

[dorianpavus]

Panel from Hell Info Roundup

We got a release teaser trailer!

CHARACTER CREATION/CUSTOMIZATION

Character creation got a revamp! More efforts were made to explain things to someone who hasn’t played D&D before, or one who hasn’t played other Larian games. Classes now also have unique animations when you select them.

Choice options now have a corresponding icon, so you can see what you’re selecting.

There are more available faces to choose from.

Dragonborn and half-orcs are playable at launch.

Warlocks are now able to call on their patron for insight and advice.

New sliders have been added for Maturity (adding wrinkles), Freckle Quantity (and intensity), and Vitiligo Pigmentation.

Horn Customization! Now you can change their color and tip color.

There are scar options.

More hair and beard options! As well as more options for hair colors (including greying) to have tri-colored hair.

Strong/buff body types added!

Piercing options have been added.

Heterochromia option has been added.

Dragonborn can customize their face, crest, chins, and jaws. Skin color options include metallic, almost duo-chrome shades. For white dragonborns, there are also pearlescent effects. Dragonborn Draconic Bloodline sorcerers will get a unique scale pattern that changes color based on your ancestry.

There is also a selection for genitals, which they did not elaborate on, but was selected as ‘default.’

You will meet a character that will allow you to reset your class and respec your abilities.

The team went back from Act 1-3 to make the game more reactive to your choices. If you’re playing something odd or unique, the game should react to it.

THE DARK URGE

They are the new Origin Character, and they are avatar-only; they can only be played by you, not recruited.

You can fully customize their race and class.

They do not know who they are; they are waking up, and the only thing they know is “the bile of their liver, the gushing of their blood, and their ruined body telling them: you’re going to kill and kill again.” They are meant to be a dark counterpoint to the story.

Has unique scenes and storylines unlike anything else we’ve seen thus far.

They have dark impulses and thoughts that tempt them; you can play as embracing it or trying to resist.

At 4:36:55, we have some gameplay of them from early on in Act 1.

KARLACH

She is an Origin Character, and you can recruit her or play as her.

Born and raised in Baldur’s Gate, was sold to slavery in the Hells, and managed to break free. She has an infernal engine for a heart.

She’s a barbarian who has a special rage animation/effect.

Curses a lot.

At 5:20:00, there’s a bit of extended gameplay and one of her romance scenes.

OTHER/MISC COMPANIONS

Many of the companions are good-aligned, including Karlach, Halsin, Minsc, and Jaheira. For evil companions, there is Minthara, who you can recruit in Act 2 depending on your choices.

Wyll has gotten a complete overhaul. Much of his dialogue has been rewritten, and he “can go in two directions” much earlier in the story. He wants to kill Karlach at the beginning of the game, and how that unfolds is up to you. 

If you kill your companions, you can hire Hirelings. There are twelve (one for each of the classes), and you can customize and respec them.

Companions will join your camp and be able to come with you along your journey; you don’t have to choose between them, but can swap them out as you see fit. If anyone leaves or isn’t able to be recruited, it will be by your own choices or the narrative.

When you’re playing as an Origin Character, you’re not a mystery to yourself. You’ll get unique scenes and information that you may not otherwise get with them as your companion. For instance, when you go to sleep, you might have nightmares about your past.

A scene relevant to Astarion’s backstory was shown at 4:25:57.

ROMANCE

They tried to show “two people genuinely struggling through a hard time and supporting one another. And you’re not going to be the same person in Act 1 as you are in Act 3. Neither is your partner. Your relationship is going to have to grow along with the game’s story.” 

At 4:46:10, they have a video where they discuss this and show scenes from the romances. 

How you treat your companions will be reflected in how they treat you. Whether they want to be in a relationship with you, whether they leave your party, or even try to kill you -- all depends on your choices. 

“Sometimes it’s actually better to have an argument, and challenge your partner about their way of thinking.”

Some characters will happily share romantic partners with polyamory; some of them won’t.

Characters may have very different romantic endings based on what happens during the game and how you treat them or what you did with them. There’s not just one scene that’s the same for all playthroughs.

You can still romance people on “evil” playthroughs, so long as you play your cards right.

Mature content warning! There is a romance scene between Astarion and Halsin that the audience helped select at 5:32:49. Wowza. Worth getting banned from TikTok? 

COMBAT

Multiplayer is up to four people, with split screen. 

There are 3 difficulty modes: explorer (or easy), default, and tactician (hard). Tactician mode gives enemies base buffs, but also hand-crafted difficulty increases to encounters. 

The “brutal AI” from tactician mode is supposed to feel like a DM that is pushing you to your limits, which manifests in ways like attacking your squishier characters, or trying to break casters’ concentration.

At 5:44:28, there’s a video showcase on the Monk class. Two minutes later, at 5:46:13, there’s some combat gameplay showing off monks and the different difficulty modes.

STORY AND CINEMATICS

At 6:00:40, there’s a video showcasing cinematics, with various clips from the game featured (lots of enemies/creatures shown). 

They estimate that running through the main story will take about 80 hours, but it can go multiple times that length if you actually take your time and explore. 

174 hours of cinematics doesn’t mean you’ll see all of them; it’s more that there’s so many permutations and reflections of the choices that you made, that you might not even see them all even if you play this game over and over again.

MISC

When you go to camp, you are now able to wear “camp clothes” rather than your armor, which can be toggled on and off. You can find various clothes in the world, and apply dyes to them. You can wear them outside of camp if you want to as well. 

Cloaks are added.

The devs prefer not to think of this being a story told to you, but rather a story they are telling with you. Though there are many themes, trust is a big one: who you can trust, why you can trust them, and why the world should trust you as well.

There’s an unboxing of the Collector’s Edition at 6:14:26.

There is a very heavy spoiler chunk of gameplay from Act 2, starting at 6:20:42, which closes out the stream!

[longliveblackness]

What Happened When A White Man "Became" Black In The 1950s America?

John Griffin had previously served in the U.S. military, where shrapnel caused him to go temporarily blind. However, in 1959, Griffin would do something even more trying: He would live for six weeks as a black man in the South.

It was blindness that inspired John Howard Griffin, a white author and journalist from Dallas, Texas, to write about color in the United States. In 1956, Griffin, blind at the time, sat in on a panel discussion in Mansfield, Texas about desegregation. Unable to tell the speakers' races from their voices, Griffin began to see color anew.

Under the supervision of a New Orleans-based dermatologist, Griffin would spend a week under a sun lamp, up to 15 hours a day, soaking up UV rays. He would also take Oxsoralen, a prescription drug meant to treat vitiligo, which would aid in expediting the darkening of his skin.

With darker skin, and a shaved head and arms, Griffin set out to the American South - starting in New Orleans and ending in Atlanta. Griffin had a few rules for this journey: Namely, that he would stay at black-only hotels, eat at cafes run by African-Americans, and travel with African-Americans. If anyone asked him what he was doing, he would be honest.

Just as his skin color changed, so too did the treatment he received from others. Describing what he called a "hate stare" he received in a bus station lobby, Griffin wrote:

"I walked up to the ticket counter. When the lady ticket-seller saw me, her otherwise attractive face turned sour, violently so. This look was so unexpected and so unprovoked I was taken aback.

'What do you want?' she snapped.

Taking care to pitch my voice to politeness, I asked about the next bus to Hattiesburg. She answered rudely and glared at me with such loathing I knew I was receiving what the Negroes call the hate stare'. It was my first experience with it. It is far more than the look of disapproval one occasionally gets. This was so exaggeratedly hateful I would have been amused if I had not been so surprised."

John Griffin wrote a book called Black Like Me about his experience. The book was published in 1961 and was later translated into 14 languages and a film. The harrowing stories within its pages, coupled with Griffin's own transformation, generated strong public responses.

•••

¿Qué sucedió cuando un hombre blanco "se volvió" negro en los Estados Unidos en la década de 1950?

John Griffin había servido previamente en el ejército de los Estados Unidos, fue aquí donde la metralla le causó ceguera temporal. Sin embargo, en 1959, Griffin haría algo aún más difícil: por seis semanas, viviría como un hombre negro en el sur.

Fue la ceguera lo que inspiró a John Howard Griffin, un autor y periodista blanco de Dallas, Texas, a escribir sobre el color en los Estados Unidos. En 1956, Griffin, quien se encontraba ciego en ese entonces, se sentó en un debate sobre desegregación, el cual fue llevado a cabo en Mansfield, Texas. Al no poder determinar la raza de los oradores basándose en su voz, Griffin comenzó a ver el color como algo nuevo.

Bajo la supervisión de un dermatólogo de Nueva Orleans, Griffin pasaría una semana debajo de una lámpara solar, hasta quince horas por día, absorbiendo rayos ultravioleta. También tomaría Oxsoralen, un medicamento recetado que es para tratar vitiligo, lo cual ayudaría a acelerar el oscurecimiento de su piel.

Con piel oscura y con la cabeza y brazos rasurados, Griffin se dirigió al sur de Estados Unidos, comenzando en Nueva Orleans y terminando en Atlanta. Griffin tenía un par de reglas para este viaje: se quedaría en hoteles para personas negras, comería en cafeterías operadas por afroamericanos y únicamente viajaría con afroamericanos. Si alguien llegase a preguntarle qué era lo que estaba haciendo, sería honesto.

Así como cambió su color de piel, también cambió el trato que recibía de los demás. Describiendo lo que el llama “una mirada de odio���, la cual que recibió en la recepción de una parada de autobús, Griffin escribió:

“Me dirigí hacia la taquilla. Cuando la mujer que estaba vendiendo los boletos me vio, su rostro, que de otro modo sería atractivo, de una manera abrupta se volvió amargo. Esta respuesta fue tan inesperada y sin provocación alguna. Me sorprendió.”

“¿Qué es lo que quieres?” me preguntó de manera grosera.

“Asegurándome de mantener la voz en un tono cortés, le pregunté cuando saldría el próximo bus a Hattiesburg. Me contestó de manera grosera y me estaba viendo con tanto odio, simplemente sabía que estaba recibiendo lo que los negros llaman “la mirada de odio”. Esta fue mi primera experiencia con ella y es más que la mirada de desaprobación que le dan a uno de vez en cuando. Esto estuvo exageradamente cargado de odio y me hubiese divertido si no hubiese estado tan sorprendido.”

Griffin escribió un libro sobre su experiencia, llamado ‘Negro como yo’. El libro fue publicado en 1961 y luego se tradujo a un total de catorce idiomas y se hizo una película. La historias desgarradoras y la transformación de Griffin, causaron una fuerte respuesta pública.

[ffiahh]

PROJECT PLUTO

Please Don't Leave Me.

A journey on Vi learning how to accept and give affection again.

