#whew!! glad to have THAT off my chest.

[thegeminisage]

So You Want To Get Into The Legend of Zelda But Don't Know Where To Start: A Masterpost

this discussion came up in my zelda stream the other week so i thought since i'm a longtime fan and Extremely Normal i'd make a guide to people who are just now getting into the series because of breath of the wild/tears of the kingdom. there's a lot of games and it can be confusing on how they're connected, where to start, etc. this is going to be an EXTREMELY LONG guide, sorry - if you want a short version you can check out this post i wrote a long time ago.

The Timeline

so the good news is that the zelda games were published non-linearly, meaning that the game that takes place first chronologically was not necessarily the first one ever made. they didn't even HAVE a timeline until like 2011 or so. for that reason, with a few exceptions*, you can jump in pretty much wherever you like. most zelda games (or pairs of games*) are spaced hundreds or sometimes even thousands of years apart, featuring different links and zeldas and other characters, which means you don't need to know anything about zelda to start with any game. the series is deliberately made so that each title works perfectly well as a stand-alone game.

*the exception is that a very few games have direct sequels - for example, majora's mask takes places just a few years after ocarina of time, phantom hourglass takes place after wind waker, etc. luckily even with these games, you can still jump in without having played their other half and have a good time without getting lost.

The Introduction

that said, the zelda series is extremely eclectic. while they all have the undercurrent of "zeldaness" that makes them special they can be as different as night and day. 2D or 3D, happy or edgy, mainline or spinoff, story-heavy or story-light...which game is best for you to start with will depend heavily on your own personal tastes.

the short version: if you haven't yet, i recommend most people new to zelda start with either ocarina of time or breath of the wild. these games, released almost 20 years apart, were both completely revolutionary and redefined their genres (or, in oot's case, the entire industry). they usually have something to offer everyone and they're both games with standout tutorial sections that teach new players the lay of the land with ease. there's a reason most people start with one of these two - which one you prefer depends on whether you can enjoy an older game or would prefer something newer. for brand-new gamers, i might also recommend skyward sword because of how much the game holds your hand - it's frustrating for more experienced players, but for those just getting started in gaming in general it might actually work out well.

the long version: OBVIOUSLY i'm going to do a game-by-game write-up. sue me. if you're looking for information on a particular title, ctrl+f it. otherwise, settle in. time for a cut!

The Games

how to read this guide:

which games: most of them. this guide is long enough as it is, so i'm not doing a whole ass writeup for REALLY niche spin-offs like the tingle games, the crossbow training game, the bs releases, or the much-loathed cdi games, even if i think the crossbow game ruled. i will do hyrule warriors and cadence of hyrule because they're properly fleshed out games. ports and remakes are gonna get grouped together with the originals to save time and space. if there's something missing from this list you want to know about, the wikipedia article with the complete list of zelda media is right here and it's a genuinely fascinating read. have fun!!

release date: self-explanatory. using japanese release dates for overall accuracy, and the games are in order of release date as well, but you DO NOT need to play them in that order - that would be madness

console: original console, other consoles it's available on (not including the weird experimental stuff like satellaview, c'mon), and whether or not it is available for switch. why? the switch is the latest console, how many new fans got into zelda, and because of nso, it will be the easiest access point for people who can't or don't want to buy new consoles/emulate on pc. nso stands for "nintendo switch online," which is a the online membership you can purchase from nintendo. the basic plan allows, among other things, emulation nes, snes, and gameboy titles. the expansion pack tier adds emulation of n64, sega genesis, and gameboy advance titles. i think nso is a good service with great value if you can afford it - read about it here. virtual console is just buying the game, usually for a low price, and downloading it digitally to play on newer consoles, but most of those services have been shut down now. there's also backwards compatibility - the wii u can play wii games, the wii can play gcn games, the original ds (and ds lite) can play gameboy advance games, and the gameboy advance (and gameboy sp) can play gameboy and gameboy color games. the snes can also play gameboy and gameboy color games with the super gameboy, and the gcn can play gameboy, gameboy color, and gameboy advanced games with the gameboy player.

average playtime: this comes from howlongtobeat.com - if it seems off, take it up with them

mainline game: this just means whether or not this game was a "big entry" into the series - typically, mainline games are devloped by nintendo directly (though nintendo develops side-games too), and they have a higher budget and a longer dev time, but this doesn't necessarily mean they're better - some mainline games are received more poorly than the ones that aren't mainline. also sometimes people argue about which games count as mainline games so take it with a grain of salt

sequel: whether or not a game is directly tied to another game in the series - again, even if they are tied to another game, you don't HAVE to play that other game first

story-heavy: how many cutscenes/cinematics/character stuff is going on

edge level: how much grimdark and serious stuff is present and how "on-screen" it is. zelda games are infamous for a careful balance of cheerful and dark stuff in all games, but some games are more forthright about the darker elements than others. i prefer those, but you may prefer it the other way!

the premise/the good/the bad/the verdict: the actual write-up. unfortunately not even i have played/finished every zelda game (someday...), so for the games i can't speak on personally, i will make a note on it so you can seek a second opinion.

now let's get started!

The Legend of Zelda (1986)

original console: nintendo entertainment system

available on switch: yes, with nso (basic)

also available on: gcn & gba (ports), gcn (gameboy player), wii, wii u, 3ds (virtual console), original ds (backwards compatibility), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 8-10 hours

mainline game: yes

sequel: no

story-heavy: no - in fact, for games in this era, reading the instruction manual is a must if you want story content; because the file size had to stay small, story content that couldn't fit was often added to manual instead

edge level: low

the premise: explore hyrule to find and put together eight fragments of the triforce so you can rescue princess zelda from ganon, prince of darkness.

the good: a solid introduction to the series, you can waste HOURS exploring this game, which is kind of a miracle considering the whole thing is only 128kb. (if you enjoy emulation, any computer will be able to play this. like doom, it could probably run on a microwave.) it's charming enough for when it was made and the music is all catchy as hell, even though it contains only a dozen or so tracks. this game is pretty light on puzzles, but most of the fun comes from the exploration - in fact, it was this game that the dev team for botw drew inspiration from when they were trying to figure out how to "reinvent" the zelda series - what they actually did was take it back to its roots.

the bad: well, it's that you can waste HOURS exploring in this game. back when it was released, the intent was to get players talking to one another - you would get one piece of the map explored and fine one secret, your friend would find and explore a different piece and find other secrets, and you'd trade! many people even had their own hand-drawn maps put together one screen at a time. since it really isn't possible to play this way today unless you get a bunch of friends together to do it blind, you almost certainly need a map or guide for this game when you're doing it on your own, otherwise you're never going to get anywhere, because there aren't usually indications that certain walls are bombable or bushes burnable.

the verdict: if you're a veteran who liked alttp (particularly the combat), if you have a high tolerance for aged games, or if you wanna see what this series looked like during its humble beginnings, you will like this game. if you're looking for a more guided experience or something with a lot of cinematics or puzzle-solving, pass. don't forget to read the manual!

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987)

original console: nintendo entertainment system

available on switch: yes, with nso (basic)

also available on: gcn & gba (ports), gcn (gameboy player), wii, wii u, 3ds (virtual console), original ds (backwards compatibility), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 11 hours

mainline game: yes

sequel: yes, to the original legend of zelda

story-heavy: no - ditto for story being in the manual, like with the original loz

edge level: low

the premise: dive into six ancient palaces to place crystals there to wake princess zelda from an era long gone, who has been sleeping for hundreds of years. avoid being caught by ganon's minions, who want to use link's blood to revive their master ganon.

the good: because this game began life as an independent title which eventually got zelda-fied, it's quite different from most games in the series. it has side-scrolling combat and rpg elements. the soundtrack is very catchy, and this game also introduces dark link, an extremely cool popular doppelganger of our beloved hero. the map is HUGE in comparison to the original so there's tons more to explore here.

the bad: this game is HARD. not, "challenging," like, "bordering on impossible." i've never beaten it. i got just a couple of dungeons in and i was so miserable i had to give it up. even playing the "special edition" on nso (which is with all the unlockable upgrades to make it easier), it's a fucking slog. that's it! that's the only flaw.

the verdict: even with all its good qualities, even with how fresh it feels, it's so damn frustrating that only gluttons for punishment and very unique souls will truly find joy here. if you do decide to brave it, remember to read the instruction manual.

A Link to the Past (1991)

original console: super nintendo entertainment system

available on switch: yes, with nso (basic)

also available on: gba (port), gcn (gameboy player), wii, wii u, 3ds (virtual console), original ds (backwards compatibility), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 15-17 hours

mainline game: yes

sequel: no

story-heavy: medium. this was the first game to actually HAVE a proper story with named characters and extended dialogue. it wouldn't be considered story-heavy by today's standards, though.

edge level: medium, but like, on the high end of medium

the premise: one stormy night, link and his uncle receive a telepathic message from zelda begging for aid. link's uncle goes out into danger and doesn't return, so it's up to lik to go rescue her in his stead. from there you'll have to explore hyrule to locate the master sword, and explore the mysterious golden land behind the seal of the seven wise men to locate their missing descendants.

the good: alttp set the blueprint for the rest of the series - we finally have our first dungeon-crawler with proper puzzles, real dialogue from zelda, named bad guys, a huge array of funky items, and jammin' tunes still used in the games today (hyrule castle anyone?). plus, link has pink hair! the opening to this game is utterly iconic in every way, and traverse through not one but TWO world maps that overlay one another makes exploration even more exciting.

the bad: truly, no complaints here. it does require some patience. it's a little aged, and it's always possible to get lost without a guide, but so is it true for every game with a big overworld like zelda's.

the verdict: again, this game isn't story-heavy by today's standards, but back then it was more story than we'd ever gotten from a zelda game. as long as you don't go in expecting it to have an rpg kind of story, you'll probably enjoy it. if you don't like 2D zelda combat or need shiny graphics to keep your attention, give it a pass.

Link's Awakening (1993, 2019)

original console: gameboy/gameboy color, and a switch-exclusive remake

available on switch: yes - you can play the original with nso (basic) or the switch-exclusive remake

also available on: snes (super gameboy), gcn (gameboy player), gba, original ds (backwards compatibility), 3ds (virtual console), switch (remake), pc (emulation of any version)

average playtime: 14-19 hours for the original, 14-21 hours for the remake

mainline game: yes for the original, no for the remake, technically

sequel: technically a sequel to a link to the past, but they truly have nothing to do with each other

story-heavy: medium - similar story style to a link to the past. smaller cast and less overall dialogue, but more character work on marin specifically

edge level: usually pretty low, but in the rare moments when it jumps out it REALLY jumps out

the premise: while sailing, link becomes shipwrecked, washes up on shore of a remote place called koholint island, and is rescued by a girl named marin. with his boat in pieces, he has to go on a bittersweet adventure exploring the island and getting to know his rescuer in order to wake a mysterious being known as the windfish so he can go home.

the good: a tiny yet vast map, foreboding dungeons (hello, face shrine), a strange and quirky world that's impossible not to love with a small but charming cast to match (though, of course, the real stand-out character is marin), fun minigames, and a soundtrack that only got better in the remake. this game has it all! the story will surprise you by leaving you weeping at the end. there's not a huge difference to the gameplay between the original and the remake - it's mostly a graphical update, though they did add some side content.

the bad: it's one of those games that's different from the rest of the zelda series, which means it's not for everyone - there's no zelda, no ganondorf, no hyrule. also, getting the best ending is absolutely painstaking.

the verdict: what a wonderful game! the story is sparse but rewarding. if you don't like 2D zeldas, story-light games, or don't want to cry through the credits, you can give it a pass - but everyone else should love it.

Ocarina of Time (1998, 2011)

original console: nintendo 64, and a 3ds-exclusive remake

available on switch: yes, with nso (expansion pack)

also available on: gcn (port), wii, wii u (virtual console), 3ds (remake), pc (fan-port or emulation of either version)

average playtime: 25-40 hours

mainline game: yes

sequel: no

story-heavy: yes, medium-high. it wouldn't impress by today's standards but back then it WAS the standard

edge level: medium-high. it's horrifying in some respects, but overall very wistful and bittersweet

the premise: link, the local outcast, is ousted from his idyllic home after tragedy strikes in the form of ganondorf murdering his forest's guardian spirit. from there you'll explore hyrule to open an ancient doorway, and go on a time-traveling adventure in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a terrible future and heal a broken world that didn't always want you.

the good: what can i possibly say about ocarina of time that hasn't already been said? critically acclaimed as the best game of all time when it was made and still 25 years later (with only breath of the wild threatening to unseat it), this game is everything. this is the game that taught me to love stories, to love gaming, to love zelda. the world is full of secrets and places to explore, there's a kind of dual-overworld thing happening the way there was in alttp, there's a lot of collectibles and sidequests and TONS of minigames, there's a huge cast of characters with real depth, you can RIDE A HORSE, and the quite literal coming-of-age story has actual plot twists that affect the gameplay. this game defined the official timeline for zelda (massive spoilers at the link), it defined the series itself, it defined the genre and even the industry - games everywhere are still using concepts introduced (or made popular) here, like targeting enemies, context-sensitive buttons, dynamic soundtracks, and day-night cycles.

the bad: one of the dungeons is a shitty goddamn motherfucking royal pain in the ass. you know what i'm talking about. unless you don't, in which case i'm sorry. maybe it's less horrible in master mode, i don't know. also, like, it's not that the game has aged poorly, it's still a solid adventure, but it HAS aged. since basically every game you've ever played has emulated oot with stuff like lock-on targeting, these features won't feel as revolutionary and special to a new player today as they did to new players in 1998. that's not bad, but it has caused some people to get excited to look into the hype, pop the game in, and then go "wait, i don't get it."

the verdict: unless you absolutely cannot deal with playing a 25yo game, pick this up - for the historical value, if nothing else. i cannot more highly recommend any game that ever existed than i do this one. that said, for people who are new to GAMES IN GENERAL, it may not feel as intuitive as it did to new players in 1998, because speak a slightly different language now. new gamers should definitely still play this, but they should either use a guide or consider not making it their very first game. more experienced gamers should still be fine making this their first zelda game.

bonus verdict: as for which console to play it on - the 3ds version has a lot of quality of life adjustments, including gyroscopic controls and a master mode (gcn version also has master mode), and the graphical improvement is absolutely astounding...but it's on a teeny-tiny little screen. i think the best way to play ocarina of time, if you're able to, is to emulate the 3ds version with the fanmade 4k upgrade. of course, this requires a good pc, emulation skills, and a properly connected controller (i haven't done it yet myself) - so don't feel bad playing anyway you can access it.

Majora's Mask (2000, 2015)

original console: nintendo 64, and a 3ds-exclusive remake

available on switch: yes, with nso (expansion pack)

also available on: gcn (port), wii, wii u (virtual console), 3ds (remake), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 20-38 hours

mainline game: yes

sequel: yes, it's a direct sequel to oot. the opening may be a little confusing if you haven't played it but otherwise you're fine

story-heavy: yes, VERY. the character-work alone is unparalleled even by modern standards

edge level: EXTREMELY HIGH. this is without a doubt the darkest and most haunting game in the series

the premise: link, trying to escape his problems back home, gets thrown into an unfamiliar world where the moon is going to fall and destroy everything in only three days. with the help of multiple forms (link can shift into a deku, goron, or zora), and time travel, link relives the same three days over and over again, exploring clock town and the lands around it, and getting to know its people, so he can find a way to help everyone and prevent the oncoming apocalypse.

the good: holy cast of characters, batman! as with every zelda game, there is exploration and dungeon-crawling, and these are phenomenal here - of particular note is how the use of 4 different forms plays into puzzle-solving - but the real meat of this game comes from its incredible cast. near the beginning of the game you are given a journal, in which to note the schedules and habits of each and every resident of termina as you learn them. you play the same three days over and over, so while the clock is always ticking, there's an infinite time to get to know them. each character reacts to the upcoming armageddon differently: some are resigned, some are frightened, some are brave, and some are in denial. (notably, one minor character who appears brave crumbles in the final hours, begging not to die.) who these people are and the sorrows they carry around with them to the end of the world define this game and make it like no other.

the bad: look, it's a game about an upcoming apocalypse. you're on the sinking titanic and the clock counts down every precious second and no matter what you do there will ALWAYS be that time limit, which not everyone likes. it's stressful, and it can be sad and tragic, even upsetting at times, which is kind of a requirement for the powerful catharsis it also offers. it's very different to the usual zeldas - no zelda or ganondorf or hyrule - which also isn't everyone's bag. it's also a huge timesink - you really miss a lot of the point if you don't 100% it or at least get all of the masks, which takes a long time and a guide (although it is fun as hell the whole time).

the verdict: some people really hate the time limit and find it imposing. i mostly don't have a problem with it - sometimes i have to race to finish a task before i run out of time so i HAVE time to travel back before i get blown to bits, but without this mechanic, the game wouldn't work at all. famously, this game was made in only one year (hence the reused assets), so the pressure the devs felt really came out in their work. i think it's a fucking masterpiece, but it is a game about death, among other things, so if you need a feel-good title this one probably isn't your stop. that said, the incredibly powerful cast makes this game timeless - if not for the graphics you'd hardly know it's aged at all. even newer gamers should enjoy this one, but use a guide! for a game this complex it's more important to find everything than it is to do it blind.

bonus verdict: while the graphical improvements on the 3ds are wonderful, and the added fishing minigame is great, i mostly preferred the controls of the original. new players may not notice the difference, though!