Pairings: Modern!Touch-Starved!Sub!Bottom! Vi x Masc!POC!Dom!Top!RugbyPlayer!OC! Aspen

Content Warning: Brief self-deprecating thoughts, cursing, brief mention of sexual harassment/assault, description of brief panic attack/meltdown, self-doubt, brief mention of death/dying (no one died). SMUT WARNING: choking/gagging (fingers), fingering, face-sitting, tribbing, description of spit, power play, praise, orgasm denial, back scratching, slight description of overstimulation, dirty talk, aftercare.

Word Count: 6.9K

☾*:･ﾟ✧. Now, now, don't look at the word count and get discouraged, that also applies to the x reader being x OC. Being top/bottom and Sub/Dom, are not the same, top/bottom determines whether you 'receive it' or not, and Dom/Sub determines control; you can be a Dom and also be a bottom; thought I would clarify. OC has vitiligo, not the focal point of the plot, but Vi likes looking at them. I know shit all about rugby, I just really like looking at hot, muscly, sweaty ladies wrestle each other for a ball. Vi is really fucking cute in here, I liked writing her in this.

VIOLET loved affection; she loved it in any form she could get. She sought out anyone’s love language and adapted; gave them affection the way they wanted it. She always made sure she had a comforting hand on those she cared about, made sure they felt safe. Powder was one of them; the way she looked up at Vi with her large eyes, leaning into her hand, with the softest, gentlest smile. For someone who had a heavy hand; well-versed in the art of violence; Vi was incredibly gentle, loving. Violet craved just as much affection, loved the way Powder always reached up on her tiptoes to encase her in a hug so warm; it would almost burn her insides. She loved the way little Ekko would almost always jump on his feet to hug Vi. Vi was a gentle soul with a good heart.   

It was a lot more difficult now.  

Prison was a shitty place. It was dark, and cold and hard. Literally. Vi took more beatings than she had food. It was shitty enough for Vi to finally understand to keep her hands to only fighting; nobody in prison wanted to fucking cuddle. Cuddling was absent in prison; kissing wasn’t a thing and sex was something forced. Vi of course knew going to prison wasn’t sunshine and rainbows; it was horrible, and traumatic and would always follow her. It burns into the back of her brain, fizzing in front of her eyes whenever she lets her mind talk. So, the touch of a gentle hand felt foreign to her now, a mere distant memory; Vi craved it though, she had to scold herself to keep her hands in her pockets whenever she talked to Ekko, whenever she could even get the chance to speak to… Jinx; they were old now, a hollow shell of what’s left of their childhood; they didn’t snuggle into her hugs anymore, didn’t rely on the strength of her hands to let their heads rest in her palms. Whose fault is that? You stupid bitch.  

Violet hates affection now. She doesn’t know who to give it to, she doesn’t know who to ask it from. Violet was unsure if she would enjoy it now, if it would feel different because she maybe grew out of the affectionate person she was; all because she was trying to survive. Violet has other things to worry about; like getting Powder back, or worrying if someone was going to attack her. Vi had to look over her shoulder, she never stopped but somehow it felt more daunting doing it all alone. Violet was an adult; it was time she started acting like one.

Aspen changed that though, she bulldozed her way through with that stupid, cocky smirk, with her insane, towering height and impressive build. Vi reluctantly let her through; Aspen was persistent and annoying, she tells herself that; but secretly enjoys the way Aspen so effortlessly flirts with her, or the way she could see Aspen’s dark eyes, and smouldering gaze wash over her figure. It was refreshing, and Aspen was funny. 

Meeting Aspen for the first time felt like a ton of bricks fell down her head and through her body. Aspen was annoying, never stopped flirting with her and was never embarrassed about admiring Vi.

Vi remembered the day she walked into the Last Drop; she had just gotten out of prison; and somehow, Vi felt no ounce of feeling. Hollow maybe was the right word, there but not there. Zaun was here, Ekko was, Jinx as well, but Powder was gone, Vi could barely remember what Mylo and Claggor looked like; and she saw Vander in that large statue every time she walked through Zaun. It was surreal being back in Zaun after so many years, everything was the way it had been when she left, but she felt unfamiliar; like as if she would get pelted by rocks until she was forced to leave. It was her home, but it was cold.

Vi was thankful for her hood, she could easily slip into the bar without gaining any sort of attention. Vi didn’t bother looking around the Last Drop, it wasn’t her home anymore; she had no right to melt away into the familiar scent of alcohol anymore. It wasn’t her home anymore.

Vi was a taking a sip from her glass when she first felt the gaze from Aspen; she could literally feel her presence; it was large, as large as her; with her large shoulders and thick thighs that strained against the fabric of her trousers. It felt as though the bar would part per her demand, kneel in front of her just to get her approval. There was an air of authority around her, one that wafted through her and lingered behind her, much like a cologne; a deep burnt scent.

The rest of Vi’s night carried on like that, with Vi- at first- feeling wary with Aspen’s glances before it turned into something softer, and inviting. They didn’t talk that night, or the night after that, or the night after that.

“Hey.” Until one night. Vi looked up from her glass, her eyes running over the expanse of Aspen’s legs, over her exposed torso- God, those V-lines, to her face. Aspen’s face held a small smirk, one hand lazily in her pocket. “Is this seat taken?”

Vi seemingly flushed by Aspen’s sheer, demanding presence and insane beauty just nodded as she scooted over the booth, allowing space for Aspen to sit.

“I haven’t seen you around from here. Just moved?”

This is my home. “Yup. Came from a land far away from here.”

Vi quickly realises that she has a big mouth, with no fear to speak her mind. And that her name is Aspen.  

“You’re pretty, does someone have you?”

Vi stops midway from taking her drink, her cheeks heating up as she sneaks a glance at Aspen. “No. Why? You want me?”

Aspen doesn’t answer Vi’s question, just lets her eyes flicker down Vi’s form as a smirk tugs on the corner of her mouth. “Alright.”

“Alright?”

“Alright.” Aspen repeats, she’s about to take a sip from her drink before she catches Vi’s incredulous look. “What? I can’t ask a pretty thing like you if you’re taken? Are you uncomfortable?”

Vi blinks up at Aspen, she was expecting a taunting tone from Aspen’s second question, but just gets a lilt of genuine concern in Aspen’s voice, and a slight furrow of her eyebrows on her otherwise playful face. Vi snaps out of her daze, with a small shake of her head. “You just didn’t answer my question.”

Aspen just smirks again, that same lazy one that’s lopsided and sexy. “Okay.”

“Hey, Bubblegum.” 

Vi rolled her eyes, taking a sip from her drink as she sneaked a glance at Aspen from the corner of her eyes. The purple neon lights of the bar washed over Aspen’s skin; the way it brightened the lighter patches and the way it seemed to melt into the rest of her darker skin. Always so beautiful. “Stop calling me that.” 

Aspen lets out a playful scoff, taking a seat on the booth next to her. “Only if you stop dying your hair red. Besides, it suits you.” 

Vi scoffs quietly, rolling her eyes. “How? And don’t say my hair.” 

Aspen smirks from behind her glass, the corner of her lip pulling up, before her eyes trail down Vi’s form. “Definitely not cause of your bubble butt.” 

Vi can feel her cheeks heat up, she takes another gulp from her glass. “I don’t-” Vi trails off, her eyes washing over Aspen’s face; the arch of her nose; the way her nose ring shimmered under the light, the odd splotches of white on her otherwise dark skin, or the way her dark hair looks so thick even with an undercut. Vi greedily lets her gaze wander over Aspen’s form; her broad shoulders, or the relaxed abs, or the happy trail peeking from her trou-

“You checking me out, baby?” 

Vi blushes, turning her head. She hopes the dark lighting and the colour of her drink hides her red cheeks. “No.” Shit, Vi. You answered too fast and you couldn't keep your eyes to yourself. 

“No?” Vi could hear the tease in Aspen’s voice, she could feel Aspen’s eyes on her. “I don’t mind. I want your pretty eyes on me.” 

Well, fuck. 

Vi could only take another sip from her drink, swirling the alcohol in her glass, before she puffs her cheeks out in embarrassment. “Well- it was just- you-” Vi ends up sighing, drinking the last of her drink before placing it on the table. 

Aspen only hummed; her eyes flitting down Vi’s form again with a smirk, before she lets her head hang backwards, leaning back in her seat, her legs separating to find a more comfortable position as she closed her eyes. Vi’s eyes widened, her cheeks burning up again. Is she doing this on purpose? What is she- why does she look so good? “Wh-what are you doing?” 

Aspen turned her head to look at Vi, her dark gaze once again washing over her form. “Relaxing. Why?” 

Vi shrugs, leaning back in her seat as she takes the courage to look at Aspen. “You’re just usually so loud and annoying.”

Aspen lets out a short laugh, revealing a set of white, almost crooked teeth. “Very funny. Just tired, sweetheart.” Aspen lets out another long sigh, settling back into the booth chair. “Rugby’s been kicking my ass.” 

“Wh-” Hot. “You play rugby? That definitely explains the physique.” 

Aspen smirks, her eyes opening slightly. “Knew it. You were definitely checking me out.” 

Vi blushes again, averting her eyes. “Shut up.”

“You want to come to my rugby match? You can see more of my hot, sweaty muscles.” 

And die at the scene of Aspen’s hot, muscled body straining as she tackles other players? No, thank you. “Yes.” Fuck.

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the short life of Vi: ex-convict, anarchist and raging fucking lesbian.

Vi should have disagreed, she should have put her foot down and told Aspen she would be busy clipping her nails. Vi was stuck in a crowd full of loud, angry rugby fans, the wind was cold; nipping her ears and nose, and some stupid kid was kicking the back of her chair. The worst part? Vi could see the way Aspen looked; dressed in her uniform; the short sleeves hugging the curves of her biceps. She saw everything. The way Aspen’s hair flew around her face in her ponytail; the way her thick, dark eyebrows furrowed in concentration and the oh so wonderful sight of Aspen’s muscles contracting whenever she effortlessly tackled another player. The worse worst part? Vi was sitting in front of row.

Vi didn’t know anything about rugby, she just knew how much it affected her to see Aspen play the sport. The Gods hated her apparently, because it seems as though Aspen was popular among the crowd; her face showing up on the large screen from time to time. Vi didn’t think she was good with eye contact, it was a vulnerable feeling; it was awkward, but with Aspen it was easy; like breathing. Vi soon looked away though, glad that the cold air can be an excuse for her red cheeks, and even in the cool air; her whole body burned with Aspen’s gaze washing over her, her stupid smirk falling into a concentrated stare before Vi could even stare at it. The crowd didn’t mind watching her move across the field, getting a little louder every time she showed up; and for whatever reason that irked Vi.

Aspen’s team won, and somehow Vi found herself with Aspen and her friends in a restaurant. Aspen had asked her so sweetly, and Vi was tired, worn out, but she didn’t have the heart to refuse Aspen. Aspen’s friends were loud, much louder than Aspen; and it rung in her ears a little, but Vi could at least zone out as she snuck glances at Aspen’s tattoo that ran in between her breasts; it was a simple one: the life cycle of the moon, but it enhanced Aspen’s beauty, melted well with the rest of her mismatched skin that Vi’s own tattoos couldn’t compare.  

The next thing Vi gave her attention to was well-deserved too; it was the soft tuft of dark hair that hung from Aspen’s belly button, through the faint lines of Aspen’s muscled abdomen and disappeared into the band of her trousers. Vi could only thank Aspen’s choice to wear a shirt that was split open in the middle, tucked into her trousers; showing the curve of her breasts.

Vi sneaked a glance at Aspen, who was weirdly quiet. Her eyebrows were drawn in; not in the way she looked when playing rugby, but in the way that it also pulled her top lip into a subtle snarl. Aspen’s jaw was locking, as she grinded her teeth together so hard, Vi could almost hear it.

Aspen was jealous, because Vi realised that one of Aspen’s friend had taken a liking to Vi. She would have felt flattered or embarrassed that somebody liked her enough to give her glances, but it was amusing to see Aspen so possessive over someone she hasn't even got.

“I need to use the bathroom.” Vi announced, stepping up from her seat, a few of them acknowledged Vi, so she left without another word. Vi didn't bother to acknowledge the gaze that Aspen had on her until the bathroom door closed behind her. She could almost feel it burn a hole in her back.

Vi was washing her hands when the bathroom door opened, she only looked up briefly before she looked down to dry off her hands. “Need to tinkle, Aspen?”

“No.” Aspen felt much closer, Vi had barely any room to turn. She said nothing as she rested against the sink, her arms crossed over her chest as she looked up at Aspen.

“What?” Vi didn't feel nervous, though she could hear feel her heart pounding in her chest at the close proximity of Aspen. Vi breathed in through her nose once and concluded she smelt like burnt wood.

Aspen’s eyes trailed over Vi’s face, creating a map of her most favourite points on Vi’s face; her bent bridge, her large puppy dog eyes; the scar running through her top lip and eyebrow. Aspen wanted to kiss it all. “I want to kiss you so bad.”

Vi didn't need to strain her ears to catch what Aspen was saying, it flew from Aspen’s mouth easily, like as if she had been saying it out loud over and over again. She just fluttered her eyes, letting out a brief sigh and small nod.

Vi didn't stop her when Aspen caught her lips with her own, she definitely didn't stop her when her fingers dug into Vi’s waist. Vi could feel Aspen’s chest press into hers, she could feel the edge of the sink digging into her back, but Vi could only reach up to claw her fingers at Aspen’s neck, hoping to bring her closer. Their kiss was crazy, and rushed. It was loud and wet, and put Vi into a daze where nothing but small whimpers came from her mouth.

Everything around them was a blur as they moulded their mouths together and when Aspen let go with a small ‘pop’, her chest raising and falling rapidly as she sucked in sharp breaths, Vi had to stop herself from leaning on her feet to reach Aspen’s mouth again. Vi could feel her own chest moving to let more air in, and could feel the pad of Aspen’s thumb run across Vi’s lips.

“Are you comfortable enough for me to take you home?”

Vi felt like a bobble head, nodding as she tried to keep her hands around the edge of the sink. She's touched Aspen enough.

Aspen didn’t feel like it was enough; she caught Vi’s lips with her own again; pressing her body unbelievably closer to Vi’s. She could feel Aspen’s hands claw at Vi’s shirt, almost as if she wanted to undress her here; in the dingy bathroom at the equally dingy restaurant.

It wasn’t long until Aspen was guiding Vi out of the bathroom, her hand placed on the small of her back; dangerously close to the curve of Vi’s ass. Aspen didn’t bother bidding bye to her friends, only gives Vi an eager kiss, and when she reaches up to try and smack Aspen’s shoulder in hopes of living through her embarrassment; which didn’t work because Aspen’s friends only cheered on; where the rest of the patrons in the restaurant could only look on in distaste.

Things got calmer when they reached Aspen’s house, and by the time Aspen had taken her to her bedroom; Vi suddenly found the patterns on Aspen’s blanket interesting, she was feeling doubtful and nervous, Aspen could see that; as much as she liked looking at Vi when she couldn’t hold eye contact; she could see it. Aspen crouches by the bed, her hands resting on Vi’s knees.

“What’s wrong?”

Vi just shrugs, still refusing to look at Aspen; she’s glad that her hair’s covering her face. She felt stupid, so stupid that she eagerly agreed to come back here, only to not follow through with it. It felt like a promise broken, and yet Vi was determined to fulfill.

“You nervous?”

Vi purses her lips, puffing her cheeks out slightly before she shakes her head. Vi blows out a short breath from her mouth. “Why would I be nervous?”

“Could be anything. We don’t have to do anything-”

“I want to! It just-” Vi sighs, she can feel her heart thundering in her chest; her mouth felt dry and her eyes felt too watery. Vi closed her eyes tight, pursing her lips as she looks away. “I haven’t had a-a normal human interaction since- when- since before I got arrested. I-It- it was- it was my fault. I led everybody to that stupid apartment, we-we just wanted to find some things to steal, and- and it went wrong-”

“Okay, hey.” Aspen reaches out her hands to hold Vi’s face, squeezing her cheeks; letting her thumbs run over the bridge of her nose and her cheek. “Take deep breaths for me, okay?”

Vi swallowed deeply; her lips trembling as she let her eyes trail over Aspen’s face. Her heart was still beating against her ribcage; she could almost see the curves and jumps it made across her chest; it thundered throughout her whole body.

“Okay.”

“When was this?”

Vi was quiet as she racked her mind for an answer, she didn’t get distracted by the open view of Aspen’s torso under her open shirt. She was starting to remember everything now; and wanted to bury it all again. Vi could only let her head rest heavily against Aspen, when she chose to sit on the bed next to Vi. “Seven years... I think?” 

“Seven- that was- you were kid then. For something as petty as theft? That was not your fault, and you shouldn’t have gone through that, okay?”

“Okay.” Vi didn’t believe her.

They ended up not having sex, they just curled around each other as they slept through the night. Vi didn’t mind; Aspen was warm; even if she did sleep shirtless; her skin warmed up quickly. Aspen certainly didn’t mind; she like the feeling of holding Vi to her chest as she slept.

Vi woke up; feeling warm; enveloping her back and chest, and realised it was the closeness of Aspen pressed against her back, and the weight of her heavy forearm wrapped around Vi’s shoulders and a firm hold on her waist; Vi was literally caged in, so she didn’t bother moving. Vi stayed quiet as she ran the tip of her nose across Aspen’s arm, feeling the sparse hair tickling her face. She stayed like that; her face buried in Aspen’s forearm, under the golden glow of the sun swimming through the room. It felt like the morning after sex, except Vi’s body didn’t feel sore and Aspen hadn’t touched her at all.

Soon the hand wrapped around her hip twitched, followed by a momentary squeeze around her body before Aspen let go; stretching her limbs with a quiet groan. Aspen soon settled back in, her arms finding home again around Vi’s body. “Have you been awake long?”

Vi nearly shuddered at Aspen’s voice, it was gravelly and deep; the kind that scratched at the back of the throat. “Not long.”

Aspen hummed, before she rolled over to get out of bed, leaving Vi to recoil at the absence of her touch. “You wanna take a shower?”

Vi looked up at Aspen; who was shuffling through her wardrobe. Vi’s mind momentarily stopped at the sight of Aspen’s back and shoulder muscles, contracting as she moved. Thank you, rugby. “You telling me I stink?”

Aspen laughed, standing up with a towel and a change of clothes for Vi. “No, of course not, baby. I like your natural musk.” Aspen teased.

Having a shower made Vi feel better, her body felt cooler; her muscles were more relaxed. Aspen’s shirt on her just about fit, hanging over her broad shoulders and stopping just below her hips. Her trousers fit her better, Aspen insisted it was because of her ‘bubble butt’.

Aspen soon walked out a towel wrapped around her waist, her chest out on display as she used a smaller towel to dry her hair. Vi didn’t feel embarrassed at her exposed torso; privacy was a gift in prison. Her eyes kept wandering back to Aspen’s pierced nipples; the pretty golden hearts; melted well against Aspen’s mismatched skin. Vi wasn’t ashamed to keep staring when Aspen’s towel falls to the floor; her eyes trailing over the curve of Aspen’s well sculpted ass, the corded muscles in her back and the way her thighs flexed when she put her tracksuit bottoms on.

Vi sighs, leaning back on her hands on the bed as she stared at Aspen. “Do you not want to have sex with me?”

Aspen stops tying the drawstring on her tracksuit bottoms as she looks up at Vi; her dark eyebrows were furrowed before her face softens as she lets her hands fall to her sides. “Only if you’re ready. Are you ready?”

“Thought I was last night.”

“You nearly had a breakdown, Vi. You weren’t in the right headspace; I would never take advantage of you like that.”

Vi was quiet, as she bites the inside of her mouth. She looks away when Aspen lazily saunters over to Vi; puffing her cheeks out.

Aspen lets out a quiet laugh; her fingers squeezing Vi’s chin, before they slide up to Vi’s jaw. “Why are you pouting?”

Vi huffs, subconsciously leaning into Aspen’s hand, failing to keep her eye roll contained. “Am not.”

“Now, you’re being a brat.” Aspen warns, her thumb digging into the side of Vi’s jaw, before they slide over Vi’s mouth, tracing the divot of her scar. “Want me to fuck you, Bubblegum?”

Vi swallowed thickly, her lips parting to form a sentence before it gets stuck in her throat. Her mind had left her body as she can only stare up at Aspen, it was hazy and Aspen wasn’t even doing anything. She stood over Vi with that imposing height, and that lazy grin.

“Hmm?” Aspen’s hand doesn’t let go of Vi’s jaw, her other hand slipping into the pocket of her tracksuit bottoms, as she stared down at Vi. When Vi doesn’t answer, Aspen merely chuckles; her forefinger and thumb gently pinching Vi’s bottom lip, pulling on it slightly. “Quite the sight. Lovely angle.”

Vi averts her eyes, feeling the heat seep into her cheeks; that was mistake as the only thing she could see was the faint ridges of Aspen’s abs, dusted with a trail of hair hanging from her bellybutton. Vi let her eyes dart over the various milky puddles on Aspen’s brown skin, before her breath hitched at Aspen’s command.