Oracles of Ages & Oracle of Seasons (2001)

original console: gameboy color

available on switch: not at the time of writing, but nintendo has confirmed it is coming to nso (basic)

also available on: snes (super gameboy), gcn (gameboy player), gba, original ds (backwards compatibility), 3ds (virtual console), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 16-25 for oracle of ages, 15-21 for oracle of seasons, leading to about 31-46 hours total

mainline game: no

sequel: not linked to any other games in the series, but they're technically both sequels to each othjer - more below

story-heavy: no, about medium-low

edge level: low

the premise: link hears the triforce calling out to him, and when he investigates, is thrown into one of two words, depending on which game you're playing. these two games stand alone, but they can also be linked via a code so that your playthrough on one can be transferred over to the other (like golden sun, if you've ever played those games). you can choose which game to play first. at the end of your playthrough, you can get a code, which can then be entered on the other game - complete both and you get a secret special grand finale. somewhat like pokemon games, the games complement each other in their differences, thoguh the differences here are much more drastic - they have different overworlds and dungeons, a slightly different set of items, and a different way of interacting with the world (by either traveling through the ages or by changing the season). oracle of ages is focused on puzzle-solving, while oracle of seasons is focused on combat and action.

the good: what a dense and detailed little adventure these games are! with a double of everything from items sets to overworlds, there's a ton to do. the worlds have a ton of variety and can feel endless at times. and since they were built on (i think) the link's awakening engine, gameplaywise it's kind of like getting to play a really good sequel to that game for the first time...twice. the lore is fun, the lands are fun, there's a couple of unforgettable tracks i still listen to. since you can play the games in either order, there's a good bit of REplayability involved, because hardcore fans will want to experience it both ways - leading to two playthroughs of each game, meaning four total playthroughs, for up to a whopping total of 92 hours of gameplay. talk about bang for your buck!

the bad: the codes are a real pain in the ass to work with, and you really can't get by without them. not only is it essential for moving your file from one game to the other, but you can also use them to get special items from one file to another. it's SO EASY to enter these codes in wrong and SO TEDIOUS to have to check them character by character. here's hoping the nso version has a better way (though i'm not holding my breath).

the verdict: an absolute must for any 2d zelda fan. first-time players, i HIGHLY recommending playing ages first. there's an important side-character in ages whose story gets resolved in seasons, but not if you play seasons first. of course, if you really like the games a lot, you can always start over and play them in the other order for different cutscenes.

Wind Waker (2002)

original console: gamecube

available on switch: no :(

also available on: wii u (hd port), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 25-60 hours

mainline game: yes

sequel: technically, this is one POSSIBLE sequel to ocarina of time (which splintered the timeline, leading to multiple possible branching paths), though it takes place hundreds of years later. it has the same ganondorf from that game, but you should understand everything just fine whether you've played oot or not.

story-heavy: yes

edge level: medium-low - there are some more serious moments, and this is technically a post-apocalypse story, but overall this is one of the more bright and joyful games

the premise: this is a hyrule that was flooded by the gods when the hero of an ancient era could not show up to defeat ganondorf. people live on former mountaintops, now islands, interconnected by only the sea, and sailing is very dangerous. when link's younger sister is kidnapped, he has to leave his little island and go on a sea-faring adventure with pirates in order to get her back and unlock the mysteries of the hyrule beneath the waves.

the good: the game is vibrant, colorful, beautiful, and full of life. even if you don't like the cartoony art style (and i have mixed feelings), you can't deny the ambiance. there's a new combat system where for the first time you can pick up the dropped weapons of enemies, and the cast is stand-out - the "zelda" of this game is more hands-on than in any other title, and ganondorf is at his most sympathetic here, not to mention all the minor characters and their various sidequests. the characters are truly some of the funniest and most endearing yet - this game will make you laugh out loud. the enemies and bosses are unique and fun to grapple with (special shoutout to helmaroc king) and there's no shortage of stuff to do.

the bad: firstly, we have to mention the art style, which has been a little divisive over the years. it won't be for everybody. i like it for the most part, because you couldn't get the same vibe without it, but i do wish it was just a little less stylized - just a little! secondly, the game is just not finished. the development was rushed, leading to the cutting of an entire dungeon and a poorly-implemented second half where the focus shifts from exploration and dungeons to a near-ENDLESS fetch-quest for triforce pieces which involves a LOT of incredibly tedious and time-consuming sailing. (as kids, some trips were so long we could just set the direction and leave the controller on the floor while we took a bathroom break.)

the verdict: overall, the flaws aren't enough to ruin what is a truly great adventure. fans of the more serious games (hi! me!) may find themselves wishing wind waker had leaned into its post-apocalyptic setting and mysterious drowned world aspect more, and fans of lighter zeldas will find themselves wishing the damn thing was finished, but overall, everyone should find it's worth at least one playthrough, unless you absolutely cannot tolerate the visuals. fans of lighter zeldas, combat, and pirates will all love this one.

Four Swords (2002)

original console: gameboy advance

available on switch: no :(

also available on: 3ds (single-player remake), potentially pc (idk if emulation of the original is possible considering the connectivity, but you could almost certainly emulate the remake)

average playtime: 3-17 hours

mainline game: no

sequel: technically, it's a sequel to minish cap, but minish cap hadn't been made yet, so whatever

story-heavy: not at all

edge level: non-existent

the premise: link pulls the ancient "four sword" in order to defeat bad guy vaati and becomes split into 4 selves. this game was the first multiplayer zelda, and you had to have three friends, all with their own gameboys and link cables, to even play this bad boy. from what i understand in most of the game you just compete to see who can get the most rupees? a single-player version was released on the 3ds a few years later but i don't know if you can still buy it legit or if the 3ds store was shut down. since it was so inaccessible, pretty much no one played this, including me, so i can't give it a proper writeup. probably nobody reading this will ever get a chance to experience four swords how it was originally meant to be played either, but you can find this game's spirit in similar titles like four swords adventures or minish cap, which are much more accessible.

Four Swords Adventures (2004)

original console: gamecube

available on switch: no :(

also available on: uh yeah that's it. just the gamecube. you may be able to emulate it on pc though - i've never tried

average playtime: 15 hours

mainline game: no

sequel: teeechnically a sequel to the original four swords, but nobody played that, it's fine

story-heavy: not at all

edge level: very low

the premise: a sequel to four swords, this was intended to be the sleeker and (somewhat...) more accessible version. you can play this one as a single player, but my brother and i did it on co-op with a link cable and a gameboy sp - just the two of us, and no need to find two other friends - we each controlled two links each, to simplify it.

the good: the game is FUNNN as hell. the graphics are sleek as fuck because it's a 2d game running on a system capable of rendering 3d ones (just look at those flame effects!), the gameplay is addictive, and co-op puzzles are a blast. nintendo has always come out strong when it comes to in-person multiplayer (even if they have yet to catch up with online multiplayer...) and this is no exception. for anyone who ever wished they could sit on the floor and play zelda with their siblings the same way they played mario kart or smash bros, this game is a dream come true.

the bad: this game is still so GODDAMN inaccessible. we were lucky enough to have the gameboys and link cables we needed, but i don't have any idea how you'd go about playing it with other people now without some extremely tedious emulation or buying some extremely old (and expensive) gaming equipment. sure, emulating the single-player version on gcn is no big, but the game really shines in its multiplayer aspect, which is all but impossible for most people to enjoy now. it's incredibly frustrating.

the verdict: if you're lucky or rich enough to own a gamecube, a gameboy, and a link cable (multiple gameboys and link cables?) in 2023, AND you have a friend or three to play it with, please pick this one up. unless you just hate 2d zeldas, it is a FUCKING blast, and zelda fans the world over are probably envious they can't experience it for themselves.

Minish Cap (2004)

original console: gameboy advance

available on switch: yes, with nso (expansion pack)

also available on: original ds (backwards compatibility), 3ds, wii u (virtual console)

average playtime: 15-27 hours

mainline game: no

sequel: no, but it is a prequel to the four sword series (made well after those games were released)

story-heavy: medium-light - about the level of most 2d zelda games

edge level: very low - this is such a bright and cheerful adventure

the premise: in an adventure meant to explain vaati of four sword fame's origins, you meet teeny-tiny people known as the minish, who live in teeny-tiny spaces all over hyrule. they mend shoes, use pots and old boots as houses, fight dust mites, and leave surprise gifts such as rupees and hearts beneath pots and the like to help adventurers. by shrinking and growing you explore various nooks and crannies and solve a ton of puzzles, and through fusing items called kinstones with strangers you can change or uncover more of the overworld and unlock even more secrets

the good: the game is beautiful, bright, and fun. the soundtrack is catchy, the gameplay is addictive, the puzzles are very fresh, and the kinstone fusion feature means you'll be doing a lot of backtracking and replaying to see all this game has to offer.

the bad: besides zelda, i didn't find myself terribly enthralled with most of the cast. the reused sound effects from other games can be nostalgic sometimes but sometimes they feel a bit cheap, since they had to be downsized; they're the audio equivalent of a pixelated jpg. and as great as the soundtrack is, it suffered from the same thing.

the verdict: my nitpicks with this game are minor - i think it's a wonderful and fresh entry into the series, and probably one of if not the best 2D zelda. if you like 2D zelda at all, you'll want to pick it up.

Twilight Princess (2006)

original console: gamecube AND wii (i know)

available on switch: no :(

also available on: wii u (hd port), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 30-56 hours

mainline game: yes

sequel: technically, this is another possible sequel to oot, taking place 100 years later, and involving oot's ganondorf. (it has nothing to do with the timeline wind waker is on.)

story-heavy: yes, very - the cutscenes look great, the mocap for this game is wonderful

edge level: very high

the premise: 100 years after ocarina of time, darkness falls across hyrule in the form of "twilight," desolating every part of hyrule that it touches by turning its denizens into ghosts, and forcing princess zelda to surrender to zant, the king of the twilight realm. when link's village is destroyed by this twilight and he is turned into a wolf, he leaves to save zelda, save hyrule, and save his home. this game was meant to be a gcn title originally, but development was delayed for so long that they began co-developing it for the wii and released it as a launch title for that console.

the good: where do i start? this game was intended to be a return to oot's more realistic artstyle after many years of the wind waker art style in spin-off games, and was in fact a spiritual remake of oot in many ways. it is similar graphically, tonally, and gameplay wise - it's the oot they wanted to make in 1998, only with a more powerful engine, and fans loved it - check out this video of its announcement at e3 - it still gives me chills. famously, this game introduced horseback combat, which the devs had really wanted to implement in oot and were forced to give up on due to hardware limitations. the cast and the puzzles are all great on this one, and the world is huge and full of surprises, but of particular note is your partner midna, who comes with a better story and more personality than any partner before or since (sorry, king of red lions). lesbians and their associates will LOVE whatever the hell she has going on with zelda in this game. twilight princess also has the most fleshed-out swordplay of any zelda game - the various techniques you learn from the ghost swordsman are fun as hell, and every single boss battle in this game absolutely fucks.

the bad: despite its high moments, the story in this game is just a little weirdly paced. ganondorf was brought in kind of suddenly, and link's childhood friend from his village, whom the story focuses on a lot, is maybe not the most compelling character (sorry to ilia fans - she's okay, just not my favorite). not everybody liked this game's emulation of oot, and some people felt it was uninspired. personally, my gripes are mostly about the dual-console release; having played both versions multiple times, i think they both suffered from being co-developed. because the wii version uses motion controls and most people are right-handed they switched to a right-handed link for the wii (BLASPHEMY), meaning they actually flipped the entire world horizontally, and there are times when the laziness of this action is very apparent when playing the wii version. while the controls are superior on the wii (there's a mandatory shooting minigame that's all but impossible on gcn connected to a crt tv), the graphics just...look a little aged for a wii game, whereas they look damn good for a gamecube game. the hd remake fixes this, but since it's only on the wii u, fucking nobody has played it, and it remains inaccessible to most players except through emulation.

the verdict: if you can get your hands on this, do it. despite its flaws it's a classic meat-and-potatoes zelda adventure. fans of combat and more serious stories will especially love this one. personally, i preferred the gcn version because of left-handed link, but i do think the motion aiming on the wii (and wii u?) was a great addition, so it's a matter of preference as far as if you want the hd graphics and what controller feels correct in your hands.

Phantom Hourglass (2007)

original console: nintendo ds

available on switch: no :(

also available on: wii u (virtual console), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 17-31 hours

mainline game: no

sequel: a direct sequel to wind waker - not sure if you need to have played that to understand; from what i can tell there are actually a few plotholes

story-heavy: medium, i think?

edge level: low, as far as i know

the premise: after tetra gets sucked into a ghost shiop ad vanishes, link has to set sail on a new ship to find a way to free her. that's all i really know because, okay, up-front, i did not finish it. i did not give it a fair shake. it's got great reviews and they can't all be wrong, but i found controlling link with a stylus (the ds had no control stick) frustrating, the game hard to see (the graphics are trying to emulate ww's style on less capable hardware), and the story uncompelling (tetra? a damsel??). i know a lot of people really love linebeck and i wanna love him too one day, but until then, get your answers from the people who love this game!

Spirit Tracks (2009)

original console: nintendo ds

available on switch: no :(

also available on: wii u (virtual console), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 20-33 hours

mainline game: no

sequel: to wind waker and phantom hourglass, technically, though it takes place 100 years after those games

story-heavy: medium, i think?

edge level: low, as far as i know

the premise: 100 years after wind waker and phantom hourglass, a new hyrule has been founded above the waves and it has TRAINS. for some reason zelda gets zapped out of her body and can now follow you around as a cool ghost who possesses bigass statues to help you out. that's right, your partner for this game IS ZELDA. the main theme for this game is so catchy it's a crime. i never played this since i didn't finish phantom hourglass, but it looks so fucking cool that i wanna power through phantom hourglass despite my initial reservations just so i can take a crack at it.

Skyward Sword (2011)

original console: wii

available on switch: yes, as an hd port

also available on: wii u (virtual console & backwards compatibility), pc (emulation)

average playtime: 30-58

mainline game: yes

sequel: no - in fact, it's the prequel to every zelda, being that it's the very first one in the timeline

story-heavy: yes, very

edge level: mostly low, but it does have its serious moments

the premise: taking place at the very start of zelda's long and complex timeline, this game seeks to explain the origins of hyrule's creation and and some of its mythology. link and the other proto-hylians live in islands high above the clouds and attend the school for flying around on bigass birds, not knowing if there even is a world below, until one day zelda (not a princess but the headmaster's daughter) gets dragged down by a dark force, and link must venture into the land below to save her.

the good: skyward sword is oozing ambiance. a standout area of this game is lanayru desert, in which you can use a timeshift stone to shift the area directly around you back in time by 1000 years or so and watch it come to life with greenery. this soundtrack is fully orchestrated, we get to hear zelda sing (her first voice acting debut!), and when the motion controls are on, they're REALLY on. sometimes the swordfights feel like actual duels. the cast of side-characters all get a lot of development (shoutout to my man groose!), and the villains are creepy and quirky. the dungeons in skyward sword are especially good - the cistern in particular is one of the best in the game, but we can't forget the ghost ship or the sky temple either. minor spoilers for the story, here, but finding out WHY there are so many zelda games and the struggle against evil never ends (it's a literal curse) was really cool and really reframed how a lot of people saw the series and the characters - it's a lot more tragic that they have a fate they can't escape from so long as zelda fans want more games.

the bad: minor spoilers for the story here too. as far as prequels go it did not make a lot of sense. there's nothing about the three goddesses we've come to know and love, only about the minor goddess hylia, and the ancient hyrule features species that don't ever make another appearance mole guys and seahorse dudes. there aren't any zoras or gerudo or koroks/kokiri, there's only one goron, we only see two sheikah...it feels so far removed from the hyrule we know that it doesn't feel like a prequel at all. additionally, when the motion controls aren't good, they're REALLY bad - especially on the switch version, which has less precise controls than the wii. finally, while i personally didn't mind it (puzzles!), a lot of people disliked how linear the overworld was and complained there was no exploration. another common frustration, one which i share, is how much the game holds your hand. (this famously inspired toriel in the game undertale to LITERALLY hold your hand and do the puzzle for you.) this game will present a puzzle and then have the nearest npc (most often fi, poor fi, she undeservedly gets all the blame for this) explain how to do it before giving you even one chance to try for yourself.

the verdict: it has its flaws, but i still enjoy it a lot. i think more experienced players will be very frustrated with it at times, and people who hate motion mechanics or constant alerts/lots of useless dialogue will be miserable. (you can turn motion controls off in the switch version but it feels unnatural because of how sword-swinging works.) on the other hand, the game's linear and hand-holdy nature actually makes it a perfect start for brand new gamers, especially given where it falls on the timeline.