“Open your mouth, sweet thing. Tongue out.”

Vi listens, letting her lips part as her tongue rolls out. She can feel her heart thunder in her chest, as she anxiously waits for whatever comes next. Vi realised she quite liked this scenario; liked the way Aspen had a hold on her figuratively and literally. Perhaps, it was the rush of adrenaline or the excitement of doing something other than surviving. She felt grounded and she felt safe.  

She swallowed thickly when the weighted feeling of Aspen’s fingers sat on her tongue; Vi listened before Aspen had opened her mouth, closing her lips around her fingers; swirling her tongue over Aspen’s rough pads of her fingers.

“Good girl.” Aspen coos, her lip curling up as she hears a small, quiet sound from the back of Vi’s throat; something akin to a hum and whimper. Aspen doesn’t bother moving, just tilts her head as she stares down at Vi; the way her large eyes blinked up at Aspen. “Feel good?”

Vi just blinked blearily up at Aspen, a quiet whine spilling past her mouth; as she sucked harder on Aspen’s fingers. Vi didn’t feel embarrassed; she didn’t really have time to feel it, just very, very eager to please Aspen; and if that meant letting Aspen stuff her fingers down her throat, then so be it. Vi hummed around Aspen’s fingers, squirming slightly on her seat on the edge of the bed: she could feel the tips of Aspen’s fingers slide closer to the back of her mouth; it was so slow that Vi nearly didn’t catch it.

Vi whined again; her mouth widening slightly as tears sprung her eyes; she felt the urge to gag; her fingers quickly finding Aspen’s forearm, tightening around the muscles. Aspen’s fingers were so far down her mouth; it probably should have come out from the back of Vi’s neck.

“Breathe, baby. Through your nose. You can do it, pretty girl.”

Vi felt her skin heat up at the praise, as well as the familiar tingle up her spine. She listened, taking deep breaths through her nose, before the weight of Aspen’s fingers felt lighter. Vi didn’t think she’d enjoy this power play; but she definitely felt her boxers soak through, she might as well be sitting in a puddle of her own cum.    

Aspen still didn’t let go when strings of saliva fell from Vi’s mouth; and down Aspen’s hand. Aspen merely spared it a glance before they slid up to Vi again. In Aspen’s eyes, Vi looked divine; the way her grey eyes seemed larger, softer; almost as if she’d fall into a deep sleep, just by looking at Aspen. Maybe it the sight of Vi submitting so easily, even with the witty and snarky exterior, or perhaps Aspen just liked looking at the curves and sharp ridges of Vi’s muscles throughout her body; especially at this angle.

Aspen cooed, when she felt Vi’s mouth tighten around her fingers with a strangled whine. “I know, I know, it's messy. But you're doing so well for me.” Vi couldn't help but follow Aspen with her eyes, her mouth not letting go of Aspen’s fingers, as Aspen found a seat behind Vi. “You’re a good girl for me, aren’t you?”

Vi let out a tiny gasp, as Aspen’s fingers suddenly disappeared from her mouth. “Yeah.” Vi could only pant, placing a hand on her chest to calm her racing heart; she could feel some wet patches of her trousers, and could feel the sticky dried spit down her chin.

Vi leaned back into Aspen’s chest, her hand clutching onto the edge of the mattress while the other tentatively rests on Aspen’s thigh, and when she got no resistance did Vi squeeze her fingers around the muscle.

Vi squirmed, feeling Aspen’s hand run over her thighs, and her warm breath hit the back of her neck and ear. “You gonna let me play with you, baby girl?”

“Fu- yeah. Yes please.”

Aspen laughed, a quiet soft sound that swam through Vi’s ears like butter. “So polite.” Aspen had to stop herself from groaning out loud, as her fingers slipped slowly into Vi’s boxers; easily slipping through her folds, Aspen could already feel the familiar sticky substance on the pads of her fingers. “Taking my fingers in your mouth excited you a bit too much, eh?”

Vi sucked in a sharp breath, biting her bottom lip as she tried to keep her hips from bucking into Aspen’s touch. “Sh-shut up.”

Aspen said nothing, but instead leans in to press a few kisses across the curve of Vi’s neck and over her shoulder. Aspen’s fingers were lazy, just running through her core and purposely missing the round nub that sat atop her pussy.

“Y-you're doing that on purpose. Fuck me better.”

Aspen laughed, her teeth sinking into the muscle on Vi’s shoulder, before licking it gently. “I wanna take my time with you. You wanna leave me that quickly?”

Vi tuts, the sound turning into a little whine when Aspen’s thumb pressed into her nub, sending a glare at Aspen when her thumb slips down her folds.

Aspen laughed again, her spare hand reaching to rest on Vi’s stomach, her fingers running over Vi’s relaxed muscles. “Needy little thing, aren't you?”

Vi huffs out, her cheeks puffing slightly as she bites the inside of her mouth. Her fingers dig into Aspen’s thigh, feeling the muscle ripple under her palm in response before she looks up to Aspen. “J-just touch me. Please.”

Aspen’s face softens, her eyebrows curling in as her mouth curls into a playful pout. “Aw, well... if you keep looking at me with those large puppy eyes...” Aspen obliges, pressing her thumb into the small nub, smiling when Vi hisses in pleasure; leaning further back into Aspen’s body.

Aspen was cruel, Vi decided. No matter how many times Vi glared up at Aspen or dug her nails harder into her leg, Aspen wouldn't let her cum; going as far moving her hand back; marvelling at the sight of Vi slowly being pulled out of her pleasured state, with a small snarl and angry curve of her eyebrows.

“Aspen! This is the 3rd time now!”

Aspen laughed at Vi’s cute glare, reaching to kiss the cute little scrunch on her broken bridge, reeling back just in time to avoid Vi’s teeth biting down on her cheek.

Vi huffs out a breath, roughly grabbing ahold of Aspen’s hand, pushing them down Vi’s boxers again, settling back down once she feels Aspen’s fingers press against her entrance.

Aspen raises an eyebrow, her hand momentarily stopping to stare at Vi with a teasing smile. “Oh?” Aspen eyebrows raises even further when Vi sits up.

Her hands hover over Vi’s hips, as she turns around in Aspen’s lap; kneeling on either side of Aspen’s thighs. Aspen looks up at Vi, the tip of her subtle fang peeking through, as she finally settles her hands on her waist. “Oh? Taking the lead are we?”

Vi lets out a grunt, her thighs shaking slightly when Aspen finally, finally slips her hands down her trousers again. Vi lets out a quiet breathless moan, cursing under her breath when Aspen’s fingers slip inside her easily. “Y-you're so annoying. Ah- sh-shit.” Vi curses under her breath again, her fingers absentmindedly clawing at Aspen’s shoulders, before she presses an eager kiss to Aspen’s mouth.

“Is that why you're fucking yourself on my fingers, baby?”

Vi doesn't say anything, just presses her forehead to Aspen’s shoulder. She can feel her thighs jerk every time Aspen’s presses into her, whining when Aspen's fingers move at a faster pace. “You better let me cum this time.” Vi can feel herself getting closer, can feel it in the way her body shook, and the way she kept pushing her hips into Aspen’s hand.

“Hm, I don't-” Aspen cut off that thought when Vi looks up, her eyebrows drawing as she glares at Aspen. “Alright! You can cum, baby. You've done so well.” Aspen coos, leaning forward to press a trail of kisses across Vi’s shoulders, pushing her shirt out of the way to carry on down her chest.

Vi orgasm- finally- hit her hard, it was easier to hold onto Aspen as she fucked her through the orgasm, and she didn't let up until Vi had to push her hand away to avoid the onslaught of overstimulation. “T-too much, Aspen.”

Vi let out a breath, letting her body fall forward into Aspen, burying her face in Aspen’s neck. “I did it.” Her voice was quiet, but Aspen heard it clearly, and made it her smile.

“Yeah, you did. So proud of you. You did so well for me.” Aspen ran her hands over Vi’s hips and thighs, as she waited for her to come down from her high, before wrapping her arms fully around Vi’s waist.

Vi let out a yelp, feeling her body fall back onto the mattress, and blinking up at the sight of Aspen leaning over her. Vi was speechless; Aspen at this angle, looked good. She liked the way her muscles tightened under her skin, and the way her dark hair created a short curtain around her face.

Vi spluttered, leaning up on her elbows when she felt Aspen tug on her trousers, pulling them down along with her boxers. “More? Are you even human?”

Aspen laughed, her thumbs slipping past the band, and sliding it down her muscled legs. “I'm a hungry man, I’ve got a taste, I want more.”

“Wh- you're not tired?”

“I'm a rugby player. I’m never tired.”

Vi ended up finding herself digging her nails into the muscled expanse of Aspen’s back, scratching them deep enough to break skin and definitely leave marks. Vi tried to keep her moans in, but they kept spilling out breathlessly; she could feel the warmth of Aspen’s pussy grinding against her own, and the embarrassing sound of squelching every time Aspen pressed against her harder. Vi dug her fingers in deeper, pulling at the skin at Aspen’s back when she felt Aspen hurl her hips higher; feeling the pressure of pleasure buzz through her.

Aspen bit her lip, closing an eye as she smirked tiredly down at Vi. “Damn, baby. You're the scratching type, huh?” Smiling wider when Vi’s eyes roll into the back of her eyes, another whine slipping past her mouth.

Vi curses under her breath, she could feel the bed creak under their weight, and the tight hold she had on Vi’s waist. She could only grunt, and lightly slap Aspen’s back. “Sh-shut up.”

Aspen speeds up a little; letting out her own moan when their clits brushed against each other, liking the way Vi’s body moved under hers, one hand reaching up to move a strand of hair from Vi’s eyes. “A slapper as well? You're gonna bite me next, sweetheart?”

Vi pants, falling back on the pillow, and hissing in pleasure. “Y-you're insufferable.” Vi felt her body shake, squeezing her eyes shut. “G-God, please like that…”

“Good girl. Stay like that for me.” Aspen laughs, and suddenly Vi can feel the heavy weight of Aspen’s hands on either side of her head. “I'm annoying, but you're begging so sweetly with that pretty mouth of yours. Who are you fooling, darling?”

“Shit.” Vi couldn't say anything else, she could only grab onto Aspen’s wrists for support. She felt incredibly sensitive, it didn't help that Aspen slowed every time she saw Vi was close to orgasming again. “Aspen, please.”

Aspen stopped, her chest heaving as she let Vi's hips gently down onto the mattress. Aspen couldn't help but run her hands over Vi’s thighs, marvelling at the sight of her muscles contracting under her touch, before her eyes slid over Vi’s body; taking in the sight of her flushed skin, and her dazed eyes. “I need you to sit on my face.”

Vi raises an eyebrow, falling out of her daze. “You're going to die. Are you crazy?”

Aspen shrugs. “Maybe I am. Send me to heaven.”

Vi could only let out a startled laugh, when she feels Aspen’s hands take hold of her hips; trying to move Vi over her face. Vi holds onto the headboard tightly, looking down at Aspen; who seems very happy at this new position. “You sure you want this?”

Aspen peeked out from under Vi’s legs, looking up at her with an incredulous look. “You know, you can at least break my nose.”

“What?”

“Come on, baby. I’ll wear it with honour. I’ll tell ‘em all that my lady did it to me.”

Vi couldn’t help but blow a raspberry in hopes it would keep her laugh in; it did not work. Her whole body shook as she laughed, and Aspen could only look on with a slight look of impatience as she stared at Vi.

Aspen opened her mouth to speak, but Vi was quick to shut her up by putting her entire weight on Aspen’s face. “Stop talking. Just- f-fuck.” Vi felt the onslaught of Aspen’s tongue quickly; feeling it run through her folds, stopping just above her clit.

Vi’s thighs trembled over Aspen, her fingers digging into the wood of the headboard, while she reaches with her other hand to knead her breast. Aspen liked that view, moaning into Vi’s cunt, as her fingers reached to sink into her own cunt.

Vi gasped out a moan, feeling Aspen’s tongue stretch her entrance slightly as her nose dug into her clit. She couldn’t help but grind herself further into Aspen’s mouth; instantly whining when Aspen wraps her lips around her clit, sucking on it before flattening it out with her tongue.

At some point, Vi could feel her cum leak down her folds, dragging along the inside of her thighs, and she could feel the muscle tense in her thighs for holding herself up for so long. She loses feeling in her thighs, and giving out as she lands on Aspen’s face. Vi leans back up again, with an apologetic whine before gasping as she feels Aspen pull her down again. Vi soon reaches her release, with her hands fisting the pillow underneath Aspen’s head, and Aspen practically suffocating happily under Vi’s weight.  

Sadly, Aspen did not break her nose, Vi found that amusing, and also disgusted that Aspen wanted to kiss her.

“Aspen!” Vi laughed, trying to fend off an eager Aspen; who’s lips were puckered ready for a kiss. “I am not kissing you with that dirty mouth! Clean it.”

Aspen huffs, reaching behind her to pull out tissue paper, wiping her mouth hastily; throwing the soiled paper over her shoulder and pouncing back toward Vi, only to whine out a response when Vi pushes her back. “With water.”

Aspen rolls her eyes but obliges, running into the bathroom. Vi had to keep her amused smile in when she could see the haste mess Aspen was making in her trail to get to Vi quickly, and this time Vi let her settle in; smiling whenever Aspen pressed another kiss to her mouth. “You’re the needy one.”

It was quiet between them after that, Vi was nestled in Aspen’s shoulder, her arms tight around her waist. It was a calm feeling, one that Vi enjoyed a lot; she could feel the tips of Aspen’s otherwise rough fingers trace the lines of her back tattoo. It was a comfortable silence.

Aspen hummed, tightening her arms around Vi as she rests her chin on top of Vi’s head. She could feel the chill on her open, naked body but made no move to fix it. Vi didn’t bother to cover herself up either, just melted into Aspen’s arms.

“Are you sad that I didn’t break your nose?”

“Yes.”

Vi laughs, sneaking a glance at Aspen before shaking her head. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy is what got you under me, ain’t it?” Aspen grins; her hand sneaking down toward the curve of Vi’s ass. “No matter, though. We’ll try again next time.”

Vi should have been focused on the persistent thought that Aspen wanted to sport a bruise after having Vi sit on her, but she was too focused on the next time. “You’d want this again with me?”

“Of course, I would. Not just sex either; I want to take you out and show you off, and date you and introduce you to my friends and my family-” Vi’s heart thundered in her chest at that comment.

“I was good?” Vi mumbles, her eyes averting and her cheeks reddening; she was so quiet that Aspen had to strain her ears, until she heard what she said.

Aspen looked down at Vi and her beautiful, beautiful puppy eyes. Aspen smiled, a certain softness to it rather than her sharp playfulness. “You’re the best girl. You listened so well. You were so good for me.”

Vi could feel a new softer feel blossom in her chest, it warmed her insides and created fumes of happiness that leaked from her pores. Vi just hid her face in the pillow, her fingers running across Aspen’s forearm. “You took control a lot…”

Aspen nods, pulling Vi in closer to her chest; kissing the back of her neck. “I can give up control next time.”

Vi pulls out from her hiding place, looking up at Aspen. “You’d do that?”

Aspen scoffs playfully, her eyes running over Vi’s entire muscled body. “Yeah. Look at you. Muscle mummy. My legs are open.” Aspen lights up, leaning up slightly on her elbows as she gapes down at Vi. “Are we doing this now? Take me. Take me now.”

Vi laughs, tightening her fingers around Aspen’s shirt, pulling her back down on the bed. “Lie back and cuddle me.”

Maybe coming back to Zaun was worth it.

[pokemon-ash-aus]

Can you give us some facts about Cursed AU Ash? Also, about Pokemon Breeder!Ash?

Uhhh, i can try, granted Cursed AU Ash basically has all his facts laid bare so?

Cursed AU:

- Ash wasnt born with his markings or his red eye, he looked like any other child. But as he grew older and older his vitiligo kicked in and ending up looking like a Mew. Hence why Pallet Town fully believes that he's Cursed. (Also why the AU is callrd the way it is)

- Ash has spent a lot of time learning makeup in order to hide his vitiligo. It irritates his skin sometimes but he doesnt want to be perceived as anything other than him.

- His Red eye is slightly less focused then his brown eye. Doctors fully believe that this is due to the change of pigmentation. He technically needs glasses for that eye but not by much.

- Pokemon don't care about looks, and so Ash feels so much more at home with them.

- Ash hadn't had any actual plans to become a trainer, mostly cause he didnt want the same accusations of being cursed to be thrown at him. Until he Met Pikachu, who, despite his disabilities, was still a spitfire and fought with everything he had.

- This led to him wanting to help said Pikachu be the best he could be, and started his journey.

- A lot of Ash's pokemon could technically be "cured" with corrective surgery, but not all of them. Ash gives them the option, though it would be expensive

- Because most of his Pokemon can't actually be helped in the surgical sense, Ash goes out of his way to really figure out how to help his pokemon personally. Because of this, Ash knows a lot more about certain pokemon than the average trainer. Though, He always listens to breeder's and nurses when it comes to other things.

Breeder!AU

This one is more silly, and just me wanted Ash to handle more baby pokemon.

- Ash's pokemon find, lay or steal eggs from other creatures. This started out with Pikachu randomly yoinking an Sandshrew egg in Viridian and it spiraled from there.

- Ash has, unfortunately (in his mind), learned hoe to care for Eggs and Baby pokemon fast. He has way more pokemom that he aims to train and rotates regularly.

- Bulbasaur is the one that always randomly finds random eggs, Ash's Charizard has eggs with another, and Squirtle is the one that steals them.

- Professor Oak is both amazed and concerned and pushes Ash to get a Breeder's license.

- He takes several months to actually get that license. He had no intention of getting one in the forst place, but if it makes the cops less suspicious then *fine*

- By Hoenn, People sort of look at Ash and read tired dad energy. Most of them are super concerened since he barely looks 10, even moreso when they find out he's 13 and then less concerned when they realize he's a Breeder.

- Ash unintentionally passes on the way he treats Baby Pokemon with the way he treats his companions. "Iris, don't you dare touch that Young lady!" "Bonnie, if you don't get down here this instant, we're going to be having words." "Sophocles, if you don't clean up your act in the next few minutes, i will be taking away your treat. Don't test me."

- Catchphrase? "Oh Mew, I'm just like Mom."

- not to worry, His Pokemon help! A lot of them take on Parental rolls and are a shy bit more mature.

- Pikachu takes on the majority with whoever is in the team at any given time. The worst he remembers is Alola when all of his teammates were literal babies and "Oh Mew, they're all stupid."

[peony-flowerking7]

Chonk

Taking a bit chonk of her cheek. That can be taken out of context, but ya know what I meant.

I was struggling for dear Lord, I was having trouble with Duzhe skin because their vitiligo and whenever I did try to color their skin and render it, it look absolutely horrible! It wasn't even matching their skin perfectly it just look..I can't explain it well. It look so plastic? That the best I can describe as. So here my solution to this problem, recolor their skin tone and then I put their vitiligo last, then I did some rendering although it doesn't look like there much there is rendering. The same went to Wukong except I had to render and recolor his face paintings. Anyways I hate rendering red since it always look dull and ashy so I was like

MORE SATURATION MOre MORE! So anyways. I'm working on two things, first a base for noodles and death and the second is my version of Sun Wukong. Btw Duzhe might go through some changes too I have like lots of ideas. And I like experimenting with clothes and hair style.

Uh about this picture, I feel like Wukong would definitely bite his love ones and then lick them like some heathen. I use a cats for reference I wanna do some cat memes honestly. With these two and some journey to the west cat memes. Lol

I had to both copy it and reference it.

Cat chonk

[anthropologyruinseverything]

New fic series! WWE Mafia AU

Welcome to what is essentially my dark romance, junk food series. I want to practice writing in the genre so here we go! Plz see CW warnings. There are 3 fulls stories and a 1 shot planned, I will be writing stories and one-shots as part of this universe as time goes on. As of right now Jey, Damian, Roman and Tama are in the works but I’d like to expound so hit me with recs!

(They may take time to write)

Now on with it.

18+ only from here plz - minors dni

Sea & Moon

Jey Uso x IndigenousFMC

Summary: Nokomis “Kiki” Levy was a normal twenty year old college student whose biggest concerns were passing chemistry and what graduate programs would want to see on an application.

Joshua “Jey” Fatu is thirty-one and has recently been appointed heir apparent of his father’s branch of their families shadowy enterprise and needs to prove himself up to the task.

Their worlds collide when Kiki’s father, a detective with SFPD, gets too close to Jey’s family business. While they start as enemies there is an undeniable burn between them. Will a much larger threat be their end or give them a chance to thrive together?

🚨It’ll be a dark journey for the Levy girls, please heed content warnings that include mild n0n-con between main characters, dubious consent, violence, mentions of difficult topics such as substance abuse, mental health issues and more. There will be various k!nks such as prim@l play, masks, captiv!ty, 🔪 play, ch0king, and more. The boys are morally grey to black but love and obsess over their ladies.

There is an HEA for everyone! I probably won’t post more than the prologues and one shots here on Tumblr and leave the really dark stuff on AO3. I will post links though and just drop a comment if you’d like to be tagged in any further updates.