A Link Between Worlds (2013)

original console: 3ds

available on switch: no :(

also available on: pc (emulation)

average playtime: 16-23 hours

mainline game: no

sequel: takes place at least 100 years after a link to the past, and even uses the same overworld! you don't have to play that to understand this though.

story-heavy: medium, about the level you expect for 2d zeldas

edge level: medium-high

the premise: link turns into a little flat guy so he can go more places! this is a sequel involving the inhabitants of lorule, a parallel world to hyrule, one without a triforce. go back and forth between kingdoms to save hyrule from suffering the same fate, all while trying to kick a giant rabbit guy out of your house.

the good: the puzzles in this one are really fun and fresh, the old overworld map feels super nostalgic, the music is charming, and being able to tackle the dungeons in any order is a nice touch. i especially loved getting to know certain inhabitants of lorule.

the bad: the non-linear style won't be for everyone, and i wish i had been able to spend more time getting to know hilda in particular.

the verdict: this in my opinion is one of the best 2D zeldas - if you're a 2D zelda fan, especially a alttp fan, don't miss it!

Hyrule Warriors (2014, 2016, 2018)

original console: wii u

available on switch: yes, as a remake/collection

also available on: this is complicated. the game was originally released on wii u, then ported to the 3ds with new added content but i think mising some other content, and then FINALLY released on the switch with ALL the content. you can also emulate any version on the pc

average playtime: 17-38 hours, though people report up to a whopping 366 hours to 100% it

mainline game: no

sequel: no

story-heavy: medium-ish. there's cool cutscenes but it's not that deep

edge level: low, this shit is just balls to the wall crazy-ass fun

the premise: a crossover between dynasty warriors and zelda. turn zelda into a beat-em-up and add cameos from popular characters doing increasingly batshit anime fighting moves. what's not to like?

the good: this game is insane. the electric guitar soundtrack, the cameos, the nostaliga - it's all here. the gameplay is good mindless fun you can really sink your teeth into, and despite it not being the point i had fun running around and exploring all the maps. there's so, so, SO much to do (366 hours!) you will literally never see the end of it.

the bad: the OCs are maybe not my favorite people. i don't know if they come from other dynasty warriors games but they were a little annoying and truly, uh, underdressed. also, as someone who likes to 100% games, it annoys me that i'll likely never 100% this, just because of the sheer timesink/grinding required.

the verdict: if you like fighting games and combat, this is for you. if you're into zelda for the serious story stuff and the puzzles, give it a pass. completionists beware, 100%ing this game is NOT for the faint-hearted.

Tri Force Heroes (2015)

original console: 3ds

available on switch: no :(

also available on: pc (emulation)

average playtime: 14-26 hours, but up to 56 hours to 100% it

mainline game: no

sequel: takes place a few years after a link between worlds - not sure if you need to play that to understand this, but it seems unlikely

story-heavy: doesn't look like it

edge level: low. oh my god, he's in a little cheerleader outfit. look at him

the premise: i don't really know, i think you crossdress to gain superpowers and then solve puzzles with your buds. i didn't play this one because i didn't have 2 friends with a 3ds and a flexible schedule. apparently there's a one-player mode, but it just doesn't seem as fun, and the lack of a 2-player mode is sad because my brother and i could've rocked it. like the four swords series, this looks like great multiplayer fun, but it's inaccessible to people without the time or coordination to get 3 people together. it looks fun as hell, though.

Breath of the Wild (2017)

original console: dual launch on wii u and switch

available on switch: yes, obviously :)

also available on: pc (emulation)

average playtime: 50-100 hours, though to 100% everything and enjoy the dlc it could take up to 210!

mainline game: yes

sequel: technically, it's a sequel to everything, since it takes place at the end of (somehow) every timeline. but you don't have to have any prior experience to enjoy it

story-heavy: medium-heavy? this is the first zelda game with voice acting, and what cutscenes it does have are amazing, but you can expect to see only a very few of them

edge level: very high (this is once again post-apocalyptic), but not as high as majora's mask or twilight princess

the premise: link wakes after a 100 year sleep with no memory of who he is or what happened to the ruined world around him. explore a completely open world in your own way at your own pace, recover your memories, rescue zelda.

the good: this game hit the industry at a thousand miles per hour and six years later the hype still hasn't slowed down. this redefined the series and the genre in a way we haven't seen since oot in 1998. this game is revolutionary in the way that oot was revolutionary back then, but updated so that newer players find it just as surprising and refreshing as new players in 1998 found oot back then. the exploration, the physics, and the world are all totally unparalleled - three decades later, this zelda truly gets back to the original explorer and adventuring spirit miyamoto tried so hard to capture in the very first legend of zelda game all the way back in 1986.

the bad: as much fun as this world is to play around in, i found that most of my joy came from the exploration and not knowing what i'd find around the next corner. it's still a very, very, VERY good game, but i found that on my replay it just didn't have that same shininess that other games in the series do when i replay them. and, of course, because it's so different it's very divisive - there's no human ganondorf in this game, no dungeons - all your puzzle-solving comes in microdungeons called shrines scattered around hyrule. weapon durability is also a hotly debated feature - even i found it frustrating at times, although in many ways the forced improvisation it brings to the table is more than worth the cost of admission. and overall the enemies are all the same and have no real difference between them, even the bosses, and the boss fights kind of suck. it's a really good game, but it does have its flaws.

the verdict: this is the perfect starting point for anyone new to the series. many people have started with this game and learned about hyrule alongside the amnesiac link - i had an extremely interesting discussion once with someone on tumblr about how the game is different if you've grown up loving hyrule and see it get torn apart, vs if the only hyrule you know IS the one that's torn apart. both ways are wonderful experiences, and i think even non-zelda fans would find something to love in the freedom this game offers.

Cadence of Hyrule (2019)

original console: switch

available on switch: yes, obviously :)

also available on: pc (emulation)

average playtime: 6-11 hours, but you can add up to 12 more if you play the dlc

mainline game: no

sequel: no

story-heavy: not really

edge level: low

the premise: a crossover with crypt of the necrodancer, a roguelike rhythm game. there's no real story here except, notably, a brief cameo of a younger ganondorf, though his back is always turned to you. (if you could go back and kill ganondorf as a baby...)

the good: well, a rhythm game's gotta have good music, right? both the rehashes of the old songs and the new music are absolutely stellar here. i'm normally iffy on rhythm games but i found the gameplay addictive (there's a strong tactical element to moving around) and the exploration fun. getting to play as zelda (!!!) if you want is a great bonus, too. there's really nothing not to love.

the bad: the kind of movement you have in this game doesn't lend itself super well to boss fights most of the time. they weren't bad by any means but definitely one of the weaker parts of the experience.

the verdict: unless you hate rhythm games or hate fun, you'll like this one, especially if you're a crypt of the necrodancer fan or a fan of zelda's music in general. puzzle fans might be disappointed there aren't as many mind-twisters in this one, though.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020)

original console: switch

available on switch: yes, obviously :)

also available on: pc (emulation)

average playtime: 25-40 hours, though it can take up to 76 hours to 100% it

mainline game: no

sequel: a direct prequel to breath of the wild and its eventual but as-of-yet unreleased sequel tears of the kingdom

story-heavy: yes

edge level: relatively low, i'm told

the premise: so this is a prequel to botw, taking place during the era just before the apocalypse. i didn't finish it because it came out right around nov 5 2020 (iykyk) and then someone spoiled the ending for me and i thought it sounded stupid, so i was less motivated to play. what little i did play of it was great, though - it was exciting and fun in all the ways the original hyrule warriors was but bigger and badder in every respect, and with a little more of that somber botw flavor. i intend to finish before totk comes out despite my reservations about the story.

The Conclusion

it's a great time to be a zelda fan because out of the 22 games on this list, only 8 of them are unavailable on nintendo switch, and only 2 of those are what i would consider to be mainline games. that means you can access two thirds of the ENTIRE SERIES, spanning almost 4 decades, on a single console! your only limits are your time and your wallet. most of the ones that AREN'T available on the switch can be played on a 3ds, so if you have or buy one, nearly the entire series is at your fingertips. (you can emulate the shit out of your 3ds, btw, and play a lot of these gameboy, gba, and ds games for free - nintendo isn't looking anymore so they don't care.)

sorry i couldn't fully cover all games - i welcome opinions from people who have played games i've missed in the tags. when i do get around to playing them, i will come back and update this guide! expect an entry for totk eventually too. thanks for reading and i hope it was helpful to someone!

[the-soliloquies-of-sadists]

#372

“Well look at you.  Let me see.  Turn around.  Damn good job.  No stubble.  Let me see your pits.  Hell yeah.  Bend over I want to feel your crack….  Whew!  That’s smooth.  I’m glad that horrible faggy goatee is gone.  Now you look right; you look like a cunt desperate to take load after load….

“Did you get your friend to help shave you?...  And did you offer him your holes afterwards?...  Good boy.  Which hole did he unload in?...  Too bad.  I would have counted it towards your 10.  You cleaned out?...  Deep clean?  Good.  Good.

“All your shit secure in your locker?...  Did you put your phone on silent?...  Good.  Give me the key….  You won’t be needing this until I tell you that you are done here.  Until then, I will have it in my locker. 

“Speaking of locking things up, this is your new pecker cage.  I got you a size smaller.  That last one was too loose on you.  This is going to go on real tight.  Stop squirming.  It needs to be very constricting.  I don’t want you even remotely getting hard.  Today is about your urinal mouth and your cum dump cunt….  There!  The key to the lock will also be in my locker.

“Do not hide your cage.  Your towel must not be wrapped around your waist.  I want all the men back there to know that your caged pecker is of no use to anyone.  You are going back there to serve men.  Your holes are for their use as they want.  Your needs and wants are irrelevant. 

“I told you that I expect ten loads in your cunt by the time we are done here.

“Now, to get this going right, we are going to go to the dry sauna.  I was just in there, and there’s about five or six guys getting really sweaty, like I am.  In fact, rub your hands all over my chest.  It’s wet and sloppy hunh?  This is how a real man sweats.  My hair just traps it.  And I love everything about it.  I love the way it feels, the way it smells, the way it looks all of it.  And I love it when a boy takes the time to lick it off.  One thing, I know I have said this before, don’t ever lick my armpits and contaminate their wonderful smell by your licking.

“Oh man, I need your fucking mouth now.  I’m going to go back into the dry sauna.  I will take my seat on the top row.  I want you to come in a minute or so later.  Don’t look at any other man.  Focus on me.  Don’t put your towel down or pretend that you are there for the heat.  Just dive between my spread legs and take me down your throat.  Put on a fucking show.  At times suck on my hanging balls.  I will push you down to tongue fuck my sweaty shithole.  Let the other guys see what services you are offering.

“At one point I’m going to shove my cock into your cunt, and let the men know that your cunt is open for business.  You ready to do this?  I the fuck am.

“But before we do, come here.  You see the magic marker.  You know what’s coming next.  Lean forward.  What should I write on your forehead this time?  We did ‘TOILET’ last time.  That was fun.  But your focus is on getting ten loads.  ‘CUM DUMP’ is too long.  But we need a word to signify that you are load taking cunt.  How about that?  ‘CUNT’ it is.

“…Hold still.  I want these letters to be seen….  There. 

“Now get up and show me your cunt.  ‘CUM DUMP’ above your ass is needed.  “This is a new marker.  I was reading on line not to use it as it can’t be washed off for days.  Oh! I should have asked if you were going to work tomorrow….  Oh well, not my problem.  Let’s go get you loaded up.”

[thatsoanjie]

Lessons in tension

Sebastian Sallow x reader

Summary : You and Sebastian resolve the skirmish in Feldcroft, where Sebastian gets to witness your magical abilities firsthand. Family drama ensues. Back at Hogwarts, will things have changed for good between you and Sebastian? Or will the friendship last the lessons in tension?

Word count : 6.3k

Notes : Whew! Glad to get this one out there. This was an idea i've been sitting on for a while. Enjoy!

CW : Writing in details about a part of the In The Shadow Of Time quest... 1-2 lines that are gorier if you're not too fond of it lol.

Read my disclaimer and fair use notice here

The distant rumble of battle reverberated through the air as you and Sebastian hurried along the path to Feldcroft, the familiar cobblestone crunching under your feet. In the distance, you could see the dark plumes of smoke rising from the small village, curling like tendrils of a nightmare. The sky above had dulled, casting the entire landscape in an eerie, muted glow. There was a chill in the wind, one that cut through your robes and sent a ripple of unease through you.

Sebastian’s expression was grim, his jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his face stood out sharply. He hadn’t said much since the first signs of attack reached Hogwarts, but you could feel the worry radiating off him in waves. The desperation to protect what was left of his family—of his sister—was palpable, and you felt it too.

As the village came into view, chaos unfolded before you. Goblins swarmed the streets, their voices harsh and guttural as they gave orders to one another. Solomon’s home stood at the far end, fortifications shimmering as he worked tirelessly to hold off the onslaught, protecting Anne, who you knew was tucked safely inside.

Sebastian slowed, scanning the scene. “They’ve breached the perimeter,” he muttered, more to himself than to you. His hand hovered near his wand, every muscle in his body tensed, ready to spring into action. “Anne’s inside. She’s safe. Solomon’s strong enough to hold for a while, but...”

His words trailed off as his eyes flicked to you. There was a silent understanding between you. There wasn’t time for hesitation. Without a word, Sebastian drew his wand, and you both plunged into the fray.

You couldn’t help but admire the way he moved, his wand a seamless extension of himself. The spells that shot from his fingertips were precise, sharp, and relentless. He dodged a goblin’s swing with effortless grace, retaliating with a barrage of quick-fire hexes that sent his opponent sprawling. His movements were so fluid, so practiced, that for a brief moment, you allowed yourself to simply watch.

He was relentless—driven by something deeper than the need to fight. His need to protect Anne, his need to redeem himself for past choices, all of it was in the way he fought, his expression a storm of determination and pain.

You followed his lead at first, relying on your own wandwork, though the familiar hum of ancient magic buzzed faintly under your skin. You’d told him once, about the magic you could wield. The kind that didn’t rely on incantations or hand movements. The kind that answered to something far more primal. But Sebastian had brushed it off, teasing you at first, then simply chalking it up to exaggeration, to the overblown tales that often circulated among students. He had never believed it fully.

Not until now.

A goblin lunged at you from your left, its weapon raised high, and instinct took over. You sidestepped, your wand flicking as you sent a blast of Depulso into its chest. The goblin staggered back but didn’t fall. There were too many. They kept multiplying, flooding the village like a relentless tide.

Your magic stirred again—stronger this time. And you knew it was only a matter of time before you’d have to stop holding it back.

Sebastian glanced at you between spells, the same flicker of concern shadowing his features. He didn’t say it, but you could tell he was worried. Feldcroft was slipping, and you both knew that simple spells wouldn’t be enough. Not for long.

Another group of goblins surged from the far end of the village, overwhelming the villagers and the few Aurors who had managed to arrive. You cast another spell, but the creatures barely slowed. And then, just as one raised its axe toward Sebastian, you acted on instinct.

You didn’t shout an incantation. You didn’t need to.

The ancient magic surged forward as if it had been waiting, thrumming through your veins, your fingertips tingling with raw power. You raised your hand, and the air around you seemed to ripple, distorting for a brief moment. The goblin was lifted off its feet, caught in the invisible force, and before anyone could react, you slammed it into the ground with a deafening crack. The earth trembled beneath your feet, and dust rose from the crater left in the goblin’s wake.

For a second, everything stopped.

Sebastian turned toward you, his face drained of color, eyes wide. There was no teasing in his expression this time—only disbelief, awe, and something darker, something closer to fear. He had seen you cast powerful spells before, but this was different. This was raw, unfiltered, ancient power, and you could see the realization dawning in his eyes.

But there wasn’t time for him to fully process it. The battle raged on.

You could feel it now, the pull of the magic inside you, urging you to let it loose. And with each passing moment, the goblins kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. Your wand movements grew faster, more frantic, as the realization struck you that even with this magic, you might not be able to stop them all.

“Sebastian!” you called over the noise, as another group of goblins appeared on the horizon. “We can’t hold them like this. There’s too many!”

He nodded, his eyes still darting between you and the goblins. “I know.” His voice was rough, strained. “But we don’t have a choice.”

That was when you felt it again—the overwhelming surge of power, more potent than before, more insistent. Your ancient magic flared, burning brighter, and you knew what had to be done. Without a word, you stepped forward, letting the magic take control.

The sky above you darkened further, clouds swirling as a tempest gathered overhead. You raised your wand, the air around you crackling with energy. Blue light arced from the tip of your wand, a wild, electric storm forming in the sky. You could hear the low rumble of thunder, the buildup of something immense, something destructive.

And then, with a single motion, you brought your wand down.

Light blue thunder, brilliant and blinding, streaked down from the heavens, striking the goblins in front of you with terrifying precision. Four of them collapsed instantly, their bodies convulsing in the electric storm before they lay still, smoke curling from their forms.

The village fell silent. Even the remaining goblins hesitated, staring at the destruction you had wrought. The storm above you dissipated slowly, the last remnants of the blue light fading into the clouds. You stood there, breathless, your hand still tingling from the raw energy that had coursed through it.

Sebastian was staring at you again, but this time, he wasn’t moving. His wand was still at his side, forgotten. His face was unreadable, a storm of emotions fighting for dominance. He swallowed hard, taking a hesitant step toward you.