## Prologue

**Nokomis “Kiki” POV**

⭐️*character note, Kiki has vitiligo which affects her face over her right eye, her hands and other other areas.

It was just supposed to be another regular movie night at home with my sister and cousin, nothing unusual or life altering. The same sort of thing we did almost every Saturday night since we could remember. I didn’t think twice when my folks decided on a last minute date night while we three girls piled onto the couch for comedies and popcorn, waving them off as if I’d see them in a few hours.

I wished I’d hugged them tighter and longer. As if that would have somehow stopped what happened next.

Not long after my parents had left my dad’s retired K9 partner Atlas started going insane, running back and forth to the back door and barking. I assumed he was interested in a rabbit or some other critter like a possum in the backyard so I hushed him and sent him to his crate for acting so crazy. In the long run I’d probably saved his life but I had still wished for his protection with what came next.

We never heard the back door locks being picked or footsteps in the kitchen. Between the movie, our laughter and the occasional dog bark nothing else penetrated our space and like most college students on a Saturday night our minds weren’t on the dangers lurking in the shadows. We didn’t know anything was wrong until Kai went to the kitchen for drinks and her scream alerted Kiri and me to our unwelcome visitors.

I’d never felt so stupid and slow as I did when the large men in masks appeared in the doorway, one with a particularly vicious face mask, long black hair and icy gray eyes held a long knife to Kai’s throat, clutching her tightly to his front with his other arm. Every time I ever swore to myself and my parents I would fight back went out the window when I realized it might actually cost my cousin her life. Instead I reached for Kiri’s hand as we stood frozen to the spot. Her light brown eyes were blown wide in fear and her normally tan face had gone ashen.

Everyone was quiet except for Atlas’s enraged barking.

The shortest man was still at least six feet tall and he wore a black mask with red spiral designs that covered his lower face. Withdrawing a gun from a shoulder holster he indicated the elderly german shepherd. “Shut it the fuck up.”

Instinctively Kieran and I both moved to stand between him and Atlas, her fingers digging into my hand tighter than ever before while her other came up in a placating gesture as I spoke. “Please don’t hurt him, he’s old and scared.” She turned to me with frightened eyes and indicated I should comfort him with a jerk of her chin. Dropping I tried to soothe him and at least got him to quiet down to a whimper.

The next thing I became aware of nearly made me lose control of my bladder. A harsh, cold metal gun barrel was pressed to the back of my head as Kiri’s hand was wrenched from mine.

“You girls gonna behave?”

I swallowed past the thick lump in my throat and nodded, hating that every inch of me was paralyzed. What happened to being an officer’s daughter who could stand her ground? All I could think about was that knife pressed to Kai, that gun leveled at the back of my head or at Atlas. If I didn’t behave they could be hurt or I could be killed. I risked glancing up at Kieran who was so still and quiet, being held by the largest of the three. His purple and black mask was monstrous like the tattoos on his exposed arms.

“Stand up slowly. Where’re your parents?” Out of habit when someone stared at me intensely I let my hair fall forward over my face even as I did what he said. His dark brown eyes looked black in the dim light of the living and the comedy kept playing in the background offering a ridiculous soundtrack to such a grave moment. Everything felt surreal in the flashing lights.

“N-not home.” My voice shook even as I tried to sound calm. “Our dad, he’s a cop, he’ll be back soon.” As if supplying that information would make him think twice.

The tall one chuckled, responding in a deep voice that fit his intimidating stature. “We know mija. He’s why we’re here.”

Kai’s whimper brought my attention back to her and the man holding her. He was far too interested in running his knife down her chest. “Hey! Stop it!”

Kai was two years younger than us and as such we’d always been protective of her. I realized what I’d done when those cold gray eyes flashed to me.

The man with black eyes didn’t hesitate, stepping in uncomfortably close to put the barrel under my chin. “Behave.”

“Okay. I’m sorry.” Survival mode engaged apparently. I realized we were truly fucked when he tugged his mask down to reveal an equally black beard but handsome face. “Leave a note D. We’re taking them and their old man can turn himself in when *we’re* ready.”

The last thing I remembered for a while was Kai crying out and a sharp prick in my neck before everything went black.

———

**Joshua “Jey” POV **

Catching the purple haired girl as she fell I moved to set her on the couch with the other two so they could be tied up. We’d come looking for Detective Levy and we were leaving with his twin daughters and their cousin. Not the worst all things considered but still not my plan and I didn’t like it when things didn’t go according to plan.

“You said he’d be here tonight D.”

Damian tugged his mask off with a shrug, accepting the roll of duct tape Roman had retrieved from his bag. He passed me one as well and we went to work taping the girls wrists, ankles and mouths.

“I’ll talk to J.D.” Unlike our family Damian ran a crew of people he’d collected with no ties aside from shared interests. It made them difficult to trust and easy to be angry with as far as I was concerned. I owed Damian my life, not them.

“Do that. Let’s get the fuck outta here.

Roman, you can mess with her later.” He was preoccupied with the pretty little woman he’d pounced on in the kitchen, running his hands up her thighs over her pajama pants. Instead of answering he just rolled those alarming eyes of his and threw her over his shoulder. I took a second to really assess the young woman in front of me. Her name was Nokomis, one of the detectives two daughters. College student majoring in biology and member of the chess club. Of course. What I hadn’t known about was her vitiligo and I found myself more interested than I should have been in the beautiful patterns on her skin. A particular blaze over her right eye was especially striking.

Shaking the thoughts loose I followed his example and so did Damian with his new charge. Our SUV was parked in the alley behind the house and it had been easy enough to blow out the lone street light a few days prior. We put our two in the third row while Roman climbed in the center with his prize. I felt a twinge of pity for her. Capturing his interest so intently was not an enviable thing for anyone.

I waited until Damian was pulling the car onto the street to speak. “Obviously this changes things.”

“No mierda Jey.” Damian’s irritation was obvious. He knew I hated it when jobs went wrong and I knew it irritated him as well. Not to mention bad intelligence was always followed by a period of mistrust and I knew J.D. was already on thin ice as it was. “You were serious about holding them?”

I looked back at the middle row to find my cousin petting the woman in his lap even as she seemed to struggle against him. It would have been funny if I didn’t know him. “Yeah. Can have some fun but don’t kill ‘em.” I looked pointedly at Roman.

“I don’t kill women Jey. Just…like to play rough.”

“Yeah with professionals, not college kids.”

“You sure that’s a good idea? She saw your face cabrón.” Damian cut in. He had a good point but I wasn’t worried. If I hadn’t thought through this possibility I may have been more stressed about the decision.

“Nah, when they see what we do to their old man they’ll be too scared to say shit and we’ve paid off or killed anyone else who could do shit about it anyway.”

He flexed his broad shoulders and stole a glance in the rear view as the other girls were coming to and shifting around in the far back seat. I wasn’t blind or dumb and while he wasn’t as obvious as Roman I could see he was interested in the little one he’d held onto.

“Could let off some steam.”

I smirked. It wouldn’t be hard to seduce them, a few drinks and some promises and they’d be pliant like most other females I dealt with on the regular. I’d be lying if said I wasn’t intrigued by the girl who stared at me in the rear view, her light brown eyes looking golden in passing streetlights. I could see the defiance in them.

Good. Maybe having to wait a few more days to end the cop who got too close and couldn’t be bought wouldn’t be so bad. Not with some pretty company.

[wardens-art]

Many outfits of Shieda Kayn Rhaast, Part 4 (Final for now :])

Yes I kept Kayns Vitiligo on him too and no I didnt forget his horns on the left one but i couldnt figure out how to do them so for my sake pretend that in formal wear he doesnt have them xd

Thank you for coming on my lil Kayn journey with me :D it was fun and actually very enlightening about my art :] There may be more in the future but for now the series is done :D

[bonefall]

Do you think we could get a rundown of Skyclan leaders like you did for Shadowclan? From when the destruction of their forest territory started to when Skyclan broke up?

It would be a pretty short list, because of the massive interruption.

Leaders Flystar -> Cloudstar -> Spiderstar -> (RATS WE'RE RATS WE'RE THE RATS) -> Leafstar

Clerics Twigtail -> Fawnstep -> Brackenheart -> Oakstep -> (Unnamed Link) -> Pricklenose -> Skywatcher

You'll notice that the Cleric list doesn't have an interruption; that is because the Cleric took the role we eventually see Skywatcher in. They called them the Hub, after the center of a spiderweb. It was someone who would keep track of where all the dispersed cats were and pass on relevant news.

Modern Clerics evolving out of the Hub is why SkyClan's medics are so strange. They have some massive differences from a Forest Four Cleric.

There is no law against them having children. In fact, it's preferred that they did, as it's proof that they know how to care for other cats.

They can have mates, too. Echosong is actually casually the girlfriend of Leafstar.

They act more like a combined doctor/therapist than a doctor/priest. SkyClan clerics are here to treat physical and mental needs. Instead, the leader takes on more spiritual roles.

Anyway, leader succession guide;

Flystar

The destruction of the territory was happening before he was leader, but he took over when it started getting real bad in the Skyfall Era.

He was a HARDCORE kind of loyalist leader. We would know him today as a Hard Traditionalist, insisted his warriors pray harder and live better lives to prevent the destruction.

He invented the Law of the Wild, which we know as the law that bans becoming a kittypet. He did this in response to many of his warriors trying to live double lives.

Lived for a very long time, and oversaw the worst of the destruction, but Forest Four remember the story completely wrong.

The story is told that Flystar forestalled disaster with his hard ways, but Cloudstar was a weak, bumbling successor, who is ultimately blamed for SkyClan's exile.

In truth, Flystar died and left Cloudstar as a young successor. Cloudstar hadn't lost a single life or ruled for more than a year when the last acre of forest was clear-cut.

Flystar was a brown cat with black dapples on his face and chest.

Cloudstar

Gets done so, so dirty in the Forest Four history lessons. I have an entire scene dedicated to Firestar realizing that the story sounds pretty fucked up in Firestar's Quietus.

His first deputy was Buzzardtail, who was his best friend. They tried to keep the Clan together, wandering for years while looking for a new home.

In terms of personality, Cloudstar was a total worrywart. He was always preparing for the worst, and his ingenuity saved a ton of lives. He cared a lot for safety and making sure the travelers were procuring rations.

It still wasn't enough. He was a fantastic leader, soft, caring, beyond dedicated to his friends and family. Cats still died.

He was constantly missing his mate, Birdsong, and his kittens. He was notoriously amazing with the kits, often carrying them when they got too tired.

He was a big guy, too.

Displays the same vitiligo as Skystar and has a striking resemblance to him. Definitely a direct descendant.

His blotches loosely resembled an eye on his side, which ended up becoming... that.