“You… you weren’t exaggerating,” he said, his voice hoarse. His eyes were wide, still locked onto you as if he couldn’t quite believe what he had seen. “I thought you were just—” He shook his head, unable to finish the sentence. “That was...”

You waited for him to continue, unsure of what he might say. The battlefield was littered with the bodies of goblins, and yet, all you could focus on was the way he looked at you now—both terrified and captivated, both in awe and at a loss for words.

Sebastian finally stopped in front of you, close enough that you could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest. His eyes were darker now, filled with something deeper. “You could’ve told me,” he murmured, a hint of something accusatory in his tone. But then his lips twitched, a ghost of a smile, and he added, “Not that I would’ve believed you.”

You gave a small, breathless laugh, feeling the tension slowly ease out of your body. “I did tell you,” you reminded him. “You just didn’t want to listen.”

His expression softened, and for a moment, the two of you stood there in the quiet aftermath of the battle, the sounds of distant conflict fading into the background. The magic had left its mark on both of you, but there was a new understanding between you now. A shift that neither of you could ignore.

“I didn’t know,” he admitted, his voice quieter now, almost reverent. “But I do now.”

And in the lingering silence, you knew that things had changed. This was no longer just a fight for Feldcroft. Something far deeper had been unleashed—something that neither of you could walk away from.

The goblins' numbers had dwindled, their forces scattering like shadows as the last of their kind fell beneath the weight of your combined spells. The crackling tension in the air began to settle, but the smell of smoke and blood still clung to the village. Your chest heaved with the effort, each breath pulling in the heavy scent of battle as you and Sebastian dispatched the final goblin together.

But before the adrenaline could fully subside, a new danger emerged. In the corner of your eye, you saw her—Anne. She had stepped outside the house, no longer under Solomon's watchful guard. Her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground, weakened and unaware of the goblin charging toward her, its jagged blade raised high.

Sebastian’s body moved before yours could react, his expression darkening with the speed of his choice. His wand snapped out in a motion that was almost instinctive, and with a sharp flick, he cast the spell you never expected him to use.

“Imperio!”

The curse shot from his wand, striking the goblin mere feet from Anne. Time seemed to slow, and in an instant, the goblin’s wild charge halted. Its eyes glazed over, the frenzy of battle drained from its features as Sebastian’s control took hold. The goblin’s hand, still gripping its weapon, trembled slightly as it turned, locking eyes with Sebastian. There was no sound, no words spoken aloud, but you could feel the silent command pass between them like a whisper in the air.

The goblin raised the blade to its own throat.

And with a sickening, fluid motion, it dragged the weapon across its neck. Blood sprayed the ground as the goblin collapsed, lifeless, at Anne’s feet.

For a long moment, the village fell into an eerie silence. The only sound was the soft gasp of breath escaping Anne’s lips as she stared at the scene before her, wide-eyed, her face ashen with shock.

Sebastian was panting beside you, his wand still raised, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. His eyes were wild, filled with equal parts relief and fury. He had saved his sister. But in doing so, he had crossed a line.

You could see it in the way his shoulders hunched slightly, as if the weight of the curse itself had pressed into him. He turned toward Anne, taking a step forward, but before he could reach her, a cold, familiar voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

“Boy, what have you done?”

Solomon’s voice was thick with disbelief, his expression one of horror and anger as he stood in the doorway, his wand clutched tightly in his hand. He had witnessed everything—the curse, the bloodshed, the moment Sebastian had made his choice. His eyes locked onto Sebastian, and there was something bitter in them, something that stung deeper than mere anger.

Sebastian flinched at the sound, spinning to face his uncle, but the defiance was still there in his eyes. His hand tightened around his wand as he faced Solomon, unrepentant.

Sebastian shouted, his voice raw with emotion. “Saved my sister, I—”

“With an Unforgivable Curse!” Solomon's voice boomed, drowning out Sebastian’s protest. His face twisted with a mix of fury and betrayal, his eyes flickering to the blood-soaked goblin on the ground. “From that damned book, no doubt!”

You watched as Solomon’s words hit Sebastian like a physical blow. The mention of the book—Salazar Slytherin's personal book of spells and magic —seemed to pull the air from his lungs. For a brief moment, you saw the boy you had known for so long, the one who was always so sure of himself, crumble under the weight of Solomon’s accusation.

Solomon shook his head, disgust etched into every line of his face. He turned toward Anne, who still sat on the ground, her hands trembling as she stared blankly ahead, clearly in shock from the ordeal. With a gentleness that seemed at odds with the fury radiating from him, Solomon bent down and scooped her into his arms.

Anne didn’t resist. She didn’t say a word. She only looked at Sebastian as if seeing him for the first time, her eyes filled with something you couldn’t quite place. Fear? Sadness? Disappointment? Whatever it was, it cut through the air between them like a knife.

“Your father would be ashamed,” Solomon said bitterly as he straightened, cradling Anne against him. His voice was quiet now, but no less harsh. “You’ve gone too far, Sebastian.”

Sebastian took a step forward, his face pale, his hands trembling. “Solomon, I—”

“Stay away from her.” Solomon’s voice was ice, his eyes burning with an unyielding anger. He looked at Sebastian with such disdain that it made your stomach turn. “From all of us.”

And with that, Solomon turned his back on him, leading Anne back inside the house without another word. The door shut with a dull thud, leaving the two of you standing alone in the fading light of Feldcroft.

Sebastian didn’t move. He stood frozen, staring at the closed door, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. His wand hung limply at his side, and for the first time since the battle had started, you saw the weight of his actions crash down on him all at once.

The silence between you was deafening.

You didn’t know what to say. There was nothing that could fix this—nothing that could take back what had just happened. You watched him, waiting for something, anything. But he just stood there, his chest heaving, his eyes fixed on the house where his sister and uncle had disappeared.

When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. “I had to.”

There was no conviction in his words. No fire. Just the raw, unfiltered pain of someone who had believed, truly believed, that they were doing the right thing—only to be cast out for it.

You stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm, hoping to ground him in the present. “Sebastian…”

But he pulled away, his face twisting into something desperate and broken. “I had to,” he repeated, as if trying to convince himself more than you. His voice cracked, and for the first time, he looked at you—not with the stubborn defiance you had come to expect, but with the hollow, haunted look of someone who had lost everything.

You stood there, watching Sebastian as the last light of day slipped beneath the horizon, leaving the two of you in a twilight that felt colder than it should have. You opened your mouth to speak, to say something that might reach him, but the words felt clumsy, inadequate. What could you say to someone who had just been cast out by his own family?

“Sebastian…” you began softly, trying to keep your voice calm, steady. You reached out again, tentatively placing your hand on his arm. “You did what you thought was right.”

For a brief moment, you thought you saw a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, pain, maybe even relief. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by that same indignant fire that had been burning in him since the moment Solomon had spoken.

“Don’t,” he snapped, shrugging your hand off his arm as if it burned him. “Don’t try to make this better. You saw what happened.”

“I know,” you replied, trying to keep your voice level. “I was there. But that doesn’t mean—”

“I saved her!” Sebastian interrupted, his voice rising. “I did what I had to. You heard him—he would’ve let that goblin kill her if it meant sticking to his precious rules.”

You could feel the tension building between you, thickening with every word. He was spiraling, his emotions crashing together in a storm that he couldn’t contain. You’d seen this before—the way he lashed out when he felt cornered, when he didn’t know how to deal with the mess of feelings inside him. But this time, it was different. This time, the stakes were higher, and the damage was already done.

“I know you did,” you said, keeping your voice low, trying to pull him back from the edge. “But Imperio, Sebastian? You—”

“What?” he barked, rounding on you, eyes blazing. “You’re going to lecture me now, too? I did what I had to. What was I supposed to do, let her die?”

“No, but—”

“Then don’t,” he snarled, his chest heaving with anger. “Don’t stand there and act like I’m the one who’s done something wrong. I saved her. I saved my sister, and I’d do it again. I don’t care what Solomon thinks.”

His words stung, more than you wanted to admit. You weren’t trying to make him feel worse, but it was like he couldn’t see past the hurt and rage burning inside him. Every attempt you made to comfort him seemed to ricochet back, twisted into something bitter.

“I’m not saying you did the wrong thing,” you said carefully, taking a step toward him. “But you have to—”

“I have to what?” His voice cracked, the emotion pouring out in sharp bursts. “I have to follow their rules? Their pathetic rules that don’t protect anyone? Look where that got us!”

“Sebastian, I’m trying to help you—”

“Well, don’t!” he shouted, cutting you off again. His face was flushed now, the anger radiating from him in waves. “I don’t need your help. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

The words hit harder than you expected, and you felt a sharp pang in your chest. It wasn’t true. You knew it wasn’t true. But right now, Sebastian was too blinded by his own pain to see anything else.

“You’re not thinking straight,” you said, your own frustration starting to seep into your voice. “You’re upset, and I get that, but—”

“Of course I’m upset!” he shouted, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “My uncle just threw me out of my own family, in front of my sister, for saving her life!”

You stepped closer, trying to close the gap between you. “But I’m here, Sebastian. I’m with you. You don’t have to deal with this alone.”

His face twisted, a mix of frustration and something raw, something vulnerable that he was trying to hide. He turned away from you, his hand running through his hair, gripping at the strands as if he could pull himself back together.

“I need space,” he muttered, his voice low and strained. “I can’t… I can’t do this right now.”

The words caught you off guard. You’d been so focused on getting through to him, on making him see reason, that you hadn’t expected him to pull away like this.

“Sebastian—”

“I need space,” he repeated, more forcefully this time. He finally turned to face you again, his eyes dark, filled with the same turmoil you’d seen in him since the skirmish started. “I can’t… I just can’t deal with this. Not with you, not with anyone.”

The finality in his voice struck deep, and before you could respond, before you could even process what he was saying, he had already pulled away from you entirely.

He took a step back, his wand raised slightly. “I need time to think.”

And then, with a sharp twist, he Disapparated, the familiar crack echoing through the village, leaving you alone in the quiet devastation of Feldcroft.

The moment Sebastian vanished, the quiet in Feldcroft became unbearable. The weight of his words, the tension that had crackled between you—it all lingered in the air, settling into your bones like the cold creeping through the evening mist. The village around you felt distant now, the battle's aftermath fading into the background as your mind raced.

You glanced toward the sky, feeling the familiar tug of your broom at your side, and without hesitation, you mounted it, kicking off the ground and soaring into the air. The wind whipped through your hair, the cold bite of the evening air sharp against your skin, but it did little to clear your thoughts. Each beat of your broom’s ascent felt heavy, your heart still pounding from the argument that had just unfolded.

He needs space. That was the last thing he’d said, his voice raw and defensive. He couldn’t even look at you when he said it. But the way he’d stormed off, the fire in his eyes—it wasn’t just anger at Solomon, or the situation. It was directed at you too. That’s what hurt the most.

You flew faster, the familiar outline of Hogwarts in the distance growing closer, but the rush of wind and speed wasn’t enough to quiet the storm in your mind.

Why didn’t he listen? you thought, replaying the conversation in your head, again and again. Every word felt like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit. You had been trying to help him—trying to make him see that he wasn’t alone in this. But he couldn’t hear you. Or maybe he didn’t want to.

Your hands tightened on the broom handle as the memory of his voice, sharp and bitter, echoed in your mind. “I don’t need your help. I don’t need anyone’s help.” The way he said it—it felt like he was pushing you away on purpose. But why? Was it just the heat of the moment, or was there something deeper?

The wind howled in your ears as you banked sharply to the left, circling over the Forbidden Forest. The trees blurred beneath you, but your mind stayed locked on him. Sebastian had always been stubborn. He’d always acted out when things didn’t go his way. But this… this was different. There had been a darkness in his eyes back there, something you hadn’t seen before. Something that unsettled you.

He’s not thinking clearly, you told yourself, trying to make sense of it all. He’s hurt. He’s scared for Anne. That’s why he lashed out. But even as you thought it, doubt crept in. The look on his face, the way he had recoiled from you when you tried to comfort him—it was more than just fear or anger. It was something deeper, something that felt like betrayal.

You flew faster, pushing your broom harder, the wind stinging your eyes as Hogwarts loomed closer on the horizon. The castle, usually a comforting sight, felt distant now, its towering spires indifferent to the turmoil brewing inside you.

You couldn’t stop the questions from flooding your mind. What if I pushed him too far? What if trying to help only made things worse? You replayed the moment he pulled away, the way his voice cracked when he said he needed space. What if that space turned into something more? What if he didn’t come back? What if, in trying to help him, you’d only driven him further away?

The thought chilled you more than the wind cutting through the air.

You were nearing the castle grounds now, the familiar stone walls and sprawling courtyards coming into view. The students milling about below were oblivious to the chaos you’d just left behind, to the storm raging inside your mind. The last of the daylight faded, and the lanterns along the grounds flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the cobblestone paths.

But you didn’t land.

Instead, you hovered above the grounds, circling aimlessly, unable to bring yourself back down to reality. You needed to calm down, to think clearly. But the more you tried, the harder it became to silence the thoughts spiraling through your head.

Was this all your fault? You had tried to make him see reason, to stop him from slipping further down the path he’d been walking ever since he found that cursed book. But had you pushed too hard? Was there something else you should have said? Something else you could have done?

You shook your head, frustrated with yourself. He’s the one who cast Imperio, you reminded yourself. He’s the one who made the choice. But the justification felt hollow. You had known Sebastian for years. You knew the weight of his choices, how he carried every decision like a burden. And now, after what happened with Solomon, that burden had only grown heavier.

The cold wind brushed against your face, bringing a shiver as your broom slowed, drifting above the castle’s silhouette. You sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on you as your mind raced with possibilities.

Maybe he needed space. Maybe he just needed time to come to terms with everything that had happened. But there was a part of you—an ever-growing part—that feared he wouldn’t come back. That the darkness you’d seen in his eyes tonight had taken root, and no amount of space or time would pull him back from it.

You lingered in the air for a long moment, staring down at the familiar grounds of Hogwarts below, where everything seemed so normal, so untouched by the chaos that had unfolded in Feldcroft.

The weekend had stretched out in front of you like an endless expanse of silence. You hadn’t seen Sebastian since he Disapparated from Feldcroft, and though you’d spent those two days trying to focus on anything else, your thoughts kept returning to him. Each moment alone was a reminder of the unresolved tension hanging between you, like a string pulled too taut, threatening to snap.

Monday morning came, and with it, the cold clarity of routine. You entered the Potions classroom with a knot of nerves coiled tight in your stomach, trying to steel yourself for what was bound to be an awkward day. The moment you crossed the threshold, your eyes instinctively sought him out, and there he was—Sebastian, sitting beside Ominis near the back of the room.

They were quiet, both of them. Ominis had that usual calm presence about him, but there was something different in the air today. The easy banter between them was missing, replaced by a muted stillness. Sebastian hadn’t said a word since you walked in, though you could feel the weight of his presence like a shadow in the room.

You chose a seat farther from them than usual, trying to give him the space he’d asked for. It felt unnatural, the distance between you, but you respected his need for it. Every part of you wanted to bridge that gap, to reach out and talk to him—to fix things—but the memory of his voice, sharp and defensive, echoed in your mind.

I need space.

So, you gave it to him. You sat through the first half of the class in silence, your attention only half on Professor Sharp’s lecture. Occasionally, your gaze would flick toward him, but he never once looked your way. He and Ominis exchanged a few quiet words, but otherwise, the two of them seemed almost as isolated as you felt.

Your mind wandered to Feldcroft, to the skirmish, to the way Sebastian had looked at you after Solomon’s outburst. His face had been so full of conflicting emotions—anger, fear, hurt. You wondered if any of those feelings still lingered. Or if he had simply shut them all away, the way he sometimes did when the weight of everything became too much.

Professor Sharp’s voice droned on in the background as you absently twirled your quill between your fingers, your thoughts far from the classroom. It wasn’t until a sudden jolt of motion beside you that your focus snapped back to the present.

A cauldron at the front of the class had begun to bubble over, its contents spilling out in a cascade of thick, green smoke. Professor Sharp muttered something under his breath, trying to contain the mess, but the fumes had already started to spread through the room, filling the air with a strange, acrid scent. Students began to shift uneasily in their seats, some coughing, others pulling their robes tighter around themselves to shield from the stench.

You grabbed your wand, instinctively readying yourself to cast a charm to clear the smoke, when a sharp tug of laughter reached your ears.

It was Sebastian.

He was laughing, quietly at first, but the sound grew louder as the chaos in the classroom unfolded. You looked over at him, and for the first time all day, you saw a flicker of something familiar in his eyes—amusement. Ominis had a bemused smile on his face too, though he remained much more composed.

Professor Sharp was too preoccupied with the cauldron to notice, but you couldn’t help it. You chuckled, the tension in your chest easing just slightly. It was ridiculous, really, the scene in front of you. A class full of advanced students, and here you all were, helpless against a puff of noxious fumes.

Sebastian must have caught the sound of your laughter, because his gaze flickered toward you, just for a moment. Your eyes met across the room, and there was something in his expression—something softer, less guarded than it had been all morning.

He gave a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head, as if to say, Can you believe this?

The gesture was simple, but it was enough to crack the ice that had settled between you. The knot in your stomach loosened, and for the first time since the fight, you felt like you could breathe again.

Professor Sharp finally managed to clear the smoke, waving his wand with a flourish that was a bit too dramatic for the situation. The class settled down, students murmuring amongst themselves as they tried to recover from the brief interruption.

You caught Sebastian’s eye again, and this time, there was no tension in his gaze—just the slightest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. It wasn’t much, but it was something. It was a start.

Ominis, ever perceptive, leaned toward Sebastian and muttered something under his breath, and though you couldn’t hear what he said, you saw the way Sebastian’s lips twitched in response, the way his shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.

You didn’t speak for the rest of the class, but the silence between you felt different now. Less heavy, less strained. There was still so much unresolved, so much left unsaid, but that moment—the shared laughter, the glance across the room—it was enough to remind you that not everything between you was broken.

When the class finally ended, students began filing out, chattering amongst themselves as they headed to their next lessons. You lingered for a moment, gathering your things slowly, not wanting to rush off just yet.

Sebastian and Ominis stood by the door, talking quietly. Ominis gave Sebastian a gentle nudge, and though you couldn’t be sure, it looked like he was encouraging him. And then, before you could fully register what was happening, Sebastian’s gaze found yours again.

This time, he didn’t look away.

He nodded, a small, almost tentative gesture, but it was enough to make your heart skip a beat. You nodded back, the corners of your mouth lifting in a tentative smile.

It wasn’t much. But it was enough to give you hope.

The evening was quiet, the soft hum of the common room fading as students retreated to their dormitories for the night. The day had been long, and though your body ached for rest, your mind was still too restless to surrender to sleep. You lay in bed, the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the window, casting silver streaks across the room. The events of the day played in your head on a loop, but none of it felt settled. The space between you and Sebastian, though cracked, still felt like it hung in a delicate balance.

Just as your thoughts began to spiral again, a gentle tap at the window broke through the stillness. You sat up, recognizing the familiar silhouette of Sebastian’s owl, Brescia. Her dark feathers gleamed in the moonlight as she pressed her beak to the glass, an unmistakable glint of impatience in her eyes.

You hurried over to let her in, heart already quickening. With a soft flutter, she landed on your desk, a letter tied to her leg. Her gaze followed your movements with a knowing look, as if she was privy to all the unsaid words between you and Sebastian.

With a slight smirk, you untied the letter, your fingers brushing against the parchment as you unfolded it. His handwriting, sharp and deliberate, sprawled across the page:

---

I suppose you’re still fuming at me for Disapparating like that? Or maybe you’re grateful I saved you the trouble of lecturing me any further?

Anyway, I’ll spare you a thousand apologies, as I’m sure you’ve already rehearsed a list of reasons I’m an idiot. You’re not wrong, of course. But if you’re keeping count, I did technically save the day… in my own way.

Don’t give me that look—I know you’re reading this with a sigh.

I won’t pretend to have everything figured out, and yes, I’ve made a mess of things. But you already knew that about me, didn’t you?

Rest easy, yeah? You’ll need your energy if you plan on scolding me more tomorrow.

— S.S.

---

You couldn't help but roll your eyes at his cheeky tone, though the corners of your mouth lifted in a smile. There was a warmth in his words, a familiar playfulness that felt like the Sebastian you knew—sharp but softened, still the same boy beneath the layers of pride and defensiveness.

Grabbing a quill and parchment, you leaned over your desk, quickly scribbling a response:

---

Fuming? Perhaps just a little. I’d say you have a flair for dramatic exits.

But you’re right—you are an idiot. I’ve known that for a while. And just so we’re clear, you saving the day doesn’t absolve you from everything else. So, no, don’t think you’re getting away that easily.

But I suppose you’re lucky I find your cheekiness tolerable. Maybe even charming…

Sleep well, Sallow. Try not to get into any more trouble before the morning.

---

You attached the note to Brescia, who gave you a brief but knowing look before taking off through the window again. You didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes, you heard the familiar flutter of wings outside, and sure enough, Brescia returned, another letter in tow.

Unfolding the parchment, you immediately recognized the shift in his tone:

---

Charming, am I? I’ll take that as a victory.

Though, if you ask me, you’re the one who's dangerously charming. Do you have any idea how distracting it is trying to concentrate with you around?

I suppose I’ll have to find a way to get through the day despite it.

But since we’re being honest…

Wouldn’t mind a distraction right now.

Yours,

— S.S.

---

You felt a warmth rise in your chest, the playfulness of his words blending with something more. The tension that had weighed heavily between you seemed to shift, lightening with each exchange. It felt like a dance, a back-and-forth that was so familiar yet laced with new, unspoken feelings.

You grinned, grabbing your quill again:

---

Distracting? I’d say that’s mutual. It’s almost unfair, really.

And I’m certain you’ve mastered the art of being a distraction yourself.

But don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll find ways to make it through the day.

As for right now… well, I could say the same about distractions. But it’s late, and you’ll have to survive without me for one night.

Try not to get too restless, Sallow.

---

You sent Brescia off again, your heart racing slightly as you settled back against your pillows. The dormitory was quiet now, the soft sounds of your fellow students sleeping filling the air, but your mind was far from calm.

Another few minutes passed before Brescia returned, her claws tapping lightly on the desk. The final letter was slightly longer, the ink on the parchment bolder, as if he’d written it with more intent:

---

You’re making this difficult, you know. But I suppose that’s only fair.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking…

How about we put these distractions to good use? Meet me in the library tomorrow night for some studying. I promise to behave. Mostly.

And who knows, maybe you’ll find it more productive than you expect.

See you there?

— S. S. 

---

Your heart skipped a beat as you read the last line. It wasn’t just the idea of studying—it was the way he asked, the unspoken invitation to put aside the tension and be together again. A subtle olive branch, wrapped in flirtation but carrying something deeper. Something that felt like a step forward.

You quickly penned your response, a smile tugging at your lips as you wrote:

---

Studying? Are you sure you can handle that kind of focus around me?

But fine. I’ll meet you in the library.

Just don’t expect me to go easy on you, Sallow.

Yours,

---

Brescia took off for the final time that night, disappearing into the dark sky, and you finally allowed yourself to relax. You lay back in bed, the warmth of his words still lingering in your mind, a mix of excitement and anticipation blooming in your chest.

Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but for now, there was hope. And perhaps something more waiting for you in the library tomorrow night.

***

Another long one! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. As usual, requests are open. Happy month of October!!

[bridgetotheskyyy]

Sirenic - Kishibe

Kinktober Masterlist

Warnings: 18+, smut, stripping, strip tease, blowjobs

A/n: Day 31: Stripping! We're done, and we arrive at the end with a cute little Kishibe romp. Whew, this has been an ... interesting month for sure. But I'm finally done! (I've got more prompts I haven't finished but shhhh). I love Kishibe and I like to think he loves me back asdfgh -

Word count: 1.8k

Read on ao3

“Why would a devil be in a strip club?”

At the club’s entrance, you looked over your shoulder at Kishibe with a playful shrug. 

“I don’t know, Kish,” You said. “Maybe devils like to twerk their shit too? Don’t be so judgy.”

 You did a little dance, attracting unneeded attention to yourself with others in line. The bouncer unhooked the sling and allowed you inside where you sounded off with murmurs of, “No, he’s with me” and “Yes, he’s my father.” Kishibe refused the bait, though allowed himself an alleviating eye roll before following you. 

Upon entering, the mood shifted, blurred. The lights of the club flared blue and purple, washing over the gyrating attendants. He found you among them, winking back at him, and somehow having the decency to let him catch up to you.

“I’m glad you’re in such a cheerful mood, but,” Kishibe leaned into your ear, “if you call me your father again, I’ll kick your ass.”

You feigned shock, hand to your chest. “You’d never. You love my ass too much.”

“Try me.”

“All right, fine! I remember when you used to be fun!” You leaned into him with a chuckle. “Is daddy okay, though?”

He eyed you. “Depends on how you say it.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” You motioned your head forward, smiling. “Let’s do this thing.”

He followed you — to where, he wasn’t sure — without question or word. Kishibe was thankful for the respite. He could only bear so much teasing, could only bear so much tugging on his heart. He had known you for so long now; you were impossible not to fall for. But you played games, and he was too old to delude himself into thinking you held any sincere interest in him.

Kishibe turned, glanced at the stage to where the strippers were, pole between their swinging legs. They twirled and beckoned to the crowd, and he couldn’t help but feel like this would be a more fitting career for you, with all your sirenic sensibilities.

“She’s beautiful.”

Your voice tore him from their trance. Kishibe raised his brows. 

“Didn’t know you swung that way,” he said. Inwardly, he sighed; why were the good ones always lesbians?

“I don’t have to,” You said. “I have eyes. So do you, apparently.”

You gave him a once-over and went on ahead. Kishibe tilted his head. Was that … jealousy? No. Nah. He was just overthinking it. Maybe you just thought better of him to be the kind of man distracted on the job.

You led Kishibe to where, he guessed, were the backrooms of the club, where men played double to be teased. You whispered something to a man in sunglasses and he went away, leaving the two of you alone in the dark VIP.

“Here’s the deal,” You said. “We can’t let the devil know we’re here; we’ve got it cornered. You asked why it’s in a place like this.” You shrugged. “I honestly don’t know why it’s been frequenting strip clubs, but if we scare it off we’ll never know.”

“Right,” Kishibe said.

“You’re gonna be bait,” You said. “I’m going to secure the perimeter. If this gets ugly, we’ve got to find a way to evacuate all these people. You good with that?”

“Sure,” Kishibe said.

“Signal to me if anything goes wrong,” You said. “Don’t wanna lose you any time soon.”

“Nothing will go wrong,” he waved you off. “Just go.”

You nodded and, without ceremony, disappeared through the curtains.

Kishibe settled on the velvet couch. He sighed. God, he was tired. He wanted to go back to the good ol’ days, when devils got off on fear and and depression and existential sadness. That was simple. Now they got off on nut, too? 

Kishibe waited for what could have been hours. He lit a cigarette and put a game face on, taking in the quiet of the —

The lights dimmed, leaving the room in a primordial darkness. The only light now came from behind the curtains. Kishibe perked. This is it.

The curtains were drawn back by beautiful, feminine hands. The crimson light grew stronger. But it was no devil.

Kishibe froze, cigarette falling from his fingers to singe the floor.

You … You were standing there. You were in a pretty, sparkling crimson halter dress, split down the middle to expose your tits and complemented with black pumps. You smiled at him with red lips. Red red red.

“Hey, Daddy,” You said.

“(Y/n).” Kishibe swallowed in a dry mouth. “What — What —“ God, he was a malfunctioning Macbook. 

You walked toward him, one pretty leg after the other. You stepped on his cigarette to put it out.

“Careful,” You said. “Don’t wanna start a fire.”

You bent a leg between his legs and leaned in, a hand on his chest. Kishibe could only blink as your lips grazed his in a teasing kiss. You broke away, smiled at him again, this one sweeter than the last.

“I’m starting to think I’ve been tricked,” he said.

You giggled. “Time for a little show, though it’s a shame you don’t have any money for me — questions after,” You added, pressing a finger to his lips. 

You lovingly traced the scare lining his face before drifting away. Music simmered in, a slow, sensual beat. You swayed your hips, the hem of your dress creeping over the fat of your ass. Kishibe inclined forward without thinking, dumbstruck as your hands threatened to lower the straps of your dress. You looked over your shoulder at him and smiled. 

“Want me to take it off?” Your voice was coquettish and right out of his daydreams.

From within, Kishibe trembled, but from without, he tried to maintain his cool. A losing battle, especially in this lava room. “Yes.”

You raised your brows in challenge. “Everything?”

“… Everything.”

You giggled and turned away. You elbowed out of your straps, the arching movement exposing the fine plain of your back to him. Kishibe exhaled to see your pretty, kissable skin under the light. Your dress pooled at your ankles, and with no bra, you were left in nothing but your panties.

“Fucking hell …”

You laughed, and it was more sincere this time than any other since surprising him. Slowly, you trailed hands down your hips, two fingers from each hand slipping into the elastic of your panties.

Yes yes yesyesyes —

You retrieved those fingers with a snap and bent forward, giving him an ample view of your ass. You straightened up and swayed. You waved arms over your head and shook your hips, your ass following your swift movements.

You were gonna kill him. 

His cock twitched as your fingers dipped in your band again, and this time you pulled, bringing them down your thighs, legs … 

You turned around, now totally nude for him. Perfect tits bounced as walked toward him, until you stopped and lowered to your knees. You crawled to him, and Kishibe watched you watch him with predator’s eyes. You prowled, every second a century. Your hands slipped up his knees, past his thighs, and bumped against the imprint of his hard cock. 

“That didn’t take long, now, did it?” You palmed his erection triumphantly.

“How did you do this?” Kishibe could hear his own labored breathing. “How and why —?”

“I know the guy who owns this place,” You said, fiddling with his zipper. “He owes me a few favors.”

A few —?

Kishibe stopped there, all the blood needed for his brain to form more questions rushing to his throbbing cock. You brought the zipper down and slipped a hand into his boxers. His cock sprung in your face, your hungry face.

“Can’t believe you’ve been hiding this all these years.” You kissed his tip, precum glossing your lipstick.

Kishibe caressed your cheek, helped you dip your head. What universe was this? Where you were naked in front of him and about to blow him? There was a different reality where you were the devil and he had fallen for your schemes and was too besotted and hard to care. But this was reality and you were — were really — no. No, he was not about to get emotional abouta blowjob.  Kishibe couldn’t find it in himself to care about the multiple realities, only this one, where you took him in your mouth. You left lipstick prints on his dick and his mind turned to mush just imagining how long they would stay there.

Kishibe held the back of your head, fisted into your hair, and you seemed to like the harsh grip of his hand; you hummed your approval and took more of him.

“Fuck …” Kishibe hung his head back. The vibrations of your mouth rang up his spine. He could feel you bob your head. He shivered against the perfect, wet velvet of your mouth. You were going to do it, you were really going to tear him to pieces. 

You removed him from your mouth to run your tongue along the length of him, all before inviting him back in. Kishibe looked down at you, at your cock-stuffed mouth, but your eyes were already on him, unwavering. He could feel himself jerk in your mouth at the mere sight. Kishibe tightened his grip on your hair but did not pull you forward; it was more satisfying to know you were more than willing to do all the work to get him off.

He feared his grip could draw blood as your bobs intensified, your cheeks hollowing to milk him. You popped him from your mouth, replaced the wetness of it with your hand and pumped ferociously.

“Cum, Daddy,” You murmured your plea against his foreskin. “Cum for me, c’mon —“

Kishibe groaned, his hot cum roping from his cockslit. It landed on your face, painted your lips white. You sucked on his tip, willingly sucking out the rest he had to offer. You collected what landed on your face and the sight of you eating his cum was enough to get him hard again. Once you were done, you raised and sat by him, snuggled into him with a peaceful smile. You even tucked him back into his boxers before facing him expectantly.

Kishibe blinked. “So … You like me.”

You huffed. “What was your first clue?”

Kishibe shrugged. He could feel the warmth in his face, but despite the flush, forced his face neutral. His eyes wandered your face.

You sighed after seconds of no answer. “Yes, Kishibe, I like you. I’ve always …” Even in the dark, cherry room, your blush was evident. “I thought this would be a fun way of confessing.”

He brought you closer, landed a soft kiss to your forehead. “I could get used to this. Reciprocity. It’s nice.”

You chuckled into his neck and he hoped you would do it forever. “You can.” You raised, hands traveling his chest, unbuttoning his shirt. “And you will.”

[sarahsmi13s]

You Better Not Die

(not my gif)

pairing: jake ‘hangman’ seresin x actress!reader

characters: jake seresin, fem!reader, the dagger squad (mentioned), beau simpson, jake’s parents

warnings: mostly fluff, flashbacks, dogfighting, i believe that’s all

word count: ~3.7k 

a/n: the poll has spoken, i will be posting the others in the days to come 

also, i know the title is dramatic but trust me it makes since lol

quick summary: you’re an actress that ran into jake when your career first started

**********

Hangman’s favorite show is NCIS. Seriously, theman is obsessed with the show. I mean he watched NCIS with his parents growing up, so when he left to join the Navy that was how he felt close to them.

When Jake met you, you were just starting your career in acting and he was going to TOP GUN.

You had been visiting your uncle, as you were staying with him while you auditioned for TV shows and movies, when Hangman had quite literally ran into you.

*********

Jake walked out of the base gym, shirt off and towel around his neck. He was just whistling as he walked to the locker room, not seeing you as you rounded the corner.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry,” you apologized immediately.

He looked at you, brow raised. He originally planned to just snap at you, tell you to watch where you were going but your sweet voice made him stop.

He made eye contact and his brain fogged over for a second. “I wasn’t watching where I was going, that’s my bad.” He shook his head, “Neither was I, Sweetheart.” His eyes scanned you, making you blush. “I definitely would have noticed you.”

You couldn’t stop the giggle leaving your mouth, but Jake didn’t want you to. That was one of the prettiest sounds he’d ever heard.

He glanced around and back to you, noting the fact you were wearing civvies. He also watched the way your eyes darted back and forth as you also looked around.

“You seem lost.” You chuckled, scratching the back of your neck, “Uh, yeah, I’m looking for my-”

“Y/N,” a voice called from down the hall. Both you and Jake turned to see who the voice belonged to.