Spiderstar

No Buzzardstar in BB. Buzzardtail died during the very long journey.

But Spiderflight knew him very well. He was her mentor.

Cloudstar died in the abandoned barn where the rats would eventually gather, every night.

Spiderflight had spent most of her life traveling, most of SkyClan had. She did not remember the old forest, just the general stretch of land that would become their Gorge territory.

She only knew what had been taken from her in stories. Kit's tales, to her, she'd been born on the move and that was where her heart was.

She picked up a lot from Cloudstar's resourcefulness. She'd always been close to the leadership, ever since she was young. Slotting into the role was easy.

Cloudstar never wanted to leave such a young successor, as Flystar had done to him, but he had no choice in the end.

She'd never been "good" at sadness. She didn't want to sit vigil in that barn with everyone else; it was too easy to give into despair if she didn't keep moving.

It was Spiderstar who settled SkyClan into the area, and she was the first Hub really. She just happened to teach Oakstep how to do it next.

Important since she only got three lives.

She had distinctive web-like stripes on her tabby body, a large "cape" over her shoulder of two big spokes connected by smaller strokes.

[annimator]

AIGHT SO CARNIVAL OF CHAOS IS ONLY NINE DAYS AWAY, I’M GETTING IMPATIENT, AND ALL THE AUDITIONS AND CHARACTER INTROS ARE NOT HELPING OMG IM SO EXCITED FR FR.

(Spoilers below or smth idk)

• Tristan & Hannah were already 2 of the characters I was most excited about when the Carnival of Chaos cast photo was released, BUT THEN AS IT TURNS OUT, HANNAH’S A BISEXUAL FILIPINO-CANADIAN, AND TRISTAN’S NON-BINARY. THIS TYPE OF REPRESENTATION MAKES ME SO HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYY

• I SHIP THOSE TWO SO MUCH BTW, THEY’RE MY OTP FOR THIS SEASON

• Isabel’s gonna be an interesting character considering her whole influencer nun thing. Last I checked, James has more followers than her lmao

• Natalia’s audition is the best audition, argue with the wall. We appreciate Riya slander in this household and her talking about how the show needs her with all the twinks they nearly killed made me laugh my ass off (I DON’T DISLIKE RIYA BTW, I’M JUST VERY CONFLICTED ABOUT HER BECAUSE SHE’S AN INTERESTING BITCH OF A CHARACTER BECAUSE OF HER ARC THROUGHOUT S2 & ALL STARS)

• I saw a post on twt predicting that Benji’s gonna become a twist villain because of his perfectionist nature & the fact that he needs college funds or smth, and I’m honestly on that train that would be so interesting for his character.

• ALSO HE’S SUCH A FUCKING DORK, I LOVE HIM

• Literally all the VAs sound like they enjoy voicing their characters and that makes me rlly happy :D

• I was immediately intrigued by Alessio’s character as an artist myself. His design’s fucking awesome too, and him saying that he doesn’t have the best time connecting to others was so relatable HE’S JUST LIKE ME FR

• AWWW JADE HAS TWO MOMS :D Love how she made peace with her vitiligo and to use the winning money to give back to sea life and pursue marine biology

• Zaid’s gonna be an interesting character considering the fact that he’s a chef. Also he wants to give the money to his mom, that’s so fucking wholesome bro wtf-

• I’m mainly rooting for everyone that I just listed, but I genuinely like (or love in Hannah, Tristan, & Isabel’s case) every single character from this cast, until the actual season proves otherwise

• I wasn’t really rooting for Ted or Logan until the auditions dropped, but they seem pretty intriguing! Also Ted’s probably gonna be the villain of the season because of the whole poker player thing he has goin on

• Spencer’s gonna crush on Diego so hard lmao. Him saying that there isn’t gonna be a twist in the game that’ll throw him off course sealed his fate

• SPEAKING OF WHICH, Diego being so excited about meeting new friends and saying that Disventure Camp is gonna be the next journey of his life was so wholesome

• I’m also a lesbian Anastasia truther lol. Her and Marissa would be a great couple >:D

• I love women with abs and Marissa is no different

• I mean what who said that

• Richard’s canonically gay, happily married to his husband, and has a daughter, good for him

• Lynda has the same VA as best girl Lucia, I’m sold

• IVY’S SO SILLY AND AWKWARD. I LOVE HER

• Amelie’s intriguing ig :p

• Trevek better be gay & happy during this season btw, it’s what they deserve. The staff plot for this season’s gonna be interesting considering that Emily’s an intern, and will probably be third-wheeling them lmao.

• Also saw some people on twt complaining about all the gay pairings, and I just wanna say THIS IS DISVENTURE CAMP BITCH. WE LOVE GAY SHIPS IN THIS MOTHERFUCKER. TAKE YOUR HETERO ASS BACK TO TOTAL DRAMA- (/j btw. I saw the reboot seasons, mkulia and rajbow are adorable together)

• So yeah, I’m totally normal about the upcoming season :)

[ralibo14]

TPN Brainrots part 2:

Warning: just like the in the previous part... There will be Manga Spoilers.

Since I was unable to finish part 3 of my comic for Emma's birthday (due to being in a place where bringing a laptop was not advised) I will do my head canons and theories on her.

So today's post is about: Emma

Emma is a protagonist in the wrong genre. That was my first thought when I finished season 1 for the first time. Of course now I know how much more complicated her personality is. Introducing her first from the Trio was a really good choice in my opinion, because her cheerful, hopeful, happy and naive personality makes you believe that everything in all right with their lives. Her point of view up until Connie's death really shows how easy it is to believe in a comfortable lie. (not to forget that in canon they're 11-12)

Emma's appearance explained:

Just like I did with Ray... I have something unique to add to each drawing of her. First let's talk about the Freckles! I'm a big fan of interesting character traits, such us freckles, moles, scars, tooth gaps, vitiligo or anything similar to that. Also the red/orange hair🧡! My second favourite hair color in anime & character history (first is black🖤).

When colouring I like to use vivid colours for her clothes (mostly red or orange to bring out her hair). Maybe that's why, my favourite outfit is what she wore in the Goldy Pond Arc.

In the manga colouring above if you look closely, Emma has faint scars on her knees and elbows. Since she most likely do what her heart says before thinking, I imagine that she didn't mind if she scrapped her knees or bruised her elbow, while playing with her friends and family. Physically active kids often fall while playing but, falling hard then getting up again all by yourself is a good way to symbolise their in journey. (Old drawing of mine😅⬇️)

Leader of the Grace Field Group:

Emma simply had to get into the Leader's role after Norman's shipment. I'm sorry to say that but Ray was a bit useless. He was lost in his own pain and gave up all hope (I mean... valid, but still), so she had to plan everything. Norman's letter and the other kids (Gilda, Don, Thoma, Lanni, etc) helped a lot, but she was practically alone. She couldn't even grieve Norman properly. Don't forget that Emma is smart and an amazing actor. She fooled Isabella thinking she gave up too (not to mention that time she slowed her heartbeat so Mom doesn't know she was lying).

My forever favourite moment (Idk why didn't I mention this in the Brainrots part 1) is Emma slapping some sense into Ray (pun intended😁). Like that setting and that scenery is my Roman Empire. Her catching a burning match just in time, not caring about burning her hand, then convincing Ray to excape with her and the rest of the group (Okay actually... let's be honest... she basically had to drag him out of the House). The first glimpse of what Emma is capable on her own. Nerves of steel for cutting her ear off too (her first big sacrifice just to save the others).

After the Excape, she got a lot of help from Ray who also apologised for his behaviour. The two of them comforting each other after thinking Norman died is just such a heart warming scene. Meeting with Sonju and Mujika was a big turning point for Emma, because of three things;

1: Okay first she was scolded because of her recklessness as well as Ray for trying to play the hero, but that not strongly Mujika or demon related. The world opened up for the whole group. They learnt about the Promise and how the world was divided into two.

2: Emma learned and saw from first hand, that not all demon are evil. Mujika helped them despite their differences and the end of that week Emma thrusted her so much she even showed her the photographs of her family and told her about Norman too.

3: Receiving the neklace and the advice to search for the Seven Wall while they're on their journey.

Arriving to B06-32 and meeting Mister/Yuugo there was a new challenge. All the kids saw another 'Isabella' who tried to kill them. Emma, then Ray were the first ones who saw through his facade.

Goldy Pond Arc was Emma time to shine as a leader and as an individual too. Meeting Lucas and the Goldy Pond squad and immediately connecting to them shows how much she cares about others. Her bonding time with Lucas as they uncover the mysteries surrounding the identity of William Minerva.

Fun fact: In my fanfic I like to age up the Grace Field Trio roughly to Oliver's age, because I think this way their personalities are more dominant and clear.

Emma's relationship with adults:

I like to think that Emma never saw Isabella as a monster (not even after discovering the truth). And as truthful as it is. I think Isabella formed a deeper bond with Emma than with her own son. That's because from the Grace Field Trio, only Emma could have been saved by Mom. With the Mom/Sister Program, Emma would have been able to live on, but it's against her nature to harm anyone. Although I found it interesting that that was the original composition of the manga. Emma becoming a Mom and Gilda becoming a Sister (correct me if I know this wrong). Also this picture under... I found it on Pinterest and it's reflects back to my theory of what might happen to the boys.

Meeting Yuugo and Lucas were a complete different experience for the Grace Field kids. The Bunker Dads were the caring parents both group (Grace Field & Goldy Pond) needed and deserved. Not to mention how Emma reminds me both the young and hopeful Yuugo from the past and the clever and patient Lucas of the present. Spending almost two years on the B06-32 shelter while searching for the Seven Wall makes their last goodbye 1000% more heart breaking.

Back to Grace Field Arc is when Emma meets Isabella again. She gets closer slowly but she doesn't have an emotional barricade as high up as Ray or even Norman. Emma forgave her easier, but that doesn't mean she justified the things Mom did with her family. She simply realised that Isabella had no other choice if she wanted to stay alive.

Making the new Promise and the Human World:

First of all King of Paradise Arc? Realising that Norman is still alive?! Oh the the happy tears when I first read that🖤🤍🧡. (Although to tell the truth Ray slapping Norman as soon as he sees him was such a right choice in my opinion) Emma breaking down in tears and hugging Norman was such an emotional and wholesome scene. But the argument after... let's just say I don't like miscommunication and/or characters keeping important secrets to themselves. (*glances at the GF Trio* "All three of you is in trouble")

Ohh Seven Wall Arc my beloved 🧡🖤. I like every bit of this story but Seven Wall Arc holds a special space in my heart. That Arc still holds so much potential to play around. The demon God's power to manipulate time, space and play around with Emma's and Ray's memories was wild. For the demon God name... I call them Elari. (Yes I stared at that nonsense of a word until it looked like a name). It was such a nice touch that the demon God only wanted to talk to Emma, but I couldn't help but feel a bit bad for Ray, because I think he was worried as hell when he woke up alone without Emma on his side. (I also sometimes think about what kind of Reward he would have received if he stayed with Elari).