His eyes widened and he looked down at you, seeing a smile break out across your face. He wasn’t sure why he had butterflies in his chest - What am I? A 15 year-old girl? - but he knew one thing, that he wanted to see that smile directed at him.

He dreaded the words that were about to come out of your mouth. Praying that they weren’t what he thought they were.

“Uncle Beau!”

Whew!

Jake visibly relaxed, at least Cyclone wasn’t your father. I mean he was your uncle, but father is much more threatening.

He could work with uncle.

“Lieutenant Seresin? Class ended early today, what are you still doing here?” Cyclone asked when he approached the two of you. “It was still early in the day, sir. Work doesn’t stop for a little bit of rain.” Cyclone just nodded at him, appreciating his work ethic.

Cyclone turned to you, “How’d it go?” You nodded, “Pretty good. I just need to wait for call backs.” He smiled, “I’m sure you did great. Now let’s go, I’m starving.” You nodded, “Lead the way.” Beau nodded and walked ahead of you.

Hangman tilted his head and looked confused. “I don’t want to call you ‘Lieutenant’ next time I see you. Got a name to go along with those rippling pectorals?” Jake couldn’t help but to mirror your smirk and flex just a little bit.

He was glad that his chest and face were still red from his work out, it hid the flush very well. “Hangman-” He chuckled at your unamused face. “But, I let pretty ladies call me Jake.” You nodded, smiling, “Jake Seresin.” He had to swallow the groan when he heard you say his full name. You said it dreamily and it sounded heavenly to him.

“Y/N-” Cyclone peeked his head around the wall and saw you both still talking. He shook his head and marched to you.

He grabbed your wrist, “Nope.” He looked at Jake, “Hangman, no.” He pulled you down the hall and you waved to Jake, a beaming smile thrown in his direction.

He watched you disappear around the corner before smiling to himself.

“Hangman, yes.”

**************

That was 7 years ago and you and Hangman were engaged.

He had been called back for the Uranium mission back in May and that was when you were filming for a show you didn’t tell Jake the name of.

The crew met you when they got back. Not believing for a second that Jake had a famous actor as a fiancé.

Needless to say they were surprised.

Fanboy actually recognized you. It was cool.

Especially when a few months later he was texting you about the fact you were in She-Hulk.

Jake was so proud of you and how far you’ve come in your career, you being equally as proud of him and his accomplishments. He bragged about you like he bragged about himself.

He watched everything you were in, even if critics said it was bad.

If you had to do research for a role, he was right there helping and taking notes. He worked lines with you when he could. Sometimes he went with you to set, if he had the time, loving to watch you in action.

Unless it was a kiss or sex scene, then he just went to your trailer. One time though, your costar wasn’t feeling great and didn’t want to get you sick, it was a make out scene and Jake looked close enough to the costar that he just filled in for the kiss

*******

That all leads to now.

It has been about five months since the mission and the squad took up instructing positions at TOP GUN.

Currently it was raining, which meant no one could be in the air. But that didn’t stop Jake from waking you up before the sunrise to go to the gym with him.

Not that he thought you needed to, he just hated working out alone. And you gave him perfect motivation.

When you got home, you made Jake carry you from the truck to the house, it was the least he could do.

Using the bottom of your shirt, you wiped the mixture of sweat and ran from your face. “I’m in dire need of a shower,” you said, grabbing waffles from the freezer as an after workout snack.

Jake slid up behind you as you waited for you at the toaster. “Me too. Why don’t you say we clean two birds with one stone?” You turned to him, “Did you just say ‘clean two birds’?” “I did.” “Were you trying to be clever?”

A teasing smirk played on your lips and Jake just looked at you unamused, “You wound me. You know that? You really wound me.” You pouted, “I’m sorry, Baby. Let me make it up to you.” You pulled him down by his dog tags for a kiss.

He groaned into your mouth and pressed you against the counter, causing you to giggle into his mouth. His hands pulled at your workout clothes to get you closer to his torso. The sweaty fabric was pulled free from your skin, causing you to shiver as the AC cooled the soaked fabric.

You were so deep into this makeout session that you forgot about your waffles.

Yelping when the toaster popped up behind you, you pulled away from Jake. Jake had also flinched, more so at your yelp than the toaster.

You slapped his chest when he laughed at you and turned to get your waffles.

He leaned forward to take a bite of one, but you pulled it away, shaking your head. Taking a bite you poked his chest, “Get your own snack!” He jutted his bottom lip out, before smirking.

You rose a brow, “I don’t like that look.” Hangman laughed and picked you up by your thighs, hoisting you over his shoulder, making you sit your waffles on the countertop. “Jacob Glen, what do you think you’re doing?” He laughed again, “I found my snack.” He playfully bit your thigh before walking to the living room.

You smacked his butt, “Jake, put me down! I need to eat and then shower, I’ve got meetings today!” He stopped, grabbed your hips and placed you back on your feet.

“You do? It’s Monday, I thought you didn’t have meetings on Mondays?” You sighed, “I don’t, usually, but something came up on someone’s schedule and we had to move it up. I forgot to tell you, I’m sorry.” He shook his head, “It’s okay, Darlin’. I get it. But…” He felt like a child for what he was about to ask.

“Will you be back in time for the premiere of the new season of NCIS?” You bit your lip and grabbed his hands, “I wish I could give you an answer, Baby. But I don’t know, I’m sorry.” He nodded and looked down, again feeling like a child.

Jake was really looking forward to watching it with you. It was a Seresin tradition to huddle in the family room, order take out of some kind (usually pizza) and start the season together.

“I know how much it means to you. I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure those meetings go as planned and are on time. I might break some traffic laws.” Jake laughed, making you smile. He shook his head, “You don’t have to break traffic laws, just text me if anything has to change.”

He gestured to the tv, “It’s set to record and we can just watch it when you get here.”

You shook your head, “You hate breaking tradition…” Jake squeezed your hands, “I’d break every tradition for you.” You kissed his knuckles and giggled.

He chuckled, “What?” “If I told the squad the big bad Hangman was so down bad for his girlfriend that he’s willing to wait to watch a tv show, they’d laugh in my face.” He laughed, throwing his head back as he pulled you to him, “I don’t know about that. They know how much I love you.” He kissed the top of your head, “And how proud I am of you.”

Smiling, you leaned your head back, “I think you earned yourself a waffle, Lieutenant.”

********

After your shower you had a little bit of time to kill. So you cleaned while your hair air-dried and then got ready for your meeting before being out the door.

Hangman had to busy himself. He did laundry, went through all the items that were meticulously organized and wrote down what you were low on.

He actually started to pre-plan for the wedding, considering you had been too busy to actually start. Jake looked at venues, caterers, you know the broader things he knew you would be more likely to come to an agreement on. He knew how picky you were. One thing he knew you for sure wanted was a fall wedding.

Eventually it was nearing the time for the new episode to air, and he was anxious.

You haven't messaged except to tell him how the meetings had gone. Some had actually not taken as long as you thought. So everything was looking like you’d be home with time to spare.

Then you called.

Jake picked up immediately, “Hey, everything okay?” “Yeah, I’m on my way home. But the traffic is really bad right now. I’m looking at like another hour, maybe two.” Jake checked the time, it was 5 o’clock, the show aired at 7.

“That’s okay, it starts at 7. If it starts before you get home I’ll just pause it.” You sighed, with a little pained grunt at the end. You were definitely in need of a massage. “I’ll call you when I get close to the house.” “Alright, drive safe. I love you.” “I love you too, Jakey. See you when I get home.”

******

Two hours later, Jake had the TV paused as he waited for you in the kitchen.

He quickly called you, just to check on you.

“Jake, I’m sorry, I meant to call you.” “It’s okay, Sweetheart. I wanted to make sure everything was okay.” “Yeah, everything’s good. I actually put in an order for pizza. I’m going to pick it up right now, shouldn’t take me too long. If you want to go ahead and start it, you can just tell me what happens when I get home.”

Jake bit his lip, “Are you sure?” “Yes, Darlin’, I’m sure.” He smiled at the small twang in your voice that you picked up from being around him for so long. “Okay, see you in a little bit.” “See you in a minute, I love you.” “I love you too.”

Jake went to the living room, beer in hand and phone opening Pinterest. You made him download it after you found hundreds of screenshots of random projects in his gallery.

Anyway, he sat down on the couch and unpaused the TV, watching the opening scene. It was generally the same formula: random citizen finds the dead body of a naval officer or a marine, or something along those lines. Then the opening credits.

This time, it was a naval aviator: Lieutenant Theodore Ackley; call sign “Teddy”. Hangman chuckled as he sipped his beer, “And I made fun of Bob…”

He scrolled through his phone, not bothering to watch the opening credits; they were the same every time.

Jake reclined as commercials followed right after, planning to pause it once the show came back on. He also kept an ear out for the sound of you pulling in, that way he could meet you at the door.

He glanced up from his scrolling when he heard the distinct sound of the show returning. He reached for the remote to pause it, but he stopped when the screen filled with the tell-tale signs of a cinematic flashback.

It was of pilots in a dogfight.

Hangman knew he should have paused it, but something drew his attention in. He wanted to listen to make sure they got details right, made sure it was as accurate as a show could make it.

“Teddy! Teddy! I need some assistance over here!” Jake’s ear perked up, that voice was so familiar but it was somewhat muffled by the mask. 

“Athena! Athena! He’s on our tail!” The distinct down of a missile lock rang out. “Shit! They’ve got a lock! Hawk-” “Smoke in the air! Smoke in the air!” “Deploy flares!”

Jake needed to pause it, he really did. Not just for you, but for him, this was getting a little much. A little too accurate. But it was like a car wreck, he just couldn’t look away.

Flares got deployed. But he was firing guns quickly. “We took a hit!” “Shit!”

The planes dipped and dodge, breaking left and right. “We can’t shake this guy! Teddy, where are you!?” “I’m coming, Athena!” Hawk’s voice came over. “He got a lock again!” “Smoke Athena!” Hawk called out and hit the flares.

Nothing. They were out of flares, they had been out of missiles for a bit having shot down two others already. Athena turned to her backseater, “Hawk?” “We’re out of flares, A!” “‘thena, evade!” She tried her best, but as she did, her engine went out. They were hit.

And that’s when the nightmare stopped, a figure shooting up in their bed - well, off the floor.

That’s when Jake paused it. Mainly because the character on the screen; hair disheveled, chest heaving, wide, tear-lined eyes, and dog tags hanging from her neck, was you.

He was completely surprised. You hadn’t said a word to him about being in this episode, or about being on the show period. But he was proud of you.

He was so enveloped in the screen that he hadn’t heard you pull in or come inside.

“Jake? Baby?” You kick off your heels, making a mental note to pick them up later. “Jake?” You have an arm full of pizza and your purse is slipping from your shoulder.

You glanced to the couch seeing him leaned forward, looking at the screen. “Jacob, I could really use some assistance.” He didn’t respond. You took a glance at the TV and saw your face. You sighed and chuckled as you made your way to the island and sat your purse down along with the pizza boxes.

You padded over and sat down, making Jake look at you. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I wanted to surprise you.” He laughed, hugging you tightly, “Consider me surprised, Honey. I’m so proud of you.” You smiled, kissing his neck before resting your chin on his shoulder. “Thank you, Jake.” He pulled back and kissed your nose.

Gently, he pulled you up and shoved you to the bedroom as he moved to the kitchen. “Go get comfy and I’ll fix our plates.”

******

“No, no, no, what are you doing?!” Jake bolted to sit up on the couch.

Currently, your character was holstering her weapon and stepping to the suspect. “Rosemary, if you want justice for your brother… You need to kill me.” The girl on screen shook her head pointing the gun at the pilot in her grasp that was in Athena’s previous squad.

“No, she doesn’t need to do that.” You chuckled and sipped your soda. “Jake, just watch the show.” He looked at you, “I can’t ‘just watch the show’. I will be so upset if you die.” You rolled your eyes and grabbed your slice of pizza.

“No, ‘thena… I could never kill you. You were Charlie’s best friend.” “I was also his pilot. I was supposed to keep him safe and bring him back to you. It was my responsibility.” “You weren’t even supposed to be on that mission, Athena,” the hostage choked out. “If I hadn’t buzzed the tower, I would have been in the sky, not you and Hawk.”

Athena gave him a pointed look, and he shut up.

“Rose-” “No! Harper, I can’t kill you, I don’t blame you. Charlie wouldn’t want me to do that…” “But he would want you to kill and blame others?”

Rose bit her lip, “Lieutenant Ackley should have been there… Lieutenant Cole should have been there!” Your character nodded, “I know, but I don’t blame them. They couldn’t have done anything. I should have been better, the one time I got in my own head, it got your brother killed. I’m so sorry, Rose.”

Rose turned the gun on your character and let Cole go.

Jake grabbed your hand, “I swear, Y/N-” “Just watch, Jake.”

Harper pressed her head into the barrel, “Do it. Get justice for Charlie.” The camera focused on Rose moving her finger to the trigger, making Jake hold his breath.

“I can’t…” She dropped the gun and then fell to her knees. Jake placed a hand over his heart and let out the breath. “You’re so dramatic.”

Your character kicked the gun away and embraced the girl, comforting her before ultimately arresting her.

After some closing scenes and a heartfelt moment between Harper and the team, the credits rolled.

“Don’t do that to me,” Jake said, serious in his expression but playful in his tone. “But seriously, that was so awesome. I’m so damn proud of you.” He hugged you and laid you back on the cushions of the couch. He rested his head on your stomach.

You ran your fingers through his hair, “Thank you, Honey. I’m glad you think so. I worked really hard to try and play this character as accurately as possible. I hope I did it justice.” 

He nodded against your belly, “I think you did more than that. You work so hard for every role you play, and this one was no different. I can’t wait to see what you do with her in future episodes.” 

You rose a brow and stopped moving your hand, “What makes you think she’s in more episodes?”

Jake pushed himself up, “Because she’s a badass and a character with depth, she actually reminds me of Maverick, which I feel was intentional, not the point. And- And! She is going to be loved by the fans.” “Well I’m glad you feel that way. My biggest fan right here.” He smirked and kissed you, rumbling out a “Don’t you forget it” when he pulled away.

As he laid himself back on your stomach, his phone rang with a face time from his mom. “Who is it?” “Your mom.” 

You answered it, smiling at your mother-in-law, “Hi, Bonnie!” “Oh, Y/N, Darlin’ hi!” “Thanks Ma, I’m here too.” “Oh Jacob hush,” she said, a teasing smirk on her face.

“I just wanted to call and talk about the latest episode. We just finished it, and might I say it was great!” Jake smiled, “You’re tellin’ me. I loved it.” “Oh, and Y/N, sweetie, you did so good! You’re so talented!” “Thank you, Bonnie.”

She sighed, “I let it slide earlier, but Sweetheart you have been in our family for seven years now and will be in it for more to come, you can call me ‘Ma’.” Jake watched the heat tint your cheeks pink as you corrected yourself, “Thank you, Ma.” “That’s better.”

Bonnie continued to talk about the episode with you, even getting into how it was to work with your co-stars. Jake just watched, content with seeing you so happy.

“Well, John and I are so proud of you Y/N. We’ve got to be up for work tomorrow, so I better head to bed, John’s already asleep.” “I thought I could hear him snoring in the background,” Jake spoke up after being quiet for a few minutes. “Oh, Jake, I thought you fell asleep too,” Bonnie laughed on the other end. “No ma’am, just listening to my girl being passionate about her job.” She smiled at her son. “Well, I better head to bed. Goodnight sweethearts, love you!” “Love you too Ma,” you both said, biding her a goodnight and hanging up.

Jake nuzzled himself into your shoulder this time, but pulled back when he heard you sniffle.

“Baby? What’s wrong?” He brought his hand up to hold your face.

You chuckled, smiling as you shook your head. “Nothing, it’s just,” you laughed again. “I have so much support and it means so much to me. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without you. You have stood by me through every audition, good or bad. Through every hate comment and sexist interviewer. You, Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin, have been by my side throughout all of it.”

He smiled and brought your left hand to his lips, kissing your engagement ring, “And I plan to keep it that way.” You smiled, using your combined hands to tilt his face to kiss him, “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

************

thank you for reading! i hope you enjoyed!

thank you to those that voted for this story and i will be posting the others in the days to come

if you want more polls for the ‘x reader’s that are just chilling in my docs let me know or if you have any requests for more fics please do so!!

love you guys <33

top gun tags <3: @milesdickpic​ @luckyladycreator2​ @hotch-meeeeeuppppp​ @sebsxphia​

thank you guys for being here! i love you *mwah*

[quinloki]

Moonbeams filtered through the small window. The sound of the cracking wood echoed in the small room. Two prisoners, basking in each other's presence, taking solace in those calming moments, away from their captor and his viles fantasy.

Marco looks at them, admiring something that wasn't there in the last few months: blessing calmness.

Did they finally give up and accept their fate? He was there, almost there. Still, a small hope lingered in his chest, a small spark that never had the chance to get free.

Their hands gently caressed each other, fingers entangled with each other like a silent promise.

"How do you feel, yoi?"

They mumbled something, their eyes opening. Were they tired? They didn't look so well in the last few days...

"So, so...I'm just happy to be with you."

Despite all that, their words gave him a sense of calmness. His free hand is squeezing their shoulder towards him, embracing their body. It seems so cold.

"Do you want to sleep?" They shoked their heads, looking him directly in the eyes.

"Marco...thank you... Thank you for trying. I'm sorry that you needed to ...endure all of this for me."

Their breath was heavy; it seemed like they were trying to grasp enough air for their lungs.

"You don't have to thank me..."

"It must...have been hard to...keep it together...you were always strong and kind....you...you got it before everyone else. I was slipping away..."

Something was off... Their tone seems so off despite their words, their grip holding him like a lifesafer in the ocean.

"Why are you saying these things now? You don't have to-"

"But now...now you don't have to....worry about me anymore, all right?"

Marco's eyes opened in shock and fear. They smelled so strange...so...salty...When was the last time he actually saw them drink water?! Why did they look allways so suffering in the last days?!

"W-What did...what did you...."

"Do...do you know? S-Salt, if used in excess, can...

Marco's grip became stronger than before, holding them to his chest. He tried to catch their hearts, but he sensed only some slow motion. The realization came to his mind like a wave: they were poisoning themselves with something that could be easily taken from the ship or the kitchen, they were poisoning themselves for...how long? 

"Marco...you can fly, right?"

He couldn't say anything, only holding them, hoping that maybe that gesture could have secured them in this world long enough.

"You don't...have the shackles anymore...you can just fly...then fly, okay? For me?"

He didn't say anything. What did he have to say? From his throat only hiccups and moans of pain, his eyes watering. The tears that were able to get away from his glasses falling to their faces had a tired smile on them.

"I'm sorry...i'm I'm sorry, Birdie. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"It's all right. It's all right, okay? ...Just fly...It's easy for you...."

They kept on smiling and begging him to just go. He kept on repeating his manthra, hoping that at least some good gods existed in that world that could hear it—to not take them away, to let them stay longer, to let them know that he genuinely loved them. But the gods didn't respond, and their lives slipped away from his grip.

He didn't know how long he stayed there, crying over his lost treasure. But sure, the spark ignited a fire.

He wanted to fly away.

oh man.

OH MAN. That calmness coming from such a decision T-T oh whew. Oh that just ripped my heart right out too.

thank you so much for sharing - I'm glad to see the yandere chatter lately, and in this case the Marco/Reader/Shanks Yandere chatter specifically, is inspiring so many people to add their two cents \o/

I can imagine too, after going through all that, that Marco would just surrender to the phoenix entirely. That whole thing about zoan users not usually being able to maintain themselves when they awaken would be a comfort to him.

He'll fly alright, he'll break the Red Force to driftwood just by spreading his wings and the world will know the fury and terror of a legendary bird lost to grief. Whose even to say if Shanks and crew survive - the phoenix itself might rage against him directly, who knows how much one can affect the beast within when they're so deeply in love?

[emmy-dekarios-bg3]

Heart of the Weave - chapter 46

Gortash falls dead to the ground, thick crimson blood pouring out of his chest. We make intense eye contact for a moment while he lies there, losing life each second.

“I…love you…my daughter.” Those are his final words before the light leaves his eyes. Gale turns to look at me, a half-smile blooming upon his face. He gives me a moment to collect my thoughts.

“Are you alright, my love? I know that couldn’t have been easy.”

“I needed him alive to see if he’d be willing to turn from Bane. I guess his god was more of a priority than changing his ways. I guess I’m not really surprised.” I sigh, wishing he would have at least turned from Bane. I wouldn’t immediately build a bond with him, but who knows what the future would have looked like?

“I believe you did the right thing. For what it’s worth. I’m proud of you, baby.” Gale’s voice is reassuring and soft, which helps keep me from bursting into tears at this very moment. Karlach places her hand on my shoulder and I turn to face her, her eyes full of light and a glowing smile that lights up her face.

“Thank you for killing him. I know that was a burden on your chest, but you did it. And prevented any more potential harm to any innocents. I love you, friend. Sorry, I mean, BEST friend.” I chuckle, wiping a small tear that was dripping down my face. I shouldn’t feel so numb. I guess I’m really such a fool for even considering letting him live, but an even bigger fool for thinking he’d ever give up the ways of the tyranny god.

Gale places Jenevelle in her stroller, then gently pulls me in for a long, well-needed embrace. His skin smells of honey and a floral scent, which sucks me in even more. I close my eyes as I place my head on his chest. I have no words, nothing to say. I feel guilty, but also the feeling of happiness washes over me at the same time. I’m drowning in a pool of conflicting emotions.

“It’s alright to be speechless. If you need to step away to take it all in… By all means, baby,” Gale assures me. He understands, and our friends do as well. For that, I’m forever thankful.

“No, no. I’m alright. I’m more than alright, actually. It’s over and Rolan was never abducted. We’ll be okay and I’ll never have to hear about the Chosen Three ever again.” I lift my head and smile up at Gale, feeling a massive sense of relief as a weight is taken off my chest from the intense stress of this situation. “And most importantly, our baby is safe.” This time, my smile is filled with positive and assuring emotion rather than anxiousness and fear. I look over at Gortash’s lifeless body just roughly two feet away from me, glad that the evil has vanished but wishing he was willing to change.

Our way back home was magical. Gale holding my hand while I push the stroller and saying loving words to make me smile. He knows exactly what gets me. Wyll and Karlach bust out in song while we walk the trail back home, dancing and twirling through the forest. While it was a win, it was a moment of pure victory for those two. Gortash caused them enough suffering in the past, and they’ll never have to face that again. Halsin picks up fruits and vegetables from the fresh ground, purifying them so we can snack along the way.

“I do have to ask since my curiosity is eating me alive, but how did you know Rolan was not in Moonrise?” I was hoping no one would ask, but Halsin of course would be the one to bring it up.

“I saw him and his siblings at the bookstore in Waterdeep. Well, on our way to the towers. I’ve seen them there every day since I met Fanden; I knew he wouldn’t be there.” It took me until now to mention it because I honestly didn’t want to risk anyone backing out of our adventure, though I’m most certain no one would have.

“Whew! I’m glad he’s alright. I’m also thankful we didn’t have to blow up Moonrise.”

We stop one final time to camp for the night since it’s been a long day, and the others seem exhausted.

“Well, if we leave first thing tomorrow, we should make it back by lunch time. I had a fun time, you know, other than the dark circumstances and emotional damage,” Wyll mentions. I laugh and shrug, not disagreeing with him of course.

After everyone finishes eating, Gale and I crawl into our large tent with Jenevelle, who seems tired and ready to be home in her crib. I lay her down to change her diaper and get her ready for bedtime. Gale sits across from us, admiring my face without taking an eye off me.

“My love, I know I’ve said this before, but I am so proud of you. You made such a tough choice that I know is weighing down on you. I know you had hope that he would change, but some people never do. I mean, Ketheric seemed like he got worse, actually. You were courageous. Strong. You didn’t give up on our daughter.” Gale sniffles and fights back tears as he pours his heart out to me, though his smile is still present. I pick up Jenevelle and hold her close, gently rocking her to sleep.

“Thank you, I needed to hear exactly that. Yes, it was hard. I had so much hope and I was blind.”

“Being hopeful can either be a curse or a blessing, but never lose the hope you have, my sweet. It makes you the wonderful woman you are. And the person I love with my whole heart.” I smile and use my free hand to squeeze his, taking a deep breath and trying to process this entire day.

“I love you. I always will, through every obstacle and challenge that greets us.” As the crickets outside sing us goodnight, I lie here with the love of my life as we gaze into each other’s eyes. Jenevelle quietly snoozes in between us.

The past several days have only brought us a serene life thankfully. I decided to hide the photos and letter my mom sent me over a month ago rather than burn it. I can at least look at the happy times between my mother and Gortash, back before he worshiped Bane. I no longer feel sadness from the events that have occurred thankfully, and I’m welcoming every positive feeling that greets me.

Today, we’re all spending the day at the beach. I love how it’s walking distance from our tower, so we can enjoy the sunlight as we stroll to the crystal waters that practically lives in our backyard. Shadowheart and Astarion come with them, which is so nice because I haven’t seen either of them in ages!

Astarion takes Asher into the shallow waters, while Gale introduces Jenevelle to the beauty of the placid ocean. She loves baths, so I imagine she will be quite fond of the sea. The guys are talking and smiling, exchanging some sort of conversation. Whatever it’s about, they both seem heavily engaged in it. I love seeing them be best friends; who would have thought? When we all first met, they didn’t exactly like each other. Shadowheart and I lie underneath the blazing sun, getting a tan and a small break from the babies.

“I’m so glad we’re all hanging out again. Astarion needed some guy time, and I missed you like crazy,” she comments as she takes a swig of her lemonade.

“I missed you too. I was worried we would drift apart or something. Gods, it feels so nice to be living in peace for once without any burdens. I can finally get back to life again.” Shadowheart chuckles as she lies there, absorbing the energies of the sun. She knows how much we went through.

“I imagine. I’m thankful you’ve found peace.” As we converse and catch up on life, disregarding any horrible past experiences, I hear a familiar voice.

“Emmy!” Rolan. I can separate that voice from anyone else’s immediately. Shadowheart and I turn our heads to see him approach us. I wonder why he’s been in Waterdeep so much lately?

“Whoa, hey Rolan!” I cheer, a smile lighting up my face.

“Wow, you both brought your families today. How have you been?”

“Not too bad honestly! Say, what are you doing in Waterdeep? Did you move here? I feel like I’ve seen you a lot here lately.” He takes a sip from his wine glass.

“I actually got a job at the Academy, I’ll be Gale’s new assistant. Cal and Lia are watching the tower for me while I’m gone. I’ll eventually open up my own school or become a professor down the road, whichever comes first. I figured I could learn a thing or two from your intelligent husband.” Shadowheart and I both smile with pure intensity, thrilled at this news. This could mean another friend to add to our circle, or someone to discuss magic with for Gale’s sake.

“Rolan! That’s amazing!”

“Yeah, congrats! You’re going to accomplish everything you’ve ever wanted. I just know it,” Shadowheart adds. He smiles, revealing his cheek dimples. He has worked so hard to get where he is now, and he still has so much to look forward to.

“Why thank you, my dear friends. And I must say, I’m proud of you all as well. It seems you both have an incredibly happy family. After everything, you deserve it.” Shadowheart and I smile, exchanging glances and then look back at Rolan. We have come such a long way in three years. Wow… It’s hard to believe nearly four years ago, I found myself abandoned from a nautiloid crash.

“Thank you Rolan. Life is pretty peachy, if I do say so myself.” I admire my handsome husband who is playing with our infant in the water. She seems to really be enjoying herself thankfully, and nothing makes me happier than seeing my two favorite people enjoying themselves. Gale turns to face me, passing a smile with his perceptive and glistening chocolate brown eyes as he holds Jenevelle close to his chest. I mouth the words I love you to him as our eyes hold contact with one another. I couldn’t ask for a better life despite the insane circumstances.

[sylvan-librarian]

Even though the Magic community is mourning the loss of Sheldon Menery, casual and competitive players alike are still making time to yell at each other over their very important hot takes. Since I also am a "very" "important" person in the Magic Community (after all, I have over 5 followers on Tumblr and an average of .3 likes per Twitter post 😎😎😎), I'll go ahead and jump into the fray with my own very important take:

Magic is pretty fun

I quite enjoy talking about Magic fiction with people who are as obsessed with it as I am

Playing EDH with my usual home game crew is one of my favorite ways to wind down after a long week

60 card competitive formats are fun too, even though I'm complete ass at tournament play

Whew, glad I got that off my chest! Hope you all don't get burned by this hot of a take.

[starsomens]

I broke up with my narcissist (now ex) boyfriend last night. I need some folio or Noah fluff. Any suggestions?

🦔

OH BABY :(( I am so sorry that happened to you, but you know what I was so glad that you broke up with someone who is not good for you because you deserve the world always keep in mind that Noah and Nick would NEVER do that to you ever

Never settle for less keep your standards high and I am proud and happy that you are going to be moving onto better things. I currently haven’t read any new fluff but let me try and whip up something really quick and if anyone else has recommendations, please put them in the comments below.!

—————

“Baby?” Nick called your attention again

“Hm?” You didn’t mean to doze off your mind just kind of wondered whenever you were a bit overwhelmed whew “ sorry I was in my own head for a second. What did you say?”

“ I was asking how your day was, but are you Okay? Like are you really okay?” he asked you coming close and brushing all of your hair out of your face. He can always sense when they were something off and when you weren’t telling him the full story. At times, it wasn’t even worth trying to hide since he could see right through you, his hands come to your face And caress the apples of your cheeks with his thumb

“I…. nothing is wrong. I’m just not feeling OK but there isn’t a main cause either. Just feeling kind of stupid I guess? “ you press your lips into Line not sure how to communicate your feelings or what the feeling was deep in your gut

“Princess, no feelings or ever stupid and if you’re not feeling Okay, then you’re not feeling 100% and that’s completely fine. You don’t have to give me a valid, reason to not feel alright.” he kisses the tip of your nose. “ I just want you to tell me how you’re feeling so I can help you.”

His hands gently guide your body into his chest for a warm hug. You didn’t necessarily feel as much of the sadness as he did before the overwhelming amount of support and worthy felt with his words, and his gestures was enough to bring you to tears. He just held you there in the moment and sueded back-and-forth, Soothing you and leaving kisses in your hair.

[phregnancy]

I've got a hot take...are you ready?

I like the dark roots when Phil's hair is grown out a bit. I think it looks great. The bleach down to the root shows his pink scalp and I think the dark root looks better.

Whew. Glad I got that off my chest. I hope you have a good night!

🫢😔 #cancelled

[danses-with-dogmeat]

Hi!! I absolutely love your work and have for a very long time. Your writing always brings a smile to my face and this has become a sort of comfort blog. Do you think you could do Mirelurk Queen - i’m not giving up on you - for Butch and a depressed Lone? Have an amazing day and I'm so proud and happy for your accomplishments:);)!!!

Ohhhh yes, another FO3 ask! 😁

And omg, thank youuuu. I'm so glad this is a source of comfort for you, ahh, that makes me so happy! 😩 <3

Aww, this is perfect for him though. I feel like Butch would actually be super good at cheering you up 😊

Also, just a quick tw for depressive symptoms/thoughts!

A shiver passed through Lone's body as the evening wind blew up to the steel balcony. The railing was like ice where their fingers grasped it, and they loosed another deep exhale, trying in vain to steady their frenzied breath.

It's not your fault. Their trained inner monologue chanted like a meaningless drone, firing off the words that were supposed to mean something, that were supposed to make them feel better. Words that they were meant to believe, but never quite could.

Dad did what's best for me.

I was meant to leave the vault.

There are still people out here who care about me. Amata doesn't blame me. She still cares about me, even if I can't go back. It's what's best for me.

They outwardly scoffed at it all, feeling that dull ache in their chest as their hands continued tightening their grip on the metal railing outside their Megaton home.

Lone sighed as their heartbeat began to feel more regular, as their thoughts slowed their spiraling.

I'd better get back inside, if I'm gone when Butch--

The heavy metal door clicked open behind them, the creak of the old steel hinges ringing in their ears as the sound of light footsteps drew nearer.

"Lone, baby, what are you doing out here?"

A warm touch landed on their shoulder as he settled beside them on the balcony. They tried not flinch at the touch.

"Nothing, just... couldn't sleep." Even Lone knew their voice sounded hollow as they responded, but what could they say? He caught them a little off guard this time.

"Geeze, you're freezing, baby." Butch's hand encouraged them closer as his fingers brushed over the skin of their exposed arm. "C'mere."

Lone allowed it as their partner pulled them into a hug, not responding to the affection, but not denying him either.

They couldn't deny it, the warmth made them feel a little more alive than they had a moment ago.

"Even if ya can't sleep, it doesn't mean you gotta come out here and freeze, you know?"

Butch felt an increased pressure against his chest as they nodded to him, slowly sinking into his embrace, feeling their muscles unclench somewhat as his arms rubbed comfortingly over their back.

A shiver made their body tremble against his, and the cool of the air seeped in through Butch's thin undershirt and shorts as another breeze picked up.

"Whew, 'kay, let's get inside, huh?"

"You go on," Lone pulled away from his grasp gently, returning to their place at the edge of the rail. "I need a few more minutes."

Biting his lip, Butch took a step and a half towards the house, before turning back on his heel with a look of determination.

"Not to impede your freedoms there, hon, but another few minutes and I'll have an icicle for a partner."

"I'll be fine, Butch. Just go back to bed, I'll be there before you know it."

Despite the dismissal, Butch settled beside them, his forearms leaning against the rail as he looked out over the city with them.

"Perfect, then I'll just wait with you."

He heard your sigh, and the slight smirk he wore faded from his face.

"What's going on, baby? You can talk to me, you know?"

They stayed silent, the deluge of possible responses filling their mind until they were visibly overwhelmed. Blue-grey eyes bore into them as their lip trembled, and they cursed their body for giving away what they tried to hold so close to them. What they tried at all costs to ignore. Especially when Butch was near.

He left the vault on purpose. He couldn't wait to get out of there. How could he ever understand the way I feel? How could I ask him to?