The Reward Emma got is... without a question... cruel, and I think it was not needed, but I also can't think about something else what she could have gave to Elari if not her memories.

She deserves happiness and I can't say how much I cried when the Ray and Norman + everyone else found her in the human world. In the end I'm happy that Emma and all of them got a relatively happy ending.

Head canon to Human World and Reward: Emma's necklace!! It holds her memories. They just somehow have to find a way to unlock it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EMMA!!!🧡🧡🧡.

Okay. That's it for Emma. If you have anything else to add, correct or you want to share your own theories just write it in the comments or reblogs. Next post will be the 3rd part of the comic. Then brainstorms on Norman will come.

[askfriskandcompany]

Y'know what? Just explain what every person in this panel is doing here, and why they're here today. Just 'because they wanted to see the fight' is not sufficient. Really get into their personal headspace. Spare no detail.

Excluding main characters since we already know: IE, Undyne, Alphys, Frisk, and Asgore.

Well ok??

From left to right...

There's the mysterious human who wears sunglasses indoors. Her name is Rachel and she's [redacted].

Then there's the snail/octopus boy, Snailiot. He's here with his best friend Vivie the pixie. He's having a sip of some appy juice because it's like a snack and a drink at the same time. Vivie was the one who convinced him to go, because she's a big wrestling fan and really wanted to see the Flowers vs. Aidrian fight. She's fussing because she wants to go ask Undyne for her autograph but it looks like Undyne's having a discussion with Alphys and she doesn't want to be rude.

Then there's Brittney, a bunny monster with some sort of vitiligo-adjacent pigment thing going on. She's sashaying her way to the concession stand to get an extra large tub of popcorn because she's going to share it with her friends who are staying in their seats.

In front of Brittney is a..... y'know I don't know what kind of monster they are, but their name is Gneef. They're extremely nervous because they just realized they're standing next to King Asgore and they're starstruck.

There's also just the top of an elf's head in front of Gneef. That's Miranda, and she's been live tweeting all of the wrestling matches today. She has 20 followers.

And of course there's Frisk and Asgore. They're on a journey to go get snacks. And Frisk feels pretty safe because even if the askers' rumors about their bio-mom stalking them are true, there's no way she would dare approach Asgore out in the open. Also it's fun to use Asgore's horns like handlebars. Asgore thinks Frisk is a precious bean, and he is correct.

-TQ

[hold-on-a-little-longer-whump]

Quick!! Link a scene or piece of work you're created that you're proud of! First one that comes to mind!!

*bounces in place* ohohohohoho you've gone and done it now!!! Feast your eyes on this scene from one of my many WIPs - I hope I'll finish it one day. It really is one of the Big Three of my Magnum Opuses.

Below the cut:

Female whumpee

Mute whumpee

Disabled whumpee

Female Caretaker

Recovery

Mentions of Scientific/Medical Trauma

Bruises and bandages

Collapsing

Fatigue/Weakness

Samira slept for another day. Until the pangs of hunger and other necessities grew to be too much to ignore. She drew in a slow breath and sighed, then lifted her arms in a stretch. The skin of her elbows pulled uncomfortably and she stopped at the telltale sensation of scabs beginning to split. Even now, days later, she felt the bone-deep ache from her journey here. The dull throb of a lingering headache. The pulsing pain in her knees. Her hands still held a tremor without the slightest provocation. More than anything, she wanted to go back to sleep until the soreness went away, but nature had other ideas.

Turning her head, she saw she was alone. The lights to the room were dimmed low, and the only other source of light came from the glow of a safety light in the bathroom five feet away. Blessedly, she saw the IV pole was on the same side of the bed. All she had to do now was walk. Piece of cake. Pulling the blanket back, she slung her legs over the side of the bed. She stopped long enough to wonder at the sight she saw.

Socks. Soft, fuzzy yellow socks with grips on the bottoms. She turned her attention to her gown. It, too, was buttercup yellow, decorated with bumble bees and daisies, and the hem - stopping at her knees - even had the tiniest decoration of white lace. She longed to rub the material between her fingers, but the bandaging on her hands prevented her from doing so. It would have to wait. Besides, the thick wads of cotton taped over each knee ruined the effect. Her skin, she noticed, was far paler than its healthy cinnamon color, and even the patches of vitiligo, normally rosy, held a sickly shade. She frowned, feeling like the ghost of her former self.

Gripping the IV pole for balance, Samira scooted forward. Tentatively, she settled her feet on the floor. No fear driving her to move. No dizziness. It didn’t matter how many times she had tried to stand on her way here. She was stronger now. She was rested. She could do this. Carefully, as if to balance on an egg without breaking it, she put weight on one foot. Her knee began to quake and she grabbed the IV pole with her other hand, clinging to it, and the momentum of doing so forced her full weight forward. Quickly, she brought her other foot forth to catch herself.

For the briefest of seconds, she teetered, awkwardly poised between the IV pole and her fawn-like legs. She could feel the cuts in her palms reopening as she clung to the pole, the gauze slackening her grip. Then the wheels of the IV pole rolled. Samira flailed, gasping as her crutch moved before she was ready, and tried to snatch it back. It fell, and she followed, knocking a metal tray and its contents to the floor with a great crash.

She might have cringed at the noise if she hadn’t instinctively tried to catch herself. Though the gauze cushioned the fall somewhat, it didn’t stop her knees and elbows from cracking against the hard tile - biting through the cotton and clawing at her already-shredded skin. Tears sprung up and a mute yelp rattled her throat before she could stop herself. She bit her lip until she tasted blood, and still a hoarse sob wrenched itself from her chest.

Hurried footsteps sent a dart of panic up her spine, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. The lights switched on, then a set of hands were on her. She flinched, but they didn’t release her.

“Samira.” Jean. Jean was there. “Samira, it’s alright. It’s just me.”

Without waiting for a response, Jean lifted her back to the bed as easily as a child might lift a dropped doll. Samira tucked her hands beneath her chin, arms pressed against her chest, and tried to control her breathing - all while fighting the urge to curl in a ball right there. Hot, thrumming pain rolled up her limbs, coiling into tight knots and biting, clawing, digging into her bones. Why did it hurt so much? How could things go wrong so quickly? She opened her eyes from where she’d squeezed them shut, peering between wet lashes at the mess she’d made. Fresh, unused medical supplies lay strewn about on the floor. The IV pole lay on its side, and the tray had skidded a couple feet away. She drew in a shaky breath, shame heating her cheeks.

Automatically, an apology tried to leave her lips. Instead, it came out in a pitiful wheeze.

Mistaking the gesture for one of pain, Jean smoothed a hand over Samira’s back. “It’s alright, Samira. Do you want something for the pain?”

Samira shook her head and hid her face behind her hands, the gauze absorbing her tears.

“It’s okay if you do. You don’t need to be brave, not here.”

Samira shook her head again, gulping back another sob before it could surface.  She already owed them so much, and it shamed her to anticipate their response to her inability to speak - and now, it seemed, the inability to walk. Had the Team left any part of her untouched?

[anaktoria-of-the-moon]

One Hundred Thousand Wisdoms for Dealings With the Fae [an ACOTAR reimagining]

Three sisters, three journeys, and three fickle fae lords share one fate. (Read it here.)

The Wicklighter girls count three: gentle Aislin, brave Eire, and cunning Niamh. Like other mortals - ever since the ancient war that sent faekind into hiding and cleft the land in two - the sisters have always dreaded and hated the Fair Folk, whom mortal legend calls both fearsome and deadly. When Eire kills a fae wearing the guise of a bloodthirsty wolf, Niamh gives herself up to the Folk as a bride, hoping that they then might not take her sister’s life in revenge. Spirited away, Niamh meets with an unexpectedly alluring face of the beastly fae. So do her two sisters, who each cross the fae through their own struggles to mend what’s left of the Wicklighter family. Having learned new truths about the nature of the struggle between faeries and mortaldom, they must ask themselves: Can they trust age-old enemies of mankind whom they’ve come to love - and risk the safety of kingdoms for their sake - or do these wild, strange roses conceal only a bounty of thorns?

“Is this an ACOTAR fanfic?” Yes and no. It’s a ground-up rewrite that ended up deviating quite a bit from the source. You’ll find obvious analogs to the Archeron sisters (Feyre, Elain, and Nesta are reimagined as Eire, Aislin, and Niamh respectively; Feyre’s now the middle sister, Elain the youngest), and some broad plot points and narrative thrusts are maintained (the story still begins with Eire felling a wolf who is really a fae in disguise, for whose death the fae demand the exchange of a mortal life in turn; there is a magic wall that keeps mortal and fae lands apart following a now-ancient war between the two; there are fae courts ruled by lords of great and wild power, though the particular courts and lords differ greatly from those in the source). If you loved ACOTAR as is, you may or may not like this story. If you liked the broad aesthetics of ACOTAR (fae, wild magic, and romance between plucky mortal women and powerful, melancholy faerie guys) but were disappointed with the specifics of its execution, you might like this more.

“How long is this going to be?” Honestly, I don’t know. Long, probably. I have a lot planned.

“Is this a romance? Will there be sex scenes? Is this OK for younger readers?” Yes (though it’s not only romance); yes (eventually - we have a lot of plot to cover before that happens); probably not, but I’m not your mother.

“What makes this different from ACOTAR?” Well, aside from like, everything, I’m consciously trying to make this a much more diverse story (e.g., ⅔ of the non-female romantic leads are planned to be unambiguously non-White - one has extremely dark skin with vitiligo, the other is East Asian-coded; one non-female romantic lead is planned to be genderfluid, and another is bisexual, both with on-page representation of this). I’m also trying to walk more of a line where dynamics and behaviors may not always be healthy but, in cases where they are not, they are acknowledged as such and the narrative appropriately and satisfyingly shows development away from those dynamics and behaviors (or does not present characters perpetrating them as “good” or broadly admirable characters if they do not develop out of said dynamics and behaviors). You can find a longer (non-exhaustive) list of stuff I’m trying to achieve with this fic here.

“Why?” Well, because I like doing this. It’s fun.

“Where’s the credit for your cover art?” That’d be me. I mocked this up from scratch in Krita at like 1 AM with my own puny mortal hands (no AI, promise - I do not trust the robots). I am not a professional artist, so you get what you get.

“Who are you?” Here’s the answer.

Enjoy! (Or don’t. Again, I’m not your mom.)