He's happy now. Happier than he ever was in the vault, I can't ask him to try and sympathize with me. I can't make him feel regret for his choice, can't make him second-guess himself like that.

"Hey, earth to Lone?" His shoulder bumped theirs affectionately, "You got anything for me?"

Their head shook before they could think to do otherwise.

"Alright, hey, I get it. I can take a hint." He leaned back again, but still, his form remained beside them. Lone could see his thoughtful expression in their peripheral vision. "But you wanna know something?"

Lone's chin bobbed in a small nod, letting him know that they were listening still.

"Even if you don't wanna talk about it, I've still gotcha, okay? I'm not giving up on you, baby. Not ever, cuz you know what?"

Lone's eyes fell to him, their head at last turning so they could properly meet his gaze.

"Cuz you're my partner. You never gave up on me, even when I was an ass to you all those years. Even when you thought I'd never make it out here--" Lone opened their mouth, one hand coming up to pause his words, but Butch carried on.

"Ah, no, I know you thought that, don't try and deny it." He laughed, and Lone's lips were forced into a small smile of their own. "You still stuck by me though. That's what it is to be part of a gang. Looking out for your posse, no matter what. And you an' me? Well, there may just be two of us, but you're as much a Tunnel Snake now as anybody. Even more so, since we're an item, you know? So I'm gonna stick by you, Lone. No matter what, ya hear me?"

They nodded to him again, the smile sticking to their lips like sweet honey as they allowed his words to sink in.

"I hear you, Butch." They said so quietly, it was almost like they'd just mouthed the words. Their touch was louder, as their head fell to rest on his shoulder and they leaned in close.

[liviavanrouge]

The Final Boss Revealed

"Mother lookin' at me"

Livia: Ah, Mama!

Thea: I came to visit!

Lilia: *Forces a smile, having kept the blot problem secret* Thea

Thea: How is everyone

Silver: We're doing good mother, glad you visited

Kuro: Yeah..haha..

Thea: *Chuckles*

"Tell me, 'What do you see?'"

Thea: Livia you feel different!

Livia: *Perks up looking surprised*

Thea: You have a strange smell...is that perfume..

Lilia: I got it for her! Thought she'd like some!

Thea: *Sniffs Livia again and raises a brow* Hm...

Livia: *Giggles forcing a smile*

Thea: *Chuckles* Alright...I see..

"Yes, I've lost my mind"

Livia: *Yawns* I am sleepy!

Thea: Did she not sleep!?

Lilia: She's been pulling almost all nighters playing video games with Idia and her crew

Thea: Livia Garcia Vanrouge!! Go sleep this instant!

Livia: *Hurries away*

Livia: *Enters her room, and coughs up blot then sighs* Sorry Mama..

"Daddy lookin' at me"

Livia: *Taps the blot watch, letting it suck the blot out*

Silver: Liv?

Livia: *Touches her head stumbling* Dizzy..whew!

Lilia: Sit down, here's some water...

Livia: Thank you...

Sebek: *Stares worriedly, then sighs*

Nex: Drink slow..

Livia: Alright..

Lilia: *Watches Livia worriedly*

"Will I ever be free?"

Livia: *Leans against the window, her eyes dulling*

Silver: *Looks over, his eyes widened as black magic start pouring out of her* LIVIA!! WAKE UP!!

Livia: *Jerks up, looking startled* Huh!?

Malleus: *Sighs, covering his face* I can't take another scare

Lilia: Neither can I, my old heart is gonna stop pumping soon

Livia: *Stares at them, then looks out the window again*

"Have I crossed the line?"

Livia: *Sits on her hand and knees as blot chunks fell off her then falls over*

???: *Walks down the hall then freezes* LIV!

Kuro: *Runs down the stairs hurrying over to her*

Malleus and Lilia: *Appears looking alarmed* What happened!?

Lilia: *Stares in alarm then rushes over* LIVIA!

Kuro: *Picks Livia up looking startled*

Livia: *Lays motionless fast asleep, her chest rising and falling steadily*

Lilia: *Sighs in relief* This girl..

"All the things she said"

Livia: *Coughs up blot, her body trembing*

Yolan: HOLY SEVENS! H-HERE!

Livia: *Sighs, Yolan cleaning the blot way* Ugh...

Epel: Oh boy...

Aryan: YOU are gonna give us DEATHLY heart attacks!

Livia: *Chuckles* Sorry guys

"All the things she said"

Livia: *Enters ramshackle, going to Ollie's room*

Oz: *Peeks out of his room frowning*

Livia: *Walks into Ollie's room and looks over Grim, sucking the blot out of him*

Grim: *Turns over* Nyah...tuna~

Livia: *Turns and walks out, her eyes and veins turning pitch black*

Oz: *Ducks out of view startled* The hell!?

"Running through my head"

Sebek: My Lady!!

Livia: *Rubs her eyes yawning* Sebek?

Sebek: You fell asleep again

Livia: *Grips her hair, trembling* My head hurts...

Sebek: Let's get you to the dorm

Livia: Alright

"Running through my head"

Livia: *Covers her ears, sitting in bed hearing voices whispering in her head trembling*

???: Livia...

Livia: *Looks up*

Silver: *Climbs into Livia's bed, throwing the blanket over himself* I'm here, go to sleep now

Livia: *Smiles slightly and lays down, hugging Carrots close*

Silver: *Lays beside her, closing his eyes*

"Running through my head"

The Creeper(Livia): *Shrieks clawing and pounding on the glass*

Mrs Shroud: She's out of control...

Idia: *Bandaging his cheek* She attacked me...

Mr Shroud: Poor girl...

The Creeper(Livia): *Screams in rage leaving claw marks on the wall as she rampaged around the room destroying things

Lilia: Sh-She'll get better right?

Mr Shroud: .....I'm sorry..she won't

Lilia: *Stares in alarm then looks down stunned*

[dragongirlcloaca]

Whew, I sure am glad to have dug up, edited, and extended/finished this! This is a story I got a few chapters into ages ago, but I felt it lacked a real sense of direction. I really like how this revival of it turned out! It definitely draws from a lot of more personal feelings, on a few levels. Plus, it's cute and kinky, and you get to see more Bunny content. Enjoy!

[Master/Pet]

I make myself comfortable on Violet's couch as she works in the kitchen. I'm in the perfect headspace for the occasion; content, happy, and just slightly horny.

Violet returns from the kitchen with the fresh tray of cookies. She places the tray on the coffee table, and then slides a red box towards me.

"For you!" She says, smiling.

I open the box to find a collar made of soft supple, bright red leather. The fittings are brushed nickle, and three equally-spaced D-rings adorn the outside.

"This collar is very special! When you wear it, it means that I am in control of you. You can refer to me as Violet, Mistress, Master, Madame, or whatever you want, but ultimately, you will be in a place of submission to me."

I nod, my paws fidgeting in my lap.

"When you are wearing the collar, I will never violate your boundaries, but per your wishes and mine, you will certainly be humiliated! You are not to touch yourself, nor orgasm, without my permission, and on occasion, you will be bound and incapable of doing so regardless. Are you ready to begin?"

I nod once more, and she slips the collar around my neck, clicking it into place. The soft leather is snug against my fur, not too tight.

"Today, we're going to get into some basics of what it will be like wearing the collar. Come sit over here, beside me."

My ears perk up, and I rise and cross over to the opposite couch. Once I'm seated, Violet continues.

"Take off your underwear," she commands.

I reach under my skirt, hook my claws under my panties, and pull them forwards before kicking them off of my legs.

Violet gestures to her lap, and I reposition myself on top of her.

"Close your eyes and lean back, bunny."

I oblige and rest my head against her shoulder as I close my eyes. The feeling of her breathing beneath me is soothing. At first I tense in anticipation, but I slowly relax, melting into her body. I could have fallen asleep like that, but after a few moments, I finally feel her brush against my inner thigh, about halfway up. I breathe in sharply, feeling my tip involuntarily poke out of my sheath as warmth begins seeping through my core.

"Are you horny, bunny?"

I nod.

"Good, good."

She continues to slowly massage my inner thigh, and then stops. I feel her remove her hand from my skirt, and a second later, I feel both of her hands at my waist. She slides her hands underneath my shirt, and runs them through the soft fur of my underbelly until she reaches my first pair of nipples. She gently pinches them, and I lose a little more of myself to lust. "You have such a beautiful body, bunny...and it is mine to use."

She moved upwards until she reaches my bra, and slides her fingers under it. Her cold fingers grasp at my breasts greedily, claiming my body as her own. Satisfied, she continues to caress my chest with one hand as the other slides down my back, towards the spot at the base of my tail where-

"O-oh"

My head explodes, sending sparks of colour through the darkness behind my eyelids. As I arch my back and moan out loud, I barely feel my penis emerge further from its sheath, precum staining a dark circle against my skirt. Nor do I feel her fingers dance lower, until they're already skirting across the entrance of my hole.

"Poor bunny..."

She gently leans me on my side, so that my head rests against a pillow on the couch. Soft fingers unbutton my skirt, leaving me bottomless on Violet's lap. My breathing grows heavy as she gently swipes a finger against the leaking tip of my penis, and I hear the wet sounds of her licking her finger clean.

"You taste wonderful, bunny"

I'm a horny mess. My back arches again, eyes shut tight, begging for her to keep touching me. Thankfully, she obliges, and her fingers wrap around the base of my penis, coaxing the remaining length from my sheath. I hump into her hand as she toys with me, spines raking softly against her skin.

I hear the quiet whoosh of her using her magic. A second later, she presses a finger against my hole, cold and wet with lube. She pushes into me and I feel myself clench around her, moaning louder still. She works her magic, coaxing drawn-out noises from me as my paws dig into the couch. She pushes in and out, toying with me, her finger worming around my insides until it finally presses against the spot she has been searching for. My mind goes numb as I explode into her hand, my body shaking in her lap. Violet presses a finger against my lips, wetting them with my own salty-sweet cum. I lap at her finger, licking it clean until she withdraws it. I lay on the couch, tired and content, barely noticing her scoot out from under my body. My mind is foggy, but it feels so...good. I try to open my eyes, but they feel so heavy, and part of me just wants to lie here and rest. I give in, and I must have fallen asleep shortly after.

When I wake up, about an hour later, I’m dressed once again, and the beautiful collar is resting on the coffee table. Violet, sitting opposite me, notices me waking up.

“Good evening, sleepyhead,” she teases lightly. “You seemed like you needed the rest, so I didn’t want to wake you. Tea?”

I nod drowsily and she gets up to go to the kitchen. I rub my eyes and yawn, sitting up slowly. I stretch, thankfully not too sore from my impromptu nap. The fog of sleep wears off quickly, and despite having just been fucked hard enough to pass out, my head feels clearer than it has in a while. Violet returns with the tea—chamomile mint—and I take it, blowing on it to cool it down slightly. She sits back down on the opposite couch, smiling wistfully.

“So, how was that? Feel free to say whatever you want, this is just about you as much as it is about me.”

“It was...really freeing,” I say, finding my voice again. “It was strange at first, but once we got into it it was just...so relaxing.”

“Do you think that was because of the scenario, the submission aspect, or both?” Violet asked.

I pause to sip my tea and think.

“Both,” I say, feeling more confident. “I think the submissiveness is really something that clicks with me—I don’t know how to explain it, but it just scratches an itch I didn’t know I had.”

Violet nods. “I think I felt the same way about being on the other side of it the first time I tried. It really does satisfy a unique desire.”

She picks the collar up off of the table, studying it.

“That being said, I take it you’re ready for the next level? It won’t always be as easy or painless as today.”

“I’m ready.”

Violet smiles, and sets the collar down. I finish my tea, get up, and carry the empty cup to the kitchen. I make my way to the door and grab my purse. Violet gets up and comes to the door to see me out.

“Thank you, Bunny.”

“Thank you too!”

Violet leans in and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. I blush.

“See you soon!” She says with a smile.

[foxxhoria]

Whew, so, this week…I finally finished redecorating the room I've been sorting out for the past fourteen months.

And now I have a nice little "retro office" for me to keep my old computers and things organised at last. :3

And that's finally all the hard graft I've been having to spend time on over with!!

I'm so glad to finally have that weight off my chest. It needed to happen, but it still took so long and was so tiring.

And now, I'm so excited to finally get back to doing exciting things like drawing again! And maybe going out to places more! And whatever else!! 😊

Certainly, once I've settled back into things xP

And for the record, here's how it started:

Back in April I was greeted with this scene. A big haul of old computer stuff I could make use of, but had no space to put or organise it all thanks to all the toys and Lego I'd long stopped caring about and thus had just been sitting around not being a priority for like ten years. But, they finally became a priority, so I could get them all out of my life and have room for things I did care about at last!

Then in June I could finally see some of the floor, then in December, I'd finally cleared out enough that I could reorganise the furniture to be more practical. And then, it was just a matter of being able to get the electricians in, which meant I could finally do the redecorating!!

So pleased to finally have this chapter of my life over with so I can think about the future!!! 😊

[obigem]

"Are you OK, Mr. Artist?" Mr. V eyed him suspciously.

"Argh, that's just it, I'm not really an artist!"

"You're not?"

"No. My name is Cameron Fletcher. I can't draw or sculpt, I'm not even a big fan of art in general, but I needed to see you, so I made up this big farce!"

"My friend, Albert—"

"The underground arts dealer."

"Jeeze, is that really what you know him as? Anyway, yeah, he figured you wouldn't meet with me unless we went with this angle. But it's all a big lie. I'm not an artist." Cam let out a big breath.

"Whew, I'm so glad to have that off my chest." Cam chuckled. "So, now that I've come clean, we're good, right?"

"Let me be clear," Mr. V. started. "So you utilized a lie to infiltrate my home under false pretenses and only came clean after I showed you my fiance's naked body?"

"See, when you put it all together like that it sounds bad, but if you'd just let me explain—"

"No explanation necessary. What is it you said before? Right, 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥."

"Really?"

"Of course. Leanne?" The android appeared with lightning speed. "Get the simray."

"Of course, sir. It will be my pleasure."

It was already clear he wasn't the android's biggest fan. Her cold stare was nothing new. But what he wasn't prepared for was the icy glare of the man before him, who he knew as Mr. V. But now unmasked, he'd come to know Valerian Plott.

[koiyin]

GUYS GUESS WHO'S BACK... 'YAY'

so uh idk why i come back on tumblr every couple months and make posts like this but i've basically ruined my account at this point haha perfectionist issues and i'm going to try to be honest with everyone of you guys because. idek at this point

i don't know how everyone's opinion of me is at this point, and it feels like i'm ruining it. i don't know if this is me now, if i kind of put up a front before, but why these posts seem different than the others on my blog is a mystery to me ^^'

maybe i'm just overthinking it, though?

well, my life is pretty shit. i don't really have any friends, except for a couple close ones who can somehow deal with me-- and, yeah. people at my school don't really like me, and i've fucked up a lot recently. this post sounds really depressing. sorry for that.

i don't know, i guess prior to the whole incident (moots, yk what i'm talking about) i always tried to put up a cheerful front. i had an idealized version of myself, and that was koi. and i did act like myself a lot around you guys, because i became comfortable with all of you and i felt accepted. i'm really grateful for what you all have done for me.

so, more about what's going on- basically, i'm just... not happy with myself, i guess. i wish i had more friends.

you know, my goal in life at one point was to be friends with everyone in my grade. that was more than a year ago. i guess that whole hope pretty much died out. but i do still try my very best, and this is turning into a ramble which i'm sorry for but i just want to get everything off of my chest.

i'll probably never use tumblr regularly again- but, who knows, shit changes.

the incident really affected me. after i was told about everything and learned about all of what happened, i was just... i don't know. i was told that it was that day that i began to eat less, act angrier, and all of that shit- and that went on for a couple weeks.

eventually, i tried to forget about it. i still think about every once in a while, though.

well, i'm starting to sound like a pessimist. i miss when i could be koi, the friendly, cheerful, happy person who had a bunch of friends that worried about him and asked if he was feeling okay.

i don't even know what's going on anymore. i feel fine, and then i go through short spikes of depression. or maybe i'm just a person that's sad all the time, but i choose to be ignorant. i'm really sorry that whoever reads this has to hear me vent and all that shit, but i'm just glad that i can say all of my feelings in the hopes that someone will read this.

so, let's talk about what's been going on since i've left- since i really feel like i should add some filler because of my long absensce '- -

well, i got a suit that kind of reminded me of haruchiyo sanzu from tokyo revengers (haha weeb things) and i look pretty hot in it, ngl- and, my family moved back to our house, which got remodeled. i've done a lot of drawing, too.

and, for context of the tokyo revengers comment earlier- i've been hyperfixating on it for so long. i love the series and the characters aaa

also, i started bakuman and black butler, and they're pretty good! i love the plot of bakuman so much!! (the death note team always makes amazing manga) i also got the first book of haikyuu from the library, because i've seen it referenced online so much and i haven't taken the time to check it out yet.

whew. i don't know, i guess saying all this makes me sound more human than just pixels on a screen. (but i'm actually 3 ducks in a trenchcoat) (i'm not funny)

i've had a lot of homework, so i've been pretty busy.

and i have to go eat dinner now, so i'll be leaving- but again, thank you guys for being my friends for so long. and, why are people still following me when my blog is inactive like- ????